Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-01-06

= 10 sum up, ana TO leave THIS matter IN
your hands for your earnest consideration
versally conceded, that of the new
sources for water supply, we should look
to the west, or to Quassapaug and Hop
brook either separately or together. We
are suffering from lack of insufficient
water. Time then Is a consideration. We
can certainly get water quicker by taking
Qnassapaug first, than by taking Hop
brook first OF the two, Quassapaug is
undeniably first in purity. Other things
equal this a priceless consideration. I
think Quassapaug will give US quantity
enough for years to come. If not, we can
add Hop brook.
If you do not feel certain that Quassa-
paug will give us sufficient quantity, ask
the legislature for bonds enough to take
both Quassspaug and Hop brook, running
the pipe first to Quassapaug and adding
Hop brook at you convenience.
POLICE.
A perfect police protection, by this 1
mean an ideal one, would consist of so
many patrolmen, that every citizen within
our city limits could get help at any hour
window and shouting Such protection
would call for several hundred men and
would enable the police to anticipate crime
and thus prevent it. Every house could
then te guarded and no locks would be
needed on the outside doors and the help
less could sleep in perfect security. Of
course this day will never come, and the
best W. can do is to furnish enough men
to meagrely cover the field.
The difference between this very imper-
feet protection. and what we can afford, is
so slight, that it seems to me good policy
to keep the expense down as low as is
consistent with the detection of the crime
afterwards, and the discovery of fire by
moderate patrol, during the hours of dark
ness. The police court records indicate
that Waterbury is not suffering from want
of such protection, though doubtless four
or five new men could be used to advan-
tage within the next year or so.
FIRE.
The fire department, like our police de-
| partment, stands out unique in the history
| of similar cities, in its freedom from loss
and the &c 9nomy with which it is run.
Let us consider this as entirely due to the
efficiency of the department. leaving good
fortune and luck out of consideration, and
continue TO encourage them, giving them
the best apparatus and the greatest assis-
lance in all their social affairs.
UNION DEPOT.
Carrying out my recommendation of
| last year, committee was appointed to
hasten if possible the getting of a union
| depot. A conference was held by all par
| ties in interest and plans were ordered.
| Two sets of plans have been presented and
the work is being pushed forward as rap
| idly as can be expected, when we consider
the immense cost of the undertaking, the
variety of interests at stake, and last, but
not least, the men who are to build and
pay for the work are under no penalty fol-
| DELAYING the same
NEW cHARTIR.
A general committee was appointed tt
frame new charter, with sub commit
tee to do the work and report. They hav,
not yet done SO, but most of the details
are ready and an early report to thi
board, prior to its presentation to the leg
islature for adoption, will be made.
hope that the widest publicity may be Civ
en- to this document, and the fullest dis
cussion, that we may secure a charter tina
is at least Ineligible. One of the great
est drawbacks to our city government i
the obscurity of our present charter.
In this connection want to say that
years experience only strengthens me il
the belief that there ought to be a close
union of the town and city governments
In my last message l said: Put all tn
city's receipts of whatever nature into tn
city treasury, elect board of publ
works, and hold them responsible for tn
expenditure of this money, and until thi
day comes we shall have shabby financie1
ing"
APPROPRIATIONS.
promised last year to try and kee
the expenses within the various apprc
} priations. have succeeded only fairl
; we'll. early saw how difficult the prof
| lem was and endeavored to shift the re
, | h. S.I,;
/ ments for the members of the council a
, each meeting, showing the exact stat
Of our finances. l also instituted a sy.
: tenn of!ordsrs, so that no purchases coul
> be made without the written approvs
of the auditor, my aim being to sort c
. centralize the bookkeeping. But it
: pretty difficult for one set Of men to fl
' the amount another set shall expenc
l especially when they themselves leave
lot of unpaid bills, which must be charg,
4 able to the present years appropriation
s which the present ADMINISTRATION
r which may want to make a record {
3 economy, and at the same time furnis
n good results, can name the amount the
: shall expend, and not to be compelle
to pay debts of the last Administrative
+ out of their appropriation.
Il There are some accounts, for whic
e appropriations made in advance. cannt
d be made, except by guess work. For il
= stance, the law account; who can te
), what Judgment of court may add sewers
d thousand dollars of expense which 4
t one can foresee, nor any power prevent
g Or street repairs, who can forstell a foe
which may destroy thousands of dolla
Q worth of property.
e A year ago / little knew the meanir
d of my promise to keep within the appr
% priations. 1t seems that ON Dec 8, 1873
n the board of finance recommended CO
:, tain appropriations to the court of coz
10 mon council, and, at the same time, st
1t ted that these would require the layir
, of an IS mill tax. Thereupon the cou
l. of common council eoncurred, so far
the appropriations were concerned, b!