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X 
 
THE 
 
 CHARTER AND ORDINANCES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CITY OF PROVIDENCE; 
 
 WITH THE 
 
 ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
 
 RELATING TO THE CITY. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL. 
 
 PROVIDENCE: 
 KNOWLES AND VOSE, PRINTERS. 
 
 1845. 
 
^4K 
 
 The Ordinances of this City, and the Laws of the State specially- 
 relating to the City, are, in conformity with the instructions of the 
 City Council, herein published, under the direction of the under- 
 signed. 
 
 THOMAS M. BURGESS, 
 
 THOMAS B. FENNER, 
 
 WILLIAM S. PATTEN, 
 
 JAMES C. HIDDEN, [.Committee. 
 
 JOHN J. STIMSON, 
 
 JOSIAH F. CROCKER, 
 
 JOSEPH BURROWS, Jr. 
 
 City of Providence^ May 1, 1845. 
 
CHARTER. 
 
 STATE OF RHODE-ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS, 
 IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY, OCTOBER SESSION, A. D. 1831. 
 
 An Act to incorporate the City of Providence, 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Inhabitants of Providence incorpora- 
 ted — power to make laws — to hold 
 courts. 
 
 2. Administration of government vested 
 in Mayor, Aldermen, and Common 
 Council. — Town meetings in relation 
 to Dexter donation. 
 
 3. Mayor — powers and duties — salary. 
 
 4. City Council — powers and duties — 
 salaries of aldermen — taxes how as- 
 sessed — annual statement to be pub- 
 lished. 
 
 5. Town by-laws not repealed by this 
 act. 
 
 6. Municipal court — one judge — to have 
 probate jurisdiction — ^jurisdiction over 
 
 Section 
 
 other matters.— Appeals.-When judge 
 is interested, alderman to act as judge. 
 
 7. Police Court jurisdiction — for form of 
 proceeding, see Act in amendment. 
 
 8. Wards — ward meetings and officers. — 
 Elections. — Annual organization on 
 first Monday of June. — City Clerk to 
 be chosen by ballot — duties of city 
 clerk. — Board of aldermen to choose 
 president pro tem., who in certain ca- 
 ses may act as mayor. 
 
 9 & 10. These sections relate to general 
 elections and admission of freemen, 
 which since the adoption of the Con- 
 stitution have become obsolete. 
 
 Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and 
 by the authority thereof it is enacted, That the inhabitants of 
 the town of Providence shall continue to be a body politic 
 and corporate, by the name of the " City of Providence ;" 
 and, as such, shall have, exercise and enjoy all the rights, 
 immunities, powers, privileges and franchises, and shall be 
 subject to all the duties and obligations now appertaining to 
 or incumbent upon said town as a municipal corporation, or 
 appertaining to or incumbent upon the freemen and town- 
 council thereof; may ordain and publish such acts, laws and 
 regulations as shall be needful to the good order of said body 
 politic, and inflict fines and penalties for the breach thereof, 
 not exceeding two hundred dollars and six months imprison- 
 ment for any one offence ; and may hold courts of judicature, 
 with the powers and jurisdictions hereinafter mentioned. 
 
 Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the administra- 
 tion of all the fiscal, prudential and municipal aff'^irs of said 
 
 228736 
 
4 CITY CHARTER. 
 
 city, with the government thereof, shall be vested in one 
 principal magistrate,^ [being a freeholder and freeman of said 
 city,] to be called the Mayor ; one council of six [freemen, 
 being also freeholders,] to be called the Board of Aldermen ; 
 and one council of tv^enty-four [freemen, ;being also freehold- 
 ers,] to be called the Common Council which boards shall, 
 in their joint capacity, be called the City Council ; together 
 with such other magistrates or officers as by this Act are, or 
 hereafter may be, by the laws of this State and of said city, 
 prescribed ; who shall be sworn or affirmed to the faithful 
 performance of the duties of their respective offices, and to 
 support the Constitution of the United States : provided^ how- 
 ever^ that it shall at all times be lawful for the freemen of said 
 city of Providence, or any number of them not less than for- 
 ty, to hold town meetings in said city, for the purpose of 
 transacting business in relation to the property and estate 
 devised to the town of Providence by the last will and testa- 
 ment of Ebenezer Knight Dexter, and denominated the Dex- 
 ter Donation, and the Asylum, and other town or city property 
 connected therewith ; and the times and places of holding 
 such meetings, and the warning thereof, shall be appointed 
 and directed by the city council ; and the proceedings of 
 every such town meeting shall be recorded in a book to be 
 kept for that purpose by the city clerk, who shall ex officio be 
 the clerk of said meetings. 
 
 Sec. 3. And he it further enacted^ that the mayor of said 
 city shall be the chief executive magistrate thereof, and shall 
 be ex officio a justice of the peace within the city. It shall 
 be his duty to be vigilant and active in causing the laws to be 
 executed and enforced ; and in order to enable him more ef- 
 fectually to preserve the peace and good order of the city, all 
 the powers given to sheriffs and other officers in and by an 
 Act entitled " An Act to prevent routs, riots and tumultuous 
 assemblies, and the evil consequences thereof," are hereby 
 conferred upon him. He is also hereby empowered to com- 
 mit to prison, for a term not exceeding twenty-four hours, 
 any dissolute person or persons who may be detected in rev- 
 ehng in the streets, committing any mischief, quarrehng, or 
 otherwise behaving in a disorderly manner, to the disturbance 
 or annoyance of the peaceable inhabitants of said city. He 
 is also empowered to enter any house or building which he 
 
 * The parts of the charter included in brackets have been materially modified by 
 acts in amendment of the charter, and by the constitution and election laws of the 
 state. 
 
CITY CHARTER. O 
 
 has reasonable cause to suspect to be inhabited by persons of 
 ill fame, or to which persons of dissolute, idle or disorderly 
 character are suspected to resort ; and if any dissolute, disor- 
 derly or vagrant persons are found assembled in or about such 
 house or building, he shall command all such persons imme- 
 diately to disperse, if in his opinion the good order of any 
 portion of the city requires it ; and in case of neglect or re- 
 fusal to obey such command, he is hereby authorized to 
 commit any person or persons so disobeying to prison, for a 
 term not exceeding forty-eight hours ; and, if need be, he 
 may require the aid of any sheriff, deputy sheriff, town-ser- 
 geant, constable or watchman, or all of them, together with 
 such other aid as may be necessary. He shall inspect the 
 conduct of subordinate officers, and cause their violations of 
 duty to be prosecuted and punished. He may call meetings 
 of the boards of aldermen and common council, or of either 
 of them, although one or both of them may have been ad- 
 journed to a more distant day. He shall, from time to time, 
 communicate to both of them such information and recom- 
 mend such measures, as the business and interests of the city 
 may, in his opinion, require. He shall preside in the board 
 of aldermen, and in joint meetings of the two boards, but 
 shall have only a casting vote. The salary of the mayor, for 
 the first year in which this charter shall take effect, shall be 
 one thousand dollars, and no more. He shall afterwards be 
 compensated for his services by a salary to be fixed by the 
 city council, in the month of March in each year, payable at 
 stated periods ; and he shall receive no other emolument. 
 No regulation to change or diminish said compensation shall 
 take effect until the expiration of the time for which the 
 mayor in office at the time of such regulation shall have been 
 chosen. 
 
 Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, that the executive 
 powers of said city, generally, and the administration of po- 
 lice, with all the powers now possessed by the town council of 
 the town of Providence, and of its members, by virtue of their 
 offices, (whether said last mentioned powers are conferred by 
 the general assembly or by the town,) except the power of 
 passing by-laws and ordinances, shall be vested in the mayor 
 and aldermen. All other powers now vested in, or by this 
 charter conferred upon, the inhabitants or freemen of Provi- 
 dence, or in the town council thereof, shall be vested in the 
 mayor and aldermen and the common council of said city, to 
 be exercised by concurrent vote, each board to have a nega- 
 tive upon the other. But elections of officers by the city 
 
O CITY CHARTER. 
 
 council shall be had in convention of the two boards, and 
 whenever required by any member of the convention shall 
 be by ballot. The city council may define the duties and fix 
 the compensation and fees of officers, in cases where such 
 duties, fees and compensation shall not be defined or fixed by 
 the laws of this state ; and may by concurrent vote, two 
 thirds of the members present of each board voting in the 
 affirmative, remove officers for misconduct. But no compen- 
 sation shall be allowed to any member of the common coun- 
 cil, nor shall any member of either board be ehgible, within 
 the time for which he shall have been elected as such, to any 
 office of profit in the gift of the city council. Each alder- 
 man shall receive an annual salary of one hundred dollars, 
 and no more. All officers shall be chosen and vacancies sup- 
 pHed for the current year, except as herein otherwise directed. 
 The city council shall take care that moneys shall not be paid 
 from the treasury unless granted or appropriated ; shall secure 
 a just and proper accountability, by requiring bond, with suf- 
 ficient penalty and surety or sureties, from all persons intrust- 
 ed with the receipt, custody and disbursement of moneys ; 
 shall have the care and superintendance of city buildings, and 
 the custody and management of all city property, with power 
 to let or sell what may be legally let or sold, and to purchase 
 and take, in the name of the city, such real and personal pro- 
 perty as they may think useful to the public interest. All taxes 
 ordered to be assessed by the city council, or by the general 
 assembly, shall be assessed, apportioned and collected accord- 
 ing to the modes prescribed by the laws of this state ; and the 
 city council shall, as often as once a year, cause to be pub- 
 lished, for the information of the freemen, a particular account 
 of receipts and expenditures, and a schedule of city property. 
 
 Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, that all the by-laws, or- 
 dinances and regulations heretofore made by the freemen of 
 the town of Providence, or by the town council thereof, and 
 now in force, shall, notwithstanding this Act, be and remain 
 in force until they shall expire by limitation, or be repealed by 
 the city council. And prosecutions and suits may be com- 
 menced and proceeded thereon, in the name of the city, or of 
 the officers or other persons by said by-laws, ordinances and 
 regulations empowered or directed to proceed and sue ; and 
 the fines and penalties recovered shall go to the uses in such 
 by-laws, ordinances and regulations named, or according to law. 
 
 Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, that the judicial powers 
 herein granted shall be exercised by a municipal court, to be 
 holdenby one judge, to be appointed by the city council; and 
 
CITY CHARTER. / 
 
 by a police court, to consist of so many of the justices assign- 
 ed to keep the peace within said city by the general assembly, 
 not exceeding three, as shall be annually selected by concur- 
 rent vote of the city council, and oftener in case of vacancy ; 
 any one of whom shall constitute a quorum. The said courts 
 may punish for contempts, by fine and imprisonment. The 
 judge of said municipal court shall hold regular terms, at such 
 times and in such place in said city as may be appointed by 
 ordinance of the city council, and may adjourn his court from 
 time to time ; and in case of his sickness or absence, the 
 clerk of said court may adjourn the same to such time as may 
 be necessary on that account. The said judge shall exercise 
 the probate jurisdiction now exercised by the town council of 
 Providence ; and the probate business of said town council, 
 unfinished at the time of his coming into ofiice, shall be pro- 
 ceeded in and finished by the municipal judge. The munici- 
 pal court shall have original jurisdiction of suits for offences 
 against the by-laws, ordinances and regulations of the free- 
 men of the town of Providence, of the town council of said 
 town, and of the city council of said city, in which the pen- 
 alty or fine shall exceed ten days' imprisonment, or twenty 
 dollars. It shall have final appellate jurisdiction in suits orig- 
 inally brought at the police or justice's courts against inhabit- 
 ants of said town or city, for offences against by-laws, in 
 which the fine or penalty shall not exceed twenty dollars, or 
 ten days' imprisonment. The judge of said court may em- 
 panel juries of the freemen of the city, to be drawn by the 
 board of aldermen in the same manner as heretofore by the 
 town council, to be taken up by writ of venire facias, or from 
 the by-standers : and the plaintiff or appellant in said court 
 shall pay to the clerk thereof the sum of five dollars for the 
 trial of each cause, before the verdict thereon shall be ren- 
 dered, to be by said clerk paid into the city treasury. It 
 shall be lawful for said judge so to alter the form of writs and 
 other process, whether of common law or probate, as to make 
 the same consistent with the organization, style and jurisdic- 
 tion of the court ; and such writs and process shall have the 
 same validity and extent, and be served, obeyed, enforced and 
 returned in the same modes and by the same officers, as are 
 the writs and other process from courts of common pleas and 
 of probate : provided, however, that said writs and other pro- 
 cess may also be served by the constables of said city. The 
 said judge shall cause records of the proceedings, judgments, 
 orders and decrees of the court to be kept by the clerk there- 
 of, who shall be appointed by the city council. The judg- 
 
CITY CHARTER. 
 
 ments, orders and decrees of said court, in cases originating 
 therein, may be appealed from, as by law prescribed in cases 
 originating in courts of probate or of common pleas. The 
 supreme [judicial] court shall thereupon render final judgment. 
 Provided^ that nothing herein shall deprive any person of his 
 writ of review, or of his right to petition the supreme [judi- 
 cial] court for a new trial ; and provided, also, that if said 
 municipal judge shall be personally interested, or related 
 within the ninth degree to a party in any cause in said court, 
 and if any party in said cause shall object to him on that ac- 
 count, the mayor and aldermen shall appoint one of the al- 
 dermen to constitute said court, and act as municipal judge 
 in that cause, who shall have the same power as the munici- 
 pal judge. And in case the clerk of said court shall be a 
 party in any writ or process therein, such writ or process shall 
 be signed by the judge thereof. And all executions issuing 
 from said court shall be returnable to the next term thereof. 
 
 Sec. 7. And he it further enacted^ that the police court of 
 said city shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of suits for 
 offences against the by-laws, ordinances and regulations of 
 the freemen of the town of Providence, of the town council 
 of said town, and the city council of said city, in which the 
 punishment shall not exceed ten days' imprisonment, or twen- 
 ty dollars fine ; [and shall be holden at such times and places 
 in said city as may from time to time be provided by the city 
 council. The justices thereof shall have the same power and 
 jurisdiction which other justices of the peace have in criminal 
 cases ; and all writs and process signed by any one of them 
 shall be valid to all intents and purposes. Said court shall 
 keep a regular docket of all cases therein, shall record its 
 judgments, orders and sentences, and furnish certified copies 
 thereof, when required ; and shall receive the same fees for all 
 copies as are allowed by law to clerks of the courts of com- 
 mon pleas.]* In cases between inhabitants of the city, any 
 party aggrieved by a judgment of said court may appeal to 
 the municipal court ; but in cases where one of the parties 
 shall not be an inhabitant of the city, any party so aggrieved 
 may appeal to the court of common pleas of the county ; and 
 the judgment of said municipal court, or court of common 
 pleas thereon, shall be final : appeals may be had in all other 
 cases as by general law provided. 
 
 Sec. 8. And he it further enacted^ that for the purpose of 
 holding elections, the said city shall be divided into six wards. 
 
 See Act in addition. 
 
CITY CHARTim. ^ 
 
 to contain, as nearly as may conveniently be, an equal num- 
 ber of freemen. And it shall be the duty of the city council, 
 from time to time, not more than once in five years, to revise, 
 and, if it be needful, to alter said wards, in such manner as 
 to preserve, as nearly as may be, an equal number of freemen 
 to each. A quorum for the transaction of business in ward 
 meetings shall consist of at least eleven freemen. In each 
 ward there shall, annually, on the [third Wednesday of April,]* 
 be chosen a warden and clerk, who shall hold their offices for 
 one year, and until others shall have been chosen to their pla- 
 ces. The wardens shall preside at the meetings of the 
 wards, with the powers and duties of moderators of town- 
 meetings ; and the clerk shall record all the proceedings, and 
 certify the votes given. [Immediately after the choice of 
 warden and clerk, the freemen present shall elect, by a ma- 
 jority of the votes given in each ward, four of the freemen of 
 said ward to be members of the common council. As soon 
 as the requisite number of common council-men shall have 
 been chosen,! each freeman shall carry in his written or 
 printed ballot, endorsed with his name, for one freeholder, 
 being a freeman of said city, for mayor ; and six such free- 
 holders, being freemen, that is to say, one from each ward in 
 the city, to be aldermen thereof, for one year from the first 
 Monday of June then next to ensue.] All the ballots for 
 mayor and aldermen shall be sorted, counted, registered, de- 
 clared, sealed up, certified and directed, in open ward meet- 
 ings, to the city clerk, and shall be opened and counted by 
 the board of aldermen, who shall cause written notice to be 
 given to such persons, not then of the board, as shall have 
 received a majority of the votes given ; and if no mayor, or 
 less than six aldermen, shall be chosen, or any person chosen 
 shall refuse to accept, shall issue warrants for another elec- 
 tion ; and so, from time to time, shall order new elections, 
 until a mayor and six aldermen shall have been chosen by a 
 majority of the freemen voting. The said board may also, 
 in case of vacancy in the office of mayor, happening within 
 the year, direct such vacancy to be filled by a new election. 
 On the first Monday of June, in each year, the mayor, alder- 
 men and common council-men elect, shall meet in conven- 
 tion. The members elect of the common council shall de- 
 liver to the mayor, or presiding officer, their certificates of 
 election ; and the mayor shall administer to such of the 
 
 * Second Wednesday of May— Laws of R. I., p. 305. 
 
 t See act in amendment, for election of common council-men. 
 
10 
 
 CITY CHARTER. 
 
 members of the two boards as shall be present, not already 
 sworn or affirmed, the oath or affirmation herein before pre- 
 scribed ; and thereupon the convention shall ballot for a city 
 clerk. The city clerk shall be clerk of the board of alder- 
 men. He shall perform such duties as may be prescribed by 
 the board of aldermen or city council, and discharge all the 
 duties and exercise all the powers by law incumbent on or 
 vested in the town clerk of the town of Providence, except- 
 ing as probate clerk ; and all acts done by said city clerk, 
 which were formerly required of said town clerk, shall have 
 the same binding effect upon all persons as though done by 
 said town clerk. He shall give notice, in one of the city pa- 
 pers, of the times and places of regular ward meetings ; but 
 the place of each regular ward meeting, and also the day and 
 hour, when not fixed by law, shall be determined by the board 
 of aldermen. The said board of aldermen may, in the ab- 
 sence of the mayor, choose a president pro tempore, who shall 
 preside at joint meetings of the two boards, and who shall 
 also, in the absence of the mayor from the city, or in case of 
 his inability, exercise, for the time being, all the powers and 
 duties of mayor. The common council shall choose a presi- 
 dent and clerk. Each board shall keep a record of its pro- 
 ceedings, and the yeas and nays of the members of either 
 board, on any question, shall, at the desire of one fifth of 
 those present, be entered on the journal. Each board may 
 determine the rules of its proceedings, judge of the elections 
 of its own members, and in cases of failure of elections, or 
 of vacancy by death, absence, resignation or disabiUty, may 
 order new elections. A quorum for the transaction of busi- 
 ness shall, in each board, consist of a majority of the mem- 
 bers thereof. 
 
 Sec. 9. And be it farther enacted, that elections of rep- 
 resentatives from the city of Providence to the general as- 
 sembly, and all general elections by the freemen, shall be held 
 in the said city, at the ward meetings thereof. The votes 
 given for representatives to the general assembly shall be en- 
 dorsed with the names of the persons voting, shall be declar- 
 ed in open meeting, sealed up, certified and deUvered to the 
 city clerk. The votes given for general officers, for electors 
 of president and vice-president of the United States, and for 
 representatives to Congress, shall, at the close of the election, 
 be also declared in open meeting, sealed up, certified and 
 deUvered to the city clerk. Those for representatives to the 
 general assembly shall be opened and counted by the board 
 of aldermen, who may order new elections, until the whole 
 
CITV CHARTER. 
 
 li 
 
 number of representatives shall have been chosen ; and every 
 representative elect shall be furnished by the city clerk with a 
 certificate of his election. [The packages of votes given for 
 general officers for electors of president and vice-president 
 of the United States, and for representatives to Congress, 
 shall not be opened by the board of aldermen, but shall be 
 by the city clerk, in open board, enclosed and sealed up, di- 
 rected and deUvered, according to law.*] 
 
 [Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, that inhabitants of the 
 said city of Providence, legally entitled to become freemen 
 thereof, may be admitted as such, by the board of aldermen 
 and common council, in joint meeting ; they having produced 
 their deeds or other evidence of title, and been propounded 
 on the records of said joint meeting, or in town meeting be- 
 fore the organization of the city government, at least three 
 months before such admission, (except in cases of the eldest 
 sons of freemen, and freemen of other towns possessing a 
 sufficient freehold within the city,) and having otherwise con- 
 formed to the requisitions of law touching the admission of 
 freemen. The names of all freemen shall be entered by the 
 city clerk in a general list, alphabetically arranged ; and it 
 shall be his duty before making up the ward lists of freemen, 
 hereinafter mentioned, to return to the board of aldermen the 
 names of all persons who, having sold or been divested of 
 their estates, shall be disqualified from voting. The said board 
 of aldermen shall, at least ten days before all regular city 
 and general elections, and as early as practicable before all 
 other elections, cause a list of the freemen of each ward to be 
 sent to the clerk thereof, who shall immediately post up a cer- 
 tified copy thereof, at the place of the ward meeting. And 
 any freeman, not disqualified, whose name shall have been 
 omitted from said list, shall nevertheless be admitted to vote, 
 on producing to the warden a certificate of his quahfications 
 from the board of aldermen, dated subsequently to the date 
 of the ward list of freemen ; which certificate shall be given 
 by the clerk of the board, without fee. And any freeman 
 whose name shall have been omitted as aforesaid, and who 
 shall have omitted to procure said certificate, shall be admit- 
 ted to vote, on making oath before the warden, (who is here- 
 by authorized to administer the same,) that he is an inhabit- 
 ant of the ward wherein he offers to vote, has been duly ad- 
 
 * For mode of making returns for general officers, presidential electors and repre- 
 sentatives to Congress, see Constitution of State of Rhode-Island, and act to regu- 
 late the election of civil officers. 
 
12 
 
 CITY CHARTER. 
 
 mitted a freeman of said city, and is really and bona fide 
 qualified with sufficient estate, as is required by law, or is the 
 eldest son of a freeman so qualified, and is an inhabitant of 
 said ward. No person not on said list, not having a certifi- 
 cate as aforesaid, and not taking the oath abovementioned, 
 shall vote, except as hereinafter provided. Freemen of other 
 towns, residing in any ward of the city, may vote therein, for 
 general officers, on producing certificates from the town clerk 
 of such towns, as by law provided. In cases where the suf- 
 ficiency of the estate of persons voting shall be disputed, and 
 such persons shall make oath or affirmation of the sufficiency 
 of such estates, according to law, the board of aldermen shall 
 value such estates ; and such persons shall not vote thereon 
 at any subsequent election, unless the said board shall find 
 them sufficient.*] 
 
 An Act in amendment of an act entitled " An Act to incorporate 
 the city of Providence, "^"^ 
 
 (Passed January 11, 1843.) 
 
 Sectiok 
 
 1. Election of city council to be on sec- 
 ond Wednesday of April. 
 
 2. Election of common council-men by 
 
 Section 
 
 ballot — plurality to elect. 
 3. Repeal of laws inconsistent with this 
 act. 
 
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly^ as follows : 
 
 Section 1. The election of the mayor, aldermen and 
 common council-men of the city of Providence shall here- 
 after be holden on the second Wednesday of May in each 
 year, instead of the third Wednesday of April. 
 
 Sec. 2. The election of the members of the common 
 council shall be by written or printed ballots ; and the elec- 
 tion shall in all respects be conducted, and the ballots sealed 
 up and returned in the same manner, as is required in the 
 election of the mayor and aldermen. The four candidates in 
 each ward who shall receive the highest number of votes shall 
 be elected common council-men for that ward. The votes 
 shall be opened and counted by the board of aldermen, who 
 shall cause written notice to be given to such persons as shall 
 have been elected. 
 
 Sec 3. All such parts of the act of which this is in amend- 
 ment as are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. 
 
 * The provisions of section 10 are mostly obsolete, having been superseded by the 
 constitutinQ and election law of the state. 
 
CITY CHARTER. 
 
 13 
 
 An Act in addition to an act to incorporate the city of Provi- 
 dence. 
 
 (Passed February 5, 1842.) 
 
 Justices of the police court — ^jurisdiction of — proceedings may be had by warrant 
 
 or writ. 
 
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Section 1. Any one of the justices of the pohce court 
 of said city shall have the same original jurisdiction over all 
 offences against the by-laws, ordinances and regulations of 
 the freemen of the town of Providence, of the town council 
 of said town, and of the city council of said city, as is now 
 exercised exclusively by the police court of said city ; and 
 the same may be proceeded on either by complaint and 
 warrant or writ ; and the parties shall have the same right to 
 appeal from any sentence or judgment of such justice as by 
 the provisions of the charter of said city they now have to 
 appeal from any judgment of the police court. 
 
 Extract from " An Act in relation to the election and duties of 
 
 town officers,^^ 
 
 (Digest of 1844.) 
 
 Wardens and ward clerks to be elected on second Wednesday of May. 
 
 Section 24. Wardens and ward clerks in the city of Prov- 
 vidence shall be elected on the second Wednesday in May in 
 each year, and shall hold their offices until others shall be 
 elected and qualified by law to act in their places. They 
 shall be sworn as other town officers are required to be. 
 
ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
 
 RELATING TO 
 
 THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE. 
 
 An Act prescribing the qualifications of freemen entitled to 
 vote in town meetings in Providence for management of 
 the Dexter Donation. 
 
 (Passed January, 1845.) 
 
 Persons entitled to vote to impose tax, to be freemen. 
 
 It is enacted by the General Assembly^ as follows : 
 
 Sectiois 1 . All persons who by the provisions of the con- 
 stitution are entitled to vote in the city of Providence for 
 members of the city council, or upon any proposition to im- 
 pose a tax, or for the expenditure of money, are hereby de- 
 clared to be freemen, entitled to vote in all town meetings 
 holden in said city for the purpose of transacting business in 
 relation to the property and estate devised to the town of 
 Providence by the last will and testament of Ebenezer Knight 
 Dexter, and the asylum and other town or city property con- 
 nected therewith. 
 
 An Act in addition to an act entitled " An Act to enlarge and 
 explain the powers of the town meetings and town council of 
 the town of Providence.^'' 
 
 (Passed January 19, 1828.) 
 
 Town of Providence authorized to assess tax for free schools. 
 
 Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by 
 the authority thereof it is enacted, that the freemen of the 
 town of Providence, in town meeting legally assembled, shall 
 have the power of assessing and collecting taxes from time 
 to time, in the same manner as other town taxes are assessed 
 
FREE SCHOOLS— HOUSE OF CORRECTION. 
 
 15 
 
 and collected ; and of appropriating the same to establish 
 and maintain free schools therein, and to defray the expenses 
 incident thereto. 
 
 An Act to authorize the city of Providence to establish a house 
 of correction, and for other purposes, 
 
 (Passed October, 1833.) 
 
 Section 
 
 1. City authorized to establish house of 
 correction. 
 
 2. Keeper to be appointed — duties of — 
 list to be presented to supreme court. 
 
 3. City council to have power to appoint 
 other officers. 
 
 4. City council to have power to make 
 regulations. 
 
 5. Commitments to be in writing — by 
 whom to be executed. 
 
 6. House of correction to be deemed a 
 co:innon jail, so far that habeas cor- 
 j)us act may apply to it. 
 
 7. Commitments to be made to Provi- 
 
 Section 
 
 dence county jail, until house of cor- 
 rection shall be established. 
 
 8. Prisoners to be supported by city. 
 
 9. Board of aldermen may commit per- 
 sons ordered to be removed. 
 
 10. Vagrants — who are deemed so. 
 
 11. Disorderly persons — who are deem- 
 ed so. 
 
 12. Justices to commit vagrants and dis- 
 orderly persons. 
 
 13. Intoxication — how punished. 
 
 14. "Who the board of aldermen may lib- 
 erate. 
 
 15. Who the city council may liberate. 
 
 Section 1 . Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by 
 the authority thereof it is enacted, that it shall and may be 
 lawful for the city of Providence to estabUsh and maintain a 
 house of correction within the limits of said city ; in which 
 said house of correction shall be confined all persons who 
 may be legally committed thereto, as hereinafter provided. 
 
 Sec 2. And be it further enacted, that the city council 
 of said city of Providence be and they are hereby authorized 
 and empowered to elect a keeper of said house of correction, 
 at the time when said house shall be first established by virtue 
 of this act ; and afterwards a keeper of said house shall be 
 elected by said city council at every annual election of city 
 officers, and oftener in case of vacancy. And it shall be the 
 duty of the keeper of said house, in addition to such others 
 as may from time to time be prescribed to him by said coun- 
 cil, to present to the supreme judicial court, upon the second 
 day of every term thereof, which shall be holden within and 
 for the county of Providence, a list of all persons in his cus- 
 tody within said house of correction ; which list shall specify 
 the several dates and causes of the commitment of such per- 
 sons, the tribunal by which they were ordered to be confined, 
 and the time for which they were respectively committed. 
 
 Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, that the city council 
 aforesaid shall have powef to appoint, from time to time, be- 
 sides a keeper of said house of correction, such other officer 
 
16 HOUSE OF CORRECTION. 
 
 or officers thereof as they the said council may deem expe- 
 dient ; and the same, as well as said keeper, to remove at any 
 time by concurrent vote, two thirds of the members present 
 of each board voting in the affirmative ; and all said officers 
 shall be duly sworn or affirmed to the faithful discharge of 
 the duties of their respective offices. 
 
 Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, that the city council 
 aforesaid be and they are hereby authorized to make, ordain 
 and establish, from time to time, all such by-laws, ordinances, 
 rules and regulations for the government of said house of 
 correction, and the persons committed thereto, as said coun- 
 cil may deem needful and proper : provided that said by-laws, 
 ordinances, rules and regulations be not repugnant to the 
 laws of this state. 
 
 Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, that every commitment 
 to said house of correction shall be by precept in writing ; 
 which precept, in all cases not otherwise provided for by law, 
 shall be executed by the city marshal, the city sergeant, or 
 some one of the constables of said city ; and each commit- 
 ment shall be entered by the officer making the same in a 
 book to be provided by said city, and kept at said house for 
 that purpose. 
 
 Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, that said house of cor- 
 rection shall be deemed a common jail, and the keeper there- 
 of an officer, so far as to render applicable thereto as such 
 the provisions of the act of the general assembly entitled 
 " An Act directing the process upon writs of habeas corpus." 
 
 Sec 7. And be it further enacted, that the mayor, the 
 board of aldermen, the municipal court, the police court, 
 and any one or more of the justices of the peace for said 
 city, be and they hereby are severally authorized and empow- 
 ered to commit to the state's jail, in the county of Provi- 
 dence, until said house of correction shall be estabhshed, and 
 afterwards to commit, at their discretion either to said jail or 
 to said house of correction, all persons whom by this act, by 
 the act of the general assembly entitled " An Act to incorpo- 
 rate the city of Providence," or by any present or future or- 
 dinance of the city council of said city, passed in pursuance 
 of the provisions of said last mentioned act, they the said 
 mayor, board of aldermen, municipal court, police court, and 
 justices of the peace, now are or hereafter may be authorized 
 to commit, or order to be committed to prison. And the sev- 
 eral persons who may be committed to the house of correc- 
 tion aforesaid shall be kept thereifi at hard labor, either in 
 solitary confinement or otherwise ; or shall be kept in solitary 
 
HOUSE OF CORRECTION. It 
 
 confinement without labor ; or shall suffer solitary imprison- 
 ment without labor for a part of the time for which they shall 
 be committed, and be afterwards kept at hard labor, either in 
 soHtary confinement or otherwise, for the remainder of said 
 term, as shall be prescribed in and by the respective sentences 
 or orders by force of which such person shall be so commit- 
 ted. And the several tribunals and magistrates aforesaid are 
 hereby required to specify in and by their said sentences and 
 orders, as well the mode as the duration of imprisonment : 
 provided, however, that no person shall be condemned to sol- 
 itary imprisonment without labor for a longer period than ten 
 days, for any one offence. 
 
 Sec. 8. And he it further enacted, that the city of Provi- 
 dence shall be liable to pay to the jailer of the county of 
 Providence for the time being, such sum for the weekly sup- 
 port of each and every person committed to the jail in said 
 county, under and by virtue of any of the provisions of this 
 act, as shall be allowed and paid by the state, from time to 
 time, for the weekly support of each state prisoner in said 
 jail. ' 
 
 Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, that the board of alder- 
 men of said city be and they hereby are authorized to or- 
 der any person who shall appear, upon examination be- 
 fore said board, to have no legal settlement within this state, 
 and who shall be adjudged by said board to be an unsuitable 
 person to become an inhabitant of said city, to depart from 
 and out of said city, within such time as said board shall ap- 
 point ; and in case any such person shall not depart from 
 said city within the time specified in such order, or shall at 
 any time after the expiration of said specified period be found 
 within said city, without permission first had and obtained 
 from said board of aldermen, and in case any person legally 
 removed from said city by order of removal shall return 
 thereto without permission first had and obtained from said 
 board of aldermen, said board of aldermen are further au- 
 thorized ^nd empowered to commit every such person to 
 prison, for a term not exceeding three months : provided, nev- 
 ertheless, that nothing in this act contained shall be construed 
 to prevent said board of aldermen from proceeding under and 
 acc<miing to the act of the general assembly, entitled " An 
 Act in I amendment of an act entitled an act providing for 
 the relief, support, employment and removal of the poor," in 
 any ease wherein they may deem it expedient, in the same 
 manner and to the same effect as if this act had not been 
 passed. 
 3 
 
18 
 
 HOUSE OF CORRECTION. 
 
 Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, that all persons who, 
 being habitual drunkards, are destitute and without visible 
 means of support, or who being such habitual drunkards shall 
 abandon, neglect or refuse to aid in the support of their fam- 
 ilies, and shall be complained of by such families ; all com- 
 mon prostitutes who have no lawful employment whereby to 
 maintain themselves ; all idle persons who being of doubtful 
 reputation and having no visible means to maintain them- 
 selves live without employment; all able bodied or sturdy 
 beggars who may apply for alms or solicit charity; all per- 
 sons wandering abroad, lodging in watch-houses, out-houses, 
 market-places, sheds, stables or uninhabited buildings, or in 
 the open air, and not giving a good account of themselves ; 
 and all persons who go about from door to door, or place 
 themselves in the streets, highways, passages or other pubhc 
 places within the said city of Providence, to beg or receive 
 alms, shall be deemed vagrants. 
 
 Sec. 1 1 . And be it further enacted^ that all persons who 
 may have actually abandoned their wives or children in said 
 city of Providence, without adequate support, leaving them 
 in danger of becoming a charge upon the public, or who may 
 neglect to provide according to their means for the support of 
 their wives or children ; all common prostitutes ; all keepers 
 of bawdy houses, or houses for the resort of prostitutes, 
 drunkards, tiplers, gamesters, or other disorderly persons ; all 
 persons who keep in any public street, highway or other pub- 
 lic place, or in any house, out-house or other building, or in 
 any yard, garden, or other place possessed, occupied or used 
 by them, any cards, dice-tables, bowls, wheel of fortune or 
 other tables, box, machine or device for the purpose of gam- 
 ing ; all persons who go about with such table, wheel or 
 other machine or device, exhibiting tricks or gaming there- 
 with ; all persons who play in any public street, highway or 
 other public place, with cards, dice, or any other instrument 
 or device for gaming ; all jugglers, common showmen and 
 mountebanks, who exhibit or perform for profit any puppet- 
 show, wire or rope dance, or other idle shows, acts or feats, 
 in the public streets, highways or other public places ; and all 
 itinerant musicians who perform in the public streets, high- 
 ways or other public places, shall be deemed disorderly per- 
 sons. 
 
 Sec. 12. And be it further enacted, that any person who 
 shall be convicted before any one or more of the justices of 
 the peace for said city of Providence, of being a vagrant, or 
 a disorderly person, may be committed to prison by the mag- 
 
HOUSE OF CORRECTION. 
 
 19 
 
 istrate or magistrates before whom he or she shall be so con- 
 victed, for a term not exceeding three months. 
 
 Sec. 13. And be it further enacted, that any person who 
 shall be intoxicated under such circumstances as shall, in the 
 opinion of any one or more of the justices of the peace 
 aforesaid, amount to a violation of decency, may be con- 
 victed of such offence by any such justice or justices, either 
 upon his or their own knowledge, or upon complaint duly 
 made and supported by competent testimony ; and such per- 
 son so convicted may be fined for such offence, in any sum 
 not exceeding five dollars ; and in default of payment of such 
 fine, together with the costs of prosecution, such person so 
 convicted may be committed to prison by such justice or jus- 
 tices, until said fine and costs shall be paid : provided, how- 
 ever, that such person shall not be kept in imprisonment for a 
 longer period than ten days for any one default. 
 
