USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1907 > Part 7
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March 25; still alarm; Park street; owner, Melrose Bank; occupant, James Hallahan .:
March 29; still alarm; School and Park streets; grass fire.
March 30; box 35; Wyoming avenue; grass fire.
March 30; box 39; Cresent street; grass fire.
March 30; still alarm; Tremont street; grass fire.
March 30; still alarm; Tremont street; grass fire.
March 30; still alarm; Waverly avenue; grass fire.
March 30; still alarm; Woodland avenue; grass fire.
March 30; still alarm; Waverly avenue; grass fire.
March 30; still alarm; Lebanon street; grass fire.
March 30; still alarm; Vinton street; owner, C. H. Isburgh; occupant, James A. Hewes.
April 4; still alarm; Foster street; owner, E. F. Close; occu- pant, Frank Gibbons.
April 4; box 35; Cottage street; grass fire.
April 6; still alarm; West Hill avenue; grass fire.
Apri 6; still alarm; Sylvan street; woods.
April 6; still alarm; Sylvan street; woods.
. April 7; box 38; brush fire, Stoneham.
April 15; still alarm; Mount Vernon street; owner, A. Mac- lachlan; lumber; value of buildings and contents, $4,000; damage, $35; insurance, $5,000; insurance paid, $35.
April 15; box 51; Green street; owner, B. & N. Street R. R., oil house.
April 19; box 35; Wyoming avenue; false alarm.
April 20; still alarm; off Howard street ; woods.
April 21; box 33; Myrtle street; hospital.
April 21; box 19; off Swains' Pond avenue; woods.
April 22; box 48; Tremont street; owner, Benson Est. ; vacant value of buildings and contents, $200; damage, $20; insurance, $200; insurance paid, $20.
April 22; still alarm; West Hill avenue; brush fire.
April 22; still alarm; Main street; brush fire.
April 22; box 35; Cottage street; brush fire.
April 22; still alarm; Wyoming avenue; brush fire.
125
FIRE REPORT
April 22; still alarm; West Hill street; brush fire.
April 25; still alarm; Tremont and Melrose streets; brush fire .. April 25; still alarm; Tremont and Melrose streets; brush fire.
April 25; box 34; E. Foster street; owner, H. A. Leonard; fence.
April 27; box 58; Youle street; owner, Vokes Est .; occu- pant, W. A. Anderton; value of buildingand contents, $10,000. damage, $1,145.75; insurance $3,500; insurance paid, $1,145.75.
May 2; still alarm; Ellsworth avenue stable.
May 5; box 32; Grove street; owner, Benson Est .; occupant, A. Davies.
May 7; box 48; Essex street; owner, C. B. & F. H. Goss; oc- cupant, C. B. & F. H. Goss; value of building and contents, $5,000.00; damage, $1,500.00; insurance, $2,500.00; insurance paid, $1,500.00
May 7; box 48; Essex street; owner, C. B. & F. H. Goss; occupant, C. B. & F. H. Goss. Second alarm.
May 7; still alarm; Essex street; owner, C. B. & F. H. Goss; occupant, C. B. & F. H. Goss.
May 7; still alarm; Essex street; owner, C. B. & F. H. Goss; occupant, C. B. & F. H. Goss.
May 10; still alarm; Essex street; owner, Boardman Est .; occupant, Hughes.
May 13; box 52; Sargent street; hut.
May 14; box 52; 75 Sargent street; occupant, Fred Classon.
May 20; still alarm; Upham street; owner; L. K. Thurlow; occupant, L. K. Thurlow.
May 22; 10 blows; call to find James Gilmore.
May 24; still alarm; Franklin street; owner, Walden; occu- pant; D. Anderson; shoe store;
June 3; box 37; Cottage street; owner, B. Fernald; occupant, Geo. Coburn; value of building and contents, $5,400; damage, $5; insurance, $4,200; insurance paid, $5.
June 16; box 61 ; Porter street; owner, Mr. Blayse; occupant, Mr. Blayse; value of buildings and contents, $2,000; damage,. $436; insurance, $2,000; insurance paid, $400.
June 16; still alarm; off Pearl street; woods.
June 16; box 53; off Howard street; woods.
