USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1890-1892 > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
If a letter written in a scarlet fever chamber carries the
147
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
germs of death to its destination hundreds of miles away, much more a public library book may scatter infectious dis- ease throughout an entire community. Hereafter vigorous measures will therefore be employed to fumigate any books that may happen to be already in an infected household, and to prevent the passage of any books from the library to all such houses. The fact should not be overlooked that cats and dogs may often be very active, though unsuspected carriers of contagious diseases, and due precautions should be employed.
The annual contract for the collection of swill and gar- bage was given to J. O. Elms, who has done this work for the past two years. The contract was substantially the same as before, except that it was necessary to pay $100 a year more, in consequence of the large annual increase of the number of houses to be visited, some of them remote from the highway and difficult of access. A modification of the contract seemed necessary and was made, that the swill and garbage be collected during three winter months, . only once each week, the amount at this season being usually quite small. Mr. Elms' work has been well done, and but very few complaints have been received, and those. trivial. The present disposal of this material, being fed to hogs on Mr. Elms' land in the southeasterly part of the town, is the best possible under the circumstances. But new houses are gradually encroaching upon that region, es- pecially on the Malden side, and we must soon face the problem of another mode of disposal of this waste material, probably by cremation.
Last August, during the threatened approach of cholera, the board employed a special method of cleaning up all the central portions of the village, bounded by Emerson street, the railroad, Wyoming avenue and the eastern side of Main street. An efficient police officer called at every house
148
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
needing his attention, and required the immediate removal of all suspicious material and of every possible element of disease. The effect was salutary and met with general ap- proval. This necessary employment of a special police officer during extra hours involved a small expense, well laid out. As the cholera may threaten us during the coming summer it will probably become necessary to repeat the rigid inspection of last year, only perhaps more widely and more vigorously. In that case all citizens are called upon to co-operate with the board, to set their houses in order, and not, by sanitary neglect, to invite the destroyer.
The board asks the co-operation of every citizen in the maintainance of the healthful conditions of our town, and by the report of any unsanitary circumstances, and will con- sider it a favor if such is reported without delay and in writing, but not through the columns of our newspapers.
The board has begun, with the current year, the publica- tion in each of our newspapers of a monthly report, giving at the first of every month careful statistics of the conta- gious and other diseases, and of the mortality during the previous month. It is a matter of much interest to every intelligent person to be informed as to the general health of the community, and these trusty statements furnished by official authority tend to prevent exaggerated rumors of sickness and fatality.
149
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
During the year 1892 the contagious diseases reported to the board were in number and character as follows:
Scarlatina
Diphtheria.
Measles. Typhoid.
January
9
4
February
7
5
March
I2
I
I
April
4
I
May
8
I
I
I
June
6
July
August
I
2
3
September.
4
I
7
October
2
November .
I
I
I
December .
5
2
4
-
59
18
3
15
-
The total is 95. In 1890 the number was 66, and in 1891 it was 154.
150
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
The table of mortality for the year 1892 was as follows:
Apoplexy 14 Imperfect development . I
Abscess
I Kidney, abscess of . .
I
Accident, R. R. .
5 La Grippe .
I
Asthma .
2 Meningitis
.
5
Bronchitis
.
.
I
Bright's disease
Burn
I
Old age
9
Brain disease
I Pneumonia
9
Consumption
19
Peritonitis
4
Cancer
6
Pulmonary congestion .
2
Convulsions
.
3
Paralysis
·
6
Cholera infantum
6
Poisoning .
.
I
Carbuncle .
I
Purpura hemorrhagica .
I
Cystitis
Pyloric stricture
I
Diabetes
2
Rheumatism
.
I
Diphtheria
2
Septicæmia
.
I
Diarrhea
2
Still born
.
9
Dysentery
2 Suicide
2
Epilepsy
I
Scarlatina .
3
Gastritis
I Spleen, tumor of
I
Gangrene, senile
2
Typhoid fever
.
