New Britain herald., 1919-12-15
7 MAYOR QU|GLEY IS
 PEEVED AT DELAYS
Says Procrastination in Land : Deal Means Money Loss
 DENIES CURTIS CHARGES
City Executive Says He Would Give Commission to Charity, and is h. terested Only in Obtaining Prop
 erty. .. .

Procrastination on the part of the finance board may result in a loss of several hundred dollars for the city in the way of increased rates for the purchase of lard, Mayor Quigley said this morning. The board has rec ommendation for the purchase of V land owned by George Greatorex, abutting on the West canal and in the iom ediate watershed at this point, and with it an option for $1,600 in case the purchase is made at once. The owner now threatened to with draw the option unless the city makes the purchase imm ediately and has an- nounced if the option is once with >I drawn the land cannot be purchased for less than several hundred dollars more than the original price
 History of the Case.
 The forecasted rejection by the finance committee of the common council carries with it a brief history, explained by the mayor this morning. According to his story, Alderman Or son F. Curtis, the representative from the third ward, is bitterly opposed to ss the purchase of the property and is V the chief opponent on the finance committee. Curtis, is quoted as hav- ing charged that the mayor was any- ious to have the deal put through as he was to act as land agent, and through the sale of tho property would receive the customary commis- sion. In answer to this charge Mayor - Qulgley said he would willingly give his commission to the Childrens Homo or to any other charitable in- stitution, but that he was very anx ious to see the city acquire that tract before the option is taken away.
 Delay Explained.
 Officers of the water board explained that the holdup in the finance com mittee is for the purpose of deter mining whether the West, canal is to be abandoned or to be continued in use If the former is the case. any land acquired in the vicinity of the Creatorex tract will be useless while if the latter is so, that land will be found very necessary It has been proposed, and the matter is being con- sidered seriously, to raise the dam at & Shuttle Meadow to increase the sup ply in that reservoir. If this is done the water from the West canal will not flow in as there is not sufficient grade. However, the mayor explain : ed there is opposition to that move fnent and it is not likely that the dam will be raised.
 Engineer Hazen Speaks.
 R Engineer Allen Hagen, of New York, who has been in consultation with the members of the water com mission and the board of public works has advised the city that it cannot af- ford to lose a single inch of water shed property. The city has nothing to fear from contamination. at leas one of the members of the water commission believes, as state law: k compel the owners of property. tht water from which is used for drinking purposes, to use the land only fo certain purposes Allowing contam mating influences to gather on tn property will result in the owner, loss provided the city is willing t give a fair remuneration for the land
 Has Check Now.
 The raising, or failure to ra lse tn dam at Shuttle Meadow is the mat ter upon which the whole proposition will turn The finance committee ila in it's hands the signed check of May or Quigley for the city, endorsed sb Com ptroller H l.. Curtis. As soon q the city gives it's decision, if it be on unfavorable for Greatorex. he plan f@ to denude the woods as it is valuabl timber land. This would be harmful s& to the water supply. it is believed.