Norwich bulletin., 1913-01-04

| As the work on the new municipal | building progresses the eventual gran
 deur and massiveness of the structure becomes more apparent. and 1t will add materially to the civic center of the ! city, which seems to be located right ] on State street, at the corner of Un- l ion. with the postof1ce. the Crocker 1 house, the First Church of Christ and ! the municipal building occupying the corners. There has long been need | for just such 8 building as is being 1 erected, where the several city of , fees, modernly equipped and roomy, will be adequate for the accommoda- | tion of the business of Greater New London for many years. perhaps fully as long as did the old brownstone city hall serve the purpose. At first it was planned to make a brownstone addition to the old structure and $6O,- 900 was appropriated for that I1rpose,
 but after careful consideration that plan was deemed inexpedient, and it was decided to erect a new building of limestone, and $112000 was made available for that purpose and it is believed the work can be completed within the appropriation
 This appropriation does not include the furnishing of the building. and it is the general desire of the people that the furniture be in keeping with the building. If this is done an ad- ditional appropriation of perhaps s25.- 900 will be required, and it is fair to presume that the cost of the building. fully furnished and ready for occu- pancy, will be at least s15O000 This is whole lot of money, even for pro- gressive New London. to expend in addition to the many other heavy ex- penditures. but the general opinion is that the improvement will be worth the price. The architect of the new building is James Sweeney, a native New Londoner, who is responsible for the architecture of the s100,000 Harbor schoo1house. the Union bank and other prominent buildings. Joseph Dolan. the contractor, is also a New being built by local talent. and the money expended will be eventually spent right in New London.
 Chief John Stanners of the New London, department will never be recommendation for fire equipment. for, as matter of fact the greater part of the improvements in fire fighting material came without the chiefs recomm en datfonS. He leaves all such matters with the fire com mittee and the company membership, preferring to attend to his own knit ting. In his annual report he simply recommends fire alarm bell in the Northwest section two additional fire alarm boxes and a small building for storage purposes. Without even con sulting. the chief, the Are committee
 
 council and with appropriation made in city meeting, has ordered mod ern chemical, hose and pumping au- tomobile apparatus and has appro- priation for a second horseless fire fighting machine. neither of which was recommended by the chief. It is therefore plain that the chiefs posi- tion would not be endangered if he actual needs of the department. but rather that his recommendations would be well received and given care full consideration. Chief Stanners is but he should not be backward in coming forward and explaining the needs of the department and in using his office in getting what was needed.
 Chief Stanners, in opposition to the decision of the fire committee in get ting appropriation for new autoIao- bile wagon. reports all the apparatus In good condition except the Niagara chemical, which is to be replaced by the same, at least one piece of fire apparatus is considered to be in such poor condition that members of the company. as matter of personal safe ty, hesitate to ride to fires in the wagon for fear of fatality. Either the claim Of this fire company is not true or the chief has no real knowledge of the actual condition of the wagon.
 Chief StannerS reports that he has in reserve one steana fire engine. which as matter Of fact has been con- den1ned for over five years and is aD- solutely unservicea ble, Also one hook and ladder truck; but this apparatus is without ladders. He also reports in reserve two hose reels, and ne doubt he has, put not equipped for service in case there was call upon the reserve equipment of the depart ment. Better for the good. of the department that the apparatus re- ported as in reserve be recommended for sale to the highest bidder.
 Chief Stanners' true worth as a fireman would not be in the least dinmed if he asserted his iadepen- dence. took the public into his con- tidence and was not backward in