Report of the city of Somerville 1893, Part 1

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 680


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1893 > Part 1


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GIVE


A


A CITY 1872. STRENGT


ESTABI


MUN


CITY OF SOMERVILLE


ANNUAL REPORTS


1 893


GIVES


DO


SOMERVILLE


FREED


NAL


FOUNDED 1842.


1872.


MUNICIPAL


A CITY STRENGTH


ESTABLISHED


PRESS OF HENRY W. PITMAN, 28 UNION SQUARE.


1894.


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/annualreportofci1893some


CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1893.


MAYOR. WILLIAM H. HODGKINS, 188 Central Street.


BOARD OF ALDERMEN. WILLIAM L. BARBER, President.


WARD ONE,


EDRIC ELDRIDGE


.


88 Pearl Street.


CHARLES B. SANBORN


.


·


. 4 Austin Street.


WARD TWO,


FRANK E. FITTS


.


.


17 Pleasant Avenue ..


FRANKLIN J. HAMBLIN


.


.


30 Walnut Street.


WARD THREE,


WILLIAM L. BARBER


36 Marshall Street.


JOHN ANDREWS ·


·


34 Albion Street.


WARD FOUR,


CHARLES A. G. WINTHER ·


. 408 Highland Avenue.


FRANKLIN F. PHILLIPS


·


211 Holland Street.


CLERK.


GEORGE I. VINCENT.


4


ANNUAL REPORTS.


COMMON COUNCIL. FRED W. GILBERT, President.


WARD ONE,


ISAIAH H. WILEY


HERBERT E. MERRILL


LEWIS STOCKBRIDGE .


·


33 Pinckney Street.


WILFRED B. RICH


. 13 Franklin Street.


WARD TWO,


FRED W. GILBERT


GEORGE B. CLARKE .


ARTHUR W. HAYNES


11 Parker Street. ·


12 Pleasant Avenue.


.


WARD THREE,


CALVIN H. WHITNEY


68 Gilman Street.


LEONARD B. CHANDLER


. 45 Jaques Street.


.


98 Central Street.


. 28 Montrose Street.


WARD FOUR,


FRANKLIN E. HUNTRESS J. WILLARD JONES . FREDERICK A. P. FISKE


318 Elm Street. ·


217 Beacon Street. .


52 Cherry Street. .


BENJAMIN J. DOWNS


· 5 Claremon Street.


CLERK.


CHARLES S. ROBERTSON.


G. FRANKLIN WILKINS GEORGE H. RUSS


101 School Street. .


31 Berkeley Street.


FRANK W. KAAN


54 Mt. Vernon Street. .


.


44 Florence Street.


5


CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1893.


JOINT STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE CITY COUNCIL.


ACCOUNTS .- Aldermen Hamblin, Winther ; Councilmen Mer- rill, Wilkins, Clarke.


CITY ENGINEERING .- Aldermen Barber, Sanborn ; Council- men Wilkins, Haynes, Downs.


CLAIMS .- His Honor the Mayor; Alderman Hamblin; the President of the Common Council ; Councilmen Rich, Fiske.


FINANCE .- His Honor the Mayor; Aldermen Fitts, Phillips ; . the President of the Common Council; Councilmen Stockbridge, Whitney, Kaan, Fiske.


FIRE DEPARTMENT .- Aldermen Fitts, Phillips; Councilmen Wiley, Jones, Wilkins.


FUEL AND STREET LIGHTS .- Aldermen Sanborn, Winther ; Councilmen Jones, Haynes, Russ.


HIGHWAYS .- Aldermen Barber, Sanborn ; Councilmen Wiley, Clarke, Downs.


LEGISLATIVE MATTERS .- His Honor the Mayor; Alderman Barber ; the President of the Common Council ; Councilmen Fiske, Chandler.


ORDINANCES .- Aldermen Phillips, Hamblin; Councilmen Stockbridge, Huntress, Russ.


PRINTING .- Aldermen Hamblin, Eldridge; Councilmen Whit- ney, Huntress, Merrill.


PUBLIC GROUNDS .- Aldermen Winther, Fitts; Councilmen Stockbridge, Haynes, Chandler.


