Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, May 17, 1917, Page 8

FOUNDATION WORK COMPLETED Storage House is Being Erected for Carpenter Manufacturing Company—F. W. Frink’s House Being Altered—Other Building Notes. The under-pinning and foundation, work for the single story storage building that is under construction for the Carpenter Manufacturing Co, is 21 compiete. The building will be 50x30 feet of woed construction and will have a. gamble roof. The con- tractor doing the work is C. R. Browning. AMterations on Alice Street House. ‘Work is progressing on the altera- tlons and repairs on the house owned %y L. W. Frink on Alice street, which he recently purchased. The interior work - consists chieflv of - changing over from a two tenement house into 2 single tenement. A piazza Sx16 feet is being erected in the rear of the house. Contractor Dantel L. Brown- ing is doing the work. —— Stucco Work Finished. The stucco work on the Thayer property located at_the corner of She- tucket stroet anq Laurel Hill avenue is completed. Brick Walls Up te Roof. The brick walls for the tenement house on Pond street which is being built by Frank Tempesto has been raised to the roof level. Progress on Garage. The sides and roof of the garage that Mayor Allvn_L. Brown is erect- ing in the rear of his residence on Broadway have been set in place. The shingling of the roof has been start- ed. ~The olithic walk in front of the house has been completed by Con- tractor Caesar Del Carlo. BUILDING AND BUSINESS. Real Estate Deals Continue to Show Large Gains Over Last Year. The clearings of the Hartford banks for the, past week show an increase ©of_14.7 per cent. as compared With the same week' of last Tear »nd those of hte New Haven banks for the same week show an increase of 17.3 per cent Sales of real estate comtinus to ghow large gains over last year. For the past wesk sales as shown by the rumber of warranty deeds filed in the citles of the states raported in The Commercial Record numbered 588, as compared with 478 in the correspond- ing week of 1916, while mortzage loans for the week totaled 81372257, com- paring with $1357,139 last vear. The seven new companies fermed Jast week in this state, have totsl au- thorized capital stock of $195,000. A wvear ago seven new companies were ized, having total capitalization of 915,000. Petitions in bankruptcy for the past wreele mumbered four, with assets of 81,846 ana liabilities of $7,633, a much Better ghowing than in the like week of 1916, when. eight petitions having total mssets of 313,255 and total la- biliffes of $20,646 were filed. Building permits were issued last week in the cities of New Haven, Britain and Stamford to the number of 153 for_new construction work to cost $315,253. In the second week of May last vear in the same cities 195 permits were issued for new construc- tion work to cost $703,845. Contracts awarded last week Includ- g new schoolhouse in Seuthport, bus- iness block in New London, store and tenement building {n Ansenia, addition to manufacturing plant in Southing- ton, residence in New Haven to cost 330,000, large addition to_shipbuilding plant in New London,' office building in Norwalk, public garage in Green- wcih; a number of frame cottages in Cos Cob, and several smaller contracts in varlous parts of the state. The amount of new projects report- ed continiues to hold up well and there is cvery indication of the usual brisk summer in the building trade. New work reported last week includes schoolhouses in Bridgeport, Water- bury, Stratford, Milford and New Lon- don,” addition to manufacturing plant in Waterbury, three-story factory and a number of brick tenement houses in Hartford, number of one-family houses in ville and a block of 300 houses in Waterbury, store and apart- ment block in New London, brick bus- iness block and several frame houses in Stamford, and a community hall in Norwalk. A number of smaller con- tracts, such as one and two-family houses of the less expensive type, have l f been awarded in all parts of the state this weelk. Norwich haq 17 sales of real estate last week compared with ten a year ago. Mortgage loans amounted to $17,355 last week to $8,500 a year ago. Ih New London there were six sales of realty last week to. seven for the same week last year. The loans Jast week totaled $11,250 321,350 a year ago. NEW LONDON. May Enlarge School. Plans have been prepared for an addition which the trustees contem- plate making to the Bulkeley school It is proposed to extend the building on the east, the rdditior to be of stone and corresponding _to_the present structure. On the first floor will be a large assembly hall, 37x71 feet, with mechanical and phvsical laboratories in the basement, with additional room for future development, and on the second foor there will be three addi- tional classrooms. State Street Block. Contracts have been -awarded for the mew block . on_ State strest ~for James T. Sexton. H, R. Douglas. Tnc. will do the carpenter work and mason work, Harry J. Kennedy the plumbing and John ¥. Newman “the steam heating. The block will be three stor- ies high, of brick, arranged