Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1867-1870, Part 31

Author: Worcester (Mass.)
Publication date: 1867
Publisher: The City
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1867-1870 > Part 31

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Influenced by these considerations, as in former years, the Commissioners have preferred to suffer their portion of the obloquy which few public servants escape, in the form of censure for inactivity rather than for extrava-

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gance. Receiving no compensation for their services, agreeable or disagreeable, the members of this Board have, nevertheless, endeavored to discharge their duty, in protecting the public trees, and maintaining the pub- lic grounds in a neat and orderly condition, such as should reflect no discredit upon a city which is destined, probably for a long time to come, to continue as much indebted to nature as to the hand of man for its reputa- tion of being among the most beautiful in the country. Beyond this, the Commissioners have not been ambi- tious to expend, for purposes of embellishment, even the entire appropriation asked for, and received at the be- ginning of the 'year. But little has been undertaken, therefore, during the term embraced within this report. The great prevalence of wet weather, also, during the portions of the spring and autumn when tree-planting is practicable, operated somewhat to discourage the Com- missioners, as well as private individuals who, otherwise, might have accepted the liberal offer, made by the Board, of the sum of one dollar for every tree, which, under certain restrictions, should be set out upon the public sidewalks.

A considerable amount of pruning has been done re- cently, and several trees, dead, dying, or encumbering ground more valuable for other uses, have been cut down. A great deal more of this work demands imme- diate attention. Singularly enough, owing to the inju- dicious manner in which the streets have been shaded, applications for the removal of trees have been more numerous than those for any new planting. On several of the streets, indeed, there is such an excess of shade that, were a redistribution of the trees practicable, those already growing along our sidewalks would be nearly sufficient for the present supply of the whole city.

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It will always be an imperative duty of the Board to protect the public trees from injury. During the year, one hundred and seventy-two entirely new tree-guards, or casings, have been put up, and a much larger number of those already in place have been properly repaired. This work has been distributed through a great many streets, and a considerable more of it ought to be done. Most of the mischief against which protection is neces- sary, comes from the gnawing of horses, but, a part also being chargeable to thoughtless or mischievous boys, the gratitude of the tree-loving portion of the community and the special thanks of the Commissioners are due to all parents, guardians, and school teachers who have en- deavored to restrain any such juvenile offenders from committing what the laws of the Commonwealth and the ordinances of the City punish as a misdemeanor. The appreciation of trees, as ornaments of streets as well as of rural scenery, being one evidence of an advanced civilization, it does not redound to our credit that so lit- tle of this evidence appears, as the fruit of the domestic discipline and of the secular and religious schooling which children in this part of the country are supposed to receive.

In regard to the burial ground on Pine Court, little needs to be added to what is contained in former reports of recent date. Even that little it might be expedient to suppress in a document of this public character. For the protection of this final resting place of humanity, the substantial board fence erected in 1865, proves but a feeble barrier. Shameless miscreants have found no dif- ficulty in climbing it, or in burrowing beneath it, in their eagerness to perpetrate some act that might manifest their irreverence for the dead. But it is not necessary to encumber this report with the details of outrages

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committed in this consecrated enclosure. In anticipa- tion of the speedy conversion of the cemetery to pur- poses wholly foreign to those which it can now hardly be said to serve, no desirable end is likely to be attained by complaining, in this connection, of the goats lawless- ly pastured here, or of the rowdy ball-players, who, with their rude and boisterous games, have invaded this sol- emn spot ; neither is it, perhaps, altogether politic to make more publicly known how the monuments have been broken and the tombs desecrated; or how thieves have stolen the wooden landmarks which determine the location of " many a mouldering heap," where those once full of life and hope now slumber in the peaceful grave,-if, indeed, under the circum- stances, such phraseology be applicable, except in bit- ter irony.

