USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1887 > Part 19
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309
PARKS-COMMISSION.
In the Report of the COMMISSION OF PUBLIC GROUNDS, A. D., 1871, occurs the following passage :-
"If the entire, or even a major part of the water supply of the City is to be derived from Leicester, that Hill must be invaluable in the immediate future, as the site for a Reservoir which shall hold a temporary store against emergencies, and also aid in equalizing the pressure throughout that broad arc in which the western suburbs are comprised, and in the chord subtending which it is the most salient feature."
Two years later the topic is again resumed :-
"Have we not lately received an impressive admonition to be- ware of overweening confidence and to provide, as there suggested, a temporary store against emergencies ? Dependence upon a single main (it matters not how trustworthy) is but a frail depend- ence, after all. It was the pitcher that went too often to the fountain which got broken at last. To show how important are the interests involved in this matter, a table is herewith furnished of the valuation of Wards One, Seven and Eight, whose entire property lies within the range, and would be subject to the watch and ward of this Hill, were a proper use made of its summit :
"Aggregate valuation of Worcester, $47,294,834.
Realty.
Personalty.
Ward One,
$5,364,100
$1,698,150
Ward Seven,
4,996,100
1,048,900
Ward Eight,
5,864,800
1,676,350
Total,
$16,225,000
$4,428,400
20,653,400"
A. D., 1877, the valuation of those Wards is stated by the asses- sors, as follows :-
"Aggregate valuation of Worcester, $59,307,925}.
Ward One, · Ward Seven. Ward Eight,
$8,407,650
9,054,250
11,415,800
$28,877,700
besides their proportion of $4,229,750 listed to non-residents."
That Report of 1873, appears almost prophetic :-
"It must be conceded that, so large a proportion of its real and personal property being imperilled, with scarcely the semblance of protection, the permanent welfare of the City is absolutely absorbed in a suitable decision of this matter. Any wild March morning, that should behold the population of those three
21
310
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 42.
Wards wandering aimlessly, or distracted, amid the ashes of their former homes, would be a woeful day for Worcester. And so keen is the competition between communities enjoying anything like equal natural advantages, that it may be doubted, however elastic our energies, whether we could recover from such a blow in season to retain our relative position among our sister cities. But yet, to prevent such a result, of a fire fed by a hurricane, we have one hose company with its apparatus, shall have a steamer in the fullness of time, and-no water supply ! However, better so than an imperfect supply that inspires unwarranted confidence. A table of relative elevations of different points throughout the City, above mean Tide Water, which was furnished to a Com- mittee of the General Court by the writer, is herewith submitted, that it may be put upon official record :
Elevation above mean Tide Water.
Feet.
Newton Hill,
672.29
Fairmount,
638.91
Chandler Hill (reservoir),
640.61
(summit),
738.37
Hunt's Reservoir,
655.90
North Pond (high water),
537.00
Bell Pond (high water),
666.50
George Crompton's House (water table),
629.88
Leicester Reservoir (rollway),
822.87
Cambridge and Mill streets (high water in brook),
438.63
Main Street (man-hole at intersection with Davis Court), 482.04
There are many eminences within the City limits of superior altitude to Newton Hill, but not one which occupies its relative position to so large a portion of densely settled territory. When the late Mayor Knowlton was perfecting the acquisition of Elm Park, he previously ascertained, by actual survey, that its lowest depression was higher than the steps of the City Hall-its centre nearer the Oread than Lincoln Square. How much more truly this can be asserted of the Hill, let any one stand on Charlton Street, for instance, and, looking across the intervening valley, determine for himself. There it stands, confronting the whole western slope, dominating the intervale and capable of being made the salvation of half the City.
