USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1894 > Part 15
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Now, fellow citizens, let us lay aside all prejudice for the time being, that we may look at this question in a reasonable manner, not as we would like to have it, or even as we think it ought to be, but precisely as it is. The water company is here, and we of to- day are not responsible for that; it is for us to decide as to the best way the city can be released of its dis- agreeable and blighting presence. In regard to getting rid of them by purchasing their property, which seems to be the only way, let us first consider
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
the question from its most unfavorable side. In this . connection, I have no desire to take anything back that I have ever said regarding the cheap manner in which the plant was constructed or its insufficiency for our needs, that there is not a sufficient supply of pure water is beyond dispute. The water company has admitted that, both directly and indirectly. Directly at both hearings before the Legislature, where their engineers and the officials of the com- pany testified to that effect. Indirectly by the efforts they have been making the past year to obtain water from other sources; the digging of a well near the Artichoke river last summer, notwithstanding the warning of the State Board of Health that it would not be approved by them, was given out through the papers as being a great success, when, at the time, they knew it to be a complete failure, and that they had then abandoned it. They then went to Dum- mer's Mill, hoping for a supply, and for that purpose, bonded the property, I think twice. Last fall some of the officials with their engineers, spent consider- able time at that place, looking into the matter, and I have been informed upon good authority that it is the intention of the company if the city should not vote to purchase it, to petition the Legislature this winter for an act enabling them to go outside their present limits for an additional supply of water. Now this
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company when they first located at the Bartlett springs were aware that there was not a sufficient supply of water without using the Merrimac river, and were so informed by Engineer Wightman of Boston, and when they decided upon that location, there is no doubt in my mind but what they intended to use the river water whenever they found it neces- sary.
Just imagine those men standing by that little spring, watching the water as it bubbled up through the sand, and then turning around to look upon the river flowing at their feet. It did not require any scientific knowledge on their part to reason that here was an inexhaustible supply of water, which would continue to flow through all time, for even if by some miraculous means the water should cease to come from above, but a few miles below, almost within sight, lay the great Atlantic Ocean, which twice every twenty-four hours would send its waters rushing with irresistible force for miles beyond. What mattered it to these men if the water as it came in should contain an excessive amount of chlorine, or upon its return should bear with it the germs of disease. They were looking for dollars, not sentiment. We have been informed that no river water has been used the past year, but we have not forgotten that once before they told the same story and it was afterward found to be
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
false. Perhaps we cannot prove that water has been pumped directly from the river the past year, but if it has not in some way come from that source then they must have the most peculiar water supply known to exist; one that persistently refuses to yield a suffi- cient supply in a wet season, and then sends forth a voluminous quantity in a dry season, for during the summer of 1893, which was a wet season, the superintendent of the company came rushing around in the greatest haste to notify us that they did not have a supply, and that we must refrain from using any water for certain purposes, and must be ex- tremely careful of what we were allowed to use, while last summer, the dryest season, without excep- tion, since the water company first started, there was no scarcity of water; we were allowed to use it for all purposes without even being threatened with hav- ing it shut off, providing we had first paid our bill promptly in advance; when we do not we are pretty sure to be reminded of it in a rather peculiar manner, as a careful perusal of the notice published at the present time in the papers will convince you. It would have answered the purpose just as well to have notified the people in a respectful manner, as in the way it has been done.
The present pipes to a great extent are not large enough to carry the amount of water necessary. A
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new standpipe will have to be erected to take the place of the present one, which is altogether too small and a cheap affair at the best. A standpipe high enough to furnish a sufficient head of water for fire purposes would require the taking up of all the cement pipe which is not of the required strength necessary to sustain the extra pressure that would be brought to bear upon it.
An official of the water company testified at the hearing that about one-third of the pipes were cement. In my opinion, it will come nearer one- half, so you will see that the whole plant will practi- cally have to be rebuilt. We must also vote to purchase this property without knowing the price to be paid for it. While this is to my mind contrary to all rules of business there seems to be no help for it.
