USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1871 > Part 3
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On the building.
$1,428 25
Furniture, bedding, etc.
1,890 64
Total
$3,318 89
Grocery bills, Oct. and Nov
$83 39
Provision bills.
137 62
Drugs and medicines
63 00
Payroll.
214 76
Incidentals.
42 76
$541 53
Total
$3,860 42
Small sums, for board, &c., amounting in the aggregate to less than $25, have been received by the trustees ; but this money having been all appropriated towards defraying the incidental ex- penses, as set forth above, does not require to be more formally accounted for in this place. The estimated expenses of the hos- pital, on its present basis, for the coming year is in round num- bers $6000.
5
30
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 26.
Let me not dismiss this subject without a word of thanks to the individuals who have so generously contributed towards the equipment of the hospital.
SCHOOLS.
There is no duty which a member of the City Council assumes upon accepting the office which is more clearly to be discerned than the duty of promptly, liberally and with open hand provid- ing the means of education to every child within the limits of his municipal jurisdiction. This duty is taught by the example of our forefathers, who early inculcated the idea, now by all intelli- gent communities conceded, that an enlightened and educated people are the bulwark and safeguard of a free government. It is commended by the example of our illustrious predecessors in this municipal government. It is so completely enforcedby the argu- ments, addresses, writings and opinions of the most learned men of the present time, that the subject requires no additional con- firmation from me.
The law intends that every child in our community shall have the right to an education freely, that every child shall be com- pelled to avail himself of this right, and that neither avarice, ignorance, poverty nor disinclination shall be permitted to stand in the way of the effectual accomplishment of this purpose.
Recognizing this idea, our school board, by thorough and ex- haustive research, have attempted to seek out those children who have not voluntarily availed themselves of the means of an edu- cation, and by such authority as the law affords, compelled such as they have found to go to school. In this way more than 100 children, who, for one reason or another, were being deprived of the means of an education, have within the past year been added to the schools. By this effort, by the constant immigration of children from abroad, and by the ordinary and natural increase of our resident population, the necessity for additional school ac- commodations is beginning to be seriously felt.
More than a year ago, a petition was presented to the City Coun- cil, asking that the Mechanic street burying ground be appropriated as a site for a school house, at that time represented to be neces- sary to supply a demand for further school accommodations.
31
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
This application, for some reason, has met with no response, al- though I am informed the necessity is constantly increasing.
It may, perhaps, be supposed that when the High School House shall be occupied, this pressure will be relieved, but I believe it will be found that even with the accommodations which the High School House will afford to the High School, (for it is intended to accommodate none but the various departments of that school) the other schoolhouses will be insufficient suitably to accommo- date our present numbers. And when it is remembered that cer- tain rooms now occupied for school purposes are pronounced by physicians to be unsuitable and unhealthy, that some of the rooms are already overcrowded, that our numbers requiring school accommodations are steadily increasing, that additional accommodations for the drawing school, required by law to be furnished as a branch of our educational system, are required, and that by the sale of the schoolhouse on the common we are de- prived of our accommodations there for two hundred of our pupils, the need for further school room becomes more and more appar- ent, and leads to the conclusion that if not absolute now, it will probably become so by the time it can be furnished, even if we should begin at once to provide for it.
The law makes the school committee " the original judges of the necessity of having additional accommodations." Common courtesy would seem to dictate that their judgment should be re- respected, and when they represent to us by petition that the necessity exists, and ask for the means of supplying it, ours should be the more grateful, as it is the less responsible, duty of granting the request. A carefully prepared report as to the feas- ibility of the plan of appropriating this burying ground for school purposes, may be found on pages 48, 49, 50 and 51 of the City Doc- ument for 1871. I recommend the matter for your consideration.
I cannot pass from the consideration of this subject without commending to the attention of all the report of our able and efficient Superintendent of Schools. It will be gratifying to know that a system of personal supervision as to the ability, progress and capacity for progress of each individual pupil in the graded schools has been organized, so that advancement to the meritori- ous is assured, and the constant effort is to keep our schools in the most effective working condition.
32
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 26.
