Norwich bulletin., 1911-07-29
This Event Promises to Excel all Previous
Manifestations
TO SIGNALIZE GREATER WLONDON
To Have Another Automobile Chemical Hose Wagon
A School Nurse and Physicians to Look After School
Children-The Beach Association Make Mayor Ma
han President on Beach Day.


Hon. Thomas NJ. Waller, ex-governor
of the state, a former mayor of New
London, and one who did things, just
as the present mayor is doing things,
and removed the old time wooden avn
ings swinging signs and signs that
extended beyond the building lines in
quick time, is now an advocate of the
slow and sure way of municipal man
agement. AT the meeting of the court
of common council last Monday even
ing, Mr.. Waller for himself and other
taxpayers, warned in an elaborate
communication the council to go slow
in the building of new sidewalks and
not go beyond the legal limitations
Mr.. Waller was one of the strongest
opponents of the present system, which
was authorized by the state and ap
proved by the citizens of New Lon
don by ballot in special city meeting
with polls open for the convenience of
the whole people as on regular cleo
ton day.
Mr.. Waller notified the council that
they had no power to make contracts
for new sidewalks under the new law,
until appropriation was specifically
made for that purpose and that the
tax received for the new walks was
not available until favored by the cit
liens in city meeting. The commune
cation was given respectful reading
and then, without comment, was re-
ferred to the street committee and will
probably be pigeonholed by that COM
lnittee. Then the council went right
straight ahead and completed arrange
ments for the building of thirty miles
of granolithic sidewalks, just as if the
Waller communication had never been
received This action was taken with
the approval of the corporation coun
sci who is supposed to be somewhat
acquainted with the legality of the ac-
ton.
Not since the memorable council
meeting when the Thames Ferry COM
.pany was granted a ten years extern
sion of lease, when Senator Frank B.
Brandegee, then corporation counsel.
sat beside the mayor and aided in the
passage of the vote in favor of grant
ing the extension, has a corporation
in council meeting until last
Monday night when Corporation
Counsel Brennan held the seat
of honor. That ferry matter was
strongly opposed by Mayor Armstrong,
then alderman, and a bidder for the
franchise, and favored by Alderman
Frank V. Chappel1, connected with the
ferry company. The extension of the
lease was granted and the document
was signed by the ferry committee
before they went to bed that night.
There was doubt about the legality of
the move. but the act was subsequent
~ legalized by the state legislature.
Subsequent service proved that the ac-
ton was adVanta geouS to the public
by an improved service.
At the time of the petition for the
ferry lease extension in anticipation of
legal points being raised the corpora
ton counsel was Johnny on the Spot
to decide and give legal advice to the
aldermen. Perhaps that was the rea-
son for the presence of the corpora
ton counsel when the sidewalk matter
was up for consideration, and with the
advance knowledge that the Waller
communication was to be presented.
But in this case there was no discus
sion is all the aldermen were of the
same mind, and the corporation coun-
sci was not required to mix in and
give legal advice on the important
matter Perhaps business of the city
would be more speedily transacted,
were the corporation counsel to attend
all meetings of the court of common
council. This is done in smaller places
than New London and with good re-
suits, as then matters can be referred
for legal Interpretation direct and with
no delay.
Referring to the chappeIs in con-
nection with the ferry lease, reminds
mat Cney are Tot only 9ood managers
of the ferry and their extensive bust
ness interests besides, but are among
the most progressive of citizens and
have done more towards building up
their native city than most any other
family in the city. They are the bes.
of employers always considering the
interest of the employees in connection
with their own interests, giving them
the benefits of holidays and giving
than substantial remembranceS at
Christmas time. The Chappells are
not only good business men and en-
lookout to advance the city's interests
and are never slow in the effort to
boom, beautify or improve the city.
They were strong advocates of Sem
ator Mayor Mahan's scheme of side
walks and that they We're consistent
in their support was shown last week
when new sidewalks were being laid
in front of the Bank street property,
opposite. Tilley street, for they own
many other sections CT property on that
business street. Their share of the
new sidewalk expense will be quite
amount although their walks were in
good condition before being torn up to
make way for the new and uniform
walks in Bank street. In front of their
granite building. formerly the B. F.
Brown home, and now utilized as
lumber storehouse, was a yard about
IND levi III Ni0s1i, llidt AtCiidCo ohl
that distance on the sidewalk, that car
ried with it a fence line for quite a
long distance to the storehouse farther
up the street When the sidewalk
builders reached that part of the Chap
pell property they were told to remove
the legal Instructions" The Chap
peils gave that strip of the land
towards widening the sidewalk and at
point where it is not only a great
improvement but a public convenience.
This is in keeping with their general
policy and is in marked contrast to the
actions of some other property owners
where public improvement could be
made without damage to private prop
erty but which is prevented by lack of
pride and progressiveness. Where
private property is damaged in max
ing public improvement, it is but just
that the property owner be fairly rec
ompensed. but there are other cases
where public Improvement improves
private property but the owners greed
prevents the improvement. Almost
diagonally opposite the Chappell prop
erty city officials are endeavoring to ar
range for the Strengthening and wild
ening of the sidewalk by taking quite
a strip from the private property. As
this property is now lined to the street
proper, the taking of this strip would
make the property of a more acute
angle that would be really detrim entail
to- the future value of the property
There are rarely cases of this character.
he. hnin Hyh