The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-01-01

the past in the selection OF supervisors
OF election. There Is no excuse Tor ap-
pointing to this office men who can
neither read nor write.
HARBoR.
One OF the most important matters
that will be presented TO your consider
alton during the year Is that OF prop
er and comprehensive system OF harbor
improvement. In my last annual mes
sage i called attention to the import
ance OF the harbor OF Providence, and
hoped that some steps would be taken
ITO put the city in position 10 make
use OF it's natural advantages. The mat
ter was referred TO the committee on
harbors, with instructions no give pub
lie hearings and report ON the same.
One public hearing was given. and ar
guments for and against these Improve
ments were presented. The main argu-
ments against the city's acquiring the
land and building modern piers were
presented by one or two citizens. who
were personally interested in docks OF
their own and by their attorneys. II
is but fair TO state, at the outset. that
the docks In which they were interest
ed were OF such a character as TO be en-
tirely urr1t for the use OF our present
commerce. to say nothing OF the class
OF shipping which proper facilities
would bring here. The argument that
because there are In certain localities
OF Providence unrented tenement
houses, no new and more modern
houses should be built. is just as sound
as that OF those objectors who argued
that because there are i'm Providence
few old fashioned docks, with neither
frontage nor depth OF water sufficient
TO meet present requirements therefore
new and modern piers should not be
built. The committee have looked into
thnrnfUhlv and nj
nous I'm the opinion that the city should
nJt delay beginning TINS work and have
authorized me to make this statement.
Last year an option was given to
the city on certain land and harbor
rights, at very low figure. but the
city did not accept the option. In the
meantime. however, a private citizen,
finding out by experience how difficult
II is to Law a vessel more than 300 feet
In length alongside n dock which has
less than $50 feet frontage. has stepped
in and acquired a part Of the land In
question and is preparing 10 build a
pier which shall he modern in every
particular. Had the city realized it's
opportunity and gotten possession OF
this land IL might now have a tenant
willing 10 pay i'm rental sum amount
ing 10 a substantial part OF the yearly
interest on the whole expenditure call
ed for by the contemplated harbor i'm
prNvements.
Since referring 10 this subject in my
last annual message. II has been a mat
ter Of surprise TO me how much inter-
est has been awakened in our harbor.
not only among our own citizens, but
among capitalists OF other cities.
The advantages Of Providence as n
port of entry and distribution have
hong been Acknowledged on all sides.
The establishment of various indus
tries here. on our harbor front has
been. and is now being. very seriously
cons dered. and little enterprise on
the part Of the city will bring about
aheir establishment. Providence is at
the present time. so far as IT'S harbor
front is concerned. embraced by the
two arms of single corporation.
whose interest in the city's welfare
has been shown by past experience to
be not In the least overwhelming.
I Should it happen in the future that
| other corporations desire To make
| Providence a terminus 10 direct con-
| nections with other parts OF the coun-
try. this city should be i'm position 10
render material aid and encouragement
TO such an enterprise. and should not
be obliged to leave its croniOters 10
I the mercies Of private land owners
| whose ideas of value frequently in
! crease i'm proportion to the possibility
| OF squeezing the prospective purchaser
| Moreover. this city has already dis
! posed OF many OF it's public rights with
| out a proper compensation. ano il ought
| 10 secure to itself and hold whatever
| possibilities there may be remaining
| for promoting it's own welfare. As q
| matter OF investment. i believe thai
| this city should acquire whatever oi
the water front IL can at once and
| build piers thereon as fast as tenants
| can be secured: but we shall never ge
! until have facilities
to rent. I am deeply interested in this
! proiect because ] believe Il is n very
| important line along which the city
should work for it's own DEVELOPMENT
/ If did not believe that whatever mon.
| ey the city might invest in this projec
would be returned 10 II many fold. b'
| way OF rentals and new industries and
| Increased valuations. would not cal
IL to your attention. I am in earnest
| however, and cannot reconcile mysel
TO letting this opportunity go - an'
feel that should vou not SEIZE upon !
| now. there is Fttle expectation tha
other councils vii, do so in the future
| " is true that this same subject ha:
| been suggested before bv other mayors
and that Is one of the stock argument
AGAINST ". hut II seems 10 ma weal
one The revered mayor. Thomas a
! Dovle had this matter greatly at hear
IN his day hut that would seem to M
| an argur1erf IN NS favor rather tina
against II. Fe was in many resoect
| generations ahead of h's t'n1es. end.
in the Old davs. he could foresee the nd
! varrta oes ~ Providence ~ develoDin
| its hprhor facilities why should we No
500 them more clearly In these davs
when the singie-stick sloon has deva'
| onPd irto the eve r,-a ted schooner" '
| &c ah~nlr.elv recosearv thas we shoui
do s0noe+ hing in .h,s tine MT oriv ths
we nav be reuared fNr what will cor,
ha-aaFter hut in o-for that We ma
| he'1 tho shinnsup v~hich now have.
Tho citv hps so~"~od tho ripht fro-
the General tsvar1h'~ 10 hc~rn-r mon
~ r,ocosear for .his nurncsa 49,
therefore nc'hirg etnrSs IN the wa
| of ca~rviro " ~ co-rnletinn.
| I osrne~'iv u~ce to. Won WV VT
| -, taiyn thi- v'isa and i-,onortar' s.er
re oct v-ir ~. he rea-iv eo great y
bas hoe~ he~etoro~o est'''ro'ed &c ca'
be c'e~-'v shown nv n@'ipai oo~t~o 20
v-hfch bavo hee., nrterod into F0- hu''d
,rc~ q pio~ b.- fhe r,e"~N, phovo rro-
toned --ho h~- acrui~od for hinsel
n mart ~ the r~N0~ i~~S
FINANCES.
The financial condition OF the city !
little different from that which has ex
listed for several years. An examination
of the figures presented by me for tn
purpose Of comparison between on