Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-07-24
Prori.ience JnLu 2la 1871.

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luxuriant South. Well then icfe
speaks Mooshausick to Aquidnick. 'ut
what shall we say. II is no, in our line
to traffic in sich commodity rs news
so we shall not attempt, and you mus
not expect US to furnish a lot Of that
In every community there are some
public spirited persons who 90 for im'
provemcnt. During the dull season
that class among us arc entertaining
themselves by reviving again the sub
jsct Of New City Hall, which has been
discussed so many times during the last
ten years. The carrying out Of such
project would involve mn expenditure Of
towards a quarter Of million OF dol
lars and so, many oil our more economi'
cal citizens oppose the scheme on the
score OF exces. i've expense. Extravi-
giant outlays for public not less than Pri.
vate purposes should undoubtedly be
avoided, especially when burdcnsome
debt may perhaps be the consequence.
But there is penny-wise economy
which even the most rig d utilitarians
may indulge, which is only folly, and it
should in this instance by all means be
avoided. The present place Of deposit
for our public record is neither safe or
suitable, or at all credtable to the city.
A large portion Of the building occupied
by the public Offices is devoted 10 uses
entirely foreign to its legitimate pur'
pose. We blush to own that for many
years the odor Of quantity Of Jresh
meats has sent up its incense into the
nostrils of our dignifed municipal func.
:ionaries some of whom, the twenty-iour
Councimen serve the community with
out compensation, that branch having
recently in spiri, Of most commenda.
bic disinterestedness refused TO concur
with the Board of Aldermen allowing
themselves pay for their services. But
besides opposition IL his project on the
score of expense, there is contention be-
tween the "East Side" and the "West
Side" as to the proper place for the
location OF the building. One little fac
ton will have il here, and another will
have il there, while third party rather
sclfshly insist that some other location
is more desirable perhaps, because GER
tain estates do not lie in the immediate
neghborhood. But this last is a diff
Guilty that can be got over, rs the follow
ing story will show. For the truth OF
the story we will not vouch, as we can
not discover its authenticity, although
i, may be set down in rs aples' Annals"
When our Court House was about to
be built, something like century ago,
there arose a question about the site
most central and suitable, whether that
finally chosen, or another near the foot
Of Olney street, half mile north. The
sectio nal feeling growing out of this
difference Of opinion gave rise to two
f,ctions, the uptown and downtown
parties The down town party proba-
bly, represented those, who, with more
a spirit Of enterprise, and warmer
hopes for the future, believed that the
town might some day reach beyond its
then Sou thern limit, and extending to
the river side below, profit by the in
creased facilities which it would possess
tor commercial intercourse. Persons
expressing faith in the possibility of such
enlargement Of borders were accounted
visionary.
To settle the matter in controversy
the hostile factions agreed to test their
numerical strength by pulling one sec
ton at each end, Of a stout rope. II is
said the downtown party drew the up
town party as far South az the Court
House now stands, and SO the question
was settled. This seems truly primi-
tive way Of disposing Of public qucs-
ton, and if the tradition may b. depend
ed upon, il exhibits the great simplicity
of habits which characterized the peo-
pie of that day. Some wisdom might
be drawn from such an example, to be
applied to cases arising in our own times
| preventing many pro'racted quarrels,
and much vexatious litigation. We
respectfully commend it to the people Of
our own community IN their present di-
lcmma.
Thus you sec that although our peo-
pie are essentially progressive in spirit,
yet in some important elements they
are very much what they have been.
When we review the history Of the
last twenty years, and observe The chan
gcs that have taken pIace in Providence
its extraordinary growth in population,
and wealth, we feel that if only its pres
ent elements Of prosperity are contin-
ued, any reasonable hopes and expccta.
tions for the future may be INDUCED.