USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1887 > Part 12
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Of the zymotic diseases there were but seventeen for the entire year : Diphtheria 9, croup 2, typhoid fever 3, and one each of ery- sipelas, scarlet fever and whooping cough ; these were scattered
272
REPORT OF CITY CLERK.
through the year, the months of March, April, May, July and Au- gust being exempt, cases of diphtheria occuring in June, October, November and December.
Consumption, as usual, claims the largest number-54 ; old age next 42 ; heart disease 25; paralysis 23; cholera infantum 15; cancer 14; pneumonia 12. These are the only cases of disease that came up to the tens.
Deaths from all causes, under ten years of age, 74-which is seven less than last year ; Sixty years and upward, 148-which is sixty-one more than last year ; eight persons were between 90 and 100 years of age ; one, Miss Phebe Harrod, reached the age of 101 years 1 month and 22 days.
The united ages of the deceased in this city for the year was 15,365 years, which makes the average for this year 47.28, which is a considerable increase over the previous year when it was 39.8 years.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE H. STEVENS, City Clerk.
273
REPORT OF BOARD OF ASSESSORS.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS.
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council :
GENTLEMEN :- The Board os Assessors respectfully report that the whole amount of assessments for the current year was $8,074,737, from the following sources :
Real estate. .$5,730,400
Personal estate, including resident bank tax 2,344,337
Total 8,074,737 . This is an increase of nearly half a million over last year's valu- ation. This amount does not include the vessels in the foreign carrying trade, (exempt by law of the commonwealth), estimated at $331,904.73 ; but does include the income of such vessels, amounting to $14,512.95. The rate of taxation for 1887 was $16.60 on each $1000 assessed.
The poll tax was $2.00. Whole number polls, 3,801.
Tax on $8,074,730 $134,040 45
Tax on polls. 7,602 00
Total tax levy $141,642 45
For the following purposes :
Appropriation for city expenses.
$141,150 00
Less a portion of the income of city 20,153 64
120,996 36
City's proportion of State tax.
10,282 50
66
County tax
8,919 62
Overlay, or surplus taxes
1,443 97
$141,642 45
Number of dwelling houses
2244
do horses
653
do
COWS 318
do oxen 20
Total number of tax-payers
4899
Number paying tax on property 2359
Number paying poll tax only. 2578
274
REPORT OF BOARD OF ASSESSORS.
Assessors' valuation of property exempted from taxation by law :
Religious societies-
Real estate. $310,000
Invested funds. 89,000- 399 000
Benefit and Charitable-
Real estate .. 16,000
Invested funds. 213,000- 226 000
Literary institutions-
Real estate.
120,000
Invested funds.
300,000- 420,000
Total exempted property
$1,045,000
Respectfully submitted,
ANDREW J. HAYNES, 1 ASSESSORS.
GEORGE J. L. COLBY,
JOSEPH L. JOHNSON, 1
275
REPORT ON ATKINSON AND PUTNAM FUNDS.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUTNAM AND ATKINSON FUNDS.
To the Honorable Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Newburyport :
GENTLEMEN :- The committee of the Board of Aldermen to whom was referred the annual statements of the trustees of the Putnam Free School Fund and the Atkinson School Fund would present the following statements relative thereto for the information of the citizens of the city interested in such matters.
ATKINSON SCHOOL FUND.
The investments of this fund, as per report of the treasurer, are as follows :
Twenty shares Merchant's National bank stock. $400 00
Seven shares of Ocean National bank stock. 350 00
Deposit in the Institution for Savings. 1534 00 Three cow rights in common pasture ; ten acres of salt marsh in Salisbury.
EXPENSE ACCOUNT.
Paid two teachers for forty evenings $83 33
Paid for janitor's services and incidentals 5 25- 88 56
It further appears from the report of the treasurer that the in- come from the fund was not all expended ; the amount deposited in the Savings Institution being increased over the previous year by $44.79.
PUTNAM FREE SCHOOL FUND.
By the schedule of investments on the first day of May. 1887, as per treasurer's report of the Board of Trustee the funds in the hands of the trustees amounted to $42,988, exclusive of land. school buildings, furniture and apparatus, and in the following se- curities :
Notes secured by first mortgage on real estate $16,075 00
Deposit in savings banks. 7,913 00
Bank stocks, railroad stocks, etc. 19,000 00
Total as above. $42.988 00
276
REPORT ON FOLLANSBEE FUND.
There appears to be a considerable falling off of the cash assets of the fund during the past year amounting to $9,951. No ex- planation is given, but it is presumed that a considerable amount was expended in repairs on buildings, new furnishings and appara- tus for the use and improvement of the school.
