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 1913 > Part 9
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TESTING AND SEALING. Inside or Office Work-No fee charged.
Scales testcd and found correct
130
Scales tested and condemned
15
Weights tested and found correct
23
Weights tested and condemned
None
Liquid measures tested and found correct
83
Liquid measures tested and condemned
3
Yard sticks tested and found correct
4
Yard sticks tested and found condemned
None
Total
258
Outside . Work-Fces Charged.
Scales tested, 5000 to 80,000 lbs.
27
Platform scales tested under 5000 lbs.
190
Computed scales tested
72
Spring Balances tosted
221
Counter balances tested
230
Slot Weighing machines tested
25
Total number of scales tested
765
Scales tested and found correct
700
Scales tested and adjusted
14
Scales tested and condemned
51
Total number of scales tested
765
Weights tested and found correct
1480
Weights tested light and adjusted
192
Weights tested heavy and adjusted
19
Weights tested and condemned
3
Total number of weights tested
1694
Dry measures tested and found correct
25
Dry measures tested and condenined
None
Total number of dry measures tosted Liquid measures tested and found correct Liquid measures tested and condemned
99
Total number of liquid measures tested
440
Linear measures tested and found correct
79
Linear measures tested and condemned
9
Total number of linear measures tested Total 3012
88
Amount received in fees and paid in City Treasurer .
$235.98
Number of Inspections Made.
Coal-reweighing while in transit 22
Coal -- reweighing in bags of less than 100 lbs. 84
Inspections in stores after scales had been tested 715
Inspections of weights used by pedlars 109
Inspections of weights used by ice men 49
Inspections of weights s'ven by ice men
57
Inspection of milk jars bearing Mass. seal
12,132
25
341
142
Inspections of junk dealers' scales Inspections of coal teams for certificates Total number of inspections Appropriations for 1913
34
21
13,503
325.00
Expenditures.
Bay State St. Ry., tickets
$5.00
Nathan Ames, hardware supplies
.35
Geo. W. Prescott, Pub. Co., Adv. notice
3.75
Quincy Bulletin, Adv. notice
2.00
W. & L. E. Gurley, Sealers' Supplies
2.56
Fred F. Green, Advertiser Adv. notice
5.63
Nathan Ames, supplies
2.97
J. F. Morrissey, labor one day
2.00
Dept. Public Works, team hire
39.25
Nathan Ames, supplies
.20
Dept. Public Works. team hire
40.75
W. & L. E. Gurley, supplies, lead seals
.88
Nathan Ames, supplies
.25
W. Falvey, labor, one day
2.00
Bay State St. Ry., tickets
5.00
C. A. Penley, clerical work
10.00
Geo. W. Prescott, printing
11.00
Bruce & Warner, team hire
27.50
Geo. W. Prescott Pub. Co., printing
6.75
Bruce & Warner, team hire
10.00
Bruce & Warner, expressage
.15
Chadwick & Carr, new ice scales
2.00
W. A. Greenough, City directory
3.00
C. F. Pettingill, glass
1.00
Bay State St. Ry., expressage
.15
Fairbanks Scale Co., supplies
.55
Dept. Public Works, team hire
77.25
Bay State St. Ry., tickets
5.00
Geo. A. Newall, tool chest
5.75
Bruce & Warner, team hire
2.50
William Westland, supplies
.85
Dept. Public Works, team hire
24.00
U. S. Post Office, supplies
2.00
W. & L. F. Gurley, Sealers' supplies
15.74
Total expenditures
$317.78
Balance
$7.22
Court Cases.
Nature of offense
Results
Fines
Dry measure instead or by weight
Conviction
5.00
Dry measure instead of by weight
Conviction
10.00
.
