The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-10

tuetu Over 10 tuc NcW 1uScu uthnoSSio
upona basis of per cent. for 80 years.
IL required great men to conceive and
TO accomplish such results and such men
are not staggered at the cost OF the little
extenslonief one mile OF Bristol road.
They must have other reasons for delay.
We have shown how they have lavished
money all about US from Martha's Vine
yard to Cape Cod and to Fitchburg, but
we are unable to show where
one dollar has been spread In
the interests of this city or OF
the towns in Rhode Island. What would
Providence be today had she no great Fall
River line? Here she is, with natural
advantages unequalled by any other city
in this country, and yet she Is slow to
avail herself OF them.
We are generous to fault--we give too
freely. We allow our neigbbors to come
here and obtain these valuable weapons
with which they are enabled to injure us.
Others are favored at our expense. We
have been Disseminated against.
viii we allow 1t to continue? Is there
no redress? Is il not time that these men
who have obtained these valuable fran
chises from this little state under false
pretenses are brought to account? Can
men of their standing, of their intelligence,
and OF their position, bear the stigma of
fraud? They may defy the patrons OF the
Bristol road but will they dare defy the
aroused and indignant public OF this
whole state?
Eight years is long while to wait, but
we have waited. The time has now ar
rived for action and we want to see the
work begun. We want to see the curve at
India street uniting the rails with South
Water street, and we want to see the
dummy or the electric motor attached to
our trains and in operation to Market
square.
This is what we want, gentlemen,
and 1t Is what the city Of Prov
dence and the state of Rhode Island wants,
and we have come here to plead with you
men Of influence and experience and to
implore your assistance with that OF every
citizen of this city and through you the
citizens OF every other city and town in
this state.
The people have rights which to some
extent are reserved when charters are
granted, even to railroad corporations.
In closing, Mr.. President, / de-
sire to state for thos, whom i rep
resent that we do not insist upon the
elevated extension at this time. We will
be entirely satisfied with the temporary
arrangements proposed at grade to Leon
ard street, or to Canal street, but this we
should have without further delay.
Hon. Jonathan Chace said the streets
could be encountered by freight cars
but not by passenger cars. He referred
to the history Of railroading in
the state, alluding to the fact
that when the Boston and Provi-
dence road was originally built about
60 years ago, the citizens refused to
allow the line to enter the
city. 1t took this road Is years to get ac-
cess to the city, and there may be hope
that this question will be
adjusted before the expiration of
that period. He referred to the
great absorption of trains, energy
and enterprise by the magnificent
railroad system OF the country, and
said that at the same time
they were often blind to their own de-
velopmcnt. The history of the develop
mcnt of the Worcester road i'm transpor-
tation OF passengers and freight
has been brought about by constant
agitation. He wished the people of the
state would make demand upon this
corporation and insist upon the extension
of this line, so vital to the interests of
the city as well as to the corporation.
Ex-President Merriman said that 80 years
ago, travel to Darlington was confined to
stage e-coaching and now 5000 trains year
run to and fro along the line. 1t was high
time that talk should scease and pressure
should be brought to bear to force an
early adjustment of the terminal prob
lem.
Ex-President ]. u. Starkweather en-
phasized the commercial value OF this ex-
tension as evidenced by the fact that
nearly 1000, 900 people were transported
by the Consolidated annually to
and from the city. II is mat
ter of great interest to know
what, say, 100000 people expend in
trade in this city in the course
of the year. This is a ques-
tion which is significant
factor in the endorsement of the ,resolu-
tions. The business warrants the expen-
diture, the railroad must be brought to
the situation, and be urged to
redeem its pledges. On motion of Mr..
the president appointed
John McAuslan, Charles III. Merriman,
George Brown, s. q. Starkwcather and
the president ex ofiicio, to
the subject matter con-
tanned in the resolution and submit
them to President Clark of the Consoli-
dated and Mayor Olney, and to cooperate
with other bodies interested in the
adjustment OF the terminal problem. The
were adopted unanimously.
President Peirce directed attention
10 the abandonment Of the annual ban
quet i'm view Of the distress and
in the community, and sug-
gcsted to the board that in touch
with all the best charities it should
make an appropriation by individual sub
for this purpose. The paper was
signed. The announcement
wes made that President Clark of the
had telegrnphed President
shepard OF the Business Mems association
that he would attend the supper tomorrow
night The meet inO then AL iaurnad