USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1910 > Part 7
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High, Merrimac and part of Water street can be repaired by picking them up with the road roller, then regrade and apply some bituminous binder. Only a small amount of new material would be needed.
The old block pavers in our streets should be removed and replaced with different material as soon as practicable.
A paved gutter should be laid on the northerly side of Forrester street.
Broad, Oakland, Monroe from Warren to Broad, and Tyng street should be repaired.
A paved gutter should be laid on both sides of Parsons street, north- erly side of Salem street, and the lower side of Madison and Neptune streets.
Market square should be regraded, by raising the lower side, from the Market House to Marshall's store.
The junction of Middle and Fair streets should be repaired. State street from High to the Newbury line should be repaired and the street railway raised to the proper grade. Winter street from Washington to High should be repaired with bituminous macadam.
The junction of Winter and Merrimac streets should be reconstructed. (I would suggest concrete).
The junction of Pleasant and Green streets should also be recon- structed.
I would recommend that the superintendent be authorized to pur- chase three tank cars of asphalt oil or tarvia (tarvia preferred) to be de- livered at such times as it may be needed.
It would be economy to use less crushed stone and more bituminous binder in repairing our macadam roads, as a macadam road without some kind of a binder will not stand the present day traffic.
129
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
SIDEWALKS AND EDGESTONES.
Considerable improvement has been made in this department and a large amount of new work done, especially in the construction of grano- lithic walks. More of this kind of work has been constructed during the past year than in all previous years.
Following is a list of the walks built: 27 yards on Tyng street, 21 1/2 yards on Strong street, 267 yards on Ashland street, 43 yards on Lime street, 79 yards on Merrimac street, 85 yards on Greenleaf street, 55 yards on Hale's court, 900 yards on State and Pleasant streets, 81 yards of tar concrete on Vernon street and Vernon court, 2476 yards of tar concrete has been repaired and retopped, 1000 feet of cinder sidewalk on Hill street, 400 feet of cinder sidewalk with gravel top on Lime street, 400 feet of cinder sidewalk with gravel top on Jackson street, 200 feet of cinder sidewalk with gravel top on Payson street, 100 feet of cinder sidewalk on Dexter street, 100 feet of gravel sidewalk on Congress street, 600 feet of gravel sidewalk on both sides of Chapel street, 400 feet of gravel sidewalk on Merrimac street, 100 feet of gravel sidewalk on High street.
A vast improvement has been made at the corner of Prospect street and Otis place by the regrading of the same.
I would recommend the use of granolithic for sidewalk construction as far as possible. I would also recommend that a special appropriation of $1000 be made to construct a granolithic sidewalk on State street, and a similar one on Pleasant street.
I would suggest that the surface of any new granolithic walks be left a little rough for two reasons, viz: that they would be less slippery, and that they could be more economically built.
BRIDGES AND CULVERTS.
Culverts have been constructed at the following places: 320 feet of 12 inch on Kent street, 70 feet of 12 inch on Arlington and High streets, 30 feet of 12 inch on Oakland street, 40 feet of 18 inch at Fair and Water streets, 30 feet of 15 inch at Woodland and High streets, 10 new catch basins have been built on Kent street and adjoining streets, three new catch basins at Arlington and High streets, two new catch basins on Mer- rimac street above Plummer avenue.
This department should receive more attention and a larger appro- priation. A new system should be started and added to each year. At present the amount expended and attention necessary to maintain it is considerable larger than the results warrant. The reason for this is that most of the main culverts are constructed of stone and they are continu- ally in need of repair. There is a considerable amount expended each year in extending the outlets beyond the continual filling in of the city dumps. A number of these outlets could be done away with by connecting them on the streets; one outlet taking several streets.
SEWER DEPARTMENT.
100 feet of 6 inch main has been constructed on Currier court; 140 feet of 6 inch main on Lafayette street; 67 new connections have been
130
ANNUAL REPORTS
made, amounting to 2000 feet; six old connections have been relaid; 20 stoppages have been removed from private sewers, and two stoppages from main sewers.
