Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1867-1870, Part 1

Author: Worcester (Mass.)
Publication date: 1867
Publisher: The City
Number of Pages: 1452

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Worcester, Mass, City Council City documents; 22.25 1867-1870.

City Document, No. 22.

INAUGURAL ADDRESS

HON. JAMES B. BLAKE,

MAYOR OF THE

CITY OF WORCESTER,

JANUARY 6, 1868 :

WITH THE

ANNUAL REPORTS

OF THE SEVERAL CITY OFFICERS

For the Municipal Year ending Jan. 6, 1868.

JORC

TOWN

EBY.29.1848

INE 14.1722

WHITTLEMORE

WORCESTER : TYLER & SEAGRAVE, CITY PRINTERS, SPY JOB OFFICE. 1868.

R 352, 07443 W922C 4. 22-25 1867-1870

CITY OF WORCESTER.

IN CITY COUNCIL, Jan. 20, 1868.

Ordered, That the City Clerk be, and he is hereby authorized to cause to be printed and bound, two thousand copies of " City Document," to be numbered 22, to contain the Mayor's Address, the Annual Reports of the several Departments, together with a particular account of the receipts and expenditures of the City, with a schedule of the city prop- erty and of the city debt.

Attest,

SAMUEL SMITH, City Clerk.

. CONTENTS.

Address of the Mayor, -

Finances, 10; Assessment of Taxes, 16; Schools, 18 ; School houses, 21; Free Public Library, 24 ; Highways, 25 ; Sidewalks, 28; Salem Square, 29; Mill Stone Hill, 30 ; Water Works, 80 ; Sewerage, 32 : Report of Committee on Sewers, 37 ; Mill Brook, 40 ; Sewers, 41 ; Fire Department, 46; Charities, 48.

Public Schools of Worcester, -

School Committee 1867, 53; Superintendent's Report, 59; Report of Committee on Bullock Prizes, 72 ; Bullock Medal Scholars, 79; Secretary's Report, 80; Statistical Tables of Attendance, &c., 88 ; Roll af Honor, 94 ; Resources and Expenditures, 102; Table of Expenses, 106; List of Teachers, Grade of Schools and Salaries, 111 : Repairs of School Houses, &c., 114 ; Real Estate, 122; Personal Property, 127 ; School Committee for 1868, 131.

Report of Commissioners on Hope Cemetery, - 135

Receipts and Expenditures, 145.

Report of the Commissioners on Shade Trees and Public Grounds, - 147

Free Public Library .- Report of the Directors, - 159

Librarian's Report, 170 ; Report of Committee on Library, 175; Report of Committee on Reading Room, 178; Receipts and Expenditures of Finance Committee, 187 ; Treasurer's Report, 188.

Report of City Engineer, - 189

". Sewer Department, 191; Highways, 196; Water, 198; Schedule" A," 202; Stock and tools, 204; Ordinance establishing Water Rates, 207.

Report of Highway Commissioner, -

211

. " City Marshal, - -

221

" Overseers of Poor, -

- 237

" City Physician, -

244

" City Treasurer, -

249

General Report, 251 ; Account Current, 252 ; Cash Account, 254 ; Particular account of Receipts and Expenditures, 257; Recapitulation, 306; Funded Debt, Temporary Loan and Water Investment, 308.

Schedule of City Property,

310

Report of Fire Department, - 315 -

Government and Officers for 1868, - - .

319

" Truant School Committee,

- - 232

CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY.

TREASURER'S OFFICE, CITY OF WORCESTER, APRIL, 1868.

TO PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY.

Bills presented for the action of the Auditor of Accounts, must specify what the article or arti- eles sold were for-when for labor, where it was performed, number of days and price per day, un- less otherwise agreed upon. When there are charges belonging to different departments, separate bills must be made, including only charges belonging to each department

ALL BILLS MUST SPECIFY THE DATE OF THE SEVERAL CHARGES.

Claimants should carefully note the name of the person who orders the article or service, and should inquire to what department the charge shall be made, and should also know that the per- son is duly authorized to make contrac's. Unless this is done, the claimant will be put to the trouble of making out his account the second time, and run the risk of losing it.

