USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1862-1866 > Part 19
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Daniels and Stone
Sycamore Street,
" H. N. Chase,
St. John and A. Firth.
" M. A. Smith,
.6 Magennis and Woodworth.
Ash Street, 66
H. A. Bigelow,
66 Stone and Daniels.
Front Street,
A. Pratt,
Woodworth and J. Firth.
66 Lamb and Clark.
East Worcester, 66
" C. E. Putnam,
Woodworth and Power.
66 Putnam and Holmes.
Salem Street,
M. E. Loveil,
66 Gale and Stone.
Providence Street,
E. L. Pond,
Haven and Baldwin.
New Worcester,
" L. Pratt,
66 Newton and M'Conville.
Mason Street,
M. S. Fitch,
66 A. Firth and T. Earle.
ADULT SCHOOLS.
Young Men's School, Thomas Wheelock, Evening School, 66
Messrs. Power, Ed. Earle, and A. Firth. 66 Magennis, Stone, and Rice.
SUBURBAN SCHOOLS.
Tatnuck,
Principals Miss P. M. Cole,
Visiting Committees. T. K. Earle aud J. Firth.
Valley Falls,
" H. A. Harrington, Rice and McConville.
Leesville, A. H. Barnes,
So. Worcester, Quinsigamond,
F. J. Bean, " D. Rowland,
McConville and Rice. St. John and Hamilton. Gale and Woodworth. Henry Goddard. Woodworth and Gale, 66 Hamilton and T. K. Earle. Charles Wesson.
Blithewood,
A. E. Hall,
Pond,
M. A. Pratt, " C. F. Ayres,
Shippen and T. K. Earle.
Burncoat Plain,
E. M. Ilarrington, Lamb and Rice.
Northville,
" E. Brown,
Lamb and Gale.
North Pond,
G. P. Rogers.
Chamberlain,
A. M. Pratt, L. V. Palmer, Geo. B. King,
Bemis and Power. Baldwin and Edw. Earle. A. Firth, Bemis & Power.
Sylvanus Sears,
Reform School,
D. W. LINCOLN, Mayor.
J. D. E. JONES, Supt.
Prud'l Committee. Harrison Moore. J. W. Lamson. John F. Boice.
Alden B. Plimpton.
" H. S. Clark,
Putnam and T. Earle.
Henry Prentice.
Adams Square,
Geo. A. Barnard. Willard P. Knight. Samuel Warren.
A. Firth and T. Earle.
H. M. Shattuck,
C. M. Draper,
L. A. Perry,
Report of the Directors
OF THE
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
To HON. D. WALDO LINCOLN, Mayor, and the CITY COUNCIL, of the City of Worcester, the Directors of the Free Public Library, respectfully present their Fourth An- nual Report.
At no period in the history of our country, has it been more important that every aid should be given to culti- vate the intelligence and morality of the people, than in this time of intense excitement and unexampled effort. While military strength is stimulated in the highest de- gree, it is no less necessary to make a liberal provision to encourage the virtues requisite for national power, to counteract and reform the vices, which are fostered by the condition of the country, and to prepare the people for service and for sacrifice, and especially for the great questions which must be decided by prevailing opinions.
These desirable objects must be promoted by educa- tion, not the education of children's schools, but the edu- cation of adult life, in which free public libraries should be most efficient agencies.
