New Britain herald., 1925-03-04
Mayor Wade N Bristol Reads
 AnnualMessage 10 City Council

was prepared, this community has suffered an irreparabIe loss in the death of Mir. A. F. Rockwell, who was vice-chairman of the park board since its organization. and whose vision, public spiritedness and philanthropy made possible beautl. ful Rockwell park, also the new high school Memorial park and boulevard, all of which are high lights In Bristo's civic advancement take this opportunity of expressing personally as well us officially, my sincere appreciation of the great services which Mir. Rockwell rcn- dercd 10 the city he loved, and which he did us the honor of calling his home.
 "Our sewer beds have had eX- celent care, and as usual are in first class condition and lunctoning sat- isfactorily.
 While the demands on our char ity department during the past year have not been abnormal thanks to the reasonably prosperous conditions that have prevailed, the usual care and attention has been bestowed on those who need our help, and the commissioner has managed the de- partment sympathctically, efficiently and economically.
 
 Combining the office of charity commissioner with that of sealer of weights and measures has effected economies and resulted in improved service.
 "The health department has been extremely energetic, and the health officer has handled affairs in his de- partment skillfully and intelligently. There is no doubt that the health of ficer, by prompt and foresighted ac- tion, saved our community from a very serious scarlet fever epidemic recently. The time to check an cpl demic like a fire, is before it gains headway, Our health officer appar- tHlly app SLldltS tlllS.
 "Other city officials and employes have discharged their respective duties faithfully and cheerfully. The individual morale is of a high order, and spirit of cooperation and help fuIness prevails throughout the en- tire city personnel. The advantages Of team work are apparent on every hand.
 T take this opportunity to per sonally thank the members of the council for their services, and the splendid cooperation they have rem dered during the past year, which has enabled us to meet and solve the many perplexing problems that have been presented.
 While we have not been able to accomplish all that some of us would have liked, or done as much ! in the way of improvements as could have been done had our f1n- ances permitted, I am determined though that we shall pay as we go and we have notwithstanding actual ly made considerable progress in various directions.
 Pratt street. Gridley street anG Burlington avenue have been grad ed. curbed, and have had sidewalk! laid. Surface sewers have also heel installed on Gri1ley street and Bur Iington avenue. Matthews stree was badly washed out by the flooC last spring When repairs were be ing made, we took the opportunti. to widen that street so that it is nov greatly improved. Extensive repair
 had to be made to the Boulevard ol account of the washout last spring It is now all in Al Conditiin. Fur thermore, we blasted and dredget the Pequabuck River from abov
 the Mellon street bridge to below
 Downs street bridge. thus widenini
 and deepening the channel. We be lieve the River now has capacity {
 take care of flood waters whiCI
 will preclude such washouts an
 damages as occurred last spring. /
 new bridge was built on Presto . street, also on Meadow street. Tn l, bridge over the railroad on Pon ; street has been completed. The ap
 breaches to thls bridge, howevel we were unable 10 complete las fall on account of freezing weather but this work will be done as 500