Norwich bulletin., 1913-06-07

The park board shall cause to be made a map or maps of the city of New London showing the various properties in the city. and showing in addition to ali existing streets, the To- cations proposed by it for any new street, avenue, highway, boulevard, or parkway and grades thereof. and the board may employ such engineers and employees as may be necessary in the making of the required map or maps, the maps to be approved by the court of common council and the council will nave power to order changes in the maps from time to time. The board, or it's representatives are authorized to enter upon the land of any person for the purpose of making the map or maps. After the work is completed and approved by the council. no water or sewer pipes shall be laid by the board of water and sewer commission CTS, except upon such streets, avenues, and highways bouleVards and park ways, of the city as are shown on the official map or maps. So there will be no more of simply building streets or ways by owners of property who cut the same up into building lots and pay no attention to street line, as the lots would be very undesirable if denied the water and sewer privileges. These maps will also be used by the assessors to aid in determining the property owned by any person or corporation and for such other purpose as may be necessary in making the proper as- sessments for taxation.
 There is another provision tucked away in the amended charter that ia of considerable importance, especially to the poor people in the good old summer time. which will insure the furnishing of ice at the minimum cost. The court of common council is auth orized to purchase, harvest manu- fracture, house. and sell ice. harvested from any reservoir of the city of New London, or other source, as it may deem advisable or to establish a plant for the manufacture of ice and to do all other acts incident to the harvest ing. manufacturing. or selling of ice. Already the city has three sources from which to harvest ice, the only expense of which would be the har- Vesting, housing and deliVery-Lake Konomoc, Barns reservoir and Lake Brandegee.
 The public utilities commission is perhaps beyond criticism, and the members presumably believe they are right before they go ahead, but just the same they made. one big mistake when they were misled by some resi- dents of Groton and ordered the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rail road company to erect that bridge over the tracks to the approach of the ferry in New London. The structure is of iron, substantially built, and not of bad design, and cost whole lot of money, but it is not practical for the use in- tended and therefore the commission CTS required the railroad company to waste money just to satisfy the whim of non residents and who themselves will not use the bridge when going to and from Groton. The steps are steep narrow and winding, and the task of reaching the bridge proper is like unto climbing the winding stairs of the Groton monument, and which is liable to result in the death of people with weak heart who assumes the risk to climb tn eiron stairs, even if there was chance to reach the other side. No, that bridge will never be generly used as the people will prefer the shorter and perhaps equally dangerous route.
 The aldermen acted wisely and we'll when they arranged to retain the ser vices of Highway Commissioner Dar- row, perhaps the most competent com missioner in the state, not excepting the gentleman named Bennett who succeeded MT. Macdoald, and has of fee in the state capitol. MT. Darrow had a fine offer to accept similar posi- tion elsewhere that carried with 1t large but proper salary. While New London could not very we'll afford to meet the offer it was ascertained that MT. Darrow could be induced to re- main if there was substantial reduction in his salary. So at the regular meet ing of the court of common council 1t was voted to increase the salary of Commis missioner Darrow from $1,S00 to $2, 500 a year. and it Is understood the increase is satisfying to MT. Darrow as he loves his Waterford home and Is willing to make financial sacrifice to retain it. His term of office has ex- pired and he is serving until his suc- cessor is appointed. He will be his own successor for the next three years. for Mayor Mahan has declared that 1t will be 8 personal as well as official pleasure to reappoint such competent man to the office Of highway commits sioner. and the whole people will ap- plaud the mayors action.