USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Town annual report of Quincy 1879 > Part 6
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SUGGESTIONS.
In compliance with the provisions of Sec. IV. of the By- · Laws of the Town I have the honor to state that the Board of Engineers recommend an appropriation of $4,625 for the ensu- ing year.
Many of the citizens of the north part of the Town demand some piece of apparatus for the protection of that district, and I renew the recommendation of my predecessor of last year, and urge the purchase of a chemical engine to be located in that district.
The Granite Engine needs to be thoroughly repaired, and I recommend an appropriation for that purpose.
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REMARKS.
I congratulate my fellow citizens upon the fact that the fire- bug which has caused so much damage and alarm in our town- · ship for the past few years has for one year at least almost entirely disappeared ; consequently the department has not been called into active service but a few times ; but should an emer- gency occur I feel assured that the men and apparatus will be found in readiness, and willing to perform any duty required.
In concluding I improve this opportunity to return my sin- cere thanks to the gentlemen composing the Board of Select- men, for the respect and courtesy manifested toward the Board of Engineers at all times. To my associates in the Board I offer my grateful acknowledgments for the faithful manner in which they have supported me during the past nine months, thereby relieving me of a great deal of anxiety.
To the officers and members of the several companies, and the engineer of the steam-pump, I will repeat my words of seven years ago, " that words are inadequate to express my feelings, and I hope that the noble and invaluable services that they have rendered me and the inhabitants of our time-honored town will not go unrewarded."
Respectfully submitted, with a list of the officers of the sev- eral companies comprising the department, and a schedule of town property in charge of each ; also a list of fires and alarms that have occurred since the Ist of February, 1878.
JOHN W. HALL, Chief Engineer Q. F. D.
BOARD OF ENGINEERS.
JOHN W. HALL, Chief. HERBERT M. FEDERHEN, Clerk.
ASSISTANT ENGINEERS.
James T. Penniman, Patrick F. Lacy,
Herbert M. Federhen, Joseph W. Hayden,
Lucius W. Lovell, John A. Duggan.
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TIGER ENGINE Co., No. 2. Organized 1844. House on School Street. Whole number of members, 50. Foreman, George H. Osborne.
Ist Asssistant Foreman, Thomas H. Williams ; 2d Assistant Foreman, William Smith ; Clerk, John A. Green ; Steward, Peter Williams. .
List of town property in charge of company : one engine and hose carriage, 550 feet of hose, 12 spanners, and belts, I wrench, 4 lanterns, 10 tables, I jack, 2 stoves, 6 spittoons, 7 chairs, 4 benches, 8 settees, 7 lamps, 6 curtains, 2 boilers, I desk, 40 bowls, 45 plates, 75 spoons.
GRANITE ENGINE Co., No. 3. Organized 1844.
House on Copeland Street. Whole number of members, 47. Foreman, John H. Ryan.
Ist Assistant Foreman, William Barry, 2d Assistant Foreman, Patrick J. Kelly ; Clerk, John G. Woddick ; Steward, Jeremiah Lyons.
List of town property in charge of company : one engine and hose carriage, 600 feet of hose, 9 spanner belts and spanners, 4 fire hats, 2 jacks, 3 stoves, 4 benches, 8 settees, II chairs, I table, 10 lamps, 3 rubber coats, I pair boots.
VULTURE ENGINE Co., No. 4.
Organized 1844.
House on Washington Street. Whole number of members 50.
Foreman, Elijah S. Brown.
Ist Assistant Foreman, Thomas F. Cleverly ; 2d Assistant Foreman, Josiah V. Packard; Clerk, Frederick H. Smith ; Steward, Albert Parrott.
List of town property in charge of company : one engine and two hose carriages, 750 feet of hose, 6 wrenches, 10 spanner
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belts and spanners, 2 stoves, I jack, I strainer, 4 lanterns, 8 lamps, 10 cuspadores, 8 settees, 16 chairs, I desk, I step-ladder, 2 boilers, 4 tables, 45 bowls, 46 mugs, 60 spoons.
FIREMAN'S AID (HOOK AND LADDER) Co., No. I. Organized August 30, 1856.
House on Canal Street. Whole number of members, 25. Foreman, Ensign S. Fellows. Assistant Foreman, John L. Maxim ; Clerk, George W. Pres- cott ; Steward, Ensign S. Fellows.
"List of town property in charge of company : one hook and ladder carriage complete, I Bangor ladder (50 feet), I wrench, 2 stoves, I jack, 4 lanterns, 2 Johnson pumps, 9 tables, 24 chairs, I chandelier, 6 lamps.
