USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1874 > Part 9
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66
66
1874 .
20,768
6 136,567 73
Total
89,908 66
$324,184 04
The foregoing does not include the cost of catch basins or of the maintenance of the sewers.
PUBLIC PARK.
In May last a detailed estimate was made of the probable cost of constructing the Park, of which the following is a summary : -
Gravel for filling $18,226 50
Hauling same and grading 35,069 33
Loam and hauling
6,556 10
Gravel for walks and grading
6,044 25
Grass seed, sowing same and sodding
733 60
Paving gutters and pond
9,962 50
Curbing for pond .
3,150 00
Iron fencing
18,195 00
Fountains and lamp posts
1,525 00
Drains and water pipe .
2,800 00
Trees and shrubbery
1,500 00
Superintendence, engineering, and contingencies .
4,523 25
$108,285 53
Or say $108,000.00.
The work will probably be completed at a cost much within the estimate, owing to the gift to the city of all the gravel required for filling, to the favorable contract made for hauling and grading, and to the present low prices of labor and materials.
The pond in the Park will contain about one and six tenths acres, and will have an average depth of about two feet, in winter affording a safe resort for skaters. It should have a constant supply of clean water ; this can be drawn from the Mystic River during high tide, the pond being below mean
175
high water. The use of river water presents a double advantage : it is inexhaustible and inexpensive, rendering feasible the use of the pond as a flushing reservoir for sewers, as already recommended.
A large amount of engineering has been required for the Park, viz : Surveys for establishing its boundaries ; estimates of its cost ; surveys and levels for the same ; partial surveys of each of three hundred lots for ascertaining probable bet- terments ; surveys, plans, calculations, and descriptions of thirty-seven lots taken for the park; plans, calculations, specifications, and contracts for filling, pile work, stone work, etc. ; surveys, grades, and estimates of earth taken from Convent Hill ; lines and grades for filling, for temporary drainage and for the pond ; soundings, etc. etc.
HEALTH.
For the Committee on Health, surveys, plans, and estimates were made and grades given for filling the low lands south of Oliver Street to grade thirteen feet above mean low tide. Grades were also given for filling eight lots of low land.
The amount of low land filled under the Acts of 1872 and 1873 has been about 47 acres. The amount remaining unfilled, not including flats, is about 330 acres, situated in various parts of the city. The amount of flats within the city limits is about 113 acres.
There are many tracts of low land in the city above the legal grade, but which are flooded at each thaw or freshet ; in many cases these can be connected with the nearest sewers at a small expense and with advantage to the sewer, thereby ending a cause of much injury to property and health.
WATER.
A plan nine feet by five was nearly completed showing the city, with all the water pipes, hydrants, and gates therein. Lines and grades were given for the partial construction of Packard Avenue, in which the new twelve-inch main
176
was laid from the Reservoir to Broadway. Grades also were given for pipe or hydrants in Milk, Medford, Oliver, Gil- man, and Oxford Streets.
PUBLIC PROPERTY.
A survey and plan were made of the Police Court Lot, grades given, and the building staked out ; survey made and grades given, for the Bell School Lot, and surveys of the Tufts Street School Lot, and of the Maple Street School Lot.
OFFICE AND CONCLUSION.
The engineering of the city necessarily requires the ser- vices of several assistants, and a large amount of office work has to be performed. The present accommodations for this work are very poor, the office room being small and unfit for its economical performance.
Very respectfully, CHAS. D. ELLIOT, City Engineer.
ANNUAL REPORT OF
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE
CITY OF SOMERVILLE,
For the Year 1874.
IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN,
March 8, 1875.
Referred to Committee on Printing with instructions to print the same in the Annual Report ; also as many extra copies as the Trustees may designate. Sent down for concurrence.
CHARLES E. GILMAN, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, March 10, 1875.
Concurred in.
SOLOMON DAVIS, Clerk.
THE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
IN making their second annual report of the Public Library, the Trustees congratulate their fellow- citizens upon another year of uninterrupted pros- perity in its affairs. The universal encouragement given to their labors is very gratifying to those who have had the immediate care of its interests, and leads them to form high hopes of its future usefulness. Having endeavored to place the best books upon its shelves, the Trustees fully believe that no better collection of its size can be found for public use.
