The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-16
THE FREE PARLIAMENT.
The Annexation Question.


PROVIDENCE, X. l., Feb. Is, 1892.
To the Editors o. the Neips
Iwish to say few words through your
esteemed paper concerning the recent dis
cussed subject Of the annexation OF the
thickly settled portions OF Johnston and
Cranston to Providence. One OF the prin-
cipal arguments brought up by the object
ors was the increased taxation which
would result from annexation and allow
me TO say that they either unknowingly
or Intentionally omitted TO mention that
while real estate i'm Providence is assessed
for over two-thirds OF its actual value,
while in Johnston and Cranston, rs far as
my knowledge goes. it is in many cases
assessed for about all it would sell for in
proof of which beg TO cite IA few lnstan'
ces, the first one of which is that OF one
story cottage and lot perhaps GOxl2O feet
on street which is not curbed. neither
improved except very rudely and when
inches of mud; this lot is assessed for
$500 and the cottage al 600, making total
assessment of 5000
A second instance is also that Of three
lots in the same town; also on the same sort
OF street as the previously named instance,
which are assessed at 500 each and which
l consider not so nearly as favorably To-
Gated as those that the Home Investment
Company is selling at Washington Park
for $3.50 each; the third instance is in the
same town where a two-story, two-tene-
ment house and lot, perhaps 6Ox12O feet,
is assessed 81 coo on the lot and $500 on
the house, which has been built TO my
knowledge for several years and ques-
tion If IL cost much over the assessed
value to build. The next and last in
stance is in the other town where lot,
probably costing $500 or S400 and small
cottage costing about 81 800 are assessed
Sl,1OO, whereas IL would not in Providence
be assessed over $1,000 Although the
taxes in Johnston are only 81 on the
thousand, yet it amounts to about the
sam as:sl2 in Providence and the Grams
ton taxes s. 80 per thousand, yet il about
equals $40 per thousand in Providence, so
that we find that taxes i'm these towns
would not be increased much by annexa-
ton.
Aside from the small increased taxation,
the thickly settled portion of Johnston is
about all the time clamoring for more inn
provements end the time is not far distant
when taxes i'm that town will have TO be
made higher. In reference 10 the protec-
ton by the fire department, although
ranking second to none of the kind, yet in
case OF a confiagration, il would be found
of but little use; and they are unable to
respond as promptly as If paid depart
ment and having modern apparatus. Now
w hOt Nioi Vic tiNiLCuS VI DOnuSAou W
think that / am in any way prejudced
against the town, for l am not, but re-
sided in the town for several years and
consider il one of the most enterprising
ones in the country. but fear that its citi-
Zens may at times be too independent for
the best interests of the town. In case
they were annexed TO the city, they would
at once have free mail delivery, for which
they must make appropriations if they
have 1T as town. though would not know
the difference in expense if part of the
city.
Must Providence always depend npon
filling up her own borders for "A respecta-
BILE increase in population, while Boston
has annexed such cities as Charestown
and Roxbury. Another argument in favor
of annexation is that the sparsely settled
portions of the towns. which is made up of
Alarming population, who can ill-afford
it, are taxed that city people residing in
the thickly populated portions of the
towns may have electric lights, protection
from fire, paved streets, &c.
In justice to all cancerned, / consider
that when town has such improvements,
the portion having them should either be-
come city or part of one. by which
means these improvements can be made at
a lower figure than can be made by n
town having all the implements, etc to
buy. AIR. Editor as you favor us states
men with column daily | would be
pleased to have some one discuss this sub
ject. PROGRESS.