The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-20
Boston Terminus and'PrOv-
idence Passengers.
Mayor Quincy's Approval Of
the Project.
Shows How Providence Folk Will
Be Accommodated.

At the recent hearing before the COM
mittee on railroads OF the Great and Cen
eral Court Of Massac usetts, to parties in
terested in the petition of Mayor Quincy
'for legislation requiring the cons'ruc'
ton of a union passenger station for all
railroad companies whose lines enter Bos-
ton on the southerly side of the city," at
which were present President Charles
p. Clark, accompanied by his son, Mr.. G.
Peter Clark, and Col. j. II. Benton, coun-
sci for the Consolidated road; Corporation
Counsel Bailey, Counsel samuel Hoar fol
the Boston * Albany, William IL. Coolidge
for the Bos on x Maine. and r. Il. Farm
ham for the New England. Mayor Quin-
cy, in his extended remarks, had the fol.
lowing TO say Of general interest and oi
particular interest TO Providence people:
In the reporr of the rapid transit COM
m ission of 1891, made 10 the Legislature
in the spring Of 1892, this language was
used:
at does not seem possible, except mt
what would amount to prohibitory ex-
penditure, TO unite the four southern roads
in one union station having sufficient
facilities for the improved and increased
service OF the future"
1t is my privilege today to present 10
this committee plan which accomplishes
what the rapid transit commission OF 1881,
( ON its view of the subject at that time,
thought 10 be impossible.
A plan has now been devised by the
railroads interested, consisting OF four
coporrations, and a fifth corporation
which is the lessee of two of these roads,
which does accomplish this object. 1t
involves, to he sure, a large expenditure
but one which these roads do not con-
slider prohibltory. as it accomplishes the
desirable object OF uniting the passenger
traffic of the four southern roads at one
point, and of creating one great passen-
ger terminal, taking all of the passenger
business entering or leaving the city from
the southern side. This plan, l claim,
does even more for the passenger trafhc
on the southern side of Boston than has
already been done for the passenger tra;ac
entering or leaving Boston upon the north
ern side, by the construction OF the
nortbere union station. i contend that IT
does more, because it is possible at the
location which has been selected to con-
struct larger and more convenient rail-
road passen station, having more room
for the handling OF trains and the inter
changeable use OF tracks, and at point
considerably nearer and more accessible
to the business center OF the city that the
northern union station.
The primary and most important fea-
ture, to my mind, of any plan for con
solidai ing at one station the passenger
business of the four roads on the south
ern side OF the city Is that the present
grade crossing of the Albany and Provi-
dence roads at Dart mouth street shall be
done away with. The grade crossing not
only constitutes a serious source OF dan
ger. but it necessarily occasions constant
delays in the operations of both OF those
roads.
AT the very outset of what have to
say I'm regard to this southern union sta
tion project / wish to cait attention to
one point connected with this grade
crossing which seems to me OF the great
est Importance in looking forward to the
future development OF these roads, par
ticularly In connection with suburban
traffic. am not authorized to make any
statement for any of the roads con-
cerned in regard to the probable intro
duction of electricity as motive power
for suburban passenger service, but
may properly call attention to the fact
that the New York, New Haven a. Hart
ford railroad, the lessee of two OF these
railroads, mas already in the immediate
vicin ty of Boston, at Nantasket Beach,
tried an important experiment In the
operation of steam railroad by electro
ity. believe that this Is considered the
most important experiment which has
yet been made In the operation OF steam
railroad by electricity, and think AN
correct in saying that the result OF that
experiment has been such as TO strengthen
the belief in the minds OF the managers
of this railroad, and in the minds OF other
railroad managers, that the lntroduc tlon
of electricity in the place of steam Tor
suburban passenger service Is something
that we may reasonably anticipate In the
immediate future.
Now. MIR. Cha rmsn, II this great change
takes pace il will amount TO nothing
less than revolution in railroading, SO
far as the suburban service is concerned.
IL will unauestionably substitute for a
service made up of trains, consisting OF
several cars united together, service by
detacEed units, service very closely
analogous TO the electric car service
upon The street railway lines.
This will mean more frequent service
by cars or by shorter trains, running
every few minutes. IL will mean service
which, inst ad OF sending out trains at
fixed times, designated n time table,
win send out single cars, or po sibly two
or three cars united together in short
train, ut short intervals OF time, so that
the passenger may go to the railroad sta
tion as he now goes TO take an electric
car upon the street railway, not to catch
any particular train, out showing that,
at least at certain hours OF the day, he
Will only have to wait few minutes TO
get tr nsrortation TO his home This
proha bic change in motive power has, In
my opinion, very important bearing
upon this passenger terminal problem
which we are dealing with. 1be diff
oul,ies and dangers OF operating the pres
ent steam railway service over the grade
crossing at Dartmouth street will be
greatly multiplied II electricity Is substi-
tuted for steam for the suburban service
OF these lines. should rather say that
those difficulties will re SO greatly multi
piled that II would probably be impos-
sible TO substitute electricity for steam II
the present grade crossing at Dartmouth
street were to be maintained, Tor the
reason, as have stated, that the moment
electricity IL introduced it means far
greater frequency Of train service, and
very likely the abolition OF the time ta-
BILE system, and the oispstch of cars at
intervals of five or 10 minutes during
portions OF tie day.
IL must be evident TO everybody that II
would be impossible to run a five or 10
minute service on the Providence and Al
bany lines IL those roads continued 70
cross at grade.
In my Judgment any plan which un.
dertakes TO provide for the necessities oi
he ft.t,tra vreII iOr those 1f tho