for a store on the ground floor and offices on the upper fioors. Broad Street Building. to 1ty jproperty of the late H. W. strest for S. Patterson. It will bs ar- two families with sl tm- ‘Deen moved td Rev. Albany Smith’s and a garage constructed. Work has beon_under the direction of Contrac- tor William Patterson and is nearly completed, the building having reach- ed_its new location. The big cot’age at Willow Point of Dr. Williams of, Plainfield is almest completed. and work on the Bosworth cottage is now going on. Another story_is being added. Mr. Bosworth Is also having 2 garage buitt. - Fred Viall is building a stucco sar- age on his property at Willow Point. GROTON. Work has been started on another addition to the plant of the New Lon- don Ship ‘& Engine Co. at Groton, to be used as a forze shop. The. build- ing will be 1105725 feet, one high story, with_steel frame, which 1s_to be fu: nished and erected b -ythe Berlin Con- struction Co. The walls will. be. of brick, with slag roof, -Femestra sash and ventilators. The building wili be Estimates are being made on the|fitted up with traveling cranes, steam plans for a bullding to be erected on Broad strest for Edward T. Brown. It will he of wood, two stories high, with gravel roof. On the first floor there will be a store, with plate glass front, and on the second floor will be arranged a six-room apartment, with steam heat and all improvements. Addition to Plant. The contract has been awarded to the Peck & McWilliams Co. of Nor- wich for an addition at the plant of the Standard Brass & Copper Co. Wwhich is controlled by the Bridzeport Brass Co. The plans were drawn by Architects Fletcher-Thompson, Inc., of [pany follow: Bridgeport. The main building will be 145x80 feet, one story high, of brick and steel, ‘and there will also_be a smaller one-story building, 65x45 feet. Minnicci Bros. are building two one. family frame houses on Pacific street for themselyes. Harry J. Kennedy is doing the plumbing and furnace heat- ing. The same contractors are also bullding a frame cottage in Groton. Work has been started by John Yavoots on a frame house which he will build for himself on Mapla avenue. It will be 26x48 feet, of wood, arranged for three families, with improvements. Minnicei Bros. have the contract for building a frame house on Pacific bammers, etr. Plans have been made for a large ow barn to be erected in ‘Groton for Alfred L. Rudd. Tt will be 55x30 feet of frame construction. and . shingse roof, with concrete floor; and will be arranged for 20 cows, with bull pen, ete. ¥ BUILDIN GOPERATIONS IN NEW ENGLAND Statistics of buflding and engineer- ing operations in_New FEngiand as compiled by The F. W. Dodge Com- Contracts to- May 9, 1817... Contracts to May 9, 1916... Contracts to May 9, 1915... Contracts to May 8, 1914:.. Contracts to May 8. 3813... Contracts to May 9,-1812... Contracts to May 9, 1911... 52,387,000 Contracts to May 9,.1910. .. 56,354,000 Contracts to May 9, 1909... 53,204,000 Contracts to May 9, 1908... 27.219,000 Contracts to. May 2, 1307... 43,941,000 Contracts to May 9, 36,472,000 Contracts to May 9, 32,332,000 Contracts to May 26,993.000 Contracts to May 9 30.457.000 Contracts to May 9, 44,714,000 Contracts to May 9, 41,177,000 Hartford, Bridgeport, Waterbury, New IT NEVER FAILS TO END MISERY OF PILES “Humireds _of people in this vicin- Ity,” says Peterson, “know of the mnighty healing power of - SON'S OINTMENT In eczema, salt rheum, old sores, itching skin and ul- it cures these ail- PLANT EVEN THOUGH SUN IS SHY. Seed Can Wait in Dry Ground For Warm Days to Come. cers. They know ments—that it is guaranteed to cure them.” Even though this past week has Now T want to say to every sufferer from piles, "either blind, bleeding or itching. that T will guarantee that a 25 cent box of PETERSON'S OINTMENT Wwill ¥id you of piles or your drugsist will_return vour money. “For years 1 suffercd terribly with tehing and bleeding piles. 1 tried everything and despaired of ever get- #ing rid of them. Tt gives me great to state that Peterson’s Oint- ment entirely cured me, and I sin- cerely recommend it to_al: eufferers.” +—Yours trulv, David A Seymour, Supt. of Parks, Buffalo, N. Y. not been favorable to garden condi- tions, if your land is fairly well dried out the season is sufficlently advanced to plant the regular early crops, such as peas, lettuce, radishes and pota- toex. Some may say it is well to hold back 2 bit on potatoes, but no hatm is done, since they will not make any advance if the weather re- mains cold. 1f your own plot is of 2 damp character there will be danger i planting seeds before warm Weather comes. Many questions have been asked concerning the planting of potatoes, the method of cutting them, plecing the seed, and covering. The first thing to be dome in preparing pota- toes for seed is to soak in a solution of formalin, made by using one-halt pint of regular 40 per cent. solution obtainable at any drug store, to 15 gallons of water. Mix this thoroughly in s large tub and get the potatoes in the solution for 2 to 2 1-2 hours. This should be done before cutting, although no