The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-06
annexation.
Open Letter to Taxpayers of
Johnston.
Why 0IneyviIIe Should Keep Away
From Providence.
Facts anf Figures Calculated to
Check tho Annexation Fad.
% the Taxpayers Of the Town of Johnston.

To the Taxpayers OF the Town Of Johnston:
A number OF gentlemen representing
large property interests in Johnston have
prepared the following statement on the
question of annexation of portion OF the
town OF Providence.
The figures herein contained are believed
TO be the most accurate yet presented, and
are the result of a careful examination Of
the towns financial affairs:
A clamor has been raised that Johnston
needs a change. A change for what? To
injure our condition? A change to some-
thing from which there can be no retrac-
tion, no matter how unsatisfactory it may
prove, appearsto be the proposition.
A careful consideration, such as the i'm
portance of the proposition merits, will
convince those open to conviction that
change in the way OF annexation
OF portion of Johnston to the
city of Providence would be to
the towns disadvantage and no
gain to the annexed section. Those resi-
dents of the town who, as taxpayers in
terested in its growth, have noted the
progress and advancement, year by year,
OF the territory adjacent TO the City of
Providence, have seen Plainiield street
changed from a pike, with ruts and an
uneven surface from one end to the other,
to street with block pavements, COM
pairing favorably with any street in the
city OF Providence.
Hartford avenue and the road to Thorn
ton macadamized and curbed.
School buildings with every modern
Improvement erected; high school es-
tablished; and a school system equalled
only by the cities in the State, enjoyed by
bright, healthy children, whose parents
have built and own comfortable homes
lining street after street from the city
line TO Neutakonkanut Hill.
Twenty-Five years ago our neighbors In
North Prov idence. now the Tenth Ward,
were annexed to the city, and for at least
IL years all they got was their roads kept
in q safe and passable condition. Manton
avenue, the leading approach to the city
from the northwestern section of our
State, until very recently, had only a few
rods OF cobble paving, and its wretched
condition II months in the year was APP
parent to all who had occasion to pass
over 1t.
For years, the police occupied base
ment as their headquarters, and the school
houses were poorly ventilated, over
crowded buildings.
A generation grew up after the annexa-
tion of North Providence before they
reaped any OF the many improvements
which Johnston, as q town, has secured.
People well advanced in years joined
the silent majority without realizing the
improvements they expected to receive as
a part OF the city, and left their children
to seek recognition for the annexed SUI
burban district from the city government.
After years OF growth and progress,
after expending large amount on per-
manent improvements, 1t is proposed,
at timo when everything bids fair
to lower tax rate, to connect
ourselves with municipality whose taxed
rate was s16 on the thousand last year,
and which incurred an increased in
debtedness of 1855, 1896, Which would have
required tax rate OF $40 on the thous-
ami to have kept the city square; or an
increase of "a on the thousand above
what was paid.
With the following extra expenditures
in the town OF johnson last year.