Norwich bulletin., 1909-08-03

The August meeting of the court Of
common council was called to order in
The council chamber Monday evening
at SIS o'clock by Mayor Costello Lip
pitt, all the members being present ex-
cept Councilmen Heath and Black
ledge. After it was voted to omit the
reading of the journal, and Clerk
Crowell had read the returns of mo-
tices given, Mayor Lippitt declared the
hearing opened on the resolution pro-
posed at the last meeting directing the
Connecticut company to change its
trolley tracks from the center to the
south side of Sachem street between
Washington and Yantic streets.
Opposes Moving Tracks.
After the clerk had read the original
resolution, ex-Mayor r. L. Osgood, who
occupied a seat outside the rail, asked
who the signers Of the original petition
were, and was told by the mayor that
it was the Edward Chappell company.
In answer to Mr.. Osgood's question as
to whether there were any property
owners direct who signed the petition,
Alderman Robinson stated he believed
almost every resident on both sides of
the street had signed 1t and also a
number of firms that did heavy truck !.
ing.
Mr.. Osgood said that neither he nor
Mrs. William N. Blackstone had been
asked to sign the petition and they
two owned more frontage than anyone
else on the street. At his request Clerk
Crowell was sent out to the files to find
the original petition, which when read
showed twenty one signers, the date
being May Sd, 1907. In answer to Mr..
Osgood's questions, Superintendent An
deIson of the Connecticut company told
Mr.. Osgood that ties were eight feet
long and the track four feet eight and
one-half inches wide. If the tracks
were moved to the south side, said Mr.
Osgood nobody could hitch a horse on
that SIDE and in winter he would be
deluged with snow, as the snow pillow
now piles the snow up on his walk.
Discussing change of grades with
Street Commissioner Fellows Mr. Os-
good said that the raising of the street
would make skating pond of his lawn,
but the street commissioner said there
was no Intention Of raising the rails
above the sidewalk.
Mr.. Osgood asked if the change
would neeessitate the trimming or re-
moval of any of his five maple trees.
Mr.. Fellows answered that one near
the ravine would probably be removed.
Before taking his seat MIR. Osgood said
that he hoped the track would remain
where 1t was, as he had lived twenty
one years on the street and had never
heard Of an accident there and he
thought it wrong to move the tracks
when majoritysof the petitioners were
not legitimate taxpayers.
Trolley Compan- Against Change.
superintendent Anderson presented
the objection of the Connecticut COM
pany to the proposed change, saying
that he had been instructed from New
Haven to object from the operation
standpoint. The side location was not
as safe as the central one for operat-
ing the trolley cars. If put on the
side of the street there would be wires
to go up in the air and the trees
would have to give way.
AS there were no more to be heard,
Mayor Lippitt declared the hearing
closed. Alderman Stetson then moved
that. action on the resolution be de-
ferred. He was asked for his reasons
by Alderman Robinson and in reply
said that be had thought all along that
the Connecticut company wanted this
change made, and now he learned that
they didn't. He thought there was
something more to be learned about
this before action was taken.
Alderman Robinson spoke in favor
of settling the matter at once, saying
that the road was so narrow that teams
cars go by and he had seen accidents
from the narrowness of the street. Any
trees to be removed would be those on
the north side, where they were too
thick. he said. and taking out some
would be an improvement.
Councilman Woodwork asked about
the probability of flooding at this
stretch of street and was told by City
Engineer Chandler that there would be
hatfnp Ia 81
ing.
Alderman Robinson then moved the
passage Of the resolution directing the
change of the tracks and after a few
words from Councilman Woodwork
explaining that the chief object of
moving the tracks was to make it pos
sible to n1acadamize, which was prac-
tically impossible now, the resolution
was unanimously passed.
The monthly report of the street de-
partment, showing expenses of 81
sS1.73, was presented and and accept
ed. as was also the report of City
Treasurer Ira L. Peck, which was or
dered printed in the journal as usual.
The typewriter report, covering
twenty three pages, of Auditor w. c.
Newell, who has been auditing the
books of the city departments. was
presented and ordered recorded in the
journal.
The report of the public works com
mittee was accepted and its resolution
adopted setting Sept. 9Th as the time
for considering the layout of Champlin
street as petitioned for by w. w. Ives.
Accept Mohesan Park Additions.
The public works committee and the
park commissioners. reported in favor
of accepting the offer made by John
A. Rockwell of land on the northerly
side of Rockwell street to be added to
Mohegan park, and also of a strip OF
land to make Rockwell street seventy