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Read JUN 1 2 1916
CITY OF MELROSE MASSACHUSETTS
Annual Reports 1915
WITH
Mayor's Inaugural Address Delivered January 4th, 1915
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PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY CLERK AND SPECIAL COMMITTEE
MELROSE, MASS. THE MELROSE FREE PRESS, INC.
1916
CHARLES H. ADAMS MAYOR
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
HON. CHARLES H. ADAMS
MAYOR OF MELROSE Delivered January 4th, 1915.
Gentlemen of the Board of Aldermen, Citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen:
I congratulate the people of Melrose upon the fine reputation of the city during the administration of the retiring Mayor, Hon. Oliver B. Munroe, and his unquestioned integrity in the conduct of its affairs.
As stated by the financial officers, there is coming due this year $52,000.00 in debts of the city which must be paid. This $52,000 must be paid from taxes. It cannot be paid without an increase in the tax rate. The rate of $21.70, which is already too high, must be increased in order that these notes may be paid.
In the anticipated revenue of 1914 there is a deficiency of $20,452.13, which must be paid up in the taxes of this year, which compels a further increase in our tax rates.
In the Budget of 1914 there was appropriated from "Anticipated Receipts" $55,000-but the "anticipated receipts" actually amounted to $35,000. The $55,000 was not only estimated, but the amount was borrowed in anticipation and spent. This shrinkage was mainly in corporation taxes, is equal to a shrinkage of a million dollars in real estate. To make good this loss, we need to build at least 300 new houses of average value.
Since the budget was passed last March, a considerable sum has been expended in anticipation of the taxes of this year.
We must appropriate $17,000 for our sinking fund towards the liquid- ation of sinking fund bonds.
We must appropriate $38,000 for interest on our debts.
Therefore $135,000 of our income for 1915 is gone before we begin our work.
Our interest charges are over $1,000 a week; $150 a day, or enough to keep 60 men employed all the time.
Our most serious financial trouble is the shrinkage in corporation taxes, and this shrinkage is likely to continue a year or two longer.
Financially Sound
Although, by lack of financial foresight, we have too large a proportion of our debts coming due this year, causing unusual anxiety, and an increase tax rate, we can boast that our city is financially sound; our credit high and our net debt very moderate, among the cities of similar size and valuation.
Our net debt is a little less than $500,000 and the value of the property owned by the city is over $2,000,000.
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CITY OF MELROSE
Revaluation of Real Estate
From 1890 to 1901 the value of land in the City doubled in value. From 1902 to 1914 the value has not been increased, but through certain adjustments and land takings by the City the value of the land has actu- ally decreased about +$150,000.
I urge a complete revaluation of real estate, and unless we shall find thereby largely increased value, we shall have a much higher tax rate.
The assessed valuation of land has not been increased in a dozen years. In that time we have gained in population, expended enormous amounts of money in streets, walks, water supply, sewers, drainage, public and private buildings, parks, schools, and everything that has made living here desirable and attractive. If we have not in all these ways made real estate more valuable than it was, then we have made a failure of it.
In order that real estate shall not bear too large a share of the burden of taxation, I urge that personal property and income, evidence of which is seen by everyone all the time, shall be taxed according to the law.
fValueof land 1901 $5,993,025
Efficiency of Administration
With our pressing financial situation and our many demands, the people look to the City Government for improved methods of business, for greater efficiency in administration, for stricter accounting and economy.
We must stretch every dollar to its full limit of service. We have eliminated party politics from our city elections, and we must keep the business of the City, our appointments and our labor free from political methods. We must adopt the methods of the best private business concerns.
There is a provision of the City Charter which relates to the Aldermen, which provides that "No member of the Board of Aldermen shall do business directly or indirectly with the city, make contracts or purchase supplies." It is Section 18.
This section, so far as I know, has never been violated. Men have given up their business relations with the city in order to serve on the Board of Aldermen and in the spirit of this section. It is the very soul of good public service.
