USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1871 > Part 17
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1
Edmund M. Barton,
102
1 D. Weston,
1
George E. Chambers,
1 Caroline E. White,
1
Charles A. Chase,
1
6 Henry Wilson, 2
Ann. K. Colton,
1
11 Samuel Woodward, 2
2
Joseph A. Denny,
A Friend, 83
59
Mrs. R. P. Dunn,
1
Other Friends, 15
46
Edward Earle,
3
1 Total, 419 545
1
New York State Library,
19 Samuel S. Green, Clarendon Harris,
5
Cincinnati,
11
St. Louis Pub. School Library, 1
Elmer P. Howe,
Directors St. Louis Public Schools,
Nathaniel Paine,
1 H. L. Parker,
3
1 L. U. Reavis,
3 1
Smithsonian Institute,
J. Sabin & Sons, Stephen Salisbury,
2
Z. Baker,
2 Roger F. Upham, Sec'y,
Joachin Barrande,
3 dent of Census,
5 Richard D. Webb, 41
Mrs. Henry H. Chamberlin,
Henry Earle,
Oxford,
Andrew H. Green, Frank Green,
Report of the Library Committee.
To the Directors of the Free Public Library-
Gentlemen : It has been customary hitherto for the Library Com- mittee, at the commencement of each year to appoint a secretary by whom their report should be presented at the close of the year, and whose report has been the general Report of the Library. The secretary of the Library Committee has thus been obliged to keep himself accurately informed of the whole state of the library, to preserve a careful record of all new measures and to prepare a long and detailed report ; duties which have demanded of him no little time and attention.
It seemed best to your committee at the commencement of this year that the office of secretary of the committee should be dis- pensed with, and that the greater part of the matter hitherto com- municated in the report of the Library Committee should be pre- sented in the report of the librarian. For the details in reference to the working of the library during the past year, and for its present condition, your committee would therefore refer you to the Librarian's report.
In the judgment of your committee, the affairs of the library have been so conducted during the past year as to secure to the citizens of Worcester, in a larger degree than ever before, the benefits which such an institution is designed to confer. Espe- cial pains have been taken to ascertain and to meet the actual wants of the patrons of the library. The public have been encour- aged to present the titles of such books as have been desired and as the library did not contain, and these, if of a character approved by your committee have been the first recommended to be purchased. Of other books, it has been the aim of your Com- mittee to recommend for purchase as few as practicable of a
.
206
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 26.
light and transient, and as many as practicable of a solid and permanent character.
In the Green library, it has been the aim of your committee to recommend for purchase, first, as in the circulating department. such books as have been desired by the patrons of the library for immediate use ; and, secondly, to a larger extent than in any other direction, such as will be of advantage to those engaged in mechanical and manufacturing interests, as the leading interests of our city. An attempt has been made to increase the facilities for using the Green library. The librarian has had his hours of service, seven hours each working day, definitely arranged and announced to the public, and has been expected to place all the treasures of the library and his own time and labor, so far as practicable, at the command of any one who might wish for any information which the library could afford. There is evidence that these attempts have resulted in the largely increased value of the library to the city.
Something of progress has been made in the arrangement and classification of the library and in the systematizing of its work- ing.
Your committee have approved bills for the purchase of books to the amount of $2306.99 ; and for binding, to the amount of $655.04
Valuable gifts have been received, which, though noticed in the librarian's report, demand especial and grateful mention here. Of these, we would particularly refer to the donation of extensive and valuable document on the question of Labor Reform, from Hon. Geerge F. Hoar, and of files of the Anti-Slavery Standard and the Liberator from Richard D. Webb, Esq., of Dublin, Ireland
It should be added that the Librarian and his assistants have executed the instructions of yourcommittee and co-operated with them, cheerfully, ably, and in every way satisfactorily.
D. WESTON, Chairman.
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
207
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1
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE READING ROOM.
To the Directors of the Free Public Library.
