The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-20

outside of Il sum OF s74,166.65 already
paid for mortgage and other interests in
this property, the committee estimated
that the probable cost would be sl06,62i.-
30. -.AzkA
Mr.. vose said that the committee esti-
mated that IL would cost f106, ,621. .35 to
complete the purchase OF land which the
city has not acquired. The committee
adjust the claim of Trustee Smith. He
figured that Abe sum Of $4,000 was suffi-
cient to complete the acquirement of the
whole property, and hence he thought IL
was poor business for the Council to con-
slider the resolution providing for appli-
cation to the General Assembly to hire
Mr.. Vaughen said that suits were pend
ing In the Supreme Court aggregating
500, 900, involving certain lands involved
in the extension OF Roger Williams Park.
No one can anticipate the amounts In
which the city may be helo table, Hence,
1t was his opinion that II would better to
table the whole matter until the litigation
in the courts had been completed. Any
estimates OF the amount that was needed
to complete the purchase at this time were
premature and ill-advised.
Councilman Mccarthy said that s497,-
900 had already been expended to purchase
land in addition.to Roger Williams Park,
and the resolution upon the table au-
thorized the hiring OF s40O,-
ooo more, which would make
the expenditure nearly 100000.
There were less than 800 acres in the land
and allowing a very exorbitant price it
was not worth over $1,000 per acre. He
knew OF more than 100 acres that would
not sell at 900 per acre and he
thought thst in view of the price
that had been paid for the
land that had passed into the hands of
the city the members of the Council ought
To have an opportunity to investigate the
matter. He, therefore, moved that the
report be printed, distributed TO the men,
bers and that the entire nletter be had on
the table unfff the next meeting. The
motion was adopted.
City Engineers Criticism of Console
oated's Plan.
Mr.. J.. II. KSndrick submitted the fol-
lowing report, OF the City Engineer, as the
result of his examination of the Consoli-
dated Railroads plan for the new Union
depot. 1t will be seen that the most obyi-
Gus lack is the failure to represent any
track shelter.
To the Honorable the Common Council;
In response 10 the resolution OF the Council the
City Engineer respectfully rep, II that ne has
carefully examined both the presented to the
Council and plans In course Of preparation by the
engineers anu the architects and he has had the
benefit Of their explanations.
IL Is the opinion OF the City Engineer that the
proposed station proper isReli designed, OF ample
size and wela Arranged for pnblic.use.
tracks and ubsys the susways Seins endea
70 avoid the crossing Of tracks at grade
bered that these subways are not
underground passages. They are located so
that the foor os subway Is ten feet above the
the northeily end of each subway is fully open to
daylight and maybe left'free to the outer air, or
wide, feet three inches high. entirely enclosed
on the sides except where open for stairN ays
UP TO the track level down TO Francis street.
Four Of these .stairways are represented for each
subway, dividing the enclosed space as follows;
:, From nsaS, the station tae hs stairway Length
the second stairway leagth Of about eighty-nve
feet; from the second to the third stairway length
tanse between The third and IL" fourth r Stairway.
Artificial lighting will probably be required for
ends. This arrangement OF stairways does not
enable passengers 10 reach all the tracks without
desirable to avoid this necessity OF grade eros ng
by the insertion OF another stairway in the middle
thus dividing The longest Stretch Of closed passage
way into two lengths Of thirtynine feet each. Pro-
vision fsr passengers TO reach auy train without
the necessity OF crossing tracks liable to be in
necessary and there is no app apparent % way 'Tto to
or a subway under them A bridge over the tracks
would require rise and fall for the passenger OF
pass through difference OF level OF only 10 feet a
saving well worth securing.
The most obvious lack in the plans presented to
Council Ia failure INV frae
shelter. Plans Tor covering the main plat orm
have boon undo r,eons Liberation and IL understood
cover lie traelk shsuiseives cases Of serious
son Of the exposed condition Of trains
at the present station havs come 20 the knowledge
IL tn tracks had been provided with suitable shell
ter. The need Of such shelter is matter for the
SSs @sn and Is to
whethsE the tracks shall or shall
and Maine Railroad in Boston, which is regarded
as being according 10 the hest modern practice may
interfering with the construction OF the
station proper or offering an Objectionable
consists In series OF low roofs Of glass and iron
and no part OF the structure needs TO rise 10
Place PERHAPS s ver hs Low rn
of the vestibuies on either sioe OF the main
building or. where The shelter extends beyond
Railroad Office building at end and the Ex-
press Office at the other. In any event the
architectural character Of the group Of buildings
will not be injuriously affected by the build.
ing OF such track shelter The cost OF such shelter
may perhaps be objected TO by the officers of the
railroad as y will be necessary TO cover a large
area; the width OF the platform beyond the station
proper being about 2s6 feet and the length, II we
TO take the statement OF the railroad companies
made To the, City Cpnncil June ~, 1889, as gov.
erning the matter, SHOULD not be less than 1000
feet, which would be equal to coverins a space of
over ave acres OF surface. This dctum of theraii.
road companies as to the necessary length may per-
haps be found To be greater than will be needed when
the practical running Of the trains under the
present arrangement has been tried
The statute provttfrs that any notifications OF
the plans presented 10 the City Council ION the
18th day OF June, 1889" shall meet with the APP
proval OF the City Council OF the city OF
Providence. One Of those plans represented n
proposed elevation for the station and IL may be
that the Council expects suggestions in reference
10 that matter. Locking northwestcrly from the
buildings on Exchange Il ace the dominant struc-
ture in view be fhe new State House on what
may perhaps be hettafier called Capitol I'M.
The elevation OF the ground at this
location is about IS fed above the level OF Fxchange
Place, and the aenessttoof line will be about i2i
feet above said level while the dome or the lantern
will be about "A hundred feet above that The
ground in front OF the new railroad station
will be about IA feet above Exchange
Place and the highest general roof lines will 10
about forty and forty eight feet above that IL
thus appears that the ridge line OF the middle nor