New Britain herald., 1917-03-17

{, MARCH. IT. 1917.
 week by men who want permisston to fish in the ponds and streams under thefraAaND1Evisloi1 \ asIDE1nA gnhubtful if there is any other outdoor sport in which the participantss&r s&re aSajealous of their prowess as are the fishermen. An enthusiastic worshfper at the shrinc of the rod and reel turns green with envy when he hears of friend who made a bigger catch than him-1 self. He hates to admit 1t and seldom does. All of which accounts for the many stories we hear during the first few days of April. But possibly in their great enthusiasm they really be- lieve themselves, so be generous in your criticism.
 When you tramp several miles through, the fields and woods to a desolate pool that years ago held big, fat trout and you Cast all day. says one of our most enterprising sports men, and don't catch a thing; and then when you are disgusted and start home, but stop at a public road side stream for one last throw and you catch weak, spuny little shrimp -Ain't4t gram an glorious feelin'."
 Many people were surprised to learn
 oy the water commissioners' state- ments before the finance board that New Britain is not one bit better off TOT It's water supply than it was i've or SIX years. ago when, during sum- iler drought, it was necessary to shut oH all unnecessary use of water. The reason Is that New Britain has so ex- panded and developed that what was an. adequate supply few years ago naa pacOme only nominal now. Plans underS way by the water board will.
 when finished. positively provide asainst any summers drought and
 VII be sufficient to care for a city .. 1oO.OOO, Commissioner E. N. Hum- pnrey states. This being so Now 6ritain ought not to have to worry apout an additional water supply dur i"s the life of the present generation.
 The Home Guard idea is beinr viewed with favor by New Britain people. It is safe to predict that this ci.y' will soon boast of a battalion second to none in the state.
 Taxpayers for the past several years nave been watching the tax rate grad uaiiy rise until last year when it was boosted to 1e.6 mills. Now -thev face zO l-2 mill tax. Next year it will probably go higher. if the past can Oe taken as an indication of what the future holds forth. How can it be stopped. is asked. Apparently this steady rise of tax rate cannot be stopped If the necessary demands of this growing city are to be met, unless there is some new way of raising money. Mayor Quigley and the fin- ance board has certainly tried hard enough to keep the tax rate down. Now. the mayor. asserts he feels that the only way to provide against con- stantly increasing tax rates is to SO rearrange the grand list that 1t will supply a greater revenue. In this the mayor is not far from being correct. There will have to be a radical change tu the assessment system. There will have to be q couple of assessors who will devote their entire time to- com- piling the grand list. The grand list itself will have to be rearranged and placed on a equitable basis. Under the present system the income of the city is not keeping up with it's growth and constantly increasing demands. Under a changed assessment system people would have to pay their fair ratio. Some would have to pay more taxes and others would pay less, but the plan would be eminently fair. With two all time assessors they could investigate more carefully the real valuation of various holdings and per- sonal properties could also be assessed to greater extent. There is one thing sure. and that is unless some- thing Is done to increase the city's revenue in few years the taxpayers will be burdened with an almost pro-. hibitive tax and the city will cease to be an attractive place in which to live. The neighboring town of Hart ford has just rearranged its assess Inent plan and it is said to be work ing out satisfactorily. Property which is really worth more is assessed at its full value and property worth less Is taxed in a corresponding manner. That some new assessment plan to in- sure a full valuation grand list would result in a greater revenue is indt- cated by q glance over the grand list In many instances it is evident that certain properties would not be sold by the owners at the price listed.
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 Particularly since the visit of the firebug, after which the New Britain Machine company took 1t upon itself at it's own expense. to light with Bigelow street extension between Chestnut and Church streets. people have been wondering exactly what the status of this thoroughfare may be. If it is public street there is no reason why the factory should have to stand the expense of light SA &o