New Britain herald., 1919-06-04

board of finance an dtuXation reSOlv- ed at it's meeting held last evening in the City hall to bring condemnation proceedings against him, to secure the land. The matter was brought I'D by Andrew J. Slopcr representing the cemetery committee, who reuueStcd the board to buy the property A few years ago, it was brought out at the meeting that the city negotiated for the land. The price at that time was quoted as 5000. A check for $10O, said Mr. SlopCr, was given to MT. Wit te to bind the deal, but during the day he refused to sell. It was stated that Mir Witte would not dispose \of the property for 3,000. MT. Sloher said that he offered $12,0O0 to Mr. Witte for his land intending to buy it for the city for future use.
 Mayor Advises Condemnation.
 Mayor Quigley at this time arrived at the meeting and when informed that pr. Witte refused to sell the land to the cemetery committee at any stipulated price, brought out the fact that the cemetery commission has charter and statute rights to take the land by condemnation proceedings. Mayor Quigley believed that the prop erty is worth about $12.00O. MT Slo- per said that the land should be pur- chased by the city and in this way the needs of New Britain will be cared for during the next 25 or 30 years. The recommendation of the cemetery com mittee was approved and resolution laying @ special tax of 8 quarter of one mill on the next grand list to make the purchase was adopted. The board also made provision to secure the land by condemnation proceedings if Dr Witte refuses to sell his proper ty to the city.
 At the present time the cemetery commission has title to the land on both sides of the Witte property. The Witte estate contains about four acres of land and a house and barn.
 Appropriation for Camp School.
 Judge B. F. Gafney. appearing for the school board, asked for an appro- priation of s30,0O0 for the addition to the Camp school. He explained that a like amount was recently ap- propriated by the state. The city has already appropriated s5O,00o for the erection of this addition, but on ac- count of the war the work was never started. It was voted to appropriate the additional $30,0O0.
 Mayor Quigley and the city treas urer were authorized to borrow S12,O0O in anticipation of the sale of school bonds. The money will be | used to meet the expense of complet- ing the Elihu Burritt school It was l brought out that this am ount will be | the only floating indebtedness of the 1 city.
 The mayor and city treasurer were also authorized to borrow a sum, not to exceed $75,000, to meet current | expenses. The amount in sinking funds having been paid out for bonds leaves the city short
 Judge Gaffney asked the committee 1 to appropriate $500 for repairs at the l Smith school and $500 for Q fire es- cape at the Lincoln Street school. ! Fire escapes, he said, are also required l at the Bartlett school at a cost of about s3,0O0.
 Fircproof Stairs Not Favored. An appropriation of S39,750 was asked for permanent repairs at the l High school It is intended said Judge Gaffney, to place fireproof stairways in the Academic building. An additional heating apparatus in 
 an emergency is also needed, said s23,65O. The assembly recently grant 1 ed charter rights to the city to issue bonds for $50, 900 for this work.
 Mayor Quig1ey stated that the in stallation of 1reproof stairways in the building would be a useless expendi ture, as the High school is not of fire l ttYnp a favnrn1 ra escapes on the outside of the buldng Judge Gaffney explained that the fire , proof stairways had been ordered by the state board of education and that 1 he also personally favored fire esca pes 1 on the outside of the building.
 MT. Chamberlain reminded the l committee that the taxpayers budget had cut out the appropriation of a sum to meet interest on bonds. Be cause the budget had been made out for a 23-mill tax and tax of 2 mills
 had been fixed, the city would have to
 borrow nearly $100,000 to finish out the present year. It was voted to
 hold mp the work on the fireproof
 stairways
 New Fire Station Wanted.
 Chairman A. F. Magnen appearing g ! TOT llle DOitIu Ol lire commissioners, requested an appropriation for the
 erection of a new fire station in the
 southwestern part of the city. The
 necessity of having a station in that
 section of the city was clearly ex-
 plained by MT. Magneu The cost of
 the building that the com missioners
 proposed to have erected would he
 about S10,000 A site would be avail able for about $t,O00, and $500 addi- 1 tinnal would he renuirnd for ecra lin Q