Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-25

stature; and whereas representing the city of
worcester, the largest and most interested stock
holder in this corporation we have heretofore taken
unanimous action in favor of this petition, now,
therefore,
Resolved, that it has everywhere been conceded
among civilized nations that the provision of rea-
sonable and convenient public ways is one of the
principal duties which the state owes to its citizens
that this duty is none the less imperative in Mas
sachusetts since the substitution of railways for
highways has made the former indis.
pensable to the prosperity ard comfort
Of all portions of her people; that the refusal TO the
inhabitants ola thriving and growing town of di-
rect railroad communication with their county
seat, which the communities along the line desire
and are ready to construct at their own cost, and
compelling them to go by circutous route at large
expense Of time and money, would constitute re-
fusa by the legislature to perform duty of soyer-
eighty which It owes to the people and an act of in
justice and oppression, against which we most
earnestly protest
Resolved, that we respectfully, but most earnest
y repeat request that this petition be granted
by the legislature,
Resolved, that his honor the mayor be requested
to present these resolutions to the legislature of
Massachusetts,, now In session.
The order for increasing the pay of firemen
twenty per cent, introduced at the last meeting,
had its second reading in the common council and
Its passage was opposed by Councilman j. H.
Walker. A motion to indefinitely postpone tine
matter was lost, and the order was adopted by
vote of ID yeas to 9 nays.
The order for water in several Streets a second
reading of which was objected to at the last previ
GUS meeting, came up aud passed the common coun-
Gil, having been amended by inserting clause pro-
vidng for first establishing the grade of the street.
The other branch, however, rejected the amend
ment, and it went down again, but was not arrived
at, and lies the table with other unfinished BUSH
ness; among which was memorial from Geo. F.
Thompson and Others calling attention to the fact
that the soldiers from this city who fell in the late
war, have as yet no public monument erected to
their memory and asking that action be taken look
ing to the building of suitable one to commemor-
ate their patriotic DEATH also orders establishing
the grades of Cedar, Shrewsbury, Clinton and Oak
streets.
The following order passed in the board of alder
men and went to the other board:
Ordered, that his honor the mayor be- and he is
hereby authorized and requested to call public
meeting of the citizens at Mechanics hall tomorrow
"wednesday evening, if the hall can be procured,
or as soon thereafter practicable, and that the
Hon. Geo. F. Hoar and other gentlemen be invited
to address the public upon the Importance of the
proposed extension of the Boston, Barre and Gard
ner railroad to Winchendon.
The order for laying block paving in several
streets was another that came up for second read
ing from last week, and brought out considerable
discussion, it being thought by several councilmen
tnat Union street required paving much more than
Myrtle, which was specified in the order, while the
former was net. The matter was finally laid on the
table to allow of time for investigation by the
bers of the council.
The matter of raising the dam at the reservoir the
present season. brought up last week by the sugges-
ton of the special committee appointed to inquire
and report on the expediency of such action, and
at that time laid upon the table, was taken up and
debated at eugth. The order first offered provided
for raising che dam fifteen feet; that was amend
ed as to change the fifteen to five which amend
ment was amended by changing it again from five
to seven feet. In this the common council concur
red by yea and nay vote of ten to seven; motion
to reconsider was afterwards made, then motion
to postpone the reconsideration until tine next meet
ing, which was carried, and so the whole matter
lies upon the table. The city engineer was called
upon in the discussion to explain the capacity of
the reservoir the expense and feasibility of raising
the dam, &C.
The petition of j. j. Coburn and Others for the
acceptance of the charter for street railway be-
tween this city and Shrewsbury came up as unfiD-
ished business, and the city solicitor was invited
to explain the matter which he did, and also drew
up an order accepting the charter, which was
amended by inserting a clause prohibiting the use
of dummy engine in the city and passed in the
common council The board OF aldermen non-con-
Cured and amended by making it read not to run
dummy engine through any of the streets of the
city. 1t was then sent down, but an adjournment
was effected before 1t came up for action
The quarterly reportsof Hon. Phinehas Ball, city
engineer, was read and accepted. 1t spoke of the
early spring as being unusually favorable to work
on the contracts unfinished from last fall, and ex
pressed the opinion that they would be all finished
in few weeks. The building of new sewer has
been contracted for by Leach & Co. of Philadelphia;
that for archng Mill Brook under the extension of
Prescott street north of Lincoln square, to E. 3.
Walker, of North Oxford, and that for the waling
of Mill Brook from Green to Cambridge street, to
atrick 0'Keefe and H. G. Roche ofthis city; these
contracts are thought to be based upon bids quite
favorable to the city. The amount paid
on sewer construction this year has been
S1S,475.99; the amount paid on account of
the water works, including construction, main
tenanee and pumping, S23,0lS.34; the whole
amount paid for pumping-both this year and last
was S12,66553; other expenses for machinery,
damages, &C.. will bring the amount up to $1,000
as the cost to make up the deficiency in tine supply
last year. The supply of water now on hand is
323,000000 gallons-3000 100000 at Leicester and
100000 at Bell pond. This is 100000 in excess
of the amount on hand last year The supply at
Leicester has been collected during the last sixty
six days, at the rate of nearly 100000 gallons per
day.
A communication was received from Edward W.
Lincoln in behalf of the commissioners of shade
trees and public grounds, relative to the Old South
church, reasons why it should be removed rather
than repaired and other discussion by him of the
whole subject the length of which renders it inn
possible to print here; it was referred to the COM
mittee on education to confer with the parish and
report
In the board of aldermen, Ezra Churchill was ap-
pointed the police force to fill tine vacancy made
by the resignation oS X. NJ Colby; orders ofnotice
were passed for the making public of Lafayette and
Washington streets, and a long list of hackmen
were licensed.