damage will be done if the potatoes have already been cut. If you have only a small quan- tity of seeq the amount of golution can be reduced proportionately. Aft- er the seed bas been soaked, remove and if your ground is ready to plant, cut the potatoes so that there will be two to three eyes in each piece. No damage is done if this number varies, but it is preferabls to approxi~ mate the number stated. If vour plot is small you can make a small hole with the hoe, in which one piece of potato should be dropped, this to be covered by not more than four inches of earth. The distance Dbetween the rows for potatoes should be 30 to 36 inches, depending on the amount of lang available. The distance between each piece of notato in the row should be from 14 to 16 inchas. PLUMBING AND GAS FITTING CALL UP 734. With or Without Gas Attach- ments but Always EFFICIENT and ECONOMICAL— MODEL RANGES We furnish Repairs for all makes of Ranges A. J. Wholey & Co. 12 FERRY STREET Robert J. Cochrane GAS FITTING, PLUMBING, STEAM FITTING Washington 8q, Washington Building Norwich, Conn. P Agent for N. B. O. Sheet Packing Phone =ai whether the piece is dropped skin iside or cut side up, but a Uttle time may be saved by having the skin side up since the new sprout will have a shorter distance to breal through the MODERN PLUMBING - ground. Another bit of iaformation s as essential in modern hou s|that may be interesting along this sectricty is to lighting. Ws guaram- | line is that the entire potato should be used for seed. Some are saying that the eves can be cut onut and that starchy part of the potato conserved for food purposes, but it is neceasary for young plants to have this starch to start growth upon Some people are of the impression that lime, which is recommended a great deal of late, will take the place of fertilizer. This is not true. Lim bears the same relation to plant feed ing as salt does to our own food. The function of MHme is to tmurove the physical condition of the sofl, to make clays more open and sandv soils more compact. It also swestens soils tihat are inclined to be of an acid char- acter. Furthermore it helos to iiberate certain forms of plant food that are nnavailable. Time will mot take the place of fertilizer and should be ap- plied several days before the com- mercial fertilizer. For those having garden plots on side hills care should be taken not to run the rows up and down the hill, for the reason that when heavy rains come little channels will form in the rows and the water will carry away tes the very best PLUMBING WORK by expert workmen at the fairest prices. Ask us for plans and pricss. J. F. TOMPKINS 67 West Main Strest T. F. BURNS Heating and Plumbing 92 Franklin Street IRON CASTINGS FURNISHED PROMPTLY BY THE VAUGHN FOUNDRY €O No. 11 o 25 Ferry Street eral practice to be followed. on these kind of plots will be to plant the rows parallel ‘With the slope so that minia- YOU DEMAND GOOD CEMENT GOOD SAND AND GRAVEL ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT. All Our Products Are Graded and Washed and Gost no More. Deliveries by C. V. R.'R. and by Water. THE NEW LONDON SAND & STONE COMPANY 85 STATE STREET, NEW LONDON, CONN, The plant will apvear regardiess of | earth as well as seeds. Henoce the gen-. iminutes. jand core. imade in iabove and sterilize for 20 or 40 mi AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS | ture terraces will be formed, and the water will be caught and allowed to seep into the ground. Half of the fertilizer should be scat- tered over the entire surface of the land. The remainder can be applied near the plants after they have come up. If one chooses to apply all the fertilizer before planting, be sure that at least part is spread over the en- tire surface so that the small root- lets . will receive nourishment later in the season. For those who have already planted their gardens and are waiting for the seeds to appear, a timely suggestion would be to watch for the first crop of weeds which are sure to come in the majority of cases before the shoots. A great deal of time may be saved if the ground is loosely broken up with a rake, thus destroying the little weeds which in time would cause a great deal of trouble. For those using stable manure this will be espe- cially valuable. RHUBARE CANNING METHOD Leaves Makes Fine Greens—Way to Preserve Pineapple. To can rhubarb wash it, then eut in pieces of convenient lengih and place in a kettle of Doiling water to bianch for three minutes. This blanching re- moves objectionable acid, improves the color and shrinks the product so that the jar may be more completely filled. Count the time for blanching from the minute the water actually boils after adding rhubarb. A square of jcheese cloth in which to put the rhu- barb while blanching is a conven- ience. After blanching, dip this rhubarb in cold water, pack in clean jars and add syrup made in the proportion of three parts sugar to two parts water boiled together for about five minutes. ‘When the jar is full of this syrup put the rubber on and partially seal the jar. Then place in a kettle or boiler on a rack, cover with hot