USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1880 > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
$89,003 30
City Hall Building,
$20,000 00
Furniture, etc., in City Hall,
5,000 00
City Scales, Lincoln Square,
300 00
City Scales, New Worcester,
300 00
City Scales, Salem Square, .
400 00
City Scales, Quinsigamond, .
300 00
$26,300 00
Total,
$2,726,800 82
The following table shows the Expenditure for Fuel, Gas, Printing and Advertising, in the various Departments, of the City, during the Financial Year ending November 30, 1880:
FUEL.
City Hall, .
$475 13
City Hospital,
368 27
Fire Department, .
587 74
Free Public Library,
196 83
Highway Department,
13 28
Armory and City Scales, .
42 20
Pauper Department, (City Relief,)
1,236 90
Pauper Department, (Farm,)
540 53
School Department, .
5,924 57
Sewers, (Construction,)
30 50
Sewers, (Island Account,) .
205 50
Water Works, (Construction,)
29 75
Water Works, (Maintenance,)
72 65
$9,723 85
GAS.
City Hall, .
$1,379 08
City Hospital.
265 29
Fire Department, .
457 14
Free Public Library,
911 75
115
REPORT OF THE AUDITOR.
Highway Departmant, . 31 37
Armory, .
143 25
Lighting Streets, Worcester Gas Light Co., $10,906 28
Lighting Streets, U. S. Street Lighting Co.,
22,562 08 23,468 36
School Department,
305 09
Water Works,
10 06
$26,971 39
PRINTING.
Board of Health, .
$ 36 25
City Hospital,
45 72
Fire Department, .
101 28
Free Public Library, .
92 35
Highway Department,
29 80
Incidental Expenses,
1,374 67
- Pauper Department, (City Relief,)
114 00
Police Department,
46 25
Public Grounds, .
24 59
School Department,
547 95
Sewers, (Island,) .
45 22
Water Works, (Maintenance,)
94 15
$2,552 23
ADVERTISING.
Total, .
$1,346 78
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE SINKING FUNDS. .
WORCESTER, MASS., January 3, 1881.
To the Honorable City Council :
In compliance with the provisions of the City Ordinances. governing this Commission, the undersigned beg leave to present. the following Report of their Transactions for the financial year- ending November 30, 1880. 9
Balance Dec. 1, 1879, · $94,737 46
Receipts for the year, 110,317 98 .
Total,
$205,055 44
Payments for the year, .
23,688 17
Balance Nov. 30, 1880, . $181,367 27
The several investments and cash balances belonging to the different Sinking Funds have been carefully examined by the undersigned, and found to be correctly accounted for. Sundry statements, showing the condition of the Funds, prepared by W. S. Barton, Esq., Treasurer of the Board, accompany this Report, and make a part thereof.
Respectfully submitted,
ALEXANDER H. BULLOCK, SAM'L WOODWARD, EDWARD L. DAVIS.
Commissioners of the Sinking Funds of the City of Worcester.
117
REPORT OF THE AUDITOR.
To the Commissioners of the Sinking Funds :
GENTLEMEN : - The undersigned respectfully presents the fol- lowing. statements, showing the transactions of your Board for the Financial Year ending November 30, 1880 :
STATEMENT OF SINKING FUNDS, Nov. 30, 1880.
No.
TITLE OF FUND.
Amount Dec. 1, 1879.
Receipts during the year.
Total.
Payments during the year.
Balance Nov. 30, 1880.
1
General Debt,
1875. $20,120 57
$74,167 63
$94,288 20
$23,436 42
$70,851 78
2
Water Loan,
1876.
7,662 41
1,923 70
9,586 11
9,586 11
3
Lynde Brook Damages,
1877.
26,139 94
9,592 45
35,732 39
167 83
35,564 56
4
1878.
11,027 28
5,518 65
16,545 93
16,545 93
5
1879.
5,479 66
3,137 63
8,617 29
8,617 29
6
Island Sewer,
1879.
11,046 31
3,113 54
14,159 85
83 92
14,075 93
7
Foster Street,
1879.
13,261 29
8,859 45
22,120 74
22,120 74
8
Island Sewer,
1880.
1,547 20
1,547 20
1,547 20
9
Foster Street,
1880.
2,457 73
2,457 73
2,457 73
$94,737 46
$110,317 98
$205,055 44
$23,688 17|
$181,367 27
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS, DEC. 1, 1879, TO Nov. 30, 1880,
No.
