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 1899 > Part 2
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In this connection I wish to call your attention to the need of your joining with the executive in guarding against the wanton destruction of shade trees and to carefully consider whether it is not time to require that wires should so far as possible be placed in conduits underground.
Street Watering and Street Lighting.
A matter which seems to me of great importance is the sprinkling of streets, and while this is maintained to a greater degree than formerly, it is still regarded as a luxury and is so rated in the statutes.
To my mind it is far from a luxury, it is certainly a safe-
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guard to health, and to my mind should be regarded as a necessity.
The sprinkling of streets instead of being an expense is an economy and I am desirous that this branch of the city's expen- diture shall be extended in its application.
As with the sprinkling, so with the lighting of our streets. To my way of thinking, the money spent for lighting contributes perhaps more than almost any other expenditure to the happiness if not the protection of the people.
Streets well sprinkled during the day and well lighted at night bring many other things in the way of improvment of the public welfare.
Here let me say that I think the citizens can and should join with the authorities in caring for and beautifying walks, streets and ways of the city and their door yards adjoining in order that our city may have that general air of thrift and comfort, and that general indication of public spirit which is characteristic of many cities and towns.
Lines and Grades.
I wish to call the attention of the Council to the need of joint action with the Executive in bringing about harmony in the extensions of the limits of our city, so that as it grows it may have that growth guided into symmetry in the laying out of its streets, and the establishing of grades.
As it has been, houses have been set at all heights above the ground, lands have been laid out without regard to adjoining sections and walks have been constructed uphill and downhill to conform to the caprice or lack of design of those who erect houses and built walks in front of them. This has resulted in lack of beauty in the general make-up of the city and in incon- venience and danger to those who pass over its walks and ways.
Building Inspector and Inspector of Plumbing.
While I do not want to see an elaborate department or building inspection established in our city, because I have seen such a display of ignorance and abuse of power in these depart- ments, yet I am of the opinion that there should be a very care-
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ful and thorough inspection of plumbing by an experienced and fair minded man, and an ordinance established requiring some safeguards against weakness and fire damage in the construction of buildings. I think we should have fire stops and that form of construction which is called slow burning, in all buildings which are to be built in our city.
Regard must be had to the cost of buildings and I should deprecate any ordinance in this department which would so add to the cost of construction as to bring rents beyond the ability of tenants to pay and thus fail to give a fair return to the builder.
While this is the case in larger cities near at hand, I trust that whatever action may be taken in this regard this danger shall be avoided.
It does not seem to me to be necessary to add the expense of an inspector, making an additional officer to add to the list of salaries and to the labor of appointment but if the city has a care- fully prepared ordinance, the insurance companies could insist that it be complied with under penalty of larger rate or cancellation of policy. The expense to the citizen would be the same, as he pays in the one case an increased rate on his insur- ance for the expense of inspection by the companies, rather than to the city in his tax for the salary of the inspector.
Of the amount of the debt, $35,725 is outside the debt limit, extending over a period of 25 years.
The valuations of the three years preceding are :
1897,
$17,904,124 00
1898, 19,247,155 00
1899, 19,616,707 00
Average,
18,922,662 00
This will make our borrowing capacity for the year 1900, $473,066.00.
Borrowing money outside the debt limit on a long term of twenty-five or thirty years I consider a very dangerous proceed- ing, and I earnestly hope the Council will not enter into any projects of this nature without the most positive assurance that it is the wish of a large majority of the taxpayers.
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The Property of the City
Is as follows :
Schoolhouses and Land,
$492,900
Engine Houses and Land,
42,050
Fire Apparatus,
14,863
City Hall and Land,
40,000
Almshouse and Land,
35,000
Land, High Street,
500
Faxon Park,
10,000
Sewer Building and Machinery,
42,000
Mt. Wollaston Park,
40,000
Playgrounds,
35,200
Metropolitan Park,
75,875
Pumping Station, Standpipe, Reservoir, Land, etc.,
22,950
Land, Pine Island,
600
Salt Marsh, Pine Island,
450
Metropolitan Water Company,
1,000
$853,388
Sewers.
