USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1904 > Part 1
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PLORED
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SE CHARLESTOWN 1629 VOND FEILDE 1638 1628
. MALDEN . NORTHEND
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1649.
4
MT Travende
JENE- 1 1905-
CITY OF MELROSE,
MASSACHUSETTS.
Annual Reports, 1904,
WITH MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS DELIVERED JANUARY 4, 1904.
R
TY
OSE
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PLORED 1628
ROSE
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CHARLESTOWN 1629
POND FEILDE 1638
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· MALDEN ·
NORTH END
1649.
850
INCORPORATED
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY CLERK.
MELROSE : DUNTON PRINTING COMPANY. 1905.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF
HON. SIDNEY H. BUTTRICK,
MAYOR OF MELROSE,
DELIVERED JAN. 4TH, 1904.
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Board of Aldermen:
In accordance with the requirements of our charter and following the established custom, we have met this morning to take upon ourselves the oath of office and with proper ceremony to inaugurate the city government for the year 1904.
It is my privilege to address you for a second time upon the financial condition of our city, and to note the progress made in the several departments, and give suggestions as to the needs of the same that may properly come before you for action during the year.
I desire at this time to express to the members of the Board of Aldermen who served during the past year my hearty and sincere appreciation of the careful, earnest and conscientious labor that they performed for the benefit of the city; and it is with pleasure that I can thus publicly state that the relations between the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen have been harmonious and conducive to the best interests of the city.
In my address last year I commented upon the fact that when the Annual Budget was finally passed it would be my endeavor that no appropriations be made thereafter, and that I desired the Board would assist me in carrying out that idea ; and I wish to acknowledge my obligations for the assistance that was given me by the previous Board in keeping within our original Budget, and by endeavoring to follow the lines thus laid out, we have but $5,850.00 deficiencies-$1,350.00 for new boiler and $4,500.00 for furniture for Public Library neither of which amounts have been used-to take care of out
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CITY OF MELROSE.
of our appropriations this year, instead of $17,153.33 which we had to provide for in 1903 from the previous administration.
I now respectfully and earnestly call your attention to the financial statement as furnished me by the Auditor, and I ask you to give it more than a passing thought, as we are now approaching a period in our civic life which may be considered as a crucial test of our ability to live within our income; it will mean a closer study as to our actual needs, it will mean that in many ways the demand for improvements and benefits will have to be lessened.
Under the conditions of our charter, we were exempted from the provisions of the statutes relating to the rate of taxa- tion not exceeding twelve dollars on municipal expenditures until January 1st, 1905, and that it may be brought to your attention more particularly I will read the statutes governing this question :
REVISED LAWS, CHAPTER 12, SECTION 54.
"The taxes assessed on property exclusive of the state tax, county tax and sums required by law to be raised on account of the city debt shall not in any year exceed twelve dollars in any city on every one thousand dollars of the assessors' valua- tion of the taxable property therein for the preceding year, said valuation being first reduced by the amount of all abate- ments allowed thereon previous to the thirty-first day of De- cember in the year preceding said assessment, subject to the following provisions: If the city council of the city which contains less than one hundred thousand inhabitants accord- ing to the last preceding national or state census so determines, the average of the assessors' valuation of the taxable property therein for the preceding three years, said valuation for each year being first reduced by the amount of all abatements allowed thereon previous to the thirty-first day of December in the year preceding said assessment, shall be used to deter- mine said limit of taxation instead of said assessors' valuation of the preceding year."
With this in my mind, and being aware of the fact that if it should be deemed best to petition the Legislature for an extension of the period of exemption it would be necessary that it should be presented at the session of the General Court of 1904, I sent a communication to the Board of Aldermen in May requesting that a committee be appointed to con- sider the matter and report to the Board. An opportunity was given by the committee at a Public Hearing called by them for the citizens to express their views, and as a result
5
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
the committee recommend that it is inexpedient to legis- late; and I find that the general sentiment of our people is, that as we have got to come to a twelve dollar rate sooner or later we might as well prepare for it now as at any other time, and in making up the Annual Budget I shall endeavor to so adjust the different appropriations, that in 1905 we can, with- out too much of an effort, conform to the twelve dollar rate, without crippling the efficiency of the work in the departments.
