USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1884 > Part 1
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WORCESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 8139 0129 6564 8
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Worcester Free Public Library
Property of WORCESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY
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CITY DOCUMENT, No. 39.
SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF
HON. CHARLES G. REED,
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WORCESTER, JAN. 5, 1885;
WITH THE
ANNUAL REPORTS 4
OF THE SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS,
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING NOVEMBER 30, 1884.
WORCESTER : PRINTED BY CHARLES HAMILTON, 311 MAIN STREET. 1885.
R 352. 07443 W9220 v. 39 1884
2
INDEX.
PAGE.
Mayor's Address
5
City Treasurer's Report . 25
Report of the Treasurer of City Trust Funds 29
Report of the Auditor 31
Report of the Commissioners of Sinking Funds 103
107
Report of the City Clerk
Report of the City Engineer 111
Report of the Joint Standing Committee on Sewers 129
Report of the Superintendent of Sewers 132
Report of the Committee on Water . 141
Report of the Water Commissioner 145
Report of the Water Registrar . 175
Report of the Commission of Public Grounds 181
219
The City Hospital,-Trustees and Officers Report of Trustees 221
' Report of the Superintendent and Resident Physician 227
Report of the Commissioners of the Jaques Fund, and other Funds of the City Hospital 242
Report of the City Marshal 247
Report of the Probation Officer 258
Report of Overseers of the Poor 261
Report of the Committee on the Truant School 290
Report of the City Physician . 307
Report of the Board of Health . 311
Report of the Commissioners of Hope Cemetery
321
Secretary's Report
376
List of Schools, Teachers, &c. . 380
Calendar for 1885
403
Worcester Free Public Library .- Directors in 1885 406
Directors' Report. . 407
Report of the Librarian
410
Gifts to the Library . 417
Report of the Committee on the Library 421
Report of the Committee on the Reading Room 422
Report of the Committee on the Building . 425
Report of the Committee on Finance . 426
Report of the Treasurer of the Reading Room Fund 429
Report of the Superintendent of Public Buildings . 431
Report of the City Engineer to the Committee on Water 443
Report of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department . 445
Alarms of Fire in 1884 . 457
Location of Boxes of Fire Alarm Telegraph 493
Report of the Commissioner of Highways 495
Report of the City Solicitor . 505
APPENDIX.
City Government and Officers for 1885 510
Salaries 521
Appropriations for 1885
522
Worcester Schools,-Report of Superintendent .
. 331
Report of the Committee on Finance . 109
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
2
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
Gentlemen of the Board of Aldermen,
and of the Common Council :-
THE citizens of Worcester have intrusted to us the responsi- bility of administering the municipal affairs of our city, and, with renewed expressions of gratitude to our Heavenly Father for past blessings and a firm faith and reliance upon Him for direction in the future, we have voluntarily assumed the trust. Our citizens require of us, and have a right to demand, a care- ful, clean and economical administration,-that while it cares for the present, should have a proper regard for the future welfare of the city, exercising the same prudence and fidelity in public affairs that we bring to our personal matters ; and in no way can we further the material interests of the city so surely as by a judicious and careful management of the city finances.
CITY FINANCES.
The funded debt of the city, at the close of the financial year ending November 30, 1884, amounted to $3,112,700. The debt, less sinking funds and cash in the treasury, amounted to $2,428,144.83. The debt, November 30, 1883, which includ- ed temporary loans amounting to $150,000, was $2,947,700, and the net debt was $2,369,877.25. Our city debt, there- fore, shows an increase of $58,267.58 during the year.
On the first of January, 1884, a $70,000, twenty-years, four per cent. sewer loan was negotiated with the commissioners of the sinking funds, at par, and, in April, 1884, a $250,000, thirty-years, four per cent. water loan, was offered to public com- petition, and placed at the very satisfactory premium of $7.04 on each $100 of the loan. There was no temporary loan out- standing at the close of the last financial year. Of the pres- ent funded debt of the city, the six per cent. loans amount to
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
$1,059,300 ; the five per cent. loans to $760,000 ; the four and one-half per cent. loans to $140,000 ; and the four per cent. loans to $1,153,400 ; the average annual rate of interest on these loans being about four and ninety-five one hundredths per cent. On the first of July next $100,000 of the city sixes will mature, and, being a part of the old debt of 1875, will doubtless be renewed at a lower rate of interest.
