USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1923 > Part 1
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NEWBURYPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY
PUBLIC
NEWBURYPO
LIBRARY
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FOUNDED
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FOUNDED 1854
Received
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No. 954. 4512 196 com
PRESENTED BY
1923
Cit
67654
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT
CITY OFFICERS
AND THE
ANNUAL REPORTS
TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FOR THE YEAR
1923
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT
199
TERRA
MARIQUE
MDCCCL
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FRINTING AND BINDING by the HERALD PRESS, CENTRAL WHARF NEWBURYPORT, MASS.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Boston Public Library
https://archive.org/details/cityofficersannu1923city
CITY GOVERNMENT 1923
MAYOR
Hon. Michael Cashman
CITY COUNCIL
President
William J. Cusack
COUNCILLORS AT LARGE
William J. Cusack
Term Expires 1923
William G. Dodge
Term Expires 1923 Term Expires 1923
Gayden W. Morrill
Herbert S. Noyes
Term Expires 1923
Edward G. Perkins
Term Expires 1923
Councillor Ward 1, Albert H. Reynolds
Term Expires 1924
Councillor Ward 2, Patrick F. Casey
Term Expires 1924
Councillor Ward 3, Elmer C. Hansen
Term Expires 1924
Councillor Ward 4, Arthur W. Southwell
Term Expires 1924
Councillor Ward 5, Mathew A. Twomey
Term Expires 1924
Councillor Ward 6, William Peebles
Term Expires 1924
CLERK
Henry W. Little
COMMITTEES
Public Service-Councillors, Reynolds, Morrill, Casey.
Public Safety-Councillors, Twomey, Southwell, Hansen. Public Welfare-Councillors, Dodge, Peebles, Perkins. General Government-Mayor Cashman, Councillors Cusack, Noyes.
4
ANNUAL REPORT
CITY CLERK
Henry W. Little 70 Purchase Street Office: City Hall. Tel. 170
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR
Charles E. Houghton 9 Hill Street Office: City Hall. Tel. 499-M
CLERK TO COLLECTOR
Alice F. Currier 78 Federal Street ...
CLERK OF COMMITTEES AND SOLDIERS' RELIEF
· 9 Horton Street J. Herman Carver
CITY AUDITOR
William Balch 287 High Street Office: City Hall. Tel. 969
DEPUTY COLLECTOR
Frank W. Goodwin . . 13 Orange Street
CITY MESSENGER
Frank H. Rundlett* 11 Spring Street
George H. Dow 18 Spring Street
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS AND SEWERS
John E. Colburn C. F. Station
Tel. 19
CITY SOLICITOR
James F. Carens, Jr. 39 State Street
Tel. 921-M
CITY PHYSICIAN
Dr. Abram F. Thomas 1 Orange Street
Tel. 173
*Deceased.
5
CITY GOVERNMENT
CITY MARSHAL
John L. McLean 35 Broad Street
Tel. 45
CAPTAIN OF THE WATCH
Edward R. Ayers 7 Vernon Street Tel. 45
SUPERINTENDENT OF WIRES AND FIRE ALARMS
Orrin J. Welch 45 Green Street Tel. 326-M
CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Moses E. Wright 9 Fruit Street Tel. 1200
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Orrin J. Welch 45 Green Street Tel. 326-M
INSPECTOR OF MEATS AND PROVISIONS
Timothy D. Donahue 174 Merrimac Street Tel. 454-W
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
F. C. Blakeley
17 Parsons Street Tel. 44
HARBOR MASTER
Benjamin W. Stevens 4 Madison Street
TREE WARDEN
Charles P. Kelley 7 Dove Street
Tel. 380
BUILDING INSPECTOR
George W. Hussey
55 Kent Street
Tel. 532-M
6
ANNUAL REPORT
ASSESSORS OF TAXES
Office: City Hall. Terms: Three Years.
Tel. 499-W
Cornelius C. Kiley (Chairman) Term Expires 1924
Edward G. Moody
Term Expires 1925
Charles W. Johnson, Secretary Term Expires 1926
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
Tel. 536-M
Michael Cashman, (Mayor), ex-officio.
Timothy McCarthy Term Expires 1925
Grace C. Fernald Term Expires 1926
Wilbur Abbott Term Expires 1924 Frank L. Lattime, Clerk; Charles H. Davis, Superintendent Almshouse; Mrs. Charles H. Davis, Matron Almshouse. Meeting last Monday of each month.
