USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1856-1861 > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59
The amount of money granted by the City, for the use of the Commissioners for the year 1859, was -
- - $400 00 The amount drawn from the Treasurer, - $355 54
Leaving a balance undrawn, - 44 46 Cash in the hands of the Commissioners at the com- mencement of the year 1859, - 53 86
Cash received during the year for wood and other things, as will appear by account, - 42 65
Amount received from the Treasurer and all other sources during the year, including cash on hand, - -
452 05
Amount expended during the year, -
- 405 85
Leaving a balance in the hands of Commissioners, - 46 20
The details of receipts and disbursements are fully stated in the account current attached to this report, to which the City Council is referred .- With the un- drawn balance of $44 46 in the hands of the Treas- urer, and $46 20 in the hands of the Commissioners, the Board are of the opinion that an appropriation of $400, for the current year, will be sufficient to,
13
126
keep the grounds in order, and make such improve- ments as are desirable. They would therefore recom- mend an appropriation of $400 for the current year.
Fifty seven burial lots have been sold during the year, the sales amounting in the aggregate to the sum of $695, showing an income to the city over and above the appropriation of $295, and over the actual amount drawn from the City Treasurer of $339 56. It should be remembered, however, that the city expend- ed large sums of money for this enterprise in the original purchase, and in the preparation of the grounds, so that the income of this year would about pay a year's interest on the expense of establishing the Cemetery. Burials were first made in the Ceme- tery in 1852. It is to be regretted that no measures were adopted to preserve a record of the interments made, and it is now too late to determine the number with accuracy. There have been four hundred and sixty four family lots sold, and the number of burials amount to about 616. The number of lots laid out, numbered, and now ready for sale, is 158, and the prices affixed to these unsold lots vary from $5 to $50 a lot, according to the improvements and location of the lots.
It is now eight years since Hope Cemetery was opened as a place of sepulture. The purchasers of lots acquire not only the right of burial, but they take a fee simple of the ground they purchase, which is not liable for debt, taxes or assessments, and the lots can never be forcibly taken from them. The grounds comprise 53 acres-and although a large tract for burial, yet there are those who now exist,
127
who will live to behold it a city of the dead o numbering the living by its side. The avenues, winding gracefully over the undulating surface of the Cemetery, are nearly four miles in length, and are all in good order. The improvements made by the city, and by the owners of the lots, are rendering this resting place of the dead more and more attrac- tive, from year to year, for the sacred purposes for which it has been consecrated.
All of which is respectfully submitted By order of the Commissioners, ISAAC DAVIS. City of Worcester, January 20, 1860.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
Of the Commissioners of Hope Cemetery, in 1859.
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1859, -
-
-
-
- 53 86
for grass sold, -
- 5 00
" for oats sold, -
-
-
-
- 3 00
" for wood sold, - -
- -
- 34 65
" from City Treasurer, -
355 54
EXPENDITURES :
Paid for trees, grass seed, &c., -
-
5 30
" for labor, - - -
- - 271 61 -
" for lumber, labor and numbering stakes, -
17 07
for tools and repairs, - - - -
3 12
Woodward and Sibley for fence posts, - 108 75
Cash on hand Dec. 31, 1859,
46 20
452 05
ALBERT TOLMAN, Secretary of Commissioners. Worcester, Jan'y 1, 1860.
452 05
REPORT
OF THE
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR,
FOR THE YEAR 1859.
The Board of Overseers of the Poor for the year 1859, herewith submit their Report :
The Board elected Mr. Samuel Banister clerk, and to his charge committed the responsible agency of this department; and his colleagues deem it their duty to bear testimony to the great efficiency and value of his services. Alike as the dispensing almo- ner of the city's charity, and as the financial man- ager of the Board, he has earned a just title to the grateful confidence and respect of the public. Only those who have become by experience familiar with the duties of this office, can fully appreciate the justness of this tribute to his merits as a public officer.
