USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1877 > Part 14
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208
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
For Clerical labor, canvassing,
$498 37
writing,
198 75
Horse hire,
283 00
Blacksmithing,
320 12
Hardware and tools,
102 15
Lumber and carpenter work,
199 64
Rubber goods,
18 57
Rent,
18 75
Care of reserv'r and measur'g water,
251 00
Oil, lanterns, etc.,
62 95
Gas,
7 94
Advertising,
6 00
Printing,
173 61
Abatements on water rates,
487 32
Fuel,
59 45
Trucking and freight,
122 02
Clock, and repairing same,
5 50
Plumbing,
13 52
Union Water Meter Co., meters, and repairing same, 2,244 00
Sundry fittings and repairs,
85 71
Blank books and stationery,
120 32
Damage from water,
2 60
Salt,
2 30
Rep's wagons, sleighs and harnesses,
38 87
Com'rs of Sink'g Fund, (amount transferred per order of City Council) for acc't of "Lynde Brook damages " Sink'g Fund, Com'rs of Sink'g Fund (amount transferred per order of City Council) for acc't of "Funded Water Loan Sinking Fund " of 1876,
8,000 00
1,500 00
Engineering,
73 12
Analyzing water,
10 00
Paints and oil,
56 63
Valves for hydrants,
9 00
Horses and harnesses,
393 10
Repairing building,
17 15
Hay and grain,
145 82
Sewer pipe and sand,
63 76
Traveling expense Commissioner,
3 00
Taxes in Leicester,
68 05
Metallic Tape, 7 92
209
REPORT OF THE AUDITOR.
For Drinking fountain,
$22 38
Paving,
14 83
Express, telegrams,. &c.,
11 74
Window shades,
15 97
Electrical dials,
45 00
Bell, &c. for district alarm,
83 37
T. L. Nelson, legal services, Tain- ter case,
350 00
Legal services and other expenses
in Desper Meter case, 162 15
Total, as per item No. 40 Expenses,
$24,104 17
Balance unexpended transferred to Sinking Fund, $26,073 66
Balances Unexpended,
Transferred to Sinking Fund.
From City Hall,
$611 85
City Hospital,
3,212 38
Fire Department,
3,148 65
Free Public Library,
10 39
Highway Department,
5,340 54
Incidental Expenses,
3,389 09
Interest,
6,765 38
Interest on Sewer Loan,
326 00
Lighting Streets,
2,160 45
Pauper Department,(City Relief )
932 05
66
(Farm)
1,847 77
66
66 (Truant School)
194 23
Police Department,
3,079 17
Salaries,
58 00
Sewer Maintenance,
724 56
Shade Trees and Public Grounds,
125 34
Water Works, (Construction)
1,337 05
(Maintenance) 26,073 66
$59,336 56
Sewer Assessment, old acc't, 66
8,350 95
new "
7,700 52
Street betterments,
5,694 65
21,746 12
Total,
$81,082 68
210
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
City Debt, Nov. 30, 18777.
FUNDED CITY LOAN.
Due June 1, 1878,(interest 5 per ct.,) $6,000 00
1879,
4,000 00
1880, 66 8,000 00
1881, 66 66 4,000 00
1882,
6,000 00
1883, 66 10,000 00
1884,
5,000 00
January 1, 1887,
66 100,000 00
$143,000 00
Due Jan. 1, 1881, (interest 6 per ct.) $500,000 00 June 1, 1881, 12,000 00
April 1, 1892, . 66 800,000 00
1,312,000 00
Due April 1, 1878, (interest 7 per ct.) 170,000 00
1879,
170,000 00
340,000 00
Total,
$1,795,000 00
FUNDED SEWER LOAN.
Due June 15, 1878, (inter'st 6 per cent.) 33,600 00
15, 1879,
16,300 00 66 1, 1880, 66
66 40,000 00
15, 1880, 66 66 3,000 00
July 1, 1880,
100,000 00
June 15, 1881,
1,000 00
July 1, 1881, 66 67,900 00
261,800 00
FUNDED WATER LOAN.
