The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-21
TRANSFER FIGHT
NOW DUPLICATED
fcontinued from page one.l

kContlnued from page oie.j
"The one important and fundamental
basis OF consideration in this matter
said one OF the most conservative East
sders today. "is what do the taxpayers
of the East Side section desire, and then
whether that is satisfactory TO all the
people. or to such n large proportion o.
them as amounts 10 practically the same
thing
II see no particular reason for consult
ing the wishes OF the railroad officials.
for IL they are 10 have the ordering Of
things II was simple nonsense Cor the
city TO hire an expert engineer TO consider
the various problems involved, or even TO
hold public hearings.
80 far as / have been able TO learn
the people OF the East Side in overwhelm-
ing majority prefer tunnel; and i, Is al
most equally certain that the people OF
the city as a whole would much rather
have a tunnel than the present overtaxcd
and dangerous way of getting 20 the top
OF College hill
IF the tunnel is decided upon, rapid
transit for the East Side section will be
an accomplished fact. There could be en-
frances at intersecting streets like those
10 Bostons subway. and these entrances
would deprive the company OF the excuse
that such a line would not accommodate
nearly so many people as the present sur
face lines do
Without entering into the question OF
rental 10 be paid by the railroad company,
there can be no question that the city
would save money on the tunnel plan as
compared with any other that has been
suggested; and the city should retain as
absolute and permanent control over that
ta a q hal NJ ffa
as the tunnel would be nothing more nor
less than an underground street
1T should never be sold. The time may
come when we shall have a public-s spirit
ed city council that will be truly the SER
want of the taxpayers OF the city. and
an upright, honorable. general assembly
that will see questions OF public utility as
the people OF the state see them.
Then the railroad will be compelled to
be more reasonable and will be forced
TO pay more for the extraordinary privi-
leges that have been granted. or the way
Will be opened for such competition as
will result in bringing about all the re-
forms the people desire.
This Is the chief reason why the city
should not build and then forever alien
ate a tunnel, but should keep the same
control over II that II now has over its
surface streets.
The adoption OF the tunnel plan once
decided upon there are many matters OF
detail that should be carefully provided
for. The city should arrange for the run
ming through the tunnel OF fire, police,
telephone and telegraph wires IL neces-
sary; and IT should be provided that, In
the event OF a confiagration or other
emergency, the city authorities might AT
any time temporarily stop street car
traffic through the tunnel and run its fire
engines and police patrol wagons through
II.
There are but two OF many important
details that will require consideration by
the city council and which should be
definitely determined upon in any ar
rangement entered into with the Rhode
Island company for we know from bitter
experience that 1t will never yield a par
ticle OF what IT gets or consent to any,
thing not Incorporated in the original
agreement.
There is Just one other important fact
TO which / wish TO direct attention; and
that is that, whatever bay be true of
the attitude of the majority OF the city
council committee, IL is certainly true
that minority of the committee is stand
Ing Loyalty and firmly for the public in
terest, irrevocably opposed to panderng
TO the railroad company and resolutely
practical and most economical solution OF
the problem, TO have IL owned and con-
trolled by the city forever. and TO fix
just price for its use by the railroad COM
pany.
"Councilmen Parsons and Balch and
Alderman Gray, as 1 understand It, take
precisely this position, while the other
four members OF the committee plainly
show disposition TO truckle TO the rail-
road company and to dilly-dally along
and by delay to kill the whole thing,
since they have learned so much OF pub
lie sentiment that they dare not report in
favor OF the Francis plans. which are
what the railroad company desires.
1T is almost a repetition of the old'
transfer fight; and with the three gen.
tlemen have named honestly serving the
people. the fight will be won by the peo-
pie. In spite OF the majority OF the rail.
road company"