USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1856-1861 > Part 14
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I have paid over to the City Treasurer, $1,581 57 for which I hold his receipts. That amount is the earnings of the Police De- partment from Jan. 1st to Oct. 19th, 1857, which I have received from J. B. Dexter jr., Clerk of the Police Court, and from J. W. Denny, Assistant Marshal. The balance of the earnings of the Department will be due from the Clerk of the Police Court and the County Treasurer, after the next term of the Criminal Court which commences its session in this city on the third Monday of the present month.
In concluding this Report, I beg leave to call your attention to a subject, which in my judgment is one of great importance to the community, to which I have endeavored to call the attention of your predecessors in my former Reports. I refer to the growing evil of the large number of truant and vagrant children constantly found upon our streets. Many of these children are found in the yards of our citizens, ostensibly for the purpose of gathering offal,
81
REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
but in too many instances for the real purpose of pilfering what- ever they can lay their hands upon. Complaints against this class of pilferers come almost daily to this office, from those who have just cause of complaint. If such children are arrested, it is cer- tainly very difficult for me to determine what disposition should be made of them. If they are taken before the Police Court, a fine must be imposed upon them which they or their parents are not able to pay, or, if no fine is imposed they must be sent to the House of Correction, which I submit, does not seem to be the proper place for this class of offenders. I think something should be done at an early day, either by Legislative enactment or by some act of the City Council, to provide some proper place where these truant and vagrant children can be taken care of and receive suitable instruction.
Respectfully submitted to His Honor the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.
F. WARREN, City Marshal.
REPORT
OF THE
AQUEDUCT COMMISSIONERS.
CITY OF WORCESTER, January 8th, 1858. To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the city of Worcester :
The Aqueduct Commissioners for the year 1857, respectfully present to the City Government their annual report, showing the condition of the water works, and giving an account of their do- ings, the amount of property connected therewith, and also an account of the receipts and expenditures during the past year.
The water in Bell Pond has been in good condition as to quality and quantity through the year, ranging from four to nearly eight feet in depth at the gates.
Nine new Hydrant Boxes have been put in this year in place of old ones that had become decayed. Six more are finished and ready to be used in the spring, and five others are being made, all of which will be wanted in the course of the coming season. The Aqueduct has been kept in good condition throughout the year and is now in good order.
A larger number of leakages have been discovered in the pipes the past year than usual, all of which have been repaired; in two instances new pipe was required, and three 6 foot pieces of 4 inch pipe was used. One Hydrant burst for which a new one has been substituted.
In consequence of the alteration of grade in some of the streets it is necessary to take out some of the Hydrants and replace them with larger ones; therefore, four long Hydrants have been ob- tained at a cost of one hundred dollars, only one of which has yet been put in; the others should be as soon as the ground is in suitable condition.
83
REPORT OF THE AQUEDUCT COMMISSIONERS.
The claim of Wm. T. Merrifield, Esq., alluded to in the last annu- al report, has been settled, and the Commissioners do not know of any unpaid bills, or claims of any description against the Aque- duct at the present time.
There are one hundred and fourteen water takers at the present time, an increase of fifteen, in small quantities, since the last annu- al report. The Commissioners have been obliged to reject a large number of applications for water the past year, in consequence of the inadequate supply.
There are water rents now due which are in process of collec- tion to the amount of about five hundred and fifty dollars, which will probably soon be received and added to the amount already paid to the City Treasurer. Most of the unpaid bills are for the six months ending on the first of May next. Nearly or quite all of these bills would have been collected by the first of January in ordinary times, but the present stagnation in business has rendered collections much more difficult, and under these circumstances it is thought best not to press payment too strongly.
The whole amount received for water rents
the past year is - - 1,428 95
Rec'd of Wm. A. Wheeler, balance of acct., 21 80-$1,450 75
Items of Expenditures for City Aqueduct for 1857.
Paid Wm. Thompson for altering pipe and flange on cistern, 3 00
for chestnut plank for Hydrant Boxes &c., 40 13
Wm. T. Merrifield for Power and use of room for Pumps in 1855 and 6, 295 17
Wm. A. Wheeler for four long Hydrants, 10 000
" sundry articles used in repairs, 26 80
S. W. Osgood for materials paid for by him, used in repairs, 16 91
S. W. Osgood for 37 days labor, 37 00
his labor during the year, 341 00
Services of Aqueduct Commissioners, - -
125 00
Balance to City Treasurer, 465 74
$1,450 75
All of which is respectfully submitted. HENRY EARL, JOSEPH PRATT, Aqueduct Commissioners. SAMUEL W. OSGOOD,
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REPORT OF THE AQUEDUCT COMMISSIONERS.
