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CITY OF NEWBURYPORT.
CITY OFFICERS,
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
AND THE
ANNUAL REPORTS
TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE
YEAR 1890,
TOGETHER WITH
CITY OFFICERS, AND MAYOR'S ADDRESS AT THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 5, 1891.
OF
CITY
NEWBURYPORT
TERRA MARIQUE MDCCCLI
NEWBURYPORT :
IS9I.
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE PRINTING COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF NEWBURYPORT.
3
NOTICES.
OFFICE HOURS.
MAYOR: From 11 a. m. to 12 m., Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
CITY CLERK: From 9 a. m. to 12 m .; 2 to 4 p. m. Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 12 m.
CITY TREASURER AND COLLECTOR : From 9 a. m. to 12 m .; 2 to 4 p. m. Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 1 p. m. First Thursday evening after the first Monday, 7 to 9.
CLERK OF OVERSEERS OF POOR: From 9 a. m. to 12 m. ; 2 to 4 p. m. Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 12 m.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS : From 4 to 5 p. m., Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; from 9 to 10 a. m., Wednesdays and Saturdays.
PAY DAYS.
CITY TREASURER'S OFFICE, CITY HALL, January, 1891.
Regular weekly pay day, Monday. Monthly pay day, first Thursday after first Monday of each month. Military aid is payable the first day of each month.
Please call on the regular pay day for your money.
JAMES V. FELKER, City Treasurer.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY.
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, CITY HALL, January, 1891. -
Persons having bills against the city are requested to present them at this office on or before the last Monday of each month.
Charges against the different departments must be made out on sep- arate bills.
Be careful and note who ordered the article or articles; and if for labor, where it was performed, and under whose direction, with the proper dates,
GEORGE H. STEVENS, City Clerk.
5
CITY GOVERNMENT.
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS, 1890.
MAYOR, ELISHA P. DODGE.
Residence, 71 High Street. Office : City Hall.
-
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Ward One.
JOHN J. PUTNAM
-
29 Hancock Street.
W. HERBERT NOYES
-
70 Lime Street.
HENRY C. PLUMMER -
Ward Four.
C. H. DEROCHEMONT
- -
42 Washington Street.
Ward Five.
GEORGE E. Ross
-
-
22 Congress Street.
Ward Six.
ISRAEL A. MORSE
-
10 Tyng Street.
Clerk of Board of Aldermen.
GEORGE H. STEVENS.
Ward Two.
Ward Three.
3 Orange Street.
6
ANNUAL REPORTS.
COMMON COUNCIL.
ORRIN J. GURNEY, President.
Ward One.
HENRY R. WEITZEL
-
-
JOHN W. ALLEN
BENJAMIN F. HATHAWAY
- -
Ward Tuo.
DANIEL E. TILTON
CHARLES W. PAGE
OLIVER O. JONES
- -
Ward Three.
- -
.
-
GEORGE E. STICKNEY
CHARLES C. STOCKMAN
-
GEORGE F. AVERY
ALFRED PEARSON
-
-
11 Federal Street.
Ward Five.
ORRIN J. GURNEY SIMON E. WILSON
EDWARD DONAHOE, JR.
-
-
Ward Six.
JOSEPH NOYES
-
WILLIS G. MERRILL
-
-
-
7 Tyng Street. 322 High Street. 26 Oakland Street.
Clerk of Council.
THOMAS E. CUTTER.
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEES FOR 1890.
FINANCE : Mayor, ex officio ; Alderman deRochemont; Coun- cilmen Pearson, Hathaway, Hale and Jones. ACCOUNTS : Aldermen Plummer and Noyes ; Councilmen Avery, Page and Stickney.
23 1-2 Purchase Street. 31 High Street. 50 Purchase Street.
46 Federal Street. Horton Street. 49 Prospect Street.
11 1-2 Spring Street. Brown Street. 5 Fair Street.
Ward Four.
10 Titcomb Street. 14 Titcomb Street.
-
65 Washington Street. 23 Dove Street. 24 Johnson Street.
ALVAH HOYT
-
-
-
EDWARD A. HALE
JOHN W. SARGENT
-
7
CITY GOVERNMENT.
PUBLIC PROPERTY : Aldermen Noyes and deRochemont ; Coun- cilmen Wilson, Sargent and Weitzel.
