USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1911 > Part 1
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City of Quincy
1625
1640 MANET 1792
QUINCY? 1888
1911
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 with funding from Boston Public Library
https://archive.org/details/inauguraladdress 1911 quin
CITY DOCUMENT No. 23
Inaugural Address of the Mayor and City Government of 1912
Together with the
ANNUAL REPORTS
of the Officers of the
City of Quincy Massachusetts
For the Year 1911
16
0
2
1625
MANET
$2
QUINCY?
1888
QUINCY, MASS. ADVERTISER STEAM JOB PRINT 1912
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City Government, 1912
Mayor, EUGENE R. STONE.
DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS Commissioner of Public Works FREDERICK E. TUPPER
City Treasurer HENRY F. TILDEN
City Clerk EMERY L CRANE
Collector of Taxes HERBERT S. CHILD
City Solicitor JOHN W McANARNEY
Chief of Police FRANK E. BURRELL
Chief Engineer of Fire Department AMOS L. LITCHFIELD
Overseer of the Poor JAMES H. ELCOCK
City Engineer
EZEKIEL C. SARGENT
City Physician
HENRY C. HALLOWELL
Inspector of Animals FRANCIS ABELE, JR
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS. ASSESSORS
Meet every Monday and Thursday at 9 A. M.
Term expires
WARREN W. ADAMS, Chairman, First Monday of Feb. 1914 WELLINGTON W. MITCHELL, EBEN STOCKER, First Monday of Feb. 1913 First Monday of Feb. 1915
PARK COMMISSIONERS
GEORGE E. PFAFFMANN,
IRA M. WHITTEMORE,
THOMAS L. WILLIAMS
4
BOARD OF HEALTH
WILLIAM H. TEASDALE, Chairman
FREDERICK E. JONES, M. D., Clerk
JAMES THOMAS Sanitary Inspector, EDWARD J. LENNON Inspector of Plumbing, JEREMIAH J. KENILEY Inspector of Meats and Provisions, JAMES F. ALLAN . Sealer of Weights and Measures Inspector of Milk EDWARD J. MURPHY
JAMES M. CANTFILL
TRUSTEES OF THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY Meet first Wednesday of Month at 7 30 P. M.
ELERY C. BUTLER, Chairman CHARLES N. BAXTER, Secretary HENRY MCGRATH, Treasurer CHARLES R. SAFFORD W. WARD WHITCHER
JAMES F. BURKE
MANAGERS OF WOODWARD FUND AND PROPERTY EUGENE R. STONE, Mayor
HENRY F. TILDEN, City Treasurer EMERY L. CRANE, City Clerk HENRY O. FAIRBANKS, City Auditor RICHARD R. FREEMAN, Elected by the Council
MANAGERS OF PUBLIC BURIAL PLACES
Meet second Tuesday of each month at 7.30 P. M.
