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CITY DOCUMENT, No. 37.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF
HON. SAMUEL E. HILDRETH
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WORCESTER, JAN. 1, 1883;
WITH THE
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE SEVERAL DEPARTMEMTS,
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING NOVEMBER 30, 1882.
WORCESTER : PRESS OF CHARLES HAMILTON, No. 311 MAIN STREET. 1883.
R 352.07443 W922C v. 37 1882
CITY OF WORCESTER.
IN CITY COUNCIL, May 21, 1883. 1
Ordered :
That the Committee on Printing be, and they are hereby author- ized to cause to be published 1500 copies of the annual "City Document," to be numbered 37; to contain the Mayor's Inaugural Address, together with the Reports of the several Departments, for the year 1882.
Approved May 22, 1883.
S. E. HILDRETH, Mayor.
A Copy, Attest :
E. H. TOWNE,
City Clerk.
INDEX.
PAGE.
Mayor's Address. .
City Treasurer's Report . 19
Report of the Treasurer of City Trust Funds
Report of the Auditor
25
Report of the Commissioners of Sinking Funds
97
Report of the Committee on Finance
101
Report of the City Clerk .
103
Report of Trustees . 107
Report of the Superintendent and Resident Physician. 114
Report of the Commissioners of the Jaques Fund, and other Funds of the
City Hospital . 125
Report of the Commission of Public Grounds 133
By-Laws of the Commission of Public Grounds. 180
Worcester Schools,-Report of Superintendent . 182
Secretary's Report . 212
214
Report of the Committee on the Truant School
.256
Report of the City Physician . 259
261
Report of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department Alarms of Fire in 1882. . Location of Boxes of Fire Alarm Telegraph
275
Report of the Committee on Water .
315
Report of the Water Commissioner.
317
Report of the Water Registrar .
328
Report of the City Engineer to the Committee on Water
332
Report of the Joint Standing Committee on Sewers .
335
Report of the Superintendent of Sewers. .
337
Report of the City Engineer . .
340
Report of the Commissioners of Hope Cemetery
. 351
Worcester Free Public Library,-Directors in 1883
358
Directors' Report .
359
Report of the Librarian
364
Gifts to the Library. .
. 372
Report of the Committee on the Library
. 377
Report of the Committee on the Reading Room . 378
Report of the Committee on the Building
. 381
Report of the Committee on Finance . 383
Report of the Treasurer of the Reading Room Fund . 386
Report of the Commissioner of Highways . . 387
Report of the Board of Health . . 397
Report of the Superintendent of Public Buildings 405
Report of the City Marshal .
417
Report of the City Solicitor
. 430
APPENDIX.
City Government and Officers for 1883 1 Salaries . . 12
Appropriations for 1883
13
. 238
Report of Overseers of the Poor
. 239
List of Schools, Teachers, &c.
Calendar for 1883.
. 310
The City Hospital, -Trustees and Officers 105
5
23
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
Gentlemen of the Board of Aldermen,
and of the Common Council : -
WE have met to-day, according to usage, to take the oath of office and qualify ourselves to enter upon the duties our fellow-citizens have called us to perform. Some of you, gentle- men, are more or less acquainted with them, and perhaps need no words of mine ; and yet it is well for us to consider some of the matters in a general way that are to engage our attention.
As our city increases in population and wealth the duties of the City Council increase in proportion. The disbursement of so large an amount of money as is necessary to carry on the affairs of a growing city of nearly 70,000 inhabitants (to say nothing about new enterprises that are continually. arising), should receive your most careful consideration and best judg- ment; and the people who have placed us here with their votes, have a right to demand it from us. It is not desirable at this time to enter upon a detailed statement of the condition of the city, as this will be found in the annual reports of the heads of the different departments. I only desire to call your attention to these matters in a general way.
, . Although having no communication by water with the markets of the world, our beautiful city, lying among the hills in the centre of the State, is dotted all over with manufacturing establishments which are the very life of our business prosperity. I venture to say there is no other city in the State where labor- ing men and those dependent upon them are more prosperous and happy than in our limits. This condition of things is largely owing to the wise and prudent management in the past; there- fore let us be faithful to the trust imposed upon us that these
2
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 37.
blessings may be continued. All the great questions of public interest, such as Schools, Highways, benevolent and reformatory institutions, will and must demand our most careful attention.
