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 1954 > Part 2
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present tax rates, amortize the cost of this investment in less than five years. This program has stimulated new in- dustry and business and together with the expanded commercial activity provided well over 3000 new jobs in Quincy during the past four years. The combined value of this program can be indicated in part by the fact that our industrial payrolls had increased from some $50,000,000 in 1949 to approximately $140,000,000 in 1952. This, when related to the individual shows that per family income which was $4,814.00 in 1950 had grown by more than 43% to $6,883.00 in 1953. Had this growth been characteristic in our neighboring cities and towns or our sister cities, it would not have been significant of anything but the times, but since many of our competitive sister cities experienced decline during this same period to such a point that some of them have been declared distressed areas, it indicates that we have been outstandingly successful in our efforts to stabilize our community and its economy, and stim- ulate growth.
The Quincy of today, in contrast to the Quincy of 1949, is a vibrant, growing, progressive community looked on with respect by the rest of the commonwealth and the nation, attractive to newcomers, whether they be residential, com- mercial, or industrial in character, and looked up to for leadership in the field of public service.
The credit for these accomplishments belongs largely to the City Council, who has had the courage to recognize the desires and requirements of the greatest number of people, and to establish policies which would insure the fair and equi- table expenditure of public funds for the greatest good of the greatest number. No small part of the credit is due to the very skillful and faithful services rendered by the majority of the employees group who have, during the past five years, welcomed and profited by the programs of in-service training, participation in professional conferences and cooperative effort made available to them by the Council-Manager form of government.
The city faces an era of rising budgets and rising tax rates, largely the product of factors completely beyond the control of the City Council and the administrative staff. The growing number of automobiles trying to utilize our inadequate streets are rapidly forcing us toward a com- plete re-alignment of our highway system. With the national economy at its present level, the predictions of the automo- bile manufacturers as to the added number of cars in the hands of private individuals by 1960 will likely be borne out. In light of our inadequate knowledge of the effect of this in- creased motor vehicle registration on our own streets, it is impossible to predict with any reasonable accuracy the scope of this highway problem.
The anticipated increases in school enrollment will cause a steady increase in school budgetary requirements for at least five years. We are fearful that the Commonwealth will divert even more income tax revenues (which were formerly distributed to cities and towns as general revenue) into grants-in-aid for school construction without adopting a sub- stitute method of raising state funds for purposes such as this. This practice has already caused a substantial decline of our state-shared taxes and in 1955 will pose quite a
serious fiscal problem.
The continuing liberalization by the General Court of the pension and retirement laws will cause public expenditures for these purposes to rise rapidly during the next few years. Unless some unforeseen reversal of policy occurs we may expect this item to become one of the major expenditure items in municipal budgets by 1965.
In order to minimize, and if possible, reduce the tax load on residential property, it is essential that several very important steps be undertaken as quickly as possible: The first and the most important of these which may be expected to provide the greatest relief to residential taxpayers, is the adoption by the Council of a plan for the engineering equalization of assess- ments. It is the conclusion of the Assessors and myself, as it was of Commissioner Long, that such an equalization program would uncover and place upon the assessment rolls at least $20,000,000 worth of assess- able valuation now being omitted and missed.
"A second urgent program involves the examination of the specialized services which we render to special classes of the population, and for which inadequate or no fees are charged. A re-examination of these services in light of their general benefit and the levying of a fee to recover the cost of supplying them would raise a substantial sum of additional revenue for the municipality, and relieve the residential tax- payer of a cost for which he does not now benefit.
A third and equally essential project which should be undertaken is one designed to protect and preserve the available land areas suitable for industrial or commercial development; with a companion program designed to stimulate the utilization of this prop- erty by commercial and industrial activities which will provide additional job opportunities for our people and increased tax revenues while imposing a minimum expenditure in the way of public services.
Unless such a coordinated plan, such as outlined, is undertaken, the tax levies to support local government will become more and more confiscatory, inequitable, and unfair to many taxpayers and particularly those of limited income. While we have made very definite strides in this direction, the biggest portion of the job still lies ahead. It is a job demanding the fullest measure of cooperation between the city government and the other elements of our community life. The machinery for-this has been developed to a very high degree during the past five years and stands as a willing tool for the further advancement of the City of Quincy.
Respectfully submitted,
Wm. J. Deegan, Jr. City Manager
THIS IS HOW YOUR TAX DOLLAR WAS SPENT IN 1954
O
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
3.
PEST CONTROL
.036
MISCELLANEOUS
.11
.165
PUBLIC SAFETY
COLLECTOR
,09
103
5.
