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 6
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359 95
Amount abated on tax of 1898,
1,203 00
Amount abated on tax of 1899,
2,171 44
$4,939 76
Amount abated on Street Sprinkling,
5 44
Total,
$4,945 20
During the past year, 27 estates have been sold to the City of Quincy for the unpaid taxes of the following years :
Tax of 1895,
$9 66
Tax of 1896,
31 77
Tax of 1897,
315 37
Tax of 1898,
278 01
$634 81
Statement of Levy of 1899.
Total amount committed for collec-
tion, including Street Sprinkling,
$397,843 58
Amount collected,
$239,755 21
Abated on tax levy,
2,171 44
Abated on Street Sprinkling,
5 44
Balance uncollected January 1, 1900,
155,911 49
$397,843 58
In making this, my report of the year's work of the collect- ing department of the City of Quincy, I desire to call attention to the fact that I did not assume the office of Collector until March 6th, 1899, therefore my collections only cover a period of less than ten months and for that reason do not perhaps make as favorable a showing as they otherwise would had I taken charge in February. It is pleasing to note however that the total collections, not including sewer collections, exceed those of any previous year by $23,317.54 for the corresponding time, viz. :- March 6th to January 1st. Your attention is also called to the fact that owing to the plan adopted this year regarding single poll taxes, I am able to report the collection of 3,859 single polls as compared with 3,690 for the preceding year,
130
which goes to show that the methods used were effective as well as satisfactory to the poll tax payers.
The need of an address file whereby the addresses of non- resident tax payers could be kept on record seemed apparent from the fact that many non-residents never received their bills, this mainly because no system of recording their addresses had ever been adopted. Such a system has now been adopted and contains the addresses of almost seven hundred non-resident tax payers. The result has been that this past year less than two hundred tax bills have been returned to this office as " un- claimed" while in 1898 over four hundred failed to reach their destination. Your collector attributes in a great measure the large payment on the 1899 tax to the fact that this past year the tax bills were delivered to the parties to whom sent instead of being returned to this office.
Owing to the fact that the collections for sewer construction and connections are to be made by this office it seems necessary to increase the clerical force and I therefore recommend that at least $800.00 be allowed for clerk hire.
I would also recommend that in future all tax bills for real estate and personal property be itemized so that tax payers may know what valuation as well as what properties they are paying taxes on.
In conclusion I desire to express my appreciation to His Honor the Mayor, to the different heads of departments, and especially to my clerk, for valuable assistance rendered, thereby making my term as collector, a successful one.
Respectfully submitted, ALBION I. DIXON,
Collector of Taxes.
Report of the Commissioner of Public Works.
To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Quincy :
SIR: - I herewith respectfully submit to you the eleventh annual report of the Department of Public Works for the year ending December 31, 1899.
In laying down the never-ending cares of the office of Commissioner of Public Works, I desire to extend to you and to each and every member of the City Council, and to the officials of the City who have served during my term of office, my grateful thanks for the courtesies, kindness and consideration shown me. Also, in a general review of the department work, I must express my thanks and gratitude to my assistants who so heartily co-operated with me in the discharge of my duties.
In the administration of an office such as I now relinquish, one comes perforce to love and cherish the loyalty and truthful- ness of those whom neither malice, misrepresentation nor intrigue can swerve from duty and fidelity. They are like unto a refined metal whose sterling worth must contrast with the scum and dross of its own species, to be valued and retained.
Such friends and co-workers shall be held in the sacred bonds of longest memory for their noble manhood, loyalty and truth, by contrast with that faithlessness and treachery some- times developed by ambitious adventurers.
Despite unfair criticism, which is the misfortune of public life, I claim, without fear of contradiction, that the affairs and records of this department will show an honest effort to efficiently and economically carry out the business of this depart-
132
ment and the accomplishment of many long-desired, much- needed and beneficial improvements.
I do not hesitate to say that the streets of the city are in better condition at the present time than ever before. This I think is very creditable, when we take into consideration the poor condition of the streets at the beginning of the year, prin- cipally on account of the many excavations for sewers, water works and underground wires.
As the department equipment had been allowed to run down, it was necessary to expend quite a sum for the purchase of horses, wagons, tools, etc., to put the department in proper condition.
A considerable amount of permanent work has, however, been accomplished during the past year. It has been my policy, and it should be the policy of the Commissioner in the future, to do a certain amount of permanent work upon our streets each year, and to carry forward such construction in a systematic manner. This work should be begun upon the streets that are in most constant use, and which are in immediate need of some repairs.
