New Britain Herald Newspaper, May 19, 1927, Page 10

A board . aof 14 aldermen, two from each ward and two at large, each to receive a salary of $200 a vear, {8 recommended as a substi- tute for the present common coun- cil system in the annual message of | Mayor Weld, last night. The message, the second annual statement from the mayor, reviews *he activities of city departments iuring the past year and makes nu- inerous recommendations for civic betterments. It shows the met dcbt 10 be $6,473,609.92. The message, in full, follows:— TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL. Gentlemen: In accordance with the provisions of the charter of the City of New Britain it is my duty and pleasure 1o present the annual statement of the financial condition of our city nd to make recommendations and plans for the ensuing Many of the re hat I made in my message last r have been adopted and carried ut, amd as the city has, and is re- coiving the benefit of these neces- y improvements 1 shall not refer o them at this time. You e all familiar with the Judget for 1 and the reason for 1he necessity of increasing our tax rata this vear. T wish first of all io warn the various hoards in our city ament that they must p strictly within their appro- priations, and 1 wish them to see that the need for ecenomy in the operation of irs of the city be impressed on every man in the em- ploy of their department. We have in the city government men who are capable and able to vateh.the expenditure of thousands of dollars, but we need the co-op- ration of every department and ~very employee to save to the ¢ the small amounts that are so often W d, every man in the eity government must learn that he must not destroy mor throw away any- thing of value helonging to the city I wish to discourage absolutely the tendency on the part of many of our departments, to endeavor to spend all the money that has been appropriated for their use. When a department turns back part of its appropriation it is proof of efficient management and it is the goal I ex- | pect egch department head to strive tor. Financial Statement Balances of the different funds of the City of New Britain in the hands of the treasurer, March 31, 1927, Water Fund Sewer Fund Subway Fund ... Street Improvement Fund . Park Commissioners . Cemetery Committee ity Bldg. Fund 5 New School Bldg. Fund Dog License Fund Public Amusement .. Commission Reserve Fund for Liquor License Rebate .... ,375.75 | Park Purchase and De- | velopment Fund .... ,374. Strect Dept. Fund .... ,023. Zoning Committee .. 8.32 | Municipal Garage Fund .04 | State Ald to Widows Fund 3. Gi Municipdl Home Service | s 8 131,613, 72,460.57 16,954.75 9.691.19 4,513.98 6 Fund e 716.51 | Municipal Comfort Sta- | tion 1,333.21 | Municipal Slaughter Addition | Spanish’ War Memorial 7.041.97 | $3 499,692.18 General Fund (overdrawn) '}!ouse 816.69 | 3,099.64 | 496,492.54 | Payments on Account of Appro- | priations made against taxes laid on years 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931 but not yet collected: ! Iire Station No. 7 Fun;i i read to the council | ommendations | NEW BRITAIN DAILY HERALD, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1927 MAYOR WELD READS ANNUAL MESSAGE TO COMMON COUNCIL [with the thought that only by | keeping our taxes as low as possiblc, ' commensurate with our needs, may we encourage and help the home owner. | Schools It is still very evident that the great problem of the school board is to provide accommodations for our ever increasing number of school children. The board has been work- ing on a building construction pro- gram since 1923, and will have add- cd, by September 1, 1927, four new schools and substantial additions to four others that were already built. The cost of this construction has Leen $2,107,847.00 and has provided one hundred and twenty-three new class rooms, seven new auditoriums and eight gymnasiums. The number of new s rooms has been par- 11y reduced by the fact that thirty- nine old class rooms that were no longer suitable for school purposes were discarded, leaving a total n gain of eighty-four class rooms since September 1923, | The school board expects very soon to start work on a new school of 12 rooms on Clinton street, and alveady taken steps to secure {the necessary land for a site for a new school on Allen strest. 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 it necessary to build an additional ele- mentary school to accommodate the seholars now attending the Roosevelt school. It is also obvious that we shall, in the near future, be obliged to provide inereased accommodations | at the senior high schgol. 