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 7
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RESERVOIRS.
There are 16 reservoirs 10 of which are self-filling or sup- posed to be and Nov. 20th were in as good condition as usu- al. There have been no repairs on the same with the exception of an extra plank being put in to replace an old one. I have no confidence whatever in these Reservoirs and do not believe they would last the steamer with two lines of Hose in a dry time over one hour, this statement is meant for the best one, others would not last ten minutes. They are no good.
FIRE ALARM.
It gives me great pleasure to say that the Fire Alarm which still remain under the care of Gilbert M. Wight has worked as well throughout the entire year as it did in the two preceding years under his management.
There are now about thirty-one (31) miles of wire all in one circuit which makes the duties of the Electrician at times very annoying. As I have stated in my last two reports that breaks in this long line may some time prove disastrous. I still feel that it should be divided into four or more circuits. And would recommend the purchase of a six circuit Repeater as soon as we have a place to put one. The addition of several more Pull Boxes would be a great advantage and will probably be put in next year, the location of same I do not think it nec- essary to mention at this time, but will take pleasure in so doing, whenever requested. There are now in line, one Auto- matic steam whistle attachment, four bell strikers, five large gongs, seven tappers and thirty pull boxes.
There have been added this year, one bell striker and five pull boxes.
Location of pull or signal boxes are as follows.
23. Cor. Hancock streets 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.
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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.
43. Cor. Copeland and Common Streets.
46. Hose House, No. 3.
45. Cor. Willard and Crescent Streets.
47. Cor. Bates Avenue and Grove Street.
49. Cor. Willard and Robertson Streets.
51. Linden Street, Tubular Rivet Co., Factory.
52. Cor. Farrington and Brook Streets.
53. Cor. Warren and Winthrop Avenues.
54. Cor. Hancock and Fenno Streets.
56. Wollaston Hotel.
58. Cor. Adams and Beal Streets.
61. Cor. Hancock and Squantum Streets.
62. Cor. Hancock and Atlantic Streets.
64. Cor. Newbury 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.
158. Milton.
2 Blows, recall, "all out."
2-2 3 times, one session in school.
1 blow for test, at 7 A.M. 12 M. 1 P.M. 5 P.M.
10 blows followed by box number denotes second alarm.
12 blows and box number denotes general alarm.
TELEPHONE.
The Central Fire Station and the residence of the Chief Engineer are connected by telephone. The service has aver- aged better this year than in the year previous.
It was with regret that I learned of the resignation of the manager Miss Furnald, as she was always very obliging in
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transmitting messages. The present management so far has also been very satisfactory as well as obliging. I don't think I can find any particular fault for whenever there has been a break, cross or burn out on my circuit it has been attended to as soon as I could possibly expect the same to be done. It is my opin- ion that the service could be made much better and it is hoped by your Engineer that the New England Telephone Company will remedy the trouble in Quincy as far as possible.
HORSES.
The horses of the Department are seven in number and with the exception of one are as good as can be found in any De- partment. There is also a horse stationed in Ward 4 belonging to the Highway Department that answers to all calls that Hose 3 respond to. This horse which has proved satisfactory was purchased this year and has been wholly supported by the Highway Department. This does not seem fair to have the Commissioner of Public Works furnish horses for the Fire Department, and I will recommend that this horse be trans- ferred to the Fire Department. The driver to be made perma- nent, the team and driver to work on highways the same as it does at present, within one-half or three quarters of a mile from said hose house, the actual time worked to be charged to High- way Department, or if the Commissioner would rather have con- trol of said team only in case of fire or some other want of the Chief Engineer. He (the Commissioner) charge actual time of team and one driver to Fire Department, as this team has · been a source of annoyance to both Commissioner of Public Works and the Chief Engineer, it is hoped that this matter will be settled in some way, while the net cost of running this team will make no difference in the amount to the City, yet I believe that it should be charged to the right place. There are so many things that are wanted and are also really necessary to make a first-class and efficient Fire Department, that it is hardly reason- able to suppose that all these wants can be complied with next year, yet I do expect that something can be done each year until we are second to none in this state. I ask you as well as the Citizens to interest yourselves in the importance of having a good and efficient Fire Department. The efforts of the Engi-
155
neer I ask you to encourage, and as kind words cost nothing I ask themfor the men who have so bravely and successfully battled with fire and smoke, the past three years. Remember they have every thing to fight, not only the fire and smoke, the wet and cold, but the criticisms of the opposite side-walk and a great many times (and very unjustly ) the local Press. I say to you again do all you can to assist them ever remembering that a kind word costs you nothing. Pay them well that the best may be obtained. In closing this report I wish to thank the Committee on Fire Department in proportion to the courtesy shown me and for what they have done for the Fire Department.
