The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-02-17
TUNNEL WILL
AVOID GRADES.
Hearing by Senate Committee
on East Side Project.
PLANS OF CONSOLIDATED ROAD.
CITY Council 10 Have a Voice as TO Its loca-
tlon-LetteT Of COmmsntatlon Eon
Colonel Samuel P. Colt.
PLANS OF CONSOLIDATED ROAD.

The senate committee on judiciary OF
the senate, Senator Anthony OF East
Providence. chairman, gave public
hearing yesterday afternoon In room 2l2
OF the state house on an act in amend
ment of and in addition 10 an act en-
titled IAN act 10 incorporate the New
York Providence and Boston and the
old Colony Railroad Terminal company
passed by the general assembly at it's
May session, 1891.
The purpose OF the proposed act is an
east side tunnel with viadGcts and APP
proaches two miles in length total. from
| tn, Union Passenger station on the west
| to a point on the east bank OF the See
konk river. between the Red and Wash
! ineton bridges TIE legislation sought
suggests for tracks and ample provision
| for the cars of other companies, who Will
| simply be required to pay reasonable
| assessment for the privilege. In other
words the plan Is TO connect directly the
Union Passenger station and new sta
ton across the river above India Point
and make Providence within few years
the terminus OF the sound lines.
In the unavoidable absence of Presi-
dent Mellen OF the New York, New
| Haven and Hartford Railroad company,
| Edward G. Buckland Esq, counsel for
the company. appeared for the petition
ers He first called attention TO the fact
that after careful consideration of the
| aill, the company had deemed IL judicious
TO strike out that section allowing the
acquisition OF all lands. with the tracks
situated in the cities OF Providence. Paw
tucket and Central Falls. and the towns
OF Cranston and East Providence. Then
he stated that all the company now
wishes, with other incidental privileges.
ls 10 tunnel College hill for the purpose
stated above.
TUNNEL WILL AVOID GRADES.
He then proceeded to explain that il is
the desire OF the company TO acquire
another through line TO Boston, a line
which will be free from grade crossings,
and one that will obtain n connection
without grade. All this will enable
the company 10 handle more expedi-
tiously the great traffic which is con
tinuaHy increasing. IL Will relieve Paw
tucket and Central Falls from much OF
the congestion now encountered.
Furthermore Il means consummation
OF the long anticipated plan OF connect
ing the centre OF Providence with the
southeastern part OF the Rhode Island
also with the Massachusetts, cape. This
is important from the standpoint OF
freight and passengers. ne facilities
which will come TO the southeastern part
OF Rhode Island will soon become mani
fest, II we secure this privilege.
PLANS OF CONSOLIDATED ROAD.
The plan is TO connect at the Union
station. to cross Canal and North Main
streets and to enter the hill between
North Main and Benefit streets. This
tunnel will not interfere with the pro-
| posed tunnel for the East Side 80 much
| taI rod Of hN I'll Tho NJ.
will not interfere with that and viii
meet the city half way in the matter so
that there may not be any friction.
| City Solicitor Colwell was present as
the legal representative of the munici-
pality which was very much interested
I'm this act. He was not prepared Ia
say how far any opposition might go.
but he was instructed by ordinance Ia
oppose any legislation that would initiate
/, ! against the municipality. While he per-
sonally believed the more holes through
: the hill the better, he urged the i'm
: portance of giving the hill careful at
tention and OF according the city. the
railroad company and any and all other
parties liable 10 be effected, a full. broad
| and exhaustive hearing.
. Attorney Buckland suggested that a
; hearing n week hence would he thorough
ly satisfactory to the petitioners and he
= then submitted n blue print OF plans
, for a tunnel prepared by r. p. Dawley
' chief engineer OF the New York, New
; Haven and Hartford railroa~. These
: | plans showed trestle over North MAR
street to the north Of Steeple and Thomas
| streets and a tunnel entrance at Benefit
: street The tunnel then runs at ?
straight line to the corner Of .tman and
n Ives streets
r These plans were discusse. very thor.
oughly by all present
CITY TO HAVE A VOICE
I Alderman stephen A. Cooke Of the Firs
ward who Is n member OF the Joint com
q mjttee on railroads and also of the join
: special committee on a new thoroughfar
10 the east side, thought there could b,
too many tunnels for the benefit OF tn
city and suggested as an amendment 4
the act clause which would provide tha
the city council he given some voice as &
where the tunnel should go. He believes
N such an amendment could be Incorporates
i'm the bill without interfering with tn
railroad company's plans and inquired o
the counsel for the company II ther
" would be any objection.
l. Mr. Buckland said that he would YER
10 readily agree 10 such an amendment
10 Alfred Stone spoke I'm favor OF the bill
as did also Or Fenner ". Peckham, Sec
retary OF state Bennett. Samuel L. Peel
=. OF Warren and Ezra Dixon OF Bristol
% MT. DIXON SAID that " might hurt BristC
). merchants. but the scheme would Civ
Bristol residents n great accommodation.
:, At this point all OF those In favor o
, the bill who wished 10 speak had bee
!, given an opportunity. Chairman Anthon
- then called for those who were oppose
y and there were no speakers.
col COLTS COMMENTATOR.
J. Before closing the hearing Mr. Anthon
X read letter from Col s. +. Colt, whic
" was as follows:
"Hon. Henry =. Anthony. chairman o
a Judiciary Committee. Senate Chamber
4 State House Providence, II. T.:
a Dear Mr.. Anthony-lt was my inten
m ton 90 appear before your committee a
p the hearing today upon the bill presente
Is by the New York. New Haven and Hart
q ford Railroad company for n tunnel an
10 drawbridge 90 connect the Union static
p with the tracks on the east hank of On
Seekonk river.
.: Finding myself obliged 90 take the
20 ! osciock train FOR New York I wish 10 sa