The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-11-03
mo FEAR OF C0NTAGI0N
BOARD or ALDERMEN HANGS UP
THE PROPOSED HOSPITAL.
The Citizens of Fair Haven Out In Num-
bers to Fight the So Called "Pest'' House
The City Fathers Dare Not Take Up So
Important Matter Last Evening-The
Committee Clear Report Tabled.


The interest in the meeting of the
board of aldermen last evening center
ed about the report of the committee
on ordinances on the contagious dis
ease hospital A number of resolutions
to the effect that no such institution
should be erected without further or
ders from the court of common coun-
Gil had been referred to the committee
1t had been stated that the commit
tee would report adversely on the res
olutions and a large delegation from
the Eleventh and Twelfth wards was
on hand to further the interest of the
property owners near the site where
the board Of health had planned to
erect the hospital, these men claiming
that the location of the institution on
Clinton avenue would be dire calamity.
The delegation worked faithfully and
when Alderman Kinney, at the close of
the reading of the report of the COM
mittee, offered a motion to table, it was
evident that the plan had been agreed
upon. The motion passed unanimous
ly. When Alderman Kinney offered
the remonstrance which he held in his
hand all the time he YVES making the
motion to table the report, an audible
smile broke over the countenances of
the members. The paper on which the
names were written was about ten feet
in length and it was said there were
over 500 names on it.
The rernonstrance was tabled for
printing.
The committees report Is as follows:
In April last both branches of the court
of common council passed an order di-
recting the board of health to purchase
a tract OF land and cause to be erected
thereon a hospital for the care of con-
tagious diseases. This action was TAX
en- upon the recommendation of the
committee on retrenchment and reform,
to whom the matter had been duly re-
ferred
The board of health proceeded upon
that order and selected a site and WAS
going ahead with the work of erecting
a hospital when this agitation arose.
1t Is now proposed to stop it from car
rying out our order and abridge the
power already given and partly exc
cuted. The order as passed can be
construed in but one way. It directs
the purchase of the land and contem-
plates no further reference to the court
of common council.
1t seems to us that in order to reverse
steps taken deliberately and in accord
ance with the report Of our appropria-
ton committee strong reasons should
appear.
1t is unfortunate that public build
ings are seldom desired in the immedi-
ate neighborhood of our own resi-
dences. Jails, school houses, hospitals
and engine houses are seldom welcom-
ed by adjacent property owners
Yet such public buildings must be
located, and private interests must
yield to the public good.
1t is admitted that the danger to
health in the present case is imaginary.
With hospital constructed as this
will be, there Is no chance of contagion
and no possible harm to any other than
property interests.
1t is the opinion of your committee,
based on experience elsewhere, that
practically no depreciation in property
values would result, the fact that there
will always be, in place of the present
sandbanks. a neatly kept open space
going far to offset the popular preju-
dice 1t is believed also that the in
Jury to the oyster interest which Is
feared is almost wholly fanciful.
1t is to be remembered in this con-
nection that the board of health Is not
q purely scientific body, but 1t Is COM
posed largely of practical business men
in various walks of life. 1t seems to
us that reversal of their Judgment
would, In the absence of facts that the
place selected was clearly improper, be
an unfair discrimination against other
sections of the city and would give rise
to endless complications, probably re-
sulting in the indefinite postponement
of this much needed public enterprise.
For some time the harbor commits
sioners have had the matter Of a more
efficient harbor police system under
consideration. The money now appro-
priated for that purpose is inadequate
to permit of employing an officer. The
commissioners at the last meeting
passed resolution asking the court of
common council to make an appropria-
ton sufficient to pay the harbor mas
ter a sufficient salary to carry out the
intention of the board.
The communication recommends that
the harbor master be given the same
police powers that are now vested in
the patrolmen. The communication
was referred to the board of finance.
The report of the committee on
streets relating to double tracking OF
Derby avenue, from Norton street to
West river, brought Alderman Belder
| of the Second ward to his feet with the
following resolution:
Whereas, Permission has been grant
ed the Fair Haven and Westville
Street Railway company to double
track its railroad on Derby avenue and
said company is about to construct its
railroad track pursuant to said per-
mission; and,
Whereas, The court of common coun.
ell is about to cause Derby avenue tc
be widened; therefore be it
Ordered, That said company be au-
thorized to locate its tracks in the Gen.
| ter of said Derby avenue, according to
| the layout heretofore adopted.
Alderman Macdonald moved to refer
! the resolution to the roads and bridges
| committee.
Alderman Guernsey opposed the mo-
| ton to refer. The motion was lost.
Alderman Macdonald claimed that q