USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1893 > Part 4
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NATHAN TUFTS PARK.
During the year two loans of $5,000 each have been made for the purpose of completing this park, and the amount of $10,000 has been expended under the direction of the Committee on Public: Grounds. Enough has been accomplished to comply with the terms of the deed of gift, and as soon as the weather will permit the necessary landscape gardening will be undertaken, lawns and walks laid out, trees and shrubbery set out, and it is hoped that all necessary work will be finished in season to dedicate the park on the Fourth of July next, when, as I understand, our patriotic resi- dents of West Somerville propose to out-do the splendid celebration of the day last year. Truly, such an occasion should appeal to the patriotism of the entire city and afford a fine opportunity for its display.
52
ANNUAL REPORTS.
It will be necessary, and at an early day, to appropriate a sufficient sum for the completion of the park.
STREET BOUNDS AND CITY SURVEY.
I respectfully call your attention to the last annual report of the City Engineer, in which he submits the necessity of placing stone monuments or bounds at street intersections for the purpose of permanently establishing street lines and affording an indestructi- ble record of their location. I will not quote at length the para- graph to which I refer, but will recommend that the sum of $500 be appropriated for that purpose. I also call your attention to his reference to the necessity of completing the City Survey, found on page 7 of this report, and approve his request for an appropriation of $500 to defray the expense. No appropriation for this purpose has been made since 1883.
SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD.
In January last the president of this Board, Albion A. Perry, Esq., whose term of service was about to expire, declined a re-ap- pointment, and the city was thus deprived of his valuable services. Mr. William F. Hall was appointed for the full term of three years. The following is a brief synopsis of the work of the Board during the past year :-
Length of mains extended 8,031 feet
Length of mains re-laid .
16,305 feet
making over 4 6-10 miles pipe put in.
Number of services put in 372
Number of feet of pipe 13.432 (over 2 1-2 miles )
Number of hydrants set 54
Number of hydrants removed . 21
33
Net increase in hydrants making total number now in city, 568
of which 26 are private hydrants.
A large district has been re-laid with iron pipe in West Somer- ville, and Washington street from Medford street to Union square has also been re-laid, together with many smaller streets. A new boiler has been erected at the pumping station, and scales have also been put in there for weighing coal, pipe, etc. The Board empha- sizes the necessity of re-laying a large portion of the cement pipe now in the city as a matter of economy, and this should be done the coming year, in their opinion.
53
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF 1894.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
During the year a change in the office of superintendent has been made. Mr. C. E. Meleney has resigned and Mr. Gordon A. Southworth has succeeded him in that office. The latter needs no introduction to the citizens of Somerville. Occupying for twenty years the post of principal of the Prescott School, he has become well known to us all. He brings to his office ripe experience as a teacher, business methods, and a devotion to his calling which will be beneficial to our public schools. The City Council of last year provided ways and means for the erection of an English high school, purchased the property of the Unitarian Society to afford ample room for its location, and have made a contract for the erection of the building. The enlargement of the Bingham School is in progress and will be completed within four months, and an appropriation has been made for the erection of a school-house on Kent street to accommodate children living south of the Fitchburg Railroad. The land for this purpose was purchased and plans of a building adopted, but owing to the fact that the English high school appropriation was inadequate to cover the contract for the erection of the building, it was decided late in the year to transfer a sufficient sum from the Kent Street School appropriation, with the understanding that the amount thus taken, and enough more to complete that building, should be appropriated as soon as possible this year. I therefore recommend that such action be taken at once, in order that this school-house may be built early in the sea- son, in accordance with the plans already adopted.
At the final meeting of the School Board, held December 26, a report containing several recommendations was adopted. These will soon be presented to the City Council in the report of the Committee on Additional School Accommodation. In order to anticipate in point of time, I will here give you a brief statement of the principal recommendations :-
1. The erection of a four-room building for primary schools in the northeasterly part of Ward One, on Broadway, between Mt.
54
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Vernon Street and Benedict Avenue, or on the vacant land adjoining the Prescott School on Myrtle Street.
