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CIT
NO PLORE.P 162A ROSE
. CHARLESTOWN DOZS POND FEILDE 1638
· MALDEN .
NORTH END
1649.
ORPORATED
0
MELROSE PUBLIC LIBRARY
G
GM 352 Melrose.
CITY OF MELROSE,
MASSACHUSETTS.
Annual Reports, 1900,
WITH MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS DELIVERED JANUARY 1, 1900.
T
RED
PLO
1628
OSE
.
CHARLESTOWN 1629
POND FEILDE 1638
· MALDEN .
NORTH END
COR
1649.
850.
00.
ORPORATED
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY CLERK.
MELROSE : A. W. DUNTON & CO., PRINTERS, REPORTER OFFICE. I90I.
MELROSE PUBLIC LIBRARY MELROSE, MASS.
R
SE
MOL
LEVI S. GOULD.
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF
HON. LEVI S. GOULD,
FIRST MAYOR OF MELROSE,
DELIVERED JAN. IST, 1900.
Gentlemen of the Board of Aldermen :
By the wisdom of those who have the power to demand it, we have been called to the responsible position of repre- senting them in a delegated form of government, a novel condition to all of us. The transition from the familiar and democratic gathering at a town-meeting in which every citi- zen is the equal of his neighbor and every voter has the same privileges, to the formal and rigid conventionalities of an organized deliberative body is a step of the gravest mag- nitude. Let us rise to the dignity and importance of this great change, and resolve that in all our deliberations we will have but one thought in view, to honor our fellow citi- zens who have with such faith and confidence so highly hon- ored us, and in our every action endeavor to divine the de- sires of those who are forever deprived of the high privileges which they have conferred upon us as their chosen repre- sentatives.
THE MATTER OF TAXATION.
Melrose is essentially a city of habitations. Our business
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
interests are of a purely local character except the rubber factory and two or three other manufacturing firms of lesser magnitude, so that the immediate concern of our people in the real property of the city is directed to the accumulation of sufficient means to free their homes from all incum- brances. With the many and constantly increasing expen- ditures which surround us, it becomes a question of serious magnitude to the average house-holder as to how he shall maintain his family and lay by even a small amount to free his little property or as a sinking fund for the inevitable rainy day. Thus the subject of taxation is brought to him more distinctly than to the business man or capitalist in a mart of commerce. For this reason, if for none other, I beseech the gentlemen of this board to wisely consider every proposition which may come before them for any unneces- sary addition to the burdens which our common people are now obliged to bear, always remembering that any increase of taxation, and every accession to our bonded indebtedness, will make it harder for them to bear, and perhaps place it beyond the reach of many to realize the hopes of a lifetime. Appended will be found tabulated statements of great pub- lic interest intimately connected with taxation and valua- tion.
THE CITY'S FINANCES.
The following tables taken from the treasurer's books Dec. 23d, 1899, will give you a concise and general under- standing of the financial condition of our city, viz :
Statement of Town Debt, Dec. 23d, 1899.
Town Hall bonds,
$45,000 00
Water bonds,
247,000 00
Sewer bonds,
350,000 00
School house bonds, .
200,000 00
Total bonded indebtedness, $842,000 00
7
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Permanent Loans.
Grove Street schoolhouse, $11,000 00
Central fire station,
20,000 00
High school building,
19,000 00
Stone crushing plant,
8,000 00
Ell pond park, .
15,000 00
$73,000 00
Temporary loans,
72,374 37
Due to the water fund from collections on said account, 9,487 89
Due to the sewer fund from collections made on sewer assessments, 12,618 80
Due on cemetery trust funds,
5,212 50
Due on the Dr. Toothaker fund,
781 33
Total indebtedness, .
$1,015,474 89
Assets.
Uncollected taxes (about $5000 doubtful), . $123,535 57
Due from the commonwealth, 3,0II 50
Water loan sinking fund,
26,078 44
Schoolhouse sinking fund,
11,783 55
Sewer sinking fund,
58,509 62
Cash on hand,
5,036 39
$227,955 07
Total net indebtedness Dec. 23, 1899,
787,519 82
Total amount of sewer assessments committed the collector to date, is about $166,000 00
Total amount collected to date, 62,618 80
Still due, . $103,381 20
Should this balance be all collected it will reduce our net indebtedness to $787,519.82 less $103,381.20, total $684,138.62. To this should be added say $5000 for bad and
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
doubtful taxes, and there will be other bills against the town not yet presented, as well as a somewhat indefinite amount of unpaid bills of the school department, and quite a con- tingent inherited from the town, used in starting the wheels of the city government. By reference to the tables under the caption of taxation it will be found that the assessed value of the following public property is within $110, 138.62 of our net indebtedness, viz : Schoolhouses and grounds, $380,675 ; engine houses and grounds, $25,550 ; town hall and grounds, $93,675 ; poor house, cemetery, parks, stone crushing plant, etc., $74,100 ; total, $574,000. This does not include our water works or sewerage system, which together have cost the town upwards of $800,000, neither does it in- clude fire apparatus and many other things, bringing these items up to at least $1,400,000, so that in striking a balance of net assets as against net liabilities, we can show a surplus in public property of at least $700,000 paid for in previous years. This is not intended as an argument for expansion or extravagance, against which your executive will firmly set his face, but to show that we have something to exhibit for the money heretofore expended.
