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 1929 > Part 1
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City of Quincy
1640
5 625 MANET 2
QUINCY
HB
1929
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https://archive.org/details/inauguraladdress1929quin
City of Quincy Massachusetts
CITY GOVERNMENT OF 1930
TOGETHER WITH THE
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE OFFICIALS OF THE YEAR
1929
16
0
MA
QUINCY 1889
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 41
E. L. GRIMES PRINTING COMPANY 368 Congress Street BOSTON
AN INDEX OF THE REPORTS APPEARING IN THIS VOLUME WILL BE FOUND AT THE END OF THE BOOK
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF MAYOR THOMAS J. MCGRATH, IN COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL, MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1930
Gentlemen of the City Council :
As we follow the time-honored custom in Quincy of taking a survey of our municipal needs and resources at the beginning of each year I am pleased this year to briefly outline some of our problems and at the same time attempt a survey of the means to keep up with the steady demand for improvements. At one time we might have felt that there would come a period when Quincy would be called upon for only a nominal expenditure, but as we view the new year we can at least state that that happy day has not yet made its appearance. Despite dreams and illusions as to saturation points, the startling fact is that the city is entering upon a new period of development in many sections and in con- sequence major expenditures are more necessary now than at many periods in our history.
Before going into matters that are purely municipal I think we may with reason give a passing thought to conditions that con- cern us only as they affect the well-being of the city. While Quincy is not predominately an industrial city, we are, however, singularly fortunate in the number and variety of our enterprises and their prosperity is the measure by which we gauge our mu- nicipal well-being. Of course, the direct benefit to the city from its business and industry is a factor of considerable importance, but the greater factor is the indirect benefit which any city re- ceives by providing means of employment for its citizens. As the industrial situation, except in a few specialties, was not even nor- mally fair in 1929, the outlook for 1930 gives us greater hope that the intermittent and sectional prosperity which characterized 1929 will be displaced by conditions which will be more even and more substantial. Already portents and forecasts point to an exception- ally good year and to the members of the City Government the guarantees that slumps and uncertainties will be succeeded by a period of steadiness in industry, permanency of employment and the resultant far-reaching benefits to all the people of the city will be hailed as one of the welcome signs of the New Year. De- spite the unfounded optimism which persisted in seeing prosperity where none was to be found, our merchants and manufacturers have gone steadily on to the time when conditions would be more satisfactory. The auguries of the new year are so good that we all earnestly hope that none of the splendid promises will fail of accomplishment.
Schools
Perhaps no other work done by a municipality ranks in impor- tance to the task of the public school system. It was the first thought of the early settlers and their enthusiasm and their con- fidence in education has lost none of its force with the passage of time. Quincy has always been noted for its public school system and for the interest which the people take in maintaining this supremacy. To keep step with the increasing population has been a hard task, but the people have been willing to incur stupendous liabilities in order that their children might have the best in edu-
4
CITY OF QUINCY
cational methods and in buildings. Since 1924 the city has com- pleted one high school, two junior high schools, made an addition to the Daniel Webster, an elementary school at Merrymount, and one at Adams Shore, and at present is putting the finishing touches to additions to the Atherton Hough and Montclair Schools. The total cost of these buildings was $3,330,281.87, and of this amount the sum of $2,294,714.39 has been spent in the last three years.
By an order introduced at this meeting of the Council money is asked for an addition to the Gridley Bryant building and for more school facilities in the northern section of the city. This does not by any means meet all school needs, but considering our resources it may be that this is all that can be attempted this year. The School Committee is now considering sites for new locations, and I presume that before long the City Council will be requested to make provision for contemplated buildings. The need for in- creased school room is apparent now in the Wollaston and the newer section of West Quincy, the latter problem offering one of the hardest because of the new houses now being built and the great possibilities of development in the section that borders Adams street and merges with the West Quincy end of the Wol- laston district. The Montclair addition will relieve the Wollaston School, but the time is not remote when a junior high school will become a necessity in the Wollaston-West Quincy section.
