Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-23

its second reading and was adopted in concur
renee
The committee on highways reported, detail
ing the action upon several matters elsewhere
DEGREES, etc.-and recommended the reference
on the following papers and petitions to the
next city council; The decree for the widening
OF Wellington street, the petition of Andrew
Martin and Michael Lacy for damage, of L. Bel
lows aud others for widening Pratt street. OF L.
A. Bancroft for a new road, of o. L. Hatch and
Others to have Norwich street made public, Of
L. NJ. Stockwell and Others for the further ex-
tension of Mechanic street. of A. 6. Goes and
Others in aid of w. c. Barnard, of Patrick Nc.
Closly and others, of John Falon for payment
of land, of Daniel Goddard for damage, of Geo.
w. Gale and others for repair of Belmont street,
OF n, Paine for new street. Of X. Condor for
damage, Of Cove and Others to have Ellsworth
street made public, and of p. Buss and others
to have Sigel street made public.
Upon the following petitions 1t is reported i'm
eXpedient to act, of Merrck Bemis and others
for extending Shelby street, of James Spur
and Others for making Canterbury street public.
of 5. Austin aud others TO make bdriatc street
public, of Walter Bigelow and Others for the
grading of Lincoln street, flor the reason that
the matter is now before the county commits
SOnerS) and Of e. Baker 4 Co. for the repair
Of Manchester street,
Leave 10 withdraw was recommended upon
the petition of y, IL. Perry for damage, Sarah
f. Pond for damage, Catherine Clinch for dam
are aud H. 7. CheeYer for damage The report
was accepted.
Councilman Walker offered the following pre-
tI,,;,. i
tlon and TRANSMISSION to the board OF aldermen
for information. He supported the motion by
remarks in which he presented the fact that
the whole understanding with the people and
city council since the begiun.ng of the sewer
construction, was that the larger portion Of the
cost OF construction should be paid by assess
ments upon abutting estates Immediately bene-
fitted. lie declared thar every dollar which the
council has spunt for the building of sewers has
beeu voted with the distinct understanding that
the aldermen were pledged to carry ont the wish
OF the people as directly expressed by vote The
last inaugural Of Mayor Blake aud Mayor Cha
pin inaugural were quoted from in plain sup
port OF his position, He explained the necessity
Of the sewers 20 the Growth Aid prosperity of
the city, and presented plainly the justice of as
scSsing the eNpenSe-or proper share of the
samc-upon the value Of estates benefited
not including Improvements upon the land.
The injustice of placing the expense in
the general tax, he showed by explaining that
of the 1900 tax PAYERS in the city, but 2f00
are directly benefited tv the sewers; therefore
he maintained that The remaining 5000 should
not be burdcned by an equal share with those
directly benefited. By placing the eSpetse in
the general tax the cost to teiieitted AUDITORS
would be reduced NJ the rate of three-lourthS;
bat the helahce fall just where it ought not to-
Mr. walker thought the steps for placing 1t in
the general tax seemed particularly unwise at
this time, when the tendency is 10 the idea that
all taxation should be made upon real estate; in
order that business enterprises might in no way
be turned aside from establishing in cur tity
He asserted tba. the plan OF assessing abutting
estates Is the custom in every city in
the world, without an exception, and
saw no reason why the scl6shness OF a few
prominent individuals, appearing for themselves
or by attorneys, whose benefit has been Hrreat
and calls Tor corresponding assessment should
prevent its operation here. The vote upon the
adoption of the resolution was taken by Il yea
and nay, and resulted in their unanimous
adoption. They were accordingly sent up for in
formation.