It is gratifying to note the harmony existing in the consolidated High and Putnam schools, the wisdom of the arrangement entered into between the trustees of the fund and the City Council will every year be more apparent in the increased usefulness of the schools.
SIMON E. WILSON, WILLIAM F. HOUSTON, & Committee. JOHN J. PUTNAM,
Newburyport, December 31, 1887.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE FOLLANSBEE FUND.
To the Honorable Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Newburyport :
GENTLEMEN :- In accordance with custom and the requirements of existing regulations relating to the Follansbee fund, I herewith present the fourteenth annual report showing the present status of the fund, income derived therefrom and how said income has been disposed of by the Board of Aldermen, trustees of said fund, dur- ing the municipal year of 1887.
277
REPORT ON FOLLANSBEE FUND.
Considerable care is exercised by the trustees to benefit as large a number as possible and not allow a few to secure the whole ; they do not think the intention of the donor was to furnish any individual or family their full supply of fuel but to assist where they could not well afford to provide themselves with what might be considered a necessary supply. They find it no easy matter to con- vince some of the beneficiaries of this fact.
This is the first time in fourteen years that all the orders given on the fund have been paid from the income and a considerable sum carried to next year's account.
FUND INVESTED AS FOLLOWS.
Three thousand dollars in City Railroad bonds, at 7 per cent. $2,850 00
Deposit in Five Cents Savings bank. 120 00
Deposit in Institution for Savings. 30 00
$3,000 00
INCOME ACCOUNT.
Unexpended balance from 1886. $ 4 95
Coupons due in March. 105 00
Coupons due in September
105 00- $214 95
EXPENSE ACCOUNT.
Paid B. F. & F. L. Atkinson
165 22
Paid Philip H. Creasey
4 38- - $169 60
Balance to new account. $45 35
The distribution of fuel to persons and families by wards is as follows :
Distributed in Ward one.
$14 50
66
two. 44 42
66
66 three 24 13
66
66
four 45 31
five
21 14
66
six 20 00
$169 60
Amount of stove coal distributed, 31,500 pounds, (15§ tons) ; pine wood, fifty-three cord feet, or 62 cords ; hard wood, fourteen cord feet, or 12 cords. The wood in nearly every instance being sawed and split ready for immediate use.
278
REPORT OF SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS.
Total number of single orders issued, 34; varying in amounts from $2.88 to $9.55.
Eighteen persons or families were supplied but once ; six were supplied twice during the year and one person supplied four times and wanted more.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE H. STEVENS, Treasurer.
REPORT OF THE SURVEYOR OF HIGH- WAYS.
To His Honor the Mayor and City Council, of the City of Newburyport:
GENTLEMEN :- On accepting the position of Surveyor, I deter- mined that what I lacked in capability, I would endeavor to make up in a watchfulness of the interests of the city, thereby securing for my friends who placed me in office the approbation of their fel- low citizens. How far we have succeeded will remain to be proved.
HIGHWAYS.
I herewith submit to you a summary of the amount of money expended and the relative proportion to each used.
Amount expended in Ward 6.
$850 00
66
3.
550 00
66
5
500 00
66
4
450 00
66
1
450 00
66
66
2 300 00
$3,100 00
Sidewalks that have been made and charged to highways : 400 feet on Hill street, 300 feet on Franklin street, 200 feet on Green-
27 9
REPORT OF SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS.
leaf street, 500 feet on Oakland street, 400 feet on Ocean and Warren, streets, 500 feet on Moulton street. Total 2,300 feet.
Gutters paved. 700 feet on Tyng street, 400 feet on Prospect street, 100 feet on Marlboro street, four feet wide. Total 1,200 feet.
CROSSINGS THAT HAVE BEEN LAID AND PAVED.
200 feet bought this year, 100 feet on the City premises from last year. Total 300 feet.
Foot of Dove street. 1
66 Franklin street 1
Greenleaf street 1
66 Oakland street. 1
66 Eagle street 2
6
Paved 3 feet each side, making 400 feet of paving.
2,200 feet of edgestones bought this year, 350 feet on City prem- ises left from last year. Total 2,550 feet.
Paving on Merrimac street from railroad bridge to near foot of Boardman street. The figures and work connected with this job are open to the present committee, or those who hereafter may take their places.
BRIDGES AND CULVERTS.
Whole number of bridges built and laid in position this year, in number 29. Those built by mechanicks 13; those built by high- way men 16.
Culvert built on Greenleaf street 100 feet, culvert built on Dove street 60 feet, culvert repaired on Merrill street, culvert repaired on Winter street, culvert repaired on Market square, culvert repaired on Ship street, and every one in the limits of the city has been cleared of its collections of dirt.
