City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1908, Part 1

Author: City of Newburyport
Publication date: 1908
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 352


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CITY OF NEWBURYPORT


CITY OFFICERS


MAYOR'S ADDRESS


AND THE


ANNUAL REPORTS


CITY OF NEWBURYPORT


MARIQUE MDCCCLI


TO THE CITY COUNCIL


FOR THE YEAR


1908


Published by Order of the City Council


NEWBURYPORT Press of The Newburyport Herald 1909


CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS-1908.


MAYOR IRVIN BESSE Residence, 10 Garden street; office, city hall


BOARD OF ALDERMEN President of the board, Edward G. Moody Ward One


Herbert S. Noyes. 11 Allen street


Ward Two


George P. Peckham 19 Milk street


Ward Three


George F. Avery 8 Orange street


Ward Four


William H. T, Dodge 153 High street


Ward Five


Edward G. Moody


218 High street


Ward Six


Herbert Currier 6 Magnolia street


At Large


John J. Kelleher


16 Warren street


Clerk of the board, Henry W. Little


3


4


ANNUAL REPORTS COMMON COUNCIL


* President of the council, Edward G. Moody


Ward One


Henry H. Harris 150 Water street


Frederick W. Knapp 27 High street


Hiram H. Landford. 231/2 Purchase street


Ward Two


Robert L. Burke. 49 High street


Chester G Menut. 26 Lime street


Frank H. Plumer 69 Federal street


Ward Three


Chester M. Pates 16 Allen street


Ralph S. Elliott 6 Dalton street


Henry Mullins 1 Hill street


Ward Four


George W. Langdon 6 Park street


William J. Cusack 38 Washington street


Herbert C. Hewitt. . 24 1/2 Summer street


Ward Five


Edward Bass 7 Congress street


George C. Howard 19 Summit Place


Jeremiah H. Ryan 16 Warren street


Ward Six


Charles E. Coffin . 324 Merrimac street


George E. Cooper 3 North Atkinson street


Norman Russell 255 High street


Clerk of the council, J. Hermann Carver


*Should read Frank H. Plumer.


5


CITY GOVERNMENT


JOINT STANDING COMMITTEES


Municipal Departments-Mayor, president board of aldermen, president common council.


Accounts -- Aldermen Noyes, Avery; Councilmen Menut, Hew- itt, Burke.


Bridges and Culverts-Aldermen Dodge, Kelleher; Councilmen Knapp, Howard, Elliott.


Claires -- Aldermen Noyes, Currier; Councilmen Mullins, El- lictt, Burke.


Commercial Interests - Aldermen Avery, Noyes; Councilmen Langdon. Bass, Landford.


Fire Department-Aldermen Kelleher, Peckham, Dodge, Cur- rier; Councilmen Knapp, Mullins, Langdon, Russell, Landford.


Fuel -- Aldermen Kelleher, Peckham; Councilmen Bates, Cu- sack, Ryan.


Finance- - Alderman Avery; Councilmen Burke, Langdon, Rus- sell, Cooper, Bates.


Highways -- Aldermen Avery, Currier, Dodge Kelliher, Moody, Noyes. Peckham; Councilmen Landford, Menut, Bates, Cusack, Howard, Coffin.


Lighting --- Aldermen Peckham, Kelleher; Councilmen Burke, Bass, Cooper.


Printing- - Alderman Avery; Councilmen Mullins, Cusack.


Public Property - Aldermen Noyes, Dodge, Currier; Council- men Harris, Elliott, Hewitt, Bass, Cooper, Ryan.


Sewers-Aldermen Currier, Dodge Peckham; Councilmen Har- ris, Coffin, Ryan, Langdon.


Water Supply and Watering Streets-Aldermen Peckham, Kel- leher; Councilmen Menut, Cooper, Bates.


Rules - President, ex-officio; Alderman Noyes; Councilmen Russell, Harris, Cusack.



ANNUAL REPORTS


STANDING COMMITTEES-BOARD OF ALDERMEN


Elections-Aldermen Currier, Avery, Kelleher.


Police-Aldermen Noyes, Avery. Licenses -- Aldermen Dodge, Peckham, Kelleher. State Aid and Military Relief-Aldermen Kelleher, Avery, Noyes.


