The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-08

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was understood that the present com pany
was under no obligation whatever to
carry into effect any promise made by the
former president.
"The officers of the company, while
pointing out that they were under no le-
gal obligation TO carry out the voluntary
promises of their predecessors in the
ownership of the road, nevertheless ex-
pressed an entire willingness 10 establish
4 cross-town line.and a system of trans
fer tickets thereon as contemplated i'm
Mr. Metcalps letter, provided that the
city would furnis h for such cross-town
line q conveniently situated series of
streets having a uniform width OF at least
90 feet so as TO permit the establishment
of a double lire of tracks throughout its
entire length, from Eddy street, on the
east, to Atwell's avenue or Smiths Hill,
on the west, with transfer stations at the
intersections with tue various lines OF
street railway.
"The Importance of such a cross-town
liue of cars, IL seems to your committee,
can hardly be questioned. At, or near,
each end of the proposed route, are mills
and shops, which give employment to
thousands of working people who are
now compelled TO walk TO and from their
work, as they are not within reach of
any line of cars. These people have their
homes largely between the line OF Jack
son street on the east, extending from the
Woonasquatucket valley TO Eddy street,
and the line OF Valley street on the west,
to South Providence.
"To afford transportation for these thou
sands from their homes TO their work
shops and return for one fare each way,
after they have been constantly on their
feet from early morning till the close OF
working hours, seemed 10 your commit
tee to be matter OF sufficient impor-
tance to demand the most careful
thought.
"The route proposed was from Eddy
street through Lockwood street TO Broad
street, thence through Winter street TO
Westminster street, thence through pro-
posed extension OF Winter street on a
line about half way between Battey and
Dean streets, across Broadway and
Atwells avenue to and down Arthur ave-
nue., across bridge to be built over the
n. Y, N. III. a. III. X. II. tracks, and
across the Valley TO Smiths Hill. This
would give broad highway from
South Providence 10 Smiths Hill, without
a grade crossing, and is such street as
Will surely be demanded in the near
future whether the same shall be occupied
by street railway or not.
Abutting Owners Went 1t.
81 will state, Mr.. President, that since
this report has been made, that the abut-
ting owners on the proposed extension
petitioned the Council TO extend the lay
out of Winter street to Broadway. This,
OF course, when completed, will save the
city a large expense which would other
wise apply in case We had gone forward
and extended that street at the time pro-
posed.
"The Union Railroad Company are
ready to build this cross-town line when
ever il is demanded, although such ex-
tension will cost them at least $3.50, 900, but
as they expect little or no return for this
outlay, since free transfers are TO be grant
ed TO and from this line, they are not
disposed to build it until the people
want il.
"Your committee are OF the opinion that
this cross-town line in question would
prove, IL built, of much more practical
Importance and real assistance TO the
working people OF the city than would
even a system OF general transfers at
Market Square. This proposed line would
allow passengers from Smiths Hill and
vicinity, and the whole west side OF the
river, to travel over the entire section
from this line on to any other line that
IL crosses on which they could go TO the
bridge and beyond on all lines that
cross 1t, or to Roger Williams Park, Paw
tucket, Auburn, Manton and any and all
points south and west for one fare, with
still another transer Tor three cents that
would carry them TO the TO terminus of
any other line.
"Now, Mr.. President, will say that
in my opinion, this crosstown line as
proposed here is something that would
be of greater value to the working peo-
pie of this city, than, perhaps, the men,
bers of this Council have thought. This
cross-town line should cross over from
the bridge where think there are some
seven or eight different lines, and the
people could then go almost everywhere
for one fare, and that would assist the
class OF people that are now entirely
without the advantage OF railroad accom-
mediation. do not believe in catering
specially to what we call the working
classes, or patronizing them. / do not
think that is what they need, but / do
think they have right TO claim from
this city such facilities TO get TO their
work as other people are able TO travel at
there own expense and pay heavier
tax. think they have the right 10
Demand and Receive Simple Justice
and that these facilities must very soon be
provided for them. and as a matter OF JUS
tice they are entitled TO them.
"Iour committee went carefully over
the proposed line with the commissioner
OF public works snd the city engineer,
ana then requested the engineer to ex-
anime into and report upon the probable
cost to the city of widening a portion OF
Lockwood street TO fifty-foot highway,
and of widening Winter street and ex-
tending 1t TO Arthur avenue, building
bridge over the railroad tracks OF Harris
avenue, and laying out new street TO
Smiths Hill.
His report was as follows:
Right OF way, including damages to
buildings, S215, 472.00; construction of
street, including block paving, sl43, 424;
35A 90
Although 1t appeared to your commit.
tee that the improvement was o; great
Importance to the city, and that the city
would some time be compelled to estab-
lish substantially such a highway, as the
populous Tenth ward and the whole west
side would not always consent to be sep
arated, yet your committee, consdering
the large expenditures necessary in car
rying out the other improvements that
are Imperative, decided that the city can
not, at present, undertake the establish
ment OF this highway at the outlay re-
ported by the engineer.
vMhan IL was found that the city did
not propose TO extend this street 1t was
believed by your committee, that made