Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1904-04-26
TROLLEY CONDITIONS SETTLED.
Aldermen Had Another Breezy Session Last Night--A
derman Hurley Voted With the Republicans
Conditions Finally Adopted

The board Of aldermen met last
night, Mr. Blakeslee presiding and all
the members present except Aldermen
Stanley and Brophy. The principal
matter disposed of was the recommen-
! dation of the board of public works
relative to the application of the troll
ley company for double tracks and
turnouts. AS the company has no
charter rights to double track any Of
the streets it was thought that the al
dermen would tack on something for
tlifs privilege instead of letting it go
for nothing, but nothing of the kind
was DONE The company'S charter
gives 1T the right to lay single tracks
in the streets together with such turn
outs and switches as may be necessary
for the operation of the road, but says
nothing about double tracks, so that in
this case the city was even more gem
erous with the trolley than the legis-
lature ever has been, Notwithstanding
all people hear about vicious legisla-
ton at Hartford.
The company made one slight mis-
take in this last case. 1t neglected to
have the aldermen caucus and agree
to everything 1t wanted and in cOnse-
Quence it came near losing $3.50 on ac-
count of the oversight. AS 1t was it
dropped $3.50 which will go into the
pockets of the taxpayers.
When the trolley question was in
troduced Chairman Blakeslee said that
owing to a mistake on the part of
somebody the report of the board Of
public works stated that the company
should pave North Willow street at
the turnout from curb to curb while
all the board wanted to have it do
was to pave between the rails and
two feet outside thereof. He said
that the city attorney had made this
change at the request of the mayor.
The conditions were then read and a
vote passed that they be acted upon
section by section. When they got
to the turnouts Mr. Murray said that
he expected something would be ask
ed for these and moved that the price
be fixed at 500 each. The motion
was lost by big majority.
Mr. Murray was very much displeas-
ed with the conditions imposed for the
double tracking of West Main street
which states that the company
shall pay $3.50 towards the widening
Of the street from the Naugatuck rail-
road tracks to the car barns Mr.
Murray asked Mr. Holmes If this ques-
ton was given much consideration by
the board Of public works and what
part Of the expense this $3.50 amounted
to. Mr. Holmes said he couldn't tell,
adding that practically all these ques-
tions were considered too Indefinite
for such an important subject and
wanted to know who would pay the
balance supposing the job should cost
$1,000. He moved that $1,000 be in
serted in lieu Of $3.50. Mr. Holmes
seconded the motion and when the
chair called for remarks to the great
confusion Of the trolley advocates, Mr.
Pilling said that he should like to make
it $780, The amount was an unde-
termined quantity and might prove to
be very large. The alderman from the
first made an amendment to the mo-
ton that the sum be made $1,500 in
stead OF $3.50 This was seconded by
Mr. Bergen of the fifth district. At
this juncture General Manager Sew
ell showed himself in the doorway. of
the ante-room and the aldermen looks
ed over their shoulders to make sure
that they had not mistaken the foot
step. When Mr. Pilling's motion was
put the chair declared it somewhat
doubtful and called for a rising vote.
The following members Jumped to
their feet and were counted in favor
of making the sum $1,5O0: Aldermen
Pfling, Murray, Bergen, Tobin, Cal
Ian, Dunn. When these were seated
heads were counted as follows:
in opposition to the proposition: AL
dermen Beach, Buck, Holmes, Hurley,
Hewitt, Macauley. This made it tie,
but the chair favored the $3.50 and de-
clared the molten lost. Mr. Murray's
amendment was@then put and carried,
only Alderman Beach Macauiey and
Hewitt opposing it.
The section relating to the proposed
widening Of the WATERFOWL road was
on motion Of Mr. Pilling, made TO read
SO that such land as may be purchased
from the town farm shall be bought at
not less than heretofore paid for land
when the present almshouse turnout
was constructed, instead of 'At the
same price," as the board of public
works put it. The rest Of the condi-
tons went through all right.
On motion of Mr. Murray 1t was vot-
ed to request the trolley company to
sprinkle the streets In which their
tracks are laid annually from May Is
to- September Is. In support of this
motion Mr. Murray said that the city
had shown "a very generous disposition
toward the company in giving IL the
free use of re public streets, not for
q limited peri y but forever, and now
he wanted to 81 how much generosity
the company wal willing to show in re-
turn for what hs. been done for It.
When Mr. BlakesleeA declared this mo-
ton carried he ramar Eed that he hoped
the company wouldn do it.
The petition OF Richard Mccarthy
for abatement of a street assessment
on Washington street was referred to
the committee, on law. On recon-
mendatioa Of the board of education