2. If the Webster School had not been burned, there would lave been no demand for additional school accommodations in Ward Two in 1894. Instead of re-building that schoolhouse it is proposed to enlarge the Knapp School by the addition of four rooms, which will provide adequate room for the scholars of both schools.
3. The enlargement by the addition of eight rooms to the Burns School in Ward Four. This will relieve the overcrowded condition of four schools in that ward. The Burns School is about midway between the Morse and Highland Schools, in the centre of a growing district. It furnishes (in the opinion of the superin- tendent) just the needed nucleus for another grammar school centre, and its enlargement will relieve the Highland and Lincoln on one hand, and the Morse on the other. I commit these recommenda- tions of the Superintendent of Schools to your careful considera- tion.
The average cost of education for each scholar in the public schools during 1893 was $23.68, a decrease of 25 cents per scholar compared with the previous year.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
During the year two changes have taken place in this depart- ment, caused by the declination of Mr. J. Frank Wellington to accept another appointment, and the resignation of Mr. Charles H. Crane, consequent upon his election to represent the city in the General Court. Both these gentlemen had served the city faithfully in a department which requires ability and patience and devotion to the best interests of the city. The vacancies were filled by the appointment of T. M. Durell, M. D., and ex-Alderman A. T. Nickerson.
The Board has under consideration the problem of the proper disposition to be made of the city garbage, upon which it will report at a future date.
55
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF 1894.
CITY HALL.
One year ago I referred to this subject, and the general im- provement of the Central Hill Park, and stated that the need of a new City Hall was beginning to be seriously felt. I was well aware of the inconvenience ,of transacting public business in such a building, but when outlining a plan for buildings on that public ground, I thought that the plan might be gradually consummated in a period of a few years. Now I believe that a new City Hall is imperatively demanded, and I do not hesitate to request your early and favorable consideration with a view to your speedy action in procuring plans and estimates of the cost of such a building as the urgent necessities of the case demand. The present structure was erected in 1852. For twenty years it was used as a High School, afterwards as a Town House, and in 1872, upon the organi- zation of the City Government, became the City Hall, and has been used as such ever since. The building that was sufficient for city purposes in 1872 is entirely inadequate for such uses now. A city of 50,000 inhabitants has grown up around it, and it is no longer suited for the centre of the city's official and business activi- ties. Every department is pressed for room. The Board of Asses- sors, having frequent hearings and employing in summer an extra number of clerks, requiring much floor room, has no access to its office excepting through the room of the Clerk of Committees, who himself is in need of room. There is no office room whatever for the Superintendent of Streets, Electric Lines and Lights, or Health Department. The City Engineer says of his office accommoda- tions : "It has long been evident that the facilities for properly arranging plans, note-books, etc., in the department are entirely inadequate to its needs. The office is small and poorly arranged for the number of men employed, and it is even necessary to locate some of the office help in another part of the City Hall, beyond the control of the engineer. The present arrangement for filing plans is so small, and the books and plans are so crowded, that it is only with extreme care that plans can be used without injury. The safe for plans and note-books is small, and its construction is such that if the building were destroyed by fire, the contents, if not entirely
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
destroyed, would be of very little value. The loss of note-books and plans would be a severe one, and it would be impossible to replace them at any cost. The records of location and depths of sewer and water mains, the plans of highway locations, the surveys of streets, lands, and buildings, levels and grades for highways, and land plans of which no other copies can now be obtained, all would be destroyed."
The same difficulty is experienced in nearly every department. There is not a room available for conversation and interviews. All business must be transacted in public rooms or hallways. The sanitary arrangements are entirely inadequate. There is but one retiring-room in the building, and that of a character excelled in almost every private dwelling having any claim to respectability. At the last meeting of 1893, a special committee appointed some months before to consider the advisability of providing more room in City Hall, and reporting a plan, after having had but few meet- ings with an interval of some months, submitted a recommendation that a wooden addition be built upon the School Street end. Only a few months before the obnoxious wooden horse-sheds had been removed, as much on account of their dangerous proximity to the building as for any other cause, and now it is seriously proposed to add what might prove a tinder-box to this old building already considered unsafe in case of fire. I do not believe it wise policy to increase accommodations in that way or in any other, except in the erection of a new hall which shall fully answer the purposes fo which it shall be erected and prove a source of pride to our citizens. In these days schoolhouses and public buildings are planned for the purpose of enlargement in the event of over- crowding, but any expenditure upon this building, would, in my opinion, be money thrown away. Any wise business man or corporation plans buildings, mills, and factories with some reference to future growth of business. It is an exercise of good judgment, in my opinion, for a city to provide building accom- modations beyond the pressing needs of the present hour.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
During the year, Miss Adams, who had been librarian from its organization, more than twenty years ago, resigned her position,
57
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF 1894.
