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 1912 > Part 1
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THOMAS CRANE
PUBLIC LIBRARY QUINCY, MASS.
CITY APPROPRIATION
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https://archive.org/details/inauguraladdress 1912quin
484
CITY DOCUMENT No. 24
Inaugural Address of the Mayor and City Government of 1913
Together with the
ANNUAL REPORTS
of the Officers of the
City of Quincy
Massachusetts
For the Year 1912
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1
1625
MANET
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QUINCY
QUINCY MASS ADVERTISER JOB PRINT 1913
Sept. 18/1912
Q. R.
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City Government, 1913
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 OSCAR S. SANDBERG
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 JOHN H. ASH
Inspector of Animals FRANCIS ABELE, JR
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS. ASSESSORS Meet every, Monday and Thursday at 9 A. M.
WARREN W. ADAMS, Chairman,
WELLINGTON W. MITCHELL,
EBEN STOCKER,
Term expires First Monday of Feb. 1914 First Monday of Feb. 1916 First Monday of Feb. 1915
PARK COMMISSIONERS
GEORGE E. PFAFFMANN,
IRA M. WHITTEMORE,
THOMAS L. WILLIAMS
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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 JAMES M. CANTFILL DANIEL SCHOULER, JR.
TRUSTEES OF THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Meet first Wednesday of Month at 7 30 P. M.
CHARLES R. SAFFORD, Chairman F. MORTON SMITH, Secretary
HENRY MCGRATH, Treasurer GEORGE A. SIDELINGER CHARLES C. HEARN
RUFUS B. TOBEY
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 EDWARD O. WOODWARD JOHN L. HAMILTON ANDREW JOHNSON JAMES NICOL, Superintendent
MANAGERS OF ADAMS ACADEMY
LUTHER S. ANDERSON
WALTER S. PINKHAM
GEORGE M. SHEAHAN PERRY LAWTON HERBERT S. BARKER WALTER E. PIPER
DOCK AND WATER FRONT COMMISSIONER FRANK FESSENDEN CRANE
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
MICHAEL B. GEARY, Chairman Term expires April 1, 1915
DENNIS J. FORD Term expires April 1, 1916 HENRY W. FRENCH Term expires April 1, 1914
EMERY L. CRANE, City Clerk
ASSISTANT ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT FRANK C. PACKARD DANIEL J. NYHAN
LOUIS K. BADGER
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FENCE VIEWERS FRANK FESSENDEN CRANE JOHN EVANS JOHN A. DUGGAN POUND KEEPER WILLIAM J. VAUGHAN
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS WARREN S. PARKER
PERMANENT POLICE Captain-DANIEL R. MCKAY Lieutenant-MARK E. HANSON Inspector-ALFRED W. GOODHUE
SERGEANTS
ERNEST H. BISHOP
PATROLMEN
EDWARD JOHNSON
CHARLES T. CROOKER
DAVID L. FARRELL
PATRICK A. MILFORD
HENRY W. THORNE
HENRY F. RILEY
DANIEL H. DORAN
DANIEL J. FORD
EDWARD J. CURTIN JOHN J. AVERY