ALBERT W. FAY, Chairman JOHN Q. CUDWORTH, Clerk ALFRED O. DIACK CHARLES C. HEARN JOHN L. HAMILTON ANDREW JOHNSON
JAMES NICOL, Superintendent
MANAGERS OF ADAMS ACADEMY
LUTHER S. ANDERSON
GEORGE M. SHEAHAN
JOSEPH L. WHITON
WALTER S. PINKHAM PERRY LAWTON RUPERT F. CLAFLIN
DOCK AND WATER FRONT COMMISSIONER FRANK FESSENDEN CRANE
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
MICHAEL B. GEARY, Chairman DENNIS J. FORD HENRY W. FRENCH EMERY L. CRANE, City Clerk
Term expires April 1, 1915 Term explres April 1, 1913 Term expires April 1, 1914
5
ASSISTANT ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT FRANK C. PACKARD
DANIEL J. NYHAN LOUIS K. BADGER
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS WARREN S. PARKER
PERMANENT POLICE Lieutenant-DANIEL R. MCKAY
SERGEANTS
MARK E. HANSON
DAVID J. BARRY
PATROLMEN
GEORGE A. CAHILL
JEREMIAH HINCHON
ALFRED W GOODHUE
JAMES W. MURRAY
JOHN HALLORAN
TIMOTHY J. GOLDEN
JOHN T. LARKIN
EDWARD J. CURTIN CHARLES OLSON
MICHAEL F. DONOVAN
CLAES A. BROBERG
CHARLES T. CROOKER
ERNEST H. BISHOP
HENRY F. RILEY
DANIEL H. DORAN DANIEL J. FORD
JEREMIAH DINNEEN
GEORGE F. PHILLIPS
JOHN J. DUANE
JAMES H. WHELAN
JOHN P. DUFFY HENRY W. THORNE DAVID L. FARRELL
RESERVE POLICE
HENRY F. CORBETT WILLIAM J. HEBERT JOHN J AVERY MICHAEL F. CANAVAN
THOMAS A. MALONE
JEREMIAH D. DHOOGE DANIEL M. SHEA JAMES MCNAMARA
SPECIAL POLICE
SAMUEL D. DEFOREST
CALVIN T. DYER
EDWARD J. SANDBERG
HENRY J. MATTHEWS
DAVID L. GORDON
WILLIAM J. DECOSTE
MALCOLM C. STEWART
CHARLES J. A. NELSEN
GEORGE W. FALLON
JEREMIAH J. CONNELLY
JOSEPH F. SWEENEY JOSEPH A. DELOREY
PATRICK A. MILFORD EDWARD JOHNSON
City Council
RALPH W. HOBBS, President
11 Clark Street
COUNCILMEN AT LARGE
GEORGE W. ABELE
RALPH W. HOBBS
ALBERT N. MURRAY JOHN R. RICHARDS
EDWARD J. SANDBERG
64 Goffe Street 11 Clark Street 59 Winthrop Avenue 76 Centre Street 20 Buckley Street
WARD COUNCILMEN Ward One
CHARLES A. ERICSON JOHN R. S. ROSS WILLIAM P. THOMPSON
4 Euclid Avenue 1290 Sea Street 42 Whitney Road
Ward Two
JOSEPH CARRUTHERS STEPHEN L. DEVANEY HARRY G. STUDLEY
16 Edison Street 62 Quincy Avenue 10 Hanna Street
Ward Three
ROBERT B. CRAIG GEORGE GAUTHIER CHARLES A. ROSS
91 Independence Avenue 138 Franklin Street 328 Centre Street
Ward Four
HARRY T. BOYD DANIEL F. FORDE JOHN J. MAHONEY
96 Centre Street 13 Rail Street 8 Barry Street
Ward Five
CHARLES W BAILEY CHARLES E. BARKER CHARLES L. GILLIATT
65 Lincoln Avenue 294 Fayette Street 176 Beach Street
Ward Six
HERBERT G. BEEMAN JAMES H. CUNNINGHAM ERNEST E. SODERGREN
43 Botolph Street 107 E. Squantum Street 42 Hunt Street
7
Clerk of Council and Committees GEORGE T MAGEE, 2 Carruth Street Residence Telephone, Quincy 729-M,
City Auditor HENRY O. FAIRBANKS, Alleyne Terrace Office Telephone, Quincy 51.
City Messenger HARRY W. TIRRELL, Manet Avenue, H. N. Residence Telephone, 432-M Quincy.
MANAGER OF WOODWARD FUND AND PROPERTY (Elected by the Council) RICHARD R. FREEMAN
TRUSTEES CITY HOSPITAL (Elected by the Council)
GEORGE W. ABELE CHARLES W. BAILEY
STANDING COMMITTEES Finance, Accounts, Claims, Contracts and Salaries Richards, Bailey, Ericson, Abele, Cunningham, Sodergren, Murray.
