The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-18
Routine Business Transacted at the
Meeting Yesterday.
THE SUPERVISORS APPOINTED
A Communication Prom City Engineer
shedd Relative TO Sewer walls and
Bridges Report of the Assistant City
sor,cItor. on Return OF Registry Voters

as foilows'
Democrats-First Ward, district 1, Rob-
art n Campbell. William j. McElroy;
district 2 Cornelius Carroll, John j. Gro
sin. Second Ward, district l, John Cur
rv James j. McGovern; district 2. Michel
II. Cavey aud Hugh +. Doyle. Third
Ward. district /. Michael Healey, James
Gillen: district 2. William A. Munroe,
William Arroquier; district 3, Michael
Sherlock. John j. McKiernan. Fourth
Ward. district /, Thomas 4. Butterileld,
.John IL. O'Leary; district ?, Il. NJ. Mullen,
John +. Kelly. Fifth Ward, district /,
Andrew McGovern. Patrick ;. Doonan
Sixth Ward, district l. Patrick Dor
John Drinan, Thomas Dayey. Sey-
enth Ward, district /, James j.
Doonan, James Il. Padien; district .,
frank n. Stearns, William ii. Pierce.
Eighth Ward. district ], Charles Connor,
DR.. Patrick ii. Sullivan; district 2, Jo-
seph +. Carter, John i. Donahue. Ninth
Ward. district /, Thomas III. McVicker,
James 4. McCusker; district 2, Peter Nj.
Burke, William Mulgrew. Tenth Ward,
district /, John Callan, Thomas Dolan;
district 2, Edward Hunt, John V. Nc
Gam; district 3, Charles McVey and John
Tulley.
John y. Hillard, James w. Martin; dis
trict 2. Pitts 5. Bliven, Robert Il. Gaines;
Second Ward, district I, Richard q. Davis,
Willard J. Lansing: district ., Thomas
Ward. Herman Max. Third Ward. dis
trict 1, Earl ID. Collamore, Walter Barlow,
district 2, Henry L. Carpenter, Lucian f.
Angell: district 3, Harry j. Bascom, Wal
ter Lewis. Fourth Ward, district /, Wal
ter B. Frost James y. Arnold; district 2.
Thomas l. Hutchins, Charles X. Dennis.
Fifth Ward, district /, Alberto Smith,
Louis Schmitt; district 9, George A. Rice,
James a; Davis; sixth Ward district J.
Charles X. simmons, Frank +, EDDY; dis
frict Q, John King, Frank T.. Whipple.
Seventh Ward, district j, Lewis A. stan
ton, William FL. Liverpool; district 2,
Jacob Swarts, Albert Taylor Eighth
Ward, district 1, Edwin II. Brown, George
w. G.. Hill; district 2, Andrew Gray, Teles-
ford Stahl Ninth Ward, district ], Sam
ge Whitley S5n %apr ~ MSnan Wam n di,r1fe Hnpt
ington. Tenth Ward, district /, Leon b.
Coates, Leander Beaulieu; district 2, Sam
uel j. McMillen, ID. 5. H. Allardice; dis
trict 3, Oscar A. Carleton, Frank B. Has
ard.
The reports of the committees to lay out
streets were received and the layout
adopted.
1t was voted to define the grade of By
field, Curtis, Dean and Julian streets and
Yale avenue. 1t was also ordered to
establish grades in Arlington avenue,
Charles ana COltaN SCTeetS.
The matter Of curbing on Miller and
Durfee streets was continued until May
10, with order of notice.
A resolution was adopted allowing
Hugh Hamill compensation for damages
TO his property on Atwell's avenue to the
amount OF 500.
A petition to layout Dean street, areso-
luton TO layout Exchange street, petition
for q layout of Kossuth and Dean streets
welo severally referred to the committee
on highways.
A resolution to concrete cutters on Bur
nett street was adopted; petitions for
grades ON Ocean and Pope streets, and
Harris avenue were referred to the COM
mittee on streets.
g The report of the committee on the lay
out OF Bowdoin street was continued 10
April 2l, and the reports of the committee
on the layout OF Hemlock street and Lex
ington avenue were continued to May.
An Impo rtant Matter.
Commissioner Robert +. Smith of the
Department of Public Works, relative to
the rebuilding Of the river walls, street
and bridges between the Cove and the
Crawford street bridge. He recommend
ed that some plan should be adopted
whereby the work needed could be done
substantially, and the necessary author
obstruction TO the rivers within the city
limits. Accompanying the document was
the following communication from City
Engineer Shedd:
think il is my duty 10 call your attention
to tho condition of tho Moshassuck the
Woonasquatucket and the Providence rivers
in this city. Ii seems imperative that some
changes and repairs or reconstruction, be un-
dertaken on portions OF those rivers very soon,
and true economy and efficiency requires, l
X NJ uagfi ion nff 40
the city In regard TO the maintenance of
proper water ways be considered and settled
before extensive expenditures arc entered
upon IN repairs. IL has been found necessary
for the municipal government to take possess
sion OF the channel of rivers and brooks pass
ing the urban territory and exercise such
freshets to prevent overflow, and proper
condition OF channel TO prevent nuisance in
The low water run of the river
Instances of this may be found in New
Haven, where the West river was radically
changed; in Boston, where great expense Was
Incurred TO, rectify the Stony brook: in
Mil brook, and in Newton. on Cheese Cake
brook ard other streams. In Europe, control
has been exercised by the municipal govern
ment for the public good, sometimes involving
great changes and very heavy expenditures;
notably in Vienna, for one illustration'
Encroachments of relatively large amounts
nave been made upon the natural channels of
each of the rivers through Providence. and
damage by freshets Is liable 10 occur frc-
quently. Some settled policy should, | think
be adopted and adhered TO, so that the darn.
age from this cause may b. kept at n medium
amount. AT present the tendency seems TO be
10 get desired enlargement OF an adjoining
lot or accommodation for "A building by tax.
Ing IL out OF the river channel. The contin-
uance OF this practice can only lead 10 heavy
losses by reason OF the channel obstructions
On the Providence river, from the Cove 20
Crawford street bridge, the walls are i'm bad
condition. In many places they are slowly
crawling into the stream, and frequent filling
and repairs OF the pavement are consequently
necessary in the adjoining streets. Braces and
timber work have been set in the worst places
To check the movement OF the wall but this
can only serve n temporary purpose New walls
should be built in some places very soon, and
everywhere eventually. Washington bridge Is
almost unsafe for travel, and may mt any time
need TO be fenced Oft and withdrawn from
public uee. The same l. true OF the Canal
street widening. When these bridges are re-
built, economy and safety will require that
they be supported by new river walls. I re-
spcctfully suggest that the attention of the
City Council be called 10 this matter, thus re-
!ieying this department somwhat Of RESPONSE
bility. Yours respectfully.
j. HERBERT SuEpD.
City Engineer.
Both,communications were referred 10
the committee on city engineers depart
ment.
Mr. Mourv.s c,larw