The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-04

huOW u.
 something of the methods that are commonly used by public service cor sporations in dealing with the cities in which they exercise their valuable franchises are indicated by the action of the United Illuminating Company of Bridgeport and New Haven, in tear ing up the pavement on Main street above East Washington avenue. The regard of some of these corporations for the regulations made by the people for their control. and the respect they pay to the law is object lesson which the average citizen is contem- plating thoughtfully.
 The zeal of the men in charge of some of the executive departments of Brideerort to protect the dignity of the city, and to see that the city's rules are lived up to is also being con- templated thoughtfully-
 Taxpayers in North Bridgeport com p1afned to the Farmer, sometime since, that the North Main street pavement was being ripped up- It is a new brick p4vement, and when it was put down it was expected that it would remain undlsturbed for years to come This is the efory of the investigation that followed these complaints
 Superintendent. CA Paul. local man. ager of the Illuminating Co.,, was ask
 
 the pavement was torn up.
 Mr. Paul replied that the matter was managed from New Haven, and that inquiries should be addressed to the ofI1Ce of the United illuminating Com pauE. in Nev Haven s...- ..
 lnGufkx was then made by telephone to the o4nces in New Haven The reply Nas made that the men who could fur ulsl1 r1e information. why is Main street opened above East Washington aveuue.n were in Bridgeport
 Chairman Hartley was asked who gave the United Illuminating Company a permit to rip out pavement He replied that permission had been given by the street committee of 1907.
 Members of the street committee Of 1907 were consulted. They entered an explicit denial.
 Mayor Lee was then asked what ,. about it. Mayor Lee consulted with Director of Public Works Charles F. A. Biltx, and presented replied:
 -'Mr- Biltz says the permit was grant ed two years ago, and that he has the record of it in his desk"
 Then was MT. Biltz presented with a copy of the Common Council pro ceedings for May 6, 1907, containing the resolution authorizing the United Illuminating Company to open certain streets. in which the company was au- thorized to open Main street from Gilbert Street to East Washington av- enue, and no further.
 To this MT. Biltz replied: 'I thought they had permission. They are the only concern that ever tore the streets up and put them back right" {"
 Former Alderman John J.. Morris sey, who was a member of the com 1rittee on streets and sidewalks, said this morning: -'No permission was giv- en by the committee to the Electric Light Company to tear up the pave ment on Main street above East Washington avenue On the contrary the Representatives of the Company begged hard for this permission and it was denied them- They had, in our opinion, ample opportunity to put in any permanent Improvements that might have been desired before the pavement was laid. It was a new pavement. and quite the best in the city. This work is never put back by these companies in as good shape as it was before they touch it. There fore we refused permission. I am sur prised to learn that the pavement has been disturbed
 Final inquiry was made at the New Haven office of the United IIluminat- ing Company this morning, as to the authority under which they had pro- ceeded
 -.see H. F. Leavitt the construction engineer was the reply. ''He is now in Bridgeport"
 Inquiry at the Bridgeport Office. 'Is MT. Lseavitt there"
 Answer. "No-"
 Is he in town. "No."
 But that pavement is ripped up just The same.