water, bring to the boiling point and boil for 13 At the end of this period, remove the jar and seal. Some housewives are using the rhu- barb leaf for greens and report that it compares very well in flavor with the other greens with which we are fa- } familiar. To can pineapple, cut the pinespple in siices, peel and remove the cyes This pineaple may be cut in ieces or it may be canned in slices. Pack In clean jars, fill with the syrup the proportion of three cups sugar and two cups water, boiled to- zether for two or three minutes. Put the rubber and lid in place, partially eal, then place in boiler as directed utes. 1If the pineapple is not well rip ened the longer pericd of sterilization 16 necessary. FINE TO SPRAY ORCHARDS Apples and Peaches Nead to bs Spray- ed Frequently for Best Results, All fruit growers have found out from experience that spraying is one of the most profitable things that they can do in their orchard—that the more they spray the more profitable it becomes. There are many Mcin- tosh reds, Rhode Island greenings, fall pippins and other soft-skin varieties of apples that are susceptible to appie scab. All of these varietles should be sprayed just after the leaves come cut and before the blossom. This _spray will prevent curculie, budmoth, aphis and tena caterpillars. The mixture is made up of one gal- lon of lime Sulphur, 40 per cent. nico- tine sulphate three-sighths pint, three pounds of arsenate of lead, ail in 50 zallons of water. Spraving should be thoroughly and carefully dome. Let's see to It that our trees are properly protected this vear in order that we may have high-srade fruit. Peach growers are interested this year in controling brown rot by spraying with self-boiled- lime _sul- phur. Peach-growers should, how- ever, make plans to have safficient quantities of high-grade caustic lime and flour “sulphur on hand for this spray. There seems to be a difference of opinion as to when.this application should be made. Some recommend the first application just before the blossom fall~. - Others recommend the first agvlic..lon just as the ealices shed.” The consensus of opinion seems to be now that the first application should be made as the petals fall, a second about a month later and a third about three weeks before the fruit is harvested. Prof. W. M. Scott’s formula for this materfal is _eight pounds of flour sulphur, eight pounds fresh stons lime and 50 gallons of wa- er. TAKE MEASURES AGAINST CORN PESTS Animal and Insect Enemles Can Be Checked by Poison Animal and {nsect pests of corn, prairie-dogs, ground squirrels, gophers, blackbirds, = crows, _cutworms, ear- worms, chinch bugs, grasshoppers, soon will open their spring campaigns of destruction. Many of these pasts can be effectively combated, according to specialists in the United States De- partment of Agriculture, who des- cribe measurés that may be emploved. For cutworms, lumps of poisoned bait, made by mixing about 0 pounds of bran or corn meal with two pounds of Paris green, six finely chopped or- anges or lemons, and enough cheap molasses to make a stiff dough, should be scattered along the corn rows at planting time or .as soon as injury from cutworms is noticed. In forma- tion as to these poison baits will be furnished on application to the Bureau of_Entomology. Treating the seed with coal tar will usually repel attacks of birds and, in some cases, those of burrowing rod- ents. A teaspoonful of tar is enough for a peck of corn. Mix the tar with a quart of bolling water. After the mixture has cooled somewhat but is still hot, stir in the corn until every grain is coated, and then spread it out to dry before planting. Corn may be immersed several minutes in mod- erately hot water without affecting zermination. The, tar treatment does Dot repel mice or‘ground squirrels. Destruction of corn by ground squir- rels, . prairie-dogs, pocket gophers, or mice is hest prevented by poisoning the animals a few days before the corn is planted. Strychnine is the best pois- on in all cases, but to obtain satis- factory results a special formila is needed for preparing the poison for each kind of animal Such formulas have been worked out by the Bureau of Biological Survey and special in- structions will be furnished .upon ap- plication. Paris reen and strychnine are poisons and . should not be placed where children’ or -domestic animals can met them. Yearbook Separate No. 708, “Destroving Rodent Pests On the Farm” contains many formulas . and may be had free until the limited edi- tion iz exhausted. PLANT CORN. Most Effsctive Substituts For Whest at Our Disposal: The most effective wav to remedv the probable shortage in the wheat crop is to plant corn, says the United States Department of Agriculture. Ordinarily the quantity of corn pro- duced in the United States is from three to four times the quantity of wheat, but only a very small portion of the crop—from 5 to 10 per cent— has been used for human food. This amount may be estimated in normal times at about 200,000.000 bushels a year. Not over 5 per cent has been exported in peace-times. A relatively slight Increase in the corn