USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1918 > Part 1
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Melrose Public Library Melrose, Massachusetts
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CITY OF MELROSE MASSACHUSETTS
Annual Reports 1918
WITH
Mayor's Inaugural Address Delivered January 7th, 1918
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PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY CLERK AND SPECIAL COMMITTEE
MELROSE FREE PRESS, INC.
1919
Om 35% Crp.2
MELROSE PUBLIC LIBRAR. MELROSE. MASS.
CHARLES H. ADAMS MAYOR
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS HON. CHARLES H. ADAMS
MAYOR OF MELROSE
DELIVERED' JANUARY 7TH, 1918
Mr. President and Members of the Board of Aldermen and Ladies and Gentlemen:
During the year 1917 there has come over the city a complete change in the tide of our affairs.
On April 6th war was declared and since that time the resources and energy of our people have been pledged to the carrying on and winning of the War. Our local interests, once so important, are now to a great extent set aside. We are engaged in a world wide war and the homes of our people are being depleted by the sacrifice and service of so many young men who have offered their lives for the Country. More than 500 of our boys are taken from the activities of our city and are now in the service of the Country. Our educational interests, social affairs, amusements, plans for a more beautiful city, local business enterprises, are now over- shadowed and must give way to the support of the men at the front.
Our Excellent Condition
In this time of stress we are fortunate as a city that our financial affairs are in such excellent condition, that the public debt is small, that the streets are so generally good, that our water, sewer and drainage systems are so generally complete as to require but moderate new expendi- tures, that schoolhouses are ample for present needs, that our public build- ings are mainly satisfactory, and that our public and semi-public institu- tions are in good shape. If we stop where we now are, and suspend for the present the many long wished for improvements, we shall not suffer in any of the things that are indispensable to health, education or public convenience. We can suspend all so-called improvements without doing anything worthy of being called a sacrifice.
It is highly fortunate that so much has been accomplished the past year because conditions of finance, of labor and material will prohibit any great amount of work in 1918.
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CITY OF MELROSE
Our Tax Rate
In this rising tide of costs, that reaches every avenue of life, our tax rate last year increased about 8%. No other bill that came to you last year increased so little. I don't see how it was kept down. Labor was increased 20%. Our schools increased $20,000. Our state tax increased $11,000 or 33%. Everything we bought increased in price and some things 100%.
Our Increased Expenses
Besides that, we have been living at high speed. In ten years our pop- ulation has increased about 15 per cent and the valuation of our property about 22 per cent, while our expenses, State, County and local, have in- creased more than 50 per cent. To make up this deficit we have increased our tax rate about 30 per cent. Our State Tax alone has jumped from $18,000 to $43,000 and it increased last year alone more than $11,000. Our schools have increased from $94,000 to $119,000 and that does not include the special appropriation for the improvements to the buildings last year. Our street lights have gone from $13,000 to $20,000, the Police system from $12,000 to $21,000 and the Fire Department from $14,000 to $22,000. Ten years ago we were paying for labor $2.00 per day, now the amount is $3.00. Then the day was nine or ten hours ,now it is eight.
Not all these changes have been made by the City Government. The State is mainly responsible, the city itself by popular vote, changed the hours of labor to eight and by popular vote at the last election voted to give the city laborers two weeks' vacation. The very excellent Work- ing men's Compensation costs the city $3,000 a year and the pension for city employees and officials, also adopted by popular vote, is just beginning to show in our expense accounts and will go on increasing year after year. The City Government has accepted the Law of 1917 by which the city promises to equalize the pay of any city employee who leaves the city to enlist in the Army or Navy.
No Destructive Parsimony
I watched closely the inaugural of Governor McCall and heard him urge the careful conservation of all resources, while keeping up those great departments of the State upon which the future welfare of our people so much depends. He did not urge, neither do I, any destructive parsimony, any attacks upon systems of education, or health, or in the care of the poor, or in the maintenance of public institutions, or the care of soldiers' families, the cutting of wages or changes in hours of labor.
