USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1893 > Part 2
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PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The remarks I made in regard to this department one year ago are just as applicable today, that the public schools of Newburyport will compare favor- ably with those in other places, and that we have as good a corps of teachers as can be found else- where. I am a firm believer in the public schools of America ; they are one of the safeguards of the nation, and must be maintained at any cost. If they are ever allowed to go down, the republic will
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go down with them, for no republic can stand any length of time when the people are allowed to be brought up in ignorance. But it seems to me that the time is not far distant when a radical change will be demanded in the management of our public schools. I believe their greatest danger to be not from any outside influence which may be brought to bear upon them, but from the fact that so much is being crowded into them that they are liable to fall from their own weight. Of late years, common sense in the arrangement of studies seems to have been left largely out of the question. In many in- stances the time of the scholars is worse than wasted in studies that can be of no benefit to most of them. A certain time is set apart in which to teach drawing. Now it does not require a very brilliant mind to understand that drawing is a natural gift ; that whileit may be cultivated in those who possess the gift, it will be a useless waste of time in trying to teach nine-tenths of the scholars draw- ing, and that such an accomplishment would be of no practical use to a majority of them, even if they possessed it. And the same might be said in regard to many other things which are being taught in our schools.
I have been asked a number of times lately my opinion of the proposition to hold but one session of .
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the high school. While I am aware that there has been considerable discussion upon the subject, I have given the matter very little thought myself. I do not know what object those who are desirous of making the change have in view, or what benefit, if any, they claim is to be derived from it, But it seems to me if there is any good reason why the high school should hold but one session daily, it will apply equally as well to the grammar schools and the primary schools. I have been informed that one reason for making the change is that a few persons who have their dinner hour some time in the middle of the afternoon may be accommodated. But the majority dine between the hours of 12 and 1, and most people, especially children and youth, prefer food in the stomach to style and fashion in the time and manner of dining; and it seems to me that any parent who considered the health and wel- fare of their children would decidedly object to have them go without food from early morning until the middle of the afternoon, or to be obliged to eat a cold dinner at school, which would be the only al- ternative. Another serious objection, to my mind, would be the continuous strain upon the scholar for five hours without interruption, which, it seems to me, would tend to their injury, both physically and intellectually. Neither do I believe the teach-
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ers, unless they are constituted differently from other people, could perform their work as well. All these questions, as far as the high school is con- cerned, will, in my opinion, be settled before many years, by repealing the law which now requires cities and towns to maintain such schools.
The feeling is growing stronger every day that when the public has furnished a good grammar school education, it has done its duty, and those who wish their children to learn German, French, Latin and Greek ; to study botany, chemistry, geol- ogy, astronomy and other things such as are taught in the high school, should be obliged to pay for such education. Any boy or girl who desires a high school education, and who may be too poor to pay for such, will find ample means and plenty of op- portunities through the many available funds which exist everywhere, to obtain it. The percentage of scholars who enter the high school is very small. In our own city, out of over 1,500 attending the public schools the last year, but one-tenth, or about 150, were in the high school; while it required to maintain that school one-quarter of the whole ap- propriation for schools. The large majority who derive no benefit whatever from the high school, and in most cases can least afford to be taxed for its support, are obliged to pay for a high school
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education for the few who, in nearly every case, can best afford it. I believe it to be an act of injustice to oblige the public to furnish any more than a good grammar school education, and unless a scholar intends to enter some profession, in my opinion, it is better for him to leave school after acquiring such an education. You will find today in the factories of this city young men and women graduates of our high and Putnam schools and of the State normal schools, who have not a good grammar school education, for the simple reason that the many useless things they were obliged to study afterwards has driven it entirely from their minds. They have a little knowledge of botany or geology, but it does not enable them to saw a board any straighter or make a better joint as they labor in the car factory or carpenter's shop. Of what benefit is it to them as they stand behind the counter to sell calico and ribbon that they once studied zoology and trigonometry? Perhaps they can speak a little German or French, but they are not able to run a stitching machine in a shoe fac- tory any better on that account. And these are fair samples of the work a majority of the graduates of the high schools are engaged in. Now, unless, as I said before, a scholar intends to enter some pro- fession, would it not be far better to give him a
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good grammar school education? Teach him to be proficient in spelling ; to read and write well; to be well versed in arithmetic; teach him something of geography and history, especially in regard to his own country, and then send him out into the world to learn from observation, by experience and by contact with the world, those things which will make him strong of character and of will, and which will best fit him to withstand temptation and to engage successfully in life's battle.
POLICE.