11
86
The school instruction of childhood is of great value for the facility of learning which it imparts, but in its highest type, in the case of the best instructed graduate of a college, it is worth more for polish than for power, if it is not carried on by self-education in adult years. After their school days, most persons passively receive the teachings of occupation and circumstance, with little di- rect effort for intellectual improvement. It is an un- heeded truth of common observation, that many men, and some of the ablest men, have not developed their mental capacity in early youth. Education should be the unintermitted work of life, for thus men will bring. forth their best fruit in old age. The admiring world acknowledges, that fifty-seven years of laborious training in classical studies were well compensated by the produc- tion of "Paradise Lost," the greatest and perhaps the only Epic Poem in the English language. This is the most illustrious of many similar examples. Yet in com- mon talk, the college graduate, without regard to his ac- quisitions in college or in after life, is called an educated man, and they, who with little aid from instruction in childhood, with a strong will, develope and direct their mature faculties to their greatest strength and compass, are spoken of with some disparagement, as self-educated, though they often lead the opinions and the business of the community. Of the truth of this, many instances will occur in the foremost men of our country. Such gifted individuals will find their own way to libraries and other sources of knowledge ;. but there are many bright men fitted for higher usefulness and happiness, than they have attained, who need to be attracted to public libra- ries, and for whom these libraries may perform their best service. Joshua Bates, Esq., the eminent and generous
- 87
American merchant in London, when he offered his large donation to the Boston Public Library, stipulated, that an apartment pleasantly warmed, and in the evening lighted, should be opened for the resort of those who desired to read there; and he stated that he was moved to do this, by sympathy for those, who, like himself in early life, had, after the labors of the day, no convenient place for study at their lodgings. It has been the wish of the Directors to encourage, as much as possible, the resort of such readers to the Green Library, but the amount of funds at their disposal, and the difficulty of warming the Green Library, has disabled them from making that richly stored department attractive for long continued study. In view of the discouragements of business last spring and the burdens of the time, the di- rectors limited, as far as possible, their application to the City government for an appropriation for the current year, requesting only-
For Salaries, -
- - - $1,400 00 For books 800, binding 100, stationery, &c., 100, 1,000 00 For coal and gas, - : - - 350 00
Viz: For ordinary expenses,
-
$2,750 00
And for removal of the steps and front fence,
out of the Street, and improvement of fences and grading, the Directors asked for a further sum of - - 1,225 00
It is probable that the City government was also influ- enced by desire to relieve the weight of taxation, when they granted an appopriation for all purposes of $2500 00 To which unexpended balance of last year's
appropriation must be added, - 87 55
$2,587 55
88
The report of the Directors' sub-committee on Finance, by Dr. George Chandler, Chairman, is appended to this Report, and shows that with the most careful restriction and economy, the expenditure of the current year was For Salaries, - - - - $1,400 00
Books purchased, -
-
-
289 06
Book binding,
-
- 192 50
Incidentals, -
- - 433 66
Leaving an unexpended balance, - 272 33
to furnish books, coal at present prices, gas and inciden- tals till a new appropriation shall be granted.
The Directors have been excessively sparing in the purchase of books, for the purpose of saving funds to keep the Library in active operation. If the only effect of this parsimony was the loss of the larger number of new books, which the excitement of the last year has sent forth with such barren fertility, no one would regret it. But in this quantity of chaff there has been a small portion of the finest of the wheat, and without regard to recent books, it is essential that the Library should keep up its attractions for those who now use it so freely and so well.
The Report of Mr. Z. Baker, the Librarian, appended to this Report, will show the accessions and the condi- tion of the Library. The active borrowers from the Circulating Library are 3452, and they must make their selections from about 6000 volumes. When individuals are necessarily disappointed in obtaining the books de- sired, they are apt to become discouraged and unsteady in their use of the Library. This evil would be obviated by a more ample supply of books. The average number of books taken out daily in the past year is more than 2262.
89
The Directors commend, without hesitation, the wis- dom of the founder of the Green Library, in providing, that the excellent and costly collection of books, which he gave and augments with a constant stream of liberal- ity, shall "be used only in the Library building." If these books were subjected to the hard usage of the circulating department, they would be worn out in a few years, and the expense of replacing them might be thought so burdensome to tax payers, that the whole Library would be suffered to fall into decay and disuse. At present the Green Library is the central life of the institution, and perfects and animates the more conspic- uous work of the circulating department. The efficiency of the Green Library cannot be measured by statistics of the number of visitors, and the length of their visits. A visitor who knows what he wants, and goes directly to- wards it, may gain in a few minutes a treasure of knowl- edge which his unaided labor for years would not acquire, while the ill-directed labor of days is profitless to another visitor. In the last year, the visits to the Green Library have been numerous and satisfactory. The well directed liberality of Dr. Green prompts many citizens to add their gifts to his large donations, with more of admira- tion than envy; that he will still be foremost in the race. It is ascertained by actual count that the number of vol- umes in the Green Library is - - 10,951
And in the Worcester Co. Medical Society's Library, also free for reading and consulta-
tion, about - - - 3,000
Whole number of volumes in consultation
Department, - - - - 13,951 This Medical Library is one of the best of its class in
90
New England, and in the wide range of medical science, it contains many books of great value to other than pro- fessional readers, and it is much used in connection with the Green Library.
