USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1885 > Part 6
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. 410 47
66
" 1884 ·
574 34
66
66 " 1885 . 3,468 30
7,448 71
Balance to debit in account, 1886, -
Being uncollected taxes for 1882 . . $3,248 76
66 " 1883 .
. 3,998 45
60
" 1884 .
. 46,169 44
66
1885 . 113,086 94
166,503 59
Amount carried forward .
. $602,257 55
W. S. Walker, painting, etc.
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT. 111
Amount brought forward $602,257 55
DEBIT.
Balance from 1884 . $173.652 11
Appropriations, amount assessed for
current expenses 388,340 08
State of Massachusetts, amount assessed
for State tax
19,725 00
County of Middlesex, amount assessed
for county tax .
12,792 26
Overlay and abatement, amount added by the assessors 7,748 10
$602,257 55
TEMPORARY LOANS.
CREDIT.
Balance from 1884
. $175,000 00
Cash, borrowed by authority of the city council, on city notes, as fol- lows, viz. : -
March 30, Boston Five Cents Say- ings Bank, on eight months, at 32 per cent . $150,000 00
May 29, Brewster, Cobb, & Esta- brook, on five months, at 3 per cent .
75,000 00
June 30, Blake Brothers & Co., on four months, at 22 per cent 65,000 00
Aug. 14, F. S. Moseley, on four months, at 22 per cent 60,000 00
Oct. 29, Blake Brothers & Co., on four months, at 22 per cent .
100,000 00
Dec. 10, Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, on four months, at 3 per cent .
75,000 00
525,000 00
$700,000 00
DEBIT. Cash, paid the following named : -
Warren Institution for Savings, note dated Sept. 30, 1884 . . $50,000 00
Amounts carried forward
. $50,000 00 $700,000 000
112
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward $50,000 00 $700,000 00
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
note dated Sept. 30, 1884 . 50,000 00 Commonwealth of Massachusetts, note dated Nov. 29, 1884 . 75,000 00
New-England Trust Company, notes dated May 29, 1885 . 75,000 00 Blake Brothers & Co., notes dated June 30, 1885 . 65,000 00
Boston Five Cents Savings Bank,
note dated March 30, 1885 . . 150,000 00 New-England Trust Company, note dated Aug. 14, 1885 . 60,000 00
$525,000 00
Balance to credit in account, 1886 .
175,000 00
$700,000 00
WATER SERVICES.
CREDIT.
Cash, received of J. W. Brooks, service materials and labor $19 15
Charles V. Buskin, lined pipe . 6 73
William L. Clark & Co., labor 8 00
Milo Crane, service-pipe . 6 00
Chase & Dutch, fittings and labor 7 03
J. F. Davlın, old pipe 1 12
D. L. Demmon, service-pipe 2 60
Levi F. S. Davis, 7 44
James Dugan,
3 50
Alvah L. Hollander, 66 6 12
James A. Littlefield, 66 20 50
Lincoln Schoolhouse account, service-
pipe . 6 79
Albert S. Pillsbury, service-pipe 5 36
Richard C. Pickthall, .
3 00
William H. Quinn,
13 20
Amount carried forward . $116 54
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT. $113
Amount brought forward . $116 54
Levi Russell, hydrant, etc. 8 00
L. J. Sturtevant, gate-box, etc. 7 15
Schoolhouse incidentals account, re-
pairs .
7 87
Patrick Shannon, service-pipe . 12 20
Samuel Taylor,
29 00
John Wield,
24 77
Edward L. Weeks, fittings 2 00
S. P. Wilcox, service-pipe 19 05
George White, 66 8 72
William P. Walker, service-pipe
5 47
Josiah D. Johnson,
11 16
John F. Nickerson, . :
31 92
North-avenue Savings Bank, repairs, 2 15
Sundry persons, money not called for, 8 25
$294 25
Water-service assessments, pipes laid,
cost of service ·
. 5,262 83
$5,557 08
DEBIT.
Cash, paid laborers . $2,026 16
Walworth Manufacturing Company, pipe and fittings . 326 99
Chadwick Lead-Works, pipe 49 04
Sumner & Goodwin, pipe, etc. 385 07
George K. Paul & Co., pipe
537 62
Boston Lead Manufacturing Com-
pany, pipe . 79 09
Ward & Curley, fittings . 482 36
Dalton & Ingersoll, fittings
278 41
Fred. Adee & Co.,
3 90
James P. Fegan, hand-screws, etc. .
