PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. Nos. 986, 987-Dated Feb. 2, 1916. Petition of Lowell & Fitchburg Street Railway Company for Approval of Location in Main Street, Ayer, and for Authority to Construct its Railway in Said Street Across the Tracks of the Boston & Maine Railroad at the Same Grade Therewith. Two petitions were heard jointly. . In view of conditions and to serve the present necessity and convenience of the public, the commission holds that is is justified in permitting the general rule indicated by the statutes and will authorize the crossings of the tracks at grade but only subject to the express limitations and restrictions set forth in this order Regulations 1. There shall be but one street railway track across the railroad tracks at this place. 2. The crossing shall be constructed and maintained by and at the cost of the street railway company in a manner satisfactory to the railroad company, or, if the parties do not agree in regard thereto, in such manner as shall be prescribed by the commission. 3. The street railway company, in addition to other precautions and safeguards required by law or rules and regulations, shall at its own cost, place and maintain at said crossing, during all that portion of each day or night within which it runs cars over said crossing, a competent and reliable man whose sole duty it shall be to see that said crossing and the overhead construction thereat are in good repair and working order, to keep himself informed of the running time of trains and whether any train is overdue, and to watch for and give warning of any approaching engine, car or train. No street car shall cross or attempt to cross the railroad except when and as he shall direct. railway 4. The street railway company shall from time to time provide and maintain such further safeguards at said crossing as the commission shall deem necessary. 5. This right to maintain the railway track across the railroad frack at grade shall cease upon the abolition of the highway grade crossing and in any event upon the first day of February, 1920, unless otherwise ordered by the commission. 6. The foregoing limitations, conditions and restrictions shall be from time to time subject to change and modification. By the commission. ANDREW A. HIGHLANDS, Secretary. No. 1186 Dated Feb. 8, 1916. Petition of Boston Elevated Railway Company for Approval of Discontinuance of Certain Trips Between Park Street, Dorchester, and Dorchester Street, South Boston. This service was established by the company in compliance with an order of the commission Dec. 10, 1913, upon the petition of the South Boston Citizens' Association. As no evidence was introduced by the company to show any change of conditions since that date or to justify the commission at this time in revoking the order then made it is ORDERED, That the petition be dismissed. ANDREW A. HIGHLANDS, Secretary. No. 1255-Dated Feb. 5, 1916. Petition of Boston Elevated Railway Company for Certificate Preliminary to Operation of Escalator in Harvard Station of Main Street Subway in Cambridge. Examination having been made of an escalator installed in the Harvard station of the Main street subway in Cambridge in accordance with an order of this commission issued under date of Nov. 20, 1914. (P. S. C. 423)-it is ORDERED, That the commission hereby certify that the escalator installed in the Harvard station of the Main street subway in Cambridge appears to be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the commission and to be in a safe condition for operation. ANDREW A. HIGHLANDS, Secretary. No. 9289-Dated Feb. 8, 1916. Application of Boston & Albany Railroad for exemption from duty of maintaining bridge guards over tracks at certain points in this commonwealth. After consideration, it is ORDERED, That under the provisions of sec. 143 of part II of chap. 463 of the Acts of 1906, as amended by chap. 161 of the Acts of 1913, the Boston & Albany Railroad be hereby exempted from erecting and maintaining bridge guards at certain points over its railroad tracks in this commonwealth where obstructions are maintained, as specified in the following schedule: (Schedule specifies four points in Beacon Park; six in Allston; one in Framingham; four in Worcester; two in East Boston; one each in Riverside, Saxonville, Millford, Millbury, Spencer, North Brookfield, Palmer, Winchendon, Chester, Athol and North Adams; two at Old Furnace; three at Springfield; 19 in West Springfield; eight at North Adams junction). This order is subject to the condition that there be placed in the instructions which are printed in the employe's time-table a list of the points enumerated above, preceded by a statement that overhead bridge guards are not maintained and employes are strictly forbidden to go on top of engines, tenders or cars if same are moving at such points; and it is also subject to modification