USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1878 > Part 19
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By a recent computation of the County Commissioners, A. D. 1878, the City of Worcester receives, net, the sum of $2,810.98, from the Dog Fund. It is understood that so much enures, as clear profit, to the Free Public Library ; though why-is not so plain, since the licenses are not for dogs-ears. The Public Grounds get none of it, although the positive nuisance of Dogs can neither be overlooked nor over-rated. Nothing animate occasions greater annoyance and loss to the Terrae culturist. Fowls can be confined, expelled, or at worst exterminated. But it looks too much like butchery to shoot a dog. Yet they course everywhere, scouring through new plantations and tearing up smooth lawns; and ever without check or restraint from their owners. It almost seems that the majority, who possess without caring for these brutes, suppose that a municipal license, to exist, carries with it a privilege to trample and pol- lute. For, apart from the indecency of their animal nature, their filthy habits are positively destructive. Even robust vegetation is seared by them, and their fire by file is death to each tenderer plant. Of no conceivable use to any one, and an actual damage to many ! they are suffered to run at large, careering over garden and park; not maintained for sport, or watch and ward; but kept in an extravagant existence, idle, mischievous, and pernicious. Their existence offers this in- scrutable problem : at which end are they least noxious !
Unquestionably, much of the mischief done to the public property is a result of thoughtlessness. Let one child take a bloom, even from an Azalea, and its loss might not be noticed. Let all do so ; and all have multiplied the rights, as they should
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PUBLIC GROUNDS.
feel the restraints of one; and what would be left for the enjoy- ment of the community at large! The Chairman gladly makes record of the ready obedience yielded to him, when he has thought that juvenile exuberance was verging upon mischief. But he can not be omnipresent. And wantonness sometimes takes upon itself shape and form,-or mars both,-in those dark glimpses of the moon where so much is disclosed to the " Tireless Watchers." Two or three gentlemen of this City, authorized as special Police, could put a new aspect upon the cause of moral reform by a system of judicious checks imposed upon what they see, or think they see! Their leisure might not be wholly wasted in restraining an hallucination ! If they curbed aught else,-so much the better.
But there can be no necessity,-as there will hereafter be no tolerance,-for the disregard of obvious rules which insist that the use of public property shall not degenerate into its abuse and destruction. The COMMISSION claim the credit of having been "slow to anger."
The COMMISSION have frequently called attention to the need of a more vigilant supervision of the Public Grounds, by the paid Police, especially upon Holidays and Sundays. Gener- ally resorted to upon such occasions, it is not surprising that the rude and boorish should, at times, molest and offend the peaceful and well-behaved throng. Very rarely, a more flagrant case is developed, in which an overt tendency to crime requires summary check or punishment. An instance of this nature happened, last February, that deserves attention because of some peculiar features which characterise it. An attempt at indecent assault, upon a little girl who was skating in Elm Park, was arrested, and the offender taken into custody by Officer Martin, to whose fortunate proximity the people are indebted ; and to whose ready zeal and willing co-operation upon all occa- sions, the COMMISSION would bear open testimony. The offender, in this case, was put under heavy bonds for his appear- ance before the Grand Jury, at the ensuing May Term. He never appeared. In some mode, that may bear investigation, the case was stifled and the accused committed to the State Lunatic Hospital-Chronic. Now-here was no trial,-and of
18
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 33.
course no commitment to the Hospital, under sentence. Why is not this man as free as ever to invade our streets and Public Grounds, and satiate his beastly propensities ? He had been in the Hospital, before ; and his relations, if not the officials, had been warned that he was an unsafe person to be at large. Arrests are useful : but of how much real value can they be, if neither legal punishment nor restraint shall ensue ?
More recently-in November last, on Sunday, the 3d, a crowd of half-grown boys were allowed to amuse themselves by ston- ing the fountain. One of them was overheard to say : " Let's break the damned thing, any way !" At sight of the Chairman of the COMMISSION, who was just then entering the Park, in the constant exercise of an oversight that might well be relieved by the occasional supervision of some of our paid officials, the youthful offenders took to their heels. Just so,- the " wicked flee when no man pursueth."
Appreciating fully later steps in the desired direction, the COMMISSIONERS nevertheless feel that they owe it to their own sense of duty, to impress upon the Honorable Council a convic- tion of the absolute importance of due protection to the public peace and property within the Public Grounds. Sin and crime. intruded into Eden: but it did not remain unnoticed and unmolested.
