USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1887 > Part 12
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10
March .
19
5
5
20
1
1
100
May
OT COM COCO
1
-
1
-
-
1
1
100
13
1
8
October
0
100
32
3
50
7
1
14
November
46
24
December
53
10
19
Total
202
31
15
44
11
25
51
11
22
DEATHS FROM SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.
SCARLET FEVER.
DIPHTHERIA.
TYPHOID FEVER.
MONTHS.
1878.
1879.
1880.
1881.
1882.
1883.
1884.
1885.
1886.
1887.
1878.
1879.
1880.
1881.
1882.
1883.
1884.
1885.
1886.
1887.
1878.
1879.
1880.
1881.
1382.
1883.
1884.
1885.
1886.
1887.
January .
February
March
April .
May
June
July
August
1
ʻ
1
1
2
2
1
1
4
2
1
3
HI HHNI
or
3
7
8 8 13
8 11 00
3|11
Total
15 16 6
1 4 6 814 00 00 1
A
00
5500
5
4
812
829
7
1
4
2
1
1
HHNI HHHI
HHNHI
1
HNINHHI
I HHWHHIHI IHN
-
2
September
1
IHITHINHIN
-
-
1
1
Į
3
1
3
3
1
1
2
2
2
October
3
2 1
November
1
2
December
cr
1
3
2
-
-
June
3
4
1
25
August
4
2
50
September
~~ 911
21
29
19
2
33
-
3 31 27 29 19 44 52 31 21 28 20 11 0
1 0. 00-100-
3
6
1
2
221222223
4
2
1
1
2
2
1
4
3
2
5
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
HIHN
1
IHIHHIH
HIWNHHHHI IHN
1
-
April
16
HHIHIH
33
5
1
HIHN
20
3
60
1
33
July
14
Cases
deaths.
ACH
1
2
1
1
3
1
1
1
3
4
MONTHS.
NI
210
ANNUAL REPORTS.
DISTRICTS.
We publish herewith a map of the city, showing the ten health- districts into which the city was divided by the Board of Health of 1878, and the locations of sewers Jan. 1, 1888. We have discon- tinued the custom, heretofore followed, of showing the locations of cases of dangerous diseases reported, as its practical usefulness may be questionable, and several objections have been made to it.
Tables of sanitary defects, sickness, and deaths in the several districts are presented similar to those given last year.
We have estimated the population in the same manner as in previous years, taking the last census (1885) as a basis, and pre- suming that it was distributed throughout the several districts in proportion to the number of poll taxes assessed, and that the per- centage of increase in population has been the same as in the number of polls.
· MAP OF ®
· SOMERVILLE ·
· 1888·
0100 200 600 700
2000
SCALE
4000
MYSTIC
AVEM
THILE.
CH
M
E
D
F
AROROWAY.
T
C
MAIN
ST.
YUSTS
R
D
WALS
ASMALL
ARGENTAT
LSST.
BONAIR
OTIS
T AV.
NCE
VII
ST
ST.
HOWES
FLINT
RAI
ROAD
MURDOCK
AVE.
ASYLUM
OOK
X
PLEASAN
LINWOOD
NESTNYUT
ST.
BUFORD
MAPLE'S
STONE
BONNER
MILLE
SZ
SUMMER ST
PRESTON
CHUR
AVE
INDENST
OS PECT
RAILROA
FITCHBURG
CLARK ST.
VITMAN
IST.
VINOVÝ
V
DLTON STO
LVIN.
DIMICK STA
C
A
M
Sewers shown thus;
D
G
E
MYSTIC
RIVER.
MIOOLESL
VIII
RIUNION ST.
STER
PARK
BROADWAY
WINTHROP
GARELELR
CROSS
S
AVE
LINCOLN SI
UTTER 51
PINC
RUSH
CRAN
MYRTLE
FLOR-
TUFTS
COLLEGE
AND
LOWELL
FISK AM
MEDFORD
APPLETON
PARTRIDGE AV
ENNY LIND AV.
