The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-31


 avenue,'' declared Attorney Charles Stuart Canfeld who appeared last night before the streets and sidewalks committee of the common council in opositionp to the proposed closing of that street.
 For the second time the Crane Go. has asked that it be allowed to close South avenue from Irantstan avenue Nto Barnum Dyke and Barnum Dyke from South avenue to Waldemere ave- nue. The petition of the company has been before the council for sev- eral weeks. Action on the matter has been repeatedly postponed at the request of Alderman Malcolm Mac Fayden,5 Republican leader in the council.
 Attorney Garfield has appeared be- fore the common council in opposition to the measure. George S. Eames president of the park board, has spok- en in favor of allowing the company to close the street, opening of Atlantic street to the park and the extension of trolley service from the South Main street line to the public bath houses. Before the committee last night At torney Garfield declared that at least five of the eight members of the board were opposed to the plan to close the street and that one of the other three for whom he could not speak last night had opposed the plan at "a. previous hearing on the mat ter. As.
 When we made an agreement with the Crane Go. to keep this street open to the water we thought it was for perpetutty," he said. 'tThe company doesn't need this land to build on. It has acres and acres there for that purpose if need be. It simply wants to shut the public out. Doesn't this strike you g, selfish purpose.
 HfTh6 neOnle in that section of the city are very much disturbed over this matter and the majority of them are opposed to the closing of the street.
 \ It will be long time before car line can be built through Atlantic street. You say, let us have jitney service there We'll, because of the danger we cannot allow jitneys in the park. The first proposition of this company called for giving them, six acres of land. Now they propose to close South avenue and Barnum Dyke, too.
 tfIt is appropriate at this tine,'' MT. Canfield said in opening. ito discuss the attitude of the park board to the proposition of discontinuing South avenue. Among those to oppose the proposition are, first, Louis Kutscher, Jr. He is unable to be here tonight, but can speak for him. His deyo- ton to the city and the unse1f1sh de- votion rendered by his father to the city in public office is we'll known.
 linen there's Wesley F. Hayes, the Main street merchant; Judge Morris B. Beardsley, whose efficient public service is known to all: Senator Phil ip L. Holzer, a lifelong resident who has given devoted services to the city in many capacities and myself, have done what I could. I don't know the attitude of c. Barnunn Seeley.
 These men, myself included, au- thorize me to say they are unqualified South avenue. I make this state ment because I think it due to you and the city at large to know exactly where the mem bers of the park board stand. Four or five years ago when the proposition was up before MT. Seeley opposed it. If he has changed since do not know it. That is for him to say-''
 ''It is hard enough to acquire prop erty for park purposes and at this late day when property is valuable it is unwise to give any of it to any corpor- 4ation. Such action I do not believe would be tolerated by the people of the city of Bridgeport.
 MT. Eames has done good service when he became member of this board. But he did not tell you that I became a member of this board. I, myself, initiated a movement to con demn part of the dyke. I say this, matter of fact. It was then that MT. Flames became interested and he gave his hearty support"
 MT. Garfield then told of a visit by Alderman Mauritz Olson three years ago regarding the building of bridge from the dyke toS the Third ward and of the dropping of the project. ho~ nf that board" said MT. Canf1eld, I've endeavored in every possible way to | increase it's prestige among the peo pie of Bridgeport and especially with the board of aldermen. My aim has been to have the board so conduct it. self that whenever it comes before the board of aldermen with a, proposi- ton the aldermen will know it is an honest proposition and one that would commend itself to them.
 s.As the sands of my official life are rapidly FunninF out-this is my last year on the park board-I don't want to get out of office thinking that an injustice has been done the city of Bridgeport, which I will think if this deal is put through. It has been the aim of the park board 'to get dol- lars value for every dollar expended. Petty politics do not enter into it's sessions.
 I'm not throwing stones at the Crane Co.,, but will state facts. They said they'd put a fence up and if we were good boys we could use the gate, only the last one to use it at night would have to leave the key in the Crane Co.'S office. Why, the public has been using that highway from time imm em oria1. When they extend- ed the dyke and we agreed to judg- ment in their favor so they could straighten their lines. the mayor at ] thought this was all settled.
 This will bring them closer to the park and goodness knows they are close enough now. Then they propose to extend street. If you look at the agreement made with the Barnum heirs and successors the Crane Go.