Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-13


 probably will, the eight companies comprising the New London fire de- partment will be fully equipped with motor driven apparatus within the next two years. Already five of the companies are so equipped and con- tract has been made for a city ser vice truck for the F. L. Allen Hook and Ladder company and which, by the way, is to be of the very highest standard. There was lively competi- tion for furnishing this particular ma chine and, despite determined opposi- tion, the fire committee decided to award the contract for the apparatus that has stood the test of continued New London. The committee wisely decided that it was not for the best interests of the city to indulge in any expensive experiments. With this ma chine delivered the only companies without motor-driven apparatus will be the Nameaugs and Konomocs- It is in the cards to get an appropriation for the Konomocs next October and another appropriation for Nameaugs a year later.
 Some difference from the old days when it was the custom to run wid de nnerchene in New London, and not so many old days at that. It was a comparatively few years ago when the hose reels were drawn by hand and 1t
 
 and a gang of boys running through the streets drawing the fire apparatus by long rope, or hitched on behind hack or some delivery wagon pressed into service for the occasion. There are still among the living some of those red-shirted firemen who actually believe that the department was even more efficient in those days than at the present time. It is as interesting to hear them tell of the great achieve tS at ina 0c f1~n- men. almost as much so as to listen to the war veteran who put down the re- bellion with the assistance of a few otEer men of their type. Wonderful days, those old days!
 rivers and bridges were in New Lon dor Tuesday, en route to Mystic where they inspected the Mystic river bridge in connection with the taking over of the structure by the state and making the bridge a part of the state high way. The matter has been given pub lie hearing and the committee made the visit in order that they might get more intelligent information prior to making hls S,d report ao+ on the pToposition Grcton and Stonington and it is main tained by both towns and was con- structed jointly by them and the Groton and Stonington Street Railway company, which paid one-nalf the cost, the balance being divided be- tween the towns.
 It was divuIsed at the hearing that the trolley company had agreed to furnish power for opening and clos ing the drawbridge provided the towns of Groton and Stonington would pro- vide the motor. The trend of the hearing was to the effect that in jus tice to the towns the state should take L. | fin many sections of the state. It was urged that the bridge was in good condition and the state would not be put at any great expense in taking over the structure and it's maintenance ought to become a part of the regu- lar highway e system. However, the main feature of the hearing was in eff feet that there were long and tedious delays to trolley cars and automobiles as well as to other vehicles by the the bridge. Just how these delays were to be obviated in the event of this bridge being transferred to the state was not divulged.
 It would have been case of killing a couple of birds with the same stone if this same committee had been invit- ed to take g. peep at the conditions at the Thames river bridge which is des- tined to become state property some LIIue, anu some feature or WHICH IS liable to receive consideration at the present session of the general assem- ply. It is probable that the committee will be invited to make a special trip for the purpose. Already the New London members of the legislature have had preliminary invitations from the New London Chamber of Com merce, through Senator Whiton, to visit New London for the purpose of making Investigation as to the ap- breaches and the like as proposed in connection with making the big rail- | road bridge a part of the highway system of the state, and also to ex 1 don interest pending before the pres ent session of the general assembly. | Senator Whiton stated that the invi- tation could be considered as extend ed and the date left with the New