USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1894 > Part 11
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26
Shoemaker.
Walnut street ..
..
E. Jackman ..
25
Shoemaker.
Ashland street .
. ..
Washington st. Market square. .
Ladderman, J. W. Butler
27
Motorman .
Shoemaker.
Laundry
Orange street ..
E. C. Lang
26
Laste
Temple street. .
H. Manchester
22
Hatter . .
Forrester street.
243
CHIEF ENGINEER.
HOSE EIGHT.
Name.
A ge
Occupation.
Residence.
Captain, W. B. Porter. ..
55
Teamster
Lunt street .... .
Lieutenant, D. W. Jackman.
35
Silversmith
Marlboro street
Clerk, W. H. Woodman
30
Shoemaker
Oak street .....
Steward, C. A. Caswell ..
36
Laborer ..
Purchase street.
Hoseman, G. W. Stanwood
39
Laborer.
Neptune street.
A. Russell ..
30 Comb-maker . .
Madison street.
66
L. S. Hilton
51
Heel cutter
Union street . ..
W. S. Porter.
36 Teamster
Chestnut street
66
W. H. Perkins
37 Fish dealer.
Union street . ..
F. McBurnie . ..
26 Shoemaker.
Union street. ..
CONCLUSION.
I desire to express my thanks for all those who in any way have been of benefit to the department, His Honor Mayor Gurney, the City Council, City Marshal and police depart- ment, my assistants on the board, officers and members of the department, and the citizens in general, for their cordial support and good wishes. The life of a fireman does not consist of a bed of roses, and the encouragement and good will shown us is gratefully appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
S. C. REED, Chief of Fire Department.
Newburyport, Jan. 1, 1895.
REPORT OF CITY SOLICITOR.
REPORT.
To the City Council of the City of Newburyport.
Gentlemen :-- The contest between the city and the Newburyport Water Company was renewed be- fore the legislature of 1894 upon the petition of the company for legislation compelling the city to pur- chase the plant and franchise of the company before proceeding to supply water to itself or its inhabitants. After repeated hearings before the committee, Chap- ter 474 of the Acts of 1894 was enacted.
The protracted controversy between the city and Jonathan W. Douglass has been finally settled by the payment of $10 000 to Mr. Douglass.
The claim of Carrie A. Stevens for personal in- juries caused by falling down an embankment on Merrimac street, above car house, was adjusted by payment of $200.
Suit of Mary Fenton, of Lynn, Myss., for dam- age to "flying horses" sustained by reason of alleged defect in Merrimac street, rear part of Kent, May 17, 1893, has not been brought to trial by plaintiff.
Suit of John Slattery for injuries received by a fall caused by an alleged defect in Lime street was
248
ANNUAL REPORTS.
upon trial list at the September sitting of the Supe- rior Court and when reached was settled by payment of $150 without costs.
Suit of Ellen Hurley for personal injuries re- ceived by falling upon Market street, near Pleasant, was tried before a jury at the September term of Su- perior Court and verdict rendered in favor of the city.
Claim of Elizabeth J. Waters for injuries sus- tained by falling through coal hole upon sidewalk of High street in front of Dr. Homer's drug store, settled by payment of $20.
Claim of James Leonard for damages caused by widening of Prospect street was settled in Supreme Court by payment of $1100 without costs.
Suit of Jeremiah Sweeney for trespass for enter- ing his premises and driving a well which continued to flow to the damage of his land, was tried in the police court of Newburyport and judgment rendered for plaintiff for $25 and costs.
Other claims against the city have been referred to this department by the committee on claims upon which it is deemed wise to take no action at present. Travelling and incidental expenses. $107 86
Witness fees 21 25
$129 II
Received from City Treasurer 129 II
Respectfully Submitted,
ROBERT E. BURKE,
City Solicitor.
December 31, 1894.
REPORT OF BRIDGE TENDER.
32
REPORT.
NEWBURYPORT, December 24, 1894.
To the Committee on Bridges and Culverts.
