The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-02-05
LIVELY TIME:
IN COUNCIL
EXPECTED

There are a number of interesting mat
ters coming up tonight at the meeting of
the city council, when both the board of
aldermen and common council will meet
at o'clock at the city hall and a proposi-
ton for municipal control of the rats Of
the city will be sprung. Charges Of rats
in the garret" and rats i'm the cellar
VIII be made and now the proposition
is TO let them into the treasury. for the
city will he asked to take measures TO
bring about their determination, possibly
through the health department.
Just how the health department will
stand the addition of this task which pri-
stores. have been up against i'm vain, is
yet 10 develop. but the members will un-
doubtedly have some fun with the PROPOSE
tion to reincarnate the pied Piper of
Hamlin.
one OF the big stores keeps man em-
ployed for the determination OF rats He
does his work at night, setting and bait
ing traps all over the establishment, and
he has found enough TO keep him busy.
In one store 1850 rats have been caught
and killed during the past three months.
an average OF nearly 100 a week
petition to the city council has been
signed by a half-dozen OF the leading mer-
chants, asking that body TO take hold of
the problem In the interests OF mer-
chandise to work an abatement of the
nuisance. Councilman +. Merle Bixby
has charge of the petition and will present
III al the meeting OF the COUNCIL lillS even
ing, and ask that a committee be appoint
ed to investigate the conditions and re-
port as to the fea asbility OF some plan by
which the lessening OF the activity OF the
enterprisng and all-devouring rodents
may be secured.
The report OF the finance committee.
which Is to be presented, recommending
the purchase OF four new engines, is eX-
pcctcd TO cause q sensation.
The committee desires to provide an en-
gine for the new east side station in the
Second ward and for the Plainheld street
station I'm the Eighth ward.
The proposed placing Of one Of the
others Is expected 10 create a contest. in
which they figure in being a likelihood
OF movement to erect some new fire sta
tlons. AS the representatives Of each
ward desire TO improve their respective
sections as much as possible. there will
be fun over the other engines.
The committee on finance will also re-
port 20 the council on resolution appr0-
priating $4,000 for the layout, widening
and improving OF Crawford and South
Main streets.
In the board OF aldermen Aldermen
Cooke and Reynolds are expected TO en-
liven the meeting, as both gentlemen are
abundantly supplied with arguments on
the question Of entering into a six-year
contract for removing swill and offal
Alderman Cooke is working for the pas
sage OF n bill providing for such CON
tract, while Mr. Reynolds has store OF
statistics and figures TO present which he
says he hopes will convince a majority OF
the aldermen that II H. not advisable to
make such an agreement.
IL will be necessary 10 elect an assessor
~ taxes and a surveyor OF lumber. Gen.
Elisha " Rhodes term as tax assessor
expires today. as does also that OF Sur
veyor Clarence II Carpenter. and there
L. Sa.rfff Ton, 40, hglp no. 81 Ton,