The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-03
CHARGE
FOR SEATS
AT PARK.
Very Little Cause for GrumbIlng.
Mr.. Osmlng's Good Work
In the Public Interest.

! The new park seats so far from being
appreciated. as they should be By every
public spirited citizen have even thus
early made the cause of much adverse
| criticism:
For instance such questions as the fol
lowing have been raised by persons who
are always prone to discover selfish
motive in all that Is done for their COM
fort.
As is well known there is a charge of
five cents levied on each OF the park
seats and as was to be expected. there
are the disgruntled ones, who reason
thus. The park is free the band concerts
are free, why then is there charge
made for the seats?
Now as a matter OF fact Mr.. Richard
H. Deming, the chairman OF the park
commission. has lahored in season and
out OF season TO make possible these
comfortable seats at the park
Since he receives no compensation for
his services and. spends much of his own
valuable time in working for the inter
ests OF the park and the public, II is
hard to imagine how any right-thinking
person could attribute a selfish motive to
any OF his acts.
Ii is but Just TO add that the intelligent
men of this city gladly give honor to
whom IL is due and realize and appre-
ciate Mr.. Demings unselhsh services 10
his fellow citizens.
But for those disgrunted persons who
are prone to attribute a selfish motive 10
all good deeds, IL may he explained why
a price OF five cents is charged for the
seats on the stand al the park
For a very long time Mr.. Deming la
bored with the city government I'm the
effort to get an appropriation 10 establish
free seats at the park. The city govern
ment refused his request, however. but
gave their consent TO the erection of the
seats in the event Of Mr.. Deming being
able to raise the money for the same.
Accordingly Mr.. Deming with charac-
teristic unselhshness and public spirit
borrowed q sum sufficient TO cover thG
cost OF the seats.
1900 seats have been erected at cost
OF little more than $i.20 apiece and
total cost OF about 5000.
Now this 5000 must be paid. and not
BY the city. hence Mr. Deming placed the
price Of five cents on each as he consid-
cred this plan the most feasible one by
which the $1,000 could be raised.
AS soon as the seats arc paid for, it is
Mr.. Deminss plan TO turn them over to
the city government to do with as they
wish.
The park seats were not created, as Mr..
Dcming declares, for money making
scheme AS some profess TO believe, but
solely and exclusively for the use of the
public.
As yet the patronage of the seats has
been extremely small when the small
price charged IS considered.
Despite the fact that 1900 seats arc pro-
vided. 300 os the largest number occupied
for a single evening.
Now word as 10 the seats.
Not wishing ~ take away from the
public anything they had n right TO pos
sess Mr.. emiug planned mat the plat
from sho I'D be built away ~0t over the
water and the seats erected thereon.
In this way not the slightest change
was made on the banks or the public In
terfcrcd with I'm any way.
Tho seats themselves are models OF
comfort.
They are extra wide being much wider
than the Providence Opera House seats
The alslcs. too. are unusually broad and
in every way has the comfort OF the pub
lie been catered 10.
II ls difficult 10 understand why people
will continue 20 attend the park concerts
and stand or sit on the banks. which arc
beginning TO be dcnuded OF grass when
such comfortable seats can be had FOR
the price of z nickel
Assarcdly muric hath charm under all
circumsi ianceH but the charm is material
~ lcssencd By the discomfort Of standing
or situnG ON damp or dirty grass
Undoubtedly M, music loving public
will awaken tu a sensc Of The privileges
which have been provided for them and
an every vacant scat.
Sents may be- obtained and reserved In
advance az Gon and Darilngs music
store or at the park.