Morning journal and courier., 1891-11-26
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
An Interesting Meeting-Able an
 Uustruetive VmprOmptu Address

D. Dewell, J. c. Gallagher the secretary, Lieutenant A. N. Farnham, Commissioner John H. Platt, T. Attwater Barnes, Sidney Oviatt and others.
 After reading the minutes of the last meeting S. P. Thrasher was elected 8 mem ber.
 The sum of $150 was voted to the use of the committee on new enterprises. It is the opinion of many members that the money will be judiciously expended for the benefit of the chamber and the city.
 Captain Townshend reported that 1 200 feet of the west breakwater was com pleted. He also stated that he had been informed that no vessels, exclusive of small craft, had taken refuge inside the breakwater during the last storm. He continued, stating that the oyster grounds inside the breakwater were protected by the breakwater.
 Captain Townshend, as chairman of committee, read bill which will be pre- sented to congress asking for the appro- priation of s1 1,OOo, 900 to pay the expenses of surveys and purchase of land sites for the erection of Notifications at the eastern: entrance to Long Island sound. The text of the bill will be found appended below.
 The report was accepted, the committee continued and the bill ordered forwarded to congress.
 A vote of thanks was passed to the re- publican league for the usage of their rooms and other courtesies at the time of the annual dinner ot the chamber.
 The bill of expenses of the dinner was read. The total cost of the banquet was $470.13.
 The president will nominate members of the chamber to represent the New Haven chamber at the annual meeting in Water bury-in January next-of the state board of trade.
 The following was passed: Resolved, That the New Haven chamber of commerce urge'the state board of trade to make every effort possible to secure the passage of an act through the general assembly of Con necticut at it's next session, authorizing the formation of battalion of naval reserve militia"
 A resolution was passed urging the passage of the tonnage bill.
 Edward McGowan and James D. Dewell referred to the matter of widening the roadway at the corner of State street and Grand avenue. Three accidents occurred there on Tuesday, as related by one of the speakers.
 | The committee on town and city i'm provements was authorized by vote to prepare a petition to present to the con- mon council for the widening of the street at the point named
 Lieutenant Farnham called the atten- ton of the members to the fact that the park commissioners are about to acquire possession of land on the west side of l West river, below Whalley avenue, for l park purposes, and that the land is a de- oi, oit for h11aj committee on new enterprises will inquire | and report.
 The subject of the consolidation of the third and fourth class of mail matter was brought up.
 As this was a subject with which Post master Sperry is familiar he made long and able speech, which was very interest. ing. on the subject. During his remarks he gave the members much information on the subject and other matters pertain. l ing to the United States mails. He stated l that he had many times been to Washing ton when he endeavored to bring about the consolidation of those two classes ot | matter.
 | MT. Sperry stated that whenever any bill to secure cheaper postage had been brought before congress the bill had been defeated by men and corporations who l were in the express business. 1 He also stated that no nation on the earth had such cheap rates of postage as l the United States, in proportion to the distance, and called attention to the fact l that letter can be sent from any part o1 the United States, 5000 miles wide and 3,000miles long, and toAlaska for two cents
 He stated that ill future more collec.
 tions will be made from yellow and greer
 boxes in this city. He expressed the be. lief that letters will at some future tim,
 be delivered by pneumatics.
 l Regarding the expense of the postof6ce | department the speaker stated that last year there was deficit of $7,000, 900. This | was one reason why there were not more improvements ordered by the postoffice de l ment.
 Regarding the improvements in the ser vice at the New Haven postofice he stated l that now letters are assorted in the New Haven office that were formerly assorted on the railway postal cars This is an i'm provement that other offices are trying te adopt. The following vote was passed
 That congress be requested to pass upor the act now before it; viz. the consolida
 tion of the third and fourth class of mai
 matter When all they brought up haG
 been disposed of the meeting adjourned. l A BILL
 To provide for surveys for sites for fortif
 cations and other sea coast defenses a
 the entrance of Long Island sound.
 Be it enacted by the senate and house o1
 representatives of the United States o4
 America in congress assembled:
 That for the purpose of providing mon
 eys to pay the expenses of surveys for for
 tifcation and other defenses and procuring
 necessary sites therefor on the main lanC
 and on the islands at the eastern entrance
 of Long Island sound lying within the boundaries of the states of New York, Con
 necticut and Rhode Island, one million ($1, ,000, ,00W dollars, or so much thereof as may be required, is hereby appropriated to be expended nnder the direction of the president of inc United States. and to be available from year to year as required un til expended.
 Provided, that no part thereof shall be expended for said Notifications or thei1 armament until the secretary of war shal have caused a survey to be made and g detailed pr,' ject not to exceed in cost the sum herein appropriated for said fortifca. | tions and their armaments to be prepared and shall have approved the same. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. | We, the undersigned, appointed by your honorable body committee to draft bill "uoAo1iAihS oh oPpioPiAo'lon AoA PioAAAni- nary surveys off the entrance to Long Island Sound, respectfully report the accompanying draft of a bill and rec | ommend the adoption of the same by the ] chamber and that copy be sent to our l representative in congress from this dis l trict with request that it be presented in | proper form to the United States house of | Representatives and that our senators and representatives be requested to use their | best efforts to secure it's prompt passage. Charles Hervey Townshend, chairman; :, H. P. Harrison, W. P. Trowbridge, N. D.. l Sperry, Edward E. Bradley Attest, John o. Gallagher, secretary of committee. Fell from a Car. Thomas R. Bligh, vender of patent medicines, while standing on the rear platform of Fair Haven car yesterday at