June 19; still alarm; Willow street; owner, James Cuzner;,
I26
CITY OF MELROSE
occupant, S. P. Brock; value of buildings and contents, $4,500; damage, $260; insurance, $4,000; insurance paid, $260.
June 25; box 13, Wakefield; call to Wakefield.
June 27; box 47; false.
June 27; box 38; Baxter street; owner, Harry Gettis; occu- pant, J. Shaunghnessy; dwelling.
July 3; box 43; Main street; owner, Win Upham; occupant, Matorazzo; Fruit store.
July 4; box 32; false.
July 4; still alarm; Grove street; owner Thomas Cleaveland; occupant, Thomas Cleaveland.
July 4; still alarm; Main street; owner, Fells Ice Co .; ice houses.
July 22; box 34; Dills ct .; owner, J. A. Dill; occupant, Frank Fazio.
August 1; box 54; Melrose street; owner, A. V. Lynde; oc- cupant, Fred Sparks; value of buildings and contents, $1,700; damage, $687; insurance, $1,800; insurance paid, $687.
August 11; still alarm; off Green street; brush fire.
August 14; box 48; Tremont street; owner, S. E. Benson Est. vacant.
August 15; still alarm; rear of Ashmont street; brush fire.
August 15; still alarm; off Mountain avenue; brush fire.
August 17; box 26; Lebanon street; owner, H. A. Leonard; occupant, H. A. Leanord.
August 19; box 51; Main street; woods.
August 19; still alarm; Mountain avenue; woods.
August 20; still alarm; rear Main street; owner, A. L. Mac- lachlan; occupant, Frank Fazio; stable.
August 26; box 48; Tremont street; owner S. E. Benson; coal sheds.
August 27; still alarm; Sixth street ; grass fire.
August 29; box 58; Youle street; owner, Mrs. Hoyt; occupant, Mrs. Nute; value of buildings and contents, $3,800; damage, $219.85; insurance, $4,700; insurance paid, $219.85.
Sept. 18; box 54; Franklin street; Shepard Est .; occupant, Shepard; value of buildings and contents, $11,000; damage, $57.35; insurance, $8,000; insurance paid, $57.35.
Oct. 9; box 55; Ashland pl .; owner, Mrs. L. Keen; occupant, Mrs. L. Keen.
127
FIRE REPORT
Oct. 19; still alarm; Ingals ct .; owner, C. E. Gennis.
Oct. 20; box 45; false.
Oct. 26; still alarm; Farwell street; woods.
Nov. 1; box 53; Frost & Hawes avenue; owner, S. Levine; occupant, S. Levine; value of buildings and contents, $5,500; damage, $925; insurance, $3.500; insurance paid, $925.
Nov. 2; box 64; Upham street; owner, Colby; occupant, F. Norcross; value of buildings and contents, $700; damage, $500; insurance, $500; insurance paid, $500.
Nov. 2; still alarm; Upham street; owner, Colby; occupant, F. Norcross.
Nov. 7; box 59; false.
Nov. 12; box 65; rear Willow street; owner, James Cuzner; occupant, Mrs. Tildon; value of building and contents, $4,500; damage, $262; insurance, $4,000; insurance paid, $162.
Nov. 20; box 24; Cresent pl .; owner, F. R. Upham; occupant. Walter Peabody; value of buildings and contents, $2,200; damage, $84; insurance, $1,700; insurance paid, $84.
Nov. 26; box 35; false.
Nov. 28; still alarm; Main street; Automobile, No. 22,464.
Dec. 9; box 71; false.
Dec. 14; box 69; E. Foster street; owner, Mrs. Drinkwater; vacant; value of buliding and contents, $2,200; damage, $2,500; insurance, $2,500; insurance paid, $2,500.
Dec. 16; still alarm; Main street; owner, Boardman Est .; occupant, Brock Bros.
Dec. 18; still alarm; Rowe street; owner, H. Carter; occupant Otis Pierce; value of building and contents, $4,300; damage, $167; insurance $3,500; insurance paid, $167.
Dec. 20; box 65; Essex street; owner, Old Colony Light Co .; occupant, Old Colony Light Co .; value of buildings and con- tents, $5,500; damage, $600.
Dec. 20; box 48; Essex street; owner, Old Colony Light Co .; occupant, Old Colony Light Co. Second alarm.