* * *
Assume now that a Reservoir has been constructed upon the summit of Newton Hill, sufficiently massive to withstand pressure and capacious enough to supply something larger than a garden hose. From that Reservoir conducting pipes radiate in every di- rection ; towards the Sears' Farm and Elmwood Nurseries, if you please, North and South ; and through and throughout Pleasant, Elm, Cedar, William, Bowdoin, John, and Highland Streets. These pipes can be comparatively small because they are so
311
PARKS-COMMISSION.
numerous, and of stout cast iron because they are no larger. You have organized ten or a dozen hose companies.
*
*
This plan saves the purchase of steamers, which are short-lived, always out of order, too heavy for our steep hills with their snow, slush and mud; and which at best, are a feeble substitute for gravitation. It dispenses with the purchase and subsequent maintenance of horses, sometimes sick and always eating their heads off. It retains the trained experience and approved gal- lantry of the Fire Department, re-enlisting companies as hosemen. And no matter what its promises, its capability of complete per- formance may be confidently affirmed. You obtain a head that commands the Technical Institute, the Oread, or the prospective Jaques Hospital : and to save one or all of those Institutions might be worth the entire cost."
Since the above became matter of record, a water main has crawled along Park Avenue, northward ; and the right (are there aught but privileges confluent with water ?) to a new water supply secured, where these Reports so persistently advised, at the sources of Tatnuck Brook. But a chain is no stronger than its weakest link. The value of a water-shed-mill-leeches to the contrary, notwithstanding,-is to be measured by its capacity for retention, rather than the area of reception. The basin that will store up the surplus from a freshet is that for which modern civ- ilization surveys, toils, and submits to onerous taxation. Where the dam and ultimate retention are not practicable, it matters not what may be the volume of a flood, the size of the channel through which it is dissipated, or to howsoever many acres the shoals of Narragansett Bay may have augmented. That Bay, once the resort of Colonial navies, is reduced to a breeding-pen for shell-fish. The influent streams are dammed by the money derived from commerce; their current checked ; and the scour from a precipitate down-pour-the efflux of mountain torrents- designed from creation to keep open one of the best harbors on our coast, has been recklessly and greedily arrested. The Fed- eral Government must protect the manufacturer in his especial way of getting gain. The Federal Treasury must pay for dredg- ing the mud that the greed of mill-owners compels to silt over the bed of what should be navigable waters.
312
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 42.
Worcester may build a dam that will retain some water, and let more go to waste. The seasons, since its construction, may be unusually wet and favorable. But when a cycle of dry sum- mers recurs, as will surely be the case, it will be too late to regret that the work of enlargement was postponed or dismissed, that this private speculation might be boomed, or that stock lamb cosseted. The distributing, like the storage reservoir, remains in Holden ; the eggs being all in one and the same bas- ket, and that long miles from their proper market. Meanwhile, Newton Hill continnes neglected and disused ; although most happily opposite, and at a higher level than Bell Pond or the Hunt Reservoir, the opposite points of the significant triangle formed by the three.
July 11th, A. D., 1887, a petition, whereof the subjoined is a copy, was referred by the City Council of Worcester to its Joint Water Committee :-
" The undersigned, a committee appointed by the Town of Millbury to con- sider the question of a water supply for that town, respectfully represent that the plan of constructing water works, which shall be an extension of the works for the supply of the City of Worcester, seems to them a feasible method for the introduction of water into said town, provided the City of Worcester will consent and grant favorable terms for such supply. We there- fore respectfully pray that the City of Worcester grant the Town of Millbury the privilege of taking water from the city's supply, through such works as the town may construct, and upon such equitable terms as may be agreed upon between the said City of Worcester and the said Town of Millbury.
(Signed)
GEORGE GEGENHEIMER, MOSES W. WHEELER, L. L. WHITNEY, IRVING B. SAYLES, GEORGE C. WEBBER,
Committee on Water-Supply for the Town of Millbury."
What shall be done with that sagacious and far-reaching request of our neighbors a-down the Blackstone ? Amuse our- selves with " addition, division, and silence ?" Deny their peti- tion and snub them ? * Or, illustrate the Golden Rule, after its
* The latter measure of comity has commended itself.
