Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-08-14


the vote appropriating the money for
such purpose was illegal and not per-
mitted under the charter; that the
sum, or any other, could not be APP
propriated without being acted upon in
city meeting upon the recommendation
Of the court of common council.
The committee representing the sew
erai companies of the fire department
made no change in the plan Of recep-
ton on that account. So, in conse-
quence, the members of the companies
will probably be asked to make good
this deficiency, unless the city fathers
who voted the money from the treas
ury can find some way to achieve the
same end and do so without violation
of city ordinance.
The people as a whole would be glad
of the chance to go to city meeting and
vote in favor of a recommendation for
such an appropriation, but 1t is not
likely that a special meeting will be
called for that purpose: still IL does
not seem fair that the fire companies
that have each expended at least 800
in entertaining on the occasion should
be required to dip down into their
jeans and pull out cash enough to
make up a deficiency that was caused
by blunder of the members of the
court of common council, who meant
we'll; but as Dick Deadeye of Pinafore
fame puts it, But they didn't know"
Ex-Mayor George T. Tinker, who
stated in public that the streets of
New London were never in such good
condition as at the present time, and,
as usual, he knew whereof he spoke.
He is one of the first citizens of politi-
cal prominence who has openly prais-
ed Mayor Armstrong; administration
in any particular, and he evidently be-
lieved in giving praise where il is
due. Even some of the newspapers
that have knocked the administration
on general premises, have toned down
considerable as the end of the may
or's term of Office draws near.
So with Mayor Armstrong out of
Office, the good he has done the city
as mayor may be referred to in fair
ness and commentator. Even now the
pipe cutters and catchbasins installed
all over the city, while Armstrong is
mayor, are now receiving favorable
comment. Places in the public streets
which were flooded with nearly every
rain storm no longer obtain, by rea-
son of the mayors innovation in the
care of the city streets, through these
pipes and drains, and the deep quilted.
spring breaking cutters near the. cross
walks in some sections are now among
the things that were and are no more.
The new building of the Queen Anne
lace mill in Montauk avenue, the in
dustry that came to New London
mainly through the efforts Of Fred
1 erick w. Mercer, is now completed,
even to the granolithic sidewalk in.
front of the structure. Although not
the largest mill building II is the ex-
act size and style that the gentleman
who is to conduct the lace curtain bus
mess therein desired. IT is ample for
the start Of an industry that is des-;
| tined to increase, but which the pro-
moter insisted on starting in a small
way and ito make healthy and sub
stantial progress ~
The gentleman who is to conduct
| the business was seriously consider
| ing locating in Westerly in the. va
cant granite building formerly used as
| the store of the Smith Granite com.
pany and the board of trade of that
town had offered inducement to locate,
when Mr.. Mercer became interested
He offered TO erect new building, Just
the kind wanted, and in a location re-
moved from soft coal smoke or other
/ Objectionable features to thellace man
ufacturing business, and of course,
that offer was accepted.
1t is understood that much OF the
work produced at this mill viii be done
| in part by hand outside Of the mill
/ building at the homes of those who
| that, therefore, at the start, there is
no need for large mill building. Now
that the building is ready, it is ,ex-
| pected that the machinery will be soon
| installed and that the first mill to be
erected in that section Of the city will
soon be in operation.
Ex-Mayor 3. F. Mahan, who has
become an extensive contractor for
/ Al L.
attending strictly to that line of bus
mess, while all about him the political
| kettlers are boiling over and some OF
| the escaping steam strikes him when
| the lid is raised. Still he plods alonG, ,
| apparently without needing the bub-
| bling of local politics. This is more
| than passing strange, for Mahan and
politics are synonymous, and he can
no more survive without taking hand
| in the game than could deep a deep
water Goldfish in a fresh-water aquar-
| ium.
But. after all, his present quiet &C
| ton may only be the calm that pre-
cedes an active political storm. He is
+, probably getting his contract work I'm
such condition that he can devote his
time to politics when the political sea-
/ son is at its height. Then he will grid
on his armor, step into the political
arena and be prepared to meet all
Corners in the local political battle. II
he wants 1t, he can certainly secure
the democratic nomination for mayor.
While his chances of election might be
| better than that of any other man
that could be nominated by democrats,
there is no chance of a democrat being
elected mayor of the republican city
| of New London, unless some objec-
| tionable nominee was forced upon the
party, to aid in the election OF Mr..
! Mahan. Even then a game OF that
kind does not always pan out as plan
ned. Say what they may. the politi-
cal leaders really know that there is
likely to be a brisk contest for the
nomination of a mayor to succeed 3,
L. L. Armstrong. The political game
| is uncertain