USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1875 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
.
F
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE
CITY OF SOMERVILLE
CA1
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from
Federally funded with LSTA funds through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
http://archive.org/details/annualreportofci1875some
CITY OF SOMERVILLE
ANNUAL REPORTS
GIVES
A
FREED
SOMERV
ILLE
O
NAL
L
FOUNDED
1872.
D 18 42
A CITY STRENGT
IN
ED
ESTABLISH
M
1875
-
BOSTON: J. E. FARWELL, PRINTER, NO. 34 MERCHANTS ROW. 1876.
C
€
( (
24299
Stack Ref. 352
569 1875 ℃.2
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF
HON. WM. H. FURBER,
DELIVERED JANUARY 4, 1875.
Gentlemen of the City Council :
Having received the suffrages of my fellow-citizens for four con- secutive years, and the second time for this position, I desire to avail myself of this opportunity to express my sincere thanks for their continued confidence and esteem, and to earnestly assure them that no effort shall be wanting on my part to always merit and retain it. The unusual interest manifested of late in our municipal affairs, which has resulted in placing us in the positions we occupy to-day, enhances the honor bestowed, and should alone be a strong incentive to each of us to labor honestly, faithfully and diligently for the welfare of our entire community.
While other sections of our Commonwealth have experienced large losses by fire and water, our city has not suffered the past year by pestilence, famine, flood or conflagration ; but, on the con- trary, we have been favored with a liberal share of God's good gifts, and we have very properly begun our duties this morning by rendering thanks unto Him, and invoking His blessing and guid- ance, without which our efforts will ever be as nought. And now having sought His aid and protection, let us proceed to the work devolving upon us with the confident assurance, that if we are true to ourselves our labor will not be in vain.
The management of public affairs has been placed in our hands not to enable us to advance our own selfish interests, or to promote the interests of one section of our city to the injury or neglect of another, but to consider fairly and carefully all measures that may be presented, and endeavor to so decide them, that the greatest good to the greatest number shall be the direct or indirect result. This is the fundamental basis of all true legislation, and we should strive not to lose sight of it in the discharge of our duties.
What has been done, and what remains to be done, some of you who have been laborers in the Government since its first organiza- tion are familiar with, but many of you come newly to the work, and I shall aim to make known to you at this time the present condition of the various departments, and submit to you all such suggestions as seem to me proper for your consideration.
2
FINANCES.
The funded debt of the city Dec. 31, 1873, was
$819,354 00
There was required to complete the work authorized by the adminis- tration of that year for widening and constructing Milk Street,
For widening Highland Avenue,
$170,000 00 27,000 00 197,000 00
The debt was further increased by the administration of 1874, as follows :-
For the construction of sidewalks, $40,000 00
For the construction of Sewer in Washington and Beacon Streets,
40,000 00
For the construction of Fire Alarm Telegraph,
10.000 00
For the extension of Water Works,
15,000 00
For School House lot on Tufts Street,
15,000 00
For New Police Station, land and building,
50,000 00
For Waltham Gravel Lot,
35,000 00
For Wakefield Gravel Lot,
13,500 00
For Public Park, land and construc- tion,
200,000 00
418,500 00
The amount of public debt paid ? by the administration of 1874, was
45,000 00
373,500 00
$1,419,854 00
It will be seen that in order to complete the work laid out by the Government of 1873, and DEMANDED BY THE PEOPLE, a debt of $197,000.00 was contracted ; and to meet the wants of the citizens during the year just closed, the debt was further increased, $373,- 500.00, net. As will be observed, there has been paid the past year by direct tax, and not by extension or renewal, the sum of forty-five thousand dollars, or about five per cent. of the entire funded debt, as it stood one year ago, thus making the aggregate debt of our city at this time, $1,419,854.00, as before stated. amount of assessments due, and taxes unpaid (the latter bearing interest at twelve per cent per annum), fully equal the amount of floating debt. I believe that from three to five per cent. of the pub- lic debt should be paid annually by direct tax, and I would ear- nestly recommend, that inasmuch as but fifteen thousand dollars matures the present year, that in addition to that sum, the amount
'The -
3
required for the erection of the School House on Tufts Street, say forty-five thousand dollars, and also the amounts required to pur- chase land in West Somerville, and for the erection of a School House thereon, be provided for by direct tax, and not by increas- ing the funded debt. I think there is not so much to fear in rea- sonably anticipating the wants of a rapidly growing city, and creating a debt to meet them, that those of the future may take part in paying for the improvements made partly for their benefit, by the people of to-day, PROVIDED that a reasonable percentage of the incumbrance shall be discharged annually.
