USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1894 > Part 2
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about $7000. This is a satisfactory showing in view of the extraordinary expenditures in the highway and incidental departments." I have here quoted his exact words. You will see he accounts for the in- crease of the debt that year by the fact that there had been paid during the year for construction of sewers $17,155. We account for the increase of the debt last year by the fact that we paid during the year for construction of sewers $20,324.46, or $3169.56 more than he paid out. He then says that if it had not been for the item of sewer construction that year there would have been an actual decrease of the debt of about $7000, and we say that if it had not been for the item of sewer construction last year there would have been an actual decrease of the debt of $10,988.78, or $3988.78 more than the decrease which might have been made his year, Then Mayor Dodge claims that the financial record of that year was a satisfactory showing, in view of the extraordinary expenditures in the highway and incidental depart- ments. We will now see what those expenditures were and compare them with ours. The highway department expenditure that year was $14 831.53, incidentals were $8193.29, which taken together make a total of $23,024.82. Last year the highway de- partment expenditure was $46,623.45, or $31,791.92 more than it was the year to which he referred; or,
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
in other words, more than three times as much as was expended during his year. The incidental ex- penditure last year was $11,609.55, or $3416.26 more than his year. The expenditures for high- ways and incidentals last year, added together, make a total of $58,233, as against $23,024.82 expended in Mayor Dodge's year, or more than two and one-half times the amount that Mayor Dodge considered as extraordinary; and yet the debt was not increased as much by $42.03 as it was the year he speaks about, and the overdraft that year was $6659.97 more than ours last year. I have not made these comparisons for the purpose of finding fault with Mayor Dodge's financial record of that year, for I agree with him that considering the expenditures it was a satisfac- tory showing, but I have compared the two years be- cause some of those who called the record of his year a good one have been falsely claiming that last year's record was not good. Now if Mayor Dodge's financial record that year was a satisfactory one, and it certainly was, then the financial record of last year was so much better than his as to be beyond all comparison. Taking either year under my admin- istration separately, the financial record, considering expenditures, has not been equalled for twenty years ; and taking my two years together, it has not been equalled since Newburyport became a. city, and the
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
members of those city governments have every rea- son to feel proud of their record. The persons who have been making these false statements regarding the financial record of last year were not only ex- pecting, but also hoping, there would be an over- draft last year of either twenty-five or thirty thousand dollars, and when they found out how small the over- draft actually was they were very much disappointed. It is very mortifying for me to feel obliged to place my word against the word of those who are too coward- ly to show their face, and too dishonorable when making statements to sign their name to them; but I feel it to be my duty to do so, as these false state- ments reflecting upon the financial condition of our city have been published abroad to the great injury of the city. And I would say to the citizens: First, that it is never safe to believe any printed statement relating to the finances of the city, where the writer is ashamed to write his name at the bottom of the article; second, that while it is not generally known, it is nevertheless true that a great many of the so- called communications published in papers over fic- titious names, such as "Tax-payer" and the like, are written in the newspaper office by the newspaper men themselves and then published as communica- tions, they think an article would have more effect if it was thought to have been written by some citi-
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
zen than it would if it was put in as an editorial, and there is no disputing that fact; thirdly, you can al- ways learn the truth regarding the finances of the city by calling upon the. city treasurer. These men called upon the city treasurer and learned the truth, just as I am stating it here, but have not published it as it was given them by the treasurer.
