USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1893 > Part 16
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218 High street. 215 High street.
24 Tyng street. 15 Woodland st.
BOARD OF HEALTH. CLARENCE C. DAY, M. D. [City Physician], ex officio.
TERM TWO YEARS.
JOHN E. BAILEY [term expires '95] G. W. WORCESTER, M. D. [term expires '96] Agent of Board.
6 Kent street.
124 High street.
D. CLARK BATCHELDER,
5 Fair street.
Clerk of Board.
AMOS H. GEARY, [Office : City Hall] . 36 Prospect street.
ASSESSORS.
Office : City Hall. TERM THREE YEARS. AMOS H. GEARY, Chairman [term expires '95] 36 Prospect street. J. L. JOHNSON, Secretary [term expires '96] 27 Washington st.
J. OTIS WINKLEY [term expires 1894] · Parker street.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
ORRIN J. GURNEY, [Mayor] Chairman, ex officio. TERM THREE YEARS. L. W. SARGENT, Vice-Chairman [term expires '94]280 High street. JOHN C. STEVENS | term expires 1896] 2 Madison street.
LAWRENCE W. BROWN [term expires 1895] 20 Fruit street. Clerk of Overseers of the Poor. WILLIAM H. BAYLEY, [Office : City Hall] 27 Milk street.
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
BOARD OF REGISTRARS.
GEORGE H. STEVENS, City Clerk, . TERM THREE YEARS.
ARTHUR L. HUSE [term expires 1895] NATHANIEL GREELY [term expires 1894] BENJAMIN G. DAVIS [term expires 1896]
37 Kent street.
Buck street. 37 Marlboro street. Horton street.
SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS. Orrin J. Gurney (Mayor), ex officio. Andrew R. Curtis (President of Common Council), ex officio. William H. Welch (City Auditor), ex officio. Charles C. Dame (term expires 1894). Eben Sumner (term expires 1895). Treasurer and Clerk-James V. Felker (City Treasurer).
TRUSTEES OF SIMPSON FUND. Orrin J. Gurney (Mayor), ex officio. Andrew R. Curtis (President of Common Council), ex officio.
Thomas C. Simpson (term expires 1894). Charles C. Dame (term expires 1895). Eliphalet Griffin (term expires 1896). Treasurer and Clerk-James V. Felker (City Treasurer).
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS. Orrin J. Gurney (Mayor), ex officio. Andrew R. Curtis (President of Common Council), ex officio. TERM THREE YEARS. Oliver O. Jones (term expires 1894). William R. Johnson (term expires 1895). Eliphalet Griffin (term expires 1896).
COMMISSIONERS OF ATKINSON COMMON. Orrin J. Gurney (Mayor), ex officio. Andrew R. Curtis (President of Common Council), ex officio. Eliphalet Griffin, Jacob T. Rowe,
George E. Currier.
9
CITY GOVERNMENT.
CITY CLERK.
George II. Stevens, 37 Kent street. . Office : City Hall. Clerk of City Clerk-George F. Poor.
--
CITY TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
James V. Felker, 12 Harris street. Office : City Hall. Clerk of City Treasurer-George E. Moulton.
CITY AUDITOR.
William H. Welch,
14 Harris street. Office : First National Bank.
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CITY SOLICITOR.
Robert E. Burke, .
132 High street. Office : 76 State street.
CITY MESSENGER.
Frank H. Rundlett, .
.
28 Federal street.
Office : City Hall.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
William P. Lunt,
19 Pond street. Office : City Hall. -
SUPERINTENDENT OF HIGHWAYS.
Charles M. Pritchard, . 17 Atwood street.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SEWERS.
Francis Curtis, .
3 Park street.
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
CITY PHYSICIAN.
Clarence C. Day,
.
. IO Washington street.
CHIEF ENGINEER OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Selwyn C. Reed,
IO Charter street.
SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
Orrin J. Welch, . .
