The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1896-12-31
Tonight Marks the Close Of
the Year 1896.
City Has Been Fairly Prosperous
and Free From Epidemics.
The Lucky Numbers--Through Foreign Coun'
tries-The WeIsbach Burners Notes.

and the events during the year have been
of more than passing interest. The city
as a whole, has had remarkably prosper
Gus history, the citizens in particular have
not experienced many of the hardships
which have been visited upon the inhabi-
tants of other places.
In the First Place,
the industries and the occupations of the
working classes are SO varied that the hard
times have not been felt so severely, by the
people of this city. AS rule each town
or city is dependent more or less upon
some one particular branch of industry
and business becoming dull the whole
community, from the laborer to the mer-
chant, suffers on that account.
The city has been free during the year
from any great amount of contagious dis
eases, the unusual precautions of the
Health Department, assisted by the Police
Department, preventing the spreading Of
these diseases to any alarming extent.
The Final Settlement
of the debt question between the old town
of Lincoln and the city OF Central Falls
is cause for much satisfaction; the issuing
of the bonds to liquidste the debt and the
bonding of the major part of the city debt
simplifies the city debt, placing it in such
a position that the city can handle it at its
pleasure.
One of the most praiseworthy, and, at
the same time, one OF the most successful
reforms of the past year, was the one
brought about by Mayor Gottschalk in
his fight against illegal liquor dealers and
those who persisted in violating the Sun
day laws. His stand taken upon this
question was fully appreciated at the late
election, when he was reelected Mayor by
a majority Of 334 votes.
The Filtration Plant.
The completion of the filtration plant,
although faulty in many respects, fills
long felt want in the western district, and
one which will be appreciated by the citi-
zens of that locality.
In this criticism no offence is intended
toward City Engineer Keen, under whose
direction the plant was, to q certain ex-
tent, constructed. II the city engineer
had been allowed to follow ont his own
ideas in full, and the appropriation had
been sufficiently large to build Q frst-class
plant, the city would not today be inflict-
ed with such horrible looking fright.
The Board of Aldermen
and the Common Council have been Re-
publican from start to finish. In fact, Re
publicanism has cropped out at every
meeting of either branch. A spirit of op-
position to the Mayor, fostered and abet
ted by the Republican bosses, manifested
itself early in the year, and was kept on
parade for exhibition on the slightest oc-
casion.
His Honor Mayor Gottschalk was equal
to those combined attacks, and in every
skirmish came out the victor with flying
colors.
The year, however, from all points of
view has been fairly prosperous, and the
citizens of this city have reasons to be
thankful.
The Lucky Numbers.
Patt Brothers store on High street was
filled last evening by persons holding
tickets for the grand distribution OF pres
ents which he has been promising his
many customers. The drawing was car
ried out under the supervision of the Cen
tral Falls correspondents of the local pa
pers. Promptly at 8 O'Clock Sylvanus
Mason, a young lad, was selected to do the
drawing, and the result of his labors was
as follows: 1910, 1126, 1889, 1140, 1881 and
1897. Anyone having any of those num-
bers is entitled to one Of the beautiful
presents.
The whist tournament which has been
underway at the rooms of Benjamin Pear
son on Moore street, cane to a close last
evening. The playing throughout the
sittings has been of an expert character,
and demonstrates tnat the players know
the fine points of the game. The follow
ing is the score: Arthur Pearson and John
Bell, 6; George Stott and John Pearson, 21 ;
Sam Pearson and James Bridges, IS; John
Smith and Peter Clare, 2l; Thomas Green
and Thomas Arthur, 81; Joseph Pearson
and William Pearson, II.
Police Station Repairs.
The joint standing committee on city
property, nnder whose direction the i'm
provements of the police station are to be
made, have commenced operations in that
respect. 1t will be recalled that the City
Council appropriated the sum of s50o for
that purpose, and upon the resolution
being vetoed by His Honor, the Mayor, it
was passed over said veto. The gentlemen
comprising said committee are men Of
vast experience, and before they undertake
a tremendous job like the renovation OF
the police station, many long hours Of
deep thinking on their part, and many
gallons of midnight oil have been burnt
in evolving the present plan Of improve
ments.
Workmen arrived yesterday at police
headquarters, and the unusual bustling
about predicted a decided change would
be made before long in the internal ar
rangements of the station. When the city
fathers OF this city decide upon a change
there Is no delay, every thing being done
in 'jihy." So II was with the improve
ments at the station yesterday. One twas
led to believe from the statements OF some
OF the economical members of the COM
mittee, that neat offices would be parti-
toned of at once for the heads OF the
H. "a