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 | supervisor of construction, who has already savcd the city conslderable money through his efficiency, and knowledge of building. Assessors After a careful study of the sy tem used in our assessors’ office, | |believe that the present charter pro- visions calling for a hoard of three |assessors should be continued, as the |consultation and advice of three members is very often necessary and beneficial. I believe that the results we have obtained through our scien- | [tific method of laying taxes is suffi- cient reason for continuing our pres cnt system. However, believing that we can b: guaranteed of the same results at a lower cost to the city I 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 w Imay comply with the charter re- |quirement which provides that the 'chairman of the board shall devote |nis entire time to the work. At the last meeting of the com- ! Almon council the salary of all three members of the board was set at 250.00 per annum, thereby making a saving to the city of $2,750.00 per year, and as some of the map work we had to do last year will not be necessary this year, I belleve that we can make a total saving in this department of about $3,500.00. Police Department Although the police commission has found it advisable to appoint a 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- tection 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 motoreycle has been add- ed for patrol work, and two addi- tional sergeants and ome lieutenant have been appointed, making it | possible to have a ranking officer on {the desk at all time: Cash Balance, March 1927 Recapitul Close of Fiscal Year Ending March 31 1927 | Water Bonds ,000.00 Sewer Bonds ,000.00 Street -Bonds 20,000.00 | Subway Bonds ... 391,000,00 Municipal Building . Bonds Park Bonds . Refunding Bond school Bonds ity Notes 20,000.00 | 3,341,000.00 $ T4 Siuking Funds Water Bonds E sewer Bonds Street Bonds . \unicipal Bldg Bonds school Bonds The detective bureau has been ver: new telephone typewriter connect- iIng New Britain with other cities the department will be In a better position than ever before to aid in the apprehension of lawbreakers. I believe that the morality and cleanliness of our city has been greatly improved due to the efli- ciency of our police department. Traffic Lights The police commission has spent. a great deal of time and study on traffic lights and the new lights in the center of the city, while not en- tirely perfected as yet, will in my opinion, be an aid to traffic of all kinds. Our muin thoroughfares are narrow and congested, and signal lights are nec: to give cross traffic and pedesirians the privi- | leges that are rightfully theirs. Net Indebtedness 3 The above statement of fndebted- ness discloses the fact that our net debt Is $6.473 60 Deducting the sater and subway bonds less sink- ne leaves an in- ng funds for debtedness of $5,057,042.15 appli- cable to the debt limit Our grand list as of October, 1026, eluding exempt property on which the five per cent bond limit preserib- «d by state statute may be compuf- d. amounts to $127,448,693.00, per- mitting-the city to issue bonds to the amount of 36, This leaves a margin of It will be necessary very soon to issue school bonds to the amount of 090,00 to be used to build the Clinton street school and a part of the notes for the building of the memorial will also have to he issued | this year. It is v evident that this balance must be carefully guarded. Taxation A study of our taxable and onr tax rate for 1926 and 1 re- veals that our expec incomne from taxes this yvear will be approximately ree hundred, twenty-four thousand iollars more than the previous year. Of this amount principal payments ind interests charged will take about one-third, school department one- third, and the other third is divided | among all our other cit depart- iients for absolutely essential needs Our city is continuing to grow ~ry rapidly. necessary improvements ra2 increasing and we must be very careful in our appropriations to con- sider only those projects that are ab- | <olutely essentiai Every expenditure made should be ' list | ! struction of a drill tower, Fire Department Our fire department has been honored by the report re issued, that New Britain, in propor- tion to cities of its population. scor- ed second highest honors in the United States for fire prevention work during the vear. This recogni- tion has been commended by the in- surance underwriters recently made an inspection of New I The addition of the number seven fire station on Stanley strest with a new pumper and company atly increased the efficicncy of the department, and the addition of perma switchboard operators and additional men for our down town companies has fire department up to a much high- er standard. Your honorablc body has recently approved the contract for the con- nd upon completion we will again he alle to start the training which is so es- sential in keeping our men fit and or The fire p checked ever: is due this dep 2 our fire los @ commis Roard of Fire recommended ladder and company be installe the northwestern section of the and they have also recommended new fire house and pumper to be o in the western section of the city. These recommendations should be given careful study as they are | needed for the proper protection of our city and should be granted as vention work is being day and much credit rtment for minimiz- on and the > Underwri that a new ional rs have service in ted ito have a central place active in fts | | work, and with the addition of the brought our ! soon as possible. The city of New Britain is rapidly quiring a great deal of fire ap- ! paratus, and as its value to the city requires that it be Kept constantly in condition to use, it is my opinion we should give careful study to the need for a properly equipped repair room for our mechanical depart- ment as well as for our electrical Yepartment. Health Department The Abattoir refrigerator at the municipal slaughter