USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Town annual report of Quincy 1882-1883 > Part 6
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It is not in our power at this time to have a correct catalogue made noting the exact condition of the books contained in the collection as they came into our charge, but for the protection of ourselves and our successors we wish to call attention to the facts we have stated as to its general condition.
We have the honor to be, &c.,
C. F. ADAMS, JR., L. W. ANDERSON, Com. of Trustees of Thomas Crane Library.
The receipts and expenditures of the past year are set forth in detail in the accompanying report of the treasurer. It will be seen that the Catalogue Fund alone carries any surplus over to the coming year, all of which will be required to print the Supplement No. 2, already referred to. The balance which appears to the credit of the Moving Fund is merely nominal ; and, indeed, before this report is published will have been
* At the Brinley sale in 1879 a copy of the New Canaan brought $180. It would probably now sell for a much larger sum. Not impossibly the person who took the town's copy from the Adams collection may have done so merely to read it, and with no intention of keeping it. Accordingly it may now be lying about somewhere in the town in the hands of those who have no idea of its value. If such should be the case, this notification may by possibility lead to its return. More probably it was designedly taken by some bibliomaniac, and most probably of all by some well-informed but common book-thief.
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wholly paid out to meet the bills incurred in printing the address and proceedings of the Dedication Day. The replace- ment of the several hundred volumes worn out in circulation, already referred to as having been ordered, will be paid for out of the Dog-tax for 1882, which is now in the hands of the Town Treasurer, but will immediately be paid over to the trustees.
The expenses of the Library in future must include those of the grounds about the Memorial Hall. These, of course, the town will desire to have properly cared for. The work of grading them was a very difficult and expensive one, and has not yet been completely finished. The trees set out were gifts from a private source. It is proposed during the coming season to rearrange the line of the sidewalk on Washington street, to change the position of thestreet lights, to place hitching-posts both before and behind the building, to finish the asphalt pavement, and to sod the grounds, laid down as lawn, about their edges. The grounds, when this work is done, will have been brought into a condition for which the trustees hope the town will have no reason to be ashamed. To meet these exceptional expenses will call for an outlay of $350. The regular and ordinary expenses of the Library will be $2,500. A total appropriation of $2,850 is, therefore, asked for.
By order of the Trustees.
C. F. ADAMS, JR., Chairman.
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ACCOUNT OF THE TREASURER OF THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR 1882-3.
Balance in Treasury Feb. 1, 1882, Cata-
logue Fund,
$340 55
Moving Fund,
500 00
Library Fund,
753 90
$1,594 45
Cash of Town Treasurer, appropriation,
$2,000 00
from sales of Old Materials,
146 38
Fines and Sale of Catalogues,
93 25
2,239 62
$3,834 07
Disbursements.
For Librarian services,
$960 64
Janitor,
300 00
Books,
223 94
Binding,
224 60
Printing,
82 37
Postage,
10 06
Gas,
142 75
Fuel,
186 40
Expressage,
38 55
Rent,
450 00
Insurance,
106 25
Sundries,
22 36
Safe Deposit storage,
14 00
Furnishing, Tools and Fixtures,
130 IC
Expense of Moving and Incidentals, Catalogues,
39 60
Balance Moving Fund,
$321 88
Catalogue Fund,
394 14
Library Fund, 8 3I
178 12
724 33
HENRY BARKER, Treas. $3,834 07
REPORT OF THE ROAD COMMISSIONERS.
1
The Road Commissioners judged the action of the town at the last annual meeting to mean something more than a mere desire to distribute the labor of town affairs among a greater number of officials. They interpreted it to signify an intention to try a new method in the management of the highways, or at least to obtain the information necessary to a wise judgment upon the system which ought eventually to be adopted. The Commissioners accordingingly have devoted a considerable part of their attention to a careful study of the circumstances to be considered in determining upon a permanent plan of action, and contented themselves for the most part with such provision for the present as seemed immediately pressing. Where they have undertaken any considerable job, they have tried to do it in such a manner that it can be hereafter finished and included in a more perfect and comprehensive work without loss, in case the town should undertake a systematic plan of construction and repair. Before entering upon such an undertaking the town should appreciate the reason for it, understand the method of it and be able to count its cost.
