USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1872 > Part 20
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
Two hundred and ninety-nine resided in this city, of whom one hundred and eighty-eight were males, and one hundred and eleven females ; one hundred and forty-two resided in other cities and towns, many of whom have been visited, and the cases of the others arranged by letter, involving a large amount of labor and correspondence.
There were eight insane-seven males and one female, also one female idiotic ; sixty-seven were confirmed inebriates, who could not safely be trusted with anything they could exchange for liquor : forty-ine of them were males and eighteen females ; and the whole number included in the above statistics is one thou- sand three hundred and forty-nine.
In addition to the above there has been food and lodging pro- vided, at the expense of the City, in the Station House, for two thousand three hundred and sixteen persons, who have tarried with us over night, probably most of them vagrants or travelers who wander from place to place, and subsist on the public charity, a description of every one of whom is annually required by the Board of State Charities, in order that they may be properly classified and recorded, so that when they appear before our courts they may be dealt with in accordance with their deserts.
The City Hospital, which went into operation a year since, has, as was stated in our last report, filled a want long called for, by an unfortunate class of sick persons, that had claimed help from us, which in some cases could not be provided, and although in no manner connected with this Board, has not failed to receive any suitable case for treatment, at any time when there was an unoccupied bed in the building, if requested so to do by our City Physician, when he had been sent by us to visit
282
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 27.
them ; the rules of the Hospital also require of the Superin- tendent that he shall notify the Clerk of this Board of the recep- tion of such cases, as also those sent there by the several Trus- tees of the Institution, in order that if unable to pay their expenses, claim on the place of their legal settlement may be made for reimbursement through this Board; and there are many persons who are willing to receive public charity through so respectable an Institution as the Hospital, who would sooner die than go to the Alms-House.
There has been a large increase in the amount of labor re- quired of our Clerk in the investigation of the various cases of settlement, but in a majority of them it has been found to fall on the State, in which event a personal history of each of them has had to be presented in writing with each bill. Fifty-four such cases have occurred, for which the State has been charged, at the rate of one dollar a day, for one thousand and twenty- three days-this sum being but seven-tenths of the regular fees of the Institution-and, as before mentioned, has not been allowed, but cut down to such sum as was thought proper by the Board of State Charities, and for the year 1871 was reduced one-quarter ; but whatever amount of this charge is allowed, whenever it can be ascertained, should properly be credited to the Hospital, as no charge has been made by them to the appro- priation for the expenditures of this Board.
In providing for the above mentioned cases there have been drawn at the Clerk's Office for food, fuel, clothing, medicine and other necessaries, twelve hundred and twenty-three orders on various persons, and there has been given as temporary aid in such sums as their various circumstances seemed to require-
In cash allowances,
$226 05
" Fuel,
820 60
" Groceries,
1,289 37
" Furniture and Clothing,
89 87
" Medicine, Attendance and Nursing,
411 29
" Burial expenses,
439 00
" Transportation,
249 45
" Insane Hospital charges,
823 06
" Reform School bills,
683 00
66 Aid to our Poor in other places,
268 80
283
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
In Books, Stationery and Stamps,
120 04
" Miscellaneous expenses,
79 59
Total,
$5,500 12
The expenses of the City Relief or Temporary Aid Depart- ment include also the salary of the
City Physician, which is
$800 00
Clerk,
1,000 00
Expenditures,
5,500 12
Total Expense of City Department,
$7,300 12
The City Alms-House and Hospital has recently been inspected by the whole Board, accompanied by the various heads of the other Departments and several members of the past and present City Governments, and all united in their expressions of confi- dence in the management of the Institution, and repeated the commendations that have annually been given to both Superin- tendent and Matron for several years past. The house is in good condition, a large part of it having been painted and whitened during the past year.
The wooden building used as a piggery and corn-barn has been painted outside, as also the wood-house in the rear of the main building, and a new ice-house about sixteen feet square has been built, near the site of the old one, which had fallen into. decay. The fencing of the farm has been improved by the building of about sixty rods of substantial stone wall on the line of Plantation street and the old Boylston road.
