Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-09
THE NEW pAkK.
4 Few Opinions Offered By Well
 Known Citizens.

Known Citizens.
 The union station and park project is the principal topic about town now with peo- pie who give thought to their rate bills before they receive them. The following are few opinions picked up by reporter on his rounds of the city:
 r. B. Rice: "It is grand thing if we can afford to have it. It would be the best advertisement Waterbury could have. For my own part should gladly bear my share of the cost and consider it good investment
 k. E. Cross: "Of course they wOnI do it. but who would have thought q few years ago that at this date some- body would rise up and suggest that the people spend $300,00O for nothing, especially when so many things that can hardly afford to wait are held up for lack of funds. Whoever brought it forward must have a lot of courage, and, after all, it may be the right thing to do. People always kicked about such matters. I remember when the city spent few dollarssto get hold of the old cemetery on Grand street some thought it actually, throwing away money. Now look at it. I can't say that Pm prepared to approve or dlsap- prove that proposed union station pro- Ject, but I have no hesitation in stat ing that I shouldn't care to be the first person to suggest that the taxpayers spend a few hundred thousand dollars down there for sentiment. I don't think it would hold anybody back that wanted to leave town and it is a ques. ton if it would be the means of prompting any great number of people to come here on q visit or take up per manent residences
 Patrick Holohan: If we could af- ford the outlay and it was necessary for the good of the town it would be all right, but this is not the case. That spot never would amount to anything as public park no matter how much you might spend on it. and see no sense in spending q dollar on such a project. There are many things incl dent to this new depot. such as changes of grade and our share of the cost of eliminating grade crossings, which we will have to attend to wheth. CT We like it or not. and it seems to me that these items will run the aver age mans rate bill as high as he can afford to pay. There is no end to tho. amount of money d man with ar artis- tic eye could spend in beautifying Wa terbury. but remember there is such q thing as carrying this business to ex- 1rnmn,s I Nx1n Oh fn think that I'm always looking at the dark side of the picture. because it is not the right thing to do. but in this case I should say that it would ba well to pause before taking hold of this matter and ask ourselves if we are in a position to spend $50O,00O, and if so will it give us better returns in park opposite the railroad station than it would if devoted to permanent ly improving the streets. I'm opposed to it. first because the people cannot afford to pay for it, and. secondly. for the reason that don't believe it wise 10 put that much money into park where very few ever would think of selecting as pleasure resort"
 J. B. Mullings: ''I'm heartily in favor of it provided it can be done right. What mean by that is don't want to see fabulous sums paid for property. Everybody .Wbo axui.have To move or whose property will be in cluded in this park should receive the full value of his property and no more. feel that we are going to have q new Waterbury and every citizen should be interested to the extent of doing little to make it what we want to see it-the handsomest as well as the best town in New England. This will help tie small property owner in the same ratio that it will benefit the large one. and if it is to be done at all now is the time to take hold of it. It can he done cheaper now and to better advantage than later and for that mat. ter suppose if it is not done while the plans of the railroad are being con- sidered the opportunity will have passed forever. Let us get together on this and agree to do it. and when the work is completed everybody will wonder why anybody should have hesi- tated about going ahead"
 John Moriarty: "The new union sta. ton of itself will make changes in Waterbury which will force a lot of additional expenses on the people with ont taking hold of any such project as that. The city is bound to grow. and as it does expenses will be increasing. and l think it would be great mis. take to undertake anything that is not essential 10 the material progress of the. community. With sewage dis, posal paving. the care of such parks as we have. the extension of the water system and additions from time 10 time to the police and fire departments. I think the taxpayers will have all they can do to meet their rate bills and keep up other things without meeting q bond issue of s3O0.0O for a park at the union station ''
 W. R. S. Wake: "i like the proposi. ton and I want to see it gO through. provided we can do it and not make thc burden too heavy on working peo. pie wlo are trying to own homes. can stand it and I'm willing to meet any share of the cost. hut there are others. It is exactly what we want. and to my idea the only question to he consid- cred is. can we afford 10 nave it and attend to everything else that npcds attention:"
 Edward Mct;raih: ''I'm opisS.,' to taxing the people for any such pur-