USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1880 > Part 1
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CITY OF SOMERVILLE
ANNUAL REPORTS.
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SOMERVILLE, MASS. : SOMERVILLE JOURNAL PRINT. 1881.
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8881 569 1880
ADDRESS OF MAYOR BRUCE.
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF HON. GEORGE A. BRUCE.
DELIVERED JAN. 5, 1880.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL :
HAVING been unexpectedly elected to the office which I have held during the last two years, it again becomes my duty to make the customary address at the inauguration of the new city government. From past experience, I am led to the conclusion that the value of an inaugural address consists more in the fact that it enables one to present a concise and official statement of the condition of the city, for the information of our citizens generally, than from any effect it is likely to exercise on the conduct of the City Council during the year.
It is certainly not inappropriate that I should give expression to the strong feelings of gratitude which I entertain towards the peo- ple of the city for the generous confidence which they have placed in me, and to say that it will be my earnest and constant endeavor to make return therefor, by a faithful and conscientious discharge of the duties devolving upon me.
It is no slight honor that has been conferred upon each one of us, and I here invoke your hearty co-operation in carrying on the work during the present year, of making a record for this City Council that will enable it to stand in favorable comparison with any that have gone before, or those that will come after it.
You will pardon me, I trust, if in consequence of discussions that took place, and statements that were made, previous to our last municipal election, I enter somewhat at length in regard to the financial condition of the city, and a comparison of present expend- itures with those of previous years ; not, however, for the purpose
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of holding up the record of one government in unfavorable contrast with that of another, but simply to furnish such information as will enable people who desire to be just, to form a correct judgment upon the present management of the city. It is a matter of regret that, in consequence of our financial year beginning on the first day of January, it is not possible to present an exact statement ; but the following figures will show, within a few dollars, the finan- cial standing of the city on the first day of January, 1880 : -
Funded Debt .
$1,585,000 00
Temporary Loans .
210,000 00
But to meet temporary loans there is due to the city, on account of uncollected taxes and assessments, a sum consideraly in excess of $210,000.
The funded debt is classified as follows :
City Debt
$1,250,000 00
Water Loan .
335,000 00
Total
$1,585,000 00
The net funded debt of the city, including the Water Loan, is $1,385,000, and is ascertained as follows : -
Gross Debt
$1,585,000 00
Less Sinking Funds
198,000 00
Net .
$1,385,000 00
If we deduct from this the Water Loan
335,000 00
(The annual interest on which will, in a short time, be met from the income from water without taxation), leaves net
$1,050 000 00
There has been paid the past year : -
Bonds maturing in July and October cancelled . $11,854 00
By contributions to Sinking Funds from appropriations . 45,525 00
Decrease of debt in 1879
$57,379 00
In 1875 our funded debt was $1,571,854. To this sum, in 1876, was added a loan of $35,000 for the construction of a trunk sewer to West Somerville, which made the funded debt $1,606,854, which marks the highest point of our indebtedness. In 1877 a bond for
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$10,000 was paid, and another of the same amount for the water works was issued, making in effect no change. In 1878 a bond for $10,000 was paid, and in 1879 bonds amounting to $11,854, and during the past two years no new debt has been created. In addi- tion to this. in 1876, the sinking fund was established, and for the last four years the sum of $45,000 has been raised annually by taxation, and contributed thereto, which, on the thirty-first day of December, 1879, amounted, with interest accumulations thereon, to $198,000, all safely invested in the bonds of our own city. It will thus be seen that since the first of January, 1876, and during the period of greatest distress and depression that this country has ever known, we have not only met the current expenses of the city, but have cancelled and paid bonds amounting to $21,854, and have contributed the sum of $198,000 towards the payment of the debt, now in the hands of our commissioners ; and this, too, as I con- fidently believe, while at the same time every department of the city has been kept in a most efficient condition.