143
Dry measure instead of by weight
Conviction
10.00
Unsealed scales
Conviction
10.00
Short weight
Conviction
15.00
Short weight
Conviction
5.00
Short weight
Conviction
5.00
Short weight
Placed on file
5.00
Refusing to sell ice
Placed on file
5.00
Dry measure instead of by weight
Conviction
10.00
Short weight
Dismissed
Total amount paid in fines
$80.00
JAMES M. CANTFILL,
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
144
Report of Dock and Water Front Commssioner
The City of Quincy received and shipped by water from Jan. 1st, 1913 to Jan. 1st, 1914, 158,560 tons of freight, 18,224 tons morc than in 1912. There were 36S vessels arrived and departed from Quincy docks including steamers, tugs and barges, 118 more than in 1912. They carried in part:
124,240 tons of coal
5,500 tons of granite
5,000,000 feet of lumber
750 tons of boilers
1,869,000 laths
535 tons of sand
25,000 tons broken stone
335 tons of miscellaneous
There were 354 yachts, steamers and power boats arrived and departed from the Quincy yards on Town River in 1913; viz., The Baker Yacht Basin, Hanleys, Portelows, Spragues and Damons, 11 more than in 1912.
We received 1,000 tons of granite and shipped 4500 tons mak- ing a total of. 5500 tons.
QUINCY POINT BRIDGE.
This bridge is still receiving favorable comments on its con- struction and the efficiency of its draw which is worked by electric power. 1025 vessels passed through in 1913, 25 more than in 1912. Your Commissioner recommends a larger light in the middle of the draw span; also that the telephone service be improved in the following manner: that the service be changed to what is called both sides of a two party line. This would entail a cost of about eleven dollars a year more than the present service, but would connect the drawtenders residence as well as the bridge and in- crease his efficiency by making him accessible by telephone at all hours of the night as well as by day. This small addition would make the draw service as near perfection as it is possible to be made. This improvement should be made at once in order that the Police, or Fire Department, or the Fore River Shipbuilding Com- pany may be able to reach the draw tender at any hour day or night.
This is a long bridge and while the lights required by the U. S. Government have been placed in position the bridge should be lighted its entire length, as well as similar bridges are lighted in Boston.
The work on the 18 font channel of Weymouth Fore River has been completed. Channel rock has been removed and we have at present a good 18 foot channel to our docks at Quincy Point.
145
The U. S. Engineers were asked to make a survey for a 24 ft. channel and also that the channel on the east side of the draw be straightened and deepened. Your Commissioner appeared before the Board of Engineers at Washington, D. C. and spoke in favor of the survey being made. The survey was finally ordered and has been completed and the report forwarded to Washington. Your Commissioner hopes for a favorable report advising both the in- crease of the channel to 24 feet and the improvement of the east passage in the Quincy Point draw.
THE DIRECTORS OF THE PORT.
Quincy has been used very handsomely by the Directors of the Port. We asked for ten thousand dollars for a channel and basin at Houghs Neck and were allowed eight thousand; on the recom- mendation of Mr. Hodgdon, Chief of the engineering staff, this was increased to $11,000 and we have today an eight foot channel to the steamboat wharf and public landing, 60 feet wide at the bottom and from eighty to eighty-five at the top, an elegant basin at the public landing 150x300 feet with a depth of 6 feet at mean low water. This necessitated an excavation of 37,207 cubic yards. These im- provements by the Port Directors have increased the value of the land purchased for the public landing for two hundred dollars more than eight hundred per cent, and the City should extend a vote of thanks to the Directors of the Port for their prompt action and generous appropriation for the Houghs Neck channel and basin.
The City has today in the hands of the Directors of the Port an appropriation for Quincy Town River, under Acts and Resolves of 1912, Chap. 130 Folio 697 .Resolve: Authorizing the Directors of the Port of Boston to widen, deepen and straighten the channel of Town River in the City of Quincy.
Resolved : That the Directors of the Port of Boston are hereby authorized and directed to widen, deepen and straighten the present channel in Town River, in the City of Quincy, from the Baker Yacht Basin to a point near Johnson's lumber wharf. For this purpose the said Directors may expend a sum not exceeding twenty- five thousand dollars, to be paid out of the Commonwealth Flats Improvement Fund provided that the directors are satisfied that the City of Quincy will build a municipal dock of proper proportion and capacity, and properly located. Approved May 29, 1912.
