USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1848/49-1855 > Part 45
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Ward 5.
Benj. Goddard, 3d,
Isaac Goddard,
David Woodward.
Ward 6,
Adolphus Morse, Edwin Draper, John F. Gleason.
Ward 7.
Alexander De Witt, Erastus Tucker, James M. Fitch.
Ward 8.
Albert Tolman, Wm. G. Moore, Jonas M. Miles.
CLERK.
William A. Smith
CITY CLERK. Charles A. Hamilton.
COMMON COUNCIL.
PRESIDENT.
Charles Washburn.
Ward 1.
Nathan Muzzy, Joseph Lewis,
Freeman Upham.ª
Ward 2.
Charles Washburn, Lee Sprague, John H. Brooks.
Ward 3.
Daniel Harrington, Leonard W. Sturtevant, t Henry Prentiss.
Ward 4.
Calvin Newton, John P. Southgate, Calvin L. Prouty.
Ward 5.
Henry J. Howland, Wm. H. Harris, Daniel S. Burgess.
Ward 6. Adolphus Morse, John F. Gleason, Jos. D. Brigham.
Ward 7. Erastus Tucker, Benj. Goddard, 3d, Albert Brown.
Ward 8.
Albert Tolman, Henry H. Chamberlin, William Workman,Į
CLERK.
Wm. A. Smith. ** Declined, G. W. Wilder elected. + Franklin Hall Į Resigned, Thos. Drew, Jr. “
1850-51
MAYOR.
Henry Chapin.
ALDERMEN.
George W. Russell,
Warren Lazell,
William Dickinson,
Joseph Pratt,
David Woodward,
Charles White,
Anthony Chase,
Charles Washburn.
134
1851.
MAYOR.
Peter C. Bacon.
ALDERMEN.
George W. Russell, Ichabod Washburn, Daniel Harrington.
Joseph Pratt,
David Woodward, Adolphus Morse," John M. Earle, Jonas M. Miles.
CITY CLERK. Charles A. Hamilton.
COMMON COUNCIL.
PRESIDENT.
Charles Washburn.
Ward 1.
. Nathan Muzzy, Joseph Lewis, Alexander Thayer.
Ward 2,
Charles Washburn, Lee Sprague, Benjamin B. Otis.
Ward 3.
Adam Dawson, - Wm. B. Maxwell,
Gill Valentine.
Ward 4.
Calvin Newton,
John P. Southgate, John F. Burbank.
Ward 5.
Daniel S. Burgess,
Henry S. Washburn,
Brigham Goss.
Ward 6.
John F. Gleason,
Joseph D. Brigham, Peregrine B. Gilbert.
Ward 7.
Erastus Tucker, Nathan Ainsworth,
Samuel H. Colton.
Ward 8.
Albert Tolman, Henry H. Chamberlin, Jonas Hartshorn.
CLERK.
William A. Smith.
1852.
MAYOR.
Peter C. Bacon.
ALDERMEN.
Freeman Upham,
Edward Lamb,
Henry Prentiss,
Calvin Newton.
David Woodward,
John F. Gleason,
Isaac Davis,
William Dickinson.“
CITY CLERK. Charles A. Hamilton.
COMMON COUNCIL.
PRESIDENT.
John F. Burbank.
Ward 1.
Alexander Thayer
Henry Earl,
Samuel A. Porter.
Ward 2.
George W. Rugg,
John B. Pratt,
Charles Davis.t
Ward 3.
Gill Valentine, Charles Bowen, Gerry Valentine.
Ward 4.
John F. Burbank, Samuel D. Harding, Moses Spooner.
Ward 5.
David D. Stowell,
Henry Murray, Brigham Goss.#
Ward 6
James H. Wall, Marshall S. Ballord, Levi Barker.
Ward 7.
Timothy S. Stone, Samuel H. Colton, David W. Cook.
Ward 8.
Wm. M. Bickford, Roswell P. Angier, Joseph Walker, Jr.
1853.
