Norwich bulletin., 1918-03-23
NEW L0ND0N'S FERRY INCONVENIENCE
Had Such Occurred Under Private Management There Would Nave Been End to the Criticisms By Those Who Are Directing the Municipal Service Indications That City Will Be Great Naval Headquarters

New London He has filed complaints with the trolley company and with the public utilities commission, ex-
 plained the needs of New London and
 told just how the service could be im- proved, by changes in traekage and general management. But in that par
 ticular, perhaps, he is no different than that they know just how to fnanagel sofnebody else,s business, especially in
 the public service line. Well, the time finally came when the gentleman
 had opportunity to demonstrate ljusts what he could do in the public service line management.
 The alderman happens to be chair-1 man Of the ferry committee which cer-
 tainly has been nisrnanaged almost from the very day that it came under
 municipal ownership and under his
 management. He practically selected,
 and actually purchased the old New
 York ferry boat Port Chester and
 changed the name to Nathan Hale..sfor
 the purpose of improving the ferry
 service between New London and Gro
 ton. The blunders made have before
 been referred to in this correspond- enee, and it was stated that there was more public inconvenience since the.
 ferry has been municipally managed than in the many years it was leased and operated by the Thames Ferry company. It was stated in this col ur1n last week that the troubles had been probably been adjusted and that schedule service was to follow. But just before the. comment was pub lished, conditions became even worse than before, and all the present week there has been continuation of public inconvenience
 The Hale was reported to be in. first class shape when she left New York for New London and was ready for immediate operation. That was. more than two weeks ago and the op- lefation has been the worst ever. Last Saturday there was trouble with one of the rudders Of the double-en ender and 1 Investigation. by a diver showed that 1 the iron fastening had corroded and broken and the rudder was useless and was removed. It is now said that the Hale will be run onto sand bar next Sunday at low tide and before the tide rises and the boat is fioated the rad l der will be back in place and that then 1 the Hale will be on schedule time. The dear public sincerely hopes that this
 accommodations for yehicular traffic
 next Sunday.
 l All through the present week tIae Nathan Hale has been making irregu- lar trips and meeting with minor ae- cidents! with only one rudder availa- tble it was necessary for the boat to make a turn in n1fdstream in order to
 be guided into the slip on either side of the river. This of course meant
 that vehicles had to be backed onto the boat in order to proceed off head
 on when the opposite side of the river was reached. This sure was a great public inconvenience and. 50 it is said, all on account of the delay in replac- I ing the rudder, that was supposed to be in first class shape when the boat left New York. Now suppose for a moment that the Thames Ferry com rany imposed such an inconvenience on the public for a whole week, fol- lowing a week of miserable service? Why, the ferry committee, es(l that in- lciudes the chairman, woulei ,e holler- ling bloody murder so to sy-sak. and would be telling the ferry company just how the ferry business should be Ioperated. and demand the service
 promised under the lease There is no Idoubt about that.
 ! In the meantime the old reliable Governor Winthrop, taken off the line ty reason of the exDiration of the cer- tifcate of inspection, thing that fought not to have happened is hauled Eout for repairs, and will seon be ready for business. The status of the Ma than Hale is at present unknown, and inlaybe, the Winthrop will be ready to iresune regular schedule time before that rudder is back in place and the i Hale is really in shape for successful Ioperation. Coupled with the nisman- !agement there have been some un-
 avoidable accidents. and the cornbina- l.
 tion has resulted in more real incon-
 venience than at any time since the lold horse power ferry boat was sup trlanted by the modern steamboat This
 ferry business is quite a problem, as the management is planned by the
 municipality. and the sooner it is isolwed the better it will be for the general public.