An evening drawing school for adults has been organized and is in successful operation at the Belmont street school house. It furnishes to mechanics and artizans a course of instruction much · required and highly prized. The need of such a school as this became more apparent as the advantages of the Technical school became more generally known. The last City Government ap- propriated $2,500 for furnishing room and instruction for this purpose.
The following statement shows the operations of this depart- ment during the past year :
RESOURCES.
Appropriated by city council. $125,000 00
Received from state and school fund.
2,013 76
for articles sold.
580 68
"
from non-resident scholars.
10 10
66 for school books collected in taxes.
87 80
Total
$127,692 34
ORDINARY EXPENDITURES.
Salaries of teachers
$83,973 23
66 superintendent and secretary . 3,850 00
Fuel.
7,529 68
Books and apparatus.
1,264 46
Janitors and cleaning
3,824 46
Repairs
4,353 80
Furnishings
728 86
Furniture
461 12
Printing and advertising
743 28
Rents .
519 50
Miscellaneous
859 29
Total
$108,137 35
EXTRAORDINARY EXPENDITURES.
Furnishing Belmont street school house, nine rooms, and nine rooms in other buildings,
including furniture, heating apparatus and pianos $7,494 74
Books and apparatus for new schools
625 00
Furnishing for new schools. 265 00
Furnishing two new school rooms in Lamar- tine street house 427 26
Amount carried forward $8,812 00
33
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
$8,812 00
Amount brought forward. . New school rooms and stage in Belmont street house. .
898 86
New out buildings at Pond district. 700 82
Grading lot-Ledge street house-balance .. 193 50
Ledge street stages, ante-rooms in hall-bal- ance .
137 72
New fence, New Worcester school house lot -balance
80 79
New fence, Providence street school house- balance
78 48
Woodland street stage and ante-rooms
95 94
Expense on normal school.
81 25
Insurance on school buildings
103 40
Concrete in basement of New Worcester school building.
176 00
Curbstone and sidewalks in street in front of Sycamore street and Washington street school houses. 219 90
Total. $11,578 66 Total expenditures of the department for eleven months $119,715 98
The month of December would add but a small amount to this sum, except one more month's salaries.
The whole number of persons who have received instruction the whole or a part of the year is 9941, being a gain over the last year of 521.
The average number belonging to the schools the past year was 7024, being a gain over the last year of 639.
The average daily attendance was 6323, being a gain over last year of 790.
The whole number receiving instruction at the close of the year was 7145, being a gain over the previous year of 488.
The above figures include the evening and the drawing schools.
The number in the day schools was as follows :
Whole number of different scholars registered, 9052 ; average number belonging, 6588 ; being a gain of 379.
Average daily attendance, 5945 ; being a gain 342.
Number in actual attendance at the close of the year, 6700 ; being a gain over last year of 228.
The number of schools at the close of the year, including four evening and one drawing school, was 141; an increase over the close of last year of 14.
34
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 26.
The whole number of teachers at present employed in the pub- lic schools, including seven in evening and drawing schools, not employed in day schools, is 158 ; being an increase over the close of last year of 12.
The average cost per scholar on the average number belonging was $15,39.
There is over $1,000,000 of property in the possession of this department.
HIGH SCHOOL HOUSE.
The High School House is now nearly completed, although there will be much to be done in the spring in the way of grading, turfing and ornamenting the grounds, fencing, etc. It is indeed a most commodious edifice, supplied with modern conveniences, arranged and divided into suitable apartments for study and in- struction, equipped with a laboratory, library, etc., and in archi- tectural design, elegance of finish and completeness of arrange- ment, is an object of local pride and admiration. It is perhaps the best and most expensive school house in Massachusetts. It will, when completely finished and equipped, cost not far from $200,000.
In the equipment of this institution the donation of our worthy citizen, Wm. Dickinson, Esq., of the bell, at a cost of $1000, the donation of our late mayor, Hon. Edward Earle, of the clocks, also at a cost of $1000, and the donation of Hon. Stephen Salis- bury, of a grand piano, at a cost of $1200, have been most timely and reflect great credit upon the munificent donors. The grate- ful acknowledgement of our citizens, and of this City Government, are due to these gentlemen for their magnificent presents.
