The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-28
EAST-S|DERS' PROTEST
MAY BE FRU|TLESS

other plan. which would open Steeple
street anod widen Thomas, North Main
street. 20 be raised about four feet at
this point. From Thomas and Benefit
streets proposed TO make a circular sweep,
passing under Waterman street and
reaching College street midway between
Benefit and Prospect streets by means Of
an open tunnel This would give an easy
grade street 1900 feet long, with a 5h
per cent grade
Thomas Gilbane proposed a plan 10
continue Prospect street TO Benevolent.
thence TO and along Benefit street TO a
point on a line with Crawford street.
crossing intervening property, bridging
South Main, making a turn in Crawford
street for continuation through the
long row OF buildings between South
Main and South Water streets. 10 a
terminus on College street. This
would be about AZ per cent. grade.
Edwin b. Cary advocated a tunnel.
II have been told" he said that the
street railway company will not pay
penny for the construction OF a
tunnel; but the time is coming when
IL must have something better than
College street. ] believe that the
cost OF a tunnel would be less than
that OF meeting the demands OF prop
erty owners along any easy grade
street / have yet seen proposed"
Alfred Stone read a letter from Will
liam B. Weeden. who said that he
found no difficulty in getting up and
down the hill. He thought the proper
thing would be 10 construct a tunnel
and lease II 10 the railroad company.
Mr.. Stone said that he had seen no
petitions for an easygrade highway.
whereas requests for a tunnel had
been many. The highway was wanted
by the railroad. which would pay
certain percentage OF It's gross re-
ceipts for the use OF the highway
instead Of paying stipend for the use
OF n tunnel.
Hon. Charles Warren Lippitt gave
estimates OF the cost OF the easy grade
street proposed by him. and compared
them with the estimated cost OF the
plans drawn by Mr.. Francis. The cost
OF the plan recommended by Mr.. Fran
CTS was s5s5,o00; that on the alter
native 70-foot street, s473.000. The
cost OF the plan recommended by him
self Mr.. Lippitt said, was only s309,-
900. OF which construction would re-
quire si27.000. This would give
street II feet wide. with a grade OF
6.25. BY making the street slightly
longer a grade OF All could be Sc
cured at a cost OF ss2s.ooo. The ng-
ures quoted Mr.. Lippitt said, were
compiled by the city engineers de-
partment
Mr.. Lippitt presented figures. also
complied by the city engineers de-
partment OF the cost OF a tunnel. A
tunnel "a feet wide would cost. ac-
cording TO these figures, ss22,0o0. A
tunnel which would serve all the pur-
poses OF an easy-grade street for
street car and vehicular traffic would
cost s2.250,0o0.
The grade OF Waterman street. said
Mr.. Lippitt, is l2 per cont. That of
College street is 1877 per cent. less
than 2 per cent. more. II a IL per
cent. grade could be considered an
easy approach. the entire investigation
carried on by the committee and the
argument OF the subject In public hear
ings was mistake.
Mr.. Lippitt said that due considera-
tion must be given to the advantages
OF a street railway the cars OF whicn
were propelled by power.
Whatever is done, whether the Lip
pitt or the Francis plan be adopted.
some provision must be made for the
accommodation OF the travelling pub
lie.
Charles Sisson requested that the
committee give another opportunity to
the citizens for the presentation OF
their views. There was still num-
ber who desired TO be heard, he said,
and who would not have the oppor-
lateness of the hour.
After a brief consideration among
members OF the committee II was an
nounced that another hearing would
be given on Friday OF next week.