The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-29
THEOTHER SIDE.
OF That CranStOn Com
plant Against City.
Why Water Pipes Are Not
Laid in PrintWOrkS Town.
Streets Unimpr0ved and Necessary
Income Not Insured.

some lOlk IN CranStOu are ulSshtlsHeu
with the water supply there and are
agitating not only the establishment OF a
local water works but the taxing of the
city's mains there. This brings again to
mind the long quarrel three years or 80
ago between the city and the town
features of tit for tat game. in 1898
all agreement was entered into between
the Town Council Of Cranston and the
city, by which water mains were 10 be put
in when enough people agree d to take
water 10 pay per cent. on the cost of
furnishing and laying the pipes and
water furnished at the same rate as in
this city. The leading mains and dis
tributipg pipes were exempt from taxation
by the town of Crans.on. In yesterdays
NEWS an article appeared telling OF the
disagree ca BILE feeling in Cranston and the
following statement, giving the city's
side of the case comes from an official
connected with the board OF public
works and pithily states the other side
of the story.
Some time after this agreement was
made the booming of real estate in the
suburbs began and the demands for
water came fast and furious from COM
psnies organized for the purpose OF
building city within few months.
There was soon considerable evidence
that.in one instance at least the city was
considered an easy thing, for water was
put in on plat and the putting in OF
the water mains cost more than the land
did the original spectators
Thus the city practically aided and
did most of the solid supporting for
boom that soon died. In another case
the city required bond; houses were
built on a bonus of $500 for the first ones,
and when the bonuses stopped SO did
the building of houses, and it Will be in
all probability long time before any
more are built in that place. In the case
where the bond was given the city au-
thorities will probably, hesitate TO sue. as
there is some doubt IL the expenses OF
the law suit would be recovered, letting
alone the debt.
There are on file in the Office OF the
BOARD of public works sppiieations for
water mains in Cranston, to be laid on
streets, the mere laying of which would
cost 500, 900, and the only return the
commissioners could see was one per cent.
on that amount. The requests for water
come for streets That are uDplaited and
unim proved, and on some of them the
sbutting land is covered only with scrup
oak.
OF course, all booms are not like the
ones named, for some of them have been
n benefit not only TO Cranston bat 10
this city itself. One OF the chief diree-
tors in one OF the most prosperous subur-
ban sections of the city, in the same
town, heavy taxpayer here, when he
wished water for some Of his property,
filed a thoroughly satisfactory bond with
the city auihoritios, and another gentle
man interested in the development Of su-
burban property has jled 5000 boi.d in
order TO get water.
When IL was seen how numerous tho
demands for water were, not only in
Cranston bat I'm the other suburbs Of the
city, and in fact in some sparsely settled
sections OF the city itself a while ago the
matter was laid before the City Council
and the mem bers OF both branches wisely
adopted n plan by which the city would
be secured against loss when the service
was extended.
Now there must be houses enough built
on street before the water mains are
put in or the money for the cost Of the
service. seven per cent. OF the expenditure
for laying dcwn the mains be deposited.
This money may after 20 years be paid
back should the revenue hsve como up
to the required amount during that time.
II IL not n question OF what might lie
done but what IL done for requests TO put
in water mains On city streets when the
houses were not numerous enough TO On.
sure the reSe ues, have Teen timo and
acafn rafusea.