The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-27
Between The Cily Of Providence and
the Consolidated Road.
COVE LANDS 10 GO TO RAILROAD.
vexatious Question Reaches Final sola-
tlon-speoiai Meeting of City Council
Called to Dedicate certain Streets I'm
Connection with Transfer.

The solution OF the complicated ques-
tions involved in the exchange and trans
fer of land between the city and the rail-
road corporations and the consequent en-
chment of the city treasury by sum ex-
c..eding S375,000, VIII be accomplished
o. fter the special session OF both branches
81 the city council tomorrow at II o'clock
and the execution of the deeds by
the mayor which have been approved by
the city solicitor and the corporation
ATTORNEYS acting for the officials OF the
railroads. The committee on terminal
facilities met today and examined the
several instruments. They were found TO
be satisfactory in every detail and they
decided TO request the mayor
to call special session OF the board In
order that both bodies might take con-
current action upon most vital eiement
involved in the possession OF the territory
which is to come into possession oil the
railroad corporations.
Plan Provides for Certain Streets.
The plan egreed upon by the city and
corporations provided for the extension
of Francis street from Smiths hill
across the cove lands to Exchange place
and the incidental construction OF lateral
outlets to the new union depot, and
il is imperatively necessary for the city to
dedicate these streets for highway pur-
poses before the execution OF the final
agreements; otherwise the railroads would
have the unrestricted right To utilize the
tracts involved in the proposed lay outs
as they saw fit. The result would be that
the city would lose considerable
sum and would be unable to
L y. n.
with the business centre except by the
present circuitous routes. This precau-
tionary course is in keeping with the con-
servative action OF the committee from the
outset, for which they have been roundly
scored and charged with catering to the
interests Of the railroads.
Ccmmit'es ,tsas Acted Most Wisely.
The committee determined that they
would advise no compromise with the
railroads for the Improvement OF their fa
cilities until they had met the monetary
obligations which the exchange of land
involved. The Consolidated railroad
. have been given ample time to consider
the situation since they as
sumed the obligations of the
New York, Providence and Boston and
Old Colony roads, they have raised ques-
tions of title and submitted more elabo-
rate plans for the union depot and en-
ployed various other pretexts TO postpone
the execution OF the deeds and the trans
fer of the money.
They employed special counsel to detect
flaws in the title of an Insignificant piece
OF land and only quite recently arrived at
the conclusion that quit claim deed was
satisfactory in place of the war
ranty deed previously insisted upon.
city Council VIII Probably Concur.
The city council will undoubtedly
promptly concur in the resolution dedi-
eating the streets enumerated as public
highways, and the mayor will attach his
official signature TO the contracts
made by the special committee
whose action under the reso-
approved by the executive. The sum
which the city is to receive IS already on
deposit, subject to the order OF the city
treasurer, and in round numbers amounts
to S477,0o0. In all probability this money
will be paid over next Saturday,
and then no further obstacles
will stand in the way OF the
vigorous execution of the plans for the
construction OF the union depot and it's
approaches.
Tho Committee Cratined.
The terminal committee are naturally
gratified Mt the fulfillment Of their pre-
diction that the agreement with the rait-
roads would be Effected before
the first of January, 1924, and citizens
generally will be inclined 20 offer
up peans Of Thanksgiving in recognition
Of the fact that the adjustment OF the
long standing controversy ensures the
prompt contamination OF one of the most
vital factors In the material DEVELOPMENTS
Of the city. The reception OF such q large
sum OF money IN Wow of the heavy claims
upon the city treasury, will enable several
dep rtments whose appropriations have
been well-nigh exhausted, to carry forward
several enterprises which had boen tenn
porariy abandoned, and tho incoming
city council by the exercise OF intelligent
discrimination and foresight, will not be
confronted with such financial str;nRency
rs TO necessitate ths curtailment of ap-
preparations as was the experience during
the past year.
The Depot Plans Must ba Acceptable.
The pians for the union depot submit
ted by the Consolidated in elaboration of
the original design must be acceptable 10
the special committee, and no objection
TO their employment Is heard unless by
some citizens who have examined them
and have suggested that they should pro-
vide for train shed, the utilityo OF which