The barn, which has been built in three different sections as enlargements became necessary, and was afterwards moved and considerably twisted in the operation, as well as by having an insufficient foundation, which has grown much worse by the action of frost and rain, is now in such condition as to require very extensive repairs or to be replaced by a new structure, and the latter course is recommended as there is a large amount of timber on the farm suitable for the purpose, and by the in- struction of the Board a large proportion of what will be needed, in addition to what will be found serviceable in the old building, has already been cut and prepared by the Superintendent, in
284
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 27.
order to have everything ready at the proper season in the Spring to carry out this recommendation.
The addition of the twenty-four acres of meadow which was made to the farm last year at an expense of only Six Hundred Dollars, has, as was anticipated, largely added to the crop of hay the present year, which is much larger than ever before, and manifests the advantage and wisdom of its acquirement.
Not so much land as usual was given to the vegetable crop this year, but its product has been as good as usual, as also the crop of corn, which has been fully up to the average product.
The number of inmates at the Institution at the present time is thirty-three, which added to the five boys in Truant School, and their Teacher, and the hired help and other members of the family of the Superintendent, makes a total of forty-four per- sons. The whole number for the past year has been sixty-nine, and the average of Paupers thirty-one. Most of the latter number are old and infirm, and many sick with chronic diseases, one of whom has not left his bed since sent to the Institution, in 1864.
The Hospital for those sick with contagious diseases has not been fully occupied the past year, and at the present time has but one patient, who is now convalescing from small-pox ; but the fact of our having so comfortable a place where such cases can be sent when necessary, has probably made their occurrence less frequent, as there has been less exposure, and our City has escaped the censure so freely bestowed on the authorities of some of our neighbors, who have been less fortunate than our- selves in the location of these Institutions.
The Annual Inventory and Appraisal at the Farm bas, as usual, just been made by the Board, who were kindly assisted in their labors by all the gentlemen composing our present Board of Assessors, and the result is as follows :
96 Acres of cleared Land,
@ $80,
$7,680 00
100 " Wood and Sprout,
$75,
7,500 00
26 " Harlow Pasture,
$40,
1,040 00
50 " Davidson Pasture,
1,280 00
24 " Bond Meadow,
$25,
600 0
All the Farm Buildings,
21,000 00
Total of Real Estate,
$39,100 00
285
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Farm Stock, Tools, &c.,
7,907 80
Furniture and Household Utensils,
4,270 37
Appurtenances of Truant School,
400 00
Total Valuation,
$51,678 17
The cost of the Bond meadow, which was six hundred dollars, has been added to the value of Real Estate the present year, making it thirty-nine thousand and one hundred dollars, instead of thirty-eight thousand five hundred as formerly.
The total value of the Estate in December, 1871, was
$50,897 32
Total present value is 51,678 17
Making a difference of
780 95
Deducting cost of Bond Meadow,
600 00
Difference in favor of 1872,
180 95
The total expenditure at the Alms-House for the year has been $7,391 83 Receipts from Sales and Board of the Truant School, 3,928 79
Making the net expense, $3,463 04
Add Salary of Superintendent and Matron,
800 00
Expense of Alms-House Department,
$4,263 04
Expense of City Relief Department,
7,300 12
Making the total expenses,
$11,563 16
And the Resources have been,
Appropriation by the City Council,
$10,000 00
Receipts from other Cities and Towns,
996 92
Receipts from the Commonwealth,
2,568 01
Total Receipts,
$13,564 93
Total Expenses,
$11,563 16
Unexpended balance, $2,001 77
The Report on the Truant School, which occupies one wing of the main building, and is also under the superintendence of the master of the Alms-House, may as usual be expected from the Superintendent of the City Schools, he being, ex-officio, a member of this Board, as also Chairman of the sub-committee having the school as their particular charge ; and the accounts have as heretofore been kept entirely distinct from those of the Alms-House and charged to the appropriation for that particu- lar purpose ; the usual charge of two dollars and fifty cents
38
286
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 27.
per week having been made for the Teacher and each scholar's board, and five cents an hour allowed for each boy's labor when- ever employed about the establishment.
