USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1862-1866 > Part 34
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Eighteen burial lots have been laid out on the southerly side of River Avenue, and twenty-three lots on the southerly side of Magnolia Avenue,-between Fern and Magnolia Ave- nues, forty-two lots,-and on the northerly side of Fern Ave- nue, twenty lots, making in all one hundred and three lots, surveyed, laid out, bounds fixed, and valuation made and duly certified to the city Treasurer. Maple and Larch Avenues, have been ornamented with trees.
Between Chestnut and Glenn Avenues, the land has been cleared of surplus trees, grubbed and graded, preparatory to being laid into lots. Portions of land set apart for free burial, have been fully prepared for the purposes for which it was appropriated. A portion of the level ground on the north side of River Avenue, has been fully prepared for sepulture. A large tract of land between the avenues of Chapel and Maple, has been cleared of brush, cleansed, and prepared for a lawn. On the north side of Newton Hill a wall has been laid to protect burial lots from the washing and caving of the land contiguous to the lots.
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On the 14th of November last, the Board of Aldermen passed an order requesting the Commissioners to assign and appropriate a lot in the Cemetery for the burial of the soldiers who may die in the service of the Country; and also, for the burial of such soldiers as may die at Dale Hospital in this city. The order further requested the Commissioners to pre- pare the lot for sepulture, and suitably ornament the same. This order and request, entirely harmonized with the feelings and views of the Commissioners, and immediate measures were adopted to carry into full effect, the order and request, of the Mayor and Aldermen.
The Commissioners congratulate the City Council, that in all probability, the Cemetery will no longer be a burden to the city in the way of taxation. From the sale of lots, we confidently expect a sufficient revenue, to keep the grounds, avenues and path-ways in good condition, and make form time to time, such improvements as may be required to clothe the hallowed place with attractions worthy of a moral, intel- lectual and christian people. To this consecrated place, wounded affection can resort, attracting no notice, dreading no intrusion ; sorrow can bring here her grateful offerings; taste and art can join with nature, in adorning the last home of the loved and lost; here the grave and thoughtful can come to meditate amid the numerous witnesses of mortality, in all the soothing influences of the scene,-and even the gay, thought- less, and reckless may here read lessons of wisdom and piety. All classes, can walk in its avenues and path-ways, and sur- vey its solemn beauties, read its touching memorials, and lay to heart its lessons of mortality, as well as its higher and holier teachings of faith and love.
153
The Board of Commissioners before closing their Report, take this opportunity to express their thanks to Geo. W. Wheeler, Esq. City Treasurer, for his efficient and important services in the sales and conveyances of lots in the Cemetery, and for his kindness and courtesy in various ways, in facilita- ting the business of the commission.
It is with deep and sincere regret, on the part of the Board, that a severe cold prevented their President, Gov. Lincoln from attending their last meeting, and preparing the Annual
, Report to the City Council. It is but simple justice to Gov. Lincoln, to say that for ten sonsecutive years he has been unanimously elected President of the Board, and has attended every meeting from the establishment of the Commission, with the single exception of the last, and without disparage- ment to others, has been one of its most efficient and useful members.
For and in behalf of the Commissioners of Hope Cemetery.
ISAAC DAVIS.
City of Worcester, January 27, 1865.
154
Receipts and Expenditures for Hope Cemetery in 1864.
Cash in City Treasury
$1546 39
received for Grass, -
5 00
wood, -
-
79 91
66
66
96 Lots, -
-
1033 00
$1117 91
2664 30
Expenditures.
Paid for labor, - - - 347 99
" chestnut rails and stakes, -
115 77
" trees and setting,
-
-
16 50
" 35 perch stone, -
35 00
stamps for deeds, -
-
15 00
surveying,
-
-
40 25
sundries,
-
-
7 08
Total Expenditure,
577 59
Balance in Treasury,
2086 71
$2664 30
ALBERT TOLMAN,
Secretary and Treasurer of Commissioners.
Worcester, January 1, 1865.
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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
AQUEDUCT COMMISSIONER.
CITY OF WORCESTER, January 9, 1865.
To the City Council of the City of Worcester :
GENTLEMEN :- The Aqueduct Commissioner in accordance with the Ordinance, has the pleasure of submitting the follow- ing annual report.
