The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-14
Freight Tracks in Dyer
and South Wafer StS.
FRUIT FIRMS PROTEST
Against Proposal 10 Compel Rail-
road Co. TO Remove Them.
HEARING OF THE COMMITTEE.

The joint standing committee on rail-
roads OF the city Council gave hear
ing in the municipal court room yester-
day afternoon To all persons Interested
in the question Of the abolishment OF
the rails on South Water. Dyer and Ca
nal streets maintained by the Consoli-
dated road for the benefit of business
firms on those streets. Among those
represented at the hearing were Pres
ton & Co. Hurd Bros. CT. BuHingame,
Eddy Bros, w. Il. Hale IL Co. and
Charles Weaver. All the members of
the committee were present, including
Chairman Moore, Alderman Vincent
and Councilmen Sphinx, Arnold and
Gardiner.
Attorney Robert w. Burbank. repre-
senting number OF the business firms,
called upon Mr.. w. +. Hale and asked
him a number of questions. which re-
suited upon Mr.. Hale stating that the
tracks were essential to the proper
transaction of his business and their
removal would be great inconve-
nience. and the expenses of the business
firms would be largely increased Mr..
Hale said that II the rails were re-
moved many firms would give up busi-
ness i'm Providence and go out on the
Consolidated road. He also believed
that the value of property i'm that To-
oality would deterorate If the rails were
removed.
Mr.. j. III. Preston said that If the
tracks were removed IL would be a very
serious Inconvenience and loss. and
they would feel IL necessary to get in
to quarters where they could get bet
ter facilities than would be provided
without the tracks. The place he said,
is peculiarly fitted for their line OF bust
ness. They have from four TO twelve
cars of bananas a week, and III some
Of these were landed in the west yard
they could not have been handled at
all.
Mr.. Hurd stated that II the tracks
were taken up he would either have to
move or go out OF business. The tracks
were necessary for the conduct OF his
business. and Mr.. Andrews of s. ID.
Andrews Sons. held the same opin-
ion and stated il to the committee. 1t
was claimed that cars could not be run
| by way OF Harbor Junction and Hen
| derson street as advantageously as
| they could under the present system.
Mr.. Buckland, attorney of the Con-
| solidated road. said the railroad COM
pany had no other means of delivering
! cars from the west yard, and II the rails
were taken out he did not think any
more would he laid for the accommoda- =
laying rails In the highways were liza
BILE to damages from the abutters. while
electric roads were not. He thought the
freight could be received from Aliens
avenue. and in that event the terminus
might he made at Auburn instead OF
the west ward
Mr.. William r.. Banigan asserted that
the removal of the tracks would depre-
ciate the value OF the Ranigan estate.
as the building occupied by Preston e.
Co. would he useless for any other
business. and the present occupants
could not afford TO pay the present rent.
Mr.. Lewis Pierce said that he would
dislike to see ANYTHING done that would
disturb any business man i'm the city.
He said the string teams passing
through this section were certainly n
nuisance to "a large number of people
and he hoped the committee would
continue the hearing. Mr.. Weaver whose
horses draw the cars across Market
square. said he hoDed the rails would
not he removed. JIe had some money
| invested IN horse flesh. and he wanted
| To ret ~ back again.
Attorney y. ". Comstock and Mr.. Dav
| asked that the hearing no continued i'm
| order To give certain other persons an
onportur'tv 10 be heard ard after some
little further talk the hearing was con
tinued until Friday next, at o'clock