USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1879 > Part 2
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The educational interests of the City have by no means been overlooked. Indeed, no administration which aims at a con- scientious discharge of its duty, can well afford to do that. Our people are always liberal in their contributions for the support of schools; and any administration that neglects the duty of properly watching the conduct and management of these agencies of popular education, and the judicious appli-
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VALEDICTORY ADDRESS.
cation of the means provided for their maintainance, betrays, to that extent, its trust. The improvement of these schools should be the first object aimed at, always. I trust it has been ours. While I may have differed, perhaps, from some of those associa- ted with me in their care and direction, the difference has been an honest one. I have only expressed my convictions, - convic- tions which have in no degree had their origin in any factious or idle criticism, on my part, but from a real interest in the schools themselves, and an earnest desire to see them fulfil their mission the most efficiently, and in such a manner as will render them most serviceable to all our people. The sentiments to which I have taken the liberty to give utterance in my commu- nications to you at different times, I still believe to be well founded; and I have only to hope that the expression of them will, in some degree, awaken public interest upon the subject, and lead to a more constant watchfulness, and a more faithful and zealous care of these institutions, which constitute the very foundation of our civil and religious liberty.
During the last three years, our school accommodations have been very considerably enlarged. One new building has been erected on Winslow Street, one on Grafton Street, and one at Lake View, at a total expense of $31,684.96. In addition to this, temporary accommodations have been fitted up in different parts of the city to meet the more pressing demands of a rap- idly increasing population. These temporary accommodations must of necessity give place, at no distant day, to those of a more permanent character.
The Police and the Fire Departments have both performed their appropriate and allotted work in a most commendable manner, and the organization of both has been kept up to a high state of efficiency. They deserve, as I doubt not they re- ceive, the thanks of all our citizens, for the faithfulness they have manifested in the discharge of the duties which belong to them, respectively ; and in no way are those thanks more intel- ligibly evinced than by the marked sense of security in relation to life and property, which pervades the community.
The steadiness of purpose, and the promptness and efficiency of execution, which have characterized the operations of the
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Police Department for the last three years, afford, as it seems to me, a powerful, if not a conclusive argument, in favor of the principle which I have so persistently urged in my recommend- ations to you upon the subject-permanency of the force. It seems to me that the experiment which has been tried during this time, has proved in every way satisfactory, and I trust that the success which has attended it, will be sufficient to commend the principle to our successors, as affording the best means of , providing an efficient Police force, and, so far, of ensuring good order and quiet in our community.
The public grounds have never been under more able or more careful management than at the present time. The parks have been constantly beautified and improved, and are now rapidly becoming objects of attraction. They have already become, in a great measure, what they were designed to be, resorts for all classes of our people who have need of healthful recreation. And while the work of improving these public places and mak- ing them more attractive, is in charge of so able and efficient a head, and the work can be accomplished in so faithful and economical a manner as it has been done for the past few years, I am quite confident our citizens will most heartily approve of the appropriations we have made in that direction.
The City Farm has been under the care of a faithful Super- intendent, and its condition at the present time is highly satis- factory. Some changes have been made which have been thus far regarded as improvements. The scavenger department, which was at one time an expensive appendage-so much so that the abandonment of it was seriously contemplated-has been so conducted as to become, substantially, self-supporting; and while it is no longer an expense to the city, performs its share of the sanitary work, a function which was one of the original purposes of its creation.
One of the first subjects to which I called the attention of the City Council, in entering upon my official duties, was the consideration of the funds and property bequeathed to the city by the late George Jaques, for the support and maintenance of the City Hospital. Measures were taken at an early day which resulted in the establishment of a permanent Commission for its
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care and management. The success which has attended the labors of the Commission has been all that could have been anticipated. The condition of the property, being in the charge of able and practical business men, is now satisfactory. The income arising from the fund is constantly increasing, and at no distant day will, in all probability, be ample for the support of the hospital, without the aid of any general appropriation from the City Council for that purpose.