159 58
Davis & Farnham Manufacturing
Company, castings 296 89
Hardwick & Ware, hydrants 10 40
Boston Belting Company, washers
26 09
.
.
Amounts carried forward · $4,661 60
$5,557 08
114
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward $4,661 60 $5,557 08 Wadsworth, Howland, & Co., ser- vice-boxes . 10 30
A. J. Wilkinson & Co., tools . .
15 68
Dodge, Haley, & Co., tools 1 03 -
Guthrie Wrench Manufacturing Com-
pany, wrenches . 16 00
Boston Nut Company, screws 5 10 .
W. L. Snow & Co., lead . 1 88 .
A. C. White, old pipe
8 00
Charles Holmes & Son, plumbing 10 63
James F. Davlin, plumbing 34 40
. Howe & Flint, plumbing . 1 00
John Clary, lumber .
31 30
Union Glass Company, lanterns and
globes . 14 40
S. J. Wood, filing saws 1 45
Charles Bartley, supplies .
.
1 21
J. Halloran, charcoal
80
J. McCarthy's Sons, charcoal .
2 00
Aaron R. Gay & Co., stationery
5 25
Barker & Tibbetts, expressing . 4 30
John Battles, use of horse 11 25
N. Dennett, paid for freight ·
.
55
R. P. Benton, rebate on service bill . 10 00
$4,848 13
Water maintenance, balance transferred .
708 95
$5,557 08
WATER-SERVICE ASSESSMENTS.
CREDIT.
Cash, received of sundry persons for water
services
. $4,631 66
Balance to debit in account, 1886 . 1,285 98
$5,917 64
DEBIT.
Balance from 1884 .
$654 81
Water services, service-pipes laid in 1885, 5,262 83
$5,917 64
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT. 115
WATER MAINTENANCE.
CREDIT.
Appropriations, amount assessed
$20,000 00
Interest, transferred
1,200 00
Water services, transferred
708 95
Cash, received of town of Arlington, clamps
$10 98
City of Boston, tee . ·
3 06
" " Chelsea, pipe, fittings, etc. .
158 89
Chadwick Lead Works, discount
1 50
Fire-department accounts, cement, etc. 1 50
F. P. Herrick, old iron
1 50
Massachusetts General Hospital, labor and materials 1,226 01
Middlesex Bleachery, pipe, etc.
195 18
Town of Medford, tee
1 80
R. J. Nourse, old pipe 3 24
John P. Squire & Co., clamp .
75
Somerville Iron Foundery, old iron 8 87
Union Glass Works, labor, etc. 2 50
E. C. Wright, 1 05
Town of Winchester, cones, etc. 35 00
Sundry persons, money not called for, 2 49
1,654 32
$23,563 27
DEBIT.
Cash, paid laborers . $8,381 37
Nathaniel Dennett, salary as superin- tendent .
1,500 00
James T. Cummings, salary as clerk of board
100 00
Davis & Farnham Manufacturing Company, castings 630 67
Somerville Iron Foundery, castings 155 23
T. B. Austin & Co., iron
44 03
Amounts carried forward · $10,811 30
$23,563 27
116
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward $10,811 30 $23,563 27
Chapman Valve Manufacturing Com- pany, gates, etc. . 266 01
Coffin Valve Company, hydrants, etc. 194 50
Walworth Manufacturing Company, pipe, etc. 126 12
Boston Lead Manufacturing Com- pany, pipe, etc. 194 28
George T. Cochnower & Co., tools, 31 50
Pattee & Draper, flange, etc. 15 42
Bingham & Taylor, valve-box . 4 00
A. J. Wilkinson & Co., tools, etc. 7 38
Gloucester Iron Works, iron pipe . 8,322 25
Chadwick Lead Works, lead, etc. 28 87
Dodge, Haley, & Co., drills, etc. 13 35
Dodge, Gilbert, & Co., jack-screws.
7 20
Cook, Rymes, & Co., picks, etc.
