The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-08-31
TALKED Of At CITY HALL.
Bids for the New Pumping Engine
Opened This Morning.
FIVE PROPOSALS SUBMITTED
For Engine and Boilers Alone Free
Text Books for the School Child rem
Girls and tho Manual Training
school--some General Notes.

There was quite a gathering of repre-
sentatives OF big engine building concerns
In the Office of the commissioner OF
public works this morning, and Com
missioner Smiths desk was buried out OF
sight by the big bundles OF plans, specif-
cations aud estimates which these
gentlemen had deposited on it.
Ten o'clock ives the time set for the
opening OF bids for the proposed new
pumping station at Pettaconsett. The
bids were for an apparatus for
raising water from Pawtuxet river at
Pettaconsett into Sockanosset reservoir,
under he following conditions: To de-
liver fifteen million gallons per dav on
s,dnu,,d one hundred and eighty fee' l,it while
least one hundred millions based
on the coal supplied; to be
placed, without serious changes OF the
present construction, in the east wing OF
the main engine house 30 as to take
water from the pump-weil and deliver It
into the stand pipe; TO have ample boilers
or the best quality capable OF general ng
ten pounds OF steam for esch poupd Of
coal burned; to have complets con-
nec,ions aud equipment ready to run per-
Al il:sO o'clock City Engineer Shedd
a a Co missioner Smith began opening
The bids.
Tie Groshon High DUTY Pumping En-
gine company OF New York put In u bid
for Ill engine and separate one for
boilers.
Henry r. worthington of New York
ci y, the Holly manufacturing company
If Lrckport New York, the George +.
Blake manufacturing company or Boston,
Mass, and the Edward p. Allis Go. OF
Milwaukee,. Wisconsin,, put In
lump bids for engines ani boIlers and
the Babcock 81 Wilcox Co. OF New York.
FOR boilers only. ~
NJ award ras made as the plans sub
nj tel will have to be figure out to de-
{ rh.ine whit. engine viii lift the largest
q tty OF water for a Civ n ct nsunpti.n
VI coal This Will require TWO days at
least.
Free Text Books.
There is no buster place in the city hal |
just now than tue office OF the superin-
tendent of public schools. The first
schools are beiDg filled and alrea.y
thousands OF books have been
packe ready for delivery.
The gen leman in Charge OF this work
said this morning 1t was impossible just
now to tell how many books IL would
ia to inaugurate the free system. The
orders now being filed are those that
we're sent in at the close OF the last term
and do not represent the number that
will be qured.
When tue schools open on the 11th of
September the teachers will be able to
tell just how many books they need to
npiy the pupils.
1t isa somewhat curious fact that al
ough thousands of books have been
p ichased no appropriation to pay for
them has yet been made by the
city council. The superintendent
l. nh
assembly peremptorlly orders the estab-
lishmeut OF the free text book system.
How ever there is little DOUBT that at the
proper time the council will furnish the
money.
No Girls Have Applied.
At the last meeting of the school COM
mittee 1t was decided to open the Manual
Training school to girls and the belief
was that quite number would avail
themselves Of the instruction afforded by
that institution. From present iudica-
tions. however, the girls class. IL there Is
one, will not be very large. The girls in
the grammar schools wno are entitled To
enter il they see fit, have shown no dis
position to do SO. while as yet no appli-
cations have been made at tue superin-
tendent's office.
This latter fact is not particularly signifi-
cant, however. AS ap9licatio To the
superintendent is not cessary. Ii
when the school IS opened nirls
apply for admission they will
be received. The first years
course will be the same for girls as for
boys so tnat no change will nave TO be
made until twelve months hence. The
branches To he taken up the first year will
inclu ie Tree ha aud mec auical draw
ing, carving. wood-turnng, etc., at which
girls eau work with equal facility and
success.
Notes About the Hall.
Hardness court is being paved with
ilriied brick. Tnis will decrease the
noise made by the heavy trucks that
constantly pass through there.
The beslta department. will begin free
vaccinations n week from Saturday.
Next Saturday the city hal will be
open until o'clock In the afternoon as
usui
There is remarkable increase In the
number Of applications for sever counec-
tiUns. This IL accounted for by the fact
that many house owners are returning
from their summer vac atoms.
No opinion mas yet been given by the
solicitor on the Dexter mon ument qucs-
ton raised bv Councilman k-narick
|. Tomorrow the assessors will file their
assessment with the city treasurer and
the latter will then begin sending out
bills TO real aud personal property
ners.
Street venders seem to have taken the
hi from the recent raj by he city
sealer. No short Iieaspr"- have beev
ctptureu for several DAYS