Report of the city of Somerville 1902, Part 1

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 518


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1902 > Part 1


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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37


GIVES


M


EED


SOMERVILLE


AL


FOIN


1872


ED 1842


A CITY STRENGTH


MUNICI


ESTABLIS


.


A


CITY OF SOMERVILLE


MASSACHUSETTS


ANNUAL REPORTS


1 902


With Mayor's Inaugural Address Delivered Jan. 5, 1903


GIVES


SOMERVILLE


FREEL


N


FOUNDED 1842 18


AL


1872


MUNICIPAL


A CITY


STRENGTH


42. ESTABLISHED


SOMERVILLE JOURNAL PRINT


1903


THE CITY HALL.


44494


INAUGURAL ADDRESS


DELIVERED BY


HON. EDWARD GLINES, MAYOR,


MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 1903.


GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN : -


Once more it is my privilege to address you, and, through you, the various city officials and the citizens, upon the oppor- tunities and responsibilities of modern municipal life.


Ungrateful indeed should we be if we did not appreciate the endorsement expressed in the recent election, and the least we can do at the opening of a new municipal year is to take renewed devotion to every interest of our City.


It is impossible to forecast what a year may bring forth, what emergencies may arise, what complications may confront us. We do well to be grateful for the lessons of experience, and to enter upon the duties of a new year content to record our pur- pose to maintain the good name of our fair City and to advance her prosperity, knowing that upon our action must depend in no small measure the public safety and the comfort of the citizens.


Somerville's past is secure. Her future will depend upon what her citizens make it. One is tempted to refer to sacred memories and associations, but, in a nobler spirit, we face the new day with its problems. He honors the fathers who does his work as they did theirs. As we enjoy the fruits of other men's labors, let us live for and serve those who must enter into our labors.


A second year's administrative experience has not lessened the strenuousness of official life, but rather, has deepened the conviction that only by the utmost diligence and intelligent effort can one meet the demands of a modern city upon her public servants. He who accepts a public office as a public trust, who would have every branch of the City Government administered as economically and efficiently as a successful private business, finds


4


ANNUAL REPORTS.


it no light task to raise and expend one and a quarter millions of dollars a year wisely.


Some citizens are slow to learn that one has no right to ex- pect personal advantages, that place the citizens as a whole at a disadvantage, in city employment or contracts. This is not an easy lesson to learn, and is all too easily forgotten.


A city could not be more free than is ours from suspicion that the administration of any public interest is for private gain. Only by eternal vigilance can this proud distinction be main- tained. There are serious hindrances to conducting city affairs on the same business principles as a private corporation. The wonder grows that it is possible to secure such efficient and disin- terested service from our Board of Aldermen. In view of all these conditions, it is remarkable that our City affairs are admin- istered practically on the same principles as successful private business.


Public service means service of the public. There is no virtue in economy that does not serve the public. Any mayor and board of aldermen could be economical, if that were the only requisite. Virtue lies only in serving the public satisfactorily, while serving the city economically. Public service is two-fold : first, maintaining the efficiency of every department; second, investing in improved equipment and conveniences. The former is most essential and the least appreciated. New parks, boule- vards and public buildings catch the eye of the public and stimu- late civic pride, but there is no poetry in maintaining the efficiency of street and sewer, fire and police departments. To this un- poetic phase of public service special attention has been given the past two years.


To the best of my knowledge and belief, there has been no neglect and no deterioration in any department, but rather, a steady expansion and advance toward perfection all along the line. Eternal vigilance is the price of efficiency in any business. You cannot presume upon the reliability of human endeavor, except as you watch it and inspire it.


Wear and tear are inevitable, and the more complicated the mechanism, the greater the wear and tear. This makes a heavy draft upon the City treasury to maintain the efficiency of the equipment. The increase in prices of all materials is another factor that has militated against economy, and yet, notwithstand- ing all these conditions, there is no feature of our public service


5


MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.


that is not in as good condition as it was two years ago, and in many regards it has been materially improved.


The Financial Problem.


The financial problem must always be with us, and it will be more intricate each year. With close attention to our financial condition, I have come only gradually to understand how diffi- cult it will be for the City to meet all the demands upon her from year to year, and maintain the present reasonable tax rate. It is not only the part of wisdom, but it is a necessity for us to face the facts. It will be next to impossible to maintain the efficiency of every department and to provide the improvements that are absolutely necessary without placing upon posterity a burden too great for it to bear. The Legislature has fixed a debt limit which it considers a fair proportion of the expenses of to-day for pos- terity to bear, and this limit can be extended only in case of great necessity.