The city Sinking Funds on the 30th of November, 1884, amounted to $590,370.85, showing a gratifying increase of $103,594.64 during the year. A further sum of $68, 190.66, being the amount realized from the balances of appropriations not fully expended, and from other sources of income specified in Section 8 of Chapter 42 of the City Ordinances, has recently been paid over to the Commissioners by the City Treasurer. As at present advised, the only additional amount called for, or required, under the provisions of Section 4 of the Chapter before referred to, is the sum of $37,000 on account of the " General Debt Sinking Fund of 1875." This amount, unless otherwise provided for, must of course, be raised by taxation during the current financial year.
From the books of the City Treasurer it appears that there are now eleven trust funds belonging to the city as against eight in January, 1884. The following table of aggregates, the details of which may be found in the reports of the several boards and commissions having these funds in charge, will prove interesting and suggestive in this connection :-
TITLE OF FUND.
Established.
Amount Nov. 30, 1883.
Amount Nov. 30, 1884.
A. H. Bullock, High School,
1860
$1,503.92
$1,504.31
Hope Cemetery,
1863
11,405.57
10,018,35
Dr. John Green, Library,
1868
42,666.87
43,605.06
Isaac Davis, Hospital,
1873
1,980.54
2,100.55
George Jaques, Hospital,
1874
129,041.34
141,574.82
Albert Curtis, Hospital, 1876
1,046.83
1,046.85
John B. Shaw, Hospital,
1877
213.68
224.78
Joseph A. Tenney, Hospital,
1881
5,000.00
5,000.00
Edward L. Davis, Lake Park, 1884
5,002.25
Stephen Salisbury, Hospital,
1884
3,000.00
Mrs. George W. Gill, Hospital, 1884
6,000.00
¿Total,
$192,858.75
$219,076.97
9
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
According to the books of the auditor, it appears that the receipts for the last financial year, including balances on hand December 1, 1883, amounted to the sum of $2,112,088.03, and that the payments for the year amounted to $2,017,903.71, showing a balance, November 30, 1884, of $94, 184.32. Fur- ther details in regard to the city finances will be found in the annual reports of the auditor and treasurer, which are soon to be presented to the City Council for their consideration, and which should be carefully examined by all persons interested, whether officially or otherwise, in the financial condition of the city.
CLAIMS.
Great care has been taken the past year that the city's inter- ests should be protected by careful examination immediately of any case of accident or damage to person or property, and, if possible, when there is a just claim, to settle it at once and avoid litigation. The same policy will be pursued this year. Many claims have been made, and in some cases paid, for ac- cidents on private streets and courts. I recommend that signs be put up at every private street or passageway that is open to public travel, notifying the public that they are private streets and dangerous passing, that the city may not be liable for damages on these streets.
The police will be instructed to report and the law will be enforced against those parties neglecting to remove the ice and snow from their sidewalks, as the only cases for which the city has been called upon by the courts to pay damages the past year have arisen from this neglect.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The number of pupils in the public schools November 29th, 1884, was 10,668, an increase of 654 during the year. The number of schools in 1883 was 212, and in 1884 there has been 220. The cost of the schools for 1884 was $198,388.51, and the appropriation asked for the year 1885 is $211,425.
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
For school-houses and land for 1885 the committee ask for $55,500. The cost of the evening schools for 1884 has been $3,646.04, and the amount asked for 1885 is $4,375. The number of pupils in the evening schools, as registered, is 327.
The report of the Superintendent is full and complete in its details of the expense, and also of matters of interest connected with the schools and the school system of Worcester. I per- sonally visited every school in the city in company with the Superintendent during the past year, and we can take just pride in our schools, for they are second to none in the coun- try. If our citizens or members of the government would often inspect our system and its management they would then, without doubt, approve of the large expenditure that we annually make for our schools.