6
Heart, neuralgia of
I
Heart, inflammation of I
Total
I68
Inanition I
In 1890 the number was 112, in 1891 it was 152. The in- crease is only such as is due to our increased population, being at the rate of over a thousand a year. With an esti- mated population of ten thousand, our rate of mortality last year, being 16.8 per thousand per year, is less than that of most towns in the county or State.
JOHN E. SANBORN, M. D.
FRANK L. WASHBURN. JOHN DIKE, M. D.
2
Heart disease
I3
Unknown
.
.
.
.
I
·
.
.
·
.
·
5 Marasmus
3 Mania 1 I
.
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE.
MELROSE, December 31, 1892. To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
GENTLEMEN :- I have the honor to submit my annual re- port for the year ending December 31, 1892.
During the past year the following amounts have been collected for fines, and, after deducting expenses of court, turned over to the town treasurer:
From the first district court
. $264 34
county treasurer .
50 00
Causes for arrests and cases brought to court during the year.
Assaults .
16
Assault on officer
I
Attempt to rescue prisoner
I
Bigamy
I
Breaking and entering
2
Bastardy .
2
Claiming liquor seized
I
Concealing property
I
Cruelty to animals .
2
Defrauding boarding-house
2
Disturbing the peace
21
Dog nuisance .
I
Disturbance on railroad .
2
Default warrants
2
Drunkenness .
·
63
second offence
3
third
3
152
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE.
Fast driving
I
Idle and disorderly
I
Indecent assault
I
Insane people committed to hospital
7
Insane carried to Malden station
I
Keeping unlicensed dogs
3
Keeping and exposing
3
Larceny .
Lodgers accommodated .
· 92
Lost children cared for
9
Non-support .
.
4
Neglected child
·
I
Playing ball Sunday
I
Playing cards Sunday
3
Search warrants
.
9
Stubborn child
.
I
Threats
3
Truancy
I
Miscellaneous Duties Performed.
Arrested for out of town officers 3
Disturbances surpressed .
33
Doors found unlocked and secured
34
Dogs killed and buried
9
Defects in highway reported . " sidewalks
. 25
4
Electric wires reported down
·
3
Leaks in water pipes reported
.
15
Lanterns hung in dangerous places
34
Notices delivered .
120
Notices of scarlet fever and diphtheria put up and taken down for board of health ·
· 85
Run away teams stopped · ·
3
.
.
.
8
.
·
.
.
.
·
3
Fire alarms given .
153
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE.
Stray teams found and put up
6
Street signs put up . 73
Street lights reported out
I34
Notices of unlicensed dogs sent out
150
Cases investigated .
78
The additional appropriation granted this department at the March meeting allowed an increase of one night officer who was assigned to duty in the immediate vicinity of the business portion of the town.
Arrangements were made with the New England Tele- phone company for the placing of a gong on the outside of the Town Hall connecting with the telephone in the police station, whereby the officer was enabled to respond at all times during the night to calls by telephone either from our citizens or outside districts for police assistance. This has been found to be of great utility and covers to a great ex- tent, the demand for a permanent man in the station during the night as suggested in my report of last year.
The force consists of seven men, chief, one day man on duty from 7 o'clock A. M. until I o'clock P. M., and five night men.
The change in the lock-up, for which an appropriation was made, has proved to be of great advantage, as prison- ers now confined therein are under the direct oversight of the officer on duty, and not as before, so far away from the office as to be practically out of control. The town is stretching further and further away from the centre, making more territory for the officers to cover on patrol duty. The demands for police protection are constantly increasing, and for the better protection of the town and for property the town should be divided into districts, one officer to patrol west of Main street, to the Stoneham line, from Orris street south to the Wakefield line north. One officer east of
154
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE.
