Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-14
WESTERLY READY FOR DRAFT
Towns Quota Under Probable Conditions Change
Auto Registration Plates Annualy-FIgh School Loses
to Peace Dale, z 8-John Cleary Drowned Ston-
ngton.

Under the provisions of the selective
draft act approximately 1883 men
residents of Rhode Island, between the
ages of 81 to 80, inclusive, will enroll
in accordance with the act. In order
to simplify the task of the men who
are to have charge of the actual en-
rollment Governor Beeckman will pro-
when the young men must register,
and the schoolhouses will be used as
centres for the work A large per-
centage of those who are enrolled will
not be subject to the draft on account
of the exemptions for married men,
those with dependent families or en-
gagged in occupations vital to the sus-
tenance or military efficiency Of the
army and navy.
The details for filling the states quo
ia has not been worked out, but il is
quite probable that each city and town
will be called upon for number equ1-
ulation bears to the population of the
state, and that Rhode Islands quota
will be from 5000 to 5000 men. In or
der to obtain the percentage the pop
ulation of the city or town is divided
by the total population of the state
which was 595,9S6 in 1915. y With the
percentage fixed 1t is a comparatively
simple matter to figure out the num-
Der of men from each city or town for
any definite quota. Thus. if 5000 men
are called for multiply the percentage
by 80 Zone per cent. of the total quo
tai to find the number of men to be
drafted If 5000 men are called null
tiply by So
Under this plan Westerly with a
population of 10,175, would have an
enrolment of 1918, and under a 5000
quota would furnish 81 men. and un-
der 5000 call SIS men. Hopkinton's
call would be II and 21. Charlestown
and Z, Nara gansett Z and -, North
Kingstown 20 and 33, Richmond and
II, South Ktngstown 81 and 46. The
quota of Providence would be 1850 and
2os9, Pawtucket 276 and 461. Newport
152 and 264, Central Falls lis and 1877,
Cranston 135 and 225, Woonsocket 200
and 334, West Greenwich and 4, and
so on throughout the state on the same
basis.
After many years Rhode Island is to
fall into line and have changed au-
tomobiIe registration plates annually
and along the progressive lines the
plates bearing the year numerals.
Heretofore the plates bore the regis
tration number and the initials r. L.
and were of the same type year in
and out, These new plates will be re-
CURED on and after January 1. 1918.
They will be made of open hearth steel
and coated with elastic bicycle ena-
mel thoroughly baked. The background
will be black with figures and letters
white.
The plates will be made in four
sizes. automobile, truck, dealers and
trailer being SKIP, 6x10 and 6xS inches,
depending upon the number Of numer-
ais and letters to be carried All mo-
torcycles and motorcycle side car
plates will be 4 1-2xS inches.
The registration numerals and let
tiers on the plates of 6-inch height will
be 1-2 inches high and have a stroke
Of one-half inch. The r. l." and nu-
merals in the year date will be 1 IA
inches high and will have a stroke of
One-quarter inch.
The larger numerals and letters on
the motorcycle and the side-car plates
will be 2 IL inches high and will have
a stroke of one-quarter inch. The "R.
t. and year numerals will be 1 inch
high with one-eighth inch stroke.
The pleasure car plates will carry
only numerals to designate the regis
tration number. Trucks, as at pres
ent, will have the prefix "x'' as now.
Each dealer will have numbers with
letter affiXes for the drivers. The mo-
torcycle plate will be distinguished by
a prefix ''B" and the motorcycle side
cars will have the prefix IN"
The contract provides that the sew
eral sizes of plates shall be furnished
at the following prices: 6x12 inches at
cents plate; 6xS inches at 1-2 cents
a plate, and the 1-2xS inches at S.8
cents a plate. Miscellaneous plates,
that is, duplicates and extra plates,
Will cost 0U cents SdCn.
The first plates will be furnished to
motorists free, but all requirements
will be charged for at the rate of so
cents per plate.
Owing to the increase in the cost of
road construction, materials and labor,
the state board of public roads for
Rhode Island has rejected all bids for
reconstruction work, the price of such
work having increased $4,000 a mile
over last year. The board will main
tain the existing system of highways
in the best manner possible. General
repair work will be carried out dur
ing the working season. 1t is the
opinion of the board, that the roads
of bituminous macadam construction
and the best roads of waterbound ma
cadam construction will be prevented
from deterioration appreciably during
the year.
Orders have not been received as yet
have received comm ission in the Unit
ed States Medical Reserve Corps to
report at the posts designated by the
war department two weeks ago. The
physicians awaiting orders are Drs.
John Champlin of Westerly, Ira Hart
Noyes, Harmon P. 3. Jordan of Provi-
dence, Peter L. Keough, Charles H.
Holt of Pawtucket and Charles s.
Christie of Riverpoint. It is probable
that these physicians will not be or
dered into service until the selective
draft is in operation, and it will be
several months before they are ordered
into actual service.
LII r Il