50 50
Boston Nut Company, bolts
20 04
Ware & Co., resonanter . 2 00
Thomas Watkins, pipe-joiner 14 50
John Robbins, washers
6 55
George K. Paul & Co., pipe
82 06
George D. Goodrich & Co., drain- pipe 1 44
D. Cutter, snaps
1 25
F. Ivers & Son, gong-bell 3 50
G. M. D. Fernald, repairing gong 2 50
Hall Rubber Company, packing, etc. 4 35
L. G. Burnham & Co., cement, etc.
44 60
E. Fitzgerald, sand .
8 80
S. W. Fuller, lumber
47 69
John Clary, 66 22
E. D. Sawyer & Co., lumber 6 67
Watson & Bisbee, 75
Hosmer, Crampton, & Hammond, hay 54 27
R. W. Willey & Co., hay and grain, 143 34
Fulton O'Brion, 29 66
Amounts carried forward
$20,612 87
$23,563 27
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT. 117
Amounts brought forward $20,612 87 $23.563 27
S. C. Hayes & Co., hay and grain 63 53
Charles B. Edgerly, grain 43 50
Sewall & Day Cordage Company, rope, etc. 14 52
Union Glass Company, burners,
chimneys, etc. 5 40
William H. Pool, burners 1 50
D. J. Bennett, leathering shafts 2 50
H. W. Raymond, hardware .
98 85
Charles Holmes & Son, ".
36 07
Howe & Flint.
38 46
Whitney & Snow, .
1 15
W. L. Snow, .
2 35
Seward Dodge, blacksmithing, etc. 156 03
Charles Maguire, horseshoeing 39 70
James P. Fegan, machine-work 36 53
E. Spalding, harness-work 46 65
J. Leland, wheelwright-work 6 80
D. P. Bucknam, mason-work 15 00
C. Sullivan, plumbing
6 60
Union-square Carriage Company,
painting 60 50
E. I. Train & Co., powder, etc. 4 31
R. Falvey, blasting . 10 00
Flynn Brothers, paper
6 15
B. L. Howard. papering .
5 00
Joseph J. Giles, furniture 36 10
Jackson, Caldwell, & Co., furniture,
38 00
Samuel Walker & Co., oil, etc. 9 69
J. H. Brooks, duck . 4 09
Nickerson & Baxter, stable-brooms, etc. 4 59
E. S. Conant & Co., salt
5 10
Elias Lathrop, hoof-ointment
2 00
W. S. Barnes, horse
225 00
Aaron R. Gay & Co., stationery 16 78
J. O. Hayden & Co., printing, etc. 29 75
Amounts carried forward
$21,685 07
$23,563 27
118
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward $21,685 07 $23,563 27
J. O. Hayden & Co., paid for paint- ing wagon 30 00
E. J. Burtt, stationery, etc. 55
W. A. Greenough & Co., directories, 4 00
New-England Telephone & Telegraph Company, rentals and service 90 70
S. J. Wood, fitting keys, etc. 6 75
B. F. Johnson, netting . 80
Horatio Wellington & Co., cement, fuel, etc. 205 20
G. M. Winslow & Co., fuel 15 58
C. P. Ladd & Co., 6 50
S. M. Fuller, 3 35
J. McCarthy's Sons, charcoal . 12 40
Charlestown Gas Company, coke
50
Cambridge Gas-light Company, gas . 27 38
Theodore S. S. Baker, inspecting water-pipe .
168 00
George A. Kimball, travelling ex- penses . 11 00
Martin Gill, teaming pipe
207 59
A. M. Prescott, teaming . 2 00
Caldwell & Staples, "
5 90
J. F. Manning,
155 68
Barker & Tibbetts, expressing . 12 10
W. J. London, 60 50
N. E. Fitz & Co., wharfage 67 75
Nathan W. Bridge, freight
433 14
E. H. Bright, paid for freight .
55
N. Dennett, gas-fixtures and freight,
18 97
American Rubber Company, mats
3 37
City of Boston, water for puddling 9 41
water-rates 10 75
John Clark, labor 2 00
W. C. Crane, premium of insurance . 20 00
George B. Ager, clerical services 30 00
David Arthur, damages .