The amount of water in Bell Pond on hand and available for use on the first day of January, A. D., 1865, was six feet five inches. The pond furnished all takers uninterruptedly through the entire season, notwithstanding the very severe drought which prevailed during the season. The new supply was added to it on the 20th day of December, 1864. We are now allowing Bell Pond to fill up from its natural sources and are using water almost entirely from Lynde Brook.
The whole number of water takers is now 175. The num- ber added during the year has been twenty-nine.
The income from the sales of water during the year has been $3240 00 The ordinary repairs and taking care of same, $610 00
Leaving balance in favor of the aqueduct of $2630 00
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The works are now in good repair and working effectively. There have been but very few repairs on the work, or needed during the season.
The following is a schedule of the property belonging to the Department.
3 pieces of eight inch pipe, nine feet long.
1 eight inch branch.
6 pieces of six inch pipe nine feet long, damaged.
5 pieces of four inch pipe, twenty-three feet long in all.
2 single nozzle Bigelow pattern hydrants.
1 hydrant, old pattern.
2 hydrant boxes.
1 force pump and fixtures.
1 six inch stop cock.
3 four inch stop cocks.
1 six inch belt, twenty-five feet long.
18 feet 6 inch stove pipe.
175 pounds 1-2 inch lead pipe.
Tools-19 picks, 21 shovels, 1 stone hammer, 1 hand ham- mer and tools for making lead joints, 1 ladle for melting lead, tackle blocks and rope, 1 drilling machine for cast iron pipe, 1 drill stock and drills, 3 large stop-cock wrenches, 1 corpo- ration stop wrench.
PHINEHAS BALL,
Aqueduct Commissioner.
REPORT
OF THE
CITY MARSHAL.
CITY OF WORCESTER, MARSHAL'S OFFICE, Jan. 2, 1865.
To the Honorable City Council
of the City of Worcester :
In obedience to the requirements of the City Ordinance, I have the honor to submit herewith my annual report in rela- tion to the action and condition of the Police Department for the year 1864.
The number of arrests and committals to the watch-house during the quarter ending December 31st, was 295, and of this number 201 persons were prosecuted in the Police Court ; 2 were sent to the State Lunatic Hospital; 8 were deserters from the military service, and returned to the proper authori- ties ; and 84 were discharged without complaint.
During the year 1864, the whole number of arrests made by the police force was 1428; of these parties so arrested 983 were complained of in the Police Court; 70 were re- manded to other jurisdictions, being criminals, deserters, and
20
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insane persons, and 375 were discharged from custody without complaint. It is pertinent to state that many of the persons so discharged were soldiers and newly enlisted men, arrested for disturbances of the peace and drunkenness. When par- ties have been held in custody, whose services were due to the United States, I have deemed it my duty, to co-operate as far as it was practicable and just with the military authorities, so that the country should not be deprived of a single soldier for any trivial cause.
The whole number of complaints made by me in the Police Court during the year is 983, and for the following offences, viz : Larceny, 106; disturbing the peace, 20; assault and battery, 174; assault with intent to ravish, 6; assault with dangerous weapon, 4; assault with intent to kill, 1; assault upon officer, 7; threatening violence, 8; murder, 2; liquor nuisance, 21; common seller, 2, selling liquor, 3; common nuisance, 3; receiving stolen goods, 2; burglary, 8 ; adultery, 3; fornication, 6; drunkenness, 345; common drunkards, 16; vagrancy, 18; obtaining goods or money by false pre- tences, 13; search warrant, 16; breaking glass, 8; truancy, 30 ; fast driving, 8 ; tresspass, 10; keeping unlicensed dog, 3 ; common railer and brawler, 2; malicious mischief, 4; neglecting to support family, 7; evading payment of railroad fare, 3; gaming, 2; lewdness, 2; disorderly house, 2; cruel- ty to horse, 2; and selling diseased meat, enticing persons to enlist unlawfully, contempt of court, taking team without leave, disobedient child, obstructing highway, unlawfully selling wood, peddling without license, defiling building, carry- ing metalic knuckles, disturbing meeting, selling mortgaged property, embezzlement, passing counterfeit money, one each.
159
During the year 631 poor persons have been furnished with food and lodgings at the police station.
The financial account of the Department for the year is as follows :
Appropriation for 1864, $9000 00
Fees on warrants served by Assistant Mar-
shals Ruggles and Dana, 1682 40
Fees of Watchmen as witnesses, 380 40
Received for services of Police at theatre, &c., 74 00
Total, $11,136 80
EXPENSES.
