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 1914 > Part 1
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City of Quincy
1625 6
QUINCY 1888
1914
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 26
CITY GOVERNMENT OF 1915
TOGETHER WITH THE
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE OFFICERS OF THE
CITY OF QUINCY MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE YEAR 1914
16
0
MANET
QUINCY
QUINCY, MASS. THE PRATT COMPANY, PRINTERS
1915
CITY GOVERNMENT, 1915
Mayor, CHESTER I. CAMPBELL
DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS Commissioner of Public Works, MOSES L. BROWN
City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes JOHN CURTIS
City Clerk EMERY L. CRANE
Assistant City Clerk, MARGUERITE S. LYONS City Solicitor WALTER S. PINKHAM
Chief of Police FRANK E. BURRELL
Chief Engineer of Fire Department FAXON BILLINGS
Overseer of the Poor MILDRED GRAY HUSTON
City Physician FRED A. BARTLETT, M. D.
City Engineer EZEKIEL C. SARGENT
Inspector of Animals FRANCIS ABELE, JR.
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS
Assessors Meet every Monday and Thursday at 9 A. M.
JOHN J. O'HARA, Chairman Term expires first Monday of February, 1917 WELLINGTON W. MITCHELL Term expires first Monday of February, 1918 CHARLES R. SHERMAN Term expires first Monday of February, 1916
PARK COMMISSIONERS GEORGE E. PFAFFMANN, Chairman IRA M. WHITTEMORE
JOHN L. HAMILTON
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BOARD OF HEALTH
WALTER H. BUCHAN, Chairman HAROLD E. DIEHL, M. D., Clerk THOMAS L. A. MUSGRAVE Sanitary Inspector, EDWARD J. LENNON Inspector of Plumbing, JEREMIAH J. KENILEY Inspector of Meats and Provisions, JAMES F. ALLAN
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES JAMES M. CANTFILL INSPECTOR OF MILK DANIEL SCHOULER, JR.
TRUSTEES OF THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY Meet first Wednesday of month at 7.30 P. M. CHARLES R. SAFFORD, Chairman GEORGE W. ABELE ALBERT N. MURRAY
HARRY W. READ
F. MORTON SMITH, Treasurer MRS. ELIZABETH H. ALDEN, Secretary
MANAGERS OF WOODWARD FUND AND PROPERTY
CHESTER I. CAMPBELL, Mayor JOHN CURTIS, 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. THOMAS BISHOP, Chairman ALBERT W. FAY ARTHUR B. HULTMAN
JOHN EVANS JOSEPH H. VOGEL JOHN Q. CUDWORTH, Clerk JAMES NICOL, Superintendent
MANAGERS OF ADAMS ACADEMY
NATHANIEL S. HUNTING, M.D. GEORGE M. SHEAHAN, M.D. FRED. M. ROLLINS PERRY LAWTON
CHARLES E. HATHAWAY HERBERT S. BARKER
DOCK AND WATER FRONT COMMISSIONE FRANK FESSENDEN CRANE
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REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
MICHAEL B. GEARY, Chairman, Term expires April 1, 1918 DENNIS J. FORD, Term expires April 1, 1916 JOSEPH B. GROSSMAN, Term expires April 1, 1917 EMERY L. CRANE, City Clerk
ASSISTANT ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT FRANK C. PACKARD ALBERT E. STEPHENSON LOUIS K. BADGER
FENCE VIEWERS FRANK FESSENDEN CRANE
JOHN EVANS
JOHN A. DUGGAN
POUND KEEPER WILLIAM J. VAUGHAN
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS GEORGE E. THOMAS
