The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-03
After Much Discussion $780,
Appropriated for Parks.
PERMANENT FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Recommended Strongly by Fire Com
mittee-Pubiic Hearing To BE Had
ON Layout of South Main Street-A
Big Highway Loan-Clty Loans In
Gold.

The session OF the Common Council last
evening was protracted three hours and
half in consequence OF spirited Discus
eion of the special order, the re olution
directing application TO the ON raj As
s3mbly for the right TO hire $4,000 for
the purchase of land for public park pur-
poses and the report OF the Joint
special committee on the purchasing
lara adjoining Roger Williams Park.
CouL~Hman Mccarthy and dex-Councilman
Barney, chairman of the committee, en-
gagged in an exhaustive discussion of the
conditions under which the land was ac-
quired, involving fiowage rights, ease
ments and the like, and finally the resolu-
tion was adopted with an amendment
substituting Sl0O, 900, part of which Is To
be devoted TO the purchase of land adjoin-
ng Blackstone Park. The report was
ordered communicated to the Board OF
AIdermen. Among the more important
matters were the recommendations of the
committee on fire department involving
the repair of the station of Hose IL, and
tae establishment OF permanent depart
ment; concurrence in the Board
esolution creating Joint special COM
<aittee TO appear before the
(5eneral Assembly relative to the taxation
O. property and estates; the recommit-
ment of the Board resolution ordering the
lane to Transit street under the better
ment act to give a public hearing to re-
monstrants owning the majority of the
abntting property; directing the commits
sioner of public works TO withhold permits
TO move buildings until approved by the
City Council creating special committee
to which shall be referred the purchase of
land by the city Tor any purpose; direct
ing the Park Commissioners to erect n
suitable pedestal for the Dexter
monument sns "a at ooo. an ,tn expense a, not not
issuance af highway loan in the sum OF
81 100000, appropriating $4,000 for the
extension of the Gamewell police signal
system and seeking authority from the
General Assembly 10 make all the city
loans payable in gold. The Council will
meet again on the 10th inst.
Roger Williams Park Extension.
The resolution directing the city solici-
tor To apply TO the General Assembly for
the right to hire S100, 900 for the purchase
OF land for public park purposes, which
was made n special order for this meet
call TO order. MIR. Angel moved
that the Council go into execu-
tive session TO consider the matter
but Mr.. Vaughan thought that the busi-
ness could be transacted fully as we'll in
open session and it was SO voted
MT. NOSt lneU mONCl lUdt lne TcSOlu-
zion be indefinitely postponed as il would
tend to give the outside public
the idea that the Council was
trying to "hedge" on the claims
low ON trial in court. He said that the
people who were instigating claims
Tor damages on. the condemned
land extension OF Roger Williams
Park had cases without the
slightest basis, and that it was the
opinion of the city solicitor that the reso-
luton be laid one side.
In answer TO question
from Mr.. Mccarthy as 10 the
origin of the resolution, Mr. Vaughan
stated that it was presented because
oi communication from the city auditor
calling attention TO the depressed cohdi-
tion of finances for park purposes.
Mr.. j. Ii. Kendrick said that at the last
meeting of the Council he called attention
60 the fact that there was misunder-
standing on the part OF the Council that
the money was for the Roger Williams
Park extension alone. Ii covered inn
provements on all the public pleasure
gardens.
Mr. Parkhurst then stated his desire TO
amend the original resolution 10 include
the hiring OF sufficient sum of
money TO improve Blackstone Park.
He said that there were Ste, 600 feet
of land at an estimated cost
of 10 cents per foot to be purchased, and
this, with an unexpended balance of $780,
coo from the original appropriation
that had been paid out for the
Roger Williams Park improvements,
would make the sum of SIPS 900 ample for
the purpose. After considerable discus
sion Mr.. Vose withdrew his motion to in
definitely postpone action on the resolu-
tion, and on motion OF Mr.. Vaughan the
matter was laid temporarily on the table
and the regular order OF business was
taken up.
Later the matter was taken up by Mr..
Park hurst, who called it from the table
and an amendment, striking out the
100000 and substituting the sum of $780,,
600, was adopted.
Previous TO its adoption MIR. Nc
Carthy asked the chairman OF the
committee on finance as to what reason
she committee had ih fixing on the sum
nj 100000 as the sum required in the reso-
lution. Mr.. Vaughan stated that the
city auditor had compiled data and facts
and had come to the conclusion that that
sum was the necessary amount.
Ir. Nose desired to place himself on
record as being OF the opinion that the
sum was exorbitant. lie said that to his
mind the city auditor knew no more about
the cost of the land on the park improve
ments than man on the streets, and
claimed that there was no more
need of having the sum of S400.00 than
there was for him TO Jump from the top
OF the City Hall.
Mr.. Vaughan stated in defense OF the
finance committee that the resolution was
not presented until the committee had
become fully satisfied In their own minds
that that sum was necessary.
Mr.. Mccarthy said that those who
knew the land were satisfied that the
prices asked were oxorbitant. Real
estate dealers from all over the State were
unanimous IN their opinions that Si00j an
acre including all rights and privileges
was excessive. He entered his protest
against encouraging any more litigation.
The resolution "a amended was adopted.
Mr.. Mccarthy then called from the
table the report OF the joint special COM
mttee ON the purchase OF land adjoining
Roger Williams Park. Mr.. j. III. Kendrick
called attention to the fact that the chair
man OF that committee was present, and
desired that he be called upon to answer
the questions OF the Council. An effort
was made TO have the Council resolve itself
into executive session, but this was not
accomplished.
Mr.. Barney was then called upon, and