The two branches of the Reading Room have been supplied, during the past year, with a large, varied and excellent collection of American and foreign newspapers and magazines, the greater number furnished from the income of the subscription fund established in 1865. Many valuable periodicals are contributed as the direct gift of individuals. In this class are included all of a sectarian character, to which our by-laws do not allow us to subscribe. This list has received a considerable increase dur- ing the past year, and the committee tender their thanks to the respective donors. The average daily attendance of visitors upon the rooms has steadily increased, and has apparently doubled during the past two years. The experiment of keeping the lower room open during certain hours on public holidays, has met with popular favor, and we recommend that the arrangement be maintained.
The following publications are regularly received and kept on file :
DAILY.
Albany Evening Journal. Allgemeine Zeitung. Boston Daily Advertiser. .6 Evening Transcript. 66 Journal. Post Le Charivari. Evening Post. Globe (Washington.) New York Commercial Advertiser. ¥
66 Daily Tribune.
66 " Herald.
Times.
North American and U. S. Gazette.
Providence Daily Journal. Springfield " Republican. Worcester Daily Spy, 3 copies (one given by Publishers.) Worcester Evening Gazette, 3 copies (one given by Publishers.) The World.
TRI-WEEKLY.
Chicago Tribune. L' Evénement. The Mail. SEMI-WEEKLY.
Cincinnati Semi-Weekly Gazette.
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208
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 26.
WEEKLY.
Advent Christian Times. Appletons' Journal.
American Artisan. Army and Navy Journal. The Athenæum. Bell's Life in London.
Berliner Montags Zeitung.
Given by B. G.
Boston Investigator. Howes. The Chemical News.
The Christian Register. Unit. Asso.
Given by Am.
The Churchman.
The College Courant.
The Commercial Bulletin.
The Commonwealth.
The Connecticut Courant.
Detroit Tribune.
The Engineer.
Engineering.
L' Etendard National. Given by Pub lishers.
Every Saturday. Examiner.
Fitchburg Reveille.
Friends' Review. Given by S. H. Colton. Bowdoin Scientific Review. Given by W. W. Rice.
Harper's Weekly.
Home Journal. The Illustrated London News.
The Independent. The 66 Statesmau.
The Index. Given by S. F. Earle.
Iron World and Manufacturer. Given by Publishers.
Journal of the Society of Arts.
Liberal Christian. Given by Amn. Unit. American Agriculturist, Asso.
Littell's Living Age.
The Liverpool Weekly Mercury.
The Lowell 66 Journal.
The Maine State Press.
The Massachusetts Ploughman.
The Methodist. Given by Rev. A. H. The Atlantic Monthly.
McKeown.
La Minerve.
The Mining Journal.
The Missouri Democrat.
The Montreal Herald. The Nation.
Nature. New England Farmer.
Notes and Queries. The Pall Mall Budget, Plymouth Pulpit. Punch.
The Revolution. The Saturday Review.
The Scientific American.
The Spectator.
The Spirit of the Times.
United Service Gazette.
The Universalist. Given by publisher. Washington Weekly Chronicle.
Weekly Alta California.
The Weekly Freeman's Journal.
The Scotsman. Woman's Journal. Given by S. F. Earle. Woodhull and Claflin's Weekly. Given by Publishers.
The Worcester Palladium. Given by Publisher.
The World's Crisis. Given by Samuel Ayres.
The Yale Courant.
Zion's Herald. Given by Rev. A. H. McKeown.
SEMI-MONTHLY.
The Academy. American Literary Gazette and Pub- lisher's Circular.
Dwight's Journal of Music. The Harvard Advocate.
Revue des Deux Mondes.
MONTHLY.
Advocate of Peace. All the Year Round.
66 Journal of Numismatics.
The " " Science and Arts.
The " Naturalist.
The Art Journal.
The Artizan.
The Association Monthly.
The Bible Banner. Mr. Higgins. Blackwoods Edinburgh Magazine. The Book Buyer.
The Seller.
The Boston Journal of Chemistry. The Builder. The Bureau.
Chambers Journal.
The Contemporary Review. Cornhill Magazine. Dublin University Magazine. The Fortnightly Review.
