USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Town annual report of Quincy 1875 > Part 4
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April
3
Gertrude Tobey,
3
5
18
Chicago, Ill.
12
Fannie A. Pierce,
65
8
E. Milton.
May
5
Hannah Swift,
78
3
5
Hyde Park.
13
Hazen Lougee,
61
11
Chelsea.
88
June
14
Maria C. Lingham,
1
6
69
8
East Boston.
July
29
Asa S. Johnson,
57
10
20
Concord, N. H.
August
9
Melville A. Packard,
20
10
22
North Weymouth.
11
Mary J. Quincy,
68
7
11
Boston.
17
Edwin H. Cass,
7
11
September
12
Augusta B. F. Alden,
6
18
North Weymouth.
October
6
Luther Spear,
87
3
23
Boston, 16th Ward.
20
Leonard Foss,
34
2
20
Belmont.
November
5
Nancy Parker,
61
5
25
Boston.
17
Joshua Hanson,
57
Augusta, Maine.
December
11
Cora E. Tilden,
5
8
4.
Boston.
4.
11
29
30
George E. Atkinson,
Y.
.
Brockton.
19
Sarah S. Getchell,
East Boston.
27
Robert Williams,
2
89
Whole number of deaths registered, 190.
Males
94
Females ·
.
96
DATE.
MALES.
FEMALES.
TOTAL.
January
10
7
17
February
9
6
15
March
6
6
12
April
8
9
17
May
9
9
18
June
4
7
11
July
10
4
14
August
9
12
21
September
8
16
24
October
8
7
15
November
3
5
8
December
10
8
18
94
96
190
Under 1 year of age Between 1 and 10 years of age
52
10 " 20
66
20
“. 30
66
12
30
40
13
66
40
50
66
12
66
50
66 60
66
10
66
60
70
66
16
66
70
80
23
66
80
" 90
66
9
66
90
" 95
66
1
66
95
" 100
66
1
190
NUMBER.
· 25
. 16
·
PUBLIC LIBRARY OF QUINCY.
The Trustees of the Public Library ask leave to offer their Fourth Annual Report, relative to the progress and to the present condition of that institution.
The library has been open 250 days during the year end- ing February 1st, 1875. For the same period ending in February, 1874, 306 days. This difference is due to the length of time required to remove the books from the Acad- emy building, and to rearrange and establish them in their new quarters.
Notwithstanding the decrease in the number of days during which the library was accessible to the public, and although the circulation of books for the year has only been 36,049, against 40,175 volumes for the year previous, it will be seen that the average circulation per day has increased from 131 to 144 issues. It is remarkable that the statistics of this distribution are precisely the same as given in the last re- port : viz. 50 per cent. in fiction, 29 per cent. in juveniles, and 21 per cent. in works of a higher class. It is not unrea- sonable to expect that the experience of another year, with the new catalogue in the hands of readers, will materially change these proportions of use.
The largest number of volumes issued on any one day, and the largest since the opening of the library, was on the 23d January, of the present year, amounting to 488, exceeding by 26 the largest previous issue. The smallest number loaned was'36, on the 2d June last.
During the year the reading-room has been visited and used by 4,666 persons, of whom 28 per cent. were adults of both sexes, 21 per cent. were girls, and 51 per cent. were
91
boys. These figures indicate a slightly diminished use on the part of adults.
The number of applicants for registration during the year has been 476, which, added to those previously asking for the library privileges, gives a total of 3,173 persons entitled to borrow books.
There have been added to the library during the year 1,173 volumes, and 159 pamphlets, of which 223 volumes and all the pamphlets were donations. Adding these to fig- ures in the last annual report, it will be found that the library now contains 9,350 volumes, and 502 pamphlets. The ac- cessions to the collection now stated, have been in such di- rections as add largely to its working value.
Since the opening of the library it has circulated 128,029 volumes, - of those issued during the last year, none are known to be lost. The four volumes missing on the pre- vious year have not been returned to the library, and are probably lost. A loss of one volume to every 32,007 circu- lated is a most gratifying indication of the manner in which the inhabitants of the town have availed themselves of the privileges of the library.
The number of books which have been worn out and re- placed were 33.
