USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1894 > Part 19
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It has been a great victory, not of one man over another, but a glorious victory of the people over the Tammany of our city; it was a grand triumph of right over wrong, and I derive great satisfaction from the knowledge that while I have been bitterly opposed by political rings and cliques I have had the hearty support of the citizens.
During the three years that I have served as the chief executive of my native city, I have always endeavored to be the mayor of the people. I have
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known no party, no creed, no class. The poor man has been treated with the same courtesy as the rich man, all alike have been to me as citizens, and as such entitled to respect.
My past record as a public official is open to all; it will bear the closest inspection, and I feel that you will pardon me for saying that it is a record no man need be ashamed of.
During the year to come I shall try to per- form my duty in every respect by endeavoring at all times to do what I believe will be for the best interests of the city and the welfare of its citizens; and now, gentlemen, I ask your respectful attention for a brief time as we consider the condition and some of the needs of our city. First in order will be its financial condition.
FINANCE.
The appropriations for the year 1894 were $176,- 559; the income from various sources, $24,691.29, making the total amount available for carrying on the different departments, $201,250.29. The ex- penditures were $223,425.21, showing an overdraft for the year of $22,175.92. There is something over $3000 due the city from the State on last year's account, and which should have been re- ceived, so that the real overdraft is about $19,000,
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accounted for in the following manner: Water ques- tion, $5,480.95; settlement of Leonard's case, which has been pending for four or five years, $1100. Four other claims against the city were settled at a cost of $525. Five thousand dollars was paid for extra work upon the highways in employing needy persons. For this purpose other cities either made a special appro- priation to assist them or helped them from the poor department. We thought it better to employ such upon the roads, even though the work was not needed, as in nearly every case there were men who would never have applied to the city for help had it not been to keep their families from suffering. The overdraft of 1893 amounting to $7109 had to be taken care of. While there was an appropriation for this sum, if there had been no overdraft that year the over- draft last year would have been just that amount less, as it would have been added to the appropriations for other departments and they would not have over- drawn to the extent they were obliged to.
The total amount of the items above referred to is $19,214.96, so you will readily see that had it not been for these unusual expenditures there would have been no overdraft in 1894. The net debt December 16, 1893, was $388,700.24; December 15, 1894, $397,465.81; increase of debt for 1894, $8,675.57. The sewer claim against the city was settled last year at an expense of $10,854.87, which
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accounts for the increase in the debt, there being no appropriation for that purpose.
The proceeds from the sale of the city railroad stock, amounting to $74,000, is still invested in Boston & Maine stock, which is now on a paying basis, yielding a few hundred dollars more to the city than we are paying for interest on the note, which is certainly very gratifying when we consider it was costing the city some $2000 a year to hold the city railroad stock before the trade was made.
Those who were so eager one year ago to criticise my management of that business are now silent, having just begun to realize that they did not know quite as much as they supposed. They were at that time crying loudly about the city losing twenty or thirty thousand dollars. I then stated that the city would not lose one dollar, for I was not getting my advice from the bucket shops as were some of those who criticised me. I went to those places some years ago for my advice and paid dearly for it, and knew better than to take any more from that source. The Boston & Maine stock is all right, and every dollar of that $74,000 is coming back into the city treasury. I have no fear but what my management of that affair will receive full and complete justification.
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Several times during the past two years false and misleading statements have been circulated by unprincipled parties regarding our financial condition, causing great injury to the city's reputation abroad. Soon after the publishing of such statements, prior to the last city election, I received letters, which I have in my possession, from two expert auditors in Boston, one dated December 12, the other December 14, calling my attention to their facilities for straightening out erroneous accounts and looking up defalcations, and stating that if I wished to consult them privately they would give me any confidential advice I might need.
In my opinion too strong language cannot be used in condemning any person, who for his own personal ends would be guilty of circulating such outrageous lies, and any newspaper that would consent to be a party to such work, deserves neither support or respect.
In connection with the expending of the city money, I notice one paper complains of being boycotted in regard to the city printing. Certainly they have no right to expect a city government that was being continually abused by them would go out of its way to render them assistance, but the state- ment they make about being boycotted is unqualfiedly false, as the following figures will convince you.
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This paper drew from the city treasury for printing, in 1894, $406.19; in 1893, $1217.20; total amount for the two years, $ 1623.39. They paid as a tax to the city in 1893, the manager of the paper, $5.40; the editor, $2.00; News Publishing Company, $164.90; total, $172.30. In 1894, the manager, $2.00; the editor, $2.00; News Publishing Company, $152.29; total for the two years, $328.59, thereby receiving from the city in those two years $1274.80 above what they paid as a tax.