A careful reading of this resolve should convince the citizens that an immediate expenditure of a large sum is not necessary to secure this $25.000 for the channel on Quincy Town River. This office has recommended three public landing places in addition to the one now owned by the City at Houghs Neck; one at Dorchester St. Squantum consisting of a pile wharf platform and a strip of beach and flats 50 feet wide, at a cost of only $800. The second on Sea street opposite the Peterson land at a cost of $1000. The third
146
to consist of a float and run at the Quincy Point bath house. There is no question as to the needs of these landing places for the safety and convenience of our citizens. I earnestly urge that these land- ings be established the coming year. As a matter of investment these locations will pay 100 per cent in five years.
PERSONAL WORK OF THE COMMISSIONER.
The Water Front Commissioner attended all hearings before Committees of the State Legislature which related to Quincy's Water Front; also several hearings before the Harbors and Public Lands Commission and the Directors of the Port. He represented the City at a special hearing before the U. S. Engineers in an im- proved channel for Boston, by order of the Mayor. Your Commis- sioner made a detailed report on the power dam at the entrance to the old canal to the U. S. District Engineer's office. He represented the City by order of the Mayor, and the State of Massachusetts by order of the Governor at the Convention of the Atlantic Deeper Water Ways at Jacksonville, Florida, and the National Rivers and Harbors Congress at Washington, D. C.
FRANK FESSENDEN CRANE,
Commissioner.
147
Assessors' Report
Warrants received and amounts raised for the current expen- ses by the assessment of taxes in the City of Quincy, for the finan- cial year commencing January 1, 1913, were as follows:
A state warrant for the proportion of Quincy $62,400.00
A County warrant for the proportion of Quincy of a County tax of $250.000 26,139.41
By the provisions of Chapter 488 of the Acts of the year 1895, entitled "An act to provide for a Metropoli- tan Water Supply:" Chanter 453 of the Acts of the year 1901, entitled "An Act to provide for additional Metro- politan Water Loan" We were assessed for
Of this amount $11,899.34 is to meet the require- ments of the sinking fund established under said chap- ter; $33,509.15 is to pay interest and $9,875.74 is on ac- count of the cost of maintenance and operation.
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 construction of a high level grav- ity sewer for the relief of the Charles and Neponset River Valleys," we have been assessed
Of this amount $3,938.62 is to meet the requirements of the sinking fund established under said chapter, $16,194.90 is to pay interest, and $9,814.56 is on account of the cost of maintenance and operation.
In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 407 of the Acts of the year 1893, entitled "An Act to estab- lish 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 Metropolitan Park Commission to take control and manage Nantasket Beach and adjacent lands and waters," we have been assessed
Of this amount $3,001.01 is to meet the require- ments of the sinking fund established under said chap- ter, $8,977.64 is to pay interest, and $11,246.40 is on ac- count of the cost of maintenance and operation.
In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 465 of the Acts of the year 1903, entitled "An Act to au- thorize the construction of a dam across the Charles River between the cities of Boston and Cambridge
55,519.02
29,948.08
23,343.79
148
and all acts in addition and amendment thereof, we have been assessed in addition to the amount to be as- sessed for the State Tax, the sum of
Of this amount $93,84 is to meet the requirements for maturing serial bonds; $1,276.73 is to pay inter- est, and $1,599.34 is on account of the cost of mainten- ance and operation.