I suggest that by ordinance the spirit of this section shall be extended to various departments of the City.
Unpaid Boards
Several of the department boards now receiving a small compensation should have unpaid boards. The compensation is too small to attract service on that basis.
Public service which does not conflict with one's ordinary business, or profession, should be unpaid.
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS
Our Board of Charity should be unpaid, save only the chairman who serves as executive officer.
The Board of Health should be unpaid, save only the chairman who serves as executive officer.
The Cemetery Committee should be unpaid.
In our own city the Board of Aldermen, School Committee, Park and the Sinking Fund Commission and the Library Trustees serve without pay.
In this State many of the great boards that have made Massachusetts famous for good service serve without compensation. Trustees of banks, hospitals and colleges serve without pay.
All these boards should have three-year terms as a term of one year lends itself too rapidly to political influence and frequent change of policy.
Schools
The largest item of cost is our public schools, amounting to over $100,000 a year.
We should be proud of the fact that our High School is the largest in proportion to population in the United States. It indicates the fine class of citizens who send their children through the High School instead of sending them into employments after the grammar grade. We have 2800 pupils. The cost per pupil is $38.95, while the average through the State is $40.41. No department of the City prepares such accurate and informing reports of its finances as the school department.
There is no item of expense than can be greatly reduced and the salaries of our teachers are below those paid for talent of equal grade in any department of ordinary business, and in many cities of the state.
The membership of our High School is at the maximum. After this year it will decline and reduce our expenses somewhat. Whenever the City is financially able to do so, I look forward to the establishment of an Industrial School. At present, under a suitable plan, provided by law, we send a few pupils to the industrial schools in Boston and Somerville. But we shall not long be satisfied to do this. It does not develop the industrial side. We shall have such a school of our own which is sure to become as important as our commercial school. Many of us regret to see the old schoolhouse on Grove Street going to decay, positive injury to the locality, and a fire menace.
Public Library
The Public Library is a source of pride, for its beautiful building, fine administration and service, but we must find ways of a larger circulation of books. Branches should be established, and especially one at the Highlands.
The circulation of books at our library compares well with that of other cities, but it is far below what it should be for its cost. The cost per copy is too large.
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CITY OF MELROSE
The question of convenient distribution, a larger circulation, branches, and book-cases in co-operation with other organizations is earnestly recom- mended.
The small branch in the Southeast Section is an example of what may be done elsewhere.
Public Works Department
No department of the City should be more completely a business affair than our department of public works. It calls for a clean-cut business administration. Political methods and influences have no place here.
It has charge of the construction and repairs of 50 miles of streets and 100 miles of sidewalks of every grade and condition.
It runs a large stable.
Buys supplies and makes contracts.
Manages a water system that cost $500,000, that serves 4,000 water takers, keeps the accounts with 4,000 meters, has 53 miles of water pipes to keep in repair and is extending new lines all the time.
It runs a stone crusher.
It does street sprinkling business over many miles and employs many men.
It has charge of the Memorial Building and the City Hall Building.
It manages and repairs 43 miles of sewers, and is constantly extending a system which cost half a million dollars and is connected with almost every home.
It collects ashes and rubbish from 4,000 residences.
It manages and repairs and extends a surface drainage system which cost $150,000.
It has a division of engineering. It runs snow plows over 100 miles of walks.
Nearly all this work is in the public streets, and touches the every-day experiences of every citizen.
It employs many men on part time, and is unable to deal in a normal way either with the question of employment, the question of wages, or the question of men.
Our Streets and Sidewalks
I hope to see a general improvement and extension of our sidewalks. There ought to be an unlimited appropriation for continuous sidewalks, where the abuttor pays one-half the cost. This year we should devote ourselves to the building of continuous walks. Sidewalks are far more important than the street. Everybody, men, women and little children, poor and rich, use the sidewalks. We are more concerned for those who walk than for those who ride.
