The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-09
Council Acts on City Hall
Sidewalk Matter.
Decides to LOp it Off on the
North and South Sides.
Mr.. Sturges in New Role--M0re
Land for the New High School.

Mr.. Howard u. Sturges OF the First
Ward Is now a Councilman OF high de-
gree. He cracked a joke publicly last
night at the expense of the city engineer,
and there is but little that's new now
left for him in the municipal arena OF
repartee.
His opportunity came in the discussion
OF the resolution offered by Mr.. Freeman,
providing for the cutting off OF the city
hall sidewalks on Washington and Fulton
streets at the expense OF the contingency
fund. Mr.. Sturges was the first man up
TO defend wide walks. He not only re-
newed his argument on the ground of
aesthetics, which proved effective when
II was only proposed 10 cut of on the
Washington street side, but he took up
the question of expense, estimated at
$4,000 for both sides ny Mr.. Shedd, and
alluded 10 the well-known accuracy with
which the engineer had made previous
estimates.
He also said that there wasn't any
money To spend in the contingent fund
nor any other fund, and other members
coIroborated this statement. Mr.. Sturges
moved tae reference OF the resolution to
the finance COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Freeman and Mr.. Water eiman were
the principal advocates for the passage OF
the resolution and their argument was
that the demands of traffic on Washing
ton street demanded IL, and that the
people who had been assessed for the inn
provement Of that thoroughfare had
right to demand uniform width and
get it.
Mr.. Truman wabbled fearfully. First
he seconded the motion of reference made
by Mr.. Sturges, then he made strong
speech In favor of passage; thirdly, he
withdrew his ''second," then offered an
amendment and finally completed the
circle by voting against the resolution.
The resolution was finally passed by
vote of 10 to Is as follows:
To Cut-President Kendrick and
Councilmen Angel. Blakely, Bullock,
Cressey, Freeman, Grinnell, M. w. Gard
iner. Gray, Kendrick, Kelly, Moore,
Randall, Smith, Trask, Tanner, whiteley,
Waterman, Whipple-19.
Not to cut-Couneilmen Anthony,
Blanchard, Burdick, Beane, Rathbone
Gardner, Howard, Kavanaugh, Lougee,
Miner, 0,Geaneii, Perkins, Ryan, Stur-
CESS, Sisson, Trueman-16.
Chairman Gardner for the committee
on education recommended the passage
OF a resolution to purchase 1890 addi.
of the present east side high school site
at Hope street and Alumni avenue at 40
cents per foot, or at total expense OF
S5320. He explained that the lot origin
ally purchased was 240 feet On the street
and $50 feet on the avenue, which was
large enough for the three story build
ing first planned but not large enough to
accom- mediate the wider and longer two
story building that has since been de-
cided upon. The ground area of the pres
ent plans Is 213xl25 feet and because OF
the character of the neighborhood the lot
should be adequate. The resolution was
dassed without opposition. 1t will cost
about $500 more for the extra filling and
excavation.
Resolutions were passed defining grades
of Loring ana Irving avenues and Clara
street
The Council refused to suspend rule 16
for the immediate passage of bills per-
mitting the Union Railroad Company
to lay rails for turn-outs on MaDton
avenue and Friendship street and that
matter was laid over.
The annual report.of the school COM
mittee snd petition for amendment of
salary ordinance relative to sewing
teachers were presented by Mr.. M. w.
Gardner and referred to the committee
on education.
The Board resolution authorizing park
commissioners to purchase steam roller
was referred to park committee.
The Council concurred in passage Of
bill transferring Sl7,50O to the interest
account.
Mr.. Perkins presented resolutions au-
thorizing committee on city property to
use unexpended balance of preparation
for TO Indation walls of the two new
schoolhouses on the superstructure, to
expend $1,000 on Improvement of Camp
street school, and s55C0 on Improvement OF
Sixth police station. All were referred
TO finance committee.
The II. l. Brown Stone Company was
given permission to remove three build
ings
Upon recommendation OF the commit
tee on claims the following petitioners
for damages were given leave to with
draw: Edward ID. Clark, Wellington
Harden bergh, John Souza, Brown Uni
vcrsity, jeremiah Daily and Margaret
Lane.
Mrs. Ann Trainor was allowed s25 and
Mr.. Emar b. Whipple SIS upon recon-
mendation of the same committee.
Mr.. Whiteley presented petition OF
the license commissioners for Sl325 TO
compensate them for the expenses IN
volved In the recent investigation. kc-
companying the petition was a bill from
Attorneys Wilson and Page OF $1,000 for
legal services and the balance of S3l5 is
charged TO fees for officers, witnesses and
a stenographer. The matter was referred
to tbs committee on claims.
Sundry retitions were resolved and re-
ferred. The Council accepted an invita-
tion from Manager Boyden TO attend the
opening performance at the Floating
Palace Thoater at Crescent Park on Jpne
20, and then adjourned for two weeks.