The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-12-09
HEARING OH EXTENSION
 OF HUMPHREY STREET
MANY APPEAR BEFORE ALDER MANIC COMMITTEE TO FA-
 TOR BRIDGE.

Plan to Bond the City for Its construc-
 tiOn Approyed-Great Need of lti-
 zens for a Short Cut--LiTes Lost-s
 Usinf the Railroad Tracks for This
 Purpose-Engineer Kelly's Estimate
 of the COst-Grand Avenue Grade
 Crossing Elimination.
 The committee on railroads and bridges os the board of aldermen held a public hearing last evening on the resolution to use the bridge bonds of the city for the purpose of Constructing the bridge across Mill river necessary for the extension of Humphrey street. The committee room was filled with in terested citizens when the hearing be- gan,
 Alderman Deyine, who introduced the resolution pertaining to the extension of Humphrey street, into the board, explained the status of the case. It IS desired to use the bonds for building the bridge because the board of finance lacks ready money to appropriate for the purpose. An order was passed ten years ago for the execution of the work, but it was never carried out. a City Engineer Kelly then explained the engineering side of the project. He estimated that the bridge would cost about $20,000s the straightening of Mill river $12,0OO and the filling in necessary $SO,000 The money for rnese two latter items, he said, might be obtained from the bonds also, but this would require special appropriations by the board of finance as the bonds at present would only cover tine construction of the bridge. MT. Kelly also stated that the city might have to pay a portion of the cost of the railroad bridge over the new street so that the total cost would be nearly $70000. He stated that there was $35,000 left from the Kimberly ave- nue bridge appropriation.
 MT. Cronan called the attention of the committee to the large population in that part of the city and the great convenience that the new street would be to the many people of that section who will be employed in the big new National Folding Box compay's plant, which is soon 10 start Operations
 Alderman Loos was strongly in fav- or of the work He thought that If 1t was necessary, as the authorities De lieved, ten years ago, 1t was more nee essary to-day. He referred to the ef- feet of the new Willow street bridge on Cedar Hill and said that 1t was iao comparison for the proposed bridge. It Is not a matter of the city losing money said he It will pay it back in few years in additions to the grand list The city is growing and we cannot avoid making these improvements. We have got to be more up to date. I can prove that the city has lost S26,O00 al- ready from it's failure to extend Pearl street.
 One speaker declared that all Twelfth warderS were of one mind that the irn- provement should be pushed through.
 James Logan directed attention to the loss of lives resulting from the use of the railroad tracks as short cut because there is no street between Grand avenue and State street.
 Ex-Alderrnan Charles Gerner strong ly supported the extension.
 Registrar of Vital Statistics Carr spoke of the necessity for shortening the journey of the route of the fire de- partment responding to alarms in Fair Haven. Chief Fancher, he said, stated that the new street would be most decided help to the department. Sup porting MT. Logan's remarks MT Carr stated that during his term he knew of at least twenty-five deaths due to talk ing the railroad short cut and the rec- ords were in his office.
 When a rising vote was called for by Chairman Curtis no one appeared in op- position to the proposition.
 The resolution for the elimination of the grade crossing on Grand avenue was then taken up. Alderman Heaiy explained the necessity of doing aawy with the grade crossing and several other speakers supported him.
 The petition signed by a number Of taxpayers were presented in favor of the proposition.
 R. G. Davis was the only opponent of the idea present He based his opposi- ton on, the ground of the immense damages that would result. He declar- ed that the inconvenience at the cross Ing was not so great now as formerly.