USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Town annual report of Quincy 1882-1883 > Part 5
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while the repairs were made at the least possible outlay, we feel that with very slight expense it can be made to answer all pur- poses for which it was intended, for years to come.
JOHN W. HALL, JOSEPH M. GLOVER, JOSEPH W. HAYDEN,
H. M. FEDERHEN, CHAS. N. DITSON,
CHAS. H. PORTER,
T. H. McDONNELL, WM. P. BEECHING,
P. F. LACY, JOHN A. DUGGAN,
Committee.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
ALTERATION OF STONE SCHOOL-HOUSE.
Paid Ira Litchfield as per contract,
$400 00
P. F. Lacy, 80 00
480 00
Appropriation,
$500 00
Expenses,
480 00
Expenses less than appropriation,
$20 00
J. W. HALL HOOK AND LADDER TRUCK.
Cash paid Tirrell & Sons, as per contract, $999 00
-
Appropriation, Expenses,
$ 1,000 00
999 00
Expenses less than appropriation,
$1 00
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HORSES AND HARNESSES.
Paid Draper & Hall, two horses, J. Q. A. Field, one Tirrell & Sons, 3 sets of harnesses,
$625 00
300 00
275 00
$ 1,200 00
-
Appropriation,
$ 1,200 00
Expenses,
1,200 00
CHIEF ENGINEER'S REPORT.
ENGINEER'S OFFICE, Quincy, Feb. 1, 1883.
TO THE SELECTMEN OF THE TOWN OF QUINCY.
Gentlemen,-In accordance with the usual custom, I herewith submit a brief report of the condition of the Quincy Fire De- partment, and such suggestions and recommendations as I think will be for the benefit of the town.
MEMBERSHIP.
The department is at present under the control of a Chief Engineer and five Assistants, viz .:
John W. Hall, Chief.
Patrick F. Lacy, Joseph W. Hayden,
John A. Duggan, Charles N. Ditson,
Joseph M. Glover, Clerk.
The number of men now on the rolls of the department is as follows :-
Quincy Steamer, No. I, 12
J. W. Hall Hook & Ladder, No. I, 25
Blake Steam Pump, 2
L. W. Lovell Chemical, No. I,
20
J. Q. Adams 66 2,
24
Granite Engine, 66
3, 50
Vulture 66 4, 50
Total, 183
Since the first of May last twenty men have been attached to W. M. French Hose Co. No. I, for three months each, and fifty men to the Tiger Engine Co. for six months.
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APPARATUS.
The apparatus and rolling stock of the department has been materially changed since my last report. At the Annual Meet- ing the town chose committees to purchase a Telegraphic Fire Alarm, a Steam Fire Engine and horses, and fit up a building for the same, a new Hook and Ladder Truck, and also to make alterations on Hose Carriage No. I, and procure a horse and harness for the same.
Those committees promptly attended to their duties, and on the first of July last the telegraphic fire alarm was completed and accepted by the Board of Engineers. The steam fire engine, " Quincy, No. I," arrived in town on the 8th of August, was tested the next day, and accepted by the Board of Engi- neers. The new hook and ladder truck, " J. W. Hall, No. I," was built by Messrs. Tirrell & Sons of this town, and completed and accepted in September last ; the same firm also made the necessary alterations in Hose Carriage No. I. All of the above- named apparatus is now in excellent condition. The buildings, hand engines, chemicals, steam pump and personal property in the several houses, hose excepted, remain substantially the same as at the last report.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS.
By a vote of the Board of Engineers, I am requested to cause to be inserted in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting the following articles, viz. :
" To see if the Town will cause a reservoir to be built at the corner of Contest avenue and Billings street."
" To see if the Town will cause a reservoir to be built at the junction of Cross and Common streets."
" To see if the Town will purchase 1,000 feet of hose for the use of the Fire Department."
