USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1903 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Boston Public Library
https://archive.org/details/cityofficersannu1903city
40133
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT.
CITY OFFICERS
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
AND THE
ANNUAL REPORTS
TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FOR THE YEAR
1903
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT
TERRA
MARIQUE
MDCCCLI
NEWBURYPORT
ITEM PUBLISHING UNION LABEL COMPANY, PRINTERS
1904
1
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE PRINTING COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF NEWBURYPORT.
PAY DAYS.
City Treasurer's Office, City Hall, January, 1904.
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, 1904.
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 separate 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, and approval of person ordering the same. GEORGE H. STEVENS, City Clerk.
OFFICE HOURS.
MAYOR - From 2, p. m., to 3, p. m., except Saturday.
CITY CLERK-From 9, a. m., to 3, p. m. Saturdays : 9, a. m., to 1, p. m.
CITY TREASURER AND COLLECTOR- From 9, a. m., to 3, p. m. Saturdays : 9, a. m., to 1, p. m. First Thursday evening after the first Monday : 7 to 9.
CLERK OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR - From 9, a. m., to 12 m. ; 2 to 4, p. m. Saturdays : 9, a. m., to 12, m. June, July, and August : 8:30, a. m., to 1, p. m.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS - From 4 to 5, p. m., Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. From 9, a. m., to 10, a. m., Wednesdays.
1903. CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS.
MAYOR : JAMES F. CARENS. Residence : No. 4 Milk street. Office : City Hall.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
President of the Board : ROBERT G. DODGE.
GEORGE F. WOODMAN
Ward One.
. 26 Oak street
MOODY B. NOYES
Ward Two.
53 Federal street
Ward Three.
BENJAMIN P. IRELAND
. 14 Fair street
CHARLES W. AYERS
. 153 High street
Ward Four.
Ward Five.
JOHN M. CHASE
ANDREW R. CURTIS
214 Merrimac street
Ward Six.
Curson road
At Large.
ROBERT G. DODGE 4 Park street
Clerk of the Board : GEORGE H. STEVENS. Assistant Clerk : HENRY W. LITTLE.
6
ANNUAL REPORTS
COMMON COUNCIL.
President of the Council : TIMOTHY HERLIHY.
Ward One.
GEORGE P. GREENLEAF .
33 Bromfield street
GEORGE H. WELCH
20 Oak street
FRANKLIN P. KNIGHT
13 Bromfield street
Ward Two.
GEORGE P. PECKHAM 32 Charles street
ARTHUR J. RICHARDS
15 Lime street
JAMES F. SULLIVAN
28 Federal street
Ward Three.
ROY L. CARRINGTON 2 Otis place
EDWIN S. DODGE 71 High street
JOHN J. KELLEHER 11 Pike street
Ward Four.
JOHN ELLIOTT 28₺ Washington street
WILLIAM H. WALLACE 18 Market street
CHARLES P. KELLEY 126 Merrimac street
Ward Five.
JOHN BALCH BLOOD 232 High street
ARTHUR WITHINGTON . 206 High street
TIMOTHY HERLIHY 154 Merrimac street
Ward Six.
OBED W. GREATON 18 North Atkinson street
FRANK W. MARSHALL 55 Ashland street
HERMAN S. STEVENS 17 Arlington street
Clerk of the Council : THOMAS E. CUTTER.
7
CITY GOVERNMENT
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEES.
FINANCE - Mayor, ex officio; President Dodge; Councilmen Withington, Blood, Kelley, Stevens, Herlihy.
ACCOUNTS - Aldermen Chase and Ayers ; Councilmen Carring- ton, Richards, Peckham.
PUBLIC PROPERTY - Mayor, ex officio; Aldermen Curtis, Ire- land, Woodman; Councilmen Knight, Sullivan, Dodge, Kelley, Withington, Marshall.
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS - Aldermen Noyes and Curtis ; Coun- cilmen Blood, Withington, Kelley.
FIRE DEPARTMENT -- Aldermen Noyes, Chase, Ayers, Wood- man; Councilmen Welch, Sullivan, Carrington, Elliott, Stevens.
BRIDGES AND CULVERTS - Aldermen Noyes and Chase ; Coun- cilmen Kelley, Richards, Greenleaf.
RULES - President Dodge ex officio, Alderman Chase ; Presi- dent Herlihy ex officio, Councilmen Welch and Kelleher.
