Norwich bulletin., 1918-03-02
HUGE SUM FOR
 HOUSES IN GRoToN. Million and aHaif to Provide Aceom- modations for Shipyard Workers.


 Erwin. A. Morse, president of the Grotop Iron works, returned from his weekly trip to Washington Thursday evening optimistic about getting one and one-half million of the five million dollar appropriation authorized by con- gress for the purpose of provid'n housing for the army of shipyard workers.
 MT. Morse was one of the party of men who Attended a conference in Mayor Rogers office some two weeks or so ago with view of taking up the housing problem for workmen em ployed in New London shipyards and other industries which are greatly handicapped by lack of homes for their greatly augmented forces.
 At this conference it was arranged to send F. J. Howell and MT. Morse to Washington to see if any portion of this appropriation could be obtained for New London Upon their return from this first trip MT. Howell stated that J. Rogers F'lannery, Who is in charge of the housing problem, inform ed the committee that this appropria- ton was solely for housing workmen engaged in shipbuilding operations for the government and not for the work men employed in. other industries. It was not the governments intention to finance building plans for privately owned concerns, except such as have been communicated and put solely on government contracts. This put the matter in a favorable light for the Groton Iron works and disposed of any hopes that the other industrial men in New London may have had in re- lation of procuring additional houses for their help
 Mir Howell stated, however, that he was informed that another government bureau was likely to be organized which would endeavor to do similar work for allied industries in cases where there was urgent need.
 Mir. Morse on his trip this week in- terviewed MT. Flannery again and ac- cording to the offer of the government made to MT. Morse the Groton plant will receive aid up to the amount ot $1 800 900, provided the Groton Iron works will put up 10 per cent. of the amount. The government will then take a first mortgage on the new houses to protect itself and put up 90 per cent of the money.
 MT. Morse assured the authorities that the eonnpany would do so ano ] while. the contract has not been fully eonsun1m ated Mir Morse says he has every reason to believe that the ar rangement will go through and that 1 the erection of houses will start just as soon as the weather permits. It is the plan to erect these houses on land |, owned by the Groton Iron works, and ] MT. Morse estimates that this amount will enable them to construct about 1 300 houses, The shipping boards es- 1 innate of the cost to house a single l f31a i9 ok a l family. A house to accommodate. fol 1 instance, ten single men. would entai a cost to build of s2,50O Mir Morse 1 also endeavored from time to time tt i induce the.AShore Line Electric Rail way con1pany to extend spur trolley | track from Groton borough to thu 1 shipyards, which are locat ted a mile tt l a mile and half beyond the trolley The trolley company has not felt war. ranted in going to this expense and nt road has been constructed. It ha! been necessary, for the worltmen tt either walk. take iitney from thu trolley line or to take passage iron New London on the small steame
 Yantic, which the Groton Iron work i acquired some months ago for thu purpose of conveying their employees t, and from the shipyards
 As the shipping board considers i of as. much importance to get work men to the shipyards as it is to hons
 them. it, is believed that Mir Mors. will feel justified in expending DOT ton of. this sum for the purpose 0
 building an extension of the trolley either paying for the whole cost o having the electric road agree to stant a part of the expense.
 As this seems to takes care of MT Morse's. problem. the other interests including the New London Ship an,
 Engine company, the D. E. Whitol company, the Thames Boat compan! and several others which are also il
 need of housing facilities for fhei
 workmen, will have to get busy ol their own hook and try and get som help along this line when a proposi
 tion similar to the shipbu11ding pFopo
 sition affords them an opportunity I
 is likely that another conference vii I be called by MT. Howell and Fepor
 made regarding the Gfoton Iron work
 and possibly some plan formulated in
 tending to assist the other industries
 which appear just now to be left ou
 in the cold:
 cAJNArinA hDAN HAHpAINA