The library was removed from the Adams Academy build- ing on the 8th July, and was reopened to the public in its present quarters on the 16th September last, - a delay longer than was anticipated, but due to the necessary rearrange- ment and classification of the collection.
The growth of the library has made the preparation of a good catalogue of its contents, in place of the mere list of books published four years ago, absolutely necessary to its use. Without it the people of the town were practically cut off from a knowledge of four-fifths of their books. The trus- tees concluded that it was best to make thorough work of it, as was stated in their last annual report, so that for the next twenty years, at least, only catalogues of additions would be
92
necessary. A lady of large experience in cataloguing, and of great familiarity with books and their contents, Miss M. B. Merriam, was employed and placed in charge of the work. Considerable delay in prosecuting it was occasioned by the removal of the library and consequent rearrangement of the books, and the task was also found to be a much greater one than had been anticipated. It is, however, now finished, and the catalogue is passing through the press. The first sheets have already been placed upon the tables in the library, and the succeeding ones will be added as fast as they are printed. The work has been most thoroughly done, with a view to laying open the whole contents of the library. This includes a far greater amount of labor than is generally supposed. Not only is each book entered under at least two, and often several heads, but the work is carried into both the subject-matters of books and the contents of period- icals. The object, in short, has been to secure much more than a mere list of books, which is of little real value, but, in so far as it is possible, a practical index to the library, giving not only the titles of the books, but a clue to their contents ; and this result we believe will be secured in your forthcoming catalogue, which we are satisfied will compare favorably with anything of the sort which has yet been published. The cost, however, will be considerable, neces- sitating the appropriation by the town of the exceptional sum ($3,200) hereinafter asked for, for the ensuing year. Even this will suffice for the expenses of the library, includ- ing the catalogue, only through the exercise of the strictest economy on the part of the trustees, and by greatly reducing the purchases of new books ; but there can be no doubt that it is much hetter to cease buying new books than not to have a thorough catalogue of such books as the town already owns. The treasurer's statement of account is hereto annexed. The bneysnalace of o inm his hands will be insuffi- cient to liquidate unsettled accounts, to the payment of which, by votes of the board, it has already been specifically
1
93
appropriated. The trustees would in conclusion recommend, for the care and maintenance of the library during the coming year, an appropriation by the town of thirty-two huudred dollars.
W. W. GREENOUGH,' CHARLES F. ADAMS, JR., HENRY BARKER, H. A. KEITH, L. W. ANDERSON, CHARLES A. FOSTER,
Trustees.
PUBLIC LIBRARY, 5th February, 1875.
ACCOUNT OF THE TREASURER OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Receipts.
Cash in treasury, Feb., 1874,
$1,586 09
town appropriation,
3,500 00
treasurer for dog licenses, 785 28
from fines,
87 17
from C. F. Adams,
82 66
from contributors for magazines,
36 75
$6,077 95
Disbursements.
For books,
$1,086 94
stationery and printing,
144 65
binding,
120 13
expressage,
26 65
fuel,
334 48
gas,
237 00
salaries,
1,284 92
postage,
10 69
catalogue,
453 34
C. F. Adams,
82 66
expense of moving, etc.,
1,536 84
sundries,
55 86
balance, Feb. 5, 1875,
703 79
$6,077 95
HENRY BARKER, Treasurer.
REPORT OF MANAGERS OF ADAMS ACADEMY.
The managers appointed by the town to visit the Academy have attended to that duty, and ask leave to submit their re- port.
This institution, under the supervision of Dr. Dimmock, continues to flourish, and now bids fair to meet the highest expectations formed of it.
From the report made by Dr. Dimmock, the Principal, it appears that the number of scholars taught during the pres- ent year was ninety, of whom twenty-three are from Quincy. Of the work done he speaks in the following manner : -
"I believe the standard of work in the Academy has been fully maintained this year. We have just finished the semi- annual examination of the school in all the studies. This examination was very thorough, and extended over the work of the half year. The examinations, except in French, were conducted in writing, and occupied a week.
" It seemed to me so important that the boys should have their eyes and hands trained in the element of drawing ; and, while so much interest has of late been aroused in this as a branch of education, that we might be judged as furnishing less than the public deems right if we made no provision for it, that after careful consideration and inquiry I engaged a gentleman to come twice a week and give an hour's instruc- tion to the third and fourth classes of the Academy.
