Report of the city of Somerville 1891, Part 14

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 448


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1891 > Part 14


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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TYPHOID FEVER.


MONTHS.


1882.


1883.


1884.


1885.


1886.


1887.


1888.


1889.


1890.


1891.


1882.


1883.


1884.


1885.


1886.


1887.


1888.


1889.


1890.


1891.


1882.


1883.


1884.


1885.


1886.


1887.


1888.


1889.


1890.


1891.


1


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


February .


1


1


1


1


1


1


7


3


3


1


2


1


3


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


2


2


1


September


1


1


1


6


1


1


2


2


1


2


3


3


3


1


3


1


2


1


1


1


2


November


3


2


- 11


2


7


1


4


5


2


1


4


1


4


ʻ


1


2


2


1


3


December


2


1


1


10


1


4


5


1


4


3


2


1


5


2


3


1


1


Total . .


4 6 8 14 3 31 15


7


5


2


52 31 21 28


20 11


21 28 21 18


8 13


8 11


3 11 17


7 10 11


-


11


1


5


8


6


1


5


1


2


2


4


2


2


2


1


2


1


4


1


1


1


1


3


3


2


2


3


1


4


2


1


2


October


1


1


-


1


1


1


4


3


2


1


1


1


2


1


April


1


1


5


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


2


3


1


1


1


3


2


1


1


1


-


2


HIHN


1


4


1


July


August


1


1


1


1


3 2 3 2 282112111110


1


May


1


6


1


June


1


1


1


1


ʻ


1


ʹ


ʹ


1


-


-


-


-


1


-


-


2


July .


1


September .


4


8


2


25


November .


21


18


4


22


9


3


33


December .


27


11


3


27


25


4


2


50


May .


6


4


3


75


2


January


2


March


4


2


1


1


1


4


2


3


1 1 1N1


-


2


2


IHN1


1


1


Cases


244


ANNUAL REPORTS.


DISTRICTS.


The accompanying map shows the boundaries of the ten health districts into which the city was divided by the Board of Health of 1878 ; also the locations of common sewers.


A record has been kept from year to year of the number of deaths, the death rate per thousand, the prevalence of dangerous diseases, and the number of nuisances abated in these several dis- tricts, and is continued in the following tables.


The estimated population in the several districts was originally based on the number of assessed polls in each, and upon the popula- tion of the entire city, as shown by the census every five years ; it being assumed that the growth in population has been at the same rate as the increase in the number of assessed polls, and has been uniform throughout the city.


MAP OF


SOMERVILLE


0 08 400 500 100 1000


SCALE


DUSAW


EMILE.


M


SHOWYEY


CHA


D


JUSTIN


Ave


GEOR


R


BROADWAY


AUTO


WA


PAKLAN


wOS


BUSH


FRANK


AIN


ENCE


CROSS


AILA


SOUTH


MURDOCK


ST


AV


ST


ST.


VERNON


SY.


ASYLUM


Av


HIGHLAND


PRESCOTT


PUTNAM


VINAL


UMMI


LINWOOD


CHESTN


BENS ST.


BERKEL


ALDERSEY


ST.


AV.


QUING


CHURCH


SOM


PROSPECT


AULROAD.


DGE


C


A


ZAK


M


DIMICK 3L.


B


C


R


-


Sewers shown thus;


0


E


F


HION


O


MAIN


FREMONT


PAGOK'S


IST


ST.


AVE.


AVE.


ST.


D


BROADWAY


ADAMS


SYCAMORE


THURSTON


MASTER


AVE


AV.


MAPLE


EVER


PARTRIDGE


ELINY LIND AV


SON STY


STICKNEY


37


RAYMOND


WARE ST.


KIDDER AVE


V


ROAD


ALBION


HUDSON


- BENTON AV.


SUMMERS


THESTON


AVE


NOENST


ORING


AVE


ST.


ST.


ST.


INE


LS NVINO


65 01803N03


TREMON


NOP


BOLTONSO


SOLK ST.


FITO


DANE


CLARK ST.


ALLEN ST


LINDEN


PORTER


CRAIGIE


LOWELL


SPRING


PLE


BELMONT


Works


BRASTOW


SUMMER


MEACHAM


DOVER


ACOTTACO


AVE.


