USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Town annual report of Quincy 1887 > Part 7
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The following appropriations are recommended for the ensu- ing year : ---
Printing
$100 00
Inspecting
· 350 00
Disinfecting
150 00
Incidental expenses, including legal services, 100 00
Rent of room
75 00
$775 00
The additional sum asked for printing, is intended to be used in the printing and distribution of circulars, relating to the iso- lation and management of disinfection, in cases of contagious disease.
The appropriation for carrying out measures of effectual disinfection and fumigation, is earnestly recommended, as it is fully believed that these processes are not now conducted by house-holders with sufficient care.
Your Board has been conscientious and earnest in its attempts to improve the sanitary condition of the town, and to limit and diminish the amount of disease and death, and it feels assured. that some good will result from its efforts.
JOHN A. GORDON. JOHN H. GILBERT. JOSEPH L. WHITON .. WILLIAM L. FAXON. SAMUEL M. DONOVAN.
REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS.
THE organization of the Board remains as last year, Mr. George Cahill having been re-elected for a new term of three years.
At Wollaston Park your Commissioners have cleared out the underbrush and cut out the dead wood, also replaced the old rail-fence on Hancock Street by a new post and wire fence, which, with the row of trees that has been set out on the street line by the Quincy Improvement Society, adds much to the attractiveness of the locality. Whenever the street grade is established from the hollow opposite Mr. Butler's house to the park line, an attractive and convenient entrance for pedestrians and carriages should be built. This can be done with a small expenditure, and your Commissioners would have undertaken it this year, with the amount returned to the Town Treasurer (see report), had there not been so much uncertainty about the grade of the street. We are, however, still of the opinion that before any considerable change or improvement is undertaken, the services of a competent landscape architect should be se- cured to make complete plans, to be carried out in years to come, as the town shall see fit to appropriate money therefor.
At Faxon Park your Commissioners have done little except to petition the Road Commissioners to lay out a street from Frank- lin Street to the park, to comply with the conditions on which the town accepted the gift. (See report of last year.) The owners offer to give the land, provided the street is laid out and built satisfactorily to them. We understand the Road Commissioners have laid out the street, and caused suitable plans to be made, and will insert an article in the town warrant to see if it will accept the same.
An examination of the financial report, herewith appended, will show the amounts that have been received from sales of grass, pasturage, etc., as well as an itemized account of expen- ditures. To continue the work of clearing up and caring for the parks, your Commissioners ask the town to appropriate for the next year the sum of $500, together with the amount $210.74 of last year's appropriations returned to the town treasury.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Park Commissioners in Account with the Town of Quincy, for the year ending Feb. 1, 1887.
DR.
To Cash received from Selectmen $522 00
received for pasturage from M.
Pfaffman 65 00
received for salt grass from Colli-
gan
15 00
received for hay from French 7 05
received for wood from Porter ·
8 00
received for wood from Bodreau . 1 00
Per Contra. CR.
Cash paid Samuel Mckay for fence at Wollaston Park . $165 00
Moses Bodreau for labor ·
217 06
Colligan for use of horse
1 00
Jos. Loud & Co. for drain-pipe,
2 24
Whitman, Breck & Co., sur- veying
22 00
407 30
Balance unexpended and returned to
Town Treasurer .
$210 75
W. B. RICE. CHAS. H. PORTER. GEORGE CAHILL.
$618 05
CHIEF ENGINEER'S REPORT.
ENGINEER'S OFFICE, QUINCY, Feb. 1, 1887. TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN : -
Gentlemen, - In accordance with the usual custom which was inaugurated by my predecessor, Chief William Curtis, in 1862, I herewith submit the twenty-fifth annual report of the Quincy Fire Department, together with such other information as may be of interest.
The department as at present organized is under the control of a Chief, and six Assistant Engineers ; viz., -
JOHN W. HALL, Chief,
WILLIAM B. BARRY, AMOS L. LITCHFIELD,
FRANKLIN CURTIS, BENJAMIN KING,
JOHN A. DUGGAN, Clerk, PETER WILLIAMS.
FORCE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
In addition to three horses, the manual force of the depart- ment consists of sixty-eight, as follows : - One driver (E. Frank Mitchell), one engineer of steamer (Joshua Brown), and sixty- six call-men, as shown by the following rolls : twelve men each on Steamer Quincy No. 1 and Hose 1 combined, J. W. Hall Hook and Ladder Truck, and J. Q. Adams Chemical No. 2; also ten men each on Hose Companies 2, 3 and 4.
Steamer and Hose Company No. 1.
