USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1878 > Part 10
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At the beginning of the year Miss H. A. Adams was re-elected librarian. It appears from her annual statement to the Board of Trustees that nearly 1,000 books have been added for the year 1878, making 7,441 now in the possession of the library. That the conduct of the library has been vigilant and orderly is evident enough from the fact that, of the 61,076 given out during the twelvemonth, only four have failed to be recovered. Over a thou- sand new names have been added to the list of borrowers, and as many as 580 volumes have been given out in a single day. Many
180
of the books have now been in constant use for six years, and we have been obliged to withdraw, as unfit for further circulation, a larger proportion than during any previous year. These, so far as desirable, have been replaced by new copies.
The Reading Table has been regularly supplied with some twenty- three select periodicals and papers. It is usually thronged with readers, notwithstanding the overcrowding, the constant bustle, and unwholesome air of the apartment. It has been a matter of constant regret that we could not afford better facilities to the increasing class that resorts to the library for literary recreation or research. There is an imperative need of a reading-room in con- nection with the library, - an apartment separate from the general delivery-room, which can be well lighted and well ventilated, where the general reader may find an agreeable seclusion, and where the inquirer may have ready access to works of reference and ample conveniences for making notes. We should feel it incumbent upon us to press this matter upon your attention with great urgency had not his Honor, the Mayor, so ably forestalled us. You will recall that in his late Address, after a very appreciative notice of the work of the library, he says: "The fact is, that if there is any institution in the city that meets a public want, it is the public library. The room in which it is located is entirely inadequate. It is so crowded during the evenings that not only is it an impossi- bility for one to examine the valuable and costly books of refer- ence, but inconvenience of selecting books is so great that many go away and give up entirely the object for which they came. It is almost a waste of words to say that a city of the size of our own can well afford to furnish books for its citizens, as well as a suitable place for their delivery ; indeed, it would be better to say it cannot afford to refuse such necessities." In the same connection you will find a recommendation that an extension, one story in height, be immediately built to the east end of the City Hall. Such an addition, he thinks, would afford relief to the library for several years to come, and would not cost over $1,350. This suggestion appears entirely feasible ; and unless a better one is submitted, will receive the hearty indorsement of the trustees of the library. We venture to express the hope that you will see the expediency of moving in this matter at a very early day.
There has not been much in the administration of the library for the past year that calls for special mention. Looking upon such an institution as an important educational force in the community,
181
.we have sought to realize to the utmost its capabilities in this regard. We have come to see more and more the importance of interesting the young in books, and of developing the habit of looking to that source for instruction and the occupation of leisure hours. Accordingly we have been led to discuss various practical measures looking to this end. For instance, it has appeared to us that the teachers of our public schools enjoy exceptional advan- tages in this regard, and that, inasmuch as education is of necessity so largely self-education, one of the best services they can render their more advanced pupils is to introduce them to the pleasures and opportunities of a good library. These pupils will need not merely to have the library pointed out; they need incitements to enter, and, above all, instruction as to what and how to read. We have, therefore, in preparation a circular in which we venture to express these opinions, and to earnestly invite the active co-operation of teachers. We are persuaded that such co-operation is entirely practical, and that it would be attended by most excellent results.
The following is the financial statement for the year 1878 : -
Credit balance from 1877,
$858 72
Appropriation by City Council,
1,200 00
Amount of dog license money,
1,080 85
Received for catalogues and fines,
224 07
$3,363 64
Expended for books,
$1,356 21
66
salaries,
1,240 72
" incidentals,
288 65
$2,885 58
Balance to new account, $478.06.
Respectfully submitted.
W. G. TOUSEY, President. For the Board of Trustees.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR,
FOR THE
Year ending Dec. 31, 1878.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN, Feb. 28, 1879. Accepted. Referred to the Committee on Printing, with instructions to print in the Annual Report. Sent down for concurrence.
CHARLES E. GILMAN, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Feb. 28, 1879.
DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
To his Honor the Mayor and the City Council ;
GENTLEMEN, - We would respectfully submit a brief account of the work of the Board of Overseers of the Poor for the year 1878, a statement of some of the results and a few suggestions in regard to the plans for the future.
