Norwich bulletin., 1913-12-24
OCEAN STEAMSHIP TERMINALS
 BEGUN TO-DAY
T. A. Scott Go. Will Start Driving Test Piles to Determine Length Neces- sary,

The T. A. Scott Go. will. weather permitting, begin today the first actual mechanical operations for the con- struction of the steamship terminal at New London. Surveys, plans. esti- mates and theoretical preparations have already been made.
 It remains for the day before Christ mas to witness the turning of the first bit of earth inaugurating the com mencement of construction of a pro ject which it is believed will revoIu- tionize the maritime business of Con- necticut. Strictly speaking, earth will not exactly be turned. Instead mud will be displaced by the driving of the first pile by one of the Scott Co.'s riie drive-s.
 Numerous piles will be driven, the purpose of which is to ascertain the length ot piles which the contracting company will be obliged to order to prosecute the work of construction. This, of course, will be determined by the depth to which they have to be driven before sufficient resistance is encountered. Range poles were erect ed at the terminal site Monday to aid the company in making it's pile deter n1ination.
 The contract for the building of the terminal, which was awarded to the Scott Co. several days ago at meeting of the harbor commission in Hart ford has not yet been signed, owing
 
 tended to by the sub cimmittee. The Scott Go. is ready to affix It's signature. however, having completed all the ar engagements required of it by the terms of the contract, and the formality of signing will undoubtedly by adjusted within a brief time.
 There has been some question as to what type of steamships would be likely to make New London their ter minal and some alleged humorists have suggested that the Imperator will probably be steaning up the Thames in year or so It is not the inten- ton to secure European passenger ex- press steamships. As a matter of fact they would be the least desirable ten ants of the pier, at least for a time.
 What it is desired to get at New London, and what, judging by inquiries received will undoubtedly come there, are the smaller freight steamships. These are the type of vessels which bring the greatest returns in every way and which are destined to build up the manufacturing business of the city Facilities for marine transportaL- tion unsurpassed in the United States will be furnished. It is a, well known rule of shipping that the father goods may be shipped by water and the shorter by rail, the greater economy. The reserve is true in passenger traf- lie.
 Certain large steamship concerns doing virtually an exclusive freight business are paying in New York, Y cents square foot for wharfage New London can let them space at about Il cents a, square foot and give re- turn to the state on it's investment of about per cent. It would be diff cult to imagine a steamship company that would not grasp the opportunity to curtail to the extent of 6-7 one of it's biggest items of expense.
 All these facts and others will be fully demonstrated by the commercial agent which it was voted to appoint at recent meeting of the commission. No appointment has yet been made and none probably will be until the terminal construction is further ad Vanced.