Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-04-04
BOARD or ALDERMEN.
Action Taken sn, Bssyint the Wires
 on Grand and South Main Sfrsets.

The board of aldermen met last night, President Blakeslee presiding, and all the members being present ex. cept two, Mir Hurley of the fifth and MT Holmes of the second.
 City Engineer Cairns was heard rela. tive to the recommendation of the board of public works asking to be given discretionary power regarding the kind of material to be used for permanent paving: It was passed.
 City Attorney Kellogg submitted a report relative to the right of the city to compel the trolley company to bury the overhead wires on Field, Grand and South Main streets. It showed that section 3,9O5 of the general stat utes confers such power on cities and boroughs, but the owners of the wires have the right to an appeal to judge Of the superior court, who may modify or revoke the order.
 Alderman Murray wanted to know why it would not be a good thing to have the wires on other streets buried, too. MT Blakeslee and Mir Cairns ex- plaiHed that commencement was made in the streets named because the danger is greater than in any other thOrOughfares. Favorable action was taken on the report and the board of public works was directed to cite in the c. R. and l.. Co to be heard in the premises.
 The law committee, consisting of AL dermen Filling, TObin and Hewitt, re- ported relative to the special assess ment question, part of which was q communication from Colonel Burpee, in which he offered to file bond of $11,- OOO and pay an expert for going over the books, the bond and the expert to be to the approval of the board of finance, the city and Colonel Burpee to abide by the finding of the expert. The law committee recommended that this proposition be accepted and a vote to this effect was put and carried unanimously. 4@
 At the suggestion of Building Inspec- tor Chatfield the following amendment to section S1 of the building ordinance was passed to be engrossed.
 Every building hereafter erected and more than five stories in height, shall be of approved fire. proof con struction."
 The city attorney stated that he Is watching for an opportunity to get an amendment to the charter regarding the collection of taxes from people who have little or no income, but whose equity in their holdings is considerable. It is now too late for new business, but inasmuch as the city has bushel basketful of charter amendments awaiting final action at Hartford, he may railroad it through as an amend ment to one of them.
 The board voted to accept an invita-. ton to attend the observance of Lees surrender on April 6, and also donated $1OO to Wadhams post to help meet the expense of Decoration day. The bond of Constable Archambault, with NJ. J. McEvoy as surety, was accepted, subject to the approval of the city at. torney.
 Alderman Hewitt moved that tho mayor be authorized to employ an ex. pert to audit the city's books and bal ance them to date, adding that he un- derstOOd that this is something that has not been. done in twenty years. Alderman Murray laughed at this re. mark and assured 'the alderman from the third that he. was labOring under q misapprehension. Mir Murray knew because he is q member of the auditing committee. Out of deference to the law committee, who has this whole matter under consideration, the motion was not pressed.
 The following petitions for new work were suitably referred: J. E. Fenton, sewer and water main in West Main street; c. H. Cables, side walks on North Willow from Ludlow to Willard avenue: Joseph Dupree, for sewer on Washington avenue; B. A. Pierpont ct all, layout, grade and building lines for Bunker Hill avenue: John OsNeill, catch basin at corner of Cooke and Grove streets; J. H. smith, sewer in North Main street; Matthew Rich and M. H. N0Onan, bootblack H. censes; the H. l.. Welch Hosiery Co ct al, for widening the arch under the Highland division at Waterville; the Waterville Cutlery Co, for widening Maple street.
 The petition of the Rogers Bros ask ing that the work of grading Silver street be begun as soon as possible was referred to the board of public works.
 The petition of w. H. Jackson for a scavenger's license was referred to the board of health. The various recon. mendations of the board of public works relative to new work were read and approved.
 A lot of applications for abatement of city taxes went through. but one batch was held up and sent back to the committee on abatements.
 The board adjourned for two weekA