The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-07
TRAIN SHEDS.

Train sheds or die. appears to be the
motto of the Common Council
According to the position taken. In
view Of the fact that the Consolidated has
failed SO far to erect train sheds at tho
new station as per the plans mutually
agreed upon between the municipal ana
the railroad corporations, the Common
Council proposes to give the city govern
ment the power to enforce the carving
out of the agreement and the erection of
the train sheds.
1t is plain to the naked eye that at
present there are no train sheds and,
indeed. President Clark frankly admits
that he does not think it desirable to
begin their contraction at present
In word no maintains that it would
probably be unwise TO undertake the
putting up OF tho protective sheds until
actual trial of the revolutionized traffic
arrangements indicates how these may
he set to the highest practical advantage.
While the action of the council is
perhaps oil we'll enough, the peopl, of
Providence will hardly feel that 1t is
justified on any basis of fear that the
Consolidated railroad is at oil disposed
TO violate any OF its agreements. Though
the action OF the council il not actually
premature. might easily be so under
stood.
The railroad men In their dealings with
the city have ever been regarded as good
deal like bogeys. We were twenty years
or more working out our railroad destiny
chiefly because sort Of horror of the
wickedness Of railroad officials was in
stilled into us The public was ever ON
the lookout lest the railroad men some
how got the best of il. The railroad
plans today. now about to be put into
service, are practically the same as those
we overthrow with fine Indignation
wnen proposed by the Goddard commits
zion almost two decades ago. And we
would not be about to enjoy the approved
facilities today had IL not been for the
wise, intelligent and tactful efforts of
the special commission Of which Mr.. Will
liam p. Vaughan is tho chairman, public
spirited men to whom the citizens of
Providence are under a lasting obligation
for bringing the railroad ana the muni-
cipality together after years OF fruitless
strife.
We do not pretend to know about the
deslrability or undesirability of the
train shed proposition. or whether it
Is better to wait as President Clark
claims or to 90 ahead according to
the blue prints made eight years
ngo without fair test of actual condi-
tions as they are today. But we do know
and the people OF Providence understand
1t by this time that President Clark Is
man whose business methods are beyond
reproach, who has nothing in his record
remotely approaching the violation Of
the smallest obligation, who recognizes
that the interests OF the business OF provi-
dence ore the interests of his railroad
property, who is broad, liberal and sagao.
ious, as he Is enterprising. knowing tho
difference between sagacity ana nero
petty smartness that tries to do" some
body under the mistaken idea that his
own interests can be advanced thereby.
The pew railroad station and facilities
will doubtless prove TO he all that tho
ycople Of Providence expect and can re.
ouire for years TO come To most folk n
controversy over train sheds at this time
will seem pretty small matter to get in
heat over.