The total number of steamers, sailing vessels and sailboats passing through the draw was 1725, against 1530 in 1893. The first opening was March 21, the tug Clara E. Uhler; the last opening, schooner Myronus, Dec. 19, '94.
Tug Clara E. Uhler 275
Tug Bronx 420
Steamer Merrimac 265
Steamer Carlotta IO2
Transient steamers. 75
Vessels . :85
Sailboats. 403
Total 1725
Coal in vessels. 23,684 tons.
Stone in vessels 1,000 tons.
Leather chips.
300 tons.
I have consumed the following supplies :
Coal .. 4500 lbs.
Kerosene oil
20 gals.
252
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Sperm oil. 3 gals.
Matches
48 bn's.
Shovels 2
Salt .
3 bus.
Lamp Chimneys
6
Respectfully Submitted,
WILLIAM I. HUNT.
Newburyport, Dec. 24, 1894.
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
REPORT.
To His Honor the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the city of Newburyport.
GENTLEMEN :- The whole number of arrests dur- ing the months of the year ending December 31, 1894, for offences committed within the city of New- buryport is 717, of which 269 were of foreign birth, 448 were born within the limits of the United States ; 50 were females, and 53 were minors.
THE ARRESTS WERE FOR THE FOLLOWING CAUSES, VIZ :
Assault and battery . 22
Assault (mutual) . 27
Assault on officers 2
Assault (felonious)
I
Non-support
I
Assault with intent to kill. I
Adultery . 2
Profane and indecent language.
5
Bastardy I
5
Breaking and entering
6
Fighting
Cruelty to dumb animals I
256 .
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Threatening bodily harm I
Common railer and brawler
I
Idle and disorderly. I
Capais ... I
Drunkenness. 497
Brought in for sentence
I
Evading board . 5
Disturbing the peace
14
Defrauding hotel keepers
5
Exposing person
2
Embezzlement.
2
Receiving stolen property .
2
Fast driving.
2
Disturbing religious meeting
5
For out-of-town officers
I
Using threatening language .
2
Present at a game of cards.
4
Insane
3
Interfering with an officer
3
Larceny.
34
Larceny from the building
4
Breaking seal on car
I
Malicious mischief .
4
Keeping a disorderly house
2
On suspicion .
I
Safe-keeping.
3
Doing business on the Lord's day
3
Stubborn and disobedient.
2
Cheating and defrauding
2
Stealing a ride.
2
Vagrancy
6
Rape ..
I
Violation of city ordinances 9
Escaped prisoner. I
Violation of the dog law 6
Violation of the liquor law IO
Total 717
257
CITY MARSHAL.
DISPOSED OF AS FOLLOWS, VIZ :
Appealed · II
Bound over to Superior Court 9
Cases continued. 5
Committed for non-payment of fine 44
Committed to State Reform School
I
Committed to Danvers Hospital.
4
Discharged without complaint
17
Discharged by Court. 50
Fined and paid. 96
House of Correction
4
Newburyport Workhouse 5
Ordered to pay costs.
I
Put on probation 276
Placed on file 29
Put under bonds to keep the peace S
Sentence postponed 2
Sent to jail. . II2
Turned over to other officers
9
Turned over to parents. I
Concord Reformatory . 6
State Farm at Bridgewater
4
Defaulted
2
Died in cell. I
Bailed on call. IO
4
Industrial school at Lancaster
4
Inebriates' Home at Foxboro I
Married
I
Total 717
MISCELLANEOUS.
Amount of property reported lost $1,725 00
Amount of property recovered. 1,075 60
Amount of imprisonment imposed. . .. 34 years, 1 month, 7 days
33
Sherburn Prison for Women
258
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Accidents reported.
79
Assisted other officers.
201
Buildings found open and secured. 133
Complaints investigated
1,857
Defective places in streets reported .
III
Dogs killed
I
Disturbances suppressed without arrest
272
Escorts furnished processions
5
Fire alarms given.
5
Fires extinguished without alarm
9
Injured persons assisted.
