USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1890 > Part 8
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FEVER.
FEVER. MEASLES.
January
6
February
4
March
1
April .
5
May ·
3
June
1
July ·
1
August
September
2
October
1
November .
1
3
December
-
-
-
20
1
7
The unusually small number of cases reported of typhoid fever is to be explained by the fact that the disease is espec- ially prevalent in boarding-houses, and that the patients have been in most cases of the sort conveyed to our City Hospital, without previous notification of the Board. In point of fact, the spread of typhoid fever has been uncommonly extensive in 1890, and we might seize this opportunity of impressing upon the public mind the great danger which exists in the drinking of well water. The cases reported to the Board, as well as those which have come under the treatment of the City Hos- pital staff, have been almost without exception among people who, either through prejudice, or from necessity, take their supply from a well. The wells of this city, as elsewhere, are
189
for the most part contaminated by the germs of typhoid fever, and those who drink from such sources do so at their peril. The localized outbreak in the " Hollow," so called, was trace- able, with reasonable distinctness, to a well which furnished the common supply of that region, and the score of cases of typhoid fever occurring therefrom offer to all thinking people the most serious reflections.
Diphtheria was also extremely prevalent, in some localities constituting a veritable epidemic. This was especially true for the West Quincy district, where the disease seems to have taken its origin from the stagnant and polluted pools of water situated on the east and west side of Willard street, in the immediate vicinity of St. Mary's Hall, now used by the city as a school-house. These swamps were caused by the obstruc- tion created to the free passage of water, by the erection of the " grout heap," represented on the subjoined map, and had existed for many years. The neighborhood has long been known to physicians as being fertile in diseases, more particu- larly in diphtheria. For the purpose of putting the facts more clearly in evidence we have adopted the plan of coloring in black those houses which within the last three years have been visited by the scourge. The Board of Health, after a careful examination of the premises, decided to remedy the stagnation by creating a new water-course in the form of a drain extend- ing from the southerly end of the " grout heap " to the former outlet. In obtaining from the City Council the funds for the prosecution of the work, it was greatly assisted by the Coun- cilmen of Ward Four, and it desires to express its gratitude to them, as well as to the whole body. The work was done under the immediate direction of Mr. George Alexander, the
190
Commissioner of Public Works, and was performed with skill and despatch. The result of this operation has been to cause the total disappearance of both ponds, and it is not too much to hope that the danger of an outbreak of diphtheria in that quarter will be in the future much less than it has been in the past.
For several years the building known as Wollaston Hotel has been in an unsanitary condition, notwithstanding the fact that it has been made the object of frequent visits by former Boards. On July 1, 1890, an inspection was made, and after deliberation a letter was sent to the proprietor, giving instruc- tions in regard to the measures necessary to adopt in order to put the house in proper condition. The request of the Board was complied with on November 1st, and the hotel is now in first-class order.
We regret that the abatement of the nuisance known as Teal Pond has been delayed so long, but to save expense to the city it was deemed best to wait until such arrangements could be made with the abutters as would be satisfactory to the Board. This is now practically arranged, but owing to the fact that one of the estates is involved in Probate Court complications, we have been obliged to await the settlement of these diffi- culties before proceeding further.
The Board wishes to call the attention of the people to the following facts : -
1st. Any person who violates the rules and regulations of the Board is liable to arrest, on complaint of any one, without the intervention of the Board of Health, provided the offence be perfectly clear. In doubtful cases the Board should be informed, after which an investigation will be made.
191
2d. Unless a special permission has been given, the clean- ing of cesspools and privy vaults, with the disposal of sewage, must be done by the official scavenger. A householder has no right to do this work himself, and by so doing exposes himself to danger of arrest.
Following is the financial report, with the estimate of expenses for 1891 :-
FINANCIAL REPORT.
Committee on Finance begs leave to submit the following report : -
Bills approved, left from last year's Board of Health, known to be correct by the present Chairman : -
Street Department
$12 00
Walter H. Ripley
45
Joshua Wilkins
6 00
$18 45
J. W. Hayden, for labor as Inspector .
327 00
Postage and stationery
6 32
J. W. Hayden, fumigating
4 10
Horse hire
11 50
Devlin & McCann, surveying
5 00
Chas. E. Avery, chemist
20 00
Green & Prescott, printing and advertising 46 25
Burying dog
2 00
Total .
