The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-30
SALT POND.
The Big Block Island
Bubble.
Lots of Fake in the Figures
From the Broadway.
Interests of the Islanders are Not
Promoted.


of refuge would be developed. upon the
he has left TO the whole world of com
merce. 10 assure yourself Of this truth,
glance for a moment at the statistics
collected and given to us, In the Cover
nor's elaborate speech, read 10 the Solcns,
convened at the state House today.
II would seem that the FIRST month it
was available, Oct. Is TO Nov. 2s, 1876. 55l
vess,ls, schoonsrs, sloops and bsrees
utilized its broad expanse.
For some reason no further count was
taken during the next four months. tie
stormiest OF the year; wss il because the
harges had stopped work, the steam boats
of duty, towing in and out of TIE Breach
way, the stone sioops and schooners gone
their various ways so that their daily
exits and entrances could not be countedf
Between April and Nov. 80, 1895, q
peri ID Of eight months 1864 schooners,
237s sloops, $50 steamers and as barges
avsiled themselves. Now, reader, did it
ever occur 10 you, that this may be all
true in a sense and easily accomplished IL
you count the same craft over and over?
The stesmer tows the barge out through
tie breschwsy TO the dumping ground,
six trips escn day, that makes u steamers
and II bsrces each day, ~ steamers each
week, 2ss each month, and same with
barees, when practically il is the same
steamer, the same barge. For schooners,
let Us cite the fact, that one owned by an
islander is anchored in the Salt Pond and
TO promote the interests of certain
parties, might employ her spare time
sailing in and out and with the right
wind could run mp the mum Der OF
schooners arriving and departing in each
day TO a whole feet.
Who does the counting of all these ar
rivals? Win the party let US examine his
record, for the nationality. for the size of
vessel, and cargo? How many OF the
White Squadron have svsiIed themselves
OF its anchorage? How many Sound
steamers would try to reach Block Island
against an essterly gale, and when hey got
there try to pass through the breachway
as il is now? IL such is a fact, what use
TO throw money away on the Point Judith
breskwater. Wait until you have estab-
lished Q 500 foot breachway and water OF
sufficient depth for . Sound steamer be-
fore you put her there.
Is there any one to be directly benefited
other than "the commerce of the whole
Atlantic coast" by this array OF figures
mace 90 tempting to the vanity of the
native Rhooe Islander, who, as q member
OF the Legislature, is asked to vote money
for the Great Salt Pond az a haroor OF
refuge? Is not . member Of the Rhode
Island senate a stock holder in Q hotel en-
terprise, the building having been erected
near the new lanoing in the Grsat Salt
Pond. Is not the Breachway necessary to
ems bic the daily liue OF steamers from
New York and New London to bring the
patrons OF this hotel ana avoid the expo
sure and poor harbor facilities that the
original harbor offers? After all OF this
expenditure, and more must be availablc
there Is no certainty that ut any time
heavy storm may not close the Bresohwsy
to navigation for anything larger than q
skin or q fiat bottom, center board fishing
smsek.
any money to spare for Block island
say let il be expended now for the people
who live thsre 3B5 days of the year, to
whom il Is not summer resting place
bat home in every sense, truly to them
q aarbor OF refuge. u is not the Great salt
Popo but the great salt Atlantic ocean,
out of which they get their daily bread, |
a.
herbor should have immediate attention. |
The long stone piers that were built years |
sgo are rapidly breaking mp and filling
/ he basin. They we're intended to protect, |
The fsherman's craft. when he returned |
from his days fishing. The old harbor |
Ia the only harbor that can be utilized |
by tho fishermen except in one or two |
case. where the islander owns n vessel OF |
sufficient capacity to allow bin To anchor
in the Crest Salt Pond. Then too, II Is !
not a third OF the distance away from their |
natural fishing grounds and from their |
houses on the Island.
Once landed on the wharf. II IL positively |
dangerous to the passenger in approach
ng the road, NJ the defective masonry |
presents countless holes for the foot to
irop into and to the islander q constant
monaco after dark IN getting ashore with
lis fares. II aoy money is to bc apprc-
,Iistoi by our legislature let II next 90
% repairs In tho Ola Hsroor. Let us holp
Rhode islanders first before We help hotel
corporations and New York and New Lon
lon steamboat companies.
20 wad somc power the gftic gle us
To sec oursels M ithors see us;
Il wad frae monte blundcr free us
And foolish notion"