Morning journal and courier., 1893-04-06
TOMLINsON BRIDGE UNSAFE

"0rk9-AH Ot0er Bridges In 1mme.
diate Need of Repairs-A New Bridge
Required on Grange Street - The
Court of Common Council to be
Asked for an Appropriation for
Same-Suburban street to DO DisooR-
tinued and Ashmun Street Paved
The Rapid Running Of Electric
Cars to be stopped-Other Business.
The proposed closing of Suburban street
brought Eli Whitney, Professor johnson,
T. S. Gold and others to the meeting of
the board Of public works last evening.
Mr.. Whitney was present to advocate the
proposed closing, while Professor johnson
and T. S. Gold, secretary of the state board
of agriculture, both representing the sgri-
cultural experiment station, as strenuously
opposed it.
The ground taken was that the closing
of the street would materially detract
from the value of the property, and
this view was also taken in COM
munications from Professor William
H. Brewer and ex-L,eutenant Governor
Hyde, both interested in the Come ticut
agricultural experiment station. These
communications were read by Professor
johnson. =
Mr.. Eli Whitney was of the opinion that
the value of the property of the sgricult-
ural station would be enhanced rather than
detrsctsd from were the street to be closed.
After brief discussion the board voted
to recommend the closing of Suburban
street, and adopted the layout of two pro-
posed new streets, in accordance with an
order from the court of common council.
The board voted to inspect the condition
of John street on Monday afternoon at
O'Clock. The street is represented as being
in an extremely dangerous condition
and in immediate need of grading and re-
pair.
The matter of filing in tho Boulevard
sewer was referred to the committee on
sewers to inquire into and report.
Chairman johnson of the rosd and
bridge committee of the board reported
that the committee had decided that the
motive power on Tomlinsen bridge should
be raised above the bridge at once, that the
bridge was at present unfit for traffic and
dangerous to life. The report also favors
the construction of a safe footpath across
the bridge. All the other bridges of the
city and town are found to be in need of
repairs, paint, etc., and the draw spsn
of the East Chapel street bridge is consid-
cred unsafe. The report was accepted and
the committee instructed to cause the re-
pairs to be made as far as practicable with
in the limits of the appropriation. The
report also states that the Howard avenue
bridge is dangerous because of the eleva-
ton of the tracks of the electric road above
tho plsnking.
City Engineer Kelly reported that the
appropriation for bridges only amounted
to SO, 900, and this amount was not sufi-
Gent to make the repairs necessary or to
build new bridges. The urgent need of
new bridge on Orange street was explained
by Commissioner johnson, who also stated
that the repairs on all bridges and the con-
struotion of the new bridge on Orange
street were immediate and pressing neces-
sites.
Commissioner States suggested that
there was an appropriation of $4,000 for
the sea wall at the foot of Hamilton street,
and he was of the opinion that this amount
should be transferred to the bridge &C.
count. This provoked considerable dis
oussion, all the members of the board ex-
cept Mayor Sargent sharing the same
opinion: The matter was finally
disposed of on motion of Commissioner
Brown, by instructing the president
of the board and the chairman of the
bridge committee to appear before the
court of common council, and after ex-
planning the dangerous condition of all
bridges ask for necessary funds to doethe
work.
The matter of the raising of the power
house on Tomlinson bridge in conjunction
with the town authorities was referred to
the committee on bridges, with power to |
act.
On motion of Commissioner States the !
superintendent of streets was instructed
to at once commence the preliminary work
for the paving of Ashmun street with Wit |
riaed brick in accordance with the order |
to that effect from the court of common
council, and for which 5000 was appro- |
prtated last year. The question as to
whether the work should be done by con- |
tract or day labor, and also the kind of |
vitri6ed bricks to be used, was referred to |
the committee on streets to inquire into |
and report at the next meeting.
The superintendent of streets was in
structed to at once commence on the work |
of laying cobble cutters on Columbus ave-
nue. in accordance with orders from The |
court of common council.
Commissioner Sullivan called the stten-
ton of the board to the fast running of the
cars of the West Haven road in the center
of the city, and asked whose business 1t
was to see that the cars were not run at /
such nigh rate of speed. Commissioner
States said that In his opinion the police
were the proper authority to take charge
of the case and 1t was the duty of every
policeman to arrest every motorman for
fast driving. The matter was finally left
with the mayor to consult with the police
authorities In reference to what could be
done In the matter.
The question of watering the streets was
brought up and finally disposed of by the
board voting not to water the streets dur
ing the summer.
Tells q Different Story of the Case.
The brother of Albert Edwards, former
" wine steward Of the Quinnipiac club,
called ct this Office last evening and pro-
duced letter from Edward e. Hall & Co.,
The Chapel street grocsrs, saying that Mr..
did not leave his employ from any
with the Maher affair. He also
said that Mr.. Hall denied that any of the
seods ordered by him for the Quinnipiac
,lub were not delivered to and received by
he Y.y~