USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1856-1861 > Part 57
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139
thus secured, the fence and gate-way, on the front, will doubtless, require renewal, and thus, by a gradual prosecu- tion of the labor, and by appropriations within the annual receipts from the sale of the lots, the entire work of en- closing the grounds may be completed.
A particular account of the outlays of the last year ac- companies and makes part of this report. The labor charged was employed in the care of the grounds, and in the preparation of an extended area of land, by clearing, grubbing, and grading, for the location of additional lots. Ornamental trees have been planted out, where it was thought advisable. A portion of the reclaimed land has been dressed with compost, and new supplies of materials for fertilization, have been gathered for future use. About forty lots, from land prepared the preceding year, have been surveyed, laid out, appraized, and certified to the City Treasurer for sale.
The receipts from the sales, the past year, of forty-three lots, amounted to the aggregate sum of five hundred and fifty-four dollars, thus exceeding the appropriation for ex- penditures, with all balances in the hands of the Commis- sioners, and the receipts from the sales of wood and hay, as before given at five hundred and seven dollars and eleven cents, by forty-six dollars and eighty-nine cents, and exceed- ing the actual expenditures of the year, stated at one hun- dred and twenty-seven dollars and sixty-nine cents, inclu- sive of the printing and Record Book for the Treasurer, by three hundred and seventy-nine dollars and forty-two cents. With this balance at the command of the Commissioners, and for their use, they ask for a further appropriation, in anticipation of the receipts from the sale of lots, the pres- ent year, of four hundred dollars, to enable them, in addi- tion to the care and labor upon the grounds, and their progressive gradual improvement, to enter upon the work
140
of fencing, which they have proposed, and which they now deem to have become immediately necessary.
Deeds have been given to the purchasers respectively, upon all sales of lots, the past year, and the whole of the consideration money, amounting, as before stated, to the sum of five hundred and fifty-four dollars, has been paid into the City Treasury.
By order and in behalf of the Commissioners.
LEVI LINCOLN, Chairman.
City of Worcester, January 22, 1862.
Receipts and Expenditures for Hope Cemetery in the year 1861 :
RECEIPTS.
Cash in hands of Commissioners Jan. 1, 1861, -
59 05
Cash in City Treasury, - -
-
36 45
Appropriation for 1861, - -
-
-
400 00- 495 50
Cash for wood and hay sold, -
- -
11 61
507 11
EXPENDITURES.
Cash paid by Albert Curtis, Commissioner, for la- bor, lumber and tools,
90 99
Cash paid by City Treasurer :
H. J. Howland, printing, -
-
-
2 75
Charles Hamilton, printing,
-
-
-
4 00
Gill Valentine, surveying,
-
-
-
17 95
E. Mellen, Jr. record book, -
-
-
12 00- 36 70
Balance cash in Commissioners' hands, -
29 67
Balance cash in City Treasury, -
-
349 75
507 11
For the Commissioners.
ALBERT TOLMAN,
Secretary of the Board.
January 22, 1862.
-
127 69
-
SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY,
OF WORCESTER.
THE Directors of the Free Public Library of Worcester, herewith submit their second annual
REPORT:
The first Report of the Directors of the Free Public Library of Worcester detailed the circumstances of its origin and establishment. When that report was submit- ted, the Library Building was in process of erection, and the Library was still confined within the narrow walls of its room on Foster street.
The Institution was only on the threshold of that career of anticipated usefulness upon which it may now be said fairly to have entered.
It is for us, at the present time, to review another year of its early progress, embarrassed, as it has been, by many difficulties, some of them inevitable, but still affording, as we believe, convincing proof of the wisdom of its benefi- cent founder and patron, and justification of prompt and hearty co-operation with him on the part of the City Council.
19
142
On the 21st of January the Board was organized by the choice of W. W. Rice as President, and Albert Tolman as Secretary, and the appointment of the various Standing Committees. At a subsequent meeting, Z. Baker was chosen Librarian, and Miss C. Barnes Assistant Librarian, with salaries, respectively, of eight hundred dollars ($800) and three hundred dollars, ($300) per annum. The duties of the Librarians, in a great degree, mechanical and monotonous, peculiarly require the exercise of equable and courteous manners. In the judgment of the Directors, Mr. Baker and Miss Barnes have discharged their duties with the utmost faithfulness and assiduity. Mr. Baker's almost intuitive knowledge of books has been of great service.
