USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1869-1870 > Part 4
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SCHOOLS.
The appropriations must be increased year by year in this department. The large increase of scholars renders a larger expenditure necessary. Few towns are more liberal in pro- viding for schools than Newton, and nowhere is the money more cheerfully paid. It will be seen by reference to the Report of the School Committee that the schools are in excellent condition. It is well understood that the sum proposed for schools and incidentals, though large, will all be required.
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
We are still of the opinion that the present plan of repairing highways is an improvement on any heretofore attempted by us, but we think that there is still room for improvement. We now have a great many miles of road, not all of which is in the best condition, and we are yearly laying out more, or accepting those that have been laid out
62
by individuals, all of which need to be put in thorough order. It may be necessary to purchase more teams, carts, etc., to be located in villages remote from the Almshouse, where most of the teams are now kept, so that the work may not be neglected at any season of the year. In view of this, and the fact that some new roads are to be built and others to be improved at considerable expense, and the stone-crusher to be run, we have recommended an increase for highways. We are of the opinion that the roads of Newton, though as a general thing very good, should be made still better, and the Town become as noted for its good roads as it is for its schools, its enterprise, its beautiful homes, and its general intelligence. The road from Newton Centre to Harbach's Corner has been built in accordance with the order of the County Commissioners. A large amount of broken stone at the east end of the tunnel of the aqueduct, located quite near this new road, has been pur- chased, and we hope to locate the stone-crusher there before the first of March. There has been some delay in getting this machine into place, but it is hoped that a good supply of rubble-stone will be prepared for the roads during March and April of this year. Much of the rock purchased is already fine enough for the roads, or could easily and without much ex- pense be made so by the use of hammers. We are of the opinion that the Town act wisely when they refuse to lay out narrow roads, and that in future all persons who build streets that they expect the Town to assume should be sure that none are less than forty feet wide, while many should be from fifty to sixty feet in width.
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The Committee chosen at a former meeting of the town to consider this subject will in their report give us much valuable information. The last Legislature voted a sum of money that has been offered as prizes for treatises on road- making and road-repairing, and it is to be hoped that some good results may come from this movement. Instead of making a separate item for bridges, as we have done hereto- fore, we include the repairing of bridges with that for high- ways, as they are all under the care of the Selectmen.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
During the past season we have built a new engine-house at the Lower Falls, on land purchased for the purpose, and have procured a new hand-engine, to be placed in the same. Much new hose has been purchased for the several engines, and this department is now in excellent condition. We re- commend the same sum ($10,000) this year as was appropriated last year. We do this because we believe the Town will adopt the report of a Committee of Selectmen and Engineers, who were instructed to examine into the subject of the pay of firemen, and report at the March meeting. That Committee believe that the pay should be increased, and will so report.
ALMSHOUSE EXPENSES.
We recommend the same sum as last year. The number of the poor at the Almshouse has not materially changed. Mr. Ware and his efficient wife continue to manage this de-
64
partment in the most satisfactory manner. Mr. Ware will continue as Warden, having been engaged for the ensuing year.
INSURANCE.
We have had an opportunity the past year to realize the benefit of being insured, and the twenty-five thousand dollars that will be received on account of the school-house burned at the Centre on the 14 of November last will go far towards building another house on the same spot. For a detailed statement of insurance of the property of the Town, see the Auditors' Report, which makes an excellent exhibit in favor of insuring. The amount recommended for Insurance is larger than that of last year, because of the amount that will be needed on the school-house to be erected at Newton Centre.
POLICE.
The sum recommended for this department is quite an ad- vance on that of any previous year, and made necessary be- cause of the appointment of a night police at West Newton, as at Newton Corner, and payment for special police duty in other parts of the Town. Though we have the reputation, and deservedly so, of being peaceable and quiet people, we cannot well dispense with the services of the faithful police- men in the larger villages.
LIGHTING STREETS.
It will be observed that this item is increasing from year to year. Gas has generally taken the place of kerosene. There
65
has been some complaint the past year in regard to the quali- ty and quantity of gas supplied, as well as the lighting of the street lamps. It is not easy to secure reliable men to perform the duty of lighting and keeping the lamps in' repair, even though the best of material is furnished. The lamps are scat- tered over so large a space, that without a horse it is difficult to light and put out at the proper hours, and in stormy nights they do not always receive a visit of the lamplighter. The burners used have not been sufficient, and in some cases have been replaced by those of greater capacity. While there are many who would cut off the appropriation for lighting streets, we would, on the whole, advise its continuance.
