USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1916 > Part 1
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XPLORED I6
CHARLESTOWN IG29 POND FEILDE 0.6 38
MALDEN NORTH END
1649.
AUG 14 1917 PAY TO : MELROSE TRUST CO. CITY OF MELROSE W. R. LAVENDER, City Treas. o
CITY OF MELROSE MASSACHUSETTS
Annual Reports 1916
WITH
Mayor's Inaugural Address Delivered January 3rd, 1916
LO
SE
CHARLESTOWN 1629
POND FEILDE 1838
· MALDEN .
NORTH END
1649.
0
.
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.,
1917
CHARLES H. ADAMS MAYOR
INAUGURAL ADDRESS HON. CHARLES H. ADAMS MAYOR OF MELROSE DELIVERED JANUARY 3RD, 1916
Members of the Board of Aldermen and Citizens:
I am grateful to see so many citizens here. Not because of any formalities of the occasion, but I want to talk over with you the things that concern our city.
I think we can agree that in spite of all our difficulties we have just passed through a year of advancement and prosperity, that our good reputation is more widely extended, and that the splendid progress of the city has proceeded without interruption to a higher state than ever before in its history.
During the year we have been free from any great conflagration, any great accidents, any great crime, and with a remarkable record for health, good order and civic advancement.
During the year just closed we have had a high tax rate. We have also had the highest county tax, the highest metropolitan tax, and the highest state tax in the history of the commonwealth.
We raise by taxation $458,600.70 and of this large amount we pay for things which we in no way control, about $200,000. These are the invisible expenses of the city, money paid out for things we never see, over which we have not the slightest direction, on which we cannot economize, for which we never see a man working, never buy anything, never have the pleasure of spending. Treasurer Lavender draws a check for it, and tosses it in the mail and it is gone.
Our State Tax is . $39,780.00
County Tax is .
20,682.55
Met. Sewer
17,201.57
Met. Park. 10,796.50
Charles River Basin
1,621.29
On our Debts 60,000.00
Interest, over
50,000.00
$200,081.91
In ten years our state tax has increased 100 per cent, while our own valuation has increased by 20 per cent. Our local expenses have increased about ten per cent.
4
CITY OF MELROSE
In all the places about us, there has also been the same growing tax rate, some slightly less than ours and some more, but in no one of these places, do they have and enjoy the municipal facilities and services that we have here.
In some they have inferior streets; some are lacking in public build- ings; in some they do not collect the ashes, rubbish or garbage. In no one of them do they have the many facilities for comfort and good living, the high standard of civic life, which we here enjoy, and that have placed Melrose in the very front rank of cities of its size in the United States.
For the first time as a city we have paid our current expenses out of current income. We have kept within our appropriations.
During 1915 we have paid up a deficit of $18,000 of the year 1914, which was caused by the failure of the Boston Rubber Shoe Corporation to pay its corporation taxes.
On the first of February we shall pay off $200,000 in schoolhouse bonds and for this payment we have on hand nearly all the money needed in our Sinking Funds. These bonds were issued 20 years ago for the High, Franklin, Washington and Lincoln Schools, and during that 20 years we have paid $160,000 in interest. These schoolhouses really cost us $360,000.
The interest payments are a part of the invisible expenses which make our taxes so high. I spoke of the fact that we are paying $50,000 a year for interest alone. That is twice as much as we spend on our highways. It is half as much as we spend for all our public schools. It would buy fifteen playgrounds like that at the Lincoln School.
Think of the burden of getting together $50,000.
No labor, no improvements, no education, no chartty-just interest.
We have also coming due $50,000 of notes and bonds, and $10,000 in Sinking Fund Bonds for surface drainage.
If we could stop the issuing of notes and bonds, the interest amount alone would pay for all our public improvements, all our extensions of the water system, the sewer system, the new streets, playgrounds, side- walks and everything else.
It would, until our debts are paid off, say for ten years, increase our tax rate starting at about $2.50 per 1,000, and steadily falling as our debts are paid off.
Much has been written and said about the valuation of land. In my opinion it is valued too low, far below its value and lower than in any community entitled to be classed with Melrose. Less than in Winchester or Medford, or Malden, or any of the places the south side of Boston.
To add one cent per foot to the value of land would give to us a reasonable reduction in our tax rate. Far more than a million dollars in improvements have been made here, for the purpose of making land more desirable, and yet we value our land no more, nor quite so much as In 1901.