The calamitous reverses which came upon the business of the community in 1857, and which so greatly affected its social and domestic condition in
129
1858, continued to a considerable extent in their effects upon families and individuals in 1859; and no small part of the responsibilities of this Board, related to the distribution of the public bounty to the needy and deserving in all portions of the city. In the absence of any private association for organi- zed relief to the poor, it has devolved upon this Board to have an open ear to such calls for assis- tance as individual philanthropy has not gone forth to meet; and in granting this miscellaneous aid, it has been their aim to harmonize municipal economy and public charity as equitably for the poor, and as justly for the city, as judgment, conscience and humanity would permit.
The whole number of persons who have received aid from the city in the year 1859, is 732. Of this number, 128 were residents of the city; 71 from other towns in this state; 36 from other states of this union ; 23 from Canada, 9 from Germany, 4 from England, and 461 from Ireland.
The number of persons out of the Almshouse, assisted on weekly allowance, was 21, at prices vary- ing from 75 cents to 2,00 per week, of which num- ber 14 were receiving aid at the close of the munici- pal year.
January 1st, 1860, there were at the almshouse 21 persons supported as paupers. During the year 14 persons have been received there on sentence from court. There have been at the house 4 births and 4 deaths. The city has supported 5 insane per- sons at the hospital, at an average cost of $2,87 per week; of whom 2 now remain.
13*
130
The average number of persons supported at the almshouse, on weekly allowance, and at the hos- pital, has been 45, at an expense of about $1,71 per week, exclusive of interest on the cost of the almshouse establishment.
During the year 40 persons were sent to the state almshouse at Monson, and 2 to Rainsford Island.
In addition to the foregoing numbers, during the same period, 305 persons seeking employment have received meals and lodging at the city's almshouse.
The actual cost of supporting paupers in 1859, was 5,822 54 Of this sum there was paid out for persons having no settlement in this state, . 1,631 46
Leaving as the cost of supporting our own poor in the year 1859, - - -
- 4,191 08
For a community of nearly 25000 inhabitants, this result is stated by the Board with confidence and pride, as highly honorable to the character of the city.
Receipts from the Farm and other sources.
Cash rec'd from other cities and towns, for the support of paupers, - 415 34
from West Boylston law case, 221 67
for board of prisoners at the Almshouse, - - - 312 26
66 from the State, for burials of for- eign paupers, -
- 112 50
66 of Jonas Bartlett, for lumber, 50 00
66 of L. B. Drury, for work done at the farm by the inmates, 178 75
.66 " of the Children's Friend Society, $100, (less 2 bags of meal,4,00,) 96 00
for work done on the new common, 59 40
1,445 92
131
Expenditures of the Farm and Almshouse.
Cash paid for salary of Superintendent,
450 00
" 3 pigs of
- 15 00
66 66 " extra services of Matron in 1858, 30 00
66 "
1859, 25 00
" labor on farm, -
- 172 00
66 66 " 3 cows, - -
- 150 00
" 2 yoke of oxen, -
- 241 00
" manure and oyster shells,
- 62 00
" front fence, -
- 18 75
66 66 " right of water, -
-
- 15 00
" double wagon, - -
133 50
66
66
" repairs on house, -
- 32 87
66
" clothing for paupers,
122 90
66 66
" building shed, -
- 150 00
66
" single wagon, - 100 00 -
" re-purchase of land to farm, 975 00
66 " conductors on barn, -
- 61 20
66
" groceries and meat, - - 2,240 20
4,198 78
GENERAL EXPENDITURES.
Cash paid salary of Clerk, - 500 00
" " in small sums for railroad fares and other expenses, - 323 00
City Physician, - - - 200 00
" for the support of lunatics at the Insane Hospital, 684 93 to other towns for support of paupers, 143 82
66 for weekly allowances, - 494 20
66 for burial of paupers, -
- 100 43
66 for medicine, -
- 80 05
66 for expenses in cases small pox, nursing, clothing and burials, &c., 373 62 for coal and wood delivered to the poor, - - 962 02
for groceries and provisions, 991 37
5,853 44
" sawing lumber, - -
32 66
66
" front wall, -
104 37
132
It will be perceived that these footings give as the aggregate expenditures of this department in 1859, the sum of $10,052 22. The appropriation was but $7,000 00.