Streets, Ways, Sidewalks, Bridges and Lights Sandberg, Studley, Thompson, Craig, Sodergren, Boyd, Gilliatt
Sewers, Drains and Water Supply Ericson, Beeman, Devaney, C. A. Ross, Mahoney, Barker, Murray.
Fire Department and Police Studley, Craig, J. R. S. Ross, Barker, Gauthier. Public Buildings and Grounds Bailey, Beeman, Sandberg, C. A. Ross, Thompson.
Ordinances, Licenses, Printing, Rules and Orders J. R. S. Ross, Abele, Gauthier, Forde, Gilliatt, Carruthers, Beeman.
Legislative Matters, Elections and Returns Boyd, Devaney, Richards.
Health, Poor, State and Military Aid Craig, Mahoney, Carruthers.
CITY COUNCIL Regular meetings held on the First and Third Mondays of each month at 7.35 P. M.
8
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Meetings of all Standing, Joint and Special Committees will be held at the call of the Chairman, or at such times as may be desig- nated by the Council.
CITY TELEPHONES
Mayor's Office
212
Overseer of the Poor 214
City Clerk
230
Water Department
73
Com. of Public Works
100
Sewer Department
549
City Treasurer
14
Supt. Mt. Woł Cemetery
883-M
City Engineer
115
Central Fire Station
1
Assessors
313
Police Station
142
Tax Collector
213
Superintendent of Schools
330
Board of Health
1550
City Aud.tor
51
Burial Places Dept.
1044-W
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Office No. 8 Washington Street.
Regular meetings on the last Tue-day 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. Saturdays, 8 to 12 A. M.
Regular Hours of Superintendent :-
Mondays and Fridays 8 to 9 A. M., Tuesdays and Thursdays 4 to 5 P. M.
MR. JOHN L. MILLER
MR. ALBERT L. BARBOUR
Chairman Secretary Term expires 1913
1914
At Large-MR. ARTHUR W. NEWCOMB
1912
At Large-DR. EDWARD H. BUSHNELL
1912
Ward 1-MR. JOHN D. MACKAY Ward 2-MR. ARTHUR B. FOSTER
1913
Ward 3-MR. JOHN L. MILLER
1913
Ward 4. . MR. JOSEPH H. McPHERSON
1914
Ward 5-DR. WILLIAM G. CURTIS
1912
Ward 6-DR. DANIEL A. BRUCE
1914
At Large-DR. NATHANIEL S. HUNTING
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STANDING SUB=COMMITTEES FOR 1912 For the Different Schools
High-Messrs. Miller, Hunting, Bushnell.
Adams -- Messrs. Newcomb, Miller, McPherson. Atherton Hough-Messrs. Foster, Mackay, Hunting. Coddington-Messrs. Hunting, Mackay, Newcomb., Cranch-Messrs. Newcomb, Bushnell, Curtis. Gridley Bryant-Messrs. Foster, Miller, McPherson. John Hancock-Messrs. Mackay, Bushnell, Newcomb. Lincoln-Messrs. Mackay, Hunting, McPherson. Massachusetts Fields-Messrs. Curtis, Bruce, Foster.
Quincy-Messrs. Bruce, Curtis, Newcomb. Washington-Messrs. Bushnell, Foster, Newcomb.
Willard-Messrs. McPherson, Hunting, Bruce. Wollaston-Messrs. Curtis, Miller, Bruce. Books, supplies and Sundries-Messrs. Newcomb, Curtis, Mackay. Text Books-Messrs. Hunting, Bushnell, Mackay.
Transportation-Messrs. Foster, McPherson, Bruce. Evening Schools-Messrs. Bushnell, Miller, McPherson. Special Subjects-Messrs. Bruce, Miller, Newcomb. Rules and Regulations-Messrs. Curtis, Mackay, McPherson. Teachers-The Chairman, Messrs. Bushnell, Bruce.
Finance and Salaries-The Chairman, Messrs. Mackay, Hunting.
