The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-21

/
/ it will require nearer $40, 0O0 900 to ac-
! quire the water works system Of the
city OF Boston instead of $1,000. 900; and
this being the case, the metropolitan
board of water commissioners must
again soon apply to the peoples rep
resentattves and senators in legislature
| assembled, for at least $13000,00O more
! in state bonds, to complete the great
enterprise.
| Before the people of the eastern part
| OF the state are permitted to take any
more territory from Worcester coun-
/ ty, whether it be by taking. the entire
i water shed Of Ware river, as was al
| ways contemplated, including part of
the towns of Rutland, Barre, Oakham,
New Braintree and Hardwick, Il is
| possible that the inhabitants of Wor-
cester county may have something to
say in reference to the matter.
If it is thought best to acquire or
control so large. an additional portion
of Worcester county Tor the benefit Of
the cities of the eastern part of the
state, there can be no doubt that on
| proper presentation of all the facts
relating to the case, disposition will
| be manifested by these people thus
aided to do justice and equity to the
people of Worcester and Worcester
| county.
I
| bonds of Massachusetts for the pur-
pose of supplying pure water to the
| inhabitants of the cities and towns in
the eastern portion of the state, con-
| stituting the metropolitan water dis
| trict, is no small concession to the peo-
pie of the state at large for this ia
vored portion of it's population, and no
doubt they will recognize that fact,
and be willing to reciprocate when the
proper time comes.
GRADE CROSSING LEGISLATION.
In 1890, the legislature enacted a law
| (chapter 42S), in reference to the re-
moval of grade crossings, and author
lied the issue of 900 of 30-year
3 1-2 per cent state bonds.
| The principal features of the law pro-
vided that the railroad companies
should pay 65 per cent of the total ac-
tual cost of the alterauons, and the
commonwealth should pay rs per cent,
and the city or town shall pay ten per
cent.
In 1892, chapter 4Ss the legislature
authorized an unlimited issue of state
bonds, subject only TO the approval Of
the governor and council, and $1,000, 600
have been issued.
Worcester moved in tne matter SEEM
ingly a little too hurriedly and petit
toned the court to have a commission
appointed to study the situation and
abolish the grade crossings of Worces-
4 ter but when the commission thus 3p-
pointed by the court, as per request
of the city government, reported, then
the citizens began to realize the mis-
take that had been made in petitioning
the court before the citizens had prop
erly considered the great question in all
its bearings and what me citizens Of
/ Worcester really Wantad
But the finding of the commission ap-
| pointed by the court is obligatory and
must be carried out, unless the legis-
lature comes to the relief of the city.
Four different commissions have at
tempted to solve the problem of abol-
ishing the grade crossings of
! the steam railroads in Worces-
ter; the Shepard" Cor courD commls-
sion: the so-called "Allen" commission;
| the so-called Board of Trade and
mayors commission" and the last one
known as the "disinterested engineers
commission" who have just reported
to the city council of Worcester. "a
disinterested commission" because one
4 is the city engineer, and another is said
to have been under pay of the city
much of the time during the past year
or two, as an expert witness in the re-
Gently tried cases for water damages
/ by the mill owners against the city,
and the third one. a good engineer and
good fellow who would not quarrel with
/ his two associate engineers who had
already settled the matter for them
selves all right. nor with the mayor
who invited him to serve on the COM
mission.
SPECIAL LAWS.
How many people know of the special
laws that have been passed by the leg
I e..
| crossings to aid and assist different
towns and cities where expensive work
is to be done2
Several such special acts have been
passed in the last three or four years,
and since the s0-called Shepard or
courts commission made their report.
And there Is no reason why Worcester
should not ask for similar special leg
islation. where the commonwealth may