The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-13
Taxes Levied on Unim-
proved Real Estate.
Why South Main Street is
Wider in One Part.
A Destructive Fire That Swept Away
100000 of Property.

For years thore has been talk and discussion
about property within the city limits being
taxed as farm lands IL has been claimed that
unimproved real estate of great valle IS not
assessed for anything like its fair value, and
that the owners of 10 are thus saved from
paying their share of the taxes, while the
mechanic who owns his home is taxed up 70
Its full value. and has no means of escaping
the burden as does bis wealthy fellow citizen.
Now there isn't any doubt that our tax sys-
tenn is opon TO serious criticism. or that much
-pEeperty that Out sht To -he assessed escapes all
levy, but this mates OF farm land taxation is
n delusion which politicians find handy TO
mako use 81 at times for party or personal
reasons. over in the First Ward there is
large piece OF unimproved property, which the
politicians in and out of the City Council
have been in the habit Of declaring was as.
pcsfed only a farm land. Now, an examina-
ton OF tho records shows that this particular
property is assessed at the rate OF ~ cents q
foot, Viii any person OF sound mind claim
that 90 cent foot is the farm rate of taxa
iiong Tho trouble is rot that real estate s
taxed too low, but personal property amount.
ing TO many millioas escapes taxation
pay its share OF the cost OF maintaining the
government When Rhode Island is given
law which viii enable tax boards to rcacs and
assess this personal property which now
escapes. there will be n good deal less talk
tion.
Down ON South Main street, just south OF
both the old and new quarters Of Pioneer
Hose Co., No. ., tborc IL what il popularity
called IA Jog in t3e street. At that point
and running southwark, the thurouchfaro il
narrower by Is or 20 feet. and this decrease in
width is all tho more noticeable, because IL is
not gradual, but abrupt, houses on both sides
projecting far beyond those Immediately TO
the north 81 them. This morning two gentle.
men, who had come up from Fall River, and
were riding TO the center Of the city on a
trolley car, noticed this marked difference,
and one OF them, who appeared 10 be on his
-srsiAer fsft-to the ei.y-ef -heref wiiiisifs-,
asked his comparison, who appeared to re a
regular soJourner here, what caused N. The
questioned party answered very promptly,
and with decision, "oh. that's the way they
do things up here in Providence. You see.
some years ago thore was an agitation for u
wider street here and the city started in 20
broaden II, but the cost was great that IL
gave up before half tho io, was coiopletcd.
and left IL just as you see II -
The tone and manner in which this remark
able place OF misinformation was communi
Gated furnished ample proof that the gentle
man has abiding affection for Providence
or its manner OF doing business. but IL he
must have his little whack at IL, he might at
least inform himself OF the facts before so
giarinrly exposing his ignorance as he did on
, this occasion. IL is trle that some years ago
there was movement on foot for tho widen.
ing and Strengthening of south Main street,
but nothing over came OF &. nor was work
upon the project ever begun. The difference
in the width OF tho street between Planet
street and the house OF the Pioneer Hose Co,
aud that below that point was not the result
OF deliberate labor or intent. hut the result OF
visitation that no ono desires to SEQ repeated.
Away back in 1901 n merchant named John
Coriis had a store on the west side of South
Main street. n.as tho foot Of Planet street.
oi the 2lst Of January there broke ont in this
store the most destructive fro that had ever
UP 70 that time devastated the town, and
which, In the amount Of the Ibssos involved
has hardly beep "xcocdci to this day Il WA,
hitter celd day, with a high wind blowing
from IN. northwest. The ilro started about
10 o'cioek IN tho morning. and IL was ,uickly
discovered HAT the primitive means of fight
ing itworc hopelsssly inadeuu ate. Tie flames
lcoped across the street. ieniting the build-
iugs on tho east side, and with terrific speed
they ate their way souihward. devauripc
everything IN their path on 10th siaes OF the
ihoroughfare
Finally resort vas bad 20 gunpowdor. end
sveral bindings 70 tho leeward Of tho his
were blown up. while hundred, of tho town
pe0pie torO dCwu others T. was tbo only hope
a. staying the progrtss " tho flames aad IL
succeeded. Tea, iog near tho Pioneer Hose
t0np1ny' sauarterr marks the southern sweep
at ihe cvnhsgration, f0r when rebuilding De-.
san th" street in the burned district was
widenod % its present proportions Tho ire
swept from No. lUl 10 lEi inclusive, and not a
building was lett standing. sixteen dwell.
ings, 10 stores. and N other buildinrs. 8, in
ail. wcro IN ashu-. while tho large amount Of
ncrehmia'sc DESTROYED brought tho total loss
up % more taan sJlODyJ. a vast amount for
inoso carly days. and the wonder If IL did no,
Tuin tne rcnmunity. ono of tho curious ro-
snlts u thi- great nro was that Congress. by
special act. romttcd the duties due ON bonded
foods destroyed, but ~ many and frequent
were the petitions for similar action from
other towns. that Congress refused 20 grant
any Of thsin. and 90 Providence has the dis
tinction OF being the only place thas favored
ly the national Government.
South Main street seems 90 havo been pro-
lihc oi hrcs In The earlier days History ana
traction bring down the Story %, blag, TINT
probably caused as much suffering Nv tho Gre.
men 10 any IN the Wbolo history of tins
town although the money loss was cornpnra.
lively small. Providence had worn its city
forgory only Eve years when in December.
1885, IRE started In the hardware shop OF
Peter Grinnell az !; South Main street. The
YOUR pYES.
XA