USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1888 > Part 14
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G
Keliotype Printing Co. Boston
00 509 709 1009
WITH THEJOYULUAH
237
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
DEATHS FROM SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.
SCARLET FEVER.
DIPHTHERIA.
TYPHOID FEVER.
MONTHS.
1879.
1880.
1881.
1882.
1883.
1884.
1885.
1886.
1887.
1888.
1879.
1880.
1881.
1882.
1883.
1884.
1885.
1886.
1887.
1888.
1879.
1880.
1881.
1882.
1883.
1884.
1885.
1886.
1887.
1888.
January .
4
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
2
3
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
August
Sept.
2
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
3
2
1
1
1
1
3
2
1
3
1
2
1
3
Nov.
Dec.
2
-
1
1
- 10
4
8
3
4
5
1
4
3
2
1
-
1
1
1
1
-
1
2
Total
16
6
1 46
8 14
3 31 15
29 19 44 52 31 21
28 20
11 21
3
8
8,13 8 11
3 11 17
-
-
1
11
1
3
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
June
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
1 4
October
1
1
1
1
3
2
1 11
2
1
2
7
1
4
5
1
4
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
3
ʹ
5
2
6
1
2
2
1
2
3
4
2
2
1
1
1
1
2
8
6
5
1
2
2
4
1
1
2
1
1
1
3
1
41 4
2
1
3
2
1
2
2
-
1
1
1
1
1
April
May
1
1
1
-
3
1
1
1
6
1 -1
-
-
-
-
-
3
February
March
1
2
July
2
3
6
1
DISTRICTS.
The several tabulated statistics of mortality, dangerous diseases, and nuisances in the ten health districts into which the city was divided by the Board of Health of 1878, as shown by the ac- companying map, are continued in this report. The map also shows the location of sewers. The increase in population is assumed to have been the same, relatively, as the increase in the number of assessed polls, and to have been substantially uniform in the several districts.
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.
EntireCity.
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
6,555
6,395
2,479
4,398
6,874
1,519
3,755
1,116
1,997
881
35,969
Dwellings .
981
916
412
688
1,091
372
617
249
396
219
5,941
Average in each dwelling.
6.7
7. .
6.
6.4
6.3
4.1
6.1
4.5
5.
4.
6.1
YEAR.
No. of
Deaths.
Rate
No. of
Deaths.
Rate
per 1,000.
Deaths.
Rate
No. of
Rate
per 1,000.
Deaths.
Rate
No. of
Rate
No. of
Deaths.
Rate
per 1,000.
No. of
Deaths.
per 1,000.
Deaths.
per 1,000.
Deaths.
Rate
No. of
Deaths.
Rate
per 1,000.
1879
92
21
50
12
29
18
62
22
77
17
14
22
9
14
19
16
12
9
16
385
16
1880
104
23
56
13
34
20
55
18
70
15
30
32
12
19
24
12
10
11
18
423
17
1881
111
23
64
14
41
23
48
15
62
12
36
32
38
14
18
22
19
13
00
12
445
17
1882
119
24
57
12
42
22
58
17
72
14
32
27
43
15
11
13
17
=
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
527
18
1884 .
148
27
55
10
42
20
52
14
69
12
32
25
35
11
A
15
27
16
00
11
482
16
1885
152
28
56
=
40
19
72
20
78
14
31
24
53
17
13
14
25
15
11
15
531
18
1886
115
20
51
9
38
17
59
15
85
14
37
28
44
13
11
11
20
11
19
24
479
15
1887
182
29
54
9
45
19
81
19
87
13
37
25
62
17
20
19
26
14
12
14
606
18
1888 .
148
23
68
=
44
18
62
14
117
18
33
22
50
13
16
14
28
14
13
15
579
16
Average rate for 10 years.
-
24
=
20
17
14
26
14
17
13
-
16
-
17
ANNUAL REPORTS.
238
In 1888.
·
·
·
·
·
·
.
.
·
.
