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 1904 > Part 8
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TOTAL WATER PIPE LAID. Length in feet and size of pipe laid to December 31, 1904.
DIAMETER OF PIPE IN INCHIES.
WHEN LAID
Hydrants
Gates.
2
4
5
6
7
8
10
12
16
20
Previousto Dec. 31, 1903. In 1904,
639|1154 29
38867 3116
97221 566
948
201712 8629
994
85030 1514
32438
21254 2257
19813 227
2679
500956 16309
Total, *Taken up
668 1204 7
41983
97787 68
948
210341 127
994
86544 39
32438 272
23511
20040
2679
517265 506
Total,
661 1119
41983
97719
948
210214
994
86505
32166
23511
20040
2679
516759
Total number of feet 516759.
Total number of miles, 97.87.
176
TOTAL.
50
5
WATER PIPE LAID IN 1904.
Ward.
STREET LOCATION.
Gates.
Hydrants.
2in.
4in.
6in.
8in.
10in
12in. 16in
1 Adams Street
4
4
16
24
2
Berekely Street
1
281
1 Bird Street
2
534
2 Baxter Lane
3
1
16
690
4 Bunker Hill Avenue
2
1
1290
462
6 Billings Road
1
2
3
760
3 Bradford Street
1
376
6 Channing Street
1
2
800
5
Chester Street
1
154
1 Darrow Street
1
294
5 Fayette Street
1
1
136
1 Glendale Road
1
237
6
Hancock Street
4
8
82
5 Hancock Street
2
100
2
Howard Street
1
225
2
1
1
428
4
1
1392
1
Nut Island Avenue
4 Old Coach Road
1
132
1
156
1
187
3
450
606
3 'Quarry Street
2
2
500
3 Franklin Street
3 Kidder Street
492
1 Merrymount Road
4 Off Common Street
3 Off Penn Street
1 Park Lane
LENGTH OF EACH SIZE OF PIPE.
1980
84
2 Bay View
230
1 Butler Road
177
3 |Richie Street
1
1
190
1
88
1
175
1
596
1
1
1
83 387
288
2 Watson Terrace
1
1
33
1
1
277
127
5 Woodbine Street
1
1
1
470
6 Warwick Street Extra Hydrants
4
Total
50
29
3116
566
8629
1514
2257
227
2 Shaw Street
6 Sagamore Avenue
1 Sea Street
473
1 Upland Road
1 Winthrop Street
1 Winthrop Place
1
6 Webster Street
5 Willet Street
178
GATES IN USE.
Number and Size of Gates in Use December 31st, 1904.
SIZE OF GATES IN INCHES.
WHEN SET.
TOTAL.
2
4
6
7
8
10
12
16
20
Previous to Dec. 31, 1903, During 1904,
121 10
243
530
1
146
55
31
23
4
1154 50
4
23
5
1
4
3
Total Removed
131
247
553
1
151
56 2
35
26
4
1204 5
Total
131
246
552
1
150
54
35
26
4
1199
179
1
1
1
180
BOND ACCOUNT FOR WATER.
Amount of bonds issued to Decem-
ber 31, 1899.
Amount of bonds issued in 1900
· $883,000 00
30,000 00
66 66
1901
30,000 00
66 66
1902
34,000 00
.66
66
66
66 66 1903
30,000 00
.66
66
66
66 1904
25,000 00
Total amount issued to December
31,1904 .
$1,032,000 00
Amount of bonds paid to December 31, 1899 .
$162,000 00
Amount of bonds paid
in 1900
30,500 00
66 66
66
1902
32,500 00
66
66
66
1903
34,500 00
66
66
1904 35,500 00
.
Total amount paid to December 31,
1904
$326,500 00
Amount of bonds outstanding De- cember 31, 1904
$705,500 00
66 1901
31,500 00
181
Report of Overseer of the Door.
To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Quincy :
I herewith submit the annual report of the Poor Depart- ment for the year ending December 31, 1904.
