USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1879 > Part 8
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In conclusion, I hereby desire to express my thanks to His Hon- or, the Mayor, and city council, for their support, and for the inter- est manifested in the welfare of the department ; and especially do I thank the committee on fire department for their careful atten- tion to the wants of the department. To the city clerk, treasurer and collector, and janitor at City hall, I tender my thanks for the many favors received. To the city marshal, and every member of the police force, I am under obligations for assistance rendered in saving and protecting the property of our citizens ; and finally, my grateful acknowledgments are due to my associates, the board of engineers, and officers and members of the companies composing the department, for their co-operation, and the efficient manner in which they have discharged their several duties.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES H. GOODWIN, Chief Engineer.
CITY MARSHAL'S REPORT.
To His Honor the Mayor and Board of Aldermen,
GENTLEMEN : The whole number of arrests during the year of 1879 for offences committed within the city of Newburyport, is nine hundred and three, of which five hundred and ten were of foreign birth, three hundred and ninety-three were born within
CITY MARSHAL'S REPORT. 161
the limits of the United States, fifty-nine were females, and one hundred and ninety-eight were minors. The arrests were for the following causes, viz :
Assault and battery, 47; assault on officers, 10; assault with a dangerous weapon, 2; assault with intent to commit rape, 1; stubborn boy, 2; escaped prisoner, 1; bastardy, 3; burglary, 8; breaking and entering, 2; common drunkard, 10; drunkenness, 590; drunk, second offence, 31; disturbing the peace, 32; exposing person, 2; deserter, 1; cruelty to animals, 1; contempt of court, 1; runaway, 1; insane, 9; interfering with an officer, 7; larceny, 43; lewd and lascivious, 3; malicious mischief, 11; obtaining goods under false pretences, 1; on suspicion, 9; truancy, 1; vagrancy, 21 ; violation of city or- dinances, 17; violation of United States law:15; violation of liquor law, 7; violation of Sunday law, 4; violation of fish law, 1; violation of pilot law, 1; illegal employment of children, 1; surrendered on bail bond, 7; rude and dis- orderly conduct, 13. Total, 903.
Disposed of as follows, viz :- Appealed,,9; bound over to Superior Court. 19; cases continued, 13; cases settled without trial, 11; committed for non-payment of fine, 131; committed to State Reform School, 1; committed to Danvers hospital, 3; committed to Ipswich hospital, 1; detained as wit- nesses, 4; discharged without complaint, 411; discharged by court, 36; fined and paid, 132: House of Correction, 42; Newburyport workhouse, 14; or- dered to pay costs, 5; put on probation, 4; placed on file, 43; put under bonds to keep the peace, 9; sent to jail, 10; turned over to other officers, 3; women's prison at Sherborn, 2. Total, 903.
Miscellaneous : Amount of property recovered, $2,612.15; assisted other of- ficers, 311; buildings found open and secured, 48; complaints investigated, 1168; defective places in streets reported, 76; dogs killed, 6; disturbances suppressed without arrest, 219; fire alarms given, 8; fires extinguished with- out alarm, 14; injured persons assisted, 18; intoxicated persons helped home, 177; lights furnished for dangerous places, 24; lost children restored to par- ents, 28; nuisances investigated, 85; persons provided with lodgings, 1129; search warrant for liquor served, 16; street obstructinns removed, 172; meals furnished lodgers and prisoners, 3152; officers for extra duty at City Hall, 39; officers for extra duty at churches 20; accidents reported, 17; stray teams put up, 5.
Respectfully submitted,
C. H. DEROCHEMONT, City Marshal. Newburyport, Dec. 31, 1879.
22
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
To the City Council of the City of Newburyport,
GENTLEMEN : The overseers of the poor have usually made a quarterly report to the city council, as required by the city ordi- nances. They now desire to submit a more extended and particular account of the services of the board during the year ending Nov. 30, 1879, thus giving an opportunity to those interested to see at a glance the results of their labors.
GENERAL STATEMENT.
The total costs of the poor department for the year has been $19,772.77; and the amount reimbursed by the state and other cities and towns, and recovered from those who were found able to pay for their support; was $4,878.58, thus showing the net expenditures of this department to be $14,893.49. There has been expended : For support of poor in almshouse $3,994 32
Salaries
1,678 36
Insane .. 3,981 05
Criminals. 106 29
Poor in other cities and towns 2,410 52
Out-door relief.