And first, what reason is there for any change in the construc- tion of our roads ? For a considerable, and that the most expen- sive part of our ways, the need of new methods is plain. Upon three or four great arteries of travel no surface work nor patching will avail to meet the stress of the heavy teaming to which they are now subjected. Quincy's capital industry is the granite busi- ness, and it is supremely interested that that traffic should be done economically. But our old roads can ill resist the modern weights. The burdens of ten and fifteen tons to the wagon, common to the stone trade, punch them into pudding when the season is wet and grind them into powder when it is dry. This defective resistance doubles the cost of transportation. Add to
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this the continuous stream of lighter, but still heavy travel, over such a line as that from the Town Hall to Neponset bridge, and nothing short of a first-class road bed can stand it. Thus it is the character of the use that should guide any proposed recon- struction of the roads. There are three or four trunk lines of heavy traffic which require substantial rebuilding. A second grade of roads of great but less trying service can be reformed at moderate cost. And still a third class of ordinary country ways of little business importance can be improved and mended, with very small outlay. So much for the reason for a change in the character of a part of our road structures. As to the method of proceeding if the town decides to adopt a plan of improved ways, your commissioners find that it will require two primary and essential bases of action.
In the first place, the town must have a competent superin- tendent, and in the second place it must furnish him the neces- sary machinery to work with. A first rate foreman is as essential in so large and important a work as in a quarry or a factory. And a man might as wisely undertake to mow his grass with a scythe nowadays, or hoist his stone from the quarry with oxen, as to try to build roads economically without a steam stone crusher and a steam roller. Indeed, the absolute necessity of the former engine to anything like solid and business-like work upon roads subject to hard usage became so immediately obvious to the Commissioners, and it was found so wasteful to attempt to do without it even for a single year, that they thought it good econ- omy to save the price of one from the sum allowed them for the ordinary repairs of the year, rather than throw away the public money upon worthless tinkering makeshifts. They accordingly supplied the town with a steam stone crusher which has been paid for out of the annual appropriation and which is now at work furnishing a store of first-rate material for use in the early spring months when such a supply is absolutely essential to a profitable year's work. This consideration, that a delay until the inhabitants could be consulted at their annual meeting would involve a loss of two years' work, overcame the relutance of the Commissioners to incur so large an expense without first reporting to the town.
But the best machinery is of little value without the right man
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to use it, and he must be one who can handle his tools and his men. He should be a trained road builder, and of character enough to insist upon as faithful work for the town as a private man ex- pects to get. He ought to be able to resist the perpetual solic- itation of localities and individuals for special favors. And above all, he requires to possess the skill to frame and grasp a single scheme of work for the whole town and carry it out patiently and unwaveringly until it is finished. Now this is no mean task. To distribute and economically arrange his work and materials and wisely dispose his means proportionately to the pressure of need in all its various parts, so that the general plan shall advance steadily and without loss, requires a good deal of practical ability. The town then will have to furnish itself with a good man and good machinery as the first essentials of a thorough reform of its highways. Finally, what will it cost ? A large sum, undoubtedly. But the immediate outlay may be more or less as the people may prefer.
The science of building modern roadways is not simple, nor can any one master the art without long labor and study. Such a man as we require for Superintendent can command two thousand dollars a year. The best machinery, which is gener- ally the cheapest in the end, cannot be had for less than ten thousand dollars. There are about ten miles of roadway which ought to be thoroughly rebuilt at a cost of not less than seven thousand dollars per mile. There are about ten miles which would require considerable alteration at an average cost of about two-thousand dollars per mile. And still a third division of about twenty-five miles which would merely require to be resurfaced and properly rolled, costing about one - thousand dollars per mile. To accommodate the traffic between the West District and the Point, Water street should be ex- tended from its junction with Quincy ave. to South near Sum- mer street. There would be no steep grades on this line and it could be made thoroughly for small cost. It would be nearly 4,900 feet shorter than by way of Granite, Foster and Washington streets, or through School and Elm streets. With two watering places the trade would be better served thus than
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it can possibly be by any other way, and the centre of the town would be greatly relieved of this very heavy travel.
