New Britain herald., 1917-04-12

could hardly afford to make the neces- sary appropriation. An effort was to be made to have the town pay a DOT ton of the cost of having the amiesite cover the full width of the street as far as the corner of Broad street but this plan was given up after it was learned that the school appropriation would have to be over $19,000.
 Hope is entertained here that the highway commissioner will also order the paving of West Main street this summer. Bristol has petitioned to have a paved highway from that city to Plainville and Commissioner Ben nett has given the officials who ap- peared to argue for the improvement some encouragement. Should he de- eide to have the state pave the street the town will probably be asked to make some changes in the highway between the railroad crossing and Pierce street. It is not thought the voters would oppose a raid on the treasury for this work, despite the fact that the towns finances are in rather poor shape.
 Grass Fires Cause Scare.
 Danger from the careless handling of matches in the woods and the burn ing of rubbish without exercising con- siderable care was emphasized yes- terday when three grass fires gained such headway that the services of the fire department were secured to extinguish them. Chief Norton's men were busy for several hours keeping the Names in check and saving prop erty.
 
 called upon to put out a brush fire near Ledge road. A foreigner owning property in the section had started to 1 burn over strip of land, but neg lectcd to look after the fire and it got beyond his control, property in the vicinity being endangered. Chief Norton, who also serves os fire war den in this district, made up his mind that the man was not a safe person to be permitted the privilege of burn ing rubbish or brush in the open, and ! he revoked the permit issued to him. At noon the firemen extinGuished a grass fire near the pumping station and in the afternoon they were called out twice to put out brush fire on Rupert NIorey's place. Barns on the
 property were in danger and Chief Norton, who also serves as fire war; extinguish the blaze. Under the law, no brush or rub bish can be burned outside of the hy- drant limits without a permit from the forest fire warden. That official has the authority to issue a perma- nent permit should he consider the applicant entitled to it.
 Sweeney Carried Jag. Carrying suit case and jag, a combination which made navigation difficult for him, Michael Sweeney ar rived in town yesterday afternoon from Peekskill, N. Y. He was on his way to Miss Porters' school in Farm ington, where he claims he had se- cured employment as a farm hand. He got in the path of Constable Marine, who gave him accommoda- tions in the lookup. Before night Sweeney will be given a chance to explain to the court why he should not be punished.
 Brief Items.
 sequassen lodge will hold regular meeting this evening".
 William J. Coughlin, motorman on the Bristol trolley line, is in Boston on business.
 The W. C.. T. U. will have free will offering tomorrow afternoon at the home of Mrs. H. V. Harris Clarence Hemingway left today to report for service in the navy. He has been assigned to the. battleship Vir- ginia. His brother, Harold fleming way is second engineer on the same ship.
 Judge Byington has issued an or der limiting to six months the time for presentation of claims against the estate of George S. Babcock. The condition, of Bernard Gilson of Bridgeport, who was run down and badly injured when he stepped in the path of an automobile, owned and operated by James Usher, last Friday night, was reported at the New Brit ain hospital today to be much im- proved. The man will not be able to leave the institution, however, for several days. Leslie Burton of East Main street, who was riding with MT. Usher at the time of the accident, and who was thrown through the wind shield when the driver ditched the car in a desperate attempt to avoid hit ting Gilson, is thought to have sus- tained a concussion of the brain. He may be removed to the hospital for treatment, his condition being such as to cause his friends considerable ap- prehension.
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