Dec. 21; box 47; Hollbrook ct .; owner, J. Levine; occupant, Israel Shlager, value of buildings and contents, $1,400; damage $1,490; insurance, $2,000; insurance paid, $1,490.
Dec. 21; box 34; Main street; owner, Somersworth Bank; occupants, 5 tenants, 2 stores; value of building and contents;
I28
CITY OF MELROSE
$29,500.00; damage, $6,570.00; insurance, $11,000.00; insur- ance paid, $6,570.
Dec. 21; box 34; 2nd; Main street; owner, Somersworth Bank. Second alarm.
Dec. 23; box 47; Elm street; owner, Mrs. Temple; occupant, D. K. Callamore; value of buildings and contents, $1,400; damage, $110; insurance, $500; insurance paid, $110.
Report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures
To His Honor the Mayor, Eugene H. Moore:
Sir ;- I herewith respectfully submit the report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures Department from Jan. 1, 1907 to Dec. 31, 1907.
Expenses.
Salary $400.00
R. R. Jones, sealing press
1.75
Spencer Manufacturing Co., 1 stamp. .35
Car fare
.40
Sheet lead, alcohol and lamp
.36
S. G. Potter, weighing records 8.50
Painting weights .65
Posting sealers notices
2.00
Marking acid
1.00
American Express Co.
.30
Record books
7.50
S. G. Potter, printing seals 8.90
Sundries 2.18
Total expenses $433.89
Receipts.
Total cash receipts paid treasurer $55.83
Operations of the Department from Jan. 1, 1907 to Dec. 31,
1907.
Number of scales 10 tons capacity tested 9
tested for city 4 times 1
66 66 5,000 lbs tested 1
66 portable platform tested 43
66
66 66
all kinds 124
Number of scales tested found correct 178
I30
CITY OF MELROSE
Adjusted before sealing
19
Condemned
3
Total
200
Number of weights tested and found correct
531
66 66 adjusted 27
Total 558
Number of dry measures tested found correct. 201
Number of dry measures tested condemned 11
Total 212
Number of wet measures, including milk jars, found correct 11,927
Number of wet measures, including milk jars, con- demned 170
Total 12,097
Yard sticks 31
October 12, 1907. One conviction for using condemned measure, fined $10.
November 14, 1907. One prosecution for unsealed bottles.
Respectfully
WILLIAM L. PIERCE, 1
-
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Assessors' Report
Hon. Eugene H. Moore, Mayor of the City of Melrose:
Dear Sir :- The Board of Assessors', herewith submit their report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1907.
Taxable Valuation of the City.
Ward 1.
Personal $161,600
Buildings $1,192,550
Land $736,125
Total R. E. $1,928,675
Ward 2.
118,300
1,310,050
863,800
2,173,850
Ward 3.
176,200
1,145,375
820,750
1,966,125
Ward 4.
355,000
1,188,475
985,875
2,174,350
Ward 5.
538,500
1,285,600
729,175
2,014,775
Ward 6.
203,350
1,299,100
1,036,500
2,335,600
Ward 7.
36,350
867,700
609,275
1,476,975
$1,589,300
$8,288,850
$5,781,500 $14,070,350
R. B. S't'k
74,760
$1,664,060 .
1,664,060
Total real and personal estate assessed Rate of taxation $17.00 per $1,000.00
Appropriations.
State tax
$18,000.00
County tax
15,880.08
Met. Sewer
9,264.95
Met. Park .
7,183.32
State Highway tax
1.02
City Budget
219,753.24
Overlay
6,038.36
$15,734,410
$276,120.97
I32
CITY OF MELROSE
Assessed on real estate $239,195.95
Assessed on personal estate 28,289.02
Assessed on 4,318 Polls 8,636.00
$276,120.97
Moth tax assessed $1,150.71 Street watering assessed
4,893.99
Sidewalks and Edgestones assessed
2,923.65
Excise tax assessed (Boston & Northern St. Ry.) .
2,028.65
Number of resident individuals, firms etc., assessed 2,571
Number of non-resident individuals, firms etc., assessed 793
Number of persons assessed for Poll tax only
3,266
Number of horses assessed
491
Number of Cows assessed
90
Number of Swine assessed
55
Value of Property exempt from taxation.