BOARD OF SURVEY CHARLES L. GILLIATT, Chairman Term expires first Monday of February, 1918 WALTER E. PIPER Term expires first Monday of February, 1917 PERRY LAWTON Term expires first Monday of February, 1916
PLANNING BOARD CHARLES W. BAILEY, Chairman EUGENE C. HULTMAN GEORGE W. ABELE
CHARLES A. HADLOCK WILSON MARSH EZEKIEL C. SARGENT, Clerk
PERMANENT POLICE DANIEL R. McKAY, Captain ALFRED W. GOODHUE, Inspector ERNEST H. BISHOP, Sergeant JOHN T. LARKIN, Sergeant
PATROLMEN
JEREMIAH HINCHON EDWARD J. CURTIN DANIEL H. DORAN
JAMES W. MURRAY
CHARLES T. CROOKER
CHARLES OLSON
DANIEL J. FORD JOHN J. DUANE JAMES McNAMARA EDWARD JOHNSON
GEORGE F. PHILLIPS
DAVID L. FARRELL
JEREMIAH D. DHOOGE
ALEXANDER T. BLACK
MICHAEL DONOVAN
PATRICK A. MILFORD
HENRY F. RILEY CLAES A. BROBERG
JOHN P. DUFFY JEREMIAH DINNEEN
HENRY F. CORBETT THOMAS A. MALONE
HENRY W. THORNE JOHN J. AVERY
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CHAUFFEURS
GEORGE A. CAHILL
JAMES H. WHELAN
WAGON OFFICER JOHN HALLORAN
RESERVE POLICE
GEORGE W. FALLON
DANIEL T. SHEA
JOSEPH F. SWEENEY NILS DAHLBERG
WILLIAM J. HEBERT
MICHAEL F. CANAVAN
JEREMIAH CONNOLLY
JOSEPH A. DELOREY
WALTER FERGUSON
SPECIAL POLICE
GEORGE E. OGLE
JOSEPH R. O'NEIL
THOMAS J. FALLON
LAWRENCE J. GALVIN
DAVID L. GORDON
EDWARD L. MARTELL
WILLIAM J. DeCOSTE
MALCOLM C. STEWART
ED. J. SANDBERG
HENRY J. MATTHEWS
GEORGE F. HOLLINSHEAD
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CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL JOSEPH L. WHITON, President, 29 Whitney Road
COUNCILMEN AT LARGE
HERBERT G. BEEMAN, 42 Botolph Street, Atlantic GEORGE A. BOLSTER, 39 Bradford Street ROBERT B. CRAIG, 91 Independence Avenue THOMAS J. MCGRATH, 11 Thayer Street FRANK F. PRESCOTT, 33 Bigelow Street
WARD COUNCILMEN Ward One JAMES H. SLADE, 17 Edgemere Road WILLIAM P. THOMPSON, 42 Whitney Road JOSEPH L. WHITON, 29 Whitney Road
Ward Two THOMAS GRIFFIN, 36 Edison Street ROBERT J. WILLIAMS, Jr., 216 Quincy Avenue CHARLES B. YULE, 63 Edison Park
Ward Three CHARLES F. BARNICOAT, 88 Bradford Street FRANK FERGUSON, 32 Verchild Street CHARLES A. ROSS, 98 Independence Avenue
Ward Four JOSEPH A. BARRY, 128 Crescent Street JAMES O'DOWD, 307 Copeland Street JOHN D. SMITH, 27 Nelson Street
Ward Five RODNEY P. GALLAGHER, 149 Taylor Street, Wollaston ALLAN R. McDONALD, 104 Phipps Street, Wollaston ALFRED H. RICHARDS, 56 So. Central Avenue, Wollaston
Ward Six JOSIAH C. FULLER, 54 Botolph Street, Atlantic FREDERICK J. KESSLER, 8 Pope Street, Atlantic JOHN R. NELSON, 4 Brunswick Street, Squantum
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CLERK OF COUNCIL AND COMMITTEES GEORGE T. MAGEE, 1079 Hancock Street Residence Telephone, Quincy 729-M
CITY AUDITOR AND CLERK FINANCE COMMITTEE HENRY O. FAIRBANKS, 51 Hunt Street, Atlantic Office Telephone, Quincy 51
CITY MESSENGER HARRY W. TIRRELL, Manet Avenue, H. N. Residence Telephone, 432-M Quincy 1
MANAGER OF WOODWARD FUND AND PROPERTY (Elected by the Council.) RICHARD R. FREEMAN
TRUSTEES OF CITY HOSPITAL (Elected by the Council.)