house was com- pleted last year and is now in oper- ation, furnishing our citizens with better cooling facilities for meats and returning an increased nue to the city. Although it has heen possible to contract for our garbage disposul this year it is the belief of the health board that it will be Iy necessary to crect a ga cinerator next year., Our cit nily growing and so are the neighboring towns, making 1t in- creasingly difficult and insanitary to dispose of our garbage under the present arrangement. The commit- tee which T appointed last year has Leen working on this project, and 1 cerely hope that the money for an incinerator can be appropriated next year. The health hoard is of the opinion that some provisions should be made to establish an isolation hos- pital, and are also desirous of ex tending their health educational work, as well as to establish clinics |to teach people the value of proper medical care, In all of which I heartily concur, | I feel that the health work, while necessarily carried on under many ! handicaps, is of extreme importance to our citizens and the work done by the department is proving valuable every year. | Building Department The Building Commission cleared up expediately several dis- putes that were in litigation. The work of the inspcctors has been temized, and the efficiency of the to a higher has department brought standard. The building code, which was in process of revision for twelve years or more, has been adopted and in |effect for almost a year and has Leen of great benefit to the city and its citizens. The plumbing code which was adopted at our last meeting Will also be of henefit to | the city. | The Building Commission has end- ed its first year as a self support- ing member of the city government due to the increased fees, and I der this a sound business ement. 1 wish especially to | compliment the commission on ing handled so many difficult prob- lems in an impartial and open- minded manner. Municipal Garage In my message last year T ques | tioned the wisdom of continuing the | Municipal Garage under the present system. During the past year I hav | given the matter much study and ‘thought and after consulting with the chairman of the board and | members of commission using auto- I feel that it is a good plan to stor and service city automobiles, and it is also well to keep the fleet of city cars under proper surveillance when they are not in use. However, with the system under which we are now operating the garage must depend upon the other city departments for their main- tenanc2 costs and it is very evi- dent that 1f in any year it should happen to be true that the eit fleet required very little attentio. the garage would, of course, los money., We are now simply taking the money from one pocket to an- other, maintaining an unnecessary commission with the attendant un- | necessary expense. Therefore, I believe that the city would save considerable moncy if sach department were made abso- lutely responsible for the care, maintenance, and storage of the cars used by their department. T feel that a better storage rate could be obtained from privately owned garage and a lower repair | charge secured the same way. The garage could then be turned over te the Fire Department for a repair shop or used to advantage for a store house. In the meantime T must insist that the various departments using automobiles co-operate more close- Iy with the commission, in whom T have complete confidence, must be brought in for repa when ordered in by the garaze com- mission, and drivers of cf cars must adhere more closely to the regulations of the city garage. Parks have seventeen parks, in- g our three main parks and smaller parks, throughout the city, These parks are not only places of heauty, but are gradually becoming of more use and benefit to our inhabitants. Walnut Hill Park and Willow Brook Park are zlorious playgrounds where foot- haseball, and all sorts of games may be played. The swimming pool in Willow Brook Park is a Meccea during the summer for the children, and the skating pond in the Stanley Quarter Park in the winter h helped many people to enjoy wholesomencss of out-door re tion. T feel that we should i the seating facill Memorial Field and improve the haseball dia- monds at Walnut Hill and Willow Brook Parks, as well as to provide more ball gronnds if necessary, Tt is the desire of the Park Board that he city as a whole make more and continaed use of the parks. They » for the t of cveryone, let us enjoy them. ot We eln the for a proposed park northwestern section of the ity has not been forgotten, and is still my hope that work may started on it if not this year, least by next year. Municipal Recreation Commission T teel that this commission i complishing mueh for the futurc 'ns of New Britain. Their p! unds, playgronnd equipment, and during the sumnier months, their directed supervision over the sports and games of the children, are of inestimable value to the eity. It is to be regretted that it was not pos sible this vear to include in our budget sufficient funds to hire an he more | Cars | | Advocates Econom I MAYOR RDNER C. WELD all-year supervisor. The commission will, as in past years, carry out their program for Fourth of July and the band concerts that have been so plea it will be possible, with the aid of the Park Department, to provide ng places during the coming winter, and T also hope that at some | future time, some plan may be pro- vided so that we may have com- || | munity use of the school gymnasi- | ums, ‘War Memorials Tt should be very gratifying to the citizens of New Britain and is to me as your Mayor that ways and means were found making it pos- sible to erect a memorial to Soldiers and Sailors of the Spanish | American War. This memorial is I nearing completion and plans for the dedication of the memorial are now being made. It is also gratifying that ground has been broken for the World War .