I find that from the establishment of the city in 1872, until the year 1876, the current expenses were increasing each year, - from $266,000 in 1872, to $479,450 in 1875, - and during the same period the funded debt was raised from $593.349 to $1,571,854.
From the books of the treasurer I have compiled the following table showing our expenditures each year to the present : -
1872. Current expenses
$266,000 00
Increase of funded debt
50,000 00
Total expenditure
$316,000 00
1873.
Current expenses
$348,900 00
Increase of funded debt
206,000 00
Total expenditure
$554,900 00
.
1874.
Current expenses
$432,369 03
Increase of funded debt
570,500 00
Total expenditure
$1,002,869 03
1875.
Current expenses Increase of funded debt .
$479,450 00
152,000 00
Total expenditure
$631,450 00
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1876.
Current expenses Increase of funded debt
$456,206 49
35,000 00
From which deduct payment to sinking fund .
45,130 62
Total expenditure
$446,075 87
1877.
Current expenses Increase of funded debt .
$425,360 62
From which deduct payment to sinking fund
46,030 62
Total expenditure
$379,330 00
1878.
Current expenses
$376,530 62
Decrease of funded debt
10,000 00
$366,530 62
From which deduct payment to sinking fund .
45,880 62
Total expenditure
$320,650 00
1879.
Current expenses
$328,875 00
Decrease of funded debt
11,854 00
$317,021 00
From which deduct payment to sinking fund .
45,525 00
Total expenditure
$271,496 00
From which it will be seen that in the period of four years the current expenses of the city have been reduced from $479,450 to $271,496, or nearly one half ; or to make the comparison with 1872, the first year of our city government, with a population of about 16,000, and make a deduction for interest on account of the . increased debt, it appears that the expenses were less by $37,000 in 1879 than in 1872.
The following analysis of the appropriation for the past year will show the amount and purposes for which the same were raised.
Appropriations, 1879, which the City Council was obliged by law to make, and in expending which it had no control : -
Interest .
$65,000 00
Schools .
76,500 00
Library .
1,200 00
Reduction of funded debt
57,379 00
.
$491,206 49
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Support of poor
$13,000 00
Water maintenance
13,000 00
Total .
$226,079 00
Appropriations, 1879, under control of the City Council : -
Fire Department .
$20,000 00
Health Department
2,700 00
Highways
28,000 00
Miscellaneous
3,000 00
Police Department
24,800 00
Public Park Maintenance
1,200 00
Salaries .
16,450 00
Sewers
7,500 00
Sidewalks
2,500 00
Soldiers' Relief
1,000 00
Street Lights .
7,500 00
Total :
$114,650 00
In a word, these figures show that for all purposes under its con- trol, the appropriations . by the City Council for the year 1879 were $114,650 ; and with full confidence I maintain that it was not possible to carry through the business of our city, now numbering 26,000 people, for any less sum, and I believe the money has been wisely expended under most efficient and faithful public servants.
In my judgment, it will be necessary to raise more money the present year than was used the last year. With the expectation of a reduction in the valuation of the property of the city, the Finance Committee of last year reduced the various appropriations to the lowest possible figure, in order that the rate per thousand should be kept at a point that would not work injuriously to the holders of per- sonal property. In four years the assessors have reduced the valua- tion of our taxable property from about $32,000,000 to something less than $19,000,000 ; and as the only effect of this action is to raise the rate, giving no relief whatever to the tax-payers, it seems to me that it is for the interest of all that a stop should now be made on our present valuation. It is not possible at this point to give an accurate estimate of the necessary increase in our appropriations, but it is safe to say that it will not be a large sum, and will not very perceptibly be felt by the owners of property. The larger
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appropriation will not be demanded on account of any intended larger expenditures for current expenses, but to settle some old claims of long standing, and others likely to be closed during the year. The claims against Mr. Dickerman, and of others, for the extension of Highland Avenue, commenced when we were under a town government, have been decided against the city, resulting in a loss of $8,186.84. It is also probable that the suit of William Sullivan, for the construction of the sewer to West Somerville, will be brought to a close, and the amount found to be due him will have to be provided for. These, with a few others of small amount which it is not necessary to particularize, will call for an extra appropriation of about $25,000.
