USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1890 > Part 8
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I have also been before the county commissioners in two hear- ings relating to the rebuilding of bridges over the River Parker and Powow river. Four written opinions have been rendered your honorable body from this office.
The school committee has been advised relative to the order of the inspector of public buildings for the better ventilation of the Kelley schoolhouse.
I74
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Advice on various matters of more or less importance has been given to the sewer commissioners and other branches of the city gov- ernment. I have attended three meetings of the committee on claims, and in addition to the above I have performed a large amount of professional work, unnecessary to mention in detail.
My experience in preparing the above cases of Paul vs. New- buryport prompts the suggestion that in the future one of the po lice officers be detailed for special work, to assist this office in the investigation of facts involved in similar cases. To obtain the best results in this class of cases, so soon as an accident happens to any person on the highway, an officer, so detailed, should visit the place of accident. observe its condition, and interview anyone having knowledge of the accident or its cause. The city physi- cian should at once after the accident make an examination of the person injured. Written reports of the facts thus obtained should then be transmitted to this office. Otherwise, the first notice a city's solicitor receives of a claim for personal injuries is after the same has been referred to the committee on claims, and a hearing had thereon. Such a period of time has then elapsed that much time and expense is required to obtain evidence, and often after this lapse of time evidence is lost.
My receipts and expenditures have been as follows :
Paid for travelling expenses
· $36 90
66 witness fees
86 00
66 postage
12
court fees .
3 50
service of process and notices
9 50
record of deeds, etc. .
2 40
66 copies .
4 25
telegrams
20
$142 87
Received from city .
145 32
Due city .
$2 45
Respectfully submitted,
NATHANIEL N. JONES, City Solicitor.
REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
REPORT.
-
To His Honor the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Newburyport :
GENTLEMEN :- The whole number of arrests during the year end- ing December 31, 1890, for offences committed within the city of Newburyport, is 728, of which 437 were of foreign birth; 291 were born within the limits of the United States. Forty-one were females, and 77 were minors.
THE ARRESTS WERE FOR THE FOLLOWING CAUSES, VIZ. :
Assault and battery
13
Assault, with intent to rape
1
Assault on officers
11
Assault (felonious)
2
Assault
23
Admitting minors to billiard hall
1
Bastardy
3
Breaking and entering
17
Cruelty to dumb animals
2
Common drunkard
3
Common nuisance
1
Receiving stolen property
1
Drunkenness
130
Drunk, second offence
84
Drunk, third offence
42
Disturbing the peace
17
Stealing fruit
1
559
(23)
178
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Malicious injury .
1
Fighting
1
Escaped pauper
1
Forgery
1
For out of town officers
1 6
Non-support of wife
Escaped prisoner .
1 30
Larceny from a building
3
Profanity
1
Malicious mischief
6
On suspicion of larceny
1
Stealing a ride
2
Stubborn and disobedient
1
Neglected child
1
Selling mortgaged property
1
Vagrancy
1
Violation of city ordinances
11
Violation of the liquor law .
6
Total
728
DISPOSED OF AS FOLLOWS. VIZ. :
Appealed
7
Bound over to Superior Court
10
Cases continued . 19
Cases settled without trial .
1
Committed for non-payment of fine .
190
Committed to State Reform School at Westborough
1
Committed to Sherborn
3
Discharged without complaint
81
Discharged by court .
32
Fined and paid
269
House of correction
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Newburyport workhouse
6
Ordered to pay costs
10
Put on probation
34
Placed on file
1
Turned over to other officers
4
State board of charity
1
Committed to reformatory at Concord
2
Reformatory prison, Sherborn
1
State workhouse, Tewksbury
1
Larceny
179
CITY MARSHAL.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Amount of property reported lost . $.98.27
Amount of property recovered
. 362 39
Amount of imprisonment imposed .
34 years, 8 months.
Accidents reported .
109
Assisted other officers
297
Buildings found open and secured .
153
Complaints investigated .