The means at their command have enabled them to purchase the choicest publications, as soon as they were issued from the press, thus keeping the patrons of the Library supplied with the freshest books.
When the Library was organized, it was thought best to furnish it with a considerable number of the best works of fiction, in the hope that the taste of the novel-readers might be so improved as to lead them in time to read books of a more solid character. The experience of the past year fully justifies the wisdom of the policy. Many who were attracted to the Library for the purpose of obtaining a novel are now reading books of a different kind. The Libra- rian reports "that books of travel, adventure, and history are more called for than last year. English History, particularly, has been much read, and at one time, within a few weeks, there was not a complete set on the shelves for reference."
The number of volumes added to the Library since the last report is 823, making the whole number at present 4,730.
180
Credit balance from 1873
$2,224 06
Appropriation for 1874 .
· 1,162 29
Received for catalogues and fines
237 59
Old paper sold
75
Donation from an unknown person
2 80
$3,627 49
Expenses for 1874 :
For purchase of books
. $1,680 75
Salaries .
897 50
Incidentals
297 13
2,875 38
To credit of new account $752 11
The Trustees would earnestly ask the attention of the City Government to the want of additional ac- commodations for the Library. Another room is very much needed for a reading-room, and for the exten- sion of the Library, which has already outgrown its present limited quarters. The Trustees venture to hope that the room now used by the Police Court will, in due time, be assigned for Library purposes, and would respectfully request the City Govern- ment to take such action as may seem to them best looking towards the fitting up of this room, at no distant time, for the uses of the Public Library.
Respectfully submitted.
JOHN P. MARSHALL. AUSTIN BELKNAP. CHARLES H. GUILD.
WILLIAM H. FURBER.
QUINCY A. VINAL. CHARLES G. POPE. S. A. CARLTON.
H. H. BARBER. E. C. BOOTH.
SOMERVILLE, Feb. 2, 1875.
REPORT
OF THE
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR,
SOMERVILLE.
1874.
IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN, January 25, 1875.
Referred to the Committee on Printing, with instructions to print the same in the Annual Report. Sent down for concurrence. CHARLES E. GILMAN, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL,
Jan. 25, 1875.
Concurred in.
SOLOMON DAVIS, Clerk.
-
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
OF THE
CITY OF SOMERVILLE,
For the Year 1874.
TO HIS HONOR THE MAYOR AND TO THE CITY COUNCIL :
Gentlemen, -During the year 1874 the length of time occupied in attending to the duties devolving upon the Overseers of the Poor has probably been greater than that of any previous year. This has been owing mainly to two causes, viz. -
First. The increase in the number of the poor, which is usually in a ratio quite equal to the increase in population.
Second. To the fact that, owing to the unusual depression in business of all kinds, large numbers of the poorer classes have been unable to find constant employment, even during the summer months.
For these reasons the expense for the support of the poor has been large, although the net expense is less than that of the preceding year. This may be attributed in part to the co-operation with this Board of the Somerville Benevolent Society. The officers and members of that Society, with a liberal and commendable spirit, effected much good in giving employment to women, and in supplying the desti- tute with clothing. We regret that the Society is not still in active operation. But there is another Society in our city, officered by efficient and ener- getic ladies, which has been for years, and is still,
184
performing the part of the Good Samaritan. We cannot too highly commend it to all who wish to contribute judiciously to the welfare of the poor.
Early in the year this Board petitioned the City Council to make arrangements for the employment by the city of those men and boys who were unable to find employment elsewhere, and would be obliged, otherwise, to seek aid and support from the city. The City Council responded by giving employment upon the ledges to this class of persons. Over one hundred persons were employed during the latter part of the winter and early in the spring in quarry- ing and preparing stone for use on the public streets, at a cost of $1.00 for each man and 75 cents for each boy per day. A similar plan is now in opera- tion; otherwise the expense of supporting the poor would be greatly increased.
