Morning journal and courier., 1885-07-04
THE CHAPEL STREET DRAW.
Shall 1t Re Closed At Certain Hourss- Opinion For And Against-A Fossil

Shall 1t He Closed At Certain HOurss- Opinion For And Agafnst-A Fossil bIe Conflict Of Authority.
 The committee on ordinances held a meet ing last evening in rooms 10 and Ii City Hall, Councilman Mansfield presiding.
 The first matter considered was a reso1u- tion providing for an ordinance that shall cause the Chapel street drawbridge to be
 closed at certain hours of the day. Tine mat ter had once been before the committee and
 by them passed upon and reported ts the Common Council. At the same time a re- monstrance was sent in to the Council by persons doing business on the river above the draw and others in which they entered a strong protest against any interference with the free navigation of the river. The pro- posed ordinance and the remonstrance were, at that meeting, referred back to the com mittee for the purpose of hearing what the remonstrants had to say and to farther con slider their action.
 Last evening Councilman Hamilton spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. He said only day or two since the br{dge was opened at noon and before it closed one hun dred and fifty persons were waiting to cross the bridge. He said that great many peo-
 pie worked on this side the river that lived on the opposite, and they had no time to lose
 in going for their meals and returning to
 their work.
 Ex-Governor English appeared in opposi-
 tion to the proposed ordinance. He said
 that the city had no power to order that
 bridge to be closed. The harbor comn1is
 sioners alone controlled these matters, and
 their power was delegated to them by the
 legislature of the State. He said that yes
 sells going up Mill river were obliged to take
 advantage of the tide. If the city interfered
 with commerce they interfered with the
 manufacturing interests, and anything that
 was done to cripple the one or the other was
 against the interests of New Haven.
 L. W. sperry was opposed to the proposed closing of the bridge. He said it was well
 understood that the State could delegate it's powers to the harbor commissioners. This question had been settled by the courts. Or dinarily, said MT. Sperry, there is not de- lay of over five minutes in opening the draw to allow vessels to pass through. He said that when he first came to New Haven there was only one coal yard on Mill river; now there were seven. He thought, with all due difference to the gentlemen who want to pass over this bridge, that they ought to be satis fled that a bridge had been built for their accommodation, without asking that naviga- tion be impeded by closing the draw at cer tain hours of the day.
 The petition for ordinance regulating the removal of ashes was next heard. Alderman Spreyer and Dr. c. A. Lindsley appeared in favor of the ordinance. Dr. Lindsley said he. thought the ashes should be removed ire quently and at public cost, the same as gar bage is now removed. He said ash heaps were unwholesome and offensive because into them were thrown kitchen garbage and other materials which became fruitful sources of disease.
 The committee in executive session ap- pointed Councilmen Young and Hull to draw an ordinance to cover the petition.
 The closing of the Chapel street draw was next considered. Corporation Counsel Dris- coll stated to the committee that he still thought that under the charter the city, hay ing control of it's highways and bridges, could order the bridge to be closed at certain hours of the day The harbor commissioners under their powers might step in and say that the bridge must not be closed to navigation and then there would be a conflict of authority that would have to be settled by the courts.
 The committee voted to meet again on next Monday evening at o'clock to farther consider their report to the Common Coun- cil