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A CITY
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CITY OF SOMERVILLE
ANNUAL REPORTS
1892
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SOMERV
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FOUNDED 1842.
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A CITY 1872.
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SOMERVILLE JOURNAL PRINT.
1893.
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CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1892.
MAYOR. WILLIAM H. HODGKINS, 188 Central Street.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN. CHARLES B. OSGOOD, President.
S. WALKER JANES EDRIC ELDRIDGE
WARD ONE.
#
·
WARD TWO.
FRANK E. FITTS
WARREN J. ROBINSON
.
WARD THREE.
CHARLES B. OSGOOD
WILLIAM L. BARBER
·
142 Washington Street. 88 Pearl Street.
17 Pleasant Avenue. 11;Greene Street.
71 Gilman Street. 36 Marshall Street.
WARD FOUR.
WILLIAM A. HUNNEWELL NEWELL F. CASWELL
.
9 Mason Avenue. 49 Cherry Street.
CLERK.
GEORGE I. VINCENT.
4
ANNUAL REPORTS.
COMMON COUNCIL. ISAIAH H. WILEY, President.
WARD ONF.
ISAIAH H. WILEY ·
JOSEPH A. BARTLETT
HERBERT E. MERRILL
LEWIS STOCKBRIDGE
.
54 Mt. Vernon Street. 64 Cross Street.
44 Florence Street.
33 Pinckney Street.
WARD TWO.
JAMES W. BEAN
FRANKLIN J. HAMBLIN
MICHAEL E. FLYNN
FRED W. GILBERT
40 Columbus Avenue. 30 Walnut Street. 1 Tremont Place. 101 School Street.
WARD THREE.
THOMAS S. WENTWORTH
LEWIS B. HOLLIS
JOHN ANDREWS
CALVIN H. WHITNEY
350 Broadway. 476 Broadway. 34 Albion Street. 158 Pearl Street.
WARD FOUR.
FRANKLIN F. PHILLIPS . CHARLES A. G. WINTHER FRANKLIN E. HUNTRESS J. WILLARD JONES .
211 Holland Street. 408 Highland Avenue. 318 Elm Street. 217 Beacon Street.
CLERK. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON.
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
ACCOUNTS. - Aldermen Osgood, Robinson ; Councilmen Hamblin, Merrill, Jones.
CITY ENGINEERING. - Aldermen Barber, Osgood; Councilmen Flynn, Jones, Bartlett.
5
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1892.
CLAIMS. - His Honor the Mayor; Alderman Hunnewell; the President of the Common Council; Councilmen Hollis, Hamblin.
FINANCE .- His Honor the Mayor; Aldermen Fitts, Janes; the President of the Common Council; Councilmen Hamblin, Phillips, Wentworth, Stockbridge.
FIRE DEPARTMENT. - Aldermen Fitts, Caswell; Councilmen Bean, Bartlett, Andrews.
FUEL AND STREET LIGHTS. - Aldermen Robinson, Eldridge ; Councilmen Huntress, Whitney, Merrill.
HIGHWAYS .- Aldermen Barber, Janes; Councilmen Winther, An- drews, Flynn.
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS. - His Honor the Mayor; Alderman Os- good; the President of the Common Council; Councilmen Bean, Phillips.
ORDINANCES. - Aldermen Hunnewell, Osgood; Councilmen Stock- bridge, Gilbert, Huntress.
PRINTING. - Aldermen Janes, Hunnewell; Councilmen Huntress, Whitney, Bean.
PUBLIC GROUNDS. - Aldermen Eldridge, Fitts; Councilmen Win- ther, Hollis, Bartlett.
PUBLIC PROPERTY .- Aldermen Hunnewell, Eldridge; Councilmen Wentworth, Phillips, Gilbert.
SOLDIERS' RELIEF. - Aldermen Caswell, Janes; Councilmen Went- worth, Stockbridge, Gilbert.
WATER. - Aldermen Caswell, Osgood ; the President of the Com- mon Council; Councilmen Hollis, Hamblin.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
ELECTIONS. - Aldermen Robinson, Eldridge, Osgood.
