New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-08-13
THE GAS MAIN PROJECT

The project Of the Connecticut
Light & Power company to lay gas
mains through the city, part Of the
way along West Main street from
Corbin avenue to the Plainvtlle
town line, needs to be given serious
attention by city officials.
The city, as we understand 1t, has
jurisdiction over the laying Of these
mains along Corbin avenue.' from
Berlin to West Main street; while
the state has jurisdiction from there
to the Plainville town line-this be-
cause that thoroughfare is part Of
a state highway.
The company is not to pipe this
gas through New Britain in order
to serve this city-eXcept when call
ed upon in case OF an emergency
but is linking up its gas business In
Middletown, Meriden and Bristol.
To attain this purpose the pipe line
is coming through this city.
City Engineer Williams appears
to be of the opinion that not much
of the pavement along West Main
street will need to be ripped up in
order to lay down the mains; that
these can be planted, for the most
part, along the side of the highway.
This at least is an optimistic hope;
but even at best, some OF the pave
ment will have to be torn up, and
when it comes to a showdown more
of it probably will be ruined than
is cheerfully conceded at present.
Once an improved pavement is
laid down it should stay undisturb-
ed. The ripping up OF an improved
pavement usually results In weak
nesses which lead to depressions
later. The West Main street pave
ment is one of the most serviceable
in the city; 1t is along the most pop
ular route through the city. To lay
gas mains under it, or alongside Of
it where possible, will at best bring
about interferences with heavy traf-
fic. and where the pavement Is
torn up the outlook is dubious for
satisfactory realignment OF the
surface upon the weakened sub-soil
1t Is said the Corbin avenue
West Main street route through the
city has been chosen because it is
the shortest and best available.
There can be no doubt of this: but
there surely are other possible
routes, and because any one of
them is longer, necessitating higher
costs for the company. is no excuse
why the risk Of permanent damage
to a good highway should be forced
upon New Britain.
1t is said that other routes would
not be as geographically desirable
that it would be necessary to lay
the mains down into valleys and up
again, etc. This seems to us no fit
excuse to avoid such routes, as 1t
is law of nature that gas flows in
any direction, up or down. when in
main. Mains could be constructed
through dozen valleys and over
hills along the route between Mid
dletown and Bristol and 1t would
not make a whit OF difference to
the flow OF the gas.
1t is evident that the Connecticut
Light & Power company hopes to
push its gas mains through New
Britain regardless of local incon-
veniences or damage to the West
Main street pavement.
The city should be emphatic In
giving its views. The company, with
]. Henry Roraback at It's head, no
doubt can get anything 1t wants
from the state; 1t can get permits
sion to pillow through West Main
street. But it cannot get to West
Main street from Berlin II the city
denies permission to use the bed
of Corbin avenue.