$440 62
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Bills in hands of Committee, now due, against the city on account of board : -
Green & Prescott, printing $44 50
P. H. Gavin, services as expert . 6 00
J. W. Hayden, Inspector .
10 50
$61 00
The present Board has contracted bills, which have been paid, to the amount of $422 17 Bills which have not been paid (appropriation ex- hausted), to the amount of . 61 00
$483 17
Since this report was sent in, and before Jan. 1st, 1891, there have been bills sent in and approved to the amount of $34.50.
B. F. THOMAS,
Com. on Finance.
REPORT OF CITY PHYSICIAN.
To HIS HONOR THE MAYOR, AND THE CITY COUNCIL :
Gentlemen, -I respectfully present my annual report as City Physician.
I have made during the past year, 180 visits to the outside poor; 90 visits to almshouse ; 5 visits to the police station, and have had 41 calls at office.
Respectfully submitted, SAMUEL M. DONOVAN, City Physician.
REPORT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER, FIRE DEPARTMENT.
To HIS HONOR THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF QUINCY, CHARLES H. PORTER :
Dear Sir, -For the second time, I submit to you the annual report of the Fire Department, in compliance with the requirements governing the same, together with a list of the members, with rank, age, residence and occupation, location of fire alarm boxes, fires and alarms, and inventory of property in possession of the Department at this date. Suggestions for the future benefit of the Department will also be found in this report.
FORCE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
The force of the Department is the same as last year, with the exception of one addition (in the form of a permanent man) and is as follows: One Chief Engineer, six Assistant Engineers (each district or ward being represented), six per- manent men, and sixty-three call members. Also one man who takes care of Chemical Engine No. 1, which is located at Hough's Neck, making the entire force of the Department, seventy-seven members. And allow me to here add that they are all good workers, and have attended very promptly to all duties they have been called upon to perform as firemen.
195
APPARATUS.
The apparatus consists of one Amoskeag steam fire engine, one hook and ladder truck, fully equipped, three hose wagons, two four-wheel hose reels, one hose pung, two chemical engines, two hose jumpers, one supply wagon, and one light express wagon used in the service of the fire alarm.
As there were no repairs on these wagons, of any great amount, the past year, it will be necessary in order to keep up to the standard, to have a little paint and varnish used on the same. Hose 1 has got to have a new running gear.
If the chemical 'engine now located in ward 6 is moved to the centre of the city, there will have to be a new hose wagon placed in its stead. It is my belief that the place for the chemi- cal engine is in the centre of the city, instead of one of the out- lying districts, and if so located it would save considerable water damage where it cannot otherwise be avoided. I have great faith in chemical engines if they are properly handled. I will also add just here, that it is my opinion that if a chemi- cal extinguisher that one man can handle, is carried on each carriage, it would be of great service, especially where the fire is between the partitions.
HOUSES.
The houses of the Department, with the exception of Hose 2 (ward 5), Chemical 2 (ward 6), and Chemical 1 (at Hough's Neck), are unfit for the purposes of a Fire Department.
A central fire station must be built the coming year. It can not be put off any longer. The hose houses in wards 2 and 4 are in very bad condition, and it is my opinion that it would not be economy to make any repairs on same for Fire Depart-
196
ment purposes. They could, perhaps, be repaired somewhat, and would answer some little while for voting places, but for a Fire Department they are simply things of the past. It is hoped by your Chief Engineer, that notice will be taken of this particular part of this report.
HOSE.
We have at this date 6,000 feet of hose in apparently good condition. This has been a hard year on hose. Owing to long lines being laid, the pressure proved to be too much for the older pieces. About 200 feet has been destroyed by fire. An addition of 1,200 feet will be necessary to make up for losses and what will soon be condemned.
WATER.
In regard to water, my report will have to be about the same as last year.
There have been added four hydrants this year, now making a total of 101. I have only to say that wherever the pipes of the Quincy Water Company have been extended, the service is excellent, there being an average pressure of about 75 pounds. I am of the same opinion now as one year ago, and look forward to an extension of the said Water Company's pipes, that we may have more hydrants. In listening to the report of the new water supply I became very much inter- ested, for the reason it was to give so many more hydrants. But in considering the time that would elapse between the present time and the time that the new works would be com- pleted, it appears to me that there is a chance of our becom- ing a modern Babylon.
