USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1843-1859 > Part 37
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Many teachers have found their schools becoming sud- denly restless and turbulent; and not understanding the cause, they have attempted to quell the tumult by positive requirements, and threatening injunctions ; but the difficulty has increased reciprocally, and a painful alternative finally gave a temporary peace among the innocent sufferers.
All this might have been agreeably accomplished in a few moments by giving to the children additional draughts of pure air to restore a healthy flow of the blood, and remove the morbid condition of the brain; and then with a few strains of enlivening music their hearts would have been harmonized in mutual love. The cultivation of music in the Primary Schools is indispensable to their prosperity and the perfect success of the pupils in reading. The best singers have the ability, other things being equal, of becom- ing pre-eminently the best readers ; not only on account of their nice distinction of sounds, but also because they have the greater flexibility of the vocal cords.
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Music cultivates the sensibilities, and prepares the pupil to perceive the emotion of the writer, and consequently the voice will be modulated by the sentiment expressed. A perfect knowledge of Phonetics, which we consider an in- dispensable accomplishment for a Primary School teacher, can only be made available in teaching enunciation, by direct application to the distinct expression of letters and syllables, thus leading to the accomplishment of forcible speaking.
This department must be performed with all the perfec- tion of harmony, which belongs to musical sounds, or it will retard rather than facilitate the pupil in the attainment of fine reading.
Nothing should exceed the accuracy with which instruc- tion is imparted in the Primary School.
No change of importance has taken place in the arrange- ment of our Primary Schools, with the exception of remov- ing teachers from one school to another; believing in their better adaptation to certain schools.
Few occasions for censure have occurred the past year ; with the exception of too frequent tardiness on the part of a few teachers. The example is so very prejudicial, that we express a hope that the evil may be entirely and speedily discontinued.
The Primary School teacher occupies one of the most honorable, as well as the most responsible, positions connected with the profession, and no fame can be more enduring than that which is incorporated with youthful excellence. Our Intermediate Schools are only a grada- tion of the Primary, and the requisitions resting upon either, are with slight modifications equally applicable to both.
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Our Intermediate Schools are successfully and earnestly engaged in drawing out the faculties, and in preparing their classes for the studies of the Grammar Schools.
The gradation now existing in our system of education is adopted to facilitate the tasks of the children in their intellectual progress, by associating minds of nearly equal attainments, thus diminishing the number of classes, and thereby making the instruction more general and impres- sive.
Our Grammar Schools are doing their work faithfully, and it would be productive of no special good to comment upon their comparative merits ; for being situated in differ- ent sections of the town, they consequently are under local influences, which more or less modify their character. At our vacation, last August. the principal and the two female assistants of the High School resigned their places; and after mature consideration it was thought best to so far change the organization of the High School as to substitute a sub-master for two female assistants. We have had no reason as yet to regret the change ; and until the number of pupils shall be much increased, no arrangement can be more efficient than the present, By this course, a saving is made to the Town of three hundred dollars in the expense of salary.
After much effort in endeavoring to obtain the most efficient individuals for the High School, we fortunately secured I. N. Beals for Principal, and George Brackett for sub-master. Thus far we have no reason to regret our selec- tion, for we believe our High School is rapidly becoming one of the most efficient educational instrumentalities in our town; and is faithfully perfecting the intellectual
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and moral exactness which characterizes our Grammar Schools.
The last private examination of the High School was highly satisfactory, and the conduct of the pupils was very pleasing. The recitations showed a full understanding of the principles involved in the different departments of study.
Strict attention has been exercised by the several sub- committees and teachers to preserve and render inviting all the school premises and school-rooms ; and to impress upon the children and youth that economy is a virtue ; that neat- ness of person is likely to be allied to purity of mind ; and that no scholar can give satisfactory evidence of future suc- cess and eminence, who is indifferent about his books, and the means of education provided for his use.
The average attendance has been better the past year, and parents have the power to make it perfect if they would; but without their co-operation no effort can possibly prove successful. Punctuality is beginning to be duly appreciated by the older pupils, and the number of those who are never tardy is steadily increasing. Irregularity of attendance is an evil of such a serious nature, that it is impossible to prevent its injurious effect upon the whole school, thus involving the innocent and unoffending with the guilty.
