USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1885 > Part 11
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
In July the cases of the notes having been disposed of for the time, the committee on horse railroad desired to proceed against the then board of directors and the lessee in regard to the transac- tions which were investigated before the railroad commissioners in 1884. Hon. Wm. A. Gaston was again consulted, and in pursu- ance of his advice a lengthy bill in equity was prepared by me, ask- ing for a retransfer of the stock to the company, and of the stables to Mr. Shaw, and for damages. Before that bill was entered in court the city sold its interest in the road, and my connection with all these cases as attorney for the city came to an end.
Early in the year suit was brought in the Superior Court for this county by P. A. True of East Salisbury against the city, to recover for damages to a valuable horse, incurred by slumping into the trench of the Water Company , on Marlboro' street, in 1884. This matter was before the committee on claims in that year, and after full hearing it was then unanimously voted that Mr. True ought to be paid, and the claim was referred to the Water Company for set- tlement. As it was not settled by the Water Company Mr. True
32
246
REPORT OF CITY SOLICITOR.
brought suit as above. The Water Company was cited to appear and defend. As it declined so to do the case was tried by me at the September term. The result was a verdict for the plaintiff for $175 which was paid by the city, and for which, together with all costs, expenses, and counsel fees, the Water Company is liable to the city.
January 28th suit was brought against the city by Nicholas J. Dean of Salem. £ This was returnable to the March term of the Su- perior Court for this county, and is an action of tort for personal in- juries, to wit, a broken bone in the hand, alleged to have been re- ceived in front of the house of Mrs. Clark on Pleasant street in 1884. An answer has been filed in this case, but no trial has been had as yet.
In February I appeared before the committee on cities of the Leg- islature at the State House on two occasions, in favor of the bill for limiting the rate of taxation in cities, and in March on one occasion on the petition of the city for a special law limiting the rate in New- buryport to sixteen dollars per thousand., As a general bill was re- ported and passed, the petition of the city was not pressed.
In February also came up the matter of the Deer Island Bridge award. In connection with R. M. Morse esq. of Boston full prepar- ation, involving a very considerable amount of work, was made for hearing. A bill was prepared providing for a re-hearing of the mat- ter by three disinterested persons not residents of the county, to be appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court. A hearing was had in March before the Legislative committee on Roads and Bridges, and afterwards that committee visited the city. The bill was unani- mously reported by the committee. passed the Senate with little op- position, but failed to pass the House. The principal opposition to the bill appeared to come from the members of the Legislature from this county outside of the towns assessed. It would seem that the original assessment was considered unequal even by the opposition, else the proposition for rehearing by disinterested persons would not have been so strenuously opposed.
In the Newburyport Police Court I have attended to several minor cases in which the city was summoned as trustee of parties, all of which cases have been ended except one in which John H. Lancas- ter is plaintiff, wherein an issue arose between the city and the plaintiff, and judgment of the Police Court being for the city, the
247
REPORT OF CITY SOLICITOR.
plaintiff appealed to the Superior Court. This case will doubtless be entered in that Court the first Monday of January next. I have also prosecuted in the Police Court two cases of violation of ordi- nances, in both of which the defendants were adjudged guilty, and have appeared in that court in other cases in which the city was in- terested.
I have attended all the meetings of the committee on claims, which have been numerous. Many cases have been heard during the year and all but one disposed of. It is likely that one or two may result in suits,
I have attended meetings of other committees. Have given sev- eral written and numerous oral opinions to the various departments and committees, looked up the titles to several pieces of city prop- erty, written deeds and other documents, and attended to very many minor matters requiring my attention.
I desire in closing this report to call the attention of your honora- ble bodies to the desirability, if not necessity, of having some one especially charged with the duty of looking up facts and evidence, in cases in which at any time the city is or may be concerned. es- pecially of accidents on streets. It is my experience that many im- portant facts never come to the knowledge of the city officials, or come too late, which would have been discovered had there been a full investigation for the purpose at the time of the occurrence of the matter to which they relate. I think that every one who has ever served upon the committee on claims will concur with me in saying that there is great need of some such provision. It has been felt in other cities of the commonwealth, and in some provision has been made.
The following is my report of moneys "received and disbursed" by me in the execution of my office during the past year required by the ordinance. The amounts are unusually large on account of the unusual amount of business, and especially on account of the horse railroad cases.
RECEIVED.
For travelling expenses. $ 77 50
" witness fees. 129 45
" telegrams. 1 41
$208 36
Due from date
15 80
$224 16
248
REPORT OF CITY SOLICITOR.