SON ST.
ILMAN
VERNON
ST.
CLYDE
WARWICK ST.
ROAD.
PRESCOTT
PUTNAM
VINAL
AVON ST.
3%.
ST
AND
ST
37
37
CHERRY
BELMONT
QUINCY ST
LEN ST.
MLANDS
PORTER
CRAIGIE
LOWELL
ST.
ST
ST.
ST.
NOLJAINSVA
THEMONT
MOZNO2
SOME
C
B
R
I
Heliotype Printing Go. Boston.
ANO
SPRING
HARD AND ST.
BRASTOW
SUMMER
LAUREL
AVE.
MAPLE
ELM
MBRIDGE
FAIRMOUNT
ARDADIYAL.
IRVING
WALLACE
CHANDLER
A AYE
APPLETON ST.
MORRISON
RAI
HUDSON
CON SI
BERKELEY
ALDEMSEY
MES
GARRISON
SIMPSON AVE
E DAR
are
ARLINGTON
BENTON AX
ALBION
CENTRAL
HIGHLAND
SCHOOL
WEARE ST.
WILLOW
BR
ST.
RAYMOND
CONTTILL -TV.
CURTIS
COLLEGE AVE
BOSTON
N
MILL
POND.
MORE
WESTERS
MAIL!
NOATH
EARL
FILLED BASIN
CAKLAR
MILL
SHOWING HEALTH DISTRICTS.
5000
WN
AVE
WHITE
LINDEN
ST.
211
TABLE OF DEATHS IN EACH DISTRICT DURING THE LAST TEN YEARS, EXCLUSIVE OF DEATHS IN THE MCLEAN ASYLUM.
Districts
1
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
Entire City.
Area
337 A.
107 A.
93 A.
171 A.
361 A.
285 A.
194 A.
482 A.
174 A.
456 A.
2,660 A.
Population . .
6,200
6,049
2,345
4,160
6,502
1,437
3,552
1,056
1,889
833
34,023
In 1887.
Dwellings . .
936
871
367
643
1,046
327
572
205
352
175
5,494
Average in each dwelling.
6.6
6.9
6.4
6.4
6.2
4.4
6.2
5.1
5.4
4 8
6.2
No. of
Deaths.
Rate
per 1,000.
Deaths.
Rate
No. of
Deaths.
Rate
No. of
Rate
No. of
Rate
No. of
Rate
No. of
Deaths.
Rate
No. of
Rate
No. of
Rate
No. of
Deaths.
Rate
No. of
Deaths.
Rate
per 1,000.
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
29
18
6:2
22
77
17
14
14
22
9
14
19
16
12
00
16
385
16
1880 .
104
23
56
13
34
20
55
18
70
15
30
28
32
12
19
24
12
10
11
18
423
17
1881 .
111
23
64
14
41
23
48
15
62
12
36
32
38
F
18
22
19
13
8
12
445
17
1882 .
119
24
57
12
42
22
58
17
72
1
32
. 27
- 43
15
11
13
17
11
13
19
464
17
1883 .
138
26
59
12
49
25
60
17
76
14
40
33
51
17
17
19
28
18
9
13
5.27
00
1884
148
27
55
10
42
20
52
14
69
12
32
25
35
11
14
15
27
16
8
11
482
16
1885
152
28
56
11
40
19
72
20
78
14
31
24
53
17
13
14
25
15
11
15
531
18
1886
115
20
51
38
17
59
15
85
14
37
28
44
13
11
11
20
=
19
24
479
15
1887
182
29
54
45
19
81
19
87
co
37
25
6:2
17
20
19
26
14
12
14
606
00
Ten years .
1,253
25
552
11
392
20
600
18
729
14
313
26
412
14
152
18
207
13
107
16
4,717
17
.
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
·
.
.
000
No. of
per 1,000.
per 1,000.
Deaths.
per 1,000.
