USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1876 > Part 1
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CITY OF NEWBURYPORT.
THE
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
AT THE
ORGANIZATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL,
AND THE
TREASURER'S ANNUAL REPORT,
TOGETHER WITH THE
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 18TH, 1876.
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT.
PORT.
TERRA
MARIQUE
MDCCCLI
Published by Order of the City Council.
NEWBURYPORT : WILLIAM H. HUSE & CO., PRINTERS, 42 STATE STREET. 1877.
ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL:
Having, by the choice of the legal votes of this city, been elected to the various offices to which we have been sworn, it now becomes our duty to assume the responsibilities of trust and honor conferred upon us. At the commencement of a new year our first duty and thoughts should be directed to Him who rules the destinies of all, and in whose care we all are, and we ask that He will guide us aright, through the coming year, in all of our personal relations with each other, and in the trust committed to our care by our fellow- citizens.
It has been customary, at the commencement of a new year, for the Mayor to lay before the City Gov- ernment such matters pertaining to the various depart- ments of the city as will give an insight to the duties required and expected of us by the people of the city.
The first department to which I call your attention will be the
FINANCES.
I wish I could say of them that they were pleasing to the sight to behold, but financially we do not stand
4
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
so well as I wish we did. Our debt is large to be carried along easily by our taxpayers in these very depressed times for all kinds of business and labor.
The interest upon the city debt is rising $31,000, -about one-fifth the amount required to be raised for city purposes and for state and county taxes, or, about one-quarter the amount required for city purposes yearly.
The debt of the city at the close of the year 1865, the last year in which I served in the same capacity I now stand, was $216,415.11, exclusive of trust funds; the city debt now stands, deducting trust funds, $464,- 705.13. This increase has been caused mostly by the aid to the Horse and City railroads, the Kelley school- house, and the amount paid for Essex Merrimac bridge, and the repairs and rebuilding of both bridges. This indebtedness is as follows; Horse railroad, $25,- 000; City railroad, $74,200; Kelley school-house, $30,000; bridges, 10,000, making $139,200; and the balance, $109,000, was caused by expenditures over the appropriations in most of the years during that time. The increase of the city debt from 1865 to 1876 inclusive, was $248,290
I am glad that the law is such at this time that we are obliged to pay our ordinary yearly expenses from year to year, and to provide for the payment of our debt, lessen the $100,000 loaned to railroads within twenty years from 1875, which I think can be easily done through our sinking fund, which now amounts to $59,388.22. I would suggest that what floating debt we have should be put into notes or bonds, run- ning from five to ten years, which amount, I think, could readily be disposed of at five per cent. interest,
5
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
which, in these dull times, would reduce our expenses some.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
I am gratified to learn that our schools are in a flourishing condition, and stand well in comparison with other cities in the commonwealth; and this most certainly should be so, with the amount of money ex- pended from year to year. Perhaps it cannot judi- ciously be less.
I find, on reference to annual reports, that the cost of our schools for the years 1860 to 1863 inclusive, was $57.578.37, or an an average of $14,394.59 per year, and for the years 1873 to 1876 inclusive, $117,- 935.03, or an average of $29,483.76, showing a cost of more than double the expenses for the past four years than it cost the first four years named, and this with less average inhabitants and less average num- ber of pupils in the city the past four years than there was in the first four years named. I also find that in the years 1860 to 1863 inclusive, the High school male teachers were paid $1,000 per year; male grammar teachers from $575 to $600 per year; female gram- mar teachers from $200 to $250 per year; primary school teachers from $170 to $185 per year; and for the year 1876 (some years previous to this they were higher) the pay to the High school teachers has been from $1,425 to $1900; male grammar teachers from $950 to $1,325; female grammar teachers from $475 to $570 per year, and to primary school teachers from $350 to $400 per year. You will perceive by these figures that all of our teachers of to-day are receiving more than double what they did from 1860 to 1863.
6
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
Is this right? Is this justice to our taxpayers? You cannot find any such increase of pay to teachers in any city in this commonwealth as you find here, nor in any other of the New England states.