\‘Xr‘morml. I believe that it is fit- | ting at this time fo note that New Jritain s the first large city in Connceticut to recognize the service of the veterans of the World War through the building of a memorial. | | This memorial when completed will be the largest of its kind in the Fast, a fact in which this commun- ity may take justifiable pride. These memorials, when complet- ed, will be monuments to the men who gave their lives for their country, they will honor the fan:- |ilies of those men and their com- (rades, a gift the honor and the love we have for those that fell. Round Table Discussions T have found that the monthly meetings of the chairman of our city hoards have been of great value to the city, the department heads, and myself. I believe that such meet- ings are of sufficient importance to warrant their continuance. Munci- pal officlals and executives have Leen brought into closer contact | with each other through medium of | result | these gatherings, with the that they have acquired a deeper | and more intimate knowledge of the problems which confront the ity government. New Street Planning Since many of the branches of City Planning, as Zoning, Building Codes, Water Supply, Sewers, ete. are taken care of already, or are being handled by other agencies of the city government, street planning is mow the principal subject for consideration, New Britain has heen laid out to a large degree alread The remaining area is not in large tracts, but is owned hy many per- sons. In order - to prevent pateh work development, h particular arca should he mapped and studied | individually. Then a general street plan should be officially adopted for each area to which the indi vidual property owner in his layout must conform major details. During th the first attempts Fave b in preparing such minor The area hounded Governor street, (Parkview avenue), Farmington avenue, Osgood avenue, and Hunter ad now a street plan on file the City Clerk’s office. This work can be carried on in this man- ner very reasonably, providing = small sum of money is provided cach year for the enginecring work. Unaccepted and Pocket Streets While there were three attempts to take over and grade unaccepted E s under the agreement plan 1s proposed last vear in each cas it was found impossible to &ecure the signature from every owner of abutting property, and the regular procedure was fully carricd out. Two of these streets were worked, and the third, Commonwealth av- enue from Farmington avenue to McClintock street, will be undertak- en shortly, Apparently the agree- ment plan cannot he worked due > onc hundred per cent signa > requirement. However, the Enginecring Department should be supplied with a special squad signed to articular work (plus ‘he City Plan work), and the detail work pushed consistently in order ‘o make any progress in reducing the list. No report was made by the special Council Committee rels to pocket streets. Personally, it s my opinion that the policy of not allowing the laying out of further treets of this character should h even more firmly established, hut that existing pocket streets should e condemned and blie highways. Strect Extensions Three projects for strect exten- sions were considerably advanced toward completion. Thell stroct was ough from B t street to t the filling ith the eomple- macadamizing now officially A continnous from Ken- Main strect. from West was pro- 1he in past ¥ 'n ma ity Plan: the eenwood st partly completed tion of the fill and of Renfschler street, o part of Duell street street will he provid ington street to Sonth Willow t px cot to LaSalle ionally adopted d is hefore Board of Compensation and A ment. At an early date Willow street should be further extended to in- W stre ion, reet ing. It is my hope that | the | to posterity proving | making | [clude Lorraine street | through to Allen street and cut [the tire chains, confined to narrow opposite | lanes by the trolley tracks, nearly Carlton street, giving a continuous |cut through to the base. This type stréet from North street to the en- | of surface can readily be repaired trance to the North End Park and {and rencwed. It is the opinion of !through the Park to Stanley street |at Blake Road. Monroe street extension, from | Greenwood street to Glen strect has | heavy, the engineer that, when the brick | sections are taken up, the construc- tion of a new brick pavement on a well constructed concrete been proposed for completion this | base should be carefully considered. vear, $25,500 being At the prices now asked for the appropriated. | Bridges The widening and strengthening . necessary land and buildings there- | of Black Rock Bridge on West Main ‘on, there will not be funds left for the re-location of the