16
Intoxicated persons helped home.
145
Lights furnished for dangerous places.
52
Lost children restored to parents.
39
Meals furnished lodgers and prisoners.
2,032
Nuisances investigated .
35
Officers for extra duty at City Hall
22
Persons provided with lodgings.
1,852
Search warrants for liquor served
14
Street obstructions removed . 342
22
Notified to shovel snow.
285
Amount of money taken from prisoners and returned, $109 57
Respectfully submitted,
Stray teams put up.
ASA W. EMERSON,
City Marshal.
REPORT OF ASSESSORS.
REPORT.
To His Honor the Mayor and the City Council.
GENTLEMEN :- The board of assessors respect- fully report the following statement of taxes for State, County and City purposes for the current year : Assessed value of real estate. ..... . $7,055,400 00 " personal property 2,200,800 00 66
Resident bank shares 499,877 00 $9,756,077 00
The rate of taxation for the year 1894 was $15.70 on each $1000 assessed ; the poll tax, $2.00; whole number of polls assessed, 3,888.
The tax on real estate, $7,055,400 at $15.70 is. .$110,769 78 The tax on personal estate, $2,200,- 800 at $15.70 is. 34,552 56 The tax on bank shares, $499,877, at $15.70 is. 7,848 07
The tax on 3,888 polls at $2.00.
7,776 00
$160,946 41
262
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The sums required by the warrants from the State, County and City are as follows :
From Henry M. Phillips, state treas-
urer .
$ 9,360 00
From E. Kendall Jenkins, county treasurer
11,112 83
From George H. Stevens,
city clerk, under a re-
solve from the city
council . ... . $176,559 Less this sum not otherwise
appropriated · 37,000
139.559 00
The amount of overlay being 533 25
60 66 " additional assessments 381 33
$160,946 41
The value of vessels engaged in the foreign trade exempt by law, amounting to $107,217.91, is not included in the valuation of personal property first mentioned ; the net income of such vessels, amounting to $114.80, is included, showing a loss in the amount of said income, as compared with that of last year, amounting to $6,101.84.
The number of vessels engaged in the foreign carrying trade May 1, 1894, and parts owned .in this city, consisted of 5 ships, 7 barks and 5 schooners.
The value of exempted property is as follows : Religious societies, real estate. .. . . $299,500 00 Literary institutions, real
estate . . $84,900 00
Literary institutions, in-
vested funds. 88,813 52
173,313 52
Amount carried forward. . $473,213 52
263
BOARD OF ASSESSORS.
Amount brought forward. . $473,213 52 Benefit and charitable in-
stitutions, real estate $89,000 00 Benefit and charitable institutions, invested funds. 292,036 99
381,336 99
$854,550 51 Number of dwelling houses assessed, 2,621 ; number of acres of land assessed, 4,576 ; number of residents assessed on prop- erty, 1,722 ; number of non-residents assessed on property, 169 ; all others, 367; total number assessed on property, 2,258; total number assessed for poll tax only, 2671 ; total number of tax- payers, 4,929; value of buildings assessed, excluding land, $4,786,850; value of land, excluding buildings, $2,252,050. Number of horses assessed, 669; cows, 255; oxen, 6.
AMOS H. GEARY. J. OTIS WINKLEY, JOSEPH L. JOHNSON, - Assessors. December 26, 1894.
REPORTS OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.
34
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
IN BOARD OF DIRECTORS, - Newburyport, December 17, 1894.
ORDERED, That the Report of the Directors, together with the ac- companying reports, be transmitted to the City Council, agreeably to the requirements of section 5th of the ordinance concerning the Public Library.
JOHN D. PARSONS, Secretary.
TRUSTEES OF THE LIBRARY-1895.
ORRIN J. GURNEY, Mayor.
ALDERMEN.
