Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-04-07
SOLID FRONT AGAINST DIVISION
Representative Citizens of Norwich Appeared Before Com
mttee-Annexation Talk All by Irresponsible People,
They Say-Town Officers, Bank Officials and Residents
inProposed "Old Norwich" Oppose Division of Town
Hearing Continued for Week.

the town Dy the CITY H1lu DIS wen dS
in the city or in any section of the
town. Questioned by Judge Henney
Mr. Lillibridge put the population of
the town outside of Norwich at 1000
and in the city $1,000 and that this
year the city had voted against sep
aration. On roads and bridges about
$4,000 is spent yearly on roads outside
of the city, and some are partially
maintained by the state, which in
cluded a state road through Taftville.
There are from eight to ten miles of
state road in the proposed new town
of Old Norwich Taftville is within
the limits Of the proposed new town.
When you speak of Taftville you speak
of the Ponemah mills. he said. The
mill owns the town practically. The
only agitation for the change comes
from the Ponemah mills. There are
Ponemah streets in Taftville that are
not public highways. 1t was the SEN
timent of taxpayers that there should
be no separation. In response to a
query from Senator Thompson, Mr..
Lillibridge said there never was very
much sentiment in favor of separa-
ton.
Town Meeting Records Read.
Mr.. Alcorn read the record of
| meeting of the town of Norwich OPP
posed to annexation held in 1905, which
acted against consolidation. In 1907,
in annual meeting, committee was
appointed to consider the matter of
consolidation. In 1908 that committee
reported uneQuiyocally against any
consolidation of the city and town of
Norwich.
Consolidation Notice Bluff.
William B. Wilcox was questioned
by Mr. Alcorn and said he resided in
the proposed new town district. He
was selectman for ten years and he
and the other members of the board
lived outside the city limits. He signed
| a petition in favor of separation at the
request of Mr. Ricketson, agent of the
Ponemah mills. He was given to I'M
derstand that there was to be CONSOLE
| dalton and he favored separation rath-
| er than consolidation. He was op-
posed to the separation and to annex
alton. He saw newspaper notice
| that there was to be an effort made
| for consolidation at the present ses-
| sion of the legislature but since learn
| ed 1t was only a bluff.
Wants No Backward Movement.
Charles A. Saxton, a resident of
Norwich Town and president of the
| Saxton Manufacturing Co., employing
| about $50 persons, in the Bean Hill
! section, said that being assured that
| there is to be no effort at consolida-
ton he was opposed to separation and
would leave the old town as it is rath-
er than to make backward movement
and retard progress. Mr. Ricketson
presented the petition and it was sign
| ed for the purpose of heading off con-
| solidation. Did not believe there was
| any intention to consolidate. He ia
vored separation rather than consol-
| idation- Norwich is one of the most
historic towns in the state, he said;
more SO than Hartford in response to
| a query from Judge Henney.
Ponemah Mills Assessment,
Louis r. Church said he resided in
ha .{fx r.f tt n
coal dealer and, question by Mr. AL
corn, said he had served six years as
assessor and tried to do his duty He
| had to do with the assessing of the
Ronemah mills. The property was as
sessed for 81, 525, 900 and in 1907 1t
of relief reduced it to $1,845OO0 In
1914 the assessed value was $685. 10.
as some property had been omitted.
The property was assessed for about
half value. The late Mr.. Eccles gave
the book property of the mill at 81 ,O00,-
600. In the city there was opposi-
ton to separation or annexation, and
ne wanted to go On record as opposed
to both.
Separation Detrimental to Both.
Michael J. Curran, who resided with
| i'll the city limits % years and for
tour years has been member of the
board of assessors, on being questioned
by Mr.. Alcorn, said he was opposed
| to separation, as it would be detri-
mental to both city and town. He be-
| l1eved fear of increase in taxation was
the cause of the present commoiion in
connection with separation. The gen
eral feeling is against separation. Tho
population according to the official
census is perhaps $1,000 or there
abouts. He was opposed to consolida-
ton and did not believe it would be
dwell for either city or town. There
was no desire to antagoniSe the Pone-
Lmah mills and there is inclination fol
leniency with manufacturing concerns
in regard to taxation.
Majority Against Separation.
Thomas A. Robinson, a native of the
city and tax collector of Norwich fol
Is years, said there was no special
school tax by reason of school consoli-
dat!on. The people of the city as 6
| Whole were opposed to separation and
he never did favor consolidation with
out the consent of the people inter
ested, and that is the general feeling
of the people. In order to prevent
annexation he believed the people Of
the town were induced to favor the
scpar ration, but with that objection re-
moved there was general opposition t
separation. He did not want to admit
the town to the city unless the people
in the town SO decided. He had beer
elected by both parties for IL years
and was fairly We'll acquainted with ths
| pSO4u0 anu ne knew unc D1S majority
was opposed to separation.
rthur D. Lathrop, questioned By
Mr.. Shields, said he had lived in Nor.
witch AZ years and was first selectma1
for nine years commencing in 1900
The sentiment of Norwich people IL
against annexation and separation
tboth residents of the, city and the
town. When annexation of Preston
was being considered the town of Nor
witch was opposed. SO was he as frs
selectman, and was still opposed t.
any annexation or separation.
lantie Feeling Against Separation:
A. r. Manning, a resident of Yanti'
for II years, said the people of tina
| section as whole were opposed Il
separation and to the formation of .
. new town. A petition in favor Of ;
new town was circulated by Station
Agent Gibbs and generally signed ;
Few weeks ago. Some signed unde
The impression 1t was to counteract ,
. movement for consolidation; since thel
names have been withdrawn from tn
, petition. Mr.. Manning said he wa
! personally opposed to separation o
consolidation, but he believed Their
was more reason for consolidation thar
separation. He preferred a town t
city government. Mr. Manning said h
had a mill business in Yantic.
/ Would Bring Expense to State.
IL Francis r T,eavens rresidant of tn