Three new officers were added to the police force at the beginning of last year. This fact, together with a few changes that were made at the same time, gave the citizens of Newburyport last year the most efficient police force they have had for ten years. For a number of years there has been a lack of har- mony in this department. I had an idea as to what was causing the trouble, and had it removed, and am happy to state that during the past year the police have all been working together ; there has been per- fect harmony at the station, and the citizens have been benefited thereby. In connection with this de- partment I would recommend that early in the spring an addition be built to the police station; it could be built, I think, for about $2,000, and it cer-
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tainly is very much needed as any one who will look into the matter will admit. While the present quarters will do very well for tramps, and what we might call dirty drunks, it is not a fit place to put a half-decent person in. Two good rows of good, light, airy cells could be built on the main floor, and the basement could be used to good advantage in storing the city tools, for which we are now hiring a place, and an office could be fitted up for the su- perintendent of highways.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
In regard to the poor department, I will only say that under the present efficient board of overseers it has been managed in a most satisfactory manner.
In regard to the sewer department, the sewers have been extended the past year over quite a large area, including the whole of ward five, and at a reasonable cost. I have been informed by the su- perintendent that all the sewers are working in a satisfactory manner. In connection with this de- partment, I would say that in the case of Mr. Douglass against the city, we have not made much headway ; we have succeeded in agreeing upon two referees, but have been unable so far to agree upon the third one. Every name that has been suggested would be objected to by either Mr. Douglass' lawyer
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or the city's lawyer, and I have come to the con- clusion that lawyers are better adapted to get one into a scrape than they are to get you out. I have labored harder, and been bothered more, in trying to bring about a settlement of this case, than in any other matter that has claimed my attention, until I have heartily wished that the "Old Harry" had both lawyers.
In regard to public parks, I would suggest that the appropriation be $1,000, instead of $500, as is now the case. It requires about the whole of the appropriation to keep the Mall in order, and some- thing, if only a little, should be done each year toward improving the other parks. These breath- ing spots are needed in every city; and should be made desirable places for citizens to visit. Brown square, after the contemplated improvements are carried out, and the statue which I understand one of our public-spirited citizens intends to present the city has been placed in position, will be an ornament to the city.
In connection with parks, I would suggest that the city purchase a large, level tract of land, some- where on the other side of Low street, where the boys can play ball ; have it large enough to accommodate them all. It is not proper, and they should not be allowed to play ball in the compact part of the city,
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but should be provided with a place where they can play without annoying any one. Such a piece of land could be purchased in the vicinity I have named, at a very small expense, and it would not be far for the boys to go, and I think would be appreciated by them.
THE WATER QUESTION.
As my message delivered to the city council last October covered the ground pretty thoroughly upon this subject, it will not be necessary to dwell upon it to any extent at the present time. You will re- member upon that occasion I stated that the water company had furnished the town of Newbury with water, when they did not have a sufficient supply, from any proper source, to furnish the city of New- buryport; also, that they had, contrary to the pro- visions of their charter, been furnishing the inhabit- ants of Newburyport with water taken from the Merrimac river. And I wish to state here that there is not a place anywhere upon the banks of the river, from its source to its mouth, so utterly unfit to draw from as where the pumping station of the Newbury- port Water Company is situated. There is a little cove which makes in at this point, and an eddy which carries into it about all the old drift which may be floating in the river, and any one familiar with the shore at this point will tell you that about
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every dead cat or dog thrown in the river will find its way into that cove. I have been asked a number of times if they really were taking water from the river ? I will say in answer, that, if you have been drinking water furnished by the Newburyport Water Company, you have been taking into your stomachs more or less water that was taken from this very cove which I have described, and pumped by the water company through their pipes into your houses ; which water they have been selling to you atan exorbitant price, for pure spring water, know- ing, as they did, that the State board of health had condemned Merrimac river water as utterly unfit to be used for drinking purposes. And right here I will put in an extract from a letter written by F. P. Stearns, chief engineer of the State board of health, and sent to Dr. Noyes, the city physician, which is as follows :
"The board [referring to the State board of health ] has expressed its opinion that the Merrimac River water is unfit to drink above Lawrence, and would still be more strongly of this opinion after the river has received the sewage of Law- rence and Haverhill."
