USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1902 > Part 12
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28 22
Sewer Department
86
Public Grounds
30 49
Glen-street Addition
800 00
Land on Prospect Hill
131 60
Public Library
93 55
Isaac Pitman Fund, Art
4,000 00
Isaac Pitman Fund, Poetry
1,000 00
Isaac Pitman Fund, Income, Art
16 56
Isaac Pitman Fund, Income, Poetry
48 63
Reduction of Funded Debt
12,147 99
Sealer of Weights and Measures
85 81
Sewers Construction
4,288 29
Maintenance
4 23
Street Lights
514 53
Support of Poor, Miscellaneous
359 09
Sundry Persons
474 21
Temporary Loans
.
340,000 00
$4,033,405 22
$4,033,405 22
.
TRIAL BALANCE AND BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR 1902.
ACCOUNTS.
TOTAL DEDITS.
TOTAL CREDITS.
CASH RECEIVED.
CASH PAID.
Debit.
Credit.
Debit.
Credit.
Debit.
Credit.
Assessors
$0,836 55
$10,050 00
$213 45
$213 45
City Auditor
700 75
725 00
24 25
24 25
City Clerk
7,804 04
3,096 95
202 01
202 01
1,746 05
7,894 94
City Engineer
12,413 93
12,449 00
35 07
35 07
540 00
12,413 93
City Messenger
1,909 15
2,000 00
85
85
1,999 15
City Solicitor
2,152 93
2,350 00
107 07
197 07
50 00
2,152 93
City Treasurer
14,282 14
15,378 07
1,090 53
1,008 53
8,344 01
14,282 14
Clerk of Committees and Departments
4,009 10
4,100 00
00 00
00 90
4,000 10
Contagious Disease Hospital
641 37
841 37
79 85
79 85
588 34
54,904 82
54,994 82
Coupons Unpaid
57,792 50
83,735 00
25,942 50
Election Expenses :
City Clerk
648 87
700 00
51 13
51 13
058 03
700 00
41 07
41 07
658 93
. Registrars of Voters
1,550 58
1,500 00
Electrical Department
7,294 04
7.555 90
200 98
200 00
55 00
7,294 04
Executive Department
3,733 50
3,800 00
00 50
66 50
Fire Department
63,031 19
03,232 10
200 91
200 91
502 10
Funded Debt
150,000 00
1,030,000 00
1,477,000 00
175,000 00
Health Department
50,410 40
55,711 44
699 02
Highway Betterment Assessments
7,445 77
2,367 04
Highways :-
Boston Avenue Bridge
706 80
706 88
Construction
27,446 13
23,121 68
4,324 45
4,324 45
3,221 96
25,510 13
Construct on Munroe Street and Stone Avenue Extension
6,539 34
6.296 06
242 38
242 38
Maintenance
81,402 04
83,17 85
1,770 81
1,770 81
109 83
100 03 1,228 00
24,251 39
Paving Cross Street .
1,900 80
1,900 80
316 80
316 80
Removal Brown-tail Moths
6,092 07
3,961 08
252 68
500 00
204 54
204 54
230 06
17,770 28
Interest
68,787 69
67,136 22
1,051 47
1,651 47
15,003 17
Joseph F. Wilson Memorial
2,375 00
232 50
232 50
14,303 00 14,189 92
2,180 58
Metered Water Charges
27.707 99
13,578 07
4,589 97
4,589 97
19 20
269 95
Police
66,530 65
72,575 40
8,044 75
0,044 75
5,779 51 32 33
35 43
Printing and Stationery
3,079 01
3,200 00
120 99
120 09
3,079 01
Property and Debt Balance
175,000 00
2,300 384 98
2,125,384 98
Prospect Hill Park
18,587 10
18,588 50
1 31
1 34
3,088 50
18,587 16
City Hall Annex Improvement
655 02
655 02
055 02
City Hall Portico
1,500 00
1,500 00
1,332 32
Morse School Sanitary Improvement
2,000 00
2,000 00
1,859 00
Schoolhouse in Ward One
35,004 50
25,895 52
290 93
35,503 40
Schoolhouse in Ward Seven
0,801 45 7 $2
7 82
Public Buildings Maintenance : -
280 00
700 00
420 00
280 00
City Hall
3,308 10
3,500 00
131 90
3,388 10
City Hall Annex
939 03
750 00
189 03
189 03
939 03
Fire Department
5,808 61
3,800 00
1,808 61
1,808 61
5,808 61 372 16
Highways .