.
death
-
-
-
-
.
-
-
-
Rate
No. of
Rate
No. of
per 1,000.
No. of
per 1,000.
Deaths.
No. of
per 1,000.
Deaths.
per 1,000.
14 28
·
per 1,000.
·
239
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
TABLE SHOWING THE FIVE PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF DEATH IN SOMERVILLE IN 1888, WITH THE NUMBER AND RATE IN EACH DISTRICT.
CONSUMP- TION.
PNEUMONIA.
HEART DISEASE.
CHOLERA INFANTUM.
BRIGHT'S DISEASE.
DISTRICTS.
No. of
Deaths.
No. per
1,000 of pop.
No. of
Deaths.
No. per
No. of
Deaths.
No. per
No. of
Deaths.
No. per
No. of
Deaths.
No. per
1,000 of pop.
I.
13
1.98
12
1.83
11
1.68
2.29
1.37
II.
10
1.56
9
1.41
1.09
.31
1.09
III.
6
2.42
1
1.61
.81
1.21
.81
IV.
12
2.73
1.59
4
.91
V.
24
3.49
11
1.60
10
1.46
.44
.87
VI.
3
1.98
5
3.29
VII.
1
1.89
6
1.59
1
1.07
.53
VIII.
2
1.79
3
2.69
1.79
-
IX.
22
2.27
-
-
4
4.54
1.14
-
Total
81
2.28
62
1.72
45
1.25
35
.94
28
.78
TABLE OF SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER EACH DISTRICT IN 1888.
SCARLET FEVER.
DIPHTHERIA.
TYPHOID FEVER.
DISTRICTS.
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
reported.
Deaths.
Cases per
1,000 of pop.
Deaths per
1,000 of pop.
I.
23
3.51
.61
16
2.41
1.07
15
3
2.29
.46
II.
26
4.07
.47
99C
2.43
.40
6
3
2.43
1.21
IV.
6
1.36
12
2.72
1.14
8
2
1.71
.45
V.
14
1
2.01
.15
20
2.89
.15
11
3
1.59
.45
VI.
4
1
1
5.59
.27
1
2
1.07
.53
4
1
1.07
VIII.
8
2
7.17
1.77
1
1
-
5
1
4.52
.88
IX.
15
3
7.51
1.50
1
3.00
.50
1
2
2.00
1.00
1
-
4.54
-
1
2.27
1.13
3
1
3.40
1.13
Total
123
15
3.42
.42
75
21
2.09
.59
63
17
1.75
.48
-
3
1
1.98
.66
2
1
1.32
VII.
21
1181
.81
.40
HUTH 15-1
.94
.31
5
2
.78
.31
III.
2
1.00
2.50
1
.50
.50
1.00
x.
12111912-16
.23
.45
3.96
HH ONOWN WON O
1,000 of pop.
Cases
Cases
2.63
29
1,000 of pop.
1,000 of pop.
1,000 of pop.
RATES PER THOUSAND OF POPULATION OF CASES OF SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER REPORTED, AND OF DEATHIS FROM THE SAME, IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
1882.
1883.
1884.
1885.
1886.
1887.
1888.
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.
Scarlet Fever.
Diphtheria.
Typhoid Fever.
Scarlet Fever.
Diphtheria.
Typhoid Fever.
I.
[ Cases. . Deaths.
1.00
2.39
1.91 0.38
3.25 0.57
4.98 0.96
11.35 0.55
5.76 1.26
1.26 0.18
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
3.51 0.61
2.44 1.07
2.29 0.46
5.22 0.57
3.97 1.25
2.34 0.42
II.
Cases. Deaths.
2.04 0.20
0.80 0.40
4.32 0.98
0.98
2.40
1.11
2.63
1.50 0.41
1.50 0.19
2.12 0.35
0.89
1.82
0.66
1.16 0.17
4.07 0.47
0.94 0.31
0.78 0.31
0.12
0.37
0.18
III.
§ Cases. Deaths.
