Norwich bulletin., 1913-06-28
NEW LONDONS WATERFRONT
Much of the Property is Not Being Used Advantage
 Burning of Rubbish on Dumping Grounds Annoy Opposition to Decoration of Building Tops With Signs.

Though comparatively lightly taxed there is no property here, or here abouts that is olassed as being as valuable as water front property, es- pecially that section which borders directly on the harbor of New Lon don. Still but a very small part of 1t is being utilized by the railroad com panies which own the entire stretch from the Shaws cove bridge to the New England Carpet Lining factory at the foot of John street, excepting the Chappell, the Stoll. the govern ment and the Ferguson wharVes and that little bit owned by the city at the foot of State street. The only other part that is in use is the land ing nlace of the Norwich line steam CTS and Central wharf near the rail- way station. This refers. of course, to the waterfront on the New Lon don side of the harbor and does not include the section below Fort Trum- bull that is mainly devoted to priv ate uses, some of which is held by people who have no clear title to the property. The site for the state dock is over near the railroad bridge and above the Long dock. so-called. and in the section designated nowadays as East New London. though it Is as much New London as any other sec tion of the city.
 
 is not being used to advantage that section between Atlantic and John streets and owned by the Central Vermont Railroad company, has been actually fenced off for the whole dis tance, hiding the dilapidated old wharf and freight sheds and bar ring the public from any use or even a view of that beautiful harbor that has always been the pride of New London. It is not much of an adver- tisement for progressive city to have a big section of the water front cut off by a fence, to see another section over grown with weeds and Jade with rubbish. and here and there large mill building being devoted to storage and the whole property show ing lack of upkeep, enterprise and progressiVeness. To the credit of the Central Vermont be it said that the fence is of substantial build, uniform and neat in appearance and is nicely painted with here and there Danger. Keep Out notice lest some one daring might scale the fence and tread on the deeayed and crumbling blanks on the wharf and perhaps fall through into the water and the rail- road company held for damage for injuries received.
 This is the company that, accord ing, to the newspapers, sought the water facilities at Providence at great expense, and then abandoned the scheme, and which is now talked of as contemplating other big expendi- lures in securing additional water front privileges at Portland, while here in New London and with one of company is actually building a fence around the water front property to prevent anyone from doing business there not excepting the company it. self All of which is o. K. perhaps, but is not much indication of genuine progress, and is a slightly discolored eye for New London.
 Some time in the long ago some chap who could tell a pear from an apple wrote that there was place for everything and that everything should be in it's place. But as stated that was a long while ago and is evil dently forgotten by the health depart ment of the city of New London, when a public dumping ground was selected in one of the most populouS if not wealthiest section of the city and which. under present conditions, is prejudicial to the public health and a nuisance to large section. This particular dumping ground is located off Shaw street. While the dump of itself, if the vegetable mat ter were covered after dumping, would not be very objectionable, the custom of burning the stinking stuff is sickening to not only the nearpy residents but to all within the area that the smoke reaches and beyond to the limit of where the fumes are waited by the breezes Complaint of the conditions have not only been made to the health committee by res- fdents of Shaw street. but also by residents as far distant from the dumps as Ocean avenue. but the burn ing process continues with the ex- pected results. Reply has been made by the health committee that the stuff is burned SC far as is possible in order that the public health may be protected.
 This exclamation may sound well to those who are not affected by the smoke and the accom- Ramylng stench. but to the other class there is belief that inc alleged remedy is even worse