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 1901 > Part 8
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450
Males,
439
Females, 19
Married,
152 Single,
298
Adults,
369
Minors, 81
Residents,
350
Non resident, 100
Nativity of Persons Arrested.
Austria,
2 Nova Scotia, 10
Canada,
2
Norway, 2
Cape Breton,
3
Portugal,
England,
6
P. E. Island,
9
France,
1
Russia,
9
Finland,
20
Scotland,
17
Germany,
2
Spain,
Ireland,
77
Sweden,
14
Italy,
46
U. S.
223
Newfoundland,
2
Wales,
1
New Brunswick,
1
178
Offences For Which Arrests Were Made.
Adultery
?
Assault 61
Assault and battery
9 Assault on an officer 3
Assault with dangerous wea- pon
5. Attempt to rescue 2
Bastardy
7 Bicycle law, violation 1
Breaking, entering and lar- ceny
3
Breaking and entering with intent to steal 2
Breaking and entering in
Burglary
3
night time 4
Cigarette law, violation 1
1
Concealing mortgaged prop- erty 1 Default warrant
Cruelty to animals
2
Defrauding hotel
1 Deserter
1
Disturbing the peace
9 Disturbing public meeting
1
Dipsomaniac
5 Disorderly
3
Drunkenness 193
Embezzlement
1
Evading fare
1 False pretense
3
False alarm of fire
2
Fast driving
1
Fish and game law, violation 1
Indecent exposure
1
Insane 13
2
Illegal sale of intoxicating liquor 2
Larceny 37
Lewd and lascivious 2
Libel
1 Liquor law, violation 15
Malicious mischief
6 Malicious injury to per- sonal property 2
2
Neglected child
2 Non-support 2
Passing worthless check
1 Park rule, violation 1
Pool-room law, violation
2 Probation, violation 2
Railers and brawlers
1 Rescuing prisoners 1
Receiving stolen property
1 Reckless driving 1
Stubborness
1 Unlawful taking 1
Vagrant
2 Tramp 4
3 Total 450
Threat
Arson 7
City ordinance, violation 10
Contempt of court
5
Illegal transportation Keeping and exposing liq- uor with intent to sell 1
Malicious injury to reality
179
Disposition by the Court.
Number of cases before the
Committed to institutions 61
Committed to jail 5
Committed in default of bail 5
Committed to House of
Correction 31
Committed for non payment of fine 26
Committed to Westboro, 1
Committed to Lyman school 1
maniac hospital
4
Committed to State Farm 5
Continued 8
1 Appealed 12
Delivered to out of town
Appeal withdrawn and paid fine 2
Discharged 65
Died in police station
1
Dismissed
1
Defaulted 15
Fined 239
Paid fines 207
Placed on file
38
Placed on probation 6
Settled by mutual consent 5 Bound to the peace 1
Held as witness
1 Held for superior court 2
1
Number of lodgers accomodated .
2566
Amount of fines imposed by the court
$1,922 85
Amount of fines paid by the court
1,467 85
Amount paid to City Treasurer
680 36
Miscellaneous Work
Accidents investigated .
24
Accidents prevented
0
Accidents reported
9
Bicycles found
11
Complaints investigated
206
Cows found astray
1
Dangerous electrics wire reported
28
court 450
Committed to House of Cor- rection on sentence 5
Committed to insane asylums 12 Co'mit'd to Taunton asylum 11
Committed Foxboro dipso-
Committed to State bd of
charity
officers 12
Discharged without arraign- ment 1
Held for the Grand Jury 16 Nol prossed
180
Dangerous stoves reported
1
Defective streets reported
31
Defective sidewalks reported
18
Defective bridges reported .
3
Dead animals reported .
1
Dead bodies found
5
Disturbances suppressed without arrest
19
Doors found unfastened
165
Dogs killed .
3
Fires discovered and alarm rang in
1-
Fires extinguished without alarm
6
Goods left out of doors .
13
Horse blanket found
1
Horses found cast .
29
Horses runaway caught
10
Horses killed
1
Horses found astray
16
Hydrants reported leaking
2
Lanterns displayed in dangerous places
25
Leaks in water pipes reported
3
Lost children returned to parents
33
Lost dogs returned to owners
3
Lost persons assisted home .
2
Lights, arc out
239
Lights incandeseent out
558
Lights gas out
25
Obstructions removed from street
13
Obstructions removed from sidewalk
3
Persons sick assisted home
2
Persons wandering cared for
2
Pocket-books found
2
Teams found and cared for
1
Teams taken from intoxicated drivers
1
Windows found open .