CLAIMS - Aldermen Chase and Noyes ; Councilmen Knight, Carrington, Withington.
LIGHTING STREETS AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS - Aldermen Ayers and Ireland ; Councilmen Welch, Richards, Wallace.
PRINTING - Alderman Ireland; Councilmen Withington and Peckham.
WATER SUPPLY - Aldermen Ayers and Curtis; Councilmen Kelleher, Marshall, Wallace.
SEWERAGE -Aldermen Curtis and Noyes ; Councilmen Greaton, Marshall, Kelleher, Knight.
ORDINANCES - Mayor, ex officio; Councilmen Wallace and Richards.
SAWYER FUND - Alderman Woodman ; Councilmen Elliott and Stevens.
BROWN FUND - Alderman Woodman; Councilmen Kelleher and Welch.
8
ANNUAL REPORTS
TODD FUND - Alderman Woodman; Councilmen Richards and Wallacc.
FUEL - Aldermen Ireland and Curtis ; Councilmen Kelley, Knight, Peckham.
HIGHWAYS - Mayor, ex officio ; Board of Aldermen; Council- men Greenleaf, Peckham, Kelleher, Kelley, Blood, Greaton.
DEXTER AND ATWOOD FUNDS-Mayor, ex officio; City Treas- urer, ex officio ; President of Common Council, ex officio.
STANDING COMMITTEES-BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
POLICE - Mayor Carens, ex officio; Aldermen Curtis and Dodge.
LICENSES - Aldermen Ayers, Woodman, Noyes.
STATE AID AND MILITARY RELIEF - Aldermen Ireland, Noyes, Chase.
BROMFIELD FUND - Aldermen Curtis, Chase, Dodge.
ELECTIONS - Aldermen Woodman, Ireland, Ayers.
ENROLLED BILLS - Aldermen Noyes, Ayers. Woodman.
MILITARY AFFAIRS AND ARMORY - Aldermen Curtis, Ireland, Chase.
PUTNAM AND ATKINSON FUNDS, FROTHINGHAM FUND, GREEN FUND, TOPPAN FUND, W. O. MOSELEY FUND, JOHN R. SPRING FUND, STEPHEN W. MARSTON FUND - Aldermen Curtis, Ayers, Ireland.
STANDING COMMITTEES - COMMON COUNCIL.
ELECTIONS AND RETURNS -- Councilmen Wallace, Stevens, Welch.
BILLS OF SECOND READING - Councilmen Kelleher, Marshall, Elliott.
ENROLLED BILLS - Councilmen Stevens and Peckham.
9
CITY GOVERNMENT
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
JAMES F. CARENS (Mayor), Chairman, ex officio.
John F. Young, Vice-Chairman 9 Fruit street William P. Lunt, Superintendent and Secretary, office at City Hall Robert G. Allen, Truant Officer 25 Milk street
TERM : TWO YEARS.
Ward One.
Ernest W. Bliss (term expires 1905) . 10 Allen street Richard G. Adams (term expires 1904) . 70 Bromfield street Ward Two.
Prentiss H. Reed (term expires 1905). 55 Lime street Charles W. Bailey (term expires 1904) . 62 Prospect street Ward Three.
William F. Lunt (term expires 1905) . 33 Prospect street John F. Young (term expires 1904) . 9 Fruit street
Ward Four.
Charles F. Johnson (term expires 1905). . 45 Washington street Clarence C. Day (term expires 1904) . . 8 Washington street
Ward Five.
Oliver B. Merrill (term expires 1905) . Monroe street Edward H. Little (term expires 1904) 215 High street Ward Six.
George A. Dickey (term expires 1905) 14 Toppan street Paul A. Merrill (term expires 1904) 24 Tyng street
IO
ANNUAL REPORTS
BOARD OF ASSESSORS (Office, City Hall. ) TERM : THREE YEARS.
William H. Huse, Chairman (Dec., 1903). . Essex street
George P. Sargent, Secretary (Dec., 1905). . 18 Fruit street Willard A. Hatch (term expires Dec., 1904) . . 62 Federal street
BOARD OF HEALTH.
TERM : THREE YEARS.
John E. Bailey, Chairman (term expires Dec .. 1903) 6 Kent street Charles W. Page (term expires Dec., 1904) . . 12 Horton street Simeon O. Pilling (term expires Dec., 1905) . . 202 High street Agent of the Board : .