TOWN HALL.
Among the appropriations of the past year were those for the alteration of the Town Hall and the furnishing of the same. We believe that the Town must be fully satisfied that this money has been judiciously expended, and that the neces- sity for a new Town Hall has been by this arrangement post- poned for several years. Something more is needed to finish the rooms in the basement, and make some further improve- ments about the premises.
We hope all the citizens will carefully examine the Audi- tors' Report, to see what has been done with the money they have paid in taxes the past year, and as far as possible attend
9
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the Annual Town Meeting and show their interest in the good management of the affairs of the Town.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES F. C. HYDE, GEO. E. BRIDGES, D. C. SANGER, WILLARD MARCY,
WM. B. FOWLE,
JOSEPH WALKER,
THOS. RICE, JR.,
Selectmen of Newton.
NEWTON, Feb. 12, 1870.
REPORT OF ENGINEERS
OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THIS Department is in good condition, and will compare favorably with that of any other town in the Common- wealth. The liberality of the Town in appropriating money to promote its efficiency is to be seen in the erection of two elegant engine-houses, -one at Newton Corner, and the other at Lower Falls; the steamer and new hose-carriage ; the new hand-engine at Lower Falls ; the four other hand- engines in different parts of the town; and the abundant supply of new hose.
The new Cataract No. 1, at Lower Falls, is a superior engine of her class, and has proved to be all that was desired or expected of her. She is manned by a full com- pany, in good condition ; they have worked at five fires, and turned out at four alarms, during the past year. Their new house is a model of its kind, and has all the modern im- provements, and gives entire satisfaction to the Board of Engineers and to the company, who take a deep interest in their organization.
Triton No. 3 is in good working condition, and has done much good service during the year. The company disbanded in September last ; but a new company was promptly formed by citizens of West Newton, who hold themselves in readi- ness for duty in the village.
Mechanic No. 4 has a full company, and has worked at several fires during the year with their usual promptness and
68
efficiency. It is an old machine, but will not suffer in com- parison with any other engine of its size.
Nonantum No. 5 has no company, but has been kept at Newton Corner as a reserve, in case a fire should occur when the steamer was absent.
Empire No. 5 is lying idle at Newton Corner, - a large, unwieldy machine. It is not needed, and we recommend that it be sold at once.
Eagle No. 6, at Newton Centre, has a company for the first time in several years. They have been out to three fires within the year ; the engine is a good one, and in per- fect repair.
Newton No. 1 steamer has worked at nine fires, and turned out at seven alarms when it did not work. There is a company attached to the steamer consisting of fifteen men, including engineer and fireman. It has proved a success, has done much good service during the past year, and has been the means of saving many thousands of dollars' worth of property.
The expense of maintaining the steamer is necessarily large ; but we think the Town will never regret its action in providing such ample means for putting out fires. The result, so far, certainly proves the wisdom of the investment ; and in this connection we would suggest, that a hook and ladder carriage, with the necessary equipments, would very greatly promote the efficiency of the Department. The want of this branch of the service is often severely felt ; and buildings are burned down solely because no ladders can be obtained to conduct the hose to the seat of the fire. The duties of hose-men at fires are such as require their whole attention ; they have no time to search for ladders; and it often happens that, when ladders can be produced, it is too late, and the property is sacrificed.
We would recommend the purchase of such an establish- ment, to be located at Newtonville or some other central point of the town.
The insufficient supply of water, in some parts of the
69
town, to feed and supply the engines, especially the steamer, is worthy of remark; but as a committee, chosen by the Town, are expected to report measures soon to correct this evil, we leave the question here, confident that proper measures will be taken by the town at the next annual meeting.
Great loss is often suffered at fires by reason of irrespon- sible persons being allowed to rush into buildings on fire, or in danger of being burned, and destroy or carry away val- uable property ; and frequently disturbances occur at fires, and violence is sometimes used. For the better protection of persons and property, we would earnestly recommend the appointment of a Fire Police, for duty at fires in Newton.
W. PARKER LEAVITT, Chief Engineer.
NEWTON, Feb. 1, 1870.
REGISTRAR'S REPORT FOR 1869.