HENRY J. NOYES, EDWARD PERKINS, MOODY KIMBALL,
P. H. BLUMPEY, Jr. C. W. JOHNSON, ALVAH HOYT.
DIRECTORS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
ORRIN J. GURNEY, Mayor .. Ex officio
ANDREW R. CURTIS, President of Common Council
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, Trustee of Building Fund. 66
ELISHA P DODGE, 66 16
*EBEN F STONE, 66 66 66
SAMUEL C. BEANE, term of office expires 1895.
1896. ENOCH C. ADAMS, - 66
CHARLES C. DAME, 66 66 66
1897.
JOHN E. BAILEY, . .
1898. MOSES BROWN, 66 66 66
IS99.
AMOS H. ADAMS, 60
66
66
1900.
WILLIAM R. JOHNSON, term of office expires. 1901.
TRUSTEES OF THE PEABODY FUND.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, WILLIAM H. SWASEY,
JOHN J. CURRIER, *EBEN F. STONE,
BENJAMIN HALE.
LIBRARIAN JOHN D. PARSONS.
ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN
EFFIE A. TENNEY.
EXTRA ASSISTANT. E. S. THURSTON.
SUPERINTENDENT OF READING ROOM MARTHA P. LUNT.
JANITOR . DEXTER W. NUTTING.
*Deceased Jan. 22.
ORGANIZATION
OF THE
Board of Directors of the Public Library
FOR 1895.
PRESIDENT, ORRIN J. GURNEY.
SECRETARY, JOHN D. PARSONS.
COMMITTEE ON BOOKS,
SAMUEL C. BEANE, E. C. ADAMS, W. R. JOHNSON.
COMMITTEE ON LIBRARIAN,
ELISHA P. DODGE, MOSES BROWN, W. R. JOHNSON.
COMMITTEE ON BUILDING AND GROUNDS,
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, E. P. DODGE, A H. ADAMS.
COMMITTEE ON READING ROOM,
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, ENOCH C. ADAMS, JOHN E. BAILEY.
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS,
ORRIN J. GURNEY, CHARLES C. DAME.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS.
To the Honorable the Mayor anl City Council of Newburyport.
The thirty-ninth annual report of the librarian furnishes the statistics as to the condition of the library and the number of books used during the year, with some reference to the classes of books most in demand. The interest in the various books descriptive of foreign countries continues to be con- siderable, and it has been a recognized duty on our part to furnish such new ones as from time to time are pub- lished relating to those parts of the world to which special interest attaches at this time. It is believed that no class of books so fills the idea of a public library as reliable books of travel, and at this time so much attention is drawn to the contest going on in eastern Asia that the book committee and librarian have re- cently suggested the purchase of works upon Japan, China and Corea as they appeared, and several such publications have been added to make the collection as to these countries more complete than it was. In these respects the librarian has shown his usual vigi- lance. Some effort has been made to secure better editions of classical and standard books, in order that the perusal of works that have established reputa- tions may not be discouraged by the necessity of reading them, if at all, in poor print. There has been an effort to liberate many books which formerly were not allowed to go out of the room, and the librarian
270
ANNUAL REPORTS.
has adopted the practice of placing upon the reading desks in the Simpson annex large illustrated books which formerly slumbered upon the shelves, the pub- lic being hardly aware that such books were in the library. In a public library it is necessary not only to have books, but to make them available to the people.
There are many ways in which the use of the library as a means of instruction and amusement can be increased. The librarian and his assistants have shown themselves faithful and alert in these respects. There should be as little dead literature as possible. Many books marked "not to go out of the library" have been put into circulation. The list is perhaps capable of being enlarged, and might now embrace the older editions of the encyclopedias. To retain the former editions of the American and English en- cyclopedias in the room is an unnecessary precaution which confines these to a use for reference only. The discretion of the librarian has been so enlarged by votes of the directors and acted upon that now scarcely any book is forbidden general circulation.
The reading room still continues to be a means of information and pastime to very many. The munificence of Mr. William C. Todd has given us this popular resort. It is administered in an entirely unpartisan and unsectarian spirit, and periodicals and magazines representing every phase of political and religious belief are admitted. The superintendent of the reading room is solicitous that every person shall find what is sought.
