USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1890 > Part 13
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 | Part 14 | Part 15
1
304
ANNUAL REPORTS.
tors. The policy of limited licenses imposes upon the board of aldermen a duty which it is impossible for them satisfactorily to perform. If persisted in, it will, I believe, become a corrupting influence in our municipal politics. When, as was currently re- ported last April to have been the case, considerable sums of money are offered in addition to the regular fee for a license, the time is not far distant when, even in Newburyport, men will seek offices for the profit that can be made in them.
The liquor traffic must be controlled ; it cannot be prohibited. A high license law, unlimited, with such equitable provisions as shall put all dealers relatively on the same basis, and recognize the culpability of the buyer also, in an illegal sale, is, in my opin- ion, the right way to deal with it.
I fully appreciate the fact that it is the duty of the executive officer to enforce the law as he finds it. No effort has been spared by me to enforce it during the past year, and none will be spared during the year to come. In the past the police officers under me have never to my knowledge hesitated to do their full duty ; in the future a no less faithful service will be required of them.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The public library is in a prosperous condition. It is the duty of the city council to select annually one member of the board of directors of that institution, and in the performance of this duty care should be taken to select men who have special qualifications for the position. In dealing with the great mass of publications seeking admission to its shelves, discrimination must be exercised by competent critics, in order that there may be provided by pub- lic authority only such books as are of an elevating character.
CITY ENGINEER.
I desire you to take into consideration the advisability of creat- ing the office of city engineer. There is always work to be done
305
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
which should be planned and supervised by men of some training in architecture and engineering. In the rebuilding of roads and sidewalks, it is of great importance that proper grades be deter- mined and accurately followed. The repair and the ventilation of school houses, the latter being now persistently urged by the State authorities, are matters which require scientific oversight, and the building of culverts would have been much better done if some competent person in the employ of the city had been in charge of them. It is also necessary to have an inspector of plumbing and a superintendent of sewers, both of which positions must have men of some technical knowledge. Questions of repairs to bridges fre- quently arise,-even now it is said that the piers at the draw of the Newburyport bridge need to be rebuilt; and, if this is so, it will probably be necessary to employ an engineer to superintend the work. All of these matters, and others which I nave not enu- merated, seem. to me to make it well to consider whether it would not be expedient to employ permanently some man possessed of engineering skill.
THE WIDENING OF STATE AND PROSPECT STREETS.
State street, at the corner of Pleasant street, and also a part of Prospect street, have been widened, in accordance with the vote of former city governments. The owners of the property on the cor- ner of State and Pleasant streets appealed from the award of the former city council to a sheriff's jury, and that tribunal, by its action, confirmed the popular opinion that it is difficult for a city to secure justice when sued by a private individual. As I under- stand the matter, two of the abutters on Prospect street have the right to appeal from the city's award, and it is, therefore, impossi- ble to say now what the cost of that improvement will be. It was, however, so much in the nature of a local benefit, that, although it had been voted by a previous city council, I hesitated to act in
(39)
306
ANNUAL REPORTS.
the matter unless those living in the neighborhood would give $500 towards defraying the expense of it. This was done, and the cost to the city will therefore be $500 less than it otherwise would have been. Hereafter I trust any such improvements will be made under the provisions of the betterment law, for although to some extent a public advantage, they are to so much greater a degree a private benefit that they should be paid for mainly by those living in the vicinity, whose comfort and convenience they directly serve.
Another objectionable practice has grown up, of which I will speak in this connection. Parties having land which they have de- sired to open up for house lots have petitioned the city to lay out and accept the streets they may wish to have thereon. It has been the custom for the city council to grant such petitions on condi- tion that the streets shall be properly graded. As a matter of fact, most of them have been accepted when practically no work has been done upon them, and the city has been put to considera- ble expense which should have been borne by the abutters. A city does its full share when it accepts and keeps in repair a street that has been properly graded, and which was laid out almost solely for someone's private convenience or advantage. Hereafter, what- ever the precedents may be, I hope the city government will adhere rigidly to the policy of accepting new streets only when they shall have been properly graded.
THE WATER COMPANY.