The unusual expenditure for free text-books for the year 1884 added largely to the expense of the year ; this expendi- ture will not be as large this year ; but the fitting up of and the equipment for, as well as the additional corps of teachers for the two new school-houses, now nearly completed, is the occasion of the increase in the appropriation asked for.
Our evening schools should be sustained and are giving persons desirous, both youth and adults, unable to attend in the day, opportunity for learning to read and write which they could obtain in no other way.
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The City appropriation was $12,000 ; the amount received from the dog fund, $2,860.40 ; total $14,860.40 ; this sum, less $27.07, the amount transferred to the sinking fund, has been expended the past year. The amount asked for 1885 is $13,000.
The increase in the use of the Library the past year has been very large, viz :- 23,202 volumes, making the present use but a little less than 200,000 volumes. This increase has been in both circulating and reference departments ; the read- ing room has also been very full. This growth is partly
11
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
accounted for by the dulness of the times, for it is always noticeable that when there is stagnation in business there is unusual activity at the library. The library grows more and more useful every year to the scholar and mechanic and to all classes of our citizens. More room will soon be needed for reading rooms and the storage of books.
The figures presented in the address at the Bi-Centennial, of our manufactures and mechanical industries, have been read with great pleasure as showing the true secret of Worces- ter's prosperity, and have attracted attention.
There are many mechanics and laborers who, after hard work during the day would be glad of an opportunity to sit down and read the newspapers, but to come up to the library room in their working clothes they will not, and from the want of any other place drift into the saloons and other sur- roundings. I think reading rooms should be established in those localities where our mechanics and laborers live ; where the daily and other papers may be on file in charge of a proper person, who shall be authorized to receive orders for books to be drawn from the public library and delivered at these rooms each evening ; in this way something can be done to elevate and improve the condition of our toilers who form so important a part of our Worcester.
The upper story of the Lamartine street station is vacant and might be utilized for this purpose; and, no doubt, the old Providence and Worcester station on Green street could be leased, and suitable places in other localities. I am of the opinion that the work of the public library should be extended in this way, and hope that the trustees will ask for a sufficient addition to their appropriation to carry out this recommendation.
HIGHWAYS AND SIDEWALKS.
Less ordered work remains unfinished than is usually the case at the close of the year. Ripley street and Richards street are the only streets for which orders have been passed that are not completed. Decrees have been adopted for the
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
following streets, and they must be worked within two years : Crystal street, from Main street to the Boston and Al- bany railroad, no estimate; South Crystal street, from Cam- bridge street to the Boston and Albany railroad, estimated cost, $1,909.31 ; Endicott street, from Millbury street to Ward street, estimate $193.64. Meade street, from Lamartine to La- fayette street, estimate $400; Queen street, King to Kings- bury street, estimate $75 ; Shepard street, from King to Kings- bury street, estimate $800; John street, North Ashland to West street, estimate $1,509.66; Union street, Mechanic to Thomas street, estimate $8,223.42 ; Kingsbury street, May to Queen street, estimate $250 ; Harrison street, Water to Green street, estimate $5,643.90 ; Circuit around Lake Park, appro- priation $1,500. Decrees have been adopted by the County Commissioners for re-locating Burncoat street from Britton square to Millbrook street, estimate $3,797.90; re-locating Pleasant street from West to Highland street, estimate $100; Lincoln street, from Lincoln square to Frederick street, no ex- pense ; Union street to be re-located as nearly as possible by old lines. Whenever this work is done the bridges of the Wor- cester, Nashua and Rochester railroad and Foster street should be widened.
The Highway committee ask for $25,000 for paving the coming year. Of the contemplated work, Bloomingdale road near Grafton street, will be paved with the old blocks taken up at the north end of Main street, estimated expense $1,900. The other locations where paving is recommended are Union street, from Central street to Lincoln square, estimate $11,623 ; Lincoln square, from the Grove street crosswalk to the Wor- cester, Nashua and Rochester railroad, estimate $6,611.44, and the completion of Washington square, estimate $4,690.60.
The original layout of the Boulevard at the lake in 1873 was near the lake shore. It has never been worked. As the city has received the gift of a large tract of this land for a park, it would seem desirable to work this street along the lake, even if we discontinue a portion of the present avenue.
