USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1880 > Part 2
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25
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
of the number have died, and two births have occurred, during the year.
The overseers of the poor, in consideration of the fact that the bequest of the late William Horton, D. D., had been paid into the city treasury, looked forward hopefully to the erection of a new almshouse during the year 1880, whereby increased facilities might be provided tending to a greater degree of comfort for the inmates, and suitable apartments be provided for the mild and chronic cases of insanity : thus, in time, saving a large amount of expense to the city. It is a source of regret, on their part, that your honorable body should have otherwise decided.
During the summer an official visit to the almshouse was made by the state authorities, a report of which will be published in due time. An average number of fifty-five persons have been sup- ported there during the year, at a weekly cost of $1.65 each ; an increase per capita of twenty-five cents over last year, which is due in part to the increase in the price of provisions and the large amount of clothing which it has been found necessary to purchase for those who have come to the house entirely destitute.
Twenty-five children have been provided with good warm cloth- ing, five of whom have been placed in comfortable homes on farms outside the city, where it is hoped they will grow up and become useful citizens. There are now in the house eleven children, vary- ing in age from the youngest infant to the child of eight years, all having their mothers with them to assist the matron in her care of them. Five of the older children attend school every day. It is a source of great anxiety on the part of the board to know how best to comply with the law of this commonwealth in relation to children in almshouses and at the same time serve the interest of the city.
[Chapter 103 of the Acts of 1879. ]
AN ACT FORBIDDING THE DETENTION OF POOR CHILDREN IN ALMSHOUSES.
SECTION 1. It shall be the duty of the overseers of the poor in any city of the commonwealth to place all pauper children who are in their charge, and who are over four years of age, in some respectable family in the state, or in some asylum therein, to be supported there by said city, according to the laws relating to the support of the poor, until they can be otherwise cared for. And the overseers shall visit such children, in person or by agent, at least once in three months, and make all needful inquiries as to their treatment or welfare.
SECT. 2. It shall be unalwful to retain in any almshouse any such chlid
. 26
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
that can be cared for as above directed without inordinate expense ; provided, that nothing herein contained shall apply to any child that has no legal settle- ment in the state, nor to any child that is idiotic or otherwise so defective bodily or mentally as to make such child's retention in an almshouse desirable, nor to any child under the age of eight years whose mother is an inmate of the almshouse and a suitable person to aid in taking care of such child.
SECT. 3. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. [Approved March 12, 1879.
. INSANE.
At the close of last year there were fourteen insane persons whose board and clothing were paid for by the city, viz :
At Ipswich. . 9 persons
Worcester 2
.
66
Danvers .2
14
At the present time :
At Ipswich.
. S persons
Northampton
.1
Danvers
2
.
-
11
and the board of overseers think, with suitable apartments provided, a number might be removed from the Ipswich asylum, and quite an item of expense be saved.
OUTSIDE RELIEF.
Outside relief, which last year was granted to two hundred and sixty-two families having a settlement in Newburyport, comprising five hundred and seventy-eight persons, at a cost of $7601.53, this present year has been granted to one hundred and sixty-six fami - lies, comprising three hundred and sixty-seven persons, at a cost of $6184.76. Twenty-six families, comprising fifty-eight persons, having settlement in other cities and towns ; and eighteen families, comprising fifty-three persons, having no settlement in the state but residing 'in Newburyport have also been assisted, making a total of four hundred and seventy-eight persons aided this year against eight hundred and seventy-three aided last year.
In addition to the above, one hundred and twenty-five persons have been provided for in the almshouse during the year. Forty- six meals have been furnished to tramps, making the total number
Northampton
1
27
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
assisted by the city to be six hundred and forty-nine, against eleven hundred and nineteen last year.
PHYSICIANS' REPORT.
The care of the sick during the year past - of those who were found unable to pay for medical attendance and medicine-has been entrusted to Dr. E. P. Hurd in wards one, two and three ; in wards four, five and six to Dr. F. A. Howe ; and those. desiring homo- pathic treatment have been under the care of Dr. F. A. Hale. The almshouse has been under the care of Dr. Hurd, who has paid daily visits during the year.
Number of visits paid by Dr. E. P. Hurd, in wards 1, 2, and 3. . 365
Dr. F. A. Howe, 4, 5, and 6. 47
". Dr. F. A. Hale, in the city at large 358
Total number of visits paid by the physicians
. 770
DECREASE IN PAUPERISM.
