New Britain herald., 1928-09-29
R. R. to Break Train, for Bremen
 During Main St. Crossing -Repairs

Did understand that traffic will be blocked dx or eight days at that crossing?" Informed that 1t would, he said: "The ire department will never approve that We have only one aerial truck in the city and it must be available for fires in any part Of the city at all timeA We will not approve tying up Main street crossing for one hour"
 The fire chief explained that thers is dangerous conditions among some of tho structures south of tho track and that 1t might be neces- sary to get the ladder there at short notice. Asked if 1t could be stored south of the tracks. he said there is only one ire house in the city large enough to house 1t. Even if we did get 1t south of the tracks. we might have . call from the north end for it." he pointed out.
 He wanted to know way the rail- road and trolley companies could not have some blanks available to use when it was necesaary to drive the truck over the tracks. He said the fire department probably could stand being slowed up a minute or even five minutes with the biz truck, since other apparatus could be sent around the other streets.
 At this point MT. Casey addressed his remark directly to Mayor Paon- essa. MT. Mayor" he said. i've have been talking for a long time about improved conditio"c on the Main street crossing. If you want good job done you must concede something. You cannot do a good job there if you are going to be in- 1 terrupted by the fire department. The railroad is willing to interrupt its schedule. affecting mail trains. freight trains and passenger trains" |"
 Chief Noble replied: You will have one track open"
 To this MT. Casey said: "Yes, but running traffic both directions on one track, running trains against traffic. turning a double track into single track will make a serious delay in traffic"
 The fire chief again called atten- tion to buildings south of the tracks which he considers a fire hazard. To Mir. Tippit's query as to whether it would be possible to store the big truck south of the tracks. the chief said that this would not help in 8 call from the north end. He said he could arrange for smaller pieces of apparatus to answer calls in accordance with the situation, taking conditions under considera- ton, but did not see how he could do this with the big truck.
 At this point Mayor Paonessa asked Chief Noble whether he was afraid that in taking the big truck around the block to a fire 1t might be held up at some other railroad crossing.
 Chief Noble .nswered: "Yes, but if you. MT. Mayor. want to take the responsibility, I am satisfied"
 Mayor Paonessa replied: If I un- derstood you correctly you made a statement that you could wait five minutes for men to lay blanks over the crossing. If you can wait five minutes, I think you can 50 around. think Chief Noble is right in his contention but this is one of the conditions we've got to make the best of.
 Must Break Trains for Ftrcn,en
 Tt must be thoroughly under stood that trains on other crossings will be broken up at once in case of fire to let fire trucks through" the mayor added.
 Mir. Casey replied that the rail- road not only would have crossing watchmen on duty :4 hours day but would have qualified conductors on hand at the crossings to protect railroad traffic. who will be author ized to cut trains when necessary.
 MT. Casey asked if the police de- partment will keep pedestrians mov- ing on Main street 50 that crowds will not interfere with the work. Commissioner Bannan said the police department would cooperate in any manner 1t can to help get the job done as quickly as possible.
 Sergeant King said the depart ment will keep pedestrians moving. will stop through traffic at the West Main street and Commercial street corners. and will have men on duty to see that no one drives in unless absolutely necessary.
 The conference ended at this time. Sergeant King then brought up the subject of changing the time Of switching trains at the Main street crossing at noon and at s o'clock when factory workers are on their way home. Mir. Casey said they always stop the trains for 10 minutes, beginning five minutes before IF. The police sergeant said that was not long enough. MT. Casey made the same explanation which was made several years ago. when members of the traffic bureau of the Chamber of Commerce block ed any attem on the part of the city to have these switching hours changed. He said the cars had to be placed at their proper locations at the factories to make unloading convenient.
 MT. Casey then asked Sergeant King why the local police cannot stop the nuisance of motorists blow ing their horns whenever they are stopped at railroad crossing.
 The meeting adjourned with the question unanswered.
 0rnoniaf Cns.a nnuAn Asn