STANDING COMMITTEES-COMMON COUNCIL


Bills of Second Reading-Councilmen Ryan, Mullins, Knapp. Elections and Returns-Councilmen Knapp, Coffin, Howard. Ordinance-Councilmen Hewitt, Elliott. Rules-Councilmen Russell, Cusack, Harris. Enroiled Bills-Harris, Hewitt, Russell.


JOINT SPECIAL COMMITTEES


Salaries -- Aldermen Noyes, Dodge; Councilmen Bates, Burke, Langdon.


Preservation of Shade Trees - President, ex-officio; Aldermen Peckham, Dodge; Councilmen Bass, Howard.


REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL


First Monday evening of each month.


7


CITY GOVERNMENT


CITY OFFICERS City Clerk


Henry W. Little. 481/2 Purchase street Office, city hall Treasurer and Collector


H. F. Whiton. 53 High street Office, city hall Clerk to Collector


Mary K. Pettingell . 9 Fruit street Alice F. Currier 78 Federal street


Clerk of Committees


J. Hermann Carver


19 Otis Place


City Auditor


William Balch Washington street Office, Institution for Savings Deputy Collector


William H. T. Dodge . 153 High street


City Messenger


Frank H. Rundlett 11 Spring street Office, city hall Superintendent of Streets and Sewers James H. Johnston .17 Boardman street


City Solicitor


Arthur Withington


76 State street


City Physician


Frank W. Snow, M. D. 24 Essex street


City Marshal


Frank L. Lattime . 1321/2 Water street


Assistant City Marshal


John L. McLean . 35 Broad street Office, police station


Captain of the Watch


Charles W. Wells.


281/2 Temple street


S


ANNUAL REPORTS


Superintendent of Wires and Fire Alarm Orrin J. Welch 25 Olive street


Chief of Fire Department


George P. Osborne. .34 Fair street


Fish Warden


Charles L. Perkins.


12 Bromfield street


Permanent Fireman


Eben P. Allen


11 South Pond street


Sealer of Weights and Measures


Irving K. Wells


72 Prospect street


Inspector of Animals and Provisions


7 Washington street Cyrus A. Haskell


Harbor Master


Benjamin W. Stevens


4 Madison street


Superintendent of Highland Cemetery and Old Hill Alfred Gurney Butler street Drawtender Newburyport Bridge


William I Hunt .37 Purchase street


Tree Warden


Charles P. Kelly 9 Dove street


ASSESSORS OF TAXES Office, city hall Term, Three Years


George P. Sargent ( chairman), term expires 1908 Eben C. Knight (clerk), term expires 1909


Charles L. Perkins, term expires 1910


Meetings Wednesdays of each week, 10 to 12.30


9


CITY GOVERNMENT


OVERSEERS OF THE POOR


Irvin Besse (mayor), chairman, ex-officio


Edmund M. Dow, term expires 1910


Herbert Patten, term expires 1909


John W. Sargent, term expires 1908 William H. Bayley (clerk)


George H. Twombley, superintendent almshouse


Mrs. George H. Twombley, matron almshouse


Meetings last Monday of each month


BOARD OF HEALTH


Term, Three Years


Orrin J. Gurney (chairman), term expires 1909


James O. Lacaillade, M. D.


Thomas R. Healy


William Thurston, agent and clerk of board


Charles H. Sargent, William C. Adams, inspectors of plumbing


REGISTRARS OF VOTERS


Benjamin G. Davis (chairman), term expires 1908


Charles W. Johnson, term expires 1910


Albert W. Hopkinson, term expires 1909


Henry W Little clerk, ex-officio


ATKINSON COMMON COMMISSION


Irvin Besse (mayor), ex-officio


Edward G. Moody (president), ex officio


Frank H. Plumer (president), ex-officio Alvah Hoyt, term expires 1910 Leonard W. Sargent, term expires 1909 Orlando F. Hatch, term expires 1908