7,601 53
$19,772 07
The almshouse has been under the supervision of Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Lunt, and they have endeavored to make the inmates as comfortable as their circumstances would permit. The sick and in- firm have been kindly cared for, and but eight deaths have occurred during the past year. The house, erected many years ago, is ill adapted to meet the wants of the present day. The rooms are large, and are therefore used for the accommodation of several. persons at the same time, which is not always conducive to health. Your board would most earnestly condemn the practice of
163
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR.
allowing vicious and licentious persons to be sent from the police court to associate with the needy and deserving poor, who are forced by adverse circumstances to make their home in the almshouse. This practice requires constant vigilance of the keeper and matron to guard against accidents.
The following is the bill of fare, at the almshouse :
MONDAY. Breakfast-Bread and butter, dry fish, tea or coffee.
Dinner-Corned beef and vegetables, bread, tea.
Supper-Bread and butter, dry fish, tea.
TUESDAY. Breakfast- Bread and butter, dry fish, tea or coffee.
Dinner-Hashed meat or soup, bread, tea.
Supper-Bread and butter, dry fish, tea.
WEDNESDAY. Breakfast-Bread and butter, dry fish, tea or coffee. Dinner-Sweet cake, bread and butter, coffee.
Supper-Bread and butter, dry fish, tea.
THURSDAY. Breakfast-Bread and butter, dry fish, tea or coffee. Dinner-Fresh meat or ham, bread, tea.
Supper-Bread and butter, dry fish, tea.
FRIDAY-Breakfast-Bread and butter, dry fish, tea or coffee.
Dinner-Fresh or salt fish or clam chowder, bread, tea
Supper-Bread and butter, dry fish, tea.
SATURDAY. Breakfast-Bread and butter, dry fish, tea or coffee. Dinner-Baked beans, bread, tea.
Supper-Bread and butter, dry fish, tea.
SUNDAY. Breakfast-Bread and butter, dry fish, tea or coffee.
Dinner-Pie, cake or doughnuts, bread and butter, coffee.
Supper-Bread and butter, dry fish, tea.
There has been an average number of 55 persons supported at the alms-house, at a weekly cost of $1.40 each; and outside relief has been furnished to 262 families residing and having settlemnt in Newburyport, comprising 578 persons ; 39 families residing in New- buryport and having settlement in other towns, consisting of 103 per- sons ; 51 families having no settlement in the state but residing in Newburyport - consisting of 192 persons - making a total of 873 persons who have been aided during the past year. In addition to the above, 109 persons have resided in the almshouse during the year, and 237 meals have been furnished to tramps, making the total number thus assisted by the city to be 1119 persons. This large number of persons receiving aid from the overseers of the poor, we are informed by the state authorities, is a greater per centage of the population than is aided by any other city in our common- wealth.
INSANE.
The support of the insane of our city has been a source of great
164
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR.
expense; some 20 persons have been maintained wholly by the city at a cost of from $2.50 to $3.50 per week, and your board look with aların upon the steady increase of this unfortunate class depending upon public charity. This expense is one over which the board of overseers have but little control. It becomes the duty of the proper authorities to send all persons declared to be insane to the proper asylums, the state fixing the price of their board, and if their friends are found to be unable to pay for their support, the city or town must do so. There are at present fourteen insane persons supported by the city, maintained as follows:
At Ipswich Asylum, 9 persons at $2.50 per week $22 50
At Worcester 6 2
$3.00
66 6 00
At Northampton 1
$3.00
66
3 00
At Danvers
2
66
$3.00
6 00
Cost per week 37 50 Making a total of $1950.00 per year, exclusive of clothing and damage done by them which must be paid by the city.
Some changes have been made in the place of residence of our insane within a short time which will tend to reduce the expenses another year.
OUT DOOR RELIEF.
The difficulties attending the distribution of out-door relief are exceedingly perplexing. The pleasure derived from relieving the worthy poor is admitted by all, and our citizens will not begrudge the wise expenditure of the public fund for this purpose, and al- though we do not call in question the wisdom of our forefathers in adopitng this system of public charity, we believe that it has grown to be a tremendous evil, justified now only by stern necessity.
The aged, sick and infirm, with the widow and small children should be cared for and the supplies confined to them alone; to grant aid to other applicants tends to destroy their self-respect and self-reliance. Your board feel it to be their duty to relieve the dis- tress of our worthy poor, without increasing pauperism; to help, not to harm. A large number of persons have been aided the past year, although in some cases imposition has been practiced and un- ' worthy cases have been supplied, it is hoped that by personal inves- tigation and sound judgment exercised in the future our city can be relieved from a portion of the expense of this department, and while it is the desire of the overseers of the poor that no one should suffer, still, a liberality which draws to our city the poor of other
165
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR.
cities and towns, is unwise, and adds to the burden which our citizens are of necessity obliged to bear.