" To see if the Town will extend the water pipes from the hydrant at the junction of Elm and Hancock streets, up School street to a point near the Tiger Engine House ; also from the hydrant at the junction of Hancock and Washington streets to a point near the junction of Hancock and Adams streets. Also
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from the Steam Pump through Cottage avenue and Foster street to a point near the corner of Washington and Foster streets."
In compliance with the provisions of Section IV. of the Town By-laws, I have the honor to report that the Board of Engineers recommend an appropriation of $6,000 for the ensuing year.
REMARKS AND SUGGESTIONS.
I congratulate through you the citizens of the town for having been spared from any very serious conflagration during the past year, and also for the successful completion of the fire alarm, and I confidently believe that the Quincy Fire Department, in personnel and morale, is excelled by no department of its size in this state. As but few of our citizens are aware of the prompt- ness of the department, especially in that portion located in the " old stone school-house," an invitation is extended to all to visit it at any time during reasonable hours.
I have received many petitions for additional alarm boxes in various parts of the town ; but the department having no appropriation for that purpose, I have replied that the proper way to procure them was to bring the matter directly before the town. A strong demand is made for a striker to be attached to the bell on the church at Quincy Point, but for the reason stated above our Board are forced to decline action in the matter. I would recommend that the town make an appropriation for that purpose. The expense will be $450, less $150, which the contractors will allow for the gong now on the church.
Recent events warn us to see to it that our public buildings, especially our crowded school-houses, are properly provided with fire escapes, and I would suggest that the town instruct the proper authorities to see the law relating to the same prop- erly enforced.
I would also recommend that the Board of Engineers be authorized to sell the old hook and ladder truck, remove the hose-house to the land adjoining the Steamer-house, and also remove the Tiger Engine-house to Atlantic.
I am of the opinion that the efficiency of the department will be much increased and the expense lessened by reducing the
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number of men attached to the Hook and Ladder truck and J. Q. Adams No. 2 Chemical Engine companies to ten or twelve men each, and hiring horses in case of an alarm of fire from the boxes to which they are to respond.
A full inventory of all property belonging to the department has been taken, and is upon file at this office.
Accompanying this report is a list of fires and alarms which have occurred in town for the year ending Jan. 31, 1883, for which I am indebted to Joseph M. Glover, the efficient clerk of the Board of Engineers.
My warmest thanks are extended to your honorable Board for the interest shown and readiness to co-operate in all measures tending to promote the interests of the Department, and to the officers and members of the Department for their active and willing response to all calls for their services.
Respectfully submitted.
JOHN W. HALL, Chief Engineer Quincy Fire Department.
TELEGRAPH FIRE ALARM.
DIRECTIONS TO HOLDERS OF KEYS.
I. When the fire is discovered, go to the nearest box to the fire, open the door, pull the lever down as far as the pin, then let go.
II. If, upon going to a box to give an alarm, you hear the ticking of the magnet inside (which is an indication that an alarm is being sent over the wires), count the signal sounded and be certain it is for the same fire or not. If not for the same fire, wait until the signals have entirely ceased before pulling the lever.
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III. Never sound an alarm for a fire seen at a distance.
IV. If possible wait at the box, and direct the firemen to the fire.
V. Never give a second alarm for the same fire, after the department has arrived, without an order from the officer in command of the department.
BOXES.
26 On Unitarian Church, Hancock street. Keys at Chief Engineer Hall's, Frank A. Spear's (store), and Charles N. Ditson's.
34 Cor. of Union and Main streets, on J. D. Whicher & Co.'s factory. Keys at John E. Drake's residence and J. D. Whicher & Co.'s factory.
35 Cor. of Hancock and Elm streets. Keys at John A. Hol- den's, Ensign S. Fellows' and Amos Churchill's.
37 Franklin, near Water street. Keys at E. A. Adams's (store), Luke Rideout's and Joseph M. Glover's.
42 Jones's Corner, junction of Granite, Water and Copeland streets. Keys at Brewer's store, Robert Craig's and Levi Stearns'.