PUBLIC PROPERTY .- Aldermen Eldridge, Andrews; Council- men Huntress, Kaan, Rich.


SOLDIERS' RELIEF .- Aldermen Andrews, Eldridge ; Council- men Jones, Clarke, Russ.


WATER .- Aldermen Andrews, Phillips; the President of the Common Council ; Councilmen Rich, Downs.


6


ANNUAL REPORTS.


STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.


ELECTIONS .- Aldermen Phillips, Fitts, Barber.


ENROLLED ORDINANCES .- Aldermen Winther, Eldridge, Hamblin.


LICENSES .- Aldermen Sanborn, Andrews, Phillips.


POLICE .- His Honor the Mayor, Aldermen Fitts, Sanborn.


SEWERS .- Aldermen Sanborn, Andrews, Winther.


STATE AID .- Aldermen Eldridge, Hamblin, Andrews, Win- ther.


SPECIAL BUILDING PERMITS .- Aldermen Barber, Fitts.


STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.


ELECTIONS AND RETURNS .- Councilmen Wiley, Kaan, Chandler.


ENROLLED ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS .- Councilmen Merrill, Whitney, Fiske.


SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


WILLIAM H. HODGKINS, Mayor, Chairman, ex officio.


FRED W. GILBERT, President of the Common Council, ex officio.


(Term, three years. ) WARD ONE, S. NEWTON CUTLER (elected 1891). SANFORD HANSCOM, M. D. (elected 1890). GEORGE S. POOLE (elected 1892).


WARD TWO,


THOMAS M. DURELL, M. D. (elected 1890). ALVAH B. DEARBORN, M. D. (elected 1891). HERBERT A. CHAPIN (elected 1892).


7


CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1893.


WARD THREE,


NORMAN W. BINGHAM (elected 1891). QUINCY E. DICKERMAN (elected 1892). HELEN J. SANBORN (elected 1890). WARD FOUR,


GILES W. BRYANT, M. D. (elected 1892). MARTIN W. CARR (elected 1890). BENJAMIN G. BROWN (elected 1891) . Superintendent and Secretary,


CLARENCE E. MELENEY, to September 1 (resigned) . GORDON A. SOUTHWORTH, from September 1.


ASSESSORS.


(Term, three years.)


BENJAMIN F. THOMPSON (term expires 1896). GEORGE W. HADLEY (term expires 1894). SAMUEL T. RICHARDS (term expires 1895) . Clerk of Assessors, ALBERT B. FALES.


ASSISTANT ASSESSORS.


(Term, one year. )


WARD ONE,


EDWARD G. WISWELL.


WARD TWO,


DAVID A. SANBORN.


WARD THREE,


EDGAR T. MAYHEW.


WARD FOUR,


HARRY A. TRUE.


1


8


ANNUAL REPORTS.


BOARD OF HEALTH.


(Term : City Physician, three years ; other members, two years.)


THOMAS M. DURELL, M. D., Chairman (term expires 1895). ALVAH B. DEARBORN, M. D., City Physician (term expires. 1895). ALVANO T. NICKERSON (term expires 1894). Clerk, WILLIAM P. MITCHELL. Inspector, CALEB A. PAGE.


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).


NATHAN H. REED (term expires 1894). JAMES G. HINCKLEY (term expires 1896). Agent, CHARLES C. FOLSOM. Secretary, CORA A. LEWIS.


.SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD.


Office, Prospect Street, corner Somerville Avenue.


(Term, three years. )


GEORGE D. WEMYSS (term expires 1894), 5 Austin Street.


GEORGE A. KIMBALL (term expires 1895). 5 Munroe Street.


WILLIAM FRANKLIN HALL (term expires 1896), 345 Broadway.


NATHANIEL DENNETT, Supt. Water Works. FRANK E. MERRILL, Clerk.


1


-


9


CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1893.


REGISTRARS OF VOTERS.


(Term : City Clerk, one year ; other members, three years.)


CROMWELL G. ROWELL, Chairman (term expires 1894). CHARLES P. LINCOLN (term expires 1895) . CHARLES E. PARKS (term expires 1896) . GEORGE I. VINCENT, City Clerk.


TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. (Term, three years.)


CHARLES S. LINCOLN, Chairman (term expires 1894) . CHARLES A. WEST, Secretary (term expires 1895). JAMES E. WHITAKER (term expires 1896). JOHN B. VIALL (term expires 1896) . J. HENRY FLITNER (term expires 1895). CHRISTOPHER E. RYMES (term expires 1894). ELIJAH C. CLARK (term expires 1895) . CHARLES H. BROWN (term expires 1894) . J. FRANK WELLINGTON (term expires 1896).


LIBRARIAN. HARRIET A. ADAMS, to July 1. JOHN S. HAYES, from July 1.


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.


10


ANNUAL REPORTS.


CITY SOLICITOR. SELWYN Z. BOWMAN.


CITY AUDITOR. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON.


CITY ENGINEER. HORACE L .. EATON.


SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.


THOMAS H. EAMES.


INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.


THOMAS R. ROULSTONE.


CHIEF OF POLICE.


MELVILLE C. PARKHURST.


CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. JAMES R. HOPKINS.


SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS. LEIGHTON W. MANNING.


CITY PHYSICIAN.


ALVAH B. DEARBORN, M. D.


11


CITY GOVERMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1893.


INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR. THOMAS CUNNINGHAM.


CLERK OF COMMITTEES. WILLIAM P. MITCHELL.


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.


ROBERT R. PERRY.


CHARLES C. FOLSOM.


EDWARD MCGARR.


CHARLES L. ELLIS.


CHRISTOPHER C. CAVANAGH.


CLARENCE TUCKER.


EUGENE A. CARTER.


GEORGE H. CARLETON.


FIELD DRIVERS.


CHRISTOPHER C. CAVANAGII.


GEORGE H. CARLETON.


JOHN E. FULLER. JACOB W. SKINNER.


CHARLES S. THRASHER. GEORGE W. BEAN. JOHN G. KNIGHT. THEODORE E. HERON.


FENCE VIEWERS.


LAMBERT M. MAYNARD. AMMIEL COLMAN.


WILLIAM D. HAYDEN.


JOSEPH J. GILES.


DENNIS KELLEY.


12


ANNUAL REPORTS. POUND KEEPER. (Office vacant. )


SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. AMMIEI. COLMAN, 34 Marshall Street.


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 BEEF.


D. WARNER DANFORTH. CHARLES H. TUCKER. C. C. WOOLEY.


THADDEUS HARRINGTON. GEORGE K. WALCOTT. G. E. SLACK.


FREDERICK A. GEILING.


13


CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1893.


POLICE DEPARTMENT.


MELVILLE C. PARKHURST, Chief.


ROBERT R. PERRY, Captain.


CHRIS. C. CAVANAGH, Sergt.


EDWARD McGARR, Sergt. DENNIS KELLEY, Sergt.


EUGENE A. CARTER, Sergt.


PHINEAS W. SKINNER.


JOHN E. FULLER.


SAMUEL A. BROWN.


ALBION L. STAPLES.


JOHN HAFFORD. GEORGE A. BODGE.


JUDSON W. OLIVER.


GEORGE W. BEAN.


THEODORE E. HERON.


GEORGE L. SMITH.


GEORGE H. CARLETON.


EDWARD M. CARTER.


HUBERT H. MILLER.


JOHN F. JOHNSON.


FRANCIS A. PERKINS.


EDWARD E. HAMBLEN.


CHARLES S. THRASHER.


CHARLES E. WOODMAN.


WILLIAM H. JOHNSTON.


ARTHUR E. KEATING.


STEPHEN S. SMITH.


JOHN G. KNIGHT. JACOB W. SKINNER.


EUGENE H. GAMMON.


DAVID A. BOLTON.


IRA S. CARLTON.


JAMES M. HARMON.


CHARLES W. STEVENS.


MICHAEL T. KENNEDY.


ULYSSES G. SKINNER.


EZRA A. DODGE.


JAMES J. POLLARD.


DANIEL G. SIMONS.


MELVILLE C. PARKHURST, Lock-up Keeper.


MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESSES.


-


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


IN CONVENTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, January 2, 1893.