The term of office now fixed by statute law for the School Committee, affords them a fair opportunity to make trial of any supposed improvement in the manage- ment of schools; and they are always ready to give all proper information concerning their plans, which parents or guardians may desire to know. The Committee have been selected not only to superintend the schools, but as
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the medium of communication on all matters of importance between parents and teachers; and your Committee feel that no individual is prepared to speak understandingly about any school, or any teacher, unless he has visited the school-room, and seen for himself the manner of the teacher and his modes of instruction.
Your Committee are expected to be untiring in their vigilance for the prosperity of all our schools; and to be impartial in considering the claims of parents and teachers, and that their recommendations will be made, having in view the highest good of all.
It will be necessary to organize one or more Primary Schools the ensuing year, as the Maple Street and Prescott No. 2 are too large to derive the greatest advantage from the money expended, or secure to the children the instruc- tion they absolutely require.
The whole number of scholars at present connected with these two schools is more than one hundred and seventy-five. The increase of pupils in the Forster Grammar School Dis- trict renders the establishment of an Intermediate School in that locality highly desirable; and it is submitted to the consideration of the Town, as a special appropriation would be necessary to the accomplishment of such an object.
The whole amount of money expended for our free schools the past year will exceed $16,000, and the particu- lars will be shown by the Town Treasurer's Report. We have one thousand three hundred and thirty children between the ages of five and fifteen years. We have one High School with two male teachers, principal, and sub-master ; four Gram- mar Schools with a male principal and female assistant for each; one Intermediate School with two female teachers ;
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and two Primary Schools with two female teachers each ; and ten District Schools with one female teacher each; making in all eighteen distinct schools, with twenty-six teachers, male and female.
The Principal of the High School receives $1,200, and the sub-master, $500 salary. The Principals of the Gram- mar Schools receive each $1,000 salary; and the female teachers and assistants, $300 each, with the exception of Walnut Hill and Maple Street Schools, the teacher of the former having $400, and the latter, $350, the labor in these schools being more arduous and difficult.
Hoping the ensuing year may be even more propitious than the past; that the children and youth may render themselves more distinguished by their virtues, and high intellectual attainments; that in future they may refer to our free schools as largely instrumental in securing their happiness and prosperity, we respectfully submit the fore- going as our Annual Report.
NATHANIEL J. KNIGHT. GEORGE H. EMERSON. GEORGE D. CLARK. MARTIN DRAPER, JR. CHARLES S. LINCOLN. AARON SARGENT. JOHN R. POOR.
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SAMUEL E. BRACKETT. REUBEN E. DEMMON.
SOMERVILLE, March 7, 1859.
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
The Selectmen of Somerville, at the close of their official term, ask leave to submit to the citizens of the town the following statement :-
From the commencement of the year, a gradual but manifest improvement in the appearance and prospects of the town has been observable.
The highways, from a variety of causes,-imperfect drainage in some cases, heavy grades in others, ill- defined boundaries, calling for constant watchfulness to prevent encroachments, and the almost total want of sidewalks,-necessarily require, if they do not in all cases receive, a large share of attention from a Board of Selectmen.
Notwithstanding these impediments to a rapid advancement, it is believed that some progress has been made, and that the time is not far distant when the difficulties peculiar to this locality 'will, in a great measure, be surmounted. Alterations in the grade have been thought expedient in some few places ; but with these exceptions, our operations upon the high- ways have been confined principally to the usual repairs.
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A considerable amount of labor has been performed, in various portions of the town, towards establishing and grading sidewalks, but in no place so satisfactorily as on Broadway, Winter Hill, where, for a distance of half a mile, the abutters having furnished stone edging, the town was enabled to form and pave suitable gutters. It has been ascertained that stone adapted to this pur- pose can be procured, if wanted to any considerable extent, within the county, at a moderate expense ; and if the town should order a supply to be kept on hand, carting and setting without charge for such of our citizens as would pay the cost for the stone, encour- agement could thus be given to an improvement greatly needed, and a favorable change in the appearance of our roads might soon be reasonably expected.
