Town of Newton annual report 1885, Part 1

Author: Newton (Mass.)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Newton (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 570


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City of Newton


AND UN


FOUNDE


1688 A CITY 187


630


IN


POR


Bon. Wm. D. Ellison.


NR


3 1323 00360 5184


Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Boston Public Library


https://archive.org/details/publicdocuments1885newt


THE


INAUGURAL ADDRESS


OF


HON. J. WESLEY KIMBALL.


MAYOR OF NEWTON,


TO THE CITY COUNCIL


JANUARY 5, 1885.


W


BERTY AND UNION


OK- FOUNDED 163


LIB


88.A CITY 1873


NA


OR!


NEWTON : PRESS OF THE NEWTON JOURNAL. 1885.


NR 352 N48P 1885


NEWTON


:ANY


AUG 17 74


NEWTON, MASS.


INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF MAYOR KIMBALL.


GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN AND OF THE COMMON COUNCIL : -


We have assembled in accordance with our City Charter to assume the responsibilities and duties involved in our acceptance of the office of public trust to which we have been elected.


It should be our determination to discharge these impor- tant obligations with fidelity and to the best of our ability.


The measures adopted should be prudent and economical and also characterized by a comprehensive recognition of plans adapted to the permanent growth of Newton, that whatever pertains to the prosperity of our City and the welfare of the people shall in all respects be as perfect as may be.


Constant attendance, therefore, upon the meetings of your respective Boards and Committees, is essential to enable a thorough understanding and to secure just and equitable action upon the varied and important questions of public interest to be considered.


It is gratifying to state that the rate of taxation was one · dollar on the thousand less in 1884 than in the previous year.


4


It is within your province to so adjust the appropriations and expenditures that further reductions may be made.


Newton is a most desirable place of residence, being favorably located, healthful, with excellent schools and churches, fine streets, pure water and other ample provisions for comfort and security; with the further advantage of a lower rate of taxation, the attractions would be abundant to invite very large accessions to our population and wealth.


The Boston and Albany Railroad Company is now engaged in building a double track road through Newton between Riverside and Newton Highlands, a distance of three and sixt-eight one-thousandths miles, which will probably be completed by September next.


The tract of land through which this road passes is for the most part elevated, and as available for building purposes as any part of the City.


The completion of this work with a liberal policy on the part of the Railroad Company, and frequent light running trains, will tend to the rapid development of the district and a considerable increase in population and taxable property.


With this increase will come a demand for improve ments, which should be reasonably met.


Another advantage of this enterprise in a social point of view is the connection to be established between our several villages, rendering inter-communication easy, and giving ready access to our City Offices, High School and other public places.


Contracts have been made with the Boston and Albany Railroad Company for the construction of a tunnel for foot passengers at Channing Crossing, and the building of a


5


bridge at Bowditch Street. The bridge is nearly ready for use, and work upon the Tunnel will be commenced early in the Spring.


Our City Charter provides for the election of members of the City Council for one year only. It would, in my opinion, be wise to amend the Charter so as to provide for the election of the Mayor, Aldermen and Councilmen, for a term of two years, allowing only a portion of members to retire at the same time.


A considerable part of the first year is required to become familiar with the City's business; a longer term would secure to the City the advantages gained by experience.


FINANCE.


On account of transactions of the year 1884


there is outstanding a Temporary Loan of $70,000 00 Bills unpaid $46,000 00 Less bills for new school-house


at West Newton-to be provided for by the sale of City notes 2,000 00 44,000 00


$114,000 00


Against which there is cash on hand $45.647 91 . Due to the Treasury for moneys paid by order of the City Council for new school-houses at West Newton and Newton Centre -to be repaid by the sale of City notes 20,465 38


Uncollected Taxes good . 67,500 00


$133,613 29


6


After paying all bills of 1884 there will be an estimated balance of unappropriated moneys in the Treasury amounting to $19.613 29


And due from miscellaneous sources .


31,188 59


The total amount of payments made by the City Treas- urer for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1884, was $945.632.65, as follows :


Ordinary City Expenses $253,744 98


Interest 76,704 81


State. County and Bank Tax


59,682 72


Sinking Fund Commissioners 36,800 00 State Aid . 1,815 50


Water Construction .


