Norwich bulletin., 1915-02-17
WANT TO SEE BRIDGE
 TAKEN BY STATE
Groton and Stonington Residents Ap-
 peared at Hearing at Hartford.
Special to The Bulletin.)

Hartford, FeO. 16.-TWenty-thre
 representative citizens of the towns of
 Groton and Stonington were at the
 hearing this afternoon before the com
 mittee on roads, rivers and bridges, | in regard to taking over the Mystic river bridge by the state as a part of the public highway. The hearing in behalf of the citizens interested in the
 matter, locally, was conducted by Sen ator Benjamin H. Hewitt. The pro posed act provides: The highway commissioner is au- thOrized in behalf of the state to ac- cept a dedication and grant by the towns of Stonington and Grotou of the drawbridge and approaches across 1 the Mystic river and to maintain and
 use said bridge and approaches as a
 state highway. The act to take effect
 upon it's passage Senator Hewitt said the bill simply provides for the taking over of the
 the trunk line between New York and Boston and river divides town of Groton and Stonington. It is the only drawbridge across the Mystic river and is constantly in use. New work is pro- gresslng on the trunk line on StOning- ton side and completed on Groton side of river, It is the only macadam road between New London and Boston. This river divides Mystic, so one part is in the village of Groton and the other in
 
 by the towns. This ownership creates opposition from one side or the other. This is one of the most used bridges in the state and is operated by two old soldiers and is opened and closed by the old. and the slow way. That was all right before the automobile came, but now it has become a public detriment. The bridge is now in good condition. It is crossed by the Cfroton and Stoniugton Trolley company and hat T4ac power to operate the bridge and the offer has not been accepted. There will probably be a general law covering the 1 taking over of bridges. This bridge 1 is in good condition and is offered to 1 the state in response to public demand l He read 8, letter from J. D. DTarey, | q summer visitor, who favored the
 proposition and explained in detail the need of the bridge as Q part of the | public highway.
 1 The state has spent much money on | trunk lines and occasionally when | roads are built much is spent in talk 1 ing out curves, yet this bridge cannot ! be opened and closed in less than | fifteen minutes and sometimes twice 1 that length of time thereby delaying | public traffic materially.
 ] Representative CrandalI of Groton i had much to add to what was said by Senator Hewitt. Mystic people are 1 handicapped by the geographicaI loca-
 ton and the bridge is cared for by | two sets of officials. The state pays l ST50 for maintenance of bridge annual Il ly, which seems sufficient. This bridge | being on the main trunk line to Rhode 1 Island. should be under supervision of | the state and receive proper atten- | tt0n and more in keeping with public ! convenience. The state has agreed to take over the railroad bridge between | New London and Groton and should take over the only other bridge on that particular trunk line. When this ! bridge is opened there is caused much inconvenience. The bridge could be ;l better managd under state control. i Senator Hewitt said he was in favor of tn estate taking over all these
 bridges on trunk lines.
 l Robert W. Perkins. general man.
 ager of the trolley system and presi = dent of the Groton and Stonington ,l ing to the opening of the bridge at irregular intervals it IS impossible to
 keep up a. regular schedule. On one
 occasion he noted that the bridge was l open tWenty-two minutes to allow a small catboat to pass through. He said that the company had offered the power if the town would furnish a
 motor for the operation of the bridge. Mir Perkins would be glad to see i'm
 provement in the operation of the
 .. B. Spalding told of delays on the ! bridge that come under his personal observation, and favored the transfer of the bridge to the state
 William L. Main said that the oper- auon of the bridge was a. menace to I the people of Mystic and it would be a great convenience if the state took the ' bridge over.
 George D. Johnson said the office of the telephone company he manages is on one side of the bridge and the bank , on the other and the delays by req , son of the bridge operation ahe ob-
 vious.
 . L. M. Allen said he favored the transfer Of the bridge to the state.
 1 It is a part of the trunk line and the
 outside travelling public is even more {nconvenienced than the local people. He considers the bridge 9, state affair
 rather than local. The bridge is not r over a dozen years old and is in good condition and the foundation is ample l, for any in1prov ernent on structure. The state now pays for Ealf the main
 tenance of the bridge but it is managed
 by the town of Groton. The average
 number of automobiles passing over \ the bridge is 325, not including AIys- T tic owned machines. The two towns have not got close together on the 5 bridge question in 8 hundred years, but with the state in charge he be-
 iioved the bridge would be more sat 2 isfactoriiy operated.
 1 Elias F. Wilcox, representative and seiectman Of the town of Stonington,
 believed the bridge should be state affair. It is evident that the bridge is not operated satisfactorily, which could
 be improved if under state control. He concurred in all that had been l said.
 1 Senator Hewitt then called upon A.
 r, Hewitt, 8 Selectman in the town of ; Groton. He believed the bridge should be a part of the trunk line and owned and controlled by the state. It is a missing link of the trunk line and
 should be taken over.
 ; Senator Hewitt said this is the only