USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 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 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19
I
L EXPLORED 1628 SE CHARLESTOWN 1629 POND FEILDE 1G38
O
SE
PORATE 9
· MALDEN . NORTHEND 1649. .0061 1850
.
-
CITY OF MELROSE,
MASSACHUSETTS.
Annual Reports, 1903,
WITH MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS DELIVERED JANUARY 5, 1903.
R
CI
CXPLU
1628
.
CHARLESTOWN 1629
POND FEILDE 1638
*
. MALDEN ·
NORTH END
1649.
IN
INCORPO
1850.
00.
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY CLERK.
MELROSE :
THE A. W. DUNTON PRINTING COMPANY.
1904.
S
LORED
LROSE
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Boston Public Library
https://archive.org/details/cityofmelroseann1903melr
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF
HON. SIDNEY H. BUTTRICK, MAYOR OF MELROSE,
DELIVERED JAN. 5TH, 1903.
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Board of Aldermen:
We meet today for the purpose of inaugurating in a formal manner the government of the city of Melrose for the year 1903, and to take upon ourselves the oath of office to manage the affairs of our city honestly and faithfully. We assume the duties and responsibilities thus placed in our keeping as a public trust, to be administered not only wisely and economically but also in a progressive way, for this is an age of progress. The demands of the people increase faster than the public treasury can easily provide for, and while I advise the strictest economy and careful considera- tion of every appropriation, yet we must not neglect to pro- vide for the comfort and convenience of our citizens in the maintenance of our streets, schools, public buildings, and the other departments of our city, striving at all times to get a just and appreciable return for money expended. It is difficult to understand the average community. Individ- ually the citizens will demand the best. Collectively they will complain of extravagance and the burden of taxation.
6
CITY OF MELROSE
To show how fallacious is this universal cry of the great burden of taxation, I wish to call your attention to the following statistics, taken from the assessors' books for the last year.
The number of resident individuals and firms paying real estate taxes were 1924.
Average real estate tax for each individual . $90 51 Number of resident individuals, firms, etc., paying
less than $50 tax 968
Number paying less than $100 1726
Number paying more than $IOC
198
Of the 1924 paying real estate taxes in our city, fully 75% pay $1.50 a week for all the benefits they derive from a well governed city - the privilege of educating their children in the best possible manner, fire and police protection, safe and convenient streets, public library, and everything that tends to make their condition agreeable and pleasant. I do not state this for the purpose of encouraging increased expendi- tures, but simply for the people to look somewhat on the bright side of life, and to have them appreciate what the present and past administrations are doing for them. Let us turn our faces to the rising sun and have faith in the future of our city.
It is almost impossible for an administration to stand wholly upon its own merits or to avoid transmitting some of its burdens to the succeeding city governments. The municipal year that we are now entering upon is but a link in the great chain of years which go to make up the history of our City, and I desire that in matter of the expenditures of money we should complete our work and leave no legacies of unpaid bills to a succeeding administration. I find that the incoming government will have loans for the expenditures of the year 1902 to the amount of $17,153.33 to add to the tax levy of this year, that the year 1901 handed down a burden of $23,095.95 which was paid out of the tax of 1902. This is not right and should be corrected. The Annual Budget after it has gone through the several stages
7
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
of its legislation, is finally passed by the Board of Aldermen and approved by the Mayor, should stand and be final, and no appropriation made thereafter, unless for some cause wholly unforeseen at the time of the passing of the budget.
It will be my endeavor to have each department make an honest estimate of what they conscientiously deem is right and proper for their needs during the year, and when granted, I trust that you will assist me in keeping the amounts within the final appropriation.
The financial condition of the city December 31, 1902, submitted to me by the Auditor is as follows:
Funded Debt.
Water loan bonds . . $237,000 00
Sewerage loan bonds
350,000 00
School house bonds
200,000 00 .
Town hall bonds
45,000 00
$832,000 00
In the sinking fund to be applied to the pay- ment of these bonds when they mature:
Water loan sinking fund $34,614 50
Sewer loan sinking fund 90,871 08
School Hall loan 19,007 03
I44,492 61
Making the net bonded debt
$687,507 39
There is to be paid by the Treasurer to the
account of school sinking fund $7,222 00
Town Hall sinking fund, 1,537 65
Water supply 733 37
$9,493 02
This will be paid before the end of the fiscal year, January 31, 1903, and the total Sinking Funds at that time will probably be $153,985.63, making the net bonded debt on February 1, 1903, about $678,014.37.
