USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1880 > Part 12
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Ordered, That the owners or occupants of livery or other stables within the city of Somerville shall not wash or clean carriages, or horses, or cause them to be washed or cleaned in the streets or pub- lic ways ; they shall keep their stables and stable yards clean, and no manure shall be allowed to accumulate or remain uncovered out- side of the stable building.
No person shall remove any manure, or cause or suffer the same to be removed, between the first day of May and the first day of November, except between twelve o'clock at night and two hours after sunrise, without a written permit from the Board of Health.
No manure shall be removed or carried through the streets of this city, except in a tight, canvas-covered vehicle, with the covering so secured to the sides and ends of the vehicle as to prevent the manure
221
in process of removal from being dropped or left in any street or way of the city. No manure shall be loaded into a vehicle in or upon any street, lane, or passageway, nor upon or across any side- walk.
SEWERS.
During the year sewers have been laid by the city government in Fountain Avenue and Tufts Street, by means of which the nui- sances in these localities noted in our last report have been abated.
The sewer recently laid in Pearl Street, from Cross Street to Mar- shall Street, will give the owners of property benefited an opportu- ity to drain their wet lands.
The sewage from several houses on Belmont Street discharges into the open gutter. A sewer has been petitioned for, and there is no doubt that it is needed.
The " Patch," Lowell and Hinckley Streets, and Jenny Lind Avenue and vicinity, and the streets on the northeast side of Winter Hill, are in the same condition as mentioned in our last report. The soil in these districts is retentive and generally damp, and cesspools soon overflow.
MYSTIC WATER.
Complaints of the condition of the Mystic water were not as frequent during the past summer as in 1879.
At a recent visit to Dow & Co.'s tannery in Woburn, representa- tives of this Board saw that the filth was discharged, without any attempt at filtration, into one of the tributaries of the Mystic Lake.
At Cummingsville, where the tanneries of John Cummings & Co. and Bishop & Co. are located, upon another tributary of the lake, the filthy condition of the stream below the tanneries, as compared with the clear and sparkling brook above, shows that the method of filtration adopted, and of which mention was made in our last report, is not a success in the winter season.
We are of the opinion that the discharge of this filth into our water supply is injurious to the health of the water takers, and is a probable cause of sickness in our city.
The fact that the chemists employed by the Boston Water Board
222
(whose reports have been published with the annual reports of that Board) claim to show by their analyses that the water "is still good and well suited for domestic supply," is not conclusive that the pollution is not the cause of sickness, as it is well known that water may be polluted and the chemist be unable to detect it by analysis.
The following is from the testimony, before the State Board of Health, of E. S. Wood, Professor of Chemistry at the Harvard Medical School : -
Whether or not water may be contaminated by poisonous animal matter so as to be unfit to drink, and yet not to be detected by a chemist? - A. It is an acknowledged fact that it is a pos- sible thing.
" Q. Poison may result from animal matter getting into the water; that is, water may be in that way poisoned? - A. Yes, sir.
" Q. So that chemical analysis would not detect it? - A. Yes, sir.
" Q. How, then, would it be ascertained by the results to the human system? - A. In the production of sickness.
" Q. Is it acknowledged to be a fact among medical men? - A. That is the prevailing opinion." (State Board of Health, January, 1879, p. 152.)
DISTRICTS.
We continue in this report a comparison of the rates of mortality and the prevalence of dangerous diseases and nuisances in the ten sanitary districts of the city.
In the reports of this Board for the years 1878 and 1879, the loca- tions and characteristics of these districts were given in detail.
The soil in Districts I., II., III., V., VI., VII., VIII., and X. is principally clay or clayey gravel ; in District IV. it is sandy ; and in District IX. it is in some parts sand and in others clay or clayey gravel.
The elevation of Districts I. III., and IV. is low, as is the ele- vation of that part of District VIII. bordering on Mystic River. The remainder of the city is generally well elevated ; the highest parts
223
of Districts II., V., VI., VII., VIII., and X. ranging from 90 to 145 feet above mean low tide.
