The Press., 1894-02-22
Letter from New London.

ford, the editor wanted to know if couldn't furnish for The Press letter de- scriptive of the new industry about to find a home in the Harbor City. We certain ly have a right to that title-Harbor City "a population of nearly 15,000 giving us a right to the city title, and old Nature did the rest; for, as to harbor, we are in it (to use little slang) with both feet. That the past eight years have built and awoke the Harbor City up is very evident. Since then the public library, a gift to the city from Hon. Henry P. Haven, of the old whaling firm of Williams < Haven, has been built, credit to any city, with it's arched porch and massive solid ma terial of Leets Island granite, with brown stone trimmings elaborately carved. h.
 side the door 8 pleasant and Gas such a
 room should be) well-lighted reading
 room and plenty of reference books (not
 to be taken away, so that you are always
 sure to find them). In the rear are the
 book cases, and, as one glances from case
 to case, what wonder that any man should
 stand awed to think how little of all the
 knowledge in the world he individually
 possesses. am not now speaking of the
 man whom we all know q mean no man
 in particularly, who never sees the inside
 of book, and yet knows it all. notice
 that 99 times out of every 100 the man
 who lays claim to knowing the least, but
 keeps his mouth shut and saws wood, is
 the one that gets there. I am sorry to
 say have had this truth forced upon me
 good many times in talking with peo-
 pie, and am ashamed to confess I didn't
 appear to be the man that kept his mouth
 shut Yet that is no reason that the
 boys, or the girls, either, educated in the schools of to-day who apply themselves to study should be ashamed or feel diffi- dent as they step out into the walks of life. I look back and think of the old
 brick building, with it's worn out entry,
 knee-sprung joints, busted blackboards
 and cracked ceiling, to not mention the
 artistic carving on the desks. And the
 boy who didn't have his initials carved
 there, and good humping for his pains
 thrown in, provided he wasn't foxy enough
 to ink them over and swear they had been
 there a long time, wasn't of much ac- count.
 How different those from the school
 houses we have now. Three new brick
 houses that would credit any town or city. The three have historic names :
 the Wameaug, Nathan Hale and Win throp, built within three or four years of each other in the order named. the last
 named being dedicated somewhere about Christmas time of last year, and is built upon the spot of the Winthrop home- steam, and as the Harbor City was found
 ed by them, is fitting place for it's erec- tion. It is of colonial style of architect ure, heated by hot water, and a model
 building in all respects. The Williams
 memorial institute, high school for
 young ladies, is perhaps the incest piece
 of architecture the city has to boast of
 and has an air of refinement and elegance
 about it which must be seen to be appre-
 ciated, standing at the apex of a gentle
 slope with just slope enough and land
 enough to make it all symmetrical. It always impresses me, as does the capitol at Hartford, as being just right. The memorial hospital, founded by Hon. J. N. Harris, and within full view of his residence, monument to him and a cred it to the city. and place of refuge and tender care for the unfortunate, was dedi- cated last year. Business blocks have sprung up on our principal streets; not of ! a spontaneous mushroom growth, but of solid brick structures, pleasing to the
 eye and we'll fitted up for stores, offices, l &c. Among the most noteworthy we may mention the Cronin block, Schwarn- ! CT, Tate, Rudd, Dart, and the new Chap pell block on Bank-st., which is nearing completion, and is to be occupied by the Day Publishing Co.,, and is great orna- 1 ment to that street.
 It was my privilege short time ago to view the new music room just added on the residence of F. H. Chappell, Esq.,, and perhaps brief description might not
 be out of place. The room is of circular shape, with an elegant mantel and fire- place opposite to the entrance, that side of the room being squared for the puF- pose. The room is frescoed in a pleasing
 manner, woodwork of oak elaborately carved, floor polished smooth as mir
 TOT, and might readily be taken for one huge board at first glance, it being so smooth and even. The roof is arched and the room lighted by sky-light of colored glass of circular shape, while in the center is a ground glass are, which l was confidentially told by the carpenter cost $50, and is perhaps 15 inches in di- ] ameter, to be used as globe for an elec- tric light. 1 should say it is all of 25 fit. I from the floor to the sky-light, while elec- I tric lights are scattered about the walls,
 supported by silver fixtures. The room | is heated by steam from indirect radiators, the heat coming into the room through I registers in the wall, and, if have been informed correctly, cost enough to build l as good home as I ever expect to have. The casino, just below the lighthouse, I was erected last summer, and helps to ! add to the dignity of the place. I must | not fail to mention the electric cars, oI ! the new park given to the city by ex-May- or Williams, and converted over from an \ ancient graveyard, "a great improve ment as I see it, and not so much of a 1 desecration as it seems to many The I new park at the beach was started last ] season, and has been greatly improved 1 this fall and winter, so have heard, but, not having been down there, can't speak 1 from what l have seen, yet it bids fair to I become one of the principal seaside parks l on the coast.
 Mayor Bentley is erecting large lum Der yard just below Fort Trumbull, and l the Morgan iron works have built quite a large shop. all within the last eight years. Yes, eight years is quite time, yet how quickly it has passed.
 It is time the old city had a new name. l The Whaling City sounds out of place l for a city of to-day. There is no profit I nowadays in that branch of business, yet you see lots of old settlers who never seem to forget the days of yore. Those | were busy days and good times. But l what we want now is business. The Bath | iron works talk of removing here, and we
 surely hope they will do so.
 The Whiton Machine Co., is pleasantly l located on Howard-st., and as you pass l the handsome front q say handsome for I 1 so call it on building designed for man. l ufacturing purposes), with it's grass bor- ] dered walks and two-story front you pass ] in the door and enter hall which leads l to the private offices and drafting-r room, l also into stock-room and shop. On the l left of the door is the stock-room, on the | .irphA %I<o oFfHa fIn hra ,l: AL.