USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1875 > Part 1
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WORCESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 8139 0129 6543 2
TOWN
IN
FEBX.29.1848
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY,
WORCESTER.
No.
GIFT OF City Clerk .
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014
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P
CITY DOCUMENT, NO. 30.
THIRD INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF
HON. CLARK JILLSON,
MAYOR, JAN. 3, 1876; >
WITH THE
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
COMMISSION OF PUBLIC GROUNDS, CITY MARSHAL, OVERSEERS OF THE POOR, TRUANT SCHOOL, CITY PHYSICIAN, CITY TREASURER, AUDITOR, CITY CLERK, FIRE DEPARTMENT, FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, SCHOOL DEPARTMENT, ACTING CITY ENGI- NEER, COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS, COMMITTEE ON WATER, WATER REGISTRAR, WATER COM- MISSIONER, CITY HOSPITAL, COMMISSIONERS OF HOPE CEMETERY, COMMITTEE ON LIGHTING STREETS, AND SUPERIN- TENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS,
-
OF THE
CITY OF WORCESTER,
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING NOV. 30, 1875.
WORCESTER: PRINTED BY CHARLES HAMILTON, CENTRAL EXCHANGE. 1876.
R 352. 07443 W922C Y. 30 1875
CITY OF WORCESTER.
IN CITY COUNCIL, January 10, 1876.
Ordered :
That the Committee on Printing be, and they are hereby authorized to cause to be published, 1400 copies of the annual "City Document," to be numbered 30; to contain the Mayor's Inaugural Address, together with the Reports of the several Departments, for the year 1875.
A Copy, Attest :
SAMUEL SMITH, City Clerk.
INDEX.
MAYOR'S ADDRESS PAGE.
5
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF PUBLIC GROUNDS 23
REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL. 43
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR. 59
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE TRUANT SCHOOL 86
REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN 89
REPORT OF THE CITY TREASURER 91
REPORT OF THE AUDITOR 95
SCHEDULE OF CITY PROPERTY. 140
REPORT OF THE CITY CLERK. 147
REPORT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 149
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY 213
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE 261
SUPERINTENDENT
267
SECRETARY
299
ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1876 336
REPORT OF THE ACTING. CITY ENGINEER. 345
REPORT ON SOURCES FOR AN ADDITIONAL SUPPLY OF WATER 357
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS 387
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON WATER. 403
REPORT OF THE WATER REGISTRAR 406
REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER. 410
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE CITY HOSPITAL. 423
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF HOPE CEMETERY 441
REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON LIGHTING STREETS
449
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS 451
APPENDIX.
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1876.
1
SALARIES
11
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
Gentlemen of the City Council :
THE morning of America's centennial year has greeted us with its dawning light.
One hundred years ago the town of Worcester was smaller in point of population than Brookfield, Lancas- ter, Mendon or Sutton, and contained less than two thousand inhabitants, though it had been incorporated more than half a century. The people were then pre- paring for their great conflict for freedom from British tyranny, and the most intense excitement prevailed throughout the colonies. The clarion of war had been sounded, the minute-men had left their fields and their shops, at the cry of "To Arms," and taken up the line of march under one of the bravest soldiers of the time, Capt. Timothy Bigelow.
Civil government had been superseded by military power, the judiciary suspended, and the atmosphere seemed to be full of revolution. The spirit of liberty had been aroused in the hearts of the people and became the chief topic of conversation wherever any considerable number were assembled. At a conven- tion held in Worcester about this time, it was resolved " That we abhor the enslaving of any of the human
2
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 30.
race," but it required ninety years of progress to bring the nation up to this standard, and even then it was accomplished by executive decree, sustained by loyal bayonets. On the fourteenth day of July, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was received in Wor- cester, and read from the porch of the Old South meeting-house, by Isaiah Thomas. The sixteenth day of July was first celebrated in Worcester as Inde- pendence Day, and the Declaration was then for the second time publicly read.