In the work of erecting a hospital building upon the land · donated to the city for that purpose by Mr. Jaques, that pro- gress has not been made which I could have wished, or which all our citizens who have the honor and good name of the city at heart, had a right to expect of us. Our action in relation to the prosecution of this work is indefensible. In what ever aspect the matter is presented, or from whatever point it is viewed, we must stand condemned. The building should have been erected long ago; and our postponement, or rather our neglect of the duty, year after year, reflects great discredit upon the City, and places our people in an unenviable position. It has a tendency to discourage, if it does not actually prevent, those benevolently disposed, from following the good example of Mr. Jaques, by making the city almoners of their wealth, in the cause of relieving human suffering, by creating a, doubt as to whether their purposes will ever be carried out, or the bounty which they bestow will ever be applied. Under the circumstances, we have had, and now have, but one course to pursue. The question of what is our duty is not open to argu- ment. And those who seek to embarrass it, for the purpose of relieving the City of its obligations, by discussing the fitness of the site, the ultimate intentions of the donor, or the donor's probable course could he have anticipated so early a demise, are assuming a false position. The question of the fitness or unfit- ness of the site, was submitted by Mr. Jaques to those in whom the City had confidence as being competent to decide it, and was definitely settled before the gift was made. The deed confirming the gift, and vesting the title to the land in the City, contained certain conditions, plain, direct, and intelligible, inca- pable of misconstruction, and fully defining the meaning and
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setting forth the wishes of the giver. These conditions indica- ted the plain intention on the part of Mr. Jaques, to have this land used for the purposes for which it was given, and in good faith. The City accepted the gift, with a full knowledge and understanding of those conditions. The force and meaning of them could not be misapprehended. By accepting the deed, the city entered into a solemn compact to carry those conditions out. The land is still retained, but the conditions in the deed of gift, by which it is held, are not complied with. The whole matter, therefore, resolves itself into a question of common honesty, so simple that any one may comprehend it, and so striking that no one can overlook it, or ignore it. The City, moreover, has by no means improved its position by having made application to the Courts for relief from its obligations, and having its application denied.
But I indulge in the hope that our successors will pursue a wiser course, in relation to this important trust, and one directed more by a sense of justice, of right, and of gratitude, than ours or that of our predecessors, has been. With them will be the power, as it has been with us, to make reparation in this matter, so far as reparation can be made. They will possess, as we have possessed and lost, or, what is worse, thrown away, the golden opportunity of redeeming the faith and integrity of our city, to some extent, from the effects of this great wrong, and showing that we can be the faithful dispensers of a princely gift consecrated to the work of relieving the sufferings of hu- manity, which are to be met with always, and everywhere, around us.
Gentlemen of the Council :
We are about to leave these seats to our successors. The memory of the associations formed in these chambers will be treasured up by me with peculiar pride and satisfaction, as among the most agreeable of my life. And I trust that when we go forth from these places, our relations will be no less cor- dial and friendly than they have been here. Again thanking you for your courtesy and kindness to me, and for the aid and encouragement which you have afforded me in the discharge of my duties, I take my leave of you, wishing you, in all sincerity, abundant prosperity and happiness in the future.
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
Gentlemen of the Board of Aldermen,
and of the Common Council :
In assuming the responsibility of administering the municipal government for the coming year, our first duty is to make our- selves familiar with the work entrusted to our care. To this end I propose to lay before you, at this time, in as brief and concise a manner as possible, such information as I have been able to gather during the limited time allotted me for the pur- pose. Before proceeding, however, directly to the subject in hand, I cannot forbear to congratulate you upon the revival of business, so long depressed, and upon the prospect of a return of prosperity to our industries throughout the country.
Our own city, containing so many elements of thrift and enterprise, and such a variety of mechanical pursuits, is among the first to experience the change. Our manufacturing estab- lishments are already sounding with the busy hum of industry, and our people are again wearing the cheerful smile of content- ment. During the year just closed we have escaped the perils of fire to an unusual extent, and our people have enjoyed an average degree of health. For all these, and numerous other blessings, we should be profoundly thankful to that Supreme Intelligence which governs the universe.
I need not admonish you to be diligent and faithful to the interests committed by the people to your care. Many of you have already given much of your time and services to the city, and the citizens have manifested their confidence in you by repeatedly recalling you to your several positions of honor and responsibility. The new members will, necessarily, be obliged
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
to give more study to the affairs of the city, but I trust that they will find their new duties agreeable, and that their services will prove acceptable to their constituents.
Every good citizen owes a certain portion of his time and services to the government whose benefits he enjoys. While the services rendered by you will doubtless prove valuable, and in fact may be more conspicuous for the time than any which are rendered in other departments, still it should not be forgot- ten that the various boards to which you delegate authority are also quietly doing a large amount of gratuitous labor in behalf of the city. These boards embrace many of our best citizens, who have really more at stake than many of us. They should be heartily supported, and no interference should be allowed in the performance of their legitimate work.
Good men who have proved their ability and fidelity to duty in these, or in any other departments of the city's service, should be retained as long as they can be had.
FINANCES.
The present financial condition of the city should receive your careful consideration, and, by keeping it constantly in mind, you will be enabled to form better judgments upon the many questions you will be called upon to decide, involving the expenditure of money. It is obvious to any one who will take the trouble to examine the subject that the larger part of our municipal indebtedness has been contracted in constructing the city aqueduct, and the system of sewerage, which became its indispensable concomitant.
It cannot be denied that these great enterprises, pushed with so much vigor up to the present time, have had much to do with the growth and prosperity of our city. It should not be forgotten that during the last thirty years we have emerged from the modest proportions of a country village to the respect- able dimensions of a metropolitan town.
