USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1907 > Part 7
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Wagons 48
Stores
32
Total
80
Cash received for licenses and paid to the city treasurer, $40.
I have had the co-operation of the state inspectors in col- lecting samples of milk, and we have found them up to the average of any city or town in Massachusetts, having only two prosecutions during my term of office. I also find we have been collecting licenses illegally from storekeepers who sell milk from year to year, and so in the future we will not have that source of revenue.
Respectfully submitted,
T. J. DONAHUE,
Inspector.
157
BOARD OF HEALTH
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISION'S REPORT
To His Honor the Mayor and the City Council of Newbury- port .
GENTLEMEN: - I herewith submit the report of the in- spector of animals and provisions from April 1, 1907, to January 1, 1908:
Animals slaughtered, neat cattle 735
Animals slaughtered, calves 948
Animals slaughtered, swine 359
Animals slaughtered, lambs 48
Condemned as unfit for food. 98
Horses killed. 97
Included in the above condemned were 12 cows which were quarantined as being infected with tuberculosis, and on post mortem examination were found to have tuberculosis.
Permits issued to bring cattle from other states 7
Number times stamp used .
8,261
Carts and stores inspected. 85
Respectfully submitted,
T. D. DONAHUE,
Inspector.
158
ANNUAL REPORTS
PLUMBING INSPECTOR'S REPORT
Board of Health .
GENTLEMEN: - Whole number of inspections for the year ending November 30, 1907, 145. Of this number 21 were made by W. J. Wilkinson, deputy inspector.
Total number of individual fixtures as follows:
Kitchen sinks 148
Water closets.
174
Lavatories. 61
Baths
50
Wash trays
26
Urinals.
2
Washers
I
I
Baptisers.
Respectfully submitted, 463
CHARLES H. SARGENT,
Inspector.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL
To His Honor the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Newburyport.
GENTLEMEN :- The whole number of arrests during the year ending Dec. 31, 1907, for offences committed within the City of Newburyport is 700, of which 199 were of foreign birth, 501 were born within the limits of the United States, 43 were females, and 94 were minors.
Arrests were for the following causes, viz. :
Maintaining a common nuisance I
Assault and battery. 52
Assault on officers 2
Assault (felonious) 2
Bastardy.
3
Selling tobacco to a minor.
2
Breaking and entering.
12
Criminal trespass
6
Capies.
2
Carrying concealed weapons
I
Common drunkard.
I
Cruelty to dumb animals.
2
Evading fare.
I
I59
160
ANNUAL REPORTS
Deserter.
4
Delinquents 35
Detained as a witness
2
Disturbing a religious meeting
I
Disturbing the peace.
25
Drunkenness.
354
Embezzlement.
J
Enticing a female child from home
I
Escaped prisoner
I
Fraud
3
Hunting on the Lord's day
I
Idle and disorderly
I
Violation of weight and measure law
2
Insane.
12
Keeping gaming implements
2
Larceny .
24
Lewd and lascivious
3
Malicious mischief.
3
Non support.
13
Neglected children.
14
Receiving stolen property
I
Runaway boys.
2
Safe keeping.
I
Stubborn and disobedient
I
Tramps
3
Unlawful taking.
2
Using threatening language
2
Vagrancy
7
Violation of city ordinances.
15
Violation of the automobile law
25
Violation of the dog law
I
Violation of the fish law.
2
Violation of the food law
3
Violation of the labor law
I
Violation of the liquor law
25
Violation of the milk law.
3
Violation of the pawnbroker law
I
161
CITY MARSHAL
Violation of the school law 2
Violation of the Sunday law I2
Violation of the victualler law I
I
Total. 700
Disposed of as follows, viz. :
Appealed .. 9
Bound over to superior court
IO
Cases continued 29
Cases dismissed
3
Cases settled without trial.
3
Committed to Danvers hospital
IO
Committed to. Westboro hospital
I -
Committed to Worcester hospital
2
Committed to state board of charity.
