The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-03
Hearing on the Proposed
Charles St. Widening.
Assessment of Property Own
erS Declared Unfair.
Litigation Likely to Result II the
Plan Is Carried Out


OF estimate ana assessment on the Charles
street widening yesterday afternoon at
the public hearing held In committee
room B of the city hall There was a
large number of property owners OF the
Third Ward present, and while ali did
not speak, the patient commissioners
were satistied that enough was said to
show their assessment was unpopular.
1t would have been hard to make the
commissioners work popular, for nearly
every resident and property owner
north of Mill street believes the cost Of
the Improvement should have been all
borne by the taxpayers In general.
AT the hearing were a mum ber of prom
inent taxpayers OF the North End, in
eluding Governor Charles Warren Lip
pitt, who mas large business interests
there; Daniel NJ. Thompson, president
of the Corlss Steam Engine Company;
Alderman Dennis f. Mccarthy ana Gen
eral William B. Ames OF the Fletcher
Manufacturing Company. James Tilling-
hast, Esq, represented certain property
owners, Z. J.McCartny, Esq, other own
ers OF real estate assessed for the i'm
provement. ana City Solicitor James l..
jerks OF Pswtucket was also in attend
ance, but neither OF the two gentlemen
last named addressed the com mittee.
There can be no doubt that the assess
ment the commissioners suggested yester-
day will be bitterly foug bit in the courts.
Governor LIppitt announced his inten-
IL, To Gxh nd To hac ct
gave the commissioners q couple OF hard
legal nuts TO crack that should they de-
eide against bipn the Appellate Court
will be called on to pass their judgment
IN review.
General Ames was the first speaker
ifter Chairman Henry 7. Root had asked
there were any remarks, and he stated
that while the Fletcher Manufacturing
Company were not benefited by the wild
ening OF the street they thought 1t a
needed public improvement and would
rot oppose it. Charles street, the speaker
said, was q State road and the improve
mcut would benefit the people of Paw
tucket ayd all parts Of this city and IL
there ever was a highway improvement
in the city that all tax payers should bear
the burden Of II was this one.
Alderman Mccarthy did not think the
assessment fair one to the residents of
the northern part OF the city. He could
not see how the property owners on
Peters. Commodore and Bush streets were
benefited by the improvement. He
called attention TO the fact that while the
assessment was on property out as far
as Veazie street 1t only extended south as
far az Star street, which was very short
distance from the place whore the widen
ing was to begin. He said the former
commissioners went as far south with tire
assessment as Steeple. street and that it
must be femem bered that the people own
ing property in the northern part of the
city that were assessed had not only TO
pay one-hnlf OF the expense OF the impro-
vement, but also their share of the half
that the city paid.
The chairman of the commission stated
that the carrying OF the ass ssm mt as far
south as Steeple street was done wien
Canal street Improvement was cons idereu
with that OF Charles street and Low the
two were separate.
William NJ. Harris, who opposed the
widening OF the street TO the width the
City Council ordered it widened, said the
whole Of the property to the North
Providence line should be assessed.
j. L. Bolger spoke against the assess
ment and said the sum would work a
great hardship On persons who were not
at all benefited by the Improvement.
James Tillinghast said he represented
some parties who were assessed and be
wanted to know why the City Council did
not order the line OF the improvement ex-
tended To the middle OF the river and in
formed the chairman of the comtniss ion
that the owners of the land to be taken
owned TO the middle OF the river. lie
also gave the assessment some sharp digs
and said his clients, though acknowledge
ing the necessity OF the improvement and
desiring 1t, would seek redress from the
courts. Mr.. Tillinghast could no. see
how property owners on Peters street
were pore benefited and those on South
Water street not.
Alderman Mccarthy asked why the COM
missioners did not 90 further south with
the assessment and he was informed the
people to the south world have TO pay for
the Canal street improvement.
Governor Lippiit pronounced the assess
mont thoroughly unsatisfactory one.
lie thought property owners on West
minister street should pay as large a share
toward the Improvement as property own
ers on the north aud the assessment
shonld,. he said, go just as far sonth
as 1t went north. His Excellency said
there was an understanding thnt the area
covered by the assessment should be q
large one ana wanted TO know why
piece OF property owned by him one mile
to the south should not be taxed as we'll
rs one n mile north of the improvement.
In conclusion he Affirmed that sometimes
parties who kopt oet OF law suits had to