9
INAUGURAL ADDRSSS.
VALUABLE STATISTICS.
APPROPRIATIONS, 1899.
VALUATION, 1899.
Town, . $191,391 10
State Tax, 6,645 00
Metropolitan Sewer, .. 9,645 53
County Tax,
12,007 07
Overlay,
3,013 69
Real Estate, · 11,820,350 00
Total Valuation, .12,665.435 00
Tax at $17 per $1000 on Per-
sonal Estate, . .. 845,085 00
14,366 44
Tax at $17 per
$1000 on Real
Estate, ...... 11.820,350 00 200,945 95
Assessed on 3,695 polls, .... 7,390 00
Total,
$222,702 39
Total, $222,702 39
RETURN OF CORPORATIONS MAY 1, 1899, TOWN OF MELROSE.
NAME OF CORPORATION.
VALUE BUILDINGS
VALUE LAND.
VALUE M'CHINR'Y
TOTAL VALUE.
Boston Rubber Shoe Company, .
$322,800
$78,825
$125,000
$526,625
Boston Ice Company, . ..
1,950
1,950
Boston & Maine Railroad Company ..
5,000
32,950
37,950
Lynn & Boston Railroad Company, ..
8,000
5,000
13,000
PIPES, METERS, ETC.
Malden & Melrose Gas Company, .... Malden Electric Co., Poles and Wires,
5.000
3,150
13,000
21,150
10,000
Carpenter-Morton Company, .
2,300
775
.....
3,075
Value Real Estate, 1899,
$11,820,350
Value Real Estate, 1898,
11,750,895
Gain in 1899,
$69,455
Value Personal Estate, 1899,
845,085
Value Personal Estate, 1898,
724,249
Gain in 1899,
120,836
Total increase over 1898,
$190,29I
..
Personal Estate, $784,920 00 Resident Bank Stock, 60,165 00
Total Personal, $845,085 00
IO
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
EXEMPTED PROPERTY, MAY 1, 1899, TOWN OF MELROSE.
SOCIETY OR CHURCH.
STREET.
VALUE OF BUILDI'GS
FEET LAND.
VALUE OF LAND.
TOTAL VALUE REAL ES- TATE.
PERSO- NAL.
TOTALS.
Baptist.
Main . ....
$15,000
29,000
$21,750
$36,750
$1,200
$37,950
St. Mary's Catholic
Herbert ...
40,000
21,861
4,375
44,375
5,000
49,375
Episcopal .
Emerson .
20,000
25,385
6,350
26,350
1,500
27,850
Highl'ds Congregational
Franklin ·
30,000
15,000
2,250
32,250
2,000
34,250
Methodist Episcopal
Main .
16,500
21,200
4,250
20,750
2,500
23,250
Orthodox
Foster *
20,000
48,572
12,000
32,000
2,500
34,500
Pratt Memorial.
3,000
11,700
300
3,300
100
3,400
Unitarian
W. Ems'n.
9,000
9,452
2,850
11,850
1,000
12,850
Universalist
Essex .
16,000
10,750
2,700
18,700
2,000
20,700
First Free Baptist
Green
7,000
15,763
1,875
8,875
500
9,375
Melrose Highlands Bapt.
Frankliu . .
3,000
7,650
925
3,925
100
4,025
Melrose Hospital Asso'n
Myrtle
8,500
9,153
2,275
10,775
10,775
Young Men's Ch'n Ass'n Main.
.
+25,000 # 14,280
6,400
31,400
5,000
36,400
Jewish Cemetery
Linw'd av.
400
22,600
900
1,300
1,300
Totals
$213,400
$69,200
$282,600 $23,400 $306,000
* Swain's Pond Avenue.
+ $+0,000, assessed $15,000. # $7,900, assessed $1,500.
REAL ESTATE BELONGING TO TOWN OF MELROSE MAY I, 1899.
SCHOOL HOUSES.
