The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-17
Change of Name Will Not
Change Repute.
What the Newly Organized
Potato Trust Proposes.
Steamboat Consolidation Mr.. Murray
Not a Back Number.


nue.. No doubt the pet itioners felt very
much disappointed, but they should re-
member that street names, especially
where they commemorate prominent citi-
zens OF earlier times, should not be altered
except for very sound reasons. in this
case those tho wanted toe change doubt
less believed they had good reason, but
in thio they were at fault. They hoped
BY changing the name 10 regenerate the
repute OF the thorougniare, thing that
cannot be accomplished in that way. IL
is not the name il bears that gives Walker
street its ill-rcpute. Far from II for that
is the name OF one of the most honored
citizens OF Providence during the earlier
years OF the present century. The bad
odor which attaches to the street comes
from another source. a source that can be
removed whenever the owners OF the
property thereabouts decide to proceed in
The matter.
IL is common knowledge that the
thoroughfare is the lurking place OF the
wsnton and brazeD, and so long as thev
ere permitted an asylum there Just so long
will the present disrepuie remain. As this
would be the case were the name Bruins
wick avenue instead of Walker street.
You may change the name IL you will, but
the malodorous reputation will cling To
1t SO long as the persons who gave 1t
that reputat ion are permitted TO remain.
The latest trust to organize is known as
the Potato Trust and IL its promoters
are 10 be relied upon 1t is intended to
benefit and not to buneo the raisers end
consumers OF tubers. II isn't q very gi-
gantic affair, as It's total capital stock is
only $50, 600, OF which one half has al
ready been paid in. The trust is made
up OF dozen firms end individuals in
New York who handle potatoes in large
quantities, and their declaration OF the
purpose of the combine is that II is IN
tended to control the marketing OF the
potato crop OF the Empire State
in q way that will assure the members q
reasonably remunerative price for their
product. Heretofore they say the dealers
bought from the farmers in car load lots,
and neither the one nor the other was
able to make any money. This was dis
couraging, IL true, but the trust proposes
TO look out for itself i'm future by selling
only on comm ission, charging q uniform
handled. On this basis IL would seem
that the farmer ought TO DO able to make
q fair profit; but then you cannot always
tell how much OF the margin the seem
ingly innocent and benefcent trust will
gopbie up for iteelf when 1t comes to q
fipsl settlement.
With both the bay stean, boat lines un-
der the new, competent and enterprising
beauties df the Narragsnsett should not
become much more widely known and be
more generally enjoyed than ever before.
To the man or woman who is tired out
from steady toll and stuffy shop or over
heated and sitting factory there Is moth
Ing more invigorating and health renew
ing than a trip dcwn the bay to Newport
or out on old ocean TO BLOCK Island. The
Fall River Company which up to the pres
ent time controlled the traffic to Block
lsland. never permitted Us boats 10 run
on sunday. This was all we'll enough in
,ts way, but 1t may well be dou bted
whether this strict Puritanism ~ produc-
tive OF as much good es intended. Ger
tainly 1t has deprived many pepole in
need OF fresh air of All opportunity TO
I'LL their lungs with the health giving
breezes that chase each other over the
rippling bosom OF the bay and out on the
sparkling waters OF the ocean beyond.
The people of Rhode Island as well as OF
the surrounding States are largely en-
gagged in conhniug and trying work.
very large majority OF them cannot afford
90 take day OF leisure TO go down the
rive'. Such loss OF time means CON
sequent loss OF ear ing power which with
most of the wage workers here is Q mat
ter Of no small moment. Why should these
steady toilers be deprived OF an oppor-
tunity to gain renewed strength and vigor
by decent, decorous and quiet trip
down the beautiful bay, on the one day OF
rest out of seven they have at their dis
posal? To claim that such trip would
he desecration OF Sunday is to mako
on assertion that no sensible, liberal or
brosdminded man will care to support.
few years ago an attempt was made
by the summer sojouruers in Newport.
those pete of fortune who can ny TO more
favored climes before the first breath OF
disssrees bic weather, 10 stop he excursion
steamers from landing there on SUNDAY.
they seemed 10 believe not only the earth
but its envelope OF liie-giving ether was
theirs alone 10 enjoy. They had as special
champion Colonel samuel r. Honey, at
one time advocate of equal rights. and ne
labored zealously to have the wishes OF
Newport's exclusive fair weather citizens
carried out But he tailed, as be deserved
TO do. The good sense OF the People OF
this State Will never permit them TO de-
clare thst God's free air is to be tresthed
only BY the favored few.