New Britain Herald Newspaper, May 18, 1916, Page 9

NEW, BRITAIN DAILY HERALD., THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1916. You used to think a millionaire was the happiest man on _ earth: You used to think that life would be a fail- | ure without a steam . vacht about the eize of a church: But you suddenly got - wise to the fact that | the really big things in life are the little things: Like MECCA! Ain’t It The Criticism for the Connecticut com- { pany and the Southern New England Telephone company and praise for hi own boa are contained in the an- nual message of Mayor George .A. Quigley, presented at the May meet- ing of the common council last night. The Connecticut company comes un- der His Honor's frown because it has ds MAYOR GEO. A. QUIGLE | not taken advantage of its franchises | to extend the trolley sy The tel- ephone company disap- proved of. | Speaking of the former. Mayor Quigley writes: “The railway com- pany has a franchise (for extension of its lines in the southeastern section of the city) and should he forced to give the scrvice for which their fran- | chise was granted. The company main- | tains an antiquated service and does | not seem to care to make any serious | effort to improve conditions. | The service of the telephone com- pany, the mayor charges, is not what | ew Britain is entitled to. He urges | the council to apply for relief to the public utilities commission and then, if the relief if not granted, to the leg- islature. Among other things, Mayor Quig- ley again urges the substitution for the board of public safety of two commis- sions, one for the fire department and another for the police department. He also urges that a plan be found for paying part of the expense of con- | structing new schools instead of sad- dling all the cost on future genera- tions through bond issues. Mayor Quigley calls the sewer sys- tem a “confessed failure” and sug- gests that an experimental station be built and equipped so that New Rrite ain might find its way out of the wil- derness. He also suggests that the Burritt school building be used as a police station and police court build- ing as it is soon to be abandoned. From the property owner stand- point the most important recommen- dation Mayor Quigley makes is that he be empowered to appoint a com- mittee of six to consider a more im- proved system of levying assessments, a method that will be fairer to all. The message, The message in full follows: To the Members of the Common Council of the City of New Britai | Gentlemen: In communicating to you my third - No shipment of gold from abroad is handled with greater care than the bales of golden “Turkish tobaccos that are brought here for MECCA. Its quality has “truly become a standard. 1052 5¢ 20 10c THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY in the oval foil package in the handy slide box All Makes of STORAGE BATTERIES Recharged and Repaired. Large stock of Tires, new and seconds. Experi “e¢nced men for tire repairing. that | per: annual message as to the condition of the city and its government, I have made certain recommendations which I hope will receive your rnest thought and consideration. We are not here to repr litical parties or factions: we to give consideration and study nt re here 10 po- [ the problems of our city. Partisan politics were exeluded from your honorable body duving the two yvears of my first administration and it is my earnest desire and ¥ we will continue to progress 2long the lines of mutual helpfulness and continue to give our city good government. “or the past vears vou held dily in view the interest of your city, personal selfish interest was put | aside and our city progressed materi- ally During the past two vears many changes have contributed to “he wel- city. spe two re of o City Finances. Too much attention cannot be to the city’'s financial problems. da Per- P !'mit me to urge your honorable body, the citizens of the city, 4 careful 1al of the reports of the of finance and taxation, the trea and | and the comptroller. indebtedn g and it hehooves eration to this The sonstantly all give important ma i our honded increasit to cor tter. nking funds show over last vear of 361,404.- would he very gratifying our net debt show an ineres 205.55. vear did not e | of 222 This is due to tr ance school, sewer and subway bonds. Our bonded debt will he in- ‘reased this vear by a large amount, due to the purchase of the Farrel property for school site and the erec- tion of a twenty-room school thereon. { The school debt of the city today is $771,000, with the prospect of an in- crease this vear. We should not be extravagant in { school expense; neither should we he increases he issu- of | penurious, but T believe we should be more economical. A. G. HAWKER, 11 Elm Street the ex- One of the problems agitating minds of our citizens is school pense and how to meet it, ' Public Sefice Companies Come Under Mayor’s Lash Flays Street Railway and Telephone Systems in Annual Message—Wants Assessments Revised, Separate Fire and Police Boards and New Sewer System. 