Due June 1, 1879, (interest 5 per cent.) $500 00 Dec. 1, 1906, 100,000 00
100,500 00
Due June 1, 1878, (interest 6 per cent. ),$27,500 00
1,1879, 66 66 14,000 00
" 1,1880, יר 11,100 00
" 1, 1881,
1,000 00
July 1, 1881,
2,000 00
211
REPORT OF THE AUDITOR.
June 1, 1882, (interest 6 per cent.), 12,000 00
1,1885,
66
5,000 00
July 1, 1885, 66
100,000 00
June 1, 1886, 66 66 26,000 00
July 1, 1886,
66 66 66
50,000 00
June 1, 1887, 66 66
23,000 00
" 1, 1888, 66
66 3,000 00
Dec. 1, 1890,
66
50,000 00
June 1, 1891, 66
66
66
2,300 00
$326,900 00
TEMPORARY LOAN.
Due on demand (interest 4} per cent.), Total, $25,000 00
RECAPITULATION.
Funded City Loan,
66 Sewer Loan,
Water Loan,
$1,795,000 00 261,800 00 427,400 00
Temporary Loan, ?
$2,484,200 00 25,000 00
$2,509,200 00
Liabilities. ·
Funded City Loan,
Funded Sewer Loan,
Funded Water Loan,
$1,795,000 00 261,800 00 427,400 00
Temporary Loan,
One-half of County Tax, 1877,
$27,656 12
Collector's Sale, surplus account,
732 61
State Tax, 1877,
42,765 00
$71,153 73
1
$2,580,367 73
Cash Assets.
2,622 shares B. B. & G. R. R. Co., par value,
$262,200 00
Worcester Street Railway Co., 2,560 53
John Corlis' note, due on demand,
750 00
Due from Commonwealth for State Aid,
31,103 59
Corporation Tax, 29,584 98
$2,484,200 00 25,000 00
$2,509 200 00
212
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
Taxes of 1874, uncollected,
6,126 36
1875, ¥
6,198 68
¥
1876, 5,751 46
¥ 1877,
34,773 68
Assessments for Street Betterments,
9,557 71
Sidewalks,
1,152 25
Sewers and Drains, 1872,
7,271 22
1875,
13,332 24
School Book Taxes,
554 06
Real Estate Lien Account,
1.062 34
Due on Highway Department,
757 35
¥ Incidental Expense account,
150 00
Water Works Construction,
1,690 36
Maintenance,
6,568 25
Cash in hands of Commissioners of Sinking Fund,
82,581 58
Cash in Treasury, 137,747 39
$641,484 04
Liabilities over Cash Assets,
$1,938,869 69
Ledger Balances.
DR.
CR.
Boston, Barre & Gardner Railroad Co.,
$262,200 00
Bills Receivable,
750 00
State Aid,
31,103 59
Liquor Licenses,
$28,687 50
City of Worcester,
2,030,336 75
Funded Water Loan,
427,400 00
Sewer
261,800 00
City
1,795,000 00
Temporary
25,000 00
Sewer Assessment, old account (1872),
8,350 95
County Tax,
27,656 12
State Tax,
42,765 00
Corporation Tax,
29,584 98
Worcester Street Railway Co.,
2,560 53
Collector's Sale, surplus account,
732 61
Taxes, 1874,
6,126 36
Sewer Assessment, new account (1875),
7,700 52
Taxes, 1875,
6,198 68
Street Betterments,
5,694 65
City Treasury,
137,747 39
Commissioners of Sinking Fund, General account,
68,643 02
Water
4,183 70
Taxes, 1976,
5,751 46
Com'rs of Sinking Fund, I.ynde Brook damages,
9,764 87
Taxes, 1877,
34,773 68
Real Estate Lien Account,
1,062 34
$2,630,078 35
$2,630,078 35
Schedule of City Property.
