Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-26
CITY HALL NOTES.
Commissioner Prior Goes to
Boston for Ideas,
And Returns With Many New Wrinkles as
to the Management of the Street De-
partment- Solicitor Riggs Opinion.

The lack OF system in the running of
the street department of the city Of
Worcester, was one of the arguments
used with effect by people who sought
change in the head of the department.
Street Commissioner Prior realizes the
absence of system, and has started
promptly to remedy the evil. He spent
Tuesday in Boston and learned many
new wrinkles in the management of the
Offices most Of which he hopes to incor-
porate-in the workings of the local de-
partment. One great evil in this city
is the practice of opening streets by
corporations and individuals, who are
held directly responsible to the street
commissioner for the condition of the
street after the work is finished. 1t
was to secure some ideas in relation to
the method pursued in Boston in such
cases, that the new commissioner held
conference with the Boston authori-
ties yesterday.
Mr.. Prior passed seven hours with the
street authorities Of Boston, and com
prehensive insight into the workings of
the permit system and many IDEAS
about street paving, street cleaning
and the management of street ear
tracks, were the result of the visit. Mr..
Prior was cordially received by Superin-
tendent of Streets Wells, who explained
In detail the workings of the permit
system In Boston no man or incorpor-
alton is allowed to dig up street with
out first getting written permit from
the superintendent of streets. In This
city the street commissioner has the
power to relay ditches sections of
streets, etc, and charge the cost of the
same to the person who opened the
street, providing it is known who did
the work. There is, however. no way
OF knowing positively whom to hold re-
spohslole, as ANYBODY may open streets
without permission. The only hermit
GRANTED is in case of those wishing con-
nectlons with the sewer. In that case
permit Is issued by the Superintendent
u sewers, and by referring to his books
1t may be learned who opened a street.
IN other instances streets may be dug
Up ana unless the work has been no.
tlced by the street commissioner he can
not know positively who did the lob. So
II VIII De seen that while the street COM
missioner has the authority to order a
street relaid, he has not the necessary
Information as to whom to hold resoon
asible I'M
In Boston there is a permit depart-
ment presided over by a head clerk and
several assistants. Ordinary permits
Tor digging up streets are issued by the
mead clerk, but in case of extraordinary
cases the applicant is referred to the sIi-
perintendent Of streets. All applications
py individuals and corporations are
made in writing, stating why the street
IS .tes be opened, and how long it viii
be opened. This applies to all city de-
partments as well as to corporations
every street that is opened is looked
after by street department inspector
whose business it is to see the openings
are properly lighted and guarded Upon
every Job there is placed flag bearing
the name or initials of the parties open
ing the streets, and in this way it is
easy TO determine whom to hold re-
sponslble for any deficiency in work
The police must see that person open-
ing a street has his permit on his per-
son. After the work is finished, the per
mits are returned to the superintend-
ent's Office filed in with the date of the
completion Of the work, thus showing
the length of time the street was open.
No permits are issued from the permit
office later than November Is. All ap-
plications after, that date are referred
to the superintendent, and unless the
case is urgent the request Is refused.
OF course such system could not be
followed in cases Of emergency, but
such cases. individuals and corporations
are provided with a number Of blank
emergency permits. In case of a gas or
water leak, which must be attended to
at once, the streets can, Of course, be
opened to remedy the break In such
eases, when requested by the police,
the emergency permit must be shown
ana filled out with the cause for open
ing and the length of time the street
viii be opened. These are filed at the
permit Office by the police. A charge of
VI is made for many PERMITS but in
some instances the charge is but %
cents. Mr.. Prior secured a copy of ey-
cry permit used in Boston, about so diff
ferent kinds, and intends to ask the
committee on streets of the city council
Tor an ordinance which will incorporate
many Of the conditions levied in Bos-
ton MI. Prior also=secured a copy OF
the Boston ordinaHees.
superintendent Wells is assisted in his
work by 10 deputies, each in charge Of a
separate department. Each head of de-
partment and dsbuty is furnished with
private teams by the city. He is not re-
quired as in this city to furnish his own
team. One of The deputies with whom
Mr.. Prior conferred is provided with
three horses.
Being interested in street paving. Mr.
Prior inteErogated the Boston men on
the kinds nsed in that city. Paving Dep
uty Kelley was seen in regard to this
department. He said that the greater
part of-the paving is by granite blocks
All paving of whatever sort is now laid
upon "a concrete base and this in the
opinion of the Boston men is the only
proper way to fix the streets Different
grades of granite are used by the de-
partFnent, but the best favored is the
Roekport granite, although there is con-
siderable New Hampshire granite used
The department is also laying consid-
cradle asphalt and as there has been
some talk of that kind of paving in this
city, Mn Prior discussed the stability of
the paving He was Informed that as
phalt. while good thing, could not we'll
be-used where there is heavy traffic. as
itwould soon cut up. 1t would be all
right on residential streets, but in the
heart of the city granite must be used.
Boston has about 10 miles of asphalt
streets. Seven are laid with Trinidad
asphalt and the other three are laid with
Siclian rock There is. no particular
choice between these two, both proving
satisfactory, where laid.
Boston has also tried asphaltina paving
such as is laid on Mechanic, Waldo and
some other streets in this city, but has
but one piece. The paving is new and
the paving department is waiting to see
how it will weather Asphalt blocks have
also been tried, but Deputy Kelley be-
lieves they are better for sidewalks than
for the street, as they chip and wear
away easily. Commissioner Prior Sc
cured number of copies Of specifica-