USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1879 > Part 15
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Another project for opening new avenues of trade is before the country. An American citizen has recently obtained a grant, conveying lands and other privileges, with the right to build a railroad across the Isthmus of
225
SCHOOLS .- APPENDIX II.
Tehuantepec. The country it would traverse is rich, beautiful and healthful, beyond comparison-the El Dorado of Cortez, and the delight of every trav- eller since his time; and, with the improved facilities for transit along the Mississippi, such an opening to the Pacific, it is believed, would make New Orleans a commercial centre, if not equal, at least second, to New York. Unfortunately, the unstable character of Mexican political affairs, must, for the present, deter capitalists from investing in such a scheme. Only the other day a conspiracy was brought to light which had for its object the withdrawing of Sonora and the five states that lie along the Pacific south of it, from the existing government, and uniting them in an independent nation. Happily, the project was not permitted to mature; but similar events are of too frequent occurrence not to be a perpetual menace to the safety of any great public work.
The engineers employed by M. de Lesseps have completed their sur- veys for the proposed Panama canal, and pronounced the project practicable. The fact that this most important of New World achievements has been undertaken by Old World enterprise, awakens much discussion. There are members of Congress who believe that the canal may be so owned and con- trolled as to lead to serious international entanglements. It is even asserted that there is evidence of a secret compact between the governments of Great Britain, France and Germany, to subscribe jointly for its construction, and, together, hold the work. M. de Lesseps is now in New York, where, it is hoped, he will answer all questions satisfactorily. He has been received in a manner befitting his great name.
Canada, report asserts, with the free consent of the Mother Country, will soon declare herself an independent nation. Her subjection to British rule has, for many years, been hardly more than in name. The change, it is believed, would give a new impulse to trade and manufactures, and inspire a more heartfelt interest in the well being of the country. To Great Britain, except that it widens her territorial extent, its possession is only of nominal value. The kind of government contemplated, rumor does not declare. Mr. Smalley, in a recent letter from England, after describing the Princess Louise, wife of the Governor General and daughter of the Queen, as " one of the most cultivated and intelligent of English women," says : "Such loyalty as there is among the Canadians, clings about her person rather than about her hus- band. I hear of men and women following the Princess in the streets, and watching for her at the corners, only to touch the hem of her robe. There are stories floating about of passionate entreaties, by the Princess, for liberty to remain in England, and stern refusals by her mother. She is, if her friends' testimony be taken, a woman with much of the royal nature and love of reigning, which came to her rightfully by birth; with unusual force of character and courage for great enterprises. If she once conceived the notion of playing a great part in America, it is possible enough she might change what now seems the inevitable course of events in the Dominion of Canada, and keep it Imperial long after it promises to become Republican."
The International Geographical Congress, during its recent session in Hamburg, recommended that stations for observation, etc., be established at different points within the Arctic Circle. Germany, Holland, Norway, Swe-
226
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
den, Austria, Russia, Denmark, and the United States, are understood to be co-operating in the furtherance of this idea. Austria, aided by private munificence, has already established a post at Nova Zembla, and it is hoped all the posts will be equipped within a year. Two stations, one on the shore of Lady Franklin Bay, and the other at Point Barrow, are assigned to the United States. Much is hoped from this project, and that not simply in geographical discovery ; scholars are eager to study the condition of marine and land, animal and vegetable life, during the long season of cold and dark- ness, to take note of atmospheric phenomena in those regions, record astronomical observations, and, in many other ways, to advance the interests of science.
The earnestly expressed wish of Queen Victoria, that a statue of the late young Prince Louis Napoleon be placed in Westminster Abbey, is as earnestly opposed by her subjects. All parties agree in pronouncing it "a desecration of the noblest national shrine," and "a covert insult to the French Republic."
Leading English Journals urge the immediate withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan. The war there is stigmatized as a war of invasion ; and, even if carried to a successful issue, its fruits would be worse than valueless, because of the immense force necessary to hold the position. Hitherto that country has been the frontier that has separated the Asiatic possessions of Great Britain from those of Russia, "the two great rival nations " having bound themselves by mutual contract, to respect its inde- pendence. England has been faithless to that pledge. The war, it is officially reported, is now virtually at an end; but there are unofficial reports that "even now the Ameer a captive, the towns and villages in ashes-after all the atrocities, too awful to record, that have been perpetrated by the victor army, the native forces are reorganizing and threatening their invaders in their strongholds. There is talk of Russian agents, but, among those mountains, there are parties who prefer death to defeat."