The main sewers have been thoroughly flushed twice during the past year and are in good condition at the present time.
$200 should be appropriated for new cleaning tools and a car load of pipe should be ordered as soon as practicable.
ASHES AND RUBBISH DEPARTMENT.
The work of this department increases with each year. There should be some means derived whereby some of the rubbish could be turned to good advantage, especially the waste paper; 362 loads of which is burned during the year, or about 125 tons. Some arrangement could be made to bale the paper, which could be sold for about $7 a ton, making quite an income from this department.
3300 double loads and 1200 single loads of ashes have been handled during the past year, with which the city is making valuable land, and private parties are getting the benefit therefrom.
It would be a good investment for the city to purchase waste land and fill it in. This would give the city a dumping place of their own, and in a few years they would have ample playgrounds at practically no ex- pense.
At the lower end of the city, in No. 2's district, all the dumps are now filled and some arrangement must be made immediately for a new one. This problem could be solved by building a cheap wall from Hughes' wharf to opposite Janvrin's landing, and when filled in could be made into a beautiful park and playground for the lower end of the city.
The system of this department should be changed. One team should be used for the collections, which could be made on different days through- out the city, and the men should be paid by the hour.
If the city owned the land at the foot of Green street, known as Riverside park, a bulkhead could be built from the Towboat Co.'s wharf to Colman's wharf. This would make a dump for the city for two or three years.
STREET CLEANING.
A separate appropriation was made whereby this department was able to keep the streets in a cleaner condition than in previous years. The public demand the street be kept in a more sanitary condition each year. The result would be more satisfactory if the citizens would assist by putting papers, etc., in barrels or boxes instead of sweeping such loose material into the street. It would be then taken away by the department.
The abbutters on Printing House square should be required to keep it clean, as the papers from this place are blown about the streets every windy day.
I would suggest that a dozen rubbish barrels be purchased and placed at convenient places about the city for the use of the general public.
I31
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
STREET SPRINKLING.
Street sprinkling was done by the highway department from the first of the year until the contract was given out. A few barrels of oil were used as an experiment, but it was not tried long enough to really demon- strate its usefulness.
On Merrimac, Chestnut and Barton streets, it proved very successful, with but one application; while on State street it was not exactly a success, due to the fact that it was not applied enough.
There are several objections to the use of oil but these are overcome by its many advantages. There are streets which should be sprinkled with calcium chloride mixed with water in preference to oil.
Realizing that if the city did its own street sprinkling there would be considerable opposition and criticism created, much of it unfair, and that it would have to be done better than ever before, I would recommend that it be done by the city, as it can do it more satisfactorily and at a saving of at least a cent a foot, including repairs and depreciation. As it has been done, many of the streets have been kept muddy, and as water is one of the greatest enemies of the life of a road, it has cost the city consider- able more than the contract price, owing to the injury to the road bed.
The statement made in the sprinkling committee at the first of the year, that the city of Haverhill had discarded the use of oil and tarvia, is misleading, as during the past summer they have used nearly 40,000 gal- lons of oil and tarvia.
A new landing of cement has been built at the foot of Goodwin's avenue by the highway department, and I would suggest that if the city is to maintain Janvrin's landing, that it would be economy to construct it of the same material at a cost of about $800.
During the past year the superintendent, at his own expense, has purchased surveying instruments. costing nearly $400, which have been used in the work of the department, and also in other city work, outside of the regular work of the superintendent, such as surveying school build- ing lots, police lot, playgrounds, etc., amounting to over $400. This work has not cost the city a cent. It is becoming more necessary each year that the superintendent have at least a fair knowledge of engineering and sur- veying to do the work in his department.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Following is the financial statement for the year ending Dec. 17, 1910:
City Teams and Salaries of Drivers.
Income from highway department. $4060.25 Income from fire department. 2375.20
Total
6435.45 Expended 6435.45
132
ANNUAL REPORTS
Highway Repair.
