The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-01-06
Mayor Hayes Pays Tribute To Civic Boards,
 Mutual Aid Committee In Annual Message
Assures Wage Res. toratiOrl as Busi-
 ness Improves

a.-a=As
 ati intensive study of this prob- lem. The results of their work are awaited with interest. The solution will require all the. thought and attention of your honorable board.
 Fire Department
 The report Of the lire depaft- fnert shows a great reduction in fire losses during l035. This grat- flying condition reflects much credit upon the manner with which the fire department has been conducted. believe that spe- ciaI mention should be made of the excellent work of the Fire Prctec- ton Bureau, in charge of the fire marshal. The service rendered in removing and minimizing cotidi- tions which tend to produce fires has played no small part in the splendid work of the entire fire department.
 The work of the engineering, street, sewer and water depart inents has maintained the high standard which we rightly expect from these departments.
 The allotment Of federal funds in this connection has been both @ help and a burden. It has been of great assistance in providing physical advantages, such as the construction of sewers, water sup- ply and road work which, when completed, will place us years ahead of any program which the city could carry on without this assistance
 On the other hand, it has iln- posed burdens of expense upon us because of the necessity of pro- viding funds for the supplements ary work required. While the fed- eral government has furnished la- bor for these projects, 1t has been the duty of the city to provide tools, equipment and materials for these operations. A part of this great expense has been taken care of by the issuance of improvement bonds as sanctioned by the general assembly. But there is still 9 large amount which has to be financed from our general funds. The justifications for these ex- penditiires lies in the promise of completed public works which will endure long beyond our day and generation.
 The past year has seen the erec- ton of the Huntingdon avenue bridge over Steele's brook and the practical completion of the new bridge to carry South Main street over the Mad river. We have, in two years, built four new bridges, all urgently needed and all afford- ing greater protection and con- venience to the public;
 More than seven miles of new and larger water mains have been installed.
 Great Brook
 The enlargement of Great Brook, an engineering feat of no little note, has been finished. This work affords flood relief to the center of the city and brings to 6 final solution Q problem of many years standing.
 The completion of the paving of East Main street has given to the city 8 thoroughly modern avenue, productive of increased efficiency in the traffic problem on this very important artery.
 The program of oiling streets, begun in 1880, has been continued without abatement. While the cost of this work is large, it has al- ready been proven that 1t is more than justified. We have been crit- icized for the cost of this work, but those who criticize undoubted- ly forget that, in former days, property owners were charged Q certain sum for sprinkling as- sessinents, a charge which has been eliminated and is now absorbed in our regular tax rate.
 As directed by the general as- sembly of 1885, q city-wide refer ehdum was held, as D result of which the Park Road school dis. trict became on January 1, 1886, an integral part of the city taxa ton and school district. The pres- ent year, therefore, Is the first in which there are no outside dis- tricts. Tn this connection, invite your attention to the interesting report of the superintendent of schools, in particular his mention of Q condition. arising from the absorption of these several school districts. The city has now taken over @ number of schools which have small eYirollmeiits with con4 sequent high cost of administra- ton. Eight of our thirty-flve schools have less than one hum dred pupils and twelve of them have enrollinerts of less than two hundred. This question will event. ually require serious considera- ton.
 In the past six years, the efi- rollment in grade schools has de- creased by 2,O59 pupils, oy IA per cent. As 6 result, there are now forty-tWo rooms in nineteen dif- ferent buildings which are un- occupied.
 Tn the same period. the high school registration has increased by 637, although the registration for the present year is 242 less than in the peak year of 1882. Most of the decrease since 1882 is due to improved business con- ditions which have prompted pu- pils to go to work instead of cofi- tinuing in high school.
 The school department has met these changing conditions by Q corresponding reduction in the teaching staff. This reduction has been effected by absorbing pupils