Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-01-18
AT THE CITY HALL.
Plans for Dedication of New
Structure Under Way.
Gossip About the Buiding-Fire Depart
ment Loan-Assessor Hurlbut
at Work.

The committee on the dedication of
the new city hall met Monday afternoon
and talked over. the celebration infor-
mally. but action was postponed until
the city hall commission can give some
definite information as to the time the
new structure will be completed An
effort will be made to meet with the
committee on the senli-centennial at the
next meeting.
There is a growing sentiment in IA
| Vor or dedicating the new city hall and
celebrating the Seth anniversary of the
adoption of the city charter at the same
time, 1t has been suggested to have
the Grafton one night and the address
and mammoth parade the following day.
Some are opposed to uniting both OBJ
servances; but public sentiment is GER
talnly In favor Of it.
The date of the anniversary falls on
Feb. 80, but as there is no such date
this year little leeway will no doubt
be allowed. Draw backs that interfere
with getting into the new city hall keep
presenting themselves, and the earliest
date that the building may be occupied
will probably be March Is, and it may
be several weeks later.
fled with the new building until some
means for lighting the face of the big
clock is devised. 1t seems simple when
one considers that the face is plainly
visible from Main street now by the re-
tiection from the street lights Wouldn't
It be feasible to put a big power shaded
incandescent lamp on the end of each
hand # feasible, it certainly would
solve this very vexing problem effectu-
ally.
The public is at present kept out from
the building with great care, and few
people, comparatively speaking, know
how the inside will look. Passes are
necessary to get in at the door, and
they are not granted unless there is
some special business. First of all, the
grand staircase is imposing. 1t speaks
Of dignity and strength, but If the blue
that is on the ceilings above the stair
case and in the little squares at the top
is to remain, it must be taken with
grain of salt. No such color was ever
found on heaven or earth, for which all
with any sense of color are grateful.
The toning Of the halls is warm and
pleasing. and the decoration of many of
the rooms will make a good back
ground. The mayors apartments will
be much the same as those occupied by
Postmaster Greene in the new post Of
flee, except that the walls are tinted
nile green.
The council chambers may disappoint
the public They are wainscotted high
UP in hard polished wood, above which
the walls are done in an artistic color.
The effect when furnished, viii be rich;
but the size of the rooms does not per-
NIT of any such decoration. It makes
the rooms, which at best seem small,
look cramped They may be a bit
larger than the present chambers, but
they hardly look it, and one wonders
where additional councimen, if the city
grows to nine or ten wards, are to be
put. One thing is pretty certain, and
that is with population of 100000 Wor-
cester's city hall will be a cramped
place.
The exterior appearance Of the build
ing is certainly majestic and beautiful.
Its simple lines are full of dignity and
strength, and the carving adds to the
general effect. The great copper gut
ters that break the white surface are
an objection, and in time, If they leak,
they will stain the beautiful granite.
With this exterior beauty all must la
ment that it is not seen to advantage
owing to its nearness to the street. 1t
should have never been a foot nearer
Main street than a hundred and fifty
feet
FIRE DEPARTMENT LOANS.
Bids were opened at the City Hall,
Monday noon, for loan of 100000 for
the construction of the fire department
headquarters The loan was authorized
by order Of the city council on May 4,
1896; but owing to the difficulty in final
ly locating the headquarters, the money
has not been needed. The loan falls due
on April 1, 1895. and will bear A per cent
interest, with accrued interest from Oct
/, 1897.
Adams & Co., Of Boston, were the
highest of the II bidders. The bids were
as follows:
Adams & Co., Boston. $106. 056
r. L. Day & Co., Boston. ...... 106.039
Winslow & Allen, Worcester. 105. 917
Estabrook & Co., Boston. ...... 1886
Blodget, Merritt & Co, Boston. los. GA
E. H. Rollins & Sons, Boston,. 105.723
Longstreet, Steadman & Co. Bos. 105.670
Horace S. Homer & Co., Boston 105.613
Vermilye & Co., New York ..... 105.549
Dietz, Denison & Prior, Boston. 105 80
Parkinson & Burr, Boston. -. 105, 337
N. w. Harris & Co., Boston. So. 105.S12
BOARD OF ASSESSORS ORGANIZE.
George B. Hurlbut, the recently
pointed assessor, began his duties Mon
day. The board organized during the
morning with the choice of Mr.. Otis as
chairman and Mr.. Parker as clerk. The
afternoon was spent in working over the
land valuations for 1898. The assessors
are now fairly in the harness for the
years work.
A BUSY SUNDAY.
The street department was busy Sun
day, making the slippery sidewalks
s'walkable." Foremen started out early
in the morning on the work of sanding
the sidewalks. Fifty men were at work,
and over thirty good big loads of sand
were placed on miles and miles of side
walks. A number of scrapers were at
work putting the cutters in good con-
dition.
POLICE COMMITTEE TODAY.
The police committee meets this after
noon at A o'clock.
ENTERTAINED DEAF MUTEs
The Young Peoples Society of Chris
! tian Endeavor connected with the Main