DECEMBER 1, 1877.
In charge of the following Persons and Departments :
CITY ENGINEER : Personal Property, $688 00
COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC GROUNDS : Personal Property, $600 00
COMMITTEE ON LIGHTING STREETS :
675 Gas Lanterns, 619 Gasoline Lamps, with Building and Fixtures,
$22,390 95
DIRECTORS OF FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY :
Library Building, 9,902 feet of land, at $2.00 per foot,
19,804 00
$45,804 00
Personal Property,
21,000 00
$66,804 00
FIRE DEPARTMENT :
Beacon Street.
8,000 feet of land at 35 cts. per foot,
$2,700 00
Engine House,
6,000 00
$8,700 00
Bigelow Court.
5,310 feet of land at $2.00,
$10,620 00
Engine House,
10,500 00
21,120 00
House on Bloomingdale Road,
800 00
Carlton Street.
1,270 feet of land at $1.25,
$1,587 50
Engine House,
2,000 00
$3,587 50
Exchange Street,
500 feet of land at $2.50,
$1,250 00
Engine House,
2,000 00
$3,250 00
$26,000 GO
214
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
Lamartine Street.
8,400 feet of land at 16 2-3,
$1,400 00
Engine House,
9,500 00
$10,900 00
Myrtle Street.
1,277 feet of land at $1.00,
$1,277 00
Engine House,
3,000 00
$4,277 00
New Worcester.
Land,
$500 00
Engine House,
800 00
$1,300
Pleasant Street
1
6,106 feet of land at 14 cts.,
$854 84
Engine House,
9,000 00
$9,854 84
School Street.
7,688 feet of land at 60 cts.,
$4,712 80
Engine House,
5,000 00
9,712 80
Thomas Street.
Land,
$7,000 00
Engine House,
5,000 00
$12,000 00
John Street.
1,836 feet of land at 50 cts.,
$918 00
Engine House,
4,500 00
$5,418 00
Five Steamers,
$18,800 00
Thirteen Hose Carriages,
6,000 00
Three Ladder Trucks,
4,600 00
Other Personal Property, including Fire Alarm Telegraph,
61,000 00
$181,320 14
Total Fire Department Personal Property,
$148,500 00
Total Fire Department Real Estate,
32,820 14
Total.
$181,320 14
CITY HOSPITAL :
Furniture, Surgical Instruments, etc.,
$3,500 00
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT :
50,331 feet of land on Salem Street at 30 cts.,
$15,099 30
Stable, Sheds, etc.,
10,000 00
Land (1 acre),
150 00
Land (2} acres), Quinsigamond Village,
300 00
Gravel Pit near Paxton,
15 00
Personal Property,
11,007 39
$36,571 69
215
REPORT OF THE AUDITOR.
PAUPER DEPARTMENT :
Real Estate,
$59,000 00
Stock and Tools at the Farm,
6,841 70
Household goods,
3,611 32
Buildings, Stock, etc., in Scavenger De- partment,
7,446 00
$76,899 02
POLICE DEPARTMENT :
Personal Property under care of City Marshal, $1,325 00
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT :
Land and Houses,
Personal Property,
$826,000 00 73,000 00
$899,000 00
SEWER DEPARTMENT :
Personal Property, $420 00
WATER DEPARTMENT. - Construction :
Real Estate in Leicester, at Bell Pond and on Thomas Street, together with the Reservoirs, Pipes, Hydrants, Fix- tures and Tools, costing $1,221,088 04
MISCELLANEOUS :
Central Park, 7 acres.
Hope Cemetery, 56 acres.
Cemetery on Mechanic Street, 67,620 feet.
Elm Park, 28 acres.
