Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-12-04
GRAND TRUNK IS
EXTENDING ROAD
Running of Trains to Narragan-
sett Bay Expected Soon
in Rhode Island.

Providence. r. T., Nov. 3O-Two rail-
road matters of general interest in Rhode
island have been made public the past
wcck. The first has to do with the Mo-
|lhassuck Valley railroad, a line two and
h quarter miles long from SaylcSVille to
kNoodawn, a station on the outskirts of
the city of Pawtuckot on the main line
|lf the New Haven road. Saylcsvlle is
I'm important manufacturing village, ana
IT. little railroad has exchanged 10000
hons of freight with the New Haven at
kVoodlawn I'm a single year For many
wears 1t has had charter rights to extend
h. track to tho Pawtuckct river, "A dis
ancc about equal to that it already COW
rs. and some work has been done on the
Extension But now report Of abandon
|nent fled in the superior court in this
|ity ind that the road will not seek
o reach ti'ewater by its own right of
|vay
When talk of the Grand Trunk coming
10 Rhode Island was first heard it was
Suggested that the Canadian company
Knight make use Of the Moshassuck road.
There were even those who thought 1t
might find its tidewatcr outlet ON the pro-
|uscd extension Of the little line. But
he Grand Trunk route, as finally plan
he'd used another location, reaching Mar
|agansctt bay on the west side of Provi-
hence harbor. Now the question natural-
u arises as to whether the abandon
|nent Of the MoshassuCk extension signi-
)ics a belief on the part of It's owners
hat the Grand Trunk is really coming
30 Providence and will furnish all the
competitive facilities needed for hand
ling the Saylesvillc freight. on the lay
out of the Canadian road a junction with
i he Moshassuck line is provided.
An alternative suggestion might he that
| he Sayl,svillc people have confidence in
| heir ability to maintain friendly relations
with the new management of the New
haven road In any event. the second
|oece of railroad news referred to is an
Ibther indication of the eventual construc-
| ion Of the Grand Trunk extension in
Rhode Island. Work was renewed the
asst week on the Elmwood avenue bridge
(which spans the Narragansett bay
branch of the Grand Trunk in the south
vest section Of this city. The mayor
Some weeks ago pointed out to the rail-
| oad authorities three alternatives. any
me Of which might be adopted with re-
+poct to the unfinished ElmWood avenue
. pan. The street might he restored to its
original condition, though this would
necessitate the destruction Of the eX-
.Densive concrete work already done, n
temporary construction might be put irl
lace for the sake of public safety, with
ut prejudice to the railroads plans for
. he future or the Job might be finished.
. rhc railroad has decided to accept the
asst named plan and is proceeding to
. build the bridge as at first intended. This
Ivill take go days
. The evidence continues to accumulate
. hat the Southern New England Ohe Off
| iai title of the Grand Trunk subsidiary
|heroabouts) will at no distant day be
|unning its trains to Narragansctt bay.
tome time ago there was talk of an al
legged plan to build the road from Pal
|ner to Southhridgo, Mass, and then use
he New Haven tracks to tidcwater. but
I he Independent construction work has
,ono not less than SO miles south and
ast Of Southbridge At the present time
concrete plant is in operation at Black
tone, close to the Rhode Island border
| nd work Is progressing on the abut-
nents for the high steel viaduct over
he Blackstone river at that point. I'm
or this viaduct will flow not only the
Blackstone, but the traffic on the State
iEhway, the Worcester and Blackstone
Valley Electric railway and the Provi-
lcnce and Midland divisions of the New
Iaven road.