USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1867-1870 > Part 77
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
1870. Dec. 5th. Order for paving the walks on the west side of Har- vard from Dix street to estate of J. L. Burbank has been executed in part. The remainder can be completed early the coming spring. Expense to be paid by the abuttors.
Estimated total cost of work ordered and not as yet completed, 812,325.00.
In reply to the request of the committee to give an estimate of the cost of curbstone, gutter, crosswalk, etc., would say, that the variations of soils, distance of carting, waste mateial, and gravel to make the the required bed together with the condition of the several street in regard to change of grade etc., are so great that an estimate must of necessity be quite defective. I will however give an approxi- mate estimate based upon the average cost of the work, for the past year.
21
COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS.
ESTIMATE OF TOTAL COST.
Curbstone set per lineal foot, 1.05
Gutter and cobble paving per square yard, 1.10
Crosswalk including flagstone per square yard, 1.37
Resetting curbstone per lineal foot, .20 cts.
cobble paving, per square yard. .40 .
The usual price paid for brick paving, per square
yard, bed being prepared is, . . 25 cts.
For cobble paving per square yard, .30 to .35
Block stone paving per square yard, .40 to .45
Setting new curbstone per lineal foot, .10 66
Resetting old curbstone " "
.10 to .15
To estimate new work per lineal foot add to cost one foot of curb- stone that of one half square yard of gutter 1.05+ .55= 1.60, esti- mated total average cost per lineal foot $1.60.
I herewith append, by request, an estimated statement of cost of maintaining a double two horse team for the year, and the average cost per diem. for labor during the season for work.
INVESTMENT.
1 pair of good horses,
750.00
" harneses,
100.00
1 double cart,
250.00
$1100.00
Interest on investment,
77.00
Depreciation and risk on horses,
100.00
Feed of horses,
396.28
Shoeing,
56.65
Stabling,
40.00
Driver for 9 months,
490.00
Proportion for steward for year,
50.00
Depreciation on harnesses,
22.00
cart,
50.00
$1281.93
CR.
By manure,
18.00
Net cost for the year,
$1263.93
Allowing the working season to average nine months of 23 days each we have 207 working days for the season, $1263.93 + 207. Average cost per diem $6.10}.
22
REPORT OF THE
SCHEDULE
of the Real and Personal property belonging to the Highway De- partment in the City of Worcester Dec. 26th. 1870.
REAL ESTATE.
50,000 feet land with the city stables thereon, 21,500.00
1} acres land on Lamartine street, 3000.00
1 acre land bought of E. Rich, Pleasant street
150.00
Gravel pit at junction, Grove and Pratt streets,
250.00
.. on Pleasant street. 25.00
.. " near Paxton line, 25.00
Total, real estate.
$24,950.00
PERSONAL PROPERTY.
Stock- 14 Horses,
5000.00
12 Oxen,
1800.00
6 sets double harnesses,
500.00
3 " single
75.00
2 " cart
50.00
1 set lead
55.00
10 Ox yokes,
40.00
7 double carts,
1400.00
5 Ox carts,
400.00
2 single carts,
100.00
1 tight cart,
250.00
1 stone lifter,
250.00
1 cess pool machine,
300.00
1 two-horse wagon,
75.00
1 four horse wagon,
250.00
1 street roller,
225.00
1 one-horse wagon,
200.00
18 whifiletrees,
30.00
18 neck yokes,
18.00
12 horse blankets,
54.00
12 curry combs and brushes,
36.00
8 surcingles,
6.00
46 Lanterns,
75.00
3 gallons oil.
1.00
4 oil cans,
2.00
1 side lace leather,
3.00
1 grindstone,
10.00
7 draft chains,
17.50
23
COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS.