JOHN T. LARKIN
JAMES W. MURRAY JEREMIAH D. DHOOGE MICHAEL DONOVAN JOHN P. DUFFY CLAES A. BROBERG JOHN J. DUANE JEREMIAH HINCHON JEREMIAH DINNEEN CHARLES OLSON GEORGE F. PHILLIPS
HENRY F. CORBETT
CHAUFFEURS
JAMES H. WHELAN WAGON MAN JOHN HALLORAN RESERVE POLICE
JAMES MCNAMARA
THOMAS A. MALONE
GEORGE W. FALLON
JOSEPH A. DELOREY
FRANK CANAVAN JAMES SHEA ALEXANDER T. BLACK NILS DAHLBERG . WILLIAM J. HEBERT
SPECIAL POLICE
SAMUEL D. DEFOREST CALVIN T. DYER
EDWARD J. SANDBERG
HENRY J. MATTHEWS WILLIAM J. DECOSTE
DAVID L. GORDON
MALCOLM C. STEWART CHARLES J. A. NELSEN
JEREMIAH J. CONNELLY
GEORGE A. CAHILL
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City Council
*JOSEPH L. WHITON, President
COUNCILMEN AT LARGE
JOHN B. BASS CHARLES M. BRYANT
JOHN R. RICHARDS EDWARD J. SANDBERG
JOSEPH L. WHITON
29 Whitney Road
30 Edison Street Fenno Street 76 Centre Street 20 Buckley Street 29 Whitney Road
WARD COUNCILMEN Ward One
CHARLES A. ERICSON
JOSEPH W. JOHNSON
WILLIAM P. THOMPSON
4 Euclid Avenue 21 Russell Park 42 Whitney Road
Ward Two
STEPHEN L. DEVANEY FRANK J. DUFFY THOMAS GRIFFIN
62 Quincy Avenue 3 Lyndon Street 36 Edison Street
Ward Three
WILLIAM FARQUHARSON GEORGE GAUTHIER CHARLES A. ROSS
75 Indepence Avenue 138 Franklin Street 328 Centre Street
HARRY T. BOYD DANIEL F. CORCORAN STEPHEN B. LITTLE
96 Centre Street 9 Grove Street 13 Crescent Street
CHARLES W BAILEY
CHARLES E. BARKER
CHARLES L. GILLIATT
65 Lincoln Avenue 294 Fayette Street 176 Beach Street
HERBERT G. BEEMAN JAMES H. CUNNINGHAM CHARLES A. HADLOCK
42 Botolph Street 107 E. Squantum Street 12 Webster Street
CHARLES M. BRYANT, resigned March 10.
Ward Four
Ward Five
Ward Six
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Clerk of Council and Committees GEORGE T MAGEE, 2 Carruth Street Residence Telephone, Quincy 729-M,
City Auditor and Clerk of Finance Committee HENRY O. FAIRBANKS, 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 OF CITY COUNCIL (Elected by the Council) JAMES H. CUNNINGHAM JOHN R. RICHARDS
STANDING COMMITTEES Finance, Accounts, Claims, Contracts and Salaries Bailey, Bryant, Richards, Thompson, Little, Hadlock, Griffin.
Streets, Ways, Sidewalks, Bridges and Lights Bryant, Gilliatt, Ericson, Beeman, Ross, Boyd, Duffy.
Sewers, Drains and Water Supply Sandberg, Ericson, Duffy, Farqharson, Corcoran, Parker, Beeman. Fire Department and Police Boyd, Griffin. Johnson, Cunningham and Ross.
Public Buildings and Grounds Cunningham, Sandberg, Gauthier, Barker, Devaney.
Ordinances, Licenses, Printing Rules and Orders Gilliatt, Gauthier, Johnson, Bass, Corcoran, Hadlock, Devaney.
Legislative Matters, Elections and Returns Little, Farquharson, Bass,
Health, Poor, State and Military Aid Thompson, Richards, Bailey.
COUNCIL MEETINGS Regular meetings held on the First and Third Mondays of each month at 7.45 P. M.