Main street to the Saugus line east, to Emerson street south. One officer from Emerson street north to the Malden line south, east of Main street. One officer west of Main to Malden line south, to Foster street north. One officer from Foster street south to Orris and Emerson street north, west of Main street, and one in the centre as at present. The officer now doing duty from 7 A. M. until I P. M. should be on duty the entire day.
I wish to extend my sincere thanks to the honorable board of selectmen for the hearty support they have given me, to Judge Pettengill and his associates, and to the clerk of the first district court. Also to each member of the de- partment for the cheerful obedience to all orders given them; and in conclusion would say that I have endeavored to discharge the duties of the office faithfully and impar- tially. I have the honor, gentlemen, to remain your obedient servant,
FRANK M. MCLAUGHLIN, Chief of Police.
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR.
One hundred and seventy-four persons have received more or less aid within the year; of this number 46 were fully supported as follows: 21 sane, 14 insane, had a settlement in our town, 8 had a settlement elsewhere and 3 were state paupers; partially supported, 128, as follows: 79 had a settle- ment in our town, 35 had a settlement elsewhere and 14 were state paupers. There are 14 insane persons in the state institutions belonging to the town, who are cared for at a cost of $3.25 a week each. Two persons have died within the year. Our poor are cared for as comfortably as possible with our facilities, we not having an almshouse or infirmary for the sick are obliged to maintain several rents for families. Our single poor are boarded in private, and the whole department, we think, is being regulated with due regard to a proper economy. The auditor's report of ex- penses of the department may be found elsewhere.
HENRY G. FIELDS, JOHN SINGER, JR., MARTHA D. BALE, Overseers of the Poor.
REPORT OF THE
Water Loan Sinking Fund Commissioners.
MELROSE, January 1, 1893. To the Town of Melrose :
On the date of our last report, January 1, 1892, there was on hand in cash in the
Melrose Savings Bank . $75 54
The sinking fund also owned five Melrose water bonds, issue of 1887, par value 5,000 00 There has been received from water board, being the surplus of 1891, the sum of 7,327 02 . Other receipts, from premium on sale of above bonds and from interest 361 90
On Oct. 1, 1892, the second issue of water bonds, $50,000, fell due, and the sinking fund con- tributed toward the payment of said bonds the sum of 12,260 00
The remainder of the bonds were paid by a new issue of 4 per cent. bonds of $37,000, the premium realized from their sale sufficiency to pay the remainder of the loan.
The sinking fund has on hand this day deposited in Mel- rose Savings Bank $444.46, and there is due us from the water board, being surplus of last year (1892), $3,888.76.
We refer to the report of our treasurer, Mr. George New- hall, for a full statement of the sinking fund for the past year.
157
WATER LOAN SINKING FUND.
The water debt now stands as follows:
Issue of
1885. High service bonds, due Nov. 1, 1905 · $37,000 00
1887. Construction bonds, due May I, 1907 50,000 00
1889. To retire maturing bonds (first issue), due in 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899 and 1900, $10,000 each year 50,000 00
1892. Construction bonds . 14,000 00 .
1892. To pay maturing bonds (second issue) 37,000 00
$188,000 00
Respectfully submitted,
DANIEL RUSSELL, JOHN W. FARWELL, ROYAL P. BARRY, Water Loan Sinking Fund Commissioners.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
OF THE
MELROSE PUBLIC LIBRARY
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1892.
MELROSE : DUNTON & POTTER, PRINTERS, REPORTER OFFICE.
1893.
TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TRUSTEES OF THE MELROSE PUBLIC LIBRARY,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1892.
The trustees of the public library respectfully present their twenty-second annual report.
The number of volumes circulated by the library during the year is 34,093, an increase of 2,668. There have been issued 397 new cards. The number of visitors to the read- ing room has increased, although not in like proportion. One reason for this may be the opening of a reading room by the Y. M. C. A., and another is that the room has been inconveniently crowded. Lately some changes have been made which give more floor space and more available light; no doubt the increase hereafter in the number of people who use the privilege which this collection of periodicals and reference books offers will keep pace with those who take books from the library.
