The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-09

| d lIicy OF maintaining such rookeries as
the Coles hotel building was collecte d
| today and the unanimous verdict is that
| there is nothing short OF utter reckless
ness In system that supports such
menace TO public safety aud public de-
| cency. Coles Ho.el Is situated right in
the heart of "a prosperous business locality
and the unsafe and inf fitmmable nature
! OF the building was a constant sourc1 OF
solici ude To adjoining property owners.
~ ii. Preston, OF the firm of Preston d
| Brown, IL ou5spoken in his denuuciatiou
| OF the system. There should be but one
! opinion among all citizens concerning
such building rs the Coles Hotel" he
said. 1t Is a constant source OF danger
TO property holders, not only as a posi-.
bic origin of fire, but as a factor in de-
preciaung the value OF adjacent prom
erty. There are large sections of val
liable property Oh North Main street that
have deprecated from 25 to 50 per
cent III value rs n result OF tue pres
ence OF dilapidated structures. Most
OF these ramshackle buildings are
owned hy nJn-residents OF the
city, who have no pride in the PROSPER ~
OF the city except as II involves their own
pecuniary interests. The hard reputa-
tion sustainei by the ruin does "A gooi
deal to mar the respectability OF the To-
callty. Fires have been matter OF no
infrequept occurrence in this class of
buildings aud protests from contiguous
property owners have gone for uaught.
do not see how there can be any profit
In the maintenance of such class Of
buildings. The rents accruing from the
Coles Hotel must hav. been small The
Only profitable part OF the cone rn was
the ground floor which was rented
mostly TO saioonists Ill the owners
preferred to use them rather than erect |
slghtly and useful bull lings."
Postn aster George while holding opn- |
ion similar TO other citzens regarding |
the character OF the building, does NOT |
wish TO denounce them in such emphatic |
terms 1t the structure was a menace |
TO public safety" said ne, II would he in |
favor OF removing il as well as
all similar concerns. But l do
not wish to interfere with the
properly relations of other men and |
would not wish them TO interfere with
mine. SO long as people keep witrin the
pale or the or finances aud do not en-
danger tue property Of others ee 1t
proper Tor me TO hold my peace That is,
l DO not wish 10 condemn others
for maintaining buildings that do
not accord with my own ideas
OF fitness. LII the charge that the build
lug was botn unsafe aud disreputabe be
true / would be heartily in favor OF con
deming 1t and ordering il removed. Pub
lc safety Is superior To private interests,
but so long as a system Goes not actually |
outside OF my province TO interfere
Fire Marshal Ira Winsor stated that in
his opinion the rOoks,ies should be rooted |
out. lt would be far more healthful ard
would greatly improve the appearance of
tho city.
Inspector of Public Buildings Spencer
Is. Hopkins was seen by the reporter Just
rs he was starring out for the scene OF
the hre. lie stated that while there was
no doubt at all that the appearance OF tie
city would be beuefited greatly by the de
struction OF such buildings, yet the point
should not he lost sight of that TO the |
owners. the bu uldings were p p'obably pay
ng well. One Of the fundamental prn- |
;ipl sol law, said he, us the preserving a
mans rights iuvioate aud it is not
Ior me TO say that your building must
b. pulled down suppose the mat er
,ould be enforced by an act OF the Gen.
'ral Assembly but, Of course, that is EN-.
,irely withOus my jurisdiction. 1hsrei.
40 doubt, however. but that the climI a.
ion OF some of the OId buildings In this
.ity would tend TO improve the city in
erywuy."
said one man The buildings on the
state, aud particularly the purposes for
when they are rented, are "a disgrace TO |
he city. The people who owu them are
4 large means aud eau we'll afford Co
rect building which will do credit TO