197
Steam fire engines seem to be the general subject of conver- sation when anything is said about fire department. Steam fire engines are all right, and I would like to have this city own three more than they now have, but if there is no water for them I do not know of any service they could be put to.
It seems proper to call attention to the condition and needs of the Hough's Neck district.
There are now about one hundred buildings in that vicinity ; the value of the same being about ninety thousand dollars. Unless a contract can be made with the Quincy or Weymouth water companies, there is but one other way that I know of to obtain water for fire purposes. There is a piece of land owned by N. B. Furnald, adjoining the land now occupied by Chemical No. 1 House, on which a reservoir can be made. The expense of the same I know nothing of at this date. I will simply recommend that some steps be taken in regard to this matter next year, and also in regard to a method of giv- ing an alarm of fire to the Central Station.
RESERVOIRS.
There are 16 reservoirs, 10 of which are supposed to be self-filling, and with the exception of two, are now in good condition.
Three have been cleared out, planked, and fixed up this year. My private opinion of reservoirs in this city is, that out of the whole number of 16 there is but one that would stand the steamer over one hour in the month of August. I have no confidence whatever in them.
198
FIRE ALARM.
The fire alarm still remains under the care of Gilbert M. Wight, and it gives me the greatest of pleasure to say that it has worked exceedingly well throughout the entire year. Many improvements could and should be made.
There are now about 30 miles of wire, all in one circuit. We have been very fortunate this year in regard to having breaks. In many places where wires run through trees, per- mission has been freely given by the abutters to trim out the same, with very few exceptions. Insulated wire has been used in these places, therefore very little trouble or argu- ment has been had with citizens along the line. As I stated in my last report that breaks in this long line may sometime be disastrous. I still feel that having it put into four or more circuits would be a great improvement, and I hope the day is not far distant when our fire alarm system will be second to none in the State. The addition of several more pull boxes would also be a great advantage as well as good service to many of our citizens.
That addition can be made next year, and without a doubt will be. I am satisfied that the addition of seven of these boxes, located as recommended last year, would pretty well cover the city : one at the corner of Crescent and Willard streets, one at the corner of Copeland and Common streets, one at the corner of Common and Quarry or Common and Cross streets, one at corner of Elm and South streets, one on River street, near boat-house of Lelois, one at corner of Han- cock and Squantum streets, and one at corner of Farrington and Brooks streets.
This may seem a large addition to make at one time, as the
199
cost of same would be in the neighborhood of four hundred dollars, yet I believe it would be money well spent and would be very satisfactory to the citizens living in those vicinities.
There are now in line, one automatic steam whistle attach- ment, three bell strikers, five large gongs, seven tappers, and twenty-five pull boxes. One more box will be put in as soon as poles are ready [38], and will be located at the corner of Liberty and Plain streets.
The locations of pull or signal boxes are as follows : -
FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
23. Cor. Hancock Street and Cottage Ave.
25. Cor. Newcomb and Sea Streets.
26. Unitarian Church.
28. Cor. Greenleaf and Hancock Streets.
34. Cor. Main and Union Streets.
35. Cor. School and Hancock Streets.
37. Cor. Franklin and Water Streets.
38. Cor. Liberty and Plain Streets.
39. Cor. Penn and Liberty Streets.
41. Cor. School and Granite Streets.
42. Jones' Corner.
46. Hose House, No. 3.
47. Cor. Bates Avenue and Grove Street. '
49. Cor. Willard and Robertson Streets.
51. Linden Street, Tubular Rivet Co. Factory.
53. Cor. Warren and Winthrop Avenues.
54. Cor. Hancock and Fenno Streets.
56. Wollaston Hotel.
58. Cor. Adams and Beal Streets.
200
62. Cor. Hancock and Atlantic Streets.
64. Cor. Newburry and Billings Streets.
68. Squantum.
71. £ Cor. Mill and Washington Streets.
72. Cor. South and Washington Streets.
73. Cor. Winter and Howard Streets.
75. Cor. Sumner and Main Streets.
135. Weymouth.
137. Braintree.
148. Milton.
4 3 times, recall, " all out."
