1965 273 4-bbl intake. What is this connector for?

I had one of these intakes back in the early 80's I installed on my old 18er, I cut the cross out of the center and opened up the chamber then put a 1 in, spacer under the AVS I had on it. Man that made everything wake up. Those old intakes like to have more room under there.
Right there. They are pretty flat. Not much plenum or rise.