City Appropri- ations Rec'd.
Int. and Pre- mium Rec'd.
Total Receipts.
City Indebted- Int. and Pre- ness Paid. mium Paid.
Total Payments.
1
$71,743 23
$2,424 40
$74,167 63
$22,100 00
$1,336 42
$23,436 42
2
1,500 00
423 70
1,923 70
3
8,000 00
1,592 45
9,592 45
167 83
167 83
4
4,800 00
718 65
5,518 65
5
2,800 00
337 63
3,137 63
6
2,500 00
613 54
3,113 54
83 92
83 92
7
8 000 00
859 45
8,859 45
8
1,500 00
47 20
1,547 20
9
2,400 00
57 73
2,457 73
$103,243 23
$7,074 75
$110,317 98
$22,100 00
$1,588 17
$23,688 17
16
118
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
INVESTMENTS AND CASH BALANCES. November 30, 1880.
To meet maturing City Indebtedness, viz .:
Investments Par Value.
Cash Balances.
Totals,
No.
Funded.
Due.
Amount.
1
1861 to. .1875
1881 to 1905
$2,020,200 00
$59,000 00
$11,851 78
$70,851 78
2
December
1876
Dec. 1, 1906
100,000 00
9,000 00
586 11
9,586 11
3
January,
.1877
Jan. 1, 1887
100,000 00
35,500 00
64 56
35,564 56
4
January,
.1878 Jan. 1, 1888
60,000 00
16,000 00
545 93
16,545 93
5
January,
.1879
Jan. 1, 1889
40,000 00
8,000 00
617 29
8,617 29
6
January,
.1879
Jan. 1, 1899
100,000 00
14,000 00
75 93
14,075 93
7
April,
.1879
April 1, 1889
100,000 00
21,500 00
620 74
22,120 74
8
January,
.1880
Jan. 1, 1900
30,000 00
1,500 00
47 20
1,547 20
9
April, .1880
April 1, 1890
30,000 00
2,000 00
457 73
2,457 73
$2,580,200 00
$166,500 00
$14,867 27
$181,367 27
Correct, per book account,
WM. S. BARTON,
Treasurer.
WORCESTER, MASS., Dec., 18, 1880.
STATEMENT OF FUNDED CITY DEBT.
November 30, 1880.
Amount
Due and paid
Balance
Debt renewed and new Loans
Total Debt
TITLE OF LOANS.
Dec. 1, 1879.
in 1880.
outstanding.
1880.
Nov. 30, 1880.
Funded City Loans,
$1,845,000 00
$8,00
00
$1,837,000 00
$30,000 00
$1,867,000 00
Funded Sewer Loans,
311,900 00
143,000 00
168,900 00
170,000 00
338,900 00
Funded Water Loans,
385,400 00
11,100 00
374,300 00
74,300 00
$2,542,300 00
$162,100 00
$2,380,200 00
$200,000 00
$2,580,200 00
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.
CITY OF WORCESTER, IN COMMITTEE, Dec. 7, 1880.
The Joint Standing Committee on Finance, having examined the books and accounts of the City Treasurer, and the securities in his custody belonging to the city, trust funds excepted, beg leave to report :
That they find that his books are carefully and correctly kept, and that the securities are properly accounted for.
They further report, that it appears from the books of the Treasurer that his cash receipts, from all sources, for the financial year end- ing Nov. 30, 1880, were $1,663,078 28
To which add cash on hand Nov. 30, 1879, 139,207 57
Making a total of $1,802,285 85
And that his cash payments were
1,618,494 09
Leaving a balance, Nov. 30, 1880, of $183,791 76 Which they have verified by actual count, and by an examina- tion of the several bank balances standing to the credit of the city.
They further report that, by request of the City Treasurer, who is also the treasurer of the city sinking funds, a simulta-
120
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
neous examination of his books and accounts, pertaining to those funds, was made by the commissioners, Messrs. Wood- ward, Davis and Bullock, who certify to this committee that the several investments and cash balances belonging to the sinking funds, on the 30th of November, 1880, amounted, in all, to $181,367.27, and that the same were properly accounted for by the Treasurer.
They further report that the city securities held by the Trea- surer were found to be as follows :
1 Certificate of 2,622 shares in the stock of the Boston, Barre and Gardner R. R. Co., (par value), . $262,200 00
1 Note signed by James A. and Orlando W. Norcross, bearing date Nov. 30, 1880, and secured by a mortgage, of the same date, on 34,002 square feet of land on East Worcester Street; -- amount,
7,000 00
17 Collector's deeds to the city, conveying sundry estates sold for unpaid taxes, and bid off by the Collector; - amount, .
