USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1856-1861 > Part 50
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The number of poor persons fed and lodged at the watch house, during the year past, was .. 2,098 The number of persons arrested for various offences and committed to the watch house, was .. 876 Of these, 391 were non-residents, and 485 were resi- dents of the city.
Of the 876, complaints were entered in the Police court against 453, and 416 were discharged without complaints having been made against them ; 7 were taken upon proper process to other places.
The number of complaints made in the Police court was 695. Of the persons complained against, 271 were non-residents and 424 residents of the city. Of the whole
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number of arrests, a large proportion was, as usual, for drunkenness ; 437 for single acts of drunkenness, and 38 for being common drunkards.
Sixteen complaints were made against parties for selling intoxicating liquor, and one for renting a tenement for the purpose of being used for the illegal sale and keeping of intoxicating liquor, and one for maintaining a tenement used for such sale and keeping of intoxicating liquor ; making in all, during the year 1861, eighteen prosecutions under what are known as the prohibitory liquor laws of the Commonwealth.
In the published address of my predecessor, already referred to, it is said, that "In 1860 fifteen complaints were made against persons for selling intoxicating liquors ; in 1861 seventeen complaints were made against the same class of individuals." The author of that address must have been misinformed upon the subject, for the facts in relation to this class of prosecutions in 1860 are quite otherwise than as stated.
The City Marshal of that year in his final report, dated December 31, 1860, says that during the year, thirty-six complaints were made against persons for selling intoxicating liquor, fifteen for being common sellers of such liquors, for conveying and keeping such liquors with intent to sell contrary to law thirty-one, for seizure of liq- uors sixteen, (this last number is not carried out in the Marshal's report, but the Docket of the Police Court shows that sixteen such complaints were made,) for maintaining common nuisances in violation of the provis- ions of chapter 87 of the General Statutes, commonly called the liquor nuisance act, thirty-four, making in all one hundred and thirty-two complaints in 1860 against per- sons for violation of various provisions of the prohibitory liquor laws, whereas in 1861 there were, as appears by
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the Marshal's final report of that year only eighteen of this class of complaints. If any comparative statements are made tending to show the attempts to enforce these laws in different years and under different administrations, it seems important that they should be correctly made.
Whether if there had been in both years, more of the latter class of complaints made and successfully prosecu- ted, there would have been less of the former I will not now stop to inquire. But I will not in this connection forbear to say, since frankness and an open avowal of our senti- ments are always more manly and useful than any ingeni- ous indirection of statement, that I believe the provisions of the 86th and 87th chapters of the General Statutes of this Commonwealth, forbidding, except under prescribed regu- lations, the traffic in intoxicating liquors, should be ob- served, and that, if they are violated, the offenders should be dealt with according to law, as are the violators of other penal statutes of the Commonwealth. There should be no recognized privileged orders in crime.
This is not the time or place to discuss the policy of main- taining such a law, and it is sufficient for my purpose to say that the present law upon this subject has stood upon the statute book of the Commonwealth for more than six years ; that every controverted provision of it has been considered by the Supreme Judicial Court, the highest judicial tribunal in the State, and every part has been pronounced valid and constitutional ; it is therefore, to every intent and purpose, the law of the Commonwealth, and every citizen is, by the obligations of his allegiance and fidelity to the State, bound to obey it. Public officers in their attempts to enforce this law should, in my judgment, treat it as they should all other penal statutes, and carefully abstain from all unlaw- ful modes and means for its enforcement.
And it seems to me that the statute itself furnishes the
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best rule for the guidance of the public officer, and at the same time shows how imperative the duty is upon him to execute this law. After enumerating the officers whose duty it shall be to enforce the law under consideration, and among these officers are named " any mayor, alderman, marshal and assistant marshals," the statute proceeds to say that " The several officers aforesaid shall enforce, or cause to be enforced, the penalties provided in this chapter, against every person guilty of any violation thereof, of which they can obtain REASONABLE proof." This language shows that these officers have an active duty to perform ; the marshal and his assistants are not to sit in their offices and prosecute only such complaints as the citizens may make and furnish evidence to support ; they are to prose- cute all against whom they can obtain, not passively re- ceive, reasonable proof. In doing this they are to be governed by reason, judgment and sound discretion - not by passion, prejudice and caprice.
