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 1891 > Part 5
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Nothing enhances the value of a piece of property so much as a good sidewalk with edgestone, and I hope that some sys- tem of uniform walks, either brick or concrete will be started in this city at an early date.
A brick walk with edgestone has been laid around City Hall and also upon the northerly side of the street, thus giving foot passengers a clean walk to the depot and is much appre- ciated by all. Over 1,000 feet of edgestone has also been taken up and relaid during the past year.
DRAINS AND CULVERTS.
A large catch basin has been constructed upon Common street from which a pipe drain was laid under the sidewalk to Adams street, where the water reaches Furnace Brook. I believe this drain will care for all the water which comes from the Quarries above, and remedy the trouble which was exper- ienced last winter by the large flow of water at this place.
A catch basin was also constructed on Garfield street, a pipe drain laid to the bottom of the hill near Prout's store, and from there to and across Copeland street to the brook a stone drain was laid. This drain has also in past seasons caused a great deal of trouble and annoyance to that section, and while at certain seasons of the year a very large amount of water must
112
be provided for, it is believed that the drain will properly care for all the water from that section.
A catch basin and underground drain was also constructed upon Washington street, two culverts on Woodbine street and Greenwood avenue, several stone drains relaid and enlarged in other sections, and much work of that nature performed during the year.
HANCOCK STREET.
The City Council passed an order for $10,700 for the com- pletion of Hancock street. This street was pratically com- pleted as far as Squantum street. That part which lies between Squantum street and Neponset Bridge was in various stages of progress, the paving was all laid but where the roadbed was con- structed across the meadows, it had become very uneven on account of the settling of the road bed, and a portion was taken up and relaid. The balance of the street to Neponset Bridge was filled to grade and width. 1,783 feet of edgestone was set and a substantial fence was constructed upon either side where required.
That portion lying between the Railway Bridge and Nepon- set Bridge was filled with stone and well rolled with the Steanı Roller and is a fairly good street, but that portion lying between Squantum street and the R. R. Bridge continued to settle so that all that could be done was to fill with gravel from time to time until it reaches a firm foundation. This will probably require several years as it has been filled to grade three times this year, and as the paving had settled in such an uneven manner early in December, gravel was used over the paving in places to make safe and passable for the winter. Considerable work must be done on this portion of the street in the early spring. A portion of this appropriation still remains unexpended.
WASHINGTON STREET.
An appropriation of $10,000 was made for the rebuilding of Washington street from Quincy Point Bridge to Foster street, a distance of two miles. This street was built some years ago and had become badly worn and most difficult to
113
ride or team over, as the top surface had become entirely worn out, leaving nothing but the large stone of which the founda- tion or road bed was composed.
After removing the mud and dust, the road was picked up by the Steam Roller and resurfaced and regraded by crushed stone the entire length to a depth of from 8 to 15 inches and well rolled to a smooth surface. Considering the cost (which is but slightly more than a gravel road) is one of the best streets in our City, it being located near the Stone Crusher and the short distance in teaming in part accounts for its cheapness. The traffic upon this street is very large, in fact, I believe that with the exception of Hancock street there is more teaming upon this street than any street in Quincy, and proper attention at the proper time must be given this street or it will soon become full of ruts, and if the water is unable to drain off, the road bed will become softened and a poor road will be the final result.
REARDON STREET.
Reardon street leading from Common street to the brook was ordered built by the City Council and $1650 appropriated therefor. The street is 839 feet long and as a large amount of water must pass over this street to the brook, an edgestone and paved gutter was required for its entire length.
The street was built of gravel and is in good condition for travel.
ADAMS STREET.
The Council appropriated $2500 for the improvement of Adams street commencing at or near the residence of the late Joseph Robertson. This portion of the street was in a very bad condition and required a large amount of stone to bring the street to a grade. Also owing to the distance that crushed stone had to be hauled, but a short piece of the street was built. Adams street, being one of our main thoroughfares to Milton and other towns, and also being one of the best residen- tial streets in our City, should be completed and put in better condition for its entire length.
114
BOTOLPH STREET.
