The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-06-13
A PLEA FOR SEA GOING LAUNCH FOR
 THE HARBORMASTER

To the editor of the Farmer, Sir In all the different departments of our city government there is a. wild clamor for automobiles to assist the different departments to facilitate the notwithstanding of work en- trusted to their care, but in all the noise we hear there is nothing said or done to assist the harbormaster in the discharge of the duties entrusted to him. He is at times at the mercy ana good will of private owners of craft which is blot on our city government, as the harbormaster is at times called upon to perform peril ous duties for the protection of life ana property of our citizens and strangers who may use our harbor or vicinity, as much as our police de- partment or fire department and he IS not equipped to perform the duties entrusted to him, and there seems to be no reasonable excuse for his not being so equipped. On Sunday last the 9th of June I was standing along with others on the float of the Pequonnock Yacht Club when the motor boat of the lighthouse keeper was d1scharging a cargo of friends, the harbormaster came rushing down to the float and asked to be taken to Seaside park as he had just received message that there was a boat in distress and that lives were in dan ger. He was refused the use of the boat and considerable time elapsed when the owner of boat called the Victoria III appeared and volunteer ed to take the harbormaster to the scene of distress, but owing to Provi- dence some other kind hearted gen. tleman had heard of the trouble and ventured out to the boat in distress and saved three human lives in full xTfn Of 1or of ,;% Seaside Park, and the harbormaster aboard the Victoria III met them coming in from the rescue. The life saving crew of this city is not even equipped to save lives in danger as they have no boat, or means of go- who may be in peril. In cases of dispute about anchorage in the har- Dor the harbormaster has to rely up- on the private owner to take him out to rectify the trouble. Then again the harbormaster is liable to be call of weather to rescue those in peril to settle up disputes as to the right of anchorage that may occur in our harbor. It is necessary that he should be equipped to do his duty by being provided with powerful and having to rely upon the good will of private owners of seagoing vessels In cases of drowning, or of river pirates the boat could be used by our police department, and in case of fire by the fire department, as the boat could be kept in readiness at all times, just the same as the patrol and the auto ambulance. Then again the constant increase of our local commerce in our harbor, and the ever increasing number of pleasure crafts demands that there should be some protection given to our citizens and users of our harbor. If a new is wanted by any of our there always seems to be a way to get the money for 1t and it does seem as though our har bormaster should be fully equipped for any emergency that may arise; for humanity's sake if nothing else, and I hope that there may be some means of doing so, even if the city has to hire a boat until such time as there shall be money available to buy a suitable boat for the protection of life and property in our harbor
 GEO. H. WOOD,
 505 Park Ave.