8
CITY OF MELROSE
Permanent Debt.
Borrowed on account of :
Stone Crusher
$8,000 00
Public Grounds
10,000 00
Ell Pond Park
12,000 00
Surface Drainage
10,000 00
Central Fire Station
20,000 00
New School Building
6,000 00
High School Grounds
3,000 00
- $69,000 00
There have been loans authorized on account of appropri- ations made during the year 1902, which must be included in the tax levy of 1903. They are as follows : . Brown Tail Moth Extermination, $500 00 Horse for Hose 3, Fire Department, 250 00
Health Dept. Contagious Disease,
2,000 00
Health Dept. Contagious Disease,
2,513 33
Health Dept. Vaccination
200 00
Health Dept. Compulsory Vacci- nation
1,000 00
Fourth of July Celebration .
500 00
The Wells Drain, Franklin Street,
1,315 00
Judgments against City
575 00
School Department
1,200 00
School Department
1,100 00
Highway, gen'l repairs and main- tenance
5,000 00
$17,153 33
Our borrowing capacity under the charter, which exempts us from the provisions of the act limiting the indebtedness of cities to 21/2% of the assessed valuation for the preced- ing three years is at the present time $148,445 68
If we deduct loans authorized but not yet borrowed, amounting to 17,153 33
We have
$131,292 35
9
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
This is a very excellent showing but should be jealously guarded and only used when permanent improvements will have to made. I am not in favor of the ordinary running expenses being paid by loans, but that they be met from the revenue which the city receives by taxation.
To summarize we have the following :
Permanent Debt.
Bonds
$832,000 00
Loans
69,000 00
$901,000 00
Temporary loans in anticipation
of taxes .
$119,521 65
Cemetery Trust Funds
8,734 00
Toothaker Fund
1,291 75
Total Debt
$1,030,547 40
ASSI.TS.
Cash on hand
$18,538 98
Sinking Funds
144,492 61
Due from Commonwealth
2,766 87
Uncollected from tax bills. 4,498 98
Uncollected taxes
140,497 81
Uncollected sewer assessments
59,273 50
Uncollected street sprinkling as- sessments
2,250 00
Uncollected sidewalk assessments,
406 18
372,724 93
Net debt more than assets available . $657,822 47 An increase over the year 1902 of our net debt of $2,866.79
ASSESSING DEPARTMENT.
In the assessment of taxes we are to look for the means to meet the running expenses of the city. We have no control over this department. They act under the statutes
IO
CITY OF MELROSE
to fulfill the obligations placed upon them by their oath of office. All that the Executive can do is to appoint such citizens as he deems best qualified for the work, and the Board of Aldermen to confirm; but it lies in our power to make suggestions and for the Assessors to consider the same. I am of the opinion that for the present we have arrived at the limit of valuation that our citizens can con- veniently stand upon their real estate. That being the fact what must be our remedy to provide the money for our increasing demands. It must be in the finding of more personal estate to be levied upon. There will be no percep- tible increase in the real estate valuation during the coming year. I am opposed to a fictitious or inflated valuation. I think it more honest to have the taxation represent the cost to the city of carrying on its business, than by a stroke of the pen to raise valuations.
Much criticism has been made of our valuation, but in comparison with neighboring municipalities, I must admit that in many cases it is unwarranted. We may state for an example that Main street between Foster and Essex streets, is the most valuable for business purposes. The average assessed value is $1.50 per foot as compared with other and nearby cities in similar conditions at $3.00 per foot.
We will take Bellevue avenue as a fair sample of our best residential district. The average tax value is thirty cents a foot, where in an adjoining city in as desirable a locality it is fifty cents. As I have stated before in this address, it is not the individual house-holder who pays a large tax on what he receives in return from the city, but the complaint comes largely from that class who have received large tracts of land by inheritance and are unable to realize quickly upon the property; or it is from the other class who acquire property for speculative purposes and the increase is not as rapid as they desire. The total Real Estate valuation,
May 1, 1902, was £ $13,708,975 00
The total Personal Estate
. 1,656,505 00
Total valuation,
$15.365,480 co
II
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
An increase of $105,100 on real estate. An increase of $369,615 on personal. In 1901 there were 3,248 dwellings. There were erected in 1902, 32, making a total of 3,280.
