The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-19
A POSSIBLE BEAUTY SPOT.
A Citizen Suggests Immediate Improv

A Citizen Suggests Immediate Improv-
ments OF New State House Grounds.
A resident OF this city, in conversation
with NEWS reporter today, said he
thought that work would be begun at as
early date as possible on the grounds
around the proposed new State House. II
will be recalled that on the land purchased
for the new structure are a number OF
old houses from which the State at pres
ent derives a small revenue, and will
probably continue to derive until they
are taken down.
The citizen referred to does not seem to
place much reliance on the revenue from
this kind Of property and thinks that
the houses should be at once taken down
and work begun on Identifying the
grounds, or, as he expresses it: "There IL
now chance for those in charge Of the
erection Of the new State building to
make its surroundings nearly as hand
some as those Of any State capital in the
Union, but there is no time TO be lost in
so doing. Here in Providence we do not
pay that respect to beautiful surroundings
that we ought to, considering the repu
tation Of our people for taste and educa-
tion, and IL we are not more careful and
do something in this regard our reputa-
tion in these matters may be los. i may
be little severe on the city OF my birth
but having seen other places / can per-
ceive their vantage points and how far
behind We are in some things that we
should be leaders in. There are few
neigh borhoods in the city that our peo-
pie can truly say are kept as pleasing to
the eye as they could be, with but little
trouble.
Now the people, not only OF the city,
but OF the State, have an excellent OPP
portunity to prove that they admire
handsome grounds, well laid out, by
making the surroundings Of the new
State house all that they should be. The
removal of the old buildings in which
manufacturing has been carried on with
more or less success from the foot of
Francis street made necessary by the taxi
ing OF the land on which they stand for
the new State Normal School makes il
possible to turn the old sand bank
known as Gaspee Hill into a regular
bower OF beauty. This can be done
without any reckless extravagance il the
work Is rightly started.
Some leader in the profession Of land
scape gardening such as Olmstead should
be engaged TO lay out the grounds. The
main advantage OF beginning work early
will be at once evident when il is recalled
that years are required to bring trees to
servceable size and that grass and
shrubs also require time to show strength
and beauty. We're the old house torn
down at once and the trees planted and
other work necessary TO be done COM
menced, by the time the new structure Is
finished the grounds would present quite
an attractive appearance.
The commanding position on which 1t
Is proposed TO erect the new State House
and the clear view OF it and it's surround
ings from the trains passing through the
city would prove quite an advertisement
OF the taste and farslghtedness of the
people Of the State IL those surroundings
are made as beautiful as possible. There
could be scarcely any limit to the possi-
bilities of the improvement of what IS
now very disagreed bic e-looking spot.