But the duties of the COMMISSION are not wholly unrelieved by gleams of sunshine. What brighter vision could they wish to behold than that which fascinated their gaze on May 4th, when a Bridal Party, the ceremony completed, selected ELM PARK as the scene of innocent enjoyment : their white garments blending and contrasting with the nascent foliage and herbage, and their sportive freedom challenging admiration and envy from those older, and hopeless of renewing their youth !
And still those Marriage Fees pass through the hands of the City Clerk, but to be merged in Contingent Expenses, or lost in the fathomless abyss of the Sinking Fund.
A number of Ducks and rare Geese were placed in the Pools of ELM PARK, during the past season, for whose introduction, acknowledgement is due to the unselfish zeal and co-operation
(Copy.) COMMISSION OF PUBLIC GROUNDS,
Worcester, Mass., July 5th, A.D. 1879. To his Honor, the Mayor, as Chairman, acting with the Com- mitlee, to which was referred the Petition of Charles Belcher.
DEAR SIR,
IN consideration of liberty to withdraw the reference in the text of my latest Annual Report upon the Public Grounds, to the action of Charles Belcher in the matter of certain Water Fowl, I very cheerfully agree that the foot note in said Report, nullifying that reference, be regarded as retracted without re- serve. The desire of yourself, and of your associates upon the Committee, concurring with my own, that all mention of said Belcher be eliminated from the Report under review.
I have the honor to subscribe myself, with the utmost sincerity, Yours, &c.,
EDWARD W. LINCOLN, Chairman.
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PUBLIC GROUNDS.
of Mr. Charles Belcher .* It has been pleasant to note the con- stant interest taken in these Water-fowl; to observe how their habits and wants were studied, and with what assiduity children and, as often, grown people, would spend hours in feeding them and watching their movements. Even such positive instruction in Natural History may not be despised by the pedant. And, encouraged by their observation of this interest in the Water- fowl,-so universal and continuous,-the COMMISSION will cherish, yet more tenaciously, their hope of, at some time, enclosing Deer within that depressed triangle of land, at the North-Western corner of the Park, where occurs the intersec- tion of Highland Street by PARK AVENUE.
A slight service which it fell within the power of the Chair- man of the COMMISSION, in a private capacity, to render to Messrs. Ellwanger & Barry, of Rochester, New York, was richly repaid by those eminent Horticulturists in the only way in which remuneration would be accepted. A crate was received from them, carefully packed, wherein were found, in admirable condition, the following named bulbs or roots, of which a descrip- tive list is recited, in justice to the donors, viz : -
Lilium :
Var ... Album; Auratum ; Roseum ; Rubrum.
Pæonia Paradoxa ; var. Pulcherrima plena; crimson, with pur- ple shade ; centre petals small and compact.
Pæonia Officinalis, ; var. Andersoni,-single, rosy blush; very early and showy ; dwarf.
Rosea,-
Rubra,-double crimson ; of monstrous size.
Schiller [E. & B.] purplish red ; double, and very fine.
Pæonia Sinensis : var,-
Anemone flora striata ; outer petals large, rosy violet;
*NOTE. While these Reports should "nothing extenuate, nor aught set down in malice." yet it is indispensable to their retention of the implicit faith hitherto reposed in their statements, that they should utter only absolute verity. The above tribute, in the text, is therefore retracted ; - if, with regret, without reserve. The City may have fewer Geese; _! but it will also credit one less imposture. E. W. L.
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 33.
inside ones small, rose and salmon; very large and fine.
Baron James Rothschild,-outside petals rose, centre salmon ; very large and fine.
Var : Carnea elegans,-Flesh color, with a few carmine streaks in the centre.
Carnea striata, [E. & B.] Flesh color, striped with red, very fine.
Claptoniana,-Creamy white ; inside petals straw color.
Delachii,-dark purplish crimson, resembling Potsii, but more double and richer foliage; one of the best dark.
" Duchesse d' Amaule,-Light rose; centre straw color, tipped with red ; beautiful.
" Edulis, vel fragrans,-Violet rose, all of one color, very full and sweet.
Globosa grandiflora,-
Grandiflora carnea plena,-Very large; outside petals delicate blush; centre fringed, yellowish ; sweet and fine.
" Isabella Karlitzky, - Deep rose; centre petals small, shaded with salmon.
Louis von Houtte,-Dark crimson, very compact.
Modeste,-Deep rose, bright, showy; very large, distinct and fine.
Mutabilis rosea,-Outer petals rose, centre blush.
