The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-04

the work whenever satisfactory arrange
ments can be made for rign,s OF way.
There is urgent call for more storm
sewers 90 relieve the few sections that
suffer from surface water al every un-
usual rain fall The construction of
storm sewers will not only give relief
from flooded cellars. but wtil be a fur
ther advantage TO the city from the fact
that comparatively clean surface water
then will be discharged during rain storms
directly into the harbor. instead OF hav-
ing to he pumped and treated as sewage
at the precipitation tanks as AT present.
IL is proposed 10 build during the com
ing year such storm sewers 10 relieve the
districts In the vicinity OF Brook and
Waterman streets and OF Dudley and
Plain streets.
HIGHWAYS.
Macadam pavement continues to be a
favorite I'm this city. IL makes an ex-
cellent roadway for residential sections
where the traffic is light. but is an ex-
pensve pavement TO maintain and Is un-
satisfactory on account OF resultant mud
OF dust where traffic is heavy. These
serious disadvantages TO some OF our
main streets cannot be obviated unless
more durable pavement is laid; the dust
cannot be avoided except by constant
watining the streets. am when watsred
the heavy teaming soon grinds the sur
face into mud. Relief can be gained
only by frequent resurfacing and that
Is expensive. The excuse for adhering
to this class of pavement is the first cost
OF new pavements. The proportion OF
macadam 10 other forms of more dur
able pavement In Providence. reckoned
in mileage, II largely In excess OF thai
in any other progressive northern city.
There are about ten miles Of streets
which should have a dinerent pavement.
more durable, and therefore more econ
omical. besides being more pleasant and
healthful. With few exceptions these
streets are narrow. with trolley rails laid
in the centre and with narrow spaces
on each side OF the rails where all the
heavey traffic Is concentrated
The commissioner suggests that there
are several classes OF pavement that are
suitable for streets where macadam IA
objectionable; that when the grade is
fat and the sunlight can reach the pave
ment asphalt stin retains It's popularity;
that where the grade is steep bitulithio
macadam Is giving good satisfaction,
since it furnishes an excellent foothold
for horses and can be watered without
injury TO II, and that vitriied brick also
furnish a durable and approved pave
nent
This subject should receive careful con-
sideration. An annual appropriation OF
reasonable sum OF money devoted
solely to replacing the macadam, as II
wears out, with other improved pave
ments. in a few years would enable the
city TO have its streets paved with a
more durable pavement that would be
advantageous not alone in the cost of
maintenance and in cleanliness, but for
comfort and pleasure 10 those who live
upon the streets or are obliged TO travel
over them.
The common council and board OF alder
men should be careful not TO receive too
many streets. As soon as a street Is re-
ceived and the city has had q reasonable
time within which to build al. the city
becomes liable for any injury which
might happen TO anyone passing over
the same To build the number OF
streets already received will exhaust the
appropriation for the present fiscal year.
WATER WORKS.
The work OF construction OF the fltra-
ton plant at the Pettaconset Pumping
Station has made good progress during
the past year. although delayed I'm the
early part OF the year by heavy rain
storms that kept the ground flooded and
necessitated pumping the water from the
land. The work will be completed during
,he ensuing year.
The additional cost TO filter the water
will call for renewed efforts on the part
OF the department to restrict so far az
possible all unnecessary waste. From the
time that Pawtuxet water was introduced
into the city the officials connected with
our water department have realized the
Importance OF preventing its waste and
today our per capita consumption Is
among the lowest OF the principal cities.
OF the country. The method pursued TO
accomplish this result rs subject OF fire.
quent inquiry from those who are famil-
lar with water works management In 9TH
er cities. II is believed however. that even
better results can he obtained, and water
consumers are requested to assist the de-
partment In its investigation. as II is inn
rortant not alone from the standpoint OF
an economical management. but also that
the city may be assured or n sufficient
pressure for fires and for manufacturing
purposes.
Another important matter that with
safety no longer can be delayed ia the
installation OF a new pumping engine The
present engine will pump only 100000
gallons of water In twenty-four hours.
which is about the amount used daily I'm
the summer The new engine should have
pumping capacity OF az least 25.CcoO 600
gallons so that the reservoirs could be-
hlled while the stream Is running rs usu-
al. that there may be sufficient supply
~ meet demands when the manufactur-
ere hold back and store the water I'm the
reservoirs further up the river. as they DO
some days in each week during the dry
summer season. There have been times
during the past yenr when IL has been a
subject OF serious concern TO the depart
ment 10 maintain the reservoirs with
fun supply Of water. The cost OF tho
work can be charged TO the account for
water works maintenance. and the city
council will be requested 10 make an ab-
preparation therefor
PUBLIC LIGHTS
This city Is one OF the best lighted in
this country, but only at an expenditure
In excess OF the average I'm other cities,
estimated either per capita or per arc.
Although the cost for arc lights has
been reduced during the past year, the
cost per capita for lighting the city Is ex-
ceeded by only one city out of one hun
dred and thlrty-seven cities. statistics of
which were published I'm the Bulletin. of
the department Of Labor ~ the United
States government for 1912. and the cost
per arc light, even at the reduced rate.