USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1887 > Part 2
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
ience to the people, an aid to the police, and, to a eertain extent, a protection to property ; but I do not understand that it is recog- nized as a necessity, since it is not required by law. No doubt the city will be able in a few years to allow increased expenditure in this department, but the time has not yet come. When it does come, the first thing to be done, in my opinion, is to light the lamps we already have every night in the year, and keep them burning all night. They are now lighted twenty-two nights in a month, and kept burning until twelve o'clock.
The Somerville Electric Light Company have asked for certain privileges in the streets of our city, which, considering the request and the way in which it was granted, seem to me to be somewhat extraordinary. It does not seem right to me to allow this or any other company to pre-empt the streets of our city for any purpose. The property owners have some rights which should be respected. Many of them consider it a damage to their property to set a large pole in front of their house, and perhaps opposite their front door. They are unsightly, they obstruct the view, and are in every way objectionable. Whenever a company desire to run a line of poles through a street, they should be required to furnish a plan of said street, showing the exact spot where they desire to place a pole, and the owners of the property on that street should have an opportunity to object to the location, if they wish to. No pole should be placed in front of a man's property if he objects to it. The necessity of the case does not appear to me to be important enough to warrant the Board of Aldermen in locating such poles contrary to the wishes of the parties interested.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
There has been no increase in the fire apparatus the past year. It consists, as formerly, of
One steam fire-engine and hose tender.
Four horse hose carriages.
One hook-and-ladder carriage. Six thousand seven hundred feet of hose.
There is also in reserve, -
One steam fire-engine.
One horse hose carriage.
One hook-and-ladder carriage.
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MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
This reserve apparatus is not equipped with horses, hose, or ladders, but can be made available, in case of accident, to the regular service. The manual force consists of sixty-one men, as follows : -
One chief engineer. One assistant engineer.
Four hose companies, eight men each.
One engine company, twelve men.
One hook-and-ladder company, fifteen men.
The fire-alarm telegraph consists of thirty miles of wire, seven- teen gongs, six tower-bell strikers, and thirty-nine alarm boxes. All of the apparatus and buildings of the department are in good condition.
It is thought by some that a new hose house should be built in Ward Four, and a new hose company formed ; but to my mind it is not necessary to put the city to this expense at present. The case does not seem to be any more urgent than it was five years ago ; and I believe the expenditure can be postponed a while longer with safety. Last year a special appropriation of $1,000 was made for new fire hydrants. With this amount the water board put in twenty new hydrants. As I believe hydrants placed in close proximity to each other, with the force of water which we have, is our greatest protection against loss by fire, the policy of increasing the number of hydrants should be continued. I think an expenditure in this direction much wiser than the more costly method of increasing the fire apparatus. With hydrants near a fire, good hose, and men enough to handle it, a heavy loss is almost impossible in our city. The hydrants which the law re- quires the city of Boston to supply on the line of its water main through Somerville are almost worthless for the purposes for which they were intended. They are not the same kind or size as those we use. The same may be said of those supplied by the city of Cambridge in that portion of our territory which that city supplies with water. In view of these facts, it is recommended that the Mayor be requested to ask the authorities of those cities to replace them with hydrants of the same kind and size as those used by Somerville.
POLICE.
It affords me great pleasure to testify to the discipline of the force, and to the courage and ability of the officers and patrolmen. I believe it to be, according to its size, second to no force in the
26
ANNUAL REPORTS.
State. It consists, as now organized, of twenty-one patrolmen, three sergeants, one captain, and one chief.
Considering the amount of territory the patrolmen have to cover (we have over sixty-five miles of streets), our large and increasing population, the rapidly increasing amount of property to be pro- tected, it seems evident that the force is too small, and should be increased. I recommend that the force be increased by the addi- tion of four patrolmen. An officer for each one thousand inhabi- tants cannot be considered too much.