Of the Conquests in Africa, an eminent English writer says : "The seizure of the Transvaal dragged us into a war with naked barbarians, but barbarians with guns which we ourselves had provided them. The whole interior of South Africa, during the last two years, has been a scene of blood and frenzy. Thousands of natives have been destroyed. The Dutch, who had forgotten their wrongs, now hate the name of England worse than they ever hated it .* No revenue can be raised in the Transvaal. Natal and the diamond fields are loaded with debt. We ourselves are waiting humbly to learn from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much we are to pay for the honor of having murdered twelve thousand of the defenders of Zululand. The Transvaal, in spite of prejudices about the British flag, I still hope that we shall restore to its rightful owners."
The recent German-Austrian alliance and the immense enlargement of the armies of the two nations, are said to be awakening the greatest appre-
*Previous to 1877, this portion of Africa was an independent republic, under the control of its Dutch settlers. Disagreements among some of the tribes opened the way for English interfer- ence, which resulted in the annexation of the Transvaal to the English dominions.
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SCHOOLS .- APPENDIX II.
hensions throughout Europe. France and Russia, also, it is noted, have for some time, been quietly busy in the work of military preparation; and it is now officially declared, that a combined attack by those two nations is antici- pated by the allied countries. Russia, it is well known, is always seeking an opening through which she can push her frontier westward. "But, would Republican France cast her fortunes with despotic Russia?" it is asked. The answeris "Yes. France, whether republic, empire, kingdom or regency, would value no sacrifice, would scorn no alliance, through which she could hope to redeem her lost military prestige, and win back the lands wrested from her by Prussia, nine years ago." The countries of Central Europe assert, that war can be averted only by putting forth such a show of power as will " convince their enemies that an attack must fail." Their military preparations are in the interests of peace. "It is necessary," they say, "that England should declare her determination to protect the neutrality of Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland, and, in the event of war, demand the neutrality of the Baltic and North Seas."
The Details of the sixth unsuccessful attempt on the life of the Czar, have been the exciting theme of newspaper gossip for the last few days.
REPORT
OF THE
Superintendent of Public Buildings
To the Honorable City Council :
GENTLEMEN :- In compliance with the City Ordinance, I hereby submit my Fifth Annual Report of the condition of the several public buildings, and the amount expended for repairs and alterations.
ARMORY.
The general condition of this building is fair, but there is need of repairs of the driveway to the Battery Hall. It being made upon filled land, it has settled and should be taken up and relaid. The water pipes should be remodeled. As at pres- ent constructed, the water has to be shut off early in the winter and remain so during the cold weather, making it a great incon- venience to the occupants of the building. The walls of the drill hall, used in common by all the companies, have become considerably soiled, and I would respectfully recommend that they be tinted or whitened.
The amount of expenditures have been as follows:
FOR GAS.
Battery B, 1st Light Artillery, $60 00
Worcester City Guards, 45 00
Worcester Light Infantry,
45 00
$150 00
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
229
Leak caused by broken gas pipe in Bat- tery room, .
$41 00
Gas for Ward Room,
16 46
$57 46
Repairs of all kinds,
$134 37
Coal,
63 50
Water,
25 00
Janitor,
60 00
Insurance, .
225 00
Total,
$715 33
NEW BUILDINGS.
New School House at Lake View.
By an order of the City Council, passed Nov. - , 1878, a school house, 33 x 42, containing one school room and two dress- ing rooms, with accommodations for fifty scholars, has been built, and was occupied at the commencement of the Spring term. The cost has been as follows:
William Power, contract for building,
. $1,010 00
E. Boyden, plans,
36 00
Engineering,
8 40
Carting and freight on seats, &c.,
11 22
Teacher's desk,
16 00
A. G. Whitcomb, forty-nine school seats,
136 00
W. O. Wilder, stove, pipe, and labor, 50 15
W. Power, extra labor and lumber, outbuildings,
82 00
Total cost of building,
$1,350 89
For Fencing lot, 500 feet,
149 74
Grading lot,
84 37
Digging and stoning well,
58 50
Insurance, .
12 00
Total,
$1,655 05
19
230
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
NEW ENGINE HOUSE, GRAFTON STREET.
