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THOMAS CRANE
PUBLIC LIBRARY QUINCY, MASS.
CITY APPROPRIATION
THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY
QUINCY. MASS.
CITY APPROPRIATION
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 with funding from Boston Public Library
https://archive.org/details/inauguraladdress 1903quin
CITY DOCUMENT No. 15
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF THE MAYOR CITY GOVERNMENT OF 1904
TOGETHER WITH THE
- Annual Reports -
OF THE OFFICERS OF THE
City of Quincy
MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE YEAR 1903
16
0
1625
MANET
92
QUINCY?
PRESS OF GEO. W. PRESCOTT & SON 1424 HANCOCK ST., QUINCY
1904
24207 aug. 6/14
City Government, 1904.
Mayor, CHARLES M. BRYANT.
DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS.
Commissioner of Public Works, CHARLES F. KNOWLTON.
City Treasurer, HENRY G. FAY.
City Clerk, HARRISON A. KEITH.
City Auditor, GEORGE A. SIDELINGER.
Chief Engineer of Fire Department, PETER J. WILLIAMS.
Chief of Police, JOSEPH W. HAYDEN.
City Solicitor, PAUL R. BLACKMUR.
Overseer of Poor, JAMES H. CUNNINGHAM.
Collector of Taxes, EDGAR G. CLEAVES.
City Physician, JOHN F. WELCH
City Messenger, HARRY W. TIRRELL.
City Engineer, HAMILTON FLOOD.
Inspector of Plumbing, JEREMIAH J. KENILEY.
Inspector of Milk,
FREDERIC J. PEIRCE.
Inspector of Meats and Provisions,
FREDERICK E. GOSS.
Inspector of Animals, EDWIN P. HENDERSON.
Auf
3
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS.
Board of Assessors.
Meets every Monday and Thursday at 9 A. M.
JAMES THOMPSON, Chairman Term expires First Monday in Feb., 1907
WILLIAM B. GLOVER
CHARLES H. JOHNSON
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1905
66
1906
Board of Sewer Commissioners.
Meets every first and third Monday at 7.30 P. M. A. F. SCHENKELBERGER (1905), Chairman. WILLIAM T. ISAAC (1907), Secretary.
THOMAS J. LAMB (1906).
Engineer,-E. W. BRANCH.
Park Commissioners.
GEORGE E. PFAFFMANN, Chairman.
FRED B. RICE, Secretary. LUTHER W. GLOVER.
Managers of Public Burial Places.
Meets second Thursday of each month at 8.15 P. M.
CEPHAS DREW, Chairman, ALBERT W. FAY,
JOHN Q. CUDWORTH, ALFRED O. DIACK,
JOHN L. JOHNSON, GEORGE T. MAGEE, Clerk.
Superintendent,-JAMES NICOL.
Board of Health.
JOHN S. GAY, Chairman.
THOMAS J. DION, Clerk.
WILLIAM E. BADGER. Inspector,-EDWARD J. LENNON.
Board of Examiners of Plumbers.
JOHN S. GAY, Chairman. WARREN S. PARKER. WILLIAM A. BRADFORD.
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Trustees of Thomas Crane Public Library.
Meet first Wednesday of month at 7.30 P. M.
ELLERY C. BUTLER, Chairman. HARRISON A. KEITH, Secretary. GEORGE W. MORTON, Treasurer.
HARRY L. RICE, HENRY MCGRATH, CHARLES R. SAFFORD.
Managers of Adams Academy.
WILLIAM EVERETT,
WALTER S. PINKHAM,
JOHN A. BERNHARD,
LUTHER S. ANDERSON, GEORGE B. DEWSON, JOSEPH M. SHEAHAN,
Managers of Woodward Fund and Property.
CHARLES M. BRYANT, Mayor.
HENRY G. FAY, City Treasurer. HARRISON A. KEITH, City Clerk.
GEORGE A. SIDELINGER, City Auditor. RICHARD R. FREEMAN, Elected by Council.
Registrars of Voters.
EDWARD J. MCKEON Term expires May 1, 1907 MICHAEL B. GEARY . Term expires May 1, 1906
DANIEL McLENNAN.