In the line of paved streets, our city is not so progressive as other municipalities of the same population. Few cities the size of Quincy have less iniles of paved streets. It is my opinion that an appropriation should be made each year for this work, until our city compares favorably in the mileage of improved streets with other cities of the same size.
Among some of the permanent work accomplished this year was the paving of Hancock street, on the east side from City Square to Gilmore street, a distance of about 4000 feet, and the paving of Quarry street from Granite street to Kidder street, a distance of about 1000 feet; the widening of Hancock street between Music Hall building and School street ; the rebuilding of Billings road ; the widening and laying out of Coddington and Sea streets ; the widening of School, Willard and Howard streets, and many other smaller improvements.
As the appropriations were not passed by the City Council until the latter part of June and as all this work was completed or suspended about December first, you can readily see that with the ordinary duties of Commissioner of Public Works, combined
133
with the duties of Superintendent of Water Works, I had more than a little to attend to.
The paving of Hancock street was commenced about July first and completed in about six weeks. The work was done by day labor and by citizens of Quincy, excepting the laying of the paving stones, which was done by H. Gore & Co. of Boston. The manner of paving this street is most approved and up-to-date and the first time that it has been tried in this city. I certainly recommend that whatever paving is done in the city hereafter be done by this same process. The earth was excavated to a depth of sixteen inches and then rolled thoroughly with a twenty ton steam roller. Upon this subgrade was placed a layer of American Cement concrete 6 inches deep, composed of one part cement, two parts sand and five parts stone, thoroughly mixed and rammed. A layer of two inches of sand was spread over this surface upon which was laid the granite paving blocks, none but first class city stones being used. Cross-walks were laid at all the street corners making the job complete.
The same process was used in paving Quarry street, after the hill known as McDonnell's Hill was cut down some three feet in order to give an easy grade. The result has proven most satisfactory. In both of these jobs we have far the best work in this line ever accomplished in the city.
Hancock street was widened between the Music Hall build- ing and School street, an average width of about three feet, making a very decided improvement. The moving back of the stone-walls, fences, posts, etc., was very neatly done, especially the stone-wall, with iron fence attached, in front of the Plumer estate, which was successfully moved in one piece. A granite curbing and brick sidewalk was laid the entire length, the driveways being paved with granite blocks in the most approved manner.
School street was widened opposite the St. John's hall. The old Lawton house was torn down and a retaining wall built, leaving the street a uniform width of forty feet. This was a much-needed improvement, as the street was very narrow at this point.
Three thousand dollars were appropriated to rebuild and regrade Billings road in Ward Six. The length of the street is
134
about 3,000 feet, and the width is 66 feet. In order to build this street to the required grade, it was necessary to make a fill of six feet in one portion and a cut of three feet in another portion. This is a very creditable showing, considering the work accom- plished with such a small amount of money. To complete the job it will be necessary to surface the street, and we will then have a regular boulevard.
Madison street was widened five feet on the south side and the grade raised considerably, but as only $500 was appropriated for this work, it is not to be expected that a first-class job could be done.
Fifteen hundred dollars were appropriated to define the lines of Willard street. This necessitated moving back walls and fences, cutting down trees and blasting considerable ledge on the westerly side of the street between Furnace avenue and Doble street.
Nightingale avenue, Trafford street, Federal avenue and Arthur streets were built to grade, as laid out on plan, filed in the City Hall.
The largest job ever attempted in the line of street improve- ment in this city, was the widening and relocating Coddington and Sea streets, for which the sum of $30,700.00 was passed by the City Council, $18,670.00 of which was for land damages and $12,030.00 for constructing the street. Coddington street is laid out 60 feet wide, while Sea street is laid out 75 feet. Con- siderable very heavy cutting and filling was done to bring these streets to grade.
On Coddington street it was necessary to move back three buildings owned by Mr. Henry H. Faxon and to tear down the building on the corner of Washington street, known as the grain store.
The buildings owned by the Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Company and the Quincy City Hospital, have not yet been moved as the awards in those two instances have not been mutually agreed upon.
A comparatively small amount of curbing has been laid in the various sections of the city, on account of the limited appro priation during the year. I would recommend that some action be taken so that more curbing will be put in, as it is a matter of
135
considerable saving to the Street department to have the streets curbed and also adds greatly to the appearance of our city.
A number of granite street crossings were laid throughout the city during the year. They are of a much better quality than any put in heretofore and are greatly appreciated by the public. I would suggest that those put in in the future be of a like construction.
In my opinion more attention should be paid to the construc- tion of sidewalks on the much travelled streets in the centre of the city and I would recommend that an adequate appropriation be made for this purpose.