and was succeeded by Mr. John S. Hayes, who had for fifteen years been principal of the Forster School. He entered upon his active duties on the first day of July last. Under the direction of the trustees he has commenced preparations for the entire re- organization of the library, which will provide for a complete classification of the books and require considerable more room, especially for shelving, books in stack, a suitable room for the ₹ reference library, a room for students and others who use the library for study and research, and a room for the proper care of relics of the past.
When the building was completed it was large enough for the library as it then existed, but the increase in population has de- manded an increased number of books, and books require room. Common prudence would suggest an addition to the stack room, with space for at least 60,000 volumes. The present delivery space is too small for the large numbers that come to the library for books. The reading-room should occupy much more space. These and other reasons suggest the need of more room. The subject is now being discussed in the local papers, " not with an idea of finding out how pressing present needs may most easily be met, but with a comprehensive view of the probable needs of the next generation, and with a purpose of doing work now so that it will not have to be done all over again a dozen years from now." This language so nearly expresses the spirit of the recommenda- tions made one year ago, and which another year has convinced me to be correct, that I quote it with pleasure as indicative of the trend of public opinion toward the true and natural solution of the great problem of improvement in the public buildings.
The location of the English High School will prevent any possibility of enlargement of the Public Library eastward. The only suitable method of obtaining additional room is to erect a building westward toward School Street. I believe that the City Hall should be erected further eastward, and a building for the use of the Public Library erected joining the present library building and connected with it. This new building could serve as a public Memorial Hall and Public Library combined. The new building could be of the same general style of architecture and present a pleasing effect. The lower story could be utilized
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
as a stack room and for other purposes of the library, and the present building fitted up, as the trustees suggest, for reading- rooms, reference library and rooms in which the student or investigator could pursue his researches without confusion or interruption.
This plan for the improvement of Central Hill is feasible, and can be carried out. There are two ways of accomplishing it. One is to erect a new building each year from appropria- tions made on the funded debt account, to be paid for within a period of ten years ; the other is to follow the course pursued by Lowell and other cities which have felt the need of great public improvements-city halls, public library buildings, high schools, memorial halls and parks. Lowell, for instance, has just completed some of the finest public buildings in the State- a city hall, memorial and public library combined, and high school. Instead of building piecemeal, the city obtained author- ity from the legislature to borrow the amounts required outside the debt limit, and for the term of thirty years. As the work of erecting these buildings was to require considerable time, and cover the period of several city governments, the construction was placed in the hands of a commission consisting of its leading citizens, and the grand work has been accomplished. These buildings, if we erect them, are to continue for more than one generation. They are to be used by those who shall follow us in a long succession of years. Our borrowing capacity should always remain as large as possible in order to provide school- houses, engine houses, sewers and other important matters, but the weight of a loan on long time would be comparatively light and be borne in a measure by those who are to receive its benefits. The Somerville Avenue paving loan is an illustration of this idea. Newton is to have its grand boulevards, Cambridge its splendid parks. Somerville, with the finest location in this section of the State for its public buildings, will one day have them.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL :
There are many matters of public interest to which I have not referred. Much has been done which time will not permit me to
.
59
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF 1893.
speak of at length, and that has not been mentioned in print. Such matters as the removal of grade crossings, reduction of the price of gas and change of railroad locations have had the close attention of the City Solicitor and the Mayor, the former having attended all hearings in these cases in the interest of the citizens of Somerville. He has been faithful in all his works, and while a trumpet has not been sounded before him he has accomplished much which will bear fruit and be creditable to himself and the city. Let us determine here and now that we will be true to the interests of this dear city now committed to our care. The year stretches out before us. It will be crowded with labors and activities. May we so conduct the public business that at its close our fellow-citizens may gladly say to each, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
1
REPORT OF THE TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, January 24, 1894. Referred to committee on finance, and sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 25, 1894.
