USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1881 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13
INSANE.
At the close of last year there were eleven insane persons, whose board and clothing were paid by the city, viz :
At Ipswich
8
Northampton
1
Danvers
2
-
11
The same numbers and the same persons remain in these different asylums at the close of this present year. Quite a large number have been sent to Danvers asylum during the past year, who have remained there from three to nine months, and so far cured as to be allowed to return to their homes. The following table will show the cost of insane persons during the past ten years. During the year 1880, several pronounced harmless were removed to the alms- house ; yet the number is constantly increasing, not only in this city but throughout the State.
29
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Cost of Insane in 1872.
$1,492 38
66
1873.
2,057 83
66
1874.
2,902 90
1875.
2,171 46
..
.
1876.
2,230 89
66
1877
2,330 22
16
66
1878
2,709 16
66
.6
1879
3,374 65
1880.
2,280 64
..
1881
3,025 14
OUTSIDE RELIEF.
Outside relief which last year was granted to 166 families, com- prising 367 persons, at a cost of $6,184.70, this present year has been granted to 179 families, comprising 334 persons, at a cost of $6,070.36, twenty families comprising 35 persons, having settle- inent in other cities or towns ; eighteen families, comprising 42 per- sons, having no settlement in the State, but residing in Newbury- port-making a total of 411 persons against 478 aided last year.
In addition to the above, 114 persons have resided in the alms- house during a portion of the year ; 20 meals have been furnished to tramps, making the total number assisted by the city to be 545 against 649 last year.
CITY PHYSICIAN'S REPORT.
The care of the sick during the year past of those residing in the Almshouse and throughout the city at large has been intrusted to Dr. George W. Snow, who submits the following report :
Number of visits to almshouse 286
Number of visits to poor families
210 Office visits by poor persons 34 Vaccinations. 70
5
Confinements among the poor
Total number 605
DETAILED REPORT.
FIRST QUARTER .- 149 families aided, having settlement in New- buryport.
With Cash alone.
15 families
Groceries alone
4
Fuel alone
61
66
Fuel and cash ..
25
66
Fuel and groceries ..
43
66
Fuel, cash and groceries
0
1
Cash and groceries ..
149
30
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Amount distributed to the above 36 3-4 cords wood, 126 1-2 tons coal, $415.00 in cash, and $368.75 in groceries.
SECOND QUARTER-156 families aided.
With Cash alone 17 families
Groceries alone
6
..
-
156
Amount distributed to the above 26 3-8 cords wood ; 92 3-4 tons coal, $460.50 in cash, and $372.50 in groceries.
THIRD QUARTER-123 families assisted.
With Cash alone 20 families
Groceries alone
9
Fuel alone
37
Fuel and cash. 19
Fuel and groceries 37
0
6 .
Cash and groceries.
1
123 -
Amount distributed to the above, 12 1-8 cords wood ; 41 1-2 tons coal ; $413.50 in cash, and $368.00 in groceries.
FOURTII QUARTER-142 families aided
With Cash alone. 17 families
Groceries alone
5
Fuel alone 49
Fuel and cash 25
.6
Fuel and groceries. 44
.6
Fuel, cash and groceries
1
Cash and groceries. ·
1
142
66
Fuel and groceries. 45
6.
Fuel, cash and groceries
Cash and groceries ....
1
.6
Fuel alone.
58
Fuel and cash .. 29
Amount distribeted to the above, 20 5-16 cords wood ; 67 1-4 tons coal ; $464.50 in cash ; $365.80 in groceries.
PRODUCT OF CITY FARM.
The products of the city farm consisted of 600 bushels potatoes, 60 bushels onions, 100 bushels beets, 40 bushels turnips, 47 bush-
..
Fuel, cash and groceries
31
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
els oats, 20 bushels peas, 50 bushels carrots, 20 bushels tomatoes, 10 bushels cucumbers, 10 bushels string beans, 12 bushels dry beans, 350 pounds squashes, 1000 cabbages, 800 ears green corn. 13 barrels apples, 45 tons hay, 4 tons oat straw.