"Mr. Amand Guys is still employed as instructor in French. He is a very accomplished man, and faithful to his
95
duties. I feel that we are uncommonly fortunate in having his services, and that every year makes him more valuable to us. He spends two hours every day in the school.
"Mr. Jesse J. Worden is also an instructor in geography and botany. I rely upon him in his own department, and feel that his boys are making excellent progress.
" Mr. W. R. Tyler, a graduate of Harvard, of the last class, was engaged by me some months before he graduated. He is meeting with decided success.
' Mr. Louis E. Robson has been continued as a teacher. He is accurate in his scholarship and faithful in the perform- ance of his duties.
" We have in the Academy about thirty more boys than we had last year. If we should another year have the same increase it would be necessary to have another as- sistant.
" I think we need to employ a good teacher of vocal cul- ture in the Academy. Saturday morning could very well be devoted to this, and, unless I am directed otherwise, I shall employ a special teacher for this, so soon as I can find one really competent.
" It is obvious that this liberal system of instruction con- templates not merely the exclusive devotion of the Principal to the work, but the employment of an extensive staff of assistants qualified to maintain the system at a high standard, each of whom must have sufficient compensation to induce him to remain steadily engaged."
Yet the number of scholars attending from Quincy itself has increased to twenty-three, and the funds of the trust since the withdrawal of the assistance indirectly given by the use of one of the rooms for the town library last year, can scarcely be depended on to supply even one thousand dollars for their education on this elevated scale.
The Principal proceeds, in his report, already quoted, as follows : -
1
96
"It will be evident that with the receipts from not over seventy pupils I cannot pay, in addition to my special teachers of French and drawing, such salaries to two assistants in the Academy, - and it is impossible to properly teach the clas- sics to ninety boys, divided into four classes, with any less assistance, - as will secure not only high ability and good scholarship, but also experience and skill. Accordingly I have done what seemed to me best. I have endeavored to secure young men with accurate scholarship for their age, and high ability, and to secure successful teaching by constantly overseeing their work and suggesting methods and changes, and to maintain the discipline by frequently being in the dif- ferent rooms, and by having every case of importance sent to me. This is a somewhat hazardous policy to pursue. So far as the details of work are concerned I ought to be able to depend upon those who assist me. It is also important that I should have some one competent to manage the school tem- porarily. I do not know what would happen if I should be seriously ill."
Lastly, the Principal remarks : -
"I have been greatly gratified that we have been so success- ful in attracting so many pupils and in gaining so much of reputation for the Academy, and I should feel that, if we received tuition fees from all our pupils, we had sufficient means to build up a thoroughly equipped school, that would be a credit to us all. But I do not see but my own efforts, since I have been here, are resulting in an increase of my own burden of responsibility, without any commensurate compensation, - that it would actually have been better for myself if the school had remained at the size it was at the beginning."
The managers remain of the opinion, expressed in their report of last year, that the burden imposed upon the Acad- emy, of teaching all boys belonging to the town for nothing, is a heavier one than it can bear in the present condition of
97
the funds created by the trust. There may come a time hereafter when they will yield more abundantly. Meanwhile, the difficulties occasioned by that decision are likely to be seriously embarrassing to the success of the school. The managers feel it to be their duty to submit thus much, with- out further attempting to reopen any of the questions decided last year.
The managers were deprived in the early part of the year of the counsel and valuable assistance of one of their num- ber, Mr. Dewson, by his resignation.
C. F. ADAMS, L. W. ANDERSON, HENRY BARKER, J. P. QUINCY, C. H. PORTER.
7 0
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON ENLARGEMENT OF MT. WOLLASTON CEMETERY.
TO THE CITIZENS OF QUINCY : -
The committee appointed by the town at the last annual Town Meeting to devise and report upon some plan for the enlargement of Mt. Wollaston Cemetery, having given the subject their careful consideration, beg leave to report upon the following plan, as shown by surveys and drawings by Whitman and Breck, which plan can be seen by all interested, at the Town Clerk's office.
