USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1898 > Part 1
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GIVES
FREE
SOMERV
VILLE
FOUNI
T
1842
CITY 1872. STRENGT
MUNIC
ESTABLIS
TH
-
CITY OF SOMERVILLE
MASSACHUSETTS
ANNUAL REPORTS
1898
-
GIVES
0
SOMERVILLE
FREED
ONAL
FOUNDED 1842
1872.
MUNICIPAL
42. ESTABLISHED
A CITY STRENGTH
1
BOSTON:
AMERICAN PRINTING AND ENGRAVING CO.
50 Arch Street.
1899.
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1898.
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1898.
MAYOR. ALBION A. PERRY. 366 Broadway.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
WARD ONE.
L. HERBERT HUNTLEY
FRANK DEWITT LAPHAM .
.
1 Pearl street.
3 Hathorn street.
WARD TWO.
JAMES F. DAVLIN . .
15 Kingman court.
FRENCH O. J. TARBOX
.
60 Oak street.
WARD THREE.
ANDREW A. LAMONT
43 Heath street.
FREDERICK M. KILMER .
.
.
420 Broadway.
WARD FOUR.
JOHN N. BALL, President
690 Broadway.
SILAS L. CUMMINGS .
251 Elm street.
CLERK. GEORGE I. VINCENT.
Regular meetings, second, third and fourth Wednesday evenings of each month.
8
ANNUAL REPORTS.
COMMON COUNCIL.
WARD ONE.
FRANK B. BURROWS .
ORICE M. GRACEY
ROBERT BURNS .
WILLARD P. P. THOMSON .
29 Mystic avenue. 23 Webster street. 21 Lincoln street. 33 Pinckney street. .
WARD TWO.
JAMES W. KENNEY
ARTHUR D. OSBORNE
DAVID D. LORD
ARTHUR P. VINAL
4 Concord avenue. 8 Hillside park. 18 Aldersey street. 36 Walnut street.
WARD THREE.
FRANCIS M. WILSON, President
ARTHUR W. BERRY .
WILLIAM H. CUSHMAN
CHARLES A. GRIMMONS
103 Cross street. 53 Hudson street.
6 Evergreen avenue. 72 Thurston street.
WARD FOUR.
ISAAC M. STORY
DAVID W. CROCKER
JOHN F. FOSTER
PAUL J. SMITH .
238 Summer street. 53 Winslow avenue.
25 Kingston street. 79 Irving street.
CLERK. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON.
Regular meetings, Thursday evenings next following the second, third and fourth Wednesdays of each month.
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
ACCOUNTS. - Aldermen Lamont and Tarbox ; Councilmen Grimmons, Thomson and Osborne.
CITY ENGINEERING. - Aldermen Lapham and Lamont ; Councilmen Berry, Kenney and Crocker.
9
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1898.
CLAIMS. - His Honor the Mayor, Alderman Lapham ; the President of the Common Council, Councilmen Thomson and Smith.
ELECTRIC LINES .- Aldermen Ball, Huntley and Davlin ; Councilmen Story and Vinal.
FINANCE .- His Honor the Mayor, Aldermen Kilmer and Huntley ; the President of the Common Council, Councilmen Kenney, Story, Gracey and Foster.
FIRE DEPARTMENT. - Aldermen Huntley and Lamont ; Councilmen Burrows, Vinal and Foster.
FUEL AND STREET LIGHTS. - Aldermen Davlin and Lamont ; Councilmen Cushman, Story and Kenney.
HIGHWAYS .- Aldermen Lapham and Davlin ; Councilmen Gracey, Grimmons and Crocker.
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS .- His Honor the Mayor, Alderman Kilmer ; the President of the Common Council, Councilmen Lord and Foster.
ORDINANCES .- Aldermen Tarbox and Cummings ; Council- men Story, Thomson and Berry.
PRINTING .- Aldermen Davlin and Cummings ; Councilmen Osborne, Grimmons and Burns.
PUBLIC GROUNDS .- Aldermen Ball and Kilmer ; Council- men Burrows, Smith and Osborne.
PUBLIC PROPERTY .- Aldermen Cummings and Kilmer ; Councilmen Berry, Lord and Burns.
