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 1894 > Part 5
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A new element has entered into our expense account for the reason that we have undertaken to collect from the State the board of such patients at the City Hospital who have had no settlement in Quincy or elsewhere in the State. This is a charge upon our appropriation which will ultimately be repaid by the State ; there are also some charges of like nature which will also be repaid by other Cities and Towns.
There has been, as I understand it, an almost unprecedented call for aid upon the Poor Departments of our various Cities be- cause of the stagnation in business and a consequent large non-em- ployment of men. I am thankful to say that in our City, I think that this reason has in very little part affected the work of this Department. . Of course, to some extent the idleness of wage-earners has increased the number of those who have applied to me for aid, but I think that the aid so rendered has been very small in amount.
The Department of Public Works, the Water Department and the Board of Health have ever been ready and willing, with- in their power, to give employment to such as would otherwise have become paupers and would have required aid from the Overseer of the Poor.
Our almshouse has been managed in the past year judic- iously, economically and with a due regard to the welfare of
127
the inmates, under the superintendence of Mr. Franklin Jacobs. The inmates of the almshouse on January 1st, 1894 were 15
3 Admitted during the year .
Total 18
Died
3
Discharged during the year
5
In almshouse December 31st 1894, 10
The number of Outside Poor relieved were as follows : Number settled in Quincy 106
Number chargeable to other Cities and Towns 14
Number of State paupers 37
Number of paupers in insane asylum chargeable to Quincy 23
The calls for aid upon the Department since December 1, 1894, have been many and great, and there have been many notices from other Cities and Towns, and I would urge that at least the amount appropriated for 1894 be appropriated for 1895.
The condition of our almshouse also calls for some sugges- tions from me at this time. The house is clean, well warmed and well cared for and I have nothing but commendation for its administration under my present Superintendent, but there are things that need amendment.
There is now but one bath-room and water-closet for the use of all the inmates, and in my opinion there should be an additional bath-room and water-closet so that the males and females could each have one of such, and also the Superintendent and his family should have a separate bath-room and closet of their own.
I think also that the present system of lighting, that by kerosene lamps, is fraught with danger, not only to the building but to the inmates. I think that the use of electric lighting in the house, although involving considerable more expense, would further a very good purpose. I would therefore suggest that an appropriation, sufficient to carry out these suggestions, be made by the City Council.
128
The income of the Cotton Center Johnson Fund was dis- tributed this year as usual, among the needy poor of this City, but it was not sufficient to accomplish the purpose of the donor. The Fund is now producing 4% and I would most earnestly suggest that it be so invested as to produce the largest income compatible with safety.
ZENAS S. ARNOLD,
Overseer of the Poor-
SUMMARY OF EXPENSES OF ALMSHOUSE.
Salary of Superintendent
$500 00
Wages
·
337 88
House Supplies
1,408 61
House Repairs
7 54
Stable Supplies
152 08
Stable Repairs
53 95
Fuel
407 00
Miscellaneous, including Telephone
81 60
Total expense of Almshouse
$2,948 66
Cr. by supplies furnished outside poor
1,010 76
$1,937 90
SUMMARY OF EXPENSES OF OUTSIDE POOR.
Provisions
$1868 79
Fuel
586 89
Support of Insane
2,218 15
Clothing
66 00
Stationery and Printing
59 90
Rent
294 35
Transportation
64 69
Hospital Aid
288 46
Miscellaneous
86 60
·
$5,533 8&
Report of Park Com= missioners.
To His Honor, the MMayor of the City of Quincy :
The Board of Park Commissioners submit the following report :
$500 was appropriated at the beginning of the year for the support of Parks and Playgrounds. Of this, $197.70 has been spent, leaving $302.30 to be turned into the treasury. There was also received from various sources $111.50 which was carried into the general treasury fund. Appended, will be found financial report in detail.
But little work in the Parks has been attempted, except to cut out dead trees and underbrush and keep fences in repair. The City is fortunate in the possession of centrally located pleasure grounds, of such natural beauties, that but little expen- diture of money will be required, for many years to come.
· No permanent improvements, like making roads and paths, should be attempted, until a comprehensive study of our whole Park and Playground system shall be made by a competent landscape architect. A plan which would connect, by boule- vard, the Quiney system and the seashore, with the Blue Hill Metropolitan reservation, seems to your commissioners, a proper subject to lay before the Metropolitan Park Commissioners.
We would again call attention to the report of Mr. Elliot,
.
