Norwich bulletin., 1910-04-05

Although the April meeting of the
court of common council did not last
over forty minutes there was much
business done, a number of petitions
being received and reports acted up
ON. Mayor Lfppitt presided over the
session. at which all were present ex-
cept Councilmen Hopkins and Wood
worth. One of the important actions
OF the evening was the move made to-
wards getting a new city charter, the
finance committee to place in the es-
Inmates for the next city meeting the
sum of $4,000 to defray the expense of
drafting. advertising and submitting
to the next general assembly a new
charter. This is the first move made
to this end which will require much
preparation. 1t was shown by the
public works committee that the Con-
necticut company believes the proper
way to overcome the congestion in
Franklin square Is to build a spur
track to the freight house of the New
Haven road, and negotiations are I'M
der way to that end. The appoint
ment of a gas and electric commits
sioner for three years was made by
the council in the unanimous choice
mated by Mayor Lippitt. Mr.. Story is
one of the prominent democrats of the
city and succeeds Gilbert S. Raymond.
who has served as commissioner for a
term of three years
Following the calling to order of the
council, the reading of the journal was
omitted and the monthly report of the
street department was read, showing
the expenditure of $1,975.56, which in
c1uded $255.62 for the Cliff street i'm
provement, $30947 for Talman street
sewer and STATS for the School street
sewer. The report was accepted.
The report of City Treasurer l. l..
Peck was accepted and ordered printed
in the journal
Regarding the petition of Somers
Bros. for a grade in front of their
property in North Main street. the cor
poration counsel reported that the
status of the land title there is not
such as will warrant the action prayed
for. The report was accepted.
Upon John Donovan's petition for
the abatement Of a sewer assessment
in Roath street, Corporation Counsel
Briscoe reported that in his opinion
the sewer was ordered and the assess
ment is legal. The report was ap-
proved.
was referred the petition of T. L.
Chapman and other stationary engi-
neers for an ordinance governing sta
tionary engineers and licensing them,
reported that they had been advised
that such an ordinance is not valid,
as there is no power to cause the plac-
ing of fees. They considered there
was no good purpose in passing COM
pick ordinance which is also of doubt
ful validity. The petitioners were
given leave to withdraw.
Health Officers Report.
The lengthy report of Health Officer
DR.. N. B. Lewis was read by the clerk.
approved, ordered printed in the ap
pendix of the journal and 800 copies
will be printed for distribution. In it
he says:
There have been a small number of
serious conta gious diseases. scarlet fe-
yer and diphtheria, though quite Sc
rious epidemics have been raging in
been quite prevalent The sewers have
greatly improved the sanitary condi-
ton of the city. but there are several
and unhealthy streets where
sewers should be built He referred
briefly to the sewers in Roath, Cres-
cent, Cedar and Talnan streets, built
recently.
1t has been necessary to close the
public closets on the municipal wharf
during the winter to prevent them
from freezing, but they should be open
the entire year. New no-Spitting signs
have been placed; three convictions
have taken place during the year for
violating the city ordinances.
Since the new law regarding tUber-
culosis went into effect October 1, thir-
teen new cases of tuberculosis have
been reported and underta1<ers have re-
ported twenty deaths in the nast four
years and the houses have been fuuni-
gated. There is need of a place for
the care of consumptive cases.
The streets were kept well sprinkled
and swept the past year. There was
much offensive dust from the rotary
sweeper, however, the dust being filled
with disease germs, and to overcome
this he recommended the investiga-
ton of the vacuum method of clean
ing streets
Nineteen barber shops have been re-
ported by the state board of exami-
ners as deficient in sanitary arrange
msnts and the proprietors promptly
notified OF the deficiencies The school
houses are now in a good sanitary
condition, having been thoroughly
cleansed during the spring vacation
and three schoolroorns were fumigated
during the year.
Calling attention to the low water
in the reservoir despite the expendi-
ture of $4,000 for q new dam at
Meadow brook he renewed his rec
ommendation that water be pumped
from the north branch OF the Yantic
river.
Public sanitation he considered
should be more thoroughly understood
and he believes it should be taught
in schools, being more beneficial to
the pupils than physiology as it is