Deaths.
per 1,000.
Deaths.
per 1,000.
per 1,000.
Deaths.
per 1,000.
Deaths.
per 1,000.
per 1,000.
YEAR.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
.
.
.
212
ANNUAL REPORTS.
TABLE SHOWING THE FIVE PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF DEATH IN SOMERVILLE IN 1887, WITH THE NUMBER AND RATE IN EACH DISTRICT.
CONSUMP- TION.
PNEUMONIA.
CHOLERA INFANTUM.
PREMATURE BIRTH AND INFANTILE DEBILITY.
BRIGHT'S DISEASE.
DISTRICTS.
No. of
Deaths.
No. per.
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.
I.
27
4.35
29
4.68
13
2.10
16
2.58
8
1.29
II.
1.47
5
0.83
1
0.17
2
0.33
5
0.83
III.
7
2 99
7
2.99
3
1.28
5
2.13
1
0.43
IV.
16
3.85
13
3.12
6
1.44
3
0.72
2
0.48
V.
10
1.54
J
1.08
0
1.38
4
0.62
8
1.23
VI.
8
5.57
1
0.70
7
4.87
4
2.78
3
2.09
VII.
8
2.25
7
1.97
2
0.56
2
0.56
6
2.25
VIII.
2
1.89
2
1.89
1
1
1
2
1.06
X.
3
3.60
2
2.40
1
1.20
1
1.20
Total
92
2.70
80
2.35
42
1.23
37
1.09
35
1.03
TABLE OF SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER IN EACH DISTRICT IN 1887.
SCARLET FEVER.
DITHTHERIA.
TYPHOID FEVER.
DISTRICTS.
Cases
reported.
Deaths.
Cases per
1,000 of pop.
Deaths per
1,000 of pop.
Cases
reported.
Deaths.
Cases per
1,000 of pop.
Deaths per
1,000 of pop.
reported.
Deaths.
Cases per
1,000 of pop.
Deaths per
1,000 of pop.
I.
.
65
13
10.48
2.10
2
1.45
0.32
17
2.74
0.64
II.
11
1.82
-
III.
9
4
3.84
1.71
1
0.85
0.43
2
0.85
0.43
IV.
16
4
3.85
0.96
5
2.16
1.20
5
1.20
0.48
V.
25
4
4.00
0.62
2
1.54
0.31
9
0.93
0.31
VI.
10
1
6.96
0.70
1
1.39
3
1
2.08
-
VII.
30
2
8.45
0.56
1
0.85
0.28
5
1
1.41
0.28
VIII.
18
2
17.05
1.89
3.79
IX.
11
1
5.82
0.53
0.53
2
1.06
X.
7
-
-
-
-
Total
.
202
31
.5.94
0.91
44
11
1.29
0.32
51
11
1.20
0.32
IX.
2
1 06
7
3.71
06216
0.66
-
7
41122
1.16
0.17
4
8.40
AHI CON
4.80
Cases
1,000 of pop.
1,000 of pop.
213
RATES PER THOUSAND OF POPULATION OF CASES OF SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER REPORTED, AND OF DEATHS FROM THE SAME, IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
1881.
1882.
1883.
1884.
1885.
1886.
1887.
Average for Seven Years.
DISTRICTS.
Scarlet Fever.
Diphtheria.
Typhoid Fever.
Scarlet Fever.
Diphtheria.
Typhoid Fever.
Scarlet Fever.
Diphtheria.
Typhoid Fever.
Scarlet Fever.
Diphtheria.
Typhoid Fever.
Scarlet Fever.
Diphtheria.
Typhoid Fever.
Scarlet Fever.
Diphtheria.
Typhoid Fever.
Scarlet Fever.
Diphtheria.
Typhoid Fever.
Scarlet Fever.
Diphtheria.
Typhoid Fever.
I.
