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 1912 > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
We now have a right to do business such as you have mentioned on our tracks. We would be willing to extend this right in the future to such an extent as conditions might require and City of Quincy might permit.
Respectfully yours,
(Signed) J. F. CONWAY, Gen'l Supt.
329
MOTOR TRUCK EFFICIENCY.
A one-ton truck is good or 80 miles per day.
A three-horse five-ton wagon is good for 18 miles per day, or 9 miles out with load.
A three-ton truck is good for 60 miles per day, 6 days in the week.
A five-ton truck will average 50 miles per day, and a 10-ton truck 38 miles per day.
SPEED.
A five-ton truck, on a good road, can run 10 miles per hour, or three times as fast as a three-horse wagon, and can work night and day.
DISTANCE.
A power truck with load has made the trip from New York to Boston in very bad weather in less than two days; approximately 150 miles.
In 1911 a 4 1-2 ton truck with a 7,000-1b. load went from ocean to ocean.
FIVE YEAR COMPARISON OF MOTOR TRUCKS AND HORSES.
Horses.
Cost per day
Tons daily
Daily average miles
Miles loaded 11
Cost per mile Ton loaded one miles way only
1 H. $4.00
1
22
$ .36
2 H.
6.00
3
20
10
11 30
.20
3 H.
8.00
5
18
6
45
.18
330
Motor Trucks.
1
$8.00
1 80
10
40
$ .20
3
12.00
3
60
30
90
13
5
15.00
5
50
25
125
.12
10
18.00
10
38
19
190
.093/4
A ten-ton coal truck in the City of New York:
Average number of trips daily 8.88
Average number of tons delivered 93
Average number of miles travelled 32.33
Average cost of delivery
20c per ton
AVERAGE COST OF MOTOR COAL TRUCK.
Depreciation and interest
$6 17
Garage charges at $35 a month
1 17
Gasoline
1 95
Oil
56
Driver
3 39
Amoterization fund, tires and repairs
5 00
Total
$18 24
Tires last 7 1-2 months.
COST TO OPERATE THREE-TON TRUCK PER MONTH.
Driver
$75 00
Three helpers at $45 1
135 00
Gasoline bill
38 23
Oil and grease
5 40
Recharging storage battery
50
Repairs to steel tires 5 00
Tire depreciation
6 00
331
Interest on $2,500 at 6 per cent.
12 50
Depreciation at 20 per cent. a year
41 66
Painting
2 00
Total $321 00
Several locations at various parts of the city were sub- mitted to your commissioner and the two following loca- tions received the strongest support-your commissioner begs to submit them for the consideration of your Honor and the City Council-
The Johnson Lumber Co. Wharf.
The Faxon Wharf-Foot of River Street.
DESCRIPTION OF JOHNSON LUMBER CO. WHARF PROPERTY.
-
The principal features are as follows :
This wharf is located on Town River, at the head of navigation, and is the most central distributing point in the city for material received by water. It is also the most central receiving point for both rough and hammered stone from the quarries and stone sheds.
This wharf, having an area of about 153,000 square feet, exclusive of flat lands and dam and a frontage of approximately 900 lineal feet, is not built on meadow or marsh land, but is a solid gravel hill leveled off.
The property is enclosed with a stone wall costing $15,000.00. It also has buildings upon the same worth $10,000.00 ; also two water wheels valued at $1,000.00. The price put upon this property is $100,000.00. Deducting value of stone work, buildings and water wheels, leaves $74,000.00 for 153,000 feet of land (not including flats. dam and water rights of canal), making the cost per foot about 48 cents.
332
*
-
$Sc. TOWN -RIVER
WHARF
PILE
Land of Frank S.Patch
20
Abt 154000 Sq f (Not including flats and dam)
un Landof
Estake
20115 568'49€
E
-
- 582
0
Land of Mrs. Mariaf.Johnson.
SOUTHER PLACE
23.8
725.0 M 30 0
Land of Maria F. Johnson
STREET
7959 547
Land in Quincy. Mass.
POND
owned by Benjamin Johnson Scale 1 inch = 40 feet. May 20,1907.
Land of
Lemanda F Sweeney
ErnestwBranch, Civil Engineer. Ill &Tremont Building 21Adams Building Boston Quincy.
Magnetic Meridian
PLANM PLATE
Land of Henry M. Faxon
Plan of
56
CANAL NOVOE
Land of Frank S Patch
Maria F. Johnson
-CANAL --
333
Water rights, by the acquiring of which the lock sys- tem in present use could be abolished, thereby opening up the entire canal for wharf building purposes.
