Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-01-08

merely temporary, however, dB am convinced that 1 hays no power to take such action, except in clear cases of emergency Or of public peril, and then for reasOnable time only If 1t seems best to adopt permanent policy conflning or muzzling dogs, this must be done by an ordinance enacted by your honorable body.
 r0lfce.
 The needs of the police department are rapidly increasing. At this tirhe we have thirtysnine regular beats to De covered and only thirty-seyen pa- trolmen doing regular duty. In the judgment Of the superintendent of police and the board having charge of this department, afi additional sergeant is required to supplement the signal system, in. order to have this department reach it's highest ef- fectiveness. It is unfortunate that owing to the pressure of other de- inands We could not make some ad- ditions to the police force this year. By another year am convinced that considerable increase to the force will be imperative.
 Fire.
 The fire losses of the year have been few and with one exception comparatively small. The placing of the new engine house on. upper Baldwin street will complete the car rying out of the recommendations made shortly after the Ire in 1902, and will give to all the people of the second taxation district, reasonable amount of fire protection: When this house is built and fully equipped, I believe that we shall have fire sta tions enough to last us for some time to come. There has also been some discussion of placing the firemen up- on graded salary list, in some such manner as the police force are grad ed. This will furnish an incentive for men to remain in the department and make themselves capable and worthy of promotion. It is a suE- gestion worthy of careful considera- tion.
 Charities.
 The work of this department is one which Is very little before the public. but is nevertheless important. It has been carried on judiciously and economically during the past year. Owing to the general prosperity which exists, the amount expended for the relief of the outside poor has been very small, We cannot hope ta run this department on such small amounts, If period of hard times should come upon us.
 The board has decided to build during this year an isolation ward in the BrOokside home for the pa- tients who ought not to be in con- with the other inmates. This is wise and humane plan and l am most heartily in sympathy with it.
 Education.
 The department of education has carried out the. work which it laid in the begining of the year in build ing additions to the Webster and Duggan schools. A liberal provis- ion has been made for it's wants this year. and unless the number of school children increases beyond all expectations, am in hope that the of new school during the year 1908 may be avoided.
 Public Works.
 This very important department has accomplished a great deal during the past year. and has large and com prehensive plans to be carried out during 1907. It is department which comes in closest contact with the people generally. and whose failings are the most readily noticed The board of public works has been extremely conscientious and eficlent and has held long session during almost every week of the entire year.
 It is the desire of the board to place the city parks under a separate bureau, and to relieve the superin- tendent of streets of the duty of car ing for the parks imposed upon him by tte city charter. think 1t is a wise suggestion, as the street de- partment Is large enough to require all'the time and energy that one man can put into it. We have about 312.- 900 available for park purposes during the coming year, and it is the purpose of the board to spend quite a large share of this in developing Chase park, which up to this time has had very little attention, owing to the pressure on the engineering which has made it i'm possible for them to furnish cross sections Of this park, which the work requires. Hamilton park is rapidly becoming an ornament to the city. The new swimming tank there will be open in the spring. and will furnish for the men of the city. a safe and comfortable bathing place. In time 1t is quite possible that a similar one may be built in Chase park. and possibly at the north end. when the time comes. as 1t surely will. to abandon the Cooke street reservoir.
 A large amount of work in develop ing new streets has been done by the street department during the last year, and still larger amount is planned for this summer The re- duction of the grade of Robbins street to one of eight per cent ia progressing. and this will give a wide and comfortable highway to West Side hill. Middlebury and the towns west of us. Owing to the favorable settlement the city made with the trolley company. more than