Now a few words in regard to the Boston & Maine stock held by the city, as my management of it has not only been unjustly critised but falsely stated. Twenty-two years ago the city of Newburyport in- vested $74,000 in the City railroad, issuing bonds to that amount, payable in twenty years, and bearing interest at seven per cent., for just what purpose I have never been able to learn, for it certainly has not been any benefit to the city. Up to the time of my first election as mayor it had cost the city nearly $60,000 in cash, which had been paid out for inter- est on the first investment, in excess of all money re- ceived from its lease to the Boston & Maine, or in any other way. It has benefitted only a few individ- uals, not more than a dozen outside of the Philadel- phia & Reading Coal Company; and the coal pocket, instead of being any benefit, has been one of the greatest curses ever inflicted upon this city. It is one of the most grinding monopolies that ever existed. It has under its control all the local deal-
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
ers wherever it has obtained a hold, not allowing them to lower the price of coal, no matter how much they may desire to do so; and it has obliged our cit- izens to pay at least a dollar a ton more for coal than they would have paid if that company had never en- tered the city. But to return to the City railroad matter. The stock of the City railroad was never carried upon the city books as an asset, each city government considering its value too uncertain to be reckoned; and at the time I came to have any- thing to do with it, no business man in the city who had looked into the matter carefully would have given over $50 a share for the stock; but soon after, when we contemplated offering to sell the road to the Boston & Maine, a few shares were offered for sale in this city, and bought by a man who was in- terested in having the road kept running, he paying $65 a share, which was the highest bid offered, so that might be claimed as its market value at that time. At $65 a share, the 742 shares held by the city would amount to $48,230; the 424 shares of Boston & Maine now held by the city at its present market value, $134, would amount to $56,816, leav- ing a balance in favor of the city of $8586. So if the city should sell its Boston & Maine stock today it would be that much better off than it was when holding its City railroad stock; and that is the proper
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
way to consider it as a business transaction, and the only way it would be considered by a business man. But more in regard to the Boston & Maine stock. When it was decided by the directors of the City railroad to offer the road to the Boston & Maine the Hon. Albert Currier, Henry B. Little, Esq., and my- self were chosen a committee to see if the road could be sold, and some of these persons who are now finding fault with my management of the matter ad- vised me at that time not to sell the City railroad; and I want to say right here, that if the present man- agement of the Boston & Maine had been in power at that time the City railroad would never have been sold, but would have been left on the. city's hands, and would not at the present time have brought $25 a share, for the road has never paid any one, and it can never be made to pay. The majority of the directors of the Boston & Maine were opposed to purchasing the road, and if it had not been for the Hon. Frank Jones, who was president of the Boston & Maine at that time, we could not have sold the road at any price; but as it was, we traded the stock of the City railroad for so many shares of the Boston & Maine stock, calling the City railroad stock at $100 a share, and the Boston & Maine stock at $180, which was its market value at that time. Now it has been stated that we could have sold the Boston & Maine stock
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
for $75,000. That statement is absolutely false, for there has never been a time since we came into pos- session of the stock when we could have sold it for anywhere near that amount. In the first place, we did not receive the stock for nearly four months after the trade was made, for the stock of the City railroad · had to be gathered in, the attorney for the Boston & Maine had to look up the titles, after which it had to be ratified by their dircetors, then had to be left over until the stockholders voted upon it, so that when we received the stock the price had fallen way off. Now at this time I did not go-as he seems to think I should have done-to this young man who has lately been trying to pose before the public as such a great financier, and ask his opinion, for two reasons. First, from the fact that being established in business for myself about the time that this young man was born, I did not consider him a proper person to apply to for instructions in regard to financial problems; and the way he has been talking has certainly confirmed my opinion of his ignorance regarding such matters. Secondly, I did not ask his opinion for the reason that, like most men of middle age when needing counsel, I sought the advice of those men who I had every reason to believe understood such matters- men who were older and wiser than myself, and in nearly every instance was advised by them to hold
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
the stock, they taking the ground that all stocks were way down on account of the business depression, and that the stock would surely come up again as the times grew better. There is no need of any one worrying about the Boston & Maine stock. Once before since the city held the stock it has dropped to $130, and afterwards advanced to $160; and if it should drop to $120 it would not signify any loss to the city. The city has never lost a dollar by holding the Boston & Maine stock only in one instance, where the Institu- tion for Savings took an unfair, and, I claim, dishon- orable, advantage of the city. When we took up the City railroad bonds we placed a demand note for the amount with the old savings bank at four per cent., both the city treasurer and myself understanding that the note could remain at the same rate as long as we needed it. Sometime in June we were very much surprised at receiving word that on account of the stringency of the money market we must pay five and one-half per cent. It was a time when we could not obtain the money, and we were obliged to sub- mit. In August we again received word that we must pay six per cent.,-the times had not changed; and we had again to submit to the extortion, for it was nothing else. After the money market became easier, I saw one of the bank officials and reminded him that we were paying too much interest on that
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
note. He said he would bring the matter up, but after waiting about a month and not hearing anything from them I sent the treasurer, and he received the same answer. After waiting two weeks longer I again called upon the bank official, and he informed me that it was no use talking about four per cent. as they could do better, notwithstanding the fact that they had over $150,000 at that time on deposit at the First National Bank, in addition to a large sum de- posited in the Revere Bank at Boston, that they were then waiting to invest. I then determined that I would not submit any longer to such unbusiness-like dealings, and sent the treasurer to Boston, with ·in- structions to place the note there at four per cent., which he did. Now I claim that every dollar of the money in excess of the four per cent., taken by the savings bank from the city, was taken wrongfully, and the directors, as honorable men, should return it to the city treasurer. It is not costing the city any- thing at the present time to hold the Boston & Maine stock, as we are now getting the money at four per cent., and the stock is paying four and one- half per cent .; and I have been advised by banking men, who ought to understand such matters, not to sell the stock at the price it is now bringing. And I have been surprised at the many false statements that have been made regarding the matter; and while the
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
newspaper which has been publishing such mislead- ing articles and false statements relating to city affairs could have had but one purpose, that of personal spite toward myself and the vindictive desire to do me all the possible harm it could, it has signally failed in its purpose; for, fortunately, here, where the truth can be easily ascertained, I am abundantly able to disprove their false charges to the satisfaction of the people. But, very unfortunately, they have suc- cceded in disgracing the city by sending abroad, wherever the paper has been sent, the false impres- sion that the citizens of Newburyport are so low down in the scale of intelligence as to elect without any opposition, a man to be the chief executive of their city, who, according to this paper, is in every way unfitted for the position, having neither the financial ability or other necessary qualifications for the office. They have also created the impression abroad that the finances of the city were not only badly managed, but were in a bad condition, which is absolutely false. Now any newspaper man who has arrived at the age of discretion would have seen that the publishing of such statements could not possibly do me any harm, while they could not help creating abroad, where the facts were not known, a very unfavorable impression of our city and of the intelligence of its people; and I have been surprised
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
that any paper in this city could be so indiscreet and unfair; and how any paper could be so devoid of honor and principle as to publish such misrepresenta- tions is beyond my comprehension.
