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CITY OF SOMERVILLE
ANNUAL REPORTS
1890
GIVES
DO.
SOMERVILLE
FREED
NAL
MUNICIPAL
FOUNDED 1842.
A
CITY 1872. STRENG
42. ESTABLISH
HE
-
SOMERVILLE JOURNAL PRINT.
1891.
311V83M02
352 569 1890 C2
STACK
Ref
293429
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1890.
MAYOR. CHARLES G. POPE.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN. CHARLES M. HEMENWAY, President.
WARD ONE.
CHARLES M. HEMENWAY
.
CHARLES B. SANBORN .
·
143 Perkins Street. 4 Austin Street.
WARD TWO.
GEORGE A. KIMBALL .
ALLEN F. CARPENTER
.
.
21 Prospect Hill Avenue. 10 Park Street.
WARD THREE.
EZRA D. SOUTHER ALVANO T. NICKERSON
.
.
Pembroke Street. 334 Broadway.
WARD FOUR.
JOHN W. CONVERSE ALBERT W. EDMANDS .
.
.
7 Clarendon Avenue. 155 Summer Street.
CLERK. GEORGE I. VINCENT.
JUN 1 5'31
4
ANNUAL REPORTS.
COMMON COUNCIL. CHARLES B. OSGOOD, President.
WARD ONE.
CLARENCE H. WILLEY . EDWIN A. WILCOX ( resigned Feb. 12) . S. WALKER JANES ( elected April 1) EDRIC ELDRIDGE
GEORGE W. PRICHARD
11 Flint Street. 27 Glen Street. 142 Washington Street. 88 Pearl Street. Mystic Street.
WARD TWO.
CHARLES S. BUTTERS
L. ROGER WENTWORTH
WILLIAM J. MCLEAN
WILLIAM M. ARMSTRONG
19 Church Street. Munroe Street. 32 Concord Avenue. 91 Summer Street.
WARD THREE.
CHARLES B. OSGOOD
WILLIAM E. PULSIFER
.
WILLIAM L. BARBER
FRANK E. DICKERMAN
.
71 Gilman Street. 262 School Street. 36 Marshall Street. 85 Central Street.
WARD FOUR.
ISAAC R. WEBBER .
WILLIAM A. HUNNEWELL
FRANK E. MERRILL ( resigned March 26) SOLOMON S. HIGGINS ( elected April 29) NEWELL F. CASWELL
24 Wallace Street. Mason Avenue. Fairmount Avenue. 158 Summer Street. 43 Cedar Street.
CLERK. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON.
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
ACCOUNTS. - Aldermen Souther, Edmands; Councilmen Pulsifer, Webber, Armstrong.
CITY ENGINEERING. - Aldermen Kimball, Hemenway ; Council- men Caswell, McLean, Prichard.
.
5
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1890.
CLAIMS. - His Honor the Mayor; Alderman Hemenway ; the President of the Common Council; Councilmen Wilcox to February 12, Janes from April 23, Dickerman.
FINANCE. - His Honor the Mayor; Aldermen Hemenway, Ed- mands ; the President of the Common Council ; Councilmen Went- worth, Wilcox to February 12, Janes from April 23, Pulsifer, Webber.
FIRE DEPARTMENT. - Aldermen Converse, Sanborn ; Councilmen Merrill to March 26, Armstrong from April 1, Willey, Dickerman.
FUEL AND STREET LIGHTS. - Aldermen Sanborn, Carpenter; Councilmen Webber, Butters, Barber.
HIGHWAYS. - Aldermen Kimball, Nickerson ; Councilmen Willey, Hunnewell, Barber.
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS. - His Honor the Mayor ; Alderman Kim- ball; the President of the Common Council; Councilmen Went- worth, Dickerman.
ORDINANCES. - Aldermen Converse, Hemenway; Councilmen Wilcox to February 12, Janes from April 23, Hunnewell, McLean.