To show you what it would have meant to have been obliged to make our appropriations last year on a twelve dollar rate, we would have been obliged to cut our appropriation down more than 10 per cent .; the average valuation less abate- ments for the three years previous to 1903 was $14,033,855.00, multiplying this amount by the rate $12.00, it gives us for municipal expenditures $168,401.46. Our actual appropria- tion was $192,833.69, a sum we arrive at by deducting the amount of items exempt-$44,254.05-from the Budget of $237,087.74.
We are in a better condition financially to meet this ques- tion at the present time than we were last year. I have treated this question in this address more fully than usual so that we may all be informed to the method and its results by having the facts and figures before us.
My purpose today is not to discuss all the problems that are liable to confront us, but to deal principally with that which seems to be most important, and that is to prepare the way for a twelve dollar tax rate. I cannot promise our citizens, even if we do arrive at the limit of twelve dollars for municipal expenditures, that our total tax rate will be much less, for we have to meet the increased state, county and Metropolitan tax which are beyond our control, but on municipal expenditures I do believe there is opportunity to save.
The financial condition of the city as submitted to me by the Auditor for the year ending December 31, 1903, is as follows :
Funded Debt:
School house bonds. $200,000.00
Sewerage loan bonds
350,000.00
Surface drainage bonds 40,000.00
Town Hall bonds
45,000.00
Water loan bonds.
262,000.00
$897,000.00
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CITY OF MELROSE.
In the sinking fund to be applied to the pay- ment of these bonds when they mature:
School house sinking fund. $34,292.90
Sewerage loan sinking fund. 94,919.51
Surface drainage sinking fund
2,222.40
Town Hall sinking fund.
3,107.28
Water loan sinking fund.
42,641.69
Central Fire Station sinking fund notes . 800.00
Central Fire Station and school house notes
1,520.00
Stone Crusher
800.00
180,303.78
Permanent Debt:
Borrowed on account of
Central Fire Station
$20,000.00
New School Building
6,000.00
High School Grounds
3,000.00
Ell Pond Park.
11,000.00
Public Grounds
10,000.00
Stone Crusher
8,000.00
Surface Drainage
6,000.00
64,000.00
There have been loans authorized on account of appropriations made during the year 1903, which must be included in the tax levy of 1904, as follows:
Furnishings, New Public Library
Building
$4,500.00
New Boiler, Steam Fire Engine. 1,350.00
5,850.00
Permanent Debt
$897,000.00
Permanent Loans 64,000.00
$961,000.00
Temporary Loans in anticipation of taxes.
$108,195.53
Cemetery Trust Funds. 10,247.00
E. Toothaker Fund.
1,193.51
119,636.04
$1,080,636.04
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
ASSETS.
Cash on hand.
$14,383.72
Sinking funds
180,303.78
Due from Commonwealth 3,535.72
Uncollected taxes. 161,490.65
Uncollected tax titles
4,649.17
Uncollected tax sales taken by city
300.09
Uncollected sewer assessments.
48,394.53
Uncollected street watering assess- ments
2,258.54
Uncollected sidewalk assessments
272.16
$415,588.36
To provide the revenue to meet our obligations and to carry on the departments of the city, it is the duty of the Board of Assessors to make fair cash valuation of all the real and personal estates subject to taxation. This I believe has been the effort on the part of our Assessors the past year; the duties of the Assessors are at the best, difficult and often unpleasant, yet public spirited citizens can be found who will do good service for the community in which they live notwithstanding the fact that what they do, does not please everybody.
The real estate valuation for 1903 was $13,780,625.00, and the personal estate was $1,397,005.00, making a total of $15,177,630.00, an increase in real estate values of $71,650.00, and a decrease of $259,500.00 in the personal; making a total decrease in valuation of $187,850.00. This showing should also caution us in making up our annual appropria- tions, as I do not believe that there will be much of any gain in our valuation this year. The Assessors' report 3312 dwell- ings as against 3248 in 1902, making a gain of 64. The total valuation is:
Assessed estates. $15,177,630.00
Exempt property, churches, etc. 337,025.00
City real estate, schools, city hall, cemetery, etc. 664,075.00
$16,178,730.00
I recommend that the charter be amended so that the fiscal year shall correspond to the administrative year. The city government today begins upon the first Monday in January, while the financial year does not commence until February. While I can see no especial reason for this arrangement, I can give many good reasons for the change. By the charter,
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CITY OF MELROSE.
