The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-28
THE BATTLE BEGINS.

MS +. McCarthy ana Ira Nlnsor.
THE BATTLE BEGINS.
Both reports were listened TO with tho
keenest OF attention by the mem bers OF
the council end the citizens present
Drawings of both plans were in the cham.
Der, the one recommended by Mr.. Stur-
ges being TO the right of the presiding
officers desk, while that recommended
Dy the terminal Facilities committee, the
city engineer and the consulting engineer
was tn the left OF the presiding officer. A
bit of amusement was created when Mr.
Shcdd, who was asked TO address the
council desired the two plans To be put
side by side. Mr.. Sturges wanted the
terminal facilities committees plan
moved over TO the plan he design ated a.
the "city's plan;' as a result both plans
remained in their original position.
Consulting Engineer Shedd very clearly
explained the plan reported 10y the termi-
nal facilities committee. He said IL had
many ADVANTAGES over that Of any other
plan, tho chief OF which was chat snow
would be carried 10y the winds over the
shed and would not fall through any
openings on To the platforms and Dassen-
gers. In the Baltimore plan lie thought
snow would be driven through the OPEN
ings.
councilman GtuTRtS dSkBu MT. SDeut
IL he drew the plan and the latter replied
that he offered suggestions for il. In
answer TO further questions by MIR. Stur-
ges Mr. Shedd admitted the plans as sub
mitted by the committee on terminal IA
cilities were experimental; that the OBJ
ject of having the openings on the roof
were to get rio Of smoke. Mr.. Sturges
continued asking questions and took oc-
casion TO dwell on the fact TINT water
might get frozen in the cutters and drip
down on passengers ana then again
asked Ar. Shedd If 10 would not be hest
to do away with the many posts in the
terminal committees plan. The roply
was. Ives. il you could get rid of the
posts without greater disadvan tages, 'and
Mr.. Shedd further stated hs thought the
roof Of the so-callei "city plan" too
bigh. Mr.. Sturges then wanted TO know
il the height was reduced and fewer posts
got along with it would not be better.
Mr.. Shedd admitted such would he the
case. Then said Mr.. Sturges, 'Wo will have
fewer of them. "
MIR. Jones asked for difference in Mr..
shodd's plan from that in Boston. He re-
piled that in general there was not much
difference but only in some detail.
Mr. Jones asked about the covering of
tho city plan as compared with tnat in
baltimore. A few minor details of these
were told.
MORE QUESTIONS ASKED.
Councilman Waterman asked Mr.. Shedd
il it would not be possible to have con-
tnuous roof like the station in Boston
Mr. Shedd said that II would be posi- ble
10 have all the roofs like that over the
concourse I'm the plan under considera-
tion, but this would cause trouble with
the smoFe.
Councilman Waterman next asked how
IL a
for train sheds. Mr.. Shedd explained ard
said the present foundations were only
built TO carry the sheds proposed in the
terminal committees plan.
Mr. Sturges was on hand again with n
question ant wanted To know If il was a
simple engineering job To arrange the
foundation so as To carry the city plan.
Mr.. Shedd explained tine trouble there
would te in providing for the heavier
she'd hut admitted it would not be a ditli-
cult task 10 provide foundations for the
"oity plan shed.
Councilman Angel asked IL any pro-
vision was made for n north wall MIR.
Shedd replied that none had been made
in either plan.
President kenGricl -"You give your
unqualified approval To this plan recon-
III ended by the joint special COMMITTEES of
railroad terminal facilitiesY' - / do, was
MIR. Shedd s answer.
ENGINEER CLAPP INTERROGATED
City Engineer Clapp was next asked for
his opinion. He endorsed the same plan
AS did MIR. shedu ana was asked several
questions by Councilman Angell. In
reply TO one, he said the sheds over the
through tracks would cover eight cars
and the sheds over the stub tracks four
ears, and in regard tn another question
as to the objection 10 having n coverin q
Rt the north side. lie said that would be
batter than TO have it open, eNcepC for
the draft.
Councilman Waterman asked II there
was any foundation now that would
carry the lighter shed. MIR. Clapp thought
there was.
Councilman Sturges asked a question
about the tracks settling and when MIR.
Clnpp admitted they had MIR. Sturges said
tho settling was not of much oonse-
quencc
Councilman Stephen A. Cooke asked
Mr.. Clapp 81 he had examined tho found
ations for tho light shed and no said only
specifically. MIR Cooke crosse examined
Mr.. Clapu in the style for which the
former ls-so noted-and which Hacks gen
tieness aud was rather used 10 get back
at the engineer than TO get scientific
opinion.
MIR. VAUGHAN ANSWERS.
Councilman TraSk asked Chairman
Vaughan Of the terminal facilities com
mittso what he hsd To saw about the com
mittec's plans. Mr.. Vaughan stated
that there was little to ssy except what
The report had said. The committee did
not 20 into the question of foundation.
It did not think that entered into the
The railroad submitted n
proposition stating what they were vii.
ling io Duild, aud that was what tho
committee felt In duty hound 90 con.
slider. The engineering talent of tho city
was called in and the bsst Information
that could be had was sought, and tho
RECOMMENDATION g. in the
report. Further. he said. I'VE have used
our b,st ondeayor To discharge the duties
We owed ~ the city and the council, aud