Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-08


 ply from each of these sources. And whether on the whole it will not be better in the long run and cheaper to obtain our water from Bantam lake and if need be issue bonds payable in the future, and in the meantime creating a sinking fund for that purpose out of the revenues from this department. must be for you to determine.
 For myself am not at all sure that We ought not to make this a permanent under taking once we begin. We shall have no earth embankments to construct. We can bring the water as far as we like ill an artificial channel or canal. We shall have an inexhaustible supply. We shall have no water right to pay for. We can suaply the Cooke street reservoir and all other high ground in the city and can lay large main in all the principal streets and we shall feel able in the future to provide against any contingency of fire. and we should not have this question to disturb us for hundred years, except perhaps only when the tax gatherer comes ronnd.
 GAS SUPPLY.
 The matter of our gas supply and that which is supplied to our citizens has been recently called to my attention, and I deem it not out of place, therefore, to offer here a few suggestions. In the first place, for a great many years our gas company has had monopoly of the supply of gas in this city for all public and private purposes. l never heard it stated that the corporation ever paid the city or anybody else anything whatever for the privilege of enjoying this exclusive monopoly. They have digged nd delved in such of our streets as seemed to offer the largest profits for their invest ments and without let or hindrance and without paying any compensation therefor. The needs of the city or the wants of its citizens were not matter that concerned them most. There never has been a gas main laid on Baldwin street or any other street east of Mad river.
 No gas main has been laid on East Main street east of Cherry street. The Burnt Hill district has never had any supply of gas. The cost to such of our citizens as have seen fit to use gas has been at the dictation of the monopoly; and they have not hesitated to charge Us at the rate of $4 per thousand cubic feet until recently, though it is said that the actual cost of making the same is less than $l. It is al- so claimed that although recently the cost of gas has gone down to $2 per thousand, so regulated that it actually costs more for gas now because more is used now than when gas was $4 per thousand.
 Now in view of the complaints that are made recommend to you that this court of common council request the inspector general of gas meters and Illuminating gas that he shall appoint deputy inspector in this city, with view to inspecting the gas meters and the gas supplied in this city to our citizens in pursuance of the general statutes of this state. Whether or not you will think it best to require some addition al compensation from this company for the privilege of digging and uprooting our streets in the manner in which they are doing will be Il matter for your considera- tion. And whether or not also there ought not to be some provision requiring this company to pay for the privilege of ex- tending it's mains ill our streets, and wheth- CT or not the right to require this company to lay it's mains ill such streets in our city as this court of common council shall des- ignate, are also matters which 1t will not be improper for you to consider.
 And this brings me to say another thing to which think 1 called the attent ion of this board two or three years ago in one of my messages, and that is this. This court ought to resist the attempt of any man or set of men to obtain grant of exclusive privilege, within this city All of these private enterprises are set on foot and main tained generally at the expense of the many for the benefit of the few.
 The exclusive right to lay horse railroad track, telegraph., telephone and electric light lines and gas and steam pipes Ca cer- tain corporation has been granted the eX- elusive privilege of digging up our streets and laying down steam pipes therein) should not be granted. Now l say to you that no measure affecting the interests of this city ought to be passsd by the general assembly without the full knowledge and consent of this board or of a meeting of the citizens duly assembled.
 POWER OF THE MAYOR
 h,v perience with our fire, police and road boards, and we are all familiar with the re- suits of that experience. And l now sug- gest to you, though it may seem like ask ing additional powers for myself, whether it. would not be wise to ask for an amend ment to our charter empowering the may or to give casting vote in case of ties in these several boards. Have we had may or of our city whom you would be unwil- words, do you honestly think that tue mi nority should have the right to dletate to the majority whom they shall place in power? Have not these delays in the po- lice and fire departments and the scandals growing out of bargains said to have been made between members of the board been a reprOach to us And could any such re- proach have come upon us from any may or we have had or are likely to have
 A NEW CHATTER.
 Two years age this honorable board ap- pointed a committee and passed resolutions in reference to obtaining new chalt r for our city. Every year for eighteen years past, one, or two, or three or four amend ments have been made to the charterwhlch was granted us in 1871. These amendments some of them have been again amended and some of them repealed, and many of the provisions of the original charter have been so altered that the lawyers even dare not give advice without extended research as to what powers this city has or has not. The committee appointed by your board has made some progress as have been in- formed with the work committed to it, and 1 think it very likely that it may be pro- posed in time so that the incoming legisla- ture may pass upon it. If this work shall be accomplished of course draft will be submitted to this board for it's approval. Tho present members of that committee are the mayor. the city attorney and city clerk, ex-Alderman Cowell and ex-Council- man Davis; whether you would not think 1t wise to appoint other members from this present board to act with this committee must be for you to determine. So far as any work has been accomplished on this new charter, ic seems to be 2 revision rath- CT than compilation; that is, the npssv al a1,~ ,k~ ,ssl l., la