3.379
Defective places in streets reported
431
Dogs killed
41
Disturbances suppressed without arrest
331
Escorts furnished processions
5
Fire alarms given .
9
Fires extinguished without alarm
7
Injured persons assisted .
117
Lost children restored to parents .
72
Meals furnished lodgers and prisoners
2,722
Nuisances investigated
56
Officers for extra duty at church
6
Officers for extra duty at City Hall
14
Persons provided with lodgings
917
Search warrant for liquor served
8
Street obstructions removed
668
Stray teams put up .
51
Persons ordered to remove snow
477
Money taken from prisoners and lodgers and returned
.$1,409 55
Respectfully submitted,
ASA W. EMERSON, City Marshal.
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT, December 31, 1890.
198
Lights furnished for dangerous places
REPORT OF THE BRIDGE TENDER.
C
REPORT.
-
To the City Council of the City of Newburyport :
GENTLEMEN :- The whole number of sailing vessels, steamers, sailboats, etc., passing through the draw of the Newburyport Bridge during the year 1890 is as follows :
Steamers
1,308
Schooners
262
Sailboats
819
Piledrivers
60
Freights of hay
10
Total
2,453
Number of tons of coal carried .
29,842
feet of spruce lumber carried
155,000
66 feet of yellow pine lumber ‘
427,000
.. tons of paving stone
300
tons of piping
300
·
Have closed the draw from January 1, 1890, to December 13, 1890, 2458 times, that being an excess of 572 openings over the preceding year.
Have used during the year : 3500 pounds of coal, 29 gallons
184
ANNUAL REPORTS.
of kerosene oil, one-half gross of matches, two and one-half gal- lons of sperm oil.
I would respectfully suggest the necessity of immediate repairs upon the bridge.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM I. HUNT, Drawtender.
1
REPORT OF BOARD OF ASSESSORS.
(24)
REPORT.
To His Honor the Mayor and the City Council :
GENTLEMEN :- The board of assessors respectfully report that they have made assessments on the following property :
Real estate
$6,805,197 00
Personal estate, including bank tax 2,931,573 00
Total
$9,736,770 00
For the following purposes :
City expenses
$159,506 26
Less a portion of city income
27,000 00
$132,506 26
State tax
7,980 00
County tax .
8,771 16
Overlay, or surplus taxes .
2,640 75
Total tax .
$151,898 17
The rate of taxation was $14.80 on each $1000 assessed ; the poll tax, $2. Number of polls, 3897.
Amount of tax on $9,736,770.00 $144,104 17
3,897 polls 7,794 00
Total
$151,898 17
The foreign shipping exempt by law is $305,614.41, and the
188
ANNUAL REPORTS.
income therefrom included in the personal property assessed was $20,655.36.
The value of exempted property is :
Religious societies $250,000 00
Literary and charitable
402,600 00
Total
$652,600 00
Number of dwelling houses assessed, 2500; horses, 690; cows, 300 ; oxen, 20.
The above figures show an increase over last year in
Real estate .
$355,332 00
Personal
88,203 00
Total
$443,535 00
Which, considering the loss by the shutting down and removal of several important industries, makes a most favorable showing of the steady and permanent growth of our city.
The assessors, in closing their report, desire to express their deep regrets for the great loss that has come to this community in the death of their esteemed and efficient associate, the Hon. George J. L. Colby, whose thorough knowledge of our resources has made him a valuable helper in the different duties of the office.
ANDREW J. HAYNES,
JOSEPH L. JOHNSON,
Assessors.
REPORTS OF TRUST FUNDS.
REPORTS.
- -
THE SIMPSON FUND.
TREASURER'S OFFICE, Dec. 20, 1890.
'10) His Honor the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Newburyport :
GENTLEMEN :- I herewith respectfully submit a report of the condition of the Simpson Fund at the close of the financial year ending at date, in accordance with city ordinance :
Total funds December 21, 1889 . $20,000 00 Interest on investments in 1890 900 00
$20,900 00
Paid to city of Newburyport for watering streets
during year 1890 . 900 00
Total funds December 20,1890 .