ENROLLED ORDINANCES. - Aldermen Barber, Fitts, Hunnewell. LICENSES. - Aldermen Eldridge, Barber, Robinson. POLICE. - His Honor the Mayor; Aldermen Fitts, Hunnewell. SEWERS. - Aldermen Osgood, Robinson, Caswell.
STATE AID. - Aldermen Janes, Robinson, Barber, Caswell. SPECIAL BUILDING PERMITS. - Aldermen Barber, Fitts.
6
ANNUAL REPORTS.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
ELECTIONS AND RETURNS. - Councilmen Whitney, Winther, Flynn. ENROLLED ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS. - Councilmen Jones, Merrill, Andrews.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
WILLIAM H. HODGKINS, Mayor, Chairman, ex officio.
ISAIAH H. WILEY, President of the Common Council, ex officio. (Term, three years.)
WARD ONE.
S. NEWTON CUTLER ( elected 1891 ). HORACE C. WHITE, M. D. (elected 1889). SANFORD HANSCOM, M. D. ( elected 1890 ).
WARD TWO.
JAMES F. BEARD ( elected 1889 ). THOMAS M. DURELL, M. D. (elected 1890). ALVAH B. DEARBORN, M. D. ( elected 1891 ).
WARD THREE.
NORMAN W. BINGHAM (elected 1891 ). QUINCY E. DICKERMAN (elected 1889). HELEN J. SANBORN ( elected 1890 ). €
WARD FOUR.
GILES W. BRYANT, M. D. ( elected 1889 ). MARTIN W. CARR (elected 1890 ). BENJAMIN G. BROWN ( elected 1891 ).
CLARENCE E. MELENEY, Superintendent and Secretary.
7
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1892.
ASSESSORS. (Term, three years.)
BENJAMIN F. THOMPSON ( term expires 1893). GEORGE W. HADLEY ( term expires 1894 ). SAMUEL T. RICHARDS (term expires 1895).
ASSISTANT ASSESSORS. (Term, one year.)
WARD ONE.
JOSHUA H. DAVIS (resigned May 25 ). EDWARD G. WISWELL (elected May 27).
WARD TWO.
WILLIAM A. FLAHERTY.
WARD THREE.
EDGAR T. MAYHEW.
WARD FOUR. HARRY A. TRUE.
Clerk, ALBERT B. FALES.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
(Term : Physician, three years; other members, two years.) J. FRANK WELLINGTON ( term expires 1893), Chairman. CHARLES H. CRANE (term expires 1894 ). ALVAH B. DEARBORN, M. D. ( term expires 1895). Clerk, WILLIAM P. MITCHELL. Agent, CALEB A. PAGE.
8
ANNUAL REPORTS.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR. Office, Police Building, Bow Street. WILLIAM H. HODGKINS, Mayor, Chairman, ex officio. (Term, four years.) CHARLES G. BRETT ( term expires 1893 ). EDWARD B. WEST ( term expires 1895). JAMES G. HINCKLEY ( term expires 1896 ). NATHAN H. REED (term expires 1894 ). Agent, CHARLES C. FOLSOM. Secretary, FRANK W. KAAN.
SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD. Office, Prospect Street, corner Somerville Avenue. (Term, three years.) GEORGE D. WEMYSS ( term expires 1894), 5 Austin Street. ALBION A. PERRY ( term expires 1893 ), 366 Broadway. GEORGE A. KIMBALL (term expires 1895), 5 Munroe Street. NATHANIEL DENNETT, Supt. Water Works. FRANK E. MERRILL, Clerk.
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS. (Term : City Clerk, one year ; other members, three years.) CROMWELL G. ROWELL ( term expires 1894), Chairman. CHARLES P. LINCOLN (term expires 1895 ). WILLIAM B. HAWES ( term expires 1893). GEORGE I. VINCENT, City Clerk.
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. (Term, three years.)
CHARLES S. LINCOLN, Chairman ( term expires 1894 ). WILLIAM E. WELD, Secretary ( term expires 1893 ).