BOARD OF HEALTH
Term: Three Years
Dr. T. Raymond Healey Term Expires 1926
Alfred W. Kimball Term Expires 1924 William Thurston, Agent and Clerk of Board; Dr. R. D. Hamilton, City Bacteriologist, Harold G. Little, Inspector and Collector of Milk; Dr. J. W. Shaw, School Physician; Ralph W. Nelson, Inspector of Plumbing.
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
John J. Creeden
Term Expires 1926
Albert W. Hopkinson (Chairman) Term Expires 1927
John J. O'Brien Term Expires 1925
Henry W. Little, Clerk, ex-officio
ATKINSON COMMON COMMISSIONERS
Michael Cashman, (Mayor), ex-officio. William J. Cusack, (President), ex-officio.
Alvah Hoyt Term Expires 1924
William C. Coffin Term Expires 1925
Orlando F. Hatch Term Expires 1926
7
CITY GOVERNMENT
SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS
Michael Cashman, (Mayor), ex-officio William J. Cusack, (President), ex-officio. William Balch, (Auditor), ex-officio. Henry B. Little Term Expires 1924
Lawrence B. Cushing Term Expires 1925
BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
Henry B. Trask Term Expires 1927
Dr. Chas. F. A. Hall
Term Expires 1928
Herbert S. Noyes Term Expires 1926
Warren B. Flint Term Expires 1925
Ernest Foss Term Expires 1924
Harold S. Noyes, Secretary
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Michael Cashman (Mayor) Chairman, ex-officio Woodland Street
· Walter N. Brown Vice-Chairman
51 Pleasant Street
Arthur P. Brown Term Expires 1923 40 Broad Street, Telephone 699-W
Walter N. Brown Term Expires 1923 51 Pleasant Street, Telephone 272-R
Edward M. Coffin Term Expires 1924 108 High Street, Telephone 265.R
Peter I. Lawton Term Expires 1924 57 High Street, Telephone 316-R
Alfred W. Kimball Term Expires 1925 69 Washington Street, Telephone 952
C. Edward Whitley Jr. Term Expires 1925 10 Columbus Avenue, Telephone 468-W
8
ANNUAL REPORT
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS AND SECRETARY
Office at City Hall William C. Moore
CLERK
Grace W. Piper Office at City Hall
TRUANT OFFICER
Edward H. Porter Office with Superintendent
TRUSTEES PUTNAM FREE SCHOOL
Hallet W. Noyes, Henry B. Little, Nathaniel N. Jones, Secretary and Treasurer; Norman Russell, Chas. L. Davis, John T. Lunt, Erskine Clement.
TRUSTEES WHEELWRIGHT SCIENTIFIC SCHOOL
Michael Cashman, (Mayor), ex-officio. Lawrence B. Cushing, President; Edmund D. Codman, Treasurer; Wm. R. Johnson, Secretary; Lucius H. Greeley; Randolph C. Hurd.
PUBLIC MARKET PLACE
(Chapter 119, Acts 1915) Market Square
MICHAEL CASHMAN Mayor.
9
CITY GOVERNMENT
MAYORS OF NEWBURYPORT
The original charter of the city was adopted by the inhabitants June 3, 1851.
The Mayor is elected annually.
Hon. Caleb Cushing* 1851-1852
Hon. Henry Johnson 1853-1853
Hon. Moses Davenport* 1854-1855-1861
Hon. William Cushing 1856-1857-1858
Hon. Albert Currier 1859-1860
Hon. George W. Jackman, Jr. 1861-1862-1864-1865-1877
Hon. Isaac H. Boardman 1863
Hon. William H. Graves
1866
Hon. Eben 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 Hale
1882
Hon. William A. Johnson
1883-1884
Hon. Thomas C. Simpson
1885
Hon. Charles C. Dame
1886
Hon. J. Otis Winkley
1887
Hon. William H. Huse*
1888
Hon. Albert C. Titcomb
1888-1889
Hon. Elisha P. Dodge
1890-1891
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
Hon. Albert F. Hunt
1909
Hon. Robert E. Burke
1910-1911-1912
Hon. Hiram H. Landford
1913-1914
Hon. Clarence J. Fogg 1915-1916
Hon. Walter B. Hopkinson
1917-1918
Hon. David P. Page
1919-1920-1921
Hon. Michael Cashman
1922
*Resigned. ** Died in office.
10
ANNUAL REPORT
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF MICHAEL CASHMAN, MAYOR
Gentlemen of the City Council;
Newburyport is now entering upon the seventy-third year of its ex- istence as a city. From among those who sought the honorable offices of mayor and membership in the City Council, we have been chosen. A high honor has thus been conferred upon us. Upon us also has been placed a great responsibility. Let us make, and keep a New Year's resolve to merit the confidence reposed in us by giving to our city's interests the highest degree of fidelity and devotion within our power.
