security and convenience of the public that an alteration be made in the crossing of Central street and the Old Colony railroad (New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company, lessee) in the town of Stoughton; that they are agreed upon the character of the alteration to be made, and that an instrument in writing specifying the manner and limits within which said alteration shall be made, the party by whom the work shall be done, the general method of construction and the apportionment of cost, has been duly executed by the chairman of the selectmen of Stoughton and by the presidents of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company and the Old Colony Railroad Company, a copy of which agreement is as follows: AGREEMENT FOR ALTERATION OF HIGHWAY KNOWN AS CENTRAL STREET, WHICH CROSSES THE RAILROAD OF THE OLD COLONY RAILROAD COMPANY IN THE TOWN OF STOUGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS. Whereas, There is a certain highway known as Central street in the town of Stoughton which crosses the railroad of the Old Colony Railroad Company, leased to and operated by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company, above the railroad tracks, and the directors of said railroad companies and the selectmen of said town are of the opinion that it is necessary for the security and convenience of the public that an alteration be made at this time in said crossing which shall permit the raising of the bridge and increasing the headroom over the tracks, and have agreed as to the alterations which shall be made: Now, therefore, In pursuance of the provisions of the acts of 1905, chapter 463, Part I, section 41, and acts in amendment thereof and in addition thereto, this agreement in writing is made and signed in behalf of said town, by the chairman of the board of selectmen thereunto duly authorized by the selectmen, and in behalf of said railroad companies by their presidents thereunto duly authorized by the directors, respectively, specifying the manner and limits within which the alterations shall be made, by whom the work shall be done, the method of construction, and how the costs shall be borne. Alterations. The bridge carrying Central street over the tracks of the railroad. company shall be raised one foot three inches (1' 3") so as to afford a clearance of sixteen (16) feet above the rails of the railroad track. The grade of Central street shall be changed and established as follows: Beginning at the easterly end of the bridge over the railroad tracks at the proposed established grade of the street, elevation 269.66 Boston base; thence easterly by a descending grade not to exceed five (5) feet per one hundred (100) feet to meet the present grade of the street at station 0 plus 85, elevation 265.70. Beginning at the westerly end of the bridge over the railroad tracks at the proposed established grade of the street, elevation 269.66 Boston base; thence westerly by a descending grade not to exceed three and fifty one-hundredths (3.50) feet per one hundred (100) feet to meet the present grade of the street at station 2. elevation 262.43. The traveled surface of the street within the limits of the alteration shall be graveled with good gravel, to conform to the present surface of the street. Plan. The alterations hereinbefore described are shown upon a plan herewith, and made a part hereof, entitled: "N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R. Old Colony Div. Proposed Raising of Bridge 5.21 to obtain 16-0" Clearance No. Stoughton, Mass. Sept. 9, '16." Performance of the Work. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company shall furnish all the material, and do all the work necessary to complete the above described alteration. Apportionment of Expense. The total cost of the alterations as aforesaid, including the cost of any necessary hearings, the expense of the Public Service Commission and its necessary agents, and all damages, shall be paid by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company. Signed in behalf of the town of Stoughton by the chairman of the board of selectmen thereunto duly authorized, and in behalf of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company, and of the Old Colony Railroad Company, by their presidents thereunto duly authorized, respectively. TOWN OF STOUGHTON, By GEORGE W. PRATT, THE NEW YORK, NEW HAVEN AND HARTFORD By E. G. BUCKLAND, President. OLD COLONY RAILROAD COMPANY, By FAYETTE S. CURTIS, At a meeting of the Selectmen held in the Selectmen's room, Town House, Stoughton, Mass., Aug. 28, 1918, it was voted that the Chairman of the Board, Mr. George W. Pratt, be authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the Town of Stoughton. JENNIE F. MCNAMARA, Assistant Town Clerk, Stoughton. It is Ordered, That the approval of the Commission be hereby given to the agreement and to the alterations therein set forth, as necessary for the security and convenience of the public. Attest: OCTOBER 21, 1918. ANDREW A. HIGHLANDS, [P. S. C. 2273] Secretary. EXPRESS TRANSPORTATION. Petition of the General Transportation Company for recommendation relative to the transportation of express matter on passenger trains of the Boston and Maine railroad between Boston, Salem and Peabody. Memorandum. Hearings were held on this petition on November 23, 1916, and March 9, 1917. The petitioner was directed to submit evidence to the effect that the people in the communities served by the petitioner believed that it would be to their interest to have a competitive service among the local express companies; that they found the business of the petitioner more expeditious and satisfactory than the present service; and that it would be in the general public interest of the community that the petitioner be afforded the privilege of operating express service on passenger trains of the Boston and Maine railroad, between Boston, Salem and Peabody. No such evidence has been submitted to the Commission, and the petition is therefore dismissed. Attest: AUGUST 14, 1918. ANDREW A. HIGHLANDS, [P. S. C. 1475] Secretary. INVESTIGATIONS. COMMUNICATION To Hon. C. A. PROUTY, Director, Division of Public Service and Accounting, United States Railroad Administration, upon railroad conditions in Massachusetts under Federal Control. DEAR SIR: Under date of July 22, 1918, you wrote this Commission asking for certain information in regard to the physical condition and service of the railroads in Massachusetts under federal control, and in regard to the powers and organization of this Commission. I take pleasure in transmitting herewith answers to these inquiries. The apparent delay has been due to our desire to ascertain, as nearly as we could, the views of the people of the commonwealth in regard to some of these matters. Our endeavor has been to make the answers comprehensive, but general, in their character. More detailed information, however, is submitted in the attached exhibits and more is at your command if you desire it. You may be assured that this Commission stands ready to do anything in its power to make federal operation of the railroad systems a success. Yours very truly, FREDERICK J. MACLEOD, Chairman. RAILROAD CONDITIONS IN MASSACHUSETTS UNDER FEDERAL CONTROL. 1. PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE RAILROADS. (a) What is the physical condition of road and equipment at the present time? Under date of June 29, 1918, the Inspection Department of the Commission submitted a report upon the condition of the roadbed and track of the steam railroads within the commonwealth, a copy of which was sent to you. The department, on |