Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-03-26
(snecial to The Rnlletin.l

Hartford. March 25.-The people of
Pawcatuck and Westerly brought their
contention that there should be estab-
lahed a five cent fare between Pawca-
tuck and Stonington to the legislature
this afternoon, and the committee on
railroads spent the whole afternoon
finding out why, from the standpoint
of those interested. the ten cent fare
which prevails should he cut in half.
Representative Broughton of Stoning-
ton, who was elected on the five cent
fare issue, conducted the case for the
Pawcatuck people, and his colleague,
Representative Martin, did what he
could to help. though he freely said
that the matter should never have come
here, but should have been possible of
settlement between the committee of
citizens appointed for that purpose and
the directors of the Groton and Ston-
ington road.
Secretary Noyes Speaks.
Charles d. Noyes Of Norwich. secre-
taFy of the company. made ii plain that
the fact that it had not been settled
was in no Wise the fault Of the direc-
tors of the trolley line, who had found
it impossible to get together to con-
slider the matter with the committee
for the third time, after they had sup
posed it settled by round trip Of Is
be able to do this until their next meet
ing. Congressman Higgins is in Wash
ington and other directors are out of
the state elsewhere. Mr.. Moves sug-
gested that II might be considered a
breach of faith for the citizens to
bring the Brougfton resolution to the
legislature at all while the matter was
in statu quo between them and the
directors, as they seemed to consider
H.
The position Of the citizens was that
they were paying ten cents for what
they claimed to be FIVE miles between
Pawcatuck and Stonington-and the
Groton and Stenington superintendent,
Riley, stated was ga miles-while
there were other people on the line Of
the road who could ride longer dis
bsnces than that for five cents. The
position Of the company as expressed
by Supt. Thomas W. Riley, Secretary
Noyes, President Hamilton, and Attor-
ney Charles W. Comstock who ap-
pearah for the roas, seemed to be that
the majority OF the people Of stonng-
ton didn't want this change, the Paw
catuck people cared little about it, but
those in the village who worked in
Stonington were anxious for it. and the
Westerly merchants were behind the
movement because they figured that
they would get the trade from Stoning-
y
New London, and has always done so.
1t was suggested privately that Thorn
as w. Peabody of Westerly, who was
present at the hearing and took some
part, was really the man behind the
whole movement.
Supporters Of Reduced Fare.
There was a large number OF sup
porters OF the reduced fare IN attend
snce on the hearing. and a number ad-
dressed the committee. Perhaps the
more prominent of these were w. z.
Wheeler Of Stonington, Carl Koelb Of
the American Velvet company 3. F. |
Cutler Of the Atwood Machoine COM
pany and Archie c. Thompson Of Paw
catuck. in addition to the two repre-
sentatives from the town. Mr.. Pea
body had little to say: he~doesn't live
I'm Connecticut, but chimed in with a
question now and then.
IL developed that while the fare IS ten
cents and there Is a round trip fare OF
one and a half times that sum. Che
company sells books of tickets contain
ing so tickets, good for a five cent fare ,
each, for SO. and a school children's
book OF tickets for half that price. /
These tickets used to be good only |
between certain hours of the day and I
non transferable but both Of those /
restrictions have been removed but !
they are not good on Sundays now
The objection raised to these lay in (
the inability Of the working people to 1
pay for such tickets in advance. and /
cases were cited where workingmen /
paid five cent fares every day because 1
they couldn't afford to put out SO in |
advance to secure the cheaper rate. I
The New York New Haven and Hart .
ford road charges a fare of 10 cents 1
each way on its steam line since the |
fare rate went into 4
force. but before that used to charge .
"A cents each way. three months
round trip ticket could, however. be /
purchased during the time Of the old |
fare rate for 1855. making a round trip |
cost a hit over 10 cents.
Mr.. Koelb made a special plea for /
the working people. "They can't afford /
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