Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-04

luS now on waldo street, the ponce
headquarters can be enlarged by the
addition Of much needed room. This
can be effected when the new fire de-
partment headquarters are completed,
and will doubtless save the expense of
an addition to the present building,
STREET LIGHTING.
The city's contract for electric light
expires in July next, and it will be pru-
dent to proceed without delay to have
the terms of renewal agreed upon, if
possible, so that in case Of failure, other
arrangements may be made
SUPERVISION OF WIRES.
Attention is called to The following
forcible statement in the report of the
supervisor of wires: 1.-THE Western
Union Telegraph Company has as yet
taken no steps toward bur-ying their
wires In this city The officers of this
company profess their anxiety to be-
gin the work of putting their wires on
Main, Front and Bridge streets under
ground, but claim that the ordinances
under which we act conflict with the
rights granted them by federal and
state legislation. 1t is earnestly rec
commended that the matter be taken up
by the city council without delay, as
the condition of the Western Union pole
lines in this city is a serious matter to
all VINO do business in the streets in
which they are located"
Inls question is doubly important,
when It is remembered that upon the
removal of the old city hall building,
this line of poles and wires will he ON
tirely out of keeping with the surround
lhgS, aside from the ordinary disadvant-
ange or having such a multitude Of
wires suspended over one of the most
Arequented portions of our CITY. IT
would be well if both telegraph com
panies could use the same underground
conuult to carry these wires through
Ine business section, so as to save I'M
necessary excavations in streets.
HUME FARM AND CITY RELIEF.
Inc ADDITION to the Home farm build
ings now in the process of erection will
provide for one hundred and twenty-five
more inmates; but as the present quar-
ters are crowded, portion of the new
room WIN be taken for immediate use.
IL IS safe to say, however that to the
present average number of one hund-
req and ninety-five will be added an
other hundred before the city will be
called upon to build again.
II Is well understood that many towns
ana cities Intentionally neglect to as
Sess such residents as are supposed may
HkeIy can for aid, liable by express
terms of law to be assessed, and further
oeslst from collecting taxes from these
persons If assessment happens to be
made. This is done. not for the humane
purpose Of desiring to relieve distress
which payment might cause, but with
deliberate intent to defeat the pauper
laws, fixing settlement by residence for
I'VE years together and the payment of
any three years taxes within that time
therefore, If Worcester, as she does,
obeys the law, it results in bringing an
unequal burden upon our relief depart
mant. If the laws relating to levying
and collecting taxes are too harsh. let
them be corrected, but an injustice is
worked and demoralizing practice en-
couraged, by having INDECENT persons
settled in one community by evasion or
violation of law on the part of another
Payment Of tax as a prerequisite for
voting has been abolished, but still sur
wives as prerequisite to acquiring a
settlement 1t must be possible by
amending the settlement laws, to cor
rect, to some extent at least, this illogi-
cal condition of affairs and we should
ask the legislature to consider the sub
iect.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
When the new fire department head
quarters are completed and furnished
with apparatus, it will end for the pres
ent any large outlay, save for running
expenses New houses may be required
in different sections to meet the city's
growth, but the one extraordinary de-
mand which confronted us will have
been met Our department cannot
{lxra al aY, -
outside assistance, and, therefore, must
maintain force larger than required in
places differently situated in this re-
spect.
STREET DEPARTMENT.
One hundred and eighty-two miles of
public streets are, under the care of this
department, to be kept in repair suit
able for the travel Of large, prosperous
and active city. A greater percentage
OF people now use some vehicle of con-
veyance than ever before, and 1t Is
proper and essential that our streets be
maintained in the best possible condi-
ton for the money available for that
purpose. Every effort should be made
to keep the streets in good order and
to remedy the annoying defects of which
the public complain To do this, some
system of inspection and repair can be
adopted which will insure the speedy
remedy of defective places, giving a
smooth surface for travel and saving
the city expense in reconstruction. If
the city is divided into sections, with the
means for repair convenient, a compare
lively few employees, who devote their
whole time to this branch alone, can
work a great Improvement. Hold the
inspector responsible for the condition
Of his section, and give him authority
to see that the ordinances are obeyed
by every department or corporation, in
replacing material when excavations
are made in the streets. The time has
come when special attention is de-
manded in having all pipes, conduits or
other underground work. laid or con-
structed before a permanent paved sur
face of streets is laid down. All abut-
tiers, departments and corporations can
be notified when any permanent surface
ing is to be done, that they may have
an opportunity to first place under
ground such work as may be necessary,
and thereafter, make the punishment
fit the crime" if any one digs up such
street within a term of years. Worces-
ter will likely have an unusual number
of streets disturbed in the next few
years, yet if all departments work in
harmony and in accordance with some
general plan, there seems to be no rea-
son why certain thoroughfares may not
be completed, both top and bottom, and
then allowed to repose in peace, save as
worn by traffic or mended by repairs.
CITY HOSPITAL.
The name of Edward G. Thayer is
added to the list of generous hearted
contributors to this institution. No
greater respect should be given any
man than to him who seeks to relieve
physical suffering of the human race,
"a 20 Saya the Iives of his fallnws If