4
Committed to state farm, Bridgewater
3
Committed for non-payment of fine
27
Defaulted.
I
Discharged by court.
27
Fined and paid ..
179
Ordered to pay costs
2
Placed on file.
58
Put on probation
37
Released
3
Released by the probation officer
211
Sent to jail
26
Sentence postponed.
25
Turned over to other officers
18
Turned over to parents
2
Settled by marriage
I
Catholic home, Boston.
5
Turned over to U. S. S. Southerly
I
Turned over to Fort Andrews.
I
Turned over to Fort Banks
I
Turned over to Fort Constitution.
I
Total 700
Violation of the ferry law
162
ANNUAL REPORTS
MISCELLANEOUS
Amount of property reported lost.
Amount of property recovered .
$2,341 00 $1,962 00
Amount of imprisonment imposed (days)
1,278
Accidents reported .
21
Ambulance calls. I2
Assisted other officers.
217
Buildings found open and secured.
20[
Complaints investigated.
2,030
Dangerous wires and poles reported
38
Defective places in streets reported.
75
Disturbances suppressed without arrest.
75
Dogs killed
24
Escorts furnished processions.
4
Extra duty, ward room, ball grounds, yacht race, fair grounds, circus.
201
Fire alarms given.
3
Fires extinguished without alarm
7
Horses found cast ; owner notified
6
Injured persons assisted.
59
Intoxicated persons helped home
54
Lights found burning in buildings.
34
Lights furnished for dangerous places
50
Lights reported out in stores.
15
Liquor seizures.
20
Lost children restored to parents.
22
Meals furnished lodgers and prisoners
65
Money taken from and returned to prisoners.
180
Notified to remove snow from sidewalk.
51
Nuisances investigated.
9
Officers for extra duty at city hall.
76
Over-heated stoves
2
Search warrant for liquor, served
27
Search warrants for property
I
Stray teams put up .. ...
8
Street obstructions removed
23
Street lights reported out.
185
Streets barred on account of sickness.
I
Sudden or mysterious death, notified medical examiner.
IO
Water found running in buildings 16
CITY MARSHAL 163
Water main burst, superintendent notified
12 Windows found open and secured. 9 Horses shot .. I
Glass in fire alarm boxes broken 4
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN L. MCLEAN,
Acting City Marshal.
December 31, 1907.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTEND- ENT OF HIGHWAYS AND SEWERS
To His Honor the Mayor and Members of the City Council .
GENTLEMEN : - I have the honor to present my second annual report of the highways and other departments over which I have charge, under the direction of the several joint standing committees of the city government, for the year 1907.
First, I would call your attention to the fact that work was suspended in the highway department for four weeks and in the sidewalks and edgestones department for four months. owing to lack of funds.
Practically no new work has been attempted, more at- tention being paid to the repairing of streets. The work has been so systematized that streets in all portions of the city have received some attention rather than spending the whole appropriation in one or two places. Thus each ward has received a proportionate part of the money expended.
A new preparation, known as Tarvia, was tried on High and Winter streets as an experiment. That on High street was new work: 900 feet was treated with Tarvia and 200 feet was ordinary macadam. Hence a comparison can be made on the merits of the new preparation. That on Win-
165
166
ANNUAL REPORTS
ter street was simply a top dressing on an old macadam road. These experiments have proved that the treatment with Tarvia is an economical way of repairing macadam roads.
The cobble stones on Lime street, between School and Purchase streets, which was the worst piece of road in the city, have been taken up and a macadam road has been built with a top dressing of concrete to protect it from the tremendous wash of water, which flows down that street.
The following streets have been treated with a heavy coating of gravel :
Union street, the whole length.
Parsons street, the whole length.
Hancock street, from Lunt to Marlboro street.
Marlboro street, from Water to Chestnut street:
The following streets have been rebuilt of rubble stones, top dressed with gravel :
Pond street, from the freight house to Greenleaf street.
Auburn street, from High to Railroad street.
Buck street, from Washington to Congress street.
Congress street, the whole length.
Carter street, from Monroe to High street.
