Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1905-09-23

will do no harm to let them express
their opinion. On the other hand, II
is quite likely that they will feel that
this amount of money, or Il small por-
ton Of 1t will be better spent on our
city streets aud developing the parks
that we have and other tracts Of land
that can be easily reached from the
city, and which will undoubtedly
make better parks than this Afer.-
den, New Haven, Hartford and Spring
field have these parks, but most OF
them lie on the outskirts of the city,
are large In extent, and can be deyel-
oped at small expense. Before Wa
spend sum of money. which will per
haps In the end amount to half what
our new water supply cost us, we
should certainly give the matter more
consideration than was given by the
board of aldermen, wnere it was
rushed through by party vote, with
undue haste. | should not feel that
could consent to any plan involving
so large bond issue as this, unless 1t
is submitted to and ratified by the
people.
Streets.
Our streets have been in poor condl-
ton during the past two years. Every
one knows this that has to travel over
them Part of this is due to natural
conditions, part to poor management.
and part to their surfaces being con-
stantly ripped up by various corpora.
tions that desire to make use of them.
Waterbury has never had first class
streets. 1t never will have until con-
siderable money Is spent upon them.
I believe that 1t is wise investment
for tile city to expend considerable
money every year in permanent paw
ing. There are a number OF streets
situated on our hills which every
storm cuts to pieces. The amount spent
on them for repairs will In very
short time pay for the cost Of paving.
1t seems to me foolish waste Of
money to carry dirt to the top OF hill
only to have 1t washed down by the
next rain storm. More paving and
more thorough street building gener-
ally will be wise investment for the
city of Waterbury.
Railroad Station.
Within the next two or three years
will come the problem of a new rail-
road station. We shall be very glad
| to have the railroad cooperate with
us In making the best plan possible,
both for themselves and for the city,
| but common sense teaches us and uni
versal experience bears out the teach
| ing that railroad. like every other
corporation, gets all it can and gives
| as little as 1t can. Our city attorney
| is also counsel for the railroad. Our
| present mayor, who will probably
| head the next board of aldermen, Is
| closely interested in railroad affairs
/ No man can serve two masters and dc
| equal Justice to both. The interests
| of the city and the railroad may and
| probably will be different in many re
| spects. The democratic party, If II Il
! In power. while not by any means de
string to do Injustice to anyone. viii
endeayor 10 carefully guard and pro
tect the interests of the city In this
Important matter, sEstH agEIsaa
Trolleys.
Our relations to the local trolley sys
| TEN bring new difficulties every year
| The legislature at Hartford has seen
fit to grant to these trolley companies
| franchises, which are perpetual ano
which provide for no compensation al
all in proportion with their value
! This policy, 1t seems to me, Is an I'M
wise one. and scarcely any state has
1 adopted It but our own. However
they have the franchises, and what We
have to do is to see that the trolley
companies treat US fairly, give us good
service, and pay us for what pTiyi
leges we grant them, in 50 far as We
| can compel them to do so under oul
law. | have never felt that our loca
company has treated the city OF Wa
| terbury fairly. They have a valuable
| franchise here. which costs them moth
ing. Our local service Is not good
and though they have repeatedly
promised to give us a better service In
| the future. II seems as far away al
ever They have not kept their agree
ments with the city. with regard e
extensions. They do not sprinkle the
| streets through which they run. and
i many times the snow which theJ
| shovel from their tracks in the winter
aud pile upon either side, is danger
/ and a nuisance. | believe that these
things. and perhaps Others, may bt
reasonably required from the trolley
company. 1t would not In any way
interfere with their development. and
these things are Just and fair TO ash
| from corporation that has the rlght'
which this one has I'm our city streets
| am not opposed to their growth.
good trolley system helps the city
brings business TO its merchants ant
1 is a great convenience 10 everyone
who lives within IT, I should like Il
see the trolley lines extended through
ont Itchfeid county. TO bring pro
ducts OF it's farms to our doors. and Z,
bring their dollars 10 our merchants
but in our eagerness to have thii
done we must not cast away our owl
/ rights Ike Esan. who sold his birth
right for q mess Of pottaEe. Suel
dangerous pieces or TROLLEY eonstruc
/ ton as the one at the Highland divis
l ion and the one they have desired 4
make AZ Oakville. should not be Al
lowed. In my Judgment. under AM
4 circumstances We can fairly and law
fully require this company 10 keep th'
PARTS OF the streets over which theii
tracks run. in first class repair. 4
sprinkle the streets through whicl
they run, and TO remove the Snow
They can Be compelled to relay TIL
pavement when they take 4 up. ~ Al
1 Epod condition as Y was before. ans
/ In laying their switches and tracks Z
have some regard for pnhlie cnnven
Ience and safety. They can he CON
II