W. M. FRENCH HOSE Co., NO. I. Organized, May 6, 1869.
House on Canal Street. Whole number of members, 20. Foreman, James E. Maxim.
Ist Assistant Foreman, Richard Newcomb, Jr .; 2d Assistant Foreman, Asa A. Pope ; Clerk, E. W. Underwood ; Steward, M. M. C, Chubbuck.
List of town property in charge of company : two four-wheeled hose carriages, 2000 feet of hose, 2 crotches, 4 Johnson pumps, 14 spanners, 8 spanner belts, 2 lanterns, I jack, 3 wrenches, I table, 6 lamps, 20 chairs, 6 cuspadores, 2 stoves.
L. W. LOVELL (CHEMICAL) ENGINE CO. Organized 1876. House Wollaston Heights. Whole number of members, 20. Foreman, John M. Call.
Clerk, Charles T. Baker ; Steward. Albert G. Olney.
List of town property in charge of company : one chemical engine and hose carriage, 180 feet of hose, mallett, 2 hats, 3 coats, 4 chairs, I stove, I table, I wrench, I pair scales, 5 cur- tains, 3 lamps, 3 cuspadores, I thermometer.
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STEAM PUMP AND BOILER. First operated Aug. 3, 1878.
House at junction of Hancock Street and Cottage Avenue. Engineer, C. Edgar Tirrell.
List of town property in charge of the engineer : one Blake pump, one Herreschoff boiler, one Blake feed pump, I stove, and lot of tools.
There is also located at North Quincy in charge of engineer Duggan : one thirty foot ladder, one twenty-five foot hook lad- der and 2 water casks.
A list of fires and alarms for the year ending, Feb. 1, 1879 : -
Feb. 16 .- Two attempts were made to burn the barn, of Mrs. I. H. W. Arey ; no alarm given.
Feb. 20. - A chimney of the house of Dr. W. S. Pattee ; no alarm.
May 20. - House on Hancock Street owned by Eleazer Fred- erick.
June 16. - Alarm caused by fire at Somerville.
June 22. - False alarm.
Sept. 2. - Building on Hancock Street owned by C. S. French, and occupied as a Post Office, Lodge Room and offices.
Sept. 8. - House on Willard Street owned by Samuel Babcock. Sept. 18. - Powder House of F. J. Fuller & Co. No alarm.
Oct. 12. - Alarm from West Hingham.
Oct. 22. - False alarm.
Nov. 30. - House and barns on Squantum Street owned by heirs of the late Edward R. Pope, and occupied by Oliver L. Jones.
Dec. 2. - Alarm caused by burning of a chimney at the Point.
Dec. 12. - Alarm from East Milton.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON NEW ALMS- HOUSE.
TO THE INHABITANTS OF QUINCY : -
The Committee chosen at the annual March meeting in 1878 to procure plans and select a location for an Almshouse, have taken the whole subject under consideration and have deposited the plans in the office of the Town Clerk for the inspection of the town, believing that they are what are needed for the pres- ent and future wants of the town for the purpose indicated.
The following is a description of the building : -
The main part is 64 feet long by 40 feet wide, two stories high, with a Mansard roof; there is an L, 32 feet by 20 feet, two stories high, as shown by plans ; height of stories, 10 feet, 9 feet, 8 1-2 feet. The first or principal floor contains two par- lors, two ward-rooms, women's and men's sitting-rooms, dining- room, kitchen, pantry and laundry-rooms, with all other conve- niences complete.
The second floor contains fourteen rooms of various sizes, with a good bath-room directly over the laundry, making the plumbing very compact, which is always very desirable.
The third floor contains fourteen sleeping-rooms of ample dimensions, well ventilated.
All parts of the building are arranged for convenience and comfort.
Your committee recommend building on the present alms- house farm, the buildings to be located on the highest part of the
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land and about one hundred feet from the street, as shown by detail drawings.
The entire cost of building, heating apparatus and cellar, will not exceed the sum of ten thousand dollars.
EDMUND B. TAYLOR, WILLIAM PARKER, ENSIGN S. FELLOWS, HENRY G. PRATT, JR., JONAS SHACKLEY,
Committee.
PUBLIC LIBRARY OF QUINCY.
THE Trustees of the Public Library ask leave to offer their Eighth Annual Report, relating to the progress and to the present condition of that institution.
During the year 1878 the library was open 304 days.
The whole number of books borrowed in each year since the Library was first organized has been as follows : -
In 1872
44,755 volumes.
1873
.
·
40,175
1874 .