John Burke . 50 Bromfield street
Clerk of the Board :
Charles W. Page
12 Horton street
Inspector of Plumbing :
Charles H. Sargent 323 High street
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
JAMES F. CARENS (Mayor), Chairman, ex officio. TERM : THREE YEARS. L. W. Sargent, Vice-Chairman (Dec., 1903) . . 280 High street William F. Houston (term expires Dec., 1904) . 2 Harris street Benjamin F. Hathaway (Dec., 1905) . . . 50 Purchase street Clerk of the Overseers of the Poor:
William H. Bayley (office, City Hall) . . 63 Bromfield street
II
CITY GOVERNMENT
BOARD OF REGISTRARS
George H. Stevens (City Clerk), ex officio . . 37 Kent street TERM : THREE YEARS.
George H. Cutter (term expires April, 1904) . . 8 Garden street Luther Carter (term expires April, 1903). . 11 Kent street Benjamin G. Davis, Chairman (April, 1905) . . 1 Horton street
BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
( Office, Bartlet street. ) TERM : FIVE YEARS.
Irvin Besse (term expires May, 1906) 10 Garden street
John W. Winder (term expires May, 1905) . 78 High street
Rudolph Jacoby (term expires May, 1904) 7 Orange street Charles A. Bliss (term expires May, 1903) . 82 Lime street
Louis F. Barton (term expires May, 1907) 187 High street Harold S. Noyes, Secretary and Treasurer.
TRUSTEES OF SIMPSON FUND.
JAMES F. CARENS (Mayor), ex officio.
Timothy Herlihy (President of the Common Council), ex officio. Thomas C. Simpson (term expires December, 1903. )
Henry B. Little (term expires December, 1904). Nathan N. Withington (term expires December, 1905.) Treasurer and Clerk : James V. Felker (City Treasurer) .
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS.
TERM : THREE YEARS. JAMES F. CARENS (Mayor), ex officio.
Robert G. Dodge ( President of the Board of Aldermen), ex officio. Timothy Herlihy (President of the Common Council), ex officio. Orrin J. Gurney (term expires December, 1904). John W. Sargent (term expires December, 1905). Charles C. Stockman (term expires December, 1903).
I2
ANNUAL REPORTS
Commissioners of Atkinson Common. JAMES F. CARENS (Mayor), ex officio.
Robert G. Dodge (President of the Board of Aldermen ), ex officio. Timothy Herlihy (President of the Common Council), ex officio. Alvah Hoyt (term expires April, 1904).
Leonard W. Sargent (term expires April, 1903). Orlando F. Hatch (term expires April, 1905).
Sinking Fund Commissioners. JAMES F. CARENS (Mayor), ex officio.
Timothy Herlihy (President of the Common Council), ex officio. William H. Welch (City Auditor), ex officio.
Philip H. Lunt (term expires 1903). Henry B. Little (term expires 1904).
Treasurer and Clerk : James V. Felker (City Treasurer).
Liquor License Commissioners.
Lawrence W. Piper, Chairman and Secretary (term expires May, 1906). Charles W. Cooke (term expires May, 1908.)
William Holker (term expires May, 1904).
Trustees of Wheelwright Scientific Fund. JAMES F. CARENS (Mayor), ex officio.
Lawrence B. Cushing, President.
James E. Whitney, Treasurer.
John W. Winder, Secretary.
John W. Dodge.
Edmund D. Codman.
13
CITY GOVERNMENT
City Clerk.
George H. Stevens . 37 Kent street Office, City Hall. Assistant City Clerk. Henry W. Little . . 45 Purchase street Office, City Hall. City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes.
James V. Felker . 12 Harris street Office, City Hall. Clerk of City Treasurer : Mary K. Pettingell. City Auditor.
William H. Welch . 24 Washington street Office, First National Bank. City Solicitor.
Thomas Huse. . 69 Prospect street Office, 76 State street. City Messenger.
Frank H. Rundlett 78 Federal street Office, City Hall. Superintendent of Schools.
William P. Lunt 19 Pond street Office, City Hall. Superintendent of Highways.
John Ronan 4 Railroad street Office, basement of Armory building. Superintendent of Sewers.
Hiram H. Landford 23₺ Purchase street City Physician.
Ernest H. Noyes 12 Essex street Superintendent of Old and New Hill Burying Grounds. Alfred Gurney 262 Merrimac street
I4
ANNUAL REPORTS
Chief of Fire Department.