155 67
Total,
$269,355 67
They further report that, of the several taxes, assessments and department bills, which have been committed to the Trea- surer for collection, the following were outstanding and unpaid at the close of business on the 30th of November, 1880 :
CITY TAXES, VIZ .:
Polls.
Real Estate.
Personal.
Total.
1877,
$4,026 00
$535 80
$4,561 80
1878,
4,832 00
371 14
5,203 14
1879,
4,821 00
285 04
5,106 04
1880,
6,945 00
15,672 18
1,345 89
23,963 07
$20,624 00
$15,672 18
$2,537 87
$38,834 05
School book taxes, 1877 to 1880, inclusive, .
$541 21
Sewer assessments, old account, .
3,578 25
« new account,
2,425 28
Sidewalk assessments, .
1,132 31
Street betterment assessments,
13,548 87
121
REPORT OF THE AUDITOR.
Highway Department bills; labor and materials,
567 67
Pauper Department bills; aid to paupers, 522 87
Water Eepartment; service pipe, etc., . rates and metered water,
1,831 23
*6,394 59
Total,
$69,376 33
Of the outstanding assessments for sewers and street better- ments, five of the former, amounting to $3,578.25, and thirteen of the latter, amounting to $13,073.87, are being contested in the superor court. Most of the department bills were recently rendered to the City Treasurer for collection.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK H. KELLEY, H. A. MARSH, STEPHEN SAWYER, OLIVER P. SHATTUCK, S. A. PORTER, ANDREW ATHY, F. W. WARD.
REPORT OF THE CITY CLERK.
CITY OF WORCESTER,
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, Dec. 31, 1880.
To the Honorable City Council.
In accordance with Section 1 of Chapter 8 of the City Ordi- nances, the following report of all monies received in this office as "fees or otherwise," during the year ending Nov. 30, 1880, is herewith presented.
For Licensed Auctioneers, . $ 26 00
66
Billiard Tables, etc., . 142 00
6.
Dogs, . 1,398 00
44
Entertainments, . 629 00
Hacks and Job Wagons, 252 00
8 00
Intelligence Offices,
Junk Dealers, .
24 00
Pawn Brokers,
12 00
Services of police at entertainments.
74 75
Office Fees,
. 2,391 14
$4,956 89
This sum has been paid to the City Treasurer, and receipts taken therefor.
There has been paid to Edward A. Brown, County Treasurer, the sum of $2,939.40 for dog licenses.
Respectfully submitted,
E. H. TOWNE,
City Clerk.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
COMMISSION OF PUBLIC GROUNDS.
To the Honorable City Council.
THE COMMISSION OF PUBLIC GROUNDS, as required by the Twenty-first Section of the Municipal Charter, submit a " Report of their acts and doings, of the condition of the Pub- lic Grounds and Shade Trees thereon and on said Streets and Highways, and an account of Receipts and Expenditures for the same," during the official year which terminated with the thirtieth day of November, A. D., 1880. That those acts and doings may be fully comprehended, it became essential to incor- porate, in the Report, a number of communications addressed to the City Council, &c., &c., as occasion demanded. Space is thereby consumed; but in no other way could a complete statement be made, which should conform closely to the exac- tion and spirit of that Twenty-first Section.
COMMISSION OF PUBLIC GROUNDS
In Account with CITY OF WORCESTER.
Cr.
By appropriation for current year, . . . $5,000 00
" special " North Walk of Common, 576 00
Amount refunded, (blacksmithing,) 30
$5,576 30
17
126
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
There is also on hand, subject to the order of the Commis- sioners of the Sinking Fund, a " Diploma for Lilies and Gladi- olus, " which was awarded at the late fair of the New England Agricultural Society.
Per Contra. Dr.
Labor, during the year, .
$2,215 96
Hire of teams, with men, .
239 25
Trees, planting, and trimming, 880 45
Tool, hardware, and repairs, .
79 39
Grass-seed and fertilizers,
70 20
Loam and manure,
245 70
Printing Report,
24 59
Import duties, freight, &c.,
61 50
Water pipe and laying same,
61 69
Stationery, $5.08, paving, $9.25, .
14 33
Excavation at 25 cts. per yard, .
