USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1856-1861 > Part 19
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Ward 7,
Ward 1, Austin Flint,
1857. MAYOR, George W. Richardson,
R
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 13.
362. 07443 INAUGURAL ADDRESS
W 9220 1858
OF
HON. ALEXANDER H. BULLOCK,
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WORCESTER, JAN. 3, 1859.
WITH THE
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
SEVERAL CITY OFFICERS,
FOR THE
MUNICIPAL YEAR ENDING JAN. 3, 1859.
RCES
TOWN
JUNE
FEBX.29.1848
14.11
WORCESTER:
PRINTED BY EDWARD R. FISKE, PRINTER'S EXCHANGE, - - - FOSTER STREET.
CONTENTS.
-
The Mayor's Inaugural Address, 5
Valedictory of Hon. Isaac Davis, 19
Report of the City Treasurer, 25
Account of Receipts and Expenditures, 31
Amount of City Debt, 62
Schedule of the City Property, 63
Report of the Commissioners of Hope Cemetery, 69
Report of the School Committee, 77
List of School Teachers, with their Salaries, , 117
Report of the Overseers of the Poor, 119
Report on Highways, 12
Report of the Chief Engineer, .
Report of the Aqueduct Commissioner,
Report of the City Marshal,
Government and Officers of the City of Worcester, 140 Members of the City Council from 1848 to 1859, 147
CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY.
Treasurer's Office, City of Worcester, March, 1859.
TO PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY.
Bills presented for the action of the Auditor of Accounts, must specify what the article or articles sold were for - when for labor, where it was performed, number of days and price per day, unless otherwise agreed upon. When there are charges belonging to different departments, separate bills must be made, including only charges belonging to each department.
ALL BILLS MUST SPECIFY THE DATE OF THE SEVERAL CHARGES. CA
Claimants should carefully note the name of the person who orders the arti- cle or service, and should inquire to what department the charge shall be made, and should also know that the person is duly authorized to make contracts. Unless this is done, the claimant will be put to the trouble of making out his account the second time, and run the risk of losing it.
When bills are certified to, as per Ordinance 70 (below), they can be left at the Treasurer's or Auditor's Office, on or before the first Saturday of each month, before 2 o'clock P. M.
Those who attend to the above, will find their bills audited and ready at the Treasurer's Office, who will pay them promptly at the times designated below.
TIMES OF PAYMENT.
Salaries of the City Officers, and Teachers in the permanent Schools, on the first day of each quarter.
Salaries of Watchmen, on the first day of each month.
Salaries of Firemen, on the 15th day of May.
All other bills on the 10th of each month.
When the above days come on Sundays, payment will be made the next day. And persons having claims are requested to call promptly for their money HIE DAY DESIGNATED.
GEORGE W. WHEELER, City Treasurer. surer's Office in City Hall Building.
PARTICULAR NOTICE. LO
AUDITOR'S OFFICE, March, 1859.
All persons having claims against the City, are hereby reminded, that agree- ably to an established rule, all bills, in order that they may be ready for pay- ment on the 10th, must be left with the Treasurer or Auditor, on or before the first Saturday of each month, before 2 o'clock P. M. Those who fail to com- ply with this rule, will have to wait till the following month before their bills will be ready for payment.
PART OF ORDINANCE 70.
" SECTION 2. No account or claim against the City, other than judgments of the Judicial Courts, shall be received or acted on by the Auditor on Accounts, unless such account or claim shall be accompanied with a certificate of the Mayor, Committee, or Agent of the proper Certifying Officer of each department, as the case may be, certifying the same to be correct ; otherwise, the same shall not be received nor acted upon by him."
GILL VALENTINE, Auditor.
Office 24 Front street, up stairs.
ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN,
AND OF THE COMMON COUNCIL :
We are called by the suffrages of our fellow-citizens to assume the administration of their municipal affairs under somewhat au- spicious circumstances. After a most serious interruption to the usual prosperity of the City, there is, at length, a marked improve- ment in nearly all branches of its business ; the number of persons without employment has within six months been greatly reduced, and a more cheerful tone pervades the community. If our trade and manufactures have not the full momentum which bore our pop- ulation upward so rapidly three or four years since, they are at least moving onward with the equable power which marks the propitious breeze. Our constituents are in that condition between extremes which will justify us, their agents, in every honest en- deavor to promote the public welfare, by all reasonable appropria- tions ; while it should likewise awaken on our part a constant sense of accountability. To this I ought to add, that by good management, and good fortune, our immediate predecessors have been enabled to pass over into our hands the several departments of the public ser- vice in a sound and wholesome condition, free of incumbrance, and to leave in the Treasury at least as much as they in like manner had received.
2
6
Upon the organization of the Government, January
1, 1858, there was in the City Treasury, about $4,000 And there has been paid during the year, of uncol- lected Taxes of 1857, 6,000
-$10,000
There is now in the Treasury, about $11,000 And uncollected and collectable Taxes of 1858, re-
main over for about 2,000 .
- -$13,000
Leaving a balance of $3,000 in favor of the past year, which will probably be reduced, by bills lying over unpaid, to about $2,500. We may, therefore, justly congratulate ourselves, that we enter upon the municipal year with at least the usual amount of funds on hand, and so far as can be foreseen, with only the ordinary expendi- tures to incur :
The Debt of the City has been funded at the interest of five per cent., as follows :
20 Bonds, Bank of Metropolis, payable April 1, 1860, $20,000
25 Bonds, Bank of Metropolis, payable April 1,1861,
25,000
1 Note, Geo. C. Macy, payable March 1, 1861, 2,000 13 Bonds, Wor. Co. Inst. for Savings, payable June 1, 1862, 13,000
13 Bonds, Wor. Co. Inst. for Savings, payable June 1, 1863, 13,000
1 Bond, George Jaques, payable June 1, 1865, 500
5 Bonds, Priscilla Wyer, payable June 1, 1865, 5 66 “ 1, 1866,
5,000
5,000
2 Notes, on demand, to Eben. Mower, 4,000
1 Note, " to Hannah Fowler, 800
7 Notes, payable July 17, annually, Wor. Co. Inst., $1,604 85 each, 11,233 95
-$99,533 95
The City is now in the eleventh year of its corporate existence, and its Debt is within a mere fraction as large as when it first took its Seal. Most corporations, municipal or otherwise, having a fund- ed debt, provide a sinking fund for its redemption ; but we have no such provision for ours. On the other hand, our obligations are constantly maturing, and we as constantly renewing them, until no small part of the Treasurer's time and service is put in requisition by placing our liabilities in new hands. I submit for your consider- ation, whether in the absence of all calls for extraordinary expendi-
7
tures, the present is not a favorable opportunity to commence a reduction of these obligations. Unless a permanent debt be regarded as a conservative element in the public welfare-a municipal luxu- ry, but an expensive one-it is time, in my judgment, that we should begin to extinguish it. We have been funding and refunding it; when shall we commence to pay it? I cannot doubt, that if with earnestness we initiate it as the policy of the city, that, within a period of ten years, our debt shall be paid off, our successors will co-operate in carrying out the policy, and that the intelligence of our citizens will approve it.
VALUATION OF THE CITY.