130
printed with the report of the Park Commissioners for the year 1892. Some steps should be taken now, either with or without the co-operation of the Metropolitan Park Commissioners, while the cost will be trifling, to secure the seashore front, from Squantum to Great Hill, also the boarders of the water courses throughout the city.
PLAY GROUNDS.
WARD 5.
Your Commissioners have purchased about five acres, with rights of way thereto, on the summit of Forbes Hill, sometimes called Third Hill, for $8,000. By agreement, $3,000 of this sum was to be spent under direction of the Commissioners, in building suitable approaches to the ground. A good macadam- ized road, with easy grade, has been built from Adams street to the top of the hill, at a cost of $2,504.77, leaving $495.23 to im- prove the approach from the north side. The Commissioners believe that this play-ground will be found a very attractive resort. It affords views of sea and shore that are as fine as any on the Atlantic coast. The summit is sufficiently level for the purposes of a.play-ground, while the easy walk or drive over the hill will be enjoyed by all our citizens.
WARD 6.
Your Commissioners were in doubt about the proper loca- tion for the play-ground in this ward. It seemed to them, that in future years, a location on the shore front would be found the most desirable. After two well-attended, public hearings, and much other investigation, they were convinced that quite a majority of the citizens and taxpayers, preferred a location on the square, near the Atlantic Station, formerly known as the "gravel-pit." They, therefore, have bought 112,041 ft. at a cost of $8,403.08. The deed has been passed, recorded and filed with proper authorities.
131
WARD 2.
As stated in report for 1893, some eight acres on the shore at Point Holes, owned by Mrs. Tobey, Mrs. Haywood and Mrs. Waterhouse, were taken by process of eminent domain, and an award based on assessors' valuation for 1893 was made. A settlement has been made with Mrs. Tobey. The interests of Mrs. Haywood and Mrs. Waterhouse still remain unsettled.
Your Commissioners have made some small improvements in play-grounds in Wards 3, 4 & 6, by building back stops for ball playing, etc.
On motion of Councilman Waterhouse, a committee was appointed by the City Council, which made an alleged investi- gation of the purchase of play-grounds, and reported thereon. Your Commissioners think it proper to state that they had no opportunity to be heard by said committee, nor were they officially notified of the creation of the committee or its action.
Any report made, without getting such information as was in the hands of this Commission, is partial, incomplete and mis- leading. It is, at least, an innovation for a so-called investigat- ing committee, to make a report without hearing the authorities controlling the subject matter to be investigated.
WM. B. RICE. G. C. ADAMS. FRED H. SMITH.
Park Commissioners.
Your Commissioners request that the sum of $500, together with income from the Parks, be appropriated for maintaining Parks and Play-grounds in 1895.
132
PLAY-GROUNDS.
1893.
Nov. 18. Forbes Lithograph Co. . $85 00
Dec. 29. H. T. Whitman, Ward 4
7,630 00
Dec. 30. Est. Joseph W. Robertson Ward 4 620 00
Jeremiah Nightingale
Ward 3
6,104 00
James Nightingale .
Ward 3 528 82
1894.
Jan. 22. J. H. Burdakin 5 58
Jan. 23. Adams Real Estate .
Trust, Ward 3
298 85.
Feb. 10. Atlantic Social Club
12 00
Feb. 13. Francis L. Hayes
207 00
Feb. 28. J. H. Burdakin
77
Aug. 14. John C. Randall, Treas. Ward 6
8,403 08
Trustees Wollaston
Land Co., Ward 5 5,000 00
R. F. Claflin, Ward 5
3,000 00
Sept. 12. Francis L. Hayes .
Nov. 3. H. T. Whitman 51 80
376 56,
Nov. 30. Caroline B. Tobey, Ward 2
4,668 32.
1895.
Jan. 21. Francis L. Hayes 12 91
$37,005 69
Appropriation .
$50,000 00
Expended 37,005 69
Balance
·
12,994 31
Public Burial Places.
To His Honor, the Mayor of the City of Quincy :
The Managers of the Public Burial Places respectfully submit their sixth annual report.
HANCOCK STREET CEMETERY.
This old burial ground has received such care and attention as has been required to keep it in good condition. It is used for burials, only on exceptional occasions, but in com- mon with all old country cemeteries, it is much visited, especially by strangers in the city.
MOUNT WOLLASTON CEMETERY.
This cemetery becomes every year more an attraction for all, and its reputation for good care and generally beautiful appearance is more widely known and appreciated by owners of lots, and their friends, and by visitors from other places, than is generally understood by the public ..
