USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1878 > Part 22
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The bound volumes of magazines and newspapers have been taken from their old cramped quarters to the spacious room
321
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
over the Medical Library. This collection is already valuable and each year adds to its importance.
The Librarian has effected same saving this year in discounts by a systematic use of circulars and letters to publishers, but this amount has not made good the loss of yearly income caused by the retirement of government bonds belonging to the Fund, and the necessary change of investment at an unfavorable period. Loans on mortgage have, however, lately been made by the Treasurer, Nathaniel Paine, Esq., which place the Fund on a better footing for the coming year. The Committee rest in the hope that the resources of the Reading Room and Periodical Department will be one day increased by the friends of the Library. Until then, they cannot suggest any radical change in its management.
For the Committee,
CHARLES H. DOE,
WORCESTER, 20th Dec., 1878.
Chairman.
21
-
REPORT
OF THE
Committee on the Building.
To the Directors of the Free Public Library :
During the current year, under the direction of the Committee on Public Buildings, four thousand dollars have been expended in improvements and repairs.
The French roof and that portion of the basement hitherto unoccupied, have been finished and fitted with shelving, thus greatly increasing the capacity of the building for library purposes.
The different stories have been connected by an hydraulic elevator, making easy the passage from floor to floor. The roof over the Green Library has been re-tinned, the cornices repaired, the chimney tops relaid, the outside wood-work newly painted, and, in these respects, the condition of the building seems entirely satisfactory.
In the Green Library room, some minor repairs seem neces- sary. From the highest defective roof, the walls are stained, the cornice work is cracked, and some portions seem ready to fall, endangering the occupants below. The repair of the cor- nice work is imperatively demanded, and it would contribute much to the good appearance of the room, to re-dress it with a coat of paint and white-wash.
323
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
A certain amount of hose pipe is needed to afford suitable protection against fire, the water pipe being already in.
With these minor repairs made, and with the improvements made during the year, bringing all parts of the building into practical use for library purposes, it is believed the building in itself and in its appointments, was never so complete.
For the Committee,
E. WARNER,
WORCESTER, Dec. 20, 1878.
Chairman.
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.
To the Directors of the Free Public Library :
Your committee submit herewith the financial statements of the Free Public Library and of the Green Library Fund for the year ending November 30th, 1878.
In the account of expenditures for the past year the amount appropriated by the City Council for general repairs and improvements in the library building is not included, as the expenditures under that appropriation were made under the supervision of the council's committee.
The investments of the Green Library Fund remain as reported last year except that there has been an increase of one thousand dollars in the mortgage securities, and the Savings Bank deposits have been somewhat diminished.
P. C. BACON, J. EVARTS GREENE,
Finance Com. Free Pub. Library. .
WORCESTER, Dec. 20, 1878,
CITY APPROPRIATION.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT for the year ending NOVEMBER 30, 1878.
RESOURCES.
City Appropriation,
$8,000 00
Dog money,
2,722 18
Fines and miscellaneous receipts at library,
514 31
$11,236 49
EXPENDITURES.
Books,
$1,452 52
Binding,
945 09
Printing lists of additions,
126 57
Other printing and charging slips,
103 89
Freight, postage, expressage, &c.,
265 44
Paper for covering books and stationery,
89 36
Postal cards,
60 00
Cards for cataloguing,
4 50
Reading Room, .
100 00
Ordinary repairs and small furniture,
56 41
Coal and wood,.
201 65
Gas,
978 06
Water,
5 00
Salary of Librarian,
2,500 00
Salary of Assistants,
2,889 22
Wages of janitor and messenger,
400 00
326
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 33.
Additional Library service,
746 42
Insurance,
105 00
Indexing,
50 00
General repairs,
153 31
$11,232 44
Balance to Sinking Fund,
$4 05
$11,236 49
P. C. BACON, J. EVARTS GREENE.
STATEMENT
OF THE
GREEN LIBRARY FUND.
Income for the year ending November 30th, 1878.
