The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-22
RHODE ISLAND LOTTERIES
THEY FLOURIsHED HERE IN THE
EARLY DAYS.
A Paper Read by Justice stiness Before
the II. i. Historical society - HOW
Money Was Raised.

A lottery in Rhode Island seems in
credible w.en the presen disrepute into
which the system has fallen Is consid-
cred, but in the early history OF the
state there really were many fiourshing
Institutions that went by that name and
were heavily capitalized for the purpose
of dealing in chances, just as does the
lottery today.
1t may be said, however. that the lot
terry of ye o'den time had a more credit
able object in view than the enriching OF
private pocketbooks at the expense or
public morals. Justice Stintss OF the
supreme court read a paper before the
r. l. Historical society last night on
"A Century of Lotteries in Rhode
Island" which gave an apt idea OF what
the ancient lottery was. The substance
of his address was this:
Away back in the sixteenth century
lotteries existed in Florence. Genoa and
England. The people Of Rhode Island
knew nothing OF their existence here
until an act was introauced into the gen
eral assembly ordering the suppression
OF certain lotteries known To the author
tiles.
general assembly for fl5,OOO 10 build the
Il Weybosset bridge. In l741 another
WAS granted Co pave the streets OF New
port. Another was organized In l1Ie.
Later one was abllshed TO build 0
Pawtuxet bridge. In 1850 Colonel Joseph
PeLd eton
Lost His ship,
which was his sole earthly possessi on.
and the legislature granted him char =
ter for a lottery To aid in extricating him
from his unfortuuat. position. His
property was divide up into small
plats OF land. and upon the site arose
he town of Loiteryylle. In 115S Mr..
Chipman of Newport was gran Ell leave
C. establish lottery capitalized for $780,
600 TO relieve him from financial
embarrassment. A library and court
house were built later on la n similar
way. A lottery of 924 600 Was asJ estab-
iisned TO build puDlic marked In New
port. In 1901 a meeting house was built
in the town OF Jonuston by the same
method. "A year later another was
granted TO Two private parties. Samuel
Dunn, whose go) ship had been con-
fiscated by "a French privateer. was also
granted a lottery about the same time TO
compensate him for his loss In 1903 the
Providence Presbyterian society was
granted a charter for "a lottery. Later in
the year another was granted to repair
Westminster street In 1864 the privi-
lege was extended To several churches.
To aid tie poor OF North Kinustown a
charter for "A letter. was granted in
l169. In l112 the forge In Coventry was
DESTROYED by Fire
and was rebuilt by the then popular lot
terry scheme. The delaDidated steeple of
the Presbyterian church in Providence
next appes led for and by the
same method. A Newport citizen
later paid his debts by lottery
and then the First Baptist church was
built, also by lottery. In 1888 the Bap.
tist society OF Provid .nce received a
charter to build meeting house by
meaus of IA 10 terry. In l1S5 st. Johns
Episcopal church and IN 1857 the Congre-
Rational society OF Little Compton were
relieved by the lottery m thod. A wharI
was built at Newport ia 1895 by lottery.
The Beueficent Congregational society in
1896 received charter and also the
Rhode Island college.
In October, 1922. "A charter was granted
to the Rhode Island Society for Encour-
agement of Domestic Industry. Many
regulating acts were made by the legisla
ture. and in 1880 the sale was prob bited
when not allowed by the United States.
With the revision Of the constil utiot
they were prohibited entirely. To GER
tain extelt they have siuce fiourisheo
illegally.