Land Unimproved :
90,624 feet of Land, Pine Court, at 45 cts.,
$40,780 80
38,696 feet of Land, Lamartine St., at 17 cts.,
6,578 32
6,533 feet of Land, Union Street, at 50 cts.,
3,266 50
23,250 feet of Land, Summer Street, 80 cts.,
18,600 00
24,336 feet of Land, Pleasant Street, at 14 cts.,
3,407 04
$72,632 66
City Hall Building,
$20,000 00
Furniture, etc., in City Hall,
4,700 00
City Scales, Lincoln Square,
300 00
City Scales, New Worcester,
300 00
City Scales, Salem Square,
400 00
Total,
$25,700 00 $2,608,939 50
The following Table shows the Expenditure for Fuel, Gas, Printing and Advertising, in the various Departments of the City, during the Financial Year ending November 30, 1877.
216
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
FUEL.
City Hall,
$745 50
City Hospital,
478 95
Fire Department,
891 82
Free Public Library,
354 87
Highway Department,
18 50
Incidental Expenses (Scales),
7 00
Pauper Department (City Relief),
2,208 40
Pauper Department (Farm),
438 67
School Department,
5,104 52
Water Works, Construction,
2,127 34
Water Works, Maintenance,
59 45
$12,435 02
GAS.
Armory,
$210 03
City Hall,
1,540 83
City Hospital,
225 49
Free Public Library,
1,022 46
Highway Department,
31 84
Lighting Streets, Worcester Gas Light Co.,
$10,390 19
66 Globe Gas Light Co.,
10,945 67
21,335 86
School Department,
271 46
Water Works Maintenance,
7 94
Fire Department,
513 63
Superintendent of Public Buildings,
27
$25,109 81
PRINTING.
City Hospital,
43 75
Fire Department,
138 20
Free Public Library,
121 27
Highway Department,
53 99
Incidental Expenses,
3,192 34
Pauper Department (City Relief),
199 31
Police Department,
51 07
School Department,
1,131 29
Public Grounds,
34 27
Water Works, Maintenance,
173 61
Street Construction,
16 61
$5,155 71
ADVERTISING.
Total,
$1,116 79
TABLE
SHOWING THE NUMBER OF POLLS, REAL AND PERSONAL ESTATE OF THE CITY, AMOUNT OF TAX, RATE PER CENT., APPROPRIATIONS, &C., FOR TWENTY-TWO YEARS.
17
A. D.
Polls.
Real Estate.
Personal.
Total.
City, State and County Tax.
Rate.
Appropriations.
Houses.
1855.
5,842
$11,785,250 00
$6,270,700 00
$18,058,950 00
$136,636 15
$7 00
$110,500 00
....
1856.
5,852
12,596,800 00
6,319,200 00
18,916,000 00
156,186 80
7 70
125,810 00
....
1857.
5,604
12,374,600 00
6,098,600 00
18,473,200 00
158,999 60
8 00
121,000 00
....
1858.
5,360
10,990,950 00
5,395,200 00
16,386,150 00
123,776 55
7 00
98,950 00
1859.
5,784
11,122,950 00
5,693,480 00
16,816,430 00
126,391 01
7 00
100,000 00
1860. .. .
6,327
10,600,900 00
5,806,000 00
16,406,900 00
140,745 70
8 00
116,500 00
1861.
6,245
10,470,900 00
5,759,700 00
16,230,600 00
139,212 30
8 00
108,000 00
2,975
1862.
6,513
10,469,100 00
5,662,000 00
16,131,160 00
206,603 20
12 00
143,250 00
2,869
1863
6,949
10,677,200 00
6,021,550 00
16,698,750 00
214,283 00
.12 00
140,370 00
3,011
1864.
7,290
11,246,450 00
5,136,350 00
16,382,800 00
227,556 40
13 00
156,500 00
3,029
1865
7,851
11.862,650 00
7,075,250 00
18,937,900 00
337,646 30
17 00
217,700 00
3,140
1866.