I do not treat this as something radically wrong in our city. I treat it as an asset upon which we have not yet drawn. If the land in this city
5
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
is worth a million or two millions more than we value it, then like our Sinking Fund surplus it contributes to our sound financial condition.
Nothing could be worse than to have it over valued. N one ever has, and no one ever can question the integrity of our board of assessors, or their devotion to the interests of the city, or the uniformity in the treatment of taxable property. We can forgive them if they put our tax values too low, but we never can permit them to assess our land too high.
A few years ago we reduced our water rates and the income fell from $54,000 to $39,000 a year.
From a prosperous Municipal Enterprise paying interest and bonds, it became necessary for taxpayers to pay the bonds issued for extension of pipes. Of these bonds about $20,000 has been paid n the past 4 y. ars.
Now the income is 48,000; and with a normal growth we shall have the water system self-sustaining very soon.
In the old days we owned Spot Pond and the water flowed down to us without money and without price. Now we are paying to the Metro- politan Water System about $24,000 a year. But we are always grateful for that wise legislation which has given to us the best water supply in the world.
During the year we h ve constructed new buildings, 111 complete houses or blocks at a cost of $570,699.00, increasing our taxable property, and providing employment and trade to the great benefit of all our people. All this construction has been of excellent character, of fine architecture, and of a type suited to the character of the city, mainly single houses for homes for a class of citizens whose coming to Melrose is regarded with pride and satisfaction. Melrose has been dotted all over the past year with new homes as you have observed with interest.
We have also removed certain old city buildings, which were a menace, and caused also the removal of certain private buildings which had long been an cycsore and fire danger to the city.
The movement by the Bay State Railway Company to increase its fares to six cents, to change fare limits to the centers and to abolish all transfers has overshadowed all plans for better railway facilities and better service.
Cities and towns must fight to save what they now have.
The rates proposed would cost us twelve cents to Boston, with an extra fare to the East Side, or Howard Street, and increase every special rate like that of ten cents to Revere Beach to eighteen cents, or five cents to Spot Pond to twelve cents. There is an organization of city solicitors and town counsel who are working together in opposition to the increased fares. This city is represented at all the hearings by a special committee of the Board of Aldermen, by our City Solicitor and by the Mayor.
We are on one of the best divisions on the whole system. A constant line of cities keep the cars overful.
The Melrose Planning Board is of great value to this city. We are fortunate in the fine personnel of the board who were named by former Mayor Munroc. They are giving a vast amount of time and talent to
6
CITY OF MELROSE
plans for far-reaching improvements. They have worked during the year on plans for the improvement of Ell and Spot Pond brooks. They report that $12,000 will be sufficient to bring about the needed changes and im- provements. I hope that we shall be able to do this. Their report deals with the problems of housing, street building, playgrounds, public buildings presenting matters of great public interest. We have a few tenement blocks built years ago, that need the strong hand of a new Housing Law, that shall prevent a landlord from collecting rent for an unsanitary build- ing. A new law pushed through the legislature by the Massachusetts Civic League should be in part accepted by our city.
In spite of the wear of automobiles, our streets were never in such good condition as the past year. This is the testimony of many travellers. But Superintendent Servis warns us that our streets are wearing out. He sees the defects long before we who drive over them. Our appropriations for streets are no more than before the days of the automobile, and we are adding miles and miles of new streets all the time. For every foot of new street constructed it costs $7 or $8 per foot for walks, water, sewers, drainage, macadam. It costs the city a vast amount of money to construct these facilities to keep up with the building operation.
There are more than fifty private ways or streets not cared for by the city. We shall need a most liberal policy in the acceptance of the streets built previous to 1900, and which have, during all that time been kept open to the public by the abuttors.
We ought to keep alive the question of the construction of a City Stable for the use of all departments and supplies.
Such a stable should not be located in a residential part of the city and should be either in an out-lying district or connected with the steam railroad.
I urge the continuance of the general kindly policy of the Charity Department and I commend its careful, economical policy and the general plan or co operation with all private charity organizations and individuals to the end that persons may not be put upon the pauper list whenever private charity may be induced to give them temporary aid.
The general administration and management of the Almshouse is to be commended and I look forward to the time when our local co-opera- tion in charity work may be extended to co-operation with other cities and towns, so that on the whole there may be a reduced number of alms- houses, better constructed and managed in a larger way for the general welfare of the community, and making the Charity Department a center of relief and a bureau of information for the benefit of private organiza- tions and individuals to the end that in all cases possible aid shall be rendered privately instead of publicly.
