New Britain herald., 1915-11-18

l Sheath1ngS?" asked councilman cur i tis.
 'No, we will fill it in.' replied MT l Rossberg.
 l building too liglft?" asked the coun- cilman from the third. Not with the braces We propose to have put on,' was the answer. How about the sheathing, ?" ask ed MT. Curtis.
 We intend to use spruce, one bv six inches, matched and planned on one side" replied MT. Rossberg. That is a pretty good water catcher" remarked Councilman Cur tis You know what makes wood rot is the wetting and drying" "Oh, no it isn't" replied MT. Ross berg. Bacteria makes the wood rot" At this the council laughed as MT. Rossberg is known as an expert on anything that grows, from an incent to giant redwood tree Councilman Landers moved that the report be reduced to writing and a committee of five be appointed bv the mayor to consider necessary TO- pairs. t" Curtis Raps Tee Plant,
 Councilman Curtis then produced sheaf of papers by which he at- tempted to show that the ice house Is foolish proposition. He pre- faced his remarks by stating that it was well known that he was never in favor of the erection of the plant. He said he fully realized the earnest ness and sincerity of those who did not agree with him in respect to tbi. opinion but, he said, the city should look out for finances
 He said in the two years that tho house has been in existence the dif- ferent committees and commissions in charge had received $1S,974 and the expenses had been $17,56s. The amount received included the sa,e of ice. He said the ice business was a losing proposition and to put the building in shape new studding would be needed all around. The braces he classified as "only a makeshift." The city paid much more per tons than it had received, he said. He informed the council that he knew a certain party who was willing to guarantee to sell the city ice up tt, 5000 tons at $1.75 per ton delivered at New Britain. The city could then sell it for $2 per ton and make a profit. He asked that the committee of five consider this proposal.
 Councilman Wagner Replies.
 Councilman Theodore Wagner who was chairman of the original ice com mittee, was displeased with Council man Curtis criticism. He said the ice business was not question of profit but a matter of keeping the rrice of ice down that tht con- sumers would not be asked an exorbi- tant rate by private dealers. Tn this, he said, the ice business was a success He claimed to have saved between thirty and forty cents per week in his house since the municipal ice plant was opened. He also rapped mer- chants who went to Hartford to buy their ice.
 Councilman Curtis told the council he knew of certain city officials and men who were supposed to be en- thusiastfc supporters of the municipal Ice venture. who bought their ice from private corporations.
 The point is this,' said Councilman Landers. New Britain is on record before the state as having experi- mented with an ice business. Other cities have followed our lead. We should decide to get expert opinion, form our conclusions and face the public or tear down the plant and go out of business
 The motion to appoint a committee of five was passed.
 Columbia Street Building Line.
 A report was received from the board of compensation and assessment On the establishment of thirty-foot building line on Columbia street. Councilman Dolan presented pe- pition for twenty foot line and moved that the report of the board be referred back and the property owners be given another hearing.
 That's something I never heard of," said Councilman Curtis in s,,r prise." I think the board of cornpen- sation and assessment will wait, until it gets more definite directions as to what the council wants it to do. They're not little boys to be made tools of.''
 Councilman Dolan offered new motion, that the report of the board of compensation and assessment be laid on the table and action indefi ritely postponed. It was adopted.
 A petition from Councilman Dolan for twenty-foot line on Columbia street between Griswold and Arch was referred to the board of public works for a hearing
 On motion of Councilman Paonessa, the board of public works was in- structed to include in its estimates