The trials of those days were borne by the people of Worcester with less complaint than are the trials of the present hour. Each man felt that he, was a part of the new republic and willing to sacrifice his life in its defence. With few exceptions, each man and woman were ready to endure privation and even starvation for the sake of liberty. They had an in- terest in the soil upon which they lived, and loved the institutions they had been instrumental in establishing. Their defence was a success, and we are proud to be their successors, receiving from their hands the un- tarnished shield of liberty, and a republican form of government.
Under this government, within the limit of a cen- tury, the little town with a population of nineteen hun- dred has become a great railroad centre, an extensive mart of trade, and a city of about fifty thousand in- habitants, filled with the various industries that natu- rally cluster about an inland New England city. Its rapid growth during the past fifteen years has brought
1
7
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
with it a debt too large for comfort or convenience. The administration of the government for the current year, together with the management of
THE FINANCES
of the city have been transmitted to us by that intelli- gent class of our fellow citizens who do not consider it a calamity to pay a debt ; and it becomes our duty to adopt such a policy in relation thereto as will be likely to promote the welfare of all.
The management of the finances during the past year has a tendency to show that the debt may be reduced to a reasonable amount while ordinary and needed improvements are going on. The debt ought to be reduced as speedily as practicable, to a sum not ex- ceeding one million dollars ; but while this is being done the rate of taxation should also be reduced each year so as to relieve the people of the burdens they now have to bear. The provisions which have been made during the past year, under the general laws of the Commonwealth relating to municipal indebtedness, make it necessary to provide for the payment of a portion of the debt each year till the whole of the present debt is extinguished ; and any new debt cre- ated must be provided for in the same way. A strict compliance with this law and the ordinance just adopted under it will settle all matters in relation to the pay- ment of the debt, and extinguish some portion of it annually. Three able and experienced financiers have
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 30.
been elected as Commissioners of the Sinking Funds, neither of whom is connected with the City Govern- ment.
The most important thing of all is to carry on the affairs of the city and not create a new debt of greater magnitude than the amount of the old one paid. It is supposed by some that prosperity and activity in business consists in having a large number of laborers employed by the city ; and a certain class, apparently, would prefer to have every business man overwhelmed and crippled by taxation, rather than be deprived of the luxury of working for the city.
The policy of running the city into debt for the sake of furnishing work for those who will not labor for an individual if they can help it, and to secure their vote at election, has been carried far enough already to show that the complete gratification of its supporters would convert the city into a stupendous alms-house with the principal business men beggars at its doors. For one I protest against constructing any street or sewer for the purpose of making work, unless the necessity, convenience or health of the city require it ; and when such work is so required it should be done as far as possible by Worcester men. The finances of the city should be managed with the same care and be subject to the same rules of economy, so far as they can be made to apply, as would be exer- cised and applied by a thorough business man in his private business.
9
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
The net debt of the city was
Nov. 30, 1874, - -
$2,984,780.00
" 1875, - - - 2,589,700.00
Decrease in 12 months, - $395,080.00
The amount transferred to the committee on the reduc- tion of the city debt Nov. 30th, 1875, was $236,645.59.
When we consider the fact that the city debt has never been decreased the amount of $15,000 in any one year previous to 1875, and that there was no de- crease at all between 1860 and 1875, the above state- ment ought to be satisfactory.
TAXATION.
Since the year 1870 the Assessors have been fur- nished from the office of the City Engineer, with four volumes of plans, covering about three-fourths of the land situated in the most thickly settled portion of the city.
These books containing plans of nearly 3800 lots of land, with the number of square feet in each lot, are believed to be substantially correct, although, subject, of course, to constant changes, corresponding with the sub-divisions of lots and the formation of new streets and relocation of old ones.
They are of great service to the Assessors in mak- ing a more thorough and equitable valuation of real estate, and with the addition of two more volumes,
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 30.
for which surveys have been nearly completed, will furnish plans of that section of the city embraced within the mile circle.
1875, rate of taxation $16.60 per $1000.
VALUA-
POLLS.