The Expenses have been as follows :
Amount paid for board,
$1,852 64
Clothing and other expenses,
336 76
Instruction and Supervision,
400 00
Total expenditure,
$2,589 40
Received for boys' labor,
62 00
Making the net expense,
$2,527 40
RESOURCES.
Appropriation by City Council,
$3,000 00
Unexpended balance, 472 60
An appraisal of the Property has been made and shows it to be worth
$400 00
In 1871 it was
448 00
Depreciation,
48 00
The table showing the monthly disbursements of the Clerk of the Board in full detail, also one giving the number of paupers at the Alms-House in each month, with the expenditures and receipts there, and of the Truant School, giving the number of boys in each month and the disbursements on their account, is annexed, to all of which we invite a careful perusal.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
GEORGE W. GALE, Clerk.
GEORGE F. VERRY, Mayor. JONATHAN B. SIBLEY, City Marshal. ALBERT B. MARBLE, Supt. of Schools. GEORGE W. GALE.
O. L. HATCH. WALTER HENRY.
EDWARD KENDALL. OBEDIAH B. HADWEN.
Overseers of the Poor.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
287
-
ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT.
Monthly Accounts.
No. of Paupers.
Total Expenditures.
Total Receipts.
Net Expense.
Receipts above Expenditures.
December,
34
$440 06
$354 20
$85 86
January,
36
527 68
494 25
33 43
February,
35
399 26
249 66
149 60
March,
29
482 95
267 45
215 50
April,
26
704 01
288 83
415 18
May,
28
526 69
317 33
209 36
June,
27
454 05
472 25
$18 20
July,
31
637 28
266 66
370 62
August,
30
573 17
173 70
399 47
September,
36
572 10
203 85
368 25
October,
30
338 56
318 46
20 10
November,
33
1736 02
522 15
1213 87
$7391 83
$3928 79
$3481 24
$18 20
18 20
$3463 04
288
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 27.
TRUANT SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
Monthly Accounts.
No. of Scholars.
Coast of Board.
Clothing and |Teaching and other Expen.
Supervision.
Value of Labor.
Total.
December,
18
$188 35
$2 00
January,
23
203 46
$92 68
2 00
February,
23
212 78
6 75
$100 00
2 00
March,
23
202 25
17 54
2 00
April,
19
183 21
141 00
4 00
May,
21
199 92
34 25
100 00
10 00
June,
21
202 50
10 00
July,
15
137 50
7 05
15 00
August,
11
119 57
- 14 05
100 00
10 00
September,
10
102 53
65
5 00
October,
9
83 57
18 79
November,
5
27 00
4 00
100 00
$1852 64
$336 76
$400 00
$62 00
$2589 40
62 00
$2527 40
CITY RELIEF DEPARTMENT.
Clerk's Monthly Disbursements.
No. of Orders Drawn.
Paid in Cash Allow-
Cost of Fuel:
Cost of Groceries.
Clothing.
Furniture and
Medicine, Attendance and Nursing.
Cost of Burials.
Paupers.
Transportation of
Insane Hospital Bills.
School Bills.
Reform and Nautical
Paid other Cities and
Books, Stationery and
Miscellaneous ex-
December,
121
$38 80 $174 00
$132 50 $31 29
$13 55
$26 00
$3 00 $167 30
$45 50 $208 80
$5 00 $4 60
January,
196
8 00
244 50
236 00
5 25
100 94
32 75
141 77
60 00
11 50
February,
179
8 00
14 85
13 43
2 50
61 50
92 00
12 83
9 00
March,
186
32 00
219 00
172 50
12 40
33 75
37 00
15 80 142 00
116 84
61 04
April,
95
18 00
58 50
111 00
10 70
24 00
11 07
33 12
13 50
20 14
May,
81
44 35
9 00
93 00
3 75
26 40
92 00
68 30
5 50
June,
54
4 00
6 25
142 00
19 25
53 25
10 10
30 00
5 00
July,
59
21 00
85 00
27 60
63 00
12 65
280 65
116 05
85
August,
63
4 00
5 00
83 44
6 65
13 00
15 25
125 14
September,
49
39 90
17 25
54 00
6 50
21 35
42 00
19 55
203 11
7 50
October,
66
4 00
36 12
108 00
3 00
42 85
22 82
36 65
7 50
12 00
November,
74
4 00
36 13
58 50
6 00
12 75
28 00
11 50
104 48
3 50
33 00
1223|226 05|820 60| 1289 37 89 87 411 29|
439 00 249 45
823 06|
683 00 268 80| 120 04 79 59
Towns.
