Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-06
PUBLIC WORKS BOARD
Dr Martin Wants Jefferson St Opened 10 South Elm.

I
 last night, Mayor Thoms presiding and all the commissioners were, pres ent.
 The Rev Farrell Martin, D. D., pastor of St Cecilia's church, was heard regarding the need of opening Jefferson street to South Elm street.
 He mentioned many reasons in sup port of his position, but the princi- pal ones were that it would be a great public convenience, and be- sides it would clean up a cul de sac, | or pocket that for many years has been a standing disgrace to the city. He talked at some length on the character of the place and reminded the board that St Cecilia's parish is maintaining school there and that the environment is not just what parents would desire for their youth. He asked the board if there is any more law abiding citizens than those whom he represented, the Germans, and urged the board to do something not only for their sake, but to clean up and wipe out very filthy nest right in the heart of Waterbury. The board promised to look into the matter.
 Hearings were also heard on pro- posed improvements on Alder and Edward streets and Tower road. A few property owners submitted water bills which they considered exces- sive. They were referred to Super intendent Kennedy.
 John McLane of Highland avenue was heard regarding the need of a retaining wall in front of his proper ty. The wall will be attended to later on. B. P. Reardon, whose house was left in the air when Southview. street was graded, asked to be reimbursed for retaining wall which he had to construct to save the building from coming down. He was instructed to get the matter before the committee on law. The reason for this move was not explained, but perhaps it was due to the fact that the work was done in the district where people are expected to pay for such retain ing walls as may be needed along the highways.
 A communication was read from City Attorney Kellogg relative to the unfinished Baldwin street trolley, in which he stated that the city is in position to compel the company to finish and operate the line for it's entire length or have them tear up as much of the road as they have completed and are operating and re- store the street to the same condi- tion as they found it. At the sug- gestion of the mayor it was passed along to the aldermen with a recom- mendation that the city attorney be instructed to take mandamus pro- ceedings to force the hand of the trolley people to finish the Baldwin street line to lAe Pearl Lakes road. The application of the trolley com pany for approval of it's plans for the double tracking of West Main street, referred to the board of alder men for investigation and report, was sent back with a favorable report and a few conditions tackled on, in- cluding the use of the grooved rail.
 John H. Clark of the Scott road was heard regarding the condi- tion of that highway. It is practi- cally impossible and it appears it would cost about $3,O00 to put it in proper repair. There are but four houses in the street and the taxes from all of them do not exceed S22 a year. MT Clark admitted all this and said that he should be pleased to donate land for a quarter of a mile to make a new street. This, with a strip from Maurice Reid, would make a better road than the old one and would cost less. The superintendent of streets was in. Structed to look it up.
 The engineer reported plans for several new streets in the north end. This prompted Commissioner Finn to make another inquiry into what be- came of Madison street, which has been in the works a long time. and yet streets that were asked for a year later are being reported upon right along. The commissioner re- ceived the same old reply, that is, that it is in the hands of the engi- neer. An estimate was received for the expense of working Keefe street to grade. amounting to s3.500. It was voted to cite in property owners on Elmwood avenue to be heard rela- tive to improvements, on November 19. Bills for Contractors Fred T. Ley & Go and Long X Little, aggre- gating something in the neighbor- hood of s2O,000. were approved. Bills for advertising were about to be held up. but Commissioner Finn didn't see why. and they were finally approved. It was stated that there is no system about such work and that when an advertisement is put in one paper all of them use 1t. Mir Walker was of the opinion that city advertising outside the daily papers is equivalent to throwing away money. It was voted to ask the al- dermen to pass an ordinance regulat- ing advertising.
 The superintendent of streets was directed to set curbing on Sylvan avenue between Stone and Washing ton streets and pave the gutters.