Appropriation and income 10,784.61
Expended 10,490.29
Balance
$294.32
Ashes and Rubbish.
Appropriation and income
2720.50
Expended /2458.11
Balance
262.39
Sidewalks and Edgestones.
Appropriation and income.
2714.84
Expended
2728.94
Overdrawn
$14.10
Sewer Maintenance.
Appropriation and income 470.77
Expended
258.35
Balance
212.42
Sidewalks and Edgestones.
(State and Pleasant Streets).
Appropriation
1000.00
Expended
984.45
Balance
15.55
Bridges and Culverts.
Appropriation and income. 1201.00
Expended
1205.70
Overdrawn
4.70
Snow and Ice.
Appropriation and income.
3166.43
Expended
3146.56
Balance
19.87
Supervision.
Appropriation
1600.00
Expended
1547.54
Balance
52.46
Road Roller.
Appropriation
2500.00
Expended
2000.00
Balance
500.00
I33
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Miscellaneous.
Appropriation
200.00
Expended
120.78
Balance
79.22
Street Cleaning.
Appropriation and income 3725.25
Expended 3762.31
Overdrawn
37.06
Care of Convenience Stations.
Appropriation
100,00
Expended
93.25
Balance
6.75
Highway Department.
Total amount undrawn.
$1442.98
Total amount overdrawn
$55.86
Total balance
$1387.12
Transferred from highway repair to other departments . 500.00
Transferred from road roller account
to other departments 500.00
$1000.00
Final balance highway department
$387.12
I wish to take this opportunity to express my appreciation of the assistance and kind consideration given me by His Honor the Mayor, and the members of the city council, and to thank the general public for their kind support throughout the year.
Very respectfully,
JAMES H. JOHNSTON,
Superintendent of Highways.
·
سـ
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN
To the City Council, -
Gentlemen :- I have the honor to submit my report for the year end- ing December 31, 1910.
I have made 747 visits at the homes of patients, 12 visits at the almshouse and 13 at the police station.
I have seen 523 persons at my office.
In addition to the patients coming under the care of the poor de- partment. I have made 143 visits upon beneficiaries of the committee on state aid and military relief, making a total of 1438 visits.
There have been five births and 10 deaths.
I have also vaccinated 25 pupils of the public schools, and have given certificates to those who have reported for inspection.
I would recommend that this work be done by the school physicianl.
A list of deaths of city patients is appended.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK W. SNOW,
City Physician.
SUMMARY OF WORK OF CITY PHYSICIAN-1910.
Visits
Office
Alms- house
Police Station
*S R. Total
Total
Birth
Death
January
67
52
2
14
135
2
February
44
30
2
2
22
100
1
3
March
116
50
2
1
14
183
1
. .
April
68
50
May
3
9
2
2
16
June
43
41
1
4
8
97
1
July
61
46
. .
1
9
117
. .
August
74
62
1
. .
9
146
1
September
94
59
1
1
12
167
3
October
74
44
.
.
8
126
1
. .
November
57
45
2
1
25
130
. .
.
December
46
35
1
12
94
.
-
-
747
523
12
13
143
1438
10
. .
1
8
127
1 . .
. .
·
.
.
.
.
. .
1
*S. R .-- State aid and military relief.
·
136
ANNUAL REPORTS
The small amount of work during May is accounted for by my ab sence from duty, on account of illness.
LIST OF DEATHS-CITY PATIENTS.
Hannah Henderson, 60, January 24, 210 Merrimac street, cerebral hemorrhage.
Frederick H. Calvey, 42, January 27, 210 Merrimac street, chronic nephritis.
Catherine Crowley, 70, February 10, almshouse, old age.
John A. Austin, 64, February 14, Waverly house, alcoholism.
Julia Vaughn, 76, February 24, 137 Merrimac street, cerebral hemor- rhage.
Alice T. Coleman, 48, June 24, 21/2 Ship street, phthisis.