FINANCE.
On the 30th of November, 1882, the end of the fiscal year, the gross funded debt of the city was $2,652,700, showing an in- crease of $70,400 in the last year. The debt, less sinking funds and cash in the treasury, at the same date, was $2,207,503.62, as against $2,180,551.12, November 30, 1881. The interest rate on our Funded Loan is as follows :
On $1,059,300, 6 per. cent. On $775,000, 5 per cent. 66 140,000, 42 66 66 678,400, 4
The average rate is a little less than 51% per cent.
There were no temporary loans outstanding at the close of the year. The amount for the completion of Summer Street should be funded carly in the season, and will receive your attention.
The several sinking funds, on the 30th November last, amounted to $355,890.15-a net increase of $90,590.23 since November 1, 1881. From sundry balances of appropriations for 1882, from sewer assessments, water rates, etc., will be de- rived additional contributions, which are to be accounted for on the books of the Commissioners during the current financial year.
The various Trust Funds belonging to the city amount to $181,713.19, as follows :
A. H. Bullock High School Fund, $1,532 11
Hope Cemetery Fund, 10,857 46
Dr. John Green Library Fund, 41,485 26 -
Isaac Davis Hospital Fund, 1,865 13
George Jaques Hospital Fund, - 119,770 66
Albert Curtis Hospital Fund, 1,014 03
John B. Shaw Hospital Fund, 188 54
Joseph A. Tenney Hospital Fund,
5,000 00
Total, -
$181,713 19
7
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
The details of all transactions relative to these funds will appear in the reports of the several Boards and Commissioners having them in charge.
Further information in regard to the financial condition of the city will appear in the annual reports of the Treasurer and Auditor.
HIGHWAYS.
We have within the limits of the city about one hundred and fifty miles of public and some sixty miles of private streets, which require the constant care of the Commissioner and a large force of men.
One of the largest items in this department the past year has been that of Summer Street, which is not yet completed ; consequently the expense will have to be provided for this year. A large portion of the appropriation for streets the past year has been spent in macadamizing, with very satisfactory results. I would recommend the continuance of this work so long as the results continue to be satisfactory ; yet in order to make this more perfect we need a Steam Roller with a Pick attach- ment. This is not a necessity at present, yet the investment would doubtless prove economical.
In many streets where very heavy teaming is to be done, I would recommend block paving as more suitable. The Commis- sioner will call your further attention to this subject in his annual report. The expenses for streets the past year have been divided as follows :
Curb-stones, gutters and cross walks,
$14,952 03
Block paving,
13,612 28
Macadamizing streets,
26,318 33
Constructing new streets,
32,175 42
Street cleaning,
5,083 47
Repairing bridges,
849 33
Breaking roads,
3,279 00
Constructing sidewalks,
8,195 59
Labor to sundry persons,
7,055 95
Street repairs,
21,051 04
Total,
$132,572 14
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No, 37.
WATER.
Our water supply is a source of anxiety to our people in consequence of our limited storing capacity. The amount that was sufficient for a town of 25,000 to 40,000 inhabitants is far too small for 70,000 to 100,000. Our predecessors having fore- seen the needs and considered the matter, the Joint Standing Committee on Water reported to the City Council in November, several plans for taking the water of the Tatnuck Brook; their report will come before you at an early day.
There are 4704 Meters at present on the works, 377 having been set the last year. If the water takers could be induced to use meters more generally, our supply would last longer, . as the waste is much greater where meters are not used. The amount of water metered last year was 421,175,894 gallons. The supply of water stored in the reservoir was 26,000,000 gal- lons less November 30, 1882 than November 30, 1881.
SEWERS.
In order to provide for the carrying off of so large an amount of water, and to drain new territory, the Sewer Depart- ment is continually being pressed for greater accommodations.
There are to-day 42-9% miles of sewers in the city, 1625 man-holes, and 933 catch-basins, all in good condition for ser- vice. Permits have been granted in 389 cases to enter sewers the past year.