Cases Deaths,
8.75 3.54
9.58 0.42
7.17 2.79
2.39
1.91
3.25 0.57
4.98 0.96
11.35 0.55
5.76 1.26
1.26 0.18
5.67 0.37
5.12 2.20
1.83 0.55
2.59 0.52
0 86 0.17
10.48 2.10
1.45 0.32
2.74 0.64
4 88 0.52
4.65 1.52
3.21 0.42
II.
( Cases . Deaths,
2.35 0.21
4 27
0.42 0.21
2.04 0.20
0.80 0.40
0.20
4.32 0.98
0.98
2.40
1.11 0.37
1.66 0.19
2.63 0.19
1.50 0.41
1.50 0.19
2.12 0.35 -
1.82
0 66
1.16 0.17
2.06 0.08
0.40
0.16
III.
( Cases . Deaths,
1.65
11.01 4.55
2.75 0.55
7.90 3.16
0.53 0.53
3.04
1.01
10.90 0.95
4.76 0.48
8.70 0.97
1.45 0.48
0.48
5.03 0.46
0.46 0.46
3.84 1.71
0.85 0 43
0.85 0.43
5.32 0.62
4.42
1.04 0.21
IV.
( Cases . Deaths,
0.62
6.83 1.86
2.48 0.93
1.78 0.59
3 56 0.59
1.78 0.30
0.29
5.42 0.29
1.71 0,57
8.86
2.15 0.27
0.54 0.54
9.51 0.55
1.64 1.09
1.36 0.82
4 38 0.26
0.77 0.26
0.77 0.26
3.85 0.96
2 16 1.20
1.20 0.48
4.28 3.50
3.07 0.78
0,54
V.
( Cases . ¿ Deaths,
0.99
1.98 0.40
0.79
1.90
8 54 2.28
0.95 0.19 -
7.67 1.46
1.64 0.73
3.43 0.52
1.20 0.34
6.98 0.17
2.97 0.17
0.17 0.17
-
4.78 1.65 -
4.00 0.62
1.54 0.31
0.93 0,31
3 26 0.17
0.95
0.25
VI.
( Cases Deaths,
-
8.09
1.72
0.86
13.22 0 83
6.61 1.65
3.31 0.83
26.44 1.56
12.44 4.67
10.27
16.59 3.16
0.79
2.99 0.75
1.49 -
6.96 0.70 -
1.39
2.08
8.91 0.56
8.68 2.70
1.01 0.01
VII.
§ Cases Deaths,
0.73
6.18 0.73
0.36 0.36
7.30 2.08
0.35
3.68 0.67
5.34 1.67
0.33
10.06
3.14 0.31
7.34 1.60
3.51 1.28
1.60 0.64
5.43
4.22 0.30
0.60 0.30
8.45 0.56
0,85 0.28
1.41 0.28
5.47 0.41
4.19 0.91
0.23
VIII.
Cases . Deaths,
-
-
10.50 1.17
3.50 1.17
3.37
7.86
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
7.04 0.46
5.66 0.61
0.77
1X.
Cases . Deaths,
1.37
1.37
1.31
2.51
6.28 2,51
0.63 0,63
7.09
3.55
22.81
3.60
1.20
6.24
3.97 0.57
1.70 -
5.82 0.53
0.53
1.06
5.82 0.09
2.83 0.51
0.34
X.
( Cases . Deaths,
-
4.65 1.55
1.55
7.42
4.45
7.42 2.96
2.85
-
10.74
1.34 -
9.55 1.36
4.09
2.72
5.15
10.30 1.29
8.40 -
4.80
-
6.03 0.19
4.47 0.39
1.75 0.58
City .
