Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-04-03
BALDWIN STREET.
Trolley Co Pat One Side Of Street Al.
 most 0ut of business.

most Out of business.
 The remarks of Commissioners Jackson of the department of public works regarding the condition of Baldwin street were all right, but he put the blame on the wrong parties. Before the trolley rails were laid ill Baldwin street it was the handsoni. est thOroughfare in Waterbury. The street was macadamiZed from ScO- wills bridge to Stone street and from that point to SimOnsville the road was ill good shape. It is true that there is an incline to the west side at some parts of the street, but this ney- CT was noticed very much until the rails were laid, not to conform to the grade of the street but to grade that suited the company. Probably this was the best they could have done, but in any case it turned de- lightful public thoroughfare into something which hardly deserves the name of public way. since at points one side of the street is practically put out of business altogether. The company did all the work without consulting the city authorities about the grade. and while everybody was talking about it at the time nobody had the courage to ask them what they were doing The present board of public works had charge of the job. and if it does not suit them now the proper thing for them to do is to have it fixed instead of trying to make it appear that the aldermen for that district are responsible for it.
 X few years ago the trolley com pany tried a similar game on the Wa tertown road. when they put down rails without bothering their heads as to whether the city liked how they looked or not. What was the result? They were given the alterna- tive to take them up and relay them as per contract or make such i'm prOvements along the line as the board of public works thought the situation demanded. The company kicked for q few days and then went ahead and spent something in ethe neighborhOod of S30.000 protecting the property they had ruined. The board of public works didn't sit down with their hands folded and twit the third ward aldermen about the condi- tion of the Watertown road. the same as the present board is now doing. but promptly knocked at the front door of the trolley company and told them they wouldn't stand for what had been done there. The present board should talk to the agents of the trolley line instead of aiming missiles at the aldermen from the fifth. who tried their best to get nice. slightly iron poles in that street instead of the huge timbers that have been put up. in some instances battering the sidewalk from the curb to the fence line. and also wanted the rails laid tp conform to tho grade of the street. and if that couldn't be done they sug gested that the street bc brought to the grade of the rails. but the board of public works paid scant attention to what the aldermen thought should be done in the premises.
 Isn't it the same way in everything else? Early during the regime of the present administration. on suggestion of the aldermen from that part of the town. property owners. who don't like to he always in the dark. peti- tioned for few lights. How was their petition treated? Ii was return cd to the aldermen without recon mendation. which was tantamOunt to saying that there was no merit in it. and tn" aldermen taking the hint. promptly gave the petitioners leave to withdraw. notwithstanding that the