The sewers now in course of construction are the Pine Meadow Sewer, so called, which is to drain the entire locality between the Union depot and the new Lunatic Hospital.
The Cambridge Street Sewer is the outlet of a large area south of Ripley Street, also that part of the city known as the Pleasant Street Flats. In order to do all that is required the coming year liberal appropriations will be required.
I desire to call your attention to the Mill Brook Sewer below the Boston & Albany Railroad. Several petitions have been presented to the City Council asking that a portion of this sewer may be arched for several reasons, to which your attention will be called at an early day.
9
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
SCHOOLS.
The cost of maintaining our public schools the past year has been $173,729.01-at a cost to each pupil of $19.18. There has been no increase of school accommodations in the same time except at the Thomas Street School, which has been repaired at an expense of $9,923.32.
The number of pupils registered in our day schools is 11,887 ; average attendance, 9,008 during the year. The number of scholars in actual attendance December 1, 1882, was 9,622, against 9,056 December 1, 1881, showing an increase of 566 during the year. With this ratio of increase it is very evident that we must have greater accommodations soon, or the Committee will be very much embarrassed, as all the present rooms are about full. The increase last year will fill one house of ten rooms.
The Committee have already voted to recommend the building of six new rooms at Winslow Street school-house, and another of eight rooms on Millbury Street, near Cambridge Street, the present season. Also in the near future we shall need one at New Worcester and one at East Worcester.
The number of teachers December 1, 1882, was 222. There is much more of detail in the Superintendent's report, to which I would call your careful attention.
POLICE.
The highest interests of our city demand a good and efficient Police force. The efficiency of that force would be increased by making it a permanent organization. My predecessors have for several years recommended a commission or some means whereby this result can be accomplished, and I heartily concur with them in this recommendation, and if you can frame an Ordinance so as to accomplish this result you will receive the approval of a large portion of the community.
With a Fire Department that honors our city in its efficiency ; with a Free Public Library conducted solely for the advantage of all classes until it has become a model of its kind; with a system of charities that tends to the decrease of pauperism ;
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 37.
with a City Hospital adequate for all emergencies ; our city has reason to congratulate itself on the good work already done and see to it that none of these interests suffer. The care of Hope Cemetery has rested upon a competent Board of Commissioners ; our Public Grounds have shown increasing improvement with each year under a Commissioner who has made the city his debtor by his faithful service.
Gentlemen :
It has been impossible in these few words, to do more than hint at the important interest entrusted to our keeping. Ours are duties of no mean responsibility. In a city whose taxable property exceeds forty-five millions of dollars, and whose population ranks at least third in the State, our deliberations demand the most patient pains-taking and the strictest guard over the best interests of the people ; we cannot be partisans.
The tests of good order are recorded in our civil laws. No higher civil demands lay their claims upon us than that we carry out the principles of Justice, so far as in us lies, making the name of our city the equivalent of good order, in just laws wisely administered.
VALEDICTORY ADDRESS
OF .
HON. ELIJAH B. STODDARD.
ALDERMAN MCCAFFERTY offered the following resolutions :
Resolved : That we, the Aldermen and members of the Common Council of the city of Worcester, assembled in the chamber of the Common Council to hear the Hon. Elijah B. Stoddard's review of the work of the municipal ad- ministration of city affairs for the year 1882, take this opportunity to express to him our high appreciation of his official and personal efforts as its chief magistrate to advance the moral, mental and material interest of our people. We thank him for his earnest and prompt attention to public business, for his urbanity and kindness in all his intercourse as presiding officer, whether in convention of the City Council, over the Board of Aldermen, or as Chair- man of the various municipal committees.
Resolved : That we thank him for that prudence, foresight and sagacity that enabled him to adjust and settle so many claims against the city, not all in- curred by this administration, but mostly inherited from another, and imposed upon the city by the decree of the County Commissioners, with so little expense to the tax payers, and to the satisfaction of the various claimants themselves.