( Cases . Deaths,
0.95 0.04
5.88 1.71
2.69 0.30
1.42 0.15
6.24 1.89
1.38 0.29
2.93 0.21
5.44 1.08
1 88 0.45
8.21 0.26
3.64 0.69
1.18 0.26
7.54 0.47
3.67
1.37 0.37
3.47 0.09
2.87 0.63
0.63 0.09
5.94 0.91
1.29 0.32
1.20 0.32
4,41 0.32
3.99 0.99
1.44 0.32
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.58
-
-
17.95 1.06
3.17
2.11 1.06
7.51 -
6.44 1.07
1.01
-
-
-
3.79
2.60
-
-
-
-
0.65
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0.38
3.53
-
0.62
-
-
-
-
-
16.32 7.73
1.39
-
2.44
13 41 3.66
-
-
7.51
-
-
3.46
0.33
-
-
0.38
2.70
-
4.31
0.85
0 77
1.03
-
0.69
-
2.25
1.77
0.89
2.19
0.86
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
1.00
3.69
1.45
1.36
2.74
6.58 1.52
1.91
0.93
1.18 0.59
0.63
17.05 1.89
214
ANNUAL REPORTS.
NUISANCES ABATED IN EACH DISTRICT IN 1887.
DISTRICT. Population (estimated.)
I. II. 6,200 6,049
III. IV. VI. VII. 2,345 4,160 6,502 1,437 3,552
VIII. 1,056
IX. 1,889
X. 833
Total. 34,023
Cellar damp .
9
2
4
1
10
3
2
4
35
Cesspool defective
offensive
1
1
-
1
1
1
1
1
-
1
6
Connections of drainage pipes defective
8
2
1
2
6
1
5
6
31
Drainage defective
10
2
4
1
3
1
5
2
1
3
2
2
66 not ventilated .
10
5
2
9
11
3
8
1
57
Drain-pipe elogged
1
1
4
5
1
11 132111
1
32
emptying in eellar
5
-
2
1
1
1
1
4
66
overflowing
1
ʻ
1
-
-
-
-
9
Total
201
55
29
77
111
33
55
17
66
8
652
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Manure exposed and offensive,
11
1
24
No house-drainage
1
Offal on land
4
1
1
8
Offal-barrel offensive
1
Offensive. odor in and about dwellings .
2
-
22
Offensive odor from factory
1
Opening in drain-pipe in
cellar
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
1
-
IH HIINI 1 1 2
-
1
80
2
-
3 co
-
-
9
Stagnant water on surface
3
-
-
13 3
14
24
4
4
16
1
-
11
insufficiently sup- plied with water
2
1
-
-
-
3
1
14
Water-closet not supplied
with water
Water-closet offensive
5
9
1
4
11
- 1112 1 1 2
5 100
1 1 1
4
41
Wooden
waste-pipes and
6
-
-
-
1 11181531245 41 5 2 3 5 4
1
1
-
1
-
18
Stagnant water in house- eellar
1
12161 1 6 1
-
1
1
9
Water-eloset defective
1
1
1
-
2
1
5
Premises filthy 66
without privy
water-eloset .
Privy-vault defeetive 66
4
14
1
24
66
full . offensive .
31
17
Slops thrown on surface
1
5
Stable and stable premises filthy and offensive
4
Waste-pipe defective 66
not trapped .
40
10
3 131111 1 1 1
5 1-11 2121 1 2 1 2
-
4123 4 1
112112I 1 2 - 1 2
1
1
3
Hens kept in eellar
101
3
1
20
Furnace without eold-air box,
1
1
Hennery offensive
1
Horse kept in L of house
1
1
-
5
1
4
1
-
4
1
13
4
121
1
-
-
1 1
-
-
1
12
emptying on surface,
13
6
defective
3
1
-
3
drains
V.
215
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
APPROPRIATION FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND EXPENDI- TURES THEREFROM, 1887.
Appropriation
$4,000 00
Receipts for permits to keep swine and goats and to
collect grease
254 00
Total credit
$4,254 00
Expenditures : -
For inspector's salary . $1,000 00
collecting ashes
1,900 01
66 offal 900 00
burying dead animals
70 00
66 oil of peppermint .
48 10
vaccine virus .
