USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1877 > Part 4
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Unexpended in 1876, " 1877, . 6,069 22
$74,301 02
Total,
$80,370 24
Respectfully submitted.
CHAS. B. PRATT, GEO. E. BOYDEN, SAMUEL D. HARDING, M. A. LAPHAM, WILLIAM H. DEXTER, WILLIAM H. HEYWOOD, JNO. J. O'GORMAN.
Joint Committee on Water, and Reconstruction of Dam.
WORCESTER, December 24th, 1877.
REPORT
OF THE
CITY ENGINEER.
To the Joint Standing Committee on Water :
GENTLEMEN :- In compliance with the requirements of Sec- tion 11, of the 68th Chapter of the city ordinances, the follow- ing report is respectfully presented :
Work was resumed in repairing the break in the Lynde Brook reservoir dam, April 16th, and the repairs were finished, and the work formally accepted by the County Commissioners, June 5th. In this work no pains were spared to make the dam secure, and if there was any error or fault in the management, it was on the side of extreme caution, which under the circum- stances was at least excusable, and I believe the city is to be congratulated on the thorough manner in which the repairs were made.
The pumps were stopped January 16th, with 121,000,000 gallons of water in the reservoir ; since which time the supply therefrom has been sufficient to meet the demands of takers, and during the month of March the reservoir was filled by the heavy rains and melting snows, to a point considered to be a limit of safety, and 150,000,000 gallons were wasted. From the fore part of May the water gradually fell till October 4th, when there was but forty days' supply in store, and again re- sorting to the pumps promised to be a matter of the near future. The copious rains that followed have, however, indefinitely
47
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
postponed that subject, but the summer experience and the oc- casionally recurring danger of a water famine, induced the City Council, last October, to order investigations and estimates relative to the best source from which to draw an additional supply of water, and the results of these investigations are em- bodied in a report to the "Joint Special Committee on addi- tional water supply," made by Hon. Phinehas Ball and myself December 12th.
So far as the necessity for an additional supply is concerned, if the past year was a safe criterion by which to judge, I could unhesitatingly assert that the necessity does not exist; but viewed as a whole, the year in its relation to the water supply question has been a rather peculiar and deceptive one, and fur- nished an exaggerated view of the value of the Lynde Brook water-shed ; as, with a light rainfall, a large per cent. of the water has been delivered into the reservoir. The casual infer- ence would naturally be that a light rainfall delivers a small per cent. of water into the streams ; but this depends more upon the time and manner of precipitation than upon the aggregate rainfall. The following extract from the records of the Boston Water Department, at Lake Cochituate, shows how little the per cent. of the rainfall delivered into the water courses de- pends upon the total annual precipitation. The table gives the ten years of largest annual rainfall between 1851 and 1876, and the per cent. of the water utilized.
Year.
Inches Rainfall.
Per cent. delivered.
Year.
Inches Rainfall.
Per cent. delivered.
1869
64.34
36.
1870.
.55.89.
.. 47
1863.
.63.30
.39.
.1853.
.55.73.
.35
1857
63.10.
74.
1860.
55.44.
.35
1866
.62.32.
25.
.1852
49 93.
43
1867
56.25
.36.
1868.
49.71.
.50
Here, as a rule, more than one-half of the annual rainfall oc- curs between the 1st of April and the 1st of October, of which evaporation and the vegetable world consume the lion's share ; but during the other six months of the year, the former is insig- nificant and the latter dormant; hence, when a large proportion
48
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
of the rainfall comes during the cold half of the year, the per cent delivered is increased, as was the case the past year, when the rainfall was 41.71 inches, or 3.68 inches less than the aver- age, but 22.52 inches or 54 per cent. fell during March, October and November, instead of 26 per cent, the mean for these three months during the last thirty-seven years, and 63 per cent. of the annual rainfall found its way into the reservoir.