SCHOOLS.
As the care of our schools is placed by law in an entirely inde- pendent board, I have never thought it fitting to enter into any dis- cussion in regard to them, in an address at the inauguration of the City Council. I will say, however, that after having been con- nected for two years with the School Committee, I am led to express the opinion that the great interest of the instruction of the children of our city is in the hands of most competent men, who are fully alive to the great questions now undergoing the test of popular dis- cussion in regard to the best methods of instruction. It is certain that under the present management our schools will at least main- tain the high standard they have already reached. For the last two years the Council has declined to appropriate the sum asked by the Board for support of the schools, and the result has been that each year has left us with a deficiency that has been made up in the next appropriation. There have been two reductions in the salaries of the teachers, and though not so large as the City Council seem to have desired, yet from a more intimate acquaintance with the School Board, I am certain the members are desirous of doing only what is for the best interests of the city. They are tax-payers as well as we ; they are representatives of the people as well as we ; and as the laws of the State have placed the responsibility in their hands, it would perhaps be better hereafter that the amount of money asked by the School Board should be granted.
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There is one matter in connection with this subject, which is of immediate interest to you. The law has placed upon the city gov- ernment the duty of supplying the necessary buildings to accommo- date the schools. The School Board unanimously voted last year to make request of the City Council for the erection of a new school- house in the West Somerville district. I believe, after examina- tion, you will be of the opinion that this request must be complied with. If so, it will be necessary to take action as soon as possible, that the building may be in process of erection in the early spring. It will be well to remember, however, that the cost must be raised by taxation, as the limit of our municipal indebtedness has now been reached, and no new loans can be made under existing laws. But this is no sufficient reason why suitable accommodations should not be provided for the education of our children. I would recommend that this question be considered as soon as possible, and if you find a necessity for action, that plans be prepared for a substantial, com- modious, but not an unnecessarily costly building.
BRIDGES.
Two years ago the attention of the City Council was drawn to the condition of the bridges that were built and maintained by the railroad corporations, whose tracks run through our territory. A special committee was appointed, whose duty should be to urge the erection of new structures, and which resulted in the building of a new and substantial iron bridge by the Fitchburg Company on Washington Street, fifty-five feet in width ; a much-needed improve- ment in that locality. Negotiations with the Lowell road were at the same time commenced, and that company is now erecting the finest bridge by far in our city ; over their track at Medford Street, which will be completed in about two months. There are still re- maining two bridges, one at School Street and one on Broadway, which mar the looks of the city, and travel on one of them, at least, is attended with real danger. The expense of building new ones at these points would be small as compared with the Medford Street bridge, and I think we should continue our negotiations with the Lowell road until the two unsightly and dangerous structures men- tioned are removed.
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It is but right to say that the representatives of the Fitchburg and Lowell Companies readily acceded to the requests of our com- mittee, recognized at once the justness of their claims, and con- tracts were finally made that were deemed to be equitable to either side. There was an opinion, prevailing more or less, that as all of these bridges were originally built and have always been main- tained by these corporations, this duty being placed upon them by statute, therefore the whole expense of the new ones should be paid by them. By law they are obliged to forever maintain them in the manner of their original construction ; but when the city desires that they shall be rebuilt of a different width, to conform to the new lines or the old lines of a street, or to be placed in a new locality, then, and in all such cases, it is provided that the expense shall be divided between the road and the city ; in case the parties themselves cannot agree, in such proportions as three commis- sioners shall decide and award. The expense and uncertainty of a commission has thus far been avoided.
WATER WORKS.