By the provisions of the statute under which the Newburyport Water Company received its charter, the city has the right to pur- chase the property of that company at any time after the expira- tion of ten years from the completion of the works. That period of ten years will have expired October 1st, 1891. I believe a very general feeling prevails among the citizens that the city should own the water works, There is also, apparently, a very general
307
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
lack of such information in reference to the matter as should be had by the public before they can intelligently take the prelimi- nary steps to carry their wish into execution. I am advised that under the law it will be necessary, in the first place, that the pro- posal to purchase be assented to by a two-thirds vote, at an elec- tion called for that purpose. In other words, no step towards the purchase of the works can be taken until, by a two-thirds vote, the city decides to buy them; and the vote must be taken before any knowledge can be had as to what the price to be paid will be. After such a vote shall have been passed, "in case the said corpor- ation and said city are unable to agree, then the compensation to be paid shall be determined by three commissioners, to be appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court, upon the application of either party and notice to the other, whose award when accepted by the court shall be binding upon both parties," and the city will be obliged to take the property, whether the price be satisfactory or not. That, I am advised, is the law in the matter, and under it we shall be compelled to decide a question involving the expenditure of a large sum of money, without such information as will make it possible for us to know whether we are making a good or a bad bargain. It may be presumed that the commissioners would fix a fair price ; but- judgments will honestly differ very materially as to what would be a fair price, and that which might be fixed as fair by the commis- sioners might be a very much higher one than two-thirds of our citizens would vote to buy at, and much higher than we could afford to pay, desirable as ownership of the water works may be. Whether any change could be made in the law to place Newbury- port in a better position, consistent with a faithful performance of her part of the contract, I do uot feel competent to say. The great obstacle, therefore, in the way of purchase appears to me to be the fact that we cannot know the price until we are irrevocably com- mitted to take the property, whatever the price may be. There is,
308
ANNUAL REPORTS.
however, much other information which we should have to enable us to act intelligently, even if by any means the price could be fixed before we were called upon to decide the question. I have no doubt the water company could furnish its service at a price which would yield a fair income on the cost of the plant, and which would be much less than the city could operate the works for itself. My limited experience has convinced me that the pub- lic generally pays much more for the service it gets than private individuals do. The pressure to get money out of the public treasury is persistent and aggressive, and the treasury is defended by men who, as a rule, cannot avoid the influence of the feeling that the money which is wanted does not come out of their own pockets, that it is a small matter, of great benefit to the claimant, and an infinitesimal loss to any other individual. However suc- cessful we may be in any one year, by spasmodic effort in check- ing the tendency to extravagance in the conduct of public affairs, I fear in the long run it will be the rule, and wise economy in every department will be the exception. Government, municipal, State or national, is a costly necessity, and should be kept within as narrow limits as possible. I am, therefore, of the opinion that the public should not undertake any business in which by contract with private parties satisfactory service at reasonable prices can be obtained On the other hand, fair service and just treatment must be secured, or the question of cost sinks into comparative insig- nificance. It is also an unquestionable duty of government to compel those who hold valuable monopolies created by public grant to exercise their rights with a due regard to the public inter- est. So it seems to me that whether it be well to purchase the water company's property is now an open question. In order that we may understand it and act intelligently upon it, and know what ought to be done here, we should ascertain what is being done in other places similarly situated, I would learn from every town
309
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
or city in the country, containing a population of from ten to twenty thousand, what their experience has been in dealing with the question. Gather information from any source we can, and then by comparison determine whether we would not "rather bear the ills we have than fly to those we know not of."
I would suggest that a joint special committee be appointed to investigate this question, that they learn all the fac's they can bearing upon it, that the same be duly published, and that at the next election an informal expression of the will of the people be asked for as to whether, under the conditions as they exist and in view of the knowledge they may then have, it will be wise to decide to purchase the property of the Newburyport Water Company. If there should appear to be the requisite majority in favor of the proposition, the vote could be legally taken at the succeeding municipal election. If the expression should be unfavorable to such action, it would do much to prevent what might prove to be a useless discussion.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion, gentlemen of the city council, I desire to say that I do not expect a favorable response to all of the suggestions I have made, nor do I anticipate that the views I have expressed will be adopted by you, only as they may commend themselves to your best judgment. I ask for them, then, candid consideration, in the hope that the discussion they may evoke will in some way result in promoting our common welfare.