It is with pleasure that the board call your attention to the de- crease in pauperism in Newburyport. Last year, 1879, eleven hundred and nineteen were assisted, or one in thirteen of our popu- lation, this year six hundred and forty-nine, or one in twenty-two, have been assisted. This is due in part to the increase in business- giving those who desire work and will seek for it an opportunity to help themselves-and to the efforts made by our secretary in inves- tigating the case of every applicant for aid.
DETAILED STATEMENT.
FIRST QUARTER. 145 families aided having settlement in New- buryport.
With cash alone.
14 families.
groceries alone 2
fuel alone 61 66
fuel and cash. 20 66
fuel and groceries 46
fuel, cash and groceries .. 1
66
cash and groceries 1
145
Amount distributed to the above, 34 5-16 cords cf wecd, 107 7-8 tons of coal $402.25 in cash, and $403.75 in groceries.
28
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
SECOND QUARTER. 131 families aided.
With cash alone
13 families.
groceries alone 3
fuel alone. 45
" and cash .20
and groceries 49 66
cash and groceries 1
131
Amount distributed to the above, 23 11-16 cords wood, 72 3-4 tons of coal, $396.25 in cash, and $384.65 in groceries.
THIRD QUARTER. 112 families aided.
With cash alone groceries alone
fuel alone.
29
" and cash 17
" and groceries. 38
1
66
, cash and groceries.
1
112
Amount distributed to the above, 14 3-16 cords wood, 32 3-4 tons coal, $406.75 in cash, and $337.00 in groceries.
FOURTH QUARTER. 132 families aided.
With cash alone 18 families.
groceries alone
3
66
fuel alone. 45
and cash. 22
and groceries 42
1
" fuel and groceries
1
132
Amount distributed to the above, 19 7-8 cords wood, 63 1-4 tons coal, $430.25 in cash, and $338.50 in groceries.
The following table will show the amount of fuel given out by the Overseers of the Poor, during the last ten years to persons hav- ing settlement in Newburyport :
1871. 115 5-8 cords wood.
200 tons coal.
1872. 109 7-16 1873. 107 10-16 66
202 1-8 tons coal.
205 1-8
1874. 103
1875. 114 10-16
257 5-8 66
1876. 145 11-16
338 3-4
1877. 143 3-16
375 1-4
1878. 158 9-16
442 1-4 ..
407 1-2 66 1879. 128 3-4 66
1880. 91
274
66
20 families.
6
" cash, and groceries
cash and groceries.
201 3-8
29
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
PRODUCT OF CITY FARM.
400 bushels potatoes, 40 bushels onions, 75 bushels beets, 50 bushels turnips, 15 bushels peas, 15 bushels carrots, 25 bushels to- matoes, 10 bushels cucumbers, 12 bushels string beans, 7 bushels dry beans, 5 bushels parsnips, 1 ton squashes, 600 'cabbages, 800 ears corn, 21 barrels apples, 1 beef, 600 pounds ; 3360 pounds pork, 40 tons hay.
All the labor upon the farm has been performed by the inmates of the house. The hay last year was purchased by the committee on public property and used for the support of the city teams. This year the committee, anticipating a short crop in this department, have purchased a supply elsewhere, and the hay cut in 1880 all re- mains in the barns at this date.
Respectfully submitted,
JONATHAN KENISTON, - OVERSEERS CHARLES NOYES
F. W. PUTNAM. S
OF THE POOR.
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 year ending January 1, 1881, amounting to $99.08, and the income from the Atwood fund for the same period of time, amounting to $282.50, have been distributed as hereinafter described in accordance with the provisions of the wills of the donors.
The income from the Dexter fund, $99.08, has been expended as follows : In wards one and two, $33.02 among 24 families, in sums from $.50 to $3.00 to each family ; in wards three and four,
5
30
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
$33.02 among 16 families in sums from $1.00 to $4.00; in wards five and six, $33.04 among 17 families in sums from $1.00 to $5.00.