RESOLVED : That His Honor the Mayor, be, and he is hereby requested to furnish the committee on printing with a copy of his inaugural address for publication.


Read twice and adopted.


GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk,


IN CONVENTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, January,1, 1894.


RESOLVED : That His Honor the Mayor, be, and he is hereby requested to furnish the committee on printing with a copy of his inaugural address for publication.


Read twice and adopted.


GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.


INAUGURAL ADDRESS


DELIVERED BY


HON, WILLIAM H. HODGKINS,


JANUARY 2, 1893.


GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL :-


In compliance with the provisions of the City Charter, we have convened to-day to subscribe to the oath of office prescribed by the charter, and to inaugurate the City Government of 1893. As we enter upon the duties of the year, we have sought the favor and blessing of the Ruler of the Universe to rest upon our city, and His guiding hand to lead us in the path that shall honor Him and ourselves. The oath of office we have taken with uplifted hand, before God and this assembly, is no light and trivial promise, to be kept or broken as we may feel inclined ; but a solemn obligation which shall be binding upon us during the entire term of our ser- vice. To me it seems but a few weeks since I stood in this place to subscribe to a similar oath. The wheels of time have rolled rapidly during the year 1892, and its record has now gone beyond amendment or recall.


I desire to express my deep sense of gratitude to my fellow- citizens for the honor conferred in calling me a second time to this office, without exacting promise, pledge, or obligation of any kind other than that provided by the charter, which I voluntarily assume.


18


ANNUAL REPORTS.


I thank them for the confidence reposed in me, which enables me to enter upon the duties of the office as free as though political parties did not exist. I can only assure them and you that it shall be my purpose to carry on the administration, as far as the duty of my office is concerned, in a spirit entirely non-partisan. Here- tofore I have not found it necessary in municipal matters to dis- criminate politically, or to question the politics or creed of any person. I believe, and shall maintain, that the government should be conducted for the welfare of the community, without any refer- ence whatever to party affiliations.


Doubtless the most interesting feature of an inaugural address will be found in a statement of the City Treasurer.


FINANCES.


From the last annual report it appears that the funded debt of the city, January 1, 1892, was as follows :


Funded debt, city loan


$670,000


Funded debt, water loan . 375,500


Total funded debt .


$1,045,500


At the beginning of the year it was found necessary to provide funds for the payment of current expenses in anticipation of the dividends to be received on the amount which was deposited in the Maverick National Bank, and for this purpose bonds of the city were issued amounting to $100,000. The vote of the City Coun- cil authorizing this loan also provided that the dividends which shall hereafter be received shall, in addition to the amount required to be raised annually by taxation for that purpose, be applied to the reduction of the funded debt. The dividends already received, amounting to $77,185, and $60,000 provided for in the tax levy, have been so applied, and a reduction of the funded debt provided for amounting to $137,185.


The debt was increased during the year by appropriations made by the City Council as follows :


For the cost of paving Union Square and parts of Somerville and Webster Avenues, the sum of $100,000. This loan was issued under authority of a special act of the Legislature, approved April


19


MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF 1893.


12, 1892. The bonds issued therefor are payable within twenty years in annual instalments, with interest at the rate of four per cent., and are not to be considered or reckoned in determining the authorized limit of indebtedness under the provisions of section four, of chapter twenty-nine, of the Public Statutes, and acts in amendment thereof, or supplementary thereto.


For the cost of purchasing 129,497 feet of land in addition to the gift to the city by the heirs of Nathan Tufts, Sr., of the Powder House and lot containing 68,357 feet, hereafter to be called the Nathan Tufts Park, and grading the same, the sum of $25,000.


For the cost of enlarging and improving the Edgerly School- house, the sum of $20,000.


For the cost of an improved and enlarged system of sewerage in West Somerville, the sum of $8,000. Making the total amount of appropriations on funded debt account for permanent improve- ments during the year $153,000.