8 heavy chains,
28.00
3 scraper "
6.00
12 stake “
9.00
4 whiffletree chains,
4.00
300 lbs. cable,
15.00
400 " nails,
20.00
1 set tackle and falls,
10.00
42 shovels, new,
42.00
45 £ old,
5.00
12 snow shovels,
15.00
12 " new,
18.00
2 long shovels,
7.00
5 manure hooks,
1.50
1 spade,
1.00
36 picks,
48.00
6 hammer handles,
1.50
17 crow bars,
42.50
2 pinch bars,
2.00
8 stone hammers,
37.50
8 cinder hammers,
16.00
11 stone drills,
22.00
Light stone tools,
8.00
3 chopping axes,
4.00
1 spirit level,
2.00
1 adze,
2.00
4 Ladders,
8.00
1 water pot,
1.00
2 two-horse sleds,
175.00
2 Ox sleds,
35.00
1 light two-horse sled,
45.00
3 stone drags,
14.00
5 side hill plows,
65.00
1 pick plow,
60.00
4 side scrapers,
16.00
6 snow
18.00
1 ox shovel scraper.
20.00
1 patent
45.00
1 snow plow,
13.00
4 gravel screens,
36.00
6 feed baskets,
4.00
4 Iron bound buckets
4.00
30 street hoes.
30.00
2.1
REPORT OF THE
g keg powder,
2.50
6 frost wedges,
6.00
100 feet fuss,
1.00
7 post caps,
7.00
Lead pipe,
10.00
1 iron vise,
7.00
5 monkey wrenches,
6.50
5 water pails,
1.50
3 stoves,
12.00
Lot ropes,
2.00
9 hammers,
20.00
2 plow points,
2.00
2 garden rakes,
2.00
I hay rack tongue &c,
10.00
Lot street signs,
30.00
Lot carpenters tools,
8.00
3500 lbs. old iron,
35.00
70 meal bags,
35.00
2 bughel baskets,
1.00
Set grain measures,
1.00
2 hay cutters,
18.00
7 hay forks,
6.00
5 hay rakes,
1.00
1 trowel,
1.00
2 feed troughs,
6.00
3 grain chests,
15.00
30 tons hay at $28.00
840.00
1000 lbs. straw,
10.00
15 tie chains,
10.00
11 halters,
14.00
10 fly nets,
5.00
6 pairs ox bows,
3.00
2 brooms,
2.00
1 oil. pan,
6.00
3 finished cart tongues,
18.00
4 unfinished cart tongues,
8.00
50 bushels oats,
40.00
800 bushels corn,
800.00
4 wheel barrows,
8.00
1 office desk,
60.00
250 loads quarried stone at ledge,
375.00
50 wall stone.
100.00
25
COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS.
2600 tors paving stone,
2600.00
4500 feet curb stone, 70cts.
3150.00
350 " old curhstone, 40c.
140.00
1000 feet flagstone, 25c.
250.00
55 long corners,
330.00
160 short corners,
640.00
Lot large paving stone,
100.00
19,500 small paving stone,
1170.00
2 sets cesspool stone,
62.00
30 street posts,
90.00
Lot covering stone,
120.00
5000 pressed brick, $30.00
150.00
110,000 hard brick ,$16.00
1760.00
25 bridge stringers,
250.00
22.000 feet bridge plank,
594.00
300 feet oak plank,
12.00
300 " pine plank,
9.00
1000 feet boards,
27.00
Lot old plank,
25.00
Building and machinery for crushing stone,
3,500.00
Total of personal property,
$29,703.00
Total of real estate,
24,950.00
Amount in Department,
$54,653.00
Respectfully Submitted
D. F. PARKER.
Commissioner of Highways.
4
GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS
OF THE
CITY OF WORCESTER,
FOR 1871.
MAYOR, EDWARD EARLE.
ALDERMEN.
Ward 1 .- A. B. R. SPRAGUE.
2 .- LEWIS BARNARD.
3 .- G. J. RUGG.
4 .- F. H. KELLEY.
5 .- HORACE WYMAN.
6 .- J. W. JORDAN.
7 .- EDWIN T. MARBLE.
