Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-08

| Mr. Joseph Mason, clerk of the courts of Norces-
tor was the first witness called. He had been ia
miiiar with the railway question in Worcester for
fifteen years, and il was within five years that he
first heard of the removal OF the tracks from the
common. Until the consolidation of the Boston
and Worcester and the western railroads he thought
he had heard nothing against the Foster street de-
pot, any desire for union depot at Washington
square. In his opinion a large proportion oil the
people preferred the Foster street station, and
thought tine largest number of passengers get on
and of at that station, OF the travelling public ne
should say there was almost universal feeling TO
retain the Foster street station for certain purposes
especially of those who desired to take the cars for
Boston, He believed however, that most Of these
people wanted a new depot. There were some land
owners who probably desired change, but they
were only a small portion of business men OF the
city Among those who favored the Foster street
station were some who wanted the tracks removed
from the common. He had conversed with several
ofthe prominent citizens of Worcester who thought
that if the airoads were prohibited from making
up their freight trains on the common and adjacent
streets there would be objection to retaining the
Foster street depot. If that station was entirely
abandoned he thought il would seriously affect the
business of Worcester, and land on Main street
would greatly decrease in value The large business
establishments which had been built up by the side
of the railroads through the city would seriously
suffer By the removal of the tracks running to Eos
ter street, and they would be obliged TO remove to
another portion of the city. If persons were de-
priyed Of coming TO the Foster street station, and
were compelled to walk or ride from Washington
square, he had doubt that parties now doing bus
iness in the city would relinquish it.
In answer 10 MT. Stearus OF the committee Wnetl-
err if it was found impractcabe to remove the
tracks from the common, without also removing the
Foster street station, Mr.. Mason said that he
thought that large portion of the people were in
favor of retaining the Foster street depot at all
events while they desired that the streets should
be relieved far practicable In his opinion the
people of Worcester had not yet considered the
matter as fully as it should be. He had given the
subject considerable attention, and if the Foster
street station was to be abandoned he thought the
best place for a union depot was at the corner of
Franklin objections in
other plans would be oviated. Mr.. Mason, after ex-
planning his proposition, which, he said he did not
offer the best that might be selected but better
than the one previously shown to the committee,
said that he had no doubt that large number of the
people of Worcester who voted to have the tracks
removed, would, if the question again came before
them, vote in the negative, as they had NOT fully
considered the matter at the time. He thought the
legislature should take some action to prohibit the
Boston and Albany, the Worcester and Nashua, and
the Norwich and Worcester railroads from making
up their freight trains across certain streets, and in
his opinion this would meet with general favor by
the citizens. If change was to be made he saw
no objection to having the Norwich and Worces-
ter railroad cross Front street on an elevation.
In answer to Mr.. Nelson, Mr.. Mason said that he
had doubt that it was the alluring attraction of
grand union depot at Washington square that led
many people to vote in favor of removing the tracks.
In answer to Judge Foster, Mr. Mason said that
the people OF Worcester had long felt that they
entitled to better railroad Accommodations He
did not believe that the railroad companies would
ever agree upon plan among themselves, nor did
ne wise submit the question TO DOpl-
lar vote but thought that it should be considered
by an impartial body of men. The only establish
ments that would lose the tracks by the proposed
change would be those on the line OF the Boston
and Albany railroad between the Foster street de-
pot and Washington square. Doubtless one of the
leading considerations against the removal to
Washington square was on the part of real estate
owners, who feared that their property would be
injured, although another principal reason was
the convenience which people received from the
Foster street depot He should be glad to have a
street Washington
square.
In answer TO Mr.. Rice, Mr.. Mason said that if the
city was to bear the expense OF making the changes
and removing the tracks, such q plan would be re-
pudated by the people, and he had no doubt it
would be unconstitutional to deprive the railroad
companies of their rights without compensation.
MIR. George l.. Newton, wholesale grocer, whose
place of business is south Of Park street. after emu
merating the places of business in that vicinity,
said that they were nearly all built up in view of
the railroads, and If the railroads removed all
these places of business would have to follow them,
thus causing them severe loss There was hardly
man in Worcester who favored the removal of
the Foster street station.
In answer to Mr.. Nelson Mr.. Newton said that il
the freight station of the Norwich road was to
main at Park street, the business establishments
would not be directly injured, although it would
injure them indirectly.