Papaveri flora,-White, lightly tinged with yellow, and marked with red in centre ; very fine.
" Plenissima rosea superba,-Very large, globular and full ; deep rose, slightly tinged with salmon; superb.
" Purpurea superba,-Very large, purplish crimson flower ; outside petals large ; centre small and compact ; tallest and most showy.
Reevesi,-Delicate rose, clouded ; centre petals fringed. Reine des Roses,-Deep rosy lilac ; large and full, superb. Striata rosea alba ; Blush, nearly white ; inside petals fringed, slightly marked with red.
Triomphe du Nord,-Violet rose, shaded with lilac ; beautiful.
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PUBLIC GROUNDS.
It will be noticed that a majority of these Pæonies are of the variety known as the Sinensis. Must the Chinese go?
The COMMISSION would also express their sense of obligation to Mrs. A. D. Foster, for vigorous specimens of Cornus florida; and to their associate, Mr. Hadwen for a young and_thrifty tree of Larix leptolepis ;- a new Larch which promises to surpass its Scotch congener in beauty and delicacy of grace. The Chairman as usual, planted out such Geraniums and other flowering plants as he had kept through the Winter; and these with their off-sets, helped to ornament the knoll southward from the Diamond Pool. A few seedlings of the Aquilegia Chrysan- tha also survived exposure, in a location that was too moist for them, and which proved fatal to a majority of similar plants. Well-founded hopes of better fortune, on a more extended scale, are cherished for the coming season. A somewhat unfor- tunate experience of the Chairman will bear allusion, and may be a caution to others. Hearing of the discovery, in Florida, of the Nymphoa flava,-a yellow-blooming variety, of which our common White Pond Lily,- Nymypæa Odorata,-is the pre- dominant type at home, he procured some roots and sank them in the Diamond Pool. They started finely and were put- ting forth vigorous leaves when the Water-Fowl were intro- duced. Thereafter every leaf was nipped off as it appeared. The Nymphœa from Florida might not have survived our winters. But it was a disappointment, not to be allowed to test its endurance. The trial may be renewed, after the com- pletion of the Circular Pool, from which, in that event, Water- fowl will have to be excluded. And, most likely,-the small boy who loveth nothing better than to roll up his trousers and wade in for flowers that he knows are in-lawed.
The Act, to enable the City of Worcester to acquire Newton Hill for the purposes of a Park and a Reservoir, was renewed, at the instance of the COMMISSION, after consultation with the Municipal Authorities. There is no probability that it will be employed for the present. It would be no part of the pur- pose of the COMMISSION, to show what might be accomplished in the way of landscape gardening, as has been pleasantly imagined elsewhere, were that Hill in possession of the City.
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Some stones removed or put out of sight ; some trees planted, in clumps, for wind-breaks; and possibly facilities for a some- what fearful enjoyment of the toboggan! That would be all ; the ground left, free as air, for common fun and recreation. Very likely,-nothing will come of it. But, burdened as it is, even Worcester may yet profit from the knowledge that (given the water) street mains are cheaper than hose.
In the very first Report of the COMMISSION, as now instituted, while suggesting a comprehensive plan for the adornment and greater convenience of the City, occurs the following passage :- " Above all-as indispensable to the completion and symmetry of the design, LAKE QUINSIGAMOND should be embraced within its scope. The eye of covetousness already glances at that beautiful sheet of water. It may be that the people of Wor- cester will consent to hold the fairest ornament of their city at the will, or upon sufferance, of the capital : but it is not believed that such tame acquiescence will be permitted by any one who has the wit to foresee, in a utilitarian sense only, the advantages that would follow upon its undisputed control. The opinion of the Commission is decided that the city of Worcester should obtain, from the Great and General Court, power to occupy and possess Lake Quinsigamond, for the purposes of a PUBLIC PARK, without prejudice to the rights of riparian owners, what- ever they may be. In this way, if in no other, could the level of its waters be maintained at their average height, thus preserv- ing the smooth and verdant banks which so much enhance its beauty. Nor can any other method be devised, half as effectual, of forestalling future attempts to divert the water of the Lake for the supply of metropolitan thriftlessness and waste."
