Norwich bulletin., 1910-01-25

ilouT on MOn0ay evening ana at Wnlcn many spoke. the committee appointed by the court of common council heard those who it was claimed would be benefited by the Crescent and ROath street sewers With one exception, none of the speakers considered t1at there was any benefit from the sew CTS which they should pay for and 1t was the general opinion that the city should meet the expense of both. The exception was when c. R. Butts stated that he would not oppose a slight as- sessment in the case of the Norwich club.
 The entire committee was in at tendance, including Mayor Lippitt, AL derman Stetson and Councilmen WoodWorth and Lester. The Cres- cent street sewer was taken up first by request. This sewer was built from Broad street through Crescent street to a point near the Free Acad- emy, at a cost of $2,055.95.
 Attorney J. J. Desmond appeared for the following: Dr. and Mrs w. $. C. Perkins Mary G. Osgood. Martha L. Osgood. Gertrude Browne, Angelina P. Fuller, Emma F. Carroll, Jennie l.. Reid and Emerson P. Turner.
 He said that from investigation giv- en to the matter the claim is that they are not benefited in any manner. The property owners were all supplied be- fore the construction of the sewer, by Broad and Rockwell streets Broad way and the old Crescent street sew CT, not only then but for all reaSon- able prospective use.
 The sewer recently cons tructed was built at a far greater expense than necessary, if a sewer had been needed by them. Such a tax as this is levi able only where the owners of prop sewage through one street and prop erty abutS on another it can hardly be said it is benefited by the second sew CT.
 MT. Desmond was of the opinion that all the abutting property is not included in the list to be benefited.
 Mir. Chandler explained that Mir: Bard had a sewer on three sides Of his property and has paid for those benefits and that is why he has not been assessed.
 Dr. LeweIlyn Pratt, president of the Academy corporation. said that the benefit that comes from the laying of the sewer is not for the Academy as an institution. but is for ahe benefit of those who attend the school. It is for the benefit of the city and not for those who represent it as a corpora tion. They asked for it when extra advantages were to be given to the pupils of the city. For fifty years the Academy has stood in the place or a high school, which would cost not less than $15,000 to $20,000 a year. The betterment is for the benefit of the city.
 Principal H. A. Tirren said that the Academy is being conducted for the benefit of Norwich at a cost of $75 to ssO a pupil, from which they get only from $15 to $45 each. The more pupils the Academy has the poorer 1t gets. He considered that the Academy should not be obliged to meet an as sessment, nor that the other property owners should. It was constructed as a benefit for Norwich, and the city should meet the expense.
 F. J. Leavens called attention to the i= Q S35, 900 a year for the children of Nor wich through it's trust funds and re ceives back but $7,O0O. The improve ments there are being made because penditure of $10O,000. While it is a necessity to have the sewer, it is public benefit as it is for the pupils
 Attorney John F. Huntington repre- sented the Rockwell property, which he said is fully provided for by other sewers and is not benefited by the new one. He considered it should not be assessed.
 c. H. Butts, for Mrs. Richards. de- clared that her property is not bene- hted as the Broadway sewer cares for that property and there is not enough on Crescent street for another build ing. Should there be. it would be easier to get to Broadway sewer a shallow trench than into the deep Crescent street sewer.
 As to the Norwich club, J. Ralph Howe stated that it had cesspool which meets all requirements. When Mir. Butts was asked about the Nor wich club he said that he could not oppose a slight assessment there.
 Frank w. Browning stated that the sewer is no benefit to Park church property The church and Osgood Me morial are severed into Broadway sewer.
 Roath Street Sewer.
 When the Roath street sewer mat ter was taken up, that having been constructed at a cost of sS62.47, and eleven people notified that they were considered especially benefited by it, ex-Street Commissioner John Donovan opened up strong, being fortified with a city charter, common council reports and legal decisions. He asked a long answered and others were not He wanted to know by what authority the sewer was built, if a detailed state ment of the cost had been made to the what the assessment is. what the city will pay, how many there were not connected with a sewer and why the sewer should be covered up in the sew CT and catch basin account.
 He was told either by the mayor or corporation counsel. that it was in cluded in the $4.000 appropriated by the city for sewers and catch basins,
 
 always be foreseen just what will come up during the year
 Mir. Donovan asked if it was consid- cred that the requirement. of the char ter had been met as to giving a de- tailed statement of the estimates and Corporation Counsel Briscoe stateds that it was so considered. He then said he would await the decision of the committee and if he was assessed he would take the matter to the courts. It was his claim that the council was never authorized by the city meeting to build that sewer. The $4.000. he maintained. was for work to be done at public expense, as the citizens were given to understand. but the sewer was never authorized and it is there fore illegally done and without au- thority, unless the city meets the ex- pense- He declared he would not pay an assessment and created some laughter when he said he had been through the new bar library scanning digest after digest looking for a ruling on such a case as this in this state, but could not find one. He. however. read some decisions on similar mat ters given in other states He said he did not make the statement about his refusing to pay as a threat but he was determined to get a decision on the matter that way.
 He maintained that only one house