84
Value of lost property recovered
$1,549 50
Value of stolen property recovered
83,630 20
Leaks in water main reported
181
In conluding this report, I desire to extend my thanks to His Honor, the Mayor, the members of the City Council, and to all others who have in any way assisted me in the discharge of my duty, I would also thank the regular and special officers for their ready and willing manner in responding to all calls.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH W. HAYDEN,
Chief of Police.
Report of Liquor Officer.
To Joseph W. Hayden, Chief of Police :
SIR : I beg leave to submit the following report :
Search warrants issued for liquor
16
Search warrants served .
14
Search warrants returned without service
2
Number of forfeitures to Commonwealth
11
Number returned to claimant
2
Search and no liquor found .
1
Prosecuted for violation of liquor law
17
Convicted in District Court .
11
Discharged 66 66
4
Cases placed on file
2
Appealed to Superior Court .
3
Placed on file in Superior Court
3
Paid fines in District Court . 7
In connection with the enforcement of the liquor law. I have spent considerable time hunting for stolen property, and have succeeded in recovering a large amount, and, also in arresting and convicting the thieves who are now serving sentences in the House of Correction, or in the States Prison.
Respectfully submitted,
DANIEL R. MCKAY,
Liquor Officer.
-
183
Public Burial Places.
To Ilis Honor the Mayor, of the City of Quincy :
The Managers of Public Burial Places respectfully submit the following report for the year 1901.
As the City increases in population so must the work of every department. Such is the case in this department, to whose care is given the Public Burial Places of the City. Every year additional demands are made upon this department and there is no year in which more money could not be judic- iously expended, than is given it, and it becomes quite a prob- lem how to meet all demands and not exceed the appropriation. It has been a fixed policy of your Board not to exceed its ap- propriation, and when the amount has been exhausted, all work has been stopped, although the weather conditions were such that the work could have been continued, had there been funds available.
The appropriation this year was $4,600. This was $200 less than the amount asked for, although an additional appro- riation of $400 was made to extend the water service at Mount Wollaston cemetery. A large proportion of the $4,600 is ex- pended at Mount Wollaston, where it can be used to much better advantage, although some little work is done at the Han- cock cemetery in the way of cleaning the walks and keeping the grass trimmed. The money appropriated is expended al- most wholly for labor and material. The receipts for work performed are paid directly into the City Treasury and as they
184
usually amount to more than the sum appropriated it can read- ily be seen that the department is nearly self-supporting, or at least that it costs the city but a small amount to maintain.
The special appropriation of $400 was expended in replac- ing some of the two-inch supply pipes, in the main avenue, with a four-inch pipe, and making the necessary connections with pipes leading to side avenues. This gives the main cemetery a plentiful supply of water. Another year the four-inch pipe should be extended so as to furnish an ample supply to that section in the northerly side which now has but a limited ser- vice.
During the past year twenty-six lots have been sold at prices ranging from $35 to $90 each. The increasing demand for lots made it apparent that the time was not not far distant when additional land, adjoining Mount Wollaston, must be se- cured for cemetery purposes, or that another cemetery must be established elsewhere. Early in June your Board sent a com- munication through the proper channel to the City Council, calling atttention to this matter and recommending the pur- chase of a portion or the whole of a tract of land adjoining the cemetery on the northerly end. This matter received favor- able consideration and the sum of $25,000 was appropriated for the purchase of a tract of land containing 337,414 square feet, adjoining the present cemetery. The new land is bounded by Valley street, Park lane, Merrymount road and property of the Woodward estate, and should supply all wants for the next twenty-five years. It should also be stated that the property purchased includes a private way known as Greenleaf street extension, leading from Greenleaf street to the Woodward property. The latter property should also be taken for ceme- tery purposes, that the Department may have full control over this privateway.
Owing to the late date upon which the deeds, conveying this property to the City were passed, no action was taken toward laying out this new section. The portion of the new land lying between the present cemetery and Greenleaf street should be laid out the coming year and a special appropriation should be made for this purpose.
185
More than a passing notice should be made of Mount Wollaston cemetery. This sacred spot is becoming more beau- tiful every year and many favorable comments on its appear- ance are made by the hundreds of visitors during the summer months, as they contrast it with the old "burying ground."
All work here is done under the direction of our Snp- erintendent James Nicol, who gives his entire time to the work and whom your Board has found most competent in carrying out the idea of making Mount Wollaston more of a Park Garden than a cemetery.
