Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-01-16
But He Sees a Very Bright
Future.
TALKS TO BUSINESS MEN,.
Grade Crossings Should be Quickly
Abolished.


Of large gathering last evening OF Paw.
tucket's business men, ana they had as
guests the officers OF the Central Falls
Business Mems Association and the mem
bers of the City Council in its executive
and legislative branches.
The special guest of the evening was
Senator Aldrich, who was TO speak OF
electric railroading and particularly OF
the Pawtucket system.
He arrived about 7:45 o'clock and after
he was formerly presented to those Pres
ent, the guests were invited to march up
stairs to the Assembly rooms where a
toot6some collation., prepared by Gelb Il
Norton at the instance OF Gen. Olney Ar
mold, was awaiting them.
After full justice was done the choice
visnds and cigars were lighted, Presi-
dent Goff called to order and read an In
teresting paper upon transportation and
closed by presenting to the meeting Hon.
Nelson w. Aldrich the senior Senator
from Rhode Island.
Senator Aldrich, or rather President
Aldrich In which role he appeared last
night, In discussing the electric system OF
railroading In this city and vicinity, spoke
OF the probable extension OF the munici.
pslity, so as to absorb Central Falls and
other contiguous suburban territory.
The grade crossings were source OF
retrogression. The full development OF
the city and the electric system OF rail-
roadipg cannot be accomplished until
they are abolished. Many other things
were necessary, but one important one
was for the town of Lincoln to extend
High street across the Blackstone river
into Valley Falls and Cumberland.
The narrow and crooked lines OF Main
s. rect were a bar to the future growth OF
the municipality.
He advised the abolition OF all grade
crossings at once, IL possible, and also he
Encouragement OF many OF the street lines
lie did not think the Pawtucket Street
Railway was such monopoly as some
people imagined, as last year he declared
the net earnings of the road on an invest
ment OF f150,0O0 was only 1904, and the
Interstate line has never been az yet
paying institution.
He would not be before them tonight, ,
however, II he did not believe il possible
to develop them 80 as to make them
profitable To the owners and To the city.
He admitted that short roads are not
a success, but the short roads are all laid
and then there is no doubt but they will
be successful.
Ex Senator Jonathan Chace spoke at
considerable length In which he showed
the necessity for better inter communlca-
tion between communities and what II
would lead to. rhe great dangers OF the
Broad street crossing was pointed out and
he hoped II would be abolished at an
early day.
Railroad Commissioner Freeman evil
IDENTIFY has one trait fully developed, and
that is that he has the courage OF his con
victions. He boldly asserted that the
reason for the non-profitable character Of
the road was the bad mansL ement which
characterized its inception. In the first
place too much money was put into an
expensive barn and lot In the very centre
OF che city almost. Then one horse cars
with one entrance so as TO avoid the en-
ploym" nj OF conductors were the first 10 be
put on the road. The result was they lost
mony passengers because there was no
one TO look out for them.
Mayor riepke said that while the cor
p)ratIon should receive every encourage
ment IL was still the duty OF the City
Council To be extremely careful OF the in.
terests OF the whole people. All tran
chises granted To corporations should
nave time limit In which TO complete
and p rate sucd franchise or forfeit il
H. bespoke liberal treatment for the road
on benalf OF dhe city IL the road pro-
ceeded on progressive lines.
ClL John T.. Wyman spoke briefly and
wittIly for a feS minutes, after which a
vote Of thanks Was extended the speaker
and also to Gen. Olney Arnold for the
|