Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-12
RETENTION DE SOUND STEAMERS
Directors of Chamber of Commerce Favor Continued Opera
 ton of Steamship Line by New Haven RaiIroad-Win Ask Congress Grant Measure With This End in View Big Membership Campagn to be Launched q

moment and arrange for the prompt
 introduction in congress of measure which will enable the interstate com merce commission of the United
 States to legally grant permission for 1 the continued operation of said steam | ship line by said railroad company Very sincerely yours.
 H. R. BRANCHE, Secretary. The report of the special committee of the chamber of commerce to make all arrangements for the care and comfort of the delegates to the Con- necticut State Grange convention. held comprising Charles A. Hagberg, woodbury o. Rogers and Herbert R. Branche, was presented as follows: The convention met in our city by invitation of the Norwich Chamber of Commerce. the matter first being brought before that body in the early spring and the invitation promptly ex- tended
 New Haven had been selected as the convention city this year. Mem bers of the chamber of commerce used such influence as> they possessed with the local grange to steer the conven- tion toward Norwich. With such sue cess as you gentlemen know.
 Your committee has held numerous meetings since it's appointment and has met with the universal support of all.
 What seems to many to be the greatest obstacle in the path of the convention being held in Norwich was the limited amount of hotel accommo- dation, less than 200 being able to find accommodations at our hotels and rooming houses.
 Your committee appointed a sub- committee of six ladies' all members of the local grange to canvass their respective sections of the city with I the view of securing rooms in private homes that could be used for the wis itors. This committee consisted of Mrs. Charles A Hagberg. Mrs w. Q. Rogers, Mrs. A. A. Robinson. Mrs. William J. Banfield, Mrs. Ambrose Sullivan, Mrs. H. R. Branche.
 Success more than crowned their eff hundred and ffty-five homes offered accommodation for 216 peo- pie.
 This in addition to hotel, roomine houses and other outside assistance. A special reception committee consist ing of A A. Robinson, Fillmore H. Ser ry and Edward Cook; ably assisted by the boy scouts looked after tVery com fort of our guests.
 The convention reqhired the secur- in gof three halls, viz: The town hall Olympic and grange. Headquarters a were established in where through the courtesy of L. M. 1 Crandall, bureaus of information and assignment of rooms were opened.
 Each delegate was required to como to this room give their name, and ;p: an introduction card signed by the en- committee. This card l bore the name of the people whose | hospitality they were to share togeth- 1 er with the name of the street and | ,arlines In all cases where there was some doubt in the minds of the dele | gates about finding the location a boy | scout was sent all of the way with |
  han any other one thing. We owe much to the board of education, to | Supt. E. J. Graham of the public | schools and to Benjamin M. Bruce, | master of the Boy Scouts and to the l scouts themselves for this feature o1 | he program.
 To the ladies of Norwich a specia | Yote of thanks for their earnest CO., lomes to upwards of 200 strangers This of itself is a very noticeable act md one to be commended by this fanber of commerce.
 To the press, who early took up the | of the program with the sue ! es that always crowns such efforts.
 To the merchants who spared no ex- 'ense in order that our guests might 1 'e made welcome and feel at east, | our committee owes much.
 In a conversation I had this morn l ng with State Master Davis and | secretary Loomis they were loud in 1 heir praise of the reception they had eceived in Norwich This sentiment xisted all down the line, stating they lad never been accorded a greater welcome or greater attention than mad l cen accorded them here.
 Nearly one hundred per cent of the elegates attended. The attendance on was 700, on Wednesday 800. nd on Thursday 500.
 The citizens of Norwich who have | hared their homes are also full of raise for the high grade of citizen hip, of the class of people that go o make up the personnel of the state II range.