Dr. The Worcester Aqueduct in account with Henry Earl.
1857,
March 9. Paid Wm. T. Merrifield in part for power and use of room to run pumps, in 1855 and 6, 200 00
May 6, Wm. Thompson for altering pipe and flange on cistern, 3 00
Nov. 12. Wm. A. Wheeler for four long Hydrants, 100 00
« " for sundry articles for repairs, 26 80
remainder of Wm. T Merrifield's bill, 95 17
Dec. 14. 18. City Treasurer, 125 00
1858,
Jan. 2.
- 100 00
200 00
11. 16. S. W. Osgood for plank for hydrant boxes, 40 13
66 66 for materials used in repairs, 16 91
‹‹ for 37 days labor which he had paid 37 00
66 66
66 "his labor during the year. 341 00
Henry Earl, services 1 year as Commissioner, 125 00
18, City Treasurer, balance, 40 74
Credit. $1,450 75
By cash received for water rents to January 18th 1858, 1,428 95
יי of W. A. Wheeler balance of old account, 21 80
$1,450 75
Errors excepted.
HENRY EARL.
Schedule of Property belonging to the Worcester Aqueduct, at this date.
11 Hydrants ; 3 Shovels; 5 Picks; 1 Sledge Hammer ; 2 Hand Hammers ; Set of Tools for making Joints; 1 Ladle; Drilling Machine; 1 Pad Lock; 1 4 inch Cap; 1 6 inch Cap; 2 4 inch Sleeves ; 1 4 inch Branch ; 1 Hydrant Elbow ; Tackle Blocks and Rope; 1 Metre; G Hydrant Boxes, finished; 5 do. unfinished ; 1 6₺ inch Belt ; 1 3 plunger Force Pump.
Due from water takers, about $550 00.
REPORT
OF THE
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
The Board of Overseers of the Poor for the year 1857, in con- formity to custom, submit their Annual Report :
The general feeling in the community is believed to be in favor of the most liberal appropriations for the relief of the poor. It has been our endeavor during the past year, to distribute the means put into our hands for this charity, so as to secure the great- est amount of good. We have made thorough investigation into all the claims made upon us for assistance by all applicants.
At the monthly meetings of the Board, a general inquiry has been made into all cases brought before us by our Clerk, or by ap- plication of individuals. A committee of the month of two mem- bers of the Board, together with the Clerk, have had full authority to do what in their judgment was thought best, and their action reported to the Board at the next regular meeting for approval. It is believed that in no instance have the deserving been turned away without relief, and in no case has any one been allowed to suffer.
The Board at the commencement of the year, elected Samuel Banister, Esq., as their Clerk, and they, as well as the citizens in general, are indebted to him for the faithful manner in which he has discharged his duty.
12
86
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
After the resignation of Mr. and Mrs. Harrington, the former Superintendent and Matron, the Board appointed Mr. and Mrs. Drury to fill the vacancies. Under the direction of Mr Drury the Board have found that the farm has been carried on in a farmer-like manner, so as to yield a bountiful supply ; and the indoor part of the establishment conducted in such a way by Mrs. Drury as to meet not only the approval of the Board, but the approbation of all who have seen fit to visit the Alms House at any and all times. The Institution is still under their charge and supervision, and there is no doubt that the wants of the inmates and the interests of the city are both properly regarded.
At the close of the year, the Board by a committee, caused an appraisal to be made of the property of the Alms House and Farm, and their report was as follows :
Furniture in the House, - -
- 1,094 00
Stock, Tools, Hay, Grain and Provisions, 2,205 35 $3.299 35
The following recapitulation of the receipts and expenditures furnished by our clerk, Mr. Banister, and found to be correct, will close our report.