MAYOR.
J. S. C. Knowlton.
ALDERMEN.
William A. Williams,
Edward Earle,
Gil Valentine,
Samuel D. Harding.
Phineas Crandall,
Moses D. Phillips,
Charles White,
Benjamin Flagg.
CITY CLERK. Charles A. Hamilton.
COMMON COUNCIL.
PRESIDENT.
William N. Green.
Ward 1,
Henry Earl. R. O. Forbush, Samuel A. Porter.
Ward 2.
Charles Washburn, George W. Rugg,? Timothy Bancroft,
Ward 3.
William N. Green, Gerry Valentine, Samuel T. Field.
Ward 4.
J. Woodworth, L. D. Towne, Pliny Holbrook.
Word 5.
E. P. Clarke, G. McFarland, H. Murray.
Ward 6.
M. S. Ballord, James H. Wall, Levi Barker.
Ward 7.
S. B. Dennis, J. A. Hunt, S. H. Colton.
Ward 8.
Joseph Walker, William M. Bickford, R. P. Angier.
CLERK.
Lewis A. Maynard.
· Resigned, Chas. White elected.
·Resigned.
Resigned, Calvin Knowlton elected. +Declined, Benj. Walker elected.
Daniel S. Burgess “
CLERK.
Warren Adams
135
1854. MAYOR. J. S. C. Knowlton.
ALDERMEN.
William A. Williams,
Charles Washburn,
Hartley Williams,
Samuel D. Harding.
Moses D. Phillips,
James H. Wall,
Eli Thayer.
Benjamin Walker.
CITY CLERK. Charles A. Hamilton.
COMMON COUNCIL.
PRESIDENT,
James Estabrook.
Ward 1.
Samuel A. Porter,
Gerry Valentine,
Francis Hovey.
Ward 2.
Ichabod Washburn,
Thomas H. Rice,
Edward Lamb.
Ward 3.
Henry Tolman,
Lysander Chandler,
Henry Prentice.º
· Ward 4.
James S. Woodworth, Loison D. Towne,
Philip Lothrop.
Ward 5.
Willard Brown,
Francis Strong,
William S. Lincoln.
Ward 6.
Josiah W. Allen,
James Estabrook,
Joseph H. Walker.
Ward 7.
Calvin Foster,
Jonas Hartshorn,
Elijah B. Stoddard.
Ward 8. Joseph Walker, George Hobbs, Henry Goulding.
CLERK. William A. Smith.
· Declined, Reuben Randall elected.
1855. MAYOR. George W. Richardson.
ALDERMEN.
Henry Earl,
Samuel Davis,
Wm. T. Merrifield,
John P. Southgate,
William H. Harris.
James H. Wall,
Alvin Waite,
Henry Goulding.
CITY CLERK.
Charles A. Hamilton.º
COMMON COUNCIL.
PRESIDENT.
George M. Rice.
Ward 1.
John Gates,
Alexander Thayer,
Alexander Putnam.
Ward 2.
Samuel A. Knox,
Horace Chenery,
Ozias Hudson.
Ward 3.
Reuben Randall, Leonard Poole,
Henry Tolman.
Ward 4.
Francis Harrington, Lewis Sturtevant,
Nathan Washburn.
Ward 5.
Francis Strong,
George E. Wyman,
Edward S. Stebbins.
Ward 6.
Loring Wetherell, John B. Dexter,
Thomas Pierce.
Ward 7.
George M. Rice, Henry Griffin, Thomas Earle.
Ward 8.
Joseph D. Daniels, Parley Hammond, Joseph P. Cheney.
CLERK.
William A. Smith.
"Resigned, Samuel Smith elected.
R 352.07443 W922c City Document, No. V. 1855
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF
HON. ISAAC DAVIS,
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WORCESTER,
JANUARY 7, 1856 :
WITH THE
ANNUAL REPORTS,
OF
THE SEVERAL CITY OFFICERS,
FOR THE
MUNICIPAL YEAR, ENDING JAN. 7, 1856.
