Identifier: historyofstateof02bick (find matches)
Title: The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Year: 1920 (1920s)
Authors: Bicknell, Thomas Williams, 1834-1925
Subjects: Rhode Island -- History Rhode Island -- Biography
Publisher: New York, The American Historical Society
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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theState vv-ere footed and it was found that the thirty-three towns had ex-pended a sum total of $1,622,288.96; that the State had repaid to thetowns $465,690.00, making the net expenditures of the towns $1,156,-598.96. Providence had expended $429,696.60, the largest, and James-town $788.50, the least. The State of Rhode Island expended $5,344,173.19. The aggregateof State, cities and towns was $6,500,772.15, It was generally feared that the experiences and influences of armylife would have a demoralizing effect on the men who should return andthat the characters, as subjected to camp and field duties, would be low-ered far below normal standards of civilian life. In order to ascertainthe quality of the citizenship of the returned soldiers a circular letter ofinquiry was prepared by the Adjutant General of the State and sent tothe mayors of the cities and the presidents of town councils of the towns,soliciting their opinions relative to the general character of the soldier- OEC6-t949
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BRONZE FIGURE OF RHODE ISLAND BOY SCOUT THE CIVIL WAR. 823 citizens as compared to their character prior to enlistment in theircountrys service. Twenty-nine cities and towns replied. Burrillville,Cumberland reported that army life had been demoralizing to the men asa whole. Harrington, Coventry, Cranston, Charlestown, East Greenwich,East Providence, Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, North Provi-dence.- New Shoreham, Richmond, Smithiield and Warwick replied thatthe men were as good as when they went away—no better, no worse, ex-cept in a few individuals both worse and better. Bristol, Glocester, Newport, North Kingstown, Providence, Paw-tucket, Portsmouth, Scituate, Tiverton. Warren, Westerly and WestGreenwich replied that the general standard of morals and of citizenshiphad been improved by army service. While these reports are not expertevidence they tend towards the conclusion that habits formed in youthare sheet anchors of character in early manhood, even amidst the demor-al

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