24,586 41


Temporary Loans 320,000 00 Education . 107.630 25


Funded Debt matured 20,000 00


New School Houses . 43,415 22


Read Fund Income


1,252 76


$945.632 65


Total receipts from all sources during the year ending Dec. 31st. 1884, was $932,844 58, as follows : City Taxes . $415,771 30


Corporation and Bank Taxes 39,386 73


City Bonds sold 15,000 00


City Notes sold (New School Houses) 51,500 00


Premium on School Notes 584 01


Interest on Deposits .


Interest on Taxes


825 37


2.170 60 Temporary Loans 300,000 00 State Aid .


1.365 50


7


Sinking Fund Commissioners


20,000 00


Water Department


55,129 84


Miscellaneous


31,111 23


$932,844 58


The permanent debt of the City Dec. 31, 1884, was as follows :


Town Notes 61/2 per cent. $46,000 00


Town Notes 6 per cent. 187,000 00


Accrued Interest,


3,355 88


$236,355 88


These Notes all mature by Mar. 10,1894.


Municipal Bonds 5 per cent.


$34,000 00


Accrued Interest


850, 00


$34,850 00


Water Bonds 6 per cent. .


600,000 00


66 66 5 .


250,000 00


66


4 66


115,000 00


Accrued Interest .


25,400 00


$990,400 00


Public Park Bonds 4 per cent. 25,000 00


Accrued Interest 250 00


$25,250 00


School notes 4 per cent.


. 51,500 00


Accrued Interest


803 40


$52,303 40


Uninvested portion of Kenrick Fund 1740 00 Accrued Interest 52 20


$1792 20


$1,340,951 48


8


To which should be added the amount paid and incurred for new School-houses at West Newton and Newton Centre, to be provided for by sale of City Notes


22,465 38


Total, $1,363,416 86


The amount of Funded Debt with accrued


interest December 31st, 1883, was 1,317,391 42


Increase in the City Debt 46,025 44


SINKING FUNDS.


The condition of the Sinking Funds Dec. 31st, 1884, was as follows :


City Debt Sinking Fund


$23,092 01


Water


145,779 67


#168,871 68


To which should be added the amount appro-


priated Dec. 29, 1884, for the City Debt Sinking Fund 10,800 00


Total, $179,671 68


Amount of Sinking Funds December 31st, 1883, 145,591 03


Increase F


34,080 65


Increase in City Debt for 1884, 46,025 44


Total increase in Funded Debt for the year 1884 $11,944 79


The increase in the City Debt is entirely on account of building new School Houses and extending Water Mains.


During the year there has matured and been paid a Note of $20,000 00, which sum was paid from the City Debt Sinking Fund.


:


1


9


There will mature a Town Note Oct. 3d, 1885, of $20,000 00, which will be provided for from the City Debt Sinking Fund.


There will also mature a School Note Jan. 25th, 1885, of 85150 00, to be provided for from the Tax Levy of 1885. In 1883 the real estate was valued at $19,794,805 00


Personal estate valued at


7,329,283 00


$27,124,088 00


Taxable value of corporate stocks . 2,570,150 00


Taxable value of bank stocks . 850,000 00


Total,


$30,544,238 00


In 1884 the real estate was valued at $20,467,295 00


Personal estate valued at 7,347,266 00


$27,814,561 00


Taxable value of corporate stocks


2,746,700 00


Taxable value of bank stocks . 946,970 00


Total,


$31,508,231 00


Increase in taxable property in 1884 $963,993 00


Value of real and personal property in the City of Newton, which is exempt from taxation under the provisions of the third and seventh divisions of section 5, chapter eleven of the Public Statutes :


Personal .


$510,131 00


Real


848,700 00


Total.


$1,358,831 00


The rate of tax per $1000, in 1883, was as follows :


City


$14 28


County


40


State


72


$15 40


10


The rate of tax per $1000, in 1884, was as follows :


1


City


$13 00


County


40


State


1 00


$14 40


READ FUND.


The income received from the Read Fund to December 31, 1884 was $2156 27.


There have been expended in accordance with the will of the liberal donor, sums as follows :


For a picnic for children $225 00


For a course of scientific lectures . 397 26


For the public library . 344 00


For poor widows of Newton .


280 00


For incidental matters . 6 50


There is a balance on hand of $903 51, to be distributed for the same generous purposes.


The principal, $40,000, is safely invested.


HEALTH.


The importance of this subject commands special atten- tion and should receive careful consideration. Suitable means should be promptly employed to discover and remove causes which endanger the public health.


Valuable information in this department is abundant and easily obtained, but needs a careful study.


A large amount of time is necessary to be given to the many details of the work and to the enforcement of the rules to secure satisfactory results.