1 ta | | out of each year's { Subway Fund We must not cripple our schools | by being penurious but we cannot, vear after year, pile up a school debt for future generations to pay and I believe some method should be adopt- ed of paying for the erection of schools appropriation; 1f not all the cost at least one-half of ; the cost. Again permit me to urge upon vour | e bedy a careful study of the the henora? city's financial problems through reports of the board of finance ion the treasurer and the Comp- troller. The balances in the City Treasury | been solvea to the satisfaction the citizens and taxpayers. | vears | pave these streets, on March 31st were as follow: General Fund ... . Water Fund Sewer Fund Street Improvement Fund Park Commis New School Fund City Building Fund Cemetery Committee Dog License Fund.... Municipal Ice Plant ... Parks Purchase Fund... Public Amusement Com- oners ... Building Indebtedness. .$1,175,000.00 1,125,000.00 Recapitulation of Water honds Sewer honds Street bonds Subway bonds R Municipal Building honds Park bonds School bonds Refunding bonds 5 151,000.00 15,.000.00 ,000.00 ,000.00 ,000.00 ,100.00 i 1 71 75, 30, $3,713,100.00 | Sinking Funds. Water bonds $ 184, Sewer bonds . .. 172,76 Street bonds . A | Park bonds School bonds Municipal 8 6.5 7 8. 9 Building 6,290.40 467,055.81 Net indebtedness 246,044.19 Property Assessment for Taxation. This most important function of ! to of our government has been allowed drift along without a great deal attention or stem and certain without equality, and vyet, it is here where our revenue must be derived to conduct our government. Inequalities in assessment for ta: ation are harmful and productive of pessimistic, dissatisfied citizenship. We must approach the subject fr fundamental standpoint stem which will be m a a evolve a ifestly fair. Property which can be legitimatel, taxed should be taxed and values should be known, not guessed. Because a man purchased land ten vears ago for $1,000 it does not ne- cessarily follow that he shall always be taxed upon that value. Improvements made by the com- munity increase the value and upon that increased value the community | has a right to demand a tax. The community creates the value of property and the community has a right to demand a just tax upon this society-created value. No system of taxation will ev. be popular but we can make it just and that should be our aim. The burden of the cost of govern- ment should be distributed equally and this cannot be done until morc time, study and knowledge is ap- king assessments. sessors should devote entire time to this work. Tt notorious fact that there i gross | inequality is our present assessment | for taxation. Wealth, in the nature of increa Jand values, created by commun improvements and growth, is not he ing taxed and this must be remedieil at once in order to keep pace with | the increased cost of government or we will face a tax rate in a short time of twenty-five mills, thus plac- ing upon the shoulders of some of our citizens a further penalty for the improvements they have made and which have increased the val of the property of those who have not taken their proper part in help- | ing to develop the city but who have | been the great beneficiaries under our community growth. We cannot secure a proper systom of as sment too soon to satisfy the demands for revenue with which to build the improvements the growth | of our city demands We can meet the demands for im- provements by bond issues and there- by place a burden upon the future generations or we can immediatel: take eps to correct the evils of | our present system; do our duty by facing our problems in an honest, manly way and not shift our burdens upon the shoulders of those who are to come and who will have their own | problems to face. In order that we may take action upon this tant matter. 1 would your honorable body that the mayor be authorized to appoint a commit- tee of six citizens to take up this matter in conjunction with the sessors and see what can be done correct or improve our present tem of property assessment for tion. n- ( the o immediately | most impor- recommend to | Street Work. The board of public works and the city engineer deserve much credit and praise for the competent manner in which they have handled the strect work for the past year. { the | Halk with Warren | ment laid | Assessment for So-Called 0,000.00 | | fer i manner and method | magentite ar | the Many vexacious problems ha\'el of With a limited appropriation many streets have been repaired and built and the citizens and taxpayers ot the city can now point with a feeling | of pride to our many fine streets and | street improvements. Too much cannot be said in prais of the work of our city engineer, who by this change, inaugurated two ago, has had the direction of all the work done by