Interest on notes secured by mortgage,
$1,670 61
Dividends on bank stocks, 498 00
Bank Tax of 1877 refunded,
123 52
Dividends of savings bank deposits,
107 84
Interest on National bank deposits,
15 21
$2,415 18
Of this amount one-fourth, $603.80, is added to the fund. The remaining three-fourths, $1,811.38, are appropriated in accordance with the provisions of Dr. Green's will.
STATEMENT OF THE FUND.
Nov. 30, 1877.
Nov. 30, 1878. $26,048 50
Notes secured by mortgage,
$25,048 50
Bank stocks (par value),
9,300 00
9,300 00
Deposits in savings banks,
2,543 84
2,147 64
$36,892 34
$37,496 14
328
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 33.
BOOK ACCOUNT.
Balance on deposit Dec. 1, 1877,
$1,687 06
Three-fourths income in 1878,
1,811 38
Interest on deposits,
44 72
$3,543 16
Expended for books,
$1,643 46
Paid premiums on investments,
30 19
$1,673 65
Balance on deposit Nov. 30, 1878, $1,869 51
The accounts have been verified and the securities in the Treasurer's hands found to be as stated.
P. C. BACON, J. EVARTS GREENE.
REPORT
OF THE
TREASURER OF THE READING ROOM FUND.
NATHANIEL PAINE, Treasurer, in account with the READING ROOM FUND, FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
1877.
Dr.
Dec. 21. To Balance by last Report,
$466 38
1878. " Cash interest on City Bonds,
$300 00
66
" United States Bonds,
30 37
66 from City Appropriation, 100 00
interest on Mortgage Notes,
113 30
" Savings Bank Deposit,
85 39
$629 06
$1,095 44
1878. Cr.
By cash paid for subscription to Newspapers and Periodicals,
$604 59
Postage, &c.,
2 24
$606 83
Dec. 20. By Balance,
488 61
$1,095 44
THE READING ROOM FUND is invested in City of Worcester Bond, $5,000 00 500 00
United States Bond,
330
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 33.
Mortgage Notes, . Deposited in Savings Bank, Cash,
4,400 00
400 00
350 00
$10,650 00
Respectfully submitted.
NATHANIEL PAINE,
Treasurer.
WORCESTER, Dec. 20, 1878.
I have examined the securities and vouchers in the hands of the Treasurer, and find his accounts and statements correct.
J. EVARTS GREENE,
For Finance Committee.
THE CITY HOSPITAL.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 1878.
Alderman - WILLIAM DICKINSON,
Councilmen JOHN R. THAYER,
ALBERT A. LOVELL,
Term Expires 1878.
At Large - ALBERT CURTIS, Term Expires 1878.
STEPHEN SALISBURY, JR., 1879.
DR. F. H. KELLEY, 1880.
DR. JOSEPH SARGENT,
1881.
ORGANIZATION.
Auditors
President - DR. FRANK H. KELLEY. Secretary - STEPHEN SALISBURY, JR. ALBERT CURTIS, ESQ., WILLIAM DICKINSON, ESQ.
Superintendent and Resident Physician. DR. J. BARTLETT RICH.
Board of Commissioners of the Jaques and other Funds of the City Hospital.
DR. F. H. KELLEY, Term Expires 1878. ALBERT CURTIS, 1879.
BENJAMIN WALKER,
1880.
MEDICAL STAFF, 1878.
Consulting Physicians.
Joseph Sargent, M. D. Frank H. Kelley, M. D. Bernard D. Eastman, M. D.
Visiting Physicians.
Rufus Woodward, M. D.
George A. Bates, M. D.
Oramel Martin, M. D. Henry Clarke, M. D.
. Joseph N. Bates, M. D.
J. Marcus Rice, M. D. Albert Wood, M. D.
Emerson Warner, M. D. George E. Francis, M. D. John O. Marble, M. D.
Thomas H. Gage, M. D. Leonard Wheeler, M. D.
Oculist and Aurist - Lewis S. Dixon, M. D. Pathologist - William H. Workman, M. D.
A
ORGANIZATION.
