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THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1641 0096 9879 0
Thomas Crane Public Library Quincy, Massachusetts
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CITY DOCUMENT No. 18
Inaugural Address of the Mayor
City Government of 1907
.
TOGETHER WITH THE
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE OFFICERS OF THE
City of Quincy
Massachusetts
FOR THE YEAR 1906
1640
1625
MANET
1792
QUINCY
BOSTON FARRINGTON PRINTING CO. 1907
26326 July 31/07
City Government 1907
MAYOR
JAMES THOMPSON
-
Department Officials
Commissioner of Public Works, THOMAS F. BURKE.
City Treasurer, HENRY G. FAY
City Clerk, HARRISON A. KEITH
Collector of Taxes, JAMES H. CUNNINGHAM
City Solicitor. WILLIAM R. THOMAS
Chief of Police, FRANK E. BURRELL
Chief Engineer of Fire Department, AMOS L. LITCHFIELD
Overseer of the Poor, FREDERICK F. GREEN
City Engineer, HAMILTON FLOOD
City Physician, HENRY C. HALLOWELL
Inspector of Milk, WILLIAM G. CURTIS
Inspector of Animals, FRANCIS ABELE, JR.
3
Administrative Boards
Assessors
Meet every Monday and Thursday at 9 A. M.
CHARLES H. JOHNSON, Chairman, Term expires first Monday of February 1909 WILLIAM B. GLOVER, 66
1908
J. WINTHROP PRATT,
66 66 1910
Park Commissioners
GEORGE E. PFAFFMANN, Chairman.
FRED B. RICE, Secretary.
DEXTER E. WADSWORTH
Board of Health
WILLIAM H. TEASDALE, Chairman.
ROSS K. WHITON, M. D., Clerk.
HENRY P. KITTREDGE
Sanitary Inspector, EDWARD J. LENNON. Inspector of Plumbing, JEREMIAH J. KENILEY. Inspector of Meats and Provisions, JAMES F. AI.LEN.
Trustees of Thomas Crane Public Library
Meet first Wednesday of month at 7.30 P. M. ELLERY C. BUTLER, Chairman.
GEORGE W. MORTON, Treasurer.
HENRY MCGRATH,
HARRISON A. KEITH, Secretary HARRY L. RICE CHARLES R. SAFFORD
Managers of Adams Academy
WILLIAM EVERETT LUTHER S. ANDERSON
GEORGE M. SHEAHAN FREDERIC J. PEIRCE PERRY LAWTON
Managers of Woodward Fund and Property
JAMES THOMPSON, Mayor HENRY G. FAY, City Treasurer HARRISON A. KEITH, City Clerk HENRY O. FAIRBANKS, City Auditor GEORGE A. SIDELINGER, elected by the Council
4
Managers of Public Burial Places
Meet second Tuesday of each month at 7.30 P. M. ALBERT W. FAY, Chairman
JOHN Q. CUDWORTH WELLINGTON W. MITCHELL, Clerk
JAMES NICOL, Superintendent
ALFRED O. DIACK JOSEPH H. VOGEL BENJAMIN KING
Registrars of Voters
EDWARD J. MCKEON, MICHAEL B. GEARY, GEORGE PROUT,
Term expires May 1, 1910 Term expires May 1, 1909 Term expires May 1, 1908
HARRISON A. KEITH, City Clerk
Assistant Engineers of Fire Department
FRANK C. PACKARD
DANIEL J. NYHAN
GEORGE O'BRIEN
Inspector of Buildings
WARREN S. PARKER
Permanent Police
LIEUTENANT, DANIEL R. MCKAY SERGEANTS, MARK E. HANSON, DAVID J. BARRY
PATROLMEN
GEORGE A. CAHILL ALFRED W. GOODHUE JOHN HALLORAN
TIMOTHY J. GOLDEN
JOHN T. LARKIN MICHAEL F. DONOVAN PATRICK J. KELLIHER CLAES A. BROBERG ERNEST H. BISHOP
JEREMIAH HINCHON JAMES W. MURRAY PATRICK H. BRADLEY PATRICK A. MILFORD EDWARD JOHNSON JOHN BOWTON, JR. EDWARD J. CURTIN CHARLES T. CROOKER CHARLES OLSON
WILLIAM S. LYONS
Reserve Police
HENRY F. RILEY HENRY W. THORNE GEORGE F. PHILLIPS
JEREMIAH DINNEEN . DANIEL H. DORAN JOHN P. DUFFY
SAMUEL D. DEFOREST DAVID L. GORDON EDWARD J. SANDBERG HENRY F. CORBETT HENRY J. MATTHEWS
JAMES H. WHELAN
Special Police
MALCOLM C. STEWART CALVIN T. DYER JOHN F. DONOVAN JOSEPH F. GOODHUE THOMAS A. MALONE
DANIEL J. FORD
5
City Council
WALTER E. PIPER, President
70 Centre Street
Councilmen=at=Large
ARTHUR C. BEAL, Vane St., Atlantic. WALTER E. PIPER, 70 Centre St. J. LEONARD FERGUSON, 45 Will'd St., W.Q. EUGENE R. STONE, 52 River St., Q.P. WALTER S. PINKHAM, 111 Warren Ave., W.