Houses of religious worship
$373,800.00
Benevolent institutions 31,025.00
$404,825.00
Respectfully submitted, FRANK R. UPHAM, WILLIAM MORSS, L. FRANK HINCKLEY, Assessors.
Year
Census
Dwell- ings
Polls
Val. Bldgs.
Val. Land.
Total Value Real Est.
Val. Per- sonal Est.
Total Valuation.
Rate per $1000
Town Appropriation.
Sewerage Tax
Park Tax.
State Tax. County Tax.
Overlay.
Total Tax Levy.
Year
1890
$8,127
$1,911
$2,321
$3,999,375
$2,355,700
$6,355,075
$369,360
$6,724,705
$13 70
$85,335 80
$5,145 00
$4,733 83
$1,536 56
$96,751 19
1890
1892
9,539
2,282
2,723
4,786,150
3,379,700
8,165,850
430,715
8,596,565
15 80
123,604 46
$646 75
5,757 50
6,428 39
4,834 62
141,271 72
1892
1894
10,847
2,583
3,126
5,677,800
3,708,975
9,386,775
538,098
9,924,873
14 20
123,852 57
4,041 90
6,580 00
7,195 97
5,514 76
147,185 20
, 1894
1896
12,314
3,022
3,591
6,786,100
4,101,250
10,796,350
637,815
11,434,165
I5 20
154,992 74
5,581 48
6,877 50
9,865 44
3,664 11
180,981 27
1896
1898
12,630
3,212
3,690
7,430,000
4,320,895
11,750,895
724,249
12,475,144
16 70
187,636 69
7,100 42
6,645 00
11,018 42
3,314 37
215,714 90
1898
1900
12,715
3,237
3,650
7,582,525
4,398,150
11,980,675
797,690
12,778,365
18 00
*199,837 41
9,431 01
6,645 00
11,857 11
9,540 04
237,310 57
1900
1902
13,369
3,280
3,931
7,781,400
5,927,575
13,708,975
1,656,505
15,365,480
17 20
*237,107 27
10,561 13
$1,977 83
6,375 00
13,355 88
2,861 15
272,148 26
1902
1904
14,021
3,319
4,137
7,945,700
5,867,625
13,813,325
1,424,530
15,237,855
17 40
*225,003 32
11,744 15
5,696 87
11,625 00
15,716 05
3,627 28
273,412 67
1904
1906
14,572
3,363
4,235
8,131,450
5,787,100
13,918,550
1,559,330
15,477,880
17 80
*229,006 55
12,222 49
6,183 01
16,275 00
16,188 40
4,100 81
283,976 26
1906
1907
14,860
3,382
4,318
8,288,850
5,781,500
14,070,350
1,664,060
15,734,410
17 00
*219,753 24
9,264 95
7,183 32
18,000 00 ) 15,880 08
6,038 36
276,120 97
1907
*Including Metropolitan Park Tax, estimate.
*City Appropriation.
*State Highway Tax.
1891
8,827
2,032
2,412
4,272,025
3,093,275
7,372,025
405,690
7,777,715
14 20
104,061 87
4,410 00
4,733 83
1,779 04
114,984 74
1891
1893
10,474
2,484
3,048
5,308,500
3,590,975
8,899,475
500,655
9,400,130
14 40
121,014 98
1,649 14
8,225 00
6,716 22
3,927 41
141,532 75
1893
1805
11,651
2,836
3,361
6,207,475
3,874,625
10,082,100
556,650
10,638,750
14 80
137,973 25
5,581 48
5,895 00
9,307 02
5,418 73
164,175 48
1895
1897
12,520
3,145
3,673
7,143,950
4,306,650
11,450,600
758,215
12,280,815
15 60
165,521 31
12,182 21
6,877 50
9,307 02
3,915 46
197,803 50
1897
1899
12,625
3,233
3,695
7,496,100
4,324,250
11,820,350
845,085
12,665,435
17 00
191,391 10
9,645 53
6,645 00
12,007 07
3,013 69
222,702 39
1899
1901
12,781
3,248
3,711
7,610,850
5,993,025
13,603,875
1,286,890
14,890,765
16 20
*206,635 82
9,727 23
7,437 50
13,388 55
*11,463 29
248,652 39
IGOI
1903
13,641
3,312
4,052
7,865,250
5,915,375
13,780,625
1,397,005
15,177,630
18 00
*237,087 74
10,808 84
5,169 59
10,625 00
13,917 89
3,692 28
281,301 34
1903
1905
14,559
3,334
4,235
8,020,150
5,845,800
13,865,950
1,463,745
15,329,695
18 00
*227,044 58
12,077 04
5,922 31
18,600 00
15,272 57
5,488 01
284,404 51
1005
*1 02 )
. . .
