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 1905 > Part 11
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upon this perplexing question. The gas situation as affecting the city was carefully gone over with the result that it was the firm conviction that the only feasible solution of the prob- lem lay in inducing the Boston Gas Company to enter the field in Quincy. The Citizens' Gas Company, spurred to action, petitioned the Board of Gas Commissioners for au- thority to increase its capital stock and for permission to enter into a contract with the Boston Consolidated Gas Company for the purchase of gas and also for the sale of ite capital stock to the Massachusetts Gas Company.
A public hearing on said petition of the Citizens' Gas Light Company was given by the Board of Gas Commis- sioners, the same being adjourned from time to time until the petition was finally disposed of.
At these hearings I appeared in conjunction with the Mayor and advocated that a sufficient increase of the capitali- zation of the Citizens' Company be granted, in order to permit it to make the necessary extensions to its plant and mains, as would enable it in the judgment of the Commis- sion to properly care for the gas situation in the city, with a view to its future growth. I further advocated that in the event of the increase in capitalization being granted that such restrictions be imposed upon the issuance of the stock as would amply protect the city.
I was led to strongly favor the petition because of prom- ises being made to the Mayor by the officials of the Boston Consolidated Gas Company that in event of the petition being granted the price of gas in the city would be reduced on July 1st. 1906, to $1.50 per thousand cubic feet, and a further re- duction as soon as the business warranted the same. A further promise was made of a large extension of the gas mains in the city during this year.
Accordingly the petition of the Citizens' Gas Light Com- pany was granted and the contract with the Boston Consoli- dated Gas Company approved by the Board and certain dis- tinct purposes were specified for which the increase in stock was allowed.
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It would seem that Quincy is in a fair way to have its gas service essentially improved in the immediate future.
During the year the following cases have been satisfac- torily adjusted, all of them of several years' standing:
James P. King vs. the City of Quincy.
Alfred Hook vs. the City of Quincy. Albion P. Wight vs. the City of Quincy.
The case of Florence N. Locke against the city has also recently been settled.
Several minor claims for personal injuries have been ad- justed during the year.
In the settlement of these suits and claims I have taken the legal liability of the city into consideration, also the ex- penses of trial and have made settlements in cases only where I believed it good business judgment for the city so to do.
The suit of Annie M. Bates vs. the City of Quincy for in- juries to property on Dimmock street owing to alteration on and change of grade in Dimmock street in 1902 was tried in January, 1906, before a jury in the Superior Court for Nor- folk County. The damage estimated by experts for the plain- tiff varied from $1,500 to $3,500. The jury awarded damages in the sum of $200.
The following old cases are still on the docket and pend- ing trial:
Henry H. Savage vs. the City of Quincy for . lamages for land taken for the extension of Faxon road, Norfolk Downs.
First Congregational Society of Quincy vs. the City of Quincy involving the title of land near the fountain in City square.
Paul H. McIntire vs. the City of Quincy for personal in- juries.
Zachari Farrela vs. the City of Quincy pending in Suffolk County is a suit for injuries received while at work in a sewer tiench.
Martha E. Willett vs. the City of Quincy for personal in- juries received from a fall on sidewalk of Franklin street.
Julia Foley vs. the City of Quincy for injuries sustained in being thrown from an overturned sleigh on Hancock street in 1904.
228
William Hanrahan vs. the City of Quincy, claim for dam- ages against the city because of the burning of his building; the ground of claim being that the city did not provide suita- bie fire department.
One new suit brought against the city during the year 1905 by the Town of Weymouth for aid supplied to a pauper. This matter was on for trial in February but the city agreed to adjust the same upon the recommendation of the Overseer of the Poor.
I have had an office in City Hall during the year for the transaction of the business of my department, and have an- swered such questions as were asked me.
I have rendered opinions to the Mayor and heads of de partments upon such questions as were submitted to me.
