The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-02
pect OF legislation as yet at the State
House.
Widening OF Min and Charles streets.

House.
The report OF the joint committee on
| highways TO whom was referred joint
resolution of the City Council to lay out
! and extend Canal street from Smith street
I TO Mill street, and Charles street from
! Mill street to Randall square as public
highways, was received. The report stated
that while the resolution as drawn did
not call for any report on the widening OF
Charles street, the committee pre-
ferred TO consider what was known TO
be- the intent OF the alderman Offering the
resOlption and assumed that IL was intend
ed to widen Charles street from Randall
square TO Mill street 10 uniform width
of so feet and TO extend Canal street from
Smith street TO Mill street of n uniform
width of 30 feet, the whole TO be done
under the highway act. The committee
reported that public hearing had been
given on the matter and that
the general sentiment as expressed by
those present was that the project under
discussion was an improvement and that
the whole expense should be assumed by
the city. The committee reported that il
was quite in accord with the resi-
dents OF the North End and that the
Improvement should be made but that it
could not agree with them as TO the way
i'm which the expense should be met.
There is'no question but that the large
corporations in the north part OF
the city would be greatly benefited
by the proposed widening OF Charles
street and extension OF Canal street, as
the statement WIS made that coal could
be delivered at reduction of cents per
ton il the contemplated work was done,
which TO one corporation alone would
make an annual saving OF
$500 i'm the matter OF fuel.
The representative OF another corpora
ton stated that on one shipment of 100
tons they paid $500 extra freight because
they could not use the streets named TO
transfer the material To the docks. These
two statements convince the COM
mittee that the benefits to be received by
the opening of these two streets would
more largely accrue To the business men
OF the North End than toany other section
OF the city, and that the small property
owners of the same section may not be
greatly benefited is possible, still the
opening up OF these streets from marrow
lanes" to broad thoroughfares cannot help
but increase the value OF all real estate
within wide area.
Another reason why these streets should
not be laid out under the highway act is
that it is contrary to the whole general
plan of the city in regard TO the layout OF
streets. Where streets are opened up re-
quiring the condemnation OF property the
work is done under the betterment act,
and where plated streets are asked to be
laid out the city requires that the expense
for bringing such streets to grade
over and above 500 shall be borne by the
abuttors. Should the plan to lay out
Canal and Charles streets under the high
way act be adopted the city would there
by establish n precedent which would
compel it to stand the whole
expense OF laying out streets in
the future whether they were
main thorougbfares or streets plated with
the idea of selling adjacent lands. An
other reason for not laying out these
streets as asked for is that no money Is
available for the work and authority
from the Legislature would have to
be obtained 10 hire the money
The committee stated In closing hat in
their opinion the work should be done, IL
ordered, under the betterment act. The
committee unanimously recommended
that the resolution be indefinitely post
poned.
A resolution as a su bstitute to the orig
inal resolution was introduced with the
report. Ii provides for the same layout,
and directs the commissioners to assess
one half OF the loss and damages to the
persons and estates benefited thereby.
Alderman Mccarthy stated that he
could not see why the cost OF widening
and improving the streets should be borne
by the manufacturers. Some say that
these manufacturers will realize some
time on these improvements, but are you
not doing an act OF injustice when you re-
fuse to grant them equalrights with those
in the center OF the city. Why must you
assess them one half on the improvements.
OF course you can say that the property
will increase in value, but IL seems queer
and hardly right to burden them with
this additional tax.
Alderman Burrows said that I'm extend
ing the Elmwood avenue boulevard the
abuttors had TO pay three-quarters of the
expense.
Alderman Mccarthy said that there was
no comparison between Elmwood avenue
and the northern part OF the city. The
people at North End are simply seeking
TO get passage through to the centre of
the city.
Alderman Harris said that the COM
mlttee had considered the matter care
fully. The only objection to this
matter is-tAe fact 49, that the
North End people want the
streets laid out and do not want to stand
the expense. All other streets have been
widened at the expense OF the abuttors.
1t will not do to discriminate and estab-
lish bad precedent.
Mr. Mccarthy moved the recommittal
OF the bill to the committee on highways.
Alderman West moved that the matter
be laid upon the table temporarily.
Alderman Winshipasked that the entire
matter be laid upon the table until the
next regular meeting. lie was fully In
sympathy with Mr.. McCarthysnd thought
that the manufacturers In the North End
needed the proposed improvements. How
ever, he desired more time to look into
the affair.
The resolution was finally laid on the