acreage, therefore, will place many millions of bushels more of human food at the disposal of the world without inter- ing in any way with the fead needed for the support of live stock. In the past, with an abundance of srain_of other kinds, corn has not been in great demand for human con- sumption. But with other grains no longer abundant, circumstances will compel more general recogmition of the value of corn as human food: The Department “is urging strongly the wider use of corn in the diet. It is the best substitute for wheat that we ‘have and can be utilized in breads, Th ~in - the | operated if left to the gas foreman, “have two | Mr. Leary and the master mechanic T8 Allen. t 3 1e extras for December, for Both pas and slectric, would bave been $252.01. In view of the foregoins, we strdng- 1y that not only the exist- ing meter charge of 25 cents per month be retained on both the gas ana electric, but that a total monthly minimum of 50 cents. inchuding meter rental, be established for gas as well as for electric. Electric Lighting Rates Low. The electric lighting rates at Nor- svich are low and we consider the base Tate should be increased from 8 cents to 10 cents, the 5 cent quantity rate remaining as at present. The electric power rates are not only low but they are thoroughly inconsist- ent. In considering electric rates it should be borne in mind that the fun- damental basis of establishing them is_different from gas, in that an elec- tric power station must stand ready and have the generating capacity to deliver at a moment’s notice the en- tire instantaneous demand upon it and has no storage capacity such as: gas holders in a gas.plant. The obvious resuit of this electric condition is to make long hour users of electric en- ergy much more desirable -than _ short users, which is the cause for giving reduced rates to power consumers, for ‘they frequently uee electric energy a much greatér number of hours per day than electric résidence lizhting users. Incre: Price of G We consider the price of gas at Nor- wich should e increased to $1.25 per M. cu. ft. for the first 500.0L cu. f monthly, the wholesale rates to remain as at present. All customers should hereafter be charged at the regular published tariff rates and no special contracts should be made. Oil for the water gas plant was pur- ichased at 3.5 cents per gallon untll Jan. 1st, 1917, on which date the con- tract expired. Oil was then pur chased at. 7 7-8 cents per gailon and year's contract has recently b signed for ofl at 6 7-3 cents. Coal Materially Advanced. TUntil November. 1915, the depart- ment purchased gas coal at $4.25 and steam coal at $3.95 per ton f. o. b railroad sidinit at power station. Since that date the price of coal has mate- rially advanced and during the past eight months the prices paid per ton of coal £. 0. b. railroad siding at power station have been as follows: Highest Lowest 2 Price. Price. Steam coal $9.20 3720 Gas coal 8.8 735 In view or these greatly increased prices in coal and oil, we consider the department ie not only justified. in making the above named increases in the electrig and gas rates but that it is absolutely imperative that such in- creases should be made. The gas and Electric .department is pperated on the basis of three shifts of eight hours each, and emploves are pald time and 2 half for over-time and double time on Sunday: There {s a nabsence of snap in the employes of both the gas and electric plants. = Some of the men were smok- ing and others were sitting down, and we observed posted at different places gotices dated sometime back, to the effect that card playing must be dis- continiied . It may be that some of the emploves feel safe in their position. The only way for any orguntsation to ‘become efficient is for the man in di- rect charge of the organization to have absolute authority to discharge and hire men. and to have every member of the organization to fully realize the same. The only that “pep” can be put into the organization of vour Gas and Electric department is for the commissioners to hold Mr. Kehoe en- tirely responsible for the operating re- sults of the Gas and Electric depart- ment, to give him full autherity to discharge any man and replace the hame without referring the matter to the commission. Tn beneral, a prop- erty the size of Norwich should have a man as manager who is experienced in the operation of both gas and elec- tric properties. and the salary of such a manager wouid be in . the neighborhood of $3,500 to $4,000 per annym. Personnel of Employes. The time at our disposal did not permit our coming in contact with ail of the employes of the department. The following, however, are our com- ments upon those with whom we came in_contact: Mr. Kehoe, the cuperintendent, is industrious and conscientious in | his vk and he has been handicapped by having too many details to look after and also by his being an electric man Tather than a combination electric and gas man. We consider an op- portunity should be given Mr. Kehoe to get the gas and electric property on an economical operating basis and if he secures the desired and neces- sary