The committee, in considering the necessity of an enlarge- ment of the cemetery, found that in the present grounds nearly all the lots available for burial purposes (excepting tomb lots) have been sold, and that at the end of the present year it is quite probable that nearly all of those now remain- ing unsold will have been taken. Therefore we were all unanimous in the opinion that some measures must be imme- diately taken by the town looking to the future needs of a suitable place for the burial of the dead, and upon examina- tion the committee found that on the northerly side of the cemetery there was a tract of land, containing about eight (8) acres, extending from the north line of the cemetery to Green- leaf street, which would have been satisfactory to us could it have been obtained without involving the town in too great an expense. This land, belonging to the Woodward Fund, has been laid out in house-lots, and was and has been intended
99
·
from the first for building purposes ; and we find that this tract of land, from its situation and surroundings, is so valuable for building that it would not be expedient to recommend the town to go to so great an expense as would be necessary to obtain it; particularly 60, as upon the easterly side of the cemetery the town now has under its control a tract of land (from a part of which the present cemetery has been laid out) of upwards of fifteen (15) acres, but which, however, is separated from the rest by Sea street, the main and only road to Hough's Neck and Germantown.
In considering the best method of making this land avail- able, we found that a very serious objection was the fact that a public highway would pass directly through the middle of the grounds, making it extremely unpleasant and noisy to all those visiting the grounds in performing the last offices for the dead, and also taking from the cemetery the quietness and repose incidental to the sacred nature of grounds devoted for such purposes.
· In seeking to avoid the inconveniences arising from the above causes, the committee, after examining the ground care- fully., found that no serious obstacle existed to prevent the relocation of Sea street from a point on Coddington street, near the town pound, around the easterly side of this tract of land skirting the edge of the upland and salt marsh, and arriving by a very easy grade to a point midway between the entrance to J. Q. Adams' residence at Mt. Wollaston and the old farm-house belonging to Mr. Adams.
This roadway, fifty (50) feet in width and running at a grade of some ten (10) feet below the level of the land pro- posed to be enclosed, will give a more direct and better means of communication (owing to the absence of steep grades, width, and better road bed) between Hough's Neck and the town, and will give towards enlarging the present cemetery at least twelve (12) acres of land in every way well suited for burial purposes, at an expense, by reliable estimates,
100
which accompany the plan, of $5,500, which will include the building of the road, land damages, fencing the easterly side of the road, and the total expense of removing the present wall now enclosing the cemetery to the new line of proposed road. The ornamental gate-way, which now stands at the present entrance, it is proposed to remove to a point, say midway between the Pound and the crest of the hill near the Almshouse, and across the road, which will then be the main avenue leading into the country.
This plan has many and great advantages, and, as far as we have considered, no objections, unless it may be considered that the removal of the present Almshouse, which under our general plan may not have to be done for some three (3) or five (5) years to come, may be considered as such. In re- gard to this our committee are of the opinion, whether this plan is adopted or not, that the town will either have to re- move the location of the buildings to some other point, or else expend a very large sum in extending and repairing the present buildings ; but as it is a matter which all who have investigated have probably positive opinion on, we will not consider further as regards the effect on the proposed enlarge- ment.
This plan, as proposed by the committee, will not entail a large expense on the town, and will provide for the future needs for some forty (40) years or more to come, if the pres- ent rules and regulations are not changed so that non-resi- dents shall be able to obtain the right, as in the past, to hold lots for which they cannot be taxed, and for which they con- tribute nothing ; thus leaving the citizens of the town to bear not only the expense of keeping the cemetery grounds in order, but now to be at the additional expense of an enlarge- ment of the grounds, which, but for the past errors and mis- management, would have been ample for a long time to come.
Having thus explained and given some of the reasons which have led us to make this report, we hope that all
101
citizens will examine into the matter, and thus be able, when the report comes before them at the annual town meeting, to act intelligently and for the best interests of the town.
Signed,
E. S. FELLOWS, J. Q. A. FIELD, E. B. TAYLOR, G. L. GILL, ASA WELLINGTON, B. F. CURTIS, G. L. BAXTER, H. F. BARKER,
Committee.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF QUINCY,
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1874-75.
School Committee.
JOHN Q. ADAMS, CHAIRMAN. ASA WELLINGTON, SECRETARY. JAMES H. SLADE.
