The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-07

omfnshu mat Sucn acDon ne taken. IL
would appear thar the suggestions thus
made should, ff possible, be carried into
effect. The present service covers an area
OF about 5G-lO0 OF one square mile. and
upon its Introduction the insurance rates
were reduced five per cent. upon the
property which IL protects. and IL has
been estimated that the holders of poll
icies within the district will save in ten
years, owing 10 the smaller premiums be-
ing paid, an amount which will exceed
the total cost OF the system"
The cost OF the present service was
about sli5, 10000. and there Is no good rea-
son why IL should not be extended so as
10 include our most hazardous districts;
thereby not only affording better protec-
tion against fire, but also enabling prop
erty owners in such districts to reap the
same benefits as those which taxpayers
within the limits of the present system
enjoy.
PUBLIC WORKS.
HIGHWAYS.
During the fiscal year ending Septem-
Der 30, 1900. the sum of ss03. .9Ss 81 was spent
upon highways, namely.
from the regular highway APP
preparation ......................S2Il S2Il,&I ~
From special highway sppro-
Priauons ''..'..''.'''-,'.,..'.. B,sO5 -
From special credit account...... 1888 10
OF these amounts nearly $4,000 was ex-
pended for new work, and the balance
for cleaning and maintenance. The win
ter was very mild and the expense for
removing snow and ice was only s2l97. AZ,
while the cost for the same work for
the previous year WAS nearly ten times
as much, amounting TO s2l,l991s.
There are now upwards of 225 miles OF
received streets in the city, of which
over 222 miles are built, but OF these 20
miles are not curbed. The appropriation
FOR highways for the present year is
s25oooo; OF this II has been found that
more than $4,000 is required for clean
ing and maintenance, leaving only $4,000
for construction.
In nearly all OF the cities I'm this coun-
try the cost OF the construction OF high
ways IL assessed upon the abutting own
ers according TO the general or special
benefits conferred, and In my opinion the
time has come when the city should
adopt this course. The decision of the
Supreme court of the United States in
Knowles VS.. Baker Q72 L.. 4. ss9) ex-
pressly sustains such a system OF assess
menr The present system In the past has
led TO the development of remote por-
tions OF the city at the expense OF the
general tax. not because such develop
ment was more needed than that of other
portions of the city. but simply because
it's promoters were for the time being I'M
fuentisl i'm the city government. IL nee
essarily leads to trading" TO "a promise
to support the building of streets In one
section In return for vote for "A similar
work I'm another If the land owners In
every city of considerable size In this
country except Nashville, can stand as
sessments for street construction. i do
not doubt that those of Providence can.
1t has been the custom of the depart
ment OF public works for some years TO
purchase OF private firms and individuals
the gravel and sand needed for the con-
struction and top dressing of streets at
a large expense. ] suggest that enquiry
be made to ascertain whether the city
could procure from gravel pits and sand
banks either now owned or hereafter
acquired by the city the necessary ma
terial at very considerable less cost,
and thus effect a material saving in this
department.
SEWERS.
am informed that the precipitation
works with all the necessary buildings,
have been fully completed portion OF
the sludge presses are ready To oper-
ate, the air compressors and other ma
chinery are In place, the electric mo-
tors are Installed, and everything VIII
be ready and working very soon. While
i
OF the crude sewage several months ago.
unavoidable delays on account of the
failure TO deliver machinery and other
materials have postponed FOR time the
successful operation or the works, al
though practically everything needed Is
now I'm place. The city Will hereafter
treat the sewage I'm such manner az 10
prevent defilement where 1t is discharged
into the river.
The large sewers are nearly completed.
Sections on the Moshassuck division are
In process OF construction.
Rights OF way for the sewer TO Vans
kuck have not been obtained but the
engineering department Is at work now
on the plans When this is done 1t prsc-
tically completes the improved sewerage
system.
PUBLIC LIGHTS.
The control and supervision of public
lights is now i'm the hands of the COM
missioner of public works.
BY the terms of the contract with the
Narragansett Electric Lighting company
the price for 1898 electric arc lights Of
900 candle power each was reduced June
IS. 1900 from IS cents 90 s2is cents night
for each light.
on account OF the disss tlsfaction caused
by the gasoline lights, IL was decided 10
abandon their use and substitute mean
descent electric lights.
Acting under the advice OF the COM
mittee on lights "A contract has been en-
tered into with the Narragansett Eiec-
trio Lighting company TO supply the cl,y
with 1880 lights of S2 candle power each'
for the sum OF S24 each per year.
The contract with the National Gas
lighting company for the system OF al-
tomato gas lighting, expired January 4.
1901. and a contract has been entered into
with the Welshach Street Lighting COM
pany 10 furnish for term OF six years,
OF less than 7S5 or more than 1000 gus
lights equipped with It's 80 candle power
street lighting fixtures complete. 1he
lights are 10 be furnished for the sum
OF $40 per year for each light or about
one dollar less than the cost of each gas
light heretofore furnished. The candle
power OF each lamp will be about three
tines as large as that furnished by the
old lights. -,
the use OF the incandescent electric
lights and the Welsbach street light over
the arc electric light I'm residential
streets, I'm that they avoid the deep
shadows caused by overhsnging trees.
UNDERGROUND WIRES.
The agreement on the part OF the Mar
raganseft Electric Lighting company TO
place it's wires underground within the
close building district within three years
frp.n Iuly x 1895 will probably be fully