The ledges on Center street, which have been a source of annoyance to teams for many years, have been covered with gravel, thus improving that street considerably.
Cobble stone gutters have been laid on both sides of Carter street, from High to Monroe street.
Holes have been filled in on nearly every city street. Five hundred tons of crushed stone have been used for that pur- pose alone on macadam streets and 400 loads of gravel on graveled streets.
The space between the street railroad tracks has been filled
167
HIGHWAYS AND SEWERS
in with crushed stone from Winter to Woodland street, and from Jefferson street to Three Roads.
Seven new cement crossings have been built at the follow- ing places :
Two across Merrimac street at Dodge Brothers' factory.
One across Merrimac street at foot of Winter street.
One across High street at Johnson street.
One across Monroe street at Tyng street.
One across Chestnut street at Bromfield street.
One across Hancock street at Bromfield street.
These crossings are a vast improvement over the old stone slab crossings and have met with general approval, as has also the fact that all crossings have been swept and generally kept clean.
During the past year considerable attention has been given to the cleaning of streets and gutters. State, Pleasant and Merrimac streets have been swept weekly. This has kept the dust down to a considerable degree, and must have been ap- preciated by both shoppers and merchants, especially dur- ing the summer months.
168
ANNUAL REPORTS
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
NEW WORK AND REPAIRS
Appropriation
$4,700 00
Credits
1,035 04
5,735 04
Amount expended
5,840 37
Overdrawn
$ 105 33
Transferred to other departments, $700.
MAINTENANCE
Appropriation
$8,000 00
Credits
80 II
8,080 II
Amount expended .
9,748 68
Overdrawn
$1,668 57
In this department the pay of the drivers was increased 25 cents per day. The pay of the laborers was increased 20 cents per day. The price of grain advanced from 90 cents to $1.40 per bag. There has been purchased a new dump cart, costing $145, and a new macadam scraper, costing $200. These items are the cause of the overdraft.
Presumably to the scarcity of money at the present time, the following credits are still due this department:
Excise tax $1,159 00 Railroad tax 600 00
Work done for Water Company, Street Railway Company,
Gas & Electric Company, etc 489 71
$2,248 71
169
HIGHWAYS AND SEWERS
SIDEWALKS AND EDGESTONES
Appropriation.
$ 500 00
Credits 768 76
1,268 76
1,226 26
Amount expended
Undrawn balance. $ 42 50
It seems an absurdity with 55 miles of sidewalks, to ap- propriate only $500, or less than $1 per mile, to build new and repair and maintain the old walks.
To keep the sidewalks in proper condition it would be necessary to appropriate $4500 for repairs alone, $500 for gravel sidewalks and $1,500 for repairs of concrete, $2,000 for repairs of brick and $500 for relaying edgestones, the latter to be used especially where there are crossings and the edgestones protrude above the walk, making places for trav- elers to trip and fall.
The following work has been done: cobble stone liners were laid the whole length of the westerly side of Union street, and a cinder sidewalk, with top dressing of gravel, was built on both sides of the street ; as was also the sidewalk on Madison street, both sides of Jefferson street for 400 feet, the southerly side of Collins street, 400 feet on Merrimac street, 200 feet on Toppan street, 100 feet on Monroe street, 500 feet on Carter street, 200 feet on Warren street, and 700 feet on Water street.
Gravel sidewalks were built as follows: 100 feet on Barton street, Hancock street from Madison to Marlboro street, 100 feet on High street.
A brick sidewalk was laid on Tyng street, from Monroe to High street, at an expense of $550.70. This is the only street above Winter street where there is a paved walk the whole length.
170
ANNUAL REPORTS
Three hundred dollars has been spent for repairs of con- crete walks.
ASHES AND RUBBISH
Appropriation
$1,500 00
Credits
5 50
1,505 50
Amount expended
1,514 75 $ 9 25
Overdrawn.