1,083 73
Engineer department : measurements,
24 68
Repairing Soldiers' Monument,
29 00
Carpenters : lumber,
10 10
Food for water-fowl,
13 25
Brick walk on north side of Common,
516 00
$5,569 82
Balance transferred to Sinking Fund, .
$6 48
THE COMMON,-that most ancient of our Public Grounds, has been maintained in its usual condition. Until Police-Officers can be detailed to the especial duty, it will be hopeless to ex- pect that encroachment upon the grass lawns can be prevented. That encroachment is wanton, as any one can see for himself, by watching the devious course of those who ordinarily prac- tice it. There are foot-paths enough; and a vast majority of our population confine themselves therein, in their daily walks. Doing so,-they rely upon the Police to constrain others, too perverse or mulish to go aright, in the way that they should go. The decent and orderly, who love neatness and beauty, constit- uting as they do the bulk of the community, have a right to fcel aggrieved when the mischievous, or reckless, are suffered to disfigure what would otherwise be a tasteful landscape. A
127
PUBLIC GROUNDS.
lawn, with its edges frayed and ragged; whose corners and angles are worn off by the continual trespass of the heedless or impatient ; must sooner or later become an offence. The COMMISSION OF PUBLIC GROUNDS renew their appeal to the public, heretofore often urged, to insist that due restraint shall be put upon those who constantly mar the work of improve- ment; and who, if left unchecked, will speedily reduce the COMMON to its former condition, when its very mention was a by-word and a reproach.
Early in the official year, petitions, respectably and fully signed, were addressed to the Honorable Council, asking for Brick or Plank Walks along and across the COMMON. These were referred to the Highway Committee, by which they were reported back, in due course, with the recommendation of their reference to this COMMISSION. The matter, which had already occasioned much thought, required time for full reflection, now that a decision was invited. After the COMMISSION had ma- tured their judgment, it was at once communicated to the Honorable Council. As the consequent construction of a Brick Walk, upon the North front of the COMMON, became a theme for grumbling, at the last Municipal Election, among a few chronic malignants; and because this COMMISSION elect to assume the entire responsibility that may properly attach to them; the note conveying their conclusion is herewith sub- mitted for wider intelligence, and incorporated in this Report :-
COMMISSION OF PUBLIC GROUNDS,
To the Honorable City Council.
The COMMISSION OF PUBLIC GROUNDS, to whom were re- ferred the Petitions of H. G. Taft, et als., for a sidewalk upon the North side of the COMMON ' suitable for use the entire year,' would respectfully report that, in their opinion, the request is reasonable ; asking nothing more than is proper under the exi- gencies of the case. Thus viewed,-the COMMISSION take no exception to the fact that the Petitions were not addressed to
128
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
themselves, as in strict right they should have been. The Peti- tions state that, for 'five' [5] months of the year, that 'side- walk is almost impassable.' Nothing is gained by exaggeration. The last winter was of unusual mildness, so that the frosts of night were followed by the thaws of noonday. Ordinarily, the ground, once frozen, would stay so; and when frozen, the Peti- tioners would not, in all likelihood, claim that a Brick, or Plank, Walk might be harder or better.
Nevertheless the prayer of the petition is reasonable; for what has been may recur, and no one can predict the character of the seasons. The Petitioners form but a small portion of that large and increasing population that pass to and from the Union Passenger Station. Were it merely for the accommoda- . tion of strangers, it would be a sound policy to supply the best facilities for access to our marts of industry and merchandise. The COMMISSION believe that the Honorable Council will yet re- view their action of former years, in contracting the side-walk, upon the North side of Front Street, to such a narrow extreme. It never can be inopportune, nor too late, to repair the error of a " haste that made waste," alike of the shade-trees of the city and of the customary ways of its people. That side will ever be warmer in winter, and of course, simply from that fact, can be far cheaper and easier relieved from ice and snow. Still, that is no reason why there should not be a good side-walk upon the Common. And such a walk the COMMISSION cannot promise to maintain, no matter what the season, by the mere use of gravel or sand, as heretofore.
An estimate, from the office of the City Engineer, puts the cost of a Brick side-walk, upon the North side of the Common, at Five Hundred and Seventy-six Dollars, [$576.00]; of Plank, at Two Hundred and Fifty-nine Dollars, [$259.00.] A walk of Plank, it is always understood, would be in use during the in- clement season, to be carted, put down, taken up, and stored away, involving the cost and trouble of cartage with occasional refitting and repair.