During the past year the co-operation of the Melrose Hospital Asso- ciation has been indispensable in the care of sick cases.
I recommend that the Charity Department have three-year terms instead of one.
7
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
I recommend that the compensation of the Chairman of Board be increased to $500 a year. The work of this department is increasing all the time in responsibility and detail and requires substantially all the time of the chairman.
I commend the Police Department in its good work in keeping this city free from crime and for the maintenance of good order and for the general policy of refraining from making arrests except in cases absolutely necessary.
We need traffic rules for the regulation of automobiles in the streets and we should look forward to the building of new police headquarters.
This department is the one department of the city open twenty-four hours and it is always available for public service.
We ought to have a building where accident cases can be aided, where an insane person can be detained, where suitable sanitary cells for prisoners would be above ground, where the ambulance can be kept and where the service wagon can be kept, and where the men can have suitable rooms and headquarters.
Many citizens come to the police station upon business that is essen- tially private and there should be suitable offices.
We ought to commend the work of the Health Department the past year. The arrangements made by the Board of Health for the care of tuberculosis patients in other hospitals by other communities has up to this time obviated the necessity of building a tuberculosis hospital in this city.
I recommend that every effort be made to continue this arrangement, or if necessary, that permanent arrangements be made in union with some other communities for the building of such a hospital.
The State may wisely aid families in the care of their sick in or near their own homes. The cost of hospital treatment in public sanitariums is so large that the same amount of money would be, in many cases, sufficient to provide suitable quarters, help to maintain the family and to provide for the care and treatment of many cases.
The establishment of the Tuberculosis Dispensary at the Melrose Hospital has been a great advantage to the city and of real benefit to the sick. This is also true of the Public Health Nurse who is also acting as School Nurse, aad both these arrangements were made without any expense to the city.
I recommend a thorough inspection, supervision and regulation of all stables in residential and business sections.
I commend the Board of Health for their arrangements by which garbage collected in the city is delivered outside the city limits.
During the year there have been 204 alarms of fire in which property to the amount of $80,000 has been endangered, but the prompt work of the fire department has kept the loss down to $12,500.
The high standing and efficiency of this department is everywhere recognized and the complete motorization of it should be anticipated within the next two or three years.
8
CITY OF MELROSE
The housing of the department at the IIighlands is not in keeping with the standard of buildings which should be maintained by the city.
I urge the gradual development of the parks and playgrounds of the city no matter in what section, the re-submission of the question of the purchase of the Lincoln playground, the general improvement of the Melrose Common, the improvement and ornamentation of the old stone crusher ledge on Maple Street, near Vinton Street, the general improve- ment of the grounds around some of the public schools, the preservation of Boston Rock, the development of Ell Pond Park, including the broad parkway from Melrose Street to Franklin Street, the laying out and grading of the site for the athletic field, and the co-operation with all citizens and organizations seeking to beautify and improve the city in any part of it and in any way. We should look forward to the completion of the Boulevard through to the Lynn Woods, keeping in mind always the desirability of a great highway between this city and Boston.
The trustees of the Pine Banks Park plan to improve that part of the estate at the corner of Main and Sylvan Streets, which will benefit the entrance to the cemetery.
The Memorial Building is becoming such an important factor in the life of the community and is likely to be he center of so many gifts of various kinds, and is likely to develop into an institution needing the best of care and administration.
I recommend that it be transferred to a Board of three trustees who shall have full charge of the administration of this building in a way similar to that of the Public Library and the Cemetery, that the Board shall be appointed by the Mayor for three year terms, subject to the approval of the Board of Aldermen.
I approve the work of those in charge of the Cemetery Department, the general development and excellent improvements.
We ought to increase and develop public interest in this section of the city, that the entrance to the cemetery should be improved, that all soldiers' graves should be cared for by the city, that no lots should be sold except under the arrangement for perpetual care, and that such general interest should be created throughout the community that friends and relatives of those who sleep there will be glad to contribute funds and suitable gifts for the development of a better cemetery and surroundings.
Boston Rock, the Cemetery, Pine Banks, and the great cemetery beyond, within the limits of Malden, should be one great public reservation.
I commend the efforts that are being made by the Trustees of the Public Library for the increased circulation of books, and especially the establishment of branch libraries.
The success of the one at the South East part of the city and the one at the Melrose Highlands emphasises the need and benefit of these branches, and I think we ought to consider the establishment of another branch on the east side of the city.
9
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
The city is fortunate in the careful financial management of the public schools and the general high standing and efficiency of all the departments.
