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

from ulsastfOus Hfts uuilnR tno yehf, anu
In the case OF the only large fire which we
have had, that In the store OF the Flint
Company on Weybosset street, the new
service proved OF incaculable value.
Every hose company attached thereto
immedia became an engine company,
snd having an ample supply of water,
backed by an adequats pressure, was at
once enabled TO render prompt and
efficient service. No other community can
boast Of like system. and its adoption
has already secured for our citizens sub
stantial returns In the line Of reduced in
surance rates. Insurance companies have
reduced the rates Per cent. for all build
ipRs within 600 feet OF these mains. ana.
IL Is hoped, tnat a'stlll further reduction
will I've made In the future.
Another important Improvement has
bssn tho substitution Of the central Office
system of transmitting fire alarms In
place OF the automatic system which has
been in service in the city since 1871
The new system has been installed and
placed i'm operation In the City Hall, ana
IL OF such capacity rs 20 he amply sum
cient for the requirements OF the service
for many years TO come.
II is the duty of the Gre department,
not alone 10 sxtjnguish fires, but TO use
every means in its power to prevent their
occurrence, and all reasonable authority
should O inferred uLoD the Board or
Fire Commit ssioners in this direction.
The City Solicitor has teen directed to
apply To the General Assembly for the
enactment OF Legislation increasing the
power OF the board in this matter, and.
In case such authority is obtained, u era
oan be no doubt but what our citizens
will be materially benefited.
PAHKS-RoGER WILLIAMS PARK.
Al this park, work on the improvement /
was commenced the first OF April, and
continued until the appropriations be-
came exhausted.
The grading and furnishing of the
athlstle grounds with the -cnmnlstiQn OF
the urive on the northeily side Of the
park, will practically complete the I'M
provements at Roger Williams Park.
Ihe work already performed has FUR
nished employment for a large number OF
tnuigeDt Iesidents OF the city, many or
them with families dependent on them
for support During the progress of this
work the nun Der reached nearly four
hundred for several months; the results
obtained compare very favorably with
those OF the preceding year, ard. as was
then stated, demonstrates that with
proper super vision, work Of this che ra c5sr
can be done better anu with gleater
economy than by contract
We have now park which Is Que OF
the most beautiful I'm the world and is
Justly an object Of pride.to our citizens
The careful manner in which tho money
appropriated for park purposes has been
expended IL a matter Of satisfaction to
the public and reflects credit upon the
Park Commissioners.
BAND CONCERTS.
During the past summer. beginning
the latter part OF July and extending
through August into Septeinbe Der, open air
concerts were given by Reeves Band
These concerts were well patroniZed and
proved success from the very first,
those on Friday anu Saturday evenings
being especially we'll attended. From the
success attending this series OF concerts
during the past summer the City Coun-
Gil should feel justified in making more
liberal appropriation for the coming
season.
HARBoR
The work OF dredging our harbor so as
TO make the channel 20 feet deep and 400
feet wide from Sassafras Point through
the Providence River and Narraeansett
Bay To the ocean, in accordance with the
act of Congress Iassed June 3, lSB. was
entered upon last year and has been
steadily continued, two dredges being
kept at work all the tire. The compile
tion of this work, supplementing that
which has alreauy heen Gone by way OF
removing Green Jacket Shoal, and other
distractions. will cause great improve
ment 10 our harbor, rendering possible
the entrance OF larger ships, and proyid
ing greater anchorage for them The work
Is Of much Importance TO the city, ana
should result in large increase 10 our
maritime commerce, for which our mar
Dor presents many natural advantages
The city should be watchful OH Its part
of that portion of the river above the
point where the government work tegiDs
and dredge the same whenever necessary,
mt - no n
ment will become impaired through our
neglect. A liberal policy in this respect
would believe be amply repaid by
natural results.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The public schools are one OF the most
important departments Of city admins
tration. Though the schools are IN
charge OF committee elected for that
special work and not perhaps directly re-
sponsi bls to the City Council, stili the
city must always regard with interest the
administrator of the schools, bath be-
cause IL IL OF the utmost imDortance TINT
a good education should I've furnished the
youth Of the city, and also because the
expenses Of the schools must be prov ided
for by taxation that IL levied by tho City
Council.
during the last ten years, and particu-
larly during the ,ast five years. the ex-
penditure for new school buildings has
been very great ana IL would seem that
a disproportionate amount has teen spent
for high school buildings. Our nrst care
should always be for primary education.
Good school houses with good teachers
sheuln be provided for the children OF the
primary grades, then like provision
should be made for the grammar grades,
that must always remain the finishing
school for the great majority OF our
youth.
III we are compelled To economizo in
school expenditure, the reduction should
fall upon the high schools, rather than
upon any grades below, and upon the So
ca led special l-sph laais- Instruction.
rather than upon the essentials Of prac-
tical education.
We seem to nave built grammar schools
bevond the need for grammar school
pupils, for the grammar school buildings
are not only occupied in some OF their
rooms by hleh school pupils, but nearly
all Of the grammar school buildings have
several rooms occupied by primary
pupils Inc Inference from this state
inent Of fects Ia that hereafter for con
siderable numbsr OF years we sail he
called upon to build only pr,mafy school
houses
NEW POST OFFICE.
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