Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-03
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
Manufacturers Want Charges AboI-
 lished for Stand Pipes.

# The board of public works met yes terday afternoon at 4 o'clock and re- mained in session until nearly [ in the evening.
 Tho expected happened With refer enee to sprinklers and standpipes, d petition signed by almost all the fac 1 tories being submitted asking that the z charge be abolished.
 .'Is it tfue,'' inquired MT Holmes, sthat the city has been charging for water that is not used?"" K
 s'Yes," replied Engineer Cairns, and it is perfectly legitimate and proper too'' .-. . T suppose chimed in Mayor El- ton, s'the petitioners take the ground that in case of fire the sprlnklers save z the use Of water in other ways and z that 1t is not right to charge for H water used to eXtinguish fire. The smallest shanty in town has a right to 3 use all the water ill the reservoir Il necessary in case of fire.
 MT Jackson: II think it serves an other purpose, too. Don't you get big reduction in insurance rates II you have sprinklers?''
 Mayor Elton: "Oh, yes that's true.''
 MT Holmes: "Supposing you do, why charge for water that IS not usedf"
 Mr Jackson: s'I don't know about that. It cost the city something to get it where it is available for that $ purpose and people who take advant- age of 1t in that way are benefited over and above others and should pay z 0 little something for it.
 i1sox7 al ing law suits of the Platt Bros and I the Scovill Mfg Go rewarding water 5 rates, and the mayor evidently think ing that the discussion was going to be a trifie protracted suggested that fIle matter go over until latter, adding that it was a fit subject for public # hearing.
 Property owners along the proposed route of the Cheshire trolley had hearing in the premises. The only real obiector to the layout was David G. I Porter, who was represented by At torney Aryine, of New Haven. MT = Porter wants the street wfdened in S front of his house so that the bank and trees may not be destroyed. It I was agreed to let the matter stand un- til the engineer prepares profile em- bodying MT Porter's ideas.
 The different matters referred to | the board by the aldermen were read and ordered on the list for inyestiga- t1on. Several sewer hearings were or dered for February 16
 The work of approving the monthly and miscellaneous bills was tedious. All the members were new at the bus iness, and City Engineed Cairns had * to do q lot of coaching.
 A bill of John Calvin was referred to a committee consisting of Commis- sioners Jackson and Holmes for in vastigation The mayor said that # when Mir Calvin works nights in the hall and attends to his duties as as- sistant janitor he makes $4.50 day. I NIT Calvin hires and pays his help on E the stage, but inasmuch as this was not explained the amount appeared rather high. Several bills were left over because they were not approved & by anybody In referring to bills for # advertising MT Holmes said he believ- ed 1t q waste of money to advertise in Sunday paper, but the particular bill he had reference to went through all the same. An application was re- ceived from George J. Strobel asking to be appointed keeper of the town clock MT Wade asked who has the job now, adding that he believed MT Strobel had the job right along. MT Reeves said that Mir Becton is the present keeper of the clock. Then MT Wade inquired if any fault had been found with his work. Mir Cairns ans wered stating that he made a. practice 5 of looking at the town clock several times every day and that he had no recollection of ever seeing it out of order. He thought it received all the attention It required and was well
 lighted, too. MT Wade said that he
 believed the chief engineer of the fire department gives 1t some attention. MT
 Jackson remarked that if the position
 amounted to anything 1t was wonder the man who has it didn't get move on him and file an application for re- apppintment. The communication was
 received and ordered on file.
 Superintendent Johnson submitted a
 repor+ showing that the work of in
 specting water faucets and closets is
 being pushed, but is not yet completed.
 The board adjourned for week.