In pursuance of the provisions of Section 16, Chap- ter 47 of the Revised Laws (State Highway Tax), we have been assessed
133.50
In accordance with provisions of Chapter 598 of the Acts of the year 1910, entitled "An Act relative to the auditing by the Director of the Bureau of Statistics of municipal accounts", and any and all acts in addi- tion and amendment thereto, you are, in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, required to as- sess, in addition to the amount to be assessed for the State Tax, the sum of
Amount raised for municipal current expenses, based on the valuation of December 31, 1912, at $12 per $1,000
422,637.43
City sewer, less receipts
City debt
Interest city debt
7,300.00
Interest street improvement debt
2,840.00
Park debt
2,000.00
Interest park debt
Interest temporary loans
880.00 17,000.00 $681,059.40
Aggregate of amount
10,883 polls at $2.00 each, were recorded for as- sessment and included in the estimate that determined the rate of taxation
$21,766.00
An additional assessment of 223 polls which was omitted at the annual assessment of taxes was made December 20, 1913, making the number assessed 11,- 106, excluding 69, which are exempt under provisions of Chapter 367, Acts of 1907. To which was added for overlay, as provided in Chapter 12, Section 55, R. L.
7,063.80
SUMMARY OF AMOUNT COMMITTED TO THE ASSESSORS.
Appropriation order
$422,637.43
Debts and interest 221,138.86
Water debt, maintenance and interest
124,903.84
Sewer debt, maintenance and interest
56,746.50*
Metropolitan water assessment
55,519.02
State tax
62,400.00
County tax
26,139.41
South Metropolitan sewer assessment
29,948.08
2,969.91
2,053.03
37,283.11 162,676.46 28,442.40
Street improvement debt
149
Metropolitan Park assessment
23.343.09
133.50
State Highway tax Charles River Basin tax State Statistics
2,969.91
2,053.03
Total
$1,027,932.67
VALUATION
The valuation of the city April 1, 1913, as deter- mined by the assessors, is as follows: Value of land
$13,203,025.00
Value of buildings
17,330,600.00
Total $30,533,625.00
Exemptions as provided in clauses 9 and
10, Section 5, Chapter 490, R. L. also
Chapter 367, Acts 1907,
$177,300.00
Total value of real estate subect to taxation
$30,356,325.00
Valuation of personal property other than
bank stock separately assessed
$6,166,875.00
Valuation of National Banks located in and
taxable in the City of Quincy
87,360.00
$6,254,235.00
$36,610.560.00 $23.70
Tax rate
Taxes levied on property, polls, personal and real estate
$869,286.51
The valuation was also increased by assessments under provisions of Section 85. Chapter 12. R. L. 476.775.00
The total valuation of the city upon which taxes were assessed for the year 1913, when all assessments were made, was 37,087,335.00
A net gain over 1912 valuation of
1,611,940.00
VALUATION BY WARDS.
(Not including valuation of bank stock.)
Ward 1
$2,918,075.00
$9,025,675.00
$11,943,750.00
Ward 2
1,478,750.00
4,294,625.00
5.773,375.00
Ward 2
442,450.00
3,179,875.00
3,622,325.00
Ward 4
341,650.00
2,530,325.00
2,871,975.00
Ward 5
740,275.00
6,550,950.00
7,291,225.00
Ward 6
245,675.00
4,774,875.00
5,020,550.00
$6,166,875.00
$30,356,325.00
$36,523,200.00
150
SEWER ASSESSMENTS.
Main sewer apportionments
$7,124.69
Interest on Main sewer apportionments
1,773.38
Particular sewer assessments apportioned and otherwise
3,531.14
Interest on same
460.30
Sidewalk assessments, apportioned
223.13
Interest on same 97.69
Street betterment assessments, apportioned
1,251.53
Interest on same
460.36
STREET WATERING.
Street watering assessments committed by the Commissioner of public works, in accordance with
City Council order No. 125. passed April 21, 1913, $5,549.76
SUPPRESSION OF GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS.
In accordance with Chapter 381, Acts 1905, as amended by Chapter 268, Acts 1906, and Chapter 521,
Acts 1907, the commitment of the Commissioner of Public Works amounted to $1,130.40
SUMMARY FROM TABLE OF AGGREGATES.