The amount of water stored Dec. 1st, 1876, was
Nov. 30th, 1877, was
83,248,000 galls. 296,872,000
Gain,
213,624,000
Amount pumped,
135,000,000
wasted
150,000,000
15,000,000
Yield of water-shed above consumption and evaporation, 228,624,000 galls. or 76 days supply.
But this rapid rise of water in the reservoir since the early part of October, should not be accepted as conclusive proof that there is no necessity of providing for the contingencies of the future.
The next year may be a duplicate of the past, or it may be a duplicate of 1874 when but 12.28 inches of rain fell during the cold (6) months, and 19.14 inches during the balance. It is as liable to be the one as the other. In the latter part of April, 1874, the quantity stored was 792,000,000 gallons, 129,000,000 of which was above the level of the rollway. In February, 1875, the quantity stored was 129,000,000 gallons, or just the amount there was stored in April, above the level of the roll- way.
The present consumption and evaporation of water, which is considerably less than it has been heretofore, owing to the reduced amount used in boilers and shops, and the increased number of metres, is 3,000,000 gallons per day ; and 50 per cent. of the average rainfall is but 3,155,000 gallons per day, while 50 per cent. of the average of three consecutive years of least rainfall since 1840, is 2,665,000 gallons per day with no deduc- tions for area of reservoir. During most years the quantity delivered will exceed 50 per cent. of the rainfall, but it will oc- casionally run below that figure. Under these circumstances,
TABLE Showing the Rain fall in inches, and daily depth in feet of water stored (above the bottom of the outlet pipe) in Lynde Brook Reservoir, for the year ending November 30th, 1877.
DECEMBER.
JANUARY.
FEBRUARY.
MARCH.
APRIL.
MAY.
JUNE.
JULY.
AUGUST.
SEPTEMBER.
OCTOBER.
NOVEMBER.
5 8 9 68-1991221 |DATE. 6
Water.
Rain fall.
Water.
Rain fall.
Raîn fall.
Water.
Water.
Rain fall.
Water.
Rain fall.
Water.
Rain fall.
Water.
Rain fall.
Water.
Rain fall.
Water.
Rain fall.
Water.
Rain fall.
Water.
Rain fall.
1 11.46
12.73
10.50
28.25
31.19
30.98
28.70
0.01
25.68
21.67
15.60
16 26
0.31
2
0.02
12.73
10.40
28.48
31.32
30.90
28.58
0.44
25.57
21.48
15.36
. .
..
.
....
....
1.09
28.82
0 08
31.57
30.82
28.50
25.54
21.35
0.02
15.07
0.03
17.35
1.22
4
..
..
...
0.18
29.15
31.63
30.61
28.33
25.15
20.98
15.30
3.52
17.74
1.03
..
....
·
.....
29.36
0.23
31.63
30.55
0.09
28.26
0.15
25.02
20.78
15.59
· ..
.
. .
.
.....
·
......
·
....
12.73
15.48
29.65
31.63
30.50
0.19
28.14
0.19
0.05
20.59
...
15.55
19.29
. .
13.57
0.86
12.69
15.65
29.78
31.61
30.55
0.52
30.56
0.02
1.23
24.59
20.19
15.26
1.99
20.05
1.10
·
0.25
12.57
16.98
1.03
29.92
31-59
31.59
28.01
0.19
24.50
0.38
20.10
16.09
0.12
21.29
11
12.40
22.69
30.05
31.59
0.21
30.43
0.02
27.93
24.36
0.05
19.88
16.15
0.49
21.54
12
14.40
12.32
22.98
30.07
31.59
30.33
27.95
24.21
0.03
19.65
16.30
21.67
13
0.15
12 32
23.23
0.46
30.09
31.57
30.25
27.77
24.07
19.47
16.33
21.75
14
12.15
23.32 ·
30.07
31.55
30.14
27.62
0.05
24 00
0.66
19.26
16.27
. ...
21.79
15
14.65
12.03
23.40
0.54
30.11
31.48
30.09
27.57
23.88
19.06
16.16
.....