CHARLES A. ROSS THOMAS GRIFFIN
COUNCIL MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the City Council are held the first and third Monday evenings of each month at 7.45 o'clock.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Meetings of the standing and special committees are held at the call of the Chairman or at such times as may be designated by the Council.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF COUNCIL FOR 1915
Finance, Accounts, Claims, Contracts, and Salaries Richards, Thompson, Ross, Griffin, Smith, Beeman, McGrath
Street, Ways, Sidewalks, Bridges, and Lights O'Dowd, Nelson, Craig, Williams, Barnicoat, McDonald, Slade
Public Buildings and Grounds Griffin, Beeman, Bolster, Kessler, Barry
Sewers, Drains and Water Supply Craig, Slade, Barry, Gallagher, Ferguson, Fuller, Yule
Fire Department and Police Ross, Williams, Bolster, O'Dowd, Barnicoat
Ordinances, Licenses, Printing, Rules and Orders Smith, Thompson, Prescott, Gallagher, Fuller, Ferguson, Yule
Legislative Matters, Elections and Returns McDonald, McGrath, Kessler
Health, Poor and Soldiers' Relief Nelson, Prescott, Richards
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CITY HALL TELEPHONES
Mayor's Office,
212 Water Department 73
City Clerk,
230 Sewer Department, 549
Com. of Public Works,
100 Supt. Mt. Wol. Cemetery, 883-M
City Treasurer,
14 Central Fire Station 1
City Engineer,
115
Police Station,
142
Assessors
313 Superintendent of Schools 330
Tax Collector,
213 City Auditor, 51
Board of Health
1550 Burial Places Department 1044-W
Overseer of the Poor,
214 Thomas Crane Library, 81
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. Saturday, 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 D. MACKAY, Chairman MR. ALBERT L. BARBOUR, Secretary MISS LUCY M. HALLOWELL, Clerk
At Large
DR. NATHANIEL S. HUNTING, Term expires 1916
MR. ARTHUR W. NEWCOMB, Term expires 1917
DR. EDWARD H. BUSHNELL, Term expires 1915
By Wards
Ward 1, MR. JOHN D. MACKAY, Term expires 1915
Ward 2, MR. ARTHUR B. FOSTER, Term expires 1916
Ward 3, MR. ALFRED O. DIACK, Term expires 1916
Ward 4, MR. JOSEPH H. McPHERSON, Term expires 1917
Ward 5, DR. WILLIAM G. CURTIS, Term expires 1915
Ward 6, DR. DANIEL A. BRUCE, Term expires 1917
STANDING SUB-COMMITTEES FOR 1915
Books, Supplies and Sundries - Messrs. Foster, McPherson, Hunting.
Text Books - Messrs. Bushnell, Bruce, Curtis.
Transportation - Messrs. Diack, Newcomb, Mackay.
Evening Schools - Messrs. McPherson, Diack, Bruce. Special Subjects - Messrs. Newcomb, Hunting, Foster. Rules and Regulations - Messrs. Curtis, Bushnell, Foster. Teachers - The Chairman, Messrs. Curtis, Hunting.
Finance and Salaries - The Chairman, Messrs. Hunting, Bush- nell.
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For the Different Schools
High - Messrs. MacKay, Bruce, Hunting.
Adams - Messrs. Diack, Newcomb, McPherson.
Atherton Hough - Messrs. Hunting, Foster, Bushnell.
Coddington - Messrs. Foster, Hunting, Mackay. Cranch - Messrs. Hunting, Curtis, Diack. Gridley Bryant - Messrs. Curtis, Diack, McPherson. John Hancock - Messrs. Newcomb, Hunting, Bruce. Lincoln - Messrs. Newcomb, Diack, Curtis.
Massachusetts Fields - Messrs. Curtis, Bruce, Foster.
Montclair - Messrs. Bruce, Bushnell, Mackay. Quincy - Messrs. Bruce, Hunting, Bushnell.
Washington - Messrs. Bushnell, Foster, Newcomb.
Willard - Messrs. McPherson, Curtis, Bruce.
Wollaston - Messrs. Curtis, Bruce, McPherson.
To serve with Chairman and Superintendent as a Committee on Use of School Halls - Mr. McPherson.
