Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-04-04
Mr.. Aver Overlooked Conditions.


Mr.. Editor: The pen picture of Mr..
Aver of Yantic in your paper of March
"a of the condition of Norwich in the
long ago was nice as far as it went but
there were other conditions he seemed
to have overlooked. Now Mayor Muir
ply, being of the younger generation,
was not conVerSant with the pork in
dustry at that time, and perhaps that
is the reason he thinks North Main
and Thames streets are so rotten at
this time; and Mr.. Aver, being of the
older generation, thinks they are bow
erS of roses. At that time, native
pork sold for six cents a pound; today
We pay twenty-five cents or more for
imported hog; and the average age of
the inhabitants then was 20 per cent
more than now, with modern conven-
fences.
In 1872 the population of Norwich
was 1860; in 1915 it was 1929. If
Mr.. Aver will get the 1872 directory
and read the names of the heads of
families at that time, then get a 1915
directory and read the names in that,
if he is able to pronounce more than
one-half of them without sneezing, he
will know just what the increase is
composed Of and can place his own
value on the same.
Ia 1872 we had seven national banks
with a capital of S2,635, 900: today we
have three with a capital of $780, 0O
In 1872 we had a grand list of SIS
1852, with a city debt of S375,O0
including gaslight, nydrants and some
moon; today we have a grand list of
ST, TAI, 1888, with a city debt of $780,
los, outside of 100000 first mortgage
bonds of our gas plant, that they tell
us we do not owe.
In 1872 we had 81 ginmills; today
we have Sc, a substantial increase in
the mill industry.
Tn, hoA
surgeons, Is nurses and two under
takers to take care of the effects of
the hog industry and outside toilets, a
modern name for old-time convenience;
today, with up-to-date toilets, back
aired plumbing, and no hogs, it takes
AZ physicians and surgeons, "A nurses
and seven undertakers to do the trick
In 1872 we had nine drug stores to
furnish the antiseptics to sweeten the
atmosphere contaminated with hog;
| today we have 10 drug stores to keep
! pace with our modern sanitary i'm
provements.
In the long ago we school children
all drank out of the same old water
pail with the same old rustry tin cup,
no nurse or medical inspector to keen
the germs out of us; today we have
| medical inspection at 800, a nurse at
$1,000, milk inspector at $1,000 a
year, with paper towels, drinking foun-
talns, and no hogs to furnish the
| germs; and we little ones seemed to
enjoy life and stayed as long on earth
| then as they do today. The only thing
that holds good from the long ago is
larkspur and rum. That is used in our
schools today for the same purpose it
was used for then; substantial gains
In all directions except hogs.
In the times of the long ago the
| steamers City of Lawrence, City of
New London, City of Norwich and
/ riTyiF1 Of
New York, with the steamers and ships
| of the J. NJ. Huntington & Co. line.
built right here in Norwich, bringing
| cargoes of merchandise from the West
Indies to be distributed throughout
| New England, loaded and unloaded AT
| our river front. If Mr.. Aver was
! around at that time he may be able TO
| see that now they are gone as well as
| the hog pens.
| Mr.. Editor. Mr.. Aver, outside of the
| hog industry, does not know appar-
emily much more about the Norwich of
| the long ago than a stuffed ham, and,
| living in Yanic and not being re-
| sponsible for the prosperity of the citv
| of Norwich, just why he could be so
| grieved about city affairs, and the rot
| ten condition, that the average bust
| ness man cannot tell from roses Gas
| seen by Mayor Murphy, after four
years as mayor is beyond comprehen-
| sion, as the Improvements in his part
| OF the town seem to be in the same
| condition, less the yellow flag, as II
was when we timers used to go M
| to the Hyde tavern in the long ago;
| except the Badger family; they seem
| to be gone.
And now, Mr. Editor, with the hum
| dreds of houses and business blocks
| and factories, and other improvements
| to offset the hog pens lost in the shut
| he as far as the grand list is con-
| oerned; as near as we can figure the
| old wooden shacks, Hollis stable or
Franklin square, and the hog pens in
other parts Of the city~seem to have
been as good tax getters in the good
| old times as the modern buildings that
have taken their places. The greatest
| need of Norwich is to have the as
SCISSORS go among the business houses
and manufacturers, take the amount
OF insurance they carry, and assess
them on that basis, as they are not
likely to pay any more insurance than
THAR business IL worth. This paad al