36,049
1875
(II months)
34,55I 66
1876
42,968
1877
·
45,637
66
1878
46,662
It will be noticed that the circulation. of the last year was the largest in the history of the Library. These figures, however, do not represent the entire use made of our books. The Trustees have recently made a special effort to encourage the use of the Library in connection with the course of teaching in the public schools. Under a rule adopted two years ago the teachers of certain grades of these schools are in the practice of borrowing a number of those volumes they consider best adapted to the use of their scholars, and keeping them in constant circulation among them. To this extent, therefore, the schools have become branch libraries, of the circulation of which no returns are made.
Including the total expenses of the Library, the circulation of each volume issued in 1878 cost 6.1 cents ; as compared with 6.7 in 1877, and 7.5 cents in 1876. In making the estimate of
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the cost of circulation per volume in the reports of previous years the library expenses proper only were taken into account. This excluded purchases of new books, &c., greatly reducing the average. In the foregoing statement nothing has been excluded, the entire cost of the Library to the town, whether in rent. additions to the collection, or otherwise, has been taken into the account with the results given above.
As respects reading matter, the circulation was divided some- what as follows, not varying greatly from previous years : --
Fiction,
volumes,
1877. 24,546
22,241
Juveniles,
10,04I
12,264
Periodicals,
3,789
4,154
History,
1,778
1,722
General Literature,
1,237
1,385
Biography,
1,365
1,175
Travels,
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1,160
1,296
Arts and Sciences,
1,145
1,286
Poetry,
555
608
Religion,
158
250
Medical and Educational, "
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93
1878.
During the year 126 volumes worn out in circulation have been replaced, and 276 volumes have been added to the library by purchase. In addition to the above, gifts of 239 volumes and 203 pamphlets have been received. There have been 235 volumes bound.
The work of printing the first supplement to the catalogue of 1875 was entered upon at the beginning of the present year. It is estimated that it will contain about 5000 titles and cover 60 pages, or a little less than a quarter part of the original cata- logue. It will include all the additions to the Library from the summer of 1875 to the close of 1878. The cost of publication will be met out of the accumulations of the catalogue fund, consist- ing of money received from the recent sale of the catalogue, and from fines for the failures to return books within the time pre-
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scribed by the rules. No extra appropriation on account of the supplement will be asked for. It will be sold at a nominal price representing only a fractional part of its cost, but sufficient to cause the copies to be cared for. The money received from their sale, as well as from that of the original catalogue, will be credited to the catalogue fund.
The library is believed to be in excellent working order, and its circulation might be doubled with very little addition to the cost of running it. The process of renewal has been maintained with tolerable steadiness, and no exceptional outlay on this account is likely soon to be called for. There are no bills what- ever outstanding ; and no arrears of work to be made up.
The great need of the institution now is an obvious one. It should have a commodious and better adapted library room in a more central part of the town, - that is, it should be nearer the station, the post-office, the banks and the business centre, where it can be most conveniently reached by the greatest number of persons. The trustees have no intention of asking the town to consider the question of again removing the Library, much less of undertaking the cost of erecting a suitable building for it. For this no sufficient exigency exists, neither are the times pro- pitious. In other and neighboring towns, however, - as, for instance, in Hingham, in Braintree, in Randolph, and in North Easton, - the needs of the public libraries in this respect have been met by the gifts or bequests of wealthy inhabitants desiring to do something to evince their interest in their native places. Quincy possesses a library inferior in size or excellence to those of few other towns. This collection, which if lost could only be replaced at an expenditure of many thousand dol- lars, is now kept in a wooden building and peculiarly liable to destruction by fire. Under these circumstances the Trustees have always felt called upon to keep it insured to a reasonable amount. This and the rent of the building consume one quarter part of the entire annual appropriation made by the town. These are items of expense to which other public libraries, so far as the Trustees are informed, are not subjected. The edifice is neither convenient, comfortable, ornamental, nor well adapted
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to the purposes for which it is used. Nevertheless, in spite of these drawbacks, the Trustees see abundant indications that the library is doing a great educational work with the rising genera- tion, and doing it well. The town's annual appropriations in support of the institution have always been liberal. Under these circumstances the trustees are certainly not disposed to ask the town to do anything more than it is now doing. They are, however, not without hope that the great want of a suitable and commodious library building will ultimately be met in Quincy as it has been met elsewhere. Private munificence may supply a public need. Certainly no better field for its exercise could be desired.