John P. Atkinson 14§ Fair street Superintendent of Fire Alarm Telegraph.
70 Federal street John J. Merrill Superintendent of Wires. John J. Merrill 70 Federal street Librarian of Public Library.
John D. Parsons 46 Boardman street Office, Public Library. Superintendent of Public Reading Room. Martha P. Lunt 19 Pond street
NEWBURYPORT POLICE FORCE.
Edward R. Ayers City Marshal. 6 Vernon street Office, Central Police Station. Assistant City Marshal. John L. McLean.
Captain of the Watch. Patrick Creeden.
Day Officers.
Frank L. Lattime, James F. Murphy, William H. Woodman.
Seth Young, Philip H. Creasey, John T. Carey,
Night Patrolmen.
George W. Lattime, John M. Hayes,
Charles W. Wells, George J. Ross,
Peter J. Kelleher, George F. Adams, Jr.
Constables.
Patrick Creeden, John .J. Bryan,
Frank H. Rundlett, John Burke,
Frank L. Lattime, Robert G. Allen,
Fred H. South.
15
CITY GOVERNMENT
Deputy Collector of Taxes. Samuel A. Bridges. Inspector of Animals and Provisions. George W. Knight. Harbor Master. Benjamin W. Stevens. Sealer of Weights and Measures. Edward Donahue, Jr. Office, Inn street Measurers of Grain.
Moses H. Rolfe, Charles B. Knight, Frank W. Landford, Henry P. Rolfe, Dennis Healey.
Inspector of Milk and Vinegar.
George W. Knight . . Office, City Hall
William S. Coffin . Gaugers. . Hiram P. Macintosh
Surveyors of Lumber.
Orlando F. Hatch, Charles L. Perkins, Gideon C. Webster,
George E. Currier, Thomas F. Corey, Edward Perkins,
Leonard W. Sargent, Thomas H. Oliver, Alexander G. Perkins
Edgar Ross, George W. Hussey, Joseph Langevin,
Alvah Hoyt, Willard A. Hatch, 2d.
Edward G. Perkins, John Whiting,
Hall J. Leigh, William B. Coffin.
Weighers of Coal, Hay, and Other Merchandise.
Charles W. Nelson, Fred L. Atkinson,
Edward Donahue, Lawrence Whalen,
Jere Healey,
William S. Coffin,
John J. Collins, James Conley,
George H. Ogden, Edward E. Varina, Fred B. Fanning, William Conley, John L. Noyes, Jackson Greenaway, Rudolph Jacoby, Frank A. Bray, Annie Healey, Joseph L. Jacoby,
John H. Balch, Jr., Freeman P. Healey, Edward Donahue, Jr. Alonzo C. Pearson,
Fred L. Macintosh, James Joy,
Burton I. Gerrish, Harrison F. Smart, Winthrop O. Coffin,
Albert W. Hopkinson,
John J. Beaton, Charles A. Morse, Moody B. Noyes, Herbert S. Noyes.
16
ANNUAL REPORTS
Field Drivers.
Jeremiah S. Parker
. Nathan A. Massey
Pound Keepers.
Daniel W. Cate . Pound No. 1, Auburn street
Jere S. Parker . Pound No. 2, Wesley street
Measurers of Wood and Bark.
John H. Balch, Jr.,
Fred L. Atkinson, John Collins,
John L. Noyes,
Fred B. Fanning, John J. Collins,
Jere Healey, William S. Coffin, Joseph Woods,
Frank A. Bray, Charles A. Pearson, Charles W. Nelson.
Measurers of Charcoal.
Fred L. Atkinson, John H. Balch, Jr., John L. Noyes, William S. Coffin.
Jere Healey,
Weighers and Measurers of City Fuel.
Edward E. Varina, William S. Coffin. Charles W. Nelson. Edward Donahue.
Inspector of Coal Baskets. William S. Coffin.
Fence Viewers.
Dexter W. Nutting.
Measurer of Upper Leather. Luther Carter.
17
CITY GOVERNMENT
MEETINGS.
City Council.
FIRST AND THIRD MONDAY EVENING OF EACH MONTH.
School Committee. LAST MONDAY EVENING OF EACH MONTH.
Overseers of the Poor. LAST TUESDAY EVENING OF EACH MONTH.
REGULAR COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
Commencing with last Monday of each month.