46 On Doble's store, Copeland street. Keys at James Berry's, William B. Barry's, P. F. Lacy's and Doble's store.
53 On Beale street, cor. Farrington (Wollaston). Keys at Charles Whittemore's, E. H. Sanborn's and Wollaston Hotel.
64 Cor. of Contest avenue and Billings street, Atlantic. Keys at Frederick H. Ruggles's, John A. Duggan's and Gurney's store.
71 Cor. of Mill and Washington streets. Keys at John L Souther's and J. R. Graham's factory.
72 On Church, cor. of Washington and South streets. Keys at John Federhen's, S. J. Penny's and Quincy Point. Post-office.
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Cor. of Howard and Winter streets. Keys at S. F. New- comb's (store), Everett D. Newcomb's and Joseph W. Hayden's.
Steamer I, W. M. French Hose I, and Hook and Ladder I will respond to alarms from all boxes.
Granite 3 will respond to first alarms from boxes 26, 37, 42, 46 and 53 ; and second alarm from boxes 34 and 35.
Vulture 4 will respond to first alarms from boxes 26, 34, 35, 71, 72 and 73 ; and second alarm from box 37.
L. W. Lovell Chemical I will respond to alarms from boxes 26, 34, 35, 37, 42, 46, 53, 64, 71 and 72.
J. Q. Adams Chemical 2 will respond to first alarms from boxes 26, 34, 35, 46, 53 and 64 ; and second alarms from box 37.
STEAM PUMP.
To start fire under boiler on alarm from boxes 26 and 35.
RETURN SIGNALS.
Return signals will be given on the bell and gongs by four blows repeated three times, hearing which, the apparatus on the way to the fire will return to their quarters.
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL.
Three rounds of 2-2 is the signal that the next school session will be dispensed with.
One blow will be struck every day at 11.45 A. M., Cambridge time.
STEAMER.
When starting for alarms from boxes 26, 34, 35, 37, 42, 46, 53, 71, 72, 73, the fire under the boiler to be lighted as soon as the engine leaves the house.
If to an alarm from box 64, when at the old horse-car stable.
A long-blown whistle from the Steamer while at a fire is a notice that the hose has burst, and the hosemen shall immedi- ately follow back on the line and put in a perfect piece.
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Several short, quick blows of the Steamer's whistle indicates that the engine is in want of fuel or assistance of some kind.
No one but Engineers and members of the Steamer and Hose Companies will be allowed to ride on the Steamer or Hose Car- riage, either going to or coming from a fire, unless it be some one to assist the Engineer by his request.
FIRES AND ALARMS IN THE TOWN FOR THE YEAR ENDING FEB. I, 1883.
1882.
Feb. 13 .- 7 P. M. A slight fire in the Episcopal Church. Loss trifling. Cause, accidental. Hook and Ladder I, present.
March 17 .- 7 P. M. Dwelling-house on Mill street, owned and occupied by J. Francis Hayward. Loss, $75. In- sured for $4,500. Received from insurance, $75. Engines 2, 3, 4, Hose I, and Hook and Ladder I, present. Cause, spontaneous combustion from oiled rags.
18 .- 2 A. M. Dwelling-house on Adams street, owned by heirs of Joseph Beal, and occupied by Susanna Beal. Loss, $312. Insurance, $1,786. Received from insurance, $153. No general alarm. Cause, spontaneous combustion of chemicals.
April 18 .- I A. M. Storehouse on Common street, owned and occupied by Mrs. Reuben Ricker. Loss, $150. Insured for and insurance received, $25. Engine 3, present. Cause, incendiary.
May 2 .- 4.30 A. M. Dwelling-house on Cross street, owned by J. Q. A. Field, and occupied by John Cashman. Loss, $490. Insurance, $600. Amount received, $490. Entire department present, and aid from Milton. Cause, defective chimney.
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June 9 .- 7.30 P. M. Dwelling house on Granite street, owned and occupied by Andrew Young. Loss, trifling. Entire department, except Chemicals I and 2, pres- ent. Cause, carelessness with matches.
