New Britain herald., 1915-02-16
OF THE
 PUBLIC WORKS DEPT.
Commissioners Stay Up UntI| IuSS-
 day Wrestling With Figures. ~

, At 12:3O o'clock this morning a crowd of brain-fagged mathematicians stum bled down the stairs in the city building and did not even grumble because it was raining. They were the members of the board of public safety who had just finished the first round of their annual bout With the almighty dollar and the eagle was
 beginning to look like a hungry spar
 row when the gong rang for the end of the session. From 10 until 12:3O the board pored over the estimates and poured precipitation and so in- ! tent were they on making a nickle do the work of a dime that Monday had, crept into another day before it was decided to call halt. i, The board does not know how much money it will need for the com ing fiscal year as the work of esti- mating has not been completed. It is said, however, that the appropria- = tion to be asked for will be in excess of last years despite the fact that the department was given special ap- propriations of S33,OOO during the present year.
 Comfort House Costly Proposition.
 Plans for the combined isle of safety and a subterranean comfort station south of Central park were submitted by City Engineer Hall The scheme would necessitate making Main street on the west side of the park one-way street for traffic and Commissioner John Kelly remarked that there was a long and loud howl from businss men on State street, Hartford, when that street was made a one-way, thoroughfare because, they claimed, it meant loss of business for them. He was not sure whether the same conditions would obtain in this city.
 Engineer Hall estimated the cost of the place at $7,500. This would be exclusive of heat, lights, attendants etc.
 Commissioner Kelly questioned whether the south end of the green was not too public and Commission CT John Downes supported him in this view. Mayor Quigley, who was in attendance concurred in tins ob- jection and believed the proper plac would be in the rear of the city building.
 The chief objection to the plan was that it would establish fixed charge on the city as it would not be success full with less than four attendants in charge.
 ! Mayor Quigley considered the cost prohibitive.
 It was decided to report unfavor- ably to the council, where the move ment originated, on the house of com fort as, at present planned. In the opinion of the board the isle of safe ty is needed at the south end of the park and the comfort station in the rear of the city building.
 Storeya1-1s Como High.
 A communication was received from Alderman M Irving Jester of fering his land on Dwight Court for department storeyard for s23,760 or either of the two parcels for $12,500.
 A piece of property owned by D. O. Rogers on Church street with 300 foot frontage on the railroad was also availa ble, Engineer Hall reported. No price was set on it but it is assessed for $1S,00O.
 President E. N. Humphrey thought the Rogers property would make an ideal combination storeyard for the street, sewer and water departments, as it contains 47,5OO square feet. It would De pOSSlDle uO sell two lOlS on Church street at 1000 each.
 Some of the board questioned whether the water department would care to enter into the plan. This department has a yard on Harvard street with nice iron fence around it. according to Mayor Quigley.
 The mayor did not favor any $1S,- 900 or $23,00O yard unless a railroad frontage was essential
 City Engineer Hall was in favor of a yard with a railroad frontage, saying that several hundred dollars could be saved yearly by buying pipe and stone in large quantities and stor- ing it at the yard.
 Commissioner Downes believed this situation could be met by estimating how much pipe and stone would be needed and contracting for it for fu- ture delivery.
 President Humphrey was of the opinion that the brick block on Washington place which is owned by the city could be torn down and a suitable yard provided there.
 That Nervy School Board.
 Commissioner Kelly wanted to know when the department was to receive it's land in return for the land it gave up for site for the Prevoca- tional school. Commissioner Kelly thought the school board possessed Of unlimited gall and President