The income from the Atwood fund, $282.50 has been expended as follows : In wards one and two, $43.60 among 25 families, in sums varying from $.50 to $4.24, leaving a balance of $50.66 in the hands of the overseer of the wards. In wards three and four there was in the hands of the overseer of the wards, $76.29 at the commencement of the year, which with $94.16 received this year makes $170.45 ; of this sum, $78.75 has been distributed among 31 families, in sums varying from $.50 to $4.75 each, leav- ing a balance of $91.70 in the hands of the overseer of the wards. In wards five and six, of the sum of $94.18, $84.20 has been dis- tributed among 40 families, in sums from $1.00 to $5.00 each, leav- ing a balance of $9.98 in the hands of the ovr :seer of the wards.
Respectfully submitted,
JONATHAN KENISTON, - OVERSEERS
CHARLES NOYES,
F. W. PUTNAM. OF THE POOR'
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS
OF THE
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
1880.
T
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
ROBERT COUCH,
MAYOR.
ENOCH GERRISH,
ROBERT G. SARGENT,
HENRY M. CROSS,
ARTHUR C. RICHARDSON, JOSEPH HALL,
JONATHAN KENISTON,
DIRECTORS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
ROBERT COUCH, MAYOR,
· ex officio.
WILLARD J. HALE, President of Common Council
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, Trustee of Building Fund
SAMUEL J. SPALDING, ..
DANIEL T. FISKE,
66
JOHN F. YOUNG,
Term of office expires, 1882.
66
1883.
HENRY M. CROSS,
66
1884.
OLIVER B. MERRILL,
.6
1885.
EDWARD P. HURD, .
1886:
JAMES PARTON,
..
66
.6
1887.
JOHN J. CURRIER,
66
66
1888.
TRUSTEES OF THE PEABODY FUND.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, EBEN F. STONE,
WILLIAM H. SWASEY,
DANIEL T. FISKE.
JOHN J. CURRIER.
LIBRARIAN, HIRAM A. TENNEY.
SUPERINTENDENT OF READING ROOM,
MARTHA P. LUNT.
ALDERMEN.
66
.
ALBERT CURRIER,
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
IN BOARD OF DIRECTORS, December 5, 1880.
ORDERED, That the report presented by the committee on library be ac- eepted, and that the names of the members of this board be appended there- to, and the same be transmitted to the city council, agreeably to the require- ments of section 5th of the ordinance concerning the public library.
Attest,
H. A. TENNEY, Secretary.
DIRECTORS' REPORT.
At the close of the twenty-fifth year of the exist- ence of the public library, the directors respectfully submit to the city council their report of its condition and progress.
According to the statement of our attentive libra- rian, appended hereto, the library at present contains 18,614 volumes, which is an increase of 379 for the past year. It will be seen also, from the same docu- ment, that the number of persons habitually using the library has increased by three hundred. The growth of our institution, therefore, respectable as it is, we cannot claim to have been remarkable. Owing to the decline in the rate of interest during the past few years, which we presume must now be accepted as a permanent change in the financial condition of the country, that portion of the income of the library which is derived from invested funds has considerably diminished. Our rate of increase has diminished with it, and we are compelled to select from the mass of publications only those which are peculiarly adapted to the wants of our people. We believe, however, that no work of unusual interest or value has appeared during the year, either in England or in the United States, which has not been added to our collection.
The loss of income continues to be sensibly felt in
36
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
several directions. When a library is first formed the chief expense is incurred in the acquisition of books, all of which are placed upon the shelves in perfect condition; but, as time goes on, an ever-increasing sum must be annually spent in repairing those which are injured, and in replacing such as are worn out. As the number of readers increases, an urgent need arises, also, for providing several copies of the more important works, particularly while they are new. In the great cities it is not unusual for a public libra- ry - to purchase many hundred copies of a new work, and to retain a large number of them after the first - demand has subsided. We, too, experience a necessity of this kind. A large number of the more popular and celebrated works in our library, particularly those of fiction, biography and travels, have been in con- stant use for many years. Many indeed have been already worn out and replaced, and many more are in such a condition of unclean dilapidation as to be unfit to enter a well-ordered household. 'The need of re- placing these is most urgent, and our expenditure under this head must naturally increase from year to year.
