The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-21
Union Railroads Exclusive
Right on City Streets,
PETITION OF CONSOLIDATED.
Some Propositions Made BY Mr.. Perry 10 b
Subject Of Conferences South MiIl
Street Widening.

There does not appear any way IN
which the city council can grant the pc
tition OF the New York, New Haven q
Hartford Railroad company TO operate
it's cars on India street by electricity. IL
the statements OF several city officials
are correct
1t is understood that II IL utterly out
OF the power of the city council to grant
to any railroad company the privilege
TO operate cars in any street OF the city
OF Providence by electricity without the
consent OF the Union Railroad company.
There is. however. an opinion in the
minds of some people that II the Union
Railroad company should be requested by
the Consolidated road to run its cars
through India street by electricity and
should refuse to comply with tho request,
then the city council could grant the
privilege TO the Consolidated road.
This point, however. is not clear. and
the fact appears that the Union Railroad
has not been asked, and, Of course. has
not refused.
A QUESTION OF LAW.
AS a prominent city official said this
~
er the franchise granted TO the Union
Railroad company. giving IL an exclusive
right TO operate cars by electricity In the
streets OF Providence. Is right or wrong.
That is point that many disagree upon.
l admit, but IL has nothing to do with
the present case.
The fact remains that such franchise
has been granted, and like a law, which
may be unjust, IL Is a law as long as IL
remains on tho statutes. and must be
complied with. So with this franchise,
and the city council is powerless to yio-
late its provisions
According to gentleman who is well
versed on the matter, Mr.. Marsden j.
Perry, vice president OF the Union Rail
road company, informed Vice President
Merrill and Attorney Buckland that the
Union Railroad company would run q
trolley wire through India street. 90 that
the cars OF the Consolidated road coming
over the Warren and Bristol branch could
be run to the corner Of India and South
Water streets.
This proposition, It is understood. was
declined, mainly because the Consolidated
officials understood that the Consolidated
cars were then to be run 10 the centre OF
the city over the rails of the Union Rail-
road company.
HOPE FOR AN AGREEMENT.
Mr.. Perry. according to a gentleman
closely associated with him, has said
that he was willing to agree that none of
the cars of the Union Railroad should be
run over India street. and II Is further
said that he will not inJIst upon the Con-
solidsted cars coming TO the centre of
the city over the Union Railroad tracks
The members of the committee on rail-
roads of the City Council are inclined to
the idea that IL the Union Railroad COM
pany will equip India street with cleo
tricity for the use OF the Consolida ted
road. and be satisfied that passengers
should be carried TO Fox Point station.
and not beyond that point, by the Con-
solidated. matters can be easily adjust
ed
This, however, remains to be seen, and
there will probably be several confer
ences before anything definite is done in
the matter.
Attorney Buckland of the Consolidated
road, Is confined to his home by a bad
cold. and. I'm consequence. his views on
the matter could not be ascertained to-
day.
ABOUT SOUTH MAIN STREET.
The petition for the widening of South
Main street. from Pioneer hall TO Transit
street, which will probably be presented
to the Common Council this evening.
meets with general approval.
Commissioner OF Public Works Smith
said this morning that. In his opinion.
the street could be widened none too
quickly for the good OF the public gen
orally, and he hoped the City Council
would see the necessity for the proposed
Improvement.
The plan. as proposed, includes taking
a strip on both sides OF the street be-
tween the two points named. and this
would easily permit OF the laying OF a
double track for street cars.
With South Main street widened the
necessity of using South Water street
for street car travel would disappear.
and with II much OF the annoying and te-
dious delay TO passengers.
au-Uaa 40