It is, perhaps, unnecessary for me to say that this is the last time I shall deliver an address of this character. I can conceive of no circumstances likely to arise when it will be my duty to accept again the office of mayor. During the remainder of my term of service, I shall do what I can to promote and protect the public interests, and in all such effort I shall expect, and doubtless
310
ANNUAL REPORTS.
receive, your hearty co-operation. Let us realize that we are here as public servants, holding an important trust; and that we must by an intelligent and conscientious performance of our duty justify the confidence reposed in us.
/
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT
FOR THE YEAR 1890.
CITY
OF NEWBURYPORT
TERRA MARIQUE MDCCCLI
NEWBURYPORT CALEB B. HUSE & CO., PRINTERS, 4 BARTLET STREET 1891.
ANNUAL REPORT.
THE HIGH AND PUTNAM SCHOOLS.
HIGH SCHOOL-E. C. Adams, A.M., Principal. O. B. Merrill, A.M., Miss Sara A. Leonard, Miss Mary T. Spalding, Miss Emma H. Parker, Assistants.
PUTNAM SCHOOL-Miss Mary R. Bond, Preceptress, Miss Sarah W. Pike, Assistant.
The High School Committee are much gratified to report the con- tinued prosperity and growth of the High and Putnam Schools, which have been under charge of the same efficient principal for five years.
The relations existing between the School Committee and the Putnam Trustees have been most cordial and harmonious. The success of the united schools has been the one object sought. The good results coming from the new agreement have more than met the expectations with which it was made. We believe that the citizens of Newburyport and also of the surrounding towns are to be congratulated upon the successful union of the schools, which together make a strong and efficient institution-one offering such advantages as are generally found only in the high schools of the larger cities.
The teachers have been faithful and unsparing in their efforts to promote the interests of the school, and these efforts have been largely appreciated by the pupils themselves, few of whom have failed to do their best.
The work is now all arranged in departments, and the good
1
ANNUAL REPORT
results of this arrangement are very clearly manifest. Teachers are thus made to feel a special responsibility for the work of their own departments, and are given an opportunity to prepare themselves for their daily task of instruction in a way that would be impossible were they compelled to teach many disconnected subjects.
The progress in chemistry has been marked. It will be recalled that three years ago the Trustees thoroughly equipped a chemical laboratory for individual experimentation. Pupils have thus been enabled to take a more extended course than formerly. They have not only completed the ordinary course in Descriptive Chemistry but have also analyzed all the groups of metals. This work requires close application and those who enter the laboratory expecting to find work there much like play, find themselves face to face with work that requires not only manual dexterity but also keen observa- tion and inference.
. The courses in science are now generally considered no less diffi- cult than those in Latin and Greek. Without departments, work of this character could not be done.
The Toppan prize still continues to excite special interest in the study of Civil Government. This year the prize was awarded to Miss Nellie Harriman Greeley of Salisbury, while honorable mention was made of Joseph Harris Kimball of this city. The committee of award consisted of Rev. J. H. Van Buren and Messrs. F. V. Pike. and Luther Dame.
Three young men of the class of 1890 passed successfully the final examinations admitting them to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where they are now successfully pursuing their studies. Several of our graduates are enjoying the advantages offered by this institution who, were it not for the Wheelwright fund, would be unable to do so. It is to be hoped that a much larger number will avail themselves of the assistance offered by this fund.
The Putnam Trustees still continue to improve their building and premises. The old wooden fence about the grounds has given place to a graceful iron structure which calls forth favorable comments from all passers-by. An office for the Principal has been fitted up and tastefully furnished, an improvement which supplies a long felt need.
5
OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
It is worthy of notice that two of the young men who were admitted to Harvard University directly from our school, have won high honors for excellence in scholarship, and have thus secured a standing that reflects credit upon themselves, their school and their city. Several of our graduates still maintain a high standing in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
We confidently feel that our High school has never been more useful than it is today, and we trust that everything may be done to promote its efficiency and to make it a power in shaping the welfare and character of our future citizens.
