The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-01-25

cadam to some kind of more durable
pavement that will withstand the de-
mands of every day travel. It will be
much cheaper in the end. far more
satisfactory and will place our city IN
line, in this respect, with the most
progressive cities of the country
| What we do in the way of road max
ing ought to be done in the best
known manner, SO as to secure the
best results. If we do this our tax
payers will soon perceive that they are
getting value for money expended in
road building and will be more recon
ciled to pay higher taxes, feeling that
they getting full value for the
| same. 1t will also be cheaper in the
| end because the yearly renewals OF
macadam streets will not be necessary,
| and the expense of same can be dis
pensed with, owing to the more dure-
bic pavement.
New Pavenents.
There will be in the city treasury
| the first day of April next, about $50,-
! 10000. recommend an additional
appropriation for paving, of $25, 000-
| 90. This will make available for new
| figuring in the amounts to be collected
! from assessments, the sum of about
| $100,00O.0O. No portion of this mon
ey, in my judgment, ought to be ex-
pended in the construction of any
kind of pavement on which nVe-
year guarantee could not be obtained.
! / understand LnaL SuCn guarantees
can be obtained on many OF the
s1a5 to $50 per Square yard, and
such pavenents can be substituted
for new macadam streets with benefit
to the city and to the property owners
in front Of whose property they are
placed. My candid opinion ia that
one-haIf the cost of any pavement on
which such a guarantee can be OBJ
tained, should be assessed on abutting
property as authorized by our char
70 he sense OF Justice
in assessing on abutting property, one
half the cost of stone block, wood, or
per yard, on which only a nve-year
guarantee is obtained. and exenpting
from aEsessme nts pavementS on Whlcn
similar guarantees can be obtained,
than one half that of the more ex-
pensive paveraents. In either case the
a aV their p propportfonate share Of the
cost of pavement constructed in front
of their property.
Besides it would be entirely unfair
as view it, to compel property own
ers who have already paid one half
the cost of payments on their own
streets, to also share IN paying TOT
pavements equally durable. IN front
of the property of others.
People will then understand and it
will be a uniform rule that one half
constructed on any street of our city,
will be assessed on aihutting property
as the charter authorizes, and that
those who are willing to pay should
receive the benefits of good streets
built in a durable manner, and that
those who do not desire such improve
neither ask for, nor have them forced
upon them, except in cases where
public convenience and necessity re-
Quire the same.
Fire Department.
2 1.o o1i~,ir.+ad frov, NV recorn-.
mendations some of the items asked
for by the Fire Com n1asioners. 1 do
SO for the reason that, for many years
and adequately provided for that it
can afford to wait until HaoFe pressing
demands Of other city departH ents
mean that I would allow the depart
ment to become inefficient in any way.
The items eliminated by me are for
extensions and improvements that no
doubt are desirable, but, in nay judg-
ment, are not absolutely necessary at
this time It does not appear to me
that we are getting the full benent or
the lower insurance rates to which we
are entitled as the result Of eur mod
ern and efficient IRE department. and
the service of it's able and capable
chief
consensus of oplaton among those
most capable OF Judging Il, snst t Ss.
services which would be gladly paid
to enc rendering equally cacaple ser
vices. by . private corporation. To
quote the foroiblo words Of enc ct our
daily newspapers. in an editorial:
.'if gratitude for duty we'll done
counts for anything. the chief VIII
have the backing OF the citizens of
bridgeport in his request for al in~
crease of salary,
Police Department.
have, as in duty bound. figured the
of this department, on the basis of
the provisions of the new ordinance
just adopted by the common council
the right and bower to regulate the
numbers and prescribe the salaries OF
the officers and members of the police
department. and no matter What my
wisdom of the action taken, I have no
right to ignore the council action or
fail to provide fully for all ord1-
nance requirements.
Some Of the requests of the
Commissioners, such as that for new
patrol wagon, can be: W Ut out f aetrd-
either wholly eliminated or reduced in
amount.
find it necessary to recommend the
following tax rates:
In the First District, six and seven
tenths &C 7-1o) mills on each dollar of
the grand list
In the Second District, ten and
three tenths Go s-1o) mills on each
dollar of the grand list.
Respectfully submitted this 22nd
day of January, 1919,
BERNARD KBAT1NG,
City Auditor.
Following are the appropriations
recommended by me in the
First District:
Advertising, printing and
stationery 100000
Ambulance and Emergen-
cy s,s15.oe
Apportionment, Board of 10000
Assessors, salaries, etc 12,727.0o
Board of Contract and
Supply 2,425.oO
Bonds, Betterment 100000
Bonds, improvement.