The business of the department is rapidly increasing ; the arrests annually have increased from 363, in 1880, to 646 in 1886. The population has increased 6,000 in the same time, and the number of buildings and the personal property which the police have to guard, have increased in proportion. One serious defect in our police arrangements, and one which should be remedied in the near future, is the lack of station-houses in East Som- erville, Winter Hill, and Davis Square. One station-house for so large a territory is not sufficient.
The pay of the members of the force is a question which should receive your earnest consideration. It is for the interest of every law-abiding citizen that the force should consist of men who are honest, truthful, reliable, intelligent, and courageous, - men who will enforce all of the laws faithfully, impartially, and fully. In order to keep what we have, and in the future secure such, we must render a fair equivalent for their services.
POOR.
The amount granted the Board of Overseers the past year was $15,000, only $11,902.77 of which was used. To show the amount used each year since 1880 for the support of the poor, the fol- lowing table is submitted : -
In 1880, cost to the city .
$14,241 56
1881, 6.
14,097 25
1882, 66
14,732 96
1883, 66 66
14,103 47 1884,
15,757 69
1885, 66 66
14,933 24
1886,
11,902 77
This large reduction the past year has been made, not through any niggardly policy having been adopted, not by causing the
27
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
poor to suffer, or by neglecting their wants, but it is the result of the change of system under which the business has been man- aged, and through the efficiency of the Board and its subordinate officers. As long as our best citizens are willing to accept posi- tions on this Board, we can rest assured that the poor will not be allowed to suffer, or the city be called upon to pay bills which should be paid by the State, or some other city or town.
The Board strongly recommend the erection of an almshouse, and your early attention to the matter is requested. If it is decided to build one, the recommendation of last year is renewed, - that it be built on the land on Broadway owned by the city, and known as the city farm.
PUBLIC PARK AND CENTRAL HILL.
The recommendation contained in the inaugural address of last year - that the care of the Public Park and of Central Hill, includ- ing the grounds about the public buildings, be transferred from the Highway Committee to a committee formed to take the place of the Committee on Burial Grounds - is renewed for the reasons stated in that address. It seems to me some money should be expended on Central Hill ; great improvement can be made at a small expense. If we expect our citizens to spend their time and means in beautifying their residences, the city can do no less than to make its own property as attractive as possible. A committee with an appropriation and no other important business to attend to, can adopt a systematic plan to be carried out in the future, which will result in a great change and improvement ; but a committee having so much to attend to as the Highway Commit- tee cannot be expected to devote much time, or give much thought, to the care of either of these parks.
SCHOOLS.
There are 104 public schools in the city at the present time : 1 high school, 56 grammar and 47 primary schools, with 120 teachers. The average whole number of pupils for the year was 4,985 ; the average daily attendance of pupils for the year was 4,678 ; number of pupils in attendance in December, 5,317; number of school buildings owned by the city, 21. There will soon be added to this number two new four-room brick schoolhouses, which are now
28
ANNUAL REPORTS.
being erected, one on Cherry Street, in Ward Four, and one on Lowell Street, in Ward Three. These two buildings were com- menced last year on an appropriation of $8,500 each. Land was purchased at a cost of $1,929.60 for the Cherry-street lot, and $1,880.64 for the lot on Lowell Street. The contract for the con- struction of both buildings amounted to $21,000, so that the whole cost thus far has been $24,800. As there has been but $17,000 appropriated, and as the whole cost of the buildings, including land, heating apparatus, furniture, etc., will be about $27,000, we shall be obliged to furnish $10,000 more this year to complete them. The whole cost of these elegant and substantial buildings will not exceed the cost of the wooden ones lately erected. With- out doubt, every one who sees them will say that it is good policy to build public buildings of brick.
The entire amount expended in the school department in 1886 was $125,272.70, as follows : -
School teachers' salaries .