100 52
542 00
351 48
351 48
190 52
Police
2,025 15
4,000 00
1,074 85
1,074 85 28 22
21 78
Public Library
4,177 59
3,504 00
873 59
673 59
4 00
4,177 59
Schoolhouses
47,043 16
45,573 00
1,470 16
1,470 10
73 00
47,043 16
Sewer Department
49 14
50 00
86
88
49 14
Support of Poor
871 41
500 00
371 41
371 41 33 95
30 49
1,212 00
10,681 51
Athletic Apparatus
11 45
11 45
11 45
Athletic Field in Ward Seven Glen Street Addition
800 00
800 00
800 00
Land on Prospect Hill
17,288 70
17,420 30
131 80
131 60
Public Library
18,589 79
18,883 34
03 55
93 55
3,962 59
17.148 78 18,589 79
Addition
1,320 35
1,320 35
4,000 00
4,000 00 1,000 00
160 00 40 00
162 35 3, 12
Isaac Pitman Fund, Investment
5.000 00
5,000 00 3,602,384 08
Reduction of Funded Debt
142,000 00
154.147 90
12,147 99
12,147 99
3,284 75
Renewal of Funded Debt
17,000 00
17.000 00
2,140 00
3,938 06
School Contingent
24,185 75
21,177 50
3,008 25
177 50
School Teachers' Salaries
220,410 47
223,000 00
1,410 47
3,008 25 1,410 47
85 81
5,061 79
4,288 29
35,419 89 10,691 37
Sidewalks, Construction
35,899 00
34,173 01
1,525 09
3,170 79
7,483 10 315 00
Soldiers' Relief
17.981 05
16,151 48
1,829 59
1,820 59
151 40
17,981 05
Somerville Hospital
5,000 00
5.000 00
State Aid
13,410 50
13,410 50
25 00 54 00
62,539 47
Sundry Persons
143 94
618 15 7,208 81
187 83
187 83
359 09
6,851 45
28,067 04
Temporary Loans
710,000 00
1,050,000 00
Water Loan Interest
6,700 00
6,700 00
Water Maintenance
55,015 88
55,015 88
Water Service Assessments
3,575 80
3.575 80
225 70
Water Works Extension
24,275 80
24,275 80
Cash .
2,174,101 60
2,140,023 98
27,177 02
27,177 02
$10,194,427 73
$10,194,427 73
$4,033,405 22
$4,033,405 22
$28,207 88
$20,195 91 §2,101 77
$402,722 56 §2,101 77
$404,824 33
$2,174,101 00
$2,174,101 80
$28,207 08
$404,324 33
Excess and Deficiency .
Assets and Liabilities
Public Property
Funded Debt
1,477,000 00 2,125,384 98
$4,033,405 22
$4,033,405 22
" Balance, 1901. § Balance.
$28,207 88 402,722 50 3,002,384 98
$20,105 91 404,824 33
Property and Debt Balance
410 00
410 00
221,887 20
221,887 20
200,087 33
26 43 24,185 75 229,410 47 1,382 65
Sealer of Weights and Measures
1,382 65
1,468 40
Sewer Assessments
6,701 70
1,039 91
5,061 79
Sewers, Construction .
35,472 55
39,760 84
Sewers, Maintenance
10,601 37
10,005 60
Sidewalk Assessments
21.996 72
15,702 70
6,294 02
6,294 02 1,525 09
189 92 195 60 15,702 70 483 81 18 00
33.074 81
Sidewalks, Maintenance Soldiers' Burials .
