Report of the city of Somerville 1892, Part 1

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 554


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1892 > Part 1


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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/annualreportofci1892some


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-


24


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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