All the labor upon the farm has been performed by the inmates of the house, under the direction of Mr. Lyman Lord.
Some 25 tons of hay were destroyed by the burning of the alms- house barn on the 17th of April-a loss of $500 to this department.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS W. PUTNAM, CHARLES NOYES, Overseers
JOHN P. EVANS, of the Poor.
DEXTER AND ATWOOD FUNDS.
-
To His Honor the Mayor, and the City Council of the City of Newburyport :
GENTLEMEN :- The Board of Overseers of the Poor to whom is intrusted the distributing of the incomes accruing from these funds would respectfully report that the income from the Dexter fund for the year ending Dec. 30, 1881, amounting to $90, has been divided among the three overseers, giving $30 to each.
The income from the Atwood fund, $292.50, has been divided giving $97.50 to each overseer, and has been distributed according to the will of the donors, in the following manner :
In wards one and two the $30 of the Dexter fund remains intact in the hands of the overseer.
In wards three and four, the $30 has been distributed among 18 families, in sums varying from $1.50 to $3.00 each.
In wards five and six, $23 have been distributed among eight families, in sums from $2.00 to $5.00 each, leaving a balance of $7.00 in the hands of the overseer of the wards.
In wards one and two, the $97.50 of the Atwood fund, with the
32
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
balance of last year ($50.66) makes $148.16, and $67.52 has been distributed among 43 families in sums from 50 cents to $6.36. leaving a balance of $80.64 of this fund in the hands of the over- seer.
In wards three and four, there was in the hands of the overseer, at the commencement of the year $91.70, which with $97.50 re- ceived this year, makes $189.20; of this sum $10 was given to the overseer of wards five and six, and $83.75 distributed among 27 families, in sums from $1 to $5 each, leaving a balance of $95.45 in the hands of the overseer of these wards.
In wards five and six, there was no balance of this fund left over from last year ; $97.50 was received this year from the trustees, and $10 from the overseer of wards three and four, making $107.50. Of this sum $63 has been distributed among 13 families, in sums varying from $2 to $6 each, leaving a balance of $44.50 of this fund in the hands of the overseer for 1882.
At the close of the year there remained in the overseers' hands :
Dexter Fund.
Atwood Fund.
Wards 1 and 2
$30 00 $80 64
66 3 and 4. . 95 45
6. 5 and 6. 7 00 44 50
The individual names of the recipients of these funds are on file in the office of the Overseers of the Poor, subject to inspection.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS W. PUTNAM,
Overseers CHARLES NOYES,
JOHN P. EVANS, S of the Poor.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS
OF THE
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
1881.
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY-1882.
BENJAMIN HALE, - MAYOR
ENOCH GERRISH, NATHAN D. DODGE,
CHARLES H. DEROCHEMONT, J. OTIS WINKLEY, JACOB T. ROWE,
ALDERMEN.
DIRECTORS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
BENJAMIN HALE, MAYOR
WILLARD J. HALE, President of Common Council EDWARD S. MOSELEY, Trustee of Building Fund
SAMUEL J. SPALDING,
DANIEL T. FISKE, 66
ALBERT CURRIER, .
Term of office expires, 1882
HENRY M. CROSS,
66
1883
OLIVER B. MERRILL,
66
6.
.6
1884
EDWARD P. HURD,
66
66
1885
JAMES PARTON,
66
1886
JOHN J. CURRIER,
66
66
66
1887
WILLIAM H. HUSE,
66
66
1888
TRUSTEES OF THE PEABODY FUND.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, WILLIAM H. SWASEY DANIEL T. FISKE,
EBEN F. STONE,
JOHN J. CURRIER.
LIBRARIAN, HIRAM A. TENNEY.
SUPERINTENDENT OF READING ROOM, MARTHA P. LUNT.
ex-officio. 66
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
IN BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Dec. 29, 1881.