When bills are certified to, as per chapter 3, Revised Ordinances (below,) they can be left at the Treasurer's or Auditor's Office, before 2 o'clock, P. M., on or before the THIRD DAY of each month, except bills at the elose of the year, which must be left on or before Dec. 25th.

Those who attend to the above, will find their bills audited and ready at the Treasurer's Office, who will pay them promptly at the times designated below.

TIMES OF PAYMENT.

Salaries of the City Officers, and Teachers in the permanent Schools, on the first day of each quarter.

Families of Volunteers, on the 24th day of each month.

Salaries of Watchmen, on the 1st day of each month.

All other bills on the 10th of each month.

When the above days come on Sundays, payment will be made the next day.

And persons having elaims are requested to eall promptly for their money ON THE DAY DES- IGNATED.

GEORGE W. WHEELER. City Treasurer.

PARTICULAR NOTICE.

AUDITOR'S OFFICE, April, 1868.

All persons having claims against the City, are hereby reminded, that agreeably to an established rule, all bills, in order that they may be ready for payment on the 10th, must be left with the Treasurer or Auditor, on or before the THIRD day of each month, except the elosing bills of the year, which must be left on or before December 25th, before 2 o'clock, P. M. Those who fail to eom- ply with this rule, will have to wait till the following month before their bills will be ready for payment.

CHAPTER 3, REVISED ORDINANCES.

AUDITOR.

" SECTION 2. No Account or Claim. against the City, other than Judgments of the Judicial Courts, shall be received or acted upon by him, unless such account or claim shall be accompanied by a certificate of the Mayor, Committee, or other proper Certifying Officer of each department, au- thorized on behalf of the City to make the contraet or eause the expenditure to be made, that the same is correct."

Office, No: 8, City Hall.

GILL VALENTINE, Auditor.

ADDRESS OF THE MAYOR,

HON. JAMES B. BLAKE,

Delivered at the Inauguration of the City Government, January 6, 1868."

Gentlemen of the Board of Aldermen,

and Gentlemen of the Common Council :

The breaking light of a new year summons us, as the chosen servants of our fellow citizens, to assume the la- bors incumbent upon the government of our city, in its executive and administerial functions. In accordance, therefore, with the provisions of our Charter, we have assembled for the purpose of organization and to take upon ourselves the solemn and peculiar responsibilities which devolve upon the position which we have been called to fill. Let not the annual recurrence of these formula ceremonies, cause us to lose sight of the real spirit of their purpose, or the conventionality of these exercises detract from the true significance of our rela- tions to the duties and obligations which we owe to our community and our generation.

Acknowledging the guiding hand of a divine authority, seeking strength and direction from Him whose power is infinite, let us humbly and trustingly enter upon the du- ties imposed upon us, and in the true spirit of rightful endeavor, assume and perform our obligations with the sole desire of proving faithful to the best interests of this

community which have now been committed to our charge and entrusted to our care.

Entering as we now do upon the third decade of the corporate existence of our municipality, we assume an increased burden of labor and responsibility in the dis- charge of duties, which, although none the more sacred or important than those which devolved upon our dis- tinguished predecessors in the first year, yet more heavily laden with daily call and engrossed with constant activ- ity. The authorities of twenty years ago, as they con- vened for the purpose of inaugurating a city government in the early spring of 1848, represented a community of · 13,287, with 3872 registered polls ; the number of scholars in the public schools was about 3000. The total valua- tion of property in the city was $8,721,100, averaging $656.36 to each person. The total amount of debt of the city was $99,677, equal to $7.49 to each person.

To day we find committed into our hands the interests of a community numbering about 36,000, with 8546 reg- istered voters, and presenting for our care and education 7800 children. The total valuation of the property of the city today is returned $23,856,300, averaging $662.67 to each inhabitant; and the debt of the city (excluding the water investment and the temporary loan creat- ed on account of sewers to be assessed and collected) $197,701.23, equal to $5.49 for each person.

In the comparative condition of the city of Worcester of 1848 and 1868, as here shown, there are facts of in- terest as well as lessons of instruction ; and in the retro- spective glance we cannot fail to recognize the continued numerical growth and financial prosperity which has at- tended the development of the city since its establish- ment. The causes which have given birth to this creative power, are visible on every hand and demonstrated by

educated labor and individual enterprise ; corporate in- fluences, so absorbing in their nature, are dissipated by the versatile development of the individual man, and va- riety of product and the personal triumph of mind over matter, it must, I think, be admitted, are the true sources from whence our internal growth and strength are re- ceived.

