The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-03

ninount thht empires into the Scekonk
River, is now discharged at Fields Point
The method OF ths final treatment OF the
crude sewage Is undecided, awaiting
the results OF the labors OF the committee
on manufacturers waste. A report OF
that committee was presented TO the
Council July 20, 1877, and showed that n
contract, most beneficial TO the city, had
been entered into with private individ-
uals and certain of the Inanufacturers,
ths provisions Of which, IL carried out,
would take care OF tho manufacturers
waste nj no expense to the city or the
manufacturers. This contract, however,
~ held In allegiance for the presens by
the refusal of two corporations To enter
into the measures proposed.
WATER WORKS.
The income from the water works con-
tinues TO be satisfactory, and the sum OF
$o7 074. 90 was transferred TO the sinking
funds at the end OF the last fiscal year.
During the period the water works were
being built, tho cost Of material and labor
was great deal more than THAI OF today.
by reason OF depreciation and reduced
cost OF the work, the estimated value OF
the wcter works today is less than the
bonded Indebtedness. In view OF this
financial condition, the Commissioners Of
public works thinks that 10 Il not deemed
advisable to make n further reduction OF
tne water rates at present Should the
balance In favor Of the water works con-
tiDue, he hopes soon 20 be able to make
| great reduction in favor OF large consumers
Tor NOTWITHSTANDING purposes. IL wouid
seem advisable TO take such action at the
| earliest possible moment IL the city IL To
| compete with otner communities In rates
| offered to large consumers, and i believe
that the Increase in consumption would
more than offset the cnaDge in rates. 10
| Is a wen-known fact that large consumers
| are now making extensive use II driven
fnll m nf ha M
| city water. The use OF these wells IL
rapidly increasing and tins fact may ac-
| count Tor the decrease In the consump-
| tion OF the city water during the year
last past.
POLICE.
! The high standard OF this department.
| has been maintained during the past
year Experience still SHOWS that the
| further this department Is removed from
political influence, the higher will be its
efficiency. The Dumerical strength uf
| the force has been Increased during the
year by the addition of IL patorlmen,
making the total number 2s6 OF the ar
! rests made during the year those OF seven
| persons with burglars tools In their pos
session are of the most Importance.
| Two OF these persons swere arrested
| while entering this jewelry district in the
night time with tools and dynamite In
| their possession. prepared 10 blow safe.
4 TlNB W6Tt lOCu'tu III lIl- Clbg huN
| with an unusually large outfit OF burg
| laIs TOOLS, dynamite powder. fuses. etc.
| Two.of these are now serving sentences IN
! our states prison. Three were delivered
| over TO the authorities OF Albany, New
York, wner- they are now held for safe
| burglary. Two were released for lack OF
sufficient evidence, though one OF them
WINS recognized as notorious and dan
| aerous burglar These arrests. with
the addition of the gang that was broken
| up by our detectives In the town OF
Johnston, where two y ere captured who
are DOW serving sentences In the Massa-
ohusetts states prison. evidently prevent
ed n large amount Of crime from being
| committed in our city and vicinity.
The executive wishes the members OF
| the police force 20 feel assured, as hereto
fore that they will be supported by MIN
e. the fullest extent in the proper per-
| formanos of their duties, and that no
| surer means towards promotion can be
found than faithful, honest work On
their part
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
The health Of the city during the last
| year has been better than the average
| during n NUN Der of years. The number
| of cases Of contagious diseases has been
| considerably less than in the preceding
| year. This is particularly noticeable In
! typhoid fever. The number or deaths
from this disease for twelve months end
| ing Decem ber !, 1897, was 2l, while the
| smallest number ever recorded In any
| other twelve months was 50. The de-
| crease in tnis disease is doubtless que to
! the improved sanitary condition Of the
/ city. and the greater care that is taken to
prevent pollution OF the PawtCXet River.
Nevertheless, il IS very unsafe to rely up
| on the river patrol which is maintained
| by the department Of Pubic Work, no
| matter how efficient this may be, and 1t
A, H.. traHs huf a.
signed system Of iiltration has not been
| established. It is only by this means that
certain protection can be Afforded against
| epic emics Of this disease.
| The Superintendent OF Health informs
| me that the principal cause for the per-
| sistence of scarlet fever and diphtheria
among tho children Of this city is due
| to mild and unrecoguized cases Of
these diseases. He IL very anxious to
| have medical inspection of the schools,
| as he believes that this would be the most
useful step that could be taken to check
| the spread OF contagious diseases, and L
recommend the passage of such resolutions
| as will carry this suggestion into ehf CT
| A recent decision of the Supreme Court,
| establishing the right OF the board of
Loalth to abats nuisances on the line of
severed streets, has enabled the Health
department TO take prom pt action in these
cases, and IL is hoped, that during the
coming year, all vaults and cesspools will
be abolished
Health gentlemen, Is the poor mans
capital, aud should be protected by every
known means. and with rs much vigi-
lance rs the property OF our merchants.
AL moneys properly expended in main
tanning the'publio health, and prevent
ing the spread of contagious disease is "a
good investment, and no niggardly policy
should be maintained in relation to this
department
Lelieve that the establishment OF pub
Tic baths In our city would do mucn
toward promoting the health and clean
lincss Of our citizons, ana would gladly
second apv action on your part toward
their establishment.
Ihe question of the public health leads
me 10 consider another question In which
/ am intero sued, ant which Is yearly
growing OF importance, no. only In our
city hat throughout our country; that
IT, tho tramp question.
From talks which have mad with our
Overseer Of the p0or. and upon investi-
CATION, | am convinced that something
should be done M once toward furnish
ing proper place for taking care of these