DISBURSED.
Travelling expenses.
$ 83 90
Telegrams.
1 41
Witness fees paid
131 45
Court fees paid.
7 40
$224 16
Respectfully submitted,
HORACE I. BARTLETT,
City Solicitor.
REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
To His Honor the Mayor and Barod of Aldermen of the City of Newburyport:
GENTLEMEN-The whole number of arrests during the months of eighteen hundred and eighty-five, for offences committed within the city of Newburyport is five hundred thirty-four, of which two hundred eighty were of foreign birth, two hundred fifty were born within the limits of the United States, forty-seven were females and fifty were minors.
CAUSES OF ARREST.
Assault and battery 34
Assault on officers.
1
Assault (felonious) .
1
Assault with a dangerous weapon. 1
Bastardy
1
Cruelty to dumb animals
1
Common drunkard.
1
Capias
Drunkenness 374
Drunk, second offence 13
Drunk, third offence 13
Disturbing the peace 8
1
Forgery .
For out of town officers 4
Larceny
23
Malicious mischief. 4
On suspicion 2
Safe keeping . . 24
3
Vagrancy
Violation of the rules of the board of health 2
1
250
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
Violation of city ordinances 8
Violation of the dog law 4
Violation of the liquor law 4
Total .534
DISPOSED OF AS FOLLOWS;
Appealed. 9
Bound over to Superior Court. 2
Cases continued . 4
Committed for non-payment of fine 98
Committed to State Reform School.
2
Committed to Danvers Hospital -
2
Committed to Ipswich Hospital.
3
Discharged without complaint
274
Discharged by Court.
18
Fined and paid. 65
House of Correction 15
5
Ordered to pay costs 6
Put on probation 1
Placed on file. 6
Put under bonds to keep the peace
2
Sent to jail. 89
4
MISCELLANEOUS.
Amount of property reported lost $1,716 00
Amount of property recovered .. . 1,203 60
Amount of imprisonment imposed (days). 10,420
Accidents reported . . 18
Assisted other officers 260
Buildings found open and secured
49
Cases of truancy investigated.
56
Complaints investigated .
1087
Defective places in streets reported.
78
Disturbances suppressed without arrest.
2
Fire alarms given. 5
Fires extinguished without alarm 4
House of Correction 16
Injured persons assisted. 23 Intoxicated persons helped home. 149
Jail. . 89
Lights furnished for dangerous places 22
Lost children restored to parents. 27
6
Dogs killed . 182
Escorts furnished processions
Newburyport Workhouse
Turned over to other officers
251
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
Meals furnished lodgers and prisoners
3821
Nuisances investigated . 7
Officers for extra duty a tchurch. 48
Officers for extra duty at City Hall (hours) . 459
Persons provided with lodgings 1360
Search warrant for liquor served 4
Street obstructions removed . 137
Stray teams put up 36
Workhouse 4
Respectfully submitted,
C. H. DEROCHEMONT, City Marshal.
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT, Dec. 31, 1885.
REPORTS
OF THE
INSPECTOR OF MILK &f KEROSENE,
AND
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
1885.
33
255
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK.
INSPECTION OF MILK.
To the Hon. Mayor and City Council of Newburyport:
GENTLEMEN-The undersigned, as Inspector of Milk for New- buryport, respectfully submits the following as the action taken in relation to milk inspection the past year :
Fifty-nine licenses have been issued to milk producers, also three parties registered as retailers from stores, being seven more licenses than the previous year.
Forty-four samples of milk have been tested by the lactometer, all of which proved satisfactory, the average of which was 1 degree above the milk tested the year previous. A copy of the state chem- ist's return to the milk department, to the state board of health, of milk received from Newburyport, has been received at this office, which fully sustains its reputation for its good qualities, there being no sample giving less than the required 13 per cent solids. Many samples were extra for good qualities.
By the laws enacted the last year all milk inspectors were made inspectors of vinegar, oleomargerine, butter and cheese, there not being any standard by which a test could be made, or any provision for defraying any expense that might occur, no action has been taken in relation to them.
The amount received for licenses and register the past year is $31.
All which is respectfully submitted.
JOHN HUSE, Inspector.
INSPECTION OF KEROSENE.
There not being any application for inspection, no action was tak- en in relation to it.
JOHN HUSE, Inspector.