SOLDIERS' RELIEF .- Aldermen Davlin and Cummings ; Councilmen Burrows, Vinal and Cushman.
WATER .- Aldermen Huntley and Tarbox ; the President . of the Common Council, Councilmen Lord and Gracey.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
ELECTIONS AND RETURNS .- Aldermen Cummings, Davlin and Kilmer.
ENROLLED ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS. - Aldermen Kilmer, Huntley and Ball.
LICENSES .- Aldermen Tarbox, Cummings and Huntley.
10
ANNUAL REPORTS.
POLICE. - His Honor the Mayor, Aldermen Ball and Lapham.
SEWERS .- Aldermen Lamont, Ball and Tarbox.
SPECIAL BUILDING PERMITS. - Aldermen Lapham and Huntley.
STATE AID. - Aldermen Tarbox, Lapham, Lamont and Bail.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
ELECTIONS AND RETURNS .- Councilmen Gracey, Crocker and Cushman.
ENROLLED ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS. - Councilmen Berry, Vinal and Smith.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ALBION A. PERRY, Mayor, Chairman, ex officio. FRANCIS M. WILSON, President of the Common Council, ex officio (Term, three years.) WARD ONE.
S. NEWTON CUTLER (elected 1897), 28 Flint street. SANFORD HANSCOM (elected 1896), 3 Webster street.
GEORGE S. POOLE (elected 1895), 46 Mt. Vernon street.
WARD TWO.
ALVAH B. DEARBORN (elected 1897), 34 Bow street. HERBERT A. CHAPIN (elected 1895), 41 Walnut street. JAMES F. BEARD (elected 1896), 17 Prospect Hill avenue.
WARD THREE.
QUINCY E. DICKERMAN (elected 1895), 85 Central street. FRANK H. HARDISON (elected 1897), 192 Central street. GEORGE W. W. WHITING (elected 1896), 280 Broadway.
WARD FOUR.
GILES W. BRYANT (elected 1895), 296 Elm street. MARTIN W. CARR (elected 1896), 74 Craigie street. GEORGE A. MILES (elected 1897), 249 Elm street.
11
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1898.
GORDON A. SOUTHWORTH, Superintendent and Secretary. Office, City Hall Annex. Hours : 8 A. M. to 12 M., and 1.30 to 5 P. M .; Saturdays, 8 to 10.30 A M.
Regular meetings, last Monday evening of each month.
ASSESSORS. (Term, three years.)
BENJAMIN F. THOMPSON, Chairman (term expires 1899). NATHAN H. REED (term expires 1900). HARRY A. TRUE (term expires 1901).
ASSISTANT ASSESSORS. (Term, one year.)
WARD ONE FRED. B. CLAPP.
WARD TWO. -
CHARLES C. FARRINGTON.
WARD THREE. EDGAR T. MAYHEW.
WARD FOUR. FRANK A. TEELE. Clerk, ALBERT B FALES. Office open : 8 A. M. to 4 P. M. ; Saturdays, 8 A. M. to 12 M.
BOARD OF HEALTH. (Term, three years.)
ALLEN F. CARPENTER, Chairman (term expires 1900). ALVANO T. NICKERSON (term expires 1899). WILLIAM F. HOLMES, M. D. (term expires 1901). Clerk, WILLIAM P. MITCHELL. Agent, CALEB A. PAGE. Superintendent Collection of Ashes and Offal, GEORGE W. S. HUSE.
Office open : 8 A. M. to 4 P. M .; Saturdays, 8 A. M. to 12 M.
12
ANNUAL REPORTS.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR. Office, City Hall Annex, Highland avenue, corner Walnut street. ALBION A. PERRY, Mayor, Chairman, ex officio. (Term, four years.) 1 EDWARD B. WEST, President (term expires 1899). EZRA D. SOUTHER (died Feb. 16). JAMES H. BUTLER (elected March 23), (term expires 1900). ALBERT W. EDMANDS (term expires 1901). HERBERT E. MERRILL (term expires 1902). Agent, CHARLES C. FOLSOM. Secretary, CORA F. LEWIS.
