The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-17
AGAINST THE CITY.
Committee on CLAIMS Considers Many
Important Petitions.

Committee on CLAIMS Considers Many
Important Petitions.
The committee on claims gave a
hearing in the council chamber at the.
city hail last evening. There were
present Aldermen Potter, O'Connell,
Russell and Hildrath and Councilmen
Timon and Heath, together with City
Solicitor Rugg and City Engineer Nc.
Clure.
The first claim considered was that
of Ellen j. Canavap. This was for the
loss sustained by the death of her nus
band, who died as a. result of injuries
received by a fall while at. work on the
Lee street school house.
Hannah a. Walsh was heard on her
petition for damages sustained by the
widening and change Of grade of
Brown street.
Josiah II. Clarke was given hear
ing on his petition for compensation
for damages caused by the eonstruc-.
ton of Commercial street. He is the
owner Of the plot of land at the corner
Of Foster and North Foster streets.
When the street was laid out strip
of land running the entire depth Of the
lot. with q frontage Of go feet on F'os-
ter street was ~taken. Mr.. Clarke
claims that ne is entitled to 1915 add
tional damages, or at the rate Of 81 a
foot for the land taken Land in the
vicinity is assessed at SO foot.
The claim of Mrs. Anna p. Under
wood, for damages Sustained by the
widening of Grafton street at the time
Of the construction of the Grafton eX-
tension of the Consolidated line, ad-
iOurned from the last hearing, was
taken mp. Webster Hhayer appeared
for the petitioner and cited cases to
show that where a street or road has
been laid out a d certain width and
worked for certain width. and later,
after the AUDITING owners have ac-
quired d proscriptive right to the prop
erty relocated and widened. that the
city in acquiring the land. is liable in
damages. President Dewey of the
Worcester Consolidated Street Railway
Company stated the circumstances un-
der which the line was constructed on
that side of the street. 1t appeared
| that at the point in question there was
/ a high embankment and that many
! years ago a wall had been constructed
which was some ten feet within the
| bounds of the street. The company 5
! tracks had been constructed according
to the decree granted by the city, anc
/ the monuments We're several feet out
| side the outer rail. City Engineer Nc
! Clure said that the tracks had beer
| located according to a decree Of the
| board of aldermen, and that up to the
time of the widening of the street il
4 had not been worked except TO q linn
| tied width. The street had been relo-
Gated and Widened on the petition OF
the people living in the vicinity.
The claim of Miss George j. Mar
shall for injuries received by fall or
J the sidewalkaou Austin street was mex
heard. IT appeared thar sire was walk
ing over a crosswalk and slipped OWNS
| to an alleged defect IN the walk She
month, and was put to great loss from
injuries received Edward J. Melane
appeared for the petitioner.
| Henry W. Kings claim against tn,
y for damages caused by the widen
of Grafton street on tn
1perty of the Washburn Ca
heel Company, was considered
the widening and < relocation
the street, q strip of Ian,
qtauing about $500 feet wa
ken. including a part Of the build
IS of the company. Some time age
3nmissioners We're appointed to asses
le damage TO the company, and the.
Tarded to Mr.. King the sum of $1,000
his, he thinks, is inadequate, as LAM
4 the vicinity has recently sold at auc
on for Sc a foot. AS the city solicito
as no recourse to compromise in sue
uits against the city, Mr.. King wa
Wiling to accept one-half more thai
he award. or $500.
Decisions in each case were reserved
and recommendations will be made t
tine city council later.