Collector's Report
January 1, 1908.
To the Honorable Mayor and Board of Aldermen, City of Mel- rose:
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit the eighth annual report:
TAX 1907.
Warrant
$276,120.97
Additionals
997.19
Interest .
111.03
$277,229.19
Abatements
3,789.37
$273,439.82
Paid Treasurer
149,315.36
Uncollected
$124,124.46
TAX 1906.
Warrant
$283,976.26
Additionals
954.84
Interest
3,028.52
$287,959.62
Abatements
4,359.63
$283,599.99
Paid Treasurer
249,830.14
Uncollected
$33,769.85
I34
CITY OF MELROSE
TAX 1905
Warrant
$284,404.51
Additionals
1,568.15
Interest
5,741.82
$291,714.48
Abatements
5,954.35
$285,760.13
Takings
4,214.28
$281,545.85
Paid Treasurer
279,218.10
Uncollected
$2,327.75
TAX 1904
Warrant
$273,412.67
Additionals
3,646.05
Interest
5,603.99
$282,662.71
Abatements
6,405.22
$276,257.49
Takings
2,749.31
$273,508.18
Paid Treasurer
271,565.02
Uncollected
$1,943.16
TAX 1903
Warrant
$281,301.34
Additionals
1,182.85
Interest
5,747.60
$288,231.79
COLLECTOR'S REPORT 135
Abatements 5,381.15
Paid Treasurer
280,342.69
Uncollected
$2,507.95
TAX 1902
Warrant
$272,148.26
Additionals
1,756.08
Interest
5,387.40
$279,291.74
Abatements
9,184.44
$270,107.30
Paid Treasurer
269,906.51
$200.79
TAX 1901
Warrant
$248,652.09
Additionals
1,526.03
Interest
. 4,716.85
$254,894.97
Abatements
8,248.05
$246,646.92
Paid Treasurer
246,646.92
REDEMPTION 1900
Collections
$4,748.61
Interest
685.82
Total
5,434.43
Paid Treasurer
$5,434.43
I
$282,850.64
I36
CITY OF MELROSE
REDEMPTION 1901
Collections
$4,286.16
Interest 505.78
Total
$4,791.94
Paid Treasurer
4,791.94
REDEMPTION 1902
Collections
$4,874.17
Interest
553.95
Total
$5,428.12
Paid Treasurer
5,428.12
REDEMPTION 1903
Collections
$3,372.02
Interest
281.85
Total
$3,653.87
Paid Treasurer
3,653.87
TAKINGS 1904
Tax
$1,040.96
Street Watering
22.40
Interest . 173.46
Total Collected
$1,236.82
Paid Treasurer
1,236.82
TAKINGS 1905.
Tax .
$1,253.25
Street Watering
7.44
Interest
123.56
Total Collected .
$1,384.25
Paid Treasurer
$1,384.25
I37
COLLECTOR'S REPORT
STREET BETTERMENTS 1906-1709
Collections, 1906
$518.40
Collections, 1907
49.12
Interest
21.63
Total Collected . $589.15
Paid Treasurer, 1906
$518.40
Paid Treasurer, 1907
70.75 $589.15
SEWER ASSESSMENT.
Collections, assessments
$162,507.78
Collections, interest. 21,516.97
Total Collected
$184,024.75
Paid Treasurer
$183,970.11
Balance, Dec. 31, 1907
54.64
Total
$184,024.75
SIDEWALK 1905.
Warrant
$1,090.15
Abatements 26.25
$1,063.90
Paid Treasurer
1,063.90
SIDEWALK 1906.
Warrant
$1,961.80
Paid Treasurer
1,701.16
Uncollected
$260.64
SIDEWALK, 1907.
Warrant
$2,923.65
Paid Treasurer
1,430.78
Uncollected
$1,492.87
I38
CITY OF MELROSE
STREET WATERING, 1907.