The accompanying map shows the boundaries of the districts, the locations of sewers laid prior to January, 1879, and their outlets and the location of each case of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhoid fever reported, and each fatal case.
The first of the four following tables shows the number of deaths in each district during the last seven years (exclusive of deaths in the McLean Asylum for the Insane), with the death rate per 1,000 of the population, the area of each district, the estimated popu- lation, the number of dwellings, and the average number of people per dwelling in the year 1880 ; the second shows the five principal causes of death in Somerville, in 1880, with the number of each and the rate per 1,000 of population in each district ; the third shows the number of cases of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhoid fever in each district reported in 1880, with the number of these cases that have up to this date proved fatal, and the number of cases and number of deaths per 1,000 of population; the fourth shows the number of nuisances abated in each district in 1880.
TABLE OF DEATHS IN EACH DISTRICT DURING THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, EXCLUSIVE OF DEATHS IN THE MCLEAN ASYLUM.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
Entire City.
Districts ....
337 A.
107 A.
93 A.
171 A.
361 A.
285 A.
194 A.
482 A.
174 A.
456 A.
2,660 A.
Area .. .
24,985
( Population ..
4,552
4,442
1,721
3,054
4,775
1,055
2,610
777
1,388
611
In 1880.
Dwellings ...
730
679
285
500
816
255
447
160
273
136
4 281
Average in ( each dwell'g.
6.2
6.5
0
No. of
deaths.
Rate
No. of
deaths.
Rate
deaths. No. of
Rate
No. of
deaths.
per 1,000.
No. of
deaths.
Rate
per 1,000.
No. of
deaths.
per 1,000.
No. of
deaths.
per 1.000.
No. of
deaths.
Rate
No. of
deaths.
Rate
per 1,000.
1874
147
37
53
14
24
16
86
33
67
16
34
37
26
11
17
25
18
15
co
8
475
22
1875
149
37
84
22
26
17
56
21
75
18
29
32
32
14
13
19
15
12
7
15
486
22
1876
113
30
62
17
17
12
62
24
00
20
23
26
25
12
11
17
25
22
10
20
426
21
1877
126
32
57
15
00
12
57
22
61
15
31
34
29
13
12
18
32
27
cr
10
428
20
1878
92
22
50
12
32
21
53
19
53
12
24
25
32
14
15
21
17
14
7
13
375
17
1879
92
21
50
12
29
18
62
22
77
17
14
14
22
0
14
19
16
12
9
16
385
16
1880
104
23
56
13
CO
20
55
18
70
15
30
28
32
12
19
24
12
10
11
18
423
17
7 years.
823
29
412
15
180
17
431
23
481
16
185
33
198
12
101
21
135
16
52
15
2998
20
224
Year.
No. of
deaths.
Rate
per 1,000.
No. of
deaths.
Rate per 1,000.
per 1,000.
6.1
5.8
4.1
5.8
4.9
5.1
4.5
5.8
Rate
Rate
per 1,000.
per 1,000.
per 1,000.
Rate
225
TABLE SHOWING THE FIVE PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF DEATH IN SOMERVILLE IN 1880, WITH THE NUMBER AND RATE IN EACH DISTRICT.
CONSUMPTION.
PNEUMONIA.
CHOLERA INFANTUM.
HEART · DISEASE.
DIPHTHERIA.
No. of
Deaths.
No. per
No. of
Deaths.
No. per
1,000 of pop.
No. of
Deaths.
No. per
1,000 of pop.
No. of
Deaths.
No. per
1,000 of pop.
No. of Deaths.
No. per
1,000 of pop.
I
14
3.08
11
2.42
18
3.98
IF
0.88
4
0.88
II.
6
1.35
1
0.23
2
0.45
5
1.12
3
0.68
III
8
4.65
3
1.74
5
2.91
1
0.58
3
1.74
IV
15
4.91
7
2.29
2
0.65
1
0.33
V.
10
2.09
8
1.68
4
0.84
1
0.21
Or
1.05
VI ..
3
2.85
3
2.85
1
0.95
1
0.95
2
1.90
VII.
4
1.53
4
1.53
2
0.77
3
1.15
1
0.38
VIII.