Situated as we are, forty miles from the sea, with no river or other natural water supply available even for domestic pur- poses, no stream into which we could empty our sewage, in fact
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
with no special advantages wherewith to build a city, what else but the indomitable energy and courage of our people, displayed in overcoming these obstacles, would have given us the Worces- ter of to-day? . With no rival of its size in the extent and variety of its manufactures, in its educational facilities, or in the general intelligence of its people, certainly we have good reason to congratulate ourselves upon its present proud position among the cities of the Commonwealth.
I am informed by the Treasurer that the bonded city debt at the close of the last fiscal year amounted to $2,542,300.00, classified as follows: Funded city loan, $1,845,000.00 ; funded sewer loan, $311,900.00; funded water loan, $385,400.00; and that there was no temporary loan outstanding Nov. 30, 1879. Of the above amount $733,000.00 bear five per cent. interest, and the balance, $1,809,300.00, interest at the rate of six per cent. The following table will show the amount of bonds out- standing, amount of debt paid, the amount of bonds renewed, and of new loans placed during the last year :
STATEMENT OF FUNDED CITY DEBT.
Titles of Loans.
Amount Dec 1, 1878.
Paid in 1879.
Balance Outstanding.
Debt re- newed and Total Debt 1879. outstanding new loans, November 30, 1879.
Funded City Loan,
$1,779,000
$174,000
Funded Sewer Loan,
228,200
16,300
$1,605,000 211,900 385,400
$240,000 100,000
$1,845,000 311,900
Funded Water Loan, Temporary Loans,
399,900
14,500 100,000
385,400
100,000
Totals,
$2,507,100
$304,800
$2,202,300
$340,000
$2,542,300
Bonds to the amount of $162,100.00 mature in June and July next, and to the amount of $500,000.00 on the first day of January 1881, making a total of $662,100.00 to be provided for during our term of service.
The wisdom of the Legislature in passing the Statute of 1875, regulating municipal indebtedness and providing a check upon the prevailing extravagance of towns and cities is unques- tioned. This statute was enacted none too soon.
Under the provisions of our City Ordinance made the same 4
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year, a sinking fund was established for the redemption of the indebtedness contracted prior to that date, designated as the old debt, on or before June 1, 1905. The same ordinance pro- vides for the establishment of sinking funds for the extinguish- ment of all new debts, as the same shall mature.
The whole amount of the sinking funds November 30, 1879, was $94,737.46, of which $20,120.57 was on account of old debt, and the balance on account of new loans since 1875. Addi- tional sums amounting to $79,057.73, being the balances of last year's appropriations and sundry assessments, were contributed to the several sinking funds early this month.
During the last four years $547,400.00 of the old debt has been paid out of funds in the hands of the Commissioners. This large reduction of our old indebtedness is one of the favorable signs of the times, and its accomplishment is highly creditable to those who have had the management of our city finances.
Besides the ordinary running expenses of the government for the current year, including the large interest account to be pro- vided for, we shall be compelled to complete the construction of Quinsigamond avenue, at an estimated expense of $16,000, including unpaid land damages. We shall also, undoubtedly, be called upon to build a six feet brick and stone sewer through this street to drain the western portion of the Island and to take the sewage of the Piedmont district, at an estimated cost of $65,000. To connect the Island sewer with the Mill Brook sewer at Cambridge street it is estimated will cost $6,000.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY.
There are sundry suits pending against the city growing out of various sewer assessments, the construction of Quinsigamond avenue and Foster street, and the pollution of land by sewage deposit from the Piedmont sewer.
The claims growing out of the Lynde Brook Reservoir have all been settled but three, which are now in suit; one of the parties claiming $3,000, another $12,000, and the third $40,000. These suits will probably have to be tried, unless the parties reduce their claims very materially.
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
There are three suits pending for damages for personal inju- ries on account of defective ways. Other claims are as follows: One for balance due for building the new road from Quinsiga- mond towards Millbury; one in favor of John W. Wetherell for damages for constructing a sewer across Pleasant street on his land near Park avenue; one in favor of R. A. M. Johnson, for damage caused by lowering the grade of Jackson street ; and one of Uriah Stone, for damages caused by percolation of water from Hunt's reservoir.
The amounts for which we may become liable in these several suits cannot be readily estimated, as they are mostly for unli- quated damages.
HIGHWAYS.