It is truly gratifying to give a more favorable account of the condition of the old graveyard on Mechanic street. The surface of this burial ground has all been made smooth, so that the grass can be kept neatly cut with a scythe. The gravestones, also, have been carefully re- stored to their original erect position. This cemetery, like that on Pine Court, is defended against intrusion by a high board fence, which, owing to favorable local cir- cumstances, has proved pretty effectual in excluding many who used to resort here for mischief, or thought- less amusement. Still, there is much reason to appre- hend that disgraceful proceedings, like those alluded to above, would be immediately renewed here, if by any negligence an opportunity for easy entrance should pre- sent itself. The Commissioners, therefore, are reluct- antly beginning to fear that nothing less effectual than the constant surveillance of the police will be much longer adequate to guard either of these unfortunately located,

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but now disused, burial places from insults and violation, such as some restraining influence-not universally op- erative in christendom-deters an American savage from offering to the dead of his own tribe !

The Old Common, or Central Park, has, throughout the year, presented a neat and tidy appearance. With- in its borders nothing has been tolerated which might annoy women or children, the weary or the infirm who may have desired to sit beneath its trees, or to seek re- creation along its walks. The unpretentious, but (for the present) adequate fence enclosing it, has been thor- oughly repaired, requiring the purchase of 2792 feet of new rails. All the wood-work, wherever exposed to the gnawing of horses, has been cased with strips of sheet iron, and the whole has been appropriately painted. Thirty new seats, also protected by paint, have been placed in localities in the grounds where snch accommo- dations seem most to be needed. Originally kept open for little else than military purposes, this park is now gradually assuming the appearance of an oasis in a des- ert, so sharply defined a contrast does it present to the brick and mortar and dust and bustle of the city rapidly growing around it. Our community are constantly. esti- mating more highly the value of this green and shady remnant of the open country, where the fresh air and the mingling music of birds and rustling foliage in- vite the healthy to quiet enjoyment, and the invalid and the weary to the invigorating influences of repose. Changes already initiated render it not improbable that, before the lapse of many years, the railway now so in- trusively dividing and occupying these grounds, and de- spoiling them of so much of their attractiveness, may be removed. The Front street school house, on the easter- ly corner, is already old, and the folly of allowing it to

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have been built there will be best atoned for by any measures which shall most speedily provide for its demo- lition. Within a quarter of a century certainly, probably within ten years, a new and more commodious City Hall will become " necessary," in the modern signification of the word; and, surely, to erect the improved and enlarg- ed edifice upon ornamental grounds already deplorably small, will be considered something disgraceful by a city which so recently cast a large and bold minority vote for the erection of a seventy-thousand dollar memorial arch ! These obstructions removed, nothing offensive to the beauty of this park will remain except the venera- ble church, which, now that the rain has descended and the winds have blown and beaten upon it for more than a century, must soon disappear, as have long ago disap- peared the neighboring " forests primeval," from which its massive frame was hewn. Of course, whatever rights the First Parish may have to the present site of their ancient sanctuary, ought to be treated with entire re- spect ; but, wherever unreason and obstinacy do not conspire to defeat negotiation, rights may be extinguish- able by purchase. And, in any contingency most to be deprecated, an appeal to the State Legislature for aid in the removal of such a large and unnecessary obstruction from the Common, might perhaps prove as effectual as in cases where short-sighted opposition is forced to give way for the construction of highways demanded by public convenience. The Commissioners, therefore, re- spectfully advise that the City Council should not hast- ily listen to propositions for the erection of a public library, or any other edifice, within the boundaries of this park, since, if fortunately all, or even a greater part, of the constructions now disfiguring it can be removed, it will become more than ever a most useful ornament

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and a source of pride to the city, so long as these hills and valleys shall continue to be the abode of a civilized people.