ST.JAMES


ST


ASHLANDS


AVE


ORCHARD


WHITE ST


IL AN


2000


SHOWING HEALTH DISTRICTS.


4000


AVE.


JE


VIII


NTUNION


WINTHROT


GARFIELD


CROSS


ST


PARK


TUFTS


T


COLLEGE


AND


OWELL


FISK


-OFORO


LOWEL


TAULL


TENNY.


AYER


PZARJON


BROO


willow


FAIRMOUNT


BROADWAY.


JAMES


SIMPSON


IRVING


WALLACE


CHANDLER


MORRIS


ST.


AVE


37.


ST.


ST.


WINSLOW


CARTE


PARK AV.


AMER


LMWOOD


VE.


CHERRY


MILLER'S RI


NOIRNIX3


AMBRI


HELIOTYPE PRINTING LO BOSTON


MYSTIC


1892


RIVER.


MIDOLESE


EASTER


B


E


S


BOSTON


PINCK


FLOR-


NORTH


PROFES3CMS


N


CURTIS


JOSEPHINE


RAILROAD


TON


FLINT


AVE.


SCHOOL


MADISON ST.


AVE.


GARRISON A


FARRAGUT AVE.


ESCA AVE


APPLETON ST.


AVE.


RAIL


LEXINGTON AV


HIGHLAND


OXFORD


LEASEN


COLLEGE AVE


APPLETON


CONWELL


AME


ENDICOT


ARLINGTON


KONIN


D


MYSTIC


BROADWAY ..


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. .


7,790


7,605


2,931


5,180


8,211


1,780


4,454


1,307


2,380


1,030


42,668


Dwellings .


1,190


1,109


525


845


1,314


479


757


334


505


299


7,358


Average in each dwelling . .


6.6


6.9


5.4


6.1


6.2


3.8


5.9


3.9


4.7


3.4


5.7


1


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


Rate


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


1882


119


24


57


12


42


22


58


17


72


14


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


co


13


527


18


1884


148


27


55


42


20


52


14


69


12


32


25


35


=


14


15


27


16


00


=


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


38


17


59


15


85


14


37


28


44


13


11


11


20


11


19


24


479


15


1887


182


29


54


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


00


33


22


50


16


14


28


14


13


15


579


16


1889 .


125


16


67


48


17


85


17


105


A


28


17


62


19


Cr


26


12


17


17


582


15


1890


140


19


69


co


48


17


94


19


139


00


46


27


59


A


27


22


26


12


15


15


663


16


1891


169


22


71


co


68


23


103


20


120


15


75


42


77


17


33


25


33


14


12


12


761


18


Average death rate per 1,000 for ten years .


23


10


20


17


15


28


15


17


14


16


17


In 1891.


·


Rate


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


Number of


Rate


Deaths.


Rate


Rate


YEAR.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


per 1,000.


616610


ciao


246


ANNUAL REPORTS.


TABLE SHOWING THE FIVE PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF DEATH IN SOMERVILLE IN 1891, WITH THE NUMBER AND RATE IN EACH DISTRICT.


CONSUMP- TION.


PNEUMONIA.


HEART DISEASE.


CHOLERA INFANTUM.


PREMATURE BIRTH AND INFANTILE DEBILITY.


DISTRICTS.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


1,000 of pop.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


1,000 of pop.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


1,000 of pop.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


1,000 of pop.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


1,000 of pop.


I.


26


3.31


19


2.44


0.90


10


1.28


13


1.67


II.


6


0.79


6


0.79


1.05


4


0.53


1


0.13


III.


2.04


7


2.39


1.71


9


3.07


5


1.71


IV.


1.74


10


1.92


2,89


9


1.74


7


1.35


V.


1,22


15


1.83


17


2.07


4


0.49


5


0,61


VI.


7


3,93


6


3.37


3


1.69


12


6.74


8


4.50


VII.


8


1.80


9


1.35


8


1.80


6


1.35


4


0.88


VIII.


4


3.06


5


3.83


2


1.53


4


3.06


1


0.76


IX.


2


0.84


2


0,84


1


0.42


0.84


1


0.42


X.


1


0.97


1


0.97


2


1.94


0.97


1


0.97


Total .


79


1.85


77


1.80


68


1.59


61


1.43


46


1.08


TABLE OF SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER IN EACH DISTRICT IN 1891.


SCARLET FEVER.


DIPHTHERIA.