 Sec. 14. And be it further enacted, that it shall and may 
 be lawful for the board of aldermen of said city to liberate 
 and discharge, at their discretion, any person committed to 
 prison by order of said board, before the expiration of the 
 time for which such person shall have been committed, upon 
 such conditions as said board may think proper ; and in case 
 any person so liberated shall fail to fulfil the conditions pre- 
 scribed, said board may recommit said person to prison, for 
 and during the remaining portion of the term of confinement 
 originally ordered. 
 
 [Sec. 15. And be it further enacted, that it shall and may 
 be lawful for the city council of said city of Providence to 
 hberate and discharge, at their discretion, any person com- 
 mitted to prison for the violation of any ordinance passed by 
 said city council ; or who shall be committed by any one or 
 more of the justices of the peace for said city, under and by 
 virtue of any of the provisions of this act, notwithstanding 
 the time for which such person shall have been committed 
 may not have expired, upon such conditions as said city 
 council may deem proper ; and in case any person so libera- 
 ted shall fail to fulfil the conditions by said city council pre- 
 scribed, the court, magistrate or magistrates by whose sen- 
 tence such person may have been originally committed, shall, 
 upon due proof of such failure, recommit such person to 
 prison, for and during the remaining portion of the term of 
 confinement originally ordered.]* 
 
 * Repealed — see act in amendment. 
 
20 
 
 HOUSE OF CORRECTION.— SPECIAL CONSTABLES. 
 
 An Act in amendment of '^ An Act to authorize the city of 
 Providence to establish a house of correction, and for other 
 
 purposes. 
 
 (Passed October, 1843. 
 
 Section 
 1. Authority of mayor or board of alder- 
 men to liberate persons committed. 
 
 Section 
 2. Repeal of part of former act. 
 
 It is enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Section 1. It shall be lawful for the mayor or the board 
 of aldermen of the city of Providence to liberate and dis- 
 charge, at his or their discretion, any person committed to 
 prison for the violation of any ordinance passed by the city 
 council of said city ; or who shall be committed by any one 
 or more of the justices of the peace for said city, under and 
 by virtue of any of the provisions of the act of which this is 
 in amendment, notwithstanding the time for which such per- 
 son shall have been committed may not have expired, upon 
 such conditions as said mayor or board of aldermen may 
 deem proper ; and in case any person so liberated shall fail 
 to fulfil the conditions by said mayor or board of aldermen 
 prescribed, the court, magistrate or magistrates by whose sen- 
 tence such person may have been originally committed, shall, 
 upon due proof of such failure, recommit such person to 
 prison for and during the remaining portion of the term of 
 confinement originally ordered. 
 
 Sec 2. The fifteenth section of the act of which this is 
 in amendment is hereby repealed. 
 
 An Act concerning the appointment of ivatchmen and special 
 constables in the city of Providence, 
 
 (Passed January, 1845.) 
 
 Section 
 1. Watchmen maybe appointed by may- 
 or and aldermen. 
 
 Section 
 
 2. Special constables may be appointed 
 by mayor or board of aldermen — 
 powers of. 
 
 It is enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Section 1. The mayor and aldermen of the city of Pro- 
 vidence are authorized to appoint so many watchmen for said 
 city as the city council of said city may deem expedient ; who 
 shall hold their offices during the pleasure of said board. 
 Sec 2. The mayor or the board of aldermen of said 
 
COURT OF MAGISTRATES. 21 
 
 city are authorized to appoint special constables for said city, 
 whenever in his or their opinion it may be expedient ; and 
 such constables shall hold their offices for the day on which 
 they are appointed and the two succeeding days ; but they 
 shall not be required to give any bond, nor shall they be au- 
 thorized to serve any civil process ; but in all other matters 
 they shall haye the same power and authority as other con- 
 stables. 
 
 An Act to establish a court of magistrates in the city of Prov- 
 idence, 
 
 (Passed January, 1845.) 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Court established — seven justices — 
 how selected. 
 
 2. Jurisdiction of court. 
 
 3. City charter and house of correction act 
 — powers given by them continued. 
 
 4. Proceedings in cases of examination 
 of persons charged with crimes. 
 
 5. Persons refusing to recognize to be 
 committed. 
 
 6. Proceedings in criminal cases. 
 
 7. Four justices to form quorum. 
 
 8. Court to elect presiding justice — to 
 
 Section 
 
 10. Appeals how made. 
 
 11. Clerk to be elected. 
 
 12. Clerk — duties of. — Judge of supreme 
 court to examine record. 
 
 13. Writs and summons by whom sign- 
 ed, &c. 
 
 14. Clerk 'to receive fines and costs — to 
 give bond — to make report. 
 
 15. Penalty for neglect of clerk. 
 
 16. Forms of writs — proceedings — powers 
 of court, similar to justices of peace. 
 
 17. Fees same as justices of peace, 
 establish seal. 18. Time for this act to go into operation. 
 Court to meet Monday and Thurs- 19. Repeal of acts inconsistent herewith, 
 day, &c. I 
 
 It is enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Section 1 . There shall be a court in the city of Provi- 
 dence called the Court of Magistrates, to consist of seven 
 persons, to be annually, and from time to time as vacancies 
 may occur, selected and appointed by the city council of said 
 city, in convention, out of the justices of the peace for said 
 city, appointed by the general assembly, or elected by the 
 city of Providence ; and no member of said court shall be 
 retained or act in any way as counsel in any cause pending 
 before the same. 
 
 Sec. 2. The said court shall have exclusively the same 
 jurisdiction in all civil actions, and in all criminal cases and 
 proceedings in said city, as is or may be given by law to jus- 
 tices of the peace in other towns, except as provided in the 
 third section of this act ; and shall have jurisdiction over no 
 other matters, causes or proceedings. 
 
 Sec. 3. The powers given to the mayor, board of alder- 
 men, city council, municipal court, police court, or to any one 
 or more of the justices of the peace of the city of Provi- 
 dence, by the act entitled " An Act to incorporate the city of 
 
22 COURT OF MAGISTRATES. 
 
 Providence," or by the act entitled " An Act to authorize 
 the city of Providence to estabhsh a house of correction and 
 for other purposes," and the acts in addition to and in amend- 
 ment thereof, may continue to be exercised by them severally. 
 And the court hereby established, and each of the members 
 thereof, may have and exercise, concurrently vy^ith one or more 
 justices of the peace of said city, the power and jurisdiction 
 given to said justices of the peace by said last mentioned act. 
 
 Sec. 4. Whenever any person is brought before said 
 court charged with an offence, the punishment whereof is by 
 law beyond the jurisdiction of said court, or is so placed 
 within the discretion of the court trying him that it may or 
 may not exceed the jurisdiction of the court, the said court 
 may proceed to an examination, and bind him by recogni- 
 zance, with surety or sureties in such sums as they think pro- 
 per, to appear at the next term of the supreme court or court 
 of common pleas, in the county of Providence, and not to 
 depart therefrom without leave, and in the mean time to be 
 of good behavior arid keep the peace ; or if the case be 
 within their jurisdiction according to the discretion aforesaid, 
 may proceed to a trial of such person, and if he be found 
 guilty may sentence him to a punishment within their power 
 to inflict ; or should they deem such punishment inadequate 
 to the oflence may bind him by recognizance, with surety or 
 sureties as aforesaid. 
 
 Sec. 5. Any person refusing to give recognizance when 
 required by said court shall be committed to the county jail 
 in said county, until such recognizance be given, or he oth- 
 erwise be lawfully discharged therefrom. 
 
 Sec 6. The proceedings in all criminal cases in said 
 court shall be commenced by complaint and warrant in the 
 manner provided by law for the commencement of criminal 
 cases before justices of the peace in other towns. And the 
 warrant shall be signed by one of the members of said court ; 
 and any justice of said court is authorized and empowered to 
 take the recognizance of any person apprehended upon such 
 complaint and warrant, for his appearance at the time of the 
 next res^ular meeting of said court ; and in default of such 
 recognizance being given, to commit the person so appre- 
 hended to the jail in said county, there to remain until the 
 next court day, or until such recognizance be given, or he be 
 otherwise lawfully discharged therefrom : and either of said 
 justices is hereby empowered to sign a mittimus for that pur- 
 pose : and the justice taking said recognizance shall be en- 
 
COURT OF MAGISTRATES. 23 
 
 titled to the same fees therefor as if the same were taken to 
 a higher court. 
 
 Sec. 7. Any four of the members of said court shall be a 
 quorum ; but any one in the absence of the others may ad- 
 journ the court. 
 
 Sec. 8. Said court may annually, or oftener if occasion 
 require, elect one of its members as presiding justice thereof; 
 and shall have power to adopt a seal for said court. 
 
 Sec. 9. Said court shall meet on the Monday and Thurs- 
 day of each week, and may meet on such other days, either 
 originally or by adjournment, as they may think proper. And 
 any action, complaint or other proceeding therein, whether 
 of a civil or criminal nature, may be adjourned to the next 
 or some future session of the court. 
 
 Sec. 10. Appeals from the judgment of said court may 
 be made in the same manner as is or may be by law provided 
 for appeals from judgments rendered by justices of the peace. 
 
 Sec. 11. Said court shall annually elect one of its mem- 
 bers as the clerk thereof; and in case of his death, absence 
 or inabihty to perform the duties of his office, they may ap- 
 point from their own members another clerk, either pro tem- 
 pore, or for the remainder of the year, as the case may re- 
 quire. 
 
 Sec. 12. It shall be the duty of the clerk to keep a 
 docket of all actions, complaints or proceedings, either of a 
 civil or criminal nature, that may be entered or had in said 
 court ; and to note on the same, against each case, the judg- 
 ment therein or determination thereof, and in all criminal ca- 
 ses the fine or imprisonment to which the defendant may be 
 sentenced. He shall also record the judgments and proceed- 
 ings of said court in a book to be kept for that purpose ; and 
 tax the costs in all cases, civil and criminal, in said court, and 
 subject to the revision of the court. One of the justices of 
 the supreme court shall certify at each May session of the 
 general assembly, whether the records have been faithfully and 
 fully kept and made up by the clerk ; and in case the said 
 clerk shall not have recorded the judgments and proceedings 
 of said court, the said clerk shall be inehgible to hold the 
 office of a justice of said court. 
 
 Sec. 13. Original writs in civil cases returnable to said 
 court shall be signed by the clerk thereof, under the seal of 
 said court, in blank or otherwise, and bear teste of the pre- 
 siding justice of said court. Summonses to witnesses in ca- 
 ses before said court may be signed by the clerk, or any of 
 the members of said court ; and all other executions or other 
 
24 COURT OF MAGISTRATES. 
 
 process issuing from said court, whether in civil or criminal 
 cases, shall be signed by the clerk, under the seal of said 
 court, and shall bear teste of the presiding justice thereof. 
 
 Sec. 14. The clerk of said court shall receive all fines 
 and costs in criminal cases that may be paid in pursuance of 
 any judgment or sentence thereof, and shall pay to the wit- 
 nesses and other persons entitled thereto their several por- 
 tions of said costs ; and shall give bond with sufficient surety 
 to the general trcEisurer, to be by him approved, in the sum of 
 one thousand dollars ; which bond shall be upon the condition 
 following, viz., faithfully to discharge the duties of his office 
 according to law, and seasonably to record the judgments and 
 determinations of said court, and to pay over to the general 
 treasurer the fines received, and to the witnesses and other 
 persons entitled thereto their several portions of the costs re- 
 ceived by him, and once in three months to pay over to the 
 general treasurer all sums due to such witnesses or other per- 
 sons which shall have remained unclaimed for the space of 
 three months. He shall, on the first Tuesday in May and No- 
 vember of each year, make a report in writing to the gen- 
 eral treasurer of all the fines received by him, and shall at 
 the same time send to the general treasurer a copy of so 
 much of the docket of said court as shall be necessary to 
 give him full information of all the criminal cases and pro- 
 ceedings in said court, of the judgments rendered therein, 
 and of all the fines and costs received by said clerk. 
 
 Sec. 15. For any wilful neglect of said clerk to make 
 such repor^ or to send a copy of said docket, or to pay over 
 the fines by him received, as is required in the preceding sec- 
 tion, he shall forfeit and pay the sum of fifty dollars for each 
 offence, and also double the amount of the fines received by 
 him and not paid over as aforesaid ; to be recovered by in- 
 dictment in any court of competent jurisdiction. 
 
 Sec 16. The form of writs in civil cases returnable to 
 said court shall be substantially the same as those returnable 
 to justices' courts ; and all the proceedings in said court, in 
 the hearing, trial and determination of all actions or com- 
 plaints pending before them, and in all matters relating there- 
 to, shall be substantially the same as the proceedings in like 
 cases before justices of the peace. And the said court shall 
 have all such powers as may be necessary or proper for the 
 discharge of their duty in the same manner as justices of the 
 peace might do in the hke cases. 
 
 Sec. 17. The said court shall be allowed the same fees 
 that are or may be by law allowed to justices of the peace in 
 
COURT OF MAGISTRATES— REMOVAL OF POOR. 
 
 25 
 
 similar cases. Such fees shall be divided equally between 
 them, or in such manner as they may agree. 
 
 Sec. 18. This act shall go into operation on the first 
 Monday of June next, but nothing herein contained shall be 
 construed to hinder or prevent any justice of the peace in 
 the city of Providence from proceeding in hearing or de- 
 termining and issuing execution in any suit, civil or criminal, 
 then or for ten days thereafter by him commenced, or which 
 may be pending before him, in the same manner as if this act 
 had not been passed. 
 
 Sec. 19. All acts and parts of acts relating to justices 
 of the peace, so far as inconsistent herewith, are hereby 
 repealed. 
 
 An Act in amendment of'^An Act providing for the relief, sup- 
 port, employment and removal of the poor, 
 
 (Passed July 1, 1842.) 
 
 Section 
 1. Mayor to have power to remove, &c. 
 pauper. 
 
 Section 
 2. Warrants, &c., to be signed by mayor 
 and sealed with city seal. 
 
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Section 1. The mayor of the city of Providence shall 
 have the same power and authority that the board of alder- 
 men of said city have, to receive complaints made by the 
 overseers of the poor in said city, concerning any person not 
 legally settled therein ; to command such person to be brought 
 before him for examination, and him or her to examine, and 
 at his discretion to command to depart from said city ; to fine, 
 bind out, commit to prison, or order to be removed to the 
 place of his or her last settlement. 
 
 Sec. 2. All warrants, indentures, commitments or orders 
 of removal, made under the authority of this act, shall be 
 signed by the mayor by whom they are made, and sealed with 
 the seal of said city ; and shall be executed in the same man- 
 ner as are warrants, indentures, commitments or orders of 
 removal made by the board of aldermen of said city. 
 
26 
 
 HIGHWAYS. 
 
 An Act in addition to an act, entitled 
 
 highway s.^^ 
 
 An Act for laying out 
 
 (Passed 1821.) 
 
 Section 
 1. Highways may be laid out in Provi- 
 dence, upon petition. 
 
 Section 
 2. Town not obliged to repair them until 
 specially ordered by town council. 
 
 Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by 
 the authority thereof it is enacted, that when any petition or 
 petitions shall be preferred to the town council of the town 
 of Providence, by the owner or owners of any land holden 
 in fee simple in said town, praying that a public highway or 
 highways may be laid out through his, her or their said land, 
 without any damages to be awarded to him, her or them, and 
 that said town shall not be obliged to be at any expense for 
 repairing said public highway or highways, until said town 
 council shall afterwards decree that the same shall be repaired 
 at the expense of said town, the said town council shall have 
 power and authority to cause such highway or highways to be 
 laid out, established, confirmed and opened, in the same way 
 and manner as is provided by the act to which this is in addi- 
 tion. 
 
 Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, that the said town of 
 Providence shall not be liable or obUged to repair such high- 
 way or highways so laid out, established and opened, accord- 
 ing to this act, until the said town council shall order and de- 
 cree that the same shall be repaired at the expense of said 
 town, in the same way and manner as other highways in said 
 town. 
 
 An Act declaring certain private streets and gangways in the 
 town of Providence, in the county of Providence, to be pub- 
 lic highways, 
 
 (Passed January 22, 1822.) 
 
 Section 
 1. Certain streets declared to be public 
 highways. 
 
 Section 
 2. W^hen to be repaired. 
 
 Whereas PhiHp Crapo, Thomas Burgess and Benjamin 
 Hoppin, all of Providence, in the county of Providence, to- 
 gether with Benjamin Clifford and Samuel Y. Atwell, execu- 
 
HIGHWAYS. ?*? 
 
 tors of the last will and testament of Amos M. Atwell, late of 
 said Providence, deceased, have preferred their petition to this 
 general assembly, setting forth that the said Philip Crapo, 
 Thomas Burgess, Benjamin Hoppin and Amos M. Atwell 
 were heretofore seized and possessed of two tracts of land, 
 situate in the westerly part of said Providence, and adjoining 
 each other^ and which are named and described in one deed 
 from Hetty Atwell, to them and Sullivan Moulton, dated on 
 the 28th day of September, 1808, and recorded in said Prov- 
 idence, in book number thirty, and pages four hundred and 
 thirty-six and four hundred and thirty-seven ; and one deed 
 from Richard Jackson, Jr. to the same persons, dated on the 
 same day, and recorded in the same book, in pages four hun- 
 dred and thirty-seven and four hundred and thirty-eight ; 
 which lands they the said Philip Crapo, Thomas Burgess, 
 Benjamin Hoppin and Amos M. Atwell laid out and platted 
 into lots, streets and gangways, and caused the plat thereof to 
 be recorded in the same book, between pages four hundred 
 and thirty-nine and four hundred and forty ; and praying that 
 the same streets and gangways may be declared and made 
 public streets ; which petition has been approved by said 
 town: therefore — 
 
 Section 1 . Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and 
 by the authority thereof it is enacted, that all of said streets 
 and gangways which are laid out on or through said two 
 tracts of land, and which are delineated on the record of said 
 plat, shall be and the same are hereby made and declared to 
 be public highways, to all intents and purposes ; and that all 
 persons who shall make, erect or continue any obstruction, 
 encroachment or nuisance on any of said highways shall be 
 liable to prosecution by indictment therefor. 
 
 Sec. 2. Provided, however, and be it further enacted, that 
 the said town of Providence shall not be liable to repair said 
 highways, until the town council of said town shall resolve or 
 decree that it is proper for the town to repair the same. 
 
 An Act concerning the establishment of highways in the city 
 
 of Providence, 
 
 (Passed January, 1843.) 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Highways may be laid out on petition. 
 
 2. Highways, plats of which have been 
 recorded, may be established. 
 
 3. Highways may be laid out by vote of 
 mayor and aldermen, where parties 
 living in the state assent, and adver- | way 
 tisement is duly published. 
 
 Section 
 
 4. Highway may be laid out on petition 
 of parties living in the state, if plat 
 have been recorded. 
 
 5. Land used as a highway for twenty 
 years may be declared public high- 
 
28 
 
 HIGHWAYS. 
 
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly, as follmvs : 
 
 Section 1. Whenever any owner or owners of land in 
 the city of Providence shall present to the mayor and alder- 
 men of said city their petition, praying that a street or high- 
 way be established upon their land, it shall be lawful for said 
 mayor and aldermen to establish such street or highway, by 
 declaring it to be a pubhc highway, and ordering it to be re- 
 corded as such ; which, when so established, shall be a public 
 highway to all intents and purposes. 
 
 Sec. 2. Whenever the owners of any land in said city, 
 adjacent to any land in said city which has been surveyed, 
 marked out and platted as a street or highway, the plat there- 
 of recorded in the records of said city, shall present their pe- 
 tition to said mayor and aldermen, praying that such street 
 or highway may be estabHshed as a public highway, it shall 
 be lawful for said may or and aldermen so to establish the same, 
 in manner as provided in the first section of this act ; which, 
 when so established, shall be a public highway to all intents 
 and purposes. 
 
 Sec. 3. Whenever said mayor and aldermen deem it ex- 
 pedient that any street or highway shall be laid out and estab- 
 lished in said 'city, and all the owners of the land proposed 
 to be taken therefor who reside in this state shall give their 
 consent in writing that such street or highway shall be laid 
 out and established, the said mayor and aldermen shall cause 
 notice to be given to all persons interested living out of the 
 state, by advertisement at least once a week for three succes- 
 sive months in one of the newspapers printed in said city, 
 stating the time when the laying out and establishing such 
 highway will be considered by said mayor and aldermen ; 
 and if at such time no person interested shall appear to ob- 
 ject thereto, it shall be lawful for said mayor and aldermen to 
 lay out and establish, in manner as provided in the first sec- 
 tion of this act, such street or highway ; which, when so laid 
 out and established, shall be a public highway to all intents 
 and purposes. 
 
 Sec. 4. Whenever all the persons hving in this state who 
 own land adjacent to any land in said city which may have 
 been surveyed, marked out and platted as a street or highway, 
 and the plat thereof recorded in the records of said city, shall 
 present to said mayor and aldermen their petition, praying 
 that such street or highway may be established as a public 
 highway, it shall be lawful for said mayor and aldermen to 
 proceed and give notice to all persons interested hving out of 
 the state, by advertisement in the manner provided in the 
 
HIGHWAYS. 
 
 29 
 
 third section of this act ; and if no person interested shall ap- 
 pear to object, it shall be lawful for said mayor and aldermen 
 to establish, in manner as provided in the first section of this 
 act, such street or highway as a pubUc highway ; which, when 
 so established, shall be a pubUc highway to all intents and 
 purposes. 
 
 Sec. 5. The act entitled " An act in amendment of an 
 act entitled an act for laying out highways," passed at the 
 January session, A. D. 1829, is hereby declared to be inop- 
 erative and of no effect in the city of Providence ; and it 
 shall hereafter be lawful for the mayor and aldermen of said 
 city to declare any land that has been quietly, peaceably and 
 actually used and improved for twenty years as a public street 
 or highway, to be a public highway, as by the seventh sec- 
 tion of the " Act for laying out highways," town councils 
 were authorized to do prior to the passage of the before 
 named act. 
 
 An Act concerning side-walks in the town of Providence, 
 
 (Passed 1821.) 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Sidewalks to be repaired by owners of 
 adjoining lands. 
 
 2. Commissioners to be appointed — pow- 
 er. — This power is now exercised by 
 the street commissioners. 
 
 Section 
 
 3. Owners to be notified to make re- 
 pairs. — Proceedings in case of neg- 
 lect. 
 
 4. Repairs to be done under inspection 
 of surveyor of highways. 
 
 Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by 
 the authority thereof it is enacted, that from and after the pass- 
 ing of this act, the side-walks in the streets and highways in 
 the town of Providence shall be built, altered and repaired at 
 the expense of the owners of the adjoining lands, in the way 
 and manner hereinafter provided. 
 
 Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, that the freemen of 
 said town, at their annual election of town officers, shall ap- 
 point three of their number, who shall be called commission- 
 ers of side-walks, and who shall have power and authority, 
 and whose duty it shall be to superintend, order and direct 
 the manner of building, altering and amending the side-walks, 
 and to order and determine of what height and width the 
 same shall be, and of what materials the walks shall be com- 
 posed, and how and with what secured and finished ; with 
 power to alter and improve those already made, in such way 
 
30 ^IDE-WALKS. 
 
 and manner as they think the pubUc convenience requires ; 
 to build or alter any wall on any lot adjoining the street, and 
 to remove any steps, posts, cellar-doors or other obstructions 
 in the side-v^^alks. 
 
 Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, that v^^hen the said 
 commissioners shall have determined in what manner, and 
 of what materials, and within what time, any new side-walk 
 shall be made, or in what manner and within what time any 
 old side-walk shall be altered and improved, they shall cause 
 written or printed notice thereof to be personally given to the 
 owner of the adjoining lot, if residing within the town of 
 Providence, particularly describing the materials, width, 
 height and manner the side-walk shall be built, or the altera- 
 tion to be made ; but if the owner shall not reside in said 
 town, then the notice shall be given to the tenant in posses- 
 sion ; but if no tenant shall be in possession, then the same 
 shall be published in one of the newspapers for the town of 
 Providence, for three successive weeks ; at the expiration of 
 the time so hmited by the commissioners, if the work shall 
 not have been performed or proceeded in according to the 
 directions of the said commissioners, they shall, in their dis- 
 cretion, order the surveyor of the highways for the time 
 being to proceed at the expense of the town, and execute the 
 directions so by them given to the owner ; a copy of which 
 order shall be by them given to said surveyor ; and when the 
 same shall be by him accomplished, it shall be the duty of 
 the commissioners to certify the expenses thereof to the as- 
 sessors of taxes for said town, together with ten per cent, 
 in addition thereto, to cover the interest, cost of assessing 
 and collection ; and the said sum so certified shall be by the 
 assessors added to the tax of the owner of such adjoining lot, 
 so neglecting as aforesaid ; which proceedings shall be con- 
 clusive ; and the said owner with his estate shall be responsi- 
 ble therefor, in the same manner as for other taxes. 
 
 Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, that any side-walk 
 which may be hereafter built, altered or repaired by the own- 
 er of the adjoining lot, shall be done under the inspection of 
 the surveyor of the highways for the time being, and in pur- 
 suance of the directions given by the commissioners afore- 
 said for that purpose : and that until the next annual election 
 of town officers, Edward Carrington, Charles Dyer and Dex- 
 ter Thurber be and they are hereby appointed commissioners 
 of side-walks, and authorized and required to carry this act 
 into full effect. 
 
SIDE-WALKS. 
 
 31 
 
 An Act in addition to an act, entitled ^'An Act concerning 
 side-walks in the town of Providence, ^"^ 
 
 (Passed October 29, 1823.) 
 
 Section 
 1. Corporations not liable to taxation to 
 repair side-walk. 
 
 Section 
 2. Proceedings in case of neglect. 
 
 Section 1 . Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by 
 the authority thereof it is enacted, that the several societies 
 owning real estate in said Providence shall be Hable to the 
 same regulations as private individuals are liable, by the act to 
 which this act is in addition ; notwithstanding they may be 
 exempt from taxation in other respects ; notice being given, 
 as is required in the third section of said act, to the treasurer 
 of any such society. 
 
 Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, that if any society 
 shall refuse to lay or repair their side-walks, after being noti- 
 fied as is required by the act to which this is in addition, then 
 the commissioners may proceed as in other cases provided by 
 law ; and after it is finished they shall certify the expenses 
 thereof, with ten per cent, addition, as in other cases, to the 
 assessors of taxes in said town ; which sum, so certified, shall 
 be collected of said society, in the same manner as is provi- 
 ded by law for collecting taxes. 
 
 An Act in amendment of an act entitled " An Act concerning 
 side-walks in the town of ProvidenceJ^^ 
 
 (Passed January 18, 1841.) 
 
 Section 
 1. Second section 
 pealed in part. 
 
 I Section 
 of former act re- | 2. Powers of side-walk commissioners 
 j vested in city council, or officers ap- 
 
 I pointed by them. 
 
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly, as follows: 
 
 Section 1. So much of the second section of the act to 
 which this is in amendment as requires the annual appointment 
 of three commissioners of side-walks is hereby repealed. 
 
 Sec 2. All the powers given by said act to the side-walk 
 commissioners shall, after the first Monday of June next, be 
 vested in the city council of the city of Providence, or in 
 case of the death or resignation of the present side-walk 
 commissioners, then the said powers shall be forthwith vested 
 
32 
 
 RIDING. 
 
 in said city council ; and the said city council is hereby au- 
 thorized, either by a committee of their own body or by any 
 person or persons appointed by them, to proceed in the same 
 manner and with the same powers as are granted to the side- 
 walk commissioners, in and by the said act to which this is in 
 amendment. 
 
 An Act authorizing the town council of the town of Providence 
 to prevent the passing of carriages through the streets adja- 
 cent to the houses of public worship in said town on Sundays, 
 during the time of divine service. 
 
 (Passed 1815.) 
 
 Section | Section 
 
 1. Town council to have power to pre- day through certain streets, 
 
 vent carriages from passing on Sun- | 2. Penalty. 
 
 Section 1 . Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the 
 authority thereof it is enacted, that the town council of the 
 town of Providence be and they are hereby authorized and 
 empowered to adopt and carry into execution such measures 
 as they may deem proper to prevent the passing of carriages 
 through the streets adjacent to the houses of public worship 
 in said town on Sundays, during the time of divine service. 
 
 Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, that every person who 
 shall wilfully violate any such regulation adopted by the said 
 town council shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten dollars, to 
 and for the use of the said town of Providence, to be recov- 
 ered in an action of debt, in the name of the town-treasurer, 
 before any court proper to try the same. 
 
 An Act to prevent excessive riding in any of the places therein 
 
 mentioned. 
 
 (Digest of 1844.) 
 
 Section 
 1. Penalty for excessive riding in certain 
 towns. 
 
 Section 
 
 2. Parts of East-Greenwich and War- 
 wick included, defined. 
 
 It is enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Section 1. If any person shall ride faster than a com- 
 mon travelling pace, in any of the streets of the town of 
 
WEYBOSSET BRIDGE.— HARBOR AND PUBLIC WATERS. 33 
 
 Newport or Providence, or in such parts of the towns of 
 Warwick and East-Greenwich as are herein after described ; 
 or in the compact part of the towns of Bristol or Warren ; 
 or in that part of North-Providence called Pawtucket ; or in 
 that part of South-Kingstown called Kingston ; or in that part 
 of Warwick called Apponaug; or in that part of North- 
 Kingstown called Wickford ; or in that part of Warwick and 
 Cranston called Pawtuxet ; such person shall pay as a fine 
 the sum of two dollars for every offence ; one half thereof to 
 the informer, and the other half to and for the use of the town 
 where such offence shall be committed ; to be recovered upon 
 complaint thereof made before any one justice of the peace 
 in the town where the offence shall be committed, with costs, 
 unless justifiable cause for such riding shall be made to ap- 
 pear before such justice of the peace who shall try the same; 
 which trial and judgment thereon shall be final. 
 
 Sec. 2. The part of the towns of East-Greenwich and 
 Warwick, first mentioned, where such excessive riding is by 
 this act prohibited, hereby is declared to extend from the 
 house of the late Rufus Greene, in said East-Greenwich, 
 unto the house of the late Gideon Casey, in Warwick. 
 
 An Act to prevent damage being done to Weyhosset Bridge^ in 
 
 Providence, 
 
 (Digest of 1844) 
 
 Penalty for fastening vessel to Weybosset Bridge. 
 
 It is enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Whosoever shall fasten any vessel to any part of Weybos- 
 set bridge shall forfeit and pay the sum of twenty dollars for 
 every offence ; to be recovered by the city treasurer of Prov- 
 idence, for the time being, in an action of debt before any 
 justice of the peace in said city, to and for the use of said 
 city. 
 
 An Act relative to the harbor and public waters of the town of 
 
 Providence, 
 
 (Passed 1822.) 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Town may prevent encroachment. 
 
 2. Boundaries of harbor established. 
 
 3. Penalty for encroaching. 
 
 5 
 
 Section 
 
 4. Penalty for violating town regulations 
 in relation to harbor. 
 
34 
 
 HARBOR AND PUBLIC WATERS. 
 
 Sectfon 1 . Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by 
 the authority thereof it is enacted, that the town of Providence 
 be and the said town hereby is authorized and empowered to 
 prevent encroachments or obstructions in the harbor of said 
 town, in the cove above the bridge, and in the other pubUc 
 waters thereof ; and to make such laws, rules and regulations 
 for the preservation of said harbor, cove and waters, from en- 
 croachments and obstructions, as said town shall think proper 
 from time to time to make and enact. 
 
 Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, that the proceedings 
 of said town, on the thirteenth and twenty-fourth days of July, 
 and the twenty-ninth day of August, A. D. 1815, relative to 
 the defining and ascertaining the bounds of said harbor, be 
 approved and estabhshed, and the boundaries and lines men- 
 tioned and described in the report of the committee be and 
 the same are hereby established, except only that the course 
 from a stake at Simmons' wharf, to the bluff near the south- 
 east corner of John Corlis' farm, stated to be, in said report, 
 south fifteen and a half degrees east, be corrected, according 
 to the plat made by said committee, to the course of south 
 nine and a half degrees east. 
 
 Sec 3. And be it further enacted, that if any person or 
 persons shall encroach upon any part of the said harbor, as 
 defined, ascertained and estabhshed in and by the next pre- 
 ceding section of this act, by erecting or placing therein any 
 wharf, building or other fixed obstruction, or neglecting to 
 keep in good repair any wharf or lot adjoining the harbor, 
 for the preservation of the channel, he, she or they so offend- 
 ing shall forfeit and pay a sum not less than fifty nor more 
 than five hundred dollars, to be recovered by action of debt, 
 before any court proper to try the same ; one half thereof to 
 and for the use of said town of Providence, and the other 
 half thereof to and for the use of the person or persons who 
 shall sue for the same : and it shall moreover be lawful for 
 the town council of said town to cause such obstruction to 
 be removed at the cost and charge of him, her or them, who 
 shall have so erected or placed the same, or caused the same 
 to be so erected or placed as aforesaid. 
 
 Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, that if any person 
 or persons shall violate any of the laws, rules or regulations 
 that may be at any time made by said town of Providence, 
 for the preservation of the channel, and for the prevention of 
 any encroachments or obstructions in the harbor of said town, 
 or the cove above the bridge, or in the other pubhc waters 
 thereof, other than of the kind mentioned and described in 
 
HARBOR. 
 
 36 
 
 the next preceding section of this act, he, she or they shall 
 forfeit and pay a sum not less than two nor more than twenty 
 dollars for each offence, to be recovered by action of debt, 
 before any justice or justices of the peace of the said town ; 
 one half thereof to and for the use of said town, and the 
 other half thereof to and for the use of the person or persons 
 who shall sue for the same. 
 
 An Act in addition to an act entitled " An Act relative to 
 the harbor and public waters of the town of Providence,''^ 
 
 (Passed January 21, 1837.) 
 
 Section 
 1. No person shall fill out any part of 
 the waters covered by ordinary tides, 
 
 Section 
 
 unless permanent wall be built. 
 2. Penalty. 
 
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Section 1. No person or persons, corporation or corpo- 
 rations, shall fill out, or cause or procure to be filled out, with 
 any material whatever, any flat, shoal or piece of land cover- 
 ed with tide waters at ordinary tides, within the limits of the 
 city of Providence, unless he, she or they shall, before the 
 commencement of or proceeding upon such work, build, 
 erect or place, or cause to be built, erected or placed, upon 
 the outer line of the flat, shoal or piece of land intended by 
 him, her or them to be filled out, and also upon so much of 
 the lines on both sides thereof as may adjoin any flat, shoal 
 or piece of land covered with tide waters as aforesaid, a good 
 permanent stone wall of proper depth, width, height and 
 compactness, and well and sufficiently secured to prevent the 
 mud or any other material within said Hues from being wash- 
 ed or pressed outward into or towards any part of the harbor 
 of said city, of the cove above the bridge, or of any other 
 public waters thereof: provided the board of aldermen of 
 said city shall require said wall or walls to be built ; and said 
 work shall be done and finished in such manner, and compo- 
 sed of such materials, as the board of aldermen of the city 
 shall direct and approve. 
 
 Sec. 2. If any person or persons, corporation or corpo- 
 rations, shall violate the preceding section of this act, or shall 
 neglect to keep in good repair any such wall as shall have 
 been built, erected or placed aforesaid, he, she or they so of- 
 fending shall forfeit and pay, to and for the use of said city 
 
36 
 
 HARBOR AND PUBLIC WATERS. 
 
 of Providence, a sum not less than five hundred nor more 
 than ten thousand dollars, to be recovered by action of the 
 case, in the name of the city treasurer of said city, before 
 any court proper to try the same. 
 
 An Act in addition to " An Act relative to the harbor and pub- 
 lic waters of the town of Providence.^^ 
 
 (Passed October 27, 1841.) 
 
 Section 
 
 1. No pergon to build any wharf, &c., 
 in cove, without permission from the 
 board of aldermen — penalty. 
 
 2. Board of aldermen authorized to pre- 
 
 Section 
 
 vent building of wharves, streets, &c. 
 in cove. 
 3. City not required to repair streets 
 until declared public. 
 