The appropriation was $8000.00, and as usual was not sufficient to pay the bills contracted during the year. There is no need of this annual deficit, as the wants and actual needs of this department are made known when the annual appropria- tions are made. Experience has shown that the estimates sub- mitted at that time are within a few dollars of the actual cost.
Bills contracted during the year have been presented to the amount of $2691.51 and an additional appropriation will be necessary to provide for the payment of such bills.
The total amount expended December 31, 1904 was $7998.41, of which $5706.31 was for Outside Poor, and $2292.10 for the maintenance of the Almshouse. There should be added to these amounts the sum of $2691.51 contracted in excess of the appropriation, making the actual cost of the department $10,689.92.
Assuming that our population is 30,000, which is con- · sidered a conservative estimate by those well informed in such matters, the per capita cost is thirty-five cents. When com- pared with other cities and large towns, this amount will be found remarkably low.
182
The amount paid to the Quincy City Hospital was $537.52, which was for 1903 sick cases, and was provided for by a spec- ial appropriation made by the City Council.
The supplying of coal both for the Almshouse and the Outside Poor was awarded to A. J. Richards & Son of Wey- mouth, at six and one-fourth dollars per ton. This price was to apply to one-half ton lots delivered anywhere in Quincy un- til April 1, 1905. The contract was let in connection with the other departments of the city through his Honor the Mayor. If all the coal used by the city departments, or its boards, could be bought at the same time, a better price might be ob- tained than if two purchases were made at different times.
During the year the suit, Quincy vs. Weymouth, for sup- port of paupers was called and partially heard. An adjourn- ment was made to allow Weymouth to secure a witness from outside the state.
Two complaints against inmates of the Almshouse were made to the local courts. Commitments were made under such complaints to the State Farm at Bridgewater and to the House of Correction at Dedham.
The Alsmhouse still remains under the management of Mr. and Mrs. George Wilson, who are eminently qualified for this responsible and arduous task. Much money and labor have been required to repair the Almshouse, and put it in proper condition during the past three years. It was money well and profitably spent, and it is to be hoped that the city will not again allow its property to fall so sadly out of repair.
The knoll at the entrance of the farm has been leveled and graded into low land on the opposite side of the street, thus making a much needed improvement. The work of filling in the low land is still being carried on and in time the unsightly depression will disappear.
Very few cases were referred to me by the Board of Health as provided by Chapter 213 Acts of 1903. Such cases were promptly investigated, and reported upon by me.
183
The following is the financial statement for the year :
Appropriation
$8,000 00
Expended outside direct
$2,546 28
Expended from Almshouse
3,160 03
Expended Almshouse net
2,292 10
Total amount expended .
$7,998 41
Bills contracted in excess of the
appropriation.
2,691 51
Total cost of the year
$10,689 92
EXPENSE OF OUTSIDE POOR.
Provisions
$3,225 27
Coal
484 54
Clothing .
46 45
Medicine
22 70
Rent
592 25
Board
241 88
Burials
105 00
Transportation
29 50
Expressing
1 60
Telephone
43 30
Institutions
143 05
Hospitals
409 49
Other Cities
220 38
Clerical .
68 00
Miscellaneous .
72 90
$5,706 31
Bills contracted in excess of .
appropriation
$1,622 18
Actual cost of Outside Poor
$7,328 49
184
EXPENSE OF ALMSHOUSE.
Salary of superintendent
$550 00
Wages ·
290 00
· House Supplies
3,846 76
Stable Supplies
409 83
Clothing
108 41
Fuel
42 46
Telephone
23 35
Electric lights
43 84
Medicine
1 05
Hardware
54 50
Freight
10 88
Miscellaneous
71 05
$5,452 13
Credit by supplies to Outside Poor
3,160 03
Net cost of Almshouse $2,292 10
Bills contracted in excess of appropriation
1,069 33
Actual cost of Almshouse
$3,361 43
ALMSHOUSE.
Number of inmates January 1, 1904
17
Admitted during the year
17
Total number during the year
Discharged during the year
10
Died during the year .
