USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1858-1867 > Part 28
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THE FORSTER DISTRICT.
A year ago an appropriation of $5,000 was voted for further school accommodations in the Forster district, with general in- structions to the Committee to exercise their own discretion as to the expediency of enlarging the present school-house, or building anew. On consultation with architects and builders, the Committee were convinced that any attempt to enlarge the present building, on any practicable plan, would be to give the . district an unsightly structure, and so prove an occasion of con- stant and reasonable complaint on the part of citizens residing in that section of the town. It was clear that the sum appro- priated would be inadequate for the erecting of a structure entirely new, and of capacity sufficient for prospective needs. After much consultation, it was deemed the wisest course to provide temporary accommodation for the present exigency, and defer the building of a new edifice till the Town could be in-
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formed as to the exigency, and make appropriations sufficiently large to meet the real necessity. Accordingly, a primary school was opened in a room leased for the purpose, on Broadway,- a school which has rapidly filled, and is now in successful operation. At the April meeting the subject will be laid before the Town, and its judgment and action asked with reference to future operations. The Committee are unanimous in the opin- ion that the district is entitled not only to more ample but to more convenient school accommodations.
FURTHER SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
The annual call for appropriations to build new school- houses, or to enlarge old ones, will be gratifying to citizens in at least one particular. It is statistical proof that the town is growing. And even in a financial aspect the fact is en- couraging, for, with the increase of population, the relative cur- rent expenses are proportionally reduced. It may cost five times as much to educate a thousand children as it will cost to educate a hundred. It certainly will not cost ten times as much. The average expense of teaching each pupil will dimin- ish as fast as the number of pupils is decreased. This explains the fact that the expense per pupil in Boston is less than in Somerville, notwithstanding salaries in the city are considerably larger ; - the salaries of male principals in Boston are twice as large as those paid in Somerville. Our own statistics are to the same effect, as follows :
In May, 1857, the number of persons in Somerville between the ages of 5 and 15 years, was 1,262. The appropriation for current school expenses was $13,500.
In May, 1863, the number between the same ages was 1,888, and the appropriation was $17,500.
It will thus be seen that, in the course of six years, the in- crease of the school population was about 50 per cent; while the aggregate increase of school expenses was hardly 30 per
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cent ; showing an actual reduction of expense per scholar of full 20 per cent ! And this, too, it must be added, notwithstanding the salaries of all the male teachers and some of the female teachers have been raised, in the period, an average of near a thousand dollars a year.
It is worth while to add, in this connection, that, according to the reports of the census, Somerville made the most rapid pro- gress in population, in the period between 1855 and 1860, of any town in the State. Doubtless the census of 1865 will show that the rate of numerical progress has in no degree slackened. And yet the number of masters has not been increased. The 12 additional teachers called for since 1857 are all females. It will not be amiss to state, that the present population of Somer- ville is about 9,000. It is the second town in the county, New- ton being the first.
While the town thus continues to grow, the School Committee will have frequent occasion to reiterate the call for more school accommodations. The need in the Forster District has already been referred to. It must be added, that the need of more school room on Spring Hill is hardly less urgent. The school- house which accommodates the Spring Hill primary, must either be converted into a two-story building, or a new house must be constructed. The necessities of the neighborhood are impera- tive, and the April meeting should take measures to meet the exigency. The time has also come when the town must at least think of enlarging the Prospect Hill school-house, or in some way provide further grammar-school accommodations in the dis- trict. By another year, certainly, definite action in this particu- lar will be necessary. There is one vacant room in the Prescott school-house, and this is the only vacant room in the town! If the school population is to increase at the rate of a hundred a year, it is easy to predict that more room must be furnished.
In concluding this report, the Committee submit the follow- ing : -
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SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
NAME.
GRADE.
TEACHERS.
Free High ..
High .
Franklin.
Grammar
Prospect Hill. .
Grammar
Prescott
Grammar
Henry H. Babcock, Prin. Harriette E. Reed, Asst. Geo. T. Littlefield, Prin. B. Ann Currier, Asst. Oren S. Knapp, Prin. * Lizzie Gerry, Asst. + John Wilson, Prin. Isabel S. Horne, Asst. Edw'd W. Howe, Prin.
