Norwich bulletin., 1914-03-18
HOW BOSTON SEES US.
Connecticut Enterprise in New Ocean
 Terminal Plan at New London.

Although lacking the expansive fa-
 cilities that characterizes the chief
 port of Massachusetts, Connecticut is
 showing commendable enterprise in
 movement to make the most of what
 she has, and has started to put New London in shape to invite a goodly share of the worlds commerce. That city has had the benefit of a wide
 awake and husthng mayor who has | inaugurated many public improve ments, but the Crowning effort of all | has been to persuade the legislature 1 to appropriate a million dollars for the construction of a cOmmOdiOuS pier accessible to the railroads that enter the city and capable of accommodating ships of the largest class. Already two rows of piles. one a thousand feet long and the other on the way to a similar measurement, indicate where the new structure is to be located. Two years are to be allowed for its completion. A commission for the construction of this work consists of the governor of the state. the mayor of the city and five others. It is no new idea that New London can be given one of the finest harborS on the New England coast. It was once a favorite whaling port, and | a fine shelter is afforded for all kinds | Of vessels. Its present commerce is said to amount annually to about nine i hundred thousand tons of a value con | siderably rising a hundred million dol i lars. coal and lumber being the princi- i pal freight features, while the number | of passengers leaving and entering by | water is nearly a million. The New Haven road and the Central Vermont, 1 tidewater terminal of the Grand Trunk, will connect with the pier when com | pleted. The harbor is a tidal waterway
 and is rarely troubled by ice.
 Of course, the national government i is expected to cooperate, though it is | estimated that for little more than ! $500 GOO the channel can be deepened ] to admit the vessels for which the state
 is making provision, should they ar l rive. Government engineers have re- ] ported faVorably with respect to that | feature and recommended the con | struction of channel 3S feet deep at mean low water and 600 feet wide. 1 This would extend from a point almost 1 opposite the New London railroad sta ton to the deep waters of Long Island sound. But those who have launched this project do not intend that the Alpha of their effort shall also be it's Omega. They are planning for fur ther development in the future, should the results of present operations dem ] ouStrate the value that is expected of them. Two more piers are contem- plated in the fitness of time, and the state will probably stand behind the enterprise with more millions. In New l York from 24 to 35 cents a square foot is charged for pier leases. Should New London charge less than a third of the latter rate, it would return per cent. or more on the investment
 l There is one feature of this situa~ ton that is particularly gratifying. The other sections of the state have not thus far manifested any jealousy of : New London. On the contrary. they appear to experience pleasure that the state is ready to spend the money necessary to put itself in proper recep- tive condition for the commerce of the outside world. The natural facilities at this point are among the states large assets. and it is economic wisdom to make the most of them. Yet in Massa- chusetts we hear some grumblinG in the western counties because a similaT enterprise is being carried on at its great port. Fortunately. it has not
 been serious enough to <errest prog resS.-BoSton Transcr4p&+