Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-23

The legislature has completed its work on the
bill relating to the union passenger station in
this city and the removal Of the tracks from the
common. 1t is understood that all parties are
friendly to the bill, which is a remarkable COM
pliment 10 the committee who reported it. for it
was perpleXing matter 10 harmonic all the
different interests involved MIR. Sanford the
chairman, said in the house of representatives
that the consideration of this subject had taxed
his attention more closely than any other halt
dozen matters brought before them. 1t is well
that so important matter for Worcester had the
good fortune to be passed upon by so fair and
able committee. The question is now settled,
and the advantages to this city will be of no
trivial character. Within two years the extern
sive changes will be completed, the new stations
occupied, and noone will be found willing to re-
member that he opposed such grand public
improvement. The following is the bill as it
finally passed to be engrossed in both houses:
Sect. l. The Boston and Albany railroad compa-
ny, the Norwich and Worcester railroad company,
the Providence and Worcester railroad company
the Worcester and Nashua railroad cOmDany and
the Boston, Barre and Gardner railroad corpora
ton may and shall unite astation in the city of
worcester, for the accommodation of the passenger
OF all corporations SAID station shall be
located on the hortherly side of the main tracks of
the Boston and Albany railroad company, between
Green street and Grafton street. upon the easter
ly side OF said Grafton street, and not more than
fifteen hundred feet distant thereirom. And the
supreme Judicial court any Justice thereof sitting
H. any county, in term trial. or vacation SHALL upon
The application Ofeither of said corporations or of
the mayor and aldermen of the city OF Worcester
and after notice 10 the other parties in interest APP
point three commissioners, who, after due notice to
such hearing, shall determine whether said station
shall be located between Green street and Grafton
street. the eastery side of said Grafton street
as above provided, and the report of said commits
S1oners or major part of them being returned into
and accepted by said court, shall be binding on all
said parties and the court shall enter all such or
ders and DEGREES as may be found needful to carry
into effect said report.
Sect. 2. Said station shall be erected and kept in
repair at the sole expense of the Boston and AL
bany railroad company Said company Tor the pur-
poses of said station and for providing suitable ap-
proachcs thereto, may purchase or take such land
within the limits aforesaid, including the location
OF any street or way as the board of railroad COM
missioners determines to be necessary
Sect. 3. Said station shall be used by all said
corporations, the other corporations severally
yielding and paying to the Boston and Albany rail-
road company reasonable rent for the use thereof
which, if not agreed by the parties, shall be deter
mined, and may be revised and altered from time to
time at intervals OF not less than three years. by the
board of railroad commissioners, upon a petition
presented to said board BY either Of said corpora
lions.
Sect. T. The Boston and Albany railroad COM
pany SHALL as soon as practicable after the passage
of this act, cause plans and drawings to be prepared
Of said proposed station, exhibiting its form, di-
mensions and arrangement, and its location with
reference to the adjacent streets and to the tracks
OF all said corporations located proposed to be To-
Gated in the vicinity thereof and subject to the re-
port of the commissioners mentioned in section
one, shall submit said plans and drawings, when
completed, to the board of railroad commissioners
for its approval Said board after due notice to all
said corporations and to the mayor and aldermen
of said city and hearing of all lsaid parties to be
na1 IN SAID city, may approve the same or order
such changes, alterations and Improvements to be
made in said station, and in the location thereof
within the limits aforesaid and in the arrangement
and location of said tracks, as in their Judgment
the safety and convenience of the public aud the
interests of all said corporations require; and all
orders and directions of said board in respect there
to shall be binding on all said corporations.
Sect. b. Said station shall be completed and ready
Tor the use Of all said corporations within two years
after the passage of this act.
Sect. 6. The board of railroad commissioners
SHALL upon the application of either of said corpo-
ratlons and after due notice and hearing of all the
parties interested, make and establish such rules
and regulations for the use of said station by said
corporations as it deems just and reasonable; and
after like notice and hearing may change the same
from time to time. and such rules and regulations
shall be binding upon all said corporations
Sect. Z After the completion of said station, and
within three years after the passage of this act the
Boston and Albany railroad company may discon-
tlnue the present location of its railroad between
the south line of Shrewsbury street and the Foster
street station in said cityI and the Norwich and
Worcester railroad company may and shall discon-
said Foster street station and the south line of Park
street in said city; and the Worcester and Nashua
railroad company may and shall discontinue the
present location of its railroad between the easterlY
line of Union street and the south line of said Park
street; and said two last named companies may dis
continue all or any part Of the present locations of
their railroads respectively, between the south line
of said Park street and the Boston and Albany rail-
road at the junction depot in said city. Upon the
dlscontlnuance of any location as aforesaid all
tracks shall forthwith be removed therefrom unless
allowed to remain temporarily by the mayor ana
aldermen of said city.