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
The Public Works Department in its many divisions of the public utilities is the most important for us to consider. This department controls the expenditures and manage- ment of the Highways, Water, Sewer, Surface Drainage, Parks, Street Lighting, City Hall, and nearly everything else that is not specifically provided for by the charter. I have been of the opinion for a number of years that our streets compare favorably with those of neighboring cities and towns, notwithstanding all that has been said to the contrary. We are improving their condition every year. Each year shows a gain in the number of streets macada- mized, gutters paved, and granite crossings laid. All work of this character is in a way permanent expense for repairs. The improvements in our highways rest largely upon the amount appropriated. They cannot be had unless we pay the cost. It must be apparent to every observant citizen, that the first impressions that visitors have of a city are those of a surface nature, streets, sidewalks, parks. It is taken as a fact that you have good water. They do not see the sewer system; the excellent condition of your schools is a matter of hearsay, but good streets, paved gutters, stone crossings, and broad sidewalks, and in the residential streets the sidewalks lined with trees, are at once in evidence and appeal to the observer.
I would recommend a continuance of the policy of mak- ing specific repairs of streets by macadamizing, and that a small appropriation be made each year for paving in a thorough and permanent manner certain portions of Main, Essex, Franklin, and possibly other streets where the traffic is of a heavy nature. In the matter of sidewalks we have been very liberal, and the ordinance governing continuous sidewalks has been complied with in a very generous man- ner, much to the inconvenience of certain abutters. I would
I2
CITY OF MELROSE
recommend a careful consideration of the petitions presented under Section 4 of Chapter 21 of the Ordinances.
The sewer system is in good working order and maintains its reputation of having been well constructed, by the small amount it has cost to maintain it. All the work laid out by the previous Board has been completed excepting that of Richardson road, which was ordered and the means provided for its construction. There are now in operation 34.16 miles of sewer, and there are 2,094 buildings connected with the same, being a gain over last year of 64. There remain on the line of sewers 556 buildings unconnected.
The Water Division continues to show a good financial condition.
The Water Loan Bonded Debt. is $237,000 00 In the sinking fund to credit of
debt,
34,614 50
Net water debt, $202,385 50
The claim against the Commonwealth has not been ad- justed as yet, but when received will materially lessen this amount. I am in favor of all expense of construction being met by a bond issue, and commend the plan adopted when old pipe is taken up and replaced by new and larger pipe to meet the demands for more efficient service, that the dif- ference in price between the value of the smaller pipe and the larger be charged to construction.
A new main supply pipe is being laid to connect Wyom- ing avenue with Franklin street, following the foot of the hills on the west side of the city. It has been laid thus far to a point in Vinton street nearly opposite High street. With the usual appropriation of $25,000 for maintenance and an issue of bonds of $10,000 or $15,000 for construction, this line can be built the coming year without interfering with the re- newal of the weaker of the cement pipes with cast iron ones.
By so doing the number of breaks would be reduced and thus diminish the cost of maintenance. I recommend a continuance of this work as laid out by the Engineer and Superintendent of Public Works, and I further recommend that your Board take under immediate consideration the
I3
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
question of the revision and reduction of the water rates, so that if deemed advisable by your Board the new rates may go into effect January 1, 1904. I make this recommendation because I believe that the financial condition of the Water Department warrants it, and also to relieve the citizens from what I consider an excessive tax for the use of water. The tax for water is equal to one-quarter of our real estate tax.
SURFACE DRAINAGE.
This is one of the most important matters before us this year. It has been thoroughly discussed and the citizens are fully informed of the conditions existing which have led to legislation to provide us with the means of satisfactorily carrying out a system of surface drainage, adopted by the Board of Aldermen. The act is as follows:
CHAPTER 445.
AN ACT to authorize the City of Melrose to incur indebtedness for the purpose of constructing a system of surface drainage.