ATE-COUNTY
SOCIAL SERVICE
.337
135
024
AV
EDUCATION
PUBLIC WORKS
PUBLIC SERVICE
Annual Report
17
A CITY MATURES By JOHN P. FLAVIN President, Quincy Chamber of Commerce
The year 1954 proved that Quincy's Prosperity rested on a solid bed-rock foundation.
During the past five years 25 new industries and 28 new retail stores, creating 2334 new jobs, came to Quincy. Increased activity in industries already established added 500 more new jobs. Increased retail business, stimulated by Quincy's nationally famous off-street parking facilities, created 448 additional jobs.
Total new jobs in five-year period: 3282.
Quincy's economy, strengthened by this broadened base, met a crucial test in 1954 when the city's biggest single industry, the great Fore River shipyard, found its personnel within a period of a year or two shrinking drastically. However, offsetting to a large extent this tremendous drop in personnel in the city's biggest basic industry - a drop that would have been of far more serious import a few years ago - was this new and diversified expanding economy composed of many 20th Century enterprises such as electronics, plastics, metal fabrication and the manufacture of articles some of which were un- known a decade back.
Quincy and the South Shore still look upon shipbuilding as the greatest single basic industry in this arca: and, experienced with the cyclic character of this activity, are confident of its ultimate revival. However, the realization that Quincy's economic foundation is so broadened that it can absorb the impact of a sharp drop in employment in its biggest industry gives the community a comforting sense of security heretofore unwarranted.
During 1954 the Commonwealth announced important changes in major highways that will enhance the growth of Quincy and the South Shore. The new Southeast Expressway will expedite transportation to the Cape and greatly reduce vehicular traffic in Quincy streets. The Quarry Street access from the Expressway to Quincy's business center will facilitate the movement of traffic in and out of the retail area.
Route 128 will be re-routed to connect with the Southcast Expressway at the Braintree-Quincy linc. This is probably one of the most significant improvements to Quincy's transportation needs.
A project to improve Wollaston Beach was initiated in 1954. This is a cooperative arrangement between the Federal Government. the State and the Metropolitan District Commission. Such a project represents the start of a long-range program to reclaim the beauty and attractiveness of Quincy's fine beaches and waterfront.
Prospects for dredging Town River and Fore River were considered good as the year closed. with pressure being exerted on both federal and state governments to provide the necessary funds. Material- ization of the two dredging projects would open up deepwater sites in Broad Meadows for potential commercial and industrial development that could produce millions of dollars in additional taxable valuation.
Quincy's municipal government has done an outstanding job in keeping the city in the forefront as one of the most progressive communities its size in the country.
Quincy reached economic maturity in 1954; and its future appears bright indecd.
However, that does not mean that Quincy may rest on its past achievements. There is still much work to do, much to accomplish.
Illustrative of future goals is the proper development of the Squantum naval air base when and if it is released by the government for private use. For more than a year the Chamber of Commerce has had an active committee working toward that goal.
City of Quincy
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18
THE CITY MANAGER
Above: WILLIAM J. DEEGAN, JR., City Manager of Quiney, 1950-1954, is shown in his office studying the model of an elementary school the City plans to build. Mr. Deegan heads a special state commission appointed to bring in plans for reducing school eon- struetion eosts.
THE CITY CLERK
Right: DONALD P. CRANE, elected City Clerk in 1954. now fills a position held by his father. the late Emery L. Crane, from 1912 to 1941. Mr. Crane was Assistant City Clerk, 1941 to 1954. and Deputy Clerk of the Couneil, 1930 to 1941.
QUINCY BAY
In contrast to the dramatic picture on the front cover, showing the elemental power and fury of hurri- cane-lashed waters, this sweeping photograph catches Quincy Bay on a peaceful Summer's Sunday with sailing craft stretching out to the horizon in an inter-club regatta sponsored by the Squantum Yacht Club. The yachting classic of the South Shore, Quincy Bay Race Week sends 600 to 700 starters across the line in five days of racing featured by a colorful marine parade witnessed by thousands.
Quincy has five big yacht clubs with a total membership of more than a thousand. Yachtsmen who learned the ABC's of navigation and seamanship sailing small craft on Quincy waters have served on fighting and merchant ships on the seas of the world. Since Colonial Days Quincy Bay has been a training field for the Navy, the Coast Guard and the American Merchant Marine.