2-2 3 times, one session in school.
1 blow for test, at 11.45 A.M.
10 blows followed by box number denotes a second alarm.
12 blows twice and box number denotes a general alarm.
TELEPHONE.
The Central Fire Station and the residence of the Chief Engineer are connected by telephone. The service at times has been very poor, although from no fault of the central office, as the company has always been very obliging in transmitting messages when unable to deliver messages otherwise. I have been informed that it is the intention of the New England Telephone Company to remedy the present trouble in Quincy, if possible, and it is hoped that such will be the case.
HORSES.
The horses of this Department are seven in number, and it gives me the greatest pleasure when I think I can safely say
201
that seven better ones cannot be found in any Department in this State, and I believe it to be a fact when I say or any other State.
We also have a something that is called Horse that belongs to the Highway Department, which is supposed to get Hose 3 carriage around on time.
But the poor old fellow is so slow, That down to the " poor house " he must go. Quite willing to work and do all he can, But the Hose 3 Boys don't want him again.
As in my report of last year, I will recommend that a horse be procured and that the same be under the control of the Chief Engineer. The driver of same to be made permanent and the team to work on the highway within one-half or three- quarters of a mile of said Hose House.
This I think can be arranged between the Commissioner of Public Works and the Chief Engineer.
There are many things wanted that are really necessary to make a first class and efficient Fire Department. I do not expect that all these things can be done in one or even five years, but I do expect that something can be done each year. We ask you as well as the citizens to keep in mind the impor- tance of a good Fire Department. We ask you also to second the efforts of the Engineers, encourage the men and give them kind words.
To those who think the firemen's work is easy I will simply say, let them try it for a single fire. I know of no profession or occupation of any kind where the labor is more wearing to the body or to the general health of the person as it is to the fireman. I say to you again, do all you can to assist them.
202
Pay them well, that we may have the best, and when the best is obtained give them enough to live on comfortably and a penny for a rainy day.
In closing this report I wish to thank the Committee on Fire Department for the courtesy shown me on all occasions.
Ward 3. Fred L. Jones, Chairman,
1. George W. Morton,
2. Horace O. Souther,
4. James F. Burke,
6. Henry W. Read,
Members of Fire Department Committee.
To the Assistant Engineers for their faithful assistance I am under many obligations.
To the foremen, officers and members of the Department I give my profound thanks for their successful efforts.
From the City Government in general I have always received kind words.
Police officers have also rendered very valuable services and are kindly remembered.
To His Honor the Mayor, words cannot express my heart- felt gratitude for the honorable treatment I have ever received at his hands. And my best wishes for the welfare of Mayor Chas. H. Porter, will follow him to the end " when time is no more."
Very respectfully submitted, WALTER H. RIPLEY,
Chief Engineer.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF PUBLIC BURIAL PLACES.
To HIS HONOR THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF QUINCY :
The Managers of Public Burial Places respectfully submit their second annual report : -
Of the burial places in this city but two come directly under the supervision of this Board, viz. : the " Old Cemetery," as it is called, on Hancock street, and the " Mount Wollaston Cem- etery."
MOUNT WOLLASTON CEMETERY.
This report, which is the second under the city government, is the seventeenth under the organization of a Board of Man- agers of this cemetery.
Your Board are gratified to report that this beautiful resting place for the departed is becoming every year more attractive, by the expenditure of the annual appropriation granted, and also in consequence of the increased personal interest and care which is taken by owners of lots, for their improvement.
LOTS SOLD.
Thirty-six lots have been sold during the year, for which $900 has been received.
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LABOR ON LOTS AND NEW LOTS MADE.
The amount charged by the Superintendent under this head is $1,384.25, of which sum $803.50 has been collected. The direction given to close up this account Jan. 1, 1891, leaves more than the usual amount uncollected, a considerable part of which will, no doubt, come in during January, and be accounted for in the next annual report.
REPAIR FUND.
This fund has been increased by $150, making a total sum of $5,075.
ENLARGEMENT.
