Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-11-03
FOUR NEW BRIDGES WANTED.

FOUR NEW BRIDGES WANTED.
Matters of a Weighty Nature to be
Considered by the Committee ON
Railroads and Bridges This Even.
ing-The -Four Bridges VIII Cost the
City One Hundred and Eight Thou
sand Dollars-In order to Pay for
Them 1T May be Necessary to In
crease tho Rate of City Taxation.
A special meeting of the committee on
railroads and bridges will be held in the
city hall this evening to consider COM
munieation from Mayor Sargent in refer
ence to number Of new bridges which
the mayor thinks ought to be built during
the coming year. The committee consists
of Aldermen Newton and Doughan and
Councilmen Hoadley, Ref and Belden.
The mayor claims that four bridges
should be completed and paid for within
the next fiscal year and that some means
must be devised for the payment for the
same, as there is no taxation or appropria-
ton for the construction of any of the
bridges.
One of the bridges, that across West
river at the end of Oak street, is already
in process of construction. The cost to
the city for this bridge Will be $12, 500.
The second bridge is the proposed new
bridge il Chapel street, over the tracks of
the ''freight branch" of the New York,
New Haven and Hartford railroad. This
proposed bridge was ordered by the Con-
necticut railroad commissioners on June
II, 1886, after a hearing at which all par.
ties interested appeared, who chose to
appear.
The order of the railroad commissioners
was appealed from by the New Haven
Steam Saw Mill company, and after. a
proper hearing in the superior court, be-
fore Judge @. B. Andrews, the order, with
some slight notifications, was approved
and made an order of said court.
Notice of appeal to the supreme court of
errors was entered, but no appeal was
made, and the notice of appeal was after
court, and the order of the court now
stands.
City Engineer Kelly estimates that the
cost to the city for this bridge will be $780,.
900 and this amount does not include land
damages. The decree requires the railroad
company to lower its tracks twenty inches
The Immediate construction of this bridge
Is called for by the New York, New Haven
and Hartford Railroad company, and per.
haps for the use of the proposed electric
line of the Fair Haven and Westville Horse
Railroad company which has not been al
lowed a crossing at grade by the railroad
commissioners.
The land damages is an unknown quaint
ty, but William P. Dickermsn, the owner
of the land on the north eide, brought sui
in ho or1nopinr for fonG do tr
the amount of $4,000. The damage to tn,
land of the New Haven Steam Sawmil
company will perhaps be as graat as to thu
land of Mr.. Dlckerman.
|. The third bridge required is the proposed
new one over Mill river. The presen
structure, it Is alleged, is too weak, toe
narrow and too short. The estimated cos
to the city for this bridge ia $4,000.
The fourth bridge specified in tn
mayors communication is new one a
Grand avenue across the Quinnipiac river
The present bridge was constructed man,
years since of materials that, the mayo
claims, would not be used at this day, ant
not according to the best principles o
| modern bridge construction. It require
frequent examination and repairs to keel
1t in safe condition. The estimated cos
| to the city for this bridge will be $29, 900
| $10S, 500, which sum does not include an,
land damages. The construction of thes
bridges, the mayor Gays, has bsen post
poned from year to year in consequence O
the lack of funds.
| The mayor concludes his communication
on the subject in the following language
In the absence of a session of the genera
assembly the city cannot be authorized t
borrow any money on bonds, nor to boz
| row on its promissory notes or create
debt, except In anticipation of the collee
| ton of taxes laid before the money is boz
rowed. Therefore, if your honorable bod
should decide to build the bridge ordered
by the court or either or all of the othe
bridges suggested, 1t will bs necessary
increase the rate of city taxation for ths
purpose, the tax to be payable Novembe
1, 1894. Then the money can be borrowe
in anticipation of the collection of tn
tax.
During the present break of the CON
binations of the American iron and stes
| associations, iron and steel materials flo
bridge construction is lower in price tina
ever before in this country.
The committee will have considerable c
an undertaking to decide what to do i
this matter aud to what decision the
will arrive at will be of vast interet
and importance to the taxpayers of th
city.
Last evening Mayor Sargent said In re-
erence to the bridge question that he hs
negotiations under way and hoped an
rather expected to have the state pay til
city's portion of the expense for the Chap
street bridge. He said that he was NJ
positively certain that he would succeed
but believed that he would.