209
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Frazers Magazine. The Galaxy. 1
The Gardener's Monthly. Gentleman's Magazine. Good Words for the Young. Harper's New Monthly Magazine. The Historical Magazine. J. E. Tilton and Co's Literary Bulletin. Journal of the Franklin Institute. Lippincott's Magazine. The Literary World.
Mechanic's Magazine.
Old and New. Given by Am. Unit. Asso. Journal of Speculative Philosophy.
Once a Week.
Our Dumb Animals. Given by Publishers. Our Young Folks.
The Overland Monthly.
The Philadelphia Photographer.
The Radical. Given by Mrs. Sarah The Quarterly Journal of Science.
Brown.
TheReligious Magazine. Given by Am. Unit. Asso. Sabin and Sons American Bibliopolist. Scribner's Monthly. Tilton's Journal of Horticulture. The Workshop.
QUARTERLY.
Bibliotheca Sacra. British Quarterly Review.
Wilcox. Given by A.
London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philo- The Christian Quarterly sophical Magazine. Macmillan's Magazine. The Edinburgh Review. The Manufactrer and Builder.
The Journal of the Anthropological Institute.
London Quarterly.
The Methodist Quarterly.
New England Historical and Genealog- ical Register.
North American Review.
The Westminster Review.
For the Committee, CHARLES A. CHASE, Chairman.
210
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 26.
REPORT OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE.
To Hon. Stephen Salisbury, President of the Board of Direc- tors of the Free Public Library.
The Building Committee submit the following report : -
The work contracted for the Building in 1870, has been com- pleted and paid for during the year.
The stone steps have been so changed as to meet the approba- tion of the public. Suitable gas lights have been placed for the Library and Reading-room and a new side-walk has been laid, so that it is to be hoped no great expense will be required for a long time on any outside repairs.
New gas lights have been furnished for the Library and Read- ing-rooms and for the first time in many years the building has been put in complete order. It was estimated in the last report that it would require about $3500 to pay the bills for contracts then existing.
Bills during the year to the amount of $4,079 80 have been paid.
The bill for gas viz. $731 12 seems to be very large and it is to be hoped that some means will hereafter be devised by which this item can be much reduced. Probably one quarter of the expense of gas is incurred in the school-room and ought not to be charged to the expense of the library fund.
For the committee,
E. B. STODDARD.
211
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.
To Hon. Stephen Salisbury, President of the Board of Direc- tors of the Free Public Library of Worcester :
The Finance Committee submit the following report of the Receipts and Expenditures on account of the Free Public Library for the year 1871.
Balance of former appropriation in the Treasury,
Jan. 1, 1871,
$5,073 43
City appropriation for 1871,
Dog Fund,
$14,850 93
Bills approved and payments thereon as follows :
For Books,
1,300 63
For Printing,
99 23
For Binding,
655 04
For Gas,
731 12
For Salaries and care of Building,
3,068 48
For Wood and Coal,
206 87
For Water,
33 24
For Stationary,
65 21
For Incidental Expenses,
55 29
$6,215 11
In addition to the above, bills have been paid for expenses incurred in the alteration of the building and laying of the side-walk as follows :
For Steam Work and Gas Fixtures, 2,083 48
For Painting, Mason and Carpenter work,
680 51
For Stone work on Steps,
983 99
For Iron Fence,
156 96
For Sidewalk,
174 86-$10,294 91
Balance in City Treasury, Jan. 1, 1872,
4,556 02
-$14,850 93
For the Committee,
E. B. STODDARD, Chairman.
8,000 00
1,777 50
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 26.
THE GREEN LIBRARY FUND.
The Finance Committee of the Free Public Library, submit the following report of the Green Library Fund, Jan. 1, 1872.
Statement of the Fund Jan. 1, 1871.
Notes secured by Mortgage, 19,748 50
Bank stocks ( par value, ) 6,200 00
Worcester City Notes, 6,536 19 -$32,484 69
Statement of the Fund Jan. 1, 1872.
Notes secured by Mortgage, 19,498 50
Bank stocks ( par value, )
6,200 00
Worcester City Notes,
7,443 78 -$33,142 28
Income for 1871.