Office open : 8 A. M. to 12 M., 1 to 4 P. M .; Saturdays, 8 A. M. to 12 ΠΌ.
WATER COMMISSIONERS. (Term, three years.)
GEORGE D. WEMYSS, President (term expires 1900), 5 Austin street. GEORGE A. KIMBALL (term expires 1901), 33 Warren avenue. WILLIAM FRANKLIN HALL (term expires 1899), 345 Broadway. FRANK E. MERRILL, Clerk and Superintendent. Office open : 8 A. M. to 4 P. M .; Saturdays, 8 A. M. to 12 M.
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS.
(Term : City Clerk, one year; other members, three years.)
CROMWELL G. ROWELL, Chairman (term expires 1900). CHARLES P. LINCOLN (term expires 1901). CHARLES E. PARKS (term expires 1899). GEORGE I. VINCENT, City Clerk.
13
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1898.
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. (Term, three years.)
CHARLES S. LINCOLN, Chairman (term expires 1900). CHARLES A. WEST (term expires 1901). JOHN B. VIALL (term expires 1899). EDWARD C. BOOTH (term expires 1901). CHRISTOPHER E. RYMES (term expires 1900). GEORGE W. PERKINS {term expires 1901). CHARLES H. BROWN (term expires 1900).
J. FRANK WELLINGTON (term expires 1899). CHARLES W. SAWYER (term expires 1899).
JOHN S. HAYES (Died March 7),
SAM WALTER FOSS (Elected May 16), S Librarian and Sec'y.
Library open : 9 A. M. to 6 P. M .; Wednesdays and Satur- days, 9 A. M. to 9 P. M.
CITY CLERK. GEORGE I. VINCENT.
Office open : 8 A. M. to 4 P. M. ; Saturdays, 8 A. M. to 12 M.
CITY TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES. JOHN F. COLE. Office open : 8 A. M. to 2 P. M .; Saturdays, 8 A. M. to 12 M.
MESSENGER TO CITY COUNCIL. JAIRUS MANN.
CITY SOLICITOR.
FRANK W. KAAN, 50 State street, Boston.
CITY AUDITOR. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, City Hall.
14
ANNUAL REPORTS.
1
CITY ENGINEER. ERNEST W. BAILEY. Office open : 8 A. M. to 5 P. M .; Saturdays, 8 A. M. to 12 M.
CLERK OF COMMITTEES. WILLIAM P. MITCHELL. Office open : 8 A. M. to 4 P. M ; Saturdays, 8 A. M. to 12 M.
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS. JOHN P. PRICHARD. Office hour : 9 A. M.
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS. FREDERICK C. FULLER. Office hours : 8 to 10 A. M.
INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING. DUNCAN C. GREENE. Office hour : 8 to 9 A. M.
SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS.
EDWARD BACKUS. Office hour : 8.30 to 9.30 A. M.
CHIEF OF POLICE. MELVILLE C. PARKHURST.
Office, Police Building, Bow street.
15
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1898.
CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. JAMES R. HOPKINS. Office, Central Fire Station, 261 Medford street.
CITY PHYSICIAN. WILLIAM F. HOLMES, M. D., 215 Pearl street.
INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR. CHARLES S. PHILBRICK, 50 Morrison street.
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS. CHARLES M. BERRY, 14 Miller street.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. JOHN H. DUSSEAULT, 42 Sargent avenue.
BURIAL, AGENTS, Under Chapter 279, Acts of 1896. JAMES F. DAVLIN. JOHN H. DUSSEAULT.
CONSTABLES.
JAIRUS MANN. ROBERT R. PERRY.
CHARLES C. FOLSOM.
EDWARD MCGARR.
DENNIS KELLEY.
CHRIS. C. CAVANAGH.
EUGENE A. CARTER.
PATRICK / J. GARVIN.
MELVILLE C. PARKHURST.
WILLIAM D. HAYDEN.
JOSEPH J. GILES.
CHARLES L. ELLIS.
CLARENCE TUCKER.
GEORGE H. CARLETON.
16
ANNUAL REPORTS.
FENCE VIEWERS.
LAMBERT M. MAYNARD.
CHARLES M. BERRY.
MEASURER OF WOOD AND BARK. SAMUEL T. LITTLEFIELD.
