The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-04
POSTOFFICE
RESOLUTION
Passed by Business Mems
Association.
EXCHANGE PLACE SITE
Favored as a Location For an Ade.
quaIe New Building.
Mr.. BELCHER'S TOUR ABROAD.

The regular monthly meeting of the
Rhode Island Business Mems association
was held last evening at Room al4. In
dustrial building.
The minutes OF the previous meeting
were readsand approved. a communica-
tion from j. Finlay Acker. chairman Of
the committee on oDe-cent letter postage
of the national board of trade, was read !;
also one from the Interstate Petroleum
company requesting that the name or the
company appear as member OF the asso-
citation. a communication from the rep
resentatiye from New Jersey, member OF
the committee on banking and currency,
in regard to the currency measure intro
duced by him, has been received by the
association.
Tbe principal business of the evening
was that OF listening To- the president.
Leander L. Bslcher, speak of his recent
European tour He spoke espt olally of
Germany and of the lavishness of the
people in the matter of public buildings.
He oescrihed in detail many of the pecu-
liarities OF the country and people, show
ing that he had used well his powers OF
observation. lie said in substance: Many
of the business houses of Germany have
each story projecting beyond the next
lower, in nari ow streets, ana this tripgs
the tops of the houses very near together.
In most respects the railroads are inferior
to ours. Ihs fast trains make about 10
miles an hour.
But "a small amount OF baggage Is al
lowed and excess charges are very hinh.
Tha stations are fine with enormous tram
sheds, accommodating much longer train
tn IN We have.
Unter der Linden in Berlin is one OF the
most splendid streets in Europe. 1t runs
out to Brandenburg Gate, magnificent
piece Of architecture. Her. Is also the
finest aauarium the speaker had ever
seen. 4 he service OF the die nsmen is one
of the features that American travellers
enjoy. They are registered by the govern
ment and rerform all kinds of service
faithfully for small sum.
Ihe street railway service consists
mostly OF electric cars in which there is
no cTowdinR. There are no transfers. but
the fares arc so small that .wo fares will
not equal five cents. These as well as the
steam railways are operated by the gov
ernment.
The streets OF Dresden are largely as
phalt and are kept perfectly clean. Many
of the sidewalks are tiled. The German
stoves are queer affairs made of porcelain.
Most of the houses are 10 solid rows az
in New York. but in the suburbs there
are now being built many villas
The Zwinger is one of the grandost
BUILDINGS the speaker ever saw. In its
gallery is tie renowned Sistine Madonna.
Dogs are used for drawing loads To a
very great extsnt, and Mr. Belcher
thought many nations coulo well follow
their example in this. Tho peasant
women are robust and tine looking.
The following was read and adopted by
the association:
Resolved. That the II. /. Business Men 3
Association look with favor upon the
renewed suggestion OF locating an ade-
GU ite postoifice building upon Exchange
Place on land to be donated by the city
of Providence TO the u. :, Government
Resolved, That the association appre-
ciates tho efforts OF Senator Aldrich to
secure an appropriation for this purpose
and hereby endorses his efforts In this
much needed direction
A vote of thanks was extended Presi-
dent Belcher for his interesting account
of what he saw in Germany.