The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-12
BEST FOR
THE CITY
To Keep the New EX-
change Place Open.
THE MATTER DISCUSSED
At Meeting of the Beacon Hill I'm.
pr0vement Society.
MR.. ALFRED STONES SCHEME.

At the meeting OF the Beacon Hill Im-
provemsnt Society held last night the
layout OF the New Exchange place was
discussed. Mr.. Aired Stone said that
previous to the partial destruction OF the
old station there was a strong feeling
that the old building. which was a very
notable 1ne, should be preserved. But
thst question was decided ty the fire,
and that building will be remoyd. That,
Mr. Stone said. would leave about 30
acras Of land in the centre OF the city to
be- disposed of In some way. He had made
n plan utilizing a portion OF this land by
continuing Washington street across Dor
rance street and onto Canal street as
welt as Fulton street. making the latter
wider. The "trip OF land between these
two streets could he laid out as an espla
made, with shade trees, md could be used
10 better advantage than the present Ex-
change place for laIHe bodies forming
parcues At present tho formation of
par.des interferes TO greater or lesser ex-
tent with people going to and from the
station, and If the lines of Washington
street were continued through the
orened land. ana West Exchange street
continued across, with sweep around
the irregular piece OF land, that would
still he Kept In front OF the new station
at Its easteriy end. There were some who
thought this land ought to be used for
commercial purposes. but he considered
that the city would be just as we'll of in
five years time IL the plnce wns Kept open.
Mr.. Augustine b Jones said that he
thought the spIece should 10 kept open
for public breathing placp IL Is i'm
~ ar n
tages to the city of Providence lie re-
ferrsd To- the large area kent open In the
city OF Boston, and the advantages de
rived hy the city. Mr.. Jones said he had
visired many places across the water, ard
in England particularly, he said. one Is
immediately impressed with town upon
leaving the railroad station by the gene
tal surroundings. II Exchange place was
laid out properly he believed that 70
would be such an attraction TO strangers
passing through or stopping in the city
that fipancial benefits might be derived
by reason OF inducing more capital 10
come here. This ought To be kept rs n
breathing place, md further than that
Mr.. Jones said if he had his way he
" would encircls the entire citv with parks
He spoke OF the necessity for cleansing
tho river Of tho Impurities which are
placed In It. and said the city OF Provi-
dencs ought to do everything possible 60
cause all waste matter tn he removed.
Mr. Jones said when the new state
house was first talked up the pictures
shown were magnificent. The marble
palace on tho hill. overlooking the new
station aud ths city hall and perhaps n
new postoflice building, with tue state
normal school near bv, and tne surround
Ing ground nicely laid out, was certainly
a nice picture. Hut the scene 1ow is
different from the picture. Mt. Jones
said bo never expected To SOC tho long
lines Of freight cars between the stats
louso ard the lew station, aud he hoped
the view would not be still further
spelled by tunnel ~ the station lie
believed system Of train shtds should be
prov ovideu-somsthing Ike those at the
Union station in Boston, hDd not such
ss the railroad company first proposed ia
the City Council