Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-05
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
Poles in the Streets Was One
 Subject For Discussion.

l
 session didn't last long, enough
 transpired while it was on to show
 that the aldermen of to-day on the
 republican side of the house are very
 different sort of fellows compared
 with those who representation mis- represented, whichever you please their party a few years ago. The MT Larkin called attention to pole which one of the companies is main- taining in the center of the highway at Crescent street and Roseland ave- nue, and inquired why the board of public works allowed them to do things on that plan.
 "They have no charter rights to open the streets or enter upon pri- vate property without permission from the own9rs," continued the al- derman, Out they do through bluff. Now I believe we should hold these companies down to the law They batter down sidewalks that are in good repair, leave unsightly and dangerous poles in the street and do things to suit themselves regardless of the public. On North Elm street the Waterbury Clock Go gave strip of land a foot deep to widen the sidewalk and as soon as the work of widening was finished along comes the Southern New England Go and sets poles fifteen inches into the walk, leaving the situation worse than ever before, and so far as 1 know they never got permission from anybody to do so. The legislature never gave them such rights. It hasn't the power itself and can't con- fer it upon others. If it was not for the opposition of this company we would have cCnduits and all the wires we have overhead would be buried in them, and yet they con- tinue to do what they please in the public streets. 1 move that conn mittee of three be appointed to draft an ordinance regulating the conduct of private corporations with refer. ence to opening streets"
 MT Walker: ''The matter is al. ready covered by an ordinance"
 MT Larkin: Well, then, if that be so, the board of public works isn't doing it's duty and should be cen sured for allowing private corpora tions or others to do what they please with the city's property"
 The motion fer the committee was passed and carried unanimously. o t1I men Larhin, Goss and Nell to act in that capacity.
 Alderman Malone wanted to know if something could not be done on Bank street, opposite White & Wells, so that we might have nice side walk from Grand street to Meadow street. At White & Wells it is dan- gerous and unsightly. MT Walker said that it would cost a good deal of money to do what will have to le attended to there in case the walk should be fixed. No action was taken.
 MrLarkin called attention to a dan gerous walk oa Sparks street, west side, near North Main street, and in- quired if it was going to remain there until somebody breaks his neck on it. Nobody answered the query,
 On motion of MT Larkin it was voted to increase the salary of the commissioners o. the board of pub. lie works from $50 a year to $500. MT Larkin said that this is about 20 cents an hour for actual time occu. pied.
 fo inc aIA to advertise for proposals for the sale of S125,000 per cent sewer bonds, proposals to be received be- fore the third Monday in December. The petition for the change of school lines in Bucks Hill and Waterville, whereby Fairmount and Welton park will be in the Waterville dis trict, was referred to the board of education. The petition of P. D. Valois of James street, asking that the $1,000 awarded him for dam- ages be paid, and of MT Main for payment of an assignment made to him by Frank Pidgeon, amounting to $1,042.06, were referred to the city attorney. All the recommenda- tions of the board of public works, including the ones asking that trans- fers be made on the street depart ment. were approved.
 The following petitions were re- ceived and suitably referred: Lay out, grade and establishment of building lines CD Sands street, be- tween the Tower road and Cloves terrace: a sewer on Oak street, an electric light oh Wood street, a water main in Cooke street, and a license for a pool table at 743 North Main street. the latter being petitioned for by Thomas B. Moran.
 The board adjourned for two weeks.