Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-31

4oIOA SA1ellISS II 1lSSuSO.
 Claimed All Invalid.
 Before the hearing had proceeded | any farther, Attorney Shields said he wanted to make a preliminary objec- tion on this very important matter af- fecting a town of 2S,000 population whose territory it was proposed to cut off to the extent of more than half.
 He claimed that this whole proceed ing was invalid and ought to be dis ground that according to the statutes a citation of notice was called for in an adversary petition of this charac- ter and the town of Norwich had never had any notice served on it's officials. The only notice in the matter had was also presented under the statute referring to change of bank charter and municipal charters which was another reason for declaring it invalid. He emphasized the point that no mo- t1ce had been given to a town whose population and territory it was pro- posed to divide to the disparagement and depreciation of the town.
 After brief conference the commit tee chairman said it was their unani- nous opinion to go on with the hear ing.
 Opened Petitioners Case.
 Attorney Carpenter opened the case TOT the petitioners, saying that this movement was the continuation of agi- tation at the last legislature for the consolidation of the town and city of Norwich. There had been one bill to annex Sunnyside, Bean Hill and Nor w1ch Town and another to make the clty and town limits coeXtensive. Last December also there was a notice of petition for annexation.
 He presented 16 petitions in favor of the proposed measure, signed, he said by over 1000 legal voters and tax payers of the fourth and fifth voting districts which are within the proposed new town of Old Norwich. Over 90 per cent. of the residents have signed, he said. and there was also a petition representing more than 90 per cent. of taxpayers who are not voters,
 The grand list of the whole town of Norwich is $17,000,00O and the grand list of the proposed town would be from 4 to 4 IA millions with a popuIa- tion from 7,5O0 to 5000. The proposed new town would have a larger popula- ton and grand list than Putnam and Plainfield and most towns in New Lon don county. But one town in each of W1ndham, Tolland and Middlesex counties would have larger grand lists and it would be the seventh largest town in Eastern Connecticut in its grand list.
 The petition is asking for home rule for Taftville. Occum and Yantic. He
 
 buildings of the Ponemah company, one of them double the length of the state capitol with a wing that has almost as much floor space as the capitol The Ponemah mills also have for their own use and for their neigh borhood 8 water system costing -S175,- 900, sewer system costing s50,00O and an electric light system. The village of Occum has much the same.
 As to the schools, the petitioners believe they can take care of their own. They feel slighted now As to the Norwich Free academy, there are 45 pupils from the proposed new town going there and if the new town has to pay $60 each for them, it will be no more than they do now, they figure according to the proportion of the school tax they pay.
 The debt of the city of Norwich is now $l, 400, 900. the town debt $220, 900 and the petitioners want to be relieved from the fear of being compelled to share these. The town tax is now 13- 1-2 mills, but the new town thinks it can reduce this.
 The petitioners want to be free from the control of the city, for every time they want anything the city outvotes them,
 Attorney Carpenter said they would | frankly admit that a majority vote of the town, including the city, would be against the separation measure pro- posed. If the proposed new town could ! be let alone they would grow and the l a 700x2O0 foot mill building and two | more stories on other buildings to be | erected when business conditions are favorable.
 Civil Engineer Chandler. Judge Henney called on Civil En- | gineer c. E. Chandler of this city to | explain plan of the proposed new | town of Old Norwich, from which it 1 was brought out that 29 square miles l Norwich: 15 1-2 square miles would be in the proposed Old Norwich and there are square miles in the city. Left Outside the City.
 Attorney Tanning for the opponents | to the proposed measure took MT Chandler in hand for examination. By l his questioning he brought out that | natural expansion of the city might | be expected towards Taftville, that would be in the town of Old Norwich if it were formed, that any driveway northerly around the lake in Mohegan park or any extension of the park northerly would be in the new town and that the Backus hospital, Rock Johnson home would all be in the new town. Fire protection for these insti- tutions would also most likely have to be depended upon from the city o1 l Norwich
 MT. Chandler gave an estimate as follows of the population and highway mileage of the city and districts o1 the town of Norwich: city 21,728; 4 miles; Wequonnoc 4,S07, II miles; Occum 710, miles; West Town 52O 5 miles; Yantic 37S, miles; East Great Plain 291, 14 miles; Scotland road 137. 2 miles; Plain Hill SS, . miles: Wauwecaus S3, miles; Towr l street 1,142, IT miles; @ total for the town of 29,S79 population and II. miles of highway.
 J. Arthur Atwood's Reasons. J. Arthur Atwood, who said he wal a cotton manufacturer, but not a res
 ident of Norwich was next called tc the stand by Judge Henney and asked to give his reasons for wanting tn town of Old Norwich formed.
 MT. Atwood read from notes whic1 he had prepared and referred to hi father having built the Ponemah mill and to times when the credit of Nor
 wich was rated high, but the men O
 those days had passed away and tn city had reached out for help to pa. it's debts, resulting in the annexation
 of part of the town of Preston. Eacl year he felt that Taftville faced tn
 danger of annexation which woul !, | 1F fn