$20,000 00
INVESTED AS FOLLOWS:
City of Newburyport note for $20,000, bearing interest at the rate of 4 1-2 per cent. per annum.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES V. FELKER, Treasurer,
192
ANNUAL REPORTS.
THE FOLLANSBEE FUND.
To His Honor the Mayor and Board of Aldermen :
GENTLEMEN :- In accordance with regulations adopted for the care and control of the Follansbee Fund, it becomes my duty to submit the following annual report, this being the seventeenth annual report, showing the condition of the fund, and the amount of relief it has provided for the past year to worthy, needy appli- cants.
FUND INVESTED AS FOLLOWS:
Three thousand dollars in Newburyport City
Railroad bonds at 7 per cent. $2,850 00
Deposit in Five Cent Savings Bank 120 00
Deposit in Institution for Savings 30 00
$3,000 00
INCOME ACCOUNT.
Unexpended balance from last year
$ 7 38
Coupons due in March
105 00
Coupons due in September
105 00
Interest on deposit withdrawn
10 00
$227 38
EXPENSE ACCOUNT.
Paid Messrs. B. F. & F. L. Atkinson on orders $121 87
66 61 50
..
43 00
- 226 37
-
Unexpended balance to new account . $1 01
The distribution of fuel to individuals or families by wards as follows :
Distributed in ward one
$31 51
6.
two
26 39
three
20 26
68 four
68 28
..
five
23 39
six
56 54
$226 37
193
TRUST FUNDS.
The amount of coal distributed, 47,000 pounds-23 1-2 tons ; pine wood, 80 cord feet, or 10 cords ; hard wood, one-half cord.
Total number of orders issued and accounted for in the above statement, 46; among 28 different households, varying in amounts from $3 to $8.
Fifteen individuals or families supplied but once, nine twice, three three times, and one four times.
Considering the inconsiderable sum at the disposal of the trus- tees for the purchase and distribution of fuel, it seems almost in- credible the amount of comfort it furnishes, particularly during the inclement season ; and doubtless in many cases it prevents actual suffering. Having frequent opportunity to know that the recip- ients of this fund are grateful for the assistance rendered, I am more and more impressed with the wisdom and thoughtful- ness of the lady who established this fund, and so wisely directed how it should be expended, and only wish it were many times larger, or that some other benevolent-minded individuals, out of their abundance, would do likewise. .
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE H. STEVENS, Treasurer.
Newburyport, February 14, 1891.
(25)
REPORT OF THE CITY INSPECTOR.
REPORT.
-
To His Honor the Mayor and Members of the City Government :
GENTLEMEN :- Herewith I submit my report for 1890.
Number of milk licenses issued
52
" dealers registered
4
6.
oleomargarine licenses issued
1
66 samples of vinegar tested .
66 oil tested .
0
..
loads of charcoal measured
24
measures sealed .
10.
condemned .
6
surveying chains tested
2
66
66 66 condemned
21
66
weights tested and found correct
284
66 adjusted
8
weights light
7
66 heavy
1
1
dump carts measured . cans of milk sold daily
609
Average of samples of milk tested by lactometer 66 66 66
17.92
lactoscope
3.62
0
scales tested and found correct .
90
The duties of the sealer of weights and measures, disagreeable and hard to perform, and ill paid, have been hampered by the irregularity of the work in the past, which by loss of time and
198
ANNUAL REPORTS.
money the present sealer has brought to a system for the coming year.
Also, hampered by the want of working duplicates, having to use the standards for all the past years since they were supplied ; and as other things wear out, so do these show their use. We also have to use the cabinet for the storage of articles pertaining to the milk, vinegar and other inspections, which the State inspector said was using it for other purposes.
Respectfully,
JAMES W. GUNNISON, Inspector.
REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS.
REPORT.