8 .- GEORGE S. BARTON.
CITY CLERK AND CLERK OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN. SAMUEL SMITH, Office No. 2, City Hall ; Residence, 57 Southbridge Street,
28
REPORT OF THE
COMMON COUNCIL.
President-C. G. REED.
Clerk-Henry L. Shumway. Ward 5 .- O. L. Hatch.
Ward 1 .- Joseph Chase,
S. C. Combs, D. W. Knowlton.
C. W. Parker, Morris Melaven.
Ward 2 .- Wm. Allen. A. G. Walker, Luther Ross. L. H. Wells,
Ward 6 .- J. H. Walker, Charles G. Reed,
Ward 3 .-- Chas W. Wenthworth, Ward 7 .- C. L. Hartshorn, W. Henry. E. Ames,
George F. Hewett. S. Brown.
Ward 4 .- Andrew Athy,
Ward 8 .- E. H. Towne.
Michael O'Driscoll. Sumner Pratt, Chas. S. Childs. Gerry Hutchinson.
CITY MESSENGER. CHARLES MARVIN, Office, No. 1, City Hall : Residence, No. 1, Clinton street.
SOLICITOR.
T. L. NELSON. Office, Post Office Building and City Hall.
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR. GEORGE W. WHEELER, Office, No. 6, City Hall : Residence, 49 Thomas street.
AUDITOR. CHAS. MARVIN. Office, No. 1, City Hall.
ASSESSORS. R. M. Gould, 2 years.
Henry Griffin, 1 year, WVm. L. Clark, 3 years. Office, City Hall.
CITY ENGINEER. PHINEHAS BALL. Office, No. 5, City Hall.
COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS. DAVID F. PARKER. Office, No. 3, City Hall : Residence No. 41 Summer street,
29
COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS.
WATER COMMISSIONER. WILLIAM KNOWLES. Office No. 5, City Hall.
COMMISSIONERS OF SHADE TREES AND PUBLIC GROUNDS. E. W. Lincoln, 2 years, Stephen Salisbury, Jr., 1 year, O. L. Hatch, 3 years.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
EDW'D EARLE, Mayor, Ex-Officio, President. A. P. MARBLE, Superintendent. Office, No. 11, City Hall, SAMUEL V. STONE, Secretary. Office, No. 13, City Hall.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
EDW'D EARLE, Mayor, A. P. MARBLE, Sup't of Schools, 3 members.
Ex Officio
JAMES M. DRENNAN, City Marshal,
Edw'd Earle, President. George W. Gale, Clerk.
C. G. Reed and O. B. Hadwen, 2 years.
Geo. W. Gale and John C. Newton, 1 year.
Edward Kendall and Walter Henry, 3 years.
CITY PHYSICIAN. ALBERT WOOD. Office, Pearl street.
KEEPER OF ALMSHOUSE AND CITY HOSPITAL. JOHN FARWELL.
BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR 1871.
R. M. GOULD, Chief, Samuel H. Day, Clerk.
Wm. Brophy,
A. Brown, Assistant Engineers, Wm. Knowles,
S. H. Day.
MUNICIPAL COURT. HARTLEY WILLIAMS, Chief Justice. GEORGE SWAN,
JOSEPH A. TITUS, S Associate Justices.
CLARK JILSON, Clerk.
30
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS.
TRUANT COMMISSIONERS. EDWARD EARLE, Mayor. A. P. MARBLE, Superintendent of Schools. JAMES M. DRENNAN, City Marshal. E. D. MCFARLAND, Truant Officer. Office, City Hall : Residence, No. 51 Thomas street.
MARSHAL. JAMES M. DRENNAN. Office, City Hall : Residence, No 67 Austin street.
ASSISTANT MARSHALS.
EMORY WILSON, Office, City Hall ; residence, rear of Dr. Hill's Church.
W. ANSEL WASHBURN, Office, City Hall; residence, No 21 Portland street.
SURVEYORS OF LUMBER.
