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


10 hire $3co0o0 for the layout and build
ng OF new street from Market square
or south Water street TO Prospect street.
Whatever plan Is finally adopted, there
IL one which ought never 10 be cOnSid-
cred for a moment. Tie building OF
Yiaduct as is proposed would not be toll
Grated I'm any other city. IL seems In
credible that any plan should be sug-
gosted 90 destroy the few redeeming fea-
.tures now left between Crawford street
ana Market square. and TO totally OBJ
s;Ire the view down the river 10 the
south, and the State House TO the north
by an ingainly elevated structure OF steel.
PUBLIC MARKET PLACE.
by resolution approved oct. T. 1904.
committee was appointed 20 report plan
for public market place. This commit
tee ascsrtained from tho city engineer
that the estimated cost for constructing
Tcw piers and Oudgrhg over the a'ea
OF Providence river between Weybosset
bridge and the southerly side OF Craw
iord street bridge would be $ES, zoo The
committee was also advised that au-
thority must be obtained from the gen
eral assembly 10 use this space for pub
Tic market place. and IL was decided 10
Wait untll the cases now pending In the
supreme court against parties now oc-
cupying sites over the Moshassuck river
should boz finally decided. Decisions have
been rendered In favor OF the city in cases
which have come TO trial, but these cases
have been appealed.
In view OF the fact that this location
mas become OF itself a public market and
the farmers and dealers OF produce have
congregated there i'm such numbers, would
II not be wise TO regulate by ordinance
Tor the present the occupation OF this
locality and charge each person a reason
hlIe amount for he-rlght to occupy n
stand there?
In pursuing this course the city would
derive a reasonable income from prop
eIty which at present entails only ex-
pense. and at the same time the farmers
would have the right 10 occupy their own
stands whenever they arrive on the
ground.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
There has been OF late good deal OF
complaint that recently erected municipal
pulidings have not compared faVorably
porations and by private individuals. the
present system falling 90 obtain results
tbat our citizens have right TO expect
n ,'iI, ,oeinIeye that better buildings would
all contracts for new buildings, should
nave authority TO appoint an architectural
adviser responsible 10 the mayor alone
whose approval OF all plans, specifications
ana contracts prepared by the architects
Tor the different committees must be OBJ
talned before contracts are signed.
The system OF selecting architects could
also be advantageously changed. They
should be appointed either directly by the
committee having In charge the erection
Of the building, and their appointment
should be equitably distributed among the
competent architects OF the city or they
should be selected as the result OF a fauly
conducted competition. When compe-
titions are considered necessary. an ar
chitectural expert should draw up the
terms and submit in writing his decision
as 10 the selection OF an architect. Judged
by the relative merits OF the plans sub
mitted. 1t is well known that as COM
petitions have been conducted I'm the past
many OF the competent architects of
Providence have felt constrained 70 de-
cline 70 submit designs because Of the
existing conditions. Bnd consequently the
city has been confined 10 a limited choice
of plans.
am informed by the superintendent Of
public buildings that, having saved from
the appropriation for tts department a
sum sufficient. extensive changes were
made during the past summer In the
DOYLE avenue, Julian street Almy street
and Willard avenue school buildings.
There are 10l school buildings in the city.
"a OF which have outhuildipgs I'm the
yards, and these very much out OF re-
pair To install In these buildings the
most improved sanitary conveniences
would, In the opinion OF the superinten-
dent OF public buildings. require the sum
! OF $4,000. and he recommends "A yearly
/ appropriation of $4,000 for three years. at
the end OF which time these buildings
| the city ordinances complied with.
There are Is buildings outside the school
buildings TO be cared for. and the super
intendent recommends special appro-
| pristion each year for extraordinary re-
| pairs and alterations. instead OF taking
| the same from the regular appropriation
for, repairs and maintenance OF public
CITY PROPERTY.
BY Joint resolution OF the city council
approved April 81. 1905, the Joint standing
committee on city property was author
ized and directed under certain conditions
| to sell "any land owned by the city OF
Providence which is not required for mu-
nlcipal use 2r any property belonging to
| nicipal purposes"
The city of Providence owns several lots
OF land which should be disposed OF under
| this resolution. The assessed valuation
| OF these lots is about $500. and the city
at present derives no revenue from them.
They have been acquired for highway
purposes 70 provide gravel and road ma.
| terial which has already been removed
| therefrom.
To dispose OF them at any reasonable
price would convert them into taxable
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Upon this department devolves the i'm
portant task OF protecting the property
| of our citizens from destruction by fire.
and upon its efforts. In n great measure.
| depends the safety and prosperity OF the
while Providence has enjoyed wonder
ful immunity from destructive fires in
cities should warn us that security can
only be assured by providing the depart
ment with the best and most suitable APP
paratus obtainable. II should be borne
in mind that the city II constantly grow
Ing and that the value or the property
which the department Is called upon to
protect. is far in excess Of that OF n few
years ago. In 1925 the total valuation of
property within the city limits amounted
ia thn- -siim-of- SIG. .7Si560. At present IL
amounts 10 s222, 1871 ,e4O. showing an In
crease In ten years OF s52.6o7.SS or about
~ per cent.
New Industries arc being established
new agencies employed and the risks
consequent upon their use keeps pace
with the growth OF the city.
Apparatus and equipment amply suffi-
cient 20 meet conditions existing n few
years since. are now inadequate. Tho hre
department cannot remain at n standstlll
but must continually advance and be at
all times In q state OF preparedness. and
10 do, this sufficient funds should be year
ly appropriated Too rigid economy IN
this respect must necessarily result IN
hampering the work or the department by
compelling the use OF inferior apparatus
and equipn nents
During the past year the service has
been greatly strengthened by the addi-
| ton Of four steam fire engines OF the first
/ size but the city should not stop here.
l T-hn rcroyt ~ tho hOar1 Of fire mi a