The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-04-20
$50, ,OOO Grant Part Of Government Fund
 For Only Such Jobs
rOh Answers Sheridan Stating If Money Is Not Used Locally, It Will Be Diverted for Similar Project Elsewhere Polish Club Smoker Sunday
NAUCATUCK
wm. ). Raxtcr. COrrespondrnt-I Nausauck s79.n

Naugatuck, April 20-A defenst
 of his position on the matter o'
 requested $50,OO grant for tn, Bethany airport was made by
 Christian Groh EZRA executive
 secretary here today. MT. --Grof
 answered recent charges of War den John J. Sheridan that the air
 port would be of no benefit to thu town.
 Mir. Groh explains the grant fl
 part of government funds intend
 ed only for airports and that tht money could not be used on an, other project in town.
 He said he had been approached on the matter by state and fedora officials, and not by a private group. He declares the people ol Naugatuck should appreciate tht chance to get the money for tht airport.
 His statement in full, which persons, follows:
 "Why miss the opportunity fol an undertaking which involves tht
 business and life progress of 30O,' 00O people, who are hampered an6 isolated from their state commerce and national aviation traffic.
 In answer to the Warden o1 Naugatuck not being in favor oi the grant for the airport, car state that funds allotted to thc
 state government for airport i'm. provements cannot be used for anj other purpose except airports, and
 if he does not feel the need of us ing this extra $50,000 for the air. port in this vicinity, it will be di. verted to another one in some other part of the country; thus
 depriving the town of its opportun. ity in building up a progressive
 modern aviation traffic. Many times business men and air mai delivery are hampered and take 8
 loss in business due to improper airport facilities which reflects or the working people. Losing con- tracts of any kind in business means always 8 loss to the peo- pie in general as. well as to the town administration.
 Sees State Control
 "The Bethany airport, no doubt will as some future date become ono governed by the state, as il has within radius of 12 miles Waterbury, Naugatuck, Seymour Derby, Shelton and Ansonia. The Naugatuck Valley is an important New England industrial center and the airport is located on the main line of traffic between Water bury, Naugatuck and New Haven to the coast line and close to the valley traffic to Bridgeport. "I was approached by state and federal officials before the present warden's time, and once again since then, and not by any privat group as the warden stated, to as. sist them in getting the recon struction and enlargement of t!:c field under way. At that time il was recommended as project for the Naugatuck Valley in hay ing the surrounding towns benefi. from the relief fund as they will later through the service of the airport when put into active oper- ation. If necessary CCC workers could do the work.
 Know Best
 "The authorities of the federal and state government know best
 how the Emergency Relioc funds
 should be promoted in the state,
 counties, and towns, and how 1t
 should be spent. The government
 carries the main responsibility for
 the peoples welfare and the pro-
 gress of their living standards.
 T want to remind the Warden
 that when the ERA at Hartford
 requested a compiled list of pro-
 posed projects, this same list of
 copies presented to Hartford was also given to him and the Engin- eering department. It was strictly understood that the airport grant
 for any future airport develop
 ments was to be an independent item, and state affair, and would have nothing to do with the Bor- ough Sewage and Road Construc-
 ton allotment. I was present at the time the borough state lists.
 made up by MT. Beardsley, bor- ough engineer and MT. Daly, bor- ough clerk, were sent to Hartford and the airport was included as part of the individual grants.
 The proposed grant of $451,-
 952.O0 for this borough as we'll as
 uk 4f mn m