sufficient | street has been proposed. An esti- mate of the probable cost of this buildings, 80 at present the matter | work is furnished by the Railroad is at a standstill. Some solution ought to be reached so that this Smost important artery may be car- ried through. | The opening of West Pearl street, from Glen street to Franklin Square was proposed and provisionally adopted in 1920, but no report was submitted by %he Board of Compen- | sation and Assessment, as no funds were likely to be avallable to pay the damages likely to be awarded. | Several other important pyoiects for street extensions are also Teady for detail consideration, notably Wilcox street southerly, from West street through FErwin Place to North street. Carefully, study should be made as to means of securing necessary funds for these and simi- lar work. Street Widening The proposed widening of prin- cipal strects been investigated considerably during the past year. | On West Main street from High treet to Cedar strect the layout of | swept alternate nights. | | should be taken as soon as possible | to separate the ty-four foot width has been cgally adopted. This provides for a forty-four foot roadway and ten | foot walks. The actual working of ! this layout (forty-four) foot road way, thirteen foot walks) from Main street to High street, as the two | iper must be worked together because of trolley track re-location. The widening of Arch strect has heen provistonally adopted and now hefore the Board of Compensa- tion and Assessment. This provid for a forty-two foot roadway to company is $24,000. Means of ap- portioning the cost and providing the city's share of the expense are now under discussion. The cost of such work being a “change in the highway™” would be apportioned by the Public Utilities Commission, not over one-half of the cost being paid by the city. The completion of this project is urged. Street Cleaning A pick-up street sweaper has been purchased from the 1927-1928 ap- propriation, and is now in operation connection with the sewer trunk lines and disposal plant. This wduld be securing the services of & consulting engineer, experienced in :disposal plant design, who should | prepare the design of the plant, and | the plans and specifications for the contracts. The field engineering work in connection with the design |and carrying out of the construction [should be handled by the squad in {the City Engineering Department, the Designer giving sufficient super- vision to see that the work is car- | ried out in such a manner as to ful- [ ill his purposes. He should also ]itut out the plant on its comple- | tion and be tully responsible for the | results obtained. Engineering Department The work of the Engineering De- partment has increased very rapid- 11y during the past few years while | the other work of the Public Works 1Deparlment has’ likewise Increased |at the same or greater rate. With the varied type of work required of | the two branches, it s becoming im- possible for one executive to cover | both, either satisfactorily to himself {on the paved and macadam streets. | Or properly for the city. The En So far the operation has been dur- | gineer should be able to study the !ing the day only, cleaning up the |problems and keep in touch with heavy accumulation of winter dirt. | When this is completed and the | pavement repairs completed, the | Lours will be changed so that the | pavements will be cleaned during | the early morning hours when the | cars are off the street, and ma- cadam during daylight hours. The | pavements are to be flushed and | New Equipment and Housing During the past year a paving | | tools ought to be made at the earli- is | | tools. Now, more than one-half the | Grand street and a thirty-four foot | roadway from Grand street to Web- ster street. Future widening is advo- cated on the west side, from Grand strect to Hart strect when the con- struction of new buildings permits the lowering of the sidewalk to compare with the roadw There has heen a large amount of agitation aroused during the year relative to the proposed widening of Stanley street from Chestnut street to Kelsey street. While there is con- est possible moment, as the present vas lai 14 si large | pneiipasslaldiout dorahusing URRKE/Inacr important departments in the | city government. We have, since {1920, been following the program arranged by Allan Hazen, and | have completed some of the minor | etails. The mains which encircle building must be used for repair shops and small but perishable equipment. Sewer tem Throughout the past year, as formerly, two gangs of laborers have been employed in the construction of lateral sewers. The department had a crane equipped with a drag | line bucket which although cumber- | Late siderable sympathy for the abutting | property owners, there is no ques- tion in my mind that the street shonld he widened, even to a much greater extent than proposed in or- work. and has done excellent n the fall the bucket crane boom were removed and & | trench hoe added. This has given | hetter control of digging and more | speed. Greater progress is expected some, | with this machine but the board is | | to discuss machines n der to care for the traffic which ! because of the location of thi ‘streef, naturally will pass through. I believe that, when the work s completed, with underground