PRINTING. - Aldermen Souther, Sanborn; Councilmen Pulsifer, Wentworth, Merrill to March 26, Higgins from May 14.
PUBLIC GROUNDS. - Aldermen Carpenter, Kimball ; Councilmen Butters, Pulsifer, Dickerman.
PUBLIC PROPERTY. - Aldermen Nickerson, Carpenter ; Council- men Wentworth, Hunnewell, Eldridge.
SOLDIERS' RELIEF. - Aldermen Sanborn, Edmands ; Councilmen Eldridge, Caswell, Armstrong.
WATER. - Aldermen Edmands, Souther ; the President of the Common Council; Councilmen Willey, McLean.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
ELECTIONS. - Aldermen Edmands, Nickerson.
ENROLLED ORDINANCES. - Aldermen Souther, Carpenter.
LICENSES. - Aldermen Nickerson, Sanborn.
POLICE. - His Honor the Mayor ; Aldermen Souther, Converse.
SEWERS. - Aldermen Hemenway, Souther, Edmands.
6
ANNUAL REPORTS.
STATE AID. - Aldermen Carpenter, Hemenway, Nickerson, Converse.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
BUILDING PERMITS. - Aldermen Kimball, Converse.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
ELECTIONS AND RETURNS. - Councilmen Wentworth, Caswell, Eldridge.
ENROLLED ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS. - Councilmen Wilcox to February 12, Janes from April 23, Butters, Prichard.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
CHARLES G. POPE, Mayor, Chairman, ex officio.
CHARLES B. OSGOOD, President of the Common Council, ex officio.
(Term, three years.) WARD ONE. S. NEWTON CUTLER ( elected 1888 ). HORACE C. WHITE, M. D. ( elected 1889 ). HORACE P. HEMENWAY, M. D. ( elected 1887 ; died March 6;). SANFORD HANSCOM, M. D. ( elected April 23 ).
WARD TWO.
A. H. CARVILL, M. D. ( elected 1888 ). JAMES F. BEARD ( elected 1889 ). CHARLES I. SHEPARD ( elected 1887 ).
WARD THREE.
NORMAN W. BINGHAM ( elected 1888 ). QUINCY E. DICKERMAN ( elected 1889 ). WILLIAM P. HILL ( elected 1887 ).
WARD FOUR. GILES W. BRYANT, M. D. ( elected 1889 ). MARTIN W. CARR ( elected 1887 ). ADDIE B. UPHAM ( elected 1888 ).
CLARENCE E. MELENEY, Superintendent and Secretary.
7
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1890.
ASSESSORS.
( Term, three years.)
BENJAMIN F. THOMPSON ( elected 1890). GEORGE W. HADLEY ( elected 1888 ). HIRAM D. SMITH ( elected 1889 ; died March 3). SAMUEL T. RICHARDS ( elected March 26 ).
ASSISTANT ASSESSORS. ( Term, one year.)
WARD ONE. GEORGE W. BARTLETT.
WARD TWO.
DAVID A. SANBORN.
WARD THREE. EDGAR T. MAYHEW.
WARD FOUR. SAMUEL T. RICHARDS ( resigned March 28 ). HARRY A. TRUE ( elected April 23 ).
BOARD OF HEALTH.
( Term : Physician, three years ; other members, two years.)
J. FRANK WELLINGTON ( appointed 1889), Chairman. CHARLES H. CRANE ( appointed 1890 ). ALVAH B. DEARBORN, M. D. ( appointed 1889 ). Clerk, WILLIAM P. MITCHELL. Inspector, CALEB A. PAGE.
8
ANNUAL REPORTS.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
CHARLES G. POPE, Mayor, Chairman, ex officio. CHARLES G. BRETT ( elected 1889 for four years ). NATHAN H. REED ( elected 1890 for four years ). EDWARD B. WEST ( elected 1888 for unexpired term ). DANIEL C. STILLSON ( elected 1888 for unexpired term ). Agent, CHARLES C. FOLSOM. Secretary, FRANK W. KAAN.
SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD.
(Term, one year.) ADNA C. WINNING. WALTER C. MENTZER. SAMUEL W. HOLT. FRANK G. LOMBARD. FRANK A. TITUS. NATHANIEL DENNETT, Supt. Water Works. FREDERIC W. STONE, Secretary (to March 17 ). HERBERT E. MERRILL (elected Clerk March 17 ).
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS.
(Term : City Clerk, one year ; other members, three years.) CROMWELL G. ROWELL ( appointed 1888 ), Chairman. CHARLES P. LINCOLN ( appointed 1889 ). WILLIAM B. HAWES ( appointed 1890 ). GEORGE I. VINCENT, City Clerk.
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. ( Term, three years.) GEORGE A. BRUCE (elected 1889 ). WILLIAM E. WELD ( elected 1890 ). JAMES E. WHITAKER ( elected 1890 ). JOHN B. VIALL ( elected 1890 ).
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1890. 9
CHARLES S. LINCOLN ( elected 1888). J. HENRY FLITNER ( elected 1889). CHRISTOPHER E. RYMES ( elected 1888). ELIJAH C. CLARK (elected 1889 ). CHARLES H. BROWN ( elected 1889 for unexpired term ). Librarian, HARRIET A. ADAMS.
CITY CLERK AND CLERK OF BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
GEORGE I. VINCENT.
CITY TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES. JOHN F. COLE.
MESSENGER TO CITY COUNCIL. JAIRUS MANN.
CITY SOLICITOR. SELWYN Z. BOWMAN.
CITY AUDITOR. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON.
CITY ENGINEER. HORACE L. EATON.
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
THOMAS H. EAMES.
.
10
ANNUAL REPORTS.
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND LIGHTS. THOMAS R. ROULSTONE.
CHIEF OF POLICE. MELVILLE C. PARKHURST.
CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. JAMES R. HOPKINS.
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS. JAMES R. HOPKINS.
SUPERINTENDENT OF TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE LINES. JAMES R. HOPKINS.
CITY PHYSICIAN. ALVAH B. DEARBORN, M. D.
INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR. THOMAS CUNNINGHAM.
1
INSPECTOR OF PROVISIONS AND OF ANIMALS INTENDED FOR SLAUGHTER. D. WARNER DANFORTH.
CLERK OF ASSESSORS AND COMMITTEES.
WILLIAM P. MITCHELL.
11
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1890.
ASSISTANT CLERK OF ASSESSORS AND COMMITTEES.
ALBERT B. FALES.
Suitable Person to Cause to be Properly Interred the Bodies of Honorably Discharged Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, Under Chapter 395, Acts of 1889. JESSE J. UNDERHILL.
CONSTABLES.
JAIRUS MANN.
WILLIAM D. HAYDEN.
ROBERT R. PERRY.
SAMUEL R. Dow.
CHARLES C. FOLSOM.
JOSEPH J. GILES.
EDWARD MCGARR.
GEORGE CULLIS.
CHRISTOPHER C. CAVANAGH.
FIELD DRIVERS.
GEORGE H. CARLETON.
GEORGE A. BODGE.
JOHN E. FULLER.
CHARLES S. THRASHER.
JACOB W. SKINNER.
CHARLES L. ELLIS.
GEORGE W. BEAN. JOHN G. KNIGHT.
STEPHEN S. SMITH.
FENCE VIEWERS.
CHARLES A. PEARSON. ADONIRAM J. TAYLOR.
POUND KEEPER. CHARLES A. SMALL.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. AMMIEL COLMAN, 34 Marshall Street.
12
ANNUAL REPORTS.
MEASURER OF WOOD AND BARK. SAMUEL T. LITTLEFIELD.
MEASURER OF GRAIN. JOHN CRAIG.
WEIGHERS OF COAL.