3.69
7.90 3.16
0.53 0.53
6.58 1.52
1.01
10.90 0.95
4.76 0.48
8.70 0.97
1.45 0.48
5.03 0.46
0.46 0.46
3.84 1.71
0.85 0.43
0.85 0.43
0.81 0.40
2.43 0.40
2.43 1.21
5.14 0.64
3.49 0.99
0.31
IV.
Cases. . Deaths.
1.78 0.59
3.56 0.59
1.78
0.29
5.42 0.29
1.71 0.57
0.27
0.54
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
1.36
2.72 1.14
1.71 0.45
4.29 0.34
2.63 0.69
0.49
V.
J Cases. . ¿ Deaths.
1.90 0.38
8.54 2.28
0.95 0.19
2.74
7.67 1.46
1.64 0.73
2.58
3.43
1.20
6.98
2.97 0.17
0.17 0.17
4.78 1.65
4.00 0.62
1.54 0.31
0.93 0.31
2.04 0.15
2.89 0.15
1.59 0.45
0.19
0.31
VI.
( Cases. ¿ Deaths.
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
0.79
1.49
6.96 0.70
1.39
2.08
2.63
1.32
9.18 0.55
2.55
0.12
VII.
Cases. . Deaths.
1.39
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
4.22 0.30
0.60 0.30
8.45 0.56
0.85 0.28
1.41 0.28
5.59 0.27
1.07 0.53
1.07
5.99 0.44
3.63 0.92
0.17
VIII.
S Cases. . Deaths.
10.50 1.17
3.50 1.17
3.37
7:86
17.95 1.06
2.11 1.06
7.51
7.51
1.01
17.05 1.89
3.79
7.17 1.77
4.52 0.88
7.72 0.67
4.15
2.91
IX.
¡ Cases. . ¿ Deaths.
1.31 0.65
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 7.51 1.50
3.00 0.50
2.00 1.00
7.57 0.29
3.18 0.60
0.32
X.
1 Cases. Deaths.
7.42
4.45
7.42 2.96
2.85
10.74
1.34
4.09
2.72
5.15
10.30 1.29
8.40
4.80
4.54
2.27 1.13
3.40 1.13
6.54 0.19
0.35
0.58
City.
( Cases. . ¿ Deaths.
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 0.93
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
3.42 0.42
2.09 0.59
1.75 0.48
4.70 0.36
3.61 0.88
0.32
-
3.53
0.20
3.04
-
-
8.86
2.15
0.54
9.54
0.34
0.17
3.16
-
-
-
-
-
1.18 0.59
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.98 0.66
8.12
1.19
0.86
-
7.30 2.08
-
0.17
0.60
1.11
---
-
4.11
2.12
1.34
240
ANNUAL REPORTS.
2.32
1.81
1.11
0.37
1.66 0.19
0.19
1.91
5.67
2.25
0.37
-
1.77
0.48 -
3.46
0.33
2.99 0.75
5.43
0.63
3.17
6.44 1.07
0.52
4.55 0.69
0.97
3.39
1.30
0.30
16.32 7.73
--
7.17 2.79
1.03
Typhoid Fever.
-
9.55 1.36
241
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
NUISANCES ABATED IN EACH DISTRICT IN 1888.
DISTRICT. Population (estimated).
I. 6,555
II. 6,395
III. IV. 2,479 4,398
V. VII. VI. 6,874 1,519 3,755
VIII. 1,116
IX. 1,997
X. 881
Total 35,969
Bedding used in typhoid fever on premises
Cellar damp
9
Cesspool defective
5
66
offensive . overflowing
9 19111 1 1
4
1111 1 1
1
12||1 1 2 1 1
11112
3
4
-
-
1
-
-
3
1
100 6
8 I co
1
46
66
emptying in
cellar
3
1
2
3
3
3
2
2
-
19
66
emptying on
7
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
19
Drain pipe defective .
