USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Municipal history of the town and city of Boston during two centuries : from September 17, 1630, to September 17, 1830 > Part 27
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 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
I cannot close this head without referring to the tables con- nected with, and the facts stated in, the address I had the honor to make to the City Council at the commencement of the present year.
It is there stated that the city authorities commenced a system- atic cleansing of the city, and removal of noxious animal and vegetable substances, with reference to the improvement of the general health and comfort, in the year 1823.
" That the bills of mortality of this city, and calculations made on them for the eleven years, from 1813 to 1823 inclusive, show that the annual average proportion of deaths to the popni- lation was about one in forty-two."
" Similar estimates on the bills of mortality of this city, since 1823, show that this annual average proportion was, for the four years, from 1824 to 1827 inclusive, less than one in fifty ; for the two years, from 1826 to 1827 inclusive, less than one in fifty- five."
It now appears, that, on the principles stated in these tables,
-
:
.268
MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
for the three years just terminated, 1826, 1827, 1828, the annual average proportion of deaths to population was less than one in fifty-seven.
Upon the usual estimates of this nature, a city of equal popu- lation, in which this annual average should not exceed one in forty-seven, would be considered as enjoying an extraordinary degree of health.
From the facts thus stated, it is maintained that this city does enjoy an uncommon and gradually increasing state of general health ; and that for the four last years it has been unexampled. And although the whole of this important im- provement in the general health of the city is not attributed to the measures of the police, yet since, in the year 1823, a system was adopted expressly for the purpose of preventing disease, by an efficient and timely removal of nuisances, it is just and rea- sonable to claim for that system a portion of the credit for that freedom from disease, which, subsequently to their adoption, has resulted in a degree so extraordinary.
. The residue of what was then said upon this topie, I repeat, as being important enough to be reiterated.
" I am thus distinct in allnding to this subject, because the removal of the nuisances of a city is a laborious, difficult, and repulsive service, requiring much previous arrangement and con- stant vigilance, and is attended with frequent disappointment of endeavors, whence it happens there is a perpetual natural tendency in those intrusted with municipal affairs, to throw the trouble and responsibility of it upon subordinate agents and contractors ; and very plausible arguments of economy may be adduced in favor of such a system. But if experience and reflec- tion have given certainty to my mind upon any subject, it is upon this ; that upon the right conduct of this branch of the police, the exeentive powers of a city should be made directly responsible, more than for any other ; and that it can never, for any great length of time, be executed well, except by agents under its immediate control ; and whose labors it may command at all times, in any way which the necessities, continually vary- ing, and often impossible to be anticipated, of a city, in this respect require."
" In the whole sphere of municipal duties, there are none more important than those which relate to the removal of those
269
CITY GOVERNMENT.
substances whose exhalations injuriously affect the air. A pure atmosphere is to a city what a good conscience is to an indivi- dual, - a perpetual source of comfort, tranquillity, and self- respect."
In relation to what has been done for the support of public education, considering the multiplied and pressing objeets of attention, necessarily occurring in the first years of a new organ- ization of government, I know not that a greater degree of sup- port of this branch of public service could have been justly given or reasonably expected than has occurred. Under our ancient institutions, the scale of appropriations for this object was, of all others, the most liberal and complete. It was found, in 1823, with an annual expenditure of forty-four thousand five hundred dollars. It is left, at this day, with one of fifty-six thousand dollars. In the interval, two schoolhouses have been built and sites purchased at an additional direct expenditure of upwards of fifty-five thousand dollars. In addition to which the House of Reformation of Juvenile Offenders, which is, in fact, a school of most important character, has been established and supported at an expense already incurred of upwards of sixteen thousand dollars.
But the High School for Girls has been suspended. As, on this topic, I have reason to think very gross misrepresentations and falsehoods have been circulated in every form of the tongue and the press, I shall speak plainly. It being in fact a subject on which my opinion has at no time been concealed.
'This school was adopted declaredly as " an experiment." It was placed under the immediate care of its known authors. It may be truly said that its impracticability was proved before it went into operation. The pressure for admission at the first examination of candidates, the discontent of the parents of those rejected, the certainty of far greater pressure and discontent which must occur in future years, satisfied every reflecting mind that, however desirable the scheme of giving a high classi- cal education, equal about to a college education, to all the girls of a city, whose parents would wish them to be thus educated at the expense of the city, was just as impracticable as to give such an one to all the boys of it at the city's expense. Indeed, more so, because girls not being drawn away from the college by preparation for a profession or trade, would have nothing
23 *
270
MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
except their marriage to prevent their parents from availing of it. No funds of any city could endure the expense.
