The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-28
BROKEN TREATY
CranStOn'S Charge Against
Providence.
Agitation for Separate Water
System Revived.
What the Public Works Department
Officials Have to Say.

IL diplomatic relations between Uncle
Sam and Johnnie Bull were in as strained
a condition as are the business relations
between the city OF Providence and the
town of Cranston q board of arbitration
would at once be appointed or our navy
wonld be inspected.
The city furnishes Pawtuxet water to
the town and the city's water works are
in tho town Of Cranston. In 1890, '91 and
'92 the city accused the town Of over
taxation on its property, Sockanossett
pumping station and reservoirs, and to
retaliate the water rate was made higher
for the citizens OF Cranston. the town
in turn raised the valuation of the city's
property still higher, and so the two
municipal governments gave tit for tat
until the citizens OF Cranston demanded
water works Of their own or treaty
with the city that would insure them
water at a fair rate.
AT meeting of the Town Council held
on Feb 6, 1898, the committee sppointed
by the Council on the I'd day of January
1893 to make investigation snd ascertain
the cost and auvisabilit of introducing
pulic water into the town of Cranston
presented the following proposition or
agreement from Mr.. Robert +. Smith,
commissioner Of public works OF the city
OF Providence, VIII ich was read and the
committee was discharged on motion OF
Councilman King.
eli the Town Council OF the town of
potn 4 ka
and distribution pipes from taxation,
will agree to extend pipes ana supply
takers in said town with water at the
lowest rates charged under the same con-
ditions in the city of Providence.
"As TO the other property belonging to
the city in said town, II 1t is assessed
above fair valuation, that can be ad-
justed Ivy proper legal proceedings.
"The present requirement in the city
of Providence for extension of water
mains IL that the income shnll amount to
per cent. OF the cost OF furnishing END
laying the water pipes. Any guarantees
that are now In force in said town will
be scaled down to this basis In case saia
Town Council will agree to the above
conditions"
Upon the reading OF this communica-
tion before the Council, the following
motion was passed.
"Upon consideration OF tho foregoing
proposition OF the commissioner of pub
lie works OF the city of Providence, it is
voted, unanimously, to accept it."
The town fathers OF Gran ston now say
that since this agreement has been In
force tho town has fulfilled its part, by
exempting the city from taxation TO the
amount OF 5000 year; but the city now
refuses to abide by the old treaty.
The city has broken its side OF the
compromise, II is asserted, by refusing
To put wster on Auburn Plateau and into
several houses in Auburn.
Wood, Harmon q Company have paid
the taxes due on Auburn Plateau under
protest on the ground that the existing
agreement with the city OF Providence
has been broken.
In order to obtain pawtuxet water now,
people in Cranston must pay the cost of
pipes, lator, etc., and Whenever the in
vestmcnt will psy7 per cent. per year
interest the city will buy II. This plan is
objected to because the city VIII not say
how much they will paw for the pure chase.
Two parties are springing up In Gran
ston one IN favor OF wator works in
Crsnston. 'or Cransion and owned by
Cranston. The second faction is IN ravor OF
Council meeting in special session md
ordering the assessors TO apprsise the city
property untaxed and tax II for this year.
Thus the matter stands at present.