I notice that at Portsmouth, N. H., the salaries of grammar school teachers have been reduced from $1,100 to $900 per annum. In Salem the school board report that the teachers' salaries will average less than any other city in the state, leaving out the city of Bos- ton. Salem stands very much ahead of us in valua- tion, compared to population; her valuation is about three and one-half of that of ours, with less than double the population of our city. Salem is amply able to pay higher prices for teachers, but is actually paying less than an average of other cities in the state exclusive of Boston.
It is enough for me to say that I am the last per- son that would ask a reduction of the pay of teachers, or any other person whose services are required by the city, if I did not believe it right and just to do so. My desire has always been that any person who lab- ors for a living should have a just and liberal com- pensation for his or her services, and were the times prosperous with our merchants, and were our trades- men doing a good business, I would then say pay lib- erally, and I would rejoice that we were able to do so. All I ask in this matter is a careful and just consid- eration, by the school board, of the whole question, to our citizens as well as to the teachers, with an eye to the other expenses of the department, such as janitors, sweepers, etc. Then, after mature consideration, by the school committee, of these various questions, I shall be satisfied, whatever they may decide upon,
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
that their intentions are just, and that they mean to do justice to all parties.
POOR DEPARTMENT.
The institution is one of vital importance to many of our inhabitants, and needs our generous and fost- ering care. Do not stint the poor to that degree that shall make them feel that they are friendless, but do as well for them as we should desire to be done by if we were in their circumstances. I am aware that the cost of this department is large, and liable to remain so with the general depression of business through- out the country; but, for all this, we must meet the poor and needy with a generous spirit, providing for them with due care, both to themselves and those who are required to furnish this aid.
The expense of this department from the city treas- ury the past year was $16,060.17, being an overdraft on the treasury of $1,600 over appropriation and in- come. This is caused, it is said by the agent of the department, mostly by the change in the pauper laws by the legislature in the past two years.
I said, on the evening of my nomination to the po- sition to which I have been elected, that the ordinance creating an agent for the poor department should be abolished, and that the overseers of the poor should do the business of the office to which they were elected, paying them a fair compensation for their services, say $100 each, and that the supplies for the department should be purchased by the Mayor at the very lowest wholesale prices. I have not seen or heard anything since I made that statement to change my mind. I would therefore recommend that the
·
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
City Council give this matter their careful consider- tion, and if they find it for the financial interest of the city to cancel this ordinance, that they will so report: if upon a satisfactory examination and con- sultation with the board of overseers, that they should find it better to remain as it is, I shall be entirely sat- isfied with their recommendation.
The whole cost of the poor department for the year just closed, including fuel and products of the land owned by the city, with the $16,000 drawn from the treasury by the overseers, is between $20,000 and $21,000. I think from what I can learn from the agent of the department, than an appropriation of $12,000 will be sufficient for this year. Fuel, flour, and groceries can from present appearances be bought considerably less the present year than the past year.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
This department, one of great moment to our fellow citizens, does not at present seem to be in that effi- cient condition in which I was in hopes to have found it. That part of the city in which I reside seems to me to have been entirely ignored and left without any protection from the devouring element. To whose fault this neglect should be attributed, it is not for me to say; it most certainly is the fault or neglect of some party. The way the department is now located is of very little importance to Ward 6 on the start of a fire there; no engine within a half mile of the thickly settled population of the Ward, and one-half of the time the horses belonging to the nearest engine are liable to be a long distance from the en- gine house, so that in nine cases in ten, should a build-
9
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
ing be on fire above Oakland street, it would burn down before a stream of water could be put upon it, and with the chances that it would communicate to other buildings before any aid could be had. If the present City Council should think we have as much fire department as necessary, then it becomes our duty at once to re-locate the same. The steamer in Congress street should be removed to Oakland street, and the steamer at the foot of Federal street to the poor-house lot.
But my own opinion was to let well enough alone. If the department needed to be sifted out, why not have done it; if, instead of causing the disbanding of it to the caprice of any one, was it desirable to dis- band any one of the companies for the purpose of getting rid of a few members, because a small num- ber of persons did not think them pure enough to be- long to the department. If either of you were keep- ing store and you happened to get an unworthy clerk you would not be likely to close up your business to get rid of him, but would discharge him and hire another. If your predecessors had desired to have reduced the expenses of this department, and at the same time wished to have got rid of some members they did not approve of, why did they not pass an ordi- nance to reduce the two hand tubs to forty members . each, "as they did do in the case of the steamers," and I think that was all the reduction required, and · with this I have no doubt but that the companies would have been satisfied and continued their valua- ble services to the city. I think a company for No. 7 should at once be organized with forty members, and that No. 8 should be increased to the same num-
10
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
ber. I think that forty is as small a number as should be attached to our hand engines to make them efficient on all occasions; this number is less than the statute provide for suction engines when cities and towns have not special laws upon the subject.
