Norwich bulletin., 1915-01-23
EW LONDON AND ITS SIDEWALK
It Has Fine Ones and It Has Some of the Worst-Tak of Further Addition Fire Department Causes Unjust Att tack on Foreman Brown-Coastng in the Old Days Bad Accident at Norwich

New London has become noted for
 its many miles of granolithic side walks and they are a just cause for pride among some of the residents and are praised by the many visitors who walk over them. But these same l people do not know that there are in this same. city of fine sidewalks some Of the worst to be found in any city 1 anywhere. and streets wherein there 1 Is consldeIable traffic at that Take for instance Darrow and Orchard streets, where there are apologies for l sidewalks and no sidewalks at all, 1 and right in the thiczly settled resi- 1 dential section of the city. All who reside. in that section west of Mon tauk avenue in going to and from the 1 trolley cars must pass through one or i the other Of these streets, and ai- | most at every step there is silent 1 prayer, or something not so good for l the aldermen of the Fourth ward and l the city government generaLIy tor al l lowing the present almost unbe6r- | able conditions to exist. At no time are the alleged sidewalks safe to 1 pedestrians by reason of the con- 1 tinuous defects and the wonder is 1 that injuries have not resulted that l would call for the payment of claims l against the city. It is about time
 thnt the city fathers gave just a lit tie attention to Darrow and Orchard l streets, CT close them to public traf- l fic as safety precaution to the {! treasury of the city, if for no other reason, as public safety and conven- 1 fence does not seem worthy of con l sideration.
 i When the rain comes and softens 1 the earthly walks it is simply a case of wadina ankle deep through the l mud, and then the prayers. or the other things, in regard to the alder men, are given more emphasis. This ] fa l users of the streets during the rain l storm Of the past two weeks when it was difficult to withdraw the feet 1 from the mud and the suction was of
 rubber shoes of pedestrians. Th.s 1 condition would be expected along l some poorly kept country roads, but l in a city as pretentious as is New 1 London it is a public disgrace.
 There are streets in sections of 1 New London, not as important as the 1 two here named, that have the regu- l lation granolithic walks, and the | wonder is why Orchard and DarroW
 are completely neglected. The New 1 Londcn Chamber of Commerce has 1 taken unto itself the matter of agita- 1 tion for public improvements and 1 benefits and here is an opportunity for that newly named organization to 1 make practical demonstration of it's ] influence with the court of common 1 council, or the department that is in 1 charge of the streets and sidewalks. ] There are local merchants and writers for local newspapers who are ] ready to advocate patronizing home 1 people rather than outsiders, eSpec- 1 ially when whatever is to be pur- 1 chased can be had at home at no 1 increased price and what is to be purchased is the best in the line. l This seems to work all right. except l when 1t comes cu the purchase of 1 fire apparatus, if purchase is, to be i made through 9 local agent. If the l agent comes from some other city l nothing is said, but just as sure as a 1 local agent attempts to make a sale,
 these same merchants and writers 1 for newspapers, put Up a big howl ! and hint at graft and imposition, 1 based entirely on the talk of preju- diced individuals too cowardly to ! make to newspaper writers.
 Charles B, Brown has been fore for about twenty years and is con 1 Ceded to be among the most active | men in the volunteer department and, | of course. serving without pay. Like l other volunteer hremen, MT. Brown { is engaged in some other business for l a livelihood. He has been for years Q dealer in fire department supplies l and is also the local agent for the l American -LaFrance Fire Engline ] company. builders Of standard mod l machines of the triple action type l has been in service in New London 1 for over two years and not cent 1 has been expended in repairs since 1 the machine has been in commission l although that apparatus has per 1 formed at least seven -tenths Of the l fire service during that period. The machine has proven it's efficiency and 1 worth and it's builders see to 1t that l 1t is always in excellent condition. l by frequent inspection. and at no .ex- pense to the city, thus making good l all guarantee, and going away be- l yond the agreement at the time of ] sale. More than can be said in re- l gard to other fire apparatus from I other builders.
 | Naturally, MF. Brown, with person. I al interest in the fire departrap&
 and knowing that ne better fire ap-
 paratus is nado than that offered by 1 the company he represents, is trying to sell to the city modern motor ! driven truck for the F. L. Allen Hook 1 and Ladder company. with confidence | that the apparatus is the, best in 1 every detail in the market. He can l sell the machine, to the city Just as l cheap as can any representative of the company, whether he come from 1 the factory in Elmira, or from the office in New York and Boston, and ! no cheaper. The price is the same to 1 all purchasers If this sale is com l pleted of course the salesrnan's profit 1 goes to NIT. Brown of New London l just the same as it would go to Mr. ! Smith of New York or Mir. Jones of
 Boston But because there is pros poets of sale by MT, Brown of New London. there is hint of graft on the | part of those who advocate patron ! age Of home people in all other lines