Be it enacted as follows:
Section I. The city of Melrose for the purpose of paying the cost of constructing and maintaining a system of surface drains and its appurtenances, is hereby authorized to issue from time to time, as may be required therefor, bonds, notes or script to an amount not ex- ceeding one hundred thousand dollars: provided, however, that the amount of such bonds, notes or script issued during the current year, or in any succeeding year, shall not exceed twenty thousand dollars in any one year, and that all such issues shall be subject to the pro- visions of section forty-eight of chapter one hundred and sixty-two of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and ninety-nine. Such bonds, notes or script shall be designated, City of Melrose Surface Drainage Loan, Act of 1902, shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding four per cent. per annum, payable semi-annually, shall be payable at the expiration of such periods as the Board of Aldermen shall deter- mine, not exceeding thirty years from the date of issue, and shall be signed by the treasurer and countersigned by the mayor of the city. They shall not be reckoned in determining the authorized limit of indebtedness of the city.
1
14
CITY OF MELROSE
Section 2. All premiums received from the sale of bonds issued under authority of this act shall be paid into the sinking fund, which fund shall be established as provided in chapter twenty-seven of the Revised Laws.
Section 3. All moneys raised under the provisions of this act shall be expended by the Engineer and Superintendent of Public Works, under the direction of the mayor and subject to the provisions of chapter forty-nine of the Revised Laws relative to the construction and maintenance of sewers and drains, and chapter fifty of the Revised Laws relative to the assessment of betterments.
Section 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
The question of the authorization of issuing the bonds for the purposes mentioned in the act was on petition of one hundred legal voters as provided for in section 48 of the City Charter, submitted to the voters at the city election held December 9, 1902, as follows:
"Shall the City of Melrose issue bonds to the amount of twenty thousand dollars for the purpose of constructing and maintaining a system of surface drains and its appurten- ances under Chapter 445 of the Acts of the General Court of Massachusetts of the year 1902, as authorized by the Board of Aldermen by an order numbered 1657, which was duly ordained by said Board on the thirteenth day of June, A. D. 1902, and duly approved by the Mayor."
It resulted in its acceptance by a vote of 932 in its favor and 477 against it. This became operative at once. The sections most needing attention are Otis, Elm and Franklin streets, Linwood avenue and the Melrose street brook. These sections should be given attention as soon as possible, as the act provides that the amount shall not exceed $20,000 in any one year. I would recommend that another issue of $20,000 be authorized during this year, not necessarily to be used, but to be available should occasion require. In con- nection with this system the disposition of the water in Ell and Spot Pond brooks demands our immediate attention. You are all aware of the difficulties we are laboring under in providing a proper outlet for the disposition of the large quantities of water flowing into and through the main brooks. A full and complete statement of the facts in the case was presented by my predecessor in his annual message
15
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
of 1902. The condition existing then remains the same today.
Some relief has been suggested by a report that will be made by the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board, act- ing under the following resolve, as passed by the legislature in June, 1902.
CHAPTER 112.
RESOLVE RELATIVE TO AN INVESTIGATION OF THE IMPROVE-
MENT OF SPOT POND BROOK BY THE METROPOLITAN WATER AND SEWERAGE BOARD.
Resolved, That the metropolitan water and sewerage board is hereby authorized and directed to investigate the condition of Spot Pond brook in Stoneham, Melrose and Malden and to report a plan for such improvements to the brook as will provide for the easy and natural flow to tide water of the water from Doleful pond and surrounding country turned into it by said board. The board shall take into consideration the whole question of the improvement of the brook, shall ascertain what troubles are to be remedied, and by what methods and needed improvements may be effected, and shall give public notice and a hearing to all persons interested. If the board finds that such plan and improvements are feasible and desirable, it shall recom- mend a plan of apportioning the expense for the improve- ments between the Commonwealth and cities and towns benefited, and the extent, if any, to which betterments should be imposed upon abutting owners. Said report shall be made to the general court before the fifteenth day of January in the year 1903. (Approved June II, 1902. )
A number of hearings have been held at the office of the Water and Sewerage Board which were attended by the Mayor, members of the Board of Aldermen and citizens. What the report will recommend we do not know. They will make some recommendations, but whether it will be for the interests of Melrose to sustain their report or not will have to be decided when it is known what they recommend. I am of the opinion that we have rights in that main brook
16
CITY OF MELROSE
to tide water, and under the act of 1869 and the order of the County Commissioners, we should maintain these rights, and if the report of the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Commisioners does not give us the relief without an attend- ing extraordinary expense, we should take such measures as are necessary under the aforesaid Act of 1869 and the County Commissioners' order. In connection with the sur- face drainage matter I would recommend that the Legisla- ture be petitioned for an act to give the city authority to control the brooks and streams within the limits of the city.