Reported.


Deaths.


Cases per


Deaths per


Reported.


Deaths.


Cases per


Deaths per


I.


16


2.05


14


1.80


0.38


6


0.77


II.


6


0.79


-


11


1.45


0.66


9


1.18


0.39


III.


25


1


8.53


0.34


13


4


4.44


1.02


IV.


18


1


3.47


0.19


7


2


1.35


0.39


6


1.16


0.39


V.


30


-


3.65


10


1,22


8


0.97


0.12


VI.


4


-


2.25


1


1


0.56


0.56'


5


1


2.81


0.56


VII.


8


1.80


4


0.88


11


2


2.47


0.45


VIII.


1


3.06


0.76


2


1.53


IX.


10


-


4.20


7


1


2.94


0.42


X.


10


9.71


1


1


0.97


0.97


Total .


127


2


2.97


.05


72


18


1,62


.42


54


11


1.26


.25


1,000 of pop.


1,000 of pop.


Cases


Deaths.


Cases per


1,000 of pop.


Deaths per


1,000 of pop.


Cases


Cases


1,000 of pop.


TYPHOID FEVER.


DISTRICTS.


Reported.


-


-


7


12281


2.39


0,61


or CT 00 - 1


000


12


1,000 of pop.


4


-


247


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.


1885.


1886.


1887.


ISSS.


ISS9.


1890.


1891.


Av'age for Seven Yrs.


DISTRICTS.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet 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 .


2.20 0.55 5.67 5.12 1.83 0.37


2.25


2.59 0.86 0.52 0.17


10.48 1.45 2.74 3.51 2.44 2.29| 2.10 0.32 0.64


0.61 1.07 0.46


1.82 0.66 1.16 -0.17


4.07 0.94 0.78 0.47 0.31 0.31


2.32 2.17 1.01 0.43 0.29 -


0.42 2.37 0.69 - 0.42 0.28


0.79 1 45 1.18 0.66 0.39


1.97 1.60 1.03 0.09 0.36 0.37


III.


§ Cases Deaths


8.70


1.45 0.48


5.03


0.46


3.84 0.85 0.85 1.71 0.43 0.43


0.81 2.43 2.43 0.40 0.40 1.21


1.19 1.11 4.11 - 0.37 -


7.97 3.18 1.09 0.73 0.37 -


8.53 4.44 2.39 0.34 1.02 0.61


5.15 1.99 1.62 0.61|0.50 0.38


IV.


Cases Deaths .


0.55


1.64 1.36 1.09 0.82


4.38 0.26


0.26 0.26


3.85 2.16 1.20 0.96 1.20 0.48


1.36 2.72 1.71 -1.14 0.45


1.24 2.52 0.84 0.88 0.63 0.21


3.28 6.57 1.03 3.47 1 35 1.16 0.21 1.64


0.19 0.39 0.39 -


4.36 2.90 0.84


V.


6 Cases Deaths .


6.98


2.97 0.17 0.17 0.17


4.78 0.33 1.65 -


4.00 1.54 0.93 0.62 0.31 0.31


2.04 2.89 1.59 0.15 0.15 0.45


4.04 4.58 0.95 - 0.94 0.13


6.34 2.34 0.91 0.26 0.26 0.26


3.65 1.22 0 97 - -


0.12


0.17 0.50 0.21


VI.


§ Cases Deaths .


10.27 16.59 0.79


2.99


1.49


-


6.96 1.39 2.08 0.70 -


2.63 1.98 1.32 -0.66 -


6.58 4.19 2.39 - 0.59 1.19


2.25 0.56 2 81 -0 56 0 56


5.05 3.83 1.69 0.21 0.71 0.25


VII.


§ Cases Deaths .


7.34


3.51 1.60


5.43


4.22 0.60 0.30 0.30


8.45 0.85 1.41 0.56 0.28 0.28


5.59 1.07 1.07 0.27 0.53 -


3.45 4.68 0.41 0.98 -


5.26 3.37 0.95 -0.24 -


- 1.80 0.88 2.47 0.45 -


5.33 2.65 1.07 0.35 0.48 0.28


VIII.


§ Cases Deaths .


7.51


7.51 6.44 - 1.07


1.01


17.05


3,79


7.17 1.77


- 4.52 2.49 4.14 - 0.88


3.27 4.08 1.63 -[0.81 -


- 3.06 1.53 - - 0.76


5.50 2.68 2.56 0.52 0.23 0.39


IX.


