Putnam patriot., 1919-08-01

That the strike ot tfoiieymen on the Shore Line railroad Is developing a serious situation that is eating into the heart of Putnam's trade and turn ing away patronage that is vital to- Putnam merchants, has been shown inI an investigation made by the Cham Der of Commerce. 1t means that Connecticut trade is going elsewhere if the signs can be read alright. The investigation shows that traffic on the trolley line north of West Thomp- son is seventy-five per cent greater into Webster than previous to the strike
 Another alarming situation shown is that told by residents of North Grosvenor-D Dale-that they are being discouraged to come to Putnam by the constant repetition of the story that they cannot get through, that i they will be obliged to walk from West Thompson or pay exhorbitant prices for autos. This is the propa- ganda. according to the Chamber of l Commerce committee, that is turning out-of town trade from Putnam. and once turned, the committee feels. it will be a difficult matter to get 1t back again.
 But the committee is up in arms, Despite disappointments and worries. the Putnam Chamber of GomC cree isn't going to see the door to Putnam nailed on the outside.
 Four jitney busses, giving better service than ever the trolley did, .are to be put into operation and Putnam, like the doughty old soldier for whom the city was named, is going to stand on it's own feet and lick old man Gloom to frazzle.
 1t is the intention now to get the busses from Bridgeport. With the meager operation of cars in New London, the busses running there have been dispensed with and are free. They are the property of concern in Bridgeport and the Chamber of Commerce here is going to get the busses if there is any way short of murder and theft to do 1t
 This will mean that two busses will be run from North Grosvenor-Dale to Putnam on half-hourly service, giv- ing better accommodations than the trolleys gave. A regular schedule will be developed.
 Nor are the people to the south of the city to be neglected. The other two busses will be put on in that di' rection also with half-hourly service and a regular schedule The trip tc the south will give accommodation tc the towns of Attawangan, Dayville and Goodyear. It is probable that the route will be through each of these towns and Attawaugan people will. if the plan is found feasible, be saved the trouble of hiking to the At tawaugan crossing as of yore. While the trolleys gave only hourly service the new arrangement will save mucf time for out-of-town patrons, for ar hour is a long wait if one has jus . missed car, and half hour service saves the extra half hour.
 It was hoped to have the schedule
 prepared two days ago, but the com f mittee met with disappointments. l
 is believed that today, however, ar engagements will be completed an'
 that the vehicles will be on the way t Q Putnam before night.
 While a majority of Putnam mer
 chants are alive to the situation n there is room for further help ant
 the Chamber of Commerce is urgint
 all it's members to look around, pull together and be ready to serve ant !, push for Putnam whenever the op | portupity offers. Just at the season
 when trade is at low ebb, the added
 difficulty is menacing Putnam mer chants. It's high time that eyerybod,
 gets on the job.
 The Chamber of Commerce esti Q mates that even with an orderly situ
 ation in New London with the instal Q lation of new men on the cars, it wi 5 be matter of month or more b, ' fore the service is extended to Pu
 nam and the trolleys are running rel
 ularly again, and in the meantin
 trade is being diverted that, in goo } many cases may never be returned.
 According to statement issue L.. Alu1 s.a1.