The carrying out of the idea of placing lots upon the lawn plan has done much to further this end. The citizens take kindly to it and every year more applications for regrading are. received than can be done. This year seventeen lots have been regraded and orders have been received for about all that can be done next year unless a larger appropriation is made.
The wisdom of providing for the care of lots by perpetual care is becoming better understood and the amount deposited with the City for this purpose is increasing rapidly. During the past year eleven lots have been taken under perpetual care for which $1,575 has been deposited. The total number of lots. now cared for under this plan is 124 and the total fund held for this purpose is $16,500.
The only thing that your Board would suggest in regard to. the Hancock cemetery is that the wall on the street side be re- built. During the year a portion of this wall tumbled down and temporary repairs were made. The cost of rebuilding this. wall would depend largely upon what kind of a wall and fence should be decided upon.
A detailed statement of the expenditures of this Depart- ment will be found in the report of the City Auditor.
186
Statistics.
Whole number of lots cared for . 549
By yearly contract
425
By perpetual care
124
There have been 212 burials in the two cemeteries as fol- lows :
MOUNT WOLLASTON.
Adults
142
Under 21 years of age
67
Died in other places :
Adults
47
Under 21 years of age
12
HANCOCK CEMETERY.
Adults
3
Financial Statement.
Appropriation
$4,600 00
Expended
·
4,599 84
Balance unexpended
$0 16
SPECIAL APPROPRIATION.
To extend water mains
$400 00
Expended . .
399 59
Balance unexpended
$0 41
187
Perpetual Care Fund.
Cash on hand January 1, 1901
$14,925 00
Added during the year
1,575 00
Interest on same £
634 91
Paid for care of lots
$634 91
Cash on hand December 31, 1901
16,500 00
Total
$17,134 91
$17,134 91
C. C. Johnson Fund.
Deposited in Quincy Savings Bank
$150 00
Interest on same
6 06
Paid for care of lot
$6 06
Cash on hand December 31, 1901
150 00
Total
$156 06
$156 06
Receipts of 1901.
Care of lots 1899
$25 00
Care of lots 1900
567 00
Care of lots 1901
701 00
Foundations
402 08
Opening graves
917 00
Graves sold
110 00
Lots sold
1,290 00
Regrading
220 00
Use of tomb
33 00
188
Myrtling
27 00
Removals
33 00
Labor
15 75
Interest of Perpetual Care Fund
640 97
Total .
$4,981 80
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH H. VOGEL, Chairman. GEORGE T. MAGEE, Secretary. HENRY P. FURNALD.
ROLLIN H. NEWCOMB. JOHN C. KAPPLES. CEPHAS DREW.
189
Solicitor's Report.
February 3, 1902.
To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Quincy :
I submit herewith the annual report of the City Solicitor for the municipal year ending this day.
There has been nothing unusual falling to the care of the City Solicitor this year with the exception of the increase of the duties which come upon the City Solicitor from year to year.
There has been presented against the city various claims growing out of injuries sustained by pedestrians and travelers on the highways, etc., some of which have been settled with the approval of the Mayor, and others are now either awaiting ad- justment or are in order for trial in the courts.
Attention was called last year to the matter of the suit of John Sheehan & Company against the City of Quincy for the re- covery of the sum of 818,000 growing out of alleged extra work connected with the sewer system running from the pump- ing station to Hancock street and thence to Woodbine street. At that time the matter was in process of hearing before an auditor. After some eighteen hearings the matter was com- pleted; arguments made and briefs submitted; the auditor found in round numbers that there was about $2000 due Messrs. Sheehan & Company. The city already had admitted that there was a sum amounting to $1200, in its hands which was the balance due to the contractors. The auditor in his finding allowed about $800 in addition to this amount. The plaintiffs not being satisfied with this amount will, undoubtedly,
190
bring the matter up for trial before a jury in Essex County where the suit is now pending, and on this account, with the approval of the Board of Sewerage Commissioners the city has retained Henry F. Hurlburt Esq. to assist the City Solicitor in the trial of this case. Inasmuch as the auditor's finding will go a great way with the court and jury as to the merits of the case it is not anticipated that there will be a substantial increase over the amount found in the auditor's report.
During the summer and fall considerable time was given by the City Solicitor to the investigation and preparation of certain land damage suits which were pending against the city, especially those of the Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Company and Napoleon B. Furnald,-claims growing out of the widening of Coddington street. These suits have been adjusted satisfac- torily to both parties, not entirely upon the merits of the case but on account of great and disproportionate expense of trial. From what experience has been gained in the matter of land damage cases brought against the city, I recommend that when the Council or the various city officers undertake to make an offer to the owner or owners of property taken for the city's use, that a price be fixed upon the land taken, taking into considera- tion all the circumstances of that particular piece, and the offer so made, the Council should not undertake to increase in the future.