the Mayor shall transmit the Annual Budget to the Board of Aldermen not later than the first week in February, but in preparing the Budget it is necessary for him to know what balances, if any, remain to the credit of any department, and this is almost impossible for him to find out as the January bills are not paid until the 15th of February. Again,as we are so closely allied with the Commonwealth in many of our expenditures, we cannot balance our accounts with them as the books of the state close December 31st. Then our water department account begins January 1st, and this has to be kept separate by the Auditor and Treasurer from other money that may be received on account of this division during January.
The incoming Mayor is also hampered during this month of January by the requirements made by departments which naturally belong to the preceding administration to arrange; and he cannot commence any work of his own recommen- dation, involving the expenditure of money, until after the expiration of the previous financial year.
For these reasons I recommend that the Board of Alder- men consider the question at their earliest opportunity, and if possible, present a petition to the Legislature at this session.
SPOT POND BROOK.
Our endeavors to secure legislation upon this important question of the improvement of Spot Pond Brook so that the territory on the line of the brook might be relieved from the constant menace to health and damage to property, was not successful, owing to a lack of unanimity of the parties interested and the strenuous opposition of the City of Malden, and as a result of many hearings before the Legislature, the whole matter was referred back to the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board, that they might make further investi- gation and bring in an amended report, with the idea if possible that a scheme might be presented that would lessen the ex- pense. The Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board have made further consideration of the condition of the brook and find that they cannot recommend any other method than the original scheme embodied in their report to the Legislature in January, 1903. The matter was very thoroughly discussed at a meeting of the Board of Trade, and after due considera- tion by the committee on Spot Pond Brook, the Board of Aldermen passed a Resolve unanimously recommending that the Mayor take such action as will properly carry out the pro- visions of the report of the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board.
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MAYOR'S . ADDRESS.
No one who has given the least consideration to the con- dition of Spot Pond Brook and its surrounding territory can but be convinced that serious trouble exists, and with due regard for the rights of our citizens living and owning property in that neighborhood, every honorable means should be used to correct the same; and as the Metropolitan Board have contributed in a large degree to the present state of affairs it is no more than fair and right that they should take the initiative in proceeding to improve the conditions now existing, and to this end they have prepared a bill as outlined in their report of January, 1903, and it will be my purpose to give them all the assistance I can to promote its success- ful passage through the Legislature.
While doubts may arise in the minds of some of our citi- zens as to what Melrose may be called upon to assume in the proportion of expense attending this great improvement, yet I do not believe that any citizen, or body of citizens, would refuse at any time or object to paying our just and equitable share of the expense.
The whole question of liability and the extent of the same, and all the serious legal questions involved, are by the pro- posed bill to be referred to the Supreme Judicial Court, who shall consider the whole question and their finding will settle the matter for all time. With this in view, I ask the hearty co-operation of all our citizens to assist in the passage of this bill.
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
The several departments included in the Public Works Department, principally the Highway, Water, Sewer and Surface Drainage, have been well cared for during the past year, and each succeeding year shows a marked improve- ment in their condition.
I recommend the continuance of macadamizing the main thoroughfares when repairs are needed, for when the streets are built or repaired properly, the expense of maintenance is materially reduced, and with the system of surface drain- age perfected, so that the streets are relieved from the rush of water over their surface, we can enjoy good streets at a minimum cost.
During the year 1903, we have built in a thorough manner 1.18 miles of street, being portions of Hurd, Melrose, Mal- vern, Washington and Laurel streets; also the west side of Main street, from Malden line to Sylvan street, a distance of about 1,800 feet. Main street, northerly, from the junction of Green and Porter streets, will be widened to the full width
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CITY OF MELROSE.
of sixty feet and built in the best possible manner by the Boston & Northern Street Railway Company, under their contract as included in the franchise granted by the Board of Aldermen, May 20, 1903.