The southerly end of School Street has been widened to forty feet, and nearly $500 have been expended upon it in grading and removing fences. Another season will be required to complete the street to Broadway, when a perfectly straight avenue, nearly a mile in length, can be opened to the public. Great delay has attended this work, and numerous difficul- ties have been encountered, but it is believed that the ultimate result will be highly beneficial to the town.
To meet such drafts upon the treasury as might be necessary for the uses of this board, in the execution of the various duties imposed upon it,-including the expenses of the highway service,-there was appro- priated, at the annual meeting in April last, the sum of $8,200, this amount being $3,400 less than was expended for similar purposes the preceding financial year. While abundant opportunity for a judicious disposition of all the money thus placed within their
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control has not been wanting, so great has been the desire on the part of the Selectmen to avoid any excess in their expenditures, that many really needful improvements have been deferred, and several hun- dred dollars of this appropriation remain still unex- pended. For a single object alone,-that of renewing fences which are deemed necessary in dangerous places by the side of the highways,-this entire balance could very properly have been used. While such unsightly and dilapidated structures of this kind as now exist are allowed to remain, private citizens will be as neglectful in improving the aspect of vacant lots, and the growth of the town be in some degree retarded by its uninviting appearance.
The encroachments on Milk Street, referred to in the report of the last Board of Selectmen, have been removed, and the boundary line of the street, hereto- fore somewhat unsettled, has been definitely estab- lished.
Encroachments are believed to exist at numerous points on our roads, and changes are felt to be neces- sary in many other places. On the older and most important thoroughfares, well-defined boundaries are rarely to be found, and a fixed grade is nowhere estab- lished. On these matters, each Board of Selectmen differs from its predecessors, thus increasing the diffi- culty by a want of unity of action. A permanent and effectual remedy for such a condition of things can only be found in a complete and accurate survey of the town. The outlay required for this purpose would be the only objection that could be urged to its adoption, but the beneficial results that would cer- tainly follow, would more than compensate for any
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necessary expenditure devoted to this object. In this connection it may be proper to suggest, that some of our fellow citizens believe it to be a matter of the highest importance to the future welfare of the town, to provide prospectively for a central avenue, com- mencing at some point in Charlestown near the Mill- dam, crossing the Joy estate, Washington Street, and the Lowell Railroad, to Church Street, and through that street, in nearly a direct line to West Cambridge village. Such an avenue-four miles in length, three of which are within our corporate limits-would afford innumerable delightful sites for private resi- dences, and open the centre of the town to a direct communication with the city of Boston, tending also largely to an increase in population and wealth. A survey of such a route could not involve a great ex- pense, and might prevent the erection of buildings in a position where they would interfere with carrying out this or any similar plan hereafter.
The subject of widening the bridge on Cross Street, over the Lowell Railroad, was referred to this Board, with the evident expectation, on the part of the citi- zens, that the work could be done without expense to the town. Nine bridges cross this railroad in Somer- ville, nearly all of which can very properly be desig- nated as nuisances. To make expensive alterations upon any one of them, before a general plan for the improvement of the whole can be agreed upon, appears now to be unwise. Some require raising, others lowering, and all of them widening; and it is clear that the best method for overcoming the difficulties which surround the matter, will be to act in concert with the Lowell Railroad Corporation. It is thought
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by many that the interests of the town would be promoted most by the lowering of the railroad within our limits, thus permitting Washington Street to pass it on the same level, and allowing all the bridges crossing it to be placed in their proper position with reference to the grade of other streets.
Within the year, gas pipes have been extended to the top of Winter, Central and Prospect Hills, so that the larger portion of our citizens can now enjoy the advantages and luxury of gas light. In order that the town may be able to act understandingly, whenever the question of lighting its streets shall come before it, the Selectmen have ascertained that the expense of providing fifty suitable lamps,-the smallest number consistent with the rightful local claims of those residing on the lines of these pipes,-would be in the neighborhood of $1,000; and the annual expense for gas, including the charge for lighting, would not much exceed $500.
