Norwich bulletin., 1909-02-13

the city, the details to be carried out
by q joint committee composed OF
members of the court of common coun-
ell and the county commissioners, and,
so far as any action has been taken
that committee is still in existence,
although its power to act may be cur
tailed by legislative action in regard
to the expenditure Of the cash. or the
committee may be guided by the city
meeting vote. which declared in favor
sof the patch-up plan
So, II the desire of this last city
meetin is given consideration, the
joint committee will stop further pro-
ceedings. If the leaders against the
new building are really in favor of
spending $4,000 in repairs on the ven
cradle old courthouse and alike sum
on the half-century city hall. they will
ask the county representatives to
approve of an appropriation OF $4,000
for repairs and the withdrawal of the
$4,000 towards a new building.
There was difficulty in obtaining the
original appropriation at a meeting of
the county senators and representa-
tives. the project being favored by a
majority of just one vote; and far
Their the appropriation would never
had any show Of passage but for the
you tickle me and I'll tickle you"
plan that existed between the New
London and Norwich representatives,
the latter city wanting county appro-
priation to make addition to the mag
nifeent city and county building. of
which New London owns a course or
two of brick.
Norwich was wise and grabbed the
appropriation and increased the size
of the fine. substantial structure. While
New London, as usual. let the oppor-
tunity slide away, being content with
contributing about third of the cost
to the addition to the Norwich build
ing.
After the smoke is all cleared away,
the people of New London. especially
those who voted in the city meeting to
sustain the position taken by the lead
ers of the opposition, will realize that
the old court house still remains on
the old site. with the likelihood OF its
retention until such time as II becomes
untenable, neglected, and gradually be-
comes an eyesOre to be removed by a
progressive future generation. IL not
removed before by the F'ire-Fiend. who
could lick the dry and seasoned struc-
ture out of existence with almost a
single lap of his fiery tongue.
II is extremely doubtful whether the
county representatives will favor an
appropriation for charging and
strengthening the venerable structure
and fitting it for the continuation for
superior and common pleas courts
uAes: for, there are men of promi-
netlce in New London, men Of wealth
and influence, who are not so enthus-
iastic over expanding $4,000 on the
structure, as they We're in defeating
the plan for constructing a new city
and county building, especially as
Mayor Armstrong favored the project.
1t is peanuts to peas that some OF the
gentlemen who advocated the patch
work. rather than the new building,
win not make strenuous efforts to in
duce county representatives to favor
an appropriation for repairing the old
court house.
What will be the Ultimate result?
If there is not proper place for the
holding of sessions Of the superior
court in New London. the sessions viii
all be held in Norwich and New Lon
don will lose the ancient prestige Of
being one OF the two shire towns Of
New London county. ard it will then
be demonstrated that the court house
will not be Too Old to Go to Nor
wichr as was inscribed upon a min
iature of the old court house in the
Fourth of July parade of 1865.
At that period Norwich put up a
stiff fight to be made the only shire
town. but it was then shown that the
old court house was suitable for court
session. But that was over forty