Morning journal and courier., 1891-09-08
THE EAST rock ELEVATOR.

ROIkhAk ACtAVA III tAc N4okSCI-1AA-
thony Carroll Presents a Volumi-
nous Document In Reference to His
Charges-Mayor Sargent Returns a
Document without His Approval
The Winchester Railroad Company
other Matters of Interest Dis
cussed. -.--
The meeting of the board of aldermen
last evening was enlivened with petition
from Anthony Carroll in which he claimed
that contracts for sewers and pavements,
etc., had been awarded to persons who
were either directly or indirectly associated
with the firm of G. w. Blakeslee & Sons,
and who acted as covers for that firm in
making bids. Mr.. Carroll directly renews
his charges that the work is being done by
the firm contrary to the provision of the
city charter The matter was referred to a
special committee to be raised.
Other matters of interest discussed were
the petition Of the Winchester avenue rail
road company for permission to lay tracks
on. Chapel street, and the petition presented
by Alderman Hitler for the repeal of the
ordinance respecting the laying of brick
sidewalks.
Anthony Carroll in his petition sets
forth substantially as follows:
He alleges and maintains that officials OF
the board of public. works have allowed
and connived at repeated violations of the
city charter and that gross favoritism has
been shown certain contracting firm do
ing business under the name of G. W.
Blakeslee & Sons. For relief your petit
toner is obligedto appeal to your honor:
| able body, having already complained
| without result to the board Of public
works, and being advised by his honor,
the mayor, that your honorable body is
the only one before whom petition fol
an inquiry and relief could properly be
brought.
The petitioner instances and specifies
the following:
| :. That D. W. Blakeslee is a member of the
board of fire commissioners and, according
to the provision of said charter of said
city, is Ineligible to bid for, make or be
awarded any contract in any department
of said city; that said D: W; Blakeslee is
member Of the firm Of G. W. Blakeslee &
Sons and as such is performing work and
carving out contracts for the board of
public works and enjoying the emoluments
therefrom in direct violation of the city
charter: that contracts have been awarded
to persons presumably eligible under the
charter, but in reality only the representa-
tives and agents of said firm of G. W.
Blakeslee & Sons, and that the perform
ance of such contracts has been carried out
by said firm.
For instance a contract to build sewer
was recently awarded to one William H.
Blair, step son of the senior member of
CIV. Blakeslee & Sons, it being represented
l.. !.
of G. w. Blakeslee & Sons, and being so
specified in the contract. Likewise the
contract for paving Whiting street was
awarded to one William S. Fowler under
like conditions. Said Fowler being mem
Der of Smith & Fowler, firm engaged in
the grain and feed business.
Your petitioner claims and alleges that
the work performed under these contracts
was done by men regularly in
the employ of G. w. Blakeslee &
Sons. That said Blair, while the sewer
before mentioned was still in process of
construction, was engaged in superintend-
ing the paving of Whiting street, all Of
which tends to show that said Blair and
Fowler, in making said contracts with the
city, were not bona fide contractors but
represented and acted as the agents and
employees of said G. w. Blakeslee & Sons
and that said G. W. Blakeslee & Sons were
substantially and in reality the contract
ing parties in contempt and violation of
the provisions of the city charter.
Your petitioner also submits that con-
trcct for cobbIe cutters was awarded at
the last meeting of the board of public
works to q Mr.. Grant then and now an
employe of said G. w. Blakeslee & Sons.
The petitioner closes with an appeal for
due Investigation in the case.
- L. ~
East Rock park was brought up by Alder
man Daley of the Tenth ward, who pre-
sented the following preamble and resolu-
tons, which were passed by the board:
To the Honorable Court of Common Council:
Whereas, There is demand on the part of the
he public Dress for better Facilities in seaehnp
the summit of East rock; and
Whereas, Various projects have been suggest
ed for making XII East Rock park more accessible
Resolved, by the court of common council, That
| q COMMITTEES consisting of two aldermen and
give public hearings to all parties interested for
the purpose of ascertaining the sentiment of the
wish.
Resolved, That said committee be requested to
report on before the first meeting of the board
| Of aldermen in the month of November.
The following communication in rela-
| ton to the erection of the proposed eleva-
| tor was presented to the board by Alder
man Kane Of the Fourth:
| ''To the Honorable Board of Aldermen and
Councilmen of the City of New Haven.
"Parties composing the scheme for the
erection Of an elevator at East Rock park
| respectfully request your honorable body
| that in the event of the city of New Haven
| not taking any action and refusing to make
| any appropriation for said elevator that
permission be granted to parties now in
| foroofo1 in ha 1ryo1.L or,1 vub will
| out the enterprise faithfully and honestly
| and give to the city a structure worthy
of its people and subject to the
| supervision OF your honorable body and
| the city engineer and that the aforesaid
| parties will sign articles for the complete
| and speedy performance of their work
| and that they will submit drawings to
any committee appointed for the purpose
by your honorable body, and if the plan
be accepted that lease be given to said
| parties to extend for the term of twenty
five years from the time of its com
pletion and that at the expiration of said
to the city in good condition and
free of cost and that said parties be per
mitted to collect a fare of five
cents from each and every pas
senger with the exception of school
children of the city of New Haven, and
| who will be subjected to half fare, the
plans and drawings will be placed before
your honorable body, when a suitable
| committee is appointed for that purpose
| and in the event of having to tunnel into
the face of the rock that the material
taken from said rock be given to the city
at fair valuation for the hardening or
paving of walks on said park, or for any
| other purpose your honorable body may
desire. Names of responsible parties will
be furnished at the request of your COM
mittee when appointed.
L. J. MATHEWS AND OTHERS.
The following petition from the Win
chester Avenue Railroad company was re-
ferred to the committee on railroads and
bridges.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Common
!. Council of the City of New Haven:
The Winchester avenue railroad COM
pany respectfully ask that permission be
granted to said company to lay down it's
tracks along Chapel street, from College
street to the tracks of the New Haven and
West Haven railroad, the said track to be
laid between the Fair Haven and Westville
railroad and the curb of the sidewalk along
the green.
The WINCHESTER AVENUE RAILROAD Co.,
by J. Sheldon, President
The following statement of his objection
by Mayor Sargent to approving recon-
mendation that the board of finance allow
the hoard of public works to make trans