ORDERED, That the Report of the Board of Directors be signed, and trans- mitted to the City Council, agreeably to the requirement of section 5th of the ordinance concerning the Public Library.
Attest,
H. A. TENNEY. Secretary.
ORGANIZATION
OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY,
FOR 1882.
President, BENJAMIN HALE.
Librarian and Secretary, H. A. TENNEY.
Superintendent of the Reading Room, MISS MARTHA P. LUNT.
Committee on Library,
SAMUEL J. SPALDING, ALBERT CURRIER, JAMES PARTON.
Committee on Librarian,
HENRY M. CROSS, EDWARD P. HURD, JOHN J. CURRIER.
Committee on Library Room, EDWARD S. MOSELEY, SAMUEL J. SPALDING, DANIEL T. FISKE.
Committee on Reading Room,
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, OLIVER B. MERRILL, WILLIAM H. HUSE
Committee on Finance and Accounts.
ALBERT CURRIER, WILLARD J. HALE, JOHN J. CURRIER.
Committee on Bradbury Fund, JOHN J. CURRIER, HENRY M. CROSS, WILLARD J. HALE
4
DIRECTORS' REPORT.
The Directors of the Public Library submit to the City Council their twenty-sixth annual report, Decem- ber, 1881.
The year now closing is the fourth in the series of important years in the history of this institution. The first was that of its opening in 1855. The sec- ond that of its removal to the building purchased and refitted exclusively for its use, ten years later, in 1865; the third was the opening of the Reading Room in connection with the Library, in 1870; the fourth im- portant year is the last, in which an entire new read- ing room has been built and the capacity of the Li- brary itself more than doubled. Edward S. Moseley, Esq., one of the Board of Directors, received, Feb- ruary 2, 1881, the following note from Mr. William C. Todd :
NEWBURYPORT, FEB. 2, 1881.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, EsQ.
My Dear Sir : I have been intending for some time to say something to you about a matter on my mind, and I will briefly write it, as you are gener- ally engaged with company at the bank. I have gained the impression that the Library Building needs to be enlarged, and if so, allow me to say, for many reasons, you are the one to attend to it. The community owes the building to your efforts - you have access more than any one else to the men of means, who would be likely to aid in it, and you would have the work done more judiciously and more economically than most others. I engaged to give $5,000 to the Reading Room, and if the building is enlarged I will cheerfully increase that to $7,500. I am now paying interest on that amount at 4 per cent.,
40
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
which, I suppose, will be all that trust funds will be able to yield hereafter, and this will make $300 annually sure to the Reading Room for all the future. I presume, under the circumstances, I shall give $7,500, and perhaps more to the Reading Room, but if this enlargement is made I will obligate myself to do it. I will discuss this matter more when I see you.
Very respectfully yours,
WILLIAM C. TODD.
Immediately on the reception of this note Mr. Mose- ley began to solicit donations for the purpose of mak- ing an addition to the accommodations for the library and also to provide for a better and larger reading room. Both these ends were desirable and urgent. A generous response was made to his solicitations, among which was the pledge of the munificent sum of $10,000, by M. H. Simpson, Esq., of Boston. Subsequently Mr. Simpson intimated his willingness to increase his subscription, connecting therewith the suggestion that the building "should be completed in good style and taste." As soon as the work is fin- ished an account of all these donations, together with the expenditures, will be given in detail. The plan of the addition was drawnby Rufus Sargent, Esq., architect, of Newburyport. The contract for the work was taken by Albert Currier, Esq., and the excavation for the addition began May 4th. The walls were completed June 9th, and soon after were covered. The Reading Room is 48x28 in the clear, and 14 feet high. The library room opens most conveniently into the old library room, and will fur- nish shelves for 25,000 additional volumes. It is to be finished in quartered oak; the main entrance to be on State street, broad and well lighted; the floor is of marble tiles; the building is to be heated by steam, and for the most part by coils of pipe in the cellar. The whole is to be completed and ready
1
41
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
to be occupied by March 1, 1882. As soon as the contract for the addition was made, Mr. Moseley re- ceived the following note from Mr. Todd:
NEWBURYPORT, May 12, 1881.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, EsQ.