PERSONAL
REAL ESTATE.
TOTAL.
TION.
ESTATE.
1874,
13,341
$11,639,994
$37,545,550
$49,185,544
1875,
13,013
11,283,581
38,016,200
49,299,781
Loss of 328 loss, $356,413
gain, $470,650 total gain, $114,237
Showing a loss in 1875 in the number of polls of 328; also a loss on personal property of $356,413.00, and a gain in the valuation on real estate of $470,650.00, making a total net gain on the valuation of $114,237.00.
The gain on real estate is due to the erection of new, and additions made to old, buildings since May 1, 1874, amounting to about $650,000.00. Without this gain the total valuation would have been considerably less than in 1874.
The loss on personal estate is mostly due to the de- preciation on foreign stocks, bonds, and general mer- chandise.
The amount of property exempt from taxation is as follows :
Real Estate $1,739,600 00
Personal 100,500 00
Total,
$1,840,100 00
11
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
SCHOOLS.
There is one thing lacking in our system of educa- tion which might be supplied with very little trouble, to great advantage. We are trying to teach our children history, even modern history, but the events of the passing hour go by unnoticed.
A good knowledge of current events, gathered from reliable sources, is of the utmost importance, but many of the children in our schools are deprived of such knowledge, either by their own neglect, or for want of opportunity to peruse the daily papers and other cur- rent publications. If teachers would study what is transpiring about them and make it a part of their duty to impart the knowledge so obtained to their pupils each day, an improvement would be visible at once. When events have passed into solemn history they generally lose, in their transit, the charm of detail and novelty so pleasing to the young mind, and it thereby becomes necessary to study what only need be read or heard at the time when it transpires. It is generally understood that "the world moves," and that there is constant advancement in every depart- ment of Art, Literature and Science, so that a thor- ough knowledge of what is transpiring to-day is more valuable than a knowledge of what transpired yester- day.
There is a disposition on the part of many of our teachers to have a better school than any other of the same grade. This is commendable, provided scholars
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 30.
are not retained after they ought to be in a grade above. Promotions should not be withheld when the pupil can be benefited thereby even if the teacher is obliged to regret the loss of her best scholar.
An effort was made last year to build two school houses, one near the Adriatic Mills and another in the vicinity of Jamesville and Valley Falls. I am not in favor of building more than one house of this kind in a year unless a more pressing necessity exists than appears at present. I recommend the building of a school house of sufficient size and so located as to accommodate the scholars at Jamesville and Valley Falls, during the present year.
The school houses of this city are poorly ventilated, or not ventilated at all, and delicate children are con- stantly being exposed to currents of cold air from open windows, and many a life is endangered by careless- ness in this respect. A child who can survive the exposure of a Worcester school-room, embellished with a large sized morning-glory stove, red hot, with all the windows down at the top to prevent suffocation, will be likely some day to be classed among the old- est inhabitants.
The expenses of the school department are so large that I desire to call the attention of the committee to the importance of having all unusual expenditures authorized by the full board before they are incurred; and that no money be appropriated for what is use- less or merely ornamental. Common sense practical
13
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
knowledge is what the children need, and the most direct way to obtain it is the cheapest.
A large amount has been expended every year for desks and other furniture for the various school houses, and a shop has been maintained for the manufacture of the same. This work might be done by contract much cheaper. I also call the attention of the City Council to the enormous amount of coal consumed in heating the school houses on Walnut street.
About two hundred and twenty-five tons are con- sumed annually for that purpose. I have no doubt that a change might be made in the manner of heat- ing which would save at least one-half of the fuel now consumed.
WATER.
During the early part of the past year it was feared by many that the water supply would fail before the first of November. This apprehension was based upon the fact, that in August, 1874, the reservoir was full, and on the first of February, 1875, there was less than two weeks' supply on hand. On the first of June, 1875, when the dry season had apparently set in, the water was four feet and six inches below the rollway. Notwithstanding all these fears and causes producing them, there has been an ample supply of water up to the present time, with no reason now to fear that it will fail during the winter, the water being now six feet higher than it was a year ago. Various schemes . for providing an additional supply of pure water for the
3
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 30.
use of the city were promulgated last summer, but the rain-fall being sufficient to give a supply with our present facilities, none of the plans suggested were carried into effect.
