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 1927 > Part 1
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City of Quinen
Le 40
QUINCY 1888
1927
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https://archive.org/details/inauguraladdress 1927quin
CITY OF QUINCY MASSACHUSETTS
CITY GOVERNMENT OF 1928
TOGETHER WITH THE
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE OFFICIALS OF THE YEAR
1927
16.40
179
ANET
QUINCY
-
CITY DOCUMENT NO 39.
BOSTON E. L. GRIMES PRINTING CO. 368 CONGRESS STREET
AN INDEX OF THE REPORTS APPEAR- ING IN THIS VOLUME WILL BE FOUND AT THE END OF THE BOOK.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF MAYOR THOMAS J. MCGRATH, COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL, MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 1928
Gentlemen of the Council:
Following the custom of years, I submit to the Council for 1928 a short resume of the work accomplished during 1927 and a pros- pectus of work which may be attempted during this year. As the Council will readily perceive, an extraordinary amount of work has been accomplished the past year and our hope may be that in the year just opening we may be able to make as satisfactory a showing as during the year just closed. A great deal of this accomplishment was achieved in the face of handicaps of various kinds, the chief of which was the unsettled weather conditions dur- ing the months in which we hoped to achieve the greatest results. By intensive planning and the active and earnest co-operation of all the department heads, it has been possible to overcome these handicaps and to finish the year in a very satisfactory manner. One aim particularly has been borne in mind in all that which has been undertaken this year and that was to close everything before weather conditions made it impossible to do further outside work. Happily, all work that was started has been completed. In conse- quence, we will not suffer any loss in material or labor which fre- quently results where streets half completed are carried over from one season to another.
The Work of the Year
Before outlining the plans for new work it may be of interest to give a sketchy account of what has been accomplished in 1927.
Streets
Under a Council appropriation of $250,000, supplemented by a budget appropriation of $31,000, the City in July began its program of street construction embracing 58 new streets. As this was an extraordinarily large program and as some of the streets were not accepted until late in the year, it was utterly impossible to com- plete the whole program. As a result there are 13 streets remain- ing for the program of 1928. All the other streets have been completed with gravel or stone sidewalks and sewers and drains. The policy this year has been to put sewers and drains in every new street and as a result our sewer and drain appropriation has been much larger than usual. The results obtained by this policy more than offset the extraordinary expense and we all have the confident feeling that when the street is done it will not be neces- sary to tear it up for sewers or drains.
A little later it will be possible to present an analysis of all the street and other work done this year. This is not possible at the present moment and consequently all that can be done is to give a summary of accomplishments. Of all street work, and this includes rebuilding as well as new work, a total of 11.36 miles of work has been done. The Council is perhaps familiar with the
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CITY OF QUINCY
immense amount of rebuilding work which has been carried on this year, a work which touched every section of the City. If pos- sible this work of rebuilding should be continued so that at the end of a few years every street in the City will be in excellent condi- tion. Once we have arrived at the point where all accepted streets are in condition, the resources of the City can be allotted for the purpose of creating new streets in the rapidly developing sections of the City.
Under a late order of the Council appropriating $125,000 to com- plete the street program of 1927, thirteen streets are embraced in the schedule for 1928. Some of these streets are extremely difficult problems to handle but the administration feels that while the work will cost more than ordinary road building, the ultimate charge will not be altogether unsatisfactory. The street accept- ance program for this year will be necessarily limited by the enormous demands for other work. If, however, a little later in the year it should be found possible to allot more money for new streets I am quite sure the Council will agree to extend this pro- gram to embrace all such streets as may be possible to do within whatever appropriation may be made. There are, of course, a number of sections that will demand the constant attention of the City Government and I hope that it may be possible this year to do a little more work in the growing sections of Wollaston and Mont- clair. These localities are bringing many new people here, and the City should, as soon as possible, do its utmost to give these locali- ties the same consideration that has been given to older parts of the City. In mentioning these two wards I do not want to over- look the necessity of more street work in other wards of the City, particularly in Ward One where the territory to the east of Mount Wollaston Cemetery has only been touched by new street develop- ment. In laying out a street program, it should be our united effort to give these more populous and developing places our ear- nest consideration. I realize that this is the policy in the minds of the members of the City Council and consequently I feel that if we can allot more money for new streets this year that these sections will receive a generous portion.
Sidewalks
During the year it has been a pleasure to carry into effect Council orders for sidewalks totalling over seven miles in length. This pleasure has been enhanced by the further fact that every dollar spent for sidewalks, as was the money spent on the rebuild- ing of streets, has come directly from the budget of the year. I hope that in 1928 we may be able to be equally generous in the matter of sidewalks and that our total mileage this year will equal that of the year just closed. Streets are essential but not more so than sidewalks. The street that is well drained and well kept and offers the further advantage of good substantial side- walks, adds not only to the wealth of the individual owner but likewise to the wealth of the City.