The appropriation for printing in 1893 was $1500; in 1894, $750; total for the two years. $2250; and yet these men after receiving two thirds, and over, of the whole appropriation for that time, and deserving none, complain that they have not had their share, which simply proves what I have before stated, that they are not so much interested in the welfare of the people as they are in getting their fingers into the city treasury.
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RECOMMENDATIONS.
I would recommend a few things, which in my opinion, would be for the benefit of the public.
First-An amendment to the city charter, whereby the city government could be inaugurated at eight o'clock in the evening in place of 10 o'clock in the morning, as now required. It would be much
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more convenient, not only for the members of the city council, but also for the general public, many of whom would like to attend these exercises but are now prevented from doing so on account of their daily vocations. Some cities have already adopted the evening hour for their inauguration exercises.
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The city ordinance, whereby the appropriations for the year are now made in April, should also be changed, as at that time one-quarter of the year is gone and a corresponding part of the money, for which there has been no appropriation made, is then expended, and I would recommend that the appro- priations be made at the February meeting, and that the several committees, the week before that meeting, make a careful estimate as to the amount required for their departments, and then strictly confine themselves as far as practicable to the sum allowed them for their use. The appropriating of a smaller sum than is necessary for the running of any department, which is so often done, and then largely overdrawing the amount, is not good business, and should be dis- couraged in every possible way.
I would also recommend that the hydrant connecting with the Frog pond water, which is now located in Brown square, be moved out on Green street at the side of the square, as it would then be much more convenient for the engines in case of fire,
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and would also prevent the cutting up of the turf on the square, which is now done whenever the hydrant has to be used in its present location. The expense of moving it would be trifling as compared with the benefit which would be derived from it.
In my opinion the street railroad company should be required to remove the double track located on Merrimac street, between the bridge and Market square, and place a single track in the center of the street. As now located it is a nuisance to the traveling public, on account of the narrowness of the street at that place, and its removal would not discommode the company to any extent as they have a turnout at Market square and one just above the bridge.
In regard to a new police station. Notwith- standing the fact that better quarters are very much needed, it does not seem to me advisable to provide them during the present year. While I have at times thought it might be well to have the police station and an armory combined, I have come to the conclu- sion that it would be better to keep them separate.
Regarding a new armory for the military com- pany located here, I hardly know what to advise. I suppose there is no question but what we shall be obliged to provide suitable quarters for the company, which without doubt they need, as those they now occupy are not fit for the use of the company.
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
It was my intention at this time to recommend that the city procure a good location and erect a suit- able building for the purpose, but judging by the treatment the city has received in the past from those in authority regarding such matters, I feel that we should have no assurance, even if the city erected a new armory, that some military despot would not come down here and either condemn the armory or disband the company, and thus leave the building on our hands; for it seems in such matters that we are living as much under military despotism as are the Poles in Russia, or the Armenians in Turkey.
In my opinion this city has been treated in the most arbitrary and unjust manner, not only in the present instance, but several times before. Back in 1884, when the company was located in Essex hall building with good comfortable quarters, the rent from the state was stopped without any warning and the place condemned. At that time the city had a lease of the building which did not expire for about a year and a half, and it was left on our hands while we were obliged to provide new quarters on Prince place, both companies being quartered there. But a very short time elapsed before one of the companies was removed to Amesbury, and we were then left with one company and with rent of two armories to pay at a cost of $700 per year, the state allowing one- half of the amount.
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
That building, as you remember, was burned last May, and at that time temporary quarters were secured in Washington hall, where the company still remains, and for which the city is paying a rental of some four or five hundred dollars a year, the state not allowing anything, as I received from the adjutant general about three weeks ago a letter bearing no date, which stated that rent would be allowed until' May 15; whether it meant May, 1894, or next May, I was left to guess, but have since learned that the rent was stopped at the time of the fire, last May.
You will readily see by this brief history that the city has had poor encouragement in trying to provide quarters for the military. However, I would recommend that the committee on public property take the matter under advisement as early as possible that we may consider as to what is best to be done in the matter.
SCHOOLS.
The public schools of our city have the deserved reputation of being first-class in every respect. We are well provided with school buildings except at the upper end of the city where it is only a question of time when a new building will have to be erected for the accommodation of the scholars, those now in use being crowded to their utmost extent. Whether it
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
is best to build the present year or not, I am unable to say until I look into the matter more carefully than I have as yet done. It has been intimated to me that certain parties were to advocate the abandoning of several school buildings in that part of the city, and erecting an elaborate structure of eight rooms on the principle of the Kelley school building.