The valuation of the City has, during the past year, been sub- jected to a wholesome revision. During the five years prior to 1857, by reason of the rapid increase of our population, the expan- sion of our industry, and the infection of the times, much of the real estate of the City acquired a speculative and a fictitious appre- ciation. Under this pressure, our valuation had swollen in 1857 to the sum of $18,472,200. The revulsion of that year has been in no respect more palpably recognized, than in the change which has passed over the opinions of many concerning the value of our un- productive real estate. The valuation of 1858 was $16,385,650; showing a reduction in twelve months of $2,086,560, of which $1,384,150, or about two-thirds, is in the reduced value of real estate. The question will come before the proper department, in the present year,-if indeed it can be called a question-whether the establishment of a just and true value will not demand a renewed application of the same principles which governed the assessors of the last year in their action. For many and obvious reasons - directly affecting the interests of the City, its eligibility for resi- dence, trade, and business-it is important that the standard of value affixed to our real estate, should be as near a true one as practicable ; and that, if it has been carried upward to a fanciful elevation, it should be brought back, not to a point of corresponding depression, but to the reasonable medium which imparts stability to public prosperity. By the law of the Commonwealth, the assess- ments upon all property are to be predicated upon its actual value. It is reasonable for us to suppose that other towns will conform to
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this law-certainly it is safe to believe that they will not go higher than the law; and it then becomes a practical matter that we should, in like manner, adjust our own valuation. We are ap- proaching a new State valuation, by which our own share of State and County taxation will be determined for a period of ten years. For every million of dollars excessive valuation of our estates, the undue and excessive proportion of State and County Taxes, which, upon the basis of the present year, would fall annually upon our City would be rising $2,000; or, during the decade for which a valuation is fixed, the sum of $20,000. The occasion for a just scrutiny and analysis of the values which we call property, is there- fore apparent, and will, doubtless, commend itself to the considera- tion of the appropriate department.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The largest expenditure which we have annually to incur, is for the support of Public Schools. It is an observable circumstance, that in the largest city of America the appropriation for Education exceeds by only twenty-five per cent. that made for maintaining the police ; while in our own rural City the appropriation for Schools exceeds that for the department of police by six hundred per cent. No citizen who has witnessed, and breathed, and felt the blessings of an elevated system of Free Schools, can desire either to reverse this proportion or to reduce it. But it may be reckoned among the sources of our most satisfactory municipal reflection and pride, that within a period of fifteen years, (since many now in our schools were born, ) beginning on Walnut street, and ending thus far at New Worcester, we have erected a series of neat, commodious, and well ventilated school houses in all parts of the City, at large expense, but with large blessing, which afford room for present wants, and upon which, with slight additions, we may probably rely for some years to come. There are in the City fifty-four Public Schools, which are represented by the Secretary of the Committee to be full. The number of persons between the ages of five and fifteen, was, in May last, 4078; showing an increase of nearly 100 since 1857. The appropriation for this branch of the public expenditure in 1858 was $28,000; and the expenses, as nearly as can be now ascertained, were about $30,000. It is earnestly to be hoped that the City
9
Council and School Committee of the present year, will bring this department within the appropriation of $28,000 or $29,000. It is an anomalous feature of the system-against all dangers resulting from which, we should guard by conciliatory counsels - that while the appropriations pass only through the usual channels of the City Council, the School Committee has the general legislative power of the schools, and practically determines its disbursements, but is not itself directly accountable to the people as a money raising power. During the last year, the excellent Superintendent (Rev. George Bushnell,) resigned his office, and the vacancy has not been filled, though the ordinance establishing the office still exists. Although, according to the opinion I have heretofore entertained, the efficiency and economy of our school system can in no way be so well promo- ted, as by the constant services of an able and practical Superin- tendent; yet, unless such an officer can be cordially selected and cordially supported by the School Committee, we shall look in vain for that unity and vigor of counsel which are essential. Our schools would be in a better way, having either a good Committee without a Superintendent, or a good Superintendent without a Committee, than having both, however competent, if leading in opposite directions and acting with discordant counsels.
The only extraordinary expenditure in this department, which, so far as I am aware, will call for an appropriation during our term of office, will be for the erection of a school house at Tatnuck, and an- other at Northville. The old ones in both places are represented to be unfit for present accommodations, and the people resident in those places, will justly call for this outlay, which can probably be kept within the limit of $4500. This will be no more than has been ex- pended in each of the last two years upon the new building at New Worcester.