Sect 8. The Boston and Albany railroad COM
pany shall pay to the Worcester and Nashua rail-
road company and to the Norwich and Worcester
railroad company, upon the discontinuance by them
OF their locations required to be discontinued by
the preceding section such sums as may be agreed
by the parties, or, IN of disagreement, as the
board of railroad commissioners, upon the applica
tion OF said companies and hearing of the parties
determines to be just and reasonable, in full COM
pensatlon for any and all rights which said COM
panies respectfully may then have under existing
contracts and leases to use the passenger station
and tracks OF said first named company at or near
Foster street in said city If either party dssat-
isied with the award of said board such party may
have said compensation determined by jury, upon
application in writing therefor to the superior
court, at any term thereOfhOlden within the county
of Worcester within year after the publication
of such award; and thereupon said court shall, af
ter due notice to the other party, order trial by
jury, to be had at the bar Of the court in the
manner as other civil causes there tried by jury
Sect. 8. The Norwich and Worcester railroad COM
pany may extend its railroad from the junction de-
pot in said city to said union passenger station;
and the Providence and Worcester railroad COM
panv may extend its railroad from its present
terminus al Green street in said city to said union
passenger station; and for the purposes aforesaid
said corporations respectively may take such por-
tons of the location of the Boston and Albany rail-
road company as the parties agree, or, in case of
disagreement as the board of railroad commission
ers determines.
SECT. 10. The Boston, Barre and Gardner rail-
road corporation may extend its railroad to said
union passenger station, and for that purpose may
locate construct and maintain its railroad within
the location of any other railroad corporation in
said city at such places and upon such terms the
parties agree, or, in of disagreement, as the
board of railroad commissioners determines
SECT. II; The Norwich aud Worcester railroad
company, the Providence and Worcester railroad
company, the Worcester and Nashua railroad COM
pany, and the Boston, Barre and tGardner railroad
corporations, may and shall unite in the location
and construction of one railroad tracks for
their joint use, commencing at point on the line
of the Worce ter and Nashua railroad at or near
Bridge street in said CITY, and extending by curved
line across Bridge street. Mechanic street and Front
street. to point on the line of the Boston and Al
bany railroad east of Green street. Said tracks may
be constructed and maintained at the joint expense
ofal said corporations at the expense of either
or any of them, as they agree; and in case said
companies cannot agree upon the proportion of
such expense to be paid by each, or upon the COM
pensation to be paid by any one of them not
rbuting to such expense for the use of said tracks,
or if they cannot agree in what said tracks
shall be used by SAID corporations respectively the
same shall be determined by the board of railroad
commissioners upon an application made to said
board by either or any Of said corporations. SAID
tracks shall pass over said Bridge street, Mechanic
street and Front street by suitable bridges; and
said tracks and bridges shall be located constructed
and arranged in such manner and form as the board
of railroad commissioners determines and directs,
after due notice and hearing of said corporations
and the mayor and aldermen Of said city.
Sect r. Upon the completion of said union pas
senger station, the Providence and Worcester rail-
road company may discontinue its present passen.
ger station at Green street, and the Boston and Al
bany railroad company may discontinue its present
passenger stations at Foster street and Washington
square, in said city.
Sect. 10, The Worcester and Nashua railroad
company shall maintain at its own cost, upon its
land north of Lincoln square in said city, suitable
passenger station for the accommodation OF the To-
cal passenger traffic Of said company and Of the Bos
ton, Barre and Gardner railroad corporation; said
last named corporation yielding and paying to the
corporation first named, reasonable rent Tor the
use ,thereof which, If not agreed by the parties
snali De determined and may be revised and altered
from from time TO time at intervals OF not less than
tnree years by the board OF railroad commissioner
said corporations. -
sect. a. Nothing in this act shall be construed
70 authorize or require the discontinuance Of the
junction depot in said city; but said corporations
may pass said depot with express trains without
stopping,