JOHN CRAIG. THADDEUS HARRINGTON.
ARTHUR N. KEARN.
C. C. WOOLEY.
D. WARNER DANFORTH. GEORGE K. WALCOTT. CHARLES H. TUCKER. G. E. SLACK.
WEIGHERS OF HAY AND STRAW.
JOHN CRAIG. ARTHUR N. KEARN.
C. C. WOOLEY.
THADDEUS HARRINGTON. CHARLES H. TUCKER. G. E. SLACK.
WEIGHERS OF BEEF.
D. WARNER DANFORTH.
ARTHUR N. KEARN.
GEORGE K. WALCOTT.
THADDEUS HARRINGTON. CHARLES H. TUCKER. C. C. WOOLEY. G. E. SLACK.
WEIGHERS OF BOILERS AND HEAVY MACHINERY.
THADDEUS HARRINGTON. CHARLES H. TUCKER. C. C. WOOLEY,
ARTHUR N. KEARN. GEORGE K. WALCOTT. G. E. SLACK.
13
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1890.
UNDERTAKERS.
WILLIAM A. FLAHERTY.
PATRICK H. RAFFERTY.
EDWARD H. MARSH.
ALFRED E. MANN.
THOMAS J. BARKER. PATRICK RAFFERTY.
HORACE D. RUNEY.
POLICE DEPARTMENT. MELVILLE C. PARKHURST, Chief.
ROBERT R. PERRY, Captain.
SAMUEL R. Dow, Sergeant.
EDWARD McGARR, Sergeant.
CHRIS. C. CAVANAGH, Sergeant.
JOHN E. FULLER.
PHINEAS W. SKINNER.
ALBION L. STAPLES.
SAMUEL A. BROWN.
JUDSON W. OLIVER.
JOHN HAFFORD.
GEORGE W. BEAN.
MYRON H. KINSLEY.
GEORGE L. SMITH.
GEORGE A. BODGE.
EDWARD M. CARTER.
DENNIS KELLY.
JOHN F. JOHNSON.
GEORGE H. CARLETON.
EUGENE A. CARTER.
HUBERT H. MILLER.
EDWARD E. HAMBLEN.
FRANCIS A. PERKINS.
CHARLES L. ELLIS.
CHARLES S. THRASHER.
CHARLES E. WOODMAN.
WILLIAM H. JOHNSON.
ARTHUR E. KEATING.
JOHN G. KNIGHT.
STEPHEN S. SMITH.
JACOB W. SKINNER.
THEODORE E. HERON.
MELVILLE C. PARKHURST, Lock-up Keeper.
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN, January 10, 1890.
ORDERED, That the committee on printing be and is hereby authorized and instructed to have printed, for public use, six hundred copies of the address delivered by his Honor the Mayor at the inauguration of the present City Govern- ment, the expense incurred to be charged to Printing and Stationery account.
Read twice and adopted, and sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 10, 1890.
Read twice and adopted in concurrence. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
Approved: January 13, 1890.
CHARLES G. POPE, Mayor.
INAUGURAL · ADDRESS
OF
HON. CHARLES G. POPE,
DELIVERED JAN. 5, 1890.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL : -
In response to the call of our fellow-citizens, and in compliance with the provisions of the city charter, we have assembled to assume control of municipal affairs for the ensuing year.
The labors of the Council of the year 1889 are ended, and their deeds are matters of history. True to their oaths and faithful to the trust committed to them, as I believe they have always endeavored to be, they deserve the only reward that can come to them, except the approval of their consciences, the thanks of the public. I com- mend their example to you, and trust that, at the close of your term of service, some one, honored as I have been, will find reason to speak like words of approval of you.
Adopting the usual course of proceeding on similar occasions, I invite your attention to a brief statement of the condition of the sev-
18
ANNUAL REPORTS.
eral departments of the government, and to such observations as may seem to me worthy of your consideration.