There will soon be a serious problem to handle - the pro- viding of a place to dump the rubbish, etc., especially in the center and lower parts of the city. I believe there should be new regulations made in reference to this department. A saving could be made by limiting the size of the receptacles for ashes so that it could be handled by one man. At pre- sent it takes two men and often more. There have been handled during the year 3,180 loads of ashes and rubbish and 371 loads of paper.
ICE AND SNOW
$1,500 00
Credits
842 42
2,342 42
Expended.
2,370 61
Overdrawn $ 28 19
The winter of 1906-'07 was unusually severe. An extra expense was added to this department of about $400, caused by the clearing of snow from the walks of schools, public buildings and parks.
Appropriation
I71
HIGHWAYS AND SEWERS
BRIDGES AND CULVERTS
Appropriation
$1,900 00 ·
Credits. I 00
1,901 00
1,484 21
Expended.
Undrawn balance. $ 416 79
Culverts have been put in the following places:
15-inch pipe, 30 feet long, across Pond street, and two new catch basins. This does away with the pond at that place during every rain and thaw.
30-inch culvert, 20 feet long, on Turkey Hill road, in place of an old wooden bridge, which would have to be re- built.
Two 18-inch culverts on Toppan street.
One at Highland avenue and one at the Toppan estate, each 20 feet long.
18-inch culvert, 50 feet long, on Lime street, across School street, thus doing away with the old stone culvert there which has been a source of trouble for many years.
The culvert at Huse's wharf, which nas been buried for years has been dug out and extended by adding 18 feet of 20-inch pipe.
The culvert at Perkins' lumber yard was also extended 30 feet.
The culvert at the Towle Manufacturing company was dug up and relaid 125 feet and 60 feet of 18-inch pipe added to it.
Considerable planking has been done at Chain Bridge. During December, eight cable hangers and 12 railing rods broke on the railroad side of the bridge and were replaced by new ones and the cable was shortened up. This work has improved the bridge to some extent, but there should be sev-
172
ANNUAL REPORTS
eral new cable hangers and the whole bridge raised on the chains and cables. This work could be done quicker and cheaper by a regular bridge constructor, as they have all the necessary tools and supplies. It would cost in the vicinity of $2,500 to put the bridge in a reasonable condition.
A small amount expended in paint each year would be a good investment where bridges are concerned.
I73
HIGHWAYS AND SEWERS
SEWER REPORT
MAINTENANCE
Appropriation . $200 00
Credits. 6 55
206 55
Expended .
178 82
Undrawn balance. $ 27 73
Nine stoppages have been removed from the main sewer.
Thirteen stoppages have been removed from private sewers.
The whole system was thoroughly flushed by hydrant pressure during the month of November, and is in excellent condition at the present time, with the exception of the low sewer on Merrimac street, from Ashland to Forester street, which has been a continual source of trouble and expense. This nuisance can now be remedied as the state board of health has given a permit to connect this sewer directly into the river.
This work should be done the coming year and a special appropriation of $500 made to meet this additional expense.
If a sewer is to be constructed on South Pond street it will be necessary to appropriate $700 for this purpose.
There have been 87 sewer connections made during the year, making the total number of connections with the main sewer 2,092, and total number of establishments connected 2,995.
I would recommend that the water from the roofs of pub- lic buildings be conducted into the main sewer. This would aid in flushing and keeping the sewers clean.
.
174
ANNUAL REPORTS
RECOMMENDATIONS
I would recommend the following:
That the culvert on the corner of Auburn and High streets be dug up and replaced by a larger one. Cost about $150.
That two new culverts be put in at Toppan and Low streets. Cost about $140. And a new culvert and catch basin be built at the corner of Marlboro and Purchase streets.
That the following culverts be extended :
Foot of Olive, Boardman, Dove, Kent and Warren streets, also one at Perkins' wharf be extended 100 feet.
That where culverts go under the railroad track, ending in the gutters, making a drop of from one to two feet, which is dangerous, that they be extended to the culverts at the foot of the street. This could be done by a small appropriation each year.
That where there are simply inlets to the culverts, these be taken out and catch basins built in their places.