7,892
14,198,550 00
8,401,300 00
22,599,850 00
377,381 60
16 00
282,300 00
3,292
1867 . ..
8,541
15,508,950 00
8,427,950 00
23,936,900 00
435,977 75
17 50
298,700 00
3,542
1868
9,137
17,420,350 00
8,799,850 00
26,220,200 00
355,203 57
12 85
280,475 00
3,849
1869.
9,967
21,608,800 00
9,642,550 00
31.251.350 00
469,953 44
14 40
376,500 00
4,253
1870.
10,651
24,169,050 00
9,849,400 00
34,018,450 00
613,223 03
17 40
516,500 00
4,679
1871.
11,638
28,039,150 00
10,102.100 00
38,141,250 00
686,933 75
17 40
640,500 00
5,100
1872.
13,055
30,844,600 00
11,397,950 00
42,242,550 00
761,130 37
17 40
655,300 00
5,446
1873.
13,077
36,400,150 00
10,894,684 00
47,294,834 00
849,084 11
17 40
775,900 00
5,723
1874.
13,341
37,545,550 00
11,639,994 00
49,185,544 00
852,501 94
16 80
774,700 00
5,864
1875.
13,003
38,016,200 00
11,283,581 00
49.299,781 00
844,402 36
16 60
774,500 00
5,921
1876.
13,420
37,653,350 00
10,566,047 00
48,223,397 00
740,561 08
14 80
680,600 00
6,143
1877
13,309
35,735,000 00
9,941,655 00
45,676,655 00
720,903 16
15 20
639,300 00
6,237
..
. .
. ..
·
· ·
. .
217
4
REPORT OF THE AUDITOR.
888
TABLE
SHOWING THE DEBT, LESS CASH, AND INTEREST PAID EACH YEAR, SINCE THE FIRST INAUGURATION OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT, IN 1848.
DATE.
CITY DEBT.
INTEREST.
DATE.
CITY DEBT.
DEBT LESS CASH AND SINKING FUNDS.
INTEREST.
March 31, 1848
$95,630 20
$ .......
January 4, 1863
$214,759 70
$ ..... ..
$11,818 93
" 1849.
96,996 07
2, 1864
364,459 70
14,758 65
April 7, 1850
98,741 88
3,655 98
1, 1865.
424,418 59
25,360 84
January 5, 1851 ..
101,829 89
2,651 07
7, 1866.
458,305 14
28,445 85
3,1852
108,758 40
6,245 72
6, 1867.
619,949 85
29,014 75
2, 1853.
98,567 70
5,747 77
4,1868
773,290 00
46,251 85
1, 1854.
98,435 33
6,182 04
3, 1869
1,185,718 65
59,475 36
7, 1855.
118,955 48
6,585 45
66
2,1870
1,899,808 04
94,253 97
5, 1856.
103,993 65
6,949 37
" 1, 1871. .
2,456,788 72
106,465 35
4, 1857.
100,188 80
6,781 81
Nov. 30, 1872.
2,687,910 55
2,513,914 80
136,259 70
3, 1858.
99,533 95
8,017 18
" 1873.
2,941,227 31
2,616,920 03
186,776 30
2, 1859. ..
99,429 10
4,646 02
" 1874. ..
2,984,780 00
2,599,897 14
209,897 62
7, 1860.
102,324 25
6,055 10
" 1875.
2,589,700 00
2,377,604 74
197,148 66
6, 1861.
129,319 40
6,334 16
" 1876 ..
2,492,300 00
2,342,141 96
167,763 90
5, 1862.
208,414 55
8,607 54
" 1877. .
2,509,200 00
2,288,861 02
163,062 09
218
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
REPORT
OF THE
COMMISSIONERS OF THE SINKING FUND,
WORCESTER, Mass., Jan. 7, 1878. To the Honorable City Council :
The undersigned respectfully present the following report of their transactions for the financial year ending Nov. 30, 1877 :
Balance, Dec. 1, 1876,
$46,640 96
Receipts for the year, 144,617 87
$191,258 83
Total, Disbursements for the year,
108,667 24
Balance,
$82,591 59
A statement of aggregates, in tabular form, together with cash account, in detail, prepared by W. S. Barton, Esq., Treasurer of the Board, accompanies this report and makes a part thereof.