10 00
Amounts carried forward
$23,257 49
$23,563 27
119
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
Amounts brought forward $23.257 49 $23.563 27
L. A. Tinkham, damages . 15 00
S. D. Carter, 66 50 00
Milo Crane, paid by him for damages, 50 00
Highways account, stone . 3 00
Nelson & Thompson, hack hire
4 00
$23,379 49
Excess and deficiency, balance to credit
of account . 183 78
$23,563 27
WATERING STREETS.
CREDIT.
Appropriations, amount assessed
$3,000 00
Cash, received of abutters 3,368 19
$6,368 19
DEBIT.
Cash. paid Christopher Burke, watering 398 80
John F. Elkins.
372 40
Celia Falkner, . .
.
412 00
John Hickey, . .
408 00
John McCauley, . .
420 40 ·
Jeremiah McCarty. . .
288 00 .
George F. McKenna,
457 60 ·
A. M. Prescott, 6:
442 60 .
John Welch, . .
446 80
H. W. Raymond, paint
12 77
Frederick Hilling, painting
42 50
Abbott, Downing, & Co .. cart .
450 00
Seward Dodge, blacksmithing
87 30
J. Leland, wheelwright-work
37 15
F. Dooris, blacksmithing . 3 00
J. A. Durell, repairing
7 50
C. W. Ingalls, 1 00
Aaron R. Gay & Co., stationery 13 75
J. O. Hayden & Co., advertising
6 30
Amounts carried forward
. $4,307 87
$6.368 19
.
120
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward . $4,307 87
" Somerville Chronicle," printing 17 00
Highways account, watering 2 46
City of Boston, water
2,014 20
6,341 53
Excess and deficiency, balance to credit
of account . 26 66
$6,368 19
WATER-LOAN INTEREST.
CREDIT.
Cash, received of city of Boston, return on water-rates :
1884, 40 per cent on $5,471 77 . $2,149 91
1885, 15 “ 20,000 00 3,000 00
20
" 10,000 00 . 2,000 00
25 " 10,000 00 . 2,500 00
60 30 · 10,000 00 . 3,000 00
66 40 “ 22,230 30 8,892 37
$21,542 28
DEBIT.
Cash, paid interest on water-loan bonds :
$20,000, six months at 6 per cent $600 00
70,000, one year " 5를 . 3,850 00
232,000, " " " 5 . 11,600 00
7,000, three months at 5 87 50
13,000, one year " 4 · 520 00
13,000, six months 4 66 260 00
$16,917 50
Less coupons unpaid
12 50
$16.905 00
Sundry persons, coupons unpaid as
above . 12 50
$16,917 50
Street-lights, transferred
. 1,500 00
Schoolhouse incidentals, transferred . 1,000 00
Amounts carried forward $19,417 50
$21,542 28
$6,368 19
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
121
Amounts brought forward $19,417 50
$21.542 28 Miscellaneous, transferred . 1,000 00
School-teachers' salaries, transferred
889 75
$21,307 25
Excess and deficiency, balance to credit of account
235 03
$21.542 28
122
ANNUAL REPORTS.
TABLE D.
BALANCES, DEC. 31, 1885.
Cash .
$8,075 76
Excess and deficiency
$8,054 98
Funded debt
1,525,000 00
Highway betterment assessments 3,848 11 ·
Overlay and abatement
6,344 76
Overplus on tax-sales
102 13
Property and debt balance
290,073 36 ·
Public property
1,234,926 64
Public-library building
311 55
Public Library
402 60
Real-estate liens
507 54
State of Massachusetts, State aid .
3,568 00
State of Massachusetts, indigent soldiers and sailors
482 00
Sidewalk assessments
1,459 07
Sewer assessments
5,672 41
Sundry persons
1,186 44
Temporary loans .
175,000 00
Taxes .
166,503 59 .
.
Water-service assessments
1,285 98
$1,716,402 46 $1,716,402 46
·
REPORT
OF THE
COMMISSIONERS OF THE SINKING-FUNDS.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN, Feb. 9, 1886. Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.
CHARLES E. GILMAN, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Feb. 9, 1886. DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SINKING-FUNDS, Jan. 16, 1886.
To the Honorable the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Somerville.