Forster
Grammar
Myra C. Emery, Asst. Susanna C. Russell.
Walnut Hill .
Gr., Int. and Pr. Intermediate
C. A. Osborne.
Franklin 2d
Intermediate
Maria L. Macomber.
Prospect Hill.
Intermediate
Elizabeth W. Shelton.
Jackson.
Intermediate
Almira L. White.
Brastow
Intermediate
Mary O. Giles. +
Prescott
Intermediate
Anna H. Hall.
Forster . .
Intermediate
Mary E. Proctor.
Bell .
Primary.
R. F. Woodbury.
Spring Hill
Primary
Betsy P. Burgess.
Harvard
Primary ..
Annette E. Long.
Union
Primary. .
S. A. Sweetser.
Jackson .. .
Primary.
Augusta A. Roberts.
Jackson 2d ..
Primary ..
Amy C. Hudson.
Jackson 3d ..
Primary.
Catharine H. Mills.
Prospect Hill .
Primary.
Irene E. Locke.
Brastow
Primary.
Caroline S. Plimpton.
Prescott
Primary.
Eliza A. Spaulding.
Prescott 2d.
Primary.
Henrietta M. Close.
Prescott 3d ..
Primary.
Susan M. Priest.
Prescott 4th
Primary.
C. A. Farnum.
Forster
Primary.
Ellen P. Shúte.
Winter Hill
Primary.
Emma F. Baackett.
Music Teacher.
S. D. Hadley.
* The vacancy caused in the Prospect Hill Grammar School, by the resignation of Mr. O. S. Knapp, has been filled by the election of Mr. Geo. R. Bradford, late of Medford. t Resigned.
4
Franklin .
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As a general summary it will thus be seen, that to meet the wants of the 1,888 persons between the ages of five and fif- teen, last May - substantially the school population - the Town has one High School, four Grammar, one Mixed, seven Intermediate, and fourteen Primary, making a total of twenty- seven schools, and thirty-three teachers.
Respectfully submitted,
CHAS. S. LINCOLN. CYRUS F. CROSBY, JOHN G. HALL, ISAAC STORY, GEORGE D. CLARK,
GEO. H. EMERSON, AUSTIN BELKNAP,
JOSHUA H. DAVIS, BENJ. F. TWEED.
School Committee.
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
The closing days of the Municipal year of 1863-64 admonish the Board of Selectmen that their constituents expect of them a Report of their acts in the discharge of their official duties, in doing which they feel that they have been performed in all honesty, and with a faithful care for the various interests entrusted to their charge.
The past year has been full of glorious achievements in the cause of our country ; the limits of Secession, territorially, have been largely curtailed and the future looks bright for the extension of Liberty and Union.
Great sacrifices have been made in men and money, and more may be anticipated. Our good Town has been called upon to sustain its full share, and nobly has she acquitted herself in the past, as we have full confidence she will continue to do until the end.
In the contribution of men, and the pecuniary means to sustain the Government, Somerville has never faltered; in the various calls made, she has always been well in the advance, and where the citizens have been called upon for material aid, none have exceeded them in liberality ; they feeling it to be a duty each individual owes to the common cause, to give freely of the goods which God in his providence has allowed us to acquire
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under the sure protection of our glorious Constitution, Union and Laws. We congratulate our citizens on the general prosperity of the inhabitants of this Town. Business of all kinds has been, and still continues to be, good ; many of our people have succeeded far beyond their usual expectations, and this is not an exceptional case for Somerville, but applies equally to nearly all loyal portions of our country, and this prosperity is not the least thorn in the side of Secession, " May its shadow never be less." The Selectmen in making their Report must give large notice to the great right-arm of the nation,
THE MILITARY.
