The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-06

NJ IO LII I many important streets no grades o, | building lines established. These mat | ters have long been neglected anG should be given careful attention. Congress Street Widening. The matter of Congress street wid. ening has been before us for some time and some criticism has beer heard in reference to the delay. Wher the board of appraisal of benefits and damages reported damages to the amount of $55,336.O0 for the widening or Congress street I was unalterably opposed to the spending of this amount and in order to prevent the carrying out of the project 1t was necessary to go over the entire matter again with accompanying hearings, etc. This occasioned the regrettable delay in the paving of the street. Now the curbs on either side of the street have been ordered set back one and one haIt feet. giving sufficient width to the roadway fsr the future and with no expense to the city and the work of paving the street will now be carried on as rapidly as possible.
 Broad Street Tunnel
 The matter of the extension of Broad street northerly from Elm street is matter of extreme importance and has caused much discussion. The proposition to tunnel for the extension expenses damages and cost of maintenance, seems to be out of the question. In fact 1t has been estimated that 1t would cost at least s2,OO0,00O. This should not however be dismissed lightly and be placed among other improvements that the future can take care of.
 1 would therefore recommend that Broad street be extended northerIy from Elm street to Golden Hill street, cutting down Golden Hill street at the junction of Broad street about seven feet, the cut extending easterly and westerly on Golden Hill street to noth- ing. This would make a grade on Broad street extention similar to Courtland street. The expense would be approximately $25,o00.
 Parks.
 We may well feel proud of our park system and know that Bridgeport is correctly called the Park City," Many improvements have been made in the parks during the past year and many more are being contemplated. In July of this year the final payment of $3,O00 will be made and Fayerweather Island becomes the property of Bridgeport making a substantial addi- In the near future the boulevard al Seaside park will be extended to Fayerweather Island, making the finest drive along the water front in the New England states. Plans are being made for an athletic field on and work will be started there this year. Additions are being made to the free bath houses at Seaside park with steel, fire proof lockers as an in- novation. l would again recommend that still further additions be made next year to the bath houses to keep up with the increased demand.
 Favors Sunday Concerts.
 In addition to the regular midweek band concerts in summer, it is plan ned to hold concerts on a number of Saturday and Sunday afternoons, with possibly also vocal choruses at the parks on Sunday afternoons. I am heartily in favor of this form of en- tertainment which furnish our citi- same time. As the expense of this must be met by voluntary contribu tions and the number of concerts will depend upon the amounts subscribed, it is hoped that there will be a gener- ous response to the request of the Park Commissioners for contribu tfons.
 Fairgrounds.
 I believe that it is generally con- ceded that the playgrounds just es- tablished are a success. l wish to thank the board of park commission CTS for the business like and expedi- tious way in which they took up the matter at my request last winter and the successful outcome. Large play grounds have been established at Yel- low Mill park and Lafayette park and smaller ones at Seaside and Beardsley parks.
 Thousands of children are enjoying them and they constitute one of the finest improvements made by the board during the year. There is need, however. of more playgrounds, and it is hoped that some of our public spirited citizens who are interested in the welfare of the children, will do- nate plots of land for the estab blish- ment of more playgrounds.
 To assist in beautifying the city I would recommend that the park board take up the matter planting trees on some of our thoroughfares and would also recommend that our citizens, where it is practicable, plant trees in front of their resid
 Police Department.
 The efficiency of the police depart ment can not be questioned and the freedom of the city during the past year from serious crime is matter of congratulation and reflects much credit on this department. In order to keep pace with the growth of the city l would recommend an increase
 
 location of a precinct station in the west end, which improvement in now under way; the purchase of land in the northern and eastern sections of the city for precinct stations for the future.
 I further recommend the remod- delling of the Police and Charities building so that there may be a pri- vate entrance to the office of the Su- perintendent of Police and the detec- tive department. This will tend to in crease the efficiency of the depart ment in many ways.
 Fire Department.
 During the past year the city has not suffered from any extensive fires, which is due to the excellent work of the members of the fire department. Many improvements have been made in the department during the year in a mechanical way and these have added greatly to the efficiency of the The department is al- most on a permanent basis and I would recommend that during the coming year it be made permanent. Also each year motor driven vehicles are being added to the department and I wish again to state that I agree that motor driven vehicles should supplant horses driven ones as rapid ly as reasonable appropriations will allow.
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