Norwich bulletin., 1913-03-15
BIC IMPROVEMENTS FOR NEW LONDON
New Haven Road Plans Expend Nearly Eight Million On Bridge and Tunne-Much Interest Harbor Improve ment Matter Before Senate-Fre Department Critics Are Disappearing.

According to statements made by
 President Mellen, the New York, New
 Haven and Hartford Railroad com
 pany will expend during the next three years nearly eight millions of dollars in the building of g new bridge over the Thames river and the building of new route through the city a part of which will be tunnelled The new route is not definitely stated and the location of the new passenger station
 has not been officially announced. This change will finally result in a general change in the as pect of the present business section of the city and will mean & spreading out that will result in sizeable city with all that goes to make up a growing municipality the larger cities of the state. The fact that this and other work of mag nitude is to be done means quite an increase in the population of the city not only while the work is in progress
 but after the work contemplated is completed. It is an established fact that whenever great undertakings of this nature are completed many of the Workmen remain in the places where they have been employed on the special work and have no difficulty in finding the occupation that has been created since their coming.
 There is no doubt but New London will be the busiest place in the state in the building and construction line
 beginning with the opening of the coming summer. For in addition to layout of the railroad, work will be commenced on the grounds and build ings of the Connecticut College for Women and perhaps, the actual con- struction of the steamship terminal piers for which the state has appro- priated s1.000,00o Therefore it Is a low estimate to state that at least s1o,ooo,eoo will be expended in the Y<rlr q necessity an army of workmen here to carry on the work and with them will come many families that must be housed. The coming of new industries to the city has already caused a scarcity of tenements and arrange ments have been made to provide for the present needs and once commenced this work will be carried on to meet all requirements in that particular line. Prospects of a greater New London were never brighter than at the pres ent time.
 Now that all this is to come, 1t be- comes palmer that Mayor Mahan's for sight in the matter of progress and stability in getting the city in readi- ness for healthy growth is deserving of extra commendation, for there is nothing more inviting than good side walks, a system of parks, well paved streets and new public building, which added to the natural advantages as a place of business and residence, will tend to make New London an ideal city, and after all there is every indication that New London will soon take rank with the leading cities of the state.
 The big noise made over the selec- of the new auto chemical hose wagon has subsided and all the people, save perhaps few of the disappointed men Of some of the other disappointed com n af fAe sc8A Al Sx-sA !, E,.. mittee's decision and the court of com mon councils approval of placing the new apparatus in the fire house of the William B. Thomas Hose company. It is conceded that the company is a body Of good f1ref1ghters and should have the very best machine that can be purchased within the appropriation. They are entitled to just as good a machine as the one recently furnished the Niagara company and there is none better manufactured. That ma chine is of the triple action type and there is no need Of another of just Of equal workmanship, capacity as to comparative power. durable ana we'll equipped and of the same make.
 It is a duty of the committee of the court of common council committee matters to see to it that the city gets full value for the money expended for the machine. and not an inferior ap- paratus as a matter of favoritism to some dealer. They should be reminded that in the transaction of city business they should do just as they would in the conduct of their personal business. If this is done the Thomas hose boys will have the best fire apparatus of it's type tn existence. This has been proven by, actual rests
 It would not be an act of good faith to the city for the committee to know ingly purchase an inferior fire appara tus at 8 price that could secure the very best. While the noise as to the locating of the new machine when it arrives has abated, the noise is just starting over the kind of machine that should be purchased. Next Tuesday h the state senate there will probably be definite action