PUBLIC LIBRARY, SCHOOL AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
In regard to these departments there seems to be nothing new to be said, so I will pass them by with simply alluding to them.
The public library, under the management of Mr. Parsons, the librarian, still continues to be very much appreciated by those of our citizens who avail themselves of its privileges.
The school department was discussed pretty thoroughly one year ago. It is now, as it was then, equal to that of any other city.
The fire department is in excellent condition, and everything there is working in a most satisfactory manner.
HIGHWAYS.
The work that has been done in this department for the last two years speaks for itself, and meets with the approval of nearly all our citizens, no fault being found only by a few chronic grumblers, such
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
as are to be found everywhere, and who are con- tinually finding fault with everything. They always find fault with every city government, no matter what they do. They will find fault with the weather, and with the times, and even find fault with the Lord because this world is not run according to their own narrow ideas. It is of no use for anyone to try to please such people, for it would be impossible. There has been during the past year 15,800 feet of new edgestones set and 3500 feet re-set, 4570 square yards of new gutters laid, 4407 yards of brick side- walk laid and 10,875 yards of concrete, $3000 more was expended for crushed stone than the year before, about $1000 was expended in widening Merrimac street near the car stables, three new horses have been purchased on account of the old ones being worn out, 14,910 yards of macadamized road was constructed, and 11,135 square yards of road were covered with broken stone in addition to the mac- adamized, and it cost the city over $1700 more last winter than it did the winter before to remove the snow on account of the severe weather; so it will readily be seen that a much larger sum was ex- pended in this department than ever before in any one year.
Highways, including sidewalks and edgestones, show an overdraft of $13,032.37; but it was under-
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
stood by every member of the city council last year that $6000 of the amount appropriated for inciden- tals would be expended on the highways, so that really the overdraft is only $7000. While I do not believe it is well for any department to overdraw their appropriation,-and I would again urge, as I have before, upon every committee the duty as well as the importance of their not expending more than the sum appropriated for them-still in this case I do not think the citizens will complain very much, as they can readily see where the money has been ex- pended, and also realize that they are receiving the benefit of it in being able to walk from one end of the city to the other on good sidewalks. Now it must not be forgotten that our streets and sidewalks had been neglected so long that they were completely worn out; and while it may seem to some that we are ex- pending a large sum upon them, the work is being done in a thorough manner, and it will be seen in the end to have been true economy. Persons who have not visited our city for years are surprised at the marked improvement in the appearance of our streets, and especially remark as to how much better and wider the streets look on account of the removal of the old bridges. On one short street, Titcomb street, there were thirteen of these bridges, presenting about as unsightly an appearance as could be imagined; and
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
I think no one looking at the street as it is today would ever consent to have them put back. I am aware that there are some who find fault with their removal, for it is sometimes hard to get out of the old ruts, and to become accustomed to any change; but if the crossings are only properly fixed, being well rounded and the crown carried up to within about sixteen inches of the sidewalk, then depressed pretty sharply to the curbstone, thereby narrowing the gutter, and causing the water to flow against the stone instead of allowing it to spread out,there will not be any difficulty experienced in crossing the streets. In regard to the crossing at the junction of State and Pleasant streets, I did not approve of the scheme to tunnel State street, being aware that the culverts at the foot of the street were in such a condition that it would be necessary to go to the river front, and that it could not be done properly for both sides of the street less than $3000; and even then there would be grave doubts as to its being satisfactory. The crossing was fixed at an expense to the city of about $275, and though the work was not done quite as well as I would liked to have seen, it answers the purpose. State street, from Charter to the foot, is so flat that in heavy rains the water spreads so far out into the street as to make it very difficult to cross. The cen- ter of the street should be raised at least eight inches,
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giving much more crown than it now has. The work could be done, I think, at a cost of about five or six hundred dollars, and would be a great benefit to the public; and all the streets leading to the river which are obliged to carry a large quantity of water should be constructed in the same manner. I did not ap- prove of the extension of Pleasant street, and the majority of the members of the city council agreed with me in the matter, as we could not see any necessity for it, or how the public at large were to be benefited by it. I found very few of the citizens who favored the move; and many of those, after learning that the street would come out as far be- low the depot as Birch street was above it, were op- posed to its being carried out. As it is possible that the city may decide to construct new water works, which will necessitate the digging up of the streets, I would strongly recommend that no macadamizing or concreting be done until the question is settled; and would recommend that as large a sum as possible be appropriated for the setting of new edgestones around the city, that a proper grade be established by a civil engineer, and that edgestones be set on both sides of the streets. If that could be done for two or three years we should be astonished at the improvement it would make; and it would surely prove to be economy. It would have paid the city
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
to have done it years ago, even if they had not re- ceived a dollar from the abutter.