Advisory Committee on Industrial Education
Messrs. H. Gerrish Smith, Alexander W. Russell, Herbert S. Barker, Henry A. Marr, Charles L. Pratt.
The Calendar for 1915
FIRST TERM: Monday, January 4, to Friday, February 26.
SECOND TERM: Monday, March 8, to Friday, April 30.
THIRD TERM: Monday, May 10, to Friday, June 25, for Elemen- tary Schools -to July 2, for High School.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL GRADUATION: Wednesday, June 23.
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION: Wednesday, June 30.
FOURTH TERM: Tuesday, September 7, to Thursday, December 23.
THE NEW YEAR: Monday, January 3, 1916.
HOLIDAYS: February 22, April 2, April 19, May 30, June 17, Octo- ber 12, and the remainder of the week from Wednesday noon next preceding Thanksgiving.
Attendance Officer CHARLES H. JOHNSON
Office, 8 Washington Street. Office hours for issuing labor certificates; 8 to 9.30 A. M., and from 1.30 to 2 P. M., 4.30 to 5 P. M. Saturdays, from 8 to 12 A. M. 1.30 to 5 P. M.
Mayor's Address
QUINCY, MASS.
JANUARY 4, 1915
CHESTER I. CAMPBELL
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MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Gentlemen of the City Council and Citizens of Quincy :
In assuming the duties of Mayor of this historic city, I do so with a feeling that I accept at your hands a great responsibility; one that carries with it many serious problems. It is my purpose to administer the affairs of the municipality in a just, efficient, economical, business- like, constructive manner, and in this work, I trust that I will have your co-operation and that of every public spirited citizen.
Economy, efficiency and co-operation should be the key note of the administration of the affairs of our city, otherwise our efforts will be futile. We should use the same skill and care in the affairs of the municipality that we would in our own private business. If we desire to bring a greater measure of happiness and prosperity to the people of our city, we should make our government strictly non- partisan. While I was elected on a partisan ticket, yet I have made it clear that politics should have no part in the business administra- tion of the affairs of our City Government. It is obvious to me that to conduct an efficient, economical business administration we must eliminate politics.
It will be my purpose at all times to keep in mind that it is essen- tial to co-operate with you, gentlemen of the Council, in the adoption of bills for the benefit of the municipality or in the rejection of such bills as may be detrimental to the interests of the city at large. With this in mind, I solicit your hearty co-operation. In turn you members of the Council should remember that co-operation among the members of your own body and with the Mayor will tend towards a better understanding and good government. The members of the Council should view the affairs of our city in the same light that they would the interests of a great private corporation, in which they were finan- cially interested and of which they were directors. The city funds are intrusted to them and they should weigh carefully every measure that calls for great expenditures. You members of the Council should not commit yourselves to any act that will not result in the greatest good to the city as a whole rather than to some particular section. The heads of departments and other employees of the city should strive to bring their particular cog in our municipal machine in per- fect harmony with the policy of the administration, and should see to it that their work be carried on in a business-like manner. Once we have our forces co-operating we will reap rewards.
Our city is growing and at this time we should make plans for the future. By the wisdom of the Legislature I am vested with author- ity to create new Boards that will prepare us for the problems of even fifty years hence. It is my purpose to appoint to these commis- sions public spirited citizens who are willing to make the sacrifice, and who will plan a constructive policy anticipating our rapid growth. These commissions should be sufficiently powerful to prevent the
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adoption of any legislation that would be a detriment to the beauty of our city or in any way endanger the health of generations to come.