Somerville at the commencement of the year had two full Companies in the field, viz : Co. E, 39th Regiment, M. V, Capt. Kinsley, and Co. B, 5th Regiment, M. V. M., Capt. Parker, also some three hundred men and officers in the various Regiments and Batteries of Massa- chusetts and other loyal States. In June last the citizens assembled en masse to receive Capt. Parker and his command on their return from a campaign of nine months in the Government service, and the Selectmen joined heartily with the people in giving them a recep- tion such as they had a right to expect, as a feeble return for their large personal sacrifices. It is with thanks to a merciful God that we are able to say that the ranks were full with a single exception ; the name of Samuel G. Tompkins now furnishes one link in the chain of history, and is cut deep in the marble shaft in our burial place, there to remain with those of his fellow martyrs, the future glory of Somerville.
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Capt. Kinsley's Company still remains in the field, reduced materially in numbers from the various vicissi- tudes of war ; not many deaths have occurred but long marches and exposure to the inclement seasons have their effect on companies as on individuals. Seven of our boys have been taken prisoners, and one of them, Henry Howe, a brave fellow, who was never known to falter in the full duties of a soldier, has to be numbered with the victims of inhuman treatment in the vile prisons at Richmond.
The list of deaths, however, since the rebellion com- menced, among the seven hundred volunteers from the Town, as far as they have come to our knowledge, will not much exceed thirty ; this being a very small per centage, and calls for gratitude to the Almighty for his kind protection of our noble men.
The Selectmen have an arduous duty in the distribu- tion of the State Aid ; the sum of seventeen thousand five hundred and sixty-five dollars has been paid by them in the year 1863, to about 225 families ; a large amount of care is necessary to guard against illegal payments, as the State will not refund a dollar unless paid according to law. In many cases desertions take place from the army, and the family continues to apply and receive the aid with knowledge of the fact. The Selectmen have no means of information, until perhaps some months afterward they receive notice from the authorities at the State House, dated back to the time of desertion, the Town in such case sustaining the loss.
At the session in April last a law was passed by which persons of the Town, who enlisted out of the State lose all claim to aid ; several are thus situated,
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and the Town must assist them. Other cases requiring aid are those of persons discharged at the expiration of terms of service, with the seeds of disease in their sys- tem rendering them unfit for labor ; these persons can- not be reached by State laws, but have been to some extent assisted by the Board. In 1861 at a Town meet- ing, the sum of five thousand dollars was voted to meet the emergency, but the fund was never raised. The Selectmen have however used for such purposes from the amount raised for State Aid. Several families of the soldiers have been during the severe weather sup- plied with wood and coal, when in the judgment of the Board extra aid seemed absolutely necessary. In most cases they had not received the pay allotted them. Such instances require great caution, as a portion of all communities, under the impression that this aid is a legal claim, press it when they could do well with- out it.
The Treasurer has received from the State 12,993,24 dollars of the amount paid, as State aid during the year 1862. The late calls on our Town for men will keep the sum for this year fully up to that of last, so that it will be necessary to authorize the Treasurer to borrow money to meet the demand. The Interest account will be increased by State Aid about one thousand dollars.
During the month of July last, our citizens had to undergo the excitement incident to a draft. It proved an experiment in the true sense of the word, and a failure in the anticipated increase of the army ; but we are proud to say that all of our citizens answered its claims without a shade of resistance in any shape ; and to the draft of 186 men, 183 responded promptly-the
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result to the Government was the receipt of three thou- sand dollars in commutation money, four substitutes, and one good soldier, George Wood.
On the 17th of October, the President made a call for three hundred thousand volunteers, and the Somerville quota was set at ninety-two, to be filled by January 5th, 1864. At an extra session of the Legislature, in No- vember, liberal bounties were offered by the State, and under the order of the Governor a system of recruiting was established, under very strict regulations. In ac- cordance with these orders a recruiting office was opened in our Town, and, at a large meeting of the citizens, a War Committee of twenty was chosen to counsel and assist the Selectmen as to the best method of filling our quota. Several war meetings were held, but with little success. All were anxious that the men should be pro- vided, but few ready to respond to the call personally. We were soon obliged to follow the example of our neighboring towns. A Town meeting was called, at the suggestion of the War Committee, but it was under- stood that money to any large amount could not be legally raised, and at the meeting the small sum of $2,000 was voted, in anticipation of the recruiting money, to be refunded by the Government on all en- listed men. This sum not being, under the orders from the State, available as extra inducement, the Committee called a meeting of all enrolled citizens, to take counsel in the matter. A soliciting committee was appointed to raise funds to meet the emergency, and a- liberal re- sponse being made, the Committee entered the market for recruits, and, after much labor, and with the re- enlistments in the army, were, on February 1st, (the
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time having been extended to March 1st,) able to report the quota of ninety-two full. At this time a second call from the President for 200,000 more volunteers was made. In answer to this the citizens were assembled at the Town Hall, and the old committees were again re- quested to act for the people in filling the quota of sixty-one men, and the soliciting committee requested to open the subscription list in aid of the cause.
