The Newtown bee., 1909-09-03
HON E. J. HILL
And Others Speak at a Public Meet.
 ing in Plattsville, Wednesday, in
 Honor of Completion of New Sec.
 tion of State Highway.

thS NoliplslioH VI lus luht httllpu
 the state road between Stratfield an
 the Sport Hill road, was a notabl
 success, and and an interesting pro
 gram was carried out, despite the ab
 sence of Hon Everett J. Lake an Highway Commissioner Macdonald
 of Hartford, who had been expecte
 to epeak. Great credit is due R. C
 Hitchcock, a highly esteemed resi-
 dent of that section, to whose un
 tiring efforts the success of the cele
 bration are largely due. The eSer
 cises took place near the schoolhouse
 just south of MT Hitchcock's resi-
 dence, where platform had beei erected with cover to shield from th
 rain. Edson Banks, long connected
 with the public schools of Fairfield was introduced as chairman. Praye
 was offered by Rev Arthur J. Pen nell, Chairman Banks then spok, briefly. He expressed his satisfaction on the completion of this link in thu state road belt between Fairfield ant Easton. He expressed the hope tha the good roads work would go on un til there was a chain of boulevard. extending from town 10 town.
 JUDGE NICHOLSON OF BRIDGE,
 :... PORT 5.-...
 was then introduced. Tt is very in teresting to go into the history of the care of the highways in Connecticut It has always been the thought of the state and colony that the means of communication between the town; should be as perfect as possible. In the early history Of the state 122 turnpike charters were granted, with sucn powers as no corporations. were ever given. In the early days if a man travelled from one end of the state to the other it would have been necessary for him to take along as full pocketbook as the automobiiist requires nowadays. We shall all hope to live to see all the roads in the state as perfect as this road"
 Attorney c. H, King, next intro duced, said he believed gatherings of this kind are helpful. "As town we are gathered into communities, but occosions like this bring us to- gether."
 c. V, Brothweli spoke of the gratitude he felt over the completion of the highway, as it brought to an end the discomforts of travelling.
 a, g HON E. J. HILL
 was received with hearty applause when he arose to speak. He said in part: Il have been taken over this beautiful road and I want to say it is credit to the state of Connecti- cut. You ought to see that it is kept in. as good 8 condition as it is to-day, You can build your highways, but men of Fairfield, you must take care of them. l am tired of seeing the people call on the Government to do things they ought to attend to at home. I tell you, you are in great danger of paying for the new roads in South Carolina and Arizona. l can remember back 50 years when the farmers of this section were the lords of creation. l want to see our Connecticut farms have a resurrec- tion. We have not only the tra- ditions here, thank God, but the most magnificent country the sun shines on anywhere. am glad to see these good roads coming by the votes of the men who represent the people in the Legisla- lures. I am glad to see a good high way leading from the city out into the country.
 PROMINENT PEOPLE PRESENT at the celebration were Mayor Henry Lee, City Clerk Buckingham, Of Bridgeport, Senator Brinsmade and Deputy Sheriff Blakeman of Shelton, Dr C. C. Godfrey of Bridgeport, Coun- ty Commissioners Whitman s. Mead, Simeon Pease and Brophy, Will liam Sturges and Orlando Andrews Of Weston, Iverson FaEton, secretary or the State Board of Agriculture, former Selectman and Mrs Simon C. Bradley of Fairfield, MT and Mrs George Beers of Sport Hill, Charles Fox and E. B. Warehouse, selectmen of Fairfield, Sheriff Sidney E. Flaw ley. The newspaper fraternity was represented by Edward McManus of the Farmer, A. s. O'Brien of the Standard, MT Beers of the Post, Eal- tor Richard Howell of the Sunday Herald and A. P. Smith of The Bee. The speakers and newspapermen were entertained at the home 0f R. Hitchcock before and after the celebration. The neWspapefmen and their friends were taken over to Plattsville in two touring cars.
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