2
-
11
1
1
1
2
19
Drying hair, offensive
1
1
1
Furnace without cold- air box
1
1
-
1
Hens kept in cellar
2
Hens kept in privy
1
Manure exposed and
offensive .
Offal on land
1.111 94 1 1 9 4
113112272 1 3 1 7
11112 1 1 2
-
-
ʻ
11
1
2
1
8
66
full . offensive
28
13
12
17
6
1
1
3
2
3
-
-
1
4
1
-
-
13
1 1
3
1
-
-
-
-
-
6
Stagnant water on sur- face
10
1
18
Waste-pipe defective
1
1
1
4
2
2
39
Water-closet defective 66
3
3
1
11
supplied with water
4
5
-
-
-
1 1
12
Water-closet not sup-
plied with water . .
2
2
1
1
-
13
12
Wooden waste-pipes and drains
1 1
-
-
1
1
2
156
89
14
37
84
31
42
21
21
2
497
-
-
1
7
Connections of drainage pipes defective
4
3
1
16
Cows kept in basement of house .
2
Drainage defective
10
10
1
113 1
1 1111422 1 4 2
1
-
-
1
5
Opening in drain-pipe in cellar .
1
4
17
12
Privy-vault defective
1
22
10
5
11121411 2 1 1 4
-
21
3
not trapped,
12
13
Water-closet offensive
3
3
1
-
1
ʻ
1
82
Slaughtering, offensive . Slops thrown on surface. Stable and stable premi- ses filthy and offensive Stagnant water in house cellar
1
12 2
1 12113112 1 2
3
1
1
-
-
6
Offensive odor in and about dwellings .
-
-
3311 3 3 1
1
1
11213
-
1
1
-
-
-
1
1
1
-
1
11
1
11
55
66
surface
not ventilated,
4
4
1
Hennery offensive .
21
Premises filthy untidy
1
3
insufficiently
1
5
-
2
2
242
ANNUAL REPORTS.
APPROPRIATION FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND EXPENDITURES THEREFROM, 1888.
Appropriation
$4,500 00
Receipts for permits to keep swine and goats and to collect grease 226 00
Total credit
$4,726 00
Expenditures : -
For inspector's salary . $ 962 96
" collecting ashes
. 2,326 68
offal 900 00
“ burying dead animals 67 00
" vaccine virus
9 00
fumigating (sulphur, pans, etc.,)
18 60
" disinfectants
9 75
abating nuisances 7 50
care of ash dumps 402 66
investigating nuisances . 37 03
66 cause of nuisance
at Bridge Street sewer out- let
10 14
analyzing water
10 44
" property destroyed after Ty- phoid Fever case 25 00
" distributing notices on collec- tion of ashes 17 50
" books, stationery and printing 190 95
serving notices 2 00
“ carriage hire 22 00
rent of post-office box
5 00
Total debit
$5,024 21
Amount overdrawn
$298 21
THOMAS M. DURELL, M.D. J. F. WELLINGTON, CHAS. H. CRANE.
INDEX
TO THE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
PAGE
Ashes .
231
Cows .
230
Dangerous diseases
235
Death rate, 1SSS (at end of mortality table)
235
Deaths .
234
Diphtheria
236
Districts
237
Expenses
242
Goats
230
Grease
230'
House offal
233-
Map
237.A
Manure
231
Membership
227
Night-soil
233
Nuisances
2:28
Organization
227
Pedlers
231
Permits
229
Population (at end of mortality table)
235
Private streets
229
Regulations
230
Scarlet fever
235
Sewers
233
Swine
230
Typhoid fever
236
TABLES.
Mortality in Somerville, 18SS
234
6: rates of, in districts, in last ten years
238
Nuisances abated, 1888
228
in districts, 1SSS
241
Principal causes of death, in districts, 18SS
Scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhoid fever, 18SS
236
6:
66
6:
in districts, 1SSS
. 239
66
66
in last 7 years 240
.
239
deaths in last 10 years . 237
REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN.
-
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Jan. 23, 1889.
Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual re- ports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Jan. 23, 1889. CHAS. S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
To his Honor the Muyor and the City Council.
GENTLEMEN,- I respectfully present my annual report as City Physician. I have made during the year, 1,409 visits ; of these 298 were surgical, and 43 were made to persons at the police station. I have viewed the bodies, and have given certificates of the probable cause of death of 6 persons who died unattended by a physician. I have examined 21 persons supposed to be insane, and have given certificates in 14 cases. I have, under the Civil Service, examined 13 applicants for the police force.
Respectfully submitted,
THOS. M. DURELL, M.D., City Physician.
Jan. 13, 1889.
REPORT
OF THE
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Jan. 23, 1889.
Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual re- ports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Jan. 23, 1889.
Concurred in.
CHAS. S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
Jan. 1, 1889.
To the City Council.
The Trustees of the Somerville Public Library take pleasure, in submitting their report for the current year, to state that at no time in its history has this institution for general instruction been so extensively patronized, and, we believe, its usefulness so clearly demonstrated.
The report of the Librarian is herewith transmitted, which con- tains all necessary information in regard to the daily workings of the library, and its present condition. We would respectfully request that the same be published with the annual reports.
The Trustees do not consider it necessary to make an extended report, as there is no institution in the city with which the public are more familiar than the Public Library.
We have been guided in the performance of the duty intrusted to us, by the idea of making the library popular in its best sense ; dividing as judiciously as possible, the money available for new books, so that all classes of readers may be stimulated and im- proved by the best in every department of literature.
The new catalogue has been printed the present year, and is a great convenience to the many who have occasion to consult it.
In conclusion, we ask with confidence for such generous sup- port from the City Government, as we have uniformly received in the past.
CHAS. S. LINCOLN, GEO. A. BRUCE, · SANFORD HANSCOM, WM. H. BRINE, J. HENRY FLITNER, CHRISTOPHER E. RYMES, WM. E. WELD, JAMES. E. WHITAKER, CHAS. G. POPE,
Trustees.
252
ANNUAL REPORTS.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
To the Trustees of the Somerville Public Library.
GENTLEMEN, -In submitting my sixteenth annual report of the condition of the library, I can only state, with more emphasis than ever before, the increased number of books asked for, of books read, and of books of reference used. It is pleasant to be able to state that nearly all of the books inquired for during the past year were immediately procured by the committee, who are always glad to know the wants of our readers.
LIBRARY WORK.
This has been a busy year. The catalogue has been com- pleted, and has been in use six months. 1,738 new books have been entered and put in circulation, a card catalogue is well under way, and the shelves are rapidly filling up. We now need the whole of our building for our own use, as there is no more room for the new reference books until some changes are made, and all public documents placed in the upper room. 145 books have been worn out and discarded, and 10,951 covered and repaired. These were principally fiction, as we are trying the experiment of putting into circulation many new books with- out the paper covers, and find they are generally well used. The delivery of books from the counter is but one part of our numerous duties. The constant overlooking of every book when returned, the replacing of soiled and torn covers, renumbering and repairing of carelessly-handled books, occupy a large share of our time. This has been cheerfully and faithfully performed by the assistants, to whom much credit is due for the excellent condition of the books.
253
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
270 books have been bound, including periodicals. One new magazine, "The Historical and Genealogical Register," and one children's paper, "The Youth's Companion," have been added this year.
One ancient and valuable book has been given by Rev. Charles Smith, and one by the author, E. S. Brooks. The " Somerville Citizen " has also been contributed, and we are thankful for con- tinued favors from " Somerville Journal " and " Somerville Sen- tinel."
ADDITIONS.