Referred to committee on finance in concurrence.
WILLIAM P. MITCHELL, Clerk pro tem.
IN COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, February 13, 1894.
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 1893, respectfully reports that an examination of the said report has been made this day by the entire committee. In connection with this exami- nation a careful comparison has been made with the books of the city auditor, and with the financial statements received from the several committees, boards, and officers of the city, accountable for the use of city funds. The cash account of the treasurer has been verified by actual count of the cash on hand, and the balances shown to be in the banks of deposit have been con- firmed by the officers of the several banks.
This task, which might be considered laborious, occupying, as it did, the entire day, was rendered comparatively easy by the thorough knowledge of his business, possessed by the city treasurer, and the clear explanation of every detail of his report.
We desire to bear witness to the orderly and business-like method of his office, and the condition of his books and accounts which are models of neat- ness and care.
We have discovered no error in any particular, and recommend that his report be accepted and printed in the annual reports of the year 1893.
WILLIAM H. HODGKINS, FRANKLIN F. PHILLIPS, LEWIS STOCKBRIDGE, FRANK W. KAAN, FREDERICK A. P. FISKE, WILFRED B. RICH, G. LESLIE NICHOLS, HERBERT L. CLARK,
Committee.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, February 28, 1894. Accepted and sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
Accepted in concurrence.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, March 1, 1894. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
TREASURER'S OFFICE, January 18, 1894.
To the Honorable the Mayor and City Council of the City of Somerville :
GENTLEMEN,-The undersigned presents herewith the twenty- second annual report of the financial condition of the city, and a statement showing, in detail, the receipts and disbursements for the year ending December 31, 1893.
The value of the property of the city December 31, 1892, was $1,752,351.58. The property acquired during the year was as follows :
Estate of the First Congregational Society, Central
Hill .
$45,000.00
Fire Department, Relief Engine 3,000.00
Fire Department, land on Highland Avenue 2,970.83
Nathan Tufts Park
13,466.33
Schoolhouse in Ward Three (Glines) . .
1,200.68
Schoolhouse in Ward Four, south side Fitchburg
R. R.
3,255.39
Schoolhouse, Edgerly Addition®
11,825.83
Schoolhouse, Bingham Addition .
5,710.00
Schoolhouse, English High
2,018.00
Water Works Extension
35,545.30
Total amount of property acquired during the year $133,992.36
The value of the public property as appears by an inventory and report of the Committee on Public Property dated December 18, 1893, was $1,943,648.52, including the accessions during the year, with the exception of the amounts paid on account of the English High Schoolhouse, and for the extension of the water
64
ANNUAL REPORTS.
works. Including the two last named items the total amount of public property December 31, 1893, was $1,981.211.82 as per Table A.
The funded debt December 31, 1892, as per Table B of the last annual report, was $1,141,500.00.
The debt was increased during the year by appropriations made in 1892 amounting to $53,000.00, and by the following ap- propriations by the City Council of 1893, viz :
Estate of the First Congregational Society, Central Hill $45.000.00
Fire Department, Steam Fire Engine 3,000.00
Fire Department, land on Highland Avenue 3,000.00
Highways, paving Washington Street . ·
24,000.00
Nathan Tufts Park
10,000.00
Schoolhouse in Ward Three
1,500.00
Schoolhouse in Ward Four
15,000.00
Schoolhouse, English High
80,000.00
Schoolhouse, Edgerly Addition
3,500.00
Schoolhouse, Bingham Addition
10,000.00
Sewers, Construction
10,000.00
Renewals of Funded Debt
17,000.00
for which the following bonds were issued, viz : City Loan Bonds Nos. 1325 to 1348, payable 1894, interest 42 per cent. . $24,000.00
City Loan Bonds Nos. 1349 to 1372, payable 1895, interest 4% per cent. . City Loan Bonds Nos. 1373 to 1396, payable 1896, interest 42 per cent. .