The most prosperous merchant is not the one who does strictly a cash business, but the one who, with commendable sagacity, properly anticipates the wants of his customers, and having issued his notes payable for merchandise to meet them, pays the same promptly at maturity, and thus keeps his credit unimpaired. The affairs of a municipality should be managed in the same careful and judicious manner. And in this connection I am proud to state, that the bonds of our city are eagerly sought for at par, and with the exception of eight bonds, amounting in the aggregate to thirty- five thousand dollars, payable in three years, from April 1, 1874, with interest at seven per cent. per annum, and one bond for ten thousand dollars, payable in five years, from April 1, 1874, with the same rate of interest, not a bond has been issued the past year bearing a higher rate of interest than six and one-half per cent. per annum. The public property of the city fully equals in value the amount of the funded debt, while the taxable value of the city is $30,824,100.00, showing the funded debt to be less than 45 per cent. of the assessed valuation.
When we consider the great improvements made in our High- ways, Sewers, Public Buildings, Fire Department and Water Works, this exhibit cannot be otherwise than satisfactory to the tax-payers, although our financial condition can be further im- proved, if excessive demands are not made upon the Government by the people themselves. If an undue share of improvements is in- sisted upon by the people in a single year, the rate of taxation must necessarily increase, unless an inflated value is placed upon our property, which delusion I hope will never be attempted, as it would, sooner or later, impair our city's good name, and thereby work injury, if not ruin, to us all ; better, FAR BETTER, keep the value of our property below rather than above its intrinsic worth, and let the RATE of taxation be governed by the WANTS OF THE PEOPLE, whose servants we are, and whose requirements we are expected to respond to.
SCHOOLS.
Our Public Schools were never in a more prosperous condition than at the present time, and reflect great credit upon the Com- mittee and Teachers, all of whom manifest the deepest interest in the thousands committed to their care, and for whose educational
4
training our citizens liberally contribute. The expenditures in this department must necessarily increase annually, but it is a sat- isfaction to every citizen to know that the benefits derived from such institutions are wide-spread, and shared in by all.
As the future management of our religious, educational, politi- cal and mercantile affairs must in the future rest with those whose minds are now being stored and characters formed in our public schools, it should stimulate us to encourage those who more di- rectly have charge of these important trusts, and to aid them by granting every reasonable requirement to elevate and extend these branches of education.
By the report of our Board of Assessors, in May last, it appears that we then had in our city 3,402 children, between the ages of five and fifteen years, located as follows :-
In Ward One, 1,182
66 66 Two, 1,201
Three,
571
66
6 Four, 448
3,402
Of this number 3,235 were attending school, or within 167 of the whole number reported by the assessors. In addition to this num- ber there were 234 pupils above the age of fifteen years ; making the entire number of pupils in May last 3,469.
For their accommodation we have eighteen school houses, con- taining seventy-six school-rooms, all but three of which are occu- pied, as follows :-
1 High School with
165 pupils.
43 Grammar Schools with
1,660 66
29 Primary Schools with
1,644
3,469
Since May last there have been added, 157 pupils.
Whole number of pupils at this time, 3,626
Showing an increase over last year of 245 pupils. 4
To relieve the crowded condition of some of our schools, and provide for the natural increase of school population, six schools were organized the past year, making the number of schools now in operation seventy-three, requiring the services of eighty-two teachers. The Luther V. Bell School House was finished and fur- nished the past year within the amount appropriated, and by its completion the Prospect Hill District was relieved of its pressing needs, and rooms previously rented for five different schools were dispensed with.