CES
TOWN
UNE
FEBX.29.1848.
14.11
WORCESTER : PRINTED BY C. B. WEBB, 206 MAIN STREET.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
The Mayor's Inaugural Address,
5
Report of the City Treasurer,
21
Account of the Receipts and Expenditures,
-
26
Recapitulation,
52
Real Estate owned by the City,
·
55
Personal Property,
56
-
Amount of City Debt,
59
Report of the School Committee,
61
Appendix to Report of the School Committee,
-
119
Report of the Commissioners of Hope Cemetery,
133
Report of the Commissioner of Highways,
-
138
Report of the Aqueduct Commissioners,
142
Report of the Engineer of the Fire Department, -
146
Government and Officers of the City,
-
-. 152
Members of the City Council from 1848 to 1856, - 159
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF
HON. ISAAC DAVIS,
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WORCESTER,
DELIVERED JANUARY 7, 1856. -
WE have assembled in this hall at this time, to assume the important trusts and responsible obligations confided to us by our fellow citizens. We have solemnly sworn that we will faithfully perform the duties of our respective stations. ›
The charter under which we hold authority, places the administration of all the fiscal, prudential and municipal affairs of the city in the Mayor, the Board of Alder- men, and the Common Council. No member of either branch of the government should feel, that the duties and responsibilities, which he has now assumed, are of such a character, that they can be honorably disposed of, without great fidelity, and unwearied exertions. Our wisdom, our prudence, our best energies will be required,. to discharge our respective duties with honor to ourselves, and with fidelity to our fellow citizens.
Our young and thriving city is extensive in territory, embracing within its limits nearly thirty-six square miles,. or more accurately-twenty-two thousand six hundred and forty acres. Of this area, about eight hundred and seventy acres are used and occupied for streets and roads, making
2
6
one hundred and forty-four miles of highways within the city ; eight hundred acres are covered with water; two hundred and twenty-two acres are occupied and used by twenty-two miles of railways, diverging in various direc- tions from the central part of the city ; one hundred and forty acres are set apart into seven cemeteries, which are used and consecrated for the burial of the dead; thirty-six acres are contained in the old and new commons ; two hun- dred and seventeen acres are owned and occupied by the city for the accommodation of the almshouse; sixteen thousand eight hundred and fifty acres are occupied for agricultural and horticultural purposes, the annual products of which exceed half a million of dollars; two thousand seven hundred acres are covered with wood.
The whole surface of the city is variegated with hill and valley, presenting no very striking attractions to the admir- ers of natural scenery, but those characteristics which are susceptible of being rendered exceedingly beautiful by art and culture.
In 1855, the assessed valuations of the real and personal estates of the inhabitants of the city, was $18,059,000. The population in the same year was 22,284, making it the third city in the State, in population. The value of the annual pro- ductions of our various manufacturing and mechanical estab- lishments, exceeds $4,000,000. So large a collection of peo- ple and wealth in an inland city, having no navigable stream of water, and but a small amount of water power, is sel- dom found in the United States. Should we seek for the causes of its growth, they would not be found in any great natural advantages, but in the facts, that enterprise, capi- tal and skill are united in the same individuals-that the great diversity of the employments of its citizens, prevents any entire subversion of business in times of great depres- sion, and that the wealth of its residents is generally in- vested in the city.
The high state of agriculture and horticulture, the taste and neatness in the buildings, the great elegance of many
7
edifices, the general aspect of comfort and independence among all classes, have often called forth expressions of admiration from friendly strangers, who have visited the Heart of the Commonwealth.
There is at the present time a general depression in busi- ness throughout the country, yet our city suffers less than most other places, from the fact that the productions of many branches of our business find a ready market at re- munerating prices. In order that the growth of the city may continue, and maintain the high character it has sus- tained in times past, for neatness, comfort, intelligence, wealth and beauty, there is much to be done in its munici- pal capacity.