The Library was open on Foster street until June 18th. It was then closed for the purpose of taking account of books, cataloguing and removal, until Sept. 4th, when the circulating library was re-opened, during the day, at the new building. Nov. 25th, it was re-opened during the evening. The Green Library has not yet been formally re-opened, owing to delay in fitting and furnishing the room, which is now nearly accomplished.
The Directors have had at their disposal during the year, Balance of appropriation of 1860, $1,648 86
Balance in hands of Librarian, - 78 41
Appropriation by City Council of 1861, 1,000 -00
Cash rec'd from sale of Catalogues, &c., 167 79
Appropriation for Insurance, - 50 00
Whole amount, $2,945 06
And the Expenditures, including one unpaid bill of $42 08, for books, have been $2,943 34
Leaving a balance of - $1 72 With which to begin the year 1862,
143
A detailed statement of receipts and expenditures by the Treasurer, is appended to this report.
The appropriation of one thousand dollars, ($1,000) made by the City Council, in August, 1861, was based upon a close estimate of the ordinary current expenses of the Library until the commencement of the present year. But the Board have been obliged to meet the extraordinary ex- penses of moving, and of preparing and printing a new catalogue, which last item has amounted to four hundred and twenty-seven dollars, ($427) which were not included in this estimate ; so that we have good reason to congratu- late ourselves, that, by aid of the balance of the appropri- ation of 1860, we have not exceeded the amount at our disposal.
But this result has been attained only by exercise of the strictest economy on the part of the Book Committee. Less than six hundred dollars ($600) has been expended by them in the purchase of books; the balance of the item of six hundred fifty-seven dollars and two cents, ($657 02) as stated in the Treasurer's account, being for stationery and other incidentals charged under that head.
The sum of seven hundred forty-four dollars and fifty cents ($744 50) which was appropriated by the City Council in Oct. 1861, for finishing and furnishing the building, is not included in the foregoing statement ; the special committee to whom the work was intrusted not having yet submitted their report.
Notwithstanding the distracting and exciting events of the year, and the absence of many constant borrowers at the seat of war, the public interest in the Library, and the number of borrowers have been constantly increasing during the year. In the one hundred and thirty days, during which the Library was open on Foster street, twenty-nine thousand three hundred and twenty-eight
144
(29,328) volumes were delivered to borrowers, being a daily average of two hundred and twenty-five and a half (2253) volumes.
Since the removal to the Library Building the daily de- livery has averaged about two hundred (200) volumes, the temporary decrease being mostly attributable to the fact that the Library has not been open evenings for a large portion of the time. Since the introduction of gas, and the re-opening of the Library during the evening, the de- livery of books has been much greater than ever before. There are now upon the books the names of four thous- and seven hundred and eighty-six (4,786) borrowers, of which about seven hundred (700) have been added since the re-opening of the Library in the new building. Not- withstanding this large and promiscuous use of the library, but few books have been lost, and they have been gener- ally carefully used. Some of the younger borrowers might improve in this respect, and the Librarian requests the particular attention of parents to the matter. The influ- ence of the building upon the younger frequenters of the library is manifested by an increased dignity and propriety of deportment.
Interest is often expressed by the friends of the library to know what class of books are most in demand. Many persons have an unaccountable impression that if the facts were known they would prove that the library is a means of disseminating worthless or injurious reading. This im- pression does such injustice to the intelligence of our community, old and young, that it ought to be at once re- moved. The observation of Librarians and Directors proves the fact to be directly opposite. There is of course a large demand for works of fiction, and as a novel reader can get through four volumes, while a reader of biogra- phies or travels reads one, the proportion of such works
145
issued is larger than the proportion of those who read them. It is found practically, however, that there is a marked progress in the taste of individuals, and that even young persons are apt to grow tired of novels, and demand something more solid. But to prove that the actual use made of the library is, in a high degree, creditable to our community, nothing more would be necessary than a faith- ful list of books taken or returned from day to day. The following list of forty books, taken by one of the Library Committee, precisely as they lay on the Librarian's table, on a single morning, without the slightest selection or omission, tells its own story and refutes all slanders.