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Section 1. If any person shall erect or build, or cause to 
 be erected or built, any wharf or buildings upon any part of 
 the cove or other public waters above Weybosset bridge, in 
 the city of Providence, outside of the present high water 
 mark, or shall place or cause to be placed in said cove or 
 other public waters, any other obstruction of any kind what- 
 soever, without permission first granted by the board of alder- 
 men of said city, the person or persons so offending shall for- 
 feit and pay a sum of money not less than fifty dollars, nor 
 more than one thousand dollars ; which penalty may be sued 
 for and recovered before any court of competent jurisdiction, 
 by indictment, or by an action of debt ; one half thereof to 
 and for the use of him who shall inform or sue for the same, 
 and the other half to and for the use of the State ; and in 
 addition to said penalty, the said board of aldermen, or the 
 court before whom such indictment shall be preferred, are 
 hereby empowered to cause such obstruction to be removed 
 at the cost of the person or persons who shall have erected 
 or placed the same, or who shall have caused the same to be 
 erected or placed. 
 
 Sec. 2. The board of aldermen of said city are hereby 
 authorized and empowered to mark out and direct, or permit 
 to be built or erected, any wharves, streets, causeways or 
 bridges around, across or through said cove or other public 
 waters above Weybosset bridge, that they may think the pub- 
 he good shall require : provided that nothing herein contained 
 shall authorize the taking of land above high water mark 
 for such streets, except in manner as is by law provided. 
 
HARBOR MASTER— FERRY BOATS. 
 
 37 
 
 Sec. 3. The city of Providence shall not be required to 
 keep in repair any street directed or permitted by said board 
 of aldermen to be built, until the same shall be received and 
 declared by said board of aldermen to be a public highway to 
 be repaired at the expense of the city. 
 
 An Act to authorize the town council of the town of Provi- 
 dence to appoint a harbor master, 
 
 (Passed June 25, 1830.) 
 
 Town council authorized to appoint harbor master. 
 
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the authority 
 thereof it is enacted, that the town council of the town of 
 Providence be and they are hereby authorized and empower- 
 ed, from time to time hereafter, to appoint a harbor master 
 for the port of Providence ; and to pass, ordain and establish 
 such by-laws and ordinances, and establish such fees and com- 
 pensation, as said town council may deem necessary and ex- 
 pedient for the execution of the duties of said office ; provi- 
 ded the same do not render said town liable for any such fees 
 or compensation ; and provided further, that the same be not 
 repugnant to the laws of this state, or of the United States. 
 
 An Act concerning ferry boats in the harbor of Providence. 
 
 (Passed January, 1843.) 
 
 Mayor and aldermen to establish ferries — ferriage not to exceed two cents in the 
 
 day time. 
 
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Section 1. The mayor and aldermen of the city of Prov- 
 idence shall have, from and after the passage of this act, full 
 power and authority to establish ferries and to regulate the 
 running of boats for the transportation of passengers for hire, 
 in that part of the harbor of Providence between Weybosset 
 bridge and a line drawn westerly in continuation of the 
 north line of India street ; and to affix penalties for the viola- 
 tion of any regulations established by them under the author- 
 ity hereof, not exceeding five dollars for one offence ; which 
 
98 
 
 LOW GROUNDS. 
 
 penalties shall be recovered in the same way as penalties for 
 the violation of ordinances of said city now are : provided 
 that said mayor and aldermen shall not fix the rate of ferriage 
 in the day time above two cents for each passenger. 
 
 An Act for filling up certain low grounds covered with stag- 
 nant water in the compact part of the town of Providence, 
 
 (Passed 1822.) 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Town council may cause low grounds 
 covered with water to be filled up. 
 
 2. Accounts therefor audited — owners 
 notified. 
 
 3. Town treasurer may sue for the ex- 
 pense — proceedings. 
 
 Section 
 
 4. Council may cause drains to be laid- 
 proceedings. 
 
 5. Expense how paid. 
 
 6. Lien upon estates. 
 
 Whereas it hath been represented unto this assembly, that 
 certain low grounds in the compact part of the town of Prov- 
 idence are covered with stagnant water, to the great preju- 
 dice of the inhabitants in the vicinity of such places ; for 
 remedy whereof: 
 
 Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by 
 the authority thereof it is enacted, that upon information being 
 given of any such place or places to the town council of the 
 said town, the said town council shall appoint a committee to 
 examine the place or places so complained of, and to make 
 report thereof to them ; that if on report of such committee 
 it shall be the opinion of the said town council that such 
 place or places ought, for the security of the inhabitants, to 
 be filled up, they shall, by their sergeant or other proper offi- 
 cer, notify the owner or owners of such lands, or if non-resi- 
 dents, his, or her, or their agent or attorney, that they do fill 
 the same within a time to be hmited by said town council ; 
 and that upon the refiisal and neglect of such owner or own- 
 ers, his, her or their agent or attorney, to fill up such low 
 grounds with earth, within the time limited as aforesaid, the 
 said town council shall appoint a proper person or persons to 
 fill the same with earth, of such depth as they may think 
 necessary. 
 
 Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, that the accounts for 
 all such services as aforesaid shall be presented to the town 
 auditors of the said town, and be by them audited, and the 
 sums allowed certified ; that the owner or owners of such lot 
 
LOW GROUNDS. 
 
 39 
 
 or lots of land, or his, her or their agent or attorney, shall be 
 notified of the same, in the manner herein before provided ; 
 and that upon the refusal or neglect of such owner or own- 
 ers, his, her or their agent or attorney, to pay the bills so au- 
 dited, the said town council shall give an order or orders on 
 the town treasurer of the town for the amount of the same, 
 who is hereby authorized to pay the amount of such bills out 
 of the town treasury. 
 
 Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, that the said town 
 treasurer, upon his acceptance of such order or orders, shall 
 be and hereby is authorized and empowered to sue for and 
 recover the amount of the same with costs, in an action of 
 debt, to be commenced and prosecuted by him, against the 
 owner or owners of such lots or places so filled up ; that the 
 writ in such action of debt may and shall be levied upon such 
 lots or places so filled up, and the same shall and may be sold 
 on execution, to satisfy the judgments which may be obtained 
 in such actions of debt according to law ; that if, after satis- 
 fying such executions, any surplus arising from the sale shall 
 remain, such surplus shall be paid to such owner or owners, 
 his, her or their agent or attorney, by the sheriff; he taking 
 his, her or their receipt for the same ; and if such owner or 
 owners' agent or attorney is not to be found within this state, 
 or shall refuse to receive the same, the sheriff shall lodge 
 such surplus in the town treasury of the said town, to be paid 
 to such owner or owners, or to his, her or their agent or at- 
 torney, or other proper representatives. 
 
 Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, that when it shall 
 appear to the satisfaction of the town council of said town, 
 upon the report of a committee to be appointed in the man- 
 ner provided by the first section of this act, that the health of 
 the town and the accommodation of the inhabitants shall re- 
 quire a drain or drains to be laid or sunk through the lands of 
 individuals, and also through any public street or streets, or 
 public lands in said town, said town council shall and may 
 appoint a commissioner or commissioners to make survey of 
 the route of such drain or drains, and also a plan or draught 
 thereof, with an estimate of the expense of the same, also a 
 list and description of all the real estate or estates which 
 would be benefited thereby, with the names of the owners or 
 occupiers thereof, and an assessment of the expense of the 
 same upon said real estates respectively, according to the 
 benefit respectively by them received therefrom, and on the 
 said town, so far as said town may be benefited in respect to 
 the draining of its streets and other pubhc lands, and the gen- 
 
40 LOW GROUNDS. 
 
 eral accommodation of the inhabitants ; and on the report of 
 such commissioners, the said town council shall give public 
 notice, by advertisement in one or more of the newspapers 
 printed in said town, to all persons interested, to appear be- 
 fore said town council, at a time by them in said advertise- 
 ment appointed, to make objection, if any they may have, to 
 the said report, estimate and assessment ; and the said town 
 council, after hearing such parties as may appear, shall take 
 the said report, estimate and assessment into consideration, 
 and adopt, amend or reject the same ; and on the adoption 
 thereof shall appoint a commissioner or commissioners to 
 cause such drain or drains to be laid or sunk accordingly. 
 
 Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, that the expense of 
 making or sinking such drain or drains, after the same shall 
 be ascertained, and the accounts for the same approved by 
 said town council, shall be paid by the said town, and by the 
 owner or owners, occupier or occupiers of such real estates 
 as shall have been included in the report, estimate and assess- 
 ment, in the proportion of such expense to the estimate afore- 
 said ; and in case the same shall not be paid within twenty 
 days after the allowance of said accounts by said town coun- 
 cil, the amount of the expense not already paid shall be paid 
 out of the town treasury, in the manner provided in the sec- 
 ond section of this act ; and the town treasurer, upon accept- 
 ance of the order or orders of the said town council for such 
 expenses, shall and may sue for and recover the amount of 
 the same, with costs and interest, in an action of debt against 
 the owner or owners, occupier or occupiers, of the estates as- 
 sessed respectively, in the manner provided in the third section 
 of this act ; and may, upon the writ and execution in such 
 action or actions, attach the respective estates so assessed as 
 aforesaid, and sell the same to satisfy the judgment or judg- 
 ments recovered in such actions, in the manner provided in 
 said third section. 
 
 Sec. 6. And be it further enacted^ that such report and 
 assessment of said commissioner or commissioners, as herein 
 before provided, shall be a lien on said respective real estates, 
 from the time of the acceptance of such report by the town 
 council ; and said real estates shall be respectively liable for 
 the amount of the final charges and expenses of such drain 
 or drains, in manner aforesaid. 
 
BUILDINGS. 
 
 41 
 
 Act concerning the erection of buildings in the city of Prov- 
 idence, 
 
 (Passed October, 1843.) 
 
 Section 
 
 1. No building more than eighteen feet 
 high to be built within certain limits, 
 unless as is herein described. 
 
 2. Same subject continued. 
 
 3. Partitions between double houses — 
 additions. 
 
 4. No buildings to be removed without 
 permission of city council. 
 
 5. Limits within which preceding sec- 
 tions operate. 
 
 6. No building more than forty feet high, 
 except of brick or stone, to be built 
 within certain limits. 
 
 7. No steam boiler to be erected or op- 
 
 Section 
 
 erated, excepting under regulations 
 of board of aldermen. 
 
 8. Penalties how recovered. 
 
 9. Assessments in addition to penalties. 
 
 10. Additional penalty for operating steam 
 boiler. 
 
 11. Proceedings against corporations ex- 
 empt from taxation. 
 
 12. Penalties — to whose use. 
 
 13. Officers whose duty it is to inquire 
 after offences against this act. 
 
 14. City council to have power to extend 
 limits. 
 
 15. Repeal of former laws. 
 
 It is enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Section 1. After the passing of this act, no building of 
 any kind whatever, which shall be more than eighteen feet 
 high from the ground to the highest point of the roof thereof, 
 measuring on that side of the building next to the highest 
 part of the lot on which it may stand, shall be erected or built 
 within the limits herein after described in the city of Provi- 
 dence, unless such building be constructed of such materials 
 and be situated in such manner as is herein after described, to 
 wit : If such building be more than eighteen feet high, and 
 not more than forty feet high, measuring as aforesaid, to be 
 used for a dwelling-house, and for no other purpose, (unless 
 by permission of the board of aldermen of said city,) the 
 same may be of wood — provided that the floors be laid on 
 mortar ; the sills rest upon walls of brick or stone ; the 
 roof be covered with slate, tile, metal, or with shingles 
 laid on mortar, and have at least one window or scut- 
 tle in the same ; the building in no case to cover a greater 
 surface than two thousand square feet. Every such building, 
 when erected within five feet of the boundary line of the 
 owner or owners of the land on which it may be built, (unless 
 said boundary line be on a public highway,) shall have a brick 
 wall at least seven inches thick, or a stone wall at least twelve 
 inches thick, on the side next to said boundary line. Every 
 such building, when erected within ten feet of any other 
 building, the highest point whereof shall be more than eigh- 
 teen feet from the ground, shall have a wall of the same de- 
 scription, on the side thereof next to such other building, un- 
 less said last mentioned building shall have a similar wall on 
 the corresponding side thereof. And between every two ad- 
 6 
 
42 
 
 BUILDINGS. 
 
 joining buildings of the foregoing description there shall be 
 built an entire partition wall of brick or stone, of the thick- 
 ness aforesaid, and of such height as that no part of the top 
 of said wall shall be less than two feet above the surface of 
 the roof. 
 
 Sec. 2. No building of any kind whatever which shall 
 be more than eighteen feet high from the ground, measuring 
 as aforesaid, (other than such as is herein before described,) 
 shall be erected or built within the limits in this act described 
 and established in said city, unless all the external sides and 
 ends thereof (except so much as may be necessary for doors 
 and windows) be constructed or built of brick or stone — if of 
 brick, not less than seven inches ; if of stone, not less than 
 twelve inches in thickness. 
 
 Sec. 3. All double houses, and all buildings which are 
 separated from other buildings by a partition within said lim- 
 its, shall have a partition between them of brick or stone, of 
 the thickness aforesaid. And all additions which shall be made 
 to buildings already erected, and all buildings which shall be 
 erected on old foundations in part or in whole, shall be of 
 brick or stone. Provided^ however^ that no addition or erec- 
 tion of brick or stone superstructure shall be made upon 
 wooden buildings, or upon sides, ends or foundations of 
 wood. 
 
 Sec. 4. No wooden buildings shall be removed from 
 without, to any place within said hmits, nor from one place 
 to another within said limits, unless by permission of the 
 city council. No wooden building heretofore erected within 
 said limits, and now used for a dwelling-house, shall be here- 
 after used therein for any other purpose unless by permission 
 of the board of aldermen, and under such restrictions and 
 conditions as they may prescribe. 
 
 Sec 5. The several parts of the city of Providence, com- 
 prised and lying within the following limits and bounds, shall 
 be and they are hereby established as containing all the parts 
 of said city in which the foregoing restrictions and prohibi- 
 tions contained in this act shall operate, and have force and 
 effect, to wit : that part of said city on the west side of the 
 river lying southward and eastward of a line beginning one 
 hundred feet north of Westminster-street, at its junction with 
 High-street, and extending eastward, holding the distance of 
 one hundred feet from Westminster-street to Union-street ; 
 then extending northerly through North Union-street to the 
 salt water ; and that part lying northerly and easterly of a 
 line beginning one hundred feet south of High-street, at its 
 
BUILDINGS. 
 
 43 
 
 junction with Westminster-street, and extending easterly to a 
 point on the north Une of Pawtuxet-street, one hundred feet 
 from the south hne of High-street ; then continuing on the 
 north hne of Pawtuxet-street to its junction with Broad- 
 street ; then beginning on the east side of Chesnut-street, 
 one hundred feet from its junction with Broad-street ; and 
 running eastward, holding the distance of one hundred feet 
 from Broad-street to Richmond-street ; then beginning on 
 the east line of Richmond-street, one hundred and fifty feet 
 from Broad-street, and running eastward, holding the distance 
 of one hundred and fifty feet from Broad-street to Dorrance- 
 street ; thence extending southerly through Dorrance-street 
 to the river : all that part of the town on the east side of the 
 river lying westward of a hne beginning one hundred feet 
 east of Benefit-street, at the junction of said street with 
 Wickenden-street, and extending north, holding the distance 
 of one hundred feet from Benefit-street, to the range of the 
 south hne of Star-street. 
 
 Sec. 6. No building of any kind whatever, which shall be 
 more than forty feet high, measuring as aforesaid, and which 
 shall not have all its external sides, excepting so much as 
 shall be necessary for doors and windows, constructed of 
 brick or stone — if of brick, not less than seven inches ; if of 
 stone, not less than twelve inches in thickness, shall be erected 
 or built within the following districts of said city, viz : that 
 part of the city on the west side of the river lying between 
 the water and a line drawn from the Cove through Sabin- 
 street to AtwelPs avenue, through AtwelPs avenue to Dean- 
 street, through Dean-street to a point two hundred feet north 
 of the northerly line of High-street ; thence westerly, keeping 
 two hundred feet north of said northerly line to Love-lane ; 
 thence through Love-lane, across High-street and through 
 Knight-street to Cranston-street ; thence through Cranston- 
 street to Pearl-street; through Pearl-street to Pawtuxet- 
 street, through Pawtuxet-street to Stewart-street, through 
 Stewart-street or the continuation thereof to Friendship- 
 street, through Friendship-street to Plane-street, through 
 Plane-street to Point-street, and through Point-street to the 
 river; and that part of the city on the east side of the river 
 lying between the water and a line drawn from the river in 
 the direction of Wickenden-street, to strike the northerly 
 line of said street and by said northerly line to Brook-street ; 
 thence through Brook-street to Power-street, through Power- 
 street to the westerly hne of Brown-street ; thence by said 
 westerly hne and the continuation thereof northerly to Angell- 
 
44. BUILDINGS. 
 
 Street ; thence through Angell to Prospect-street, through 
 Prospect to Meeting-street, through Meeting-street to a point 
 two hundred feet east of the easterly Une of Benefit-street ; 
 thence northerly keeping two hundred feet east of said east- 
 erly line to the range of the southerly line of Star-street ; 
 thence to the water by said southerly Une and the range 
 thereof. 
 
 Sec. 7. No steam boiler shall hereafter be erected and 
 put in operation in said city, unless by permission of the 
 board of aldermen of said city ; and no steam boiler already 
 erected, or which shall hereafter be erected, shall be continued 
 in operation in said city, unless under such restrictions, regu- 
 lations and conditions as said board of aldermen may pre- 
 scribe. 
 
 Sec. 8. Every person who shall erect, construct or add 
 to, or cause to be erected, constructed or added to any build- 
 ing, or who shall put or continue in operation any steam 
 boiler in said city, contrary to the true intent and meaning 
 and against the provisions or any of the provisions of this 
 act, shall forfeit and pay a fine of not less than one hundred 
 dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars, according to the 
 nature and aggravation of the offence ; to be recovered by 
 indictment before or information in the supreme court, which 
 it shall be the duty of the attorney general to file, in all cases 
 which may come to his knowledge. 
 
 Sec. 9. In addition to the fines above mentioned, there 
 shall be laid and assessed upon every house and other build- 
 ing which shall be erected, constructed or added to, contrary 
 to the provisions or any of the provisions of this act, the sum 
 of fifty dollars annually and every year until brick or stone 
 walls shall be erected as above provided, and until the same 
 shall be effectually secured against fire, according to the pro- 
 visions of this act ; and it shall be the duty of the board of 
 aldermen aforesaid to return to the assessors ot said city an- 
 nually a list of all such houses and other buildings as are erect- 
 ed, constructed, or added to, against the provisions or any of 
 the provisions of this act, together with attested copies of the 
 record of the conviction of the person or persons who erect- 
 ed, constructed, or added to the same, before the supreme 
 court ; and thereupon it shall be the duty of the said assess- 
 ors to assess upon the owner or owners of such building or 
 buildings, for the time being, the said sum of fifty dollars annu- 
 ally, in addition to his, her, or their taxes ; which shall be re- 
 covered and collected in the same way and manner as other 
 taxes are or may be recovered and collected ; and the same rem- 
 
BUILDINGS. 
 
 46 
 
 edy is hereby given to the collector or collectors of taxes for the 
 recovery thereof : provided^ nevertheless^ that no such building 
 or buildings, or the owner or owners thereof, shall be sub- 
 jected to such annual tax, until an attested copy of the record 
 of said conviction shall have been duly recorded in the office 
 of the city clerk of said city, whose duty it shall be to re- 
 ceive and record the same. 
 
 Sec. 10. Every person who shall operate any steam 
 boiler, or use or occupy any building of a description set 
 forth in this act, otherwise than in conformity with the same, 
 shall forfeit and pay for each offence a sum not less than fifty 
 dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars, together with all 
 costs of prosecution, to be recovered in an action of debt, in 
 the name of the treasurer of said city, before any court of 
 competent jurisdiction. And any person who shall offend 
 against this act, or any part thereof, by operating any steam 
 boiler, or using or occupying, contrary thereto, any building 
 hereby authorized to be erected, or herein described, and 
 shall persist in such unlawful operation, use or occupation, 
 after he or she shall have been required by the mayor or by 
 the board of aldermen aforesaid, in writing, to discontinue 
 the same, shall, for every thirty days during which he or she 
 shall so persist, be deemed guilty of a new and separate of- 
 fence, and shall be fined accordingly. 
 
 Sec. 11. All corporations, and the property of all corpo- 
 rations which are otherwise exempt from taxation, shall be 
 subject and hable to the provisions of this act, and to the 
 penalties and assessments therein provided in case of violation 
 thereof, and written notice to the treasurer, or other officer 
 usually receiving and paying out funds of such corporation, 
 shall be sufficient fully to bind such corporation and its pro- 
 perty. 
 
 Sec. 12. All assessments and one half of all fines and 
 penalties which shall be recovered under and by virtue of this 
 act, shall accrue and enure to the use of said city, and be 
 paid to the treasurer thereof; and the other half of said fine 
 and penalties shall be paid into the general treasury. 
 
 Sec. 13. It shall be the duty of the mayor and of each 
 and every alderman in said city, and they and each of them 
 are hereby required, to inquire after and give or cause to be 
 given information to the attorney general of all offences 
 which may be committed against the true intent and meaning 
 of this act. 
 
 Sec. 14. The city council of said city are hereby author- 
 ized and empowered to extend the operation of this act, or of 
 
46 
 
 LUMBER AND WOOD.— LIME. 
 
 any of the provisions thereof, from time to time, to such other 
 streets, places and districts within said city, as they shall deem 
 expedient ; and said act shall have full force and effect 
 therein. 
 
 Sec. 16. All laws relating to the erection of wooden 
 buildings in any part of the town or city of Providence are 
 hereby repealed ; but all violations (prior to the passage of 
 this act) of such laws or of any part thereof, and all assess- 
 ments, fines or penalties incurred before the passage of this 
 act, may be prosecuted for, recovered and collected, as if 
 this act had not been passed. 
 
 An Act regulating the piling of lumber and wood, within cer- 
 tain limits in Providence, 
 
 '^^ (Passed November 2, 1831.) 
 
 No lumber, &c., to be piled more than thirteen feet high within certain limits. 
 
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the authority 
 thereof it is enacted, that from and after the rising of this 
 general assembly, no person shall pile or cause to be piled, or 
 aid or assist in piUng, or within his or her possessions suffer or 
 permit to be or remain piled, any boards, planks, shingles, 
 timber, clapboards or other lumber, or any w^ood, in any pile 
 or heap to a greater height than thirteen feet, in any place in 
 the town of Providence, within the limits within which the 
 erection of wooden buildings exceeding in height thirteen 
 feet is now prohibited by law. And every person offending 
 against any of the provisions of this act shall be subject to 
 the same fines, forfeiture and penalties, to be recovered in the 
 same manner as provided in and by the fourth section of the 
 act entitled " An Act to prevent erecting wooden buildings 
 in certain parts of the town of Providence." 
 
 An Act regulating the storing of lime in the town of Providence, 
 
 (Passed 1805.) 
 
 Section I Section 
 
 1. No lime to be stored below low water | 2. Penalty in case of fire happening, 
 mark — may be removed. — Penalty for I 
 not removing. | 
 
 Section 1 . Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by 
 the authority thereof it is enacted, that it shall not be lawful to 
 
GUNPOWDER. 
 
 47 
 
 deposit stone-lime on any floor, platform or ground, within 
 any store or other building in the town of Providence, below 
 the highest tide-water mark ; and in case any lime shall be 
 deposited contrary to the true intent and meaning hereof, the 
 town council of said town are hereby empowered to order 
 such lime to be forthwith removed, by the owner or occupant 
 of such store, or owner of such lime ; and in case the owner 
 or occupant of such store, or owner of such lime, shall refuse 
 or neglect, for the space of twenty-four hours after notice of 
 such order, to remove such lime, he, she or they so offending, 
 shall be liable to pay to and for the use of said town, a fine 
 not exceeding forty dollars ; and said town council shall and 
 may cause the same to be forthwith removed, and may cause 
 so much of said lime to be sold at public auction as will be 
 sufficient to defray the expenses of such removal. 
 
 Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, that in case any dam- 
 age shall happen by fire, by the storing of hme, contrary to 
 the true intent and meaning of this act, the occupant of the 
 store or building in which such lime shall be stored, shall be 
 liable to and pay a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, to 
 and for the use of said town. 
 
 An Act regulating the storage, safe keeping and transportation 
 of gunpowder in the town of Providence. 
 
 (Passed 1821.) 
 
 1. Not more than five pounds of gun- 
 powder to be kept, except as directed 
 in this act. 
 
 2. No person to sell without license — 
 licenses how granted. 
 
 3. Penalty for having or transporting, 
 &c., contrary to this act. 
 
 4. May be libelled if kept contrary to 
 this act — process — may be forfeited. 
 
 5. Penal ty for rescuing gunpowder when 
 seized. 
 
 6. Firewards to make complaints, &c. 
 
 7. Party injured by explosion entitled to 
 damages. 
 
 Section 
 
 8. Vessels with gunpowder where to an- 
 chor. 
 
 9. Where gunpowder may be landed. 
 
 10. In what manner secured. 
 
 11. How to be transported in carts. 
 
 12. How to be transported in boats. 
 
 13. Applications for license. 
 
 14. What quantity may be kept. 
 In what manner it shall be kept. 
 Sign to be kept. 
 
 Places where gunpowder may be 
 stored how designated. 
 Forfeitures how recovered. 
 Repeal of former act. 
 
 Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by 
 the authority thereof it is enacted, that no person, except on 
 military duty in the public service of the United States, or of 
 this state, shall keep, have or possess in any house, warehouse, 
 shop or other building, nor in any street, lane, alley, passage- 
 
48 GUNPOWDER. 
 
 way, yard or cellar, nor in any wagon, cart or other carriage^ 
 nor on any wharf, nor on board of any ship or other vessel, 
 nor in any place within the town of Providence, gunpowder 
 in any quantity exceeding five pounds, in any way or manner 
 other than by this act may be permitted and allowed ; and all 
 gunpowder had, kept or possessed, contrary to the provisions 
 hereof, shall be forfeited, and liable to be seized and proceed- 
 ed against, in the manner herein after provided. 
 
 Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, that it shall not be 
 lawful for any person or persons to sell any gunpowder which 
 may at the time be within the town of Providence, in any 
 quantity, by wholesale or retail, without first having obtained 
 from the town council of said town, a license to sell gunpow- 
 der ; and every such license shall be written or printed, and 
 signed by the president of said council or their clerk, on a 
 paper upon which shall be written or printed a copy of this 
 act ; and every such license shall be in force for one year 
 from the date thereof, unless annulled by said council, and no 
 longer ; but such license may, prior to the expiration of that 
 time, be renewed, by endorsement thereon, for a further term 
 of one year, and so from year to year : provided, always, that 
 the said town council may annul any such license, if in their 
 opinion the person or persons licensed have forfeited the right 
 of using the same by any violation of the law relative thereto ; 
 and every person who shall receive a license as aforesaid shall 
 pay therefor the sum bf five dollars, and on having the same 
 renewed shall pay therefor the sum of one dollar, which 
 shall be paid to the clerk of said council, for their use, for 
 the purposes of defraying the expenses of carrying this act 
 into execution. 
 
 Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, that any person or 
 persons who shall keep, have, possess or transport any gun- 
 powder within the town of Providence, contrary to the pro- 
 visions of this act, or who shall sell any gunpowder therein, 
 without having a license therefor, then in force, shall forfeit 
 and pay a fine of not less than twenty dollars, and not ex- 
 ceeding five hundred dollars, for each and every ofience ; and 
 if any gunpowder kept contrary to the provisions of this act 
 shall explode in any shop, store, dwelling-house, ware-house 
 or other building, or in any place in said town, the occupant, 
 tenant or owner of which has not a license in force to keep 
 and sell gunpowder therein, or which gunpowder shall have 
 been kept in any manner contrary to the terms and condi- 
 tions of such license, such occupant, tenant or owner shall 
 
GUNPOWDER. 
 
 49 
 
 forfeit and pay a fine of not less than twenty dollars, nor 
 more than five hundred dollars. 
 
 Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, that all gunpowder 
 which shall be kept, had or possessed, within the town of 
 Providence, or brought into it, or transported through the 
 same, contrary to the provisions of this act, may be seized 
 and taken into custody, by any one or more of the firewards 
 of said town ; and the same shall, within ten days next after 
 the seizure thereof, be libelled, by fihng in the office of the 
 clerk of the court of common pleas, within and for the coun- 
 ty of Providence, a libel, stating the time and place and 
 cause of such seizure ; a copy of which libel, or the sub- 
 stance thereof, together with a summons or notice, which 
 such clerk is hereby authorized to issue, shall be served on 
 the person or persons from whose custody or possession, or 
 in whose tenement, such gunpowder shall have been seized, 
 if such person or persons be an inhabitant or inhabitants of 
 this state, by delivering a copy thereof to such person or per- 
 sons, or leaving such copy at his, her or their usual place of 
 abode, twenty days at least before the sitting of the court at 
 which the same is to be heard, that such person or persons 
 may appear and show cause why the gunpowder so seized 
 and taken shall not be adjudged forfeit ; and if the gunpow- 
 der so seized shall be adjudged forfeit, the person or persons 
 in whose custody or possession the same was seized, or the 
 occupant or tenant of the place wherein the same was seized, 
 shall pay all costs of prosecution, and execution shall be 
 issued therefor, provided it appear that such person or persons 
 had due notice of such prosecution, by service as aforesaid ; 
 and in case the person or persons in whose custody or posses- 
 sion, or in whose tenement such gunpowder may be seized, 
 shall be unknown to the fireward or firewards making such 
 seizure, or in case such gunpowder at the time of seizure 
 may not be in the custody or possession of any person, or if 
 it shall appear by the return of the officer, that such person 
 or persons cannot be found, or has no known place of abode 
 in this state, then said court shall and may proceed to adjudi- 
 cation thereon ; and such libel or summons, and also such 
 writ of execution for costs, shall and may be served and exe- 
 cuted in any county in this state, by any officer competent to 
 execute civil process in like cases. 
 
 Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, that any person or 
 persons who shall rescue, or attempt to rescue, any gunpow- 
 der seized as aforesaid, or shall aid or assist therein, or who 
 shall counsel or advise or procure the same to be done, or 
 7 
 
50 
 
 GKJNPOWDER. 
 
 who shall molest, hinder or obstruct any fireward in such 
 seizure, or in carrying gunpowder so seized to a place of 
 safety, shall forfeit and pay a fine for each offence, of not 
 less than twenty dollars, and not exceeding five hundred dol- 
 lars ; and it is hereby made the duty of all magistrates, civil 
 officers, and of all good citizens of said town, in their respec- 
 tive stations, and as far as they may be required, to aid and 
 assist such fireward or firewards in executing the duties here- 
 by required. 
 
 Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, that the said firewards, 
 or any of them, may enter the store or place of any person 
 or persons licensed to sell gunpowder, to examine and ascer- 
 tain whether the laws relating thereto are strictly observed ; 
 and also whenever there may be an alarm of fire ; and in 
 such last case may cause the powder there deposited to be 
 removed to a place of safety, or to be destroyed by wetting 
 or otherwise, as the exigency of the case may require ; and 
 it shall be lawful for any one or more of the firewards afoVe- 
 said to enter any dwelling-house, store, building or other 
 place in said town to search for gunpowder, which they may 
 have reason to suspect to be concealed or unlawfully kept 
 therein ; first having obtained from some justice of the peace 
 of said town a search-warrant therefor ; which warrant any 
 one of the justices of said town is hereby respectively author- 
 ized to issue, upon the complaint of such fireward or fire- 
 wards, supported by his or their oath or affirmation. 
 
 Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, that any person who 
 shall suffer injury by the explosion of any gunpowder had, 
 kept or transported within the town of Providence, contrary 
 to the provisions of this act, may have an action of the case, 
 in any court proper to try the same, against the owner or 
 owners of such gunpowder, or against any other person or 
 persons who may have had the custody or possession of the 
 same, at the time of the explosion thereof, to recover reason- 
 able damages for the injury thus sustained. 
 
 Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, that no ship or other 
 vessel on board of which gunpowder shall be laden, shall lie 
 at any wharf in the town of Providence, nor at any place 
 north of India Point channel, within said town. 
 
 Sec 9. And be it further enacted, that when any gun- 
 powder shall be landed in the town of Providence, from on 
 board any ship, boat or other vessel, the same shall and may 
 be brought to and landed at such place or places as may be 
 designated by the town council of said town; and when any 
 gunpowder shall be intended to be laden on board of any 
 
GUNPOWDER. 
 
 51 
 
 ship or vessel lying in the harbor of Providence, the same 
 shall and may be brought to and delivered and laden from 
 such place or places as may be designated as aforesaid ; and 
 no gunpowder shall be landed at, or shipped from, any other 
 wharf or place in said town, nor detained an unnecessary 
 length of time at said wharf or place. 
 
 Sec. 10. And be it further eMacted, that all gunpowder 
 which shall be transported through said town, to whatever 
 place it may be destined, shall be put into strong leather bags, 
 closely tied, and on which shall be painted in Roman capitals, 
 the word " GUNPOWDER," and shall so remain in said 
 bags whilst it is within the bounds of said town, and shall not 
 be suffered to remain a longer time than is necessary, in the 
 boat or carriage in which it may be transported : provided 
 however, that said bags may be taken off whenever said pow- 
 der shall be deposited in some magazine, as hereinafter desig- 
 nated. 
 
 Sec. 11. And be it further enacted, that all gunpowder 
 transported through said town, except when carried by hand, 
 shall be conveyed in a cart, wagon or other carriage, closely 
 covered with leather or canvas, marked as aforesaid with the 
 word " Gunpowder," in some conspicuous place thereon ; 
 excepting, however, that a quantity of gunpowder, not ex- 
 ceeding in the whole four casks of twenty-five pounds each, 
 may be received and put into any cart or wagon which is to 
 pass through any part of the town, on its way to the country; 
 provided that each cask shall be put into a leather bag, close- 
 ly tied up and marked as aforesaid, and so remain until with- 
 out the bounds of said town. 
 
 Sec 12. And be it further enacted, that all boats em- 
 ployed in transporting gunpowder shall have the casks of 
 powder covered with canvas, and shall have a red flag dis- 
 played in the bow or stern of the boat, so long as any powder 
 remains on board. 
 
 Sec. 13. And be it further enacted, that all persons who 
 wish to have a license to keep and sell gunpowder within the 
 town, shall make application to the town council in writing, 
 stating their place of business, and whether they wish to sell 
 by wholesale or retail, or both ; and to each person or firm 
 who may be approbated, a certificate of license shall be 
 granted, on payment of the fee established by law. 
 
 Sec. 14. And be it further enacted, that every person or 
 firm who may be licensed to sell gunpowder by retail, shall 
 be allowed to keep in the place or building designated in the 
 license, twenty-five pounds of gunpowder, and no more, at 
 
52 
 
 OUNPOWDER. 
 
 one time, which shall always be kept in tin or copper canis- 
 ters, capable of containing no more than twelve and a half 
 pounds each, with a small aperture at the top, and a tin or 
 copper cover thereto. 
 
 Sec. 15. And be it further enacted, that every person or 
 firm who may be Hcensed to sell gunpowder by wholesale, 
 shall provide and keep a tin or copper chest, with two han- 
 dles and a tight cover, furnished with a hinge, and secured 
 with a padlock, all of tin or copper ; such chest shall always 
 be kept on the lower floor, on the right side of and close to 
 the principal door or entrance from the street into the build- 
 ing so hcensed, except when otherwise designated by the 
 council, and shall always be kept locked, except when pow- 
 der is put in or taken out ; and such person or firm, so licen- 
 sed, shall be allowed to deposit and keep, in such tin or cop- 
 per chest, a quantity of gunpowder not exceeding four casks 
 of twenty-five pounds each ; the heads of each cask not to 
 be opened, and each cask to be kept in a strong leather bag, 
 closely tied and marked as aforesaid. 
 
 Sec. 16. And be it further enacted, that every person or 
 firm licensed to keep and sell gunpowder as aforesaid, by 
 wholesale or retail, shall have and keep a sign-board placed 
 over the door or building in which such powder is kept, on 
 which shall be painted in Roman capitals the words " Licen- 
 sed to sell Gunpowder." 
 
 Sec. 17. And be it further enacted, that no gunpowder 
 shall be kept, otherwise than as before provided for licensed 
 dealers, at any place within the town of Providence, except 
 in such place or places, and in such buildings, as may be 
 designated by the town council thereof. 
 