In the course of events, however, if it shall prove too expensive, or wholly impracticable. to prevent the re- building of the church of the First Parish upon these grounds, another proceeding, something in the nature of a defensive policy, may become so desirable as to be sus- tained by a large majority vote of the citizens ; and it may not seem altogether inappropriate to hint in what direction, and to what measures, the march of improve- ment may possibly then be directed. Thus, the railroad tracks being removed, the portion of the Common now occupied by them may be converted into a street, which public convenience might some time require to be ex- tended northerly to Foster street, and southerly to the Junction station. The land thus cut off, bounded by Park, Main, Front, and the contemplated street,-under permission of the Legislature, if requisite,-may be de- voted to building purposes. This, at once, provides am- ple sites, for a new First Parish church, a new City Hall, and a new Public Library. By far the pleasantest front- age for such buildings would be on the proposed new. street, looking out upon what would remain of the Cen- tral Park. Such an arrangement leaves the whole of the Main street front, with a tolerable depth to the rear, to be sold, or leased, for the ordinary uses of business. The sum of from fifty to one hundred thousand dollars, realized from the sale, if it can be legally effected, of such valuable land ; or, otherwise, the income from leas- es of the land, would go far toward facilitating the pur- chase of an additional park, now so much needed, some- where on or near the great avenue leading to Webster Square. It must be frankly admitted, however, that

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suggestions of this kind, if entitled to consideration at all, are so subject to the uncertainties of the future, as to be of little practical value.

The New Common, or Elm Park, has received, during the year, what the Board have regarded as sufficient care, in consideration of the purpases which it at present serves. Ball-playing clubs, circuses, caravans, carpet- cleaners, and others, have enjoyed accommodations there which could not without trouble have been easily pro- cured elsewhere so near the centre of the city. The Commissioners have failed to comprehend how there can be made to appear any immediate necessity that would justify the expenditure of a large sum of money upon these grounds, beyond what may be required for thorough drainage. This improvement can be most eco- nomically made in connection with the general system of sewerage.

The very acceptable bequest, for this purpose, of the sum of one thousand dollars, which the executors of the will of the late Hon. Levi Lincoln have paid into the City Treasury, demands something more from this Com- mission than an expression of mere formal acknowledg- ment. It would be wholly irrelevant, in this report, to allude to Mr. Lincoln's long and distinguished career of public services, as a member of the State Legislature, as for many successive years Chief Magistrate of the Com- monwealth, as a Representative in Congress, and as oc- cupying various other responsible stations, upon all of which his rare fidelity, his practical wisdom, and his great executive ability conferred additional honor. The voice of eloquent eulogy has already commemorated him in this broader sphere of existence, and it is partially in the nature of repetition to recall here his great worth in private life. But, among so many evidences of the

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neighborly virtues and the public spirit which adorned his dignified retirement, it may be permitted in this con- nection, to instance, as an example most commendable for imitation, the hundreds of flourishing trees, planted under his personal supervision, through a long series of years, as a generous annual contribution to the embel- lishment of that pleasant quarter of the city where, among the chief attractions, was his own beautiful home. Well may those who were privileged to enjoy the grace- ful hospitality of that stately mansion, imagine the zeph- yrs to whisper more sadly in the summer foliage and the storms of winter to rave less fiercely through the wintry branches of these living memorials, as they seem to mourn that he who so fondly loved and so kindly pro- tected them, shall return no more.

Of the more than four hundred streets of the city, many are too nearly in the condition of country roads to require the attention of this Commission ; a few others, on the other hand, as Main street from the City Hall to Lincoln Square, portions of Front, Pleasant, Mechanic, and Central streets, &c., are so unfavorable for trees, on account of cellars, sewers, gas and water pipes, pave- ments, and the various necessities of business, as to dis- courage any further planting along their sidewalks. In some of these crowded localities, several trees have been cut down during the year, and others which were in for- mer times the pride of the village of Worcester, are, it is feared, doomed to share before long the same fate. Tree planting on sidewalks ought hereafter to be confined to. the class of streets which are likely to remain in a con- dition intermediate between these extremes. The plan of offering a sum of money-at present fixed at one dol- lar -- for each tree which, under certain restrictions, pri- vate individuals may set upon the sidewalks contiguous

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to their estates, seems to be the best that can at present be devised for any further shading of the streets. The planters, in this way, sharing in the expense, feel an in- terest in the protection of the trees, in a measure as if their proprietorship extended so as to include the side- walks themselves ; and this protection, so much needed, cannot easily in any other way be so well secured.