While I believe in providing suitable buildings for our schools there is no necessity for any such extravagance as that in this city, as we are not in Boston, and if any such " wildcat" scheme is pro- posed I shall do all in my power to prevent its adoption, and my efforts in that direction, I believe will receive the support of the city council and the citizens generally. The building of an addition to the Forrester street school-house would answer every purpose for a number of years, and it could be done at a reasonable expense.
SEWERS.
The city is now provided with sewers up as far as Broad street, there being none above that street. Contrary to the rules adopted in other cities, no assessment has been made here upon those using the sewers, the whole expense having gone into the general tax. In my opinion it would have been better for the city to have made it easier for those
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who wished to connect with the sewers, and then charged a nominal rental for their use; as it now stands those who wish to connect their houses with the sewers are obliged to conform to so many iron- clad rules, thereby making the expense so large, that many of our citizens, no matter how much they may desire to do so, cannot afford to enter them. It should be made as easy as possible. If there was less theorizing done, and more practical common sense used regarding such matters, it would be better for all concerned.
I do not know what the doctors are in the habit of drinking that they manage to see so many bugs all around them. They have of late years found all manner of insects in our food; in books used in the schools and public libraries; in bank notes and upon everything we are obliged to handle, until by their fairy tales they have so frightened timid people that they imagine a whole menagerie is being devoured every time they eat, and hardly dare touch anything around them from fear of contracting some terrible disease. But, it is refreshing in this connection to note that the health authorities of New York, after making a thorough investigation in that city, state in their report that they found in the Jewish quarter, not only the most densely populated but also the most filthy in every respect and with the very poorest
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sanitary arrangements of all, yet the death rate in that quarter was far below that of any other, and came to the conclusion that there was more danger from what passed into the mouth in the shape of food and drink, than from sewer gas and other outside influences. I do not believe that there is a single physician who honestly thinks there would be the slightest danger in regard to contracting disease from the sewers if all the patent traps and other expensive arrangements should be thrown away.
In regard to flushing the sewers, there is no necessity of using water from the hydrants for that purpose, as it would only be necessary to connect the roofs of a few public buildings with them, when they would flush themselves without any trouble or expense.
PUBLIC LIBRARY AND LIGHTING.
Both of these departments are for the purpose of dispensing light, therefore I have taken them together ; the one furnishes light in which the mind can travel, the other light for our feet to travel in. The public library is in excellent condition and is one of the best in the state. All necessary information regarding it will be found in the report of the directors and libra- rian.
In regard to the lighting of our streets, the city is fairly well lighted, the light being furnished by 138
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arc lamps, giving good satisfaction when they are kept lighted, which I have been informed is not always the case with some of the lamps. The placing of new lights should never be done by the committee without a special order from the city council.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The fire department of Newburyport is equal to that of any city of its size in the state, whether it be a volunteer or a paid department, and those who have been casting reflections upon the firemen of our city should be ashamed of themselves if there is any such thing as shame in them.
The fire at the car and shoe factories was handled admirably all the way through, and if there had been plenty of water at the start it would have been confined to the car factory. I was present at the fire all the time and I know the firemen did their duty and did it nobly, and they are entitled to great credit for their work. I heard a gentleman from Boston, who was present, make the remark that if the fire had been in that city it would not have been stopped where it was.
This department is in excellent condition, lacking nothing at the present time but water, and water is a very essential element at a fire. Give the firemen plenty of water and they will take care of the fires.
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
WATER QUESTION.
As this subject was pretty thoroughly considered in the special address of December 28, I have very little to add at the present time and will simply call your attention to a few features of the bill under which we are to vote. First, we shall be obliged to pay the water company only for appliances used in supplying the city with water. That does not include the ar- rangement built by them for the purpose of filtering river water, which they have declared has never been used and which the state board of health would not approve of their using. The second feature is this language used in the bill:
"Who shall determine the fair value of said property for the purposes of its use by said city ?"
This to my mind is a clause of the bill which is strongly in our favor, for if the present water supply is not sufficient for the city's use, if the standpipe is not suitable, or any part of the piping system, I be- lieve the commissioners are bound by that clause to so determine the value as they are also by the follow- ing clause:
" Such value shall be estimated without enhance- ment on account of future earning capacity or good will, or on account of the franchise of said company."
Enhancement, as applied in this case, means in- crease in price or value. Good will, in this connec-
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tion, is a term commonly used in the sale of a busi- ness and means the income of the business and the probability of its continuance, so that the clause referred to may properly be read thus:
Such value shall be estimated without increase in price or value on account of future earning capac- ity or present earning capacity, which is the good will.
