The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-01-27
THE PAWTUXET VALLEY.
The Business Mems Association
Meeting Last Evening.
AN INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE
Pawtuxet Water Pollution Considered I'm
an Animated Debate-In Death Not
Divided-The Funeral of Mr.. and Mrs.
Andrew of Anthony.

The business men of the Pawtuxet
Valley held meeting in Pioneer hall,
Pixies block, last uight, twenty-five mem
bers being present. The attendance was
light on account of the extreme cold
weather. James II. McNeilis was OPP
pointed chairman, after which the min
utes OF the last regular meeting was read
and unanimously received. Leon Allen,
A. S. winslow, l.. w. Sarle. John Cassidy,
S. Whittier, l.. +. Davis and w. III. Place
were elected members bya unanimous
vcte.
4. committees report was then read,
showing the expenses 10 be so5 Tor the
turkey supper: sale of tickets S2l so; cost
of turkeys, $32; rolls and cake, 81. A, the
net cost of the supper being Sll329. The
report was received and the bill ordered
paid.
Edward Pike, the treasurer, then read
his report which showed S117 on hand.
The report of the nominating committee
was then received, after which the follow
ing gentlemen were appointed officers for
the ensuing year
President, Frank w. Greene; first vice
president, Dwight II. Adams second vice
president, S. M. Clark third vice presi-
dent, Aram w. Colvin secretary, Frank
T.. Walker: treasurer, Edward Pike. The
executive committee for the ensuing year
will consist OF G. Prescott Knight. A. 4.
Hill, Ozias ID. Tillinghast, j. r. McNeilis
and Alfred Hawksworth.
A committee on industrial matters was
elected to consist of five members. The
committee was appointed at the advice
of Mr. ID. M. Thompson of the Ad-
vance Club, Providence. The following
named gentlemen were unanimously
elected to serve: Robert Reoch, manager
of the CLYDE Print Works; Charles H..
Howard, Henry l.. Greene, c. i. Knight,
agent of the Royal Mills, River Point, and
Benjamin Il. Waterhouse.
A vote of thanks was then rendered TO
Albert w. Knight, ex-chief of the fire de-
partment and Frank Potter for services on
committee work.
The report of Edward Pike of the Fourth
of July committee was then read showing
the amount received frotl subscriptions to
be Sl27. Paid out Sl20. 40. leaving bal
ance on hand of $3.50, which Mr.. Pike
after reading Of the report handed over TO
the committee.
The next subject of Importance brought
before the meeting was the pollution of
the Pawtuxet river, which was brought
mp by j. p. McNeilis the Pawtuxet Valley
correspondent of the Journal. Mr.. j.
Flanagan Immediately arose, saying that
he thought it would be best to drop the
subject until the mex regular meeting.
II. w. Potter followed Mr.. Flanigan's
remarks by stating that he should think
it advisable to elect a committee to attend
to the matter.
Ozias ID. Tillinghast, foreman for the
b. b. and r. Kuight Co., at Riverpoint,
said: Gentlemen, the city of Providence
will never be able TO secure good water
from river which flows through such a
vast agricultural district as the Pawtuxet
Valley. The river is about thirty-five
miles long and there are probably 1000
cows In the valley, from which DRAWINGS
must, in some cases necessarily, flow into
the river. The manufacturers have done.
and are doing, all in their power to prevent
sewage from going into the river. The
water from the Pawtuxet was as pure as
any body of water in the State"
Mr.. Tillinghast's remarks were received
DIR. r. M. Smith, practicing physician
at River Point was then asked to give his
views upon the subject by the chairman.
DIR. Smith said that the investigation by
the board of health was occasioned prob
ably by the number of cases of typhoid
fever, which at one time was so prevalent
in Providence. He thought the river
water was as pure as any in the state and
that some wells were worse than the Paw
tuxet-water, but admitted that the cause'of
typhoid In almost every case was Impure
water. AS to sink water it was impure.
but not poisonous and would not poison
the water.
DR.. Smith was followed by Horatio w.
Potter who said that at the the time the
city of Providence began using the water
he built an ice house on the banks
of the river, ana had numerous samples of
the water analyzed; that there was found
21S per cent. Of impurities, while some of
the wells which were analyzed contained
40. so per cent. of impurities. Mr.. Potter,
in continuing. said that he would make
the statement that from over fifty samples
of water the Pawtuxet was the most pure
of any river he knew of, either in Massa-
chusetts, Connecticut or Rhode Island.
The meeting was adjourned after a com
mittee had been appointed to attend to
the water question.