The poor generally have been supplied at their homes with food, fuel, and other necessaries required to relieve their destitution. To do this requires much time and great care in order to discrimi- nate between the' really deserving and those who would feign themselves as such.
To aid us in this matter, all applicants for aid are required to give us a history of themselves by means of a list of questions we have prepared, which we require them to answer, whereby we obtain information in regard to their settlement, cause of destitu- tion, etc. and which will assist us in subsequent investigation of their cases, if at any time deemed necessary.
We are frequently reminded that we are aiding undeserving per- sons, those in no sense destitute, and in some instances having money in savings banks. In every such instance, upon careful investigation, we have found that our informant and not ourselves had been misinformed. Still doubtless we have assisted some who could have done without the aid, and we would thank any one for information that will help us to better discharge our duties.
ALMSHOUSE.
We have had but one person in the almshouse the past year, and that a woman, an inmate for many years and partially insane.
We would here call your attention to the fact of the necessity of having a place provided for the sick poor. Since of late they will not admit them to the almshouse in Boston, we find it extremely difficult to procure suitable places for them, where they may be made comfortable.
186
STATE POOR.
The law of the Commonwealth requires the Overseers of the Poor to assist every one found within the city limits in a destitute condi- tion, and permits them to remove to the State Almshouse those who have no settlement in the State.
There is still another law which we believe will better protect our city in providing for this class of poor.
This law requires that the Board of State Charities be notified in every instance, and if they find that there is a chance of the family being able to support themselves in four weeks, the aid granted by the city for that time will be reimbursed by the State.
We have complied with the requirements of the law in such cases as seemed to us it applied, and by this means the expenses in this department have been somewhat diminished.
There is a law that applies to the State sick poor, by which the city is partially reimbursed for aid granted them during the time they are unable to be removed to the State Almshouse.
By the conditions of the law we must give immediate notice to the Board of State Charities. In this notice it is necessary to give the name and residence of the pauper, the name of the disease, and facts tending to show that he has no settlement in the State.
It is highly important, in such cases, that the city physician should immediately notify the secretary of this Board, after having ascertained all necessary facts in regard to the case, that he may comply with the essential requirements of the law.
CITY STORE.
The poor during the past year have been supplied with groceries, provisions, etc., from the city store, which is under the control of the Board.
The goods are purchased at wholesale prices and delivered to the poor at such an advance as will cover the expenses of the salary of the store-keeper, and the cost of transportation of the goods to the store.
As we have no almshouse, we therefore provide for some fami- lies who are wholly dependent upon their groceries and provisions.
The principal articles at the store are flour, Indian meal, oat meal, rice, potatoes, beans, salt-fish, herring, corned beef, salt pork, tea, sugar, and kerosene oil. From the above list of articles the poor are supplied by the store-keeper upon the presentation of
187
orders from the Overseers of the Poor, and with the exception of sugar and tea, supplied with the quantity they require, provided it does not exceed the amount granted in the order.
The Board, believing it economy to purchase good articles, have directed the store-keeper to have regard to quality as well as price.
The goods purchased the past year for the store amount to $4,675.15. Stock in store Jan. 1, 1878, $590.34. Store-keeper's salary $300, total $5,565.49.
From this amount of goods 4,426 orders have been given out, at an aggregate amount of $6,266.68. Goods delivered for supply of tramps, $216.49. Goods in store Jan. 1, 1879, $112.29. Cash paid city treasurer, $12.08 : making a total of $6,607.54.
The store has been in operation sufficiently long to show that by careful and judicious management there cannot but result a great saving to the city.
WOOD AND COAL.
In consequence of the numerous and frequent complaints made to us of the delay in filling the orders for coal, the Board, with and by the advice of the City Council, have during the past year erected a shed (adjoining the one built for wood last year) for the storage of coal, whereby we are enabled to deliver under our supervision both wood and coal at the same time, and as we think with a saving in the amount of wood furnished.
The shed built last year for storing, sawing, and splitting wood we consider has been an advantage to the city in a pecuniary point of view, since the tramps and resident applicants for aid have been enabled to saw and split the wood sufficient to supply not only the demands of the poor upon us, but also orders for the schoolhouses and other public buildings, so far as required.
