Norwich bulletin., 1919-11-15
NEW tONDON's MUNIClpLE FERRY

not without a stop- -over.. It was an- noIinced that the boat was fit for bus mess, but after many delays the Na.1 than Hale was put into commission while the Governor. Winthrop \ was taken off for repaifs
 The Hale was new at the game and had much trouble sbreaking in. The time came all too soon when it wassl found that the Hale needed consider able overhauling. She was. off fofsl about three months and a. ferry boat from Greenport was chartered at big managers had decided to have two boats on the line, just to show ef-f ficiency and improvement. Finally the Nathan Hale was oyer-4 hauled in the most thorough way at big expense, probably an amount ass |1big as was paid for the craft It was money well expended under the cir $ cumstances, but the circumstances did not warrant the purchase of the boat at the outset, with full knowledge that the work was progressing towards opening the state highway bridge. The Hale was practically rebuilt and put in really first-class condition, fully as good as ever. The actual cost of the boat from the start of negotia. tions for purchase to the present time would make an item of public inter- est At last the municipal managers realize that the time is near at hand when one boat can handle the ferry Ebusinessf and, with the bridge in oper- ation, there is really no occasion for having a spare boat.s
 Is The city proposes to sell the Maj than Hale to the state of Maine to Fbe used as an auxiliary to the state highway and so it Is said. an option price of $60,000 has been decided upon with prospects, good for a sale. The, Hale is ehean at that price, in her present condition, much more so than the price paid by the city. of New Lon, don when purchased down York way; for New. London. Men who ought t>, know say that the Hale is a much better boat now than the Ledyard and | raise the question whether it is good
 business to let the Hale go with the prospect that another boat will be
 needed to take her place in the near; | future.
 The Ledyard cannot last forever l Even now there is talk of chartering or buying another boat to replace the | Hale to make special trips to the | Groton Iron Works, and to be used | in an emergency for passenger ser vice. If two boats are to be main- | tained perhaps it is better after all | to bear the burdens we have than to | fly to others that we know not Of ! The concensus of opinion here and | hereabouts is in effect that the city made big mistake when it went into
 the ferry business.
 The Niagara Engine company is to l give big reception to the members who served in the war on Thanks l giving eve having waited for months until all had arrived home. All have
 arrived except one and he writes that he does not expect to get released for 1 another year and what was former
 regular Firemen's night will be in stead Soldiers and Sailors night. A big banquet will be served at the engine house in the evening and the | speakers for the event are Colonel
 Henry s. Dorsey. Major Morris B
 Payne, Captain Joseph Clancy, Mayor Il E. Frank Morgan Former Mayor Ern-
 est B. Rogers. Hon. John c. Geary and Frederick c. Burrows. There will be
 an open house in the afternoon, and befere<> the banquet in the evening \ there Twill be a short street nara5e headed by the New London Ship and II Engine band. Fifty six members of 4 this company have been Or are still
 in the service. Governor Holcomb upon hearing of the large number
 that went with the first soldiers to lleave New London sent to the com papy letter of appreciation and commendation, and the Nigaras are lprebably the only organization in the (state to receive like recognition.
 | During the Civil war nearly whole
 company of the Twenty Sixth Reg
 iment was composed of Nigara mem bers,, and of these there is but one
 survivor, Charles H. Minson, who is
 still on the company roll. Other
 members enlisted in other regiments
 and of these Hezekiah B. Smith con
 tinues on the company roll. In the
 Spanish war the Niagaras had a full
 quota and four of these have contin-
 ued as members. Two. Bob Jaeger
 and Tom Beckwith, joined the reg
 ular service and are now nearing the
 retirement point and both are there Tore veterans of two wars. The oth-
 CTS are William Tracy and Eugene
 Mack. The first New Londoner tc die in the military service in France
 was members of the Niagara. com.
 pany-Rathbun. At the opening ot
 hostilities there were two Niaeara men in the service. It is planned tt
 make the welcome home one of tht
 biggest events in the long history O the company. s9-