INCREASE OF PAUPERS.
Some two hundred more persons have been assisted during the past year than ever before in the same length of time. This rather alarming state of things has been caused not only by the business depression, but by the laws enacted during the past year, and also by the appointment of a new secretary rendered necessary by the death of Mr. Teel. During the last six months of the year, the expenses have been considerably reduced, and your board cannot al- low the whole credit of this reduction to be given to the improved condition of business affairs
THE PAYMENT OF POLL TAXES.
The amount paid for the support of those who have gained a set- tlement in this city by the payment of a poll tax is nearly if not quite equal to two-thirds of the annual expenditures of the poor de- partment. The law gives a settlement to any person who resides in any town or city five years and pays three taxes during that time. At every election here, and in other portions of our state, it is. the custom for candidates for public office to pay the taxes of those who are unable or unwilling to pay their own. Although a small sum is thus brought into the city treasury, nevertheless the consequences that result from this practice are exceedingly burdensome to the city ; for the voter, after three such payments during the term of five successive years, becomes a citizen, and his wife, children and grandchildren can claim assistance and support from the overseers, which no subsequent act of the parties interested can change.
A large number of those aided during the past year have no set- tlement in our city, and no claim on us for aid. The statutes of the commonwealth authorize the overseers in such cases to relieve their present necessities, and, if further aid is required, to send the applicants to the state almshouse, or deny them relief.
CONCLUSION.
The overseers of the poor have endeavored to aid all needy per- sons claiming public support during the past year, and at the same time to avoid the indiscriminate bestowal of such aid upon idle and worthless applicants. The board has been assisted in this by its
166
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR.
secretary who has been called upon to fill the place of one many years in the service of the city, and familiar with the name of every family in it. Having himself but little acquaintance with the laws governing this department, and being obliged at the same time to grapple with the entire change in the statutes of this common- wealth regulating the settlement of paupers, during the present year .- the new secretary with two members of this board who oc- cupy their seats for the first time, have labored under great disad- vantage; they trust however, though exceeding the appropriation made by the city council for the support of the poor, they have laid the foundation for a considerable reduction in the expense of this department in years to come.
DETAILED STATEMENT.
FIRST QUARTER. . 261 families aided having settlement in New- buryport, viz :
With Cash alone.
12 families.
Groceries alone
14
Fuel 66
64
66
and cash 24
" groceries 139 66
66 cash and groceries. S
66
Amount distributed to the above, 58 5-8 cords wood, 192 1-2 tons coal, $473.50 in cash, and $1375.00 in groceries.
SECOND QUARTER. 216 families aided, viz :
With Cash alone ....
16 families.
Groceries alone ..
15 66
Fuel 66
48
and cash. 23
.. " groceries. 110
cash and groceries 4
66
Amount distributed to the above, 37 7-8 cords wood, 116 1-4 tons coal, $519.25 in cash, and $1138.30 in groceries.
THIRD QUARTER. 158 families aided, viz :
With Cash alone.
32 families.
Groceries alone.
24 66
Fuel
33
66
and cash. 13
66
66 " groceries 50
cash and groceries 4
6 €
Cash
2
Amount distributed above, 13 cords wood, 37 1-2 tons coal, $469.50 cash, and $762 50 in groceries.
167
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR.
FOURTH QUARTER. 133 families aided, viz :
With Cash alone 14 families. 66
Groceries alone
3
Fuel 66 52
and groceries 45
66 cash 17
cash and groceries 1
66
Cash and groceries. 1
Amount distributed to above, 19 1-4 cords wood, 61 1-4 tons coal, $370.75 cash, and $347.50 in groceries.
PRODUCT OF CITY FARM.
10 bbls. onions $27 25
12212 bushels beets 62 00
200 cucumbers 4 00
212 bushels tomatoes 3 60
267 50
99 66 small potatoes. 24 50
800 ears corn ..
8 00
11 bushels beans.
16 00
14
peas 21 00
1000 lbs. squashes 20 00
41 bushels turnips 10 25
15 carrots 7 50
5 parsnips 66 2 50
300 cabbages. 6 00
28 bbls. apples . 56 00
40 tons hay 600 00
4150 lbs. pork 207 00
30 00 590
Cutting hay and hire of horses
50 00
Net .. . 1,325 60
No labor has been hired during the year to carry on the farm, ex- cept the cutting and storing of hay, but has all been performed by the inmates of the house.
