The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-07

issued TO him In exchange ror cash rare
would greatly lessen this risk.
3. We believe that the system OF trans
fers offered by the company would not
be acceptable to the great majority of our
citizens. In the first place, II makes 1t
possible 10 transfer at hut single point,
on Weybosset bridge. This is indeed the
point where transfers would be most
used, but there are other points where,
both In the interest of ths public and OF
the company itself, in our opinion,
transfers should be Afforded. 1t will not
be at all convenient for passengers COM
ing from Oneyville and desiring TO go to
Roger " illiams Park TO be carried from
the junction of Broad and Weybosset
streets TO Market square and directly back
again, nor for passengers coming from
Brancn avenue and desiring TO go TO the
Pawtucket line, on Pawtucket avenue,
TO ride from the North burial ground to
nor would it seem TO be for the COM
pany's interest so to carry them. A sim
gle transfer point at Market square Is
therefore in our opinion, entirely made.
quate. But there Ia another objection to
the company's. pan even more important
than this. 1t involves the placing Of
building 80 by 81 feet end two stories
high on Market suarqe, hlling mp one OF
the ci.y's mcst important open spaces and
obstructing the fow OF air up the river.
which sanitariaDs deem to be OF the very
greatest importance to the health and
comfort of the city. Ii should be our OBJ
ject to remove all distractions now over
the river and TO carefully avoid the
erection OF any permanent buildings
there. Not only would this be en- OBJ
struction, but It would involve large
expense 10 the city. II would require, In
the first instance, the construction by
the city of a new bridge, and bridge
constructed TO bear the weight of such
building would cost 30 per cent. more
than one to he used only for the ordinary
travel. In the opinion OF the city enign-
eer it would take not less than two years
to erect the bridge and station.
4. Even the establishment Of this in
adequate system OF transfers Is made sub
ject to conditions with which the city, in
our opinion. ought nor to comply. The
conpany's representatives, have steadiastly
refused to state to the committee what
they would demand in return for this
system of transfers, but as ali ieady stated
they have made Ii evident that they con-
template In effect a release from all their
obligations to keap the streets In repair
and relief from al, money payments which
they now make 10 the city, and they stste
as their opinion that in lieu OF this the
city should guarantee them against loss
by reason OF the Inauguration of the sys-
TEN. these extraordinary demands are
based upon the claim that an immense
sum has been paid for the company's
plant and that they now have binding
contract with the city by the terms of
which they are compelled to furnish only
services which shall be equivalent to that
furnished in 1892. As aDove stated the
cost of this plant is placed st 80, 200, 600.
The company would not for n moment
contend that IL would cost that sum to
replace tn ir present plant. II would not
be disputed that their entire plant, with
in the city limits, could be duplicated for
very much less than $1,000, 900. In this
sum of 20, 200 600 they include the IS, 600. :
600 which they paid for the stock of the
Union Railroad Company and the entire
cost OF their new electric plant and equip
mcnt within and without the city, in
Guiding the entire rebuilding of the
tramway line Ii Is we'll for the City
Council to remember that practically this
entire 1000, coo paid for the stock of the
Union Railroad Company was paid for
three franchises enjoyed by that company.
Without such franchise $1,000, ,00O for all
tangible property belonging to the Union
Railroad Company at the time OF the pur-
chase OF its stock by the United Traction
and Electric Company would have been
an extravagant price. IL Is maniiestly un-
just, therefore, that the city upon whose
highways this franchise extends should
have its receipts diminished or its bur-
dens increased by reason OF the fact that
the present owners of this property have
raid a large price to the original grantees
i'm order to secure the franchises. We are
also of the opinion that the claim OF the
company that they have an explicit con-
trect with the city which makes u impos-
sible for any more burdensome conditions
to be imposed upon them without their
consent is without foundation.
The exact nature and ground of this
claim the company do not state 10 us. Ii
can, however, be supported but by two
considerations. The company might,
and undoubtedly do, claim that the pro-
visions OF their amended charter con-
| tained In the act entitled "An act con-
cerning the Union Railroad Company, -
passed by the General Assembly May 3,
1892. by virtue of which 1t Il authnrised
10 issue bonds to the amount of s3,o00,-
010 secured ny mortgage upon its prop
eriy and franchises, aud by which the
terms upon which il should exercise its
privileges were fised, constituted a valid
contract between the State and the COM
rany, the terms of which could not be
changed by any subsequent action OF the
General Assembly. We believe this claim
to be -untenable. by reason OF the fact
that at the time OF the passage OF this
act, as indeed al the time OF the irst act
incorporating any OF the companies
which were afterward merged into the
Unon Railroad Company, there was upon
the statute book OF our State law ttat any
act OF incorporation by the General AS
bly, might be amended at the pleasure
| of the Genetal Assembly. So far as this
claim II concerned, therefore, we believe
that II is entirely within the power of
the General Assembly to amend this act
in such manner as to require the COM
pany to issue ira rsfcr tickets.
Again, the company would undoubted-
To- nlntt haf l. nf M a I'd 10 H..