The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-05-21
COVE LANDS.
Mr.. Barker Writes on Their
Beautification and Utilization.

Editor Providence News: wish 10 cor
rect a misapprehension which observe
that The News is laboring under regard
ing the petition OF the Public Park assoc
citation relative TO the cove lands. The
petition does not relate TO the five lots
OF land mentioned in The News. and
which. as you inform us, contain 25f,456
square feet. II only asks for the setting
aside OF those lots bordering on Francis
street and containing ll0.SO9 square feet,
as public gardens
The lot between Railroad street. Gaspee
street and the Woonaskuatucket river is
desired TO be reserved for public uses"
which may include public buildings OF an
ornamental character for which centrally
located land will certainly be needed in
the future, though the corner touching
on Francis street might well be treated
in harmony with the surroundings. The
land on Harris avenue, which The News
mention has not been suggested in
any way in the petition.
Neither OF these three lots between the
Union station and the state house and
Normal school grounds touch the railroad
property or could be reached by spur
tracks and so are not valuable for ware
houses OF the kind mentioned by the
gentleman whose opniion YOU quote.
There is, however a vast area well
adapted for all the heavy business of the
city lying idle I'm the near neighborhood.
on Kinsley avenue, Harris avenue, West
Exchange and other streets, the occu-
pancy OF which, when the demand comes.
will bring into the city treasury just the
same 1mouOf n taxes "a ~ such btfeinpcg
We're located on Francis street There Is
no lack of admirable locations for whole
sale business adjoining railroad tracks,
which this land does not
We have miles ofharbor front accessible
60 both rail and boat which is better still
The remark quoted that Nothing goes
through these streets O. e.. Francis Gas
pee, etc) except heavy man
ufacurng teamng," is most
thoughtless one What other direct
way Is there OF reaching Capitol Hin and
Mount Pleasant and all of the country
beyond? Does nobody ever visit those
extensive residential districts (of which
the population is now 5000 except on a
low gear or foundry truck?
The existence Of the capitol and the
Normal school alone cause hundreds of
people to pass that way every day. It
is vital matter 10 all the people who
reside or own property beyond, and
proper approaches will add millions of
dollars TO the taxable real estate in that
direction in the next decade 1t is a
simple business proposition. There is
more property awaiting the development
i'm this northwest section of the city than
in aRS-other direction. Its development
has been retarded all these years by OBJ
stacles at last removed. but the character
or that development will depend almost
wholly on the character or the approaches
TO Il
Everyone will agree 10 that statement
I'm every other direction you must go
outside the city limits 10 ind so much
available land. IL would pay the city
many times over not only 10 set aside
these lots bordering on the street that
leads up 10 the state house, but to provide
wide and attractive boulevards to the
open country way over beyond i'm order
that value OF land may be increased and
taxable buildings erected instead of pay
ing tribute 10 the suburban towns south
and east of the city as we are now doing.
The writer has no interest. direct or
indirect, in any property In this direction,
except as every citizen OF the city has,
yet here Is a matter OF simple expediency
and municipal policy. II the gentleman
whose interview Is published I'm tonights
News were but "A "materiallst and a cold
blooded money maker" as he fears some
one will call him, let him but study this
hdtter IN All It's bearings, IN wholly
materialistic and old-biooded manner,
and decide whether II is good business
TO condmn. he now suggests the only
approach from the business centre to "A
third OF the citys area. The aesthetic
considerations are quite apart from these,
but they cannot be wholly dsregarded
until we are ready To let the lower story
of the city hall for fish markets and beer
saloons and build an advertising board
around the soldiers monument. either
of which schemes doubtless would bring
In considerable revenue If we could afford
TO get IL In that way. Yours very truly,
HENRY "A. BARKER
Treasurer Public Park Association.