$80,942 26
School contingent
13,695 58
School fuel
4,928 94
Schoolhouse incidentals
8,705 92
New school buildings
17,000 00
Total
. $125,272 70
It is a matter of inquiry whether or not the amount now used cannot be reduced, and how it can be done. I would suggest that when a new teacher is needed in the lower grades, a graduate of our own schools be employed. There are many in our own city who would be glad to test their knowledge and ability in the schools where they themselves were educated, and who would be glad to do so for the minimum salary paid to inexperienced teach- ers. Would it not be as well to try some of them, as to hire away from some other city their highest-priced teachers? . Another way to reduce the expenses of this department would be to give each teacher below the second class in the grammar schools fifty- six scholars, as is done in Boston. This plan would not only save teachers, but require a less number of school buildings. Of course it would be necessary to have pupils of different grades in the same room, and instructed by the same teacher ; but would this be any disadvantage to the scholars? Cannot the whole system of grading, marking, and ranking of scholars be changed in such
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MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
a way as to produce even better results than the present? The teachers, under the present system, are overworked ; it would be better and quite as easy for them if they had more pupils and less clerical work. Schools maintained at public expense, and designed for the education of the masses, should have only simple, practi- cal, and fundamental courses of study, such studies as will best fit the scholars to engage in the practical duties of life, and enable them to carn their own living. Nothing further than this should be attempted at public expense, in my opinion. There has been an effort made during the past year to simplify the course of study and reduce expenses, with good success ; and no doubt the School Committee realize the importance of continuing the effort. The wisdom and experience of those educators will be brought to bear upon these questions. We all understand that the people desire good schools, and expect and are willing to pay for them. They also expect us to give them the best possible results from their expenditure. I would not withhold any appropriation which may be necessary to an interest of such vital importance as the mental and moral training of our children.
SEWERS.
Eight thousand eight hundred ninety-nine and four-tenths (8,899.4) feet of sewers, or 1.7 miles, have been added to our splendid system of sewers the past year. making the total length of sewers in the city 39.4 miles. The cost of the new sewers in 1886 was $11,597.11, the assessments were $8,736.07, making the cost to the city $2,861.04. The entire cost of the sewers in Somer- ville is nearly $700,000 up to the present time.
WATER.
On the first day of last July a new contract with the city of Boston for the supply of Mystic water to our city was entered into. The terms of the new contract are substantially the same as those of the old one, except in the matter of the amount of money paid to Somerville by the city of Boston. Under the old contract, Boston paid to us on the annual receipts for water rates, up to the amount of $20,000, fifteen per cent; on the amount in excess of $20,000, and up to $30,000, twenty per cent; from $30,000 to $40,000, twenty-five per cent; from $40,000 to $50,000. thirty
30
ANNUAL REPORTS.
per cent ; and on the amount in excess of $50,000, forty per cent. Under the new contract, we are to receive fifty per cent on the entire amount paid to Boston by our water takers for the use of Mystic water. As this amounts at the present time to about $80,000 annually. the operation of this new contract will increase the income of our city at least $18,000 per annum. Our citizens are to be congratulated upon this favorable settlement of a long vexed question. No less favorable contract ever ought or need be entered into, in my opinion.
In pursuance of an order adopted by the City Council in Novem- ber, 1886, your Mayor, in connection with the mayors of Boston and Chelsea and the selectmen of the town of Everett, petitioned the General Court for permission to take the water of the Shaw- sheen River as an additional water supply.
As the water furnished by the Mystic watershed is now scarcely more than sufficient to furnish, in time of drought, water for those who use it, and as the population of all the cities and towns is rapidly increasing, it needs no argument to show that a wise fore- sight will secure this additional supply before it is taken for other purposes, and while the water can be procured in its natural state, and in season to protect it from contamination through sewage or other deleterious matter. It is our duty to furnish the people of the future with an abundant supply of pure water, if possible.
The Water Board used in their department last year, for the extension of pipes and maintenance of the works, the sum of $15,040.94. As new streets are constantly being opened, and new houses being built, it is probable, if we intend to keep up with the improvements being made by our citizens, this department will need more money the coming year.
The total length of water mains in this city is fifty miles and three-quarters, of which one mile and a quarter was laid in 1886. Total number of hydrants in use, 343. Two hundred and ninety- two services were laid last year to accommodate dwellings.
CITY HALL.