This department calls for an appropriation for highways :-
13
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
maintenance of $50,000 ; for street construction of $55,000 ; for paving of $25,000 ; for sidewalks of $20,000.
The action of the Boston and Albany railroad in erecting fences on the westerly side of their track, in the vicinity of the station at the junction, practically shutting off all egress from or access to their depot, except by a very circuitous route, has proved a great annoyance to the public at the south end of the city, and a petition has been received asking for a foot-bridge over the railroad track. Of the necessity of immediate action there can be no doubt; it would seem that the interests of the railroad companies were identical with the petitioners in erect- ing the foot-bridge without delay.
The tunneling of Franklin street is one of the most impor- tant improvements that has been presented to the City Council for action. The Highway committee of 1884 have endeavored to arrange with the railroad companies for this improvement, and the estimated expense to the city is $28,400 ; the railroads to build the bridge over the street at their own expense. My opinion is that Grafton street is the proper place for a tunnel.
A petition has been received by the City Council numerously signed and numbering among the signers many of our influential citizens, themselves owning stock in the railroad companies, asking for relief from the dangerous obstruction of the high- ways by certain grade-crossings in this city. It would seem that the railroad companies would see that it is for their inter- est as well as the city's that no antagonism should arise, and at once heed the remonstrance, rather than that appeal should be made to the Railroad Commissioners or to the Legislature for relief. You will be asked to take action upon this petition, with the report of the City Solicitor upon the necessity of leg- islative action, at an early day.
WATER.
While from all sections of the country the question of present or future water supply is attracting attention, and is a source of anxiety to many a city, our city is provided with a supply of water not only absolutely free from all present or future
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
defilement from drainage or sewage, but comparatively inex- haustible.
The total cost of our Waterworks including Tatnuck Brook is $1,668,638.50. This does not include damages either paid or claimed by parties for the diversion or taking of Tatnuck Brook. The settlement of these damages has been a subject of negotiation between the city and the owners of the land and water taken. Arrangements have been made with several of the parties interested, and many others are in process of adjust- ment. The complicated nature of some of these claims make a settlement especially difficult.
The amount of revenue received from water rates for the last financial year was $107,515.27. The amount of uncol- lected bills in the hands of the Treasurer, December Ist, 1884, was $11,650.05. The cost of maintenance was $38,386.06. The amount paid over to the sinking fund was $44,256.77.
A careful revision of water rates and ordinances is needed, as the growth of the city and the general introduction of water require important changes. Especially is an ordinance needed regulating, not only the required returns, but the work done, by the plumbers; a petition has been received from the plumbers for this purpose.
Extensive repairs or renewals of pipe must be made; the cement pipe connecting Lynde brook and Hunt's reservoir shows signs of weakness, while, in the city proper, whole lines of the cement pipe must be taken up this year. We have paid more for damages by water, the past year, than ever before in any one year ; one break costing the city $1,600 for dam- ages, and the entire costs for damages were over $5,000.
I recommend that so much of this pipe as can be taken up, without an expenditure endangering the amount required to be applied to the sinking funds from water maintenance, and iron pipe substituted. More pipe has been laid the past year than in any year since 1873, excepting, of course, the pipe line in 1883 from Tatnuck. With the exception of the difficulty arising from this cement pipe, all the affairs in the Water De- partment are in the best of condition.
15
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
The reports of the Engineer, Water Registrar and Water Commissioner are submitted, with the report of the Water Committee, and are of especial interest.
The appropriation asked for is $40,000, in addition to the amount of $15,886.67 expended in the year 1884 for Lake View, and ordered to be raised in the tax levy of this year.
SEWERS.
A full and detailed report of this department has been sub- mitted by the superintendent, and is of interest to every citi- zen. The work upon the Crystal street sewer will be com- pleted this year. That the west side of the city may have the benefit of sewers, so long needed, a main sewer must be built from the terminus of the Crystal street sewer at Maywood street and Park Avenue, through Park Avenue, Tufts street and Mason street to Pleasant street ; the territory bounded by Gates, Main, Ripley and Southbridge streets needs immediate attention : and, until the Shrewsbury street sewer is extended to Putnam Lane, full relief for East Worcester meadow and its stagnant waters cannot be had. I urge upon you the im- portance of these several sewers and recommend that the necessary orders for the work be prepared at an early day, and, whatever sum is expended, that it be funded rather than raised by taxation in any one year.