1512 Walnut street.
LIBRARIAN PUBLIC LIBRARY.
John D. Parsons,
· 2212 Market street. Office : Public Library.
SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC READING ROOM.
Martha P. Lunt,
19 Pond street.
NEWBURYPORT POLICE FORCE.
City Marshal. A. W. Emerson. Office : Central Police Station.
Acting Assistant Marshal. Albert D. Hale.
- Captain of the Watch. Simon E. Wilson.
-
Day Officers.
Lemuel Hicken.
Patrick Creeden,
II
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Night Patrolmen.
Seth Young, George J. Ross. John L. McLean, William E. Young, George W. Lattime,
James W. Merritt, Joseph H. Post, William H. Pike, Charles W. Wells, William Gillis.
Constables.
A. Warren Emerson. Simon E. Wilson, Joseph M. Tappan,
Frank H. Rundlett, D. Clark Batchelder, Robert G. Allen,
Henry J. Hidden.
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
Asa W. Emerson.
-
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS.
George W. Knight.
-
HARBOR MASTER.
Michael Stevens.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. Amos H. Geary. Office : City Hall.
MEASURERS OF GRAIN.
Moses H. Rolfe,
Charles B. Knight.
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INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR. Amos H. Geary. Office : City Hall.
GAUGERS.
William C. Cuseck, William A. Little,
Hiram P. Macintosh.
I2
ANNUAL REPORTS.
SURVEYORS OF LUMBER.
John T. Filmore,
George W. Marston,
William B. Coffin,
William H. Morse,
John C. Kimball,
Charles I .. Perkins,
Moses P. Towne,
Gideon C. Webster,
Orlando F. Hatch,
Thomas F. Corey,
Edward Perkins,
Leonard W. Sargent.
WEIGHERS OF COAL, HAY AND OTHER MERCHANDISE.
William S. Coffin, Harry W. Bayley,
Philip H. Creasey,
John S. Brown,
John J. Collins,
Fred L. Macintosh,
G. Edwin Creasey,
Edward E. Varina,
Fred B. Fanning,
James Joy,
William Conley,
John L. Noyes,
John Reddy,
Fred L. Atkinson,
James Conley, Walter E. Atkinson,
Amos H. Geary,
Benjamin F. Atkinson,
Joseph L. Jacoby,
Rudolph Jacoby,
John H. Balch, jr.,
Alonzo C. Pearson,
Stephen P. Bray,
William Noyes,
Charles C. Dame,
Charles A. Pearson,
Jackson Greenaway,
John Collins.
Leonard W. Coker, Frank A. Bray,
FIELD DRIVERS.
Jeremiah S. Parker,
William A. Hopkinson.
POUND KEEPERS.
Pound No. I-Auburn street,
Timothy Maroney.
Pound No. 2-Wesley street, .
.
.
MEASURERS OF WOOD AND BARK.
Philip H. Creasey, John Reddy, John J. Collins, William Noyes, John H. Balch, jr.,
Fred L. Atkinson,
Benjamin F. Atkinson, Jere Healey, Charles W. Dame,
Stephen P. Bray, Charles A. Pearson, Jackson Greenaway.
John Collins, Fred B. Fanning, William S. Coffin, John L. Noyes, G. Edwin Creasey, Charles W. Nelson,
Frank A. Bray,
Daniel M. Felch,
Lawrence Whalen, Jere Healey,
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CITY GOVERNMENT.
MEASURERS OF CHARCOAL.
Fred L. Atkinson, Stephen P. Bray,
Jere Healey,
John L. Noyes,
John H. Balch, jr., Philip H. Creasey,
Charles W. Dame, William S. Coffin, Frank A. Bray.
WEIGHERS AND MEASURERS OF CITY FUEL.
Amos H. Geary, Charles W. Nelson, William S. Coffin,
Leonard W. Cokes.
INSPECTOR OF COAL BASKETS. Amos H. Geary. Office : City Hall.
