New Britain herald., 1915-10-08
GAS co. PROMISES
 TO EXTEND MAINS
Business Men Assured Pipe Mill
 Be Laid Next Spring
SALARY FOR SELECTMAN?

esting Meeting-Delegates to State
 Chamber of Commerce Session
 Named-Tinlxer Nonogenarian. .
 Promises to extend the gas mains to several streets in town were con- tained in a letter from the Bristol and Plainville Tramway company present ed to the board of directors of the Business and Improveme ent association at their October meeting held last evening in the club rooms in Odd Eel lows block. The company gave the association assurance that the service will be given to residents of Broad and West Main streets, as far as Bohemia street, Norton court and probably some other streets not later than next summer and that the work of extending the mains will be started as soon as the frost is out of the ground.
 The companys promise was natur- ally pleasing to the directors as the essociation's utilities committee has been working for some time with rrcperty owners in an effort to have gas mains laid on streets which at present are not served by the corpora tion.
 That the efforts of the association to have the approach to the freight station improved were successful was also learned at last nights meeting. The condition of the road over which teams have to travel in drawing freight is bad and for some time inn provement has been sadly needed. The matter was taken up with the New Haven road some time ago at the directors session it was learned that the railroad engineering 'epart- nent has made arrangements to ~S- the approach satisfactory. This T be pleasing news to manufactu A"~s and merchants who have to n Il freight to and from the station as there has been general dissatisfaction for a long time with the condition of the land used for vehicular traffic.
 President Wheeler stated this morn ing that many important matters were considered by the directors. The plans for bettering of conditions are still in embryonic state, however, and until more progress has been made, they will not be made public.
 The final report of the committee in charge of the annual sheep barbecue held recently made a final report last night. After paying all expenses the committee had a balance of ninety cents which was turned into the treasury The bake was a big suc- cess and the committee was compli- mented on the success of it's efforts.
 Progress was reported in the efforts to get a later train at night from Hartford to Plainville. The directors 11fi1i mission is meeting with some success in it's attempt to make the hauling of freight cars through the streets less objectionable, eliminating it entirely if possible. The matter has been taken up with the officials of the Con- necticut company and the directors 1 are greatly encouraged over the pro- gress made by the committee.
 It is the intention of the directors to avoid, if possible, appeals to the public utilities commission. They | prefer to deal first with the corpora tions, giving them an opportunity to remedy the complaints. The board believes that more can be accom- p}ished in this manner tha1 in any other way.
 Named to represent the local association at the annual meeting of the Connecticut Chamber of Com merce to be held in Windsor on Octo- Der 21st were Vice President E. H. Hills, Secretary F. l.. Benzon and c. H. Newton. The latter is chair man of the utilities committee President Wheeler is a director of the state organization and he too, will attend the gathering.
 Want Salary For Selectman.
 According to reports in circulation today an effort will be made at the adjourned annual town meeting Mon day night to have the first selectman serve on a salary basis. It was said that a resolution will be presented authorizing the payment of $1,000 year to that official for his services. No mention of this matter is made in the call for the meeting and it may not be considered legal to take action on it.
 The general impression, however, seems to be that the plan is an ex- cellent one. At the present time the first selectman is allowed but $2 for each day he works during the year. The town reports show that his compensation is usually between $500 and $500 a year, an amount con- ceded to be far from commensurate with the duties and responsibilities which attend the office.
 The present method of paying the selectman is antiquated and is now in vogue only in a few back woods towns practically all progressive places paying the chief executive salary.
 The first selectman is the towns chief officer He gets but $2 a day. That surely is no credit to the town he serves, and nothing for him to