In consequence of the opinion of the Attorney-General, that money borrowed temporarily, in anticipation of the collection of taxes, should be included in ascertaining the limit of municipal indebtedness, and as our temporary loans at that time amounted to $275,000, while our borrowing capacity, as computed on the funded debt account, was but $190,000, the bonds for the three appropriations last mentioned, amounting to $53,000, were not issued. But as the money has already been expended and must hereafter be provided for, either by including it in the tax levy, or by issuing bonds when the law shall be so amended as to allow the city to do so, it is proper at the present time to consider it part of the funded debt, which amounts to $1,161,315, January 1, 1893, classified as follows :


City loan bonds bearing interest at 4 per ct. . $466,000


66


165,000


66 66 paving bonds bearing interest at 4 per ct. " 5


100,000


66 sewer 66 66


35,000


Water loan bonds bearing interest at 4 per ct. 260,000


66 66


10 105,500


66


66


" 5 1-2 per ct .. 10,000


City bonds not issued, $53,000, less balance to credit


of reduction of funded debt account, $33,185


19,815


Total


. $1,161,315


20


ANNUAL REPORTS.


The above amount represents the net indebtedness of the city, the unfunded liabilities, for temporary loans, etc., being equalled by its assets, which consist of uncollected taxes, sewer and side- walk assessments, etc.


The current expenses, State and County taxes and debt require- ments were provided for by the following


RESOURCES.


Assessors' warrant for the tax levy assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants as follows, viz :


Real Estate, valuation $34,950,800


Personal property, valuation 3,142,300


Total valuation


$38,093,100


A rate of $15.00 on $1,000 valuation with 12,475 polls at $2.00 and twenty-two (women) at fifty cents, gives the total amount of the tax levy $596,357.50, raised for the following purposes, viz :


State of Massachusetts, for the payment of State tax, $27,457.50 State of Massachusetts, for the payment of Metropol- itan sewer assessment 3,136.02


County of Middlesex, for the payment of the county tax 30,657.03


Appropriations for the payment of the current ex- penses .


512,835.00


Overlay and abatement for the sum added for frac- tional divisions and abatements 22,271.95


Total amount of tax levy $596,357.50


Other items of income were received as follows :


National Bank and corporation taxes $17,250.07


Revenue from the Water Works under the existing


contract with the City of Boston 77,000.00


Interest on taxes, assesments, etc., including pre-


mium on bonds sold


9,920.12


Proceeds of sale on land on Prospect and South streets 2,800.00


Revenue from watering streets 7,984.77


Fees, fines, rent and income from all other sources 12,771.29


Total amount of resources $724,083.75


21


MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF 1893.


The expenditures for the various departments were as follows, viz. :


Broadway Parkway


$ 5,293.22


Fire Department


40,991.98


Health Department


11,816.76


Highways


55,015.33


Indigent Soldiers and Sailors


587.00


Interest


42,715.58


Miscellaneous


17,138.75


Police


42,989.19


Police Station Incidentals


3,745.68


Public Library


5,800.93


Public Grounds


5,692.48


Printing and Stationery


6,853.46


Reduction of Funded Debt


60,000.00


Relief and Burial of Indigent Soldiers and Sailors


3,942.42


Salaries


31,444.28


School Contingent, Janitors' Salaries


9,794.92


School Contingent


13,131.81


School Fuel


7,147.68


School-house Incidentals


17,734.18


School Teachers' Salaries


108,058.81


Sewers


10,000.00


Sidewalks


10,043.99


Street Lights


26,529.45


Support of Poor


14,418.11


Watering Streets


12,828.06


Water Maintenance


29,158.51


Water Works Extension


30,485.30


Water Loan Interest


15,589.00


Overlay and Abatement


17,081.32


State of Massachusetts, State Tax


27,457.50


State of Massachusetts, Sewer Assessment .


3,136.02


County of Middlesex, County Tax


30,657.03


Water Loan Bonds


1,105.00


Total amount of expenditures


$724,083.75


In making up the foregoing accounts before the business of the year had closed, it was necessary to estimate some of the items. The balance will not be materially changed, but in some cases the expenditures will be slightly reduced.


Semi-Centennial Celebration


5,700.00


22


ANNUAL REPORTS.


The following tables, giving a brief history of the city's finances since 1871, are respectfully submitted for future reference :


YEAR.


Amount of Funded Debt.