Having now called your attention to the unfavor- able side of the question by reminding you of the in- sufficiency of the present water plant for the city's needs, let us now consider for a few moments the other side (for all questions have two sides) and some of the reasons why it is for the interests of the city to vote to purchase at the present time. First, I would again remind you that this water company is here, no matter how much we may wish it were not, and just as long as it is here, just so long will it have the city to a greater or lesser extent in its power.
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
That a great mistake was made in ever allowing them to exist at all we fully realize and have been paying dearly for it.
In my opinion, we shall for the second time make a great mistake if we fail to improve this most favor- able opportunity for getting rid of them. A vote to purchase at the present time means defeat for the water company; a vote against purchasing means to throw away all the advantages we have gained.
I am authorized by ex-Attorney-General Pillsbury to quote him as saying that he considers the present bill a victory for the city, and that in his opinion it is for our interests to vote to purchase under that bill. I have a letter from District-Attorney Moody to the same effect, which I will read later on in the even- ing.
Now when you hear these water company officials talking so loudly about the great price we shall be obliged to pay them for their property, don't mind them. Let it go in one ear and out of the other. They are a good deal like phonographs which repeat what is talked into them. They have heard their counsels talk so much at these hearings about vested rights that it has made an impression upon their minds, and whenever anyone presses the button, they cannot help repeating it. All this talk they are mak- ing about having the city just where they want it is
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simply done for the purpose of frightening us into voting against purchasing their property. They do not want to sell it. It is not reasonable to suppose that they care to part with what has been paying them such big interest. To be sure we have kept them moving about pretty lively for the past two years, so they have not seen much in the shape of dividends during that time. And right here let me state for the benefit of any who may be undecided in their minds about the water company wishing to sell, that there are two elements in that company. First, those who have controlled its management and who would undoubtedly prefer to have things remain just as they were. Second, the majority of the individual stockholders, who, I have every reason to believe are heartily sick of the way the company's affairs have been managed, and who would not only be willing but glad to have the city come into possession of the property. But these managers are hoping we will refuse to purchase the property, and then make an effort, as has been suggested by some, to conciliate them by asking for a slight deduction from the rates. I believe that would be the very worst thing the city could do at this stage of the proceedings, for it would mean a longer lease of life for the water company. which certainly is not desirable. While I believe in lower water rates, I do not believe in having them
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
come at this time through the water company, but through the city owning and controlling the works. Even if we were obliged to have the same rates we are now paying, we should certainly prefer to pay the money to the city rather than to the water company But the rates can be reduced by the city owning the plant.
Now someone will say: "If we purchase these works we shall be obliged to build them all over, which is true; but if we do not purchase them then the water company will build them all over, and in either case we shall be obliged to pay the bill, and this being so, will it not be better for the city to make the necessary improvements? But it will be said all this means a large increase of the city's debt; that is true in one sense, in another sense it is not. The city debt proper will not be increased a single dollar; the money is provided for by a special debt called a water loan, with provisions for its payment in 30 years, and an immediate income with which to pay the interest and the cost of running.
Supposing the whole amount required to purchase the works and put them in first-class condition should be half a million dollars, and we should issue bonds for that amount at 4 per cent .; the city itself, for pub- lic purposes alone, is today paying 4 per cent. on nearly half that amount, and practically getting
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nothing for it. The total receipts received by the water company, from the city and the individual citi- zens amountto over $50,000 per year, which is equiva- lent to 5 per cent. on more than a million dollars, and we must bear in mind that this is really our debt, for the citizens of Newburyport are obliged to pay the interest on the property and the cost of running the works, whether they are owned by the city or the company; only by the city owning them, the money we are now paying as a profit to the company will be used in paying the principal of the debt, which will be reduced a certain amount each year until the whole debt is finally cancelled, and it is for you to de- cide when you cast your votes as to whether or not you will purchase the works, which you prefer.