FENCE VIEWERS.
Greenleaf Dodge, Nathaniel Morse,
William H. Whitmore.
MEASURER OF UPPER LEATHER. John E. Morgan.
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ANNUAL, REPORTS.
MEETINGS.
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CITY COUNCIL. FIRST MONDAY EVENING OF EACH MONTH.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE. LAST MONDAY EVENING OF EACH MONTH.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR. LAST MONDAY EVENING OF EACH MONTH.
REGULAR COMMITTEE MEETINGS. Commencing with last Monday in each month.
Monday evening-School Committee; Lighting Streets, etc .; Bridges and Culverts ; Overseers of the Poor.
Tuesday evening-Public Property. Wednesday evening-Highways; Police. Thursday evening-Fire Department. Friday evening-Accounts.
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT.
IN COMMON COUNCIL,
? January 1, 1894. ١
ORDERED, the Mayor and Aldermen concurring, that the joint standing Com- mittee on Printing be and hereby are instructed to request of His Honor the Mayor a copy of his inaugural address, for publication in the volume of Receipts and Expenditures and reports and papers pertaining to the last municipal year.
Adopted.
THOMAS E. CUTTER, Clerk.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, January 1, 1894.
Adopted in concurrence.
GEORGE H. STEVENS, Clerk.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF
HON. ORRIN J. GURNEY,
DELIVERED JANUARY 1, 1894.
Gentlemen of the City Council:
It is with a deep and sincere feeling of gratitude to my fellow-citizens that I stand here today to deliver my third inaugural address; gratitude not only on account of the exceptional honor they have conferred upon me in again unanimously re-electing me to the responsible position of chief magistrate of the city, but gratitude also for the confidence they have retained in me through the nine years of my public service in the various offices which I have held in the city government. Such confidence on their part demands constant devotion and un- tiring labor on mine. It demands that I should, to the best of my ability, faithfully serve the inter- ests and uphold the honor of the city; and fully realizing the justice of their claims upon me, I
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
promise them today that I will honestly and fear- lessly, in the future as I have in the past, endeavor at all times and under all circumstances to so per- form the duties of the office that they will have no reason to feel their confidence has been misplaced.
The mayor's position is not only one of great re- sponsibility, but in the performance of his duty he often finds it far from being a bed of roses. I do not expect and never have tried to please everyone, for the man who tries to do that will not succeed in pleasing anyone, not even himself. I shall sim- ply try to perform my duty without fear or favor. In so doing I am fully aware that I shall make en- emies, for the man has yet to be born, no matter how humble his sphere in life may be, who has not in the performance of his duty offended someone.
During the two years that I have filled the mayor's position I have at all times tried to do what I be- lieved to be right. To acknowledge that I have made mistakes is but to demonstrate what we all know, that man is far from being perfect. Fair, honest, just criticism I invite. For that which is unfair and unjust I have no fear ; it will injure only those who use it. I have unbounded faith in the intelligence of the people, and have no doubt but what they will readily sift the chaff from the wheat; and while I absolutely refuse to do the bid- ding of any party, clique or ring, I gladly acknowl-
19
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
edge myself the servant of the people, and to them alone shall I render my account.
I have the satisfaction of knowing that I have tried to serve the city faithfully, always doing that which I believed would be for its best interests, and also the satisfaction of knowing that the people believed it; for, inasmuch as I had been advertised by my enemies as a lost leader, upwards of eighteen hundred of the best citizens of Newburyport, com- prising clergymen, lawyers, physicians, merchants, mechanics and honest laborers, all classes and con- ditions of men, united in one grand searching party, and they all gladly bear testimony today that when found there was no stain upon the official robes which they had entrusted to my care. The stern sword of justice had parried every shaft of envy, malice, and of slander. Error and falsehood, low cunning and hypocrisy, had been hurled back by the almighty force and power of truth. For truth is mighty and will prevail; though crushed to earth it will rise again from the dust, nobler and grander than ever, for it stands upon a foundation which cannot be shaken, that of the eternal word of God.