Quarry street should be extended to Common street, and made a town road. Material is abundant to build it and the cost would be comparatively small. If Quincy will macadamize her streets where they join with Milton's, the authorities of Mil- ton and Boston will complete the route, so that on that side there would be a way to Boston nearly 8,500 feet shorter by Granite bridge than by Hancock street to Neponset bridge, and with no bad grades.
The cost of this street, if it should be built, would soon be saved to the teaming interest, and the centre of the town would be still further relieved.
The turnpike north of Adams street should be stripped of material that has been put on during the past generation and an even grade made to the brook. This would give good surface drainage. The boulders and other stone composing a large part of this section of the turnpike would be ample to ballast it properly, and the surplus could be advantageously used for filling in the lot at the corner of the turnpike and Greenleaf street. North of the brook the hill should be cut down to improve the grade, and material so obtained, with the stone that has been dumped by the side of the way, would ballast the road as far as Fenno street. From Fenno street to Glover's Hill no change of grade is required. Glover's Hill should be cut down at least 4 feet below its present level. The material removed would fill the marsh road north of Squantum street as far as the railroad bridge, and the relative height of the hill would be reduced about IO feet. The town of Milton will co-operate in this work. The regraded road from L. Billings' house to the railway bridge is about 4,000 feet. The material to be moved is 20,000 yards.
North of the railway bridge is a private way connecting the turnpike with Walnut street. By accepting this as a town way enough material can be obtained to make an even grade on the turnpike from the railroad bridge to the Atlantic House. The cost of making a macadamized surface on the turnpike, the Commissioners are confident, will not exceed six thousand dol- lars per mile.
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Hancock street from the junction of Adams to Quincy ave., School street to Franklin, Franklin to Penn's Hill, will require but little new material. Remove a few inches of the present road-bed by screening, and 4 inches of crushed stone rolled in will make a way practically indestructible. Nearly the same is true of portions of Washington street. The total expenditure therefore requisite to entirely reform and modernize your roads will be one-hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. Now this outlay may either be made in two or three years' time, and the work prosecuted with the greatest possible speed and energy and paid for by means of a loan in the anticipation that the diminished repair upon the remodelled roads will enable us to save the debt in future economy, or the burden may be distributed over several years and the work paid for as it goes on by annual levies. Whatever may be said for the former plan simply as a financial expedient, it is of very doubtful value practically. It encour- ages running in debt and stimulates the fallacy that in some way or other people can get something without feeling the burden of payment. Nor does experience justify the hope that our future expenditure would be really appreciably reduced by any re- building which we can afford. In theory it would be, no doubt, but in practice it is almost certain that when the time came we should find a pressing demand for the same annual outlay and we should have our debt to pay besides. It is wiser to face the roughest aspect of our problem, and we recommend, therefore, that in case the enterprise is undertaken the expense be distrib- uted over several years and that we pay as we go. In this con- nection it may be well to recall that during the ten years ending Feb. 1, 1882, the total amount of the tax levy for town purposes was $846,356,32. Deduct from this five per cent for discount and abatements, and we have, as near as may be, the sum paid for town purposes, viz, $804,038,51. From this amount repairs of streets, so called, have taken $99,990,98, and new streets and special appropriations for repairs of old ones have taken $34.779, 45, a total of $134,770,43, or more than one-sixth of the taxes paid for town purposes. For this enormous outlay what have we to show to-day ?
The Commissioners think that the same proportion of the
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taxes expended in a business-like manner for the next ten years would make all existing streets as well as need be and provide for new streets also.
Turning now to what the Commissioners have done. The plan of operations determined upon at the outset was to obtain a thoroughly competent Superintendent and to devolve upon him the duty of preparing for consideration a comprehensive and symmetrical plan for dealing with the highways. But it was found impossible to secure such a man as the town required, for any sum which could be spared for his salary from the ordi- nary appropriation.
