Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-20
PUBLIC WORKS BOARD
Listened 10 Long Discussion on Wafer Rates Last Night.

The board of public works met last night, Commissioner Joseph &. Nell presiding. Water was the principal topic, but few other things came up and were disposed of.
 A committee consisting of E. w. Mooring, Louis Kaffel, James Cough Ian, Timothy Brennan and Charles Stage appeared and pleaded for a flat rate of 10 cents per 100 cubic feet to all consumers. MT Mooring was the principal speaker. He said it was not so much a ease as to whether the rate shall be high or low, but rather equality, common, ordinary, decent justice to all. In the past, MT Mooring said, a great deal of pickering existed among real estate owners on account of the sys- tenn of assessing property, but now you hear very little about such a thing because all property is listed at it's full value and there is no ground on which to base an objec- ton. It will be so with the water after flat rate to all has been adopted, but not before.
 MT Walker inquired if MT Moor ing didn't think it would be a good idea to make the price as low as pos sible to the shops and in this way help them to continue to do good business right along. To this Mir Mooring replied that he wanted to see the shops treated right and the most they could reasonably ask in this respect was to get water at the same price as their employees do. The idea that men should be favored because they have large means did not appeal very strongly to MT Moor ing and he stigmatized the practice as simply relic of the grasping dis position so common in olden times which prompted men to proclaim all things for the powerful and to hell with the weak. He considered it a benefit to the manufacturers to sell water at low figure to tenants. It would also be a great benefit if for $500 instead of a much higher price. It would attract labor to the town and the factories would be in a position to buy it at a less price than they can when the cost of liv- Ing is outrageously high. In any case, MT Mooring wanted equality in rates and thought the board should not cling to the old system any long, CT.
 n,Ii- p o ffn1 fo1 ton, too, and thanked the board for what it has do.., towards equalizing the rates. MT Faffel admitted that meters are the proper things, but reminded the board that publ. sen timent is againsG their general use. l he commissioners promised t3 look into the matter.
 David Hunter gave the superin- tendent of streets call and asked the board to do something ill front of his place in Simonsville before winter. The board promised to see that his fence Is reset.
 Hearings were held regarding building lines on Randolph avenue and on the layout and grade and building lines cf Elmwood avenue. The lines on the former are to be twenty feet and twenty-five ;n the other case.
 John Gilmour called attention to the trouble caused on Vine street on account of i spring running over the sidewalk. This, together with similar complaints from Oak, Branch and Edward streets, were referred to the superintendent of streets. The matter of constructing about 100 feet of sewer in Plaza avenue, the property owners to pay the cost of construction and get the money back next year, was referred to the city engineer.
 The paving committee recommend ed wood paving blocks for Bank street. All the new petitions for warded to the board by the aiIer- men were referred to the several committees