GENTLEMEN, - The undersigned present herewith the tenth annual report of the condition of the sinking-funds of the city : - The amount of the funds, Jan. 1. 1885, as per the ninth annual report was $505,852 52 The additions thereto during the year 1885 were : - Contribution by the city for the year 45,100 00
Interest on investments in city bonds ($407,500 one year, $47,000 nine months. $59.000 six months, and $13,000 three months, at 5 per cent per annum ; and $40,000 one year, and $4,500, six months at 5} per cent per annum) . 26.098 75 Interest on deposits in banks 106 91
A total of . .
$577.158 18
Paid to the treasurer of the city, providing for the extinguishment of that part of the funded debt of the city which matured on final matur- ity, July 1, 1885 . 60,000 00
Leaving the amount of the sinking-funds, Jan. 1, 1886 . $517,158 18
Invested as follows : -
In bonds of the city of Somerville ($473,000 at 5 per cent, and $40,000 at 5} per cent) , $513,000 00
On deposit in Maverick National Bank 4,158 18
$517,158 18
126
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The several sinking funds are :
City-loan maturity of 1895
· $442,563 18
Sewer-loan maturity of 1896
· 12,100 00
Water-loan maturity of 1905
59,400 00
66 1906
1,660 00
.4 1907
1,435 00
$517,158 18
Respectfully submitted.
NATHAN TUFTS,
HENRY F. WOODS,
0 Commissioners.
E. D. CONANT,
REPORT
OF
THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN SCHOOL COMMITTEE, Jan. 2, 1886.
The superintendent submitted his annual report, which was read and ac- cepted. It was voted that the committee adopt the report now submitted by the Superintendent of the Public Schools, and present it to their fellow- citizens as the report of the school committee for the year 1885.
J. H. DAVIS, Secretary.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Jan. 12, 1886.
Referred the report to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.
CHARLES E. GILMAN, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Jan. 12, 1886.
DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.
BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1885.
HON. MARK F. BURNS, Mayor, Chairman, ex officio.
HERBERT C. HALL, President of the Common Council, ex officio.
WARD ONE.
HENRY M. MOORE .
Term expires 1885
HORACE C. WHITE, M.D.
66 1886
JOHN H. BUTLER
66 66 1887
WARD TWO.
REV. GEORGE W. DURELL .
Term expires 1885
MRS. CORNELIA B. SKINNER
6
1886
CHARLES I. SHEPARD
66 1887
WARD THREE.
NORMAN W. BINGHAM .
Term expires 1885
Q. E. DICKERMAN
1886
WILLIAM P. HILL .
1887
WARD FOUR.
PROFESSOR BENJAMIN G. BROWN
Term expires 1885
H. P. MAKECHNIE, M.D.
1886
MARTIN W. CARR .
66 1887 1
J. H. DAVIS, Superintendent and Secretary.
STANDING COMMITTEES, 1885.
High School. MESSRS. WHITE, BROWN, DURELL, BINGHAM, BUTLER, DICKERMAN.
East Somerville Schools. MESSRS. MOORE, BUTLER, WHITE. Prospect-hill Schools. REV. MR. DURELL, MRS. SKINNER, MR. SHEPARD.
Winter-hill Schools. MESSRS. DICKERMAN, HILL, BINGHAM. Spring-hill Schools. MESSRS. CARR, MAKECHNIE, HALL. West Somerville Schools. MESSRS. MAKECHNIE, CARR, BROWN. Evening Schools. MESSRS. DICKERMAN, MOORE, BROWN; MRS. SKINNER.
Examination of Teachers. MESSRS. BROWN, BUTLER, MAKECHNIE. Text-Books. MESSRS. BINGHAM, DURELL, WHITE, CARR, BUTLER. Repairs and Heating-Apparatus. MESSRS. MOORE, SHEPARD, CARR, HALL. School-Supplies. MESSRS. CARR, HALL. Fuel. MESSRS. HALL, DURELL, MAKECHNIE.
Music. MESSRS. DURELL, BINGHAM; MRS. SKINNER.
Finance. MESSRS. MOORE, CARR. Drawing and Penmanship. MESSRS. DICKERMAN, BUTLER, SHEPARD. Salaries. MESSRS. BUTLER, MOORE, CARR, BROWN, DURELL. Approval of Private Schools. MESSRS. MAKECHNIE, BINGHAM, BUTLER, SHEPARD. Examination of First Class. MESSRS. DURELL, WHITE, MAKECHNIE, BINGHAM.