Respectfully submitted,
D. WALDO LINCOLN, H. A. MARSH,
Commissioners of the Sinking Funds.
-
220
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS For the Year ending Nov. 30, 1877.
TITLE OF FUND.
Amount Dec. 1, 1876.
Receipts during year.
Total.
Disburse- ments dur- ing year.
Amount Nov. 30, 1877.
No. 1. General Debt Sinking Fund ...
$45.140 96 $131,837 75 $176,978 71;$108,335 69 $68,643 02
2. Water Loan, Sinking Fund, 1876.
1,500 00
2,740 25
4,240 25
56 55
4,183 70
3. Lynde Brook Damages, do. 1877.
10,039 87
10,039 87
275 00
9,764 87
$46,640 96 $144.617 87 $191,258 83 $108,667 24 $82,591 59
BALANCES, Nov. 30, 1877.
TITLE OF FUND.
Invested.
Cash.
Total.
No. 1. General Debt Sinking Fund.
$40,000 00
$28,643 02
$68,643 02
2. Water Loan Sinking Fund, 1876.
4,000 00
183 70
4,183 70
3. Lynde Brook Damages Sinking Fund, 1877.
9,000 00
764 87
9,764 87
$53,000 00
$29,591 59
$82,591 59
RECEIPTS ON ACCOUNT OF SINKING FUNDS, VIZ :
No. 1. Balance brought forward Nov. 30, 1876, $45,140 96 Sundry unexpended balances, Nov. 30, 1876, 71,285 14 Sewer Assessments, revenue Nov. 30, 1876, 48,452 36
Betterment Assessments, revenue Nov. 30, 1876,
7,747 05
Interest on Investments to Nov. 30, 1877, 3,669 58
Interest on Deposits to Nov. 30, 1877,
683 62
$176,978 71
No. 2. Balance brought forward Nov. 30, 1876, Premium on Water Loan Bonds, Dec. 30, 1876,
1,170 00
Annual Appropriation Nov. 13, 1877,
1,500 00
Interest on Investments to Nov. 30, 1877, Interest on Deposits to Nov. 30, 1877,
7 75
$4,240 25
No. 3. Appropriation by City Council, Feb 9, 1877, Premium on Lynde Brook Bonds, Feb. 14, 1877, Interest on Investments to Nov. 30, 1877, Interest on Deposits to Nov. 30, 1877,
$8,000 00
1,580 00
450 00
9 87
$10,039 87
$191,258 83
Total,
$1,500 00
62 50
221
REPORT OF THE AUDITOR.
PAYMENTS ON ACCOUNT OF SINKING FUNDS, VIZ :
No. 1. City Debt paid and cancelled in 1877, Note, City of Lynn, due April 1, 1878,
$108,100 00
40,000 00
Premium on Investments during year, Interest accrued on Investments during year,
199 10
36 59
No. 2. Water Loan Bonds due Dec. 1, 1906, Premium on Investments during year, Interest accrued on Investments during year,
$4,000 00
47 50
9 05
$4,056 55
No. 3. Lynde Brook Bonds due Jan. 1, 1887, Premium on Investments during year,
225 00
Interest accrued on Investments during year,
50 00
$9,275 00
Total,
$161,667 24
Balance on hand Nov. 30, 1877,
$29,591 59
Deposited in Central National Bank.
$9,875 92
Deposited in First National Bank,
9,861 91
Deposited in Worcester National Bank,
9,853 76
$29,591 59
Correct, per book account.
WM. S. BARTON,
Treasurer.
CITY DEBT OUTSTANDING, PAID OR REDEEMED IN 1877.