And now, gentlemen, let us carefully consider some of the questions which will confront us the present year.
First, I ask your attention to the financial condi-
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
tion of the city. It has been said that figures will not lie, but this is not absolutely true, for they can be made to lie; it depends altogether upon who makes the figures and the honesty of the motives. In view of the false statements that have been cir- culated regarding last year's financial record, I would earnestly request every citizen to carefully study the statements and figures I shall make use of in discussing this subject. They are not false fig .. ures, calculated to mislead the people or to hide anything from them, but they are official facts, sworn to by the city treasurer and the city audi- tor, and they are absolutely true in every respect and can be verified at the treasurer's office.
FINANCE.
As seen by the statement of the city treasurer, the net debt of the city on December 16, 1893, was $388,790.24, being an increase for the year of $10,- 035.68, the increase being caused by an expendi- ture of $20,324.46 for the construction of sewers in ward one, for which there was no appropria- tion. If there had been no sewers put in last year the debt, instead of being increased $10,035.68, would have been decreased $10,988.78, which would have been an excellent showing. The appro- priation for the year was $177,445.62; the income, $45,819.18; making a total of $223,264.80. The
2I
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
expenditure for the year, exclusive of the $20,324 .- 46 for sewer construction, was $230,373.80, show- ing an overdraft for the year of $7109. About $3000, or nearly one-half of the whole amount, was paid in settlement of two claims against the city, which were left as a legacy by my predecessor, and which neither myself nor the city governments of 1892 and 1893 were in any way responsible for ; $2100 was paid on account of the legislative hear- ing whereby we obtained a charter to put in a water plant of our own, and that was certainly well expended. Nearly $1000 has been paid toward the expense now going on in ascertaining the source of supply and developing a plan for a system of water works; $500 was for part of the expense for the unveiling of the Garrison statue on July 4, the rest being contributed by the citizens ; so it will be seen that about $6500 of the overdraft, or with- in about $600 of the whole amount, was caused by unusual expenditure.
The financial policy and ability of myself and the members of the city government who supported me last year has been questioned, and by whom ? Surely not by any honest men. And here they will perhaps accuse me of believing every man dishon- est who differs from me, which is not true. For while I do believe the large majority of men to be honest, I am not quite so innocent as to believe
22
ANNUAL REPORTS.
that all men are honest, as I know from a sad ex- perience that they are not; nor will any man with sufficient business capacity to understand such matters question our financial ability ; for if such men will look into the matter carefully, they will be obliged to admit that for the last two years the city's business has been conducted upon business principles and by competent business men.
Those who are finding fault and making these false statements belong to that class of men who are always standing ready to dip their hands into the city treasury. They have not been very suc- cessful for the last two years, and they don't like it a bit. I met one of them upon the street, just be- fore the election, who claims, whether rightfully or not I do not know, to have been the originator of the so-called business men's movement. He was very urgent in his demand that the whole board of aldermen, as well as the common council, should be turned out and an entirely new set of men elected ; and before he got through talking I found out why he wished such a radical change made, for he in- formed me that he did not think he had been given his share of the city work lately. And he was a fair sample of the managers of that movement, for they all had some selfish motive; and if the truth could be known, it would be seen that there was not only some water in it but also a little rum, as
23
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
some of the managers were interested in obtaining liquor licenses for their clients.
I am not referring in the least to any of the can- didates who were nominated on that ticket, for they were all good men ; nor do I refer to the num- ber of honest citizens who afterward became iden- tified with the movement. But I refer solely to the originators and managers, who all had some scheme to carry out; but so many honest men were taken into the movement that it upset all their calculations, and consequently their plans miscarried. Now I have a proposition to make to these men who have been crying so loudly about the mismanagement of the city affairs, and the pressing need of electing business men to office, which is this: That they call a mass meeting of the citizens, in this hall; that they make their charges before the citizens to whom we are respon- sible; and I agree to meet alone upon this plat- form, without any assistance, the whole fifty-one -I believe that is the number. I will meet them individually or collectively; and I will guarantee to prove to the satisfaction of the citizens, not only that the city's business has been managed for the past two years in a manner that has not been excelled, but will also prove that the persons who have been making these false charges knew them to be false when they made them.
