The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-03
MERCHANTS ARE
 THREATENED WITH
 BANKRUPTCY
BUSINESS MEN ON FAIRFIELD AVENUE WILLING TO GRANT TEN FOOT CENTERs TO GET STREET PAVED.
STREETS AND SIDEWALKS COM MITTEE TO RECOMMEND THAT SUIT BE WITHDRAW-CoUNCIL TO ACT MONDAY NIGHT.

The ten foot center question will come before the Common Council or Monday night by way of preamble and resolution asking that the city's suit against The Connecticut Co; be withdrawn and the trolley company be given privilege to lay ten foot centers in Fairfield avenue. A committee from the Business Mems association appeared before the Streets and Side walks committee yesterday afternoon and explained the imperative need o1 getting this street paved this year This committee of business men de. claFed that if, the paving was delayed much longer many of the smaller n1er- chants on the street would find it nee. essary to go into bankruptcy because trade has been diverted from this street.
 A petition containing names of 9( per cent. of business men on Fairfield avenue between Main street and Park avenue, was produced, indicating that the business men themselves were will ling to concede the privilege of ten foot centers to the trolley company in order to get the street paved this year Frank D. Bell, George E. Crawford and Percy P Anderson comprised the committee from the Business Mems II. the Streets and Sidewalks committee that the business men on the street were willing to shoulder all blame for giving in to the trolley company. The aldermanic committee has been fear full lest blame and otlium be put upon it if it recommended to the council that the suit be withdrawn and the ten foot centers granted.
 After considering the arguments put forth by the committee from the Bus mess Mems association the Streets and Sidewalks committee of which Daniel E. Walker is chairman, voted to instruct the city clerk to prepare a preamble of facts and resolution to carry out the wishes of the business men.
 After getting the business out of the way the committee went on a tour of the city about 3 o'clock This lasted until o'clock. The matter of cross walks which have been asked for, took up considerable time.t The committee voted to recommend to the council that nearly 100 crosswalks in various parts of the city be repaired or re- constructed. There is $3,O0O on hand for new crosswalks and $2,500 for the repair. of those already constructed Places where curbs, gutters and side walks are petitioned for, were looked over and a recommendation will be made that a number of these petitions be granted. There is an appropria- tion of $6,000 for sidewalk grading and 5000 for sidewalk grade repairing North avenue was visited by the com 1nittee. The committee decided to take no action at present on the petition to widen this street.
 Alderman Frederick Cederholm will be pleased to learn that the committee after visiting Yellow Mill park, voted to recommend that sidewalk be con- structed around the park. The So- cialist alderman has been very active in, his fight to get this improvement. He will probably come into the coun- cil Monday night prepared to do more fighting to get the recommendation of the committee adopted.