2
2.57
5
6.41
1
1.29
IX
2
1.44
3
2.16
1
0.72
2
1.44
X.
4
6.55
2
3.27
1
1.64
Total.
68
2.72
42
1.68
40
1.60
19
0.76
19
0.76
TABLE OF SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER IN EACH DISTRICT IN 1880.
SCARLET FEVER.
DIPHTHERIA.
TYPHOID FEVER.
DISTRICT.
Cases
reported.
Proved
fatal.
Cases p. r
1,000 of pop.
Deaths per
1,000 of pop.
Cases
reported.
Proved
Cases per
1,000 of pop.
Deaths per
1,000 of pop.
reported.
l'roved
Cases per
1,000 of pop.
Deaths per
1,000 of pop.
I ..
5
1.10
.
11
4
2.42
0.88
14
2
3.08
0.44
II
6
1.35
27
CC
6.08
0.68
4
2
0.90
0.45
III
1
1
0.58
0.58
15
00
8.72
1.74
1
0.58
IV.
5
1.64
7
1
2.29
0.33
T
2.29
V
14
3
2.93
0.63
18
5
3.77
1.05
6
1
1.26
0.21
VI ..
1
1
0.95
0.95
6
2
5.69
1.90
1
0.95
VII ..
4
1
1.53
0.38
14
1
5.36
0.38
3
1.15
0.77
VIII.
1
1.29
co
3.86
1
1.29
IX.
4
2.88
3
2.16
1
0.72
X ..
2
3.27
4
6.55
1
1.64
Total.
43
6
1.72
0.24
108
19
4 32
0.76
39
1.56
0.28
fatal.
Cases
fatal.
1,000 of pop.
DISTRICTS.
15
226
NUISANCES ABATED IN EACH DISTRICT IN 1880.
District.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII. VIII.
IX.| X.
Total.
Population.
4293 4189 1623
2880 4503
995
2461
733
1309
576
23562
Cellar damp.
4
2
1
4
1
1
1
14
Cesspool defective.
1
3
in cellar overflowing.
1
1
overflowing.
2
1
2
6
4
3
18
66 under house .
1
1
Connections of waste with drain- pipes defective.
2
6
5
14
1
5
1
2
36
Drainage defective .
4
2
2
7
4
4
4
6
33
3
6
1
6
3
1
1
3
24
18
2
2
12
7
6
2
5
7
61 2
Drain-pipe broken and leaking. 6 in cellar defertive
5
3
11
1
7
2
29
1
1
4
3
9
4
1
3
1
3
12
Filth in cellar
4
1
1
1
1
1
9
Goat kept in cellar
1
1
Hennery offensive.
1
2
Hens kept in cellar.
Horse kept under house.
1
2
1
3
4
2
4
1
2
22 1
.. on land.
6
2
2
10
66 thrown into vault ..
4
Offal-bucket offensivc.
1
Offensive materials carted through streets .
1
1
Offensive odor in and around dwell- ings
1
1
2
Opening in drain-pipe in yard.
1
1
Refrigerator connected with soil- pipe
1
1
Sink defertive.
1
1
2
Slops thrown on surface
9
2
2
13
Soil-pipe not connected with drain-
pipe ..
4
1
2
6
T
14
open at top to take over- flow from water-tank ..
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
7
Stagnant water in house cellar
5
1
1
1.
1
9
8
1
2
4
1
1
17
28
20
2
17
17
11
4
7
4
117
6
1
2
9
66 not properly constructed
1
8
2
3
14
not properly ventilatcd. offensive
11
5
2
10
8
2
6
2
9
1
56
Wastc-pipes defective.
9
15
8
20
40
1
16
2
3
5
119
stopped up
1
1
1
3
Water-closet defective
1
1
1
1
4
1
2
3
not supplicd with
3
not trapped.
3
2
5
offensive.
1
1
Wooden waste-pipes and drain
5
3
2
4
1
15
149
89
28
107
152
25
81
19
50
30
730
66
not trapped stopped up.