The circumstances attending the present condition of our municipality are those which come naturally, and form an epoch in its administerial and financial govern- ment, alike in the history of all rapidly growing commu- nities; and this transition state through which we are now passing from the country town to the large city, must inevitably bring with it necessary and imperative demands with corresponding duties; the introduction of one great internal improvement brings also its concomi- tant necessity of equal importance ; as demonstrated by the relation of water and sewers. The increase in the number of polls in the city must, as a collateral, increase the children for whom we must enlarge and provide new means of education. The increased amount of territory rapidly developed and occupied by new buildings and homes, calls imperatively for the corporate aid in estab- lishing new streets and sidewalks with necessary lights ; and the general thrift which, in its progressive move- ments, occasions an increased wear of the roadway, de- mands more and constant attention in this direction ; the relative position of such duties and demands, being of an external character, are apparent and must be gen- erally conceded.

The true basis, however, the firmest foundation of the material prosperity of our city, must rest upon and re- ceive its life currents from the moral and social standard which it has attained; and the only true success of a community must depend upon the properly adjusted re-

lations which its individual members bear to each other in the practical details of every day life. " Am I my brother's keeper ?" is a question which has as close and broad significance in our social relations with those around us, and can be as forcibly presented and sustained, as in its highest scriptural sense. In the natural relations of the members of a community like our own, where the resources of accumulated wealth, the trained mind of the artizan, the developed skill of the mechanic, and the combined muscular force of the laborer, each pay tribute to the other in a general practical sense, so should there be alike the same co-operation of interest and advantage in social life and habit.

The ultimate support of every community is that rep- resented by the laboring class; a class whose welfare and happiness depend perhaps more upon the social ad- vantages and conditions of the city than any other, and whose well-being is very largely dependant upon the relative bearing of wages received and cost of living de- manded ; although the benefits derived by this class from any social policy inaugurated, is at once appreciated through the whole body politic, and employer and em- ployee are equally interested.

In this connection I would call your attention to the necessity which has long existed, of providing such means as shall enable our people to enjoy the conveniences and benefits which might arise from the establishment of a central market for the sale of provisions, fruit and vege- tables ; where on fixed days the producer can meet the consumer, thus affording opportunities of purchase and sale which can hardly be realized in any other way. I know of no city of the size of Worcester in the country which is without its market, and situated as it is, in the center of a large agricultural producing district, it would

seem the demand for its early establishment is not with- out cause.

During the past two years several petitions numer- ously signed, have been presented to the City Council, asking the authorities to establish suitable places for bathing; for various reasons no definite action was taken in the matter. Fully believing that in a com- munity like our own some provision should be made where our people may enjoy the facilities for bathing, I do not hesitate to call your attention to this subject, feel- ing that you will agree with me in the opinion that clean- liness is not only a virtue in itself, but cannot fail to de- velop the kindred virtues of purity and temperance. The facilities for ablution can be freely enjoyed only by those whose wealth will allow them the necessary conveniences. The man who has toiled through the working hours can- not realize the comfort of the bath at his home or board- ing place, and finds himself excluded by ordinance from its full enjoyment in the neighboring waters of the city. Men in all departments of labor and industrial pursuits will I know readily appreciate the existing want as a san- itary blessing, and I firmly believe in the social and moral benefit, the good influences of such an establish- ment cannot be over estimated.

Nothing is calculated to engender self-respect more than cleanliness, and if the workman who, having borne the burden and heat of the day, weary with the fatigue and soiled with the dust of honest industry, could for a small pittance enjoy what might be considered here the luxury of a bath, he would I believe, through its recu- perative influences be made happier and better in a social point of view, and by its moral effect would naturally turn his thoughts towards books instead of beer, and his steps in the direction of the public library rather than

the public saloon. With so abundant a supply of water as the city now commands, so much in excess of the pres- ent demand, it would seem that at a small expense it can be made available to all our citizens, and proving to a large class a great blessing, do more to elevate and main- tain the character of our city and citizens than the adop- tion of any other public measure.

