Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-12
CAIRNS LECTURE
Spoke on Public Improvement Before Mems League.

church last night on public improve ments. He said in part as follows: "lt is a pleasure to talk to you again on the subject of railroad i'm provements, which arc going on steadily on every avenue of approach to Waterbury. West of us, the High land division. beginning on the Hud- son river end, Is being double tracked and put in shape to economically handle greatly increased business. This means, among other things, better route between Waterbury and the coal fields. North of lis every bridge and culvert on the Naugatuck division is being rebuilt or strength ened so as to carry new and heavier locomotives and cars. East of us the 4ifghland division to Bristol is being double tracked at great cost, so as to complete a two track railroad be- tween Waterbury and Hartford. On this work will be driven the greatest railroad tunnel in Connecticut, some $500 feet in length, and carrying double tracks. South of us the Naugatuck division is pushing to- NVmpiCllOH luG uOuulC4 u straightening and grade lessening which has now been in progress for ! five years.
 The coming summer should see this work, of such vital consequence to this community, almost, if not quite, completed
 There will then be splendidly built double track road connecting Waterbury with the great four track highway along the Sound and hav- ing such solid roadbed. including cnl- verts and bridges, that the heaviest engines used on the system can travel over it. What this means to Water bury some of the managers of our biz mills could tell you better than |. It is singular fact. also, that after all these years of miserably in adequate railroad facilities, just as the steam roads are at length being equipped to serve Waterbury satis- factorily. and even with some provis- ion for the future. there should be sDringing into existence wonderful system of electric roads, radiating out into the country In every direc- tiOn.
 The road to Naugatuck, for years our only out of town trolley, is being extended to Seymour at enormous ost for construction, and thus will rovide an outlet to New Haven. iridgeport and intervening towns long the shore. We have the road } Cheshire, connecting there to all entral and eastern parts of the tate. A road has just been opened , Watertown, and others are actual under active construction to Thom- ston and Woodbury via Middlebury. What all these lines mean to Wa srbury could best be told you by one f our leading merchants. It should nean. and doubtless will mean, that Waterbury will become some such q rading center for western Connecti- nt as Springfield is for Massachu- cts.
 Everything points unmistakably oa a Greater Waterbury To be sure ne finger on the sign post has been ointing that way ever since I can emember. But progress has been steady and quiet that We have cen slow to realize how far we had lready travelled, and greatly lacking In faith as to how much further we Ihould be able to go. In 1868 sober. @ensible, careful men doubted the J'isdom of Waterbury initiating New Britain and building a public water Forks. We were then some 12.0O0 Ind it was thought that this inland lace could scarcely hope for busi- less sufficient to support more peo- le than that. Again in 1880 there as opposition to sewer system through expressed belief that the en population of 21,00O would 9ever be exceeded. So in 1893 the bunding of water system on a Asis broad enough for a much great.
 population than the then 35,000 ct with much criticism on the same rounds. To-day l think the evi. ences of great future for Water. ~iry are more generally recognized han ever before. Certainly they lem too plain to be doubted by the lost conservative. with wonderful lccess in building up and maintain rg great manufacturing industries, spite of poor transportation facili- IS, what can prevent the same able en from further successes when the cilities have been so splendidly i'm. Soyed?
 e"Now. if we are prepared to admit lat Waterbury is to grow rapidly I'd is to become a city of 100000 ople within a dozen more years d no likelihood of Its stoppins ere, is 1t not evident that we mus An public works on some othel ceory than that they are to serve overgrown village?
 '.Ail these considerations are ap cable to all branches of our publi, Irks. but think particularly so al
 moment. to the proposed develop Int of our street system to mee
 h make the most of the opportnnit, brded by the readjustments result
 from the great changes beins lde within the city by the railroad
 tAs the life of Waterbury is de
 ,dent upon the railroad. it is nat
 ii that our street system should b'
 ignaied with reference to gettins
 hest contact with the railroad
 many reasons this was not don'
 the past. but when the raiIross
 -,ed it's great remodelling. the op
 tunity presented itself and wa
 mptly seized upon by the Elto'
 ,inisiration. A cpnsideTabl'
 sme Of street Improvements. hay