or revocation in the discretion of the commission ANDREW A. HIGHLANDS, Secretary. No. 1202-Dated Feb. 4, 1916. Petition of Aldermen of Springfield for Approval of Rules Governing Operation of Street Railway Cars in that City. After notice and hearing and full consideration, it is ORDERED, That the approval of the commission, under the provisions of sec. 74 of part III, chap. 463 of the acts of 1906, be hereby given to secs. 12 and 17 of rules for the use of vehicles in the city of Springfield, which govern the operation of street railway cars, adopted by the board of aldermen of said city Nov. 15, 1915. ANDREW A. HIGHLANDS, Secretary. No. 1248 Dated Feb. 4, 1916. Application of New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company for Approval of Fire Extinguisher. After consideration, it is ORDERED, That the commission hereby approve the use of the Pyrene fire extinguisher upon cars operated over the lines of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad, in accordance with the application dated Jan. 20 and 29, 1916. ANDREW A. HIGHLANDS, Secretary. No. 1007-Dated Feb. 4, 1916. Petition of Bay State Street Railway Company for Approval of Rules and Regulations Governing Operation of Cars Over Private Tracks of Fore River Shipbuilding Corporation in Quincy. After consideration, it is ORDERED, That the approval of the commission, under the provisions of chap. 70, acts of 1909, be given to the amended rules and regulations, dated Jan. 27, 1916, to govern the operation of cars by the Bay State Street Railway Company in Quincy, as set out in an agreement between the Old Colony Street Railway Company (now the Bay State Street Railway Company) and the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, dated Dec. 7, 1908, copies of which, with schedules, are on file in this office; upon the understanding that should a change in the schedule be desired, amended rules and regulations and a new schedule shall be filed with the commission for its approval. ANDREW A. HIGHLANDS, Secretary. No. 1211-Dated Feb. 4, 1916. Petition of West End Street Railway Company by Boston Elevated Railway Company, Its Attorney, for Certificate Preliminary to the Operation of a Section of Its Railway in Boston. In accordance with a vote of the commission adopted Nov. 5, 1915, examination having been made of a section of the West End street railway in Boston, it is ORDERED, That the commission hereby certify that all laws have been complied with preliminary to the operation of a section of the West End street railway in Boston, consisting of relocated and reconstructed double track extending in Charles street from a point south of Pinckney street to a point south of Cambridge strect, and that the railway appears to be in a safe condition for operation. ANDREW A. HIGHLANDS, Secretary. LABOR AND INDUSTRIES. James T. Moriarty, Agent of Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers, vs. E. B. Badger & Sons Co., in Regard to Prevailing Rate of Wages. Decision Dated Feb. 5, 1915. In the matter of contract between the State House building commission of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and E. B. Badger & Sons Co., contractors, of Boston, in construction work on the new east wing of the State House, it is alleged that the said contractors did not pay mechanics there employed the customary and prevailing rate of wages for that locality. The Two hearings were held at the office of the state board of labor and industries, 1 Beacon street, Boston, on Jan. 25 and Feb. 1, 1916. Mr. James T. Moriarty was present at both hearings, while Mr. E. B. Badger, 2d, was present only at the hearing of Feb. 1. board gave Mr. Badger until the following day to furnish any information as to the customary and prevailing rate of wages. This the company failed to furnish within the time specified. After due consideration the board decides that the customary and prevailing rate of wages for mechanics employed under this contract in the city of Boston and vicinity is 60 cents per hour. This decision is made in accordance with chap. 474 of the Acts of 1914. State Board of Labor and Industries by EDWIN MULREADY, Commissioner of Labor. Board's Efforts to Further Interests of Massachusetts Industries in Connection with Central and South American Trade Oppor tunities. The board of labor and industries has arranged for a special service to manufacturers of the commonwealth who may have an interest in Central and South American trade opportunities. Roger W. Babson who is making a lecturing trip to those countries has arranged to act as the representative of the board. Any business inquiry forwarded to the board will receive the personal attention of Mr. Babson and the board is confident that great benefit to the industries of the state will result. Mr. Babson is making the trip as the special appointee of Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo. |