The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-04
ADVANCE CLUB ANNUAL.
Address by Mr.. Daggett on Inter-
State Railways.
REPORT OF PRIEST. THOMPSON,
A Gathering OF Representative Citizens
Speeches Full of fInterest-Progress and
Advance Strongly Advocated-A Retro
spect Full of Achievements.

the Advance Club and their friends gath
cred at the rooms of the club last evening
ON the occasion of the annual meeting.
Among those present were: David nj.
Thompson, president of the club; ID. Rus
sci Brown. Charles H. Child, Augustine
Jones, Stephen Waterman, Arthur p.
Weeden. Gilbert A. Phillips, Charles G.
Harrington. DIR. E. T.. Halves. Charles ii.
Makepeace, Hiram Howard, Senator
Richard Thornley,, II. NJ. Daggett, Jr.,
gale, Charles II. Beach, +. A. Johnson,
James s. Hudson, Joseph A. Miller, lie.
ander Belcher, L. w. Kilvert, Joseph 9.
johnson, John A. Coleman, Charles A.
Wilson, William Corliss and John Nc
Auslan.
In the temporary absence Of the presi-
dent the meeting was called to order by
Hiram Howard. Adjournment was at
once made 20 the banquet room where
course collation. was served. About
O'Clock the company returned to the re-
ception room and listened to an address
by H. NJ. Daggett, Jr. on the general sub
ject of inter-municipai railways. His ad-
dress in part was as follows:
In wealth the city has shown wonderful
progress. In ten years the bank savings
show an increase of 90 per cent, the de-
posts in the banks aud trust companies
an increase of 64.6 per cent, and the city
assessors valuation an increase OF 2l.6 per
cent.
The Interstate Street Railway Com
pany, OF which i am going to speak, has
today charter granted by the Iegisla-
ture of the State of Rhode Island, a license
from the State of Massachusetts,, to do
business in the towns OF Seekonk, Attic
boro and North Attleboro in that State.
We have street franchises from Attleboro,
Seekonk, North Attleboro, Cumberland,
Lincoln, East Providence and the city of
Pawtucket, beside on arrangement TO run
our cars into Providence under certain
conditions. The system covers about AZ
miles of road, divided as follows: Attle-
boro to Pawtucket, miles; North Attic
boro 10 Pawtucket, miles: Manville and
Cumberland Hill TO Pawtucket, 10 miles;
Bullock's Point TO Pawtucket, 10; Paw
tucket TO Providence, miles; Pawtucket,
local, miles; making total of AZ miles
OF these routes we have built 1873 miles of
track, or within two and one-miles of COM
pleting the routes from Attleboro to Paw
tucket and from North Attleboro to Paw
tucket. We hope and expect to have
these two routes in operation by next
April. and the routes from Pawtucket to
Bullock's Point in operation by May 80,
The probable cost of the system is no
small item and is as follows: Real estate,
100000; steam plant. $4,000; electric
plant. $4,000; tracks, including return
wire, $4,000: overhead construction,
$780, 900; cars and equipment, $3.50, 600; to-
tai, 81, 10000. We anticipate IL will re-
quire 50 motor cars and 100 tow cars TO ac-
commodate the public, and we will have
TO employ at least 200 men.
The various routes will accommodate
the public as follows: Attleboro route,
1900 persons; North Attleboro route, TO-
600; Manyille and Cumberland Hill route,
10000 East Providence, exclusive of sum
mer excursionists, 1900: Pawtucket local,
5000; Pawtucket routes, $4,000; Providence,
las, 900; total, 245,000.
/. The Union Railroad Company carries
nearly 20 600 Of people each year, with
its 50 miles of track running through a
population Of $4,000 or thereabont. We
claim the Interstate Company will with
its AZ miles of track and running through
the country carry 100000 of people the
first year that the whole system is in run
ming order.
amount of good both to the public and
municipalities. / will quote from the
speech of Mr.. Rocker before the City
Council committee on railroads when the
adoption of the trolley system in this city
was being considered. Mr.. Rocker said:
"The United States, in ten years, shows
an Increase Of thirty per cent. in popula-
tion. Providence has grown twenty
seven per cent in the same time, from
10000 To $4,000 without any extension of
her territory. The percentage of her
growth almost equals that of Chicago
New York, and Is in excess OF that OF Bos-
ton and Cincinnati.
Where has the growth beeng We all
know; not in the heart of the city, but on
the outskirts; no in the old wards, but in
the new ones.
The opening of every new line of horse
cars has been followed by an increase of
population and of values along that line.
Now, while the steam railroads have ex-
tended but little in the last decade, this
r...tnt t.taa hf4a lad
mileage in that period, until now it has
nearly 90 miles. DO you know what the
street car service means TO this Commun-
ity? Do you know that this company
carries in each year nearly as many pas
sengers as the Old Colony Railroad does
on its entire system and about twice ms
many as the Worcester, Stonington and
Boston, and Providence roads combined?
The horse car service has nearly reached
the limit of it's development What we
need now Is some more rapid method of
transit. 1t Is safe TO say that there are
to-day, in the territory covered by radius
of six miles from the City Hall. fully 200,-
600 people, who practically form one COM
munity. This territory, even at our pres
ent rate of increase, will soon be solidly
built up. Who doubts that this rate can
be vastly increased with rapid transit, and
steam railroad terminals, and connections
with the West, and the interior of New
EnglandY
Inc people must have rapid transit at
cheap rates to get TO and from their homes
and their work, for business or pleasure
the territory Is too large for horses; they
are too slow. Electricity seems TO offer
the only solution OF the problem.
SO faa, your attention mas been called TO
the statement OF the Interstate Company
backed by the statement OF facts and fig
ures OF Mr.. Rocker, every word of which
applies 10 the Interstate system only ex-
tended few more miles out.
Now, showing the benefits OF street
RAILWAYS, IL may be fit and proper for me
TO question the policy of taxing franchises
so far as u relates TO our business. |
know OF one place where the steam road
charged 10 cents fare before the electric
road was built. After the electric road
was started the steam road reduced it's
fare TO fifty tickets for $3.50, or 5 cents a
single fare. There was at least 900 per
sous riding each day on the steam road,
and the saving To the people by the build
ing Of the electric road made saving of
500 day, or $4,000 year, which Is one
fourth OF the tax assessed in the two