20 .- 8 P. M. Dwelling-house on Jackson street, owned by Charles Brown, and occupied by Alexander Campbell. Loss, $65. Insurance, $700. Amount received, $65. Engine 2, Hook and Ladder I, and Hose I, present. Cause, unknown.
July
4 .- I P. M. Dwelling-house on Hancock street, owned and occupied by heirs of T. Costaine. Loss, $50. Insurance, $ 1,000. Amount received, $40. No general alarm. Chemical, No. 2, present. Cause, fire-crackers.
4 .- Dwelling-house on Main street, owned and occupied by John Gray. Loss, $25. Insurance, $1,500. Amount received, $25. No alarm. Cause, fire-crackers.
30 .- 3.10 A. M. Fire alarm box 34 broken, and an alarm rung in. No fire. Entire department responded.
Aug.
6 .- 1.50 A. M. Barn on Brackett street, owned by H. H. Faxon, and occupied by Eugene Kenilly. Loss, $150. Insurance, $100. Amount received, $ 100. Entire department present. Cause incendiary. 21 .- 10.30 A. M. False alarm from box 37. Entire de- partment present except Engine No. 4.
29 .- 4.10 A. M. Dwelling-house on Copeland street, owned by Mrs. Mary Doble. Loss, $1,200. In- surance, $1,500. Amount received, $1,200. Entire department, and aid from Milton present. Cause, unknown.
Oct.
27 .- II.24 P. M. Barn on West street, owned by heirs of Patrick Galloway, and occupied by Adolph Wit- rich. Loss, $150. Steamer I, Hook and Ladder, Granite, and Chemical I, present. Cause, in- cendiary.
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Nov. I .- 10.40 P. M. Barn on Sumner street, owned and occupied by Patrick Donlen. Loss, $150. Insurance, $100. Amount received, $ 100. Steamer, Vulture, and Chemical I, present. Cause, incendiary.
28 .- 4. 30 A. M.' Green-house on Hancock street, owned and occupied by William Webb. Loss, $50 on building ; $1,450 on stock. No insurance. Steamer, Steam Pump, Hook and Ladder, and Chemical 2, responded. Cause unknown.
Dec.
3 .- 6.15 P. M. Boot manufactory on Franklin street, owned by heirs of Adam Curtis, and occupied by Thomas and Franklin Curtis. Loss, $10. Insur- ance, $1,000. Amount received, $9.40. Steamer, Hook and Ladder, and Chemical 2, responded. Cause, carelessness from smoking.
1883.
Jan. 3 .- 5.13 P. M. Alarm from box 64, caused by burning of grass. Steamer, Hook and Ladder, and Chemicals I and 2, present.
4 .- 5.05 P. M. Alarmfrom box 64, caused by burning of brush. Steamer, Hook and Ladder, and Chemi- cal 2, present.
24 .- 1.15 A. M. An unoccupied dwelling-house on Squantum street, owned and occupied by Mrs. W. B. Rice. Loss, $800. Insurance, $1,500. Steam- er and Chemical 2 responded. Cause of fire, un- known.
THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY,
The trustees of the Thomas Crane Library ask leave to offer their third annual report, being the twelfth report of the whole series since the Library was organized.
On the 13th of May of the Library year just closed the de- livery of books at the old Library room on Hancock street was stopped, and the work of removal to the Crane Memorial Hall was begun. The church building on Hancock street had then been occupied for library purposes for nearly eight years, the removal to it from the Adams Academy having been begun on the 8th of July, 1874. It proved a convenient, accessible and generally satisfactory Library building. The formal dedica- tion of the Crane Memorial Hall took place on Decoration Day (May 30th) The address and proceedings on that occasion
have been printed separately, but, owing to various causes of delay incident to the necessity of consulting several persons, at least two of whom shortly after the dedication left the country and were gone until late in the autumn, the pamphlet volume of the proceedings, &c., has not yet been published. It is understood, however, that it will be published and generally distributed by the time the Town-book for 1883 is ready for delivery. No further reference to the dedicatory pro- ceedings is, therefore, here necessary. The trustees will simply say that in preparing the pamphlet recording them neither pains nor expense was spared to make it in every respect in keeping with the occasion, and the character of the edifice which the town owes to the munificence of Mrs. Crane and her sons. In so doing they had no doubt they would be carrying out the wishes of the citizens of the town.
