Norwich bulletin., 1913-04-01

he might give on his end towards the securing of the through train service which President Macpherson had spok- en of. He was sitting next to Mir. EI- well of the public utilities commission, and he thought this was a favorable this thing that Norwich wanted
 What Germany Has Done.
 Calling attention to Germs ny, with 10 1-2 times the population and four times the territory of New nEgland. Mayor Fitzgerald went on to speak of the necessity of constantly striving for business on the part of New England communities. He praised the school system of Germany. but said our school system here In most communi- ties is a farce. Boston has a high school system that is the best in the country. but still far from ideal. He spoke of school work which had been accomplished in his administration, which had resulted in the establish mcnt of a vocational system of in struction. Teachers are supposed to find out in conference with parents just what the natural bent uf a child is. Then an endeavor is made to get the child into that line, and splendid results are being achieved. The public sch ools are going to make the future city. It has worked out that way in Germany and has put the Germans far ahead of us in many lines. Germany has an industrial board under the government that keeps it's eyes on the trade of the world, and thftt is why Germany supports 65,000,000 people in country not as big as the state Of Texas. We can do the same practical thing and do it far better in New Eng land than it ever was in Germany.
 Mayor Fitzgerald interspef sed some amusing experiences of his in trying to telephone in Germany and France, handicapped by a multiplicity of Ian guages.
 Value of Water Transportation.
 He went on to relate something of the amazing volume of water trans portation for freight in Europe and applied the lesson to Norwich and the Thames river and Long island sound adjacent to this territory. He told how Hamburg. 100 miles up the Elbe river had made itselg a great wheat port through fighting for busi- ness and providing better facilities than rival cities would offer. It Is this fighting spirit for business which should be the keynote for the cities of New England. To it's credit be it said New England has built the rail roads of the west and put. millions into legitimate enterprises there. but the same millions put into industry in New England would have made this whole section 8 buster and bigger and better CIV England. What is our nearby ocean and our river given Us for if we 6on't use them in competition with the of the west? Detroit is ex- rorting millions in automobiles; why aren't they exported from Massachu- setts or New London or Norwich? Applause We had mechanics long before Detroit had them. and we've got the money, and these automobiles for export ought to be sent out from this coast.
 Teach Spanish in Schools.
 From the industrial topic the mayor went back again to the school system and advised that Spanish ought to be taught in the schools, and in this con- iection he gave figures the millions 1f trade that is to be found in South 1 merlca, whose merchants will nat iranY want to trade with America, 1 and we must it our young men | trough the schools to handle this 1 rade that is close 10 our doors and 1 ,ur natural inheritance. especially with l he opening Of the Panama canal into | x htch we have put S400 GOO, GOO. We ! must have their language If we want . e handle their trade. Other coun- i ries recognize this and are fitting { heir young men fer it, We must he | lwake to the billions of business that | s awaiting US.
 New England Is on an era of pros- l