Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-05
THE NEW CITY HALL.
Mayor Dodge and Commissioners
Inspect the Building.
Committee on Education Decides in Favor
of An Eight-Room School House for
Belmont District-Other City
Hall News.

Mayor Dodge visited the new city
hall Friday afternoon and went through
it from cellar to garret, at the invita-
ton of the city hall commission. The
only things overlooked in the visit were
peep at the tablets and the highest
portion of the tower For the first time
the eyes of newspaper men were al
lowed to rest on the now famous tab
let's as they rest in place, after a SOL
emn promise that they were not to be
drawn or photographed. 1t was mis-
take letting the newspaper men in with
the commission, but it all happened be-
fore any one knew it. There is yet a
great deal to be done. The building it.
self is practically complete in every
particular as regards finishing, frescoe-
ing, ETC., but there is much to do in the
way of setting up the furniture, fittings
and the like. The interior will be very
beautiful Since the last visit of the re-
porter, the freScoes throughout the
building have been greatly improved.
The offices are to be splendidly fitted
up, and the accommodations will be ap-
preciated by both the officials and the
public.
The order requesting the commission
to remove the tablet, saying that the
building was completed in 1897 with A.
B. r. Sprague as mayor, is still on the
mayors desk awaiting his signature.
After one has seen the tablet in place,
some idea of the tremendous task that
1t win be to remove 1t can be had. Supt.
French says that such an undertaking
is liable to ruin the marble setting in
which it is placed and do irreparable
damage to the surroundings. 1t is
practically a part of the building.
THE LAKE BRIDGE.
There is not so much talk about the
lake bridge as there was early in the
week. A great many people are saying
that the city had better not have a
bridge SO long as the money is needed
so badly in other directions. Others
think the stone bridge will be built as
ordered, and that in view of the con-
troversy the city government will re-
fuse to break the contract for the bridge
or reopen the question any further
A NEW SCHOOL HOUSE.
The joint committees on school houses
and hygiene of the. school committee
and education of the city council met in
the aldermanic chamber Friday night
and did considerable business. The
most important was a unanimous vote
to recommend to the city council that
an eight-room school house be built IN
the Belmont street district. The loca-
tion was decided upon, but the commit
tee prefers not to make it public until
the price is definitely decided upon.
The communication from the directors
of the Free Public Library, requesting
$500 for sub-stations, was considered,
appropriation be made. 1t was also
voted to recommend that four rooms be
added to the Greendale school house
and two rooms to the Lake View school
house.
1t was voted to recommend that read
ing rooms be established in different Sec
tions of the city at an expense of about
$2500.
THE WATER COMMITTEE.
At a meeting of the water committee
Friday afternoon, it was voted to intro
duce an order to the city government,
recommending that loan of $150,0oO be
made for water works construction and
pipe extension and Improvement, in ac-
cordance with the act of the Legislature
passed in 1895 authorizing the city to
borrow $500,000 for the Kettle brook
work. OF this amount, $175,000 is left.
OvERSEERS OF THE POOR.
The regular monthly meeting of the
overseers of the poor was held Friday
evening. The committee on farm was
authorized to secure furniture for the
new ward which will be completed about
April l. Only part of the ward will
be used at first.
City Almoner Browns report was as
follows: Orders issued, 4G7; amount of
aid rendered to persons having resi-
dence in the city, $92S.29; other cities and
towns, $245.54; no known residence.
$245.2S. Total, $S1911.
The report of Supt, Graves showed the
following: Whole number of persons at
farm, Feb. 2S exclusive of superintend-
ent's family, 202. There was one death.
The inmates are 112 males. and 80 fe-
males, including four children The SUI
perintendent's family numbers so. The
expenses were $2568 IS, and the receipts
$744.6S, making the total expense of the
house $1S23.50.
The receipts of the scavenger depart
$1472.05.
TONIGHT'S COMMITTEE MEETING.
The committee on public buildings
meets tonight to consider the order from
the city council that the clock on the
old city hall be placed in the tower Of
the new fire department headquarters.
The committee on elections and re-
turns will meet this afternoon, if the
members can be got together.