RECEIPTS :
Received from sales of Farm, 556 77
for board of Sup'ts son, and other's, 55 56
for board of prisoners sentenced by court, 217 74
66 for clothing of prisoners, 31 00
Outstanding bills due the farm, -
40 85
901 92
Received from State for the support and burial of paupers, - 239 49
Rec'd from other towns for support of paupers, 242 84
$482 33
EXPENDITURES :
Paid for supporting paupers at the Lunatic Hospital, 767 84
" for burial of paupers, (of which $112 50 is chargeable to the State,) -
- 265 50
87
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Paid for grading in front of Almshouse, and setting fruit and ornamental trees, -
851 95
" for blinds for Alms House, 11 00
" for boarding prisoners at the House of Correction, 63 39
" for digging cellar, and for Iron Door in dining room, - 102 56
" for taxes to the town of Shrewsbury, 36 95
" salary of Superintendent and Matron, 400 00
" salary of clerk of Overseers of the Poor, 500 00
" salary of City Physician, 200 00
" for supporting paupers out of Alms House, on weekly allowances, - -
467 38
" for supporting paupers out of City, 17 26
" for incidental expenses, conveyance of paupers, &c., 320 96
" for temporary aid to paupers who have settlement in the city, - - -
-
509 45
" for aid rendered paupers of other towns in the State, 267 30
" for temporary aid to paupers who have no settlement in the State, - 1603 91
" for ordinary expenses of City Farm, - 2735 40
$9117 85
The whole number of persons assisted out of the Alms-house for the year ending January 1, 1858, is 919; seven of this number are supported at the Lunatic Hospital, and twelve on weekly allow- ances at their own residences; 113 of this number have a settle- ment in this city, 90 from other towns in the State, 57 from other States, 43 from Canada, 8 from Germany, 1 from Prussia, and 619 from Scotland, England, and Ireland.
There were at the Alms-house, January 1, 1858, 28 persons-20 of whom have a settlement in this city.
The whole number that have received permanent assistance at the Alms-house, during the year, is 76; of this number, 22 have a settlement in this city, 15 in other towns in the State; 7 from Canada, 5 from other States, 27 from England, Scotland, and Ire- land; six females have been sentenced from Court to the Alms- house. The average number at the Alms-house, about 20. There have been 8 deaths during the year. Meals and lodging have
88
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
been furnished to 201 persons, who were traveling about the country in pursuit of work. The whole number of persons who have received assistance during the year, exclusive of the way- faring persons, is 995.
G. W. RICHARDSON, ) E. G. PARTRIDGE, F. WARREN,
BENJ. WALKER, THOMAS PIERCE, WILLARD BROWN,
ELISHA CHAFFIN,
D. G. TEMPLE,
Overseers of the Poor.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
In closing their official connection with the Common Schools of Worcester, the Committee for 1857, respectfully submit to the cit- izens an account of their labors, and of the condition of Schools under their charge :
SUMMARY OF SCHOOLS.
The plan initiated by our predecessors, of dividing double schools, has been still further pursued the present year, and con- sequently the number of schools has been increased. We found arrangements already partially made for dividing the Secondary Schools on Pleasant and Summer streets, which were completed, and, after two weeks delay, two separate schools were established in each locality. Experience has shown that this was a wise ar- rangement, though it has made these schools permanently more expensive.
At the commencement of the year, an additional Secondary School, for which our predecessors had prepared, was opened in the Front street school house. During the Summer vacation, the large Secondary School room on Ash street was divided. One of the apartments has been used for the Secondary School, and the other was left for the use of a Grammar School whenever it should be needed. At the present time it is used for that purpose.
90
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The Young Men's School room on Main street, having been found insufficient to accommodate all the scholars of that grade, an adjoining room has been put in order and is now used for a branch school of the same grade.
The school at Quinsigamond has also been divided; the older scholars occupying the lower room, and the younger, a pleasant apartment taken off from the upper room.
During the year the three schools in New Worcester have been recognized as schools of the Centre District and placed under the same regulations. An Evening School has been opened in that District. The other schools remain as formerly.
With these changes the number and grades of schools main- tained during the past year, were :
One High School, (of two departments;) seven Grammar Schools, (three double and four single ;) eleven Secondary Schools, (one double and ten single ;) seventeen Primary Schools, (eight double and nine single ;) two Young Men's Schools ; three Even- ing Schools, (one for males, one for females, and one mixed ;) seventeen Common District or Suburban Schools. Whole number of schools, fifty-five.