The appropriations for school purposes the past year were,
5
$57.000.00 for Teachers' salaries ; $2,000.00 for salary of Superin- tendent ; $2,500.00 for Janitors' salaries, and $14,500.00 for mis- cellaneous expenses.
The requirements of the various School Districts are now well supplied, with the exception of the East Somerville and West Somerville Districts. For the former a lot of land was purchased on Tufts Street by the past administration, and I trust that the erection of a building on the same, similar to that built the past year on Vinal Avenue, will receive your early consideration ; as well as the purchase of a suitable lot of land in West Somerville (having in view the future growth of that section of our city), and erecting thereon a Primary School House of moderate cost for im- mediate wants, deferring the erection of a more extensive structure until the future demands of that locality warrant it.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The value of our Public Library as an auxiliary to our other branches of education can hardly be over-estimated, almost every week produces additional evidence of the interest taken in it by our citizens. The Board of Trustees have labored assiduously to as- certain the literary taste of our community, and to provide for every reasonable want, endeavoring at the same time to exclude all publications that would tend to lower the moral standard of the community.
The earnest interest of the Librarian (without compensation), and the faithful devotion of his assistants to the details of this department, are worthy of special mention. During the past year 1,097 books have been added. making the number of volumes now belonging to the Library 4,730. The number of names registered for books at this time is 3,070, showing a gain of 1.130 during the year. The number of books given out during the year was 35,402. The amount expended the past year was $2,875.38, of which $1,680 75 was for books ; $897.50 for salaries, and $297.13 for in- cidental expenses. Total amount invested in books up to this time is $5,783.06 ; the entire amount of EXPENSES since the open- ing of the Library, say twenty months, is $2.492.15. The books given out have not suffered unreasonably at the hands of the bor- rowers, and no losses have as yet been sustained, showing the full appreciation by the public of this valued institution provided for the benefit of all classes. I feel that I can bespeak for it from you the same thoughtful consideration and encouragement that it has received from our predecessors, and that any reasonable amount required to promote its usefulness will be granted. I would repeat the recommendation made by me one year ago, that the room now occupied by the Police Court, when vacated, be used to increase the present limited accommodations of the Library, and for the purposes of a Reading Room.
6
HIGHWAYS AND STREETS.
NEVER since the organization of the town or city has there been so much demanded on our highways and streets by the people in a single year, or so much accomplished by the Government in the same space of time as during the year just closed.
These improvements require heavy outlays, and although URGED and INSISTED upon by the citizens, are considered by them more burdensome than any other public improvement, and are the cause of all the litigation in which the city has been engaged. In view of this fact, I would AGAIN suggest that only a moderate amount of improvements be carried on annually, using special care to have the work done in the most approved and reliable manner. In this connection I would suggest that petitioners who desire to have a highway or street laid out, or altered in width or grade, be re- quired to submit a plan made satisfactory to the City Engineer, exhibiting such highway or street, and showing such alteration, if any is desired, before any action is taken upon such petition, thus preventing any conflict between the petitioners and the Govern- ment, and saving much valuable time of the Engineer and the Committee having charge of such improvements. And I would recommend that the ordinance relating to highways.be so amended as to embrace the above suggestions in proper form. In 1872 three new streets were constructed, with an aggregate length of about one and a half miles, costing $10,778 52 ; there was also expended on highways the same year, exclusive of cost of sidewalks. $51,- 146.46. In 1873 five new streets were constructed, with an entire length of about four and three-quarter miles, at a cost of $92,- 488.52 ; additional expenses on highways, exclusive of cost of sidewalks, during the same interval amounted to $68.959.22. During the past year twenty-two streets were laid out, with an ag- gregate length of about seven and one-third miles. On seven of these streets but little work has been done, of the remaining fifteen some have been wholly and others partially constructed, at a cost of about $142,000.00 ; the other expenses in this department for 1874, exclusive of land or other damages, and cost of sidewalks, amounted to about $100,000.00. These expenditures, though large, have been demanded by the people, and the Government should not be subjected to censure in answering their requirements.