THE following statistics of Births, Intentions of Marriage, Mar- riages, and Deaths, in Newton, prepared by the Clerk, are for the year 1869; beginning with Jan. 1st, and ending with Dec. 31st :-
BIRTHS. .
Whole number for the year, 262
Males 115
Females
147
262
Of American parents 139
Of Irish parents . 83
Of English parents
16
Of parents from British Prov.
10
Of other foreign parents
14
262
IN THE VILLAGES.
Newton Corner 71
West Newton
46
Newton Centre
45
Newtonville
33
Upper Falls 25
Auburndale 15
'Lower Falls
14
North Village
13
262
More than in 1868 .
1
Colored, included in the above, 1
There were 22 others recorded, mostly those who were born in other places, and had removed to Newton previous to the time of taking the registration. These would be likely to have no record, if not re- corded in Newton.
There were three pairs of twins born in Newton in 1869.
The least number of births in any one month was 14, in January ; the greatest number was 33, in August; and the same in October.
INTENTIONS OF MARRIAGE.
The whole number of couples who received certificates was . . 111
In which both parties belonged to Newton 53
In which but one party belonged to Newton 58
Making 164 persons of Newton who entered their intentions, and who, probably, were all married; 9 persons less than during the year 1868.
71
The Record of Intentions of Marriage shows the true number of Newton people who are married; the law requiring a certificate from the City or Town Clerk where each party resides. Clergymen and others, who perform the marriage ceremony, should remember this requirement of law.
MARRIAGES.
The whole number of Marriages recorded in Newton for 1869, is 109 couples ; 5 couples less than in 1868.
In which one or both parties belonged to Newton 95 couples.
In which neither party belonged to Newton 14
The greatest number of marriages in any one month was 16, in November; the least number was 3, in March.
The first marriage of 198 persons.
The second
19
The third 66
1 66
218
DEATHS.
The whole number of Deaths, in Newton, in 1869, was 138, which is 2 more than in 1868.
The oldest person who died in Newton during the year was Eliza Furbur, 90 yrs. 6 mos. 17 days old.
DISEASES.
AGES.
Consumption
16
Stillborn .
4
Scarlet Fever
15
Under 10 years of age 56
Between 10 and 20 years
9
66 20
30
66 16
4
30
40
66
9
Old Age
7
40
50
66
66
10
Apoplexy
3
66 50
60
66
66
6
Typhoid Fever
4
66
60
70
66
66
10
Lung Fever
3
70
80
66
10
Erysipelas
2
80
90
Dropsy
4
66
90
100
66
66
1
Other Diseases and Causes . 71
Not given
1
138
138
By the best information we have, we estimate the population of Newton to be about 10,300.
Taking that as correct, by the above return, the proportion of deaths to the population has been 1 in 75. Consumption still leads
Measles
5
Convulsions
4
Cholera Infantum
6
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as a disease among us; but its proportion of victims has been far less the last two years than formerly. In the years 1858 and 1859, about one-fourth of all the deaths in Newton were by consumption ; in 1860 and 1861, about one in six and one-half; in 1862 and 1863, about one in seven; in 1864 and 1865, about one in six; in 1866 and 1867, about one in five and three-fourths ; in 1868 and 1869, about one in eight and three-fourths.
It is believed, that the favorable change in the proportionate mor- tality by this disease, in Newton, during the last ten years, has been caused, in a great degree, by better protecting the feet from cold and wet. Still, this is, and perhaps always will be, the leading disease of this region; and that fact should admonish us all to be vigilant in guarding against its first attacks, which are more to be dreaded than the small-pox or cholera. During the past year, the scarlet fever has been more mortal than it usually is ; and this may, perhaps, in part be attributed to the want of continued care over the patient after health begins to return. We cannot often tell what the sequel to that disease will be for some time after the disease has apparently left the patient.
POPULATION AND MORTALITY IN NEWTON FOR TEN YEARS PAST.