We should be careful in assuming new burdens for the present. It would be more business like to protect our investments than to allow them to go to rack and ruin because of a lack of funds. If you members of the Council contemplate ordering additional improvements calling for the expenditure of great sums of money you should bear in mind that work already commenced should be first finished. This year above all others Economy should be your watchword. We are, for instance, confronted with a serious problem in the matter of streets and ways, as the highway mileage of our city is so out of pro- portion to our population and revenues. Streets where thousands of dollars have been expended have been going to ruin. Should we not, therefore, see to it that the vast amount of money already expended on our thoroughfares be protected before appropriations are made for new roads. Our main trunk roads should have constant attention and be kept in the best possible condition, and thus prevent the diverting of traffic to the minor residence streets. In any consideration of the streets of our city they should be sharply differentiated, accord- ing to their use, into main thoroughfares and minor streets, though there should, of course, be intermediate types. The principal high- ways should be wide and direct, in order to accommodate heavy traffic so well that it will keep away from the minor streets. These high- ways should be planned far in advance of building, in order to assure through connection. The result in saving in land, construction and up-keep, due to the concentration of travel will be very great, while the minor residence streets will be kept free from the noise and dust of heavy traffic.
While the deplorable condition of our streets should and will receive immediate attention, yet the future development of our high- ways has been wisely planned for, by an act of past legislature which authorizes the Mayor to appoint a Board of Survey, made up of three citizens. This act is aimed to prevent the unwise development of territory to the detriment of the City as a whole, and provides that if any person or corporation desires to lay out any street in the city of Quincy he shall, before beginning construction, submit to the Board of Survey plans and profiles of such streets, and shall prepare them so as to show the method of drainage of the contiguous terri- tory. The power of accepting and laying out streets or ways is still vested with the City Council, but it can only do so with the approval of the Board of Survey first being obtained in the manner provided in the act. This act will also prevent land speculators from indis- criminate laying out of streets through undeveloped sections for the sole purpose of land sales, for if any individual or corporation lays out streets and ways without the approval of the Board of Survey the public authorities are prohibited by this act from doing any work in the same. The result will be that the individual will be forced to obtain the approval of the Board of Survey before developing his land.
In line with the task of giving proper direction to the future growth and development of Quincy the Mayor is directed by a legislative act (Chapter 494, 1913) to appoint a City Planning Board. It is a labor fraught with the gravest responsibility, and most far reaching con- sequences. It will be the duty of this Board to make a careful study of the resources, possibilities, and needs of the City, and to make plans for the development of the municipality with special reference
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to the future. Quincy with its natural resources and its natural beauty will surely grow by leaps and bounds in the near future. Thousands of families will in the near future come to this city for an attractive place to live. Many diversified commercial institutions will be attracted here by the natural advantages that the city offers. In the next twenty years Quincy will probably show greater growth than any city adjacent to Boston. We should profit by the experience of others. In the plan of a city the underlying framework as its means of communication - by water, rail, and highway. To this end the railroads must be studied with reference to the increasing problems of transportation of passengers and freight. We should plan now for proper transportation for our great granite and other industries and also our increasing commercial activities. There is no reason why unsightly, unhealthy spots should disfigure our municipality. It costs more to keep them than to get rid of them, or to plan in ad- vance against their presence. The specific aim of the city planning board is to promote health, safety, convenience and beauty in the city, thereby conserving human energy and life. Such planning con- cerns itself with all the physical aspects of the city - its streets, rail- roads, waterways, public services, its administrative, educational, recreative property; and the development of private property. It treats them as component parts of an organic whole, so that each may dovetail into the next. The economies resulting from such planning will repay the costs many times over in its items of immediate application. It will also take effective steps to eradicate many of the most unpleasant features of our city. A carefully devised city plan, made far in advance showing when and how improvements ought to be made, fitting them in properly with other improvements made and to be made would not only secure uniformity, but actually involve a smaller outlay. The work of the planning board will be of vital importance to our future citizens. The future like the past, will witness the expenditure of vast sums of money on both public and private improvements. Great savings can be made by pursuing a comprehensive and systematic plan.
We want and must have fair and equal valuations in the assess- ment of property, and in order to get it we should have experts who are qualified to fix fair market valuation on lands, buildings, machinery, etc. The selection of a competent board of Assessors is a hard one, inasmuch as men who are best qualified for the position would not be attracted because the fixed compensation is not sufficient. Per- sonally, I believe that the members of this board are underpaid. I believe that in the end it would be a great economy if the salary of the members of the Board of Assessors was increased to such an amount as would enable the Mayor to select a Board that would devote all of its time to this work. Necessary provision should also be made for expert opinion upon values of such property as machinery, etc., of which the Board of Assessors has no technical knowledge. This would put a stop to inaccurate estimates. It would take too long to enter into the complete details as to the duties, liabilities and penal- ties, etc., of the Board at this time, but it is a fact that after the Board is appointed they automatically become directly responsible to the Tax Commissioner of the Commonwealth. The Board has always been a much abused one, and the criticism heaped upon it has not always been just.
