The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-14
PREPARING FOR GROWTH
The Hearing on the Widening Of
Fulton and Washington Streets.
GOVERNOR BROWN SPEAKS.
Several Prominent Citizens Spoke In Favor
OF and Some Against the Plans-The
Narrow Policy OF Old Bostonians Re-
ferred to-what Both Sides Said.

street and the widening of Washington
street were referred, held a public hearing
this morning In the Municipal Court
room.
A large number OF gentlemen were
present and inspected the plans for the
proposed Improvement previous TO the
hearing. They provided for an extension
of Fulton street to Franklin street, and
also a widening Of the same street, and
for a widening of Washington street from
Eddy to Walker street.
The committee first called for those in
favor of the proposed improvements to
Fulton street. Alderman Little said that
the crowded condition of Westminster
street was too well-known to need COM
ment and by the carrying out Of the pro-
posed extension two fine thoroughfares
would be had. He said that at present
the extension need be carried only to
Mathswson street SO that the horse cars
could run up Fulton street.
L. H. Tillinghast said that he did not
sign the petition, but would not object to
the project.
w. H. Hall spoke at some length in op-
position to the movement. He said that
several considerations entered into the
matter. Was there any great demand for
iti He did not think there was, and IL
the proposed action was carried out de-
probation Of the value OF property on
Westminster street would surely follow.
This talk has already prevented some
from leasing property on Westminster
street. A doubt had been created In the
minds of the people in regard to the fit
poses In the future. The greater the
crowd on Westminster street the better,
and he for one would object, as a REPRE-
sentative OF property on that street, to
having the horse cars taken of and put
upon Fulton street.
As to wsshington Street.
This closed the hearing In regard to
Fulton street and Chairman Covell called
for those who favored the improvement
of Washington street.
Gov. ID. Russell Brown spoke first and
said that he thought the time was ripe
for such action.
He was interested in the matter on
general principles and he had found but
two who were unwilling to sign the petit
| stand 1t, and the other favored 1t, but was
afraid to sign lest when the awards were
| made he should receive q smaller sum.
| The building Of the new passenger sta
| ton will make Washington one of the
| principsl streets.
Gen. Charles 4. Wilson on behalf Of
those favoring the proposed widening,
said that his fsvoring of the Improvement
| to Washington street was . direct oppo-
| sition to the extension OF Fulton street.
| Fulton street, IL opened, would improve
q few OF the large business places, but the
| majority of the small shopkeepers on
| Westminster street would be greatly in
| jured and these were the ones to be con-
| sidered.
| The expense of fixing Fulton street is
| so great that the momentary con-
| sideration of the matter seemed absurd,
| especially when Washington street was
| so near to Westminster street being at no
L han A00 Htsto onf ho-
| tween the points under consideration.
The complete expense he said the city
| engineer had told him would be $3.50, 900,
while to fx Washington street would cost
| but t116,000 all told. The crowding OF
| Westminster street could be obviated by
| o police regulation.
Mr.. Hall then spoke: "Wnen the new
depot is built the trade must naturally
| flow through Washington street, and we
| had better prepare for it by widening it
now. The demand for the improvement
is urgent. The people living on Wash
their property lest it be all torn
down when the street Is fixed.
Investors from other sites have been
| driven away, and he hoped that the pres
| ent government would act In the matter
| quickly. The electric cars to the suburbs
need u street where they can run at a
greater rate OF speed and on double
tracks. Washington street, when i'm
proved, would be just the place.
IL the city government had the ground
all open they would never think of laying
three parallel streets SO near together as
Washington. Fulton aud Westminster
The estimated cost of the Fulton street
extension Is not half enough, the land it
self being worth $250,000
the Improvement of Washington street
would leave the lots 80 feet deep. while on
Fulton street they would be cut in half,
and rendered worthless.
Alfred Stone said that he favored a
broader and more far sighted policy than
any that had been expressed.
He did not hope for all that was needed,
but said that IL we fix our streets one at n
time, thus increasing the value of the ad-
joining property, we shall have to pay for
the property when we fix the adjacent
be brought through to Washington
street, and when we do one job let us also
not leave 1t half completed.
The plat from the river to the railroad,
and from the centre Of the city to Jack
son street, must in the future be busi-
matter in this farsighted way. Boston
has had to pay dearly for her shortsighted
improvements, and let US profit by her
example.
Let US develop, foster and increase the
growing spirit Of to-day by looking at
THIS Scneme In DrOhu manner.
Mr.. Howard, in behalf OF George II.
SIade and two others, read petition in
opposition TO the widening of the street.
n. f. Stafford said he represented only
forty feet and his land would be ruined
Raymond q. Mowry appeared for Ed
win X. Gardner. whose property is Local
ted ut 116 Washington street, and said
that the property would be spoiled. 1t Is
now used as boarding house and would
be useless II the project went through.
Another man said he did not know what
he wanted. His property would be ruined
but the city would be benefited, so he
was In quandary.
tion had decreased where the streets had
been widened, aud he didn't favor the
plan.
Mr.. Hall said that such was not the
case, and that depreciation, wherever IL
had occurred, was due TO other causes
IL Il -. L..