MEASURERS OF GRAIN.
JOHN CRAIG.
JAMES McFADZEAN.
PUBLIC WEIGHER IN CHARGE OF CITY SCALES, UNION SQUARE.
FULTON O'BRION.
WEIGHERS OF COAL.
CHARLES H. TUCKER. CLINTON E SOMES.
GEORGE E. SLACK.
SIDNEY E. HAYDEN.
ROBERT A. YERXA.
IRWIN L. SMITH.
FRANK A. TEELE.
CHARLES P. BRANN. .
ALFRED A. WALDRON.
AMHERST F. DURKEE.
THOMAS W. LANE.
CHARLES E. ROCKWELL.
JOEL J. FISHER.
C. EDWARD BYRNES.
CHARLES H. WARD.
JOHN A. MARSH.
NATHAN E. WILLIS.
GEORGE H. MOORE.
H. CARLETON ABBOTT.
EDGAR H. BARKER.
WILLIAM HOULAHAN.
OTTO POWLOWSKI.
CHARLES W. FURLONG.
WEIGHERS OF BEEF.
D. WARNER DANFORTH.
FREDERICK A. GEILING. CLARENCE EDWARDS.
CHARLES H. TUCKER.
JOHN J. MASTERS.
GEORGE GROGAN.
ROBERT A. MURRAY.
GEORGE E. SLACK. CLINTON E. SOMES.
17
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1898.
THOMAS K. MARTIN.
EDWARD M. WHEELER.
AMHERST F. DURKEE.
THOMAS W. LANE.
CHARLES E. ROCKWELL.
JOEL J. FISHER.
CHARLES H. WARD.
C. EDWARD BYRNES.
JOHN J. MASTERS.
GEORGE GROGAN.
ROBERT A. MURRAY.
CHARLES W. FURLONG.
POLICE DEPARTMENT. MELVILLE C. PARKHURST, Chief. ROBERT R. PERRY, Captain. EDWARD MCGARR, Sergt. CHRIS. C. CAVANAGH, Sergt. DENNIS KELLEY, Sergt.
EUGENE A. CARTER, Sergt.
JOHN E. FULLER.
JOHN HAFFORD.
ALBION L. STAPLES.
GEORGE A. BODGE.
JUDSON W. OLIVER.
GEORGE H. CARLETON.
GEORGE W. BEAN.
FRANCIS A. PERKINS.
GEORGE L. SMITH.
CHARLES S. THRASHER.
EDWARD M. CARTER.
WILLIAM H. JOHNSTON.
CHARLES E. WOODMAN.
ARTHUR E. KEATING.
EUGENE H. GAMMON.
JACOB W. SKINNER.
DAVID A. BOLTON.
CHARLES W. STEVENS.
ULYSSES G. SKINNER.
JAMES J. POLLARD.
EZRA A. DODGE.
SAMUEL BURNS.
DANIEL G. SIMONS.
JOTHAM CHISHOLM.
FRED H. GOOGINS.
ELMER E. DREW.
WILLIAM J. DAVIDSON.
EUGENE A. WOODSUM.
JOHN A. DADMUN.
PHINEAS W. SKINNER.
GEORGE L. RICE.
MELVILLE C. PARKHURST, Lockup Keeper.
RESERVE POLICE.
HERBERT HILTON. JOHN A. RAY.
MYRON S. GOTT. CHARLES W. REICK.
JOHN G. KNIGHT.
THEODORE E. HERON.
IRA S. CARLTON.
JAMES M. HARMON.
MICHAEL T. KENNEDY
ALFRED A. WALDRON.
WILLIAM HOULAHAN.
OTTO POWLOWSKI.
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN CONVENTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, ( January 2, 1899.
RESOLVED : That His Honor the Mayor be and he hereby is 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. GEORGE O. PROCTOR,
JANUARY 2, 1899.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL : -
We are met at the beginning of this year to assume the manifold duties that have been entrusted to our care by our fel- low-citizens. Great confidence has been reposed in us, and important is our responsibility. I desire, in the first place, to acknolwedge my profound gratitude for this expression of con- fidence and my appreciation of the high honor of being chosen to follow the noble men who have filled the office of Mayor of Somerville. It is not to be expected that I shall fill the place just made vacant. I can only promise faithful service and the best that I am able to command. Great as is the honor of being elected to such position, it would be a greater disgrace to fail in the discharge of any of its duties.