Warrant
$4,893.99 3.71
Abatements
15.56
$4,882.14
Paid Treasurer
2,657.95
Uncollected
$2,224.19
STREET WATERING, 1906.
Warrant
$4,897.49
Abatements
4.00
$4,893.49.
Paid Treasurer
4,332.17
Uncollected
$561.32
STREET WATERING, 1905.
Warrant
$4,912.73
Additional
17.73
$4,930.46
Abatements
59.80
$4,870.66
Takings
69.01
$4,801.65
Paid Treasurer
4,783.06
Uncollected
18.59
Additionals
$4,897.70
139
COLLECTOR'S REPORT
STREET WATERING, 1904.
Warrant
$4,740.51
Additionals
25.18
$4,765.69
Abatements
27.46
$4,738.23
Takings
60.45
$4,677.78
Paid Treasurer
4,672.29
Uncollected
$5.49
WATER RATES, 1907.
Collections
$51,735.26
Summons
76.60
$51,811.86
Paid Treasurer
$51,533.92
Refund
193.11
$51,727.03
Bal. Dec. 31, 1907
84.83
Total
$51,811.86
WATER RATES, 1906.
Collections
$51,429.30
Summons
10.80
Summons, Bal. 1905
1.00
$51,441.10
Paid Treasurer
$51,051.87
Refund
358.44
$51,410.31
Bal., Dec. 31, 1907
30.79
$51,441.10
140
CITY OF MELROSE
MOTH TAX, 1907.
Warrant
$1,150.71 16.60
Abatements
$1,134.11
Paid Treasurer
386.08
Uncollected
$748.03
MOTH TAX, 1906.
Warrant
$ 573.79
Abatements
10.31
$563.48
Paid Treasurer
352. 60
Uncollected
$210.88
1907 NON-RESIDENT BANK TAX.
Collected .
$769.08
Paid Treasurer
769.08
EXCISE TAX, 1907
Collected
$2,028.65
Paid Treasurer
2,028.65
FEES.
Bal., Dec. 13, 1906
$1.00
Collections
1,000.24
Total
1,001.24
Paid Treasurer
$1,000.27
Bal., Dec. 31, 1907 97
$1,001.24
141
COLLECTOR'S REPORT SEWER REDEMPTION HAWES AVENUE.
Amount of Redemption Assessment $121.63
Paid Treasurer 121.63
Respectfully, JAMES W. MURRAY, City Collector.
January 6, 1908, in Board of Aldermen: Referred to Committee on Solicitor and Collector, W. DeHAVEN JONES, Clerk.
February 3, 1908, in Board of Aldermen: Report of Committee to place on file, to be printed in City Report of 1907, W. DeHAVEN JONES, Clerk.
Report of the Cemetery Committee
To the Honorable Mayor and Board of Aldermen.
Gentlemen :- The Cemetery Committee respectfully submit their report of the receipts and expenditures for the cemetery department during the financial year ending Dec. 31, 1907.
Receipts.
Cash received and paid to the City Treasurer for:
Dressing
$22.00
Flowers
2.50
Foundations
207.75
Grass sold
10.00
Graves single
208.00
Interments
668.75
Labor, regrading lots
256.41
Lots cared for
1,588.39
Lots sold.
3,289.50
Slate markers
1.50
Slate Vaults
265.00
Wood sold
7.50 $6,527.30
Expended.
Books, printing, stamps and telephone. .
$89.00
Canvas covers
30.00
Catch basins, frame and grates
11.00
Cement and lime
58.90
Clerical services
23.10
Dressing
364.50
Express and freight
13.80
Grave and lot markers and figures
109.89
Gravel and sand
92.40
Hardware and tools
73.61
Labor on wall
44.84
143
REPORT OF CEMETERY COMMITTEE
Lot purchased and resold
100.00
Lumber
14.09
Office furniture, card case and cards 65.87
Plants, seeds and shrubs.
92.41
Repairing and sharpening tools
15.45
Salary of clerk
111.30
Salary of Committee
75.00
Slate vaults and freight
261.15
Sundries
29.99
Water system, stock and labor
15.64
Pay Roll, superintendent, laborers and teams
4,905.10 $6,597.04
There is due from City for perpetual care $595.38 to be paid in April.