The increase in taxable property has varied from $500,000 to $1,500,000 in recent years. The law allows us to use but twelve dollars on $1,000 for city maintenance. Our taxes avail- able for City maintenance, therefore, have never increased more than $18,000 in a year, and sometimes as little as $6,000, whereas the School Department alone has never increased less than $10,- 000 for maintenance, and sometimes more than $20,000. It has always increased more than the entire increase in City taxes for the maintenance of all departments. When we realize that this is only one of the many departments constantly growing, the financial difficulties will be easily appreciated.


Our expenses must continue to increase much more rapidly than our income. Our population is increasing about 2,000 per year, or three per cent. Their proportionate part of the expenses of the City would be $40,000, whereas our total tax increase at sixteen dollars on a thousand has never been more than $25,000. Somerville must prepare herself for a ceaseless struggle with her financial problem. Many of the burdens which we bear are in- herited from the fathers, and we must not place upon posterity greater burdens than it can bear. In view of all the circum- stances, it is with commendable pride that we announce that there has been no deterioration in any department, either in equipment or in standard of service, that we have practically a


6


ANNUAL REPORTS.


perfect working plant in every department, and that we have made some important improvements.


Funded Debt.


The total funded debt of the City January 1, 1902, was $1,461,000. This debt was increased during the year $175,000. It was decreased $159,000, leaving the net funded debt January 1, 1903, $1,477,000, a net increase of $16,000.


Taxable Property.


The total amount of taxable property is $55,558,300, of which $49,697,500 is on real estate, and $5,860,800 on personal estate, including non-resident bank shares. At a rate of $16.40 on each $1,000 of valuation, the tax is $911,156.12. There are 18,022 polls at $2, making $36,044. We received from street watering $17,335.68, making the total tax levy $964,535.80. Total number of persons assessed, resident and non-resident, 25,017.


Of the amount received in taxes, $134,000 is required for the debt provisions ; $134,581.12 are State and County taxes, Metro- politan sewer, etc., matters over which the City has no control ; $333,700 is used for current expenses of departments, over which the Board of Aldermen has no control; $308,875 is the amount for current expenses within control of the Board of Aldermen. The same statement, based upon the $16.40 per thousand, is as follows : Of each $16.40, $2.42 are for State, County, and Metro- politan taxes ; $2.41 for debt requirements ; $6.01 for current ex- penses, over which the Board of Aldermen has no control ; $5.56, current expenses within the control of the Board of Aldermen.


In addition to the amount received from taxes, there was available last year the sum of $215,010.79 on water income ac- count ; we received $33,795.89 from corporation and bank taxes ; from the Clerk of Courts, $5,155 ; from the County Treasurer for dog licenses, $3,230.95; from the State, the street railway tax, $52,406.28; unexpended appropriations of 1901, $6,974.75; a total of $316,573.66, making the total amount available from taxes and other sources, $1,281,109.46.


The estimated borrowing capacity of the City January 1, 1903, was $157,000. By the first of October this will be in- creased $136,000, making a total borrowing capacity of $293,000.


1


1


MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.


The City's Finances.


Funded Debt .- The funded debt of the City January 1, 1902, was as follows :-


Funded Debt, City Loan $1,059,000 00


Funded Debt, Sewer Loan


172,000 00


Funded Debt, Paving Loan 55,000 00


Funded Debt, Water Loan


175,000 00


$1,461,000 00


The debt was increased during the year by appropriations made by the Board of Aldermen as follows :-


Public Buildings Construction :-


Schoolhouse in Ward One $8,000 00


Schoolhouse in Ward Seven


34,000 00


Sewers Construction


25,000 00


Public Grounds :-


Glen-Street Addition


800 00


Athletic Field in Ward Seven


1,000 00


Land on Prospect Hill for Park Pur- poses


13,500 00


Prospect Hill Park


8,000 00


Sidewalks Construction


16,000 00


Highways :-


Paved Gutters and Crossings 19,000 00


Construction Munroe Street and Stone Avenue


5,500 00


Electrical Department, Steam Fire Alarm Whistle 200 00


· Renewal of Funded Debt


17,000 00


Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Metro-


politan Park Assessment


27,000 00


Amount borrowed during the year $175,000 00


The debt was reduced during the year by payments as follows :-


Funded Debt, City Loan . $116,000 00


Funded Debt, Sewer Loan .


9,000 00


Funded Debt, Paving Loan


5,000 00


Funded Debt, Water Loan


29,000 00


Amount paid during the year $159,000 00


Leaving the funded debt of the City January 1, 1903, $1,477,- 000 (an increase of $16,000 from the previous year), classified as follows :-


8


ANNUAL REPORTS.