 Sec. 18. And be it further enacted, that all fines, penal- 
 ties and forfeitures, except otherwise herein prescribed, which 
 may arise and accrue under the provisions of this act, shall 
 and may be prosecuted for and recovered by indictment or 
 action of the case, in any court of competent jurisdiction ; 
 one half thereof to and for the use of the poor of said town, to be 
 paid over to the treasurer thereof, and one half to and for the 
 use of any person or persons who may prosecute or sue for the 
 same : and this act shall be deemed and taken to be a public 
 act, and shall and may be proceeded on as such. 
 
 Sec. 19. And be it further enacted, that the act entitled 
 *' An Act relative to the keeping of gunpowder in the town 
 of Providence," be and the same is hereby repealed : provi- 
 ded, however, that the same shall continue in force for the 
 purpose of prosecuting all oflfences which may have been 
 committed prior to the passing hereof. 
 
FIRES. 
 
 53 
 
 An Act providing in case of fire breaking out in the town of 
 
 Providence* 
 
 (Passed 1754 to 1822.) 
 
 SECTION 
 
 1. Housekeeper to have buckets — pen- 
 alty. 
 
 2. Town council to cause examination to 
 be made. 
 
 3. Presidents of fire wards-power.— Own- 
 
 Section 
 
 ers of houses pulled down, how com- 
 pensated. 
 
 4. Firewards — power — disobedience to 
 how punished. 
 
 5. Stealing in time of fire. 
 
 Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly^ and by 
 the authority thereof it is enacted^ that every housekeeper in 
 the town of Providence shall provide and keep two good 
 leather buckets, containing at least two gallons each, with 
 the owner's name painted at large thereon, to be kept in 
 some convenient place, to be used in case of fire breaking 
 out in said town, and for no other purpose ; under the 
 penalty of forfeiting the sum of five dollars, to be recov- 
 ered by the town treasurer, to and for the use of said town, 
 before any two or more justices of the peace in said town, 
 whose judgment in the premises shall be final. 
 
 Sec. 2. And be it further enacted^ that the town coun- 
 cil of said town shall annually, within one month after the 
 third Tuesday in August, cause an examination to be made 
 by the town sergeant, or one of the constables of said town, 
 of all the housekeepers in said town, and to return to the 
 said council the names of all such housekeepers who are not 
 furnished with buckets as aforesaid, which said council shall, 
 after having duly examined the same, return a list of persons 
 to be prosecuted under this act, to the said town treasurer, 
 who shall cause said dehnquents to be prosecuted in manner 
 herein before prescribed ; provided that said town council, 
 upon application and due examination, may exempt from the 
 penalty aforesaid any person who, in their opinion, may be 
 unable to furnish themselves with buckets as aforesaid. 
 
 Sec 3. And be it further enacted^ that from time to time, 
 at the yearly meeting for the election of town officers, the 
 freemen of said town shall annually choose and appoint three 
 or more persons, on whose fidelity, judgment and impartiality 
 they can rely, to be called presidents of firewards ; and that 
 they, the said presidents, or any one of them, who shall be 
 present when any fire shall happen to break out in the said 
 town, shall and may, and they are hereby empowered to give 
 directions for the pulling down or blowing up of any such 
 house or houses as shall be by them judged meet and neces- 
 
64 FIRES. 
 
 sary to be pulled down or blown up, for preventing the further 
 spreading of the fire ; and if it shall happen that the pulhng 
 down or blowing up of any such house or houses, by direc- 
 tion as aforesaid, shall be the occasion of stopping the pro- 
 gress of such fire, or that the fire stop before it comes to the 
 same, that then all and every the owner or owners of such 
 house or houses shall be reasonably paid therefor, by the rest 
 of the inhabitants of said town, whose houses shall not be 
 burnt ; and they are hereby authorized and fully empowered 
 to make a tax or taxes for levying and raising such a sum of 
 money as shall be, by the court of general sessions of the 
 peace for the county of Providence, thought sufficient for 
 that end ; which court are hereby fully empowered and author- 
 ized, on application to them on this behalf made, to deter- 
 mine and make order thereon : provided, always, that if the 
 house or houses where the fire shall first begin and break out, 
 shall be judged fit to be pulled down or blown up, to hinder 
 the further spreading of the flames, then the owner or own- 
 ers of such house or houses shall receive no manner of satis- 
 faction for the same ; any thing in this act contained to the 
 contrary notwithstanding. 
 
 Sec. 4. And he it further enacted, that it shall and may 
 be lawful for the freemen of said town, at their aforesaid an- 
 nual meeting, to appoint such a number of prudent persons, 
 of known fidelity, in the several parts of the town, as they 
 may think proper, who shall be denominated and called fire- 
 wards, and have a proper badge assigned to distinguish them 
 in their office, to wit, a speaking trumpet painted red or 
 white ; and at the time of breaking forth of fire, and during 
 the continuance thereof, they shall be and are hereby au- 
 thorized and fully empowered to require and command assist- 
 ance for suppressing and extinguishing the fire, for removing 
 household stuff* and furniture, goods and merchandize, out of 
 any dwelling-houses, store-houses, or other buildings actually 
 on fire or in danger thereof, and to appoint guards for taking 
 care of and securing the same, as also to require and com- 
 mand assistance for the pulling down or blowing up of any 
 house or houses, and performing all and every service and 
 services relative thereto, by the direction of the presidents 
 aforesaid, or any one of them, to prevent and stop the further 
 spreading of the fire, and suppress all tumults and disorders ; 
 and the said firewards, from time to time appointed as afore- 
 said, are required, upon notice of the breaking forth of fire, 
 to take each one his badge, and repair immediately to the 
 place, and vigorously exert their authority for obtaining assist- 
 
FIREMEN. 55 
 
 ance, and use their utmost endeavors to extinguish or prevent 
 the spreading of the fire, and to preserve and secure the es- 
 tates of the inhabitants ; due obedience is hereby required to 
 be yielded to them and each of them, in the said service, and 
 all disobedience, neglect or refusal in any person or persons 
 shall be informed of, to some of the justices of the peace of 
 the said town, within two days next after ; and if any person 
 or persons shall offend, contrary to the true intent and mean- 
 ing of this act, he or they, upon conviction thereof before 
 any two justices of the peace, shall forfeit and pay as a fine, 
 the sum of four dollars each, to be levied and distributed, at 
 the discretion of the town council of said town of Provi- 
 dence, among such poor persons as shall be most distressed 
 by the fire ; and in case any offender shall be unable to pay 
 such fine, he shall suffer ten days' imprisonment. 
 
 Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, that if any evil-minded 
 person or persons shall take advantage of such calamity, 
 either by robbing, plundering, purloining, embezzling, con- 
 veying away, or conceahng any goods, wares, merchandize, 
 effects or things whatsoever, belonging to any inhabitant or 
 inhabitants of the said town of Providence, whose house or 
 houses is or are on fire, or endangered thereby so as to put 
 such person or persons upon removing his or their goods or 
 effects, and shall not restore or give notice thereof unto the 
 owner or owners, (if known,) or bring them to such pubhc 
 place or places as shall be assigned by the presidents of the 
 firewards, or any one of them, within the space of two days 
 next after proclamation made for that purpose, the person or 
 persons so offending shall, on conviction thereof, be deemed 
 thieves, and suflfer the utmost severity of the law. 
 
 An Act concerning firemen in the city of Providence. 
 
 (Passed January, 1842.) 
 
 Firemen to be appointed by the city council — number — privileges. 
 
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Section 1. The city council of the city of Providence 
 are hereby authorized to elect and appoint as many members 
 of the engine companies, hydraulion companies, hose com- 
 panies, and fire hook and ladder companies, in said city, as 
 they shall deem expedient, not exceeding twelve hundred in 
 
56 
 
 FIREMEN. 
 
 aJli ; and the persons so appointed shall enjoy and possess all 
 the privileges and immunities that the members of such com- 
 panies now have ; and the said city council shall have power 
 to apportion the firemen so appointed among the several fire 
 companies in said city, in such manner as they deem best ; 
 any provision in the charters of said companies limiting their 
 number of members to the contrary notwithstanding. 
 
 An Act concerning firemen in the village of Olneyville. 
 
 (Passed 1834.) 
 
 Inhabitants of other towns appointed firemen, to have privileges, &c. 
 
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly^ and by the authority 
 thereof it is enacted^ that it shall be lawful for the proper au- 
 thorities of the city of Providence, to elect as firemen attach- 
 ed to the fire engines located in that part of said city called 
 Olneyville, any inhabitant of the towns of Johnston or North- 
 Providence, residing within a suitable distance of said engine ; 
 and that said firemen so elected shall have and enjoy all the 
 privileges and immunities to which the firemen of said city 
 are now or may hereafter be by law entitled ; provided that no 
 person shall be appointed an officer of said company who is 
 not a resident in said city of Providence. 
 
 An Act empowering fire companies in the town of Providence 
 to inflict penalties, 
 
 (Passed November, 1826.) 
 
 Fire companies to have power to enact by-laws — what penalties. 
 
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the authority 
 thereof it is enacted, that the several fire companies elected 
 by the town of Providence be and they hereby are author- 
 ized to enact such by-laws and regulations, (not contrary to 
 the laws of the state or town,) and impose such penalties for 
 the violation of them, as they may deem necessary to insure 
 the effectual performance of the duties of each member of 
 said companies, not exceeding seven dollars in any one year; 
 
GRAIN, SALT AND SEA COAL. -^7 
 
 and they hereby are authorized to sue for and recover said 
 penalties, before any court of competent jurisdiction. 
 
 An Act to regulate the measuring of grain, salt and sea coaL 
 
 (Digest of 1844.) 
 
 Section (Section 
 
 1. Certain towns shall elect measurers — 
 other towns may. 
 
 2. Measurers to be engaged — may ap- 
 point deputies — grain, <Slc., imported 
 and sold from vessel, to be measured 
 and certified if above certain quantity. 
 
 3. Measurers' fees. 
 
 4. To measure if sold from store, in case 
 of dispute — fees. 
 
 5. Penalty for selling from vessel with- 
 out being measured — proviso, unless 
 measured by custom-house inspector. 
 Penalty on measurer for refusal or 
 neglect. 
 
 Grain sold by weight exempted from 
 act. 
 
 It is enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Section 1. The towns of Newport, Bristol, Warren, 
 Warwick, East-Greenwich, North-Kingstown and North- 
 Providence shall, and any other towns may, at any annual 
 meeting for the choice of town officers, elect in each of said 
 towns not exceeding two persons, to be measurers of grain, 
 salt, shorts and sea coal. The city council of the city of 
 Providence, at the time of the election of city officers, shall 
 elect at least two such measurers for said city. 
 
 Sec. 2. Such measurers shall be engaged as other town 
 officers are ; and they shall measure or cause to be measured in 
 their presence, and shall certify the measure of all corn, rye, 
 oats, barley and other grain, and all shorts, salt and sea coal, 
 imported into such town from without the limits of this state, 
 that shall be sold and delivered from any vessel or water craft 
 in said town, in any quantity exceeding twenty-five bushels 
 at one sale, to one person or company ; and the said measu- 
 rers are hereby authorized and empowered to appoint so 
 many deputy measurers aforesaid, and to employ so many 
 assistants as they may deem expedient. 
 
 Sec. 3. Said measurers shall have and receive as com- 
 pensation, for every bushel of grain, shorts, salt or sea coal 
 aforesaid, by them measured and certified, where the same 
 shall exceed one hundred and fifty bushels, one half of one 
 cent per bushel, and for any quantity less than one hundred 
 and fifty bushels, one cent per bushel ; to be paid by the 
 vender upon a tender of the certificate of the measurers ; the 
 vender charging one half of the same to the purchaser, unless 
 otherwise by them agreed : provided, however, that no measu- 
 rer shall be entitled to receive more than one half of one 
 8 
 
58 
 
 GRAIN, SALT AND SEA COAL. 
 
 cent per bushel for measuring, when the quantity shall ex- 
 ceed one hundred and fifty bushels, deUvered from the same 
 vessel. 
 
 Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the said measurers or dep- 
 uties to measure and certify as aforesaid, in all cases of sale 
 and delivery of said articles in the towns where they are ap- 
 pointed, in quantity aforesaid, from any store or other places 
 of seUing in said towns, whenever a dispute shall arise be- 
 tween the seller and purchaser, if called on for that purpose 
 by either party ; for which duty they shall receive the same 
 compensation, and payable in like manner as herein before 
 provided. 
 
 Sec. 5. Every person who shall sell and deliver from any 
 vessel or water craft in said towns, any such grain, shorts, salt 
 or sea coal, in a quantity exceeding twenty-five bushels, at 
 one sale and delivery, without having the same duly measured 
 and certified as aforesaid by one of the said measurers, or 
 shall refuse to permit a measurer or deputy to measure such 
 articles when sold from any water craft, shall forfeit and pay 
 the sum of fifty dollars for every such oflfence : to be recov- 
 ered in an action of debt before any court of competent juris- 
 diction ; one half thereof to and for the use of the person who 
 shall sue for the same, and the other half to the use of the 
 town where the oflfence shall be committed : provided, how- 
 ever, that nothing in this act shall be construed to apply to or 
 aflTect the sale, delivery or measuring of any of said articles, 
 in the sale whereof it shall have been contracted by the seller 
 and purchaser, that the same shall be sold and delivei;ed at 
 custom-house measure ; the same being measured under the 
 inspection of a custom-house inspector. 
 
 Sec. 6. If any measurer or any deputy measurer shall, 
 after being duly requested to perform any of the duties pre- 
 scribed by this act, and after tender of his fees therefor, re- 
 fuse or neglect so to do, he shall forfeit and pay the sum of 
 ten dollars for every such oflfence ; to be recovered in an ac- 
 tion of debt before any justice of the peace within the town 
 where the oflfence shall be committed ; one half thereof to the 
 person who shall prosecute and sue therefor, and the other 
 half to the use of said town where such neglect occurred. 
 
 Sec. 7. All grain sold, where the contract is that it shall 
 be delivered by weight, shall be exempted from the above 
 law. 
 
LUMBER 
 
 An Ad to regulate the survey and admeasurement of lumber 
 brought by water or imported into this state, 
 
 (Digest of 1844.) 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Surveyor general for the city of Prov- 
 idence to be appointed annually — duty 
 of — may appoint deputies — duties of. 
 
 2. Rules of inspection and admeasure- 
 ment. 
 
 Surveyor general to appoint one depu- 
 ty to survey ornamental woods — rules 
 for the inspection of such woods. 
 Surveyor general to appoint one depu- 
 ty to measure ship timber. 
 Fees for inspection how paid and divi- 
 ded. 
 
 Penalty for buying or selling lumber 
 not inspected. Lumber purchased to 
 be used by the purchaser, or to be ex- 
 ported from the state, not required to 
 be inspected. 
 
 3. 
 
 5. 
 
 Section 
 
 7. Penalty for defacing surveyor's marks. 
 Penalty for fraudulently surveying, 
 and for neglect of duty. 
 Person dissatisfied with survey of de- 
 puty inspector, may have a re-survey 
 by inspector general. 
 Surveyor general to make report to 
 city council annually, which shall be 
 puialisbed by the council. 
 Town councils of otiier towns annu- 
 ally to appoint surveyors and measu- 
 rers of lumber — duties of. 
 Each surveyor to preserve a record of 
 all his surveys. 
 
 Lumber made in this state, not re- 
 quired to be measured. 
 All former laws repealed. 
 
 8. 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 13 
 
 14 
 
 It is enacted by the General Assembly, as follows: 
 
 Section 1. There shall be a surveyor general of lumber 
 for the city of Providence, who shall be well skilled in the 
 surveying and admeasurement of lumber, to be appointed in 
 the month of February annually, by the city council of said 
 city, who shall hold the office for one year, and until a suc- 
 cessor be chosen, unless sooner removed : before he shall 
 enter upon the duties of his office he shall give bond with two 
 sureties to the city treasurer in the sum of two thousand dol- 
 lars for the faithful discharge of his duties ; and he shall be 
 sworn or affirmed faithfully to perform the same ; and such 
 surveyor general, when so qualified, shall have power to ap- 
 point such number of deputy surveyors as he may judge suf- 
 ficient, not less than six, for whose official conduct he shall 
 be answerable, the said appointments subject to the approval 
 of the city council ; and shall take bonds from said deputies 
 for the faithful discharge of their duties in the sum of five 
 hundred dollars each, with two sureties ; and they shall be 
 sworn or affirmed faithfully to perform the same ; and shall 
 be removable for neglect of duty by the surveyor general. 
 
 Sec. 2. In the survey and admeasurement of lumber 
 brought by water, or imported, discharged or dehvered in 
 said city, whether on the land or in a boat or vessel, the 
 following rules and regulations are hereby established : in the 
 survey of all kinds of pine boards, planks and joists, they shall 
 be divided into three sorts, namely : the first sort shall be de- 
 nominated "clear," and shall include boards not less than one 
 
60 
 
 LUMBER. 
 
 inch thick, free from rot, knots and shakes, and square edged ; 
 provided that such boards as may be clear and equal in qual- 
 ity to clear, but may be deficient in thickness as aforesaid, 
 shall be received as clear by making such allowance for the 
 deficiency in thickness as may be required to make them 
 equal to one inch thick. The second sort shall be denomin- 
 ated '' merchantable," and shall include boards not less than 
 seven-eighths of an inch thick, nearly free from rot and nearly 
 square edged, and suitable for covering buildings. The third 
 sort shall be denominated *' refuse," and shall include all 
 boards, plank and joists not included in the other two denom- 
 inations, with due allowance for rots. And plank and joists 
 shall be surveyed as to quality and numbers the same as 
 boards, and their contents measured and marked, what they 
 may contain, board measure. All boards less than three- 
 fourths of an inch thick shall be surveyed and measured in 
 the same manner, as to quality, quantity and numbers, as 
 though they were of the thickness of one inch. 
 
 in the survey of spruce, hemlock and juniper boards, plank, 
 and sawed and hewed timber, there shall be two sorts ; the 
 first sort shall be denominated " merchantable," and shall in- 
 clude all boards, plank, joist and timber that are sound and 
 square edged and well sawed ; the second sort shall be de- 
 nominated " refuse," and shall include all other descriptions, 
 with due allowance for rot. 
 
 In the survey of ash, maple, and other hard wood boards, 
 plank, joists and timber, there shall be two sorts ; the first 
 sort shall be denominated " merchantable," and shall include 
 all boards, plank, joist and timber that are sound and free 
 from bad knots, and free from shakes and rots ; the second 
 sort shall be denominated " refuse," and shall include all 
 other descriptions, with due allowance for rots. 
 
 In the survey of all boards, plank, joists and timber, the 
 contents of the same in board measure shall be truly marked 
 thereon in plain and durable numbers, and all other marks, if 
 not correct, shall be erased ; and in marking the contents of 
 any lumber, the board measure marks commonly used in mark- 
 ing boards shall be used, and no other ; and the merchantable 
 lumber shall be marked thus a , and the refuse lumber shall 
 be marked ^, and shall be plainly and durably marked on 
 each and every piece ; deduction shall be made for splits not 
 exceeding in any case one half the extent of the split. All 
 boards, plank, joist and timber shall be received and sold 
 according to the contents thereof, as fixed and marked under 
 the aforesaid regulations ; but all surveys shall be made under 
 
LUMBER 
 
 61 
 
 the inspection of the surveyor general or by his deputies, by 
 his directions ; and apphcation shall be made by all persons 
 requiring surveys to the surveyor general, who shall direct 
 his deputies to perform their respective duties in rotation. 
 
 Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the surveyor general, 
 agreeably to the first section of this act, to appoint one or 
 more deputy surveyors, whose duty shall be to survey mahog- 
 any, cedar and cherry-tree boards, plank, joist and timber, 
 and other ornamental wood and lumber. In the survey of 
 mahogany and cedar timber, the following rules and regula- 
 tions are hereby established : in the survey and admeasure- 
 ment of mahogany and cedar timber, there shall be allowed, 
 if the same is sound and free from wane, two inches on one 
 side of the square, and one inch on the other side, and two 
 inches in length ; and when the timber is wider on the one 
 side than on the other, the two inches shall be taken from the 
 narrow side ; if waney, two inches on each side of the square ; 
 and for rots, shakes, fee, there shall be allowance made as the 
 surveyor may deem expedient, not exceeding one half. All 
 timber that is worm-eaten, much rotten, badly shaked, or 
 very waney, shall be denominated " refuse," due allowance 
 being made for rot. In the survey and admeasurement of 
 mahogany, cedar and cherry-tree boards, planks and joist, 
 and other ornamental wood and lumber, such as are sound 
 and free from bad knots and shakes shall be denominated 
 " merchantable ;" all others shall be denominated " refuse," 
 and due allowance made for rots and shakes. 
 
 Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the surveyor general, 
 agreeably to the first section of this act, to appoint one or 
 more deputy surveyors, whose duty shall be to survey oak and 
 other hard wood used in ship building, whether brought by 
 land or water. 
 
 Sec 6. Fees for surveying and marking according to the 
 foregoing provisions of this act, and to be paid by the purchaser, 
 shall be as follows, viz : for pine, spruce, hemlock and juniper 
 boards, plank, joist and sawed timber, twenty-five cents per 
 thousand feet, board measure. For mahogany, cedar, cherry- 
 tree timber, boards, plank and joist, fifty cents per thousand 
 feet, board measure. For oak and other hard wood for ship 
 building, twenty-five cents per ton. For ash, maple, birch, 
 and other hard wood, forty cents per thousand feet, board 
 measure ; of which fees, three cents on every thousand feet 
 of pine, spruce, hemlock and juniper boards, plank, joist, and 
 sawed timber, four cents on every ton of oak and other ship 
 timber, six cents on every thousand feet, board measure, of 
 
62 LUMBER 
 
 mahogany, cedar and other ornamental lumber, shall be paid 
 over to the surveyor general for. his use. 
 
 Sec. 6. It shall not be lawful for any person within the 
 city of Providence to sell, purchase or take the delivery, 
 whether purchased without the state or within it, or for their 
 own personal use or otherwise, any boards, plank, joist or 
 timber brought into said city, unless the same shall be sur- 
 veyed, marked and numbered, conformably to the provisions 
 of this act ; except such as are bona fide intended to be ex- 
 ported beyond sea, and shipped for the purpose of such ex- 
 portation within one year after the same shall have been sold 
 and dehvered to the person first purchasing or receiving the 
 same in said city ; and any person or persons importing or 
 purchasing lumber for their own private use and benefit, to be 
 used in building on their own or leased land, upon giving a 
 certificate to that effect to the surveyor general, shall not be 
 subject to have the same surveyed and measured according 
 to this act ; but should they dispose of it in any other manner 
 than is provided in this section, they shall be liable to the 
 same penalties as though said certificate had not been given ; 
 and all persons purchasing lumber without the state for the 
 purpose of transhipping through this state to the state of 
 Massachusetts or Connecticut, shall not be Hable to have the 
 same surveyed and measured, unless said lumber shall be dis- 
 posed of within this state ; and in that case shall be liable to 
 all the provisions and penalties of this act ; and any person 
 or persons who shall sell, purchase, deUver or take the dehv- 
 ery of any boards, plank, joist and timber, not surveyed, 
 marked or numbered, as herein is provided, subject only to 
 the foregoing exceptions, shall forfeit and pay for all boards, 
 plank, joist and timber so sold, purchased or delivered, one 
 dollar per thousand feet, board measure, and the same for 
 any less amount ; to be sued for and recovered in any court 
 of competent jurisdiction, by the surveyor general, whose duty 
 it shall be to prosecute for all violations of this act that shall 
 come to his knowledge ; one half thereof to his use, and the 
 other half to the use of the state. 
 
 Sec. 7. If any person or persons shall be guilty of cross- 
 ing, altering, or wilfully defacing any of the marks affixed to 
 any lumber by any deputy surveyor, he or they shall forfeit and 
 pay a sum not less than five dollars, nor more than twenty 
 dollars ; to be prosecuted by the surveyor general, and the 
 forfeiture to be sued for, recovered and applied, as is provided 
 in the sixth section. 
 
 Sec. 8. If any person appointed to office under this act. 
 
LUMBER. 
 
 6» 
 
 or his deputies, shall be guilty of or connive at any fraud or 
 deception in surveying, marking or numbering the contents 
 of any boards, plank, joist or timber, he shall forfeit and pay 
 for every such offence a sum not less than ten dollars, nor 
 more than twenty dollars ; and if the surveyor general or his 
 deputies, on due notice and request, shall unreasonably neg- 
 lect or refuse to perform the duties enjoined by this act, he 
 or they shall forfeit and pay for every offence, such a sum, 
 not less than ten dollars, nor more than twenty dollars ; one 
 half of the aforesaid forfeiture to be recovered by him or 
 them who shall sue for the same, to his or their use, and the 
 other half to the use of the state, before any court of compe- 
 tent jurisdiction. 
 
 Sec. 9. If any person shall be dissatisfied with the survey 
 and admeasurement of any lumber purchased or sold by him, 
 by any deputy or deputies appointed by the surveyor general, 
 he may require the surveyor general, with one or more depu- 
 ties, at the option of the surveyor general, to reinspect the 
 same ; and should they find an error in the survey, over and 
 above the amount of five dollars, the deputy who surveyed 
 the lumber shall receive no compensation for his services ; and 
 shall be liable to the penalties provided in the eighth section 
 of this act ; and the surveyor general and his deputy or depu- 
 ties shall receive for their compensation twenty-five cents per 
 thousand feet ; and if the surveyor general on the reinspec- 
 tion shall find the lumber correctly surveyed and measured 
 in the first instance, he shall receive for his compensation and 
 that of his deputy or deputies, twelve cents per thousand feet ; 
 the first mentioned compensation in this section, to be paid 
 by the purchaser, and last mentioned by the complainant ; 
 the expense of overhauling lumber for the purpose of rein- 
 spection, under the provisions of this section, shall be paid by 
 the complainant ; and in all instances the compensation for 
 the surveyor general and his deputy or deputies shall be 
 equally divided between them. 
 
 Sec. 10. It shall be the duty of the surveyor general to 
 make return to the city council of the city of Providence, on 
 the first Monday in February annually, of all lumber surveyed 
 by himself or his deputies ; specifying the various kinds and 
 qualities, and by whom surveyed, and the amount of all fees 
 received by him and his deputies pursuant to this act. And 
 it shall be the duty of the said city council to cause said re- 
 turns to be pubHshed in one of the newspapers published in 
 said city. 
 
 Sec. 11. The town councils of all other towns where 
 
64 LUMBER. 
 
 boards, plank, timber, joist and scantling are imported for 
 sale, shall annually, on or before the first day of March in each 
 year, appoint one or more persons, surveyors and measurers 
 of boards, plank, timber, joist and scantling, who shall hold 
 their offices for one year unless sooner removed by the tov^n 
 council ; vy^ho for neglect of duty shall make such removalj 
 and fill the vacancy caused thereby : and every surveyor and 
 measurer so appointed, previous to entering upon the duties 
 of his office, shall be duly sworn or affirmed to the faithful 
 discharge of the same, and shall give bond with two sureties 
 to the treasurer of the town in which he is appointed, in the 
 sum of five hundred dollars, for the faithful performance of 
 said duties, and shall be subject to all the duties, provisions 
 and penalties contained in the foregoing sections. 
 
 Sec. 12. Each surveyor and measurer shall keep a true 
 and faithful record of all surveys of lumber made by him, to- 
 gether with all figures made by him in taking an account of 
 the same, and said record shall be open to the inspection of 
 all persons. 
 
 Sec. 13. This act shall not be construed as requiring the 
 survey or admeasurement of any lumber made in any town in 
 this state. 
 
 Sec. 14. All laws heretofore passed for the survey and 
 admeasurement of lumber are hereby repealed. 
 
 An Act in amendment of '^ An Act to regulate the survey and 
 admeasurement of lumber brought by water or imported into 
 this state.^^ 
 
 (Passed January, 1845.) 
 
 Section [ Section 
 
 1. Soft pine lumber how measured. | 2. Part of former act repealed. 
 
 It is enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Section 1. In the survey of soft pine boards, planks and 
 joists, they shall be divided into five sorts, namely : 
 
 The first sort shall be denominated No. One, and marked 
 thus, I ; and shall include boards not less than one inch thick, 
 free from rot, knots and shakes, and square edged : provided, 
 that such boards as may be clear, and equal in quality to 
 clear, but may be deficient in thickness as aforesaid, shall be 
 received as No. One, by making such allowance for the defi- 
 ciency in thickness as may be required to make them equal 
 to one inch thick. 
 
INSPECTOR OF BEEF AND PORK. 
 
 65 
 
 The second sort shall be denominated No. Two, and mark- 
 ed thus, II. ; and shall include boards not less than seven- 
 eighths of an inch thick, nearly free from rot, and nearly 
 square edged, and nearly clear from knots. 
 
 The third sort shall be denominated No. Three, and mark- 
 ed thus. III. ; and shall include boards with sound fast knots, 
 nearly square edged, and suitable for barn and box boards, 
 and covering buildings. 
 
 The fourth sort shall be denominated No. Four, and mark- 
 ed thus, ^ ; shall include boards worm eaten, some tender 
 with rot, shaked and considerable waney. 
 
 The fifth sort shall be marked thus, X ; and shall consist of 
 the very waney, sappy and rotten. 
 
 Plank and joists shall be surveyed as to quality and num- 
 bers, the same as boards, and their contents measured and 
 marked what they may contain board measure. 
 
 Sec. 2. So much of the act passed at the January session, 
 1844, to which this is in amendment, as is inconsistent with 
 this act is hereby repealed. 
 
 An Act authorizing the city of Providence to elect an inspector 
 of beef and pork, for said city, 
 
 (Passed June, 1833.) 
 
 City council may elect inspector — powers — bond, &c. 
 
 Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly , and by 
 the authority thereof it is enacted, that it shall and may be 
 lawful for the city council of the city of Providence, at the 
 annual election of officers for said city, hereafter, to appoint 
 one city inspector of beef and pork within said city ; which 
 said inspector shall have all the rights, powers, fees and privi- 
 leges, and be subject to all the duties, penalties and forfeit- 
 ures, which by law appertain or are incident to the office of 
 inspector general of beef and pork for this state. And the 
 said inspector shall, before he enters upon the duties of his 
 office, be sworn faithfully to perform the duties of the same ; 
 and shall give bond in manner and form as is by law required 
 of the said inspector general. And further, it shall and may 
 be lawful for said city council, as soon as may be after the 
 passage of this act, to appoint one city inspector, in manner 
 9 
 
66 
 
 SLAUGHTER HOUSES.— DOGS. 
 
 and form aforesaid, to serve in said office, being first duly 
 qualified as before mentioned, until the next annual election 
 of city officers. 
 
 An Act respecting slaughter houses in the town of Providence. 
 
 (Passed June, 1827.) 
 
 Slaughter houses not to be erected or continued, without consent of town council. 
 
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the author- 
 ity thereof it is enacted, that from and after the first day of 
 September next, no slaughter house shall be erected or con- 
 tinued, nor the business of slaughtering cattle be carried on 
 in the town of Providence, except in such place or places as 
 the town council of said town shall designate ; and any per- 
 son who shall erect or continue any slaughter house, or be 
 concerned in slaughtering cattle or other animals for market, 
 contrary to this act, shall forfeit and pay the sum of one hun- 
 dred dollars, and costs of prosecution, for every house so 
 erected, and for every day's continuance in violation of this 
 act ; to be recovered by indictment or action of debt, before 
 any court of competent jurisdiction, by the town treasurer of 
 said town, for the use of said town. 
 
 An Act concerning dogs. 
 
 (Digest of 1844.) 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Towu councils authorized to make 
 £,».'; laws concerning dogs. 
 
 2. Town councils authorized to impose a 
 tax on the owners of dogs. 
 
 Section 
 
 3. Owners of dogs to be liable for dam- 
 ages done by them to sheep or cattle. 
 On second judgment, dog to be killed. 
 
 It is enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Section 1 . The city council of the city of Providence, 
 and the town councils of the several towns, are severally em- 
 powered to make such laws concerning dogs in their respec- 
 tive towns as they shall deem expedient ; to be enforced by 
 the destruction of the animal, or by pecuniary penalties not 
 exceeding five dollars, to be recovered by action of debt, to 
 
ANIMALS. 
 
 67 
 
 such use as said city council or town council in their respec- 
 tive towns may prescribe. 
 
 Sec. 2. The town councils of the several towns are au- 
 thorized to impose such yearly tax upon every person in their 
 respective towns who shall own or keep any dog, for every 
 dog owned or kept, as they shall judge proper ; and also to 
 make such laws to prevent damage being done to flocks of 
 sheep and cattle as they may deem necessary. 
 
 Sec. 3. When any person shall have any sheep or cattle 
 worried, torn or killed by any dog, he shall recover his dama- 
 ges against the owner of such dog, in an action on the case, 
 with costs of suit ; and if afterwards any damage be done by 
 such dog to any sheep or cattle, the owner of such dog shall 
 pay to the party aggrieved double the damages ; to be re- 
 covered in like manner as aforesaid, with costs ; and an order 
 shall be made by the court before whom such second re- 
 covery shall be had, for killing such dog, and the same shall 
 be done accordingly by the officer who shall be charged 
 therewith. 
 
 An Act authorizing the city of Providence to restrain certain 
 animals from going at large. 
 
 (Passed January, 1845.) 
 
 Section 
 1. Power to prohibit certain animals 
 from going at large. 
 
 Section 
 
 2. Power to declare swine found at large 
 to be forfeited. 
 
 It is enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Section 1. From and after the passing of this act, the 
 city of Providence shall have full power to enact ordinances 
 and regulations prohibiting horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, goats 
 and geese from going at large within the limits of said city ; 
 and to inflict such penalties and fines for the breach of such 
 ordinances and regulations as they are authorized to inflict 
 by the provisions of an act entitled " An Act to incorporate 
 the city of Providence." 
 
 Sec. 2. The said city of Providence shall also have au- 
 thority to declare all swine found running at large within the 
 limits of said city to be forfeited to and for the use of the 
 poor of said city, or of such persons as may be authorized to 
 seize the same. 
 
68 
 
 CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.— FIRE-ARMS. 
 
 An Act in amendment of an act entitled " An Act to prevent 
 the spreading of contagious or infectious sickness in this 
 state, ^^ 
 
 (Passed January, 1845.) 
 
 Record of persons vaccinated need not be kept under certain circumstances. 
 
 It is enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : 
 
 Section 1. The records required by the twenty-third and 
 twenty-fourth sections of the act to which this is in amend- 
 ment need not be kept in the city of Providence, so long as 
 provision is annually made by said city for the gratuitous vac- 
 cination of the inhabitants thereof. 
 
 An Act in relation to the discharge of fire-arms, and the firing 
 and selling of fire-works. 
 
 (Digest of 1844.) 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Forfeiture for firing guns loaded with 
 ball or shot across road, street, &c. 
 
 2. Forfeiture for making bonfire in pub- 
 lic street, <fec. 
 
 3. Forfeiture for firing musket, &c., in 
 Providence — in certain other towns 
 and places. 
 
 Section 
 
 4. Forfeiture for selling fire-works with- 
 out license — or using the same. 
 
 5. Forfeiture for firing gun, &c., be- 
 tween sun-set and sun-rise. 
 
 6. Forfeitures, how recovered and ap- 
 propriated. 
 
 It is enacted by the General Assembly, as follows: 
 
 Section 1. If any person shall fire any rifle, gun, mus- 
 ket, blunderbuss or pistol, loaded with a bullet or shot, in or 
 across any road, street, square or lane, he shall forfeit and pay 
 not less than three dollars nor more than ten dollars. 
 
 Sec 2. if any person shall make a bonfire in any public 
 street, road, square or lane, without special permission from 
 the town council of the town in which the same shall be made, 
 he shall forfeit a sum not exceeding ten dollars. 
 
 Sec. 3. If any person shall fire any musket, rifle, fowling- 
 piece, blunderbuss or other small arms, not being at the time 
 under military duty, within the following limits, viz : the 
 whole city of Providence excepting the public waters and the 
 public rivers therein ; also, such parts of the towns of Crans- 
 ton and Johnston as are contained within the following limits, 
 to wit : beginning on the Pawtuxet road, at the Providence 
 line ; thence running southerly on said Pawtuxet road until 
 it comes to the cross road leading to Cranston road ; thence 
 
HARBOR AND PUBLIC WATERS. 
 
