The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-04
He Thinks TeaCherSShOuld
Be Residents.
Many Names Given to Town
Streets in Days Gone By.
The "Martial Team" the F0rerunner
of the American Band.

good deal of discussion both inside ana
outside the city hall is one as TO the right
of the school committee to employ teach
ers who are not residents of the city.
The City Council has already passed bill
requiring all city employees to be resi-
dents, but it is claimed that this does
not effect public school teachers. This
morning a mem ber of the Common Coun-
ell told the Gossiper that il the present
law was not sufficient to compel the
school committee to employ only residents
as teachers another would be presented
which would accomplish that result. 81
am firmly convinced that there should be
such regulation" he continued, land
was very much surprised when l found
that the school board has made 1t regu-
lar practice to employ several teachers
who are not residents of the city. To
my certain knowledge there are many
competent teachers here in Providence
who are unable to get employment in our
schools, because all the positions are
filled. They were born and bred here.
They received their education here and
hoped TO be employed here; yet when
they have, by long preparation, and dill
gent study, fitted themselves for such
positions they lind themselves crowded
out by teachers who come from other
places. My conviction Is that all other
things being equal we should give prefer
ence to our own residents in filling any
and all positions under the municipal
government.
"would apply the same rule to the
employment OF superintendent? Yes,
j would, although would not make it
absolutely arbitrary. That is, would
not make the requirement SO hard and
fast, that underno circumstances could
q nonresident be employed, but would
IL. yEAs
the qualifications both as to ability and
character and who was also resident
should be given the position in preference
to an outsider. IL is conceivable that Ii
may be necessary to seek a superintend-
ent oStside the city, or the State even;
but with the mum Der OF teachers annual
ly graduated from the Normal school,
teachers who are permanent residents OF
Providence i do not believe the necessity
would ever arise OF seeking instructors
elsewhere. And there is business ele-
ment In this matter which should not be
lost sight of. The teachers who are resi-
dents here add to the general wealth of
the community. They hire our houses,
they patronize our grocers, marketmen.
dry goods dealers and so on. Thus
good part OF the money which they re-
ceive is put into circulation and benefits
the public. 1t helps the people who gay
the taxes and who indirectly pay the
teachers salaries. To my mind we should
not hesitate in settling this question of
the employment of persons from outside
the city. We have plenty of talent, abili
ty and capability right here at home to
I'LL all the places that are under the city
government, whether they are in the
educational or the engineers depart
ment."
In looking over the old records of this
town one Is often puzzled by coming
fraofa or lanag ha N v,ao nf vyh hich
have long since passed out OF use and
been forgotten. Indee until 1905, street
nomenclature here was badly and sadly
mixed for not only were different names
applied to the same street but widely
different ones to various sections Of 1t,
while the same name was sometimes
given to several streets Thus it happen
ed that Ferry lane might be intended to
designate what is now Hope street,
Angell or South Angel street, as
ferry, where the Red Bridge now spans
the Seekonk or to Wickenden street,
which ran close to Fuller's ferry, which
Piled between the town and Watchemo-
ket, near the present location of the
Washington bridge. The present Meeting
street was known as Jail Lane and again
as King street, while College street be-
tween South Main anu Benefit streets was
commonly referred to as the lane to the
Congregational meeting house and later
rs Hanover street Bank lane was the
designation at one time given to the pres
ent Hopkins street, while Rowland street
was known as Bowen's alley. The great
est mixing up OF names, however, was in
the case OF that continuous thoroughfare
now known as North and South Main
street. Commencing at the northerly end
this street was known as Constitution
Hill and from the foot Of the hill to the
Williams home lot as Prince street. From
thence to the court house, now the State
House parace, II was Williams street and
from the latter point to Steepe street as
Main street. From Steeplo street to Mar
ket square 1t was Cheapside; from Mar
ket square to Planet street. Main street;
from Planet street to Williams street,
Broadway and thence TO its southerly ex-
tremity as Water street.
Tonight that excellent organization, the
American Band, will give its leader,
whose thirty years of labor as its director
have made Its name and ( anne known
throughout the land, testimonial con-
cert. Those who go TO Infantry Hall on
this occasion will have a chance to note
TO what splendid proficiency this organ
ixation has attained under Mr.. Reeves
mastery manipulation of the baton, and
what grand result has been achieved
from the humble beginnings of three
score and ten years ago. The Providence
l1rass BAND, Wnlcn was also known as the
Martial Team, from which the American
Band developed, was formed in 1925 with
Joseph O. Greene as leader. The instru-
mcnts consisted of two bugIes, two from
bones, two basses, an E-fat clarionet, n
fife and bass drum-not a very heavy
aggregation. but II played music the peo
pie liked and IL rracticed for its perform
auces In the building now standing at the
corner OF South Water and Transit
streets, the first floor OF which was occu.
pied by Ii. ~ w. Esrl's ship chandlery
store. A reorganization OF the band took
place In 1887, when the present name was
adopted and Mr.. Greene continued as
leader, position he held Tor u years
afterward, or until 1856, when Mr..
Reeves, who had been the solo cornetist
OF Dodworth's band OF New York. took
up the baton which Mr.. Green laid down
and has welded ever since with but the
interruption Of . single year, when he
directed Gilmore's band after the death