the board ol public works. He has heen pains taking, careful and economical in his | management and I feel that the city indeed fortunate in obtaining the services of our present city enginee Many of our streets are in need of attention and it is the plan of the board to place in good condition all the streets as far as their appropria- tion will permit. I would recommend to you included in next years estimat paving of Park and Myrtle These streets are in bad and in view of the heavy he the street to traffic to | whie a subjecte ieve i abq | wWhich they are subjected, I believe it and economi to or at least Myr one block pavement advantageous contrast for was entered into upon the of City Engineer would be wise street, with s A very city recommendation for the repair of the bitulithic pave in 1910, upon which the guarantee had expired, at a cost of $594.48 or three cents per st yard per year for a two vear period This relieves the city of the neces sity, for at least two years of pav- ing Main street, I would recommend the further laying of concrete pavements in cer- tain Lafayette street. to be a cheap and durable pavement. Semi-Per- manent Pavement. problem for a cheaper, The and al the same time durable pavement, | other than the so-called pavement for streets where it is not wise to use macadam, presents some difficulties, but which, I believe, for the laying of the so-called semi- permanent pavement. The laying of permanent or semi- permanent pavement on a street hances the value of property on the street and it also requires daily su- pervision, therefore, I believe an a sessment should be laid for senii- permanent pavement according to the cost of the pavement. The Lafayette street pavement should not be assessed against the property owners at the rate of $1.50 per foot as in the case with perma- nent pavement, but should he as- sessed upon the cost, which I believe i is also the stand taken by the board compensation and assessment. I have discussed this matter with the city engineer and the carporation counsel and they agreed that some form of assessment should be levied semi-permanent pavement, I would therefore recommend this matter of assessment to your honor- able body for consideration. of Subway Extensions, Objections have been raised to the further extension of the sa-called subway The reason for this objecton that the income from subway would not take care of the and bond payments. After carefully investigating matter the city engineer reported that the reason for this was the high cost of construction of our subway ystem and until a more economical af construction was devised and carried out we would continue to show a deficit in the sub- way department. The suggestion was made by city engineer that future subway ex- tensians be constructed by the city and when the extensions were ordered by vour honorable body in Lafavette, Bigelow and Elm streects they were built by the under the direction of the city engineer. The results amply justify the con- tention of the city engineer that the enarmous profits out of all pro- portion to the amount of work done ad been made by the contractor doing the wor The city saved several Gallars reducing the cost from 50 to 60 cents per duct foot to 25 to 30 cents per duct foot. We can therefore future extensions W city and the defic ment removed. New White Way, All credit should be given to beard af public works and,the cngineer in devising the plan of street lighting for the cen- tral streets, to be known as the White Way. It o rents a presume in this the cit a to install 85 new lights operated upon a cirect surrent, five ampere efficiency electo lights similar to those recently installed in Waterbur, and New Haven. The lights will teen foot stand hundred feet ap per light in place light at $85. This will greatly incre: ing and add to the appea city at an increase over appropriation of only $1 Sewage Disposal an expenditure of over a million dollars in changing the sewage system we are confronted with a confessed failure and we ving thousands of dollars a ye sewage polution settlements. r the past two years I have de- voted much time to the study of a proper sewage disposal plant or The disposal plant at Berlin i not adequate to take care af New Britain sewage, neither is it a proper vstem, and, after two years of care- ful study, I am ready to admit that T do not know of, nor can I find, a eystem which will properly take care of our sewage. If our problem was proper disposal sewage, it would be easy of solution, but such is nat the case. We are confronted with the prob- is prop be placed on four- rds, aced about one and will cost of the present arc last 500, After are r merely one of of domestic | tr | treated, condition | | the Brothers company | | suce streets because T firmly believe | | this pavement in spite of criticism of | permanent | | activated | which represents can | be easily over v ss | y overcome by an assessment | . .ureq en- | | ebtained