Drainage
As the City develops, one problem grows in intensity. This prob- lem is drainage and at the outset of the year I was convinced of the necessity of extending our drainage system as far as possible.
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS
With this thought in mind I also had a further thought that this work, although it is of supreme importance, should be financed out of budget funds. An appropriation totalling $50,000 was asked for and granted by the City Council for drainage work outside of the drainage done on new streets. The first big proposal was the proper drainage of the enormous basin around Wilson avenue in Montclair, a work which cost approximately $26,000. This work has been completed and as a result considerable territory hereto- fore inundated after every storm is now thoroughly drained. In many other sections of the City this drainage work has been carried forward with the result that we have very substantially added to our drainage system. Some streets that were built years ago but which did not have a drainage system were taken care of this year. In all approximately six miles of drainage have been installed with pipes ranging in size from 10 to 36 inches. Eighty- three manholes and 313 catch basins have been included in this work.
In 1928 much attention must be paid to this matter of drains. The City could easily spend a great deal of money on work of this character, but with our resources always in sight we can undertake only that work which is of the most urgent character. The plans made in 1926 by Metcalf and Eddy have been of help in formulat- ing new plans for this essential work and this year I hope it may be possible to undertake one or two big projects. The present drainage system in Ward Three is wholly inadequate to serve its purpose and so I have almost decided that one of our major pro- jects this year shall be the proper drainage of this section. There are some bad spots in Ward Four and a number of poorly drained sections in Wards Five and Six. To the best of our ability in the coming year we will take care of these bigger demands.
Water and Sewer
During 1927 there were 712 water connections made. In addi- tion to this work, new mains to the extent of 51/2 miles were also laid.
There were 525 sewer connections and a little over five miles of main sewer installed in 1927.
The City has petitioned the Legislature this year to grant au- thority to the Metropolitan District Commission to enable the City to drain by gravity certain parts of this sewerage system. These new projects embrace Squantum and Adams Shore and I am hope- ful that the Legislature will grant the permission to erect the pumping stations that are needed in these sections. If this author- ity is forthcoming, it means that the city must do its part in ex- tending its sewerage system. This means a larger outlay than formerly, but I am confident that the City Council will co-operate with me in giving sewers to two sections which greatly need them.
Schools
In my inaugural address at the beginning of 1927, I stated with perhaps more hope than truth, that our large construction program was nearly complete and that for a time we might escape any extraordinary outlays for school buildings. As the school popula- tion has demonstrated at the opening of the September term, it
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was found that even with the increase in school facilities, there were yet some sections of the City that were lacking in school accommodations. During 1927 the City opened two new Junior High Schools. One was in the Atlantic section of the City and the other one is located on Granite street for the benefit of the school population in the South and West parts. Both of these schools have their full quota of children and the withdrawal of children from other schools has not appreciably lessened the num- ber attending the other schools. The Council of 1927 authorized the fourth Junior High unit in the Quincy Point section. This building will be ready for occupancy in September of this year and with its opening the completion of the Junior system will be achieved.
By request of the City Council, the School Committee has pre- pared a five year school building program. The estimate for these new buildings is based on a normal 7% increase in school popula- tion, a percentage of increase which is the average of our experi- ence for some years past. School accommodations in certain sec- tions of the City are almost imperative, particularly so at Houghs Neck, Adams Shore, Merrymount and Montclair. These four sec- tions have been deemed by the School Committee as deserving of first consideration at the hands of the City Government and the estimated cost of these buildings will be in the neighborhood of $400,000. At Houghs Neck it is proposed to build a new structure since it is impossible to add to the present building. At Adams Shore it is proposed to build the first unit of what will ultimately be a Junior High school. At Merrymount it is proposed to build an elementary school of eight rooms. Except in Merrymount the City owns land which may be used for a new building. The site for the school at Merrymount has recently been acquired by order of the City Council.
This demand for new school buildings brings to the attention of the Council one of the perplexing problems confronting the City Government. It is an extraordinary demand to set aside the sum of $400,000 for new school buildings. But considering the situation as it exists in the places selected for additional school accommo- dations this year it must be admitted that some of our younger children are forced to attend school under unusual and unsatis- factory conditions. We all realize that the children at Houghs Neck, to take one instance where there is serious overcrowding, have been compelled to go on part time this year and some younger children have been forced to attend a morning session beginning at an hour earlier than the usual school session. The School Com- mittee is attempting to remedy these conditions and I hope that the Council and the School Committee may arrive at what can be deemed to be the best policy to pursue in meeting the demands for new school buildings this year. The School Committee has re- quested the Council to join with it in considering this matter of new buildings and I hope that out of this conference a plan that will be reasonable and possible, may be decided upon.