- Foto by Paul Gossa
- City of Quincy
20
QUINCY IS RIPPED AND BATTERED
QPL Fotos
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Abore: Dramatic scene caught by camera of Charles Flagg on Wollaston Beach during peak of Hurricane Carol - couple cling to swaying tree while watching boats crash on rocks.
RANGE FU 01
ICE
SERVICE
Above: Electric power off, Quincy folks buy ice to prevent food from spoiling.
Below: Carol's work.
BY HURRICANES CAROL AND EDNA
August 31 -- September 11
Abore: Auto victim hurt during height of Hurricane Edna is carried to police ambulance on way to hospital.
Abore: Trece downed by Hurricane Carol forms roadblock on Adams Street.
JRRICANE SWEEPING IN ON N. E.
Above: Vincent MeCabe, welfare department official, supervises temporary emergency shelter at Atherton Hough School during Hurricane Edna.
SHIPS BUILT IN FAMOUS QUINCY
YARDS SAIL THE SEVEN SEA.
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191
9
QFL Fotos
Left: Frigate Bird. second of five wooden hull mine sweepers the Quincy Adams Yacht Yard is building for U. S. Navy in $4,000,000 contract, gets finishin tonches prior to trial trips. These modern sweeper are 144 feet long. displace 344 tous and have not magnetic equipment. This yard has built some c world's finest yachts, such as Bermuda Race winner Baruna and Gesture.
Below: Great tanker. World Glory, largest oil cal rier ever built in the United States, undergoes he trial trips off Maine Coast following completion i Fore River Shipyard. Queen of the American tanke fleet. the World Glory is 736 feet long, 102 feet wid and carries 16.500,000 gallons. She is surpassed il size by only five of the world's great liners, Quecs Mary, Queen Elizabeth, United States, Liberte and Ile de France. She is owned by World Tankers, Inc. headed by Stavros Niarchos.
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Bethlehem Steel Company Foto
City of Quincy
22
FFICIENT MUNICIPAL SERVICES
DEPEND ON MEN AND MACHINES
Left: Sky Worker bought in 1954 cost more than $18.000 but it is money well spent since three-man-crew on this ma- chine can do the work of a dozen men the old way. Sky Worker demonstrated its efficiency in clearing up debris after Hurricanes Carol and Edna which de- stroycd or damaged more than 5,000 trees in Quincy.
6 OTT · OUSNICY
faceste y Onicamy
1
FRANK LINTS. abore, City Wire Inspector, retired at the end of 1954 after serving Quincy in that capacity for 27 years. He held the post from 1913 to 1921 and again from 1933 through 1954.
Left: On behalf of department heads and supervisory personnel, Commissioner Charles R. Herbert, right, presents band saw to William J. Deegan, Jr., who resigned as City Manager early in 1955, after five years service, to enter private industry.
QPL Foto
Annual Report
23
SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES PLAY VITAL PARTS IN COMMUNITY LII
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Left: Thomas Crane Publie Librar: is one of five libraries in Greate Boston area seleeted to participate in grant from Ford Foundation to be used in development of the American Heritage program in the form of dis cussion groups for Young Adults projeet was started late in 1954 and typifies the new kind of community services now ineluded in the fune tions of the Library.
Right: Senior Citizens Group, organ- ized in 1954, enjoys weekly meetings that provide opportunities for citizens to meet and ehat with friends of similar interests over a cup of tea following regular afternoon's program; this group is another illustration of the expanding services rendered by a modern library. No longer is a library considered a mere repository for dusty tomes.
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Left: Furnace Brook School, shown lifting its steel skeleton, is third new school to be built in vast construction program started in 1948. Plans were well advaneed at the end of 1954 for the new Great Hill school and the Broad Meadows Junior High School, and a second addition to the new Snug Harbor School, all of which will be completed in 1955.
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City of Quincy
QUINCY PROVIDES FREE EDUCATION FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Left: One of these four students preparing iodine crystals in a high school chemistry class may somc day discover a cure for cancer. For some students. chemistry is part of a college preparatory program.
Left Center: Inauguration of kindergartens in Quincy Public School System in 1954 begins a new era in City's educational history. Mayor Amelio Della Chiesa greets three bright kindergarten pupils on the first day of school.
Lower Left: Playing in this Rhythm Band, now an established feature in the music program in primary grades, is great fun for these elementary school pupils. Modern education in the lower grades is not confined to the traditional readin', ritin' and 'rithmetic.
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Lower Right: Professional educators from all parts of the world come to Quincy to study various phases of its public education system. Dr. V. Goel, first woman sent to America from India to study mental health, came here to learn about the guidance program in Quincy schools.