The Commissioners were therefore compelled to do the best they could themselves, and, thanks to the industry and energy of one member of the Commission, they believe that the town has got as much for its money as it has ever done. The failure of the original design forced the Commissioners to fall back upon temporary expedients, and to content themselves with keeping existing ways in order at the least possible expense. When any considerable construction was found needful it was done in such a manner that it could be wrought into any future reconstruction without loss. Of this kind were two pieces which were partly completed, one at the point on Washington street, and the other on Willard street.
It is of vast importance to the granite trade to have a smooth and solid road from West Quincy to Granite bridge, and the Commissioners therefore recommend that when the town of Milton rebuilds in the most thorough manner all of that way lying within its limits, Quincy join in the work so far as re- gards two short bits of that road between East Milton and the Neponset which lie within the limits of Quincy.
It is hardly necessary to repeat, that the Commissioners have regarded their task as a whole, their appropriation as a trust to be expended for the best interest of all concerned, and not as a fund to be distributed among the several districts in proportion to population or valuation, and still less as a contribution to be doled out in charity, or distributed in securing personal or party aggrandizement. They have striven to separate the Alms- house from the fund for repair of highways and to keep them as
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far as possible distinct. They tried to find the worst places in the highways, and beginning with them, to put them in as good order as the money and material at their disposal would allow.
In pursuance of this plan, Atlantic street, which was being badly cut up by the heavy teaming on account of the sewer, was regraded from the railway bridge to Squantum street, a distance of 3700 feet, and it has been in good condition ever since.
Billings street and Contest ave. were put in condition to shed the water, as was also Old Colony street, and a sidewalk made on the latter through the "pit."
The turnpike had the mud well scraped off, and some work was done on that portion of it belonging to Milton, for which the sum of $25.34 has been paid to the Town Treasurer.
The worst part of the turnpike, which comprises the stretch of about 3300 feet between the house of Lemuel Billings and Webster street, was regraded and a fair sidewalk made on the easterly side so far as the surplus material would allow. The roadway is now in better order than it has been for years.
The hilly roads at Wollaston were badly out of repair so far as facilities existed for the surface drainage, and in many places there were good opportunities for much damage being done by rains. These places were all put in order, and the heavy storms of September necessitated but little repairs.
On Washington street near the Point bridge, quite a long piece of the roadway was in a miry condition in the spring, and the traffic over it was with difficulty carried on.
This portion, 1300 feet long, was excavated to the depth of 16 inches and to a width of 25 feet, and filled with stone, and the lowest places on the grade made to a width of 37 feet with the same material. The cost of this work was as follows : -
For Labor,
$915 50
Horses & carts,
57 62
Stone,
537 68
Gravel,
45 40
Repairing tools,
8 25
$1,564 45
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There was no material in this vicinity other than stone fit to make a road for even pleasure travel, still less for heavy teaming, and the gravel purchased for the surface was unfit, although it was the best attainable.
A light dressing of crushed stone will make this piece of road sufficiently solid.
On the line of this improvement is the place for which one hundred and fifty dollars was appropriated to build a retaining wall ; but instead of building a wall the side of the road was raised, the land inside the line of Mrs. Smith's estate was graded far enough to prevent any trouble in the future that the build- ing of wall was intended to remedy.
Deducting this amount, $150, from the sum given as expended on the job, and we have a net cost of 1300 feet roadway, $1,414. 45. On Washington street at Bent's hill, the roadway had for a long time been washing and wearing out in the middle. To make even a passable patch would have required the outlay of several hundred dollars. It was therefore decided to make thor- ough work, and to cut down the crest of the hill enough to allow the water from Edwards street to flow into the brook at Canal street, and to raise the grade in the middle of the hill enough to make a fair slope over the whole distance to be repaired.
A filling of three feet of stone was made in the deepest portion, while the remainder received from 8 to 12 inches, the whole being covered with a suitable gravel dressing. Thus one of the sharpest grades in the town has been rendered one of the easi- est, and the drainage permanently rectified. The cost of this was,
For Labor,- $550 00
Horses & Carts,
66 33
Stone, 319 tons,
117 17
Repairing tools,
10 00
Gravel,
3 84
Damage to E. Bent for changing grade,
75 00
$822 34
The length of the roadaway regraded is 600 feet.