The increase in the circulation is of itself a cogent reason why the citizens of the town ought to consider the subject of giving the library a permanent home in a building de- voted wholly to its use. The trustees have called attention so many times fruitlessly to this imperative need that noth- ing but a sense of duty and the belief that persistence in a good cause will meet with certain if late response, makes
11
162
MELROSE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
them again speak of it. There are still available locations for such a building as is required; and such a building will be sure to add to the attractiveness of our town as well as give opportunity for entertainment and improvement to the citizens present and future. Few towns in this vicinity, perhaps in the state, whose population is as large as that of Melrose are not thus furnished. We again present our pressing need and respectfully claim our right to a share of the attention of those interested in forwarding the pros- perty of Melrose by gifts or by influencing appropriations.
Attention is called to the numerous and valuable refer- ence books in the reading room, a list of which appeared in the January bulletin. There can be no question that such a collection is worth more to the citizens than its money value represents, and for investigation and serious study it is far more necessary than the library. It is the one part of any public library which is sure to be permanent, for it is what every one needs and what few can afford to own. Not many families in this town can give house room to the Encyclo- pædia Brittannica or the Century Dictionary, not to men- tion many other cyclopædias and handbooks and gazetteers and bulky atlases which are on the shelves. A complete set of the St. Nicholas and ten volumes of Harper's Young Peo- ple have been placed recently in this room for the young people, who are there in numbers on stormy and cold days; and there are also a large number of bound volumes of Harper's Monthly. To the periodicals already there have been added by request the School Review and the Kindergar- ten. In the investigation of courses of study and methods of teaching which is now going on throughout the common- wealth, these magazines are well worth reading by all in- terested in public or private education.
During the last part of the year a local delivery station was opened at Melrose Highlands, partly because the trus-
163
MELROSE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
tees wished to extend the usefulness of the library and part- ly in response to a demand from that section. The books are sent and returned twice a week. The whole number sent during the first six weeks was 285, and most of these were to residents who had not before taken books or who had re- linquished their cards on account of the distance. The sta- tion was opened as an experiment and will be continued as long as the demand for books continues.
Two bulletins have been printed during the year, contain- ing classified lists of some 400 books and additional alpha- betical lists of some 600. The trustees decided that the object for which they were printed was reached more fully by distributing them than by attempting to sell them. Now, one copy is given to every family asking for it. They are appreciated and lessen the crowd in the library around the catalogues on Saturday evenings.
It was not in the power of the board of trustees and the selectmen to elect a sixth trustee. The regulations accept- ed by the town when the Australian ballot was adopted, have now been complied with, and the town at its next meet- ing by electing a sixth trustee will have conformed to the present state law.
The Horatio Nelson Perkins Fund has provided the library with the 13th volume of the "Life of Washington."
The William Emerson Barrett Fund has been allowed to accumulate, as can be seen by treasurer's report on another page.
We kindly thank the donors of various books and period- icals which have been sent to the library and reading room during the year, and the Melrose Journal and Melrose Re- porter for printing lists of new books free of expense.
Several donations received since the close of the year will appear in the report of 1893.
The librarians have completed a written dictionary card
164
MELROSE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
catalogue which any one can consult by asking permission. A new registration will be begun in January and when the alcoves for which an appropriation is asked have been put in place, they wish to try to classify the books.
Special attention is called to the World's Columbian Ex- position Journal, which appears monthly and is devoted to the interests of the Exposition already officially open in Chicago. It is fully illustrated and gives accurate informa- tion concerning the buildings and such exhibits as have ar- rived.
The amount needed for the expenses of the library and reading room increases as the population of the town in- creases, and an appropriation which has been ample and generous becomes limited and insufficient. Next year new alcoves, to accommodate the larger number of books, must be put in, and some other expenses, which have been ex- plained to the finance committee, incurred. The trustees respectfully ask for $1000 and the dog tax, and for the ad- ditional expenses an appropriation of $200.
