The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-06-12

inquiry into the expediency of making West Rock park more accessible to the general public than 1t is under present conditions. The healthfulness of the place is such that if sick children could be carried there upon trolley cars in the summer time, and, indeed, if grown persons suffering from some ailments could be taken there at any time in the year, very marked nm provement in their condition would fol- low. It seems superfluous to add that the natural beauties of the place and the panorama unfolded from the sum init would be much more appreciated if the people could early reach the top of the cliff. I believe that the Consol- dated Street Railway company would extend it's tracks up the rock to point close to the summit if the com pany were given an opportunity to do so. An added convenience, if this were done, would be the fact that the city could re-establish It's stone crusher at the rock and make use of trolley cars to carry crushed stone at night to points in the city where street repairs are made Such cars could also be used in the winter season for the removal Of snow. Consideration of this will con- vince the board that it would be a move in the line of economy.
 One more matter in this connection is the suggestion that there is going to waste for lack of improvement a sec- ton which might readily be made one of the most delightful in the city, namely, the flats and water course at the base of East Rock. beg to sug- gest the value of having the flats there deepened sufficiently to provide lake, around which may be built carriage road or speedway, In the winter skat- ing could be provided for thousands. The place would be safe for women and children, and there would be less dan ger of accident or drowning than on any other bodies of water near the city where skating Is permitted. The time is probably not far distant when skating will be prohibited even on Lake Whitney because of the value of the ice. Such & lake as proposed with boating in summer, skating in winter, and driveway without the attendant danger of trolley cars and other traffic would make great improvements Moreover. 1t would beautify a locality that Is now a breeding place of mos quitoes and malaria.
 With proper economy all these inl- provements, which are admittedly de- sirable and some of them imperative could be met by bond issue of less that $400000
 During the years 1902, 8, { and the city debt was reduced by $263,000 We have provided for the payment ef $95,- 900 into the sinking fund this year, and also for the payment of a $50,000 note on account of the Scranton street schoolhouse, making total reduction of $4OS,O00 since 1901; notwithstanding the fact that since 1901 we have built or have provided funds for the follow ing improvements, not to mention less- CT ones:
 A public bath house, remodeling the old high school building, new Scranton street school, Fourth ward engine house, central engine house, Ninth ward engine house, Dixwell avenue po- lice precinct playgrounds, Woodward avenue school Kimberly avenue school, Kimberly avenue bridge, and issue of sewer bonds a total of about s450,0 ,000.
 These improvements have added by so much to their cost to the total of the city's assets. The bond issue which I recommend for your consideration to provide funds for the Improvements suggested in this message would still leave the city with debt somewhat less than 1t was at the close of the fiscal year 1901.
 I would respectfully recommend that your honorable board take this message under consideration and refer 1t to the proaer committee.
 Respectfully,
 1 (signed) JOHN F. sTUDLEY,
 Mayor.
 The message was accepted and refer red to special committee consisting of Alderman Johnson. Curtiss, Hotch- kiss, Maxwell and Marlowe.
 In reply to question of Alderman Deyine as to why the street committee Ildu uUI TbpDIleu on tlS 6Xt6HSlOn or Grove street, Alderman Smith replied that the committee had an unfavorable report ready but that 1t was held over by request The mayor and city en~ gineer, he said, had conferred with President lMellen of the Consolidated road. They had found that the propos- ed extension would involve change of layout and the consent of the state rail- road commissioners The committee had been at first In favor of it, but these considerations had changed their views,
 Alderman Smith offered petition that the legislature be asked to allow the money made from the sale of the old town farm be made available for city uses.
 A number of petitions were passed which involved the laying of sidewalks and sewers in various parts of the city and the setting up of various lights
 The recommendations of the bureau of compensation that sewer assess