A bill has just been passed by both branches of the State Government and signed by the Governor appropria- ting $25,000.00 for dredging Town River; which means, when this work is completed, that vessels for a draft of seventeen (17) feet on ordinary tides and twenty (20) feet on some tides can be docked at this wharf.
An agreement can be made for a lease of five (5) years with privilege of five (5) years' renewal with thoroughly responsible parties for enough each year to pay the annual interest on the entire bond issue reserving of this property wharf frontage of 350 feet and a depth of 100 feet for the city's use.
BENJ. JOHNSON, Treas.
334
Copy
17 Battery Place, New York, Nov. 8th, 1911. Mr. Frank Fessenden Crane,
Com. of Waterfront, Waterways and Navigation and Harbor Master, Quincy, Mass.,
Dear Sir :---
In compliance with your personal invitation, I visited Quincy on November 4th and 5th and made a thorough in- spection of the waterfront from the Neponset River to the intersection of Hayward's Creek with Quincy Avenue, visiting the railroad power plant at Quincy Point wharf and the city light and power plant on Town River. I also visited the quarries and talked with represetative men in that business and also with electric railroad representatives relative to the problem of transporting granite to the waterfront.
My conclusion is that the City of Quincy would be fully warranted, if satisfactory arrangements for transpor- tation can be made with the electric railroad company, in providing facilities on the waterfront for the shipment of granite.
After seeing the entire waterfront I am of the opinion that the best location for the initial improvement would be the property commencing at what is known as Faxon Wharf and extending northeast along the channel to the city park. This property would have a frontage on the channel of about 1,200 feet and an average depth to Mound Street of about 600 feet. In my judgment the improvement should commence at Faxon Wharf and be extended down the channel as required. The permanent improvement should be in the nature of a substantial granite sea-wall along the channel. The development of one-half the length of this or 600 feet, with adequate handling facilities in connection with the railroad for delivering and receiving material, would be entirely sufficient to meet the require -. ments of the city for the next five years.
335
If the City of Quincy is sufficiently interested to go into the matter further, the next step would be to deter- mine upon the location, after which a preliminary design drawing showing the nature and extent of the improve- ment, should be made.
I have to thank you for your very kind entertainment in Quincy and request you to extend to the mayor and other officials of the city, my appreciation of the opportunity of becoming acquainted with them and the City of Quincy.
Sincerely yours,
(Signed) WILLIAM T. DONNELLY,
Copy
17 Battery Place, New York, January 24th, 1912.
Mr. Frank F. Crane,
Quincy, Mass.,
My dear Crane :---
Yours of January 18th and also clippings received. Regarding the approximate valuation of the Faxon prop- erty, it appeals to me as very reasonable, considering the improvement which it is contemplated to make.
Relative to the ownership of the railroad by the city or the Public Service Corporation, I regard the Public Service Corporation, when considered in relation to our Public Service Commissions (which have evidently came to stay), as being a very satisfactory institution. It seems to me that the Public Service Corporation can put in the railroad service cheaper than the city, as it would be put in to har- monize with the rest of their plans, while the city would have to antagonize the Public Service Corporation. The main thing to keep in view is getting a desirable improve- ment for Quincy at a minimum first cost, so that the result will be a successful and complete business project.
Generally speaking, I would recommend that the City
336
of Quincy keep to an independent development; that is, not to be too anxious to profit by the apparent large plans for the city and port of Boston. While the expenditures and benefits will undoubtedly be large, they are apt to be con- trolled by large financial interests which will see very little in the development of a point so far from the center of Boston.
Regarding the Grand Trunk matter, I spent a day in Montreal recently with Mr. Hays, lunching together at the Montreal Club, and talked very freely of New England affairs relative to the Grand Trunk, and I have hopes of your meeting Mr. Hays at New London next fall.
You will be pleased to know that all preliminaries have been completed and I am now engaged in putting out specifications for the Prince Rupert work. By the way, I am to build for Prince Rupert a 50-ton derrick, which I judge to be about what you require at Quincy.
I have laid out plans to spend one million dollars this year at Prince Rupert and about one and one-quarter mil- lions in 1913, which will complete the plant.
Sincerely yours,
(Signed) WILLIAM T. DONNELLY.
337
STATE OF CONNECTICUT.
1
Rivers, Harbors and Bridges Commission, Hartford, Conn., March 26, 1912.