President - ORAMEL MARTIN, M. D. Secretary - LEONARD WHEELER, M. D.
Committee on Report ALBERT WOOD, M. D. EMERSON WARNER, M. D. GEORGE A. BATES, M. D.
THOMAS H. GAGE, M. D.
Committee on Conference
GEORGE E. FRANCIS, M. D.
RUFUS WOODWARD, M. D.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES.
To Hon. C. B. Pratt, Mayor, and the City Council of the City of Worcester :
The TRUSTEES of the City Hospital respectfully present their Eighth Annual Report.
CONDITION OF THE HOSPITAL.
The detailed reports of the Superintendent and Resident Physician, Dr. J. Bartlett Rich, together with the tabulated report of Diseases and their Results, from the same source, appended to the Trustees report will show that, in point of use- fulness, this Institution has been in no wise behind its former record. The unusual healthfulness of the past year, and the beneficent working of the Washburn Free Dispensary, have prevented such a yearly increase in the number of patients as would otherwise follow the growth of our city in population. The facilities of the Hospital for the satisfactory care and treat- ment of the sick and wounded were never in better condition. The Medical Staff of seventeen physicians, who, freely and with- out compensation give their best advice and practice to this public charity, has continued, as heretofore, to take the respon- sibility of the care of the medical and surgical cases in turn, two physicians being designated to serve each two months of the year. The promptness and fidelity which have characterized their ministrations in the Hospital, have been the subject of remark and commendation on the part of the Trustees.
This Institution is fortunate in enjoying the continued admin- istrative offices of Dr. J. Bartlett Rich, as Superintendent and
334
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 33.
Resident Physician. This gentleman has devoted himself with great earnestness to the thorough and economical discharge of his duties as executive officer, and has merited and received the fullest approval from the Trustees, in the performance of his difficult and onerous task.
In the past municipal year 224 patients have been treated, making an aggregate of 1,358 since the opening of the Hospital in 1871, and it is safe to assert that a large proportion of those who have been discharged improved or cured, could not have been so successfully cared for by any other system of relief. Many of the patients have expressed their gratitude for benefits received and for the interest and sympathy that has been extended to them. The household of the Hospital remains the same as last year and consists of the Resident Physician and Superintendent, Dr. J. Bartlett Rich; the Matron, Miss M. A. Hales ; a cook and assistant, a male and female attendant, a night watch, a janitor, and a laundress.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENSES.
In accordance with Section 5 of the Ordinance relating to the City Hospital, the Trustees present the following report in detail of the receipts and expenditures of the Hospital during the past year :-
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation, 1878,
$8,000 00
Board from State for care of patients,
148 14
Board from paying patients,
759 72
Sale of manure, &c., .
10 44
Net income from Jaques Hospital Fund,
1,287 57
Sale of Swine and pork,
101 92
Rent and storage, .
19 00
Sale of surgical instruments, medicines and bottles,
10 80
$10,337 59
EXPENSES.
Salaries and pay roll,
$2,831 87
Groceries and provisions,
2,764 78
Carpets, bedding, table linen, &c.,
71 82
Crockery, tin ware, &c.,
73 76
Furniture, fixtures and repairing same,
158 45
335
CITY HOSPITAL.
Repairs on building,
164 52
Surgical instruments and repairing same,
107 95
Medicines,
561 21
Fuel,
376 78
Gas,
249 09
Printing,
62 20
Stationery, postage, express, &c.,
51 72
Hay and grain,
223 28
Ice,
113 54
Cow and swine,
94 00
Blacksmithing. .
33 74
Seeds, &c., .
8 30
Tools and hardware,
30 86
Hack hire,
4 75
Water,
50 00
Harness and repairing same,
19 71
Carriage and repairing same, .
65 95
Sleigh and robe,
48 00
Freight and trucking, .
2 70
Shoes,
3 00
Rent paid Jaques Hospital Fund,
750 00
Balance of 1878 to Sinking Fund,
1,415 61
$10,337 59
The Trustees having carefully considered the probable cost of maintaining and conducting the Hospital during the ensuing year, would respectfully ask for an appropriation of $7,000.00 to meet those expenses.
