New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-12-29
= -s.-' : 80. ..
= H. OBSER YER
Makes Random Observations
On the City sno Its People

| from the same department comes
suggestion. expected to receive
more favorable consideration. 1t
has to- do with the creating of a
new city service ladder company to
be housed at No. station at the
northern extremity Of Main street.
With two platoons Of f1remen and
the apparatus, 1t will necessitate ar
appropriation of S30,000. Under the
existing scheme, the ladders to fight
fires In the northwestern section of
the city must be carried from the
station on Elm street. near Main
street. sometimes a distance of two
miles. 1t is considered unsafe to
leave the center of the city without
the protection of the larger ladder
truck. Because the northwestern
section is chiefly of frame construc-
.tion and consists mainly OF tai
buildings. ladder service is consid-
cred most important. hence the per-
sistence of the department in asking
the appropriation yearly. A concert
ed move to bring about this i'm
provement is expected this year.
The board of health, urged on by
the charity department and by its
own knowledge of the tuberculosis
situation in the city. is very anxious
10 have money allowed this year to
recondition the city sanatorium on
Rocky Hill avenue and put it in
service. One member of the board
has traced two deaths to the alb
sence Of a place in this city in
which tuberculosis sufferers might
be given institutional treatment
while awaiting admission to state
sanatoria. With lives hanging in the
balance, the decision on the aues-
ton will be a difficult one for the
finance committeeman to decide.
Again. the board will be asked to
provide municipal incinerator and
change the system OF refuse collec-
ton, a public improvement which
has been variously estimated be-
tween 100000 and $125,000. The
need OF an incinerator has never
been seriously questioned. A COM
mittee of the common council
which includes leading members OF
that body, agrees with the health
board that it is needed. But, again.
the money question:!
Mayor Paonessa and the board
of public works have been pleaded
with to give some relief to residents
in the outlying districts. where lit
tie or no public improvements have
been made. They have complained
that they are unable to get grocers,
coal men and physicians to come to
them because OF the impossible
condition of the highway, and they
charge. that the city is causing their
properties 10 waste away through
storm overtlows. Several years ago
the low tax district which embraced
I heSe areas was wiped away with
tacit agreement that. paying fun
taxes, they would be given full i'm
prolements.
The police board. armed with
statistics. is prepared to show that
the city is under-policed. a condi-
lion which is undesirable and I'M
safe, as we'll as inconsistent with
the general growth of the munich
pality all will admit The policemen
also desirefa clothing allowance and
are ready to submit good arguments
at least it would seem they are
good, else the commissioners of the
many cities which now provide
their policemen with uniforms
would hardly be convinced that this
is the right thing TO do.
An ambitious program of park
improvements is contemplated. New
Britain takes pride in lis park lands
and the park board is following the
desire OF the general public when
it undertakes to develop them to
their maximum uses. Whether the
| finance board will see its way clear
10 let this program of Identification
proceed is question. Under this
departments schedule of expenses
this year will be found an item for
municipal golf course. Thousands
of men and women, young and old.
are calling for this means of recre-
alton. but whether their voices will
he heard above the snip of the
pruning shears is also a question.
| All the way down The roster of
city departments will be found cost
ly items of improvement. Each de-
partment considers that its recon-
mendations stand high among the
important, but it is certain that
some of them, most of them in fact,
are doomed to some degree of dis
| appointment when the board of
| finance and taxation announces its
findings.