The City Council appropriated the sum of $500 for the grad- ing of Botolph street and for building a drain to carry off the surface water. A catch basin was constructed and a drain laid to the brook a distance of about 260 feet, and the street was partially graded. An expenditure of about $250 will be re- quired to complete the grading.
The plant where the stone crusher is located is on land of Terrance Keenan and consists of a jaw crusher and portable engine for supplying power. I would most strongly urge the purchase or lease of this or some other suitable quarry for the getting out of stone for road-building purposes, and locating thereon a permanent plant and also stables and sheds for our teams.
A permanent plant should consist of another crusher of im- proved pattern, a building with bins, elevator for handling stone after being crushed, and a larger engine. With this plant stone can be handled much cheaper than we are now doing. The stables now in use by our teams are inadequate for their use, and by locating the teams at the crusher, much work can be done at little or no expense.
This plant is absolutely necessary and should be established at once on the ground of economy, convenience and actual ne- cessity. Gravel is becoming each year harder to obtain and much that can be purchased (as the City has none of its own but purchases by the load wherever it can be found) is unfit for road-building purposes. While the cost of crushed stone is somewhat more than gravel. I am firmly of the belief that it is economy to build and repair our roads with stone' instead of gravel. The quality of the stone in this city is inferior to that of other places, it being of such a nature that it easily crushes. And this fact together with the amount of traffic over them ac- counts for the rapid wear of our streets.
A street once constructed should be constantly looked after at all times, as it soon spoils after it becomes full of ruts and de- pressions.
With the small appropriation for repairs it is impossible to do this and also keep in repair the many miles of street in our City. A larger appropriation must be made for repairs of streets. The people demand better streets and walks and there
115
is but one way to get them - appropriate more money and build faster than they wear out instead of the opposite course which has been pursued in past years - allow them to wear out faster than repairs were made.
I believe that in a few years with a reasonable amount of money judiciously expended, a great and lasting improvement can be made upon our streets.
GENERAL REPAIRS.
General repairs have been made wherever it was deemed most needed in the various parts of our City. The money has been nearly equally distributed in the different Wards, although I have paid no attention to Ward Lines if I deemed one section of our City more in need of care or attention than another. I have tried to avoid all party and sectional feeling and have en- deavored to give to the citizens of Quincy the largest possible returns for the money at my command, and while all of our streets have not been put in first-class order, I feel that some improvement has been made during the past year in the gener al condition of the streets.
REMOVAL OF SNOW.
The amount of snow was unusually large during the past year and the expense of caring for removal was accordingly large. I have this year purchased three additional snow plows for side- walk use, as several miles of new street and a large number of new houses have been added to the territory to be covered this year, and in order that prompt service may be given, these were deemed necessary. This will again illustrate the growing needs of the street department for larger appropriations.
The Commissioner is criticised throughout the City for ne- glect of repairing and cleaning streets, blamed that the dust should blow, or that the mnd should be allowed to accumulate, while they fail to realize the immense amount of territory that is within the City's limits, and while a large majority of the citi- zens see or know of but little more than that which lies in their immediate vicinity, wonder why this or that is not done. They do not stop to consider that there are 75 miles of street that also require some attention as well as their own immediate
116
neighborhoods. I ask that a reasonable time be granted this department in the cleaning of the walks around about our City, as I assure the citizens that no reasonable effort will be spared on my part to give prompt service.
COLLECTION OF GARBAGE.
The collection of garbage has been attended to this past year as well and as promptly as could be done with the one team which is kept for this purpose. There is a large demand for the removal of ashes and other rubbish, but little of this work has been done as it requires nearly the entire time of this team for the collection of swill, and the money at hand would not allow of additional team or teams. I would recommend that some provisions be made for such work during the coming year.
The sale of swill during the past year greatly exceeds that of previous years and materially assists towards paying the ex- penses of the department. The money statement will be found in Auditor's Report.
PUBLIC BRIDGES.
The repairs of public bridges have been cared for during ihe past year as usual. It was found necessary to replank the Neponset Bridge its entire length, and bids for the work were advertised for in the local papers. The contract was made with A. L. Litchfield who performed the work in a satisfactory manner.
