The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-06-18

H"af''' w ANtW loIh. tOunettlcuf ana
massachusetts uniform rate OF two
cents per mile. has for long time been
established.
coMMUTATIoN RATES.
The commutation rates are also far In
excess OF those paid by citizens OF the
other states named. Take, for ex-
ample. Providence and Boston. New
Haven and New York The distance
from Providence TO Boston Is "A miles
and from New Haven 10 New York "A
miles. The New Haven commuter pays
$lf6 year for his 1fS miles per day and
the Providence commuter pays sl6O per
year for his SS miles per day.
The New Haven commuter pays only
at the rate OF three-tenths Of "A. cent per
mile, while the Providence cOmfnuter DAYS
nearly six-tenths OF cent per mile But
that is not the only discrimination against
the citizens OF Rhode Island In the mat
ter OF commutati0n.
The commuter between Providence and
Boston is obliged 10 pay $40 for a three
months ticket. The commuter between
New Haven and New York may get his
ticket by the month, instead OF quarterly,
II he so desires, by paying $50 for the
FIRST month, IL for the second, SIS for the
third, 1880 for the fourth, $3.50 for the
ffth, $ll for the sixth and $3.50 per month
for the remainder OF the year.
The railroad officials seek TO Justify
the maintenance OF these discriminating
rates ID because they say that the rates
between New Haven and New York are
too low and CD because the lower rates
between the two places last named are,
In measure, warranted by a larger
volume OF business.
In the first place, II Is not claimed, by
the railroad officials, that the rates be-
tween New Haven and New York are
not remunerative, and. I'm the absence OF
any such claim, your committee cannot
wen assume that the railroad company
is conducting business at loss between
those points.
In the second place, while II Is un-
doubtedly true that the volume OF busi-
ness exerts legitimate influence upon
the rate per mile between any two given
points, IL can also be easily and clearly
Illustrated that the volume OF business
does not exert a controlling influence I'm
the establishment OF rates by the New
York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad
company.
To prove this. we have only 10 compare
the Communication rates between Provi-
dence and Worcester and Providence and
Boston. The distances are exactly the
same. There can be no dispute that the
volume of business is greater between
Providence and Boston than between
Providence and Worcester. yet the com
tickets between Providence and
Boston cost 81 a quarter more than be-
tween Providence and Worcester
These reasons presented 10 your COM !
mittee by the railroad officials. In APP |
parent seriousness. In Justification of the |
present exorbitant rates, seem 10 be. to |,
say the least, weak. trivial and unsatis-
factory, as well as inconsistent with the |
lndisputed facts above set forth.
NOT SOUND ARGUMENT.
IL has also beers stated to your com
niteee, In behalf 'of the railroad com
)any that the latter has leased certain
properties which are now included I'm
Is system. and In so doing IL has as
umed certain obligations. 10 some extent
ased upon the present high rates Of pass
niger transportation.
This. however. cannot be regarded as a
ound argument I'm support of continued
discrimination against this community or /
IS an argument entitled TO consideration.
the statement is true. the plain answer
:, that the railroad company has no right
o base It's tranactions upon an unjust
iscrimination against the citizens OF
locality
IL has also been suggested TO your
ommittee, that five-trip tickets. good
etween Providence and Boston, are |
rocurable FOR the sum OF $3.50, which is
ut small fraction over two cents per
lille.
While the fve-trip ticket calls for an
outlay much smaller than the
ne thousand mile book at 500 and Is
neretore 10 some extent more available !
CT large percentage of our citizens
no are not frequent travellers, but who |
considerable volume of bust
ess In the course OF the year. do not find !
convenient TO eXpend at one time even
ne sum OF $3.50 The five-trip ticket can |
My be used between Providence and !
oston, but II It's use should be made |
lore general il would not. I'm the opinion |
your committee furnish the relief
eeded
Your committee are OF the opinion that
ne railroad company has failed 10 give
ny valid reason for the maintenance of
ne present high rates for passenger traf-
2, and that such rates should be modi- !
ed, through suitable legislative action
king the maximum rate for single tick ,
$ AT two cents per mile.
OCCUPATION or CITY PROPERTY.
All disputes between the city and the
tlroad company relative to the occu-
itlon and use OF Canal street, Market | {
luare, south Water and India streets
iving been satisfactorily adjusted. any
scussion I'm reference to these localities ,
ould be entirely Unnecessary
Upon the north side OF India street and
'posite the coal pocket OF John n. White ]
Son. switchmans shanty occupies ! I
nd owned by the city, and for this oc-
patton there seems 10 be no AUTHORITY. | :,
The portions OF Brook, Traverse. Bene-
and South Water streets together ;
lth seven gangways on the southerly | ]
ie OF india street and running from q
dia street to the Seekonk river are ,
W closed 10 the nllhlic and were so .
Used prior TO June 27 1855 , ,,
Jt these streets and gangways the rail- :
al occupies approximately 30 300 square I
at, including $3.50 feet OF Benefit street,
y feet of Traverse street and $500 feet q
Brook street together with three gang 7
lys aggregating Sig1 feet. =
rhe railroad company also occupies I'm I =
mmon with the Boston and Philadel- \
Ia steamship company two gangways, j
gregating G210 feet i
NO REMUNERATION. =
'or this use and occupation the railroad /
mpany has never remunerated the city, / "a
her by paying taxes or otherwise. !,
n addition 60 the tracts OF land before ! ~
ntoncd there Is another tract compris- b
upwards OF 3UOt0 square feet at the J Il
larf OF the Providence and Stonington l.
company, which has not been a
piccted 90 taxation. A.
luth Main street is now open south of ."
liza street but Is .obstructCd by
itchman's shanty and an old shed at
dock line. "
n Harris avenue the rails OF the New VI
rk, New Haven a Hartford Railroad II
npany occupy portion OF that avenue n
~ or Acorn street. and cars encroach y,