Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-14


common council chamber yesterday morning.
Mr. James c. Converse, chairman OF the board
of commissioners presided, and with the assis-
tance Of his associates in office, Messrs Charles
F. Adams, Jr., and Albert d. Briggs, conducted
the hearing. The fourth section Of the act au-
thoriZ;ng the construction of the union depot
provides that the Boston and Albany railroad,
which corporation is by law required 10 build
the depot, shall prepare and present 10 the rail
road commissioners ground plan Of the same,
to be approved by them. The commissioners
upon being notified that the plan was ready, or
dered hearing TO be given so that parties iu-
terested in the matter could present their cases
before the board.
According to the plans presented by the Off
GERS of the Boston and Albany road the new de
pot will be located at the corner Of Shrewsbury
and Grafton streets, at a uniform distance of
about one hundred and twenty-five feet from the
former street, and considerably more than that
distance from Shrewsbury street 1t is to be 600
feet long by 24O feet wide, and will embrace part
of the space now occupied by the freight house
ON Shrewsbury street, and the present station.
There will be seven tracks running through it,
two of them for the use of the Boston and AL
bany railroad, three to be used in common by
the Providence and Norwich roads, and two for
the Nashua and Gardner roads The tracks of
the Boston and Albany road will run very nearly
through the center Of the building, from east to
west; the tracks of the southern roads will be
upon the south side of the building nearly par
alle with the Boston and Albany tracks, while
northern roads will enter near the center of the
building, at the north side, upon curve. Suit.
able stairways will be arranged under each track
so that passengers will not be Obliged to run any
risk in going from one side of the station to the
other. In the northwest corner of the depot is a
large space set apart for waiting rooms, offices,
passage-wayS, and the like, which of course can
be arranged to suit the requirements of travel.
The freight-tracks will all run outside the depot,
upon the south side, and there will be plenty of
room beyond them to build freight houses upon.
The hearing was opened by Mr.. L0throp,
counsel for the Boston, Hartford and Erie rail-
road. He entered protest THAT as his road,
being at the time lesseeS of the Norwich and
and Worcester railroad, were not summoned to
appear at the meeting of the special commits
soners appointed to decide upon the location of
the station, all subsequent action which would
i'll any way affect the interests of the Norwich
and Worcester road was void.
Mr.. George S. Hale counsel for the Boston
and Albany road, presented the plan proposed
by his road, and asked for an early decision, so
that the work of building may 90 forward at
once
Mr.. Edward 5. Philbrick, civil engineer of the
Boston and Albany road, explained the plan,
tracing the tracks Of the different roads He
said the plan had heen arranged with reference
to the probability that the northern roads would
adopt route from Lincoln square to the new
depot, which would involve the necessity of en-
terng the building at the eastern end.
Mr.. ID. Waldo Lincoln, vice president of the
Boston and Albany road, explained more fully
in regard to the probability of the northern
roads changing their routes, and said that the
discussion of the matter had prevented the pre-
sentation OF Il definite plan for the new building
earlier in the season. 1t was thought best to
locate the building so that if the change should
be made the roads could be accommodated
Mr.. +. II. Kinnicutt, president of the Worces
ter aud Nashua railroad, thought it rather
doubtful if the eastern route was ever built upon,
ms tile city and some OF the other railroads seemed
TO oppose it. He objected to the manner in which
it was proposed to have his road enter the build
ing; whether the eastern route is adopted, or
the present route retained the road would have
to approach and enter the depot on curve of
500 feet radius. He also argued that the Nashua
road hn oil 70
the southern roads, without being subjected to
the delay and Inconvenience of shifting through
cars from one track to the other outside of the
building.
Mr.. W. w. Rice, counsel fortl.e Boston, Barre
and Gardner road, said that his road had no
right to locate route through the city until the
location of the depot was definitely fixed. The
officers of the road were well satisfied with the
plan proposed, and if it was accepted the road
would proceed TO locate their route and come
into the eastern end of the depot.
Hon. Henry Chaplin, representing the ProVi-
dence and Worcester road, said that his road
was DESTROYS of obtaining direct communication
with the northern roads, and he thought cvenu-
ally the northern roads would enter at the east
end of the depot, as the viaduct project is obJec
tionabe to all parties.
Mr.. Kinnicutt said that there seemed to be
no alternatives his road would be Obliged by
law TO remove the track from the common with
in two years. and the viaduct must be begun at
once He again called attention to the obec-
tionable curve on the line of his route.
Mr.. Philbriek explained that if one of the en-
frances could be definitely decided upon, the
plan could be modified slightly, SO as 10 better
accommodate the road.
Mr.. Smith, president of the Norwich and Wor-
cester railroad, opposed the plan, as if adopted,
great Inconvenience would result in exchanging
passengers and freight from his road TO the
northern roads. He said that the company
proposed to maintain their freight station on
Park street. and their tracks would continue to
cross the Boston and Albany road at the juno
ton as at present. He thought it would be bet
ter to have his road run ON the north side of the
Boston and Albany from the Junction, as this
plan would prevent any crossing of tracks in tx
changing freight with the northern roads, even
IL the viaduct should be built. 1t would also en-.
able them to run through cars to the northern
roads without unnecessary switching and would
facilitate the safe aud prompt transfer of bag
gage in the depot.
Mr.. Chester W. Chaplin, president of the Bos-
ton and Albany road, said that their tracks
were placed in the centre Of the building as it
would better accommodate the travelling public,
and that the exchanges of passengers with the
Boston.and Albany road was greater than be-
tween any two of the others.
Mr. Smith read n copy of letter addressed
by him TO President Chaplin some time since,
setting forth the requirements of his road. In
il he asked for two independent tracks from the
Junction, but only one had been allowed. 1t
was almost impossible to do the business of the
road upon single track, as the car houses and
engine house would have 10 be located at the
Junction.
Mr. Philbrcb said there were three tracks in
the depot assigned for the Norwich and
Providence roads, and that they coud are the
two tracks to the Junction as double track
road by an arrangement between themselves.
Mr. Smith said that the new plan, with its
great expenditure. would be of greater incon-
yenience to his road in exchanging passengers
anil frpiuht with the northern road than tho