The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-27
PROVIDENCE ARMORY.
Report of the Commission Made to
the General Assembly.
II Asks for Atshority 10 Wake Contracts
for the Ere. tiOn Of the Building.

The Providence state armory commits
sion presented its report TO the General
Assembly at Newport yesterday. The re-
port Is as follows:
To the Honorable the General Assembly
of the State OF Rhode Island:
Tho commission created by joint resolu-
tion OF the General Assembly, passed May
IL, lS95 for the purpose OF purchasing "a
site and erecting thereon nm armory IN the
city of Providence, desires at this session
10 report the progress OF its work, In or
der that you may give. II 10 be your pleas
ure, further authority and instruction.
IRON number of desirable sites in
sp, cted 10y the commission there was our
CEASED during the month of December
1895, for the sum of So 600, White Stone
Mil estate, bounded by Cranston, Dexter
Durfoo and Parade streets. Several small
buildings upon the estate were afterward
sold FOR sllSO and the proceeds PAID 20 tho
general treasurer. This sito represents
tho important advantage of being located
on hign dry tut level ground; of being
easily reached from ali portions of the
city by electric ears; and of adjoining the
Dexter Training Ground, thereby enabling
that militia Co put the large open araa 10
the Use for which ~ was Intended 10y the
donor. 1t Is source of qualification 10
the commission TO know that the site So
itNlfh - NshDllg u. Nht
authorities and also by many prominent
architects who have recently visited the
lCcalty upon worE IN connection with
the plans of the new armory, and 10 would
appear To be "A mnttor for congratulation
tnat the state was able 10 secure so eligi-
BILE piece of property.
Unuer the authority Of "A resolution
passed January, 18th, 1896, the commits
sion has proceeded to obtain plans of
suitable arnury building. On February
2Ith, 1897, a competition was opened 10
architects of tic country and detailed con-
ditions under which plans would be re-
celved were forwarded TO about 100 archi-
tects who applied therefor. The prepara-
tion of these conditions involved much
time aud thought owing To the fact that
10 was necessary TO arrange for quarters
IN the building for companies represent
ing all branches OF the service. The COM
petition closed on Saturday, May 10th at
noon, when forty-two sets of plans were
I'm tho hands of the commission. IL has
been, OF course, impracticaDle TO make
selection from this number OF plans ana
present an adopted design for your con-
s,ieration ana approval at this session
i5ut from several careful and critical in
spections of The drawings. specifications
and bids of responsible contractors sub
mitted, tho commission is convinced that
a suitable armory can be erected at "a cost
of not exceeding $500, 000 10 this sum
should be added sl5OOO for architect
fees and $4,000 for contingencies. These
figures include heating, lighting, plumb
ing and lockers. but no other furnishings.
The commission has asked for and re-
cctved plans for n building TINT Will net
only accommodate the companies now
organized In the city OF Providence, put
will afford rooms for several more organi
zntions that will probably be added To the
brigade from tire to time.
N q "a
mission will be really To proceed with the
erection of n building, but IL IL restricted
from action i'm that direction by the terms
of the resolution OF January, 1896.
The need of "A modern armory building
in the city of Providence, which has from
time TO time been pointed out by the ex-
ecutiye and military departments and
which was recognized by the cr,ntion OF
this commission, ls rs imperative aS ever.
1t Is certain that no normanent improve
mont can be expected in tho discipline
aud personnel Of the militia until an in
centivo Is offered In the form of armory
accommodations and facilities similar TO
these which neighDoring states have
literally provided Tor their militia. New
port Pawtucket and Bristol have In re-
cent years been properly equipped In this
resSect, and thore would seem TO be no
advantage in further postponing the sup
plying uf similar accom- modations In tho
city OF Providence. In fact, 10 would APP
pear that within the next two or three
months, more favorable contracts may be
made for the work OF construction than
at laUer time in the futuro
The commission wonld therefore re-
spectfully recommend that authority be
given 10 contract TOR and proceed with the
erection OF an armory, and that suffi-
cient sum be appropriated to begin and
continue the work thereon until the next
session. III this recommendation meets
with your approval, the commission pre-
sents fer your consideration the accom-
panying resolution.
Respectfully submitted for the COM
mission. (SigneC)
d. RUSSELL BROWN,
Chairman.
Providence, May %, 1897.
ID. RUSSELL BROWN,
HENRY d. HEYDD\,