Whereas, the construction of the sewers and
drains, in what Is known as the Central District"
has been so far completed that the assessments can
be made under the "Act relating to sewers and
drains" secured by the city in 1857, and amended in
1871; and
Whereas, the sewers Immediately and most large
ly benefit the private estates of comparatively few
the people, and those upon the line thereof; and
the work entered upon and prosecuted to the pres
ent time, with the express understanding that the
larger proportion sof the cost should be assessed
upon the estates benefited to reimburse the city Tor
the expenditures incurred in their construction;
and
Whereas, the sums of money which have been
from time to time appropriated by the city council,
have been voted not only under an implied agree
ment, but by what was understood to be positive
pledge supported by the official oaths Of the board
of mayor and aldermen, that these assessments
should be made as soon the work had sufficiently
progressed to enable them to do so; and
Wcereas, the board Of mayor and aldermen have
declared by their official action, in repeated in
Stances that the time has now come when the as
sessmentS can, and should be made; and
Whereas, their neglect to do so will result in
largely beneitting the few and they the rich at
the expense of the many, and will make the annual
burden of taxation $4,000 to $4,000 larger than in
Justice it ought to be, that few individuals NAV
escape their just liabilities for positive benefits to
their estates, which have been made at the public
cost; and
Whereas. so large sum in the annual tax levy,
must operate to check the public improvements
which the continued growth and prosperity of the
city demand, and operate to hinder if not wholly
prevent the establishment Of many new enterprises,
and seriously burden every business and occupation
now existing in the city, and cause the laboring
men TO pay higher rents for their homes and high
er prices Tor every article consumed by them; there
fore,
Resolved, that it is the imperative and sworn
duty of the board of mayor and aldermen, to pro-
coed Immediately to assess upon the persons whose
estates derive peculiar benefits from said sewers
and drains, their proper share of the expenditures
the city has incurred in the construction thereof.
according to the provisions of the acts concerning
sewers and drains aforesaid.
The Joint standing committee on education
presented report showing the necessity of
changes in the interior of the old high school
building, involving considerable expense, and
recommending the reference of the matter TO the
next city council. The report was accepted
and it was so referred. The communication ex-
planned that work had been suspended until
action could be taken, for the reason that the
changes can be made now cheaper than at any
other time.
A petition from the Worcester street railway
company for damages caused 10 said company
by the building of the sewer in Market street,
and also for compensation for loss caused by
cutting off the Lincoln street route for ifty-nine
days, while the Lincoln square portion of the
sewer was in course of construction, was re-
lcrred to the next city council.
The necessity OF new water mains was pre-
scented in Il report showing the probability OF a
scarcity another season and the liability of great
damage by fires in consequence; the matter was
referred to the next council
The list of Jurors, revised as called for by the
council last Monday evening, was accepted and
ordered to he printed.
DEGREES laying out establishing grade, Sc, of
Waldo (northtry part, Woodland, Highland,
Tatnuck (eXrensionl and Coral streets, and Penn
avenue were referred to the next council
erence TO the adjustment of claims of parties
damaged by the widening Of Front street, and
including schedule Of amounts of damages
awarded bv referees was accepted in the board
of aldermen, but in the lower branch it was re-
ferred to the committee on highways on the
part of the common council.
A communication from the committee on mill
tary Informed the council that the two infantry
companes-the Worcester Light Infantry and
City Guards, have secured quarters in Tay-
Tors building, at an expense of 500 per year
5000 to be paid to the State Guard and $500 to
X. c. Taylor
Inc following communications were received
and referred to the committee on education
10 the CITY Council: It has been my pleasure TO
procure one OF Howard & Co.'s large tower clocks
for the new high school building and twelve clocks
for the various rooms of the building; the small
ones being run by means OF an electric wire con-
nected with the tower clock These | give to the
city for the use of the new high school building
Hon. Edward Earle, Manor Rtbe Gin of Wor.
ceSter-Dear Sir: shall have pleasure in nresont.
ing to the city, for the of the new buildng for
the nigh school, one of Chickering's grand pianos
with all the latest Improvements, which think il
a superior instrument. Very respectfully yours
STEPHEN SALISBURY
Orders of notice received from Daniel Bravton
and Hiram Forbes, damaged by the widening OF
Front street, and who have brought suits against
the city, not having been satisfied with the
| amount awarded, were referred TO the city soc-
tor.