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


this trato or land very beautiful and
useful park and j understand that the
Metropolitan Park commission approves
very highly OF naking IL so. and has ex-
pressed It's desire that the matter should
be called TO tho attention OF your honora-
bic body at this time. AZ present this
property is not source OF revenue be-
cause the city is not able 10 collect more
than enough rental from tho stores on the
Broad street edge OF the property near
the bridge. 10 much moro than pay tho
taxes imposed by the town Of Cranston.
| To divert this property for park purposes
II may be necessary TO get permission
| from the general assembly which could
| undoubtedly be obtained without dill
| Guilty
The city owns tract OF land on Stump
| Hill near the Pawtuoket reservoir which
should be saved from the depredations OF
wood-chopper and considerable land
around the Fruit Hi and sockanosset
| reservoirs, as wen as a long frontage on
the Pawtuxet river near the Pettaconsett
pumping station. All OF these lands car.
at some time be made available for park
| purposes
Fairgrounds az Davis and Tockwotten
| parks have been opened 20 the children OF
| these sections OF the city during the past
| summer and have been largely used.
| There should be more OF these play
| grounds IN different sections OF the city.
and al each one OF them there should he
keeper employed 10 maintain order and
prevent accident 10 the children using
them.
The recreation ground at Roger VIII
lains Park should. In my opinion, be de-
voted 10 public baseball ground az well
az a playground for children generally
1 am informed that there has recently
come into market n most valuable tract
of land at Fields Point adjoining ths
lands owned by the city. This tract -
which refer is the highest point OF land
I'm tho vicinity with magnificent view Of
tho city to the north and the hay to the
south Upon N are the ruins OF Fort In
dependence erected during the R.voiu-
tion and also occupied during the War of
1872. and N for no other than patriotic
reasons. the city should acquire possess
sion OF * before IL Is too late
| 7 heartily agree with the park corn.
missioners that II Is most advisable Ia
acquire lands fer park and recreation pur-
poses in the various sections OF the city
whenever they can be obtained at reason-
able prices Nothing Is more conducive TO
tho well being and good order OF city
than the possession OF sufficient park ana
playground area for the use OF the peo-
pie OF every section or the city.
PUBLIC HEALTH.
The superintendent OF health informs
me that during the past year the health
of the city has been unusually good and
that the death rate for the first elevrn
months OF the year IL the lowest ever re-
corded, There has been no outbreak Of
any moment OF any Infectious diseases.
The Inauguration OF the filter service has
been great relief TO this department. for
although the commissioner OF public
works has been enabled to do much for
the protection OF the water by a vfgiIant
Inspection OF the river banks yet there
r. no doubt that the city has been in
| areat danger OF a severe outbreak OF ty-
phoid fever. such as has frequently como
upon Philadelphia and other cities drink
polluted water. Now II is hoped that
this danger is done away with forever.
Owing TO the small number OF conta-
gious diseases, the wards provided at ths
Rhode Island Hospital for this class oi
cases have not been greatly overtaxed
during the year. and the appropriation for
the health department was practically
sufficient to meet all expenses, a happy
, condition which has not obtained for sew
, eral years Cnder average conditions the
wards at the hospital are entirely inade-
quate TO care for this class OF diseases.
and indeed the Rhode Island hospital has
declined TO undertake this service after
| Oct LIST, 1906
Upon recommendation OF the COMMITTEES
, OF the city council, relative to establish
, ing a city hospital for treatment Of con-
tagious diseases the city council adopted
resolution Feb %. 1906. asking the gen.
erai assembly for authority 10 hire $f75oco
for the construction OF a city hospital for
the treatment Of contagious diseases. At
ter securing this authority on April g. 1905.
|, this committee recommended the pur-
| chase of a site for said hospital on Chalk
stone avenue at an expense not exceed
ing $21, $40. This resolution was adopted by
the common council. II was laid on the
table by the board OF aldermen. and. af-
ter several hearings thereon. the board OF
aldermen declined to concur with tho
common council I'm its passage .on June !,
1906 No action has been taken by the
comittee since that time.
In view OF the fact that the Rhode ISL
and hospital has declined 10 undertakes
this service after October list next. n IS
absolutely necessary that some measures
| be taken at once 10 meet the emergency.
In my opinion a city hospital for the
treatment OF contagious diseases should
be located on the city's land at Fields
| Point
The struggle against tuberculosis has
been engaging the attention of many mu-
inequalities but az vet very little has
been done In Providence n is true that
state stnatorum has been opened. but
this is intended only for early cases
Many advanced cases among the poor
cannot be humanely cared for at home.
yet there is no public provision for their
assistance, The time will soon come when
the city will have 10 take some action.
either by providing hospital OF It's own
or aiding some OF the private charities.
Providence IL the only city OF It's size
without any provision Whatsoever for
public comfort, and although the estab-
lshment OF two or three places has been
tried unsuccessfuly In the past, there IL
no reason why such conveniences RS ere
|. in use in other cities should not be In
stalled and maintained here without be-
coming a nuisance or menace 10 health
T feel this 10 be a most important mat
ter and respectfully recomend that the
same may be taken up for action by the
board of health.
RECORDER OF DEEDS OFFICE.
In January OF last year there was sub
mitted to the city council n communities
tion from the recorder OF deeds setting
; forth clearly the need for a comprehen-
sive revision and consolidation OF the in
) dexes, 90 the land records OF the city of