-
To the City Council of the City of Newburyport :
GENTLEMEN :- The park commissioners make the following re- port :
Taking Washington Park, as passed to the city by the Mall Im- provement Association, beautifully laid out with its walks and lawns, it has been our pride and pleasure to preserve its attract- iveness, and so far as possible carry out to completion the orig- inal designs. A portion of the turfing on the embankment on the southerly side of the pond, done late in the last season, had been washed away by the unusually heavy rains. This has been relaid, and we trust has been so well rooted as to be past danger of another land slide.
The playground has been filled to grade ; one new flight of steps has been built. All the steps have been provided with strong railings. Settees and signs have been placed where needed. About 350 loads of gravel have been dumped upon the different portions of the park, and about 160 loads of loam and street sweepings have been used to top-dress the lawns. "To take care of the park, keep the grass cut, the paths cleaned, the borders
(26)
202
ANNUAL REPORTS.
trimmed, and the numerous other small details attended to," has taken all the time of one man, with occasional assistance.
We thankfully acknowledge kindnesses received: from the county commissioners, the promise of $100 to pay the cost of grading and completing the portion of the park which belongs to the county ; from the superintendent of highways, for some 200 loads of gravel from High street and the gravel pit, and for about 20 loads of loam and street sweepings for top dressings ; from Hon. E. F. Stone, for tree furnished and set ; and to the trustees of the Putnam Free School for large stone and use of lawn mower.
We take pleasure in stating that the park has been freely used and not abused. No disposition to misuse the privileges offered has been manifest, and we feel that the park has not only nurtured, and perhaps created, in many a taste for the beautiful, but that it so adds to the attractiveness of Newburyport as to be a success financially.
Much remains yet to be done to make our park what it should be. Shade trees are needed- the playground is to be turfed-and a paved gutter is necessary to prevent the washing away of the westerly approach to the pond. Above all, the pond should be connected with the water pipes and sewer, to renew and purify the water and prevent overflowing the beach. In time, we trust some generous donor will curb with granite the edge of the pond, and place a fountain in its centre. During the past year attention has necessarily been given to Washington Park. We hope hereafter that more attention will be given to other public grounds, and trust that ere long some public-spirited person will finish what has been commenced on Riverside Park.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation
$500 00
Overdrawn
38 21
$538 21
203
PARK COMMISSIONERS.
EXPENDITURES.
Labor
$255 54
Railings to steps
50 00
Settees and signs and freights
89 08
One flight of steps
33 30
Repairs on turfing
20 00
Teaming
73 37
Sundry small items .
10 42
Removing tree from Kent Street Common
6 50
$538 21
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN N. PIKE, Secretary.
REPORTS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
IN BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
-
Newburyport, Dec. 8, 1890.
Ordered that the report of the directors, together with the accompany- ing reports, be transmitted to the city council, agreeably to the require- ments of section 5th of the ordinance concerning the public library.
JOHN D. PARSONS, Secretary.
TRUSTEES OF THE LIBRARY-1891.
-
ELISHA P. DODGE, Mayor.
ALDERMEN.
JOHN J. PUTNAM, EDWARD A. HALE,
GEORGE E. ROSS,
ALFRED PEARSON. CHARLES H. DEROCHEMONT ISRAEL A. MORSE.
DIRECTORS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
-
ELISHA P. DODGE, Mayor
Ex officio.
ORRIN J. GURNEY, President of Common Council . EDWARD S. MOSELEY, Trustee of Building Fund .
SAMUEL J. SPALDING, 66 ..
..
DANIEL T. FISKE, ..
..
RUDOLPH JACOBY, term of office expires .
1891
NATHAN N. WITHINGTON, "
1892
WILLIAM R. JOHNSON, ..
..
1893
AMOS NOYES, ..
..
1894
JAMES PARTON,
..
..
1895
ENOCH C. ADAMS,
1896
CHARLES C. DAME,
. .
..
1897
TRUSTEES OF THE PEABODY FUND.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY,
EBEN F. STONE,
WILLIAM H. SWASEY,
DANIEL T. FISKE,
JOHN J. CURRIER.
LIBRARIAN
JOHN D. PARSONS.
ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN
EFFIE A. TENNEY. .
