Norwich bulletin., 1910-08-27

After working through an appro-
 priation for repaving Bank street. from State to Howard streets. and for the
 building of sidewalks for the entire distance on both sides of the street,
 and the contract awarded and the big job actually commenced, there
 was a hold-up by order of Mayor Mahan in the hope that the street would be ridden of the unsighrlN poles and that all the wires wOnld be laid
 under ground. There were meetings of
 the street and sidewalk committees and representative of the corDora
 tions interested and the prospects of
 having this work done were so en-
 couraaing that it was decided not to
 proceed with the work until near the
 end of the summer season. which is
 about this time.
 ditions that has not been publicly ex- plained and the work that should
 have been completed was commenced
 again this week and the wires are not
 to go into conduits and the unsightiy poles remain. Therefore the delay was
 unnecessary and the responsibility has
 not been placed, although the city
 paid out good money to undo what had
 been done by the contractor of the
 paving.
 The work was commenced again
 Monday and by Tuesday night all the
 old payers between Howard street and Lane A, on the east side of the street
 were taken up and the work of pre-
 paring the roadbed for the paving com menced. As the new pavement is to consist of the old blocks being halved the long way and reset in cement the work will be necessarily slow in com parison with the laying of the regula- ton size payers and in the ordinary way. All the merchants in the long and busy street will be more or less fr1 faA rkaf Ia is nFty ia hp ing carried on and of course public travel will be impeded. Therefore the hope prevails that no more of the street than is absolutely necessary shall be torn uD at the same time. and that sections will be completed before another is opened up.
 To those not Versed in pavement lay ing the stretch from Howard street to Lane A, is longer than is necessary for the sized gang that will engage in the work, and it has been suggested that not over one thousand feet of one side cs the street be opened at any one time. so that the public will be inconvenienced only to the extent that is absolutely necessary.
 1t is presumed that the laying of new sidewalks will be carried forward at the same time. and under the new city ordinance that property owners along the street pay one half of the cost Of the sidewalks and the city the balance. There is liability. of opposi- tion to this plan by some of the property holders who are satisfied with the present sidewalks in front of their premises, and who have doubts as to the legality of the ordinance which compels them to bear half the expense. The contract for this work was award ed several months ago and the con- tractor is in. readiness to lay the new curbing and build the sidewolks and the work will go forward regardless of consequences, unless prohibited by process of law.
 There certainly is need for new side walks in front of nearly every piece of property on the street, and the sidewalk committee and the mayor are of opinion that the action taken is clearly within the province Of the new ordinance and that it will stand
 While there have been no serious ob- jections filed by Bank streeters in this
 matter conditions are different in re- gard to the proposed new sidewalks in State street. for which contract has been awarded and plans made 10 com mence the work. Tn this street some property owners who claim to have good sidewalks openly object to the new conditions and are organizing to defend what they consider to be their rights. This movement in opposition to new sidewoIks under the proposed plan in State street is led by EN- Mayor George y. Tinker. who de- cIares that the court of common couu- ell has no right to issue the sidewalk orders under the new ordinance. and adds that if the city proper insists on the new walks that it $ up to the city to settle the cost and without the assistance of the property owners in State street alone.
 Mir. Tinker is not resident or property owner in State street but he has taken the lead in the opposision because he believes he is right and in of Davy Crockett. Be sure you're right. then go ahead" MT. Tinker was opposed to the adoption of the or dinance as was also Ex-Governor Waller and other citizens of prom thence, mainly on tlle ground that the ordinance was unconstitutional
 That MT. Tinker is sincere in his belief is lanifested in the interest he takes in the enforcement of the ordinance in the State street pro- gentlemen is noted for his progres- i siveness and his public spirit; there fore his opposition is not without some weight. At this Vriting the sidewalk 1 was arranging for a public ] hearing on the petition of Mir Tinker i and other signers of the document.
 Mayor Mahan is the man on horse back in the matter Of public i'm i and he is perhaps respon- ! sibIe for the repaVing of Bank street l and the movement for new sidewalks | in Bank and State streets. apprecia | ting that there is actual need of the | same. it being conceded by everybody | In the city that the sidewalks are in | deDIorable condition while | and disgrace to the citN, blot o7r the escutcheon or civic pride and q l setback to the popular idea that there l is genuine effort to make New London ! ! city beautiful So it would not be i at all surprising If the mayor led in ] the forensic enga ement with the old | est living ex-mayor when the matter i of new sidewalks for State street is ID for public discussion.
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