256
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
To the Hon. Mayor and City Council of Newburyport:
GENTLEMEN-I herewith submit the following statement of the business of this office the past year. After giving notice by adver- tisement in the several city papers to all persons using scales, weights balances, or measures, to bring the same to this office for the purpose of testing and sealing, as is required by General Stat- utes, chapter 65, there being but few presented, a canvass of the city was made, as is required by Section 14 of said chapter, and the following is the result :
Public scales tested, 2 were corrected, 1 not in use, 9 found correct. ... 12
Dormal "
66
3
7
66
.10
Platform “ " 14
63
.77
Butchers “ 66 3 66
7
.10
Spring balances 5 66
22
.27
Tip scales
" 10
66
20
66
30
Counter scales 66 12
85
.. .. 97
49
1 213
263
WEIGHTS CORRECTED.
One hundred sixty-five weights were found light, and thirteen heavy.
The expense of the above to the owners was $113.23 which has been received.
MEASURES SEALED.
Fifty-five measures were tested and sealed, 35 for milk, 20 for liquors.
Wood surveyed to the city, 63 1-2 cords.
Twenty-six loads of charcoal measured 2,583 bushels, 2,006 of which was for the city.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
JOHN HUSE, Inspector.
REPORTS
OF THE
CITY CLERK,
AND
BOARD OF ASSESSORS.
259
REPORT OF CITY CLERK.
REPORT OF THE CITY CLERK.
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, March 10, 1886. To the City Council of the City of Newburyport:
GENTLEMEN-The following report relating to births, marriages and deaths in the city of Newburyport for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1885, is prepared in accordance with the custom adopted for the past few years :
BIRTHS.
The number of children born alive during the year 1885, and re- corded in this office is 254 ; 74 less than the preceding year, but for all the falling off in number, there are still 15 more than the number of deaths, not counting still births.
The number of births returned by physicians was 236, which in- cluded seven still births. No returns were made by persons acting as midwives, and none from heads of families.
Of the births, 137 were males and 117 females, white, with a sin- gle exception, an Indian. There were two pairs of twins, one pair both males, the other male and female ; five were returned as ille- gitimate.
Births by months and quarters :
First Quarter.
Second Quarter. Third Quarter.
Fourth Quarter.
January 24 April .29
July .. .17
October. .. 29
February 19 May. 18 August. . . 24
November. . 28
March . 14
June 19 September.17 - -
December ... 16
57
66
58
73-254
The nativities of parents of children born are as follows :
Mothe ..
Born in the United States
66 Ireland
44
45
66 British Provinces and Canada
22
27
66 England
S
S
66 other foreign countries.
S
4
66 unknown ..
7
0
254
254
Father. 165
170
260
REPORT OF CITY CLERK.
Of 55 children born both parents were natives of Newburyport ; of 97 the fathers were natives of Newburyport ; of 98 the mothers were natives of Newburyport.
MARRIAGES.
The number of intentions of marriage recorded and issued for the year 1885 was 113 ; thirty-five less than the preceding year. Of the 113 issued all but one has been returned to this office for record, the marriages having been solemnized here or elsewhere ; the missing one will probably be secured and the record made complete.
The number of marriages recorded in the books of the city for the year is 121 ; thirty-one less than the preceding year, and eight more than the number of certificates issued.
The number of marriages solemnized in the city during the year is 97 ; thirty-three less than last year, twenty-four being solemnized elsewhere and returned for record, one or both parties claiming a residence in this city.
Marriages in each month and quarter as follows :
First Quarter. Second Quarter. Third Quarter. Fourth Quarter.
January . 7 April. 15
July. . . 7 October. S
February . ..
7 May. 13 August .. 7 November .. .20
March. 8 June. 12 September .. 9
December 7
23
- 40 23 35
Marriages were solemnized by the following named clergymen : Congregational : Charles P. Mills. 9
S. J. Spalding
S
Daniel T. Fiske 7
Henry E. Mott.
6
Palmer S. Hulbert.
2
Richard B. Grover
1
Presbyterian : Charles C. Wallace
5
Methodist: John Peterson 5
Alfred Noon 8
Roman Catholic: A. J. Teeling 15
M. E. Toomey
4
Wm. A. Ryan 3
1
Christian : Daniel P. Pike.
8
Unitarian : D. W. Morehouse
4
Baptist : E. E. Thomas.
5
Episcopal : J. H. Van Buren. 6
Non-resident clergymen 24-121
Jas. H. O'Neal
-
261
REPORT OF CITY CLERK.
DEATHS.
