CITY OF BOSTON.

IN COMMON COUNCIL, June 14, 1875.

The Joint Standing Committee on Common and Public Grounds, having complied with the instructions of the City Council to give a public hearing to all persons interested in the subject of establishing a granite curb or an iron fence on the westerly line of Tremont street, beg leave to submit the following

REPORT.

Although the question was reopened upon the request of those who favored the erection of an iron fence, the opinions of those who appeared before the committee were about evenly divided between a curb and a fence. It was represented, on the one side, that the proposed curb would destroy the roots of the outer row of trees; that it would not be a sufficient safeguard against runaway teams; and that a substantial iron fence could be erected at less expense. A plan of such a fence was submitted, the estimated cost of which was $9,885. It was stated, on the other side, that the principal roots of the trees had probably been already cut off in laying the present curb; that no substantial structure could be erected without putting in a foundation as deep as the one specified for the proposed curb; that there was a growing feeling in favor of the substitution of handsome granite curbs around public grounds in place of iron fences; that the plan of the iron fence which had been submitted was imperfect, as the proposed foundations were not sufficiently substantial, and the curbs between the posts

were too low to be properly adjusted to the grade of the adjoining grounds; and that the erection of a fence of an entirely different design from that around the other portions of the Common would be in bad taste.

Upon this presentation of the case the committee decided to adhere to the plan for a curb prepared by the City Engineer; and they accordingly opened the proposals which had been received as stated in their previous report. The lowest bid was $9,047.50, something less than the estimated cost of the fence.

The committee would therefore recommend the passage of the accompanying order

JOHN T. CLARK,

JAMES POWER,

GEO. A. SHAW,

PIERPONT EDWARDS,

MICHAEL D. COLLINS,

Ordered, That the Committee on Common and Public Grounds be authorized to contract with the Cape Ann Granite Company for furnishing and setting a granite curb on the westerly line of Tremont street, between Park street and Boylston street, in accordance with plans and specifications prepared by the City Engineer; the price paid therefor to be as follows, namely: For furnishing and setting the curb, five dollars and fifty cents per lineal foot; for furnishing and setting the steps, eighty-nine dollars per set; the expense to be charged to the appropriation already made therefor.

MINORITY REPORT.

Since the report of the Committee on Common and Squares, recommending the placing of a curb, as originally proposed, upon the Tremont-street side of Boston Common, was recommitted to them, a public hearing has been had, and members of the committee have had further opportunities of obtaining information respecting the injury which the outer row of trees might receive from the curb proposed, and also respecting the desirability, feasibility, and expense of a suitable fence.

A minority of your committee are of the opinion that a suitable curb and fence can be placed in the proposed position, which will do little or no injury to the trees, be a proper protection to the ground, and those who frequent it, and an ornament to the street.

The committee have had a plan submitted, by a competent architect, of a curb, crowned by a neat and artistic fence, the supports of which it is proposed to set in the old post holes of the former fence, and the foundation of which will not interfere with the tree-roots any more than before, and afford more openings to the street than the curb recommended by the majority of the committee, and which, moreover, can be built at a less price.

The minority of your committee believe that a curb with a fence-guard would be a more perfect protection for pedestrians and children, especially from accidental falls, which might occur from a curb unguarded by fence to the street, which is below the grade of the mall, and which would only be separated from immaterial contact with the public high