ASHES AND RUBBISH.
This part of the city work calls for for more comment than any others. The average weekly loads ranging from 80 to 96 at a cost of collecting, requiring the services of two men at 17 cents a load, and selling for 5 cents load. Not a very expensive job, when we come to consider the disagreeable part the men take in the collect-
280
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS.
ing of the same. And here I would state that the men who are regularly employed in the collection of rubbish are in justice en- titled to what other work the City may have for them to do.
THE MALL QUESTION.
If this committee have not added to the beautifying of the same, they are entitled to at least the respect of all, in doing their part in a substantial manner in grading and levelling of over 500 loads of gravel and dirt this year.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES M. PRITCHARD, Surveyor of Highways.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HIGH- WAYS.
To the City Council of Newburyport :
GENTLEMEN :- The joint standing committee on highways would respectfully make the following report and statement of the condi- tion of the department at the close of the financial year ending December 17, 1887. The amount of the appropriation for the year was $4,000 ; income 63.57, making a total of $4,063.57. The ex- penditures were $5,783.01, leaving an overdrawn balance of $1,719.44. This overdraft was caused by the large amount of extra work which has been done and charged to the department during the year. The paving on Merrimac street was done at an expense of some $1,200. This was a much needed improvement and had become almost a necessity as the condition of the street and the complaints from the citizens of the vicinity demanded that some action be taken to remedy the difficulty. The completion of the work has been satisfactory and pleasing to the public. The placing
281
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS.
of the railing on the sea wall in ward one was done at an expense of about $200; the safety and convenience of the public called for the improvement and it is much appreciated by the citizens of that locality. At the commencement of the year the committee voted to raise the pay of the laborers two and one-half cents per hour, and it was certainly no more than an act of justice and which will no doubt meet the approval of all liberal minded citizens. These items will cover the amount overdrawn. By referring to the accounts of the superintendent it is found that the amount of work done in the several wards was as follows: Ward one, $450; ward two, $300 ; ward three, $550; ward four, $450; ward five, $500; ward six, $850. There has been some 2300 feet of sidewalk built during the year ; 1200 feet of gutters paved ; 300 feet of crossings laid ; 2550 feet of edgestone set, which is more than the average amount. These items are but a portion of the work performed. A great deal more was needed but the small amount of the appro- priation is not sufficient to properly care for and maintain one street in proper condition, as some are now in a bad state and might be termed unsafe for public travel, and a much larger amount will have to be expended in the near future in order to satisfy the trav- elling public, as good streets and highways are a public convenience and a mark of progress and thrift in any municipality. Merrimac, Water and High streets are in the most need of repairs and the at- tention of our successors will no doubt be called to their condition.
Much credit is due Superintendent Pritchard for the efficient man- ner in which he has conducted the department during the year ; prompt and earnest in the performance of bis duties and with the interests of the city always in view, he has met with the cordial support and approval of the committee, and we feel assured of all impartial citizens.
In closing, we would suggest and hope the incoming city govern- ment will be able to make a larger appropriation for this depart- ment as in so doing the appearance of our city and the comfort and convenience of the public will be improved and without doubt will meet the approval of a large majority of citizens.
For the committee,
J. OTIS WINKLEY, Chairman.
THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
DIRECTORS
OF THE
Newburyport Public Library.
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT
GARA MAPIQUL MOCCCLI
NEWBURYPORT : NEWS PUBLISHING COMPANY, PRINTERS, 38 INN STREET. 1888.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
IN BOARD OF DIRECTORS, November 28, 1887.
ORDERED, That the report of the directors be signed, and, together with the accompanying reports, transmitted to the city council, agreeably to the requirements of section 5th of the ordinance concerning the Public Library.
H. A. TENNEY, Secretary.
3
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
TRUSTEES OF THE LIBRARY-1888.
WM. H. HUSE, MAYOR.
JOHN J. PUTNAM,
GEORGE OSGOOD,
WILLIAM F. HOUSTON,
ALDERMEN.
DIRECTORS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WILLIAM H. HUSE, MAYOR
Ex-officio. do
ORRIN J. GURNEY, President of Common Council,
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, Trustee of Building Fund, do
SAMUEL J. SPALDING, do
-
do
DANIEL T. FISKE, do -
do
WILLIAM H. HUSE,
Term of office expires 1888
BENJAMIN HALE,
do
1889
LAWRENCE B. CUSHING.
do
1890
FRANK W. HALE,
do
1891
NATHAN N. WITHINGTON,
do
1892
WILLIAM R. JOHNSON,
do
1893
AMOS NOYES, - -
do
IS94
TRUSTEES OF THE PEABODY FUND,
EDWARD S. MOSELEY,
WILLIAM H. SWASEY.