§ Cases Deaths .


22.81


3.60 1.20


6.24


3.97 1.70 0.57 -


5.82 0.53 1.06 0.53 - -


7.51 3.00 2.00 1.50 0.50 1.00


- 4.63 1.85


- 1.79 2.23 0.45 0,45 -


4.20 2.94 10 42 1


6.91 2.99 1.18 0.29 0.28 0.14


X.


§ Cases Deaths .


9.55 1.36


1


-


-


-


4.54 2.27 3.40 - 1.13 1.13


2.10 8.40 - 4.20


4.13 1.03 2.06 - 1.03 -


9 71 0.97 - 0.97


6.23 4.55 1.17 0.19 1.09|0.16


§ Cases Deaths .


7.54 0.47


3.67 1.37 0.93 0.37


3.47 10.09


0.63 €.09


5.94 1.29 1.20 0.91 0.32 0.32


3.42 2.09 1.75 4.94 3.34 1.57 4.01 2.89 0.97 2.97 1.62 1.26 10.42 0.59 0.48 0.18 0.72 0.18 0.07 0.54 0.24 0.05 0.42 0.25


4.61 2.55 1.25 0.31 0.59 0.28


-


0.46


0.46


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-0.83


-


-


-


1


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


1.29


2.87 0.63


City


( Cases


II.


Deaths .


0.19


1.50 1.50 0.41 0.19


1.77


2.12 0.89 0.35 -


-


-


-


-


3.16


0.75


1.60


1.28 0.64


-


-


-


-


4.09 2.72 5.15 10.30


8.40 4.80


-


-


-


-


4.24 3.24 3.11 3.55 1.51 0.82 10.28 0.84 0.42


- 0.55 0.14


2.05 1.80 0.77 10.38


4.53 2.59 1.77 0.48 0.84 0.34


2.63


0.97


0.48


9.54


0.77 0.77


3.87 2.53 1.14 0.43 0.91 0.37


3,46


0.17


3.65 0.61 2.43


-


-


-


1.89


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.


-


248


ANNUAL REPORTS.


NUISANCES ABATED IN EACH DISTRICT IN 1891.


DISTRICT. Population ( estimated ).


I.


II.


III.


IV.


V.


VI.


VII.


VIII.


IX.


X.


Total.


Cellar damp .


4


3


-


3


6


1


1


1


1


2


10


Cesspool overflowing


-


-


-


2


2


2


-


1


1


8


Connection of drainage pipes defective


5


3


1


3


4


5


4


2


.


14


Drainage emptying in cellar


1


2


1


-


2


2


1


1


2


4


2


Drain-pipe defective


1


3


1


1


5


-


.


11:1 1 1


1


1


1


Hens kept in cellar


1


1


3


1


2


1


10


Manure exposed and offensive Offal on land


2


1


4


1


221213 2 2 2 3


3


1


1


6


1


11


113


Privy-vault offensive


52


4


6


16


20


2


4


7


1


1


7


Sewer-gas in house


2


2


1


1


-


1


-


1


1


1


1


1


2


Stagnant water in house cellar


1


1


4


3


1


1


1


1


9


Waste-pipe not trapped .


5


4


1


2


4


2


1


1


1


30


Water-closet insufficiently sup- plied with water


1


4


5


2


4


Water-closet offensive


4


1


2


1


-


1


1


1


11


Total


175


60


54


70


100


40


24


23


10


15


571


ʹ


3


2


1


1


1 1 11111 1


13


Drying straw on sidewalk


1


Hennery offensive


4


Offensive odor in and about dwellings


1


4


5


8


4


3


1


1 11


3


Premises filthy .


-


1


1


-


1


Premises undrained


-


1


-


ʻ


1


24


Privy-vault full


50


3


6


14


14


3


Removal of bodies of animals burned at fires


1


1


1


Rubbish in cellar


4


3


111 1 1


1


1


1


Stagnant water on surface .


15


Waste-pipe defective .


3


2


Water-closet defective


3


6


6


6


4


4


1


1


8


Opening in drain-pipe in cellar


-


1


2


Premises untidy


6


2


9


Privy-vault defective .


16


1


1


1


1


Keeping pig without license


8


4


6


1


1


1


Drainage emptying on surface .