CITY YARD AND STABLES.
I now call your attention to a matter which has been be- fore preceding Boards of Aldermen, but which has not received favorable consideration. There is imperative need of a storage yard with stable and ample room for the storage of wagons, carts, sleds, snow plows, tools, cement, etc. With the large amount of work required by the High- way, Sewer and Water Division, it is absolutely necessary for a proper and economical method of carrying on their work that a place should be provided where the articles used in their work can be properly cared for. At the pres- ent time the carts, snow plows, utensils, etc., are scattered all over the city. No proper system can be devised under the present conditions of keeping track of the same, and the efficiency of the department is hampered by the lack of such a place. I would recommend that you give this matter your early consideration.
We have now 5.2 miles macadamized streets.
.7 miles brick sidewalks. 33.6 miles concrete sidewalks. 510 feet granolithic sidewalks.
4.I miles straight granite curbing.
2.5 miles curved granite curbing.
4.6 miles paved gutters.
3 brick crossings. 75 granite crossings. 106 concrete crossings.
17
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
An earnest effort should be made this year to obtain from the Commonwealth the Boulevard as recommended by the Metropolitan Park Commissioners, connecting the Lynn Woods with the Fells. We have complied with the sugges- tion made by the Park Commissioners in procuring land on the north and west side of Ell Pond, and for which we have incurred an indebtedness of $12,000, on which we are paying interest, and also have lost the income that would naturally come from taxes on the land taken.
CHARITY DEPARTMENT.
The needs of this department have not materially in- creased during the year. The poor have been well taken care of and the efficiency of the Pratt Farm has been well kept up. There has been considerable expense for sick cases, otherwise the calls upon the department have been less than formerly. The fuel famine, however, has proved a serious drain upon its appropriation. Through the efforts of one of our citizens, this department has been enabled to supply coal to the very poor, when it was impossible to purchase it from the local dealers. The expenses of this department will be materially lessened after this year, as the Commonwealth will assume the entire care and cost of support of the insane, January I, 1904. This will be quite a relief, as this expense is one-third of the total appropriation of this department.
The relative rank of the cost of support, amount per capita:
Melrose, $.76. Middlesex Co., $.78 6-10. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, $.90 I-10.
Number supported and relieved per 1,000 inhabitants, census of 1900:
Melrose, 25. Middlesex Co., 28 8-10. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 28.7-10.
18
CITY OF MELROSE
MELROSE HOSPITAL.
This institution is not under the control of the city, yet at the same time the city is represented in its management, as by vote of the Trustees, the Chairman of the Overseers of the Poor was made ex-officio a member of the Executive Board, and for a number of years we have made a contract with the hospital for the reception, care and treatment of persons who by misfortune or poverty require relief, and a sum has been appropriated annually for this purpose. I desire to give it my heartiest endorsement, and from an intimate knowledge of the character of the work done, especially to the poor and those unable to pay for hospital treatment, we can well afford to be generous to the Melrose Hospital. What is contributed by the city by appropria- tion for services rendered in the case of city patients does not begin to repay the hospital, taking into consideration the average cost of patients, and it is mainly supported by the generosity of our citizens.
I would recommend that the usual appropriation be made for this purpose.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
The amount of labor placed upon this department by the statutes of the Commmonwealth and the ordinances of the city can be hardly realized by the average citizen, or com- petently dealt with in this address, and the many perplexing questions involved in the effort of the Board of Health to carry into effect the laws governing their department, brings upon them many criticisms, which are oftentimes unwar- ranted. We have passed through a very trying and expen- sive experience with smallpox during the year. We may well congratulate ourselves that no serious epidemic arose from the few cases. We are in better condition to cope with this dread disease by reason of the prompt attention given it by the Board of Health and Board of Aldermen of last year. We have had to pay dearly for our experience, but there seems to be now no reason to fear that expenses will be as large another year, if the disease should break out again.
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.