The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-28
Somebody Blundered
in His Plans.
IT COST ABOUT $500
North Brookfield Town Re-
port Reveals a Queer Break

- A@eN"ASiice toudy and are
now ready for distribution at the Of
nee OF Town Clerk George r. Hamant.
az Poland's drug store. The renort
contains a cut of the town house on the
cover page, which is a new feature of
the report, and a welcome one, as it is
q first class picture.
Mr. Lawrence has done rapid work in
setting the reports out, SO that voters
VIII nave almost a full week to peruse
khem before town meeting. The re-
port generally does not differ mate
ilany from those issued in preceding
years, Dut as usual there are items
that look queer under a close insnec-
tlon, and one in particular that the
voter VIII be sure to give second
tnought, as he scrutinizes the report.
appears In the account under High
ways and bridges" given by the Sc
iectmen. This is bill amounting to
S4o7.66 paid to the Worcester Construc-
ton Company for rep3irs made along
Gilbert street, together with minor de-
calls on Main street, resultant from
the construction of the electric road.
There Is little doubt that this will oc-
casion more or less controversy at
either the regular or adjourned town
meeting, most likely at the latter. The
report says:
When the layout Of the street rail-
way was made by the engineer of the
company, acting in conjunction with
Mr.. Nathan Craig for the town, the
grade was established on the advice of
Mr.. Craig, where it ought to be when
a true and proper grade Of the highway
should be established from the end of
the macadam roadbed on Main street
10 the corner of Gilbert and Ward
streets. Owing to this the rails along
Gilbert street were placed quite low.
The electric railway people lived up to
the conditions Of the franchise and
sloped up the. roadbed from the rails
TO the middle of the street, but it was
found that the grade of the road ought
10 be lowered and a contract was made
with the Worcester Construction Com
pany to do the work, removing the ma
terial and placing it along Gilbert
street, beteween the foot of the hill and
Grant street, opposite the house of G..
w. Woods and below Ward street,
widening and raising the road out
side of the limit of Is feet which the
railway was obliged to provide. The
posts for the railing were set and hun
dreds of loads of dirt and stones de-
livered, free of expense to the town, at
such points as the superintendent of
streets selected The great improve
ment in the grades of Summer, Spring
and Grant streets is due to this con-
tract. 1t is estimated that 500 loads of
dirt and stone were delivered in this
way. BY the terms of the franchise
the street railway people were to pave
the cutters from the terminus of the
line at Maple street to and across
School street, and from the corner Of
Grant street, to Ward street, and to
pave the distance of eighteen inches
outside of the rail from School street
to Grant street, whenever the town
was ready to improve the street. The
line of the road as originally laid out
on recommendation of our engineer
was inside of the hay scales, which
would make the putting in of a gutter
impracticable. The hay scales were
afterwards removed, and it was deemed
an economical movement to put in the
half gutter, and the construction COM
pany was employed to do it. The bal
ance of the bill of $467. &c being for that
work.
Thus the report tacitly admits a
mistake somewhere, whereby the town
lost $780, though the responsibility is
fixed on no one unless 1t is shifted tc
Engineer Craig. The best view seems
to be that it was a mistake pure and
simple, even though a pretty costly one
No fauff can be found with the electric
railway people, as they lived up to theiI
agreement, and it will be hard task
to make anything out of the matter,
as the harm is done, except an interest
ing controversy at town meeting.
Horse fanciers are taxing up the
project of resuscitating We olden Gus
tom of having a colt show on Fast day
This was the practice here for years,
and every one who had anything, from
a goat up to an elephant, brought him
out to show up The custom died out
several years ago, but it is claimed
that there are an exceptionally fine lot
of colts in town this year whose own
ers are not backward in proclaiming
their merits.
Fred Hill has fine string Of Gold
beater colts strewn about town, and
he says he would be in it to the end
The matter will be definitely settled
within few days.
At last nights meeting of the st.
Joseph's Temperance Society, the mat
ter Of arranging for a dual field day
with the C. r. A. of Spencer was
brought up for discussion. 1t was de-
oided to instruct Secretary James Ivory
to write to the secretary of the Spen-
Ger Society, asking for more particu'
lars. and fuller explanation of the
Invitation or challenge. Mr.. Ivory
wrote today. and it is expected that
decision can be reached at the mex
meeting.
Stephen Lotus, candidate for the or
fee Of road commissioner, today, re-
quested The Spy correspondent TO stat'
that he is a candidate on. his owl
standing, and not in the interests
Stablekeeper Charles Bush, by whom
he is now employed. Mr.. LOTUS say
ne wishes the people to thoroughly u1
derstand his position. Many nave dd
vanced the theory that it is at the III
stance Of Mr.. Bush he seeks the ono
in order that Bush's teams VIII
used on the road, and that, IN case .
the election of Lotus. Mr.. Bush Woul
really be road commissioner, Mr.. Lot
tus to remain in his employ. rms M
LOTUS saws has no foundation, as II
will be the man who will fill the OHIO
in case of election.
A good opinion can be gained OF u
fight expected for license by the week.
calendar issued yesterday at the Flr'
Congregational Church. It is state
that the outlook is exceedingly doup
full, and urges strong work this weel
IT ia also a practical confirmation {
what The Spy said ON the subject la
week.
The body of Mrs. Maria Balcolnl.
former resident of North Brookfiel
was brought here from Boston tods
Tor burial. Interment was In Waln'
Grove cemetery.
The Union League and Only bask
ball teams expect to play their gan
at Sullivan hall in East Brookfeld. Sa.
urday night. Arrangements have n
been completed for the game, but W
be as soon as the managers meet Ma