The Quincy Point, and also the Hingham and Weymouth Bridges required repairs and the work was done jointly by this City and the towns mentioned. The last mentioned bridge is quite poor and doubtless before many years will require rebuilding.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The charter of this city specifies that the construction and repair of public buildings shall be done under the direction of the Commissioner of Public Works. But not until this year has it been the duty of the Commissioner to look after the repairs of the School Buildings. This is an added duty to his already numerous and varied cares. It would seem to me that the School Committee should be the proper custodians of school
117
buildings and have charge of all necessary repairs. An inspec- tion of the various buildings showed as a whole that they were in a fair condition.
The Coddington School building and the Annex were in the most need of repairs. The main building was in need of paint both inside and out, gutters, conductors, and a part of the sills were found to be rotten. The building was put in thorough repair at quite an expense. The Annex was also shingled and painted. The sanitary at the John Hancock was found in a most filthy condition and was thoroughly overhauled and put in good order. Slight repairs were also made at the other school buildings where needed. The engine houses throughout the city are in very poor condition and something must soon be done. The Central Station and also the Hose House in Ward 4 are in very poor condition and it seems a waste of money to make more than temporary repairs. New buildings must soon be erected to accommodate the fire appa- ratus. As an extended report of the needs of the department will be made by the chief engineer, reference is hereby made to his report.
CITY HALL.
There have been but slight repairs made upon this build- ing this year, and the building remains in the same condition as to the interior arrangement of the offices as it has in the past. The City Council authorized a set of plans to be made for the remodelling of this building, so as to better accommo- date the business of the city, but no further action has been taken. It is to be hoped that this much needed improvement will be made in the near future.
WILLARD SCHOOL.
The contract for the building of the Willard School House was given to Messrs. I. & E. H. Cushing, Dec. 13, 1889. It progressed slowly until January last, when, owing to the fail- ure of the Messrs. Cushing, the building was taken posession of by the city, January 17, 1891, and then placed in my hands for completion.
It being in mid winter and the roof not having been made tight and three of the gable ends unfinished, it left the building to the mercy of the elements. The floors and walls were cov
118
ered with ice and snow and I realized that prompt action should be taken. I was fortunate in securing the services of Mr. Jonas Shackley, a well known citizen and builder, and a force of men was immediately secured. Material was purchased for the completion of the bullding according to the plans and speci- fication.
In order that the building should be ready for occupancy in September, the work was pushed as fast as possible and early in August the building was ready for the furniture. The Smead System of heating and ventilating was adopted and accordingly put in. As yet the system has not worked in a satisfactory manner owing to the unequal distribution of heat. Some rooms are found to be too warm while others are insuffi- ciently heated. It is hoped that this fault will be remedied and experiments to that effect are being made. It requires a large amount of coal to run the twelve furnaces and the system is a very expensive one. The grading of the grounds was quite an item of expense, as a large amount of filling was required. The total cost of the building was far in excess of the original contract, and an extra appropriation was made by the Council.
Much of the credit for the completion of the building is due to the untiring energy of Mr. Shackley who devoted his entire time, and best efforts to complete the building at the least possible cost to the city and at as early a day as possible.
STREET LIGHTS.
The streets of our city are lighted by 89 Arc, 105 Incan- descent, 68 Gas, and 127 Oil Lamps. There is a great and growing demand for more light and while street lights are appreciated by all, it is well to consider that the present system of lighting nearly equals the appropriation for Miscellaneous Repairs upon streets and sidewalks throughout the city. One is a luxury, the other is a necessity.
In conclusion, I wish to thank His Honor, Mayor Fair- banks, the various officers in the city government and the pub- lic generaly for the hearty support and encouragement which they have given me during the past year.
Very respectfully, W. WALTER ELWELL.
Commissioner of Public Works.
Report of the OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
QUINCY, MASS., Jan. 2, 1892.
To HIS HONOR MAYOR OF THE CITY OF QUINCY :
I herewith respectfully present my report as Overseer of Poor, of Quincy, year ending Dec. 31, 1891.
