Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-29

His qualifications need no comment from me. for his ability and faithfulness in the discharge of duty, his kindness of heart and the ever ready courtesy to all that came within bis presence, are known to you as we Il as myself In our city and its various organizations he had many friends who ad- mired his manly qualities and his pleasant, quiet manner. and who deeply mourn his loss, It is fitting then as representatives of the city for which he done so much, that we should mingle our griefs, with the griefs of others, as 6 deserved tribute to his memory.
 EAST BOOK PARK.
 Few of these who were called together in 1879 to consider the offer of MT. J. W. Bish- oD and others to donate some fifty or more acres of land as 8 nucleus for park, and who by their subsequent contributions of land and money inaugurated the scheme, thought, that in so brief a time so much would be accomplished in carrying out the undertaking.
 Every step in it's progress has been eagerly watched by many approaching citizens, but not till the road leading from Bishop Gate to Indian Head gave an easy passway to the summit, with it's magnificent surrounding scenery did the general pubic begin to realize what was in store for them in the near future.
 Our East Rock Park has now however be- come fixed institution and has been appre ciated by the public, during the past year as never before The splendid hberality of our lamented townsman, the late Henry Farnam, has nearly completed what is known as the Farnam Drive, and made 1t easy for anyone to ride or walk by gently ascending grade to the top Of the rock, and go to the very edge of the pFecipice which looks down upon the city from the front of Orange street.
 Few men have ever had the opportunity, and seized it, to build for themselves more imperishable monument.
 The annual city appropriation of $6.000 was mainly expended by the Park commis sioners in the purchase of land and was SUD- pIemented most opportunely by the generous and unsolicited gift of $1, 900 from John O. Anderson, to whose open hand so many of our local charities have of late been indebted
 New Haven may now justly boast of one of the finest parks in the world. It is rare good fortune to a city to have such bold bluff as East Rock within mile or two of it's centre, but we have more. We have the broad valley of the Quinnipiac on one side of 1t, the long chain of Lake Whitney on the other, Mount Carmel and the hanging hills of Meriden for the far background, and full in front the unbroken reach of the blue waters of the Sound frightened with the white winged ships which are the ministers of our growing commerce.
 Of all places about the city East Rock has become confessedly the favorlte drive, It is the first thing to take 8 stranger to see, and it never fails to secure his enthusiastic ad miretion. Hundreds of vehicles went over the Farnsm Drive every pleasant day last fall, and the public will find the park a source of health and pleasure more and more as it becomes more fully known and de. veloped.
 The number of acres in the layout of the park is something over $50, the title to the greater portion of which has been acquired oo7 For Shnuf6 like hnwavar the layout extended so as to take in the land laying between the present layout and Lake Whitney south of the road crossing the covered bridge, also that portion between Snake Rock and Mill River northwest of View street, both of which are well calculated for, and would make the finest of athletic grounds and add very materially to the beauty and surroundings. Unless some such places are provided for the younger portion of the community. the public can hardly con- plain of tresspsssers upon private grounds.
 It is claimed by many and fully agree with them that the city ought to rebuild the road from Whitney avenue through Rock Lane and along the foot of the rock to State street together with suitable bridge over Mill River.
 It is an old highway, and the distance saved between the points mentioned is very great so much so, that from it's location it must be 8 traffic and business road and I bEuSb yOu VIII &INO 4G SLCS dLtCntAOA bb lA6 earliest possible moment.
 I would recommend as soon as the spring opens that one or more mounted policemen be directed to patrol the park for the pro- tection of the public, especially women and children and to see that the rules governing it's use are complied with.
 In addition to the gift of S7 acres, there has been expended upon the park $73 IA for lands, roads and incl entals, of which SIS SS5 was subscribed by citizens, 1924, ,0OO from the annual $6 ,OOO payment of the city and the balance paid by the city on assessments for condemned land.
 The balance in the treasury at the con- mencement of the year WAS $74 40 and with the exception of $6, ,OO0 from the city, it is all we have for carrying on the work of the year.
 have no doubt there are hundreds who would gladly contribute to carry on this more than grand undertaking; indeed many have expressed themselves that if popular su subscription was started they would @iliiDg- ly subscribe according to their means, and 1 take the responsibility here of saying that some arrangements shall be made to start the experiment..
 COMMITTEES ON STREETS, SEWERS AND CLAIMS
 The several joint standing committees on streets, sewers and claims have well and faithfully discharged their duties during the year. These committees are the most i'm
 
 their composition men of the best judgment and discrimination. Their duties are often laborious, and sometimes disagreesble, as it is impossible to always agree with the views of the petitioners appearing before them. An abstract of the result of their labors is as fol. lows:
 The Committee on Streets held 24 meet ings and heard 254 petitioners and 1O4 re- monstrants They acted upon S5 petitions, It commended orders upon 66, disapproved 8, continued 3, and 8 were miscellaneous.
 The Committee on Sewers held 9 meetings and considered 19 petitions. They reported favorably upon 9 ,-gave leave to withdraw and continued to the next Council
 The Committee on Claims had hearings upon 42 petitions and reported favorabIy upon 16, gave IS leave to withdraw, referred to the Board of Compensation and 5 to the next Council.
 The committee recommended the payment of $4OO for injury to the person. $4, 133 to the estate of B Healy for ipi1ry to proper easements against churches and charitable institutions.
 POLICE DEPARTMENT
 From the report of the chief of police it appears that during the fiscal year the force has been increased from " to 90 men, and as now organized consists of chief, 2 captains 2 lleutenants, sergeants 3 roundsmen. 2 truant officer, on special detail aud 75 patroimen During the year one officer has been fined, two suspended, three and one discharged
 The new precinct in Grand street has been opened and gives great satisfaction to the commissioners, having caused a marked change for the better in that sect on of the city, law and order taking the place of law lessness and crime. The precinct is under the charge of Lieutenant O'Keefe and ser geant Schmidt. who are faithfully performing their duties with credit to themselves and the department.
 la the report. with which concur. the chief states that as rule the police have performed their duty with entire satisfaction, and that the streets have been faithfully patrolled so far as the number on the force would admit. The duties of 8 pstrolman are not always as easy as many are led to believe, and when faithfully performed are arduous in the extreme, for by day and by night h sunshine and in storm, he must ever travel on, and the darker and stormier the night. the greater the vigilance required to guard the citizen and his property. The police fulfill ah their obligations, and while few make mistakes and render them selves liable to censure and punishment, as in other avocations in life, it does not follow that the entire body should be condemned for the dereIiction of an individual member