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The circulating department of the Free Public Library contains about 9,500 volumes and is constantly being increased by the addition of rare and valuable works of art, science and literature, as well as the lighter reading for pleasure seekers, as the means of the institution will warrant. It has also been the recipient by various donations during the year, of 415 volumes and 519 pam- phlets and papers. Its advantages are being availed of by our citizens to an extent which shows how great a benefit this provis-
35 .
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
ion for the intellectual wants of our people promises. Between January 1st, and December 1st, 1871, the library has been open 281 days and there have been given out 62,954 volumes, making a daily average of about 224 volumes. The number of persons who have availed themselves of this privilege has been 2,019 in eleven months, against 1654 for the whole of the year 1870.
The Green Library contains about 14,000 volumes. This is intended as a consulting library, and having, as it does, an avail- able annual income of more than $1500 for the purchase of books, additions are being constantly made of the most elaborate and substantial works.
The officers in charge of this department have shown a most commendable appreciation of the wants of our busy working com- munity of inventors, artizans and mechanics by making a liberal provision for their wants. To this numerous and highly intelli- gent class of our community, it will be a pleasure to know that arrangements have been made for the receipt of the new weekly volumes of specifications and drawings of patents issued at the patent office at Washington. These volumes are quite too expen- sive for individual subscription, are very elaborate in their draw- ings and specifications, and valuable for consultation and examination.
One feature of the Green Library, under its present manage- ment, deserves the highest commendation.
The librarian endeavors so to acquaint himself with the books of the library as to be able to direct all inquirers to the sources of information which they seek, thus furnishing a guide to the treasures of the collection. This is a most valuable service, and its appreciation is attested by the great numbers who have occa- sion to avail themselves of it.
The valuable library of the Worcester District Medical Society is also placed in the library building and is accessible to all, under the same rules which govern the use of the books of the Green Library. Probably more than 7,000 persons have sought inform- ation from the Green Library during the eleven months to Decem- ber 1st. Certainly, this institution of individual and municipal bounty commends itself to your consideration in the full appreci- ation which these facts show it is held by great numbers of our citizens. The financial condition of this institution is as follows :
36
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 26.
There are three funds, separate and distinct from each other, from which the library is supported. The Green Library fund, the reading room fund and the city appropriations.
Income for 1871 of Green fund. $2,630 35
¿ of income added to fund as per provisions of will ... 657 59
Balance of income appropriated for purchase
of books 1,972 76
Total $2,630 35
RESOURCES.
Cash in hands of city treasurer, Jan. 1, 1871 $257 69
Appropriated for purchase of books. 1,972 76
Total
$2,230 45
EXPENDITURES.
Expended for purchase of books 1,006 36
Paid taxes ou bank stock 110 98
Total.
1,117 34
Unexpended balance in treasury, $1,113 11
READING-ROOM FUND.
Bonds six per cent.
$10,650 00
RESOURCES.
Balance last year $191 60
Interest. 677 56
896 16
EXPENDITURES.
Subscriptions to periodicals and newspapers,
$842 94
Postage.
1 80
Total. $844 74
Unexpended balance
$24 42
CITY APPROPRIATIONS.
RESOURCES.
Unexpended balance, Jan. 1, 1871.
$5,073 43
City appropriation, 1871. . 8,000 00
Dog fund (city appropriation)
1,777 50
Total resources
$14,850 93
37
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
ORDINARY EXPENDITURES.
Books $1,300 63
Salaries and care of building 3,068 48
Other expenses 1,846 00
6,215 11
EXTRAORDINARY EXPENDITURES.
Alterations and repairs on building 4,079 80
$10,294 91
Unexpended balance . . . $4,556 02
POLICE.
From the best information which I can obtain, it is highly necessary that the police force should be permanently increased. The regular police force of this city to the middle of October comprised but thirty men. After the Chicago fire, and when it was believed that we were threatened with an influx of some of the worst elements of humanity, the force was increased eight men.