This particular project, like most others that are in advance of their time, attracted little attention. To that indifference there was, however, one notable exception. George Jaques ;- a public benefactor,-whose mind was not so fraught with its own purposes and plans of exceeding munificence, that he could not perceive the merit of measures proposed for the common welfare; cordially welcomed the suggestion, and advocated it in the newspapers of the day. Since then it has
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rested. On the 20th day of July, ult., the subjoined paragraph was published in the Spy :-
· " " As an explanation of the reason of the present low water in the Lake, it may be " stated that the mill-owners down stream have found their dams unsound, and rather " than repair them, have drawn off the pond, lowering it four feet. It is a great "inconvenience in many ways, and mars the beauty of the Lake. It seems too bad "' that private interests should so stand in the way of the public good."
That is bad, it is true enough. But there is one thing which is worse and at the same time inexpressibly humiliating. A great community, of the English speaking race, heretofore some- what famous for resisting the first attempts at encroachment, submits supinely to action prompted by selfish greed. Since attention was concentrated upon the beauties of Lake Quinsiga- mond by their constant eulogy in these Reports, large public and private investments have been made around its shores. Access to it has been facilitated by the construction of LAKE AVENUE, and the Shrewsbury Railroad, not omitting mention of the almost total renovation of the main highway. The vast pile of buildings erected by the State for its Lunatics (not chronic) represents a present value far exceeding the former estimate of that entire lacustrine territory. Into and out from the Lake, at whatever level its waters are maintained, the drainage of the Hospital, and of all other buildings, deodorised perhaps, but not necessarily purified, must inevitably flow. In direct proportion to the volume of the lake, will be the con- sequent dilution. Even a minimum of offence may yet become so desirable as to require attainment, reckless of cost.
Now, why should not the City of Worcester and the Town of Shrewsbury unite in obtaining, from the General Court, an Act establishing the Lake as a WATER-PARK and vesting its control in those two municipal corporations ? Such an Act-preju- dicial to none; nor injuriously affecting the rights of those whose interest in a high stage of water is secondary to the avarice that relucts at the support of an adequate dam, at the outlet of the Lake; would satisfy all requirements. Few of our people know where, or what is the outlet of the Lake,- a wide-spread ignorance in which the writer confessedly shared,
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 33.
until recently. How many are aware that the erection of a suf- ficient dam-but a few rods long-is all that is essential to the maintenance of the water, in the Lake, at any height desired ? A level would be attained, with perfect ease, that, permitting to the mill-owners every existing right, would overflow the shores now laid bare, and restore facility of access to countless- points and places which have been rendered almost inaccessible. In the coming conflict with privilege, this shall not be the least among the issues to be determined ;- how far shall the common weal, as embodied in the common law, be set aside and per- verted by every dog-in-the-manger !
Still further,-a higher stage of water, setting back upon the causeway, would greatly facilitate the construction of those openings for a water-way-that series of inverted arches,- which have been so often advised in these Reports as indispen- sable to a recovery of the use of the Lake. Cent-per-cent will sneer at the folly of the writer ; and the victims of his usury may join with him in deprecating such wild infatuation. But the future historian of Worcester will point to the utiliza- tion of the Lake, as a potent factor among the causes that revived her dormant prosperity ; to the storage and retention of a great volume of water, whereby the winds are tempered and the climate softened, enabling the Pomologist to rely, with complete assurance, upon a certain return from his labors. Then upon either shore,-as around the lesser Lakes of central New York,-shall be seen hill-sides crowned with vineyard and peach-orchard ; their ripe harvest none the less prized that it is of our own culture, and all the more luscious because grown at home. That the trial has not been made hitherto, is not the fault of this COMMISSION ; who do not mean to be censured if all the conditions are not propitious hereafter for the first intel- ligent pioneer. And among those conditions, whether as affect- ing the beauty of the landscape encompassing, or controlling and modifying the climatic influences emanating from the Lake, nothing can surpass in importance an ample volume of water.
A WATER PARK established ; and the control over its aver- age level, or volume, vested in Shrewsbury and Worcester ;
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PUBLIC GROUNDS.
there would be no resulting expense, save at the will of those municipalities. They might mend the present inadequate dam ; build a new, stronger, and higher one ; or leave the work severely alone. But their possession of exclusive jurisdiction over that lovely Lake could harm none and might enure to the common welfare.
All which is Respectfully Submitted, by
EDWARD WINSLOW LINCOLN,
WORCESTER, MASS., January 27th, A. D., 1879.
Chairman.
Report of the Superintendent
OF
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
OFFICE OF THE SUP'T OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS, 464 Main Street.
To the Honorable City Council :
I herewith submit my Fourth Annual Report of the condition of the several Public Buildings, and the amount expended for the year ending Nov. 30th, A. D., 1878.
ARMORY.