DONATIONS.
The following gifts were received during the year, and are gratefully acknowledged by the Trustees. (December), Edi- tors of the Spy, The Daily Spy, for the year; Editors of the Gazette, The Worcester Gazette, for the year; Mrs. Geo. W. Gill, night dresses, chemise, shirts and pieces ; Mrs. D. C. Mer- rifield, pieces; Mr. Stephen Salisbury, Jr., hose and handker- chiefs ; Mr. P. L. Moen, slippers ; Mr. Thos. A. Dickinson, files of the Daily Graphic; Mrs. A. C. Lincoln, night dresses and pieces ; Mrs. William H. Blanchard, shirts and pieces. (Jan- uary, 1878), Mrs. H. Harkness, papers; Mrs. F. H. Kinnicutt, magazines ; Dr. G. E. Francis, cuffs, neckties and shirts ; Mrs. Tolman, shirts ; Mrs. Parker, pieces ; Dr. Rufus Woodward, books; Mrs. F. K. Lindsey, pieces. (February), Mrs. Lewis Barnard, shirts and pieces ; Mrs. C. B. Pratt, pieces. (March),
336
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 33.
Mrs. Geo. W. Gill, night dresses, shirts and pieces ; Mrs. M. Stedman, dressing gown; Mr. W. J. Hapgood, pieces ; Mrs. Lewis Barnard, pieces; Mr. Wm. Yearnshaw, pieces; Miss Lucia D. Simmons, pieces ; Miss Clarissa Sikes, sheets and pil- low cases ; Mrs. N. Wheeler, pieces ; Mrs. Charlotte Seymour, pieces ; Mrs. A. Parker, pieces; Mrs. C. Prince, pieces ; Miss Wheaton, pieces ; Mr. M. C. Morse, shirts and pieces ; Mr. William Dickinson, Felting. (April), Mrs. J. E. Green, pieces and reading matter ; Mrs. T. E. Moore, pieces ; Mr. Wm. Dick- inson, oranges ; Mr. S. Phillips, pieces ; Mrs. P. E. Aldrich, shirts ; Mrs. O. Clark, shirts. (May), Mrs. P. L. Moen, pieces and flowers; Mr. William Dickinson, pieces and oranges ; Mrs. Dr. Adams, night dresses and pieces; Mr. F. Brown, pieces ; Mrs. R. G. White, pieces ; Mrs. N. Harkness, papers; Mrs. Amos Nichols, pieces. (June), Miss F. Sweetser, pieces ; Flower Mission, flowers; Mrs. Jabez Rice, pieces ; Mr. William Dickinson, felting for splints. (July), Mrs. M. E. Barnard, magazines ; Mrs. E. P. Goulding, pieces; Flower Mission, flowers and reading matter, papers and magazines. (August), Mrs. D. H. Fanning, shirts and hose; Messrs. N. R. Scott & Son, disinfecting fluid ; Flower Mission, flowers and illustrated papers ; Mrs. Holman, pieces ; Mr. Stephen Salisbury, Jr., shirts ; Mrs. Clapp, pieces ; Mrs. Geo. T. Rice, old linen. (September), Mrs. H. Blanchard, pieces ; Mrs. Smith, hose, night shirts and pieces of linen; Flower Mission, flowers. (October), Mrs. William H. Blanchard, pieces ; Flower Mission, flowers; Mrs. Jane S. Barnes, night dresses. (November), Rev. C. M. Lamson, shirts; Mr. Wm. Dickinson, barrel of apples.
-
COMMISSIONERS OF THE JAQUES FUND
AND OTHER
Funds of the City Hospital.
The ordinance creating a Commission to have charge of the property bequeathed in trust to the City for the benefit of the Hospital, passed and approved Oct. 16, 1877, which pro- vides for the transfer of all such property then in the care of the Trustees of the Hospital to said Commission, has reduced the number of the duties of the Trustees, and has relieved them of important responsibilities.