We are beginning a new year in the life of our city and nation with the most promising prospects. Since the inaugura- tion of our last City Council, the country has passed through one of the most trying and dangerous periods of its history. By the wise leadership of our patriotic President and the unan- imous support of a united people, we have triumphed over all obstacles, and have attained a glorious peace. Prosperity
22
ANNUAL REPORTS.
beyond our most sanguine expectations now seems to be a certainty.
It is only right, in passing, to speak of the noble work done by the sons of Somerville in the momentous events of the year. In all branches of the service and under varying circumstances they have contributed their part. We have no means of ascer- taining the number who offered themselves to their country, but it must have been several hundred. Almost every day we hear of the gallant deeds of some of our boys, which have not before come to our attention. Of the Somerville company I have only the highest praise. The men of Company M and the others in the Eighth Massachusetts Regiment volunteered their services in the very beginning. It was not their fault that they did not go into action. Like scores of other gallant regiments, their active participation was not necessary, but it was the reserve strength of the nation expressed by the presence of the great army encamped in the South which made an early termination of the war inevitable. To their everlasting honor, it should be said that they were ready to emulate the deeds of heroism and sacrifice which have won the admiration of the world. They had their sacrifices,-loss of position, loss of health, and even loss of life,- which a grateful country and an admiring city will appreciate. And, what is more, they are still making their sacrifice for whatever duty the government may call them.
The first and most important, though perhaps not the most interesting, subject to be considered in this address is that of the finances. I present herewith statistics prepared by the City Treasurer, which show the financial condition of the city, etc. : -
THE CITY'S FINANCES.
FUNDED DEBT .- The Funded Debt of the city, January 1, 1898, was as follows : -
Funded Debt, City Loan . $1,031,000.00
Funded Debt, Sewer Loan
148,000.00
Funded Debt, Paving Loan
75,000.00
Funded Debt, Water Loan
294,000.00
Total Funded Debt
$1,548,000.00
23
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
The debt was increased during the year by appropriations made by the City Council as follows : -
Armory $15,000.00
Electrical Department, Fire Alarm, and Police Patrol Boxes 1,500.00
Fire Department, Fire Station, Claren- don Hill 15,000.00
Highways, Paving Webster avenue, Fitch- burg Railroad to Cambridge line
7,000.00
Highways, Steam Road Roller
3,500.00
Lincoln Park 5,000.00
Prospect Hill Park
20,000.00
Schoolhouse, Spring Hill District
6,000.00
Schoolhouse, English High
1,000.00
Schoolhouse, Prescott, heating and venti-
lating 6,000.00
Schoolhouse, Ward Two
34,000.00
Schoolhouse, Burns Addition
12,000.00
Sidewalks
5,000.00
Sewers, Construction
25,000.00
Support of Poor, Almshouse
20,000.00
Total amount of increase .
$176,000.00
The debt was reduced during the year by payments as fol- lows : -
Funded Debt, City Loan $138,000.00
Funded Debt, Sewer Loan 7,000.00
Funded Debt, Paving Loan
5,000.00
Funded Debt, Water Loan
22,000.00.
Total amount of reduction $172,000.00
Leaving the funded debt of the city January 1, 1899, $1,552,000 (an increase of $4,000 over the previous year), classified as follows : -
City Loan Bonds bearing interest at 4 per cent. . $907,000.00
City Loan Bonds bearing interest at 42 per cent. 137,000.00
Amount carried forward
. $1,044,000.00
24
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amount brought forward . $1,044,000.00 City Loan Sewer Bonds bearing interest at 4 per cent. 153,000.00
City Loan Sewer Bonds bearing interest at 43 per cent. 13,000.00
City Loan Paving Bonds bearing interest at 4 per cent. 70,000.00
Water Loan Bonds bearing interest at 4 per cent. 234,000.00
Water Loan Bonds bearing interest at 5 per cent. 28,000.00
Water Loan Bonds bearing interest at 5} per cent. 10,000.00
Total funded debt, January 1, 1899 . $1,552,000.00
The foregoing 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 sidewalks assessments, etc.
