Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-03-24
FERRY FARES BETWEEN
NEW LONDON AND GRoTON
Number of New London People Test
fy at Hearing in Hartford.
Especial to The Bulletin

N~RNSAeeA W L AAC DuAAClllsJ
Hartford, March 23.-Seven bills af.
tectlng the ferry fares between New
London and Groton, which Mayor
Armstrong of New London has con-
vinced some people are too high were
heard by the joint committee on roads
bridges and rivers this afternoon. and
one of the amusing things about the
hearing was the appearance of Sena-
tor Latimer of GrotOn, who beat out
Armstrong for the nomination after a
strenuous fight in which Senator Bran
degee turned the balance his way, ap-
pearing in favor of the Armstrong
proposition to the extent of saving that
the Communication rates were too high.
The bills were the Crane bill, con
cerning ferry across Thames river by
the selectmen of Groton," the Dady
bill, concerning maintenance of toll
bridge over Thames river by the city
of New London" the Bidwell bill,
concerning reduction of rates by
Thames Ferry company the Wilton
bill, concerning maintenance of toll
bridge over Thames river" the Dady
bill concerning ferry charges by the
Thames ferry company" the Wilton
bill. concerning ferry between New
London and Groton," and the Wilton
bill, concerning rates Of ferriage be-
tween New London and Groton."
That there is the necessity for the
appointment by the state of Connecti-
cut of a commission to go into the
matter of New London's or the states
acquiring the present railroad bridge
when the New Haven road gets
through with it, some five years or
more in the future. and maintaining it
as a toll bridge, was agreed upon by
all of the people before the committee,
and there is a good chance that this
will be the outcome so far as that
feature of the situation is concerned.
But regarding the rates of ferriage
there was some difference of opinion.
At the same time, the only dissenting
voice in the general chorus of praise
of the Thames Ferry company and all
its doings was that of Senator Latimer.
because Representative Crane fed from
the room while the senator was
speaking and left him without sup
port. But the senator insisted that
there would have been many people
from Groton present. but that every
body's business is nobody's business.
Representative Charles B. Whit
tlesey of New London appeared for
the ferry company and explained that
it was giving a good service and could
not reduce its rates without seriously
injuring itself financially. AS to the
satisfaction it was giving. there were
numerous New London people present
to testify. They included ex- Mayor
George F. Tinker. Alderman Stephen
]. Downey, ex-senator William ].
Brennan Representative d. M Cronin.
ex-Secretary of State Theodore Bo-
denwein, A. P. Miner, eK-president Of
the business mems association: A. ].
Campbell. president of the same; ex
Superintendent Mackenzie of the New
London Northern, and Representative
L. z. Wilton.
Mr. Wilton told the committee he
believed there was a personal motive
back of the whole proposition.
F. Valentine Chappell was called by
Mr.. Whittlesey TO tell of ferry rates,
there and elsewhere. and after stating
that the rates of his company were
lower than those of any other ferry
in the state, filed with the committee
a number of lists of ferry rates in diff
ferent parts Of New England and be-
tween New York and Jersey City and
New York and Brooklyn.
A. H. Chappell, his father went into
the matter of the receipts and expenses
of the concern. saying that he was
ashamed as a business man. to present
to the committee such. poor showing.
He accounted for it largely by the fact
that for two or three years the COM
pany had Jost about $4,000 year from
the petering out of the shipYard in
Groton. for the accommodation of
which the company had put $4,000 in
10 the lower ferry slip which Is
total loss, and $4,000 into the ferry
boat Midland. which was sold for $500
because of the great depreciation in
value of secondhand ferryboats after
the Slocum disaster. He showed the
committee that the ferry company was
doing its best as to service and rates,
and though it might be possible TO re-
adfust the Communication rates. IL was
hardly likely 1t could be done without
loss. as they were very low now. fact
which had developed in his sons tes-