The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-26
Providence Has One of the
Best In the Country.
The People Were Slow to Pro-
vide for II, However.
They Voted Down Proposition TO
Introduce II Three Times.

signally emphasized az in their treatment
of. the early projects for the introd uction
OF an adequate water supply. On three
occAsions when the question was sub
mitteu to the vote OF the people 1t was
prising when the condition. of the city is
taken into consideration. At tnat time
nearly ninety seven per cent. Of the dwell
ing houses in the city were of wood while
. very large majority of the stores. fac
tories ana business ssta blishmsnts were
OF the Same sssily ignitsd and fast
burning material. Indeed, it was asserted
by IN advocate OF water works system
that Providence was one Of the most
com bustible cities in the world, and the
assertion was not questioned. In 1853,
when the subject of the introd uction of q
water supply was fret definitely acted
upon by the City Council, the tire depart
msnt had to depend almost wholly upon
reservoirs and fountains scattered about
the city for water with which to
tight fire. 1t not infrsquently happened
that these reservoirs or fire wells were at
such distance from the scene OF the fire
that the engines we're unable to give the
stream sufficient force to reach q hei ig b t
of thirty feet. Then, too, there was not on
the west side of the river q reservoir that
could stand the drain made upon IL In
consequences OF large FIRE, for moro than
two hours. Good luck was with Provi-
usnce In those days, and whether they
appreciated the fact or not the citizens
had good reason to congratulate them
selves on the % cape of the city from q
destructive conflagra tion.
The city was not without progressive
and public spirited citizens, however,
Who recognized the danger that msnuced
the community and who appreciated the
necessity of tho proposed improvement.
They were 1t nrst In the minority, but
later on they had the satisfaction Of know
ing that the great majority of their fellow
citizens had come to their way Of think
Ing.
The initial step toward the intruduc-
tion Of . water supply was taken by
the city Council on March 81. 1853, when
Messrs. Anthony, 0rinnsll, Carpenter,
Zach ariah, Allen and Alderman Knowles
were appointed a committee "to enquire
and report respecting the prscticabiii;y of
supplying the city with pure aud whole
some water for ell purposes"
The com uittee was authorized to employ
Z competent engineer to aid il in its
work and one thousand dollars was placed
1t its disposal for the purpose.
On August 9th, following the commit
tee made its report and . very OK haustive
one IL was. The plan recommended was
to make the Zen Mile river the source of
supply and to form q reservoir or artificial
lake on the borders OF the Seekonk plains.
The water was to be conducted from this |
lake to the city by 90 aqueduct i've miles
long, which II was pointed out was an |
length compared with AZ
squeduot. The quantity ofwatcr
10 be obtained was placed OF $4,000, 600
gallons in each "a hours or sufficient for
population of 900, 900. Tue lower sections
of the city were to be supplied ~ the
uatural flow Of the water, while elevated
were to be employed for the
supply Of the higher levels. The forced
water was to be rsissd to two different
levels-one between fifty and sixty feat
lbovs the pond supplyirg 1t. T his was
Intended for Benefit street, Smiths Hill
Ind the plains Ia the westery part OF the
,ity. For the highest service it was
planned 10 construct a reservoir on the
big hest land in the city from which q
bssd sufficient to supply tue territory on
Prospect street could he obtained
1t wss estimated that one half the city
could be supplied ny the natural flow,
'hsee eighths by the second level ana the
enaiGing one eighth by the third level.
\ vitnl part OF the plan contemplated the
building of dam above Daggett's
'riose, by the construction OF which a
axe or pond covering $50 acres would be
ormso. A line OF canal leads from the
axe to the east bank OF the Ssekonk
liver. The pumping station was to be
oeatsd at the mouth OF the Ten Mile
iver and was TO be operated by water
,owsr, first raising the water into an in
'es.sd sypaons by which II would be con-
'syed across the Seskonk river 10 the
'ity snd thsuce forced to the two reser-
'oirs for the higher levels, while
be rest would run by gravity to the
ooint Of consumption. The estimated
'cst Of carrying ont this system including
isms, earth works, canals, gates and rsts
sousss. mill privileges, ETC., was 1896, ,25s
} very modest sun 1t sppears in these
ster dsys.
Tbs scheme seemed to meet the approval
u the city fathers and the Common
jouncil went 90 far % to vote to purchase
'srtsin lands and water rights. needed
or the purpose. 1bsre the matter stopped
Ind the City Council dsciden TO submit
he question TO Q vote OF the people. The
iectors, however, were not 90 fsvorsbIy
opress ed by the scheme o. were the
nsu bers OF the City Council for they
otsd Il down end for time the water
Vorks question wss in sbsysnce.