Four suits have been instituted against the town, by members of the "Stearns family," to recover taxes paid into the treasury by them for the last two years; but it is believed that a valid defence can be made to the claim which it is understood will be set up. The parties to this movement are non-residents ; became possessed of estates in the town by inheritance; have contributed nothing to the improvement of lands which but a few years ago were estimated as of little value; appear to have no adequate conception of the importance which the enterprise of our own citizens has given to this property; refuse to part with it at the valuation of the assessors ; and yet claim that this valuation is unjust and illegal. If, under any circum-
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stances the courts should decide in their favor,-a very improbable result,-it is in the power, as it would be the duty, of the town, to render such a decision virtually inoperative.
It seems hardly necessary to call especial attention to the condition of the Fire Department, which has continued efficient and orderly, as the citizens have reason always to expect, from the character of the men comprising the present organization. The town stable was fired by an incendiary, on the 28th of March last, causing a loss, beyond the amount received for insurance, of about $500. Fires have been less frequent with us than in other years, and the disposition to commit acts of incendiarism, it is to be hoped, has ceased alto- gether. This is unquestionably partly attributable to the vigilance exercised by some of our fellow-towns- men, a large number of whom have been appointed by this Board as special police officers, with the express understanding that they would be watchful of the movements of parties suspected of any criminal design in this direction.
A substantial, commodious and convenient fire-proof room has been placed in the building used for a town hall, and the premises have been otherwise somewhat improved as well as beautified, at an expense in all not exceeding $400.
The lot connected with the Cherry Street School house-as directed by the town at its April meeting- has been graded, and the foundation of that building repaired.
A portion of the fence around the burial ground on Milk Street,-the property of individuals, who have to this time allowed the public to make use of it for
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interments,-has been rebuilt at the charge of the town, the Selectmen believing this to be due to the proprietors. There remains but little room for further public burials in this place, and ere long the lot on Broadway-purchased for the purpose in 1846-must be dedicated for use, unless our citizens shall judge it to be expedient to make some other provision for that object.
Early in the spring, efforts were made to abate the sale of intoxicating liquors, and with a degree of success which warrants the belief, that this practice can, with no great difficulty, be entirely abolished, whenever the major part of our citizens shall instruct the Selectmen to accomplish that end, and shall them- selves exhibit a reasonable degree of earnestness in the matter.
The Somerville Horse Railroad Company have com- pleted about four and a half miles of track by the side of the road, for the running of their cars, upon Broad- way, Washington, Milk and Elm Streets, connecting at Charlestown with the Middlesex Railroad, and since July last furnishing half-hourly communication with the city of Boston. So far, this has fully answered the expectations of our citizens, and many of the most discerning among them feel confident that the con- veniences thus afforded will have the effect of adding largely to the future prosperity of the town. The subject of laying a new track in the direction of East Cambridge is now under consideration; and this, if accomplished, will better accommodate the inhabitants of that part of our territory bordering on Cambridge, and furnish more ready access than is now enjoyed by any town within the Commonwealth.
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Considering the depression in every kind of busi- ness which marked the commencement of the year, it was hardly to be expected that much would be done towards increasing the number of buildings, until a more favorable season should arrive, and our com- munity had been able to recover from the effects of the then recent monetary derangement. It nevertheless appears that nearly a hundred dwelling houses have been erected within the year, and it is probable that during this time there have been added to our popula- tion from four to five hundred persons. The means of frequent communication with Boston now afforded to our citizens ; the freedom from tolls of every avenue leading to that city; the low price of the most desir- able sites for residences ; and the general improvement in every department of business; combined with the numerous other advantages acknowledged to be in our possession, afford good reasons for believing that the coming year will witness a still larger addition to the population and wealth of the town.
JAMES M. SHUTE, JOHN C. TENNEY, BENJAMIN RANDALL, MARK FISK, SAMUEL HAMBLIN,
Selectmen of Somerville.
SOMERVILLE, March 5, 1859.
Statement of the Receipts and Disbursements of the Treasurer of the Town of Somerville, from March 1, 1858, to March 1, 1859.
RECEIPTS.