The annual appropriations made by the town for the library. heretofore have been as follows : -
1871,
$2,872 27
1872,
2,500 00
1873,
2,000 00
1874,
3,500 00
1875,
3,200 00
1876,
3,200 00
1887,
3,000 00
1878,
2,200 00
In compliance with the economical requirements of the times, the Trustees have endeavored to bring their estimates for the coming year within as narrow limits as possible. They think they will be able to carry on the work of the library upon a smaller appropriation than has ever been made for it in any year of its history ; for in 1873 no rent was paid for a library room. They ask, therefore, for an appropriation of $2000 to meet the regular and ordinary expenses of the Library during the coming year.
The receipts and expenditures of the past year are set forth in the accompanying report of the treasurer.
By order of the trustees,
C. F. ADAMS, JR., Chairman.
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ACCOUNT OF THE TREASURER OF PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR 1878.
To cash balance in treasury, Feb. 1, 1878, $ 102 90
of Town Treasurer, as per appro- priation, 2,200 00
To cash balance of Town Treasurer, as per Dog Tax Fund,
699 39
To cash from fines and catalogues,
133 83
$3,136 12
Disbursements.
For books,
$747 42
" Binding,
85 90
« Printing,
95 70
" Salaries and Services,
1,166 66
Stationery,
42 79
" Gas,
108 35
" Fuel,
61 00
" Rent,
450 00
" Expressage,
7 55
« Police,
IO 50
« Post Office,
14 72
" Sundries,
56 00
Balance (Catalogue Fund),
289 53
$3,136 12
HENRY BARKER, Treas.
CATALOGUE FUND.
To sale of catalogues and fines paid to Jan.
31, 1878, $ 102 90
To sale of catalogues and fines paid to Jan.
31, 1879, 133 83
Unexpended balance of dog-tax for 1878, 52 80
Total as per balance sheet, $289 53
REPORT OF THE MANAGERS OF ADAMS ACADEMY.
THE MANAGERS of the Adams Academy, elected by the town of Quincy to oversee the condition of that institution during the past year, have attended to that duty, and beg leave respect- fully to present the following report : -
At the beginning of the term the number of boys applying to be admitted, though it fell short of that received in the pre- ceding year, still proved sufficient in the opinion of the Principal to stimulate perseverance in his undertaking. Although finding himself under the absolute necessity of increasing the annual charges, he still went on quite confident that the reputation he had justly earned would overcome all difficulty of that sort, and ultimately establish his name and reputation far and wide over the country. In this courageous spirit Dr. Dimmock entered upon his third year. But it was not long before the appearance of grave symptoms, gradually overpowering even his stout frame, became a cause of painful uneasiness, too truly verified in the month of March, when the public announcement was made that his period of usefulness on this earth had come to an end.
Thus died, amidst the lamentations of old and young, the first person who had bravely and successfully striven to carry out the objects of the Founder of the Trust, acting in the full spirit in which they had been declared by him in his instruc- tions more than half a century before.
The winter term of the Academy was just then approaching its end, which fortunately supplied an interval of a few days for the consideration by the Managers of what was most expedient to be done. To break up the school in the midst of the year and scatter the boys precisely in the best part of their studies,
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seemed to be equally unjust to the parents and to the intent of the Founder. The alternative was to make use of the brief interval between the winter and the summer term in searching for some individual competent to assume the responsibility of instruction, and willing to conform to the peculiar conditions attached to the Trust for a greater or less period as the case might be.
After a careful consideration of the respective qualifications of persons who might be justly regarded as in every way suited to occupy the place and at the same time willing to encounter many of the difficulties connected with the conditions of the Trust, the Board of Managers came unanimously to the con- clusion to invite Dr. William Everett to assume the place for a period more or less extended as might be agreed upon between the parties. He at once entered with energy upon the task of preparing the upper class for admission to College, and in every way acquitted himself with energy and success fully equal to our highest expectations.
In order the better to understand the nature of his services, it is deemed most useful to extract such passages from his annual report to this board as tend to explain as well the diffi- culties at the time in his way, as many other particulars of grave importance to the future prosperity of the Institution.
At the outset, Dr. Everett says, "Two duties presented themselves as almost equally pressing, but somewhat distinct in character.
" First, a class of between twenty-five and thirty boys, repre- sented as possessing unusually high character and abilities, was to be prepared for Harvard and other Colleges.
" Secondly, the rest of the school was to be sustained and en- couraged, so as to pass into the hands of Dr. Dimmock's per- manent successor with as little injury as might be to its high reputation and hopes."
After explaining the process he adopted in executing this plan, Dr. Everett sums up thus the account of his success : -
" Without further detail I will simply call attention to the (9)
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· results as indicated by me in the catalogue for 1878-9. In June all but one passed the examination with thoroughly creditable, some of them with brilliant, marks. It should be added that six members of the class achieved special credit in Latin, two in Greek, and three in mathematics. One or two also passed advanced examinations in both classics and mathematics ; but owing to a misunderstanding about the time, others who would have passed failed to present themselves.
