Morning journal and courier., 1882-03-25
New Town Farm.

Meeting of the Authorities-A Unahi- nous Opinion for the Purchase of the selden Property-Interesting Views by the Joint Board.
 joint meeting was held last evening of i the SeIectmen and the advisory committee Of 1 the town on the question of purchasing Sel- den farm for new town farm. Present, ex- Mayor H. NJ. Welch, l.. W. Sperry, Gardner Morse, M Zunder, of the citizens advisory 1 committee, and Selectmen Reynolds, Feld- I man, Cooper, Andrew Hugo, Sperry and Beecher.
 In the absence of ex-Governor English the meeting was momentarily in 8 quandary. He had accidentally not been notified, or rather had not received @ notification left
 for him, he being away in Boston. The l members expressed their opinion as to the advisability of not proceeding with Governor English absent, and as to the question of the ! two bodies meeting jointly or separately It | was agreed to discuss the whole subject to- gether informally. Mir. Andrew presided. Mr. Morse favored the purchase. MT. An 1 drew said there were three doctors on the | Board of Health, which Board approved of the Selden farm in sanitary point of view The Board went into a free and social | discussion of the malaria topic. The ma 1 jority appeared to lean to the view that ma | Iaria would crop out wherever it saw fit,-
 that no pentup Utica restrained its powers. 1 Ex Mayor Welch broke in by reading the | vote appointing the citizens committed Selectman Cooper said, laughing That ' vote refers to an old town farm fever. l Mr. Welch found the vote authorizing the purchase of new town farm. The pur- | chase was to be subject to a two-thirds ap | proval by both the Selectmen and the advi-
 sorry committee. The purchase must be done in joint session. town meeting must ratify the decision as the final requisite | Expressions of opinion as to the Selden farm were now heard
 | Ex-Mayor Welch--I am in favor of the | purchase We have talked about it for years. Heretofore when we have talked farm | prices have been too high. It appears to be
 excellent land for farming purposes It has | proper site for town buildings-high and | dry and on an eminence. l don't think it is 1 too far out We must not act alone for to- l day, but also for those to come after us. I | think the town is growing to-day as fast as at any time ln many years. The workshops are all busy. This increases the number of in- habitants. Certainly no town in New Eng land is more convenient for manufactories | than New Haven The poor we have al-
 ways, Will you build where you are, and
 stay where you are, or go to the new place The present town buildings are situated right to be converted to other uses. Mir. Sperry added: The buildings were erected with view to their use in case of 8 new farm. As to proper buildings that should be looked into. There should be classification of pau pers and separation of sexes. l wouldn't send tramps and loafers to Wethersfield. They can work on the farm. I don't think the Selden farm is out too far The Selectmen and Town Agent have all for years felt that change should be made. Now we have very favorable opportunity.
 MT. L. W. Sperry coincided with Mr. Welch. Better provision should be made for the 1n- sane. To increase or add to the present buildings would meet with strong opposition. The town mover can dispose of it's town prop erty to advantage while the present buildings are used for the present purpose. The ex-
 Mayor added other suggestions.
 Mr. Zunder fully agreed With Messrs. Weich and Sperry. I have been very agreeahly surprised at the farm, it's location, land, etc. I regard it's purchase as wise measure.
 Upon the basis of the school population we can safely say that to-day New Haven has a population of 10000 souls, and at the
 end of this century at this rate the popula
 tion will not be less than 125,OO0. I believe it is time for action. From what I have seen the town cannot lose anything by the pur chase Stock raising would pay the interest. I think, as far as money IS concerned, It IS @ good investment no money will be sunk.
 Mr. Feldman agreed perfectly with the pre- vious speaker.
 Mr. Morse coincided that it was rare op- portunity to purchase 8 large tract of land perfectly suitable for the wants of the town for century to come, for the poor, insane, etc. As Mir. Zunder says, there is no risk, and on the point of health it is as healthy as any place. It is 8 good quality of land, which will take care of itself. l don't understand the idea is to build new buildings for some years to come. It will pay for itself and pay the interest. To MT. Sperry: Yes, the hay crop will pay the interest. There is not place within six miles of New Haven as de- sirable..
 Mr. Zunder-Are there any objections from Hamden to the set off Of the farm to New Haven
 Mr. Andrew said no, not in the least so far as making any opposition is concerned.
 Mir. Welch-The worst that could be done | would be to pay Hamden the taxes.
 MT: Reynolds Qaughing)-We can apply | for another annexation act.
 MT. Wintergreen Falls is ques- tioned as unsafe
 Mir. Beecher explained that that was great cry and little wool affair. The little narrow stream hardly ever overfowed its banks And danger was out of the question. There was no stream-virtually none. It was spring 1 water. AS to health, go and see old Mir. l Manser and Mir. Wooding. They look healthy. |
 Mir. Hugo expressed the view that the pur- l chase was bargain for the town.
 Mr. Reynolds-The opportunity is some thing we-should take advantage of; it is not likely to occur again in years This offer was l specially made the town because the town can 1 pay cash down; therefore the terms are very l favorable. The Selectmen didn't think it | right to let the chance go by without making 1 it known to the committee. Having looked at the farm the Selectmen were of the opin- ion as a unit that they ought to go before the l town and recommend the purchase. They 1 consulted the Board of Health, who approved | of the farm from their point of view
 Mr. Cooper-I think the farm would take care of itself The town could lay out $500 and build dam and get crop of ice that I would half pay the interest of the outlay. To MT. Welch-We could put the dam where the clay is found for making brick; $500 would put up a Cala ana bno crop Ol 1cS would sell for enough to pay half the interest of the cost.
 MT. Sperry (jocosely) Ut would be pure spring water; one member added joke.
 Mir. Beecher-I approve the purchase the place is easily accessible, and far enough away so that the city will not approach too near. Various views have been expressed with which agree
 Selectman Sperry-I believe we are all united in sentiment It is good purchase. It is mostly surrounded by land that will not come into use for building purposes.
 The meeting adjourned, to have another meeting soon, when the vote will be passed to purchase the farm.
 The Selden farm consists of exactly 257 acres of land, lying partly on 8 hillside, but for the major part on 8 level. It is eligible generally for tillage. On the property is a large house and fine barn, so located that teams can pass directly through the doors on one side into the third story. It has an ice house large enough to store ap inexhaustible quantity of ice and it is so located as to wa ter that plentiful supply can always be had. This valuable property lies near West Rock. It is not on any highway, but the direct route is through pleasant scenery, and with enc good road it will be located exactly right for town institution.