Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-04-03
TO BE FIFTY FEET WIDE.
Nearly 5000 to be Expended on th'
 Baldwin Street Bridge by the Town.

Nearly $5,O tO De Expended on Cnc
 Baldwin Street Bridge by the Town.
 The district court room was crowded with tax payers and non-tax-payers last evening when Moderator c. B. Webster called the adjourned town meeting to order. The business, hearing and acting upon the report of the selectmen and special committee-was quickly dispatched and the meeting adjourned, although number tried to prolong it by useless discussion.
 Selectman Doherty read the report which was a result of the committees inquiry in to the extra expense of widening the Bald win street bridge over Mad river. The committee reported that the bridge would have to be raised feet, 3 inches at the east end andlengthened 9 feet to allow the railroadto cross underline grade of the street. The railroad company propose to build a new bridge equal in quality to the present one and feet longer instead of splicing on to the present one, provided the town will exchange the old bridge for the new one. They also propose to raise the west end of the bridge feet 3 inches making grade of 3 feet within the presented estimates of two proposed changes, one to widen the bridge 5 feet, and another to make the bridge the full width of the street, 90 feet. The cost of the widening of the bridge ) feet will be S791, keeping the wooden joists Replac- ing them with iron joists will cost $862, total $1,673 The cost of widening the bridge to 50 feet will be $1, 790, with iron joists $1 ,037 extra, or $2,827. To this must be added the cost of masonry, esti- mated at $1, ,5SS, making the total cost for the 50 feet bridge, over and above the part paid by the railroad s4, ,415. The report recommended that if the railroad company raise the east end of the bridge feet 3 inches, they should be required to raise the west end at least feet, which would about 60 feet, and that the company be permitted to retain the old bridge.
 The report also recommended in any case that iron joists be substituted for wooden ones. It is with some hesitation, says the report, that we make any recon mendation as to the width of the bridge owing to the expense incurred in so doing, but recognizing the fact that whatsoever change is now made will be of perman- ent character, and that there is constantly increasing travel on Baldwin street and across the bridge, we have concluded to recommend that the bridge be widened to 50 feet, including two sidewalks 7 feet in the clear each, and that the roadbed be laid with asphalt at cost of $484, and that the meeting pass the necessary vote to | carry out the recommendation now pre- sented
 The report was signed by the selectmen and members of the special committee.
 The report was immediately accepted without any discussion and when Miles F. Connolly moved that the selectmen be in structed to build 50 foot bridge with 36 foot roadway and foot asphalt sidewalks it went through without dissenting voice. The matter had been dispatched with such haste that those present had hardly had time to gather themselves. but they began at once to open 8 discussion. M. E. Connolly set the ball rolling by asking if | the town was responsible for land dam 1 ages, but no one replied E. L. Bronson did not understand that there had been any action taken as to the disposition ot l the old bridge, but he was referred to the action of the town meeting in adopting the l report
 | Emmet Riordon wanted to know if the committee had consulted with the railroad company, and Colonel Doherty said that the committee had consulted with the Der lin Bridge company, and the committee had exercised it's best judgement. This l brought out a call for the vote creating the committee which was read. Then John Fitzpatrick wanted the committees report read and this brought out an objection | from M. J. Brzezinski on the ground that l Patrick Hayes would soon come in and want to hear the report, and he had nc sooner said it than that individuals portly figure passed through the door, but he did | not join with Mir Fitzpatrick in calling fol the reading of the report. A number o1 late arrivals began making motions. but the proceedings were interrupted by mo- 1 tion to adjourn and it was carried with only few dissenting voices.