Twenty-two lots have been sold in what is called the " Greenleaf Extension " the past year, and but very few lots remain unsold in the older part.
A large addition has been made the past year to the exten- sion of City Water pipes, and soon, by these annual extensions,
134
the whole cemetery will be covered without extra appropriation therefor.
The old dilapitated fence on Valley street has been replaced by a new one, at an expense of about five hundred dollars, which can be met without an extra appropriation or addition to the City debt, from the uncollected earnings of this year-which are much more than sufficient-when the same shall be appropriated.
It has been the aim of your Board in this matter, and in the introduction of water, and all other improvements, to meet such outlays from the " income " and this can be done if appropria- tions are made, not to exceed the income, but allowing this Board to use so much of such income for improvements as may be found necessary.
The " Repair Fund " which now amounts to $7,725 has finally been set apart as a special fund, and under the law of this State, has been deposited in the Quiney Savings Bank under authority and direction of a vote of this Board, the income to be used for the " perpetual care " of the lots named by those who make the deposit.
The Council appropriated $4,400, of which $1,000 is under- stood to be the annual appropriation for the Mount Wollaston Cemetery and $100 for the Old Cemetery, and an estimated income of $3,300. The income received and paid to the Trea -. surer is $3,479.08.
The following is a detailed financial statement :-
Collected for unpaid bills for labor
on lots for 1891 $11 00.
Collected for unpaid bills for labor on lots for 1892 13 50
Collected for unpaid bills for labor
on lots for 1893 202 25
Collected for unpaid bills for labor on lots for 1894 880 90-
2,000 00
Collected for lots sold in 1894 .
Amount carried forward,
$3,107 65.
135
Amount brought forward,
$3,107 65
Collected for single graves sold in 1894 · Collected for hay sold in 1894 . ·
85 00
20 18
Collected for non-resident assess- ments in 1894 38 00
223 25
Collected for income of Repair Fund Collected for old fence
5 00
$3,479 08
City appropriation, as above set forth
$1,100 00
Total
$4,579 08
Appropriation by the Council in full
$4,400 00
AAmount received in excess of appro- priation
$179 08
Amount of expenditures, $4,374.57
as appears by the Auditor's
report, being less than the appropriation
$25 43
Respectfully submitted, JOHN HALL, Chairman. GEORGE L. GILL, Secretary.
Health Department.
To His Honor, Wm. A. Hodges, Mayor of Quincy :
The Board of Health respectfully present their annual report for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1894.
The Board soon after their appointment organized by the election of Benj. F. Curtis, Chairman ; Timothy F. Ford, Secre- tary and Dr. C. O. Young, Consulting Physician.
Mr. J. HI. Cunningham was' appointed inspector of the Board.
One of the first duties after organizing was to take up and discuss the Scavenger System of the city. We finally agreed that in one important particular it was wanting and needed additional regulations. While former Boards had adopted re- strictions and rules in regard to it, they had failed to make any regulation regarding the prices to be charged, in consequence there had grown up a very severe tax on the property owners, for the labor performed. After considerable effort we were able to arrange a scale of prices with nearly all of the former scav- engers at a reduction from former rates of nearly one-half, thus relieving the property owners of a great burden and at the same time doing no injustice to the men performing the work.
In May a small outbreak of small-pox at Hough's Neck threatened the health of the city. Immediately on notice of the same, the Board took prompt and effective measures to endeavor to stop the spread of the disease. The patient and those in-
138
fected, were at once quarantined in the house where the patient resided. In view of the great damage to the business interests of the locality, and the danger of infection to others, the Board unanimously agreed that the infected person should be removed.
As the City had no hospital or place where they could be safely taken, a small hospital was at once erected, furnished and fitted with everything necessary for their comfort, including city water, and in 60 hours from the starting of the building, the infected persons were safely housed in the hospital. Dr. McDonald a specialist from Boston was engaged to attend them and everything needful was done for their comfort and for the recovery of the patient, and after the usual time had elapsed they were all discharged in good health and no other case has occurred.
The building was carefully disinfected and cleaned and is ready for immediate occupancy, if any other case of the dread disease should occur. In this connection it may be well to say that in the beginning of the disease the Board took prompt measures to fix the residence and settlement of the patient and notified the City of Brockton at once of the fact, and by so do- ing every bill actually incurred for the attention and care of the patient was fixed, and later was paid by Brockton, the only expense falling on Quincy was the building of the small hospi- tal, which we have now as an equivalent, and which, could not legally be charged to Brockton.
The public water courses of the City have received careful attention, and have been cleared of all obstructions to the free flow of the water.
