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

Last nlRnL the common COunSl Ollce
more put itself emphatically on record as
in favor or train sheds. BY unanimous
vote Of its 40 members, all of whom were
present, il ducided that the Sturges brand
Of shed was just what was peeded. The
galleries and lobbies Of the chamber were
crowded, and the one-sided debate was
listened to with close attention.
Tbs council, in addition tn adopting the
Sturges report voted TO discharge the
Joint special committee on terminal faclli-
ties, even though men who voted for the
Sturges brand Of train sheds had referred
in high terms of compliment To its faith
full work. lt was just midnight when
the council adjourned sine die. The Gus
tomary votes OF thanks were passed to
President kendrick and Council Clerk
Daniel II. Hayden. A resolution to apply
20 the General Assembly for authority TO
hire $50 900 TO finish the speedway at
Roger Williams Park was passed and the
council cOncurred with the Board of AL
dermen in adopting the report of the
joint committee on licenses liking the
amount certain officers shall pay as
licen ses which measure IL is expected will
bring s3O0O into the treasury
There was considerable business trans
acted before the matter that had brought
the large audience 70 the city hall was
reached. Nearly every member OF the
Board of Aldermen was in attendance and
a number of ladies were on the floor of
the council, while others graced the lobby
and galleries. The audience was strongly
in sympathy with the SturgeR brand Ad-
yocatcs and applauded very loudly, not.
withstanding the demand OF the chair
that no EXPRESSIONS of approval or disap-
proval be- made.
Chairman Sturges OF this finance COM
mittes was not slow In getting his report
on train sheds in. rio Is always called
on tirst for reports, and after he had pre-
sented two or three matters from the
finance committee he said very quietly he
would hand up at tine same time the
train shed report, which might be acted
OH later.
THE TRAIN SHED REPORT.
After the reports of regular committees
had been acted upon there was "a general
sigh or expectation, when President Ken
drick called 1.-THE report of the joint spec
ial comimtteo on railroad terminal facili-
ties, submitting plans FOR train sheds,
but Councilman Waterman side-tracked
the excitement for moment with IA $40
appropriation.
Immediately following tho above on tho
printed docket was the following
Report of the Joint special committee
appointed by resolution No. 4s0 approved
Dec. IL. 1897, tn confer with the city So
licitor and To report relative to train
sheds at the new passenger station.
AS soon ms the $40 resolution passed the
report of the committee on terminal ia
ciltes was read. 1t was In substance as
follows
The report Of the joint special commit
tee on terminal facilities recited the fol-
lowing facts:
On October G. 1897, it presented report
To the city council EN- bouyiDg u copy OF n
letter which 1t had forwarded on October
D TO President Clark stating that the city
of Providence required the construction
OF train sheds at tho new station. On
December II the committee received n
communication from Edwards " Angel,
attorneys for the railroad, submitting
plans for train sheds. These plans were
approved by the committee IA well rs bv
the city engineer,and consulting engineer
on december %
1t was then agreed by the COMMITTEES
that inasmuch as these plans had re-
ceiyed the unqualified approval Of the
engineers Of the city, and that inaslnuch
as tho railroad company would, If tho
plans were accepted bg tho city council,
Immediately proceed to eroct them, good
business policy justified it I'm presenting
the plans with its endorsement of ap-
proval tn the city council.
The COMMITTEES also passed vote re-
uuesting the chairman To secure the ap-
proval in writing of tho plans by the city
engineer ard consulting engineer, both
OF whom had verbally approved them.
These plans provided for the erection ot
an iron CANOPY structure over all the
tracks intended for passenger use. This
structure was then described in detail.
Tho report goes on To say that the
modified plans of the new passenger
station were presented TO the city council
during the winter Uf 1913 anu '9I and were
referred TO the city engineer for his re-
port upon them. The city engineer made
his report on February 80 1894, in which
be called attention 10 the fact that the
most obvious lack in the plans presented
to the council was in tho failure 60 rep
resent any track shelter. Notwithstand-
ing this report the city council passed n
resolution that the plans be approved and
accepted. provided that any minor modl-
1cations might be- made in the arrange
ment OF the passenger station when slch
modification should have received the ap-
pIoval Of the joint special committee on
terminal facilities, and furtnsr provided
that IN addition TO tie structure shown
on the plans there should also be con
struCteu and completed n suitable train
house of "a vidth sufficient TO cover oil Of
the passenger tracks and platforms, and
cf such character and according to such
plans as should be approved by the city
councih
The committee thinks it was evidently
the feeling of the council at the time OF
the passage Of the resolution that the
Work on the new passenger station
should be commenced Mt once ana pushed
20 completion ns ranidly NJ possible
without much regard to the question uf
train sheds. The closing sentence at the
resolution, Nothing herein contained
shah prevent the immgdtato prosecution
of work upon the passenger station build
ing. ~ WAS evidence uf this.
The report concludes; when 10 is con-
sidered that tne plans hCrweith submitted
have teen officially approved hy the en-
ginvcrs ~ fhe city ~ I-rovideu ce-cx uerts
that the city niutt dep"I Il urun largely In
the event ~ further iitigaiion--it is the,
opinion Of the committee that the City