The Librarian's Report contains a list of the donors of the 899 volumes given to the Green Library, 20 volumes given to the circulating department, and the valuable pamphlets and newspapers. It would be in many ways useful to make our citizens acquainted with the charac- ter of these gifts, but even a partial description would extend the length of this too long Report beyond what custom or patience would allow. But it may be permit- ted to state, that the founder of our Library takes the lead in the gift of 613 volumes of great value in all de- partments of learning.
The donation of A. McF. Davis, Esq., is the next in number of volumes, and includes with other books, a large number of volumes of state papers, which makes the set in the Library complete with the exception of a single volume.
Col. T. Wentworth Higginson, an early and ardent friend of this Library, now a member of this Board, and before he departed for distinguished service in defence of the country, a very active member of the sub-committee for the purchase of books, gives evidence of his continued interest in the Library by his gift of 74 very good books and 26 pamphlets. The beautifully written Record Book in the Library contains a full description of all donations and it is always open for inspection, which it will well repay.
The able and faithful service of Mr. Z. Baker, the Li- brarian, and his assistants, Miss Callina Barnes and Mrs. Z. Baker, has been continued with the satisfaction
91
of the Directors. Mrs. Baker, in addition to other duties, carrys on the difficult work of making the card catalogue of the Green Library, with brief and distinct statements and neat penmanship.
The eastern basement hall, not now needed for the uses of the Library, continues to be occupied by the Worcester Natural History Society, which pursues its appropriate objects with zeal and success, and offers, in the free exhibition of its valuable collection, a new object of curious and scientific interest to citizens and strangers ; while the researches, the original papers and the discus- sions of the members carry education beyond the schools with great advantage. The chamber at the north-east corner of the building, is occupied with like good effect by a respectable Farmers' Club on certain evenings in the winter. The same chamber is also used as the office of the City Assessors, and this use and the occupation of the western basement for a school save other expenditure by the City.
In May last, his Honor, Mayor Lincoln, informed the Directors that the City government, on account of defi- ciency of school-rooms for the increased number of child- ren, were considering the plan of admitting a selected female school, for a limited time, into the western base- ment of the building and asked the opinion of the Di- rectors. Members of the Board privately communicated to the Mayor the considerations of unfitness and inex- pediency, that were entertained, but the Board thought proper to take no action in relative to a temporary ar- rangement to be determined by the greater wisdom and authority of the City government. The school was after- wards introduced into that basement, and it has been so well managed that no inconvenience has yet been com- plained of.
92
It will be recollected that the Directors have repeatedly requested the City government to make provision for removing the steps and fence foundation of the front of the Library building, back out of the street, and for making the fences and grounds suitable for such a public building, and have presented plans for the work, and no adequate appropriation has been granted. A balance of $500, remaining unexpended from a previous appropria- tion for finishing and fitting up the building, has been put in use as far as it will go, for grading the ground and making the fences proper and permanent. A Report of the Directors' sub-committee on the building, by Messrs. I. Davis, A. Tolman, and Geo. M. Rice, states that the work of fences and grounds, and the improvement of the Green Library by a central table and gas lights, according to a vote of the Directors, is in good progress.
The change in the roof of the Green Library, requested by the Directors, to remedy leaking and avoid the danger incident to the large glass roof with a flat slope, has been made by the City government, and it seems to be effectual for the leaking, and the hall is less exposed to cold and the appearance is good. If this apartment is still warmed with difficulty, and not sufficiently lighted in clouded days, it does but partake of evils which are suffered by the best endowed public libraries of our country. Those who seek intellectual culture here, will gratefully acknowl- edge the enlightened liberality of a City which so cordially responded to private generosity by providing a building, so appropriate and so agreeable in its exterior, so convenient for present use, and capable of all desira- ble improvement in regard to light and space, when an enlargement shall be required.