By vote of the City Council, passed Dec. - , 1878, a new en- gine house was ordered to be built upon the school house lot at the junction of Grafton and Providence streets, and the contract for digging the cellar and laying the cellar wall was awarded to . William Downey, for the sum of $563.00. Early in March, 1879, the contract for the building was awarded to C. A. Vaughn, for the sum of $3,180.00; and there has been paid the follow- ing additional items :
C. A. Vaughan, contract, $3,180 00
C. A. Vaughan, for building fence, and
extra work, 39 25
For alteration to hose tower, for the put- ting in of fire alarm bell, 189 67
For extension of bank wall, . 25 60
Chas. D. Baldwin, extra plumbing, by reason of change in location of stove,
12 77
For plans and engineering, 115 19
H. F. Edwards, weather vane,
25 00
finial,
8 00
Gas piping,
16 54
Advertising,
2 35
Grading,
4 50
Total,
$4,178 52
NEW SCHOOL HOUSE, GRAFTON STREET.
By vote of the City Council, passed May -, 1879, a school building of four rooms, similar to the Winslow street school house, was ordered built, and the removal of the old building · to the rear of the lot near Wall street.
The removal of the old building, and the fitting up of the same, has been done by the day, and has cost as follows:
C. R. Babcock, for moving, .
$100 00 Wm. Downey, for digging cellar and grading, 65 53
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 231
T. Shea, for laying cellar wall, $42 51
A. Brown, carting cinders, &c., 21 10
E. B. Crane & Co., lumber, 25 83
W. Ward, repairs,
9 20
Engineering,
4 12
Carpenter's labor, H. H. Woodruff,
32 50
Plumbing, .
13 50
H. M. Clemence, auctioneer, for selling old buildings, 10 00
Making the total cost of moving and fit- ting up old building, $413 60
The contract for the school building was awarded June 11th, 1879, to James R. Fish, for the sum of · $8,115.00. And an additional sum of $178.00 for in- side blinds in the school rooms, mak- ing the whole amount of contract, . $8,293 00
And there has been paid on account of contract to date, · $6,355 43
Leaving a balance due upon the comple- tion of contract, of . $1,937 57
And there has been outside of contract, for extra brick work, $285 64
E. Boyden, plans, .
100 00
Engineering, 11 71
Express and telegram, 3 22
Concreting cellar,
136 53
walks and gutters, 105 23
grading cellar, 15 00
Clark & Kendall, for two No. 6 plate iron Barstow furnaces, . 511 00
J. Q. A. Haughey, 203 school seats, as per contract, 507 90
S. W. Dearborn, foundations for fur- naces, 26 38
-
232
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
Clocks, $42 00
Worcester Water Works, service pipe, . 17 90
James Draper, sewer to old building, 30 96
For grading lot, 185 70
Henry Brannon, four teacher's desks, 72 00
John D. Chollar & Co., chairs, 17 00
Advertising proposals, . 5 62
Insurance, 62 50
Carriage for committee, 6 50
E. B. Crane & Co., batter boards, 2 35
G. L. Robbins & Co., gravel, 5 25
For black boards,
52 00
Fencing, and repairs of fence, 157 33
Total cost to date,
$9,098 75
SCHOOL HOUSES.
There has been added to the number of school buildings, dur- ing the year, a new school house at Lake View, and the Graf- ton street school house, making the whole number of school houses, thirty-eight. All are in good condition and will require no extraordinary outlay for repairs the coming year. New out- buildings have been built at the Summer street house, and the north basement wall has been built new. New fences have been built at Salem street and at the Adriatic house, and the fences at Lamartine and Dix streets rebuilt. The house at Val- ley Falls has been thoroughly renovated, re-plastered, and painted outside and in, and blackboards renewed. The Bel- mont school buildings and fences have been painted. The Ash street house outbuildings and fences have been painted, and the Dix street house has been painted upon the inside. The house at Northville and the one at Burncoat have also been painted, and the New Worcester, Bloomingdale, Chamberlain, North Pond, Northville and Burncoat have been whitened and walls tinted. New ceilings have been put upon the two lower rooms at Thomas street, and one new ceiling at Ash street. A new room has been finished in the hall at Edgeworth street.
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 233
The following buildings are in need of painting, and I would recommend that as many as practicable should be painted the coming year : High School, Ledge street, Providence street, East Worcester, South Worcester, Quinsigamond, Chamberlain, and North Pond.
Owing to various causes, there has been more or less com- plaint from nearly all the schools, of gas from the stoves. This has been remedied as far as possible, but in many cases this has been found very difficult. Many of the stoves are old and barely fit for use, and I would repeat my former recommenda- tion of the gradual displacement of all stoves, and substitute either steam-heating or hot air furnaces.
The Quinsigamond school house was damaged by fire to the amount of $65.20, which was promptly paid by the Worcester Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
The cost of ordinary repairs has been
$3,716 83
Repair of stoves,
963 02
Care and repair of clocks,
150 00
EXTRAORDINARY REPAIRS.
Pointing brick work and repairs of roof,
High School,
$163 63
Electric bells, High School,
119 48
New fence, Adriatic, .
130 60
Salem,
175 13
Repairs, Quinsigamond fire,
65 20
Sewer at Tatnuck,
124 40
Total cost of repairs of all kinds, $5,608 30
The total cost of repairs on black boards has been $128 96
For painting Belmont house, 123 39
Ash street house, 65 00
Putting in gas, Woodland street,
53 14
Repairing chimneys, Lamartine street,
53 65
-
234
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
Plastering ceilings, Thomas street,
$58 37
Ash 48 20
New room, Edgeworth street, 52 70
Plastering and painting, Valley Falls,
88 43
New cistern, Blithewood, .
32 83
There has been expended for lumber for the various buildings, 336 37
Paint stock,
182 06
Trucking, .
212 59
Hardware,
198 50
NEW FURNITURE AND REPAIRS OF FURNITURE.
The whole amount expended for new furniture has been $350.72. In this amount is included the furnishing the new room at Edgeworth street, four new teacher's tables, new stoves, chairs, &c. There has also been expended for the repairs of furniture of all kinds, the sum of $277.24.
ENGINE HOUSES.
The several Fire Engine Houses are in excellent repair, and will require but a moderate outlay the coming year to keep them in the same good condition. The alterations and improve- ments made, have been the changing the horse stalls of Hose 6 and 7, to face the apparatus. The bell tower, which was left in an unfinished condition, has been completed and re-arranged to ac- commodate the new bell. The Hose tower on the Beacon street house has been remodeled and fitted up for a bell tower in connection with the Hose tower. New windows have been put into the house of Hook and Ladder No. 2, Thomas street, and new floors have been laid in the stables of Hose 6 and at Headquarters. A new concrete driveway has been put in at the house of Hose 6, and at the new house of Hose 2, Grafton street.
The amount expended for repairs has been $1,714.98, of which the following are some of the principal items :
For concreting driveway, Hose 6, $112 50 66 2, 154 80
235
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
For lumber, alteration of hose tower, &c.,
$177 83
Carpenter, labor, . 291 83
Windows, frames, and machine work,
148 22
Tin work, roofs, &c.,
35 38
Painting,
19 52
Mason work,
/
68 52
Iron work,
18 90
Stone work,
9 72
$1,037 32
The balance, $677.66, has been expended under the
direction of the Chief Engineer, 677 66
$1,714 98
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The elevator put in last year does not work to the satisfac- tion of the committee, and the contractors have been repeatedly urged to remedy the defects, and they have promised to do so at an early day.
The total amount spent for repairs has been $282.44, of which repairs of cornices and ceilings was $72.00; new sewer,.$69.80; the balance is made up of a number of small items.
ALMS HOUSE.
All the buildings connected with this establishment are in first rate condition. The Alms House is very much crowded, and an extension, by an addition from the central building, run- ning back toward the horse barn, would seem to be the most feasible plan for the enlargement. A new building has been built below the new dam for a gate house, carpenter shop, &c., which has been very much needed. A new, No. 7, Plate Iron Barstow Furnace has been put in the east wing of the main building. Cost of new building, $635.47; cost of furnace, $374.70.
236
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
CITY STABLES.
All the buildings connected with the City Stables are in good repair, and there has been expended for repairs upon the same, the sum of $58.60. Amount of stock on hand at shop, 36 School street, of every description, $311.15.
MATERIALS SOLD.
Old iron, City Hall, $3 85
Old buildings, Grafton street, 88 02
Old desks, &c., School Department,
. 17 41
Total,
$110 28
In conclusion, I would most respectfully call your attention to the growing tendency to erect cheap and unsubstantial build- ings of an unsafe character, without regard to strength or durability, and would suggest the adoption of an ordinance placing such restriction upon buildings of this class as shall seem practical. In closing, I wish to express my thanks to each and every member of the Committee on Public Buildings, for their valuable aid and advice in the performance of my duty, and to the heads of the several Departments for their very generous treatment at all times.
Respectfully submitted,
C. H. PECK,
Supt. Public Buildings.