But, wholly regardless of the health of our citi- zens, the water company has been furnishing us with this river water, and, worse still, have been deceiving us into the belief that we were drinking pure water from the Bartlett spring. Yet, there are those who would advise us to place the city at the
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feet of the water company as a supplicant to beg of them not to rob and poison our citizens. I assure you the city will never be placed in any such hu- miliating position while the present executive oc- cupies the mayor's chair. I hardly think those who advise such a course have had any experience in trying to reason with the Newburyport Water Company; if they had they would ere now have come to the conclusion that they were dealing with the Czar of all the Russias, and that the water company own not only the water works but also the greater part of the earth, and only suffered the inhabitants of Newburyport to remain upon it in order that they might, Shylock-like, exact from them the last pound of flesh. They even threatened to shut the water off from the city a few months ago, because I had the audacity to request them to send an itemized bill to the city for the water used in the public buildings, and afterwards informed the city treasurer that they kept their books in such a man- ner that it was impossible for them to present such a bill, but finally sent in a bill for so many build- ings, at an average price, which they must have known to be false, as the records at City Hall will show where they have, at different times, agreed to furnish water for such a building at a certain price. I have had the city water analyzed by Mr. Castel-
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hun, daily, from October 10th up to the 17th of November, and I notice by his report that whereas the amount of chlorine should not be over one-half part to every one thousand parts, in nearly every instance it was found to contain a much larger amount. I also notice by his report, that on the 10th, 11th and 12th of October, there was a very large amount of chlorine found in the water, while after the 12th of that month there was a very marked decrease in the amount. At the time my message upon this question was delivered to the city council, in taking water from the river, they were obliged to pump directly through the pipes. Immediately after that time, the water company had some pipe hauled to the pumping station in the night, and upon the 12th of October they laid a pipe from the station to the pond; so that the reason why the amount of chlorine in the water was reduced so suddenly, may be found in the fact that after that pipe was laid they had facilities for pump- ing from the river into the pond, thereby mixing the water with the water in the pond and so diluting it.
The State board of health have also had the water analyzed. The first time their engineer came down, but very unwisely notified the water company of his coming, and consequently found the water at that
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time all right; but since then they have found out that there was something wrong about the water, and upon November 3 advised the water company not to pump any more water from the river, as you will see by the following letter :
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, 13 BEACON STREET, BOSTON, MASS., Nov. 3, 1892.
DR. ERNEST H. NOYES, Chairman Board of Health, Newburyport, Mass.
DEAR SIR: The State board of health has reason to believe that the New- buryport Water Company has at times pumped water from the Merrimac River, and has therefore sent them today a letter, stating that the use of this water is liable to endanger the public health, and advising that a further supply of pure water should be obtained without delay, so that there will be no further occasion for pumping water directly from the river.
Yours respectfully, SAMUEL W. ABBOTT, M. D., Secretary.
Now in regard to the city's purchasing the water plant. I have advised delaying the vote upon this question for three reasons : First, I am convinced, under the present circumstances, that it will be im- possible to obtain the requisite two-thirds vote; secondly, I am satisfied, after the award made in the Haverhill case, that we should be obliged to pay a large sum for a plant that was practically worthless ; for, after purchasing, we should be obliged to expend a very large sum to place it in a suitable condition. We should be obliged to seek a new supply, as the present supply is not sufficient ; we should need a basin to hold the water, in place of the pond, or rather slough, now being used, which is nothing but
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a hole scraped out of the mud in the most primitive fashion; we should also be under the necessity of building a new reservoir, as the one in the rear of High street is not of sufficient height to insure a good head of water, nor is it strong enough to allow building upon. Even when it was first erected, the whole lower band had to be hooped with one-fourth inch iron to strengthen it. We should also have to lay new pipes in most parts of the city, as the main is not large enough ; and I am informed by a gentle- man who had considerable to do with the project at the time, that there is not one piece of pipe in the whole system that is of standard quality. My third reason for delaying the vote is because I believe the best way for the city to obtain relief is by going to the legislature, the body which gave them their charter, and which also has the power to either take it away or to control them in its use, and ask per- mission to put in water works of our own, at the same time showing how the water company have been imposing upon the citizens of Newburyport and abusing the privileges given them by their charter. If the award in the Haverhill case is any criterion to go by, we should, without doubt, be obliged to pay the water company a large amount for the franchise, for that is about all they have got of any value to the city. And I maintain that the
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franchise is not theirs to sell; it does not belong to them, but to the people, and represents so much capital which was loaned by the people to the water company. They have had the free use of that capi- tal for over ten years, and it has been the means of putting a large sum of money into their pockets. Now for them to come forward and say to the citi- zens of Newburyport: "If you want to buy our plant you must pay us liberally for this franchise," is just as much stealing as though they went to the safe in this hall and took out an equal amount of city bonds. Stealing is stealing, whether it is stealing a loaf of bread or stealing the rights of the people, only in the latter case it is the meanest kind of stealing, for it will be stealing from their benefactors.