During the past year our citizens were sufferers to a considerable extent from the impurity of the Mystic water, but so far as I can learn, no danger to health was suffered by any person. It was a trouble which scientific men have not as yet been able to thor- oughly explain, nor has a remedy been devised. So far as impuri- ties have arisen from the drainage of tanneries flowing into the lake, but little trouble need be apprehended in the future, as the Boston Water Board have succeeded in turning all or nearly all into the sewer built two years ago for that purpose. To provide against such difficulties as were experienced last summer, the city of Boston has petitioned to the Legislature of 1880 for authority to lay pipes connecting Chestnut Hill Reservoir with the Mystic pumping station in this city, which would give us a supply from that source in case our own should fail or again become impure.
As there has been some discussion during the last year in the city government, and through the columns of the newspapers, in regard to our contract made with the city of Charlestown, now binding on the city of Boston, and as there appears to be some
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misapprehension among our citizens in regard to it, perhaps a few words would not be out of place on this subject.
On the twenty-eighth day of September, 1868, the town of Somerville, through a committee consisting of Aaron Sargent, C. E. Rymes, R. A. Vinal, R. E. Demmon, and Cutler Downer, entered into a contract in writing with the city of Charlestown, by which the town of Somerville was to be supplied with water from Mystic Lake. The well-known ability and character of the gen- tlemen composing this committee is a sufficient guaranty that as favorable a contract was made as it was possible for them to make at that time. The city of Charlestown, the year previous, had entered into a contract with Chelsea, the terms of which were the same as our own, with one exception. The town of Somerville considered the question, and decided for itself that it was for its interest to make the contract it did, rather than enter into the doubtful experiment of an independent supply. In that respect I think the town acted wisely. If any one will take the trouble to examine into the history of the introduction of water into all the cities and towns of this Commonwealth, as I have done, and then follow up their history to the present time, for the purpose of see- ing the expense, ordinary and extraordinary, with which they are attended from year to year, I am certain the idea of an independ- ent supply for this city would not be entertained for a moment by any person of sound mind. But the question of an independent supply is not now an open question for us, for we have made a contract, solemnly entered into, from the terms of which we are not at liberty to recede, whether the same may now be considered favorable or unfavorable. It is difficult to believe that the Legis- lature of Massachusetts would grant the right to a city to take water from any of its lakes or streams, while that city was being supplied from another source, by a contract which it had entered into and was still binding upon it.
After the contract with Somerville, Charlestown entered into contracts for the supply of the town of Everett, and with Boston to furnish water to East Boston and Deer Island ; and by supplying so large a quantity to these different cities and towns, and by the large growth of each, Charlestown began to receive an income more
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than sufficient to pay its interest on the water debt, and to main- tain their works in repair. - so large, indeed, that the net income over all expenditures in one year amounted to nearly $100,6,00. A computation, however, would show that if the supply had been con- fined to Somerville alone, the income derived under our contract, and the income derived from water-takers in the city for which the Mystic Works were originally built, both combined, would not have been sufficient to meet the current expenses, including inter- est and repairs ; or in other words, that the profit has accrued to Boston from the furnishing of water to so large a number of muni- cipalities. As early as 1874 or 1875, the Water Board of Somer- ville began negotiations with that of Boston for a modification of our contract, with the view of securing to the city a larger per cent of the amount collected for our water supply. It was not claimed as a legal right, but placed on the equitable ground, that by the con- tract itself we obtained certain rights in the works themselves, by contributing towards the payment of the debt created for their con- struction ; and as the net income was largely in excess of all present or probable future expenditures, it would only be just and fair to allow to our city now a higher per cent of the return pay- ments to it, rather than wait until the debt was entirely extinguished, when we should be entitled to a new contract to be fixed by three disinterested commissioners, to be appointed by the Supreme Judi- cial Court, which, without doubt, would be much more favorable in its terms.
