Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1883-06-01
BOARD of PuhIic Works.

Orders for improvements i'm Various
Parts of the City-The Condition of the
streets-Ferry Path Once More-Other
Matters.
A meeting of the Board of Public Works
was held last evening. Present, His Honor
the Mayor, presiding; Messrs. Holcomb,
Pond Feldman, Sargent, Coleman.
Orders for curbs and walks on Maltby
street between Pine and Grafton streets on
both sides of Perkins street, from Pine street
to Shore Line railroad on north side of
Wolcott street, between James etreet and
BIatchley avenue both sides of West street.
from Congress avenue to Adeline street; on
west side of Orchard street; on west side of
Dixwell avenue and east side of Munson
street for relay of sidewalk on the west side
of York street, from Chapel to George street;
for relay of sidewalk on the west side of
College street, from Townsend's block to
College street for relay of sidewalk on the
east side of Franklin street for relay of
sidewalk on the south side of Elm street,
from Peabody Museum to York street. Order
for regarding of sidewalk on the south side
of Bradley street, between State and Orange
streets were all passed, and the city engineer
was instructed to give lines and grade.
A license was granted to P. Maher to make
connection with sewers.
The matter of the acting city engineer g
salary, which was considered several weeks
since, when it was voted that the salary be
the same as paid to the former engineer was
called up by Mr.. Sargent. At the time the
matter was under consideration the Demo
cratic members did not vote and the Mayor
did not declare the vote passed. Last even
ing the Mayor decided that as all the mem
bers of the Board we're present at the time,
they could not by refusing to vote defeat the
motion SO long as they were present. He
therefore decided that the vote was legal and
cited decisions in similar cases in other
States.
The matter of the removal of two trees in
front of Edward Heaton's premises at PAS
York street was referred to the Committee
on Parks with power to act.
Bernard Reilly and others appeared before
the Board to request that the curbing and
grading of Clay street be deferred until next
spring. The Common Council had ordered
the work to be completed before June 18th
of this year.
On motion it was voted to extend the time
to July 18th, in order to give the property
owners an opportunity to petition the Court
of Common Council for an extension of time
to next spring.
Amotion that the acting assistant engineer
be instructed to report plans for the protec,
ton of the East street outlet sewer was
passed.
The acting city engineer was instructed tc
notify property owners on Whitney avenue
from the New Haven and Northampton rail
road bridge to Sachem street to make neces
sary connections with sewer, gas and water
mains.
A communication from Alderman W. a
Law in reference to cleaning the streets was
read as follows:
NEW HAVEN, May %, 1888.
To the Honorable Board of Public Works Of
the city of New Haven:
Gentlemen:-I regret very much that be
fore the receipt of a notification Of YOU
meeting Wednesday evening announcing 6
hearing on the resolution of inquiry de the
dirty condition of the streets I had made
arrangements to leave town before that date
expecting to be absent a week or more
While l should very much like to be present
yet can scarcely see what new light could
shed on the matter of the condition of the
streets.
Mine would be but cumulative evidence
with that of the press and the people who
now complain.
The Board of Aldermen some two months
ago saw fit unanimously to endorse the reso-
luton of inquiry now before you, and In
SO doing recognized the result of the pre-
amble upon which the same was based, to
wit, that the streets were in an unusual
ly filthy condidition."
Assuming such to be the fact as evidenced
by their unanimous action, the matter in my
judgment is resolved into one of two things;
either the fault lies in the contract as it ex-
lists, or, if that is complete, in the perform
ance of it coupled with the non. enforcement
of its requirements.
If therefore in the opinion of your honor
able board those who took the contract to
clean the streets have complied with the
letter of the same in its true intent a nd
meaning to the entire satisfaction OF the
body having the right to enforce the same,
that is all that any citizen can expect, and
we must attribute the condition of the
streets to the Effectiveness and inef6eiency
of the contract rather than to dereliction on
the part of the contracting.
If on the other hand the contract Ii sufi-
GENTLY complete and effective in its conception
and details and the rights of the city property
guarded and protected therein, but its provis-
ons imperfectly complied with and inaficient-
ly executed, then it would seem as though the
fault lay not alone with the contractors, who
should fail to live up to their contract, but
with those authorities who having the power
to exact strict compliance with the letter
and spirit of the same should have failed to
do so. To which of these causes the uncleanli-
ness of the streets is due you, gentlemen, from
the peculiar facilities offered by your official
positions, can determine better than I.
That they are so is fact of common netori.
ETY. to which any unbiased citizen can testify.
Why they are SO is the question as nm
derstand it submitted to you by the Board of
Aldermen, and which trust and feel assured
You will give your careful attention
With great respect remain yours truly,
WILLIAM 81. Law.
To Hon Board of Public Works. New Haven.
The letter was referred to the superinten-
dent OF streets to inquire and report.
The matter of Limerick street lines and
grades was referred to the acting city engin-
Ger to get written opinion from the corpor-
alton counsel in regard to the rights of the
city in the matter
Resolution that the Board OF Public Works
report in regard to the compietion of Che