STREET.
VALUE.
FT. LAND.
VALUE.
TOTAL VALUE.
Franklin
Franklin and Main
$30,000
21,752
$5,450
$35,450
Washington
Lebanon & Lynde
30,000
30,794
4,000
34,000
D. W. Gooch
Foster and Maple.
25,000
27,815
4,175
29,175
Horace Mann.
Grove and Myrtle.
20,000
26,361
4,475
24,475
Mary A. Livermore
Main
12,000
26,555
4,800
16,800
Joseph Warren
Warren
16,000
18,572
2,000
18,000
Lincoln
Wyoming avenue .
30,000
27,604
4,975
34,975
Sewall
Upham .
10,000
14,748
5,150
15,150
Winthrop
First and Eleventh
11,000
26,544
1,325
12,325
Whittier
Franklin
8,000
15,000
1,800
9,800
Converse
Fells
5,000
21,017
1,050
6,050
Ripley
Swain's Pond ave.
2,200
14,567
425
2,625
High.
Main
100,000
116,385
29,925
129,925
Old School
Lynde.
2,000
12,000
1,800
3,800
Old School
Franklin
1,000
11,880
1,900
2,900
Old School
Green .
1,000
24,500
2,450
3,450
Old School
Upham
1,200
11,400
575
1,775
Totals
$304,400
$76,275
$380,675
II
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
STREET.
VALUE.
FT. LAND.
VALUE.
TOTAL VALUE.
Highland Hose
Franklin
$1,200
10,267
$2,150
$3,350
W. E. Barrett Hose .
E. Foster
1,800
2,625
400
2,200
Central Fire Station
Main
20,000
*
20,000
$23,000
$2,550
$25,550
Town Hall
Main
$65,000
44,934
$28,675
$93,675
Wyoming Cemetery, Sylvan.
20§ a. l
$30,000
$32,000
Lebanon street (house)
$2,000 27a.
1
Stone Crusher, Linwood avenue.
4,800
132,877
3.200
8,000
Sewall's Woods Park
9a & 10000
11,250
11,250
Melrose Common ..
4 35-100
10,000
10,000
Tri-lot, Main and Green
5,000
500
500
Tri-lot, Main and Lynde
5,000
1,250
1,250
Strip east side Ell Pond.
1,000
1,000
Emerson, corner Lake avenue
30,300
9,100
9,100
Old Crusher lot
49,015
1,000
1,000
$6,800
$67,300
$74,100
SUMMARY.
Schools and Grounds,
. $380,675
Fire House and Grounds,
25,550
Town Hall and Grounds,
93,675
Poor House, Crusher House, Cemetery, & other lands, 74,100
Total, .
$574,000
See Town Hall lot.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
A well organized police force is an absolute necessity and will continue to be such so long as the people are given to the gratification of depraved appetites. Rum is the direct or indirect cause of ninety-nine one hundredths of the crime with which we have to deal, and until the halcyon days of
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
total abstinence are at hand, we may expect to increase our force in proportion to the increase of crime which surely follows in the path of increased intemperance. Upon care- ful examination it may be found advisable to add to the permanent force which at present consists of a chief and nine patrolmen.
KITCHEN BAR-ROOMS AND THE RUM HABIT.
The orders of the executive will be to keep a strict watch on all suspected places and allow no guilty person to escape. While the shocking events of the past few days do not indi- cate the illegal sale of liquor in this community, they cer- tainly show the terrible results of the rum habit and the necessity of guarding the public against the sin and shame of a crime which degrades manhood, brutalizes the instincts, destroys the sanctity of home, and undermines the founda- tions of society. As a vice perhaps innocently acquired at the fireside and encouraged at the festive board, it too often culminates in the bar-room, the brothel and the convict's cell. Misery and degradation are its hand-maidens, death and destruction its sure rewards.
SUPPORT OF THE POOR.
From personal examination I heartily commend the admirable management of this department, being a radical departure from the shiftless and incompetent methods of former years.
Establishing a poor farm was a much needed improvement which the town should have adopted years ago. An expe- rience drawn from many years of observation, strengthened by service upon the county board of which I am chairman, leads me to the belief that the chairmanship of the overseers of the poor when conducted upon the lines followed by the present incumbent in this city, is of the utmost importance. To master the pauper settlement laws of this commonwealth is the study of many years, and he who arrives at that dis- tinction should be retained therein as an invaluable public servant.
