The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-06-22
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 one here but four poor aldermen, who serve the city without pay and then get all the abuse. You always find the aldermen on their jobs but those who are paid by the city-well they are not here. The city attorneys who took this case into the court didn't say it was a lost case when the case went in, but now after all this time is lost they come and tell us that much
 MT. Anderson said that he was a property owner on the street, and though he didn't get an invitation to appear before the committee, he came because of tremendous interest there is in the situation. He said that he perhaps didn't voice the sentiments of every single property owner on the street but that he did voice the sen- timents of many when he stated that they have absolutely nothing against the Streets and Sidewalks committee. He declared that it is the desire of the property owners to aid the; acom- mittee. eff I had taken out the eurbs and gutters of my property when l received the. notice to do so a year ago last May" said MT. Anderson, "and other property, owners had done the same thing, the street would be in much more terrible condition now and undoubtedly there would be dam- age suits against the city,
 It was pointed out that the order to remove the curbs and gutters waa never rescinded.
 MT. Anderson said that he immedi- ately gave a contractor orders to re- move the curbs but that the work had never been done. He pointed out that this work was done at the north field avenue, but the curbs were later set back.
 The question was asked as to why the city didn't see to it that the prop erty owners removed the curbs and gutters as was done in many cases said that that work was up. to the Paving and Sewer commission but that that commission delayed the work on various pretenses
 ..Tm satisfied that Col. Rogers even tipped off the trolley company to hold up it's work and that 1t would even tually get ten foot centers," said the alderman, somewhat heated.
 MT Anderson said. that the property on Fairfield avenue had been raised in valuation almost 30 per cent In some instances, only a year. or so ago. q don't know whether you gentle men know it or not but the mayor does, said MT. Anderson, ''but the as- sessorss propose to make another big increase in valuations of property on this street this year. Now Pm not hollering about that. I went ahead and paid, the increased assessment, af- ter I had got what little relief I could from the. Board of Relief but still it is hard today to get as much as $4O a month for rent in some of the places, though if the street was in the right condition. double that amount would be easily gotten. We can't blame the for not caring 10 pay DE a. commercial street. MT. Anderson figured that the property on this street from Broad to Main street was valued at something like $S,> 900, 900 and that taxes of $40,O0O or $45'- GOO wer paid annually.
 that several of the property owners were willing to take ten foot centers if erooved rails could be laid and poles as suggested by the Business Mems were provided.
 MT. Kirk bitterly declared that the company has used in its claim for ten foot centers is that it wants to pro- tect the "dear public" "I want to say right here," said MT. Kirk, "that if any one of the dear public who has ridden on the cars along Fairfield avenue with the, tracks in their pres ent condition, hasn't been injured or killed. than there is no fear that they will be killed if the nine foot cen ters are still maintained and the tracks are put in better condition. They have the nine foot centers now and the tracks are in terrible cond1- ton, yet there seems to be. no one f1n fcs every reason to expect something or the kind because of the condition of the tracks.
 CT, believe that the city can come pei, the traction company to fix It's tracks. to furnish something besides Hat wheels and to put their cars In better shape. The cars wobble along all because the tracks are in such poor shape. Now I believe that the city can close the street to the use of the trolley company and that It should be done until the tracks are put in better shape. To me there seems to be hidden motive behind all their desire for ten-foot centers. think the trolley people are looking ahead much further than we are and anticipate the time when motor truck express companies may furnish them in freight service. The -rOlley company would De M a pOS1- ion to crowd out this competition if heir cars take up so much of the l street as to prevent a truck from passing by.
 'I am losing money every month. l Tenants can't remain in my property | because they cannot sleep, the noise l hat the trolley make, is so great. | The disgraceful condition of the | racks is wholly up to the trolley l company and before any other ques- ] ion is considered believe the com | oany should be made to repair its 1 racks. We have a right against the 1 company for damages, I believe. The | en-fOOt center question is only foot | ,all to delay their making repairs. I | ,hould like to know why the city l lasn't the right to bits of It's own ,treets."
 MT. Kirk is set dead against grant ng the trolley company the right to ay ten foot centers but believes that | he city should take action toward | the use of the street to the | company until the tracks are put In | proper shape.
 Alderman Carroll asked MT. Davis if 1 1e thought that the mayors proposi- | ion was desirable MT. Davis said that | f the property owners were agreeable, | le didn't see why it shouldn't be.
 {, MT. Kirk told of seeing a large | notor truck, yesterday, pulled up in ront of the Peerless garage, snug to he curbing and when trolley car anne along the motorman was afraid hat bo oOuldn't get by Finally he