The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-03-20
THE REAL ISSUES.

In all discussions relating to the propos-
ed condemnation of the town ot Scituate
for the benefit OF Providence, the support
ers of the measure have contented them-
selves chiefly with deprecating the senu-
mentality Of the citizens of Scituate OF oi
picturinp in lurd colors, the beautiful
country park that it is to become
Consciously or unconsciously they have
not considered the vital issues.
Least among the objections to the pro-
posed measure is that actuated by senti-
ment. The constitutional rights OF the
town and of its citizens are seriously
menaced by the bill as it stands to-day
and no inconsiderable economic loss wouIa
be entailed by its passage.
I. In the first place the method OF con-
demnation is archaic and extremely UNJUST
The city council OF Providence can pass
resolution condemning land at any time
within two years and possibly four after
the passage of the act and the citizen OF
Scituate, if he is unwilling to settle at the
terms dictated by the city may have to
prolong his fight for years before securing
any payment upon his property. Then II
the city council has failed to provide the
necessary fund, he may have to wait Tor
his money even after securing Judgment.
Furthermore, there is a clause in the bill,
giving the right of condemnation any where
outside of the zone indicated on the map
accompanying the bill.
2. Aud there is no clause giving indem
nity for loss OF business The mill owner
NAV be paid for his land, his mill and his
machinery; the store keeper for his build
ing and stock and the dairy farmer Tor his
land and buildings, but no provision Is
made to reimburse him for the loss OF his
business. Is not this serious matter
Z. And the city of Providence proposes
70 take from the town of Scituate some
forty miles of established highway without
affordng any recompense; though 1t has
been for the construction and maintenance
of these very highways that Scltuate has
incurred no small part OF her present IN
debtedness. What is more, there Will re
suit a very serious inconvenience to Cross
travel Of detriment to the town OF Scit-
ate and more particularly to all the adJoin-
ing towns including Foster, Gloucester,
Johnston and Cranston. The provisions OF
the present bill either neglect or do not
provide adequately for this need. And IN
this wholesale destruction OF highways
and in the locating of the proposed cross
ways Scituate has no voice whatsoever
And where the city proposes to substitute
a new for an old way, there is no guaran-
tee that the new will be made servicable
before the old is discarded.
a. With regard to the Danielson
electric road, the city of Providence pro-
poses to make all arrangements directly
with the company entirely disregarding the
town of Scituate, although that town con.
tributed approximately $4,000, when the
road was built and exempted 1t from tax
at;on for a period OF years. And there is
no guarantee that under the proposed con-
ditions that the company would continue
its service to Scituate and Foster
These are some of the vital issues pre-
sented TO the town of Scituate by the pro
posed bill. And they must not be permit
ted to be obscured by loose talk regard
ing sentiment or by glowing accounts of
the naradise that Scituate is to become.
DANIEL A. CLARKE,
Fiskeville, K. l.