The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-08
Necessity Of the Charles and
Mill Street improvements.
PROMINENTTAxPAYeRs OPINIONS.
They Explain Why the Heavy EN-
pcnsc should Not BE Forced Upon
Those Who Can III Afford 10
Meet IL.

the day IN the North End there II one
subject upon which all are ready TO agree
and that is that il is absolutely necessary
that Mill and Charles streets should be
widened For years these narrow
cowpaths, that are suggestive OF
everything but modern streets, have been
eye-sores TO the residents OF this section
of the city, while the teamers and the
car drivers have berated each other
soundly whenever the narrow passage has
been blockaded, an incident that has
happened SO frequently that ii has become
almost too commonplace TO attract atten-
tion.
Again and again the representatives
from this section to the city government
have called attention TO these disagreeable
landmarks. Councilman after councilman
has pleaded for relief and the same ques-
t.of has frequently been made the subject
Of eloquent addresses at meetings of the
Board of Aldermen. IL was not until
recently, however, that the mrtter was
treated with the seriousness that 1T de-
served.
Now that the subject has been brought
fairly before the authorities, and an effort
has been made to accomplish something in
the line of Improvement, the taxpayers are
ious that the work should be done under the
highway act, but the officials claim that
this is quite out of the question and that
improvements must be made under the
betterment act. AS this would compel
the property owners in this section TO
bear the entire expense of the work, they
have raised protest and unless some
compromise is reached il is doubtful IL
the streets will be widened for some time
to come.
At the present time both Mill and
Charles streets are narrow enough at their
widest parts and from this they pass
down gradually, until at one point Mill
street is but II feet wide. AS there is a
car track in the road the value of the
street as the only outlet from the city is
rather questionable.
This was the argument that was advanced
by number of the prominent taxpayers
OF the North End when THE News repre-
sentative called to see them yesterday. All
were anxious that the work should be done
but they felt that the division Of the ex
pense should be more equitable than any
than had been suggested by the city OFF,
cials.
Ex-Councilman Michael Greeley said
that while the improvement would be of
little personal advantage to him, he was
anxious that the work should be done.
He would be one of the greatest sufferers,
but he felt that the improve
ment was necessary for the welfare
OF the city. The streets were two
of the oldest in Providence and 1t was
disgraceful that they had been allowed
to remain i'm such a condition. AS it was
the wholesale men, the manufacturers
and the city business men who would
reap the greatest benefit from the change,
he thought that they ought to bear their
portion of the expense. The proper
course would be to do the work under the
regular highway act, but IL it was found
necessary to do ii under the betterment
act, the assessment should be made to ex-
tend as far in one direction as in another.
For instance, il was ridiculous to expect
the small householders near the horse
burying ground TO pay for something that
they could ill afford, and which could
not be of any possible advantage to them
while the business men in the centre OF
the city, who were the persons directly
benefited by the improvement, were not
taxed for it. Poor men who owned their
little homes, but who never propelled a
wheelbarrow through the streets, ought
not to be made TO pay for highway work
Of this character.
Representative l.. Dimond expressed
very similar sentiments. He said that the
work ought to be done although it would
be somewhat of disadvantage to him.
More cars would be run over Charles street
to the city and there would be SO much
more temptation TO draw people away
from his store. IL was the only thorough
fare, however, by which the heavy teams
could pass to and from the city. They
could not go over the hill and they were
continually blocking up the street and
preventing traffic. As far as he was con-
cerned he was willing To pay his portion
of the tax for the Improvement but he
was not willing that the work should be
done under the botterment act.
Ex-Councilman Michael McfIale was
even more anxious that the work should
be done, however. lie had urged the ne
Cessity of the Improvement for the past
20 years, and while he thought that il
would be decidedly unjust for the city TO
compel the taxpayers OF this section 20
meet the expense OF the work he was will
ing TO pay his share OF the cost rather
than have the matter dropped.
Ex-Alderman Charles ID. Rogers OF the
American Screw Company said that he
knew OF no street that needed widening
as badly as Charles and Mill streets. The
greatest benefit from the improvement
would be realized by thc many companies
who had heavy teams that were com
PEELED 10 pass through these streets.
Many complaints were continually being
made by these people, and az il was not the
Taxpayers OF the North End who made
the greatest use OF the highways il would
be unjust for the city TO do the work
under the betterment act.
Mr.. James p. Mcehan OF the Providence
Betting company was OF the same opinion
as Mr.. Rogers. His company did very
little heavy tcaming. Their express
wagons could easily pass through the mar
row streets and the company would be
one OF the greatest sufferers by the
improvement. Notwithstanding these
facts, however. he was in hopes that the
work would be done IL IL could be- brought
rndcr thc highway act. lie was in a
position To study the matter thoroughly
and he conid see that wider streets were