The members of the Board of Overseers of the Poor have, whenever it was in their power, assisted the needy in getting employment, which they have deemed of the highest importance, both to the indi- vidual and to the city. And here they wish to say that a very large majority of those who have through their agency been employed in performing work for the city, have acquitted themselves well, not only as workmen, but in using the money which they earned in maintaining their families. Notwithstanding these arrangements for employing men and boys, there is a large class of poor persons, who, on account either of age or sex, cannot be engaged in work requiring exposure to the weather as well as a great degree of muscular strength and endurance. Many of the latter class, could they find employment suited to
185
their condition, would far prefer it to the humiliation of seeking aid from the Overseers of the Poor.
The individual who will originate and perfect a plan that will give this class employment will richly merit the commendation of all good men.
For some years past, and until within a few months, the sick poor could, whenever deemed advis- able, receive board and medical treatment at the Charlestown Almshouse, but after the time of annex- ation of Charlestown to Boston, the sick were re- moved to institutions intended solely for that purpose, and orders were issued that no more sick poor should be admitted to that almshouse. We are therefore now without any hospital accommodations. The Board petitioned the City Council of 1874 to pro- vide a suitable building for this unfortunate class, and the matter was referred by them to the City Council of 1875. The Mayor of the city, in his inaugural address, recommended the furnishing of a building with three or four rooms for this purpose. As the matter will therefore come before the City Council again this year, we have every reason to sup- pose that it will receive a favorable consideration.
An inmate of an Insane Asylum, whose expenses for many years have been borne by the town and city of Somerville, was found to be possessed of real estate of sufficient value to fully remunerate the city for all past expenses on his account; and through the agency of this Board, such legal proceedings have been instituted as will soon, we trust, cause a reimbursement to the city of the total amount expended for his maintenance at the asylum.
186
Although quite a number of persons have been sent from our city to Insane Asylums during the year, but one of them had a settlement here. The three insane persons who were supported by the city at the time of the last report, and who were supposed to be permanently insane, are still in Insane Asylums. In none of the cases does there seem to be any improve- ment in the condition.
The contributions to the poor are expended mainly to benefit those who ask for and receive only tempo- rary aid, yet there are a few who depend entirely upon public charity ; and that class, in virtue of the Settle- ment Law of 1874, will be considerably increased, inasmuch as many persons who previously had no settlement are now, in case of destitution, entitled to relief from our city.
The Board has received semi-official information that the Charlestown Almshouse is soon to be occu- pied by the poor of Boston exclusively. This change will necessitate the removal of the poor of this city who have been placed in that institution, and conse- quently accommodations must be sought for else- where for our homeless poor. Our plan has been to avoid placing persons in the almshouse who could be comfortably provided for in families at a cost not exceeding the expense at the almshouse. By this plan families have been kept unbroken, and have, in some instances, become entirely self-supporting again. The number of persons. placed in the almshouse by this city has therefore been quite limited. It will be the endeavor of the Board to find, if possible, suitable accommodations for all those who cannot be better
187
provided for elsewhere in the almshouse of some neighboring city or town. Owing to the demands. made upon the Board, the present room is found to be inadequate to transact the necessary business, and it is hoped that more suitable accommodations may ere- long be furnished.
During the year 940 persons have received assist- ance from our city; of this number, 913 received temporary relief or partial support, 9 were fully supported in families, and 18 in the almshouse or other public institutions. Thirteen persons have been removed to the State Almshouse.
The whole amount expended during the year, for all purposes, was . $11,311 42
The amount received from the State was . 430 10
From other cities and towns 1,229 16
And from individuals 481 25
Making the net expense . $9,170 91
The amount paid for burial expenses was 514 50
And for feeding lodgers at the Police Station 203 01
With this brief review of the year just closed, and with increased experience, we enter upon the work of the present year, trusting that we shall receive the co-operation of the City Council in every reasonable effort to relieve the homeless and destitute.
WM. H. FURBER, Chairman, THOS. CUNNINGHAM, ANSEL LEWIS, HORACE CHAPIN, Sec'y,
Overseers of the Poor.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY CLERK.
STATISTICS OF BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS
IN 1874.
THE statistics of Births, Marriages, and Deaths in the City of Somerville, for the year 1874, are as follows : -
BIRTHS.