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1912
FIRST TERM :- Tuesday, January 2-Friday, March 29. SECOND TERM: Monday, April 8-Friday, June 21. THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS close Friday, June 14. GRAMMAR SCHOOLS GRADUATION: Friday, June 14. HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION: Wednesday, June 19. THIRD TERM: Tuesday, september 3-Wednesday, December 18. THE NEW YEAR: Monday, December 30.
HOLIDAYS: February 22, April 19, May 30, June 17, October 12, and the remainder of the week from Wednesday noon next preceding Thanksgiving.
Mayor's Address
QUINCY, MASS. January 1, 1912
EUGENE R, STONE
13
Mayor's Inaugural Address
Gentlemen of the City Council :
The people of Quincy have elected us to transact the business affairs of the City for the ensuing year.
Gratefully appreciating the honor conferred upon us ; willingly assuming the grave responsibility ; pledging our- selves faithfully, honestly and conscientiously to perform our duties, we today enter upon a service which entails much self- sacrifice in its proper execution,-a service which demands of us the best there is in us.
Let us, then, work together, eliminating sectional prefer- ences and prejudices, and, with the limited means at our dis- posal, do our best this coming year to give the City of Quincy one of the best administrations it has ever had.
It cannot be denied that Quincy, with her large area, comparatively small valuation, and debt of $2,072.633, must weigh, with great care, the question of expenditures, so that the City will receive from them full value for money expend- ed, and, at the same time, not retard our inspiring growth.
In order that you may understand the City's resources, I submit the following statement of its financial condition :
14
STATEMENT OF DEBT.
Municipal debt, Dec. 31, 1910 . $563,445 00
Bonds matured the year
.
117,645 00 .
Bonds issued and authorized
250,633 00
Debt Dec. 31, 1911
. $696,433 00
STREET IMPROVEMENT LOAN.
Debt Dec. 31, 1909
$47,000 00
Bonds matured the year
3,300 00
Debt Dec, 31, 1910
$43,700 00 .
WATER DEBT.
Debt Dec. 31, 1910
$665,500 00
Bonds matured the year
48,500 00
$617,000 00
Bonds issued during year
81,000 00
Debt Dec. 31, 1911
$698,000 00
SEWER DEBT.
Debt Dec. 31, 1910 .
$605,500 00
Bonds matured the year
25,000 00 ·
$580,500 00
Bonds issued in year
30,000 00
Debt Dec. 31, 1911
. $610,500 00 .
.
$445,800 00
15
PARK DEBT.
Park debt Dec. 31, 1910
$26,000 00
Paid during the year
2,000 00
Debt Dec. 31, 1911
$24,000 00
RESUME.
:Total debt Dec. 31, 1910
$1,907,445 00
Paid during the year, .
196,445 00
$1,711,000 00
Added during the year
361,633 00
Total debt Dec. 31, 1911
$2,072,633 00
MATURING DEBT.
1911
1912
Municipal,
$159,643 00
$117,645 00
Street Improvements,
3,300 00
3,300 00
Water,
53,500 00
48,500 00
Sewer,
27,000 00
25,000 00
Parks,
2,000 00
2,000 00
$245,443 00
$196,445 00
MUNICIPAL DEBT.
The Municipal debt Dec. 31, 1911, is divided as follows :
Schools,
. $362,737 00
Streets and bridges,
294,677 00
Public buildings,
4,142 00
Fire apparatus.
12,899 00
Other debts,
21,978 00
Total,
. $695,433 00
·
-
16
HOW DEBT MATURED.
The Municipal debt falling due in two years is compared below :
1912
1911
January
$22,500 00
$10.500 00
February
4,000 00
4,000 00
March
2,000 00
1,000 00.
April .
18,700 00
4,500 00
May
8,000 00
10,200 00
June
12,283 00
2,500 00
July
40,040 00
32,225 00
August
4,670 00
8,670 00
September
7,500 00
11,400 00
October
12,000 00
12,000 00
November
4,000 00
1,550 00
December
23,950 00
19,100 00-
Total
$159,643 00
$117,645 00
HOW APPORTIONED.
