Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-03

. work of making connections be thorough . done, both in new connections and seein 3 that existing ones are made adequate fo . future use. By doing this we would b . spared the sight of a new and fine piece C l pavement ruthlessly broken into whe !, scarcely a month laid.
 While broken stone is not held in high es ] teem among engineers and experienced stree } builders as good and lasting material fo s street making purposes, still, l think would be good policy for the city in viey ? of the expense 1t has been to il
 establishing stone crushing plant at W. s Cheshire and in the purchase of 1 steam road roller, to proceed with the worl of macadamizing such of the streets as ar
 not likely to be paved within the next tel
 years.
 In my opinion now is the time. and thi court is the body to call a halt to uuneces sar,
 street grading and opening. By this meal
 that all streets not clearly for the benefit o the general public should be laid out an6
 graded at the expense of the individual
 through whose land they run. and not by the
 taxpayers in general. Private land should be developed at the expense of the owners 1 and when the street Is graded. or nearly so
 it is time tor the city to iccept 1t.
 North Main street, between Abbott avenue
 and Cooke street. is altogether too narrow fol
 a main thCroughfare, and is source Of grea
 inconvenience to- the inhabitants of the
 northern section of the city, and with the ad
 vent of electricity ss q motive, power by the
 street railway company the widening of this
 street will become imperative.
 Washington avenue between the N. Y. X N,
 E. railroad and South Leonard street is prac-
 tically useless for vehicles to travel over on
 account of the steep grade existing there. 1 The city has spent considerable money iE opening up and grading this avenue, aud i'
 should be placed in Condition for public
 travel. would recommend that the work of modifying the grade of tlfe avenue and ot
 the connecting streets be proceeded with. l Good sidewalks and croSswalks are com 1 fort and convenience to pedestrians, and l great vigilance should be exercised by the
 proptr officials in the matter of supervising the construction of the same and the laying | of curbs and gutters. This work, or great portion of if, has been done in haphazard 1 and unworkmanlike manner; grades have been disregarded; inferior materials and 1 poor work in making walks and careless ness | in the laying of gutters have resulted in mile | upon mile of uneven, broken up and ill laid 1 sidewalks that are unfit for public use. The 1 people of this city entitled to good, clean, safe and properly cared for sidewalks and 1 orosswalks, and they look to this court for the same. Let us try and comply with their 1 wishes.
 SEWERS.
 Appropriations for this department have been made as follows, viz: For new work, S17, ,0Q0; for repairs and maintenance, $5 800. Sewer work should be started as early in the season as possible and pushed rapidly to l completion. in order that the assessm ment arising from such work can be levied and collections made within the fiscal year. Upon the comp etion of sewers prompt assessments should be made, in order that the cit may be reimbursed for such outlays as fast as pos | sible.
 Our sewer system should be extended in localities whore sewerP are needed for the preservation of public health, and in connec. tion with this would say that the health of the city imperatively demands the laying oi sewers ln that portion of the Brooklyn dis trict, so-called, bounded by Charles, South Leonard, Third and Sixth streets. 1 W, uld recommend the building ot sewers in that locality, also the extension of the Benedict street outlet sewer to the outfall chamber south of Washington avenue bridge. The question of how shall the sewage of the city be disposed of, other than by empty ing into the Naugatuck river remains un- solved. It is difficult problem to solve, but that it will become necessary for the city to take acton in the premises IS only too evi- dent.
 This court shoud appoint q commission, something after the manner of the commis- sion having in charge the new water supply for the purposs of thoroughly Investigating and considering this matter of sewage dis pOSal and report such plans and system, with estimates of expense of same and any and all information pertaining ther9to as they may deem wise and proper.
 POLICE.
 The organization, discipline and deport- ment of the members of this department is maintained at a high standard of excellence uuucE lu5 management anu SuluduCo Ol lut police commissioners in conjunction With the chief and assistant officers. The fairs o this department are well and economically administered, and It IS one of the few de partments that sets the good example of hv- ing within their appropriation. The estab- lishment of a police electric signal system and the purchase of a suitable patrol wagon, will largely increase the efficiency of this de. partment. would recommend that signal system and patrol wagon be added to this department in the near future. Due vigl- lance and alertneSs on the part of the patrol men in the enforcement of the ordinances re- latiDg to removal of snow and ice from Slde- walks, would be the means of saving the city thousands of dollars annually, which 1t is now compelled to pay in settlement Of dam- ages for injuries received by reason of slip pery walks.
 1 can say nothing about the character of this department, without repeating the com plimentary expressions of my predecessors for years back. The fire commissioners have repeatedly recommended the extensicn and enlargement of the fire district. This matter should receive prompt attention, us territory adjacent to tbe llGes of the present district is on the constant increase, and add. ing largely to the fire risk.
 HEALTH.
 The board of health constitutes not one f the least important of our municipal depart ments. Cleanliness of quarters and ground is the first thing attended to in u military camp. It is usually one of the last to oc- cupy the attention of towns and cities. Privy vaults should, as far as practicable, be abated and connections made with public sewers. Back yards and tenements should be closely looked after and inspected.
 STREET LIGHTING.
 The general assembly, at the last session, passed an act, authorizing cities and other municipalities to establish and operate plants for the manufacture of gas and electricity, for the purpose of furnishing light for muni- cipal use, and for the use of such of it's in. habitants as may require and pay for the same. The act says: "No city shall exercise the authority conferred until a vote for that purpose shall have been passed by each branch of the city council, by astwo-thirds vote and receive the approval of the mayor in each of two consecutive municipal years, and thereafter been ratified by majority of the voters voting thereon at the annual municipal election. When such vote has failed to secure ratification, no sim- liar vote shall be submitted for ratification until after the expiration of one year there- after" The question of the expediercy cy and wisdom of the city doing its own lighting in the sear future is worthy of your thoughtful consideration. Statistics and informAtion relating to municipal ownership of lighting plants show conclusively that cities have been able to very materially reduce the cost of street lighting.
 rue OIalClnH ana passage or proper vote authorizing the city to exercise the authority conferred by the act mentioned above is recommended.
 l would also recommend that testing sta- tions be placed on all street light circuits y means of which the committee on lamps and gas will be able to ascertain If the city Is re. ceivinR the amount of light from each lamp called for in the contract.
 WIRES AND POLES.
 Ire use of electricity has become so gen eral and is of so great value that no one would advise It's aholi ishment. The public how sver, have right to demand that it be so used that the danger of life and property by accidental contact, or otherwise, be lessened as much as possible. During the past ten years thousands of telegraph, telephone and electric light poles have been raised within our city. Sidewalks have been broken into md occupied, gutters obstructed and the cts made unsightiy by thess poles and the myriads of wires strung on the same. Not one cent of revenue comes to tha-city for