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


can commence as early I'm the spring as
the weather will permit
1.-The subject relating 10 the source
from which the city should obtain the
funds necessary to meet the cost OF all
the above work, aggregating over three
quarters OF a million OF dollars was care
fully considered by the committee. In
view OF tho depreciation I'm water mains
and that much OF the expenditure par
took of the character OF maintenance the
committee did not feel justified I'm going
further in debt, and recommended that
II be paid from the income OF the water
works The above construction has pro-
ceeded during the whole OF next year. and
possibly extend into portion OF the year
following.
These large expenditures will practi-
cally exhaust the balance OF income ~
the water works during the next two
years. The result will be. however. 10
eventually place the works in splendid
condition, both materially and financial
ly IT has OF necessity delayed the fixing
OF lower water rates. a subject I'm which
! know you are vitally interested, and
the importance OF which I keenly appr-
ciate. | will say this. however, that with
the exception OF a few larger water TAX
ers, the rates OF the city are as
Competing lS% 0wsf Cities than ASS our wSs pSesh59rns
unfortunate that we cannot ri
once meet their rates for the
very largest consumers, nearly all the
heavy expenditures that are being made
are for the purpose Of providing an effici-
ent fire protection for our large manufac-
tories, the effect Of which should In all
fairness result 20 the advantage In lover
rates for fire Insurance.
"One more important subject will re-
quire attention during the coming year
and Is now before the committee on city
engineers department. OF which the
mayor Is chairman. That is the extension
OF the special high service fire system
10 further protect the large manufactur-
Ing plants IN Olneyville and along the
Woonasquatueket river and connect with
the system now laid in the certre OF the
city. Estimates have been made and
plans prepared so that the commissioner
Is ready TO meet the committee whenever
Il desires 10 consider the subject
Since the completion OF the water
works and sewerage system, no work
has been accomplished so vital In its i'm
portance TO the city as the induction of
filtered water. When the plant is fully
constructed IL will he very complete in
It's details. A laboratory has been fur
nished at the plant and bacterlologis.
appointed 20 carefully analyze the water
TO the end that a pure and safe supply
be continually maintained The question
mas ICINiitly arisen as 10 lne necessity OF
covering the filters that are now open.
This matter was carefully considered by
the committee appointed 10 investigate
the building of a filtration plant and act
Ing under the advice OF Mr.. Hazen
an expert in that line the plans
OF open filters were adopted and the
work ordered Since the work has COM
menced Mr. lIazen IN considering the
question OF open or covered filters. has
In ION, of hc
I'm an area that he calls "debatable ter
ritory.' We may never be troubled by
an excessive accumulation OF ice upon the
beds in the coldest winter weather, but
should this prove not TO be the result and
II was found necessary that covers were
necessary for the afficient working Of the
plant. / should not hesitate to recommend
the construction or covers.
PUBLIC LIGHTS.
AS the several contracts with the Mar
ragansett Electric Lighting company for
furnishing electric lights To the city,
under the franchise terminating July /,
1912, would expire June Is, 1906, the COM
nittee on lights early I'm the past year
commenced a careful investigation into
the subject
Information was obtained as 20 the cost
or lights In, the various cities, under both
municipal and private ownership The
matter was n subject OF frequent dis
cussion in committee meetings during the
year. and the reports were carefully
analyzed with the object to ascertain as
far as possible. the relative cost and ef-
nciency of tho two systems. Such In
formation as was available was obtained
to enable the committee To form decI-
sion that would be most advantageous 20
the city. The result OF their investigation
is contained in a full and careful report
-. Il. ID
There were many applications for addi-
tional lights, that had been referred 10
the committee, that demanded immediate
consideration and action. 1T was deemed
inadvisable to make new contract for a
term OF less than half year and I'm order
20 do away with a multiplicity OF existing
contracts. and TO obtain. IL possible, one
contract that would cover all the lights
and TO further gain an immediate sub
stantial reduction I'm the cost of the lights.
the committee entered into negotiations
with the Narragansett Electric Lighting
company The result has been the adop-
ton of new contract, under which. for
two terms OF three years each, the city
will obtain lights that I'm net cost will
compare favorably with any city i'm the
country. Under it's provisions for lights
already Installed. there will be an annual
saving Of s9o63, and slS,126 for the respec-
tive terms. The city has been and will
continue TO he efficiently lighted"
WIDENING OF ELMWOOD AVENUE.
| understand that the special committee
appointed 20 consider THIS matter has
held several meetings, conferred with
some OF tho abutting owners on the por-
tion OF Elmwood avenue proposed TO he
widened, but nothing has been accom-
plished. one OF the chief obstacles 10
this improvement is the reconstruction
OF the railroad bridges and tho 1lslnclin-
alton OF property owners 90 give their
land for the proposed widening. There
IL also a question raised by the New York.
New Haven and Hartford Railroad COM
pany as to whether the city is nor called
upon to reconstruct the roadway OF the
bridges.
consider 'it my duty TO call your Mt
tention to the fact that the proposed
widening OF Elmwood avenue IS absolute
ly necessary for the protection NJ the
lives and safety OF the people OF tho
city. and any obstacles I'm the way should
be promptly met and overcome.
NEW THoRoUoHFARE TO EAST SIDE.
BY resolution approved June Z, 1894. the
special committee relative 90 a new thor
n