New Britain herald., 1927-05-19

keeping our taxes as low as possible
 commensurate with our needs, ma
 we encourage and help the hom
 owner.
 l Schools
 It is still very evident that tn
 great problem of the school boar,
 is to provide accommodations 10
 our ever increasing number of schoo ! children. The board has been work ing on a building construction pro
 gram since 1923, and will have add
 ed, by September 1, 1927. four nev
 schools and substantial additions {, four others that were already built i The cost of this construction ha
 been s2.107,S47.O0 and has provided
 one hundred and twenty-three new class rooms. seven new auditorium. and eight gymnasiums. The number of new class rooms has been par, tially reduced by the fact that thirty nine old class rooms that were nc longer suitable for school purposes were discarded. leaving a total net gain of eighty four class rooms since September 1923.
 The school board expects very soon to start work on a new school of l2 rooms on Clinton street, and has already taken steps to secure the necessary land for site for a new school on Allen street. There is need for improvement and en- largement of the Northend school and the probable necessity of con- verting the Roosevelt school, which is now an elementary school. into a junior high school. will make ii mentary school to accommodate the scholars now attending the Roosevelt school. It is also obvious that We shall, in the near future, be obliged to provide increased accommodations at the senior high school.
 In connection with the building program of the school board I should like to commend the members most highly for their far sightedness in securing the services of a competent SupCltlSot ol SollSll OSllOll, W llo lldS already saved the city considerable money through his efficiency, and knowledge of building.
 Assessors
 After careful study of the sys- tenn used in our assessors office, 1 believe that the present charter pro- visions calling for board of three assessors should be continued, as the consultation and advice of three members is very often necessary and beneficial. believe that the results we have obtained through our scien- titic method of laying taxes is suffi- cient reason for continuing our pres- ent system. However, believing that We can be guaranteed of the same results at lower cost to the city 1 recommend that a new contract be made with the present expert as- sessor. and that he be made chair man of the board, in order that we may comply with the charter re- quirement which provides that the chairman of the board shall devote his entire time to the work.
 At the last meeting of the com mon council the salary of all three members of the board was set at s250.00 per annum, thereby making a saving to the city of $2,75O.0O per year, and as some Of the map work we had to do last year will not be necessary this year, believe that we can make a total saving in this department of about S3,50O.00.
 Police Department
 Although the police commission has found it advisable to appoint discipline committee the fact that it has been necessary to bring very few officers before them proves that the morals and discipline of our po- lice department has risen to a much higher standard. Last year five pa trolmen were added to the force, and last month six more were ap- pointed, thereby giving added pro- lection to our outlying districts. The department needs more men and it is to be hoped that it will be pos sible to provide for them next year. One new motorcycle has been add ad for patrol work. and two addi- .ional sergeants and one lieutenant have been appointed, making it possible to have a ranking officer on he desk at all times. The detective bureau has been very active in its work, and with the addition Of the lew telephone typewriter connect ng New Britain with other cities he department will be in a better position than ever before to aid in he apprehension of lawbreakers.
 l believe that the morality and cleanliness of our city has been greatly improved due to the eff 'iency of our police department.
 Traffic Lights
 The police commission has spent ! great deal of time and study on raffic lights and the new lights in he center of the city, while not en- irely perfected as yet, will in my 'pinion- be an aid to traffic of all ,inds. Our main thoroughfares are larrow and congested and signal ights are necessary to give cross raffic and pedestrians the privi- l eges that are rightfully theirs.
 Fire Department
 Our fire department has again 'een honored by the report recently i ssued, that New Britain, in propor- | ion to cities of it's population. SCOT d second highest honors in the ; jnited States for fire prevention { york during the year. This recogni- |. ion has been commended by the in urance underwriters who recently . nade an inspection of New Britain. | he addition Of the number seven ire station on Stanley street with a lew bumper and company has realty increased the efficiency Of . he department. and the addition of ! switchboard operators nd additional men for our down . own companies has brought our Ire department up to q much high