In calling your attention to these apparent wants of a public nature, and their relations to the demands of our people, a Public Market and Public Baths, I do so that you may give the subject such consideration as it shall demand, with the view of consummating at an early day these objects, provided that such means shall be devised as shall render both institutions self-supporting, the cost of maintaining to be borne by the parties directly bene- fited, and in no way to become a burden upon the City Treasury.

FINANCES.

The financial interests of the city which have now been intrusted to our care, will bring with them obligations and responsibilties of more importance to the welfare of the city, and of more interest to the individual citizen than any other department of the public service ; obliga- tions which in their fulfilment, bind us to all classes of our community alike; responsibilities which, in their as- sumption must impress upon the minds of each, the rela- tions which the action of to-day will bear to the prosperity of the citizens at the present, and the character of the city for all future time.

In the capacity of public servants there is no duty which combines so many elements of a peculiar and del- icate nature as the disposition of the funds placed in our hands, and upon no subject of municipal action are our constituents more sensitive than that which refers to the

appropriation of money ; a condition of public sentiment which should commend itself to all, and which must in its result give confidence to those servants, who as agents of the people for the twelvemonth, strive to direct all their interests with honest motive, and which should also be the guide to earnest effort in so disposing of this trust, that every item of expenditure may be seen and under- stood, and be subjected to the criticism of the humblest citizen assessed for a poll tax and a little homestead, as well as the largest property holder in the city.

There are two policies of finance which may be pre- sented for your adoption. The one, to exclude every petition which would involve the expenditure of money ; to deny the necessity of increased accommodations for schools ; to ignore the demand for further distribution of water; to recognize only the postponement of facilities for drainage ; to neglect the pressing calls for street im- provement ; and to scrimp and cramp every branch of educational, charitable, social and material interest of the city ; cutting down every expenditure to the bare exist- ence of its minimum necessities, merely to show a con- stituency that the record of a year exhibits so many less dollars expended than in a previous year, ignoring en- tirely the corresponding record of duties neglected, and the fact that the expense evaded is merely postponed until another government, realizing the necessity, shall assume the payment even at a greater cost, out of the same treasury, to be repleted by the same community.

The other policy, which has for the past two years at least, guided and governed the action of the City Coun- cil, is I think, encompassed by the principle of meeting and actually accomplishing the duty of the day, what- ever it shall be, as presented for consideration and action. And, in a growing city like our own, where individual

enterprise has and still is doing so much to develope and stimulate the progress of our community not only in its material character, but also its educational and social standing, certainly the corporate power have a duty of no ordinary magnitude to assume, in doing their part in the encouragement and cooperation of all progressive movements which shall place this beautiful city of our birth or adoption, as a desirable resort for residence or business, second to none in the state or the nation.

The result of the adoption of a liberal and progressive policy in the administration of our home affairs, will be made apparent to the individual citizen by the rate of taxation assessed, or at the close of the year will appear in the increase of the debt of the city ; and while all necessary cost of government and the building of school houses, establishment of sidewalks and public lamps, equipment of fire department, and other general mat- ters of yearly expense should be met by annual appro- priation, and appear in the annual tax, still the larger and more permanent expenditures for water and sewers, should be charged to special investment or added to the debt; that those who succeed us and who are equally benefited by the outlay, should bear in good time their proportion of the cost.

The vulnerability of this department in the adoption of any policy, as evinced by the efforts of the partizan, in its endeavors to subvert the opinions of a community, must stimulate the public servant to so decide upon every act of expenditure, that in the broad sunlight of honest criticism it will stand commended, and resist every attack, whether based upon party jealousy or per- sonal prejudice. The extravagance or economy of an administration cannot be equitably judged by the amount of money expended alone, for the causes and necessities

of outlay must decide the true merit of the action. Where little is done, of course small will be the expense ; but where a great amount of labor is accomplished, the cost must be in a degree commensurate.

Let us therefore strive, as agents of our fellow citizens, to direct the affairs of this important department of mu- nicipal action with discriminating care, and ignoring all party distinctions, endeavor to check every useless outlay, while we aim to show a full return for all monies appro- priated and expended.

The present condition of the Finances of the City taken by themselves or as shown by a comparative statement of the other cities of the Commonwealth, cannot I think be considered otherwise than satisfactory.