The next project was so to model the school as that, although professedly established for the benefit of all, it might be kept and maintained at the expense of the city for the benefit of the few. The School Committee were divided equally on the resulting questions. The subject was finally postponed by the casting vote of the Chairman, As all agreed, that if the school was to be maintained according to its original conception, new and great appropriations were necessary, the Chairman was directed to make a report on the whole subject to the City Council. The report indicated that, in such case, appropriations were indispensably necessary, but did not recommend them, because a majority of the Committee were not favorable to the project. That report was printed and circulated throughout the city. A year has elapsed, and not an individual in either branch of the City Council has brought forward the question of its revi- val by moving the necessary appropriations.
No shield has ever before been protruded by the individual principally assailed as a defence against the calummies which have been circulated on this subject. It has now been alluded to, more for the sake of other honorable men, who have, for a like cause, been assailed by evil tongues and evil pens, than for his own.
In all this there is nothing nucommon or unprecedented. The public officer who, from a sense of public duty, dares to cross strong interests in their way to gratification at the public expense, always has had, and ever will have, metod to him the same measure. The beaten course is, first, to slander, in order to intimidate ; and if that fail, then to slander, in order to sacri- fice. He who loves his office better than his duty will yield and be flattered as long as he is . tool. He who loves his duty bet- ter than his office will stand erect and take his fate.
All schools requiring high qualifications as the condition of admission, are essentially schools for the benefit, comparatively, of a very few. The higher the qualification, the greater the exclusion. Those whose fortunes permit them to avail them- selves of private instruction for their children, during their early years, - men highly educated themselves, who have leisure and ability to attend to the education of their own children, and thus
271
CITY GOVERNMENT.
raise them at the prescribed age to the required qualification, - will chiefly enjoy the privilege. To the rest of the community, consisting of parents not possessing these advantages, admission to them is a lottery, in which there is a hundred blanks to a prize. The scheme to reduce the school to an attendance of one year, seems to be a needless multiplication of schools and of expense ; as it is plainly far better that a year should be added to the continuance in the common schools, and their course of instruction proportionably elevated.
The great interest of society is identified with her common schools. These belong to the mass of the people. Let the peo- ple take care, lest the funds which ought to be devoted exclui- sively to the improvement and elevation of these common schools, thus essentially theirs, be diverted to schools of high qualification. Under whatever pretence established, their neces- sary tendency is to draw away, not only funds, but adso interest and attention from the common schools. The sound principle upon this subject seems to be, that the standard of public education should be raised to the greatest desirable and practicable height ; but that it should be effected by raising the standard of the com- mon schools.
In respect of what has been done, in support of public morals, when this administration first came into power, the police had no comparative effect. The city possessed no house of correc- tion, and the natural inmates of that establishment were in our streets, on our " hills" or on our commons, disgusting the deli- cate, offending the good, and intimidating the fearful. There were parts of the city over which no honest man dared to pass in the night time; so proud there and uncontrolled was the dominion of crime. The executive of the city was seriously advised not to meddle with those haunts, their reformation being a task altogether impracticable.
It was attempted. The success is known. Who at this day sees begging in our streets ? I speak generally ; a transient case may ocenr. But there is none systematic. At this day, I speak it confidently, there is no part of the city through which the most timid may not walk, by day or by night, without cause of fear of personal violence. What streets present more stillness in the night time ? Where, in a city of equal population, are there fewer instances of those crimes to which all populous places are subject ?
-
272
MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
Doubtless much of this condition of things is owing to the orderly habits of our citizens, but much also is attributable to the vigilance which has made vice tremble in its haunts and fly to cities where the air is more congenial to it; which, by pursu- ing the lawless vender of spirituons liquor, denying licenses to the worst of that class, or revoking them as soon as found in improper hands, has checked crime in its first stages, and intro- duced into these establishments a salutary fear. By the effect of this system, notwithstanding in these six years the population of the city has been increased at least fifteen thousand, the num- ber of licensed houses has been diminished from six hundred and seventy-nine to five hundred and fifty-four.
Let it be remembered that this state of things has been effected without the addition of one man to the ancient arm of the police. The name of police officer has indeed been changed to city marshal. The venerable old charter number of twenty- four constables still continne the entire array of city police; and eighty watchmen, of whom never more than eighteen are out at a time, constitute the whole nocturnal host of police militant, to maintain the peace and vindicate the wrongs of upwards of si.cty thousand citizens.
If it be asked why more have not been provided, I answer, it has frequently been under consideration. But, on a view of all circumstances, and experience having hitherto proved the pre- sent number enongh, there seemed no occasion to increase it, from any general theory of its want of proportion to the popula- tiou, seeing that practically there seemed to be as many as were necessary.
The good which has been attained, and no man can deny it is great, has been effected by directing unremittingly the force of the executive power to the haunts of vice in its first stages, and to the favorite resorts of crime in its last.
