Norwich bulletin., 1917-02-03
Especial to The Bulletin, ,

New London, Feb. 2.--Among the two
 largest projects from a financial stand
 point introduced at the present session of the Connecticut legislature are mat
 but which IIaplSeI4 us incidentally of special benefit to the New London One is the conversion of the railroad bridge over the Thames into a pubIic-flighway, which would be of almost incaIcuIable benefit to automobilists and all others who would have use for that great public convenience. The railroad com-
 pany has already given the bridge to the state, and now it is up to the leg islature to make that highway avail able. This can be done along the same lines that prevail with the Connecticut river- bridge, which would in the end be no expense to the state. The other project is for the improvement of the Estate property in New London harbor, which provides for the construction of Ia grain elevator on the state pier. Were doubt but the elevator would be con structed as business proposition, pure and simple, as it would be sure to bring returns.
 Senator James R. May has presented
 in the state senate a resolution to ap propriate $5oo,0oo for the grain elevator, it is presumed at the instance of the state commission having charge of the big pier. It is understood that steam ship company stands ready to lease fone-half of the pier and change the steamship terminal from New York to New London if this elevator is con |structed. After the war is over the representatives of this big steamship D company say that there is never any difficulty in getting cargoeS for the United States. but that there is always difficulty in getting a full return cargo. Therefore it is necessary for the steam ship companies to get-return cargoes to serve as ballast, to certain extent, and yet make the return trip profitable
 This is usdally done by return cargoes of pig iron or grain, preferably the lat ter. In the case of the state pier at New London the return cargoes would naturally be grain from the west.
 With the tracks of the Central Yer mont or Grand Trunk railway running on to the pier, carloads of grain could be shipped from the big granaries di- rectly to the elevator and the ships loaded with despatch that could not be eGualled even in New York harbor. It is the states opportunity to increase the value of it's property, and that's a reason why the senator from New Lon- don introduced the resolution asking for the appropriation. It is believed the elevator would be the means of getting the first cost of the pier back into the state treasury sooner than in the way originally planned If the pier is to be permanent terminal for one of the largest steamship companies that now make terminal in New York. this grain elevator is an absolute necessity. It does not seem, however that such a big sum is required for the construc- ton and operation of the grain eIe- vator. An estimate by a conservative party, qualified to estimate, is that an elevator that would answer the present purpose could be constructed for per haps s250. .000 or $500 ,0o0- Should the state decline to make the appropria- tion it is possible that a section of the pier may be leased for the purpose and the elevator constructed by the rail- or by a private company of capitalists who can see in the proposition a profit able investment.