New Britain herald., 1917-05-17
MAYOR WOULD FOIL
 FOOD SPECULATORS
Asks Council to Meet Again to
 Consider Municipal Farm

Following that part of his annual message which advocated conservation of the city's food supply. Mayor Quig- ley addressed last nights council meeting urging the members to lend their support to his plan for a mu- nicipal farm. He outlined the plains for this farm, already we'll known to the citizens of the city, and asked that the council vote to adjourn until Fri day night when they should again con- vene in special session to appropriate $16.0 to pay for the working of the farm. The produce to be raised on tho city farm, the mayor said, will be sold to the people at cost and If the city does not see fit to adopt the plan as municipal affair he will take it over himself, with several other men, and sell the produce at cost. To show the great need for the municipal farm, Mayor Quigley said that he has in- formation showing that eveh now food speculators are touring this part of the country in an endeavor to buy the seasons potato crops from the farm CTS and are offering to pay g per bushel wholesale next fall. So anxious are the speculators to get the fall po-' tato crop that they are offering to pay a deposit down at once, the mayor said. Tn contrast to these prices the mayor explained that with a good crop from the municipal farms the city ought to be able to sell potatoes to citizens at seventy-five cents or one dollar a bushel next fall. When the meeting adjourned 1t was until Friday evening when action will be taken on an appropriation to finance the proj- ect.
 Leroux Takes His Chair.
 c. J. Leroux, the newly appointed first ward councilman was elected at special council meeting preceding the regular meeting. MT. Leroux was formally sworn in as councilman by City Clerk A. l.. Thompson and took his chair. MT. Leroux was made a member of the committee on claims and also on the railroad committee.
 It was voted to expend $500 to pur- chase an automobile for the use of the city engineering department. It was also voted to permit the heads of the city hall offices to close their of- fees at noon on each Saturday during June. July and August. Alderman Paonessa also put through a motion to, have the mayor and cooperation council take the necessary steps to abolish the Clayton crossing which, he said, Is the worst crossing in the state of Connecticut. He suggested bridging the tracks. Councilman An drews also called attention to a large billboard on the east side of the tracks which blocks the view going west. It was voted to rearrange and rsnumber the city ordinances.
 A proposed ordinance governing the erection of illuminated signs met with considerable opposition on the part of Aldermen Paonessa and Curtis. Alder man Paonessa objected to clause providing for the payment of $5 a year fee. He thought $1 would be enough. Alderman Curtis thought any licensing of street signs would be illegal and he thought the corporation counsel should give ruling on this matter. He said the highway belongs to the public and should never be obstructed, particularly under protec- ton of license issued by the city. He moved that action be held up un- til the corporation counsel can make a ruling. Councilman Steiner said the corporation counsel drew up the ordi- nance in the first place. Other mem bers of the council expressed them- selves as faworing permitting the use of electric signs as. they thought, it gives the city a more citified" ap-
 pearance. Councilman Andrews Ob- jected to any plan to pay license fee for permission to use g. sign or marquee. After lengthy discussion the ordinance was passed.
 Other Items of Business.
 Petitions were received as follows: William J. Walther, ct al.. for the completion of the flag or concrete walks on Cottage place. referred tc the board of public works; Stanislaw Cendrowski, ct al., catch basin on Al 'bany avenue, near Clinton street; A F. Spencer, ct al. for a cinder walk on Ellis street, east from Stanley, re. ferred to the board of public work. with power, it being explained tha 1 the post office authorities will not al l low mail delivery there because of the