BURIAL GROUND.
Although in previous reports we have called your attention to the importance of having a burial place, we would still continue to remind you of the fact that we are yet without a burial ground. And as we are so frequently called upon to supply this need, it seems to us not only appropriate but exceedingly necessary that our city should possess such a place.
EXPENSES.
The whole expense for the support of the poor the past year has been $17,495.48. Received from other cities and towns, and
188
from the State as reimbursements, $4,942.16 : making the net ex- penses, $12,553.32.
There are many matters connected with this department over which we have no control. For instance, the bills for the mainte- nance of the inmates of the insane asylums must be paid, and of this class of persons there has been quite an increase the past year. While the same is true in regard to the expenses of all reformatory institutions.
While it has ever been and will continue to be our aim to keep the expenses of this department as small as is consistent with the obligations that the community owe to those in want, we feel that neither the City Council nor the tax-payers desire us to go beyond the point.
ANSEL LEWIS, N. HOWE, HORACE CHAPIN,
Overseers of the Poor.
FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
BOARD OF HEALTH
OF THE
CITY OF SOMERVILLE,
FOR THE
Term beginning February 4, and ending December 31,
1878.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN, Feb. 3, 1879.
Referred to the Committee on Printing with instructions to print the same in the Annual Report for 1878. Sent down for concurrence.
CHARLES E. GILMAN, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Feb. 3, 1879.
DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH, CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, MASS.,
January 29, 1879.
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Somer- ville :
GENTLEMEN, - In accordance with our duty we submit this, the first annual report of the Board of Health of Somerville, for the term beginning February 4, and ending December 31, 1878.
The following is a copy of the act of the Legislature of 1877. under which this Board exists and acts.
[CHAP. 133.]
AN ACT relating to the Boards of Health in the several Cities of the Commonwealth.
Be it enacted, etc., as follows :
SECTION 1. In each of the several cities of this Commonwealth, except the city of Boston, the mayor and aldermen shall, in the month of January, in the year eighteen hundred and seventy-eight, appoint two persons, not members of the City Council, who together with the city physician, shall constitute the Board of Health of such city. The board so constituted shall enter upon its duties on the first Monday of February then next succeeding. The terms of office of the two appointed members shall be so arranged at the time of their appointment, that the term of one shall expire on the first Monday in February in each year, after the year eighteen hundred and seventy-eight ; and the vacancy so created, as well as all vacancies occurring otherwise, shall in each of said cities be filled by the mayor, with the approval of the. Board of Aldermen. The members of said Board of Health so appointed shall, in each of said cities, be subject to removal by the mayor for cause ; and for their services they shall receive such compensation as the City Council may from time to time determine.
192
SECT. 2. Each of said Boards of Health shall organize annually by the choice of one of their number as chairman. They may also choose a clerk, not a member of the board, and they may make such rules and regulations for their own government and for the government of all subordinate officers in their department as they may deem expedient.
SECT. 3. The Boards of Health hereby constituted shall have and exercise all the powers vested in, and shall perform all the duties prescribed to city councils or mayors and aldermen as Boards of Health, under the statutes and ordinances now in force in their respective cities, and shall have power to appoint such sub- ordinate officers, agents and assistants, as they may deem necessary, and may fix their compensation and the compensation of the clerk before mentioned ; provided, that the whole amount of such com- pensation shall not exceed the sum appropriated therefor by the City Council.
SECT. 4. In- each of said cities said Boards of Health shall annually, in the month of January. present to the City Council a report made up to and including the thirty first day of the preced- ing December, containing a full and comprehensive statement of the acts of the board during the year, and a review of the sanitary condition of the city ; they shall also, whenever the City Council or the standing committee thereof on finance shall so require, send to the auditor of accounts an estimate in detail of the appropriations required by their department during the next financial year.
SECT. 5. Said Boards of Health and the Board of Health of the city of Boston. in addition to the powers conferred upon them by existing statutes, are hereby authorized to prepare and enforce in their respective cities such regulations as they may deem neces- sary for the safety and health of the people, with reference to house drainage and its connection with public sewers, where such connec- tion is made.