2
1
3
on premises
1
1
2 1
Manure exposed and offensive. Offal in cellar.
1
4 1
1
1
Sewer-outlet cut off
.
.
1
1
60
not ventilated.
in stable cellar on surfacc.
2
2
4
Vault full.
leaking .
...
1
· ...
1
·2
1
1
2
.. not trapped.
filthy insufficiently supplied with water.
1
water.
2
1
7
Stable filthy.
66 and stable premises offen- sive ..
3
66 emptying in cellar. 66 emptying on surface
1
1
1
1
2
* MAP OF-
SOMERVILLE,
VIII
AVE
POVer
MYSTIC
-LINE
MILL POND,
1879.
SCALE.
IMILL
BOND
HEATH ST
AANTAL
MAGEN
MAIN
AVA.
D
D
E
F
0
M
& LOWELL
RAI
.
16.
HINCKLEY ST.
LOWELL ST.
PARTRIDGE AU
JENNY LIND AV
37.
NAPLC
MYSTIC
RESERVOIR
CLA
CLYDEST
VI ALBION
OXFORD
LINDEN
CENTRAL
CHONES
57
57
X
HIGHLAND
CHERRY
AVE.
SUMMER
PITMAN
PARK
HOL AND
Servers shown thus:
Sewer Outlets,
Boundaries of Health Dists.
REPORTED CASES, 1880
Scarlet Ferer, ....
Fatal cases, ... .
Typhoid "
...
C
M
B
R
I
D
5
Diphtheria.
66
..
Showing Locations of Dispa - Dangerous to the Public Health, for the year Jiho. .
G.U.A.R.
MAPLE
FOUNTAIN
. ASYLUM
AUBURN AV
ALSTONVA
CHESTNUTA
LINWOOD
RIVE
MILLER'S
MYSTIC
ALLEN SE
WLLE
GONE
X
APPLETONST
GRANITE
FROST AV
DANE
RAILROAD.
NOLONIHEYMY
CITAN2
VT ST
BROOK.
LOWELS
DELMONT
PORTER
CRAIOIS
CLARENDON
NEWAU
DAVIS
LAVE.
ZAGNAM
BACHAX2
HOUAG
BEACON
CITY
LINE,
.
.
CITY LINE.
HALDEN BRINGE!
RIVER
S
EASTERN
MIDDLESEX
BUNKER TITT
"CANAL OT.
AUSYIN 51
" PLEASANT'S
GRANT
WHEATLAND
CHAUNCEY
PARK .
BROADWAY
AVE.
PENKINE
CINCH\N
VERS
JAQUES
BOSTON & MAINE
R.
RASTERN
MYSTIC RIVER BR. P.R.
TCH!
PEARL
FORSTER
THURSTONE
SCHUL
WALNUT
TENNTE
ST.
AVELOHER
PLEASANT
SUMMIT
COLONAUS
SCHOOL
PACOCOTT
EENKLEY
YERRIAM
C.Powder Hotura
DILSAN
WILLOW
RAILROAD
SUMMER
NISVE -. 2>>
BAOAJJWAY.
HOARISEN
ALINGTON
ARASTOIR AVT.
GUTTER
BOSTON
Tufts·College.
COLLEGE AVE
CHATIS
.
WARWICK ST.
HIGHLAND
MURDOCK ST
BROADWAY.
CENTRAL
BAKLAND
NOLONINSYM
PARKER
DERBY ST.
WINTHROP
BROADWAY.
MAIN
BOSTON
RLINGTON
ALKWIFE
PAMER
AVE
EAST CAMBRIDGE
OGSTON
227
APPROPRIATION FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND EXPENDI- TURES THEREFROM, 1880.
$2,700 00
Appropriation,
Expended : -
For collecting ashes,
$961 23
66 66 offal,
808 01
" filling, in private ways,
7 50
" care of scarlet-fever patients,
24 79
" fumigating,
66 00
" burying animals,
16 50
" oil of peppermint, .