This department has charge of all surface water drains and must face a serious problem in the near future. A large number of these drains now have their outlets upon private property whose owners may at any time close them without notice. In a number of instances, objections have already been made by such owners.
There seems but one thing to be done ; the city should lay out and build as rapidly as possible a system of drains. Some of the old drains may be utilized, when they connect with natural water courses, but where pipe has been used, in most cases the disregard for the preservation of line and grade without means of access for cleaning, render them almost useless as parts of a system, such as a city needs.
The present location of our crusher is such as to add greatly to the cost of macadamizing streets in Wards Four, Five and Six, on account of the increased cost of carting. In fact very little stone is used in Wards Four and Five and none at all in Ward Six.
The stone itself is of a very inferior quality, being but little better than granite.
I would, therefore, suggest that the crusher plant be relocated in some convenient place near the railroad track, and where stone suitable for road-building could be obtained ; thus deliveries to all parts of the city could be made by railroad, and thereby save to the city the extra cost of teaming.
Particular attention was given to cleaning the streets this year. Early in the spring gangs of men were put to work in different sections cleaning the streets thoroughly, paying particu-
136
lar attention to gutters, and shaping the street in such a manner as to allow for surface drainage. The waste barrels were placed on the streets by the department, and have been of considerable assistance in keeping the streets clean. Push-carts were intro- duced this year for the first time. I am of the opinion that this method of cleaning streets of rubbish and refuse matter is an excellent one, and was greatly appreciated by the public.
I also introduced this year the regular sweeping of the street-crossings in the most frequented parts of the city.
The following is the list of the streets accepted during the year 1899, making the total number of miles of accepted streets about 73.
Length in feet.
Width in feet.
Madison st., Ward 6, Hancock st. to Newbury ave., 1008
35
Avon way, Ward 1, Whalley road to Dixwell ave., 460 40
Arthur st., Ward 4, Garfield st. to Buckley st.,
1043 40
Glover ave., Ward 6, Hancock st. to Birch st., Whitney rd., Ward 1, Hancock st. to Woodward ave., 695 Deldorf st., Ward 1, Whitwell st. to Scotch Pond pl., 645
700 42
40
Cranch st., Ward 1, Deldorf st. to Whitwell st., 1538
40
Nelson st., Ward 4, Arthur st to Carlmark st., 475
33
Webster st., Ward.6, from Squantum st.,
750
40
Federal ave. and Goddard st., Ward 3, Presidents
ave. to Independence ave., 1006
40
Total number of feet, 8 320
At the present time the city is lighted by 100 arc lights, 378 incandescent lights, 76 oil lamps and 67 gas lamps, at an annual expense of $17,750. As there is a constant growing demand for new lights throughout the city, it is apparent that in the course of a few years the expense of street lighting will be very great. Figuring on the basis of the past ten years, the cost of street lighting in 1909 will be in the neighborhood of $27,000.
I believe that it would be cheaper and better for the city to own and control its own lighting system. I would be pleased to see steps taken in that direction.
A new departure was made this year in the manner of street watering. The system of the American Car Sprinkler Co. of Worcester, Mass., was used and found to be satisfactory.
40
137
Every day of the first week of my term of office I had a snow storm to contend with, until, at the beginning of the second week, we had the largest snow storm ever recorded in this part of the country. The streets were impassable to all kinds of travel. It was necessary to employ 1,700 men to shovel snow from the sidewalks and roadways, and in many cases to cart away the snow entirely. Considering the great amount of snow, and the large drifts, the streets were blocked for a very short space of time.
At the beginning of the year a bill was introduced in the Legislature to abolish the Board of Water Commissioners and place the department under the control of the Commissioner of Public Works. This order was passed in the first part of April whereupon the management of the Department was turned over to me.
On January first the city began to use water from the Met- ropolitan System. The water has given general satisfaction throughout the city, and if it had not been for this source of supply it is safe to say we would have been short of water on account of the great lack of rain-fall this season.
For a short time the pumping station was kept open with the pumps in running order, so that in case of accident the city would not be without water.
During the year 3.73 miles of pipe were laid, 30 hydrants added, 68 gates set and 411 new surface connections made. This is the largest number of services ever put in in a single year.
The total length of street mains is 80.24. The total num- ber of services to date is 3,889, quite an increase over 1,456, which was the number of connections in June, 1892, when the city took the plant.
The total number of hydrants to date is 496. This, with an ample supply of water, backed by an average pressure of 80 pounds per square inch, gives us excellent fire protection, far bet- ter than nine-tenths of the cities of the size of Quincy in the United States.
The gross receipts for the year are $59,953.68.