City Loan Bonds bearing interest at 31/2 per cent. $359,000 00


City Loan Bonds bearing interest at 4 per cent. . 672,000 00 City Loan Bonds bearing interest at 41/2 per cent. 35,000 00


City Loan Sewer Bonds bearing interest at 31/2 per cent.


54,000 00


City Loan Sewer Bonds bearing interest at 4 per cent.


125,000 00


City Loan Sewer Bonds bearing interest at 41/2 per cent. 9,000 00


City Loan Paving Bonds bearing interest at 4 per cent. 50,000 00


Water Loan Bonds bearing interest at 4 per cent.


136,000 00


Water Loan Bonds bearing interest at 51/2 per cent. 10,000 00


Metropolitan Park Assessment Loan


Bonds bearing interest at 31/2 per cent. 27,000 00


Total Funded Debt January 1, 1903 . $1,477,000 00


The foregoing amount represents the net indebtedness of the City, the unfunded liabilities for the temporary loans, etc., being equalled by its assets, which consist of uncollected taxes, sewer and sidewalk assessments, etc.


Taxes .- The Assessors' warrant for the tax levy assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants, as of May 1, 1902, was duly submitted to the Collector.


The total amount of taxable property was $55,558,300, and the rate .established was $16.40 on each $1,000 valuation, as follows :-


Real Estate, valuation . $49,697,500 00


Personal Estate, valuation .


5,787,870 00


Non-resident Bank Shares . 72,930 00


Total valuation · $55,558,300 00


At a rate of $16.40 on each $1,000 valua-


tion


$911,156 12


Polls, 18,022 at $2 36,044 00


Street Watering 17,335 68


Total amount of tax levy $964,535 80


Total number of persons assessed, resident and non-resident, 25,017.


9


MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.


Appropriations .- The amount of revenue provided by the tax levy may properly be classified as follows :-


Rates as- sessed on $1,000 valu- ation. Amount.


For current expenses within the control of the Board of Aldermen


$5.56


$308,875 00


Current expenses of depart- ments over which the


Board of Aldermen has no control


6.006 333,700 00


Debt requirements


2.412


134,000 00


State and County Taxes, Met-


ropolitan Sewer and Park


Assessments, National


Bank Tax, and Overlay account


2.422


134,581 12


For total amount on a valuation of $55,558,300, at $16.40 .


$911,156 12


Poll taxes assessed, credited to State and County


36,044 00


Street Watering, in excess of amount ap- propriated


17,335 68


Total amount of tax levy " . $964,535 80


The appropriations to the various accounts were as fol- lows : -


ACCOUNTS WITHIN THE CONTROL OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.


Assessors


$10,050 00


City Auditor


725 00


City Clerk


6,350 00


City Engineer


11,900 00


City Messenger


2,000 00


City Solicitor


2,300 00


City Treasurer


9,000 00


Clerk of Committees and Departments


4,000 00


Contingent Fund .


3,800 00


Election Expenses :---


City Clerk


700 00


Commissioner of Public Buildings


700 00


Pay of Election Officers


1,600 00


Registrars of Voters


1,500 00


Amount carried forward .


$54,625 00


10


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Amount brought forward


$54,625 00


Electrical Department


7,500 00


Executive Department


3,800 00


Fire Department


39,800 00


Highways :-


Construction


2,350 00


Removing Brown-Tail Moths


3,500 00


Inspection of Buildings


4,500 00


Military Aid


350 00


Police


33,000 00


Printing and Stationery


3,200 00


Public Buildings Maintenance :-


City Hall


3,500 00


City Hall Annex


750 00


Fire Department


3,800 00


Health


500 00


Highways


400 00


Police


3,000 00


Public Grounds


50 00


Public Library


3,500 00


Schoolhouses


45,500 00


Sewer Department


50 00


Support of Poor


500 00


Water Department


100 00


Public Grounds


9,500 00


Sealer of Weights and Measures


1,100 00


Soldiers' Relief


16,000 00


Somerville Hospital


5,000 00


Street Lights


63,000 00


Total amount assessed on a valuation of $55,558,300, at $5.56 . · $308,875 00


ACCOUNTS OVER WHICH THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN HAS NO CONTROL.


Health Department


$44,500 00


Public Library


14,500 00


School Contingent


21,000 00


School Teachers' Salaries


228,000 00


Support of Poor, City Home


4,400 00


Support of Poor, Miscellaneous


21,300 00


Total amount assessed on a valuation


of $55,558,300, at $6.006 . $333,700 00


ACCOUNTS PROVIDING FOR DEBT REQUIREMENTS.