Among the books added to our reference library are " History of Ancient Sculpture," " Palestine Illustrated," Turner's "Liber Fluviorum," " English and Greek Lexicon," "Graphic Record," Lacroix's "Eighteenth Century " in France, " England and Wales," illustrated, in four volumes, " Seats and Castles of Scot- land," and others. While in the circulating department an unusually large number of excellent books have been added; some of which are "Europe in Storm and Calm," " Ancient Rome in the Light of Recent Discovery," " American Litera- ture," in ten volumes, McCulloch's " Men and Measures," "Face to Face with the Mexicans," Long's " Republican Party," Sheri- dan's " Personal Memoirs," "Capitals of Spanish America," " Ancient Persia," "Three Cruises of the Coast-Survey Steamer Blake," " Donnelly's Cryptogram," with a large collection of juvenile books, and the most desirable works of fiction.
CIRCULATION.
The library has been open, for the delivery of books, 305 days, and 81,844 books have been delivered. Of these, 80,697 were for " home use," and 1,147 were used here for reference.
The busiest week of the year ended with March 24, in which time 2,011 were delivered for home use. The largest number on any one day was 708 (March 24), and the smallest (July 31) was 100.
This year three books were carelessly destroyed, and two others accidently spoiled, but all were paid for and re- placed.
254
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Two thousand notices have been written and sent out for books overdue, and three were found to be missing from the shelves at the annual examination.
REGISTRATION.
On the 1st of January, 1885, a new registration was com- menced; since which time, 8,369 names have been entered and cards supplied. The number in use is constantly changing, some preferring to take out books only in summer, but by far the greater part taking books regularly through the winter months. This year 1,356 names were added.
Our reading-room is generally well filled, and, with a few exceptions, quiet. We have allowed all to avail themselves of its privileges without regard to age; but sometimes are obliged to exclude those who come merely for amusement or talk, and who take the places of people who wish for a quiet room for reading or study. Our reference books are used freely, and we find it difficult to be able to state how many are used in the reference room of which no account can be kept.
An immense amount of reading is now done by some of the youngest readers, -I mean by those under the age of sixteen. These we are always ready to attend to and assist. Cannot more of our teachers interest them in some particular direction, and, now that the taste for reading has been formed, give them subjects to look up, and encourage them to report to them such facts as they have mastered, for the only test whether a book has been read or not is the ability to tell what it contains? It is true that the parents are the ones who should attend to all this ; but they are too often only pleased that the time should be so taken up, and find it too much trouble to investigate, or are not competent to decide.
Many teachers now suggest books to their pupils; but I can- not but think that a great deal more might be done in this direction by teachers of the lower grades of the Grammar Schools.
We have the best books of recent travel, and the newest thoughts of great thinkers, as well as the records of the past lives of the great and good of every land in our valuable library,
255
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
and it only remains for the reader to take, without money and without price, whatever will best satisfy his wants.
Looking back at the small beginning of the library (less than three thousand books), and comparing it with its present num- ber (15,883), and the delivery of 81,844 in one year, it is plain to see the great success of its establishment.
HARRIET A. ADAMS, Librarian.
SOMERVILLE, Jan. 1, 1889.
256
ANNUAL REPORTS.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF CITY TREASURER.
CR.
Balance from 1887
$1,012 17
Appropriation
3,000 00
Dog licenses
2,388 30
Fines
283 57
Catalogues .
46.15
Expended in excess of appropriation
12 94
DR.
Salaries
. $1,608 12
Books .
. 3,055 06
Printing and stationery
234 60
Binding
108 53
Newspapers
12 00
Gas
173 29
Fuel
203 45
Water
29 00
Repairs
274 32
Labor
11 75
Expressing .
46 95
Incidentals . .
37 31
Catalogues .
847 50
Insurance
101 25
$6,743 13
$6,743 13
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Jan. 3, 1889.
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.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Jan. 3, 1889. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS, Dec. 31, 1888.
To the City Council of Somerville.
The following is respectfully submitted as the final report of this committee for the year ending Dec. 31, 1888 : -
HIGHWAYS ACCOUNT.
CREDIT.