At the beginning of the year there were two unfinished contracts for laying sewers, and, owing to financial difficulties with the contractors, the work was completed by the city.
With the appropriation of this year, sewers have been laid in Wards 1, 2, 3 and 5, both main and lateral.
About 6 3-4 miles of sewers have been laid this year.
Of the total amount expended by the Sewer Commissioners about $59,000 has been paid to the citizens of Quincy.
The assessments for the sewers have been levied.
The total amount of the assessments thus far made, $83,- 762.79.
The amount of money available for sewers is only $2,000. Of the amount of $400,000.00 authorized by the legislature of Massachusetts for this purpose, $398,000.00 has been appro- priated and expended.
The pumps at the Pumping Station were started May 8, and have been run daily since that date.
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Three hundred and six house connections have been made with the sewers.
We now have in successful operation a system of about 23 miles of sewers. It comprises a Pumping Station, well equipped with pumps and boilers of capacity sufficient to care for the sewage till about the year 1915, and room for additional pump- ing machinery and boilers when increased capacity is necessary; a 24-inch cast iron outfall sewer or force main connected with the Boston outfall sewer at Squantum; an intercepting main sewer extending from the Pumping Station to Elm street and another main extending to Brewer's Corner. These mains are designated to carry the sewage of Quincy Centre, Quincy Point, South Quincy and part of West Quincy.
Connected with the main sewers are lateral sewers covering a large part of Quincy Centre and South Quincy and a small portion of Wards 2 and 4. There is also a main sewer extending from the intercepting sewer first mentioned westerly to Newport avenue in the valley of Furnace brook ; tributary to this are the lateral sewers draining the south side of Wollaston hill. From the Pumping Station northerly is an intercepting or main sewer extending through Hancock street to Woodbine street. At this point it will eventually receive the sewage from Norfolk Downs and Atlantic, thence it extends westerly through Wood- bine, Brook street and northerly through Farrington street to Central avenue. This sewer may later be extended to provide for Montclair and adjacent lands. Draining into this main sewer are lateral sewers providing for the larger part of the thickly settled portion of Wollaston, west of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., and some of the lands between Hancock street and the railroad.
A comparison of the cost of the work completed, with the original estimate, shows that the actual cost has been very close to that of the estimate, the variance on the whole work will probably not exceed five per cent.
There have been some petitions for the extension of the system that the board has not been able to grant, and there are large and thickly settled sections of the city that have as yet no sewers. If it is thought best by the Council to continue sewer construction during the coming year, prompt measures should be
27
taken for securing authority from the Legislature to borrow money for this purpose.
There was passed by the last General Court an act author- izing the construction of the so-called "high level sewer" for the South Metropolitan District; the sewer to be built through Quincy with outlet between Nut island and Paddock's island. After consultation with the board, the City Solicitor succeeded in having introduced into the act a provision that no part of this sewer below Hyde Park be built until the outlet is ap- proved by the State Board of Health, or before the year 1900. The report of the State Board of Health will be made to the next General Court, and as the location of an outlet for this sewer is of great importance to Quincy's interests, the city should be represented before the Legislature when the report is being considered.
By the act referred to above, Quincy was made a part of the South Metropolitan Sewerage District.
Water Service.
The sum of $30,000 has been expended the past year and we now have 80.63 miles of pipes, supplying our citizens with water. There are 1389 services and 496 hydrants distributed through the city. The demand for service is still urgent and I think that the further extension of this supply is a wise and needed expenditure of money.
Along all our shore line there is no place where the public can enjoy sea bathing without violating an ordinance or en- croaching on private property.
It would seem wise that a public bath should be established in Ward 5 or 6, and one in Ward 2, where this healthful enjoy- ment might be secured,
A charge could be made for service and room, which would not be burdensome, and yet which would be sufficient for the payment of the care of the premises, and the expense of main- tenance and the interest on the money invested.
A matter in connection with the water supply and the sewer service is the establishment of a toilet retreat for men and women in the public square. The thousands who occupy the
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square in the summer months make this accommodation a neces- sity.
