Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-23


tees as follows n. Butler and Others for sidewalk
in Newbury street, to the COMMITTEE on sidewalks;
from Andrew Martin for damages caused by the
construction of sewer, to the committee ON claims
from Henry o. Bradley asking that Elizabeth street
be made public, to the committee on highways;
from w &. Smith for a sidewalk on Pleasant street
between Sever and Hudson streets, to the commit
tee on sidewalks; from Eliot G. feathers for dam
age to his horse caused by a defect Southbridge
street, to the committee on claims; from Thomas
Kelley for damages to his well by the widening of
Lafayette street. to the committee on claims; from
James BrOadbent for sidewalk on North Ashland
street from Home to Highland streets. to the COM
mttee on sidewalks; from b. McAan, hers
for sidewalk on the south side of Winter street. to
the committee on sidewalks; from PAMELA Shep-
ard for damages to her estate caused by the WIDEN
ing OF Lafayette street to the committee on claims
from E. II. Barker and Others aud John Harding
and Others for street lamps to the committee on
lighting streets.
The committee on water reported an order pro-
yiding for water pipes in Baker Chandler and Fos-
ter streets, which was adopted.
The committee on highways reported an order
which was adopted, recommending that the board
OF aldermen locate street, 100 feet wide, along the
border of Lake Quinslgamond on condition that
the Auditors give the necessary land, and that the
city be allowed till December l, 1871 to complete
the street. The same committee reported in regard
TO the petitions for making public several streets
as follows: In regard TO Lancaster, Eliot, Farwell
Sige and Ellsworth streets, that the subject be re-
ferred to the board of aldermen for hearings with
the favorable consideration of the committee; in
regard to Howard and Hammond streets, that the
subject be referred to the board of aldermen and
recommending that il lay out and locate the streets
when the AUDITORS shall release the city from all
street from Lincoln to Grove streets, were given
leave to withdraw. The report of the committee in
regard to Highland street ordered to be placed
on file in the city engineers office, and the report in
regard to sidewalk Congress street was referred
to the committee on sidewalks
William L. Clark was elected as clerk of the board
of assessors
The following orders were adopted: That the
city marshal be directed to enforce the statutes in
~ nj hvV
road companies that the city marshal be Instructed
TO examine and report any violation of the CITY
ordinance In relation to the storage of gunpowder;
that the committee on inquire as to the cost
and durability OF the various kinds of drain pipe;
that the committee on sidewalks inquire as to the
various kinds of paving and to report to the du
rablllty and cost of each; that the committee on
water inquire and report any improper waste of
water by any manufacturing establishment.
The notice of an action against the city by James
White, on account OF the betterment tax for the
widening of Chatham street, was referred to the
committee on claims in connection with the city
solicitor
In BOARD OF ALDERMEN
The committee on education reported that they
concur with the school committee in regard to the
necessity for new school house, and recommended
the adoption of order authorizing the committee
ON education to purchase the land known as the
Wheeler estate, on the corner of Exchange and
summer streets, at cost not to exceed 26 600, and
to procure plans specifications and estimates for
the building of a school house thereon. The report
was accepted and order adopted, and sent dow6 for
concurrence.
communication from the assessors of the first
parish, asking that their meeting house be warmed
by the city on the terms during the past five
years, was referred to the committee on public
buildings.
The petition of james Giick for leave to move A
wooden building through Vernon street to Ward
street, was referred to the committee on highways
with power to act.
The resignation of j. NJ Earle, as assessor for
ward one, was received and read for information
Alderman Rugg offered the following order:
Ordered, that the railway committee be author
lzed to unite with the various railroad companies
IN procuring the necessary legislation, authorizing
the location and construction of railroad tracks
diverging from the present location of the WOrces-
ter Nashua road at any convenient point between
the south side of Lincoln square and the north
side OF School street, said tracks to cross under
Summer, Laurel and East Central streets, by suit
able bridges, and to pass in an eastery and south
erly direction to the contemplated union depot, east
OF Grafton street
Mayor Very spoke of the action of the legisla-
ture in voting not to legIsate on this subject but
said he understood tat the matter was lett so that
1t could be taken up again in legislature if the
railroads and city should come to an agreement
and present bill for adoption lie said that such
Dill had been drawn up in accordance with the
above order. The Norwich, Nashua Boston, Barre
and Gardner, andL Providence roads have signllied
that they will consent to the passage of the bill
The Mayor thought that the concession to the rail-
road companies by the city was comparatively UNI
Important and that the subject should be attended
Alderman Chamberlin objected that there was
nothing in the order or bill regarding the manner
IN which Hanover and Mulberry streets shall be
crossed lie thought that, if as is now said these
streets will certainly be crossed by bridges, it would
b. Better to have it so stated.