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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. Wol 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 Auditor
51
Burial Places Dept. 1044-W
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. 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
Chairman
MR. ALBERT L. BARBOUR
Secretary
At Large-DR. NATHANIEL S. HUNTING
Term expires 1913
At Large-MR. ARTHUR W. NEWCOMB
1914
At Large-DR. EDWARD H. BUSHNELL
1915
Ward 1-MR. JOHN D. MACKAY
1915
Ward 2-MR. ARTHUR B. FOSTER
1913
Ward 3-MR. JOHN L. MILLER
1913
Ward 4. . MR. JOSEPH H. McPHERSON
66
1914
Ward 5-DR. WILLIAM G .. CURTIS
66
1915
Ward 6-DR. DANIEL A. BRUCE
66
1914
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STANDING SUB=COMMITTEES FOR 1913
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. Williard -- Mes-rs. McPherson, Hunting. Bruce. Woliaston-Messrs. Curtis, Miller, Bruce. Books, >upplies 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 1913
FIRST TERM :- Monday, December 30-Friday, February 21. SECOND TERM: Monday, March 3-Friday, April 25. THIRD TERM: Monday, May 5-Friday, June 27. FOURTH TERM :- Tuesday, September 2-Friday, December 19. GRAMMAR SCHOOLS GRADUATION: Friday, June 20. HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION: Wednesday, June 25. THE NEW YEAR: Monday, January 5, 1914.
HOLIDAYS: February 22, April 19, May 30, June 17, October 12,. and the remainder of the week from Wednesday noon next preceding Thanksgiving.
Attendance Officer and Census Taker
CHARLES H. JOHNSON
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Mayor's Address
QUINCY, MASS.
January 1, 1913
EUGENE R. STONE
13
Mayor's Inaugural Address
Gentlemen of the City Council :-
It is not only in accordance with the established custom, but in my judgment, very appropriate for the Mayor of the City at the commencement of your term of office to furnish you with a statement of the financial condition and resources of the city, and to direct your attention to such special legis- lation as, in his opinion, the city may require, in addition to the annual appropriation bill and the other routine subjects you will be called upon from time to time to consider. 1
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE CITY.
While the financial condition of the city is not all that could be desired, there is, however, no occasion for any un- necessary alarm or uneasiness. Our condition, to a large ex- tent, is a logical sequence of two causes :-
First; the general and persistent demands from all parts of the city for public improvements, such as the extension of the water and sewer systems, improvement in police and fire protection, acceptance of new streets and re-building of old ones, street lighting, construction of permanent sidewalks, and also for increased school accommodations.
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All these demands, each reasonable and proper in itself, call for the expenditure of large sums of money each year, and just as the people demand these improvements and receive- them, they must expect to pay therefor.
Second; a form of government which has made it pos- sible for the city during twenty-four years to be governed by eleven different Mayors, with the average term for each of 2 2-11 years. With these eleven different changes in the office of the Chief Executive have come as many different removals. from office of practically the entire administrative and work- ing forces of the city, as it has been the policy of the citizens, whenever they elect a new Mayor, to nearly always demand the removal from office of the heads of all the departments, ir- respective of individual experience or ability.
These frequent changes in office of the men charged with. the responsible duty of administering the city's affairs, in my judgment, has been unreasonable, as well as unwise and cannot be too strongly condemned. It has made it impossible for any Mayor, no matter how conscientious and able, to initiate and put into practical execution any sound, economical and com- prehensive policy for carrying on the business of the city.
I venture to assert there is not a business corporation or concern in this Commonwealth today that has had to deal with such large and vital problems as have confronted the City Government of Quincy during the past twenty-four years, or that during those years has expended so many millions of dol- lars, whose stockholders or those controlling it, have believed it sound business policy every two years to discharge the head of the Corporation, all administrative officials, superintend- ents and foremen, no matter how hard working, able or effi- cient, as we have been doing in Quincy. Such a policy would:
15
mean the ruin of any business, and the citizens of Quincy who are responsible for a continuation of such a form of govern- ment and method of procedure, must bear their share of re- sponsibility for any unsatisfactory condition of affairs which exists today.
