Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-06
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
George J. Strobsl Succeeds F. P. Bee.
 tom as Keeper of Town Clock.

The board of public works held a meeting ill tbe mayors offics yesterday aftsrnooh, his honor, Mayor Elton, in the chair. Just as they were getting into harness Democrat reporter dropped in and asked if. 1t were an open ses- sion. The mayor replied in the af- drnative, but added that there was nothing special to come up, the object of the meeting being to talk over some matters regarding the plans for troll ley extension on the Cheshire road. The scribe thanked his honor, backed out remarking as he went that if there was nothing new to come up the ses- sion had no interest for him, to which the chair replied in a reassuring way that in case the board should switch off on other things he should give the newsman call on the phone. This was more than he had reason to hope for, and he ambled out of the hall thinking that at least one board was bound to stand well with the press.
 Later on he learned that the thing was only a jolly, and that In addition to discussing trolley matters, the town clock question came up and the old
 
 ing the basement of the city hall into something besides a headquartars for every vagrant cat in town. This mat ter came up on recommendation of the department asking that certain DOT ton of the basement be partftioned off into stalls to be used for various purposes in connection with the de- partment of charities. It was voted to authorize and direct the agent of city hall to have the work done at an expense not to exceed $26O.
 A communication of Richard Preus- ser asking for appointment as keeper of the town clock was received and placed on file, after which George J. Strobel was elected keeper of the clock to succeed Frank F. Becton who has held the position for the past year. At the meeting held last Tues day the board could not find words sufficient to explain the admirable manner In which the clock has been attended to during the past year and at the session prior to that MT Wade expressed himself very strongly against removing faithful employees, but 1t seams at that time he was la boring under the impression that Mir Gtrohe1 had the job and didn't know anything to the contrary until he heard 1t Somewhere.
 The plans for trolley extension were looked overs Mir Cairns having things Tn shape so that the board could get good look at the situation from David c. Porterss standpoint and that of the petitioner. It is conceded that there is some merit in MT Porter's contention and some fn the city's, but 1t tE also hinted that the proper thing O do fin order to get the best results possible ia to eliminate sentiment and put the tracks where they ought to gu and then if anybody is damaged pay him. Mir Porter is not looking for money. Tn all his talks about the from monetary view, but he has contended and does still that the trees and as much possible of the rural splendor for which the place Is noted be preserved.
 If things go his way Mr Porter is willing to making certain concessions, even expressing a willingness to move his barns at his own expense but if they crowd him he will fight. He said at the hearing Tuesday that his neigh bcr. Mir Wright, did some very nice landscape gardening on the highway, and he had no objection to it, but he was not satisfied to have the trouble thus created turned back on him and cause him serious inconvenience as well as considerable expense. Speak ing for himself Mr Wright said he has trees there worth $1,Oo0 each.