Monday evening : School Committee ; Lighting Streets, etc. ; Bridges and Culverts.
Tuesday evening : Public Property; Overseers of the Poor. Wednesday evening : Highways ; Police.
Thursday evening : Fire Department ; Sewerage ; Printing. Friday evening : Accounts.
First Wednesday evening after first Monday of each month : State Aid, Military aid, and Soldiers' Relief.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
......... OF ........
HON. JAMES F. CARENS.
DELIVERED JANUARY 5, 1903.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL :
In compliance with the city charter and honored cus- tom, we meet tonight to take our oath of office and to assume the duties pertaining to the respective positions to which, by the expressed confidence of our fellow- citizens, we stand elected.
Before proceeding to discuss the different matters per- tinent to this occasion, I feel that the time is opportune and surely the place, with its attendant circumstances and conditions, is appropriate for me to make open, sin- cere, and grateful acknowledgements and to speak my truest appreciation of the great honor conferred by an election to the chief magistracy of this, my native city.
20
ANNUAL REPORTS
Keenly alive to the honor, I trust that I have equally keen appreciation of the importance and responsibilities of the office.
This paper, in common with those read by the hon- ored men who have preceded me upon similar occasions, deals briefly with the different important departments of the city.
In discussing these matters some recommendations have been made, whether wise or unwise to you must be left the decision. The first and most important topic to be touched upon, from a material standpoint, is the finances, and as they have already received much atten- tion from the public press, a superficial examination, at this time, will suffice.
FINANCES.
The gross debt of the city at the close of the books December 20, 1902, was $599,250.33
The available assets, which consist of taxes due, assessments due, what is due from the state sinking funds, and cash on hand, amount to
277,524.94
Making the net debt of the city Dec. 20, '02
$321,725.39
The net debt of the city for 1901 was 317,272.13
Making an increase of the city debt for 1902
4,453.26
The increase is explained as follows :
Net expenditure on sewerage . $ 5,791.15
Expense on high school 24,720.32
Making a total of .
$30,511.47
21
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
Amount brought forward .
$30,511.47
Appropriation to sinking fund $16,000.00
Notes payable 1,200.00
Appropriation for Curtis school 786.74
Net income of sinking fund 2,781.16
Decrease of overdraft in 1902
5,290.32
Making a total of .
26,058.21
The net income $ 4,453.26
The appropriations for 1902 were $189,800.00
The income was 37,721.83
Making a total of . $227,521.83
The expenditures were 228,798.81
Making a net overdraft, as shown upon the books of the treasurer, Dec. 20, 1902 $1,276.98
But in justice to our predecessors and in fairness to this administration I present these additional figures.
There is, at the present time, in process of reconstruc- tion engine No. 1 at a cost of $1704.16. A memorial volume of our semi-centennial celebration, for which an appropriation of $250 was made, and upon which a pay- ment of $50 on account has been paid, leaving an un- paid balance of $200.
There are contracts for fuel, some of which has been delivered, and much of which has not, amounting to about $6000, on which a payment of $1500 has been made, leaving a balance to be paid from this year's ap- propriation of $4500.
The fuel question is, and has been, the all-important question of the hour. Under ordinary circumstances and
22
ANNUAL REPORTS
conditions the public buildings and poor department would have received their regular amounts of fuel and the cost of the same would have been charged to the re- spective departments to which it belonged, for when the appropriations were made, in February, 1902, in each appropriation provisions, where necessary, were made for fuel, the cost of most of which must be paid from the appropriations of 1903.
I also find, after some investigation, that a bill amounting to $939.72 for crushed stone placed upon Purchase street, remains due to Cashinan Rrothers. This, by special agreement with the committee on high- ways, who purchased the stone with the distinct under- standing that the bill should not be rendered until 1903.
Following a precedent established by my immediate and honored predecessor, and which I deem exceedingly wise and fair, I find that at the close of business on Saturday, January 3d, bills to the amount of $973.83 have been presented.
To recapitulate, the following amounts appear to be due :
The officially declared overdraft . $1,276.98
The repairs on engine No. 1 . 1,704.60
Balance due on Memorial Volume 200.00
Amount due to Cashman Brothers for stone de- livered on Purchase street 939.72
Amount of bills presented from the close of busi-
ness Dec. 20 to Saturday, January 3d 973.83
Total $9,595.13
23
CITY GOVERNMENT
This open statement bears with it no reflection on the city council of 1902, and I wish it so understood. It is a plain, business statement, which should be, and is, pre- sented for your consideration. It bears no prejudice and is without artistic elaboration.