In making the appropriation bill of last year, it was found to be impossible to provide for the completion of the improvements in the City Hall. It is hoped and expected that this year, owing to our improved financial condition, that the work will be com-
31
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
pleted. For description of work already done, and that required, see inaugural address of last year.
SUITS AT LAW.
The city has not for a long time been so free from litigation as at the present. There are no very important suits now pending.
You will allow me, gentlemen, in closing, to call your attention to certain rules, which, if adopted by you and kept constantly in mind, will enable you to perform the duties of your office satisfac- torily to yourselves and to those who elected you. Some of these rules may be found in my inaugural address of last year or the year before. My experience teaches me that wherever they have been followed the city has been the gainer. The responsibility of fixing the amount to be expended in any department will rest with the City Council, not with the committee having the matter in charge ; but the committee will be held responsible for the manner in which it is expended.
Committees should be cautious in their expenditures in the early part of the year, in order that they may not be obliged to post- pone necessary improvements later in the season for the want of money.
Committees should keep their expenditures within the limits of their appropriation, since the bills cannot be paid when the appro- priation is exhausted, unless there should be some unexpended balance in some other account.
Committees are not required or expected to use the entire ap- propriation credited to their account, unless the maintenance of their department absolutely requires it. It is impossible to divide the money raised by taxation exactly right among the different departments, and it is not unusual for some departments to have more money than is actually needed, and some others not quite enough. Members will realize the importance of keeping an un- expended balance to make up a deficiency which cannot be avoided in some other account.
Measures should be adopted for the good of the public, not for the benefit of private individuals, although needed improvements should not be postponed for the reason that they may benefit private interests and assist private enterprise.
32
ANNUAL REPORTS.
In making appointments and electing officers, it should be re- membered that political influence and power are not necessarily qualifications for office, but men should be selected solely on ac- count of their peculiar qualifications for the positions they are to hold
Salaries should be fixed according to the requirements of the office, not to satisfy the wishes of the incumbent.
Each member should investigate all questions for himself; and while it is necessary and expected that he will understand and be governed somewhat by public sentiment, he should decide all questions, as far as his vote will decide them, according to the dictates of his own judgment.
Do not pledge yourself to support any measure until you have heard the arguments which may be produced against it.
Be prompt and constant in attendance at all meetings.
Your attention has been called briefly to the various departments of the city. The appropriations for the support of poor and of schools are required by law and to fulfil the obligations we owe to humanity ; the fire and police departments are necessary for the protection of our persons and property ; the highways, sidewalks, sewers, library, parks, water, and street lights are necessary for the convenience and happiness of the people. Members of the various boards and committees should remember that these depart- ments are all necessary and equally important, and, while the city is able to provide for the maintenance of each, the interests of none should be advanced at the cost of another. While we may not appropriate as much money for a department as those having it in charge could use to good advantage, still the sum appropri- ated represents the amount the City Council have decided should be the limit of expenditure for that purpose.
And now, gentlemen, in our dealings with each other let there be no petty jealousies or unfounded criticisms, but let us all work together harmoniously for the best interests of the whole city, knowing no party and no section. If we conduct ourselves and our business in such a way as. to retain our own self-respect, we shall receive the approval of all persons whose good opinion is worth preserving.
REPORT
OF THE
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Feb. 8, 1888. Referred to committee on finance, and sent down for concurrence.
GEO. I. VINCENT, Clerk pro tem.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Feb. 9, 1888.
Referred to committee on finance in concurrence.
CHAS. S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
IN COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, Feb. 13, 1888.
To the City Council of Somerville : - The committee on finance, to which was referred the annual report of the treasurer and collector of taxes for the year 1887, reports that the said report, and also the books and vouchers of the treasurer and collector have been examined by this com- mittee in conjunction with the auditor, and have been compared with the auditor's book and with the statements received from the several commit- tees, boards, and officers of the city, as required by ordinance, by which examination and comparison it appears that the report agrees with the books and vouchers, and that the treasurer's accounts are correct.
The cash on hand has been found to agree with the cash balance reported, by actual count and an inquiry at the banks of deposit; and our inspection of the work of the treasurer has proved highly satisfactory. It is, therefore, recommended that his report be accepted and printed in the annual reports.