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS
Special War Activities
During 1917 we have had many new and surprising activities that have tested the citizenship and loyalty of the people. It can be truly said that our city has never lagged behind. When the War came, our people put up hundreds of flags. Meetings for recruiting were constantly held. The Melrose Military Training School, which sent a score of its members to Plattsburg, became the Home Guard, and out of that came our two military organizations, Co. E of the 12th Regiment, said to be the best Company in the State Guard, commanded by Capt. B. R. Vaughan, now promoted to Major of the 1st Battalion of the 12th Regiment, and our Home Guard Company now under Captain Turner.
The forming of the Melrose Drum Corps of twelve men on duty all the time and without any compensation or any equipment except that which they furnished.
Then came the constant enlistment of our boys in Army and Navy until five hundred are now in the service.
Then came the selective draft system, with Wakefield and Melrose in one District, with a Board composed of Hon. Claude L. Allen and Dr. Ernest C. Fish, of Melrose, and Maynard E. S. Clemons of Wakefield, a board that has sacrificed time and talent, performing a delicate, difficult and patriotic service. In the work they have been assisted by twenty-five lawyers and many other volunteer workers.
Then came the organization of the Red Cross, with 1,200 members, with workers in every department, supplies, hospital training, knit gar- ments, surgical dressings, and the active work of hundreds of women constant and never failing.
The campaign for Red Cross funds amounting to $6,500.
Then came the campaign for Gardens and the Conservation of Food, which added fifteen hundred gardens with splendid, substantial results.
Then the work of the Fuel Committee composed of Walter E. Piper, Edward E. Babb, and Charles J. Barton, with the many meetings and conferences, and which fixed our price the same as the price fixed in Boston.
Then the two campaigns for the Liberty Loans when Melrose took and paid for $1,500,000 Liberty Bonds.
Then the campaign for the War Fund of the Y. M. C. A. to which Melrose gave and paid $22,000 in one week.
Then the money and clothing for the relief of Halifax, when twelve loads of clothing were collected in one day and sent forward and $1,500 in money was given.
Then the Red Cross campaign for our quota of 4,200 members in which we went over the top.
All these things are a part of our civic life and our contribution as a city to the winning of the war.
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CITY OF MELROSE
Public Works Department
In the various departments of the city we have kept busy. The Public Works Department has accomplished a vast amount of work under very unfavorable conditions, with a shortage of labor, difficulty and delay in obtaining supplies, and an alarming increase in the cost of everything.
During the season $10,000 has been expended in the extension of the water system, about $10,000 for the extension of sewers, and $10,000 for the extension of surface drainage, and more than $30,000 has been ex- pended in the construction of improved sidewalks.
It has begun the work of the improvement of Spot Pond Brook for which $12,000 has been provided; $7,200 of this money was the gift of John C. F. Slayton and James W. Maguire. This work will be kept up as fast as the many legal complications will permit.
We have rebuilt Hopkins, Lincoln, Malvern, Pleasant, Argyle, Harold and Beverly Streets, Stevens Road and Natalie Avenue. The construction of these streets has been a very high type and some of these streets, Pleasant Street for example, are samples of the best grade of road building any- where for streets of this type.
This work done by our own men under our own Superintendent will rank with the best work done anywhere. With sixty miles of streets we have at least fifty-five miles of streets in excellent condition, highly credit- able to a locality requiring the best. The general average of our streets is far above that of any other community within the Greater Boston District. The general plan of our streets, including sidewalks, grass spaces, shade trees and edgestones, is commended by every visitor to our city.
Several important streets are pressing for repairs and rebuilding, like Franklin Street and Upper Main Street. Both these involve large expense.