Postage.
penses.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
289
ances.
BY -LAWS
OF THE BOARD OF
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
SECTION 1. The mayor shall be Chairman, and as such shall exer- cise the rights and perform the duties of the presiding officer of the Board, governed by parliamentary law ; and in his absence the Board shall appoint a chairman pro-tem. For transaction of business, five members shall constitute a quorum.
SEC. 2. At the first meeting of the Board in January, when the new members take their seats, and before the transaction of any other business, they shall be qualified, according to law, by taking the oath of office, which shall be administered by the chairman. The Board shall then choose a Clerk as prescribed by the City Ordinance, who shall perform such duties as shall be prescribed by said City Ordi- nances and the Rules of this Board; he shall keep a full and impartial record of all meetings of this Board, and full accounts of all expendi- tures of the department, and an intelligible record of all persons aided, either temporarily or permanently, recording all facts in connection with each case that may come to his knowledge by reasonable inquiry and investigation, and reporting all new cases at the next succeeding meeting.
SEC. 3. There shall be appointed at this first meeting of the Board by the chair, four standing committees, of three members each; one on the Farm, one on Relief, and one on Truant School.
SEC. 4. The Finance Committee shall examine all bills, and if found correct, shall audit the same.
SEC. 5. The Committee on the Farm shall have charge of the farm and the inmates of the Institution. Under the direction of the Board they shall make, advise, or order all purchases and supplies for the same, and examine and approve all bills contracted therefor. They shall visit the institution monthly, and make to the Board at each monthly meeting a report of the condition of the same.
SEC. 6. The Committee on Relief shall direct no aid to be allowed unless the case has been fully examined and a proper record made of all the facts connected therewith. In cases of doubt they shall exam- ine with the Clerk all new applicants for relief, who, if found entitled thereto, shall then receive temporary aid. The Committee shall ex- amine all bills for aid authorized by the Clerk, and shall audit the same if found correct.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR. 291
SEC. 7. The Committee on the School shall have control of all matters relating to the interests of the Truant School. They shall furnish the requisite books and apparatus ; employ the teacher, and in cases of difficulty decide questions of discipline.
SEC. 8. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held in the Aldermen's room on the first Friday of each month, and the chairman may call special meetings whenever it may be necessary.
SEC. 9. These By-Laws may be altered or amended at any regular meeting of the Board, provided the alteration has been proposed at a previous regular meeting, and the subject laid over one month.
February 8, 1867, adopted by unaimous vote of Board.
GEORGE W. GALE, Clerk of the Board.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
AT THE
ALMS - HOUSE AND FARM.
1st .- The whole establishment shall be under the general super- vision of the Board of Overseers of the Poor.
2d. The immediate direction of the Institution shall be under the supervision of a Superintendent and Matron.
3d. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent and Matron to see that all the inmates labor in such a way, and at such times as they may direct, and that no one shall be permitted to lead an idle life.
4th. The Superintendent shall see that the industrious and deserv- ing are rewarded, and the idle and dissolute are punished.
5th. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to make a monthly report to the Board of Overseers at their monthly meetings, of any information he may be possessed of relating to the interests of the Institution.
6th. No person shall be allowed to visit the Institution on the Sabbath without a permit from some member of the Board of Over- seers, or the Superintendent.
