New Britain herald., 1921-03-05
MAKES
. ON

, bad, that we can't hand the world over to some people who think they're so, clever and say: Here, you run the blamed thing"
 New Britain automobile owners learned with regret, not to say sur prise, that certain officials of the Town of Berlin appeared at the legis- lative session this week and objected to improvements underneath the railroad bridge at Kensington. It does not add to Berlin's lustre in the eyes of the rest of the state to learn that there is opposition in official circles to what eve:''' 'ilnowledges is a much needed improvement. The spot in question is a disgrace to any self respecting community and how off, ciafS of that community could go on public record as being opposed to making life more bearable for their fellow hnEans is entirely beyond comprehension.
 As conditions are, the roadway un- der the railroad bridge becomes a pond after every heavy rainstorn. It forms a barrier to traffic of every description, interfering with trolley service, pedestrians and ,autoists. It was proposed that suitable ar rangement be made to overcome the nuisance and that suitable signs be erected directing automobile drivers to the most available detour in case the road became blocked. Under the arrangement the cost was to be di- vided into thirds, each to be borne by the Town of Berlin, the New Haven railroad and the state re- spectively. Notwithstanding this very generous arrangement, the officials of iv, <-fr ell nh foI al ycrI, is everywhere acknowledged that the travelling public needs relief. It was small attitude to assume. Berlin does not stand any higher in the es- timation of her sister communities.
 *Ss
 Connecticut cities do not seem to be awake to a proposed raid on their treaSurieS through bill which is now before the legislature to tax pine lines. This measure in various forms has come up at other sessions of the assembly but never became a law. 1t was successfully fought in 1915 and 1917 by Senator Klett. During the session of 1919 it remained in the background, but now it has bobbed up again and unless the cities take an active interest it has a very good chance of being reported favora bly,
 
 bill made considerable headway, due mostly to the apparent apathy shown by those whose property would be taxed.
 If the bill becomes a law, New Britain will be required to pay be- tween s50,O0O and S75,00O annually in taxes to towns through which our pipe lines run. New Britain has lines in many suburban towns and will probably be hit as hard as any other city in the state. Tn addition to paying taxes on pipe lines. New Britain would be required to pay additional assessments on its dams, of which it owns several Another burden would be imposed when the city developed it's new watershed, which will neces- sitato the erection of another dam. The raid on city treasuries, as might ! be suspected, is being engineered by | the small towns and has the support 1 of their representatives in the as ! mbly. IL seems like a selfish move 1 in view of the fact that un- ] der present conditions New Britain | is paying exorbitant rates to towns l in which our watersheds lie. The land l hat has been bought to prevent con- a animation of our water is now taxed l as improved farm land although it l