Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-08

drunkenness he was fined So and costs
VIM Locke was fined SO and costs, james
MadIgan So and costs, and David Butler, Nathan
Bennett, Peter Kilroy and Thomas Brono, So and
costs each for drunkenness.
Municipal Affairs.
Both branches Of the city government met
last evening, and the following business was
transacted:
IN CONCURRENCE.
Petitions Presented and ReJerred.-Of Daniel Sea-
grave, for abatement of his sewer assessments of
4. W. Lincoln for reducing the grade of Cedar
street; of Ira Bryant and Others, for a sidewalk on
Park street, between Salem and Orange streets; of
VIM. T. Mortified, for compensation for damages
to his estate by raising the grade on Union street
of d. g. Goddard and others, for schools ofahigner
grade than now exist at Peasantvllle; of Brown s.
Barnard, for compensation for injuries horse
by blasting on Highland street; of Daniel Foley
for catch basins on Blackstone street.
Ftre Atd7fB.-A communication from the board
of engineers recommending that an alarm appar-
atus be attached to the bell on the high school
house. at cost not to exceed $500, was referred TO
the committee on fire department.
StdeWdtG.-'rhe committee on sidewalks reported
favOrably on the petition Of Z. a. HolbroOk and
Others for sidewalk on both sides of Sever street
from Elm to Pleasant street, and an order was
adopted for its construction at an expense Of
SllS0.
Draining Scaool.-A petition from the committee
on drawing of the school board, asking that rooms
for the accommodation Of the drawing school be
lifted up at once, was referred to the committee on
education
Standing Committees.-The mayor revoked the
appointments made to fill vacancies in the several
committees occasiOned by the absence of Alderman
Nyman, and that gentleman was rclnstated.
Fare LiHliiS.-rhe new ordinance for the proven
ton of fires was referred to the commttte on edn-
cation for amendments.
Tbe Gas LlgEt Co. Us. the City.-The following
communication relative to the suit now pending
between the gas company and the city was present.
fE., g.
Aldermen Cnamberin, Marble and BuTough, and
COuncimen TOwne, Knowles and Walker, was APP
pointed to consider its reference:
T. L. Nelson, Esq, City Solicitor: My Dear Sir
As you are well aware, the suit of the Worcester
Gas Light Co. VS.. the city of Worcester is pending
in court, and likely to be reached for argument and
decision soon. As understand it, this suit is
pected to test the question whether the gas cOmpa-
ny is forever bound to furnish gas to the city and
citizens of Worcester at the price at which it shall
be furnished most cheaply i'll either of the three
cities of Boston, Philadelphia or Baltimore, or
whether it is bound only not to exceed the lowest
price at which it was furnished in either of those
cities when the contract was originally made.
IJ has occurred to me that there could be little
practical in this legislation suppose the city
expect that gas will henceforth be furnished here
by some Incorporated company. suppose the city
authorities do not desire that the company fur
nishing it shall do so at loss. 1t is certainly for
the public interest that this duty shall be done by a
solvent and reasonably prosperous company such
of business capacity will be willing to man
age and own, able to make good all losses by eXplO-
slOllS OF OtltT Cdusey ana aDe 10 keep up Win the
times in furnishing improved facilities to the pub
lie. 1t is obvious that this cannot be done by
company bound to furnish coal gas at the prices
charged in cities like Baltimore and Philadelphia
close to the coal region. This consideration has for
more than twenty years induced the city not to in
sist on its construction of the contract.
Whether this be so or not, | suppose if the city
were now to prevail in its claim il would only de-
sire to mold the gas company to furnish gas at the
lowest rates consistent with its making a reasona-
BILE profit say ten per cent, which, for capital ex-
posed TO the risks of so dangerous business, is
high, having moderate fund as an insurance in
case of sudden and extensive accidents The CITY
would also, suppose, desire to have some of its
officials such power into the examination of the
business of the company as to secure tsefthat this
result shall be accomplished
1t seems to me that the authorities of the gas
company ought on their part TO concede this, and
/ have no doubt after conference with some of
them on the subject, that they would be willing to
do so, if their view of the meaning of the con-
tract be established. The establishment of the con-
sruction of the contract commended for by the city
and its enforcement would, of course, ruin the
company and benefit nobody. Under these Cir
cumstances, it occurs to me to suggest to
YOU to consider whether some arrangement
on the basis above indicated will not be
acceptable to your clients. If anything which
seems necessary TO secure the object of the
city has not been included in the foregoing state
ment ii will be easy to add it, if you will suggest it,
am, yours, very respectfully,
Counsel for the Worcester Gas Light Co.
