The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-16
Another Hearing Given
by Commissioners.
HARRINGTON OBJECTS.
Claims ii Should Not De Compelled
10 Pay Any Amount.
SEVERAL WITNESSES EXAMINED

A meeting Of the commissioners OF an
por;ionment on the expense of building the
Red Bridge between the city of Proyi CO
and the town of East Providence was held
at l O'Clock this morning in the rooms OF
the state house commissioners, Industrial
Trust Company Building, for the purpose
Of taking additional testimony.
Judge Bosworth appeared for the town
OF harrington in answer TO notice re-
ceiyed by the town. He said that the
council and town people felt that the
town was in no wise benefited ny the
building of tho hed Bridge and the act
provides that the cost shall be burne by
the towns. especially benefited. Washing
ton Bridge is the one used by the people
coming 10 the city. There was an at
tempt made to have the town OF bar
rington pay part of the cost OF the
Washington Bridge but this failed The
town does not feel that the commission
can have any idea OF taxing the town OF
harrington for this Red Bridge.
Town Solicitor Mitchell of East Proyi'
dence called James Mccormick as the
first witness. Mr.. Mccormick runs
quarry in East Providence and over IN
Seekonk ana teams the stone TO Provi-
denco. He carries the stone from the East
Providence quarry over the Washington
Bridge from his Seekonk quarry partly
over the Red Bridge. Aug. TO- IL, IL. ana
IL he mad Is loads cross the Red Bridge
All these came from the Seekonk quarry.
He does about all the stone business in
East Providence. All the stone
Red Bridge.
Some teams come from Providence over
Red Bridge for stone in SeekoDk and
Rehoboth. Gladding Bros. company ana
others belonging in Providence bring
stone into the city over Red Bridge.
Gross examined by City Solicitor Col
well, the witness stated that his quarry
was SO situated that he could not cart
well YER the Red Bridge He sold very
ffrtfe SOM tU the CITY. frublbfy efgtr-
tenths of all his stone goes over Washing
ton Bridge. Everything from the Seekonk
quarry except what goes TO that part
of the east side north of Angel street
goes over Washington bridge. Was not
aware that any accounting was being
taken last fall o, the traffic over Red
Bridge.
The next witness was Walter M. Dexter,
civil engineer of the town OF East Proyi-
dene who testified that He'd Bridge now Is
higher than the old one, and the town of
East Providence was put TO some expense.
about $1,000 on account of the new grade.
The Union railroad company has made
no change in its track in East Providence
except about 100 feet to join the bridge
track with those In the town. So that
the additional benefit the town received
from the Union Railroad company Is that
derived from i50 feet of track only.
Cross examined by City Solicitor Col
we'll, the witness stated that $4,000 was
spent in the neighborhood of Red Bridge
OF which $500 was To- comply with the
nj tra mi "a nf M n ~ nj md q
balance for improvements that were long
needed on the town roads. but were de-
layed to conform with the new bridge
when finished. East Providence had to
raise the grade at the bridge nearly three
feet.
Witness STATED to the commissioners
that where people used To pay two fares
and change cars in getting tn East Provi-
dencc now they go right over the bridge
with one fare. He also stated that many
Providence people working in Phillips
dale are accommodated equally.
George +. Hunter the next witness,
stated that he was town clerk ami clerk
of the Town Council of East Providence
Since 1899 no vote had been taken by tho
town asking for new bridge. Witness
submitted contract OF the town with the
Union Railroad Company, which gives
the road exclusive franchise i'm tho town
for 20 years and pays to the town fixed
amount, which Is ll9 per cent OF the
gross receipts as computed by the milcnge.
The popularity of this contract in rela-
tion TO the city OF Providence is tsat the
more miles of tracks tho railroad COM
paDy has outside of the city the less tho
city receives as its share. Since traokt i'm
the country, little used. take their share
of the percentage In the receipts, just the
same as tracks most used i'm the heart OF
the city. Solicitor Mitchell showed that
as tho outside mileage was increased the
percentage the city received was also
increased, the city now receiving 8 rer
cent. and prospect of its getting per
cent.
A number OF acts, documents, tax
books and extracts from the census were
introduced as testimony and the town of
East Providence rested its case.
Adjourned to Dec. 9 Same time and