Hon. Frank Fessenden Crane, Commissioner,
Quincy, Mass.
Dear Sir :- Referring to your favor of the 23rd inst., which has been referred to me for reply, would say that we have no printed proceedings of our Board, which is desig- nated City Dock Commission. At the present time I am a member of that commission, which has nothing to do with the State Commission whatsoever.
Dockage facilities here cover in all 4.3 acres, although the saxe is not fully developed. There is a two-level dock and warehouse built by the owners, and we have executed a lease of this property for five years from April 1st at an annual rental of $1250. The reason we have not condemned or purchased is that the company owning the property does not care to sell, and that the city has had so many heavy expenditures that it seemed better to let this matter rest, upon the basis upon which we are carrying it, for some little time; and then again, the probabilities are that another place for development will be at hand whereby it can be carried out upon a large scale. We expect this year that we will not be able to handle the business which is al- ready in sight.
No guarantee is required to encourage traffic except the fact that they are now beginning to learn on the sea- board that there are available, independent dockage facili- ties here. This has opened up the river to many indepen- dent craft, and I am daily having requests for use of the dock for handling bulk cargoes. At the present time no
338
steamboats use it, it being used principally by lumber schooners and for coal and other classes of shipments.
Trusting that this information will be of some use to you, I remain,
Yours very truly,
E. H. WARNER.
COMMISSIONER'S SUMMARY.
It is conceded by all eminent authorities that a public dock attains its highest degree of utility only when con- nected with a belt line railroad, but the present financial condi- tion of our city forbids our considering the building of a belt line railroad at present. The question of a regular line of steam lighters between Quincy and New York would be considered in this report, but for the decision of the Granite Manufacturers' Association,that they could not guarantee or underwrite any regular amount of freight between these points at this time. The question of methods of transpor- tation to and from the Public Dock are made simply matters of comment for the same reasons.
The question of the method and machinery for moving freight from the vessels to the dock must be left for the future consideration of the managers of the dock or until some business interests decide to use the Public Dock and make an application for either wharf space or freight hand- ling appliances for some specific purpose.
Your commissioner's report is therefore limited to the consideration of plans for location and type of the dock and the most economical way for the city to take the initial steps and acquire sufficient property for all future needs. I submit for your consideration two locations. The John- son Lumber Wharf property, with all its buildings, wharf
PLAN SHOWING LOCATION FOR PROPOSED PUBLIC DOCK QUINCY~MASS. Scale linch . 40 feet.
.
.
-
-
CHANNE.
BAY VIEW
FARNUM
GRAHAM
Mf 38000
ST.
ST.
STREET
ST
RIVER
STREET
RIVER
23500
Harry M Remy
103130
WASHINGTON
1
STREET
MOUND
STREET
STREET
AVENUE
BAXTER
CHARLES
C
STREET
.
SILVER
STREET
---
.
HILL
340
frontage, mill rights and large area fully described in this report by a letter from the Treasurer of the Johnson Lum- ber Co., Mr. Benj. Johnson, and valued at $100,000. The second location is the one advised by Mr. Wm. T. Don- nelly of New York, the consulting engineer of the Grand Trunk Railroad, his letters recommending the location and approving the price are both affixed. Also a letter from the Board of Rivers, Harbors and Bridges Commission of ; the State of Connecticut, who found it advisable to take up the project of a Public Dock in a very similar manner to the one I recommend to the City of Quincy.
The plan of the proposed land to be taken is shown in this report by hatched lines on a plan on page No 339 and comprises several lots of land and a wharf owned by Henry M. Faxon, Esq., and one lot of land owned by Ambrose LeLois. I recommend the purchase of the LeLois land and the leasing of the wharf and other lots for a period of not less than five or more than ten years. I also recom- mend as the plan of development, the building of a sub- stantial granite wall 200 feet long from Edwards Wharf along the channel to the eastward, and the dredging of a basin 200 feet square and 14 feet deep in front of said sea wall, the building of a railroad and roadway from Wash- ington street, starting at grade and going under Charles street to the Public. Dock and running along said dock its entire length at a suitable distance to admit of loading and unloading from vessels. Said railroad to connect with the Bay State Street R. R. tracks on Washington street and to be used in co-operation with said Bay State Street R. R. in bringing stone from either the quarries or the cutting and polishing yards at South Quincy.