EBEN F. STONE, DANIEL T. FISKE.
JOIIN J. CURRIER.
LIBRARIAN,
ΗΙRAM Λ. TENNEY.
ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN, - EFFIE A. TENNEY.
SUPERINTENDENT OF READING ROOM, - MARTHA P. LUNT.
ALBERT C. TITCOMB, F. A. HOWE, CHARLES D. PETTIGREW, ---
ORGANIZATION
OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY,
FOR 1888.
President. WILLIAM H. HUSE.
Librarian and Secretary, H. A. TENNEY.
Superintendent of the Reading Room, MARTHA P. LUNT.
Committee on Library,
SAMUEL J. SPALDING, BENJAMIN HALE, WILLIAM R. JOHNSON.
Committee on Librarian,
AMOS NOYES, DANIEL T. FISKE, N. N. WITHINGTON
Committee on Library Room,
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, SAMUEL J. SPALDING, ORRIN J. GURNEY.
Committee on Reading Room,
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, WILLIAM H. HUSE, FRANK W. HALE.
Committee on Finance and Accounts,
AMOS NOYES, BENJAMIN HALE, LAWRENCE B. CUSHING.
Committee on Bradbury Fund,
LAWRENCE B. CUSHING, N. N. WITHINGTON, FRANK W. HALE.
DIRECTORS' REPORT.
To His Honor, the Mayor and City Council of Newburyport :
GENTLEMEN: The Directors of the Public Library submit the thirty-second annual report of their body to your consideration.
The past year has given us new assurances of the continued usefulness and increasing beneficent influ- ence of the Public Library. The details of its work are found in the report of the Librarian herewith appended. A marble tablet has been placed in the front wall of the library building, on which has been inscribed in raised letters the following words: " Newburyport Public Library and Reading Room." The cost of this inscription has been paid from the interest of the funds in the hands of the trustees of the building fund. During the last year large addi- tions have been made towards the completion of our sets of national public documents. In this impor- tant work we are greatly indebted to our late repre- sentative in Congress, Col. E. F. Stone; to our State Senator, Hon. George F. Hoar, and also to our au- thorities in Washington, who have this matter in special charge. You will observe that the most
S
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
affluent source of our increase of books has been the Peabody fund. Two hundred and fifty-nine volumes have come to us from that source alone. We would also again mention the valuable additions made to our shelves from the Todd fund. After doing duty in the reading room, the periodicals are bound, and they form a very important department of the books in the room above.
It, is very desirable that larger means should be placed at the disposal of the directors for the bind- ing of books. As the library grows older, the num- ber of volumes which need repairing constantly increases. The addition made to the appropriation last spring has greatly aided us in putting upon the shelves again a large number of volumes which had been out of binding, and consequently unfit for use.
Respectfully submitted,
J. OTIS WINKLEY, MOSES BROWN, EDWARD S. MOSELEY, SAMUEL J. SPALDING, DANIEL T. FISKE, JOHN J. CURRIER, WILLIAM H. HUSE, BENJAMIN HALE, LAWRENCE B. CUSHING, FRANK W. HALE, NATHAN N. WITHINGTON, WILLIAM R. JOHNSON.
DIRECTORS
OF THE
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
To the Committee on Library :
GENTLEMEN: The season has again arrived when it becomes my duty, under a requirement of the Rules and Regulations of the Library, to prepare and present to you a detailed and circumstantial account of its con- dition and increase through the year now drawing to a close.
An examination of the library has recently taken place under charge of the appropriate committee, and the result showed that the actual condition of the books indicated no material diminution from the high standard which previous annual inspections had ac- corded them.
It was found that five volumes only were missing from their places since the last examination; three of these were shortly afterwards returned, which left but two books to be regarded as the number lost during the year.
The general promptitude which has marked the re- turn of the books, and the considerateness and care with which they have been used by the borrowers, merits particular commendation, as upon a proper at- tention to these requirements the welfare of an insti- tution of this kind very essentially depends.
IO
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
By the report of last year it will be seen that the library then contained 23,767 volumes.
Through the several sources enumerated below the number that has been received this year is 638. But some forty volumes of these additions have been used to supply the places of books that were worn out and discarded; so that 598 volumes is the number to be added to the sum total of this year, making the whole number now in the library, 24,365 volumes.
The 638 volumes received during the year were from the following sources:
Peabody Fund. 259 volumes.