Our streets are all well protected by trees, the result of co-operation of private organizations. Many years ago a tree society set out the trees- now so attractive-in our streets. More recently the clubs of women,
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS
who do so much for the civic life of the community, in co-operation with the City, have set out hundreds more. It is our duty to continue the work of ornamenting the city and protecting the streets.
The Cemetery
The protection of Wyoming Cemetery from the business of blasting and crushing at Boston Rock was the spirit of a great protest last year.
We should continue the work by making Boston Rock a part of the Metropolitan Park System. Sylvan Street and its approaches should be improved and the work of constantly adding beauty, restfullness, to the City of the dead should engage our affectionate interest.
Parks, Playgrounds and Recreation
Melrose has been called "The City of Parks". No other city is so favorably situated. At our door is the Fells, the finished product of the Metropolitan Park System, comprising 2,000 acres and costing several million dollars. Here is Spot Pond, where a million dollars was spent by the Metropolitan Water Board; Sewall's Woods, the gift of the late Judge Sewall and Pine Banks, a legacy from E. S. Converse. Here is Ell Pond, whose real value to Melrose is enormous.
Our local system of parks and playgrounds is being developed by our Park Commission, who have planned a beautiful and comprehensive system.
Our Boulevard System should be extended to the Lynn Woods. Here is the largest reservation in the country belonging to a single city. It comprises 2,700 acres and remains inaccessible, waiting for the extension of the Boulevard from Bellevue Avenue in Melrose. With that completed we shall have a system of fine roads from the Fells to the North Shore. There will never be a more favorable time for us to urge this work than during the term of service of the Melrose member of the Metropolitan Board.
The construction of a boulevard from the Fells to Boston, through Cambridge and across the Charles River has long been agitated. It is an undertaking of great cost, but the north side of Boston will never reach its finest development until we have one fine highway to Boston equal in construction and beauty to those so common on the south side of Boston.
We need a system of playgrounds for the benefit of the pupils in the public schools as well as for athletic associations interested in out-of-door sports. Charles M. Cox, with the great public spirit, has developed a playground at the Highlands.
We need for our local athletic associations an athletic field that may be enclosed for games at which admission may be charged, similar to the athletic fields in Everett, Malden and Somerville. Such a field should be so managed as to be self-supporting and self-paying. If the City will finance this enterprise, as has already been indicated, by a popular vote, it will be of wonderful benefit to our young people, help the good name of our City and cost nothing to the tax payers.
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CITY OF MELROSE
Nearly twenty years ago a plan was brought into town meeting for a playground at Dix's Pond, the place still remains vacant in the rear of City Hall and the Memorial Building and bounded by Main, Essex, Myrtle and Winthrop Streets. Such an open place in the centre of the city would be worth its cost as a public playground and be of substantial value to all the private property in the locality.
Much has been done for Ell Pond for summer pleasure and bathing. We need in winter an ice field for winter sports. I would like to have our Park Commission take charge of and develop that field for ice sports in winter, provide life-saving outfits, take charge of the flowing of the pond, the scraping of the ice, the police control and the general supervision of winter sports. We could make that pond in winter famously attractive and beneficial.
Health
We cannot exercise too much care in the supervision of those things which concern the health of our people. We are proud of the record of the City in the statistics which place Melrose so high in the scale of health. The inspection of milk and food supplies, sanitation, protection against contagious diseases, unsanitary tenements, and the employments for minors demand constant attention.
We must look toward the employment of a school nurse by the City, unless the work is taken up by a private charity organization. Why may not private citizens and organizations co-operate with the city in this work?
The State Board of Health has called our attention to the law which requires us to provide a hospital or hospital treatment or consumptives, and this problem demands an early solution.
The Charity Department
The spirit of the charity work of the City is excellent. It is the duty of the overseers to aid the poor, to reinstate them in life, to superintend the poor.
