1941: Connecticut

Area and Population.

One of the thirteen original states, Connecticut ranks 46th in size among the states, with an area of 5,009 sq. mi., including 110 sq. mi. of inland water surface, according to remeasurements of the United States undertaken for the 16th census in 1940. In population it ranks 31st, numbering 1,709,242 according to the 1940 census. The largest cities are, Hartford, the capital, 166,267; New Haven. 160,605; Bridgeport, 147,121; Waterbury, 99,314, and New Britain 68,685. The notable increases were in the areas suburban to Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport, and in the southwest section of the state which is suburban to New York City. Of the state's population in 1940, 1,158,162 were urban, or 67.8 per cent. In 1940, 1,675,407 were whites; 32,942 Negroes; 1,347,466 native-born; 327,941 foreign-born. Italy, Poland, Canada, and Eire, in that order, provided the larger numbers of the foreign-born.

Education.

In 1940-41, in addition to the State University located at Storrs, 4 State teachers' colleges and 11 trade schools (to be increased to 14), the public-school system of the state included 94 senior high schools, 36 junior high schools, and 853 elementary schools and kindergartens. The enrollment in the public elementary schools and kindergartens in 1939-40 was 187,482; junior high schools, 23,344; high schools, 79,654; trade schools, 5,039; teachers' colleges, 1,136; State University, 1,388. In 1938 the total current expenditure for public schools was $28,432,523. The average salary for male teachers in elementary schools was $1,484; in high schools $2,213; for female teachers in elementary schools, $1,536; in high schools, $1,993. The number of teachers employed in elementary and secondary schools in 1939-40 was 8,733. The Department of Education does not exercise state-wide control of the schools, but leaves each locality full autonomy and responsibility. The Department's work consists entirely of advice and correlation.

Agriculture.

Agriculture in Connecticut is limited and specialized. Dairying accounts for about half the production value, while poultry-raising and gardening have been expanding rapidly in the past few years. The growing of apples and other fruits is also important. Tobacco, once the star crop of the state, is recovering. The 1941 crop will sell for over $23,000,000, more than 20 per cent better than that of 1940. As compared with 1930, the census of 1940 showed increases in the production of apples, hay, potatoes, and oats, but decreases in the production of tobacco, corn, and peaches; a marked increase in the number of chickens raised, a slight increase in the number of cattle, and some decline in the case of all other farm animals. For 1941, however, the value of production is in the following order; dairying, poultry-raising, potatoes and garden vegetables, tobacco, fruits. While an influx into the state, of defense workers, has been paralleled by an increasing scarcity of farm workers, and much higher wages for those available, the Connecticut farmer is at present enjoying an unusually favorable market.

Industry.

Connecticut is chiefly a manufacturing state. The census for 1939 showed 2,936 manufacturing establishments, with 233,525 wage earners paid $276,274,243, and turning out products valued at $1,229,585,773. Due to the national defense program, factory employees in August 1941 were estimated to number 315,000. Of this increase it is estimated that 20 per cent have come from outside the state, 20 per cent are women, and 40 per cent young persons between the ages of 16 and 20 years. Business activities in the state are estimated at 172 per cent of normal. This activity not only greatly exceeds the census data for 1929, but also the local estimates for the World War year 1918. Since 1918 there has been a marked change in the nature and distribution of Connecticut industries engaged in defense work, though the same cities remain the chief centers. The production of seaplanes and amphibian planes at Bridgeport, of airplane engines and parts at Hartford, and of submarines at New London are conspicuous illustrations of this change. While it is probable that the state is not now producing as much in arms and ammunition as in 1918, its production of machine tools, gauges, and related articles is at a greatly higher level. This vast industrial expansion is reflected in the enormous increase in housing facilities achieved in all the leading manufacturing centers of the state.

Legislation.

With divided party control, the biennial session of the General Assembly in 1941 was confronted with an extraordinary number of Bills, many of them of distinct importance. In comparison, the amount of legislation enacted was small but commendable. The session was severely condemned for the Bills which it did not pass, such as a labor-relations measure, a revision of the taxation system to include a personal income tax, and numerous measures advocated by pressure groups. The most controversial measure enacted was a new milk-control act. Important amendments were made in laws concerning old-age assistance, workmen's compensation, and unemployment compensation. In the latter case the permanency of the scheme was guaranteed by a provision that higher benefits and lower taxes are conditioned on maintaining a reserve of $40,000,000. Savings banks were authorized, under certain restrictions, to write insurance policies. A state council of defense was established, a state system of juvenile courts created, and the common pleas courts adjusted to a state, instead of a local, basis. Constitutional amendments were initiated to provide for annual legislative sessions, and to extend the terms of elective state officers to four years, with elections arranged in odd-numbered years.

Finance.

In the fiscal year ended June 30, 1941, the state income was $88,037,793 and the net expenditures $68,857,263. Expenditures from the general fund covering the general costs of the state government were $27,561,733; from the highway fund, $25,276,002; from unemployment compensation benefits fund, $4,666,543; and from the old-age assistance fund, $6,045,636. Legislative appropriations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1941, amounted to $58,778,841, in addition to routine expenditures from special funds. The bonded debt of the state on June 30, 1941, was $33,350,000. There are established provisions for its steady liquidation. In 1940 the total taxation, Federal, state, and local, was $226,482,439, representing a per capita tax of $132.50, the highest in the state's history.

Banking.

In the year ending Sept. 30, 1941, the number of accounts in the 72 mutual savings banks of the state had increased to 1,014,934, and the deposits to $765,432,113, making the total assets of these institutions $858,322,611. Fifteen of these banks paid dividends at the rate of 2 per cent, the remainder at 2 per cent. On June 29, 1940, the 52 national banks in the state had total deposits of $322,314,000, and total assets of $366,578,000.

Highway Transportation.

In 1941 rapid progress was made in the construction of the Wilbur Cross Highway, which will continue the Merritt Parkway through Hartford to the Massachusetts line, and on the new bridges across the Connecticut at Hartford and across the Thames at New London. Unfortunately, on Dec. 4, a span of the Hartford bridge in process of erection fell, resulting in 16 deaths, and injuries to a somewhat larger number of persons. With 2,863 miles of trunk line and state-aid roads, 1,600 miles of town-aid roads, and the streets in cities and boroughs. Connecticut now has a system of improved highways nearly adequate to general needs. For the first ten months of 1941 motor vehicle registrations were 556,608, and the number of operators' licenses issued was 628,498. These figures represent an increase of more than ten per cent, over the record numbers of the preceding year.

State Officers:

Governor, Robert A. Hurley; Lieutenant-Governor, Odell Shepard: Secretary of State, Mrs. Chase Going Woodhouse: Treasurer, Frank M. Anastasio; Comptroller, John M. Dowe; Attorney-General, Francis A. Pallotti; Commissioner of Education, Alonzo G. Grace.

United States Senators:

John A. Danaher, Francis T. Maloney.