Out of the street widenings which we have had I venture to say that not more than fifty per cent., if as many, of the abut- ters have been willing to receive the offer made by the city and many of them have received additional compensation from the City Council and not entirely upon the merits of their claims. In other words, let the offer of the payment of the damages be liberal in its estimation of the value of land taken or the damage done and then stand by the offer until the judgment of the courts say differently.
It is to be observed that when the assessors are making their annual pilgrimage for ascertaining the value of property how low real estate is held by the owners, but when the city then comes forward and takes a piece for public use, the land
191
will suddenly increase in value in the estimation of the owners. This is but natural, but with the experience of the last two years I believe that the Council should adopt some definite policy.
I also suggest that in any proposed street widening to be ordered by the City Council that someone should be designated by the Mayor to proceed under the direction of the Commissioner of Public Works or other proper officer and interview all of the abutters upon the street to be widened or the owners of land to be taken and take their agreement in writing to release to the city the land upon which a certain definite figure has been fixed. The Council will then be in a position to know more than it has in the past as to the probable cost of such improve- ments.
The case of the heirs of C. Philip Tirrell against the city growing out of the taking of an easement along the brook near the Tirrell Carriage Manufacturing establishment was tried be- fore a jury and resulted in a verdict of $700 and interest mak- ing the total $807. The experts of the petitioners claimed the land to be worth about $1100 and those of the city placed it at about $300, and, as in the majority of land damage cases, the jury have listened to the figures of both parties and then taken the average.
The case of Ardelissa E. Newcomb against the city grow- ing out of a claim made on account of injuries sustained by Mrs. Newcomb, by falling over a shut-off box on Hancock street was tried before a jury in Dedham and resulted in a ver- dict of $3000 for the plaintiff which has been paid.
The cases of White, Flint and Hanscom against the city have been tried in the Quincy court. These were actions growing out of a defect on Hancock street near Merrymount park, the defect being a piece of curbing, which the plaintiffs claim was allowed to remain on the highway long enough to make the city liable and into which the plaintiffs, while driving from Boston, came into collision. The court found for the plaintiff White the sum of $200, for Flint $15, and for Hans- com $15,, with which judgment the city was satisfied and closed
192
the matters with the plaintiffs' attorney on the finding of the court.
There are other observations which may be made as to matters now pending in this department, but on account of the danger of making public such matters which are in their nature confidential it is not wise to submit them herewith.
The Solicitor has been present at nearly every meeting of the City Council and has rendered whatever service he could to the mayor or heads of departments during his daily attemdance at the City Hall.
Respectfully submitted. RUSSELL A. SEARS, City Solicitor.
193
IReport of Assessors.
Hon. Charles M. Bryant, Mayor, City of Quincy :
The Board of Assessors herewith submit their annual re- port for the year 1901.
Warrants received and amount raised for current expense by the assessment of taxes in the City of Quincy for the finan- cial year commencing January 1, 1901, by the Board of Asses- sors are as follows :
A State warrant for the proportion of the City of Quincy, of a state tax of $1,750,- 000.00 amounting to $11,847 50
A County warrant for the proportion of the City of Quincy, of a county tax of $149,500.00 amounting to . 14,462 92 By the provisions of Chapter 488 of the Acts of the year 1895, we have been as- sessed as our proportion a Metropoli- tan Water tax for the year 1901 amounting to 22,004 38
By the provision of Chapter 406 of the Acts of the year 1895. "An Act to provide for a system of sewerage disposal for the Neponset River Valley," and of Chapter 424 of the Acts of the year 1899, entitled "An Act to provide for construction of a High Level Gravity Sewer for the relief of the Charles and Neponset River Valley." We have been assessed as our proportion 12,453 97
194
By the provisions of Chapter 432 of the Acts of the year 1900 entitled "An Act rel- ative to the repairs of State Highways," we have been assessed 2 46.
Amount raised for Municipal current expense Debts and interest
Aggregates of amounts
Seven thousand and twenty one polls were recorded for assessment and included in the estimate that determined the rate of taxation for the current year amounting to
Under the operation of the law, pro- viding for the supplementary assessment of omitted male persons, liable to assessment under the provisions of Section 20, Chapter 548 the Acts of the year 1898, there were added to the list 71 polls, making the number of polls assessed 7,092.
