New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-02-11

estimates were submitted by Secre-
tary W. G.. Dunn. The amount asked
is s11,5OO. The estimated income Is
$16,1OO. The increased amount is
about $500 There followed gen
eral discussion by the members as
to the value Of city hall as a bust
ness investment. 1t was agreed that
tina citv was the gamer on all sides.
The building is in good condition now
and houses comfortably the various
ci+v offices. There is no vacant space
in the building, Mr.. Dunn told the
r,e,,,bers Asked to the estimated
renta1s of the city building offices
Mr. Dunn replied that there had been
no estimate in the past three years
It was stated that the city paid $685.
600 for the building and the land.
$4,000 were spent in putting it in
shape to be used as municipal
building. The building has proved
it's worth already. Virtually the
entire second and fourth floors are
taken bv CITY offices. The probate
court and the city clerks Office oc-
cupy the first and second floors of
the small part of the building. The
mem bers wereagreed that the city
further brought out when it was
stated that the city gets q goodly por-
ton of money in rents which helps
in the up-keep while neighboring
cities have spent thousands Of dollars
erecting municipal buildings which
house only city offices and are a
dead cost to the people.
General Discussion Follows.
The first part of the hearings ended
before 8 o'clock the time set for the
herring of the park commission. The
extra time was spent in discussing
conditions in general. Some one
brought up the matter of eliminating
tenements along the railroad track
Mr.. Humphrey was of the opinion that
those city tenements should be elimin-
ated Several were of the opinion
that the tenements were of no added
betterment of conditions in that sec
ton. The matter of opening up a.
street through there which would ne
cessitate the tearing down Of the
building was also discussed. Mr.
Humphrey suggested that the spot Of
the tenements might be used for a
storehouse for the public works de-
partment. Tools, road rollers, etc,
could be stored Their although it was
not sure whether the pipe of the de-
partment could also be stored. Alder
man Richards explained that he had
heard that a movement was on foot
to have a municipal garage erected
at that place and have all the city
cars in one place with an expert re-
patrman, etc, to look after them.
Park Plans Discussed.
Chairman w. F. Brooks, chairman
Of the board of park commissioners
appeared before the committee to ex-
plain the appropriation wanted for
parks With Mr.. Brooks there were
present superintendent Wainwright,
G.. F. Smith, G. p. Hart and NJ. K
Pasco to lend their aid to the park
development proposition. Mr.. Brooks
explained that in preparing the budget
the board made no recommendation
for the division of the money That
part would be left to the finance com
m1ttee. Mr.. Brooks then went on to
explain to the men present the ask
ing of $4,000 for this year to be
used for the developing of plans for
the park development in the city. He
also told the committee that it would
take at least three years for the def
mite development work The first
year would be consumed in, making
the plans and letting the contracts.
The second year would see the com
pletion of the rough work on the
parks and the third year would be
used in putting the final touches on
the work. Mr. Brooks also spoke Of
securing landscape architects and men
who knew their business. He was Of
the opinion that the work should be
done under the bond issue method and
the work would be done at once in
stead Of pieeemeal. He thought that
the time had come for the develop
nent OF the parks and the work
should not be put off any longer. He
also explained that the development