13 00
יי fumigating (sulphur, pans, etc.),
10 98
abating nuisances (including $83.37 for catch-basin, Co- lumbia Street) 90 37
care of ash-dumps .
80 94
investigating cause of nuisance at Bridge Street sewer out- let
288 41
books, stationery, and printing .
112 95
serving notices 2 16
carriage hire
23 50
66 rent of post-office box
3 00
Total debit .
4,543 42
Amount overdrawn
$289 42
THOMAS M. DURELL, M.D. GEO. C. SKILTON. J. F. WELLINGTON.
INDEX
TO THE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
PAGE
Ashes . .
201
Dangerous diseases
. 204
Death-rate, 1887 (at end of mortality table)
204
Deaths
203
Diphtheria .
208
Districts
210
Expenses
215
Goats .
200
Grease
. 201
House offal
202
Map .
210A
Manure
201
Membership
197
Night-soil .
202
Nuisances
197
Organization
197
Pedlers
201
Permits
200
Population (at end of mortality table)
204
Private streets .
199
Scarlet fever
205
Sewers
202
Slaughter-houses
. 199
Swine .
· 200
Typhoid fever
. 208
TABLES.
Diphtheria in 1887, inspector's report
. 20SA
Mortality in Somerville, 1887
.. 203
66 rates of, in districts, in last ten years
. 211
Nuisances abated, 1887
198
in districts, 1887 .
· 214
Principal causes of death, in districts, 1887
212
Scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhoid fever, 1887 66 66
209
deaths in last 10 years
.
209
66
66
in districts, 1SS7 . 212
66
66
66
66
in last 7 years . 213
.
REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Feb. 1, 1SSS.
Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual re- ports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEO. I. VINCENT, Clerk pro tem.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Feb. 9, 1888.
Concurred in.
CHAS. S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
To his Honor the Mayor and the City Council.
GENTLEMEN, - I respectfully present my annual report as City Physician.
I have made during the year 1,607 visits ; of these, 301 were surgical, and 41 were made to persons at the police station.
I have viewed the bodies, and given certificates of the probable cause of death, of 8 persons who died unattended by a physician. I have examined 15 persons supposed to be insane, and have given certificates in 9 cases. I have, under the Civil Service, examined 11 applicants for the police force.
Respectfully submitted,
THOS. M: DURELL, M.D., City Physician.
JAN. 28, 1888.
REPORT
OF THE
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Jan. 11, 1SS8.
Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual re- ports. Sent down for concurrence.
DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk pro tem.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Jan. 11, 1888. CHAS. S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
DEC. 31, 1887.
To the City Council : -
The Trustees of the Public Library submit their report for the current year. No events of especial importance have occurred since our last report. There has been no abatement of interest on the part of our citizens in the institution under our charge. as is clearly shown by the librarian's report, which we transmit and request to have printed, as it contains information of importance and value which should be preserved as the record of a successful year.
Work has been commenced upon a new catalogue, the system adopted being that in use by the city of Boston, which is generally admitted to be the best for a library of the character of our own. It will be completed during the first half of next year, and will be found much more convenient than the old ones now in use.
The chief labor of the Trustees during the year has consisted in the selection and purchase of new books, which we have endeav- ored to perform in a way that shall be useful to our patrons and the permanent good of the library.
The growing interest in all subjects relating to the arts, sciences, and invention, has induced the Trustees to expend quite a propor- tion of the appropriation to secure books that would be of service to all who are, or may become, interested in these important branches of the public education. Most of these additions have been placed in the reference room, where they can be examined at any time; and we desire to especially call the attention of the public to them as worthy of the attention of all who are interested in these important subjects. We bespeak for the future the same liberality which the City Council has thus far shown towards an institution second in importance to none in our city.
CHAS. S. LINCOLN, Chairman.
224
ANNUAL REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.
The library is steadily growing in numbers and value, and, with the continued support of our City Fathers, each succeeding year will show its increasing usefulness.
