The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-09-23
Vote NU!

E. E. Vincent, John J. Phelan and zaImon Goodsen had abundance of op- portunity to study the S3.OOO.OOo Her ing sewer system.
 They were members of the Board of Apportionmerlt and Taxation when the matter came up for discussion, and with the other members of the board they decided that the project was too costly and too unnecessary for Bridgeport.
 Each of the gentlemen named has recently represented his views to the people of Bridgeport, advising them not to inaugurate the discredited plan by voking s1.2OO.oO0 in sewer bonds which Mayor Wilson seeks as part of a iIan which will swell the importance and patronage of his administration, and protect the public services from early municipal ownership
 It is difficult to conceive of a muni- cipa1 project which could be so utterly discredited as the s3.Ooo.OoO Herring plan.
 It was recommended by Herring & Fuller who afterward furnished new plan, which they said was ample for Bridgeport. They not only said it. but pleaded strongly for the adoption of the new plan, which was adopted. although many substantial citizens be- feved it less well adapted to Bridge ports needs. than the Scofield plan. which 1t replaced.
 The enormous expense which Mayor Wilson advises the people of Bridge port to incur has therefore been dis credited by the engineers who planned it.
 After Herring & Fuller had submit ted to the city their s3,oO0. 900 scheme it was accepted by five gentlemen, who comprised the Sewer Commis- sion.
 Four Of these men. and three of them over their signatures, afterward joined in stating that the costly pro- jeet =was- unnecessary, and gave their approval to another project, to be car rfed out at no greater annual cost than the cbty's earlier sewer work.
 Yet Mayor Wilson revives the aban- doned plan. to steep his city in debt. What for. unless for the very purpose of crippI1ng the city with an unpro- ductixe mortgage. which will delay the creation Of 9 debt for things that will pa ytheir own way?
 The debt which he proposes to create for the East Washington avenue and stratford avenue bridges is of the same suspicious nature.
 It is proposed to spend at East Washington avenue s13O,OOo, which will nok build much of bridge
 The trouble with the bridge now there is that the trolley cars can't use it. Other traffic can and does
 Now the law says, as this newspaper has repeatedly stated. that when a highway bridge is sufficient for other traffic and not for trolley traffic, that the trolley company which desires to use the bridge shall pay all the cost of repairs.
 Why not let the Connecticut com pany pay all the cost of repairing the East Washington avenue bridge?
 Why should the city build new bridge and paY for it under those con- ditions7
 But, it is said. that the channel of the river cannot be dredged as deep as it ought to be unless something is done to the present piers upon which the East Washington avenue bridge stands. Admitted that such a repair ought to be the charge of the city. No new bridge is required
 4 cement retaining wall is all that is needed Such wall is simple to build, and not costly.
 -ne situation at Stratford avenue bridge is much the same. The bridge sis ample for other traffic. but not for trolley traffic This bridge trolley traffic must use. and there is probably need of a new bridge.
 But the Connecticut company is obliged by law to pay it's equitable share of such a bridge. It should pay half
 Mayor Wilson proposes to issue bonds for the. cost of the whole bridge.
 He has said. since this newspaper began to tell the facts about the bridge Aeaaz. that the Connecticut company