It is therefore proper that the Board should, in this connection, state that they have had during the year many extraordinary expenditures to incur, and have greatly added to the property of the city. They have added to the furniture and stock at the almshouse establishment, to the amount of $1,- 392 11. They have repurchased the land sold off the city farm, in 1855, to Jonas Bartlett, together with an additional tract of about two acres, at a cost of $975. This is deemed an important recovery to the city, as this land has for many reasons been greatly needed, and could not well be dispensed with. The sum of $150 has been paid for a shed at the farm ; $266 65 for a substantial and comely wall and fence in front of the almshouse upon the street, $76 20 for a right of water and for conductors at the barn, $373 62 for numerous cases of small pox which occurred during the year, and other items of extraordinary expenditure, which with those already enumerated exceed the amount of the difference between the appropriation and the actual expenses of the department.
The following comparison will show the amount of personal property at the almshouse and upon the farm, as per appraisal, January 1859, and January 1860.
Furniture at the almshouse, as appraised
January 1, 1860, - - 1,350 50
Stock, tools, hay and grain upon the farm, 3,943 96 -- 5,294 46
133
Furniture, as appraised January 1, 1859, 1,094 00 Stock, tools, hay and grain, - 3,902 35
4,996 35
Deduct error made by adding twice furni- ture January 1, 1859, - - 1,094 00 I
Showing an increase in the amount of the
3,902 35 property at the Almshouse, from January 1, 1859 to January 1, 1860, - 1,392 11
The Board cannot conclude this Report without commending the judicious management which the farm receives from the intelligent and faithful Su- perintendent, Mr. Drury. During the period of his connection with this service of the city, he has greatly improved the general appearance, fruitfulness and value of the farm, and at no time has this fact been more apparent than during the past year. And with equal justness the Board may advert to the character and services of the matron of the estab- lishment, Mrs. Drury. Her relations to the econom- ical and humane characteristics of this home of the poor, have been necessarily most intimate and impor- tant, and these she has conducted with such mingled energy and gentleness as to have won the respect and esteem of every member of the Board.
All of which is respectfully submitted by the Overseers of the Poor for the year 1859.
A. H. BULLOCK, PATRICK O'ROURKE, EDWIN DRAPER, JOHN HAMMOND,
D. G. TEMPLE,
J. E. TUCKER,
SAMUEL BANISTER, Clerk of the Board.
REPORT
OF THE
AQUEDUCT COMMISSIONER.
To the City Council of the City of Worcester :
The Aqueduct Commissioner would respectfully submit to the City Council his annual report, giving an account of his doings for the year 1859, showing the amount of expenditures and the receipts during the year, the condition of the property, the property connected therewith, a list of the water takers, the amount charged each person, and the use made of the water as near as I possibly can.
The condition of water works is very good, but the amount of water in " Bell Pond," is not what I had wished, but all that I have been able to have or to keep. The months of August, September, Octo- ber and November, when we have reason to expect much rain, have proved very dry. During the last part of November and the first of December, we had a gain of ten inches of water at the pond, but the severe cold in December has caused a large part to
135
be made into ice, leaving 2 3-10ths, feet of water that can be drawn from the pond.
By order of the City Council, the six inch pipe between the Reservoir and Summer street was taken up, and an eight inch pipe substituted in its place, and the six inch so taken up to be relaid in South- bridge street at an expense not exceeding four thou- sand dollars. Also that a hydrant be placed on Shelby street, and one on Laurel street. The order as above has all been finished except the hydrant on Laurel street, which could not be well done as the ground froze before that work could be reached, but the materials are ready and the work can be done in one day as soon as the ground will permit.
The expense of pipe, digging a new trench, lead &c., between the Reservoir and Summer street, was, as near as I can get at the expense, $3100.
