Morning journal and courier., 1890-02-04

hem to swing open by CONFERENCE.-The to
ave time; the connection between the draw
md the gate to be broken automatically
vhen the draw moves of, and re-connected
ions In swinging the bridge, reversing the
nds, etc. Plans are now being made by the
lily engineer for such gate.
sTRnxT CLEANING.
There seems to be general complaint in
II oities that the streets are not kept a. clean
md tidy ~ they should be. The condition
# our streets has been criticised and justly
70. One cause of this ID that they are 30
frequently opened for the purpose of putting |
Town sewers, water and gas mains and sub
Ways for wires and making connection with |
he same, and they are not replaced in Is
,hould be rsmedisd BY having inspectors on |
hand to see that It il properly done, or
The board of public works should |
b empowered to do the work of closing the |
openings and charging the costs to the par
hes making the same. Another cause for the
slovenly condition Of the streets, especially
Sunday mornings, when they should be
clean, il because of the immense
o. loose paper erSu.Ts and hand
be framed to remedy this evil, I would sug-
gest that the sweeping machine go over the
street early Sunday morning, and that every
thing of the kind be gathered up and carried
off, SO that the streets may present an ap-
pearance In harmony with the day.
PARKS ...a
In March 1889 the Legislature of the State,
passed an act previously approved almost
unanimously by the court of common coun-
Gil, which act established q com mission Of
ovIa fox tho and oiku IF Novu
Haven aud authorized the town to issue its
bond to the amount of 5000, 900 to be ex-
pended by the commission In the purchase
and improvements of sites for public parks.
The act was ratified and accepted by the
town at meeting especially called for that
purpose January 10, 1850, and the commits
sion was organized Immediately thereafter.
The commission although not distinctively a
is nevertheless closely identified
Of Oft; tni. body among IL official members, and
the act under which it is constituted ia by Its
terms, to certain extent, AN amendment to the
city charter; and 1t Is therefore proper and
desirable that 1t should, like. the East Rock
Park commission, which bias superseded,
make report of Its proceedings annually to
the Court of Common council. For its actions
up the present time refer this honorable
body to its frat report presented herewith.
This commission is one of great Importance
to the present and future welfare of New
Haven; and, in it's efforts to promote the
health and happiness of our own and coming
generations, as we'll as the permanent en-
dorsement and prosperity of our city. should
receive confidence and friendly support from
all classes of our citizens.
While the act creating the park commits
sion give sole control to the new commission
of parks, squares, grounds and open places
acquired or dedicated to the public use after
its acceptance, it does not provide any form
or way, manner or means, by or in which
the transfers are to be made from the city
commission, viz: "Ths New Haven town
commission of public parks" The act ia
also silent as to the matter of meeting the
obligation which the city of New Haven has
been placed under by the various acts or the
Court of Common Council In acquiring title
to property which it intended for
public use, as for instance. the
street parks, agreed not to oppose the taking
of their property and declaring benefits and
damages equal, provided that the contem-
plated improvements were made within two
years, and these Improvements your prede-
cessors have ordered made between April
and July of this year.
As the Martin street parks and the park
along the bluffs of West river were not ac-
quired or dedicated to the public use, prior
to the acceptance Of the act BY the town,
| would recommend that you take such action
| as will transfer the management of these
| parks to the New Haven commission of pub
| lie works, with the understanding and agree
ment that they will carry out the contem.
| plated improvements and assume the obliga
lions of the city in taking the control of tbes,
parks.
To secure this would suggest that yor
authorize your committee on parks, togethe
with representative from the trustees Of tn,
old town farm, the Hubinger Brothers ani
Charles M. Fabrique, who are large donator
of land for these parks, to confer with tn
New Haven commissioner of public parks Ii
regard to transferring the management o
these parks as contemplated in the act, ant
to protect the interests of the city of New
Haven.
In this connection am in receipt of let
ter from one of our we'll known citizens, Mr.
Walter Camp, who suggests that q portion o
West River park be set apart for fire.
ground for base ball and other athleti
sports.
I am in hearty accord with the sentiment
expressed In Mr.. Camps letter, and in visv
of the fact that there are no places about tn
city to be had without expense or the annoy
ance to persons living near, I would urge tina
| such provision be made and q sufficient are
be set apart for that purpose.
| POLICE.
| The efficiency of this branch of munioIps
service still continues. 1t is to be regretted
that the income of the city was insufficient
to warrant the needed appropriations requis
lite to carry forward the recommendations o
the commission In purchasing land and erect
ing the buildings for two reporting stations
Given those stations there would be no nee
essity to materially increase the number o.
! patrolmen. AZ 1t is I view IL somewhat haz
ardous II We wish, not only to continue tn,
present efficiency Of the force but to improve
1t, to neglect to add . sufficient number o.
patrolmen for the protection of the city I'M.
til such an appropriation can be made.
The death of Police O@csr Kennedy re-
moves from our midst one who was wei
known for his affable and courteous man
ners. Having been stationed for many year
at the depot of the Consolidated road, hi
were aided by his knowledge of the arriva
and departure of trains.
Police Officers Helget and Coffee, yer,
| able and efficient officers, were removed b,
death-the former from the result of injurie
received while in the discharge of his duties
| FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The New Haven hre department is &C
knowledged at home and abroad as one o
the best managed departments in the coun
try. 1t has been my privilege the past yea
to make two tours of inspection with tn
commissioners at time when a visit wa
not anticipated. can only speak in tn
highest. praise Of the neatness, order and syi
tenn to be found In the department.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
The report of the board of health for tn
past year is not yet compiled, but 1t is pre-
dicted that the death rate will be lower tina
for 1888. The board of health and its EN-
ployes have abated an unusal number G
nnisances, and believe the sanitary con
dition of the city was never better, thong
there is still room for Improvement. Th
board can travel only little faster tina
public opinion. Given the support and On
| oouragement of the community, many NOR
questionable nuisances would be abated.
can only repeat what said In my mei
srge of last year: "Our rights, powers an
Jurisdiction are In the same chaotic state
constantly causing confusion"
The town has considered the building of
new hospital for contagious diseases, and
Ia hoped the same will be built and In ue
|. ere the present year closes.
. The committee on ordinances have had SOY
! eral hearings concerning proposed plumt
| ing ordinance, and only repeat what hav
heretofore said: ION a subject which
! largely professional, the Judgment of INTEL
. gent physicians should have great weight
Few If any cities of the size of New Have
are without such an ordinance. the same hi