I earnestly urge the support of a system of industrial training and commend the plan of the Committee for the year 1916 which includes instruction in the care of buildings, painting, plumbing, steam-fitting and other industrial work, under the instruction of a man who has had broad training in this field.
Whenever the city is financially able to do so I hope that we may establish an industrial school with vocational training and an evening school for the encouragement and instruction of young people as well as adults. In every city there is a large number of adults who ought to be encouraged to take courses in these lines that they may be better able to support themselves and others who are dependent upon them.
I recommend the consideration of the further improvement of Main Street with the extension of the White Way through to the Highlands, and that we should look forward to the extension of the White Way on Franklin Street towards the Stoneham line.
I recommend that suitable ordinances be adopted relative to the inspection of gas pipes and that this work should be done by the Inspector of Wires, and I believe it can be done without any additional expense to the city.
This Municipal corporation cannot do many things alone. It is the wonderful co-operative spirit that excels here that has made Melrose the first city of its size anywhere. This building is an example of the co-opera- tion and generosity of our people and especially of one citizen whose gifts are far beyond what you know about.
The Melrose Hospital is another example in its building and adminis- tration of untold value; its work of charity, its department of district nursing, the Public Health Nurse, its tuberculosis dispensary. There is Pine Banks, another gift, Melrose Common is another.
There is the new clock in Grand Army Hall, presented by the Melrose Woman's Club on Saturday night. There is the new drop curtain the gift of John C. F. Slayton at the same time.
There are the organizations that respond to and anticipate the calls for public help. The women's clubs, the Melrose teachers' association, the civic council, the community organizations and associates, the splendid citizens and churches who never fail to aid in every good movement.
Government of the City of Melrose 1916
Mayor CHARLES H. ADAMS
President of the Board of Aldermen EDWARD F. CASSELL
Clerk W. DeHAVEN JONES
Aldermen-at-Large Ward
William A. Carrie, 22 York Terrace
1
Alton W. Eldredge, 29 Nowell Road
2
Angier L. Goodwin, 33 Reading Hill Avenue
2
Leslie F. Keene, 146 Wyoming Avenue, West
5
Edward F. Cassell, 141 Melrose Street
1
Thomas H. Gilman, 287 West Emerson Street
3
Harold P. Waterhouse, 11 Orient Place
4
Ward Aldermen
Ralph G. Harmon, 22 Belmont Place
1
Frank H. Noyes, 14 North Avenue
1
Adonis D. Howard, 105 Green Street
2
H. Ray Wilson, 24 Linden Road
2
Charles Drew, 117 Florence Street
3
Harold S. Wolley, 68 Youle Street
3
Sidney H. Buttrick, 87 Essex Street
4
Alfred H. French, 31 Rowe Street
4
Arthur T. Mather, 110 Crescent Avenue Lorin A. Presby, 42 Trenton Street
5
Arthur L. Marr, 242 Foster Street, East
6
Fred W. Sellers, 132 Grove Street
6
Kenneth R. Bruce, 121 Rogers Street
7
Albert M. Tibbetts, 109 Meridian Street
7
5
MELROSE BOARD OF ALDERMEN STANDING COMMITTEE FOR 1916
Appropriations Hon. Sidney H. Buttrick, Chairman Aldermen Carrie, Keene, Eldredge, Gilman, Tibbetts, Mather, Goodwin, Waterhouse
Education, Health and Charity Alton W. Eldredge, Chairman Aldermen Presby, Noyes, Gilman, Drew, Waterhouse, Wilson
Finance William A. Carrie, Chairman Aldermen Buttrick, Mather, Presby, Goodwin, Harmon, Sellers
Highways Leslie F. Keene, Chairman Aldermen Carrie, Tibbetts, Mather, Waterhouse, Marr, Bruce
Legal and Legislative Matters The President, Presby, Eldredge, Buttrick, Goodwin, Noyes, Harmon
Protection and Licenses Thomas H. Gilman, Chairman Aldermen Sellers, Keene, French, Howard, Wolley, Wilson
Public Service Albert M. Tibbetts, Chairman Aldermen Marr, Drew, French, Howard, Bruce, Wolley
Clerk of Committees VICTOR C. KIRMES
City Officers
City Clerk W. DeHAVEN JONES
Assistant City Clerk and Clerk of Committees Victor C. Kirmes
City Treasurer William R. Lavender
City Collector James W. Murray
City Auditor Edwin C. Gould
Assistant City Auditor William T. Wolley
Engineer and Superintendent of Public Works George O. W. Servis
Mayor's Clerk Blanche E. Nickerson
City Solicitor Arthur S. Davis
Chief of Fire Department Joseph Edwards
Chief of Police George E. Kerr
Inspector of Buildings William S. Allen
Inspector of Plumbing
Andrew J. Burnett
13
CITY OFFICERS
Inspector of Food David O. Parker
Inspector of Slaughtering David O. Parker, Frank P. Sturgis
Inspector of Milk and Vinegar H. E. Berger, Jr.
