The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-29

miliar TO the people Of X. /. than 10 that
OF David M. Thompson. Nothing better
exemplifies the diversity, ms at the same
time The thoroughness OF his training, his
ready aptitude, his easy grasp of details,
his quick insight into an intricate prob
lem, and his evidently innate talent for
executive ability, coupled with a go-ahesd-
and determination to see
through to the successful end whatever
he lays his hand To, than M. lhompson's
public services while ne was still engaged
In handling the large interests which had
been intrusted TO him and which have
made the Pawtuxet Valley famous. ii
was In 1889 that Mr.. Thompson inaueu-
rated and pushed through TO quick and
successful completion the remarkable I'M
provement of Greenwich 81. now known as
the Elmwood Ave. Boulevard, and one OF
the possessions of which the city is proud.
That Providence today Is beautined by
this splendid thoroughfare Is due almost
TO Mr.. Thomp son's Personal
effort and PERSONAL expense in promoting
the enterprise. Equally true Is the fact
that today the city OF Providence Is en-
joying improved streets, enlarged school
facilities, add the estimable advantages OF
an adequate system OF sewerage now near
ing completion, which must be credited
To the indefatigable zeal and public
spirit of Mr.. Thompson who, In 1871, as
pres. of the Advance Club, aroused popu-
lar HttCntlOn 10 Lnb utIlh1us VI thc houi,
stemmed the tide OF well nigh overwhelm-
lug opposition to the demand on the Leg
~islature by the municipality to be allowed
to borrow "a, 600, 900 for these Improve
ments. by an aggressive campaign That was
inaugurated in a remarkable ana well re-
membered address entitled 1.-The Crisis;
shall the advance of the material progress
OF the city OF Providence be arrested by
political or factional interests?" Printed
in pamphlet form this address created a
sensation and interest that might have
attached TO such an effort In the PAM
phleteering days OF the last century and
an aroused public spirit compelled the
granting of the right demanded by the
municipal corporation. The Greenwlch
ri. improvement was presented in a large
pamphlet, the work OF MIR. Thompson and
which was brought out at the request oil
several prominent citizens, setting forth
the advantages Of what he proposed and
gave a general review OF the policy and
public improvements In other cities; a
summary OF prices and figures that have
since gained renown for the author quite
aside frcm local interests, because OF the
generally informing character OF the book
and its remarkable value for study ano
reference whenever improvement work is
in hand i'm town or city. Another NJ Mr..
~Thompson's papers which has had a widc
circulation, by reason of being printed, ls
on address upon ~''Technical Education"
delivered at the request Of the committees
of fourteen club organizations OF the
State. and at a time when an effort was
being made by the different trade bodies
in II. ]. TO establish a technical school In
this city. The above reference to Mr..
Thompson is but a mere skeleton, and the
briefest possible a~llusion to a few OF the
many interests with which he has been
identified. We cannot but feel that the
great interests of the Corliss Steam Engine
Co., ~ith.which he is now identihej, are
of such moment to the city OF Providence
as TO justify our presentation "a subject
impossible to state apart from his person
ality, and we venture the prediction that
the future of this vast interest will, under
the present management, continue as I'M
portant a factor in the industrial lite OF our
city as 1t was in the past during the life OF
its eminent founder, Mr.. George IA. Cor
liss, who attained a world wide fame
through the remarkable contribution OF
his genius and invention in the develop
ment and perfection OF the steam engine.