E. W. L.
313
PARKS-COMMISSION.
honest meaning, letting Millbury have what we can well spare- for a consideration ! With ample dams, for the right to con- struct which we have had to pay so roundly ; and for the con- struction of which citizens of Millbury prosecute and spare not in almost vindictive reclamation ; but which are scarcely more than a mud-sill foundation, as yet ; with the enormous volume of water running to waste each spring that ought, in common pru- dence, to be stored up; with a distributing reservoir upon New- ton Hill, in a direct line from Holden Pond to the City Hall ; with a superfluity of water, and neighbors suffering from the lack of it; could there be a better opportunity to set our own house in order ; to make friends where we have not been wont to look for or to find them; in short, to kill a whole covey of birds with one and the same stone ? A half-hearted, piddling policy, can accomplish nothing but individual shame and general disappointment. If we show ourselves alive to all the possibili- ties of the occasion, we shall develop the present, provide for the future, and, without assuming intolerable burdens or impos- ing any check upon our municipal progress, lay broader and deeper the foundations of perennial prosperity for this fair city of our love.
When Mayor Knowlton sent Engineer Inches up the valley of Tatnuck Brook, the reply was brought back : There is no water in that region worth saving. And so the matter rested until, by dint of and in consequence of persistent hammering in the Reports of the COMMISSION OF PUBLIC GROUNDS, Engineer Blake opened his own eyes and the scales fell from others. Still, in the profession, may be found here and there, blind leaders of the blind, who fold their hands in an ecstasy of optimism, exelaim- ing-what would the men have ? Did we not lay the founda- tions of a dam that will reserve a supply for two or three months, if evaporation is but average and it rains occasionally ? Have we not got Nipnet Pond full at last ? What though new elevators are put on to tap it night and day, without cessation ! It rained all last summer, and has snowed throughout the present winter. As it was in the beginning, and is now, shall it not be ever, oh ye of little faith ?
314
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 42.
To those of limited vision, who may think that water enough is provided for Worcester for a generation ; and grunt-who is my neighbor ? when Millbury knocks a suppliant, at our doors ; may it not be worth while to reflect upon the gratitude with which posterity, upon whose shoulders we seek to impose a fair share of our burden for Parks and Play-Grounds, while in complete enjoyment of those blessings, will appreciate the fore- thought that ensured to them the other priceless privilege.
" Mark !" they exclaim to each other, a generation hence, " the prescience of those men of A. D., 1888 ! To their sagacity and courage do we owe it that we now enjoy that charming resort; with a reservoir handy upon its summit to supplement the casual- ties or deficiencies incident to a remote supply. If they con- strained us to aid in the payment, at least they guaranteed to us the worth of our money."
Shall we accept Providence for a warning ? With what are recognized as adequate Water Works; with a Fire Department whose efficiency no one dares or cares to impeach ; a Half-Million of substantial property is, as it were in the twinkling of an eye, rolled up like a scroll. The writer invents no fanciful risks. He speaks whereof he knows from actual test. As foreman of hose, for years, he had to await the imperfect service of suction,-by hand-brakes at that,-the Mississippi rolling its full volume but three hundred yards away ! What wonder, then, that he should almost worship the illimitable forces of Gravitation that Worces- ter has been cuffed and kicked into using! Ask that honored veteran,* whose experience in such matters is, of itself, authority, if he would prefer the capacious reservoir upon Newton Hill, with ample (not inadequate, mind you !) distribution, to the elongated main that dribbles out its wasted energies after miles of accretion and diversion,t and learn a lesson from the practical fireman that shall be worth volumes of scientific scoffs. The PARKS-COMMISSION believe that Newton Hill should become a
* Chief Engineer Combs.
+ A lateral supply to " Willow Farm," through a two-inch pipe; an equal drain to accommodate other Dairy Farms, of like claims and similar
315
PARKS-COMMISSION.
component part of Elm Park. But did they not also realize that its proper utilization is essential to the salvation of Worcester ; in that sure time of dire peril that may be guarded against, but from which the wisest precaution can never make us wholly secure; they would put their months in the dust and forever hold their peace.
