The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-26
Much Talked About Ac-
tiOn of the Council
ON CAR STATION MATTER
Mr.. Potter Says Station Will Go If
Council Insists.
SUGGESTION ABOUT CAR SHEDS.


evening in ordering the Union Railroad
Company To remove the old station from
its present location off Market square
caused considerable comment about town
today. and the general question has tccn:
"what are they going to doY'
The matter of central station, or wait
ing place, for the numerous patrons of
the road is something of more than pass
ing concern to the citizens They can
stand the street i'm OCTOBER weather like
tho gilt edged article which has been
furnished thus far this fall; but how
about the bleak, chilly winds of Deccm-
bcr, and the snow storms of February and
the other winter monthsY
Those who require the street car service
are wondering where they are going To
find shelter when waiting for cars.
Superintendent Potter Of the Union
Railroad company. in speakintg about
the order for removal said that the com
pany had not heard anything In reference
To the matter officially, but IL the city
orders the removal of the station IL will
have TO go. II looked TO him as though
the members of the Common Council
were opposed 20 y station on the bridge
of any kind, and il such opposition was
carried out effectively there would be no
waiting place on the great bridge for the
thousands of persons who are patrons of
the street car service. IL looked to him
as though the old building would have
to go, and he had no idea Of what was
going to take its place or what provision
would BE- made for protection against
bad weather.
SAY COMPANY DOESN'T CARE.
IT is said among n certain number of
city law makers that the railroad COM
pany doesn't care whether it has station
on the bridge or not. That it would be
just ms well satisfied without the present
building or any structure to take its
place.
AS was stated in The News few days
ago, Commissioner Smith Of the highway
department is of the opinion that the
bridging over OF the whole space from the
great bridge TO the Burnside bridge, taxi
ing in the space now occupied by the
railroad station and the IRE station,
would be a good thing for the city, as it
would afford fine outlet for the north
part of the city and admit of free circula-
ton OF air In the heart Of the town.
A certain number Of other persons are
of the opinion that "a street railroad sta
tion kept i'm the condition that the old
one was, previous To beginning the work
of building the new bridge, was of little
49, tl. hot Ton al 20 ~ ,L.
road. 1t was almost impossib bic To keep
the premises in good condition because of
the character Of large number of per-
sons who formerly congrcgated at that
point
They declare IL was little better than
trysting place for citizens of doubtful
character, and the percentage of indi-
viduals who made it an appointment place
was greatly in excess of those who used
it as means Of convenience in street car
service.
Ii is also said by those who profess To
kown that the policemen on the great
bridge have less 10 do with unruly per-
sons and intoxicated individuals than
they did when the station frontcd the
square.
1T WAS INFREQUENfLY USED.
The assertion is made that the interior
pf the building was infrequcntly used by
the better class of citizens. because the
premises We're almost constantly infested
with unsavory people. When cars were
waited for. the passengers generally stood
On the outside and this idea prompted a
market square merchant "a remark that
II train sheds are needed anywhere. the
place for them was on the great bridge
he argued that the north side of the
street was seldom IL ever used by car
riagcs or vehicles of any kind other than
street cars. The sidewalk near 20 the
tracks was seldom occupied by persons
other than those using or waiting for
ears and tho whole space in this partic-
ular section was devoted TO the public,
Cor this business
ONE KIND OF PROTECTION.
What Is the use Of an unclcan or
obnoxious station at this plncey i the