Gentlemen of the City Council-In obedience to the re- quirements of the charter, and in accordance with estab- lished usage, I shall now submit to your consideration some suggestions on the principal subjects, which will, in the performance of your official duties, engage your attention the current municipal year.
The most important subject, and one which will require the largest expenditure of money, is the PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
By the last official Report of the School Committee, it appears that there are thirty-five schools in the city ; that the amount of the appropriations for their support, was twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars ; that there have been employed fifty-six female teachers and four male teach- ers, to give instruction to the scholars in these schools in summer, and during the winter seven male teachers and fifty-four female teachers. The whole number of scholars of all ages who have attended these schools, is three thou- sand three hundred and thirty. In summer, the average attendance has been two thousand one hundred and seven- ty-six; in the winter, two thousand four hundred and twenty-six.
Since the organization of the city in 1848, nine school- houses have been erected, accommodating from forty to six hundred scholars each-one on Ash-street, one on Pine-
3
8
street, one on Sycamore-street, one in Quinsigamond Dis- trict, one at Adams-square, one in Pond District, one on Blithewood avenue, one at South Worcester, and one on Thomas-street.
These nine school-houses have been constructed and fitted up with all the modern improvements, at an expense of $58,000, and will accommodate nineteen hundred and fifty scholars,
There are fifteen other school-houses which belong to the city, and were erected under the town organization at an expense of $57,000. These have accommodations for twenty-one hundred scholars. If the city has school-house accommodations for over four thousand scholars, and the highest average attendance upon the schools, is little rising of two thousand, you will scarcely expect to be called upon to make appropriations during the current year for another school-house. You ought not, however, to withhold ap- propriations for this purpose, if a clear case is made out that the exigencies of any portion of the city really de- mand it.
We cannot fix too high an estimate on our public schools, under a wise and judicious management. It was early in- corporated into the laws of the State, "that all instructors of youth are to exert their best endeavors to impress on the minds of children committed to their care and instruc- tion, the principles of piety, justice, and a sacred regard to truth, love to their country, humanity and universal benev- olence, sobriety, industry and frugality, chastity, modera- tion and temperance, and those other virtues which are the ornament of human society and the basis upon which a re- publican constitution is founded : and it shall be the duty of such instructors to endeavor to lead their pupils as their ages and capacities will admit, into a due understanding, of the tendency of the above-mentioned virtues-to preserve and perfect a republican constitution, and to secure the blessings of liberty, as well as to promote their future hap- piness-and also to point out to them the evil tendencies of the opposite vices."
9
If these principles are instilled into the minds of the rising generation, it will accomplish more towards prevent- ing crime and all the great evils of society, than volumes of legal enactments, which have for their object the enforce- ment of virtue or morality. Religion and morality shrink from the touch of civil power, and instinctively resist coer- cion. Their growth may be increased by love and affec- tion, but compulsory action invariably retards it.
The common schools are the pride and glory of Massa- chusetts. Grants of money are freely and cheerfully made for their support, and for the purpose of carrying the sys- tem of universal education to its highest degree of perfec- tion. The State has set apart and safely invested $1,500,- 000, the income of which is nearly $90,000 annually, and this sum is devoted to the improvement and promotion of common schools. The State has established Normal Schools, for the express purpose of preparing teachers of a high order to give instruction in the common schools. More than one hundred teachers graduate annually at these schools, where they have been carefully instructed in the philosophy of teaching-and as a general rule, they have taught with such success, that the schools where they have been employed have exhibited a marked superiority over those where teachers have not had the advantages of Nor- mal School education. It seems to be a well established fact in this Commonwealth, that in order to teach with em- inent success, a teacher must be well instructed in the principles of didactics. Teaching has become a profession of great responsibility, and of high honor. I believe very few teachers who have received the advantages of Normal School education have been employed in the schools of this city. Yet appropriations sufficiently liberal have been made to command their services. It is certainly very desirable that our schools should have as good teachers as can be obtained, if we would have them take a high and honorable position among the schools of the Commonwealth.
