TORRINGTON.

The warden and burgesses of the borough of Torrington brought before us their petition dated February 14, 1903, asking for gates at the Water and Pearl Street crossings of the Naugatuck Railroad in said borough. An order for a hearing of the petition on the 21st day of April, 1903, was issued, but previous to the hearing the railroad and the borough officials agreed that gates should be ordered at each of said crossings without a public hearing of the petition, and on the 28th day of April an order was issued by us, with the consent of both parties, requiring gates to be erected and operated at each of said crossings between the hours of 6.45 A. м. and 7.45 P. M. daily, Sunday excepted.

SUNDAY TRAINS.

Permits for running Sunday trains on the N. Y., N. H. & H. Railroad were issued on May 27, 1903, July 1, 1903, and on July 21, 1903. Also on the Central New England Railway on May 12, 1903.

DANBURY.

The mayor of the City of Danbury presented a petition for gates at the Wildman Street crossing and all other grade crossings within the city limits where public safety and convenience required the same, dated April 29, 1903. On the 5th day of May, 1903, we met and heard the parties, and the evidence offered principally referred to conditions existing at the Wildman Street and Maple Avenue crossings. The Maple Avenue crossing was considered and decided by us in November, 1900, and it was not shown that any changes had taken place in the conditions surrounding said crossing since that decision. In view of the conditions existing at the Wildman Street crossing we were of the opinion that public safety required that gates should be established and maintained and we so ordered.

NEW BRITAIN.

The mayor and common council of the City of New Britain presented a petition dated May 8, 1903, asking for an extension of the time during which gates should be operated at the various

railroad crossings in said city. The officials of the railroad company agreed with the corporation counsel of the city to operate the gates during the hours named in the petition and to waive the right of a public hearing thereon, and accordingly an order to that effect was issued by us on the 27th day of May, 1903.

SAYBROOK.

On April 8, 1903, the selectmen of the town of Old Saybrook presented to us a petition asking for gates at the Main and Lynde Street crossings in said town. After due notice the parties were heard on the 22d day of May, 1903, and on June 17th an order was issued requiring gates at Main Street and a flagman at Lynde Street to be operated during the hours named therein.

CHATHAM.

In April, 1903, the selectmen of the town of Chatham, on the Air Line division of the N. Y., N. HI. & H. R. R., presented a petition asking that gates be erected at a crossing about a mile west of East Hampton station, known as "Long Crossing." On May 8th we met and heard the parties in interest, and on June 1, 1903, in view of the fact that the crossing was situated at too great a distance from the station for the convenient and economical operation of gates, ordered that an electric signal bell be maintained and operated at said crossing.

PLAINVILLE.

On April 8, 1903, the selectmen of Plainville presented a petition, in which they complained that an electric alarm bell previously ordered at East Main Street crossing on the Highland division of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co. did not afford proper protection, and asking that gates be substituted; also asking that gates be erected at Broad Street on the Northampton division, that the approach to the passenger station from the highway known as West Main Street was not convenient, safe, and free from obstructions before and after the arrival of passenger trains, and requesting that the practice of switch

ing across West Main Street be eliminated so far as possible. The petition was heard on the 6th day of May, and on June 1st we ordered a flagman to be stationed at East Main and Broad Streets between the hours of 7 A. M. and 7 P. M., Sundays excepted, directed said company to keep the approach to the passenger station free from obstructions for a period of five minutes previous to the arrival of all steam trains, and that switching over said approach at all other times be so conducted as to cause the least obstruction possible.

NORTH BLOOMFIELD.

The Hartford & Connecticut Western Railroad Company and the Central New England Railway Company presented to us a petition asking to abandon the present station and to build a new one about one-half mile east of the location of the old station. After giving the notice required by statute we met in the station on the 19th day of June, 1903, and the parties were fully heard. Upon the evidence presented it appeared to us that a large majority of those using the station would be greatly inconvenienced by the proposed change in location and we declined, therefore, to grant our approval of the change.

CLINTON.

The selectmen of the town of Clinton on the 28th day of May, 1903, presented a petition asking for gates, electric bells, or a flagman at Buell's crossing, so called, in said town, and on July 8, 1903, we met, heard the parties, examined the crossing, and ordered an electric alarm bell to be established and maintained at said crossing.

WILTON.

Having been requested in writing to make an investigation as to the condition of the fence between the right of way of the Danbury branch and the premises of an adjoining proprietor, we deemed it necessary and therefore ordered the N. Y., N. H. & II. Railroad Company to erect a lawful fence between its right of way and the land of the adjoining owner within thirty days of date of order.

NEW MILFORD.

The selectmen of New Milford presented a petition dated August 11, 1903, asking permission for the South Kent Granite Company to construct, maintain, and operate a side track for switching purposes at grade across a certain highway in said town. After due notice the parties were heard and the permission desired was granted.

BRIDGEPORT.

The mayor and common council of the City of Bridgeport on the 24th day of September, 1903, presented a petition asking that the East Washington Street grade crossing of the tracks of the Berkshire Division of the N. Y., N. H. & H. Railroad Company be abolished, that said tracks be elevated and carried over said highway in the manner and according to the plans agreed upon by the City of Bridgeport and said railroad company, and to apportion the expense of such work in the manner agreed upon by said city and said company. The parties were heard after due notice on the 12th day of October, 1903, and an order issued in accordance with the terms of the agreement between the city and the railroad company.

DERBY.

Having examined the new tracks recently constructed in the town of Derby between the bridge over the Naugatuck River and the old town road, so called, on October 28, 1903, we issued a certificate to the N. Y., N. H. & H. Railroad Company that said tracks were in a suitable and safe condition for traffic.

HARTFORD & CONNECTICUT WESTERN RAILROAD COMPANY.

On March 10, 1903, we examined that portion of the Springfield branch of this company extending across the "Montague Farm," so called, and issued a certificate that it was in a suitable and safe condition for the transportation of passengers.

BRISTOL.

The selectmen of the town of Bristol presented to us a petition asking for gates, flagman, or electric bells at the first grade crossing west of the Forestville station on the line of the Highland division of the N. Y., N. H. & H. Railroad Company. After due notice to the authorities making such request and to the company operating said road, on November 24, 1903, we met, heard the parties, examined the crossing, and ordered an electric bell to be erected, maintained, and operated as a warning of the approach of all engines, cars, and trains.

EAST HARTFORD.

The selectmen of East Hartford presented a petition, dated July 8, 1903, asking for the elimination of the Main Street. crossing of the tracks of the Highland division of the N. Y., N. II. & H. Railroad Company in said town. Upon due notice · to the parties named in said petition we met on September 2, 1903, when the parties appeared and were heard, and said hearing was continued from time to time until December 9, 1903. After carefully considering the various plans presented for the elimination of the crossing we were of the opinion that the public interests would be best subserved by depressing fifty feet in the center of the highway about 8 feet 4 inches and elevating the tracks of the railroad about 8 feet 6 inches, with approaches on a grade of 4 per cent., leaving about 25 feet in width of the highway on each side of the depressed roadway to facilitate access to the abutting property on either side of the street.

ACCIDENTS.

The following is a summary of the casualties resulting from

the operation of the steam roads for the past year: