USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1856-1861 > Part 20
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During the year the last relic has been removed from the graves in the former burial ground upon Cambridge street, and that lot comprising about six acres is now unoccupied. I presume you would concur with me in the opinion that the city should retain it, subject to future consideration as to the uses for which it shall be appropriated.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Police Department for the year 1858 has been already completed by the acting Marshal, and submitted to my in- spection. The whole number of arrests has been 930; in 1857 it was 986; for drunkenness in 1858, the arrests were 487, and in 1857 they were 566. The complaints made during the year in the Police Court by the Marshal and assistants was 834, showing 242 to have been discharged without complaint. The appropriation for this department was $4,400, and its earnings $2,384,33; the gross expense were $7,388,33, leaving the net expenditure $5,023,43, overruning the appropriation $623,43. The acting Marshal in his report invites special attention to the increasing tendency to moral delinquency on the part of minors.
15
The character and efficiency of the Police Department is a matter of great moment to the people of any city. It is my purpose, so far as the charter invests my office with a general oversight over the de- partment, to impress upon the minds of these officers a sense of res- ponsibility for the good order of the city. There is at all times in the very nature of the service, an exposure to temptation to relax the vigilance of their office for the favor of friendship, and sometimes, it is to be feared, indirectly connive at infractions of the law. Believ- ing it to be of paramount importance to the public welfare that the Police force should command general confidence and respect, as well by exemplary personal conduct in the discharge of official duty as by diligence in the service, and especially by avoiding every questionable complicity, I should feel it my duty in concurrence with the Alder- men to regard the deliberate or habitual violation of these principles as a forfeiture of office. In my judgment it is greatly to be desired that the office of Chief Marshal should be occupied by one whose known character, while it shall commend him to the regard of the community, shall also be felt in the personal relations which he necessarily sustains towards his subordinates. In seeking for such as impersonate this and other requisite qualifications for the office, frequent embarrassment will be found to arise from the present sal- ary. Can I be mistaken in supposing that the citizens of Worcester would not deem the matter of one, two or three hundred dollars, whether taken from or added to this salary, as an overruling consid- eration, contrasted with the consequence of having a first rate or second rate incumbent? Entertaining the opinion that the office can- not be made what we all desire or ought to desire that it should be, without attaching to it a sufficient salary, I feel no hesitation in recommending the subject to your early consideration and action.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAWS.
A few weeks since, at a meeting of the citizens of Worcester, em- inently large, eminently respectable, and without distinction of party, I had the honor to state, as I have here the opportunity to repeat, that there is known to me no better platform for the Executive of the City, than the faithful and impartial administration of the laws. I take the laws of the land and of the City as I find them, under- standing it to be the duty of all persons connected with the Execu-
16
tive Department, to direct their efforts towards their execution, without selection or distinction, fearlessly, honestly, and honorably. Where there is a right way and a wrong way of accomplishing this object, it will be my preference to find out and choose the right way. So far as the executive direction shall rest upon me, I shall instruct all officers to shrink from no responsibility for fear or favor, but also to act under a becoming sense of self-respect, and with a becoming propriety towards the rights of every citizen. It is my opinion that the observance of law can be secured in the best manner and to the largest extent, by following the provisions and employing the instru- mentalities of the law ; and believing these instrumentalities to be, in the main, the officers of the law, I shall employ no spies or in- formers. The oaths we have taken do not, in my opinion, require of us that we should make witnesses by making men accessories in crime. The dignity of our places, the efficiency of the executive, and the moral sense of the community, coincide and combine in this conclusion. If any one expects that the officers of the law can re- form society and by baton or tipstaff remove the vices of the human heart, he expects too much ; that is not the work for municipal exe- cution, but for moral agencies and Divine power. But upon the external expression and development of vice, whenever and wherever it appears in collision with the law and order of society, executive fidelity becomes a recognized duty. I adopt the sentiment of a pro- found statesman (Mr. Burke) : that "society cannot exist unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere ; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without." But even in the promulgation of this principle and in its official applica- tion, there are incidental considerations which commend themselves to the candor of all. It must be remembered that crime usually seeks retirement and concealment ; that the duties of the police are often of a delicate nature; that the discrimination between the au- thority of the officer and the rights of the citizen is frequently a very nice one, which can be much more justly understood by the offi- cer than by a spectator, especially if he be predisposed to cavil and fault-finding ; that the police force of this city is a small one, and cannot be expected to be in all places, at all times; and that, if cases of infraction of the laws become personally known to the citi- zen, he is bound by every consideration of personal honor and manli-
17
ness to come forward, institute a complaint, and furnish the evidence, before he can be entitled to complain at random of the officer whose vigilance has been eluded.
CONCLUSION.
Gentlemen of the City Council, it will be my pleasure, because it will be my duty, to co-operate with you through the year upon which we have entered in all efforts to promote the welfare of the City. Allow me to suggest that it is extremely important that we should be constant and punctual in our attendance at the meetings of our respective Boards. It is also desirable that we should cheerfully and respectfully receive whatever counsel may come to us from other quarters, but act at last in accordance with our own independent judgment. Following such a rule of action, whether we shall re- ceive, or fail to receive the approbation of our constituents, we shall achieve a higher object than popular applause- we shall be entitled to the approval of our own convictions and consciences.
VALEDICTORY ADDRESS
-OF-
HON. ISAAC DAVIS,
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WORCESTER,
ON TAKING LEAVE OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, DECEMBER 31, 1858.
GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN :
The resolution which you have unanimously adopted fills my heart with grateful emotions. I sincerely thank you, gentlemen,, for this expression of your approbation of the manner in which the duties of your presiding officer have been discharged. Allow me to say, gentlemen, that I am largely indebted to your kindness and courtesy for the manner in which the duties of the Chair have been performed; and still more am I under obligations to you for your prompt, efficient and hearty co-operation in the discharge of other and more important official duties connected with the administration of the affairs of the City; - for all which, gentlemen, I tender to you my sincere and grateful acknowledgements. I was elected by my fellow citizens to the office which I now hold, without my consent, and against my wishes, and when the time arrived to select my suc- cessor, I positively declined being a candidate, under any circum- stances, for the responsible position.
As the official relations which have existed between us for the past year, so harmoniously, are now to be dissolved, and we are to sur- render the important trusts and responsibilities confided to us by our fellow citizens into the hands of our successors, you will not, I
20
trust, deem it improper in me to briefly review the acts and doings of the City Government for the past year.
At the commencement of the municipal year, when we entered on the discharge of our duties, great numbers of our fellow citizens were out of employment, and the prospects of business were dark and gloomy. A general sentiment pervaded the minds of the peo- ple that frugality and economy must be exercised in public and private expenditures. Had we not heeded this sentiment we should have sadly disappointed the hopes and expectations of the wise and prudent-the sober and discreet of our City.
Our Public Schools, the pride and glory of our City, designed to give to the rising generation, irrespective of social condition, that physical, mental and moral culture which is necessary to qualify them to discharge the social and civil duties of citizens, have been honorably sustained and supported. In this department, which gives the youth of our city a rich legacy, which neither fraud, chi- canery nor art can take from them, nothing should be withheld which will contribute to prepare them fully to discharge the social and civil duties of citizens. The expenses of the schools will amount to about $29,000. In addition to the ordinary expenses of the schools, a lot of land has been purchased, and paid for, on Summit street, which adjoins the grounds of Ash street school house, and adds much to the comfort and convenience of the five schools which assemble at that school house. A lot of land has been purchased at Tatnuck, in contemplation of a new school to be created in that district. The large and commodious brick school house in New Worcester has been finished for the accommodation of four schools, at an expense of $4,150, and great improvements have been made in and about several other school houses in the city, making in all an expenditure of more than $5,000 over and above the ordinary expenses of the schools. All the coal and wood for the use of the schools in the centre district during the winter has been purchased at greatly reduced prices from the year previous, and all bills for the same have been paid for up to the first Monday in January, 1859.
Our Streets and Bridges are the next largest item of expenditure. One hundred and forty-six miles of streets, and between thirty and forty bridges, necessarily require a large outlay to keep them in a
21
good and safe condition for travellers. This has been accomplished at an expense of about $12,000. In addition to the ordinary ex- pense of streets, ten new streets have been viewed, located and made, and all damages of adjoining owners settled. Permanent stone monuments have been placed at the termini and all the angles of these streets, so that their precise location can be ascertained at any future period. 723 feet of curb stone have been set. 1556 yards of cobble paving have been laid, and 481 feet of sewerage have been constructed, and a bridge has been re-built at South Worcester. A new road and bridge, laid out by our predecessors, from James' Mill to Stafford street has been constructed at an ex- pense of $1,166 88. West street has been extended at an expense of about $342. Salisbury street has been improved, by order of the County Commissioners, at a cost of $582 25. Permanent and extensive improvements have been made at New Worcester, at the junction of Main street with Webster and Leicester streets. Heavy damages were claimed of the City in consequence of injuries sus- tained previous to the commencement of the year, by the adjoining owners in consequence of water from Main street, flooding their estates. These damages have been satisfactorily adjusted, and the improvements have removed all cause of further complaint. For most of the year the roads have been under the care of the able and faithful Commissioner, Henry Prentice, Esq. We have left, in the way of supplies for our successors, three yoke of oxen - more than we received at the commencement of the year.
The Poor have been generously provided for. More than three thousand dollars have been given to a great number of individuals and families who had no legal settlement in the City, to relieve temporary want and distress. The average number of paupers for the year, in and out of the Alms House, has been thirty-eight persons, and 1071 have received temporary assistance. Mr. Drury, the Superintendent of the Farm and Alms House, has been faithful in the discharge of his duties, both in the management of the Farm and the care of the inmates of the House.
The water which supplies the establishment has been secured by purchase the past year. The difficult and delicate duties of the Clerk of the Board of Overseers of the Poor have been discharged with fidelity and discretion by Samuel Banister, Esq.
4
22
The Fire Department, so important in the preservation of the property of the citizens, was re-organized in May last, in harmony with the views of the Engineers, by which there will be a saving of $1700 to the next City Government. The Fire Department being paid in May of each year, the next City Government will derive the advantage of this reform. The machines and equipments of this Department have been kept in good working order. Engine House, No. 1, has been thoroughly repaired, and a new hose loft erected. There have been thirty-four alarms of fire, six of which have been false alarms. The loss sustained by fire during the year, is estimated at $11,025. This speaks well for the energy and efficiency of the Department. Not a building of any importance which has taken fire has burnt down - but the fires have been quenched as soon as the Department could get at them fairly. Among these fires were two large factories, where most of the loss occurred - both of which fires were extinguished with comparatively small injury to the Buildings.
This Department deserves the gratitude of their fellow citizens, for the prompt and efficient manner in which their duties have been performed. The expenses of this Department will be about $10,000.
The Police Department, so essential to the peace and good order of the City, was re-organized at the commencement of the year for the double purpose of increasing its efficiency and curtailing its expenses. The fact that there has not been a case of murder or man-slaughter, that no dwelling house has been broken into in night time, no shop or store plundered, no property of our citizens destroyed by mobs or riots, no case of arson, not a single case of incendiarism, indicates that the Police have been vigilant in the discharge of their duties, and that we have a peaceable and well-behaved community. From our central position in New England, the number of railways terminating here, the large gatherings of people who assemble here, we may well congratulate ourselves upon the peace, good order, and quietness of the City. The whole number of persons arrested for crime, infraction of law, ordinance, or detained as witnesses, from the first day of January to the twentieth day of December, 1858, is 897. Three hundred and four of this number were not residents of this City.
23
Much can be done by the Police to protect the interest and morals of the people ; - but persons who expect that the Police can make men moral and religious by force, are, in my judgment, doomed to disappointment. Religion and morality alike shrink from the touch of civil power.
The valuation of the real and personal estates stood in 1857 at $18,472,200, the present year it is $16,385,650, showing a reduc- tion in the valuation of $2,086,550. The tax has been reduced from $8 on $1000, to $7 on $1000. The amount of tax assessed on the polls and estates of the inhabitants of the City in 1857, was $158,996 60; the amount assessed in 1858, was $123,776 55; showing a diminution in 1858 of $35,223 05.
The City debt on the 4th of January, 1858, was $100,188 80, bearing an interest of six per cent. The interest has been paid and the debt reduced to $99,553 95. This debt has been re-invested at 5 per cent., redeemable from one to seven years, making a saving of nearly $1000 a year in interest money.
The general result is, that all the ordinary expenses of the year have been paid. About $9,000 have been paid for extraordinary expenses, and we shall leave in the Treasury over $6,000 more than we found in it when we entered on the discharge of our duties, and all bills paid up as fully as in any former year.
It is with great pleasure, gentlemen, that I now surrender my trust to abler hands. If I have discharged my duties to your satisfaction and to the acceptance of my fellow citizens, it is all I hoped for, and all I desired. Allow me again to thank you, gentle- men; for your uniform kindness and assistance, and I desire also to thank all the officers of the City for their kindness and courtesy to me, and to assure you and them of my sincere desire for your and their prosperity and happiness.
REPORT
OF THE
CITY TREASURER.
CITY OF WORCESTER, TREASURER'S OFFICE, JANUARY 24, 1859.
To the Honorable City Council :
GENTLEMEN,-The Treasurer has now the honor, and would respectfully lay before you his ninth Annual Report of the Receipts and Expenditures, Appropriations raised by tax, Abatements and Discounts, Taxes uncollected, &c.,
from January 4, 1858, to January 3, 1859.
The Cash account accompanying the same, will exhibit the Cash transactions for the same space of time. Cash on hand January 4, 1858, 3,931 23
received from all sources, 250,599 59
$254,530 82
Cash paid out for all departments, 242,426 96
balance Jan. 3, 1859, - 12,103 86
$254,530 82
All of which is respectfully submitted,
GEORGE W. WHEELER, City Treasurer.
26
Dr. City of Worcester in account current from January 4, 1858,
Balance of Military account, Jan. 4, 1858,
598 86
Paid Abatements on taxes, after payment, -
125 10
Aqueduct, -
1,073 70
66 City Scales,
20 10
Clocks and Bells,
136 04
Common, (new)
413 18
Contingent Expenses,
3,990 10
Fire Department,
11,015 32
Fuel, Lights, Printing, &c., Funerals,
214 25
66 Highways and Bridges,
13,226 06 177 46
Interest,
8,017 18
Lighting Streets,
2,634 74
Loans, borrowed in anticipation of Taxes, and for transfer of City Debt,
119,800 00
Reduction of City Debt,
654 85
Military, pay of members, 1858,
934 50
Paupers, support of,
9,866 04
Police, pay of, and contingencies, 66 " Watchmen,
4,265 58-7,418 47
66 Salaries of Officers,
3,450 00
66 Schools, teaching and contingencies,
- 30,366 51
School House, (New Worcester,) land for, (Tatnuck,)
230 72
Shade Trees,
290 84 78 00
66 Summons,
Tax, County for 1858,
16,065 50
State 66 -
6,725 00
6 per cent. discount on $113,007 51 for prompt paym't, Taxes of 1856 & 1857 abated by the Assesors,
6,780 45
66 " 1858
" 1856 allowed by the City Council,
66
-
2,192 02
" 1855 & 1856 uncollected,
311 53
“ 1857 66
2,947 75
" 1858 66
-
3,794 93
Bills Receivable,
325 50
Cash on hand,
- 12,103 86
-$272,870 25
-
3,152 89
-
-
351 90
629 25
407 24
" 1857 .
4,059 77
-
City of Worcester, January 24, 1859.
1,443 53
66 Hope Cemetery,
27
to January 3, 1859, with George W. Wheeler, City Treasurer. Balances Jan. 4, 1858,
Abatements,
- 5,585 75
Contingent Expenses, -
- 5,210 61
Fire Department, -
220 37
Highways and Bridges, - 4 - 1,583 90
Hope Cemetery, (lot account,)
3,016 50
79 26
Paupers,
352 41
School House, (Northville,)
1,500 00- 17,548 80 -
-
1,099 67
Rec'd from Aqueduct Commissioners, City Hall Building, Rent of Stores, " of Hall,
775 00
City Scales, fees for weighing,
258 09
Common, (new)
30 42
Commonwealth,
-
677 00
Pauper accounts,
354 18
Rent of Armories,
300 00
School fund,
837 27-
2,168 45
Contingent Expenses,
90 75
Fire Department,
100 00
6. Highways and Bridges,
1,028 23
6 6 Hope Cemetery, lots sold in 1858,
723 00
66 Interest,
94 20
66
Licenses,
521 33
Loans, borrowed in anticipation of taxes and transfers of City Debt,
119,800 00
Paupers, for bills against the County, Cities and Towns, and for arti- cles sold, &c.,
1,009 93
66 for land sold,
200 00
Police, Marshal, Deputy Marshal, and Watchmen's fees,
2,304 71
66
" Schools,
17 38
66
Sewers,
656 24
66
66 Shade Trees,
5 00
66 Summons on taxes, (984)
196 80
Appropriations, raised by tax, 1858,
for City purposes, - - 98,950 00
" County tax,
- 16,065 50
" State,
6,725 00
Overlayings,
- 2,036 05
Taxed under law of 1852,
18 70-123,795 25
- -$272,870 25
-
Errors and omissions excepted.
GEORGE W. WHEELER, City Treasurer.
Cr
Militia Bounty, -
447 00- 1,222 00
J
28
Dr. Cash Account, from January 4, 1858, to January 3, 1859,
To Cash on hand January 4, 1858,
-
3,931 23
Received from Aqueduct,
-
1,099 67
Bills Receivable, -
-
66
City Hall Building,
1,222 00
City Scales, -
-
258 09
Common, (new,) - -
-
..
2,168 45
66
66 Contingent Expenses, -
-
90 75
Fire Department,
100 00
66
Highways and Bridges,
923 23
66
Hope Cemetery, lot account,
723 00
60 Interest,
94 20
Licenses,
521 33
Loans,
-
-
-
119,800 00
Paupers,
1,209 93
Police,
2,304 71
Schools,
17 38
66
Sewers,
656 24
66
Shade Trees,
5 00
Summons, -
196 80
Taxes 1855,
44 46
60
1856,
-
449 28
1657,
5,876 03
1858,
-
112,590 62
-$254,530 82
Balance, Cash on hand Jan. 3, 1859,
- $12,103 86
66
66
66
66
66
Commonwealth,
-
-
-
66
66
-
-
-
City of Worcester, January 24, 1859.
218 00
30 42
29
Cr.
Cash Account, from January 4, 1858, to January 3, 1859. By Amount paid Abatements,
125 10
66
Aqueduct, -
-
-
1,073 70
City Scales,
20 10
66 Clocks and Bells, -
136 04
66
Common, (new,)
413 18
Contingent Expenses, -
3,990 10
Fire Department,
11,015 32
Fuel, Lights, Printing, &c., -
1,443 53
66 66 Funerals, -
214 25
Highways, -
-
13,226 06
177 46
66
66
Interest,
8,017 18
60
66
Lighting Streets,
2,634 74
66
Loans,
-
119,800 00
66
66
Military,
934 50
66
-
9,866 04
Police, -
- 3,152 89
- 4,265 58-
7,418 47
66
66
Salaries of Officers,
3,450 00
66
66
School House, (New Worcester,) -
4,059 77
66
66
66 Shade Trees,
290 84
66
Summons, -
78 00
66
Tax, County, 1858,
16,065 50
66
66 State, 1858,
6,725 00
Balance to new account,
12,103 86
Errors and omissions excepted.
--- $254,530 82
66
Hope Cemetery, -
reduction of City Debt,
654 85
Paupers,
-
Schools, -
30,366 51
66
land for, (Tatnuck,)
230 72
" Watchmen,
GEORGE W. WHEELER, City Treasurer.
5
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, January 24, 1859.
Accepted and referred to the Auditor on Accounts. Sent down for con- currence.
SAMUEL SMITH, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 24, 1859. Concurred. WM. A. SMITH, Clerk.
CITY OF WORCESTER, AUDITOR'S OFFICE, January 26, 1859. To the Honorable City Council :
The Auditor to whom was referred the within Report of George W. Wheeler, Esq., City Treasurer, has carefully examined. the same, and finds it correctly cast, to agree with the Books, and sustained by proper vouchers.
The Books are kept in a neat and systematic manner, and are balanced to January 3d, 1859, and all the papers and vouchers appertaining to the Treasurer's department, are properly filed and conveniently arranged in the Office, and every thing indicates that the Treasurer has discharged his duties with fidelity and faithfulness.
GILL VALENTINE, Auditor. IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, February 7, 1859.
Report accepted. Sent down for concurrence.
GEO. W. WHEELER, Clerk pro tem.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, February 7, 1859. Report accepted in concurrence.
SAM'L V. STONE, Clerk pro tem.
TREASURER'S ACCOUNT
- OF -
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
-
CITY OF WORCESTER,
In Board of Aldermen, January 24, 1859.
Ordered, that the City Treasurer prepare a particular account of his Report, and Schedule of the City Property, and of the City Debt, to be published for the use of the Inhabitants of the City, in compliance with the City Charter.
Attest :
SAMUEL SMITH, City Clerk.
TREASURER'S OFFICE,
City of Worcester, February 16, 1859.
To the Inhabitants of the City of Worcester :
In compliance with the above order, I have prepared and would respectfully present a particular account of my Report, made Janu- ary 24, 1859, together with a Schedule of the City Property, and City Debt.
GEORGE W. WHEELER,
City Treasurer.
33
ABATEMENTS.
Balance undrawn January 4, 1858,
$5,585 75
APPROPRIATION,
- 7,000 00
Overlayings making taxes,
- 2,036 05
14,621 8 6
EXPENDITURES.
Paid Chapin, Lewis -
1 60
" Converse, Albert T.
- 3 07
" Defose, Francis
3 29
" Fitts, Benaiah
2 30
" Hatch, William
1 60
" Jones, William
1 32
" Knowlton, Daniel W.
3 84
" Nelson, David 1 97
6 58
" Pond, Levi F.
2 40
" Scanlan, James
1 64
" Seavey, Charles L.
3 29
" Simmons, Elbridge H.
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