The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-23
IN JOINT CONVENTION.

| The joint convention was called to
I order by Mayor Baker and then the
| resolution was read Ii provides that
the city may borrow $4,000 i'm add-
ton TO the amount already authorized,
| which is 500 900, to purchase rights and
! construct "A bulkhead wall and piers in
the Providence harbor.
! Mayor Baker explained that the COM
mittee on harbors had held several
Z, meetings with the committee OF the
| Board of Trade, and he spoke OF the
! the Importance OF making Providence
one OF the important ports OF the At
/ lantic coast. He said that this would
/ never be done by private enterprise, as
/ few individuals who owned property on
/ the water front had the means to un-
| dertake the work. He explained the
! desire OF certain steamship companies
| for improved facilities of dockage, and
the present time was thought oppor-
ttrrc-tU rrrrkr-tfrc- improvements
He then spoke OF the proposition
made by the Taber heirs to cede their
property from 500 TO 1000 feet in length.
amounting to 100000 square feet, to
the city at a certain price per foot, and
he thought that this land would be all
that would be needed for several years
TO come. The Taber heirs had offered
the city an option OF the land for sixty
days at 6 cents "A foot This he thought
was an excellent opportunity TO secure
very reasonable price.
CITY Solicitor Colwell was called up
on, and he explained the rights of ri
parian Owners and also spoke upon the
travel of the case up 10 the present
time. After speaking upon the legal
aspect of the case he said that the Of
fer made by the Taber heirs was a
providential opportunity. in his opn-
ion, and one that he would recommend
to a private client as something to be
adopted.
A recess was taken TO enable the
members of the city council to examine
the plans, and when the joint conven-
ton was recalled to order the estimates
of the city engineer were read as fol-
lows:
Cost of bulkhead wall, complete. as
per section shown. 1000 linear feet, at
S92.14 per linear foot, $l47.42f
Same as above, without stone wall,
1000 linear feet, at $11.14 $llS,S24.
Cost of stone WALL 1900 linear feet, at
81, s33,600.
Cost of single pier. 105 feet by 600
feet, at rs cents per square foot. $47 $50. |
Dredging from two slips and extend
ing to channel, % feet deep, the same |
to be deposited behind the bukhead |
wall 2l9000 cubic yards ,at 20 cents. |
$43, 500.
Cost of dredging for each additional |
slip, 1l70OO cubic yards, at 20 cents. |
$3S, 400.
Amount of filling behind bulkhead |
wall $4,000 cubic yards.
Dredging in cut for bulkhead wall,
100000 cubic yards.
Length OF bulkhead wall, estimated |
for 1000 feet.
COST or bUtkhUHt waft, rUT7TptEtu, etff7,-
12i; cost OF single pier, A1250; cost cf /
dredging for two slips, S43,S00. Total,
$23S, ,474.
Alderman Freeman, rs a member Of
the committee on harbor. spoke I'm IA
vor of the proposed Improvement, and
he said that he thought this was the
time 10 make Providence the central
point of New England. The
project was one that should receive inn
mediate consideration at the hands of
the city council. ILhe favored the idea
OF purchasing the Taber land, for the
price asked was far below any offer
ever made 20 the city. lie believed that
the returns from the wharf privileges |
10 the city would be enormous. and he
hoped that the city council would vote
to ask the General Assembly for the
TO borrow the money. with
out any further delay.
Councilman Sisson also spoke earn
estly In favor OF the passage OF the res
olution. and he thought that II would
be a great mistake 90 lose the magni-
hcent opportunity offered nj this time
Alderman West moved that the whole
matter be referred back to the com
mittce with instructions TO give public
lie said the city was stag
gering under "A debt which it could
barely carry and he did not think this
matter should be hurried through.
Mayor Baker said that he did not
think that the motion was properly
made. because the Joint convention had
been called simply TO discuss the mat
ter, but could not act upon the resolu-
ton except separately.
Alderman Vincent then moved that
the two bodies then separate. and N
was 90 NcfeJ