David Finch, 73, September 5, 29 Liberty street, old age.
Peter Salvatore, five months, September 27, 125 Water street, maras- .nus.
Bisson, six months, September 30, 911/2 Water street, gastro enteritis.
Mary Wiley, 70, December 13, 14 Kent street, chronic diarrhoea.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY CLERK
To the Hon. Mayor and City Council :
Gentlemen-I submit the following report of income in this depart- ment for the year ending December 17, 1910:
Marriage licenses
$144.00
Junk licenses
193.00
Pawnbrokers
150.00
Pool
60.00
Amusements
200.00
Recording
57.90
Burial lots
137.00
Common victuallers' licenses
185.00
Job wagons
3.00
Auctioneers
4.00
Clam permits
70.00
Miscellaneous
4.85
. .
.
$1,208.75
Respectfully,
H. W. LITTLE,
City Clerk.
(137)
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FOLLANSBEE FUND
To His Honor, the Mayor, and Board of Aldermen:
Gentlemen-I submit the 37th annual report of the Follansbee fund. This fund is in the hands of the sinking fund commission and invested in N E. Tel. & Tel. 4 per cent. bonds and the Institution for Savings.
INCOME
Balance December 18, 1909.
$230.43
Interest February 4, 1910
60.67
66
May 11, 1910
2.06
July 5, 1910
60.00
October 31, 1910
4.12
from deposit
5.12
€ from deposit
28.70
$391.10
EXPENSE
Paid Jere Healey
$ 31.11
Atkinson Coal Co.
37.27
66 John H. Balch Jr.
3.63
72.01
Balance December 17, 1910
319.09
$391.10
Respectfully,
HENRY W. LITTLE,
Treasurer.
(138)
-
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY SOLICITOR
To the Mayor and City Council of the City of Newburyport:
In compliance with the ordinance establishing the office of city solicitor I render the following report:
The case of Dame vs. the city for counsel fees in the water case has been ordered for trial next April.
In the cases of land damages by the extension of the water supply to the Artichoke river, Hon. J. J. Ryan, who sat as auditor last year in the petition of Marquand and Curzon cases, has not reported as yet. The Emery and Moseley cases, brought by the same counsel, have been awaiting this report.
There were brought petitions this year for land damages, under the aforesaid extension by Charles H. Bartlett, Thomas C. James, Mark A. Rogers, John Mahoney, Asa T. Newhall, George Calvin Rogers, Ros- well S. Norris. Joseph D. Knight, Abbie F. Rogers and Charles E. Brown. I pled a plea that they have not been brought within the statutory time, which is to be decided.
H. B. Little et. als. have brought suit to remove a tax laid to them as trustees of the Y. M. C. A. The writ is returnable next month.
I have taken part with Mr. Dodge in the suit on the Felker bond, in which judgment was found for the city. An appeal has been taken to the supreme court.
I appeared before the railroad commission for reduction of fares on order of the board of aldermen.
I have prosecuted a number of liquor cases in the police court.
I also prosecuted one case of abortion and one of burning a building, both of the principals being held for the grand jury.
I defended the city in the action of Hale Knight to recover money which he claimed was extorted from him by the water commissioners for water which he had not used in 1903. A jury gave him a verdict of $330.
My disbursements have been for the year $77.68.
I have rendered a number of opinions to different city officials.
Very respectfully,
ARTHUR WITHINGTON, City Solicitor.
(139)
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council:
Gentlemen-As inspector of animals of this city I herewith submit my report for the year 1910:
Stables inspected containing cattle, 97. Cattle contained therein as follows:
332
Cows dry
67
Young cattle
179
Bulls
11
Total number of cattle inspected .
589
Swine
303
Cattle condemned on physical examination for tuberculosis and de- stroyed
3
Interstate city cattle tested for tuberculosis.
6
Animals reacting
0
State city cattle tested for tuberculosis
29
State city cattle tested for tuberlosis.