Hon. Lucius X Knowles, an iron manufacturer, be.
tween Park aud Madison streets, thought that the
proposed change would seriously affect the interests
of Worcester, and the disarrangement of business
might tend TO drive it from the city, These tracks
FURNISHED facilties for the heavy manufacturing
taDllsnments, and their removal would occasion
great inconvenience and loss
In answer to Mr.. Aldrich, Mr. Knowles said that
II the tracks were taken up from the common It
would affect all his freight coming the northern
railroads.
Mr.. Jonathan C. French a builder, having his
place OF business between Madison and Park Streets
was dependent on the existing railway facilities
and should not have constructed MS building had
he not supposed that the tracks were TO remain
The sentiment of Worcester he Thought was in
retaining the EOStnr sta buf io.
sired some relief in the present mode of making up
freight trains on the common
Mr. stephen Salisbury, Jr., thought that the feel
ing of the people of Worcester had long been
against the insufficient depot accommodations in
opposed 10 T the removal OF the Foster street station
and would prefer to have the tracks remain on the
common rather than to lose tine above station.
Mr.. VIM. Dickinson fully concurred in the state
mentS of MI Salisbury, and thought if they had
new depot, there would be no trouble about the
tracks across the common, A vast injury he be-
ieved would result to the business of Worcester in
case the proposed change should be made.
Mr.. Samuel X. Haywood, boot manufacturer
concurred in the statement of the above witnesses
as to the wish of the citizens of Worcester in rela
ton to retaining the Foster street station.
DR.. Henry r. Clark thought that the inconven-
fences ofmaking up trains, &c, on Front and Park
Washington streets, and Lincoln square, and he
was ofener detained at the last named streets than
at the two former.
If some arrangement could be made as to the
Uuaking up of freight trains, etc., on the common
and the adjacent Streets he thought it would give
general satisfaction. If there was ever majority
in favor of the removal of the Foster street station
he thought there had been decided reaction in
hat sentiment, and people now realized the incon-
1eniences which would attend change. Better
1epot accommodations were wanted by the people,
and relief from the present manner of running
rains across the common.
DR.. Workman, who had had twenty years. eX-
1erience as physician, concurred in the remarks
1f Dr. Clark, and considered the crossing of Grafton
street much more dangerous than at Park or Front
streets. The same was true of Lincoln square,
which was more inconvenient than the two above
streets.
In answer to Mr. Nelson, Dr. Workman said that
MS wife owned property on Main street, and that
i would be much injured by the change. He
had voted "No" on the proposition to remove the
racks.
DR.. Woodward, of twenty-five years experience,
thought there was no more danger at Park street
than at many other streets. The great delay was
caused by the making up OF trains on the common
rather than from trains in transit
Col. Taft had conyersed freely with the people of
W forester during the past week, and the get eral
feeling in favor of retaining the Foster street
depot under any circumstances, but desired that
some method might be carried out to remove the
1hculties now arising from the tracks crossing the
common and the streets in that vicinity. He had
circulated petition on Wednesday, and had OBJ
tanned the signatures of between SOC and 800 people
against removing the Foster street depot, and if he
had taken longer time he had no doubt he could
have quadrupled that number When people voted
for the removal of the tracks it generally sup
the railroads, and not by the city.
In answer to Mr.. Nelson, Mr.. Taft said that he
had not hesitated to say to parties signing the petit
ton that he thought 1t would cost the city of WOr-
cester million of dollars to pay for land damages,
&C., and he was still of that opinion. He further
stated that he had circulated the petition at the
quest of Mr.. Tucker by whom he was employed
Mr.. Walker, VINO had resided in Worcester thir-
tyve years. concurred in the statements of the last
three or four witnesses which all that he had
heard.
In answer to Mr.. Sanford of the committee, MIR.
Rice said that he hao nearly 100 more witnesses
VINO falrly represented the business interests of
worcester who could testify substantially as the
above witnesses, but he was willing to adopt any
course which the committee might Indicate
Inc committee decided that they would not hear
additional evidence on matters already referred to-
and agreed to accept the statement Of Mr.. Torrev.
that he had large number of witnesses from towns
III the vicinity of Worcester, who were onnosed 10
the discontinuance of the Foster street station
Mr.. Rice then called Mr.. Kinnicutt president of
the Worcester and Nashua railroad, who Testified
that they expected to continue their road so as IN
run through trains to Portland and from there TO
the sound. They had also made arrangements with
the Concord railroad to run through train dailv
and by the plan of the late Mayor Blake which
would compel them to go to Washington square, it
would be impossible to do their business Their
present system OF running express freight trains 10
compete with other roads to New York, would be
broken up by the change, and their business Sc
eerely injured. Since they had removed thor