271
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
There is increasing need of a re-arrangement of the books in the library, and of their classification by alcoves. There is also much need of another cata- logue, or at least a catalogue supplementary to the one already published sixteen years ago. The addi- tions since 1879 have been very important, and the books have now to be sought in bulletins, which have become so numerous as to be but little aid. The directors, for lack of funds, have not been able to authorize a general catalogue, and have even discon- tinued for five years the publication of an annual list. For these five years at least a published list should be made. At least 12 per cent. of the funds available for books should be used in furnishing catalogues. Future boards will determine whether the catalogues should be printed or should be card catalogues only.
The financial condition of the library will appear from the reports of the custodians of the several library funds, which reports are submitted herewith.
O. J. GURNEY,
A. R. CURTIS,
E. S. MOSELEY,
E. P. DODGE,
E. F. STONE,
AMOS NOYES,
S. C. BEANE,
E. C. ADAMS,
C. C. DAME,
J. E. BAILEY, MOSES BROWN,
A. H. ADAMS,
Directors.
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.
To the Book Committee :
GENTLEMEN :- In accordance with the rules and regulations I herewith hand you my annual report on the condition of the public library, with various appendices showing some features more in detail.
At the close of the last year the library contained 29,547 volumes. There have been added during the present year 717 volumes. Fifty two have been withdrawn as worn out, of which 25 were replaced by new purchases. The number lost, missing, or otherwise unaccounted for is 28. The total number of volumes now on the shelves is 30,194.
The number of books withdrawn for home use during the year was 38,565, the largest in the history of the library and an increase of 2352 volumes over the previous year, which, up to that time had never been exceeded. The most marked increase was noticed during the four winter months, the time of business and trade depression, when the circulation rose to an increase of 18 per cent. over that of a corresponding period of the year preceding. With April it began to drop again to the normal, but still keeping somewhat above it.
During the past year 606 new borrowers have registered, the names of 87 have been cancelled, leaving the number of regular card holders 4605 against 4087 a year ago. In addition to this, 29 teachers in the public schools hold 145 special teachers' cards, besides 75 cards issued to pupils of the High school, making a total of 4826 accounts.
273
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The library has been open 282 days for the withdrawal of books, the reading room every day, Sundays excepted. The average daily circulation has been a fraction less than 137, against 128 and 115 for the two preceding years. The largest number withdrawn on any one day was 364 on April 14.
There have been sent to the bindery for binding, re-binding, or repairs, 564 books, besides which several hundred have been repaired at the library.
At the annual examination those in charge of the work found an unusual number of volumes missing. So marked was this in certain lines of books as to give rise to a suspicion that volumes were being abstracted by some one, as might easily be done under the system in vogue by allowing individuals to look over a number of books for selection, especially during the rush and confusion of a Saturday night. Since the report was made in September a large number of these books have turned up again as mysteriously as they disappeared, and others after much effort and correspondence, sometimes with the moral aid of the police department, have been recovered. The number now missing or unaccounted for is 28, and their estimated value is $19. In this connection it may be well to state that in the librarian's opinion the service rendered to the public by giving it access to numbers of books, would many times offset the occasional loss caused by the abstraction of a book, if such really takes place.
The want of a new catalogue continues to be severely felt, and the difficulty will increase year by year. Yet in spite of that fact the librarian cannot consistently recommend the pre- paration of a new one unless the library is first reclassified by a closer and more scientific method than that in use at present.
A system devised for and accommodated to some 10,000 books becomes inadequate when the number has increased to over 30,000 and is growing at the rate of nearly 1000 a year, espe- cially when that system is one which nearly all modern libraries have seen fit to discard for newer and more practical methods.
During the past summer the more valuable of the library's collection of pamphlets, which had long been packed away and were unserviceable to the public, has been made of service by ar-
35
274
ANNUAL REPORTS.
ranging, classifying and cataloguing the same. The work was done in a most creditable manner by Mr. E. S. Spalding. We have now hundreds of pamphlets which can be immediately re- ferred to, many of them of rare local interest and which would be difficult to obtain elsewhere. This collection is appreciated and is frequently consulted by students of local history.
