The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-14
MORE ROOM is NEEDED.
Continued from Page I.

\ OF City null WuS bhkeH Oy tuc ivy
| Council Nov. TO- 1Sl5 From that timo
| to g. Q year 1853. various resolutions were
| passed by successive Councils until Feb.
| 13, 1854, when committee was directed
! to purchase the land whercon the City
| Hall now stands, and it was done on
April 22 following.
March 26. 1874, nearly 90 years after this
| purchase n committee was appointed to
| advertise for plans with approximate esti
mates of cost of the present city hall
| Twonty-ono Ilans were received ana the
one presented by s. j. +. Ihaycr OF Bos-
ton. was accepted.
The committee on Sept. 81, 1874. made
"a report setting forth that in determiu
ing the size of the structure, very
liberal allowances OF room was made 20
each department.. so that each department.
could grow within its own allotted
rooms. thus avoiding any changes or
alterations in tho building for long
period of time; and also to leave fair
proportion of the building unused. TO
accommodate tho future growth of the
city.
The long period Of time anticipated
10y this committee is just 10 years since
tho completion of tho building ana the
fair proportion of the structure. unused.
to accommodate the future growth of
tho city was absorbed long ago. Now
more room is wanted and IL is needed to
carry on the business of the city. The
problem is. how shall that room b.
obtaned'
On the Sth OF October. 1874, Messrs.
James Y. Smith George II. Corliss and
William q. II. Mowry we've elected com
missioncrs TO build the City Hall The
cornerstone was laid on Thursday, June
"a, 1875, at IL o'clock in the presence of
city and state officials and large CON
course of citizens by the Masonic fra
ternity. Nicholas Van Slyck. Grand
Master father Of Cyrus NJ. Van Slyok.
the present Grand Master of Masons
An address was made by Thomas A.
Doyle, the then mayor o. the city, and an
Grafton by General Horato Rogers. now
associate justice of the Supreme Court
The City Hall was dedicated on Thurs
dav. Nov. II, 1873. in the presence of city
officials and all persons concerned in any
way i'm the erection of the building, and
nearly the entire population of the city
and adjacent towns
Ihe elaborate ceremony included de-
scription of the building by Architect
Thayer. the delivering of the keys to
Mayor Doyle by Mr. Mowry, chairman of
mayor: dedicatory PRAYER by DR.. Robin.
son, and an Grafton by Hon. Abraham
Payne and closing prayer by Bishop
Hordriokcn.
COST OF THE STRUCTURE.
The total amount Of appropriations to
the commission amounted to $9iS, ,i9S.
and the whole amount oxpendei by this
commission was 5000, 05O %: leaving an
uncxpended balance of s42 447. ~.
The cost Of furnishing the building was
$40 2S5 80.
There have not been many material
changes from the original plan of space
allotted 20 the various departments, and
Il will thus tc seen that the natural do
yal'ty is what has made the demand for
more room.
1t acccntuates the remark OF Mayor Nc
Guinness that tho city is Geyeloping
rapidly.
Viewed from any point upon Exchange
place, tho City Hall presents striking
appearance, and It has been an object of
OF fgtta 20 fls IN 10 tyhn
visited IT, and It, will awaken renewed
interest IL the cnaDges proposed arc made
in tho structure.
Tho basement is occupied by the police
department, board Of public works fire
department. health department. depart
mont OF public schools, license commits
sloncrs board of registration. superin-
tendent Of hncKs, ana tho dungeon.
The cellar. or sub. basement. contains
the four t)-aUrse power boilers that sup
ply stosm for the building 4ho water
department also has space here
The main or first floor. has on the right
the mayors office. and the balance OF tho
-aoor Is occupied by the departments OF
tho treasurer auditor. tax assessors.
recorder OF deeds, tho city me sssngcr ana
the reception room.
The second floor contains the cham
bors Of tho Common Council and tho
Board Of Aldermen, the two occupying
the entire front and overlooking Tx.
change place. tho Municipal Court
room. the law department. Ga o offices Of
ths city Clork, and committee rooms. ana
-, tts.
clerk OF tho City Council and the lamp
department
On the third floor Is the city engineer