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
Your careful attention is now called to a com- parison of the financial condition of the city, be- ginning with the year 1889 and extending to the present time :
The net debt of the city Dec. 21, 1889, was $403,985.84
The net debt of the city Dec. 20, 1890, was · 414,063.55
The net debt of the city Dec. 19, 1891, was . 391,312.32 The net debt of the city Dec. 17, 1892, was . 378,754.56
The net debt of the city Dec. 16, 1893, was
388,790.24
You will see by this table that the city debt was lowest by considerable at the close of my first year's administration. You will also notice that although the debt was increased last year, which was wholly on account of putting in new sewers, and notwithstanding the sewer expense and the other unusual expenditures, the city debt is at the present time $2522.08 less than it was when we came into office, and there never has been a time when there were so few unpaid bills out as now. The $2104.45 for the legislative hearing has all been paid, and also about one-half of the expense of the engineer's work now going on. Now there is not much lack of business ability or mismanage- ment of city affairs exhibited in this statement, which is all true, and has all been sworn to by the city treasurer and city auditor.
Now a comparison of the overdrafts for the same five years.
25
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
The overdraft for the year 1889 was
. $10,066.26
The overdraft for the year 1890 was
13,768.97
The overdraft for the year 1891 was
7,275.47
The overdraft for the year 1892 was
195.62
The overdraft for the year 1893 was
7,109.00
You will see by this table that the overdraft was the lowest during my first year's administration ; and when I speak of my administration, I want it distinctly understood that it includes all the mem- bers of both branches of the city council, who no- bly supported me during those two years. And here I am going to quote a little from the second inaugural address of the Hon. E. P. Dodge, in which he refers to his first year's account. The overdraft that year was $13,768.97 as against $7109 last year. The increase of the debt that year was $10,077.71 as against $10,035.68 last year; his overdraft that year being $6659.97 more than ours last year, and his increase of the debt that year being $42.03 more than ours last year. Mayor Dodge, referring to that year, re- marks as follows: "The increase of the net debt is accounted for by the fact that there has been paid during the last year on account of the construction of sewers $17,155. Had it not been for this item there would have been an actual decrease of the debt of about $7000. This is a satisfactory show- ing in view of the extraordinary expenditures in
.
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
the highway and incidental departments." I have here quoted his exact words. You will see he ac- counts for the increase of the debt that year by the fact that there had been paid during the year for construction of sewers $17,155. We account for the increase of the debt last year by the fact that we paid during the year for construction of sewers $20,324.46, or $3169.56 more than he paid out. He then says that if it had not been for the item of sewer construction that year there would have been an actual decrease of the debt o fabout $7000, and we say that if it had not been for the item of sewer construction last year there would have been an actual decrease of the debt of $10,988.78, or $3988.78 more than the decrease which might have been made his year. Then Mayor Dodge claims that the financial record of that year was a satis- factory showing, in view of the extraordinary ex- penditures in the highway and incidental depart- ments. We will now see what those expenditures were and compare them with ours. The highway department expenditure that year was $14,831.53, incidentals were $8193.29, which taken together make a total of $23,024.82. Last year the high- way department expenditure was $46,623.45, or $31,791.92 more than it was the year to which he referred ; or, in other words, more than three times as much as was expended during his year. The in-
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
cidental expenditure last year was $11,609.55, or $3416.26 more than his year. The expenditures for highways and incidentals last year, added to- gether, make a total of $58,233, as against $23,024.82 expended in Mayor Dodge's year, or more than two and one-half times the amount that Mayor Dodge considered as extraordinary ; and yet the debt last year was not increased as much by $42.03 as it was the year he speaks about, and the overdraft that year was $6659.97 more than ours last year. I have not made these comparisons for the purpose of finding fault with Mayor Dodge's financial record of that year, for I agree with him that considering the expenditures it was a satisfactory showing, but I have compared the two years because some of those who called the record of his year a good one have been falsely claiming that last year's record was not good. Now if Mayor Dodge's financial record that year was a satisfactory one, and it certainly was, then the financial record of last year was so much better than his as to be beyond all comparison. Taking either year under my administration sepa- rately, the financial record, considering the expen- ditures, has not been equalled for twenty years; and taking my two years together, it has not been equalled since Newburyport became a city, and the members of those city governments have every rea-
