Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-01-16
|PUBLIC WORKS BOARD
Bank Street Paving Blocks Sub
 lect of Discussion Last Night.

|ent. MT Walker presided. A hearing was given to parties in terested in the proposed removal of the granite dimension blocks on Bank street from Exchange place to Bank street. Those who appeared expressed themselves substantially as follows:
 l.. A. Platt-"I have no opinion to express regarding the pavement, but do believe that the sewer in that street should be lowered so that all the property owners may be able to use 1t to advantage"
 J. B. Mullings-''I'm in favor of pavement on Bank and South Main streets which will not make so much noise as the Belgian blocks do. I'm not prepared to say what kind of material should be used instead of what Is there. I'm not particular about that so long as We have. less noise.
 Jacob Buckner-"I have no objec- tion to something else, but 1 should like to know who will pay for it. We are assessed for these Belgian blocks, and now you think 1t mistake to have them there. If you put down wood and charge us for that it may turn out later that this. too, was a mistake and then you will want to ltry something else and charge us more and so on. I'm opposed to the project in case 1t is the intention to levy san assessment against adjoin- ing property"
 Judge F. M. Peasley-"I think it mistake to tear up street as good as that is and commence experiment. ing with wood blocks or something else. MT Els and others who are associated with me in the ownership of the property known as 164 Bank street have no fault to find with the noise. The present occupant or his predecessors have been there for over fifty years and have never com plained."
 Chairman Walker-"This is a progressive age and we want some thing better
 Judge Peasley-"Well, then make progress in some of the streets in other places that are not fit to drive over. The blocks have been down for about twenty years and are still as good as ever. You can't get any, thing else that will wear so we'll, es- pecially in a narrow street where most of the trucking is confined to a small space. Here in Waterbury where there is so much demand for better roads, it is shame to think of tearing up Bank street and spend- ing money putting down something else"
 MT Dennison remarked that the trolley company will pay most of the cost and also said that tenants in the offices along the line were an- noyed by the pavement as much as l the storekeepers are. l To this Judge PeasIey replied that the street was there before the real estate dealers and insurance men rented these offices and that if the object was to throw additional bur dens on the trolley company 1t was not fair.
 Mir Walker-"Well, then, judge, \we'll put you down as opposed to it. l"
 Judge Peasley-"Emphatically."
 J. E. Allen-"I'm opposed to any change. Wood blocks won't stand there. have seen them in Chicago lSt Louis, Kansas City and through |the south and they never gave satis- |faction. If you put down wood blocks on Bank street 1t will be an expenslve job to keep 1t in repair. There will be holes coming in right along the same as in that pavement in front of City hall and the cost of maintaining 1t will be very heavy"
 w. s. Jones-'Im not particular what you put there instead of the Belgian blocks, but I'm in favor of something that will not make SO much noise. The present blocks are there long time and we have done business just the same. suppose we can continue whether they are taken up or not. but it would be a great relief to people who spend all their time in the stores on Bank street if something was done to lessen the | nOlse on the street.
 H. P. Camp-"I am in favor of a change, but I'm not prepared to say what kind of material would be best to use. prefer to leave that to you. gentlemen, who have investigated the matter. You may decide to put sheet asphalt over the block and in this way make nice quiet street. also wish to say that hope the sew CT will be lowered. anyway"
 James Crompton-''I don't know enough about the subject to say what is best to do. I feel something like Mir Platt, who said he was somewhat indifferent"
 The Waterbury National bank and a few others sent in word that they had no objection to offer provided no assessments should be levied. No action was taken.
 The condemnation proceedings regarding land of Alexander Kicker racher was taken up and after hear ing the owner 1t was voted to recom- mend to the owner that the lot which is SO by 50 and adjoins the Webster school be bought for the sum of ST. 900. Electric lights were recom- mended on Second avenue. Edgevood avenxe. Baldwin avenue. Piedmont street and Pearl Lake road. near the residence Of Cornelius Tracy.
 Bids for the construction of water mains were opened and read as fol- lows: Contaldi & D'Aurio. ss.o7s.9O: Kaaffup E Pagan q. 00a 9a- T..s a