Norwich bulletin., 1918-03-15
WORKING FOR BITTER
 HIGHWAY TO BASE
Improvements Are Felt to Be Neces, sary as War Measure.

A concerted effort. is being made by the officials of the submarine base, the Norwich war bureau, the Norwich Chamber of Commerce and others to have put in first class condition inn mediately the state highway leading from Norwich to Groton on the east side of the Thames river. This ef- fort is being made as it is felt to be a war necessity. The navy officials have long felt the need of a better road between Norwich and the sub marine base. One of the needs is to allow for the operation of a motor truck service between Norwich and Groton. The development of the sub marine base is so far advanced that it is certainly apparent that provision is being made for the blishment of a small city there
 Building after building of the bun galow and concrete type is fast rising at the base, and more 3.e to follow, and the transportation facilities to the base are being taxed as never before. It is understood that the proposed improyt flents can be made at com paratively low outlay, as there is at the present time stretch of only about four miles that needs any real attention.
 Four miles ofSthe road from Groton to the navy yard have already been l improved, there, is about three miles of gravel road that needs shaping up, and four miles of poor road which needs gravel surface to put it in bet l ter condition.
 Several miles south of Norwich on | this highway there is a drawbridge which will need some attention. This bridge runs across Poquetanuck cove. It could be shortened considerably by 1 building out a roadway at either end In that section the soil is of such a nature that it can easily be extended into the cove.
 The entire project has been en- dorsed by Congressman R. P. Free
 man, who is a letter to Herbert R Branche, secretary of the Chamber oi Commerce, says: agree with you tha1 the highway between the submarine
 base and Norwich should be put 1T first class condition, and have in com ipliance with your request writer Commissioner Bennett to that effect The Marlin Rockwell corporation who have a branch plant on Franklin Istreet, formerly the old Hopkins &
 Allen shop, endorse the project. would be a great convenience for theil
 trucks which from time to time art bltSY IIIONlll6 llletSulHtLS SopplI6S
 etc, from New Haven to Norwich ant vice versa.
 The road if improved would also b
 of benefit to the Norwich state hos
 pital.e.
 l Commissioner Bennett Invited.
 A few days ago President r. " Carey of the local Chamber of Com merce took the proposed improvement Iup with State Highway Commission CT Charles ]. Bennett and extended tn
 commissioner. an invitation to atten , the open meeting on the 22nd In hi letter to Highway Commissioner Ben
 nett, President Cary said:
 On July 7th. 1917. you wrote to on of our members that you had made
 thorough inspection of fhe condition ( the highway on the east side of tn Thames river from Norwich to Groto
 and found about four and one e-ha
 miles of good road, three, miles ( gravel road that needed shaping | } and four miles of poor road whie woud need gravel surface to put ] in better condition. The cost of thes
 Improvements was estimated by you 3 department at S1500. Since this lette about four miles of this road from Grc : ton to the Navy Yard have been in