This department is directed exclusively by the Board


11


of Aldermen, whose many and increasing duties in munici- pal affairs render it difficult for them to bestow to it all the time needed.


The consideration of matters pertaining to health, which are of an entirely different character from those of the ordinary and legitimate business of the City Council, and the great amount of time necessary to be given to it if thorough work is accomplished, renders it expedient to transfer the management of the Health Department to a board composed of persons whose experience and informa- tion in sanitary matters make them specially qualified for such work.


There are only two cities in the Commonwealth, includ- ing Newton, where such a system has not been adopted.


There are, I believe, citizens sufficiently interested to accept such appointment and without remuneration.


I recommend a Board of Health be constituted as follows :


One alderman, one councilman and three citizens at large.


The cost of this department for the year 1884 was $2,203.47


It would be a public benefit if the people were provided with suitable places and conveniences for bathing. I rec- ommend that arrangements be made for building bath-houses near the various ponds and lakes in the City, at small expense for public use. It would be a source of health and pleasure.


SEWERAGE.


This subject is one of the most important, inti- mately concerns the health and life of the people, and should


12


receive your careful and early investigation. It is a problem that is engaging the attention of governments and the serious consideration of the thoughtful.


The population of our city is becoming more centered. The necessity of provision for the disposal of waste flowage in the thickly settled localities is apparent.


I recommend your careful perusal of the report of the Special Committee on Sewerage, - an elaborate and carefully prepared paper of interesting and valuable information, and which will be of benefit to the City in its consideration of the methods and needs of sewerage.


For an immediate measure of public safety and conve- nience I recommend that the City own and control a sufficient equipment, including odorless excavators, for the prompt removal of contents of vaults and cess pools, and at a minimum cost to the citizens.


This would secure frequent removals, and contribute to the health and benefit of all. The additional advantage of responsible and efficient supervision would be secured, should the City assume the responsibility of the work. The amount paid in 1884 by citizens for emptying cess pools, etc., was over $11,000 00.


SCHOOLS.


A characteristic of this City is the liberal provision it makes for educational purposes.


The importance that attaches to the mental training of the children and the general advantages of education, are well appreciated by our citizens.


The excellent reputation of our public schools has brought us many worthy citizens and largely added to our taxable property.


13


The superintendent and teachers are earnest and faithful in the performance of their important duties.


The number attending our public schools is :


Average attendance 3,430


Number of teachers 93


Number of school-houses occupied · 17


During the year the Williams and Eliot school-houses were completed and occupied.


There are two buildings in process of construction for school purposes ; one at West Newton, the other at Newton Centre, and both well advanced towards completion.


The High and Claflin school-houses are insufficient to accommodate the large number of pupils attending.


It would be convenient as well as appropriate, if the names by which the schools are known were placed upon the buildings.


The whole number of pupils at the public schools for the year 1884 was as follows :


SCHOOL.


WARD.


NUMBER.


High


365


Eliot


1


140


Lincoln


1


39


Claflin


2


171


Adams


2


199


Jackson


2


197


Pierce


3


213


Davis


3


198


Franklin


3


168


Williams


4


269


Hamilton


4


100


Hyde


5


206


14


Prospect


5


232


Oak Hill


5


19


Mason


6


395


Thompsonville


6


39


Bigelow


7


306


Underwood


7


174


3,430


The expenses of the school department for the year 1884 were as follows :


Paid to the Superintendent


$2,700 00


66 Teachers


75,927 06


66


Janitors 4,989 40


66


66 Secretary


300 00


for Fuel


6,376 88


for Evening Schools .


619 09


" Transportation of Pupils


720 00


66


" Books .


5,206 19


" furniture, supplies and incidentals 10,341 06


Total, 107,179 68


The amount of $5,206 19 paid for books, was in conse- quence of the recent law obliging cities and towns to furnish text books free to the pupils.


The expenditures for public schools since Newton became a city have been as follows :


1874


$97,353 65


1875


96,649 23


1876


86,533 64


1877


83,917 89


1878 ,


83,208 63


15


1879


82,260 08


1880


83,613 47


1881


83,700 27


1882


91,252 72


1883


95,942 27


1884


107,179 68


The cost of maintaining so many schools is necessarily large. It is a matter of inquiry, to which the wisdom and experience of educators should be directed, whether the public school system may not be so modified as to produce even more practical results and at less per capita expendi- ture.


FREE LIBRARY.


The Library continues to be a valuable auxiliary to the educational interests of the City, and its privileges for study and culture are appreciated.