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
The Streets, Side-walks, and Bridges of the City usually present the next largest claim for appropriations. The condition of public highways is not unjustly regarded by modern Committees as one of the standards by which to estimate a progressive civilization. While the public now demand much more in this respect than was deemed sufficient in former times, I beg leave to repeat the opinion expressed
10
by one of my predecessors (Mr. Knowlton, in 1853,) that in a city comprising a territory so large as ours, we should not look for the same degree of finish in our streets and highways, as is attainable in towns more limited in their area, and more compact in their settle- ment. It has heretofore been found almost impossible to keep this department of the public expense within the specific appropriations, by reason of the demand for new roads and paving of streets; and accordingly this expenditure has ranged in some instances as high as $25,000 per annum. The appropriation for this object in the last year was $12,000, and it is the opinion of the Commissioner that this sum has not been exceeded in the results. This is, doubtless, very largely to be attributed to the faithful and efficient Superintendent, (Henry Prentice,) who has exhibited the gratifying and not too fre- quent example of a public officer, pursuing his official duties with the same diligence and economy with which he would execute his private affairs. I can see no reason, extraordinary and unforeseen causes excepted, for supposing that in the current year there will be any necessity for increasing this appropriation. There is some rea- son for believing that with as efficient a Superintendent as that of the past year, $10,000 or $11,000 may cover the ordinary demands of the department. Many of the applications for changes and im- provements in the streets and highways, when scrutinized, will be found to have quite as close reference to private interest as to the public good. The embarrassments which frequently arise from the circumstance, are increased by the marked declivities of many of our streets, which renders it extremely difficult to accommodate the re- quests of one without affecting adversely the supposed interests of another. I therefore particularly suggest as a rule for our observ- ance in all cases, and to the utmost practicable extent, and to be overruled only when a clear public demand shall be presented,-that the consent of abuttors and the release of damages be required, in advance, before entering upon the alterations of streets and side- walks. A disregard of this security is the opened gateway to a field of contingent liabilities, wide in extent, studded with private claims, and here and there in the distance a glimpse of that most expensive and uncertain institution, a sheriff's jury. You will permit me in this connection, to commend to your care the preservation and pro- tection of the shade trees, which impart beauty to the City and com-
11
fort to all. Whenever and wherever we substitute a new one for an old one misplaced, we render a service which will be entered not into the account of the year only, but of generations.
THE CITY CHARITIES.
In the expenditures for the support and relief of the Poor, the report of the Overseers will present satisfactory results. The costs of this business-like charity have varied from time to time in con- formity with the legislation of the State, and with circumstances which Providence and not ourselves control. Prior to 1856 no books had been kept by the Board of Overseers which would exhibit either its receipts or its disbursements; but since that time I under- stand that order and system and record have characterized its proceed- ings, and that its affairs are now in good condition. The income of the farm has been enlarged under the present occupant, and keeping pace with agricultural improvement, we may expect a still further increase in its productiveness. The expenses of this department rose in 1856 above $10,000; in 1857 they were $9,600; and in 1858, if I am correctly informed by the Clerk of the Board, they have been about $8,500, only slightly in excess of the appropria- tion. One large item of its expenses is for the occasional relief of our own residents, not paupers, whose claims upon our charity vary according to the dispensations of the seasons and other causes beyond our control. For the relief of this class the sum of $3,000 has been expended during the year, upon more than one thousand per- sons. The utmost that can be done to keep down this particular expenditure, is that we should grant this species of relief as infre- quently and as economically as a rightful and discriminating hu- manity will permit.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I have derived such information from the Chief Engineer as leads justly and candidly to the conclusion that the Fire Department is in a sound and vigorous condition. The number of fires during the year has been twenty-two, but the destruction of property has been remarkably small. The number of men upon the roll at the begin- ping of the year, was three hundred and eighty-two; since which time the force has been reduced, in the opinion of the Chief Engi-
12
neer, without impairing its efficiency, to three hundred and seven men. The expenses of the Department, predicated upon the suppo- sition of full companies, will, by this reform, be reduced $1,500 or $1,700 per annum. The appropriation for the last year was $10,000, which will probably have covered all its expenditures. If. the calculation already alluded to shall not prove in any respect fal- lacious, I cannot see why $8,500 might not defray all ordinary de- mands of this branch of service for the present year. The recent disastrous explosion of the Engine house on Pleasant street, accom- panied by the loss of valuable machines and equipments, will be worthy of your early consideration; and I suggest that the causes of the occurrence be made the subject of investigation.