6
ANNUAL REPORT
Statistics of High and Putnam Schools.
1889-1890.
Whole membership of boys 59
Whole membership of girls 80
Whole membership 139
Average membership 128
Average attendance of boys 50
Average attendance of girls 70
Average attendance of school I20
Per cent of attendance 93.8
Number of boys in Putnam school. 23
Number of girls in Putnam school. 38
Whole number of pupils in Putnam school. 61
Whole number of pupils in High and Putnam schools
200
Average age of boys in I. class 17.5
Average age of boys in II. class
17.4
Average age of boys in III. class
1 5.8
Average age of boys in IV. class
1 5.2
Average age of girls in I. class 17.2 Average age of girls in II. class 16.7
Average age of girls in III. class
16.I
Average age of girls in IV. class
15.5
Number of boys over 15 years of age 35
Number of girls over 15 years of age. 34
7
OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
GRADUATING EXERCISES OF THE CLASS OF '90. AT CITY HALL, MONDAY, JUNE 23.
PROGRAMME.
Singing-"Gloria." Silcher School
Prayer.
Chant .. ..
School
Essay (rank of salutatory)-American Enterprise. .E. S. Dodge
Essay -- Sleep Bessie Bailey
Essay-Schools of Utopia Josie L. Coffin School
Singing-"Night," Chwatal.
Essay-Woman and Her Work Edith G. Johnson
Essay-The Inventive Spirit .J. H. Kimball
Class Prophecy May C. Currier
Piano Duett-"Euriante," Weber-Leybach ) Grace W. Lunt
¿ Susan M, Coffin
Essay-Pet Superstitions Gertrude E. Lewis
Essay-Shakespeare's "Shylock
Susan M. Coffin
Essay -- Ambitious Men .
G. H. Anderson
Zither Solo-"Bell and Harp," Burgstaller
Essay-National Flowers
Alice B. Clarke
Essay-Discovery of America A. F. Hunt, Jr
Singing § "Farewell to the Forest," Mendelssohn \
{ "Rise, Cynthia, Rise," Hook School
Essay, with Valedictory-References to Music by Shakespeare and
Milton Olive H. Causey
Award of Toppan Prize.
Presentation of Dipolmas.
Singing Class Hymn
Words by LOTTIE M. PAGE.
Beautiful bird, on the wings of the morning, Rising and flying far out of my sight. White wings outspreading the blue ether cleaving, Leaving no trace in thy swift upward flight.
So high is thy soaring, my eyes cannot follow, Whither, oh spirit ? come tell us thy aim. Art thou an emblem for us looking upward, Thrilled with youth's hopes and fears, longing for fame ?
Standing to-day with our feet on the threshold, Earnest and eager life's flight to begin, Glory and honor as brighf dreams before us Beckon and call us our future to win.
8
ANNUAL REPORT
Life's work before us, act bravely, my classmates. Let not your colors trail low in the dust ; Ne'er be discouraged, though vain the endeavor ; God sees the effort, in Him put your trust.
Noble ambition, a bright star before us, Lightens our pathway when trials we meet ; Filled with high hopes, we'll remember our watchword, "Ours to win victory or suffer defeat."
Benediction.
GRADUATING CLASS.
BESSIE BAILEY,
GRACE WESTON LUNT,
OLIVE HUDSON CAUSEY,
LOTTIE MAY PAGE,
ALICE BLANCHE CLARKE,
DORA FRANCES POOR,
JOSIE LANE COFFIN,
SUSAN MARIA COFFIN,
MAY CARRIE CURRIER,
ALICE FARRAR,
ALBERT FRANCIS HUNT, JR., JOSEPH HARRIS KIMBALL,
EDITH GRAY JOHNSON,
CLARENCE STUART KNOWLTON,
JOSIE WORK KIMBALL,
EDWARDS SCOTT PLUMMER,
PERLEY NEWMAN PLUMMER,
TOPPAN PRIZE EXAMINATION.