That the culverts on State street be extended and an ap- propriation of $2,000 be made for that purpose.
That such streets as Water and Merrimac, where there is so much heavy teaming, be constructed of brick or block pavers, with concrete foundation.
That a new road roller be purchased the coming year. The one now owned by the city is thoroughly worn out.
That $500 be appropriated for Tarvia to be used on such streets as Bromfield, Federal, Green, Market, etc.
That $500 or more be appropriated for repairs on High street each year.
There should be appropriated for repairs alone in the high- way department $4,800, $1,000 of which should be used on the outlying districts.
175
HIGHWAYS AND SEWERS
If any new work is to be done there should be a special appropriation for that purpose.
Should any new work be undertaken, I would recommend the following :
Winter street, from Washington to High street, $400.
Pleasant street, from Titcomb to Market street, $550.
Market street, from Pleasant to Merrimac street, $600.
Washington street, from Market to the depot, $700.
Merrimac street, from Butler to California street, $1,100. Curzon's Mill Road, $500.
I would suggest that the state be asked to make Moseley avenue and Merrimac street, from Jefferson to Chain Bridge, state highways.
Knowing the financial condition, I have only recom- mended what, in my opinion, are the worst places.
I believe that street sprinkling should be done by the city, thereby making a saving of at least $1,500.
There should be at least one street sprinkler owned by the city, to be used for flushing sewers, sprinkling streets for sweeping, etc. A sprinkler would cost about $350.
The amount of $500 should be appropriated for new cross- ings to gradually do away with the old slab ones.
New crossings should be built at the following places :
Across Merrimac street, at Broad, California and Ashland streets.
Across Ocean street at Warren street.
Across Tyng street at Monroe street.
On High street, across Parsons, Allen and Barton streets. Across High street at Woodland street.
On State street, across Prince place.
On Inn street at Market square and at Pleasant street.
There should be $1,600 appropriated for relaying the
176
ANNUAL REPORTS
sidewalk on State street. This work should be of brick, with a concrete foundation.
I would recommend that only one kind of a walk be laid on each street and the practice of laying a piece of brick here and there with a patch of concrete to fill up the space be- tween, be discontinued.
That when new edgestones are set, or sidewalks built, they be carried the whole length of the block. The edgestones on Prospect street, between Otis place and Fair street, should be regraded.
I would also recommend that the city do its own concret- ing and that where new edgestones are to be put in on resi- dential streets, that they be of cement concrete. It is as good as stone and very much cheaper on such streets.
There should be an ordinance thoroughly defining the duties and authority of the superintendent of highways and compelling him to give a receipt for the property under his charge.
I wish to thank his honor, the mayor, and the city council for their many courtesies and the public for their kindly con- sideration.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES H. JOHNSTON,
Superintendent.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN
To the City Council of the City of Newburyport.
GENTLEMEN :- I have the honor to submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1907.
I have made 927 visits at the homes of patients and seen 335 patients at my office. I have made 47 visits at the alms- house and 16 at the police station, making a total of 1,325 visits.
There have been eight births and six deaths. A list of the deaths is appended.
Below is a total statement of the work done:
Police
Visits
Office
A1ms- house
Station
Total
B.
D.
January .
87
22
3
3
115
I
I
February
79
26
3
3
III
2
I
March.
56
29
I
O
86
O
0
April.
119
31
4
4
158
I
2
May.
66
40
3
I
IIO
O
0
June
62
22
5
1
90
0
July
68
II
7
O
86
O
I
August.
58
32
4
O
94
O
O
September
.49
49
2
3
103
0
I
October
59
31
5
O
95
I
O
November
96
24
4
I
125
I
0
December
I28
18
6
O
152
218 2 8
O
927
335
47
16
1325
6
I77
178
ANNUAL REPORTS
Two hundred and ninety-four of these visits (22 per cent. of the total) were upon patients having no settlement inr Newburyport, and many more upon persons coming under the supervision of the committee on state aid and military relief and of the board of health.