3
Total 13
Number in Almshouse December 31, 1904 . 21
Number of families aided temporarily . 152
Number having settlement in Quincy . 77
Number having settlement in other cities or towns 22
34
185
Number having no settlement (State charges)
53
Number of cases fully supported . 38
Number of cases in Almshouse
34
Number of cases in Institutions . .
4
DISCHARGED.
Almshouse . 10
Institutions .
.
0
DIED.
Almshouse
3
Institutions .
0
Number fully supported December 31, 1904
25.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES H. CUNNINGHAM,
Overseer of the Poor.
3 21 52 17
187
Assessors' IReport
To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Quincy :
The Board of Assessors herewith submit their annual re- port for the year 1904.
Warrants received and amount raised for current expenses by the assessment of taxes in the city of Quincy for the finan- cial year commencing January 1, 1904 by the Board of As- sesors, were as follows :
A State warrant for the proportion of the City of Quincy of a State tax of $2,500- 000.00 $18,050 00
A County warrant for the proportion of the City of Quincy of a County tax of $162,- 500.00 . By the provisions of Chapter 488 of the Acts of the year 1895, entitled "an act to pro- vide for a Metropolitan Water Supply," we have been assessed for the year 1904 By the provisions of Chapter 406 of the Acts of the year 1895, entitled "an Act to pro- vide for a system of sewage disposal for the Neponset River Valley," and of Chapter 424 of the Acts of the year 1899 entitled "an Act to provide for the con- struction of a high-level gravity sewer for the relief of the Charles and Nepon- set River Valleys," we have been as- sessed . In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 407 of the Acts of the year 1893, en-
16,363 32
34,084 24
24,698 31
.
188
titled "an Act to establish a Metropolitan Park Commission, Chapter 550 of the Acts of the year 1896, entitled "an Act relative to the Metropolitan Parks and Boulevards and Chapter 464 of the Acts of the year 1899 entitled "an Act to authorize the Metro- politan Park Commission to take, con- trol and manage Nantasket Beach and adjacent lands and waters," we have been assessed
In pursuance of the provisions of Chapter 432 of the Acts of the year 1900, en- titled "an Act relative to the repairs of State highways," we have been assessed 53 05 Amount raised for municipal current ex- penses, based on the valuation of Decem- ber 31, 1903, at $12 per $1,000 275,316 83 Debts and interest 99,161 24
Aggregate of amounts .
8,305 polls at $2.00 each were recorded for assessment, and included in the estimate that determined the rate of taxation for the current year 16,610 00
By the operation of the law providing for the supplementary assessment of omitted male persons liable to assessment under the provisions of Section 19, Chapter 11, R. L., there were added 114 poles, making the num- ber assessed 8,419.
The amount of estimated receipts lawfully applicable to the payment of expendi- tures of the year, as provided in Chapter 12, Section 37, R. L. were deducted 40,308 81 To which was added for overlay, as provided in Chapter 12, Section 55, R. L. · 12,685 54
9,088 94
$476,815 93
189
Summary of Amounts Committed To The Board.
Appropriation order
$307,649 41
Debts and interest
99,161 24
Water maintenance and interest
74,225 00
Metropolitan Water assessment
34,084 25
State tax
18,050 00
County tax .
16,363 32
Metropolitan sewer assessment
24,698 31
Metropolitan Park assessment
9,088 94
State Highway tax
53 05
$583,373 51
Valuation
The valuation of the city May 1, 1904 as determined by the assessors, and upon which the rate of taxation was levied, is as follows :
Value of land
$9,549,925 00
Value of buildings
10,676,550 00
$20,226,475 00
Exemptions as provided in Chapter 12, sec- tion 5, R. L. 57,600 00
Total valuation of real estate subject to taxa- tion
20,168,875 00
Valuation of personal
property
other than bank stock separately assessed . 3,680,275 00
Value of shares of National banks located in and taxable in
the city of Quincy 183,220 00 3,863495 00
Total valuation
$24,032,370 00 Tax rate 18 00
Taxes levied on property polls, per-
1
190
sonal and real estate
432,672 70
The valuation was also increased by assessments under the pro- visions of Section 85, Chapter 12, R. L. 7,000 00
The total valuation of the city upon which taxes were assessed for the year 1904, when all assess- ments were made .