The directors lament their inability to provide in adequate measure for the wants of the library in this particular. They regret, also, that they cannot furnish as many copies of popular works as are manifestly required. Much of the best thought and more of the best feeling, a great deal of the most brilliant writing, too, produced by this generation, are to be found in novels, some of which are not merely of the most commanding interest, but have influenced the course of events, and ameliorated both the manners and the
37
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
morals of the time. To about one-half of our read- ers, fiction is the only literature that is congenial. We think that our library should provide judiciously, but liberally, for so numerous a body, including as it does the forlorn, the sick, and the sorrowful, who are incapable of reading anything requiring much mental exertion. The institution committed to our custody was designed primarily for the instruction and enter- tainment of the people at large; and, although it is in the highest degree proper to gather upon the shelves works of advanced scholarship, the directors feel that the largest class of readers in a community have the first claim upon the slender revenues at their disposal.
They trust, therefore, that gentlemen who cherish the worthy desire to make their fellow-citizens sharers in their abundance and good fortune, will take the wants of the public library into consideration. It is not desirable that an institution like ours should be disproportionately developed; but at least it should keep pace with the development of the community which maintains it. During the last seven years, the public library of Newburyport has, perhaps, scarcely done so much as this.
The directors acknowledge with great pleasure the recent bequest, by the late Joseph A. Frothingham, of one thousand dollars, the interest of which is to be employed, as the testator directs, in the addition to the library of " new and useful books." The directors trust and believe that the example of this honored citizen, who thus signalized the close of a useful and blame- less life by bestowing a generous parting gift upon the community to which he belonged, a gift that will cou- tinue to benefit that community for ages to come, will
38
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORT.
be followed by other testators, as well as by living benefactors.
In such a city as ours, where the great majority of the people are as far removed from wealth as from want, no one should be deterred from either giving or bequeathing to a public institution because he is un- able to make a benefaction of imposing magnitude.
A number of public spirited gentlemen have re. cently presented to the Library an admirable portrait of our venerated townsman, the Rev. Leonard With- ington, D. D. This excellent work, painted by a na- tive artist, Mr. T. B. Lawson, is a permanent addi- It tion to the attractiveness of the library building. is valuable both as an ornament and as a record, and it is a fit accompaniment to the few other works of a similar nature which adorn its walls. The time we trust, is not very distant when the public library building of this city will be a treasure-house of art and curiosity, as well as of knowledge, as similar edificies are in other cities of greater wealth than our own. In such a building accessible to all, the orna- ment and pride of the city, might well be gathered, at least, whatever the neighborhood possesses of ex- cellent art and valuable rarity; which would con- tribute to educate and refine the whole people. It has been the experience of other communities that when space is afforded in a fire-proof edifice, contri- butions of this nature are offered in even excessive abundance.
The reading room continues to be a place of familiar resort to large numbers of our people. The continued munificence of Mr. W. C. Todd provides for it a selection from the best periodicals of the
39
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
time. The directors again express their regret at the insufficiency of the apartment, defective as it is in size and in other requsities. They look forward to the time when it will be in their power to provide an ample and commodious suite of well-lighted rooms, where readers of all ages and condition will find the best conveniences for reading and study, where men and women will have access to the periodicals and literature appertaining to their several vocations, and where the whole people will enjoy the benefit of a better club-house than private wealth provides for the accommodation of a few. It is the singular hap- piness of America that the best and costliest fruits of civilization are made accessible to every one who is capable of enjoying them. The institution of public libraries and their due development are among the most important means to this end.
We respectfully commend the public library to the care and pride of the city council and of the public. It is an institution which distinguishes and and adorns the city, which tends to equalize the con- dition and opportunities of our own people, and which presents a constant and strong attraction to the most desirable residents from beyond our limits.
JOHN J. CURRIER, DANIEL T. FISKE, EDWARD S. MOSELEY, JOSEPH B. MORSS, SAM'L J. SPALDING, JAMES PARTON, WM. A. DAVIS, JOHN F. YOUNG, ALBERT CURRIER, HENRY M. CROSS, OLIVER B. MERRILL, EDWARD P. HURD.
DIRECTORS
OF THE
NEWBURYPORT
PUBLIC LIBRARY
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
To the Committee on Library:
GENTLEMEN :- With the closing of the year it be- comes incumbent upon the librarian, under the pro- vision of the rules and regulations, to present to the committee on library, a detailed and circumstantial 'report of the condition and increase of the library during the year.
At the expiration of the year 1879, the shelves of the library contained 18,225 volumes. The additions since that time amount to.379 volumes, and were re- ceived as follows :
From the Peabody fund 130 volumes.