In view of the increasing size of the Law Library and the inadequacy of the quarters now assigned to it, and the growth of the city's legal business I would recommend that consid- eration be given to the advisability of constructing in City Hall a separate office for the City Solicitor.
I am urged to make this recommendation in view of the further fact that I found many volumes of the earlier reports of the Supreme Judicial Court as well as other volumes of rare value are now stored in the basement of City Hall, there not being room for them in the City Clerk's office, where the Law Library is at present located.
Respectfully submitted.
WILLIAM R. THOMAS,
City Solicitor.
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Police Department
-
To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Quincy.
In accordance with the requirements of the City Ordi- nances I have the honor to submit the annual report of the work of the Police Department for the year ending Decem- ber 31st, 1905.
The force January 1st, 1906, is composed as follows:
One Chief, one Lieutenant, two Sergeants, one Patrol- man, acting Inspector, two Day Patrolmen, thirteen Night Patrolmen, one Wagon-man and Driver. Two of the Special Police are doing regular night patrol duty.
ROSTER OF FORCE.
Chief Frank E. Burrell, appointed patrolman January 11, 1903, appointed Chief February 6, 1905.
Lieutenant Daniel R. McKay, appointed patrolman Feb- ruary 4, 1893, appointed Lieutenant April 6, 1905.
Sergeant Mark E. Hanson, appointed patrolman Febru- ary 4, 1893, appointed Sergeant April 6, 1905.
Sergeant David J. Barry, appointed patrolman Decem- ber 28, 1896, appointed Sergeant April 6, 1905.
PATROLMEN.
John Halloran, appointed February 4, 1893; Patrick H. Bradley, appointed June 11, 1893; James W. Murray, ap- pointed June 16, 1897; John T. Larkin, appointed April 12, 1898; George A. Cahill, appointed April 11, 1902; Alfred W. Goodhue, appointed April 11, 1902; Jeremiah Hinchon, ap- pointed April 11, 1902; William S. Lyons, appointed April 11, 1902; Timothy J. Golden, appointed April 11, 1902; Ed- ward Johnson, appointed January 11, 1903; John Bowton, Jr., appointed April 14, 1903: Patrick A. Milford, appointed April 14, 1903; Patrick J. Kelliher, appointed April 14, 1903;
230
Charles T. Cooker, appointed April 14, 1904; Edward J. Cur- tin, appointed April 14, 1904; Claes A. Broberg, appointed April 14, 1904; Michael Donovan, appointed April 14, 1904; Charles Olsen, Special Police doing regular duty; Ernest H. Bishop, Special Police doing regular duty.
Whole number of arrests 1131
OFFENCES FOR WHICH ARRESTS WERE MADE:
Adultery
2
Arson. 6
Arson, Attempt at 1
Assault
21
Assault and Battery 78
Assault on an Officer
Assault with a dangerous weapon
S
Assault with intent to rape
3
Assault with intent to kill
1
Attempt to commit rape
1
Attempt to commit larceny
1
Attempt to break and enter
1
Attempt to rescue a prisoner
3
Bastardy
2
Ball playing on Lord's day
3
Being present at crap shooting on Lord's day 10
Breaking street lights 5
Breaking glass
6
Breaking and entering 23
Buying junk from Minor
1
Buying junk without a license
Building bonfire
6
Carrying dangerous weapons
3
City Ordinance, Violation of 3
Concealing mortgaged property 1
Concealing leased property
1
Common railer and brawler
1
Cruelty to animals
1
Crime against nature
1
Attempt at arson 1
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Digging clams unlawfully 1
Delivering liquors unlawfully 1
Default 4
Deserting from United States Army
2
Disturbing the peace 72
Disturbance on public conveyance 15
Disturbance in public hall
3
1
Disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct on car
4
Drunkenness
Evading fare
Fornication
Gaming on Lord's day
1