It is now pretty well understood that Nature is rather impartial in the distribution of her bounties, and that a diminution in the rain-fall in any one year will most likely be made up during the next. At any rate it is not usual to have a dry spell continue more than one year at a time.
Before a large outlay is made for procuring an ad- ditional supply of water from a new source, I would suggest the propriety of ascertaining how much addi- tion can be made to the supply from the present source. It may be well to consider that on the first day of January, 1871, there was only a small amount of water in the reservoir, estimated to be sufficient for thirty days only, it having been previously drawn off for repairs ; yet the city has had a supply all the time since, and 386,000,000 gallons have been wasted, for the reason that the reservoir was not large enough to hold it.
I submit, in case the City Council considers the dam perfectly safe, after careful inspection by experts, that it is the duty of said Council to order the dam raised, five feet, so that there shall be no further waste of water at that point. If it should appear, upon in- spection, that it would not be prudent to raise the dam, another and smaller one might be constructed above, sufficient to retain a portion of the storm-water
15
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
till it could be received into the main reservoir below without loss. If the surplus water had been so retained during the last two years, we would now have an addition of two months' supply to what we now have, and more than the reservoir could now hold. I con- sider this proposition of sufficient importance to war- rant its careful consideration by the City Council. There is also another method by which a large amount of water could be obtained at a reasonable cost, by turning Parsons Brook into the Hunt reservoir.
Another step in the right direction would be to adopt the use of meters, fixing the rates reasonable and uniform. When all this has been accomplished, if a further supply is needed, the storm-water of Ket- tle Brook might be taken and conveyed into the res- ervoir. I am not prepared to recommend the taking of Tatnuck Brook at an expense of half a million dollars, until it is shown that such an outlay is justi- fied by actual necessity, and I do not believe it is at present.
HIGHWAYS.
The streets and highways leading to adjoining towns were never in better condition than they now are, and the only cause for complaint has been in relation to streets in the centre of the city. The City Barn has been greatly improved during the past year and is now in excellent condition. But little has been done by way of street construction, as compared with some former years, and there will be but little call for such
16
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 30.
work this year. The time will soon come when it will be necessary to extend Edward Street to Mulberry Street; but the expense would be so great that I do not recommend its immediate construction. One of the most unpleasant things connected with street con- struction is the assessment of betterments. The law under which these assessments have been made, has cost the city a great many thousand dollars for need- less improvements.
Orders for the construction of streets are passed under the supposition that the expense will be largely met by assessment, and it often happens, that one or two persons are the means of constructing or widen- ing a street at great cost, while a majority of the abutters are opposed to it, but have to pay under the betterment law large sums for the sole benefit of some- body else. Newton and Pratt streets are specimens of this kind. Here is a street eighty feet wide, where there is no trade, laid out and built for the sole benefit of those who desire to drive upon it for pleasure from all parts of the city, and the abutters are called upon to pay an assessment when they claim their estates are not benefited in any way, and that many of them are materially injured. It seems to me that it would be better in the future to wait till it is determined in good faith that the public necessity and convenience require the improvements asked for, and if made, let the pub- lic pay for them.
It is true that there may be cases when public im- provements ought to be made where certain individuals
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
would receive far greater benefit than others, and in such cases an assessment might be resorted to; but on the whole the betterment law is not of much prac- tical value to Worcester.
SEWERS.
There has been for several years a seeming necessity for the construction of a main sewer from the present terminus of the Piedmont sewer through the "Island District," so called, to Mill Brook sewer at Cambridge Street. This work would involve an expenditure of not less than $60,000, and when accomplished would not drain the "Island District," nor could any of the low land in the vicinity be drained into it, as it would have to be built substantially upon the surface of the ground. .