In addition to this great improvement, I recommend that Franklin street and Greenwood street be rebuilt and macad- amized; a good portion of this can be done in connection with the laying of the surface drains, and these streets being main thoroughfares, they should receive our first attention. Another reason I may give if other outside needs and the opportunity to do the work in connection with the surface drainage, is that it is the intention of the Boston & Main Railroad Company to erect a new station at Melrose High- lands, north of Franklin street, and we should make the ap- proaches thereto convenient and in good condition.
We have at present:
6.38 miles macadamized streets.
1.02 miles brick sidewalks.
33.76 miles concrete sidewalks.
11.61 linear feet granolithic sidewalks.
4.57 miles straight granite curbstone.
2.54 miles curved granite curbstone.
5.10 miles paved gutters.
3 brick crossings. 108 concrete crossings.
During the year in the water division the main supply pipe has been completed through Vinton, Orris, Warren and Franklin streets, and on the easterly side through Ayon, Elm and Linden streets to Porter street, also completed the circuit by the laying of a 10 inch pipe through Porter street, from Linden to Main street, at an expense of $19,720.06, divided as follows: $10,071.54 from the receipts and $9,648.52 to construction and paid from bonds issued during the year. There has also been laid 1,821 feet of pipe in streets not here- tofore provided with mains throughout the city, and in ac- cordance with the recommendation to the Board by me last year 16,071 feet of cement lined pipes, including the pipes laid in the main supply circuit, have been taken out and replaced with cast iron pipes, and in most cases the size of the pipe has been increased; the additional cost thereof has been charged to construction and paid from the proceeds of the bonds issued.
There is need of new pipes in portions of Main, Upham, Summer and Rowe streets, and I recommend a continuance of the work in replacing the old cement pipes with cast iron
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
as far as practicable, and that your Honorable Board authorize an issue of bonds to the amount of $10,000.00 for that purpose.
The revision of the water rates as recommended by me is still before the Board, and I trust will be definitely settled at an early date.
The claim against the Commonwealth has been practically adjusted, the three municipalities-Malden, Medford and Melrose-having arrived at an agreement, which I expect to be able soon to submit to your Honorable Board for your approval.
Those portions of our Surface Drainage System included in the Grove and Otis streets section have been completed and are giving good satisfaction. The work will be con- tinued during the present year, and the sections as contem- plated are-the Elm street, Franklin and Greenwood streets, Cedar Park, and the Leonard's brook so-called. No work that has been done since the laying of the sewers in our city has shown such satisfactory and immediate benefits as the surface drainage, and I recommend another issue of $20,000.00 be authorized, as it is estimated that these several sections cannot be fully completed out of the amount on hand.
During the year nearly one-half mile of sewer mains has been added to the system, and 79 buildings connected. The total mileage of the sewers to date is 34.63; 2,194 buildings connected, and 503 still to be connected. There remains to be done upon work ordered by the previous Board of Alder- men, lines of sewers in Union and Burrell streets.
A year ago I called the attention of the Board of Aldermen to the need of a city yard and stables; nothing was done with the recommendation. I have given this question much thought, and I am more and more convinced of the necessity of the city providing a place for its wagons, watering-carts, etc., also for the storing and distributing of stock. We re- ceived and used over 1,300 sections of water pipe, 1,825 casks of cement, 11,220 feet of sewer pipe, 14,500 brick, 50,000 lbs. of lead, besides a great number of other kinds of materials used in our water and sewer construction, such as hydrants, gate-boxes, etc. A central place where these could be stored would cause a great saving in time and money. The loss of tools every year is another item of expense which could be saved by having them under one cover. I recommend that you give this question immediate consideration.
In connection with the improvement of our highways, mention may be made of the fact that there seems to be a possibility this year of the Metropolitan Park Commission commencing operations on the Boulevard to be laid from the Middlesex Fells to the Lynn woods. A portion of this
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CITY OF MELROSE.
1
at least should be done during the year-that section run- ning westerly from Crystal street by the northerly side of Ell pond thence to the Fells.
THE CHARITY DEPARTMENT.
There has not been as much of a demand upon the resources of this department as usual, excepting in the care of the sick.
The Pratt Farm remains under the same efficient manage- ment and is a credit to the city. There appears to be no need of any particular outlay in this department other than the ordinary, and I have no recommendation to offer.