EXTRA ASSISTANT .
E. S. THURSTON. ·
SUPERINTENDENT OF READING ROOM
MARTHA P. LUNT.
JANITOR .
, DANIEL P. DONNELL,
..
ORGANIZATION
OF THE Board of Directors of the Public Library
FOR 1891.
-
President, ELISHA P. DODGE.
Secretary,
JOHN D. PARSONS.
Committee on Library,
SAMUEL J. SPALDING, JAMES PARTON, WM. R. JOHNSON.
Committee on Librarian,
AMOS NOYES, DANIEL T. FISKE, N. N. WITHINGTON.
Committee on Library Room,
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, S. J. SPALDING. ORRIN J. GURNEY.
Committee on Reading Room,
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, ENOCH C. ADAMS, RUDOLPH JACOBY.
Committee on Finance and Accounts,
E. T. DODGE, W. R. JOHNSON, CHARLES C. DAME.
Committee on Bradbury Fund, CHARLES C. DAME, RUDOLPH JACOBY, N. N. WITHINGTON,
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS.
-
'lo the Honorable the Mayor and the City Council of Newburyport :
GENTLEMEN :- In submitting to you the thirty-fifth annual report of the condition of our public library, the directors have little more to do than to congratulate you upon its continued prosperity and success.
During the year now closing our constant benefactor, Mr. William C. Todd, has placed us under additional obligations, by depositing with us his collection of oil paintings, which we have caused to be hung in various parts of the building.
On the publication of the present catalogue, in 1879, the library contained 19,787 volumes. The increase in the last twelve years brings the total to about 27,000, leaving over 7000 volumes unre- corded in the general catalogue. This has already become a seri- ous inconvenience to the frequenters of the library, which increases with every work added to it. The time is not distant when we must set about supplying the deficiency, or devise some new mode of cataloguing which will obviate the need of such frequent and expensive publications. This state of things brings to our minds with much force the slenderness of our resources, and suggests to us the propriety of again commending the institution to the friendly consideration of our fellow citizens. While we do the utmost for the library which its revenues allow, we feel that more could be
,27)
210
ANNUAL REPORTS.
expended advantageously upon an institution which contributes so essentially to the happiness and progress of the community. We append the annual reports of the librarian and of the committees in charge of special funds.
· ELISHA P. DODGE,
.ORRIN J. GURNEY,
. EDWARD S. MOSELEY,
. SAMUEL J. SPALDING,
Directors
. DANIEL T. FISKE,
. LAWRENCE B. CUSHING, RUDOLPH JACOBY,
of the
& NATHAN N. WITHINGTON,
Public Library.
WILLIAM R. JOHNSON,
. AMOS NOYES,
.JAMES PARTON,
ENOCH C. ADAMS,
Newburyport, December 8, 1890.
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.
To the Committee on Library :
GENTLEMEN :- I herewith submit to you my second annual report, and the 35th of the librarian of the Newburyport Public Library.
GROWTH DURING THE YEAR.
At the date of the last report it appeared that there were 25,604 catalogued books in the library. During the past year 627 have been added by purchase, of which number 27 were to take the place of books worn out and cancelled ; and 145 volumes have been donated. Of the above purchases 307 were bought by the income from the Peabody Fund, which continues to be the princi- pal source of supply for our more valuable books, its income amounting to three-fifths of all the money available for increasing the strength of the library. But 43 books were withdrawn and condemned this year, against 389 for the previous year. when a wholesale weeding out of imperfect, and thereby valueless, books was attempted. The result of these figures shows that the library now nominally contains 26,306 volumes, more fully set forth in appendix E.
A RECOUNT RECOMMENDED.
I do not place the fullest faith in these figures, and as we have large numbers of books not catalogued, I would recommend that at the next annual examination there be a recount of all the vol-
212
ANNUAL REPORTS.
umes of the library, so as to give us new data aside from continu- ing our reckoning from one report to the other, wholly in ignorance as to when or on what system the original count was taken, and on what basis it was continued.