The Municipal debt coming due in 1912 is divided as fol- lows :
Schools
$66,255 75
Streets
73,021 00
Fire apparatus
3,142 00
Public buildings
6,288 00
Miscellaneous
10,937 00
Total
.
. $159,643 00 ·
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CITY VALUATION.
The valuation of the three preceding years is as follows : 1908 Net Valuation, . $31,118,635
1909 Net Valuation,
·
32,319,555
1910 Net Valuation,
· 34,425,911
A COMPARISON.
Summary of total debt Dec. 31, 1910, as compared with total debt Dec. 31, 1910 :
Municipal,
1912 $696,433 00
1911
$563,445 00
Street Improvements,
43,700 00
47,000 00
Water,
698,000 00
665,500 00
Sewer,
610,500 00
605,500 00
Parks,
24,000 00
26,000 00
$2,272,633 00
$1,907,445 00
Increase in Total debt for the year, . 165,188 00
Increase in Municipal debt for the year, 132,988 00
LOANS ISSUED IN 1911.
Municipal, Sundry Appropriations . Water, (construction $40,000, meters $10,000) 81,000 00 Sewer construction, 30,000 00
. $250,633 00
Total,
. 8361,633 00
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LOANS .- APPROPRIATIONS 1911.
1910. Oct. 3
Wollaston School building.
$75,000
Montclair School building
45,000
Dec. 12
Brook street .
1,500
Furnace avenue
1,000
Trafford street
3.000
Crescent street
2,000
West street
3,500
Pleasant street
900
Marsh street
400
Merrymount soad
1,700
1
Fire auto
5,500
Claremont avenue
1,800
Oakland avenue
825
1911.
Feb. 20 Wollaston School lot additionol land 4,000
Apr. 22
Spraying machine
1,370
May 1
Playground, Ward 4
500
Bath house
2,500
June 5
Intervale street
1,900
Channing street
2,300
East Squantum street
6,000
Kent street
2,000
Glendale road
800
14
Hancock street widening
14,733
Hose
850
Crosswalks
250
School street
700
Garfielk street
250
Surface drainage
10,570
.
19
26 Glendale road
650
Euclid avenue
1,400
Dimmock street
1,200
Ring avenue
1,100
Buckley street
2,000
Kemper street
1,800
Marlboro street
650
Tyler street
3,100
Phillips street
3,000
West Squantum street
7,100
Permanent sidewalk
19,530
Aug. 28
Robertson street
700
Oct. 2
Public pier
2,000
Bridges
2,500
Dec.
4 Grading Wollaston school lot Steam roller
6,450
11 Wollaston school furnishings
6,450
18 Land for Crusher Brook road
2600
$250,000
1,500
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LOANS UNDER SPECIAL ACTS.
Water department
$81,000 00
Sewer department
.
30,000 00
Total
$111,000 00
Loan for widening Hancock street under Street Improve- ment Act, $38,000. Bonds to be dated Jan. 1, 1912.
LIMIT OF INDEBTEDNESS.
Our limit for general Municipal indebtedness is two and one-half per cent. on the average net valuation of the city for the last three years.
Average net valuation for said years $32,593.707 00
Limit of borrowing capacity for city in 1912 814,842 67
Municipal debt Dec. 31, 1911 696,433 00
Net borrowing capacity Dec. 31, 1911 118,409 67
LIMIT OF TAX LEVY.
The law allows us to assess $12 per $1,000 on the net valuation for the preceding year for the current expenses of the city for the present year.
Net valuation of the city in 1911 $34,425,911 00
$12 on $1.000 (amount available for current expenses ) 413,110 93
The total city Municipal debt outside of the debts author- ized by special Acts amounts to $696,433 00, and of that amount $159,643 00 falls due this year.
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HIGHWAYS AND SIDEWALKS.