9
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1892.
JAMES E. WHITAKER ( term expires 1893 ). JOHN B. VIALL ( term expires 1893 ). J. HENRY FLITNER ( term expires 1895). CHRISTOPHER E. RYMES (term expires 1894 ). ELIJAH C. CLARK ( term expires 1895). CHARLES H. BROWN ( term expires 1894 ). CHARLES A. WEST (term expires 1895 ). 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.
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND LIGHTS. THOMAS R. ROULSTONE.
CHIEF OF POLICE. MELVILLE C. PARKHURST.
CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. JAMES R. HOPKINS.
SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTRIC LINES. JAMES R. HOPKINS. .
CITY PHYSICIAN. ALVAH B. DEARBORN, M. D.
INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR. THOMAS CUNNINGHAM.
INSPECTOR OF PROVISIONS AND OF ANIMALS INTENDED FOR SLAUGHTER.
D. WARNER DANFORTH.
CLERK OF COMMITTEES.
WILLIAM P. MITCHELL.
11
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1892.
CLERK OF ASSESSORS. 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. DENNIS KELLEY.
EUGENE A. CARTER. CHARLES L. ELLIS.
CLARENCE TUCKER.
FIELD DRIVERS.
. CHRISTOPHER C. CAVANAGH. GEORGE H. CARLETON.
JOHN E. FULLER.
JACOB W. SKINNER.
CHARLES S. THRASHER.
GEORGE W. BEAN.
CHARLES L. ELLIS. JOHN G. KNIGHT.
THEODORE E. HERON.
FENCE VIEWERS.
LAMBERT M. MAYNARD. AMMIEL COLMAN.
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.
PUBLIC WEIGHER IN CHARGE OF CITY SCALES, UNION SQUARE.
FULTON O'BRION.
WEIGHERS OF COAL.
JOHN CRAIG.
GEORGE K. WALCOTT.
CHARLES H. TUCKER.
G. E. SLACK.
GEORGE E. NEWCOMB.
D. WARNER DANFORTH. THADDEUS HARRINGTON. C. C. WOOLEY.
EDWARD L. DUNNING.
WILLIAM I. NEWCOMB.
WEIGHERS OF HAY AND STRAW.
JOHN CRAIG. CHARLES A. TUCKER.
G. E. SLACK.
THADDEUS HARRINGTON.
C. C. WOOLEY.
EDWARD L. DUNNING.
WEIGHERS OF BEEF.
D. WARNER DANFORTH. CHARLES H. TUCKER.
C. C. WOOLEY.
THADDEUS HARRINGTON.
GEORGE K. WALCOTT.
G. E. SLACK.
WEIGHERS OF BOILERS AND HEAVY MACHINERY.
THADDEUS HARRINGTON. CHARLES H. TUCKER. GEORGE K. WALCOTT. C. C. WOOLEY. G. E. SLACK.
1
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1892.
13
UNDERTAKERS.
WILLIAM A. FLAHERTY.
PATRICK H. RAFFERTY.
EDWARD H. MARSH.
THOMAS J. BARKER.
PATRICK RAFFERTY.
HORACE D. RUNEY.
WILLIAM A. FRINK.
JOHN DUCEY.
GEORGE F. MCKENNA.
EDWARD MCCAFFREY.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
MELVILLE C. PARKHURST, Chief.
ROBERT R. PERRY, Captain.
SAMUEL R. Dow, Sergeant.
EDWARD MCGARR, Sergeant.
CHRIS. C. CAVANAGH, Sergeant.
DENNIS KELLEY, Sergeant.
PHINEAS W. SKINNER.
JOHN E. FULLER.
SAMUEL A. BROWN.
ALBION L. STAPLES.
JOHN HAFFORD.
JUDSON W. OLIVER.
GEORGE A. BODGE.
GEORGE W. BEAN.
THEODORE E. HERON.
GEORGE L. SMITH.
GEORGE H. CARLETON.
EDWARD M. CARTER.
HUBERT H. MILLER.
JOHN F. JOHNSON.
FRANCIS A. PERKINS.
