New Britain herald., 1927-06-25
THE OBSER YER
Makes Random Observations
On the City and Its People

Thus far. no one in . position Of
authority has attempted to refute
the intimation that an attempt was
made 10 railroad" the Corbin place
paving project through the common
council. Evidently no defense could
be made because 1t was obvious that
there was something In the wood
pile besides wood.
Influential friends Of Corbin place
property owner have tried from
time to time to have pavement LAID
on the street which runs from
Church street to Chestnut street IN
a zisxas course. Because OF it,
twists, 1t Is used little by operators
of automobiles other than trucks
and there seems to be no clear rea-
son lust now why It should be paved
while other thoroughfares, in much
greater need OF attention, are over
looked. It's condition 10 only fair. It
must be admitted. but there ID no
intense demand for improvements
except from . few business men
who have property interests there.
Only the alcrtness Of members OF
the common council has prevented
the street department from proceed
ing with the work, the project be-
ing turned down at least twice by
the legislative branch Of the govern
mght. The paving was considered
when the budget was being made
up and on the strength OF this some
one connected with the board OF
public works tried to slide an ap-
preparation through the common
council at its last meeting. But the
members had been forewarned by
the press and. with the approval OF
Mayor Weld. the proposition was.
placed on the shelf. 1t was then
discovered that the resolution for
the improvement had not been for
mally passed on at any recent meet
ing of the beard and the suspicion
increased that politics was being
played at the behest Of the affected
property owners on Corbin place.
Investigation proved that the board
had taken no action to endorse the
expense Of laying the paving, mem
beers OF the board themselves ex-
pressing surprise that 1t had come
before the council.
New Britain has been remarkably
free from the effects Of political in
fluence in past years. An indication
that 1t is cropping out IN the ad-
ministering Of street department at
fairs should not fail to arouse citi-
zens who want government Of. for
and by the people.
Aviators who have the best inter-
ests OF commercial air service at
heart are concerned over the posi-
bility that fly by night promoters
will seize upon the aviation boom to
rock a gullible public by selling
stock in imaginary air lines. They
sense a quickened public response
to the unlimited money making pos
sibilities of this newest phase Of
business but express fear that irre-
sponsible persons who know moth
ing about aviation wild draft fine
sounding schemes for the sole pur-
pose OF cashing in at the expense
of investors, thereby lining their
own pockets with gold.
There Is hardly any doubt that
air travel has proved feasible. The
Lindbergh flight convinced the ma
jority Of people that the airplane Is
a safe means OF transportation. II
the right man is in charge Of the
machine. Within a few years, pas
senger planes will be so common IN
the air that the public will begin to
accept them as ordinary. When au-
tomobiles first ran along the streets,
many timid citizens declined to ride
in them, believing that such a
source would be tempting death.
Yet today there is hardly a person
who has not ridden in automobiles
and millions make use Of them
daily. Airplanes have been regard
ed with the same suspicion but the
conviction is growing that they are
here to stay and that they are safe.
As a consequence Of this situa-
ton. promoters will conceive Of
every scheme possible to get the
publics money. Some Of the pro-
motions will be dependable. Many
Of them will be without value. All
of them will bear thorough scrutiny.
Investors who get in on the ground
floor now vii reap harvest in later
years II the men behind the promo
ton are honest and capable of plac-
ing the money where it 10 safe. But
watch out for the glib tongued sales
man who speaks OF tremendous
profits to be made but who knows
no more about aviation than the
person to when he is trying to sell
stock.
How many OF you little boys and
girls have ever played polo? Ping
Pong? I Spy? Red Dog? My, how
many hands I see. We hate to say
anything but we think you kiddies
are kidding US. No? All right we'll
take your word for 1t but just the
same
Polo. the most thrilling game Of
them all, was invented by the Hin
doc who really hasn't an awful lot
to keep him occupied during his
spare moments. When the P~'tish
occupied India, the natives. naturally
wishing the white man to keep out
of the country. invented the game
instead of declaring war On England.
The casualties have about equalled
those Of any good sized honest-to-
goodness war.
But aside from the possibility OF
getting ones skull fractured there
are many lights on the game Of polo