Our Almshouse has been under the charge of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Jacobs the past year, who have been faithful to their trust as in the past. There have been admitted, during the past year, ten persons, discharged seven, and eleven have died, most of whom were elderly persons. Our death rate was very large, la grippe being the primary cause ; four of those who died were seriously ill when admitted. There are at present eleven inmates.
Respectfully yours, GEORGE H. FIELD. Overseer of Poor.
Support of Poor.
ALMSHOUSE.
FRANKLIN JACOBS, Superintendent.
Dr.
Paid Franklin Jacobs, services, self and wife $500 00
Hannah Fitzgerald, labor . 96 00
Emma Anderson
94 .00
Elizabeth McKenna "
10 00
Peter Delory
29 25
Harrison S. Hunt
39 81
James Morris
42 06
William Grady
40 50
Frank Gearin
17 00
John Parker
1 75
Daniel Kerins
2 62
John Keefe
7 00
John Harrington
21 50
G. F. Wilson & Co., provisions, etc.,
379 41
W. H. Doble
315 65
Rogers Bros.
91 66
Ford Bros. 66
4 84
J. F. Merrill, groceries, ·
107 05
Quincy Co-operative Store, groceries .
24 82
Pratt & Curtis
19 21
C. H. Johnson
3 44
Amount carried forward
$1,847 57
121
Amount brought forward $1,847 57 Paid John W. Nash groceries etc., 55 13
A. J. Richards & Son, grain
227 09
J. F. Sheppard & Sons, fuel
374 98
M. A. Millen, shoeing, etc.,
24 70
John Hall, burial expenses
80 00
W. E. Brown
20 00
A. G. Durgin, medicines
24 85
City Drug Store ·
4 00
Joseph S. Whall 66
.
26 34
E. Packard & Co. "
8 75
F. Jacobs, cash for nurse, .
10 00
J. L. Stevenson & Co., whiskey
7 50
N. E. Telephone Co., use of telephone
18 25
Mrs. J. Dolan, nursing
37 00
Green & Prescott, Patriot .
5 00
C. B. Tilton, sundries
7 85
E. R. Wheble, dressing hogs
10 00
Herbert G. White, pigs
25 00
F. F. Crane, sundries
3 97
H. O. Chapin, potatoes
12 50
J. Breck & Sons, seeds, etc.,
3 23
Benjamin Johnson, lumber,
5 00
P. H. Gavin, repairs
10 40
Joseph N. Page, repairing shoes
3 75
Quincy Water Co., water .
40 00
W. H. Claflin & Co., paper
2 57
J. W. Lombard, furniture
7 30
Simeon Scannell, repairs
2 85
Eaton Bros., ice
24 99
W. A. Hodges, crackers
25 56
Saville & Jones, shoes
1 25
B. M. Bevins, fish
10 32
Sanborn & Damon, repairs
4 70
E. E. Fellows,
9 00
Boston Branch Store, shoes
15 05
C. S. Hubbard, dry goods
25 55
Safford & Very, clothing
55 23
Amount carried forward
$3,077 73
122
Amount brought forward
$3,077 23
Paid George J. Jones, repairs
10 04
George O. Langley, "
2 25
C. F. Pettingill,
2 80
Austin & Winslow, expressing .
1 60
F. Jacobs, cash for labor and fares
11 15
Walworth Man'f'g Co., sundries
1 38
Street department, garbage
11 25
Cr.
By cash from W. W. Osborne, for
gravel (1890)
$13 76
Street Dept., for
gravel (1890)
82 20
for hay .
23 17
from Hyde Park, for board
321 75
F. Quinn,
15 00
Edw. J. Murphy, for board
4 65
M. Jackson, effects
55
for supplies to outside
poor .
774 70
" grass ·
2 00
1,237 78
Total cost of Almshouse
$1,879 92
POOR OUT OF ALMSHOUSE.
The amounts expended under this head have been paid as follows :-
Dr.
1890.
To Taunton Lunatic Hospital, support $369 36
Amount carried forward $369 36
$3,117 70
123
Amount brought forward
$369 36
To Asylum for Chronic Insane, State Farm
27 60
City of Boston, aid
87 03
" " Lynn, aid
101 50
Town of Milton .
51 00
$721 92
1891.
