Morning journal and courier., 1893-12-07
TO.DAY,s TOWN MEETING.

Measures Which Will Come Before l the Adjourned Town Meeting This Afternoon for Authorizations Mat ters of Importance and Note.
 New Haven's adjourned annual town meeting takes place this afternoon at Ban luet hall, formerly Lincoln rink, opening l tt 3 o'clock. Mir. Wolfe, who has proved m efficient moderator, has been chosen by | ihe selsctmen to preside, and very inter | ssting meeting is expected, though not squalling in profound public interest the recent memorable town meeting on the la bor question de manual training school, which was extraordinary. Still, several important subjects are booked in the call for hearing, in addition to the regular routine matters. An appropriation of SIG, ,000 for the maintenance and improve ment. of the public parks, an appropriation of SIS, ,000 to supply free text books in the schools, and vote upon the ratification of the contract relative to the purchase and drainage of the Beaver ponds district, and to appropriate $12, 900 with reference to that object, are among the important ques- tions to come up for an airing. Then there is the project of erecting an elevator on East Rock park and that Of appropriating $20, ,000 for the erection of a sea wall on the north side of Tomlinson bridge will no doubt constitute an attraction which will draw voters to the ecene.
 Another matter to come up has an inter est historically considered as we'll as being important in character. This is the peti- tion which has for its object the trans formation of the old Derby turnpike from 8 toll gate road into free public highway. This inter esting question has been before the public more or less for a great many years. It will be remembered that the last legislature passed an act authorizing the taking of certain proper and legal steps by which this ancient turnpike might be made free highway, result which has been advocated strongly for long period as 8 matter of necessity. In fact this highway is declared to be the only one in the state of Connecticut which is not free public highway, all other toll gates having been abolished. This alone remains of the many toll gate roads of Connecticut that once existed. An effort was made some Haven to have this ancient turnpike declared free, but snag wss struck. This was no more nor less than the law concern irg close corporations. The Derby Turn pike company, which controls the highway in question, is close corporation, snd when the attempt was made to make the turnpike free road up came the law and precedents. Among the precedents cited was the noted case of Dartmouth college which has been decided in favor of the col lege. Certain rights and privileges under the charter of the college were found to be well nigh invulnerable, the college being 6 | o10oo i having by its said charter a binding con tract with the state. So this movement tt make the Derby turnpike free rost failed Therefore different mode of lega l procedure was tackled ,and proved success fu', on opening 8 way whereby the stumb ling blook might be abolished. The Derb, turnpike charter, under the first plal tried, was repealed by act of tn, legislature, but the turnpike com pany paid no attention whatever t, this legislative work, resting securel, upon the fact that they had close charte
 and consequent existing contract witl the state which the state could not anntl
 without the company's consent. Then a
 stated new departure was taken by whicl
 last year an act of the general aseembl,
 was enacted providing for compensatinj
 the Derby Turnpike company for it's right
 and franchise and then converting tn
 highway into free rosd This act of tn
 legislature provides that either of tn
 three towns of New Haven, Orange an.
 Derby, or any town adjoining them ma
 petition the superior court for the disoon
 tinuance of the turnpike road and con
 version of the same into free public high
 way. The said towns are empowers
 to petition the superior court fo
 an order-provided the turnpike com
 pany and the towns failed t
 agree in the case-for the eppo1ntmsn
 of committee of three disinterested per
 sons who should be empowered to sum
 mons the towns interested and hold
 hearing for the purpose of deciding upol what just and equitable damages shou!
 be paid to the Turnpike company in com
 pensation for yielding up it's charter ant
 the taking of Its property fer free high
 way, the amount decided upon to be ap
 portioned between the three towns inter
 ested in equitable proportions. At th
 up for the meetings action In the case
 and the meeting is called upon to decid
 whether 1t will or not instruct the select
 men to petition the superior court for th
 taking of the steps above indicated. Tn
 petition is numerously signed by infuen
 tial men and the arguments used ar
 that the days of toll gates hay
 long gone by in Connecticut ant that toll houses cn high way leading iron
 one of the chief cities of the New Eng land states to three or four other citie
 and towns of no small importance shoul, long ago have been abolishsd They argu
 that the bridge over West river, where tn
 turnpike starts, Is away behind tho ag
 for city like New Raven, sha it is only half wide enough, tha there is great danger to lifs ant
 limb at the bridge at the tIms of grea games at Yale field, the bridge being S, narrow that only one team can pass at
 time. They point to the punching of car
 riages at the bridge every time there is
 big ball game, teams being much delayed owing to the narrow bridge and pedes trians esssying to cross being also delayed and hindered while frequently people hav' to jump down the embankment tt avoid being struck by the teams, owing tt the cloggtng up of the roadway with thu it's line to Yale field. the bridge being tot narrow to admit of the proper passaSe o cars. The bridge itself is also an antiaua ted structure. The inconvenience of stop ping to pay toll, especially in baa weather is also cited, and various other reasons l The Turnpike company 1s not smitten witt the idea of abandoning It's charter, as tbi stock yields reasonably remunerasive ia come. The total amount of the stock ii $1O,O 900. It pays on an average per cent No strenuous opposition to the project is expected, however, as the sum invested in the enterprise is small amount and there is no great difficulty in obtaining good se curities at per cent. return.
 THE TOWN DEPOSIT FUND.
 Another interesting matter which falls annually to the scope Of the annual town meeting is the report of the treasurer oi the town deposit fund. The making oi this report is more hon ored in the breach than in the observance. The trust fund being in such unquestionably honored and able hands nobody worries about 1t in the least, even if an annual statement isn't made. To thousands of people in New Haven the origin and nature of ths fund is unknown. ts1t
 This fuhd has history. 1t has na. tionsl history. It etaansted from the gen. eral government. The origin of this fund Is as follows:
 | Away back in 1886. over ffty-seven years ago, Uncle Sam had 8 surplus which | he didn't want to use. So the aforesaid Uncle Sam put on his thinking cap and a generous spirit moved him. Acting upon I this generous impulse, he loaned the whole amount to the states, dividing it | among the states of the Union of that day pro rata.
 New York state divided its money thus received among the voters of the state. Each man received small cum, about $1. 30 head.
 Connecticut loaned the money to the kNy l. ~I>k