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On Valley street there was expended by the Commissioners
For Plans,
$18 00
Labor,
193 00
$211 00
There being 900 feet of this street to be made, a further sum of at least $400.00 will be required to complete it.
Quincy street, for which $125,00 was appropriated, was made for the following sums,
For Labor,
$180 99
Horses & Carts,
28 81
Repairing tools,
2 00
$211 80
From the material removed a sidewalk was made on Water street from a junction with Granite, a distance of 1400 feet, and a part of Quincy street, hitherto a town way, but which had never been made, was graded, and a portion of Water street, on land of Mr. C. F. Adams, was nearly filled to the width belong- ing to it.
Arnold street was well filled with stone so as to make a fair roadway at a cost of $98.63, out of an appropriation of $100.
Granite street where it was widened had a foot of stone chips and clay applied for a distance of 575 feet, at a cost of $92.51. This material was so placed that it needs only a dressing of crushed stone to become permanent. Quarry street was re- paired, so far as it is town way, at an expense of $76.33, and by the treatment suggested for Granite street this too can be made a solid road.
That portion of Willard street north of Cemetery street, through the swamp, was overflowed with water for many days last spring. The sidewalk of that part made and in use en- croaches on the land of the abutters on the west side, and the width of roadway for wagons was but 18 feet. On the east side the swamp extended 25 feet into the highway limits, and this much travelled road was in a wretched condition. It was there- fore widened to the line on the east side, requiring nearly 11,000
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feet of surface to be filled from 2 to 3 1-2 feet in depth, and a . roadway 25 feet wide was made throughout the whole length, 650 feet, of stone, the 4 inches of top being crushed. The cost of this improvement was,-
For Labor, $476 57
Horses, carts, and coal for engine, 108 04
Material,
3 76
Wood,
I OO
$589 37
The gravel for filling this work was given by parties who wished it removed, as was the stone for the bottom of the road as well as . that used in the crusher.
The jobs specified are the most considerable of those in which there was a necessity to apply new material, and are particularly detailed in order to show citizens that the cost of making good streets need not be so excessive as to be beyond our means, pro- vided the work is performed in a business-like manner.
Some four miles of road have been patched from Squantum Causeway and Hough's Neck to the most remote parts of the town, excepting the Randolph turnpike and the Granite Bridge road.
The Commissioners have employed the best labor available, and have insisted on good work and steady work. The follow- ing exhibit shows in some detail the items of Highway Expendi- tures : -
Labor,
$4,732 69
Stone and gravel,
800 00
Paving stones and labor setting, 128 14
Drain pipe, 160 86
Filling hole on Willard street at Badger Bros.' shop,
97 75
Guide boards, 68 75
Sprinkling streets,
75 00
Grain and hay, 508 56
Harness and wagon repairs, shoeing, and sharp'g tools,
260 39
Amount carried forward,
$6,832 14
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Amount brought forward,
$6,832 14
Use of horse and wagon, Road Commissioners, 150 00
Surveying sundry streets, 51 75
Repairing wall, Adams street,
26 00
Culvert, Adams street,
15 00
Lumber,
20 48
Paper, printing, postage, etc.,
22 50
Freight and Express from Boston,
8 67
Repairing fences,
13 00
Horses and wagons and hauling, J. Cashman, at sundry times, 34 00
Coal and wood,
9 50
Salt, 16 80
Repairing snow plows,
25 50
Sundry miscellaneous items,
40 05
Eben Bent, damage by raising grade,
75 00
$7,340 39
From this deduct sums expended on
Valley street,
$193 00
Arnold street,
98 60
Making grade at Mrs. Smith's, on Washington street, 150 00
Quincy street, 211 06
$652 66
And we have remaining the sum of $6,687 73 as the cost of general construction and repair of highways for the year. The Commissioners have also paid for Engine and Stone Crusher belting, freight and expenses of setting up, $2,402 70
Road Scraping Machine,
150 00
Screens, Picks, Shovels and other tools,
201 35
Total investment in permanent machinery, $2,754 05
And have exceeded their appropriation on Highways, $441 78 On Quincy street, 86 06
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