While we are, from a broad view-point, selected as representatives of our citizens to carry out their wishes, in a truer sense we become, for a while, the managers of the business of running the city. The wise ex- penditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars always calls for the exer- cise of the very best business judgment. When we consider that all this money belongs to our people, taken from them in the form of taxes, there rests upon us who are to spend that money, a very solemn duty to see that it is not squandered, and that for every dollar expended there shall be received one hundred cents in real value.
Our positions would be easy and pleasant if all we had to do were to provide each department of this big business establishment with all the money necessary to carry out the wishes of all the citizens. But we have a much harder task. The obligation is imposed on us to bring our city up to the standard of other communities of like size and wealth, and to main- tain that standard, but to do it without hardship to our people, to do it without laying upon them too heavy a burden of taxation. Consequently every dollar spent by us beyond the demands which state law require, and as to which we have no option, should be spent with the object of doing the greatest good for the greatest number. What are the things which we must do, and what are the other things which in exercise of sound prudence we must forego, is the great problem which confronts us.
We have been elected because our fellow citizens have faith that we can and will run the business of the city with some degree of ability. For the reason that they know us and believe in us we have been selected. We shall fail in that tjust if we do not conduct this business with sagacity
11
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
and foresight, and as level-headed, successful men manage their businesses and regulate their households. We must put and keep our house in or- der; we must supply to our people those things which modern civilization: demands in a city of this size; but we must above all live within our means. We must draw a hard and fast line between necessities and lux- uries. The result is that we cannot undertake many things which many' of our people would consider improvements for the simple, common-sense, business-like reason that we cannot afford them.
Perhaps more this year than ever before we must exercise a stern, uncompromising attitude toward expenditures. During the past two years we have spent large sums in remedying serious defects in our muni- cipality. We have before us one other big job, of which I shall speak) in a moment. Because of the immediate past and the immediate future, we must deny ourselves many minor improvements which but for the greater needs we might have afforded.
Let us now, one and all pledge ourselves to so conduct the affairs of our city that at the close of this year 1924 we can consider such an ac- count of our stewardship that we shall receive the blessing of "well done, good and faithful servant." Let us never swerve from the resolution that whatever we do shall be done with a clear conscience, knowing in our hearts that at all times and in every way we have labored to do what is best for the greatest number. We can do no more. We should do no less.
In order to map out our next year's work, it is necessary first to look at our balance sheet and see how we stand financially.
Our financial condition :
The gross debt is $874,274.91. Deduct sinking funds $96,309.01, cash on hand $134,492.75, bills receivable $134,642.29, leaves a net debt of $556,830.86. This includes water, sewerage, bridge loans and every debt the city owes.
At the close of the year 1921, our net debt was $279,088.07. Since then, we have issued bonds for Plum Island Bridge loan, $28,274.91, Mpr- rimac Street Construction $100,000, Central Park and Playgrounds, $20,000, New Primary School Building, $180,000, Widening and Recon- struction of Merrimac Street $175,000, City Hall Heating Plant, $81,000, making a total of new debt created of $511,274.91. We have palid on our bonded debt in the past two years $217,000, so that the new debt created for the two years is $294,274.91.
Besides the above, we have paid from current revenue for Assessors' Maps $6,650; Chemical for Hose No. 7, $2,500; Motor Truck for Hook and Ladder $9,100; New Equipment for Disposal of Garbage, $1,200; New
12
ANNUAL REPORT
under-draining of streets, $6,500; Widening of Hale's Court, $600; Sewer Construction, upward of $2,000; Plummer Avenue underdrain $2,500; Janvrin's Landing $1,200; balance due on High Street $13,000, so that while we owe more than we did at the close of the year 1921, they have been two years of large accomplishments and many of them of a perman- ent nature.
New High School:
I believe that the members of the School Board who have served for many years will agree with me when I say that our schools are in better shape physically than they have been for a generation, with one exception.
The one outstanding disgrace now remaining in Newburyport is its High School. Unless you have been in that building while the school is in session you can have no complete comprehension of the inadequate and improper quarters in which teachers and pupils are working.
We have five hundred pupils in a building designed to accomodate three hundred and fifty. In addition to crowded conditions and crude ar- rangements of rooms, the light is insufficient and the ventilation danger- ous to health. We have no right to expect children to study in the day- time in artificial light, and yet some of the rooms are so dark that on cloudy days the lights have to be turned on. We have no right to expect children to do school work in an attic fit only for storage and yet a very important part of our high school course is carried on in such an attic.