Sidewalks have been constructed as follows :-
In 1872 in 27 streets, or, including crossings,
five and one-quarter miles, costing, $49,920 51
In 1873 in 19 streets, or, including crossings, six and three-quarter miles, costing, 52,716 77 In 1874 in 21 streets, or, including crossings, eight miles, costing about, 80,000 00
One-half of the cost of these sidewalks has been assessed upon the
7
abutters, and so immediate and apparent have been the benefits derived from this work, that the assessments have been usually paid without a murmur.
You will doubtless be called upon the present year to extend this improvement, and I would recommend that all reasonable re- quests in this direction be promptly complied with.
The work begun on the northerly side of Broadway I trust will be forwarded to completion without delay, and this great thorough- fare, extending the entire length of our city on its northern boun- dary, be put in a condition that shall make it compare favorably with the Avenue on the opposite side of our city; the widening and construction of which has just been completed, and which, I believe, must be considered a wise improvement, now that its ad- vantages are daily made so prominent.
These two avenues are the main arteries of our city, and the immense amount of travel that is constantly coursing through them, renders it imperative to have them constructed in the most complete and substantial manner ; and although this may involve a large expenditure at first, I believe it to be far more economical than to expend thousands of dollars annually for improvements on them that are superficial, and cannot be productive of anything but temporary benefit.
Although large amounts have been expended the past year in this department, there is no class of our citizens that do not share in the benefits arising from the expenditure, and the beneficial re- sult to our city generally is shown by the increased value of the property along the line, and in the vicinity of the improvements made.
The work already commenced on our highways and streets, as authorized by the Government of last year, will require your con- stant care, and if well performed will necessarily absorb most of the present year in its completion ; and I trust you will not be compelled to increase your burdens in this department by any in- considerate demands of our citizens.
SEWERS.
The sewerage of our city has been greatly extended during the past three years, and has served to contribute largely to the health and comfort of the community. In 1872, sewers were built in seventeen streets, costing $29,119.59, the aggregate length of which is about 21 miles In 1873, sewers were built in sixteen streets, costing $42,011.54, with an aggregate length of about 2} miles. During the past year. sewers were built in seventeen streets, costing $88,675.36, with an aggregate length of about 4 miles. The aggregate cost of these sewers is $159,806.49, of which, ABOUT three-fourths was assessed upon the abutters, making the net cost to the city-in 1872, about $7,500.00 ; in 1873, about
8
$12,000.00 ; and in 1874, about $24,000.00. In addition to which, the sewer in the Miller's River District has been constructed by the cities of Cambridge and Somerville, as authorized by the Legisla- ture, for the abatement of the nuisance in that locality, at a cost of $245 005.26, which sum is to be assessed upon the two cities by the Commissioners appointed in accordance with the act. This work has been done in the most thorough manner, and as a sani- tary measure alone, cannot fail to be appreciated by the inhabi- tants of both cities.
There is no public work performed which seems to require such careful and constant supervision, from the time of its inception until completed, as the construction of sewers. If the work is entrusted to incompetent or unscrupulous workmen, defects will be allowed to creep in and be hastily covered up -and thus buried several feet beneath the surface, months might elapse before its weak points would be discovered, when the loss or damage sus- tained, would fall upon the city, and not upon the contractor. The remarks apply as well to the connecting of lateral drains, with our main drains or sewers, as the construction of the sewers them- selves.
Such pieces of masonry are built at great expense, and none but experienced workmen, licensed for the purpose, under the direction of some competent city officer, should be allowed to perforate them for the purpose of connecting branch drains.
In this connection I would recommend adding a section to the ordinance relating to sewers, embodying this suggestion, with a proper penalty affixed, to guard against the evil alluded to, and to further protect these expensive public works. I would also call your attention to the fact that the statutes confine all action of the Government relating to this branch of work to the Board of Alder- men, thus necessarily compelling a few members to perform an undue share of labor. This may be remedied by the appointment of a competent and reliable person, to perform the clerical work in this and other departments that require similar assistance, to en- able them to make up their assessment lists (which usually involve large amounts) with perfect accuracy. I trust these suggestions will receive your careful consideration and meet with your hearty approval.