TAXES. - The assessors' warrant for the tax levy assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants, as of May 1, 1898, was duly submitted to the collector.
The total amount of taxable property was $50,739,700, and the rate established was $17.90 on each $1,000 valuation, as follows : -
Real Estate, valuation
$47,015,775.00
Personal Estate, valuation 3,723,925.00
Total valuation $50,739,700.00
At a rate of $17.90 on each $1,000 valu- ation .
$908,240.63
Polls, 16,281 at $2.00 32,562.00
Street watering, 334,612 linear feet at 4c. 13,384.48
Total amount of tax levy
$954,187.11
25
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
APPROPRIATIONS. - The amount of revenue provided by the tax levy may properly be classified as follows : -
Rate as- sessed on $1,000 valu- ation. Amount.
For Current expenses within the con-
trol of the city council . $6.774
$343,700.00
Current expenses of depart- ments over which the city council has no control . 5.035 255,500.00
Debt requirements .
4.636
235,200.00
State and county taxes, Metropol- itan sewer assessments, and overlay account 1.455 73,840.63
For total amount on a valuation of
$50,739,700 at $17.90. $908,240.63
Poll taxes assessed credited to
State and County 32,562.00
Street watering in excess of amount appropriated
13,384.48
Total amount of tax levy $954,187.11
The appropriations to the various accounts were as follows : -
ACCOUNTS WITHIN THE CONTROL OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
Electrical Department
$ 6,400.00
Engineering Department
9,000.00
Fire Department
56,000.00
Highways
65,000.00
Indigent Soldiers and Sailors
400.00
Miscellaneous
9,000.00
Police
48,500.00
Police Station Incidentals
2,000.00
Printing and Stationery
6,500.00
Public Grounds
6,000.00
Relief and Burial of Indigent Soldiers and Sailors
9,000.00
Salaries
8,000.00
School Contingent, Janitors' Salaries
17,000.00
Amount carried forward
$242,800.00
26
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amount brought forward
$242,800.00
School Fuel
10,000.00
Schoolhouse Incidentals
17,000.00
Sewers, Maintenance
7,000.00
Sidewalks
10,000.00
Street Lights
45,000.00
Watering Streets
3,500.00
Excess and Deficiency
8,400.00
Total amount assessed on a valu- ation of $50,739,700 at
$6.774
$343,700.00
ACCOUNTS OVER WHICH THE CITY COUNCIL HAS NO CONTROL.
Rate per $1,000 valuation.
Amount.
Health Department .
$0.394
$ 20,000.00
Public Library .
.147
7,500.00
School Contingent
4.10
18,000.00
School Teachers' Salaries
190,000.00
Support of Poor
.394
20,000.00
Total amount assessed
on a valuation of
$50,739,700.00 at
$5.035
$255,500.00
ACCOUNTS PROVIDING FOR DEBT REQUIREMENTS.
Interest
$ 80,000.00
Reduction of Funded Debt
155,200.00
Total amount assessed on a valuation
of $50,739,700 at $4.636
$235,200.00
ACCOUNTS PROVIDING FOR STATE AND COUNTY TAXES, ETC.
County Tax . .
$44,894.56
Deduct one half of polls 16,281.00
$28,613.56.
State Tax
$27,075 00
Deduct one half of polls . 16,281.00
10,794.00
Amount carried forward
$39,407.56
27
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Amount brought forward . $39,407.56
Metropolitan Sewer Assessment, 1898
31,566.31
Non-Resident Bank Stock 1,043.12
Overlay and Abatement .
1,823.64
Total amount assessed on a val-
uation of $50,739,700 at $1.455 $73,840.63
INCOME.
In addition to the above, the following appropriations were made from the various income accounts :-
Salaries, the amount received of the State for
corporation and bank taxes $27,463.89
Police, the amount received of the clerk of the court for fines, costs, etc. 3,376.50
Public Library, the amount received of the county for dog licenses
2,268.86
Water Maintenance, from the income of the water works . 60,000.00
Water Maintenance, from the income of the water works of 1897
5,278.88
Water Works Extension, from the income of the water works .
