Morning journal and courier., 1893-02-08

gIOl Ol tuo kS6H AotOu COu4A4ASoAO4 tA public parks" now comprise ten separate parks, mostly lying near and partly teyond the exterior limits of the city, and contain ing in the aggregate about seven hundred and sixty five acres of mountain, rock, hillsides, plains and flats, in quantity about as follows:
 East Rock park contains. ns.............. ss0 acres West Rock D 1rk including ........... so " seavsr ssrsWoaa p9na parE iana na.......:.... - ,as Bay HeD1 Vie% rpak, pa City Point upland: 10 Water street park. k.................... 15 Grgpevine Point pArK. 1a 0aoon Ga Rark @ ,,.. #, (. 6oAcOu E1H parA. ............'....'..' !S To To wrich h1 aed M United s atea govern
 ment land to be used as park land. 9 "
 Total, about .. 765 Y"
 Besides some fats under tide water.
 The greater part of these parks are some what distant from populous portions of the city, or at great elevation, 50 that they are not particularly available at pres ent except ts those with horses But as the city expands they will be mors visited and the land will become more valuable.
 The appropriation by the city to East Rock park in 5000.
 The appropriation by the town for all other new parks ie $1O, 900.
 For the particulars of ths expenditures 1oE LuS lGilu OL GuS pAIkS AuO LH6 COot or improvements refer you to the annual re- potts of the commissioners.
 EDUCATIONAL
 I repeat what said in my inaugural ad- dress of January, 1891, that T tSust free school of design, with free hand, archi tsctu,al, furniture and mechanical draw ing, may be connected with the library and made part of it." IstiIl hope the propo- sitton may be carried into effect There is a large hall in the second story, at the rear end of the library building, Tn every re- spsct we'll suited to ths purpose, ready for occupancy, and never used by the library I arranged, oonditionally, for the services of competent and experienced teacher to take charge of classes at such moderate rats as the pupils would bs willing to pay, they furnishing their own materials and the library supplying only use of hall, light and warmth. The 1nsjority of the directors concluded that the education of young men and women in designing and drawing is outside the purposes of tho work of library, and dsolded against the proposition I tnke advantage of this oc casion to state my belief that the very high stand of some of our cities in the higher grade of manufactures, and especially of machinery, is owing very largely to the help of free instruction in such public schools for young mechanics.
 CITY INVENTORY
 recommend that each and every depart ment and office of the city government be required to make annually, at the end of the fiscal year, November 30, properly de- tailed and full inventory of every class of property in CT belonging to othsdepartment, in which the city has any right of owner ship, with the estimated value of each arti- c.s and condition of depreciation, by use or otherwise, and the total amount, all en- tered in proper form on a permanent in ventory book kept in the departments for the purpose, and copy sent to the city clerk during the month of December for presentation to the court of common ccun- cil at the first meeting of the board of al- aermen in the month of January follow ing. The inventory should contain every piecs of property in which ths city has an int crest ss owner or part owner, and state condition and where situated. also recommend that every department and separate office be req uired to mako & classified statement of ail articles pur ! chased aud received by each department or office during the fiscal year, whether for consumption, use or distribution, showing where obtained, coat, and whether ! used or consumed in the department or cffica, or what was the disposition made of them; said classified stataments to be entered in proper form oN g permanent book kept for the purpose, and copy sent to the city clerk during the month of Da- cembsr for presentation to the court of common council at the first meeting of the board of aldermen in the month of January following.
 TREAsURER's OFFICE AND DUTIES. recommend that the tressurer of tho city keep his office in room No 7, city hall, and keep it open for business during reasonable business hours, and that all ac counts of the city against individ uals bs the city except for annual taxes, bs paid directly to the treasurer, and be deposited in bank daily, and his books be audited daily by the city auditor. That except for annual taxes no employee of the city be authorized to receive money due to the city, except the treasurer or his authorz d assistant, for whose scts the treasurer ehall be liable to the city.
 RAILROAD GRADE CROSSINGS. The long hoped for elimination of grad 6 crossings has, so far, not been realized ex- cept at Meadow street. The construction of the new route of tha Shore Line rail road out of the city will eliminate those in the Twelfth ward within year Or two, as now appears
 The grade crossing on Water street, st the east of Custom House square, still re- mains as it has been for many years, and in plain violation Of law, 50 far as I can learn. As I understand the matter, the only reason for delay in building bridge and proper approaches by the railroad company, at it's sole coat in all respects es required by it's charter, is the hope of tir- ing out the patience of the people of the city, and thus compel the court of common council to agree to pay, contrary to law, large part of the expense.
 WEST RIVER MARSHES.
 The condition of the West river marshes is the same as stated in my inaugural mes sage of 1891. They have the same sick ness breeding agencies and the same capa. bilities of being changed from curse to blessing by preparing them for occupation for manufacturing and other business uses. Within few years railroads may be in operation on either bank of the river. The through freight trains between New York and the Northampton and be- tween New York and Hartford may all psss through New Haven on the east or west bank of West river. Convenient railroad facilities are of more importance to manufacturers than tide water nayias- tion. It is @ fortunate condition to have both.
 The solution of the elimination of grade crossings on the New Haven and North ampton railroad, above the Winchester Repeating Arms oompsny's works, may be by changing the location of the tracks to the edge of Beaver ponds and West river and entering the Union depot from the west.
 Proper plans should be adopted to pre- serve the possibilities of West river nsyi- gation against encroachment by low bridges of any character, and the location of railroad tracks on either bank of the river should be with view to the improve ment of the marshes into manufacturing and business sites.
 EXTENSION OF CITY LIMITS.
 I have but little to add to what said in my inaugural message of 1891, upon the subject of the extension or the expanston of the city territory. The more thought I have given to she question the moro I am confirmed in the belief that the enlarge ment will promote the best interests of the present city, of the territory proposed to be annexed, and of the state at large. The territory proposed to be added to the city is that portion of the town of New Haven not already within the city limits; also a strip from the southerly end of the town of Hamden; small piece, mainly of rock hills, from the town of Woodbridge; a