Ample room for an office building on Washington street and spur tracks for extra cars are provided by this plan. The lands nearer the dock are well adapted to lease to lumber dealers or for any other business purpose. As soon as the city can be assured of a sufficient amount of
341
business to warrant the expenditure I recommend the erec- tion of a 50-ton derrick for the handling of granite or other commodities.
PROPOSITION FOR A PUBLIC DOCK FROM HENRY M. FAXON, ESQ.
Copy
Quincy, September 30, 1912.
Mr. Frank Fessenden Crane, Commissioner Water Front, Waterways and Navigation, Quincy, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir :- I have duly considered your invitation to submit a proposition to sell or lease the City of Quincy for municipal dock purposes under Chapter 713, Acts of 1911, or amendments or additions, any available wharf or water front properties or properties adjacent thereto I may own within the city limits.
Before complying with your request I must frankly state that I appeared before the Legislative Committee in opposition to the bill allowing the City to incur an indebt- edness of $100,000 for the purpose of municipal dock devel- opment, and I am still strongly of the opinion that it is most unwise for the city to thus enlarge the scope of its activities. With this explanation of my position I beg to submit the following :
I will lease to the City of Quincy for the term of ten years wharf situated on Town River at the foot of River Street .and the adjoining properties owned by me, shown on plan submitted herewith, designated on said plan as "Parcel A, containing 170,451 square feet", with flats per- taining thereto, at a yearly rental of one thousand (1000) dollars, payable in equal quarterly payments, all better-
342
ments, assessments and taxes to be paid by the lessee.
I will lease to the City of Quincy for the term of ten years "Parcel B" shown on said plan, containing 81,020 square feet, and "Parcel C" shown on said plan, containing 55,000 square feet more or less, at a yearly rental of five hundred (500) dollars, payable in equal quarterly pay- ments, all betterments, assessments and taxes to be paid by the lessee. The lessee to have the option to purchase Parcel A for thirty thousand (30,000) dollars at any time during the continuance of said lease, all the terms and pro- visions thereof on the part of the lessee having been com- plied with, and to purchase Parcels B and C for fifteen thousand (15,000) dollars at any time during the continu- ance of said lease, all the terms and provisions thereof on the part of the lessee having been complied with.
The City of Quincy to have the right to cancel either lease upon the expiration of five years from the beginning of its term. Upon the termination of either lease all build- ings, wharves, docks and improvements of any kind made during the term of such lease shall become the absolute property of the lessor without obligation to pay for the same. This offer to remain open until March 1st, 1913.
Yours very truly, HENRY M. FAXON.
IN CONCLUSION.
I respectfully urge the leasing of this property for ten years. You will note there is no charge made for the beach and flats adjacent to and appertaining to this prop- erty. The gravel banks on the land will be ample for all fill used that may be needed. Every foot of the land offered is available for business purposes. The easy access of the electric freight railroad in the rear of the house lots front-
343
ing on River street, with ample room for side tracks, with- out detracting from the beauty of the residential section, should be considered. The width of the river at this point I consider to be of especial advantage for future de- velopment, as there is ample room for the largest passenger or freight carrying steamers to dock at this point if proper- ly dredged berths and approaches are provided.
I also recommend the introduction of a bill in the Massachusetts State Legislature, giving the Mayor the power to appoint three dock commissioners, who shall have entire charge of all funds for building and development, and the control of the municipal dock, its rates of wharf- age, receipts, control and management of its railway, the leasing of its lands, and all other matters in any way con- nected with its management; said commissioners to be appointed for not less than five years.
Respectfully submitted, To His Honor, Mayor Eugene R. Stone, and the City Council. FRANK FESSENDEN CRANE, Commissioner of Water Fronts, Water Ways and Navigation, City of Quincy.
344
BLACKER & SHEPARD COMPANY.
To Frank Fessenden Crane, Commissioner of Waterfront, Waterways & Navigation of the City of Quincy.
Dear Sir :
Should the City of Quincy establish a Public Dock I beg to advise you that our firm would like to be considered as a possible customer for the leasing of space for wharf- age and storage purposes providing of course that you have a berth for good sized lumber vessels at low water. We would be willing to pay a good fair rental and give a guarantee bond for the payment of the same to the City.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) BLACKER & SHEPARD CO.
A similar letter was received from John J. Gallagher, Manufacturers' Agent, Importer and Wholesaler in Granite and Marble Polishers' Supplies, etc., and the CITIZENS GAS LIGHT COMPANY, of Quincy.
The Commissioner of Public Works reports that he ships annually 400 tons of water pipe, and if this dock were established he could save $1.50 per ton on his freight.
