The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-29
THAT SHORT LINE.
Some of the Facts Concerning the
Strip at East Providence.
MORE LEGISLATION NEEDED.
The Case VIII he Heard Further Before
the General Assembiy-The Old Col
ony shuts Out Any other Road at
Present-The Belt Line.

Nearly four years ago the ProvldeLce
and Worcester Railroad Company ceased
it's entire road and property TO the New
York, Providence and Boston Railroad
Company for the term of ninety nine
years After the lease was executed 1t
was discovered that there was a little
piece OF road in East Providence about
mile and quarter long, that the Provi-
dence and Worcester could not deliver to
its lessees without the consent of the Old
Colony Railroad Company.
The strip of road in question constituted
q connection between the end of the Prov
idence and Worcester road near Red
bridge in East Providence and the
Wilkesbarre pier, also in East Providence
and owned by the Providence and Worces-
ter Company Up TO this time the Provi
dence aud Worcester had enjoyed the use
of a tr ok, connecting the points referred
TO. laid upon and over the land OF the Bos-
ton and Providence Railroad Company,
now in the hands of the Old Colony by
ease The character of the original agree
ment between the Providence and Worces-
ter and the Boston and Providence was
such. that the privilege of running over
this bit of track, could not be transferred,
without the consent OF the Boston and
This consent the Old Colony would not
give, and the Providence and Worcester.
endeavoring to carry out its contract with
the New York, Providence and Boston, at
tempted to make new lay out from
point near Red Bridge to the pier, under
the authority supposed to be contained
in the then existing legislative enact
ments. This move on the part of the
Providence and Worcester was success
fully opposed in the courts by the Old
Colony, the former being held, as mat
ter of law, to have exhausted its original
powers, and TO require further legisla-
ton, In order TO condemn the necessary
land for the contemplated Improvement.
The Providence and Worcester has now
presented bill to the legislature, for the
purpose of obtaining authority to make
new lay out, and also for power to con-
denim such lands of other railroad compa
MES, as may be required in carrying out
the plan. The authority TO condemn lands
Of other railroads is absolutely necessary,
because the land now controlled by the
Old Colony extends completely across the
available space and practically shuts out
any other road.
4 partial hearing was iiaf. before the
House committee on corporations on Fri.
day, March IS. during which the Old
Colony people offered to permit the tran
fer to the New York, Providence and Bos-
ton, provided the latter would accept IL,
with the same restrictions heretofore i'm
posed upon the Providence and Worcester,
but this the New York, Providence and
Boston refused to accept.
This bill of the Providence and Worcester
is one of great Importance to the COM
munity, as the grant asked for will be
made the basis of increased accommoda-
tions for passengers and freight, and will
also have to do with the much-needed
development of our water front.
A. A. O H. as...xr
carried on at Wilkesbarre Pier, amount
ing last year TO three hundred and fifty
thousand tons, 1t is proposed TO develop
freight business in the opposite direction
from Worcester and vicinity to tide water
Aud also TO transport passengers from the
Blackstone Valley to Warren, Bristol,
Fall River. Newport, and various points
in the bay without the troubles and de-
laws incident 10 a passage across the city.
This business, it is claimed, cannot be
properly and successfully done upon a
single track. and under au uncertain ten
ure There Is already a million dollars
invested in the Wilkesbarre Pier. and
neither the New York, Providence aud
Boston, nor its successor, will care to make
further improvements and spend more
money, without having track of its own,
or which at least il can control, covering
this small bit of territory.
This piece Of track is also OF great i'm
portance as forming part of the belt
line which will give to Providence aud
vicinity superior advantages in the deliv-
cry Of passengers and freight at different
points and which is already being de-
veloped. The bill will come up again for
further hearing on Tuesday on the rising
Of the House and will, 10 is understood,
be vigorously opposed by the Old
Colony Railroad Company, which
naturally desires to control as completely
as possible the outlet 20 tide water, along
the eastern bank OF the Seekonk
The transfer of the New York, Provi.
dence and Boston 10 the New York, New
Haven and Hartford, will IL is understood
i'm no way interfere with the various
improvements in aud about Providence,
but that all the plans of the New York,
Providence aud Boston will be carried out
by its successor.