Report of the city of Somerville 1887, Part 12

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 350


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1887 > Part 12


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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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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