And our immediate predecessors, in their capacity as legislators for the city, when revising the City Ordinances, ordained among other things that "the marshal shall pros- ecute all offenders with promptness and effect, and use all lawful and proper means to secure convictions. It shall be his duty to enforce and carry into effect all laws and city ordinances, and shall be vigilant to detect and punish any breach thereof." This is the law of this City, passed by our own local legislature, and I take it to be the legal expression of the will of the people ; and the Marshal is required to make solemn oath that he will observe it. Now unless this ordinance is a mockery, and its words worse than meaningless, then I say it is the sworn duty of the Marshal, sustained by the City Government and by all the people, to extinguish, so far as he reasonably can, that great cause which produces from two-thirds to three-
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fourths of all the crime and poverty which tax and curse this City and the surrounding community.
MILITARY DRILL.
There is one other subject to which I beg leave, for a single moment, to direct your attention and ask for it your careful consideration. In the midst of the grand and stirring events of the times in which we live, we are liable to be called upon at almost any moment to furnish other companies of gallant men to swell the numbers and add efficiency to the more than imperial army that is now car- rying the flag of the Union into nearly all the disloyal states ; nor is it among the remotest contingencies that we may be summoned at short notice to repel foreign invasion from our own soil. And by the experience of the last few months, we have been forcibly taught that war can only be successfully waged with arms and disciplined men. A large part of our fellow citizens connected with the three organized military companies of the city are now at the seat of war, or soon will be, and have taken with them their arms, so that but few are left in the city. There are one or two drill clubs now organized here, composed of the most highly respectable and worthy young men, who are perfecting themselves under the instruction of a competent drill master, in military discipline ; but they are without suitable arms, and what I have to suggest, (I offer no specific recommendation,) is, whether it would be expedient for the City to purchase one hundred or more muskets, and hold them as its own property and loan them upon proper terms and security to these military clubs. We should then have at hand excellent material for forming an effective military company or companies upon any sudden emergency, such as I have suggested.
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GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL :
I have now laid before you, in a most imperfect man- ner, I am aware, such information respecting the affairs of the City and our duties in relation thereto as I have been able to acquire in the few hurried hours I have devoted to the subject. The position in which I am placed is a novel one to me, and to which I have at this time been most unexpectedly called; it is one I have not sought. I enter upon it with but little needful prepara- tion, but with no other conscious purpose than that of doing my duty to the City.
I shall be happy at all times to unite with you in har- monious co-operation, to do that which shall in the highest degree promote the welfare of our constituents, and add most to the honor and prosperity of the City in which we all have a common interest.
And now, trusting to that Divine favor which was in- voked at the commencement of these proceedings, let us enter calmly and dispassionately upon the discharge of our respective duties, and in their performance so illustrate and administer law, as that all within the sphere of our influence shall respect it, " the very least as feeling its care, and the greatest as not exempt from its power."
VALEDICTORY ADDRESS OF
MAYOR DAVIS,
DELIVERED BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL,
DECEMBER 23, 1861.
GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL :
ยท I should be destitute of feeling, if I was not sensibly affected with this strong proof of your confidence in me, expressed by the resolution which you have now adopted. From this manifestation of your opinion, I derive that gratification which those, who are conscious of having done all they could do to merit it, can alone appreciate. In the performance of my duties I have been much in- debted to you for your generous aid and prompt co-opera- tion. At every meeting of the Board of Aldermen during the past year, the Board have been called to order pre- cisely at the time appointed, and business has not been delayed one moment for the want of a quorum. Differ- ences of opinion have existed upon some questions and measures, -but not greater than would naturally arise among candid and intelligent men, whose sole aim was to discharge their respective duties with fidelity. The uni- form kindness and courtesy which the members of the Board, the City Clerk and other officers of the City Government have manifested towards me, has filled my
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heart with grateful emotions, and excited in my mind feel- ings of respect and friendship never to be forgotten.