Interest $45,500 00


Reduction of Funded Debt 88,500 00


Total amount assessed on a valuation of $55,558,300, at $2.412 . $134,000 00


11


MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.


PROVIDING FOR STATE AND COUNTY TAXES, ETC.


State Tax ·


$26,250 00


Deduct one-half of poll taxes . 18,022 00


$8,228 00


County Tax $54,994 82


Deduct one-half of poll taxes . 18,022 00


36,972 82


Metropolitan Sewer Assessment


45,160 25


Metropolitan Park Assessment .


33,916 19


National Bank Tax


1,196 05


Overlay and Abatement


9,107 81


Total amount assessed on a valuation of $55,558,300, at $2.422 . $134,581 12


In addition to the above, the following appropriations were made from the various income accounts :-


From the Income of the Water Works :-


Water Maintenance $27,789 27


Water Loan Interest


6,790 00


Water Works Extension


19,864 12


Water Works, Abatements Charges


on Water


360 20


Interest on Sewer Loan Bonds


6,622 00


Sewers Maintenance


10,500 00


Fire Department .


22,000 00


Reduction of Funded Debt, Sewer Loan Bonds


9,000 00


Reduction of Funded Debt, Water Loan


Bonds


29,000 00


Reduction of Funded Debt, City Loan Bonds


13,187 31


Metropolitan Water Assessment .


62,397 89


Health Department


7,500 00


Total


$215,010 79


From the Income from the State and County :-


Police, the amount received of the State for corporation and bank taxes . $33,795 89


Police, the amount received of the Clerk of the Courts for fines, costs, etc. 5,155 00 · Public Library, the amount received of the County for dog licenses . 3,230 95


Amount carried forward . $42,181 84


12


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Amount brought forward $42,181 84


Highways, Construction, from the receipts from the State for street railway tax . 10,000 00 Highways, Maintenance, from street rail- way tax 36,406 28


Sidewalks, Maintenance, from street rail- way tax


6,000 00


Total


$94,588 12


Balance of Excess and Deficiency account for 1901 appro- priated as follows :-


Public Buildings Maintenance, City Hall


Annex Improvement $600 00


Highways, Maintenance 6,374 75


$6,974 75


Total from Water Income, from State and


County, and from Excess and Defi-


ciency balance


$316,573 66


The aggregate appropriations from the tax levy and from income were as follows :-


From tax levy


$964,535 80


From income


316,573 66


$1,281,109 46


13


MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.


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 Reduc- tion of Funded Debt.


Town .


$593,349


Dec. 31, 1872


643,354


$50,005


1873


809,354


166,000


66


1874


1875


1,571,854


152,000


1876


1,606,854


45,000


*$55,130 62


$2 07


1877


1,606,854


10,000


*58,828 58


2 30


66


1878


1,596,854


61,004 64


2 91


1880


1,585,000


55,739 35


2 72


1882


1,585,000


61,390 59


2 65


1883


1,585,000


64,479 01


2 70


66


1886


1,525,000


25,000


37,000 00


1 28


1889


952,500


130,000


38,000 00


1 27


1890


1,057,500


150,000


45,000 00


1 38


1891


1,045,500


45,000


57,000 00


1 55


1892


1,194,500


253,000


104,000 00


2 73


1893


1,279,500


222,000


137,000 00


3 27


1894


1,344,500


172,000


107,000 00


2 42


1895


1,506,500


247,000


85,000 00


1 83


1896


1,531,000


177,000


152,500 00


3 11


66


1897


1,548,000


167,000


150,000 00


2 39


1898


1,552,000


176,000


172,000 00


3 99


1899


1,492,500


110,000


169,500 00


3 30


66


1900


1,478,000


152,000


166,500 00


3 17


1901


1,461,000


146,000


163.000 00


3 02


1902


1,477,000


175,000


159,000 00


2 86


1881


1,585,000


58,498 64


2 59


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 .


66


1888


+860,500


66,894 23


2 57


1879


1,585,000


64,915 76


3 42


1,419,854


610,500


·


*$10,000.00 applied to payment of bonds; balance to sinking funds. tSinking fund applied.


14


ANNUAL REPORTS.


YEAR.


VALUATION.


TAX LEVV.


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


504,475 24


18 60


1877


25,479,400


471,789 14


18 10


1878


20,976,900


409,497 10


19 (


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


4 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


4 00


1892


38,093,100


596,357 50


15 00


1893


41,873,600


675,886 80


5 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


1899


51,262,400


882,580 96


16 30


1900


52,578,200


889,916 08


16 00


1901


53,924,200


907,439 82


15 90


1902


55,558,300


964,535 80


16 40


Highways.


