Waterbury Democrat., 1902-07-02
MERCHANTS BEFORE BOARD.
Claim Business Is Hurt by Building
 Material on Sidewalks.

Material on Sidewalks.
 The board of public works helds its regular monthly meeting yesterday af- ternoon, Commissioner D. J. Mahaney acting as chairman in the absence of AIayor Kilduff.
 The half-monthly payrolls and mis- cellaneous bills were read and ap- proved. The petition of c. J. Riggs, who is building a concrete arch bridge over the brook on the Morris road for an extension of time from July l to July l6, was received and placed on tle. The vote of the board of health prohibiting splitting on and about the green was read and a vote passed in- structing the superintendent of streets to see that signs are properly placed. Two votes were passed relative to the proposed storm water drainage system from South Wilson street to Bank street; one that a ten foot right of way be secured between said points, and the other. recommending that the board be authorized to lay out a right of way for storm water drainage along the line of the brewery brook.
 A committee representing South Main street merchants, with Thomas Conlon and Henry Harding as spokes. men, were heard relative to the condi- tion of South Main street, west side, from Harding's store to a point south of Scoyi1 street. They have petition before the board asking that the walk be cleared.
 'sAl We ask for, gentlemen said MT Conlon, lis fair treatment. No one can use that walk from MT Harding's to our place. and as all of us pay for the privilege of doing business it seems nothing more than fair that we should not be hindered. The conditions that exist there are costing Conlon Bros $100 day. We don't want to inter- fere with the work of putting up build ings. Our interests can be looked out for and at the same time not in any way inconvenience those who are building. Give us the same show the Bank street merchants have"
 Chairman Mahaney: 1T don't see why you haven't as good walk as the Bank street people"
 MT Conlon: Come down there with me and I'll show you whether we have or not. They have nice board walk on Bank street, while the entire walk on South aain street is occupied by debris of every description Why, they have a whole lumber yard there now. The city doesn't be so lenient with ev- erybody. When we were building down there Mr Relley came near put ting me in jail. We had some trifiing obstructions on the walk. and tell you we had to remove them mighty quick or take the consequences"
 Chairman Mahaney: "Oh, 1 think people who want to call upon you will get to your place all right.' MT Conlon: ssThey won't do it. Trade fn our line is very easily injured. If the way leading to our place is blocked or dangerous our customers l will patronize others. When they see these mountains ahead of them they don't think of going down that way. Your customers might run risks to get to your place, but mine will not. ! suppose people get into Schlitz's, but l that's a different matter. Now, gentle. men, you owe it to us to clear that walk. If you neglect to attend to it, I fail to see why you do not leave the city liable for damage. I don't think the city has a right to allow anyone to block the sidewalks for any great l length of time, and I for one Wouldn't think much of bringing action to find out what rights people have in mat ters of this kind. Like others in our line, we are under heavy expenses and don't want to see condition exist l which we know is ruinous to our busi, I ness"
 Mir Harding: sT don't think it neces- l sary for me to say anything after the I ground has been gone over so thorough 1 ly by MT Conlon. All I desire to say, 1 gentlemen, is that I hope you will do l for us what you would want us to do for you were you in our places and we l in yours
 l Commissioner Scully said he be. lieved the South Main street mer chants had grievance ana that it was the duty of the city to give them such relief as lay in it's power.
 The matter was referred to a com l mittee consisting of Mayor Kflduff, l Commissioner B1akeslee and Superin, tendent Kelley of the street depart ment.
 MT Blakeslee called attention to the Cottage place curbing which is now 1 being laid. He said some of the resi- dents didn't like the jog in the street and suggested that it be fixed. The board visited the place and after look, ing over the ground all agreed that | some change was desirable, but no vote was passed.
 The board also visited South Main street and found the situation substan tially as represented by the petition. CTS. The pile of wood placed directly on the walk during the past week com pletely blocks travel on that side. and unless it is removed no one will pass at that point for several weeks. 1 PUREry pERSOMAr