34 00
" disinfectants, bluing, etc.,
.14 63
" vaccine virus, 7 50
" books, printing, and advertising, 91 05
" stamps and wrappers,
5 59
" serving notices, expressing, etc.,
2 05
" salary of inspector,
500 00
66 clerk,
100 00
" one half cost of culvert under Lowell Railroad, 803 50
3,442 35
Excess of expenditures over appropriation,
$742 35
GEO. A. KIMBALL, C. E., Cha rman. JOHN F. COUCH, M. D. JOHN A. CUMMINGS.
228
REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN.
CITY PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE, BOW STREET, Jan. 1, 1881.
To his Honor the Mayor and the City Council :
GENTLEMEN, - I have the honor to present the following report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1880 :-
I have made during the year 2,128 visits. Of these, 2,043 were medical and 85 surgical ; 118 persons were prescribed for in my office ; 15 obstetric cases were attended ; 13 visits were made to the police station ; 38 children were vaccinated ; 26 persons had teeth extracted. I have viewed the bodies of 9 persons who died without a physician in their last illness, and in each case given a certificate of the probable cause of death. Among the duties of the city physician is the examination of supposed cases of insanity. The law requires the sworn statements of two physicians before the re- moval of the patient. I have investigated 9 cases during the year, and signed 7 certificates. It has also been my duty to examine persons who have been drawing pensions from disability resulting from wounds received and exposure during the civil war, to deter- mine whether they are still entitled to relief. I have had 4 cases come before me for examination, and gave certificates in accordance with the results.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN F. COUCH, M. D., City Physician.
INDEX.
PAGE
Alewife Brook
207
Ashes
209
City Physician's Report
228
Dangerous Diseases
210
Death Rate, 1880 (at end of mortality table).
217
Deaths
215
Diphtheria
211
Districts
222
Expenses
227
Goats
208
Grease
208
House Drainage
218
House Offal
209
Licenses
208
Map
227
Measles
215
Membership. 205
Mystic Water
221
Night Soil
209
Nuisances.
205
Organization
205
Privies
207
Regulations
218
Scarlet Fever
210
Sewers
221
Small-pox.
215
Stables 220
Swine 208
212
Waverly Street Sewer Outlet.
207
TABLES.
Diphtheria in 1880, Inspector's Report. 214 A, B
Mortality in eleven Massachusetts cities, 1880. 218
in Somerville, 1880. 216, 217
66 Rates of, in Districts, 1874 to 1880 .. 224
Nuisances Abated, 1880. 206
66 in Districts, 1880 226
Principal Causes of Death, in Districts, 1880 225
Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, and Typhoid Fever, 1880. 214
66 66 66
Deaths, 1877 to 1880 214
66
66
66 in Districts, 1880 225
Typhoid Fever .
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON WATERING STREETS.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Dec. 28, 1880.
Report accepted, and referred to the next city government, with in - structions to print in the Annual Reports for 1880. Sent down for concur rence.
CHARLES E. GILMAN, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Dec. 28, 1880. Concurred in.
DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
DECEMBER 28, 1880.
The Joint Standing Committee on Water beg leave to submit this their final report : -
Total amount paid for watering streets, $2,027 17
Amount paid city of Boston for water, 1,138 20
$3,165 37
Amount collected from abutters,
2,032 78
Leaving net cost to city, $1,132 59
J. J. UNDERHILL.
A. B. GOOKIN.
J. W. BAILEY . H. A. PRATT. THOS. R. ROULSTONE.
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FUEL AND STREET LIGHTS.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Dec. 28, 1880.
Report accepted and referred to the next city government, to be printed in the Annual Reports for 1880. Sent down for concurrence.
CHARLES E. GILMAN, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Dec. 28, 1880.
DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
DECEMBER 28, 1880.
Your Committee on Fuel and Street Lights beg leave to make the following report : -
The whole number of lights in the city at the present time is 374 ; 325 burning gas and 49 burning oil. Thirteen additional lights have been added during the year. The lights have been burning 205 nights during the year, consuming 363,664 cubic feet of gas, of which the Charlestown Gas Light Company furnished 162,524 feet, at an average cost of 33 cents per lamp each night. The Cambridge Gas Company furnished the balance, at an average cost of 4} cents per lamp each night. The total cost each night for gas has been $16.56. The expense of the oil lamps is about 10 cents per night, which includes their care and oil.