While on the subject of cataloguing I would recommend that the librarian, under the direction of the proper committee, be instructed to prepare for printing a supplement to the catalogue embracing the books which have been published in the occasional bulletins issued within the past five years.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN D. PARSONS, Librarian.
APPENDICES.
APPENDIX A .- RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Receipts from fines $ 44 90
Receipts sale catalogue and for lost books ... 3 00
Balance on hand. 56 48
$104 38
EXPENDITURES.
Supplies and miscellaneous expenses . . . . . $ 26 70
Post Office box rentals, postage, wrappers .. . 18 10
Replacing books II 90
Express, freight, trunkage 6 75
$ 63 45
Balance
$ 40 93
APPENDIX B .- BUILDING FUND.
To the Board of Directors.
GENTLEMEN :- The building fund, originally $5000, the sum which was left over after the present library building was bought and equipped through private donations, by the accretions of in- terest over and above the amounts expended for necessary repairs now amounts to over $6000. From time to time such repairs and improvements on the building as were deemed necessary have been made, and in this way several thousand dollars have been expended. The principal has never been impaired, but on the other hand has increased as shown above. During the past year the sum of $136.50 has been expended by the trustees.
E. S. MOSELEY, Treasurer. E. P. DODGE, E. F. STONE, Trustees.
276
ANNUAL REPORTS.
APPENDIX C .- PEABODY FUND.
In compliance with the directions of Mr. Peabody, in present- ing the 28th annual report of their doings as trustees of the Peabody fund, the board would report: That the original sum of $15,000 donated by the late George Peabody under date of Feb. 23, 1867, continues as originally invested on deposit in The Institution for Savings.
The treasurer's report of receipts and expenditures from the income thereof is herewith annexed.
When this fund became available for the increase of the library the books on the shelves numbered 12,267 volumes. Today the number is 30, 194.
Of this increase of 17,927 in the past 28 years, 7,608 have been added from the earnings of the Peabody fund.
It should be borne in mind that in keeping with Mr. Peabody's directions the aim has been to purchase books which give promise of having a permanent value, in distinction from the more popular or ephemeral class of literature.
Such books in the main are more costly.
Thus for the 7,608 alluded to above nearly $17,000 have been expended, while several thousand dollars during this period have been devoted to miscellaneous uses, notably to a partial support of the reading room for a number of years. The 10,335 vol- umes purchased from the general funds, as well as the purchase of all the periodicals and magazines used in the reading room for 24 years have hardly exceeded this amount.
It would be impossible to more than briefly allude to some of the more notable works which have been added by the Peabody fund during the past year. Among these may be mentioned a sumptuous work entitled "Army and Navy of the United States," containing not only a military history of the country but beautiful illustrations in colors, among other things giving accu- rate reproductions of the uniforms worn in various branches of the service from the war of the Revolution down to the present time ; Meyer's "Handbook of Ornament;" the volumes as issued of "Dictionary of National Biography" (English) ; the libraries known as the "International Educational Series," also
.
277
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
"The Story of the Nations," Drake's "Indian Tribes of the United States ;" several of the more notable works shedding new light on Napoleon and his era; Dolmetsch's "Ornamental Treasure ;" "National Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Amer- icans ;" How's "Her Majesty's Navy ;" Howell's "Institution of General History," London, 1680; besides many timely works bearing upon topics which have taken up a greater or less por- tion of the world's attention during the past twelve months.
E. F. STONE, President. E. S. MOSELEY, Treasurer.
W. H. SWASEY, J. J. CURRIER, BENJAMIN HALE, Trustees.
TREASURER'S REPORT.
The treasurer submits the following report :
There was on hand at the beginning of the year $368.68. The income for the present year has been $600, making a total of $968.68. During this time 309 books have been bought and added to the library, at an expense of $505.10, leaving a balance on hand at present of $463.68.
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