This call has been very fairly met by our liberal- minded citizens, and at this date our quota, as under- stood by us, is nearly or quite full. The duty of the Board in this matter has been arduous, and of a very unthankful nature. It is almost impossible to satisfy all; cavillers always did and always will exist; but the Board feel that their efforts have been directed to the end required by their constituents, and they have done their best under the circumstances. To the War Committee they are under many obligations, as they have had their almost unanimous approval, aid and counsel, in every point connected with recruiting.
In the payment of State aid, which has become a large item in the disbursements, this Board feel that it should be arranged so that our auditors could be able to pass more definitely on the matter, by requiring the Selectmen to give "orders," and the Treasurer to pay the same, as in other town business. This would greatly relieve the Board, and though largely increasing the duties of the Treasurer, would be more satisfactory to the citizens.
Many of our citizens are not aware of the fact that our Town has in its burial-ground a beautiful monument, erected under the supervision of the Military Committee
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of the S. L. I., with the balance of the fund contribu- ted by the citizens, for the benefit of said Company, in April, 1861. They have done a grand and noble thing. The monument is intended to bear the names of all those from our Town who may be killed, or die from disease, while in the service of the United States. It is, in style and conception, an ornament, and an honor to those who caused its erection, and in time to come, if not at present, will be fully appreciated.
The lot in the burial place was presented to the Committee by our worthy citizen Enoch Robinson, Esq., the Board voting a small sum for enclosing the same. The monument, a beautiful work of art, was manufac- tured by one of our citizens, Charles E. Hall, of the firm of Powers & Hall. It will repay our citizens to examine this memorial of our brave men.
HIGHWAYS.
Our streets and sidewalks have had the usual amount of attention, and at present are in a very good condition. One great cause of expense on our streets is the side- track railroads, in many instances confining the water to the road ; in other cases, when heavy rains occur, throw- ing it across the street, gullying, and destroying in a few hours the work of many days. It is to be hoped that this cause of trouble will, at no distant day, be done away with, and horse railroads located where they belong - in the middle of the street.
Mount Pleasant Street in East Somerville, has been put in excellent condition on petition of the abuttors.
5
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The expense was rather large, but the work has been well done, and it is now a model street for Somerville.
On account of the press of business on the Lowell Rail Road, and the great scarcity of laborers, the Com- pany have not furnished us with all the gravel from Winchester that could have been used to advantage. They have been notified of the quantity required for the coming year, and will no doubt furnish it in due time.
The disbursements under this head will come much under the appropriation, notwithstanding the increased rise in the price of labor, and other attendant require- ments in this department.
STREET LAMPS.
Our citizens in different sections of the Town have availed themselves of the opportunity offered by a vote of the Town last April, that when abuttors should fur- nish posts and lamps, they would be located, and lighted at the expense of the Town, under the direction of the Selectmen. At this time we have ninety-two lights illuminating our highways and byways, and others are paid for, and will be located at the opening of Spring. These lamps and posts have been set at an expense of about $2000, which sum was liberally contributed by the citizens, and have now become Town property, to be taken care of, and lighted at the expense of the Town. It is surprising how soon some of our old citi- zens realize the advantages derived from " more light.',
The expense of each lamp, including gas, lighting, repairs, &c., will not vary much from twenty dollars per
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year, and as we shall probably have by the first of July 125 lamps, it will require an appropriation of $3,500 to meet this additional expense, as some portion of the charges to the Town for piping, &c., has not yet been paid, and this in our opinion should find no opposers, as light in our streets is one great step in the march of improvement, and a certain per centage of gain on the value of Real Estate. All such expenditures should and will undoubtedly meet with approbation from our wealthy men, as they are in a great measure to reap ad- vantages therefrom. The large increase in our popula- tion during the last decade, is a sure precursor of the future, and with the many facilities for reaching our Town, and the great advantages to people settling in this place over those in the crowded cities, we may an- ticipate at no far distant day a population double at least our present number, thereby, bringing wealth to those of our citizens, who at the present time feel poor, in holding large amounts of the so-called unproductive Real Estate. All that is needed to bring about this much wished for state of things, is a liberal line of policy in our public improvements. Let everything when done, be well done, and with an eye to the future growth of our Town.