HOSPITALIZATION IS A FUNCTION OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN QUINCY
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Quincy is one of the 11 municipalities out of 351 Massachusetts eities and towns that maintain public hospitals. Cost to the taxpayers was $357.000 in 1954. The annnal defieit has been reduced $300,000 since 1951.
The Quincy Hospital serves in a dual capacity: one, it provides medieal and surgical eare for citizens; two, through its School of Nursing and its various intern- ships and residencies, it provides profes- sional training and experience for nurses and doctors. During the past year the Hospital won approval for its four-year surgical resideney program.
Abore: Miss Mary Thomas. elinical instructor, gives these pretty nurses a demonstra- tion in the ward teaching program in the School of Nursing. Upon completion of their three-year course, with free tuition, these young women become registered nurses with the opportunities of a fine professional career ahead of them.
Left: Chest X-ray exami tions npon admittance, wh Miss Mary Sullivan, X-1 technician, is giving t young patient, is a new se ice established by the Quir Hospital in 1954 when a n $25.000 X-ray machine installed. The Hospital pands its services year year to keep abreast of n techniques.
Right: Mary Nolan, R.N., left, and Wanda Hegarty, student nurse, are shown giving post-operative eare to two patients in the recovery room to which surgi- cal patients are transferred directly from the operat- ing tables. Careful and skilled nursing attention during the several hours patients remain in these rooms following operations may mean the difference between life and death in some cases.
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City of Quincy
PREVENTION OF DISEASE IS AIM OF HEALTH CENTER
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Valy Fora 1200
SK. 3
mich |SK. 3€ cottage chanel 2T
21
1
6.0
3 top
RT
45€
, servis
45
Bread
3 slices
45.
175 Pounds
147 Pounds
TO LIVE
LONGER FULLER HAPPIER
Attendance at Weight Control Class at Health Center where she learned to eat a well bal- anced diet and to drop unnecessary foods causing overweight enabled this lady to lose 28 pounds in one year.
Below Left: Hundreds of youngsters like pretty Donna Maric Piccarini, sitting on her mother's lap, can expect longer, better lives because of the pre-school clinics, registering 4480 visits last year. aided in detection of defects and incipient disease and instructed parents in teeliniqne of child care, principles of nutrition and methods of protection against illness.
Lower Right: Health Center staff nurse in- structs lady in use of artificial limb: physical therapy is one of the new services instituted by the Quincy Health Department during 1954 when its program of preventive medi- cine continned to expand.
CITY RECREATION PROGRAM DEVELOPS HEALTHY BODIES
FOR QUINCY BOYS AND GIRLS
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Below: These ten lads form a pyramid during Saturday morning recreation ses- sion at North Quiney High School.
Left : Couneilor Carl W. Anderson. standing eenter rear. observes sail boat instruction given youngsters at Blaek's Creek by Recreation Commission.
Below: Manly art of self-defense appeals to red- blooded boys at recreation session in Central Junior High School.
Left Center: Instructor Gretchen Hanlon, rear, giver these pretty youngsters some swimming pointers a Baker Beach.
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Above: Nine Miss Americas could be picked from these Quiney Recreation Commission swimming instructors participating in water carnival at Avalon Beach.
QPL Fotos
Section Two MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS
THE CITY CLERK
Vital Statistics - 1954
BIRTHS
2620
DEATHS
1012
MARRIAGES
933
Sporting Licenses - 1954
FISHING 1021
HUNTING
548
SPORTING
324
MINOR FISHING
136
FEMALE FISHING
141
DUPLICATES
28
MISCELLANEOUS
20
Dog Licenses - 1954
MALES
1557
FEMALES
134
FEMALES, SPAYED
990
KENNELS
9
TRANSFERS
6
THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT
Litigation involving the City of Quincy and its officials and employees, which is handled by the Legal Department, remained at about the same level in 1954 as in recent years. However, there was a substan- tial increase in claims filed against the City and its employees arising out of automobile collisions.
The most significant litigation during the year concerned land damage cases which arose out of the land takings for the John Hancock Parking Area. On the October jury list, 19 cases were assigned for trial. During the next two months in Norfolk Superior Court, 18 cases were tried or settled during trial. This left undisposed but one of the original 32 land damage cases arising out of the project.
The prompt disposition of these cases, it was generally recognized by the City Council, resulted in substantial savings to the City in interest payments.