HARRISON A. KEITH, City Clerk
Term expires May 1, 1905
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PERMANENT POLICE.
MARK E. HANSON,
JAMES W. MURRAY,
JOHN HALLORAN,
DANIEL R. McKAY,
DAVID J. BARRY,
PATRICK H. BRADLEY,
JOHN BOWTON, JR.,
JOHN T. LARKIN,
TIMOTHY J. GOLDEN,
ALFRED W. GOODHUE, JEREMIAH HINCHON,
GEORGE A. CAHILL,
FRANK E. BURRELL,
WILLIAM S. LYONS,
PATRICK A. MILFORD,
EDWARD JOHNSON.
MICHAEL F. DONOVAN,
EDWARD J. CURTIN, PATRICK J. KELLIHER,
CHARLES T. CROOKER,
SPECIAL POLICE.
SAMUEL DEFOREST,
MALCOLM C. STEWART,
DAVID L. GORDON,
CALVIN T. DYER,
JOHN A. O'BRIEN,
HENRY F. CORBETT,
EDWARD J. SANDBERG,
JOHN F. DONOVAN,
DANIEL H. DORAN,
JOSEPH F. GOODHUE,
THOMAS F. MALONEY,
CHARLES OLSON.
HENRY W. THORNE,
Sealer of Weights and Measures. MAURICE I. GATCOMB.
Weigher of Vessels. ALBERT KEATING.
Members of Board of Trustees of Quincy City Hospital Chosen by the Council.
NATHAN G. NICKERSON, THOMAS W. SMITH
Weighers of Coal.
HERBERT D. ADAMS,
WILLIAM W. CUSHING.
E. FRANK MITCHELL, FRANK S. PATCH,
GEORGE P. MEAD,
FRANK W. CRANE,
EBEN W. SHEPPARD, GEORGE B. PRAY,
WILLIE E. FRENCH,
HERBERT A. NEWTON,
GEORGE B. WENDELL,
WILLIAM H. HILDRETH,
EDWARD W. HALL,
JOHN J. CONNOR,
WILLIAM CASHMAN,
JAMES J. RYAN
CLAES A. BROBERG,
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Measurers of Grain.
FRANK W. CRANE, WILLIAM Q. BENT,
FRED P. LOUD, WILLIAM C. HART, CHARLES W. NIGHTINGALE.
Undertakers.
JOHN HALL, WILLIAM E. BROWN,
ALBERT W. FAY, EDWARD L. BEAN.
Pound Keeper. GEORGE WILSON.
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CITY COUNCIL.
Regular meetings on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7.35 P. M.
WALTER F. NICHOLS
PRESIDENT
CHRISTOPHER A. SPEAR
CLERK
Councilmen-at-Large.
LEWIS BASS, JR., ARTHUR W. LOUD,
WILLIAM G. GASSETT, WALTER F. NICHOLS,
JOSEPH L. WHITON, JR.
Councilmen From Wards.
Ward One. GEORGE E. ADAMS,
Ward Four. WILLIAM P. HUGHES, RICHARD H. WALSH,
ANDREW STEWART,
CHARLES H. HARDWICK.
JOHN J. REARDON.
Ward Two.
ALEX. W. THOMPSON,
MELVILLE C. HOLMES,
NATHAN G. NICKERSON,
EUGENE R. STONE.
Ward Three.
WALTER E. PIPER,
JULIUS JOHNSON, WILLIAM T. SPARGO.
CHARLES A. MACFARLAND. Ward Six. CHARLES A. HADLOCK, L. F. R. LANGELIER, HERBERT D. GEARWAR.
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES.
Finance, Accounts, Claims, Contracts and Salaries-BASS, NICKERSON, GASSETT HUGHES, LANGELIER, WHITON, PIPER.
Streets, Ways, Sidewalks, Bridges and Lights - GASSETT, THOMPSON, WALSH, MACFARLAND, JOHNSON, STEWART, GEARWAR.
Fire Department and Police - PIPER, THOMPSON, HADLOCK, HARDWICK, REARDON.
Sewers and Drains and Water Supply-LANGELIER, LOUD, POLK, REARDON, STEWART, SPARGO, HOLMES.