The expenses of this department for the past year has been $7,556.84. With the increase of forty men for No. 7 engine, and ten more men for No. 8, I can- not see where more than $7000 can be used the pres- ent year, unless we should again be troubled by in- cendiary fires.
HIGHWAYS.
With the money spent upon the highways for the past five years, from 1872 to 1876 inclusive, they should be in much better condition than they have been or now are. Our main thoroughfares, Merrimac and Water streets, High street, and some others run- ning parallel with them, were never in a worse condi- tion. In the years above named it has cost the city more than $9,000 per year for repairs on highways, including paving of gutters, sidewalks, and edge- stones and crossings, exclusive of the Bromfield fund. In this estimate nothing is included for the wear and tear of horses, carts and tools, and no interest on their cost. In the years 1861 to 1865 inclusive, the average cost per year of highways, including the same as in years 1872 to 1876, was $3,200, or one- third of the cost for the past five years. In the years 1861 to 1865 the city owned no teams, and the entire team work of the department was hired. These esti- mates embrace no appropriations for new streets or special repairs ordered on any street in the terms of
11
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
time named. Thus it will be seen that our highways have cost of late very much more than they used to, without deriving that benefit which such expense should have given us.
Knowing, as I do, the condition of our streets, I am satisfied in my own judgment that there should not be over $2,500 per annum expended on them, ex- clusive of the work done by the city teams. With the work of the three-and sometimes four-teams of the city, the yearly expenses of highways would be, including $2,500 appropriation, not less than $5,000, or $1,800 per year more than it cost in the years 1861 to 1865. Then, to save some expense, I . would suggest that the teamsters employed by the city be required to work, as they would have to if they were to work for other parties.
If it is the desire of this government to reduce ex- duce expenses the present year, I can see no necessi- ty to have a superintendent of streets for the first four months of the year, at least, as there will be three or four teamsters appointed, if we are to keep the teams, and they will have little to do but to keep the streets and gutters passable as to ice and snow. I am ready to take hold and do my part of such work, or the whole of it, if my associates, the board of Alder- men, do not feel disposed this way, rather than hire a superintendent where his services are but little needed in the winter. The pay to the drivers of the teams and the workmen in this department should be at a fair price, but not thirty to fifty per cent. more than other parties pay for the same'class of work, as it has been done for the past year, with a much easier average of work.
12
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Is still doing its valued work with all classes of our citizens, and particularly with the young, who are im- proving to a great extent the value of such an insti- tution. The library now contains 16,675 volumes, 477 of which were added the past year, and I understand from the librarian that but six volumes were missing from the shelves at the recent examination. This is a co-ordinate branch of the city government, and should receive liberal support from the city, and I trust, that it will be remembered by many of our wealthy citi- zens, both at home and abroad, in their donations. They cannot find a worthier object to donate a part of their income to than this institution.
The reading room, in connection with the library, is also a valuable acquisition to the city, and much visited by our citizens of all ages. The young men of the city should avail themselves of this great priv- ilege. It is a pleasant place to spend their evenings, and one where they can derive great benefit from the perusal of the reading matter to be found there.
POLICE AND NIGHT WATCHMEN.