While dealing with this subject, I desire to emphasize the further fact that the success of any government depends not only on co-operation between its several branches, but also on the part of the citizen body. In the past, for a period of six. weeks following the issuance of the tax bills in the Fall, and preceding the city election in December, the attention of the citizens has been focused on the city officials, and their acts made the subject of hasty criticism or partisan approval. Then with the passing of election day, all interest in city affairs. seems to be laid aside, until the heat and strife of another cam- paign is on. It is to be regretted that such a course is adopted' by our citizens. In my judgment, it would be wiser and more. helpful if the tax payers would extend their interest in the city business over the entire year, instead of concentrating it on those few weeks. Commencing with the Inauguration of each new Administration, the people should each year avail them- selves of the provisions of our City Charter and take a more active interest in the transaction of the City affairs. The privi- lege is granted them of attending each session of the City Council and of being heard on nearly every measure of impor- tance coming before the Council, as the right of petition and protest, both individually and collectively, is reserved to them. These rights and privileges are valuable, and should be exer- cised by our citizens. They should by their active interest and co-operation, aid their representatives in the performance of their duties, and not wait until the work, satisfactory or other --
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wise, has been accomplished and then, too late to change results express their opinion as to the same.
Last year there was raised in the tax levy the following items :
Budget $413,110.93
Sewer Bonds, etc. 36,300.50
City Debt 157,643.00
Interest 27,900.01
Street Improvement Debt 3,300.00
Interest
2,275.50
Park Debt
2,000.00
Interest
960.00
Int. Tem. Loan
15,000.00
State Tax
49,375.00
County Tax
21,996.38
Metropolitan Sewer
29,914.04
Metropolitan Parks
21,503.81
Metropolitan Waters
21,716.00
Metropolitan Highway
133.50
Charles River Basin
2,373.65
Total
$805,592.32
Of this amount $173,425 was expended in the mainten- ance and running expenses of our schools. When you com- pare this item of expense with the total amount raised in the budget, you will realize what a substantial sum we are appro- priating each year for the education of the children of Quincy. It is right and proper to do so, and I merely call your attention to it at this time to emphasize the fact that Quincy is not nig- gardly in providing a liberal education for its youth. This
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year, on the best information obtainable, it will be necessary to raise the following items :
Budget
$422,637.43
Sewer Bonds, etc.
38,000.00
City Debt
161,6-6.00
Interest 28,000.00
Sewer Improvement
7,300.00
Interest
2,840.00
Park
2,000.00
Interest
880.00
Int. Tem. Loan
15,000.00
State Tax
Estimated.
49,375.00
County Tax
22,000.00
Met. Sewer
30,000.00
Met. Park
21,500.00
Met. Water
26,000.00
Met. Highway
133.00
Charles River
"
2,373.00
Refund Loan
"
15,000.00
Total
$843,514.43
You will notice that there is an increase over last year in the item budget of $11,409.07. That increase is estimated upon the annual increase in the operating expenses of our schools which is from $6,000 to $7,000 a year; also the increase made necessary in the operating expenses of the several departments by the Council of last year and the voters of the city in accept- ing the Vacation Act for the Firemen. Therefore, it will be necessary to raise this year at least $37,922.11 more than was raised last year. Last year on a gross valuation of $35,377,340 we had a tax rate of $22 a thousand. This year, if the valua-
18
tion of the city were to remain the same, you will readily see that it would mean that we would have to increase our tax rate, as we will be obliged to raise more money, but each year there is a normal increase in the valuation of the city of about one million dollars. This increase in valuation on the figures I have stated, will keep our tax rate practically as it is today. I call your attention to this fact at this time, because I wish you and the people who may make demands upon you for special appropriations, to appreciate the fact that every dollar you appropriate in excess of the items I have stated, will mean a proportionate increase in the tax rate the coming year.
It is true of a city as it is of any other business enterprise ; it cannot remain stationary. It is either moving forward or retrograding. There are improvements we must make each year, and they cannot be avoided. There must be a sane and reasonable extension of our sewer and water systems, new streets must be accepted, sidewalks built, highways repaired and other public improvements inaugurated. To do all these efficiently and economically will be a task which will tax our combined ability. As we have voluntarily assumed the bur- den, let us apply to its discharge the best that is in us.
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STATEMENT OF DEBT.