Upper Main Street
The comprehensive improvement and rebuilding of a street requires not only a large amount of money, but at least two years in time and there are many complications, or problems, to be solved. Upper Main Street is an example. Here is an important highway occupied by the street railway tracks, a busy through road requiring heavy and expensive con- struction. We began two years ago on this work. The sewer system was completed, and the sidewalks and curb were put in, filling all unbuilt spaces between Franklin Street and the Wakefield line. Water mains were relaid and all vacant lots connected. Vacant lots were also connected with the main sewer. Underground surface drainage was put in and the Malden Electric Company and the New England Telephone Company were prevailed upon to put in an underground system of wires. It is probable that up to this point, without doing anything to the surface of the street, no less than $50,000 has been expended by the city and the corporations on that short section.
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS
Up to this time the Street Railway has done nothing about relaying its tracks and rebuilding the space occupied by them. This will cost many thousands of dollars and the road is bankrupt. In the hands of a receiver it is improbable that they can be forced to perform this work within the next year.
There are many legal complications involved in forcing a solvent corporation to perform its duties in the street. How then shall we proceed with a corporation that is in bankruptcy and without money with which to do the work.
Unless more favorable conditions appear I recommend that Upper Main Street construction wait another year, that no large construction work shall be undertaken unless demanded by unemployment, which seems unlikely, that we shall do mainly repair work and take time for the adjustment of our finances.
Street Lighting
A year ago we were planning for a finer system of street lights, the re-spacing of lights and an increased illumination. The New England States are far behind the central and western states, but now, we are con- sidering the reduction of the system, the economy in cost and the conser- vation of coal, and with the many demands upon our people the question of beautiful lighting seems strangely out of place.
During the year we have added many small lamps in the outlying districts, and established the White Way lights in Franklin Square.
Our contract with the Malden Electric Company calls for lights every hour of the night and every night of the year, and the contract was made for ten years and will not expire until 1921. If any order should be issued by the Fuel Administrator relative to street lighting, I believe that the Company would readily consent to a modification of the contract. Malden, Medford, Everett and Melrose receive their lights from one central plant in Malden. To conserve the coal these cities should unite in discontinuing all lighting after midnight and to abolish lighting throughout the night on moonlight nights. We must keep in mind that light in the streets is a system of protection against crime. . In time of war and in time of great danger from enemies within our own limits, we must not leave streets both dark and unprotected.
Collection of Ashes and Rubbish
It costs the city $6,000 for the collection of ashes and rubbish, and I wish we could afford to improve this service by sending the men directly into the cellars to take out the barrels. Undoubtedly our people are paying $5,000 or $6,000 a year in small sums for the removal of ashes to the side- walk. This could be done by the city for about $2,000, and this would
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CITY OF MELROSE
reduce the number of unsightly barrels and boxes displayed throughout the city at every collection.
I think the service by the city to all its citizens should be extended every year, and especially in every case where the work can be done cheaper.
A great many of the young men who performed this service at home are now away and it cannot be done by the women, upon whose shoulders the burdens are now heavier.
City Vacations
The question of vacations for city laborers was submitted to the people at the recent City Election, and the Law of 1914 providing for two weeks' vacation for all regular laborers was adopted by the city 1,074 to 945. This increase to the pay roll must be provided for by a special appro- priation as the sum is too large to be taken from the appropriation for Highways, and it should be accounted for separately.
Under the present laws every department of the city is now allowed vacation.
The Memorial Building
During the year this Memorial Building has been placed in charge of an Advisory Board, of which Mr. John C. F. Slayton is Chairman, who take charge of the building and of its interests, and who promote its usefulness.
In accord with their policy I recommend that this building be fitted with the necessary equipment for moving pictures, that local entertain- ments may be conducted under their supervision and control, and that we may have eventually a municipal moving picture entertainment.
I recommend the equipment especially because no great public build- ing like this can be rented to its full extent unless its equipment includes this feature.
The larger plans made by the Advisory Board for a great organ are temporarily set aside until the close of the War.