Drainage not ventilated .


1


1


1


-


20


Cesspool offensive


3


2


1


27


Drainage defective


2


3


8


8


11


21


98


Slops thrown on surface


1


1


Stable affected with glanders .


4


Stable and stable premises filthy and offensive


1


1


11111 .12131 11 1 1 3 1 1


11


1


17


2


2


17


3


1


3


ʹ


8


3


28


1


2


249


REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.


APPROPRIATION FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND EXPENDITURES THEREFROM, 1891.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$7,000 00


Receipts for permits to keep swine and


goats and collect grease 243 00


Total credit


$7,243 00


DEBIT.


Expenditures : -


For inspector's salary


$1,000 00


collecting ashes


3,686 27


collecting offal


2,150 20


burying dead animals


188 63


vaccine virus


17 00


books, stationery, printing, etc.,


66 75


care of ash dumps


53 39


rent of post-office box


4 00


sulphur


18 44


oil of peppermint


14 05


fumigating


7 50


constable's fees


1 50


inspection at works of E. I. Braddock


25 00


funnel pipes, etc.


75 00


tools


2 55


car fares


16 45


carriage hire


17 50


incidentals


8 00


Total debit


7,352 23


Amount overdrawn .


$109 23


J. FRANK WELLINGTON. CHARLES H. CRANE. ALVAH B. DEARBORN.


250


ANNUAL REPORTS.


INDEX


TO THE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


PAGE.


Ashes


238


Bad odors at East Somerville .


231


Cows


237


Dangerous diseases


241


Death rate, 1891 (at end of mortality table)


241


Deaths


239


Districts


244


Expenses


249


Glanders


231


Goats


238


Grease


238


House offal


239


Manure


238


Membership


229


Night soil


239


Nuisances


229 229


Pedlers


238


Permits


237


Population (at end of mortality table)


241


Scarlet fever


242


Sewer outlet, Mystic avenue


231


Swine


238


Typhoid fever


242


TABLES.


Mortality in Somerville, 1891


240


rates of, in districts, in last ten years


245


Nuisances abated, 1891


230


in districts, 1891


248


Principal causes of death, in districts, 1891


246


Scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhoid fever, 1891


243


deaths in last ten years


243


66


66


66


in districts, 1891


246


in last seven years, 247


Diphtheria


242


Organizations


REPORT


OF THE


CITY PHYSICIAN.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, January 13, 1892. Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.


GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.


Concurred in. IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 13, 1892. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


OFFICE OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN, January 1, 1892.


To His Honor the Mayor and the City Council : -


The following is a summary of my work as city physician for the year ending December 31, 1891 :-


One thousand and thirty-six visits have been made.


The number of persons treated at the office, 321.


There have been sixteen deaths : four of consumption, two of pneumonia, two of diarrhæa, and one each of the following diseases : Diphtheria, bronchitis, heart disease, whooping-cough, marasmus, enteritis, typhoid fever, and spinal disease.


Twenty-three visits have been made at the police station.


The number of children vaccinated, 148.


Four certificates have been given where persons died unattended by a physician.


Seven women have been attended in childbirth.


Two examinations were made for the police force.


Six persons have been examined for insanity, and the same committed to the asylum.


Respectfully submitted,


ALVAH B. DEARBORN,


City Physician.


REPORT


OF THE


TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, January 27, 1892. Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.


GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.


Concurred in.


IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 27, 1892. WILLIAM P. MITCHELL, Clerk pro tem.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


PUBLIC LIBRARY, January 1, 1892. To the City Council : -


In their report for the year ending December 31, 1891, the trustees of the Public Library placed much stress upon the wants of the library and the increasing demand for larger annual appro- priations by the city.


In order that these wants may 'be made apparent, the condition of the material now on hand should be first considered.


The report of the librarian shows that there are on hand, of books of all kinds, in good, bad, and indifferent condition, 19,719 in number. This is the accumulation of the last nineteen years, during which a large and increasing population have made constant use of the advantages which the library has afforded.


The circulation shows a marked increase in 1891. The circula- tion in 1889 was 88,381; in the year following, 88,971; and in 1891 it reached 96,181, an increase of 7,210.


This may be accounted for by the increase in the number of persons who took out books during the year.