Take again the clause where the fair value of the property shall be estimated for the purposes of its use by the city. If we should purchase the property the city could not legally use it for the purpose of making money, by the charging of exorbitant rates for water, as the company have been doing, for the city would be obliged by law to furnish the water as near the actual cost as possible.
If we should vote to purchase, the management of the property will not be vested in the city govern- ment, as the act provides for the appointment, by the mayor, of five commissioners, who are to be approved by the city council, and I assure you if it should become my duty to appoint the members of the commission, it will be composed of five of the very best citizens of Newburyport. Men of integrity and of good business qualifications, in whom the people will have the utmost confidence, and these men will have the sole charge of reconstructing the works and running them afterwards.
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
And now I cannot help repeating what I have already said in my special message upon this question, that in my opinion it will be a grave mistake if we do not vote at the coming election to purchase the water works, and thus free ourselves from the grasp of this corporation which has been of great injury to our city from its first conception up to the present time, and will continue to be as long as we allow it to have the power.
In this connection I will read the letter of District Attorney William H. Moody. Although the letter was a personal one to myself, I have his per- mission to use it for this purpose. Mr. Moody, as you all know, is an able lawyer and he has had a large experience upon this water question, having been employed by the city for the past two years, and also by the city of Haverhill upon a similar case, and he is at the present time a member of the Board of Water Commissioners of that city.
The Hon. Orrin J. Gurney, Newburyport, Mass.
DEAR SIR :- I received Saturday, the copies of the opinions of Judge Lowell and Mr. Russell, and have read them carefully.
You will recall that last spring I stated orally to you my opinion. First, that the act of 1894 imposing the further con- dition upon the city was constitutional; and second, that under the act of 1894 the liability of the city would be to pay no more than the value of the plant, as a plant, without any addition on account 'of franchise, good will, or earning
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capacity of the company. Of course there is nothing in the opinions received from Judge Lowell and Mr. Russell which would tend to change that view.
The proper construction of the act of 1893 is a matter of not very much importance now. You will recall that a section of the act of 1894 was drawn by the city's counsel for the ex- press purpose of meeting the possible construction of the act of 1893, which Mr. Russell thinks is the true construction.
I still think, as I told you in our last conversation, that the act of 1894 is so favorable in its provisions to the city that it would be very unwise for the citizens of Newburyport to fail to purchase under it. You know I have always believed that as a practical question it was desirable for the city to ac- quire the plant of the company, poor as it is, rather than start entirely from the beginning, provided that it could be acquired on such terms as are given by the act of 1894. In considering the act of 1894 it must not be forgotten that the act as it finally passed was radically different from the bill submitted by the water company and discussed before the committee. In the act finally passed, the provisions of the original bill which made it of doubtful constitutionality, were eliminated.
I take it this letter is simply a personal one to yourself, and therefore I have made it somewhat informal.
I cannot close this letter without again repeating how much I think it is for the interest of the city to buy under the present act.
Yours very truly, W. H. MOODY.
Haverhill, Mass., Oct. 22, 1894.
POOR DEPARTMENT.
This department is most excellently managed by the present efficient board of overseers, who have sole charge of everything pertaining to the care of
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the city's poor, in which they are ably assisted by Mr. Bayley, the clerk of the board.
Our almshouse is one of the very best to be found in this part of the country. It was built in 1887, with all the modern improvements, being copied largely from the one in Haverhill. Mayor Harwood and other officials of the city of Lynn, after having in- spected several of the best almshouses in the state, concluded that ours was the best, and that city is to build one precisely like it, with the exception of its being a trifle larger and having a few slight improve- ments. Our almshouse is in charge of Mr. Nel- son and his estimable wife, who cannot be ex- celled as keeper and matron of such an institution. The average number of inmates the past year was 43, and they have the best of care, being provided with warm and comfortable quarters, and good wholesome food prepared by Mr. Rich- ardson, who has cooked for the establishment for a number of years, and no better cook can be found. When anyone visits his kitchen he always takes pride in exhibiting his bread and pies, and when- ever the committee make their annual visits always insists upon each member eating a piece of pie, and anyone who has once eaten a piece will be ready to try it again. Any of our citizens who have never visited this place would find it well worth their time
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to do so, and Mr. and Mrs. Nelson will be only too happy to show them around.
The cost of maintaining our poor department the past year was $23,203.65 ; $6,511.04 of which was paid to the state for the care of the insane, there being 40 of that class, most of whom are confined in the state asylum at Danvers. The income from other cities and towns and from individuals, where the board is paid for some of the inmates, was $4,236.51, leaving the net cost to the city, $18,967.14. The cost for maintaining each inmate at the almshouse was $2.12 per week.
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