Nahum R. Hapgood, Leander Hapgood,
Henry W. Reed.
FENCE VIEWERS.
E. F. Chamberlain, Calvin L. Hartshorn George Newton.
MILK INSPECTOR.
R. R Shepard, No. 1 Pleasant street.
FIELD DRIVERS.
Thomas R. Foster, Wm. L. Nichols.
POUND KEEPER-David F. Parker.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
R.R. Shepard, Office No. 1 Pleasant street.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
CITY MARSHAL
OF THE
CITY OF WORCESTER,
1870.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
MARSHAL'S OFFICE, JAN. 1ST, 1871. To His Honor the Mayor, and City Council of Worcester.
GENTLEMEN :- I have the honor to present for your consideration my report of the business and condition of the Police Department for the year ending December 31st, 1870.
The whole number of arrests for the year 1870, not including 400 made by the State Constables, and in many cases assisted by our 2,282
local force,
Males,
2,107
Females,
175
Americans,
739
Foreigners,
1,543
Residents,
678
Non-Residents,
604
Minors,
422
Adults,
1,860
Committed,
691
NATIVITY OF CRIMINALS ARRESTED, ETC.
Ireland,
1,286
Americans,
714
Canada,
115
England,
76
Scotland,
34
American, colored,
16
Germany,
16
Nova Scotia,
14
France,
4
Wales,
3
Belgium,
2
Switzerland,
1
Sweden,
1
2,282
4
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
Whole number of complaints made by the Marshal and assistants in Municipal Court for the year ending 1870. 2,197
Discharged from custody without complaint for what seemed to be good and sufficient reasons. 146
The comparative ages of prisoners are as follows :
10 years of age and under,
between 10 and 20 years of age,
376
30 - 40 .. .. 549
.. 40 - 50 .. 290
.. 50 . 60
.6 66 66
108
60 70 .. .. .. 26
..
70 80 66
.. 9
Whole number of Lodgers accommodated at the Station House,
with food, etc., during the year 1870,
2,556
Males.
2,422
Females,
134
Americans,
978
Foreigners,
1,578
Residents.
145
Non-Residents.
2,411
Minors,
542
Adults.
2,014
Nativity of Lodgers are as follows :
American,
912
Ireland,
907
Scotland,
102
England,
313
Canada,
106
Germany,
78
American. colored,
58
Nova Scotia,
56
France,
10
Denmark,
4
West Indies,
3
Switzerland,
6
Russia,
1
2.556
Whole number of arrests and Lodgers during the year.
4,838
46
20 - 30 .. .. 867
5
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
The following are the offences for which arrests were made during the year :
Drunkenness,
1,1448
Assault and battery,
217
Disturbing the peace,
141
Drunkenness, second offence,
127
Larceny,
116
Violation City Ordinance,
55
Vagrancy,
30
Truancy,
28
Assault with dangerous weapon,
26
Inane,
21
Trespass,
20
Larceny from building,
19
Breaking glass,
18
Common Drunkard,
17
Being present at Game on Lord's Day,
17
Adultery,
16
Fornication,
14
Driving away teams,
14
Neglect of family,
14
Threatening personal injury,
13
Malicious mischief,
11
Burglary,
11
Keeping open shop on Lord's Day.
11
Evading railroad fare,
11
Sporting on the Lord's Day.
