Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-01-03


 wise in neighboring cities to provide a breathing spot for humanity outside the busy streets Such legacy to the present and future generations of our growing city could be much better secured now than later.
 RAILROAD CROSSINGS.
 beg to call your attention to matter of great importance to the city: the recon struction of railroad crossings.
 In the city and town there are at present II railroad crossings of our public high ways, all more or less dangerous to public travel-the hazard to travel increasing as the travel and population increases. Those crossings in the city regarded as most dan gerous are: At Bank street, both at the depot and west end of the bridge over the Naugatuck river; Burnham street, where the Naugatuck railroad crosses; West Main street, at the crossings of both the Nauga- tuck and New England railroads, and the crossings of South Riverside street by the New England railroad.
 An application and petition is now pend ing, brought at the instance of the New York and New England Railroad Compa- ny, to the state railroad commissioners, on which hearing has been ordered to ad just the crossings and make such orders as said commissioners shall deem proper on the said crossings at Burnham street, Bank street, Riverside street and West Main street.
 It is contemplated to place all these crossings over or under the track of the railroad. The hearing before said com missioners will be held in this city at a day in the near future The cost of these improvements, it is estimated, will be not less than $100,000
 It will be proper for this Council to in dicate by vote, or by the appointment of a fcommittee, what course the city will pur- ! sue in view of this hearing and applica- I ton. To this end plans should be submit | ted by your authority to said commission sioners. Your committee, with the City Council, ought to appear before said com missioners instructed to suggest such measures as will protect the interests of 1 the city.
 It is obvious that all this work cannot be done in one or two years. It is also plain that the city cannot be reasonably involved | in so great an expense. In many of these | localities the grade of streets cannot be changed to. accommodate bridging without great damage to private property and enor- nous expense to the city.
 With grand list of something more l than S9,000, ,000; with bonded debt of town, city and school of nearly $500, 900; With further 1ndeDtedneSS 1n the nature of temporary loans or floating indebtedness of nearly $200, ,OO0, the city cannot afford to contract so great an expense as these plans indicate. The city may be able to reach these desired improvements step by step, and so ultimately remove the grade crossings which now, here as elsewhere, have been condemned by public opinion as well as the entire press of the state l l beg to tender my thanks to the retir- ing Boards of Aldermen and Councilmen, to the members of the several boards, to the general officers of the city, and to the chiefs of the departments, for their uni form devotion to public duties and their courtesy in the administration of their offices.
 l Hopeful of repeated efforts to benefit our people and the accomplishment of wise legislation, bid all those and you, gentle men, a happy New Year.
 1 HENRY I. EDUCATION, Mayor.