The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-21
The RAILROAD HEARING
The Interstate and Union Railroad
Interests.
THE REASONS FOR THE ROUTES
The RaiIroad Companies Say What They
Want to Do and Several Citizens Make
Remarks For and Against the Pro-
posed Routes to the City's Centre.

The hearing before the committee on
railroads at the city hall yesterday after
noon, lasted until about 4:30 After the
first speakers had finished, John NJ. Bren-
nan spoke against the Union Railroad
Company. and asserted that the read
would be sold out to Philadelphia capt.
talist inside of two years.
The chairman suggested that the Inter
state petition was under consideration.
Amos G. Barstow, Jr. asked IL notice
had been served on all the property hold
ers on the proposed Interstate line. :,
Amasa M. Eaton hoped the Union Rail,
road Company would be allowed TO puiid
tracks as they asked.
Charles Cohen of North Main street
hoped that the Union Railroad would not
be granted everything.
George T.. Webster, clerk Of the Court
Of Common Pleas, spoke in favor OF the
petition of the Interstate Company and
incidentally against the petition OF the
Union Railroad.
w. A. Hughes hoped that the Union
Railroad Company would not he grantei
anything until they should grant trans
fer tickets. He thought the company did
not want the privileges except TO keep
other companies out.
Gen. Charles A. Wilson appeared for
property owners on Canal street who pro-
tested against the granting OF the peti-
tion of the Interstate Company. lie
said that Canal street Is peculiarly STU
ated. 1t is the busiest business street IN
the city during the summer months ana
is completely filled with teams and com
modities such as it is impossible 60 pre-
vent No railroad company ought to be
allowed to build on that street.
George +. Peterson hoped that the ln-
ter-State Company would be allowed TO
build on the proposed route and then II
necessary the Union Railroad could come
in over their tracks, but IL the Union
Railroad were allowed to build first the
same permission would not be granted to
the OF her company.
William j. Rocker spoke against the
petition Of the Interstate Railroad Com.
pany. He said that great amount OF
misstatement had been made at the hear
ing about the motives Of the Union Rail-
road Company. They are willing TO go
to work in good faith and build the Smith
street route, and as that WAS the ease it
would not be right to allow the Inter
streets. The Union Railroad does not
wish to prevent the Interstate from
coming into the city. but the
Union Railroad Company has asked for
the privilege Of laying line OF track, aud
the petition of the Interstate interferes
with it. The route which the the Inter
State proposes to take is impossible be-
cause of the narrowness of some streets
and the shortness Of some curves The
Union Railroad Company is willing to
haul the cars and passengers OF the Inter-
State company from the city line to the
centre of the city for a reasonable com
pensation, and what more do the public
wants
The report of the Interstate Company
to the railroad commissioners Of Massa-
chusetts does not show that the company
is able to build all the road that they have
permission to do, and there is no guaran-
tee that they will do it. The Union rail
road is paying $25, 900 or more a year to
the city and, Mr.. Rocker said that men
who weighed their words we're not OPP
posed to the Union Railroads. petition,
Mr.. Gardner answered Mr. Rocker,
saying that the Union Railroad Company
another company wished to do the same
thing. The Interstate Company wants
to control its own tracks and not be sub
ject to the other company at all points In
the city, as the service would not be sat
isfactory. In regard to the objections OF
Mr.. Rocker, he said the engineers told
the company that the curves were all
right aud could he made wider il neces-
sary aud the streets were all wide enough
for one line of track. In regard to the
financial standing of the company Mr..
Gardner said that they are already run
ming cars ana nave sixteen niles ol track
laid.
Mr. Rocker asked where this was.
Mr.. Gardner said I'm Attleboro, North
Attleboro and Pawtucket. The company
is not foreign one. It Is chartered
under the laws OF RHODE ISLAND. As to
the mouey that the Union Railroad is
paying the city, the city gives enough to
cations to the company. Canal street is
the proper route for the Interstate as
there are no tracks at present on IL aud it
is good wide street. True it may con-
flict with some of the privileges OF the
produce men but the interest of the pub.
lie are to be thought of first. IL, however,
any other route less detrimental to the
city can be found the company will be
glad to accept it.
The hearing then adjourned after the
announcement that there would be no
more hearings.