Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-08-17
WATERBURY EVENING DEdoCRAT sArURDAY AUGUST 19o7
MAYOR NOT THERE
Sent Letter 10 Business Men
 Trolley Hold Up Discussed.

Chairman Blakeslee presided at the meeting of the Waterbury Business Mems association last night to dis cuss the differences between the city and the Thomaston trolley promoters regarding conditions imposed for the extension of the road from Waterbury to Thomaston. The meeting turned out to be something of disappolnt- ment to those who took the ground that all the merchants In Waterbury were with the trolley and against the city. Comptroller Bradstreet and Attorney Garfield of Thomaston were present and made extended addresses in which they stated their side of tho case. The injunction was read by the clerk. John H. Cassidy, showing that the bone of contention is over strip of land which the city claims belongs in the highway, while the company takes the ground that it is private property and that they have bought the right to use it.
 But few of the city officials attend ed the meeting and no explanations were given for the absence of any or all, except what could be gathered from the following communication of Mayor Thoms. which was read by the clerk.
 It was as follows:
 Aug. Is, 1907. John H. Cassidy. Esq.
 Secretary Waterbury Business Mems association.
 Dear Sir: I am in receipt of youl note of August 14th, inviting me te attend the meeting of the Waterbury Business Mems association to be held this evening.
 regret that a previous engage. ment of long standing makes 1t i'm. possible for me to attend. I should be very glad to have the co-opera. tion of the Business Mems associa. tion in adjusting the difficulties sur rounding the extension of trolle, lines in the vicinity, in the matter oi the Thomaston trolley line, the linel to >Woodbury and Town Plot, both of which are held up, understand by injunctions secured by Thomai Kelly and others, and the matter ol a five cent rate to Naugatuck. Al these matters are of some importanct to the business interests of Water bury and I am sure the board of al dermen would be glad to have youl assistance concerning them.
 If your association wishes to as sist the city in these matters, I woult suggest the appointment of com mittee to interview Thomas Kell, and others concerning the removal o any legal obstacles to the completion of the Woodbury and Town Plo lines and committee to interview Mir Mellen and urge him to properl, care for the highways in the marrow stretch between Hinchliff Bridge ant the Gate House and to protect tn, 36 inch pipe line, which furnishes the city's main supply of water, ant over which the proposed trolley lin, runs. If the railroad company il willing to do this, I have no doub but that the board of aldermen would waive any technical objections to tn, immediate building of the line an, to allow it to proceed at once. asw sn
 Very truly yours,
 WILLIAM E. THoMS.
 Mayor.
 The following resolution was offered by Alderman W. J. Larkin:
 Voted, That the Waterbury busi. ness men are heartily in favor of ex. tending the trolley from Waterbury te Thomaston, but are in favor of pro tecting the city's interests in all req. sonable ways and hereby heartily en dorse the stand taken by the mayor"
 This was something of a surprise because it conveyed pretty good ides of the position of the aldermen on tho question, Mir Larkin being the leader of the majority representation fir that body. An amendment was offer ed by w. J. Pape to strike out tho words thereby heartily endorse tn, stand taken by the mayor" and sub stitute in place thereof the words recommend that the difficulties bt settled by conciliation and conferenc, rather than by appeal to the courts provided that the city's interests car be conserved" The motion as amend ed was adopted.
 After Comptroller Bradstreet and Attorney Canfield had been heard Senator Tracy was heard and stated that he had no desire to see the trol ley held up, but he was not so blint or selfish not to want to see the city get what belongs to 1t. There have been times in the past" be continued when the desire to secure trolley ex tension was so great as to give uI anything and everything to get tn, line and then howl afterwards becaus, of the privileges granted; don't wan to see every and all interests sacrl feed. This company Is not building this line because it loves either Thom aston or Waterbury, but because 1 pays. If there was any disposition on the part of the interested partie' to get together I have no doubt tha the injunction could be Dissolved fl twenty-four hours"
 f Mir Tracy felt that If the companl was going to pass over a third of [ mile of territory belonging to the city the city ought to be consulted. He fel | that the position of the city wa strengthened by two propositions, first