Bass, Chairman, ward 1. ) Members of Fire Department Committee.
Drake, ward 2 Little, ward 4 Roberts, ward 5 Rinn, ward 6
To the assistant Engineers I am under many obligations for their faithful assistance.
The Foremen, Officers and Members of the Department for their successful efforts, have my profound thanks.
To the Police Officers for their valuable assistance, and the willingness they have shown on every occasion in performing such duties as was required of them. I will improve this oppor- tunity of extending to them my thanks for the same.
And to His Honor the Mayor, Henry O. Fairbanks, for the interest you have taken in the welfare of this Department. Also for the honorable treatment I have always received at your hands I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude.
Very respectfully submitted, WALTER H. RIPLEY, Chief Engineer, Q.F.D.
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 third annual report :-
MOUNT WOLLASTON CEMETERY.
The number of lots sold during the year is thirty-four, for which the sum of $850 was received.
The amount for labor on lots, as returned by the superin- tendent is $1,543, of which sum $1,198.25 has been collected, leaving $344.75 due and unpaid.
Five additional lots have been added to the number under perpetual care, and the sum added to the " Repair Fund," is $750. The total amount of said " Fund " is $5,825.
In accordance with the recommendation in our last report the tract of land of about three acres lying north of the ceme- tery has been purchased of the Woodward Fund, for the sum of $6,000, with the understanding that a certain part of the money received each year for lots, shall not be used for the improvement of the cemetery, but shall be applied towards reducing said amount of first cost of the land. For this pur- pose and also to realize some income for improvements, it must be evident that the lots in this new part must be sold at a con- siderable increase from the present low price of lots, and that the Board of Managers shall have authority to place such price on the lots as may be considered advisable, being governed by the above named stipulation, and by choice of location and other circumstances. It should be the intention of the incoming Board to have a proper survey and laying out of the land into
157
streets and paths and lots for interments, with a plan of the same, as soon as can be done, and for this purpose your Board ask for an appropriation of $500, which, with the usual appro- priation of $1,100, for care and improvement of this cemetery, and care of the Hancock Street Cemetery, will make a total appropriation of $1,600, which is respectfully requested.
FINANCIAL.
The amount of the appropriation by the Council, and the income from various sources is as follows :- Appropriation
Collected for lots sold
850 00
single graves sold
25 00
non-resident asessments
50 00
66
labor on lots, 1888
10 00
66
1889
46 00
66
66
66
1890
486 00
66
1891
1,198 25
Income of Repair Fund
228 37
$3,993 62
$1,100 00
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN HALL, Chairman. GEORGE L. GILL, Secretary.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF
Thomas Crane Public Library.
The Trustees of the Thomas Crane Public Library submit herewith their annual report, being the twenty-first of the whole series since the library was opened.
The number of books purchased during the past year was 645. The number of books given to the library was 88. There have been 626 volumes re-bound, and 267 volumes worn out have been replaced by new copies. There have been added 108 pamphlets to those already in the possession of the library. The number of names on the librarian's register is 10,379, and of this number 580 were added during the year. During the year 1891 the library was opened to the public 304 days.
The division of reading matter in use by the borrowers from the library during 1891 is set forth in the following table :-
PUBLIC.
SCHOOLS.
TOTAL.
PER CENT.