MARK F. BURNS, G. D. WEMYSS, EDWARD H. BRADSHAW,
GEO. O. PROCTOR, EZRA D. SOUTHER, CHAS. M. HEMENWAY, PATRICK F. DEADY, JOSEPH CUMMINGS,
Committee.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Feb. 21, 1888.
Accepted and referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEO. I. VINCENT, Clerk pro tem.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Feb. 25, 1888.
CHAS. S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
TREASURER'S OFFICE, Feb. 1, 1888.
To the Honorable the Mayor and City Council of the City of Somerville.
GENTLEMEN, - The undersigned presents herewith the sixteenth annual report of the financial condition of the city, and a statement showing in detail the receipts and disbursements of the several departments for the year ending Dec. 31, 1887.
The value of the property of the city Dec. 31, 1886, as appears by the schedule published with the last annual reports, was $1,250,441.70, and the additions thereto were for amounts ex- pended for completing the Bingham and Burns Schoolhouses, and furnishing the same : viz., -
On Bingham Schoolhouse (Lowell Street) $6,721 82
On Burns Schoolhouse (Cherry Street) .
6,979 08
Furniture for Bingham Schoolhouse 551 33
60 " Burns Schoolhouse . 587 12
making the value of the public property Dec. 31, 1887, as per Table A, $1,265,281.05.
The funded debt of the city stands the same as at the close of last year ; viz., $1,525,000.
Water-loan Bonds, Nos. 37 to 45 .
$9,000 00
City-loan Bonds, Nos. 423 to 438 .
15,500 00
66
373 to 412
40,000 00
66
" 416 to 422 6,500 00
Amounting to
$71,000 00
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
bearing interest at five per cent, became due during the year, and were provided for by the issue of
Water-loan Bond, No. 277 $9,000 00
City-loan Bond, No. 885
60,000 00 66 66 " 886 .
2,000 00
Amounting to
$71,000 00
bearing interest at five per cent, sold to the commissioners of the sinking funds at par.
To provide for the payment of the State and county taxes, and for the current expenses of the city, the assessors' warrant was received for the tax levy assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants as follows : viz., -
Real estate, valuation
$25,219,900 00
Personal property, valuation 2,251,900 00
Total valuation
$27,471,800 00
At a rate of $14.80 on $1,000 valuation
Amounting to
$406,582 64
1,988 property polls.
6,874 single polls.
8,862 polls at $2 each .
17,724 00
5 polls (women) at $0.50 each
2 50
Total amount of tax levy $424,309 14
To this amount is added the balance of
Excess and Deficiency account for 1886 20,879 58
Received from city of Boston on water contract 42,650 57
Additional credits from all other sources 54,673 81
making the total amount of resources for the year
ending Dec. 31, 1887
$542,513 10
The appropriations for the year provided for by the tax levy, the amounts transferred from other resources of the city, the addi- tional amounts credited, the amounts expended, and the balances of the various accounts, were as follows : -
REPORT OF TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES. 37
Accounts. Appropriations. Additional Credits.
Expenditures and Balances.
Fire Department : - Appropriation $26,000 00
Received for old materials, etc.
Expenditures .
$26,735 09
Expended in excess of appropria- tion, etc. ยท
456 49
Health Department : - Appropriation 4,000 00
Received for permits, licenses, etc.,
Expenditures .
4,543 42
Expended in excess of appropria- tion, etc. 289 42
Highways: -
Appropriation 38,000 00
Received for labor and materials .
1,942 55
Expenditures .
Unexpended balance
39,710 75 231 80
Indigent Soldiers and Sailors :
Appropriation
600 00
Received of State of Massachu-
setts
427 00
Expenditures . 854 00 Unexpended balance 173 00
Interest : -
Appropriation 44,000 00
Received interest, corporation, and bank taxes, etc. .
18,483 54
Expended
63,500 83
Expended in excess of appropria- tion, etc.
1,017 29
Miscellaneous: -
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