The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-07
MAYOR WILSON ! DEFENDS HIS
 BONDING PLAN. Thinks Stratford Avenue Bridge Should Be 100 Feet Wide With 45 Feet for
 Vehicles Boulevard to Fayerweather Island Would Garry With It Large Fill and Place for Athletics.

It Large Fill and Place for
 Athletics.
 Mayor Wilson, discussing his mes sage to the Common Council, said. to- day: f.
 "A number of other changes have been suggested by the work and in vestigation of the various departments or our city, but those which I have enumerated in my, communication to the Common Council, Monday evening, seem to be the most important ones
 w must not lose sight of the fact that Bridgeport is growing very rapid. ly, and it seems to me that the pro- Jeets suggested would have tendency to Stim ulate the development of our. city and materially aid it to achieve. the place for which it is destined.
 The larger improvements cannot be, had by relying solely upon the revenue derived from taxes. without material Increase in the tax rate. The oIfy way by which we can enjoy these iIn- .provements and keep pace with the needs of our city is by spreading the cost of such projects over a term of years. This is accomplished by means Of bonding. By issuing serial bonds, which means the retirement of a cer-l tain amount of the indebtedness thus, created, each year, the old policy of pay as you go, is adhered to, for there. is no reason why any improvement of a permanent nature should be paid for Tn any one year. The enjoyment of such project is just as keen few yeaEs after it's eompletiqn as on :5lfe method enables the city to Keep it's tax rate stable and yet have the bene- fit of many things which it needs. I am unaiterably opposed to higher tax rate than 15 mills, and I believe that this rate should remain fixed year in and year out. There is nothing more attractive to outsiders and no greater source of satisfaction to the people within our borders than the knowledge that the finances of our, city are absolutely stable.
 tOne Of the things mentioned in my communication to the council Monday evening was the installation of pump ing stations for the purpose of dispos- ing of the sewage of the city. This would comprehend the construction of few large interceptor sewers which would conduct the waste to the pump ing stations and by them be carried off to distance which would make impossible any nuisance.
 The harbor is quite foul now from the sewage which empties into it, and as the city grows. unless this is ren- edied, the results will be well nigh unbearab1e. The destructive burning Of garbage, ashes and rub bish, as is done in other cities, would furnish power which could be utilized at the pumping stations. I would like to see the city collect all ashes and rubbish, excluding only the waste products of our manufacturing plants.
 ''The present almshouse is unsafe and only by the greatest vigilance is 1t kept sanitary. It is wholly made particular. The almsllouse is open to the inspection of any of our citizens and may be examined by any one in- terested enough to visit the same.
 'The river traffic has made 1t nec- essary to dredge to a greater depth than was contemplated when the pres ent bridge was constructed. About a year ago the government engineers who were dredging the harbor found 1t would be unsafe to dredge to the same depth under this bridge as they did above and below the bridge. It should be replaced with a wider one. In making this improvement, as in all others, the future growth of the city should be kept in mind.
 "The proposed State street bridge which was intended to relieve traffic conditions around Fairfield avenue and Main street, has been reported by the. city engineer as not feasible; the structure would be awkward and the cost almost prohibitlve for the city. A bridge 100 feet wide to replace the. Stratford avenue bridge would amply provide for the traffic at this point. It would permit of wide sidewalks, a space for trolley tracks and approxi- mately 45 feet for vehicles. I believe that the railroad company would CO., operate and remove the pier which at present stands in the middle of Fair field. avenue, under it's viaduct, which, by the way, should never have been there, and truss from the pier south to the one immediately north of the one in the street. This would give a convenient approach to the bridge from Fairfield avenue and Water street both north and south of Fair field avenue.
 fIt probably would be desirable to widen Stratford avenue as far east as Kossuth street. but this would involve very little expense. as there are no buildings of large value along this point. The railroad people would of | course pay it's portion of the cost of this bridge as well as of East Wash ington avenue bridge
 '"The rapid development as suggest ed of Fayerweather Island would give us a boulevard from Seaside Park to the island. The project would also comprehend the erection of adequate and commodious bath houses to re- place the present cramped quarters of the bathers, and also the retaining of many acres of ground to the inn mediate west of Seaside Park, where an athletic field could be laid out for all kinds of sports. These are just few of the things which the inn provements suggested contemplate"
 
 Atlantic City.-Judge Keller, of the City court, will try to break a law to prove the guilt of James Collotty, charged with exceeding the speed linn it, Collotty denies his machine can go