The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-05-15
FEAR R. R.'S WILL.
 CRIPPLE SHIPPING
Transportation Committee of c. of c. Favors Port of
 Bridgeport Bill.

Several important reports from committees were read at the meeting of the Directors of the Chamber of Commerce Tuesday including one from the Committee on Port Development.
 R. W. Miller, chairman of the Transportation Committee submitted a report of the work of his committee during the war which said transpor- tation was in a more or less chaotic condition and it was difficult for the committee to map out a plan to bring forward a policy on which perman- ent improvements in transportation might be built.
 Among other things the committee made careful consideration of the problem of jitney transportation in this city. The report says that the R. F. administration has proposed a tar if cutting down the differentia1s for waIly enjoyed by the coastwise steam ship lines whereby those lines have drawn their own tonnage, not only from the ports of departure but from the interior absorbing certain arbi- trary rates. In the Iesseaing of these differentiaIs the coastwfse lines will be limited in the territory from which they have formally drawn their ton mage, and it is suspected among the shippers that the railroads really de- sire the elimination of coastwise wat CT and rail competition. The commit tee appeared with others from New England before the Director of Traf- fic at Washington and made a strong protest against any change in the e astwise differentiaIs. Alter a long and spirited discussion, it was clear to tho shippers representatives that the railroads were. determined to carry out their program of rate adjustments as far as coastwise steamships are concerned. Your committee with oth- CTS from New England will bring this matter before their representative in Congress. and when the railroads have been turned back to their owners these matters will be settled by nation al legislation.
 AIr. Miller's report spoke about the work of the local committee in the matter of draw-bridges which is now at law. The new rules of closing the draw bridges reduces the time con stunned in closing and opening the draw at the Stratford avenue bridge The cOmn-ittee appeared at Hartford and opposed the request of the trolleys express division of the Connecticut company for an increase in rates amounting to practically 150 per cent. The committee favored a fair and just increase, but did not feel that it was entitled to the big increase asked.
 The Committee on Harbor and Port Development appointed a year ago did not formulate any definite plans until six or seven months ago. In the interval considerable effort and time was extended in the study of the sit uation. The committee came to the conclusion that any real develop .,1- +L,g 4I-, combining of three things: water freight, rail and motor freight -snd an industrial area On the conclusion the problem was for it to find the re- C,-7:site territory where this could be drought about. The area between the old Naugutuck dock and the Locomo- bile factory was first examined. It was found too small and with no chanc ) Of nearby ind lstr.al Ievelopnls nt and not practical for permanent docks The next examination was or Cedar Creek below tho Crane Dock This was impract; bIe as there was onI1- nine feet oe water in the channel. In order tc deepen and widen it it woulG reQUir. he removal of a vast amount of rock. Yellow Mill was found to have so many drawbacSs tnai it seemed i'm possible to ever mGintai- 9. chal mel
 here Of the desired deOth. end ID nd for devalol nent. The pIe perty below diffic ll:ies and II ,rea Has too small
 The only ro -1ai 1ing spot was Lord ship Meadows and John, on's Or ok. Here they tou c the natu al advan,a- ges Were far in excess Of any other places coneerred. The engineers stat ed that in their opir,!on sI spent for development ~' ould produce as much in Ie~ult as S4 spent on ary other locality examined. Tn committee say that they are ready to go on record as fully believing in the project out line in the Port of Bridaeport I&il1. They believe it a feasible plan for fur ther study and investigation. That it will be brought about some day prac- tically along the lines as drawn.