Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-22
BUSINESS MEN THANK
 RAILROAD COMPANY.

The union park got big send off at the meeting of the Waterbury Mer- chants association last. night. City Engineer Cairns was present Wltn plans for the park and union station and explained both projects, after which remarks were made i'll favor or the whole scheme by F w. MOoring, F. 0. GOss, J. $. Galley, John Mori- arty, Thomas F. Jackson, Mayor El- ton, Charles D. Nye, w. H. Camp, John G. Twining and J. w. Gaffney. The engineer stated that the cost of the park would be $25O.UOO and that the widening of South Willow street and other work incident to the rail road changes are independent of the park question and the money Will have to come from another fund. The meeting heartily endorsed the plans and passed vote thanking the New York, New Haven & Hartford Rail road Co for it's liberality towards the city in the matter of making public improvements. The engineer was also thanked for his good offices. Presi- dent R. w. Hampson presided: He sald:
 I've are here tonight to listen to Ergine"r CairIs. who will talk to us about II the n' proposed improvements around the new union depot. As we all know. the conditions surrounding the present depots have been a dis grace to Waterbury--disliked by our citizens and giving an unfair idea of our city to people coming into Water bury. It has been suggested by many of our members that our assO- citation take. up the matter of the pro posed plan of improvements for the new depot and after Mir Cairns hats explained it in detail, hope the members here will take the matter into grave consideration for 1t Is something not to be lightly disposed of. At a meeting of your board 0f
 directors last Thursday evening it was voted unanimously to favor the improvement plan and to call geilr eral meeting of the association that all might know more about 1t. The city officials in bringing this matter to public attention are actuated only with a sense of public duty and pride in our city. They have nothing to gain any more than any other citizen and I believe will have to stand as much of the cost as others. The Of- ficers of this association do not wish to see the matter endorsed by the as sociation if the majority are opposed to it. but as an organization of busi- ness men it behOoves us to look into the future and to decide if such an improvement is not beneficial to the business interests of our city and if it would not be worth every dollar it costs when it is all finished and in comparison with the way we are now situated. Would any amount of mOIi- 1 ey tempt us to part with our green in | the center? It will he the same way
 with the new depot. Ten years after ! the new station is erected will see the
 same poor surroundings unless the city takes the right stand now. l do | not favor. nor did our directors the other night these improvements un-
 less they could be accomplished at q
 moderate sum. hut understand the ! price will not he exorbitant. Let Us ! bc actuated not alone by a monetary 1 consideration. hut in pride for ouI city and in a public spirited manner | Public spirit in a few of our citizens made q new hotel for Waterbury ' without an equal between New York | and Boston. 1t is q nice example oi ! public spirit that gave us Hamilton park-the new Chase park-fhs Bronson library-the hospital. and
 many other institutions that Water
 bury is to he congratulated upon. This proposed improvement simply give. lis a chance to do little more eacl
 and all of us for our city. But lO.s ing at it from our point of view-tIs business one-it is doubtful if it will
 cost us much more. All such genera
 improvements go to make city ms'
 desirable and to help build it up
 Would not our grand list increa.a'
 also. making if unnecessary to in
 crease the taxes; On the face Of it
 if would seem so. It is estimated b,
 those who interest themselves in in tax question that our grand list vii
 increase from IS millions at preSen
 to .5 millions five years from now. ar
 estimate not lightly to be contradict