Norwich bulletin., 1909-08-28

new quarters, the general public would
have a better idea of the scope and
Importance, and their purse strings
loosened accordingly. But IL IL Is the
plan to wait until there is cash in
hand 70 pay il before the building is
finished, none of the present donors
will probably be spared long enough
to enjoy and see others enjoy a modern
Y. M. c. A. building in New London.
Just because the court of common
council voted 5000 for the firenen to
itors to the city on the occasion of the
recent state firemen's convention.
which the aldermen had no right TO
do under the charter, the members Of
the fire department are called upon to
make good a deficit of just S212.50.
| The several companies in addition to
the special entertainment of the Wis
itors contributed $40 TO the general
fund, while Chief STEAMERS collected
from a few of the citizens the sum Of
! $142.5O.
The expense of the feast at the Ko-
nomoc house, the services OF the Coast
Artillery band and incidentals footed
up s495. Had the city fathers made
good there would have been no de-
ficiency and the expense was incurred
before the corporation counsel gave
decision that the vote appropriating
the 5000 was Illegal
The visiting firemen were royalty
received and left for their homes with
a good impression of New London and
of the hospitality of the citizens and
the hremen. The local firemen, too.
had pleasure in making it pleasant for
the other firemen from all sections OF
the state. and, If il comes to show
down, will pay the deficiency without
a whimper But the citizens should
| not permit the firemen to pay the
freight. but should chip in and raise
| the required amount and this they
would have done. IL approached before
the convention day.
1t is understood that the chief en-
gineer volunteered to call upon the
citizens generally for contributions, but
only visited comparatively few. Had
this preliminary canvass been done
properly, there Is not the slightest
doubt but that the $500 required would
have been cheerfully contributed and
the treasures of the several fire COM
panies not disturbed to meet the ex-
| penses Of the entertaining Of the dele
gates to the convention. 1t is not too
late now to give all who desire oppor-
tunity to do what they would have
cneerfuily done, IL requested. two
weeks ago.
That moving picture craze which
struck New London about three years
| ago shows no abatement and the won
der is how so many people who took
| up the picture fad have now acquired
| the picture habit. With the exception
| Of few transients. the same people
| patronize the show six nights q week
and the matinees, too. The city now
| supports a new, roomy and expensive
| the9ter to operate. with it's large dis
| play of electric signs and lights. yet
the managers seem to thrive and pros
per even at the small price of admls-
| sion.
There is another picture house. not
! so large, but almost as expensive, and
that, too, is doing big business. AL
most every night when these places
open hundreds are lined up waiting for
| admittance, but the houses are all too
small to admit all who desire to see
the first performance, and as a result
/ the sidewalks are blocked in front Of
| the playhouses until the second per-
| Torrance is to commence.
Soon a third house will be opened
and those who are familiar with the
proportions of the craze assert that
overcrowded houses in the three win
be the rule. /
There is no denying the fact that
| SHGdD SnOWs nave LnG call IN new
| London, and among picture show man
ayers this city has gained the repu-
tation of being the best paying city In
New England for that special form of
| amusement, which is considered by
some as a left-handed compliment. The
| license paid to the city by the mana
gers of these playhouses Is so small
that you cannot notice II in the re-
] ceipts of the city from outside sources
and is not at all in proportion to the
amount of business done. II is said
that circus pays more for a one
| days license than all these playhouses
| combined do In a whole year. II Is
about time there was a change made
in the amusement license line in New
London.
Just over the line m the little state
Of Rhode Island, the Cradle OF Relie-
ious Liberty, the state laws fixes the
fees for public amusements at 81 for
each performance, and this price pre-
walls just the same in the large cities
| and in the small towns. II such a law
prevailed in Connecticut these picture
houses would pay over to the treasurer
| IS q day each. or s42 a week. total OF
| s2,1S4 a year. In comparison with
taxes on business of different charac-
ter such a license fee would not be ex-
cessive. But. fortunately for the pic
| ture men, the Rhode Island laws do
not prevail i'm Connecticut, the Land
| Of Steady Habits.
Ever since the Morgan Iron Works
| at Fort Neck were taken over by the
! New London Marine Iron Works there
has been many changes for the general
/ Improvement of the concern. and there
has been almost continuous talk Of the
| opening up OF an immense industry BY
| that company. While there have been
! changes in management. up 10 date
| there have been no surface indications
| Of making the plant a great shi pbuild-
| ing and repairing industry. However,
there are rumors of recent circulation
| that the expected is soon to come and
| that plans are now being made for
general change and extension OF the
| plant, and that where now there are
| tens employed there win be hundreds
/ in the not far distant future.
Just what these plans are those per-
sonelly interested are not posting on
! the outer walls. but are evidently plug
| ging away at their business ideas and
are confident of satisfactory results
| The gentlemen now connected with the
! concern are trained business men and
are not giving out advance details for.
publication. II is known. however
that measurements have been taken OF
adjoining land and that the plan in j.
cludes an enlargement OF the plant.
| which OF course means an increase In
/ business. and that Is favorable to adj
Vaneement Of the Industrial import
ance Of New London
! The location Of the plant for manu-
| featuring purposes, with marins work
| as a speciality, X the equal OF any On