During the year the principal work has been laying the 16- inch main on Beale street, Ward Five, the 8-inch pipe on Linden street, 6-inch pipe on Brackett, Field, Garfield, Howard, Reardon
138
and Trafford streets, Quarry-street extension, Wendall road, Lincoln avenue and many other minor extensions.
A man was sent to the reservoir very frequently during the year to report the height of water in the basin, and the general condition of the property.
The pumping station was kept in good repair, and the tene- ment was rented to responsible parties.
The hydrants were all painted and kept in thorough repair. For detailed statement of accounts see Auditor's report.
I subjoin the following tables, record of miles of pipe, the number of hydrants, gates, etc., all of which is respectfully submitted.
JOHN T. CAVANAGH,
Commissioner of Public Works.
139
Location of Hydrants Set in 1899.
One on Barry street, 435 feet north of Reardon street.
One on Beale street, corner Highland avenue.
One on Beale street, corner Central avenue. One on Beale street, corner Everett street.
One on Beale street, corner Norfolk street.
One on Beale street, corner of Pine street.
One on Brackett street, opposite Field street.
One on Brackett street, near gas house.
One on Canal street, corner Field street.
One on Field street, opposite Brackett's wharf.
One on Field street, 400 feet east of Canal street.
One on Field street, 800 feet east of Canal street.
One on Garfield street, corner Quarry street.
One on Hancock street, opposite Canal street.
One on Hancock street, corner School street.
One on Hancock street, corner Carruth street.
One on Hancock street, 500 feet north of Carruth street.
One on Howard street, corner Quincy avenue.
One on Howard street, 400 feet north of Quincy avenue.
One on Lincoln avenue, corner Grand View avenue.
One on Linden street, corner Hancock street.
One on Linden street, corner Berlin street.
One on Quarry street, opposite Side street.
One on Quincy avenue, corner Water street.
One on Safford street, corner of Wilson avenue.
One on Safford street, 475 feet north of Wilson avenue.
One on Side street, 669 feet south of Quarry street extension
One on Upland road, 350 feet north of Saville street.
One on Upland road, corner Dimmock street.
One on Wendall road, 475 feet south of Quincy avenue.
TOTAL WATER PIPE LAID. Length in feet and size of pipe laid to December 31, 1899.
DIAMETER OF PIPE IN INCHES.
WHEN LAID.
HYDRANTS.
GATES.
2
4
5
6
7
8
10
12
16
20
.
Previous to June 1, 1892,
121 348 26,846 64,689.0 948
42,038.0
994 18,040.0
6,879 16,122.0
5,582.0 2,679 184,817
In 1892,
14 38
774.6
11,026.95
4,120.15
956.7
16,878.4
In 1893,
51
64
96
2,644.2
20,886.6
10,017.5
516.5|
1,409.2
35,570
In
1894,
92 128
2,253.8
27,341.3
24,573.1
3,105.2
5,438.7
62,712.1
In 1895,
54 77
836
6,849.0
8,264.0
9,502.0
9,438
20.0
34,909
In
1896,
23
42
1,460
1,180.0
12,979.0
725.0
16,344
In
1897,
69
70
2,550
4,304.0
19,664.0
6,083.0
1,310
33,911
In
1898,
42
77
1,427
2,966.0
16,538.0
2,336.0
86
4,126.0
27,479
In 1899,
30
68
8,987|
2,160.0
6,394.0
533.0
144
1,500.0
19,718
142,202|87,820.6|948|165,131.85 994|75,929.75|17,857|19,763.7|19,012.6 2,679 432,338.5
*Taken up,
4,787 1,177
800
1,900
8,664
Total,
496 912 37,415 86,643.6 948 164,331.85 994 74,029.75 17,857 19,763.7 19,012.6 2,679 423,674.5
Total number of feet, 423,674.5. Total number of miles, 80.24.
*Taken up in 1893, 490 feet 2-inch pipe. In 1894, 1,686 feet 2-inch pipe. In 1897, 1,772 feet 2-inch pipe. In 1898, 839 feet 2-inch pipe. In 1898, 1,900 feet 8-inch pipe. In 1899, 800 feet 6-inch, 1,177 fcet of 4-inch.
140
.
TOTAL.
WATER GATES IN USE. Number and Size of Gates in Use December 31st, 1899.
SIZE OF GATES IN INCHES.
TOTAL.
WHEN SET.
2
4
6
7
8
10
12
16
20
Previous to January 1, 1892,
93
128
64
1
30
5
17
6
4
348
In 1892,
3
27
7
1
1
64
In
1894,
17
81
33
4
3
128
In
1895,
4
25
24
15
7
2
In
1896:
6
5
26
5
In
1897,
1
13
56
6
1
77
In
1898,
4
12
44
8
3
6
77
In
1899,
3
8
46
4
2
5
68
Total,
111
213
405
1
121
18
24
22
4
919
141
1
38
In 1893,
2
37
13
77
42
WATER PIPE LAID IN 1899.