The Directors commend this Library to the continued liberality of the government and people of the City, and
93
to the esteem and faithful care of those, who may be profited by its precious privileges.
By order of the Directors, STEPHEN SALISBURY, President.
Free Public Library, Worcester, Jan'y 9, 1864.
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
To the Directors of the Free Public Library,
GENTLEMEN : The Committee on Finance report that the balance on hand of last year's appropriation for cur- rent expenses, was $87 55 - -
And the appropriation for the current expenses
for 1863, was
2,500 00
$2,587 55
The bills approved for payment 1863, were, for Librarians' salaries, including those becoming due Jan. 1st, 1864, -
- 1,400 00
Books purchased, -
-
-
289 06
Binding books,
-
-
192 50
Printing Report,
- -
-
45 38
Gas for Oct. 1862, and 12 months of 1863,
106 40
Anthracite Coal,
- 200 61 -
Water for 1863, 5.50, and previous, 16.50,
22 00
Gas Fixtures and oil, -
-
-
9 25
Stove and its furniture, -
-
47 21
Postage and envelopes,
.
-
2 81
Unexpended balance,
-
272 33
$2,587 55
All of which is respectfully submitted.
GEORGE CHANDLER, Chairman.
12
94
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.
To the Directors of the Free Public Library,
GENTLEMEN : I herewith present my annual report in greater brevity than last year, when greater detail of description was required. The call for books has been equal to that of any previous period. For the year end- ing July, 1863, 58,082 volumes were delivered, just 100 less than in the year before, but as we had extra holi- days, the daily average delivery is a fraction more than 226₺, the average of last year. The whole number of borrowers' accounts on the books is 7,742, and the num- ber of active borrowers is 3,452. There has been some improvement in the care of the books by borrowers, but still there are too many cases of hard usage, and cases where unpracticed hands have been too strong to handle articles made of so frail material as paper.
All books that seemed to need it have been re-bound to save them from utter ruin. The Circulating Library is still too small for the great number wanting books. There have been 302 volumes purchased, chiefly for the circu- lating department, besides the monthlies, Harpers, the Atlantic, and the History of the Rebellion.
I have endeavored to keep the Library in proper order, and I have done all in my power to induce borrowers to use the books with care. The very high price of cover paper induced me, to some extent, to dispense with covers, but I am satisfied it is not good economy.
We have all the City newspapers by gift of the pub- lishers. It is desirable to have them as they attract the attention of strangers and often give them desirable information concerning the City. From Boston we have the Congregationalist, the gift of Rev. Horace James ;
95
and also the Trumpet and Freeman, the Commonwealth, and the Real Estate Register, given by the publishers. From New York we have the United States Insurance Magazine, the gift of the publisher.
The following is the list of the donors and the number and designated department of their gifts. There are 919 bound volumes and 54 pamphlets.
-Books .--
Pamphlets.
Green
Library.
Circulating
Library.
Dr. John Green, Worcester,
Volumes,
603
10
1
A. McF. Davis, Esq.,
147
Col. T. W. Higginson,
70
4
26
Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C., vol. 35 Andrew H. Green, Esq., New York, Volumes, 9
Trustees N. Y. State Library, Albany,
3
1
Hon. Amasa Walker, Brookfield,
4
2
Hon. Charles Sumner, Boston,
6
Clarendon Harris, Worcester,
6
Nath'l Paine, Esq.,
66
4
Hon. A. H. Bullock,
4 .