The repairs, commenced late in the year 1877, for strengthen- ing the building, were completed early in the present year, and have resulted in overcoming the vibration to a large extent. The cost has been,
For Carpenter's labor, Lumber and
Iron work, ·
$745 99
O. W. Norcross, services as expert, 15 00
W. H. Jourdan, coal, 4 40
Other repairs, .
43 64
Repair of stoves, .
25 18
New stoves,
22 80
Coal,
15 00
Janitor,
45 00
Total,
$866 41
283
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
GRAFTON STREET SCHOOL BUILDING.
The Order of the City Council, of October 15th, 1877, direct- ing the alteration of the dwelling house on the Earle estate, has been complied with and the building fitted up to accommodate two schools of fifty scholars each, at the following cost :
For Cost of alteration of building, 511 37
"Fencing and painting,
158 00
Stoves, pipe and labor,
135 05
100 School desks,
225 00
Total,
$1,029 42
WINSLOW STREET SCHOOL HOUSE.
The Order for the erection of this building was passed by the City Council of April 29, 1878, and the plans and specifications were made as expeditiously as possible, and the building was contracted to W. O. White, for the sum of seven thousand seven hundred and twenty-five dollars, this being the lowest of thirteen bids. Work was commenced immediately after the sign- ing of the contract, and the building was finished and occupied Sept. 10. Although built in this short time-too short, in my judgment, to ensure a thoroughly good building, it will, in my opinion, compare favorably with any in the city, and the con- tractor, Mr. William O. White, has carried out the contract in a faithful and conscientious manner, and to the satisfaction of the Committe and Superintendent. The original order not con- templating the furnishing, heating, grading and fencing, an order was passed by the City Council, transferring two thousand dollars from the License Fund for this purpose. The items are.
For W. O. White, contract, . $7,725 00
extra, . 135 98
S. W. Dearborn, extra brick work, 100 96
H. F. Edwards, 2 Vaile ventila- tors, . 46 00
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 33.
Engineer's plans, &c., 164 50
Advertising, 7 48
Plumbing, 2 extra sinks in base- ment, 12 50
Whole cost of building, $8,192 42
The cost of grading, fencing, heating and furnishing has been,
For two No. 6 Barstow furnaces, $495 00
S. W. Dearborn, brick foundation and cold air ducts, 19 38 · A. G. Whitcomb, 203 school desks, 609 00 W. S. Childs, 4 teachers' desks, . 60 00 T. M. Lamb, 4 Willard school clocks, 44 00
Clark & Sawyer, curtains and fix- tures, . 48 00
Carpenters labor, putting down desks and painting black- board, 32 90
L. G. Howe, blackboard slating, 15 00
J. B. Lawrence, chairs, 20 60
W. O. White, fencing lot,
160 00
Wm. Knowles, for sewer,
24 50
A. E. Curtis, concrete,
35 00
A. Brown, carting and freight, 20 10
Worcester Water Works, service pipe, . 27 52
J. & J. A. Rice, lawn grass, ·
1 25
Engineering for fence, 4 50
G. D. Webb, grading lot, 148 04
$1,772 75 Total cost of building, 8,192 42
Total cost, heating, &c.,
Whole cost, .
$9,964 17
285
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The repairs contemplated by the special appropriation of $4,000.00 by the City Council have been completed, with the exception of the elevator, which has not been accepted by the committee, the capacity not being what was required by the terms of the contract, and a new cylinder is to be put in at once. In making so extensive repairs, many things which were not contemplated were constantly claiming attention, and what seemed absolutely essential were done, as far as possible. There are several things remaining which ought to be done soon. The stucco work in the cornice of the Green Library has become badly cracked by the constant soaking from the leaky roof, is badly stained and so loose, in many places, as to be in danger of falling off. This, I think, should be repaired, and the remainder of the cornice and ceiling whitened. The estimated cost of this is $250.00. The total cost of repairs, exclusive of the elevator, have been $3,013.34.
FIRE ENGINE AND HOSE HOUSES.
The Engine and Hose Houses are all in good repair, with the exception of the House of Hose 2, and for which the City Council has passed an order directing the building of a new house on the school house lot, corner of Grafton and Providence streets, to be built early in the Spring. The house of Steamer 4, at New Worcester, having become unfitted for the use of the Company and Apparatus, the building has been repaired and enlarged by the addition of twenty feet upon the back end, a new floor has been put in, the Engine-room sheathed, and the second story finished for Company-room, with provision for Bath and Sleeping-room if they should be required, and Painted throughout.
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