My Dear Sir :- I wish to express my own gratification, and I am sure I express also that of the community at large, at the earnestness and success with which you have undertaken the enlargement of the Public Library Building. When completed as proposed, it will be an ornament to the city, and exert its educating influence for centuries after all now living shall be gathered to their mother earth.
I consider myself now indebted to the Reading Room in the sum of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500), and will deposit that sum at an early day in the Newburyport Institution for Savings, or until so deposited pay five per cent interest on that amount, viz: $375 annually, instead of the $300, I have been paying. I feel it a duty to do more than in the past. To provide against the contingency of my life, I have already provided in my will for the pay- ment of that sum.
Very respectfully yours,
WILLIAM C. TODD.
The present condition of the Library may be learned from the report of Charles J. Brockway, Esq., em- ployed to make the yearly examination of the books under the direction of the Library Committee, and also from the report of the librarian.
The examiner says: "I compared the number and letter on each volume with the corresponding number and letter in the alcove lists kept by the librarian, to ascertain if the books there recorded were on the shelves in the several alcoves." Various practical suggestions were also made to which we can give heed as soon as the addition is finished and ready to be occupied. A very considerable number of books which came as donations to the library have not yet been placed on the shelves for want of room.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
To the Directors of the Public Library:
GENTLEMEN :- The progress of the Public Li- brary during the past year will be found stated in the following report, made in accordance with the requir- ment of the rules and regulations of the library.
THE CONDITION OF THE LIBRARY.
The present condition of the library compares favorably with the statements set forth in the several reports heretofore made of its condition from year to year. There has been no exceptional cases of rough or severe usage noticed in any of the classes of its books. Whatever of depreciation there may have taken place in the intrinsic value of the library, can only be attributed to the incidental wear arising from the constant handling and use of the books in the hands of the borrowers, which of itself may be re- garded as an indication of the appreciation of the library, by the community. Considerable interest has been awakened in the circulating department of the library, of late years, by the formation among the younger portion of the community, of reading classes in history, poetry and the fine arts, by which means the chief text books on those subjects have been in constant use for such purposes during the entire win- ter season.
43
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
The library has thus been made to serve its true purpose as an educator to a very noticable extent.
A thorough examination of the library, by a person competent for the service, has just been concluded, and his report of the result will soon be placed in your hands. You will learn by that report that five books are now missing from the shelves as having been lost since the last examination. These are with one exception, cheap novels, and are of little value.
INCREASE OF THE LIBRARY.
At the date of the last report the number of books belonging to the library was 18,614, and the number added this year is 449 volumes, which, after deduct. ing 136 volumes, discarded from the shelves on ac- count of their worn and dilapidated condition, makes the aggregate number of volumes now belonging to the library, to be 18,927. The additions of this year were received as follows:
From the Peabody Fund, 178 volumes. 184 66
Sawyer
Bradbury
14 ٠،
66 Donations
73 66
Seventy-five pamphlets have also been received.
A list of donations for the year with the names of the donors, as well as a catalogue of the additions to the library has been prepared for publication.
Three hundred and sixty names of new applicants for the privileges of the library have been added to the list during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
S. J. SPALDING,
HIRAM A. TENNEY, Librarian. COMMITTEE
JAMES PARTON, ON LIBRARY.
ALBERT CURRIER.
Newburyport, Dec. 8, 1881.
44
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
Among the many important objects of interest, to which the attention of the City Council has been called the past year, the Public Library and Reading Room have been regarded by them as among the chiefest. Provision was made to defray the necessary incidental expenses in regard to each department; but with the strictest economy a considerable portion of the appropriation was undrawn. The next year, owing to the larger rooms to be heated and to be cared for, the expenses must necessarily be increased. But our past connection with your board gives us the best as - surance that all needed expenses will be cheerfully and liberally met.