Councilmen from Wards
Ward One
JESSE F. CURTIS, 49 Upland Rd.
OTTO GELOTTE, 255 Whitwell St.
CARLE R. HAYWARD, 233 Goffe St .. Ward Two
WILLIAM T. DONOVAN, Chubbuck St.
JOSEPH MCKINNON, 50 Broadway
MICHAEL T. WALSH, 158 Quincy Ave. Ward Three
GEORGE HUNTER, 80 Independence Ave.
Ward Four
JEREMIAH CURTIN, JR., 7 Grove St. CHARLES J. McGILVRAY, 118 Willard St. ROBERT J. TEASDALE, 48 Willard St. Ward Five
VERNON S. BROKAW, 225 S. Central Ave. WENDELL H. HULL. 30 Park St.
HERBERT J. POLK, 165 Beach St. Ward Six
WILLIAM H. DEACON, 194 Liberty St. REDNOR P. COOMBS, 180 Billings St.
ALEXANDER FALCONER, 46 Indep'd'ce Ave. RALPH W. HOBBS, 11 Clark St.
GEORGE F. SAWYER, JR., 31 Faxon Rd.
Chosen by the Council
HENRY O. FAIRBANKS, 77 Beach Street, City Auditor
Residence Telephone : Quincy, 217-6.
GEORGE T. MAGEE, 2 Carruth Street,
Clerk of Council and Committees
Residence Telephone : Quincy 75-2.
HARRY W. TIRRELL, Manet Avenue, H. N. City Messenger
GEORGE A. SIDELINGER, Manager of Woodward Fund and Property WENDELL H. HULL, Trustee of City Hospital
RALPH W. HOBBS,
Standing Committees
Finance, Accounts, Claims, Contracts and Salaries-POLK, SAWYER, STONE, PINK- HAM, DEACON. McGILVRAY, GELOTTE.
Streets, Ways Sidewalks, Bridges and Lights - HOBBS, DEACON, FERGUSON, DONOVAN, HULL, TEASDALE, HAYWARD.
Fire Department and Police - STONE, BEAL, McGILVRAY, CURTIS, Mc- KINNON.
Sewers, Drains and Water Supply - DONOVAN, HUNTER, BEAL, HAYWARD, BROKAW, COOMBS, CURTIS.
Public Buildings and Grounds -SAWYER, GELOTTE, FALCONER, WALSH, BROKAW.
Ordinances, Licenses, Printing, Rules and Orders-FERGUSON, HULL, FALCONER. Legislative Matters, Elections and Returns -CURTIS, HOBBS, WALSH.
Health, Poor, State and Military Aid - HUNTER, TEASDALE, COOMBS.
6
City Council
Regular Meetings held on the First and Third Mondays of each month at 7.35 P. M.
Committee Meetings
Finance, Accounts. etc.,
Monday evenings
Ordinances, Licenses, etc.,
Tuesday evenings
Fire Department and Police,
Wednesday evenings
Sewers, Drains, Water Supply,
Thursday evenings Friday evenings
Streets, Ways, etc.,
Meetings of the Committees on Health, Poor, State and Military Aid, Legislative Matters, Elections and Returns, Public Buildings and Grounds, Special and Joint Committees will be held at the call of the Chairman, or at such times as may be designated by the Council.
