Putnam patriot., 1929-03-07

AT their meeting June 1, 1928. and
committee was appointed to write to
the two Connecticut senator's and the
representative in congress from this
district. These letters were sent, to-
gether with a telegram, to General
Hines, on the eve of a meeting of the
veterans bureau to consider possible
sites.
At the next meeting of the board Of
directors a site" committee was APP
pointed. This committee went forth
and looked over possible locations that
in a measure met the requirements of
the veterans bureau. The two sites
most favored by this committee were
farm lands near the Gary schoolhouse
and the Mantup farm to the south.
When ii was learned that the bureau
objected to a site on a state road but
desired to be near state highway the
committee practically abandoned all
but the Mantup farm site.
Letters and kilograms sent to Wash
ington by the committee We're all duly
acknowledged, in general way. There
was no definite information to be had
II was known that approximately fifty
cities and towns in Rhode Island and
Connecticut were working, as Putnam
was working, to get the hospital.
An announcement in the newspapers
that General Hines and his staff were
in Connecticut and would be in Wilt
mantle. December Bird, came 10 the at
tention of the Putnam committee. Put
nam had received no notice Of the in
tended visit and it was later learned
that Putnam was not on the schedule
Of places to be visited
Walter n. King. president of the
Chamber of Commerce. and Martin l..
Robertson, commander Of the Amerl-
can Legion. volunteered 10 90, un.n-
vited. TO Willimantie and, If possible,
interview General Hines. They went
10 the hotel in Willimantic and waited
the arrival Of the party. They made
themselves known and were pleasantly
although not enthusiastically received.
The two Putnam delegates learned that
this town was not being considered.
However, they were so persistent II
was agreed that the engineer of the
veterans bureau should come to Put
nam and see the sites that Putnam had
to offer. l.. A. Warren, the engineer,
came to Putnam Thursday, December
9Th. He was met by a delegation and
shown about Putnam. He quickly elm
+ mated all possible sites but the Man
tup farm site. This farm is also
known as the Rogers farm, as ii was
formerly owned by +. c. Rogers. II
is located in the Gary district and com
prises over $50 acres).
Best Site Seen
AT the Mantup farm Mr.. Warren
showed decided interest. He went over
the whole farm as far east as the
tracks of the n. Y, n. II. & II. rail
road. a railroad siding was one Of
the stated requirements. He made
notes and denoted clearly that he was
interested. When he left in the after
noon he stated 10 a member Of the com
mittee that Putnam had the best site
that ne had seen in Connecticut. This
was most encouraging and at this
time the hope that Putnam might get
this fine institution was at its peak.
Mr.. Warren left several question
naires 10 be filled out. These required
fund of information. Many hours
were consumed in filling out the ques-
tionnaires and speed was required as
they had to be in Washington within a
day or two after the engineer left.
The work was accomplished and the
missionaries We're sent.
In a talk over the telephone with
Mr.. Warren, President King learned
that one of the most important fea-
lures of site. in the eyes of the vet
erans' bureau, was a public water sup
ply. II was urged that the bureau be
assured such supply at the Mantup
farm. Mr.. King got committee to-
gether and meeting was held in the
Office Of Corporation Counsel Ernest
C.. Morse, at which Mayor Richard was
present, Saturday morning, December
3. The mayor expressed his wiling
ness 10 cooperate in any way possible.
When It was suggested that he call a
special council meeting for five o'clock
that afternoon. the meeting TO be held
in the Chamber Of Commerce rooms, he
agreed. Members Of the committee
volunteered 10 personally notify each
alderman, and the mayor also agreed
10 call them up.
The meeting was held. Only one
alderman. who was out Of the city, was
absent. After discus Hon the COM
mon council voted; THAT the common
council recommends TO the citizens Of
Putnam. and will call a special city
meeting for the purpose Of carrying
cut said recommendation, that a suiii-
Gent sum be appropriated for the
purpose Of extending water mains TO
The Rogers farm, so-called. in the Gary
district Of the town Of Putnam, In ease
the United States government acquires
said farm for the purpose Of erecting
a veterans hospital on the property.
A copy Of this vote, together with
letter, was Immediately dispatched TO
Washington.
Asks r. |. TO Help
Following a period Of waiting il was
learned that Rhode Island had been
eliminated as a site, and it was ru-
mored that a site near Hartford would
be recommended. As a last effort the