Police.
There seems to me to be a need of better accommodation for the officers who are obliged to be on duty at the station and this matter can be provided for in the remodelling of the pres- ent city building.
A police signal service is a matter worthy of consideration, but this cannot be arranged in the present crowded condition of the police quarters.
Fire Department.
During the year permanent men have been placed in the Hose houses in the city, so that now there is a man and a horse at each house ready to respond at once to an alarm.
The department has maintained its efficiency through the year, and I am informed by the Chief that the loss with the greater number of alarms which have occurred this year is not larger than last year with a smaller number.
The hydrant service of the city should be extended and the hydrants should be under the care of the chief and should be tested by the department and every man in the department should be familiar with their construction and use.
There should be a greater number of hydrants throughout the city and in the appropriation for the extension of the water service a certain specified amount should be expended in the location of hydrants under the direction of the Chief Engineer.
An order passed the Council of last year for the purchase of land in Ward 5 for the location of a fire station. On this lot I would recommend the erection of a three-way house this build- ing also to include a ward room and voting booth, indepen- dent of the fire quarters.
The pressure of water under the Metropolitan service is excellent but for three story buildings it is not sufficient and ere long a steamer will be needed in the northern section of the city.
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Streets.
A constant source of comment and subject for criticism is the streets of the city.
Subject to the severest demands they need constant watch- fulness and continuous repair.
In my judgment the mistake which we made in this regard is in the neglect of this element of timely repair or renewal. We spend a considerable sum in constructing a section or an entire roadway and then totally neglect it until it is completely destroyed and has practically to be rebuilt entire.
By maintaining unbroken a surface crust of a few inches in thickness the under structure will remain intact for years, but once allow the surface to be broken and neglected and the entire construction becomes broken and damaged and soon the under surface is turned to the top by the heavy traffic and the road is mined. The largest amount ever appropriated has been expended during the last year and the streets should be in the very best of condition. Coddington street widening is in progress but the work was delayed so long that it is now in an uncompleted con- dition and will require a considerable expenditure to put it in · proper shape.
Before this work progresses further the feasibility of re- locating the road where it passes by the Cemetery in order to furnish additional land for the latter should be carefully con- sidered.
I do not believe it is wise to further consider the widening or extensive extensions of streets on the basis of long loans for the next two or three years, as the burden of the sewers and sidewalk assessments will be quite heavy on the tax payer for the next two or three years.
If allowed a release from the burden of any extra taxation I think the majority of the tax payers will during this period clear up these taxes and then we can see our way clear to engage in some larger expenditure within the provisions of the regular debt limit.
When our charter was arranged and submitted to the people the limit of our indebtedness was set at one per cent. of our valuation. This was afterward raised to two and one half per cent., the general rate for cities other than the city of Boston
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and last year the most unwise act of all our legislation places a large amount at the disposal of the government outside the. regular limit of indebtedness. I trust that the disapproval of the citizens against the contraction of any debt under this provision will be so strongly manifested that this and succeed- ing councils will give heed to it.
Schools.
The largest item in our list of expenses is the amount re- quired for the support of our schools. The chairman of the Board of School Committee informs me that not less than $102,500.00 will be required for school expenses for the year 1900, and this amount does not include the amount which will be needed for the new schoolhouse which is to be erected in the Cranch hill section.
This seems a large amount when compared with our entire annual appropriation for current expense, and yet when the entire subject is examined carefully I do not think we· can in any way reduce the amount.
We must bear in mind that the State sets the standard of education for its towns and cities. This to my mind is a very wise arrangement.
Some towns or communities, less progressive and less wise than its neighbors, might insist that a small sum should be expended on educational matters, and thus its children would be deprived of the advantages which should come to them and which would come to adjoining communities.
Consequently, our Commonwealth sets a high standard for the school privileges, and the statutes give the School Com- mittees chosen by the people by popular vote large powers and privileges that they may carry out the laws in this regard with- out let or hindrance.
It is true there is abroad a large measure of criticism of school committees, school teachers and school methods, but we must all admit that a great force of brain power is expended . in the search for the best methods of imparting knowledge and the simplest ways of securing the best practical results.