To Taunton Lunatic Hospital, support
$1,457 19
Asylum for Cronic Insane, 66
416 46
State Farm, support
109 20
City of Boston, aid
173 65
<< " Lynn, aid
116 50
" " Cambridge, aid
9 16
" " Fall River, aid
1 20
Town of Milton, aid
62 50
" Randolph, aid
13 74
66 " Hingham, aid
51 43
6 " Bradford, aid
335 48
J. F. Sheppard & Sons, fuel
152 50
C. Patch & Son, fuel
172 13
George E. Frost, fuel
15 25
George J. Jones, rent
96 00
Bridget McDonough, rent
104 00
George L. Baxter,
39 00
William Kelly,
72 00
Timothy Fitzgerald, 66
50 00
George L. Miller
24 00
Ann Duggan,
78 00
Henry H. Faxon
39 00
E. V. Trask,
25 00
Catharine Lowry
6 00
Est. P. McDonnell,
48 00
B. F. Hodgkinson, milk . W. A. Hodges, milk
9 60
Saville & Jones, clothing
14 25
Amount carried forward
$4,429 05
1
.
85 46
.
15 89
124
Amount brought forward
$4,429 05
To Minnie Mowry, nursing
7 00
Quincy P. O., postage
6 59
O. C. R. R., fares
6 97
John Hall, burial expenses
52 00
W. E. Brown, burial expenses
20 00
F. Jacobs, cash for moving poor persons
64 30
Joseph S. Whall, medicine
1 50
J. J. Bates, medicines .
3 10
A. G. Durgin, medicine
75
Almshouse, supplies to outside poor
774 70
$5,365 96
Cr.
1890.
By cash from Edward Capen for C.
V. Saville
$169 46
Hyde Park 8 75
State of Mass.
15 00
$193 21
1891.
Holbrook
20 00
For board of insane persons, 72 29
$285 50
Total cost of outside poor, $5,080 46
RECAPITULATION OF SUPPORT OF POOR.
Total cost of Almshouse, $1,879 92
Total cost of outside poor, 5,080 46
$6,960 38
125
The preceding amounts expended on account of outside poor were as follows :-
At Taunton Lunatic Hospital.
For Mary Coughlin, support
$212 17
Loring B. Newcomb "
.
198 71
C. V. Saville
212 17
Catherine White
212 17
Joseph J. McGrath 66
94 25
Mary Callahan
55 00
William McGlone
13 48
Mary J. Berry
215 67
Henry J. Gore
200 12
Insane person
45 04
Louisa S. Wilson
169 38
Insane person
42 79
William Dounton
27 93
Marietta S. Jacobs
127 67
At Asylum for Chronic Insane.
John Cullen, support
$169 45
Alice G.McLay 66
169 48
Annie J.Randall “
162 96
At State Farm.
William McGlone, support
$136 80
In Boston.
e
Andrew Anderson, aid
$104 00
Cornelia Wellington "
68 00
Susan Abbott
52 00
Celia Mullaney
18 00
Margaret Cluse
7 24
Bridget Callahan
4 00
Edward J. Murphy
4 00
Catherine Riordan
66
3 44
Amount carried forward
$2,725 92
.
126
Amount brought forward $2,725 92
In Cambridge.
For Mrs. Mary Gallagher, aid .
In Lynn. 9 16
Henry M. Woods, aid
218 00
In Fall River.
John Cahill, aid
1 20
In Milton.
Mrs. Eliza Perry,
113 50
In Randolph.
Mrs. John Glover,
13 74
In Hingham.
Mrs. William Rowell,
51 43
In Bradford.
Family of John McCarty
335 48
In Quincy.
Mrs. M. Kelliher,
Rent
$104 00
Fuel
24 68
Supplies .
101 04
229 72
Amount carried forward
$3,698 15
127
Amount brought forward
$3,698 15
For Mrs. John Maley.
Rent
$24 00
Fuel
31 40
Supplies .
.
51 24
106 64
Mrs. C. H. Joy.
Rent
$50 00
Fuel
34 88
Supplies
50 37
135 25
Mrs. John Long.
Rent
$18 00
Fuel
10 13
Supplies .
