Republican farmer., 1919-05-16
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 more or less chaotic condition and it was difficult for the committee to map out 8 plan to bring forward d 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.
 R. administration has proposed a tar | if cutting down the differentials for
 mally enjoyed by the coastwise steam | ship lines whereby those lines have l drawn their own tonnage, not only | from the ports of departure but from the interior absorbing certain arbf- trary rates. In the lessening of these differentials the coastwise lines will l be limited in the territory from which they have form ally drawn their ton mage, and 1t is suspected among the shippers that the railroads really de- l sire the elimination of coastwise wat CT and rail competition. The commit tee appeared with others from New England before the Director of -Traf- fife at Washington and made strong protest against any change in the e astwise differentials. Alter a long and spirited discussion. it was clear to the shippers representatives that the railroads were determined to carry out their program of rate adjustm en ts 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 leeisla ton.
 Mir. Millers 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 committee appeared at Hartford
 and opposed the request of the trolleys express division of the Connecticut company for an increase in rates I 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 increa se | asked.
 The Committee on Harbor and Por. 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 nent along this line necessitated the combining of three things: water |--3 -lz+ industrial area. On the conclusion the problem was for it to find the re- G':site territory where this could be drought about. The area between the old Naugutuck dock and the Locomo- Lie factory was first examined. It was found too small and with no chanc , o1 nearby ind lStr al develop m mt, and not practical for permanent docks. Tho next examination was or Cedar
 Creek below tn, Crane Dock This w&s impract: ble- az there was only :Iine fec O water in he cf fannel In order tc deepen and widen iu 1t worIG require tho removal of a vast amount of rock. Yellow Mill was found to have
 so many dra awbacks thai it seemed inn pos sible to ever mGintai- 9. chal ne1
 here Of the desire d dcDtn. vnd n I,
 nd for dev 4lol ment. The DIS perty
 below diffic Il:ies and II req vas too small
 The only ro -lai 1ing spot was Lord ship Meadows and Ionn, on's Cr ok. Here they lou q the natu al adyan.a-
 ges We're far in excess of any other places conc.rred. The engineers stat ed that in their opir:on 5 spent for development ould produce as much in e~ult as st spent on ary other locality examined. Tn: committee say that they are ready to go on record as fully believing in the project ont lined in the Port of BridReDort l'il1. They believe it a feasible plan for fur ther study and Investigation That it will be brought about some day prac-
 ticaIly along the lines as drawn.