Your ob't servants, JONATHAN KENISTON, ) Overseers CHARLES NOYES, of
WM. THURLOW. the poor.
REPORT OF DEXTER AND ATWOOD FUNDS.
To His Honor the Mayor, and City Council.
GENTLEMEN :- The board of Overseers of the Poor would re- spectfully report that the income from the Dexter Fund for the
1,375 60
514 potatoes
168
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR.
year ending January 1, 1880, amounted to $120, and the income from the Atwood Fund for the same period amounted to $384.88. These sums have been distributed as hereinafter described in ac- cordance with the provisions of the wills of the donors.
The income from the Dexter Fund, $120, has been expended as follows :
In wards one and two, $40, distributed among 23 families in sums from 50 cents to $5.00. In wards three and four $40, distrib- uted among 23 families, in sums from 90 cents to $4.00; and in wards five and six, $40, among 18 families in sums from $1 to $5.00.
The income from the Atwood fund, $384.88, has been expended as follows :
In wards one and two, $128.29 distributed among 48 families in sums varying from 50 cents to $20.00. In wards three and four, of the $128.29, sums varying from $2.00 to $5.00 have been dis- tributed to eighteen families, leaving a balance of $76.29 unex- pended. In wards five and six, of the $128.30 income, sums vary- ing from $1.00 to $5.00 have been distributed to 36 families leav- ing a balance of $4.80 unexpended.
JONATHAN KENISTON, Overseers CHARLES NOYES, of
WILLIAM THURLOW. the Poor.
Newburyport, Jan. 5, 1880.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD,
1878. .
WARREN CURRIER Chairman, DAVID T. WOODWELL
GEORGE W. SNOW City Physician.
GEORGE H. STEVENS, Clerk.
CHARLES H. DE ROCHEMONT, Health Officer.
1879.
WARREN CURRIER Chairman. GEORGE W. SNOW . Citv Physician.
HENRY M. CROSS
GEORGE H. STEVENS, Clerk.
CHARLES H. DE ROCHEMONT, Health Officer.
REPORT OF THE BOARD.
The health of the city during the past year has been remarkably good; we have been exempt from the prevalence of any epidemic disease, and the small amount of sickness from diarrhœal disease is worthy of note. There has been two deaths reported from scarlet fever, one from measles, two from diph- theria, and six from typhoid fever.
Although we have the reputation of having a large death rate, it can be easily explained by referring to the statistical account of deaths which accompanies
23
170
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
this report, and note the large number of deaths be- tween the ages of sixty-five and one hundred.
The number of deaths for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1879, is three hundred and three, giving a death rate of 22 60-100 per thousand inhabitants. Eighty-seven were over sixty-five years of age. De- duct that number from the total, (303), and we have a death rate of sixteen per thousand.
The Board have had frequent complaints arising from a nuisance which has been exceedingly obnox- ious to the neighborhood, and we have endeavored at various times to suppress it, but finding that our best efforts to abate or suppress the same were unavailing, we have referred the case to the State Board of health, lunacy and charity for settlement.
The complaints during the past year have been less numerous than the previous year and have arisen principally from the keeping of swine in the central portion of the city. Early in the spring we licensed the keeping of pigs within the health limits by com- plying with certain restrictions, the license to be re- voked if complaint was made to the board that the parties were violating their licenses by permitting their premises to become a source of annoyance to the neighborhood.
We are unanimous in the opinion that as a sanitary measure, the keeping of swine within the health lim- its should be prohibited, but this cannot be accom- plished until such time as it may seem advisable for the city to undertake the collection of house offal.
REMOVAL OF NIGHT SOIL.
The Board have endeavored to restrict the remov- al of night soil to such hours as would be least an-
171
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
moying to the community, and have taken every pre- caution to have the work done in as decent and clean- ly a manner as possible. But the present method is a relic of the barbarous ages, detrimental to public health and comfort, and should no longer be tolerated in our city. As a remedy for the existing evil we most earnestly recommend to the city council to make an appropriation, at an early day, of a sum sufficient to purchase an "Odorless excavating apparatus," so called, for cleaning out vaults. With such an appara- tus the work could be done in a neat and odorless manner at any hour of the day, and the contents could be utilized with profit on the city farm and thereby save the cost of the apparatus each year.