21.88
0.08
17
11.86
23.00
0.21
30.17
31.40
0.16
0.78
27.37
23.90
18.64
0.08
18.40
0.28
15.70
21.96
0.10
19
11.61
23 00
30.15
31.38
0.28
29.84
27.14
0.31
23.64
18.21
15.46
22.05
20
14.28
11.42
23.00
30.34
0.63
31.32
29.80
27.04
0.04
23.50
18.04
15.38
0.81
22.03
21
0.29
14.07
11.13
24.32
0.28
0.04
31.23
0.08
29.57
0.38
26.83
23.18
17.58
15.75
0.72
21.97
23
13.98
10.98
25.28
30.88
31.21
0.11
29.52
26.73
23.01
17.33
16.56
0.49
21.96
24
13.94
10.92
25.94
30.88
31.15
29.41
26 59
22.85
17.18
16.71
21.95
25
13.82
10.86
0.37
26.32
30.88
31.32
0.55
29.26
26.43
22.69
0.54
16.95
16.73
21.94
26
13.61
10.86
26.69
30.86
31.32
0.04
29.18
26.34
22.59
0.09
16.67
16.71
23.10
1.65
27
0.05
13.40
10.73
28.73
2.15
30 82
31.32
29.08
26.18
22.46
16.48
16.65
24.59
0.98
28
·
..... ·
29.42
0.84
30.88
31.30
28.96
26.06
0.16
22.29
16.24
0.08
16.58
......
29
13.07
.....
28.44
0.20
30.86
0.56
31.23
28.87
26.00
0.28
22.13
0.74
16.01
16.53
0.72
12.94
.. .
27.82
31.03
0 30
31.15 . .
28.75
25.91
0,28
21.99
15.83
16.44
. .
31
12.82
28.07
31.09
25.82
21.85
16.33
Tot'Is
2.64
1.79
0.37
7.03
1.99
1.90
2.14
3.84
4.04
0.48
8.42
.
7.07
Total rain fall for the year 41.71 ins.
Capacity of Reservoir 681,827, 789 gallons.
Stored 3 P. M., November 30, 296,871,984.
.
...
. .
.
12.82
13.28
29.00
31 61
30.73
28.44
0.38
25.34
21.16
14.81
17.67
..... .
.....
.....
. .
24.75
20.38
0.02
15.40
19.46
0.03
12.52
21.78
29.98
...
·
.
21.85
16
0.73
11.94
23.48
30.11
31.44
30.01
27.47
23 90
1.37
18.83
16.03
15.90
.
21.88
18
1.33
14.44
11.69
23.00
0.05
30.15
31.36
.... .
...
27.25
23.75
0.13
23.33
17.85
15.43
0.15
22.00
.. .
...
23.65
30.65
0.15
31.28
....
29.66
26.95
22
.
....
.
.....
.....
..
..
...
...
25.00
25.22
0.60
... ...
. .
. .
0.02
30
...
25.57
·
.....
. .
. .
...
...
. .. .
..
12.73
15.19
Rain fall.
·
0.47
16 23
3
12.73
12.82
14 48
18.66
24.88
·
....
10
·
...
...
0.03
.....
......
·
·
0.07
...
10.61
...
11.28
0.13
29.94
0.12
..
...
.
Water.
49
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
I believe the dictates of common prudence urge the city to take such action as will secure the control of an additional supply of water from Tatnuck Brook. While I do not believe the neces- sity for the immediate utilization of this water is so imperative as to warrant the city in facing, at present, the exhorbitant claims for damage that would probably follow a seizure, I do think the situation is not so secure that the question can be consistently ignored. It will, at the most, take but little more water than the Lynde Brook shed will furnish, to supply the city for the next few years ; and it may be that the supply from Lynde Brook alone will be sufficient. It is this possible deficiency that should be provided for.