SECT. 6. On the Tuesday next after the first Monday of No- vember next, a meeting of the legal voters of each of the several cities of the Commonwealth shall be duly warned and called by the mayor and aldermen thereof, for the purpose of voting upon the acceptance of this act; and the same shall not take effect in any city unless accepted by a majority of the legal voters present and voting at said meeting. [Approved April 17, 1877.]
193
APPOINTMENT.
The legal voters of Somerville, having accepted the above Act in the manner provided therein, his Honor the Mayor, on the twenty- second day of January, 1878, appointed, and the Board of Alder- men confirmed Charles W. Sawyer as a member of the Board of Health for two years, and George A. Kimball as a member of said board for one year, the city physician, Emory L. White, M. D., being a member ex officio.
ORGANIZATION.
On Monday, the 4th day of February, the board met and organ- ized by the choice of Charles W. Sawyer as chairman, and George A. Kimball as clerk.
At a regular meeting held March 6, George A. Kimball resigned the office of clerk, and George I. Vincent was elected to that office.
At a special meeting held March 9, Wm. H. Brine, Houghton Street, was elected Sanitary Inspector.
Our attention has been devoted mainly to the abatement of nui- sances, the regulating of offensive trades, and the making and en- forcing of rules tending to arrest the spread of dangerous diseases. We have also had supervision of the collecting of ashes and of house-offal, the removal of night-soil, and the issuing of licenses to keep swine and goats and to collect grease.
The remainder of this report consists of the treatment in detail of these items in order as above named, tables showing the rates of mortality in Somerville and other cities and towns, a statement of localities where sewers are especially needed, a comparison of the rates of mortality, the prevalence of dangerous diseases, and the number of nuisances abated in the ten sanitary districts into which the city has been divided, and a statement of the expenses of this department.
Appended to this report is a paper on House Drainage by George A. Kimball, City Engineer, and a member of this board.
NUISANCES.
The following is a classified statement of nuisances abated by our order during the year, arranged by the months in which the com- plaints were made.
13
194
NUISANCES ABATED IN THE YEAR 1878.
January.
February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
July.
August.
September.
October.
November.
December.
Total.
Cellar damp . .
1
2
2
5
1
Cesspool defective
..
full
in cellar offensive
not properly covered .
1
1
3
5
1
13
under house offensive, offensive .
1
1
2
10
1
1
17
Drainage defective
1
18
10
59
43
14
8
1.2
4
1
211
6
·
.
3
3
3
20
Earth-closets defective and offen- sive .
2
Filth at tide gate across Alewife Brook
Filth on premises
4
4
15
5
5
1
1
1
38
Garbage on premises
2
1 2
2
2
24
Offal thrown in street
on land
Offensive material carted thro' streets
1
1
2
1
1
2
4
Slops thrown in court
66
street .
66
yard
Stable drainage defective
..
fil thy
off ensive
1
1
1
1
4
Stagnant water in house cellar ..
5
1
8
7
1
7
2
. 3
3-4
Vault full . .
8
2
49
24
32
12
29
17
9
182
not properly constructed,
5
4
4
4
.
4
6
1
87.
9
5
2
13
5
4
2
1
32 1
Ventilation imperfect
Waste pipes defective
1
1
1
3
2
2
3
-1.
5
25
Water-closet defective . 66
not supplied with
water . .
Water from cellar flowing into well
.
.
.
.
1
· .
1
Total .
2
46
43
205
103
128
70
75
70
29
2
773
·
·
.
2 N.
not properly covered
1
pipe broken and leaking .
1
.
.
1
·
.
1
4
7
.
.
·
.
.
1
Manure exposed
9
2
7
1
1
2
4
Offensive odor from putrid meat
pig-pen .
Polluting natural water-course,
15
5
2
1
1
1
1
4
1
4
3
1
1
1
10
in stable cellar .
on land
under house
1
.
.
.
.
1
.€ under stable .
1
covered
ventilated
1
3
3
7
offensive
1
. .
1
1
3
not trapped stopped up
1
1
1
1
2
1
6
1
1
1
1
1 1 2 HEN. HA
1
2
2
5
2
2
11
1
.
