The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-30
North End Citizens Hold
a Mass Meeting.
Opposed Charles st. Widen-
ing Under Betterment Act.
Mary Speeches Were Made Against
Comm iSsiOners' Report.

OF the city north OF smith street ana ehst
Of Veazie street was largely attended.
Every large manufacturing corporation.
and some OF them were the largest OF their
kind Ia the city and state, were repre-
sented by trusted employees and several
of tho smaller landowners were In at
tendance TO protest against what they
considered an injustice, namely. the mat
tor III which the commissioners OF estl-
mate and assessment had made tho as
se ssments under the betterment act Tor
the widening and layout OF Charles street.
There was not great deal OF speech
making for those In charge OF the gather
ing believed in action rather than words.
The signed protest Is big one, papers
were handed around last night for people
To sign and tho demand for jury trials
will DO very great
1t was announced at the meeting that
the Silver Spring Bleachery had already
formally objected 10 the report This Is In
conformity with the promise OF former
Governor Lippitt who, at hearing on
the report of the commissioners, held some
months ago. told the commissioners his
company would fight the report TO the
bitter end.
Com mittee Appointed.
George Sherman, George p. Peterson,
and Charles +. Nichols were appointed a
committee TO employ counsel and Incl
dentally committee TO raise funds TO
pay for such services. Several parties In
attendance Mt the gathering last evening
contributed TO the fund to carry on the
contest with the advocates OF the com
missioners' report. There was n complete
unanimity of sentiment in all present in
regard To doing everything possible to
keep tho commissioners plans from being
carried into effect.
The meeting was called to order by w.
A. Manchester. who said that the main
object of the gathering was TO the i'm
provement of Charles street being made
under the betterment act Alderman
Mccarthy was nominated for chairman,
but on account OF his official position de-
clined, and George Sherman, OF the Cor
liss Company, was nominated by tho
alderman and chosen without opposition.
George II. Peterson was chosen secretary
and Charles +. Nichols treasurer.
Alderman Mccarthy was called on as
the first speaker. III said he had given the
matter some Thought, and the more he
examined the report OF the commission
the moro he became convinced that an at
tempt was being made to do great In
Justice 10 many people In the North End.
He hoped tonight that protest would
be made To the court that would prevent
the commissions report. There were
only 80 days for the filing OF the report in
which TO protest
A Great Injustice.
The Improvement of this highway under
the betterment act was great inJustics it
would not take any reasonable man long
to soc. Three or four years ago protest
had been entered against che report Of %
commits ssion and IL was promised when
u new one was appointed that the interest
of the people in the North End would bo
looked after. Instead OF this promise be-
ing kept the assessment had been piled up
bigger than ever. What advantage could
this improvement bo TO q man with a
small house on Peters street? The protest
would take the Cnse before jury and IL
was impossible to believe that any jury
would find that property owners onPeters,
Commodore, Livingston and others were
benefited sufficiently TO be assessed. The
Jurors would not be residents OF this city.
Many owners of property in this section
had empty tenements and the tenants of
others were calling for n reduction of
rents but how was man To reduce his
rent when he had to pay assessment of
from $40 TO SiDY
Many of the men assessed had no wheels,
wero not Interested in wheel that would
go over the widened and improved street
nor would they ever have wheels to use
upon IT.
It was ridiculous and nonsensical that
the people, the poor people of this locality,
tho alderman, said should be called upon
to pay twice for great avenue that would
connect three cities There was but one
way by which "A loaded team could be
taken from Market square To Pawtucket
or Central Falls. The improvement was
also for the benefit of the wholesale mer-
chants of down town or rs one man OK
pressed IL, for the residents of this section
were assessed twice for the benefit of
Westminster street.
Ex-Alderman McOSker'S Remarks.
Former Alderman McOsker of Ward 3
said it was now the time for action, as
Alderman Mccarthy had suggested, and
the protest ca the court should pe attend
ed 70 promptly. Some who favored the
assessment compared IL TO Washington
street but there were other avenues 20
Olneyville while there was no other
highway from the center of the city To
tho north Mr.. MoOsker did not appear
60 be greatly in favor of the widening Of
the street and dwelt on tho great expense
of an 80 foot street. He said the making
of Canal street n left handed street had
proved expensive To the people who
owned property there lie spoke ut length
on the enoroachments of the Union
Railroad COMPANY and In conclusion
said the signing Of the protest should he
done at once, rs but few days remained
TO appeal 10 the courts.
SUPERINTENDENT Crowcll of the Silver
Spring Bleachery said the company he
represented was not I'm favor of tho I'm.
provomcnt under the betternent act. and
had already filed its protest and he trusted
every one present would 40 the same.
The meeting was not long one, but
every taxpayer present signed the protest.
PEOPLES C0IUMN.