24,039,370 00
A net gain over 1903 valuation
949,655 00
Valuation By Wards
Real Estate
Personal
Total
Ward 1
$6,000,675 00
$1,248,350 00
$7,249,025 00
Ward 2
2,678,550 00
1,422,675 00
4,101,225 00
Ward 3
2,376,125 00
300,575 00
2,676,700 00
Ward 4
2,269,975 00
296,375 00
2,566,350 00
Ward 5
3,936,250 00
332,875 00
4,269,125 00
Ward 6
2,907,300 00
79,425 00
2,986,725 00
$20,168,875 00
$3,680,275 00
$23,849,150 00
Sewer Assessments
Main sewer assessment apportion-
ment
$9,787 32
Interest on same
2,897 87
Particular sewer assessments,
apportioned and otherwise $3,841 90
Interest on same
319 22
$4,161 12
Sidewalk Assessments
Sidewalk assessments, apportioned
$174 14
Interest on same
66 51
$240 65
--
$12,685 15
191
Summary From Table Of Aggregates
Resident property owners
4,277
Non-resident property owners
1,943
Poll tax only
6,611
Number of horses assessed
1,316
Number of cows and neat cattle assessed
589
Number of swine assessed
14
Number of dwelling houses asessed
5,028
Number of acres of land assessed
6,733
Valuation Of Property Exempt From Taxation
Literary
$154,875 00
Benevolent
657,625 00
Religious
374,200 00
City of Quincy real estate and fire
apparatus
.
872,900 00
By Commonwealth Of Massachusetts
Takings for Blue Hill Reservation,
Quincy Shore and Furnance Brook Parkway.
Takings of 1894, 2,573-56 acres
$128,675 00
Takings of 1900, 3,462 261 sq. ft. 173,113 05
Takings of 1901, 98,730 sq. ft. 4,936 50
Takings of 1902, 1,351,420 sq. ft. 63,167 00
Takings of 1903, 50,180 sq. ft. 1,700 00
Metropolitan sewer, 11,863,337 sq ft
99,525 00
The Assistant Assessors who served during the year, were :
Henry P. Kittredge . Ward 1
Albert Keating .
2
William J. Parker
3
William H. Teasdale.
4
192
Charles R. Sherman .
5
T. L. D. Gurney.
6
The polls returned by the assistant assessors, and those registered for the year, were 8,419 (a gain of 218 over the year 1903), made up as follows :
Precinct 1.
Precinct 2.
Total.
Ward 1
722
798
1520
Ward 2
656
697
1353
Ward 3
791
903
1694
Ward 4
960
941
1631
Ward 5
1222
Ward 6
520
479
999
During the year there has been returned to this office by the Sewer Commissioners, 248 main sewer apportionment assessments, and 280 particular sewer assessments; and by the City Council, 3 apportioned sidewalk assessments. With these additions, the whole number of individual accounts now kept in this office, is, viz :
Main sewer assessments .
1,644
Particular sewer assessments
349
Sidewalk assessments
27
Each one being divided into from three to ten parts ; one part, with interest on the unpaid balance, being added annually to the tax bill of every person affected by these assessments.
The board fully appreciate the value of the recent surveys of the city. During the year the board has had the third and fourth instalment of assessors' plans, covering wards 3 and 5, prepared in the office of the city engineer. This now gives the board plans for four wards, namely, 1, 2, 3 and 5; and with the appropriation of $1,000 made during the latter part of the year to continue the work, we hope to complete ward 6.
The card index system introduced into this department in the year nineteen hundred has had a trial, and we can endorse and fully appreciate its value. With the changes that have taken place since its introduction, representing a vast amount of clerical work, and fully appreciating what care and atten- tion represent, we desire to place upon record the faithful ser-
193
vice rendered by the clerk and assistants in our office ; and, with the increasing clerical work, we should be given the proper number to do the extra work that is coming into this department.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES THOMPSON, CHARLES H. JOHNSON, WILLIAM B. GLOVER. Assessors
195
Report of Dark Commissioners
To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Quincy:
With few exceptions this Commission has little to add to its report of 1903. With an appropriation of $1200, plus pas- ture receipts of $100, little could be done besides maintaining the grounds of the parks and playgrounds.
