Norwich bulletin., 1917-02-05
WILL NOT RUN STEAMER
 BLOCK ISLAND THIS YEAR
Line Has Not Been Money Maker
 During Past Few Seasons.

Line Has Not Been Money Maker During PasteFe Seasons.
 After ss years of service steamer l the Block Island and Watch Iff11 route by the New England Navigation Co. leaving no steamer line running to those places from Norwich. Vice President Gardner in an inter view explains fully. the reasons his company has given up running a steamer to the island.
 Mir. Gardner said that much as he regretted it the outlook was that the service between Norwich and Block Island would not be resumed by his company again. He said he had a conference with Senator Littlefield of regarding boat service between the is- land and the mainland. Mir. Little field said that the Providence, Fall River Newport Steamship company steamer New Shoreham, which in-
 cludes Block Island, and would run the boat in connection with their otl1- CT steamer, Mount Hope, from Prov idence to Block Island. giving a morn ing and afternoon service. The New Shoreham took the place of the old Danielson.
 MT. Gardner told MT. LittlefieId that the New England Steamship company had wharyes and other facilities at the island. New London and Norwich, and the company would be pleased to, place them at the service of the Block Island people if they could use them Senator Little6eld said that an effort might be made to get a. boat to cover that route. but the chances were against such action.
 steamers are not to be had for the asking in these days" said Mir Gard ner. He said that his company had looked over the field closely and he did not believe that there was any vessel available at the present time which would be suitable for the pur- pose.
 The Long Island Railroad company runs steamer between Long Island and Block Island so that with a morn ing and afternoon service from Provi- dence the service facilities of Block Island are ample.
 MT. Gardner said he regretted the necessity of leaving the people of New London, Norwich and Watch Hill without a service over this long es- tablished route to Block Island, but the situation was such that the step had to be taken. MT. Gardner stated that the route had never been a mon ey maker.
 . As far as it is possible to look into the future," MT. Gardner said at the conclusion of the interview, the chances are that the New England Steamship company will not resume the Block Island service from Nor
 With the taking off of the Block 1s- land New London is left without steamer accommodation to Watch Hill, and 1t is doubtful if another ex- cursion service will be established The day of excursion business down the river is probably over. It has been found there is very little money in it in recent years. trolleys and au- tomobiles taking away a large pro- portion of the patronage.
 The steamer Block Island is still sound and safe enough to ply in in land waters and may be disposed of to be used in that way. Otherwise junk.
 Rumors have been circulated for some time that the steamer Block Island would be taken off it's summer route between Norwich, New London, Watch Hill and Block Island. In an- swer to a query a. letter. from Vice President Rowland Gardner says:
 Nothing would please us more Norwich, New London. Watch Hill and Block Island service during the com ing season. The steamer Block Island however. is an old type of wooden ves- sel. She is now over B years old and we do not consider her entirely suitable for further service on ex- posed routes similar to the one in question and, therefore, do not feel that we would be justified in continuing her operation.
 "As you know, the status of this company has been most uncertain ever ;ince the passage of the Panama Canal lct. Since that time we have built | 10 new vessels and we do not feel hat it would be right, under the un- certain conditions to contract for new | equipment Should we, at this time, 1 De in a position to build a new steam .r for the Block Island line, we could | lot hope to get delivery ins91e of two ,r three years.
 we regret very much that we can lot continue this service, but we do not feel that tEe Block Island is suit lble and we have no vessels that are