EUGENE A. CARTER.
CHARLES S. THRASHER.
EDWARD E. HAMBLEN.
WILLIAM H. JOHNSON.
ARTHUR E. KEATING.
JACOB W. SKINNER.
STEPHEN S. SMITH.
DAVID A. BOLTON.
GEORGE T. E. COLES.
JAMES M. HARMON.
EUGENE H. GAMMON.
MICHAEL T. KENNEDY.
IRA S. CARLTON.
EZRA A. DODGE.
CHARLES W. STEVENS.
ULYSSES G. SKINNER.
MELVILLE C. PARKHURST, Lock-up Keeper.
ALFRED E. MANN.
CHARLES E. WOODMAN.
JOHN G. KNIGHT.
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN, January 13, 1892. $
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. GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 13, 1892. Read twice and adopted in concurrence. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
Approved : January 15, 1892.
WILLIAM H. HODGKINS, Mayor.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF HON. WILLIAM H. HODGKINS,
DELIVERED JAN. 4, 1892.
Intrusted by our fellow-citizens with the conduct of the public affairs of the city during the present year, we assemble to-day, gentle- men of the City Council, to subscribe to the oath of office prescribed by the city charter; and formally organize the city government of 1892. As we take up the new, or added, responsibilities connected with the management of municipal government, it is fitting that we invoke the favor of Almighty God, that our city may be exempt from tumult and calamity, that we may be sustained by that power which ruleth over all, and that the government in all its departments may be admin- istered in that spirit of righteousness which exalteth the nation.
Since the organization of the first city government, twenty years ago, its has been customary for the newly-inducted mayor to present to the City Council at its inauguration a somewhat extended report of the condition of the various departments of the public service. In the preparation of this address it has seemed to me proper to depart somewhat from this custom, for the reason that I approach the duties of public office after an interval of seventeen years, while all the members of the new Board of Aldermen and six members of the Common Council have been connected with the government during the past year, and some of them for two or more years, and are, in consequence, already familiar with the condition of these depart- ments. Besides, I am happy to say that my predecessor at the clos" ing session of the City Council of 1891, in a valedictory address which has been published in the papers, presented a synopsis of the work accomplished during the past three years, including also a brief state- ment of the financial condition of the city at the close of the year.
18
ANNUAL REPORTS.
This, it seems to me, will prove valuable to us all, and precludes the necessity of extended comment at this time. I have endeavored to improve the limited opportunity afforded me since the close of the year to acquaint myself with the condition of some of the depart- ments, and all the reports I have received will be submitted to you at an early day. In the discharge of your official duty they will soon claim your careful consideration. They will be submitted in such fulness of detail as will enable you to receive all the information which I now possess.
It is difficult, if not impossible, for the mayor-elect, in the preparation of an inaugural address, to refer to all, or even many, of the important topics which will soon demand the action of the City Council, and the city charter has wisely provided that the mayor " shall from time to time communicate to both boards such informa- tion and recommend such measures as the business of the city may in his opinion require." I may desire to avail myself of this privilege as I become more familiar with the needs of the city. .
I deem it advisable to include in this address the report of the city treasurer as it has been submitted to me. In it he states fully and in interesting detail the condition of the
FINANCES.
From the last annual report it appears that the funded debt of the city January 1, 1891, was as follows :-
Funded Debt, City Loan $678,000
Funded Debt, Water Loan 379,500
Total Funded Debt $1,057,500
The debt was increased during the year as follows : -
For the completion of the Charles G. Pope School-
house in Ward Two ( Prospect Hill District ) . . $14,000
For the completion of the Jacob T. Glines School- house in Ward Three 12,000
For the completion of the Highland Schoolhouse addition 5,000
For the extension and improvement of the Water Works 10,000
For the cost of gravel land on North street 4,000
Total increase
$45,000
19
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
The debt was decreased during the year by the payment from the tax levy of the following : -
City Loan Bonds
$57,000
Leaving the Funded Debt January 1, 1892, $1,045,500, classified as follows, viz. : -
City Loan Bonds bearing interest at 4 per cent. .