I have no hesitation in recommending that provision be made for a Superintendent of Public Schools. Should a
10
judicious person be employed, one who is amply qualified for the position, I am confident that the advantages which would arise from the labors of such an officer would satisfy the most incredulous on the subject. I make this recom- mendation for the double purpose of improving the charac- ter of the schools, and of reducing the annual expenditure. The amount now paid to the School Committee is nearly or quite sufficient to pay a Superintendent. In the construc- tion and fitting up of school-houses, in the supplies for schools, in contingent expenses, I apprehend he would an- nually save to this city more than double the amount of his salary. Should this recommendation be adopted, I would not have it weaken in any manner the relation and interest of the School Committee, or the parents, in the public schools. You will soon receive from the School Committee a full and detailed report, to which I refer you for further information on the subject.
For the support of Public Schools, I recommend liberal appropriations.
The Roads and Bridges will require much of your atten- tion and careful consideration.
The law requires the city to keep in repair all highways, town ways, causeways and bridges, so that the same may be safe and convenient for travellers, with their horses, teams and carriages, at all seasons of the year.
To comply with the regulations of the law will necessa- rily require a large outlay of money, to keep in good re- pair one hundred and forty-four miles of roads.
The following table will exhibit the appropriations and expenditures for this purpose for the last eight years :
Year.
Appropriations.
Expenditures.
1848
$3,500
$3,702 04
1849
16,000
26,318 97
1850
17,000
17,170 99
1851
13,500
17,450 34
1852
14,400
18,350 34
1853
24,500
29,904 66
1854
25,500
28,691 49
1855
20,000
27,000 00
11
The above annual expenditures do not include the ex- penses of new roads laid out and ordered to be made by the County Commissioners. It will be perceived that the expenses for repairing roads and bridges have been in- creased seven fold in as many years.
I feel confident that a judicious and wise expenditure of the money, you may appropriate for this subject, will show a large reduction in the annual expenses. During the last year, the County Commissioners have ordered im- provements in the road leading to Leicester, which are nearly or quite completed, at a cost of about $3,000. The last City Government made no provision for paying for these improvements, except by a temporary loan. The order from the County Commissioners was not received by the City, till after the current appropriations had been made. Ways and means must be devised by you, to pay this sum, unless it is unwisely permitted to swell the city debt. A Petition for a new road from the City Hall to a point below Lee, Sprague & Co's. mills, is now pending before the County Commissioners, and an adjudication has been made within a few days, granting the prayer of the Petition, so far as to improve the road at the ledge below the dwelling house of Israel Whitney. This will involve a heavy outlay, as the improvement must be made by cut- ting through a ledge of solid rock.
Many of our streets are ornamented with shade trees which add to the value of the land of adjoining owners, as well as to the comfort of the traveller, and the beauty of the city. It is desirable that all our streets and roads, even in the agricultural portions of the city, should be thus ornamented and improved, and in order to accom- plish it, I recommend the adoption of an ordinance giving a premium to every owner of land who will cause suitable shade trees to be properly set along the street or road in front of his land. In this way the object can be accom- plished at a small expense to the city.
There are several bridges which will require attention.
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In all cases where it becomes absolutely necessary to con- struct a new bridge, I would respectfully suggest that it should be built with stone, wherever it is practicable .- The outlay is large at first, but I am confident it is cheap- er in the end. In some cases where bridges of stone have been built, they are too narrow, and the arches are not sufficiently large to take off the water in times of freshets. These errors should be avoided.
In establishing the grades of streets, care should be taken to provide for drainage and sewerage, a circum- stance too often neglected.
The Commissioner of Highways will furnish a detailed report of the outlays of money expended on roads and bridges, to which I refer you for further information.
