Norwich bulletin., 1913-01-25
New Haven Road Building Fence 10 Bar
 City From It Near Custom House
M. F. PLANT BUYS. ARMSTRONG PARK
Place For His Baseball Team State League Secured Trouble Calling Fire Department-Discu Over Re
 noya of Steepe Huntington Street Baptist Church

| ts
 The city of New London and the. New York. New Haven and Hartford
 Railroad company are liable. to be in voiyed in a suit t-law over the right of the company to build fence shut l ting off the water front privileges of l the city between the. custom house and
 the Reeves property This space fronts
 on Bank street and extends back to the railroad track. so 1t was always supposed carried with it the water. front just as does the property on either side, the railroad company hay ing right of way through the property. 1 Years ago the tide rose and fell on part of the city lot which has since been filled in. In the long ago this 1 place was selected as place for bap- tism by the local Baptist churches which were witnessed by thousands.
 The water from the harbor came through a siuiceway which was bridged [ by the railroad company, and the water was of such volume that it was suff1- cient to float fsh-ears in connection with the Rogers market that was io- cated in the rear of the Reeves proper. ty. Gradually this water space. de- creased and it became d sort of mud hole and almost a public disgrace Finally the place was filled in by the city and the railroad company built a.
 retaining wall or bulkhead and the bridge was abandoned.
 The project of the city to build
 public landing at that place was tenn
 porariiy abandoned and there was no
 thought that the railroad company would assume the ownership and fence
 in the property. So it was something
 of surprise to the citizens when the
 work of building the fence was in progress last February The fact was called to the attention of Alderman James r O'Leary on Sunday as chair man of the public property committee.
 and as matter of duty he imrnedi
 ately stated. the situation to Corpora ton Counsel Tanner and Mayor Ma han which was all he could do in com nection with the affair at the time and which he was duty bound to do as chairman of that committee. The alderman was instructed. as chairman of the committee, to notify the officials of the company that the fence was built on city property and farther that the compa ny should not in any way to the water front So far as the alderman is concerned he has respond ed 10 tEe instruction of the constituted legal authority of the city, and it is protect the rights of the city in the premises.
 It is not so mary years ago when the foot of Lane A, but now that thorough ! fare ends at Bank street and the water front.ts taken by private ownership or ra ther occupancy. Next is the so-
  harbor. This has been eneroached up- on by private interests that it is prac- ticallY lost to the city. Then there was the wafer frontage at the north of the railway station. formerly the ferry landing, but vacated half century or more ago. and which was the foot of Prison and later Atlantic street. That has passed from the possession of the city and is now covered by the baggage 1 room in part. With the exception of the ferry slip and approach and the public boat landing adjoining the only piece of water front left to the city was the piece now in question between the custom house and the Reeves property
 The city officials have received no definite reply from the railroad com pany in regard 10 the removal of the fence which the city claims is an en- croa ehment. It has been suggested that ii Is about time the city officials | took some action in regard to the other 1 legged is now wrongfulIy occupied and | used for private purposes just as if the | occupants had good title of ownership i
 The cadets cf the revenue cutter 1 service at Fort Trurnbui! were given | actual fire practice last Saturday night. making prompt response and exttngu- i Ished 8 fire with small damage that l broke out in a residence outside of the reservation, They made quick re- spohse to the fire call at the fort and ran at top speed with the hose reel just the real volunteer f1refnsn used to do before the modern horse drawn apparatus and later t1e automobile wagons were known t6 the department. The cadets did geed work and are en- -itldd ta credit, It is ta be regretted, that the affair has caused just ] little controversy between H officer 3f the service aad tfs police depart Aent and in which the officer is just ] bit mistaken ia his declaration: Hed declares that when the lire was re- ported at the fort by cadets that he .eAid Ret make the officer at the police station understand that there was a ire, became disgusted. hung up tiae 'eeeiHer of the telephone and sent in he hEe eail at the fort.
 Az q r4fattr4 - s=.-z ...s4 police officer lid understand that there was fire in he vicinity of Fort Trumbuii and gave lOtice to Niagara Engine company by Fas about to leave the fire station when second call from the police tation gave notice that the service saS not required. The revenue cutter 1 f1eer made the statement in public 'rint and added that the officer at the olice station asked lot of questions l nd wanted to know too much detail. may be that the revenue officer in is excitement held back the informa- ion that was actually necessary until ] he moment before he hung up the l telephone receiver. not realizing that uficient information must be given to l 1 ateligenLiy direct the frenen to aake response. So far no blame att aches to the police or the fire depart 1ent ,
 The Huntingdon Street Baptist nurch, formerly known as the Third 1 aptist church, was built seventy years go by the Universalist society and xe years later it was purchased by ae Third Baptist church society for l3 1000, It was dedicated by the Bap- sts in 1919. the sermon being preached 1