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Your attention is called to the rapid increase in our pauper insane, largely attributable to the effects of rum, licentious- ness and secret vice. It is an alarming condition and adds a constantly increasing burden to the state, county and municipality. I refer interesting statistics, etc., for your consideration.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Our Melrose department is conceded to be as fine a body of men both in action and personnel, as can be found under similar conditions in this commonwealth. Since the advent of the old " Endeavor " in 1846 we have steadily progressed both in equipment, methods and discipline. It cannot be said that we have arrived at perfection by any means, and you may discover existing conditions which ought to be remedied. I do not care to make suggestions in that direc- tion, believing as I do that our department is well officered and manned and is doing good and efficient service.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
This department when fully organized will include under the management of the engineer and superintendent of public works, the highways, sewers. water works, parks, public buildings and the lighting, watering and general custody of all public property not otherwise specially in- trusted by statute law to other officials. It is a most im- portant feature, and from its operation, if no mistake is made in the selection of a competent chief, very satisfactory results should be obtained. As may be evident, the position demands the highest degree of talent and faithful service. This officer should be more than an engineer, more than a builder of highways, more than a competent manager of the sewers, the water works, the public parks and public build- ings; he should be a capable man of business, with that gentlemanly address and suavity of manner which should mark the immediate and active representative of the mayor, who is his chief. To satisfy the demands of an exacting public, his moral reputation should be equal to that of
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Caesar's wife and his integrity beyond reproach. The suc- cess or failure of the gentleman whom I may select for this important position, in a very large degree, means the suc- cess or failure of my administration, which will be duly chronicled by the second mayor of Melrose when he wrest- les a year hence with this perplexing problem. Perhaps that gentleman may be listening to us now, if so I request that he pass me by with that familiar Latin quotation " requiescat in pace," may he rest in peace, his troubles are over.
AS TO THE HIGHWAYS.
Someone has said that the people of Melrose would never have consented to a city form of government except from the condition of our highways and the unanimous sentiment for their improvement. Be that as it may, no one can doubt but that your earnest efforts should lie in this direc- tion. As chairman of your board of county commissioners I am dealing with the question of good roads all the time and know whereof I speak. The sentiment of the people of Middlesex is a unit upon this subject. Nowhere in my travels are their need more apparent than in this city which is far behind any sister municipality, and scarcely up to the standard maintained in many rural towns. I speak of the main avenues particularly and not of the by-streets, many of which are in excellent condition. I am aware that condi- tions have been largely against us in the divided interests of the past, and have no criticism to offer upon individual offici- als, but upon the system which permitted the tearing up of streets by different departments without regard to prudence or economy. I would urge you therefore to so consider matters that our first efforts be directed to the improvement of Main, Washington, Lebanon, Wyoming avenue, Franklin, Howard and Upham streets, all main arteries of travel. It seems to me that other streets should be economically and properly repaired until those named are all macadamized. Not that I think it wise or prudent to do this work all at once, but to push it along from year to year under a judi- cious system. I am told that the "L. A. W." (of which I
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
am not a member, having always preferred a good trotter, as everybody knows, to working my own passage) warns its members against the roads of this city. This perhaps is not a matter of grave importance, but it certainly empha- sizes the fact that our short-comings in this regard are giv- ing us an unenviable notoriety. Good roads are among the best evidences of public prosperity.
Expenditures, etc., on the highway department is appended from which it appears that the entire amount ex- pended during the year 1899 is $26,671.72. Of this sum $1,819.65 was received from various sources of revenue out- side of appropriations made by the town, much the larger portion of which came from the Lynn & Boston Railroad Co.
STATE HIGHWAYS.
Melrose has made no application in this direction, in fact with the exception of Arlington, she is the only place in the county which has not done so. This matter should re- ceive the early attention of your board, as we are paying our share of those built in other places and receive no con- sideration ourselves. It adds to both state and county tax- ation without local advantage unless some street like Main street is made a part of the system.
WATER WORKS.
Our water works have been well managed by the commis- sioners in the past, and will surely take care of themselves in the future. From an intimate knowledge of the internal affairs of this section of the public works department I have no suggestions to make at the present time. I attach valuable information furnished me by the commissioners.
SEWERS.
The sewer system of Melrose was laid out by Walter C. Stevens, C. E., under the direction of a committee of which I had the honor to be chairman. It was constructed by the present board of sewer commissioners and has been managed
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
so far as my observation goes, with care, skill and fidelity. While it has added a great burden of debt to the city, and great expense to individuals, it will in the end prove a boon of almost incalculable value to the health and general wel- fare of our citizens. Attached are certain matters of inter- est relative thereto from which it appears that we have 32.79 miles of constructed sewers to date, the net cost of which when all collections outstanding are made will be $181,813.81. There are about 2500 houses on the line of the sewers, of which 1660 have been connected.
PUBLIC PARKS.