Increase of Funded Debt.


Reduction of Funded Debt by Contribu- tion to 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


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


1892


1,194,500


253,000


+44,000.00


60,000


1.58


* Sinking funds applied.


t Bank dividends 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 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


36,843,400


539,137.10


14.00


1892


38,093,100


596,357.50


15.00


....


....


....


. .


1886


1,525,000


66,894.23


2.57


1886


26,003,200


416,987.28


23


MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF 1893.


The growth of Somerville continues unabated. During the past year five hundred and fifty-six building permits were issued, of which four hundred and seventy were for dwelling houses. It is estimated that five hundred or more dwellings were completed dur- ing the year. The Water Board has extended water mains about one and one-half miles, and has relaid about four and one-half miles of pipe. Five hundred and twenty-nine services have been laid and sixty-three new hydrants have been placed. The population is estimated to be 45,000. Thrift and general comfort and happiness seem to prevail. We have been exempt from many of the ills which have visited other communities, and as we look about us and contemplate the addition to our city of many evidences of pros- perity, we may regard ourselves truly as citizens "of no mean city."


The rate of taxation has been increased to $15 per thousand, but it is not owing to any increased expenditure of last year's adminis- tration. The increased valuation of 1892. over that of 1891 was but $1,149,660, compared with $4,285,940 in 1891 compared with 1890. The State and County taxes were largely in excess of 1891, and a payment on account of the Metropolitan drainage system all tended to increase the tax above the usual $14 limit.


It affords me pleasure to report that all the departments of the government are in good condition. The chiefs of each have been interested in their work and faithful in the discharge of their duties. Several of the Boards, especially the Board of Health, have had unusual duties to perform. The general health of the city has been good, and, although in September last, typhoid fever prevailed to a considerable extent in one section of the city and threatened to become epidemic, the indefatigable labors of the Board of Health prevented a spread of the disease which might have involved the entire city. The threatened approach of cholera during the preva- lence of the fever, followed by the appeals of the Board, awakened the citizens generally to the necessity of extra efforts regarding the sanitary condition of their premises, and the result has been to place the entire city in an unusually cleanly condition. I suggest that these efforts be continued during the winter, renewed early in the spring, and that the citizens do all in their power to co-operate with the Board in closing every avenue to the approach of disease or pestilence.


24


ANNUAL REPORTS.


I intend, at no distant day, to call the attention of the City Council to several suggestions of the Board of Health in relation to the subject of the removal of ashes and house offal, and abate- ment of nuisances arising from various causes ; also to recommend a plan to overcome some of the difficulties encountered at the pres- ent time.


HIGHWAYS.


The Highway Department has had an unusually busy year, and has done a larger amount of work than in any previous year.


The disbursements for street improvements have been about $173,500. Of this sum has been expended in round numbers the following amounts :


Paving


$100,000


Highways


58,000


Sidewalks


10,225


Broadway Parkway


5,275


Of granite curbing 21,475 feet have been laid, an amount in excess of any previous year, excepting perhaps, the year 1874, of which no records can be found. Eleven streets have been accepted, - adding one and forty-six one-hundredths miles to the mileage of public streets which the department is obliged to maintain.


Three of the largest pieces of highway work ever undertaken in the city have been completed, viz., the paving of Union Square and portions of Somerville and Webster Avenues ; the building of the Broadway Parkway and consequent re-building of Broadway from Cross Street to Marshall Street, and the re-building of Middlesex Avenue. In addition, as far as the appropriation would permit, other streets have been improved, and the work has been distributed over the whole city.


As far as I have been able to ascertain, the paving of Somerville Avenue has given great satisfaction to the public, and is, I hope, only the beginning of a systematic improvement of our thorough- fares with a view to economic and permanent construction. I think the people believe in improvements which are in accord with the spirit manifested in other cities and are adapted to our own


25


MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF 1893.


needs. I sincerely hope the work of paving will be continued during the present year, and that a specific sum will be appropri- ated from the funded debt to provide for the pavement this year of a portion of Washington Street, extending from Union Square easterly to Medford Street-the street being in immediate need of repairs-or of a portion of Somerville Avenue extending westerly from Park Street.




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