The following Table is very nearly correct : -
In 1860
Population (U. S. Census)
8,382
Deaths 94 One in 89
1861
8,600
66
136
66
63
1862
66
8,700
66
93
94
1863
8,750
66
149
66
59
1864
8,850
135
66
66
1865
66
(State Census)
8,978
127
66
71
1866
66
9,100
66
116
78
1867
66
9,310
133
70
1868
66
9,900
136
66
73
1869
66
11,000
66
138
66
79
By the above table it appears, that for the nine years immediately preceding last year the average of deaths has been one in about seventy-four of our population ; and last year, one in seventy-nine ; while the average mortality in our State has usually been about one in fifty-four. Notwithstanding Newton is one of the most healthy towns in our land, yet the probability is that more than one hundred of our citizens, within the current year, will need a quiet resting- place from the toils and cares of life; and this thought leads me to say a few words about our -
NEWTON CEMETERY.
DURING the past year, the trustees have added to the area of the cemetery ten acres, making the whole area now about eighty acres, situated in the territorial centre of Newton, having a front on Walnut Street of 400 feet ; on Beacon Street, about 600 feet; and on Homer Street, 1,000 feet. This additional land has been purchased partly to secure a good place for our new gate and entrance, and partly to obtain good land, for a moderate price, for the future Newton. The gate has been erected, and the new entrance mostly graded; and we believe, when the surroundings are completed, the gate and entrance will be satisfactory to the citizens of Newton.
A number of improvements have been made in the cemetery, be- sides the gate and entrance, the past year. The valley appropriated to tombs has been thoroughly, and we think permanently, drained; so that surface-water will no more trouble us. A number of dry wells have been constructed in certain localities for the reception of surface- water; large numbers of flowering shrubs and plants have been ob- tained and prepared for lot-holders and others.
The trustees have nearly fifty lots, of different sizes, graded, and ready for use; and have recently located some fifteen lots north and east of the Soldiers' Monument lot, which are, perhaps, the most desirable lots in the cemetery. Probably there will never be a better opportunity to select desirable lots than the coming spring.
We still think we have the best spot in Newton for a cemetery for the whole town; that it has never looked better than it has the past year; and that under the care of our excellent superintendent, it is becoming more and more popular ; and we invite those heads of fami- lies who have not selected their lots to visit the Newton Cemetery in early spring, and examine the lots above alluded to.
We again suggest to lot-holders the great importance of providing, by will or otherwise, for the continued care of their lots after they and their families, and perhaps their friends, shall have passed away and be quietly resting in those lots.
MARSHALL S. RICE, Registrar.
Newton Centre, Feb. 8, 1870.
10
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
ON THE
APPOINTMENT OF ROAD-ENGINEER, AND ON THE SUBJECTS OF LAYING OUT NEW STREETS AND OF DRAINAGE.
AT the annual March meeting of the town of Newton for the year 1869, the undersigned were appointed a Committee " to take into consideration the appointment of a road-engi- neer to have supervision of the roads in Newton, in connec- tion with the Selectmen, and to survey the town, with refer- ence to the laying out of new streets : - the Committee to report at the next town meeting."
The Committee gave immediate attention to the subject, and made a report upon the question submitted to them at a special town meeting held on the 3d of May, 1869. This report they caused to be printed, and distributed at the sta- tions and in the town meeting. To afford a more complete understanding of the whole subject, it is herewith submitted, as follows : -
REPORT SUBMITTED TO TOWN MEETING, MAY 3, 1869.
Your Committee consider that the question of the employment of a road engineer largely involves the question whether the roads of the town of Newton shall continue to be repaired in the old-fashioned, temporizing manner, or whether the work shall be done thoroughly ; and they are satisfied that the true interests of the town will be best promoted by employing the best attainable engineering skill ; by hay- ยท ing the roads over which heavy teams travel macadamized with broken stone, and also by having the gravelled roads, as well as the broken stone roads, underdrained in all places where springs manifest them- selves, or where higher land adjacent to the road makes it wet and muddy. The test of a road is its condition in bad weather and its
75
power of sustaining heavy teams without being cut up in ruts or pounded full of holes; and certainly some of the roads of Newton, al- though in fair condition in dry weather, are not able to resist rains nor sustain heavy teams. Should the town purchase a stone-crusher, and decide to repair with broken stone, it will still be no less necessary to underdrain, or in some suitable way relieve the road-bed of water, or the macadamizing will not be effectual. A good engineer has the gath- ered and recorded experience of communities and nations. He knows, or should know, the relative qualities and degree of adaptation of differ- ent kinds of rocks for the purpose of macadamizing ; he can detect anything in the subsoil which renders it unfit for a road bed, and sug- gest a remedy. He can calculate the area of rainfall in a given precinct and determine the amount of drainage, and the necessary size of cul- verts and bridges. He can grade drains, both surface and concealed, at the proper angle, and select the most feasible route for their con- struction. He would know about different crushing machines, their prices and relative value. His knowledge and suggestions would save the town many times his salary by enabling the town to avoid useless and perhaps costly expense. And it may be hoped that in a couple of years our present Superintendent, or some other person, would have thus received such hints and information as would enable him to man- age our roads without the supervision of an engineer.