 69 
 
 northerly and westerly with said cross road and Cranston 
 road until it comes to the road which leads over Rocky-hill 
 to Johnston meeting-house ; thence northerly with said last 
 mentioned road until it meets the Johnston road near Johns- 
 ton meeting-house ; thence easterly with said Johnston road 
 until it comes to the line of Providence, to the place of be- 
 ginning ; also within one mile upon land from the state-house 
 in the town of Bristol ; and the whole town of North-Provi- 
 dence ; except upon land owned or occupied by him, or ex- 
 cept on other days than the first day of the week, by permis- 
 sion of the owner or occupant of the land on and into which 
 he may shoot, he shall forfeit and pay the sum of five dollars 
 for the first oflfcnce, and ten dollars for every subsequent of- 
 fence. 
 
 Sec. 4. If any person shall sell, offer for sale, enkindle or 
 use, or suffer to be sold, offered for sale, enkindled or used, 
 by his wife, children or servants or other persons whomsoever, 
 any rocket, cracker, squib or other fire-works of a combusti- 
 ble nature ordinarily used for exhibition or amusement, un- 
 less he shall previously obtain special hcense from the town 
 council of the town, and for the purpose of exhibition on a 
 suitable occasion, he shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten dol- 
 lars for each offence. 
 
 Sec. 5. If any person shall fire any gun, rifle, musket or 
 blunderbuss in any road, street, lane or tavern, or other pub- 
 lic house, after sun-setting and before sun-rising, he shall for- 
 feit the sum of five dollars for the first offence, and seven dol- 
 lars for every subsequent offence. 
 
 Sec. 6. All forfeitures accruing under this act shall be re- 
 covered by action of debt before any justice of the peace in 
 the town where they shall be incurred : one half thereof to 
 and for the use of the state, and the other half to and for the 
 use of the person who shall sue for the same. But no such 
 action shall be sustained unless commenced within thirty days 
 from the time the same shall accrue. 
 
 An Act in addition to an act entitled " An Act relative to the 
 harbor and public waters of the town of Providence, ^"^ 
 
 (Passed June, 1845.) 
 
 Section 
 1. The city council may authorise rail- 
 road depot upon public waters. 
 
 It is enacted by the General Assembly^ as follows : 
 
 Section 1. The city council of the city pf Providence 
 
 Section 
 2. Private property protected. 
 
70 HARBOR AND PUBLIC WATERS. 
 
 are hereby authorized to grant, upon such terms and condi- 
 tions as they may deem for the pubUc good, to any rail-road 
 company whose rail-road terminates in said city, the right 
 and privilege of establishing a depot upon any part of the 
 land covered by the public waters in said city above Wey bos- 
 set bridge, and of constructing such wharves, causeways, 
 embankments and bridges as may be necessary and proper to 
 contain the buildings and accommodations required for such 
 depot ; provided that the plans of all wharves, causeways, 
 embankments, bridges and buildings, proposed to be construc- 
 ted for any such depot, shall be specially approved by the 
 city council of said city, before the same shall be constructed. 
 Sec. 2. Nothing in this act shall be construed to surren- 
 der or impair any rights which belong to the state in that part 
 of said land covered by the public waters, which said city 
 does not appropriate to the use of such rail-road company, 
 nor to authorize the taking of private property for the use of 
 any rail-road company, excepting as is by law provided. 
 
ORDINANCES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CITY OF PROVIDENCE. 
 
 An Ordinance prescribing the time when certain ordinances 
 shall take effect, and the manner of publishing the same. 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Ordinances named- 
 operation. 
 
 -when to go into 
 
 Section 
 2. Repeal of former ordinances. 
 3 «fc 4. Ordinances how to be published 
 
 Whereas the committee appointed to revise the ordinances 
 of the city have reported certain bills, of which those herein 
 after mentioned by their titles have been carefully examined 
 and considered by this city council ; therefore, 
 
 It is ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, as 
 follows : 
 
 Section 1. The several ordinances, the titles of which 
 are hereinafter mentioned, are hereby declared to be the or- 
 dinances of this city, and all such parts of them as are 
 amendments or alterations of any previous ordinance shall 
 go into operation and effect from and after the thirty-first 
 day of May next, viz : 
 
 An Ordinance designating the officers to be appointed an- 
 nually by the city council, in addition to those specially desig- 
 nated and required to be appointed by the city charter. 
 
 An Ordinance appointing the times and place for holding 
 the municipal court. 
 
 An Ordinance prescribing the manner of notifying ward 
 meetings for the purpose of elections. 
 
72 ORDINANCES WHEN TO TAKE EFFECT. 
 
 An Ordinance fixing the compensation of wardens and 
 ward clerks. 
 
 An Ordinance prescribing the duties of the city marshal. 
 
 An Ordinance prescribing the duties of the city clerk and 
 city sergeant, in certain cases. 
 
 An Ordinance prescribing the duties of the overseer of the 
 public bridges. 
 
 An Ordinance designating the duties of the city audit. 
 
 An Ordinance providing for the establishment of a pubhc 
 watch. 
 
 An Ordinance for the prevention of fires. 
 
 An Ordinance appointing town meetings in relation to the 
 Dexter donation. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to the streets and highways. 
 
 An Ordinance for the preservation of sidewalks. 
 
 An Ordinance describing and establishing the city market 
 place. 
 
 An Ordinance for the regulation of the city markets and 
 market place. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to the city pumps and wells. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to the north burial ground. 
 
 An Ordinance respecting quarantine. 
 
 An Ordinance to prohibit the depositing animal or vegeta- 
 ble substances in certain waters of the city. 
 
 An Ordinance relative to the removal of the contents of 
 privy vaults. 
 
 An Ordinance to prohibit revelhng and other disturbances 
 in the pubUc streets. 
 
 An Ordinance to prevent the firing of guns and pistols in 
 the streets and other public places. 
 
 An Ordinance to prevent the ringing of bells between sun- 
 set and one hour after sun-rise. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to dogs. 
 
 An Ordinance establishing the city seal, and seals for the 
 board of aldermen and for the municipal court. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to nuisances. 
 
 An Ordinance to prohibit bathing in certain places. 
 
 An Ordinance to prevent injury to lamp posts, fences and 
 buildings. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to weights, measures, scales and 
 balances. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to the burial of the dead bodies 
 of animals. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to engine houses and fire appa- 
 ratus. 
 
ORDINANCES WHEN TO TAKE EFFECT. 73 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to the bonds of collector of 
 taxes. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to wood and coal carts. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to the city debt. 
 
 An Ordinance establishing street commissioners, prescribing 
 the duties thereof, and for other purposes. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to public schools. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to the interment of the dead. 
 
 An Ordinance to prohibit the opening of places of trade 
 and entertainment on Sundays or late at night. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to the hay market. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to cross-walks. 
 
 An Ordinance to prevent the going at large of certain ani- 
 mals. 
 
 An Ordinance directing the mode of publishing the ordi- 
 nances of the city of Providence. 
 
 Sec. 2. All ordinances heretofore passed by the town or 
 town council of the town of Providence, or by the city coun- 
 cil of the city of Providence, which are repugnant to the 
 provisions of the above named ordinances, shall be and they 
 are hereby declared to be repealed, from and after the thirty- 
 first day of May next : provided^ however^ that nothing in this 
 ordinance, or in any of the above named ordinances, shall 
 defeat, discharge, or in any way affect any right, title, inter- 
 est, duty, obhgation, penalty, forfeiture, claim or demand, 
 which shall have vested, enured, accrued or become forfeited 
 by virtue of the ordinances now in force, or which shall be 
 in force until and including the said thirty-first day of May 
 next ; nor shall any thing in this ordinance, or in any of the 
 ordinances herein before named, be construed to bar, dis- 
 charge or abate any civil or criminal process whatsoever now 
 pending, or which shall be hereafter commenced or pending, 
 nor to mitigate, remit or discharge any criminal offence, or 
 the punishment thereof, that shall have been committed be- 
 fore or on said last mentioned day. 
 
 Sec. 3. The committee before named are instructed to 
 cause this ordinance, and the ordinances whose titles are re- 
 cited in the first section hereof, together with such laws of 
 this state as are specially applicable to this city, to be pub- 
 lished in a suitable book, five hundred copies of which shall 
 be purchased for the use of the city ; and each member of 
 the city council and his successor, and also such officers of 
 the city, and their successors, as the board of aldermen shall 
 deem expedient, shall receive a copy thereof; and the re- 
 maining copies shall be kept by the city clerk, to be distribu- 
 10 
 
74 OFFICERS TO BE APPOINTED. 
 
 ted from time to time as the mayor, board of aldermen or 
 common council may direct. 
 
 Sec. 4. This ordinance, and the ordinances whose titles 
 are recited in the first section hereof, shall be published once 
 in the Providence Daily Journal. 
 
 An Ordinance designating the officers to be appointed annually 
 by the city council, in addition to those specially designated 
 and required to be appointed by the city charter. 
 
 Section I Section 
 
 1. Officers whose appointment is requir- 2. Officers whose appointment is in confor- 
 ed by state laws. j mity to city ordinance or regulations. 
 
 Section 1. Be it ordained by the city coiincil of the city 
 of Providence, that, pursuant to the laws of the state, the fol- 
 lowing officers shall be annually appointed by the city coun- 
 cil, in addition to those specially designated and required by 
 the city charter, to wit : a city sergeant ; city treasurer ; city 
 sealer of weights and measures ; one or more auctioneers ; 
 such number of assessors of rates and taxes as may be deem- 
 ed necessary, provided the number be not less than three, nor 
 more than seven ; one or more collector or collectors of tax- 
 es ; one or more packer or packers of fish ; a pound keeper ; 
 a sealer of leather ; so many constables, overseers of the 
 poor, surveyors of highways, viewers of fences, and guagers 
 of casks, as the said city shall have occasion for ; also, three 
 or more presidents of firewards ; such number of firewards 
 as may from time to time be thought proper ; one or more 
 person or persons to superintend the building of chimneys 
 and placing of stoves and stove-pipes ; a school committee, 
 to consist of not less than five nor more than thirty persons, 
 resident inhabitants of the city ; a measurer or measurers of 
 grain, salt and sea coal, and a surveyor general of lumber ; 
 which last named officer shall be appointed in the month of 
 February. 
 
 Sec. 2. That the following officers, in addition to those 
 required, as designated in the preceding section, be appoint- 
 ed by the city council annually, until otherwise ordained, to 
 wit : city auditors ; surveyors and corders of wood ; surveyors 
 of hoops, staves and heading ; clerk of the market ; over- 
 seers of the hospital ; field drivers ; members of the engine 
 companies ; of the fire-hook and ladder companies ; of the 
 hydrauHon companies; of the forcing stationary engine com- 
 
CITV SEALS. 
 
 75 
 
 panics ; also, one or more city criers ; inspectors of pot and 
 pearl ashes ; inspectors and measurers of carpenters', ma- 
 sons', and painters' work ; surveyors and measurers of stone; 
 overseer of public bridges; overseer of the north burial 
 ground ; overseers of the city pumps ; inspectors of liquor to 
 ascertain proof; overseer of the tovi^n house ; measurer or 
 measurers of bran ; a committee on nuisances, to consist of 
 not less than three, nor more than twelve ; a city marshal, and 
 three street commissioners. 
 
 An Ordinance establishing the city seal, and the seals for the 
 board of aldermen and for the municipal court. 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Device of city seal. 
 
 2. Device of seal of board of aldermen. 
 
 Section 
 
 3. Device of seal of municipal court. 
 
 4. Keepers of seals. 
 
 Section 1. Beit ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that the following be the device of the seal of 
 said city, to wit : around the margin of the same, a raised 
 circle, containing the words " Seal of the City of Provi- 
 dence ;" within which, a narrower circle, containing in the 
 upper half thereof the words " Founded, 1636," and in the 
 lower half thereof, the words "City incorporated, 1832;" 
 within which circle, a device referring to the landing of the 
 first settlers in Providence — representing a point of land on 
 the bank of a river, covered with forest trees, beneath which a 
 group of savages are awaiting the approach of a canoe con- 
 taining Roger WilUams and his companions ; above which 
 device, and immediately within the inner circle aforesaid, the 
 words " What-cheer ?" 
 
 Sec. 2. And be it further ordained, that the following be 
 the device of the seal of the board of aldermen of said city, 
 to wit : around the margin of the same, a raised circle, con- 
 taining the words " Board of Aldermen, Providence ;" with- 
 in which circle, a shield, bearing the representations of a bee, 
 a goose and a lamb ; as emblematical of industry, watchful- 
 ness and peace. 
 
 Sec. 3. And be it further ordained, that the following be 
 the device of the seal of the municipal court of said city, to 
 wit : around the margin of the same, a raised circle, contain- 
 ing the words " Municipal court of the city of Providence ;" 
 within which circle, an open record-book, on which is laid a 
 pair of scales. 
 
76 
 
 MUNICIPAL COURT.— DEXTER DONATION. 
 
 Sec. 4. And be it further ordained, that the city clerk be 
 ex officio keeper of the city seal, and of the seal of the board 
 of aldermen ; and that the clerk of the municipal court be 
 ex officio keeper of the seal of said court. 
 
 An Ordinance appointing the times and place for holding the 
 
 municipal court. 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Terms of municipal court. 
 
 2. When to transact probate business. 
 
 Section 
 3. Places for holding court. 
 
 Section 1 . Be it ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that there shall be four terms of the municipal 
 court of said city, in each and every year, for the purpose of 
 transacting any business within the jurisdiction of said court, 
 except probate business, to be holden at the times following, 
 to wit : on the second Wednesday in August, November, 
 February and May. 
 
 Sec 2. That for the purpose of transacting probate busi- 
 ness only, the judge of said court shall hold said court on 
 Tuesday of each and every week. 
 
 Sec. 3. That the municipal court shall be holden in the 
 room now occupied by said court, or in the common council 
 room. 
 
 An Ordinance appointing town meetings in relation to the Dex- 
 ter donation. 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Town meeting — when and where 
 holden. 
 
 Section 
 
 2. How notified. 
 
 3. Bells to be rung. 
 
 SECTipN 1. Be it ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that a town meeting of the freemen of the 
 city of Providence shall be annually holden in the town 
 house, so called, on the last Saturday in June, at three o'clock 
 P. M., for the purpose of transacting business in relation to 
 the property and estate devised to the town of Providence by 
 the last will and testament of Ebenezer Knight Dexter, de- 
 nominated the Dexter donation and the asylum, and other 
 town or city property connected therewith. 
 
 Sec. 2. That every such annual meeting shall be notified 
 and warned by notice thereof under the hand of the city 
 
WARD MEETINGS.— WARD CLERKS.—ORDINANCES. 77 
 
 clerk ; which notice shall be published for and during one 
 week next before said meeting, in two of the newspapers of 
 said city. 
 
 Sec. 3. That on the day of every such annual meeting, 
 the city marshal shall cause three of the bells in the city to be 
 rung, for the space of fifteen minutes next before the hour of 
 said meeting. 
 
 An Ordinance prescribing the manner of notifying ward meet- 
 ings for the purpose of elections. 
 
 Section I Section 
 
 1. Meeting — how notified. | 2. Bells to be rung. 
 
 Section 1. Be it ordained by the city council of the city of 
 Providence, that all ward meetings to be holden in the re- 
 spective wards of said city, for the purpose of elections, 
 shall be notified and warned by notice thereof under the 
 hand of the city clerk ; which notice shall be published, for 
 and during one week next before each day of election, in 
 two of the newspapers of said city. 
 
 Sec 2. That on the day of every such election, the city 
 marshal shall cause three of the bells in said city to be rung, 
 for the space of fifteen minutes next before the hour of said 
 ward meetings. 
 
 An Ordinance fixing the compensation of wardens and ward 
 
 clerks. 
 
 Compensation of wardens and clerks. 
 
 Section 1. Be it ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that the warden and clerk of each ward in 
 said city shall be entitled to two dollars each for each ward 
 meeting they shall attend ; and the city treasurer shall pay 
 the same upon the certificate of the warden that such ser- 
 vice was rendered. 
 
 An Ordinance directing the mode of publishing the ordinances 
 of the city of Providence. 
 
 Section | Section 
 
 1. Ordinances to be published in news- I 2. City clerk once in two years to pub« 
 paper. lish for distribution. 
 
78 
 
 CITY CLERK.— CITY AUDIT. 
 
 It is ordained by the city council of the city of Providence^ as 
 follows, viz : 
 
 Section 1. All ordinances hereafter enacted by the city 
 council shall be by the city clerk published in some newspa- 
 per printed in this city, twice a week for three weeks succes- 
 sively, and such publication shall commence within ten days 
 after the passage of the ordinance. 
 
 Sec 2. The city clerk shall once in two years cause the 
 ordinances enacted for the preceding two years to be printed 
 in a suitable form, and a sufficient number of copies for dis- 
 tribution among the city officers. 
 
 An Ordinance prescribing the duty of the city clerk and city 
 sergeant in certain cases. 
 
 Section 
 
 1. City clerk to record votes, &c. 
 
 2. City clerk to furnish list of officers. 
 
 Section 
 3. City sergeant to notify officers. 
 
 Section 1. Be it ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that the city clerk shall record all votes, or- 
 ders, resolutions and ordinances, rules and regulations, made 
 and passed by the city council by concurrent vote ; also, all 
 proceedings of the board of aldermen and common council, 
 when in convention. 
 
 Sec 2. That the city clerk shall, from time to time, fur- 
 nish the city sergeant with the name of each committee-man 
 appointed and officer elected by the city council ; provided 
 such committee or officers be not members of the city coun- 
 cil ; and excepting herefrom the members of the school com- 
 mittee and the fire department. 
 
 Sec 3. The city sergeant shall notify all such persons of 
 their appointment or election, within ten days after said ap- 
 pointment or election shall have been made. 
 
 An Ordinance designating the duties of the city audit. 
 
 Section | Section 
 
 1. Audit to meet twice each month— to 2. Accounts to be certified— what bills 
 advertise. need not be audited. 
 
 I 3. To keep records. 
 
 Section 1. Be it ordained by the city council of the city_ 
 
CITY MARSHAL. 79 
 
 of Providence, that the city audit shall appoint the times, not 
 less than two in each month, and places when they will act 
 upon accounts and other claims against the city ; and cause 
 public notice thereof to be given by publishing the same, three 
 weeks successively, in one of the newspapers printed in this 
 city. 
 
 Sec. 2. And he it further ordained, that all accounts and 
 other claims against the city, for services done, or materials 
 provided for the use of the city, under the charge, sanction, 
 or superintendence of either of the surveyors of highways, 
 or any other officer or officers, or any committee appointed 
 by the city council, except the school committee, board of 
 aldermen and board of fire-wards, shall, when presented to 
 the audit, be accompanied with a certificate, under the hand 
 or hands of such surveyors, or other officer or officers, or 
 committee of the city council, certifying the same to be cor- 
 rect ; otherwise the same shall not be received nor acted 
 upon by the audit : provided that bills for labor upon the pub- 
 lic highways, certified by the surveyor of highways, need not 
 be acted upon by the audit. 
 
 Sec. 3. And he it further ordained, that it shall be the 
 duty of the audit to procure and keep a suitable book, where- 
 in they shall enter the date and amount of each and every 
 claim allowed by them, and to whom allowed ; and shall, 
 whenever required by the city council, report to them the 
 amount of the claims allowed. 
 
 An Ordinance prescribing the duties of the city marshal. 
 
 Duties of city marshal. 
 
 Section 1. Be it ordained hy the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that it shall be the duty of the city marshal, 
 from time to time, to pass through the streets and gangways 
 of the city ; to observe all nuisances, obstructions and imped- 
 iments therein, to the end that the same may be removed or 
 prosecuted according to law. It shall also be his duty to re- 
 ceive all complaints made against any person or persons, for 
 any breach of the laws of the state, or ordinances or orders 
 of the city ; and for this purpose he shall attend daily, at 
 some stated hour, in one of the pubUc offices of the city, to 
 be designated by the mayor. He shall also enforce and carry 
 
80 
 
 PUBLIC BRIDGES— STREET COMMISSIONERS. 
 
 into effect all and every the ordinances which shall be in force 
 within the city : he shall obey and execute the orders and 
 commands of the mayor and of the board of aldermen, in 
 relation to any matter or thing in which the city may be in 
 anywise concerned or interested, whenever thereunto requir- 
 ed : he shall also be vigilant to detect the breach of any law, 
 ordinance or order : he shall prosecute all offenders as soon 
 as may be ; and attend, in behalf of the city, the trial of all 
 offences which may be prosecuted ; and he shall lay before 
 the mayor a statement of all prosecutions by him instituted in 
 behalf of the city, or in which the city is any way interested 
 or concerned, within one week after their final determination 
 respectively. 
 
 An Ordinance prescribing the duties of the overseer of the pub- 
 lic bridges. 
 
 Duties of overseer. 
 
 Section 1 . Be it ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that it shall be the duty of the overseer of the 
 public bridges, under the advice and direction of the board 
 of aldermen, to keep the same at all times in good repair, at 
 the expense of said city. 
 
 An Ordinance establishing street commissioners , prescribing the 
 duties thereof and for other purposes. 
 
 SECTION 
 
 1. Three commissioners — duties of — first 
 meeting. 
 
 2. To make surveys of streets — to notify 
 parties — fix grades — copy to be left at 
 city clerk's office — appeals — monu- 
 ments to be fixed — plat to be recorded. 
 
 3. May direct building, &c., of sidewalks 
 — notice to owners of property — in 
 case of neglect, work to be done by 
 surveyor of highways — expense how 
 collected. 
 
 Section 
 
 4. May order fences built, or posts, &c., 
 removed — penalty for neglect — mode 
 of collection. 
 
 5. When owners of property on street 
 furnish curb stones, surveyor to pave 
 gutters, &c. 
 
 6. Commissioners to examine lines of 
 streets and to report encroachments. 
 
 7. Compensation — by whom paid. 
 
 Be it ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, as 
 follows, viz: 
 
 Section 1 . There shall be annually appointed by the city 
 council, three street commissioners. It shall be the duty of 
 
STREET COMMISSIONERS. 81 
 
 the street commissioners to fix the height, width and materi- 
 als of side-walks, and the grades of streets, and to prevent en- 
 croachments thereon ; and to perform such other duties as 
 are herein after set forth. They shall meet within ten days 
 of their election, and shall appoint one of their number clerk, 
 who shall keep a record of their proceedings. 
 
 Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the street commissioners 
 to make, or cause to be made, surveys of all such streets, 
 highways and proposed highways, with the adjacent lands, in 
 which they may find it expedient to establish the grade or 
 boundaries. Whenever any street or highway shall be so sur- 
 veyed, they shall make out a statement of the bounds of such 
 street or highway, and also the grade which in their opinion 
 ought to be established thereon. They shall then appoint a 
 day and place to hear the parties interested in the same, and 
 shall cause written or printed notices thereof to be given to 
 the owners of property on such street or highway who reside 
 in said city, or shall cause such notices to be left at the place 
 of their abode, and shall advertise in one of the newspapers 
 of the city twice a week for three weeks successively, giving 
 notice to all persons interested to appear and show cause 
 why such grade should not be established. The said com- 
 missioners, after hearing the objections of such interested 
 persons as shall appear and object, may establish such grade 
 as they may deem expedient and determine the width of the 
 sidewalks to be built thereon. They shall leave a statement 
 of the grade thus estabhshed in the office of the city clerk, 
 and give notice in one of the newspapers printed in Provi- 
 dence that such statement is so left ; and if any owner of 
 land shall feel himself aggrieved by any grade so established, 
 he may appeal to the board of aldermen, by filing his appeal 
 in writing with the clerk of the board of aldermen, within ten 
 days after the pubhcation of such notice of the decision of the 
 street commissioners; and the board of aldermen, after hearing 
 the matter and inspecting the ground, may confirm or alter such 
 grade in their discretion ; and when such grade shall be finally 
 determined, the street commissioners shall cause to be placed 
 suitable stone monuments, or refer to such permanent fix- 
 tures on said street or highway, from which such grade may 
 be indicated ; and shall cause to be recorded in a book to be 
 kept in the office of the city clerk, a plat of such street or 
 highway surveyed as aforesaid, which shall exhibit the bounds 
 thereof, the width of the sidewalks, and such other matter as 
 the commissioners may deem expedient. 
 
 Sec. 3. The street commissioners are hereby vested with 
 11 
 
82 STREET COMMISSIONERS. 
 
 full power and authority to superintend, order and direct the 
 building and altering of any sidewalk in the city, the materi- 
 als to be used, and the time within which said building or al- 
 teration shall be made ; and whenever said commissioners 
 shall have determined in what manner, of what materials, and 
 within what time any sidewalk shall be built or altered, they 
 shall cause written or printed notice thereof to be personally 
 given to the owner of the adjacent lot, if residing within the 
 city of Providence, particularly describing the materials, 
 width, height and manner the sidewalk shall be built, or the 
 alteration to be made ; but if the owner shall not reside in 
 said city, then the notice shall be given to the tenants in pos- 
 session ; but if no tenant shall be in possession, then the same 
 shall be published in one of the newspapers of this city, for 
 three successive weeks. At the expiration of the time so Hm- 
 ited by the commissioners, if the work shall not have been 
 prosecuted according to the directions of the said commission- 
 ers, they shall, in their discretion, order the surveyor of high- 
 ways for the time being to proceed at the expense of the 
 city, and execute the directions so by them given to the own- 
 er, a copy of which order shall be by them given to the said 
 surveyor ; and when the same shall be by him accomplished, 
 it shall be the duty of the commissioners to certify the ex- 
 pense thereof to the assessors of taxes for said city, together 
 with ten per cent, in addition thereto, to cover the interest, 
 cost of assessing and collecting ; and the said sum so certified 
 shall be by the assessors added to the tax of the owner of such 
 adjacent lot so neglecting as aforesaid, which proceeding shall 
 be conclusive, and the said owner with his estate shall be re- 
 sponsible therefor, in the same manner as for other taxes ; 
 and in case that any society that is exempt from taxation 
 shall be the owner of said land, the proceedings shall be the 
 same, and the notice shall be given to the treasurer of said 
 society, and the cost of such alteration with the ten per cent, 
 additional shall be collected of such society in the same man- 
 ner as is prescribed by law for the collection of taxes. 
 
 Sec. 4. The street commissioners are hereby authorized 
 and empowered to pass such orders as they may deem expe- 
 dient, directing the owner or owners of land adjacent to any 
 pubUc street or highway to build or alter any wall or fence 
 separating such land from said street or highway, or to re- 
 move from the sidewalk to such land any steps, posts, cellar 
 doors, or other obstructions thereon, within such time as the 
 said commissioners shall in such order direct ; and to impose 
 such pecuniary penalty for the breach of such order, not ex- 
 
STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. 
 
 83 
 
 ceeding two hundred dollars, as they shall deem expedient ; 
 which penalty may be sued for and recovered for the use of 
 the city, in an action of debt, in the name of the city treasur- 
 er, before any court of competent jurisdiction to try the same. 
 
 Sec. 5. Whenever the owners of the land on both sides 
 of any street, or of any section of a street belonging to the 
 city, which section shall not be less than two hundred feet 
 long, the grade and width of sidewalk of which has been es- 
 tablished and recorded as is directed in this ordinance, shall 
 furnish the curb stone, and build the sidewalks thereof, the 
 surveyor of highways is hereby authorised to pave the gutters, 
 and to fill up and gravel such street or section of a street, at 
 the expense of the city, provided said expense shall not ex- 
 ceed the sum of three hundred dollars. 
 
 Sec. 6. Whenever any surveyor of highways, or any per- 
 son or persons, or corporation, about to erect any fence or 
 building on any line of any street or highway, shall re- 
 quest the street commissioners to examine into, ascertain, and 
 show to such surveyor, or person so requesting, the line of 
 such street or highway, it shall be the duty of the commis- 
 sioners to ascertain and point out such line : and in case any 
 person or corporation shall erect any fence or building so as 
 to encroach on any street or highway, it shall be the duty of 
 the commissioners to make report of such encroachments in 
 writing to the mayor, who shall proceed in the premises as 
 the interest of the city in his opinion may require. 
 
 Sec. 7. The pay of the street commissioners shall be two 
 dollars per day each, and half days in proportion, which shall 
 be paid by the city when the services rendered are by request 
 of the surveyor of highways, or in any proceedings relating to 
 the grades of streets or highways ; but in other cases such 
 compensation shall be paid by the person or persons request- 
 ing the same to be rendered. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to the streets and highways. 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Vehicles not to remain in streets un- 
 harnessed. 
 
 2. Goods not to be deposited in streets. 
 
 3. Board of aldermen may direct light- 
 ing of streets. 
 
 4. Playing ball prohibited. 
 
 5. Sliding prohibited. 
 
 6 «&. 7. Sign-boards, how placed. 
 
 8. Stagings, how erected. 
 
 9. Building materials — how they may 
 be deposited. 
 
 Section 
 
 10. Work, how done — light to be kept. 
 
 11. Master workman and employer liable 
 in certain cases. 
 
 12. No coal dust, ashes, &c., to be thrown 
 into streets. 
 
 13. No wood, lumber, ifcc, to remain on 
 public landings. 
 
 14. When pavements must be taken up, 
 or trench dug — proceedings — light to 
 be kept. 
 
 15. Penalties. 
 
84 STREETS AND HIGHWAYS 
 
 Section 1. Be it ordained by the city council of the city of 
 Providence^ that no person shall suffer or permit any cart, 
 coach, dray, sleigh, sled or other carriage or vehicle of any 
 description, belonging to him or her, or in his or her posses- 
 sion, or under his or her care, to remain unharnessed in any 
 of the streets or highways of said city, more than two hours 
 at any one time ; provided, however, that this section shall 
 not extend to persons marketing in Market-square. 
 
 Sec. 2. That no person shall deposit, place or put, nor 
 suffer to be deposited, placed or put, by any person or per- 
 sons in his or her employ, any goods, wares, fire-wood, coal, 
 chattels or merchandize, in any of said streets or highways, 
 except while landing or shipping the same, or actually remo- 
 ving the same into or out of some building or inclosure, or 
 loading the same into or unloading the same out of some 
 vehicle. 
 
 Sec 3. That the board of aldermen be and they are 
 hereby empowered, from time to time, to take such measures 
 as they may deem expedient for the hghting of said streets 
 and highways. 
 
 Sec. 4. That no person shall play at ball, or throw any 
 stones or other missiles, in any of said streets or highways. 
 
 Sec 5. That no person shall slide on any sled or machine, 
 or in any vehicle whatever, for amusement, in any of said 
 streets or highways. 
 
 Sec 6. That no person shall place, or cause to be placed, 
 nor continue or suffer to be continued when placed, any sign- 
 board or sign, unless the same be placed against some build- 
 ing, parallel therewith and secured thereto, and not projecting 
 from the building to which the same shall be secured more 
 than six inches into or over any street : provided, however, 
 that nothing herein before contained shall extend to the sign 
 of any licensed tavern keeper, nor of the museum, nor to 
 the clock in South Main-street, so long as the owners thereof 
 conform to the provisions of a resolution passed by the city 
 council in relation thereto, on the twenty-fourth day of May, 
 A. D. 1833. 
 
 Sec 7. That neither the keeper of the museum nor any 
 hcensed tavern keeper shall place or cause, or suffer to be 
 placed, nor continue or suffer to be continued when pJlaced, 
 any sign of said museum, or licensed tavern, except in such 
 manner as the mayor shall direct or permit. 
 
 Sec 8. That no person shall erect, or cause to be erect- 
 ed, nor continue or suffer to be continued when erected, any 
 staging, in any of said streets or highways, for the purpose of 
 
STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. 85 
 
 repairing or erecting any building, unless the same be erected 
 under the personal inspection of the master workman em- 
 ployed to repair or erect such building, and of good, strong 
 and sound timber, and plank or boards ; and be strongly and 
 safely secured. 
 
 Sec. 9. That no person, for the purpose of erecting or 
 repairing any building, shall erect or cause to be erected any 
 staging, nor deposit any building materials or rubbish, or re- 
 mains of any old building, in such manner as to obstruct the 
 passage over more than one half part of the street or high- 
 way in which such staging is erected, or such building materi- 
 als, rubbish or remains of any old building are deposited ; nor 
 more than sixteen feet in any case. 
 
 Sec. 10. That in erecting any building situate on any 
 street or highway, or doing any other work, no person shall 
 place or deposit, nor suffer to remain in any part of said street 
 or highway, any lumber or other building material, nor any 
 rubbish or remains of any old building, for any purpose, nor 
 for any longer period than may be necessary, from time to 
 time, for the prosecution of the work which may be going 
 on ; and in case any lumber or other building material, or 
 any rubbish or remains of any old building, must of necessity 
 remain after dark, the owner or owners thereof shall cause 
 a sufficient light to be kept or placed over or near the same, 
 throughout the whole of the night, so as to give sufficient no- 
 tice to all persons passing in or through such street or high- 
 way. 
 
 Sec. 11. That the master workman and his employer or 
 employers shall be severally liable for the violation of any 
 provision in either of the three last sections contained, except 
 that which relates to the placing of a light over or near any 
 lumber, building materials or rubbish remaining in the streets 
 after dark. 
 
 Sec. 12. That no person shall throw or deposit, or cause 
 to be thrown or deposited, in any street, highway or public 
 place in said city, any coal dust, soot, ashes, cinders, shavings, 
 hair, shreds, manure, oyster, clam or lobster shells, or any 
 animal or vegetable matter or substance whatever. 
 
 Sec 13. That no person shall suffer or permit any wood, 
 lumber, merchandize or other thing whatever to him belong- 
 ing, or under his care or control, to be and remain in any 
 street or highway leading to or adjoining the waters of the har- 
 bor or river; nor on any public land adjoining said harbor or 
 river, any longer time than is necessary to land the same 
 
86 
 
 SIDE-WALKS. 
 
 from or put the same on board any boat or vessel ; and in no 
 case to exceed twenty-four hours. 
 
 Sec. 14. That whenever the convenience of any person 
 or persons or corporation requires the taking up of any pave- 
 ment in any of said streets or highways, or the digging of 
 any trench across or along any such street or highway, such 
 person or persons or corporation shall, in writing, give notice 
 thereof to the surveyor of highways, who shall examine the 
 said street or highway before the same shall be broken up ; 
 and when the said street or highway is repaved, or the trench 
 therein filled up, it shall be done under the superintendence 
 of said surveyor, or in such manner as he shall direct ; but at 
 the expense of the person or persons or corporation breaking 
 up the same. And whenever any trench or hole must of ne- 
 cessity remain after dark, the person making any such trench 
 or hole, or employing any one so to do, shall cause a suffi- 
 cient light to be kept placed over or near the same throughout 
 the whole of the night, so as to give sufficient notice to all 
 persons passing in or through such street or highway. 
 
 Sec. 15. That every person who shall violate any provision 
 in the first, fourth or fifth section of this ordinance, shall forfeit 
 and pay the sum of two dollars : that every person who shall vio- 
 late any provision in the second or twelfth section shall forfeit 
 and pay a sum not less than two dollars, nor more than ten dol- 
 lars : that every person who shall violate any provision in the 
 sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth or thirteenth section, shall 
 forfeit and pay a sum not less than ten dollars, nor more than 
 twenty dollars : that every person who shall violate any provi- 
 sion in the fourteenth section shall forfeit and pay a sum not 
 less than twenty dollars, nor more than two hundred dollars : 
 all which penalties shall be severally recovered to and for the 
 use of the city, by proper legal process, before any court of 
 competent jurisdiction. 
 
 An Ordinance for the preservation of side-walks. 
 
 Section 
 
 1. No vehicle to go — no wood to be saw- 
 ed — no coal to be broken upon side- 
 walks. 
 
 2. Snow to be removed from sidewalk. 
 
 3. Goods, &c., not to be deposited on 
 side-walk. 
 
 Sectcok 
 
 4. Awnings how to be placed. 
 
 5. Constables to report offenders. 
 
 6. Prosecutions to be commenced within 
 twenty days. 
 
 Section 1. Be it ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that no person shall ride, drive or lead any 
 
SIDE-WALKS. 
 
 87 
 
 horse, or shall drive or lead any horse and cart, wagon, dray, 
 sled, sleigh or other vehicle drawn by one or more horse or 
 horses, ox or oxen ; or shall trundle or wheel any wheel-bar- 
 row or hand-cart or hand-wagon, or move or carry any hand- 
 barrow, upon any side-walk now laid or which may hereafter 
 be laid in said city with brick or stone, unless for the purpose 
 of necessarily crossing the same ; or shall fasten or hitch any 
 horse or horses, ox or oxen, so that they stand on such side- 
 walk, or shall saw, spHt or cut any fire-wood or other lumber, 
 or break up any coal on any such side-walk ; and that every 
 person so offending shall forfeit and pay a fine of two dol- 
 lars for each offence, to the use of said city, to be recovered 
 by proper legal process before any court of cempetent juris- 
 diction. 
 
