Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-12-13
REMOVED At LAST.
The Obnoxious TurntabIe
Caned Away
BY COMMISSIONER LADD.
Patience Ceased to be a Virtue With
the Street Railway Co.

This morning at 10 o'clock Highway
Commissioners Ladd appeared on Broad
street, at the corner OF Railroad avenue,
with a gang OF men and low gear. The
men were set at work removing the street
railway tu n-tsble, and In an hour II was
carried away on the gear.
Two years and more ago, during Mayor
CarrolPs first adm inistrstion, there were
great many Complaints from all sides
about this turn-tsble. The Mayor tri,d
to have II removed, bu: the Street Railway
Company said that the Broad Street cross
ing was too narrow. Then the
Mayor prevailed on the Old Colony
and Worcester roads to widen the cross
ing on a line with the Summer street ex
tension. But still the Street Railway
Company could not see its way clear To
remove that dangerous and obnoxious
turntable unless Railroad avenue was
widened. Then the Mayor pushed through
the widening of Railroad avenue, and that
cost the city some $ls, 900. All Of these
things did not cost the Street Railway
Company a cent.
But the Street Railroad Company did not
remove he turntable which blocks travel
on that street. Then the Board OF Alder
men this Spring ordered II removed. The
Street Railway Company professed to be
willing, but when the time came IL re-
fused to do so and took refuge In a techni-
callty about the serving OF notice. Then
the Board OF Aldermen gave a new notice.
That notice had no technical defects. The
Mayor and the Board have been laughed
at by the company and scolded by the
people. But there Is always turn In the
lane and II is believed IL was reached to-
day when Highway Commissioners Ladd
was ordered to remove It.
Manager Luther was seen and made a
lengthy statement OF the whole matter.
Last night" he SAID, 1--WE were notified
that the turn-table would be removed
this morning, but II was too late to get
castings for a curve. We were notified
August 10th to remove 1t. About two
years ago they wanted to get rid OF 1t.
ave employed George e. Tingley OF
Providence to make plan, but it called
for so many tracks the Highway Depart
ment objected to IL. Then our engineer
and the city engineer hit on anoth her plan,
requiring great deal of changing OF rails.
One important thing Is this, the rails
crossing the steam railroad must be on an
angle.
"They cannot be on a curve or the
Danger to steam cars would be great.
"But we said at the time, II this can be
done we will do II and ordered the cast
ings In Philadelphia. Then the steam
railroad company objected and we had to
countermsnd the order. The directors
decided that they must do away with the
cro ossing.
al was given power to look over the
ground and had several plans made. One
Is to run our tracks up Exchange street to
Montgomery, across Miller street bridge
to Broad street. This would DO away
with that fence near the express Office and
make an open square.
"The Dexter street route would go tie
same way, but would cross Broad street
go through Olive to Barton and then to
Dexter street. This plan was made last
June. The steam railroad has changed
hands since that plan was made.
"The men In charge do not know what
the plans OF the owners are and therefore
do not know what to do. They intend to
put in four tracks and do away with the
crossing. We intended to put In cleo
tricity on Broad street route, but were
waiting for this thing 10 be settled.
1--WE are practically tied up by the steam
railroad company and can do nothing"
Passengers now lave to change cars on
both the Broad and Dexter street routes.