Fiction
23,128
441
23,569
35.1
Periodicals
16,086
341
16,427
24.4
Juvenile Fiction
13,023
1,041
14,064
20.9
History
2,322
695
3,017
4.4
Arts and Sciences ·
1,996
209
2,205
3.2
General Literature
1,964
152
2,116
3.1
Travels
1,795
436
2,231
3.3
159
Biography
1,630
208
1,838
2.7
Poetry
1,058
16
1,074
1.6
Religion -
349
4
353
.5
Educational
229
229
.3
63,580
3,543
67,123
In their report for the year 1890 the Trustees referred to the encouraging results which had followed the efforts to in- crease the circulation of books among the scholars in the schools of the city. With a view of further developing this circulation, which they regard as upon the whole the most important work the Library is now doing, the Trustees caused during the last year a classified list of books for young people to be prepared and published in the form of a book of 80 pages in October last, the cost of printing which was defrayed from the accumulation of the catalogue fund. Copies have been offered for sale at the price of ten cents each, and up to the close of the year, 95 copies had been sold. This sum covers only the cost of the material and a small portion of the press-work. Other copies have been placed in the hands of the teachers of the several schools, so that they can be accessi- ble to all scholars. The list in question was prepared by Miss A. G. White, and it affords the trustees gratification to express their sense of the excellent judgment, as well as the professional skill and fidelity with which the work was executed. The result reflects credit on the library.
In the report submitted by the Trustees for the year closing December 31, 1890, a comparative statement was submitted of the circulation of the library for 1890 as compared with that for 1880, showing the increase during ten years and the changes in the character of the books circulated. As com- pared with the previous year, that ending December 31st, 1890, the year just closed presents no change calling for comment. The total number of volumes circulated increased 1566, or about 2.5 per cent, almost wholly in that portion of the cir- culation which goes out from the library proper. There was a slight falling off in fiction (775 volumes) and a considerable increase in periodicals (2299) ; but as a whole the statistics of distribution change but little, and they seem to indicate that
160
the work the library is now doing is fixed in its character and would only change to an appreciable extent under the influence of some very active trustee or superintendent of schools who felt an interest in stimulating certain classes of reading or study. Under such an outside impulse as might thus be communicated the trustees have little doubt the circulation of books could at any time be largely increased. In the absence of such an impulse it will probably continue for some time about what it now is.
The trustees submit the following statement showing the cost of maintaining the library during the past year :-
CHARLES F. ADAMS. F. A. CLAFLIN. EMERY L. CRANE. WILLIAM H. PRICE. H. A. KEITH.
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TREASURER'S STATEMENT.
THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY, QUINCY, MASS.
1890. July 23. Cotton C. Johnson Fund $2000 00
Interest received 47 14
Income from bonds purchased as permanent investment 100 00
Amount received from Mr. Crane .
500 00
$2,647 14
1891.
Feb. 10. Am't paid for bds. Chi., Ill., and U. S. Yds. $1,906 83
Balance in bank on int. at 3 per cent. pending investment 740 31
$2,647 14
·
CATALOGUE FUND.
1892.
Jan. 9. Fund received from City Treasurer $634 64
Received from sale of catalogues and from fines November and December, 1891 . 19 70
$654 34
1892.
Jan. 11. Paid Rockwell & Churchill for print'g for catalogue
· 275 96
Balance in bank . ·
358 68
Cash . ·
19 70
$654 34
FRED. A. CLAFLIN, Treasurer.
Report of the Managers
-- OF-
ADAMS ACADEMY.
The Board of Managers of Adams Academy having received from the Master his annual report, submit the following :-
The school now numbers fifty boys, eight of whom are in the boarding house, five come daily by train, and thirty-seven are from our own city. The work of the past year though interrupted somewhat by a family affiiction withdrawing for a time a veteran teacher, and the necessity found for changing another teacher, has been in a good degree successful.
Of the second class, six made brilliant records, at the preliminary examinations for college. Others who only just passed or were conditioned would in the judgment of the Master have succeeded better, but for the above named inter- ruption of the working staff of the School. Of the first class six were admitted to Harvard College without condition. The two remaining members after working in vacation entered, one the Scientific School, and the other the department of Special Students lately reorganized.
The Master also reports an improvement in matters of finance, a larger sum from the endowment fund, and more than usually satisfactory payment by the parents of boys from whom tuition fees are received. And yet only a small part of what
163
is required to put the School in good working order is in hand. Desks and other furniture in the Academy building need renewal. The Boarding House - serious as is the problem it presents - till it can furnish better quarters and in some better locality cannot expect to secure its old prosperity ; and yet to let it go and have the School become only a day school would be a misfortune.