There are localities in the city, widely separated from each other, which give the Police officers much trouble and which require their vigilant attention. It is believed that, for the proper protection of the city and its inhabitants against law- lessness and crime, the present force is none too large, and, unless otherwise advised by your counsels, my purpose is to keep it up to the numerical standard of thirty-eight men, established by the recent action of our predecessors.
By comparing our own force with the force of other cities, it will be seen that ours is considerably smaller in proportion to ou population, and that the cost of its maintenance is considerably less.
Providence, with a population of 69,000, has a force of 143 men, at a cost of $139,000.
Lowell, with a population of 43,000, has a force of 38 men, at a cost of $35,000.
Cambridge, with a population of 39,650, has a force of 50 men, at a cost of $60,000.
Charlestown, with a population of 30,000, has a force of 36 men, at a cost of $41,000.
Worcester, with a population of 43,000, had a force of 30 men, 6
38
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 26.
prior to the middle of October last and 38 men since that time, at a cost, for eleven months, of $25,724.16.
I would also suggest the propriety of providing a lock-up in the vicinity of the Junction depot, and another in the vicinity of Lincoln Square, at a moderate cost, for the temporary detention of offenders arrested in the night. By this arrangement officers would be able to remain more constantly on their beats, instead of occupying their time in conveying prisoners to the present station house.
The following statement will show the operations of this department, for eleven months, ending December 1st, 1871, together with its resources and disbursements.
Total number of arrests:
2380
poor lodgers ... 2014
The resources of the department have been as follows :
Appropriation by City Council. $28,000 00
Fees on warrants served by officers 4,080 00
Witness fees of police officers at municipal court. 1,301 40
Extra duty of officers at balls and theatre.
192 75
Collected on warrants for use of city teams
800 00
Total resources $34,374 15
EXPENSES.
Pay roll of Police
25,042 700
Salary of marshal and assistants
3,529 13
Horse hire for use in department.
1,342 50
Special police, July 3d and 4th
131 93
Special police convention Sept. 26th and 27th .
291 62
Special police, eight men on duty since Chicago fire.
1,078 00
Printing, telegraphing and postage
158 37
Food for prisoners and poor lodgers.
206 44
Cleaning lock-up, station and hospital-room.
157 11
Repairing in lock-up, station and hospital-room.
83 24
Blankets for lock-up, station and hospital-room.
23 25
Ice bill for season.
19 12
Sundry small bills.
34 84
Total expenditures
$32,098 31
Earnings deducted. 6,374 15
Net cost of police department. . 25,724 16
Unexpended balance in favor of the department. 2,275 84
39
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The operations of this department of our municipal system, during the past year, have been highly satisfactory, the ordinary expenditures of the department within the appropriation, and the loss of property by fire much less than in previous years. The average loss of property by fire during the four preceding years, 1867, '8, '9 and '70, was $43,596 each year. The loss during the eleven months of last year was only $15,865. It is not too much to say that this great diminution in the loss of property by fire is at any rate in part attributable to the excellent organiza- tion of our fire department and the ample facilities for extinguish- ing fires, which we now possess.
The fire alarm telegraph which has been put in operation during the past year, it is believed, has already more than paid for itself by the facility which it has afforded in discovering the location of fires, thus .enabling the fire companies to put them- selves on the ground with promptness and dispatch. Its cost was about $17,000, of which the city paid about $14,000 and the insurance companies the balance.
True economy in the management of this department consists in providing ourselves with every facility which the progress of the age can devise for the control of this destructive element. When we reflect upon the fearful conflagrations which have occurred during the past few months in the west, causing as they have such a mournful loss of life and property, we must remember with thankful hearts how mercifully we have ourselves been spared.
The following statement shows the resources and disbursements in this department to December 1st, 1871, not including the cost of the alarm telegraph :
RESOURCES.
Appropriation by city council
25,000 00
Received from highway department for use of drivers and
horses
1,532 50
Received for hose
3 25
Total amount of receipts.
26,535 75
Expense of the department to December 1st, 1871. 17,388 73
Unexpended balance
9,147 02
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 26.
There will be due, Jauuary 1, 1872, six months' pay for the men and other expenses, which will amount to about $7000.