Whenever this sewer is properly built, it will have to be commenced below the dam at Quinsigamond, so as to give all the fall that can well be obtained, which will be one foot in one thousand, and pass under the Mill Brook sewer at or near Cambridge Street. This sewer, thus constructed, will cost about $200,000 exclu- sive of land damages and water rights, which will not be less than $50,000 more.
It should be constructed large enough below Cam- bridge Street to take the dry weather flow of Mill Brook, as well as its own, thus conveying the whole sewage of both below Quinsigamond, except in cases of high water. A work of such magnitude ought not to be accomplished in one year under the present finan- cial condition of the city, and it is for you to determine
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 30.
whether a necessity actually exists for the commence- ment of this work this year, and what steps shall be taken in relation to it during your administration. It may be built in sections of one-third each year, and money raised therefor by taxation; or it may be built in a shorter period of time, and a debt created thereby.
All these matters will be at your disposal. It will undoubtedly be necessary to obtain legislation before the work is commenced.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Fire Department deserves credit, as it has for many years, for its promptness and efficiency ; and the re-election of its Chief is a complete guarantee that no pains will be spared to make it worthy of encour- agement and support.
New apparatus has been furnished during the year, and a new hose carriage, and an additional supply of hose is now needed. Several new alarm boxes should be established at once, and a hose loft is needed at the house in Bigelow Court, upon the top of which should be placed the alarm bell. In justice to the Depart- ment I ought to allude to its splendid appearance at the last annual parade, when every man tried to see how well he could perform his part.
POLICE.
The Police Department has merited and received the approbation of the public. Most of the officers are men who have been tried and not found wanting. The
19
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
Chief and his assistants deserve great credit for their judicious management of the Department, and for the general good order which has prevailed in all parts of the city both day and night.
The Department has made a clean record, perform- ing its delicate duties with unusual fidelity to all those who have a sufficient self respect to vindicate the law of the land, and uphold good order in the community.
LIBRARY.
The Free Public Library is worthy of liberal sup- port, and the patronage bestowed upon it shows that it is invaluable as an educational institution. It was thought last year that nearly all the available room in the building had been occupied, but it is now found that the entire attic story may be used to advantage, thereby furnishing room for several years to come. Such books as are seldom used may be placed in this part of the building, and thereby greatly relieve the lower rooms. It has been thought that an elevator, operated by hydraulic pressure, would be of great service in removing books from one story to another.
HOSPITAL.
The City Hospital has been enlarged so as to ac- commodate eight more patients, and so arranged as to remove the operating-room farther from the street.
20
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 30.
A new system of ventilation has been applied, which promises to become a success.
The ordinance relating to the City Hospital needs revision, and I would call to it your early attention.
CHARITIES.
The proper management of the pauper department requires care and patience in discriminating between those in distress, and those who deserve no favor from the city.
It is better to be deceived than to allow one person to suffer, who is in any way entitled to aid.
The great source of poverty is intemperance, and yet the law recognizes the traffic in intoxicating liquors as legitimate business, leaving the tempted to the mercy of those who would ruin their fellow-men for gain. If the burden would always fall where it belongs, there would be less reason for complaint ; but innocent women and children unable to provide for their own support, become the unhappy victims of cruel hus- bands and fathers, while the destroyer of their home and their hope gloats over their misery. This class of unfortunates appeal to our sympathy and our charity in the strongest terms, and it is the duty of the charity department of the city to see that they are not allowed to suffer for want of the necessaries of life.
SALARIES.
The equalization of the salaries of the various officers of the city, will probably demand your atten-
21
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
tion at an early day. Some may be higher than the times will warrant, and others are too low. It may be good policy to cut down the pay of a first-class servant, as long as he will stand it, but when it is carried to such an extent as to make it necessary to fill vacancies with chronic office-seekers, and such persons as generally find the most fault about the compensation of others, the city will be the loser.
I am aware that you will wisely consider this matter, and make such changes as shall appear to be reasonable and best for the city.
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