Cash on hand, March 24, 1858, $3,845 13 Borrowed and received of the Lechmere Bank, on four months, 3,000 00
April 6. Borrowed and received of the Lechmere Bank, on sixty days, 1,000 00
April 7. Borrowed and received of Nathan Tufts, on four months, 2,500 00
Received of Mary McLane, for dog license, 1 00
May 21. Borrowed and received of the Lechmere Bank, on four months, . 6,000 00
June 5. Borrowed and received of the Lechmere Bank, on three months, . 1,000 00 Received of the Cambridge Mutual Fire Insurance Company for loss on stable, horses, &c., 862 00
Borrowed and received of the Warren Institution for Savings, on five years, from Dec. 1, 1857, 5,000 00
July 12. Borrowed and received of Geo. B. Ware, on demand, 200 00
July 2. Borrowed and received of the Lechmere Bank, on two months, 1,500 00
July 22. Borrowed and received of the Lechmere Bank, on two months, . 3,000 00
Aug. 19. Received of A. Burton, for dog license, · 1 00 Sept. 21. Borrowed and received of Harvey George, on demand, . 500 00
Sept. 23. Borrowed and received of the Lechmere Bank, on four months, . 6,000 00
Received of T. E. Sherman, for dog license, 1 00
Received of A. Welch, for an old wagon sold, . 3 00
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Received of Francis Tufts, Esq., for fines collected, for violation of by-laws, $6 00 Nov. 19. Borrowed and received of Isaac Barker, Jr., on demand, . 1,070 00
Received of the Commonwealth, on account of School fund,
265 02
Borrowed and received of the Lechmere Bank, on two months, 2,500 00
Nov. 30. Borrowed and received of Harvey George, on demand, .
1,000 00
Received of the Commonwealth, on Pauper account, 17 50
Received of the Commonwealth, on account of Armory for 1857, 100 00
Dec. 27. Received of the Receiver for the Phoenix Bank, on account of money deposited in said Bank in 1844, 12 48 Jan. 24, 1859. Borrowed and received of the Lech- mere Bank, on four mos., 6,000 00
Feb. 26. Borrowed and received of N. H. Blair, on demand,
3,600 00
Received of Mark Fiske, for shed sold, 25 00
Received of sundry inhabitants, on account of build- ing sidewalks in accordance with vote of the Town, 118 11
Received of the Commonwealth, for Armory for 1858, 100 00
$49,227 24
Received of F. L. Raymond, Collector, on account of Tax for 1856, 67 92
Received of F. L. Raymond, Collector, on account of Tax for 1857, · ·
4,188 87
Amount of Tax assessed for 1858, . $41,448 32
Less county tax,
$2,178 90
discounts and abatements, 2,429 22
uncollected,
. 2,957 38
dog levy,
234 00
7,799 50
33,648 82
$87,132 85
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DISBURSEMENTS.
April 24, 1858. Paid the Bank of North America, . $3,100 00
April 7. Paid Nathan Tufts, 2,500 00
Paid Lechmere Bank note, 2,000 00
June. Paid Middlesex Institution for Savings, . 5,000 00
Paid Lechmere Bank,
1,000 00
Paid Lechmere Bank,
3,000 00
Paid Malvina F. Bennett, . 250 00
Aug. 14. Paid Cambridge Mutual Fire Insurance Co., 3,000 00
Aug. 21. Paid Nathan Tufts, .
2,500 00
Aug. 28. Paid Lechmere Bank,
1,500 00
Sept. 23. Paid Lechmere Bank,
6,000 00
Paid Lechmere Bank,
3,000 00
Paid Lechmere Bank,
1,000 00
Paid Geo. B. Ware, .
200 00
Paid Lechmere Bank,
2,500 00
Paid Lechmere Bank,
6,000 00
Paid Nathan Tufts, .
1,500 00
$44,050 00
SCHOOLS.
Paid Charles J. Barry, for fuel, $41 17
D. S. Smalley, for instruction in vocal drill in the Primary Schools, charts, &c., 114 75
Timothy Howe, for repairing roofs of School- houses, 6 00
Merrifield & Co., for repairing stoves, brushes furnished, &c., .. 23 44
Timothy Howe, for repairing plastering, . 5 00
Thomas Young, for care of High School-house, Amos Pierce, for resetting glass, 6 00
25 00
F. W. Frost, for building fires, 10 00
Mrs. Sullivan, for cleaning School-house, . 5 00
Maria A. White, balance of salary due, . 12 50
Lydia S. King, for books furnished indigent children, 37
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