The Board of Commissioners, as at present constituted, con- sists of two members from the Trustees of the Hospital, and one former Trustee; and this selection has been a gratifying evidence of the confidence of the City authorities in the faithfulness of the Trustees, and at the same time has ensured harmonious action and co-operation on the part of the two boards. The active and energetic way in which the Commissioners have taken in hand their newly imposed duties, and their success in disposing of various portions of the real estate of the Jaques Fund to the increase of that fund and the enhancement of value of neighboring estates belonging to the same Fund, are subjects of congratulation.
In accordance with the provisions of the ordinance, the Trustees authorized their Secretary to make over and transfer the cash assets of the three several funds and the land and other property, as per schedule, to the Commissioners, and to take their receipt therefor. This was done on the 11th of
22
338
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 33.
January, 1878, when personal estate to the amount of $21,761.89, belonging to the Jaques Fund, together with all the real estate belonging to that Fund at an appraised value in 1873 of $181,- 100.00, were passed into their care and custody ; also the Isaac Davis Fund, amounting to $1,350.07, and the J. B. Shaw Fund, amounting to $61.50. Since that time the Commissioners have received from sales of land and from income and from rents, $9,709.63, making a total of $33,921.46, of which sum they have disbursed $2,320.41 in payment to City Treasurer, &c., as per account rendered, leaving a balance invested and bearing interest of $31,605.55. The Funds, at present, have the fol- lowing value : Jaques Fund, $32,143.16; Davis Fund, $1,446.60, and Shaw Fund, $64.27.
The recent report of the Commissioners shows a considerable increase of the Jaques Fund by the sale of land during the past year, and it is reasonable to anticipate that at no distant day all this property will be sold and that the proceeds will be securely invested, thereby yielding a sufficient annual income to support the institution. During the past year eight parcels of these lands, containing 49,580 square feet, have been sold, for which $7,252.00 has been received.
CURTIS LIBRARY FUND.
It should be remembered that the donor of this Fund express- ly stipulated that it should be kept in the custody and charge of the Trustees, and that the income alone was to be expended by them in the purchase of books and apparatus useful to the Hospital. The condition of the Fund is at present,
Savings Bank Deposit,
$1,038.37
Unexpended Income,
37 82
Total amount of Fund, . $1,076 19
Several choice books have been added to the Library during the year, and additions to the Scientific Apparatus have been paid for out of the income of this Fund,
339
CITY HOSPITAL.
ACTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TOWARDS A PERMANENT LOCATION FOR THE HOSPITAL.
The use and occupation of the Jaques Homestead and the estate therewith connected for Hospital purposes, has always been regarded by the officers of that institution and by the City authorities as a temporary expedient, necessitated by consider- ations which were held to be imperative at the time. The implied contract of the City, in accepting the gift of a lot of land for Hospital purposes from Mr. Jaques in his life time, and the fact that the land thus given was to be used for that pur- pose alone, or, in default thereof, was to be retained, unimproved, during twenty-five years, together with the fact that the Home- stead estate now occupied by the Hospital represents the most valuable part of the Jaques bequest from which the Fund for maintaining the Hospital in all coming time is to be derived, has been the subject of much solicitude to the Trustees and to 'the City authorities. Many expedients have been proposed, and consultations have been held, thus far without result. During the past year the Joint Standing Committee on Public Buildings met with the Trustees of the Hospital and inspected the land given by Mr. Jaques for the location of the Hospital, and the land adjacent.
The views of this Committee, resulting from a mature consid- eration of the question and a personal inspection of the ground, were embodied in a report to the City Council on the 21st of October, which is given in full as a faithful presentation of the question and a possible solution of the difficulty.
Report of the Joint Standing Committee of the City Council on Public Buildings, presented Oct. 21, 1878 :-
" The Joint Standing Committee on Public Buildings, to whom was referred that part of the Mayor's inaugural address, relating to the City Hospital, having carefully considered the whole subject, beg leave to report thereon, as follows, viz :-
"Your Committee find that the City Hospital was established by ordinance passed June 26, 1871. An appropriation of $10,000 was made, and a board of seven directors was elected soon thereafter; and the institution commenced operations in the Bigelow Mansion on Front Street in October following.