This department for the past year has not at all times shown that harmony amongst its members that it should have done to have made its services efficient and of benefit to the city at large. Discord in a de- partment of this note places its usefulness in a very unsatisfactory position before the people, and it can- not do the work required of it to the satisfaction of the citizens and to their safety, unless it is a unit initself. I think there are more men employed on the police at
13
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
the present time than are actually required. A mar- shal, one constable, and six watchmen is all that I think should be under pay regularly, with some other extra men to be appointed specially, to be called upon in case of necessity. The marshal and constable to be on duty in the morning, alternate to relieve the watchmen, and both to remain on duty through the day and until 10 o'clock in the evening, excepting time for dinner and tea. The cost of the department for the past year has been $8438.80. I think it can be carried on the present year at a cost not exceed- ing $6,600, unless some unforeseen occurrence should take place to require more officers. I have based this estimate upon the same pay to the various officers as they now receive: marshal $1,000, constable $2.00 per day, captain of watch $2 per night, and other watch- men $1.75 per night each; and for extra pay of men when called upon, the same as others are paid; all fees received by any of them to be paid into the city treas- ury. I wish to say here that it will be my aim to ap- point competent men on this department, those that will obey the orders given them. Should they disobey orders or neglect their duty I should recommend their removal at once and appoint others in their places, and I shall continue in this line to the end, that our police will be what is desired, and be willing to per- form the duties required and expected of them.
THE LICENSE OR LIQUOR QUESTION
is one of some moment to the community, and it needs to be guarded in the strictest manner by those having charge of it. The sale of liquors can be made one of pecuniary interest to the city and less de-
14
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
moralizing to the people when controlled by license than when promiscuously sold by whomever desires to traffic in it. I am aware that spirituous liquors causes trouble when excessively used, and create a certain amount of pauperism, but is it not better that the city should derive some benefit from it (if it is to be sold, which in my opinion it will be to the end of time) to maintain the pauperism which is attached to it. I am in favor of licensing all responsible parties in this city, under the law for the sales of all kinds of liquors, and to require every party to whom a license a granted to keep strictly within the terms of the license, or at cause the same to be revoked, and where liquors are sold without the sanction of law I am in favor and I will cause the law to be strictly enforced to the letter in every respect, in conformity to the statute. I have it from good authority that many persons are violating their license every day in this city by selling contrary to the terms of the same; to such persons I shall pay particular attention at an early day, as well, also to those selling without any authority. I believe where licenses are granted and paid for, that parties holding them should be protected in their rights. It is wrong to take the money of those who are willing to pay for the right to sell, and then allow other persons to infringe upon their rights and to their injury.
GENERAL REMARKS.
Let us now enter upon the various duties incum- bent upon us, leaving outside of that business all per- sonal feeling and political animosity. Let it be our aim to serve aright all persons with whom we come in contact in our official capacity, remembering that the
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
humblest citizen is entitled to our services as well as the most influential one. Let us legislate for all classes alike, the poor as well as the rich, and show our constituents that our object and aim shall be to pro- mote the best interests of the city. I shall rely at all times upon your co-operation in whatever may be for the good of the city. You will ever find me ready and willing to assist and advise in any matter that may arise intended to promote the welfare of our in- habitants. My desire is that every member may be punctual to his duties at the meetings of the boards as well as on committees, thus facilitating and making the work easy and agreeable to all, and at the close of the year we can look back and say, at least, we have intended to be faithful, and have done what we considered to be right and just, and know nothing to regret.
₹
17
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT.
TREASURER'S OFFICE, December 26, 1876. To His Honor the Mayor and the City Council :
GENTLEMEN : I have the honor to lay before you a report of the Receipts and Expenditures for the financial year ending December 16, 1876; a state- ment of appropriations, expenditures, and balances ; a statement of the city debt, and condition of the sinking fund, and my report as Collector of Taxes -all of which are most respectfully submitted.
GEO. W. PIPER, Treasurer and Collector.
Accepted.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, December 28, 1876.
Attest,
GEORGE H. STEVENS, City Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, December 28th, 1876.
Accepted in concurrence. Attest, THOMAS E. CUTTER, Clerk.
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT.
December 26, 1876.
The Joint Standing Committee on Finance have examined the accompany- ing accounts current, together with the following schedule of receipts and ex- penditures which they find to be correct and sustained by proper vouchers. The balance in the hands of the Treasurer, December 16th, 1876-ten thous- and, eight hundred, seventy-six and eighty-nine one-hundrenths dollars.
B. F. ATKINSON, GEORGE E. CURRIER, I. L. DAVIS, THOS. MACKINNEY, WILLIAM HOLKER, EBEN LITTLE, JR.
COMMITTEE ON
FINANCE.
18
TREASURER'S ACCOUNT.