Interest on Mortgage Notes,
1,532 28
Dividends on Bank Stocks, 640 00
Interest on City Notes,
450 39
Interest on Bank Deposit,
7 68 - $2,630 35
One quarter of Income added to Fund as per provisions of Will, 657 59
Balance of Income appropriated for purchase of Books, 1,972 76 - $2,630 35
BOOK ACCOUNT.
Cash in hands of City Treasurer, Jan. 1, 1871, 257 69
Appropriated for purchase of Books during year, 1,972 76 - $2,230 45
Expended for purchase of Books during year, 1,006 36
Paid Taxes on Bank Stocks, 110 98 - $1,117 34
Balance in City Treasury, Jan. 1, 1872, $1,113 11
Respectfully submitted for the Finance Committee,
E. B. STODDARD, Chairman.
213
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
READING ROOM FUND, TREASURER'S REPORT.
NATHANIEL PAINE, Treasurer, in account with READING ROOM FUND, FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
1871.
DR.
Jan. 2, To Balance from last year, $191 60
To Cash for interest on City Bonds, 300 00
To Cash for interest on U. S. Bonds, 377 56 - $869 16
1871. CR.
Dec. By Cash paid for subscriptions to Periodicals and Newspapers, from Jan. 2, 1871, to Dec. 26, 1871, inclusive, $842 94
1 80
Postage, Dec. 26, Balance of cash on hand, 24 42 - $869 16
INVESTMENTS.
City of Worcester, 6 per cent. Bonds, $5,000
United States, 6 per cent. Bonds, 5,650 - $10,650
Respectfully submitted, NATHANIEL PAINE, Treasurer of Fund.
The above account is well-vouched and correctly stated and the securities for the investments are in the possession of the Treasurer.
STEPHEN SALISBURY,
One of the Committee on Finance.
REPORT
OF THE
COMMISSION OF PUBLIC GROUNDS.
To the Honorable City Council :
By Section 21, of the Revised Charter of Worcester, the City Council is authorized to elect a board of three commissioners, whose powers and duties are defined at length. Section 1, of Chapter 8, of the Municipal Ordinances, establishes the official designation of those officers, providing as it does for the election, annually, in the month of January, of a " Commissioner of Pub- lic Grounds." Having premised thus much, for the sake of brevity in their future communications and intercourse with the Honorable Council, the COMMISSION OF PUBLIC GROUNDS (and not of Shade Trees and Public Grounds !) would most respectfully submit the accompanying " Report of all their acts and doings, and of the condition of the public grounds and shade and orna- mental trees thereon, and on said streets and highways and an account of receipts and expenditures for the same," for the finan- cial year ending November 30, A. D. 1871.
The receipts of the Commission, from all sources, were as fol- lows :
Balance On Hand January 2. A. D. 1871.
$1,048 88
Appropriation for 1872.
5,000 00
Use of Elm Park by menageries, &c.,
350 00
For removal of 500 yards Gravel, (Salem'St.) 150 00
M. McGrath, Grass on Elm Park.
200 00
$6,748 88
29
216
CITY DOCUMENT. - No. 26.
PER CONTRA-EXPENDITURES.