TITLE OF LOAN.
Amount
Paid in 1877.
Balance.
Loans.
Nov.30, 1877.
Funded City Loan.
$1,697,000 00
$2,000 00 $1,695,000 00
$100,000 00
$1,795,000 00
Funded Sewer Loan
349,400 00
87,600 00
261,800 CO
261,800 00
Funded Water Loan
345.900 00
18,500 00
327,400 00
100,000 00
427,400 00
Temporary Loans
100,000 00
100,000 00
.. ....
25,000 00
25,000 00
$2,492,300 00 $208,100 00 $2,284,200 00 $225,000 00 $2,509,200 00
New
Outstanding
Dec. 1, 1876.
$148,335 69
$9,000 00
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON ACCOUNTS.
CITY OF WORCESTER, IN COMMITTEE, Dec. 10, 1877.
The Joint Standing Committee on Accounts having attended to the duties devolving upon them under provisions of Section 17 of the Ordinance in relation to Finance, beg leave to report :
That they have examined the books and accounts of the City Treasurer, and all securities in his hands belonging to the city (Trust Funds excepted), and find that the books are carefully and correctly kept, and that the securities are all properly accounted for.
They also find that the cash receipts from all sources for the financial year ending Nov. 30, 1877, were $1,803,943 19 164,763 64
To which add cash on hand Nov. 30, 1876,
Making a total of $1,968,706 83
And that the payments were
1,783,917 68
Leaving a cash balance of
$184,789 15
Which they have verified by actual count, and by examination of the several bank balances to the credit of the city.
223
REPORT OF THE AUDITOR.
The several securities in the hands of the Treasurer, are as follows :
Certificate of 2,622 shares stock in the Boston, Barre and Gardner R. R. Co., par value, $262,200 00
Collector's deeds (13 in all) representing sales of estates for taxes,
amounting to
1,062 34
Note of John Corliss, secured by mortgage of city pound lot, sold him in 1873 ; balance due,
750 00
Execution against Worcester Street Railway Co., issued on a judg- ment rendered in 1872,
2,560 53
Proceedings at law are in progress, under advice of the City Solicitor, having in view an early settlement of the last two items.
They further report that there remain uncollected sundry taxes and assessments, as follows :
.
Taxes of 1874,
$6,126 36
1875,
6,198 68
1876.
5,751 46
1877,
34,773 68
$52,850 18
Sewer Assessment, old account,
$7,271 22
Sewer Assessment, new account,
13,332 24
Sidewalk Assessments,
1,152 25
Street Betterments, assessments,
9,557 71
School Book taxes,
554 06
$31,867 48
Total,
$84,717 66
They also find that there remain due and unpaid sundry bills, as per Auditor's account, as follows, viz :
Highway Department ; labor and materials,
$757 35
Incidental Expenses ; rent of Taylor Hall,
150 00
Water "Construction ;" service-pipe, meters, etc.,
1,690 36
Water Maintenance ; rates and metered water,
6,568 25
Total,
$9,165 96
Respectfully submitted,
WM. DICKINSON,
STEPHEN SAWYER,
CALEB COLVIN,
LORING COES,
PHILIP MOORE.
Committee on Accounts.
Report of the City Clerk.
CITY OF WORCESTER, CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, Dec. 31, 1877.
To the Honorable City Council :
In conformity. with the provisions of Chapter IX, of the City Ordinances, the following report of all moneys received in this office, as "Fees or otherwise," during the year ending Novem- ber 30, 1877, is herewith presented.
From Licensed Amusements,
$775 50
66
Auctioneers,
34 00
Billiard Tables and Bowling Alleys,
210 00
66
Dogs,
1,567 00
66
Fire Works,
15 00
Hacks and Job Wagons,
163 00
66
Junk Dealers,
55 00
60
Pawn Brokers,
40 00
66
Office Fees,
2,233 22
Total,
$5,092 72
This sum has been paid to the City Treasurer, and receipts taken therefor.