CHARLES F. ADAMS, JR. CHARLES L. BADGER. WILLIAM B. DUGGAN.
BOSTON : PRESS OF ROCKWELL AND CHURCHILL, No. 39 ARCH STREET. 1875.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The School Committee, in submitting their annual report to the inhabitants of Quincy, are not aware that any minute description of single schools, nor any long disquisitions upon general educational problems, are either useful or desired. Indeed, the system of examination heretofore pursued hardly admits of that exact and specific comparison and adjustment of the various degrees of excellence in each different study and department in each school, which seem to be requisite to form a really accurate and reliable judgment upon their relative merit and proficiency. An oral examination, twice in the year, not tested by any invariable scale, nor regulated by any fixed standard, affords but an unreliable basis for nice discriminations. One of the first improvements insti- tuted by a superintendent should be to reduce the general outline and chief features of the semi-annual examinations to a written form, or, where that may be impracticable, to pro- vide some invariable system of marks to guide the judgment of the examiner in any. branch of study. But the time and means at the disposal of the committee will hardly suffice for so searching and minute a scrutiny.
Confining themselves, therefore, to a general survey, they feel justified in reporting, with a good deal of confidence, that at no time within their observation has the average con- dition of the public schools of this town been so satisfactory. As regards order and discipline very little fault can be found. That very much is still to be desired in our system of teach- ing is too evident for dispute. That after eight or nine years of constant study in our common schools select pupils should
4
show an amount of acquirement no greater than the exam- inations for admittance to the High School annually disclose, indicates that there is something lacking to the complete efficiency of the system. And we have heretofore ven- tured to suggest that, in our judgment, a remedy for this inefficiency is to be sought primarily in a greatly aug- mented teaching force. Certainly we should be glad to see one teacher at least assigned to every twenty-five pupils, instead of one to every forty, upon an average, as we now have. But as such a reform would compel a substantial remodelling of nearly all our school-houses, and a very large increase in the appropriation for salaries, we do not think it expedient to urge so radical a change at such a period of transition as the present. For in this town it is clear that the old system of school management, adapted to a sparse and rural population, which has secured very fair results in its time, will not much longer prove adequate to the increas- ing demands of a dense and essentially urban community. Year by year, Quincy, following the steps of all towns very near to great centres of commercial or manufacturing activ- ity, is becoming more and more a suburb. Boston absorbs if it does not annex us. More and more the active life of Quincy centres in the city ; its domestic life alone remains in the country. In the terse and striking term of common speech it is fast becoming a bedroom town. Consequently its requirements tend naturally more and more to shape themselves by comparison with the city. Our school-houses and apparatus, our teachers, our methods, and our results are carefully compared or sharply contrasted with those of the city. Now, while it is well to keep in view the best models accessible to us, it is but common prudence, at the same time, to calculate the cost of what we desire, and only common fairness not to demand that for which we do not care to pay. As fast as it can be done without a distressing increase of taxation, it will be desirable to increase our
5
school accommodation and teaching force. But it is manifest that the plan upon which a thorough and extended reorgani- zation should be steadily pursued, ought to be one carefully prepared, after a complete survey and study of the present and future requirements of the town by a person very com- petent for that work.
The committee do not feel ready at present to offer any such well-considered and complete scheme ; nor if prepared would they think it advisable to do so now. For if, as they deem probable, the town either this year or next decides to employ a superintendent of schools, it will be his peculiar prov- ince and immediate duty to prepare such a comprehensive plan of future action. And in that event the presentation of a plan by the committee at this time would be useless, if not embarrassing in the future.
And in this connection it may be proper for us to state briefly the law upon the matter of superintendents of schools, and to suggest, without any further importunity or elaborate arguments, our views upon that subject.
The statutes of the Commonwealth provide that any town may, by legal vote, require the school committee annually to appoint a superintendent of public schools, who, under the direction and control of said committee, shall have the care and supervision of the schools.
The superintendent shall receive for his services such com- pensation (not less than one dollar and a half for each day actually employed in the work) as a majority of the school committee may fix, and in every town where a superintendent is appointed the school committee shall receive no compen- sation for their services unless the town otherwise provide.
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