Mr. Lucian Prince,
3
Dr. Merrick Bemis,
2
City of Worcester, by Hon. D. W. Lincoln,
2
Hon. Henry Wilson, Natick,
3
1
Messrs. A. Williams & Co., Boston,
66
1
Orange Chapin, Esq., Chicopee,
1
6
J. L. Sibley, Esq., Cambridge,
2
W. S. Barton, Esq., Worcester,
1
Hon. I. M. Barton,
1
Rev. J. G. Adams, Providence, R. I.,
1
Rev. L. M. Burrington, North Adams,
1
Lieut. J. M. Baker, Dudley,
1
Trustees Providence Atheneum,
1
66 Brooklyn Mercantile Library Association,
1
Buffalo Young Men's Association,
1
Boston Public Library,
1
Newburyport Library,
1
Lowell Public Library,
1
66 Charlestown Public Library,
1
Fall River Library,
1
South Danvers Public Library,
1
Waltham Town Officers,
1
-
-
899
20
54
Also from Hon. J. S. C. Knowlton, 2 vols. Worcester Palladium in sheets.
6 from Col. T. W. Higginson, several volumes and parts of volumes of newspapers unbound.
from A. McF. Davis, engraved portrait of Hon. John Davis, and maps of State and City and County of Worcester.
1
E. M. Barton, Esq., Worcester,
Rev. William Silsbee, Northampton,
1
96
These gifts are desirable, and in many cases especially interesting and just what was needed. I have communi- cated acknowledgements and thanks to all the donors. The list of donations of the founder is more numerous than those of the other benefactors. Mr. A. McF. Davis has again remembered us, as Mr. Higginson also has done. The collections of both these gentlemen contain valuable works.
There seems to be an increase of interest in the Green Library, and if the hall could be properly arranged and furnished with the leading periodicals, it would be more extensively used.
There are in the Green Library 10,951 volumes classed as follows :
Vol. Vol.
Biography,
753 Miscellaneous Prose Literature, 945
History,
1784 Poetry and Drama, 635
Bohn's Libraries,
327 Theology,
911
Classics' Translations, &c.,
1134 Travels,
807
Encyclopædias, &c.,
263 Periodicals, 1390
Art and Science,
979 Public Documents, 1023
There has been received for fines and catalogues and cards sold - - -
$185 60
I have paid for stationery, catalogues and
cards, -
$80 07
for extra labor in the Library, 13 80
for repairs, fixtures, oil, &c., 41 84
for postage, express, dray and advertising, 19 27
Leaving a balance in my hands of 30 62
-- $185 60
Respectfully,
Z. BAKER, Librarian.
REPORT
OF THE
CITY TREASURER.
CITY OF WORCESTER, TREASURER'S OFFICE, FEBRUARY, 8, 1864.
To the Honorable City Council :
GENTLEMEN,-The Treasurer has the honor, and would re- spectfully lay before you his fourteenth Annual Report of the Receipts and Expenditures, Appropriations raised by tax, Abatements and Discounts, Taxes uncollected, &c.,
from January 5, 1863, to January 4, 1864.
The Cash account accompanying the same will exhibit the Cash transactions for the same space of time.
Cash on hand January 5, 1863, $10,946 94
" received from all sources, 428,482 89
Cash paid out for all departments,
$439,429 83 429,463 23
balance January 4, 1864,
$9,966 60
All of which is respectfully submitted.
GEORGE W. WHEELER,
City Treasurer.
98
Dr. CITY OF WORCESTER, in account current from Jan. 5, 1863,
Balances, January 5, 1863 :