Respectfully submitted,
JULIAN C. WOODMAN, WILLIS C. GOSS, JOSEPH D. LORD.
Report of the Overseers of the Poor
January 1, 1908.
To the Honorable Mayor and Board of Aldermen, City of Mel- rose:
Gentlemen :- We respectfully submit the annual report of the charity department and solicit your particular consideration of the appended tables, showing in detailed figures the dis- bursements of founds entrusted to us. It is with a feeling of satisfaction that we direct your attention to the fact that the total expense of this department for the fiscal year, 1907, is less than for the period of eleven months in 1906, and considerably less than for any preceding year since Melrose became a city.
City Home.
We are pleased to report an improved condition of affairs at our City Home, now under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Milton E. Smith. The average number of inmates is three males, five females. All of these inmates are, either on ac- count of advanced age or physical disability unfitted for severe labor, making it neccessary to hire additional help for the run- ning of the house and farm. This necessity, together with the comparitively small number of inmates and the high price of provisions occasions a higher cost per capita than we would like to see.
Our home is well kept and the inmates tenderly cared for. Dur- ing the year we have had the building repaired and painted outside and some painting and papering inside. We have fitted up a comfortable sitting room for the women and hoped to have similar provision for the men, but lack of funds pre- vented us from so doing. We hope next year's board will be enabled to do this. For years the men have occupied a de- tached out-building as smoking and reading-room which is anything but creditable to a public institution. Additional furniture has been purchased during the year and with a com- paratively small further outlay the house will be fully equipped
I45
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR
and furnished with furniture belonging to the City of Melrose.
Necessity of preparing a large amount of wood for distribu- tion to the outside poor prompted us with the consent and ap- proval of His Honor, the Mayor, to purchase a gasolene engine and saw. This was a good investment and half its cost has already been saved. This engine is also utilized in cutting ensilage and filling the silo.
After another year's experience in farming this board con- curs in the conclusion arrived at by last year's board, that the city had better abandon the attempt to raise garden truck or milk to be sold in competition. The land can be advantageous- ly utilized to raise fodder for the necessary live stock, vegetables and milk for the Home and for the outside poor. Pursuing this policy we believe that the net cost of running the institu- tion may be considerably reduced.
Outside Poor.
Continuing the work of the preceding board, earnest and harmonious efforts were made this year to reduce to a minimum the amount expended in this branch of our work. This was accomplished without neglecting any worthy cause, by con- stant and systematic measures to secure employment for the able-bodied but indigent. Most of the present beneficiaries are worthy cases; invalid women and widows left with families of young children, or wives and children deserted by heartless or dissolute husbands and fathers. These worthy women have done all they possibly can to be self-supporting and with the assistance received through this department, are for the most part bringing up their families respectably, creditable alike to themselves and to the city. There are one or two notable exceptions to this satisfactory condition; cases which have been constantly before the poor department for many years. Some of these unsatisfactory cases were finally dis- posed of during the past two years and we hope the coming year will bring about a further improvement, by cutting loose from the traditions and customs of the past. Drastic mea- sures must be resorted to with these people. Maudlin senti- mentality should not control or influence the dispensing of
146
CITY OF MELROSE
public aid. Compulsory labor and decency, though somewhat delayed in application, may yet accomplish a reform. In our efforts to correct abuses during the year we have encountered some opposition by the interference of well-meaning persons, but poorly informed as to the duties and obligations of our office.
We desire to express our appreciation and thanks to His Honor the Mayor, for assistance and support generously given in many ways. The board is singularly indebted to Mr. Claude L. Allen, City Solicitor, for legal services in matters affecting the city. His conservative counsel has guided us and his cour- tesy has cheered us in the handling of some unpleasant matters.
Another year's experience satisfies us beyond question as to the wisdom and economy of having a city physician. This board appreciates and is grateful to Dr. Clarence P. Holden for his faithful attention to the poor of the city.
PETER J. LYNCH, M. E. STANTIAL, CHARLES O. BOYD. Overseers of the Poor.
OUT DOOR RELIEF. (Partial Support) January 1 to December 31, 1907.
Individuals aided.
258
Males
Fe- males
Ad- ults
over 16
Minors under 16
Total
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