Resident property owners
,6,478
Non-resident property owners
2,833
Poll tax only
9,047
Number of horses assessed
1,065
Number of cows and neat cattle
676
Number of swine
6
Number of dwelling houses
7,397
Number of acres of land
6,667
VALUATION OF PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM TAXATION.
Literary
$327,298.89
Benevolent 674,130.08
Religious 411,525.00
City of Quincy, real estate and fire apparatus 1,412,953.97
The Assistant Assessors who served during the year were: Fran- cis Curtis. Ward 1, Charles B. Yule, Ward 2, August N. Weeden. Ward 3, Louis K. Badger, Ward 4. Charles R. Sherman, Ward 5, Al- bion R. Mackay, Ward 6.
The polls returned by the assistant assessors and those regis- tered for the year. amounted to 11,175, made up as follows:
151
Prec. 1
Prec. 2
Total
Ward 1
884
1276
2160
Ward 2
899
1003
1902
Ward 3
1039
1022
2061
Ward 4
718
1013
1731
Ward 5
933
865
1798
Ward 6
838
685
1523
The personal property consisting of horses, carriages and cows, assessed by the assistant assessors, is as follows:
Ward 1, $202,050, Ward 2, $51,975, Ward 3, $66,825, Ward 4, $58.825 Ward 5, $123,250, Ward 6, $43,775-$555,700.
The number of dogs returned by the assistant follows:
assessors, is as
1
2
3
4
5
6 166
Total
Male
183
121
126
188
146
930
Female
28
9
4
27
23
31
122
Kennel
1
2
3
During the year the Commissioner of Public Works has notified the assessors of 239 apportioned main sewers, and 397 particular sewer assessments. The total number of individual accounts kept in this office is as follows:
Main sewer assessments
1,733
Particular sewer assessments
595
Street sprinkling
3,203
Sidewalk Assessments
66
Street betterment assessments
206
Gypsy and brown tail moths
671
The work of the office has increased to such an extent that
we were obliged to employ an extra clerk most of the time during the year, and recommend an extra clerk be added to the office force.
WARREN W. ADAMS,
WELLINGTON W. MITCHELL,
EBEN STOCKER.
Assessors of the City of Quincy.
152
Report of Inspector of Animals
The diseases for which inspection is made and which are found in Quincy are: glanders in horses, cholera in pigs, rabies in dogs, and tuberculosis in cattle and pigs.
PIGS. The number of pigs in Quincy decreases year by year. A very few years ago, many families kept one or two pigs fed on table refuse and in the fall. put down a barrel of pork and hung up the hams and shoulders for winter use. This was a big cut into the high cost of living. The great amount of cholera in the West and its terrific mortality has more than doubled the price of pork. For several years there has been no licensed slaughter house in Quincy and pigs have to be killed on the premises or taken out of town. There were no cases of cholera in pigs reported in Quincy last year.
DOGS. Quincy shared with other cities in the state in rabies or hydrophobia in dogs. Two people were bitten and took treat- ment. Four cows died from bites while two treated cows and one treated horse did not succumb. Fifteen dogs with rabies were killed and quite a number of bitten dogs were destroyed to prevent danger.
HORSES. In spite of watchfulness. we have had too much glanders. Kansas City practically eradicated glanders by closing its fountains Boston has followed suit. Quincy did so but new cas- es creep in from outside. To one Quincy stable, a dealer's, five cases can be traced. Two of these came from out of town and probably with the disease. I cannot suspect that this man knew he had such a trouble to deal with. This shows how difficult it is to know a horse has the disease before he spreads it to others. A dirty nose, a big leg. or small sores on a horse should make one sus- pect glanders. Quincy lost twenty horses from glanders in 1913. Five suspected horses proved not to have the disease.