Having in possession obscene pictures with intent to sell 1
Having in possession obscene pictures
1
Hunting without license 2
Illegal sale of intoxicating liquors 1
Indecent exposure
1
Illegal sale of leased property 1
Idle and disorderly
Keeping and exposing liquor for sale
10
Larceny
84
Larceny from the person
1
Lewd and lascivious cohabitation 4
Loitering in a Depot 1
Maintaining a common nuisance 5
Maintaining a liquor nuisance
13
Maintaining a club nuisance 1
Maintaining a gaming slot machine
7
Malicious injury to realty
3
Malicious injury to personal property
1
Malicious mischief
S
Manslaughter
1
Murder 1
Neglect to send child to school 1
Neglect to provide for family 4
Neglected child
2
Out of Town Officers
8
232
Park rules, Violation of 3
Perjury 2 Profanity 1
Refusing to labor at Almshouse 2
Rescuing a prisoner
1
Reckless driving
4
Removing lanterns from street 1
Safe keeping
11
Selling leased property 1
Stubbornness 2
Subornation of perjury 1
Threat to commit assault 9
Tramp
6
Trespass 2
Trespass of fowl 1
Unlawful sale of renovated butter
4
Unlawful taking of a horse 1
Vagrant
6
Violation game law 2
Violation Board of Health rule 4
Violation express law, viz : not keeping a book 2
Violation Auto. speed limit
38
Violation plumbing ordinance
1
NATIVITY OF PERSONS ARRESTED.
Australia
1
New Brunswick
8
Africa
1 Newfoundland 2
Cape Breton
2 Nova Scotia 60
Canada
14 Norway
6
England
57 Prince Edward Island
22
Finland
74
Portugal
1
Germany
Russia 11
Greece
1 Scotland
53
Ireland
137 Sweden
42
Italy
72 United States
556
Mexico
1 Wales 1
233
Adults
957 Minors 174
Males
1081
Females 50
Married
431 Single
700
Residents
895
Non-Residents 235
Number of cases in Court 1,125
DISPOSITION.
Appealed 29
Appealed from paying fine 13
Appealed from serving sentence 16
Appeals from paying fine withdrawn 5
Appeals from serving sentence withdrawn 7
Bound to the peace . 7
Committed to Institutions 80
Committed in default of bail 18
Committed in default of fine 18
Committed on sentence
24
Committed to State Farm 16
Committed in default of bond to keep the peace 1
Committed to Concord Reformatory 1
Committed to State Board of Charity
Delivered to out of Town Officers 19
Defaulted 41
Discharged 45
Dismissed 38
Dismissed for want of probable cause 7
Dismissed for want of prosecution 18
Defaults removed
6
Fined 451
Held for Grand Jury 24
Paid cost of prosecution S
Paid fines
126
Placed on probation 4
Placed on file 78
Released by Court 77
Released from Police Station 180
Settled by mutual consent 5
234
Sentence suspended 1
Hearings on liquor seizures 17
Cases now pending 48
Amount of fines imposed by the Court .$4,394.99
Amount of fines paid to the Court 3.653.99
Amount received from Sheriff 25.00
POLICE SIGNAL SERVICE.
Duty calls of Officers 49,275
Telephone calls 1,686
Wagon calls 571
Ambulance calls 21
Wagon used on raids for liquor 18
Number of miles run 1,506
SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY IN USE BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
1 Signal cabinet, 24 signal boxes, 1 book rack, 3 roll-top desks, 3 desk chairs, 21 pairs handcuffs, 75 badges, 22 parade belts and billies, 6 short clubs, 4 iron bedsteads, 6 office chairs, 13 common chairs, 1 couch, 2 tables, 12 cuspidors, 2 art squares, 2 rugs, 1 oil-cloth carpet, 21 window shades, 22 window screens, 1 door screen, 1 cocoa mat, 6 ink stands, 5 ink wells, 6 pairs blankets, 3 mirrors, 3 shovels, 3 doz. lan- terns, 1 clock, 1 iron safe, 22 revolvers, 3 bed springs, 6 mat- tresses, S pairs sheets, 6 pillows, 12 pillow cases, 36 hand towels, 12 dippers, 1 water cooler, 50 feet rubber hose, brooms, mop, etc., 1 accident case, 2 waste baskets, 1 window brush, 3 books of arrest, 1 book of complaints, 2 account books, 1 directory, 1 copy of revised laws.