If the city had the right to take this water, and with this right had the privileges and prerogatives an individual would use under similar circumstances, they might buy the establish- ments on the stream above the Coes reservoir, which could be bought for a fair market price, and then make an arrangement with the mill owners below the Coes reservoir, that would be mutually beneficial to the contracting parties. If the pumps should be kept in position, and the city could acquire the right to raise the Holden reservoir dam 16 feet, by securing to the mill owners the use (until arrangements should be completed for diverting the whole water of the brook above the Seagrave privilege) of 600 or 700 of the 1000 million gallons then stored by a full reservoir, in place of the 450 million they now store, and paying to the mill owners between the Coes reservoir and the Quinsigamond wire mill, 10 cents per million gallons per foot fall (amounting to about $20 per day for 3,000,000 gallons) they might, at a small present cost, remove all liability of a water famine, and give ample opportunity for the adjustment of the question of damages for water rights by the diversion of the whole flow of the brook. By increasing the storage capac- ity for the mills and paying for the water used, the mill owners would also be benefitted by the transaction. The cost of pay- ing for the water as proposed, and pumping for one month each year, would amount to less than one-half the annual interest on the cost of the proposed pipe line.
If the right to take this water should be procured this win-
50
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
ter, it might be some years before arrangements would be per- fected to deliver it by gravity into the present distributing mains. In the meantime, efforts to stop the waste of water should not cease, and the surest way to reduce this waste is to induce the takers from non-metered services to attach meters. If it could be done no other way, the city might put in the meters and charge a small rental.
There is no reason why everybody should not have all the water they are willing to pay for, nor is there any reason why people should not pay for water in proportion to the quantity they take, the same as they do for any other commodity. The report of the Water Registrar shows, that last year, bills ren- dered for water from 4428 metered services, amounted to $51,211.53 for 243,713,494 gallons, while the bills for 4713 non- metered services amounted to $37,753.64. The latter class used about 650,000,000 gallons, hence they got water for less than six cents per 1000 gallons, and the others paid an average of twenty-one cents per 1000 gallons.
I present herewith two tables-one showing the daily eleva- tion of the water in the reservoir (so far as it was taken), and the rainfall for the year ending Nov. 30th, 1877; and the other giving the storage capacity of each foot in depth (commencing at the elevation of the rollway) of the reservoir. Also a pro- file* showing the monthly rainfall and quantities of water pumped, wasted, and stored each month since Jan. 1st, 1870, and the mean monthly temperature since Aug. 1874.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
PERCY DANIELS,
JANUARY 3d, 1878.
City Engineer.
* This profile is on file in the office of the City Clerk.
51
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
CAPACITY OF LYNDE BROOK RESERVOIR,
FOR EVERY FOOT IN DEPTH, BEGINNING AT ELEVATION OF ROLLWAY.
Feet Depth.
Capacity in gallons.
Feet Depth.
Capacity in gallons.
Feet Depth.
Capacity in gallons.
Feet Depth.
Capacity in gallons.
1
42,396,439
11
24,835,930
21
13,508,566
30
9,523,058
2
40,641,489
12
23,197,368
22
13,082,954
31
9,020,474
3
38,600,235
13
21,442,063
23
12,512,689
32
8,263,949
4
36,902,582
14
19,338,964
24
12,012,890
33
7,473,619
5
35,315,263
15
17,701,727
25
11,745,410
34
6,305,378
6
33,281,100
16
16,847,458
26
11,345,477
35
4,938,711
7
31,422,380
17
15,976,420
27
10,802,111
36
3,565,742
8
29,678,157
18
15,135,556
28
10,343,972
37
2,032,032
9
27,893,859
19
14,372,685
29
9,903,897
37.40
408,206
10
26,199,923
20
13,859,056
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
CITY MARSHAL'S OFFICE, WORCESTER, MASS., Nov. 30, 1877.
To the Honorable the Mayor, and the City Council of the City of Worcester :
GENTLEMEN :- Pursuant to the requirements of the City Ordinance, I hereby present for your consideration the general condition of the Police Department, together with a detailed statement of its expenses and earnings, and such remarks and recommendations as I consider for the welfare of this organiza- tion. This, with the statistics in relation to police matters will, I trust, be of interest to your honorable body, and to our citi- zens generally.