CIRCULATION OF BOOKS FOR THE YEAR, 31,727.
During the year ending November 25, 1890, 31,721 books were withdrawn from the library for home use. Of this number only four were lost or unaccounted for, the aggregate value of which would approximate $5. Appendix F shows the character or class- ification of these books. While adult fiction leads with a per centage of .547, that is .021 less than for the last three months of the ensuing year, the only period available for making compari- sons, as no statistics were kept previous to September, 1889. This is a very favorable showing compared with other libraries of its class. Juvenile books are next in demand, representing .146 of the entire circulation. A little over a year ago the library was at a low ebb as regards books of this class. Since that time over 100 have been added, carefully selected from the almost endless variety now in the market; and the result is that the number of boys and girls who now use the library is at least five times in excess of what it was two years since. Many of them are acquir- ing good reading habits, and show a marked advance in making their selections. I believe the ultimate results of supplying this kind of reading, of directing certain classes toward the paths of education which they might otherwise never find, cannot be over- estimated. The necessity of furnishing mental food suitable to the mind of the recipient, as well as bodily food suitable to his physical condition, is too well acknowledged now to need any argu- ment here.
OTHER LIBRARY STATISTICS.
The library during the period covered by this report has been open 287 days, which gives the average daily circulation as 111 and a fraction. The largest circulation was on Saturday, October 25, 267 books. These figures make no account of books called for for consultation at the library, which would increase the total by
213
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
some thousands. A comparison of the circulation for home use for the last three months of the library year of 1890 with the cor- responding period of the previous year, shows that 8739 books were withdrawn in 1890, against 7304 in 1889, a gain of 1435, or a trifle less than 20 per cent. While it is not to be expected that this ratio will be kept up, still it is evident that the privileges and value of the library are being better appreciated year by year. At the close of the last library year 1281 persons were entitled to draw books under the new registration. During the year just closed 1159 new names were added, 49 were cancelled, and accord- ingly *2391 names are now registered. The rate of increase is about 100 per month.
UNSKILLED HELP ASKED FOR.
During the past year 302 books have been sent to the bindery to be bound or rebound, the total cost of which was $135.60, an average of about 45 cents per volume, while 278 have been repaired and 1629 covered at the library, or a total of 1907. The estimated time employed at this work was fully 100 hours. Double this time, at least, has been consumed in going to and from the book shelves, which are scattered over a large area in this library. Work of this sort seriously robs the librarian of time which could be more advantageously employed in bettering the condition of the library, and making it more serviceable to the citizens ; and it is of a kind that requires neither much skill nor intelligence. Accordingly, in view of these facts, and of the general increase of library work, the librarian feels justified in calling your attention to the need of further help, such as could be best furnished by a boy of fourteen or fifteen years of age. He would add that no library of the grade of this one with which he is acquainted is so restricted in help, and that no librarian is called upon to devote so much time to minor matters which could so advantageously be done by another.
THE WANT OF A CATALOGUE.
The necessity which is so apparent, of doing something towards cataloguing and making the attendant changes at the library, can-
*2810 May 10, 1891, date of printing.
214
ANNUAL REPORTS.
not be urged too strongly. Since the last catalogue was issued the books in the library have increased in number nearly one- half. In practical value it may be said they more than equal the entire collection of twelve years ago, and the proportion drawn from the newer books is of course many times in excess of that drawn from the older. The catalogue as it exists today is practi cally useless. Aside from classic literature, there is hardly a sub- ject in which one would care to rest his investigation on the auth- orities alone as they existed down to 1878. If he would go far- ther, he has thirteen annual supplements to pore over before he exhausts the resources of the library. The ordinary borrower has not the time for this, and so he naturally takes the shorter cut of depending on the librarian for his selection of books. It is the duty of the librarian to meet these calls, but the days are not long enough for fulfilling them properly, and at the best many must go away dissatisfied. It has often been said that a library without a good catalogue is like a book without an index. Our library is practically without an index, and its table of contents is scat- tered through the book at the head of each chapter, and not col- lected in order at the beginning.
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