The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-14
GREAT SALT POND SINK HOLE.

Kingston School, coupled with the SUP
port he is receiving in his own bill from
parties actively lobbying for that insti
tuition, have led to a study of the histor,
and merits of his project to enlist Stat,
aid in connecting the Great Salt PonC
at Block Island with the sea.
The first authoritative opinion we fine
recorded on the subject is that Of Col
onel GEORGE w. DRESSER, U. s. Engi
neer, who made "A survey Of the pond
pursuant to vote of Congress in 1867
and reported unfayorably to the plan OF
making barbor there, estimating the
total cost at 81, 900. 600 or more.
About 20 years later, March ., 1887,
the General Assembly enacted chapter
6l7 OF the Public Laws, ,and in accordance
herewith the town of New Shoreham
appropriated and expended $40, 900 for a
channel which, lit was said, would meet all
reasonable expectations. This channel,
however, became a mere brock two or
three feet deep at low water, as the
sand washed and blew into it.
In December, 1892, Senator CHAMP
LIN brought the matter before the
Providence Board of Trade. which
passed resolutions favoring Congress
sional action, and on April 10, 1898,
Senator CURRIE presented resolution
to the same effect in the State
Senate. 1t was at once passed,
sent to the House Immediately
under suspension of the rules.
and, on motion of Representative SMITH,
was passed in concurrence without
reference to any committee for exami-
nation. The United States Engineer
Department again gave the subject care
ful attention aud again reported unfav-
orably to the project, thus making Con-
gressional aid very remote possibility.
On April "a, 1904, without any request
or petition from the mainland towns, an
act introduced in the Senate 'to provide
for the fishing industries of the State"
was referred TO the finance committee.
On April 20, 1894, the finance commit
tee favorably' reported and the Senate
passed this new measure.
On April q the act was received from
the Senate, referred to the House finance
committee, reported back the same day
and passed in concurrence.
There was no debate, no discussion,
no question, no public hearing or adver-
tisement Of the measure, in either SEN
ate or House. Such thing is almost
in Rhode Island fegis-
lation. A careful. study of subsequent
Block Island politics in connection
with Developments in the State at large
affords material for curious comparison |
and comment. Without turning aside |
FOR this, however, we would respectfully |
ask our legislators just one question, to
wit:
After having ceded the Great Salt
Pond and the land under it to New
Shoreham, and without recovering even
oint title to the same in any formal
way, by what authority or precedent, or
ule Of common sense, even, could
hey suppose themselves justified in
Using one dollar of State money for the
Improvement of pond over which they
lad voluntarily released all claim?
The claim made in 1894 before the
and before the court in
which the matter was tried, was that
he 1887 canal had proved fair success,
ut that more money was neededl to
lake it navigable or permanent. More
yer, the dredger now at work ON the
ew passage went in through the old
nd is digging out from the inside.
One curious thing connected with this
'ork is that the dredgers are dumping
ie immense piles of sand they are NOV ,
lg into the very pond of which they [
ropose TO make harbor. The amount /
thus far is $50, 200 from
le town of New Shoreham and S25, 1000 2
om the State. The amount now asked Il
n is 500, 900 more from the town, and r
o, 900 more from the State, a total of 8
6O, 900 on job originally estimated by O
5 promoters to cost $4,000, while the @
. b engineers say il will cost 81 ,000. 900. Y
ossibly the thing is feasible if the d
oney holds out-but how much money G
i'll it take? Those who are most inter s.
ted now admit cost of 10 times what c.
ey first claimed to be enough. G
The present status of the matter is as d
llows: Early in April last Senator b
ATsoN of South Kiugstown presented n,
Q report of the commission appointed SC
the Governor, and on April II Sena- OF
r GREGORY of North Kingstown h,
owed an appropriation of $50, 900, pro- HI
ded the Town of New Shoreham raise n hi
10 amount. This was referred to the q,
mmittee on finance, which still holds
We would respectfully suggest that. q,
Rhode Island is TO go further in this d,
rtnerehip the terms Of tha co,,.o. | -