ALMSHOUSE AND POOR : Aldermen Morse and Putnam ; Coun- cilmen Stockman, Jones, Merrill and Allen.
FIRE DEPARTMENT : Aldermen Ross, Plummer and Morse ; Councilmen Pearson, Noyes, Hathaway and Stickney.
BRIDGES AND CULVERTS : Aldermen Ross and Morse; Coun- cilmen Avery, Merrill and Jones.
SAWYER FUND : Aldermen Putnam and Plummer ; Councilmen. Weitzel and Donahoe.
BROWN FUND : Alderman deRochemont; Councilmen Page and Merrill.
ATWOOD AND DEXTER FUND : Mayor Dodge, President Gurney and Treasurer Felker.
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION : Mayor, ex officio; Aldermen Plummer and Noyes ; Councilmen, the President, ex officio, Weitzel, Tilton, Hale, Pearson.
CLAIMS : Aldermen Noyes and Putnam ; Councilmen Sargent, Wilson and Hoyt.
ORDINANCES : Mayor, ex officio; Councilmen Stockman and Avery.
HIGHWAYS : Mayor, ex officio ; the Board of Aldermen, and Councilmen Hathaway, Tilton, Hale, Stockman, Wilson and Hoyt.
FUEL : Aldermen Morse and Ross ; Councilmen Wilson, Noyes and Stockman.
LIGHTING STREETS AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS : Aldermen Noyes and Plummer; Councilmen Pearson, Noyes and Allen.
PRINTING : Alderman deRochemont; Councilmen Page and Stockman.
JOINT SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
WATER SUPPLY : Aldermen Ross and Putnam; Councilmen Weitzel, Merrill and Page.
SEWERAGE : Aldermen Morse and Noyes ; Councilmen Sar- gent, Noyes and Hathaway.
8
ANNUAL REPORTS.
SALARIES : Aldermen Putnam and Noyes; Councilmen Sar- gent, Jones and Stockman.
MAYOR'S ADDRESS : Aldermen Plummer and deRochemont ; Councilmen Page, Hale, Pearson.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
POLICE : Mayor, ex officio ; Aldermen deRochemont and Noyes.
ELECTIONS : Aldermen Morse and Plummer.
BROMFIELD FUND : Aldermen Ross, Putnam and Morse.
PUTNAM AND ATKINSON FUNDS : Aldermen Putnam, Ross and Noyes.
LICENSES : Aldermen Noyes, Putnam and Ross.
ENROLLED BILLS : Aldermen Ross, Plummer and Morse.
FROTHINGHAM FUND : Aldermen Putnam, Morse and Plummer.
GREEN FUND : Aldermen Plummer, Ross and Putnam.
TOPPAN FUND : Aldermen Morse, deRochemont and Ross. ABRAHAM WILLIAMS FUND : Aldermen Plummer and deRoche- mont.
-
STANDING COMMITTEES OF COMMON COUNCIL.
ELECTIONS AND RETURNS : Councilmen Weitzel and Hoyt.
ENROLLLED BILLS : Councilmen Page, Avery and Hale.
BILLS OF SECOND READING : Councilmen Donahoe and Tilton.
-
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ELISHA P. DODGE (Mayor), Chairman, ex officio. NATHAN N. WITHINGTON, Vice-Chairman - 206 High Street.
WILLIAM P. LUNT, Secretary and Agent - Office at City Hall.
Ward One.
STEPHEN PEABODY -
- 51 Marlboro Street.
CHARLES H. BLISS - 10 Allen Street.
9
CITY GOVERNMENT.
GEORGE H. PLUMER PRENTIS H. REED
Ward Two.
-
-
-
67 Federal Street. 8 Atwood Street.
Ward Three.
RUDOLPH JACOBY WILLIAM F. HOUSTON -
-
-
79 State Street. 2 Harris Street.
JOSEPH B. LITTLE - MISS H. E. LUNT -
22 Boardman Street. 10 Auburn Street.
N. N. WITHINGTON JAMES H. VAN BUREN -
-
-
206 High Street. 220 High Street.
Ward Six.
24 Tyng Street. 256 High Street.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
ERNEST H. NOYES, M. D., Chairman
12 Essex Street.
JOHN F. YOUNG, M. D. - 3 Fruit Street.
CHARLES W. DAVENPORT - - 6 Fruit Street.
Agent of Board.
D. CLARK BATCHELDER
51 Fair Street.
Clerk of Board. CHARLES W. DAVENPORT.