Few libraries are so entirely provided for by a city government as our own, and as we have no bequests or trust funds to fall back upon, we depend entirely upon the generosity of the city : yet where schools are supported on so liberal a scale, the Public Library is in little danger of falling behind for want of ample support.
Although no supplement has been issued within the past year on account of our intended revision of the catalogue, bulletins, con- taining lists of our accessions, have been posted every other week in the delivery room, and also printed in our local paper to bring them to the notice of those unable to visit the library. We trust that this has been found useful.
Nothing shows more plainly the use of a library than the wear and tear of the books; and when those of the best class are sent to the bindery for repair, there is more cause of satisfaction in the evidence of their use, than if they had remained unused and uninjured on the shelves.
The committee have on this account duplicated the entire works of Scott, Irving, and Dickens.
The " Child's History of England," with its four duplicates, is as much read as works of fiction ; while Higginson's and Barnes's histories of the United States are in constant demand. In biogra- phy, Abbott's histories are favorites, the "Life of Napoleon" taking the lead, while " Mary Queen of Scots " is more called for than "Elizabeth." I am not as often asked for "an exciting book " as formerly, as books of travel and adventure, with which we are well supplied, seem to supply that want.
Three hundred and two books have been bound, including peri-
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. 225
odicals, which were never so much called for before. Many read- ers have gone through complete sets of these bound periodicals.
To some this seems almost a waste of time; but "Harper's Monthly," for instance, contains perhaps all that a busy person can find time for, with its excellent articles on every subject, as well as its historical and literary record. It is a library in itself.
Continued satisfaction is expressed in the selection of the books ; and one reader says, "Your library is a continual surprise to me." We are now supplied with the new edition of " Appleton's Cyclopædia," and "Annuals," and also "Appleton's New American Biography " as far as published.
We have received a donation of fifty books f.om our former townsman, Mr. Isaac Pitman, and three from Mr. J. S. Hayes.
The library was open 306 days; the largest number of books given out on any one day was 722; the smallest number on any day was 83.
During the year 1,407 new names were registered.
The number of books delivered for home use was 79,062, and for reference, 1,497, making a total of books used 80,559. The number of books in the library is 14,095, including government publications just received.
It is with regret that we lose the services of Miss Stevens, who has been connected with the library almost from the beginning ; the faithful discharge of whose duties has been appreciated by all, and whose labors have helped greatly in carrying on the numerous duties of the library.
H. A. ADAMS, Librarian.
226
ANNUAL REPORTS.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF CITY TREASURER.
CR.
Appropriation
$3,500 00
Dog licenses
1,835 46
Fines .
271 74
Catalogues .
21 75
D. L. Gurnsey, book
5 00
$5,633 95
DR.
Salaries
. $1,590 83
Books .
. 1,901 34
Printing and stationery .
259 63
Binding
103 30
Newspapers .
18 00
Gas
141 35
Fuel
220 50
Water .
30 00
Repairs
276 42
Labor
36 42
Expressing
23 30
Incidentals
20 69
$4,621 78
Balance to 1888 . .
. 1,012 17
$5,633 95
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Dec. 30, 1887.
Ordered to be filed with the city clerk for presentation to the next city council, to be printed in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.
CHARLES E. GILMAN, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Dec. 30, 1887.
DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.
-
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS, Dec. 31, 1887. To the City Council of Somerville : -
The following is respectfully submitted as the final report of this committee for the year ending Dec. 31, 1887 : -
HIGHWAYS ACCOUNT.
CREDIT.
Appropriation
1 . $38,000 00
Receipts and credits : -
For labor and materials furnished prior to Jan. 1, 1887, the bills for which remained uncollected that day
$195 71
rent of dwellings at City
Farm
$136 00
less repairs and water
rates 53 83
82 17
net profit on city teams, tools, and materials
148 59
426 47
Value of materials on hand Jan. 1, 1887
1,226 15
Value of property on hand Jan. 1, 1887
8,240 75
Total credit $47,893 37
DEBIT.
