The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-29

There are more side lights affectin the
great terminal facilities question than the
public realize and when they are all turned
on and he facts brought out plainly 1t
becomes evident that all the causes for
delay can not be charged 10 the New
York an New England railroad.
A News representative rece lily exam
fined the records and con suited with one
Of the gentlemen who has kept constantly
abreast of the documentary evidence re-
lating TO contracts and agreements. The
result of this Investigation disclosed
some facts which are particularly peru
nent just at a time when President clark
is charging the New EIgland road aud
the city with all the delay In terminal
work.
said this gentleman In substance:
Let us go back to the time when the
frs agreements were mace,
In March, 1889, J; w. Mil
Ter, of the New York. providence ana
Bos on, submitted plans for inter
change OF land between the railroads and
the city, and for the proposed terminals
On June IL of that year these plans were
adopted by the New York, Providence
and Boston, the Old Colony and the
Providence and Springfield railroads,
and definitely outlined. On Oct
8 OF that year the terminal COM
mittee submitted TO the railroads an
agreement to transfer and sell TO them
certain lands. But in those lands which
the CITY reed To sell and transfer there
was no mention made OF the land west OF
Gaspee street belonging to the New York
and New England railroad. In that
agreement.the following clause expressly
bound the railroads agreeing 10 build
the new station and its approaches in ac-
cordance with the plans presented" and
further: "In consideration OF the above
grants the various railroads are
To Bind Themselves
TO begin operations on these improve.
ments within three months and TO push
them to completion as fast as possible,
the whole to be completed within three
years"
The important point here is that the
city did not bind itself to deliver any
land except what it owned, nor has it
ever made any contract with the railroads
or the Terminal company to transfer any
property which it did not own. IL never
agreed to buy or force the New England
roa to sell the land now desired by the
New York, New Haven and Hartford.
President Clark, in his com nunication
TO the CITY In last November, said that
the New York, New Haven and Hartford
tdktn tut DidCt VI hnc ANtW IOTh,
Providence and boston with regard to
improvements contemplated at Provi-
dence," and he therefore became the re-
sponslble par, y for the agreement out
lined above, by which the station was TO
be begun within three months and com
pleted within three years.
That agreement was accepted by both
the Old Co ony aud the New York, Prov
idence and Boston in u letter dated Nov.
IA. 1883, which read partly as follows:
The Old Colony Railroad company and the New
York. Providence and Boston naiiroad company
regard TO the terminal facilities provided the
necessary lesslas,oa ~ MA, ean Se SG.slned Tho
tion OF the New YORK and New Lagiaad are VIII,
a. the requisite legislation can be obtained
oLn LipoIL.Y tpoL.oSY RAILROAD.
NEW YORK. PRovIDENoE ANb BOSTON
HAiLhoAR By NV. MILLER, General Manager
In this acceptance there is no stipula
tion that the city should furnish t) the
railroads the laud or the New York and
New England. Tney propose | Z, get IL
III necessary by legislation. q I've the au-
thority they said aId they would 500
get to work.
Did they get authority Yes.
On March 2S, 1890. an act passed the
general assembl by which the Old
Colony aud the New York. Providencs
and Boston were auth jrized and en-
powered" TO build railroad station,
'aud for that purpose may take aud hold
such land aud material OF other railroad
corporations or oJher owners as may be
necessary" The
Condition Imposed
was that the companies should begin the
station within one year aud complete il
within three years.
That act gave the two roads which
have since been absorbed by the New
York. New Haven and Hartford all the
authority they had asked for, and the ac;
itself was drawn by Mr.. Benton. the lege
counsel of tue Old Colony railroad.
1hen came the delay, wnicn has prac-
tically continued until the present time.
Although the railroads were empowered
TO 20 ahead, month after month passed
and nothing was done. Under pre-
tense OF forming the Terminal
company matters were put off.
as the time approached when the
right TO condemn the necessary land
would expire unless beginning was
made on the station. The officials OF the
New York, trovidence and Boston n nd
the Old Colony were repeatedly r, queste ed
10 make that beginning IL a. were only e
drive "A few piles, aud thereby continue
tie right TO condemn the lands. Dsspit.
these requests nothing was done, aud
ON Marcn 2S. 1891 that right expired b,
law, and the terminal question was lef
Just where IL was i'm 1889.
Meanwhile negotiations we're en-
tere into by which the New York. Prov.
deuce and Boston was to he leased b,
the New York, New Haven aud Har,
lord, and 70 say that the officials OF tn
'atter were not acquainted with the Ter
ninal company's plans In to argue tina
fls l.Ifudly intf "A l.as ewt..
with it contracts OF which they knes
nothing There IN he 10 doubt that IN
matter was pretty fully understood b
all PARTIES concernsd.
Still delay continued. The compani q
that mad seemed soaoxious to do some
thing rested quietly. and the prospectiy