The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-08
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LSnueI pEOpeI seINlCe, 6OIlS pAOICSt- Ing legislation should be enacted whereby the necessary burdens would be more equitably apportioned and competitive rights more definite ly limited" Under the street railway transpor- tatIon system in Connecticut, the in direct taxation for street pavement in certain localities creates a burden upon other localities not thus favor ed, and requirea the companies to construct and maintain 6 right of way not only for themselves but for competing transportation agencies which are not at present required to contribute their proportionate share towards the maintenance of such rights of way, The "jitney" or public service automobile, carrying passen- gers for hire is in every sense of the word a 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 irresponsi-
  vice they render This whole electric railway situation is so serious and 1t is a matter involving to so great an extent the general welfare of our people, that 1t seems to me to be ad- visable for your honorable body to appoint forthwith a special commis- sion to take 1t 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 develop ment and careful utilization, depends very largely the future welfare of our people, I recommend that the Public Utilities Commission be di- rected to make a survey of all unde- veIoped water supply of the state and to report to the next General As sembly their findings and recomen- dations concerning it's control and distribution,
 Sheep.
 By legislative order a census of the agricultural and manufacturing re- sources of the state was taken for the year ending October 1, 1845, which showed that we then had 289,- 574 sheep in this state and produced 849,1S5 pounds of wool. At the present time we have 18,0O0 sheep according to statements I have seen in the newspaper; less than per cent. of the number we had more than 70 years ago. We have a large acreage of land adapted to sheep raising. According to my observa- ton, during the last half century the farmer who attempted 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 prop erly trained and controlled variety appears to be the natural enemy of the sheep, and his principal function | Is to cultivate hydrophobia for dis 1 tribution among human beings and useful dumb animals. Lamb and mutton are excellent food and wool is desirable for clothing. The mon grel dog contributes nothing we can wear and nothing we knowingly eat I am confident our people would well come effective laws which would per init 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 l attention by recent experience.
 
 our coast extending more than 100 miles from Greenwich to Westerly which should supply large quantities | of shell fish, and out rivers discharg- 1 ing into Long Island Sound should supply plenty of shad and salmon in their season, and our inland lakes and ponds can be made to produce excellent food fish.
 Our Fish and Game Commission believe they can get satisfactory and profitable results if given the oppor- tunity. Little can be accomplished without a sufficient appropriation, and any appropriation is useless without supplementing 1t by ample protective laws strictly enforced. It is useless to make an appropriation for lobster propagation and allow the Holsters to be indiscriminately trap ped before reaching the stage of re- production, or to appropriate for shad propagation and pass laws which permit all of them to be caught before they reach their spawning grounds in our rivers. The commission claims that the $4,0o0 yearly appropriation for fish propagation is insufficient, and it is small when compared with S75,OOO appropriated by Maine, or $21,OO by New Hampshire, or $175,OO by Mas sa sachusetts, or $9,284 appropriated by Vermont which has no seacoast Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. Is it not advisable if we make any appropriation to make one sufficient to demonstrate whether our waters can be made to produce desirable food fish in profita- able quantities. If it shall appear that 1t cannot be done we should cease appropriations for it and con- tent ourselves with the roach, pick erel and bull heads which are indi- genous to our streams, lakes and ponds.
 State Finances.
 During the two years last past our state has been compelled to meet unusual expenses. The cost of main taining our insane hospitals with some four thousand inmates has greatly increased because of the in- creased cost of fuel, food, clothing and labor. The same is true of our School for Boys, our Industrial School for Girls, our Reformatory