Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-01-16

The accustomed generosity of the
people of New London was not up
to the usual standard in subscribing
to the fund in aid of earthquake suf-
ferers in Italy, which was perhaps
in part due to the febele effort made
to gather in the cash for the public
funds. A New London banker ac-
cepted the invitation of the state
branch of the Red Cross to receive
and forward contributions and this
fact was announced in the newspapers
and that was all At this writing this
fund amounts to only S775.76. A local
newspaper also opened a beneficiary
fund, with a nucleus of $50, and this
has been Increased $50; making a
total of $S05.76. This is less than
was raised by a newspaper in the viii
lage of Westerly! Heretofore. when
any great calamity befeH any section
of the world or when there came a
call to relieve the Turks or any other
people. New London made organized
effort to relieve the distressed, and
large sums of money were raised for
the needed purpose.
The italian horror eclipsed all that
have gone before, and New Isondon's
aid to the unfortunates was not COM
mensurate with what had been done
on the occasion of disasters of lesser
magnitude. OF course, every little
helps in the great work of relief, but
it would have been better for the here
tofore charitable reputation of the
city. if no public local funds had been
created and the generous d6nators
made their contributions direct to the
treasurer of the state Red Cross So
ciety.
George S. Palmer, although not long
a resident of New London, is certainly
taking active interest in city affairs.
He was appointed a park commission
er by Mayor Armstrong and has al
ready done creditable service in that
department. In fact, saved the beauty
and general outlook of Riverside park,
in which Senator Brandegee has beau
titled and enlarged, by purchasing
property fronting the park that was
to have been used for sawmill pur-
poses. Recently Mr.. Palmer purchas-
ed the Morning Telegraph and intends
to develop and improve that news
paper. for the good of the city and
the residents thereof. and to get fair
returns for the money invested.
At the public meeting to consider
a site for that proposed new city and
county building, Mr.. Palmer advocated
the preservation of the 1884 court
house and favored the selection of
some other site. The joint commit
tee decided in favor of the old court
house site for the new building, there
fore making it imperative that the old
courthouse must go.
Mr.. Palmer has since given this new
courthouse building proposition care
full consideration, and concluded that
the present financial condition of New
London did not warrant the assump
ton of an increased Indebtedness of
100000 and more. So a petition was
circulated for signature, asking that
there be extended postponements of
the erection of the building and that
instead the present old court house
and the present city hall be repaired
at an expense not exceeding $4,000,
or about the interest for ten years of
the proposed 100000.
MIR. Palmer's petition will result in
the calling of special city meeting
for the farther consideration of the
building project, and there is no doubt
but at that meeting the matter Of
erecting a new city and county build
ing to cost $4,000 one-third to be
paid by the county, will be indefinitely
postponed This will be done on the
ground that the city's financial con-
dition does not warrant the outlay. no
consideration being given to the large
sum that could be realized from the
sale of the present city hall property
And, say, there are men of promi
neHCe IN New 1OuuOH IOudy VIII Tree
~ assert that If the city hall site had
been favored instead of the court
house site. there would have been but
slight opposition to the appropria-
ton for the proposed new city and
county building and hint is made that
there may be a mouse in the meal. 1t
is, perhaps, time that the really in
fiuential gentlemen of New London
took more active interest in public
affairs.
Col. Eugene T. Kirkland, the only
representative of the old-time Pequot
families, and who is therefore the
longest resident in the Pequot colony,
and recently elected an alderman from
the Fifth ward, is actively interested
in city affairs, and especially in the
fire department, or rather a valuable
auxiliary to the department. Colonel
Kirkland organized the Pequot Inde-