conduits and paving, the most out- spoken opponents would not wish to return to the present layout. Chestnut street widening, from Main street to Eim sircet should be completed during the present year. ! Conduits have heen laid, while the Connecticut Company has already ordered new special work for its car barn entrance to permit The placing of its track in the center of the widened street. As soon as this continuing its investigation of | trenching machines, having begun arly a year | ago. The demand for lateral sew: | | crs is still urgent in nearly all sec- | wire | | tion machinery tions, particularly the northerly | scetions, but no incre has been | made in the trunk lines. It s 2gain urged that modern construc- be sccured, also that an experienced sewer designer study and lay out intcrcepting sev ‘ers to take the loads from the pres- can be delivered and installed, pav- | ing will be placed. Another widening project now in the survey stage street, from the railroad crossing to East Main strect. The minimum toadway width is now about thirty- three and one-half feet while the minimum distance between build- ings is about sixty-three and half feet. In connection with project there is a possibility of the opening of East Main street, from Main street to Washington strect through relatively proverty. Some of the property is, me of the traffic from Main str Surfacing and Macadamizing streets Nothing can be added to the de- ! present much overloaded in is that of Main | | Broad street to Main street i need of immediate relief west and | your honorable body undeveloped | n fon e however, of high value, but such an | { oncning should remove | ity | cured by construction of a 60 inch seription given last year concerning | | resurfacing and penetration ma- cadam. More should be built. How- ever, it is even more evident that ‘at the present rate of appropriation the street work is getting further behind each year. Board members have repeatedly asked whether ap- propriation for new macadam could be u way width about eighteen feet in ed for constructing a travelled | | urements have heen made instead of full thirty feet, or curb | to curh. If so, the length of street done for the same money could be Increased about ty per cent and give more people a hard surface te travel for the entire year, Money | spent on dirt roads and continual repairs is of little permanent value. Paving Paving work so far laid out for ar include (1) South Main from Franklin Square street; (2) South Main street at the city line, and Chestnut street, from Main street t. The first is now fully the final decision ion of the trolley track having be received, This work | will be an important link in the southern outlet from the city, and with the track removed from this section, the street will be much more satisfactory for travel. Just what work will be undertaken after this has not been decided. The narrow strects about the center of the city should be paved at an early e in line with the policy in vogue for the past few years, (1) Corbin Place, (2) Washington street, from Myrtle rect to DBroad street, (3) Myrtle street, Grove street to Cur- tis strect have conduits, while Court street and Walnut street could have conduits built quickly. The replacing of the wood block sections on West Main strect was completed in 1926, The old con- erete base was found 1o he in such a condition that it was entirely re- moved, and probably was the hig- gest cause of the bad surface con- ditions. Tt scems likely that the con- crete base under the brick is also wd and will have to be replaced. In replacing the wood block an amicsite surface was placed outside of the troliey rails, With concrete between the rails. The severe win- ter punished the surfaces consider- to | @) ! as to | | street ent trunks. This is no criticism of the original design, for many of | these sewers were constructed over thirty years ago. Tests to locate im. proper connections to the storm | sewer has progressed, and the few found are now being eliminated. The st m s at many sections while other sections Lave no storm sewers. Very severe sudden storms last year effectively demon- | strated the lack of capacity of the | Lafayette street collector taking water from Broad strect, as dirt | was carried from the hills north of Rail- | road crossing. They also showed the north of Farmington avenue. Piper Brook and Cherry street storm wa- ter outfalls should be extended at rly date. Part of the Cherry brook is being enclosed through Willow Brook Park to the Line Bridge. Some relief for the Lafayette street line can be se- | trunk sewer in Winter strect. Sewage Disposal Early last summer, in co-opers tion with the State Water Commis- sion, work was begun for the pu pose of gathering Information, mak- g surveys and studies for a new disposal plant. A detail survey been made of the present city prop- | crty and adjacent property. Me of the flows arriving at the present plant, while the troublesome South Side Trunk sewer has been surveyed with view to increasing its capacity. Test | pits are now being dug covering the area just north of the present beds to determine the subsoil conditions which will likely be the determin- ing factor in selecting the type of plant to be built. The layout now being considered is as follows (1) bar screens and grit chambers; (2) measuring