CEMETERY.
In April last the Selectmen were appointed a Com- mittee to select and purchase a lot of land for a Ceme- tery, the cost not to exceed $12,000, with instructions to sell the property known as the Town Farm, and also
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a lot owned by the Town, on the corner of Franklin Street and Broadway, if, in their judgment, it was thought expedient. To this subject the Board have devoted a large share of attention, and thought, and, after a thorough examination of all the sites at all available for such purposes, have come to the conclu- sion that the Town does not contain a lot of sufficient size suitable for the purpose-all lots offered and ex- amined having radical objections, either of soil, water, or locality-and they have not felt themselves justified in making so large an investment (at this time of heavy taxation), unless they could do so with a fair belief that their action would meet the entire approbation of our citizens.
A small lot, of one or two acres, might be found at a fair price, that would answer all the present require- ments for town purposes ; and the Board are unanimous in the opinion that this would meet the wishes of a large portion of our citizens.
According to the vote, the Town Farm and lot were offered at public auction. The lot was sold at 25 cents per foot, netting $3,277.22. The bids on the farm not coming up to the views of the Board, it was not sold.
The town undoubtedly requires a public burial place, and this Board would recommend that a small lot be purchased for this purpose.
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CHARLESTOWN WATER WORKS.
By authority granted them by the Legislature, the Charlestown Water Commissioners have commenced, and nearly completed the laying of the main pipes through this Town, and the work along the whole line is being completed as fast as possible, and although subject to many delays the Commissioners hope to distribute the water to consumers next Fall. There are to be hydrants 500 feet apart connected with the distributing pipes, and unfortunately for the good of the street, that part of Broadway in which the pipe is laid, is to be again dug up that the distributing pipes may be laid. The Com- missioners are desirous to know in what way the Town prefer to be supplied with water. They say the Town can have the water from the main, and distribute it as they may think best, or if preferred, as soon as a suffi- cient number of consumers apply for it, to warrant the laying of the pipes, they will do it, and sell the water on the same terms as to the people of Charlestown. -
HORSE RAILROADS.
During the past year, this Board has been called upon to act on two applications for the extension of Horse Railroads in Somerville. The first on Milk street, from the flag staff in Union Square, to connect with the Cambridge Road at Miller's Creek. This location has been granted to the entire satisfaction of the Company, and also on such terms as will give to the Town a good centre track road ; thus giving the citizens an opportu_
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nity to compare its qualities with the side track. There has been considerable complaint over the location, at the supposed exorbitant demands of the Selectmen on this Corporation, while granting to them the franchise to use one of our most public thoroughfares for an unlimited time (for the public good to be sure) but still, for the private emolument of the Company. This came, as in most cases of the kind, from interested Stockholders, but without any foundation in fact. The Board has been governed in this matter, as in all others, by their sense of duty to the Town they represent : First, to see that the Company were required and compelled to build a first class road, with every guard necessary to secure as good accommodation, and at as low fare, as our neigh- bors enjoy ; secondly, without being oppressive to the Company. This we think we have accomplished, as before stated, to the mutual satisfaction of all parties.
The second application was for an extension of the Middlesex Road, on Broadway, to Franklin, through Franklin to Pearl, through Pearl into Cross, for a stop- ping place. On the various petitions in regard to this location, the citizens on the route, and in the vicinity, have had several hearings before this Board, and after a very thorough examination of all the facts and features of the case, have granted the location, with the full conviction that the true interests of the town, and especially this vicinity, would be benefitted thereby. In granting this location, the same care for the public good has been used, as on the other road.
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