10
Cruelty to animals,
9
Assault on Officer,
9
Larceny from person,
8
Stubborn and disobedient,
8
Playing cards on Lord's Day,
6
Suspicious persons,
6
False pretences,
6
Run away from home,
5
Carrying dangerous weapon,
5
Keeping Liquor,
5
Loafing about Theatre,
4
Escaped prisoners,
4
Murder,
4
Bastardy,
4
Common Nuisance,
4
6
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
Run away from Truant School,
4
Contempt of Court,
4
Attempt to commit larceny, " break and enter,
Liquor Nuisance,
3 3
Violating rules of Agricultural Society,
Lewdness,
3
Embezzlement,
3
Receiving stolen goods,
3
Disorderly conduct,
2
Violation of Sunday Law,
2
Lewd Lascivious Cohabitation,
2
Fast driving,
2
Indecent exposure of person,
2
Run away from Reform School,
2
Swindling,
2
Selling Liquor,
2
Injuring a building,
2 2
Disturbing Religious Meeting,
2
Horse Thief,
Attempt to commit suicide,
Peddling without License,
Aiding escape,
1
Soliciting Insurance without License,
1
Common Seller of Intoxicating Liquor,
1
Using Indecent Language in public street,
1
Transporting Liquor,
1
Common Loafer,
1
Arson,
1
Keeping Common Gaming House,
1
Bigamy,
1
Mayhem,
1
Disturbing Public School,
1
Assault with intent to Ravish,
1
Interfering with Officer,
1
Common Railer and Brawler,
1
Defrauding United States Government,
1
OCCUPATIONS OF PRISONERS ARRESTED DURING THE YEAR 1870.
Laborers, 686
Boot and Shoe Makers, 287
Students. 173
1 1 1
Disorderly House,
3
3
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
7
House Keepers,
154
Machinists,
87
Farmers,
Moulders,
Iron and Wire Workers,
Painters,
Carpenters,
Teamsters.
Masons,
Weavers,
Tailors,
30 27 25
Blacksmiths,
Peddlers,
21 21 20
Stone Cutters,
Marble Cutters,
Loafers,
18 18 16
Printers,
Saloon Keepers,
14
Brakemen,
12 12
Cigar Makers,
12
Clerks,
10 9 8
Butchers,
7 7
Hatters,
Wool Carders,
Firemen,
Gas Fitters,
Waiters,
Cooks,
Junk Dealers,
Bakers, Lawyers,
4
Boiler Makers,
4
Curriers,
4
Manufacturers,
4
Gentlemen,
Dyers,
4 4
7 7 6 6 0 6 4 4 4
Sailors,
Hack Drivers,
Harness Makers,
Barbers,
76 64 56. 56 53 50 45 35
Spinners,
Hostlers,
8
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
Merchants,
3
Tinsmiths,
3
Upholsterers,
3
Wool Sorters,
3
Teachers,
3
Stable Keepers,
3
Slaters,
3
Wheelwrights,
3
Book Keepers,
3
Switch Tenders,
3
Whitewashers,
2
Tailoresses,
2
Grocers,
2 2
Ship Carpenters,
2
Book Binders,
2
Chair Makers,
2
Quarry Workers,
2
Plumbers,
2
Last Makers,
2
Cabinet Makers,
2
Jewellers,
2
Gun Makers,
2
Coachmen,
2
Photographers,
2
Store Keepers,
2
Show Men,
2
Liquor Dealer,
1
Mail Agent,
1
Expressman,
1
Stage Driver,
1
Japanner,
1
Cyprian,
1
Card Maker,
1
Book Agent,
1
Baggage Master,
1
Physician,
1
Drover,
1
Tanner,
1
Soap Maker,
1
Cord Wainer,
1
Reed Maker,
1
Musicians,
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
9
Loom Repairer,
1'
Comb Maker,
1
Telegraph Messenger,
1
Minister,
1
Bill Poster,
1
Insurance Agent,
1
Miller,
1
Dress Maker,
1
Straw Worker,
1
Paper Maker,
1
Auctioneer,
1
Clotlı Finisher,
1
Card Grinder,
1
Pattern Maker,
1
Number reported Married,
996
1286
The resources of the department have been as follows :
Appropriation of the City Council,
$24,000 00
Fees on Warrants served by Assistant Marshals,
4,114 00
Witness Fees of Police Officers at Municipal Court,
1294 20
Collected for extra duties of Officers,
258 92
Collected from Overseers of Poor, for Lodgers,
106 33
Collected on Warrants for use of City Teams,
949 00
Total Receipts
$30,723 05
Expenses of the department are as follows :
Pay Roll of Police Officers,
$25,102 60
Salary of Marshal and Assistants,
3,849 97
Special Police, July 4th,
95 00
Regatta,
456 41
Incidental Expenses,
780 13
Cost of Horse Hire for the year,
1,465 00
Total Expenses,
$31,749 11
Deducting amount of earnings,
6,722 05
And the Net Cost of the Department is
$25,027 06
Or $151 49 less than the net expenses last year.