POLICE STABLE AND APPARATUS.
The working apparatus of the department is in good order and consists of the following, viz:
2 horses, 2 harnesses, 1 Concord buggy, 1 patrol wagon and ambulance combined, 1 stretcher, 1 pung, 1 ambulance
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bed, 1 fur robe, 2 carriage robes, 5 blankets, 50 feet rubber hose, 1 wagon jack, 1 fork, 1 shovel, 2 whips, sponges, oil, etc., etc.
MISCELLANEOUS WORK.
Accidents reported 3
Accidents investigated 3
Bicycles found
17
Complaints investigated
56
Dangerous electric wires reported 18
Dead bodies found 2
Defective streets reported 14
Defective sidewalks reported
20
Disturbances suppressed without arrest
51
Dogs lost, returned to owner
3
Dogs killed 22
Doors found unfastened
237
Fires discovered
7
Fire alarms given
6
Fire alarms, still given 8
Fires extinguished without alarm
12
Goods left out of stores
2
Glass in fire alarm boxes reported broken
22
Horses found cast
10
Horses, runaway, caught
8
Horses killed 5
Injured persons cared for 15
Lanterns displayed in dangerous places 18
Leaks in water main reported 20
Leaks in supply pipes reported 2
Lights out reported, arc 313
Lights out reported, series 1,936
Lights out reported, gas 271
Lights not burning, moon schedule, number of nights . . 17
Lights burning part of the night, moon schedule, num- ber of nights 23
Lost children returned to parents 20
Lost pocketbooks found 3
236
Leaks in gas pipes reported 3
Obstructions removed from street 9
Obstructions in street removed 41
Obstructions on sidewalk reported 9
Runaway children returned
1
Safes found open
6
Sick persons assisted
7
Stray horses found
4
Suspicious places reported
22
Windows found unfastened 134
Water running in houses reported 4
ENFORCEMENT OF LIQUOR LAW.
Number of liquor raids . 28
Number of prosecutions 29
Number of fines paid in District Court 17
Number of fines paid in Superior Court
2
Number of cases now pending 4
Amount of money paid in District Court $950.00
Amount of money paid in Superior Court 125.00
Cases placed on file 2
Cases discharged 4
STOLEN PROPERTY RECOVERED.
Amount of stolen property recovered for the year
1905 $2,528.00
CONCLUSION.
Quincy with its cosmopolitan population can congratu- late itself that for the past year it has had no serious crime. Drunkenness and its accompanying disturbances have been about all that the police have to deal with.
The liquor law has been enforced as well as possible with the means at our disposal. Convictions have been se- cured in nearly all of the cases brought before the Court.
Juvenile complaints have been numerous and it is a very serious problem in what manner to deal with them. Parents
237
either wilfully neglect to properly look out for their children, or they have no control over them. While we do not like to bring juveniles before the Court in some cases it has been the only course left to pursue.
The Signal System has worked admirably the past year, thanks to Superintendent Gavin, having been out of order but a few hours and that after a heavy tempest.
The new light hitch for general use at the Station has been a good investment and has practically paid for itself.
I would recommend for sanitary reasons that the cells should be connected with the sewer. Why this was not done at the time the cells were first installed is a mystery as the odor that arises from them after eight or ten men have been confined over night or possibly from Saturday night until taken to the Court Monday morning is unbearable.
