The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-03
Street RAILROAD ASKS
MORE EXCHANGE EPL.RIGHTS

At last evenings meeting OF the COM
mon council the first steps were taken
by the railroad To relieve Westminster.
weybosset Dorrancc and Mathewson
streets of much OF the heavy trafrlc ana
utilize Exchange place.
A petition was presented by the Rhode
Island company. asking that tracks may
be laid from Canal street along the
sottherly side OF Exchange place TO a
point 40 feet from the easterly line or
Dorrance street. with branch lines INTO
Canal and Dorrance streets, and another
line leading TO the tracks over which cars
now run to the Union passenger station.
This was referred to the committee on
railroads, and will he reported upon In
January. it is said when a public hear
ing will be given.
The committee on railroads submitted
a report on the manner OF the railroad
accounting to the city of gross earnings.
The report was a result of Inquiries
made By Mayor Mccarthy in the matter.
and also treated Of overcrowding OF cars,
IA more liberal transfer system waiting
station. and a public comfort station all
of which subjects were taken UP In the
mayors message.
WHAT THE COMPANY SAYS.
The report was received and ordered
communicated TO the board of aldermen.
In this report reference is made 10 the
inaugural message Of the mayor. In which
IL is said that the street railway com
panies have not heretofore kept any ac-
count OF their earnings within the city
and account to the city only for such
earnings upon a trackage basis as shown
by the return Of the Rhode Island COM
pany, dated Oct. .. 1895.
The companys reply is that calcu-
lation OF actual gross earnings WITHIN
the city is impossible; that In case IL Is
impossible TO ascertain the amount oil
gross earnings I'm each city or town sep
arately from actual accounts kept there
OF the company must make returns ana
pay special tax upon that proportion
q FtRft. apr ~ nj
length OF its tracks, exclusive or Sldlngs
and turnouts I'm the streets. and high
ways of each town and city, bears 10 the
total length of all such tracks; that the
city has accepted the act of May 3. 1892.
and its amendments and has approved
the company's acts hereunder; that the
same method of determining gross
earnings Is obligatory under contracts
with the railroad company and the sur
rounding towns; and that the companies
have I'm all cases paid their taxes 10 the
city as directed by the state ana have IN
ali things fulfilled their obligations under
the law and as in justice and equity they
should have done lt was also shown
60 the committee that the gross earnings
upon which the city receives per cent
include the entire earnings OF the Union
Railroad company, derived from passen-
ger. freight, mail, advertising and any
other revenue which the company may
receive. whether the operation is over the
main tracks or whether IL is over a spur
track.
IL Is shown by the report that the
track mileage in Providence, Sept. 30.
1900. was 90 miles; Sept. ~. l9T. 80 miles.
Trck mileage Of the Union Railroad
company. sept 3O 1897 81 miles; Sept
20. 1901, 65A miles and that while the
mileage I'm Providence increased 30 per
cent the receipts OF the city from the
railroad company had increased 20 per
cent In the same period
On the matter OF overcrowding of street
cars and "A more fee system OF trans
fers. Il rs reported by the committee that
in 1890 l3l cars were added 10 the equip
ment. I'm 1871. a. i'm 1899 a., In 1913 i5, In
1874, 81, I'm 1906 20, and In 1896 49, In 1897.
sO more ears were ordered, OF which G.
have been delivered
AS To TRANSFERS.
The Union Railroad company has es-
tablished n very liberal system OF trans
fers In Providence, Whereby IL ia possi-
ble for a person 10 transfer from any
line TO any other line within the city
limits, and in several cases outside those
limits.
The committee reported that II has un.
der consideration plan for the re-
change place.-and the consequent reliei
bossot Westminster, DOrrance and
sent sd in The ucar future. petition Z,
| lay rails in accordance herewith will re
suit iu public hearing.
| Coincidput with The j. wing OF rails or
| the south side Of Exchange place and
l thc establishment of y general street
railway terminal at that point, 1t 10 the