The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-21
Closing of Streets by Pri-
yate Buildings.
How Railway Grabbers0fLa
We're Thwarted Here.
Some Curious Figures About News
papers OF the World.

Passing along South Main street yes
terday the Gossiper noticed that that part
OF Pike street between South Main and
South Water street is still enclosed in
temporary wooden fence, although
passage way is left open for the use of
teams. The reason for the erection OF
fence at that point Is that the Providence
Steam Engine Company which own the
property on the north of Pike street
claims ownership TO the center of that
thoroughfare. Sometime of course the
by the courts, but 1t is fact worthy OF
note that the city is not as vigilant in pro-
tecting its rights as IL ought to be and
the gossiper Is informed that there are
many instances where streets that were
laid out and accepted years ago by the
town OF Providence have been built upon
by private persons TO the invasion OF the
rights of the public. This Is understood
TO be especially the case along South
Water street Nearly every one of the
narrow streets running from South Main
were originally laid out 10 extend to the
harbor line, yet very few OF them do
so todpy. The water front has been
gobbled up and built upon without re-
gard TO the rights OF the city, and tue
land grabbing system To go on without
interference or interruption until today
the public has no means OF reaching the
river, save by becoming trespasser on
property now claimed to be private, which
years ago belonged to all the people Of
this town.
There have been instances, however, in
which land grabbing tactics were not
successful and II would have been for
tunate for the city II all her officers had
been as vjgilant and firm In the matter of
guarding her rights as those concerned in
this case were. Railroads are notorious
land grabbers. They haven't done much
of.that sort of thing In these plantations,
but there Is one instance in which an at
tempt was made, but II proved abortive.
About O'Clock on the morning of July
2S. 1881, Patrolman, now Sergeant Sam
uel Thomas was going over his beat, part
OF which ran in the vicinity of the City
Yard on the Cove lands. Ordinarily that
is very quiet place In the early morning
hours so when the officer saw half hum
dred men moving about there, he con-
cluded there was something afoot that
needed looking into A very brief inves-
tigatIon acquainted him with the condi-
tion of affairs. The men he saw were en-
ployes of the New York and New En-
gland railroad and they were there for the
purpose of grabbing a slice OF the city
yard over which the railroad company
proposed to lay track.
The patrolrnan had received no instruc-
lions concerning such a movement, but
he rightly concluded that work which
had to be done In the darkness and ST.
lence of the night was not of kind that
would bear close scrutiny. The workmen
had torn down q portion OF the city yard
fence when Patrolman Thomas arrived
and when they were proceeding with
the work of demolition he ordered them
to cease. Then he communicated by tel
ephone with Lieutenant Darcy at that
lime on duty at the Central Station, who
recognizing the importance of prompt ac-
tion, summoned to assistance ell the men
available and marched them to the Cove
lands. The land grabbers were ordered to
cease operations and they wisely conclud-