Paid H. & A. Palmer, labor and boxing trees (bill of 1870.) $121 92 Highway Department, Plowing, Labor and Street Scrapings, 275 10 Sewer Department-Constructing Inlets, Catch-basins, &c, 250 89 M. McGrath, labor during Five months, Excavation, &c., as per Report, 3,976 22
M. McGrath, Excavation, Labor and Manure on Elm Park, 199 50 John Barnes, Felling trees, labor and hire of team, 238 33 Timothy S. Bliss, Plowing S. W. corner of Elm Park, 4 12
A. Barnes, labor,
16 00
John Goulding, labor,
15 00
M. McKenney, labor,
6 00
Jere Toomey, do
21 50
Henry Forney, Trimming trees,
27 00
C. H. Perry, 66 and Fencing,
180 82
L. B. Chambelain, Setting trees (Bellevue St,)
5 00
Jonas Hartshorn,(Chandler St,)
12 00
S. Shumway, (Woodland St,)
5 00
Charles E. Stevens, (Boynton St,)
2 00
James H. Wall, (Elm St,)
5 00
James Draper, for Fifteen Hundred Young Trees, (Elms and Maples,) and setting same, 98 00
George Sessions & Son, 350 yards of earth at 12} cts,
43 77
John Simmons & Son, Lumber and Boxing trees,
133 83
Willard Ward, labor and lumber, 123 64
53 50
C. O. Richardson, 58 Tons of Beach Stone at $4.00 per ton, $232.00; Freight, $72.50 304 00
L. H. Bigelow, Directory, Envelopes &c,
2 00
S. Harrington. Labor,
A. Ballou, Painting, 34 83
Dexter Rice, Signs, 22 75
J. D. Baldwin & Co, Advertising, 1 50
*S. D. Burbank, Burying Anaconda (Elm Park), 2 00
J D. Lovell, Grass Seed for Common and Elm Park, and tools, 86 42
J. Marble & Co .. Tar for Irons of Flag-Staff, 1 25
Sumner Pratt & Co., Guide line, 1 30
Snow Brothers, Printing Report for 1870, (Extra Copies). 23 32
$6,324 01
Remaining unexpended $424 87
There are some bills for trimming and boxing Trees, and other work, not presented, that will reduce if not extinguish this balance.
*Note .- Upon the departure of the " Grand Moral" Caravan of P. T. Barnum it was found that an Anaconda had " shuffled off its mortal coil " and been left behind among other hallowing influences. It required Two Dollars and a pretty tough stomach to deodorize the neighborhood. The interment, behind the Old Gun House, of a " Capta- tor Verborum," who fell a victim to a bad access of grammar, being a labor of love, was devoid of expense to the treasury. In neither instance has there been subsequent offence, although, in one case, the stench was overpowering before burial ; and, in the other, de-composition had become noisome.
30 00
Mann & Bigelow, stone and labor
-
217
PUBLIC GROUNDS.
The following enumerated work has been executed during the year, under the direction of the Commission. Forty-five (45) trees were protected with perpendicular slats. Seventeen (17) Circular Guards, with iron bands, have been allowed (in part) by the Commission and, in addition, One Hundred and Fifteen (115) common guards. Sixteen new posts have been affixed to seats in place of others that were rotten.
The property belonging to the Commission and fit for use is thus reported : Thirteen (13) seats ; five (old) tree-guards ; ten (10) new do: Fifty (50) slats for trees : Three Hundred and Fifty (350) Pickets, which will make Seven Hundred (700) slats ; and Nine Circular Guards. There are also on hand Fifty- Eight (58) Tons of Beach-Stones, which will be used in paving gutters when the condition of the ground will admit of it. Quite a number of neat signs that had been put in position upon the Com- mon, warning people " off the grass " are missing and were undoubtedly stolen. There is as yet no clue to the thief. Sus- picion justly attaches to a stranger who betrayed remarkable interest in them and whose departure from the city was singularly coincident with the disappearance of those signs. Such forms of lunacy are usually harmless, however, beyond the loss consequent upon their manifestation ; and no increase of the police force is recommended should there be a re-appearance of the same or similar depredators.
In the Report of the Commission for 1870, occurs the follow- ing paragraph :
"This Commission holds a very definite opinion of what should be done to render the COMMON attractive and ornamental; as it emphatically is neither at present. But it is not deemed expedient to ask appropriations for the decora - tion of an irregular and imperfect fraction, when measures have been initiated by the People to free the whole from incumbrance."