 Sec. 2. And be it further ordained, that it shall be the 
 duty of the occupants of the lower stories of all buildings, 
 and the occupants of all lands, and the owners of all unoccu- 
 pied lands and buildings which shall adjoin any of the side- 
 walks aforesaid, to remove all the snow from said walks which 
 shall fall thereon, so far as the same shall adjoin said buildings 
 and lands, as soon as may be after the same shall have fallen ; 
 and every person neglecting so to do for the space of twenty- 
 four hours after the same has fallen, shall forfeit and pay the 
 sum of two dollars for each offence, to the use of said city, 
 to be recovered by proper legal process before any court of 
 competent jurisdiction. 
 
 Sec. 3. And be it further ordained, that no person shall 
 deposit, place or put, or suffer to be deposited, placed or put, 
 by any person or persons in his or her employment, any 
 goods, wares, cord-wood, coal, chattels or merchandize, on 
 any such side-walk, except while actually removing the same 
 into or out of some building or enclosure ; and that every 
 person so offending shall forfeit and pay for every offence 
 two dollars, to and for the use of said city, to be recovered 
 by proper legal process before any court of competent juris- 
 diction. 
 
 Sec. 4. And be it further ordained, that no person shall 
 spread, or suffer any person or persons in his employment to 
 spread, any awning over any of the side-walks in said city, 
 unless every part thereof and both ends of the stretching 
 poles or bars thereof are at least seven feet above such side- 
 walk ; and every person who shall spread, or suffer any per- 
 son or persons in his employment to spread, any awning con- 
 trary to the provisions of this section, shall forfeit and pay the 
 sum of two dollars, to and for the use of said city, to be re- 
 
88 
 
 CROSS-WALKS— ENGINE-HOUSES. 
 
 covered by proper legal process before any court of compe- 
 tent jurisdiction. 
 
 Sec. 5. And be it further ordained, that it shall be the 
 duty of each of the city constables to report the names of all 
 persons offending against any of the provisions of this ordi- 
 nance, to the mayor, to the end that they may be prosecuted 
 therefor. 
 
 Sec. 6. And be it further ordained, that no person shall 
 be prosecuted or tried for any breach of any of the provisions 
 of this ordinance, unless the suit for the same shall be institu- 
 ted and commenced v^^ithin twenty days from the time of 
 committing such breach. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to cross-walks* 
 
 No vehicle to stand on cross-walk. 
 
 It is ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, as 
 follows, viz : 
 
 Section 1 . No person shall suffer or permit any horse, ox, 
 coach, cart, sleigh, wagon, sled or other carriage or vehicle of 
 any description, belonging to him or under his care, to stand 
 or stop upon any cross-walk in this city, for any other pur- 
 pose except the taking up or setting down of passengers, nor 
 for any longer time than shall be necessary for such purpose ; 
 and the owner or driver of any animal or vehicle standing or 
 stopping contrary to the provisions of this ordinance shall 
 forfeit the sum of two dollars, to be recovered to and for the 
 use of the city, by proper legal process before any court of 
 competent jurisdiction. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to engine houses and fire apparatus. 
 
 Engine houses, &c., under control of fire-wards. 
 
 Be it ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, as 
 follows, viz: 
 
 That from and after the passage of this ordinance, all the 
 engine houses and fire apparatus belonging to the city shall 
 be placed under the immediate control of the board of fire- 
 
FIREWARDS.— FIRES. 
 
 89 
 
 wards, subject to such rules and regulations as a majority of 
 them may deem most expedient for the interest of the city. 
 
 At a town meeting of the freemen of the town of Providence, 
 holden by adjournment at the town house, on Saturday, the 
 eleventh day of June, A. D. 1825 : 
 
 Voted and resolved, that the firewards be and they are 
 hereby authorized, at all times, to purchase such new engines 
 and necessary apparatus as they may think proper and expe- 
 dient for the use of the town. 
 
 And be it further voted and resolved, that the firewards be 
 authorized to cause proper repairs to be made on the town 
 engines and apparatus thereto attached, at all times when 
 they think proper ; and that they have power to draw on the 
 town treasurer for all the expenses attending such purchase 
 and repairs. 
 
 At a town meeting of the freemen of the town of Providence, 
 legally warned and assembled at the town house, on Wednes- 
 day, the eighteenth day of April, A, D. 1827 : 
 
 Resolved, that the firewards be and they are authorized to 
 construct such reservoirs and forcing pumps as they may 
 think necessary, and draw on the town treasurer to pay for 
 the same. 
 
 An Ordinance for the prevention of fires. 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Committee to superintend building of 
 chimneys, &c. 
 
 2. Owner or occupant to alter or remove 
 chimneys. 
 
 3. Lamps not to be carried into certain 
 places — fire how carried thro' streets. 
 
 4. Shavings and straw not to be left in 
 streets. 
 
 Section 
 
 5. Carpenters, &c., to remove shavings 
 from shops. 
 
 6. Penalties. 
 
 7. Masters and parents liable in certain 
 cases. 
 
 8. Prosecution must be within sixty 
 days. 
 
 Section 1. Be it ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that in case the committee appointed to super- 
 intend the building of chimneys and placing of stoves and 
 12 
 
90 
 
 FIRES. 
 
 Stove-pipes, or the major part of them, shall deem any chim- 
 ney now erected, any fire-place now built, or any grate, 
 stove or stove-pipe now placed, or any chimney, fire-place, 
 grate, stove or stove-pipe which may be hereafter erected, 
 built or placed, to be unsafe in regard to fire, it shall and may 
 be lawful for said committee, or the major part of them, to 
 order and direct, in writing, such chimney, fire-place, grate, 
 stove or stove-pipe to be altered, removed or taken down, at 
 their discretion. 
 
 Sec. 2. That if the owner or owners, occupant or occu- 
 pants of any building in said city, shall refuse or neglect to 
 alter, remove or take down, according to the written orders 
 and directions of said committee, or the major part of them, 
 given as aforesaid, any chimney, fire-place, grate, stove or 
 stove-pipe now erected, built or placed, or which may be 
 hereafter erected, built or placed, such owner or owners, oc- 
 cupant or occupants, shall forfeit and pay a sum not exceed- 
 ing twenty dollars, nor less than five dollars, to and for 
 the use of the city, to be recovered by proper legal process 
 before any court of competent jurisdiction ; and every such 
 owner or owners, occupant or occupants, who shall persist in 
 such refusal or neglect, after being required by said commit- 
 tee or the major part of them, in writing as aforesaid, to al- 
 ter, remove or take down any such chimney, fire-place, grate, 
 stove or stove-pipe, shall for every ten days during which he, 
 she or they shall so persist, be deemed guilty of a new of- 
 fence, and be subject to the penalty above prescribed. 
 
 Sec. 3. That no person shall carry into or use, in any 
 barn, stable, hay loft or other place in said city, in which hay 
 or straw is kept or used, any lighted candle or lamp not en- 
 closed in a lantern, nor any lighted pipe or segar ; nor shall 
 any person carry any fire in or through any street or highway 
 or other public place in said city, except in some covered 
 vessel. 
 
 Sec. 4. That no person shall leave any shavings or straw 
 or other combustible matter in any of the streets, lanes or 
 gangways in said city, or in any other situation exposed to 
 fire. 
 
 Sec 5. That it shall be the duty of each tenant of every 
 carpenter's, cabinet-maker's, wheelwright's, turner's and join- 
 er's workshop in said city, at least once in every six days, to 
 remove all shavings from his shop to some suitable place, and 
 there, between sun-rise and sun-set, burn them. 
 
 Sec 6. That every person who shall violate any provi- 
 sion in the third, fourth or fifth section of this ordinance con- 
 
CITY MARKET-PLACE. 91 
 
 tained, shall forfeit and pay the sum of five dollars, to and for 
 the use of the city, to be recovered by proper legal process 
 before any court of competent jurisdiction. 
 
 Sec. 7. That whenever any minor or apprentice shall 
 violate any provision of this ordinance, the parent or guard- 
 ian of such minor, and the master of such apprentice shall 
 be severally, or jointly, liable with such minor or apprentice, 
 for the penalty aforesaid, to be sued for and recovered in the 
 manner in the next preceding section prescribed. 
 
 Sec. 8. That no person shall be prosecuted for the viola- 
 tion of any provision in this ordinance contained, unless the 
 suit therefor shall be commenced within sixty days after the 
 right of action accrued. 
 
 An Ordinance describing and establishing the city market place. 
 
 Limits of city market place. 
 
 It is ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, as 
 follows, viz: 
 
 Section 1. The city market place shall consist of the 
 whole of Market-square, including Weybosset and Washing- 
 ton bridges, and the bridge and walk connecting them ; also, 
 the gore of land south of Market-street and between Wey- 
 bosset bridge and Union Buildings ; also, all of Market-street 
 and those parts of Westminster, Weybosset and Cove-streets 
 that lie east of a line drawn through Orange-street and contin- 
 ued to the Cove, with all the streets and gangways leading from 
 Cove to Westminster or Market-streets ; also, the Fish-mar- 
 ket, and all those parts of North Main and Canal-streets that 
 lie south of a line drawn in continuation of the north line of 
 North Court-street, westerly to the water, with the Hay Mar- 
 ket-square, and all the streets and gangways south of said 
 line, leading from Canal to North Main-street ; also, all those 
 parts of South Main and South Water-streets that lie north- 
 erly of the south line of the gangway between the estates of 
 Iruuian Beck^ith ?.iid WilHam Jenkins, with the streets and 
 gangways leading from South Water to South Main-street, 
 north of said line. 
 
92 REGULATIONS OF MARKET PLACE. 
 
 An Ordinance for the regulation of the city market and mar- 
 ket place. 
 
 IL Wo tainted provisions to be brought 
 into market place. 
 
 12. Casks — how many may be kept in 
 market. 
 
 13. No tents or booths allowed. 
 
 14. Fish market — reserved stalls. 
 
 15. Fish market stalls how leased. 
 
 16. Stalls how may be underlet. 
 
 17. Time for business in fish market. 
 
 18. Offal how disposed of. 
 
 19. Intemperate persons — not to loiter 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Duty of clerk of the market. 
 
 2. Horses and wagons how to stand. 
 
 3. Horses to be unharnessed from wag- 
 ons, &c. 
 
 4. Market hours. 
 
 5. Market to be closed except during 
 market hours. 
 
 6. Sweeping — scales — weights-stalls re- 
 served. 
 
 7. Offal, «&.c., how disposed of. 
 
 8. Stalls how leased— in case of im- 
 provements. I about market. 
 
 9. Stalls how may be underlet. | 20. Breaches how prosecuted. 
 10. All articles to be weighed on city j 21. Penalties. 
 
 scales. I 
 
 t 
 
 Section 1. Beit ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that the clerk of the market shall have the care 
 and superintendence of the city market and market-place. 
 It shall be his duty to preserve order therein, and to execute 
 and to carry into effect all the ordinances and by-laws that 
 shall be from time to time established, for the regulation there- 
 of. He shall keep said market-place free from any thing 
 vi^hich may obstruct its proper use ; and prevent or disperse 
 all collections of disorderly persons therein. He shall cause 
 the snow^ to be removed from the side-walks adjoining the mar- 
 ket-house, and from the foot-walks on Weybosset bridge, as 
 soon as may be after the same has fallen ; and the manure 
 and filth to be scraped up and removed from market-square 
 and Weybosset bridge, once a week at least, during that por- 
 tion of the year when it is practicable. 
 
 Sec. 2. That no person shall keep standing any wagon or 
 other carriage, horse or other beast, within said market-place 
 for any longer space of time, nor place or range any such 
 wagon or carriage in any other manner, than such as may be 
 directed or permitted by said clerk. 
 
 Sec. 3. That no person shall, without the permission of the 
 clerk of the market, take a stand in that part of said market- 
 place called Market-square, including Weybosset bridge, with 
 any wagon or other carriage, for the purpose of marketing 
 meat, poultry, fish, vegetables or fruit, unless he or she shall 
 first unharness the horse or other beast attached to such wag- 
 on or other carriage, and remove such horse or other beast 
 out of and from said Market-sqnare. 
 
 Sec. 4. The market-house shall be opened by said clerk of 
 the market every day, Sundays excepted, by sun-rise, and 
 
REGULATIONS OF MARKET PLACE. 93 
 
 shut at four o'clock, P. M. except on Saturdays, when it shall 
 be shut at nine o'clock, P. M. Before shutting the same, the 
 said clerk shall see that all fires and hghts therein be extin- 
 guished. 
 
 Sec. 5. That at all times other than mentioned in the pre- 
 ceding section, said market-house shall be shut up and se- 
 curely fastened. 
 
 Sec. 6. That it shall be the duty of said clerk to visit the 
 market-house, at least, twice in each day while it is open ; to 
 cause the same to be swept daily, and kept clean ; to provide 
 scales and weights, or balances, sufficient for the use thereof ; 
 to reserve certain stalls therein for the exclusive use of per- 
 sons who sell their own produce ; and to prevent the said stalls 
 from being otherwise used or occupied. 
 
 Sec. 7. That no person shall throw upon the floor, or any 
 part of the market-house, nor into the square or streets ad- 
 joining the same, any sheeps' heads or feet ; nor the heads, 
 feet or hoofs of any other creature, or any joints or bones 
 thereof; nor any animal or vegetable matter or offal; nor 
 any tainted brine or other liquid whatever ; and that every 
 person attending market for the selling of vegetables or pro- 
 visions, shall keep a basket, barrel, box or other suitable re- 
 ceptacle, under the stall, or in or near the wagoqor cart where 
 he may sell such vegetables or provisions, and deposit therein 
 all such refuse parts and pieces as he may cut off or sever 
 therefrom ; and convey the same out of the hmits of the mar- 
 ket-place, every day. 
 
 Sec. 8. That it shall be the duty of the city treasurer, 
 annually, on the first Monday in December, by and with the 
 advice of the clerk of the market, to lease so many of the 
 stalls in the market-house as he may deem expedient ; and 
 the said city treasurer shall, in the name of the city, execute 
 leases thereof in writing ; the rent whereof shall either be 
 paid in advance, the city treasurer in that case allowing the 
 lessee three per cent, on the amount thus paid ; or secured by 
 promissory notes, with an endorser or endorsers to the satis- 
 faction of the city treasurer, payable in six months at bank ; 
 and the city treasurer, with the advice of the clerk of the 
 market, may lease any stall or stalls in the market-house, for 
 any term of time not exceeding three years, to any person or 
 persons who shall make such improvement in their stalls as 
 shall be satisfactory to the said treasurer and clerk ; and any 
 improvement which shall be made in the stalls by tenants, 
 may be removed at the expiration of their leases, provided 
 the same can be done without injury to the market-house ; 
 
94 
 
 REGULATIONS OF MARKET-PLACE. 
 
 and the rent of said stalls shall be paid annually, as before di- 
 rected. 
 
 Sec. 9. That no person shall underlet any stall in said 
 market-house, without the written permission of the clerk of 
 the market, on the back of the lease thereof. 
 
 Sec 10. That no person shall sell any article by weight, 
 in said market-house, except the same be weighed by the 
 scales or balances provided for that purpose by the clerk of 
 the market. 
 
 Sec. 11. That no person shall have in his possession in 
 said city market-place, nor sell, nor offer for sale therein, any 
 stale, tainted or unwholesome provisions of any kind ; and 
 if any person shall neglect or refuse to remove from said mar- 
 ket-place any such provisions in his possession, he shall be 
 deemed guilty of a breach of this ordinance, and be subject to 
 the penalty hereinafter mentioned. 
 
 Sec. 12. That no lessee of any stall shall have at one time 
 more than three casks in said market-house, for the purpose 
 of keeping provisions therein, without the permission of the 
 clerk of the market. 
 
 Sec. 13. That no person shall erect or occupy any tent or 
 booth within the limits of said city market-place. 
 
 Sec 14. That it shall be the duty of the clerk of the mar- 
 ket to visit the fish market, at least twice every day ; to re- 
 serve two stalls in said market for the exclusive use of such 
 fishermen only as shall catch and bring fish to market for 
 sale. 
 
 Sec 15. That it shall be the duty of the city treasurer, on 
 the first Monday in January, annually, by and with the advice 
 of the clerk of the market, to lease all the stalls in said fish 
 market, except two ; and the said city treasurer shall, in the 
 name of the city, execute leases of the same in writing, the 
 rent whereof shall be paid in advance. 
 
 Sec 16. That no person shall under-let any one of said 
 stalls, or stands, without the written permission of said clerk 
 of the market, on the back of the lease thereof 
 
 Sec 17. That no person shall use or occupy any part of 
 said fish market, or platform in front of the same, between 
 ten o'clock, P. M. and daybreak. 
 
 Sec 18. That every person, on leaving for the day the 
 stall or stand by him occupied in said fish market, or on said 
 platform, shall remove all filth, shells or offal from said stall or 
 stand, and carry the same without the limits of the city mar- 
 ket-place. 
 
 Sec 19. That no person notoriously intemperate or dis- 
 
HAY MARKET— WOOD AND COAL CARTS. 
 
 95 
 
 solute shall use or tend any of the stalls in either of the city mar- 
 kets or any of the benches or tables on the platform in front of 
 the fish market ; nor shall any such person loiter in or about 
 said markets. 
 
 Sec. 20. That it shall be the duty of the clerk of the 
 market to complain to the city marshal of every breach of 
 this and every other city ordinance committed within said 
 market-place ; to the end that the same may be prosecuted. 
 
 Sec. 21. That every person who shall violate any provi- 
 sion in this ordinance contained shall forfeit and pay a sum 
 not less than two dollars, nor more than five dollars, to and for 
 the use of the city, to be recovered by proper legal process 
 before any court of competent jurisdiction. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to the hay market. 
 
 Section 
 1. Hay to stand for sale in the hay mar- 
 ket 
 
 Section 
 
 2. City scale to be kept in repair- 
 weigher. 
 
 It is ordained by the city council of the city of Providence 
 follows, viz : 
 
 as 
 
 Section 1. No cart, wagon, sled or other vehicle loaded 
 with hay, shall be permitted to stand within the limits of the 
 market place, excepting upon the hay market-square, at the 
 junction of Canal and South Court-streets ; and every owner 
 or driver of any cart, wagon, sled or other vehicle standing 
 contrary to the provisions of this ordinance, shall forfeit and 
 pay the sum of five dollars, to be recovered for the use of the 
 city, by proper legal process before any court of competent 
 jurisdiction. 
 
 Sec 2. The platform scale upon said hay market-square 
 shall be kept in good order, at the expense of the city, and 
 the city treasurer shall be authorized to appoint a weigher 
 therefor, who may receive such portion of the fees for weigh- 
 ing as the city treasurer may think reasonable. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to wood and coal carts, 
 
 I Section 
 
 Section 
 1 . Wood and coal carts not to stand more 
 than fifteen minutes in certain places. 
 
 2. Penalty. 
 
 3. Such carts may stand in hay market. 
 
96 
 
 WEIGHTS, MEASURES, SCALES AND BALANCES 
 
 It is ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, as 
 follows, viz : 
 
 Section 1. From and after the first of October, 1843, no 
 cart, wagon or other vehicle loaded with firewood or coal, 
 shall be permitted to stand for more than fifteen minutes in 
 any street or highway in the district included within a line 
 drawn from the cove, through Mathewson, across Broad, 
 through Richmond and Ship-streets, to the river, including all 
 of said streets ; thence to the foot of Power-street, thence to 
 the east line of South Main-street, and following that line and 
 the east Hne of North Main-street to North Court-street ; 
 thence westerly to the cove ; excepting in Dorrance-street, 
 in South Main-street between Power and Planet-streets, and 
 in the street south of the hay market. 
 
 Sec 2. Every owner, driver, or person having charge of 
 any cart, wagon, or other vehicle, standing in any street or 
 highway in violation of the provisions hereof, shall forfeit and 
 pay the sum of five dollars, to and for the use of the city ; to 
 be recovered by proper legal process before any court of com- 
 petent jurisdiction. 
 
 Sec. 3. Carts, wagons, or other vehicles, loaded with fire- 
 wood, may stand in the hay market, under such directions as 
 the clerk of the market may establish. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to weights, measures, scales and 
 
 balances. 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Weights and measures to be sealed 
 once a year. 
 
 2. Penalty for using unsealed weights 
 and measures. 
 
 3. City sealer to distribute this ordinance 
 — to report to city treasurer names of 
 persons who violate it — prosecutions. 
 
 Section 
 
 4. City sealer — how appointed — compen- 
 sated by city. 
 
 5. Weighers of coal — coal to be weighed 
 — fees. 
 
 6. Penalty for selling coal not weighed 
 by public weigher. 
 
 It IS ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, as 
 follows, viz: 
 
 Section 1. It shall be the duty of every person using any 
 weight, measure, yard-stick, platform or other scales, steel- 
 yard, or other balance of whatever description, for the pur- 
 pose of selHng or vending any articles of goods, wares, mer- 
 chandise, liquors or provisions thereby, in said city, to cause 
 the same to be examined and sealed by the city sealer of 
 
WEIGHTS, MEASURES, SCALES AND BALANCES. 9*7 
 
 weights and measures, between the first day of July and the 
 first day of December, in each and every year. 
 
 Sec. 2. Every person who, from and after the thirty-first 
 day of December, A. D. 1837, shall use or permit to be used 
 for him or her, any weight, measure, yard stick, platform or 
 other scales, steelyard, or other balance of whatever descrip- 
 tion, in weighing or measuring therewith for sale any article 
 of goods, wares, merchandise, liquors or provisions in said 
 city, unless the same shall have been duly sealed in confor- 
 mity with the provisions contained in the first section of this 
 ordinance, shall forfeit and pay for each offence the sum of 
 twenty dollars, to and for the use of the city, to be recovered 
 in an action of debt in the name of the city treasurer, before 
 the proper court to try the same. 
 
 Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the city sealer of weights 
 and measures to send, on or before the first day of August in 
 each and every year, to every person or partnership firm in 
 said city, selling any goods, wares, merchandise, liquors or 
 provisions therein, a copy of this ordinance, certified by said 
 sealer of weights and measures ; and it shall also be the duty 
 of said sealer of weights and measures to make and keep, in 
 a book to be by him provided for that purpose, a true record 
 of the names of every person and partnership firm in said 
 city, selling goods, wares, merchandize, liquors or provisions 
 therein ; and to report in writing to the city treasurer, between 
 the first day of January and the first day of June in each and 
 every year, the name of every person and partnership firm 
 who shall have violated the provisions contained in the first 
 section of this ordinance ; and it shall be the duty of the city 
 treasurer, within twenty days after such report shall have been 
 made to him, to commence and prosecute suits, before the 
 proper court to try the same, for the recovery, to the use of 
 said city, of the amount of all penahies which shall have been 
 incurred by violation of the provisions contained in said first 
 section. 
 
 Sec. 4. There shall be annually appropriated by the city 
 council, and paid out of the city treasury, to the city sealer of 
 weights and measures, a stated salary, which shall be in full 
 compensation for the discharge and performance of all the 
 duties required of him by this ordinance. 
 
 Sec. 5. There shall annually be appointed by the city 
 council, a sufficient number of public weighers of coal ; and 
 all anthracite or other coal, sold by weight in any quan- 
 tity not exceeding fifteen tons and not less than one half of a 
 ton, shall, previous to the delivery thereof to the purchaser, 
 13 
 
98 
 
 COLLECTOR OF TAXES. 
 
 be weighed by some one of such public weighers, who shall 
 immediately make and deliver to the carrier thereof, or to the 
 driver of the wain or vehicle in which the same shall have 
 been placed for delivery, a certificate of the weight thereof, 
 which certificate shall be by such carrier or driver delivered 
 with such coal to the purchaser thereof ; and such public 
 weigher shall be entitled to demand and receive for weighing 
 each load of such coal, and certifying the weight of the same 
 as aforesaid, the sum of ten cents ; one half of which sum shall 
 be paid by the seller and one half by the buyer thereof: provided, 
 however, that in no case shall any public weigher demand or 
 receive a greater sum than one dollar and fifty cents for the 
 weighing and certifying of any quantity of such coal not ex- 
 ceeding fifteen tons, which shall have been purchased at the 
 same time. 
 
 Sec. 6. Any person who shall sell and deUver by weight, 
 or permit to be sold and delivered for him, by weight, any 
 anthracite or other coal which shall not have been weighed, 
 and the weight thereof certified as required by the fifth sec- 
 tion of this ordinance, shall forfeit and pay for each ofience 
 the sum of twenty dollars, to and for the use of the city, to 
 be recovered in an action of debt in the name of the city 
 treasurer before the proper court to try the same. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to the bonds of collector of taxes. 
 
 Section 
 1. Collector to give bond for amount of 
 tax. 
 
 Section 
 2. Sureties to be approved by board of 
 aldermen. 
 
 Be it ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, as 
 follows, viz : 
 
 Section 1. Each and every collector of the city taxes, 
 previous to his entering upon the collection of any tax or 
 taxes, shall give bond or bonds with sufficient sureties to the 
 city treasurer, for the faithful performance of his trust, which 
 bond or bonds shall be for the amount of the tax or taxes 
 such collector is to collect. 
 
 Sec. 2. The sureties to such collector's bond or bonds 
 shall be approved by the board of aldermen, before the city 
 treasurer shall receive such bond or bonds. 
 
CITY DEBT. 
 
 99 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to the city debt. 
 
 Section 
 
 Committee for the reduction of the 
 city debt to be appointed. 
 Treasurer authorized to issue notes, 
 &c., in certain cases — to make quar- 
 terly report. 
 
 Section 
 
 3. Register of city debt to be kept — 
 notes, &c., to be entered before issued 
 — right of voters to inspect register. 
 
 4. Fund for extinguishing debt. 
 
 It is ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, 
 folloics, viz : 
 
 as 
 
 Section 1. There shall be annually appointed in the 
 month of June, by their respective boards, one alderman and 
 three common councilmen, who, with the mayor, shall be a 
 committee for the reduction of the city debt ; and it shall be 
 the duty of the city treasurer to consult said committee as to 
 all matters concerning the city debt. 
 
 Sec 2. The city treasurer is hereby authorized to issue 
 the notes, bonds or other obligations of the city, payable 
 upon fixed days, not more than five years after the date there- 
 of, and bearing interest at a rate not exceeding six per cent, 
 per annum, whenever it shall be necessary or expedient in 
 order to provide funds for the payment of any city note, bond 
 or other obligation which now is or shall hereafter become 
 due and payable ; and it shall be the duty of the city treasu- 
 rer to make report to the city council, at their earliest meet- 
 ing in March, June, September and December, of the issues 
 and payments of city debt during the preceding three months. 
 
 Sec. 3. The city treasurer shall cause to be prepared a 
 register of the number, date, page, amount, day of payment 
 and rate of interest of every city note, bond or other obli- 
 gation now outstanding, which register shall be placed in 
 the custody of the city clerk, and whenever any note, 
 bond or other obligation of the city shall hereafter be issued, 
 the city treasurer shall present the same to the city clerk, who 
 shall record in said register all the particulars above stated, 
 and shall certify upon said note, bond or obUgation, that it 
 has been duly registered ; and whenever any city note, bond 
 or other obligation shall be paid, the city treasurer shall ex- 
 hibit the same to the city clerk, who shall thereupon record in 
 said register that such payment has been made ; and every 
 person paying a property tax in this city shall have a right to 
 inspect said register of the city debt. 
 
 Sec 4. There shall be established a fund for the payment 
 of the city debt, and the city treasurer is hereby directed to 
 
100 
 
 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
 
 credit to said fund all receipts into the treasury for rents of 
 city property, licenses and interest, and the sum of twelve 
 thousand dollars from the first money received into the trea- 
 sury from other sources after the first day of July in each 
 year ; and he shall charge said fund with all payments of the 
 principal or interest of the city debt. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to public schools. 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Description of public schools estab- 
 blished — who are to be instructed 
 therein. 
 
 2. Character of instruction. 
 
 3. High school — number of pupils. 
 
 4. Ages at which pupils may be admit- 
 ted — time they may remain in high 
 school — who may attend it. 
 
 5. Superintendent of public schools — by 
 whom appointed — duties 
 
 Section 
 
 6. Commencement of school year. 
 
 7. Schools for colored children — tuition 
 of colored children may be paid in 
 certain cases. 
 
 8. Salaries of teachers, &c. 
 
 9. School committee to control money 
 appropriated for schools — other duties 
 — authority. 
 
 It is ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, 
 follows, viz : 
 
 as 
 
 Section 1. From and after the passage of this ordinance, 
 the number of pubhc schools in said city shall be twenty- 
 eight ; (not including schools for colored children ;) and that 
 said schools shall be of the following descriptions, to wit : 
 
 One high school, 
 
 Six grammar and writing schools. 
 
 Twenty-one intermediate and primary schools : 
 And that free instruction shall be therein given to the children 
 of all the inhabitants of said city who may see fit to avail 
 themselves thereof, subject only to the rules and regulations 
 herein after contained and provided for. 
 
 Sec 2. Thorough instruction shall be given in said schools 
 in all the branches of a good English education, and the 
 school committee are authorized, in their discretion, to cause 
 to be given therein, to all the pupils whose parents or guard- 
 ians may desire it, instruction in all the preparatory branches 
 of a classical education. 
 
 Sec 3. The high school shall not at any time contain 
 more than two hundred and fifty pupils ; of which number 
 not more than one hundred and twenty-five shall be females, 
 except when the number of male pupils shall be less than one 
 hundred and twenty-five ; in which case an additional num- 
 
PUBLIC S'GHObt^ ' ' ' ' ' ' ' - > '' • • 101 
 
 ber of females may be admitted, until the school shall be fill- 
 ed, under such conditions as the school committee may pre- 
 scribe. 
 
 Sec. 4. No child who shall not have attained the age of 
 four years shall be admitted as a pupil into a primary school ; 
 no child who shall not have attained the age of seven years 
 shall be admitted as a pupil into a grammar and writing 
 school, nor unless qualified immediately to enter upon the 
 course of studies pursued therein ; no child shall be admitted 
 as a pupil into the high school unless qualified immediately 
 to enter upon the course of studies pursued therein ; no pupil 
 shall remain in the high school more than three years ; no 
 child who shall not have attended a grammar and writing 
 school for at least three years shall be admitted to the high 
 school when there is a sufficient number of such candidates 
 in the grammar and writing schools qualified for admission 
 therein ; but whenever there shall not be a sufficient number 
 of such candidates, any child who is qualified may be admit- 
 ted for such time as the school committee may determine. 
 
 Sec. 5. The school committee are hereby authorized and 
 requested to appoint annually a superintendent of the pub- 
 lic schools, and such teachers as they may deem expedient, 
 who shall perform such duties in relation to the public schools 
 as said committee may from time to time prescribe ; said su- 
 perintendent and teachers to be subject to removal at any 
 time, by the school committee. 
 
 Sec. 6. The first regular term of all the schools in each 
 school year shall commence on the Monday next succeeding 
 the first Wednesday in September. 
 
 Sec. 7. There shall be two public schools maintained ex- 
 clusively for the instruction of colored children ; each of 
 which shall be under the care of a principal, and also an as- 
 sistant teacher, whenever in the opinion of the school com- 
 mittee the services of such assistant may be necessary ; and 
 free instruction shall be therein given, in the ordinary branch- 
 es of an English education, to the children of all the colored 
 inhabitants of the city who may see fit to avail themselves 
 thereof, subject to such rules and regulations as the school 
 committee shall establish ; and if there be any colored chil- 
 dren who ought to attend a primary school, residing at an in- 
 convenient distance from the schools established by the city, 
 the school committee are hereby authorized to contract for 
 their tuition in private schools. 
 
 Sec 8. Such annual salaries shall be paid to the superin- 
 tendent and instructors of the schools respectively, in equal 
 
102 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
 
 quarterly payments, as the school committee shall direct, not 
 exceeding the following sums, to wit : 
 
 To the superintendent, Twelve hundred and j&fty dollars. 
 To the preceptor of the high school. 
 
 Twelve hundred and fifty dollars. 
 To each male assistant teacher of the high school, 
 
 Eight hundred dollars. 
 To each female assistant teacher of the high school. 
 
 Five hundred dollars. 
 To each master of a grammar and writing school. 
 
 Eight hundred dollars. 
 To each male assistant teacher of a grammar and writing 
 
 school. Four hundred dollars. 
 
 To each female assistant teacher of a grammar and writ- 
 ing school, Two hundred and twenty-five dollars. 
 To each principal of an intermediate or primary school. 
 
 Two hundred and fifty dollars. 
 To each assistant teacher of an intermediate or primary 
 
 school. Two hundred dollars. 
 
 To each male principal of a school for colored children, 
 
 Five hundred dollars, 
 To each female principal of a school for colored children. 
 
 Two hundred dollars. 
 To each male assistant teacher of a school for colored 
 
 children. Two hundred and fifty dollars. 
 
 To each female assistant teacher of a school for colored 
 
 children, One hundred and fifty dollars. 
 
 Sec. 9. All moneys appropriated for the support of public 
 schools shall be subject to the exclusive control of the school 
 committee, who shall have full power to cause the same or any 
 part thereof to be expended in any manner which they may 
 deem most advisable for the benefit and welfare of the schools ; 
 excepting so much thereof as will be from time to time re- 
 quired for the payment of the salaries established by this ordi- 
 nance ; and excepting also, all such appropriations as may be 
 made for any specific purpose or purposes. Said committee 
 shall also have full power and authority to establish and alter, 
 from time to time, as they deem expedient, the bounds of the 
 several school districts, in order to provide suitable locations 
 for such new schools as may hereafter be established by the 
 city council, or to make more equal apportionment of pupils 
 to the several schools. It shall be their duty to see that the 
 school-houses and estates are kept in proper repair ; to select 
 and designate the best text books ; and to provide all such ap- 
 paratus, and all other means of instruction for all the schools, 
 
QUARANTINE. 
 
 103 
 
 as may be necessary for keeping the same in efficient opera- 
 tion, and for enabling the pupils to receive all the advantages 
 therefrom which it is the intention of this ordinance to pro- 
 vide and secure. Said committee shall have and exercise a 
 general discretionary power in all matters and things relating 
 to the public schools, which are not specially provided for by 
 this ordinance, or by the laws of this state, and may make 
 regulations not repugnant to said laws, or to the provisions of 
 this ordinance. 
 
 An Ordinance respecting quarantine. 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Bounds of quarantine ground. 
 
 2. What vessels may pass the quaran- 
 tine ground by permission of the 
 health officer. 
 
 3. Vessels which shall not unload at 
 wharves, but may discharge cargo 
 into lighters. — Vessels loaded with 
 salt, &c. 
 
 4. Vessels in ballast. 
 
 5. Vessels passing Field's Point to an- 
 chor, &c. 
 
 6. Penalties — vessel passing quarantine 
 ground to return. 
 
 7. Persons going on board vessels to re- 
 main during quarantine — penalty. 
 Hides, hoofs, &c., not to be landed, 
 and vessels having sickness on board 
 
 8. 
 
 Section 
 
 not to come to wharves during quar- 
 antine — bedding and clothing to be 
 washed — penalty. 
 9. Authority of health officer. 
 
 10. Persons ordered to hospital. 
 
 11. No person to go near to hospital — 
 exceptions — nurses, &c., not to leave 
 hospital without permit. 
 Bilge water — when it may be pump- 
 ed — penalty. 
 
 Rules for vessels in quarantine. 
 Penalties. 
 
 Board of aldermen may fix term of 
 quarantine. 
 
 May make further regulations. 
 May suspend the operation of this or- 
 dinance. 
 
 Whereas in the opinion of the city council of the city of 
 Providence, there is danger that at certain seasons of the year 
 contagious or infectious diseases may be brought into the city, 
 by vessels, their officers, seamen, passengers and cargoes ; 
 therefore : 
 
 It is ordained by the city council of the city of Providence : 
 
 Section 1. That the quarantine ground of said city shall 
 comprise that part of the harbor of said city lying westward 
 of the main channel of the river, and extending northward 
 from Sassafras Point to the distance of one half of a mile from 
 said point. 
 