-
ASSESSORS.
Term three years.
ANDREW J. HAYNES (elected 1889) chairman, 152 High Street. JOSEPH L. JOHNSON (elected 1888) sec'y, 27 Washington Street. GEORGE J. L. COLBY (elected 1890) Central Place,
(2)
-
Ward Four.
Ward Five.
PAUL A. MERRILL - JAMES PARTON -
-
IO
ANNUAL REPORTS.
OVERSEERS OF POOR. Term one year.
LEONARD W. SARGENT, Chairman
-
280 High Street.
JOHN C. STEVENS - - 2 Madison Street. LAWRENCE W. BROWN - - 20 Fruit Street.
Clerk of Overseers of Poor. WILLIAM H. BAYLEY. Office : City Hall.
BOARD OF REGISTRARS.
GEORGE H. STEVENS, City Clerk 37 Kent Street.
Term three years.
NATHANIEL GREELY (appointed 1889) Chairman 37 Marlboro St.
ARTHUR L. HUSE (appointed 1888)
37 Federal St.
BENJAMIN G. DAVIS (appointed 1887) 46 Liberty St.
SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS.
MAYOR, ex officio. PRESIDENT OF THE COMMON COUNCIL, ex officio. CITY AUDITOR, ex officio. EBEN SUMNER, CHARLES C. DAME. JAMES V. FELKER, Treasurer and Clerk.
COMMISSIONERS OF SIMPSON FUND. ELISHA P. DODGE (Mayor), ex officio. ORRIN J. GURNEY (President), ex officio. THOMAS C. SIMPSON, CHARLES C. DAME, ELIPHALET GRIFFIN.
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
JAMES V. FELKER. Office : City Hall.
II
CITY GOVERNMENT.
CITY CLERK.
GEORGE H. STEVENS. Office : City Hall.
CITY SOLICITOR.
NATHANIEL N. JONES. Office : Griffin Block, Pleasant Street.
- CITY AUDITOR. WILLIAM H. WELCH. First National Bank.
CITY MESSENGER. WILLIAM H. JOHNSON. Office : City Hall.
SUPERINTENDENT OF HIGHWAYS.
CHARLES M. PRITCHARD. 17 Atwood Street.
CITY PHYSICIAN.
ERNEST H. NOYES. 12 Essex Street.
CHIEF ENGINEER OF FIRE DEPARTMENT. EBEN S. DOLE. Oakland Street.
SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH. WILLIS H. YOUNG. 14 Strong Street.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. WILLIAM P. LUNT. Office : City Hall.
LIBRARIAN PUBLIC LIBRARY.
JOHN D. PARSONS. Public Library.
İŻ
ANNUAL REPORTS.
SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC READING ROOM.
MARTHA P. LUNT.
NEWBURYPORT POLICE FORCE.
City Marshal.
A. Warren Emerson. Office : Central Police Station. Assistant Marshal. EDWARD E. TAYLOR.
Captain of the Watch. SAMUEL W. TUCK.
Day Officers.
Robert C. Bragg, Lemuel Hicken.
Night Patrolmen.
Patrick Creeden,
George J. Ross,
William H. Pike,
Joseph H. Post,
James W. Merritt, Albert D. Hale,
Seth Young.
Constables. .
A. Warren Emerson,
Samuel W. Tuck,
Edward E. Taylor, Joseph M. Tappan.
William H. Johnson.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
James W. Gunnison.
MEASURERS OF GRAIN.
Moses H. Rolfe, Joseph Knight, Charles B. Knight.
INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR. James W. Gunnison.
13
CITY GOVERNMENT.
GAUGERS.
William C. Cuseck,
William A. Little.
SURVEYORS OF LUMBER.
John T. Fillmore, George W. Marston, Hervey Kimball,
William B. Coffin,
Charles S. Lovejoy, John C. Kimball,
Daniel M. Felch,
Edward Perkins,
George W. Jackman,
John E. Bailey,
Gideon C. Webster,
William J. Hunt,
William H. Morse,
Orlando F. Hatch.
WEIGHERS OF COAL, HAY AND OTHER MERCHANDISE.