Thomas H. Conlon, Foreman. James C. Elcock, Assistant. John F. Conlon, Clerk. Hosemen, Frank C. Packard, Robert J. Downing, Nicholas Garbarino, Andrew F. Conner, Patrick S. Morris, John McGrath, Farrell Kane, John Mahoney, F. W. Smith.
J. W. Hall Hook and Ladder Company.
Arthur C. Merritt, Foreman. Luther Rogers, Assistant. Frank L. Carlton, Clerk. Gridley B. Totman, Steward. E. M. Litchfield, Frank E. Rogers, A. P. Wentworth, William Albert, Welcome J. Blake, John H. Newcomb, Fred. Young, Herbert Whitcomb.
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J. Q. Adams Chemical Company No. 2.
Nathan G. Glover, Foreman. J. F. Reardon, Assistant. G. E. May, Clerk. Dennis McCarthy, Steward. James F. Duggan, Alfred G. Nye, Cornelius Lyons, Frederick G. Bryant, James F, Clifford, Thomas Costain, Patrick H. Farrell, William O'Brien.
Hose Company No. 2.
Albert G. Olney, Foreman. J. P. Thomas, Assistant. Gil- bert H. Rhodes, Clerk. James P. Edgerton, Steward. M. R. Sparrow, Samuel McKay, George E. Thomas, Frank L. Merrill, J. W. Newcomb, John F. Grant.
Hose Company No. 3.
William F. Powers, Foreman. Jeremiah Lyons, First Assist- ant. Bernard Donaher, Second Assistant. James A. White, Clerk. John Barry, Steward. James M. Usher, Dennis Buck- ley, William P. Moodie, George O'Brien, John F. O'Brien.
Hose Company No. 4.
Frank E. Burrell, Foreman. Frederick E. Alden, First As- sistant. Rollin H. Newcomb, Second Assistant. Frank G. Mead, Clerk. William Caldwell, Steward. Walter B. Burrell, Isaac P. Bent, Alfred L. Mead, Luther M. Hersey, J. E. Glover.
ROLLING STOCK OF THE DEPARTMENT.
The rolling stock at present in service consists of one steamer, one hook and ladder truck, three hose-wagons, one four-wheeled hose-carriage, two hose-jumpers, and one hose-pung.
HOSE.
The department has upon its wagons, reels, and in reserve, 5,700 feet of hose, 500 feet of which is not reliable, and requires 1,000 feet of new.
We also require runners for our hose-carriages, and also har- nesses for the hook and ladder truck, and hose-wagons 2, 3 and 4. Some action should be taken to provide horses for the hook and ladder truck. The hook and ladder truck and hose-wagon 1 should be varnished, as a matter of economy.
The chemical engine house, formerly at Wollaston, was re- moved to Hough's Neck during the past season, and located
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upon land of Mr. Edward Whicher, on Sea Street, Mr. Whicher having generously donated the free use of the same for the purpose. The house and apparatus was at once placed, and still remains, in charge of a competent steward, Mr. Walter D. Littlefield.
Number of hydrants at present located, 89.
In accordance with the requirements of Section IV. of the Town By-laws, I have the honor to report that the Board of Engineers respectfully recommend an appropriation for the ensuing year, of $5,300.
By vote of the Board of Engineers, I am instructed to recommend in this report, and also to cause the following article to be inserted in the warrant for the annual meeting : viz., - ART. - To see if the town will construct reservoirs, or cause hydrants, for fire purposes, to be placed at the following points in West Quincy : First, Grove Street, near private way leading to granite railway ; Second, Bates Avenue, opposite house of Timothy Reiordan ; Third, Robertson Street, near house of S. N. Moloney ; Fourth, West Street, on or near premises owned by Galloway estate.
Complaints are made by the Board of Health, against the stable at the steamer-house, and some appropriation should be made to meet the demands of said board.
The Auditors, as in duty bound, will undoubtedly censure the Engineers for an excess of appropriation ; but quite a sum, $315, charged to us, should have been paid previous to Feb. 1 of last year, and not have been allowed to lay over, as I learn the bills were presented in season, but payment was not de- manded.
I again congratulate our citizens upon the fact, that we have been comparatively free from large fires during the past year, and assure them, that with the amount of new hose asked for, we are as well equipped as any department in a town of our size in the State.
Accompanying this report is a list of fires and alarms which have occurred in town, for the past year, for which I am indebt- ed to John A. Duggan, the efficient clerk of the Board of Engineers.
My thanks are due your Honorable Board for the courtesy shown on all occasions; also to my associates on the Board of Engineers ; and last, but not least, to the rank and file of the several companies, for the prompt and able manner in which they have responded when called upon.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN W. HALL, Chief Engineer, Q. F. D.
