The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-02
Board Of Trade Asked Today 10 Use
lis Influence
WITH THE CONSOLIDATED ROAD
To Induce That Corporation to Keep It's
Pledges Providence Business Men
Lose Patronage Because of Present
Arrangements.

The monthly meeting OF the Board OF
Trade was held at noon today, and was OF
uncommon interest in view of the intro
duction and discussion of resolutions by
representative business men urging the
Consolidated TO redeem the pledges of the
Old Colony railroad by extending the
terminus of the Bristol railroad TO the
business center.
President Peirce was in the chair. Will
liam ID. Flagg, Crawford Nightingale and
Fred L. Smith were elected to member
ship.
Chairman II. III. Deming OF the banquet
committee, reported that in asmuch as the
comm ttee had been unable to arrange for
speakers and in view of the wide
spread suffering in the community
ii was deemed advisable and appropriate
to abandon the proposition. The report
of the committee was accepted, and they
were discharged.
The president appointed j. O. Fisher,
James II. Bugbee, S. p. Rhodes, Beriah
Wall and j. Herbert Foster, a committee
to nominate list of officers for the en-
ing year TO be submitted to the annual
meeting on JAM 10.
Tristol Raj rad Terminus.
John McAuslan submitted the follow
ing preamble and resolutions relative to
the Bristol railroad terminus:
whereas, The extension OF the Providence, War
rem and Bristol Railroad Co. from It's present ter
minus India street 20 the Union station is n
matter which deeply the business interests
Of the city Of Providence, and
whereas, Ihe OH Colony Railroad company in
behalf OF It's lessees, the Providence, Warren ana
Bristol Railroad company, after obtaining all
necessary legal rights and privileges has
flithfully promised 10 complete The said
station is ready for occupancy and
Whereas The Old Colony Railroad company has
since been leased the New York, New Haven and
Hartford Railroad company, the latter thereby
assuming the pledges well tho rights and
privileges Of the Old Colony Railroad company
therefore,
Resolved, That this Board Of Trade again anirms
the imp rtance OF this proposed extension, not
only as benefit TO the whole OF the
casterly section Of the state between Providence
and Bristol but a OF stimulating trade be-
tween this city and Fail River, New Bedford and
Newport
r.. s,.vsd. That this board being impressed
with The necessity FOR immcdiat, a, tlon in the
matter respectfully bat urgently ask the New
York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Co. TO re-
c n the pledges made By ihsir lie s,es. and
thus complete vo greatly d by the busi-
nesj erests OF ihe city OF p.us iacnco ard which
Prosperity OF large section OF tie state.
Governor Brown ana Others Speak.
Under the rules the matter was laid on
the table till the next meeting. An intcs-
esting discussion of the merits OF the
question was participated in by
Governor Brown, Hon. Jonathan Chace,
cx-presldonts G. IL. Merriman and j. u.
starlrweather. These gentlemen ex-
planned the urgent necessity OF the
extension OF the terminus of the road as
an important commercial factor. 1t was
a simple problem and it was incompre-
hensible that the city had been so supine.
Providence needed a blister to stimulate
it's avarice. II the city OF Boston had
100000 people knocking at its gates, il
would have opened them Immediately.
This project concerns two-thirds
OF the people of Rhode Island living
adjacent TO the road and its
terminus. II the people of the city take
hold in the right spirit, no railroad which
is dependent upon their support would re-
fuse to comply with their desires.
fro~itie..ea- lsa Intereal ell l=naa= ,,lY.-
Mr.. Merriman declared that the extern
sion OF this read was more beneficial to
the wholesale and retail trade of the city
than the Boston road. The patrons OF the
Bristol road come to Providence TO buy
and sell. while the people who patronizc
the Boston and Stonington roads go else
where TO purchase. The Bristol rail-
road brings 100000 to 100000 people
to Providence annually who leave their
money here rather than in Boston.
The construction of this little line
which would ensure warm and comfort
able travel to the trade center, would i'm
duce people from Fall River and Newport
10 come here rather than TO go
three times as far 10 Boston. The
owners will not cndanger their health
by riding in cold horse-cars and being
compelled TO walk through mud and
around sewers and expose themselves
to rain and snow. MIR. Starkwcather
called attention TO the fact that the
annual travel on the road in the
last eight years had increased from $780,
900 to nearly $500, 900 annually. The rail-
road corporations had been repeatedly
urged To build the extension, and
emphasis was placed on the
point that IL the cents paid for horse
car ride was added 90 their ticket price
il would pny n large interest on the cost
OF the improvement. The rate OF travel
per mile was larger than that OF
any other railroad corporation i'm the
state. Each OF the gentlemen spoke
strongly OF the necessity OF taking a Wig
orous and determined stand, and that
the influence OF the board should be con-
ceniratod toward a prompt and sstisfsc-
tory redemption Of the pledges OF the
Consolidated.
President Pierce said that It was mat
ter OF vital importance 70 Tue trade
interests OF the city. The matter
would come mp for action at
the next meeting, and cordial invita-
tion was extended TO the public TO be
present and participate in the proceed
ings. The meeting then adjourned to
Jan. 10.