As first in importance, I present a statement of the
FINANCES.
From the last annual report it appears that the funded debt of the city January 1st, 1889, was as follows : -
Funded Debt, City Loan . $597,000
Funded Debt, Water Loan 263,500
Total Funded Debt
$860,500
The debt was increased during the year as follows : -
For the cost of a new schoolhouse in Concord square . $25,000
For the cost of addition to Morse Schoolhouse . . 25,000
For the cost of extension and improvement of the water works and construction of a high-service system
80,000
Total Increase
$130,000
The debt was decreased during the year by the payment] from the tax levy of the following : -
City Loan Bonds .
$29,000
Water Loan Bonds 9,000
Total Decrease . $38,000
Leaving the Funded Debt January 1, 1890, $952,500, classified as follows, viz. : -
City Loan Bonds bearing interest at 4 per cent. . $418,000
" 5 66
200,000
Water Loan Bonds 66
4 6. 188,000
66 66
" 5 66
136,500
66
66
10,000
Total
$952,500
The unfunded liabilities, consisting of temporary loans of money borrowed in anticipation of the collection of taxes, amount to $150,000,
19
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
and the assets available for their payment, being uncollected taxes, sewer and sidewalk assessments, etc., amount to about $155,000.
Not until the year 1876 was there any systematic provision made for the final liquidation of the city's indebtedness. The bonds as they matured were sometimes paid from the tax levy, but the prevail- ing custom appears to have favored the reissue of new bonds in pay- ment of the old ones as they became due, and, as a natural con- sequence attending this plan, the funded debt increased in magni- tude with alarming rapidity.
In the year 1875 the Legislature passed an act regulating and limiting municipal indebtedness, which went into effect the following year. By the provisions of this law it became necessary to establish a sinking fund, and contribute thereto from year to year an amount raised annually by taxation sufficient, with its accumulations, to ex- tinguish the city debt in twenty years, and the water debt in thirty years, or in 1895 and 1905, respectively.
The assessors' valuation of the taxable property at that time being somewhat inflated, our debt figured less than five per cent. of the valuation. If the reduction in the valuation which was subse- quently made had occurred at that time, our debt would have exceeded five per cent. of the valuation, and the city would have been en- titled to an additional ten years in which to extinguish its debt; an advantage which other cities enjoyed, and of which we were deprived.
The provisions of this act were faithfully carried out for a period of twelve years. In 1887 the Legislature relieved us of this burden by the passage of an act allowing the city to apply its existing sinking funds to the reduction of the funded debt and giving additional time in which to pay the balance. The provisions of this act were accepted by the city the following year, and have since been in successful operation.
As a convenient reference for those interested in the study of municipal finances, and to give a condensed history of the growth of our funded debt and the manner of its liquidation, the amount of taxable property, the annual levy, and the rate of taxation, the fol- lowing tables are respectfully presented : -
20
ANNUAL REPORTS.
YEAR.
Amount of Funded Debt.
Increase of Funded Debt.
Reduction of Funded Debt by Contribution Sinking Funds.
to
Reduction of Funded Debt by Annual Payments.
Tax Rate per $1.000 of Valua- tion.
Town .
$593,349
1872
643,354
$50,005
1873
809,354
166,000
1874
1,419,854
610,500
1875
1,571,854
152,000
1876
1,606,854
45,000
$45,130 62
$10,000
$2 07
1877
1,606,854
10,000
48,828 58
10,000
2 30
1878
1.596,854
51,004 64
10,000
2 91
1879
1,585,000
53,061 76
11,854
3 42
1880
1,585,000
55,739 35
2 72
1881
1,585,000
58,498 64
2 59
1882
1,585,000
61,390 59
2 65
1883
1,585,000
64,479 01
2 70
1884
1,585,000
67,719 33
2 78
1885
*1,525,000
71,305 66
2 87
1886
1,525,000
66,894 23
2 57
1887
1,525,000
70,252 88
2 56
1888
*860,500
25,000
37,000
1 28
1889
952,500
130,000
38,000
1 27
* Sinking funds applied.