7th. No person shall be allowed to converse or have intercourse with any prisoner sent to the Institution by the Police or any other Court, without permission of the Superintendent, or some member of the Board of Overseers.
·
292
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 27.
8th. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to see that all sentences imposed upon persons sent by any Court, are strictly en- forced.
9th. The Superintendent and Matron shall in no instance what- ever, leave the Institution at the same time, without permission from some member of the Committee on the Farm, and not then until some suitable person shall be obtained by them to take charge of the Insti- tution during their absence.
10th. The Superintendent is expressly directed to prohibit all per- sons from bringing or drinking Ardent Spirits upon the premises, without direction from the attending physician.
11th. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent and Matron to see that all the inmates of the institution bathe as often as once a week, un- less otherwise directed by the attending Physician.
12th. No pauper shall leave the Alms-house without permission from the Superintendent.
13th. The Superintendent is hereby directed to report to the Board of Overseers, any inmate who shall refuse to comply with the forego- ing regulations relating to their discipline and government.
WORCESTER, February 8, 1867. Adopted by unanimous vote of the Board.
GEORGE W. GALE, Clerk.
·
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE COMMISSION OF
PUBLIC GROUNDS.
To the Honorable City Council :
The subjoined Report of their " acts and doings, of the condi- tion of the Public Grounds and Shade Trees thereon, and on said Streets and Highways, and an account of receipts and expendi- tures for the same," is respectfully submitted to your Honorable Body, in compliance with the Twenty-First Section of the Charter of the City, by the Commission of Public Grounds:
Cash to credit of the Commission, Dec. 1, 1872,
$424 87
66 Received, annual appropriation, 3,000 00
66 Rent of Elm Park and sale of Grass,
675 00
$4,099 87
Expenditures as below,
3,267 05
Balance unexpended,
$832 82
PER CONTRA. PAYMENTS.
John Simmons & Son, labor and stock, $106 44
Michael McGrath, labor and teams, 96 00
Geo. L. Grout, Piedmont st., setting 2 Elm and 3 Maple Trees, 5 00
Calvin W. Pierce, Plymouth st., setting 2 Maple Trees, 2 00
Thomas Roach, Lagrange st., setting 3 Maple Trees, 3 00
44 50
O. L. Hatch, Tools, Seed, &c.,
82 50
William Gore, paving on Common,
174 37
Edward R. Fiske, printing Report,
John Barnes, Labor and Team on Common, $74.00; Elm Park, $3.00, 77 00
39
294
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 27.
Dexter Rice, "Keep off the Grass !" 28 00
Charles H. Perry, pruning Trees and setting boxes for Eng- lish Sparrows, 57 71
Stephen Salisbury, jr., ten (10) Maple Trees planted in High- land st., 7 50
Walter Bigelow, Rock Maples,
15 00
Kinnicutt & Co., Lawn Mower,
25 00
Michael McGrath, labor in composting,
28 12
Henry Forney, pruning,
21 00
John Simmons & Son, Labor and Lumber,
91 75
Highway Department, Gravel and Street Scrapings,
68 50
Evening Gazette, advertising,
5 80
Kinnicutt & Co.,
1 48
C. A. Cummings, Repairs of Lawn Mower,
1 25
James Downey, 2 cords, 3 ft. 8 in. Manure, (Elm Park),
20 17
Henry Forney, pruning Trees,
34 00
Wm. S. Greene and I. L. Hall, (Police, reward), 10 00
Kinnicutt & Co., Settees for Women and Children, upon Common, 171 50 236 00
7 12
Henry Forney, pruning Trees,
15 00
Charles W. Fenno, Iron Roller,
79 50
John Barnes, labor and Team, Henry Forney, pruning,
28 50
David Rowe, Labor, (25 days),
50 00
Grout & Putnam, Stationery,
5 12
John Simmons & Son, Tree-Guards, setting, &c.,
113 82
Joseph A. Howland, setting 3 Elms, 2 Maples on Loudon st.,
5 00
Charles W. Smith, setting Maple on Chestnut st., 1 00
6 50