 Sec. 2. That from and after the twenty-fourth day of June 
 next, no vessel which shall arrive in the harbor of said city 
 from any foreign port or place whatever, except those direct 
 from any port or place north of the forty-eighth degree of 
 north latitude ; and no vessel which shall or may arrive from 
 any port or place in the United States south of Chesapeake Bay, 
 
Wft QUARANTINE. 
 
 and including the port of Norfolk and places on the James Riv- 
 er, notwithstanding she may have touched or stopped at any 
 intermediate port or ports during her homeward passage ; nor 
 any vessel with her officers, crew or passengers, that shall have 
 touched or landed at the port of Norfolk shall pass the quar- 
 antine ground. But all such vessels, whatever may be their 
 lading, shall be subject to the inspection and examination of 
 the health officer appointed by the board of aldermen, acting 
 ex officio as board of health ; which health officer may, on in- 
 formation and examination of any such vessel, permit her to 
 proceed up to the city, if it shall appear to him that the pub- 
 lic health will not thereby be endangered ; and provided it is 
 not repugnant to the eighth section of this ordinance. 
 
 Sec. 3. That no vessel coming from any port or place in 
 the south of Europe, or within the Straits of Gibraltar, or from 
 any port or place on the American continent situated between 
 the tropics, including all the West India islands, and places in 
 the Bay of Mexico, or from any other port or place where it 
 is ascertained that contagious sickness doth prevail, or hath 
 recently prevailed, shall be permitted to unload at any of the 
 wharves in said city, but such vessel, with her officers, crew 
 and passengers, after having been subjected to and gone 
 through all the regulations of quarantine, to the satisfaction 
 of the said health officer, may, on a certificate from him to 
 that effect, or liberty from the board of aldermen, acting ex 
 officio as board of health, be permitted to discharge her cargo 
 into scows or lighters, any where southward of the crook and 
 west of the channel, and in such craft may bring the same up 
 to the city ; or the said health officer may permit, if in his 
 opinion no danger is to be apprehended, any such vessel to 
 unload at the wharves at Fox Point or India Point. Vessels 
 laden with salt, and vessels coming from Canton, or from any 
 port in the Pacific Ocean, having no sickness on board, are 
 not included in this ordinance, but may, after conforming to 
 all the directions of the said health officer, and on receiving 
 his certificate that in his opinion no danger is to be appre- 
 hended, be permitted to unload at any of the wharves in said 
 city. 
 
 Sec. 4. That all vessels arriving at this port, after having 
 discharged their cargoes in any other port of the United 
 States, agreeably to the quarantine regulations of such port, 
 shall anchor on the quarantine ground, and be visited and ex- 
 amined by the said health officer, and be subject to the provi- 
 sions of the eighth section of this ordinance, the same as if 
 said vessel came direct to this port. 
 
QUARANTINE. 
 
 105 
 
 Sec. 5. That every vessel subject on her arrival at this 
 port to be visited and examined by the said health officer, 
 which shall pass Field's Point after nine o'clock, P. M. and 
 before six o'clock, A. M., shall anchor at the quarantine 
 ground, notwithstanding she may not have been hailed by the 
 sentinel. 
 
 Sec. 6. That if any vessel subject to quarantine shall 
 pass or leave the quarantine ground without permission of 
 the said health officer, the owner or owners, or agent or 
 agents of such vessel, or the person or persons who shall 
 move the same, shall forfeit and pay to the use of the said 
 city a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars, nor less than 
 twenty-five dollars, to be recovered in an action of the case, 
 in the name of the city treasurer, before the proper court to 
 try the same ; and such vessel shall be liable to be ordered 
 back to the quarantine ground, at the expense of the owner 
 or owners, or agent or agents thereof: and the owner or own- 
 ers, agent or agents of such vessel, shall be liable to the same 
 penalty on every repetition of such offence. 
 
 Sec. 7. That if any officer of the customs or any other 
 person whosoever shall, without the permission of the board 
 of aldermen, acting ex officio as board of health, or the health 
 officer, go on board of any inward bound vessel that shall be 
 subject to quarantine, such officer or other person so going 
 on board shall not land in said city until the time of quaran- 
 tine of such vessel shall have expired, under a penalty not 
 exceeding twenty dollars, nor less than five dollars, to be re- 
 covered to the use of the city, by proper legal process, before 
 any court of competent jurisdiction. 
 
 Sec. 8. That no untanned hides, skins, horns, hoofs, or any 
 other article whatever, that shall or may be thought by the said 
 health officer capable of generating disease, shall be landed 
 from any vessel whatever, within the limits of this city, during 
 the existence of the quarantine, except at the hospital ground, 
 or Fox Point, or India Point ; nor shall such goods be brought 
 into the compact part of said city, except by special permission 
 from said health officer ; nor shall any vessel having sickness 
 on board, or having had any person or persons sick of a ma- 
 lignant or contagious disease during the voyage, be permitted 
 to come to any wharf in the city, during the existence of the 
 quarantine, except to the wharves at Fox Point, south of Pike's 
 wharf, or India Point, under special permission from the health 
 officer ; nor shall any foul or unclean bedding or clothing be 
 14 
 
106 
 
 QUARANTINE. 
 
 landed or brought within the Hmits of said city, during the 
 existence of the quarantine, from any vessel in which any of 
 the crew or passengers have been sickly during the voyage ; 
 nor shall any foul or unclean bedding or clothing be brought 
 within the hmits of said city, during said time, from any 
 place where any contagious or mahgnant disorder doth or 
 hath recently prevailed, unless the same are first carried di- 
 rect to the hospital, and there washed and cleansed ; and 
 every person concerned in the violation of this section shall 
 incur a penalty not exceeding one hundred dollars, nor less 
 than twenty-five dollars, to and for the use of the city, to be 
 recovered in an action of the case, in the name of the city 
 treasurer, before the proper court to try the same. 
 
 Sec. 9. That the said health officer shall have authority to 
 put such interrogatories and inquiries to the captain or com- 
 manding officer, or any other person on board of any vessel 
 arriving at this port and subject to quarantine, as he shall 
 deem proper, respecting the state of the vessel and the health 
 of the people on board ; and if such captain or commanding 
 officer or other person shall refuse to answer any or all inter- 
 rogatories or inquiries put to him by such health officer, or 
 shall evade such inquiries, or shall in any way or manner 
 make or cause to be made to such health officer a false or 
 equivocal statement or report relative to the officers, crew or 
 passengers on board thereof, or of the state of health of all 
 or any of the officers, crew or passengers, or shall neglect to 
 report to said health officer any death that may have occurred 
 on board during the said voyage, or shall refuse to sign his 
 written examination taken at the time by said health officer, 
 after being requested so to do, such captain, commanding 
 officer or other person so offending shall forfeit and pay, as a 
 penalty to and for the use of the city, a sum not exceeding 
 two hundred dollars, nor less than one hundred dollars, to be 
 recovered in an action of the case, in the name of the city 
 treasurer, before the proper court to try the same. 
 
 Sec. 10. That if any person ordered to the hospital from 
 on board any vessel arriving at this port, or from any part of 
 said city, after having so arrived, shall refuse to go thither, or 
 being there shall depart from or leave the limits of said hos- 
 pital without permission first obtained from the board of al- 
 dermen, acting ex officio as board of health, or from said 
 health officer, in writing, such person shall, for each oflfence, 
 forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars, nor 
 less than twenty-five dollars, to and for the use of the city, to 
 
QUARANTINE. 107 
 
 be recovered in an action of the case, in the name of the city 
 treasurer, before the proper court to try the same. 
 
 Sec. 11. That no person during the existence of the 
 quarantine, unless by the special permission of the board of 
 aldermen, acting ex officio as board of health, or health officer, 
 shall go within fifty yards of the hospital ; except those at 
 quarantine, the health officer, and other physicians, nurses, 
 and those attached to the family of the keeper of the hos- 
 pital, and those passing on the turnpike road ; under a penal- 
 ty not exceeding twenty dollars, nor less than five dollars, to 
 be recovered to the use of the city, by proper legal process 
 before any court of competent jurisdiction ; nor shall nurses, 
 or those attached to the family of said keeper, be allowed to 
 leave the hospital, without his permission in writing, under 
 the like penalty, to be recovered in Hke manner. 
 
 Sec. 12. That no stagnant or offensive bilge water shall 
 be pumped out of any vessel at any wharf in said city above 
 Fox Point, nor in the channel or on the flats opposite said 
 wharves, during the existence of the quarantine regulations, 
 unless it be done between the hours of eleven o'clock, P. M. 
 and four o'clock, A. M., under the penalty of two dollars for 
 the first offence, and for every subsequent offence five dollars, 
 to be recovered of the captain or commanding officer of such 
 ship or vessel, or of the owner or owners thereof, to the use 
 of said city, in an action of debt, in the name of the city 
 treasurer, before the proper court to try the same. 
 
 Sec. 13. That the following be the rules and regulations 
 to be observed on board all vessels while at quarantine : 
 
 1. Every vessel shall, during her quarantine, wear colors 
 in her shrouds. 
 
 2. No provisions, spirituous liquors or other articles, shall 
 be admitted on board of such vessel, without permission from 
 the said health officer. 
 
 3. The said health officer shall, on all occasions, direct 
 what goods shall be delivered from on board such vessel, the 
 place where, and the manner in which, they shall be landed. 
 
 4. No person or persons, in any boat or vessel, shall be 
 permitted to go alongside of any such vessel at quarantine, 
 without permission of said health officer ; nor to be at anchor, 
 or remain in any other manner, within one hundred yards of 
 any such vessel. 
 
 5. Every such vessel shall be removed and stationed at 
 such place as the said health officer may, from time to time, 
 under the direction of the board of aldermen, acting ex officio 
 as board of health, direct and appoint. 
 
108 
 
 QUARANTINE. 
 
 6. The bilge water shall be pumped from every such ves- 
 sel at least twice a day. 
 
 7. The directions of the said health officer, for cleansing 
 the vessel, clothing, and other things on board, shall be strictly 
 complied with by the officers and crew. 
 
 8. The commander of every such vessel shall be answer- 
 able for all irregularities and breaches of these regulations, by 
 the people on board. All permissions and directions of the 
 said health officer, as aforesaid, shall be in writing. 
 
 Sec. 14. That if any person or persons shall be guilty ot 
 a breach of any of the rules and regulations contained in the 
 next preceding section, such person or persons so offending 
 shall forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding twenty dollars, nor 
 less than ten dollars, to and for the use of the city, to be re- 
 covered by proper legal process before any court of compe- 
 tent jurisdiction. 
 
 Sec. 15. That the board of aldermen, acting ex officio as 
 board of health, be and they hereby are authorized and em- 
 powered, from time to time, to fix and assign the term which 
 vessels shall be detained at quarantine, by virtue of this ordi- 
 nance, and also to prescribe from time to time, if they deem 
 it necessary, such other ports, places or countries, beside those 
 mentioned in this ordinance, from which vessels arriving shall 
 be subject to examination for quarantine. 
 
 Sec. 16. That the board of aldermen, acting ex officio as 
 board of health, be and they hereby are authorized and em- 
 powered to make and carry into effect such further rules and 
 regulations respecting quarantine as to them may appear ne- 
 cessary to prevent the introduction of contagious or infectious 
 diseases from other places ; and to annex such penalties for 
 the breach thereof as they may think proper, not exceeding 
 two hundred dollars fine, or ten days imprisonment. 
 
 Sec. 17. That the board of aldermen, acting ex officio as 
 board of health, be and they hereby are authorized and em- 
 powered, from time to time, to suspend the operation of the 
 whole or any part of this ordinance, in such manner and for 
 such term as they may deem proper ; and the same to revive, 
 at their discretion. 
 
INTERMENT OF THE DEAD. 
 
 109 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to the interment of the dead. 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Undertakers to be appointed. 
 
 2. Physicians to give certificates of dis- 
 ease. 
 
 3. Undertakers to demand certificate be- 
 fore interment. 
 
 4. Penalty for not furnishing certificate. 
 
 5. Monthly returns of interments. 
 
 6. Funerals to be in day time — depth of 
 grave 
 
 Section 
 
 7. Abstract of returns to be published 
 once a month — also at the close of 
 the year. 
 
 8. Penalties. 
 
 9. 10 & 11. Permits to persons not un- 
 
 dertakers — returns — penalty. 
 12. No burials, except in grounds desig- 
 nated. 
 
 It is ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, 
 follows, viz : 
 
 as 
 
 Section 1. There shall be appointed by the city council 
 a sufficient number of persons to act as undertakers, remova- 
 ble at the pleasure of the city council. 
 
 Sec. 2. Whenever any person shall die in this city, it 
 shall be the duty of the physician attending in his or her last 
 sickness, to leave, vi^ithin forty-eight hours after the death, at 
 the last residence of such deceased person, a certificate sta- 
 ting the disease or accident which caused his or her death, 
 which certificate shall be dehvered to the undertaker, who 
 may conduct the funeral of such deceased. 
 
 Sec. 3. No undertaker or other person shall bury the body 
 of any person dying in this city, without first enquiring for 
 the certificate of the physician as aforesaid ; and if no such 
 certificate can be procured, the undertaker or person direct- 
 ing the funeral shall, within three days after such funeral, re- 
 port the want of the certificate to the city clerk ; and the un- 
 dertakers shall, with their monthly returns, deliver the physi- 
 cians' certificates to the city clerk. 
 
 Sec. 4. Every physician omitting or neglecting to leave 
 such certificate as aforesaid shall forfeit and pay the sum of 
 five dollars for each offence, to be recovered for the use of 
 the city by proper legal process before any court of compe- 
 tent jurisdiction. 
 
 Sec. 5. Every undertaker shall make return to the clerk 
 of the board of health, between the hours of nine o'clock, A. 
 M. and two o'clock, P. M. of the first Wednesday of each 
 month, of all interments made and funerals conducted by 
 him during the preceding month, in form a^ follows, to wit : 
 
110 
 
 INTERMENT OF THE DEAD. 
 
 An accurate list of all interments made by me, between the 
 first day of 18 , and the last day of the same 
 
 month inclusive. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 UNDERTAKER. 
 
 Sec. 6. All funerals shall take place between sunrise and 
 sunset, unless otherwise permitted or directed by the board of 
 health. The top of every coffin deposited in the ground shall 
 be at least three feet below the usual surface thereof 
 
 Sec. 7. The clerk of the board of health shall prepare an 
 abstract of all the returns made to him, and report the same 
 to the board of health, on the Monday next succeeding the 
 first Wednesday of each month. The board of health shall 
 cause a monthly abstract of all such returns to be published 
 in all the newspapers which contract to do the city printing, 
 and shall also prepare and publish in all the said newspapers, 
 in the second week in January, in each year, an abstract of 
 all the returns made to them to the close of the preceding 
 year. 
 
 Sec. 8. Every undertaker who shall violate any of the pro- 
 visions of the preceding section of this ordinance shall forfeit 
 and pay the sum of ten dollars for each offence, to and for 
 the use of the city, to be recovered by proper legal process 
 before any court of competent jurisdiction. 
 
 Sec. 9. Any person other than such an undertaker, who 
 shall manage and conduct a funeral, or inter or remove from 
 the city a dead body, shall first obtain permission in writing from 
 the board of health, or in their recess from the clerk or one of 
 the members of said board, to do the same ; and after said in- 
 terment or removal is made, shall make return as is directed 
 to be made by undertakers in the fifth section of this ordi- 
 
NORTH BURIAL GROUND. 
 
 Ill 
 
 nance ; and lor every neglect or refusal to obtain such per- 
 mission, or to make such return, shall forfeit and pay the sum 
 of ten dollars to and for the use of the city, to be recovered 
 by proper legal process before the proper court to try the 
 same. 
 
 Sec. 10. All permissions given pursuant to the provisions 
 of the ninth section of this ordinance shall be free of charge. 
 
 Sec. 11. All returns made by an undertaker or other per- 
 son shall be recorded by the clerk of the board of health, in a 
 book to be kept expressly for that purpose. 
 
 Sec. 12. No undertaker or other person shall hereafter 
 bury or cause to be buried the body of any deceased person, 
 except in such grounds as are now known and used as bury- 
 ing-grounds, or such as shall hereafter be by the city council 
 designated as burying grounds, and authorized to be used as 
 such ; and every person so offending shall forfeit and pay for 
 every offence the sum of forty dollars, to and for the use of 
 the city, to be sued for and recovered in an action of debt, in 
 the name of the city treasurer, before any court of competent 
 jurisdiction. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to the north burial ground. 
 
 Section 
 1. No vaults or enclosures without per- 
 mission of city council. 
 
 Section 
 
 2. Penalty. 
 
 3. Overseer — duties of. 
 
 Section 1. Be it ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that no person shall erect or build any vault 
 within the limits of the city burial ground, nor enclose any 
 part or portion thereof, without leave first had and obtained 
 from the city council. 
 
 Section 2. That any person who shall violate any pro- 
 vision of this ordinance shall forfeit and pay a sum not less 
 than ten dollars, nor more than fifty dollars, to and for the 
 use of the city, to be recovered by proper legal process be- 
 fore any court of competent jurisdiction. 
 
 Sec. 3. That the overseer of said burial ground shall 
 keep the fences around the same in proper repair, and the 
 gates thereof locked ; and he shall report to the mayor every 
 violation of this ordinance, as soon as may be, that the same 
 may be prosecuted. 
 
llg 
 
 PUBLIC WATCH. 
 
 An Ordinance providing for the establishment of a public 
 
 watch. 
 
 Section 
 
 4. Other instructions — mayor may sus- 
 pend watchmen from duty. 
 
 5. Compensation of watchmen. 
 
 Section 
 
 ' 1 . Board of aldermen may appoint watch- 
 men. 
 
 2. Duties of watchmen. 
 
 3. Persons arrested may be discharged 
 in certain cases. 
 
 It is ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, as 
 follows, viz: 
 
 Section 1. The board of aldermen are hereby authorized, 
 from time to time, to appoint a public watch, to consist of so 
 many persons as they may deem expedient, not exceeding 
 thirty, removable at the pleasure of said board. 
 
 Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of said watch to patrol the 
 streets during the night ; to preserve the peace therein ; to 
 give immediate alarm in case of fire ; and they shall have au- 
 thority to arrest every person offending during the night against 
 any ordinance of the city, or law of the state, or who may 
 be intoxicated in any public street ; and to prevent any crowd 
 from collecting so as to obstruct the convenient passage of 
 peaceable persons through any part of any street or over any 
 public bridge. 
 
 Sec 3. Any person arrested by said watch may be dis- 
 charged upon giving his name, place of abode, and business, 
 if there be no circumstances in the opinion of the captain of 
 said watch requiring his detention ; and it shall be the duty of 
 said watch to report each morning to the city marshal the 
 names of all persons in custody, and of all persons detected 
 in violating any ordinance of the city, or law of the state. 
 
 Sec 4. The watch shall in all cases not otherwise provi- 
 ded for be governed by such instructions and directions as 
 may from time to time be given by the mayor or the board of 
 aldermen ; and the mayor shall be authorized to suspend from 
 duty, for cause, any member of said watch, until such time 
 as his case may be decided upon by the board of aldermen. 
 
 Sec 5. The members of said watch shall receive such 
 compensation as the board of aldermen shall direct. 
 
 An Ordinance to prevent revelling and other disturbances in the 
 
 public streets. 
 
 No person to behave in a disorderly manner, &c. — penalty. 
 
 Section 1 . Be it ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that each and every person who shall revel, 
 
GUNS AND PISTOLS— PLACES OF TRADE, &c. ^ ^^ 
 
 commit any mischief, quarrel, or otherwise behave in a disor- 
 derly manner, in any of the public streets, gangways, alleys 
 or lanes in said city, or any of the public wharves or public 
 lands in said city, to the disturbance or annoyance of the 
 peaceable inhabitants thereof, or any portion of them, or shall 
 aid, assist, encourage or promote the same to be done by any 
 other person or persons, shall forfeit and pay to the use of 
 the city a sum not exceeding twenty dollars, nor less than 
 one dollar, to be recovered by proper legal process before 
 any court of competent jurisdiction. 
 
 An Ordinance to prevent the firing of guns and pistols in the 
 streets and other public places. 
 
 Section 
 
 Section 
 
 I, No guns, &c., to be fired in any 
 
 2. Penalty 
 
 street, &c. 
 
 
 Section 1 . Be it ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that no person shall fire any gun or pistol, in 
 any street or lane, or on any public wharf or public lands, 
 within said city, after sunrise and before sunset. 
 
 Sec. 2. That every person who shall violate any provi- 
 sion of this ordinance shall forfeit and pay the sum of two dol- 
 lars, to and for the use of the city, to be sued for and recov- 
 ered by proper legal process before any court of competent 
 jurisdiction. 
 
 An Ordinance to prohibit the opening of places of trade or en- 
 tertainment on Sundays or late at night. 
 
 Section j Section 
 
 1. No shop, &c., to be opened after 11 2. Penalty, 
 o'clock, P. M., nor on Sunday. | 
 
 It is ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, as 
 fellows, viz: 
 
 Section 1. No shop, store, or other place of trade or en- 
 tertainment in this city, excepting licensed taverns, shall here- 
 after be kept open after eleven o'clock in the evening, nor be 
 opened before dayHght in the morning ; nor shall any such 
 shop, store, or place of trade or entertainment, be opened on 
 Sunday, nor any article sold therein on that day : provided 
 15 
 
114 
 
 RINGING OF BELLS.— NUISANCES. 
 
 that druggists may open their shops at any time for the pur- 
 pose of selling medicines for the use of the sick. 
 
 Sec. 2. Every keeper of any shop, store, or place of trade 
 or entertainment, which shall be opened, or in which any ar- 
 ticle shall be sold, and every person opening any shop, store, 
 or place of trade or entertainment, or selling any article, con- 
 trary to the provisions of this ordinance, shall forfeit and pay 
 a fine of not less than five dollars, nor more than twenty dol- 
 lars, to be recovered by proper legal process before any court 
 of competent jurisdiction. 
 
 An Ordinance to prevent the ringing of bells between mnset and 
 one hour after sunrise. 
 
 Section 
 1. Bells not to be rung, except, &c. 
 
 Section 
 2. Penalty. 
 
 Section 1 . Be it ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that no person shall, between sunset and one 
 hour after sunrise, ring or cause to be rung, the bell of any 
 house of public worship in said city for any purpose whatev- 
 er, except on the alarm of fire, and except the ringing of the 
 bell of the first Baptist meeting house, for nine o'clock in the 
 evening, and for sunrise : provided, however, that nothing 
 herein contained shall be construed to prevent the tolhng, at 
 a moderate rate, of any such bell, for lecture, or any other 
 lawful meeting, between the times herein before mentioned. 
 
 Sec. 2. That every person who shall oflfend against this 
 ordinance shall forfeit and pay a sum not less than ten dol- 
 lars, nor more than one hundred dollars, to and for the use 
 of said city, to be recovered in an action of the case, in the 
 name of the city treasurer, before the proper court to try the 
 same. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to nuisances. 
 
 Section 
 
 1. Committee on nuisances — duties of. 
 
 2. Nuisances which can be abated for 
 
 Section 
 
 ten dollars — proceedings — penalty. 
 2. Other nuisances — proceedings. 
 
 It is ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, as 
 follows, viz : 
 
 Section 1. It shall be the duty of the committee on nui- 
 sances, and of every member thereof, to examine into the 
 state and condition of every place and part of the city where 
 
NUISANCES. 
 
 tiS 
 
 he shall suspect or be informed that there exists any matter or 
 thing which is or may be prejudicial to the health of the in- 
 habitants thereof. 
 
 Sec. 2. Whenever it shall appear to the satisfaction of 
 either of the members of the committee on nuisances, or of 
 the city marshal, that there exists upon any premises owned or 
 occupied by any person, any dirt, offal, or animal or vegeta- 
 ble matter, or the contents of any hog pen, privy, drain or 
 vault, calculated to injure health, or by noxious air to annoy 
 the neighborhood, and that such nuisance or annoyance may 
 be abated at an expense not exceeding ten dollars, it shall be 
 the duty of such member or members of said committee, or 
 city marshal, to cause the owner or occupant of such premi- 
 ses to be notified in writing of the existence of such nuisance 
 or annoyance, and directed forthwith to abate the same ; and 
 if such nuisance or annoyance shall not be abated within 
 twenty-four hours after such notice, the owner or occupant 
 of such premises shall forfeit and pay a fine of ten dollars ; 
 and the officer giving such notice shall be authorized to cause 
 such nuisance or annoyance to be abated, and the city trea- 
 surer shall pay the expense thereof ; for which, together with 
 the penalty aforesaid, the said owner or occupant shall be liable, 
 and the same shall be collected for the use of said city, by 
 proper legal process before any court of competent jurisdic- 
 tion. 
 
 Sec. 3. Whenever it shall appear to the satisfaction of 
 either of the members of the committee on nuisances that 
 there exists upon premises owned or occupied by any person, 
 any matter or thing injurious to the health of the inhabitants 
 of any part of the city, or which in their judgment may origin- 
 ate or conduce to the spreading of any infectious or conta- 
 gious disease, and that the expense of abating such nuisance 
 or danger to health shall be estimated at more than ten dol- 
 lars, it shall be the duty of said committee, or any of them, 
 to report the same in writing to the mayor, setting forth the 
 particulars of such nuisance as nearly as may be ; and the 
 mayor shall, upon receiving such report, notify the owner or 
 occupant of the premises upon which such nuisance exists, or 
 the persons who may h'dve etected, continued or permitted 
 such nuisance, to appear before the board of aldermen at 
 such time as the mayor shall appoint, to shew cause why such 
 proceedings as are by law authorized should not be had to 
 abate such nuisance. 
 
1 16 DEAD BODIES OF ANIMALS. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to the burial of the dead bodies of 
 
 animals. 
 
 Section i Section 
 
 1. Bodies of animals to be buried more 2. Penalty, 
 than three feet deep. ] 
 
 It is ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, as 
 follows, viz: 
 
 Section 1. No person shall bury or cause to be buried 
 the body of any horse, ass, mule, ox, cow, bull, hog, or other 
 large animal, within the limits of this city, unless in such man- 
 ner that every part or portion of such body shall be at least 
 three feet below the natural surface of the ground where such 
 body is buried. 
 
 Sec. 2. Every person violating the provisions of the pre- 
 ceding section shall forfeit and pay a fine of not less than five 
 nor more than twenty dollars, to be recovered to and for the 
 use of the city before any court of competent jurisdiction, by 
 such process as the law directs. 
 
 An Ordinance to prohibit the depositing animal or vegetable 
 substances in certain waters of the city. 
 
 Section 
 1. No person shall throw into public 
 waters any animal substance. 
 
 Section 
 2. Penalty. 
 
 Section 1. Be it ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that no person shall throw, cast or deposit, 
 or cause to be thrown, cast or deposited, into or upon the 
 margin of any pond, river, cove, canal basin or dock, in the 
 city, any animal or vegetable matter or substance whatever. 
 
 Sec 2. That every person so offending shall forfeit and 
 pay a sum not exceeding fifty dollars, nor less than one dol- 
 lar, to and for the use of the city, to be recovered by proper 
 legal process before any court of competent jurisdiction. 
 
PRIVY VAULTS— BATHING. 117 
 
 An Ordinance relative to the removal of the contents of privy 
 
 vaults. 
 
 Section 
 
 3. Not to stop in streets. 
 
 4. Penalties. 
 
 Section 
 
 1. No removal to be made before 10, P. 
 M., between April and November. 
 
 2. Vehicles to be covered, &c. 
 
 Section 1. Be it ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that no person or persons shall, between the 
 first day of May and the first day of November, in any year, 
 carry into or through any pubhc street of said city, any part 
 of the contents of a privy vault, in any cart, wagon or other 
 vehicle whatever, except between the hours of ten o'clock, 
 P. M. and sunrise. 
 
 Sec. 2. That no person or persons shall at any time what- 
 soever carry into or through any pubhc street of said city, 
 any part of the contents of a privy vault, in any cart, wagon 
 or other vehicle, which shall not be effectually covered and 
 water-tight. 
 
 Sec. 3. That no such cart, wagon or other vehicle what- 
 ever, having therein any part of the contents of a privy vault, 
 shall be permitted to stand (except while loading) in any pub- 
 lic street of said city. 
 
 Sec 4. That in case of violation of any of the provisions 
 in the first or second sections mentioned, the owner or own- 
 ers, driver or drivers, of any such cart, wagon or other vehicle, 
 shall forfeit and pay the sum of five dollars ; and for any vio- 
 lation of the third section hereof, such owner or owners, dri- 
 ver or drivers, shall forfeit and pay the sum of two dollars ; 
 which penalties shall be recovered to and for the use of the 
 city, by proper legal process before any court of competent 
 jurisdiction. 
 
 An Ordinance to prohibit bathing in certain places. 
 
 Section | Section 
 
 1. No person to bathe within certain lim- I 2, Penalty, 
 its in day time. ' | 
 
 It is ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, as 
 follows, viz : 
 
 Section 1. No person shall, for the purpose of swimming 
 or bathing, go into any of the waters of the harbor, cove, riv- 
 ers, or Blackstone canal, between the time of sunrising and 
 one hour after sunset, within the following limits, viz. : Be- 
 ginning at a point on said canal twenty rods above the guard 
 
tl8 
 
 LAMP POSTS, FENCES, &c. 
 
 gate, near the print works of Philip Allen & Son, and at a 
 point on the Moshassuck river twenty rods above the mills for- 
 merly owned by the United Manufacturing Company, and ex- 
 tending on the east side of said waters to the railroad bridge, 
 and on the north side of said waters to the northwesterly cor- 
 ner of the state prison lot ; and extending on the west side of 
 said waters from Carpenter's Point to the city hospital lot ; 
 nor into the Wonasquatucket river between the bridge on the 
 Wonasquatucket turnpike and the line of the town of John- 
 ston. 
 
 Sec. 2. Every person offending against the provisions of 
 this ordinance shall forfeit and pay the sum of two dollars, to 
 be recovered for the use of the city by proper legal process, 
 before any court of competent jurisdiction. 
 
 Section 
 
 2. No person shall paint or deface any lamp 
 post, house, &c. — penalty. 
 
 An Ordinance to prevent injury to lamp posts, fences and 
 
 buildings. 
 
 Section 
 
 1 . No person shall injure lamp posts, fences 
 &c. — penalty. 
 
 Be it ordained by the city council of the city of Providence, as 
 follows, viz : 
 
 Section 1 . If any person shall maliciously, wantonly or 
 carelessly break, throw down, extinguish or otherwise injure 
 any lamp or lantern, erected for the purpose of hghting any 
 street, highway, bridge, wharf or public place in this city, 
 whether the same shall have been erected by the city or any 
 other corporation, or by private individuals, such person so of- 
 fending shall, upon conviction before any court of competent 
 jurisdiction, forfeit and pay the sum of not less than five nor 
 more than twenty dollars, to and for the use of the city. 
 
 Sec. 2. If any person shall maliciously, wantonly or care- 
 lessly daub with paint, cut, break or otherwise injure, or by 
 scratching or writing with paint, blacking, red chalk, or in 
 any other way or manner deface any post, lamp post, fence, 
 tree box, house or other building, situate in or upon any 
 street, highway, bridge, wharf or public place in this city ; or 
 any ornament or appurtenance of such post, lamp post, fence, 
 tree box, house or other building, such person so offending 
 shall, upon conviction before any court of competent jurisdic- 
 tion, forfeit and pay the sum of not less than five, nor more 
 than twenty dollars, to and for the use of the city. 
 
PUMPS AND WELLS.-DOGS. 
 
 ud 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to the city pumps and wells. 
 
 Section I Section 
 
 1. No clothes to be washed at pumps. | 2. Penalty. 
 
 Section 1. Be it ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence^ that no person shall wash any clothes, cloth- 
 ing, utensil or other article or thing whatever, in any wa- 
 tering-trough attached to any city pump or well ; nor in any 
 way or manner render the water in such trough or well unfit 
 for use ; nor injure any such pump or well or the appurte- 
 nances thereof; nor waste the water issuing therefrom. 
 
 Sec. 2. That every person offending against the pro- 
 visions of this ordinance, or any part thereof, shall forfeit and 
 pay a sum not exceeding twenty dollars, nor less than two 
 dollars, to and for the use of the city, to be recovered by 
 proper legal process before any court of competent juris- 
 diction. 
 
 An Ordinance in relation to dogs. 
 
 Section I Section 
 
 1. No dog to go at large between May | 3. Dogs killed to be buried. 
 
 and November, except muzzled, &c. 4. Reward for killing dogs. ' 
 
 2. Penalty. > 
 
 Section 1 . Be it ordained by the city council of the city 
 of Providence, that no person shall suffer or permit any dog 
 belonging to or kept by him or her, or which shall be under 
 his or her care or control, to be or run at large in said city, 
 between the first day of June and the first day of November 
 in each and every year, unless such dog shall have securely 
 put on a strong and sufficient muzzle or strap over its jaws, 
 so as effectually to prevent such dog from biting, and shall 
 also have around its neck a collar of metal or leather with a 
 metal plate, upon which metal collar or plate the christian 
 and surname of the owner of such dog shall be legibly, plainly 
 and durably stamped, written or engraved. 
 
 Sec. 2. That whosoever shall violate any provision in the 
 preceding section contained shall forfeit and pay the sum of 
 five dollars, to and for the use of the city, to be recovered by 
 proper legal process before any court of competent jurisdiction. 
 
 Sec 3. That every dog found at large, in violation of the 
 first section hereof, shall be immediately killed, and his body 
 buried at least three feet below the surface of the ground, 
 either in the piece of ground belonging to the city, situate 
 north of and adjoining the proprietors' burial ground on the 
 
120 
 
 ANIMALS GOING AT LARGE. 
 
 west side of the river, or in any part of the north burial ground, 
 without the fence. 
 
 Sec. 4. That any person who shall kill any full grown dog, 
 being or running at large in violation of this ordinance, shall 
 be entitled to the sum of one dollar for each and every dog 
 so killed and buried in pursuance of this ordinance ; provided 
 he present and prove his claim therefor before the board of 
 aldermen, on the Monday next following the time said claim 
 shall have accrued. 
 
 An Ordinance to prevent the going at large of certain animals. 
 
 Section 
 
 1. No cattle, &c., except cows, to go at 
 large. 
 
 2. Cows going at large to wear collars. 
 
 Section 
 
 3. Penalties. 
 
 4. Swine found at large to be forfeited. 
 
 It is ordained by the city council of the city of Providenece, as 
 follows, viz : 
 
 Section 1. From and after the first day of May next, it 
 shall not be lawful for any horses, sheep, hogs, goats or cattle 
 of any kind excepting cows, to go at large within the limits 
 of said city. 
 
 Sec. 2. From and after the day aforesaid, it shall not be 
 lawful for any cow to go at large within the limits of said city, 
 unless said cow shall have around her neck a substantial leath- 
 er or metal collar, with the name of her owner distinctly 
 stamped, printed or engraved thereon. 
 
 Sec. 3. Every owner of any animal found at large con- 
 trary to the provisions of this ordinance shall forfeit and pay 
 a fine of not less than one dollar, nor more than twenty dol- 
 lars, to be recovered for the use of the city by proper legal 
 process before any court of competent jurisdiction. 
 
 Sec. 4. All swine found running at large within the Hm- 
 its of this city are hereby declared to be forfeited ; and it 
 shall be lawful for any citizen who is entitled to vote for gene- 
 ral officers in this state, to seize or cause to be seized any 
 swine found running at large within the hmits of the city, and 
 the same to convert to his own use, or to deliver to the keep- 
 er of the Dexter Asylum for the use of the poor persons in 
 that institution. 
 
BOWLING ALLEYS. 121 
 
 Resolution defining limits of that part of the city in which 
 howling alleys may not be kept. 
 
