The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-28
CUMBERLAND
IN DIFFICULTY
OVER STATE ROAD

The town council of Cumberland since
II came into power few weeks ago has
been obliged 10 face a number OF prob
lens which were left for II to solve by
the board which IL succeeded. II was
sorry day when the voters elected the
preceding town council composed OF
majority Of Republicans. II is pretty
generally acknowledged fact that this
was an accidental council, and that when
II was nominated not even its most ar
dent friends believed IL had any show for
an election. II such a thing had been in
the minds OF the Republican machine q
different set OF men would have been
nominated. But the mistake which was
begun in the nominating convention was.
strange to say, carried out at the polls.
because of some fancied grievance which
the people thought they had with the
Democrats. From that day to the pres
ent time they have been sorry, and as
the days go by the regret grows deeper
because the present board has been
obliged to spend the greater part OF its
time In undoing the things which the old
board started TO do.
The most interesting thing which has
come up and the one which Is likely TO
require the most careful attention has u
do with the highways At the time the
state board OF highways laid out the
work II would do In this section. IL was
state road laid In this town. and then
there was a general approval OF the idea
that the town should make a bid for the
work, believing that by so doing II might
be possible TO make a small profit and at
the same time give employment for
townspeople. OF course. no one believed
II would be wise to make bid which
would be 80 low that there was no pos
sibility OF completing the work within the
amount which the state would pay. But
II was not very long after the bid OF the
town council had been accepted by the
state commission that there began to be
talk that the road could not be built for
the money which was to be paid. The
bid for the two miles was placed ar H10o
and now after about half mile has been
finished In accordance with the demands
Of the commission, IT is said that before
II is done II will cost nearly $4,000. II
this IL so II will mean that the town
will be called upon to pay 5000 for the
right to built one OF its own roads.
The specifications called for the use OF
1900 tons OF crushed stone TO be paid for
by the town and that this must be spread
to a depth of thre inches. OF course,
there are places where this stone has TO be
| spread deeper than the three inches and
II Is stated that In some places this stone
will have depth OF IL inches.
An an evidence Of the cost OF this road
II may be said that with about a helfS
! mile OF road completed there has been
used about 1000 tons OF stone and how II
Is possible TO make the other thousand
cover the mile and a half OF road yet TO
be completed Is one Of the things the
members OF the council are trying to fig
ure out.
II Is stated that the cost OF this half
mile already amounts to about s2,30O and
naturally President Kelley OF the town
council is unwilling to go ahead with this
work and run the town into debt espa.
cially as he had nothing to do with MAX
Ing the contract but has simply been try
ing to carry forward a work which was
left on his hands by the old council.
II Is the plan now to finish the present
stretch OF a little more than a half-mile
and then suspend operations 10 see what
kind Of an agreement can be made with
the state commission. Unless something
of a satisfactory nature Is secured there
will be no further work.
ANNIVERSARY HIGH MASS.
An anniversary high mass OF requiem
| will be celebrated at st. Patrick's church
today for the repose OF the soul OF Rev
| Thomas Kane who for period OF 20
during that time was one Of the most
| loved priests In this section of the state
| 1t was under his direction that the par
ish school and the convent were erected
and he also had a large addition built
| In the parish and each year large num-
bers OF his old parishioners pay tribute to
| his memory.