COMMISSIONERS OF
HOPE CEMETERY,
FOR THE YEAR 1880.
ALBERT TOLMAN,
Term expires 1881.
WILLIAM BUSH,
.
66
66
1882.
THOMAS M. ROGERS,
66
66
1883.
STEPHEN SALISBURY, JR.,
66
66
1884.
ALBERT CURTIS,
66
1885.
ORGANIZATION FOR THE YEAR 1880.
Chairman-ALBERT TOLMAN.
Secretary-STEPHEN SALISBURY, JR. Superintendent-ALBERT CURTIS. Assistant Superintendent-WILLIAM BUSH.
THE TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Commissioners of Hope Cemetery,
FOR THE YEAR 1879.
To His Honor, the Mayor, the Aldermen, and the Common Council of the City of Worcester :
During the year 1879, the cemetery grounds, avenues and paths, reserved plots and unoccupied land within the space over which improvements have been extended, have had constant care, and in addition to the labor required to keep them up to the degree of culture previously made, have received many per- manent improvements which add to the general appearance of the cemetery, and are gradually bringing it to a more finished and desirable condition.
We have cleared and graded land southeast of River and Cherry avenues, on which thirty-five (35) lots have been laid out, and a new avenue made connecting with River, Glen and Walnut, and also one parallel with River, to Locust Avenue. We have straightened Maple Avenue, and graded the land north of it. The expenditure was considerable, but the number of lots secured by the change and the improvement in the appear- ance of the place, justify the cost.
Between Cedar Avenue and the east line of the Cemetery, near the lot appropriated to removals from Mechanic Street grounds, we have ornamented and laid out the land around a
,
HOPE CEMETERY.
239
small pond, which will be reserved for a time. When other work was not pressing, grading was in progress on the new land bordering on Webster Street.
A substantial shed was built between the barn and tool house, in which to store carts, etc., at a cost of one hundred and fifty dollars.
For these improvements, and general care, the sum of thirteen hundred and fifty-eight dollars and eighty-three cents, was expended.
The care of the Commissioners has been increasing by the extension of occupied territory, and larger number of lots sold. We have continued the grading of lots for individual proprie- tors. The plan, which was an experiment in 1878, is now, after the trial of a second year, found to be of great advantage. Uniformity, where it is desirable, and variety, where the sur- roundings admit of it, is obtained in grading. The work can be done better by a skilful manager, having his business on the ground, yet constantly looking for and keeping ready for use suitable materials. The proprietors are relieved from trouble and the risk of the work not being well done. The cost to them is largely diminished, it being our established rule that the charge for labor and materials shall be as low as can be made.
There was graded for individuals 92 lots.
The amount received for labor was,
$1,662 00
for materials, 152 60
Total amount,
$1,814 60
Received for care of lots for proprietors, 150 00
Deposits-one of $100, and one of $50-have been made in a savings bank, the interest of which is to be used in the care of the lots of the depositors. We trust more of the proprietors will avail themselves of the services of the foreman, who may be found at the cemetery, by making arrangements with him,
210
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
or by making a deposit in a savings bank, as can be done under the Act of the Legislature, chap. 174; approved May 1st, 1875.
There had been sold previous to the year 1879,
1898 lots, for,
$37,997 00
In 1879,
54 lots, for, 1,727 00
Whole number, 1952 lots, for,
$39,724 00
One lot was sold for $250; three at prices from $12 each to $70.
All the "Old Burying Grounds,"- one at the intersection of Thomas and Summer Streets, one on the Common, the Mechanic Street and Pine Street, and Raccoon Plain, number- ing five, in which were placed the remains of those who died in Worcester during one hundred and twenty-five years from its first settlement, have disappeared, and their location will soon be forgotten. "In a lovely and sheltered vale, in the bosom of Hope Cemetery, gathered, as it were, in family asso- ciation, now repose the greater part of those formerly mute tenants of the Pine Street burial place, never again to be dis- turbed, it may be hoped, until time and earth shall be no more."
In another equally lovely and sheltered spot, rest the remains removed from the Mechanic Street burial ground.
The removals were made without much disturbance of the feelings and sympathies of interested persons, and as no care could preserve the old places from desecration, all should be satisfied that a desirable thing has been done. We are sure all will unite in the desire that these quiet places in Hope Ceme- tery may receive such further care as will, by proper grading, turfing and ornamentation, make them correspond with sur- rounding plots, and the average culture of the grounds.
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