The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-16
INDIA STREET RAILS
WILL NOT COME Up.
Agreement Arrived at Between
Railroad Co. and COmmittee--COr-
pOration to Pay S1OOOa Year.

The much expected report of the joint
standing committee on railroads OF the
city council relative 20 the much mooted
India street rail question. is ready at last.
and il has been distributed, in printed
form. Ia the members OF the city council.
owing to unavoidable delay the report
could not be sent 10 the meeting OF the
board ef aldermen yesterday.
This report. together with an ordinance
embodying the recommendations made in
the report. will be presented 10 the COM
mon council on Monday evening next
and It is anticipated that the ordinance
will be passed thus settling the long
drawn-out controversy between the Con-
solidated ROAD and the city
The ordinance will permit the railroad
company to lay and maintain rails IN In
ola street under certain conditions, one OF
which is the payment of $looo annually
Tor the privilege.
REMOVAL or RAILS.
The report of the committee on rail
roads. which is signed by Councilman j.
William Moore, chairman OF the commit
tee. lis concise and 10 the point the COM
nittec says an substance that when the
plan for improved railway terminal ia
eilitics was adopted, the committees and
the representatives Of the railroad COM
panies agreed that. upon the completion
of the new railway terminals for Provi-
dence, freight traffic through the streets
in the centre OF the city should be aband-
oned
Acting upon this agreement. the city
council. on February l. 1898. ordered the
freight tracks TO be removed from Dor
rance street. and these rails were sub
sequently taken up in accordance with
the requirements OF the city ordinances.
IN December. 1928, the committee on
railroads recommended that the rails In
Market square. South Water street and
Canal street. should be removed, and the
city council on December 81 1898, passed
an order for the discontinuance Of freight
traffic and the removal OF these rails.
giving the parties interested six months
notice instead of the 9o-day notice pro-
vided for by the city ordinances
The railroad company declined TO COM
ply with this order. and on September L..
1899, a resolution was adopted directing
the commissioner OF public works 10 re-
move the rails in Market square. Canal
street and South Water street.
INJUNCTION WAS ISSUED.
The New York. New Haven e. Hartford
and the Providence and Worcester Rail-
road companies applied to the supreme
court and obtained a temporary injunc-
tion restraining the commissioners Of pub
lie works from carrying out this order
OF the city council, claiming that the
companies had = perpetual right to use
these streets for railroad purposes.
This was the situation on March 3.
1900, when the city council adopted an
other resolution ordering the rails In India
street 10 be removed on or before Sep
tember ., 1900.
Since that time the city council is IA
miliar with the litigation that has been
in progress and the legislation that has
been attempted.
On July l6 the committee advised the
city council that in the opinion OF the
committee no further action should be
taken at that time on the India street
rail question, and the council refrained
from interfering In the matter.
Subsequent developments confirmed the
wisdom OF that decision on the part OF
the committee and the city council.
The Injunction proceedings invoked by
company to prevent the removal OF the
rails from Market square. South Water
street and Canal street have been with
drawn, and the litigation against the city
ended.
TO PAY FOR PRIVILEGE.
The plan agreed upon by the city coun-
Gil when these freight rails were ordered
removed from the business centre con-
templated that freight cars should be
hauled aiers the river front iH Dyer
Eddy and South Water streets connect
Ing with the steam railway terminals in
Aliens avenue on the west side and In
ola street on the east side
To insure suitable transportation facili-
ties for merchants upon the removal of
the tracks named. a contract was made
fW hsndling this freight trsfnc At %
cents car less than the, had heen there
'cforf psylng for the Same service.
All legal complications having been adj
5usted and the committee recognizing the
necessity OF retaining the India street
rails. entered into negotiations with tho
representative OF the New York, New
Haven and Hartford Railroad company.
looking 10 the occupancy OF this street by
that company under a contract with the
city.
The committee found that this sugges-
tlo1 wan obIe"dbie 70 the attorney OF the
New York. New Haven and Hartford
Railroad company. and that the company
was willing 10 pay 5000 year fer the use
OF India street on a 20-year franchise. and
also 10 establish a terminal point at the
intersection OF India and South Water
streets.
By this the company agreed 10 haul all
cars handled by the Union Railroad com
pany at this point without an additional
hauling charge.
A BUSINESS SOLUTION.
" India street were leased AT the same
rete per mile that the Union Railroad
company pays. the rental OF the tracks
In India street would amount 20 about
500 rer annum.
But inssmuch as additional spur tracks
VIII eventually have 10 be laid in thi'
street, A. was thought advisable 10 fx up
on a gross sum per annum. and 80 800
Was the figure agreed on. the understand
Ing being that such additional tracks
shall not exceed 25 per cent. OF the track,
now laid In India street.
The New England Railroad compan,
bsid So year for the use Of Dorranes
Dyer and Cove streets. and heretofgrs IN,
steam railroad companies. with The ex
ceft1on OF the New England road. nav.
nsver paid anything fer rhs use Of IN
efty's streets.