The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-01-30

street has running through its spacious
upper hail. In one dim corner, n couple OF
steam pipes. Entrance from the street
being free TO any one, these pipes are sell
dom without n fringe of small boys hang
ing about them, warming their red fingers
if the day is at all raw.
One result of the exposures with regard
to the pawtuxet water impurities has been
to multiply suddenly the number of pat
ent filters bought OF offered for sale, and
to cause big boom in the spring water
peddling business. A simple domestic
remedy for the ills which do unquestiona-
bly, make the water in its first state unfit
for use is TO boil it before using Still,
people don't like TO use water with such
antccedents, and it has without doubt
contributed to the long sick list this win
water.
The publication of the plans for the new
State House has caused great deal of dis
cussion, as might have been expected.
Some like one and some another. Taking
it all around that of Stone, Carpenter &
Wilson seems te get most favorable
comment, with the Boston one next and
Messrs. Cady & Coz third. Still, many
persons like Hoppin, kead Il Hoppin's
better than any OF the others. The fact
that Stone, Carpenter & Wilson's build
ing is to be of marble is about the only
criticism of it that / have heard. It is
thought by some that marble soon looks
dirty. Rhode Island granite seems TO be
the favorite material The Boston plan is
very fine but il goes more than 10000
over the limit of cost which will probably
prevent its acceptance.
McKim, Mead and Whites beautiful
plan is as fine bit of classic work as Is
often seen, but is perhaps trifie formal
and regular and fails in expressing the
character and uses of the building so well
as one or two Of the others-particularly
that of j. c. Cady d Co. This design
shows two great semi-circular bays Jut-
ting forth from either wing, so that any
one seeing it would naturally say: That's
State House; Senate In one end, House
i'm the other" He could further add that
the two assembly chambers were arranged
amphi- -theatrically and were admirably
lighted, and that lobbies and vestibules
and passages surrounded them. No other
design so plainly tells its own story by its
exterior That of William X. Walker &
Son has least Of this obvious State house
character. 1t looks more like modern
city hall, cut mp into numerous offices,
than like building in which two large
deliberative bodies are to be quartered.
Admirable as the building is, this is a seri-
Gus defect.
The design of Shepley Rutan and Cool
idge of Boston is also plainly State
House, with this difference, as compare
with the Cady plan, that but one of the
legislative chambers can be plainly seen
at once exteriorily. 1t is thoroughly
we'll drawn building, however, and quite
in keeping with its uses.
This is more than can be said of the GU
rous medieval chateau designed by Car
we're s. Hastings of New York, with its
curious steep roof and complicated ter
races. Whether this is the least beautiful
and fitting is matter Of taste. That 1T is
the least likely to be chosen is perfectly
safe to say.
If were to try to state the merits OF the
competing plans in word, | should say
that Cady's is the most striking and ex-
pressive, that Stanford Whites Is the
most beautiful. that Hoppin, Read &
Hoppins, by its profusion of exterior and
recessed balconies sacrifices appearances
to comfort, that Stone, Carpenter a. Will
sons is eminently respectable but not
calculated TO arouse enthusiasm, and that
Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge's is big and
handsome. Here are at least five plans,
any one of which would do nicely.