Salary of Marshal, $1500 00
Salary of two Assistant Marshals,
1646 75
Pay rolls of Watchmen, 7138 25
Pay of extra Police, 69 00
Sundry small bills,
140 08
J. B. Lawrence's bill, eight office chairs,
12 00
Paid for eleven billies, .
5 50
D. Evans & Co's bill for buttons,
65 50
W. Rawson's bill for papering and whitewashing, 12 50
Paid C. Arnold, for soap, 7 50
4 G. H. Clark, for painting and repairs, 31 97
J. Keith, for one record book, 6 25
J. B. Lawrence, for five window shades,
19 58
" S. Taft & Sons' bill, .
12 70
" John Firth's bill of paper, 7 17
" Estes Wheelock's bill, hacking, 5 00
For advertising, Transcript and Spy, 8 80
J. G. Mowbray, whitewashing, 6 60
160
Paid O. A. Ramsay, for filling beds, &c., .
11 00
C. H. Stearns, for crackers, 78 04
" G. F. Bonney & Co., for hacking, 4 50
" C. B. Pratt's bill, telegraphing and postage stamps, 9 20
Unexpended balance, 338 91
Total, , .
$11,136 80
Of the earnings of the department, amounting to $2,136 80
The Treasurer has received from theatre,
exhibitions, &c., $74 00
I have paid the Treasurer, 1001 15
I now hold in my hands by virtue of an order of the City Council, for the purpose of defraying expenses in a suit pending against me for false imprisonment, funds amounting to 949 75
And the balance which will be due after the January term of the Superior Court is, 111 90 Total, $2136 80
The police department is made up of one Marshal, two Deputy Marshals, one Captain of the Watch, and nine night Watchmen. I do not hesitate to recommend that the police force be enlarged. I am aware that a proposition to increase the expenses of a department is ever unwelcome, but yet if the purpose is to maintain an effective force, the question must be met. This city, with a population at present numbering over 30,000, keeps the same police organization as when the people numbered less than 20,000. It should be remembered that this new, floating population demand constant attention
161
from the officers, and the police records will sustain the state- ment.
The night beats in the city require remodelling ; some of them should be shortened or divided on account of the great increase in the duties of an officer since they were first marked out ; and new beats are needed so that territory containing valuable property within its limits, can have the benefit of a night patrol.
At the police station, I have made it an unvarying rule to have an officer present at all times, both night and day, to at_ tend to office business. For the service of warrants, for promptly answering outside calls, and the performance of va- rious police duties, the Marshals are obliged, during the day, to hold themselves in readiness. In addition to this day force, I think that the present size and condition of the city imperatively demand that from two to four men should be employed as a day and evening patrol, for several of our crowded thoroughfares. These men might be instructed to visit the depots on the departure and arrival of each train ; and as a return for services rendered, it appears just that the different railroad corporations should pay a certain sum into the city treasury. At all events, when the vast amount of · railroad travel is fairly taken into consideration, it will be evident that the police arrangements at our depots should be more regular and ample.
These suggestions are made simply for the good of the city and the efficiency of its police force. They are made to meet the necessary demands of a growing and prosperous communi- ty. That their execution will require additional expense at a
162
time when the burdens of taxation are already heavy, is true, but will it be wise to leave them entirely neglected.
I respectfully ask the attention of your honorable body to the condition of the roofs of several buildings on our public streets. In the winter time, travelers on the side walks are exposed more or less to the heavy and dangerous falls of snow from these roofs. I have many times caused ropes to be stretched across the side walks to stop as much as possible, the travel, when danger was imminent. But this measure is always distasteful to the business men in the blocks, and does not prevent many persons, and children especially, from run- ning the risk of being injured. The true remedy is to have a protection upon the roof so that passers by will be safe from snow slides.
I respectfully recommend that Section 27 of Chapter 17 of the Revised City Ordinances be so amended, that all sales by auction upon the sidewalks or public streets shall be prohibited. Many complaints have been made to me by citizens upon this subject, and it seems that a direct reference to such sales in the City Ordinances will aid materially in suppressing the trouble.
In accordance with the recommendation of Mayor Lincoln, the officers of the department in February last purchased a neat and durable uniform. The system of uniforming the police has been attended with good results. The public mili- tary funerals, and other processions during the year have been attended by the members of the department, and I am confi- dent that their appearance in uniform has been acceptable to the majority of the citizens.