As granting the prayer of the Petitions will necessitate an appropriation of money, the whole matter is returned to the
129
PUBLIC GROUNDS.
Honorable Council that it may decide whether to make such appropriation, or not. It has been suggested that a portion of the sum derived from licensing the sale of liquors, might be thus applied. Perhaps no better use could be made of that money than with it to stay the steps of the unwary.
.
The COMMISSION have also considered the Petition of Baker & Ellis, et als., for a Plank-walk over the Path across the Common, from Salem Square to the City Hall; and find, from figures furnished by the City Engineer, that the cost of such a Walk would be Two Hundred and Ninety-Three Dollars, [$293.00]. And it is added, for the information of the Honor- able Council, that the expense of a Brick Walk, between the same points, is computed at Six Hundred and Fifty Dollars, [$650.00.] The COMMISSION hold similar opinions, in each of these cases, as to the propriety of the requests. But, while they would do, or say, nothing to hinder the Honorable Council from appropriating the sums needful for the construction of either, or both, of these Side-Walks; they do not refrain from expressing their conviction that they can put, and keep, the walk across the Common in satisfactory condition, for yet another year, with the material already in hand and designed for that purpose.
The Petitions and accompanying papers, in each of the cases, .are herewith returned.
All which is respectfully submitted by
EDWARD WINSLOW LINCOLN.
Chairman.
WORCESTER, MASS., September, A.D., 1880.
In all work upon the Public Grounds, one fact must be borne in mind,-there can be no assessment for betterments. The people are improving their own property: and that very im- provement is the betterment. That fashionable form of confis- cation, whereby we try to cheat ourselves into the faith that at
130
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
least so much has been saved, neither has, nor can be made to have, application to our Common and Park. No man can lift himself by his waist-band, in the Public Grounds of Worcester.
Should Front Street be paved, as advised by His Honor, the Mayor, some method will have to be adopted to retain the North Walk of the Common. Then would seem to be the time to put down the kerb-stone like that which limits and adorns the North line of Park Street. The old kerb, employed else- where, would by so much reduce the cost of substitution.
The condition of Salem Square, legitimately a portion of the Common, is elsewhere considered. The views of the COM- MISSION cannot be misunderstood. It has been intimated that, were Salem Square, so called, to be restored to the Common, there would be no place convenient for Artillery-salutes that would be within the jurisdiction of the Mayor and Aldermen, or of the Honorable Council. To which it might be a suffi- cient answer that there is nothing in the history, or traditions, of the COMMISSION OF PUBLIC GROUNDS, to warrant a suspicion that they would repress the manifestations of patriotism, or even its exuberance. Some of them have tested their pockets, at times, when the City Council inclined to consider the firing of cannon, upon the Fourth of July, as a waste. The predic- tion of John Adams will ever be regarded as a sacred injunction, by the COMMISSION ; recalling with fond pride that he was a fel- low-townsman, before he became a founder of the Republic.
The Commission have formerly suggested the construction. of a fet d' Eau, upon the Common,-transversely on a line from the City Hall to the Union Passenger Station. Recog- nizing the deplorable deficiency of Water; and knowing that such an improvement can await the completion of others which are more urgent ; they simply refer to the subject now, to show that it has not been forgotten. Whensoever the Honorable Council shall determine, by an appropriation for the purpose,. that the time has arrived for the construction of a Fountain, or fet d' Eau, as proposed, the COMMISSION OF PUBLIC GROUNDS- will be found ready to avail themselves of such liberality.
131
PUBLIC GROUNDS.
