New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-08-14
POLITICS CHARGED
IN PAVING WRANGLE
CONTINUED From First Page)

4
the finances of the street department
was received by this board at its
meeting held August T. and the fol-
| lowing statement was directed.
THE board prepares its estimates
of the cost of work for the next
| fiscal year for submitting to the board
of finance and taxation. subdivided in
to a considerable number of items.
Repairs items can only be estimated
approximately from the work of pre-
yious years After a hearing before
that board, lump sum for the work
of the street department is recon-
mended by them, which sum is final
ly voted by the city meeting board.
No subdivision is ever returned to the
board of public works. The city en-
gineer divided the amount among the
items from the best information that
he can obtain and from the require
ments of the departments work as
the season progresses. AS far as the
board can determine, no previous
board has been required to follow ex-
actly the particular items and streets
mentioned in its estimates as sub
mitted to the finance board. Such
procedure would have been particu-
larly impossible this year in the case
of repairs to pavements and streets
which were in very bad condition fol-
lowing the hard usage occasioned by
the snow andsice of the winter,
1T is also the wish of this board to
conserve every dollar that it can
against possible overdrafts for need
ed expenditures. 1t was SO prompted
in recommending the surfacing of
Grove Hill. Every street, like any
other piece of apparatus. fixture or
tool, reaches place where it is I'M
economical to make the repairs neces-
sary to put. it in good condition for,
proper use. Grove Hill passed that
place at least two years ago and just
enough work has been done on it to
make 1t passable while other streets,
not as far worn out were more ex-
tensively repaired. The board in it's
budget, recommended reinforced
concrete pavement costing at least
$2.75 per square yard for this street,
but an appropriation for such a pave-
ment was refused. The street has
gone from bad to worse. After re-
viewing the street surfaces, it was
seen that the surface on Franklin
Square had given very satisfactory
service although placed over old
racadam. 1t was then recommend
ed that the present macadam on
Grove Hill be reshaped and two and
one-half inch amiesite top be put on
at a cost Of $1.25 per square yard.
This would give a satisfactory street
for a number of years as Franklin
Square was surfaced in 1912, at a to-
tai cost, plus maintenance, far less
than the cost of repairs to the pres
ent surface for the same period. Each
following year. other streets now be-
coming worn out can be taken care
of.
Regarding the expense of this
work. there Is approximately 1000
square yards of surface to be placed,
which at the price named would cost
$3.50. An equivalent to this amount
the board has been able to save by
not filling the positions of assistant
engineer, craftsman and chairman in
the engineering department, which
Poo'tiOHc dic no" VACANT Inc re- |
mainder of the total reported to the |
council is the amount which would |
be required to reshape the present |
which amount must be |
spent on the street this season, to |
make temporary repairs. The time |
required for such repairs is also |
saved to the city's forces, for work
on other streets. For many of the
streets suggested and reported to
his board as in need of repairs, there
mas been no provision in the esti-
mates of the board or In the budget
allowance. These can only be taken
,are of as fast as the repair gang can
ret alonfi with one roller that is equip
BED with a scarifier. There are suf-
1cient funds still available to carry
tut the work laid out in the boards
estimates of last winter unless emer-
,encies require other expenditure.
Respectfully submitted,
Board of Public Works,
Thomas w. Grove,
president"