I have heard one man advocate that being allowed to vote upon this question as often as we wished, it would be better to wait until the contract expires and then see what we can do. Certainly no man of ordi- nary business capacity would advocate such a course. In the first place, even if we should wait until then, here would be no more probability of our obtaining a separate charter without first purchasing these works than there is at the present time. Then again if we do not purchase now, the water company will apply to the next Legislature for an act to enable them to acquire an additional supply of water, and we
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should have no just grounds for opposing them. Ob- taining that, they would proceed to reconstruct the works for they realize that it must be done. Now we can go before the commission and prove that there is* not a sufficient supply of water. We can also prove that the works will have to be rebuilt to comply with the city's needs, and we have the action of the under- writers to that effect. If we wait, the situation will be altogether different, then they will have plenty of water, and comparatively a first-class plant, and for every dollar they expend, we shall probably be ob- liged to pay them two.
If you should vote to purchase, I shall try my best to have the city and the company agree upon the price, and any effort made in that direction, I feel sure will receive the assistance of many stockholders in the water company who do not approve of the un- just treatment the city has been subjected to.
If we fail to make terms, then I shall do all in my power before the commission to have the city get the property at the lowest possible price. As to what the price will be it would be useless for any one to state, as it would be simply guess-work, but I cannot see how, under the present bill, the commission ap- pointed by the court can oblige the city to pay any exorbitant price, nor do I believe they will do so.
And now, fellow citizens, I have tried in this in-
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formal manner to place before you the facts bearing upon this important question, and in closing I would again urge upon you the necessity of improving the present opportunity for obtaining control of the water works and thus relieving the city of a disagreeable and burdensome incumbrance, which is an injury to the manufacturing industries of our city and a con- tinual menance to the health of the community.
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
FOR
THE YEAR 1894.
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT
TERRA
MARIQUE
MDCCCLI
€
NEWBURYPORT : NEWBURYPORT HERALD PRESS 1895.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT .- 1894.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Chairman.
ORRIN J. GURNEY, Mayor
Vice-Chairman.
HENRY BAILEY LITTLE,
215 High Street
TERM OF OFFICE EXPIRES JANUARY, 1895.
WILLIAM T. HUMPHREYS,
56 Purchase Street
GEORGE E. L. NOYES,
101 State Street
JOHN F. YOUNG, 7 Fruit Street
SAMUEL C. BEANE,
6 Harris Street
EDWARD G. MOODY,
218 High Street
PAUL A. MERRILL,
24 Tyng Street
TERM OF OFFICE EXPIRES JANUARY, 1896.
EDWARD OSGOOD,
49 Purchase Street
CHARLES W. POORE,
GEORGE H. PLUMER,
65 Prospect Street . 93 High Street
GEORGE W. WORCESTER, 124 High Street
HENRY B. LITTLE, 215 High Street
EMORY A. HOWARD,
15 Woodland Street
Superintendent of Schools.
WILLIAM P. LUNT, Office at City Hall
ROBERT G. ALLEN,
Truant Officer. . Superintendent's Office
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT .- 1894 .- [CONCLUDED.
SUB-COMMITTEES.
High School.
JOHN F. YOUNG, EDWARD G. MOODY,
GEORGE W. WORCESTER, GEORGE E. L. NOYES, WILLIAM T. HUMPHREYS.
ON PART OF TRUSTEES OF PUTNAM SCHOOL. JOSEPH E. MOODY. Grammar Schools.
PAUL A. MERRILL, EDWARD OSGOOD,
CHARLES W. POORE, EMORY A. HOWARD, SAMUEL C. BEANE.
Training and Primary Schools.
GEORGE H. PLUMER,
EMORY A. HOWARD,
GEORGE W. WORCESTER. EDWARD OSGOOD, EDWARD G. MOODY. Text Books.
SAMUEL C. BEANE, JOHN F. YOUNG, PAUL A. MERRILL. Salaries.
GEORGE E. L. NOYES, GEORGE H. PLUMER, EDWARD OSGOOD. Evening Schools.
WILLIAM T. HUMPHREYS, SAMUEL C. BEANE, CHARLES W. POORE. Examination of Teachers.
GEORGE W. WORCESTER, GEORGE E. L. NOYES, EMORY A. HOWARD.
Prudential Committee.
EDWARD G. MOODY, PAUL, A. MERRILL,
EDWARD OSGOOD. Rules and Regulations.