YEAR.
VALUATION.
TAX LEVY.
RATE.
1872
$22,755,325
$274,374 45
$13 00
1873
29,643,100
389,214 48
12 80
1874
30,837,700
473,235 50
15 00
1875
31,317,000
518,161 40
16 20
1876
26,573,400
504,745 24
18 60
1877
25,479,400
471,789 14
18 10
1878
20,976,900
409,497 10
19 00
1879
18,950,100
352,553 80
18 00
1880
20,458,100
402,927 71
19 10
1881
22,569,100
452,945 45
19 50
1882
23,162,200
425,721 16
17 80
1883
23,812,900
411,645 43
16 70
1884
24,331,100
418,750 26
16 60
1885
24,878,400
428,605 44
16 60
1886
26,003,200
416,987 28
15 40
1887
27,471,800
424,309 14
14 80
1888
28,765,400
421,458 60
14 00
1889
30,004,600
440,324 40
14 00
.
.
1
21
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
The foregoing tables convey information that should interest every citizen, and especially those who are now or may hereafter be- come members of the City Government, and in the light of past experience will, I hope, prove valuable lessons for the future.
The funded debt, tax levy, appropriations, and the rate of tax- ation are questions for your most serious consideration. By a wise and judicious distribution of the cost of our permanent improvements, thereby equalizing the burden among those to be benefited, by avail- ing ourselves of the privileges of the funded debt, by the exercise of such economy in making our annual appropriations as will be con- sistent with the actual needs of the various departments, and by a watchful prudence in all expenditures, we shall pursue the proper and only course to enable us to maintain our present financial stand- ing. In doing this we shall be able to continue the present low rate of taxation, which is sure to bring wealth and prosperity to our grow- ing city.
To provide for the payment of the current expenses, State and County taxes, and debt requirements for the past year, the annual tax levy was made as follows : -
Real estate, valuation . $27,830,700 00
Personal property, valuation 2,173,900 00
Total valuation .
$30,004,600 00
A rate of $14.00 on $1,000 valuation, with 10,122 polls assessed at $2.00, and 32 ( women ) at 50 cents, gives the total amount of the tax levy $140,324 40
Amount received from the City of Boston for
return on water rates ( estimated ) 52,000 00
Total amount of resources
$492,324 40
The total expenditures during the year, as near as can be esti- mated at the present time, will amount to about $2,000 less than the total resources.
The expenditures for actual current expenses amounted to $359,300, and were appropriated as follows, viz. : -
22
ANNUAL REPORTS.
For maintenance of the water works, under the control of the Water Board $18,000 00
For Public Library, under the control of the Trustees 3,000 00
For Support of Poor, under the control of the Overseers of the Poor 14,000 00 For schools (not including school buildings ), under the control of the School Committee 130,000 00
For current expenses of the city, under the con- trol of the City Government, as follows, viz .: -
Fire Department .
$32,000 00
Health
5,500 00
Highways
42,000 00
Miscellaneous
4,000 00
Police
31,200 00
Police Station Incidentals .
2,000 00
Public Grounds
7,000 00
Printing and Stationery
4,000 00
Salaries
25,900 00
Sewers
11,000 00
Sidewalks
8,200 00
Street Lights
18,000 00
Watering Streets .
3,500 00
194,300 00
From this statement it is apparent that of the current expenses nearly one-half were controlled by boards other than the City Council, and that the important interests above enumerated as within the con- trol of the City Government have been provided for with an amount only about sixty-five thousand dollars more than the sum expended for schools alone.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The fire apparatus was improved during the past year by the purchase of a hose wagon and a ladder truck, to take the places of those much heavier and less modern in structure, and an addition was made to it by the equipment of the new company stationed in the recently-completed hose house at the corner of Somerville avenue and Lowell street. The manual force was increased, also, from sixty-one to seventy-three men, a part of the increase being due
23
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
to the organization of the above-named company. The number, how- . ever, is largely within the limit allowed by ordinance. Three miles of wire were added to the fire-alarm telegraph and three signal boxes placed in circuit. The buildings and apparatus are in good condi- tion. More signal boxes and a greater number of hydrants should be furnished, in the opinion of the chief engineer.