As the municipal year is nearly closed, and as we shall not probably be called together again, it may not be deemed improper in me so far to imitate the course pursued by my distinguished predecessors, as to refer briefly to some of the principal objects which claimed the attention of the City Council the past year.
At the commencement of the municipal year, business was prostrated. Real and personal estate had but a nom- inal value. Many of our business firms were obliged to bow under the pressure, and thousands of our fellow citi- zens were thrown out of employment. States were seced- ing from the Union, and the future prospects of our City and Country were darkand gloomy. Under these repres- sive circumstances, a general sentiment prevailed in the community, that frugality and economy would, in some measure, insure to us again, advancement in material prosperity.
Our largest annual expenditure is for the support of our Public Schools, which are the pride and glory of our City. Here the rule has been to pay such liberal salaries as will command first-class teachers, and to provide such facilities and improvements as to give all the youth of the city the means of mental and moral culture, which will enable them to discharge understandingly, the great social and civil duties of citizens.
A substantial, neat and commodious brick school house has been erected the past year, on Salem and Orange streets, which will accommodate two hundred and fifty scholars, at an expense of about $10,000. For comfort, convenience, good ventilation, and all which pertains to a perfect school house,-the School Committee and the
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friends of education pronounce this to be a model house, and unsurpassed by any in the city.
The number of scholars attending school the past year has been 5,339, a larger number than in any former year. The average daily attendance was 176 more than the year previous. The expense of educating each child is less than in any former year. The amount of the appropria- tion for this department was $34,000, in addition to the amount received from the State, and the expenditure will not probably exceed the appropriation. The supplies of fuel, &c., for the schools are several hundred dollars more in value than they were at the close of last year.
The streets, highways and bridges of the city have been kept in good repair and made safe and comfortable for travelers. The extensive use of iron cinders has greatly improved the roads and streets. The sewerage of the city, which was originally so improperly constructed as to cause unpleasant and unhealthy effluvia to arise from it, to the great annoyance of the citizens, and injurious to health, has been effectually remedied, at no inconsiderable outlay. New streets have been laid out and made public, with per- manent stone monuments placed to designate their exact location. Street crossings have been made - gutters paved and curb stone set, and 440 feet of sewerage has been constructed on Salisbury street ; so that there has been marked improvement in our public ways.
A new road has been constructed from James' mill to Auburn line, which involved the construction of a bridge over Kettle Brook. This road was laid out by our pre- decessors, and has been constructed at an expense of $620.62.
For the past few weeks a strong force has been employ- ed at Quinsigamond Lake, to construct a causeway over the lake to take the place of the floating bridge, which
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had become unsafe for public travel. This work is done under the order of the County Commissioners on a peti- tion which has been pending before them for more than a year. The decree of the Commissioners having been communicated to the City long after the appropriations for the current year were made, the City Council voted to bor- row the money temporarily for the construction of the causeway and improvement of the road. The cost of building a floating bridge would have been at least $25,000, and would have been a constant bill of expense to keep it in repair. This structure when once done is done forever, and by the first of January, 1862, one-third of the expense of complying with the order of the County Commissioners will have been completed, and the cost of doing one-third of the work will not exceed $5,500. If the work is permitted to go on under supervision of the able and efficient Commissioner of Highways, it may be finished at an expense of about $16,500.
In regard to the means left in the hands of our succes- sors for the care and custody of the roads, streets and bridges for the coming year, we shall leave them with supplies for the department of more value than was on hand at the commencement of the past year. The appro- priation for this department was $10,000, and the expen- diture will not exceed the appropriation. Of this sum, $2,050 was expended in breaking out roads after the severe snow storms in January, February and March last.