HENRY B. LITTLE, JOHN F. YOUNG, WILLIAM T. HUMPHREYS. Janitors and Supplies. CHARLES W. POORE, EMORY A. HOWARD, GEORGE H. PLUMER.
SCHOOL DIRECTORY AND CALENDAR.
School Committee Room .- City Hall.
Office of Superintendent .- City Hall.
Regular Meeting of the Board .- Last Monday of each month, except July and August.
Office Hours of Superintendent .-- Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 to 10 A. M .; other days, 4 to 5 P. M.
School Year begins tenth Tuesday after the Saturday preceding the Fourth of July.
Vacations and Holidays .- Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, Thanksgiving Day and two succeeding days, Washington's birthday, Decoration day, May Day, Labor day, from Christ- mas to New Year inclusive, one week, commencing the first Monday in April, also nine weeks from the Saturday preceding the Fourth of July.
Pay Day .- Wednesday after the first Monday of each month, except August and September.
SCHOOL SIGNALS.
8.15. A. M., two strokes of fire alarm, no forenoon session of primary and grammar schools.
1.15 P. M., two strokes of fire alarm, no afternoon session of primary and grammar schools.
ANNUAL REPORT.
Gentlemen of the School Committee :-
In obedience to your instructions, the following report of the school department for 1894 is respectfully submitted.
No striking events are narrated in its pages, which are necessarily of much the same nature as those of previous years. The customary statistics, the various changes that have occurred in the corps of teachers, with comments upon the conditions and needs of the schools, are presented for your consideration.
The year closes with the schools generally in good condition. and with a corps of teachers certainly not inferior to those of any previous year. That many improvement are needed still, no one can deny, yet, on the whole, there has been a steady advance in methods of instruction, in discipline, and in the character of the work done by the pupils.
I would take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the confidence and cordial support of the Board in the discharge of the duties of this office.
Respectfully, WILLIAM P. LUNT,
Superintendent of Schools.
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT.
IN SCHOOL COMMITTEE, December 31, 1894. -
Voted to accept and adopt the Annual Report of the Super- intendent of Schools as the Report of the School Committee.
WILLIAM P. LUNT, Secretary.
THE HIGH AND PUTNAM SCHOOLS.
HIGH SCHOOL .- E. C. Adams, A. M., Principal; F. H. Tarr, Sara A. Leonard, Mary T. Spalding, Alice G. Pierce, Bertha J. Atwater, Assistants.
PUTNAM SCHOOL .- Mary R. Bond, Harriet Piper, Assistants.
There has been no change in the corps of teachers in the High school during the year. The conditions have therefore been favorable to good work, and highly satisfactory results have been secured. Other things being equal, the best work is done where teachers have become thoroughly acquainted with their positions ; consequently we believe that competent, well trained teachers should be engaged and then retained, provided this can be done on reasonable terms. It is therefore to be regretted that Mr. Tarr and Miss Pierce tendered their resignations, to take effect at the close of the school year. Mr. Tarr is to enter upon the study of law, while Miss Pierce has accepted a more lucrative position in the Rogers Hall school at Lowell. Both of these teachers proved themselves industrious, conscientious, and efficient workers. Mr. Harlan S. Stone and Miss Ida M. Wallace have been elected to fill the vacancies. Mr. Stone was graduated from Amherst in 1894, and comes highly recommended as a scholar, especially in the branches which he is to teach. Miss Wallace, who was graduated from Wellesley in 1891, has taught three years and established a good reputation as a teacher.
The Toppan prize for excellence in Civil Government was awarded to Miss Blanche Prime. The committee of award con- sisted of Mr. Henry B. Little and Rev. John W. Dodge.
The penmanship prizes, given by William H. Swasey, Esq., were awarded by Messrs. Frank Alley and George P. Tilton to
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ANNUAL REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Walter S. Binley and Edward S. Underwood, both members of the second class. The first prize was six dollars expended in books, and the second, four dollars expended in the same way.
Miss Ethel M. Howard was awarded the prize for excellence in Mathematics. It will be remembered that this prize, ten dollars' worth of books, was to be given to the member of the graduating class who had maintained during the four years' course, the highest standing in Mathematics.