Sawyer Fund. 150 66
Bradbury Fund.
24
66
Frothingham Fund. 39
66
S. A. Green Fund.
22 66
Todd Fund
68
By donations. 78
Of the character of these additions, it may be briefly stated; that, while not being unmindful of the real needs of any department of the library, it has been the aim of the directors, in making their selections, to so proportion them as to keep the several classes as evenly balanced as the means at hand would permit. In do- ing this the income from the several funds has been used, and aside from that of the Peabody fund, the in- come from each has been exhausted.
The proceeds from the Peabody fund has supplied, as has been the case heretofore, an important class of works, which from their rarity and costliness could not otherwise, without that help, have been obtained.
With the assistance of a newly-prepared catalogue of the additions during the year, which will be ready for the printer, in connection with the printing of the
II
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
various reports, readers will find a choice collection of current and standard works suited to the tastes of all.
A rough classification of the additions for the year shows, viz :
History 108
Biography 59
Travels 52
Poetry, Belles-lettres and Reviews.
Religious 105
37
Philosophy, Morals and Politics 35
Science, Technology and Statistics
79
Fiction. . 137
In concluding, I may add that the library continues to do its good work among all classes of our citizens. affording them a bountiful source for the acquisition of sound and practical information, as well as a means for obtaining rational enjoyment and recreation.
The names of 406 new subscribers to the Rules and Regulations have been added to the list during the year, and they have thereby obtained the privilege of the use of the library.
Respectfully submitted,
H. A. TENNEY, Librarian.
Committee on Library :
S. J. SPALDING,
BENJ. HALE,
WM. R. JOHNSON.
Public Library, November 28, 1887.
13
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
THE PEABODY FUND.
In the year 1867, Mr. George Peabody placed in the hands of the pres- ent Treasurer of the fund, which he established for the benefit of the Pub- lic Library of the city, the sum of $15,000, the income thereof, designed to be used in the purchase of books.
He connected with the donation the request that an annual statement should be published of the condition of the fund.
In accordance therewith the treasurer desires to make known that the principal, ($15,000,) remains in the Institution for Savings, where it was deposited at the time of its receipt from Mr. Peabody, and from whence it can only be withdrawn by the written order of a majority of the five trus- tees who administer the fund.
At the beginning of the fiscal year $220.60 of accumulated interest re- mained on hand, and since then, $600.00, has been received in addition thereto, of which sum $469.45, has been expended in adding two hundred and fifty nine volumes to the Library, consequently leaving $350.15, un- expended interest on deposit.
The value of Mr. Peabody's gift will be the more appreciated when it is stated that over $12,000.00, has been received from time to time in inter- est upon the original gift, and that from this source five thousand two hundred and seventy two volumes have been added to the library, beside which from time to time appropriations have been made from the fund to- wards the maintenance of the Public Reading Room connected with the library, from which expenditure it was relieved by the generosity of Wil- liam C. Todd, Esq.
The Treasurer's accounts of receipts and expenditures have been regu- larly audited.
Newburyport, November 28, 1887.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, Treasurer. EDWARD S. MOSELEY, ) EBEN F. STONE, WILL AM H. SWASEY, DANIEL T. FISKE, JOHN J. CURRIER,
TRUSTEES .
14
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
THE BUILDING FUND,
TO THE DIRECTORS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY :
This report is made in conformity with the terms of the trust, which re- quires an annual statement to be made of the condition of the fund, to the directors of the library.
The fund itself is, as is well known, the excess of $5000.00 which re- mained over and above the $40,000.00 subscribed for the purchase and preparation of the library building, and presented as a gift to the city.
It was deposited in the Institution for Savings, the interest, and if in the judgement of the trustees advisable, the principal to be used in keep- ing the building in repair, and this, for more than twenty years, they have done.
The principal of the sum in the Savings Bank can only be withdrawn upon the written order of the members of the board.
Since the last report $97.41 has been expended upon the building, and there remains of accumulated interest at this time of writing, $222.68.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, Treasurer.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, ) SAMUEL J. SPALDING, TRUSTEES.
DANIEL T. FISKE.
I5
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
THE TODD FUND,
The reading room continues to be in all respects, a gratifying success. Miss Lunt, our excellent superintendent, reports that "the attendance during the past year has been larger than ever before, and the benefit and pleasure derived from the perusal of the periodicals and papers indicate that they are thoroughly appreciated.
There still remains a great deficiency in reference books and atlases, to which attention is again called with the hope that some generous bene- factor of the reading room. will remove it. The Todd Fund has contrib- uted fifty unbound volumes to the library the past year.
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