City Telephones
Mayor's Office,
212-2
Board of Health,
214-2
City Clerk,
14-3
Overseer of Poor, 214-3
Commissioner of Public Works,
100
Water Department,
I3-3
City Treasurer,
14-2
Sewer Department, 77-2
City Messenger,
212-3
Supt. Mt. Wollaston Cemetery,
278-3
City Engineer,
115-2
Central Fire Station,
I-2
Assessors,
213-3
Police Station,
142
Tax Collector,
213-2
Supt. Schools,
115-4
School Committee
Office, No. 8 Washington Street.
Regular meetings on the last Tuesday of each month at 8. P. M.
Office open :-- Every week day, except Saturday, from 8 to 12 A. M., 2 to 5 P. M. Satur- day, 8 to 12 A. M.
Regular hours of Superintendent :- Monday, 7.30 to 8.30 P. M. Tuesday, 4 to 5 P. M. Thursday, 4 to 5 P. M. Friday, 8 to 9 A. M.
DR. NATHANIEL S. HUNTING,
Chairman
SUPT. FRANK E. PARLIN,
Secretary
At Large-DR. NATHANIEL S. HUNTING,
Term expires 1907
MR. ARTHUR W. NEWCOMB,
66
1908
DR. EDWARD H. BUSHNELL,
1909
Ward 1-MR. DEXTER E. WADSWORTH.
1909
2-MR. FREDERICK H. SMITH,
1907
3-MR. JOHN L. MILLER,
1907
4-MR. CHARLES H. OWENS .
1908
5-DR. WILLIAM G. CURTIS,
1909
6-MR. JOHN A. DUGGAN,
190
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
QUINCY, MASS.
January 7, 1907
JAMES THOMPSON
Mayor's Inaugural Address.
Gentlemen of the Council:
Having taken the oath of office as required under the city charter, to promote and to protect to the best of our ability the interests of our city, imposes a moral obligation as well as that patriotic duty of all good citizens in whom has been reposed the confidence of the community, of giving our best thought and effort to advance that which is best not only for a section but for the whole community after a com- prehensive examination of the merits of the many questions which will be submitted to us.
I herewith submit a financial statement of the condition of the city at the close of business on December 31, 1906, covering all debts paid as well as contracted, with a sum- mary of same and a comparison with the previous year:
DEBT STATEMENT.
Municipal Debt Jan. 1, 1906
$486,630.00
Paid during the year 79,670.00
Leaving
$406,960.00
Added during the year
I33,490.00
Debt Dec. 31, 1906
$540,450.00
10
Water Debt Jan. 1, 1906 $694,000.00
Paid during the year 39,500.00
Leaving $654,500.00
Added during the year
30,000.00
Debt Dec. 31, 1906 $684,500.00
Sewer Debt Jan. 1, 1906 $523,700.00
Paid during the year
17,300.00
Leaving
$506,400.00
Added during the year
20,000.00
Debt Dec. 31, 1906
$526,400.00
Park Debt Jan. 1, 1906
$36,000.00
Paid during the year 2,000.00
Debt Dec. 31, 1906 $34,000.00
Total Debt Jan. 1, 1906 $1,740,330.00
Paid during the year I38,470.00
Leaving .$1,601,860.00
Added during the year 183,490.00
Total Debt $1,785,350.00
DIVIDED AS FOLLOWS: Jan. 1, 1907. Jan: I, 1906.
Municipal $540,450.00 $486,630.00 $53,820.00 (a) Water 684,500.00 694,000.00 9,500.00 (b)
11
Sewer
526,400.00
523,700.00
2,700.00 (a)
Playground
34,000.00
36,000.00
2,000.00 (b)
$1,785,350.00 $1,740,330.00
(a) Increase. (b) Decrease.
LOANS ISSUED IN 1905.
Water Debt
$26,000.00
Sewer Debt
25,000.00
Municipal Debt
157,000.00
$208,000.00
LOANS ISSUED IN 1906.
Water Debt
$30,000.00
Sewer Debt
20,000.00
Municipal Debt
I33,490.00
$183,490.00
Municipal debt falling due in
1906.
1907.
January
$750.00
$2,300.00
February
.. . .
. .. .