29
Animals rejected
7
Animals destroyed
7
Interstate cattle shipped to this city for immediate slaughter as follows:
Cows
Calves
Steers
January
18
22
February
21
18
2
March
20
18
·
.
April
12
31
May
8
28
June
21
48
.
July
12
42
August
17
28
September
21
17
. .
October
30
24
. .
November
19
29
. .
December
30
23
. .
Total
229
328
2
.
·
In regard to stables inspected will say that as far as cleanliness and sanitation are concerned, in the majority of cases the general conditions
Cows in milk
142
ANNUAL REPORTS
are greatly improved since the last inspection in 1909, especially in those where milk is being produced for public consumption, nevertheless, I re- gret to say there are still a few who persist, during the late fall and winter, in housing in the same room, cattle, horses and swine; and others who pile the stable refuse near the animals and allow it to remain there a month at a time. These conditions are deplorable to say the least, also very unsani- tary, and have been reported to the state in my annual report, besides be- ing ordered to "clean up" and "keep clean." A word to the wise ought to be sufficient.
Within the past year I have found 10 cases of tuberculosis in cattle, and were all the cattle owners in this city to have their herds tuberculin tested, I am afraid there would be many more cases found. Until this is done the city will never be entirely free from tuberculosis in cattle, but this is a condition found all over the state, and so Newburyport is no exception.
I am glad to say there are one or two tuberculin tested herds in this city.
Up to the present time this city seems to be free from such contagious diseases as glanders, farcy, rabies, anthrax, actinomycosis and hog cholera, and I hope it will always remain in that category.
Respectfullysubmitted,
F. C. BLAKELY, V. M. D.,
Inspector of Animals.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE POOR DEPARTMENT
To the City Council of the City of Newburyport:
Gentlemen-The overseers of the poor, to whom is committed a general oversight and care of the poor in all of its departments, would respectfully present their 32nd annual report.
GENERAL STATEMENT
For support of the poor residing at the city farm $3,063.70
For salaries
3,042.08
For board of feeble minded and criminals
74.46
For relief of poor residing in the city .
5,045.93
For relief of poor residing in other cities, settlement in New- buryport
1,241.77
For medicine
300.00
For hospital
317.00
For fuel
1,369.23
$14,454.17
Appropriation
$12,000.00
Income received
1,986.83
Overdrawn
467.34
$14,454.17
DETAILED EXPESES
Flour
$ 811.86
Tea
130.88
Sugar
472.20
Beans
27.66
Soap
17.25
Crackers
206.41
Fish
163.04
Wood
237.50
Coal
1,138.18
Shoes
182.65
Clothing
197.51
Rent
877.00
Salaries
3,042.08
Hospital
731.05
Paid other towns
1.231.57
Supplies to city farm
1,832.1℃
Office expenses
32.90
Overseers' expenses
12.25
Grocers' supplies
614.79
Grain
539.00
144
ANNUAL REPORTS
Cash
880.00
Telephone
98.47
Burials
92.15
Medicine
320.00
Carriage hire
11.50
Miscellaneous
163.04
Pork
103.50
Rice
23.75
Kerosene oil
25.75
Milk for sick
54.18
Dry goods, city farm
95.80
Freight on flour
88.14
$14,454.17
RECEIPTS-AID RETURNED
From state, for aid rendered state poor
$389.20
From Boston
18.00
From North Easton
100.50
From Cambridge
31.00
From Lynn
83.00
From Salem
28.00
From Chelsea
250.86
From Haverhill
130.39
From Ipswich
253.57
From Methuen
2.50
From Rowley
6.00
From Amesbury
266.83
From Marlboro
22.85
From sale of produce
137.90
From board of health
131.23
From sale of empty barrels
3.00
From returned aid
131.50
$1,986.83
CITY FARM
The city farm during the past year has been under the care of Mr. and Mrs. George H. Twombley.
An average of 28 persons have resided in the home at a cost of $3.20 per week.