It was in this spirit, that, a year ago, I recommended the appoint- ment of a special committee of the City Council to,take this subject in charge ; and the recommendation being accepted, a most efficient one was appointed, of which the president of the Board of Alder- men was chairman. This committee, after many interviews with the Water Board of Boston, reported back a contract in writing for the modification of the old one, which, though not so favorable as was desired, has been accepted on our part, and if ratified by the City Council of Boston, will return to the treasury of our city between $6,000 and $7,000 annually more than we have as yet received.
With this additional revenue, we shall, in course of two or three
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years, be able to pay the interest on our water debt, and all expenses of keeping the works in repair; a condition of things which can be said of only one or two of the cities and towns of the Commonwealth, where it has been possible to obtain water at a small outlay from lakes and streams located in or running through their own territory. The only available source from which water could be taken for the uses of our city, except the Mystic, is the Shawsheen River, from which it could be obtained for but little if any less than $2,000,000, the interest on which would yearly amount to a sum at least twice that we are now paying, to say noth- ing of the large expense for maintenance.
It has been urged against the action taken by the city, to which I have alluded, that the whole matter was in the hands of the Water Board, and the City Council had no authority or power to act. This is simply a mistake, which a moment's investigation on the part of any person would dissipate. The authority of the Water Board extends solely to the management of the constructed works ; and any action by it in the premises under consideration, unless first authorized by the City Council, or afterwards ratified by it, would be a nullity, and of no binding force. The Boston Water Board, with similar powers to our own, first applied to their city government for authority to negotiate with our committee, which was duly granted, but the question of ratifying the contract was reserved, and we are still obliged to get the assent of that body before it will go into effect.
It has also been claimed that we are at the present time en- titled to a new contract under the terms of the old one ; but this position, I am satisfied, after considerable investigation, is not tenable. It is said that the debt for the construction of the Mystic Works has, in fact, been paid ; but this conclusion is based upon a construction of the contract which, I apprehend, no court would ever uphold. Besides, this claim is one that would be strongly resisted by the city of Boston, and could only be determined after a long and expensive legal contest in our courts, and I do not think the city would be justified in taking steps in this direction, except on the advice of the most eminent legal authority. It is conceded that the city of Chelsea has the first right to make a claim for a
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new contract, its own being of earlier date than ours. It would perhaps be thought the part of wisdom on our part to wait the result of a decision in favor of that city. But as my opinion is in conflict with that of a portion of our city, if it should be deemed wise by you to seek advice from such a source as I have indicated, it would be a pleasure to me have it done.
SUITS AT LAW.
At the beginning of the last year there were a large number of suits pending in the various courts of the State to which the city was a party. Most of these, however, grew out of the many assessments that were laid under the betterment law for the con- struction of streets and the Broadway Park. A large number of these, however, were settled during the year, and there is a fair prospect that in course of another twelve months our docket will be nearly clear. To prevent litigation, and save the bad feeling among our own citizens apt to be created thereby, the city offered a discount on the assessments levied for the building of the Public Park of twenty per cent, and a majority of the cases were settled on that basis. There are a few, involving the largest sums, that will soon be determined by a trial in court.
THE CITY TREASURER.
Early after the formation of the last city government, a good deal of unpleasant discussion arose in regard to the accounts of the City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, which resulted in the em- ployment of a skilled accountant, who has made a thorough and minute examination of all the official transactions of that officer, from 1872 to 1878, both years inclusive ; and the result shows what no one before had reason to question, that his duties have been honestly and faithfully performed, and that every dollar of money belonging to the city, and coming to his hands, has been fully accounted for.
SEWERS.
The demand for sewers has been so great, that nearly three miles of brick and pipe sewer was laid in the city during the last summer
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and fall. The amount of money expended was nearly $30,000. It is, in my judgment, questionable whether we should continue at such an expenditure in this department. There is other work of equal importance, which we have delayed from year to year on economi- cal grounds ; and I think we should be cautious in granting peti- tions for sewers where large numbers of the abutters are protesting their inability to pay the assessment usually laid upon their estates.
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