Meanwhile,-and until the need of that safeguard becomes too imminent to be deferred longer, let there be secured a free and unrestricted enjoyment of that summit as a place of public resort, where it is now a suffered trespass ! A resort that at present, in the bright days of Summer, rivals if it does not sur- pass the artificial attractions of the adjacent Park. In Winter, -trust the boys and girls to improve its steep slopes, whose sharp declivity may tempt to a renewed trial of the toboggan should our French fellow-citizens succeed in naturalizing that boreal sport. In a city, whose contour is like that of Worcester, there need be no fear that a single acre of Park or Play-Ground will be provided, in excess of the actual popular demand. Every tract of land that has been proposed by the COMMISSION is in positive, though unauthorized, use, even now.
The people of Worcester, who have time and again declared in favor of the plan of Parks and Play-Grounds, substantially as
wants; a twelve (12) inch main for and through Tatnuck village, with its sullen dead end; and the inevitable demand from the Hartshorn and Cham- berlain Districts; what though your volume was originally established at twenty-four (24) inches ! The pinch and lack comes as you compute the resid- uum after you have gotten in toward town, beyond June and Flagg Streets, South and North.
Should it be claimed that the HIGH-SERVICE can be extended, thereby obviating the need and uses of a reservoir upon Newton Hill, the answer is conclusive, and pat in such a contention; that the ultimate capacity of NIPNET POND is a fixed quantity, and notorious. That its elevation is unique, denoting the special purposes to which its application may be possible and wise; and for which, therefore, it should be jealously reserved. That resort should never be had to its extreme pressure, so long as adequate service can be had from Holden; to the end that exhaustion may not supervene upon the excessive draught exacted from an intermittent rill and limited storage. Enjoy your omelet, if you will, but reserve one egg, at least, with which to settle your coffee !
E. W. L.
316
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 42.
proposed by this COMMISSION, may rest assured of one thing. It may be urged in objection to this or that particular tract of land that it can wait ; that it is not indispensable to the growth of its peculiar section, or to the welfare of the whole city. But, mark the course of the objectors! Watch those who argue loudly that other needs are more imperative ! Observe how they would widen this street, which widening, likely as not, would not impair the value of their individual estates ! Note how indispensable to the public prosperity they consider the opening of this or that thoroughfare ! Not a moment must be lost, they urge ; so fear- ful are they that the chance once missed, may be forever for- feited. Now, against all this perennial selfishness, weigh the deliberate judgment of men every one of whom claims Worces- ter for his birth-right ; whose private interests are not to be sub- served, whatsoever the ultimate decision ; who have devoted long years to a thoughtful consideration of this whole matter; and who are unanimous in the conclusion that Worcester is offered the opportunity that presents itself to communities, as to indi- viduals, once in a generation, of securing a precedence among the Cities of the Commonwealth that may never thereafter be challenged. In the past,-her men ever rose superior to the occasion. Shall their children be blind to it, now, when it offers itself in the fairest of aspects and all the brightness of noon- day ?
All which is respectfully submitted, by
EDWARD WINSLOW LINCOLN, Chairman.
Worcester, Massachusetts, March 12, A. D. 1888.
APPENDIX.
From the Inaugural Address of His Honor Mayor Winslow, January 2, A. D. 1888 :
The chapter in the Statutes of A. D. 1882, under which the Parks-Commis- sion was created, provides, under rigid safeguards, for "the issue of a Public- Park loan to an amount not exceeding the sum actually expended for the purchase or taking of lands for a Park or Parks."