The work of arranging the Library for use after its removal required about two months, and the Memorial Hall was not opened for the delivery of books until the 17th of July. During the year 1882, therefore, the Library was open only 253 days,
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being less by 52 days than during the year preceding. In 1874, when the removal from the Adams Academy to Hancock street was made, it was open in all 250 days, or three days less than during the year now closed. The number of books borrowed during the year was 40,618, a falling off of about 12,000 from the previous year, incidental to removal. This was a repetition of the experience of 1874. During that year, the last the Library was in the Adams Academy building, it circulated over 40,000 volumes ; during the year of the removal to Hancock street that number fell off to 36,000, from which it rose to 38,000 the next year, and thence to 43,000 the year after. So far as statistics of the number of volumes circulated are concerned, the year 1882, like the year 1874, was exceptional, and must not be taken into account.
The number of names of those using the Library now regis- tered is 5,690.
The division of reading matter in the books borrowed during the year appears in the following table. The year 1877 is selected for comparison with the last year in this respect, for the reason that the circulation of 1877 was nearer to that of last year than was the circulation of any of the other years for which the division of reading matter has been published. In the table each one per cent. may be taken to represent a circulation of 400 volumes : -
1882.
Per cent.
1877.
Per cent.
Fiction,
vols. 17,288
42.5
24,564
53.6
Juvenile Fiction,
66
8,327
20.5
10,04I
21.9
Periodicals,
66
6,465
15.9
3,786
8.2
History,
66
1,97I
4.8
1,778
3.9
Travels,
66
1,435
3.5
1,160
2.5
General Literature,
66
1,408
3.5
1,237
2.7
Arts and Sciences,
1,39I
3.4
1,145
2.5
Biography,
66
1,188
3.
1,365
3.
Poetry,
66
678
1.7
555
1.2
Medical and Educ't'l,
“
269
.7
68
.2
Religious,
198
.5
158
.3
40,618
45,857
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It is unnecessary to call attention to the very encouraging character of this showing. The whole increase in circulation has been in the books classified in the above list between History and Travels. While they have risen from 16 per cent. of the whole circulation to 21 per cent. of it, Fiction has fallen from 75 per cent. to 63 per cent. This tendency to a more solid and useful class of reading has also been going on steadily year by year. It indicates a distinct educational improvement in those who use the Library. They read much more discrimi- natingly than they did ; and doubtless, with proper aid in the selection of books, they could be made to read very much more discriminatingly than they do. This aid, however, could only be secured at an expenditure of money which the trustees have not at their command.
In their last annual report the trustees announced that a new supplement to the printed catalogue of the Library would be published after the removal to the Crane Hall had taken place. This is now in preparation, and will include all additions made to the Library during the four years ending the 3Ist of Decem- ber, 1882. The expense of publishing this supplement will be met out of the accumulations of the Catalogue Fund.
During the year 205 volumes were added to the Library by purchase, and 204 by gift. Thirty (30) pamphlets also were received as gifts. The number of volumes re-bound was 570. No replacements to speak of were made during the year, and a large number of volumes, some 500 in all, have been worn out in circulation and condemned. These are actually the books in greatest demand. Steps will be at once taken to have them replaced out of funds now at the control of the trustees.
As the Crane Memorial Hall approached completion, the following letter was received from the representative in Boston of the Crane family : -
TO THE HON. CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS AND OTHERS,
Supervisors of the Adams Temple and School Fund.
Gentlemen,-Having informed Mrs. Thomas Crane and her sons that the library of President John Adams, given by him to the town of Quincy, is now in the Adams Academy building, and that Dr. Everett
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states that he is unable to care for it properly there, - I am desired in their behalf to say that they would consider it a great privilege to have this library, valuable both in itself and from associations, placed in the Crane Memorial Hall.