Deaths occurring in the city of Newburyport for the year 1885 were 232, not including seven returned as still births, thirty-seven less than last year. The number recorded on the books of the city for the year is 306, sixty-seven occurring in other places and brought to this city for interment, formerly being residents or na- tives, or having family connections in this city.
Interments in this city exceed the number of deaths by twenty- three ; more were brought here for interment than were conveyed away by that number. Of the fifty-one conveyed away from the city for interment twenty-eight were interred in Newbury.
Deaths by months and quarters were as follows :
First Quarter.
Second Quarter.
January. .16
April. ... 16
Third Quarter. July .. .23
Fourth Quarter. October. .. 21
February .29
May. 16
August .. 29
November .. . 19
March .. 19
June. 17
September .. 17 -
69
57
It will be observed that the rate per month is very uniform, eight months of the year being from 16 to 19. The months of Feb- ruary and August show the largest mortality, 29 each, and during these two months more than one-third of all those returned as con- sumption and old age are recorded. The increase over the other months attributed to diseases likely to occur during these months : of the 29 deaths in February consumption caused 8, pneumonia and bronchitis 7, and old age 4; of the 29 in August. consumption caused 7, cholera infantum 7, and old age 7.
Deaths from all causes under ten years of age, not including still births, 59; thirty-two less than the previous year. From all causes of 60 years old and upward, 88 ; one more than last year. There were seven persons deceased in this city the past year who were over 90 years of age.
The united ages of the deceased in this city for the year was 10,126 years ; which makes the average for this city 43.64 years, the average for the previous year being 38.25.
Further information may be had in relation to ages and classifica- tion of diseases by reference to tabular statement prepared for pub- lishment in report of Board of Health.
The following table, showing the number of interments in the va- 34
December. .. 17
64
49
262
REPORT OF CITY CLERK.
rious cemeteries of the city for the past year may be of interest to some :
Oak Hill Cemetery 76
New Hill . .. 83
. Belleville . 18
Catholic. 69
Old Hill Burial Ground 8
St. Paul's church yard. 1
Merrimac River
1
The following table shows the place of interment of those brought to this city from other places :
Oak Hill Cemetery 27
Catholic. 11
Belleville. 6
New Hill Burial Ground .18
Old Hill.
2
Newbury (Oldtown).
3
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE H. STEVENS, City Clerk.
263
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS.
ASSESSORS' OFFICE. CITY HALL, December, 1885.
To His Honor the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Newburyport:
GENTLEMEN-The Board of Assessors respectfully present as their annual report, the following account gathered from the official rec- ords made during the current year :
The total value of property assessed in 1885 $7,550,805
In real estate. $5,214,050
Personal, including resident bank shares $657,855.2,336,755 Total. $7,550,805
This is a small increase over last year. The total value above does not include the personal property in shipping-vessels engaged in the foreign carrying trade and belonging to the ship owners of this city, estimated by the assessors on the first of May last at $430,917, an exemption allowed by the Commonwealth under cer- tain conditions.
This sum added to the property assessed would make a total value of $7,981,722. The net yearly profit of vessels so employed were taxable, amounting to $31,929, a large reduction from the preced- ing year. The tax on the foreign shipping after deducting the profits returned by the owners, made up by the assessors for the state, and credited by its treasurer to this city, amounted to the sum of $6821.39.
The rate of taxation in 1885 was $18 on each one thousand dol- lars assessed, the poll tax $2.00 and the whole number of polls was 3419.
Tax on $7,550,805 at $18.00. $135,914 49
Tax on polls. 6,838 00
Total tax levy $142,752 49
For the following purposes :
264
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS. 4
Appropriation for city expenses . . $136,000 00 Less this sum, being a portion of the corporation and bank
taxes to be received from the state. 11,000 00
$125,000 00
City's proportion of the state tax.
7,080 00
county tax 9,442 86
Overlay or surplus of taxes 1,229 63
Total $142,752 49
Number of dwelling houses, 2210; horses, 640; cows, 283 ; oxen, 12.
Assessors' valuation of property exempted from taxation by the law of the Commonwealth :
Religious societies-real estate $223,100
invested funds 58,400-281,500
Benevolent and charitable institutions-real estate .. 9,000
invested funds 167,600-176,600
Literary institutions-real estate 76,900
invested funds
86,800-163,700
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. W. JACKMAN, - CHAS. C. DONNELL, Assessors. GEO. W. GOODWIN.
REPORTS
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY
AND
COMMITTEE ON LIGHTING STREETS,
AND
COMMITTEE ON BRIDGES AND CULVERTS.
1885.