Municipal debt, Dec. 31, 1911
· $696,433 00
Bonds matured in 1912
· 159,643 00
Bonds issued in 1912
$536,790 00
174,706 46
Debt Dec. 31, 1912
. $711,496 46
STREET IMPROVEMENT LOAN.
Debt Dec. 31, 1911
$43,700 00
Bonds matured in 1912
3,300 00
Bonds issued in 1912
38,000 00
Debt Dec, 31, 1912 ·
· . · $78,400 00
WATER DEBT.
Debt Dec. 31, 1911
. $698,000 00
Bonds matured in 1912
53,500 00
Bonds issued in 1912
.
65,000 00
Debt Dec. 31, 1911.
$709,500 00
·
$40,400 00
·
.
$644,500 00
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SEWER DEBT.
Debt Dec. 31, 1911
$610,500 00
Bonds matured in 1912
27,000 00
$583,500 00
Bonds issued in 1912
40,000 00
Debt Dec. 31, 1912
. $623,500 00
PARK DEBT.
Debt Dec. 31, 1911
$24,000 00
Bonds matured in 1912
2,000 00
Debt Dec. 31, 1912
. $22,000 00
REFUNDING LOAN.
Bonds issued in 1912 . · $150,000 00
RESUME.
$2,072,633 00
Total debt Dec. 31, 1911
245,443 00
Paid in 1912
$1,827,190 00
Bonds issued in 1912
. 467,706 46
Total debt Dec. 31, 1912
$2,294,896 46
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MATURING DEBT.
1913
Municipal,
1912 $159,643 00
$162,676 46
Street Improvements,
3,300 00
7,300 00
Water,
53,500 00
57,500 00
Sewer,
27,000 00
29,000 00
Refunding
15,000 00
Park,
2,000 00
2,000 00
$245,443 00
$273,476 46
MUNICIPAL DEBT.
The Municipal debt Dec. 31, 1912, is divided as follows :
Schools, (Inc. buildings, land, furnishings)
. $408,582 00 Highways, (Inc. streets, bridges, sidewalks and drains )
270,102 46
Public buildings,
4,000 00
Fire apparatus.
10,371 00
Other debts,
18,441 00
Total,
· $711,496 46
MUNICIPAL DEBT, HOW APPORTIONED.
The Municipal debt falling due in 1913 is divided as fol- lows :
Schools
$75,405 00
Highways
66,769 46
Public buildings
3,000 00
Fire apparatus
5,126 00
Miscellaneous
12,376 00
Total
.
,
·
. $162,676 46
.
.
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DEBT FALLING DUE EACH MONTH.
Play- Municipal ground
Street Imp'ment Water $4000 $1000
Sewer
Refund- ing
Total
January $22500
February
4000
$27500.00 4000.00
March
3200
7000
2000
12200.00
April
6800
800
8000
9500
25100.00
May
17560
7500
7000
32060.00
June
13985
2000
2000
17985.00
July
31300
1000
2500
34800.00
August
13670
1500 21000
3000
39170.00
September 7500
2000
2500 15000
27000.00
October
13061.46 2000
4000
500
19561.46
November
3900
3900.00
December 25200
5000
30200.00
-
$162676.46 2000 7300 57500 29000 15000 273476.46
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LOANS AUTHORIZED IN 1912
Adams school lot
$8000 00
Police signal wires
1200 00
Wollaston school grading
6000 00
Quincy school hall
7000 00
Automatic whistle and alarm boxes
760 00
Athletic field
1500 00
Auto chemical
6000 00
Cross walks
685 00
Surface drains
5400 00
Cranch school grading
1800 00
Montelair school furniture
3400 00
Montclair school, grading lot
5000 00
East Squantum street
4000 00
West street
2500 00
Adams school building
80000 00
Hancock street paving
1000 00
Fore river bridge
20061 46
Quincy school hall, additional
900 00
Purchase Insurance building, additional
2000 00
Board of Health, contagious diseases
1200 00
174706 46
.
SPECIAL ACTS
Water construction
$65000 00
Sewer construction
40000 00
Refunding loan .