It will be seen that nearly all departments of literature are represented in tolerably fair proportion, and that of the works of fiction nearly all are of the highest character. Nor is there any reason to doubt that this gives a fair specimen of the daily operations of the library, and when we consider that the poorest and most ignorant in the com- munity, adults or children, may come freely to the library and make their own selections without restraint, such a list of books certainly gives an overwhelming proof of the utility of the institution. The following is the list :
Sparks' Life of Washington, Voltaire's Henriade, translated,
Lizzy Glenn, or Trials of a Seamstress,-by T. S. Arthur.
The Romanye Rye,-by Geo. Barron.
The Vale of Cedars,-by Grace Aguilar.
Madame Pfeiffer's Voyage Round the World,
The Mysterious Story Book, (Juvenile.)
Evelina,
Blonde and Brunette,
Smeaton's Builder's Pocket Manual,
Fibrilia,-(Treatise on Flax Cotton.) Great Expectations,-by Dickens.
Spear on Capital Punishment,
Roscoe's Life of William the Conqueror,
146
Bell Smith Abroad,-(Travels in Europe.) The Disowned,
Caste,
Rankine's Manual of the Steam Engine,
The Afternoon of Unmarried Life,-(Essays.)
Phillip's Conquest of Kansas,
Tales for the Marines,
Hebbe's Universal History, Vol 2.
Mrs. Thusa's Spinning Wheel,-by Mrs. Hentz.
Japhet in Search of a Father,-by Marryatt. The Marble Faun,-by Hawthorne. Vol. 2. Walt and Vult,-from the German. Vol. 2. El Fureidis.
Famous Persons and Places,-by Willis.
Scott's Heart of Mid Lothian,
Vernon Grove.
Brothers and Sisters,-by Miss Bremer.
Moral and Religious Duties of Husbands and Wives,
Two Years Before the Mast,
A New Flower for Children,-by Mrs. Child.
Lincoln's History of Worcester,
Anecdotes of Dogs,
Pictorial History of England. Vol. 1.
Scott's Chronicles of the Canongate,
Rena,-by Mrs. Hentz. Olmsted's Journey in the Back Country.
Additions have been made to the library, by purchase and donations, and if these have not been all that could be de- sired, the pressure of the times certainly affords a reason- able excuse. Seven hundred and thirty-five (735) volumes have been added by purchase during the year. While many of them are of the current literature of the day, the list includes many standard works. While the Book Committee have sought to gratify the popular demand for new books, they have not forgotten or overlooked the permanent wants of the library. Eighteen hundred and eighty-three volumes have been added by dona- tion; of these sixteen hundred (1600) volumes have
147
been added by Dr. Green. It is sufficient to say of Dr. Green's additions, that they fully sustain the character of his previous choice collection. Among them may be found many rare old works, treatises on Theology and Religion ; finely illustrated and costly works: such as the Versailles Gallery and Jardine's Naturalist's Library, in forty volumes, with colored plates ; sets of periodicals and publications of learned and scientific societies. The other donations have been as follows :
Circulating Department.
Green Library.
Total.
Barton, Ira M.
-
-
1
1
Boston Public Library,
-
.
2
2
Capen, Barnard (Boston,)
-
-
4
4
Davis, A. McF.
-
-
-
67
67
Esty, J. L.
-
-
-
1
1
Harris, Alfred,
-
-
-
1
1
Harris, Clarendon,
8
8
Higginson, T. W. (with 60 pamphlets,)
10
45
55
Hoar, Geo. F.
29
2
31
Jones, J. D. E.
6
6
Paine, George P. - -
1
1
Sumner, Chas. (with 6 pamphlets,)
21
21
Sumner, George, -
1
1
Taft, Putnam W.
-
-
1
1
Thayer, Eli,
-
-
35
35
U. S. Department of Interior,
-
52
52
-
40
247
287
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Mr. Hoar's donation comprised the two final volumes of the Encyclopædia Britannica, and twenty-five additional volumes of the new Boston edition of the British Poets ; both being continuations of previous gifts. Mr. Thayer's public documents included the valuable American State Papers in 17 vols. folio, and Mr. Sumner's the twelve vol- umes of the Pacific Railroad Exploration. Mr. Higginson's gift included a complete file of the Boston Liberator for
148
twelve years back, and a folio copy of the Massachusetts Colonial Charter and Laws,-edition of 1726. We are in- debted to our School Superintendent, Mr. Jones, for the six last reports of the State Board of Education, and to Mr. Capen, Secretary of the Boston School Committee, for similar volumes of Boston School Documents. The Trus- tees of the Boston Public Library have kindly presented a copy of their invaluable Catalogue, which will be a model for all similar works during years to come.