24,000.00
24,000.00
City Loan Bonds Nos. 1397 to 1420, payable 1897, interest 42 per cent. .
24,000.00
City Loan Bonds Nos. 1421 to 1444, payable 1898, interest 42 per cent. . 24,000.00 City Loan Bonds Nos. 1445 to 1468, payable 1899, interest 42 per cent. . 24,000.00
Amount carried forward
$366,000.00
65
REPORT OF THE TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
Amount brought forward $144,000.00 City Loan Bonds Nos. 1469 to 1492, payable 1900, interest 4} per cent. . 24,000.00 City Loan Bonds Nos. 1493 to 1516, payable 1901, interest 4% per cent. . 24,000.00
City Loan Bonds Nos. 1517 to 1546, payable 1902, interest 42 per cent. . 30.000.00
City Loan Bonds Nos. 1547 to 1581, payable 1903, interest 42 per cent. . 35,000.00 . City Loan Sewer Bonds Nos. 36 to 53, $1,000 payable annually 1894 to 1911, interest at 42 per cent. 18,000.00
making the total amount of bonds issued in 1893 . $275,000.00
The following bonds became due during the year and were paid from the appropriation, and unexpended balance of Reduction of Funded Debt account, viz :
City Loan Bonds 1224 to 1233, interest at 4 per cent. $10,000.00
856 “ 880, 4 25,000.00
799 “ 852, 4
66 54,000.00
929 “ 933, 4 . 6 66 1023 " 1032, 66 66 4 66 1111 " 1114, 4 1154 " 1160, 4
5,000.00
10,000.00
4,000.00
66 7,000.00
Water Loan Bond No. 282, interest at 4 per cent. Water Loan Bonds Nos. 89 to 99, interest at 5 per cent.
1,000.00
11,000.00
Water Loan Bonds Nos. 312 to 314 interest at 4 per cent. . Water Loan Bonds Nos. 397 to 398, interest at 4 per cent. 2,000.00
3,000.00
City Loan Paving Bonds Nos. 1 to 5, interest at 4 per cent. . .
5,000.00
making the total amount of bonds paid during the year . and leaving the net funded debt December 31, 1893, as per Table B, $1,279.500.00
$137,000.00
66
ANNUAL REPORTS.
RESOURCES.
Assessors' warrant for the tax levy, assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants, as follows, viz :
Real estate, valuation . . $38,538,700.00
Personal property, valuation
3,334,900.00 .
Total valuation . . $41,873,600.00
A rate of $15.50 on $1,000 valuation, with 13,423 polls at $2.00 each, gives the total amount of the tax levy . $675,886.80
Borrowed on Funded Debt account to provide for the cost of public improvements 205,000.00
Revenue from the Water Works . 78,459.73
Corporation and National Bank taxes
19,307.79
Received from County Treasurer for Dog Licenses
3,655.64
Received from various sources 45,865.96
Unexpended balances from 1892
61,844.72
Total amount of resources
$1,090,020.64
.
The appropriations, credits, and balances of the various accounts were as follows :-
Accounts.
Appropriations.
Credits.
Expenditures.
and Balances.
Estate of the First Congregational Society, Central Hill :--
Appropriation, Funded Debt ac-
count
$45,000.00
Expended
$45,000.00
Fire Department :-
Appropriation 41,000.00
Received for old materials, etc. 1 $96.53
Expenditures
Deficiency
42,205.44 1,108,91
REPORT OF THE TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
67
Accounts.
Appropriations.
Credits.
Expenditures
and Balances.
Fire Department, New Steam Fire Engine :-
Appropriation, Funded Debt ac- count
3,000.00
Expended
3,000.00
Fire Department, Land on Highland Avenue :-
Appropriation, Funded Debt ac-
count
3,000.00
Expended
Unexpended balance
2,970.83 29.17
Health Department :-
Appropriation
12,000.00
Received for permits, licenses, etc. 478.00
Deficiency
Expenditures 14,925.45 2,447.45
Highways :--
Appropriation
60,000.00
Received for labor and materials . 4,809.26
Expenditures
64,167.82
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