Owing to the belated action of the City Council in its appointment of a committee no definite action could be taken by the Committee appointed to consider locations for a site in 1912, and the dock is referred to the Council of 1913 for future action.
345
NEW PUBLIC LANDINGS.
This office recommends the purchase of two more sites. for Public Landings, one at Squantum near the Post-Office and one at a short distance below Post Island on the Houghs Neck Road. These recommendations are in the- hands of the City Council for 1913 for future references.
BELT LINE RAILROAD.
We. should interest ourselves as a city in the estab- lishment of a railway line from the Fore River R. R. Ter- minal at Quincy Point, around the water-front of Quincy Town River, and across to Atlantic with the West Quincy & East Milton Branch of the N. Y., N. H. & H., and the Granite Railway running down the incline from the Quar- ries.
The prospects of a railroad line from Neponset to the New Dock at South Boston, a railroad line as suggested with the addition of terminals where the electric freight could unite its forces with the Steam Railroad, Quincy would have facilities for large industries second to none in the Country.
That such a railroad would pay is a foregone conclu- sion. Land on the marshes at South Boston is today held at $3.00 per foot where it can be reached by a spur track.
Several large tracts of land have recently been pur- chased, which border on Town River, and this office earn- estly recommends prompt action in the selection of a site for the Municipal Dock.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK FESSENDEN CRANE,
Commissioner.
347
Assessors' Report
To His Honor, the Mayor of the City of Quincy :
We herewith submit our annual report for the year 1912.
Warrants received and amounts raised for the current ex- penses by the assessment of taxes in the City of Quincy, for the financial year commencing January 1, 1912, were as fol- lows :
A state warrant for the proportion of the City of Quincy $49,375 00
A County warrant for the proportion of the City of Quincy of a County tax of $200,000
21,996 38
By the provisions of Chapter 488 of the Acts of the year 1895, entitled "An act to provide for a Metropolitan Water Supply"; Chapter 453 of the Acts of the year 1901, entitled "An Act to provide for additional Metro- politan Water Loan", we have been assessed for the year 1912
Of this amount $12,221 95 is to meet the requirements of the sinking fund established under said chapter ; $34,066 47 is to pay interest and
54,558 24
348
$8,047 32 is on account of the cost of maintenance and operation for the year 1912.
By the provisions of Chapter 406 of the Acts of the year 1895, entitled "An Act to provide for a system of sewerage disposal for the Neponset River Valley" and Chapter 424 of the Acts of the year 1899, entitled "An Act to provide for the construc- tion of a high level gravity sewer for the relief of the Charles and Nepon- set River Valleys," we have been assessed
Of this amount $3,782 97 is to meet the requirements of the sinking fund established under said chapter, $16,305 84 is to pay interest, and $9,855 23 is on account of the cost of maintenance and operation for the year 1912.
In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 407 of the Acts of the year 1893, entitled "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 Boule- vards", and Chapter 464 of the Acts of the year 1899, entitled "An Act to authorize the Metropolitan Park Commission to take, control and manage Nantasket Beach and adja- cent lands and waters," we have been assessed 21,503 81
29,944 04
349
«Of this amount $3,048 20 is to meet the requirements of the sinking fund established under said chapter, $8,834 14 is to pay interest and $9,581 60 is on account of the cost of maintenance and operation for the year 1912.
In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 465 of the Acts of the year 1903, entitled "An Act to authorize the construction of a dam across the Charles River between the cities of Boston and Cambridge and all acts in addition and amendment thereof, we have been assessed in addition to the amount to be assessed for the State Tax, the sum of
2,373 65
Of this amount $93 84 is to meet the requirements for maturing serial bonds ; $1,296 16 is to pay interest, and $983 65 is on account of the cost of maintenance and operation for the year 1912.
In pursuance of the provisions of Sec- tion 16, Chapter 47 of the Revised Laws (State Highway Tax), we have been assessed 133 50
Amount raised for municipal current expenses, based on the valuation of
December 31, 1911, at $12 per $1000 413,110 93
City sewer, less receipts
36,300 50
City Debt
157,643 00
Interest city debt
27,960 01
Street improvement debt 3,300 00
Interest street improvement debt
2,275 50
350
Park debt Interest park debt
2,000 00 960 00
Interest temporary loans
15,000 00
Aggregate of amount $658,549 94
10,703 polls at $2 00 each, were re- corded for assessment and included in the estimate that determined the rate of taxation for the current year
$21,406 00
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.