20,000.00
Water Loan Interest, from the income of the water works
11,925.00
Reduction of Funded Debt, from the income of the water works, premium on bonds, etc.
22,000.00
Metropolitan Water Assessment, from the income of the water works . 14,250.19
Sewers, construction, from the income of the water works 67,280.96
Tax Levy
954,187.11
Total amount of income and appropri- ations for the year . $1,188,031.39
28
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The following tables, giving a condensed history of the city's finances, are herewith presented for reference : -
YEAR.
Amount of Funded Debt.
Increase of Funded Debt.
Reduction of Funded Debt.
Tax Rate per $1,000 Valuation on Account of Reduction of Funded Debt.
Town .
Dec. 31, 1872
643,354
$ 50,005 166,000
.
.
66
1875
1,571,854
152,000
66
1876
1,606,854
45,000
$ 55,130.62
$2.07
66
1877
1,606,854
10,000
58,828.58
2.30
66
1878
1,596,854
61,004.64
2.91
66
1879
1,585,000
64,915.76
3.42
66
1880
1,585,000
55,739.35
2.72
66
1881
1,585,000
58,498.64
2.59
66
1882
1,585,000
61,390.59
2.65
66
1883
1,585,000
64,479.01
2.70
66
1884
1,585,000
67,719.33
2.78
66
1885
*1,525,000
71,305.66
2.87
66
1886
1,525,000
66,894.23
2.57
66
1887
1,525,000
70,252.88
2.56
66
1888
*860,500
25,000
37,000.00
1.28
66
1890
1,057,500
150,000
45,000.00
1.38
66
1891
1,045,500
45,000
57,000.00
1.55
66
1892
1,194,500
253,000
104,000.00
2.73
66
1893
1,279,500
222,000
137,000.00
3.27
66
1894
1,344,500
172,000
107,000.00
2.42
1895
1,506,500
247,000
85,000.00
1.83
66
1897
1,548,000
167,000
150,000.00
2.39
1898
1,552,000
176,000
172,000.00
3.39
66
1873
809,354
66
1874
1,419,854
610,500
*Sinking Fund applied.
1896
1,531,000
177,000
152,500.00
3.11
1889
952,500
130,000
38,000.00
1.27
$ 593,349
29
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
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
36,843,400
539,137.10
14.00
1892
38,093,100
596,357.50
15.00
1893
41,873,600
675,886.80
15.50
1894
44,142,900
721,165.54
15.70
1895
46,506,300
745,609.02
15.40
1896
49,070,800
786,412.32
15.40
1897
50,231,000
913,574.42
17.30
1898
50,739,700
954,187.11
17.90
By the foregoing tables it appears that the funded debt of the city is $1,552,000, an increase of but $4,000 over the previous year ; of this sum, $1,280,000 represents the total city debt, and $272,000 represents the entire water loan debt. There is included in the city's funded debt the sum of $158,000, author- ized by previous acts of the Legislature to be borrowed out- side of the debt limit provided by the statutes. With the present outlook, it seems to me reasonable to believe that our funded debt need not be increased in the near future. This method of raising funds should be resorted to only in case of absolute necessity ; and while our debt, outside of the limit established by State law, is not very large in amount, I hope that we may find a way, in the near future, of reducing this debt, rather than of increasing it.
30
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The borrowing capacity of the city is now about $119,000. Considering the many permanent improvements which have so recently been made, I hope you may find this amount sufficient for the needs of the city during the current year. I would sug- gest that such appropriations as it is found advisable to make from funded debt account be based upon the present borrow- ing capacity, rather than upon the accumulations maturing later in the year. I think it very desirable that permanent improvements be commenced early in the season, and com- pleted, if possible, before winter weather sets in. By making our annual issue of bonds in January or April, instead of delay- ing until July, we may avoid the very questionable practice of constructing public buildings during the winter season. If this suggestion meets with your approval, it will of course necessi- tate the exercise of economy in the appropriations of the present year only ; for after that time we shall have an available borrowing capacity at the beginning of the year, which, under the present method, is not attainable until the month of July.
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