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


when the park extension was ordered
and plants and shrubbery are requir-
ed for the grounds about the ralirodu
station and Exchange place. While 4
believe that park improvements In gem
enal are among those things that can
wau better than many others, Nne
growth OF trees is so slow that years
will elapse before they acquire re-
spectacle size and / thSrefore think
means should be provided. II possible,
10 enable the commissioners TO carry
out their plans In respect TO planting
trees.
The band concerts have during the
year proved their worth of the money
expended for them. In order to pre-
serve the grounds OF the park from
such damage as is incident TO the as
semblng OF large crowds In single
spot and for the better accommodation
of citizens who go 10 the park 10 hear
the music, the commissioners have de-
cided to erect seats which can be let
nj IA small price, and IL is believed that
.:his plan will provide sufficient FUNDS
to pay for the band concerts and relieve
the city from further appropriations
for that purpose.
The place where tradition says Roger
Williams landed when he came 10
Rhode Island. and which is known as
Roger Williams square. has been put.
at last, in a very respectable condl-
ton.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The crowded condition of the City
He'll has been called to the attention or
the City Council, and the matter mas
been referred 10 a committee, Wnlch
now has the subject under considera-
tion and investigation. Ii is TO be mop
ed that this committee will investigate
well the condition OF other buildings
now owned by the city. and consider
the advisapility OF removing some OF
the departments into them. III seems
to me that by this arrangement the
necessity OF building an addition to the
City Hail. or the erection OF an adui-
tionai city hail might easily be avoided
] would call 10 the. attention OF tnis
committee the old Central station, on
Canal street, that might. with very
little expense, be put into sucn cohdl-
tion as 10 afford excellent accommoda-
ton TO some OF the departments. when
Nc ed not necessarily have offices in the
city Hall. II might be we'll TO consider
the advisability Of leasing the old Nor
NAL School building from the state TX
necessary as the state seems 10 nave no
present use for II. and IL could De mace
very useful to the city in its present
need. But whatever may be planned
for the future, immediate attention
should be given to protecting. at once.
the valuable records in the offices or
the Recorder Of Deeds and the Munici-
pal court at the City Hall. When we
consider the fact that the preservation
of some old records which had long
been neglected and their careful ar
rangement by the commissioners ap-
point. a for that purpose I'm 1891. saved
To the city cutie recently. very large
sum OF money. Il is evident that TOO
| great care cannot be taken for the pur
pose OF preserving the great bulk or IN
n. 4. L.. Nfaf a
| ed i'm those two offices. All wood work
| should be removed from them al the
earliest moment possible and metallic
| furniture substituted in its place
shutters. also. should be provided for
| all windows and doors for these partic-
| ular Offices
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
In nv message to you one wear ago
| T called YOUR attention to the fact that
an investigation OF the public schools
| was in progress. conducted by a COM
mittee which 7 had appointed In re-
sponse to a request made at mass
| meeting OF citizens. held October 10,
| 1895
The committee entered upon their
! task with n purpose to spare no pains
10 learn the truth as to the schools,
| and TO present this clearly and impair
1
The committee held more than twen-
" meetings, and labored earnestly to
| make themselves fully acquainted
| with the school system. and especially
| with the reasons for its great cost.
| The committee reported on May 10.
| 1899 and their report is on file l would
respectfully call your attention to IT,
! The School Committee has responded.
| on the whole. very favorably TO the
i .trr. q f...-
| Committee All the suggestions which
lie I'm the province OF the School Com
mittee to execute. have been in the
main adopted. except as to the Com
mercial Department I'm the High
Schools and the High School Training
| Department. which the School Com
mittee asserts does not increase the ex-
| pense OF the schools and is. upon the
whole. beneficial.
The School Committee has reduced
the number OF High School teachers
| by sixteen, the supervisors by one. the
special teachers by eleven. They have
discontinued the employment OF teach
ers OF individual pupils, have dropped
the sewing and cooking. as recon-
| mended. and made many other econo-
mics. especially by a reduction or sal
aries OF new teachers and establish
ing slower rate OF increase OF the
salaries Of teachers now employed.
The reduction I'm High School SAL
| cries for the current year Is $4,000. and
| am Informed that $4,000 at least will
he saved In the evening schools. Other
economies will bring the aggregate re-
| duction for the current wear 10 $4,000
The legislation asked for by the In
vestigating Committee, providing for
the abolition OF free text books and the
establishment OF a board OF education
| OF nine members. are matters for the
| considers tlon of this Council. as is also
the question whether an appropriation
shall be made for vacation schools.
Last year the citv purchased land
and the several buildings thereon. To-
Gated at the corner OF Pond and Stew
art streets, for the purpose O.
an addition 80 the Manual Trainine
school but the financial condition oi
the citv has not been such ns TO warrant
making these additions. The buildings
purchased are now lying idle and as
there Is no probability Of the additions
being made for sorne time 1 sugrest
that the buildings be rented as SXpn as
possible. I'm order that they may be-
I come n source of revenue. instead OF q
source OF expense 90 the city. unit
such time az the land may be needed