Report of the city of Somerville 1880, Part 12

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 282


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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