Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1910-12-23
~ pays to be a Progressive City.
lie 1aUnioii St J

Il pays to be a Progressive City.
leo. f.. shaw titled our city Put
mn stands for Progress and Prospect.
- Without going back 10 when the
sepirii of progress began, as Al first 1t
SIS gradual and annotieedi We Will
simply refer 10 what has oeen under
laeen within the past year
There is the Long Bridge being re,
psilt. As we look northeast from the
bridge. we ran see the magnificent
as~ High school building looming up,
reasiy for The interior work To he COM
raeneed. Then, as We tras erse sections
of me west side of the city, We notice
sfsnsiies open and finished where t9e
pines for the extensive sewer system
lave been and are being laid. One IN.
sin,shed movement, started this year,
= 10 secure for the city lis own water
supply plant, negotiations for which
ere well under way, aud we may soon
beat them announced
Bnt rs we regard II, the most i'm.
poftant step Of progress for the general
t,est Interests Of the city, Il the trans
formation al our municipal form of
government. To simplify and to bring
als affairs directly under control Of
those who can ee held accountable for
their management, and, In so doing,
dispense with good deal of the use
less and cumbfous methods of carry
sing on the simple duties Of controlling
ahe city's interests.
We are finding no fault with those
who are and have heretofore had the
charge Of the management of the city =
interests--their records are without
stain all at them, and We are proud
10 say IL. II Is the cumbersome sys-
sem, that entails SO much unnecessary
effort 10 do SIMPLE things, that Is faal.
" and irritating to The public.
: Our special aim In grouping the re.
vent movements 10 improve and bene-
al the city Is moi To be boastfui. The,
matters indispensable a. the ed
a!oft of our citizens, ana TO elc-
Che character OF the city, Every
out in the Improvements
AANh not less than two dollars Ia
ra, value of the property oil
ane They have also attracted the
attention of The people Of the State,
through their newspapers, leaving mn
impression that Mr., -haw's emblema'
expression meets the case exactly.
here liz what the Middletown sun"
says Ia regard to our city
The New Haven Jaurnaltoarier
.editorially declares with reference To
4 The desire to establish commission
ioraa OF government in Putnam that
The Windham county city has learned:
Like all intelligent communities,
the advantages of the commission FORM
Of government, which Is carrying com
1or, and inspiraiiou 10 100 American
cities. 1t Will at the session oil the IN
coming Legislature ask specifically Tor
what IL wants,
ssAhile We can sympathixc with The
good people of Putnam In their desire
10 bring The conduct OF their home al
fairs To business condition, Ne can
feel no sympathy for the Connecticut
system OF governing local communities
which compel petitioners Ia explain All
N their pris ate business and private
exaciious TO committee OF the 1ener-
al Assembly, the majority OF whom
have not the faintest idea ol {helf
needs.
After quoting the above from TIE
soafief journal, the sun speaks thus
aagsts own city OF Middlelawa. only
sstaph of its article have NE pace
TO- uole.
There Is no doubt IN the mind OF
any sngelngent thinking person that
ssnr double. harrelled anticipated form ei
city %nd town government Is not only
a ssei4lsion and n snare, but almost II
Boke. Recent events have demenstsa-
led oeyond peradventare that cut me-
thcd If conducting public business Is
oungslng. expensive and entAely aa=
satisfactory.
The local conditions have recently
oeea brought home with such tetee
that there il a popular demand here
for a change, and II Is the belief that Il
majority OF Middletown citizens would
oe glad toary the commission form Of
government ia some form II they wege
given the opportunity.
Putnam, by its example, Is inspiring
stther communities TO make progress.
. =