This, my fourth annual report, will show you the number of arrests made during the year, the nature of the offences com- mitted, the nativity, trade or occupation, and social condition of the persons arrested, also the number committed to the sev- eral reformatory institutions, etc., etc.
The expenses of the department for the year have been much less than any preceding year, and the expenditures are accounted for as follows, viz:
Salary of Marshal and Assistants,
$ 3,181 66
Police, as per Pay Rolls,
39,146 95
Horses and keeping, for Mounted Patrol,
1,702 07
Cloth, Buttons and Badges,
497 91
Care of Office and Cells,
270 00
Telegrams, Stationery, Washing, etc.,
272 26
Printing and Advertising, 67 81
Furniture and repairs, 18 03
53
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
Brooms, Lanterns, Matches, etc.,
45 26
Crackers for lodgers, B. Walker & Co., Ice, .
13 50
Total,
$45,289 45
The receipts in favor of the department for the same time, are as follows :
Appropriation,
$42,000 00
Officers' fees from Central District Court for 1876,
5,654 10
Received for Cloth,
583 26
Received for extra services of officers,
59 76
66
" Horse sold,
70 00
66
" Use of Lock-up,
1 50
Total,
$48,368 62
Unexpended Balance, Nov. 30,
$3,079 17
Making the net cost of the department for the year,
$38,920 83
The whole number of arrests for the year has been one thou- sand, nine hundred and thirty-four, (1,934).
Males,
1,749
Adults, 1,423
Females,
185
Minors,
511
Americans,
707
Residents,
1,597
Foreigners,
1,227
Non-residents,
337
This number have claimed as their nativity :
American,
665
Scotland,
19
(colored)
40
Italy,
12
‹‹
(Indian)
2
France,
5
66
(British)
7
Sweeden,
4
Ireland,
974
Norway,
1
Canada,
133
Poland,
1
England,
38
Total,
1,934
Germany,
33
Number reported married,
905
single,
1,029
66 committed to the House of Correction and
other reformatory institutions, 777
Total amount of property taken from and returned to prisoners, $7,150 44
Number of lodgers provided with food and lodgings at the Station House during the year, 5,039.
Making a total of prisoners and lodgers, 6,973.
74 00
54
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
The following will show the causes for which the arrests were made, to wit:
Assault and battery,
137
Indecent assault,
2
Assault on officer,
15
Keeping liquor without license, 37
Assault with weapon,
7
Keeping dog 21
Adultery,
10
Keeping noisy and disorderly house,
5
Allowing goats in public street,
7
Keeping junk shop without license,
2
Attempt to commit larceny,
2
Keeping house of ill-fame,
2
Attempt at rape,
Keeping pawn-broker's shop without license,
1
Abduction,
1
Larceny,
143
Breaking and entering,
18
Larceny from person,
4
Breaking glass,
12
Loafing about theatre,
4
Burglary,
10
Lying on common,
3
Bastardy,
7
Larceny from building,
2
Bogus lottery dealers,
3
Lewd and lascivious cohabitation,
2
Bathing in view of public street,
3
Lewdness,
I
Common drunkard,
29
Malicious mischief,
7
Coasting in street,
16
Murder,
2
Capias,
10
Neglect of family,
15
Common nuisance,
6
Night walkers,
4
Contempt of court,
5
Obtaining goods by false pretence,
3
Collecting swill without license,
Obtaining money by false pretence, 5
2
Cruelty to animals,
3
Obstructing street,
2
Common railer and brawler,
1
Obstructing sidewalk,
1
Carrying concealed weapons,
1
Present at cock-fight,
7
Circulating obscene literature,
1