I do not leave out of sight the sum of our present indebtedness. But it may be a question whether this timely provision of suitable land for playgrounds and parks, while they can be secured at a fair price, shall continue to be post- poned because other demands are forced upon us unjustly and in spite of our earnest protest. Other cities whose future is less assured than our own, are far-reaching and active in this line of development. I am sure that I do not mistake the sentiment of our common constituency when I urge a bold, if careful, consideration of this whole subject.
WORCESTER SCHOOLS.
EXTRACT FROM THE MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Our Public Schools are conducted by a board, the members of which are directly responsible to the people of the city in the several wards. The mayor is the only member of the board who has the whole city for his constituency and is elected yearly. This direct responsibility is fitting, since no branch of the munici- pal service comes so near to the hearts of our citizens as do the schools. To them twelve thousand children come from homes, where, for the most part, they are the pride, the hope and the joy of their parents, who are vitally concerned in what so directly affects their offspring. Fortunately the welfare of our school system is not entrusted to any party, or creed, or set of men. In our schools, supported by all, irrespective of nationality or faith, our future citizens are being trained in sentiments of mutual forbearance and respect.
During my two years' service I have been pleased to note the singular absence of friction, both in the meetings of the com- mittee and in the schools themselves. This is due to the readi- ness with which any substantial ground of complaint can be removed through the agency of the local committee and the earnest purpose of all concerned to do what is best for the cause of education.
The City Council, in the matter of education, is charged with the important duty of providing money and school-houses. The free-text-book law has added about $15,000 to the yearly ex- penses, but not without benefit to the schools. The Smead- Ruttan system of heating, ventilating and closets has been intro- duced into the Dix Street school with satisfactory results so far. Except for minor alterations and repairs, no large outlay for school-houses is expected the coming year.
320
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 42.
The increase of the year is shown by the following table :
1886.
1887.
School Census .
13,795
14,048
Pupils Registered, including Evening Schools
13,813
14,479
Average Number belonging to Schools .
11,180
11,323
Largest Attendance.
11,039
11,425
In High School.
695
748
ESTIMATE OF EXPENSES.
Instruction .
Expenditure 1887. $192,748 79
Estimate 1888. $198,700 00
Care of School-houses, Rents and Ordinary
Repairs. .
35,625 22
36,500 00
Permanent Repairs
8,444 73
6,000 00
Evening Schools.
4,354 54
6,500 00
Total Expenditure.
$241,173 28
Less Revenue.
809 87
$240,363 41
Appropriation asked.
$247,700 00
ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE
CITY OF WORCESTER,
SEPTEMBER, 1887.
SAMUEL WINSLOW, President.
ALBERT P. MARBLE, Sup't and Sec'y. 492 MAIN STREET.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
MEMBERS WHOSE TERM EXPIRES JANUARY, 1888.
Ward. Residence. Ward.
1. REBECCA BARNARD, 184 Main St. 5. JOSEPH H. KELLEY,
2. CHAS. F. ADAMS, 2 Normal St. 6. ALZIRUS BROWN,
3. EUGENE M. MORIARTY, 5 Howard St. 7. HENRY L. PARKER,
4. DANIEL J. KELLEY, 61 Union Ave. 8. GEORGE SWAN,
MEMBERS WHOSE TERM EXPIRES JANUARY, 1889.
Ward. Residence. Ward.
1. GEO. F. THOMPSON, 4 Agricultural St. 5. PETER J. NIHILL,
2. EDWARD F. TOLMAN, 18 Catharine St. 6. WILLIAM H. DEXTER,
3. JOHN B. DRENNAN, 112 Shrewsbury St. 7. EMERSON WARNER,
4. JOHN J. HUGHES, 8 Pond St. 8. FREEMAN BROWN,
MEMBERS WHOSE TERM EXPIRES JANUARY, 1890. Residence. Ward.
Ward.
1. WM. T. SOUTHER, 1 Lincoln Square. 5. JOHN B. RATIGAN,
2. CHARLES BALLARD,
3. JAMES F. GUERIN,
154 Shrewsbury St. 7. ARTHUR M. TAFT,
3 Brigham St.
93 Elm St.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
ON SCHOOL-HOUSES .- Messrs. A. Brown, McCafferty, F. Brown, Nihill and Ballard.