J. J. UNDERHILL. SEWARD DODGE. EDWARD MCHUGH. W. E. WELD. THOS. R. ROULSTONE.
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FIRE DEPARTMENT.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Dec. 28, 1880.
Report accepted, and referred to the next city government, to be printed in the Annual Reports for 1880. Sent down for concurrence.
CHARLES E. GILMAN, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Dec. 28, 1880.
DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN, Dec. 28, 1880.
To his Honor the Mayor and the City Council :
The Committee of Fire Department, in closing their labors for the year 1880, would respectfully submit the following report.
The appropriation made for the expenses of the Fire Department was $20,000 ; of this amount, $13,176 was paid for salaries, leaving a balance of only $6,824 for the repairs of buildings and apparatus, supplies for fire-alarm telegraph, and all other necessary expenses.
Your committee have endeavored to keep the department in an efficient condition, and not exceed the appropriation ; we are obliged, however, to show a small excess of $815.52.
When you consider that our city of 25,000 inhabitants is built of the most combustible material, and that with its school-houses, churches, and large business industries, the loss by fire has been only $10,185, with a paid insurance of $6,940, leaving a net loss to our citizens of only $3,245, we think you will agree with us that the Fire Department has been efficiently and prudently managed.
We can also say that the cost of running this department is less than in any previous municipal year since 1872.
Respectfully submitted,
S. M. PENNOCK,
For Committee.
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Dec. 28, 1880.
Report accepted, and referred to the next city government, to be printed in the Annual Reports for 1880. Sent down for concurrence.
CHARLES E. GILMAN, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Dec. 28, 1880.
DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, Dec. 28, 1880.
To his Honor the Mayor and the City Council :
Your Committee on Public Property, having reported upon all matters referred to them, submit the following statement of expendi- tures made under their direction : -
POLICE STATION INCIDENTALS.
Appropriation,
$2,300 00
Receipts for use of halls to date,
247 48
Total,
$2,547 48
Expended : -
For janitor's salary,
$716 66
66 gas,
346 10
66 oil for carburetter,
160 70
66
balance cost of carburetter,
400 00
66 coal and wood,
315 60
66 water,
68 00
66 insurance,
20 00
66 filling and gravel,
54 80
66 repairs,
350 59
sundry small expenses, Total,
115 28
2,547 73
Excess of expenses over appropriation,
$0 25
246
PUBLIC PARK MAINTENANCE.
Appropriation,
$1,200 00
Expended : -
For pay of foreman,
$720 00
" lighting and cleaning lamps,
70 00
66 additional labor, 323 39
66 loam, sods, manure, and gravel,
353 25
66 seed, 14 45
66 plants,
47 00
fertilizer, 4 00
66 repairing fence,
10 00
66 sundry small expenses,
50 88
Total,
1,592 97
Excess of expenses over appropriation,
$392 97
SCHOOL-HOUSE REPAIRS.
Appropriation,
$5,800 00
Receipts for use of halls to date,
798 52
Total,
$6,598 52
Expended : -
For general repairs, furniture, etc., $4,256 14
" repairs and alterations at Morse School,
1,202 83
66 rent,
842 50
66 gas,
200 35
66 insurance,
236 80
trees, loam, and care of grounds,
315 55
emptying vaults,
149 00
66 sidewalk assessment, Bonner Ave.,
120 25
66 disinfectant, 20 00
" stationery and advertising, Total,
11 60
7,355 02
Excess of expenses over appropriation,
$756 50
247
MISCELLANEOUS ACCOUNT.
Expended : -
For City Hall expenses, as follows :
" gas,
$297 61
" wood and coal,
227 41
". water,
50 00
" ice for 1879,
46 80
" repairs and incidentals, 236 60
$858 42
For care of flag-staffs,
21 00
66 carriage hire,
4 00
" care of ward-rooms,
42 30
" use of hall for caucus, 10 00
Total,
$935 72
SCHOOL-HOUSE ON HIGHLAND AVENUE.