While we complain that the vast amounts of money which are expended for the education of the youth of the land are not
31
producing the practical results which in our judgment they should, we must remember that like processes in chemical compound- ing results are slow in appearing and require time to fully develop their merit.
In our efforts to reach a certain product in chemistry we must allow the time needed for the elements to assimilate and come to that stage when they are in a condition ripe for the addition of other compounds. During all this process we have a compound which has neither name nor merit it may be, but all the same the process and the time are needed to get the compound to that state when with the injection of the final element the whole matter in an instant is resolved into the sought for compound.
It is much the same with the education of youth. Time and conditions are to work together with human agencies and though seemingly barren of results with faithful service and the co- operation of the community, the final result will be satisfactory in the extreme and generations yet unborn shall testify to our wisdom and our generosity.
While the amount expended for our schools is large as compared with our other expenses, yet we shall find on examina- tion that the cost of instructing a pupil in Quincy compares favorably with the cost in other cities and towns in the State.
We have a large school population. This is not a misfor- tune, although it certainly is a burden. Do not let us complain that the children are born into our city in goodly numbers. Children bring burdens, but they are the light and joy of life; they gladden the present generation, and they carry rich promise for the safety and the worth of the future.
While they throng the portals of our schoolhouses let us bid them a hearty welcome, and provide for them with generous hand. For if we do this we shall surely bless our de- clining years, and furnish coming generations whose power and usefulness shall be beyond the scope of words to describe.
I think there are many things that can be improved in the management of our school business, not so much in the com- mittee's management of the schools, as in the relations between the committee and the legislative and administrative depart- ments of the city government. I am of the opinion that it
32
would be an improvement if the Mayor were ex-officio chairman of the School Committee in as much as this would be likely to bring abont unity of action in all matters of legislation for school purposes.
We shall build a new school house in the Cranch hill district this coming year, and I very much regret that this building is not altogether what is required either in location or construction.
I believe no school building should be constructed withont an assembly room.
It seems to me that we make a mistake in our public build- ings in not providing so much ornamentation as will make them of merit and objects of approval ten or fifteen years from now. Our public buildings are, more than anything else, permanent improvements. They are likely to be in good condition thirty or forty years from now, and we should so construct them that they would be modern buildings twenty years hence.
I believe that all schoolhouse construction should be at the recommendation of the school committee both as concerns plans and size and location of building. I firmly believe that all schoolhouse constructions should be on a basis of at least twenty years forecast by the School Committee, and then all extensions should be on the line of a well considered plan and would result in a complete system.
I think it a great mistake to antagonize the School Com- mittee on building or location, finally obliging them to accept what is far from satisfactory and then holding them responsible for results that seem to be unsatisfactory.
All our school buildings should be connected with the sewer the coming season in those sections where the sewers have been laid.
In this connection although not a matter which concerns the Council, let me allude to the provision in the will of Doctor Woodward which permits the attendance at the Woodward Seminary of only those girls born in Quincy. This prohibition I consider to be illegal and I shall at an early date call this question to the attention of the two boards in control of the school and of the fund.
If the courts should sustain the position that this prohibition
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is illegal, it will afford great relief to the High school. Other- wise an enlargement of the present High school building will be an immediate necessity.
Conclusion.
Now, gentlemen of the Council the work is before us. Let there be the utmost harmony and good feeling between all branches of the government so that when the year shall have ended we shall have the honest satisfaction of having labored together for the welfare of the city and have the hearty endorse- ment of all the citizens.
In my appointments I have tried to secure the best service to the city that was possible with the material at my disposal and I have selected such men as I have felt would work in har- mony with me for the most faithful discharge of the trust com- mitted to us.
That there may be some disappointments, I of course realize for there are not as many offices as applicants and naturally those who do not receive will feel disappointed. In making my selection I have eliminated from the question entirely what the effect on my future prospects may be when my term of office shall expire and the question of the selection of a candidate shall again come before the people. The advancement of the public good taking all things into account has alone been my guide in these matters.