As last year, one man has been employed through the spring, summer, and early autumn at work on the different grounds under our care.
Taken in detail, the work has been approximatley as fol- lows:
Merry Mount Park
Our one employee has devoted most of his time to clean- ing and caring for these grounds.
Lack of funds prevented our planting the trees we hoped to, a move which is undoubtedly necessary if the forest growth. is to be maintained as it ought to be.
The ball grounds near Hancock street continue to be a popular resort on all Saturdays and holidays. The grounds in the middle of the park have also been used a great deal by baseball and football teams.
The dam at Black's Creek will probably be serviceable for a long time as the result of the repairs made a year ago.
Many picnics, arranged by societies and organizations of Quincy citizens, have been held here. In fact the demand has become so great that your Commission has about concluded that it is unwise to issue more permits for this purpose. Picnic grounds are available in many quarters near Quincy.
196
Therefore no hardships or inconvenience will be incurred if the many churches and societies are refused permission to hold their gatherings on public grounds, and are obliged to go else- where.
It will be wise for the incoming board, if they are granted sufficient funds, to begin planting young trees wherever the old ones are dying, or where there seems to be need of encouraging new growth, a need which all who use the park must see all about them. It is necessary to make a beginning at once, if future generations are to have more than bare fields.
Nothing has yet been done about constructing the sewer force main across the park, for which the pipes have been ready for a long time.
In spite of the cold weather, little skating has been en- joyed on the flooded meadow, owing to the large snow fall. This board has not felt justified in going to the expense of scraping the ice.
Beside an appropriation for tree planting, more funds should be given the park department or the police department to justify the maintenance of a regular officer on duty at the Merrymount Park at all times. Complaints of a serious nature have come to our attention. With the construction of the Metropolitan boulevard, and the growth of the city, this park must become more of a resort than ever. Police protection is therefore urgent.
Ward Two
The Bath House has been enlarged to nearly twice its previous capacity, and is now adequate for all who are likely to use it for some time. In our opinion this has been one of the wisest moves for the benefit of all our citizens ever made. It is used by ever increasing numbers, this summer over 20,000 men, women and children bathing there. It is believed that the increased numbers can be handled with only two attendants, as formerly, and that the increased cost of maintaining the .addition will he slight.
197
The playground has been used by ball players all summer, in spite of its rolling and uneven surface. With the funds placed at our disposal by the City Council, the playground was enlarged and levelled in the autumn of 1904, so that an im- proved ground large enough for baseball and football and the equal of any in the City will be available in 1905.
Ward Three
This Playground has been in constant use by the young people of Ward Three. Several baseball and football teams used it nearly every Saturday and holiday throughout the season. Only general care has been necessary, the large improvements of 1903 having put it in good order for a long time to come.
Guards around the young trees seem to have done little good, not having prevented the enterprising youth of this ward from breaking the tops off the trees, and thus preventing nature from taking its course.
Ward Four
No new work has been started here. The exchange of land between the Metropolitan Park Commission, the Catholic, Cemetery, and the City of Quincy has been accomplished, we believe to the advantage of all our citizens.
In order to perfect the ball ground, the lower side of the playground nearest the brook should be filled in, as soon as funds are available. With this improvement the field would be ample for all needs.
Ward Six
The grading of this playground, started in 1903, and has been completed this year. Convenient paths have been laid. When the grass attains its growth, the centre and the approach to Atlantic will present a much improved appearance. A better ball ground also results, although it is too confined to be perfect.
Some of the traffic diverted from Hancock street, owing to the construction of the new Atlantic bridge, has taken a short
198
cut across this newly laid playground. As a result the turf has been badly cut up and will require regrading. In spite of our efforts to stop this traffic by signs, and by maintaining police to turn it aside, only two arrests for trespass have been made. This action has had a salutary effect.