.
1
1
2
Drain stopped up
1
not trapped .
emptying in ditch
6
emptying on surface .
. 10
1
.
·
3
1
1
4
20
Slaughter-house and surround- ings filiby
1
1
1
2
1
1
.
1
·
1
2
1
· ·
. 41
1 2
2
1
1
2 1
9
·
19
1
195
In addition to the 773 nuisances abated, 131 others have been complained of which have been referred to the board of 1879 ; some on account of the closing in of the winter season, and others on account of a lack of sewers in the localities where the nuisances exist. This matter of the lack of sewers is hereinafter noted in detail, under the head of " Sewers."
The 904 nuisances reported were included in 476 complaints, in many cases several nuisances being found on the same premises.
Seven complaints have been received, which, upon investigation, appear to have been made without sufficient cause.
In dealing with parties upon whose premises nuisances have been found, a mild course has been pursued, legal measures being resorted to only after gentler ones have proved of no avail. The re- sults of this method have been very satisfactory, the greater num- ber of nuisances having been abated after sending but one notice.
In the discharge of our duties, we have been obliged to prose- cute only two parties, both of whom were fined by the court.
Thirty-three tenements have been ordered vacated, of which number 21 were put in proper sanitary condition before the time arrived for the enforcement for the order, 10 were vacated volun- tarily, and 2 were caused to be vacated by the Chief of Police.
We have issued 809 notices (of which 86 were served by consta- bles) and 142 letters.
It is the duty of the inspector, not only to examine premises where nuisances are reported to exist, but also to inspect any premises which he thinks may need attention, and report to the board. He is also required to report weekly the condition of prem- ises where nuisances have been reported, until they are finally disposed of.
No set form of complaint is required, nor is the name of the complainant made public, either written or verbal complaints being received at the office
We are always ready to examine gratuitously the premises of any citizen who may so desire.
One nuisance, which has been before City Governments of former years, has been abated by our order, viz., that caused by the drainage from houses in Hamlet Street and Thorpe Place, following through an open water course on land of the heirs of Charles Munroe. and into the Medford Street sewer. This matter came before us early in the year, and notices were sent to the parties
196
draining into this water-course to discontinue so doing A petition was soon after presented to the Board of Alderman for a sewer in Thorpe Place, which was granted, and the laying of this sewer, together with the laying of a covered drain in the water-course on land of the Munroe heirs, afforded the means by which the nuisance was abated. There is still, however, urgent need for a sewer in Hamlet Street, the abutters thereon being obliged to drain into cesspools.
For several years there has been a considerable body of stag- nant water in the bed of Miller's Creek, between Prospect and Allen Streets, forming a nuisance which has been a fruitful source of complaint. By the filling of the bed of the creek, this nuisance has been substantially abated, although the whole territory is not as yet in a perfectly satisfactory condition.
Immediately after the destruction by fire of Messrs. Charles H. North & Co.'s Pork Packing and Rendering Establishment in June last. we visited the ruins, and found a large number of carcasses of swine mixed with the débris, which were creating an offensive odor These were speedily removed by Messrs. North & Co., and such portions of the ruins as were liable to emit offensive odors were covered with charcoal. Later in the season, when the work of clearing the ruins was commenced, a large quantity of the débris was carted upon a vacant lot north of the Fitchburg Railroad, at the corner of Somerville Avenue and Medford Street. This mate- rial, being thoroughly saturated with putrid grease, when spread upon the land and exposed to the rays of the sun, caused a very offensive odor, of which complaint was made. At our request it was immediately covered with earth by Messrs. North & Co., a large force of men being employed, and thereafter every load as it was deposited upon the land was also covered with earth, and by this means and the liberal use of disinfectants, the remainder of the work of clearing the ruins was accomplished without serious annoyance.
PRIVIES. - Offensive privies have caused much comp'aint from those who have suffered from the bad odors therefrom. Wherever such nuisances have been found the owners or occupants of the premises have been notified to abate the same at once, and they have generally complied with such notices. Privy vaults in this city are not as a general thing constructed as they should be, many of them
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