Number of births registered in 1874
1,012
More than last year
289
Number of males
583 .
Number of females
429 ·
1,012
Born of American parents .
388 .
Born of foreign parents
. 538
American male and foreign female Foreign male and American female
. 53
Unknown .
3
1,012
There were seven cases of twins.
MARRIAGES.
Number of intentions issued in 1874
216
More than last year .
6
Number of marriages registered .
193
NATIONALITY OF THOSE REGISTERED.
Both parties American 91
Both parties foreign . 74
American groom and foreign bride
14
· Foreign groom and American bride 13
Unknown . 1
193
30
190
First marriage
. 346
Second marriage
. 38
Unknown
2
Number of couples
193
= 386
Oldest person married
60
Youngest person married
· 17
DEATHS.
Whole number of deaths in 1874 More than last year
490
65
Ages.
Total.
Under 10
283
Males. 167
Females. 116
283
Between 10 and 20,
17
10
7
17
20 “
30,
44
18
26
44
66
30
40,
37
17
20
37
40
50,
24
12
12
24
50
60,
20
11
9
20
66
60
70,
29
16
13
29
66
70
80,
21
5
16
21
66
80
90,
14
11.
3
14
90 " 100,
1
-
1
1
Whole number .
490
267
223
490
The age of the oldest person who died during the year was 90 years and 2 months.
Born in Somerville
215
Other places in the United States
159
Foreign
112
Unknown
4
490
CHARLES E. GILMAN,
City Clerk.
386
.
LIST OF CITY OFFICERS FOR 18774.
MAYOR. WILLIAM H. FURBER.
MOUNT VERNON STREET. (Ofice, City Hall.)
ALDERMEN. Ward 1.
E. A. CURTIS
Mount Vernon Street.
C. G. ROWELL
Pearl Street.
Ward 2.
CLARK BENNETT R. L. SPEAR
Prospect Street. Berkeley Street.
Ward 3.
S. W. FULLER
Walnut Street.
GEORGE H. DICKERMAN . Central Street.
Ward 4.
THOMAS H. LORD
Chestnut Court.
FRANKLIN N. POOR
Chester Street.
COMMON COUNCIL. WILLIAM H. HODGKINS, President.
Ward 1.
BYRON ROBERTS
Franklin Street.
H. R. BISHOP . ·
Broadway.
RICHARD E. NICKERSON
Pearl Street.
· MARK LAIGHTON .
Benedict Avenue.
192
Ward 2.
I. M. BENNETT E. L. HASKELL
D. A. SANBORN, JR.
E. M. JACKMAN
.
Homer Place. Milk Street.
Prospect Street.
Summit Avenue.
Ward 3.
WM. H. HODGKINS
STEWART FRENCH
B. P. LOVEJOY S. M. PENNOCK
Adams Street. Chester Street. Marshall Street.
Sycamore Street.
Ward 4.
JOHN H. BROOKHOUSE
Willow Avenue.
Belmont Street.
Chestnut Court.
Dover Street.
CITY CLERK.
CHARLES E. GILMAN
Walnut Street.
(Office, City Hall. )
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES. AARON SARGENT .
Broadway.
(Office, City Hall.)
CITY AUDITOR.
CHARLES E. GILMAN
Walnut Street.
(Office, City Hall.)
CITY SOLICITOR. CHARLES ROBINSON, JR., Office 13 Court Square, Boston.
CITY ENGINEER.
CHARLES D. ELLIOT
Oxford Street.
' (Office, City Hall.)
CITY PHYSICIAN.
HORACE CHAPIN
.
.
House, Beach Street.
(Office, Union Square.)
J. B. DAVID .
JOHN J. BROWN
WM. BLANCHARD
193
CLERK OF COMMON COUNCIL.
SOLOMON DAVIS .
. Cross Street.
CITY MESSENGER.
JAIRUS MANN .
Berkeley Street.
CHIEF OF POLICE.
· MELVILLE C. PARKHURST
Milk Street.
(Office, Police Station.)
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
FRANKLIN HENDERSON . Central Street.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SEWERS.