The Charity Board must lead and guide in charity, draw upon private charity, help the poor to employment, act as a guardian over young and old, help the drinking man to keep sober, help the idle to work, lend a hand to the sick, visit the homes, send for the nurse and the doctor.
This City is filled with men and women who will gladly aid in any intelligent aid to families in distress. It is the duty of those in charge of public aid to enlist private charity, and to co-operate with churches, organizations and the individuals in aiding those who are dependent. The Pratt Farm is a good home.
Our beautiful hospital, administered by private charity, with a skill and tenderness that is our just pride, is wide open day and night to the call of distress.
.
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS
I recommend that the Charity Board become a central organization for the systematic handling of private charity, which must always supple- ment as well as prevent public aid.
The Fire Department
The Fire Department has been constantly improved and strengthened in organization and equipment for a number of years. The improvement should go on. The horses should be displaced by motors.
If a department is to be maintained at the Highlands, as seems neces- sary, we should look toward the building of a suitable house of brick, or cement in that section. Whether the present location is suitable for the protection of that large section of Melrose in the vicinity of Vinton Street and south, may well be considered. Such a building should also have a ward room or hall for the use of the citizens and voters.
There is no adequate protection for the west side at Wyoming and a comprehensive plan for the development of the department in that section should be considered.
Fire Insurance
The City itself is a large buyer of fire insurance and the insured property is of the type carefully protected and entitled to the lowest rates of insurance. Theoretically, a City with a fine Fire Department, good police protection and good building restrictions and construction, receives a lower insurance rate than elsewhere. In practice, however, the insurance companies continue to collect the same rates.
The city should lead in a movement for lower insurance rates for itself and the Board of Trade and other organizations should co-operate for lower insurance rates throughout the City.
The City of Medford recently received a rate for its own property, 20% below that which is being paid by Melrose. Here is an opportunity for organizations and citizens to co-operate in securing better insurance rates, which now constitute a heavy burden of outlay.
The Police
The Police Department deserves commendation for their services in keeping this City very free from vice and crime, the sale of liquor, or the transportation in violation of the law, and for good order upon our streets.
The Moving Pictures
The closest supervision should be given by the City over the exhibition of moving pictures. Little children are the great patrons of the "Movies".
They are fascinated and influenced by that agency which should be used for public education.
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CITY OF MELROSE
It is practically uncensored. The indecent film is exhibited, does its damage, earns its money and is gone long before the licensing authority hears a complaint.
In the absence of National or State control, I favor the holding of the theatre responsible for the character of its exhibit. Otherwise we should prohibit the attendance of children save only at shows that have been approved by a local board.
Rapid Transit
The transportation system is most important.
The railroads are pressing for increased revenue and we must be alert to any reduction of service, or increase of fares on our steam roads.
We urge better service on the street railway systems. It is absurd that there should be two transportation companies between this city and Boston, a distance of seven miles.
With the construction of the elevated track and subway from Sullivan Square to Malden Square we should have a close physical connection with that system and on the same level.
We should be rid of the disagreeable change of cars in all sorts of weather at Malden Square.
We should have one rate of fare, whatever that may be, from this city to Boston.
We should have a new street car line to accommodate that growing community in the southeast section of Melrose and through Lebanon Street, and the bungling transfers in Franklin Square should give way to a more orderly system, by which citizens who live beyond Franklin Square would have through transportation to their homes up to the arrival of the last car at night.
The location of our stables at Franklin Square instead of aiding in transportation facilities has actually served to block it by making that public square a railway terminal.
City Planning
The movement for City Planning is nation wide. Indeed, it is inter- national. The last conference was held at Toronto. Under the law of 1913 we have a board composed of nine men and women whose work is to plan ahead, to take a wide and extensive view of the proper development and growth of the city along broad, beautiful and comprehensive lines.
It should study and advise on the laying-out of streets, on systems of drainage, location of streets, housing and the architecture of public build- ings, parks, recreation grounds and transportation.