I cannot close this report without expressing my gratitude
163
to his Honor Mayor Lincoln, to Chief Engineer Alzirus Brown, and to the members of the various departments of the city government, for their uniform kindness and entire willingness to render assistance whenever it was necessary. The memory of my official connection with them will ever be pleasantly cherished. I am especially indebted to Assistant Marshals Ruggles and Dana, for faithful and valuable services. To the Captain of the Watch and the Watchmen, my thanks are due for their hearty and active co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
CHAS. B. PRATT,
City Marshal,
ANNUAL REPORT
THE
COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS.
CITY OF WORCESTER, JAN. 9, 1865.
To the Hon. City Council
of the City of Worcester :
The undersigned, in conformity to the requirements of an Ordinance defining the duties of the Commissioner of High- ways, presents his annual report of the receipts and expendi- tures of the Highway Department for the year ending on the thirty-first day of December last, together with a schedule of the property belonging to said Department, and the appraised value thereof.
RECEIPTS.
By balance undrawn January 1st, 1864, $355 40
" Annual appropriation for highways, 10,500 00
" Proceeds from the sale of six oxen, '540 00
" Cash received of the Worcester Horse Railroad for paving, 509 40
" Cash received for the sale of manure,
110 00
66
for the sale of street scrapings, 236 00
of H. D. Goodnow, . 26 62
165
By Labor on Bell Pond Aqueduct, 37 87 " Grading a portion of Main street for Aqueduct Commissioner, 75 50
" Bills for articles sold and labor, in hands of Treasurer for collection, 520 42
Total receipts and earnings,
$12,911 21
EXPENDITURES.
Pay roll of men,
$7189 77
Salary of Commissioner, 800 00
Paid for hay and grain, 1784 33
Paid for repairs of roads and removing snow in suburban districts, ·
67 24
Paid sundry bills for bridge plank, curb and paving stones, repairing bridges, for tools, &c., and for setting curb and paving, amounting to 3111 86
Total expenses,
$12,953 20
Expenditures over receipts, and earnings, $41 99
The extraordinary expenses incurred by the Department
during the year have been as follows, viz :-
1962 yards paving on Pleasant street, 1636 70
252 66 on Carlton street, 239 20
· 275 " gutter paving on Pleasant, Oxford, Chat- ham, Walnut and William streets, 216 90
Setting 282 feet curb stone and 117 yards paving, Ashland street, 177 58
Setting 85 feet curb and paving 36 yards gutter, Green street, 36 75
Setting 38 feet curb and paving 18 yards gutter, Main street, · · 38 00
Putting in a cross-walk at Lincoln square, 150 52
in a crossing on Madison st., near Southbridge, 69 57
in a crossing on Exchange street, 50 62
22
166
Putting in a crossing on Main, near Chandler street, 48 20 For raising walk near Austin street, .
23 60
" cross walk on Summer street, and raising walk on Grove street, 79 00
" repairing wooden side-walk on Grove street, 128 14
" new bridge on Beaver street, and grading road, . 375 74
" laying brick side-walk for James R. Pierce, · 126 25
" extending West street sewer 200 feet, , 171 00
" cleaning streets and cess-pools, . 619 00
$4,187 07
For the amount of stock and materials on hand belonging to the High- way Department, valued at $3179, see page 143.
The orders of the City Council have all been executed, and the streets and bridges are in good condition.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
HENRY PRENTICE,
Commissioner of Highways.
.
FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TRUANT COMMISSIONERS.
The Statute of 1862, Chapter 207, which like all good laws, is only the legal and authoritative expression of a great public need, makes it obligatory upon each town and city of the Com- monwealth " to make all needful provisions and arrangements concerning habitual truants, and also concerning children wandering about in the streets or public places of any city or town, having no lawful occupation or business, not attending school and growing up in ignorance, between the ages of seven and sixteen years"-and to "also make all such by-laws re- specting such children as shall be deemed most conducive to their welfare and the good of such city or town."
Worcester, like all other cities, has a class of children who are not benefitted by the public schools because they do not attend them,-a class who by daily association with idleness and vice are educated into crime-the class from which the jails and prisons get most of their recruits.
In 1862 a partial attempt was made to establish a Reform School for this class of children, and four boys were sentenced
168
to the almshouse in that year. No provision whatever was made by any authority for their education, reform or govern- ment, and beyond their bare support, they were pretty much left to take care of themselves. So little benefit did this ar- rangement promise to the boys, and so great were the inconve- niences to the inmates of the almshouse, that at the commence- ment of the next year, the Overseers of the Poor unanimously voted to request the city authorities to have no more truant children sentenced to that establishment. The failure of this first attempt to establish this school must be attributed more to a want of proper system, than to any serious difficulties or objections to the scheme itself.