Since the recent conflagrations in Lynn and Boston, a great deal has been said, publicly and privately, about the inadequacy of the department to cope with a fire of any great magnitude. There is some truth, undoubtedly, in the criticisms made, and it is a subject worthy of your investigation. Perhaps the time has come when some important addition to our apparatus should be made. The city has gained thirty-five per cent. in population since the last steamer was purchased, and there are very few buildings within our limits con- structed of other material than wood. If you should come to the conclusion that there is need of another engine, and that the financial condition of the city is such that the expense of the purchase and the consequent increase in the cost of maintaining the department can be borne as well now as at some future time, then I would advise that a steamer similar to the one in active use be bought, and located in the western part of the city at the hose house on Highland avenue. Accommodations for a steamer were provided in this building when it was constructed, it being evident that at some time one would be required in that locality.
POLICE.
The favorable opinion I expressed one year ago with regard to our police force and its management has been confirmed by a closer and more interested observation of the discharge of their duties during the twelve months just passed. Their number was increased at the beginning of the year by the appointment of two patrolmen, to take the places of those detailed to act as drivers of the patrol wagon. This made the number employed for street duty the same as before the introduction of the signal system. The death of Ivan Laighton, on September 4th last, after sixteen years of service, deprived the force of an energetic and faithful officer, one always prompt and courageous in the discharge of his duties, and much respected by his associates, and the citizens who had his acquaintance. One member
24
ANNUAL REPORTS.
of the force is now absent from duty in Florida on account of sick- ness. During the past year a brick stable has been constructed for the accommodation of the department, in which are rooms provided for the drivers of the patrol wagon. The contract price for building the same was $3,450, to which should be added for plans, superintend- ence, and furnishings necessary to its completion for service $408.35, making the total cost $3,858.35. The signal system has now been in operation for more than a year, and in the opinion of those best able to judge has proved to be of great value to the police service of the city. You will probably be called upon to increase the number of street signal boxes.
There has been expended for the maintenance of the department during the past year the sum of $34,854.15.
POOR.
The appropriation made in 1889 for the support of the poor was $14,000. To this should be added, for sums collected of the Com- monwealth, cities, towns, and individuals, $2,118.30, making a total of $16,118.30. Of this amount, $500 was transferred to the control of a committee of the Board of Aldermen, to be expended, if neces- sary, for the relief and burial of indigent soldiers and sailors, in compliance with a statute recently enacted. The expenditures of the department were $14,610.92, and there remained unexpended of the appropriation at the close of the year the sum of $1,007.38.
Temporary aid has been given to 696 persons, and eighty-six persons have been fully supported during the whole or some part of the year. Of this last number, forty-three were insane. The amount paid to public institutions for the care of the insane is $5,548.65.
Whether or not it is desirable for the city at any time to own and maintain a poor-farm, of which I have more doubt than I had a year ago, it seems reasonable to me that all efforts to that end should be abandoned for the present, until matters that do not admit of postponement have been considered and adjusted.
The urgency for immediate action that has been pressed upon the attention of the retiring Council by the advocates of the project, because, as they asserted, desirable parcels of land for the purpose would be taken up and put to other uses, is but the cry of the party who wishes to sell his land. The danger is hardly real. Certainly
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MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
the city owns land once thought to be suited for this purpose, which might be utilized to meet an emergency, should any arise. I think you can decline to consider the subject for the present year, at least, with perfect safety to the interests of all concerned, and with reason- able assurance that those in need will receive the care to which they are entitled.
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