The amount distinguished as the Old Debt is 54,140 00

The War debt (after deducting the amount paid for State Aid the past year which will be paid by the State, the coming year.) 53,515 50

The Sewer debt, as represented by Sewer Bonds, 90,045 73

Making the total amount of the debt of the City, $197,701 23

The permanent debt of the City has been reduced during the past year by the payment of the following amounts ;

In liquidation of the Bounty Debt, 30,000 00

In cancelling the Public Library debt, 2637 07

66 Prov. St. School House, " 1027 52

Hermon St. Bridge, 2054 59

Making a total of $35,719 18

The temporary loan created to cover the expense of the construction of Sewers laid in the Streets of the City and which amount is to be assessed upon the estates di- rectly benefitted is $31,383.90.

The Water investment, cannot I think, you will admit properly be denominated a debt, although represented by the Bonds of the City; inasmuch as its income is in excess of the interest accruing upon the investment and will soon establish a sinking fund towards its liquidation. The amount of this investment is about $375,000.

The amount assessed and paid to the State as a tax in 1867 was $102,150.00, which amount was $40,- 860 more than the tax of 1866, and $6,000 in excess of the tax of any previous year. The amount assessed and paid to the county as a tax in 1867 was $18,426.16.

The valuation as returned by the Assessors for the year 1867 is $23,856,300, of which $15,506,050 is real and $8,350,250 personal estate, showing an increase of $1,257,250 over the valuation of 1866.

The total amount assessed upon the above valuation is $436,018.56, and distributed as follows :

State Tax,

$102,150 00

County "

18,426 16

City appropriations,

298,700 00

Overlayings (to cover errors and uncollect- ed taxes,)

16,701 59

School Books, 40 81

$436,018 56

The amount of $298,700, which was assessed to meet the annual appropriations incident to the. expenses of the city as per votes passed by the City Council, has been applied as follows :

Those expenses which may be properly denominated as extraordinary, have been-

Bounty Debt,

$30,000 00

Liquidation of other debts,

5,719 18

School Houses,

15,000 00

Fire Department,

11,500 00

Removal of snow,

5,200 00

McAdamizing streets,

5,000 00

Hermon street,

3,000 00

Grading Salem Square,

4,517 88

Am't paid Seagrave, Luther, and others, as decided by Court or allowed by Com. on Claims, with legal expenses,

2,916 49

Making a total amount of $82,853 55

which deducted from the total appropriation leaves $215, 846.45. This amount has been distributed in the differ- ent departments and expended as follows :

Interest,

$10,000

Schools,

78,000

Truant School,

1,000

Public Library,

5,000

Fire Department, (current expenses.)

18,000

Police,

20,000

Poor,

10,000

Highways and Bridges,

18,000

Sidewalks,

8,000

Hydrants,

6,000

Lighting Streets,

7,000 -

Fuel, Printing, &c.,

6,000

Salaries,

6,500

Discount on Taxes,

20,000

Incidental Expenses,

2,346.45

$215,846.45

The rate of taxation in 1867, was $17 50 on $1000. .

The number of Polls assessed 8546 being an increase of 654 above the previous year.

The amount of Cash on hand in the Treasury after the payment of the accounts belonging to the year, will not be less than $30,000, $20,000 of which may be applied at once to the reduction of the City debt. This state- ment of the financial affairs of our City, I have given thus fully and in detail, that you may see the true con- dition of our monetery interests as a Corporation, as also to lay before our fellow citizens, a plain exposition of the

receipts and expenses for the year, showing the amount of money which they have been called upon to place in our hands for disbursement, and the manner in which the disposition of these public funds has been made.

The following table has been prepared for the purpose of showing the comparative standing of Worcester in its financial condition with other Cities of the Common- wealth.

CITIES.

No. of Polls.

Popula- tion.

Total Valuation.

Rate of Tax'tn 1867.

City Debt, Proper.

Water Investmnt

Average Prop. per Inhabi'nt

Av. of debt pr Inhab.

Lowell,

8196

40,000

22,829,598

14 80 432,000

570 74

10 80

Worcester,.

8646

36,000

23,856,300

17 50 197,701 23

375,000

662 67

5 49

Cambridge, __

7805

31,000

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Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1867-1870, Part 1

Author: Worcester (Mass.) Publication date: 1867 Publisher: The City Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Worcester (Mass.)
Publication date: 1867
Publisher: The City
Number of Pages: 1452