The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1890-10-17
sEwrowN. OCTOBER II, 1890.
wEsTPoRT.

The town of Westport, ut It's annual
meeting ON Monday, 9Th, showed an
amount of confidence In the selectmen
never before exhibited, by placing $4,000
ut their disposal for the repair and Inn
provement OF the highways. This is a
mark OF high honor for the present town
fathers, but places them In very sensi-
tive position, owing to the amount of
patronage Mt their disposal. Already
they are beginning to care for the neg
lected highways, which were never at
this season OF the year in such an abom-
Unable condition. At Saugatuck, the trees
that have made the depot road so narrow
below the post Office are being removed
and it Is expected that this Is the first
step toward widening the avenue. One
thing is certain, the widening can never
be done with less expense nor less in
convenience to property owners. But
this Is not the only road where improve
ments will be demanded. There will be
demand for the grading down of more
of the hills on the turnpike between the
village and Southport, also from the vii
lage west TO the Norwalk line and the
northern part of the town also has the
right to apply for permanent improve
ments. The sentiment expressed at the
be satisfied with the past condition of
the roads, but will use every effort to
make them compare favorably with those
of adjoining towns. The remarks of ex-
Representative Buckley were very peril
nent and should be well considered. His
reference to Westport business diverted
to other towns Is too true and the poor
roads are no small factor In this diver
sion. Only few years ago, Westport
was the purchasing point for large ter
ritory lying north and east. Bnt to-day
only u small percentage, in comparison
with what It used to be, is realized by her
merchants. IL Is u common expression
with old customers, when they chance
TO come into town, that the roads are so
much better into Southport and Bridge
port that they get accustomed to using
the best roads and don't mind the differ
ence in distance. They also make the
claim that they must buy cheaper in
Westport, because they are unable to
draw the same amount that they do from
other purchasing points. This is a seri-
Gus drawback to the growth of the coal,
lumber, feed and other branches of trade
that once made Westport noted along the
Sound. VIII those good old times ever
return? The selectmen now hold the
key that locks much of the former trade
out OF town and it is expected that they
will unlock these rock-ribbed roads and
let trade come in.
Miss Lottie Burr of Brooklyn visits
Miss Nellie Wakeman OF Saugatuck.
Mayor DeForest and Lawyer Phelan
OF Bridgeport were the stars of the even.
ing ut the Democratic rally in Sturges
hall, Saturday evening.
Albert Andrews, who died, Friday, &C
years old, was buried, Monday, from his
late home on Riverside avenue.
An unlocked for deadlock occurred in
the probate convention of the district of
Westport, which includes the towns of
Westport and Weston, last week. The
three Weston delegates were solid for
Silas b. Sherwood, the present judge,
while the westport trio could not be
budged from George b. Smith of Sauga-
tuck. An adjournment to Friday was
finally taken and some lively electioneer-
Ing has been done.
Horace Staples is back from Bingham
ton.