Whole number of alarms.
37
Estimated loss .
$15,365
This department is composed of 3 steam fire engines, 12 men
each . . 36
Five hose companies, 10 men each. 50
Two hook and ladder, 20 men each
40
Drivers
Engineers
5
Total of men. 173
There is also a hand engine located at Quinsigamond, with a company of volunteers, to whom the city has given during the past year $100. The city also owns six horses, used for drawing engines, and worked on the highways in summer.
UNION DEPOT.
The last City Government, having been instructed by a vote of the people, made application to the last legislature to provide a remedy for the annoyance occasioned by the passing of railroad trains from the depot on Foster street towards the Junction across the streets and common at grade. This was a source of incon- venience which had occasioned much complaint for many years. The city solicitor, Mr. Nelson, prepared and presented a bill, which not only provided for the discontinuance of railroad tracks through that part of the city, but also for a union passenger station for all the railroads coming into the city. This bill passed both branches of the legislature. It left the railroad companies the option of agreeing among themselves upon the location for this depot, or in case of failure to agree, it provided that a commis- sion, to be appointed by the supreme court, should settle the question.
Failing to agree, the court appointed a commission consisting of three gentlemen of learning, ability and experience, a majority of whom, after hearing the parties, reported in favor of the loca- tion on the line of the Boston and Albany road, easterly of Graf- ton street. This report after a full hearing, was accepted by the court, and it is understood that the Boston and Albany road are
One hand engine(men) 40
2
41
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
now projecting a plan for the erection of a station house at the place designated, sufficient for the accommodation of the various railroad companies.
At the hearing before the commissioners, there was a great diversity of opinion as to the most suitable place for this location but it having been finally, and I suppose it will be conceded, fairly settled by the commission, the great interests of the city require that it should now regarded as a finality, that the contem- plated changes in the railroad accommodations be as speedily per- fected as possible, so that the changes in business locations, if any, as most probably there will be some, may at once be begun, with a certainty that a settled purpose in this regard has been attained. Our citizens may congratulate themselves in the rea- sonable expectation of being relieved from the annoyance of which they complained, at no distant day.
Gentlemen of the City Council :
Our systems of water and sewer improvements have been de- signed and in part executed upon a comprehensive, and I might almost say magnificent scale. These improvements are now and for all time will continue to be a blessing to this community, and the time will come when all who enjoy it will unite in according to those who conceived the plan and had the courage to under- take its execution, hearty and universal commendation.
Such is the universal evidence which the history of enterprises of internal improvement, undertaken and accomplished, fur- nishes. The roads and aqueducts of Rome live among her im- perishable glories, while her greatness as a republic is swallowed up in despotism. In the enjoyment of the advantages which our owil improvements afford us, we to-day derive the greatest satis- faction, and for these, future generations who shall occupy these places will bestow their most fervent gratitude. Therefore to pursue to a consummation the purpose of supplying our city with water, and also of completing this arterial system of drainage, ought to be the aim of our city authorities until the work is done.
But how is this to be accomplished ? How rapidly are we to pass on ? To what depths of indebtedness are we to plunge ? Is our accomplishment to have no limit so long as our credit is intact ? These are questions that address themselves to practi-
42
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 26.
cal common sense. A large class of our citizens are of opinion that these improvements should be prosecuted at once to their completion, and that we should continue to build so long as we can continue to borrow. Another large class are of opinion that the course of prudence is to continue to build, but to let our means of paying in some measure control the amount of our con- struction.
To these opinions the most respectful deference is due. It is , for us to evolve from the conflicting evidences, if we can, what is the true course, and, being satisfied, follow it. I suppose it is a conceded fact that the result of the election, which places those of us who are new to government in charge of municipal affairs, was attributable, in part, to a growing sentiment of distrust in the community as to the propriety of recklessly enlarging our obligations without first providing some substantial means of their final payment, in part to an uncertainty as to the amount of our indebtedness, and in part, perhaps, to a suspicion that our improvements were costing us too much. Our constituents are looking to us to solve these problems, and there will be no better time than now to pause and consider what is the true policy, what is best and for the best interests of our city.
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