ROBERT COUCH, WILLARD J. HALE, EDWARD S. MOSELEY, SAMUEL J. SPALDING, DANIEL T. FISKE, JOHN F. YOUNG, ALBERT CURRIER, HENRY M. CROSS, OLIVER B. MERRILL, EDWARD P. HURD, JAMES PARTON, JOHN J. CURRIER,
DIRECTORS
OF THE
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
45
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE PEABODY FUND.
In conformity with the requirements of Mr. George Peabody, who gener- ously gave to five trustees and their successors for the benefit of the Public Library of the city of Newburyport, the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, one of the conditions being that an annual report of the condition of the fund should be made, the treasurer hereby makes known that the principal remains as heretofore in the Institution for Savings, where it was originally deposited, and from which it can be withdrawn only by the written order of a majority of the board of trustees.
The income during the year has been six hundred dollars. Of this amount three hundred and forty-three dollars is unexpended and, for the moment, on hand, awaiting the opening of the new rooms. One hundred and seventy- eight volumes, some of which are of high cost, have been added to the library during the year.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, Treasurer. EDWARD S. MOSELEY, ) E. F. STONE, WM H. SWASEY, DANIEL T. FISKE, JOHN J. CURRIER.
TRUSTEES.
5
46
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE BUILDING FUND.
TO THE DIRECTORS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY :
There remained five thousand dollars unexpended over and above the cost of re-modelling the building presented to the city as a free gift by a few residents, and others who had gone out from us and affectionately remem- bered the place of their nativity, and which was designed for the use of the Public Library. This sum was placed in the hands of three trustees, with power, in case of vacancy, to those remaining to elect their successors. Authority was also given them, as they might deem necessary, to expend the interest or the principal in keeping the building in repair, and this has been done, free of cost to the city, since April 1865.
One of the conditions of the trust requires an annual report to be made to the directors of the library of the condition of the fund, and of the action of its trustees.
In pursuance thereof, the treasurer respectfully represents, that the sum of five thousand dollars was originally deposited in the Institution for Savings, where it has ever since remained, and from which it can only be withdrawn by the unanimous order of the trustees of the fund.
Notwithstanding the drafts upon it, during the sixteen years which the Trustees have had it in charge, expended in keeping the grounds in order, erecting an iron fence with stone basement, and keeping the building in repair, the fund now amounts to six thousand nine hundred and fifty-three dollars forty-five cents, which is deposited in the Institution for Savings. One hundred and thirty-one dollars and seventy-five cents has been expended upon the library building during the past year.
As is well known, the library building is at the present time undergoing a very essential improvement. Stimulated by the generous offer of Mr. William C. Todd (particular mention of which is elsewhere alluded to,) the attempt was made to secure the means, wherewith the Library and Reading rooms should be enlarged. Without a moment's hesitation, when the subject was mentioned to him, M. H. Simpson esq,, whom we are proud to reckon as formerly one of us, responded with a subscription of ten thousand dollars, and appended to his signature "for himself and his heirs." A few others if " haud passibus aequis," yet perhaps with equal interest in proportion to their means, added to the amount. The needed sum being still lacking, it required a little assurance to make a second appeal to Mr. Simpson, who promptly replied "I should go ahead, somebody will aid you, I dare say," and this was soon after followed by the laconic letter: "Providence has de- cided that you must call on M. H. Simpson for the amount needed to com- plete the Public Library Building, only let it be finished in good style and taste."
In recognition of this generosity, the trustees recommend that this ad- dition shall hereafter be known as the "Simpson Annex."
A detailed statement, upon the completion of the work, with the names of the subscribers and the amount given, and also of the various expenditures attending it, will then be published.
Newburyport, Dec. 29, 1881.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, Treas. EDWARD S. MOSELEY, 1 SAMUEL J. SPALDING, TRUSTEES. DANIEL T. FISKE.
47
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE TODD FUND.
