The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-27
Durlrs The Year 1898 in Spite Of the
Business Depression.
BLOCKS, CHURCHES, HOMES, MILLS
All Contributed TO the March of Progress
in ProvIdence- Resume of nuiidinE
Operations During the Year No"
nearly at It's Close.

and development OF It's real estate Naluh-
ton. The Inauguration OF such enter
prises as improved railroad and harnor
facilities and the sewerage system mas
given an impetus TO investment ana
another significant element has been the
adoption of the trolley system, when
has been extended TO hitherto unde-
veloped sections, whereby rapid transit
to aud from the business center has been
assured and transformed large tracts of
land into prosperous residential
communities. The inspector of
buildings is busy preparing his annual
report TO the city council and while he
has not completed his estimates OF the
precise number OF buildings for manu-
featuring and business purposes and tene-
ment houses constructed with their valu-
alton, yet he is convinced that the total
estimate will be fully equal TO that OF
last year and reach the S2,000,0O0 mark
which has been the general average for
several years. 1t has been an active sea-
son, although building operations have
shown decline during the
past two months owing TO the
business depression which has affected
every industry. The cost of building
materials has been in excess OF that OF
1892 owing to the scarcity OF lumber and
increased price OF other elements, and the
> operation of the nine hour law has not
been remunerative TO the contractor and
builder. Notwithstanding these draw
backs, however, the erection OF preten-
tious busine blocks in the close district,
so-called, which is largely included in
Ward 4, has been vigorously forwarded,
and many handsome and costly private
residences have been built on both sides
Of the river. Providence is essentially
wooden city at least so far as the dwell
ing houses are concerned, and the
distinctive type OF two-and-a-half story
STRUCTURES has been maintained, principal
ly for rental purposes, whereby the owner
may occupy one tenement and derive
sufficient revenue from the other to meet
taxes and repairs. The average cost of
such houses has been figured at from
$500 to $1,000, but a marked inn
provement in their construction and
design has been noted during the past
year and this fact is notably true as APP
piled to private residences. For instance,
the Washington park district, the Narra-
gansettIAnd Co.'s tract on the East side,
and along Elmwood avenue and vicinity
are striking examples OF the investment
oslarge sums of money in finely-appoint
ed abiding places OF modern types OF ar
chitecture.
The March of business
The list OF intentions to build is filed
with the inspector with the estimated
cost. He makes personal visit, however,
and being an experienced mechanic and
familiar with the details OF construction,
be exercises his own judgment in valua-
ton OF the structures. The figures which
areannexed to the more prominent build
ings which have been completed or are in
( process of construction may therefore be
regarded as reliable, and will indicate
pretty accurately the expenditure in
volved. The list of the business blocks
and manufactures contains the following:
business Blocks.
Providence Telephone company, Union
street, s125,00o; Flint company's store
house, Aliens avenue, $4,000; Perkins
Land company, High and Lafayette
streets, s25, GOO; Providence Steam Engine
company, Pike and South Water streets,
$4,000; Fuller Iron Works, South Main
street, $4,000; L. A. Tillinghast, West
minister and Mathewson street,
$4,000; Fletcher Manufacturing COM
pany, Back street, $4,000; Vesta Knit
ting Machine company, Bassett
street, s5O, 1000; A. B. & Il. ii. Trayne and
A. r. Halle, Clemence and Westminster
streets, 10000; Providence Warehouse
company's storehouse, Cove street, $4,000;
Brown * Sharpe manufacturing COM
pany, Beach street, $4,000; Union Rail-
road company's power house, Eddy street,
fi50OO0; Union Railroad company's car
station, Bucklin street and Pawtucket
avenue, $4,000 and $4,000, respectively;
Shepard & Co. Is addition, $1,000; Providence
Athletic association, Weybosset street
si25, 900; Merchants Freezing and Cold
Storage company, Kingsley avenue, $780,
600; George A. Hadley's mandatory, At
Wells avenue, $4,000; l.. A. Tillinghast,
Page and Weybossei streets, $4,000; Kent
{, * Stanley's six-story block, Aborn street,
100000; II. l.. Taylor estate, Hotel Hal
lett, $40, 900; heirs OF William Wilkinson,
block and tenements, Howard street
$4,000.
Many Costly Residences.
AS indicating the fact that many costly
private residences have been erected dur
ing the year as compared with the outlay
in 1882, the following list is taken from
the records:
Mrs. J. w. Danielson, Governor street,
$1,000; Francis w. Carpenter, Dimond
place, $4,000; Francis w. Pond, Hope
street, $1,000; Thomas Durfee, George
street, $1,000; Samuel 5. Bailey, Adelaide
avenue, Sl2, 600; Mary II. Rowland. Man
ming street, $4,000; Elizabeth i. La
fhrop. Kccnc street, $4,000;
Nancy X. Bishop, Thayer and
George streets, $4,000; 5. f. Brown and
B. b. Gushee, Bowen street $1,000; a. c.
Tucker, Lexington avenue $500; Mrs. a.
NJ. Harris, Cooke and Angel streets,
$1,000; Eva J.. Dean, Wesleyan avenue,
5000; Frederick r. Shaw, Merosa street,
10000; Miss Mary A. Banigan, Wayland
avenue, $4,000: George r. Newman, Pine
street, s0000.
More churches Also.
There are also number OF churches,
homes and hospitals which have been
built. Among them may be mentioned
The A. NJ. +. Zion church on Winter
street, ei2. 100; Church OF the Holy Name,
Camp street, $4,000; 81. Maria's home,