It would there be among the other books belonging to the town of Quincy, and could be properly cared for and easily consulted.
They bring the matter at this time to your attention, as, if the li- brary is to be placed in the Memorial Hall, arrangements must be made for it there, in accordance with the terms of Mr. Adams' gift.
With the concurrence of the Library Trustees, they would propose to put up an alcove for the Adams collection exclusively, - protecting it with lattice-work and iron doors, -and placing upon it a suitable inscription.
Assuring you that all the members of Mrs. Crane's family will esteem it a privilege thus to associate Memorial Hall with President Adams' gift,
I remain, with great respect, Your obedient servant,
ALBERT OTIS, Attorney, &., &c.
BOSTON, 27th February, 1882.
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At a meeting of the supervisors held at the Adams Academy building on the 15th of April following, this communication was submitted, and it was unanimously voted to accept the proposal contained in it. By a vote of the trustees passed at the same time, the four gallery alcoves on the east side of the Memorial Hall were set aside for the President Adams Library, and during the month of May it was placed in them. This is the fourth time that the books contained in this rare and valuable collec- tion have been removed since they became the property of the town. Given by President Adams on the 10th of August, 1822, they remained for twenty-six years, until the summer of 1848, on the shelves where they were at the time. They were then placed in book-cases in a room in the Town Hall building, which has since been thrown into the Hall, on the left of the stairs, going up. Subsequently this room was needed for other purposes, and about the year 1860 the library was moved out of
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it and placed in the present room of the school committee, in the rear of the selectmen's room. In 1870 it was again moved to the Adams Academy building, and subsequently twice moved from one room to another in that building. During all these years the books were practically accessible to any one who wished to examine them. As a result, the collection has suffered irreparably. Containing many rare books, not often called for by readers but greatly prized by book-collectors, and command- ing large prices in the market, it seems to have been plundered freely. Not only have many volumes disappeared, but many more have been mutilated to obtain the autographs of President Adams which were contained in them. Many title-pages have been torn out, and many cut. What remains of the collection is now safe, and where it will be cared for and preserved. It has not yet been placed upon the shelves, but the means necessary to completely arrange and catalogue it, and to rebind the vol- umes that require rebinding, have been obtained from a private source, and the work will be done, without imposing any expense on the town, during the coming year. Meanwhile, in view of the facts which have been stated, for which no one can justly be held responsible, the trustees, in receiving the collection from the supervisors, deemed it prudent to put on record the condition in which they found it. The following letter was ac- cordingly placed on their record, and sent: -
QUINCY, May 12, 1882.
TO THE HON. CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS AND OTHERS,
Supervisors, &c.
Gentlemen,-As a committee appointed by the Trustees of the Thomas Crane Public Library with full powers to arrange with you for the removal of the John Adams Library to the Crane Memorial Hall, in accordance with the suggestions of the family of the late Mr. Crane, we have to inform you that, in compliance with your note of 15th April last, we have caused the library to be removed from the Adams Academy building to the Memorial Hall. The four gallery alcoves on the north-east side of the building have been assigned ex- clusively to that collection, and the conditions in the deed of gift of President Adams in regard to the books, etc., will be strictly complied
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with. The family of Mr. Crane are now arranging the alcoves for the special requirements of this library in the most liberal manner, and the books will in future be scrupulously preserved and cared for.
While accepting the charge of the John Adams Library, however, we deem it a matter of justice to ourselves, and those who will succeed us as trustees, to place on record the fact that it does not come into our hands in at all a perfect condition. Though doubtless as well cared for during the last thirty-four years as was easily practicable under the circumstances, its value during that time has been much impaired. Some peculiarly rare books, such as the copy of the New English Canaan, given to this library about 1826 by the Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris*, and known to have been in the collection until a comparatively recent period, we are not able to find. Many sets of works are incomplete, volumes having been apparently borrowed and never returned. Finally, a very large number of volumes have been mutilated by the cutting or tearing of valuable autographs from them.
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