New Britain herald., 1927-06-14
new HAVEN ROAD
URGED TO Clean UP
Continued from First Page)


committee at the request of Mr.
Kelly in a letter to Mayor Weld a
short time ago.
Main Street Crossing Rough
Mr.. Morans said the roadway at
the Main street crossing is in poor
condition and should be repaired,
and the entrance to the arcade is
unattractive on account of the
papers and other refuse that ac-
cummulate there. Mr.. Doyle said
conditions speak for themselves and
are so apparent that it is useless to
have mention made of them except
by those who are in position to
improve them. Mr.. Kranowitz said
the arcade is swept but the wind
blows waste paper about the re-
cruiting sign. He pointed out that
strangers receive their first impress
sions Of the city from the condition
OF the passenger station and arcade
and pains should be taken to have
these places in presentable state. Mr.
Benson said the tracks have been on
Main street a long time and in all
probability they will be there for a
long time to come. Anything posi-
bic to improve their appearance ana
condition certainly should be pro-
vided, he said. Mr.. Kelly spoke of
the need for improving the crossing.
Cleanup Campaign Needed
Mr.. Morans called attention to the
appearance of the gate tenders
shanty, which is far from attractive
in his opinion. He paid a tribute
TO Hans Oquist. gate tender. who, he
said. is nothing short of life saver.
He is a valuable man at the cross
ing. being alert and conscientious at
all times. Alderman Nair said he
has often seen Mr.. Oquist pull pc
dcstrians out of danger at the tracks
The shanty and others along the
railroad tracks should be painted
and the light shades along the arcade
should be washed and frightened up,
the alderman said. New Britain is
a progressive city and feels it should
have an appearance in keeping with
its place among other cities. The
telephone at the passenger station
should net be 4 party line, and the
service as regards ticket selling and
information could we'll be improved.
He said recent editorial in the Her
aid relative to the personnel was
we'll in point and accurate in every
respect.
Trainmaster Casey said he made
an effort shortly before Memorial
Day, to have merchants near the
railroad track cooperate in keeping
the arcade clean by preventing
waste papers from blowing about.
and for a few days an improve
ment was apparent but it is impos-
sible to have it permanent, he said.
Councilman Sablotsky agreed that
the merchants could do great deal
to assist the railroad company in
this respect if they would resist
from throwing posters and other
waste papers on the sidewalk and
permitting the wind to blow them
down the arcade. He said he knows
of no dirtier place in Connecticut
than West Main street in front of
the city building on Sunday morn
ing because newspapers and other
papers are carelessly thrown into
the streets on Saturday night. The
merchants could assist also in I'M
proving the appearance of the CEN
ter of the city by having the side
walks in front Of their places of
business made even. In some places
the flags are broken and make
walking very uncomfortable.
O'Hanlcy Promises improvements
Superintendent O'Hanley told the
meeting the matters mentioned
were new to him and he was pleased
at the opportunity to meet the COM
mittee and discuss the various
problems. Il cannot promise q
brick house or an ornate structure
for the gate tender. but I believe
something can be done to improve
the appearance of the cabin" he
said. He promised to look at the
arcade lights and have them i'm
proved If possible, and he will have
the divisional engineer confer with
City Engineer Williams very short
ly for the purpose of determining
what Is best for the Main street
crossing. In reply to Councilman
Fay's question as to the practical
tility Of having brakemen on
switching trains act as flagmen
when trains are moving over unpro-
tected crossings at night, Mr..
O'Hanley said this will be done.
Mr.. kranowitz asked the superin-
tendent if the personnel at the pas
senger station was adequate and
Mr.. O'Hanley replied that effective
last Friday, Mrs. Clara Laufersweil-
er was returned to the service In a
clerical capacity. She Is on duty
from a. m. 10 p. m. daily at
tending to telephone calls and Pull
man reservations. She was formerly
employed in the ticket office and in
Mr.. O'Hanley's opinion she will pro-
vide the needed service at the sta
ton.
Chief Hart was asked If he wished
to make any suggestions and he re-
piled that the lights in the arcade
have not been changed in twenty
years, and the unemployed men who
congregate about the lunch cart
near the Main street crossing and
waylay pedestrians and ask them
for money constitute a bad condi-
ton.
City Engineer Williams said the
principal trouble with the crossing
is that water makes Its way under
the surface and weakens 1t SO that