New Britain herald., 1916-03-03
Finance and Taxation Board
 Begins Work 0n Estimates
First Hearings Given Public Works and Safety Boards But Little Cutting Suggested-May Approve Fire
 Department Motorzation Proposition.


 , asphalt heater and three new rolls for the squeegees will be required For the care of trees the estimate l is placed at $1,500 MT Humphrey re- marked that he saw that the tree com mission had asked for that sum and Judge Gaffney asked what relation the tree commission bore to the board of
 public works. Nobody could give 9
 definite reply. The estimate for
 street ,oiling was placed at $3,000.
 Judge Gaffney thought as it is cheap
 CT to oil than sprinkle the department
 might save money here. Engineer
 Hall said he would offer an explana-
 tion later in relation to sprinkling. La
 ter he said the council had asked him
 to get figures on the cost of motor
 sprinkling. He had found that by
 buying five ton trucks at cost of
 $5,S0O each. With s20,000 they could
 pay for the trucks, maintenance and
 operation and save the expense of the
 squeegees, which cost $3,500 last year ! They expect. to retain the squeegees for emergencies. The trucks would be ] convertible and could be used in win ter for hauling snow from the streets. l MT. Abbee doubted if the trucks could l be used in deep snows.
 < For retaining walls the estimate was ploCSu dC po, AUV. OI LHIS dIuOuHC 14,~ 900 would be used on Shepherd hill
 and $1,20O on Arch street At this
 point Mayor Quigley who had left the
 meeting when it opened returned. ] His Honor imm ediately attacked the
 retaining wall proposition. He thought l 1t could go over a year and said un-
 less some cutting was done a twenty 1 mill tax would be the result. Street Lighting
 Engineer Hall explained the street lighting situation. The estimate is 1000. Many of the arc lights must be rebuilt and the lighting company proposes to replace them with better lights. In place of arcs a 25O candle power light is proposed. These would be used around the center of the city and on West Main, Elm and Glen streets. It is proposed to put 27 on West Main street, seven to the post office and thirteen west of that point l instead of thirteen arc lights. The lights will be $10 cheaper than those l used now. Eighty lights can be in stalled at cost of $2S apiece MT. 1 Hall showed a map of the Main street area and explained that instead or sixteen arcs they can install fifty new lights between eighty and 100 feet apart. Commissioner Humphrey said the extra $1,5OO sought would pay. for the changes and allow for new lights to be installed
 The state highway appropriation is $7, ,500. The board was informed that the city has a balance from other years. MT. Chamberlain thought it wise to take full advantage of the state appropriation. The board was surprised at the amount asked for ra rlx hn heinz S1 101 10 The 1 Franklin Square park calls for $345. Engineer Hall explained that con- work is proposed there. He the Burritt Memorial was to be erected this year and also a fountain as well as some curb work. Commissioner Kehoe said he understood the memorial was to " ait until peace was declared. For a small park at Belvidere $31 was asked. MT. Hall said the Bodweu Land company would give this piece of land to the city provided a cop ping was built around two sides and it was graded. Commissioner Meehan said he wouldn't favor a concrete copping as it is no use. Of course, he said. I'm in the stone business and may be prejudiced. Mir. Meehan said the copping at Walnut Hill was giv- ing way. For sewer maintenance $11 000 is asked, the same as last year. When the list had been finish ed. Judge Gaffney asked what was best to cut. Commissioner Schaeffer suggested chopping out the Wooster street job and Mayor Quigley thought this jo could wait. The discussion dropped there as it was time for the safety board hearing.
 Salty Board Hearing.
 Chairman E G. Babcock and the other members of the new board of public safety were present when the hearing was called, but the bulk of the work fell to Clerk A. E. Mag nell, who had all the data apparently at his fingers ends. He was an en- thusiastic as boy with a new toy when he presented the figures and tracts to show how fire department can be completely motorized and put on a permanent basis for $7,360 above last years expenditures. MT. Magnell prefaced his arguments with the statement that the safety board had saved the finance board the trouble of cutting their estimates by pruning it before hand Taking up the fire department estimates he said that the total amount required if the city will appropriate this year for the complete motoriZation of he fire department is $67,368, which in- cludes s3,533 for four additional men, or $5S,778 if no allowance is made for motorization. This means $8,35O more for motorizing the department The city has an advantageous offer from the American La France Fire Engine company to motorize now They will install in this city appara- tus to the value of $23,600. The late oard of public safety. Commissioners filling, Healey and Holmes, obtained