Resolved : That we thank him that under a police force sagaciously managed, though inadequate in numbers to our population of nearly 65,000 souls, and our extensive territory, good order has been preserved; and that life has been secure and property comparatively safe, and our city remarkably exempt from the many crimes and misdemeanors so common in communities much less numerous than our own.
Resolved : That, now, upon our separation from him as chief of our muni- cipal affairs, while we tender to him our sincere congratulations upon the entire success of his ·administration of them, we hope for him personally a long life, filled with happiness, among loving friends, devoted neighbors and fellow- citizens, whose cause for gratitude toward him we know will be more appa- · rent hereafter as they shall know how, faithfully he served them, and how disinterestedly he labored for their interests as Mayor of the city of Worces- ter, in the year 1882.
Aldermen Goddard, Walker and Reed, President Parker of the Common Council, and Councilman O'Gorman all favored
-
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 37.
the resolutions and added their own personal expressions of the value of Mayor Stoddard's services, and his uniformly courte- ous treatment of the members of the City Council. The reso- lutions were unanimously passed. Mayor Stoddard responded as follows :-
Gentlemen of the City Council :
I trust you will not consider it inappropriate if, before we separate as the City Council of the year 1882, I review briefly some of the work which has been accomplished and which has received some special attention from us.
THE BLACKSTONE RIVER QUESTION.
When we entered upon our duties at the beginning of the year we found that the State Board of Health, by order of the Legislature, had made a report recommending a plan whereby the city, on its adoption, would be required to expend several hundred thousand dollars to relieve the inhabitants of the Blackstone valley of an alleged nuisance arising from our system of sewers. Action was soon taken in the General Court, and notice to appear was duly issued, making it necessary for a com- mittee, in the midst of various and conflicting opinions existing in the community, to promptly prepare to meet the case in de- fence. It was our first aim to convince the Legislative Commit- tee that the State Board of Health were mistaken in the plan they had proposed, and that its adoption would not remedy the evil complained of.
The final report of the committee settled the question so far as related to the plan proposed by the Board of Health. The committee, however, reported another plan which was equally repugnant to the rights of the city ; but it was difficult to con- vince the Senate that the joint committee's plan should not be made a law, thereby impairing the rights for sewerage which a former Legislature, years before, had granted. Owing, however, to the vigorous and skilful way in which the points were pre- sented and argued by our able Solicitor, together with the co- operation and vigilance of the members of the Legislature from
13
VALEDICTORY ADDRESS.
this city, the ultimate decision was almost unanimous in favor of the rights of Worcester, and the law was not changed. This re- sult stands as a final and sufficient answer to the criticisms and charges of inefficiency that have been so unjustly made. As a renewal of the complaints is threatened, there may be oppor- tunity to see in what way your successors will protect the rights of the city more effectually than you have done. In meeting successfully so grave a question, and such a united and persistent body of petitioners, the city was fortunate to incur only a mod- erate expense, and to have wasted no money.
SUMMER STREET.
The re-location of Summer Street was ordered by a decree of the County Commissioners, August 16, 1881, and the work was left for you to carry out. Early action was taken, and the de- cree has been complied with under the direction of your able Highway Committee. Much loose talk and speculation as to its cost have prevailed in the community during the year, and this, apparently, without so much as a desire, much less any honest effort on the part of some of our critics, to obtain truthful infor-" mation: The bills show that $53,107.22 have been paid for con- struction, and $20,338.20 for land damages. There remain only four or five claims which have not been adjusted. Including these last upon the basis of awards made by the commissioners, the whole expense ought not to exceed $85,000. In this work, new water pipes have been laid, costing $5,000, and macadamizing has been done at a.cost of at least $5,000 more; items which ought really to be deducted from the cost above given, for the reason that these improvements would have been necessary upon the old street. So that the proper cost of the improvements upon Summer Street is not over $75,000. In my opinion, most of our citizens who are competent judges, will conclude that this im- provement was one of wise forethought, and was taken in hand none too soon. There have been set and re-set of curbing 14,755 % lineal feet. There have been gutters paved, 658119%
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 37.
square yards; and there have been between three and four miles of streets macadamized.
SEWERS.