150000 00
Sewer house connections
3000 00
Permanent sidewalks
13300 00
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NET VALUATION.
1910 Net Valuation, $32,192,905
1911 Net Valuation,
34,347,845
1912 Net Valuation,
35,219,786
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 $33,920,19 00
Limit of borrowing capacity for city in 1913 818,004 47
Municipal debt Dec. 31, 1912 711,496 46
Net borrowing capacity Dec. 31, 1912 136,508 01
LIMIT OF TAX LEVY.
The law allows us to assess $12 per $1,000 on the net val- uation for the preceding year for the current expenses of the city for the present year.
Net valuation of the city in 1912
$35,219,786 00
$12 on $1,000 (amount available for current
expenses, .
.
$422,637 43
The total city Municipal debt outside of the debts author- ized by special Acts amounts to $711,496.46 and of that amount $162,676.46 falls due in 1913.
DEPARTMENTS.
It has been the custom in the past for the Mayor in his Inaugural Address to refer to the several administrative de- partments and to some extent to give a review of the work ac- complished by each during the past year. I do not believe there is any occasion for doing this, as all such information
25
will be furnished you at an early date. The heads of depart- ments will shortly submit to me full and detailed reports for their respective departments, together with any recommenda- tions they may have to make concerning the same. These re- ports will be forwarded to you, and from them, and if neces- sary, from the department officials, you will be able to obtain such information as you may require in order to deal intelli- gently with legislation affecting the various departments.
SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
Braintree Reservoir.
Since Quincy was admitted in 1899 to the Metropolitan Water System, except for the purpose of testing water meters. at the pumping station in South Quincy, no use has been made of the water of the Quincy Reservoir in Braintree. The City pays Braintree annually a tax of $57.24 on this property. The average amount of water annually available for use from the reservoir is about three hundred and fifty million gallons. This. water may not be suitable for drinking purposes, but can be put to mechanical uses.
It seems to me a manifest waste for the city to receive no revenue from such a valuable property, when it is capable of being utilized and producing a substantial annual revenue for the city.
The Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board claims the right, under the Metropolitan Water Act as amended by Chap- ter 457 of the Acts of 1906, to cause the city to be assessed for any water it may sell from the reservation on the same basis. as it is now assessed for water furnished it from the Metro- politan supply. Such an assessment would be prohibitive, as it would be greater than a manufacturing concern could afford to pay for water from the reservoir.
At certain periods of the year the pressure on the fire hy- drants in some sections of the city is so low as to afford but
.
26
little if any fire protection, and at such times the water in the house services in those sections is not sufficient to meet the ordinary household demands. This condition of affairs is largely attributable to the large quantity of water used by man- ufacturing plants. The city should be allowed to sell the water from the reservoir to the large manufacturing plants in Quin- cy, thereby reducing by many million gallons the quantity of water now being taken from the Metropolitan supply and ob- viating to a large extent the fire danger I have referred to, and providing a substantial revenue for the city. The city should secure the right to sell this water for mechanical purposes, without being assessed by the State for the water so sold. The Commonwealth has never taken possession of this reservoir, or allowed the city anything on account for it, and it seems to me that if the city safeguards the right of the State and City to use the water in the event of an emergency, it should be allowed by the Legislature to distribute and sell this water for mechanical purposes, and I recommend that the Legislature be petitioned for that right.
A manufacturing concern in Quincy has recently offered to pay the city a net income of $1,500 per year for a period of twenty years for the privilege of being allowed to connect with the pipes from the reservoir at the Quincy Pumping Station and draw a minimum quantity of one hundred and fifty mil- lion gallons annually, and paying at the rate of ten dollars per million gallons for any water used in excess of that amount. All expense of maintenance, as well as the initial expense of connecting the plant with the pipes at the pumping station, to be borne by the manufacturing plant. From this offer you will readily see that the city cannot afford to any longer allow such a valuable asset to remain idle.
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