In addition I have vaccinated 45 scholars of the public schools and have given certificates to those who have reported for inspection.
Inasmuch as the school children are under the supervision of the school physician, I would respectfully recommend that vaccination of such children be made a part of his duties rather than mine.
Respectfully submitted, FRANK W. SNOW, City Physician.
LIST OF DEATHS-CITY PATIENTS
February 23-John Hatfield, almshouse Cancer of stomaclı April 21-Susan Pierce, almshouse. Cerebral hemorrhage April 21-Madeline Franker, Smith's ct .. Crerbro spinal meningitis July 11-Edward George, almshouse. Myocarditis September 8-John F. Muldoon, almshouse. Insular sclerosis
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY CLERK
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council.
GENTLEMEN :- I submit the following report of income in this department for the year ending December 21, 1907 :
Marriage license
$ 77 00
Job wagons
25 00
Junk dealers
214 50
Burial lots.
224 50
Auctioneer
8 00
Bowling alley and pool.
30 00
Pawnbrokers
150 00
Amusements and entertainments.
84 00
Recording
52 50
Miscellaneous
62
$877 12
All of which has been turned over to the city treasurer, and I hold his receipt for same.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY W. LITTLE,
December 21, 1907.
City Clerk.
179
180
ANNUAL REPORTS
FOLLANSBEE FUND
To His Honor the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, Trustees of the Follansbee Fund.
GENTLEMEN :- I submit the 34th annual report of the Follansbee fund.
The fund of $3,000 is invested in a city note at 4%, in- terest payable semi-annually.
Since the last report there has been 19,500 pounds of coal distributed and 1} cords of wood.
INCOME
Balance 1906
$228 49
Interest March and September
120 00
348 49
EXPENSE
Jere Healey
$37 86
J. H. Balch Jr 9 26
S. P. Bray. 20 52
Estate N. Varina .
13 39
Atkinson Coal Company.
20 00
John Collins
16 52
117 55
Balance on deposit
$230 94
Respectfully,
HENRY W. LITTLE,
December 21, 1907.
Treasurer.
Audited and found correct. WM. BALCH, Auditor.
181
CITY CLERK
BIRTHS IN NEWBURYPORT-1906
There were 302 births (including 14 still births) regis- tered in this office in 1906-157 males and 145 females.
Parents residing in Newburyport, 298; born in Newbury- port, non-resident parents, 7.
Births by months: January, 26; February, 17; March, 24; April, 35; May, 20: June, 21; July, 25; August, 34; Sep- tember, 25; October, 18; November, 35; December, 23.
Of the children born in Newburyport, 97 had fathers natives of Newburyport, 103 had fathers who were born in the United States outside of Newburyport, 102 had fathers of foreign birth.
Of the children born in Newburyport 64 had mothers natives of Newburyport, 110 had mothers who were born in the United States outside of Newburyport, 128 had mothers of foreign birth.
BIRTHS IN NEWBURYPORT-1907
The number of births registered in this office for the year 1907 were 311 (including six still births), 159 of which were males and 151 females. Parents residing in Newbury- port, 293 ; non-resident parents, 7.
Of the children born in this city 74 of them had fathers natives of Newburyport, 108 had fathers who were born in the United States outside of Newburyport, and 129 had fathers of foreign birth.
Of the children born in this city 90 had mothers born in this city, 91 had mothers born in the United States outside of Newburyport, 130 had foreign born mothers.
182
ANNUAL REPORTS
OCCUPATION OF PARENTS
Barber 3 Fisherman 7
Painter
2
Brakeman.
4 Foundryman 3
Printer
5
Blacksmith.
2
Farmer. 7
Pedlar. 3
Bookkeeper
4 Grocer 3
Plumber 2
Butcher 3
Hatter I
Policeman I
Baker 2
Hostler I
Pawnbroker I
Clergy man 2
Insurance I
Photographer I
Contractor 2
Inspector. I
Silversmith.
17
Cook. I Janitor I
Shipper
I
Clammer 4
Jeweler. I
Salesmam 4
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