Appropriation $44,000 00
Receipts and credits : -
For labor and materials furnished
prior to Jan. 1, 1888, the bills for which remained uncollected that day $663 00
rent of dwellings at City
Farm . $136 00
less repairs and water rates 10 77
125 23
pasturage at Waltham
Gravel Land for years
1887 and 1888 . $240 00
less taxes on said land 117 30
122 70
unpaid bill for materials purchased 63 75
974 68
Value of materials on hand Jan. 1, 1888 1,122 25
Value of property on hand Jan. 1, 1888 9,541 60
Total credit
$55,638 53
260
ANNUAL REPORTS.
DEBIT.
Expenditures :
For construction of Aldrich Street $310 14
construction of Berkeley Street,
from School Street to Central Street 499 93
construction of Boston Street
750 28
construction of Buckingham Street
274 22
construction of Irving Street
323 11
construction of Morgan Street
88 26
street crossings
512 27
street signs
98 32
clearing and repairing streets after the laying of horse railroad tracks :
Highland Avenue, from Cedar
Street, easterly $613 87
Somerville Avenue and Elm 856 15
Street
1,470 02
repairs and improvements of streets, and paving of gutters in connection with the setting of edgestones :
Berkeley Street, School Street to Central Street, paving . .
$390 29
Bow Street, north side, from
Bow Street Place to near Somerville Avenue, paving 32 85
Cedar and Summer Streets, in
front of David Cummings & Co's estate, paving 37 61
Dartmouth Street, east side,
from Broadway to Evergreen Avenue, paving 177 99
repairs
332 28
Amounts carried forward . $971 02
$4,326 55
261
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS.
Amounts brought forward . $971 02 $4,326 55
Dartmouth Street, both sides, Evergreen Avenue to Med- ford Street, paving repairs
520 98
283 83
Dane Street, north-west side, from Washington Street to Somerville Avenue, paving repairs
420 98
687 77
Franklin Street, from Frank- lin Avenue to end of old sidewalk, paving repairs
200 80
55 81
Grove Street, west side, from Elm Street to Highland Avenue, paving 159 86 repairs 175 90
Mystic Avenue in front of H. S. Atwood's estate, paving 24 13
Prospect Hill Congregational Society, Bow and Walnut Streets, paving 136 62
Summer Street in front of Methodist Church, paving 26 86 Walnut Street in front of G. W. Simpson's estate, paving 31 64
3,696 20
cost to City of sidewalks, the bricks and edgestones for which were furnished by the abutters 336 94
ordinary repairs of streets : -
Broadway from Franklin
Street to Cross Street 516 11
Broadway from Dartmouth Street to Main Street . 829 57
Central Street from Albion Street to Forster Street. 735 05
Amounts carried forward
. $2,080 73
$8,359 69
262
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward . . $2,080 73 $8,359 69
Cedar Street from Highland
Avenue to Lowell R. R. 49 12
Cherry Street from Elm Street to Chestnut Street . 118 80
Franklin Street from Perkins Street to Broadway . 109 00
Harvard Street from Summer Street to Beach Street 590 63
Holland Street from Cameron Avenue to Newbury Street
138 85
Oak Street from Prospect Street to Bolton Street 95 14
Pearl Street from Crescent Street to Hillside Avenue Prospect Street from Webster Avenue to Cambridge Line .
502 63
School Street from Berkeley Street to Somerville Ave- nue
485 17
Somerville Avenue from Pros-
pect Street to Craigie Street
2,990 99
Springfield Street from Cam- bridge Line to Concord Avenue
157 03
Summer Street from Vinal
Avenue to Linden Avenue 754 80
Vinal Avenue from Highland Avenue to Pleasant Ave- nue 191 36
Walnut Street from Bonair Street to Pearl Street 416 05
Walnut Street from Boston Street to Bow Street. 99 12
Washington Street from Pros-
pect Street to Boston Line 231 53
Amounts carried forward $9,858 98
$8,359 69
848 03
263
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS.
Amounts brought forward . $9,858 98 $8,359 69
Washington Street from Un- ion Square to Dane Street 961 79 general repairs 10,547 77
21 368 54
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