Aqueduct and interest on same, School houses and land for same, -
$90,719 40
- Library building, - - - Quinsigamond Lake Causeway, -
10,637 07
4,023 61
War Contingents, aid to families and bounties,
103,034 47
$208,414 55 784 96
Paid Abatements on taxes after payment,
-
-
4,607 82
66
803 95
6 Contingent Expenses, -
-
-
98 25
Fire Department,
11,807 31
66 66 Steamer, -
3,500 00
15,307 31
Free Public Library,
2,882 18
Fuel, Lights, Printing, &c.,
1,792 92
.. Highways and Bridges, -
15,088 23
Bridge at Quinsigamond,
550 00
66 Hope Cemetery,
234 27
Interest,
11,818 93
66 Lighting Streets,
3,608 29
66 Loans, borrowed in anticipation of taxes and for transfer of debts.
93,176 76
Loans, on Library Scrip, on Quinsigamond Lake Causeway, -
4.023 61
66 on Old Debts,
904 48
Military,
-
-
11,915 62
Police and Watchmen,
7,805 37
66 Salaries,
4,104 17
Scales,
26 89
66 Schools,
37,905 37
School for Truants,
136 71
66 School house, Mason street, 66 66 Pine
13,541 35
66 Shade trees and public grounds,
686 21
66 Summons,
86 50
Tax, County,
19,441 25
66 " State,
47,784 00
War, aid to families,
41,164 11
Bounties, I
73,975 13
Contingents,
1,018 49
66 Recruiting,
419 42
Six per cent. discount on $201,388.57 for prompt payment,
12,083 31
Taxes of 1863 abated by the Assessors, uncollected previous to 1863, -
10,916 00
of 1863, -
-
-
5,680 71
Bills Receivable, Cash on hand, -
-
-
-
75 00
-
9,966 60
-
5,411 77 4,090 79
Dog Fund, -
-
-
.
-
-
$677,798 80
City of Worcester, February 8, 1864.
66
4,000 00
102,104 85 30 00
Paupers, support of,
-
5,649 99
-
1,199 40
Aqueduct, 66 Water Survey, -
99
to Jan. 4, 1864, with GEORGE W. WHEELER, City Treasurer. Cr.
Balances, January 5, 1863 :
Old City Debt,
-
-
-
$90,719 40
Library Building debt,
-
-
10,637 07
Quinsigamond Causeway debt,
4,023 61
War debt,
-
103,034 47
208,414 55
Abatements,
5,914 31
Bridge at Quinsigamond,
992 00
Contingent Expenses,
2,954 23
Highways and Bridges,
1,346 55
Hope Cemetery,
6,635 77
Library,
587 55
Military,
67 64
Paupers,
2,538 09
Schools,
4,143 29
Received from Aqueduct,
2,586 72
" City Hall Building,
1,055 25
66
Scales,
518 22
Received from Commonwealth :
For Armory Rents,
350 00
Military,
255 00
Paupers,
250 00
School Fund,
943 21
Aid to families 1861,
268 36
-
30,000 00
Bounties,
69,610 00
Received from Contingents, -
66
County, on Causeway account,
5,000 00
66
Dog Fund,
775 80
66
Highways and Bridges,
2,862 08
66
Interest on taxes,
93 33
.. Licenses,
583 00
Lighting Streets, -
12 90
Loans, borrowed in anticipation of taxes and transfer of City debt,
93,176 76
66 Loans, on War account,
-
15,273 24
Paupers,
-
-
2,397 43
Police,
2,170 44
Sewers,
378 00
Shade trees and public grounds,
200 00
66
66
Summons on taxes, (842)
168 40
66
War, aid to families,
66 00
יר Bounties,
190 00
Appropriations raised by tax, 1863 :
For City purposes,
140,370 75
County tax,
19,441 25
State tax,
47,784 00
66 Overlayings,
6,687 00
Omitted in May, -
-
42 80
214,325 80
$677,798 80
Errors and omissions excepted.
GEORGE W. WHEELER, City Treasurer.
1
1
-
25,179 43
1
-
1
1
1862,
-
I
- 101,676 57
630 83
Fire Department,
64 05
-
1
-
-
I
100
Dr.
CASH ACCOUNT from Jan. 5, 1863, to Jan. 4, 1864.
To balance, January 5, 1863, -
-
$10,946 94 -
Received from Aqueduct,
2,586 72
66 City Hall building, -
1,055 25
66
66 Scales, -
518 22
66 66 Commonwealth :
For Armory Rents,
350 00
Military, -
-
-
255 00
Paupers, -
-
250 00
66 School Fund,
943 21
66 Aid to families, 1861,
- 268 36
66
66 66 1862, -
30,000 00
66 Bounties, -
-
- 69,610 00
101,676 57
Received from Contingents,
630 83
66 66 County, on Causeway account, -
5,000 00
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