Chas. C. Stockman, John C. Stanley,
William S. Coffin, James R. Conley, Philip H. Creasey, William Conley, Harry W. Bayley,
James Joy,
John S. Brown,
Fred L. Atkinson,
John Reddy,
Benj. F. Atkinson
Leonard W. Coker,
Fred B. Fanning,
Fred G. Spinney,
Edward E. Varina, Fred L. Macintosh, C. Wallis Dame,
Jere Haley, Charles Watts,
John J. Collins,
George P. Balch,
George J. Warner,
John L. Noyes, Lawrence Whalen.
FIELD DRIVERS.
Luther Ordway, Jeremiah S. Parker, Alonzo F. Osgood.
POUND KEEPERS.
Pound No. 1, Auburn Street, Timothy Moreney. Pound No. 2, Wesley Street, Luther Ordway.
MEASURERS OF WOOD AND BARK.
Philip H. Creasey,
Hervey Kimball,
Fred L. Atkinson,
John Reddy, George P. Balch,
Benj. F. Atkinson,
Edward E. Varina,
Jere Haley, John Collins,
Fred B. Fanning,
William S. Coffin, John L. Noyes.
Edward Donahoe, Daniel Balch,
14
ANNUAL REPORTS.
MEASURERS OF CHARCOAL.
Hervey Kimball, George P. Balch, Fred L. Atkinson,
J. W. Gunnison, Philip H. Creasey, John L. Noyes.
WEIGHERS AND MEASURERS OF CITY FUEL.
Hervey Kimball, Leonard W. Coker, J. W. Gunnison, George J. Warner.
INSPECTOR OF COAL BASKETS.
James W. Gunnison.
FENCE VIEWERS.
Hervey Kimball, Nathaniel Morse, Greenleaf Dodge.
MEETINGS.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
First Monday evening of each month.
COMMON COUNCIL.
First Monday evening of each month.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
First Monday evening of each month.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
First Monday evening of each month.
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT. - - IN COMMON COUNCIL, Jan. 6, 1890.
ORDERED, the Mayor and Aldermen concurring, that the joint stand- ing Committee on Printing be and hereby are instructed to request of His Honor the Mayor a copy of his inaugural address, for publication in the volume of Receipts and Expenditures and reports and papers per- taining to the last municipal year.
Adopted.
THOMAS E. CUTTER, Clerk.
Adopted in concurrence.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Jan. 6, 1890. GEORGE H. STEVENS, Clerk.
.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF
HON. ELISHA P. DODGE,
DELIVERED JANUARY 6, 1890.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL :
We have assembled here today to take the oath of office, to assume the duties we have undertaken to perform, and to organ- ize the city government of Newburyport for the year 1890. As I repeat these last words I am reminded that we are so near the end of this most wonderful nineteenth century, a century during which has been wrought such marvelous improvement in the appliances of civilization, that no one now presumes to suggest a limit to the possibilities of human discovery and invention, or of intel- lectual growth. Newburyport has done her full share towards bringing about these magnificent results. Her merchants, her shipbuilders, her men of letters, and the statesmen who have delighted to call her their home, have contributed no mean part to the sum total of the century's greatness. While we may with pardonable pride congratulate ourselves that such is the fact, it should serve as an incentive to us and to the people we represent to greater effort, in order that our future may be, in no respect,
(3)
18
ANNUAL REPORTS.
1
unworthy of our honorable past. It is our first duty to ascertain clearly what may be amiss in our present situation, and then to determine what may be wisely done to promote our welfare and prosperity. In accordance with the usual custom I shall now has- tily review the condition of the most important branches of city affairs, and will first call your attention to that of the finances.
FINANCES.
The total appropriations for the year 1889 were
$147,165.36
Income from various sources
36,986.13
Total credits
$184,151.49
Total disbursements .
194,217.75
Showing an overdraft of .
$10,066.26
CITY DEBT.
Net debt of the city Dec. 15, 1888
$384,477.14
Net debt of the city Dec. 21, 1889
403,985.84
Showing, notwithstanding the debt of $50,000 created on account of sewerage, a net increase apparently of only $19,508.70.
On account of the sewerage construction and sundry other items it is fair to estimate an additional liability of about $15,000. There is at the end of every year an item of undetermined indebt- edness which should be taken into account in financial reports. Assuming the above estimate to be correct, the total net debt will be shown to be $418,985.84.