March
8,000.00
7,000.00
April
4,900.00
4,900.00
May
6,000.00
8,640.00
June
1,000.00
1,300.00
July
28,150.00
19,650.00
August
10,070.00
8,070.00
September
2,000.00
5,500.00
October
4,400.00
5,500.00
November
7,200.00
3.700.00
December
7,200.00
10,500.00
$79,670.00
$77,060.00
12
$500.00
Beacon Street
North Payne Street
1,500.00
Wollaston Avenue
700.00
Edwin Street 100.00
Cottage Avenue
8,000.00
Bates Avenue
1,500.00
Whitwell Street
2,500.00
Smith Street
3,300.00
Hollis Avenue
2,500.00
Liberty Street
3,000.00
Broadway (Ward 2)
2,500.00
Elm Avenue
700.00
Highland Avenue
500.00
Farrington Street
750.00
Grand View Avenue
225.00
Gridley Bryant School
300.00
Massachusetts Fields School
2,500.00
Gragg's Pond
200.00
High School addition
6,500.00
High School furnishings
13,000.00
Atlantic School
61,000.00
Coddington School
3,200.00
Pickett's Pond
I50.00
House connections
8,000.00
Fire Apparatus, Hough's Neck
2,700.00
Wires underground
2,100.00
Alarm boxes
1,000.00
Automatic whistle
275.00
Deficit, Highway, 1905
$2,759.93
Deficit, Fire Dept., 1905
373.98
Deficit, Poor Dept., 1905
1,505.82
4,640.00
Survey plans
1,000.00
$133,490.00
1
13
The years 1905 and 1906 have been strenuous in de- mands, and fulfilment of matters long postponed, especially in that of appropriations for school purposes. And what is unsatisfying in it all is that the larger proportion of the ac- commodations provided is to meet existing wants of long standing by substituting new buildings for old quarters also without that future provision for school growth apparently warranted by the expenditure; nor is the pressure in this direction yet relieved as seen by the necessities in the Cod- dington school district.
Out of a total debt incurred in the past two years within the municipal debt limit of $290,490.00, the sum of $202,- 250.00 has been appropriated for school purposes alone.
At this meeting an order will be presented calling for the appropriation of $42,055.95, with interest from October 8, 1906, our proportion of the expense and cost of the Fore River Bridge as assessed by a special commission appointed by the Superior Court to apportion the same upon the sev- eral municipal and quasi-public corporations benefited. Also the sum of about $15,000, our part of the cost of the Han- cock Street Bridge, we may expect to be called upon to pay at any time, and provision must be made for it within the debt limit. The statute, however, has placed its limitations upon the municipal debt we may incur, and, necessarily, our wants must be governed by it.
We begin the year with a margin on the same of $83,- 858.06. Therefore, I cannot see how, for the present, any appropriation involving a debt other than stated can be made; for it seems to me that a city, no less than an indi- vidual, cannot go to the extreme limit of its credit without creating doubts in the minds of persons or corporations to whom we apply for loans. And as all applications must be accompanied with a statement of our financial condition, we
14
cannot afford to raise questions in regard to the manage- ment of our monetary affairs.
I have dealt with the matter of the city as a borrower upon its credit as established by law.
We now turn to the matter of current expense which is to be met in the tax levy. Again the statute imposes the limit to which the tax may go, namely, twelve dollars per one thousand dollars valuation, based on two ways: First, the average of the three preceding years' valuation, less all abatements; second, on the valuation of the preceding year, less all abatements.
During the life of our city both methods have been used as the valuation on which the amount has been raised; and as by neither method can we raise a sufficient sum to pay the charges imposed by ordinances, and otherwise deemed nec- essary to meet the expenses, receipts of the city from various sources have been taken to make up the sum lacking.
Greater scrutiny must be used this year in the disposi- tion of the receipts, and that less can be used for current expenses than in the past, is quite clear to me if we are not to impose a heavy burden upon the property of the city by an extreme tax rate. The chief reason for this will be the fact that the main sewer charges (the city's proportion of the cost of the system) are now to be raised to pay the expenses against the same; this being the first time such has occurred, with the exception of a small amount included last year in the tax l'evy, as the proportion levied against private prop- erty has been expended with the exception of new assess- ments on extensions during the past year.