SCHOOLS.
There is no department of the city nearer to the hearts of the people than the one that cares for our children, the school department. At present these schools are in excellent condition as far as instruction and discipline are concerned. The teachers in charge of them are faithful and efficient. Many of them have had years of experience here, while others have been specially trained for their work. The school buildings are gradually either being improved or replaced by bet- ter ones, and as soon as the financial condition of the city will allow these improvements should be continued until all the children are provided with convenient and comfortable quarters.
Notwithstanding the fact Newburyport is considered conservative, a glance at the course of study will show that a progressive spirit has pervaded this department. We find among the branches taught, music, drawing, cooking and sewing, in the elementary schools, and in the high schools a business course has been added, with stenography and typewriting.
The appropriation for this department was $32,000, and the income was $1208.05. The expenses were
24
ANNUAL REPORTS
$37,485.42. By this it will be seen that an overdraft of $4,277.37 is shown in this department.
While it would be farthest from my thoughts to say one word that would tend to impair the standing of our schools, I still believe that from a business standpoint the greatest possible care should be taken against an in- crease in the expenditures of this or any department un- less something unforeseen presents itself.
INDUSTRIAL.
During the past few weeks many rumors are upon the streets affecting our industrial enterprises. These rumors have to do with the possible removal of some and the location of new firms could proper facilities for the carrying on of their work be found. And in this connec- tion I feel that I am expressing the sentiments of all our citizens when I voice the regret felt at the change of plans upon the part of the Fiberloid company in locating elsewhere.
In the absence of a board of trade, or other active business association, it seems wise and proper for the city council to take the initiative in matters having to do with her industrial welfare.
In consequence, I recommend the revival of the com- mittee of mercantile and manufacturing affairs, whose duty it will be to bring all possible pressure in favor of Newburyport in matters pertaining to the above named subjects.
It is also recommended that a small sum of money be placed at the disposal of said committee, if formed, for
25
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
the purpose of defraying any expense attendant upon the work of the committee.
WATER CASE.
The following is the result of an interview with Hon. A. E. Pillsbury, counsel for the city.
In the case of the Newburyport Water Co. against the city in the U. S. Circuit Court, a final decree, dismissing the bill, was entered in March last. The company claimed an appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, and has recently perfected the appeal, and taken out a citation returnable in that court January 5, 1903.
In view of the dismissal of the case in the Circuit Court, the counsel for the city has filed a motion in the Supreme Court of the state, to have that court deter- mine the amount now due the company, in order that the city may pay it.
The company claims full interest on the award at six per cent., while the city does not concede that any in . terest has been accruing since the company stopped the city from paying the award in 1897, by bringing the Federal suit.
This interest question is under negotiation, the amount in dispute being now nearly $90,000, and unless a reasonable adjustment of it can be reached it will have to be determined by the court.
POOR DEPARTMENT.
This department is necessarily one that calls for a large appropriation.
26
ANNUAL REPORTS
Its appropriation for the year was . $20,000.00
Its income was . 5,263.00
Making a total amount of $25,263.00
Its expenditures were 25,563.08
Leaving an overdraft of
$300.08
The expense of maintaining our insane people in dif- ferent institutions was $9,922.52 and the city was reim- bursed to the amount of $722.40, leaving our net ex- pense of maintaining our insane $9,200.12.
On January 1, 1904, the state will take charge of the board of all the insane in public institutions, the cities and towns reimbursing the state by an increase in their state tax.
In passing upon this department it seems to me a proper time to, in common with all citizens, pay a tribute of respect and appreciation for the great work being done by Mr. Alex. Dixon, Mr. W. F. Houston and oth- ers in providing coal for those whose circumstances are such that they are unable to provide it for themselves. By their prompt action and tireless energy a great amount of suffering has been averted From the first these gentlemen have deprecated publicity of their acts, but I should feel that I was recreant to my duty did I fail to make public recognition of their work.
POLICE STATION.
The unsanitary conditions prevailing at the police station are indeed deplorable, and the details pertaining thereto, having been so freely discussed in the public
27
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
press, are familiar not alone to the members of the city council, but to the public in general. If reports are true, it will be necessary for prompt action in order to avoid complications with the state board of health.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.