Therefore, I would recommend that the city em- ploy the best legal talent to be had in the State to represent them before the legislature in an effort to obtain permission to put in water works of our own. We can put in the Holly system complete, everything first-class in every respect, for a much less sum than we should be obliged to pay for the one that is now in, to say nothing about the cost of rebuilding it all over, which would surely follow. I would also recommend that petitions be circulated all over the city for this purpose, and I cannot see
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how even the president and directors of the New- buryport Water Company, as good citizens desiring the welfare of our city, could refuse to sign such a petition.
CONCLUSION.
And now, gentlemen, in closing this address, my remarks will be a little out of the usual course-alto- gether different from what is generally found in an address of this kind -- for I am going to speak upon a subject that is rarely, if ever, considered upon oc- casions like this, although it is one of vital impor- tance to every man, woman and child in the com- munity. The subject to which I refer is that of the morals of our city. Just prior to the election, a series of union meetings were held in some of the churches, at which speeches were made by a num- ber of the clergymen upon this subject. The speeches, with a few exceptions, were made in a Christian spirit, and were such that no one could find fault with them. Meetings similar to these are held, I believe, about the same time every year. For just what purpose, I have never been able to learn. Those who conduct them seem to be content with speaking their minds pretty freely at the time, and then they subside. One might suppose they had left the city, for we hear nothing further
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from them until about the same time the next year, when they come once more into view, and the same thing is gone over again. Now I sincerely hope that the last meetings that were held will prove an ex- ception, and that much good will arise from them. But right here I want to suggest that cracking jokes, such as we hear from the end men in a min- strel show, making intemperate speeches and find- ing fault with others for not doing their duty, while wholly unmindful of their own duty, will never ac- complish any good. To such I would say: "Phy- sician, heal thyself!" "First remove the beam from thine own eye, then mayest thou see clearly to pluck the mote from thy brother's eye." I think those who conduct these meetings should be divided into two classes. In the first class are those who honestly wish to do something for their fellow men; who have a sincere desire to take fallen humanity by the hand and lift it to a higher plane. Such are God's noble men and women, and are a blessing to the community. The second class is composed of those who, in my opinion, do not really care the snap of the finger how many liquor saloons or houses of prostitution there are in the city. They simply wish to create a sensation, and want to be considered the leaders in every popular movement. For such we have no use, and are better off without them.
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They are the ones who are responsible for the bad reputation of our city that was alluded to at the meetings lately held. The question has often been asked me, when visiting other cities, as to what kind of a place Newburyport was, that there were so many more liquor saloons and houses of ill-fame here than in other places; all on account of the in- temperate speeches made by sensational preachers, and which have been published abroad. Now it seems to me that it is not only proper, but that it is my duty, as the chief magistrate of this city, when such false statements are publicly made, to as publicly refute them. Newburyport does not deserve any such reputation as they would give her ; for there is not a fairer spot on the face of the earth-there is not a city or town of its size in these whole United States where there is a better class of people, or where there is a higher standard of mo- rality, than in this good old place. Our city worse than other places? Why, it would be a greater privilege to be permitted to die in Newburyport, than to be allowed to exist in any other place known to man. And when any clergyman cannot find better business to engage in than to blacken the reputation of our city, the sooner he receives a loud call from some far-away church the better it will be for the city and all concerned.
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Now, while our city is not only no worse, but very much better, than most places of its size, we cannot deny but what there are evils in our midst, -the same evils that exist all over the world. Their existence dates back to the Garden of Eden and will date forward to that time until He who alone has the power to exterminate them sees fit to do so. The city authorities have no power to pre- vent men from doing evil, and should not be ex- pected to do things that are impossible. There is one clergyman in this city, whom, I fear, would be disappointed, did I not allude to him in this ad- dress, as, at the meeting at the Pleasant street church, he seemed to express such a desire; and, as in his speeches at the union meetings lately held, he made me a special target for many of his shafts, I will devote a short time for that purpose. I will say on the start that this clergyman and myself are the best of friends, and I sincerely hope that we al- ways shall be. He is one of the most social and agreeable men that I have ever met, and I always enjoy talking with him. He is an able preacher, eloquent in the pulpit, and, I honestly think, that there is not a man within a radius of fifty miles, who, with his eloquence and natural abilities, is capable of doing so much for the church, if he is only so disposed. He can preach an excellent gospel ser-
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