The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-23
A GALA DAY.
Pawtuxet Valley JubiIant Saturday
Over the Electric Road.

The electric road from Crompton TO
Fiskville wag opened to the public Satur-
day and the whole valley had on Its holt
day attire and gladly welcomed the new
era In its history. Great enthusiasm pre-
vailed and II the immense patronage
the cars received Is any evidence
Of its popularity the commit
tee has certainly every reason for
congratulations. The whole route was
gaily decorated with flags and bunting
and 1t was indeed a gala day in Pawtuxet
Valley. The villages. are 80 closely con-
nected that 1t Is Indeed difficult to say
where the dividing lines are and the day
Is not far distant when they will be united
not only by travel but In a common
interest In one municipality. Some of the
prominent officials went over the road
Friday afternoon to test the road, and ex-
pressed themselves entirely satisfied with
the work. Everybody was on the lookout,
In the streets, In the factory windows and
everywhere to catch a glimpse of
the first car. The horses were interested
as shown by their gymnastic perform
ances, but the first trip was successfully
made with some amusing incidents, but
without any serious mishaps. Saturday
found the residents busily decorating
for the formal opening. In the
afternoon the city officials arrived on the
Hedly's National Band. At $3.50 the first
official car left the car barn accompanied
by prominent citizens of the valley and
proceeded to Arctic Centre.
Street Parade.
A grand street parade took place
through the principal streets made up as
follows: Chief marshal, Rev. j. "A. Fan
team; honorary staff composed of business
men on horseback; Union Cornct Band,
22pieces, w. 5. Conncll leader; Warwick
Temperance Cadets, Captain w. II. Ber-
gin, "a muskets; Natick Fire Brigade,
eSan, r Msr Ds chief engineer, 50 men;
20 men; Warwick Fire Department, w. L.
Arnold chief; Hose Companies and 2,
Hook and Ladder Company ! and 2 with
apparatus as men; Warwick Cadsts
Drum Cops, Crompton Fire Department,
James Commiskey, chief engineer; three
ment, w. Y. Lewis, chief engineer, three
companies, 30 men; Societe st. Jean
Baptiste, Joseph Gagnop. marshal, 125
men; Young Mems Athletic Club, Arctic
Center, 60 men; Young Mems Athletic
Club, Phenix, 40 men, which made q very
imposing appearance.
Met the Car.
The procession met the car with rail-
road officials at the railroad crossing at
Arctic and escorted them to tho band
stand, where the Hon. Henry l.. Green
addressed the vast concourse Of people
briefly and forcibly on the growth and
material progress of the valley. After the
exercises here the car with the officials
returned to River Point, where the
National BAN played a few selections
while the line OF procession was forming.
The scene was pretty and picturesque.
The large business blocks of Pixies, Elan
buildings were decorated with q lavish
display OF draped flags and bunting. The
arch ut the end of the bridge with the
word welcome formed by colored cleo
trio lights and the large star
on Pikes's block showed mp brilliantly
Bridge and surroundings exhibited show
ing the appearance OF the locality In 1874,
which conSrasted greatly with the place
as it now looks.
Procession at Clyde Bridge.
The following bodies, escorted by the
National Band, and followed by carriages
containing officials, the Town Council,
and prominent ci~tizens, formed on Clyde
Bridge under the direction of Chief
Marshal JOSEPH b. Holmes. Aids, Z. G..
Capwell, A. +. Hill; Warwick Temper
ance Cadets, "a m~uskets; River Point fire
Fiskville fire brigade, 20 men; Vigiiant
fire brigade OF Apponaug, Is men, with
apparatus, Crompton Fire Brigade, J.
Commiskey chief; three companies OF 80
men, Natick Fire Brigade, 30 men Phenix
Fire Department, 20 men, n paraded the
principal streets of River Point fire dis
trict. On their return, addresses were de-
livered from the piazza of the Clyde
Hotel by the Hon. Henry l..
Green, Robert Reoch md Others. The
band gave an excellent concert and al
though the rain somewhat dampcned the
ardor of the large audience tho R,agnif-
cent display OF fireworks was a fitting
ending to an eventful day in tho history
OF the Pawtuxet Valley.