New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-07-16

IN
Little River flows in from the west
ward and just above East Haddam
the Salmon river and, a short dis
lance above Essex, Eight Mile river
empty in from the eastward.
AS to the possibilities Of the freight
traffic development of the river, the
value OF freight transported on the
river in 1917 was about $5O,000,0OO;
and the tonnage figures pointed to-
ward the million being coal, lumber,
building materials, fertilizer, petro-
leum products and miscellaneous
steamboat freight Furthermore it
costs New England manufacturers
nearly So to bring every dollars
worth of coal to the section, accord
ing to reliable figures. How long can
New England expect to do business
under this handicap with the agrees
sive interior and west, so much more
favorably situated in regard to the
food supply and the market?
An idea of the large number Of
people VINO are i'll position to be BEN
Gifted by the development OF the
river is given by referring to the
popula ton of the cities and towns
concerned. The communities in Con-
necticut interested in the river i'm
provements have approximately SO0,-
900 inha bitants. They are in the
front rank among New England's
manufacturing towns, and their pro-
ducts, which are so diversified that
they range all the way from an or
binary pin to an automobile, are
shipped to all sections of the civilized
world.
Historical records show that a hun
| dred or more years ago elaborate
nc ho
| velopment OF the Connecticut river.
a system of canals was proposed, and
charters were secured in Vermont,
| Massa Chusetts, and Connecticut. I'm
| der the Connecticut charter, which
| was granted in 1924, the recipient
| was given permission to widen the
! channel of the river and remove OBJ
| structons from that part of the river
| between the bridge at Hartford and
| the city of Springfield. Authority to
| construct canals was also given. Elk
| tensive improvements were made at
! that time. and it Is said that at that
period the Connecticut river entered
| upon it's era of greatest commercial
| activity According to the records, the
| whole river was open to navigation
from Hartford, Conn, to Wells River.
| vt. The river is about 345 miles
|
| boats with capacity of 80 to 40 tons.
The Connecticut Valley is one of
| the most important tobacco pro-
ducing- districts in the United States
| the crop for last year alone being
| valued at nearly $12. 600 900 for that
| part of the valley within the confines
! of Connecticut. The river passes
| right through the heart Of the tobac-
| co belt, The problem Of irrigation
| engages the attention of the grow
/ ers, and the department Of agrlcul-
| ture is assisting along constructive
| lines; but the solution OF the whole
| situation would be fastened if,
| through the present measure, the way
! can be opened for the irrigation Of
! this large district
| Connecticut is the munitions state
of the union. A greater part of it's
manufa curing Industries are pro-
| ducing munitions and materials Of
| war than the industries in any other
state in the union. The crying de-
mand is for more power. Every
| available water power on its nom
| navigable streams has been devel-
| oped to it's limit. There are thou
| sands of horsepower on its navigable
| streams that have not been devel-
| oped because of failure of congress
| to legislate. Last winter many fac
! tories engaged in the production of
| war materials were obliged to shut
down on account of lack of fuel, al
| though a few miles away water power
on navigable streams remained un-
| developed and the waters running to
| waste.
| Those who have studied this stua-
| ton in Connecticut are convinced
! that power shortage will constitute
| very serious obstacle to the pro-
| duction Of materials vitality needed at
| present in the war In the district
| I have the honor to represent. the
! 4O,O 600 horsepower running to waste
at Windsor Locks. if developed,
1 would have saved the transportation
| of more than 600. 900 tons Of coal,
| and released those cars and railroad
| facilities for the transportation Of
| other articles and help relieve the
| freight congestion which New Eng
| land is suffering from Freight en-
| barge after freight embargo has been
| placed on New England on account
| Of the inability of the railroads to
| transport the coal, raw materials, and
! finished products to and from our
| factories. Immediate relief from this
| condition is demanded. 1t is vital
! necessity as a war measure and re-
lief can not come too quickly.
Another great argument for the
DEVELOPMENT of our water powers is
the Imperative necessity that we pro-
duce sufficient fixed nitrogen in this
| country to meet its requirements.
The development of water power is
more closely related to the produc
| ton and conservation of food than
anv other project that has been pro-