The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1909-02-19
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Especial Correspondence.)

volumes for each and all Of the citys
population. While such statistics are
more or less interesting 1t would be
more so TO learn about how many per-
sons are regular patrons Of the library
and its branches, either as borrowers
of books or as users of its facilities for
general reference and study.
The Massachusetts Society for Aid
ing Discharged Prisoners has issued an
appeal to the public for more funds be-
cause of the short demand for labor,
which, il says. has made it particu-
larly hard for those with uncertain ref
erences as TO character and ability TO
secure anything at all to do"
The annual report of the society,
which accompanies the appeal, says
that the organization was called upon
10 help 1881 discharged male prisoners
in the year just ended, against 1860 the
preceding year
AS an illustration Of how hard and
faithfully the members of the Finance
Commission worked during their term
OF service, John F.. Moors of the COM
mission tcld the Massachusetts Reform
club the following story about ex-May-
or Nathan Matthews, chairman of the
body: 81 have seen our chairman, who
began at o'clock in the morning, send
out at o'clock in the afternoon for a
sandwich and tin can of coffee, put
them inside of him and then say he
was ready for the evenings work" Mr..
Moors stated that all the members OF
the commission worked morning, after
noon and evening for weeks at
stretch. Every line of the new city
charter took an hour of discussion,
and some lines took even longer.
Records for high winds for several
years were broken the other day, when
Boston and vicinity were swept by n
gale that at one time reached 80 miles
an hour in the Blue hills In the city
proper, in all the suburbs and along the
coast extensive damage was reported
throughout the day, but in the even
ing the wind had almost entirely sub
sided. Three persons were hurt by
falling DEBRIS.
The wind at the weather bureau at
the top Of the Federal building at
tanned a maximum OF "A miles an hour.
The Blue HILL observatory recorded 81
miles an hour at 2 o'clock and two
hours later 80 miles.
One Of the very few relics of the
wide Awake" campaign at the end
OF which Abraham Lincoln was elect
ed President, reached the State House
a few days ago, when Gov. Draper was
presented with an old drum which has
figured in many of the parades of the
Boston wide Awakes."
The donor was Inspector Joseph II.
Knox of the Boston police department,
who, so years ago, beat it through the
Boston streets, in derision of Stephen
Douglas and his party.
The next year Mr.. Knox enlisted in
the war Of the rebellion and he beat
the same drum from 1861 until he was
mustered out at the conclusion OF the
war;
Gov. Draper accepted the relic and
sent the following letter to Mr.. Knox:
"Mr. Joseph Knox, Ga Perkins Street,
Charlestown, Mass
"My Dear Mr.. Knox; | accept for
the commonwealth of Massachusetts
the drum which you have so kindly Of
fered today. 1t is really a historic
memento, having been used by you. as
l understand, in the parades of Lin
coins supporters preceding his election |
as President and also having been car
ried and used by you through the war
of the rebellion.
at is an interesting and valuable
souvenir to keep here in the State |
House, and thank you in behalf of the
commonwealth for your gift. Coming
as 1t does at the time of the Tooth an
niversary Of Lincoln's birth, 1t is pc
culiarly appropriate. | am, very sin
cerely yours,
"EBEN S. DRAPER"
The rebuilding Of the cruiser New
York, now nearly completed is about
all the ship work now remaining under
way at the Charlestown navy yard. The
cruiser will be ready for commissioning
Dy April L. Sne could De MADE ready
inside of two or three weeks If the
navy department desired her for SER
vice.
The New York has been completely
rebuilt, except in the main hull section,
and has been modernized TO such an
extent that she is today a far better
and more powerful ship than when she
was first conmi ssioner for servica Tho
New York's $3.50 tons is now very
small compared to some of the cruis-
ers now building for foreign powers.
Practically every portion of the ship
except the underwater hull is new. The
new armored turrets, fighting tower,
gun fire directing and control systems
are in advance of those of almost any
chin annaI In the IL s nnNN Thn nnr