The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-19
A HEARING
Given to Property
Owners.
HARVARD STREET
Men Object to Assessment
for the Extension.

The committee on street betterments
consisting of Aldermen George f.
Wall and Charles A. Vaughan, gave a
hearing in the common council cham
Der last evening to the real estate own
ers on Harvard street, who request an
abatement of the assessments levied
against their estates due to the extern
sion of Harvard street to Walnut.
There are in all q petitions. Charles
M. Thayer appeared for 10 petitioners.
Several others also spoke.
Mr.. Thayer spoke Of the work done
and concluded by showing that it was
not necessary as people used easier
grades than Walnut street
On the subject of foot passage, he
said the people of Harvard street paid
$3.50 in 1856 for the alleyway which ran
from the street to Walnut street. In
1895 the estate at the corner of Chest
nut and Sudbury was for sale and the
city council considered the ACCESSIBILITY
OF extending Harvard street To as
certain how great the demand for such
street was, count was made about
that time of the number of people who
went through the alleyway. Over 1900
passed through on a gay on which
there was no special attraction down
town. He said within two days of the
expiration of the time street better
ments were assessed which shows that
there was no intention of assessing bet
terments when the street was laid
out.
Lawyer Thayer said his clients OBJ
ject to the levying of assessments on
the ground that they are not AUDITORS
on the street where the improvement
was made. After reading an extract
from the law regulating the ASSESS
ment of betterments, he questioned if
the real estate on Harvard street is
really benefited. The law does not
speak of the benefits which may be
rendered to people. {Ie said there is no
benefit to the real estate as the law
requires.
The questions which are asked con-
corning a street which affect the value
of real estate are whether there is a
sewer, sidewalk and other advanta-
ges. There are 140 people living on
Harvard street and over 1900 people
used the alleyway in a ody He asked
why discrimination should be made in
favor of the residents Of Harvard
place, who are obliged to come on to
Harvard street and use it more than
| some of the petitioners. He said there
have been a number of streets contin-
ued in the city and no assessment
levied.
John N. Akarman said ts,ere are sew
eral pieces of property which are more
or less benefited. The property on Wal
nut street opposite the new extension
is benefited, yet no assessment has been
levied. Mr. Prentice was clever
enough to have the city sign off the
| levYing of betterments. Those are the
only estates really benefited.
Mason A. Boyden said when he cir
culated the petition for the extension
of the street, everybody asked If street
bettermen assessments would be levied.
The clause concerning betterment as
| sessments was stricken from the petit
ton.
Jerome Marble said he thought the
people of Dix street should be assessed
| as well as those on other streets.
Otis E. Putnam said the benefit was
for thousands, and for that reason the
assessments should not be confined to
Is or 20 estates He said: 1--WE kept
think the city should keep it's wider
alleyway open 40 ~ ~
Fl. j. Russell representing the George
Russell estate, said that the entire
question was in regard to the increased
value Of the property. The tax is for
betterments which do not better. He
called attention to the fact that Walnut
street is inaccessible and Bowdoin
street is the one used for travel.
Charles r. Burbank said nothing was
said about street betterments. The as
sessment was in violation Of a specific
understanding. The whole section of
the city has been benefited but $2500
expense must be borne by rs estates.
James Green, representing Elizabeth
Green, said his family declined to sign
the petition because the estate would
not be benefited. He said a man who
desires to drive from Harvard street
to main would take the easy grade, by
Bowdoin and Chestnut In getting
supplies to the houses on Harvard
street persons drive up the easy
grades and avoid Walnut street.
Whether any one is coming or going