At the mouth of Town Brook in the Canal so called, an accumulation of debris, filth, etc., the result of years of discharge has been removed, and a new channel for the free flow of the water has been dug to a point where it meets the incoming tide from the bay, and by so doing, a serious menace to the health of that section of the city has been removed.
In September and since then, there has been a large in- crease of diphtheria, this dread disease more fatal and more to be dreaded even than small-pox, coming when least expected and
139
from no known causes has afflicted the central portion of our City with greater or less intensity since its beginning.
As a partial relief to prevent the spread of the contagion; in connection with the advice of the School Committee it was thought best to close the Coddington and Adams schools, both of which buildings have been thoroughly and carefully disinfect- ed and cleaned.
At the invitation of the Board the doctors of the city met them, and after a careful interchange of views, the Board have adopted some of the suggestions made and at this writing the City is practically free from the contagion. It may be well to record that in some of the later cases, the Anti-Toxine treatment has been tried, with the best of results and it is to be hoped that science has at last found a remedy, if not a preventive for this alarming disease.
In October, on the petition and request of citizens of Ward 5, the Board in connection with private individuals, contracted for and have had dug a new ditch and made an enlargement of an old water course from Green Pond, so called near the O. C. R. R. tracks in Wollaston to the Neponset River, by so doing to endeavor to drain the two swamps that have been so unsightly and a menace to the health of that section of the City. - Owing to the limited amount of money at our disposal the work has not been fully completed, but we are glad to say that the water level in the two swamps has been lowered abont 23 feet, and a great relief has been obtained.
This brief review of the work of the Board may be concluded with this suggestion ; that if the health and sanitary condition of our City, which now is probably rising 20,000 population, and covering an area of about 15 square miles is to be well and carefully taken care of according to modern ways and methods, larger appropriations will have to be made.
The report of our inspector will be found attached, and by it will be seen that the minor details have been attended to.
The following table of all cases of disease reported to us by the physicians of the City with a list of all deaths in the City the past year will be of interest.
140
Small·Pcx ........
Diphtheria .....
Scarlet Fever .....
Measles . . .
Chicken-Pox .....
Typhoid Fever ...
Scarlatina ... .
Croup ....... . )
Membraneous .. (
1894. January .
0
1
2
0
1
0
0
0
February
0
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
March
0
2
2
1
1
0
0
0
April
0
1
1
6
0
0
0
0
May
0
2
4
7
0
5
2
0
June
1
7
3
15
0
0
1
0
July
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
August
0
2
0
0
0
4
1
0
September
0
5
1
0
0
14
0
0
October
0
0
0
0
4
0
1
November
0
33
2
0
0
2
0
0
December
0
11
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total
1
80
16
30
2
29
4
1
REPORT OF CASES FOR FIVE PREVIOUS YEARS.
Diphtheria.
Scarlet Fever.
Typhoid Fever.
1889
94
13
Measles. 195
59
1890
67
12
6
52
1891
.
18
22
54
22
1892
·
22
54
31
26
1893
15
*97
252
29
*62 cases reported as Scarlet Fever; 35 cases reported as Scarlatina.
Total number of deaths from all causes, 365. Total number from contagious diseases :
. Diphtheria, 26. Scarlet Fever, 1.
Typhoid Fever, 6. Membraneous Croup, 5. Total, 38.
....
·
141
In September Dr. C. O. Young resigned his position on the Board, and the vacancy was filled in November by the appoint- ment of Dr. J. H. Ash.
Extra duties have also devolved on the Board this year in carrying out the provisions of Chap. 477, Acts of 1893 and Chap. 455, Acts of 1894, relating to the inspection and regula- tions of plumbing. Under the provisions of the above Chapters the Board elected J. J. Keniley, Inspector, and J. P. Landers, Assistant Inspector, and herewith we submit their report.
BENJ. F. CURTIS, JOHN HI. ASH, M. D., TIMOTHY F. FORD,
Board of Health.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING.
Quincy, January 1st, 1895.
B. F. Curtis, Esq., Chairman Board of Health :
DEAR SIR :- I herewith tender you my first annual report as Inspector of Plumbing of the City of Quincy, for the year ending December 31st, 1894. Although the law did not take effect until May 9th, still the work attended to during this short time, has been considerable, and may be summarized as follows :
Number of new houses inspected . 93
Number of new stores inspected .
3
Number of new halls and churches
3
Number of alterations inspected
6
Number of old houses inspected
17
Total number of inspections 122
Representing an aggregrate estimated value of $22,800.