The balance from the old account received December 1, 1880, was $186.20. To this was added $300 received from Win. C. Todd, July 1, 1880. Total re- ceipts $436.20. Of this sum $262.05 have been expended for newspapers and periodicals, leaving a balance of $224.15 to be carried to the account of next year.
The new reading room will be ready for occupancy early in March, 1882. The success which has attended this institution in the past is such as to war- rant the largest expectations in regard to the future. With the change of rooms very considerable additions will be made to the number and range of the publications taken. The purpose of the founder was to furnish to all per- sons in the community the means for the ready acquisition of useful and practical knowledge in the many departments of human thought and activity. This idea has been constantly kept in view by those who have had the direc- tion of its affairs. It has been and will continue to be the source of import- ant additions to the periodical department in the library above. A fine large map of the United States, 15x8, known as the Centennial Map, has already been received through the kindness of Hon. E. F. Stone.
S. J. SPALDING, Treasurer.
48
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES,
Appropriation .
CREDITS.
From Town of Newbury
$198.52
Dog money . . . . 397.90
16.33- 612.75
Librarian, for fines
1,892.75
EXPENDITURES.
H. A. Tenney, Librarian, salary. $1000.00
Miss Lunt, Superintendent Reading Room
186.65
George E. Donnell, Janitor
75.00
W. H. Huse & Co., printing.
97.75
M. C. Teel & Son, printing.
S.25
Ward & Fay, paper
9 75
H. T. Crofoot, binding
26.50
Gillett & Co., express ..
6.35
John Sumner, repairing furnace
7.64
Loring, paper and twine
10.00
Robert Burlen, binding.
3 25
Charles H. Johnson .
2.50
I. P. Noyes, stamp
3.50
Estes & Lauriat.
3 60
Patrick Niland, shoveling snow
3.92
Postage
4.50
1,449.16
Balance undrawn
443.59
$1,892.75 ALBERT CURRIER, Į COMMITTEE SON ACCOUNTS.
Newburyport, Dec. 29, 1881.
$1,280.00
49
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
SAWYER FUND, RECEIPTS.
By balance from last year $ 9.48
Jan. 21, 1881-By interest, 6 months on city note. 112.50
July 1. By interest, 6 months on city note 112.50
$234.48
EXPENDITURES.
For books purchased
$229.79
Unexpended balance. 4.68
BRADBURY FUND,
RECEIPTS.
1881. By balance last year. .14
April 28-By interest at Savings. 20.00
Oct. 28-By interest at Savings 20.00
40 14
EXPENDITURES.
1881. Paid for books purchased
$37.47
Unexpended balance 2.67
Examined and approved.
ALBERT CURRIER, COMMITTEE WILLARD J. HALE, ON
JOHN J. CURRIER, FINANCE.
50
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY-1881.
BOOKS.
Vols.
Vols
Appleton & Co., Messrs 2
Moseley, Edward S.
5
Banister, W. A. 4
New Jersey State Library. 2
Bayley, R. A .... 4
Bowditch, H. I., M. D 1
Boxford, Solectmen of town of .. 1
Bunker Hill Monumental Asso'n.
1
Coffin, A. 1
2
Swedenborg Printing and Pub. Soc'y of America. 4
U. S. Bureau of Education
2
Coast Survey Office.
1
Chief of Engineers, War De- partment 5
Interior Department
4
Naval Observatory
4
Patent Office.
1
Treasury Department
4
PAMPHLETS, &C.
Banister, W. A., large engraving
of U. S. Senate Chamber ..
Banister, W. A., pamphlets .. 14
Bayley, R. A. 10
Bevan, C. H . 3
Bradbury, L. A., Photo. Portrait.
Brown, J. C. J., Pamphlet. 1
Bunker Hill Monument Asso'n .. 1
Butler, George
2
Cutter, A. E. 1
Hale, A. G., Miss, Specimens of Old Pottery. P. Plate. . .. Hale, S. W. Banister, Mrs. The late. Portrait.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.