Examination of Second Class. MESSRS. BROWN, MOORE. Examination of Third Class. MESSRS. DICKERMAN, CARR. Examination of Fourth Class. MESSRS. BUTLER, HILL. Examination of Fifth Class. MRS. SKINNER, MR. HALL. Examination of Sixth Class. MESSRS. MACKECHINIE, SHEPARD.
BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1886.
HON. MARK F. BURNS.
Mayor, Chairman, ex officio.
WALTER C. MENTZER. President of the Common Council, ex officio.
WARD ONE.
HORACE C. WHITE, M.D.
Term expires 1886
JOHN H. BUTLER .
66
66 18SS
WARD TWO.
MRS. CORNELIA B. SKINNER .
Term expires 1886
CHARLES I. SHEPARD
66
1SS7
ALPHONSO H. CARVILL, M.D. .
66
66 1SSS
WARD THREE.
Q. E. DICKERMAN .
Term expires 1886
WILLIAM P. HILL .
66
1SS7
NORMAN W. BINGHAM .
66
66 1SS8
WARD FOUR.
H. P. MAKECHNIE, M.D.
Term expires 1886
MARTIN W. CARR .
66 1887
PROFESSOR BENJAMIN G. BROWN
66 66 1888
J. H. DAVIS, Superintendent and Secretary.
1887
S. NEWTON CUTLER
STANDING COMMITTEES, 1886.
High School. MESSRS. WHITE, BROWN, CARVILL, BINGHAM, BUTLER, DICKERMAN.
East Somerville Schools. MESSRS. BUTLER, WHITE, CUTLER, MAYOR BURNS. Prospect-hill Schools. MESSRS. CARVILL, SHEPARD: MRS. SKINNER. Winter-hill Schools. MESSRS. HILL, BINGHAM, DICKERMAN. Spring-hill Schools. MESSRS. CARR, MAKECHNIE, MENTZER. West Somerville Schools. MESSRS. BROWN, MAKECHNIE, CARR. Evening Schools. MESSRS. DICKERMAN, WHITE, BROWN, CUTLER; MRS. SKINNER. Examination of Teachers. MESSRS. BROWN, BUTLER, CARVILL. Text-books. MESSRS. WHITE, SHEPARD, CARR, BUTLER, BINGHAM. Repairs and Heating-Apparatus. MESSRS. CARR, SHEPARD, CUTLER, MENTZER, HILL. School-Supplies. MESSRS. CARR, BINGHAM.
Fuel. MESSRS. MENTZER, CARVILL, MAKECHNIE.
Music. MESSRS. BINGHAM, WHITE: MRS. SKINNER. Finance. MESSRS. CARVILL, CARR. Drawing and Penmanship. MESSRS. DICKERMAN, BUTLER, SHEPARD.
Salaries. MESSRS. HILL, CARVILL, BROWN, CARR, BUTLER. Approval of Private Schools. MESSRS. MAKECHNIE, BINGHAM, BUTLER; MRS. SKINNER. Additional School Accommodations. MAYOR BURNS, MESSRS. BUTLER, BINGHAM, CARVILLE, CARR. Examination of the First Class.
MESSRS. CARVILL, WHITE, MAKECHNIE, DICKERMAN.
Examination of Second Class. MESSRS. BROWN, CUTLER. Examination of Third Class. MESSRS. BINGHAM, CARR. Examination of Fourth Class. MESSRS. BUTLER, HILL. Examination of Fifth Class. MESSRS. MAKECHNIE, SHEPARD. Examination of Sixth Class. MRS. SKINNER, MR. MENTZER.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
To the School Committee of Somerville.
IN conformity to your requirements, I respectfully submit the following report upon the condition of the public schools of this city, for the year 1885, being the forty-third annual report of the school-department.
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
POPULATION.
Population of the city. United-States census, 1880 .
24,985
State Census, 1885 ·
29,992
In Ward One .
9,014
66 Two . ·
10,077
66 Three 5,564
Four .
5,337
Increase for five years
5.007
Number of persons in the city between five and fifteen years of age, on the first day of May last .
5.608
In Ward One .