ALBERT KENNESON . . Broadway.
CHIEF ENGINEER OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
JAMES R. HOPKINS . Wigglesworth Street.
WATER BOARD.
CHRISTOPHER E. RYMIES, President, Summer Street.
ROBERT A. VINAL, Clerk . Walnut Street.
CUTLER DOWNER Central Street.
THOMAS CUNNINGHAM Oak Street.
HORACE HASKINS · . Franklin Street.
OVERSEERS OF POOR.
WM. H. FURBER (Mayor), Chairman, ex officio
Mt. Vernon Street.
(Office, City Hall.)
WM. H. HODGKINS ( President of the Common Council ex officio) . · ANSEL LEWIS . · · THOMAS CUNNINGHAM Oak Street.
Adams Street.
Webster Street.
HORACE CHAPIN . Beach Street.
(Office of Overseers of Poor, Union Square. )
13
194
ASSESSORS.
JOHN C. MAGOUN
Broadway. (Office,
THOMAS CUNNINGHAM
Oak Street. City
JOHN C. TENNEY
Mystic Av. Hall.)
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
WM. H. FURBER, ( Mayor) Chairman, ex officio
Mt. Vernon Street.
(Office, City Hall.)
WM. H. HODGKINS, ( President of the Common Council, ex offi- cio)
Adams Street.
Ward 1.
SANFORD HANSCOM
Perkins Street.
S. S. WOODCOCK
HENRY M. MOORE
Pearl Street. Myrtle Street.
· Ward 2.
GEORGE W. DURELL
Summer Street.
CHARLES LOWE
DANIEL E. CHASE
Summer Street. Park Street.
Ward 3.
HENRY F. SPENCER .
Sycamore Street.
REUBEN WILLIS
.
Broadway.
JAMES E. WHITNEY
Sycamore Street.
Ward 4.
HORACE CHAPIN
Beach Street.
CHARLES F. KING
Lowell Street.
BENJAMIN G. BROWN
Professors' Row.
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE CITY COUNCIL. Accounts. - Aldermen Poor and Spear, Councilmen Bishop, Bennett, and David.
195
Burial Grounds. - Aldermen Rowell and Lord, Council- men Laighton, Brookhouse, and Lovejoy.
Claims. - The Mayor, and Alderman Rowell, the Presi- dent of the Council, and Councilmen Brown and Laighton.
Finance. - The Mayor, Aldermen Bennett and Rowell, the President of the Council, Councilmen Brookhouse, Pen- nock, Sanborn, and Roberts.
Fuel and Street Lights. - Aldermen Lord and Dickerman, Councilmen Lovejoy, Bishop, and Sanborn.
Fire Department. - Aldermen Lord and Curtis, Council- men Nickerson, French, and David.
Highways. - Aldermen Fuller and Poor, Councilmen Brookhouse, Laighton, and Sanborn.
Health. - Aldermen Fuller and Spear, Councilmen Roberts, Haskell, and Brown.
Ordinances. - Aldermen Rowell and Fuller, Councilmen Pennock, Blanchard, and Bennett.
Public Property. - Aldermen Curtis and Spear, Council- men Brown, Lovejoy, and Nickerson.
Printing. - Alderman Spear, Councilmen Bennett and Roberts.
State Aid and Soldiers' Relief. - Aldermen Rowell and Bennett, Councilmen David, Nickerson, and French.
Water. - Aldermen Curtis and Dickerman, President of the Council, and Councilmen Jackman and Blanchard.
COMMITTEES OF BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN.
Drains and Sewers. - Aldermen Bennett, Poor, and Dickerman.
196
Elections and Returns. - Aldermen Dickerman and Lord.
Enrolled Ordinances and Resolutions. - Aldermen Lord and Fuller.
Licenses. - Aldermen Bennett and Poor.
Police. - The Mayor, Aldermen Fuller and Curtis.
COMMITTEES OF COMMON COUNCIL.
Elections and Returns. - Councilmen Haskell, Pennock, and Bishop.
Enrolled Ordinances and Resolutions. - Councilmen Blanchard, French, and Jackman.
352 569
1874
206076 RER STACK
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