To diminish the number of licensed dram-shops and tippling- houses ; to keep a vigilant eye over those which are licensed ; to . revoke without fear or favor the licenses of those who were found violating the law; to break up public dances in the brothels ; to keep the light and terrors of the law directed upon the resorts of the lawless, thereby preventing any place becoming dangerous by their congregation ; or they and their associates becoming insolent through sense of strength and numbers ; -
273
CITY GOVERNMENT.
these have been the means ; and these means, faithfully applied, are better than armies of constables and watchmen. They have been applied with as much fearlessness as though the executive office was not elective; without regarding the fact, that the numerous class thus offended, their landlords, dependants, and coadjutors, had votes and voices in city elections. So far as these classes had any influence on a recent event, and it must have been small, the cause is not a matter of regret, but of pride.
Without pressing these topics further into detail, and without stating how the condition of things was found at the coming in of this administration, - because the faithful men who executed . the ancient town government did as much as the form of organ- ization under which they acted permitted, - I shall simply state, . in one view, how the city affairs, in respects not yet alluded to, have been left.
Every interest of the city, so far as has come to the know- ledge of the city government, has been considered, maintained, and, as far as practicable, arranged. All the real estate of the city surveyed and estimated ; plans of it prepared ; the whole analyzed and presented in one view for the benefit of those who come after. The difficulties of the voting lists laborionsly inves- tigated, and the sources of error ascertained, and in a great degree remedied. The streets widened, the crooked straightened, the great avennes paved and enlarged. They and other public places ornamented. Heights levelled. Declivities smoothed or diminished. The common sewers regulated and made more capacious. New streets of great width and utility, in the cen- tre of population, obtained without cost to the city. Its mar- kets made commodious. New public edifices, in the old city and at South Boston, erected ; the old repaired and orna- mented.
These things have been done, not indeed to the extent which might be desired, but to a degree as great, considering the time, as could reasonably be anticipated.
But then, -"the city debt," " the taxes," -" we are on the eve of bankruptcy." " "The citizens are oppressed by the weight of assessments produced by these burdens." Such are the hol- low sounds which come up from the halls of caucusing discon- ·tent!
1
274
MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
The state of the city debt has recently been displayed by offi- cial authority ; by which it appears, that, after deducting funds in the hands of the Committee for the reduction of the city debt, and also the amount of bonds, well secured by mortgages, paya- ble to the city, the exact city debt amounts to $637,256.66; concerning which subject, I undertake to maintain two posi- tions : -
1st. It has not been, and never can be, a burden; that is, it has not been, and never will be, felt in the taxes.
2d. So far from city bankruptcy, the state of its resources is one of enviable prosperity.
It may be stated, with sufficient accuracy, that the present city debt is entirely the result of operations which obtained for the city the New Faneuil Hall Market, the City Wharf, and land north of the block of stores on North Market Street; and of those which gave it, free of incumbrance, the lands west of Charles and Pleasant Streets.
Now, this property thus newly acquired by these operations, for which the city debt was incurred, may be exchanged, no intelligent man can doubt, at any hour, in the market, for an amount equal to the entire city debt.
The property thus acquired, now in actual, unincumbered, undisputed possession of the city, consists, -
1. Of the New Market and its site, estimated by its annual incomes, ($26,000,) which are in their nature permanent, and must increase rather than diminish, at $500,000
2. City Wharf, estimated by some at $100,000; on this occasion it is put down at 75,000
3. Eight thousand five hundred and twenty-eight feet of land on both sides of the Mill Creek, and the new streets now completing in that vicinity; on this occasion estimated at, as an unquestion- able price, although its real value probably greatly exceeds 12,000
4. 'Twenty-eight acres and a half of land west of Charles and Pleasant Streets, exceeding 1,200,000 square feet, estimated only at ten cents ; which, how far it is exceeded by the fact, my fellow-citi- zens understand, is set down at 120,000
١
$707,000
275
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Thus it appears the city is possessed of a real estate, of an unquestionable value, exceeding seven hundred thousand dollars, as an offset for a debt of six hundred and thirty-seven thousand dollars.
It may confidently be said, that no capitalist of intelligence and resources, equal to the purchase, would hesitate an hour to contract, on condition of a transfer of that property, to assume the whole city debt. Should I say, he would give a hundred thousand dollars as a bonus for the bargain, I should probably come nearer the truth. Am I not justified, then, in my position, that the marketable value of the real estate acquired and left to the city by that administration, greatly exceeds the amount of debt it has left ? The scales are not simply even ; they greatly preponderate in favor of the value of the property above the debt. It is no answer to this, to say, that the property thus newly acquired is of a nature or value so important to the city, that it ought never to be disposed of. This is probably true ; at least of a very great part of it. But what of this ? Does not the fact show, that greatly as the marketable value of the pro- perty exceeds the debt, the value of it, in its interest or import- ance to the city, greatly exceeds even that marketable value ? After this, have I not a right to assert, according to the usual and justifiable forms of expression, under circumstances of this kind, that, so far as respects the operations of the administration, now passing away, they have left the city incumbered with NO DEBT ; because they have left it possessed of a newly acquired real property, far greater in marketable value than the whole debt it has incurred ?
