Putnam patriot., 1909-09-03
Common Council.

\ special meeting of the Common { Council vas held last Thursday even ing with Mayor MeGarfy presiding. i Aldermen present JOslyn, Hawkins, | Brodusf, Miner and Dumas. The petition lo have the meeting called was read. il asked the Council to establish q building line on Elm street, beginning at the north aide of the O'Leafs property on the East side of the street, andto the soutbefiy side of the drive al the south end Of The Bradley block, on tbe vest side, and continuing to May street.
 F. NJ Wheaton. President of the Bus- iness Mems Association and l. II. Fal- fer, two of the Association committee, were pfes ent and addressed the Coun- ell E.M. Arnold, the other member Of the committee, was not present, being ogl of town.
 Mf. Wheaton said Il was an oppor- tune time to widen Elm street. lie handed petition to the Council, signed by The committee ofthe Business Men's Association, which lie believed feliee,s the sentiment of ta majority of the citl- zens, asking that Elm street be widen ed te 10 feet.
 He was ashamed Of Elm street as its condition now k. We haze reached stage when Putnam k to grow faster than Il ever hHs before. Elm street wiil eventually become Rrent business th0foughfare. Me are unfortunate in having such an important business street so narrow. Such street ought to be at least G0 feel wide from building te building. The trolley track should remain in the middle of the street and leave room on either side of the track for two teams te pass each other. As we afe HOW discussing the widening-and all are agreed that II ought to be done, we should look te the future in order that NC may not regret that We had not acted up to our convictions lew years hence II cannot harm anybody much to widen 1t now, and IL would greatly increase the value Of all property on the street, To compel the widening tAe street ten yeafsihence, to meet the requirements of the growth of business might involve the city in great expense.
 All that We ask of the Council Is that e wider street line be established for all future new buildings, with a view to later talking hold of needed street im- pavement.
 Asked If the trees would have to be cut down, replied, that many of them were now in bad condition, while others would cone to the curb line. He had heard Of no opposition at all to the pro posed change.
 Asked If he was on a committee to look into the matter of widening Elm street when he was a member of the Council He said that he was not and had not been on any committee to es- lablish building line.
 At this juncture Inc fire alarm rang and the meeting was adjourned for half m hour.
 When the meeting opened again MT. Fuller spoke, and said that all the peo- pie want Elm street widened, but they haven't known how io go about H. They want illwidened fl Il can be done without any great hardships. He be
 ieved the future of the street as busi- ness thoroughfare depended largely on it's width, Every piece of land would be worth more money.
 There WAS some further informal dis cussion, after which IL was voted that the Mayor appoint committee Of three to confer with the committee from the Business Mems Association about the , matter.
 The Mayor appointed Superintend. ent of Streets, Dumas, and the two ac- tive members of the highway commit tee, Messfs. Miner and Carpenter Voted, That the committee report at the next regular meeting,
 The meeting then adjourned.