10


ANNUAL REPORTS


LICENSE COMMISSION


I. W. C. Webster, term expires 1910 David T. Coffin, term expires 1914


Jere Buckley, term expires 1912


SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS


Irvin Besse (mayor), ex-officio


Frank H. Plumer (president), ex-officio


William Balch (auditor), ex-officio


Henry P. Little, term expires 1908


Lawrence B. Cushing, term expires 1909


BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS


Term, Three Years


Irvin Besse (mayor), ex-officio


Edward G. Moody (president ), ex-officio


Frank H. Plumer (president ), ex-officio


John W. Sargent., term expires 1908


Orrin J. Gurney, term expires 1910


Charles C. Stockman, term expires 1909


BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS


(Office, 38 Inn street ) Term, five years


William Herbert Noyes, term expires 1912


Charles A. Bliss, term expires 1913


Timothy Harrington, term expires 1909


John W. Winder, term expires 1910


James F. Higgins, term expires 1911 Harold S. Noyes ( secretary )


Meetings second Tuesday of each month


11


CITY GOVERNMENT


CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION


Oliver B. Merrill Henry B. Little John F. Young, M. D.


TRUSTEES OF THE SIMPSON FUND


Irvin Besse (mayor), ex-officio


Frank H. Plumer (president), ex-officio


William Balch H. B. Little L. B. Cushing


TRUSTEES ATKINSON SCHOOL FUND


Joshua Hale (president) Leonard W. Sargent (treasurer and clerk)


William C. Coffin


PUBLIC LIBRARY


Permanent Trustees Building Fund Lawrence B. Cushing Frederick S. Moseley Charles W. Moseley


Directors Irvin Besse (mayor), ex-officio


Edward G. Moody (president), ex-officio


Frank II. Plumer (president), ex-officio


William C. Coffin, term expires 1913 George W. Brown, term expires 1912 Moses Brown, term expires 1911 William R. Johnson, term expires 1910


Frank F. Morrill, term expires 1909


Arthur P. Brown, term expires 1915


12


ANNUAL REPORTS


Trustees


Mayor Irvin Besse, Aldermen Herbert S. Noyes, George P. Peck-


ham, George F. Avery, William H. T. Dodge, Edward G. Moody, Herbert Currier, John J. Kelleher


Henry W. Little, secretary


H. F. Whiton, treasurer


John D. Parsons, librarian


Effie A. Tenney, Elizabeth S. Thurston, Helen E. Tilton, assistant librarians


Dexter W. Nutting, janitor


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


Irvin Besse (mayor), chairman, ex-officio Charles F. Johnson, vice chairman E. L. Willard, superintendent of schools Joshua L. Chase, truant officer


Ward One


Horton C. Stevens, term expires 1910


Ernest W. Bliss, term expires 1909


Ward Two


Charles W. Bailey, term expires 1910


Prentiss H. Reed, term expires 1909 Ward Three


John F. Young, M. D., term expires 1910


Arthur P. Brown, term expires 1909


Ward Four


Samuel J. Hughes, term expires 1910


Charles F. Johnson, M. D., term expires 1909 Ward Five


Warren W. Pillsbury, M. D., term expires 1910


William F. Lunt, term expires 1909


13


CITY GOVERNMENT


Ward Six


George I .. Whitmore, term expires 1910


William R. Usher, term expires 1909


TRUSTEES OF' WHEELWRIGHT SCIENTIFIC SCHOOL Irvin Besse (mayor), ex-officio


Lawrence B. Cushing, president James E. Whitney, treasurer John W. Winder, secretary Edmund Dwight Codman Hon. Thomas C. Simpson


MAYORS OF NEWBURYPORT.


The original charter of the city was adopted by the in- habitants June 3, 1851.


The mayor is elected annually.


Hon. Caleb Cushing* 1851-1852


Hon. Henry Johnson . 1852-1853


Hon. Moses Davenport 1854-1855-1861


Hon. Wiliam Cushing 1856-1857-1858


Hon. Albert Currier 1859-1860


Hon. George W. Jackman Jr ... 1861-1862-1864-1865-1877 1863


Hon. Isaac H. Boardman


Hon. William Graves 1866


Hon. Eber F. Stone


1867


Hon. Nathaniel Pierce


1868-1869


Hon. Robert Couch


1870-1881 Hon. Elbridge G. Kelley 1871-1872


Hon. Warren Currier 1873-1874


Hon. Benjamin F. Atkinson.