The most important of these donations however, has been that of A. McF. Davis, Esq., who has presented to the city an exceedingly valuable collection of books in a very important department. Having devoted much time to the study of engineering, Mr. Davis had made a collec- tion of the best books, in English and French, on this and kindred topics. These books, to the number of sixty- seven volumes, he now presents to the library. They are in good order and binding, and accompanied by some large volumes of plates ; and they extend over pure Mathemat- ics, applied Chemistry, Hydraulics, Road making, Rail- roads, Bridges, &c., thus covering a range of topics for which the library is often consulted. Valuable in itself, this donation is yet more valuable as an example. Books which, when locked in a private book case, are useful only to one, may, if intrusted to a public institution, extend their benefits to many.
Before the re-opening of the Circulating Library a new catalogue was imperatively necessary. This was prepared principally by Miss C. P. Hawes, under the direction of the Committee on the Library. In the preparation and printing of this catalogue, four hundred and twenty-seven dollars ($427) of our scanty appropriation were expended. Most of this will be refunded from the sale of catalogues, as it was thought best to print a large edition,-to last for
149
several years, during which it is proposed that the annual additions shall be appended to the Reports. The cata- logue is a volume of 186 pages, containing the names of 5,700 volumes, alphabetically arranged, and designated by their authors, titles and subjects. The works of the same author are given under his name ; books upon the same or similar subjects are grouped together, and the title of each book is also found in its alphabetical arrangement.
A Numerical Catalogue for the use of the Librarians was also found necessary, which has been prepared with great care and neatness by Mrs. Baker.
It is also very necessary that a full written catalogue of the Green Library should be prepared, a printed one not being absolutely essential, and also far beyond our means at the present time. At present, the chief guide to the library is the memory of the Librarian. It is worthy of consideration whether the employment of an additional assistant, temporarily at least, may not be advisable, who shall attend upon the readers in the Green Library, and also devote all spare moments to cataloguing. The Green Library now numbers nine thousand one hundred (9,100) volumes, and the Circulating Library five thousand seven hundred and eighty (5,780) volumes.
It is in accordance with the design of the institution to afford accommodations so far as possible within the Li- brary Building for various literary and scientific Societies of the city. Accordingly arrangements have been made, mutually satisfactory, by which the Worcester District Medical Society and the Worcester Natural History Society have accepted rooms in the Building.
The Worcester District Medical Society has taken the rooms over the Circulating Library and fitted them with shelvings and otherwise in a corresponding style.
The Library of this society originated in donations from
20
150
individuals collected by a committee appointed in the year 1814, of which Dr. John Green was the active mem- ber. To the nucleus thus formed were added a few books from the Massachusetts Medical Society.
In 1845 the Library was placed upon a permanent basis by a bequest from Hon. Daniel Waldo, who during his life had been its largest contributor, of six thousand dollars ($6,000) " the principal of which is to be kept safely invested, and the income perpetually appropriated to the purchase and care of books for a Medical Library." This Library is to be always kept in the city of Worcester and to be the property of the Worcester District Medical Society, but is to be open at all times, to the profession at large of Worcester County. In 1851, the funds of the Society were farther increased by a legacy of five hundred dollars ($500) from Dr. Charles W. Wilder, of Leominster.
This library now contains thirty-five hundred volumes, carefully selected by the Society. Most of the books are of a medical character, although the Library is by no means confined to such. Whatever is new and valuable in this country or Europe, upon medicine in all its branches, Natural History, Hygiene and kindred topics, is secured by the Society. The high talent of the gen- tlemen composing the Society, and the ample means at their disposal, afford a guarantee that this library, already one of the best in that department, in the state, will fully retain its position. By the arrangements referred to, this library is now thrown open to the public under the super- vision of our Librarian, and subject to the regulations and restrictions which govern the Green Library.