MELROSE HOSPITAL.
This institution is doing a glorious work in our community and it is worthy of especial mention. I heartily recommend the usual appropriation.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
We have providentially been spared another epidemic of smallpox, and the general health of our city is excellent.
The Isolation Hospitals, located on the Pratt Farm, have proved of invaluable service to the city, and to the Board of Health, who have so wisely made preparation for the care of those persons afflicted with contagious diseases, is due in a great measure our escape from serious epidemics.
I would recommend that an ordinance be passed appoint- ing a City Physician.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
We are proud of our schools, and well we may be when such good results are shown. We stand among the first in the schools of this state in attendance of our scholars. Un- less the schools were attractive and the studies satisfactory, this would not be. It is our duty to give the schools our sup- port and assistance so that they may be enabled to do the work set for them to do free and untrammelled. It is a diffi- cult matter I must admit, when we are practicing and preaching economy, to draw a hard and fast line in every department. I am sure that the school committee endeavor to save at every point any unnecessary expenditure, and I believe that they are trying with the assistance of the Superintendent to give the best results at the least possible expenditure.
However much we may desire to economize in the differ- ent items of expense attending our schools, there is one thing we have to meet each year and that is the growth of the school
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
population. If I recollect aright, we have this year 139 more children to take care of than we had a year ago; this being the case, it means an additional expense. I trust, however, that the demands of the school committee will not be of such a nature as to materially increase the appropriation this year. I would call your attention, however, to the fact that we shall soon need either a new school building or an addition to the Sewall School for the accommodation of the ninth grade scholars.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The Public Library is now practically completed and will soon be formally dedicated to the uses for which it was erected. It is a beautiful building architecturally, and the rooms are admirably planned for the purpose of a Library.
The cost when completed for occupancy will be about $32,000.00, of which $25,000.00 was the gift of Hon. Andrew Carnegie, and the balance made up of donations by our public spirited citizens, the only cost to the city being for the furn- ishings for which $4,500.00 has been appropriated. The city will have to provide for the grading and properly laying out of the grounds, and I shall recommend an appropriation for this purpose.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The Police Department sustains its good reputation in being watchful and fearless in the discharge of its duties. Through the efforts of the Police Association the city has received the gift of an ambulance, for which we desire to express our sincere thanks.
There is urgent need of a building to be devoted wholly to the use of the Police Department, and I recommend that your Board appoint a committee to take into consideration this question and report during the year upon the advisability of providing such a building.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
It is not wholly our good luck that there has been no seri- ous conflagration the past year-it is to the ability of our department to respond quickly to the call, and the intelligence and energy they use when fighting the fires that we have been saved from serious loss.
I would recommend with reference to Hose Co. 2, that the Lynde street school house be removed to the old stone crusher lot on Maple street, and at a slight expense be fitted up for their occupancy.
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CITY OF MELROSE.
There is need of an apparatus on the west side of the track, as sometimes delays are caused by the gates being down at the railroad crossings, and with this Hose Company they could be assured of some protection at once. If this does not seem feasible to you, I would recommend that the Company be disbanded until such time as they can be properly accom- modated.
CONCLUSION.
It is needless for me to suggest to you the duties and ob- ligations incumbent upon you as members of the Board of Aldermen. You as well as myself stand before the people today untrammelled by any pledges or promises save the oath of office which we have taken to honestly and faithfully discharge the trust committed to us. A study of the con- ditions of our city leads me to observe that in the adminis- tration of the affairs of the city, all matters of legislation are carefully considered by the Board of Aldermen, and the several departments merit a word of appreciation for their zeal and attention to the duties confided to them. Finan- cially we are in a good healthy condition, and I believe that by rigid economy and a constant supervision, that it will be possible to give our citizens, for the same or even less expen- diture, greater results than we are now receiving; and as we are pledged to carry on the affairs of the city to the best of our ability, I believe that the spirit of the charter will not be violated if the executive and the legislative shall consider unreservedly and frankly together all matters that may come up for legislation, and to this end I cordially invite each and every member of the Board of Aldermen to confer with me at any time upon any topic that may be contemplated for action in your Board, and may our year be one of pleasure to ourselves and profitable to the city we represent.
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