The number of names registered in 1890 was 5,131. During 1891 the number reached 7,162. This is the number of people having taken books within the last two years. It is easy to per- ceive what effect a constant use by so large a number of readers will have upon books. Covers become detached and torn, necessi- tating new binding ; pages and leaves are worn out, dingy, and, in some cases, filthy and unfit for circulation.


This mass of rubbish, daily increasing, must be replaced. The librarian reports that 322 books were withdrawn in 1890 because they were worn out.


It is the desire of the trustees to keep the public supplied with the more important new publications.


258


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Many old books of the above category are from necessity kept on the shelves.


If the growth and character of the library are to keep pace with the demands of the public, adequate means must be provided. Other wants besides that of the literary department are likewise pressing. The heating apparatus unexpectedly required extensive repairs, in order to render the rooms comfortable for occupation.


A new boiler has been put in, at an expense of about $500, and its payment has been left to the next year's appropriation.


Some shelving, as well as some furniture, have also been re- quired, and obtained, which also are yet to be paid for. To meet all these wants, there should be at least an appropriation of $5,000.


It cannot be said that the amount furnished by the city has been more than adequate ; on the contrary, the board of trustees for several years have urged the necessity for still larger sums, if the character and condition of the library are to be maintained on a creditable basis.


According to the "Report of the Free Public Library Commis- sion," the city of Somerville does not compare favorably with the large cities and towns of the Commonwealth in what it is doing for its free Public Library.


The following tabular statements show what other cities and towns have done for their libraries : -


CITY OR TOWN.


POPULATION.


BOOKS.


Brookline


12,000


35,000


Chicopee


14,000


11,500


Clinton


10,000


16,000


Fall River


75,000


40,000


Fitchburg


22,000


20,000


Haverhill


27,000


50,000


Springfield


44,000


71,000


Somerville


40,000


19,719


Taunton


25,000


31,000


Waltham


18,000


17,500


Westfield


10,000


13,800


In proportion to population, Somerville stands the lowest on the list. The attention of the City Council is especially invited to the comparatively small cost of maintaining the library last year.


259


REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.


The appropriation made in 1891, exclusive of the dog tax, which by law must be expended for the public library or schools (See Pub. Sts., ch. 102, sect 107 ), is small compared with the population · or the valuation of the city.


The sum appropriated in 1891 was $3,000. The population is probably not less than 42,000, making a tax averaging about seven cents to a person. Taking the city valuation of property at ($36,000,000 ) thirty-six million, the amount given to the library would make a tax of one-twelfth of a mill on a dollar.


By making a personal application to a taxpayer who is assessed for ( $10,000 ) ten thousand dollars, his proportional share of the expense of maintaining the Public Library is less than one dollar.


It hardly seems necessary to the trustees that they should dwell upon the importance of a good public library to every community.


The " Free Public Library Commission " voiced the general sen- timent when they say in their report: "A free public library is a good business investment for any town. Experience shows that the amount expended for it will be returned many fold, not alone in the intellectual and moral stimulus to the people, but also in material pros- perity and in the increased value of property."


For a more detailed statement of the condition of the library and the transactions of the year reference is made to the report of the librarian.


In closing, it is but due to say that those having the immediate charge of the library have been faithful in the discharge of their duties.


Respectfully submitted,


CHARLES S. LINCOLN, President. C. E. RYMES.


GEORGE A. BRUCE. WILLIAM E. WELD. JAMES E. WHITAKER. J. HENRY FLITNER.


CHARLES H. BROWN. JOHN B. VIALL. E. C. CLARK.


SOMERVILLE, December, 1891.


LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.


The nineteenth annual report, giving the operations of the Somerville Public Library for the year 1891, is herewith sub- mitted : -


BOOKS.


The present number is 19,719. Of this number 1,568 volumes have been added during the past year, including bound periodicals.


One newspaper has been donated and four books. Two hun- dred and twenty have been worn out and discarded.


Among prominent purchases of the year may be mentioned : "Typical Elms and Other Trees of Massachusetts "; "Iconographic Encyclopædia," seven volumes; " Historical and Genealogical Regis- ter," forty-four volumes; "Proceedings of Massachusetts Historical Society," twenty-seven volumes; " Family Crest Book," two volumes; "Nantucket Historical Register," eight volumes; "Hind's Middlesex County," two volumes ; "York Deeds," six volumes ; " Harvard Book," two volumes; "History of the Supreme Court, U. S."; " Masterpieces of Industrial Art," three volumes; "London, Past and Present"; "Art and Criticism," "Practice of Pharmacy," "The Best Books."


