New England bulletin., 1949-04-16
ANINTRODUCTION TO WATERBURY
BvJ. EDWARD BURKE

by J. EDWE 4
 Waterbury was settled in 1874 al along with the other cities of its known all over the world as the B1 many, however, who do not know about this city of which we are a . be interested, I have accumulated and am taking this column to pre-
 Waterbury has an Aldermanic form of government.
 When the United States Census was taken in 194O it showed the city's population to be 99,314, the local estimate at that time was 107, ,OOO, but during the war the population went slightly beyond the 100000 mark. The white popula- tion showed 48,545 males and 48,- 715 females. The colored population was approximately 5000 and all other races totaled approximately forty. About 70 per cent of this number were native born. Predom- mate nationalities of foreign-born residents were Italians, Irish, Can adian French, Lithuanian and Rus sian. During the war the Negro population rose quite sharply and rapidly up to it's present number, believed to be approximately o,5OO.
 Tn area, Waterbury is not quite as large as many other cities in Connecticut: It's area is 28.2 square miles and has an altitude of 215 to 93O feet. The average tempera- ture is 5O.13 degrees and it's aver age rainfall is 4.15.
 Forty Parks
 We have forty parks with 466.27 acres. There are three hospitals with 893 beds: five hotels with five hundred and twenty rooms. There are fiftv-eight churches in Water bury of practically all denomina- tions. one central public library with four branches containing 157,- 400 volumes (January 1, 1949). Twelve theatres, seating capacity 12.457. Largest auditorium seats 5000. Tn December, 1948 the total State highways 8. 69, TO, 73 and US6A run through or to Water bury. Of railroads, there is the New York, New Haven and Hart ford Railroad. There are two daily newspapers, one Sunday and three weekly.
 There are twenty-eight public schools. including three high schools. There is St. Maragret's Private School for Girls: eleven parochial schools, including two high schools and one academy.
 Tn October 1948 the number of pupils in public schools was 12,- 756, number of public school teach CTS was 566. Tn parochial schools there were 5,51O pupils with 157 parochial school teachers. The value of public school property is $8,- 193.456.00.
 Some city statistics are: Total street mileage 232.6, with 55.4 miles paved. Miles of gas mains 1919. sewers, 1878 miles. Number of water meters, 14.641. Number of light meters, 31,925. Number of gas meters, 26,965, Capacity of Municipal waterworks, 4,882,O0O gallons, a daily average pump of 12,7OO.OOO gallons with 222.1 miles of mains. Value of plant estimated consists of 199 paid men, 29 pieces Ol 0uu1pIIlouC III 0lSVS1l oCdC1OII houses. Value of the Fire Depart ment eouipment, S78O, ,914.OO. Police Department consists of 195 men, one station and twenty seven pieces of motor equipment.
 Assessed Valuation
 Waterbury's assessed valuation is . S239. 1883, 3,173.OO with a tax rate of s29.75 per $1,OOO. The bonded debt is S11, 1,488. .5OO.OO (January 1, 1948).
 The following financial figures were secured: Two banks and two trust companies with total deposits of $74,879, ,133.39 December 31, 1948) and total resources of $83,- 453,733.8O (Dec. 31, 1948); and clearings of $145, ,792, ,1O7.OO (1948). One savings bank with total de-
 VIEW OE WATEPPT