The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-12
Important Business in Edu-
catIonaI Matters.
City Will Avail Itself OF Permission
TO Condemn Land.
Harbor improvements Authorized and
ar Appropriation Made for Dredging.

The members OF the Common Council
last evening co-operated with the
gentlemen on the committee
en- education in their long ana
earnest effort TO solve the difficult prob
lem offered by the city's needs
of new high school. After three
years OF work and investigation
the committee had rejected scores OF
plans and suggestions and finally decided
upon a location for the school where
the "greatest good to the greatest
number" qualities are not lacking.
The site includes 81 900 feet of land at the
corner OF Pond and Summer streets, di-
rectly opposite the present High School.
For the committee on ordinances, Mr..
Parkhurst asked unanimous consent TO
present an ordinance providing tenn
porary clerical assistance for the board OF
registration commissioners. He ex-
planned that the time between the crea-
tion OF the commission and the election
was so short that the extra assistance
would at this time be absolutely necess-
airy. The ordinance provides for an ex-
penditure of $500. Upon motion Of Mr..
Parkhurst it was adopted, without
reference and under suspensions OF rule 10.
For the committee on finance Mr..
Vaughan presented the monthly report
of the joint standing committee relative
TO coupon bonds.
Upon recommendation OF the same COM
mittee an ordinance appropriatIDg $1,000
for concreting the sidewalks on Dexter
Training Ground, was indefinitely post
poned. A substitute ordinance providing
for an appropriation of $500 instead OF
T10OO, was received and laid over until the
next meeting.
Upon recommendation OF the commit
tee on claims the petitions of the follow
ing for he re I'M mission of taxes were granted,
George w. Benson, sl60; Henry p. Benson,
$50; Peter Olsen, s12.l6; Charles II. Sweet,
s9i.20. The sewer assessments of the fol-
lowing were also remitted: John Turner,
S3772; Thomas G. Leak, $40; Richard
Bromley, s2s; A. G. Horton, s23.9i; George
III. Leland, 1895.
The following petition for abatement of
taxes were granted leave to withdraw;
Albert V. Jencks, Sarah +. Salisbury, Ada
+. Smith, Henry Il. Woodmansie and
Charles Cohen.
A resolution to pay Billings Brothers
$500 as compensation for damages was laid
over until the next meeting upon motion
OF Mr.. West.
Mr.. Vose for the committee on railroads
assured the mem bers of the Council that
the committee was making arigid investi-
CATION of the counterweight system in
use on College Hill, and also into the ac-
cident that occurred there last Friday,
and that a report would probably be
presented at the next meeting.
Mr.. Burton for the committee on city
property, to which had been referred the
petition OF the Union for Practical Pro-
gress to use the city ward rooms for
meetings, recommended that the petition
ers be granted leave to withdraw, inas-
much as the committee deemed it unwise
to allow any private organization to use
the city property. The petitioners were
granted leave To withdraw.
Petitioners for the laying out Of Hill
side avenue. Niagara street and Stanwood
streets were given leave to withdraw upon
recommendation of the committee on
highways.
Mr.. Durfee for the same committee
recommended the passage OF a resolution
instructing the Board Of Aldermen to de-
fine the grade of Rosedale street between
Ellen street and Huntington avenue.
Resolutions were also recommended by
the committee on highways and passed as
follows: A resolution was also passed
taking 800 from the appropriation for
contingencies aud transferring the same
TO the appropriation for highway pur-
poses; a resolution declaring Sims avenue
to be public highway and providing for
the repairing OF the same; and resolu-
tion declaring Tingley street public
highway.
The High school Site.
Mr.. Kendrick, for the committee on
education, presented a report relative to
the desirability of certain property at the
corner of Summer ana Pond streets, for
school purposes. Accompanying the re-
port was a resolution authorizing the COM
mittee 10 avail itself OF the power
recently conferred by the General Assem-
bly, to condemn the land. A recess was
then taken for an examination OF the
plans, after which the question of con-
demnation was argued, with Mr.. Vaughan
in opposition to it and the remainder of
the Council strongly inclined TO give tho
committee on education the authority
needed.
Mr.. Vaughan opposed the passage ofthe
resolution, explaining that he objected to
the condemnation OF the land now be-
cause he was convinced that the mem
hers OF the committee on education had
made no effort 10 ascertain the price asked
by the owners of the desired property.
He approved condemnation only as last
resort and first wanted tho city to try 10
purchase the land at satisfact ory price.
Mr.Vaug nan then moved that the resolu-
tion be recommitted TO the committee on
education, and the motions were seconded
by Mr.. Clark.
Mr.. Psrkhurst spoke for the passage OF
the resolution and stated that the com
mittee had exerted itself in every way TO
find and purchase suitable lot, and
that the members had attempted TO find