Morning journal and courier., 1891-10-06
THE WATER CONTRACT.

THE WAITER CONTRACT.
 Action on tho Matter Deferred by the
 Board of AlderInen-Mayor Sargent
 Decides That the Winchester Ave-
 nue Railroad Company,s Petition
 Cannot Properly Come Before the
 Board-Report of the Special Conn
 mfttee de New Haven City Burial
 Association-Other Business.
 The Winchester Avenue Railroad com pany met with another setback last even ing, notwithstanding the fact that the committee made favorable report in the on railroads and bridges on the petition of the company to lay tracks on Chapel street came up for consideration, at the meeting of the board of aldermen last evening, said report recommending that the con- pany be granted the permission desired Alderman Callahan raised the point of order that the whole matter was improper ly before the board, as the company had no right by it's charter to lay tracks on Chapel street, and therefore the board had no right to grant them the desired per- mission. Mayor Sargent decided that the point of order was well taken and that the matter was not properly before the board.
 Hardly had the mayor announced his decision when the electric lights in the room all suddenly went out and the room was left in semi-darkness for a few moments until the massive gas chandeliers could be lighted. When the lights went out Alderman Daley rose and moved that candles be brought in for the use of the board but Clerk Downes replied that there
 
 and the gas being lighted at this point the matter was dropped.
 The committee on water reported that they had held conference with the New Haven Water company and that the com pany would make contract to supply the city with water for the next ten years from the expiration of the present con- tract, February 20, 1899, at an annual price of S20,00O.
 Alderman Chandler was immediately upon his feet and favored the making of as noe o0ntsnSs namsa bK H tss ad city Ten a" as tract with the city at a fixed price of $16,- 900 per annum. During this decade the population has increased fully 35 per cent, and the number of hydrants has undoubt- edly increased in the same proportion, and I therefore think that it is fair to grant the water company the increase in price which they ask. I therefore move that the contract be made as stated.
 Considerable discussion of the matter pro and con was then indulged in by sev- eral members of the board, after which Alderman Keane offered substitute to the effect that the entire matter be re- ferred back to the committee on water to secure further information on the matter and report at future meeting of the board. The substitute motion was then unanimously adopted.
 The report from the special committee appointed to examine into the ability and liability of the New Haven Burial Ground association to pay for a sidewalk on Ash nun street, was presented and created considerable discussion between Alderman Chandler of the First and Alderman Hill CT, chairman of the special committee. The report was finally accepted and the order passed. The report of the commit tee in full is as follows:
 To the Honorable Court of Common Coun-
 cil, City of New Haven:
 Whereas, The New Haven City Burial association has received from the city of New Haven $7, ,000 % in cash for the erec- the eighteen acres of land enclosed by the cemetery wall, the city of New Haven bought, paid for, and gave to the said as- sociation as free gift three acres or nine squares of the present land and authorized lots to be sold therein, and the records | also show that the said burial association had in their treasurer's hands in August, 1862, $10,000 ''derived principally from | the sale of lots authorized by the city," | and whereas the said association now claims legal exemption from municipal as- sidewalks, etc.
 First-By reason of their special charter and the general exemption of cemeteries md charitable institution from taxation.
 Second-From the fact, that previous resolution of the common council ap- pointed standing committee of three gen lemen two to be chosen by the lot own 'rs of said cemetery, and one to be chosen y the court of common counciD who hould have charge of the said fund of ,10, 900 derived principally from the sale # city lots, (and which fund now amounts o between twenty and twenty-one thou and dollars) and the said committee were IiracfAd to f1aa the said frnd for tI1e care