The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-17
PASSING OF
OLD STATION
Structure Will Be Aban-
doned Tomorrow.
FOR THE NEW STATION.
The Work OF Demolition Will Be
Entered on on Mondsy Next.
FOR THE NEW STATION.
EARLY RAILROAD ENTERPRISES

Today marks the end of the useful
ness OF the old passenger station on
Exchange place, for unless something
the present plans OF the railroad cor
poration, by tomorrow morning trains
will be running in and out Of the new
passenger station, and passengers will
be landed under the new train sheds.
The work OF pulling down the old sta
ton will. according to the plans of
Commissioner of Public Works Smith,
commence on Monday morning. and in
a comparatively few days the last ves-
tige of what was once one of the prin-
cipal buildings In the city will have
disappeared for ever.
At this time a few words in relation
to the first railroad which was ope-
rated In Providence cannot fail to be
OF general interest. The first road was
that from Providence to Worcester, for
which the general assembly In May,
1914. granted a charter for the section
In Rhode Island, for In the preceding
month OF March a charter for the Mas
sachusetts portion had been obtained
from the legislature of that state, and
In October, 1S45. the general assembly
OF Rhode Island authorised the two cor
porations to combine. The first ques-
tion was where should be the Provi-
dence terminus.
In 1S45 the company proposed to the
city council to make the cove below the
state prison. on Great Point. into an
elIiptical basin 80 feet wide. The west
erly section Of the ellipse from Sabin
street to the state prison not to be COM
pleted at that time. and Canal and Cove
streets to be made so feet wide. The
space between these streets and the
street around the cove basin to be oc-
cupied by railroad tracks. depots and
railroad buildings. Any filled In land
not so occupied to be public highway
or grounds. and II any portion OF such
lands should cease to be used for rail-
road purposes, II should become open
for the use of the public. The road was
TO build the walls, the streets. culverts
and bridges necessary from the state
dredge out the cove to a given depth,
and the city was to maintain these
erections, except those used for rail-
road purposes only.
PLAN AGREED UPON.
The railroad was to have a right to
charge reasonable compensation from
any railroad entering the territory from
the west OF Exchange street. In Feb
ruary, 1876. a detailed plan. substan-
TALLY as above. was agreed to by the
city council and the railroad company.
and work upon II was Immediately be-
gun. The details of the plan appear not
10 have been fully conformed to, and
there were disputes between the cor
poration and the city In regard TO such
nonconformarce till February. 1850.
when the city accepted SIl00 from the
railroad In lieu OF all demands. In Oc-
tober. 1847. the Providence and Worces-
ter road was opened to traffic. using the
freight house as passenger station
the central passenger station not being
then completed.
1.-THE Boston and Providence railroad
having an arrangement with the Provi-
dence and Worcester road to enter the
CITY on its track. laid a branch track
from the "east Junction" and I'm Au-
gust. 1,ls. both roads ran trains into the
completed central station. In 1S47 the
New York. Providence and Boston rail-
road was authorized TO enter the city
from the westward and connect with
the central depot. filing In parts OF the
cove TO the westward OF the station for
railroad purposes and public use. No
sooner was this completed. in 1S4S. than
the through route from Boston TO New
York. via India Point. and the steam
ferry was given up. and busy. bustling
India Point became comparatively
neglected locality.
ANOTHER RAILROAD ENTERED.
In 1852 the Providence. Hartford and
Fishkill railroad was allowed to enter
the city and the central passenger de-
pot OH land 10 the northward of that of
CONTINUED on Page Two.)