The Press., 1891-11-19
LOCAL TOPICS.
Penned and Scissored.

LOCAL TOPICS.
 Penned and Scissored.
 The discussion over Market-st. li- censes in Rockville borders upon two points,-1st the limitation of the total number of licenses; 2d, the keeping of one street free from the saloon eyesore. Market-st. is short thoroughfare, lead ing from the central part of the city to the depot. It Is not a thoroughfare thro' which country travel comes in, therefore not. naturally business street. People entering the city from the railroad get their first impressions from Market-st., and the running of 8 gauntlet of saloons and bar-room signs would not favorabiy impress them. Naturally the better peo- pie of the city do not want strangers to be impressed that their city is given upto what those engaged in it admit to be ''the meanest business on Gods earth" At the hearing on Wednesday (11th), Law yer Reed, of Stafford Springs, appeared ! for the petitioners. He read the petition, signed by thirty eight citizens, including manufacturers and prominent citizens, as fellows:
 "The undersigned citizens of the town of Vernon hereby respectfully request you not to grant any license for the sale of in- toxicating liquors, or to authorize any sa- looms on Market-st.. Rockville, and not to grant any license for such sale to any \ saloon in the neighborhood of the rail- road depot in Rockville.
 Lawyer Reed said that he wanted to present a fair statement of the matter, and why these Market-st. saloons should not be licensed. He said the petition pre- sented no reason, but asks that licenses be not granted. He understood that the petition was intended to include the sa- loon of Mulcahey Brothers, on Brooklyn street. He said: 'Market-st. inthe city of Rockville is a narrow street, we pre- sent no testimony in regard to location, assuming that you are acquainted with the street; it is the principal street of the city, short, and with narrow sidewalks The railroad station is located at one enc of the stl leet, with the opera house; il connects the railroad station with MaiI street, and every person arriving in the city by cars is obliged to pass through this street. It is an over-crowded street especially so on evenings. There are foul applications for saloons on this street and the leading people of the city of Rock
 vile ask you not to grant these licenses
 Many of these petitioners cannot be her,
 to-day, and I desire to present few let
 ters." He then read letter from Rev
 the Connecticut Temperance Union, whicl
 was in part, as follows:
 "It seems to me self-evident that tel
 saloons are as many as ought to be per
 mitted to do business in a place of .thi size. believe the reduction of last yea had good effect, and feel sure that
 further reduction would please the larg
 majority of our best citizens. The peti tion includes the names of some heav x-payers and prominent citizens in dil
 ferent circles; the wishes of so many in fiuential people should have weight. A to the propriety of rfdding Market-st. c
 these rink-shops, have not the slightes = row, the sidewalks, also, far too narro, , for the travel constantly going on; tn { embarrassment to business, the annoy ance to people, who must pass throug
 this artery of movement, and especiall to women and children compelled to pas by these resorts of lewd, absolute an 3 disorderly men and boys, makes it in f perative to use all reasonable efforts
 have the nuisance abolished"
 . The following letter from Rev. Jame
 Dingwell, of the Union church, Rock vile, was read:
 "Three engagements prevent my bein ' with you in Holland to-day. But I am
 sympathy with the efforts to make tn < entrance to our city free from the saloOI f As Market-st. Is the chief thoroughfaI
 between the two parts of the city, throug o which so many school children are oblige g to pass three or four times day, the e are subjected to the demoralizing sight F that saloons bring. They ought not be, and with many other good people A protest and pray for deliverance." The following letter from Rev. G. F Bates, of the Methodist church, was the ' presented:
 "I hereby heartily join in the prote j. against so many saloons on the street thu s from it's use should be the cleanest .- town. The effect upon strangers enterir the city by railroad is most damaging u the good name of this fair city, and fir