I desire to call your attention to the importance of a change in the present sewer ordinances; not only are our sewers injured by careless work by the drain-layers, but the public health is endangered by imperfect work. I would recom- mend that the connections with the sewers be made by the sewer department alone, and that an Ordinance to that effect be adopted.
The Sewer Committee ask for an appropriation for Sewer Construction of $25,000, and for Sewer Maintenance $10,000.
LIGHTING STREETS.
This department has been well managed, and with the in- troduction of the electric light their expenses have largely in-
16
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
creased. With the benefit of the experience in placing elec- tric lights of the past year, they have asked for an addition to their appropriation, and it is hoped that the system may be ex- tended. Electric lights are much needed at the junction of a large number of streets :- At Providence with Grafton and Water streets; at Millbury with Green and Vernon streets ; at Southbridge and Myrtle streets ; Southbridge street at the railroad bridge; Belmont street, Lincoln street, Grove street, and other business locations ; while in streets and localities mainly devoted to residences gas lights are needed rather than the electric with its intense all night brightness. The appro- priation for last year was $50,000. The amount asked for this year is $63,000.
SHADE TREES AND PUBLIC GROUNDS.
By the provisions of the park act, accepted by popular vote, a commission of five members have been appointed whose terms of office will commence May Ist. In their hands is in- trusted the whole care and control of parks and right to take land for park purposes, subject to the restrictions imposed in the act.
The chairman, Edward W. Lincoln of the old commission, has been appointed for five years, and the city will be favored with his thoughtful care and ability for years to come. The city is so much indebted to him that if there had been doubt in the minds of the citizens with reference to his appointment upon the new board or commission, I question whether the new park act would have received the popular vote of the city. He asks for the same amount as last year for the com- mission. I should hope that a further sum might be voted them, if they should desire, for Lake Park. The new board do not come into office until May, too late to ask for a sum to expend for any land for park purposes and have it go into the appropriation for this year.
The acquisition of Lake Park, with its water front, will en- able the city to provide facilities for bathing, rejoicing the
17
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
heart of our city physician, who has so long and urgently rec- ommended action in this direction as a sanitary measure.
The right to take Newton hill for a park and reservoir ex- pires May 1, 1885, and if the city desire to take it for a reservoir legislative action will be necessary. Appropriation asked for, $7,000.
CITY HALL.
The question of the building of a new city hall, coupled with the removal of the Old South church, are no new ques- tions, although prominently before the public at this time, con- spicuously so through the push and energy of one of our most loyal citizens, influenced by a desire to benefit the city. The building of a new city hall and its location, and, in fact, all questions relating to the removal of the church, have been discussed by the newspapers, both editorially and by commu- nications from citizens through their columns. It now comes before the government in the form of petitions, signed by rep- resentative citizens, for the most part our heaviest tax-payers. These petitions were presented to the City Council late in the year, and, by them, the petition for a new city hall was re- ferred to the government of 1885. The one asking for the taking of such measures as are necessary to extinguish the title to the Old South church occupancy of the common was referred to the city solicitor to report what legislation, if any, was necessary. The solicitor reported that no legislation is necessary to enable the city, with the consent of the Old South parish, to extinguish the rights of the parish, and that the city has the right to use a portion of the common for a city hall, but that legislation would be necessary to extinguish the rights of the parish without their consent, and that legislative action would be needed if any portion of the common was used for a United States government building.
Our present city hall-whatever it might have been for a town hall-its unfitness for a city hall is apparent. I am cer- tain that our citizens were mortified on the occasion of the bi- centennial, when we had here official representatives from the New England cities, as well as distinguished guests from all parts of the country, when asked, "Where are your city
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
buildings?" "Have you no city hall?" to point out to them the present structure as one of our public buildings.
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