315 00
315 00
5,000 00
Street Lights
02 539 47
03,054 00
514 53 474 21
514 53
474 21
180 84
135 99
Support of Poor, City Home
7,396 6.4
2,SOS 81
7,390 64
Miscellaneous
28,607 04
29.026 13
Taxes .
1,306,978 77
995,115 51
311,803 20
311,863 26
340,000 00
074,907 71 850,000 00
610,000 00
Isaac Pitman Fund, Poetry
1.000 00
1,000 00
Isaac Pitman Fund, Income, Art
178 91
10 56 48 83
16 56 48 03
Isaac Pitman Fund, Income, Poetry
162 35 37 12
85 75
Public Property .
3,602,334 98
Real Estate Liens
6,078 96
3,938 96
127 84
127 84
142 00 800 00
2,025 15
Public Grounds
21 73
50 00
28 22
871 41
Water Department
133 95
100 00
33 95
133 95
Public Grounds .
10,681 51
10,712 00
30 49
3,240 05
3,246 05
3,246 05
Land for Park Purposes
240 30
240 30
24,515 05
7,801 45
Shed at City Home .
4,673 35
4,754 50
80 65
80 65
5-1 50
4,073 85
Military Aid
1,221 00
988 50
38 00
Massachusetts, Commonwealth of
212,002 01
198,389 01
14,189 92
13,443 57
Overlay and Abatement
18,788 97
14,199 00
Overplus on Tax Sales
118 13
118 13
118 13
66,530 65
Powder-House Boulevard
35 43
35 43
212 46
2,130 09
2,130 09
448 85
8,092 07 252 68
Watering Streets
17,770 28
17,565 74
247 32
247 32
Inspection of Buildings
29,008 33
20,226 00
0,382 27
109 83
Paved Gutters and Crossings
9,382 27
29,100 16
0,539 34 81.100 84
Middlesex Avenue Bridge
109 63
Paving Davis Square
Paving Washington Street
219 40
212 48
3,508 49 54,994 82 57,792 50
Commissioner of Public Buildings Pay of Election Officers
1,604 00
1,600 00
$4 00 59 58
$4 00 59 58
1,804 00
Steam Fire Alarm Whistle
500 00
500 00
500 00
3,733 50
899 02 5,078 73
2,898 98 2,367 04
159,000 00 56,410 46
$5,078 73
700 88
$25,042 50
048 87
Contingent Fund
4,308 49
4,388 34
BALANCES.
EXCESS AND DEFICIENCY.
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES.
*$24,333 00
$9,838 55
700 75
Isaac Pitman Fund, Art
4,000 00
4,288 20 4 23
4 23
9,194 79
6,018 00
3,170 79
359 09
340,000 00
12,535 88 3,575 50
47,021 90
Water Works, Abatements on Water Charges Water Works Income
16.139 92 27,177 82
Health Department
372 16
500 00
2,375 00
2,375 00
2,375 00
1,221 00 98,163 16
Public Buildings Construction : -
34,310 50
290 93 24,515 05
Armory
420 00 131 00
Shade Trees
17,107 69
14,303 00
1,559 58
03.031 19
County of Middlesex
5,000 00
2,140 00
85 81
SGS 46 1,587 25
13,410 50
4
159
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
APPROVAL OF TREASURER'S REPORT.
In Committee on Finance, January 30, 1903. To the Board of Aldermen of Somerville :-
The Committee on Finance, to which was referred the report of the Treasurer and Collector of Taxes for the year 1902, reports that, in con- junction with the Auditor, it has examined and audited the books and ac- counts of the Treasurer and Collector of Taxes for the year ending De- cember 31, 1902, and in the manner prescribed by Section 7 of Chapter 4 of the Revised Ordinances of 1900.
In connection with this examination, a careful comparison has been made of the books of the City Auditor, and with the financial statements received from the several committees, boards, and officers of the city, ac- countable for the use of the city funds. The cash account has been veri- fied by actual count of the cash on hand, and the balances shown to be in the banks of deposit have been confirmed by the officials of the banks.