From this sketchy resume of the school situation it will be seen that for some years to come the City Government will be hard pressed to keep up with the steady increase in school population. If we judge by the record of the past five years it would seem that the people are not daunted by the outlook and are not dissatisfied at the mounting cost of these essentials of a modern city.
The Resources of the City
The City Council continually has before it the problem of streets, water extension, drainage and schools, but seldom hears of the greatest problem confronting our municipal government. To spend money we must have money, and to continually spend on credit is simply to invite bankruptcy. Quincy, in obedience to a State law, each year raises a certain amount of money to defray the budgetary and other expenses, and it is presumed that the money so collected shall be used for this purpose. Of a tax levy a little less than four million dollars, our collections up to De- cember 31st were approximately sixty per cent, and the failure to collect the remaining forty per cent entailed upon the city the necessity of extending old temporary loan obligations or creating new issues. Last year we spent for temporary loan interest a sum greater than was spent for street rebuilding, almost double the amount spent on sidewalks of all kinds, a sum much greater than was actually spent on the construction of almost three miles of new streets and only slightly less than the state or county tax. This temporary loan liability has become our paramount prob- lem and is the sole reason why our whole municipal organization fails in giving to the taxpayer real service at a reasonable cost. Our rate last year was $28.40, and the sum spent for temporary loans was approximately $135,000, which means that approxi- mately 43/4 millions of valuation was used for no other purpose than to make good the deficit caused by the non-payment of taxes. Temporary loans have become a fixed debt in Quincy, which is un-
5
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
fortunately a debt which does not in any sense help in the pro- gressive development of the city.
To carry our comparisons to a point where we may vividly see the enormous waste of interest money let us consider the relation of this temporary loan charge to other interest charges. In the budget of this year $195,275.98 was allotted as the carrying charge for a municipal debt of $4,525,500. To carry a temporary loan of $2,500,000, the original issue, the sum of approximately $135,000 was spent, only $60,000 less than the sum required for the whole city debt. This discrepancy is in part explained by the high inter- est rates charged on temporary loans, another penalty which the city must pay for the failure to collect real estate taxes. We carry over this year $1,200,000 of these notes and my whole aim is to pay these notes without renewal and by the proceeds of taxes now overdue. Elsewhere in this statistical part of this paper I am giving the whole story of these temporary loan obligations as well as the figures relating to tax collections.
For three years it has been the aim of the administration to break down the custom of deferring tax payments until late in the year after their levy. This custom has been gathering force for many years, but so far the agitation and the appeals for prompter settlements have not been satisfactory. This year it is proposed to take full advantage of a not too favorable law and by sale force delinquents to meet their obligations to the city, and thus overcome a practice that more than any other has prevented the city gov- ernment from taking care of all municipal needs and at the same time make possible a lower tax rate and lower valuations.
I think it will be generally admitted that residential property values are as high if not higher than they should be in Quincy. It has been our constant effort to either stabilize or reduce these valuations, but as long as such a large proportion of taxpayers refuse to meet their payments it has been found impossible to re- duce values.
Frequently people state that they were under the impression that real estate taxes are not due until April of the following year. I do not know where this fallacy started, but I think it quite op- portune to state that the law requires that taxes are due and pay- able on October 15th and begin to bear interest if not paid before November 2nd. Immediately after the issuance of the bill the collector can send summons and demand and fourteen days after this last notice the proceedings for sale can be begun. This is the method that will be used this year, and I hope that this timely warning and the reasons for our action will cause those owing bills to make prompt settlement.
The New Excise Tax
The first attempt of the State to relieve the property taxpayer of some of his burden has been a dismal failure here. Eliminating the conscious fraud which I believe was perpetrated in many in- stances, there is still a large number of owners who have not yet shown any disposition to pay the automobile excise. The aggra- vating circumstance in the new law is the readiness with which hundreds of registrants gave fictitious addresses and thus elim- inated themselves from the possibility of being found by the tax collector, The excise law never appealed to me and because of its looseness and ambiguities I did not deem it expedient to use the full estimated revenue from this source in reducing the tax rate.
