The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-09-17
ONE VIEW
OF EAST SIDE
COMMUNICATION

To the editor Of The News-Democrat:
Final action should not be taken In the
matter of communication between the
East and West Side of the city without
a careful consideration OF the whole mat
ter. All the people OF this city are inter-
ested, and NOR eparticularly the business
interests OF the West Side. owing TO the
fact that nearly all OF the commercial
and business establishments are there 10
Gated and are desirous Of quick and safe
communication with the East Side. The
| city should favor no plan unless the same
! can be used by cars. vehicles and pedes-
| TRANS. plan for the use or electric cars
alone would be of small benefit to the peo-
pie al large and the business interests or
the city and would only benefit the rail-
road company. The East Side, which is
rapidly growing demands easy communi. Z.
cation for cars. vehicles and pedestrians
and tshould he opposed TO any scheme
which Is for the benefit only OF the electric
company. The railroad could save money
| by paying for the use OF the subway 10
cents per car the same being the fare OF
| two passengers. and would be we'll conr-
pensated by the increase number of trips
that could be made without increasing the
number of employees.
Private carriages and other vehicles
could be charged a reasonable toll which
would be cheerfully paid, particularly IN
Interested I'm the different plans relating
TO communication between the East and
West sides OF the city. l am better
pleased with the Daniels Manton plan
than any / have seen thus far IL pro-
vides for cut of only 1000 feet in length;
teams cars and pedestrians; and can be
well lighted ventilated and kept clean
It's construction will not require the re-
moval OF buildings and its entrances can
be made ornamental and attractive. The
land damages would be small, as the va
cant land OF the Baptist church is not
very valuable and with Arnold block re-
moved, the old church, as a memorial
land mark would present an imposing ap-
pearance, more than II does at present as
IL would stand i'm the centre OF the lot and
be seen from Exchange place II the city
would issue bonds for 81. 10000 at 10 years,
they could be placed at per cent. later
probably at 3ls per cent, financially IL
would show thus:
interest on bonds .....................S $40. GD
Sinking funds ..............,............1 1900
maintenance ...... ..... .............. 5000
Total ........': ...... 5000
Estimated receipts, trolley 1000'
trips per day....................$ 500
Estimated. carriages, teams.
automobiles, single car
rldgeS ............ .............. 1900 6b,0nO
The tolls could be decreased as traffic
increased The proper way would be -
have plans OF a subway prepared by the
city engineer and estimate OF costs, etc.
and submit IL 10 acts OF the taxpayers for
their approval. Do as was done when we
introduced water into the city. Let the
taxpayers decide as to the construction
OF the subway, and relieve the city coun-
Gil Of all further responsibility.
With a subway open to vehicles and not
4
apparatus could reach fires more quickly
than they can under the present hill
climbing conditions. The city having thou
sands of dollars invested In horses Is
interested In a subway OF a proper char
acter because alarms OF fire can be re-
sponded to in shorter time and the value
OF the horses will not be decreased by
hard driving necessary to pass over the
HIM. The statement reported TO have
come from the Rhode Island company that
College hill, with two pushers and extra
men and electricity, only costs $1,000 per
annum more than on a level road Is mis-
leading. as all of their electricity is gem
Grated at the power house and IL is doubt
full II 1t can be measured so as to arrive
at correct estimate. II is folly to at
tempt to make people believe that two
loaded cars at n time can be pushed UP the
hill at that cost. 1t would be more reas-
enable TO think that IL would take at least
four timcs more electricity on the hill than
on level ground. II a tunner for a rail-
road only is forced upon the people by the
city council 1t will be a long time after
before one communicating with the East
Side for teams and pedestrians Is secured
by the people. 1t Is hoped that the city
council will not develop the speed in the
passing Of subway bill That 1t did when
II passed the Shoe String parkway bill,
and will keep in mind the fact that the
New Haven road Is not the people OF this
city. p. III. MULHOLLAND.