Public Buildings and Grounds-POLK, JOHNSON, WALSH, MACFARLAND, STONE.
Ordinances, Licenses, Printing, Rules and Orders-LOUD, ADAMS, HOLMES.
Legislative Matters, Elections and Returns-HUGHES, HADLOCK, HARDWICK. Health, Poor, State and Military Aid-ADAMS, SPARGO, STONE.
Ward Five
HERBERT J. POLK,
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Office: No. 8 Washington Street.
Regular Meetings on the last Tuesday of each month at 8 P. M.
CHARLES H. PORTER,
Chairman
SUPT. FRANK E. PARLIN,
Secretary
At large-HENRY C. HALLOWELL, NATHANIEL S. HUNTING
JAMES H. CHURCHILL,
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66
1905
Ward 1-CHARLES H. PORTER,
66 1906
Ward 2-FREDERICK H. SMITH,
1904
Ward 3-MABEL E. ADAMS,
66
1904
Ward 4-JAMES F. BURKE,
66
66
1905
Ward 5-WELLINGTON RECORD,
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6%
1906
Ward 6-FREDERIC J. PEIRCE,
66
1905
Term expires 1906
1904
Truant Officer-CHARLES H. JOHNSON.
Mayor's Inaugural Address.
January 4, 1904.
CHARLES M. BRYANT.
Gentlemen of the City Council :
Inasmuch as you meet regularly throughout the year and in special session whenever the executive has occasion to call you together, I do not believe in an extended inaugural address at this time.
I should much prefer to close these proceedings, after sub- mitting to you a statement of our financial condition, with a few words of greeting, and later send to you for your consideration, recommendations and reports bearing upon such subject matters as then need your immediate attention. But custom has de- creed that the Mayor, in an inaugural address on this day, shall at least outline something of his policy for the ensuing year ; therefore I will at this time touch on certain matters which in my opinion you can consider with profit to the city and I will also give you information on certain other matters which may be of interest to you.
FINANCIAL CONDITION.
I fully realize that our financial condition is the subject uppermost in your minds as well as the minds of all our citizens and I regret very much that inauguration day coming so soon after the first of the year does not enable me to submit to you such a detailed report of our financial situation as I should like to give to this Council. The Treasurer's and Auditor's reports will, however, give you additional information later, and I will now read to you the statement usually furnished at this time.
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DEBT STATEMENT.
Municipal Debt. Jan. 1, 1903 Paid during the year
$477,740 35 70,540 35
Leaving .
$407,200 00
Added during the year
109,628 00
Debt Dec. 31, 1903
$516,828 00
Water Debt Jan. 1, 1903
$720,500 00
Paid during the year
34,500 00
Leaving .
$686,000 00
Added during the year
30,000 00
Debt Dec. 31, 1903
$716,000 00
Sewer Debt Jan. 1, 1903
$411,600 00
Paid during the year
12,800 00
Leaving .
$398,800 00
Added during the year
70,000 00
Debt Dec. 31, 1903
$468,800 00
Park Debt Jan. 1, 1903
$41,000 00
Paid during the year
1,000 00
Debt Dec. 31, 1903
$40,000 00
Total Debt Jan. 1, 1904
$1,650,840 35
Paid during the year
118,840 35
Leaving .
$1,532,000 00
Added during the year .
209,628 00
Total Debt
$1,741,628 00
DIVIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Municipal
$516,828 00
Water
716,000 00
Sewer
468,800 00
Playground
40,000 00
Total Debt Dec. 31, 1903 . $1,741,628 00
Increase for the year 90,787 65
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The Municipal debt falling due in 1904 is as follows :
January
$ 1,950 00
February
30,000 00
March
31,000 00
April
2,900 00
May
4,000 00
June .
26,500 00
July .
29,650 00
August
7,150 00
September
4,500 00
October
3,000 00
November
5,600 00
December
1,828 00
$148,078 00
The amount of money expended in 1902 is as follows :
Budget .
$433,009 84
Water Dept. paid from receipts
39,811 13
Sewer Dept. paid from assessments
26,632 75
$499,453 72
For the year 1903:
Budget .