channel; (3) screens; tanks, either (a) two story Imhoff tanks, (b) shallow Imhoff tanks with separate sludge digestion, or (c) with separate sludge digestion, and (5) sludge drying beds. The liquid effluent from the tanks will require | treatment at a later date by meth- ods to be selected as soon as means | | for financing can be arranged for. | At this point it should be noted that {1926 is now practically completed. | the refuse from the bar screens, grit chamber and fine screens can most readily bhe disposed of, with least offence, by incineration. The work contemplated by council authorization of June the 16, | To the prescnt time and until some {outs hav other step is arranged for, the cit has had the advantage of consulta- tfon with the official and engineers of the State Water Commission. Preliminary skotches and plant lay- been worked over to a sufficient degree to cheek up the preliminary estimates prepared by (?r- State Water Commisslon’s en- gincer. It was from these estimates that the recommendations were pre- pared for the authorizing of the is- suance of sewer honds to the amount of $1,000,000 to take eare | of all work of sewer construction and cont vears. T believe that the plan, now heing followed by the Water De- | fine | (4) some form of settling | other types of shallow tanks, acts for plant construction | that may be let during the next two | the progress of engineering work, but it is impossible if he must take care of the accounting, purchasing and details of maintenance (street repairs, sidewalks, snow removal, street cleaning, lighting, railings, signs and the like). With the imme- diate prospects of active work in sewage disposal plant construction, and in water supply extension, steps engineering and mixer and a street sweeper has been | other works, in order that the per- added to the departments, equip- ment making the problem of hous- ing more acute. Provision for an- building containing repair shops and space for storing small | son in charge of each should be in | charge from the start. Water Supply I feel that the water department, | charged with the responsibility of | storing and furnishing the city with ‘an abundance of pure water at all | times and seasons, is one of the !'the city are now practically com- | pleted, and at the time of the tests | by the National Board of Fire Un- derwriters it was found that the | larger mains had increased the | pressure at some of the hydrants. We found, however, during the a | tests by the underwriters that our | pressure should be increased still further, and that we are now near- ing the time when it will become imperative to increase our storage facilities, although recent tests by the Pitometer Company show no in- crease in the consumption of water over 1924, However, we must take into consideration that we have en- tered into contracts to furnish Plainville, Maple Hill and Newing- ton, as well as Berlin and Xensing- | ton, with water. It must be borne 'in mind that it is necessary for cities such as New Britain, which have acquired vights and water sheds, that might at some future time have bheen developed by the urrounding towns, to protect these towns and furnish them with water, and because these towns, as well as New Britain, are growing very rap- idly we must look forward to a greater consumption of water in the near future. With the increased population about our water sheds it also stands to reason that we are approaching the time when there will be danger of contamination, and we must either chlorinate or filter our water to protect our citizens and to assure them v\'fllel’l { free from pollution. With these facts clearly in mind | the water board recently asked that request the legislature to give the city the right to issue three million dollars worth of water bonds in order to start & | program on which it decided after | careful study in consultation with {Allan Hazen and City Engineer | Williams. The first step should be the con- ter reservoir. This would assure us of pure water and a greater pres- sure in all onr mains as the filters and pure water reservoir will be at a higher elevation than Shuttle Meadow Lake. The second step should be the laying of a new water main from the new reservoir to New Britain, and the third step hould be to lay a new forty-two inch pipe line from the back of Shuttle Meadow to the pumping station at Forestville. There are | also two other projects which may ccessarily have to be added. construction of another pumping station at Forestville and the lay- ling of a thirty-six inch main from ithe present station to Harts Mills above Whigville Reservoir, It is also nccessary at this time that we give careful study to the development of our holdings above Whigville Reservoir. At the present time we are losing much of the | flood flows that could be stored very advantageously for the dry | seasons. Such a project will take a great deal of time and will require the acquiring of considerable more d. If the above program is followed {out it will increase our present supply approximately thirty-three [ per cent, or three million gallons a | day, and in all probability we can | defer the raising of Shuttle Meadow i dam for quite a few years. In connection with the proposed work of the water department f{t | has been brought very forcibly to attention that the work