COWS. The cows now kept in the city are a better and more profitable lot than formerly. The cows and stables are kept cleaner. Four cows were condemned for tuberculosis. The own- ers of six were given permits to kill slightly diseased cows, and one suspected cow turned out not to have the disease. As suggested each previous year. I repeat; it would be well for mothers to see where their children's milk comes from. Remember that scarlet fever, diphtheria and typhoid never come from the cow, but are add- ed to the milk afterwards, so that cleanliness in handling counts for much. Heating the milk in a double boiler from boiling water will help remedy contagion from careless handling. Most car milk has been heated before bottling and keeps better than fresh milk.
The compacting of dwellings in the city forces the cows into the more open or out of town localities.
FRANCIS ABELE, Jr.
-
153
Report of Park Commissioners
The sum of $2,500 was appropriated for the use of this Board, but we find this amount inadequate to meet the rapidly growing de- mands made upon this department. No extraordinary improvements were undertaken and the ordinary expenditures required to main- tain the parks and playgrounds exhausted the appropriation before the season closed. New apparatus will be required for the super- vised playgrounds the coming year, and a dressing room for the dir- ferent athletic organizations is urgently demanded at Merrymount Park.
1 MERRYMOUNT PARK.
Extraordinary efforts were required this year to destroy the moth nests which infested the park, and all other work was aban- doned until this was accomplished. With the assistance of the City Forester our efforts were extremely successful and there was no noticeable destruction of foliage either here or at Faxon Park.
The young plantations of spruce and pine should be thinned out and replanted, but lack of funds prohibited our attempting the work this year. Requests for picnic privileges are becoming more and more numerous, and we question the wisdom of permitting pic- nics to be held in this park. We believe they seriously interfere
with the rights and pleasures of citizens visiting the park. and the resulting damage requires the constant attention of our limited la- bor force. No permits should be issued to societies inviting out of town guests. Merrymount Field provides facilities for track and football teams that will undoubtedly grow in popularity. Seats for spectators and a dressing room should be provided to make this ideal athletic field complete.
SAFFORD PARK.
With the assistance of public spirited citizens of Wollaston the old schoolhouse lot was graded, walks built and shrubbery planted. With proper care and attention in the future, Safford Park should be an attractive feature of the community.
SUPERVISED PLAYGROUNDS.
The popularity of the supervised playgrounds requires an in- creasing proportion of our appropriation to provide apparatus and supervisors. An additional supervisor was placed at the Ward Three Playground this year, and to properly care for the large at-
154
tendance from this thickly settled locality, the force should be in- creased to four. We urge the enforcement of the new regulation of the Board of Health prohibiting the dumping of polishing material in the brook above this playground. Making a sewer of what should be an attractive feature cannot be too strongly condemnea. Owing to outside influence we believe. the attendance at the Ward Four Playground was not as large as the previous year. It seemed to us that we were not obtaining the best results for the money ex- pended, and we seriously considered the advisability of abandoning the work here and taking over the plant of the Y. M. C. A. at Ward Two in the Washington school yard. This is a central location in a . thickly settled neighborhood, and we believe the money expended here would serve a much larger and more enthusiastic attendance. The annual Field Day was held at the Ward Three Playground, the Mayor, public officials and citizens attending. Over 1,000 children took part in the march and sports, and the championship prizes were presented by the Mayor.
BATH HOUSE.
This popular institution completed the usual successful season without any accidents of a serious nature, and with a record at- tendance. On days of temperature above the average the facilities are utterly inadequate, but until the financial condition of the city improves, we do not recommend any enlargement.
Board of Park Commissioners,
GEORGE E. PFAFFMANN, Chairman, THOMAS L. WILLIAMS, IRA M WHITTEMORE.
155
Report of Board of Health
The organization of the Board of Health was as follows: Wil- liam H. Teasdale, chairman, Fred E. Jones, M. D., secretary, James Thomas.
The Inspectors of the Board were: Edward J. Lennon, sanitary inspector, J. J. Keniley, inspector of plumbing, James F. Allan, in- spector of meats and provisions, Daniel Scouler, Jr., inspector of milk, Francis Abele, Jr., V. S., inspector of slaughtering, James F. Allan, inspector of slaughtering.
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