Norwich bulletin., 1909-05-19
25Oh ANNIVERSARY CELEBRAT TON
of the
Founding of Norwich, July 5th and 9th

to the land Of John T. Cuddy" He
developed to from rs to 100 horse pow
er, and that the man who sold the Ray
land now the Cuddy land, over fifty
years ago reserved the right to dig a
canal and develop a water power.
American Threat company's State
ment.
Mr.. King then told the committee
that the power Of eminent domain con-
veyed in section three of the resolution
gave a power OF eminent domain which
might be Injurious to the American
Thread company. He characterized
the section as mysterious and likely to
have taken some time to draw, and
asked why It had been inserted, if it
gave only what is given in the general
statute, as had been stated. He wish
ed the American Thread company add
ed to the Cuddy amendment.
Superintendent Knight Of the Wind
ham Manufacturing company said his
company owned the water power next
above the Thread company, including
two falls, and controlled the Bolton
Reservoir company. He believed the
resolution would make it possible to
take away the water power used for
more than one hundred years. He read
a letter from Mr.. Comstock, complain
ing about the shutting Of the COM
panys gates last Christmas and in
sisted that this showed belief that
the Uucas Power company had rights
in that water now.
Mr.. Garfield believed that section
gives a right Of eminent domain which
no private company should have. He
referred to the fact that this section
was never advertised and was only
sprung at the hearing before the com
mittee, where there was no one pres
ent who had any interest in it.
East Lyme Power Co.
This was. however. somewhat apart
from the interest Of the East Lyme
Power company in the bill. The pres
ent charter OF the Uncas Power com
pany gives it no right to go into the
towns of East Lyme and Waterford.
and he wanted the rights Of the East
Lyme company so protected in these
amendments to its charter that such
right should not be given under the
guise Of giving 1t right to go into
any territory where II company was
rot actually operating.
Opposition from WilIimsntlo.
Mayor Dunn of Willimantic was ut
terly opposed to anything which would
give the Uncas company any rights
whatever which in any way interfered
with the rights at present, and for
long time past, enjoyed by the Wilt
mantle manufacturers, for that would
be to the detriment Of the city in
which they were located
Smith G. Winchester Co.
II object to having them come up
and take our water" said Represen-
tative Smith, of the Smith & Winches-
Ter Co. at South Windhsm. 1--WE have
invested considerable amount of
money there, have just built a new
factory and feel that we ought to be
thoroughly protected from their in
vasion Of South Windham."
Mr.. Comstoek Explains.
Mr.. Comstock had little to say until
after the opponents had had their say,
though he did say that his company
had no thought OF interfering with
Mr.. Smiths concern or interests.
When he did begin he went first into
the objections of the Windham county
people. Nothing which we could
have passed would give us the right
to take any Of these things that have
been talked about" he said. There is
a stretch of river, between the Ameri
can Thread company's lower dam and
the tail water of the Uncas Power
company with a II 1-2-foot fall and
this water privilege belongs to the
Ponemah company, which is represent
ed by Mr.. Briscoe. We couldn't touch
this or anything above under this res
oIution.
If the Uncas company should raise
its dam, 1t would cost us millions Of
dollars for relocation of the railroad
and overlooking all of the property
affected. 1t is prohibited. any way.
We don't wish to do anythinv Of the
kind. We may later be obliged to
raise our dam two feet, but that ia as
far as we shall ever go-and not that
far unless we have to- We are en-
gagged in a Zig business and opght to