Morning journal and courier., 1882-01-17
Bridging the Thames.


Mass Meeting Held i'm New London-Op-
 posing the Measure.
 New London had great mass meeting of citizens yesterday in opposition to bridging the Thames. Mayor Colt called it to order and Alderman Tinker offered set of resolu- tions opposing the bridging. The first big gun of the occasion was fired by Hon. Thomas NJ. Waller, but it was in favor of the bridge Times are lively over the subject as MT. Waller said that anyone who opposes the bridge was seemingly regarded as sec- ond Benedict Arnold. MT. Waller said that
 he WAS lawyer retained to have the river
 bridged. He loved New London and would
 not support the bridge if it would not in his
 opinion benefit the city. Would he try to 1 injure his own property? Gus Brandegee is here for the New London Northern railroad
 I'm here for the three other roads. There are in this town six lawyers re- | talned for one or the other side No one could say where the depot would be l built or whether the track would be removed 1 from along the water front go around the | town. If we can't have the navy yard and
 the bridge, then Pm in favor of the navy yard The largest naval station in Europe, at Brest, is inside of drawbridge. If the
 river is bridged, the drawbridge will be wide
 enough to admit the largest vessel afoat 1 There's not a man among you but knows the
 Thames will soon be bridged like every other
 river. Hartford long fought bridging the 1 Connecticut, but the river is bridged Mir. | Waller offered substitute resolutions oppos- ! ing the bridging unless it is provided
 that the track crossing the wharf property
 at and below the parade be removed and | tIn I~ay -IYiIn Cho,r, !, ok doned, if the citizens of New London in l town meeting assembled require approve i of such removal and abandonnaent And ! unless it is further provided that passen- 1 ger depot shall be located at place approved of by the town of New London, in town l meeting assembled, or by commission ap- pointed by said town, and unless it is further provided that the resolution permitting the construction of 8 bridge shall be imperative ! until the United States government was satis- l fled and approved the resolution"
 1 Augustus Brandegee fired off the other big l gun of the occasion He stood as citizen | regarding the project. So help me God, I | never could advocate for pay proposition that thought would injure my fellow-citi- | zens. (Applause.) The railroad companies l planned to get bridge across the river in l the cheapest way possible. If the road goes
 ways ~nN must W be 's crossed. @ % Mr. Brande. 1 gee farther said that the New Lon
 don Northern railroad was local institu- tuition and paid glowing tribute to MT.
 George W, Bentley, the superintendent of
 the road, who employed 25O men who SUD-
 ported families aggregating 2,50o persons, all ! of whom reside here. What object is it to l us that passengers get to New York or Bos-
 ton a few minutes quicker? If the proposed
 bridge is put across the Thames river it will 1 be the greatest detriment to New London in
 terests. The grand argument in favor of New London is the open harbor and that
 vessels can sail to and from the navy yard.
 A large navy yard at New London is now 1 probable. Never were the naval officers more Tn favor of it. Friend Waller says | that his substitute resolution will fix that. Is that so? It is like the ''sheep to nurse the wolf" Mir. Walters substitute resolu- l tion got two votes. The other resolutions ! were carried