Although the floating debt is estimated, and must necessarily be so at the beginning of any year, the amount of it can usually be ascertained by the treasurer by a method of accounting which would involve comparatively little labor. I hope such an account will be hereafter kept. If it is kept, before the end of the year the exact liability we inherited should be definitely determined, and in due course of time the legacy of debt we may leave to our successors will be ascertained. It will more accurately determine
19
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
for the future, also, the work accomplished by each succeeding administration. It might be well to make a distinct appropriation each year to meet a debt of this kind. The people desire to know the facts as they are, and as complete statements of public busi- ness as is practicable should always be made. The reduction of bonded indebtedness independent of the sewerage loan is accounted for in part, as follows :
Sales of real estate on Federal street and elsewhere, $ 8,842.00
Premiums received on bonds and notes sold . 3,977.50
Amount of interest received on bank deposit in excess of the average for the past ten years . 1,321.70
Balance of cash on hand received from sale of sew- erage bonds 3,366.70
Appropriation carried to sinking fund as required by law
3,800.00
Appropriated and carried to notes payable 5,000.00
Total
$26,307.90
As will be seen, the most of this sum is made up of unusual items of income which are not likely to be duplicated. While the net debt of the city appears to be $418,985.84, it is fair to show what there is in mitigation of that fact. Of the bonded debt $56,750.00 is in trust funds which are never to be paid, and the income of which is all used for the benefit of the public. The city also holds $74,000 in the stock of the City railroad, which has a value some- what dependent upon the renewal of its lease, which will expire August 14, 1892. It is fair to assume that the stock is worth par, and these two items deducted from the debt leave $288,235.84. Against this also may be offset other city property, real and per- sonal, valued at $306,550.00. Although it could have no such value to apply to the reduction of debts, and very little of it will ever be available for that purpose, it is a satisfaction to know that in return for its expenditures the public can show so large an amount of valuable property. There will fall due this year $111,-
20
ANNUAL REPORTS.
000.00 of the city debt, bearing interest at the rate of 6 per cent., which will undoubtedly be refunded at a material saving in the in- terest account. In issuing new bonds it is well to consider whether it is not best to secure as low a rate of interest as possi- ble for a bond at par, rather than to attempt to get a premium for immediate use, however advantageous that might be to us in the exhibit we should make at the close of the year.
SEWERAGE.
As is well known, I did not favor the introduction of sewerage on the plan adopted, nor to the extent to which the system has been carried. The work on immediate construction is nearly completed, and the total cost of the same is now a municipal lia- bility. It is for us to see that the interest of the city is as fully protected as possible, and that such provision is made for the pay- ment of the debt as the law requires. I decidedly disapprove of the proposition to assess the entire expense of sewerage upon the city at large. It would be an unjustifiable imposition upon the citizens of wards one, five and six temporarily, at least, and per- manently upon the property owners in all the out-lying districts. It will indefinitely postpone the payment of one half the debt, and create a demand for the extension of the system long before the public interests will require it.
The advantage to the public health which sewers may assure may justify the payment by the city at large of a part of their cost, but at least one-half should be paid by the abutters, who only derive direct and tangible advantage from their construction. I trust, if such action be necessary, that the vote of our predeces- sors will be rescinded by you, and an equitable basis of assessment devised in accordance with the general practice in other cities of the commonwealth.
21
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
I come next to that department which will more than any other call for your careful consideration. I refer to the
HIGHWAYS.
X Their present condition is certainly most deplorable. If good roads are an indication of the highest civilization, we should not care to be judged by what ours are at present. That they are in such a state may be attributed to several causes. Only small portions of them have been properly constructed, and no repairs can make a road satisfactory that was originally constructed on a wrong principle. The frequent rains of the past year and a half, and lastly the laying of sewers, have combined to disorganize and demoralize what was sufficiently bad before. It is now necessary as a matter of economy, if for no other reason, that radical meas- ures be adopted to give us streets that will be entirely safe, and over which we can travel with a reasonable degree of comfort. In High street we have an avenue that might easily be made to excel any of equal extent in the country. It should have a road-bed worthy of its great natural beauty. With the electric railroad soon to be built it will become the pleasure drive of the whole people. It should be put in such condition that all may take both pride and pleasure in it. The cost of transportation on our busi- ness streets is materially enhanced by the extra wear of both horse and vehicle, caused by the bad condition of the roads. They should be made such that business may be carried on here with as little expense as in any other city. Something must be done. The question for us to cousider is, what can be done within the limit of our means? Not very much in any one year. We can, how- ever, commence with the right kind of work, do what we can, and if it is followed up by our successors, eventually, and in a com- paratively few years, we shall have satisfactory results. Unques-
22
ANNUAL REPORTS.