The committee further reports, as a result of the examination, that no errors were discovered in the accounts and books of the Treasurer and Collector, and recommend that his report be accepted and printed in the Annual Reports of 1902.
JOSEPH S. PIKE, WARREN C. DAGGETT,
Committee
FRANK A. NOYES, EDWIN N. SIMONDS, on
RALPH A. LANDERS,
HORACE A. BELCHER,
CHARLES S. GILMAN, L
Finance.
In Board of Aldermen, February 12, 1903. Accepted.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, City Clerk.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
School Committee Rooms, December 26, 1902.
Ordered, that the annual report of the Superintendent be adopted as the annual report of the Board of School Committee, it being understood that such adoption does not commit the Board to the opinions or recommendations made therein; that it be incorporated in the reports of the City Officers ; and that 1,000 copies be printed separately.
G. A. SOUTHWORTH, Secretary of School Board.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1902.
S. NEWTON CUTLER, GEORGE A. MILES,
Chairman
Vice-Chairman
Members.
WARD ONE.
Term expires January.
46 Mt. Vernon street. 1903
28 Flint street. 1904
WARD TWO.
273 Washington street. 1903
JOHN H. O'NEIL,
44 Oak street. 1904
WARD THREE.
41 Putnam street. 1903
GEORGE E. WHITAKER,
75 Walnut street. 1904
WARD FOUR.
13-A Maple avenue. 1903
GEORGE W. W. WHITING,
282 Broadway. 1904
WARD FIVE.
183 Central street. 1903
QUINCY E. DICKERMAN,
85 Central street. 1904
WARD SIX.
FRED M. CARR,
12 Westwood road. 1903
FREDERICK A. P. FISKE,
44 Cherry street. 1904
WARD SEVEN.
HENRIETTA B. H. ATTWOOD, GEORGE A. MILES,
18 Herbert street. 1903
249 Elm street. 1904
The Committee holds its regular meetings on the last Monday even- ing of each month, except July, August, and December, at 8.15 o'clock. The last meeting of the year is held on the Friday next preceding the first Monday of January.
Superintendent of Schools, GORDON A. SOUTHWORTH.
Office: City Hall Annex, Highland avenue.
Residence: 40 Greenville street.
The Superintendent's office will be open from 8 to 12, and from 1.30 to 5; Saturdays, 8 to 10. His office hours are from 4 to 5 on school days and 8 to 9 on Saturdays.
Office telephone, 314; house telephone, 12.
Cora S. Fitch, Superintendent's clerk, 273 Medford street.
GEORGE S. POOLE, S. NEWTON CUTLER,
EDWARD J. FLYNN,
DANA W. BENNETT,
WILLIAM P. JONES,
J. WALTER SANBORN,
STANDING COMMITTEES, 1902.
High Schools .- Miles, Cutler, Flynn, Bennett, Whiting, Sanborn, Carr. LATIN, ENGLISH.
District (or Ward) I .- Poole, Cutler.
PRESCOTT, HANSCOM, DAVIS, BENNETT.
District (or Ward) II .- Flynn, O'Neil.
KNAPP, PERRY, BAXTER.
District (or Ward) III .- Bennett, Whitaker. POPE, PROSPECT HILL, BELL, CUMMINGS.
District (or Ward) IV .- Jones, Whiting.
EDGERLY, GLINES.
District (or Ward) V .- Sanborn, Dickerman. FORSTER, BINGHAM.
District (or Ward) VI .- Carr, Fiske.
CARR, MORSE, DURELL, BURNS, BROWN.
District (or Ward) VII .- Mrs. Attwood, Miles. HIGHLAND, HODGKINS, LINCOLN.
Additional School Accommodations .- Cutler, O'Neil, Bennett, Jones, Sanborn, Carr, Miles.
Evening Schools .- Dickerman, Bennett, Fiske.
Finance .- Flynn, Poole, Bennett.
Industrial Education .- Carr, O'Neil, Mrs. Attwood.