result he should be given a ma- terial advance in salary, if he does not, a_manager that n produce these results should be obtained. Mr. Mather, the chief at the elec- tric power station, impressed us fa- vorably. It would appear he has had experience in the operation of elec- tric power stations and we consider that Mr. Kehoe should hold him re- sponsible for all of the employes at the electric_power station. Mr. Math- er should also be held responsible for the proper maintenance of the elec- tric_power station. Mr. Coscoran is under Mr. Kehoe and_is directly in charze of the gas plant. We understand Mr. Coscoran Bad no experjence in the operation -of a gas property prior to his present ap- Pointment.. We were unable to ob- serve searcely a single result in the operation of the sas proverty which indicates that Mr. Coscoran has been successful as 2 sunerintendent. The zas has not been nor is it now being manufactured economically, and there has been a-total absence in commer- clalizing the by-product of the gas plant. - We consider it unfair to the mushes and a varietr of other wavs. We ‘should make every effort to avail ourselves of it. “Plant corm” then motto of every farmer suited ‘to the crop. should be in a e IMMATURE POTATOES NOT SUITABLE FOR PLANTING Farmers in. the northeastern states are warned not to plant newly har- vested potatoes, especially the small, immature stock nmow coming from “the South, in a_statement issued (May 11,) by the U. S. Department of Agri- culture. Under the influence of the high price and unusval demand for soed potatoes, these immature stocks, it learned, are- being offered for planting. Newly harvested potatoes, whether dug in the early spring, or “autumn, the ent’s special- ties state, do not germinate until after undergoing a certain rest period, and results are sure to bo disappointins. Germination may be delayed six weeks or more, and in any case will be un- eves and the stand imperfect. The grower, theretore, is warned not to purchase such seod. as mors or less serious financial loss will be sure to result’if he plants it. 1 Mr. 9 4 Mr. Maples impressed us as being a man who is competent and who has initiative. It has been found advisable in most utility properties to put men on the monthly payroll which method obvi- ates the tendency of men making re- pairs to drag out the work and there- by obtain overtime. At Norwich, we understand that while the men are pai dextra for overtime, the depart- ment does not deduct from their wages the time which they are late or sick. For instance, while at the plant one morning we observed the four gas pipe fitters hanging around and upon in- quiry we were informed they were waiting for the fifth fitter who is the chauffeur and who finally arrived at 8.45 a. m. shortly after which the five fittars started out for their day's day's work. © We understand thit while such a circumstance is not regular it is not an infrequent occurance. Tf men are emploved by the hour and paid overtime when they work extra, they should obviously ' recelve pay only for the time that they work dur- ing, the regular perio Comments on the Operation of the Electtic Plant. Coal is shoveled by hand into an open bin from the railway cars on (he adjacent siding. We understand of late a considerabie number of cars which bring both the gas and steam coal are of the hopper typs and it is | consequently difficult to reciaim all of the coal at the bottom of the hoppers. We understand the departm¥nt is now paying 20 cents per ton.for unloading that the price formerly paid is 15 cents and that this work is award- eg by contract The department has experienced dif- ficulty in obtaining gas and steam coal notwithstanding a vearly contract was entered into for the supply of which and the department. has conse- quently .been obliged to go-into the open market and buv_coal at exceed- ingly high prices., This has been largely due fo the shortage of coal cars and a number of other gas pro- pertiss have encountered the same dif- ficulties. With the installation of proper coal handling apparatus for the electric plant an dths zas plant, the coal could be nunloaded at less than half the present cost after paying for In- terest and . depreciation. on such coal handling apparatus. ©One material cause of the present uneconomical operation of the electric station is due to the W steam pres- sure at which the steam turbines are operated. The maximum steam pres- re permissible to be carrled by the two Fabcock & Wilcox boilers Is 125 pounds. One of these boilers was recently removed an done Is now be- ing = dismanteled. The maximum steam pressure permissible to be car- ried on the two remaininz bollers, one Helne boiler and one Altman-Taylor boiler, is 140 pounds. We understand the isurance on these hoilers was formerly carried by the Marvland Cas- ualty company which company save permission to carry 150 pounds on both fhe Heine boiler and the Alt- man-Taylor boiler, and that this in- surance twas recently shifted to the Hartford company. which company has allowed but 149 pounds pressure. The two new Doilers which have been purchased ang are