The expense of relaying the old pipe in South- bridge street, 1600 feet, was as near as I can get at the expense, $628 36
-
Making the total cost $3,728 36
There is much need of extending the pipes. The places of extension are as follows : from the lower end of Front street to connect with pipes in Wash- ington square, on Southbridge street to the Rail- road bridge, on Pleasant street from Ashland street to West street. Also from Pleasant south in some street to Austin or Chandler street,-as some means is very much needed in that part of the city for the extinguishment of fires.
The expenditures for keeping the Aqueduct in repair during the year 1859, has been $590,48, viz.
136
Paid Foss & Farnum, for printing,
-
1 50
S. W. Osgood, for labor, -
- 272 23
John Keith, for books, - 2 25
Worcester Machine Co., for power for pump, - - -
225 00
" H. D. Goodnow, for paving, - -
7 50
W. A. Wheeler, for repairs, - 4 35
G.W. Wheeler,Jr., for distributing notices, 4 50
John Gates, for lumber, -
21 15
66 John Gates, for use of spring, - 50 00
66 Mr. Wellington, for coal, 2 00
for change of pipe between the Reser- voir and Summer street, - - 3,100 00
for work on Southbridge street, 628 36
4,318 84
By bills delivered Treasurer in May, - 792 20
68
" November,
818 75
two old hydrants sold, - 44 00
1,654 95
Expenditures more than receipts, - 2,663 89
TOOLS AND MATERIALS ON HAND.
1 rope and blocks, 1 drilling machine, tools for making joints, 10 shovels, 10 picks, 2 lanterns, 3 pails, 23 lbs. lead, 1 force pump, belt and hose, near the shop of W. T. Merrifield, on Un- ion street, a lot of four in. pipe connecting the pipe on Exchange street to the spring in Gates' land, and connecting with the pump, 5 branches 6, 6, 4, 6 hydrant elbows, 4 long hydrants, 2 short hydrants, 5 ps 4 in. pipe 30 feet, 8 ps 6 in. pipe, 72 feet, old, 3 ps 8 in. pipe, 27 feet, 14 inch stop cock, 1 box cover and frame, 9 new Hydrant boxes.
Respectfully submitted,
W. D. CHEEVER, Aqueduct Commissioner. Worcester, January 9, 1860.
REPORT
OF THE
COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS.
City of Worcester, January 16, 1860. To the Hon. City Council, of the City of Worcester.
The undersigned, Commissioner of Highways, in obedience to an ordinance of the city, herewith pre- sents his annual report, showing, with the accompa- nying schedules, the expenditures in detail of the Highway department, from January 1st, 1859, to January 1st, 1860, with a schedule of the property belonging to the city in his possession at that date .. The amount appropriated by the City Council, for highways, streets and bridges, for the year 1859, was - - 12,000 00
Unexpended balance of appropriation for said department in 1858, un- drawn January 1, 1859, - 1,929 20
Cash paid into the Treasury, the proceeds for one horse and one ox sold, 177 20
Also street scrapings, manure and other
- - 575 95 materials sold, -
Also from abuttors on Elm and High streets, 98 34
14
138
There has been labor performed by the city teams and men, chargeable to other appropriations, amounting to 462 35 There are bills for labor and manure, now due, amounting to - 140 57
Making to the credit of the department, the sum of $15,383 61 The amount expended during the year has been as follows, viz :
Pay roll of men for labor, - - 6,839 82
Salary of Commissioner, - - 600 00
Paid for one pair of oxen, 190 00
for hay and grain,
1,299 98
to sundry individuals, for repairing roads, in the outer districts, 926 88
" for curb, flagging and paving stones, for blacksmithing, new tools and repairs, setting curb and paving, and for new roads and bridges, the particulars of which will appear in the Treasurer's detailed report, of - 4,268 20
14,124 88
Leaving a balance unexpended of -
.
-
1,258 73
Schedule, showing the amount expended for labor and materi- als, other than ordinary repairs.
