The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-02
MAYORS MESSAGE
TO CITY COUNCIL.
An Exhaustive Document i'm Which
Affairs of the Municipality Are
Carefully Considered.

10 Stdnu the expense.
Under the contract maze with the
Narragansett Electric Lighting COM
pany, that company agrees TO furnisn
the city incandescent electric lights or
32 candle power, for the sum OF va per
year for each light; "A IL candle power
gas light now costs the city about s5o
per year; / would, therefore, advise that
hereafter. instead of putting upon our
streets more arc lights when cost
$l2775, or gas lights costing over $50
year, we try the experiment of putting
upon our streets incandescent lights.
Those now i'm use I'm Francis and Pro-
menade streets seem to give general
satisfaction, and the city could propa-
bly, save money by their introduction
i'm many OF its streets. This plan
would seem 10 be good one Tor all
of our side streets and less important
highways.
Considerable complaint has been
made against the system or automatic
gas lighting, which was installed during
the past year, and the impression mas
been made that the system Is not
success. The lamps have. however, In
some instances. been found TO have
been tampered with, and 1t Is consid-
cred too soon to pass final Judgment
upon the system.
Under the terms OF the contract with
the city, this system is TO be Kept In
use for three years from January 1.
1895. The company which has installed
IL is to keep the apparatus In repair
and working order.
Should the lamps not work to the sat
isfaction of the committee on lamps,
they shall notify the National Gas
Lighting company to that erect In
writing. and the company must remedy
the defects within 80 days OF the date
OF said notice. Should this not be done
to the satisfaction of the committee,
they may terminate the agreement. The
decision of the whole matter lies with
the Joint standing committee on lamps,
and they should insist upon the per-
feet working OF the entire system.
SEWERS.
The main trunk sewers designed 10
relieve the district annexed from the
town of Johnston, and portions of the
Third and Tenth wards, are approach
ing completion. 1t has finally been de-
cided TO adopt the method of precipita-
ton to dispose of the crude sewage OF
the city, and tanks of Portland cement
concrete are in progress OF construc-
ton at Fields Point. The discharge or
untreated sewage direct into the river
NJ that point, is the cause of just COM
plaint at present, but Il is planned TO
have the tanks in successful operation
within q year. and all further pollution
of the river and bay from the sewage
system, will then be stopped.
The matter Of taking care of manu-
| facturers wastes is still in the hands
of the committee appointed to consider
that subject. While IL may seem that
| very little has been done by them, L
| believe that they have done all that
they possibly could under the circum-
! stances 1t has been impossible up TO
| date for them TO obtain the consent OF
two manufacturing establishments TO
| Gta l..
! and consequently the terms of the con-
! tract between the city and him could
| not be executed.
! The committee has been in direct
| communication with Mr.. Mcdowell dur
ing the last few weeks, and had IL not
been for his serious illness. would have
| been prepared TO make report at the
| present time.
| Mr. Mcdowell has agreed in writing
| TO demonstrate to the committee the
| practical working of his system within
! the next three months, and i advise
that the committee be continued. AT
! the end of that time the committee Will
make a report.
WATER WORKS.
The income from the water works is
| sufficient to meet the maintenance and
| interest accounts. and to furnish a bal
| ance TO be placed to the credit of the
| sinking funds, but not enough to meet
the payment of the bonds upon ma
| turity; this, however. has never been
expected, and there is no cause Tor anx-
iety on that account. There Will be no
trouble at all in refunding whatever
part OF the indebtedness we cannot
! meet at the maturity of the bonds M
! a much lower rate of interest than we
are now paying.
am still OF the opinion that the
water rates for large consumers should
nat, "a
other cities in the way of attracting
manufacturing interests here, at the
present rates. and a reduction would,
believe, be more than compensated by
increased use of the water. and by in
crease of taxable property. The I'M
portant matter Of filtering the Paw
tuxet water has been referred to a spe
cial committee of the city council, ant
plans and proposals for completing 8
| mechanical and natural system OF I'll
tering have been submitted, and csti
mates furnished of the cost OF main
tanning each system. The whole mat
ter Is now receiving the careful con
sideration of the committee with th'
view of adopting that system which
will best meet the interests Of the cit,
and furnish an ample supply OF pure
water An early report from the com
mittee is expected. / trust that yo'
will give this matter, gentlemen, upoi
i receipt or tne report, your Ilosl lllt'i
ligent consideration. for no higher dut.
devolves upon "A municipality than tina
of furnishing to its citizens water a
absolutely pure as possible. This 4
true. not only on the ground OF publi
health. but also on the ground of com
mon honesty%
BRIDGES.
During the past year the Weybosse
bridge and river walls haye been com
pleted Before that portion OF Prone
made street from Exchange bridge {
Mcshassuck river bridge and the ap
proach to the passenger station north O
Exchange bridge can be built. IL vii
be necessary To build the river wall
on each side of the river. between thos
two bridges. There will be an unex
pended balance from the appropriatio
FOR the Weybosset bridge and rive
walls. sufficient to pay most OF the cos
of this work Application should b
made 20 the general ,assewbiy. at N
January session for permission TO us
this unexpended balance to pay the cos
of the proposed walls. This work
made necessary I'm connection wit
completing the streets TO the new sta
tion and freight yards. and shoul
commence without any unnecessary dc
| lay.