Melrose is wonderfully favored in situation. We have the great Middlesex Fells reservation containing Spot Pond and all its convenient and beautiful system of roads and boule- vards stretching the whole length of our western boundary, and communicating with the great Metropolitan Boulevards; on the East is " Pine Banks Park," supported by the gener- osity of one of the noblest benefactors of his generation, Hon. Elisha S. Converse; in the center "Sewall's Woods " and " Ell Pond Park," and on the east side, the " town com- mon," besides several other squares and breathing places. No city has such a combination at so slight an expense. Some day we shall awake to this fact, and when we do I am not prepared to say as to what heights our present valuation of real property may soar. The building of a boulevard through our town to connect the "Fells " with the Lynn woods is believed to be as good as assured, if all goes well and the legislature does not insist upon a " cheese paring " policy in appropriations. With that consummation what more can be desired to beautify and perfect our city as one of the most delightful suburbs of the metropolis.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Sewerage connections and plumbing rules seem to have exercised the minds of many citizens regarding the practical work of this very important board. It is their bounden duty to care for the health and general sanitary conditions
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
of the community, and while many fret and chafe under what they may consider unnecessary demands or unwise restrictions, still I am convinced that on the whole the board has acted according to their convictions of duty, to fall short of this would mean chaos and confusion. This government inherits from the town a set of rules and regu- lations for plumbing reported by a committee at the final town meeting and referred to us which I commend to your careful consideration.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Through the wisdom and generosity of a people not over- burdened with this world's goods the standard of our public schools has been raised to a point of excellence which com- pares favorably with those of any sister municipality. While the advantages of a liberal education are not to be denied, some of our foremost scholars and ablest thinkers are of the opinion that the preparatory college courses ought not to be taught at the public expense, holding as I suppose, that all the commonwealth originally intended in the establishment of public schools is contained in Sec. I, Chap. 44 of the public statutes wherein is stated, " In every town there shall be kept for at least six months in the year, at the expense of said town, by a teacher or teachers of competent ability and good morals, a sufficient number of schools for the instruction of all the children who may legally attend school therein, in orthography, reading, writing, English grammar, geography, arithmetic, drawing, the history of the United States, and good behavior." The contention is, that if a child masters all these elementary branches and then shows aptitude and a desire for higher grades he will naturally drift toward classical institutes and the college, but in any event he has been provided with that practical education which best serves the young man who is to enter upon the battle of life and expects to conquer with his own right arm and the sweat of his brow. It has also become somewhat of a question in the minds of many, as to how we should be furnished in process of time, with mechanics and laboring
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
men if the hidden lore of the classics is to continue to be an open book to all who choose to delve therein at the pub- lic expense, because in too many instances the highest form of education carries with it a contempt, or at least an aver- sion to that honest manual toil which is the foundation of society. Besides this, the country is largely overstocked with scientific, literary, and professional men of all descrip- tions who are at a loss how to earn a decent living. How- ever the onward march of progress has brought us face to face with many problems heretofore, and these will be solved as all others have been, by the strong good sense of the people. I am glad to be able to chronicle the fact, that in this community there is no question of caste or sect and that all unite to honor a noble system, to the ample continu- ance of which I commend your generous support. Being myself a product of these same schools while they were in the chrysalis, I honor them all the more in their perfection.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
This department has grown to be a necessary adjunct to the school system and in almost every town of the com- monwealth one of greater or less pretentions has been established at the public expense or through private bene- faction. Our library is quite extensive and has been well and judiciously managed in the past. At the present time it occupies a central position convenient of access to all our citizens. It should never be removed outside the limits of its present distance from the town hall, which is very near the center of the city, the geographical center being within a few feet of the corner of Lebanon and First streets. It is to be hoped that the munificence of some public spirited citizen may in the near future bring to us a suitable memo- rial building wherein can be installed our public library, which, it goes without saying, needs more ample accommo- dations than can be obtained in any other way. The Bap- tist church lot would be an ideal location for such a structure.
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
AMENDMENT TO CITY CHARTER.
No charter is or can be perfect. Probably ours is better than any other but there is room for improvement. Human nature averages about the same wherever you meet it and the natural tendency of one man's mind reflects a fair aver- age of the minds of all men. It is hard for a public official during his first term to so regulate his actions that no man can say that he has not an eye singled for re-elec- tion. Out of this condition arises much of the criticism of American municipalities. It could be easily corrected by making the mayor's term two years and prohibiting a re- election until the expiration of an intervening term. In token of sincerity I publicly announce my determination not to be a candidate for re-election and recommend that a petition be presented to the general court embodying the plan above set forth.
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