The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-07

hOlt lOl uDou un utCt PAtA otA~Nst Ns~
the matter is receiving the earn
est attention of the committee on
education, and the difficulties Will
doubtless soon be overcome. The lack OF
sufficient high school accommodations
has necessitated the colonization during
the present school year OF three rooms OF
pupils at Point street and Peace street
grammar schools. These rooms Will be
needed for grammar school pupils In
short time, and during the coming spring
great embarrassment will be suffered Ia
the sections which are tributary 10
these schools, because classes cannot be
moved from the primary STthe grammar
schools, as IL customary in February,
and hence accommodations for entering
classes of the small pupils cannot be Sc
cured. 1t Is unfair TO the people OF these
districts TO bear the burcen OF the high
school pressure, aud relief should be pro-
vided at the earliest practicable moment
1t is fair 10 saw that the COMMITTEES on
education has made earnest efforts
to procure lot for the
site Of new high school. and
that these efforts have been approved by
the City Council, but, owing TO failure In
securing a satisfactory title to the lots
selected, the COMMITTEES is still without a
location for the needed high school. An
additional grammar school in the south
ern part of the Sixth Ward Is becoming
more and more necessity. The rapid
growth of this section OF the city rem
ders II almost impossible TO provide ade-
quate facilities for schools in this section
as fast as they are wanted.
Railroad Terminal Facilities. .
Work on the new terminal facilities has
progressed rapidly and favorably during
the year, and a large force of men has
been continuously employed. The total
amount expended by the New York, New
Haven & Hartford Railroad Company on
construction work upon the Cove lands,
so 'aIIsd dasins .ooCo ss Pass PTse
large sums paid for land and con-
struction that have already been expended
must surely make 1t desirable for the rail
road company to reach an early compile
tion of this work in order to reap the
benefit of the investment, and our citizens
have every reason TO anticipate that the
coming season will witness greater pro-
gress than ever before towards the erec-
tion of the new passenger station that
has become so necessary for the accommo-
dation of the railroads and the travelling
public. Under the agreement made by
the committee on railroad terminal
facilities and the New York a. New En-
gland Railroad Company, that company
is given twelve months in which to re-
move its tracks, freight houses and plant
from the present TO the new location,
that is now occupied by the city
yard. AS the city will without
doubt be able to give the New
England Company possession OF this land
about the first of March, the Consolidated
road will not be much longer delayed in
obtaining possession of the west approach
to the new station, that Is now being
used by the New England Company. The
transfer of this land for the west APP
proach to the station, am assured, Will
in no wise delay the work on the con-
struction of the new building, and
the good faith Of tho managers
Of the Consolidated Company is shown
by the commendable activity they have
displayed in awarding contracts for all
available work and their eagerness to
secure the territory already referred to.
further delay in the prosecution and COM
pletion OF t&is important work, the City
Council should hasten in every reasona BILE
way possible the delivery OF the land
named and the building OF all the streets
in and about the vicinity OF the new sta
tion.
Harbor improvements.
Now that our railroad facilities are re-
ceiving active attention and the work OF
permsx xat Improvement is making steady
progress, the City Council should give
proper consideration and full encourage
ment to the movement for the improve
ment Of the harbor. The increased tom
mage OF vessels arriving at this port has
demonstrated the necessity for additional
anchorage room in the harbor.
The original plans agreed upon between
the State harbor and the advisory COM
mission appointed by tho president of the
United States, and under which oil dredg-
ing in the harbor is being done, contem-
plated en- increased capacity for mooring
vessels which wac to be obtained by the
erection of dolphins, by means OF which
vessels could lie made fast both at the stem
and the stern, and so not occupy
would require simply riding at anchor.
When this work Is done our anchorage
ground would be made ample for some
time to come.
But our accommodations for taking care
OF commercial freight under the mod
ern system is very poor in this
city, and liberal provisions should
be made for handling certain classes
of freight by steam cranes and
elevators. 1t has been found desirable in
other cities, in fact, necessary, in order to
give the greatest facility and economy for
management that the wharf and dock
accommodations should bo under the
charge of the municipal government. Ii
Is only in that way that sufficiently
comprehensive construction can be secured
and maintained. This system Of municipal
ownership has provad to be source OF
revenue in other places, so that there is
gain to the community directly in a CON-
mercial sense, in addition to the very
large gain that comes TO the community
from the increased commerce drawn to
the port to take advantage of the facili-
ties furnished.
Providence Is so situated, at the head of
safe coastwise navigation, avoiding the
fogs, currents and shifting shoals
of the Cape Cod coast, that it
ought to be the chief distribut-
ing point for New England and
the northern sections above New England
for all coastwise traffic. 1t is not inn
probable to assume that r large part OF
tho business which now goes by sea TO
Boston might more profitably be received
in Providence and tranferred a distance
Of "A miles by land more economically and
expeditiously than to 60 around Cape Cod
by sea. With proper facilities and
the proper connections with the railroads
a vast amount of the freight destined for
Boston might be expedited by being
landed in Providence and transferred by
rail.
1t is believed that nothing could so con-
duce TO the growth and prosperity of this