Libraries
The Public Library Department has enlarged its service to the city the past three years. We have now four well developed, successful branches located in the South East, the East Side, the Highlands and Wyoming. Not one of these could be closed. Each one should be en- larged and developed. The opening of the main Library on Sunday after- noons has attracted an increasing number of readers. During the year
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS
the library officials, acting as a Committee, gathered hundreds of books and a large sum of money for the libraries of the soldiers at the Camp and in the fields. The Library Building itself has become a center of ac- tivity, being constantly in use by local societies and especially for Red Cross work. Here is a building economically managed, always heated, and its usefulness should be developed along these lines to the fullest extent.
The Police Department
The present excellent police force, which includes twelve patrolmen keeps the city free from vice and clear of crime and the enforcement of law and order up to a high standard not excelled anywhere.
The Force is small, allowing only three men for regular duty during the day and about seven at night. A policeman is on call twenty-four hours in the day and has one day off in fifteen, and is required to be on duty on the street from eight to nine hours according as his work is day or night. This gives no extra policeman for supervising and regulating automobile traffic, so greatly needed in the summer season. Several terrible accidents last summer impressed upon us the need of a special traffic officer. We have no extra policeman for supervision at Ell Pond or any of the playgrounds. In the winter we designate twelve or fifteen public streets for coasting, but we have no extra policemen for the pro- tection of the children. The designation of a street for coasting is sup- posed to imply some sort of protection for those who coast or use the street for traffic.
The Department is performing much service for the Local Exemption Board as well as confidential work for the Department of Justice in relation to enemy aliens and the insidious system of spies that are found in every community.
Fire Department
During the year there have been 185 fire alarms in the city with a fire loss amounting to about $30,000. Aside from the big fire at the Melrose Theatre and the destruction of the Philpot stables early in the year, and a fire on Porter Street, the fires have been of moderate loss, averaging not more than $100 for each fire, indicating the swiftness of the Department in reaching the fire and efficiency in their work.
As soon as we are financially able to do it I recommend the purchase of a Pumping Engine of powerful type, motorized, to increase the equip- ment of the Department and eliminate the use of three horses, now main- tained at great current cost.
I recommend that we gradually eliminate the call inen, putting the Department finally upon an all time, paid basis.
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CITY OF MELROSE
Charity Board
The Charity Department is one of the great departments of govern- ment, state or city. It deals with the home and family, seeks to save the children and to protect the aged. The day of the workhouse, as a punish- ment for poverty, has passed away. Children are taken from institutions and given homes; families are no longer broken up by poverty, but instead are sustained and maintained by wise laws. You can size up the city by the way it cares for its poor. It is the business of Boards of Charity to aid the poor, to oversee the poor. "Overseers of the Poor " were ap- pointed in the earliest days to take charge and to aid. Here in Melrose all those who apply are given kindly treatment and their cases are in- vestigated in a kindly manner, and no proper case is èver refused. No red tape ever delays the first delivery of food or fuel, then follows the investi- gation, and then experience, good judgment, and personal first hand in- formation, determines the question of future relief.
We spend about $15,000 a year for charity. We take care of the poor in their own homes, or in a warm, clean, well kept City Home, steam heated and electric lighted. We give hospital care to those who need it ,and we maintain families under the Mothers' Aid Law.
Our Board of Charity seeks the co-operation of individuals, clubs and churches in the care of cases. It is the chosen agency of many good citi- zens who contribute to worthy cases. It is especially so at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Persons and organizations who want to help, may always be given most interesting and worthy cases, that they may find by experi- ence how blessed it is to give something themselves, rather than to pass the poor along to the city.
Money raised by taxation can be used only for the plainest things of life, but these should be always be supplemented by a generous people from private means that poverty shall not break down the home and destroy the family, and undermine character, and our citizenship.