The present play-ground too is likely soon to be required for other purposes, and a substitute should have early con- sideration.
In view of these needs and the added fact that probably not all from whom tuition fees might be expected will pay, the master says: " It seems to me that some wealthy citizens who are not likely to avail themselves in the future of the privileges of the Academy for their own sons could hardly do a kindlier act, at moderate expense, than to. undertake to defray the school charge every year for some one good boy of limited means, whose abilities are amply sufficient to warrant his staying in the school but who is yet likely to be crowded out in the competition." He also says, " Another way in which some citizen would greatly benefit the school at no very serious expense, would be by establishing a fund for prizes. A gift of a thousand dollars properly invested would give an annual income nearly if not quite sufficient to pay the cost of such prizes as are now given, and operate as a great stimulus and source of pleasure both in competition and receipt to the boys."
These conditions of the School and suggestions concerning it, as presented by the Master, we press upon the consideration of the city and of the public.
REV. EDWARD NORTON. CHAS. A. PORTER. L. S. ANDERSON. CHAS. A. HOWLAND. JOSIAH QUINCY. GEORGE F. PINKHAM.
REPORT
OF THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OF THE
CITY OF QUINCY
FOR 1891.
BOSTON : BROWN BROS. & CO., 1892.
Report School Committee.
TO THE CITIZENS OF QUINCY :
Again the School Board make report of the work consum- mated in the year passed.
The pathway is well-worn and your Board only reaffirmd that the schools are excellent, that the spirit of progress is keenly alive and the results still carry Quincy into the fore- ground as a model in educational affairs, attracting the atten- tion and exciting the admiration of observers and students in this kind of work.
We rejoice with our fellow-citizens in the fact that the Willard School is established in the new building, that the arrangements are perfected and the children of the district are comfortably housed, and under the guidance of competent in- structors are receiving the grand benefits that through the pub- lic schools of Quincy are the just portion of all its children.
Again the Board feel bound to urge upon the citizens the pressing need in Ward Three of increased facilities for the proper conduct of school work, and wish to emphasize the statement, that every month's delay greatly adds to the burdens to be borne by those who are striving with existing conditions.
The school charges constitute a very heavy draft upon the city's resources, and will prove an ever increasing sum. When it is remembered that the census of 1880 showed 1,948 children of school age, and that the census of 1891 showed 4045, it can readily be seen that the annual outlay is now necessarily much larger and when it is considered that new branches of school work, requiring expert and special teachers, are steadily being added to the line of studies, it will be seen that the per capita expense will be increased.
·
168
Through the eminent skill and perseverance of the super- intendent combined with the natural desire of the outsider to come within the Quincy district of schools and thereby gain the prestige that is afforded by an experience here, we have been able to obtain a much higher order of talent in our teaching force, than otherwise would have been secured, still it is not denied that a more liberal expenditure would probably have yielded a better result.
It is manifest that with the improvements of all kinds, in buildings, courses of study, attention to details etc., it will be necessary to revise at an early date the salary list, and give to faithful and efficient servants a larger compensation.
In regard to our High School, the Board feel greatly grati- fied to be able to record so excellent a year's work as that just passed.
The number of pupils attending has been larger than formerly and the standard of scholarship has been unusually high.
In losing our present superintendent, Mr. Aldrich, at the close of the year, we feel the difficulty imposed on this Board in the attempt to find another whose earnest work and cheerful and courteous bearing shall place him before his fellow-citizens as in all ways the peer of him we have lost.
We express the hope that in continuing his life-work in another field he shall still receive as he will surely merit, the approbation of every well-wisher of the Public Schools.
RUPERT F. CLAFLIN. JOHN A. GORDON. JOSEPH M. SHEAHAN. H. EVAN COTTON. WENDALL G. COUTHILL.
EMERY L. CRANE. ELIJAH G. HALL .:
AMBROSE F. ROCHE.
HARRISON A. KEITH.
