The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-22
STATE OFFERED BRIDGE ACROSS CONNECTICUT Governor RecomYends Ac- ceptance of Mellen's
 Proposition.

Hartford, May Ex-Governor Wood ruff sent to the general assembly to- day a message accompanying propo- sition from President Mellen, of the New Haven road, to lease to the state for highway purposes the bridge over the Connecticut river between Saybrook, and Lyme, which will be given up as a railroad bridge upon the completion of the new bridge on July 1. The gov- ernor points out the advantages to be gained by securing the bridge, Coin- cidentally, the desks of each member bore circular calling attention to the free bridge" hearing this afternoon, in which the end of the toll bridge system in the state is predicted, and urging every one to attend the hearing.
 The governors message is as fol- lows
 ITO the General Assembly,:
 My attention has been called to the fact that it will be possible for the state of Connecticut to secure to the public the right of way across the Connecticut river at Saybrook over the old railroad bridge operated by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company by entering upon a lease for a long term of years at but a nominal rental. The entire expense to the state would be the cost of building approaches to the bridge-planking, and i,, 0tl, IUp1lH make the bridge safe for use as a highway. Should such lease be en- tered upon. the cost of maintenance could be cared for very readily. The ferry at that point has not only been expensive in maintenance, but wholly inadequate for the traffic, which has grown rapidly and which is likely to grow in the future very much faster,
 While I am personally in favor of abolishing all toll bridges, nevertheless M consider this proposition entirely different from any other in the state. In this particular case the bridge may be made toll bridge, the rate of toll for foot passengers and ordinary ye- hicles could be mple nominal, but the advantages of such highway across the river in the case of automobiles would be so great that I am confident that users of automobiles would be willing to pay liberally. It seems, therefore, that sufficient revenue would be derived from traffic across the bridge to maintain it in good repair.
 Tt is my opinion that this opportu- nity should not be lost without careful and thorough investigation. As this recommendation requires legislative ac- tion, and as the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company will probably be ready to turn the bridge over on lease by July 1 of this year, if your honorable body deem it for the | best interests of the state, prompt ac- ton will be necessary in the premises owing to the necessity of securing sane ton of the war department l would 1 recommend that the matter be referred to the committee on roads, rivers and bridges for consideration and prompt report, and that if your honorable com mittee recommend action in favor of the proposition, suitable appropriation be made to put the bridge in usable condition. would also recommend that the general assembly take favor able action in the premises, that the present commissioners of the ferry at Saybrook and Lyme be made commis- sioners in charge of the toll bridge.
 T would also recommend that if your honorable body deem it wise to authorize the sanction of such lease as is herein recommended the govern or and the attorney general be empow- cred, on the part of the state, to sign such a lease with the railroad compa- ny. I submit herewith a copy of a let ter received from Charles S. Mellen president of the New York, New Ha- ven and Hartford Railroad company, offering definite proposition to the state in regard to this bridge.
 (Siened(