In obedience to the statute and in harmony with its spirit, the present reform school was organized at the almshouse in December, 1863, and placed under the charge of Mr. George B. King, a late graduate of the State Normal School in West- field.
The statistics for the year it has been in existence, are as follows :
Whole number admitted since Dec. 1, 1863, 29. Whole number during the year, ·
24.
Average number during the year, . 11.
Number in the school January 1, 1865, 14.
Average age at admission, ·
10% years.
Age of the oldest, 16.
Age of the youngest, 7.
Average time for which they have been sentenced, 9months.
Term of longest sentence, . 2 years.
Term of shortest sentence,
2 months.
169
Of those who have left the school during the year, five are now at work in the city, and are attending evening school ; one has left the city, two have been pardoned out to leave the State with their parents, two have absconded and not been heard from, and two have been in the House of Correction for theft.
The appropriation for the Truant School was $1500 00
The expenses have been-
Cash paid for gratings for windows, $155 76
Materials and labor for fence, 56 56
Bedsteads, beds, bedding and furniture, 512 38
Clothing, and other expenses of maintainance, . 662 84
Salary of teacher, 457 00
$1844 54
Of the above expenses, $251 75 were for labor and materi- als ordered and partly furnished in 1863, in preparing and furnishing the building for the school, leaving $1,592 79 as the amount properly chargeable to this year. It will be noticed that of the whole sum charged to the department, $724 70 have been paid for alterations and improvements in the build- ing to fit it for use and for the necessary furniture. The cur- rent expenses of the establishment have been $1,119 84, and such proportion of the expense of the pauper department as is properly chargeable to the school. The boys are compelled to work a part of each day in and about the house, upon the farm, or in any manner that the ingenuity of the teacher can devise. But it is exceedingly difficult to find remunerative labor at this distance from the city, and the amount of money realized from it has been small.
170
The design of the institution is strictly that of a reform school. Cleanliness, of which the person and the wardrobe of the boys on their admission usually give signs of sad neglect, is the first lesson taught. Effort is made to teach them habits of order and industry. A portion of each day is spent in the school, another portion in work, and a part in play. They have made commendable progress in study and their general deportment has been highly satisfactory. They are not want- ing in intellect or in moral sense, but their opportunities for the development of either have not been favorable. Most of them are the children of destitution and misfortune. They are generally strangers to the attractions of a comfortable home, and have been compelled, if they had any society, to find it in the streets or places of public resort. The wonder is not that they are so bad, but rather that under the circum- stances they are not worse.
The moral effects of the school are almost immediately apparent. The boys very soon became submissive, obedient, prompt, and generally truthful. The experiment has not been continued long enough to demonstrate how many on leaving the institution will return to their old habits, but it is too much to expect that all of them will be thoroughly and permanently reformed.
Another feature of the school, not to be lost sight of in es- timating its value, is the reflex moral influence which it exerts on the boys in the city. For every one sent to this school there are from five to ten others, whose tendencies are in the same direction, but who are constrained by the fate which has overtaken their leader to abandon a vagrant life and attend the public schools, thereby largely diminishing tardiness and
171
almost suppressing truancy ;- and the records of the police department show that, since the establishment of this institu- tion, juvenile criminals are comparatively rare.
D. WALDO LINCOLN, J. D. E. JONES, CHAS. B. PRATT,
Truant
Commissioners.
Worcester, Jan. 2, 1865.
REPORT
OF THE
CHIEF ENGINEER OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
To the City Council of the City of Worcester:
GENTLEMEN,-My fourth annual report is herewith submit- ted to your honorable body embracing such facts as will enable you to understand the present wants and necessities of the Fire Department.
Harmony and good feeling has pervaded the action of the several companies the past year which is truly commendable, and their faithful endeavors deserve the approval of the public. The character and condition of the apparatus may be said to be in good working order. Nothing beyond a sub- stantial and permanent improvement has been asked for, or indulged in, the past year that has at all enhanced the expen- ses of this department. In my last annual report the atten- tion of the city government was called to the necessity of repairing the Engine House of Washington No. 1 at Lincoln square, or disposing of the city's interest in that building, and providing some other place for that Engine.
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