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LIST OF FIRES AND ALARMS FOR THE YEAR ENDING FEB. 1, 1887.
March 22. 4.12 P.M. Box 51. Dwelling-house on Hancock Street, owned by Edmund F. Taylor. Cause, defective flue. Steamer, Hook and Ladder, Hose 1 and 2, and Chemical 2 responded.
April 9. 2.26 P.M. Box 46. Barn owned by Lewis Dell. Loss, slight.
April 10. 3 P.M. Still alarm. Wood on Willard Street. Owner unknown. Loss, trifling. No insurance. Hose 3 responded.
April 18. 12.10 A.M. Box 26. Store of Rogers Bros., Tem- ple Street. Owner, J. Q. Adams. Cause, unknown. Loss, $302. Fully insured. Steamer, Hook and Ladder, and Hose 1 responded.
May 21. 4.20 P.M. Box 48. House and stable of Edward J. Eaton, at East Milton. Cause, carelessness of child Steamer, Hook and Ladder, and Hose 1 responded.
June 12. 11.40 A.M. Box 42. Dwelling-house on Copeland Street, owned by R. Fitzgerald. Cause, defective flue. Loss, trifling. Steamer, Hook and Ladder, Hose 1 and 3, responded.
June 21. 5.05 P.M. Box 42. Dwelling-house, Copeland Street, owned by John Evans. Cause, children and matches. Loss, $40. Steamer, Hook and Ladder, and Hose 1 and 3 responded.
June 27. 12.50 A.M. Box 62. Wood-pile near Atlantic and Hancock streets, owned by Thomas Brady. Incendiary. Loss, trifling. Chemical 2, Steamer, Hook and Ladder, and Hose 1 responded.
June 30. 4.10 P.M. Box 26. Railroad bridge, Adams Street. Cause, sparks from locomotive. Loss, trifling. Steamer, Hook and Ladder, and Hose 1 responded.
July 6. Still alarm in A.M. Grass, rear of dwelling-house of the late Daniel Baxter, School Street, owned by his heirs. Cause, sparks from a locomotive. Loss, trifling. Hose 1 responded.
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July 8. 11.16 A.M. Box 46. Dwelling-house on Willard Street, owned by Edward McDevitt. Loss, $40. In- surance, $1,400. Cause, accidental. Steamer, Hose 1 and 3, responded.
July 19. 2.15 P.M. Box 56. Dwelling-house corner Beale Street and Highland Avenue, owned by J. T. Burchstead. Cause, unknown. Loss, $535. Insurance, $3,000. Steam- er, Chemical 2, Hook and Ladder, and Hose 1 and 2 responded.
August 22. 11.50 P. M. Box 46. Boarding-house of Eliakim Byard, Cross Street. Loss, $600. Insurance, $3,900. Steamer, Hose 1 and 3, responded.
September 21. 3.20 P.M. Box 72. Dwelling-house on North Street, owned by Mrs. Prince W. Kenny. Cause, defec- tive flue. Loss, $350. Insurance, $350. Steamer, Hose 1 and 4, responded.
October 15. 7.15 A.M. Engine-house of S. N. Moloney, off Quarry Street. Loss, $150. Insured.
October 16. 1.55 P.M. Box 56. Woods and brush at Wol- laston. Steamer, Chemical 2, and Hose 1 and 2 responded.
October 17. 1.45 A.M. No alarm rung. Hay-shed on Farring- ton Street, owned by Henry Brooks. Cause, incendiary. Loss, $50. Insured, $200. Hose 2 responded.
October 17. 3 A.M. Woods and brush, Bellevue Swamp. Chemical 2 responded.
December 14. 8.30 P.M. Box 41. Engine-house and polish- ing-shop of Field & Wild, on Gass Place. Steamer and Hose 1 responded. Loss, $2,750. Fully insured.
December 19. 4.45 P.M. Box 23. Currier-shop of William Panton, on Hancock Street. Loss, $2,232. Insurance, $3,600. Cause, accidental. Steamer, Hook and Ladder, Hose 1, 2, and 4, responded. Second alarm sounded.
December 27. Still alarm. 12.30 P.M. New dwelling-house on Quincy Street, owned by D. & F. Flowers. Cause, defective flue. Loss, $15. Hose 1 responded.
December 30. 11.50 A.M. Box 46. Dwelling-house of Tim- othy White, on Larry Place. Cause, defective flue.
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1887. January 8. Still alarm. 8 A.M. Dwelling-house of F. F. Green, Hancock Street. Loss, trifling. Fully insured. Cause, accidental.
January 26. Still alarm. Sheds of Thomas Magee, Chubbuck Street. Loss, $75. Insured.