Collector of Milk Samples Thomas F. Harris
Inspector of Animals F. P. Sturgis
Sealer of Weights and Measures Charles E. Merrill
Superintendent Brown Tail and Gypsy Moth John J. Mccullough
Agent State, Military Aid and Soldiers' Relief Mary A. Kenah
Burial Agent Mary A. Kenah
Assessors Frank R. Upham, term expires 1919 L. Frank Hinckley, term expires 1917 Charles C. Swett, term expires 1918
Alden B. Smith
Assistant Assessors Charles M. Field
Charles Roeder
Inspector of Wires
Fred A. Edwards
14
CITY OF MELROSE
Philip B. Carter
Board of Health Clarence P. Holden, M.D., Chairman Ralph R. Stratton §Grace French, Clerk Verna L. Heaton
City Physician Clarence P. Holden, M. D.
School Physician Arthur T. Gage
Thomas F. Troy
Overseers of the Poor Adaline G. Reed, Chairman Bertram E. Lovejoy
§ Grace French, Clerk Verna L. Heaton
Matron of Pratt Farm
§ Mrs. Howard Woodman Mrs. Frank R. Pierce
Superintendent of P.att Farm
§ Howard Woodman Frank R. Pierce
Park Commission
Clarence T. Fernald, Chairman
Term expires 1920
Addison L. Winship .
66
1919
Robert A. Perkins.
66
66
1918
Harry N. Vaughn
66
66
1921
School Committee
Lowell F. Wentworth, Chairman.
Term expires 1918
Wallace R. Lovett.
66
66
1917
Sarah A. Day.
1917
William Coggeshall
66
1918
*Frank A. Welt (Harry A. George)
66
66
1917
William T. Atwood
66
66 1919
Isabelle Stantial.
66
1919
Paul H. Provandie
66
1919
*Deceased
§ Resigned.
1917
Grace W. Dole.
66
1917
George J. Foster
15
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
Sinking Fund Commissioners
Edward J. Kitching, Chairman.
Term expires 1919 66
Franklin P. Shumway
66 1917
Everett L. Fuller
66
1918
Trustees of Public Library
Rev. Paul Sterling, Chairman
Term expires 1917
John O. Paisley
1918
Frank W. Campbell
66
1918
Mary C. Barton
66
66 1917
Charles E. French
66
1919
Lovisa A. Allen.
66
66
1919
Cemetery "Committee Willis C. Goss, Chairman
J. Thomas Foster
J. Henry Kunhardt
Edwin C. Gould, Clerk Roscoe A. Leavitt, Supt. Wyoming Cemetery
Registrars of Voters
Edwin L. Cragin, Chairman Term expires 1919
1919
John J. Keating Edwin J. Tirrell.
66
1918
W. DeHaven Jones, City Clerk, Ex-Officio
Engineers of Fire Department Joseph Edwards, Chief Charles F. Woodward, Assistant Chief
Measurers of Wood and Bark, Weighers of Hay and Grain
Fred H. Goss
M. H. Eagan George Goodwin
James G. Stiles
Charles B. Goss George M. Hall
John F. Walden
Henry W. Holden A. R. Drew
Grace F. Gilbert
Public Weighers of Merchandise
A. Kenneth Prior
Willard Thompson George M. Hall
Patrick G. DeCourcy Elmer D. Swain
Edward A. Riley J. Osborn Leisk Edward M. Caldwell
Isaac L. Slocomb
Chas. F. Woodward
James McTiernan Nathaniel J. Glover
John Dyer
M. H. Eagan
Orietta Towner George Goodwin Elmer O. Pray
John Mulligan
Herbert M. Wade
Field Drivers § Howard Woodman Frank R. Pierce
16
CITY OF MELROSE
Pound Keepers § Howard Woodman Frank R. Pierce
Fence Viewers
Daniel J. Lucey
George W. Burke Daniel K. Collamore Louis B. Heaton
Constables Charles E. Merril M. James Hanley
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