C. O. Richardson, 96 Tons Beach Stone, R. R. Freight on same, and laying 535% Yds., 987 98
David Rowe, labor, 26 days, Hagan, labor, 13 days,
52 00
Sewer Dept., dumpage in School House Cellar on Common,
20 00
Highway Dept., gravel, sand, labor, scrapings,
192 20
John Barnes, labor,
10 40
J. B. Burke, manure, 3 cords, 6 ft. 10 inches,
25 05
M. McGrath, labor and manure,
117 73
J. D. Lovell, seed and tools,
12 87
David Rowe, labor, 10 days,
20 00
Amoskeag Mfg. Co., Pattern, (38 lbs.,)
2 09
Charles E. Parker, setting 3 Maple Trees on Newbury st., 2 Maple Trees on Congress st., 5 00
Washburn Machine Shop, 50 Houses for Eng. Sparrow, a. 30, 15 00
8 00
Grout & Putnam, paper,
80
Highway Dept., carting Loam,
13 75
$3,267 05
David Rowe, labor, 118 days,
John D. Baldwin, (Spy), advertising,
33 00
Benjamin C. Jacques, labor,
26 00
D. W. Haskins, setting Trees, Providence st.,
295
PUBLIC GROUNDS.
From the preceding statement, it appears that there was a sum of Eight Hundred and Thirty-Two and 1% Dollars, credited to this COMMISSION at the close of the last fiscal year. That sum the Auditor claims the right to wrest from its appropriation and thereby divert from the uses contemplated by the Commissioners in their frugal zeal to accumulate it. It had been hoped that the character of the season would admit of work upon ELM PARK. The nature of the soil is such in that tract of land, that, until reclaimed, it would be extremely imprudent to risk heavy teams upon it. When frozen, there would be less danger. But of course, with the confiscation of its resources this COMMISSION will find itself powerless to take any advantage of the alternations of frost or thaw. For this cause especially ; and because it is sincerely believed that the Auditor is not, and cannot be, empow- ered thus vitally to impair the resources and sap the vitality of a body which derives its existence from the charter itself ; this COMMISSION utters its solemn protest against the creation of a Sink- ing Fund by the destruction of all inducements to economy. In the present instance, liabilities had been incurred, of no great amount it is true, but of which the Auditor could have no knowl- edge and in relation to which his action might work the injustice of retarded payment. This COMMISSION finds no fault with the Auditor-simply with the system of Audit.
There were on hand, in charge of John Simmons & Son, at the date of their last return, the following materials, viz .-
Ten (10) New Boxes for Trees, Twelve (12) Old Boxes for Trees, Thirty-Five (35) Slats for Trees.
The COMMISSION also possesses implements and tools of which an exact inventory is rendered, -
One Mowing Machine, (Lawn,) One Wooden Rake ; Two Iron Rakes ; One Pickaxe ; One Shovel ; One Grass-Hook ; One Scythe ; One Scythe-Snaith ; One Hoe ; One Wheelbarrow ; Twenty (20) Settees ; and a miscellaneous lot of posts, rails, &c., &c.
296
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 27.
Upon the 29th day of October a communication whereof the following is a copy, was received by the Chairman of this Com- MISSION, through the public post.
City of Worcester, In City Council, Oct. 28, 1872.
" ORDERED -that the COMMISSION ON PUBLIC GROUNDS be and they hereby are requested to ascertain and report to the City Council upon what terms NEWTON HILL (so called,) can be acquired and thereafter devoted to the pecu- liar and proper uses of a PARK or COMMON, or for any other purposes that the City may see fit to occupy it; to be obtained and held in perpetuity."
A Copy. Attest, SAMUEL SMITH, City Clerk.
As the original Order had been drafted by the Chairman of this COMMISSION, its transmission from the Honorable Council occasioned no surprise. But insomuch as His Honor the MAYOR, appearing to labor under some misapprehension, has seen fit to give expression in his Inaugural Address to the following lan- guage,-
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.