Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1923-11-02

popularity Of candidates is an ina
portant element in bringing success
to the entire ticket The Republican
party in the state IS not faction-rent
but it is afflicted with a degree Of
factionism that hampers when il does
not prevent the achievement of vie.
tory.
WillimAntie's Cheap Ice
There is more than ordinary inter
est taken in the policy Of the people
Of Willimantic-th largest center OF
population in Nindham County
continue the municipal enterprise OF
providing cheap ice for their com
munity. The late Daniel +. Dunn
was mayor II Willimantie when the
matter was first taken up. He took a
sympathetic interest IN il and. with
an honest devotion 10 what he con
sidered right he bent all his energies
to make the enterprise success. His
failure was p e4ieted but the prcdie-
tons did not influence him to swerve
a jet from his purpose TO achieve a
success. For time it seemed. 10 out
siders at least, that, il he did not fail
absolutely his success was limited.
Mayor Dunn. who filled the office OF
state comptroller from 1913 10 1915,
in very ereditahle manner, died some
years ago, and now his work Of Sc
curing cheap ice for the people Of
his native city has been taken up hy
others That is the best evidence that
Mayor Dunn's policy was not ehimeri-
cal or his promises fantastic. The
people Of Connecticut do not take
kindly Ia municipal ownership Of pub
lie utilities but the residents Of vii
limantic. who are the best judges ia
the matter, evidently think that thu
system iHaugurated by Mayor Dunn
is practicable and in the best Of inter
ests of the community. The city Of
Norwich was forced. by a decision Of
the supreme court a number of years
aeo, 10 take over its local gas ana
electric light plant from the owners
at an expense Of about 5000. 00e.
That was heavy financial burden FOR
a city of the size Of Norwich 70 as
sumo and the people would have been
glad to be relieved Of the obligation
10 assume it. But they, with their
experience, think differently now and
are glad they own the plant
Cost of Highway improvement,
The figures which Highway Com
missioner John A. Macdonald gave
out this week on the increase IN the
cost of road construction are i'm
pressive. They show that In ten years
the cost of constructing highways in
this state has increased 100 per cent.
If the income of the state highway
department is comparatively large SO
is the expense The income of the
department Is wisely and economically
expended and the highway commits
siOner is able 20 show results which
indicate the enormous amount OF con
struction work that has been done.
The increase in expense does not add
to the burdens Of the general taxpayer
since the increase is met out OF the
revenue of the motor vehicle depart
ment. II is the automobile owner
Of the state who provides the money
for highway Improvement and not
the taxpayers generally. Not even
the expense Of maintaining the motor
vehicle department is deducted from
the revenue. That expense Is met
out Of the civil list funds and the en-
tire revenue devoted to highway im-
provement. 1t Is interesting TO recall
that it was the popularity Of the BIZ
cycle thirty years ago that gave the
first impetus TO highway improvement
in Connecticut. The necessities Of the
automobile gave that impetus a mo-
mentum a few years later and the
result is seen in the improvement of
the highways that the people Of today
enjoy. The policy Of improving the
highways with permanent pavement
win continue, and the carrying out of
il will be intensified From all parts