New Britain herald., 1930-07-29
New Haven Railroad Should Retain Ownership of Sound Steamer Lines,
 Local Traffic Manager Testi6es

shippers where independent lines have opened up with a port to port service and discontinued overnight
 Praises Passenger Service
 'Now, speaking of the Hartford Boat Line, particularly of their pas senger service, this line within the last two years has spent, I have been told, over s1O0,OOO in removal ing their two boats, the Hartford and the Middletown. The boats were entirely renovated from top to bot tom, repainted, recarpeted, hot and cold running water installed in every stateroom, fitting with new beds, bedding and linen, and this service has proved very convenient to the travelling public. It is a big help to the business man in this district. They can leave Hartford at 530 and arrive at New York before a. m., allowing an entire business day in New York and returning from New York, by boat, leaving there at 4 D. III. S. T.. due at Hartford a. m. the following morning, with a round trip fare of s4. I make this trip myself frequently. and l know that it is we'll patronized for my depart ment has at times made as many as four reservations in one day on this boat, not only for our own officials but for New York persons who have come into this district on business purposes. We would exceedingly re- get to see this service dispensed with"
 Fears Loss of Boat Service
 Hartford would in all probably lose it's boat service to New York if the New England Steamship Co. was divorced frfom the control of the New Haven road, William H. Corbin, president of the Hartford Chamber of Commerce, testified.
 Mir. Corbin said such a separation would be detrimental to Hartford and to an area of 500 square miles around the city. He took the stand for the state sound lines committee which entered the second day of it's presentation of evidence to reveal an overwhelming sentiment among Connecticut shippers in opposition to the enforcement of the Panama act of 1912 which forbids any rail- road from owning or controlling any steamship line with which it con- petes. This brings to head an ap- plication made by the New Haven road in 1916 for retention of it's boat lines on the Sound. which had been granted for an indefinite period, but which was reopened when the Co., lonial Navigation company of New York operating between Providence and New York, alleged that it was caught between competing lines ot the New England Steamship Co and was being snuffed out of busi- ness:
 Prefers Known to Unknown
 If the commission ruled against the New Haven road" MT Corbin said. 1t would result in the discon- tinuanCe of regular boat service be- tween Hartford and New York. We would then face the problem of in. teresting investors and shippers for the acquisition of docks and other points along the river for termina, purposes.
 Competition from motor trucks and all-rail service of the New Ha- ven road would tend to discourage such an investment At prese nt rates, service and conditions in gen eral are satisfactory. We do not want to venture into the unknown and assume financial and other un- certainties."
 MT. Corbin, questioned by Thomas D. Geoghegan, counsel for the Co., lonlal Navigation company. admit ted that these conditions discourag. ed competition on the Connecticn, river and he did not believe an in dependent company would be able to make any profit on this line.