METROPOLITAN DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
The Metropolitan Park Commission informs me that the grading and surfacing of Furnace Brook Parkway from Adams Street to Blue Hills Reservation has been substan-
15
tially completed, and it was expected to be opened for pub- lic use by January first.
Wampatuck Road in Blue Hills Reservation, connecting the end of Furnace Brook Parkway with Administration Road, which runs through the Reservation from east to west, has also been completed. Sassamon Road has been finished for use as a driving road from Administration Road down to the entrance of Sawcut Notch Road at the Pine Tree Brook entrance in Milton. It is therefore possible to make a pleasant circuit drive in Blue Hills Reservation, entering by Furnace Brook Parkway and driving over in succession Wampatuck Road, Administration Road, Sassamon Road and Sawcut Road, back to the Parkway.
At Quincy Shore the building of the road to subgrade from the National Sailors' Home to Squantum Street has been completed, and at the same time the beach along the waterside has been regraded. This work has involved the building of a concrete bridge across Sachem Brook and a concrete culvert across the mouth of the creek near the Sailors' Home. Next year it is expected to complete the work already begun on Quincy Shore, and possibly to begin work on the future connection between the Shore and the Parkway.
The Metropolitan water charges for the year 1906 reached the very large sum of $46,314.16, an increase over the previous year of 30 per cent .; accounted for by the method of assessment, as provided under chapter 426, Acts 1904, two-thirds of which is based on consumption, becoming effective for the first time.
As I stated in my inaugural of last year, our per capita consumption of November of one year ago was the second highest of any city or town in the Metropolitan district, and in the opinion of the engineer of the distributive department of the system, was an excessively large consumption in com-
16
parison with others in the district of about our population and character. Our per capita consumption in November, 1905, was 113 gallons, while in November, 1906, it was re- duced to 97 gallons. It is fair to assume that our population has not remained stationary during the past year, for we have added 209 new water services, nearly all of which were con- nected prior to November, and therefore additional consum- ers during that month, showing a larger per capita reduction in comparison than the above named figure indicates.
I find by reference to meter readings covering the peri- ods above named that the large water takers increased their consumption 17 per cent .; therefore the cause for decrease is to be sought elsewhere. It is true that during the year about the average number of leakages have been found in our pipes, but taking the consumption of the two periods named, we have every reason to believe the placing of meters has had a most salutary effect, and must be credited with the showing made. It is only in this direction that I see any opportunity to effect a saving in the Metropolitan charges levied upon us for water, sewerage and park purposes, which during the past year reached a total of $82,486.48, and repre- sented a charge in the tax rate of $2.77.
There will be but a slight reduction in the South Metro- politan sewer charge, and a considerable increase on account of construction of Furnace Brook and Quincy Shore Park- ways, which will be partially offset by the extra paid in last year's assessment which should have been paid in 1905 had the Commission appointed to apportion percentage reported in time.
The percentage of our assessments on these several matters is now fixed for the present five-year period; but with expenditures within our limits for these purposes, we cannot hope to escape our proportionate part of them.
17
WATER DEPARTMENT.
The money appropriated to extend the water mains has been expended mainly in response to petitions for the same.
The authority under which we may borrow money for the purposes of the water plant-mainly if not wholly devoted to the extension of the water inains is about exhausted. The extension of the water mains has tended not only to the upbuilding of the city, its growth and the general health of the public, but has added to its receipts as well; and it is from this source alone that we may hope to make it self- paying. I am pleased to say that the estimated income for the past year has been exceeded, and if such increase in receipts as made during 1906 is continued, with the saving in Metropolitan water charges, we may soon hope to equal the expenses of the department.
I will therefore ask the Council to grant the necessary authority to petition the legislature to borrow a further sum of money for the extension of water mains, fixtures and addi- tions; and if that authority is obtained, I would recommend that we make the annual appropriation for extensions. Sev- eral petitions for extensions are now on file and should be attended to in the spring as early as possible.
The sum appropriated for the purchase and installation of meters has been almost wholly expended in the purchase of the Empire meter, manufactured by the National Meter Company. Upon investigation I found great difference of opinion as to the merits of the different makes upon the market, and only after considerable correspondence and in- terviews with persons connected with public and private water supplies was the purchase made. The consensus of opinion was that the Empire meter had proven to be the most economical, durable and accurate; so simple in record- ing that the average man may gauge his own consumption, and read it easily. I have not the least doubt that the reduc -.