While for general circulation "The Sepoy War and Mutiny," " The First Crossing of Greenland," " On the Border with Crook," " Ocean Steamships," "Canada and the Canadian Question," "Pharaohs, Fellahs, and Explorers," " Battlefields and Victory," "Practical Electricity," " History of Chemistry," "Arcadian Days," "Life of Chopin," "Elizabeth of Roumania," "Life of Napoleon III.," "Memoir of Jenny Lind Goldschmidt," "Christopher Colum- bus," by Winsor, "Life of Sir Robert Peel," "Florentine Nights," "Struggles of the Nations," "Equatorial Africa," "Our Italy," "Sharp Eyes," "Spanish American Republics," " Harlein Mis- cellany," "Women of Turkey," have been added.


The number of new readers registered in the past year is 2,039, making 7,015 who have taken books within the past two years.


261


REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.


CIRCULATION.


The library has been open 304 days, and 96,181 books have been used. Of this number 1,054 were used for reference, and 95,127 for home use.


The following table gives volumes, circulation, and expenses for the ten years commencing with 1881 : -


YEAR.


VOLUMES.


CIRCULA- TION.


SALARIES.


BOOKS AND PERIODICALS.


OTHER EXPENSES.


1881


9,035


67,649


$1,297 25


$1,272 04


$322 94


1882


9,766


67,673


1,304 19


971 91


407 49


1883


10,574


70,531


1,307 31


1,282 92


177 60


1884


11,197


72,591


1,278 05


1,315 06


539 19


1885


12,208


66,092


1,298 30


1,748 89


666 71


1886


13,146


77,610


1,537 17


2,325 03


1,491 16


1887


14,095


80,559


1,590 83


1,901 34


1,129 61


1888


15,833


81,844


1,608 12


3,055 06


2,079 95


1889


17,045


88,381


1,874 88


2,520 81


1,755 97


1890


18,151


88,971


1,808 70


2,610 54


1,451 68


These books, constantly in circulation, need to be continually renewed, as they soon become, in careless hands, unfit for use. Though many reminders are given to those who use them most, still neatness and care in the handling of books have to be constantly insisted upon, and in some cases the privileges of the library with- held until the lesson is learned.


The largest number given out on any day was 824. The smallest number, 157.


The largest weekly issue was 2,437, for the week ending Febru- ary 28th. The smallest was 1,338, in August.


The library has grown largely in one direction, that of history, nearly 200 volumes having been added relating to the early history of the towns and cities of this Commonwealth ; while the collection of the histories of the Massachusetts regiments is now considered quite complete.


The schools have been liberally supplied with catalogues, and teachers provided with extra cards for school use; and it is quite de- sirable that we should know what books are most needed in that di- rection, that duplicates may be provided if necessary. For this pur- pose we would particularly request lists of books from the teachers.


HARRIET A. ADAMS, Librarian.


262


ANNUAL REPORTS.


FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF CITY TREASURER.


CR.


Balance from 1890


$131 91


Appropriation


3,000 00


Dog licenses


2,596 68


Fines .


358 06


Catalogues


24 12


Howe & Flint


1 50


Cambridge Gas Light Co.


2 84


$6,115 11


DR.


Salaries


$1,912 83


Books .


2,713 07


Printing and stationery


284 90


Binding


235 90


Newspapers


10 00


Gas


176 76


Fuel


205 90


Water


26 10


Repairs


59 59


Furniture


163 75


Expressing


143 70


Incidentals


80 63


Branch office


100 00


$6,115 13


Balance to 1892


1 98


$6,115 11


REPORT


OF THE


COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, March 9, 1892. Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed [in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.


GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.


Concurred in.


IN COMMON COUNCIL, March 10, 1892. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


IN COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS, January 1, 1892. To the City Council : -


GENTLEMEN,- The committee on highways presents the fol- lowing report for the year ending December 31, 1891: -


HIGHWAYS ACCOUNT.


CREDIT. -


Appropriation


$45,000 00


Receipts and credits :-


For labor and materials furnished prior to January 1, 1891, the bills for which remained uncollected that day $623 01




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