There has been paid to Edward A. Brown, County Treasurer, the sum of $3,264.00 for dog licenses.
Respectfully submitted,
E. H. TOWNE,
City Clerk.
REPORT
OF THE
Commissioner of Highways.
WORCESTER, MASS., December 24, 1877.
To the Honorable City Council :
The Commissioner of Highways herewith respectfully submits his seventh annual report of the operations of the Highway De- partment for the year ending Nov. 30, 1877, with the receipts and expenditures of the same, accompanied by a statement in detail of the location and cost of the work done; together with a schedule of the property belonging to the department, with its appraised value.
The year has been a very favorable one for work, and no calamity has befallen us to call for unusual outlays of money, like that of 1876.
Economy in its best sense has been adopted in the manage- ment of the department, that the net expenses of the same should, if possible, be kept within the appropriation made by the City Council.
Our streets are in comfortable condition for travel ; as good as can be expected with the moderate amount of money appro- priated for their maintenance, yet more money can be judicially. laid out upon our highways, for it is an acknowledged fact that the beauty and enterprise of a city is often estimated by the condition of its streets.
18
226
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
I have taken occasion to ascertain, from plans in the City Engineer's Office as far as shown, and by valuable assistance rendered by that officer in obtaining the required information regarding the length of the streets of our city opened to travel, both public and private, for the purpose of being able to give the information frequently asked, as to their length, and whether the same are public or private, with the intention of making it a matter of record in this office, to which reference can at any time be made, and to which new streets can be added in future.
It is found we have 140 miles of public, and about 50 miles of private streets.
Dividing the cost of maintaining our streets the past year, $29,494.85, by the number of miles of public streets, and we find the average cost per mile to be $21.06}, including breaking roads, paving and street cleaning.
PAVING.
I suggest the propriety of expending a moderate amount of money every year in "trap rock " paving, instead of a very heavy outlay in any single season.
The work can be done to better advantage, the stock pro- cured at less rates, and the expense less severely felt.
In my last report I recommended the re-paving of that por- tion of Main street between Central and School streets, and the paving of a portion of South Main street, from the present ter- minus of the paving to Benefit street.
The necessity in both cases seems very apparent, for the best condition in which the same can possibly be kept has been the occasion of very severe criticism.
The removal of the railroad tracks from Mechanic, Front and Park streets, has obviated the obstacle of changing the grade necessary to the permanent improvement of those streets, the extent of the improvements to be made, however, must depend upon the appropriations made by the City Council.
I also recommended the rebuilding of the bridge over the B. & A. R. R. on James street, which I considered unsafe to remain another year, and again wish to urge, as far as may be proper,
227
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS.
that immediate action be taken in the matter. The results of an accident, with the frequent passing of trains, cannot be easily estimated. As the present structure stands upon trussle work, I suggest the construction of new stone abutments, and an iron superstructure, and presume that the railroad company would assume a part of the expense, as their locomotives have twice, within two years, set the present one on fire.
The present bridge has been re-covered the past season, with an extra coating of plank, for the purpose of strengthening it temporarily.
MACADAMIZING.
This system of road making has been almost lost sight of for the past few years. Since the stone breaker, purchased in 1866, was disposed of, but little has been said about macadamizing streets, and yet I feel I should be doing injustice to my own feelings not to mention a matter of so much importance to our streets. The fact that the system was not well understood by the makers until the last street was macadamized, is acknowl- edged in full, but that we had learned the mode of operation upon that one, we no less strongly claim. The cost of macada- mizing is about one-half that of paving, and makes a much smoother road-bed ; is less liable to injure the feet of horses, or the vehicles used; and further, the noise is very little com- pared to that of a paved street. I would suggest the purchase of another stone breaker and place the same at or near the city stables, and purchase the stone from those who may wish to draw them, in preference to quarrying, as a matter of economy.
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