The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-10-24
HOW THIS CITY COMPARES
WITH CITIES Of HER CLASS

In the large volume just issued in
pamphlet form by tho department OF com
merce and labor bureau OF census. of
which s. N. ID. North is the director, In
ferestfng comparisons are made between
Providence and other cities OF the same
approximate size. in many lines. the cit
les whose statistics are given being di-
vided into general groups according to
population.
For example Providence is n group
OF cities having population from 10000
10 100000 In June 1906, when the report Is
dated. Four of these cities are: Indian
apols, with a population of 2l2.l9s; st
Paul. MINI, 1909; Rochester. N. ",
1S2 022. Kansas City. Mo. 179,272 Provl-
dence had 1855 in 1905.
In respect 10 the relative statistics sup
piled In the table by the fire departments
of the five cities In the group whose pop
ulation nearest approaches that of Provi-
dence. this city falls behind Rochester In
the number of firemen I'm the cty's de-
partment. the New York municipality be-
Ing accorded total OF 3l1, while Provi-
dence had in 1906. $50 This city has now
about 800 and when the two new COM
panies soon 10 be placed In the Point
street stations are recruited, the quota
will exceed that OF Rochester.
In 1898 Providence had 10 fire engines
while St Paul had Is. Rochester l3 and
indianapolis II. This city led in the num-
ber OF hook and ladder trucks, having 10
Rochester and indianapolis had nine each
Providence led also in the number OF
public fire alarm boxes, with $40. as
against 80 for indianapolis. But with 2s2
public and 1i5 private boxes, Rochester
heads the list In the total number of
boxes. Toledo. o.. the next city below
Kansas City. had the extraordinarily
large number of 12i7 private fire alarm
boxes
Kansas City had the greatest number
OF fires. with total of 1889, but Provi-
dence comes next, with 1lOs and Indian
apolis not far behind. with loss. The
property loss by fire I'm this city, however.
was only about half as great as in In
dianapolis Providence's being 500, ,93S
POLICE STATISTICS.
Police department statistics show this
city TO be in the front rank OF munich
palties or the same relative size.
Kansas city had 36l employees on its
police payroll I'm June, 1905 10 3s4 for
= Providence fff-tifc totat Of patrolmen.
however. Providence led the group with
2is. against Kansas City's 243 In all but
indianapolis and Kansas City the three
platoon system. such is In use here
Is In vogue. indianapolis has the two
platoon system, while the Missouri city
divides its men into four platoons.
In the total number OF arrests accred-
1ted TO each city In the statistical tables
Kansas City has the greatest number
2o.5s7. Providence comes next. however
with 1l.073 This city had the greatest
number OF arrests for drunkenness, total.
Ing 60s3. moro than twice as many as its
nearest competitors.
Providence is accredited with 1is1 ar
rests for larceny. while the next city IN
fnat respect Is Kansas City. with but 500
Providence had the smallest number OF
arrests for vagrancy OF the cities I'm the
group.
Providence had sscs acres devoted TO
rarqs owned by the city when the tables
were compiled and IS acres OF play
grounds. The number OF parks. etc. not
owned by the city amounted 10 112.S acres
indianapolis had 1900 acres ST Paul 1880
within the city limits and 23Si.2 outside
the limits
In number OF street lights Providence Is
exceeded by but three cities I'm the coun-
try. Irrespective OF population. namely
New York, Chicago and philadelphia.
Providence Is given In the tables 1908 arc
lights, 2lS5 incandescents and Sf5 Wells
bach. totaiing 1898 OF all kinds.
STREETS AND SEWERS
This citys streets show a total OF a.
sSS.1S square yards OF pavement. which
places II the fifth In the scale OF all cities
having population from 10000 10 3O0OOO
Providence streets had 20, iss square yards
oI copDie stones, ool,SlS OF granite and
block pavement. 77393 OF brick 50 tO7 OF
asphalt and 2f2s.0i7 OF macadam. OF tho
o1fy's tforuc<Ssr-er t.ss -nilas ~sr. slas~.
lied as improved and 1851 az unimproyed.
- Rr0iidencn-W waste products -aEa-taken
csre of by 2i3S miles OF sewers Rochestcg
and Kansas City being slightly I'm tho
lad. The majority of Providence sewers
are Of tile. and there were 1861 house
connexions With the citys sewers in 1905
I'D Ia.
dsncs head the list sof cities In the entire