18
tion in the per capita consumption must be ascribed to the installation of meters. We placed them where we suspected a large waste occurred without benefit to the individual or the company; it being simply a careless waste with no com- pensating return to the city. I feel that the reading of the meters by the inspector and the water taker as well, is teach- ing a lesson in economy which it is plain to see must be advantageous to all, and for which ample opportunity still exists, our consumption in November, 1906, being largely în excess of other cities that are metered.
I recommend that a sufficient sum be appropriated for the further installation of meters.
SEWER DEPARTMENT.
The money appropriated for this department has been mainly expended to complete that section for the disposition of the sewage at the Fore River Shipbuilding Company's plant and vicinity. This has been a very expensive piece of work, and justifiable only because of the large interests involved.
At the time of the largest construction of the system of sewerage in the city, this and other sections of similar char- acter were omitted because of the known difficulties and ex- pense attached thereto. In my opinion, when the city is compelled to take up these other sections to which I have referred, the work should be let by contract to the lowest responsible bidder, as the city is not equipped to perform it economically.
Other streets in localities where conditions were deemed detrimental to the public health and ordered abated by the Board of Health, have been sewered, and petitions for other minor extensions have been granted.
The Metropolitan Park Commission requests if any sewer is to be constructed in the Quincy Shore Parkway it
19
be done preceding completion of the roadway. I would sug- gest that this matter be taken up as soon as possible, but only where absolutely necessary should flowage to the park- way be permitted, and as little entry as possible be made upon it, for we have to consider that only one side can be assessed instead of two sides as on streets.
During the year petitions will be received for the exten- sion of the sewer, and for sanitary reasons should be granted if possible.
I would recommend that we make a sufficient appropria- tion.
STREET DEPARTMENT.
The decision of the Fore River Bridge matter places one-third the cost of maintenance on us, whereas heretofore our proportion on the old bridge was five twenty-fourths, and adds an increased cost. I fear it will be expensive to maintain, as even now a considerable sum is needed to put it into good condition. This will increase the annual appro- priation heretofore made for bridge account.
The trustees of the bridge have ordered the demolition of what was formerly the old toll-house. With that removed, Washington Street can be built to its width at this point.
The new streets laid out and ordered built in the various sections of the city, with the exception of those ordered at the end of the year, have all been completed, meeting in many instances long-standing demands, affording conven- iences previously lacking, and increasing in value abutting property. To encourage development in our growing city, it should be our policy to act as liberally as possible and comply with the ordinance relating to streets, as far as our means will permit. We now have about 78 miles of accepted streets, all of them at some portion of the year requiring attention, which, of course, means money.
Where our streets intersect the Quincy Shore Parkway
20
it will involve changes in grade of some, if not all. Plans are now being prepared, and joint action by the City and Park commission will be necessary, and may involve us in some expense. Later, I will communicate further with you in the matter.
During the year we have renewed a contract with the Quincy Electric Light & Power Company for the usual period of three years, beginning July 1, 1906, on terms en- abling us to meet a very large accumulation of petitions for street lighting, without extra cost to the city; so that with a few exceptions present demands are now met.
The Citizens' Gas Company, since its acquirement of the property, has made very extensive additions to its mains, reaching portions of the city not heretofore piped, and is now in position to furnish street lighting, which will later give the city whatever benefits may accrue from competition. Well lighted streets are a protection to life and property of the highest value, and are avoided for their publicity by those intent on crime and misdemeanor.
Last year I called the attention of the Council to the city's need of obtaining the best material of trap-rock char- acter possible, for use on our streets. This is an urgent matter, especially if we are to maintain in good condition our macadam streets. There is heavy traffic on many of our streets of this kind, and it is important we should have the proper material with which to renew them. I think we do not possess it now, and provision should be made by pur- chase, or lease, to secure a location that will furnish what we require.
I ask your consideration of this matter.
GRADE CROSSINGS.
The New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Com- pany has petitioned the Superior Court to appoint a Com-
21
mission to take up the question of the abolition of the grade crossings at Saville and Water streets, respectively; the Commission to decide whether the security and convenience of the public require alteration of said crossings, or the dis- continuance thereof; to prescribe the manner of the work and whether it shall be done by the city or the R. R. Co.
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