The condition of the Police Department at the present time is very good ; the discipline is good, and the conduct of all the members of the force has been excellent.
2
,
2282
Single.
10
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
The duties performed have been of a general, specific, varied and arduous nature. More work has been done than ever before in one year by this department. 302 more prisoners were arrested, by the same number of officers, than last year ; 325 more lodgers were taken care of at the Station House than last year ; and a portion only of the miscellaneous duties can be made mention of in this report.
Disturbances Suppressed 70
Intoxicated persons conducted home,
177
Buildings found opened and secured, 175
Notices served by officers,
2,000
Stray teams picked up and cared for by officers,
54
Value of teams picked up and cared for by officers,
10,000
Lost children restored to parents,
22
Defective sidewalks reported.
35
Defective streets reported,
10
Fire alarms given.
6
Fires extinguished without alarm,
3
Stores found broken open.
5
Value of property stolen,
$8,125 00
Value of stolen property recovered,
7,122 00
Amount of fines imposed in the Municipal Court in cases within the department, $7,951 00
Amount of money taken from prisoners and returned, $8,541 97
The Truant officer reports the number of delinquent schol- ars visited by him as 2,441
Number returned to school, 1,180
Number sent to truant school,
18
Number taken before Judge of Probate, 38
The peace and quiet and good order of the City has been maintained throughout the year on all occasions. The Ordinances of the city have been promptly enforced, ex- cept those in relation to obstructing the travel over our public streets in the very heart and business portion of the city by railroad trains. As the City Council have this matter under advisement, it is hoped that this great nuisance and cause of complaint will be abated soon, in some satisfactory manner.
In my report of last year I suggested that we should have a branch station house at the North end, and one at the South
1
11
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
end of the City, in order to afford proper police facilities to those rapidly increasing and already largely populated districts.
It is now considered absolutely necessary that officers should at least patrol those districts at night. I can only refer those citizens who have petitioned and complained so much from those outer localities to their Ward representatives in the City Council.
Our population are mainly settled within an area of three miles, or one and one half miles from the center, making a little more than seven square miles of territory that should come under the supervision of the officers. The largest num- ber of officers on duty in the night time is twenty, or less than three to a square mile. There are about 100 miles of streets in the above limits, which would give to each officer on duty of about five miles to care for. There are outside, the villages Quinsigamond, New Worcester, Jamesville, Tatnuck, North- ville, Quinsigamond Lake, &c., to be properly looked after by the police force. The above statement will give an idea of the territory that should be guarded ; but of course the force have to be more concentrated on Main street and the business portion of the city, and many square miles of the above terri- tory have to go without any patrol whatever.
One of the most important questions that comes up before an officer at all times during his sphere of duty, is how to man- age and control the drinking and sale of intoxicating liquors and the allurements around and about it. Since last Septem- ber beer shops have multiplied and drunkenness has been on the increase, 136 more arrests having been made this year than last for that offence. The efforts of the officers to control and regulate the matter has only driven it from the front to the rear door.