1875-1876


Hon. Jonathan Smith


1878


Hon. John James Currier 1879-1880 Hon. Benjamin IJalo 1882


Hon. William A. Johnson.


1883-


-1884


Hon. Thomas C. Simpson. 1885


Hon. Charles C. Dame 1886


Hon. J. Otis Winkley 1887


15


16


ANNUAL REPORTS


Hon. William H. Huse 1888


Hon. Albert C. Titcomb 1888-1889


Hon. Elisha P. Dodge 1890-1891


Hon. Orrin J. Gurney 1892-1893-1894-1895


Hon. Andrew R. Curtis 1896-1897


Hon. George H. Plumer 1898


Hon. Thomas Huse


1899-1900


Hon. Moses Brown


1901-1902


Hon. James F. Carens 1903-1904


Hon. William F. Houston 1905-1906


Hon. Albert F. Hunt 1907


Hon. Irvin Besse 1908


*Resigned. ** Died in office.


INAUGURAL ADDRESS


- OF -


HON. IRVIN BESSE


DELIVERED JANUARY 8, 1908.


Gentlemen :


For the fifty-eighth time in the life of the city of New- buryport these simple inaugural exercises mark the coming into power of the new city government. Profiting by the success and failures of those who have preceded us, we stand at the threshold of the year 1908 determined to make ourselves worthy of the trust imposed on us.


To assist in conducting the affairs of our city and to administer the duties of office carefully and conscientiously is an interesting and valuable experience. Our apprecia- tion of honor conferred on us by the voters can best be shown by faithfully performing the duties which we have this day voluntarily assumed.


Custom has made this an occasion on which the mayor may lay before you statements of the city's condition, and


17


18


ANNUAL REPORTS


on which he may express his views on such conditions and present plans for future advancement.


FINANCIAL.


The following is a statement of the city debt, taken from the books of the city treasurer :


Total bonded debt of the city $827,000.00


Amount of trust fund notes. 79,750.00


Notes issued in anticipation of taxes 48,475.00


Total $955,225.00 Funds in hands of sinking fund commission to meet


the bonded debt 229,875.09


Balance $725,349.91


Deduct cash on hand, taxes and betterments due, and


other assets 129,211.18


Leaves a net debt, of $596,138.73


For further details I refer you to the city treasurer's and auditor's report, and urge a careful study of the same.


PAY AS YOU GO.


The amount of overdraft disclosed by the treasurer's books at the close of the last financial year, December 21, 1907, was $12.915.90. This amount, with bills withheld, and in dispute, if justly due, will amount to more than $16,000.00 to be provided for by the appropriation of this year. We have also $2800.00 of matured funded debt and interest, a legacy of a faulty policy, incurred by bonding a debt which should have been paid.


It is provided by the law that $12.00 per thousand tax levy and income from legitimate sources shall yearly pay the yearly current expenses of municipal government. It is our


19


MAYOR'S ADDRESS


duty to keep the expenses within the authorized amount. The income has been reduced $20,000.00 by closing the sa- loon. Either the expenses of our city must be reduced by new and more economical methods of city administration, or else the tax limit must be raised.


I am strongly opposed to the increase of our bonded debt for any other cause than permanent improvements. By the harmonious co-operation of the legislative and execu- tive officers of this year's city government much can be done to improve these conditions.


TAXATION.


The two savings banks and the Co-operative bank of Newburyport have in deposits and surplus $10,000,000 in round numbers. This amount shows not only the thrift of the community but also the confidence the people place in out institutions. This amount is visible and is taxed legally and justly.


The real estate and personal property taxed by the board of assessors amounts to $11,270,311.00, of which amount $317.361.00 are resident bank shares. It is my firm belief that a large amount of personal property and taxable income escapes the vigilance of the assessors, and though we are diligently trying to stop small leaks, the tax dodger takes annually from the city's exchequer the biggest kind of graft. A body of men well informed in these matters, or- ganized to co-operate with the assessors, would bring about such just law enforcement by their zeal that Newburyport would be proud of the innovation and her sister cities would doubtless imitate.


20


ANNUAL REPORTS


SALARIES.