The time has arrived when we must act. To delay longer would' be to shirk the highest duty which a city owes to its citizens-namely the pro- per education of its youth.
We have already considered this problem carefully and conservatively. Fully realizing that something must be done, we have spent considerable time this past year trying to find out how to do it most economically'. Much preliminary study and investigation remains to be accomplished, but I feel that this is our one big job which we must get at with as little delay as is consistent with good judgment.
Last year we had plans made to enlarge the present building. At the outset I was heartily in favor of remodeling and enlarging, but after study- ing the various plans and conferring with the many school architects I be- came convinced, and renain convinced, that such would be merely a make- shift solution, and unwise and uneconomical.
To remodel the present building along the line of some of these plans would cost nearly $300,000, and we should still have an old building, with no space for expansion if our school population increases to any consider-
13
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
able extent. That is not good judgment, nor good business. So after the most careful consideration, mindful of the great and immediate necessity of adequate accommodations the severe handicap under which the high school work is being done, and the cost, I unhesitatingly recommend that the most practical solution of this pressing problem is a new building on another lot.
If any of you have any doubt about the necessity of a new building, I suggest that you go individually, or that you all go in a body, and view this school when it is in session. Such an inspection will give you a clearer un- derstanding than any words of mine of the adverse conditions under which we are trying to perform a legal and a civic duty.
Under our charter the School Board and the mayor must approve both the site and the plans for school houses. I recommend that you adopt an order at this meeting for the appointment of a building committee to be composed of two members of your board and two members of the school board which with the mayor as chairman ex officio will be authorized' to' attend to the various details of selecting a site, approving plans, and sup- ervising the construction and equipment of a new high school building. Such a committee served harmoniously, faithfully and efficiently in de -; termining the site and preparing for the erection of the new central prim- ary school now being completed.
Many sites have been suggested for a new high school building. It should be the duty and the province of the building committee to give care- ful consideration of all these suggestions, but final decision, I believe should be vested in them, subject to formal approval by the School Board, as required by law. Merely for discussion by the building committee, who may discover objections which do not now occur to me, I wish to call at- tention to a possible site which, so far as I know, has not been mentioned. That is the mall directly behind the Washington monument.
Besides the economical advantage of being on land already belonging to the city, and thus saving land damage and the destruction of taxable property, the location would be central, the building would have all the' light and air possible, and it would command the attention and admiration of every visitor. It would be my idea to face the building toward State' Street, with plenty of land on all four sides, extending one wing on the High Street end parallel with that street, and another wing on the oppo- site end, close the little roadway behind the monument incorporating that roadway and the plot on which the monument now stands into the grounds in front of the building, and move the monument to a point opposite the center of the front of the building.
If the best interests of our high school can be served by having an athletic field adjacent to the building, Frog Pond offers opportunities
14
ANNUAL REPORT
worth consideration. It would be a simple engineering matter to under- drain the pond and fill to about one foot below present water level. In this way a field of sufficient area for High School sports and athletics could be obtained. By closing the gate connecting these underdrains, this field could be flooded to its present level and transformed into a fine skating pond of uniform depth, which would be safe for the youngest children be- cause of its shallowness and solid bottom.
Merrimac Street:
During the past two years, Merrimac Street from Chain Bridge to the Newbury line has been entirely rebuilt; twelve buildings have been moved back, two have been torn down, four have had the fronts cut off, and on one building we have not been able to come to an agreement, and another which was moved back is in dispute, being owned by the same persons who „own the building that we could not come to an agreement about; This property we had agreed on, but as the money was not paid on the date agreed, the owners refused to carry out the agreement.
Also, as to one piece where we took a few feet of land, we have failed to come to an agreement. So we have three pieces of property in dispute and the damages will probably have to be determined by the courts.
In addition to the above, we have not as yet come to an agreement with the Odd Fellows, but it is believed we shall be able to do so.
The committee who worked so faithfully for the city in making settle- ments with so many different owners of property, namely, Mr. Orlando F. Hatch, and Mr. William F. Lunt, are entitled to the thanks of the city for the patience and ability by which they have arrived at adjustments and avoided law-suits against the city. I was in a position to know that if they had not displayed patience and intelligence to a marked degree, we! would today be fighting many law-suits, and I personally wish to make; this public acknowledgement of my appreciation and thanks for their faith- ful work in behalf of the city. I also feel that they have been just to those whose property was taken.
