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


rate water service with the regular hill
service from Fruit Inu. The separate
service affords protection 20 a compara-
lively limited area and there is no good
reason why II should not be extended so
an to benent a majority OF the large mills
and other manufacturing interests on the
west side Of tho river The service rom
Fruit Hill covers a portion OF the Olney-
Vile district and by connecting the sepa-
rate service Herewith, not only would this
service obtain better supply by being
fed at both ends instesd OF from one as
~ now is. but the mills and manufac-
turing establishments I'm the Olneyville
district. as we'll as those along Valley
street. Atwells avenue, Eagle street and
Kipsley avenue, would be brought within
the boundaries OF that service This sepa-
ate service was installed In 1s96-97, and
since that time no extentions have been
made.
That the service should be extended 81
admitted and n tho city has not SUIT
fcient funds for this purpose 1t would
be good, sound business policy 10 hire
the amount needed, ipasmuch as the work
prouerly comes within the scope OF per-
manent improvements. and would give
the manufacturing interests along the line
mentioned, protection TO which they arc
entitled and which public policy demands
should be provided.
water service was referred by joint reso-
luton OF the city council, No. SS2. ap-
| proved Dec. 2 1904, 10 the committee on
! city engineers department This COM
mittee was authorized "to report plan
! for the estimated cost of Installing such
nddi tional pumping engines, pipes, mains
\ and other appurtena noes az shall be re-
| uuired for the extension of an adequate
water supply to all sections OF the city.
| I urgently recommend that the COM
| mittee consider without delay, the neces-
| sity OF connecting the two systems ln tho
| manner herein indicated
The duty OF extingiishing fires and prt
tecting life and property In casa or IRE
is entrusted to the fire department, but
| the duty OF investigating the cause and
| origin of fres is vested I'm the ne mar
| shall an official who has no connection
whatever with the fire department
Section 10 OF chapter 10 OF the Public
Laws requires that the fire marshal shall
examine into the cause. circumstances and
origin OF all fires occurring In the town
wherein he has been appointed or elect
ed, by which any building. vessel or any
valuable property shall be burned. de-
stroyed or damaged. and he shall especial
| ly inquire and examine whether the fire
was the result OF carelessness or the act
| OF an incendiary"
The office Of FIRE marshal was created
I
ried with IL a salary OF $500 per annum.
| The ordinance regulating the payment
/ OF salary was repealed In 1883 and since
| that time the fire marshal has boon al
lowed no compensation. IL cannot be eS-
pected that any man can afford TO devote
| the time necessary for the proper per-
| formance OF the duties OF this office with
out remuneration. From Jan. l. 1896. until
Dec !, 1905, the number OF alarms answer
| ed by the fire department has been l0A,
| and TO examine into the cause and Origin
| Of this number would call for more time
| and effort than any unpaid officer cou'd
be expected to render. In order TO show
! TO what a degree the work OF the fre
marshal office has increased since the po-
| sition was created in 1850. II may be stated
| that the number OF alarms to which the
fire department responded during the FIRST
| II months of that year was l72. or about
| one-slxth OF the number answered dur
ing the corresponding period o. .vs
So important is the work CT this o.
states the duties are vested In state fire
marshal, who either personally OF by Ms
deputies investigates every fire occur
ring with In the limits OF the state.
In my opinion, the office OF fire marsha
should either be made a permanent posi-
ton by the city council and a sunicien'
salary fixed. so az TO enable the incump'
ent TO devote his entire time to the WORK
OF Investigation, or the plan adopted Il
other states, of having state fire mar.
shal. should be followed here, and i would
recommend that this matter receive your
early and earnest consideration.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The police department is administered
by a commission appointed under the pro
visions OF an act of the general assem-
bly, passed Nov. 22d. 1901, entitled IAN
Act TO Establish Board of Police Com
missioners for the City OF Providence.
While / do not approve OF the executive
of the state having the appointment or a
police commission for the city OF Provi-
dence / consider II my duty 10 tesuty
10 the fidelity and zeal with which the
duties OF the board are performed, ana
it's honest efforts for the protection OF our
| citizens and for the maintenance OF the
highest standard of efficiency In the de-
partment.
| Upon careful inquiry j am convinced
that an increase in the patrolling force
| is imperative The number OF police or
| fcers' inquired on a basis of population, =
much smaller than in many other munici-
| palities while criminal statistics as con-
| pared with other cities, show a commend
| able efficiency in our own police Iepart'
| ment
With the institution of a system OF pen
| sion for old ana dlSaDleQ olIlccts, icsS '"'
| m.rly paid 20 officers for extra service
| such az attendance at entertainments
dances and theatres, were taken from
| them and applied to the pension fund
| such details extend the hours OF duty of
the men and are liable to interfere with
| th., efficiency of the officer when on NJ
| regular tour of duty. An increase In the
number OF patrolmen would reduce the
| number OF hours OF extra service wbicn
each man is required to give, and woulo
also earnestly ask that consideration be
given TO the expediency OF allowing the
Officers TO accept for their own use, the
amounts paid for such additional ser
vice.
PUBLIC PARKS.
The park expenditures Of the city oi
Prevalence are only about one-thsrd oi
the ayeage city, and the park area Is very
much below the average.
The parks belonging TO the city nave
been maintained with care and ecJEonS
hut much more could have been accom-
plished II these "beathing spots NJ ml
| hod roo af..el greater npprOpriat!O !Ons