Construction of the Providence and Worcester Railroad employed a significant number of immigrants, in particular from Ireland. The line opened in two sections, the part south of Millville on September 27, 1847, and the rest on October 20. The line from Providence to Central Falls was shared with the Boston and Providence Railroad, which at the same time built a connection from its old line (which ended at India Point via East Providence) over to the P&W. Both companies shared the P&W-built Providence Union Station, which opened in 1848; New York, Providence and Boston Railroad (commonly known as the Stonington Line) trains also served this station. This station was originally planned to be placed over the Great Salt Cove, a large cove in the city; public opposition led by Zachariah Allen convinced the city to preserve the cove and change the station's location. Construction had been more expensive than anticipated, due both to difficulties encountered in earthworks for the railroad and to relatively high prices for iron and labor from 1845 to 1847, as well as significant investments in a large depot in Providence. Despite this, the company quickly began to make a large profit upon opening, thanks to the significant amount of traffic it carried; this trend would continue for the remainder of the company's independent operations. The opening of the railroad, along with other railroads in the region, spurred an increase in industry in the region; Providence in particular developed significant textile, jewelry, and metals industries. In particular, the P&W, along with the Boston and Providence, was credited with bringing the city of Pawtucket out of an economic downturn. The line linked the communities along its route to the busy railroad junction in Worcester. No longer having to compete for water with the canal, mills in the Blackstone Valley were aided by the opening of the railroad, which gave them reliable and cost-effective transportation for goods. Affordable passenger trains also increased the mobility of residents along the railroad. To better reach the docks in Providence, tracks were constructed south towards the water along city streets between 1852 and 1853, eventually reaching Fox Point where steamships docked. In May 1853, the owners of the Norfolk County Railroad were able to purchase a majority of the Providence and Worcester's stock, by paying well above market value for shares. This purchase was an attempt to use the P&W as a means