Norwich bulletin., 1918-03-08
URGE pRopELLEs GO.
 TO SECURE BOAT
Business Men Show Much Concern Over Giving Up of Chelsea Freight


 The Announcement that the Norwich New York Propeller company has de- cided to postpone indefinitely the op- erati0n of the Chelsea line between this city and New oYrk, because of the fact that they claim it is impossi- Die to secure a boat to take the place of the Chelsea, which was badly dam4 aged by fire some time ago, has caused no little concern among busi- ness men of Norwich and vicinity. Many of these business houses have dePended on the Chelsea line for trans- pcrtation of freight to and from the New York markets. The giving up of the Chelsea line means that now prae- tically all freight that enters or leaves Norwich must be transported by rail, as the Chelsea was the only freight boat tpassepger as welD running in and out Of this city.
 On Thursday President F. " Cary and Secretary H. R. Branehe Of the Chamber of Commerce held an infor- nal discussion Oh the matter and the result was that A letter was forward ed to Manager A. B. Browning of the Norwich -New York Propeller comrAny urging him to make another effort to secure boat for the line ana eledsins the support and soaepefati9n of the local chamber
 The letter follows: A. P. Browning, q
 Manager Norwich New York
 Prop O.,
 | Brooktyn Bridge Piers,
 East River, New York: Il My Dear Mir. Browning: It is with sincere regret that I read this morning in the news items of The Norwich Bulletin that your line was consider ing indefinitely goifg out Of business
 This was d shock to me in view ot the great need today of every known transportation facility
 Norwich has suffered more this vim ter than ever before in its history for the want of adequate transportation and I cannot understand in view o1 1.-the great amount of available busi-
 ness, unless it be perhaps that there is no available boat that could either
 be leased OF purchased suitable fol
 this important line. We had sup posed here in Norwich that the vitafs of the old Chelsea were still intact and it was merely matter of super structure and nonessentialE that would be required to make her again as goot
 as new. speak for the business in.
 terests of Norwich and our $50 mem bers of the Chamber of Cemmerc' l we can do in any way to assist tn, Inanagement of your company in 1t!
 officers to secure for this section O . Connecticut an independent boat lin' for New York we shall consider it ; privilege to co-operate.
 As this is in an inside route it woul. appear at first glance that there mus , be boats of light draft and perhap unseawerthy for outside courses, tha could be obtained for sum within tn : limits your company might feel war l ranted to pay. No doubt you hay 5 considered how hard it is to build u } a business after it has been neglectel | for a period of time. Shippers ar 5 loath to change habits long establish r ed and do feel it almost a crime fe
 your company to sacrifice the year : and years of toll in building up thi a service and the incalculable sums c s money expended in advertising tn : same, serving as it does the whole c ] Eastern Connecticut.
 Q It takes time to build up the per y sonnel of the managing force of sue a line and we do hope that you wi n reconsider and make another effort s secure a vessel though she be not Y speedy one, in order that a competin
 boat line between Norwich and Ne f York will continue an asset for tE e civic advancement and upbuilIng { the mercantile and industrial interest t of our beloved city.
 l. Again we reiterate our former state e meft tf@t the Chamber of Commerc h of Norwich stands ready to rendt = any assistance to that end.
 e We remain, sincerely yours, n CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. ' Per H. R. Branche, Secy
 The manufacturers bureau of tl t chamber will consider the matter 5 e their meeting tonight. F. V. Knots n local agent for the Norwich-New YoI nj Propeller company. has been extende
 an invitation to attend the meetin e and it is probable that he will have l. statement to make in regard to the 1T m definite postponement of the Chelse It line, ~