I only state my own feelings mildly when I say that I am some- what disturbed over the school problem for this year. I am thor- oughly convinced that there is lamentable lack of room in the four sections of the City and will do everything in my power to help along a reasonable program. On one hand we have a need for these additional rooms and on the other we have the problem of how to finance the proposals.
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS
The Finances of the City
A survey of our financial condition at this particular point may be of interest to us all. On Jan. 1, 1928, the borrowing margin of the City will be $314,319. Out of this we must make an appropria- tion of at least $100,000 for sewer extension and possibly $50,000 more to take care of the expense incurred in street widenings and in the bridge which I hope may be built over Squantum street in Ward Six. At the outset, therefore, we have only the sum of $164,319 which may immediately be used for school purposes. The cost of the land and the building at Merrymount may be in the neighborhood of $125,000. That will leave us with $39,319 as the nucleus for whatever new building may be further authorized. This amount will be increased up to and including July 31 by the sum of $232,000 making a total available credit on Aug. 1 of $271,319. If the Council, in its wisdom, should feel that any of these other proposals of the School Committee should be favorably acted upon, this credit of $271,319 would almost complete all of the program outlined by the School Committee. I am going into detail in this matter simply to demonstrate to the Council, as near as I can, just what our financial possibilities are. As the plan is here out- lined it will be seen that we may, if it should be deemed necessary, provide for these new school buildings without petitioning the Legislature for permission to borrow outside the debt limit. This proposal has been advanced by some, but I am reluctant to ask the Legislature to give the City permission to do this if it can be found that the matter can be taken care of by a little planning by the City Government. Our last experience with the Legislature in a similar proposal was not satisfactory and I hope that we may not be forced to run the risk of a refusal by the General Court for extraordinary privileges in the matter of loans for purposes which are now provided for inside the debt limit.
Hospital
The demands upon the City Government are so varied that one can only give partial attention to any one particular project. I think we all realize that in passing from a consideration of the needs of the School system we must immediately give sympathetic attention to matters of almost equal importance. I am forced to bring to the attention of the City Council the needs of the hos- pital. At the present, despite the fact that only two years ago a splendid new building was equipped as a Maternity and Children's Ward, the work at the hospital has increased to such an extent that a new building, either for the general or for the specific use of maternity cases, is an absolute necessity. The Board of Man- agers and the doctors will at a later date request a conference with the City Council in an effort to provide means for meeting this demand for additional hospital room. The oldest building in use, and now given over to a Men's Ward, is deemed to be unsafe and unsatisfactory. If a new buildinig should be allowed those that are now receiving care in the old building would have the benefit of newer, more commodious and safer quarters. The cost of a build- ing similar in size to the Maternity Building would be from $200,000 to $250,000. If the Council, in its good judgment, should favorably pass upon the school building projects, the remaining credits up to the 31st of December, 1928, would in no sense permit the City to undertake a new hospital building this year. Consid-
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CITY OF QUINCY
ering the fact that the Quincy City Hospital is each year extending its beneficent work and that the demand for room is increasing even faster than the population increase, it seems quite desirable that earnest thought should be given to this matter of a new building. If, however, the Council should deem it wise to undertake this work during the present year it would be absolutely necessary that the Legislature give permission to finance some of our school projects outside the debt limit. It is my purpose, therefore, before the year's work is finally decided upon, to ask the Council for advice as to what we should assume toward these new projects. We all realize the necessity of many propositions that come to us for a settlement but our enthusiasm and good intentions must always be tempered by our complete knowledge and understanding of our financial resources. It, therefore, seems to me only prudent to summarize all our needs at the beginning of the year and from this summary select those that are more urgently needed and which are presumably within our finances.
Comfort Station
At the beginning of last year I called the attention of the Council to a matter which has been agitated for many years. In a growing community like Quincy a Comfort Station is a real necessity and we all must regret that the pressure of other matters has delayed this essential convenience. It would be a very welcome thing if the City could find the means and the location for a station for the service of our own people and of those who come into the City to trade. I regret that I can make no recommendation or give any assurance that this work can be undertaken this year, but simply rely on the hope that we might find a means somehow to carry out a plan that meets with our unqualified approval.
The Grade Crossing Situation
On this important subject I can say nothing except to state that the matter has now reached the Courts upon a petition of the New Haven Railroad. Their petition for review has been argued and the judgment of the Court has not yet been given. If the City wins in this proceeding it augurs well for the final success of our plea that the decree plan shall be carried into effect. From time to time there have been suggestions made that the decree plan of grade crossings abolition should be either discarded or modified. I believe that our better judgment is to hold to the plan now on record and not jeopardize the whole project by changes of any kind. The decree plan is as satisfactory as any method for the betterment of conditions at these crossings and so I hope that the final judgment of the Courts will be in our favor.
