Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-07-18
WAFER RATES DISCUSSED
Bond of Public Works Getting Down
 to Business Other Business.

~'-S oNtAAN oA RuUiiN WOthS tiGt Ass'-s night, Mayor Thoms presiding and transacted considerable business, City Engineer Cairns submitted an- other map showing layout and grade for Clark street. The grade is exactly eight per cent at the curve at James street and then runs down to "A per cent. After the property owners have been heard on this 1t Is likely that. 1t Will be rushed through and then 1t will De up to Mir Sewell to build trolley line there.
 The water rates came in for an air Ing, the matter being brought up by D. w. Mooring, who talked for ten or fifteen minutes on the subject, urging the commissioners in the interest of all concerned to revise the rates. The commissioners made the first signifi- cant move in that direction. Mir Nell suggesting that the rates he cut in two. making the price to all consumers a cent and half per hun | dred gallons and see how that would work. Mir Finn claimed that this was too high and contended that so far as he had been able to get at the facts one cent rate will meet the running expenses of the department. pay the interest on the bonds and retire them I according as they fall due. He wouldn't favor a higher rate unless 1 somebody could show that it was nee l essary in order to raise sufficient funds for maintenance. Commissioner Den I nison was not sure that 1t would pay | to meter every house and wanted to know how many men it would take to read all the meters if the city had one in every building where water is used. He didn't think that the num- Der of clerks would be less than fifty and he had notion that more would l be needed.
 l Commissioner Finn had some facts collated on the question which the clerk was requested to make copies of and send one to each commissioner after which they will get together on something. Mayor Thoms took occa- sion to remind the commissioners that 1t made no difference how much 1 they might do on the matter of meters and rates the aldermen would have l the last say and that the whole mat l ter will be settled by them.
 l At the present time the city is us. 1 ing 8,250, 900 gallons of water per day and at one cent rate this would raise more than the income at the prices now charged
 Property owners on Second avenue between Grove street and Hillside avenue called regarding the establish, ment of building lines in that street Nobody appeared. The matter was referred to the committee on streets.
 Hearings were given to parties, in. terested in laying sidewalks on the Watertown road and putting down curb on Oak street. Nobody appeared for or against the Watertown road project, but several were on hand from Oak street. Some of whom fav' ored the cut while others didn't think 1t necessary.
 | The commissioners thought favor ably of the work and both jobs will go through.
 l W. r. Jarrett was heard regarding the condition of an old town highway from the Brookslde home farm to Wa terville. It was referred to the super intendent of streets.
 F. r. Riordan called attention tc the damage done by the recent storm on Southview street and Inquired when 1t was going to be fixed. The mayor said that bids for the storm sewers will be opened within week and then all this trouble will be over F. c. Benedict asked what was go ing to be done about retaining walls on Highland avenue. A communlca tion from the engineer stated that ac cording to opinions submitted by the city attorney 1t was the duty of tho city to construct retaining walls wherever needed. along the highway
 The committee on streets reported favorably on the petition for the lay out of the two main highways in Mil Plain. and they were passed along tC the aldermen.
 Bids were opened for the paving oi certain streets, but action was defer red on them until 1 o'clock this after noon.
 A communication was received from the engineer relative 10 the ap plication of M. ]. Daily X Sons for per mission to connect roof water with the South Elm street sewer. The engi neer was opposed to 1t and suggested that they join with the Italian churcl corporation and carry the water tC the gutter on South Main street.
 A copy of the report was ordered forwarded to the petition.
 The gas company was given permls sion to lay mains in certain streets All the new work referred to ths hoard of the aldermen was placed or |