THE TREASURER'S DEPARTMENT
Cash on hand, January 1, 1954
$ 2,962,890.25
Cash receipts 1954 25,174,165.33
Cash payments 1954 22,789,446.59
Cash on hand, December 31, 1954 2,384,718.74
* Complete Report in Financial Section
- - City of Quincy
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BOARD OF ASSESSORS
1953
1954
Valuation of Buildings
$106,682,125.00
Valuation of Land
38,755.625.00 145,437,750.00
Total Value of Land and Buildings
Value of Personal Property
9.526,700.00
Total Valuation of City, January 1
$154,964.450.00
Net Valuation Motor Vehicles December 31
$ 11,153,910.00
Total Valuation of City. including Motor Vehicles, for year
$166.154,060.00 S 7,872.194.06
$169.855.794.00 $ 8,235,970.60
Amount to be Raised on Poll Taxes
53,486.00
53.190.00
1953
1954
Tax Rate
$50.80
$52.00
School Rate
16.38
17.78
General Rate
34.42
34.22
* Complete Report in Financial Section
*
TAX COLLECTIONS
Personal Property Tax
1953
1954
$ 485,734.36
$ 514,134.40
460,441.12
474,981.40
24,742.03
30.579.97
Real Estate Tax
$7,388,273.26
$7.722.054.60
Committed by Assessors Collected during year
7.011.106.09
7,327.133.78
Uncollected end of year
281.407.10
294,308.53
Motor Excise Tax
$ 562,380.17
S 594.924.67
Collected during year
510.813.56
493,982.64
Uncollected end of year
40,092.29
92.007.30
Poll Tax
54.376.00
$ 54.006.00
Committed by Assessors Collected during year Uncollected end of year
41,702.00
40.926.00
3.528.00
3,998.00
* Complete Report in Financial Section
Annual Report
- 31
$109.037,575.00 39.459.275.00 148,469.850.00 9.887,200.00 $158,384.050.00 $ 11,471,744.00
Amount to be Raised by Taxation
Committed by Assessors Collected during year Uncollected end of year
Committed by Assessors
PURCHASING DEPARTMENT
1954
1953
1952
1951
Purchase orders issued
13.328
14.705
13.625
16.310
Value purchase orders
*$2,908,814
$2,865.703
$3,111.624
$2.283,345
Contracts issued
203
224
205
199
Value contracts
$1.420.857
$1,210,232
$1.595.416
$1,771,708
Department expense
$23.554
$23,876
$22,833
$25.051
* Odd cents are dropped to simplify tabulation.
BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS
Types of Liceuses
Fees Collected
Common Vietualer
$ 810.00
Lord's Day
600.00
Gas, garages, repair shops, denatured alcohol, inflammables
3,329.50
Motor parking spaces
1,775.00
Amusement, publie ball
290.00
Junk shops, second hand stores
100.00
Bowling, pool, billiards
1,615.00
Liquor
72,115.00
Pinball
1,980.00
Auctioneers
10.00
Firearms, ammunition
20.00
Employment offiees
8.00
Junk wagons
195.00
Pawn shops
50.00
Cabarets
320.00
Haekney
83.00
WOODWARD SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
Woodward School for Girls celebrated in 1954 its 60th year of edueating girls "born in Quincy". The 1954 graduating class ineluded 12 girls. The enrollment in September 1954, was 95 students.
Woodward School for Girls was established through the bequests of a Quiney physician, Dr. Ebenezer Woodward. and his wife, Mary Ann Wroe Greenleaf Woodward, who left as a trust for the City of Quiney property to endow a school for Quincy girls.
Woodward was opened in the Spring of 1894, 25 years after the death of Dr. Woodward. The first elass was graduated in 1896. During the past quarter of a century the school has been primarily college- preparatory. Woodward graduates have entered colleges and universities throughout the country, with 85 percent of the graduates going to college, schools of nursing or other institutions of advanced learning.
Woodward admits girls in grades 7 through 12, the junior and senior high school years. The ratio of one teacher for each nine students assures individual attention in small classes.
The ineome of the trust funds established by the deeds of President John Adams and by bequest of Honorable Charles Francis Adams now added to the revenue from the original Woodward endow- ment provides a sound financial structure for furthering the progress of the school. The Woodward Donors' Fund, the Helen Mitton Dickinson Scholarship Fund and other prizes, funds and awards assist in maintaining the aims of the sehool.
City of Quincy
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32
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
The Quincy Health Department in 1954. making even fuller use of the excellent facilities provided by the half million dollar Health Center erected a few years ago, continued its varied and complex activi- ties designed for the promotion of health and the prevention of disease. Some services and activities con- tinued unchanged: some were modified: some were dropped as no longer essential, and certain new activities were instituted during the year.
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