There is a universal demand for good roads in city and coun- try. Massachusetts expends hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to improve the roads in rural communities. In this she leads, as in everything else progressive, and the Metropolitan District leads Massachusetts. The nearer one gets to Boston the greater the tax upon him. Somerville's expenditures, in propor- tion to her valuation, are in most regards the largest in the Met- ropolitan District.


Our streets are more used for outside travel than those of any other city of the size in the State. We are the highway for Bos- ton traffic from West Malden and Stoneham to Arlington and Lexington, a reach of nearly ninety degrees, and including such places as Medford, Winchester, and Woburn. The Boston traffic from nearly one-third of the land area about the metropolis comes through Somerville. We are coming to be very thickly settled, and the day is not distant when a larger percentage of our area will be public streets than is the case with any other city in


15


MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.


the State. This fact, together with that of the use of our thor- oughfares, indicates the unusual outlay required for the making of new streets and for the maintenance of highways. This drain upon our treasury is unavoidable, and must be kept in mind in considering the financial problem.


I would recommend that edgestones be laid in Washington street, and that the gutters on the southerly side be paved with block stone from the Boston line to Tufts street ; that Pearl street, from Cross street to Mount Vernon street, be macadamized ; that Mystic avenue be brought to grade sixteen ; that Somerville ave- nue, from Medford street to the Cambridge line, be macada- mized ; that Medford street, from Broadway to Lowell street, be paved with block stone; and that Beacon street be put in thor- ough condition throughout its entire length.


More highway work has been done during the past year than for many years, especially in the constructing of new streets, and this has required an unusual amount of engineering services.


Sidewalks.


It is scarcely necessary to refer to the relation of good side- walks to the comfort of our citizens. The present methods of making walks provide against any considerable expense in relay- ing, but most of the walks laid more than twenty years ago are in bad condition, and those laid much earlier are in many cases in almost a scandalous condition. During the past two years many of the worst of the old walks have been relaid, and this work must go on as fast as possible. The many new streets make too heavy a drain upon the appropriation to admit of any- thing like the amount of relaying which should be done. Citi- zens must be patient with their officials.


Watering Streets.


The highway conditions already referred to, together with the urgent demand that the City water practically all the streets, make this an increased expense. It is recognized, however, that few expenditures give so much satisfaction to the people as a whole as this. Whether riding or walking, whether indoors or out, unwatered streets cause much discomfort, and this is liable


16


ANNUAL REPORTS.


to be as great during the few windy days in March and November as in July and August. It is gratifying, therefore, to know that the streets have been more generally watered, and for more days, than ever before.


Bridges and Subway.


The Boston & Maine Railroad corporation is building, at its own expense, a highly acceptable bridge on Sycamore street, and as soon as this is completed, will begin one on School street. These long-needed improvements will be greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, the difficulty of getting the iron work for the Syca- more-street bridge has caused long, but unavoidable delay, not only to the completion of this bridge, but also to the beginning of operations on the School-street bridge. It is with special satisfaction that announcement is made of the perfection of plans for the building of these bridges without expense to the City, as there has been much said regarding them for many years. is confidently believed that when these are completed, the Boston & Maine Railroad will replace the bridge over Lowell street. This bridge was one of the first erected over the railroad in Somerville, and its abandonment was due to the assumption that "Polly Swamp" was not to be built up, but the street on both sides of the railroad is now very thickly settled.


Needed legislation has been secured, plans made, and con- tracts signed for the removal of the old Middlesex-avenue, or Wellington bridge, and the construction of a wide, substantial, and attractive modern bridge.


There must be provided at an early day a subway at Thorn- dike street, and it is hoped that arrangements for the building of it without serious expense to the City will be completed early this year.


Of the many long-time disagreements between the City and the Boston & Maine Railroad which remained unsettled two years ago, practically all have been adjusted, and if all goes well, this year will see most of the remaining ones settled.


Grade Crossings.


There is no question that the matter of grade crossings de- serves the most careful consideration. The present numerous street crossings over railroads at grade are the cause of great


It


17


MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.


inconvenience, both to pedestrians and to persons using street cars and other vehicles. They are also a constant source of danger.


No one would rejoice more than the City Government in the elimination of these crossings, but we must not forget, as we arouse the public interest, that the financial condition of Somer- ville will make it practically impossible for her to bear her share of the expense at the present time. Much as the railroads may hesitate to enter upon so large an expenditure, they are in much better condition to bear the burden it would impose than we are.




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