Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-03
CITY TELEPHONES.
Alderman Barrett Wants to
Know Ali About Them.
The Lake 5ridge-The Street Commits
sioner's Work-other Notes Cleaned
About the City Hall.


The local manager of the New Eng
land Telephone and Telegraph Company
was at the city hall Wednesday, looking
over the communication from the mayor
relative to the telephone contracts. The
manager still refuses to talk about the
matter Mayor Dodge's attention was
brought to the discrepancy in rates by
the presentation to him for his signature
of contract for telephone to be put
in at the house of Street Commissioner
Prior When he saw the amount of the
bill he refused to approve it, saying
that ii was too much. Investigation
revealed the contract to which he re-
fcred in his communication to the city
council
Numerous contracts have been signed
on behalf of the city for telephone SER
vice at or near regular rates, and the
mayor says that il is time to find out
how the matter stands.
President Potter asked at the meeting
of the city government, last Monday,
somewhat Indignantly, why the masyor
hadn't enforced the telephone contract,
il there was one in existence. The
mayor is prepared to do this, but the
fact that other contracts for telephones
have been signed, raises question, and
at present ne is not prepared to state
his position definitely Alderman Bar
rett is hard at work Cn the matter, and
he thinks he has The telephone com
pany where he can talk to them. At
any rate, he proposes to enforce the
old contract, if it is legal, and if not, a
new one is to be drawn up and proper
rates fixed He sees nc reason why the
city should not pay q uniform and low
price for its telephones. 1t has been
said that the contract calls for old style
telephones, bat such is not the case. The
kind of telephones To be used is not spe-
cified Some Interesting developments
are expected
THE STREET DEPARTMENT.
For the first time This winter, Street
Commissioner Prior is finding time to
formulate plans for spring work. A
new derrick of improved pattern is be-
ing built at the stone yard, to take the
place of the old one, which has been un-
safe for some time, as well as a hin
drance to effective work The street
commissioner is also having a heavy
trucking wagon built, after plans of his
own design. The horses will be so To-
Gated that the earth they tear up will
be rolled down by the wheels of the
wagon which follow behind, making
tracks by the side of each other. in all
about eight inches wide. The various
city wagons are being repainted and re-
paired, in anticipation of the coming
work The street commissioner is be-
coming acquainted with his men and
the manner in which the work has been
carried on. A number of changes in
both employees and methods may be
necessary when work begins actively
The macadam paving in different
parts of the city IS fraying badly, and
this will probably be attended to in the
| course of a short time.
Mr.. Prior has several trips of inspec-
tion to other cities in mind, and will
make them as soon as the work per-
mits. One thing he will urge the city
! government to adopt is a permit sys-
| tenn which will prevent man from
/ touching a street without the consent
| of the street commissioner. At present
! irresponsible people are continually
! tearing up the streets and then relaying
/ them improperly, and all the while the
! street commissioner is held responsible
| for their condition.
THE LAKE BRIDGE.
The offer of 0. w. Norcross to build
his bridge for sos, 900 is turning popular
sentiment in its favor, as one of the
strongest arguments against the Nor
/ cross bridge has been its increased cost
which has been thought - be beyond
! the means of the city Mr.. Webb has
been given the specifications for the
| Norcross bridge, and will figure on them
and make report to the sub-commit-
| tee. If word is received in time, a
meeting of the committee will probably
| be held Saturday, so, if possible, to
make report to the city council Mon
! day evening.
ELECTIONS AND RETURNS.
The meeting of the committee on
elections and returns booked for We'd
nesday afternoon, was postponed until
| Friday afternoon.
THE LICENSE COMMISSION. .
Although the time of the license COM
mission expired Tuesday, the mayor
still has nothing to say about the ap-
pointments They will be sent in at
the next meeting of the city govern
ment without doubt.
PROVISION INSPECTORS.
The term of the inspectors of animals
and provisions is also out The appoint
ments in this case may not come for
some time. New rules and regulations
are to be adopted before the appoint
ments are made. in all cases the men,
bers of such commissions or holders OF
are appointed.
VISITED SITES.
The city council committee on educa-
/ ton consisting Of Aldermen Barrett
-.