Norwich bulletin., 1909-02-27

Mayor Armstrong seems to be the
innocent stumbling block to the prog
ress of New London, for whatever he
undertakes for the public good. no
matter how commendable. it is sure
to be defeated by a bunch of promi-
nent citizens, whose chief aim seems
to have been for the past three years
to get even with Mr.. Armstrong just
because he reached over and took the
reins that controlled local politics
These political friends have undone
nearly everything the mayor has done
in political way, as far as possible,
and also opposed and defeated his ev-
cry plan to promote. the best inter-
ests of the city, even in the Industrial
line thus showing determination to
prevent him from doing anything that
would SAVIOR of success in his admin
istration of municipal affairs.
The projsct for a city and county
building, something that was actually
needed and which would have added
materially to the Importance OF the
city, has been defeated, and the OPP
portunity to have a magnificent and
useful building Is lost, but through no
fault of Mayor Armstrong. Instead
of the new building $4,000, or abost
ten times the original cost Of the
building, which was built 124 years
ago, is to be expended In repairs and
alterations, mostly the latter, that the
old historic court house might be pre-
served.
II that sum is actually spent on that
venerable structure. there will be prac-
tically nothing left of the old court
house, and the mawkish sentiment of
patriotism that was used to hoodwink
some of the freemen in city meeting,
viii be with the debris Of the court
house and not in the remodeled struc-
ture. The original site may be pre-
served, but very little of the old court
house will remain, for $4,000 is suf-
flcient to erect a fairly good wooden
building.
OF course, the city ordinances reIa-
tive to the erection Of wooden build
ings within the fire district will pre-
vent enlargement of the building un-
less the addition is made with brick
or stone, or other non-infiammable
material, and this combination patch
work would not be attempted.
Therefore. The rebuilt court house
must be of the same size as the pres
ent one. This being so. and $4,000
to be expended, It really seems as II
the venerable and venerated 1884
building, which was to have been pre-
served. swill be practically RACED and
carted away, and instead of an irnpos-
ing building Of brick there will be a
wooden structure as a monument to
the gentlemen who SO successfully de-
feated the project. under the plea of
preserving the old court house, but
actually to prevent any credit to May
or Armstrong or his administration.
Not content with removing the op-
Portunity for a needed BUILDING that
would have been a credit to the city
and county, these same gentlemen are
now planning to put the quietus on
Mayor Armstrong; movement to add
TO the industries Of New London BY
defeating his scheme for an indus
trial building. AS member of the
board of trade and as an alderman
Mr.. Armstrong advocated the con-
struction of an industrial building. but
he did not seem able to arouse suffi-
cient interest TO bring his plan to
fruition. When he became mayor the
industrial building project wac mem
toned in his message and soon there
after he appointed a special committee
of three aldermen to give the plan
consideration. These aldermen can
vassed the citizens and there we're
voluntary subscriptions that amounted
to nearly $4,000. That was about two
years ago. Then there came depres-
sion in business and the project was
not pushed and no attempt made to
collect any part of the subscriptions
from the prospective stockholders.