Norwich bulletin., 1910-03-16
Extension of Norwich Trolley Lines
Advocated Before Roard of Trade by T. C. Murphy and Several Others-Transportation Committee Instruct ed Garry of Street to Replace DurLee Lane-Franllin Square Congestio Programme for April Meeting

lines within the city limits, where he maintained that residents are not as well served as in the suburbs, Timothy C.. Murphy, speaking before the board of trade Tuesday evening. gave his ideas as to where the betterment of the service could be made and later the board adopted resolution au- thorizing the transportation committee to petition the legislature at its next session for such changes and to work in behalf of such extension. There were several speakers on the subject, which led into a brief discussion of the Franklin square congestion by the trolley express and the business con- ditions at the present time. The pos sibi1ity of new street to replace Dur kee lane ard future programmes were discussed
 President Tracy called the meeting to order shortly after eight o'clock with a good attendance and the re- port Of Secretary Hy w. TfbDits was read and approved The following were elected to membership: Clarence F. Roath, Charles D. Greenman, John M. Swahn. J. Ralph Howe, Lucius Briggs,
 George H. Young and Frank Kroner. Coming Programmes. A reference was made by the pres ident to the programmes as laid out for the three meetings before the
 summer vacation He mentioned that
 the local board occupied the position both of a board of trade and cham Der of commerce and by virture Of the latter nn0S HIS scope much prOdueT, so that all matters for the benefit of the city, even though not industrially, come within it's bounds. Arrange ments have been made for the health and sanitary committed, of which Dr. Pollock is chairman, to have charge of the April meeting. In the May meet ing either the civic committee will ar
 range for a discussion of the charities
 of the city, or the educational commit tee will present the matter of school
 consolidation. At the June meeting
 there will be a lecture which will in- terest all.
 President Tracy stated that he was very much interested in the trolley extension question. The electrics have
 built up the retail trade of Norwich,
 and it is to the credit of the trolleys
 that the retailers are not grumbling
 We should, however. not ask too much at once. It is easy to think of the
 Consolidated road or the Connecticut
 company with a big stick. but we must remember there was a time when
 we were begging someone to start
 road here and the present company
 took control with all the water stock,
 so we must be reasonable in our de-
 mands, as there must be some profit
 shown at the end of the year. The
 neglect of the people at the time the
 rights were given away. The people
 wanted the corporations to grab about
 forty years ago and they did so, and
 
 r. c. Murphy Gives Figures.
 T. c. Murphy, in addressing the
 meeting, said about 36 years ago a.
 horse car line was started here from
 Franklin square to Greenevflle and all
 so to Norwich Town. About IS years
 ago electricity was put in, being one
 of the first electric lines in New Eng
 land What has the electric system
 done in that time?
 In Boswell avenue Mr. Murphy said,
 there are 134 houses about Turner
 mill including Baltic street, Orchard
 street. and vicinity and from Gen.
 tennia1 square to North Main street,
 there are S3 families. There are 2S2 houses on or near Boswell avenue, avo eraging six to house there are 1,392 people living on or near Boswell ave- nue.
 The houses are valued by him at s2,S00 each, making S649,6O0 besides S75,000 in undeveloped property This is good land, and the valuation of the property here is one-tenth of the dwelling valuation of the town. We have a good and efficient service, but the city has been neglected severely. The residents Of Boswell avenue have as much right to trolley service as the others.
 spent on the Mohegan park, but it is doing the surrounding neighborhood the most good, and not those in other sections of the city.
 Washington Street In Washington street from Backus hospital to Breed hall is where cleo tric service fs desired. It is beau tiful street but from the feeling Of some residents, he thought there should be sign on Washington square and another at the hospital corner. saying: ''This is private property. Keep oh-" In Hartford there is Harrington avenue and in New London MontauiS avenue, both beautiful streets, which &-s1 .v,1 hox built up because of it.
 It has been said that the cars make dust but as 8 matter of fact one au- tomobile makes more dust than a doz- en cars.
 There is also need Of trolley cars in Asylum street. where there are 67 houses valued at S3,000 apiece, with un- developed land amounting to $25,0OO, there of s24e.o0o on the street and those entering 1t. The electric roads will stimulate building. The exten- sive building in Mckinley avenue and
 on the streets running ok from 1t, par ticularly on the land owned by Mrs PIatt. would never have been done but for the electric line. If the service IS
 never asked for for these several sec it you will never get it.
 The board of trade in name he de- clared is all right. and it amounts to what the men in it wifi make 1t and the same applies to the city. His sep- timcnt was to forget what has been done, if it was not successful and look to the future These improvements we must get through the court of com mon council. the legislators and the board of trade We should not allow the railroad to have any further priv ileses until we get what we want here. What has the electric line done for the city? We have been giving priv ileges right and left. but getting noth- ing Tn Hartford the city has just re- ceived s13,00e from the company as the city's share of the business the company does there.
 Booms Hartford Line. The people of Asylum street don't want the Hartford Nine. because they will get no benef1t from the transfer privilege.
 This Hartford line is one of the best things else wouldn't put my money into it, said MT Murphy. It is going to pay. but the residents of the city want a line which will give transfers and take them in every section. AS MT. Chandler said at last annual ban- quet: Watch your legislature and committee rooms" We want to send men to the legislature who will watch Norwiclfs interests. We have heard some elegant speakers st our banquets.