In two of the largest Primary Schools additional assistants have been employed a part of the year, and one in the Tatnic District. Including the three temporary teachers last mentioned, there were in all these various schools, seventy-three teachers-nine male, six- ty-four female.
It would make our system of schools more complete and greatly aid in the classification of scholars, if another school were added to the list ; a school, as it might be called, for Irregulars. There is a class of children, who, by stress of fortune or by neglect of parents, are prevented from attending school regularly; and another, who, for the want of early advantages, cannot be class- ified with children of their own age, and who, shamed by their association with children so much younger than themselves, re- main but a few weeks at a time.
There is still another class who, from natural incapacity or invincible heedlessness, are forever falling behind their classes, and must either be waited for or dragged over the ground faster than they can or will go. Scholars of the above description should be provided for in an unclassified school.
91
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
We respectfully solicit the attention of the next Board to this subject.
ATTENDANCE.
The whole number of children in the city between the ages of five and fifteen, the 1st of May last, was found to be three thousand nine hundred and eighty-nine. On the 1st of May, 1856, it was four thousand and fifty-six. The whole number of all ages belonging to the schools in 1857, was FIVE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY- SEVEN, and the average daily attendance, TWO THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN. The corresponding numbers in 1856, were five thousand and forty-six, and two thousand five hundred and twenty.
Thus it appears that while the number of children in the city has diminished, there has been an average daily attendance at the schools of nearly three hundred more than last year. The increase of average attendance, as every one familiar with school statistics knows, is an infallible proof of a more healthy vigor in the sys- tem. The whole number in attendance last year (5187) is probably the largest number registered any one year in the city.
[For further particulars on the subject of attendance, we refer to the table published at the close of this report.]
ABSENCE AND TARDINESS.
These are sore evils, of which much has been written and said. Almost innumerable remedies have been devised. The best remedy of all, without question, is to render the schools themselves as attractive as possible. Boys and girls are of like passions with the rest of us. We do not care to go frequently where we are not interested. We shun the presence of one whom we neither love nor respect. We have noticed, as a matter of fact, that other things be equal and the class of scholars remaining the same, the better teacher quite uniformly secures the better attendance. Much importance, however, is to be attached to the enforcement of rules; for the most interested scholars may grow heedless, and in a city like this there is no want of attractions to draw off the young.
The rules laid down by the Board on this subject, were, at the time of their adoption, thought almost too stringent, but experience has abundantly shown their feasibility as well as their great usefulness.
92
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Last year, one teacher, as a matter of experiment, was allowed to send his scholars to the Superintendent for so slight an offence against good order as one tardiness, and the result has been that tardiness has almost wholly disappeared from his school.
Parents too, may, if they will, do much to secure a more regular attendance at the schools. Many, it is believed, yield to the mere- est wishes of the children in this respect, entirely thoughtless of the consequences. Some seem to feel that they have a right of proprietorship in the schools, which authorizes them to withdraw their children when they please, and for as long a time as they please. A legal right perhaps they have, but it is one which it is hardly worth while to assert. No one certainly has the moral right to abuse his privileges of education, to put obstacles in the way of the progress of other men's children, or to make laggards or dunces of his own.
During this year the School Board recommended to the city to employ a Truant officer, for the purpose of bringing truant and idle children into the schools, and of enforcing against the more in- corrigible and vicious, the truant laws of the State. The measure failed, it is understood, for the want of a suitable place for the confinement and correction of the worst offenders of this class.
It is to be hoped that the consideration of this subject will be resumed at no distant day. Whether the measure proposed is of all measures the best for reaching the class contemplated, we will not venture to decide ; but sure we are, that an enlightened self- interest, no less than philanthropy, requires that by some means, if possible, they should be reached and reformed. The size of this class, however, we are inclined to think is over estimated.
Intimately connected with this, is another subject ; that of
SCHOOL HOUSES.
No new School House has been built the past year. A fine structure has been in the process of erection at New Worcester, which promises to be an ornament to that pleasant suburb, and to furnish suitable accommodations for its three prosperous schools.