Dr
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT in account current
To amount paid Mayor's orders and charged as follows :
Police .$3,632 36
Lighting. 2,704 54
Culverts . 82 94
Notes Payable. 5,000 00
State of Massachusetts
1,974 85
Public Library
608 75
Repairs of Newburyport Bridge.
12,987 53
Fuel
2,755 60
Essex Merrimac Bridge
1 75
Newburyport Bridge
322 93
Highways 850 78
Bromfield Fund 205 95
Poor Department
7,084 44
Fire Department.
3,991 67
School Department
11.952 95
Public Property
3,943 38
Salaries
1,455 00
Incidentals
1,581 14
Interest . 12,334 93
50 00
Market House and Cellar
50 00
Liquor Licenses
Cash on hand May 11th, 1876, paid over to Geo. W. Piper, Treas'r .. 4,716 42
78,287 91
19
TREASURER'S ACCOUNT.
with A. W. GREENLEAF, Treasurer & Collector. Cr.
By cash on hand December 18, 1875. $3,510 57
By cash received and credited as follows :
Police Department.
408 25
Notes Payable.
.54.490 15
State of Massachusetts.
549 64
City Hall
1,037 00
Lighting
33 50
Burial Lots.
50 00
Public Library
156 10
Tax of 1873.
24 44
Tax of 1874.
1,966 79
Tax of 1875.
6,290 64
Repair of Newburyport Bridge.
5,725 60
Costs on Taxes.
1 31
Liquor Licenses
200 00
Highways
11 45
Poor
1,406 39
Bromfield Fund.
650 00
Fire.
3 25
School ..
2,016 71
Market House and Cellar
112 50
Public Property.
36
Incidentals
61 50
Interest.
581 76
78,287 91
Respectfully submitted,
A. W. GREENLEAF, Treasurer and Collector.
20'
TREASURER'S ACCOUNT.
Dr.
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT in account current
To cash from A. W. Greenleaf, Treasurer, May 11th, 1876. $4,716 42 To cash received and credited as follows, viz:
Poor department. 1,054 66
Fire department. 11 60
Police department. 411 40
Highways. 11 70
Incidentals. .10,026 95
Public Property.
908 76
Lighting streets and public buildings
9 25
Interest on overdue taxes.
$965 70
Discount on County tax 41 16- 1,006 86
Public Library.
11 25
Sidewalks and Edgestones
65 39
Costs on taxes
23 90
Notes Payable.
62,301 12
State of Massachusetts
. 4,444 42
Tax of 1874.
1.985 49
Tax of 1875.
4,163 05
Tax of 1876.
.$124,540 58
Tax of 1876-From county on account of repairs of
Newburyport bridge.
14,576 13-139,116 71
230,268 93
21
TREASURER'S ACCOUNT.
with GEORGE W. PIPER, Treasurer. Cr.
By amount paid Mayor's order and charged as follows, viz:
Poor department.
$8,975 73
School department. 17,173 88
Fire department.
3,575 17
Highways ..
3,052 66
Incidentals.
1,540 12
Public Property
4,506 12
Police
4,806 44
Lighting streets and public buildings
3,380 26
Interest.
18,701 63
Salaries
3,344 97
Fuel
5,909 14
Public Library
654 76
Sidewalks and edgestones
618 31
Sinking fund.
4,000 00
Newburyport Bridge.
1,405 17
Essex Merrimac Bridge.
42 00
Culverts.
194 83
Repairs of Newburyport bridge.
533 08
Notes Payable.
119,600 00
State of Massachusetts
2,605 76
Costs on Taxes
25 21
Bromfield Fund. 381 30
State tax.
7,866 00
County tax.
6,499 50
Cash on hand December 16, 1876.
10,876 89
230,268 93
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE W. PIPER, Treasurer.
22
COLLECTOR'S ACCOUNT.
Dr.
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT in account current
To uncollected taxes of 1872.
$376 30
" 1873.
109 53
" 1874.
6,920 92
66
" 1875 21,505 31
28,912 06
23
COLLECTOR'S ACCOUNT.
with A. W. GREENLEAF, Collettor. Cr
By tax of 1772, error.
$3 85
1872 collected and paid to Treasurer.
24 44
1874
1,966 79
66 1875 66
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