The work has all been performed with the strictest attention to the ordinances governing the same.
Our City is growing fast, and as the past year, with its thoroughly depressed state of business, cannot be taken as a fair sample on which to base any estimate, still the amount of work completed during this time, makes it very evident that the ques-
I42
tion of sewerage must be considered by the City in the near future.
The efficacy and necessity of the ordinances relating to plumbing, are most thoroughly demonstrated by the fact that it has been the custom of non-resident plumbers to perform work in some sections of the City, more especially the northern part, Norfolk Downs and Wollaston Park, without paying the slight- est attention to that most important of all questions, viz .; venti- lation.
Our citizens can rely on the fact, that, hereafter no work will be accepted, or allowed to proceed, without a thoroughly practical test being made of the same.
Very respectfully yours,
J. J. KENILEY, Inspector of Plumbing.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR.
Nuisances.
Discovered.
Abated.
Unclean privy vaults
70
70
Unclean cesspools
59
59
Bad surface drains .
10
6
Broken and defective sink drains
18
18
Imperfect privy vaults
7
7
Imperfect cesspools
15
15
Sewage running into street
8
7
Sewage running into brook
13
10
Piggeries
6
5
Untrapped sinks
3
3
Sewage running under house
3
3
Unburied carcasses .
4
4
Stagnant pools of water .
1
1
Bedding, etc., in vacant lot
1
1
Privy too near house
1
1
Filthy and wet cellars
3
3
Obstructions in brooks
3
3
Night soil buried too near well
1
1
Offensive dumps
2
2
Filthy vacant lot
1
1
240
231
8
8
Open cesspits .
3
3
Filthy yards
JAMES H. CUNNINGHAM, Inspector.
Report of Inspector of Milk.
Hon. William A. Hodges, Mayor :
DEAR SIR :- I have the honor to submit the following report :
Whole number of licenses issued 80
For the sale of milk 79
For the sale of oleomargarine . 1
Of the licenses for the sale of milk there were issued to store-
keepers and others .
45
Dealers delivering from some con- veyance 34
I have returned to the city trea-
surer receipts from this office $40 00
I have made numerous inspections and analyses and have found the milk in every case to be free from adulteration and generally of good quality.
No prosecutions have originated in this office. One licensee was complained of by the agent of the State Board and was convicted of selling milk which did not reach the legal standard. He has since relinquished the milk business. The penalty for exposing for sale milk not up to the legal standard
144
is so severe and its detection is so easy that storekeepers have little temptation to dishonesty in this regard.
Most of the milk furnished to the citizens of Quincy is pro- duced in Quincy and the surrounding towns and I am of the opinion that it is as good as can reasonably be demanded.
Respectfully, HENRY C. HALLOWELL, M. D.
Inspector of Milk. Quincy, Jan. 1, 1895.
Report of Inspector. of Animals and Provisions.
To His Honor, William A. Hodges, Mayor of Quincy :
The development and spread of tuberculosis among animals have assumed such proportions and constitute so great a menace to the health of the community that the Board of Cattle Com- missioners have determined to adopt a fixed policy for the erad- ication of the disease, in general terms as follows :-
1st .- Quarantine regulations upon cattle entering from without the borders of the Commonwealth.
2d .- Regulation of cattle traffic at Brighton, Watertown and Somerville, which shall include all animals from within and without the Commonwealth.
3d .- Systematic inspection of all herds in the State, begin- ning at the Cape; followed by extermination of diseased animals, disinfection of contaminated premises, and fixed quar- antine regulations.
Careful investigations conducted by the Board in theu se of tuberculin enable them to conscientiously add their endorse- ment to that of all careful investigators who have experimented with it since its discovery in 1891, who agree
146
1st .- That tuberculin is a reliable agent for determining the presence of tuberculosis in cattle.
2d .- That tuberculin properly prepared and carefully handled can have no injurious effect upon healthy animals.
3d .- That it is the only known means whereby a positive diagnosis can be made in the early stages of the disease.
In consideration of the above stated facts all the herds in the State will be systematically examined and subjected to the tuberculin test; and for the efficient work of eradicating the disease it is essential that every tuberculous animal in whatever stage shall be found and destroyed.
The extermination of the disease from a given herd must be followed by thorough disinfection of contaminated buildings and the careful exclusion of the herd from new sources of infec- tion, each district to remain under quarantine regulations till the State is covered. Such regulations shall allow the entrance or exit of all animals, which, after being treated, have been branded with the seal of the commission, or until otherwise ordered by the Board.
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