The authority of the Commission over the public trees is not, in all cases, clearly defined ; and, in this depart- ment as in that of highways, there would seem to be some important advantages, if the City-under certain reservations in regard to reversionary interests, &c., could own the fee of its streets. Hitherto, the rights which the City has enjoyed in any of the streets, roads, highways, or however called, have been in the nature of easements-rights of way, with their appurtenances, and nothing more. This evil, if it be altogether hopeless of remedy in regard to streets already public, may at least be measurably confined to its present limits. On the other hand, many of the present abuttors, holding by re_ cent conveyances, have no more property in the streets adjacent to their estates than the City itself has ; for the fee, in many such cases, remains with the former grant- ees, if living, or, if not living, with their heirs or de- visees. The dimensions of a piece of land, bounded " by the line," or " by the side," of a street, being by no means commensurate with the area included when the boundary is " by the middle " of the street, or " by the street " itself, it does not at all follow that, if the right of a city to protect a tree in a certain sidewalk be ques- tionable, the proprietor of an adjacent estate may cut the tree down ! The owner of the tree, if any body, is the man to swing the axe. Persons a little careless of these subtle distinctions, have in more than one instance,

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after taking legal advice, voluntarily paid the penalty imposed upon them by this Board; and the example- without citing any laws of the Commonwealth inflicting penalties for injury done to shade trees,-may serve for admonition to others, when tempted in this way to set at defiance the ordinances of the City. In accepting any streets, &c., hereafter, it would be wise for the city to secure always as much as possible, even when practi- cable, to the extent of a full and complete warranty deed of the soil over which a public right of way is to be as- sumed and maintained.

In conclusion, it has been thought advisable to make one other suggestion, inasmuch as there seems to be no sufficient reason why an entirely distinct commission from this should be placed in charge of that portion of the publi . grounds known as Hope Cemetery. Although it may be true that no great advantage would be gained by a union of the two boards, nevertheless, were the pro- visions whereby they exist, annulled from the City Char- ter, such a useless division of the care of the public grounds would not be likely to be repeated. A better arrangement would consign all this class of city property to the management and control of one commission, of which each member should exercise special supervision over one or more of the separate enclosures, transacting, however, no important business except by authorization of the majority of the full Board. Application to the · Legislature for an amendment of the City Charter, con- solidating these boards into one " Board of Commission- ers of the Public Grounds," is, accordingly, hereby rec- ommended to the consideration of the City Council.

All that remains to be added to this unusually long report, is the account, as follows, of the moneys received and paid, during the year, by the Commission. The separate sums collected by each member of the Board,

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are entered in the account with the City Treasurer, as he received them.

RESOURCES.

Balance undrawn, Jan. 1, 1868,

$645.69 600.00

Appropriation for 1868,

- -$1,245.69

Received from the Old Common, for swings, &c., stationed thereon,

$60.00

Refreshment stands, July 4,

49.00

Grass, including also that in front of the Court Houses, 6.75

--- $115.75

Received from the New Common, for

Grass sold to Com. of Highways,

$84.70

Wm. T. Merrifield,

53.00

66 John Hammond,

8.00

Refreshment stands, Cattle Show week,

3.00

-- $148.70

Received for trees taken down on Main st.,

$10.00

From Goodnow & Taylor, John C. Mason,

5.00

-- $15.00

$1,525.14

EXPENDITURES.

Paid J. Simmons for labor, lumber, &c.,

$755.53

" J. Rogers for labor in Mechanic street graveyard,

31.00

" O. B. Hadwen, for trees set,

21.00

" L. Harrington,

10.00

" P. Thayer,

9.00

-- $40.00

" Highway Commissioner for street scrapings delivered on New Common,

84.70

" Wm. H. Heywood for rails for fencing the Old Common,

76.78

Balance undrawn, Jan. 1, 1869,

537.13

$1,525,14

Respectfully submitted, in behalf of the Commissioners, GEORGE JAQUES, Chairman. Worcester, Jan. 23, 1869.

-- $786.53

REPORT

OF THE Commissioners of Hope Cemetery,

FOR 186S.