To determine fairly and justly the salary of any officer, it is necessary to have his duties well defined. To that end I recommend a careful enactment and revision of ordinances which shall state clearly the work required. Such a revision will save demands made for extras, which are now so preva- lent.


In connection with this subject, I suggest the choice of a superintendent of highways who shall also act as tree warden, superintendent of street sprinkling, superintend- ent of sewers and who shall apportion the betterments for street sprinkling. etc. All the collections for taxes, water rates and betterments can be made at city hall by a col- lecter and one assistant. I believe that the city treasurer should be a separate person from the collecter, and should be the custodian of all the city funds.


Though this suggestion, if carried out, would create another office, the salaries could be adjusted so that no in- creased expenditures would be incurred thereby. I urge here your consideration of the consolidation of some of the other minor offices, for the interest of better service and less expense.


I agree with the recommendations of mv predecessors that the city clerk should have an assistant who is a stenographer and typewriter, and the two clerks should of- ficiate at the meetings of the city council and its com- mittees. In addition to his other duties, the assistant clerk should do such work for the other departments as typewriter, now done at a great deal of outside expense.


POLICE.


Rules defining the duties of officers and of men in this department should be immediately promulgated and strictly


21


MAYOR'S ADDRESS


adhered to by the force. If the civil service means anything, it means that the police should be kept out of politics; but in this respect it has been shown to be a lamentable failure in our city, with regard to a large number of the force.


A policeman's beat should not be a playground, nor should his time, when he is assigned to patrol duty, be occupied in making social calls or in extended conversations on the streets on topics other than police matters. During this year, political activitity or neglect of duty on the part of the police will be considered good cause for discipline or removal.


As a measure of retrenchment, I recommend a smaller appropriation for the department, and shall assign fewer men to patrol duty. Today, by means of the telephone, a great many complaints are sent to headquarters, thus elimi- nating, in part, the necessity of patrol duty.


Though there is a question in regard to the interpreta- tion of the written law relative to the reduction of the force, it is certainly the law of reason that the most efficient men should be retained and only such members employed as our needs require and our income warrants.


STREETS, SIDEWALKS, BRIDGES AND CULVERTS.


A libera! amount has been expended in these depart- ments for years, and I recommend that thorough repairs be made in them for the comfort and safety of travel, and that no new work be undertaken until such repairs are thorough- ly made.


If any new work is to be done, I call your attention to the brick sidewalks on State street, between Pleasant street and the Market, which are used for travel more than any cther highways in an equally poor condition.


I believe the superintendent whom you elect should be


22


ANNUAL REPORTS


given absolute charge of the repairs, since his experienc enables him to judge better than anyone else could where repairs are most needed.


STREET SPRINKLING.


It is my opinion that the city will be benefited by sprinkling its streets, employing the city teams in districts adjacent to the engine houses.


Such an arrangement would add to the efficiency of the fire department, and I urge your early investigation of the matter so that we may be prepared for action before the dust flies


CITY TEAMS.


I recommend a careful and separate account of the main- tenance of this department, with proper credits for work done on the streets, ashes, sprinklers, etc., and I recommend further that the balance of profit or loss be charged to the fire department, in whose interest the horses were purchased.


SEWERAGE.


For more than fifteen years we have enjoyed a prac- tically complete system of sewerage, and though we are not a finished city, we are in advance in this respect of many of our sister cities. This system is enjoyed by nearly three thousand entries without any betterment tax, or annual fee for its use. It is maintained at a very slight expense and the small annual tax levy for payment of the cost of con- struction is scarcely felt.


23


MAYOR'S ADDRESS


WATER SUPPLY.


I recommend the immediate authorization of an issue of $75,000.00 in serial bonds to provide the mater commis- sioners with funds sufficient to go to the Artichoke river for an additional water supply, and to provide for the neces- sary storage and proper filtration of the same.


I am led to recommend this in view of the assurance of all the eminent engineers that have investigated this matter that the supply is ample for our needs, and by the fact that the source of supply and method of filtering are approved by the state board of health.


Moreover, I recommend that the legislature be petitioned for a codification and amendment of the water acts of the city, so that the ambiguous portion shall be made clear and the duties of the water commissioners and of the city clearly defined.


FIRE DEPARTMENT.