6
CITY OF QUINCY
We did, however, use seventy-five per cent or $141,000, but up to the present moment only about eighty-five per cent of this amount has been collected. While we are making a tremendous effort to collect the unpaid excise the outlook is decidedly discouraging, and it may mean that a source of income which should be a help to the real property owner is tending toward an actual deficit.
I am so convinced of the futility of the present method of col- lecting the excise tax that I hope the incoming Legislature will give consideration to the bill to force payment before registration is issued. This is the law in some states, and in the light of our experience it seems that it is the only way in which the Legislature can keep faith with the real property taxpayer. To prolong the date of payment is simply to open a way to avoid payment alto- gether.
Taxation of Real Estate
The Legislature has for some time realized that the great burden of taxation fell on real estate and on certain lines of business and that other sources of income, much better able to bear some of the growing burden of taxation, were not sharing any part of this burden. A committee set up two years ago has made a report which seeks to remedy this peculiar situation, and Quincy, as well as other communities, may hope that much of this proposed legisla- tion may be given the force of law. Progressive communities are constantly struggling with the enormous problems of schools and streets and should be given some other means than real property on which taxes can be levied. We do, of course, share in the income tax distribution, but evidently from the report of the special com- mittee many other means of helping cities and towns may be tapped to get additional revenue. The real estate owner has too long borne the brunt of taxation and any relief will be welcomed by all municipalities.
The City Hospital
Last year the Council authorized the erection of a new hospital building with a capacity of 103 beds, and early this year this new unit will be ready for service. The growing needs of this insti- tution call for still other units, but as our means are so limited I do not feel that we can give much attention to this matter until later in the year. The hospital is growing in influence and service and demands serious consideration as one of the most important departments. The Council has always been generous in granting credits to help this worthy institution, and I feel certain that if money is available in the later months an appropriation for an addition to the Nurses' Home and to the operating and auxiliary rooms will be granted. The Nurses' Home, which was only opened in 1927, will not be adequate when the new medical building calls for more nurses and more pupils.
The ambulance is kept at the Police Station, but this arrange- ment has never been wholly satisfactory. Whatever of complaint arising out of this arrangement does not come from any lack of attention or willingness to give good service on the part of those who respond to calls, but is rather due to psychological or senti- mental reasons. It would, of course, be much better if the ambu- lance could be kept in the Hospital grounds. But our present lack is money and until we get some other pressing matters out of the way this and other urgent needs must wait.
7
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
With the completion of the new building the beautifying of the grounds becomes almost a bounden duty, and with this in mind I have asked Mr. Herbert J. Kellaway, the landscape architect, to prepare a plan for this purpose. Much has already been done to improve the grounds on the Whitwell Street side, but to give the institution its proper setting the whole area should be laid out and developed in a formal manner. With a student body of seventy- two and many graduate nurses the Hospital should provide some outdoor recreational facilities, and I have requested that Mr. Kella- way develop his plan so as to include one or more tennis courts. Members of the Council are familiar with the topography of the Hospital grounds and so do not need to be reminded of the im- mense amount of fill which can be taken out and used to develop the playgrounds at Monclair, Hollis Avenue and Merrymount. If, therefore, the plan meets with the approval of the Council, work on this important development could start just as soon as the frost is out of the ground. No one will deny the esthetic value of beautiful grounds, but the greater value of this improvement will be in the combination of utility and beauty.
The North Junior High Grounds
I realize the disappointment of all citizens at the delay in laying out the grounds of the North Junior High. These grounds, situated at the entrance to the city, and passed daily by thousands of people, have been a constant reproach to every one. Plans for this area have also been developed by Mr. Kellaway, but up to the present I was somewhat timid about asking for the money necessary to do the work. This is the tercentenary year of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and I think we may make one substantial contribution to commemorate this event by making these grounds of enduring beauty.