The number of volumes in the Library is 21,856. The number added during the year was 1379; of which 111 were gifts.


VOLUMES ADDED IN 1884.


Literature.


Prose, fiction, and juvenile reading 316


Essays, poetry, and drama . 120


Periodicals .


157


Foreign literature 6


History.


Geography and travels 117


Biography .


102


History


84


16


Arts and Sciences.


Natural science and industrial arts 178


Political and social science . 78


Theology 30


Reference library 191


The cost of the books purchased was . $1,650 14


The circulation in 1884 was . 83,261


The number taken directly from the Library


was . 41,935


The balance, 41,326, being distributed by the daily delivery as follows :


Newtonville 9,386


Newton Centre


9,032


Auburndale 6,938


Newton Highlands 4,658 .


West Newton


4,607


Upper Falls


4,383


Lower Falls


1,856


Nonantum


. 466


The annual expense of the daily delivery is $1,200.


The largest circulation is of fiction ; the next of essays and poetry ; then of travels ; next of scientific works.


CIRCULATION BY CLASSIFICATION.


Per ct.


Prose fiction, and juvenile reading


67.25


Essays, poetry and drama


7.14


Periodicals


2.00


Foreign literature


.35


Geography and travels


7.33


Biography


3.76


History


4.63


17


Natural science and industrial arts 5.77


Political and social science . .60


Theology


1.00


Reference library


.16


99.99+


The reading room is well-supplied with magazines and papers.


The cost of maintaining the Library for 1884 was $8,365 85.


The Library also received an annual income from


Spear Art Fund $70 00


Jewett Art Fund 315 00


Read Fund


344 00


The Newton Athenaeum at West Newton is practically a free library.


The number of volumes in the Library is 4500.


The circulation for the year 1884 was 9640.


It has also a reading room, to which the City has for several years contributed $250 each year, which I recom- mend to be continued.


WATER DEPARTMENT.


The importance and advantage to the health and comfort of the people, of an ample supply of pure water is everywhere acknowledged and appreciated.


Newton is fortunate in the quality of its water and the supply is sufficient to permit of liberal use.


The pumping station, reservoir and filter basin are in good order; the foundations put in at the pumping station a year ago for the support of the engine have proved sufficient and satisfactory.


1


18


The whole department is under skilful management.


An advantageous contract has been made for a supply of water main for the year.


There was laid last year 10,110 feet of main, making a total of 69} miles.


One hundred and seventy-seven services were put in; making a total of 2917.


The number of hydrants is 427.


The average daily consumption of water in 1884 was 532,804 gallons.


The receipts of the Water Department for 1884 was $49,769 01, of which $12,127 56 was paid by the City.


EXPENDITURES.


Maintenance $13,289 69


Interest on Bonds 52,500 00


Sinking Fund for Water Dept . 16,000 00


Amount of Water Bonds issued 965,000 00


The receipts of the Department have steadily increased from $17,981 17 in 1877 to $49,769 01 in 1884.


PUBLIC PROPERTY.


The public buildings of the City consist of a City Hall, 19 school-houses, besides two in process of construction, a public library, armory, pumping station with dwelling house, Almshouse and nine buildings used by the Fire, Highway and Police departments.


A large responsibility devolves upon this department, in making contracts, supervising new work, and keeping so many buildings in repair.


There was paid for new school houses in 1883, $30,472.81, and in 1884, $43,193.75.


The buildings are constructed chiefly of wood, only five


19


being of brick, and though in fair order the wooden buildings require painting and some repairs.


The City Hall is in special need of repainting and I hope may receive such improvement at an early day.


I recommend that when the City erect more buildings they be constructed of brick or stone as being safer, more economical and appropriate for public buildings.


Though of greater cost in the beginning, yet in a number of years more than the difference in cost and inter- est would be saved in the item of repairs.


The cost of this department for the year 1884, exclu- sive of new buildings was $12,600 24.


PUBLIC PARKS.


During the year orders have been passed and a plan adopted for the ornamentation and completion of Farlow Park. The sum of $27.928.17 has already been expended for improvements and the purchase of land. The additional sum of $10,000 will be required to finish the same in accord- ance with the plan.


Assessments for betterments have been laid by authority of the Act of the Legislature, granting the establishment of such public grounds, amounting to $21,635.47.


A tract of land, situated in Ward 3, known as Lincoln Park and another in Ward 4, known as Walcott Park, have been given to the City on condition that they be maintained as public parks.