Although we have spent a large amount of money on this street, I am confident that time will show that the money spent for widening, was money well spent. We must not be misled by thinking that all this money, which was borrowed in the last two years, was for widening, for we have rebuilt and underdrained approximately four miles of street; Market Square and Merrimac Street to Winter Street from Winter to Ashland Streets with re- inforced concrete. This piece of concrete road is just a little over 100 feet short of a mile.
A few years ago, the streets of Newburyport were noted for their poor condition, but ex-Mayor Hopkinson started the work on State Street from
15
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
the Newbury line to High Street, and ex-Mayor Page rebuilt it from High Street to Market Square and High Street from State Street to the New- bury line, and in 1921, from State Street to the Three Roads.
For all of this road work, the bonds aggregated $227,000. During the past two years, we have issued $325,000 for Merrimac 'Street, making total bond issue since beginning of street construction of $552,000.
Other Street Work:
The work done on all the rest of the streets from Marlboro /Street to. Ashland was paid for out of current expenses. I do not believe that any large appropriation will be needed for street work for many years to come, but I do think we will have to make a reasonable appropriation, in order to take care of the streets for which these large bond issues have been made and also to keep the streets in a passable condition which have been repaired out of current expenses. If we do not make a fairly large ap- propriation, I am sure it will prove to be false economy, since failure to keep in repair will let our streets deteriorate into the condition in which they were before ex-Mayor Hopkinson started the rebuilding.
Last year I called attention to the almost impassable condition of Hale Street from Low Street to the West Newbury line. This year some work must be done on this road, and I recommend that a survey be taken of it and that we find just how much gravel it will take and how much it will cost to open the gutters to allow the water to run off, and that a steam shovel be placed in some pit adjacent to this street. I recommend an ap- propriation of $5,000 to put this street in repair.
The same condition prevails on Parker Street to the Newbury line. Sidewalks :
Many of our sidewalks are in a dangerous condition. When the old ar walks become broken, I believe the old tar should be removed and the walks be made gravel walks, until such time as the city can co-operate with the abutters to have granolithic walks. By removing all defective ar walks, many law-suits against the city will be avoided.
Underdrains:
It would seem to be good business for the city to continue the work of underdraining the streets which need it. If one street each year were lone, the expense would not be excessive and in a few years, our streets would be in good condition. I should consider such money well spent. e-Valuation :
This year, the assessors will have the advantage of the mans which
16
ANNUAL REPORT
are to be completed before the assessments are made, which under the law must be on or after April 1st.
Two years ago, when I advocated having these maps made, I said that they would pay for themselves in three years. The next day, a gentleman I met said that I was wrong, that they would pay for themselves in one year, and I believe he was right. These maps were something that were needed in making any kind of an intelligent assessment of the various pieces of property. Those of the Council who have not seen them should visit the assessors' office and see for themselves how greatly they must as- sist the assessors. At this time, with the great increase in the market value of property which is changing hands, the assessors have a great deal of extra work. In their behalf I ask of this Honorable Board of 'Council- lors, all the assistance which you may be able to give to them, in their ef- fort to re-value the entire city.
In doing this, they must try to do it in such a way that no injustice will be done any property owner but be likewise just to the city. Bear in mind that the valuation throughout the state is $1,400 per capita. In Newburyport it is $800. So you can understand how difficulty it has been and still is to take care of our streets, to police out city, to protect it from fires and to educate our children, and for all this pay the same, or nearly as much as other cities do with an assessed valuation of $1,400 against our $800. In order, therefore, for us to keep our taxes down in comparison with other cities, we must tax our property somewhere near its market! value. If this is done impartially and equitably, no injustice is done any- one. Then with due care, we can keep our streets in repair, we can edu- cate our children, and in other ways have our city as we would like to have it, one of the finest in the world, which I think it is.
During the past two years, the increase in valuation has been $745,570. Fire Department:
The fire department is composed of sixty-two men, a chief engineer and an assistant engineer. We have in active service two horse-drawn steam fire engines, two horse-drawn hose wagons, a triple combination gasoline-pump hose wagon and chemical which is a fine piece of fire ap- paratus. During the last year, we have purchased and paid for, one motor hook and ladder truck, with a forty gallon chemical attached, also at Ward 6 we have a motor-drawn hose wagon with chemical attached. Being lo- cated so far from the center, this motor hose wagon with chemical attach- ment makes a good addition to the fire department, and I believe it is . cheaper than a horse-drawn hose wagon that was in use at this fire sta- tion.
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