" SECOND AND LOWER CLASSES.
" The second class also demanded attention for the preliminary examination. For the first time Harvard College required a teacher's certificate as a necessary introduction, and I felt com- pelled to withhold this from several boys in the second class. Nor have I had the least reason to doubt the wisdom of this course. In a few cases where I consented to give a certificate against my own better judgment, the result was a not-undeserved failure. The majority of those who applied (nine in all) passed, in from ten to five subjects."
Dr. Everett proceeds to mention another excellent practice which he has introduced.
"Feeling that my efficiency as a head was necessarily diminished by living in Cambridge, I passed systematically the whole of Wednesday and Sunday evenings at Quincy, conducting even- ing services at the boarding house and being as accessible as I could to the boys.
" Besides conducting these services two evenings I made it a constant practice to come into the boarding house at all hours · to take a lively interest in its internal economy and to support Mr. Worden and the other teachers to the very utmost in the arduous work of ordering and conducting such a home."
Passing from this subject, Dr. Everett proceeds to consider another most important question to the continuance of the school. The means by which it can be sustained. On this sub- ject he says of his assistant, Mr. Worden, that " besides his heavy labors as keeper of the building used for the boys as a
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dwelling house, he found time to oversee the accounts, collect the bills, and give me a statement from time to time. The result of the accounts was to leave a distinct though hardly a large balance in my favor. I felt under such circumstances I might venture, if agreeable to the Managers, to undertake the adminis- tration of the school on the same terms for at least another year, and having become greatly interested in the work, placed my name on the list of candidates for the permanent position. The Managers accepted the offer in most flattering terms ; and as I had stated my belief that one year was the limit for which such a term could be safely held, they most properly reserved a right to either party to terminate the contract at the expiration of that time."
Thus far the managers have reason to congratulate the town on the good fortune which has steadily accompanied the Acad- emy. But it is no more than their duty to be explicit in regard to the difficulties that threaten to surround it. This matter is clearly explained in the next passage, taken from the report of Dr. Everett, which relates to the reopening of the school on the 18th of September of last year. On this occasion he writes thus : -
" It was impossible to tell how large the school would be at the opening of the new year, but I was sure that we should see a considerable falling off. Dr. Dimmock's loss, the accession of a new and inexperienced temporary head, were all causes to diminish our numbers ; but above all, the increase of the tuition fee as first announced in the catalogue of 1876-7 had at once brought the numbers of last year down seriously, and I felt this cause to be still at work. It was thought best to try the experi- ment one year more. I told the teachers in advance that I should not be surprised if our opening day should see only sixty pupils present or notified as coming. There were, in fact, sixty- three. Seven have since come in."
Dr. Everett proceeds to consider this problem forced upon him at once by diminution of numbers. " What can be done to arrest it ? and how is the school to be supported ? Mere fluctuation
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in numbers is incident to all schools, and may be very violent, as in the case of Rugby in England in the last few years, when the school, which under an unpopular master sank to a few score, rose under the present esteemed head to 510. But the instructive point in the history of Adams Academy is that while the num- ber of those who pay fluctuate and are fast diminishing, the number of those who do not pay stays as nearly fixed as could be expected, thereby largely raising the ratio of those who do not pay to those who do."
The Dr. proceeds to show that by the action of the present system, out of the whole number of sixty scholars, by reason of the unequal division, the forty members coming from other parts of the country are made to pay not only their own expenses but the expenses of the whole number of the 26 boys belonging to the town. Under such circumstances it cannot be wondered if the number of boys from abroad should by degrees decline.
" The figures show that while the number of boys from whom income is derived is subject to great fluctuations, the number of boys who yield none has hardly varied in five years, making, of course, exactly the same absolute demand on the teaching force when the school is poor as when it is rich, and, of course, a greater relative demand when it is smaller, that is poorer and less able to bear the burden. This could be borne if the permanent fund from John Adams' gift was equal to the cost of instructing from 20 to 25 boys, but it is nothing of the kind. It is doubtful if it could pay for half the number. It was so evident that a fee of a hundred dollars charged for each pupil, outside of Quincy, was inadequate to support the school, that Dr. Dimmock induced the managers to raise it to a hundred and fifty dollars. He believed that the reputation of the school was sufficiently established to maintain its number at a sufficient height in spite of the increasing hardness of times. The event has proved quite the reverse. The classes at once fell off, and fell off at the wrong end. The first and second classes maintain a fair size, since those already in the school are slow to leave it, -and a school which has a good reputation for fitting boys for
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