ON BOOKS AND APPARATUS .- Messrs. Parker, Moriarty, Sanford, Adams and Taft.
ON TEACHERS .- The Superintendent, ex-officio; Messrs. Swan, Parker, Drennan, Tolman and Ratigan.
ON APPOINTMENTS .- The Superintendent, ex-officio; Miss Barnard and Messrs. Souther, Hughes, Ballard and Guerin.
ON FINANCE .- The Mayor, ex-officio ; Messrs. Thompson, Warner, Daniel J. Kelley, Dexter and Joseph H. Kelley.
The Committee of Visitation shall exercise a general supervision over the schools to which they are severally assigned, and shall visit them not less than once in four weeks, and report their condition at the monthly meeting of the board .- [Rules, Chap. 3, Sec. 6.
Residence.
37 Washngton St. 3 Charlton St. 574 Main St.
6 West St.
Residence.
113 Washington St. 3 Benefit St.
22 Channing St. 6. GEORGE L. SANFORD,
4. M. J. P. MCCAFFERTY, 6 Goddard St. 8. JOSEPH F. LOVERING,
Residence.
Trumbull Square. 633 Main St. 1022 Main St. 3 Irving St.
1
322
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 42.
Though each school is assigned to a special committee, yet every member of the board shall consider it his duty to watch over and visit all the public schools of the city, as his convenience will permit .- [Sec. 7.
VISITING COMMITTEES.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Messrs. Swan, Warner, Parker, Souther, Drennan, Miss Barnard, Moriarty and Adams.
TEACHERS. Alfred S. Roe, Principal.
A. Carey Field,
Rachel L. Moore, Florence Snow,
William F. Abbot,
Mathilde de Maltchycè, Benj. B. Holmes,
Joseph H. Perry,
Frank L. Mellen,
Helen M. Parkhurst,
Edward M. Woodward,
Nellie M. White, Irene P. Huse,
Mary P. Jefts,
Sally H. Delano,
Annie M. Russell,
Jennie I. Ware,
Carrie P. Townsend, Sarah Brigham.
The ROMAN NUMERALS designate the ROOMS to which members of commit- tees are specially assigned, and the GRADES according to the course of study.
BELMONT STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS. GRADE.
Dexter,
Arthur G. Lewis, Principal.
Dexter,
Emma C. McClellan, Assistant,
IX
Dexter,
Mary H. Warren, .6
IX
Dexter,
Sarah E. Rogers,
VIII
Dexter,
Grace R. Everett,
VIII-VII
Dexter,
Sarah L. Phillips,
VII
Adams,
Jennie L. Dearborn,
VI
Adams,
Tirzah S. Nichols,
VI
Adams,
Esther G. Chenery,
V
Adams,
Emma E. Hayward,
V
Ballard,
Mattie A. Collins,
IV
Ballard,
Carrie A. Smith,
IV
Ballard,
Mary T. Gale,
III
Ballard,
Anna M. Waite,
III
A. Brown,
Addie T. Gauren,
II
A. Brown,
Maud L. Davis,
II
A. Brown,
Lilla F. Upton,
II
A. Brown,
Hattie B. Andrews,
I
A. Brown,
Ella J. Emerson,
I
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Lovering,
James Jenkins, Principal.
Lovering,
Carrie L. Paige, Assistant,
IX
Lovering,
Mary A. Hayward,
VIII
Lovering,
Mattie Howe,
VII
Lovering,
Minnie W. Sherman,
VI
F. Brown,
Nellie F. Lindsay,
V
F. Brown,
Susie W. Forbes,
IV
F. Brown,
Alice W. Giddings,
III
Dexter,
Harriet Lightbourn,
II
Maria F. Bosworth,
I
Dexter,
DIX STREET.
SCHOOLS .- SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
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