LIGHTING STREETS AND CHEAP GAS.
In accordance with an act of the city council which was passed last November, requesting me to ascer- tain if the gas and electric light company would not furnish better and cheaper gas to our citizens, and also make better terms with the city for lighting streets, I wrote the company about three weeks ago to that effect. I have not as yet received any answer, as they are probably waiting to place the matter be- fore the directors. I believe the company can afford to keep the street lights burning all night at the price they are now receiving, and that they should be willing to do so. I also believe they should furnish gas to our citizens at least some cheaper than they are now furnishing it,
PRINTING.
There has been so much said the past year about the city printing that perhaps it would be well to consider the matter for a few moments. Some newspapers seem to have the idea that the city printing belongs to them, and should be carried out
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according to their views, on account of the in- fluence they imagine their papers exert in politics; but that idea is decidedly wrong. I had a little ex- perience in that line in 1883, the first year I was elected to the common council, having been placed upon the printing committee. I found that when the city ordered a notice published in one paper, the other papers of the city copied and printed the notice, with- out any authority, and sent in their bill, which was never very small. As I did not think that was transact- ing city business on business principles, I took meas- ures to prevent it, whereupon the threat was made by them that if I did not stop interfering with their bus- ines they would see that I was not elected again to any office in the city government. Well, I did in- terfere to the extent of stopping all such copying of notices, so that it has not been done since that time, and they have not as yet succeeded in keeping me out of the city government, although it is no fault of theirs. The city is under no obligations to support any newspaper, as some of them seem to think, and the methods adopted by some are such that it would be greatly to the advantage of the city if they were not supported by anyone. Now I am not by any means making an attack upon the newspaper pro- fession, for it is an honorable profession, and as a rule is conducted by honorable men; but there are
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
exceptions to this rule, as well as to all other rules. There are persons in this city who could tell of po- litical schemes concocted in newspaper offices here that would lead the citizens to think some of them were much more interested in an attempt to get something out of the city treasury than they are in having the city business conducted properly, as they would have us believe; and it is often very amusing, to those who understood their motives, to listen to the advice they give so freely to the citizens. With some of them it is never a question of principle in supporting any measures or candidate for office, it is only a question of dollars; and the measures that will put into their pockets the most money, or the candi- date for office who will pay the highest price, will be the measures or the candidate they will support. If anyone doubts this, let him ask any candidate who has ever run for any high office. Now a newspaper office is no more entitled to the city printing than any other printing office, and I am not sure but what it would be in the interest of the city for the commit- tee to receive bids for all the city printing and adver- tising and award it to the office who would do the best work for the lowest prices, and to receive no work that was not properly done; and if the annual reports cannot be printed without containing over two hundred errors, as has been charged, they should be
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rejected and left on the hands of those who do such poor work. Now in regard to the city advertising, which costs a great deal more than it ought. In some cases the law requires that a notice shall be published once in one paper; sometimes it specifies a daily paper, but not always. In such cases the notice should be published but once, and in but one paper. There is no more reason in publishing such notices in two papers than there would be reason in the city buying a horse of every horse dealer in the city be- cause it was necessary to purchase one horse. Now those persons who have been talking so much about the members of the city government expending money for other purposes have never been known to refuse taking all the money they could get out of the city treasury. They have never refused to publish a notice, and they even ask for it, knowing at the time that it is wasting the city's money. And when they publish such a notice they take great pains to spread it over as much paper as possible, for they charge by the inch,-the more inches the more dollars; and they have never as yet been known to forget to send in their bill, or to neglect to take the money. The city printing and advertising will bear looking into pretty carefully, and I have no doubt it will be; and when you decide to transact the city printing busi- ness on business principles, as I believe you will, you
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