Peddling without license,
3
Concealing mortgaged property,
1 Passing counterfeit money,
1
Drunkenness,
941
Picking pockets,
1
Drunkenness, second conviction,
103
Run away from home,
6
Disturbing the peace,
76 Run away from truant school,
5
Doing business on Lord's day,
6 Run away from reform school,
3
Driving away team,
5 Run away from industrial school,
2
Disorderly conduct,
3 Receiving stolen goods,
4
Discharging fire-arms in street,
3 Refusing railroad fare,
4
Disturbing public school,
3
Rape,
2
Defrauding boarding house,
3 Removing night soil without license,
1
Defacing building,
1 Stubborn and disobedient children,
15
Disturbing religious meeting,
1
Suspicious persons,
9
Deserter from U. S. Navy,
1
Shop-lifters,
2
Embezzlement,
9
Selling adulterated milk,
2
Fornication,
19
Sturdy beggars,
2
Forgery,
4 Swindling,
2
Fast driving,
3 Truancy,
12
Fighting birds,
1 Trespass,
10
Gaming on Lord's day,
9 Threatening,
10
Highway robbery,
1
Throwing stones at railroad trains,
1
Insane,
16
Using profane and indecent language,
4
Interferring with officer,
4
Vagrancy,
44
Injuring shade trees,
2
Total,
1934
Indecent exposure of person,
2
5 Throwing stones in street,
2
Horse stealing,
Arson,
2
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
55
The various trades and occupations of persons arrested are represented as follows, viz :
Agents,
6
Farmers,
51
Axe maker,
1
Finishers,
6
Armorer,
1
Firemen,
3
Auctioneer,
1 File cutters,
3
Boot makers,
236
Fullers,
1
Boot blacks,
7
Flagman,
1
Boot siders,
6
Gardeners,
6
Boot clicks, ‹
5
Gamblers,
4
Boot treers,
5
Grocers,
3
Boot crimpers,
4
Gas fitters,
3
Brakemen,
22
Grinders,
1
Blacksmiths,
21
Gentleman,
1
Barbers,
12
Housekeepers,
93
Bakers,
8
Hostlers,
16
Butchers,
6
Hackmen,
10
Bar tenders,
5
Hod carriers,
9
Basket makers,
3
Hotel keepers,
2
Boiler makers,
2
Horse doctors,
1
Book keepers,
1
Harness maker,
1
Beggar,
1
Iron rollers,
13
Brush maker,
1
Jewelers,
2
Brick maker,
1
Junk dealers,
1
Brewer,
1
Japanner,
1
Carpenters,
35
Keeper of house of ill-fame,
1
Courtezans,
27
Laborers,
405
Clerks,
21
Loafers,
70
Curriers,
9
Loom-fixers,
4
Cigar makers,
5
Lathers,
2
Carriage makers,
3
Lastmaker,
1
Core makers,
3
Lecturer,
1
Contractors,
3
Laundress,
1
Civil engineers,
2
Machinists,
57
Coal heavers,
2
Moulders,
36
Carders,
2
Masons,
26
Carpet cleaners,
2
Merchants,
11
Cooks,
2
Manufacturers,
7
Cooper,
1 Musicians,
6
Clock repairer,
1
Marble workers,
4
Cabinet maker,
1
Messenger,
1
Chair maker,
1 Newsboys,
1
Conductor,
1
Nurse,
1
Coachman,
1
Overseer,
1
Clergyman,
1
Painters,
41
Domestics,
37 Printers,
24
Drivers,
5 Pedlars,
18
Dyers,
3 Polishers,
8
Dress tenders,
2
Plumbers,
6
Dress maker,
1
Physicians,
4
Engineers,
14 Pawnbrokers,
2
56
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
Piano tuners,
2
Screw cutter,
1
Pattern makers,
2
Tramps,
44
Provision dealers,
1
Tailors,
21
Pavior,
1
Teamsters,
16
Puddler,
1
Truckmen,
15
Rag pickers,
6
Thieves,
11
Rope maker,
1
Tinkers,
6
School boys,
115
Tinsmiths,
2
School girls,
4
Telegraph operator,
1
Saloon keepers,
50
Upholsterer,
1
Spinners,
20
Undertaker,
1
Stone cutters,
11
Weavers,
31
Sailors,
6
Wire drawers,
19
Stable keepers,
5
Wool sorters,
4
Slaters,
4
Wireworkers,
3
Soldiers,
2
Watchmen,
2
Silver platers,
2
Wheelwrights,
2
Scrubs,
2
Waiters,
2
Showman,
1
Watchmaker,
1
Steam fitter,
1
Seamstress,
1
Sail maker,
1
MISCELLANEOUS DUTIES.