WATER WORKS.
A constant supply of pure water is not only indispensable to the health and prosperity of any town or city, but adds largely to the value of the taxable property. The increased demand for service pipe, made by our citizens from year to year, shows their just ap- preciation of this great requisite. During the year 1874 water was supplied in our city to 3,426 families, 66 shops, 22 manufac- tories and 267 stables.
There have been laid the past year, 17,137 feet of pipe, or
9
about three and one-fourth miles, making the aggregate length of pipe, now laid, about forty-one miles, with 226 hydrants, 24 of which were located during the year just closed. This affords in- creased protection against fire and renders the cost of the work in- significant when compared with the great benefits derived. In- cluded in the number of feet of pipe laid the past year, as above stated, is a new twelve-inch main in Packard Street, extending to the reservoir on College or Walnut Hill, which is of great benefit to the community, as it serves to equalize both the pressure and supply. The amount expended by this department for the year ending the 31st ultimo is not far from $32,000.00.
The entire amount of Water Bonds issued up to this time is $295,000.00, and as authority has been granted by the Legisla- ture to issue Bonds to the extent of $400,000.00, there is still vested in the Government, the right to issue $105,000.00 addi- tional, as our needs demand it. You will probably be called upon to provide for a further extension of these benefits, and I doubt not that all consistent requests will be complied with.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Our city has been wonderfully exempt from loss by fire during the past twelve months, and much credit is due to our faithful and efficient firemen for this very satisfactory record. The number of fires during the year was twenty-seven, destroying property val- ued at $9,085.00, which was fully covered by insurance, thus caus- ing no NET loss to our citizens.
The department at this time consists of seventy-four members, including the Chief Engineer and four Assistant-Engineers ; no in- crease having been made during the year.
We have now in active service one steam fire engine and hose carriage, four horse hose carriages and one hook and ladder car- riage, all of which are in good condition.
The Chief Engineer states that the department is supplied with eight thousand feet of hose, four thousand feet of which are good ; three thousand feet are suitable for hydrant service, and the re- mainder unfit for use ; he therefore recommends the purchase of one thousand feet of new hose the present year. He also recom- mends the purchase of another steam fire engine without delay, for the following cogent reasons : First, the water pressure is not sufficient to make the hydrants effective in case of fire on the elevated portions of our city, and therefore we should be depend- ent upon a single steamer in such an event. Second, the depart- ments of Boston and Cambridge respond to alarms from those sections of our city near their respective borders, and to be good neighbors we must reciprocate such favors, and should so equip our department that we may do it without jeopardizing the lives and property of our own citizens. Third, in case of a large fire, such as would necessitate the use of several hydrants at the same
2
10
time, the water pressure would be so neutralized as to render them non-effective in extinguishing the same, and the use of steam or other additional power would have to be resorted to. Finally, in case of au accident to the steamer now in the department, or when the same is undergoing repairs, we are wholly dependent upon the hydrants and the departments of the adjacent cities for protection.
An additional steam fire engine, including horses, can be ob- tained at a cost of fifty-two hundred dollars, and the annual expense of maintaining the same would be about three thousand dollars.
The Fire Alarm Telegraph was completed and put in operation June 17th last, and has proved a valuable acquisition to the de- partment, conveying, as it does, to firemen and people alike, prompt information of the exact locality of any alarm of fire within our limits, and in no instance has the department been misled by it. It also serves to announce the suspension of the afternoon session of the public schools, when, in the judgment of the Super- intendent, the weather is sufficiently stormy to warrant such an interruption of study.
The Chief Engineer further recommends, that four additional signal boxes be placed in our thickly settled sections, so that in case of fire an alarm may be given without unnecessary delay. The expense of this additional safeguard will be one thousand dollars, or two hundred and fifty dollars for each signal box.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.