New Britain herald., 1919-01-08

 in dissolution, loss of investment, and suspension of service. The commits sion in it's report states:
 There are numerous contributing causes for present street railway con- ditions, some inherent, some tempo rary, and some apparently permanent. Among the principal may be mention ed general war conditions involving high cost and difficulty of procuring material and supplies: high and con- stantly increasing cost of labor, and difficulty on account of the advantages afforded by private and governmental ly controlled industrial enterprises Of securing sufficient and competent help; the increasing burden of taxa tion; the municipal and statutory re- quirements of laying and maintaining street pavement; the loss of patron age incident to the use of privately owned automobiles; and the more or less unrestricted competition of public service automobiles or 'jitneys' so- called, operating at the option of the owner in the most profitable sections of the street railway cOmpany's char tered territory, during favorable weather conditions and on improved highways
 The report further states:
 Tt is the opinion of this commission that the best interests of the State re- quire and will continue to require electric street railway service as an essential transportation agency, but if both of these competing transporta- tion agencies are to survive and ren- der proper service, some protecting legislation should be enacted whereby i 11o hIIr hn equitably apportioned and competitive rights more definitely limited.'
 Under the street railway transporta- ton system in Connecticut the indirect taxation for street pavement in cer- tain localities creates a burden upon other localities not thus favored, and requires the companies to construct and maintain right of way not only fO~ themselves but for competing transportation agencies which are not St present required to contribute their propOrtionate share towards the main tenance of such rights of way. The ''jitney" or public service auto mobile, carrying passengers for hire is in every sense of the word 8 public utility and as such should as in the case of all other similar agencies, be brought under the regulation of the Public Utilities Commission, and the travelling public should be protected in the matter of accident or damage from irresponsible common carriers and in the service they render. This whole electric railway situation is so serious and it is matter involving to SO great an extent the general welfare of our people, that it seems to me to be advisable for your honorable body
 
 slon to take it under consideration and to report at this session.
 Water Supply.
 The water supply of the State is one of the most important natural utilities supplying a public necessity for power and domestic uses. Upon it's future preservation wise development and careful utilization, depends very largely the future welfare of our people. l recommend that the Public Utilities Commission be directed to make a survey of all undeveloped water supply Of the State and to re- port to the next General Assemb bly, their finding and recommendations concerning it's c~r'rol and distribution.
 Sheep.
 By Legislative uruur census of the agricultural and manufacturing re- sources of the State was taken for the year ending October l, 1845, which showed that we then had 289,574 sheep in this State and produced S49,- 1855 pounds of wool. At the present time we have 18,000 sheep according to staten ents I have seen in the news paper; less than seven per cent of the nimhGr we had more than seventy years ago. We have 9 large acreage Of land adapted to sheep raising. Ac- tCrding to my observation, during the last half century the farmer who at tempted to raise sheep has sold the most of his flock yearly to his town by virtue of the statute providing for damage by dogs. The stray dog as distinct from the properly trained and controlled variety appears to be the natural enemy of the sheep, and his principal function is to cultivate hydroph obia for distribution among human beings and useful dumb ami mals. Lamb and mutton are excellent food and wool is desirable for cloth ing. The mongrel dog contributes nothing we can wear and nothing we knowingly eat. I am confident our people would welcome effective laws which would permit successful sheep raising in this State.
 Fish Propagation.
 The wisdom of utilizing all of our sources for increasing our food sup plies has been forcibly brought to our attention by recent experience.
 One of these is the waters along our coast extending more. than. one 'undred miles from Greenwich to v sterly which should supply large
 .la. titles of shell fish, and our rivers q ,schargjng into Long Island Sound should supply plenty of shad and salmon in their season, and our inland lakes and ponds can be made to pro- duce excellent food fish.
 Our Fish and Game Commission believe they can get satisfactory and