I. Explain in full what is meant by a writ of Habeas Corpus.
2. In what year was the constitution of Massachusetts adopted. What New- buryport man had much to do with framing it, and securing its adoption ?
3. What is the ground for calling the constitution of the U. S., as originally adopted, a compromise ?
GERTRUDE ELLEN LEWIS,
ELIZABETH HALE LITTLE,
GEORGE HERBERT ANDERSON, JAMES LOWELL BARTLETT, EDWIN SHERRILL DODGE,
NELLIE HARRIMAN GREELEY,
9
OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
4. State in full how the President is elected, naming dates.
5. Name the different courts of the Commonwealth, and state briefly the functions of each.
6. How does the authority of the U. S. differ from that of a state ? Do you consider the relation between the two clearly defined ?
7. How does a town government differ from a city government? Name the principal officers of each.
8. A man is arrested for burglary; trace his course from arrest to sentence.
9. What census is now being taken ? Its object? How is it taken?
10. State the process of enacting a national law.
C. H. BLISS, RUDOLPH JACOBY, PRENTISS H. REED, High School Committee.
PAUL A. MERRILL, JOSEPH B, LITTLE, J. C. STANLEY,
JOSEPH E. MOODY, on the part of trustees of Putnam School
IO
ANNUAL REPORT
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
The course of study in the Grammar schools occupies a period of five years, at the end of which time a diploma is granted to those who have honorably completed the work. During the last year, at least, monthly examinations are given in the following way: A meeting of the principals of these schools is held at the beginning of each month at the school committee's room, and the ground upon which the pupils' work shall be tested is agreed upon. At the close of the month each teacher sends in ten questions, in each branch upon which the class is to be examined. From these the secretary of the school-board selects ten questions each, in arithmetic, language, his- tory, geography and spelling, sending copies of these questions to the principals of the grammar schools. As far as possible the answers are marked on the same plan. A record of the examinations is kept, and at the close of the year the average rank of each pupil is sent with him to the High School, if he is a candidate for admission to that school.
If he fails to enter by his examination there, he may be admitted upon his grammar school record, if that shows an average of seventy- five credits in each study, or an average of eighty credits in them all.
The names of those admitted, at the last annual examination, will be found with the statistics of the several schools.
The present course of study aims at producing better practical results than was possible in former years.
OF THE SCHOOL 'COMMITTEE.
In arithmetic more attention is given to those portions that are likely to be used in after life, and little time is spent on subjects that are seldom, or never used outside the school-room. Much drill is given in the elementary processes, so that accuracy and rapidity may be attained. Exercises in rapid combination of numbers are beneficial in training the mind to habits of attention and concen- tration.
In language, technical grammar, analysis and parsing, are consid- ered of secondary importance, while practical language, oral and written, is made the chief work in that line.
The pupil leaving the grammar school at the present time, if he has faithfuliy completed his course. will have been drilled in the making out of bills, receipts, promissory notes; in writing letters, and in making abstracts of lessons learned in history. geography, etc.
In penmanship it is the present object to make legible and fluent writers. How far this result will be attained depends mainly upon the ability of the teachers. It is pretty generally admitted that the six or eight years' use of copy books does not give satisfactory results. The few books excellently written are an evidence, perhaps. of neatness and painstaking on the part of the owners of such books. but no evidence that the writer will be able, on leaving school, to write a legible and rapid hand. To secure such a result, much less time is really necessary, but a totally different plan of instruction. Freedom of movement, ease and rapidity, as needed in practical busi- ness writing, can not be acquired by the careful imitation of copies.
Those teachers who have given special attention to the correct posi- tion of arm and hand, and have practised the movement drill, are reaching more of the desired results.
There are so many branches taught in our grammar schools and so much is required in each, that it is no easy matter for any teacher to make time for even a few minutes extra attention to either study. And yet, while we are unable to do anything in the matter of manual training for our children, it seems necessary to urge the claims of drawing as our best help in that direction. We do not now expect or wish that our boys and girls shall be taught to make pictures with their pencils, or that this is to be added as an ornamental branch of their education : but we claim for is importance to the future worker
1 2
ANNUAL REPORT
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.