Regarding the efficiency of men and equipment our fire department is sccond to that of none of our sister cities of like size. With a recently purchased Knott steamer and two rebuilt Amoskeag engines the apparatus is made especially complete for our needs.


These facts and the knowledge that most of our manufac- turing plants are protected by automatic sprinklers should be sufficient to reassure us if we have fears of a conflagra- tion.


Since no hose was bought last year, the necessity of purchasing 1500 feet of hose is imperative, and I recommend that an order be passed instructing the committee on fi- nance to provide an appropriation for the payment of the same.


.


24


ANNUAL REPORTS


PUBLIC PROPERTY.


I am of the opinion that a large portion of the appropria- tion available for this department is needed on the outside re- pairs and painting of the public buildings. A very notice- able case it that of the Curtis school, which is sadly in need of painting and shingling or slating.


LIGHTING.


One of the large expenditures of our appropriation is that for lighting our streets and public buildings, and we should demand the best possible service. In the interest of improve- ment I am convinced that the practice in vogue in some cities of having all electric arc lights on a lower plane by placing the arc light on sidewalk posts with an arm extend- ing into the street is much better in our thickly wooded streets.


Great improvements can be made in the present system by trimming the lower branches of many of our trees, which when in foliage greatly obstruct the light.


A handsome premium might be offered the janitor or custodian of a public building showing the largest per cent. ( - saving in gas consumption for a given length of time.


SCHOOL, POOR AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, PUB IC LIBRARY, PUBLIC PARKS.


The conduct of the schools, the poor and health depart- ments, the public library and the public parks is placed in the hands of boards outside of the city council, and though you will have to consider their needs in making your appro- priations, you have but little voice regarding the expendi-


25


MAYOR'S ADDRESS


tures. While the city has ever been liberal in these depart- ments, you will carefully consider their needs in making appropriations.


OTHER EXPENDITURES.


Newburyport was one of the first cities to respond cheerfully with more than her quota of volunteers at the time of the rebellion. She has ever been ready and willing to provide for the need of those men who responded so nobly to that call The soldiers' relief, payable entirely from the treasury of the city, is justly intended to prevent soldiers or their widows from becoming paupers. This provision is in addition to any government pension state or military aid, and amounted last year to $7,082.82. It should be the pride of every soldier and the duty of every citizen to see that this appropriation meets no abuse. To this end, I recom- mend that the individual cases of the beneficiaries be re- viewed.


Last year $324.15 were expended under the department of inspection of plumbing. Although a careful examination of the plumbing of buildings is for the geenral welfare, it is largely in the interest of the owner of such buildings, and I believe that the individual should pay the inspection fee, and thus rid the city of the expenditure mentioned above.


ACCOUNTABILITY.


In addition to the ordinances in force, I urge the univer- sal use by all authorized persons of a duplicate order system in all purchases or intsructions that incur indebted- ness upon the city. Such orders should state the authority for the same and the appropriation to which the expense is to be charged.


26


ANNUAL REPORTS


The original order should accompany the bill for ap- proval, and the duplicate order should be deposited with the city clerk for auditing, in exchange for his dated receipt.


A committee of the city council is the agent of the city council, but it is limited in its pawers to what the larger body authorizes it to do. Unless a committee is given power to spend money, its duty is to investigate and report to the city council, asking for that power. The mayor or the treasurer of a city has no right to approve bills con- tracted by a committee of the council unless that committee has been duly authorized to make such expenditures by its principal.


Much credit is due to the present city auditor for his faithful attention to the duties of his office, which have been especially arduous the past year because of the new system of accounting. I wish to express publicly my deep apprecia- tion of his services and also my gratitude to the other officers in the several departments for their courtesies.


CONCLUSION.


Since this is a time that calls for serious reflection and firm resolve, I look back with pride on the twenty-five years that I have been a citizen of Newburyport. I have seen the general introduction of water and sewerage in our city and the rebuilding of miles of macadamized roads. I have seen new sidewalks built from one end of the city to the other. I have seen new schoolhouses built and others remodelled. All these and inany more milestones are splendid monu- ments on the i: arch of our progress. In view of all our advantages and blessings the spirit of contentment should reign supreme.




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