Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-01-06

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. EANOreu As -
Water suppIy-street Paving on q
Large Scale Recommended. .y,,
1 come before you tonight to state
briefly some of the work done by thelCsev-
eral boards, of which am ex-oficio chair
man and to give you also some re-
Elections, the result of a years experience
in our municipal government I do this
not only to carry out a recent custom, but /
also in the hope that I may reach the
hearts AID excite the attention of all citi- |
zens, aud thus get them to take q more |
lively interest in our common affairs.
will begin with the street department.
STREET DEPARTMENT.
This department is the most important,
for the reason that the demand for good
highways is most universal. They effect
the comfort of the entire people, and am
convinced that the most substantial road
is the cheaper in the end. Ii is agreed
among all thoughtful men, that the fairest
way to pay for these roads. is by assessing
the property owners along the line of the
road certain proportion of its cost and
the city to pay the balance.
This seems preferable to the city's pay
ing the whole cost, for if that policy pre-
vailed and all that was necessary in order
to get a new pavement was to send In
petition, every street would be paved and
the city would be bankrupt, like Eliza
beth, N. J. The present is much the bet
ter way for taxpayers, for an efficient
board of road commissioners is more COM
petent to judge of the necessities of the
case than the general public.
Our method then is to Iuake an appro-
priation for new work and to put it where
it is the most needed, the city paying one
third and the property owners two-thirds,
and the scheme is perfect in the theory,
but very bad in practice and will tell
you why. The trouble comes from the
fact that property owners will not pay
their assessments, and the city which is
borrowing money at 6per cent, steps in
and becomes the banker for these delin-
queuts, and settlements are made at their
own sweet will.
Let me illustrate: $4,000 was the APP
preparation for new pavements for 1890.
Now plai1ly the intention of the court of
common council was that SO much should
be expended by the city, net. Thereupon
| they ordered new work to cost 900.
They lay the assessment amounting, to say
$40, 1000, and by streak of luck these are
paid. What happens then!
This $1,000 is paid to the city treasur-
er, and the road board has expended the
appropriation of the SIS, 900, and yet the
city has only put $4,000 into new work.
Was it not the intention of the men who
voted this appropriation that the city
should expend SIS, 900 and not $4,000:
Reasoning thus, get the opinion of our
city attorney to the effect that this SIC, 900
could by vote of the council be put back
| into the hands of the road board for new
work in other streets.
Thus, you will see that if other ASSESS
ments are promptly met when the work is
done, that an appropriation of $40, 900
means that amount added to the collected
assessments or nearly $45, 900, and that if
this could be carried out and the people
would join hands with the road beard, we
would in three or four years have streets
to be proud of. This matter is really
more serious than it appears at first. And
1 appeal to your good judgment fer the
remedy In fact it has become popular to
resist these assessments, and want to put
the credit of this almost general refusal
where it belongs. 1t is nearly always
traceable to meddlesome lawyers whe are
over anxious to get clients, and their I'M
reasonable interference costs the city
thousands annually. The average man
have found is willing to pay his share
towards nseded improvements, and it is
only when he is solicited by these hun
CRY lawyers that he learns any other way
of doing business, The city could we'll af-
ford to retain certain of these
lawyers, and thus purchase their silence, tc
say the least. Right here it might be as
we'll understood that all assessments prop
erly laid can be collected by law, and the
cheerful compliance saves time and need
less expense for both the city and the peo
Pile. About the time that the city attor
ney gave his opinion, prominent proper
ty owner on Exchange place, assured me
! that if we would pave it with noiseless
pavement, like asphalt, he would prompt
ly pay his assessment on its completion.
So DESTROYS were the road board to gel
their work done, that they voted to accep
the proposition against their judgment
ar d voted to use asphalt, that they NIGH
secure the assessment and use it on othel
streets during 1890, and thus accomplish
the greatest good for the greatest number
Shortly afterwards largo property owner
who had offered to settle his share prompt
ly, no matter what kind of pavement wal
laid, died, and the board knowing the de
, lay of collecting from an estate, and like
wise hearing that others were going to con
test the principle of assessment in general
and this one in particular, became dis
couraged and rescinded their former actor
on the ground that if the city was to b,
a enforced to pay the whole bill, or at leas
, advance the entire amount and then su,
. for the property owners share, they wouls
follow their own judgment and use Bel
, gian blocks, and do not think they will
ever regret their work.
Influenced no doubt by these examples
the people on East Main street from Cherr,
to Dublin streets, brought in a petition
duly signed, agreeing to make new side
walks if the city would make new gutter
and change the grade of the entire street
The board, catching the spirit of the day
and although their money was running
low, could net resist the temptation, ant
therefore voted to cooperate with the pc
titioners. The result is beautiful street
, widened by removal of bridges over gut
tiers and change in grade. Formerly thi
street was unsafe, narrowed by such deel
cutters, that in many places a team coult
not drive to the edge of the walk withou
a danger. Property is worth 25 per cen
more and the city is relieved from risk o
n settling for broken bones. The genera
appearance is also very much improved b.