in this artment requires the services of a competent engineer practically all of the time and I believe that the work is of sufficient importance to warrant the employment of a full time engineer during the period of the proposed mew .construction. | It can Re readily understood that | the subject of our water supply is | vital to our citizens and should be | given careful study, not only by the | Common Council, but by evety citi- | zen of New Britain. Common Council T wish to endorse the mendation that T made last year | concerning the Common Council, and urge the members fo inform themselves more generally on mat- | ters of city business. I feel that each member of the Council should recom- | ably, particularly the amiesite where | partment, should be followed 1n |feel it incumbent to acquaint him- {icsburg, Ohio. The | selt very thoroughly with the needs of his particular ward and the city In general. More attendance of council meetings is not sufficient. I believe that the Councll at pres- ent is too unwieldy for the most efficient work, and I should like to recommend that study be given a plan to reduce the size of our coun- cil. A board of Alderman, composed of fourteen members, two from each ward, and two Aldermen at large, each to be paid at least two | hundred dollars per year, would in my opinion expidite transaction of the city business and greatly in- crease the value of the board to the citizens and the municipality as a whole. Conclusion In conclusion I again ask and re- quire loyal co-operation, strict economy, and able efficlency from every member of the city govern. ment. It is only through the medi. um of these three attributes that we may hope to give the service to our city that its citizens have the right to expect. Respectfully submitted, GARDNER C. WELD Mayor Heal Skin_Diseases For 35 Cents Others May Fail — Peterson’s Ointment Sure To Succeed The minute you apply Peterson’s Ointment to that burning, inflamed, eczema tortured skin—its mighty healing power brings blessed relief, But better still after a few appli- cations skin is clear and free from eruptions or roughness. It's the one | great skin remedy that every drug- | gist is glad to recommend. Get a large box for only 35 cents at any druggists—and money back if it isn’t the best you ever used. Al- ways keep Peterson's Ointment in the house. Fine for burns, scalds, bruises, sunburn, chafing and aching inflamed feet. There is nothing bet- ter for itching eczema and piles. Disturbed Sleep Caused From Bladder Irritation Js Nature’s Signal of “Danger Ahead” Joseph Dow, R. 55, Trenton, N. J., says: “My rest at night was disturb- ed 10 to 20 times. Lithiated Buchu has reduced this and entirely reliev- ed me of that terrible burning and smarting. I was told there was no help for me. I want others to know and will tell or write my ex- perience.” Lithiated Buchu is not a patent medicine. The formula is on the | package. It acts on the bladder as | epsom salts do on the bowels. Drives | out abnormal deposits, lessens ex- | cessive acids, thereby relieving the irritation which causes “disturbed | sleep.” Teller Laboratory, Mechari- Sold at all drug Locally at Fair Dept. Store, No More Piles | Thousands Bless Dr. Leonhardt, the Physiclan Who Discovered This Common Sense Remedy If you think .that the | knife is the only method of escape i rfom the misery of piles, it's be- ause ;you haven't heard of the new treatment known as Dr..Leonhardt's HEM-ROID. | This Doctor's treatment is inter nal. By experimenting, he discove i(‘.r-:«l the cause of piles and then | went further and compounded a | remedy that would remove the cause, Every pile sufferer should benefit | by his discovery and so that there | will be no doubting or delay, Fair stores, surgeon’s | struction of the filters and pure wa- | Dept. Store, Inc., and all druggists "nr\: authorized to scll HEM-ROID | with guarantee that it will do as | stated or money back. | On that honorable basis every sufferer should secure a package of | Dr. Leonhardt's HEM-ROID today. '0’Brien Boy . Thin and Pale In a Little Over Two Months Gained | Eleven Pounds | As a body builder, an appetite creator, apd to make weak, skinny boys and girls sturdy, strong and full of energy there is nothing like | Cod Liver Oil—any physician will tell you that. But it's vile, horrible stuff to take, and is apt to upset any stomach, so now doctors are prescribing and | wise parents are | buying McCoy's | Cod Liver Oil Compound Tablets—— i sugar-coated, and as easy to take as candy. The son of George G. O'Brien of | Mahwah, N. J, was thin and pale | and did not get enough nourishment from his food. In a little over two months, he gained eleven and one- | half pounds, and feels and looks one hundred per cent better. Mothers, if any of your children jare weak, thin or puny, give them | these tablets, as directed for 30 days, and watch them gain flesh and health from day to day—they seldom fail—but if the unusual | should happen and you are not su- premely satisfied with results—your druggist is authorized to return your money. Be sure—always—to get the orig- inal and genuine McCoy's Cod Liver Oil Compound Tablets—60 tablets 60 cents at any druggist in Amer= ica. Thousands of boxes sold daily. 666 s a Prescription for |Colds, Grippe, Flu, Dengue, dilious Fever and Malaria. 1t kills the gorms A