Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-17
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Sidewalk Repairing Will be DisCon-
 tinued Under Present System.

Mayor Elton presided at the meet ing of the board of public works last night, and all the members were present except MT Brown With the exception of a tilt between COmmis- sioner Jackson and Superintendent Hotchkiss of the street department that looked as if it might end serious ly, nothing unusual occurred, except a few remarks at the close of the ses- sion by Mago Sheehan of Edward street, which must have convinced the city fathers that at least one place in the Brooklyn district is being neglected.
 Commissioner Jackson offered resolution requesting the engineer to prepare a form of contract for repair ing sidewalks and advertise for bids for doing the work. The commis- sioner remarked as he eyed the slip of paper on which the resolution was written, that about $2,20O of the ap- propriation was left and he thought the work should be done by contract, adding that more than half the ap- propriation had already been spent and that a great deal of faultfindtng was heard about it. The bill came in here ill a lump sum-" he continued, without word of explanation as to where the work was done or anything else"
 MT Hotchkiss occupied Nchair di- rectly behind Commissioner Jackson and one would think by the way he turned about in his seat he was go- ing to give the commissioner box in the ear. "I told you," chimed in the superintendent of streets, with con- siderable emphasis, 'that you could see statement showing where every foot of it was laid if you cared to. don't believe MT Wilmot should get the whole of it, either"
 MT Jackson-"It is not question of who does the work. It is the sys- tenn I have reference to. The state ments may be in your office and they may be ill Naugatuck for that mat ter.'
 MT Hotchkiss--I told you the state ments were in my office and that I'd bring them up if you cared to see them"
 MT Jackson-"That's all right. I'm talking about what has been put be- fore this board. I saw nothing only the bill"
 Mayor Elton-'T think that's all right. MT Cairns can fix up form of contract and then we can ask for bids. It is large sum of money to spend without contract. l believe the charter states that all work cost ing over $1,000 shall be given to the lowest competitive bidder"
 MT Goss-"Personally I should pre- fer to see the work done by con tract, but think you will find it hard to do 1t that way. Besides don't consider it a violation of the charter to do such work by the day. The work is in different places and the superintendent of streets is no more bound to let the repairing of sidewalks by contract than the top dressing of streets"
 MT Cairns and Commissioner Wade thought 1t could be handled all right by contract, although MT Cairns was somewhat apprehensive that compe- tent inspector would have to be em- ployed to look after the job. The mo- tion was passed with the understand ing that bids be received on Septem- Der 13. A resolution was then in- troduced and unanimously adopted, ordering the superintendent of streets to discontinue sidewalk repairing for the present While the matter was under discussion MT Hotchkiss reach ed for his hat and walked out appar- ently somewhat displeased at the turn things had taken.
 Property owners on Kenyon street were called and heard relative to con- structing sidewalks in a portion of that street They were in favor of the proposition. The matter was fla vorably reported to the aldermen.
 The superintendent of streets was instructed to employ somebody to see that the bridges about town are in a safe condition. The matter of laying an S-inch water main in Dublin street from East Main street to the river for the accommodation of the Scovill Manufacturing Go and the D. J. Man vile Machine Go was laid on the ta- ble for further consideration. The United Gas Improvement Go was granted permission to open the brick pavement to make connection for the Waterbury Manufa curing Co. 1t was voted to recommend that the pe- tition of l.. M. Camp for q sidewalk on Grove street at Holmes avenue be granted. The superintendent of streets was requested to repair the sidewalk on West Main street oppo- site the First Congregational church. The petitions of J. K. Smith and F. F. O'Reilly for electric lights, the former on Prospect street and the latter on Fairmount street, were re- ferred to the committee on lamps and gas.
 Commissioner Goss, who with MT Jackson has charge of the rearrange- ment and installation of lights, re- ported plan for lighting the green. It includes the installation of six ad- ditional arc lamps and the change of location of one or two of the four lights now in use there. The proposi- ton was favorably recommended to the aldermen, MT Goss remarking as it was passed along that if the alder men didn't consider it good politics to light up the green they would have a chance to say so. To this MT Jack son replied to the effect that MT Goss is the only politician on the board. He had come to that conclusion because he is the only member of the board who makes a practice of referring to politics.
 Harry Willetts submitted another -SA A<~