The Fire Department towards the close of the last ad- ministration, and at the commencement of the present, was called out very frequently to fires which were the work of incendiaries. By an arrangement with some of our enterprising citizens, a secret watch was established, independent of the City Police, and in a very short period such means were adopted, that false alarms and cases of
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incendiarism entirely subsided. For the last nine months, the Fire department have scarcely been called out oftener than their monthly drills. This is an efficient and impor- tant department - well organized, and is at all times ready to discharge its duty. For this department there was ap- propriated the sum of $10,000, and the expenditure will probably exceed by a trifling sum the appropriation.
The present municipal year has witnessed the comple- tion of the building for the Public Library. The whole cost of the land and building has been $30,500. What- ever there is of elegance and beauty in design, of comfort and convenience in arrangements and of adaptation to the object, belong exclusively to our predecessors. Plans, de- signs and contracts were made, and all we had to do, was to execute and pay. The City Council of 1859, purchased and paid for the lot $5,044.50. Nearly $5,000 was paid towards the building by our immediate predecessors. This City Council has paid towards it about $6,500, including interest on the Library debt, leaving the debt about $14,500. We have also paid for the increase of books and care of the library $2,655.51, including the undrawn balance in the treasury at the commencement of the year.
The mode of dispensing the charities of the City for the past year has been systematized and greatly improved. The bill of fare at the alms house has been made more acceptable and agreeable to the inmates. System and order have been given to the mode of administering tem- porary relief to the poor and destitute, who have no legal settlement in the city, so that the books of the department will show the name of every individual to whom relief has been furnished. The dictates of our holy religion, the best feelings of humanity and the law of the land, all im- periously require a generous outlay to relieve the distresses of the poor and destitute. Yet the judicious management
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of the farm, the purchasing of supplies - the mode of distribution of charities - the careful investigation of set- tlements have made a marked difference in the expenses of this department. It is with great pleasure that I refer you for more full information to the Report of the Board of Overseers of the Poor, which will soon be published.
The income of the farm has required a large addition to the barn and sheds, which has been accomplished, leaving the cash value in improvements and supplies $1,040.37 greater than at the close of the preceding municipal year.
The City Water Works have been greatly improved, so that the income in future will be much increased. Here- tofore there had been no means of testing the amount of water used by any water-taker. Water meters have been procured and applied, and in some cases it has been ascer- tained that individuals were using four or five times more water than they paid for, and in some few cases persons were receiving less than they paid for. By applying these meters justice can be done to all. Eleven hundred feet of pipe have been laid -new and improved hydrants and boxes have taken the place of old ones - and the water works are in a greatly improved condition, and will yield in future a much larger income to the city. There has been expended in this department $2,000.
Never in the history of our City have there been so many and such large congregations of people as during the past year. Yet there has been no riot - no mob - no commotion. Peace, quiet and good order have char- acterized the City. This is an indication that the Police have been efficient and faithful in the discharge of their duties. Every citizen who has called upon the Marshal with a complaint for the violation of any law of the state or ordinance of the city, and who was ready to point out the evidence, has been promptly attended to. It is a safe
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rule, in most cases, that a public prosecution is unneces- sary when the individual or individuals affected by the evil are unwilling to make the complaint, or point out the evi- dence. Our streets have been filled with armed soldiers - civil war has existed in the country - great excitement has prevailed, the property and homes of citizens have been protected, and all could walk about our streets with- out fear of molestation. On the occasions of large assem- blies, a large number of police officers have been tem- porarily appointed, yet the expenses of this department have been about $1.300 less than the year preceding. The number of persons arrested for drunkenness for three years past are as follows :
In 1859, 506 - in 1860, 460-in 1861, to December 17th, 450. Of this number, a majority have not been residents of the city. In 1860, fifteen complaints were made against persons for selling intoxicating liquors - in 1861, sixteen complaints were made against the same class of individuals.