$438,254 90
Water Dept. paid from receipts
39,087 70
Sewer Dept. paid from assessments
30,744 75
$508,087 35
Increase for the year
8,633 63
LOANS ISSUED IN 1903.
Water Extension
$30,000 00
Sewer Extension .
70,000 00
Rock Island Road
700 00
Chubbuck Street Drain
500 00
Sewer House Connections
6,000 00
Independence Avenue .
200 00
Repairs, Willard School
1,500 00
Plans and Surveys of City
1,000 00
Squantum Street Drain
1,400 00
Paving Willard Street
6,000 00
.
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Federal Avenue
$1,000 00
Municipal Loan
50,000 00
Municipal Loan
30,000 00
Poor Debt, 1902
828 00
Atlantic Schoolhouse Lot
10,500 00
$209,628 00
LOANS ISSUED IN 1902.
Water Debt .
$34,000 00
Sewer Debt .
60,000 00
Municipal Debt
101,690 35
$195,690 35
Increase for the year .
13,937 65
You will observe that the total increase for current ex- penses during the past year over those of the preceding year was $8,633.63. This includes the Sewer and Water departments, as well as all other departments of the city.
The increase in the total amount of loans issued, of every character, was $13,937.65 and this includes the last loan made by the Council of 1903 of $10,500 for the Atlantic schoolhouse lot, which was really made the first day of this year, though dated December 1st of the last year. Were it not for the two loans aggregating $80,000, which we were obliged to negotiate to provide ready money to meet expenses, there would have been for this city an almost unprecedented net reduction of the city debt on the first day of January.
In view of all that has been said and published on this sub- ject, it seems almost unnecessary for me to go into any extended explanation of why we had to borrow money to the extent which we did for current expenses. Perhaps it is sufficient to say that the principal reasons were that we couldn't collect our back taxes soon enough and that we didn't borrow enough money, and for a long enough time, in anticipation of the taxes for the year just passed. These are the principal reasons, undoubtedly, but added to these were other conditions which brought about a combination of circumstances which no other administration has been obliged to face. This year we were obliged to make good all balances in the treasury for construc-
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tion accounts and no new construction loans of any importance were made to take their place. Heretofore it has been the custom for the City Treasurer to use whatever balances there were in the bank, not immediately needed for the purpose for which the appropriations were made, to make up the amount needed for current expenses, and to replace the amounts used when the back taxes were received. The contention has been that it was not wise to borrow money for current expenses, as many cities do, when there was cash in the bank not im- mediately required for other purposes. This method has worked all right in other years, and, I believe, has resulted in a saving of interest to the city. I am free to confess, however, that I do not altogether like it and should prefer to see the city carry a larger cash balance on hand if there is a legal way of doing it. I trust, however, that you will not conclude, either from what you have heard or from what I have said, that we have not ample cash assets with which to pay all debts incurred for running expenses.
There was due us January 1st from taxes of the last four years only, together with cash in the treasury and receipts available, over $280,000. The notes and loans referred to amount to $260,000; the leeway being more than sufficient to make good all balances for construction appropriations and such bills as were not presented January first. This does not take into account as assets any of the taxes due the city for the years between 1894 and 1900. There are enough of these taxes which will be collected, eventually, to offset at least abatements and uncollected taxes of the four years just past.
It is perfectly obvious to you, however, that we cannot hope, even with most strenuous efforts on the part of the Tax Collector, to get in all of these back taxes this year, so that prob- ably it will be necessary either to carry over one of these munic- ipal loans into next year or make a new one. It is my present intention to push the collection of taxes this year to an extent never before attempted, and I expect the balance uncollected for the years previous to 1904 will on December 31st next be the smallest in the history of the city.
Personally I am much pleased that this question has come to a head during my term of office. If strenuous methods are
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necessary to put the city in a better financial condition, I am ready to undertake them. The discussion which we have had on this subject will strengthen the hands of this administration to compel the payment of taxes at an earlier date than hereto- fore. I am in favor of abating all those taxes not collectible of the early years of the city government, which, in my opinion, should have been abated by the Assessors or collected by the Collectors long before my administration came into office.
