The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-29

Yes-Aldermen Barrett and O'Con-
nell, Councilmen Connolly. Gallagher.
Lancaster. Mcmahon, Meagher, Rivard,
Ryan, Shea and Timon. Total, II.
No-Aldermen Back, Brannon, Car
berry, Huot, Kendall, Vaughn and
Wall. Councilmen Bigelow, Heath, Geo.
c. Hunt, James Hunt, Johnson, Ken
dali, Lundberg. Merritt, Mutt O'Leary
and Wheeler. Total. Is
Absent-Councilmen White, Inman,
Davis and Tirrell. Total, 4.
Mr.. Vaughan began the hearing by
saying he would like to ask each of the
commissioners half a dozen questions
Chairman Charles G. Reed was Offend
ed at the suggestion of Mr.. Vaughan in
regard to railroading the report
through, and at first said he would not
answer.
After some discussion regarding
whether the tax payers of Worcester
had been given a chance to express
their opinion, Mr. Vaughan asked Mr..
Reed If eliminating the question of cost,
he would favor the elevated or de-
pressed tracks. Mr.. Reed replied that
he would favor the elevated tracks
he then asked: Cannot the quick
sands be overcome?"
Chairman Reed: You will have to
ask the engineer"
Chairman Reed then said nobody
could tell to what extent the damage
from quicksand would be- The an
sWer brought out the question if the
commission had made its report with
out consulting an engineer. Mr.. Reed
replied that the commission had con-
suited the city engineer.
Mr., Vaughan said: Although YOU
have half a dozen engineers who said
the sewer could be lowered, YOU would
stlll be in favor of elevating the
tracks. Mr.. Reed said he would not.
lie was asked if he understood that the
Allen report said the scheme is imprac-
tIcaple' ana he replied that practical
ly it says so.
Mr.. Reed then complained that it was
not very pleasant for the commission
10 be questioned until they know what
they have to meet. He read from the
Allen report to show that the depres-
sion Of Millbrook was impracticable.
on account of the cost.
Mr.. vaughan read from the report to
snow that the plan is feasible because
the report gives figures for doing it
Questlonlng regarding estimates given
by City Engineer Mcclure on the de-
pressed tracks plan showed that no fuII
estimate had been made.
William Hart of the commission,
wien his name was called by Mr..
Vaughan, said he did not think he could
throw any more light on the matter.
lie was asked if the cost of lowering
Mill brook was left out of the question.
which plan he would favor? He re-
pied that he would still favor the
elevated, but did not think it a fair
question.
NJ j. Whittall, another member of
the commission, was the only one who
made anything like a favorable i'm
preston. he was literally applauded
Tor speaking out. When asked if he
would favor the elevated or depressed
tracks, eliminating the cost of lower
ing Mill brook, he said he would raise
them. He said the expense was NOT
considered. He said some attention
had to be paid manufacturers. Manu-
facturers make a city; a city does not
make manufacturers. He said let
Ter had been sent to every manufac-
turer. but he didn't see one.
Lawyer Vaughan was turned over to
city Engineer Mcclure for particular
information regarding the letters
which had been sent out by authority
OF the commission to the manufacture
ers. He was asked if the letter asked
which plan they preferred City En-
gineer Mcclure replied that he thought
the letter did not ask that question
lie also said that no estimate OF dam
ages had been made in regard to
either plan.
He was then asked to give the con
sensus of opinion on the part of thu
manufacturers, to which he replied
that he didn't know that they had
replied in favor of any plan
Mr. Whittall then put in that the
commission had not gotten much of an
opinion from any manufacturers, which
created laugh at the expense of the
commission.
Monsignor Thomas Griffin was Their
called by Mr.. Vaughan. He called at
tentlon to the fact that he was put tc
very great inconvenience to appear
on Saturday evening, but was SC
greatly interested in the question in
peAalf OF his people that he could not
stay away. L wish to say to all here
assembled" he continued, "tSat fhi,
matter has nothing in it of the cas-
Sloe, or the west side or the north enc
or any part of the city. 1t is, in m,
opinion, the larger question of a united
worcester. 1t is not a sectional Wor
cester, which is at all times a lament
tHoIe condition, With which we ara deal
ing. In some parts of our city we ma,
De more particularly interested witt
work which may do US particular in
jury. We may feel it more than the,
do in other parts. But all must feel i
now for we are all one common bod,
IN this municipality. If anything on on,
sue Oh the city is good and commend
e'bfe we are satisfied that people from
oCher parts of the city may enjoy it
lie then paid tribute to the nunif
cence OF Mr.. Salisbury in founding In
stllute park and mentioned the bean
THU home of Mr.. Whittall at the othe
END oil the city. He said he felt an
ownership in the beauty Of both places
ana mad a feeling of pride Wien h,
tnought of that spirit of ownership. II,
SAD ne wished above all things to b
CONSIDERED citizen of Worcester. FL
SAID he had certain duties toward hi
pensioners and had charge of thei
property and in that capacity. when h,
saw great injury hanging over thei
heaos, he could not do otherwise tina,
protest '--'''
L understand that all along. eleven
eEelfths of the commission have bee,
IN FAVOR of d pressed ira lls. They fo1In,
themselves agreed on one point. The
are gentlemen of honor in every sens
OF the word and / would place implici
commence in their words. l thouesA
from what they said the depressed sys
tenn would receive the vote of the com
mission. was CT that opinion and hun
areas OF thousands agreed with me. Tn
cost unless gigantic, should not enta
into consideration of the question
Delleve you recognize that this is to b
for all time"
He then spoke Of the pride will
which citizens now point to the cit,
hail, and asked If there should not b
the same desire to get the best whicl
the city can obtain.
The depressed system is not impos
sible. l believe it is admittedly feast
PIE. We are building for posterity an,
should show forethought. We ought t