Again, it has not only done this; but when this subject is considered with reference to annual income received, and annual interest to be paid, it will be found that this administration leaves the city with a property, in real estate and bonds and mortgages, the income and interest of which amounts to fifty- two thousand dollars, while the annual interest of the debt which it leaves is only forty-seven thousand dollars.
If, then, the ammal income of the property left be now, and ever must be, far greater than the annual interest of the debt incurred ; if the newly acquired real estate is, and always must be, far greater in marketable value than the whole amount of that debt, has not this administration a right to say, that, so fur as respects its financial operations, it has left the city incumbered with NO BURDEN AND NO DEBT.
-
276
MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
If there is no debt, then there is no bankruptcy. Whatever estate the city now has, over and above that which is above specified, is so much clear and unineumbered property, to be used or improved for its advancement or relief in all future times and emergencies, according to the wisdom and fidelity of suc- ceeding administrations. Unless, indeed, that wisdom direct, as it probably will, that the property above specified, obtained for the city by this administration, shall be kept as the best possible investment of city capital, and the proceeds of the other lands applied to the discharge of the debt incurred for the purchase of the property thus acquired.
Now, what is that clear, unincumbered city property which remains, after deducting that thus newly acquired? It consists of nothing less, as appears by the official report of the Commit- tee on Public Lands, than upwards of five million three hundred thousand feet of land on the Neck and in different parts of the city, - capable of being sold, without any possible objection; - lunds belonging to the House of Industry, amounting to sixty acres; and a township of land in the state of Maine, being neither of them included in this estimate.
Without taking into consideration, then, the encouragement given to our mechanic interests ; to the influx of capital and population, which have been necessarily the effect of the activity of capital induced by the measures of the city government ; and confining myself to the single consideration of the amont and unincumbered state of the real property of the city, am I not justified in the assertion, that IT Is, IN RESPECT OF ITS FINANCIAL RESOURCES, ONE OF ENVIABLE PROSPERITY ?
But "the taxes," " the taxes" are heavy beyond all prece- dent! In answer to which, I state, that the taxes have not increased in a ratio equal to the actual increase of property and population. The Assessors' books will show, that the ratio of taxation has been less in every year of the seven years in which the city government has had existence, than was the ratio of any year in the next preceding seven years of the town government, one year only excepted ; and even in this it was less than in one of those next preceding seven years above-mentioned. Compar- ing the average of the ratios of these two periods of seven years together, it will be found, that while the average of the ratios of these seven years of the town government was eight dollars and
277
CITY GOVERNMENT.
fifteen cents, the average of the ratios of the seven years of the city government has been only seven dollars and twenty-seven cents.
I might here close. But there have been objections made publicly to this executive, which, although apparently of a per- sonal nature, are, in fact, objections to the principles on which he has conducted his office. Now, in the particular relation in which that executive stood to his office, it was his duty well to consider those principles, since they might become precedents, and .give a character and tone to succeeding administrations. He has uniformly acted under a sense of this relation, and of the obligations resulting from it ; and intentionally has done nothing, or omitted nothing, without contemplating it. On this account, it may be useful to state those objections, and answer them. And first, it has been said, " The Mayor assumes too much upon himself. He places himself at the head of all committees. Ile prepares all reports. He permits nothing to be done but by his agency. He does not sit solemn and dignified in his chair, and leave general superintendence to others; but he is everywhere, and about every thing, - in the street ; at. the docks; among the common sewers ; - no place but what is vexed by his pre- sence."
In reply to this objection, I lay my hand first on the city char- ter, which is in these words: - " It shall be the duty of the Mayor to be vigilant and active at all times, in causing the laws for the government of said city to be duly executed and put in force ; to inspect the conduct of all subordinate officers, in the goverment thereof, and, as far as in his power, to cause all negligence, carelessness, and positive violations of duty to be duly prosecuted and punished. It shall be his duty, from the to time, to communicate to both branches of the City Council all such information, and recommend all such measures as may tend to the improvement of the finances, the police, health, cleanliness, comfort, and ornament of the city."
Now let it be remembered, that to the performance of these duties he was sworn; and that he is willing to admit that he considers an oath taken before God as a serious affair; and that having taken an oath to do such services, he is not of a spirit which can go to sleep or to rest after shifting the performance of them upon others.
24
---
£
£
278
MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
As to his " seeing to every thing," who has a better right than he, who, at least by popular opinion, if not by the city charter, is made responsible for every thing ?
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.