Your Board ask leave to call to your attention the very urgent need of more territory for the demands of our citizens, for burial lots. To supply the wants of applicants, two of the original public lots or squares have, during the last two years, been laid out, supplying lots which are nearly all taken. No further relief can be looked for in this way, and the only resource left is to procure additional land and devote it to this purpose. Fortunately there is a tract of land of about three acres, lying directly north of the cemetery, running nearly its entire length on that side, and averaging a width of about one hundred and fifty feet, bounding northerly on that strip of land which was sold during this present year to the Greenleaf Land Associates. This tract belongs to the Wood- ward Fund, and it is believed that it can be obtained at a fair price. It appears to your Board very desirable to secure so eligible and valuable an addition to this beautiful cemetery while it can be obtained, but it is not for this reason, however potent this may be, that this matter is presented, but for this
205
also, that the imperative requirements for additional accommo- dation for burials can no longer be deferred. There is now no room for new lots, excepting as they are made by filling in and reclaiming the irregular bluff on the Valley street side. There is no room or place for the " Single Grave Lot," which is now fully occupied, and no ground for the " Free Lot," which, by law, must be provided.
Your Board trust that this matter will have such immediate consideration as its importance demands.
FINANCIAL.
The appropriation for public burial places was $1,150, and the income from sale of lots and other sources as follows : -
Appropriation . Collected for lots sold
. , $1,150 00
" non-resident assessments
·
32 00
4 00
1887
4 00
1888
9 00
1889
244 00
66
1890
803 50
Income of Repair Fund .
246 25
$3,392 75
APPROPRIATION FOR 1891.
Your Board respectfully request an appropriation of $1,100 for the current year.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN HALL, Chairman. GEORGE L. GILL, Secretary.
.
900 00
" labor on lots, 1886
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF
THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The Trustees of the Thomas Crane Public Library submit herewith their annual report, being the 20th of the whole series since the library was opened.
The number of books purchased during the past year was 512. The number of books given to the library was 49. There have been 790 volumes re-bound, and 246 volumes worn out have been replaced by new copies. There have been added 119 pamphlets to those already in the possession of the library. The number of names on the librarian's register is 9,799, and of this number 616 were added during the year. During the year 1890 the library was opened to the public 304 days.
The division of reading matter in use by the borrowers from the library during 1890, is set forth in the following table :
Public.
Fiction
23,517
Schools. 226
Total. 23,743
Per cent. 36.2
Periodicals
13,822
306
14,128
21.5
Juvenile Fiction
11,915
973
12,888
19.6
History
2,800
855
3,655
5.5
General Literature
2,250
91
2,341
3.5
Travels
2,149
657
2,806
4.2
Arts and Sciences
2,078
199
2,277
3.4
Biography
1,839
174
2,013
3.0
Poetry
1,056
48
1,104
1.6
Religion
352
352
.5
Educational
250
250
.3
62,028
3,529
65,557
207
As the decennial national census was taken in 1890, and as, during the current year, twenty full years will have elapsed since the library was originally established, it is not uninterest- ing to make some comparisons of the present statistics of the library with those of ten years ago.
During the year 1880, a circulation of 50,664 volumes was reported. This was an increase of almost exactly 6,000 volumes over the circulation of the year 1872, the first year the library was opened. It then occupied the north room in the Adams Academy building, from which, in 1875, it was removed to the old Orthodox Church building, on Canal and Hancock streets. The location of the library does not seem to have materially affected the number of volumes annually circulated. During the last year it was in the room of the Adams Academy the circulation was 40,175 volumes. The removal to the Orthodox Church reduced this number some- what, but in 1881, the last year it was in that building, the circulation had increased to 52,600 volumes. When the re- moval to the Crane Hall took place, the circulation again dropped slightly away ; but since 1885 it has steadily increased up to the present time.
As compared with 1880, the circulation during the year 1890 had developed from 50,664 volumes to 65,557 volumes, or 29.4 per cent. During the same period, the population of the town increased from 12,145 to 16,712, or 37.6 per cent. It would therefore appear that the increased circulation of the library has not kept pace with the increase in the popula- tion of the town. This is an interesting and a somewhat un- expected fact, as during the twenty years since the library was originally opened, a generation has grown up, those composing
208
which have been accustomed from childhood, to its use. The natural supposition, therefore, would have been that the cir- culation of books from the library would have increased more rapidly than population. The reverse would seem to have been the case.
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