The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-10-24
NEWPORT BY THE SEA.
Brilliant Outlook for the Future
Prosperity of That City.
NATIVES VERSUS VISITORS,
The Inhabitants DO Not Depend So Much
on the Trade brought to the city by
the Advent of summer Residents AS
Formerly.


classes here at statements made by irSeg
pers as to the present condition Of New
port and its future prospects.
Th. natural gifts with which the little
island on which Newport stands has been
endowed are it's inalenable riches. \ sal
ubrious climate, seldom in summer be
coming oppressiyely hot, and seldom in
winter in ensely ycold-immunity fro all
malaria and feyeTs, glitle OF blue
ocean, country possessing in one part
drives along the sea margin and through
rocky and urdulating ground, In another
Iart drives through Middletown and
Portsmouth which are agricultural dis
tricts 10 the North studded with beauti-
ful farms. an abundance of shade trees
and a wealth OF flowers. these are some of
natures gifts Within seven hours from
New York aud less than three from Bos-
ton. access TO Newport from all parts Of
the United States becomes easy
No wonder therefore that year after
year, not only the wealthy but the we'll.
tc-do classes turn In summer To this
resort and are gradually buying up its
choicest sites.
The fas ionahle line of settlement is
along the ,mous Bellevue avenu,, along
the ocean drive and throughout the
district known as Rocky Farm
Along that part OF Bellevue avenue
from the old Jewish Burying Ground To
the Ocean House the business of summer
concentrates Thancs street. is the main
business street all he year round in NV
port.
One OF the districts which once was an
especial favorte to the Summer visitors
has now fallen almost int dislse The ,
locality referred o IL that of the inner
bay. fronting that porti m OF Newport
harbor where the United States men-of
war and training sbips generally lie.
Here along WashingtDA street and to-
wards the new Naval College is one OF
tie most beautiful parts of Newport rs
regards shade and sea-view, the sea being
comparatively calm here. and jamestown
on Conauicut Island with the distant
mainland being in full view. Yet, ex-
cept some families from Philadelphia
who have for the last thirty years owne
houses here, few visitors select this dis
trict.
The main line OF the street railway ex-
tends from Morton Park at the southern
end, fnvorite placa for arts tns and ex-
cursionists 10 visit. out To One Mile
Corner At the northern end. This corner
is the dividing line between Newport aud
MiddletoHn, and all along Broadway is
the favorite building district for towns
folk. The street railway cars nave nc
doubtedly enhanced the value of many
excellent tracts OF building land out ia
the Broadway direction. IL has also
residing in the southern or other end OF
the city by affording rapid aud cheap
transit TO their respective places of en-
ployment
This matter brings us face TO face with
the question of classes Some writers
try TO ignore this, rs its introduction
seems alien to the Democratic theors of
equality as citizens in this country. Bat
as long rs civilized society exists, there
must be at least three classes the
wealthy, the middle class. and the artisan
or mechanic population. No opprobrlum
attaches TO "A man for belonging to any
Que OF them. They all fulfill their special |
provinces in the body polite. In Newport |
these classes are clearly and distinctly |
marked.
just civil laws must regulate for all
lmpartially, and by little mutual for
bearance, their respective wants and |
claims need not conflict. Newport does
not aim at being a manu- featuring cen
tire. yet its welfare for two-thrds of tue
year would be materially benefited, were
there two or three more clean, nice indus
tries like those of the rubber factories at
present existing. Both materially and
morally the Inhabitants depend too ex-
clusively upon the summer residents aud
summer visitors.
Looking at the vast amonnt OF money
invested In sumptuous residences ami
their surroundings by summer residents.
IT may he fairly assumed, without taking
any optimistic view Of the situation. that
Newports future as summer resort
cannot be shaken by the uprising of anv
new rival This is true, and vet the adj
vent OF some of the richest men OF A ner-
lea % Newport has not been an unmiti-
gated good. IL has had distinctly de-
terring effect on the summer settlement
here of the moderately rich aud of those
comfortably off.
So to a great extent the old hotel summer
life hns dwindled away To he i'm "sori.
ety' IN Newport ane is expected TO have n
cottage, ana but few families now coma
20 Newport 20 spend their summer in a
motel. lt is not the pressure of the ultra
weaftny that has done this. 1t is mainly
the preponderating aud accumulatinp re-
suit or cottage occupancy for the summer
season Ihe effect resu ting from the very
rich will, it is to be hoped, pass away.
when ~ becomes generally Known that
cottages ranging from 500 to ST. 500 are to
De had still In fair numbers, aud thar, on
the whole, summer rents in Newport are
very much less than at the Fashionable
resorts near New York Living il not
cheap: the distance from such larye mar.
kets as exist IN New York and Boston b.
my agalnst cheapness, but neither is il
extremely dear
As regards the values OF real estate. tho
Ordinary law OF supp Y and demand from
different customers will explain what mas
occurred. Estates on the ssasil an on
iashlohaoie localities have become great
~ enhanced ih price. The supply is limit
ed, anu the wealthy vie Tor them. But as
regards what Is called city property. in.
stead OF an advance, there has been a de.
Ssaeu recession In price OF 20 per cent at
least during the last twenty years. More
OF this surt of middle class property has
peen puilt; the aggregate number of con.
euiners has not Increased, neace the fall
In prices. ''''
feature which is developing itself IN
newport more and more among summer
visitors should uot be overlooNeI nm this
outline IL Is the fact that a good many
OF the farms on the Island are bronghy
up from time TO time by the summer
soJourners. 1T Is really an outing" in
tbe country To leave the precincts OF "A
day on one's own farm ia Middletown or
PORTSMOUTH,. VI
- Thee is not likely to be any "boon,p in
rewport The naughty little Island
queen does not stoop TO 'boomsm bur. In
those who study the lines o1 which har |