The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-05
MAYOR M|L[ER'S
FIRST MESSAGE.

maintenance OF the system adopted will
be less than the cost OF alum that would
be required for altering the same
amount of water by the mechanical sys-
tenn. Work was commenced as soon as
possible after the contract was awarded.
and II is expected that the system will be
In opera tion by the coming autumn.
The thirty-six inch main from the
pumping station TO the reservoir should
be laid next year, as the stand-pipe i>
now working up To it's full limit. The
city will require another pump OF not less
than 20.co0,o0o gallons capacity az soon
as the filtration plant now In process Of
construction Is completed.
PUBLIC LIGHTS
Contracts made by order of the city
council with the Narragansett Electric
Lighting company for 1895 arc lights at
32ia cents each per night, and for 1860 in
candescent lights at s24 each per annum.
also a contract with the Welsbach Street
Lighting company for 1913 Welsbach gas
lights az $50 each per annum. nearly ex-
haust the annual appropriation OF S3OOOO
for the maintenance OF the lamp depart
ment. The city s reported TO be well
lighted. but the expense is very high when
compared with cities of practically the
same size.
HIGHWAYS.
There are 2S5 miles of received streets
OF which 15s miles are macadamized and
which require constant attention 10 keep
them clean and in good condition for pub
lie travel. During the past year there
have been about 2I2 miles resurfaced:
Manton avenue has been rebuilt with
trap rock. and the department has set a.
915 feet OF curbing and built 1850 lineal
feet OF new streets. large amount of
work IL demanded for building new
t.A rall hui
up and II seems advisable for the best
interests OF the city that the council
should first consider the building OF new
streets In such localities, rather than TO
use the appropriation for highways for
the building OF streets I'm parts OF the
city where there are few or no buildings.
has been done In some years.
A contract has been made with the
Union Railroad company 70 sprinkle
streets where Its tracks are laid. Clean
and well-kept streets make our city at
tractive and enhance the value Of proper
ty. To keep the highways I'm good condi-
tion there should be made liberal an
appropriation as the financial condition
of the city will warrant.
PARKS.
BY the recent death Of our senior park
commissioner. the president of the board
the city has last valued and efficient
servant, and the people friend who has
done more perhaps than any other of our
fellow citizens TO provide the enjoyment
and necessary recreation for the men,
women and children Of Providence,
which our park system affords.
We are greatly indebted to him, not
only for the extent of our parks, but for
their beauty also. A man of artistic tenn
perament and OF great energy. as his fell
low commissioners in their resolutions OF
-. III A.
bition TO make Roger Williams park one
of the finest in the country. and his sue
cess has been attested by the admiration
and praise Of visitors from other states,
as we'll as by the hearty acknowledge
ment of the people OF Rhode Island"
III any memorial were ever TO be erect
ed to man who through his efforts
promoted the health and pleasure OF his
fellow-citizens. II would seem fitting that
in Roger Williams park there should be
placed one In commenoration OF the zeal
and unselfsh devotion of Richard n.
Deming
For many years II had been Mr.. DEM
ings desire to have Roger William park.
and other parks, equipped with play
grounds and apparatus for athletic exer-
clses, and the commissioners report that
they have under consideration plans for
such equipment. and that estimates for
the same will soon be made, showing the
| expense of providing the people with
! these entertaining and healthful attrac-
| tons. for which numerous petitions have
| been sent 10 the commissioners and to
| the city council
Within a few months there will he
| erected AZ the Elmwood avenue entrance
! OF Roger Williams park the bronze me-
| mortal gates I'm honor Of the late Anna
| ~. Mann. who bequeathed n large sum OF
| money to the city, I'm trust. the income
| thereof TO he expended I'm the care aud
| Improvement of Roger Williams park.
| and In appreciation OF which this memori-
| al was ordered ny the city council TO he
| erected az an expense OF $4,000, TO be
| paid for from the income received from
said trust fund
Band concerts AZ Roger williams park
| during the summer months OF this year
! have been provided for I'm q measure by
the city council. aud this. with private
contributions for the purpose, lnsures the
continuance of those open air concerts
| which have been enjoyed by so many
! thousands OF people
The exhibits AZ the Natural History
museum have been enriched during the
| past year by many valuable gifts of min
! erals. mounted birds. insects and Indian
| implements. but the curator has been un-
able, from lack or cases To place these
donations on exhibition. Some remedy FOR
! this will probably bc suggested In the an
| nual report of the commission to the city
| council
FIRE DEPARTMENT
'rhe hoard 81 FIRE commissioners calls
my attention TO the need of certain i'm
| provcments In the hre depa rtment SER
vice. chief among these the commission
! ers place the matter ~ extending the
mains of the special water service so as
To afford better protection 10 tho school
property belorging To- the city and To-
Gated ON Pond and Summer streets
These buildings represent an assessed
valuation of s27l oo0. while the original
cost of construction amounted 10 more
than half million dollars
What however. IL rightly deemed by
tie board ~ more Importance than the
value of the property. Is the danger tc
which the teachers and pupils In these
buildings are exposed