The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1909-01-08

| probate courts, etc, and such informa-
tion as they gather through these
sources is also placed at the disposal
Of local assessors.
Col NJ. o. Adams, speaking for the
| American express company before the
| board of railroad commissioners few
| days ago, stated that, beginning Jan
| |, a new schedule of express rates will
| be put in effect, and in this new sched-
ule will be a minimum charge of 20
cents within 80 miles OF Boston. For
a long time the different commercial
organizations have been working fol
| this reduction.
Nearly all express companies last
| February advanced rates throughout
Massachusetts, the American increas-
ing its minimum rate from Is cents TO
% cents and also raising the graduate
scale.
Upon complaint OF the Boston cham
Der Of commerce and the Merchas ITS
association, with ex-Railroad Commits
sioner Jackson acting as counsel, the
rates were reduced somewhat, but not
in a satisfactory manner, and at a
| conference a short time ago the Am
erican express company decided 10
comply with the demands OF the mer-
chants and the request of the railroad
commissioners.
The experience. of the Salvation Army
i.I, 10. ,I,, inf
positive conviction that the winter will
be the hardest for poor people Of any
in recent years, while the contribu-
lions TO meet the wants of these peo-
pie have fallen off from the average
amount.
At the distribution of Christmas dim
ners scores of men, who had in past
seasons contributed something of their
earnings to the holiday and general re
lief fund, came with baskets TO be filled
while the next day there were hum
dreds who had failed TO get waited on
in the rush or who were unable to get
TO the Peoples Palace came to ask
food for children in homes where
there was nothing
Among the more well-to-do donors
for the winter season there has been
falling off in the number as well as
in the size Of gifts, not single check
for 500 having been sent the Army.
One official, in speaking of the diff
cult problem which confronts the or
ganization, remarked: 1T seems as
if Boston people had this year thought
that all the Army wanted was money
enough for Christmas dinners and en-
tertainments and had forgotten that
sons work"
The coming of new year finds the
evolution of Boston swifter than ever.
1t finds the Charles river shut off from
the sea and become a broad basin of
fresh water; it finds a mile-long white
tube under Washington street through
which thousands of people are hurried
every day. On the once barren low
lands that imerge with Brookline it
finds greater and finer new buildings
going up in the interests of art, music
bing of scores of other projects work
ing toward the making Of progress.
Critics declare over and over that
Boston is provincial, slow of growth
and unmindful of the knocking of op-
portunfty at her doors. Considering
the changes of a century, they may
modify their views. One century is
not long in the life of a city that is
approaching her 275th birthday. Now
and then century falls within the linn
its of a mans lifetime And yet on
Jan. g. 1909, the tide-waters washed
the foot of Boylston street where now
the subway opens upon it; cows placid
ly grazed upon the Common, town
pumps creaked on many a corner, and
folks made their way about the streets
in chaises or took the stage coach TO
distant cities. The only way to get
out of town on the south was by way
of Washington street, which threaded a
slender stem of land out to Roxbury. be-
tween the flats, and on the north you
had TO pay toll as you went over one
of the three bridges.
Determined TO maintain the lofty
standard which has been established
by the Orpheum theatre since the
opening of the season, the manage
ment announces another all star bill
this week which impossible though it
may seem, eXcels even the wonderful
head line programs of the past. Ev-
cry single act has been headlined at
different times at other theatres, but
there is one that stands out so prom
inently that it is worth even the first
place on the Orpheum bill. The one
only and Incompatible Vesta Vic
toria, queen OF condolences is back
again TO repeat her former tremend.
Gus successes in the Hub.