16 box alarms and 8 still ; total, 24 alarms.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SEWERAGE.
THE Committee of the town to whom was referred the report of the Selectmen upon the matter of town sewerage, with directions "to consider the necessity of additional legislation, secure the same, if deemed advisable, and report to the next annual meeting," find upon a careful examination of the statute as it now stands, and the decisions of the courts in cases aris- ing under it, that there are two distinct methods by which a town can secure necessary sewerage. The first is by action of the Road Commissioners, where such a board exists, proceeding however, in this case, not as agents of the town, but as public officers, deriving their power from the sovereign authority, and grounding their action upon the necessity of the case for the convenience and health of the community. The persons deriv- ing benefit therefrom by draining their land or houses, shall pay a proportional part of the cost of building and maintaining the same, to be ascertained by the same board which lays out and builds the sewers.
The other and more recent plan is provided by the seventh section of the statute, and permits the voters of a town to adopt a system of sewerage, and assess the cost upon real estate within the territory by a " fixed, uniform rate based upon the estimated average cost of all the sewers therein, according to the frontage of such estates on any street or way where a sewer is constructed, or according to the area of such 'estates within a fixed depth from such street or way, or according to both such frontage and area." This latter arrangement contemplates direct and original action by the body of the town, adopting an entire concrete scheme adapted to the whole or a part of the town by vote in town-meeting. But the characteristic differ- ence between the earlier and the later methods seems to lie more essentially in the method prescribed for adjusting the cost of the improvement to the real estate benefited by it, than in the efficacy of their constructive operation. In the first, it seems to be left to the Road Commissioners to decide what pro- portion of betterment ought fairly to be charged, not only to persons entering their private drains into the public sewer, but also to any land-owner who by "more remote means " receives value from the construction. The assessing board, in other words, seems to be free to range over all the circumstances and
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incidents applicable to each individual land-owner, and upon a fair consideration of all the facts bearing upon each case to fix the share of the burden which each should bear in case he be found to have actually derived a benefit to his estate from the outlay incurred. The second mode of ascertaining the exact proportional share of liability which shall attach to each sepa- rate parcel of real estate seems to aim at a more rigid and restricted rule of assessment. It appears to wish to limit the field of view and the range of discretion of the board of as- sessors. They must confine themselves in the first place to a fixed, uniform rate. Secondly, that rate must be applied ac- cording either to the frontage of lots on sewered streets, or to their area within a fixed depth from the street. Or, finally, both frontage and area upon such streets may be taken as a basis of appraisal, but nothing else. It would seem, therefore, that the town has practically its choice between two courses, either one of which would appear to be amply adequate to secure the end in view. The alternative adopted would be decided by the relative favor with which the town might regard the different schemes of payment provided.
Upon this statement of the law, your Committee were of opinion that it did not appear necessary to secure further legis- lation, unless the town should think that a more independent and impartial board than the Road Commissioners might be desirable to adjust the burden of taxation incident to the work. An independent commission to be appointed by some court or other high authority from persons entirely outside of local influence, suggested itself as a possible contingency. But on further reflection, the matter seemed to be hardly of sufficient importance to incur a great expense and introduce such pon- derous machinery. Perhaps, indeed, the local knowledge of a competent board of Road Commissioners might counterbalance any possible personal bias, fear, or favor which might affect a townsman. In any case, the fact that any man aggrieved by their judgment has a free appeal to the verdict of a jury, would seem to be a sufficient guaranty that no real injustice would be suffered by any one in any event. Your Committee, therefore, ask to be discharged from further service in this matter.
JAN. 25, 1887.
J. Q. ADAMS. H. M. FEDERHEN. JOHN Q. A. FIELD. WM. G. A. PATTEE. SIGOURNEY BUTLER. FRANCIS L. HAYES. THEOPHILUS KING.
TOWN RECORDS
FOR
1886.
WARRANT FOR THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING,
MARCH 1, 1886.
NORFOLK, SS. To either of the Constables of the Town of Quincy, in said County, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Quincy, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Quincy, on Monday, March 1, 1886, at seven and one-half o'clock in the forenoon, to act on the following articles, namely : -
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator.
ART. 2. To choose Town Officers.
ART. 3. To see how the town will vote on the following question : " Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town ? "
ART. 4. To act upon the report of the Auditors of Accounts, Selectmen, School Committee, Trustees of Crane Public Library, Adams Academy, Managers of Mount Wollaston Cemetery, and Park Commissioners.
ART. 5. To determine the method of repairing the highways during the ensuing year.
ART. 6. To determine how the town land shall be improved dur- ing the ensuing year.
