The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-05-17
PUBLIC OPINION

To the Editor of the Farmer: Dear Sir:
 Now that the last vestige of the old Parallel Road Cut" is rapidly disap- should the project ever revive, the route would not be through the pend nor where it would disturb the quiet of the residential Beardsley Park. Therefore license is granted the hopeful. as well as the lover of splen- did possibilities as to the growth and sea board importance of Bridgeport an op- portunity of exercising a latent hope fulness in the upbuilding of the future in a maratime sense. that shall vie with the most important cities of the coast.
 It is a subject of great importance forcibly to the citizens of a city so amply accommodated with water front, but woefully poor as regards the right to make use of it.
 The waterway project may begin in Bridgeport, if the enterprise can be pushed along by such energy as is shown by some of her citizens and by the wealth which she possesses.
 There lies at the feet of the enter prise and capital one of the most in increasing their own and the city's wealth. if the proper methods be adopt ed and carefully carried through to an issue.
 Berkshire pond is to Bridgeport what the River Clyde has been to the four ishing city of Glasgow, Scotland, where to-day population of millions of souls. enjoy the results of determined and persistent application for the well fare of an almost inland town. situated on the banks of a veritable stream, which would then scarcely float a small barge, but by dredging and building of substantial wharfs and docks, the city of Glasgow. though situated many miles from the mouth of the Clyde, is an enormous shipping centre and up- on the Clyde banks are built, and launched some of the great ocean grey hounds that have reduced travel to a luxury: and a matter of time and cer- tainty.
 Berkshire pond is a natural basin of inestimable value to the city. and were it undertaken, there could be such wharf and freight landings along River street, the property of the city: that would forever preclude the possibility of interference by any one.
 There is no reason in the whole catalogue of objection. why so shelter ed and senacable a sheet of water should not be turned to immensely profitably means if undertaken by the right persons, and with the one object, of making the shipping industry an independent factor in the sustaining of the city's rapidly increasing popula- tion and importance.
 The magnitude of such an under
 
 the prospect of relief from such un- happy. restrictions. as seem to exist at present between sea and land forces, should supply the magnetic force to stimulate toward an emula- tion of Such examples of sea coast successes as are to be found in places where the opportunities are not as great, nor possibilities as inviting as those which present themselves in the upper end of the East Side, at Berk- shire pond.
 With a roller lift bridge at Ogden street, and dock gate. taking the place of the present Berkshire bridge; vessels of all kinds could have a safe and commodious harbor. where loading and unloading could be carried on with improved means at hand. and the ready means of transit to the Berk- shire division track where the future might see a municipal depot for the upper. section of the city which is steadily growing to the north, that would make the inland harbor the cen ter of a field of progress.
 C. NJ ABERCROMBIE.