Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-25
From the State House.

Boston, Jan. "a, 1871.
In the nste to-day there was some debate on
the bill which came up to be engrossed to author
ize the birmingham and Lowell railroad COM
paDy to issue bonds, resulting in killing the bill
by vote of IA to IS. Thecommittce on prisons
reported favorably on the petition of the com
missioners of Worcester county for authority to
borrow $780, 900, for the purpose of building
new county prison in Worcester, on some site to
be chosen by them, after which the old Jail
property will be sold.
Hartford and Erie came up in the house on
the question OF passing to be engrossed the bill
authorizing the governor to draw his warrant
on the treasury for sum not exceeding $50, 900
to defend the interests of the state as bondhOld-
eTS in that dilapidated concern. Speeches eX-
planning the necessity Of this action and in re-
Spouse were made by several members, among
Others Mr.. Putnam Of your city. John Quincy
Adams, in an able and earnest speech, portrayed
the very unsatisfactory state of the Erie
matters, and showed how the shysters and
sharks are busily at work to cheat the bond
holders and defraud the state. The speech
| of Moses Kimball was still more vigor-
| Gus. He spared no words to show the utter
rascality Of the Boston and Erie crew. and the
| house thoroughly enjoyed his honest indigna-
ton. He gave a comprehensive review of the
question and explained the present tactics of the
corrupt Erie ring to make the states interest in
the road worthless Charles Levi Woodbury.
also made an able speech, but not so much to
| the point as Messrs. kimball and Adams. The
| bill was passed without amendment by a large
vote.
| The legislative committees were very busy to-
day, that on railroads meeting at 81, adjourn
ing at 1, only to meet again at the close of the
| legislative ssion. The committee on educa-
ton, among other Matters considered the
| recommendation for normal school in Wor-
| ceSter. There was a hearing at which Hon,
Hartley Williams and Superintendent A. p
| Marble, of the Worcester school committee.
made some valuable suggestions.
| A RAILROAD MATTER.
| The railroad committee had large audience
| at the hearing on the petition of the Massachu-
sets Central railroad for leave TO build an indie
| pendent track from Stony Brook into Boston.
Hon. James NJ. Stone, president of the road,
presented the considerations which had i'm
| PEELED the corporation to ask for the powers
above stated. He stated that ninety miles of
road through a rich and populous section of
| the state had a right to demand an independent
| entrance into this city. Nine hundred thousand
dollars had been subscribed by the towns along
the route for the building of the road, and two
| or three hundred thousand dollars by the people
at lar e. Mr.. N. c. Munson had agreed to CON
struct the road for S4,00O,OOO He presented a
bill authorizing the company to enter with its
tracks upon Charles river, at some point wester-
ly of West Boston bridge, and thence TO be ex-
tended to some point westward of Charles
| river.
Mr. Frost, the engineer of the road, offered
bis plans and estimates for extending the road
TO the foot of Pnckney and Revere streets, and
thence to Beacon street, near the corner of
Charles street, where it is proposed to place the
station house.
Mr.. Wentworth appeared for the city of Cam
bridge, and referred to remonstrances which he
! said would have been very numerOuslv STONED
| had the location DppO known aarlinr IL
had no doubt the city government would take
| action adverse TO the extension of the Massa.
chusetts Central across Charles river into Bos,
Ton.
| Mr.. T.. II. Derby commented on the fact that
| the strip OF country where il was proposed to
| locate this road 1.-THE eXtensiOn) was already am.
ply provided with railroad accommodation that
the different railroads now existing cost some
three or four millions Of dollars each for the
twelve miles of track nearest Boston, and the
necessary area In this city to transact their bust
ness. lie commended that the estimates of the
engineer OF the road were altogether too low
that land on Beacon street would not cost much
less tnan SO per foot, and that it was impossi
pie LOT inc road TO get along with any such small
area as the engineer had suggested He STRONG.
ly criticised the proprietv Of bringing a railroad
into neighborhood not intended for a business
locality, and of establishing a railroad station
among elegant residences costing from $50 DOC
to Slo0,OOO. de said the Massachusetts Central
could come into Boston either over the Fitch
burg or the Boston and Albany at its option.
TAXES.
. The house committee on judiciary considered
number Of matters, among them an order 4
consider the ezpediency of amending the gen
eral statutes SO that taxes NAV be assessed on
the first day Of April in each year, instead of Of
, the first of May. Mr.. Anderson, Of Lowell, VIII
offered the order, explained the advantage
which he thought would be derived by tn
change. In New Hampshire he said taxes wer
l sol frr7f bo frcf Of 49, 4
who were taxed there on that date came t
Lowell and other places In this state in Nav 70
work, and they were also taxed here, which h
E regarded as a hardship. Another reason for III