New Britain herald., 1917-03-15
Pla1nviue News
RECRUITING OFFICERS NAMED

MCkUlIlNG VfElCEkS NAMED GwiIlim, Hills and Prior to Assemble Men for Home Guard-nassn Clubs 1 Annual-F1remen's Fair to Begin April 1s-Other NlatteEs.
 Hoping to materially increase the permanent sidewalk mileage during the year. the sidewalk committee of the Business and Improvement asso- c:ation is making arrangements to send out letters to property owners ir certain sections of the town ap- pealing to them to do their share towards the improvement and offer- ing suggestions as to how the work can be done in the cheapest manner. The communication will be mailed in the near future and 1t is expected that they will result in an extensive l increase in cement walks throughout the town.
 For . number of years the associa- ton has been working energetically to get property owners to lay side walks in front of their homes and 1t is largely through the efforts of l its committees that the improvement has been made on different streetSk This year the workers secured measurements of property frontage and also obtained estimates from con- | tractors as to the expehse of having the places improved by cement walks. | In the letters, which are to b0 ssnt | out, figures n to the cost of tho work | in each case will be included.
 By authorizing tho selectmen to pay twenty-five per cont of the ex- pense of sidewalk improvements out of the town funds, the voters gave inn petus to the efforts of tho business mems organization and 1t lis expected that during the summer a number of property owners will take adv4ntA&e | of tho opportunity to lay walks in front of their homes with town ajA. On some of the streets in tho west ern section . continuous stretch of cement sidewalk Is broken by bare spots in front of but . few dwellings, and the business mems committee will make a Apecial effort to pursuade the owners to have the improvement
 made this summer. While the ex-
 penss of laying sidewalks will be
 higher this year than ever! because
 of the scarcity Of labor and the i,-
 creased cost Of materials, property
 owners will have less money to spend,
 the towns contribution of twenty-five
 Ter cent. reducing the individual land owners bill to a nominal amount. 1t is estimated that contractors will charge in the neighborhood of 16c per foot for new sidewalks this year. During the spring it Is the inten-. tion of the committee to concentrate it's efforts on Church, Canal and West Main streets and 1t Is hoped that by next fall not a singe gravel sidewalk will be found on any of these thor oushfares. An effort will be made to get the Bristol Manufacturing com pany to have sidewalk laid on West Main street in front of their property. and favorable response to the com
 raittee's suggestion is expected from the directors of the concern. Encour-
 aging statements have been made by other property owners and the work of sidewalk laying will probably be
 done on a more extensive scale than
 usual during the warm weather.
 The efforts of the Business Mems
 association, which is working solely for the interests of the town and it's
 Inhabitants. to improve the streets arc
 deserving of the support of the citf-
 gems in general. Taxpayers are some
 times averss to receiving suggestions
 as to improvements, the expense of
 which they have to bear, and conse-
 auentlv the work of the sidewalk com
 mitteo Is made exceedingly difficult.
 The members, however. are hopeful
 that their appeals will be received in
 the proper spirit and that property
 owners approached will realize that
 they are but seeking to help and are
 not in any sense attemmpting to dic-
 tete or encroach on any individuals
 personal rights.
 Recruiting Ohtcers Named.
 Authorised to take an active part
 ir the recruiting of men for. the
 Home Guard, Stanley S. Gwillim, Ed
 Prior received notice today from the
 state commission of their appoint
 ment to aid in the efforts which are being made to organize the defense In
 the event of war. The trio will serve
 in getting the members together and
 in making preparations for organixa- ton. They will probably meet tonight
 or tomorrow to discuss plans and to issue a call for q meeting at which time the object of the organization will be explained. ~ Postmaster Prior, who has had some military training, having served
 with Company of New Britain and as a member of the Foot Guard, may
 be selected to drill the members of tho new organization. Veterans and others .who have served in military organisations and who will probably enlist in the Home Guard. will be in- vited to aid in getting the local corn- pany prepared.
 Several citizens of prominence have