I would also recommend that arrangements be made with the Chief of Fire Department for a double steel cage to be placed in the new Fire Station at Hough's Neck. With telephone connection for the present and later a signal box, we would be prepared to give the residents of this locality far better protection than at present.
In closing this report I wish to thank his Honor, Mayor Thompson, Judge Avery, Clerk of Court Churchill, Proba- tion Officer Spear and the officers and patrolmen of this de- partment for the earnest support and courteous treatment received from them.
Respectfully submitted, FRANK E. BURRELL, Chief of Police.
238
Adams Academy
To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Quincy:
The Managers of Adams Academy respectfully present their report for the year 1905.
The school has been conducted during the past year by the Master, assisted by Messrs. J. D. Kent, Jr., and Thomas L. Bramhall. The services of Mr. John O. Hall, Jr., were greatly missed at the outset; and towards the end of the year it was deemed expedient to transfer a few classes to Mr. Royal Archibald Moore, a graduate of the class of 1901, who was just completing a most brilliant career at Harvard College.
Eight graduates received the diploma on the 24th of June. Of these one was admitted to Amherst College. Two graduates of the class of 1904, who had remained a fifth year in the school, entered Harvard and Amherst College, and a third who had been admitted, but did not enter Harvard in 1904, joined the same class,-all without conditions. Other members of the graduating class entered Boston College, Georgetown College and the Tufts College Medical School.
The prizes for this year for the first time were pur- chased with the Robert Charles Billings fund.
A larger number of boys has entered the school this year than either of the two previous years.
The Board of Managers has shared with all other inter- ests in Quincy in the loss of their colleague. Dr. Joseph Maurice Sheahan, whose constant regard for the school was manifested in the most practical manner.
LUTHER S. ANDERSON, GEORGE B. DEWSON, WILLIAM EVERETT. WALTER S. PINKHAM, ROGER H. WILDE,
Board of Managers.
İ
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Board of health
To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Quincy:
The Board of Health respectfully submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1905.
The organization of the Board for the past year was de- termined by ballot as follows:
William H. Teasdale, Chairman,
Ross K. Whiton, M. D., Clerk, Henry P. Kittredge.
The Inspectors of the Board remain as they have been in the past :
Edward J. Lennon, Sanitary Inspector,
J. J. Keniley, Inspector of Plumbing,
Frederick E. Goss, Inspector of Meats and Provisions.
During the past year we have attended to the rapidly increasing duties of our department as diligently as possible, and have used cur best efforts in caring for the public health and saving its citizens from public and private nuisances. Being a new Board, of course we found, at the start, many difficulties confronting us. Under the conditions then exist- ing, it was well nigh impossible to have a good system, as there was no one in constant attendance at the office. With the consent of the Civil Service Commission, we have for the past few months kept a clerk in constant attendance, thereby being able to keep records, etc., in a systematic manner.
At the beginning of the year, the Board, after carefully estimating the cost of maintaining the department for the en- suing year, requested an appropriation of $5,880.00, divided as follows :
For Garbage $3.600.00
For Miscellaneous
240
For Nuisances 1,500.00 1
For Contagious Diseases
For Inspection 780.00
This sum was believed to be as small an amount as would be possible to do the work in a satisfactory manner. The City Council, however, believing that the Garbage could be taken care of for a smaller amount, reduced our fig- ures to $3,000.00, the other amounts remaining the same. As a result, we have been obliged to ask the Council for a small transfer to our Garbage Department.
Early in the year we adopted certain general rules and regulations with the view of preventing nuisances and pro- tecting the public from contagious diseases. In addition to these we adopted other rules relating to Barber-shops, Baker-shops, Plumbing and Stables. All the rules thus adopted have been rigidly enforced as far as has been practical.
GARBAGE.
In the early spring we faced the very difficult problem of the disposal of the City's garbage. Bids were solicited in Quincy and surrounding towns. Only one bid was received, which was not satisfactory to the Board. Finally a contract was made with Mr. Michael Crowne of Dorchester, who has charge of the Boston garbage in that district, which, we be- lieve, was very advantageous to the City.