It may be apprehended that these recommendations, if carried into effect, would involve a large if not useless outlay. In answer to this it can be stated, by way of illustration, that the bill of a first-rate en- gineer, Mr. J. HI. Shedd, for superintending the roads of Brookline, was but $312 for an entire year. It will doubtless cost more in the outset to repair or build a road with broken stone, but the work, if properly done, will last with but slight repairs for years.
The town of Waltham macadamizes its principal streets. It keeps ten to fifteen men under constant employ, and much of the time on the roads, - one of these men has thus been engaged for twenty years. Its superintendent of roads has held his situation twelve years; his salary as road-master is $800 ; he is also paid $100 as highway surveyor. Waltham, in 1865, had 51 miles of road, and for the previous seven years its roads had cost the town an average of $3,357 a year, or about $66 a mile. It cost that town the past year, for repairs of roads and clearing off snow, $6,000 for sixty miles of road. The town of Newton expended for repairs and clearing off snow in the same time on eighty- two miles the sum of $14,523, or $176 a mile. It will thus be seen that our system of partial or incomplete repair is almost twice as expensive as the Waltham system.
But this is taking the most narrow view of the subject. An edito_ rial in a recent Boston paper says : " The heaviest part of our highway tax is no doubt that which is levied upon us by the destruction of horse- flesh, the impeding of public travel, the wear of vehicles, and the in-
76
creased cost of transportation over our poor roads. This is a tax which without any assessor or collector is inexorably exacted from every bar- rel of flour, every bag of grain, every box of goods, and every person passing over our travelled roads. As it is levied indirectly, and, more than all, as we have always paid it, nobody thinks of it. But it is one of the heaviest burdens resting on the people of Massachusetts and of New England, borne by those who rank among the most thrifty and progressive people on earth, and who, nevertheless, in this everyday matter are demonstrably rather more than two thousand years behind the world." That this is not imaginary, statistics show. General Morin found, by careful experiment, that " carriages on springs, drawn upon a new road covered with gravel five inches thick, required in tractive force one-eighth the load ; upon a solid causeway of earth, with gravel one and a half inch thick, one-tenth the load ; upon a causeway of earth in very good condition, one twenty-sixth the load ; upon a broken stone road, very smooth, one forty-fifth the load ; upon a broken stone road, moist or dusty, one-thirtieth the load; upon a broken stone road, with ruts and mud, one-twentieth the load ; upon a broken stone road, with deep ruts and thick mud, the tractive force re- quired was one-tenth the load." It will thus be seen that the smooth causeway of earth, in very good condition, required but one twenty- sixth of its weight in tractive force to draw it, while the smooth brok- en stone road required only one forty-fifth the weight of the load in tractive force.
Before the invention of railways, the attention of engineers in Great Britain and on the continent of Europe was largely given to the con- struction of common roads and turnpikes upon which the heavy travel of those nations depended. Telford built, more than fifty years ago, 800 miles of road in the Highlands of Scotland, still admirable and in constant use. The roads built by the French engineers of the First Empire are still among the finest in the world. No one that has travelled over the Simplon road, or the Mt Cenis road, or from the St. Barnard pass to Martigny, or all around the Bay of Naples to Sorrento, on a road built by Murat, and which the lazy Italians have had the the grace to let alone, can possibly resist the claims of a good, smooth, hard road. It adds new charms to scenery, and imparts a fresh zest to life. MacNeill constructed a machine to test the amount of tractive power required on different roads. This was carefully tested .by many very eminent engineers, Their experiments showed, uni- formly, that the force of traction is, in every case, nearly in exact pro- portion to the strength and hardness of a road. They found that on a road made with a thick coating of gravel, a load which required the power of 147 pounds to draw it could be drawn on a broken stone road with a power of 65 pounds ; and on a road of broken stone of great hardness, laid on a foundation of large stones set in the form of a pave-
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