Quincy has 81 9-10 miles of accepted public streets, and 14 3-10 miles of permanent sidewalks.
How to keep our streets and sidewalks in proper condi- tion, with the amount of money available for such purposes, is each year becoming a most serious problem. Yet like all municipal problems, it must be met.
Good streets and sidewalks are indispensable factors in the growth of every progressive community. They materially contribute to its development. They are active agencies in inducing desirable residents to locate within its limits.
Quincy should not abandon the policy which, in recent years, wisely has been established of, each year, building in a permanent manner a number of miles of streets and side- walks. But, I do not believe it profitable to build such streets, and then pay no further attention to them until they need re- building.
Recognition must be given to the enormous increase in the travel on streets of today.
In former years, the difficulty in maintaining our streets in good condition was one arising from the heavy teaming incident to our stone industry. To that is now added the wear resulting from automobile travel. Quincy lying between Boston, with its great Metropolitan District on the north. and the South Shore and the Cape on the south, receives nearly all the automobile travel between these points. As a result we find streets on which the City has spent several thousands of dollars in rebuilding, at the end of a couple of seasons, showing marked signs of wear, and not infrequently, with large holes eaten into their surface. This deterioration. un- less arrested, soon leads to the total breaking down of the streets.
I believe it would be money well expended, as soon as one or more streets have been thoroughly repaired, or perma- nently constructed, to assign an inspector to these streets,
22
whose duty it should be to watch for the first signs of break- ing up of the street's surface, and immediately to repair the same. This, at least, should be done on all the main thor- oughfares of the city. The inspector's wages would in a short time be more than saved. This method has been tried with success in foreign countries, and I see no reason why it cannot be successfully adopted in Quincy.
There are two main streets which should receive immedi- ate attention; Washington street should be widened and straightened, and School street, between Hancock and Frank- lin streets, should be widened. Work on these streets should not be delayed, not only for the reason that it can be done at less cost now before the streets are further built upon, but for the important reason that because of the large volume of elec- tric car, automobile and other travel over them, public neces- sity and convenience require it should be done.
In addition to these streets, I believe City Square should be entirely rebuilt. I shall, at a later time, submit for your consideration, my views as to the best method to be adopted in rebuilding this Square. When this work has been done, and Hancock street widened and straightened, in accordance with the order of last year's Council, we will then have our City . Square, together with the three main arteries of travel lead- ing from the same, all in good and inviting condition for travel.
A striking feature of Quincy's growth may be found in the number of tracts of land which each year are cut up into house lots, private ways laid out in them, and the land rapid- ly built upon. The houses are in nearly every instance at- tractive and of a desirable kind. Development of this char- acter should be encouraged. It adds materially to the perma- nent taxable assets of the City. When such private streets are laid out in accordance with the City Ordinance, and built upon to a reasonable extent, I believe they should be accepted as fast as the City's financial condition will warrant.
23
WATER DEPARTMENT.
Total number of miles of street mains in Quincy is about 120
Total number of service connections 7,707
Total number of meters 4,702
Total number of Fire Hydrants 873
Total number of Water Gates 1,551
For some time, in light of the number of gallons of met- ropolitan water annually charged to it, there has been a grow- ing conviction that the City has not been receiving the proper return from this department. I believe there is occa- sion for such a feeling, and in part at least it may be attribu- ted to two causes,-waste in the use of water by water takers whose services are not metered, and loss of water through faulty mains. So fast as possible all water services should be metered. The water tax should then be equitably and justly distributed, and the rates probably readjusted. In this con- nection, all public buildings should be metered, not for the purpose of charging the departments to which they belong with the cost of water used, but for comparison and investi- gation to see if water is being wasted at either of them, and if so, to have the waste stopped.
The Commissioner of Public Works in a recent report to the City Council stated there was a steady loss of water on account of leaky mains. This waste should be stopped with- out delay. It is not a difficult matter to learn by proper in- vest gation where the waste is taking place, and when defect- ive mains are found, they should be removed at once, and re- placed by new ones.
