The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-04


should he erected at an early date IN this
locality. Additional accommodations
are urgently needed In the First and
Third wards, for which no provision has
yet been made.
desire. in this connection, 10 specially
nots the excellent work done by the
evening schools. Tho youth OF our city
who are compelled TO work during the
day have eagerly taken advantage OF the
opportunities thus offered them 10 obtain
sn education, and the results prove that
our evening schools rank first among
si'ailar schools Of this country.
NEW CITY CHARTER.
A resolution appointing q commission
TO draft and submit TO the City Council a
new city cherter was passed during the
year aud report thereon may De soon
expected.
CITY PROPERTY.
During the year several tracts Of
unused city land have been sold at public
auction and Si7, 7S9.0 OF have been added
To the city treasury VIII lie this land has
at The same time been added to the list
OF taxable property.
The quest ION of the title OF the Mosbas-
suck river, south OF Mill bridge, was
brought To head during the year and
has been tried before the Supreme Court
and Is now awaiting a decision.
A tract of land with buildings adjoin-
ing the city yard on Eddy street, and
containing 154, 0s9 square feet, was pur-
chased for sO9,3i0.
STREET LIGHTING.
A contract has teen recently made for
supplying the city for term of three
years with 400 gasoline street lights at
cost OF s22. 80 Der light per year. The saw
ing to the city by this contract will re
upwards OF $1,000 per year. making total
saving OF over S2l 900 Tor the entire
period
The relations between the city and the
NarrsgaDsett Electric Lighting Company
are IN an uncertain condition. Under
the act of the General Assent bly, granting
to the Electric Light Company a 20 years
franchise, the city was empowered, from
and after the expiration of the contract
then existing ana until the expiration of
said 20 years franchise, at least three
months before tie commencement OF
each succeeding period Of thiee years, to
agree, IL possible, upon the rate to be
paid by the city to said company for
electric lights during such period of three
yeirs.
In March. 1895. new contract was en-
tered into, proyid.ng for 500 electric arc
lamps, in addition TO the 1900 provided
for by the existing contract, for the sum
OF 80 cents per night for each lamp, TO bs
paid for the whole OF said 1900 lamps and
extending the contract for period of
hye years after the expiration of the three
years contract then in existence. The
question of the validity of scch a contract
To bind the city, esreoially for period
longer than years after the expiration
OF the then existing contract, has been
raised and, for the interests OF all parties
should be definitely settled by
Judicial decision az soon as possible. ]
would therefore recommend that a special
committee be appointed to take such
necessary action as will determine the
legal status at the relations now existing
between the city anc the Narragansett
Electric Lighting Company.
The cost Of electric lie hting TO this
city amounting as i; did 10 the iast fiscal
year to s22G, 1872, brings up the question
Of municipal ownership Of street lighting
plants. There Is no doubt that this city
could hujld and maintain a plant to fur
nish ell its electric lights for streets, at a
safe and conservative estimate OF $40 per
light PER year, This city is now paying
al the rate of s127.75 per light, per year.
or an unnecessary cost to the taxpayer.
for 1900 lamps, of s94, $50 per year. These
ngures are caiculsted to make our citizens
ponder and consider why we should nav
his excessively large sum when, by owo-
Ing our own plant, such great saving
could be made. The saving of this
amount would have made unnecessary
The increase of the tex rate from 81 go to
Sl.6o the present fiscal year. / would sug-
,est that the special committee to which
have already referred might also con-
'ides the questions of the cost of electric |
lighting, and of municipal ownership of |
,he electric street lighting plant.
STREET RAILWAYS.
The question OF free transfer tickets |
VAS exhaustively discussed and con- |
idored during the year. A joint special |
committee was appointed by the City |
to confer with the Union Rail- |
,oad Company in reference to the estsb-
ishment OF proper system of transfer
ickets ON all street railways within the |
'ity limits. Alter fruitless efforts to ar
i've at satisfsctory settlement OF the
luestion. the same committee, with the
'ity solicitor, was appointed to make |
DUPLICATION to the General Assembly for
- Amendment 70 the charter OF the
Union Railroad Company compelling it to
ssue to every person paying cash fare.
n any of the street railway lines within
he city limits, transfer ticket which
would entitle such person to continue his
Quincy on any intersecting Tins, 10 any
ther point within the city limits not in
he same direction from which he came,
nd said committee was instructed
~ Noboohb " io leGlSlhIlOn. |
n spite of this request of the City Coun-
III. the Legislature, entirely disregard
ng the reasonable demands of the city's
representatives., passed an act provid-
ng for system OF transfer stations, one
4 which, called the central station,
Gas to be located al or near Weybosset
ridge, and through this station all
ars we're to pass at Intervals of not ex-
oeding 70 minutes, and allowing any
assenger within such central station
ne free transfer 10 any other car within
he station ana also for certain minor
tstions through when passengers, who
ad not already been once transferred,
light be transferred to and from such
ars passing by or through sucn stations
: old not run beyond the present city
miis. In return for this apparently
iconvenient and uncalleo for system,
10 act provided that the city shoulo fur.
ish TO the railroad company free Of all
ais and charges. suitable locations
'r such central station and minor
atlons and the railroad company was
$50 to be relieved, for period of Eve
ears. from its present obligation TO
ave and repave the highways In the city
! which It's tracks are located.
The City Council wisely refused 10 ac-
'pt the provisions OF this act which, in
ugi fQVatlOn af Tim eata ~ |