Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-01

winch the state SnOuld appreciate ana
that the development of the Thames
in connection with the new ocean
terminal at>NeW London should make
both sides Of the river veritable hives
of industry were beliefs that F. VAL
entine Chappell. chairman Of the Con-
necticut rivers, HORRORS and bridges
commission, expressed Wednesday in
his address at New London before
the annual convention of the Connecti-
cut Deeper Waterways association.
The convention was called to order
at o'clock in the council chamber of
the municipal building by Ex-Governor
Rollin S. Woodruff, president. About
so were in attendance.
The minutes of the previous meet
ting were read by Secretary Charles
S. Nichols of New Haven. These being
approved, the reports of the secretary
made by Secretary and Treasurer
Nichols. The election of officers for
the ensuing year was the next bus
Hness and President Woodruff ap-
posed Of Messrs Sargent, Tilson and
Rogers to prepare nominations.
Election of Officers.
The committee retired for Is min
utes and returned with the following
list Of nominees:
President-Rollin IS. Woodruff.
Vice observation-disclosures H. Johnson
of New Britain, Samuel Russell, Jr.,
Of Middletown, Frederick j. Kingsbury
Of Bridgeport, Theodore Bodenwein of
New London, John M. Brown of Siam
ford.
Secretary Treasurer - Charles H.
Nichols of New Haven.
Following the election of officers re-
marks were made by President Wood
ruff, who urged the association to
exercise its every power and influence
in advancing the waterway interests
and to handle judiciously every prob
lem to present itself for the better
ment of deeper waterways in New
England.
London Chamber. of Commerce, well
coined the delegates and hoped the
session would be an interesting as
well as an instructive one.
Frank H. Johnson. of New Britain,
told Of attending the national con-
vention a year ago at Washington and
to the difficult task of securing ap-
preparation for harbors, rivers and
bridges, although he stated that con-
siderable progress had been made and
that with the present members from
Connecticut in congress more legisla-
ton is anticipated
Major 3. Pillsbury of the United
States Engineers department told of
the conditions of New London harbor
and the facilities for a steamship ter
minal, his remarks being greeted with
enthusiastic appreciation
Commissioner chappeII Spoke.
Commissioner Chappel1 spoke clear
ly and convincingly of the future of
Connecticut, as a. maritime state and
Of the importance of the state steam
ship terminal at East New London as
the pioneer step in this direction.
FIFTY years ago the era of railroad
development began in the United
States" Mr.. Chappell said, land today
we have the finest system in the whole
world. But waterway transportation
| in this country is still in its infancy
and the next half century must be de-
voted to its development if we would
keep pace with the exigencies of mod
ern transportation problems.
THE Connecticut Deeper Waterways
association is fortunate in having
within the state besides the smaller
streams, two such natural waterways
as the Connecticut and the Thames
| rivers, which offer as fine field for
development as any in the United
States. If Germany had been the pos
SCISSOR of such a body of water as the
Connecticut, both sides from source to
mouth would have been lined with
| industrial enterprises of every char
acter. Instead the construction of a
bridge at Hartford has been allowed
to stop navigation. I firmly expect an
w
government in the not distant future
requiring the opening of the bridge
and the giving of an opportunity for
the use of a great natural waterway
to the cities Of Massachusetts,.
"The Thames river is deep and ex-
tends for IA miles. Developed in con-
neetion with the state terminal each
bank for its full length should be a
veritable hive of industry This is no
idle dream To speak of the terminal
as a New London project is erroneous.
1t is Connecticut institution. New
London merely happens to be the gate
way to the sea. New York is at the
present time so overcrowded at it's
water front that It is anxious to see
the development of nearby ports. The
metropolis will help and not hinder
US. Bulk cargoes. which we are after
sires to be rid Of.
And in closing I want to say to
you that If the pier were completed
today I could show you ocean steam
ships loadin- and unloading freight
at it's side, for there are steamship
companies ready to lease space when
we are ready for them"
Visit to Terminal.
Other speakers included Resident
president Ernest E. Rogers of the
Chamber Of Commerce, Congressman
Richard P. Freeman and Congress
man John @. Tiison. Following the
meeting an automobile trip to the
steamship terminal was taken.
Description of Ocean Terminal.
One of the instructive features of the
meeting was a folder provided for the
visitors which gave information of the
facilities which will be provided by the
ocean terminal and of the present stage
OF the construction work.
The folder contained the following
on these points:
The terminal is located in New Lon
don, at the junction of the Thames
river and Fishers Island sound, 120
miles from New York and 120 miles
from Boston. Its position is admirable
for shipping purposes, being only three
miles from deep water in Fishers ISL
and sound and eight miles from deep
water in the Atlantic ocean. It is con-
nected by a channel 500 feet wide with
Fishers Island sound, having a depth
Of water of 33 feet at mean 10 wilde.
The terminal is now equipped with
Pier No. 1, under construction, 1000
feet long, 200 feet wide, having avail
able shed room Of 10000 square feet;
storage warehouse on the pier of $4,000
1of 1or Ho ~ 81,