economically, interest | this | | heard of public the | thousand | that | 11 be built by the | depart- | proposed | sory with | | cxemplified $T502 fr e the light- | ce of the year's | lem of caring for domestic sewage combined with difficult trade wastes which renders the operation of any known em extremely difficult ana with little likelihood of any degree of success. nitary engineers to recommend variou tems and yet upon tion it has been found plants or systems have not faction and I feel ti ain cannat afford to take a will necessitate an expenditure cf nearly half a million dollars until we are positive that we have solved the local sewage disposal prablem. We are not alone in our study of | s great prablem; there is searcely in the United States but what making an effort to solve the prob- lem of sewage di There are no plants, either abroad, which have been plants or reful invi that th rge sewage disposal this country or have successfully for any oxtensive period, combined domestic nd trade wastes having the characteris of New RBritain sewage. The acidity and iron pickling liquors which charged from the factorie: rublic sewers, produce that would probably result total failure of a disposal plant the standard design, which mig fully treat ordinary domestic in content from dis- into the conditions the of e sewage. In view of present conditions and the lack of a comprehensive plant or system of disposal, T believe the pre- liminary step should be the building and operation of an experimental or | test plant. This would be a necessary pre- limina step toward insuring the success of any treatment works we might build. In view of the faregoi and after discussing the matter with eminent sanitary engineers, T believe that the sum of $12,000.00 or $15,000.00 should be appropriated with which to construct and operate a testing station. Possibly this test plant should be ructed alanz the lines of the sludge process, -called, the latest develop- treatment. Results at Milwaukee, Baltimore, Cleveland, Houston, and elsewhere indicate that this method is superior to any of the processes heretofore vsed, and eminent engineers recom- ment of sewage | mend that the investigation here be conducted along this line, Even from this satisfactory results bhave been secured where the activated <ludge process has heen employed in connection with sewage having differ- ent characteristics from those of New Tritain sewage. Whether similar re- sults can be secured with the latter, and, if secured, whether they can be or only after important modifications heretofore employved elsewhere, can be deter- mined by the operation of a test rlant treating New Britain sewagze The question as to whether trade wastes should be treated separately or in conjunction with the domestic wastes must be similarly ascertained Such tests should be carried over zn extended scale, probably about one AN expe this character, of struction and havi a capacity of about 25,000 gallons per day. would cost in the neighberhood of $7,000 or $8,000. Tts construction, operation, and adoption should be under the di- ection and control of a competent sanitary engineer, assisted by a first- class bacteriologist. The sanitary en- gineer should co-operate h the works and the city ¢ngineer. It is the opinion that $5,000 to §7.000 would be sufficient to ray all engineering fees, salaries and operating charges for about one vear. The absolute success of such a test plant cannot be predicted with cer- | inty before bheginning operations, | Jut monthly progress reports made | - the sanitary engineer should show ou the prospect of failure or success within or at the close of a year, and the engineer would probably be able to advise indefinitely regarding future action, at the expiration of that time. T believe that the test pl should built and the results carefully dered before definite action is gardin g of wage disposal 1 The committee ted into the matter of go ill make a report to your honar: body of their findings in a short which will explain fully the con- jon of the present plant, with Win recommendations as to future for the development of an im- rstem or the building of on plant of temporary con- imental or test Tie con- to look disposal ble me app sews plan rroved | experimental plant, Se in Publi ice Corporatic Monopols the form of a public ice corporation, unle restrictions imposed whom Dy rectly certain by the tion peaple the cor is apt to become a carc little fort and canvenience of the people. In New Britain this condition the Consecticut co iny, holding the eclectric railway chise and the Southern New Tongland Telephone company, holding telephone franchise. The Electrie € further extension service should ne servis, bitrary and for the com- by Serviee, f the receive elec the The tric car | immaiate attention of your honorable | body. The lack of this service is retard- ing the growth of the city in certain scctions, notably in the southeastern section. As roof