Many of the beer sellers live in rooms adjoining their bar rooms and in that way avoid the Sunday Law and the Ordin- ance in relation to closing their places at night. A very large number of persons arrested for drunkenness during the night emerge from these dens and have to be taken in charge by the officers, and when so taken in charge and locked up,
12
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
the great question then presents itself, " What shall be done with them ? " The imperative order of the law is that they shall be taken before some Court of Justice. A complaint shall be made in due form, and if they are found guilty they may be fined or imprisoned. Many persons will say " That is the cor- rect way to do. The officers are employed for that purpose. It is their duty to rid the streets of drunkards, and take them before the courts. That is the proper way to deal with all persons who get drunk." But the officers have another view to take of the situation of many of these poor creatures which must stir up the sensibilities of the strongest heart. Very many of them have large families depending on them for support, and the scanty wages which they earn are barely enough to furnish bread for the mouths of their little ones. Other families, half grown, perhaps, live along on the verge of starvation, with the parent or guardian in the sorry plight, a victim to his appetite, and when taken in charge by the officers or taken before the Court, or sent to jail, it seems as if the last ray of hope for the family had vanished, their pride is broken, and the situation to them is next to death itself.
Such cases as the above present themselves to the officers almost every day, and although the money taken for fines and costs in such cases may be a source of income for the County, yet it seems like taking the bread from the mouths of the children and families of these poor unfortunates.
The question is often asked, " why don't the officers put a stop to these beer nuisances and prevent the sale and drink- ing of beer Sundays?" as well might the quesrion be asked, " why don't the officers stop the rivers from descending on their course to the sea?" The answer is clear. There is no law to prevent them from doing so, the officers cannot enter private houses without warrants, and every man's dwelling house is his castle. Sunday, in particular, seems to be the great business day for beer venders, and it is a very difficult matter to procure evidence for their conviction, as their doors are kept constantly fastened and the plea is that the large number of persons seen going in and coming out every Sab- bath day are friends and relations of the family making friend- ly or social calls.
13
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
These saloons are of all grades. From the gilded and expensively furnished, down to the miserable cellar where the most vicious and the lowest of our population congregate.
It is hoped that the combined wisdom of the Common- wealth, through its Legislature, will solve this great problem at its present session, and give us a law that will meet the ap- probation of all parties, and that can be enforced with reason and power.
There are in this city at the present time 320 places licensed to sell, or taxed as dealers in intoxicating liquors by the United States Government.
The numerical strength of the Police Department is thirty men organized as follows :
City Marshal and Chief of Police,
I
Assistant Marshals, 2
Captain of Day Police, I
Captain of Night Police.
I
Patrolmen,
24
Truant Officer, detailed as such,
I
The Station House is open and officers are on duty at all times of day and night, for calls from any part of the city, and for protection of persons and property.
I cannot close this report without expressing a word of sor- row for myself and those associated with me on the Police Force.
During the last five years our late loved, honored and lamented Chief Magistrate, labored with great interest and with great pleasure for the successful developement of this department, morally and physically, and to him more than any one else is due whatever of success it has attained. It was his delight to know that the force had the confidence of the community, and his successful efforts to carry it above politics are well known.
The last work performed by him at night, before leaving the City Halls, "even as late as the midnight hours,", was a tour of inspection through the Department and the City Prison ; and the kindness of heart shown, and the pleasant
14
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
word spoken by him to the poor imprisoned unfortunates, will dwell long in their recollections. It gives us inexpressible sorrow to contemplate that his last work is done with us on earth, and that we shall never find his like again.
I am under great obligations to the Chiefs of the different Departments of the City; to the Judge and Clerk of the Municipal Courts ; and I bear willing testimony to the cheerful and ready cooperation of all connected with the Constabulary Force of the City.
To the Assistant Marshals and Captains of Police my thanks are especially due for their willingness to perform every duty.
Respectfully Submitted, JAMES M. DRENNAN, City Marshal.
15
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
CITY MARSHAL, JAMES. M. DRENNAN.
ASSISTANT MARSIIALS,
EMERY WILSON, W. ANSEL WASHBNRN.
CAPTAIN OF DAY POLICE, HARRISON H, COMINGS.
CAPTAIN OF NIGHT POLICE, JOHN HOWE.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.