Appropriation,
$4,186 80
Transfer from Public Park account, 10,000 00
Total,
$14,186 80
Expended : -
For 23,260 feet of land at 18c.,
$4,186 80
66 advertising and postal cards,
25 13
66 water service pipe,
38 15
66 mason work (on account),
2,470 00
66 architect's services (on account), Total,
300 00
7,020 08
Balance unexpended,
$7,166 72
For the Committee, SEWARD DODGE, Chairman.
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Dec. 28, 1880.
Accepted. Referred to the next city government, with instruction to print the same in the Annual Reports, and sent down for concurrence.
CHARLES E. GILMAN, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Dec. 28, 1880.
DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS, Dec. 28, 1880. To his Honor the Mayor and the City Council :
Your Committee on Claims present herewith the report of the city solicitor of the condition of the city's law business, Dec. 17, 1880, and of suits that have been settled during the year; and recommend that it be printed with the Annual Reports for the cur- rent year.
By order of the committee,
GEO. I. VINCENT, Clerk.
REPORT OF THE CITY SOLICITOR.
26 OLD STATE HOUSE, Dec. 17, 1880.
To the Committee on Claims :
GENTLEMEN, - In reply to your favor of yesterday, inquiring as to the present status of suits at law to which the city is a party, I beg leave to make the following report : -
There are at present upon my docket twenty-one pending cases. Not included in this number are the four park betterment cases of Reed v. Sawin, Reed, guardian for Fisk heirs, Reed v. Massachusetts Brick Co., and Klous et al., tried at the last March Term of the Superior Court in Middlesex, and which are still open, upon the question of the amount of costs which petitioners may be entitled to recover of the city.
During the past year, by trial, settlement, or otherwise, one hundred and twenty-five cases to which the city was party (plaintiff, defendant, or trustee) have been finally disposed of. This list in- cludes one hundred and four trustee cases growing out of the West Somerville sewer case, in which I filed supplementary answers, and which were disposed of at the same time the sewer case was settled.
The following disposition of the cases named in your annual report of Jan. 3, 1880, has been made : -
1. Catherine Fay v. Somerville. Accident case, Somerville Avenue. Tried June 11 and 14, 1880, and verdict in favor of city.
2. Benjamin Poole v. Somerville. Reported to me as settled by the mayor.
3. Catherine Roach v. Somerville. Accident case, Somerville Avenue. Tried April 2 and 5, 1880, and verdict in favor of the city ; and plaintiff excepts.
4. Poor v. Somerville. Park betterment assessment. Settled.
253
5. Inwood v. Somerville. Park betterment assessment. Set-
tled.
6. Bennett v. Somerville. Park betterment assessment. To
be tried this term.
7. Richards v. Somerville. Park betterment assessment. Settled.
8. Strong v. Somerville. Park betterment assessment. En- tered neither party.
9. Klous v. Somerville. Winthrop Avenue betterment assess- ment. Settled.
10. Holt v. Somerville. Chauncey Avenue betterment assess- ment. Settled.
11. Bennett v. Somerville. Chauncey Avenue betterment assessment. To be tried this term.
12. Bennett and Holt, for certiorari, v. Somerville. Chauncey Avenue. Still pending, and referred to again hereafter in this re- port.
13. Cambridge Gas Light Co. v. Somerville. Still pending, and referred to again hereafter in this report.
14. Davis v. Somerville. Accident case, Willow Avenue. Argued March 3, 1880, on exceptions, in the Supreme Court, and since then decided in favor of the city.
15. Stevens v. Somerville. Accident case, Police Building. Case discontinued by plaintiff upon payment of her costs.
The twenty-one pending cases, with a brief statement explanatory of the present condition of each, are as follows : -
1. Willard Dalrymple v. City of Somerville. Petition before County Commissioners of Middlesex County for abatement of sewer assessment, Medford Street. This case was entered in 1875, and reasonable belief that it would be abandoned has deterred me from putting the city to any unnecessary expense in the matter. It will undoubtedly be disposed of at the coming January Term of the County Commissioners' Court.
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