Within the city limits there are 142 miles of public streets ; 55 miles of private streets ; 19 stone arch bridges, 16 wooden bridges and 2 iron bridges, besides numerous small culverts ; all of which are to be kept in repair for the safety and convenience of those who use them, as well as in the interests of true econ- omy. The principal work of the Highway Department during the past year, aside from ordinary repairs, has been the comple- tion of the Foster street extension and the relaying of 5,883 yards of stone paving on Main street, substituting small granite blocks for the large square ones that were formerly in general use. I urgently recommend a liberal appropriation for paving during the coming year. A certain amount of this kind of work should be done from year to year, and its cost would, in my opinion, be a wise and economical expenditure. The places which most need paving, and which are found expensive to keep in repair, are South Main street, from Piedmont street to Benefit street; Trumbull street; Green street, as far as the railroad crossing; Park street, running westerly to Main street; Grove street, beginning at the junction of Salisbury street, to the wire mill; and Lincoln street, from Lincoln Square to a short distance beyond Linwood place. Lincoln Square, also, ought eventually to be paved.
This amount and kind of work could not, of course, all be done in a single year ; but the most important locations should
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be selected and paved this season. The small Belgian blocks have proved the most serviceable for paving purposes, both here and elsewhere.
Quinsigamond avenue, running in a northerly direction from the junction of Cambridge and Millbury streets, diagonally · across the Island, and intersecting with Southbridge street near the southwesterly corner of the Sargent Card Clothing Co.'s factory, was laid out by decree dated April 29th, 1878, and an order to construct the same was adopted March 10th, 1879, the time allowed for its construction having been once extended by the Legislature. Work costing $5,676.59 has already been done thereon, mostly by filling in the debris from the Island sewer, below Cambridge street. The time limited by law for completing the making of this street expires April 28th, 1881, and it must be done on or before that date, in order to secure any betterments that might be assessed to abuttors and other parties benefitted thereby. The contemplated sewer, virtually an extension of the Island sewer, should be constructed in con- nection with this street. The estimated cost of completing the street, including unpaid land damages awarded, is $16,000.
No other important work in the way of new streets is antici- pated this year, so far as I know. It is to be hoped that some equitable arrangement can be made with the Providence & Worcester Railroad Co. to improve Southbridge street by re- building their bridge crossing that street below the South Wor- cester station. The expenditures of this department during the last year were $63,130.07. The amount charged to street construction, including Foster street, was $52,558.05.
LIGHTING STREETS.
The city has established in all 690 gas lights and 756 gasoline lights. The cost of erecting gas light fixtures, including the iron post, lantern, setting, etc., is from twenty-five to twenty- eight dollars each, and the cost of maintaining the same under the present contract with the Gas Company, which holds until October 1, 1882, is twenty dollars a year. To put a gasoline light in order to be used costs nine dollars, and to maintain it
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
under the new contract, which was made last year, and which expires the 1st of May next, costs $15.60 a year.
It cost last year to light the city the sum of $27,298.84. The gas light is much the most satisfactory, and probably in the long run is the cheaper. I think it would not be advisable to introduce the gasoline on any street where there is a gas main, or where the Gas Company could be induced to lay one.
WATER.
The present capacity of our water works is about 290 days' supply. At this time, however, we have but 140 days' supply in the reservoirs. The rate of consumption is about 2,500,000 gallons per day, an amount equal to 50 gallons daily for each inhabitant. This rate is altogether too much, as compared with that of other cities at home and abroad. Meters have done much to prevent waste, but there is room for still greater im- provement. If the amount used could be reduced by a uniform system of measurement to 30 gallons per day for each inhabit- ant, it would diminish the amount to be drawn from the reser- voirs 1,000,000 gallons per day, or 365,000,000 gallons per year, a total amount equal to about one-half the present capacity of storage. Could this be done, the question of additional supply would not, in my judgment, trouble us for some years to come.
With closer economy we might deal more liberally than at present with manufactories using water in considerable quanti- ties. The fostering of manufacturing enterprises should be regarded as one of our first duties, it being one of the most important factors in the growth and prosperity of Worcester.
The dam and gate house are said to be in good condition, and perfectly safe, and the grounds about the reservoir are being improved every year.
The objectionable quality of the City water was quite notice- able a year or two ago. The same trouble was reported in other localities, the cause of which is still an unsolved problem among scientific men. A request for a water main to Quinsigamond will undoubtedly be made early this year. Petitions for ex-
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
tensions of water pipes are already referred to us, and should receive your attention at an early day.
The aqueduct consists at present of 77 miles of main and distributive pipes, constructed at a cost of about $1,250,000.00. The revenue derived from water rates last year was $73,296.40.
SEWERS.
The principal work of this department for the last two years has been the construction of the Island Sewer, so called, which has been completed from the north line of Cambridge street to Quinsigamond, a distance of 4,000 feet. The total cost of this great public improvement is $203,066.53.
To fully utilize this sewer, as it was originally contemplated, it will be necessary to construct a six feet brick and stone sewer through Quinsigamond Avenue in order to drain the western portion of the Island and to take the sewage of the Piedmont district which now empties into Mill brook near the Sargent Card Clothing manufactory. It will also be necessary to make a junction at Cambridge street with the Mill brook sewer, which now carries the largest part of the sewage of the whole city.
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