WARD.
STREET LOCATION.
GATES.
HYDRANTS.
LENGTH OF EACH SIZE OF PIPE.
2in.
4in.
6in.
8in.
10in. 12in.
16in.
1 Adams shore from Albatross road,
4 Barry from Reardon street,
1 17
1
455
1500
5 Beale crosses Beale street,
5 Beale crosses Beale street,
3 Bennington from end of 6 inch pipe,
1
56
1 Brackett from Field street,
4
2
850
1 Carlson from end of 6 inch pipe,
1
485
72
5 Central avenue from end of 8 inch pipe, 1 Curtis from end of 4 inch pipe,
200
1 Faxon avenue from end of pipe, 3 Federal avenue from Bennington street,
180
4
1678
1
3 Garfield from Granite street,
2
1
501
4 Hall place from Crescent street,
190
5 Highland avenue from Central avenue,
5 Highland avenue from end of pipe,
2 Howard from end of pipe,
2
2
720
5 Lincoln avenue from Grand View avenue,
2 |
1
414
5
72
295
245
1 Butler road from Hancock street,
142
362
255
1 Field from Canal street, Field from Field street,
542
360
120
850
5 Beale from Highland avenue,
5 Linden from Hancock street,
4 |
2
477
205
1 Mears avenue from end of pipe,
320
1 Merrymount road from end of pipe,
178
6 Montclair from Sterling street,
2
789
4 Nelson from end of pipe,
170
1 Off Deldorf from Deldorf street,
1
26
1 Off Deldorf from end of 4 inch pipe,
300
2
Off Hill from Hill street,
435
5
Off Pine from end of 4 inch pipe,
530
1 Putnam from end of 4 inch pipe,
387
4
Quarry st. extension from Common street,
3
1
622
5
Quincy from Hancock street,
1
509
258
1 Rock Island from end of 6 inch pipe,
785
1 Rogers from Centre road,
230
5 Ruthvern from Vershire street,
2
220
5 Ruthvern from Vershire street,
250
1
679
5
Safford from Wilson street,
1
2
477
3
2
780
1
90
6
Webster from end of 6 inch pipe,
110
1
1
489
19
Extra Hydrants,
5
68
30
8987
2160
6394
533
144
1500
Number of feet, 19,718. Number of miles, 3.73.
143
4
Side from Quarry street extension,
1 Upland road from Dimmock,
6
Vershire from end of 6 inch pipe,
2
Wendall road from Quincy avenue, Extra Gates,
Total,
6 Linden from Hancock street,
4 Reardon from Common street,
144
Bond Account for Water.
Amount of bonds issued to Dec. 31,
1893, . $700,000 00
Amount of bonds issued in 1894, 30,000 00
Amount of bonds issued in 1895, 45,000 00
Amount of bonds issued in 1896,
18,000 00
Amount of bonds issued in 1897,
30,000 00
Amount of bonds issued in 1898, 30,000 00
Amount of bonds issued in 1899,
30,000 00
Amount of bonds issued to date,
$883,000 00
Amount of bonds paid in 1893, $1,000 00
Amount of bonds paid in 1894,
24,000 00
Amount of bonds paid in 1895, .
25,000 00
Amount of bonds paid in 1896,
25,500 00
Amount of bonds paid in 1897,
27,500 00
Amount of bonds paid in 1898,
28,500 00
Amount of bonds paid in 1899,
29,500 00
$161,000 00
Bonds outstanding Dec. 31, 1899,
$722,000 00
Report of Sewerage Commissioners.
To His Honor the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Quincy :
GENTLEMEN-At the beginning of the year there were two unfinished contracts for doing sewer work in Ward 5. On one of these contracts, with the A. W. Bryne Construction Co., there remained to be built about 690 feet of 20 inch sewer between Han- cock street and Newport avenue. Work on this contract was completed in July. On account of some unsettled labor claims that have been filed against the city, final settlement under this contract has not yet been made.
The other unfinished contract was also with A. W. Bryne Construction Company. On this contract there were about 3090 feet of sewers in Brook street and vicinity to be built. As the company was in financial difficulty this contract was terminated early in the year, and a new contract for the balance of the work was executed with the Treasurer of the Company, James L. Bryne. Work on this contract was begun by Mr. Bryne, but the progress was so unsatisfactory that the city was compelled to take possession of the work.
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