$470,000
200,000
Water Loan Bonds
66
" 5
66
127,500
66
66
¥
66
"5号
10,000
Total
$1,045,500
The above represents the net indebtedness of the city; the un- funded liabilities, for temporary loans, etc., being equalled by its assets, which consist of uncollected taxes, sewer and sidewalk assess- ments, etc.
The following tables are respectfully submitted for future reference : -
YEAR.
Amount of Funded Debt.
Increase of Funded Debt.
Reduction of Funded Debt by Contribution Sinking Funds.
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
1890
1,057,500
150.000
45,000
1 38
1891
1,045,500
45.000
57,000
1 55
66
" 5
66
238,000
' 4
to
Sinking funds applied.
20
ANNUAL REPORTS.
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
1890
32.557,500
447,704 00
14 00
1891
36 843,440
539,127 10
14 00
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 .
$32,767,200
Personal Property, valuation 4,076,200
Total valuation
$36,843,400
A rate of $14.00 on $1,000 valuation, with 11,658 polls assessed at $2.00, and seven ( women ) at 50 cents, gives the total amount of the tax levy $539,127 10
The appropriations provided for by the tax levy were as fol- lows : -
CURRENT EXPENSES.
(Limited by the provisions of Chapter 312, Acts and Resolves of 1885.)
Fire Department $32,000 00
Health Department
7,000 00
Highways . 45,000 00
Indigent Soldiers and Sailors 500 00
Miscellaneous
6,500 00
Ordinances ( revising ) . 500 00
Police
20,000 00
Amount carried forward
$111,500 00
21
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Amount brought forward $111,500 00
Police Station Incidentals
2,500 00
Public Library
3,000 00
Public Grounds
3,500 00
Printing and Stationery
6,000 00
Relief and Burial of Indigent Soldiers and Sailors, 3,000 00
Salaries
28,200 00
School Contingent
21,000 00
School Fuel
7,500 00
Schoolhouse Incidentals .
13,550 00
School Teachers' Salaries
102,000 00
Sewers .
10,000 00
Sidewalks
10,000 00
Street Lights .
22,500 00
Support of Poor .
14,000 00
Watering Streets
4,000 00
Total amount that could legally be appropriated,
---- $362,250 00
DEBT REQUIREMENTS.
Interest
$55,000 00
Reduction of Funded Debt 57,000 00
112,000 00
Total amount of appropriations provided by the
tax levy
$474,250 00
By the provisions of the new ordinance, appropriations were made from the income of the water works as follows : -
Water Maintenance $20,000 00
Water Works Extension . 35,000 00
Total
$55,000 00
Several important matters have been referred to you by the last® City Council, and will soon engage your attention. I mention them in the order in which they have been given to me from the records of the city clerk : -
1. Plans and specifications which have been procured for the enlargement of house of Engine Number One, at the corner of High- land avenue and Walnut street.
2. Completion of the Broadway Parkway, in accordance with plans submitted by the highway committee of 1891.
3. Proposition of the trustees of J. C. Ayer estate to give land for a park between Cedar street and Willow avenue.
4. The subject of acquiring land for the enlargement of the pro-
22
ANNUAL REPORTS.
posed Powder House Park. The act of the Legislature of 1891, authorizing taking of land for this purpose, is inserted for reference.
[Chap. 311. ]
An Act to authorize the City of Somerville to lay out and main- tain a public park. Be it enacted, etc., as follows : -
SECTION 1. The city of Somerville by its city council may, at any time within three years after the passage of this act, take, main- tain, and hold in fee or otherwise, and by gift upon such conditions as the city council may deem advisable, or by purchase or otherwise, for the purpose of a public park, the land with the structures thereon upon which the Powder House is located in said city, and so much of said lands adjacent thereto or in the vicinity of said Powder House as said city council shall deem advisable.
SECT. 2. The said city shall, within sixty days after taking of any lands as aforesaid otherwise than by purchase or gift, file and cause to be recorded in the registry of deeds for the county of Mid- dlesex a description thereof sufficiently accurate for identification, with a statement of the purpose for which the same were taken.