I believe this department in particular needs careful study and consideration, and I shall give it the same without unnecessary delay.
The legislature of 1911 authorized the City to borrow $200.000, outside the debt limit for the purpose of extending its water service and installing meters, of this sum $30,000 has already been appropriated and therefore there is now $170.000 available under said act for such purposes.
24
SEWERS.
The public sewer mains should as rapidly as possible be extended to all sections of the City, so that all houses may be connected therewith.
The demands for such extension of the mains is constant- ly increasing. Many applications are now on file in the sewer office. The department should as soon as possible be put in a position to meet these demands.
Of the $200,000 authorized to be borrowed outside the debt limit by Chapter 57 of 1911, for the purpose of extending our system of sewerage, $30,000 has already been expended, leaving a balance of $170,000 to be used as the Council may authorize.
To date, the work of the department may be summarized as follows :
Lateral sewers laid 49.7 miles
Intercepting and main sewers laid 13.7 miles
Total number of miles 63.4
The total number of buildings connected is 3685.
PUBLIC PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS AND SHADE
TREES.
Today thinking people are beginning to realize the eco- nomic value to the State of physically well developed men and women.
In furtherance of that idea, associations are springing up throughout the country for the express purpose of educating the people to the necessity of acquiring and equipping public playgrounds for the youth of the community.
Laws to aid and assist the movement have been adopted by this Commonwealth.
Quincy has already done much in this direction, but the work is by no means finished. There remains more to be
25
done. Additional playgrounds and places of recreation should be established throughout the City. In locating them, too much regard should not be had for mere ward lines. Wherever there is now, or in the future likely to be, a thickly settled residential district, land should be purchased and ded- icated to the use of the children of that neighborhood.
Viewed from the mere physical standpoint, there is dan- ger today in compelling the children to seek the public high- ways as a place in which to play. The modern methods of rapid travel makes it at times a positive menace to the life of the child, but from another and higher standpoint, there is danger and menace to the young of our City in so doing.
The children of every section of the City should have near their homes some public field as a place for recreation where, under the immediate care of their elders, or when the City can afford, the instruction of some trained supervisor, love for healthy out-door pastime and athletic exercise may early be inculcated in their minds.
The economic value to the community of the training the children would receive under such circumstances can be readily appreciated. In our homes, churches and schools, our children are receiving moral and intellectual training to equip them for the battle of life. Let us, as a City, do our part to make of them physically, healthy and well developed members of society for that issue.
It seems to me that now is the time to purchase such rec- reation places before all the vacant lands in or near the resi- dential section of the City are built upon. I recommend that study be given to this subject, and as far as the financial con- dition of the City will permit, land for that purpose be bought or taken by right of eminent domain.
For many years through the courtesy of the owners, the children of the City have enjoyed the privilege of skating on Butler's pond. This body of water is situated in quite a thickly settled portion of Ward 1, and if owned by the City could by the expenditure of a small sum of money, be made
26
into a beauty spot in summer, and in winter it would be an excellent municipal skating pond. I recommend, if this prop- erty can be purchased for a reasonable price, that it be ac- quired by the City.
The City should annually take measures to encourage the planting of shade trees along our public highways, and this matter should receive proper attention when new streets are being built or laid out.
In the different sections of the City, local improvement associations should be encouraged, not only to plant shade trees along our streets and in public places, but to care for them during their early years. Such associations may by co- operation with the City authorities, do much, not only along the lines suggested, but by installing a spirit of local civic pride, would do much to help beautify our City, and remove many not only unsightly and disfiguring local conditions but some which are positively unsanitary and unhygienic.
The City Council may, if it gives proper attention to this matter, either by having some one of its committees hold pub- lic meetings in the different wards, or otherwise arouse pub- lic interest in the subject, and foster the growth and devel- opments of some such movement.
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