For grading High street and side walk, 295 00 Chatham street, and making -
two cess pools, - 494 50
66 Crown street and side walk, 161 00
66 Irving street, and lowering trees, 280 00
For new bridge at South Worcester, -
139 51
For amount expended on Patch road, - 435 00
For making new road near Barber's crossing, by order of the County Commissioners, 210 00
For cleaning streets, cess pools and gutters, 505 00 For setting 220 ft. of curb, and laying 250
yds. paving, and cross walk on Green street, 217 30
1
139
For setting 54 ft. of curb, and laying 30 yds. paving near Norwich rail road, - For setting 481 ft. of curb, and laying 425 yds. paving Chestnut and Bowdoin street, 505 61 For setting 172 ft. curb and 76 yds paving on High street, - - 116 32
35 28
For setting 71 ft. of curb and 66 yds. pav- ing on Main street near Park street, - 71 70 For setting 85 ft. of curb, at Antiquarian Hall, and 317 yds. paving at Lincoln Square, 211 70 For resetting 111 ft. curb, and 66 yds. pav- ing on Chestnut street, - 62 60 For setting 64 ft. curb, and 46 yds. paving on Elm street, - 63 40 - -
- - For resetting 306 ft. curb, and 145 yds. pav- ing on Elm street, -
- - 104 36
For resetting 651 ft. of curb, and 333 yds. paving on Walnut street, - - -
227 50
For making cross-walk at Washington Square, 42 50
66 on Salem st. near Common,25 00
66 66
" on Elm street, -
12 80
66 walk on Pleasant street, - 25 70
66 66 on Linden street, 25 00
66 66 " on Waldo street, - 25 00 66 at Lincoln Sq.,(100 yds.,) 50 00 For paving 79 yds. gutters on Chatham st.,
39 50 For paving 26 yds. gutters, near Deacon Goddard's, - - -
13 50
For grading and labor on city scales, 18 64 - For grading and cleaning school house lot on Pleasant street, - - 46 00
- For labor on reservoir on the Common, and laying pipe, - -
- - 88 00 For labor of men and teams, on new Common, 151 00 For grass seed for new Common, - 11 00 - For grading school house lot in Tatnuck, 22 50
For carting and spreading 250 loads of street scrapings upon the new Common, 125 00
4,856 92
140
The balance of $9,267 96 has been expended upon the streets, highways and bridges, throughout the city, by the city's men and teams, excepting the sum of $966 88, above named, paid to sundry indi- viduals.
The orders of the City Council have all been exe- cuted with the exception of the "Patch road," so called, which was ordered to be completed on the first of September next, and will require an appro- priation of about $1000, to finish it.
The streets and bridges were all in good condition at the closing in of winter.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY PRENTICE,
Commissioner of Highways.
REPORT
OF THE
CHIEF ENGINEER. -
ENGINEER'S OFFICE, Worcester, Jan'y 23, 1860. To the Hon. City Council :
GENTLEMEN :- I respectfully submit the following report of the doings of the Board of Engineers, for the year ending Dec. 31, A. D. 1859, showing the expense and present condition of the department, the number, cause and extent of fires that have taken place during the year; the amount of insur- ance on property destroyed.
The department consists of
Board of Engineers, - -
7 men
5 Engine Companies, -
-
-
-
- 210 men
3 Hose Companies, - - -
- 30 men
2 Hook and Ladder Companies, -
-
-
- 50 men
Making a total force of - - -
297 men
The expenses of the department, are as follows :
- - - $6,536 35 Pay of members, - - -
For horse hire and alarm bells, -
-
-
-
1,049 00
For new hose, - - -
-
- - 539 75
For all other expenses, -
-
-
-
- 1,196 12
Total amount,
$9,321 22
14*
The Department has been called out twenty-nine times, as per following table.
1859.
Location, &c.
Owner or occupant,
Loss.
Insurance.
Causes, &c.
Jan'ry
3
Unoccupied house near Lafayette st., Sears house, West Boylston st., -
Sears,
300 00 trifling, 1,500 00
500 00
Feb'y 15
21
False alarm, -
-
-
400 00
insured,
March 6
19
False alarm,
trifling,
.