about o be Instal- led will operatn at 180 pounds pres- sure, which will materially better the operating conditions. Comments on Operation of Gas Plant The water gas set was not cleaned for a period of six or eignt months prior to. January, 1917, with the re- sult that the checker brick had to be entircly renewed and furthermore an increased amount of ofl was necessary to operate the apparatus in that con- dition. This set should be cleaned once each three months. The roof of the bullding over the gas retorts has numerous holes with the resuit thot when it rains the wa- ter leaks down on the throats and doors of the idle retorts and rusts them out, Wwith the result that in ruanufacturing the coal zas thero is a considerable waste of gas due to leakage around the throats and doors, consequently the mafority of the throats and doors must be renewed before economical operation can be obtained. A drain in the retort hou: is open and water impregnated with ammonta trickles down in front of the east retort and washes down in the as This impresnated water is not very detrimental to the shoes and clothes of attendants fir- ing the retorts but it rapidly eats away structural steel supports. ete. From the department’s records the zas unaccounted for has been as foi- lows: Nine monthe ending April 30, 1915, 13 per cent. 12 months ending April 30 1916, 1355 per cent.: 12 months ending Feb. 28, 1917, L5 per cent. The great bull ef the gas unac-: counteq for is usually caused by ieakage in the gas mains of the dis- tribution system. It is our under- standing that when leaks are report- ed at the department’s office 1L is sometimes several days before steps are taken to repalr the sume. Not- withstanding the fact that the leak- age for the past twelve months is greater, about 50 per cent, irat the leakage of the preceding twelve months, mo ‘one seems to have been aware of the fact and we have been unable to ascertain that any steps have been taken to reduce this leak- age, and this in view of the fact that the cost of fuel and oil Is now almost double the mormal price and the cost {of manufacturing zas being material- ly greater. -From the.table of rates, ctc., of the gas plants of Connecticuf it Wil be observed no gas property in the state has as high a percentage of gas unaccounted for as the Nors wich plant far the past twelve months The carbon which accumulates in- side the zas retorts is a very pu type of carbon and as a by-product commands a high price. There is a considerable amount of thie carbon which has accumuvlated at the Nor wich plant. some of it is strewn over the ground and without doubt soms of it has been lost. We observed one piecs, probably 75 pounds in . welght half submerged in the river. We un- derstand a contract has recently: Bean made to sell this.carbon now at the Plant for $30. per ton There are leaks'in the small steam pipes as well as other repairs to which the master mechanic should sive prompt attention. We understand the gas department has made a 1-inch tap to the fire hy drant water line and water is running full head from it all the time, that no meter 1s on the same and no pay ment for this water is made to the water department. The matter of tar which has been wasted for a considerable period we are treating under a separate head- ing. It has been a number of years since we have seen a Zas plant man- aged as poorly as the one at Norwich. and the remark:made to us that the Fas plant runs itself is wholly borne out by facts as we have found them. General Comments on Both Gas and Elect: The department is exceedingly weak in the mmatter of records of its phy- sical property. There is a map of the gas mains dated 1902, which was be- fore the property was taken over by the city, and there is a2 map of the electric” distribution system, without i e W S P A too late. C ent at the wrong time. wrong with it. " CUT ALFALFA AT RIGHT TIME By UT alfalfa at the right time. Thousands of ruined fields trace their injury 1o be Wh and the bacteria die. Be careful not to cut teo late in the fail. Arrow “A” Points to Small Shoots. These Shoots Will Make a New Crop. The Alfalfa Should Be Cut High Encugh Not to Clip Off the Tops of These Shoots, Otherwise You Cut Twe Crops and Get but One. Injured. Frequent cultivation will keep down the = of alfalfa. It may be that in some way the sap sours in P. G. HOLDEN. Don't cut alfalfa too early en it is mown off too soon all see There ahould be a good elght or twelve inches bigh lef tect the crowns of the piants the winter. Cut alfalfa when new » crown of the plant are abe high. Get down on the ground knees in your aifalfa fle the stems of the alfalfa a examine closely. If shoots or spronts starting crown of the plants at stems, and from the sie you will know that this coming on; that your a and ready to eut. ¢ and cut It, no ma‘ter These little sho inch or two long. very rapidly. TIn they will be several inc It you pat off will_be caught by will be clipped of not resalize it find out that you hac alfalfa and got bw The result is which you hare will have to make » the meantime wee choke out ta; a beat down and take the ground