Norwich bulletin., 1911-03-11
REPORT ON THE THAMES RIVER
Recommendations by the Rivers and Harbors comms-
 sion to the State Legislature

Atlantic coast. United States WarShipS have passed above the railroad bridge
 which spans the river at the upper
 end of the city as far as the Navy
 Yard, where the government maintains a coaling station; here the general
 depth of channel is twenty six feet.
 New London Harbor.
 New London harbor opening into the great natural waterway-Long Is-- land Sound-at it's eastern end is with
 in plain view of the Atlantic, thus of fering those undeveloped facilities for
 transatlantic commerce that would be so highly prized by other countries.
 The largest ocean steamship that floats can come within three miles of New London at full speed and at the same
 time find 8 direct channel with suffi-
 cient draft to a landing place. Hence.
 if adequate docks were available, New London could lay claim to a large DOT
 ton of the worlds commerce. If the city, with natures greatest gift-a great harbOr-at it's command, would
 instigate a campaign in conjunction
 with it's railroads to make this har-
 bor the beginning and ending of Eu-
 ropean travel, it would reduce the dis
 tance one hundred miles to eastern
 ports and obviate the slow and un-
 certain trip from Sandy Hook to the
 North river docks; it would relieve
 the traffic condition at New York; it
 would expedite travel and be of inn
 mense benefit to the shipper New London has connection with the Grand
 Trunk railway system and the New
 York, New Haven & Hartford, which
 with their through traffic relations
 with the Erie railroad and Pennsyl-
 vania railroad, virtually gives three
 western outlets. Thus the railroads and city alike should endeavor to make
 New London a future port for ocean
 travel instead of the often suggested
 H. D1ir, T T ,I1x, e,I,1
 become a terminal port it is declared
 by excellent authority that $1 per ton
 could be saved on west bound traffic and proportionate amount on New
 England points.
 There are six steamboat lines now
 running from New London, three to New York, one to Fishers island, orie
 to Sag Harbor and Greenport and one
 to Block Island--the latter line oper-
 ates in summer only. Two of the New
 York lines are controlled by railroad
 interests.
 Your commission held a hearing at
 New London October IS, 1910, at which
 Mayor Bryan F. Mahan, ex-Secretary
 of State Theodore Bodenwein, Lieut.
 Col. Harry Taylor, U. $. corps of en-
 gineerS of the war department, Capt.
 Thomas Hamilton. and other repre- sentative citizens appeared to discuss conditions that now obtain in that vicinity and the possibilities for bet .terment that could be realized if the state gave more attention to its flow ing highways. The opinion of those
 present was that the depth of water
 in the harbor and the Thames river called for little or no attention other than that which the federal authori- ties now give. However, every speak
 CT brought to the attention of the com-
 mission the lack of adequate public dockage. It was stated that fifty feet .I11. landing and that this frontage is available only for small craft. There is no municipally owned dock where a vessel larger than the average launch or tender can discharge. It appears from statistics that the harbor front age is divided as follows:
 Improved frontage, 2s,000 feet Unimproved frontage, 4,800 feet Residential frontage, $500 feet ship at this important port is entirely inadequate.
 Proper Terminal Facilities. Therefore. according to the mass of testimony submitted, it is evident to of New London is proper terminal facilities and to gain this end those present were of the opinion that a state commission should be permanent ana SnOuIQ4 act III. COllaDOratlOn with the municipality, in at least an advis- sorry capacity, to bring about a better understanding between conflicting in- terests and to recommend a solution of the problem. The population of New London. according to the census of 1910, is 19,659, but any water terminal facilities established would directly benefit the adjacent towns, one of which CWaterford) has 3,100 popula- ton. The tonnage of New London har- Dor for 1909 was 707,768 tons, valued at sS0,247.609.
 Fourteen-Foot Channel
 Norwich and Norwich town, with a population of 28,219, at the head of navigation on the Thames river has the advantage of fourteen-foot chan neL The city, according to record, has S,632 feet of improved river frontage and 5000 unimproved. The improved | ownership is divided as follows: City of Norwich ........4 40 1t Norwich & N. Y. Propeller Co. .202 it. N. Y, N. H. & H. R. R. Co.,. g, ,525 it. Private .5, ,865 1t Norwich has one locally owned steam boat line running daily to New York; also boat carrying passengers, and | freight as offered, running to New Lon- 1 don, Ocean and Crescent beaches, dur I ing the summer months. Outside o1 New London and Norwich there is but one other town of importance on the Thames river, that being Groton, with a population of 6.495. The govern ment appropriations for the Thames | river have amounted to $539,600 up l to January 1, 1911.