It is to plan and advise. Our present board has been studying the problem of Spot and Ell Pond brooks for the improvement of large sections of the city. If they succeed in a place at a cost which our city can pay, they will render a great service.
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS
They may well consider the problem of the abandoned schoolhouse on Grove Street.
But a larger work is that of improved streets and transportation and lighting between Melrose Center and Melrose Highlands. It is of the greatest importance that the Highlands shall be more closely allied in every way to the Center.
It is unfortunate that our streets do not radiate.
Between the Center and the Highlands there are no streets, that are direct, well lighted, with good walks, well-protected and attractive. The car barns with headquarters for shifting cars in a public square, the bungling system of transfers and connections obstruct instead of promoting the closer relations of our people there and here. I believe that property and streets at Franklin Square are too valuable to be used many years longer for the storage of cars.
They must move outside the residential and business sections.
The southeast part of Melrose must be developed. Here is ample room for growth.
The Boston Rock property cannot remain as it is.
The Boston Rubber Shoe Company cannot always control that great tract of vacant land at Wyoming unimproved. Some ways of transporta- tion must be developed from Melrose into the Fells. We are doing much for the automobile travel in the parks and we must now do something for those who walk.
There should be a close co-operation between the Boards and the Park Commission and the Public Works Department.
Our City Buildings
Our City Hall cost $150,000 is running down, brings almost no income, is unsuited to its use, is of low rental value and a problem by itself.
It is in direct contrast with the beautiful Memorial Hall, which has become the center of social life of marked influence upon the community and the character of the organizations that use it. Of itself it has been an uplifting influence in the city.
The use and income from its use increases.
The generous gifts and co-operation from the large number of citizens made this hall possible, and the constant generous financial aid from one citizen continued from its planning up to this very evening has added to its use.
Two wonderfully fine pianos are the gift of John C. F. Slayton the past year. But these do not measure the financial support which he has continued, without publicity, to give to the building.
City Labor
I earnestly solicit the aid of those who can help to solve the problem of employment for men who depend upon the city for work.
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CITY OF MELROSE
There is a very human side. We are one great family, and those who are unable to take care of themselves must be aided by others.
Work on and about our streets for half the months in the year will not support the family, furnish milk for the babies, and a doctor when sick.
Then there is the problem of drink. The mother of children out at hard work; the unsanitary tenement and the young girl in consumption. There is the present season of hard times and unemployment.
There is something in the government of cities beside the rate of taxation and I hope that we may find time to study this human side of our city's responsibilities.
Co-operation
As a municipality alone we cannot do many things.
The great public improvements which we enjoy and of which we are so proud are to a great extent the work of private organizations and public-spirited citizens. This is especially true of the new buildings which ornament our city, the new churches, the Y. M. C. A. and the Melrose Hospital. These belong to the whole city as truly as though paid for by taxation.
The management of these institutions is superior to the management of our municipal affairs.
Our Public Library was built by co-operation and the Memorial Building is a splendid example of what can be done when the citizens, organizations and the municipality co-operate. The hundreds of trees put out in our streets by the Women's Clubs are another example.
Our recreation and park department should help to develop out-door life and athletics.
Our charity department should aid in the distribution of private charity and our health department should aid and educate our people to better standards of living and better housing. It should inspect the tenements where the poor people live and see that no landlord rents un- sanitary houses in this city. The City should lead, co-operate and aid, but our private organizations and citizens do a large share of the work.
Our City
In the Bureau of Statistics at the State House Melrose is grouped in all the statistics with three other cities of similar size and population and valuation. The other cities in the group are Marlboro, Newburyport and Woburn. Those are fine cities, but every one here knows that in all that makes for a beautiful residential community, in civic spirit, in distin- guished citizenship, in fine educational equipment, in public buildings and attractive private residences, in streets and parks, in freedom from vice and crime, in good order, patriotism and high character, no city, how- ever large or rich, stands higher than Melrose.
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