and set t likely ki1 1+ Cut alfaifa crown of the tnches high Do not be afra the first year, alfalf. rowed Immediately A spring tooth work ; the weeds wi sharp teeth, but date, but apparently of the same per-| The above lod. " We were informed no attempt |amount tirned has been made since that date to rec- [Py the gas and ele ord on thes maps additional pipes, (i depreciation additional mains or lines, changs in |the treasurers re sizes of mains or line mainz or |u etmilar period 3 Tines which are removed. lfor in- |taken out stance, there Is no record as to the |wards improvem number of gas services or the num- |clectric departs ber of electric services. There is no [urers repart record of the number of cusiomers' [bonded indebtedne instaliations of gas rang Water | electric departme heaters or the like, nor could we find |creased . anyone who has any iden as_fo the [plant was ‘a number actually installe Without |other wore accurate record of the gas mains or |amount wst aside electric distribution system it is ob- |been expended “ously difficult if not impossible mente aditio one to state whether the same proft . adequate for either the present needs | ment or futurc requirements. One of the first things necessar would be for the department to se- cure the services of z bright vouns man to make a survey of the entirs property, both gas electric, and [ prepare o map and records of both Fas and electric showing the properts owned by the department and the amount and character of the appara- [munity to pa tus installed and owned by the cus- | betterments ¢ tomers, and it is very essentisl that | and ele records be kept of ~future chanses|wich has n which are made from time to time. |just explaine A fireproof vault should be obtained |toward paving tie for the departmeni’s office records, |expenses of e the present va is otherwise not fireproof and the de- | t has a steel door but | n 2 struction of the department’s books |namely that and card records would cause con-|replacements are siderable loss and inconvenience. A ey & Tar. not _available, The department sells ta ait- > earnings tity purchased. For single barre] lot the department receives 34 per b rel. Larger guantities are soid cents per gallon and when sold ir bulk in large quantities the depart ment receives 3 cents per gallon the twelve months ending April 30, 1916, the department sold 52 per cent. of the amount of tar which is record- ed as having been received. and for | the_ten months ending February 1917, the department sold but 34 per ‘cent. of the tar recorded as ing been received. that the tar shortage tanks at plant have beer ing the year period. tar has becn allowed draining out greater The The record. practically full o records of the company show that for a sa portion of the remainder of the to go to into the Shetucket understand the samo | eristed prior to the |specific there are so enter in, it p- the Shetucket takin art and we state of affoirs period mentioned. Tar pollutes and necessitate cleaning the condensers turbines in the electric each week during th Tar has a considerable valué of fu mmer. he steam | more whick The two m tion especially during the present high cost of coal. Tar at 1 cent per gal- lon has_a. fuel. valie "equivalent to coal at $2 per long ton, consequentiy 3c tar equals 36 co; This $6 per [and forced ton for coal would have to include |fn commis: cost of unloading from the cars, plae- | Unquestion. ing it in front of the boilers and re- |cation f - moving the ashes. The 3c per gaflon | would be one for tar is net excepting for - the | Brought amount of steam required to heat the|4ppeirs fo be confils tar. | Foaaraini- tne e Tar s regularly’ burned under the|able for condensing boilers by the Brooklyn Union Gas |Shetucket rivar company, the Consolidated Gas com- | “iream flow . pany, etc, irg slightly lower rates f The present amount of coal tar at|[livery of coai would ne Norwich i about 5.000 to £,500 ‘gallons | iy &ofne to the - per month, equivalent to 27.5 tons of |the Dower statio . coal, the water gas tar will be in 2d attion. on The present tar storage the Nerwich mately 130,000 tons of coal boilers with tad reservoirs a when the tar will Present Method of Financing Depart- The amounts written off for depre ciation each year on the gas and ol and tric properties annual reports are as follows: 19804-0: 1905-06 1908-07 1907-08 1908-09 1908-10 1910-11 1911-12 1912-13 1913-14 1914-15 1915-16 gallons, We recommend that tar burning apparatus the tar on hand utilized coal T capacity equivalent plant he _installad; then fire and unti} again nearly gain be burned ment. incinded in of that departin approxi- flled— | | | station al yeor carefui st The 400 KW senerator has to Norwich. Tt fa stat condition and req hauling. Mr. & he has an opporiu for $4,000 and le to take In closing state that all |mentary” nature emitted for we | comment an ? e t necessary in capar o and the the a enth 1 to state that there |anestionably & considera of_good’ work executsd Very truly yours On account of crease in pr bacco. the Whitestone Cigar 216 from now on at S per J. F. COMANT 11 Frank