Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-11
Go-as-you-Please Method Preferred to Standard
 Measures
QUILL PENS AND BLACK SAND
No Longer in Use in New London-The New Uniform Rule for the New London Police Creates Adverse Comment-The Gilbert Estate Likely to be Added to the Pequot Property.

removed to Brooklyn and died there some years afterwards. The main ob- jection to the use of that style of pea was the constant scratching that was audible and disagreeable to the rising generation of that time. Mir. Sistare also used the black sand instead of the modern blotter, and his penman- ship was of the very best.
 It may seem strange to the young men of today. but half a century ago the boys used to gather and sell black sand and get money sufficient to pay admission to the circus and buy ice cream with two spoons, to say nothing of an occasional stick or two of striped or molasses candy. Where did the boys get the black sand7 In the gut ters. of course. In those days there were no paved streets in New London and there was always an accumula- ton of sandy substance In most gut ters. Armed with magnets the boys would separate the black sand from the other material, release it Into tin pepper boxes and then sei1 ft to the merchants, doctors and lawyers and all who did much writing with auili pens. This was change from collect ing lead and tin foil to sell to VII Hams, the Main street unsmith, and the collection of bones and junk to sell to Kelley, the ragman, or the higher grade dealers, Cottrell & Son, who did a junk business In the basement of the Exchange building, which was later conducted by Mir. Peabody. It was common occurrence for the New London boys of half a century and more ago to pay for their circus tick cts, ice cream, candy. etc. in big cop per cents which they received for black sand and old junk. There are among the most successful business men of today some who collected black sand with the magnet in the gutterH of New London and could readily de- termine just what was saleabie in the junk line But conditions have chang ed since the days when black sand and quill pens were used in the old Whal- ing town
 According to a local newspaper the new police committee, of which the mayor is chairman as we'll as chief of police, has ordered radical changes in the conduct of the police force, ale though no new orders have been offi- cially issued to the police department. The newspaper does not give the na- ture of the orders in detail but states one section as a sample, and k that be fair sample it tinges more of malice and spite than for the betterment of the service. According to the report the police officers will be required 10 wear full uniform while on the way from their home to the police station to report for duty, and vice versa. which is as ridiculous as would bc orders from railroad companies to re- quire all employees to do likewise. or if such rule prevailed in the manu- featuring and business concerns of the city. What the real object of such . rule is cannot be readily understood, but is believed to be the opening of an old-time feeling that existed be- tween certain city officials and certain members of the police department. and will certainly tend, under the circum- stances, to lessen the efficiency of the police department, for of necessity there would be discord that would be detrimental to discipline and force dis regard of duty for fear of offending those higher up.
 This sort of action has bsen charac- teristio in the government of the police and accounts for the apparent lack of efficiency on certain occasions. It was supposed that when there was change in the annual election of members Of the police force that this serious defect would be remedied but the yearly changing of the police committee, and with each board desirous of having rules to suit their ideas, has been QduldHlUB 10 Il9 WOrk oI the IOTC9s for 1t is difficult for any member to know just where he is at and when active duty is being performed it is with fear and trembling.
 The personnel of the present force ig satisfactory to the great majority of the people and the members are all men of experience and 1t would seem proper for the police committee to | cease meddling with the working de- tails of the police force. The ofhcers are all familiar with their duties and they should be permitted 10 do duty without fear or favor. If the present committee desires to make a record the best orders they could give to the police would be explicit instructions to see to 1t that all laws that came within
 their scope are rigidly enforced and
 that failure to perform that duty
 would be followed with investigation and probable dismissal The captain
 of police should have authority to de- | fine all the detail of actual police work and be held responsible for the general discipline of the department. and ha. and he alone. should have all power in assigning officers to specified beats and duties without interference from those | higher up. Then New London would have a more efficient police force and
 the abiding people would be better
 satisfied.
 The Pequot house corporation has Al .N-N.