The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-10

We haven't figured it out, but we ar
pretty sure the town of Cranston ha
enjoyed larger percentage Of growth il
population in the last ten years than an,
other town in the State, and according
to the federal census of 1890 it had {
larger population that any OF the towns
except East Providence. Johnston
Lincoln and Warwick. Now that Lin
coin is divided we shouldn't wonder il
Cranston is the biggest town in the
State, only excepting Warwick. 1t must
have very nearly 1880 population
where it had 5000 in 1890, and only
COOS in 1885.
Its assessed valuation has grown
amazingly in recent years. In 1894
Cranston town claimed valuation of
9,s4i,526 and this year it is estimated
at nearly SIC, 500, 600. It has an area of
about 2S square miles and for a town
that is usually considered an agricul-
tural section. it is remarkably compact,
It's large population being concentrated
and having at command all the resources
OF city, while the trend of residence
building outward from the city of
Providence, has notably been in
the Cranston direction, as witness
the advertisements in the columns of
the newspaper Of the plats laid out and
opened to householders by enterprising
capitalists from one end of the town to
the other.
Evidently this is too big town, with
too large population and too much
at stake, for handling with any
facility or economy under the
town system. Some
other method is a necessity and
no method is so available as that of
city organization-and city organiza-
ton for the whole town. We believe
everybody in Cranston recognizes the
iesirability of u change of method and
We believe that by next Tuesday, when
he vote is taken on the city proposition,
he city idea will meet with favor by a
arge majority.
To be sure other ideas are worthy of
II would be feasible TO
make separate district OF the eastern,
r compact part of the town--an organi-
alton like that of Narragansett, for exam
lie, which was set apart from the town
Z South Kingstown, but which offers no
lain to special favor Then, too,
he town might be divided, as
lincoln has recently been, and again the
ompact part Of the town might be an
exed to Providence. But we doubt if. |
fter careful consideration. any of
lese plans will commend themselves so
'rongly TO favor as does the idea of
'aking of the whole Of the town of
ranston fine city. AS proposed by
lie charter act of the Assembly to be
'ssed upon next Tuesday, the city or
'nization seems to be eminently Just
Id fair. The western or agricultural
'rt OF the town, with its sparse settle
ent, will, in the proposed city govern
ent, have representation such
was never provided for
the town council, while
will not bear any Of the burden of
wers which are wanted in the compact
rt OF the town. On the other hand.
city organization will impose little
di'ional expense, the salary proposed
the Mayor being only 5000. ,
d for the Aldermen and Councilmen (
ly $50 each. We should !
the injudicious or lily considered q
penditures Of the average financial G
yn meeting are far greater expense h
the town than the trifles Of new ex- 4
,se contemplated under city methods. f
Iced, we should say that the city .
IN OF government will, if c
'thing, be moro to the advan. b
e of the farming section than
The compact section, and by contrast r
IA town, district, or division. the ad- q
ltages to the sparsely settled portion g,
obvious when we consider that il IA
off 10y themselves the larger western 2:
would be left with wide 4;
-itory to maintain, its roads TO pl
ID and keep in order, and its govern. q
ut to run on basis of less than a &c
lion dollars valuation--a sparse popu. es
on with miles Of road aud a full set m
own officers to support to say moth. pr
of the share Of the town debt. which th
would have TO shoulder. Nothing M