SECT. 3. The said city shall pay all damages sustained by any person or corporation in property, by the taking of any lands or by any other thing done by said city under the authority of this act. Any person or corporation sustaining damages as aforesaid under this act, who fails to agree with said city as to the amount of damages sus- tained, may have the damages assessed and determined in the manner provided by law when land is taken for the laying out of highways, on application at any time within the period of three years from the taking of such land or other property or the doing of such other injury under the authority of this act.
SECT. 4. All acts heretofore done by said city in regard to taking said lands or any of them, by gift or otherwise, for park purposes are hereby ratified and made lawful.
SECT. 5. No money shall be appropriated at any time for the laying out or maintaining of said park except upon a two-thirds vote of each branch of the city council taken by yea and nay.
SECT. 6. This act, except as provided in the following section, shall not take effect unless accepted by said city of Somerville upon a majority vote of each branch of the city council taken by yea and nay.
SECT. 7. So much of this act as authorizes the submission of the question of its acceptance to the city council of Somerville shall take effect upon its passage. [ Approved May 7, 1891.
5. Subject of laying a trunk sewer in location of the Boston & Lowell Railroad ; and petitions for various sewers.
6. Subject of the expediency of the city owning its own water supply.
23
MAYOR'S INAUGURAI, ADDRESS.
REPORTS.
The reports of the heads of various departments include requests and recommendations which I will briefly state.
The chief engineer of the fire department requests the City Council to provide means for erecting the proposed addition to the house of Engine Number One, to furnish accommodations for a chem- ical engine, and the apparatus of the fire alarm telegraph system, as appears in plans approved by the committee on fire department of 1891; and that preliminary measures be taken to provide a new station in Ward One sufficient in size to provide for a steam fire- engine, hose wagon, and ladder truck.
The chief of police suggests that the number of patrolmen should be increased from year to year to keep pace with the increase of population, and that the ratio of increase should be, at least, one new man for every one thousand of the population. The suggestion seems to be reasonable, and I commend it to your consideration.
The overseers of the poor will, in their forthcoming report, I am informed, recommend the erection of a brick building on one of the city lots to be used as an almshouse, the cost, including boiler and piping, not to exceed $15,000. They are of the opinion that a necessity for such a building exists for emergency cases, as well as to provide a proper place to care for the poor who need a home at the city's expense. This subject has been fully discussed in the inaugural addresses of two of my predecessors, and I submit the subject in this form, awaiting the annual report of the overseers of the poor.
There are topics of a public nature which may be discussed more advantageously in the beginning of a new administration than at any other time, and I will refer to some which seem to require attention and may soon demand our action. The Somerville of to-day is developing rapidly and making vigorous strides, both in population and valuation. The city of 1872, with a population estimated at 16,000, and an assessed valuation the year before of $15,775,000, has increased in twenty years to a population estimated to be 43,000 and an assessed valuation of $36,843,480. During this period of progress our resources have been severely tested in providing schoolhouses, streets, sewers, and other public conveniences required by the great increase of population. The growth at the first was in isolated locali-
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
ties, in some cases widely separated, so much so that the city appeared to be a succession of villages, or small towns, each with its churches, schoolhouses, its local attachments, and, possibly, prejudices. As means of access both by steam and street railway have been provided, the various sections have expanded and stretched out toward each other. These years have been the formative period of what is to be a compact, vigorous city. It has been fortunate in its government. Cool heads have guided its affairs, strong, steady hands have borne its burdens, and though at times taxation has been somewhat heavy in consequence of public improvements, the government has been con- servative and equitable. The wise laws enacted to prevent municipal extravagance have been zealously enforced ; the credit of the city has not only been unimpaired, but its securities have been among the most desirable for safe investment. The moral character of its in- habitants has been as creditable as its financial record. Its schools are considered equal to those of any other city. Its churches are increasing steadily in number and influence; while its constant,. unwavering attitude toward the liquor traffic has placed it in the fore front of the " no-license " cities of the Commonwealth.
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