The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-01-01
MAYORS rlESSAGE
TO CITY COUNCIL.
CONTINUED from Page Tour)

is Immediate need OF a new station in
the place OF No. IL. This fact has been
called to the attention OF former City
Councils, repeatedly, and is a matter
OF much solicitude to the Fire, COM
missioners, but nothing has been done.
/ certainly hope that you will give THIS
matter your most serious considera-
ton.
Attention has heretofore been called
10 the Importance OF extending that
portion OF our fire alarm service known
as the Under Ground system. Un-
der the ordinances granting the Provi-
dence Telephone Company permission
10 construct conduits in our streets. IL
is required that one duct in each con-
duit shall be reserved for the use OF the
city wires, free OF expense. AT present
there are a number OF these ducts
ready for use, and the fire alarm wires
should be placed therein wherever pos
sible. The Electric Lighting and 9TH
er companies are making provisions for
placing their wires unoer ground ana
certainly the city should not be De-
hind in this particular.
/ would submit TO you herewith n
list OF the appropriations OF the thlr-
teen cities referred 10 N my remarks
upon the cost OF street lighting, In or
der that you may compare the cost or
our department with that OF those
ones selected on account or their es-
pcial ecor,omies. but are the only cities
in the United States ranging in popu-
lation between 10000 and vvv.UUO IN
habitants, and -Aelr appropriations Tor
this department were as follows. VIZ;
Denver, $136, 600: Indianapolis $l65,3sS;
Jersey City, 1921. 800; Kansas City.
sis2. 600; Louisville. 1928. $50; Milwaukee,
1898. .631: Minneapolis. $4,000; Newark,
"A
$l14.0sO; Rochester. s22l,12s: st. Paul.
5000, 900; Washington, s232,264.
POOR DEPARTMENT.
am pleased To state that the de-
mand for labor, which showed itself
early last spring. has continued up to
date. and has relieved in a marked de-
gree the stress upon our Poor Depart
ment. The applications for aid last
year were less in number, considering
the growth of the city. than in any
year since 1892. This relief 10 the de-
partment proves, not only that work
has been plenty, but that men have
been willing to wor,-. The whole poll
cy OF this department has been for
years TO teach applicants for aid that
they cannot have something for moth
ing, and IL is satisfactory to know that
systematic almsgiving under such a
fuence.
An important question has arisen OF
late in regard TO the facilities OF the
Poor Department for taking care of the
class OF applicants having a settlement
In this city and. afflicted with infec-
tlous or contagious diseases. A ruling
was made in 1898 by the Board Of AL
deTmen that no person afflicted with
these diseases should be sent 10 the
Dexter Asylum on the ground that
Hhere are no facilities there for their
treatment on account OF the fact that
they are entitled by law to care from
the City OF Providence and because OF
the belief that the city institution can
well afford TO give ii TO them, the State
agent refuses TO accept the expense
and responsibility of their care at the
almshouse. / certainly feel that proper
accommodations for such OF this class
OF poor people as need not be sent TO
the Rhode Island Hospital. should be
established at the Dexter Asylum.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
The mortality from the communicable
diseases which come under rhe regula-
tions of the health department has
been low during the year The deaths
from diphtheria, scarlet fever and ty-
phoid fever have been fewer than
usual. Twice smallpox was brought
here by sailors, but although many per-
sons were exposed, there were only five
cases altogether and no death. The
greatest need at the present time for
the management Of scarlet fever and
diphtheria, the most common of the
contagious diseases, Is better hospital
facilities and new ambulance of mod
ern design. Scarlet fever and diphthe-
ria are cared for at the Rhode Island
hospital in an isolated ward built by
the city. Under n contract made with
the hospital, the city pays $15 a week
for each patient sent there. AS only
three or four thousand dollars of the
health department appropriation 1.
available for this purpose, IL can b,
seen that the number OF patients who
may be sent TO the hospital Is limited
The average has been something less
than 100 per year. Most of these have
been sent at their own request. Many
more could have been readily induced
TO go there If the health department
had had the means TO pay the board
and the ward had been larger TIL,
chances for the recovery OF the patient
are better I'm the hospital. and while
there, the disease certainly cannot b,
given to others. contagious hospita
s. the most useful means of preventing
the spread OF these diseases. This
branch of sanitary work should receiv,
more liberal support. and slept
should be taken 20 secure anothei
ward so that there may he ample room
for the reception OF patients and 3,
that scarlet fever and diphtheria may
be cared for I'm separate buildings.
Closely connected with the subiec
OF the health Of this city is that Of ;
proper and sanitary disposal OF gar
bage. A joint special committee ha'
been appointed to investigate this very
important subject and will report &
you soon.
At the present time our garbage Il
collected and disposed under contrac
with n certain person. who takes th'
most OF II out OF tho city very soon af
ter it is collected. This is an econom
ical. and I'm the main, satlsfactor,
method OF disposition so lone as II car
b. maintained The only disagreeabl
part OF IL is tho temporary depcsit n
Some ~ tho garbage on tho land nortl
Of tho railroad station Nrd that car b.
remedied Should. however. we frt
Al Impossible to continue the presen
method quite 2 serious question vii
arise and therefore. 7 thirk n vel
that this whole ma tier be thoroughly
Investigated and that feasible an
eatisfactorv plan should be prepa red
which NAV bp acted sron ~ any time
In pursuit uf their investi afons II =