The cabinets of the Worcester Natural History Society are now being arranged in the hall in the basement story appropriated for that purpose, and the public will be sur- prised to find that so large and beautiful a display of nat-
151
ural objects has been formed in our midst with so little notoriety. The society was formed in 1854, as a depart- ment of the Young Men's Library Association, and its col- lections were based upon a mineralogical cabinet which had been deposited at Antiquarian Hall, long previously, by a defunct society of the same name. To this has grad- ually been added, by the zealous labors of a small band of naturalists, a collection embracing almost all the branches of Natural History, by illustrative specimens. One of the costliest collections of shells in Massachusetts (Mr. J. M. Earle's,) is about to be placed in the hall, and Professor Agassiz has promised some important donations of dupli- cates, from his great Museum in Cambridge, in return for services rendered him by members of the society. The hall has been liberally and handsomely fitted up by the association itself; and thus without a dollar of expense to the city, beyond the occasional cost of a little gas-for the heating costs nothing-the public will have access, under proper restrictions, to an institution which may justly be a source of local pride.
The farmers of Worcester have for some time been in the habit of meeting at regular times for mutual improve- ment. They have a small but choice library upon agricul- tural subjects. It is already mooted among them to add this library to that of the city. Should this be done, and should they desire it, it would be well to inquire if there is not yet another room in the Library Building in which these gentlemen may find accommodation.
The Free Public Library is now a fixed and perma- nent institution of the city. It has overcome the difficul- ties and oppositions of its origin and is an incorporated por- tion of our educational system. Already the number of those availing themselves of its privileges is greater than that of the scholars in our public schools. Nor are these privi-
152
leges few or slight. The Green Library is one, the possession of which, whether we regard the number or the character of its books, might justly be a source of congratulation and pride to any community. It is already nearly as large as the Library of Mr. Parker, presented to the city of Boston, and much better adapted to the varied wants of a community like Worcester. It contains nearly twice the number of volumes of the Dowse Library of Cambridge, whose consecration to the public use was deemed worthy a public celebration, and an oration by Mr. Everett.
In its Encyclopedias, Dictionaries and Gazetteers, works of general reference; in its historical department, European and American ; in its illustrated books of art and architec- ture ; in its collection of works on Natural Science, choice and costly ; in its books of Geography and travels and in all its miscellaneous departments, the Green Library is rich and ample. It is a treasury of knowledge nobly and generously provided for the intellectual wants of our city. And it is peculiarly fortunate and proper that in this city, distinguished for the mechanical genius and enterprize of its citizens, for their independence of thought and restless desire for progress, in matters both physical and intellect- ual, there should be one public place consecrated to the diffusion of knowledge, free and universal, within whose walls the jar of political and religious discord may never come, all whose influences shall be softening and elevating, improving the character of the present generation and moulding the next for something still higher and better.
For the Board,
W. W. RICE, President.
Worcester, January '18, 1862.
153
Expenditures for the Free Public Library in the year 1861, made under the direction of the Board of Directors :
For fuel and gas, - -
-
-
-
157 11
Rent, care and repairs of Hall,
-
-
-
- 179 29
Books, - -
-
- 651 02
Binding pamphlets and books, -
-
-
-
88 84
Printing cards, labels and advertising,
-
-
-
49 65
Salaries, - - -
-
-
-
-
1,100 00
Making and printing Catalogue, -
-
-
-
427 05
Making Numerical Catalogue,
-
-
-
24 00
Insurance, - - -
-
-
-
87 50
Postage, stationery and ledger, -
-
-
-
24 73
Trucking, work in Library, new stove, repairs to stove, water pipe, new desk, brushes and sundry charges incident to moving from Hall to Library Building, as per bills, -
112 09
Total expenditure, -
-
-
-
- 2,901 26
Cash in City Treasury,
-
-
- 27 51
Cash in Librarian's hands, -
- -
- 16 29- 43 80
2,945 06
For the Directors,
ALBERT TOLMAN, Sec'y.
REPORT
OF THE
COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS.
CITY OF WORCESTER, January 13, 1862. To the Honorable City Council of the City of Worcester :
The undersigned Commissioner of Highways herewith submits, in conformity to the city ordinances, his annual report, covering the receipts and expenditures of the High- way Department for the year ending on the first instant, together with a schedule of the property belonging to the city in said department, with the value of the same.
The amount of appropriation for Highways, 10,000 00
Cash for oxen sold, - 250 00
" From abutters on various streets, for grad- ing &c., - -
140 00
" For manure and scrapings sold, - 315 37 -
" For plank sold, and for work on bridge of Wm. B. Fox, - - -
160 10
For work on hay scales and at Library Building, - 73 28
For work of teams at Long Pond Causeway, - 289 25
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