No department in the city is so deficient from the standpoint of equipment as our Fire department. There is great need of modern
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apparatus, and I recommend that the department be motorized as rapidly as possible. It is impossible to get any degree of efficiency from horse-drawn vehicles because of the great distances that have to be travelled. Municipal experts all agree that not only is the motor driven apparatus more efficient because of its great speed in reach- ing a fire zone, but also because of the economy in up-keep. The fire alarm system of our city is antiquated and practically no im- provements have been made upon this system in the past 17 years. We are still using the storage battery system which was one of the first methods used for fire alarms. It has the old wooden type of board which has been condemned by the National Board of Fire Underwriters. This apparatus is installed in the Central Fire Station and is not only exposed to damage by fire from the building but from high tension currents leading to a wooden switchboard and wooden mountings of the repeater and cutout switches. It is absolutely necessary for the safety of our homes and industries that the fire alarm circuits have immediate attention, for owing to the old type of boxes and the overloading of the circuits we are in danger of inac- curacies in the alarms that might cause great loss of life and property. We should build a fireproof room adjoining the Central Fire Station and install a modern automatic repeater and charging board and other apparatus to bring the equipment to a high standard. A fire in the Central Fire Station at this time would put out of commission our entire alarm system.
The revenues of the Water department have shown considerable increase of late. This is due in a great measure to the activity of the collection department stimulated by our esteemed retiring Chief Executive. The investigations of leaks in the water supply are re- ceiving attention and by the continuance of these activities I feel safe in stating that the water department will show a decided im- provement during 1915.
The Police department has been severely criticised. While in some cases, no doubt, without foundation, yet better discipline must be maintained in this department. Courtesy must be extended and calls from citizens must have immediate attention. We must have promptness and efficiency.
I heartily approve of the action of the retiring Council in refer- ence to uniform system of purchasing. This step is a most important one and points at once a method of economy which I feel the council will have in mind throughout the coming year. I see no reason why there cannot be a saving by this method which calls for orders passing through the hands of one person to be checked by the Auditor against the appropriation of the department for which the goods are intended. This will prevent any departinent head from unknowingly exceeding his appropriation. It is intended that each department will have full knowledge of their expenditures. It also gives the city a chance to buy on a business basis instead of having contracts placed "quietly and friendly."
City government experts throughout the country are fast realiz- 'ing that the one year term for the office of Mayor does not give the Chief Executive sufficient time to bring to a successful issue an effi- cient, harmonious municipal organization working along economical business lines. This coupled with the agitation throughout the coun- try for a more compact legislative body should have the attention of our citizens.
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While the school department and its board do not come under the jurisdiction of the Chief Executive, yet he can do much to en- courage these worthy gentlemen in the vital work they are carrying on. It is my purpose to co-operate with them in every manner possi- ble, and in their behalf I solicit the co-operation of the City Council. In this respect the women of our city have taken the lead in co-operat- ing with the School Board, as evidenced by the recent vote of the Quincy Women's Club which has donated a sum of money to estab- lish a School Nurse in our city. This was done as a memorial in observance of its Tenth anniversary. I make note of this with a great deal of pleasure. It shows that the civic pride and public spirit of our women is awakened.
When the Declaration of Independence was signed John Adams said "This fourth day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festi- val. It ought to be commemorated by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore." Quincy, the home of John Adams, ought to certainly adopt the spirit, and in the main, the letter of his utterance. With a wealth of historical material in our city, it seems to me quite time we should fall in line with other cities in providing a July 4th Cele- bration along the line of Pageantry. The chief difficulty this year is financial. Such a celebration could receive little aid from the City, but I have been encouraged to believe that the different organizations of our city will heartily co-operate in a July 4th Pageant this year, and that private contributions would be sufficient to meet the expense.
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