Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-21
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
Vine Street Closed By Order of Super
 intendent of Streets.

there being present Messrs Murray, Brophy, Filling Stanley, Chesson, Gates. Beach and Blakeslee. Vice President Chesson presided.
 The recommendation of the board of public works that the water main 1n Wall street be extended 225 from the present termination of the main in that street, was adopted, and the work or dered. All the other recommendations of the board of public works, published herein before. with the exception or one relating to the discontinuance or portion of Vine street, were acted upon favorably.
 The Vine street matter was sent back to the board of public works W1th ln- structions to see if the property GOV cred by the street cannot be sold 1n- stead of turning it over to somebody for nothing. When the recommends ton was read MT Chesson remarked that he understood the street was ai- ready discontinued. Mir Murray in- auired if it were true that the street was fenced in, and if so, by whose au- thority. He also wanted. to know II the board should vote to discontinue the street would the city get anything for it. MT Blakeslee explained that the Chase Rolling Mill Go owned the property at both sides of the street and that according to his idea of such things when a street is discontinued the land included in the street goes to the abutting property owners. In this case the same parties owning both sides, it would all go to them.
 Chairman Chesson said there was some question about that and cited the case of the Scovill Manufacturing Go, who paid $40 for that portion of Hay den street which was discontinued short time ago.
 "Did they pay anything, and if so, was it similar case?" Inquired MT Blakeslee.
 City Clerk Ryan: "Yes, sir; it was a similar case, and they paid $24O. l have looked it up.'
 k City Attorney Kellogg was then called in to explain the situation and stated the we'll known fact that the city sim ply has an easement over the streets and sidewalks, but that once it aban- dons a street and says it has no fur ther use for it, the property owners at either side immediately come into pos session of it again and each side can claim 1t out to the center of the street. TTe didn't think the city could get any thing for street once it Is diScOntin- ued and stated that unless there was something in the Hayden street mat ter that he was not aware of, the as- sessment levied against them was not legal.
 MT Murray: "Are we obliged to dis continue this street?"
 MT Kellogg: ''Why, no; not unless you want to.
 MT Murray: Well then, supposing we refuse to discontinue the street, can we go to those people and say we don't wanttto discontinue 1t, but if they desire such action we'll do it providing they buy the land? Can we do that legaIly?''
 Mir Kellogg: aOh. yes.'' MT Murray: .eW;hy not do that then? If we order 1t discontinued we lose any chance there - of realizing something out of it; but If we let it remain as it 1 is the city can make some use of 1t if nobody wants to buy it."
 Mir Murray moved that the recom- mendation be referred back to the board with instructions to see what could be done toward selling the land before ordering the street discontinued. l. The motion was passed unanimously. Then MT Chesson started up another row by asking the city attorney if any 1 body had right to fen i'll that street. Mir Kellogg said that they had not, whereupon MT Murray desired to be informed by what authority the Chase l Rolling Mill Go put up big fence across a public street.
 l MT Blakeslee: "Some city official 1 gave them permission. l Mir Murray: ''What city official has I the power to order the discontinuance of a public street? Do you know of I anybody who has such authority, MI 1 Kellogg"
 'sMr Kellogg: .'No.''
 City Clerk Ryan: s'The company owns all the land at both sides of the street and when they got the founda tion for the cellar of their factory wei under way there was deep ditch be side the street, and in order to avoid l accidents the superintendent of streets gave them permission to close the street temporarily"
 Mr Ryan's explanation put an enc to the discussion. the city attorney re marking that the superintendent o, streets has 8 right to close any stree that Is dangerous and keep it closed until it is put in safe condition fol public travel.
 The report of the bureau Of assess ment relative to change of grade of th' sidewalk on portion of North Maii
 street was sent back to the board They reported benefits and damages
 equal, while the estimated cost of doing
 the work was given as over $500. Th'
 city attorney said they should have re
 ported that they had not been able t
 find benefits to offset the damages. I
 was plain that the aldermen did not un
 derstand that sidewalk question. Th
 damages asked run into the thousands
 but evidently the bureau of assessmen
 felt that the benefits accruing to then
 by reason of the change which was tt be met by the city would even things up.
 The petitions of Longino Longi fo . a bootblack's license in Exchange place : of J. A. Blanchard for the improve ment of Johnson avenue, and w. E Fulton for crosswalk at the corne of Hillside avenue and Cliff street
 were referred to the board of publi works. The petition of O. D. Hoadle. : for the release of liens on certain Os , born street property was referred t,