The amount of traffic desiring to go around the playground leads us to advise opening a new street to the north of the playground on already open ground.
Faxon Park
This beautiful natural tract has had little done to it other than general care. The opening of the new street on its north- ern bound naturally brings it into more general use.
Two signs, showing a map to inform the public of its bounds, placed at either end of the new street, have been broken by vandals, another evidence that there is a lawless element in Quincy which deserves severe punishment.
A shelter and outhouse built here would be of advantage to the gatherings at this park.
Liberty Square
This square in Ward Three remains in the same condition as formerly, the only work done being to dig about the trees.
City Forester
The trees in Merrymount Park, Faxon Park, the Play- grounds and on the streets of Quincy need constant care. In Merrymount Park the cedars and many deciduous trees are dying off and need intelligent cultivation and pruning. In Faxon Park the trees are decreasing steadily, a fact occasioned. largely by the merciless and lawless cutting done by vandals. This your commission is powerless to stop on account of its meagre allowance. The young trees on the Playgrounds must be watched and cultivated, and some planting should be done
199
All over Quincy the shade trees abutting on streets are the prey of electric railroad, telephone and lighting companies. It is high time something was done to preserve what we have, let alone add to our stock of shade trees. Other towns and cities have some regard to the beauty of their surroundings, and are will- ing to tax the public to maintain the trees on thoroughfares and public grounds. Nothing adds to the attraction of any town or city more than a luxuriant growth of trees.
This board asks, theretore, that a tree warden or city for- ester be appointed immediately, and that the City Council es- tablish such an office with an adequate salary.
We also ask that he be attached to and under the control of this board. Our reasons for the latter request are threefold, viz :
First : As so much public ground is under our control, much of his work would naturally be in this department.
Second : As the work of this department is all for the public good, the cultivation and preservation of all trees could well be added to our care.
Third : As this is an unpaid commission, has always been, and is likely to remain unpaid, and no politics has yet entered here, or is likely to, it follows that political, partial, or business influence would be less likely to be brought to bear on a City Forester under the control of this department than any other. General appropriation 1904;
Parks
$1,200 00
Pasture receipts
100 00
$1,300 00
General expenses
311 93
Merrymount Park
210 88
Ward 2,
75 20
Ward 2, Bath house, maintenance and equipment
540 55
Ward 3.
98 50
Ward 4,
15 60
Ward 6, . ·
40 99
$1,293 66
E n d.
ne
200
Ward 2,
Special appropriation ( transfer) 300 00
Expended
300 00.
Bath house addition ;
Special appropriation (transfer) 1,300 00
Expended
1,300 00.
Ward 6,
Unexpended balance from
special appropriation 1903 25 31
Expended 25 31
Permits issued for games and picnics in Parks and Play- grounds for 1904 :
Base Ball
Foot Ball
Picnics
Merrymount Park
98
Several 9
games each week. 1
Faxon Park
Ward 2
17
Ward 3
15 4
Ward 4
Every Sat. spring Every Sat fall
Ward 6
and summer 10
Yours respectfully GEORGE E. PFAFFMAN, Chairman. FRED B. RICE, Secretary. ARTHUR W. GLOVER.
201
Public Burial Places.
To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Quincy:
The Managers of Public Burial Places respectfully submit the following report for the year 1904.
The work of this department has been successfully carried on during the past year and within the amount appropriated for its maintenance by the City Council. This appropriation was $4,000 and of this amount $3,921.76 has been expended, leaving a balance of $78.24. There were, however, one or two outstanding bills December 30th, but the balance is more than sufficient to meet these bills. £ There were some orders for re- grading that were not undertaken this year as it was not desired to overrun our appropriation. It is hoped another year that. the City Council will see its way clear to give this department a larger appropriation that all orders received may be taken care of. A very large amount of the sum appropriated is expended in labor for the care of lots, regrading and foundations, for which a cash return is made directly into the city treasury.
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