I can speak in high praise of our Melrose Board. The gift of the late Mrs. A. C. Marie Currier has been placed in their hands for distribution. It is a great gift and a great trust. No greater tribute has ever been paid to their integrity and administration.
The letter which accompanied the check for $2,500 for the current year is as follows:
The Overseers of the Poor,
City of Melrose, Mass.
Dear Sirs :-
At the request of the Mayor, Charles H. Adams, I herewith enclose a check for $2,500, drawn by the Trustees under the will of the late A. C. Marie Currier, which under the twenty-first clause of the will can be applied for purposes stated, as follows: " To use the net income thereof for the purchasing and furnishing of Christmas dinners for the worthy poor families in the City of Melrose, and for the purchasing and furnishing of warm clothing for the children of the worthy poor in the City of Melrose.'
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS
This income may be divided between the two objects as you choose, but it is my opinion that you have not the right to use it for other objects, however desirable that might be, and certainly not without the authority from the Court. The enclosed check represents the approximated income of the Trust from the date of the first appointment of the Trustees, Sep- tember 29th, 1916, to August 1st, 1917. The account has not yet been filed with the Court, and when that has been done and the Court has approved certain charges which are now held by the Trustees in abeyance, there may be a further amount of income available for the same purposes as outlined above.
Very truly yours, (Signed) HENRY F. SMITH, . HERMAN B. GERADE, Trustees under will of A. C. Marie Currier.
This great gift to the city is characteristic of Mrs. Currier, who was overflowing with interest and generosity to the poor children and who, for several years, contributed regularly towards the distribution of Christmas and Thanksgiving Dinners through various organizations and especially through the Overseers of the Poor, and who helped to manage so many entertainments for children in the Woman's Club and other groups of workers.
The amount of the annual income, if it continues to be $2,500, will do a world of good in furnishing warm and suitable clothing for the needy children of Melrose. In behalf of the city I wish to express our gratitude for this gift, and our affection and honor for the splendid woman who gave it to us.
I am confident that no agency for the distribution of the gift is su- perior or equal to the city itself.
I want to renew my recommendation that the Board of Charity be given three year terms instead of one year as now. A Board in which experience counts for so much should not be so constantly dependent upon an annual appointment by the Mayor, or so subject to the fortunes of political strife.
Schools
Our greatest cost is the public schools, that now reaches $120,000 a year. But we cannot in this department do any thing to contract its work or destroy its splendid organization. · We have here a force of teachers and school officials who are not only leaders in educational matters, but who are a great and efficient force in all our work as a people and a city.
General Garfield said, " Next to freedom and justice is popular educa- tion, without which neither freedom nor justice can be maintained."
I think of our young men who have gone out from our High School and have been given Commissions in the National Army and through them
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of the vast service that this school has been to the Country in fitting them for these opportunities for honor and sacrifice. And what great honor they are bringing to the school.
While we cannot take on new work. we must maintain all its present engagements.
In the past year there has been added to the High School a course in Community Civics.
Physical education has been extended to the grades and in the High School.
Sewing has been established in all the 7th and 8th grades and in the High School.
The department of Manual Training has been enlarged to include the 7th and Sth grades.
Last year it was deemed necessary, in view of the high cost of living, to increase in a small way the salaries of many teachers whose pay was far below that paid in other schools or other branches of work. This change in the salaries was spread over four years, being one dollar per week ad- vance per year for four years. To this new schedule the city is in good faith committed, and although the time is unfavorable we shall not hesitate to keep our part.
Coal
There has been much agitation for the closing of the schools because of the shortage of coal. Many school boards were not so prudent as our own committee, and we have in the bins and under contract a fair supply. It is believed that our schools can get through the winter. Persons who would close the schools do not appreciate that it costs our city about $500 a day for our School Department whether they run or are closed. Governor McCall urged that our system of education should be strengthened, that physical training should be added, and he said in relation to the school system, " There is danger of the deterioration of these institutions of Government which are the glory of our peaceful times."
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