The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-02-29
HEARING
ON TUNNEL
QUESTION.

President John r. Kendrick OF the COM
mon council. presided at n meeting this
afternoon, OF the committee on railroad
legislation and the other members of the
committee present were Aldermen Cooke.
Freeman and Mccarthy. councilman of
the Joint standing committee on rail-
roads. ex-Alderman Vincent and ex-State
Representative Timothy f. Dwyer.
The hearing was of public nature and
was held at the city hall In the common
council chamber, the capacity or which
was well tested giving evidence or the
intense interest taken by citizens gen.
orally I'm the project TO establish better
transportation facilities to and from the
east side OF the municipality. The bill
pending before the general assembly for
an act authorizing the New York, New
Haven and Hartford Railroad company
to build a tunnel and approaches from the
Union passenger station to and across
the Seekonk river was the central feature
OF several hours discussion and tunnel.
viaduct and other plans of Increased COM
munication TO relieve present congested
conditions were submitted for inspection
and explained in detail by their origina-
tors.
Attorney Buckland and other officers
appeared in the interests OF the Consoli~
dated road while the city was repre-
sented by Mayor Miller and City Solicitor
ColwelI.
The heating was scheduled for 2:30
o'clock and II was close TO that hour
when President Kendrick announced its
purport and stated that the members of
the committee were ready to hear all par
ties interested.
The reading of the call by Clerk Hayden
was followed by question from Attorney
Charles +. Robinson, who inquired IL any,
body had made an estimate OF the proba-
BILE cost OF the tunnel.
Engineer Dawley OF the Consolidated
road replied that the estimates OF the
company fixed It at 100000, probably
more.
Mr.. Robinson then proceeded for nearly
a half hour to address the committee,
scathingly denouncing the railroad COM
pany for errors OF the past and ne utter
poration under heavy bonds II any rights
are accorded I'm the future. "In fact" he
declared, that he had heard that the
company might never, III legislation were
enacted by the general assembly construct
the proposed tunnel.
OF another bridge across the Seekonk
river which would. he clHmed, be an
additional impediment to that important
new Washington bridge?' he exclaimed
when and where was a railroad COM
panyS ever kno%n W. TO pay any damages
II Il be true that IL be the Penn
sylvania road asking through the Consoli-
God there would soon be another change
eventually.
The tunnel. he considered. was no more
needed by the Consolidated than the
r He prophesied that as to Pawtucket
and Central Falls grade crossings. they
would never be abolished unless the rail-
road company be held down to the closest
kind OF bargain insisted on by the Paw
tucket municipality, which. though op-
posed politically, are fellow citizens. even
II fellow sinners
He referred to the persistency OF the
Consolidated road In refusing train sheds
until threatened only n few years ago by
revocation OF charters and then II came
to terms.
He thought that the Corliss. the Lodo-
wick Brayton and other plans would be
better and not as costly as the pro-
jected tunnel
',The New York. New Haven company
Is part OF a gigantic corporation, who
knows nor do we know what we are up
against?" he exclaimed In thunder tones
and emphasingly knocking his knuckles
on the top OF one OF the desks behind
which he stood.
Until that corporation changes Its
manner that has marked its career of
the past 30 years, then he would advise
Withholding any legislation such as is
proposed and not build a tunnel when Il
can be avoided"
Charles III. Merriman. ex-president OF
the board OF trade. now chamber OF com
merce, as n resident OF Warren, express
ed surprise at the statements OF the pre-
ceding speaker. He advocated the tunnel
project for IL would be an open door TO
eastern and southeastern Rhode Island,
meaning mutual advantage 20 those
people and the mercantile interests OF
Providence.