Norwich bulletin., 1918-02-09
NEW LONDON AND ITS FERRY
City Meeting Called Get Appropriation of $60O00 Three
 quarters of Which is For New Boat-Grand List h.
 crease Comes from Jump in Vauation-Increased Rate is to Be Expected-Seeking Name For New Ferryboat.

in the tax rate of at least four mills to meet the appropriations already made, which includes the unusual state tax. this year and the special tax for the city's share of the cost of the bridge at Mantle. These are unusual expenses, not regular, and there was no need for increased valuation to meet these OF even other extra erner- gency measures this year. --sa---- - :. This could have all been met by | Assessor Murray's plan. which provld- ed for increased nillage to meet the extra demands rather than a general increase in the valuation, The tax rate could be changed annually to meet any extra emergency, and when there were no extraordinary calls the nillage could be returned to- normal, and without injury to the credit or benefit of the city. The increase even in millage will be a hardship on the many who possess heavily mortgaged homes, but when there is also increase in valuation the burden is almost un- endurable. It's a safe bet of a mill to a cent that there will be much jus tif1able kicking when the tax list is made public.
 During the week every taxpayer has
 
 petent clerk to the board of assessors, a postal card paving the way for the people to be prepared for the increased valuations. So the people are pre- pared and the ears Of the good mean ing assessors, Messrs.. PenhalloW and l Bracken, are sure to jingle, even if l they have performed their duties to i the best of their. ability and perhaps 1 under the belief that they were doing the proper thing to meet the demand for more money to run the municipal l ity and it's. contingent expenses. That i little postal sent by the clerk has caused quite preliminary ripple by reason of it's indefniteness. or perhaps i the inability of the taxpayer to fully comprehend. It reads:
 1 In compliance with Chapters 141 and 154 of the public acts passed by l the general assembly Of the session of 1905, you are hereby notified that the assessors have made the following l changes to your list:
 1 Have raised the valuation on prop erty listed.
 Have added property to the list that 1 they believe should be listed
 Per order Board of Assessors.
 F. c. BURROWS, Clerk. l The increase in valuation of listed property was understood but the ad-
 dition of other property is just a trif1e puzzling when applied to every tax payer in the city, and they are all supposed to have received these postal cards. It is understood that the
 added property" is not applicable in all cases, Hence the onslaught on the board of assessors for an explanation
 and the preparation for an almost | mi {n r1 of
 lief.
 I All ahoard the Groton ferrybeai
 again, for soon that boat will be ir
 New Londcn harbcr from New York
 ice and weather permitting, but it is not the intention of the ferry com
 mittee to operate the boat under its present name. The treasury depart
 ment under the circumgt anees maS
 permit a change of name without tht expenditure Of a. certain sum in re. } pairs, as is the rule. Already names ] are being suggested, including tht .i name of every Indian tribe and evers !, Indian chief that ever hit the trai anywhere in now eastern Connecticut In addition it has been suggested tha , the boat be named the D. Frank Nor ] gan or M. McGEegor Scott, in honol QL, tlc IcIIy SUlHIIlttl6Stit6Il, pr , Rogers, Governor Waller, Augustus , Brandegee, Sebastian Lawrence, Rob , ert Bartlett Nathan Hale.
 } But the man who has done more t , put New London on the map than an, 1 other man seems to have been for gotten by the voluntary would b, 7 sponsors. Even the name of Commo
 dore Plant has not been mentioned
 The committee might be induced t j set aside party and personal feeling , and do justice to the man who ha accomplished so much for the city a ] state senator, mayor, congressman 7 postmaster and private citiben. Bryal F. Mahan or Mayor Mahan would no } Hook so bad, painted on the side of l ferryboat It has familiar scum D and would be bestowing honor on 5 representative native citizen of sNey 8 London.