Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-13
A CONDITION coNrRoNrs US.

 Who Is Responsible For the Condi-
 tion of Our Highways-A Revision
 of the Charter and Board of Public
 Works Suggested.
 The condition of Waterbury's roads both in the center and outlying districts suggests topic for discussion that never grows old. For years the question has confronted each new board of council men and aldermen and the responsibility has been shifted from one set of officials to another and as a result the streetswith the exception of half a mile that has been paved, are in worse condition than they have been for years.
 The question that naturally presents itself to the already overburdened tax naver is: "Who is to blame for this con- dition of affairs?" It is an old story. Some years ago stone crusher was bought and set up, necessitating heavy outlay. The matter had not been care fully considered and the experiment proved a costly one. The soil of our roads rebelled against the macadam sys- tenn of road beds. The immense amount of heavy trucking in this city it was found when too late would tear a maca- dam road to pieces in no time. And the cost of such a road when finished was found to be almost as great as the cost of Belgian pavement. The stone crusher was located in a rocky ledge be- low Brooklyn which required drilling and blasting and breaking at large ex- pense before the stone was ready for the crusher. After being prepared the stone had to be carted couple of miles. And after a road had been treated to a coat of macadam it was found that the trouble had only just begun. It was constantly needing repairs and in the end cost the taxpayers an enormous sum.
 The Belgian block pavement has given universal satisfaction. Its first cost is high, but past experience has proven that for Waterbury it is the cheapest kind of road. In addition to the portions of streets already paved Mayor BoughtOn and the road board have recommended the paving of Bank street to the Brook | lvn bridge, South Main street to Rene, diets bridge. Exchange Place, and East Main street to Brown. This work should | have been begun ten years ago. Had Il been ordered at that time we would now have streets to be proud of and the tax 1 payers would be money in pocket.
 Whether the city shall pay the whole cost of paving or assess property owners upon each side of the estreetone-third of the cost is another question that has not beer l
 the burden is equally divided between
 the property owners directly interested
 and the taxpayers in general, while il
 others the city shoulders the entire cost l Mayor Boughton is of the opinion thai in order to successfully solve this ques
 tion of streets revision of the charter
 is necessary. A committee on public af
 fairs consisting of five or seven member
 should be appointed to have direct charge
 of all affairs of the city, roads, water
 sewers. lamps and gas, all should b
 united under one head. AS it is now thu members of different boasls serve with
 out compensation and cannot personall,
 see that their orders are fulfilled. Thi
 is especially true of the road board. Tn
 streets in the outlying districts are no
 properly attended to at present fo
 several reasons. In the frs
 place this has been a hard year upol
 streets, owing to the unusual amount O
 rain that has fallen. It is almost i'm
 possible for the present force, with tn
 means at hand, to keep the streets in re
 pair. Again, Inspector Colley does nc do his work as it should be done thi
 is especially true of his work upon cross walks and culverts. And last but nc
 least the inspector does just about as h pleases.
 A condition, not a theory, confronts Il.