We allude to this subject for the sake of calling timely attention to wants which are sure to make themselves known soon, and for which it is good economy, seasonably to provide. Every school room in the Centre District is in use, and with one exception,
95
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
filled to its utmost capacity some part of the year. The pressure upon the Primary schools, the last year, has been too great to admit of comfort or due attention to the health of the pupils, to say nothing of their proficiency. If there should be only as much increase of scholars the coming year, as there has been the past, it will be impossible to accommodate them in the rooms now owned by the city and appropriated to school purposes.
The sale of the Main street school house lot, could it be effected on suitable terms, would enable the city, without additional cost, to erect two school houses in localities where they might be more needed, besides ridding us of a building in all respects unsuitable for school purposes.
The re-modeling of the interior of the Thomas school house was considered by the Board of 1856, and a recommendation made to the city government, that it be done. The project failed, it is understood, on account of its supposed cost. We should not care to have this done for the sake of changing the schools in that building, to single schools. We are not altogether positive that single schools of the Grammar grade, are all things considered, to be preferred. But since the catastrophe at Brooklyn, we confess we have hardly been able to think of a fire in connection with that building without a shudder. Its five hundred pupils, it is pre- sumptuous to suppose could escape in such an event through its winding passages and dark stairways in safety.
MUSIC AND DRAWING
Have figured somewhat in the reports of previous Committees, and it has been strongly urged that instruction should be given in both these branches in our Public Schools. The example of other cities has been cited in support of the measure, and we have been pointed to the uniform practice of private schools in this respect. This subject, so far as our schools are concerned, has hitherto been purely a matter of theory. We have had the last year some experience in relation to these branches, and though the experi- ment, it must be confessed, has not been fairly made, it has brought the subject of their introduction before us in a stronger and some- what new light. Without detailing what has been attempted, we will record the results to which we have come. The free use of Slates (noiseless ones if they can be obtained,) should be allowed
13
94
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
in the Primary Schools. The reasons for this will readily suggest themselves to every mind.
Drawing, too, should be taught in the High School, provided it can be as a scientific art. The mere copying of pictures, however, which sometimes passes for an accomplishment, should be shunned as a waste of time. Drawing in the other grades of schools, con- sidering the average condition of the scholars, and the short time they spend in getting what must answer for an education, it seems to us, on mature reflection, is not to be attempted.
In coming to this result, we do not undervalue this branch. We think it essential to a finished education and every year becom- ing more so. We would exclude it from the grades mentioned, simply because with the majority of scholars little could be accom- plished in it, and that little must be gained at the expense of other things more important.
The services of a professional Music Teacher have been em- ployed in the Grammar Schools, a considerable part of last year, but only to the extent of one lesson a week in each school. The experiment was by no means a failure ; but, since it is found as a matter of fact, that nearly all the scholars, who, under any cir- cumstances, will learn music, already avail themselves of private instruction at their own cost, and under more advantageous cir- cumstances than are possible in our schools, we incline to the opinion that music, at present, should not be attempted as one of the regular studies; while singing, as an occasional relief from study, and a means of cultivating good feeling and worthy senti- ments, should in every school be freely used, and if necessary, strictly required.
TEXT BOOKS.
The Committee on the High School have been allowed to permit the introduction into that school of Robinson's Algebra, in addition to the more elementary treatise of Davies, already in use. With this exception the text books used in the schools have not been changed. Such changes are usually made with too great facility and without a sufficiently thorough investigation of the merits of the rival books. The fact, however, that changes were not made during the year, does not prove entire satisfaction with the books in use, nor that the enterprising zeal of the publishers has in the least abated.
95
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
But, while freely admitting the faulty character of some of our text books, and of nonc more freely than those more recently adopted, the Committee have failed to find in the proposed substi- tutes sufficient improvement to compensate the sore inconvenience to parents, attendant upon such changes; and furthermore, their conviction is that we must depend almost wholly, for the interest of the scholars and the usefulness of the schools, on our teachers, not on the books we place in their hands. When text books are used for anything but what their name indicates as texts, and scholars are gorged with mere words instead of being initiated into princi- ples, it is the teacher rather than the book that needs reformation. Reading books, however, should not be retained so long, that the words of the pieces are learned, and the stories and facts, and sen- timents they narrate have by frequent repetition, lost their fresh- ness and power to interest. The Committee, therefore, are glad to know that since their term of office expired, Sargent's Readers have been substituted for the series by Tower so long in use.
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