Music .- Mrs. Attwood, Whitaker, Dickerman.
Private Schools .- Whiting, Flynn, Carr.
Repairs of School Buildings .- O'Neil, Whitaker, Jones.
Rules and Regulations .- Jones, O'Neil, Fiske.
Salaries .- Poole, Whiting, Sanborn.
Supplies .- Sanborn, Poole, Miles.
Text-Books and Courses of Study .- Fiske, Cutler, Flynn, Whitaker, Jones, Dickerman, Mrs. Attwood.
FIRST SCHOOL BOARD OF SOMERVILLE UNDER THE SECOND CHARTER, 1900.
F. A. P. FISKE. MRS. ATTWOOD. G. A. MILES. G. A. SOUTHWORTH. G. S. POOLE. E. J. FLYNN. J. H. O'NEIL ..
JAIRUS MANN. JAMES F. BEARD. S. NEWTON CUTLER. L. H. SNOW.
M. W. CARR. J. W. SANBORN. Q. E. DICKERMAN. W. P. JONES. G. W. W. WHITING. A. B. DEARBORN.
D). W. BENNETT.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Somerville :-
The thirty-first year of the educational life of our city has been a prosperous one, free from any unusual interruptions and distractions that would tend to interfere with the progress and efficiency of the work of the schools.
In considering the year's record, your attention is first of all invited to the following
Summary of Statistics
arranged for ready reference and comparison with that of last year :--
1. - POPULATION OF SOMERVILLE.
United States census, 1890
40,117
State census, 1895. .
.52,200
United States census, 1900.
61,643
Estimated population, 1902
.65,273
Children between five and fifteen, Census returns, 1901 .. 10,715
66
66 66
66
1902. 11,203 488
Increase
2. - SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
1901.
1902.
Increase.
Number of school buildings
25
24
-1
Number of classrooms ....
230
232
2
Valuation of school property.
$1,180,047 $1,237,496
$57,449
3. - TEACHERS.
1901.
1902.
Increase.
In high schools.
44
45
1
In grammar schools.
132
143
11
In primary schools.
92
89
-3
In kindergartens
8
8
0
Total in elementary schools.
232
240
8
Special
7
7
0
Total
283
292
9
4 .- ATTENDANCE FOR YEAR.
1901.
1902.
Increase.
Entire enrollment for the year
12,499
13,116
617
Average number belonging
9,991
10,402
411
Average number attending.
9,350
9,733
383
Per cent. of daily attendance.
93.6
93.5
0.1
High school graduates.
153
164
11
Grammar school graduates
497
497
0
164
ANNUAL REPORTS.
5. - ATTENDANCE IN DECEMBER.
1901.
1902.
Increase.
Whole number attending
12,296
12,648
352
In private schools
1,653
1,679
26
In public schools
10,643
10,969
326
In high schools.
1,071
1,148
77
In elementary schools
9,381
9,264
243
In kindergarten.
191
197
6
In first grade.
1,502
1,585
83
In second grade
1,322
1,266
-56
In third grade.
1,256
1,232
-24
In fourth grade.
1,174
1,205
31
In fifth grade.
1,096
1,183
87
In sixth grade.
1,038
1,021
-17
In seventh grade.
826
932
106
In eighth grade.
616
687
71
In ninth grade.
542
513
-29
6. - COST OF SCHOOL MAINTENANCE.
1901.
1902.
Salaries of teachers
$221,740.00
$229,410.00
Salaries of officers
4,816.00
4,800.00
-16.00
Cost of books and supplies
18,707.00
19,386.00
679.00
Cost of light.
1,731.00
1,803.00
72.00
Cost of janitors' services
20,078.00
20,859.00
781.00
Cost of fuel.
13,723.00
10,489.00
-3,234.00
Total cost of day and evening schools
280,796.00
286,747.00
5,951.00
Per capita cost.
28.10
27.57
-0.53
Cost of high school
instruc-
tion
47,710.00
50,078.00
2,368.00
Per capita cost.