268
REPORT ON LIGHTING STREETS.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LIGHT- ING STREETS.
To the Honorable Mayor and the City Council of the City of Newburyport:
GENTLEMEN-The standing committee on lighting streets and pub- lic buildings would respectfully present the following report of their stewardship for the year 1885 :
Amount appropriated for this department ..
$7,500 00
AMOUNT EXPENDED.
January . $1090 63
February 634 20
March 1 47
April
722 53
May.
582 69
June.
683 98
July .
585 80 August 493 43
September
509 18
October
557 35
November 644 40
December
721 20
Total. $7866 86
Making an overdraft of $366.86, which is more than accounted for in the payment of the bill of the Reflector Company for lighting the streets for the month of November of the previous year, amount- ing to $381.63.
The following tabular statements will explain the various objects to which the appropriation has been applied.
Paid Wheeler Reflector Co. for street lighting. $2,306 51
66 Newburyport Gas Co. 2,818 00
66 gas for public buildings. 2,542 97
for care lanterns front of City Hall 10 00
new lanterns (street). 40 80
lantern and fixtures før armories 17 49
66 painting street lanterns 50 00
66 new posts, frames, removals and repairs on street lanterns 81 09
Total
$7,866 86
269
REPORT ON LIGHTING STREETS.
The following statement shows the amount of gas consumed in the various public buildings, and cost of the same to this department.
Cubic feet.
Essex Hall (military)
16,100-$
40 25
Washington Hall (military).
13,400
33 50
Head Quarters Eth Regiment (military)
300
75
New Armory Pleasant street (military)
113,700
268 55
City Hall building
339,100
795 58
Market Hall building (police and fire department)
327,100
780 38
Public Library and Reading Room.
160,700
382 83
40,100
94 50
Number Two Steamer Co. (fire department) .6 'Three 66
40,000
95 30
Pleasant Street Engine House, "
100
25
Number Eight Engine Co.
21,800
51 08
1,072,400-$2,542 97
From January 1st to April 20th the street lights were furnished by the Wheeler Reflector Company of Boston ; all the street lights being lighted with kerosene lamps, and reflectors attached to every lantern, under a contract with the committee of the preceding year, who thought they were giving our citizens a good light for a longer period and at a reduced cost ; at any rate thought the experiment worth the trial. The result did not fully come up to the expecta- tion : in dark and stormy nights, when the lights were most needed, chimneys were broken, lanterns, chimneys and reflectors smoked. lights were blown out and darkness reigned ; at their best, many complained that the glare of the reflectors gave more trouble than assistance to people moving about the city. Such being the situa- tion, negotiations were entered into with the Newburyport Gas Company to renew the lighting of the streets with gas lights where it was possible to do so, and with an apparatus for burning gaso- line in all others, and a contract was finally made with this company to furnish four feet burners in all gas burning lanterns, and to fur- nish all others with gasoline of as nearly the same power as possi- ble to maintain ; lighting for the same number of nights from sun- set to midnight at 6 cents per light per night, being one-fourth of a cent per light per night in excess of the prices paid the Reflector Company ; and as an offset the Gas Company agreed to reduce the price paid for gas in the public buildings 25 cents per thousand cubic feet. This arrangement caused an expense of $17.95 per month in excess of the price paid the Reflector Company for light-
35
270
REPORT ON LIGHTING STREETS.
ing the streets, and for the seven months lighted by the Gas Com- pany the sum of $125.75. During these seven months there has been consumed in the public buildings 549,200 cubic feet of gas, the reduction thereon of 25 cents per thousand feet, amounting to $137,- 30 ; the change really resulting in a gain pecuniarily to the city, as well as a marked improvement in the quality of light afforded.
The gas lights being extinguished at midnight, the gasoline only only run into the "wee sma hours" of the night ; but it is fair to presume that such persons as are found prowling around the streets of the city after midnight. other than the night patrolmen, would prefer darkness rather than more light.
The number of street lights now maintained is 343 ; of this num- ber 151 are for gas and 192 for gasoline.
The amount of gas consumed in public buildings is 280.900 cubic feet in excess of the preceding year, the only department showing a reduction being City Hall building, the excess being caused by in- creased consumption in Market Hall building, Public Library build- ing and the armories.
Respectfully submitted,
ENOCH GERRISH, Chairman.
271
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.
To His Honor the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Newburyport:
GENTLEMEN-The joint standing committee on public property would respectfully present the following statements in relation to the department under their charge for the year 1885 :
Appropriation for public property for the year. $ 6,000 00
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.