Norwich bulletin., 1917-09-15
Especial to The Bulletin.)

New London, Sept. 1.-The court
 Of common council of the city of New
 London has voted to take over the
 franchise of the Groton-New London
 ferry at the expiration of the lease
 now held by the Thames Ferry com
 pany, and which expires before the
 year ends. It will be then under mu-
 nicipal management and it will be up
 to the city to provide ample accom-
 modations for the patrons, regardless
 of the cost. There Is a demand for
 improved service and the city must
 furnish it. just as a private corpora
 tion would be compelled to do were
 out to the highest bidder as was pro-
 posed and approved at a previous
 meeting of the council. This action.
 however, was rescinded and soon the
 city will engage in the ferry business
 direct. Just how the ferry will be managed is not definitely determined,
 but the mayor in his zeal to take the
 franchise away from the present les
 sees intfmated that the ferry manage ment would be with the board of wa
 ter and sewer commissioners. and that
 the bookkeeping department would be done by the clerks of the board and
 without any extra cost to the city. In addition he said he would devote all
 his time while mayor to give the pub
 lie adequate ferry service. and that
 the city would reap the profits. The
 
 he may be reelected. and he may not. There is some doubt as to whether the promised improvement can be realized during his term of office.
 1t was stated in the council that a larger and better ferry boat than the one now in operation, and owned by the Thames Ferry company, one that better service. could be purchased for S40.000- So it Is the intention Of the city to start in the ferry business with an old. secondhand boat. which means the rebuilding of the landings in New London and Groton, which will require the expenditure of a. big sum of money If a big ferry boat can be had at that price in this era of high prices, it is an indication that the boat has outlfved its usefulness in it's l fhe 5uuIHmen. Starting in business with a cast-off boat does not augur well for frst-olass ferry service. and | before the end is reached 1t will be l probably demonstrated that it is not | economy to invest in an old boat and | old motive power. It can be said with ! some safety that the city will not be | very long in the ferry business. when a | m odate traffic, and that will mean an | expenditure of at least $1O0.O00 and f twice that amount if two boats are 1 proven to be necessary. The main | objection to the present service is the | long waits of automobiles during the | summer by reason of only one boat 1 being in operation. and this objection will not be satisfied with a larger boat as there will be the same old waits | between trips, even if the second hand | craft can take on a few more auto i mobiles than can the present ferry boat. The vote to take over the ferry business by the city carries with 1t ommendation for an appropriation of $40.000 or s50.0O0 for an old boat, and S25.000 for operating. expenses. | Quite an investment as a starter, but ferry accommodations that are re- quired In New London and Groton In the good old summer time. It is during the summer months that prof It's will accrue from the ferry. and part must go towards maintenance Turing the dull winter period
 Perhaps within three or four years will be converted into a public high way and then the ferry proposition as ! paying enterprise Is quite problem atfca1. Under the present lease the ar of investment, s5.ooo a year and ,ne per cent. of the gross receipts Not bad investment, and this sum right be increased were the lease 'le bidder. were the present les tees given opportunity to bid for ' he franchise, 1t is understood it would : lave been for a term of not more than our years, due to the bridge proposi- fon- and that company knows better han anybody. here or hereabouts, the business conditions of the ferry ser ice. The ferry company fully real ( zed the inadequacy of the service, t ince the great increase in the mum ( 'er of automobiles. bu. with the lease g caring termination, and uncertainty ( f renewal. did not feel justified in | investing a big sum of money in the f .u-chase of a new boat Hence the { unsatisfactory service, that gave per 5