18 27
46 40
Corcoran children.
Rent
$25 00
Fuel
12 00
Supplies .
.
51 65
88 65
George Curtis.
Rent
$6 00
Fuel
3 00
Supplies .
2 00
11 00
Mrs. B. L. Hartrey.
Rent
$72 00
Fuel
.
24 38
96 38
Amount carried forward
$41,82 47
.
·
128
Amount brought forward
$4,182 47
For Mrs. Engred Marguson.
Fuel
$9 15
Supplies
2 96
$12 11
Mrs. Mary Ryan.
Fuel
$23 23
Supplies
·
43 77
$67 00
Mrs. Joseph E. King.
Fuel
$3 15
Nursing
7 00
10 15
MIs. William Barrett.
Fuel
$12 30
Supplies .
15 56
27 86
Mrs. Wm. Dounton.
Fuel
$3 15
Supplies . ·
6 93
$10 08
Mrs. Jeremiah Connelly.
Fuel
$43 38
Supplies
104 12
147 50
Mrs. Ann Logan.
Rent
·
.
$48 00
Fuel
.
16 25
$64 25
Amount carried forward
$4,521 42
129
Amount brought forward
$4,521 42
Mrs. Jennie Dolan.
Fuel
$10 25
Supplies . .
87 95
98 20
Emma J. Gilbert (charged to State).
Fuel
$7 06
Supplies . ·
.
.
8 08
15 14
Mrs. James Flynn (charged to State).
Fuel . ·
$5 28
Supplies . ·
.
.
5 97
11 25
Ebenezer Harmon.
Rent
$96 00
Supplies .
-
26 30
122 30
John Hartney.
Fuel
$42 38
Supplies .
20 00
62 38
Edward Lafayette (charged. to State).
Fuel
·
$12 00
Supplies .
2 40
14 40
Amount carried forward
$4,845 09
130
Amount brought forward
$4,845 09
For James Burke.
Fuel
$12 00
Supplies .
6 27
18 27
Charles D. Mann (charged to Norwell).
Fuel
$6 30
Supplies . ·
· 12 00
18 30
James Coburn.
Fuel
$3 15
Supplies . .
4 02
7 17
Jules Martelle.
Fuel
$9 45
Supplies .
76 71
86 16
Mrs. Austey, rent
39 00
Mrs. James LeBreck, fuel
6 30
Mrs. James Ryan 66
3 15
Mrs. Eliza Armstrong "
15 25
Hastings children, rent (charged to Fall River)
78 00
Mıs. J. Reddy, rent
21 00
Mrs. Drohan, fuel
3 15
Mrs. Catherine Madden, fuel
13 40
Mrs. Elizabeth Clark, fuel
6 00
Mrs. Sarah Wadmore, fuel
3 15
Mrs. Bridget Fallon 66
3 15
Mrs. Stephen Spargo
3 15
Mrs. Nathaniel Carter
6 00
Amount carried forward
$5,175 69
.
6
131
Amount brought forward
$5,175 69
For Abby Hayden, medicine .
2 25
Honora Falvey, supplies .
23 50
Mary C. Whitcomb, supplies
2 00
James Flynn, fuel .
3 15
Thomas A. Marble, medicine (charged to Fitchburg) 3 10 John Kuhn, supplies ( charged to State) 4 82
William Walker, supplies
(charged to State)
1 59
Catherine Sloane, burial
20 00
Mrs. William Rhines, burial
20 00
Matthew Jackson, burial
(charged to State)
17 00
Unknown person, burial .
15 00
Mrs. Joseph H. Kelly, moving
27 20
George S. Dixon
23 56
James Flynn
3 56
Michael Matthews
2 00
Poor persons
7 98
Fares for poor persons .
.
6 97
Postage, etc.
.
.
6 59
$5,365 96
Police Department.
To HIS HONOR THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF QUINCY.
Sir - I have the honor to respectfully submit the follow- ing report of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1891.
Total number of arrests during the year, 293.
Of this number 234 were committed to the station house. The different offences for which they were arrested are as follows :-
Assault
50
Assault on officer
1
Attempt to rescue prisoner
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