Respectfully submitted in behalf of the trustees.
MARY L. CHARLES,
Secretary. ELBRIDGE H. GOSS, CHARLES C. BARRY, CHARLES A. PATCH, RUBY F. FARWELL, MARY L. CHARLES, Trustees.
165
MELROSE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
STATEMENT OF THE HORATIO NELSON PERKINS FUND. JANUARY I, 1892, TO JANUARY 1, 1893. CR.
By balance on hand Jan. 1, 1892 . $500 90
Interest from Melrose Savings Bank 20 IO
DR.
$521 00
To cash paid G. P. Putnam's Sons, books
$5 00
Balance on hand
· 516 00
$521 00 STATEMENT OF THE WILLIAM EMERSON BARRETT FUND.
JANUARY I, 1892, TO JANUARY I, 1893.
CR.
By balance on hand Jan. 1, 1892 $66 70
Interest from Melrose Savings Bank 2 68
$69 38
DR.
Balance on hand
. $69 38
CATALOGUE FUND. CR.
By balance on hand Jan. 1, 1892 . $152 26
Interest from Melrose Savings Bank 6 31
Fines collected by librarian in 1892 .
99 05
Sales of bulletins
8 95
DR.
$266 57
To cash paid sundries, post office box, extra help,
stamps, paper, etc. $23 73
To cash paid for catalogues
6 50
Balance on hand
236 34
$266 57
Respectfully submitted,
C. A. PATCH, Treasurer.
166
MELROSE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
STATISTICS FOR 1892.
Number of volumes in library Jan. 1, 1892
9,174
66
" purchased in 1892 539
66
" donated in 1892
16
555
66 " in library Jan. 1, 1893 9,729 persons using library Jan. 1, 1892 . 4,139
cards issued in 1892 . . 450
66 cards relinquished in 1892 .
53
397
" persons using library Jan. 1, 1893 4,536
Number of vols. replaced in 1892
55
" " rebound " "
757
" magazines bound for library in 1892 42
Largest number of books issued in one day .
393
Smallest
Average
66 66 on Mondays 105
" Wednesdays. 88
" Saturdays
393
Whole
in January
3,220
66
.
.6
" July 2,508
" October 2,678
66 34,093
Number of persons using reading room in 1891 13,306
66 6 66
"
in 1892
13,977
Largest number of visitors in one month
1,38I
Smallest
66 860
Largest .6 - day
122
Books brought from library for use in reading room
147
-
66
66
" April
3,194
66
1892
24
.. 16 66
167
MELROSE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
PERIODICALS IN THE READING ROOM.
American Agriculturist. American Architect and Building News. American Naturalist. Art Amateur. Art Magazine, Cassell's. Atlantic Monthly Magazine. Century Monthly Chautauquan. Cottage Hearth . F. P. Shumway, Jr.
Cosmopolitan Magazine A Friend
Electric Monthly Magazine. Engineering W. H. Wiley Forest and Stream. Forum. Garden and Forest. Gartenlaube. Harper's Monthly Magazine. Harper's Bazar. Harper's Weekly. Harper's Young People. Kindergarten Magazine. Littell's Living Age. London Illustrated News. London Punch. Lippincott's Monthly Magazine, A Friend Literary World, Daniel Jefferson Magazine of American History. Nation. North American Review. New England Magazine. Outing Monthly Magazine. Overland.
168
MELROSE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Practical Electricity,
Charles A Patch
Popular Science Monthly.
Review of Reviews,
Mrs. Ruby F. Farwell
School Review. Scientific American.
Scientific American, Architect and Builder.
Science.
Scribner's Monthly Magazine.
St. Nicholas. Wide Awake. World's Illustrated Columbian Exposition Journal.
PAPERS IN READING ROOM.