Mr.. Ball, the city engineer, said that it was not
contemplated TO change the route of the proposed
ilne and That 1t must necessarily pass under Null
berry street
Alderman Baniser urged the Importance of I'M
mediate action. He sand that it was now so late in
the session of the legislature that the choice must
be made ut once between the route proposed and
the viaduct.
Alderman Chamberlin moved to amend the order
by inserting Mulberry and Hanover streets after the
other streets named. He thought the viaduct had
been used as sort of bugbear to Brighten the city
council, and that no action should be taken till the
members of the council knew exactly what was to
be done. 1t seemed to him tnat there might be a
"cat under the meal" in this matter, for If it was
definitely arranged that these streets should be
bridged, why was 1t not so stated in the orderg
Alderman Banister stated that if this amendment
was adopted, the bill would again have to be pre-
sented to the railroad authorities for their action,
and this would involve unnecessary delay.
The mayor said he had had interviews with the
officers of the railroad companies, and ALL with the
exception of the Boston and Albany. favored the
bill as now drawn, and he was not authorized to
state that they would agree to it If amended
The amendment was then rejected and the order
adopted, and sent down for concurrence.
The petition from the officers of the different in
surance companies for the appointment of an in-
spector OF petroleum, was taken from the files of
last year and referred to the committee on the fire
department.
Inc committee on highways reported an order di-
recting the city engineer to the travel the
principal streets to be counted and tabuated under
the direction of the committee. The report and Or
der were recommltted, with instructions to report
more in detail.
The committee on the fire department reported
an order authorizing the committee to procure
pair of horses for the of hook and ladder COM
pany No. ], at an expense not to exceed $500,
which was adopted
The petition Of E. G. Partridge for a sidewalk on
Maple street referred to the committee ON side
walks.
In executive session the following licenses were
granted Martin. Howard as junk dealer, W. f.. Way
and I. VLeary to drive hacks, William Kinsley as
innhoder,
IN COMMON COUNCIL.
The order authorizing the committee on lighting
streets to purchase fifty gas and fifty oil lamps,
to be used in lighting streets where the committee
may see fit, came up fl r second reading having
been left over from the last meeting. Councilman
O'Gorman moved that the consideration of the
order be indefinitely postponed which motion was
lost and the order adopted in concurrence.
Councilman Ross announced that Councilman
Blaisdes absence from the meetings of the council
was caused by continued i'll health
Councilman Walker moved that the vote where
by the common council cOncurred with the board of
aldermen in relation to the sewer assessment at the
last meeting, be recOnsidered He was opposed to
the assessment as being against the interests OF the
city according to the terms of payment and il is the
duty of the members of the council to save the peo
Pile from making an immediate payment of the
tax. lie claimed that it was special tax. and
therefore would not come in the same class as tine
annual assessment. OF the 222 estates taxed near
ly three-tOurths are mortgaged, and have been
erected by persons VINO belong to the working
class, who have got their all invested in the houses
in which they live. II is said of Worcester that
more of its inhabitants own the houses in which
they live than in any other city of its size; the
houses built and then worked out aud the
money to pay this sewer tax must be taken from
their allowance for clothing. II is true that the
city has borrowed nearly all of the money that has
been expended upon the sewers at six per cent in
teresf, and II Is no more than right that they
should charge seven per cent on the unpaid portion
OF the assessment, but they should allow the debt
oTun five years.
II is a curse instead of benefit TO many of tbe
owners of real estate that their places have risen IN
value so rapidly, and IL will be against the interests
| of the city to have the money all paid into the
treasury at oncei and il BECOMES the council TO
| make ihe burden upon the people as light as posi-
| BILE. He was glad that the mayor and aldermen had
had the courage TO make the assessment, although
he did not approve of the way IN which II had been
done II Is tine sewer that has raised the value Of
inc property in the vicinity Of the city hail. from
| ~ To $3.50 o foot, and without IL there was no
| means Of making II ayaiablei but II Is great In
instice TO assess them two per Gent, and Others
! who could have got along without II,
| ei0ht per cent The men who are most
! bcneltisd by the tax are those who can pny
| immediafely and get the benefit of the six per
cont discount he wae IN favor of referring the
mattar baek 10 the board vi aldermen so that d
hearing mlght BE- given 10 the citizens and allow
the Inaccuracies 70 be corrected III The eniite ns-
sessment Il paid al once II will take nearly half
million dollars Of the quick capilsl OF The city