The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-29

that Il seems all the more desirable that such
contributions should be expended upon tho
important waterways OF the State, which will
dov slop 10 the highest degree its commerce. As
before stated, the original project for the i'm
provement OF Providence river having been
completed. there will be no further i'm
provements unless more appropriations are
secured. II Is necessary that better and
wider channel should be obtained below Fields
Point, and to that end recommend that you
urge our 10 presentatives I'm Congress to usa
their efforts 70 secure appropriations for the
further improvement OF Providence river.
The greatly increased size of modern carry
ing vessels and the improved methods Of hand
ling fr sight have Scrously lcssened the vl.fuc Of
wharves built In the old way and not supplied
with the best mechanical appliances I'm
proved dockage facilities are essential for
the development of our shipping business as Is
the securing Of tetter appro iches. alluded
In my me sge Of iast year to the desrabihty
of State municipal ownership Of docks, and
there are ncv indications that the city of
Providence Is preparing to take action that
will enable IL 10 control and enlarge the dock
age facilities within its limits. Pawtuclet
river, VIII ch IL itself tidal stream, might with
profit 20 the State b. further improved with
reasonable prosre, It's Il permanence to a chan
mel depth OF rs feet, but saca a1 improvement
would necessitate changes in the drawbrisges
crossing the river which are considered great
obstruction 10 navigation.
TIL matter OF obs. ructi0n by bridges requires
consf Iteration In ,an cotton with the subjscs
Of harbor improvements. Besides the bridges
across the Pawtucket river there struc-
lures at Wa-ren, harrington and those span
ming the Seaccnnet ri-er that are receiving the
attention OF the U. s. War Department In re-
gard to tie Scsconuet riyer bridg - il may be
said that slthoagh in July. ls93 the secretary
Of war issued orders that the Old Colony Ra
road Cas- bridge should be provided before
the first OF January following with a clear
draw span 10 feet wide, nothing has yet been
done by the comp my. The State has given
permission 10 ths United States 10 open a
channel thr gh.tho bridge whenever simil.
lar channel shall have been made through the
rairog bridge II should be our policy 20
render II o national government all pos abe
assistance In removing any form Of obstruc-
tion 70 NAVIGATION, having regard TO the gen.
eral Interests OF commerce rather than tho
convenience OF l)c.,lities.
An increas.ns amount Of attention and care
is requ red from the harbor commissioners q
chc,k enJroachments, and regulate dumping
In the waters. During the past year the com
misioners have granted large number OF IL
censes for the erection OF wharves and other
structures. Such privileges, including the re-
clsmation Of land from tidewater granted by
the State 70 private individuals are n OF
much value, ,.and 10 would seem just tl-t an
adequate compensation should be repaired
from the grantee. In Massachusetts a charge
per cuh, yard OF tidewater displaced by an
Improvement Is male and collected from the
party benefited The state has already set a
precedent for requiring compensation for
privilt ges granted, ly selling TO the city OF
Providence for large sum its interest in tide
flowed lands OF a certain area.
BY an act Of the last General Assembly the
State joined with the town of New Shoreham
In the work OF opening broadway from the
Great Salt Pond % the ocean. Work was com
menced during the summer at point westerly
from the old breachway made in lSs', and
about one-thr ] of the estimated dredging has
been accomplished at a cost of $ii,0Jgs9 The
work on the crib jetties for the protection
against shifting sand at the ocean entrance has
also been commenced. The possibility OF Sc
curing by this work an excellent harbor in
locality whore il il much needed is most prom
ising, and If The hopes OF the promoters are
realized great benefit viii result TO the fishing
industry az well as 10 the commercial and
yachting interests OF tn State.
Highway Improvements.
have received ASSURANCE from the chair
msh Of The committee appointed in 1892 20 ex-
anime into the cord ton of the highways OF
the State, that report will be presented at
this session. Rec lamentations based upon
the examinations Of our main highways and OF
the methods emrloyed by the various towns IN
DufiuinE TDtlS IRE alSD DFOfnlStu.
The ever increasing interest manifested IN
highway impr Jvement proclams more visor
ously than words OF mine the timeiness OF
any action you may take towards irstitusing
methods OF construction and repair that Will
secure more durable and serviceable re ads.
But being aware OF the diversity of opinion
to methods and also OF the OF position t. any
movement towards cenl allied action, l ven.
ture to advise the adoption of any moderate
measure of reform rather than risk the post
ponement OF al Improvement, in the hope OF
procuring agrcemC mt towards more radical
Legislation. know of no question of public
policy now requiring your thought that Is
more closely related 60 the material welfare OF
every section of the State than this opportune
enc of road Improvement.
Board of Agriculture.
The work of tu1pressing tuberculosis Is
being prosecuted systematically and vigor.
ously by the Beard Of Agriculture. In 1892
there were 100 diseased animals killed by order
of the Board; 20, in 1868, and 401 in 1894. Ths
Board has also seized the carcasses of animals,
and much diseased beef and pork has thus
been kept out Of the market. II is gratifying
to learn that the pcople ar according every
assistance in this work and that there is a
growing appreciation of the DAGGER that turks
in diseased meat ald milk. The appropriation
Of SIS COO vas exhausted before the completion
OF the years work, and therefore the Board IL
induced 20 seek an allowance OF at least $4,000
for the current year. Ample means should
be furnished to continue this essential work,
especially at this tinc when surrounding States
are making more determined efforts TO extcr
inmate the disease.
Boards of Hcalth. Dentistry and Phar-
macy.
have received an interesting statement
from the Secretary OF the Board Of Health, the
length OF which elpne prevents my submitting
II In detail. am induced by ,s perusal, how
ever, TO particularly commend to your atten-
ton the annual report OF the board which wiz
be made in due cou. a.. A significant feature
OF the years work has been tie sanitary in
spection Of the summer hotels at Block Island
and Narragansctt Pier Itwas found that the
proprietors OF the larger hotels W wlre generally
alive TO the Gdrartsgcs of perfect sanitation,
and among the owners e smaller ones there
was decided disposi ion TO constant
improvement. The absence of nrs
escapes on wooden structures and
inadequate means OF extinguishing hre
were noticeable. Si.co July a monthly ex.
animation Of water sources has been under