Should the city decline to purchase such an appara- tus, this Board will license any private party or par- ties who would obtain such improved method of re- moving night soil to the exclusion of all others.
BURYING GROUNDS.
In June the council appropriated one hundred and fifty dollars for cleaning up the burying grounds on old and new hills, the amount to be expended under the direction of this Board.
In 1878 we made a great improvement on the old hill, and this year we had the grass and underbrush cut down, but spent the greater part of the appropri- ation on the new hill. In some portions of the grounds we found it difficult to distinguish the lots or paths on account of the rank growth of small brush. We have aimed to do the work thoroughly, as far as funds would allow, without going over the whole extent of the cemetery in a superficial manner.
It will require an annual appropriation of $150 to
172
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
$200 per annum to keep both cemeteries in a respect- able condition.
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.
The study of certain meteorological changes in their relation to health and disease has occupied the attention of scientific men for years, and it is an inter- esting study to note the influence of differences of temperature, moisture, and barometric pressure of the air on health. Dr. Fox of London states that in summer, during which season there is a tendency to. intestinal affections, a rise of mean temperature above the average increases the number of cases and the mortality from them. In winter, during which season there is a predisposition to lung diseases, a fall of mean temperature below the average increases the number of, and the mortality from, those affections.
In our next report we hope to show the relations be- tween the meteorological changes and mortality from prevailing diseases. We have been supplied with a set of meteorological instruments purchased from an appropriation made by the city council, for that pur- pose. Mr. Karl Castelhun has voluntarily taken charge of these instruments, and furnishes the Board with a weekly report of his observations. We ap- pend a copy of the weekly report which has been made by Mr. Castelhun with that faithful accuracy and scientific skill for which he is so well known. In addition to his report to this board, he has furnished for the Bureau at Washington, a weekly and monthly report of his observations, requiring an endless amonnt of gratuitous labor.
The following order from the National Board of Health was received June 9, 1879:
173
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
ORDERED: That the secretary be and is hereby directed to address a com- munication to each register of vital statistics in the United States informing them that this Board is about to issue a weekly abstract of returns of mortal- ity, &c .; and requesting them to forward regularly a copy of the weekly re- port which he officially makes.
The clerk of this Board was instructed to comply with the above order, and has furnished regularly, a copy of the weekly report which is published in the bulletin of the National Board of Health.
BATHING HOUSES.
We feel obliged to again call the attention of the council to the urgent necessity of providing a public bathing house for the use of men and boys. Each season the number of pleasure boats on the river in- creases, and thus the opportunities for bathing in the river without being exposed to the public gaze de- creases.
Dr. Bowditch of the National Board of Health recommends a daily bath as a sanitary measure for all classes of society, the poor as well as the rich, and there is no class of people who feel the need of a dai- ly bath during the summer months, more than the people who work in our various factories. Surely if the council, by an ordinance, make it a criminal of- fence to bathe from wharves or where exposed to pub- lic view, it can do no less than provide suitable accom- modations for the men and boys who desire to keep their bodies in a healthful condition.
Statistical account of the deaths in Newburyport for the year ending Dec. 31, 1879.
The year ending Dec. 31, 1879, shows an increase in mortality on the previous year. The whole num- ber of deaths is 303; 142 males, 161 females. In
174
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
1878, 238; 117 males, 121 females. The actual mor- tality based on a population of 13,400 shows a death rate of 22.61 per 1000, against 17.76 last year. There has been 62 bodies brought to this city for interment, of persons who died elsewhere. Causes of death as per returns are classed as follows:
Consumption
Males. 29
40
Pneumonia
11
16
Old age .. ..
6
13
Apoplexy, Paralysis
8
11
Disease of the heart.
11
7
Disease of the brain.
9
5
Cancers
1
10
Lung diseases
3
2
Disease of the liver
7
Accidental deaths, drowning, &c.
6
Hydrocephalus .
3
2
Congenital debility.
5
: 2
Typhoid fever
4
2
Still born
4
1
Diphtheria
1
1
General debility
2
2
Premature birth
4
Convulsions.
5
1
Cere meningitis
2
4
Anæmia
2
2
Dropsy
2
2
Other zymotic diseases.
3
2
Other diseases.
18
29
142
161
Ages. Under 1 year
46
29
17
.0957
.0561
1 year to 5 years
28
10
18
.0330
.0594
5
66
10
5
4
1
.0132
.0033
10
20
66
13
5
8
.0165
.0264
20
30
35
12
23
.0396
.0759
30
40
66
31
17
14
.0561
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