An order was passed instruchng the committee
on finance to employ such counsel as they may
deem expedient to act with the city solicitor in the
pending suit.
marshal for the quarter ending October 1st, 1872,
was presented and accepted. The following are
some of the principal items: Whole number of ar.
rests 994, of whom $40 males, and GA females,
290 Americans, and GA foreigners; whole number
committed, 227; whole number of complaints made
by the marshal and his assistants, 9l2 discharged
without complaint, 20, There We're $40 arrests for
drunkenness SO for assault and battery, go for dis
turbing the peace, 81 for larceny ana AZ for second
offence of drunkenness. Arrests were also made
for 30 other offences. During the quarter "a dis
turbanoes were suppressed, 81 buildings found open
and secured, Is stray teams taken up II lost chill
dren restored to their friends l fire extinguished
without alarm, and 354 notices served. $40 lOdgers
354 male and q female, were furnished with accom-
modations at the station. Whole number of arrests
during niue months 1890, dodgers 1868.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
The Old South Charch.-The communication from
the chairman OF the commission on public grounds,
in reference to the removal OF the Old South church
from the common, which was published last week,
was referred to the committee on education In
currence.
SideWaH MatterS.-The action Of the common
council III reference to various reports of the COM
mittee on sidewalks presented at the last meeting
was concurTed in.
Pay RolS-A certified pay roll of the fifth light
battery for service in camp, amounting TO S2l43,
was received, and the mayor was authorized to draw
his warrant for that amount
WeigberS.-A petition of Wood, Light Co., for
the appointment of two authorized weighers at
their scales, was referred to the mayor and city
solicitor.
Woodland Street.-The decree laying out Wood
land street came up, but was laid on the table, as
all the AUDITORS have not signed release for claims
for damages by the proposed improvement.
fire DECENTRALIZATION from Yankee hose
company No. 5, and hook and ladder company No
2, for leave Of absence from the city for one day
each, was referred TO the committee on fire depart
ment, with power to act.
The BOlHeUdrd-'Ihe mayor stated that he had
received communication from MIR. Copeland, the
landscape gardener, saying that the erection of
1s4tt
street and the lake would add to rather than de-
tract from the attractions of the route. He also
said that he understood that all the owners of land
were not Wiling 10 give all the land between the
street and the lake to the city. The matter was
referred to special committee, consisting of Alder
men SPUR, Chamberlin and Rugg who were in
structed TO confer with the owners and report.
MiSceHGneOuS.-A communication was received
from the city marshal asking that the license Of
Frank Heron as hack driver be revoked on account
of bad conduct. An order Of notice for hearing
next Monday night was issued.
Several applications for appOrtiOnment OF sewer
assessments were made and the usual order passed.
Several petitions for leave TO move buildings and for
building privileges were granted under the usual
restrictions
the petition for making public Hammond street, to
be given Oct, 18th.
Police Change. In executive session the resigna-
ton of =. ODay and Milton Smith, members OF the
police force, were received and accepted
IN COMMON COUNCIL.
street improvements DEGREES were adopted lay
Ing out Quts tANHhlUB hthNAl SlIttlJ anu lhllllE
out Claiming an1 Cedar streets,
Front street Ddmdges.--Ihe report Of the com.
mittee ON claims upon the petition Of Taylor 4
GOodnow asking for damages sustained nv taking
land for the purpose Of widening Front street, a.
lowing them @54O0, was taken from the table upon
motion of Councilman Pratt and +, Emory Al
drich, counsel for the parties stated the particulars
in the case to the members Of the council The city
solicitor was also called upon TO stale the case in
behalf of the city. The report was accepted and
the order providing for the payment of the amount
adopted,
appropriation. - Councilman Hewitt moved to
reconsider the action at the last meeting, upon the
order apprOpratng $4,000 to the street construc-
tion department. Carried. Tho action upon the
amendment whereby the amount was changed to
1874 900 and the paving of Pleasant street included
was also reconsidered md the original order adopt
ed in concurrence, by yea and nay vote.