The amount of estimated receipts lawfully applicable to the payment of the ex- penditures of the year as provided in Chapter II, Section 34 were deducted, representing 46,788 34
To which was added as provided in Chapter II, Section 49 for overlay amounting to 9,402 70.
Valuation.
The valuation of the City May 1, 1901, as determined by the Assessors and upon which the rate of taxation was levied is as follows :
Value of land
$9,281,725 00
Value of buildings
9,336,800 00
818,618,525 00
242,324 27 123,393 95
$426,489 45
14,042 00*
195
Exemption as provided in Chapter II, as amended by the Acts of 1885, Chap- ter 169 70,100 00
Total valuation of real estate subject to tax- ation .
18,548,425 00
Valuation of personal property other than bank stock separately as- sessed $2,579.850 00 Value of shares of National Banks located in and taxable in the City of Quincy 189,975 00
Total valuation of personal estate $2,769,825 00
Total valuation
21,318,250 00
· Tax rate
17 60
Taxes levied
375,123 64
The valuation was also increased by assess- ments, under the provisions of Sec- tion 78, of Chapter II, of the Public Statutes, as amended by Chapter 362 of the Acts of 1888 $17,550 00
The total valuation of the City upon which taxes were assessed for the year 1900, when all assess- ments were made was 21,335,800 00
A net gain over 1900 valuation of . 1,053,344 00
Sewer and Sidewalk Assessments.
Main sewer apportionments .
amounted to ·
$6,072 01
Interest on same .
2,238 98
Total
$8,310 99
Particular sewers amounted to $1,621 20
Interest on same
·
Total
147 83
1,769 03
·
196
Sidewalk assessments appor-
tioned .
$168 25
Interest on same
65 57
Total
233 82
The total number of persons assessed in the City of Quincy for the year 1901 :
Property 5,840
Poll tax only 5,444
Number of horses assessed 1,331
Number of cows and neat cattle assessed
710
Number of acres of land assessed . 6,560₺
Number of dwelling houses assessed
4,527
Property Exempt from Taxation.
Literary
$97,875 00
Benevolent
714,652 00
Religious
366,160 00
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Takings of 1894 about . 75,000 00 .
Takings of 1900 preceeding May 1st. .
16,892 00
Takings of 1901 preceding May 1st .
Furnace Brook Parkway, 806,179 sq ft 29,950 00
Metropolitan Sewer 11,175,257 sq ft 69,525 00
City of Quincy real estate and fire apparatus 817,688 00
During the past year, Chapter 216, Acts of 1900 became effective, reducing the Board of Assessors to three members. Also by act of the Council the Mayor was authorized to appoint six assistant assessors who were as follows :
Henry P Kittredge of Ward 1.
Albert Keating of 66 2.
Abel Nutting of 3.
William H. Teasdale 4.
Lysander W. Nash of " 5.
T. L. D. Gurney of 6.
The duties of the assistant assessors were limited to assess- ing the polls and the tangible personal estate, consisting of horses, cows and other neat cattle also carriages etc.
197
The Board assessed the real estate of the City and all in- tangible personal estate.
It being the first year of this method, in dividing the duties of the Assessors, all real estate being valued by the same persons, we have reason to feel some satisfaction with the re- sults and we think very little of property or polls escaped tax- ation and with a fuller knowledge by the Board of the value of the real estate throughout the City, a more equitable assessment is assured the taxpayers.
The work of the Assistant Assessors was satisfactory, as we think it is as nearly accurate as possible to be.
We are also satisfied the experience gained by the con- tinuous Board of Assessors must for the future be beneficial to the City.
During the past year there has been returned to this office by the Sewer Commissioners in addition to the number as con- tained in our previous report 74 main sewer apportioned assess- ments and 183 particular sewer assessments also from the City Council 10 apportioned sidewalk assessments.
The card system of assessment we are perfecting as rapidly as possible, and while involving a great amount of labor and considerable expense we are satisfied, is an economical invest- ment for the City.
The Assessors plans now being prepared by the City Engi- neer as far as completed will be available in the field work of the present year and we anticipate will materially assist the Board in its duties.
We would recommend a continuance of appropriation by the City Council for the entire City as a wise economy.
With the increase in valuation of the City and the en- larging work of the office an additional permanent clerk is ab- solutely necessary and recommend provision may be made for the same.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES THOMPSON, CHARLES H. JOHNSON, WILLIAM B. GLOVER,
Assessors.
199
Car Collector's Report.
-
"To His Honor, the Mayor of the City of Quincy :
I have the honor to submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1901.
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