It is scarcely worth the while to explain the reasons by which the Commissioners were induced to change the policy thus indicated. Perhaps as decisive as any were the sneers indulged in by the sagacious counsel for the Railway Corporations, in the " Hearing " before the Railway Committee of the General Court. If it was true, as alleged, that, " aside from the railroads, from the dilapidated fence which encloses it, and all the surroundings of that Common, you will know by a single glance that it is not the resort of our citizens who would like a Park or Common for
218
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 26.
use," it seemed to this Commission high time that the desolation of this Public Ground should no longer supply an argument against its improvement to Ex-Mayors, of the legal profession, by whom it had been chiefly neglected. And, although the failure of their " uncultivated country eyes " to " appreciate the beauties of Worcester Common," as admitted by the blatant advocates from Fitchburg Ravine, might be largely due to their inability to discover an " itching palm " among our Flora, of which so con- spicuous a specimen is supplied by their egregious Town (e), yet it behooved this Commission all the more to remedy deficiencies confessed by none so readily as themselves. For, be that COM- MON what it might, it was none the less precious for the reminis- cences that it awakened and for the hopes which it inspired. It was small,- more's the pity ! yet such taunt came with an ill grace from those who had encroached upon its limits. Its appearance was forlorn enough, undoubtedly , but to whom was its bare and sterile aspect more attributable than to those who grudged all sums expended in its improvement, esteeming the devotion of a cent to plans of civic embellishment as an aggra- vated personal robbery ! The Commissioners had never lacked a keen perception of their duty in the premises : to that conscious- ness was now superadded a lively sense that the work of recla -. mation might no longer be postponed.
Accordingly, by way of experiment and almost exclusively as a tentative measure, the task of filling the acute triangle or delta, at the N. E. corner, was commenced. The material employed, and indeed the only one then available, was the scrapings from the public streets, of which the Highway Department was glad enough to be rid so handily. The capacity of that tract of land to swallow up dirt was the wonder of the Commission, which beheld the entire municipal force of men and teams severely tasked to establish even a tolerable grade. When the exhaus- tion of material at length constrained a pause, the enforced cessa- tion of work was found to be rather a benefit than a misfortune. Since, with the first soaking rains, it quickly became apparent that the material used was not of sufficient specific gravity to maintain a definite and fixed level ; for which purpose as well as to fit it for the sustenance of a dense and sightly herbage, it would require to be mixed with richer and heavier soil. A small
219
PUBLIC GROUNDS. .
lot of loam was procured for a top dressing, but the quantity was altogether inadequate to modify essentially the nature of the whole deposit. It still remained of an arid, heating character by no means favorable to the nutrition of the choicer grasses. A thorough conviction of this, however, was not reached until later in the season, when the progress of improvement, in other por- tions of the Common, had advanced to a degree which would admit of neither intermission nor delay. The tract had been thickly seeded, at the earliest moment practicable, and a speedy growth of tender herbage offered its pleasant verdure in exchange for a dreary waste. The frosts and snows of winter could be safely depended upon to settle the mass well together, if not to reduce it to a homogeneous whole. It was thought best therefore, to post- pone, until the ensuing Spring, the final grading of that tract for which, meanwhile, material was steadily accumulated.
Encouraged by the evident success of this attempt, it was resolved to defer the work of improvement no longer, but to com- mence and complete at once what must, sooner or later, be under- taken. As the execution of this purpose involved the expendi- ture of considerable sums of money, it was deemed alike prudent and courteous to secure the co-operation of the City Council, by which body all appropriations must be made. The following Resolution was therefore submitted for the consideration of the members and, upon the 3d of April, A. D. 1871, it received the unanimous assent of both branches :
" Resolved,-that the CITY COUNCIL assures the Commissioners of their cor- dial co-operation in any effort for the improvement of the Common, and to that end will appropriate such necessary means and facilities as shall promise the most efficient and rapid execution of the work consistent with a judicious econ- omy."
While these preliminaries were in process of arrangement, Mr. Anthony Chase signified to the Commission his willingness that earth should be taken from the high bank lying west of Main Street, where his residence was formerly situated. No more timely, and certainly no greater, assistance could have been offered than this ; not only on account of the quantity of mate- rial, but because of its proximity and facilities for excavation. The proposal of Mr. Chase was at once thankfully accepted. A bargain` was made with Mr. Michael McGrath by which, for the sum of twenty (20) cents per square yard, he engaged to dig and
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