Careful observation during the year has failed to reveal to the teachers in the High school any bad results growing out of the contests for these prizes. On the contrary, a healthful enthusiasm was awakened.
During the last eight or nine years a very large number of the graduates of the High and Putnam schools have continued their work in higher institutions of learning. It may be interest- ing to note that at the present time there are three in Harvard University, one in Radcliffe, two in Amherst, one in Yale, one in Boston Law school, one in Harvard Medical school, five in Wellesley, one in Smith, while in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology alone there are, not including the three who were graduated in May, more than twenty students from the High and Putnam schools, nine of whom entered last June.
In considering the character of the work done in our schools, it should be borne in mind that the requirements for admission to the colleges and scientific institutions have in nearly every instance been increased within the last ten years. This has called for additional work in the High school.
Three months before the close of the year, the rules relating to the school were so changed as to allow one session during the rest of the year. This was a period of trial, at the end of which the parents and guardians of the pupils in the schools were requested to express their opinion as to the desirability of contin- uing the change. The consensus of their opinion was very strongly in favor of one session. Later the change was made permanent by a vote of the Committee. The session now opens at half-past eight and closes at half-past one.
On four days in the week, when deemed desirable by the Principal, there is a second session in charge of one teacher, from
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ANNUAL REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
three until half-past four in the afternoon. This feature of the arrangement, which has worked admirably, is worthy of notice. It affords an excellent opportunity for disciplining pupils whose conduct or work is not satisfactory, and for helping those who need personal assistance from the teacher. This we believe a far preferable plan to that of keeping pupils after school at the close of an afternoon session, when both pupil and teacher are worn with the day's work.
At the beginning of the year a new course of study was put into operation. It is too early to conclude how successful it will prove, as two years, at least, must elapse before its full influence will be felt. The aim has been to make a course that will be symmetrical and give the pupil a well-rounded training. This course is so arranged that subjects are taken up and developed through the four years instead of being taken up for a few months and then dropped to give place to something else.
The boy or girl who now enters the school is at once intro- duced to natural science in the laboratory. He has no text book with which to narrow his vision, but he at once becomes an observer and notes his own observations instead of reading those of another. The second year, when he is prepared to comprehend the description of an experiment, the book is placed in his hand, though he still spends a large part of the recitation periods at the experiment table. Could some simple science work be begun in the lower schools, we believe that the results would be surprising, and that many a dull boy would be dull no longer. This would be of special advantage to the pupil who closes his school course at the Grammar school.
The work in English and History is arranged on the same general plan. It begins with simple work in the first year and expands through the course. At every point the object in view is not merely to train the memory, but to develop the reason and judgment and to cultivate proper feeling and correct taste. Such work is more than intellectual, it is moral.
Time and experience will doubtless suggest many modifica- tions, but we believe the new scheme far in advance of the old one.
1
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ANNUAL REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
STATISTICS OF THE HIGH'AND PUTNAM SCHOOLS.
1893-1894.
Whole membership of boys in High school
73
Whole membership of girls in High school Whole membership of High school
159
Average membership of boys in High School
. 69.20
Average membership of girls in High school
79.177
Average membership of High school
148.37
Average attendance of boys in High school
67.80
Average attendance of girls in High school
76.21
Average attendance of High school
144.08
Per cent. of attendance of boys
97.80
Per cent. of attendance of girls
96.00
Per cent. of attendance of schools
97.00 ·
Cases of tardiness in High school
245
Whole number of boys in Putnam school
36
Whole number of girls in Putnam school
50
Whole number of pupils in Putnam school
86
Whole number of pupils in High and Putnam schools
245
Average age of boys in I. class, High school
17.10
Average age of girls in I. class, High school
17.80
Average age of boys in I. class, Putnam school
17.40
Average age of girls in I. class, Putnam school
17.60
Average age of boys in II. class, High school
16.80
Average age of girls in II. class, High school
16.70
Average age of boys in II. class, Putnam school
16.50
Average age of girls in II. class, Putnam school
17.60
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