 Whereas, by the provisions of the act to regulate bowHng 
 alleys, it is forbidden to keep any bowling alleys in the com- 
 pact part of any town or city ; and it is also required that the 
 city council define the hmits of the compact part of this city, 
 therefore, 
 
 Resolved^ That the compact part of this city is hereby de- 
 clared to be all that part included within Hues drawn as fol- 
 lows, viz : Beginning at the north-westerly corner of the state 
 prison yard, and running in a straight course to the junction 
 of Smith and Davis-streets, thence through Davis-street to 
 Orms-street, thence through Orms-street to Charles-street, 
 thence through Charles-street to Randall-street, thence through 
 Randall-street to a point four hundred feet westerly from 
 North Main-street, thence northerly, holding that distance 
 from North Main-street, to Thurber's lane, thence through 
 said lane and across North Main-street to a point four hun- 
 dred feet easterly from North Main-street, thence in a straight 
 line to the junction of Olney and Prospect-streets, thence 
 through Prospect street to Angell-street, thence through An- 
 gell-street to Hope-street, thence through Hope-street to a 
 point two hundred feet southerly from Wickenden-street, 
 thence westerly parallel to Wickenden-street and continuing 
 in the same direction to the river, thence across the river to 
 the foot of Point-street, thence through Point-street to Plane- 
 street, thence following the fences around the burying grounds 
 to the northwest corner of the Benevolent Society's burying 
 ground, thence in a straight line to the junction of Pawtuxet 
 and Pearl-streets, thence through Pearl-street to Cranston- 
 street, to the easterly line of the Dexter farm, and following 
 said Une to High-street, thence through High-street to Love- 
 lane, thence through Love-lane to Carpenter-street, thence 
 through Carpenter-street to Dean-street, thence through 
 Dean-street to its junction with AtwelPs Avenue, and thence 
 in a straight line to the first named bound, viz., the north-west 
 corner of the state prison yard. 
 16 
 
INDEX. 
 
 A. 
 
 Aldermen, how elected, 9 
 
 to be sworn, 4 
 
 salaries of, 6 
 Board of may direct a new election of mayor and aldermen 
 
 in case of vacancy, 9 
 
 what shall constitute a quorum of, 10 
 
 may choose a president pro tempore ^ 10 
 may liberate persons committed to prison by their order in 
 
 certain cases, 19 
 
 may recommit in case, &c., , 19 
 
 may appoint special constables, 21 
 authorized to prevent building of wharves, streets, &c., in 
 
 case, 36 
 to regulate the erection and operating steam boilers, 44 
 ordinance establishing the seal of, 75 
 city clerk to be the keeper of the seal of, 76 
 to provide for lighting the streets, 84 
 acting ex ojficio as board of health, (see ordinance establish- 
 ing quarantine,) 104 
 may fix term of quarantine, 108 
 may make further regulations and suspend the operation of 
 
 the ordinance respecting quarantine, 108 
 Animals — horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, goats and geese, act authori- 
 zing the city to restrain same from going at large, 67 
 swine running at large may be forfeited for the use of the 
 
 poor of the city, 67 
 
 dead bodies of, to be buried more than three feet deep, 116 
 
 penalty for violating said ordinance, 116 
 
 restrained from going at large, 120 
 
 declared forfeited, 120 
 
 Animal substances not to be deposited in certain waters of the city, 116 
 
 Audit — ordinance designating the duties of the city audit, 78 
 
 Awnings over side-walks how to be placed, 87 
 
 B. 
 
 Bathing, ordinance to prohibit in certain places, 117 
 
 penalty for violation, 118 
 
 Beef and Pork, act authorizing the city of Providence to elect an 
 
 inspector of, 65 
 
 inspector, his rights and fees, 65 
 
 to give bond and be sworn, 65 
 
124 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Bells, ordinance to prevent the ringing of between sunset and one 
 
 hour after sunrise, 114 
 Boilers, steam, not to be erected unless by permission of board of 
 
 aldermen, 44 
 
 penalty for violation, 44 
 
 additional penalty for operating same, without permission, '45 
 
 Bonfire not to be made in public street, 68 
 
 Bowling Alleys, limits of the city defined in which they may not 
 
 be kept, 121 
 
 Bridges, public, ordinance prescribing duties of overseer of, 80 
 
 Bridge, Weybosset, vessels not to lie fastened to, 33 
 
 Buildings, act concerning the erection of, 41 
 
 height which the same may be built within certain limits, 41 
 
 partition between double houses how to be built, 42 
 
 not to be removed without permission of city council, 42 
 
 limits defined in which restrictions in relation to building 
 
 operates, 42 
 
 Burial Ground, north, ordinance relative to. 111 
 vaults not to be built within, nor enclosures made, except by 
 
 leave of the city council, 1 1 1 
 
 penalty for violation, 111 
 
 duties of the overseer of, 111 
 
 Carriages, act authorizing the town council of the town of Provi- 
 dence to prevent the passing of, through the streets adja- 
 cent to the houses of public worship, on Sundays, during 
 
 the time of divine service, 32 
 Chimneys, &c., committee to superintend the building of, may 
 
 order alterations, &c. of, in case, &c., 89 
 
 penalty for not complying with such order, 90 
 
 City Audit, ordinance designating the duties of, 78 
 
 City Charter, 3 
 
 City Clerk, how chosen, . 10 
 
 general duties of, 10 
 
 to be ex officio clerk of town meetings in relation to Dexter 
 
 donation, &c. 4 
 to notify town meetings in relation to Dexter donation, &c. 76 
 to publish notifications of ward meetings for elections, 77 
 ordinance prescribing the duties of, in certrin cases, 78 
 City Council, general powers and duties of, *' 5 
 to have custody of city property, 6 
 may sell, let, or purchase property in the name of the city, 6 
 to publish statement of receipts and expenditures and sched- 
 ule of city property, 6 
 members of to be inelegible to any office of profit, in the gift 
 
 of the city council, 6 
 
 may remove officers for misconduct, 6 
 to have power to appoint a keeper of the house of correction 
 
 and other officers, 15 
 
 to make regulations for the house of correction, 15 
 to make annnal appointments of certain officers, in addition 
 to those specially designated and required to be appointed 
 
 by the city charter, 74 
 
INDEX. ^^^ 
 
 City Council to appoint undertakers, 109 
 authorized to extend limits within which certain buildings 
 
 may be erected, 45 
 
 to appoint firemen, 55 
 
 to appoint a court of magistrates, 21 
 
 City Marshal to cause bells to be rung for ward meetings for 
 
 elections, 77 
 to cause bells to be rung for town meetings in relation to 
 
 Dexter donation, &,c., 77 
 
 ordinance prescribing the duties of, 79 
 
 City Sergeant, ordinance prescribing the duties of in certain cases, 78 
 
 City Seal, ordinance establishing the, 75 
 
 city clerk to be keeper of the, 76 
 
 City Officers, elected by the city council to be chosen in conven- 
 tion, 5 
 fees and duties of, to be defined by the city council, when 
 
 not defined by law, 6 
 
 may be removed by city council for misconduct, 6 
 
 City Pumps and Wells, ordinance relative to, 119 
 
 clothes, &c., not to be washed in troughs attached to, 119 
 
 penalty for violation of the ordinance, 119 
 
 City Debt, ordinance in relation to the, 99 
 
 committee for its reduction to be annually appointed, 99 
 
 treasurer authorized to issue notes in certain cases, 99 
 
 treasurer to make quarterly reports of issues- and payments, 99 
 
 register of city debt to be kept, and recorded by city clerk, 99 
 
 voters paying a property tax have a right to inspect the same, 99 
 
 fund for extinguishing debt, 99 
 
 Clerk of the Market, duties of 92, 93, 94, 95 
 
 to complain to city marshal for violations of city ordinances 
 
 in the market place, 95 
 
 Constables, special, may be appointed by mayor or board of aldermen, 20 
 
 powers of, 21 
 
 Commissioners, street, (see " Ordinance establishing street com- 
 missioners," 80 
 
 Common Council, members of how to be elected, ' 12 
 
 to be sworn, 4 
 
 to receive no compensation, 6 
 
 officers of how and when to be elected, 10 
 
 what shall constitute a quorum, 10 
 
 Correction, house of, (see " house of correction,") 15 
 
 Courts established, 8 
 
 seals established, 75 
 
 Court of Magistrates, act to establish a, 21 
 to consist of seven justices, 21 
 jurisdiction of, 21 
 powers given by city charter and house of correction act con- 
 continued to be exercised as formerly, 21 
 proceedings in case of examination of persons charged with 
 
 crime, 22 
 
 persons refusing, dc-c, 22 
 
 proceedings in criminal cases, 22 
 
 what shall constitute a quorum of said conrt, 23 
 
 to elect a presiding justice, 23 
 
 to establish a seal, 23 
 
 when to meet, 23 
 
126 INDEX. 
 
 Court of Magistrates, appeals from how to be made, 23 
 
 clerk to be elected, his duties, 23 
 
 penalty for neglect of clerk, 24 
 
 forms of writs, proceedings and powers of, 24 
 
 fees of, 25 
 
 Cove, no person to build any wharf in, without permission, 36 
 
 penalty, 36 
 
 Cows allowed to go at large, 120 
 
 to wear collars around neck, with owner's name, 120 
 
 penalty for violation, 120 
 
 Cross Walks, ordinance in relation to, 88 
 
 no vehicle to stand on, 88 
 
 D. 
 
 Dexter Donation, town meetings to be holden respecting, 4 
 town meetings respecting, how to be notified, 76 
 times and place of holding, 76 
 who entitled to vote in said town meetings, 14 
 Disorderly Persons, who shall be deemed to be, 18 
 to be committed to prison, 18 
 Dogs, act concerning, 66 
 town council may make laws in relation to, 66 
 town council may tax owners of, 67 
 killing sheep or cattle, owners of dogs to be liable for dam- 
 ages, 67 
 to be killed, on second judgment for damages against the 
 
 owner, 67 
 not to run at large between the first of June and the first of 
 
 November, except muzzled, &,c., 119 
 
 penalty for violation, 119 
 
 at large in violation of ordinance, to be killed and buried, 119 
 
 reward for killing dogs, 120 
 
 Dead, an ordinance in relation to the interment of the, 109 
 
 physicians to give certificates of disease, 109 
 
 undertakers to demand certificate before interment, 109 
 
 penalty for not furnishing certificate, 109 
 
 monthly return of interments to be made, 109 
 
 abstract of same to be published, 110 
 
 funerals to be in day time, 110 
 
 depth of the graves of the, 110 
 
 no burials except in grounds designated, 111 
 Drains, in what manner to be laid through private or public lands 
 
 or streets, 39 
 
 expense of, to be estimated by commissioners, 39 
 
 how to be paid, 39 
 
 city treasurer to sue for, in case, 40 
 
 estates to be liable for, _ 40 
 Drunkenness — persons intoxicated may be fined or imprisoned, in 
 certain, 
 
 E. 
 
 19 
 
 Elections, manner of notifying ward meetings for, 77 
 
 Electors of President and Vice-President of the United States, 
 
 how chosen, *" 
 
 Encroachments on streets prohibited, ^4, 85 
 
 penalty for so doing, 96 
 
INDEX. 127 
 
 Engine Houses, &c., under control of fire-wards, 88 
 
 Engine Companies, members of, appointed by the city council, 55 
 
 number of, 55 
 
 privileges of, 56 
 
 Fbrry Boats, act concerning in the harbor of Providence, 37 
 
 mayor and aldermen to establish ferries, 37 
 
 mayor and aldermen to affix penalties, and rates of ferriage, 37 
 
 Fire, act providing in case of the breaking out of, in Providence, 53 
 owners of houses pulled down or blown up in time of, to be 
 
 paid therefor, in case, &c., 53 
 
 stealing in time of, how punished, 55 
 
 ordinance for the prevention of, 89 
 committee to superintend building of chimneys, &c., may 
 
 order the removal of chimneys, stoves, &c., 89 
 
 penalty for not complying with said order, 90 
 lighted candles and lamps not to be carried into barns, &;C., 
 
 except, &c., 90 
 
 how to be carried in the street, 90 
 
 shavings, &/C., to be burnt, 90 
 minor or apprentice violating ordinance for prevention of 
 
 fires, parent or master to be liable, 91 
 
 Fire Companies in Providence, act empowering to inflict penalties, 56 
 
 Firemen, privileges of, 55 
 
 in the village of Olneyville, act concerning, 56 
 
 Firewards, to be annually chosen, 54 
 
 general powers and duties of, 54 
 
 penalty for disobeying in time of fire, 55 
 
 to see that law respecting gunpowder is complied with, 49 
 
 may search for gunpowder unlawfully kept, 50 
 may order gunpowder to be removed or destroyed in time of 
 
 fire, 50 
 
 authorized to purchase new engines and apparatus, 89 
 
 authorized to cause engines and apparatus to be repaired, 89 
 to cause reservoirs to be built, and forcing pumps to be 
 
 placed, 89 
 
 presidents of, to be annually chosen, 53 
 may direct houses, &c., to be pulled down or blown up, in 
 
 time of fire, 53 
 
 Fire-Arms, act relative to the discharge of, 68 
 
 and the firing and selling of fire- works, 68 
 
 forfeiture for making bonfire in public street, &c., 68 
 
 loaded with shot, &c., not to be discharged in streets, 68 
 
 not to be discharged within certain limits, 68 
 
 forfeiture for firing gun, &,c., between sunrise and sunset, 68 
 
 Fireworks, forfeiture for selling fireworks without license, or using 
 
 the same, 69 
 
 Freemen, vi^ho are declared, 14 
 
 Funerals to take place between sunrise and sunset, unless other- 
 wise permitted or directed by the board of health, 110 
 
 Fences, penalty for defacing, 118 
 
G. 
 
 Goats not allowed to go at large, j20 
 
 Grain, Salt and Sea Coal, act to regulate the measuring of, 57 
 
 certain towns shall elect measurers, other towns may, 57 
 
 measurers to be engaged, 57 
 
 may appoint deputies, 57 
 
 fees of measurers, §7 
 
 imported, to be measured, 57 
 
 sold, to be measured, in case, gjg 
 
 penalty for selling without being measured, '^ 
 
 penalty on measurers for refusal or neglect, 58 
 
 sold by weight, not to be measured, 58 
 
 Graves, depth of, jjq 
 
 Guns, not to be fired loaded with bullet or shot, across any road or 
 
 street, 68 
 
 forfeiture for firing muskets, &c., in Providence, 68 
 
 forfeiture for firing gun, (fee, between sunset and sunrise, 69 
 ordinance to prevent the firing of, &lc., in the streets and 
 
 other public places, 113 
 Gunpowder, act regulating the storage, safe keeping and transpor- 
 tation of, in the town of Providence, 47 
 not to be kept, in quantities exceeding five pounds, ex- 
 cept, &c., 47 
 not to be sold without license, 48 
 kept, &/C., contrarjf to provisions of act, may be libelled, 49 
 process against, 49 
 penalty for rescuing, when seized, 4^ 
 fireward to see that law respecting is complied with, 50 
 may be removed or destroyed by firewards in time of fire, 50 
 persons injured by the explosion of, when unlawfully kept, 
 &/C., to be entitled to damages, 50 
 vessels with gunpowder on board, where to anchor, 50 
 where to be landed from vessels, 51 
 how to be secured when transported, 51 
 how to be transported, 61 
 licenses for sale of. 51 
 how to be kept by licensed persons, 51 
 persons licensed to sell, to keep up signs, 52 
 penalties for violation of act respecting, 52 
 
 H. 
 
 ^^AY Market, ordinance in relation to the, 95 
 
 hay to stand for sale in the, 95 
 
 city scale to be kept in repair, 95 
 
 city treasurer to appoint weigher, 95 
 
 Harbor and Public Waters, act relative to the, 33 
 town of Providence authorized to prevent encroachments on 
 
 the, 34 
 
 bounds of the, 34 
 
 not to be obstructed, 34 
 
 obstructions of, how to be removed, 34 
 penalty for violating laws, &c.. relative to encroachments or 
 
 obstructions in, and for the preservation of the channel, 34 
 
 act in addition to said act, 35 
 
INDEX. 
 
 1^ 
 
 Harbor and Public Waters — no person to fill out any part of the 
 waters covered by ordinary tides, unless permanent wall be 
 built, 35 
 penalty for so doing, 35 
 act in addition to said act, 35 
 no person to build any wharf, &c., in cove, without permis- 
 sion from the board of aldermen, 36 
 board of aldermen authorized to prevent building of wharves, 
 
 streets, &c., in cove, 36 
 
 city not required to repair streets, until declared public, 37 
 
 act in addition to said act, 69 
 the city council may authorize railroad depot upon public 
 
 waters, 69 
 
 private property protected, 70 
 Harbor Master, act to authorize the town council of the town of 
 
 Providence to appoint a, 37 
 
 Health Officer, (see ordinance respecting quarantine,) 103 
 
 Highways, act for laying out, 26 
 town not obliged to repair them until specially ordered by the 
 
 town council, 26 
 
 certain streets declared to be public highways, 26 
 act concerning the establishment of highways in the city of 
 
 Providence, 27 
 
 may be laid out on petition, 28 
 
 plats of which have been recorded, may be established, 28 
 
 may be laid out by mayor and aldermen in certain cases, 5J^ 
 
 may be laid out on petition in certain cases, 28 
 lands used as a highway for twenty years, may be declared 
 
 public highway, 29 
 
 surveyor of, to superintend the laying or altering of sidewalks, 30 
 
 Hogs and Swine prohibited from going at large, 120 
 
 going at large, declared forfeited, 120 
 
 Horses prohibited from running at large, 120 
 
 every owner to be fined, 120 
 
 Hospital, (see ordinance respecting quarantine,) 103 
 
 House of Correction — act authorizing the city of Providence to 
 
 establish a, and for other purposes, 15 
 
 keeper of, to be elected by the city council, 15 
 
 to make report to the supreme judicial court, at every term, 15 
 
 other officers of, 15 
 
 city council to have power to make regulations, 16 
 
 commitments to be in writing, — by whom to be executed, 16 
 
 where to be made, 17 
 to be deemed a common jail, so far that habeas corpus act may 
 
 apply to it, 16 
 
 persons committed to be kept at hard labor, 17 
 
 vagrants to be committed to, 17 
 
 disorderly persons to be committed to, 18 
 
 intoxicated persons to be committed, 19 
 
 board of aldermen may discharge from and recommit to, 19 
 
 act in amendment of said act, 20 
 
 mayor and aldermen may liberate persons committed to, 20 
 
 1. 
 
 Inspector of Beep and Pork, act authorizing the city of Provi- 
 dence to elect an, 65 
 
 17 
 
130 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Inspector of Beep and Pork, rights, powers and fees of, 65 
 
 to give bond and be sworn, 65 
 
 Interments, monthly returns of to be made, 109 
 
 J. 
 
 Justices of the Police Court, jurisdiction of, 13 
 
 proceedings may be had by warrant or writ, 13 
 
 L. 
 
 Lamp Posts, no person shall injure, 118 
 penalty for so doing, 118 
 Licenses to sell gunpowder, how granted, 48 
 Lighting Streets, board of aldermen to provide for, 84 
 Lime, act regulating the storing of in the town of Providence, 46 
 not to be stored below the highest tide-water mark, 47 
 stored contrary to the provisions of act, may be removed, 47 
 expense of removal of, how to be paid, 47 
 owner of may be fined, 47 
 fire, happening by illegal storing of, 47 
 occupant of building to be fined, 47 
 Low Grounds, covered with stagnant water, act for filling up certain, 38 
 Lumber and Wood, act regulating the piling of, within certain lim- 
 its in Providence, 46 
 not to be piled to a greater height than thirteen feet, within 
 
 certain limits, 46 
 Lumber, act regulating the survey and admeasurement of, brought 
 
 by water, or imported into this state, 59 
 surveyor general for Providence to be appointed by the city 
 
 council, 59 
 
 duty of, 59 
 
 deputy surveyors of, to be appointed by surveyor general, 59 
 
 duties of surveyors, 59 
 
 five kinds of, 59 
 
 spruce, hemlock and juniper, kinds of, 60 
 
 ash, maple and hard wood, kinds of, 60 
 
 how to be surveyed and marked, and by whom, 60 
 
 mahogany, cedar and cherry tree, how surveyed, 61 
 
 for ship-timber, how surveyed, 61 
 
 fees for surveying, 61 
 
 imported, to be surveyed, 62 
 
 penalty for buying or selling without survey, 62 
 
 penalty for defacing surveyor's marks, 62 
 
 penally for fraud in surveying, 62 
 
 surveyor general of, to re-survey in case, 63 
 
 surveyor general of, to make return of lumber surveyed, 63 
 
 surveyors of, to be appointed annually in each town, 63 
 
 surveyors of, to keep a true record of all lumber surveyed, 64 
 
 made in this state, not required to be surveyed, 64 
 
 act in addition to said act, 64 
 
 soft pine, how measured, 64 
 
 M. 
 
 Magistrates, court of, (see court of magistrates,) 21 
 Marshal, city, to cause bells to be rung for ward meetings for 
 
 elections, 77 
 
 for town meetings relative to Dexter donation, 77 
 
INDEX. 
 
 131 
 
 Marshal, city, ordinance prescribing the duties of, 79 
 
 Market Place, ordinance describing and establishing the, 91 
 
 limits of the, 91 
 
 tents and booths not to be erected within the limits of the, 94 
 
 Markets and Market Place, ordinance for the regulation of the, 92 
 
 duty of clerk of the market, 92 
 horses and carriages not to stand in, except as directed by 
 
 the clerk, 92 
 
 market hours, 92 
 
 stalls, scales and weights in, 93 
 
 offal to be removed from, 93 
 
 stalls to be leased, 93 
 
 how to be underlet, 94 
 
 all articles to be weighed on city scales, 94 
 
 sale of tainted provisions in, prohibited, 94 
 
 how many casks may be kept in, 94 
 
 no tents or booths allowed in, 94 
 
 Fish market, regulations of the, 94 
 
 stalls reserved in, 94 
 
 how leased, 94 
 
 how underlet, 94 
 
 time of business in, 94 
 
 offal, how disposed of, 94 
 intemperate persons prohibited from using or tending any of 
 
 the stalls in, or loitering in or about the, 95 
 clerk to complain to city marshal of violations of ordinances 
 
 committed in market place, 95 
 
 hay market, ordinance in relation to, 95 
 
 hay to stand for sale in the, 95 
 
 city scale to be kept in repair, 95 
 
 weigher to be appointed by the city treasurer, 95 
 
 Mayor, how and when to be elected, 9, 10 
 
 general powers and duties of, 4 
 
 salary of, 5 
 
 to notify persons complained of as permitting nuisances, 115 
 
 to have power to remove paupers, 25 
 
 to sign warrants, commitments, or orders of removal, 25 
 Mayor and Aldermen, powers of former town council transferred 
 
 to the, to appoint one of the aldermen to act as municipal 
 
 judge in case, 8 
 
 authorised to appoint watchmen, 20 
 
 authorised to appoint special constables, 20 
 
 authorised to establish ferries, 37 
 required to give information of offences against the act for 
 
 the erection of buildings in Providence, 45 
 Mayor or Aldermen authorised to liberate persons from jail, in 
 
 certain cases, 20 
 
 Municipal Court, to hold regular terms, 7 
 
 to exercise probate jurisdiction, 7 
 
 original and appellate jurisdiction of, defined, 7 
 
 may empanel juries, 7 
 
 process from how to be served, 7 
 
 proceedings of, how to be recorded, 7 
 
 appeals from the, 8 
 
 one of the aldermen to act as municipal judge in case, 8 
 
132 INDEX 
 
 Municipal Court, ordinance appointing times and places for hold- 
 ing, , ^ 76 
 ordinance establishing the seal of, 75 
 clerk of, to be the keeper of the seal of, 76 
 
 N. 
 
 North Burial Ground, ordinance in relation to the, 111 
 vaults not to be built, nor enclosures made in, except by coi^- 
 
 sent of the city council. 111 
 
 penalty for violation, 111 
 
 overseer of, to keep fenc3s of in repair. 111 
 
 to report violations of ordinance respecting to the loaypr, 111 
 
 Nuisances, ordinance in relation to, 114 
 
 duties of committee on, 114 
 
 which can be abated for ten dollars, 115 
 
 proceedings, 115 
 
 penalty, 1 15 
 
 other nuisances, 115 
 
 proceedings, 115 
 
 o. 
 
 Officers, certain, to be annually appointed, in addition to those 
 specially designated and required to be appointed by the 
 
 city charter, 74 
 whose appointment is in conformity to city ordinances or 
 
 regulations, 74 
 
 Q1.NEYVILLE, act respecting firemen in the village of, 56 
 
 Ordinances, titles of, 71 
 
 when to go into operation, 73 
 
 repeal of former, 73 
 
 how to be published, 73 
 
 hereafter enacted, to be published, 78 
 
 enacted to be published once in two years, 78 
 
 p. 
 
 Paupers, mayor to have power to remove, 23 
 warrants, &lc., to be signed by mayor and sealed with city 
 
 seal, ^ 
 
 P4.VEMENTS, how to be taken up for digging trenches, 86 
 
 light to be kept, 86 
 
 Physicians to give certificate of disease of any person dying, 109 
 
 penalty for neglect to do so, 109 
 
 Police Court, jurisdiction of, 8 
 
 to record its judgments, Slc. 8 
 
 appeals from, 8 
 
 any one of the justices of, to have the same jurisdiction as 
 
 was exercised exclusively by the police court, 13 
 Poor, act in amendment of an act for the relief, support, employ- 
 ment and removal of the, 25 
 Pork and Beef, act authorising the city of Providence to elect an 
 
 inspector of, 65 
 
 inspector of, his rights, powers and fees, 65 
 
 to give bond and be sworn, 65 
 
INDEX. l^ 
 
 Presidents of Firewards, to be annually appointed, SQr 
 
 powers and duties of, 53 
 
 disobedience to, how punished, 55 
 
 Privy Vaults, ordinance relative to the removal of the contents of, 117 
 no removal to be made before 10 P. M., between April and 
 
 November, 117 
 
 vehicles to be covered, and not to stand in street, 117 
 
 penalties, 117 
 
 Providence, city of, an act to incorporate, city charter, 3 
 
 an act in amendment of said act, 12 
 
 an act in addition to said act, 13 
 
 Public Schools, freemen empowered to assess and collect taxes 
 
 for support of, 14 
 
 ordinance in relation to, 100 
 
 number and description of, established, 100 
 
 who are to be instructed therein, 100 
 
 character of instruction in, 100 
 
 high school, 100 
 
 number of pupils in high school, 100 
 
 ages at which pupils may be admitted to, 101 
 time pupils may remain in high school — who may attend it, 101 
 
 superintendent of public schools, by whom appointed, 101 
 
 duties of superintendent of, 101 
 
 commencement of school year, 101 
 
 schools for colored children, 101 
 
 tuition for colored children may be paid in certain cases, 101 
 
 salaries of teachers, 101 
 
 school committee to control money appropriated for schools, 103 
 
 duties and authority of school committee, 102 
 
 Public Watch, ordinance for the establishment of, 112 
 
 board of aldermen may appoint watchmen, 112 
 
 duties of watchmen, 112 
 persons arrested by watchmen may be discharged in certain 
 
 cases, 1 12 
 instructions to watchmen — mayor may suspend watchmen 
 
 from duty, 112 
 
 compensation of watchmen, 112 
 
 Pumps and Wells, ordinance relative to, 119 
 
 clothes, &/C., not to be washed in troughs attached to, 119 
 
 penalty for offending, 119 
 
 firewards authorised to construct forcing pumps, 89 
 
 Quarantine, ordinance respecting, 103 
 quarantine ground, bounds of, 103 
 what vessels may pass, by leave of health officer, 103 
 what vessels shall not unload at the wharves, 103 
 vessels laden with salt, 103 
 vessels in ballast, 103 
 vessels passing Field's Point in the night, to anchor, 105 
 persons going on board of vessel, to remain during quaran- 
 tine, 105 
 hides, horns, &c., not to be landed, except, &c. 105 
 bedding, &c., to be washed, 105 
 
134 
 
 INDEX 
 
 duARANTiNE— penalty for refusing to give information to health 
 
 officer, X06 
 
 persons ordered 'to hospital, not to depart without leave, 106 
 no person to go within fifty yards of hospital, except, &-c., 
 
 nurses, 107 
 
 bilge-water when to be pumped from vessels, 107 
 
 rules and regulations for vessels at, 107 
 
 penalty for breach of the rules, 107 
 
 board of aldermen to assign term of quarantine, 108 
 
 may suspend ordinance respecting, 108 
 
 R. 
 
 Railroad Depot, city council may authorize upon public waters, 69 
 
 Representatives to the general assembly, how elected, 10 
 
 to receive certificates of election from the city clerk, 10 
 Representatives to congress, how to be voted for, 10 
 Revelling, &c., ordinance to prevent, in the public streets, 10 
 Riding, act to prevent excessive, in any of the places therein men- 
 tioned, . 32 
 
 penalty for offence against the act, 33 
 
 s. 
 
 Salt, Grain, and Sea Coal, act to regulate the measuring of, 57 
 
 measurers of, to be annually appointed, 57 
 
 duties and compensation of, 57 
 
 to certify, &c. 58 
 
 penalties for breach of act concerning, 58 
 
 Schools, see ("public schools,") 14, 100 
 
 Sea Coal, Salt and Grain, act to regulate the measuring of, 57 
 
 Sealer City, weights and measures to be sealed by, 46 
 
 Seals, ordinance establishing the city seal, and seals for the board 
 
 of aldermen and for the municipal court, 75 
 
 court of magistrates empowered to adopt a, 23 
 Sergeant City, ordinance prescribing the duties of, in certain 
 
 cases, 78 
 Shavings, &c., not to be left in the street, 90 
 carpenters, &c., to remove from shop, 90 
 Sheep not allowed to go at large, 120 
 Shops, dc-c, not to be opened after 11 o'clock, P. M., nor on Sun- 
 days, 113 
 Sidewalks, act concerning, 29 
 act in addition concerning, 31 
 to be built, altered and repaired, at the expense of owners of 
 
 adjoining land, 29 
 commissioners of, to be annually chosen, 29 
 their general duties and powers, 29 
 to notify owners, &,c., of lands, in case, &c., 30 
 proceedings in case of neglect to repair, 30 
 repairs to be done under the inspection of surveyor of high- 
 ways, 30 
 corporations liable to taxation to repair, 31 
 act in amendment of an act concerning, 31 
 powers of sidewalk commissioners vested in city council, or 
 
 officers appointed by them, 31 
 
 ordinance for the preservation of, 86 
 
INDEX. 
 
 135 
 
 Sidewalks, horses and vehicles not to be driven upon, 86 
 
 snow to be removed from, 87 
 
 goods, &c., not to be deposited on, 87 
 
 awning over, how to be placed, 87 
 
 fines for violation of ordinance respecting, when to be sued for, 88 
 
 street commissioners may direct the building of, 82 
 
 Sign Boards, how to be placed, 84 
 
 Slaughter Houses, in the town of Providence, act respecting, 66 
 
 Sliding on sleds, &c., in street, prohibited, 84 
 
 Stagnant Water, act for filling up certain low grounds covered 
 
 with, in the compact part of Providence, 38 
 
 Stores, &c., not to be opened after 11 o'clock, P. M., nor on Sun- 
 day. 113 
 
 Stoves and stove pipes, ^c, committee to superintend the plac- 
 ing of, 89 
 committee may order the removal of, in case, &-c., 90 
 
 Streets and Gangways, act declaring certain private streets and 
 gangways in the town of Providence, to be public high- 
 ways, 26 
 
 Strets and Highways, ordinance relating to, 83 
 
 vehicles not to remain unharnessed in, 84 
 
 goods, &-C., not to be deposited in, 84 
 
 lighting of, board of aldermen to provide for, 84 
 
 playing ball in, prohibited, 84 
 
 sliding in, on sleds, &:,c., prohibited, 84 
 
 sign boards, how to be placed, 84 
 
 staging, &LC., how to be erected, 84 
 
 building materials, not to remain in, 85 
 
 work, how done, 85 
 
 light to be kept, 85 
 
 master workman and employer liable in certain cases, 85 
 
 no coal dust, ashes, ^c, to be thrown into, 85 
 wood, lumber, dec, not to remain in more than twenty-four 
 
 hours, 85 
 
 pavements, how to be taken up, 86 
 
 encroachments on, street commissioners to report to the mayor, 83 
 
 ordinance to prevent revelling and other disturbances in, 112 
 ordinance to prevent the firing of guns, fiec, in, and other 
 
 public places, 113 
 
 street commissioners to make surveys of, 81 
 
 Street Commissioners, an ordinance establishing, 80 
 
 three, to be annually appointed, 80 
 
 duties of, 80 
 
 to make surveys of streets, 81 
 
 to notify parties, . 81 
 
 to fix grades, 81 
 copy of the grade established to be left in the office of the city 
 
 clerk. 81 
 
 appeals, to whom made, 81 
 
 monuments to be fixed, 81 
 
 plat to be recorded, 81 
 
 may direct building of side-walks, 82 
 in case of neglect to build, work to be done by surveyor of 
 
 highways, 82 
 
 may order fences built, or posts, &c., removed, 82 
 
 surveyor to pave gutter in certain cases, 83 
 
136 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Street Commissioners, lo examine lines of street, and report en- 
 croachments, 83 
 compensation of, §3 
 Sunday, no shop, store, dtc, to be opened on, 113 
 Superintendent of public schools, who appointed by, 83 
 Surveyor of Highways, his duties, 101 
 to proceed to build sidewalks, when the owner of the adja- 
 cent estate refuses, 82 
 mode of collecting the expense of building the same of the 
 
 owner, S^ 
 to pave gutters, when owners of property on the street fur- 
 nish curb-stones, 81^ 
 Swine running at large, declared forfeited, 120 
 
 Tax, town of Providence authorised to assess, for free schools, 14 
 
 collector of, to give bond for amount of, 98 
 
 sureties to be approved by board of aldermen, 98 
 
 Tents and Booths, not to be erected in the market place, 98 
 
 Town Meeting to be holden respecting Dexter donation, 4 
 
 times and place of holding, respecting Dexter donation, 76 
 
 who are entitled to vote in said, 14 
 
 u. 
 
 Undertakers, to be appointed by the city council, 109 
 certificate of the physician attending persons dying, to be 
 
 given to, 109 
 
 to enquire for certificate of the physician, 109 
 to make monthly returns to the clerk of the board of health, 
 
 of all interments, &c., 109 
 
 the returns to be recorded. 111 
 
 penalty for violation of the provisions respecting, 110 
 any person other than, shall first obtain permission to manage 
 
 and conduct a funeral, 110 
 
 shall not bury except. 111 
 
 Vaccinated, record of need not be kept under certain circumstances, 68 
 
 Vagrants, who shall be deemed to be, 18 
 
 to be committed to prison, 18 
 
 Vegetable Substances, not to be deposited in certain waters of 
 
 the city, 116 
 
 Vessels not to be fastened to Weybosset bridge, 33 
 
 with gunpowder on board, where to anchor, 50 
 what may pass the quarantine ground by permission of the 
 
 health officer, 103 
 
 which shall not unload at wharf, 104 
 
 loaded with salt, 104 
 
 in ballast, . 104 
 
 passing Field's point, to anchor, 105 
 
 passing quarantine ground without permission, penalty for, 105 
 
 persons going on board, to remain during quarantine — penalty, 105 
 having sickness on board, not to come to wharves during 
 
 quarantine, 105 
 
 rules for, in quarantine, 1^7 
 
INDEX. 
 
 w. 
 
 137 
 
 Wards, division into, 9 
 
 may be altered by the city council, 9 
 
 officers of, when to be elected, 13 
 
 Wardens, when to be elected, 13 
 
 duties of, '9 
 
 ordinance fixing the compensation of, 77 
 
 Ward Clerks, when to be elected, 13 
 
 ordinance fixing the compensation of, 77 
 
 Ward Meetings, what shall constitute a quorum in, 9 
 votes given in at, for representatives to general assembly, to 
 be endorsed with the names of freemen voting — votes given 
 in at, for representatives to general assembly, to be sealed 
 
 up, certified, &,c., 9 
 
 ordinance prescribing the manner of notifying, ^ 77 
 
 Watch, public, ordinance providing for the establishment of, 113 
 
 duties of, 112 
 
 persons arrested by, may be discharged in certain cases, 112 
 to be governed by instructions as may be given by mayor or 
 
 the board of aldermen, 112 
 mayor may suspend from duty, 112 
 compensation of members of, 112 
 mayor and aldermen may appoint watchmen, 20^ 
 Wa-Ters, public, towns may prevent encroachments upon, 33 
 city council may authorize railroad depot upon, 69 
 Weights, ordinance in relation to, and measures, scales and bal- 
 ances, 96 
 and measures to be sealed, 96 
 Weighers of Coal to be annually appointed — coal to be weighed, 97 
 fees of, 98 
 penalty for selling coal not weighed by, 98 
 Weybosset Bridge, an act to prevent damage being done to by fast- 
 ening vessels to the same, 33 
 Wharves, not to encroach upon the harbor by building, 34 
 to be kept in repair, 34 
 penalty for not keeping in repair, 34 
 Wonasquatucket River, bathing in within certain limits, pro- 
 hibited, 118 
 Wooden Buildings, not to be removed without permission of city 
 
 council, 42 
 
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