Norwich bulletin., 1919-12-22
NEW LONDON HOPES TO
 RETAIN ENGINEERS OFFICE

The directors or the rG0rsgAniZe1
 Connecticut State Chamber of Com
 merce at 8 meeting held in Hartford
 Friday al ? D. n. took steps to save
 to New London teh United States eh-
 aineers' office Of the war department.
 The following committee was apDoint.
 ed to consult with the members of con
 gress from Connerticilt and to urge
 them to use theft best efforts to have the order for tho consolidation Of the
 New London and Newport engineering
 districts, with main offices in Provi-
 denee, annulled: Bradford B. Pierce,
 president of the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce; Col. Isaac Uliman. pres ident of the New Haven Chamber of
 Commerce. Maj. Frank H. Johnson, vice president of the Atlantic Deeper Waterways association for Connects cut, and Capt. Thomas A. Scott oa New London.
 Byron A. Tones a director of the New London Chamber of Commerce,
 presented the matter to the directors of the state cmabfe. It was shown by Mr. Tones that by the consolidati ton and removal of the offices from New London, Connecticut will be placed at q great dfsadvantage, if the contem- plated change is made. He pointed out that the coastline of Connecticut and the army projects In this state are
 much larger than those Of Rhode Isl- and, and the army nests on the island forts in Long Island sound are much | more convenient to New London than | to Providence.
 The engineers office was establish 1 in New London in 1895. All money | expended for construction and main at Forts Wright. Michie, Terry and | Mansfield is disbursed by the New l London office.
 l A large construction project is nov
 being started at Fort Michie and much 1 of the rno'ev, Hmountinr to about one and half millions of dollars, will he i diverted from New Iicnien to Prori- dence. The district eneineer in charge 1 of the New Lc"don offer is charged ] with the exnenditure of all funds an. l nropriated by congress for the irn- movement and maintenance of navi- 1 ~a ole waters within the boundaries oi Connecticut.
 ] niRarian ewrers and otters whe Re- sire to construct wharYes. bridres etn. 1 sr to dredee channels. are apen stafh I'd 1 tn 70 to the New orrion oFfice for wal l department permission for sucf, WITT
 to cpns,1lt raeDs nn file there a~d nh- | tain other info~rna+ion of a ya'lahle 1 aa tnre relating to riehts and nr'viiesee 1 F4eree fter all of this inf1rs,"e tier will 1 have ta he ah+aiaed in Praviderce anH
 ttn state of Connecticut ard tho r't,
 af New T.enden will lpse the prestige .hnt srch an office gives.
 The narsnnnei of the office carries from 10 ta-sA with a monthly rayrol
 &f RI. 50o to S2,5o0.
 |, The consolidation can hardly hs ! justified on the groun of ecpnemy Some reduction in personnel may ht effected but this will be more than off set ny tho item Of office rent il' frov'. dePee. The offices in New l oIden ant Newport are in rn~ernnent building! 1 and m rent is raid. whiie it has heet reported that the rental for six room. in Providence fav office space viii h' s5.A0 g wear. The directors of th, Stete r4han'he- of CoHnnerc werl
 haartilv in favor ct tho rno-etnefat |,
 have the offices retained in New Lon do-,