You have appropriated and expended $25,300 for a sewer to relieve the East Worcester district, and the work has been suc- cessfully, conveniently and economically done by the use, for the first time in this city, of a Carson excavator. About $9,000 have been expended on Cambridge Street for a sewer, which, if properly extended, will give relief to the Lincoln Brook district. To many who are unfamiliar with the demand and necessity for these improvements they may seem extravagant ; my own feel- ing is of wonder that the suffering inhabitants of these districts have not demanded the earlier beginning of these sewers for their relief, so absolutely necessary do they appear to me for the convenience and good health of a large number of our own people. You have done a plain duty in the premises, and I trust your successors will see the importance of carrying on the good work. The appropriation for lateral sewers has been liberal, and the money has been judiciously spent upon care- fully planned work.
WATER.
The appropriation for the extension of water pipes has not proved sufficient to meet the demand, but the greater number of petitioners have been relieved, and the work has been satis- factorily done by the Commissioner. The much agitated question of a larger water supply, after months of laborious investigation, has been reported upon, and I see no reason why the plan and recommendations submitted by the Water Committee should not be adopted at an early day. The undertaking will, of course, greatly augment the city debt ; but the short supply of the past year shows that further delay would be detrimental if not dangerous.
15
VALEDICTORY ADDRESS.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Fire Department has been managed in a most com- mendable manner, and has rendered a service fully equal to its cost. By the firmness and experience of the committee, the de- - partment has been kept to the highest standard of efficiency ; and, while the city, has been remarkably fortunate in escaping losses by fire, our citizens should abate not one jot of their liberal support of an organization to which they are so much and so constantly indebted.
THE POLICE.
Marshal Drennan and Assistant-Marshals Thayer and Churchill served with credit and honor in the army. They had other than political claims and qualifications for re-appointment, this year, to their positions. By courage, training and long public service, they were unusually well fitted for the duties required. Without my knowledge or suggestion they have given to the public a partial report of their official doings, and I am free to say that I consider it unsurpassed, if ever equalled, by any record that has ever been presented in this city. For the vast amount of criminal business fearlessly undertaken and successfully done under their management, they are entitled to your thanks and the public gratitude. The patrolmen have shown good discipline and have attended to their difficult duties faithfully and dis- creetly. Throughout the entire year the city has been orderly and well protected.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
A new police station, of which there was need, has been be- gun. By exchange with the fire department, on Lamartine Street, and the building of a new hose house, an economical arrangement has been made by which the police and the fire departments will each have quarters suitable for their needs. The Thomas Street
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 37.
school-house has been enlarged, repaired, and put in excellent condition at an expense of $10,324.78.
CONCLUSION.
Without trespassing further upon your time, I refer you to the various reports for fuller details of the work of the year, of which I have attempted to give only an outline sketch of special matters. The Committees on Finance, Claims, and Lighting Streets, have attended to their duties with excellent results. And now, gentlemen, in a few words, let me thank you for the reso- lutions with which you have honored me, and express my own grateful appreciation of your courtesy during my term of office. Undertaking an arduous service, in which the rules and methods of carrying on the government have been so entirely changed since my former connection with it, I have been surprised that, in all our deliberations and conclusions, there has prevailed such a spirit of harmony and agreement. I recognize with the greatest satisfaction your regular and punctual attendance at the numerous meetings of the committees, maintained, as I know it has often been, at the sacrifice of far more agreeable engagements. The public are little aware of the many hours each of your number has spent in weighing matters which often pass in board meet- ings without debate, because of the confidence placed in the opinions and fidelity of the committees. If you expect a popular appreciation of your labors you are liable to be disappointed. Your reward must be chiefly the satisfaction of knowing that you have faithfully administered the trusts committed to your charge. If you should perchance occupy advanced positions, it may be only to leave them under the hostile fire of ungrateful and un- just criticismns. This being an occasion all our own, I think we need not refrain from saying, as we look back upon our work, that it has been done unselfishly and in a business-like way ; that we have not spent the people's money except for the people's needs ; that we have made no great experiments at the people's risk and cost ; that we have begun no costly. work for our suc- cessors to finish and pay for. If I have aided you in your
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