The importance of sustaining a Fire Department, with such liber- ality as will guaranty its most vigorous and effective working condi- tion, has been frequently the theme of remark by my predecessors, and a topic of conversation everywhere. It has been reinforced upon our attention within a few years past. When the Aqueduct was first put in operation, its own mere power was sufficient, at a moment's warning, to apply upon any building within the circuit traversed by its pipes, such volume and force of water, as, in many instances, seemingly almost to dispense with the services of the regular com- panies. So gratifying and appreciable was this fact, that in the minds of many, the former accustomed estimate of a well organized Department began in some degree to give way to indifference. A moment's thoughtfulness-the consideration that a large portion of our buildings and property lies outside the district of the hydrants- would at any time be sufficient to correct this error. But of late years, observation, even within the area of the water works, has shown the fallacy of placing too much reliance upon them, and has restored the Fire Department to its original importance in the esti- mation of the community. For causes into which it is not pertinent here to inquire, it now frequently happens that a single hydrant when opened, except in a few favorable localities, yields a jet of such diminished volume and force, as is altogether inadequate for the emergency, without the regular companies and machines. Upon this organization, therefore, we must continue to rely, yielding to them a liberal encouragement and support. In this connection, I submit whether you should not grant, at a moderate expense, the petition
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of the Department now upon file, asking for the construction of a Reservoir in the vicinity of the City Hall.
THE WATER QUESTION.
Under an ordinance of the past year, the number of Aqueduct Commissioners has been reduced to one. The water pipes have also been extended at Bloomingdale road for the protection of valuable property concentrated there, at a cost of $600. At the opening of the present winter, the quantity of water in Bell Pond was found to have been drawn so low as to require a further supply, by special application of power. To provide for this want arrangements have been completed, and are now in operation, by which in ten hours of the day, about thirty thousand gallons are forced into the Reservoir, from Gates' spring. The cost of this preparation and outlay has been about $300, and the Commissioner estimates that the expense of pumping for six months will not be far from $250. It is the opinion of that officer, that when the Pond shall again be filled the work of pumping may safely be discontinued, and the necessity of resuming it will probably not recur for a considerable period. In consequence of the extension of the pipes, and of the preparations for pumping, the cost of the Aqueduct for the year has been about $1,400 ; and its receipts from private consumers about $1,100. In conformity with an ordinance passed in May last, a revision of the water rates has been made, by which the receipt will be considerably increased ; estimated by the Commissioner to amount, in the current year to about $1,600, which would be more than double the average receipts of the last four years. The primary object for which this public work was instituted, and should be continued, was the protec- tion of the property of our citizens from fire. The letting of water for domestic uses, at least to its present extent, is in a degree a di- version from its original and principal purposes. Two objects ought now to be kept constantly in view, the one, never to allow the water to be reduced below the necessity for fires, and the other, to realize liberally from private consumers. It will be the duty of the Com- missioner and of the government, to observe closely the nature and extent of this consumption, guarding promptly against any abuses, and to see that the rates be well sustained.
I learn from the Commissioner that he has received about one
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hundred more applications for the use of the water than can be ac- commodated. Notwithstanding this fact, and with a full appreciation of the deficiency which is expressed by it, it is not my purpose at this time to revive the subject of a further and new supply of water for the city. In my judgment we should better serve the interests of our constituents in the existing posture of affairs, by paying off a portion of their debt, than by adding another and a large one to it.
HOPE CEMETERY.
The condition of Hope Cemetery reflects the diligence and fidel- ity of the Commissioners. The cost of this work has been about $8,000, and the receipts thus far amount to $3,740. The annual income from this investment is now considerably in excess over the disbursements, and there is every reason to anticipate that within a few years it will have redeemed itself. I recommend to your consid- eration the question of supplying this place with permanent fencing. This suggestion is demanded by the proprieties and solemnities of the use to which the spot is appropriated, and by a proper deference to the feelings of our fellow citizens whose memories and affections are enshrined there.
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