Christian Register, Woman's Aux. Unit. Church
Cincinnati Gazette.
Chicago Inter-Ocean.
Charleston News and Courier.
London Weekly Times.
Louisville Weekly Courier-journal.
Melrose Journal,
Charles H. Adams
Melrose Reporter.
Dunton & Potter
National Tribune, G. A. R.
New York Tribune, Weekly.
Pilot. San Francisco Call. Springfield Republican, Weekly.
Woman's Journal, Mrs. Mary A. Livermore Youth's Companion.
169
MELROSE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
DONATIONS.
Pamphlets.
Number of pamphlets in library Jan. 1, 1892.
. 1,313
Annual report of Chelsea Public Library .. " Concord ..
" Hopedale
" Lancaster
.
I
66 Leicester
I
Malden
I
Manchester
N. H.
I
66
Medford 66
I
6 6
Newberry 66
Chicago
I
66
". Petersham
I
6 6
Quincy
66
66 Salem
I
66 Springfield
I
Warren
1
Winchester 16
.
I I
The Tuftonian . .
IT
Official Gazette of the U. S. Patent Office
Eulogies on Brigadier-General James P. Wadsworth- John C. Hurd .
I
Dedication of the statue of Major-General John Sedg- wick-John C. Hurd
I
Columbus and the Finding of the New World-William F. Poole
I
Tobacco, Insanity and Nervousness-Dr. L. Bremer Free Coinage of Silver-Henry Cabot Lodge
I
I
The Movement for Better Roads-Col. Albert A. Pope Influence of the Netherlands on the English Common- wealth and American Republic
I
Proportional representation; the Gove system-W. E. Griffis
I
I
Opening of the library of the University of Pa I First Annual Report of Trustees of Public Reservations I
.
I
I
.
I
.
Maimonides
N. Y.
I
Newton 6
I
I
Winthrop
President of Tuft's College
52
1,410
I70
MELROSE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Books.
Souvenir of the Twenty-fourth National G. A. R. En-
campment
G. A. R.
Feast of the Virgins and other Poems H. L. Gordon
American Newspaper Annual Charles H. Adams Annals of Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Asso- ciation . Alfred Bicknell Catalogue of Library of the St. Johnsbury Athenæum.
Taxation of Women in Mass. William I. Bowditch
Acts and Resolves of the Province of Mass. Bay,
Massachusetts Law of Freedom and Bondage in U. S., John Codman Hurd Theory of our National Existence 66 The Union-State 66
CARRIE M. WORTHEN, Librarian.
Report of the Superintendent of Streets.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
GENTLEMEN: - In compliance with your orders I respect- fully submit the following report of the work done, the dis- tribution of labor and expense as executed by the highway department during the year ending Dec. 31, 1892.
Distribution of Labor Expense on Streets.
Baxter street, grading, by contract by E. L. Whittier . $90 00 Botolph street, removing ledge, by agreement by C. W. Cook 30 00
Briggs street, gravelling and rolling ,
22 25
Clifton park, gravelling and filling in 217 36
Dell avenue, gravelling and rolling at southerly end . 25 00
East Emerson street, rolling . 8 25
First street, cutting down, grading and rolling 131 55
Fletcher street, rolling . 2 50
Foster street, cutting down, grading and rolling . 75 00
Franklin street, building retaining walls, widen-
ing, surfacing with stone, and gravel and roll- ing at Stoneham hill 2,364 50
General repairs, scraping streets, cleaning catch basins, sprinkling streets, setting sign posts, and small work:
Done by the department . $1, 154 13
" " Robert Philpot 90 50
1,244 63
Amount carried forward,
$4,211 04
I72
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
Amount brought forward . $4,21I 04 Gooch street, grading and rolling at northerly end . 125 00
Greenwood street, grading near Wakefield line . 36 25
Grove street, surfacing with stone and gravel and rolling from Lebanon street to Main street . 339 74
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.