Protection of Life and Property
The forces of the fire and police departments have been greatly increased in the last few years, these increases made necessary by the increase in population and the constant demands on the police department for more men to safeguard children and take care of the outlying sections. Lately a motor patrol has been in- augurated in the latter department, and I believe that this latest equipment will give the department greater mobility and conse- quently greater efficiency. In the fire department the Council will be asked this year to purchase the new La France piece which is intended to replace the two old machines. The chief of the Fire Department has suggested that a new piece carrying a powerful penetrating light should be purchased, but on this point I would rather defer any decision until the matter could be discussed by the Council. The cost is always an important factor and it may be that even a project of much merit will have to be negatived because of a lack of money.
Beale Street
The widening of this important thoroughfare and the building of a new bridge over the tracks has been a fruitful subject for discussion in the Council and elsewhere for the past two years. Owing to the financial situation and the desire to get other matters settled, it was not expedient to assume this expensive and trouble- some undertaking until a more propitious time. The widening and new bridge are important projects and I am quite convinced that
8
CITY OF QUINCY
the Council would be agreeable to these proposals if the railroad and the city could come to an agreement. The new bridge creates a tremendous problem in grade and this in turn makes the problem of cost. A thorough inquiry of this whole matter will be made as early as possible and the result submitted to the Council. Beale Street is the most important intersecting thoroughfare in the Wol- laston district, and with the heavy and constant traffic passing over it gives almost pronounced priority to its claim for consid- eration.
The Abolition of Grade Crossings
Despite many setbacks and annoying delays in the settlement of this time-old problem I am certain that the city and railroad are now near an agreement. As stated in the message of last year, the new plan calls for an overhead street at South Quincy, the easterly end beginning at the intersection of Franklin and Water Streets and the westerly end terminating about 145 feet west of Pleasant Street. This plan means the abandonment of part of Liberty Street at Water with a new street approximately 80 feet west of the present street. A new station is to be built on the easterly side of the railroad. That part of President's Avenue which crosses Federal Avenue is discontinued and the latter street is continued directly to Water Street. From Pleasant Street a driveway is to be built to connect with the railroad property. The change in grade at Water Street necessitates a change in the grade of Pleasant Street.
School Street is saved under the new plan, with a change in grade on the easterly and westerly sides. The maximum grade on School Street is five per cent on both approaches, while the grade on Water Street is 5.25 per cent on the easterly side and 4.5 per cent on the westerly end. An overhead bridge from Liberty Street to the easterly side of the tracks is part of the new plan.
At the Quincy station the new plan does not materially differ from the old decree plan. A new bridge of steel is to be built and platform extending southerly to Granite Street on both sides of the track and northerly these platforms are to be extended 160 feet from Saville Street.
Street and Other Work
I think the City Council may take a reasonable pride in the amount of street and other work done during the past three years. The demand has been unusually heavy, but the response has been so favorable that the sum total of achievement has been far beyond our expectations. It has been gratifying to all of us that we were able to do this work, for after all the citizens take keen pride in the condition of their streets and sidewalks even if we do mention the great value of these things as inducements to bring people to Quincy.
In summarizing the amount of work done during 1927, 1928 and 1929, let me state the following figures to show what has actually been accomplished:
Miles of new streets 15.66
Miles of streets rebuilt
15.81
Miles of sewers 18.67
Miles of water mains
13.1
Miles of drains
16.08
Miles of granolithic sidewalks 16.79
Miles of amescite sidewalks 10.
9
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
I think it may be permitted to state that a very important work has been done in improving drainage areas. The most expensive single job was the draining of the area adjacent to Wilson Avenue. This year the brook running through the Montclair school yard has been covered as part of the development of the school property, and it would be a matter of some pride if we could stand the ex- pense of covering a portion of our brooks each year. The money spent for drainage in the South Quincy section, at Wollaston and at Dysart Street has been very satisfactory and minimized the trouble in all these sections. Much remains to be done in improv- ing the drainage system, and I am confident that the Council will be as generous this year as in other years in providing the means to extend this important feature of municipal work.
BORROWING MARGIN FOR 1930
Net Valuation, 1927
$128,179,310
Net Valuation, 1928
134,803,948
Net Valuation, 1929
137,922,543
$400,905,801
Average of three years' valuation
$133,635,267
Two and one-half per cent 3,340,882
Debt January, 1930, including $125,000 authorized but not issued:
City Debt
Sewer
$2,670,000 349,000
3,019,000
Margin of credit available January 1, 1930.