47.71
46.63
-1.08
7. - MISCELLANEOUS.
1901.
1902.
Increase.
Paid
for new school
buildings
$49,203.00
$56,501.00
$7,298.00
Repairs and
permanent
improvements
11,000.00
13,079.00
2,079.00
Total
school expendi-
tures
340,999.00
356,327.00
Valuation of city .
.53,924,200.00
55,485,370.00
15,328.00 1,561,170.00
Per cent. of valuation spent to maintain
schools
0.521
0.517
-0.004
Per cent. of valuation
spent for all
school
purposes.
0.632
0.642
0.010
.
.
·
·
.
.
·
.
.
.
Increase. $7,670.00
.
School Buildings. The most notable improvement of the year in our school accommodations is the completion of a new, modern, twelve-room schoolhouse in the southerly part of Ward 1. It is located in the centre of a populous district, whose resi- dents demand for the necessarily short school life of their chil- dren the best the city can furnish in the way of both school architecture and instruction. The needs of the district have heretofore been approximately met in two primitive buildings,
165
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
erected,-one, forty years ago, and the other, thirty-four,-when Somerville was a town of less than 10,000 inhabitants. The older of these buildings was demolished to make way for the new structure. The other remains on a commodious lot, available, after thorough renovation, as a branch library and reading room, or as a centre for a social settlement under charge of some one of our philanthropic women's clubs or other organizations.
The completion of the new building has also enabled us to dispense with the old Prospect Hill schoolhouse, which has been used by six generations of school children. Somerville was a town of 4,000 people in 1852, when this building was erected to accommodate the Prospect Hill Grammar School, which had outgrown its modest quarters, in what is now Central Square. Two rooms only were at first provided, an addition of four rooms being made in 1865. It was the only grammar school building in its section of the city until 1874. Many of our fore- most citizens recall with pleasure their early school life within its walls under the instruction of sturdy teachers, the memories of two of whom will ever be kept green in the names borne by two of our prominent schools. While this building will never again be needed for regular school purposes, it may be remod- elled and repaired, and used in part for manual training and cooking schools, and in part as a club-house for boys, who greatly need rooms for reading, exercise, and recreation as sub- stitutes for other places of rendezvous whose influences are far too likely to be injurious.
The new building is of three stories, plain, but substantial in its architecture, and modern in every particular. It contains twelve well-lighted, well-ventilated rooms, besides those for the use of teachers and for the storage of supplies. Toilet rooms for children are provided in the basement, and on the first and second floors. It is, of course, steam-heated by direct and indi- rect radiation. It is ventilated by the gravity system, each child being furnished with thirty cubic feet of air per minute.
The cost of the building is as follows :-
Additional land purchased. $1,295.34
Construction and furnishings 47,459.30
Total
.$48,754.64
On recommendation of the School Committee, the Board of Aldermen unanimously voted to give to the school the name of a gentleman long and closely identified with the educational and financial interests of the town and city. It was therefore named the Clark Bennett School.
Clark Bennett was born in Londonderry, Vt., November 3, 1810. His ancestors were among the early settlers of Groton, Mass. His grandfather, David, early joined the Continental Army, and served in the siege of Boston. Mr. Bennett was the eldest son of nine children.
When he was twenty-one years old, he settled in Somerville, then Charlestown, where for twenty-five years he successfully carried on the
166
ANNUAL REPORTS.
brick business, then a leading industry of the town. Later he followed the insurance business.
Mr. Bennett's actions on all public matters requiring his attention were controlled by a conscientious desire to do right, as well as a full knowledge of the requirements, present and future, of our growing city. The abatement of the Miller's River nuisance, the inauguration of an excellent sewerage system, more especially for West Somerville, the widening and grading of Somerville avenue, and the construction of the public park, all bear witness to his unremitting efforts to place Somer- ville on a par with her sister cities.
The record of Mr. Bennett's official service includes eleven years on the School Committee, a part of the time its chairman, the town treasurership, and three years' service on the Board of Aldermen.