ART. 7. To revise the Jury list.
ART. 8. To see if the town will sell their land, or any part thereof, on Adams Street, known as the Newcomb lot, and authorize the Selectmen to execute a deed for the same.
ART. 9. To hear and act on the report of the Selectmen upon guide-boards.
ART. 10. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars for repairing and decorating soldiers' graves, the
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same to be expended under the direction of Post 88 of the Grand Army of the Republic.
ART. 11. To see if the town will grant the free use of the Town Hall for free lectures, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 12. To see if the town will instruct the Selectmen to ap- point Police Officers to enforce all laws bearing upon the sale of intoxicating liquors, and appropriate a thousand dollars therefor.
ART. 13. To see if the town will vote to change the name of Adams Park to Merry Mount Park.
ART. 14. To see if the town will proceed to fulfil the conditions required to secure Faxon Park for the free use of the town as a pleasure-ground, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 15. To see if the town will instruct the Surveyors of High- ways to place stone crossings at five or more commonly used crossings in the centre, and at such other parts of the town as seem necessary, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 16. To see if the town will accept Section 9, Chapter 54, of the Public Statutes, allowing the planting of trees on public high- ways at public expense.
ART. 17. To see if the town will grade and maintain as an orna- mental lot or space, the triangular piece of land, owned by the town, at the junction of School and Pleasant streets, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 18. To see if the town will revise, alter, or amend in any way the By-laws of the Mount Wollaston Cemetery, and cause a new edition of said By-laws to be printed, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 19. To see if the town will choose a committee of five to arrange with the Board of Managers of Mount Wollaston Cemetery and the Trustees of the Woodward Fund, for an extension of the Cemetery on the northerly side by taking a part of the large lot of vacant land belonging to said Woodward Fund, said committee to report in print in the town book, for the action of the town at the annual meeting in March, 1887.
ART. 20. To see what action the town will take towards provid- ing a more suitable, central, and convenient location than the one that the engine-house recently built stands on now, in that portion of the town known as Atlantic.
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ART. 21. To see if the town will purchase a lot of land in some central location, and move thereon the present house, or build a new one.
ART. 22. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to pro- cure an assessors' map of the whole or any portion of the town, and appropriate money to defray the expense of the same.
ART. 23. To see if the town will provide some means of ventilat- ing the cells of the Lock-up, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 24. To see if the town will accept the provisions of Sections 64, 66, 67, and 68, Chapter 27, of the Public Statutes, and Section 1, Chapter 203, Acts of 1883.
ART. 25. To see if the town will accept the provisions of Sec- tions 74, 75, 76, and 77, of Chapter 27 of the Public Statutes, and elect Road Commissioners.
ART. 26. To hear and act on the report of Committee on Roads.
ART. 27. To see if the town will sell the land and house on Canal Street, now occupied by the Hook and Ladder Company.
ART. 28. To see if the town will cause a fire-alarm box to be located at or near the works of Mckenzie & Paterson, on Canal Street, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 29. To see if the town will relay and enlarge the stone culverts in Newport Avenue, near Brooks Street and C. F. Adams's stable, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 30. To see if the town will cause the obstructions in a water-course on Willard Street, near the O. T. Rogers Granite Com- pany, to be removed.
ART. 31. To see if the town will set apart and fit up a portion of the Lyceum Room, or some other suitable place, for the use of the Police Officers and keeper of Lock-up, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 32. To see if the town will buy a triangular piece of land, owned by John B. Reinhalter, at the junction of Copeland and Miller streets, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 33. To see if the town will regrade Cross Street, near John Burke's, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 34. To see if the town will appropriate one thousand dollars to repair and widen Common Street between Copeland and Cross Streets.
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ART. 35. To see if the town will accept the report of the Select- men, laying out a street from Grand View Avenue to Winthrop Avenue, and appropriate two hundred dollars therefor.
ART. 36. To see if the town will accept the report of the Select- men, relocating and widening Canal Street, near its intersection with Washington Street, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 37. To see if the town will accept the report of the Select- men, widening Elm Street near the residence of Stedman Williams, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 38. To see if the town will accept the report of the Select- men, laying out Newhall Street, and appropriate fifty dollars therefor.
ART. 39. To see if the town will accept the report of the Select- men, extending Hall Place to the residence of John Howley, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 40. To see if the town will accept the report of the Select- men, laying out and extending Quincy Street from Water Street to Penn Street, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 41. 'To see if the town will accept the report of the Select- men, laying out Wollaston Avenue, from a point on the easterly line of Hancock Street, near the entrance to the Quincy estate, to a point on Fenno Street, opposite the town park, and appropriate money for the same.
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