321,882
Credit remaining of the special Legislature au- thorization for school purposes 200,000
Making a total credit at beginning of year which can be used for all purposes $521,882
In addition to the above credit the city has a balance accruing through a special act for hospital pur- poses of
10,000
10
TEMPORARY LOANS 1929
Date
Sold to
Rate
Due
Amount
January 31-Bank of Com. & Trust Co
$4.70
Dec.
10, 1929
$200,000.00
February 20-Old Colony Corp.
5.25
Nov.
29, 1929
100,000.00
February 20-Old Colony Corp.
5.32
Dec.
5, 1929
400,000.00
February 28-Old Colony Corp.
5.05
Dec.
13, 1929
100,000.00
March
14-Old Colony Corp.
5.27
Mar.
13, 1930
100,000.00
March
29-Old Colony Corp.
5.92
Nov.
22, 1929
300,000.00
April
6-Old Colony Corp.
5.62
Dec.
10, 1929
100,000.00
April
24-Old Colony Corp.
5.34
Apr.
15, 1930
300,000.00
June
12-Old Colony Corp.
5.66 & 2.
Mar. 18, 1930
250,000.00
June
12-Old Colony Corp.
5.66 & 2.
Apr. 17, 1930
250,000.00
June
27-Old Colony Corp.
5.47
May
9, 1930
200,000.00
August
30-Old Colony Corp.
5.55
Int. to follow
Feb. 28, 1930 (Int. $2,767.40) ....
100,000.00
Sept.
30-Old Colony Corp.
5.50
Int. to follow
June 13, 1930 (Int. $3,857.64).
100,000.00
Dec. 13-(Renewal of note due Dec. 13, 1929). .. 4.75
Dec. 30, 1929.
100,000.00
Renewal 1928 account
$2,600,000.00
March
14-Old Colony Corp. $1,300,000 due November and December. $1,300,000 due 1930.
5.50
June 12, 1929
300,000.00
-
CITY OF QUINCY
11
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
STATEMENT OF CITY DEBT
Debt Jan, 1, 1929
Paid during the year
$5,313,500 769,500
Debt added during the year.
1,101,000
Total debt January 1, 1930
$5,645,000
Increase in debt during the year
331,500
Debt maturing in 1930 which will increase the borrowing margin:
City
Sewer
January
...
......
February
$16,500
March
51,000
$16,000
May
10,000
21,000
June
40,500
4,000
July
114,000
7,000
August
35,500
4,000
September
45,000
3,000
October
32,000
8,000
November
3,000
4,000
December
36,000
8,000
$383,500
$75,000
$458,500
As will be seen from the foregoing statement the total maturi- ties inside the debt limit will amount to $279,500 up to August 1st, and this sum added to the $521,882 of credit available Jan. 1st gives a total credit of $801,382, which is available for the many purposes which will call for big expenditures this year up to August 1st. Our first substantial outlay will be for schools, one at West Quincy and the other at Atlantic, and the cost of these will perhaps aggregate $450,000. An immediate appropriation of at least $80,000 for sewers should be voted so that we may take full advantage of good weather to start work.
To the members of the City Council I pledge my best efforts and sincerest cooperation in everything which may help in the progres- sive development of the city. Our problems are not always easy to solve but I am sanguine that with united effort a great deal of good work can be accomplished. I am grateful to the members of the Council of 1929 for their splendid cooperation, to the heads of the various departments for their untiring efforts to give real ser- vice to the citizens and to all those who by encouragement and friendliness called into action our best efforts for the well-being of the city.
..
April
$4,544,000
CITY GOVERNMENT-1930
MAYOR, HON. THOMAS J. MCGRATH SECRETARY, WILLIAM C. CANNIFF, JR.
DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS, FREDERICK E. TUPPER
CITY TREASURER, HAROLD P. NEWELL.
CITY CLERK, EMERY L. CRANE.
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