New Britain herald., 1916-09-02
STREET EXTENSION
 FACES OPPOSITION
City Plan Commission Hears Pro- D. test of Catholics

The proposed extension of Willard
 street to East street occupied the at
 tention of what members of the city
 plan commission were present at the
 meeting last evening, and at the con-
 elusion it was decided to defer action
 in the matter until next Tuesday
 evening when it Is hoped that other
 members of the commission will be
 present. Several months ago a peti-
 tion was sent to the common council
 by residents of the eastern section of
 the city asking that Willard street be
 extended to East street. The matter
 at the time was referred to City Engi- neer Hall. Tn the meantime, how
 ever, the diocese of Hartford pur- chased, through P. J. Murray, land in that section from NJ. l.. Rhodes, which completely changes the situa- tion as the new church would be di- rectly on 8 line with the proposed ex- tension.
 At the meeting last evening Mayor Quigley explained that the petition had been received and the street ac- cepted as a public highway. Those favoring the extension last evening were 6, MT. Jones and Anthony Ba-
 
 man. said that if the church wanted heavy dama ges the proper thing to do would be for the petitioners to withdraw. He spoke of the petition having been presented before the sale of the property was made and there fore claimed 1t should be given pref erence. He had been informed that the diocese had an option before the petition was presented, and that the Rhodes people would not have asked as heavy damages as the church au- thoroties
 Representing the church author- | ties was P. J. Murray, who put l through the deal for the sale of the l land. MT. Murray said that back in 1 1904 MT. Rhodes sold the property l where the Stanley Memorial chapel l now stands, and agreed at the time to l have a street put through in a year. If the street had been put through | the church people would not want the land. The Stanley Memorial church had waived rights concerning the ex- tension of the street, and it had been believed that other property owners in that section would do likewise.
 Legal advice sought in the matter was to the effect that none other than the Stanley Memorial chapel authori- ties had any right to claim the ex- tension, MT. Murray claimed. MT. Lockwood, who sold the land for the Rhodes estate, had also been advised along similar lines
 A. E. Magnell said that the eXten- sion of the street would interfere with the erection of the church and fur ther development of the property. The speaker said that the day the sale to1 | ray of the diocese called at one of the offices in City hall and made inquiries regarding the proposed extension, and received information to the ef- feet that there was nothing to inter fere with the building of the church. Asked by Mayor Quigley which office tho chancellor visited, MT. Magnet said he thought it was the board of public works. Engineer Hall said that he found a card bearing the chancellors name on it and surm1sed that he talked with the clerk. A let ter from Chancellor Murray read by P J. Murray told of calling at City hall, but said he was unable to secure any informatior pertaining to the i land Or view any maps to determine whether an extension was cOntem- plated.
 Coun nci1man David Wicander, rep resenting the East Congregational so- ciety, spoke against the proposed ex- I tension as did MT. Rhodes.