There is a question relative to an estate owned by the city, which will require your early and prompt attention. I refer to a tract of twenty-seven acres of land, purchased by the City Government in 1854, of the Hon. Levi Lincoln and John Hammond, Esq., at an expense of $11,257 50, for a Public Common. By a provision in the deeds by which the city hold the title of the estate, the city was to build and construct a street on the westerly side of said tract from Elm Street to Highland Street ; this was a part of the consideration for the conveyance, and the city was to hold and use said tract as and for a Public Common. The deeds conveying the estate were dated the 17th of March, 1854. The City Government of the past year, did nothing towards improving the Common, or constructing the Street. April 16, 1855, Levi Lincoln presented a memo- rial to the City Government, relative to the construction of the street, and the fulfilling the conditions of the con- veyance. This memorial was referred to the City Solicit- or, P. C. Bacon, Esq., who gave an elaborate opinion in writing, August 16, 1855, stating that if the City desired to retain the estate for a Public Common, the street ought to be constructed at an early period. The opinion was read in the Board of Aldermen, and placed on file, and
13
nothing was done by the City Government of 1855. The question for your consideration, is not whether it was wise, or unwise, to purchase this tract for a Public Com- mon. The question with you is, whether you will suffer the estate to revert to the grantors or preserve it for the city. We have now less than nine acres of public ground, independent of that tract, that is open and free for all the citizens to enter upon and enjoy the light and air of heaven. If this is appropriated to the purposes for which it was purchased, it cannot supply the growing wants of the city. Another Common, in addition to this, will be required in southerly part of the city. I know of few cities which are so inadequately supplied with public grounds as Worces- ter.
The central situation of our city, with regard to the County, the State, and New England, makes it convenient for large assemblies of people, such as great agricultural exhibitions, mass conventions, battalion or division re- views, and the like. If the tract of land is seldom used by the citizens, it might be very useful on such occasions. The city having purchased the estate at a very low price, and having paid for the same, I have no hesitation in rec- ommending to you, the early adoption of measures to con- struct the street, and do and perform all those acts which are necessary to make the title perfect to the city.
Hope Cemetery, containing fifty. three acres was pur- chased by the City in 1851, at an expense of $1850. Since the purchase there has been expended about $5000 in fencing the grounds, constructing a receiving tomb, pre- paring avenues and paths and ornamenting them with trees and shrubbery, grading and laying out a portion of the grounds into lots of suitable size for family burials, and also a large lot for a public burial place, free of charges. Lots have been sold up to the present time, to the amount of $1,725 50. By an act of the Legislature, passed April 28, 1854, the charge, care and oversight of this Cemetery was placed in the hands of five Commissioners, selected by
14
the City Council. By provision of the said Act, the Com- missioners are to report annually, in the month of January to the City Council. A small appropriation will be re- quired for this object.
In 1845, the inhabitants of the centre district in the town of Worcester, were incorporated by the name of the Wor- cester Aqueduct Company, for the purpose of construct- ing and maintaining an Aqueduct to conduct water from Belmont Pond to said district, for the extinguishment of fire and other purposes. The Aqueduct was constructed, and accomplished the purposes for which it was designed. When the city was organized, this Aqueduct was pur- chased by the city, and has since been greatly extended. The growth of the city has been so great, and the demand for water so much increased, both for domestic and me- chanical purposes, that Belmont Pond furnishes but an inadequate supply. Engineers have been employed to make surveys in Worcester and the neighboring towns, to ascertain from what source a full supply of water can be obtained for the present and prospective wants of the city. The waters from the various streams and ponds to which admeasurments have been made, have been analyzed, and in most cases have been found to be very pure .- Some of the admeasurments and estimates have been published. The question of supply has engaged the attention of my predecessors in office, yet no definite feasible plan has been presented, which would warrant you in binding the city to any contract which would accomplish the great object of supplying the city with pure water. It is a question of great importance, and intimately connected with the comfort, the health and beauty of the City. The wants of the city demand a sup- ply, and the demand is at present supplied by forcing water by steam power, into the Reservoir on Chandler Hill. You may not be able to mature a plan of supply so as to commence any operations the present year, yet much can be accomplished by ascertaining with certainty correct
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