Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1919-03-21
CHAPPELL SEES CALAMITY
IN TROLLEY SITUATION

The special committee on inveStiga-
ton of the condition of trolley COM
panieS with view to affording relief,
gave hearing Wednesday afternoon in !
the hall of the house of representa-
tives at Hartford, being the fifth in |
the series of hearings. Senator Dillon, |
chairman, stated that it had been |
shown that the trolley roads of the
state were in bad, very bad financial /
condition. 1t is question as to |
whether large portion of the lines |
shall be abandoned, if financial aid is
not forthcoming from some source, |
and independent facts have been re-
ceived by the committee showing the |
deplorable financial condition of the |
trolley roads. The committee seeks
information as to what legislation
ought to be proposed to assist the
trolley companies, which must come
at the present session of the legis-
lature, if at all, or relief would come
too late.
Authorized officials of the cities of
| New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport
| Waterbury and Stamford, were OPP
posed to any changes in the laws
relative to trolley companies paying
the proportionate expense Of pave-
ments and bridges.
| Frank V. Chappen of New Landau
said that something ought to be done
to aid the trolley company so that the
| new state highway bridge might be-
come all that was intended, a real
state highway. The company has no
i money for approaches to the bridge
in Groton and New London, but the
state will lay the track on the state
| bridge. 1t would be a terrible re-
| Election on the state to have that
| bridge highway unavailable for
! trolley car purposes. Mr.. Chappell
said that he was interested some time
ago in the development of property
in connection with the Groton Iron
works and the New London Ship &
Engine company, and nothing could
have been done without the aid of
! the trolleys, and what has been de-
veloped could not continue without
like aid. The abandonment of the
| line in Groton, for instance would
have a terrible effect in that section.
Mr.. Chappell told of the trolley
service to the Connecticut college for
women and without the service that
college probably would be forced out
of business. Big cities of
the state recognize taht the
companies need aid, but they be-
lieved in letting George do it. He
said the cities as well as the towns
should do what they could to retain
the trolley service. He felt sure that
the city of New London was intended
to be fair. Attorney Hall, represent
| ing the jitneymen of Bridgeport, gave
a long talk from the jitney stand
point, and declared that it was pos
sible that the troleys would be re-
placed by jitneys within two years.
1t developed during the questioning
that followed, that the jitneys took
from the trolley companies about ST.
100000, and ought to be classed as
| public carriers and be governed &C
cordingly. w. Sherman Thompson,
representative from Sorners, who
thrilled the house with his long ira
ton when the prohibition amend--an
was under discussion, impressed the
comnittee that the towns were in
teHsely interested in the trolleys i'd
that the country distr cts VIC l't be
accommodated. The county towns
ought to be given consideration by
the cities in this important matter
There were many speakers. Dcs-d es
and all advocated retention of the
! trolley system, and hoped the com
mittee would be able to solve the Sc
rious problem.