To His Honor, the Mayor, the Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of Worcester :

During the year 1868 there was little work performed beside what was necessary to keep the paths and avenues in good order, and clear and mow over places where grass and brush were growing. A few tress were plant- ed where others had died. The largest expenditure was for grading the front line and preparation for the erection of a front fence, the whole work requiring only the small sum of one hundred and fifty-three dol- lars and thirty-eight cents ($153.38,) as will appear in the accompanying statement of receipts and expendi- tures.

We considered the erection of a fence in front of the Cemetery which should be a continuation and comple- tion of the one at the entrance, the important work to be accomplished, and tried to make satisfactory con- tracts early in the spring, but we found the workers in stone engaged and pressed with orders. The frequent rains interfered with out-door operations so much that the pring and early summer passed before any one was found who would undertake the work, giving us as- surance that it should be well done. Late in the season arrangements were made with Mr. A. G. Mann to fur-

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nish and erect the stone, and he was allowed the adyan- tage to be derived from doing the work of preparation in the leisure months of the Winter.

The stone are being wrought out and delivered on the ground, so that it may be the first work of spring to put up and complete the fence, and we feel sure it will be done in season so that we may finish the grading early enough to allow the planting and growth of grass and shrubs along the line.

The clearing, grading, and laying out of a large tract of land in the years 1866 and 1867, made ready for sale as many lots as will be needed for two or three years, and connected in one large clearing the several plots that had been laid out in different localities.

At the commencement of the year, there were in the grounds lying between Glen, Walnut, and Chestnut ave- nues, two hundred and twenty-five lots, and in other lo- calities forty, making two hundred and sixty from which selections could be made, and presenting all the variety of attraction and beauty of position that could be offered in any other parts of the Cemetery. Of these lots, and principally within limits referred to, forty-nine have been sold in the last year, leaving at the present time two hundred and sixteen ready for sale. The laying out of a few lots on River avenue to meet a demand in that locality, and a few lots for single graves that may be sold for burials in cases occasionally occurring in a grow- ing city like ours where there are persons having few connections or relatives, but for whose last resting place, if they are called away, love will provide from private means rather than use a place made free by public charge, is all that will be necessary the present year, and we do not propose to clear new ground.

In the establishment of this Commission, the liberal

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sentiment of our fathers, that all persons were to be re- membered and cared for in their last extremity by pro- vision for free burial, was recognized, and in addition to the duty of " laying out lots for burial places to be sold," there is this provision : "The said Commissioners shall set apart a proper portion of said Cemetery for a public burial place for the use of the inhabitants of said city, free of charge therefor." There is also provision made that "they shall cause necessary paths and avenues to be constructed therein, and cause said Cemetery to be planted and embellished with trees, shrubs, flowers, and other rural ornaments."

A committee of the City Council had appropriated a large lot for the purpose named, before the establish- ment of the Commission. They wisely selected a re- tired and most beautiful spot on the bank of the river, in which there are now a large number of graves. The remains of several persons whose surviving friends could not be found at the time, were removed from the Rac- coon Plains burial ground more than ten years ago ; others who died and were buried earlier than they, in the Pine Meadow grounds, were moved and re-buried in 1866. There is a record of the names of many of them, and the place of their interment may be found, and even if they were strangers to us, some brother, sister, son, or daughter may yet inquire for the grave where lies the dust of one once loved and never to be forgotten, that there they may shed fresh tears coming up from the heart in memory of old sorrows. Every year, too, this public provision is accepted by families, or for individ- uals, who for reasons we should not question, do not pur- chase lots and appropriate them to private use. Con- nected with them are those who are sensitive and of gentle nature ; they mark the spot with such memen-

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toes as their humble means allow, and receive the inspi- ration and new life which comes to the living from pious meditation in the place where rest the dead.

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Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1867-1870, Part 31

Author: Worcester (Mass.) Publication date: 1867 Publisher: The City Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Worcester (Mass.)
Publication date: 1867
Publisher: The City
Number of Pages: 1452