Gentlemen, let us take up the work with an eye single to the public good and so bear ourselves that our fellow citizens will hold us in high regard for the work we have done and we shall have the consciousness of having royally served the highest and added to those elements in our own personal characters which shall make us kings among men and worthy of that time when the cycles of time being ended for us we stand before the Great King, our souls bare before his keen and just vision and clothed upon by that celestial body which he shall give us we obtain his divine approval and at his command we enter into and become citizens of that celestial city whose walls are jasper, whose gates are pearls and whose light and glory is the God of all grace.
Annual Reports For the Year 1899. CITY OF QUINCY.
Treasurer's Report.
CITY TREASURER'S OFFICE, January 2, 1900.
To His Honor, The Mayor :-
Herewith I submit the annual statement of the City Treasurer for the year ending Dec 31, 1899.
Receipts.
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1899,
$12,025 02
Board of Health-Garbage,
458 91
Buckley Street Sidewalk,
12 00
Burial Places,
4,546 47
Copeland Street Sidewalks,
197 96
Edgestones and Sidewalks,
362 60
Hancock Street Paving,
436 91
Interest
9,887 82
Miscellaneous City Receipts,
Dog Licenses,
1,686 03
Dog License Fees,
166 40
Milk Licenses,
40 50
Pedlers' Licenses,
88 00
Plumbers' Licenses, .
26 00
Bounty on Seals,
15 00
Tax Title Releases, .
1,773 19
J. F. Harlow, City Clerk,
477 25
Sundry Receipts,
89 05
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Massachusetts, State of-Corporation Tax, . $12,957 27
Street Railway Tax,
10,630 11
National Bank Tax,
1,752 85.
Military Aid,-Chapter 279, 262 00
State Aid,-Chapter 301, 4,011 00
State Aid,-Chapter 561,
408 00
Burial Indigent Sailors and Soldiers,
35 00
Water Loan Fund,
579 94
Notes Payable-City Debt,
52,425 98
Sewer Debt,
73,000 00
Water Debt,
30,000 00
Temporary Loans, .
300,000 00
Street Improvement Loan,
35,725 00
Overseer of the Poor-Alınshouse, Outside Aid,
2,075 88
Parks,
100 00
Perpetual Care Fund of Public Burial Places,
1,250 00
Permanent Sidewalks,
2,132 27
Police, Chapter 416,
457 34
Premium Account-Sewerage Loan,
3,353 00
Premium Account-Water Loan,
1,301 10
(From) Premium Account Sewerage Loan,
8,000 00
Sewer Assessments,
4,521 27
Sewer-House Connections,
4,307 12
Sewer Service Deposits,
3,474 00
Streets, .
474 30
Street Sprinkling,
2,531 01
Tax of 1894, .
47 33
Tax of 1895, .
439 29
Tax of 1896,
1,069 16
Tax of 1897, .
38,376 80
Tax of 1898, .
81,111 16
Tax of 1899, :
238,053 08
Water Supply-Construction,
5,894 54
Water Supply-Maintenance, 1898,
2,532 70
Water Supply -Maintenance, 1899,
51,526 44
Water Service Deposits,
2,620 00
$1,009,760 30
36 25
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Expenditures.
1898.
1899. $75 00
Abolition of Grade Crossings, .
Advertising, Printing and Stationery,
$158 57
3,359 05
Assessors-Books, Postage, etc., Clerical Services,
820 00
Miscellaneous,
6 44
155 09
Transfers,
165 00
Arthur Street,
998 60
Beale Street,
1,499 92
Beale Street Bridge,
8 00
Board of Health-Abating Nuisances and Contagious Diseases,
24 90
Garbage,
2,502 44
Inspection,
600 01
Inspection of Plumbing,
13 50
Miscellaneous,
76 25
548 91
Bridges, Culverts and Drains,
19 28
2,433 28
Billings Road and West Elm Ave.,
260 70
Billings Road,
2,990 02
Burial Places, .
16 60
4,980 89
Clerk -- City Clerk,
420 00
Clerk-City Treasurer,
520 00
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