Waterbury Democrat., 1901-04-25
NO ROOM FOR 4 KICK.
East End Section Has Not Been
 Slighted in the Least.

It has Got All the Improvements Asked-David Porter a Progressive Citizen Who Keeps Pace with the Times-The Question of Sidewalks
 and Sewers a Troublesome One at All Times.
 The "ont east" people are very much Interested in the discussion now going
 on in tho Democrat relative to the all
 legeG disregard on the part of public officials for the material advancement of that part Of the town and their
 happy knaok of pushing to the rear pa- titions asking for public improvements
 in that district without giving the pc
 titioners leave to withdraw or doing
 anything else that might betray their systematic game of spending the
 money raised out east in beautifying
 more favored sections. This is q pop
 ular shibbo1eth in all quarters Of the
 city, but probably no section has less
 reason to proclaim it than the eastern
 part of the town which, at the pres
 ent time has not an application before
 the city government that is not being
 puSuCd UOf COllplCliOlls dS lttSL dS ClI-
 cumstances will permit The only
 public work asked for in that end of
 the town since the present administra-
 tion came into power was the grade
 and layout of Howard street, the ex-
 tension of the sewer in Wolcott street,
 sewer. crosswalk and electric lights
 on Dublin and Bridge streets and a
 catch basin on Wolcott street at Mar
 ley alley. Some of these petitions have
 been granted and the work ordered
 done and the others are in the hands
 of proper committees. For instance, all the sewers asked for have been
 constructed, the electric lights, thanks to Alderman Phelan, have been making
 glad the hearts of pedestrians about
 Dublin street the past few months,
 the Wo1cott street people have q good,
 wide gutter laid there to replace the old one and while they may have some
 reason for faultfinding because every
 property owner has not laid his walk
 in accordance with the order of the
 board of aldermen, they should bear in mind that they are largely responsi- ble for this themselves. The street has
 been worked to the established grade
 and every man who has asked that stakes be set for his curbing got them
 so that the only thing left for the city to do now is to take delinquents into the police court and it is ques- tion whether this would be using them right, for most citizens appreciate the value of sidewalks in front of their premises. but it is not every mans good fortune to be able to pay for them as soon as his neighDor and make other ends meet besides. Tn most oe the public streets of Waterbury there are a few people whose means allow them to have everything they wish for in the way of Improvements, but q vast majority are differently circum stanced and if the city should force t.nem to keep pace with their more for tunate neighbors many would have to get out and lose the equity they have in their Holdings. The great trouble with most people is that they never be- stow thought upon what effect pub- lie Improvements have upon families of limited means. As matter of fact the city is anxious to have curbing and sidewalks in every street i'll the city and if some places that ought to have them are not provided with such Improvements it is due solely to the fact that public officials hesitate about bringing private individuals into the courts and probably take the roof from over their heads. No doubt there are many who can afford to comply with orders issued by the city government who are q trifie negligent, but we feel safe in venturing the statement that they are few and far between. In all s7,,r> fc rsa Iaycd the blame, if you wish to use that term. can be traced to a disinclin- ation on the part of the people to go to the expense What are you going to do with a petition for sidewalks in q street wEere four-fifths of the prop erty owners come forward at hearing and state that they are not able to meet the outlay?
 ! A new layout has been made and adopted and boundary stones set for the plank road. so called, and no mere public spirited citizen ever appeared before the city board in connection with an improvement of that nature than David c. Porter showed himself to be when he was called upon to speak on the subject notwithstanding the allegation that the family have been a draw back to the eastern sec tion. The bureau of engin- eering Is at work on lay out and grade for the Brass Mill road, so called, and Silver street from East Main street to Dublin street. These are all big projects, each in- considerable expense, and can- not be rushed through in n day. All the hearings have been held on ths petition for the grade and layout of Howard street and the matter is now before the bureau of assessment. The last petition received from the out east district was sent in few weeks ago and is now on the list for investiga- tion. It asks for T grade and layout | of Dublin street from the present ter imitation of the established grade in that street to the city line. The people in that street want the city water toe, but the grade of the street must come first. On the whole. we think. that after a little reflection it will De seen that considerable work has been done in that district the past two years and when what is under way is taken into account it might be said that the out east people are abreast of the times and that she'r representatives U. ,y,,ay phn-I