Waterbury Democrat., 1901-12-18
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS


 Q. ID. Cushman Wants Damages on Ac- count of Surface Water.
 The board of public works held meeting last night and heard property owners interested in sewer assess meuts in Hill, Pearl, Frederick aad Hopkins streets and Cottage place. Action relative to the laying of the as- sessments was postponed until some future meeting.
 A communication was received from the Hastings Pavement Go, signed by their attorneys, Burpee & Carmody, relative to the paying of the percent ages held by the city on the company's s paving contract on North Main street from Exchange place to q point oppo- site the Methodist church. The com munication was received and ordered on file. after which Colonel Burpee talked on the subject. He went over the grounds according to the knowledge he had of the case and concluded by re minding the board of the folly of al lowing this to go to the courts. where nobody but the lawyers make any thing.
 None of the members budgad during the reading of the communication, nor while Colonel Burpee was talking, but they must have been grinning in their sleeves at the contention that the com pany had compiled with it's contract to leave the pavement in condition to the satisfaction and approval of the board of public works after a period of five years. Last summer Mayor Kilduff, Engineer Cairns and the board of public works pointed out such fe- pairs as they considered necessary 10 be made on the pavement in queston. q le company did what It tnougnl necessary itself and took no stock ln what the board of public works hau to say in the premises. The question To be decided now is, does the con- tract signed by the compaIly mean anything? If it does the city is in position to compel the company to do what it agreed to do, leave the pave ment in condition to the approval of yate individuals chosen to pass upon fhe matter by the company. It is very likely that the case will go to the courts, flor it seems to be we'll under stood that the city will not only re- fuse to pay the percentages withheld, something in the neighborhood of $30O, but will also take steps to compel the company to put down new blocks III all parts of the streets where the one already laid show an appreciable amount of wear.
 J. D. Cashman of Round Hill street was heard regarding damage to his property in that street by surface water during the recent storm. He said he will sue the city for damages amounting to at least $50. On motion of Mir Whiting it was voted that the superintendent of streets be instructed to lay a gutter across the street at this point which, it was thought, would prevent damage from a similar cause in the future.
 Patrick McEvoy complained that he had been charged $1.50 for thread faucet in his house and wanted to know why. It was there when he bought the property and he never had n hose on it. The matter was referred to the superintendent of the bureau of water for investigation and report.
 Engineer Cairns and Superintendent O'Brien of the bureau of water. the committee appointed some time ago to inquire into the advisability of accept ing the water main of NJ. ]. Fogg in waterviIle, reported that they did not deem 1t wise to take acton on the mdl- ter at the present time. They pre- ferred to wait until spring, when a Dit can be made and the condition Of fhe pipe determined. The communica- lion was received and ordered on file.
 1t was voted to recommend to the aldermen that an abatement be made on a sewer assessment charged against 1T. F. Halpin of Washington street to correct a clerical error.
 The payrolls for the first half of De- cember were approved. as follows: Water department. $5O5.80; engineer ing department. $3s269; additional water supply, $249; street department, S1.156.10.
 Michael Kelly called attention to the conduct of the contractor who laid the water main on North Main street op- posite his premises. He threw dirt over his sidewalk and made dumping ground of his door yard. MT Kelly wanted to know who was going to pay him for all the trouble and expense he had been put to in clearing up his place. The question was not an- swered. The board then adjourned.