Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-01-05

| Nearly all the streets that are now surface hardened need top dressing, and We may hope to have some part 1 or our appropriations for streets, re- pairs, to use for that purpose this year.
 The city equipment for surface hard ening is not in serviceable condition. I have visited the stone crushing plant in Cheshire and believe that it wou be cheaper to buy a portable stone crushing plant than to attempt to re- build the old one.
 Our road roller has been lying at the city yards for several years out of use, and 1t would cost the city about $1 ,O0O to put it in running order. We should turn our attention during the next year to getting our equipment in this line in repa'1, so it may be used in the near future
 I The storm water drainage is already showing good results by saving our hill streets from the serious washing that used to come with every heavy rain. We have still sorae $1S.OOO to use for storm watar drainage. and the work will be pushed during this year.
 The North Main street paving was practically finished in 1903. only a very small section remaining to make it complete.
 wish to bring the matter of open ing new streets as it exists to-day In 1 Waterbury to your attention. For a number of years we made a practice of acceDting new streets and at once assessing the property on said streets for benefits. Property owners who have been unwilling to pay these assessments before the work on the streets was done. have had liens placed on their proDertv. Those who. for per- sonal reasons. did not wish to have any. encnmbrances on their property have paid the assessments Tn many cases after nlacing liens on the pr0ner- tv or accanting money from pronertv holders. the, city has done no work on the streets.
 Tho city is certainly morally oT,li gated tO do this work whatever the 1 legal rights may he. and hope that we nav make good prooress this year to- ward putting the city right in this ma. ter.
 Parks. l am sure that it is a pleasure to us all to know that work ot permanent nature was done in Hamilton park last year. With the appropriation made this year, paths can be laid out, some grading and other work of suitable nature done, to put the park In condi- ton for the use of the public.
 sincerely hope that this work can be rushed so that the park may be used during the coming summer.
 We are behind the other cities of our size in the state in the number of parks already provided for, and the time is near when we will be obliged to look for other sites in various parts of the city if we intend to carry out any systematic arrangement of parks for the good of the people at large.
 Water Department. We have reason to congratulate our selves that we are in possession of such a splendid water supply. The re- ceipts of this department are constant ly increasing, and if we use good judg ment in further extending the system, these recepits will continue to increase.
 Of course, there are some weak spots still in our water system which I think may be summed up under three heads.
 l. The need of high water service.
 ? The need of replacing small pipes which exist in many districts with larger mains
 3. The need of more thorough inspec tion to regulate the use of water.
 Tn providing high water service the upper East Mountain reservoirs should he rsed to thoir full capacity. So far as they go they will furnish water much cheaper than it can be furnished to the high levels of the city by pump ing
 The replacing of the small water pipe of larger size Is one of our great est needs. case in point is the ser vice in the Brooklyn district. so called, as 1t exists to-sav There are two e'g 'ght inch mains delivering water to this district. and thev deliver an entirely inadeenate supply. The 9sne from the Naugatnck railroad station throuoh Bank street to the Brooklyn d'st~ict should be replaced at once with a main