I promise you that I will make a most careful study of the city finances this year, and I expect to receive your co-operation and assistance to the end that we may bring the city up to date with the most advanced in Massachusetts in the matter of municipal bookkeeping.
On January first, 1904 our borrowing capacity was $33,240.15; this has since been increased, by the payments made on our debt, to $35,190.15 and in February will be still further increased $30,000.
The amount which we can this year assess for current expenses under the law enabling us to raise $12 per $1000 of the Assessors' valuation for the preceding year, less all abate- ments to December 31st, is $275,316.
WATER DEPARTMENT.
It is a pleasure to note that the liberal policy of the Councils of past years in making appropriations for the ex- tension of water mains has proved to be the very best kind of financial policy.
In the past four years, by reason of these extensions, we have been enabled to obtain 1437 new consumers and our revenue has increased approximately $8,000 per year.
Not only have the individual takers on these new lines been benefited in health and comfort by having an ample supply of pure water, but hydrants have been erected along the lines, giving greatly increased fire protection to our ever increasing property.
A large number of fire hydrants adds to the efficiency of the Fire Department and is something which is of benefit to the City as a whole, and I believe that in the interest of better fire protection, and also as good business policy, it would be wise
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for this Council to continue to make liberal appropriations for further extensions of the water system.
In the past the city has lost a considerable amount of revenue from the fact that the ordinance relating to the col- lection of the water rates has not been strictly enforced. I realize that to efficiently enforce this ordinance we must necessarily make the head of the Water Department an un- popular man, but the business interests of the city are para- mount to popularity. If the rates are not collected in advance in accordance with the ordinance, and property changes hands, it is often impossible to collect back rates from the new owners, and from this fact many hundreds of dollars are lost to the city. This year we have taken strenuous methods to collect water rates and to enforce this ordinance, and the Commissioner of Public Works has shut off the water, irrespective of who the householder might be, when the bills were not promptly paid. As a result of this policy, the city during the past year has collected to Dec. 31, 1903, from water rates the sum of $86,000, the amount of uncollected rates being smaller than in any year since the city purchased the works. The coming year I shall insist that the ordinance be as strictly enforced and all water will be turned off unless the bills for the same are paid on or before February 10th.
The Metropolitan Water Board have been asked to make a report to the Legislature about restricting the waste of water and compelling the use of meters in the Metropolitan District. If the Legislature takes any action upon this matter this year, it is very likely that I shall ask the Council to enact some additional ordinances with a view to carrying out the law which we expect the Legislature will pass.
I would suggest that the care of the hydrants be considered by the Council. Under the present ordinance hydrants are supposed to be cared for by the Fire Department, but the ap- propriation given to the Fire Department for this purpose is insufficient to do the work properly. As a result, the hydrants get sadly out of repair and then the Water Department is obliged to put them in repair, the expense of which is taken from the appropriation for construction. I believe this to be wrong and I recommend that the Water Department be given a
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sufficient appropriation to enable it to care for and repair hydrants, and that the ordinance regulating this matter be so changed that the responsibility in the future will be placed upon the Commissioner of Public Works to care for and maintain the hydrants.
I desire at this time to call your attention to the fact that considering the amount of business done by the Water Department, namely, that it has nearly doubled in the past five years while the cost of maintenance has not materially increased, great credit should be given to Mr. Knowlton, the Commissioner of Public Works, for the efficient and economical manner in which he has managed the affairs of this Department.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The Police Department is entitled to praise for the good work it has done during the last year. The addition made in the number of patrolmen has greatly increased its efficiency, and I would recommend to the Council that the force be still further increased by the addition of one or more patrolmen. In my opinion there should be an additional man on duty in the Square. At present, the business district is unprotected during certain hours of the morning. With an additional patrolman, the men assigned to this locality could so arrange their hours of service as to adequately protect the district during the whole twenty-four hours of the day.
The signal service system, supplemented by the patrol wagon, has been of the greatest assistance to the Department. It is, however, necessary to install three new police signal boxes, one to be located on Liberty Street, near the large brick block at the junction of Brooks Avenue, one on Granite Street near Mr. Swithin's shed and one on Adams street, near Whitwell Street. I have obtained information concerning the cost of in- stalling these boxes, and I am informed that the amount required would be $1,115. I therefore ask the Council to appropriate this amount for that purpose as early as possible, so that this Department may have the full benefit of these boxes at once.