-
21
J. F. Pond's house,
-
-
-
23
False alaımı,
April
7
Fire in woods,
Benj. Walker, Building and goods.,
trifling, 15,000 00
none, 4,000 00
Heat from furnace, Unknown,
June
3
Salisbury's woods,
23
Annealing house,
I. Washburn & Co., Wm. Dickinson, Wm. Piper,
500 00 trifling,
-
30
False alarm,
10
False alarm,
- 18
False alarm,
Dexter, -
25
none,
Oct.
3
House, Southbridge st.,
H. Bliss,
trifling,
15
W. T. Merrifield,
slight,
-
31
Unknown,
Nov.
13
House, ncar Leesville, False alarm, House, Temple st.,
M. Collins,
140
insured,
Dec.
5
Barn, Myrtle st., -
C. White,
150
none,
Heat from furnace,
22
Annealing house, -
I. Washburn & Co.,
none,
T. K. Earle & Co.,
.15 000
12 900
22
Card factory,
29
Dry house,
D. Tainter, -
50
none,
Incendiary, Defect in Stove.
142
.I
Unknown, Carelessness in fire room, Heat from fire room,
21
Planing mill, Central st., Shop, Union st., False alarm,
Clark,
100
-
-
-
.
29
Heat from furnace, Unknown, Carelessness with matches,
July
3
Coal ho. & oil factory, Manchester st., Block, Main st.,
29
-
.
.
Sept. :
22
Shop on Exchange st.,
29
Dewey's block, Southbridge st.,
-
150 00
none, none,
Incendiary, Defect in chimney, Incendiary, Steam Whistle, Heat of furnace,
Ward's barn, Green st., -
Ward,
-
Terra Cotta works,
Sparks from chimney,
none,
26
Unknown, Incendiary,
5
143
A new brick edifice has been built by the city upon land purchased of Abijah Bigelow, Esq., in Bigelow's court, which has enabled us to vacate the school house on the Common. The new house is ocupied by Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1, and Eagle Hose Co., No. 3, and furnishes fine accommodations for the same.
A new Engine has been purchased of Hunneman & Co., and is now used by Yankee Co., No. 5,-the one heretofore used by them is laid aside ; it is of no use to the department, and I would recommend that it be disposed of at the first opportunity.
A cistern has also been built upon the com- mon, near the city hall, calculated to hold about 35,000 gallons. It will no doubt be a valuable aux- iliary to our means for protecting property in that part of the city.
There are still some parts of our city entirely un- protected from fire, for want of water, and I would recommend that two or three cisterns be built in such localities as may be designated by the Board of Engineers. I cannot too earnestly repeat the re- commendation of my predecessor, in his last annual report, that a small appropriation be made to improve the natural reservoirs connected with the numerous streams that run through the centre district. He truly said that the opportunities for obtaining water from such sources, have decreased more than one half since the introduction of the aqueduct; and I know of no way by which a greater amount of good can be accomplished at so small an outlay of money. I would also recommend the purchase of 2000 feet
144
of leading hose, as it will require full that amount to keep our hose good, the present year.
The department has at all times been in a highly satisfactory condition. The companies have gener- ally been full, and the members are to a great extent experienced firemen, devoted to their profession ; and I am proud to say that both in point of character and efficiency, it will compare favorably with any department of its size in the country. In conclu- sion, I would improve this opportunity to say, that, though truly grateful for the confidence heretofore reposed in me, I most respectfully decline being con- sidered a candidate for re-election.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
S. A. PORTER,
Chief Engineer, W. F. D.
REPORT
OF THE
CITY MARSHAL.
CITY OF WORCESTER, MARSHAL'S OFFICE, Dec. 31, 1859.
To His Honor the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Worcester:
I have the honor to submit herewith my annual report of the doings of the Police, and the condition of the department for the year 1859. The commit- ments to the Watch House for the quarter ending this day have been 191, of which number 96 have been prosecuted in the Police Court of the city. The remaining 95 have been discharged from custody by my order. From January 1st, 1859, to the present date, the whole number of persons arrested and com- mitted to the lock up, has been 913, of which num- ber 511 have been prosecuted by complaint in court. The remaining 402, arrested for the lighter and more
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.