Mr. Bennett died January 6, 1882.
The Bennett School was named in his honor by vote of the School Board April 8, 1868, and the new school which replaced it was called the Clark Bennett School by vote of the Board of Aldermen January 1, 1902.
Somerville now has twenty-four school buildings, modern in structure, well heated and ventilated, and fairly well adapted to school purposes. Some of the older buildings are still poorly lighted and much need additional windows. One, the Davis, should at once be thoroughly renovated, especially as to its sani- taries. Three buildings, the English, Hodgkins, and Carr, would be greatly improved by having their walls tinted. It is pleasing to record the fact that our school buildings are being gradually adorned with pictures and other works of art, which are silently, but effectively, developing and stimulating in the children a love for the beautiful. Dingy, discolored walls do not invite decorations. In this connection, we are pleased to ac- knowledge the gift of one hundred dollars from Mr. George L. Baxter for the adornment of the school which bears his honored name, and the gift of twenty-five dollars from one of our leading women's clubs for the purchase of pictures for the Bennett School. Two schools, the Perry and the Brown, have been pro- vided with pianos through the energy and enterprise of their principals and teachers in securing funds by means of public entertainments.
Additional Accommodations. A Somerville School Report would not be recognized if it did not contain an urgent demand for more schoolhouses. Such omission would show that the growth of the city, so rapid and continuous since its incorpora- tion, had come to an end. Of this there are no present indica- tions. Indeed, judging from all the data available, the increase of population has been greater in 1902 than in any other year of the last five. There are 350 pupils more in the public schools to-day than there were one year ago. There are 861 children now on half-time, and 125 more that are occupying unsuitable rooms. Here, in round numbers, are a thousand children with- out suitable accommodations for a full school day. To place them under normal school conditions requires at once sixteen schoolrooms. Eight of these are in process of construction. The other eight are yet to be planned and provided for. More-
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over, the high schools are struggling with plethoric conditions that greatly interfere with the efficiency of their work. This is the general situation, the importance of which justifies a more detailed statement.
High Schools. The state of affairs at the English School is identical with that of last year. The membership is the same. Two hundred pupils more than the building can ac- commodate are crowded into lecture hall, laboratories, store- rooms, and corridors. Even clothes closets are utilized as recita- tion rooms. All departments are cramped for room and their efficiency thus diminished. Desirable extensions of courses are prevented, and the possibilities of the school remain unrealized.
In the Latin School there has been an increase of fifty-four pupils, and each year aggravates the untoward conditions. The full time of eleven instructors,-including the Head Master, who should be given opportunity for supervision,-has been em- ployed. This compels the use of the basement as a recitation room, and exhausts all the teaching facilities in the building. And it does more, for it gives thirty-three pupils to every teacher, where the normal class unit in every well-regulated high school is only twenty-five. The Physics Department still uses the same undesirable quarters below ground, and classes and teachers are still compelled to use two afternoons each week in order to ac- complish the required work. The school has reached the limit of its growth in the present building, and its usefulness is greatly impaired by its constrained and deficient accommodations. It is greatly to the credit of the teaching force in each school that their efforts in overcoming the many obstacles in their way are so successful.
The problem is serious and urgent and demands an imme- ciate solution. As to the pressing needs all interested are in hearty agreement. There has been full discussion of the various schemes of relief. One plan after another has been set aside as not feasible or as inadequate, and the conviction has grown to be nearly unanimous that there is but one thing to be done.
This is .- the adoption of a large, comprehensive, harmoni- ous plan that shall provide not only for the present exigency, but for all probable requirements for a reasonable future. Such a plan involves (1) the construction of a building for the Latin School just east of the present one that shall be the counterpart of the present English building; (2) an addition to the northeast part of the English schoolhouse that shall increase its capacity one-third ; and (3) a building for the common use of both schools that shall connect the two buildings and contain an adequate as- sembly hall, science laboratories, drawing-rooms, a gymnasium, and whatever else may be needed to perfect a model plant for high school purposes.
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