Norwich bulletin., 1910-04-16
A PAIR OF GOOD PROPOSITIONS
New Londoners More Incredulous Than They Should Be-
TWO SHIP BUILDING PLANTS
On the Thames Probabity-Fort Trumbul to be Form
 ally abandoned Military Post June

There is almost continuous talk of that Lawley and Scotch combination locating in Groton and establishing a. shipbuilding plant on the site of the late lamented Eastern ShipbriIding company and there are many who be- lieve that there will be something do- ing in that particular line by this com bination in the nat distant future. The spasmodic period seems to have passed and now the subject is being seriously considered and Groton board of trade has been organized to ascertain whether the proposition is a good thing, and if it is, to push it along until it becomes a reality.
 One factor that gives encouraging color to the general scheme is the in- terest being taken by Capt Thomas Hamilton, who is president of the Gro ton board of trade and also second vice president of the New London board of trade. He is a thorough business man. something of a politician, and is in no sense a rainbow chaser. He is also man of general affairs and wielder of considerable influence. He hassaid that there is something besides talk in the proposition and it would be no surprise to him iii the premises were leased from the New York, New Ha- v6n & Hartford railroad in the very near future and active operations com menced for the establishment of large and permanent shipbuilding plant.
 Capt. Hamilton declares that the
 
 Railroad company is interested in the scheme and is giving the promoters en- coura agement. by the assurance that if the premises are leased and the plant includes large marine railways. that much of the work on the fleet of steamers controlled by the company will be done at the Groton plant The place has been thoroughly inspected by the parties interested in the estab- lishment of the proposed shipyard and at the present time the prospects are favorable for a big industry on the east bank of the Thames river which would be beneficial alike to Groton and New London.
 Should the present plan fail, how ever, committee of the New London board of trade has another plan in abeyance that might be worked out to successful end. There are other parties after the site for heavy ship >building purposes. Inquiries have been made as to the possibility of se- curing the site mentioned in Groton, and if that cannot be had, one that would comprise from ten to twenty acres of land would be acceptable at some other location along the Thames river. The committee is in communi- cation with the parties in interest, but no decisive action has been or will be taken until it is definitely determined whether the Lawley and Scotch com- bination decides to locate on the site of the Eastern Shipbuilding company, now deceased. For reasons that are apparent it is considered best not to make public the parties who are seek ing a site for a shipbuilding plant, lest it interfere with the plans first started by the Lawley and Scotch combina- tion
 So at present prospects are favorable to the establishment of two shipbuild- ing plants on the Thames. Both pro- positions are being tenderly nursed and should both mature New London and Groton would receive an indus-