The City Register containing the ordinances and laws of the State applicable to the City was published eight years since. The City Council at an early day resolved to have a revision of all the Ordinances of the City, and to have them published in proper form. This has been a work of great labor and no inconsiderable expense. The Ordinances have been all carefully revised, altered, amend- ed and re-enacted, and are now in the press and will in a few days be ready for delivery. Much credit is due to the Committee who had this matter in charge, and who have untiringly labored to accomplish this desirable object.
The monument to the memory of Col. Timothy Bigelow, the brave and heroic commander of the 15th Continental Regiment in the war of the Revolution, has been erected on our Central Park, and dedicated under the auspices of
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the City Council, on the memorable 19th day of April last. This beautiful and chaste structure, which has attracted so much attention, and is highly ornamental to our public grounds, was erected by the munificence of Col. T. Bige- low Lawrence, of the City of Boston.
In April last civil war burst upon the country with all its horrors. The City of Worcester responded promptly and nobly to the call of the government. The gallant Worcester Light Infantry was the first uniformed and well-armed company to march into the Capital of the Country to defend it against a wicked and an unjustifiable Rebellion From that time to the present our patriotic citizens, native and adopted, have voluntarily enrolled their names in the service of their country, so that at the pres- ent time, we have from this City, according to the best data we can obtain, one thousand men in the army and the navy, enlisted for the war. To arm, equip and uni- form (as was the case with the three-months' volunteers), to provide for their families according to the laws of the state - to supply the troops with the numerous articles not provided by the government - to care for the sick and wounded returned from the battle-field - to be courteous and hospitable to the numerous troops which have passed through our City to the seat of war, - has imposed nu- merous duties and great responsibilities on the City Gov- ernment, and has been attended with heavy disbursements, amounting at the first of December, 1861, to $12,259.77. This war debt should be refunded to the City by the State. Indeed a large part of it has been disbursed under the provisions of the law of the Commonwealth.
This sum has been temporarily borrowed, as it is to be refunded to the City from the State, most of it in the coming month. Had it been necessary to disburse ten times this amount in order to sustain the Government in
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maintaining the Constitution - preserving the Union and putting down this wicked and unprincipled Rebellion, it would have been promptly granted and cheerfully dis- bursed. The City of Worcester, in proportion to the number of her inhabitants, stands in the front rank of the patriotic cities of the Union which have promptly and patriotically contributed men and money to sustain and uphold one of the best governments God ever bestowed on any people.
The Valuation of the Real and Personal Estate in the
City, in the year 1860, was
In the year 1861, .. ..
.. $16,406,900 00 16,230,600 00
Showing a decrease,
.. ..
$176,300 00
The total Tax in 1860 was
..
$140,745 70
66 66 1661, ..
139,212 30
Showing a decrease of taxes,
..
$1,533 40
The County Tax in 1860,
..
$17,010 52
66 66 1861, ..
23,329 48
Increase of County Tax, 1861,
..
$6,318 96
State Tax in 1860,
..
..
$4,667 50
66 1861, ..
..
5,909 82
Increase, 1861,
..
..
$1,242 32
So that the State and County Tax in 1861
was $7,561.28 greater than in 1860.
The result is, that all the ordinary expenses of the City have been paid -leaving most of the different depart- ments in a greatly improved condition.
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We have paid for what may be termed extraordinary expenses, viz :
For new School house, Orange street, $5,500 00
New road from James' mill to Auburn, 620 62
Addition to barn and sheds at alms house, &c., 1,040 37
Public Library building, about 6,500 00
Excess of State and County Tax, 7,561 28
$21,222 27
The interest has been paid on the City Debt, and it will probably be reduced to $94,000 at the close of the muni- cipal year-the Library Building debt, $14,500, and the debt for School house, $4,500, besides the War debt ad- vanced for the State, and about $5,500 for the causeway over Quinsigamond Lake.
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