Coming now to the actual house to house collection of garbage, we were confronted with a still greater problem. With the limited means at hand, we were called upon to col- lect the garbage, not only from the permanent population, but also from a greatly increased summer population. Judg- ing from the lack of complaints, we assume that it was done in a very satisfactory manner. The collectors of the garbage complained of the lack of proper garbage receptacles at the various houses. Consequently cards were printed bearing our regulation in regard to the keeping of swill in properly covered receptacles, which were left at these houses. This apparently remedied the evil.
1
241
SCAVENGER WORK.
A little later in the year the system of the scavenger de- partment gave us great concern. Orders for the cleaning of vaults and cesspools were taken by so many different per- sons, that it was impossible to keep an account of the work to be done. Now, however, that all orders are required to be given at the Board of Health office, the work is proceeding in a perfectly satisfactory manner.
NUISANCES.
Our record book shows that one hundred and ninety- three complaints of public and private nuisances have reached this office and practically every one has been fully abated. These nuisances consisted chiefly of overflowing cesspools, vaults, rubbish, poultry, and such things. In the case of overflowing cesspools and vaults the Board, after due consideration, decided that it was necessary for the public safety, that wherever the property abutted the public sewer, to order those places to be connected with the same. Con- sequently forty-seven pieces of property were ordered to be connected with the public sewer, and in every instance the owner has complied. To take care of rubbish, ashes, etc., we have maintained, as in the past, certain places known as "dumps." These have been kept in a sanitary condition.
In March several complaints reached us of the existence in this City of the gypsy and brown-tail moths. The Board had a large number of signs printed which were posted about the City warning the inhabitants and advising them to destroy the nests by fire.
INSPECTION OF CANAL AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
On April 3d the City Council requested the Board to inspect the canal, located in Ward 1, and report back the best means of abating the nuisances there existing. After due consideration, we believed the only way of permanently abating the nuisance was by constructing stone retaining walls along each side of the canal. Consequently with the
242
aid of the City Engineer we prepared plans and estimates for doing the work, which were forwarded to the City Council.
On June 12th we received a request from the City Coun- cil to inspect the sanitary conditions of the various public schools and report back the needs of each school. On June 21st, accompanied by the Inspector of Plumbing, the Board visited all the schools. The results of our investigations were forwarded to the City Council with the recommendation that certain schools should be connected with the public sewer.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The Board wish to make the following recommenda- tions: That the City Council take early action upon the recommendation of the School Committee of December 4, 1905, for a new Coddington School : that the sum of $2,000.00 be appropriated for the caring of ashes throughout the City, to be spent under the direction of the Board of Health; that the Old Colony Street Railway Co. be requested to estab- lish, for its patrons, a public waiting room with adjoining toilet rooms; that the City construct a Contagious Hospital to be under the direct control of the Board of Health; that the Board of Health be provided with the necessary funds to establish a bacteriological laboratory.
LICENSES GRANTED.
The following licenses were granted by the Board in 1905:
Plumbers 32
Undertakers
Stables
Garbage 43
Tallow 4
Stable permits refused
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
Unfortunately in May we were called upon to open and equip the small-pox hospital for the reception of two small-
243
pox patients. A third person had the disease, but it was so light that it was not discovered and consequently not re- ported until the patient had recovered. By constant watch- fulness we were able to stamp out this disease, although many persons had been exposed to it. As soon as the hos- pital was free of contagion, we immediately had the building put into proper condition for future use by having hot water and a bath tub installed.
In June we were called upon to combat a small epidemic of diphtheria among the pupils of the Adams School. Fail- ing to entirely eradicate the disease by a thorough disinfec- tion of the school we were compelled to order the school closed in the last week of the term, and during the summer vacation the building was connected with the public sewer.
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