In addition to the above, the following table will show some- thing of the duties attended to by the police, and makes a most creditable exhibit of the proficiency of this department.
Accidents reported, .
17
Burglaries reported,
26
Buildings found open, 463
Careless driving, . 14
Dead bodies found, .
2
Disturbances suppressed, . 180
Dogs killed, 153
Defective sidewalks reported,
. 36
Defective streets reported, . 33
Defective drains and sewers, 14
Defective street lamps,
11
Defective water pipes,
5
Fire alarms given, .
11
Fires extinguished without aların,
9
Intoxicated persons sent home,
349
Injured persons cared for, 19
Lost goods restored, (value), . $300.00
Lost children returned to friends,
. 86
Lights hung in dangerous places,
36
Notices served, 9,780
Nuisances reported, .
64
Nuisances abated, 22
Runaway horses reported, . 16 .
Total,
1,934
.
57
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
Runaway horses stopped,
· 6
Stolen property recovered (value),
$5,188.00
Street lights not burning at 9 P. M., (gas), . 575
Street lights not burning at 9 P. M., (oil), .
1,331
Teams put up and cared for,
· 78
Value of goods exposed carelessly,
$438.00
Water running to waste,
6
.
At this point it seems proper for me to state that the earn- ings of the department for the year just passed, amount to the sum of five thousand and eighty-five dollars ($5,085.00), which will become a revenue to the department for 1878.
OUR PRESENT. CONDITION.
At the commencement of the year the force consisted of one City Marshal, two Assistant Marshals, two Captains (day and night), one Detective, and forty-four patrolmen, making fifty men, all told. On the 12th of March, Assistant Marshal Dyson resigned his position; on the 17th of the same month, patrol- man O. A. Johnson resigned, and on the 23d of April, patrol- man Wm. H. Johnson resigned his position, thereby depriving this department of the services of three valuable officers ; valu- able because they were old and efficient officers, and naturally adapted to a business like this. The places thus vacated have not been filled during the year, so it will be seen that we have had but 47 men to care for a city of over 52,000 inhabitants, with its 180 miles of streets, and everything pertaining to a lively growing city, thus giving us one officer to about 1106 inhabitants, while New York City has one to every 428 ; Phila- delphia, one to 650; Boston, one to 500; Albany, one to 700; Providence, one to 500, and so on through the list of cities. But few can be found with so small a police force as our own ; Hartford comes the nearest, since the reduction of its force, and now has about one officer to each 900 inhabitants.
The total number of arrests for the year has been less than for several years, although the arrests for felonies are larger ; and the commitments to the Jail and House of Correction have been larger in proportion than ever before, showing that our criminals are growing more daring, as the depression in busi- ness probably drives some of them to desperation, while others
5
58
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 32.
grow proficient in crime, as ordinary persons do by constant ap- plication to their business.
The falling off in the total number of arrests can be accounted for in several ways. 1st. By the number of misdemeanors overlooked, and refraining from making arrests for the most common violations of the city ordinances, as recommended by your committee on police, at the commencement of the year ; and 2d, by the number of intoxicated persons sent home by the officers, where this could reasonably be done.
The houses of correction in this county have been crowded to such an extent that I have discharged a larger number of persons charged with intoxication, without making complaints against them, than ever before, and have sent nearly all the parties charged with vagrancy to the Work House at Bridge- water, while in a large number of cases, his Honor, Judge Wil- liams, has allowed the cases to be placed on file, simply by payment of the costs.
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