Report of Superintendent.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF QUINCY :-
I set about the preparation of my annual report, which constitutes the seventeenth of the series submitted by the superintendent of schools, after the termination of my official connection with the Quincy schools, and while much absorbed by the untried duties of a new position. I am also cut off from ready means of consultation of teachers, and from data which should be at hand for the preparation of an exhaustive report of the workings of the schools during the past year. These circumstances make it imperatively necessary that my report for the year 1891 be a brief one. I hope that its brevity may be attributed to these causes, and not to a sudden extinction of interest in the welfare of a body of pupils and teachers with whom my relations have been of long standing and the most pleasant nature.
It is with genuine regret that I am obliged to acknowledge the practical impossibility of discussing at length many matters in which I have felt so long continued and deep an interest that I cannot, with entire composure, contemplate the fact that I shall have no other opportunity of addressing you in regard to them. Perhaps, however, I should remember that the length of a report is not a certain measure of its usefulness. I may, possibly, in the compass of a few pages, accomplish as much good as I should do by writing at greater length.
The following tables will afford much comprehensive infor- mation in regard to the school affairs of the city, and to them I
170
append a few remarks which seem pertinent at the present time.
I. POPULATION.
Population of Quincy by United States census of 1890, 16,711.
Number of children between five and fifteen years of age, according to the enumeration made on the first day of May :
1886.
1887.
1888.
1889.
1890.
1891.
Adams
727
769
840
926
1,024
1,158
Coddington
461
461
480
481
485
522
Washington
376
380
368
353
325
337
Willard
939
964
1,008
1,108
1,161
1,281
Wollaston
242
251
278
313
332
365
Quincy
343
328
322
314
338
382
3,088
3,153
3,296
3,495
3,665
4,045
I have not at hand the means of making comparisons with other cities, but if the above figures be contrasted with similar returns from the city of Newton, general attention may be drawn to a point which I have repeatedly emphasized in former reports viz., the very large number of children in Quincy between five and fifteen years of age as compared with the entire population of the city.
According to the census of 1890, the population of Newton was 24,375, of which number Quincy's population, 16,711, is 68 per cent. The number of children in Newton in May 1, 1891 is reported as 4,436, of which number Quincy's return of 4,045 constituted 91 per cent.
The report of the Newton School Committee speaks of a gain of 195 in the school population as " a notable increase." A comparison of the Quincy school population of '91 with that of '90 discloses an increase of 380, almost twice that of Newton. It would seem that consideration of such facts as these ought eventually to lead people to cease wondering at . the steadily increasing cost of maintaining our schools.
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II. FINANCIAL.
Valuation of city, May 1, 1891 . $14,427,030 00
Rate of taxation · 13 60 For the ordinary school expenses of 1891. the City Council made the following appropriations :-
For salaries
$45,725 00
fuel
2,700 00
" janitors
3,500 00
transportation of pupils
1,300 00
incidentals .
5,000 00
books and stationery
2,500 00
evening drawing school
1,000 00
66 evening common schools *
1,200 00
repairs
2,000 00
$64,925 00
* Of this amount $125 was transferred by vote of the Coun- cil to the appropriation for fuel, and $50 to the appropriation for evening drawing school.
EXPENDITURES IN 1891.
For salaries
$45,695 87
Unexpended balance, $29.13.
For fuel Unexpended balance, $2.24.
2,822 76
For pay of janitors Unexpended balance, $33.51.
3,466 49
For transportation Unexpended balance, $28.85.
1,271 15
For incidentals Unexpended balance, $4.48.
4,995 52
For books and stationery Unexpended balance, $1.35.
2,498 65
For evening drawing school Unexpended balance, $7.36.
1,042 64
1,024 84 For evening common schools Unexpended balance, $0.16.
For repairs of school houses $2,020 59 Expended by Commissioner of Public Works.
Total expenditure for ordinary school purposes, $64,838 51
T
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During 1891 the city of Newton expended for the ordinary expenses of her schools, exclusive of repairs, the sum of $124,- 861.31. It is to be remembered that Newton's valuation is very greatly in excess of the valuation of Quincy, as a result of which the actual burden of taxation for support of schools does not vary greatly in the two cities. It is, nevertheless, rather a striking fact that for a school population ninety-one per cent. as large as that of Newton, Quincy spends only fifty-two per cent. as much money.
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