of this statement, I would state that land on Rocky Hill avenue, Chapman, Austin, Jefferson, Whitman and other streets can be purchased today for little or no ad- vance over the price paid for build- ing lots twenty vears ago. The railway company has a fran- chise and shauld be forced to give the service for which their franchise was granted. The company maintains an anti- cuated service and does not seem to care to make any serious effort to im- prove conditions. The matter of electric railway ex- Tast, | partments, | sibla { pel cleanli tensions and better service over lines already built is a very importamI atter and has a direct bearing on e welfare and growth of the city. Teiephone Service. not g The telephone company v Britain the service which New is entitled to. Complaints are fre- quent, well founded, and, from my own experience I know the service is inadequate for a city with a popula- tion of 55,000, I urge you to take up these matters an early date with the public ies commission and if not sue- ful there, we can then appeal to lature at its next session. railraad committee, so-called, | be re-named and called the ! public service committee as all mat- | ters pertaining to public utilities should be referred to this committee. This committee is at present re- garded by some members of your honarable body as being an unim- portant committee, while in realits 1t is one of the most fmportant com- mittees of this body and should do a vast amount of important worlk. Water Department. | The attention of this department | has been centered for the past few | months upon the work being done at Burlington for the purpose of proving | the feasibility of building a tunnel to conduct the water from the proposed reservoir at Burlington to the reser- voir at Whigville, instead of a pipe line, which will save the city approxi- mately $50,000 Commissioner Rossberg, with whom the idea originated, reports that re- sults so far obtained indicate the feas- ibility of building the tunnel. Another important work this partment has undertaken is the foresting of many acres on the water sheds which were denuded of trees. Police And Fire Departments. | Tt has been my belief for a long period that these two departments should be under separate commi sioners. In order to bring these two de- | partments up to a proper standard of efficiency, it is absolutely necessa for the commissioners to devote more time to the work of these depart- ments than they can afford. T would therefore recommend to vou that this matter be again subject- ed to charter change and a police commission and fire commission cre- ated, Both of these growing rapidly and a more supervision is necessary. The addition of more patrolmen to the police force, it is to be hoped, will render this branch of the government more efficient. With the addition of new motor ap- paratus, to be purchased this vea; for the fire department, and the cre- ating of a permanent force, New Brit- ain will have a modern equipped de- partment rendered mnecessary by the rapid growth of the city. The creation of a civil service com- mission to govern the appointment of members to these two departments will be a great factor in driving fa- voritism and politics out of these de- thereby creating greater at ut ce the leg Your should de- re- departments are careful efficiency. Tt has long effort qua bheen felt some should be made to secure new ters for the police court and police stations. These departments are to- day housed under the most *rving and unsatisfactory conditions, With the addition of cleven new patrolmen to the police department, with the increased needs of the fire department, more room is required which cannot be secured in the pres- sent building. The holding of court in the present building with any degree of noise of the frequent passing within 100 feet of the building. While these conditions have generally recognized it not that the city could afford tao p a2 site and erect a bnildir would necessarily have to be Deer cen was | 1ocated. has now an a site and possi after some altara the T believe the city portunity to sect a building which, tions, might answer some years to come. refer to the Burritt erty. Tt is now oard that the city erty for school purpes erty be sold T would, however, suggest t the city retain his very 1lunble and use the site for a court building and polico station. ! While T have not examined the building T feel that it might be pos ble to utilize it for the purposes sus zested after some alterations nad been made. While T have not examined the building, T feel that it might he pos- ! to utilize it for the purnoses suggested after some alterations had | been made. [ T hope yvour honorable bhody give this matter rour attention consideration school by the school ndon ihis prop- s and the prop proposed e tr property vill and Health. The health of the inhabitants of | the city is being safe-guarded by our most efficient board of health, a board | in