The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-06-10
Railroad Extension and Facilities Needed.

10 the EduOr OF tht NtUS
After careful study of the railroad map of
New England aud connections with portions
of the sections which Providence should have
direct. have arrived at few ideas which ]
believe would greatly benefit the city in the
way of trade. %
Geographically, Providence is at point
where 1t should control a large portion of the
trade of central and northern New England,
and with improved railroad facilities 1t should
have no difficulty in doing so. believe that
the projected Rhode Island and Western rail-
road between Providence and Springfield, IL
ever constructed will I'LL long felt want and
he the means of opening TO our merchants
territory which will prove a valuable one to
them.
Another extension which will not only
benefit the city, but also the railroad COM
pany, is that of the New York and New Eng
land railroad between Southbridge and
Palmer, which has been talked of, for we are
now about to have a direct road TO South
bridge by way of Pascoag, and an extension
TO Palmer would be only twenty miles fur
rher, and would open up connections with the
Central Vermont and Boston and Albany
railroads.
In connection with the extension to Palmer
/ have In mind n scheme. which. II ever car
ried into effect, would no doubt bring our city
into much more prominence than II now en-
Joys. My idea Is that the Palmer extension,
bringing us into direct connection with the
New London and Northern division Of the
Central Vermont railroad. would afford our
people direct line to the thriving towns and
villages among the 'green hills Of Vermont
and also to Montreal and Quebec and would
also open q new route to Chicago and the
West
In now travelling from Providence to Ver-
mont we are Obliged to change cars twice,
once at Worcester and again at Winchendon.
and freight is also delayed.
Our city being the natural seaport for the
| Southern fruit trade we should control il for
| central and northern New England as well
| as handling the shipments from that section
| TO the South. Boston enjoys solid through
| trains to the principal points In Canada and
| the West. yet we. city Of 10000 Inhabitants.
| are compelled to accept second-class facilities
| for freight and travel and have but very few
| trains running over distance Of 100 miles
| which make terminus at Providence. The
| destination and objective point Of q train Is
no small factor in the development of a city.
In the matter of freight almost all from
| the North and West consigned to our mer-
| chants. has to come through Worcester. and
| while our merchants have complained again
| and again at the delay and unjust q crimi-
| nation against them, very little improvement
| in that direction Is noticed.
Take dressed hogs from the West. The Bos-
| ton packer can receive his, have them cut up
| and disposed of before our packer Is notified
that his have arrived at the freight yard.
AS in receiving. so to a certain extent, we
are at disadvantage in shipping, as have
| known of instances Of shippers of perishable
| goods to Hartford being unable to ship direct,
| on account of the train leaving here running
| only to Willimantic where II waits for
| through train from Boston, which, IL heavy
one, does not take the Providence train along
and there fore the latter has to wait still long
| er. On account of this useless delay, some of
our shippers send instead over another route
by way of Saybrook, which must be admitted
is very roundabout way.
What Providence wants Is direct and quick
| communication by means of solid through
trains with at least the New England states.
and not by means of numerous connections.
Solid trains with Pullman cars attached are
needed between Providence and the West,
aud see no reason why they cannot be run
| by way OF the New York and New England
railroad. Poughkeepsie bridge and New York.
West Shore and Buffalo railroad.
If our joint committee on business orgsni-
zations, as you suggest, will not stop at send
ing representative to the Worlds fair, but
continue to maintain one at home, who will
make it business to look out for the inter-
ests of the city aud request improved railroad
\.
committee will make itself memorable.
For the healthy growth and expansion of
our city which it is capable Of aud while IL is
struggling against such adverse circum-
stances, IL is no more than just and reason
able that some of the unjust determinations
which have existed for years be removed.
When these things are adjusted then we
can talk of and expect even a foreign CON-
merce for writer of the history of New
York puts IL that that city ships one-third of
the American grain In spite of Its heavy port
and storage charges. With through trains
from the West and improved harbor facilities
we. with vastly less port and storage charges,
could become one OF the leading exporters of
grain and bread stuffs on the Atlantic sea-
board. A transatlantic line need not depend
altogether upon Western -four and grain, but
extent. only few days ago IL being reported
that the woonsocket Rubber company. which
exports considerably, received an order for
1000 pairs OF shoes from London, and the
Oakdale Manufacturing company makes a
speciality of the export trade.
For imports might be mentioned tea, pot
terry, crockery, woolens chemicals, certain
grades Of machinery, etc. No doubt with a
good line fair patronage Of passengers both
ways would be- obtained
Let not our growth be hampered by being
placed In the position Of a small town that
looks for It's very fo)l and existence to
larger town or city with facilities Of its own,
but let us shake ourselves independent 10
great extent OF Boston and New York, and let
us lay aside a portion Of our over-conserva-
tism. looking nor TO the glories OF our city as
a commercial centre in the lsth century and
the early part VI the 10Th, but let us again