Expenditures : -
For laying out of Aldrich Street (ad- vertising notice and recording re- lease)
$11 65
Amount carried forward
$11 65
230
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amount brought forward .
$11 65
For construction of westerly end of
Berkeley Street (laid out in 1886), 839 50 laying out and construction of Chapel Street 282 96
construction of Cherry Street, from Summer Street to Highland Ave- nue (laid out in 1885) 871 90
laying out of Meacham Street, from Cambridge line to north line of Orchard Street (advertising notice and recording release) 11 05
laying out of Mystic Street, Ward Two (advertising notice and re- cording release) 12 10
laying out of Orchard Street, from Dover Street to Meacham Street (advertising notice and recording release)
10 40
construction of Preston Street (laid out in 1886)
301 86
changing easterly line of Quincy Street at Summer Street
41 87
street crossings
1,208 76
street signs
79 59
clearing and repairing streets 'after the laying of horse railroad tracks : Broadway, from Cross Street to Temple Street $208 59
Cross Street, from Broadway to Medford Street 336 77
Highland Avenue, from Med-
ford Street to Davis Square . 3,560 73
Medford Street, from Washing- ton Street to Highland Ave-
nue 132 87
Pearl and Medford Streets, from
Cross Street to Central Street, 2,473 74
Amounts carried forward $6,712 70
$3,671 64
231
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS.
Amounts brought forward . $6,712 70 $3,671 64
Washington Street, from Union Square to Tufts Street . 50 28
6,762 98
repairs and improvements of streets and paving of gutters in connec- tion with the setting of edgestones : Chapel Street, both sides, from Elm Street to Chandler Street, paving
$167 39
Elm Street, west side, from rail- road to Chapel Street, pav- ing
209 97
Elm Street, south side, from Russell Street to Chester Street, paving
113 92
Glen and Oliver Streets, at F.
A. Titus's estate, paving 108 40
Holland Street, north side, from railroad to Wallace Street, paving
84 75
Mystic Avenue, north side, from Boston line to Canal Street, paving
162 17
repairs :
277 01
Quincy Street, both sides, from Somerville Avenue to Sum- mer Street on west side, and to land formerly of Ireland on east side, paving repairs .
483 42
416 74
Orchard Street, north side, from Chester Street westerly, pav- ing
55 17
Porter Street, both sides, from Elm Street to Williams Court, paving
269 93
repairs .
407 14
Amounts carried forward . $2,756 01
$10,434 62
232
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward . $2,756 01 $10,434 62
Prescott Street, both sides, from Summer Street to Highland
Avenue, paving repairs . 809 49
783 12
School Street, west side, at O. S. Knapp's estate, paving .
29 15
Summer Street, north side, at Charles Drouet's estate, pav- ing
46 47
Walnut Street, west side, from Summit Avenue to Pleasant Avenue, paving . 32 87
Warren Avenue, west side, from Bow Street to Columbus Avenue, paving · repairs . ·
192 51
123 50
4,773 12
cost to city of sidewalks, the bricks and edgestones for which were furnished by the abutters 773 22
paving gutter, west side of Cherry Street, from Elm Street to Chest- nut Street 129 72
opening for Benton Avenue, with crossing, north side Summer Street
89 50
ordinary repairs of streets : - Beacon Street, west side, from North Cambridge line to Sac- ramento Street . $1,207 52
Bow Street, from Summer Street to Somerville Avenue . 171 79
Broadway, south side, from Boston line to George Street, 281 15
Broadway, north side, from Cross Street to Bond Street . 242 89
Elm Street, from Russell Street to Chapel Street . 208 29
Amounts carried forward . $2,111 64
$16,200 18
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS. 233
Amounts brought forward . $2,111 64 $16,200 18
Medford Street, from School Street to Sycamore Street 325 39
Somerville Avenue, from East Cambridge line to Union Square 2,271 44
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