PRODUCTS OF CITY FARM
The products of the city farm during the year were: 38 tons hay, 120 bushels corn, 25 bushels onions, 375 bushels potatoes, 15 bushels carrots, 65 tons ensilage, 65 squashes, 200 cabbage, 832 pounds butter, 450 pounds lard, 3000 pounds hogs dressed.
OUTSIDE RELIEF.
Outside relief, which last year was granted to 261 persons, this year has been granted to 240 persons, and are classed as follows: 160 having settlement in Newburyport, 60 having settlement in other places, 20 hav- ing no settlement in the state, making a total of 240 persons who have been assisted during the year.
ATWOOD AND DEXTER FUNDS
The income of the Atwood and Dexter funds has been placed in the
145
POOR DEPARTMENT
hands of the overseers of the poor, to assist worthy persons who might be temporarily in need.
Wards 1 and 2.
Cash on hand January 1, 1910. $269.74
Received one-third income Dexter fund.
41.48
Received one-third income Atwood fund.
86.40
Total Receipts
397.62
Assisted 20 persons from 50 cents to $5.68
53.18
Cash on hand January 1, 1911.
$344.44
Wards 3 and 4.
Cash on hand January 1, 1910.
81.80
Received one-third income Dexter fund.
41.60
Received one-third income Atwood fund .
86.40
Total receipts.
209.80
Assisted 24 persons from $1 to $7.25.
84.21
Cash on hand January 1, 1911. Wards 5 and 6.
$125.59
Cash on hand January 1, 1910 ..
$144.37
Received one-third income Dexter fund.
41.48
Received one-third income Atwood fund.
86.40
Total receipts
272.25
Assisted 34 persons from $1 to $5
101.68
Cash on hand January 1, 1911.
$170.57
EDMUND M. DOW, JOHN W. SARGENT, HERBERT PATTEN,
Overseers of the Poor.
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To His Honor the Mayor and Honorable Board of Aldermen:
I herewith present you with the annual report of the weights and measures department of the city of Newburyport for the fiscal year ending December 17, 1910:
I wish to thank the city officials, the manufacturers and merchants for for the courteous manner in which I have been received by all in the dis- charge of my duties.
There have been some additions to the working equipment the past year, an office has been equipped, and the department will now compare favorably with like departments throughout the state.
I have seized a number of weights and measures, and the same will be destroyed at the proper time. I found that a large number of the mer- chants were not informed in regard to the law, and were somewhat sur- prised when I condemned weights, scales and measures in their possession. They were, however, willing and made no complaint when I took the same away. In every case new weights, scales and measures were obtained to replace those seized.
The following coal dealers have had their coal scales overhauled and put in first-class shape: (I will say that the P. & R. Co., Atkinson Coal Co. and J. Healey do this once a year and sometimes more). Atkinson Coal Co., S. P. Bray, J. Collins, P. & R. Co., Varina Co., Warner Cotton Mills and J. Healey.
The following number of weights, scales and measures have been seized : Measures 27, weights 21, scales 15, milk bottles 15.
Milk carts held up and inspected 21, junk men and peddlers 32, stores inspected at different times from regular work and test weighings taken 173.
INCOME
Appropriation $725.00
Transferred to this department.
50.00
EXPENDITURES
775.00
Salary of inspector of weights and measures. $700.00
Office equipment and working equipment. 50.14
754.44
Balance to general treasury $24.56
Fees and adjusted charges collected and paid to city treasurer. $154.02
148
ANNUAL REPORTS
In addition to my regular work I was designated as the official for the city to see that all city fuel was delivered as per contract. I did the work faithfully and rendered the city auditor a report of the same.
The following was delivered:
Public library
21 loads
68,700 pounds
City farm
89
66
311,785
66
Curtis school
26
82,196
Davenport school
13
49,500
Temple street school
7
22,150
Purchase street school
3
66
9,460
Moultonville school
5
60
22,200
Johnson school
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