Morning journal and courier., 1885-10-10
THE BEAVER PONDS.

What Shall Re Done With the Lo- |
 cality4-A Difference of Op1nIon-The |
 Majority Favor Drainage-The Law l
 to Be Looked Up.
 A meeting of the special Common Council | committee to take into consideration the con dition of that much talked about locality | known as Beaver ponds held a meeting in l rooms 10 and Il City Hall last evening. l There were present of the committee Alder l men Hill and Daley and Councilmen Pohl- | man and Martin.
 The locality known as Beaver ponds has been the subject of discussion at different times during the past few years in every board connected with the city government Various plans have been suggested to remove or cure what has been considered by great many scientific and other persons as 8 fruit full source of disease, owing to the miasmatic influences arising from these swamps or ponds as they are called. It has been all talk thus far, owing, DO doubt, to the differences of opinfon existing to the best method of removing the eEccl complained of. The meeting last evening was no improve ment over others in this regard.
 William H. Farnham and Arthur N. Earn. ham, both of whom live on Crescent street and in close proximity to the ponds, were present to oppose any scheme looking to the flooding of the ponds or swamps and making a lake of them. They considered the land very valuable for market gardening pur- poses, they having some of it under cultiva- tion. These gentlemen thought if anything was done that the territory should be thoroughly drained and the entire land cov- cred by this section could be successfully and proftably titled.
 John J. Bartiss, farmer who lives VN.+c nsf,- hI1t rambling speech. He said he had lived in the immediate locality of the Beaver ponds for over thirty years, and until the slaugh- ter houses were built in the vicinity it was just as healthy as any other locality. He contended that it would be impossible to food it and make lake of it, as some men talked about. The only way was to drain it.
 Joel A. Sperry said he had always advo- cated the flowing of Beaver ponds. He thought it would be great improvement to that section of the city. He said there was no trouble about the water. Forty years ago there were plenty of trout ill Beaver ponds, but the water had been contaminated with filth so that no fish or anything else could live there. He thought the place could never be thoroughly drained, but it could be flood ed and made one of the most beautiful spots in New Haven. It would be worth more to the people than any other one thing that could be done. A beautiful drive could be laid out around it and it would attract people who want to build nice residences. It need not all be done at once, but ten years, if necessary, could be taken to do the work. In all cities where there is beautiful sheet of water, there is sure to be the center of attraction. The citizens of New Haven should be very careful about throwing away such piece of property that is.
 Solomon Mead thought by a trihing ex- pense for drainage the land of Beaver ponds har I, md Io11 acre. He recited instance of reclaimed land in the town of Mansfield by drainage which he thought a case parallel to this. He thought it would not cost over S2 GOO to thoroughly drain it, and when this was done it would be very valuable for cultivation. He said the plan of flowing or making lake of it was not at all feasible in his opinion. The springs would not supply sufficient wa ter for this purpose and there was no stream running into it that amounted to anything.
 E. s. Nichols favored drainage as the prop CT way to get rid of the evil complained of He was quite conversant with the history of the Beaver ponds region and thought if the draining system was adopted and the land put under cultivation, the malarial inhu- ences, if any, arising therefrom would speed fly disappear.
 A. A. Townsend thought if this committee would recommend that the Board of Health employ engineers and physicians to decide what was best for the health of the city so far as these ponds are concerned it would be the best thing to do. If there was water enough to cover the lands and keep them covered perhaps this plan would be tho bet ter one. Whichever plan is adopted it should be the one that is best for all parties inter. ested.
 Eli Whitney, jr., said he was in favor of lake if there was water enough to cover it and keep it constantly full. He came in, he said, to get information and did not intend to speak on the subject.
 City Engineer Hill thought if lake was made of the Beaver ponds it would be a greater nuisance than it is now He thought it could be eHectually drained by cutting off the springs at the foot of the hills by lateral drains emptying into one large drain. The committee went into executive session to consider their report. Alderman Daley gave it as his -opinon, with out looking up the law, that under An act passed in 1852 the boards of health were the only authority in such matters that could act so far as their removal or abatement was concerned. He said he would look up the law and if this was found to be the case report to this eff feet could be submitted to the Common Council and recommending that the whole subject be referred to the Board of Health This met with the approval of the other members of the committee and they then ad- iourned subject to the call of the chairman.