Chestnut and Other Streets
Probably no matter of the past year has given rise to more con- troversy and has been the subject of more review than has the contemplated building line and widening of Chestnut street. After these hearings were closed and the Council took the matter under consideration, a building line ten feet distant from the present street line was established. Unfortunately, through an error in the order passed by the City Council, the taking was found to be void
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS
and the Council rescinded its building line ordinance. I think it is the general understanding that since the Council has given its assent to this proposition that the processes of new legislation toward the same end will not be delayed in the early part of 1928. With the establishment of the building line on Chestnut street the City Council is face to face with two other problems in streets directly connected with Chestnut street. The widening of Foster street and Cottage avenue has been agitated for many years and it seems almost necessary to do something toward widening these streets. They are situated right in the heart of the City and would, if widened, add considerably to the area that might be used for business purposes. It seems hardly conceivable that the Council would give its consent to the widening of Chestnut street if it did not contemplate the widening of these two other highways. I hope, therefore, that these matters may be taken up early in the year so that it may be definitely known just what it is intended to do with these problems.
Perhaps no body of citizens is more conversant with the needs of the City than is the City Council. All matters of public impor- tance reach the Council in some form at some time. At times proponents of particular legislation grow impatient over the delays or rejections by the City Government and do not always stop to consider the reasons why these matters are not favorably received. One reason, and this is perhaps the most important reason of all, is that the City Government is forced, through sheer necessity, to shape its legislation by an understanding of the City's financial means. I feel that we are all enthusiastic over these projects which have for their object the advancement of the City. The widening of Chestnut and Foster streets and Cottage avenue are cases in point. Another instance of a project of considerable merit is a street from Granite street to School street through the so-called Edwards Meadows. For many years during my service in the Council I had a feeling that this was an almost impossible project and that it did not in any sense merit serious consideration from the City Government. More intimate knowledge of conditions in the City has convinced me that a street of this character would be an inestimable benefit to the City. The owner of one large tract of land in this area has offered to the City a roadway 60 feet in width through his property without charge, with the stipulation that if the City should accept his offer that he should be exempt from betterments if this new street should be built. I am bringing the matter to the attention of the City Council simply for the reason that the congested conditions of Hancock street makes neces- sary a parallel street and this location from Granite street to School street offers a splendid street to bring into development a great deal of land adjacent to the business centre of the City. The matter is of sufficient importance for at least a study on the part of the City Council and I hope that the project may receive this during the course of the present year.
Traffic Committee
Early in the present year, a body composed of 35 of our citizens was asked to assist in the solving of the traffic problem in this City. This body of earnest men has met regularly and has done a great deal to bring about better traffic conditions in all sections of the City. Some of their more important suggestions have been incorporated into the regulations of the City and in other cases
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their suggestions have been advantageously adopted by the Police Department. The Committee has worked untiringly to help a situ- ation that was hurting the best interests of the people of Quincy. It has given time and thought to the consideration of matters that are extremely perplexing, but I am happy to state, that as a result of its enthusiastic and disinterested service, a great deal has been accomplished in the proper regulation and control of traffic in this City. In this work the Committee has had the support of the Chief of Police and of the men of his department, and I am certainly grateful to them for their work during this year. I hope that they may continue to serve their City during 1928 since I feel that there is yet much work to be done. Owing to the magnitude of the problem it was not possible to touch all parts of the City, but during this year I feel that this Committee can apply the same thought and study to other sections of the City as they have given to the tremendously important question of the traffic situation as it exists in Quincy Square.
In treating our traffic and its regulations it should not be over- looked that a distinct advance has been accomplished here during the past year. Early in the year the Council received the benefit of a demonstration of the efficiency of traffic control signals. As a result of this, permission was given to the Mayor to install signal lights along Hancock street from Barry's corner to Temple street. These signals have given such satisfaction that later the Council was asked for an additional appropriation to extend the signals from Quincy Square to Doble's corner and at certain points along the Southern Artery from Hancock street to Quincy avenue. In addition to these, one or two independent signals have been located at bad traffic points. These latter lights have not yet been installed but I expect that they will be within a short time and then the City will have an excellent traffic control system along some of its principal highways .. I hope it may be possible to further extend this system the coming year, particularly along Washington street, and at such other points as we may find it necessary. Once these signals are in operation and pedestrians and drivers understand their workings, and observe the rules, I believe we will have fewer accidents and much more freedom upon our City streets.
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