tionably the best road for heavy traffic which we can consider is that paved with granite blocks, such as Pleasant street and part of Merrimac street. The cost is too great for us to adopt it to any considerable extent immediately, but it should be continued on Merrimac, Water and State streets, and I strongly advise that an appropriation be made for laying a limited amount this year. For the greater part of High street, and some of the streets running parallel to it, we must adopt a species of the McAdamized road. A McAdam road built in accordance with the most approved methods is undoubtedly the best in existence, but it is too costly for us to attempt to introduce at present. We must be content with a modified form of it. I advise as follows: We should establish in the first place suitable grades for each street, and hereafter see that such grades are maintained. Then, as fast as rebuilding may be advantageously carried on, remove the surface of the old roads to a depth of say one foot below the established grade, fill in with large stone about half the depth excavated, and cover them over with a layer three inches thick of broken stone. When this shall have become worn down and settled partially into place, add another layer of broken stone of about the same thick- ness. The whole may then be covered with a coating of gravel an inch deep, and thoroughly rolled with such a roller as the city now possesses. To effectually drain the road, which is of the first im- portance, it must be properly "crowned," and there must be suit. able gutters. The proper shape for the completed road must be given to the bed before any stone is put on. To do this work properly I consider it necessary for the city to purchase a stone crushing machine, or to make a contract for the delivery of suit- ably broken stone. To secure a satisfactorily smooth surface it is indispensable that the top coating should be of small stones, nearly cubical in shape, and not over two and one half inches in their largest dimensions. The only piece of road we have built on
y
23
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
the McAdam principle, a piece on High street, near the head of Broad street, although a good road, has always had a rough sur- face because of the fact that it was covered with stones too large to secure the best results. The streets running from High toward the river are for the most part in fairly good condition, and can be left for the present, with such repairs with gravel as may from time to time seem desirable. · There are some excep- tions to this statement, and in such cases the McAdam process should be applied. I desire the committee on highways to begin immediately a thorough investigation of the whole subject, in order that the work may be commenced at the earliest practicable moment. For further and more detailed information I refer you to the report of the superintendent of highways. I have treated the matter at such length and in such detail because I am con- vinced of its paramount importance.
SCHOOLS.
X The maintenance of our free public schools is justly regarded as of the highest importance. The education they give is essen- tial to good citizenship, and the commingling of all classes for a common purpose promotes that feeling of equality and mutual confidence so essential under our free government. I deprecate the establishment of sectarian or private schools of any nature or description, except for the very young or of the higher grades. To counteract the tendency to establish such schools, the public schools should be made as thorough and perfect in system as possible. We should direct our efforts to the primary and gram- mar departments almost exclusively. Truancy should be abol- ished. Attendance for the full year should be regular and prompt, as such discipline would be of almost as much advantage as the knowledge acquired from books. If the lower grades are properly cared for, the higher grades can safely be left to private
1
24
ANNUAL REPORTS.
interests and munificence. I question the right of supporting high schools at public expense, and I am sure that no necessity for it exists. If the public does its full duty in connection with primary education it will have done enough. It cannot be said to have done that duty until it sees that no child reaches adult years without having been thoroughly taught in all the primary and as much of the grammar school course as is possible. I hope an effi- cient truant officer will hereafter be steadily employed.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
An efficient fire department is a necessity for which we must provide. The amount charged directly to that account for the past year is $7,932.60, but that does not represent its entire cost. There was also paid for water supply $7,395. The care of engine houses and the expense of horses and drivers used by the fire ser- vice are charged to the account of public property. With their just proportions of these items, the expenditures on behalf of the fire department must be considerably in excess of $15,000 per year. I do not know of any way by which this amount may safely be materially reduced. The department appears to be as small as prudence would dictate. The apparatus must be kept in order and always ready for use. The salaries paid are for the greater part nominal. The city furnishes good rooms and the means of social intercourse among the men, which should encourage that pride in their profession which is really their chief compensation. While I suggest no reduction in the appropriations for this depart ment, I trust the Board of Engineers, as well as yourselves, will bear in mind the importance of keeping the expenses connected with it as low as is consistent with a reasonably high standard of efficiency.
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