340
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 33.
"The late George Jaques, then a Trustee and Secretary of the Board, offered the donation of a certain parcel of land for a hospital site, situated on the south line of Prince Street, 214 feet wide and 700 feet long, extending from Queen Street to King Street, and containing something more than three acres.
"It was stipulated in the deed, that the city should, within three years from the date thereof, erect suitable buildings on this land, for the accommodation of at least twenty.five patients, and in the event of failure to do this, the city should pay Jaques, or his legal representatives, the sum of $200 a mouth without interest, for twenty-five years, or until such accommodations should be furnished, as therein provided.
"There are other provisions in the deed requiring the city to widen and extend Prince Street, also to widen Wellington Street, &c., which it is not necessary to state in detail in this report. This instrument is dated March 12, 1872, and was accepted by vote of the City Council, with all the conditions and obligations therein named. Soon after, an appropriation of $25,000 was made and set apart as a hospital building fund, and a joint committee of the City Council and the trustees of the hospital were appointed, authorized to procure plans and report upon the expediency of proceeding at once to build the hospital, and otherwise fulfilling the obligations assumed by accepting the donation.
" This committee, of which Ex-Mayor Verry was chairman, set immediately to work, advertised for plans, and plans were sent in by architects from New York, Boston and Worcester, the most desirable of which are now in the hands of the trustees.
"The death of Mr. Jaques which occurred on the 24th of August, 1872, and the knowledge which soon after became public, that he had willed the bulk of his property in trust, to the city, for the benefit of the City Hospital, seemed to have changed the minds of the Committee as to the magnitude of this enterprise, as it did, indeed of the whole community.
"The anticipation of the early friends of the then rather experimental hospital, became greatly enlarged and the policy of building the permanent hospital upon the donated site, became a question of public discussion, and so great was the feeling as to it, that further action on the part of this committee seems to have been paralyzed and no formal recommendations were ever reported to the council.
"The objection to the lot, seems to be its shape, being long and narrow, and sloping to the north, with its southern exposure cut off by the Colton estate which is situated nearer the summit, rendering it undesirable to locate upon it a group of small wards upon the modern pavillion plan and upon such a scale as the future wants of the city might demand, and as warranted by the munificence of Mr. Jaques.
"So great was the opposition to building the hospital upon this particular land, after it was known that city would come into the possession of the Jaques Homestead and other lands more suitable for locating the permanent hospital, that the city applied to the Supreme Court to be released from the obligations of the deed, and to be allowed to build the hospital elsewhere, but after months of delay, the Conrt refused to grant the request, and the obligations and penalties are, of course, still binding upon the city.
"The distinction between the deed of land for the hospital site, and the will which came some months later, should always be kept closely in mind. They are two separate and distinct instruments, and bear no special relation to each other.
"The provisions of the will have been respected and faithfully cared for by the city. The large landed property has been wisely held for better times since the city received authority from the courts to sell the same, and the cash assets are safely invested, and the interest thereon has been allowed to accumulate by adding it to the principal until the present year, while the will provides that the yearly income may be used to pay the current expenses of the hospital.
"The trustees were authorized to remove the hospital from Front Street to the Jaques Homestead in the vear 1873, and after considerable outlay, it was first occupied
341
CITY HOSPITAL.
by patients in January, 1874. Since then two small wooden pavillions have been built, adding two separate wards to the mansion house, and connected therewith by convenient corridors, the whole providing excellent accommodations for twenty-five patients.
"Your Committee are unable to see wherein the City Council have been derelict of duty towards this institution, or unfaithful to the trust reposed by its generous bene- factor. The city generously appropriated $10,000 to start the enterprise as an experi- ment in 1871, and has maintained it by annual taxation since, and in addition has furnished funds from time to time to improve its facilities. No appropriation of money asked for by the trustees for this institution, has ever been refused by the Council.
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