Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-11-01
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Reported FavorabIy on Laying Rails
 on Thsmasson Road.

I
 The board of public works met last
 night and reported favorably on the | application of the trolley company for l approval of its plans to lay rails on I the Thomaston road, subject to certain l conditions.
 Nobody appeared regarding the pe- tition for turnout on Baldwin street, between Stone and Washington streets, except General Manager Sewell It 1 was favorably reported to the alder men, with the understanding that the company should lay grooved rail there if the city ever wanted 1t. | In reply to question with reference to laying concrete oyer the cobble pave ment on North Willow street, Mir Sew. ell stated that if the company agreed 1 to do 1t he would have 1t put down. | An opinion was received from the | city attorney regarding the question of divisional fence on Bucks Hill, between the property of Albert Lane l and Mrs Francesca Liebrecht. It showed that the board has Jurisdiction in the premises and it was voted to cite the parties in to be heard on No vember IA. The petition of James D. Kefford of Bishop street to make a sewer connection with house in the rear of his lot was referred to the city engineer with power to act The ap- plication of MT Loeffier for q change of grade of the sidewalk on Laurel street was placed on the list for inyes- tiagtion. Superintendent Johnson re ported that hydrant had been in stalled on South Leonard street, near the plant of the new paper box shop. It was voted to recommend two trans- fers of $2,000 each, one to extension of water pipes and the other to sewers, new work.
 Commissioner Jackson brought up the bootblack nuisance and reminded Superintendent Hotchkiss that some thing should be done to keep them from blocking the sidewalk on East Main street at Phoenix avenue every Sunday. MT Hotchkiss promised to get after the "shiners." The superin- tendent wanted to know if the board desired to have him carry out the order regarding the removal of signs. adding that awnings and hundreds of signs are lower than allowed by the ordinance He was told to go ahead as directed.
 Clerk Reeves informed the board that City Clerk Nettleton requested him to state to the board that the two clerks in the office of the water depart ment ought to have an increase in wages of at least quarter a day each. At present they receive $3.50 and $275. They are faithful men and are kept busy all the time to keep up with their work. No action was taken.
 The water rents for the past six months, amounting to $S2,260.46, an increase of $7,049.35 over that of the previous half year, was received and referred to the collector of taxes for collection.
 The recommendation of the engineer that Frederick Tompkins, who sold his place on the Brass Mill road to the city, be allowed to remain there until April 1 at rental of S10 month, was approved.
 showing the rainfall as measured in the office of the bureau of engineering for the month of October to be 2.74. The average precipitation in the months of october for the past nine teen years was ,sb04a The reports of the engineer relative to grading Put nam street, opposite the property of Antoine Weidorn, recommending that the work be ordered done, and on the petition of Patrick Dunn for a catch basin on South Leonard street, recom- mending that the petition be granted if there Is money enough to the credit of ''streets, new work" to do the work with, were laid on the table.
 Two reports were received from City Attorney Kellogg, one stating that the board has no power to abate sewer assessments. The aldermen may abate the interest on a sewer assessment, but the assessment itself when legally levied must stand. The other had ref erence to placing poles in sidewalks. It stated that the city is not engaged in the business of handling electricity, consequently 1t has no right to erect poles in sidewalks. but it may direct the c. R. and l.. Co to do such work, but if they fail to get permission from the adjoining property owner, which. of course, is the person whose land abuts on the walk where 1t is pro- posed to set the pole, permission in writing must be obtained from two ,f 4Io on,,nfx, a,T,a uafonar.