1.643
66 Two .
1,901
66
Three
1,005
66 Four
1,059
Number in Prospect-hill District
1,985
East Somerville District
1,264
West Somerville . C
860
Spring-hill
760
6! Winter-hill
739
Number between eight and fourteen years of age . 3.641
134
ANNUAL REPORTS.
VALUATION.
Valuation of the city, May 1, 1885 .
Real estate
$23,063,900 ·
Personal estate
. 1,814,500
Rate of taxation
.0166
Estimated value of school property .
$398,199
EXPENDITURES FROM JAN. 1, 1885, TO JAN. 1, 1886.
BY THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Salaries of teachers and superintendent, $79,087 75
janitors
. 4,000 17
truant-officers
412 45
Water
672 07 ·
Gas
39 64
Text-books
3,379 68
Writing-books
360 50
Drawing-books
541 89
Printing
311 75
Stationery, and other supplies 2,036 36 .
Miscellaneous
.
1,657 09
Total expenditures
$92,499 35
RECEIPTS.
Tuition of non-resident pupils
293 75
Net expenditures .
$92,205 60
In common with other cities comparatively new, our wants are disproportionate to our accumulations. The consequence is a high rate of taxation, and the necessity for the exercise of rigid economy in all expenditures for city purposes.
It is apparent that all persons having in charge the financial interests of our city entertain an earnest and commendable desire to exercise true economy in all their expenditures, and to keep the expenses of the various departments at the lowest point consistent with the best interests of the city.
The construction of school-buildings, and the ordinary expenses
-
$24,878,400
135
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
of the public schools, absorb nearly twenty-five per cent of all the money raised by taxation for city purposes.
The duty of constructing, repairing, furnishing, and heating the school-buildings devolves upon the city council. All other expen- ditures for school purposes are made by the school committee.
The disbursement of such large sums of money, and for an interest so vital as the education of the children and youth of the entire city, demands the constant exercise of economy and great vigilance in ascertaining that the value received, in all cases, is commensurate with the sums expended. In view of the great cost of the schools, it is wise to consider whether or not the amount expended for their support can be diminished materially, without detriment to their efficiency.
Those who bear the burden of taxation have a right to expect that the large appropriations for the maintenance of the public schools will be economically and judiciously expended. From a knowledge of their liberality, however, in all matters pertaining to the interests of education, it is safe to assume that their general sentiment is adverse to a reduction of the cost of the schools, if, thereby, their efficiency will be impaired.
Mr. Philbrick. for many years superintendent of Boston schools, says, " Good educational advantages are nowhere cheap ; and it is wise to assume that good schools must, in the nature of things, be costly schools. In the more advanced communities, school boards very generally assume that it is their first duty to provide schooling of a very high degree of excellence, rather than to run the system at the cheapest rate per scholar."
After the most careful consideration of this subject in all its relations, we are unable to discover wherein the cost of the schools can be reduced materially, without serious detriment to their efficiency.
Substantial and commodious school-buildings must be con- structed for the accommodation of all persons in the city of school age, at convenient distances from their homes. By statute require- ments, the maintenance of evening schools for instruction in gram- mar-school studies and mechanical and free-hand drawing is made obligatory ; text-books and all supplies necessary for pupils' use in school must be furnished at public cost. Since the true secret of improvement consists in performing, to the utmost limit of abil- ity, whatever is undertaken. no careless work should be tolerated
136
ANNUAL REPORTS.
in the schoolroom. Pupils should be required at all times to do their best, and should be encouraged in painstaking efforts by a liberal supply of good materials. Hence it would be unwise to reduce the supplies, as now furnished, either in quality or quantity.
Teachers' salaries constitute by far the largest item of expense in carrying on the work of the schools. The amount paid for tui- tion the present year is eighty-three per cent of all expenditures by the school board.
Good teachers are indispensable to good schools. To keep the schools supplied with such, is the most important and the most difficult part of the duties of the school committee. It has been truthfully said, "The external machinery of education - its schoolroom and forms and books - has of course its value ; but, after all, it is nothing but machinery, utterly destitute in itself of automatic power. It is dead, and indeed useless, until the teach- er's vital influence pervades it. He is the very soul of the whole apparatus of means, and indeed the only indispensable element in it. Hence it is found that the quantity of force generated by a given system of educational means and agencies is as the teacher's knowledge, virtue, and intelligence - not as the external ma- chinery."
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