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
son to feel proud of their record. The persons who have been making these false statements regarding the financial record of last year were not only ex- pecting, but also hoping, there would be an over- draft last year of either twenty-five or thirty thou- sand dollars, and when they found out how small the overdraft actually was they were very much disappointed. It is very mortifying for me to feel obliged to place my word against the word of those who are too cowardly to show their face, and too dishonorable when making statements to sign their name to them; but I feel it to be my duty to do so, as these false statements reflecting upon the financial condition of our city have been pub- lished abroad to the great injury of the city. And I would say to the citizens: First, that it is never safe to believe any printed statement relating to the finances of the city, where the writer is ashamed to write his name at the bottom of the article; second, that while it is not generally known, it is nevertheless true that a great many of the so-called communications published in pa- pers over fictitious names, such as "Taxpayer" and the like, are written in the newspaper office by the newspaper men themselves and then published as communications, they thinking an article would have more effect if it was thought to have been written by some citizen than it would if it was put
29
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
in as an editorial, and there is no disputing that fact; thirdly, you can always learn the truth re- garding the finances of the city by calling upon the city treasurer. These men called upon the city treasurer and learned the truth, just as I am stat- ing it here, but have not published it as it was given them by the treasurer.
Now a few words in regard to the Boston and Maine stock held by the city, as my management of it has not only been unjustly criticised but false- ly stated. Twenty-two years ago the city of New- buryport invested $74,000 in the city railroad, is- suing bonds to that amount, payable in twenty years, and bearing interest at seven per cent., for just what purpose I have never been able to learn, for it certainly has not been any benefit to the city. Up to the time of my first election as mayor it had cost the city nearly $60,000 in cash, which had been paid out for interest on the first investment, in excess of all money received from its lease to the Boston and Maine, or in any other way. It has benefitted only a few individuals, not more than a dozen outside of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal Co .; and the coal pocket, instead of being any benefit, has been one of the greatest curses ever inflicted upon this city. It is one of the most grinding monopolies that ever existed. It has un- der its control all the local dealers wherever it has
30
ANNUAL REPORTS.
obtained a hold, not allowing them to lower the price of coal, no matter how much they may desire to do so; and it has obliged our citizens to pay at least a dollar a ton more for their coal than they would have paid if that company had never en- tered the city. But to return to the city railroad matter. The stock of the city railroad was never carried upon the city books as an asset, each city government considering its value too uncertain to be reckoned ; and at the time I came to have any- thing to do with it, no business man in the city who had looked into the matter carefully would have given over $50 a share for the stock; but soon after, when we contemplated offering to sell the road to the Boston and Maine, a few shares were offered for sale in this city, and bought by a man who was interested in having the road kept running, he paying $65 a share, which was the highest bid offered, so that might be claimed as its market value at that time. At $65 a share, the 742 shares held by the city would amount to $48,- 230; the 424 shares of Boston and Maine now held by the city at its present market value, $134, would amount to $56,816, leaving a balance in favor of the city of $8586. So if the city should sell its Boston and Maine stock today it would be that much better off than it was when holding its city railroad stock; and that is the proper way to
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