Norwich bulletin., 1915-11-18
sis made by Professor RI. wv. Conn.
state chemist. OF Middletown.

fI44E&E3 4-GH0UKAAGMs Wy &00E pDAT4 E1~
tered into a contract with Edwin r.
Robinson and Charles c. Robinson for
all city ice harvested last winter. Said
firm removed the contents OF the
greater part of one ice house. The
value Of the ice in said house amount.
ed to 81, f15.zE. or this amount said
firm paid the city s204.a5, leaving a
balance due of 1910. So and which bal
ance 10 still unpaid. a. bond of $1,000
was given by said firm for the faith
full performance Of said contract. The
surety company claimed that inasmueh
as the water committee allowed said
firm to take said Zoe without first pay
ing therefor as provided in the con-
tract, they were released by such
laches on the part of the committee
from their obligation as surety In
this view your, corporation counsel
concurred and the city thereby suffer-
ed, a loss OF $910.S0. No other con-
tract was entered Into, and for a short
time no city ice could be procured
and consumers entered into agree
n1erts Tor furnishing ice wit hotfer
dealers. When the ice was again
placed on the market it was sold to
various dealers in small quantities,
and at present. is being purchased by
the large dealers.
The amount of defcit is yet uncer-
tain. Whatever 1t may be il does not
prove the failure of the municipal ice
plant when properly managed as a
city investment. By maintaining the
plant the people have been able to
purchase ice throughout the summer
at 80 cents per hundred Ice plants
are continually being recognized as
necessary establishments and proper
governmental departments of muni-
CAPABILITIES as shown by their edoption
by several Connecticut cities during
the past year. recommend the con-
tinuation Of the ice plant and the en-
tering into a contract for term OF
years with some responsible person or
firm for the disposition of the ice at a
fair profit to the city and a minimum
cost to It's Inhabitants.
Water.
The water department continues to
be the only city investment that re-
turns profit to the treasury. During
the year the rentals amounted TO $23.-
3I2.12, the service connections S203.9S,
the meters sold $239.s5. These items
with the balance on hand December.
1914. of $3,214.74 make total of $685.
9706s. The expenses of the depart
ment for the past IL months was $16.-
$685. which with interest on bonds
$5. geo, interest on borrowed money
$187 81 and amount paid of borrowed
money $500, leaves balance on hand
November /, 1915, Of $5,410.63.
Streets.
The sum of SIS, 900 was appropriated
by the last annual city meeting for
the maintaining of streets and the
purchase of trap rock therefor. OF
this sum the street department has
expended s14. 1886. More trap rock
has been used for top-dressing the
streets last year than in any previous
length of time. Nine carloads were
spread on lower Main street, % car
loads on Pleasant street and 70 ear
loads on other streets of the city. A
special appropriation of $4,000 was
voted for the repairing of Pleasant
street and the same has been expended
and Pleasant street placed in a very
satisfactory condition for travel A
for the repair of West Main street,
the work of which is now in progress
and it is expected will be completed
before the termination of the term of
of 5000 was also voted for block
| pavement construction on Main street
This work has been done, consisting
of the laying Of 1, $50 square yards of
block paving ON Main street between
Lincoln square and Jackson street, at
tiaf total cost to the city of s4.946.99.s or
practically $3.50 per square yard. The
completion of this work leaves a very
satisfactory strip of block paving on
Main street over the business part
thereof. The cost of maintenance OF
a street constructed of block pave
thereof has proven a good investment,
and the cleanliness of the street has
enhanced its -GesiraDility. I therefore
recommend an extension of this kind
of the construction and believe that an
appropriation should be made for that
purpose, TO build Church and North
streets from Main street to Valley
street with stone block pavement.
i further recommend that Jackson
street be rebuilt and macadamized
| from Union street to the city line
This Is one of the most important out
| lets for traffic in the city. It's present
surface is worn out and needs imme-
diate attention.
Fire Department.
Only one serious FIRE occurred dur
| ing the past year, that of the Youngs
building on Main street, and the eff
Gent service of the department at that
| fire proved the excellency of its disci-
pline and effectiveness. Two Thousand
| feet of new hose has been purchased
at cost of about 81, 800.
| Six hundred dollars of this amount
| is included in the special appropria-
ton of $500 voted for such purpose
and the laying of a floor in the Mont
gomery Hose company building. The
latter item has not yet been utilized
1.-The constant increase Of property
motor truck in connection with the
department almost necessity. ] rec.
ommend that a committee be appoint.
| ed to investigate the matter thorough.
/ ly and report with their recommends
| ton to a meeting In the immediate flu
/ ture.
In connection with this department
1 the chief thereof, Fred w. Gerrick
You have already recognized the de.