its efficiency, the broadne and the loyalty of it ranking second to nonec in cut This board has made many mendations during the past vear, two | of the most important being the ap- pointment of a store inspector the erection of a municipal house. The inspection, the board health, of stores, will prevent the of food unfit for consumption, com- ess and, in general, 1m- | prove the conditions under which food is kept for sale. The erection of a municipal slaugh ter house, where animals intended for | food will be inspected and slaughtered | under city supervision will drive from our markets diseased meats to which a great many ills of the peopla can be directly traced. Further discussion by work of this department would be superfluous as the reports of the chairman and superintendent of this board fully present the work of the department for the past year ! Municipal Xce, | The efforts of a few men to defeat official Conne rocom- nd slaughter | of ale by me of 1ihe | who decency | is almost an impossibility du» to the | traing | felt | Burbose (oo | prop- | | pon, having | preparation, { color for the harves and the compiel ice house did and the people se ice at a rea the of the of the meet with s < continue to purch able price The matter of distribution and of city is now the b of]| water department and it to earnestly hoped that those who ¥ in opposition-to this project will ize that the success of this ven does not lie in the return of o] and cents alone but in better h4 for the people and a lower d rate among the children of the pe were unable to secure ice the city decided to enter this as a protest again the acts of ce dealers. Charter Revision, I would advise your honoratle to early authorize the 0 point a committee on charter réw so that ample time may be siven committee In which to do this important work In ppropriation ice crop municipal ice nds in mayor Conclusion. The departments of the specially mentioned in my mes have done creditable work. Thei ports with their various recommel tions should be carefully read % der that we may act intellig when matters pertaining to the of these departments are presa to us for action. In conclusion, T wish to thanid various officials for their unil courtesy to me as mayor of the and for their unfailing loyalty 18 city, ity Respectfully submitted, GEO. A. QUIGLRY, Ma, McCOURT NEW CHAMP. Ellis Forfelts Honors By Lone in Smoky City. Pittsburgh, May 18.—The wo three cushion championship chal hands here last night, Court winning over Charles X1l a score of 150 to 149. McCourt] tered the night's play with a lea eight points and by averaging than one point to the inning iner the lead to seventeen the thirtd inning. { s reduced the margin to ni the twenty-first inning, but a higH of seven by McCourt sent it up to enteen again Cllis was playin| consistent game and from the ) ty-seventh inning on the cut the down gradually until the forty-ei when McCourt’s advantage was point. Charles WHAT C. NDY WILL DO. Girl More cient Every Evening They Pla| The c Screw corporation held another Bowlers Becoming lady bowlers of the | 1ast evening on the Aetna alleys box of candy to the high score ner as the incentive. ning the in, with Miss for her mark of C. Klampt | E. Morrin | K. Klar e 8 | L. Twigg b 10 M. Cavanaugh ... 9 B. Klar 64 71 N. Sullivan 5 418 46 The local Red Men will trav Middletown this evening wher deciding game in the series bet| the councils the respective will rolle | P During thel following scores were ti {. Klar taking the 81 70 6 79 64 47 66- | be W KT JERS IN DISPUTE, Ma ud J States with 18.—J York of ¢ United court confronted < of determining who is tiie wj hampion of the world vesterd issull restra know: from clai: himsclf, or that he de recent vihatt injunction is ‘mporar, injunction ick, better iewis for story th the | | Iiobert ¥ xd | the honors spreading the { Alex Abcrg in | tournament zt i Tt “Strangle wes n ( re! ted the o ag un, to t aec | . i merits of his ¢ in h world’s cHf ted that fa) nhattan O] and n the the matche Hous SAGE TEA DARKENS HAIR TO ANY SHA Here's a can brush. Don't cipe stay 2 gray! anybody appl hur to > g it to gios mother active henever ided or streaked simple mixture wonderful cffect, brewing at home is mussy te. Nowadays, by askin any drug store for a 50 cent bott “Weyth's Sage and Sulphur ¢ pound,” you will get this famou improved by the tion of other ingredients, which be depended upon to restore na and beauty to the hair. A well known downtown drug says it darkens the hair so natu and evenly that nobody can tell it] been applied. You iply dampd sponge or soft brush with it draw this through your hair, ta one strand at a time. mor! the gray hair disappears and 4 another application or two, it comes beautifully dark and gloss| Sage and Sulphur (] pound is a delightful toflet requ for those who desire a more yout] appearance. It is not intended the cure, mitigation on preventios disease. Y her heair applied with But out-of-da ay