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BOARD OF HEALTH.
We have been very fortunate the past year in being free from epidemics of smallpox and other contagious diseases, and although our pest house has been ready for occupancy at all times, we were not obliged to use it. The construction of this hospital, however, by the city was, in my opinion, a wise invest- ment.
The question of properly and efficiently cleaning vaults and cesspools has not as yet been solved in a satisfactory manner, nor do I believe we will get good results until the city does this work. I propose to again ask the Council to consider this mat- ter in all its bearings and at the same time consider the subject of the collection of ashes.
From our experience in the past, I do not believe it advis- able to make long contracts on behalf of the city with any per- „son as Public Scavenger. On the other hand, I am of the opinion that no person can contract to do this work properly without the expenditure of a large sum of money to obtain the necessary equipment, which is special in its character ; therefore they can- not afford to make a contract which is not for a term of years. Furthermore, the prices which have been obtained in the past for doing the work of both cleaning cesspools and vaults have not been sufficient to enable the contractors to do the work in all partsof the city thoroughly and efficiently and yet make a fair profit.
The sewerage dumping tanks now in use have proved their worth and are all right so far as they go, but they were not de- signed or intended to care for vault matter containing stone chips, ashes, tin cans and refuse of a like character. For such materials a dump should be provided, and whether the premises be located far from or near to this dump, all matter taken from the vaults unsuitable for the tanks, should be carried to the dump estab- lished.
I believe that this work would be more conscientiously and efficiently performed by the city employes under the direct supervision and control of the Board of Health than by any con- tractor. With the sewerage tanks taking care of all the cess- pool and liquid matter, the comparatively small portion of vault matter handled could be easily disposed of without offense to
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the persons residing in the locality where the dump was estab- lished.
I would suggest, therefore, that an appropriation be made at once in order to enable us to purchase the necessary outfit . referred to, and that an ordinance be passed establishing a sched- ule of prices to be paid by househoulders for cleaning vaults and cesspools, all the work to be placed under the charge of the Board of Health. After the initial expenditure for the outfit, and an additional small appropriation for the running of the de- partment the first year, the department would, in my opinion, be self-supporting.
In regard to the collection of ashes, I deem it would be best to place this under the charge of the Commissioner of Public Works. He could handle this work in connection with the Street Department, and with the teams of that department could do the work more economically than the Board of Health.
Although I regret to suggest anything which will increase our running expenses, I believe that an appropriation of approx- imately $1,500 per year for the collection of ashes would result to the advantage and convenience of our citizens sufficiently to warrant the expenditure.
STREET DEPARTMENT.
In view of the finances of the city, I believe the Council should not make any appropriation for special work on' streets unless it becomes absolutely necessary. There are portions of certain streets which should be paved each year. There are also a number of new streets which should be built and accepted to keep up with our steady development and increasing population, but before any of these improvements are under- taken, additional accommodation should be provided for the High School, the needs of which are most imperative.
The past year has seen the completion of the new iron bridge across the Weymouth Fore River. This bridge was built by the County Commissioners under an act of the Legisla- ture, and three commissioners will soon be appointed to assess the cost on the cities, towns and corporations which are found by this commission to be benefited. The maintenance of the old
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bridge was formerly paid by the towns of Hingham and Wey- mouth and the city of Quincy, the city's proportion being five twenty-fourths.
Believing that the care and operation of this bridge should not be borne by the people of Hingham, Weymouth and the towns surrounding, but rather by the State, we have caused petitions to be made to the Highway Commission asking that they take charge of the bridge on behalf of the State, and al- though they have not seen their way clear to do this, I shall do what I can to get the Legislature to authorize the Board of Highway Commissioners to take the bridge under their control.
I regret to say that the Hancock Street bridge at Atlantic, over the railroad tracks, has not yet been constructed, but we have pushed the matter during the year and have got to a point now where three commissioners have been appointed to deter- mine who shall do the work and to apportion the cost of the bridge among the parties benefited. I feel now that I can say with confidence that this bridge will be completed during the spring.
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