Comparative good order was secured upon the COMMON and in ELM PARK throughout the latter part of the year. Turbu- lence and occasional violations of decency, early in the season, obliged the COMMISSION to solicit the intervention of the Mayor and Aldermen :
To The Honorable Mayor and Aldermen :-
The provisions of the charter, which confer upon the COM- MISSION of PUBLIC GROUNDS the "sole care, superintendence and management" of the Public Grounds belonging to "said City of Worcester;" and which empower the COMMISSION to "make all necessary by-laws and regulations in the execution of their trust," etc., etc., fail to specify or supply any means whereby such "by-laws and regulations" may be enforced. Complaint is daily brought to the Chairman of the COMMISSION, by per- sons of either sex and of every age, that offences against decency, both in gesture and language, have become so frequent and rank as to prevent people of ordinary sensibility from crossing or frequenting the Public Grounds. The COMMISSION have cher- ished a persistent, if faint, hope, that at some time, whether from a diminution of offences against the public peace, assumed to be of greater enormity, or because of an increase in the police force, a remedy might be found and applied to this disgraceful state of things. The police force has been increased, and a minimum of crime requiring repression, or punishment, may reasonably be inferred from the fact that a certain proportion of the officers are weekly furloughed. It appears, therefore, to the COMMISSION OF PUBLIC GROUNDS to be a fitting time to ask that the Mayor and Aldermen will be pleased to direct the detail of one or more officers to each of the COMMONS, or PARKS, of the city ; to the end that " lewd fellows of the baser sort," may no longer be suffered to lie prone upon the seats, or ground, of such COMMONS or PARK; nor allowed to taint the air of heaven, and vex the ears of modesty by the uninterrupted belch of pro- fanity and smut. If even now, with augmented numbers, the Police are not sufficient for this duty, it is respectfully submitted
132
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
that extra men might be employed; their compensation to be defrayed from the sums saved to the City, by reason of the vacations taken by the existing Force. This precise time is just that in which the COMMONS or PARKS most require supervision. The COMMISSION of PUBLIC GROUNDS, who cannot find leisure for vacations, believe that they have only to arrest the attention of the Honorable MAYOR and ALDERMEN to ensure a change for the better. At worst, they will have vindicated themselves from the mistrust of those of their fellow-citizens who are prone to suspect that if there was a will, there would be found a way, to restrain or punish obscenity, whether of posture or utterance, within the Public Grounds. What the COMMISSION can do, of their own volition and unassisted, that they do with their might. But in this matter they are powerless.
Very respectfully, EDWARD WINSLOW LINCOLN,
Chairman. WORCESTER, MASS., June 14, A. D., 1880.
As a result of this appeal officers were detailed to preserve order on Sundays and holidays. No serious trouble is known to have occurred, or been threatened, thereafter, save possibly in a single instance where the fortunate presence of the Chairman of the COMMISSION frightened a young scamp from further in- sult. But, with the increase of its attractions, and in propor- tion as it is developed, ELM PARK becomes more and more a place of resort. All have the same right to frequent it; and it is inevitable that with the multitude of inoffensive and quiet citizens here and there will intrude the disorderly and obscene. The COMMISSION are of opinion that the time has come when an officer should be stationed, constantly, either upon the PARK or within close hail of it; in order that women and children may feel as safe when visiting the Public Grounds of the City, as. though they were in the seclusion of their own homes. The
133
PUBLIC GROUNDS.
«expense would not be great; but whatever it might be, a large majority of the tax-payers will insist that it be incurred.
The recent Revision of the Ordinances, of the City, so openly and widely published that even the "lame, halt and blind" might be held to cognizance of them, was of especial moment to this COMMISSION. The Paths, or Foot Walks of the Public Grounds, "of ELM PARK in particular, were devised and therefore constructed for the accommodation of pedestrians exclusively. Surrounded as that PARK and the COMMON are by roads of exceeding width, "there was no evident need of furnishing a way for persons in carriages or mounted. Yet it has been found that there are sufficient attractions in ELM PARK to induce carelessness or oblivion of Section 1, Chapter 36, of that Revision,-wherein it is " Ordained that no person shall ride, lead, or drive any horse in or upon any inclosed Public Grounds of the City of Wor- cester, except by the permission of the Commission of Public Grounds and Shade Trees." Conscious of the actual annoy- ance, and desiring to remedy it while there was yet time, the COMMISSION sought and obtained an opinion of the City Solic- itor as to the legal effect of the word "inclosed," just cited. None knew better than themselves that to the COMMISSION had the Charter entrusted the "sole care, superintendence and man- agement of the Public Grounds belonging to said City of Worcester." But the Ordinances of the City Council have a force of police to impart to them a persuasive influence ; while the " Rules" that the COMMISSION are empowered to establish must depend, largely, for acceptance upon a general faith in the muscle of the COMMISSIONERS. The claim to co-ordinate author ity might be resisted, when necessary ; until it grew inconsistent with the legitimate functions of the COMMISSION, its exercise was of positive benefit. And the Solicitor was clear that ELM PARK, for example, is "inclosed," within the intent and for every purpose of the Ordinance. The COMMISSION, therefore, give notice that strict compliance with the municipal prohibition will be expected and required for these adequate reasons :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.