These with the other parks in the several wards, will need small expenditures for improvement and care.


The amount expended on account of Public Parks for the year 1884.was $2,299.53.


20


STREET LIGHTS.


There has been an improvement in this department, the light furnished being of better quality, the lamps better cared for and more promptly lighted.


The contract for lighting the streets is much better than any heretofore made; a sufficient reduction in price was secured to enable the department to provide 43 more lights with the same amount of appropriation of the previous year.


The agreement that the streets shall be better lighted every night when artificial light is needed should be more rigidly enforced.


During the year 43 new lamps have been added, making the total number now in use 1233, of which 769 are lighted by gas and 464 by oil.


Special care has been taken in the location of new lamps that they may be distributed to the best advantage for the public.


The cost of this department for the year 1884 was $20,162 52.


1


The fuel supplied for the public buildings - excepting the Pumping Station - was purchased for $5 48 per ton, delivered. The cost for the year 1884 was $8,400 00.


FIRE DEPARTMENT.


This department is in excellent working order and thor- oughly equipped with all necessary modern appliances.


During the year a new hose reel has been purchased and located at Ward Three.


Steamer 3 at Ward Six has been thoroughly repaired.


21


All the apparatus is in fine condition, and in all respects equal to any in similar departments.


The Fire Alarm Telegraph requires new poles to be substituted for those that have become defective; otherwise it is in good order.


Two new Fire Alarm signal boxes have been added, making the total number fifty-one.


Twenty-eight new hydrants have been added, making the total number 427.


By a recent ordinance the number of firemen has been reduced and now consists of seventy-three men, including the officers.


The compensation of the call men has been increased thirty dollars a year, but, by the decrease in number, the total pay has not been materially changed, nor has the efficiency of the department been impaired.


The number of alarms responded to dur-


ing the year was 51


Loss by fire .


. $35,441 70


Insurance on the same .


. 176,450 00


Insurance paid on same . 32,651 70


Assessed valuation of real estate at


risk . 124,460 00


Hose used at fires (number of feet) 15,850


Miles travelled by apparatus 461


Time of service (number of hours) 225


I renew a recommendation made last year, and for the reasons then given, that the various school-houses be provided with private fire alarm signal boxes.


The cost of the department for the year 1884 was $24,222 20


22


The inspection of public buildings is performed by the Chief of the Fire Department.


During the year one hundred and thirteen new and twenty-one remodelled buildings have been inspected.


By ordinance parties proposing to build are required to notify the City of such intention.


HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.


This is a large and very important department and involves great care, attention and discrimination in its management. The demands upon it are constant and increasing.


Our citizens are not satisfied with ordinarily kept streets, but require and are accustomed to a high standard of roads.


The reconstruction, drainage and repairs upon our very large extent of highways involve the expenditure of large sums of money.


New streets are being made and accepted by the City. Care should be taken that they conform to the requirements in width and quality.


No new street should be accepted or the grade of a street changed until the abutters waive all claim to damages, or if damages are allowed they should be agreed upon before the work is commenced.


This suggestion also applies to any undertaking of the City where there is liability to difference of opinion in regard to damage or benefit to citizens, that recourse to the betterment law may if possible be avoided.


The work upon the streets would be more satisfactorily performed and the condition of the roads uniformly better, if the work in the early part of the year was confined


23


entirely to repairing and putting the streets in as good order as possible, so that when large works of recon- struction or drainage are undertaken, the whole force can be employed, thus finishing them more rapidly and with less expense.


In the employment of men by the City, citizens should have the preference.


It has become a custom to water some portion of the streets.


The practice possesses many advantages ; aside from the comfort to our citizens, it is decidedly an economical measure for the preservation of the streets, saving to this department a large expense for repairs and the supply of material.


It would be a prudent expenditure to largely extend the territory to be watered, which can be done at a small expense.


The cost to the City outside the water furnished for 1884 was $2,200 00.


The department is unusually well supplied with machin- ery, tools and material for road making. The policy of the City Council is to encourage the laying of concrete side- walks, and has for a number of years expended for such purpose about $5000 each year, the abutters paying an equal amount. Concrete walks, if properly made and of good material, will wear from eight to ten years, after which repairs are needed. There are many sidewalks that are badly out of repair and unsafe for use; it is important that these defects should be promptly remedied, which will not only be appreciated by the public, but possibly result in saving the City from damages likely to occur.


24


The cost of this department for the year 1884 was $81,083 93.




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