Sawyer fund
128
Bradbury fund
26 6€
From donations
95 66
The library therefore now contains 18,614 volumes. This statement may not prove strictly correct, for the reason that among the donations a considerable por- tion will be found to be of an obsolete character, (such as old sermons, together with documentary and other statistical works, chiefly duplicates,) and therefore it may not be deemed expedient to give them a place on the shelves.
Some thirty or more volumes have been purchased to replace the same numbr of worn out works that have been discarded from the shelves.
41
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
The many years of exhaustive wear have so told upon the department of fiction that it has been deemed needful to discard and remove from the shelves upwards of one hundred and twenty-five volumes which had become so dilapidated as to be unfit for further use. It is feared that the same process will have to be repeated in coming years.
An examination of the shelves has been concluded which shows that eight books are now missing, hav- ing been lost during the past year. They have been sent for, but as some of the parties who held them have removed from the city, while others have failed to respond to the summons, the books are regarded as lost, but it is quite probable that some of them may yet be returned. The value of them, however, should none be returned, will be quite inconsequential as they were much worn, and of small cost when new.
A list of donations for the year with the names of the donors, together with a supplemented catalogue of the additions to the library has been prepared for publication.
Three hundred names have been added to the rules and regulations, by persons who desired to avail themselves of the library during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
HIRAM A. TENNEY, Librarian.
S. J. SPALDING, COMMITTEE
ALBERT CURRIER, ON
JAMES PARTON. LIBRARY.
Newburyport, Nov. 27, 1880.
42
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE PEABODY FUND.
In conformity to the requirements of Mr. George Peabody, who, in his mu- nificent gift of fifteen thousand dollars to five trustees and their successors for the benefit of the public library of the city of Newburyport, coupled with it the direction that an annual report of their action and the condition of the und should be published, the treasurer thereof hereby makes known that the principal remains in the Institution for Savings, where it was originally de- posited, from which it can only be withdrawn by the written order of a major- ity of the board of trustees.
The income during the year has been six hundred dollars. Of this amount two hundred eighty-two dollars, nine cents, remains, for the moment, unex- pended ; the remainder, including the amount on hand at the commencement of the year when the last report was made, having been used in adding one hundred and thirty standard books, some of high cost, to the public library, and in paying the salary of the superintendent of the reading room, which is, connected with it.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, Treasurer.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, EBEN F. STONE, WILLIAM H. SWASEY, DANIEL T. FISKE, 1 $ TRUSTEES. JOHN J. CURRIER.
Newburyport, December 6, 1880.
43
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE BUILDING FUND.
TO THE DIRECTORS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY :
Above the cost and preparation of the building and grounds presented to the city, there remained unexpended of the subscription, five thousand dol- lars, and this sum was placed in the hands of three trustees and their succes- sors, with authority to apply the same with the interest thereon, as might be necessary, in keeping the library building in repair.
One of the conditions of the trust requires an annual report to be made to your body of the state of the fund. In pursuance thereof, the treasurer respectfully represents that the principal remains in the Institution for Sav- ings, where it was originally deposited and from which it can only be with- drawn save by the unanimous order of the trustees.
The deposit now amounts to $6807.20. During the year $90.25 has been expended in repairs upon the building.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, Treasurer.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, ) SAMUEL, J. SPALDING, TRUSTEES. DANIEL T. FISKE.
Newburyport, December 6, 1880.
44
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE TODD FUND.
NEWBURYPORT, September 8, 1880.
TO THE DIRECTORS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY :
Gentlemen :- Annexed please find a statement of the receipts and expendi- tures of the Todd fund since my last report :
Amount on hand December 1. 1879. as reported $182 65
Cash received from William C. Todd, July, 1880 300 00
$482 65
EXPENDITURES.
For newspapers, periodicals, &c., paid. $272 70
Balance paid Rev. S J. Spalding, Treasurer 209 85 482 65
Respectfully submitted,
WARREN CURRIER.
TO THE DIRECTORS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY :
The undersigned having been elected to fill the vacancy in the office o treasurer of the Todd fund, occasioned by the resignation of Hon. Warren Currier, would respectfully report than an unexpended balance amounting to $209.95 was placed in his hands August 8, 1880. Of this sum, $23.75 has been paid for subscriptions to publications which expired in September and October. The balance, $186.20, remains to be applied to subscriptions which must soon be renewed.
The report of the superintendent, Miss M. P. Lunt, speaks of the growing value of this department of the public library, and of its great and assured success.
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