Town of Newton annual report 1878-1879, Part 7

Author: Newton (Mass.)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Newton (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 476


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During the year 1878 a record was made of the facts, required by law, concerning 375 births, 115 marriages, and 264 deaths. The aggregate of this registry is 754, an excess of two over the total for the previous year.


Further comparison with the vital statistics of 1877 shows that in that year the registered number of births was larger by 34; the number of regis- tered marriages was smaller by 9; the registered number of deaths smaller by 27.


The natural increase of population, or excess of births over deaths, was 111, a number less by 60 than the natural increase (172) in 1877.


The rate of births, marriages, and deaths, of New- ton parties, in 1878, are as follows: -


Births, 20.92 + to 1,000 of estimated population. Marriages, 8.95 + to "


Deaths, 15.26 ++ to 6. 66 66


79


The excess of birth-rate over the death-rate is 5.66 per thousand, or .566 per cent.


One living child was born to every 48 of the population ; one person in every 112 at all ages was married, and one person in every 66 died.


The number of still births registered was 13.


Marriages.


The whole number of marriages registered in 1877 was 109. In 1878 the number was 115.


The registration of marriages is never complete, from the fact that no returns are made, in many cases, by persons solemnizing marriages for which certificates were obtained.


The marriage rate in 1878, the number of mar- riages of citizens of Newton to every thousand of the estimated population, was 8.95, that is to say, of the 17,300 of the people of all ages, 155 were married in 1878.


Deaths.


Consumption holds, as heretofore, the first place as a destroyer of human life, its victims numbering 14 more in 1878 than in the previous year. Cholera infantum stands next in rank, 12 more having died from this cause the past year than during 1877. Diptheria and scarlet fever and kindred infectious diseases made but slight impression on the mortality of our city.


The number of males who died during the year exceeds the number of females by 30.


80


TABLE I. - Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1878.


General abstract exhibiting the Births, Marriages, and Deaths registered in the City of Newton for the year ending December 31, 1878; distin- guishing the sex and the parentage of children born, the nativity of persons married, and the sex and aggregate and average ages of the number who died.


BIRTHS.


Estimated Population of 1878.


Sex.


Parentage.


Whole


Number.


M.


F.


υ.


Am.


For.


Am. Fa. and For. Fa. and Am. Mo. For. Mo.


Unk.


17,300


375


202


172


1


167


153


27


26


2


MARRIAGES.


Nativity.


Couples.


American.


Foreign.


Am. Male and For. Female.


For. Male and Am. Female.


115


78


21


8


8


DEATHS.


Sex.


Ages in years.


Persons.


No. whose ages are registered.


Male.


Female.


Unk.


Aggregate.


Average.


264


146


116


2


250


8,292


33.01+


81


TABLE II. - Births, 1878.


Distinguishing by months and by sex the registered number of children born alive during the year.


MONTHS.


Sex.


Total.


Jan.


Feb.


March.


April.


May.


June.


July.


Aug.


Sept.


Oct.


Nov.


Dec.


Male


14


12


18


22


15


16


18


20


5


24


16


16


196


Female


10


16


18


10


12


16


5


13


16


19


12


19


166


Totals . . .


24


28


36


32


27


32


23


33


21


43


28


35


362


TABLE III. Distinguishing by months and by sex the registered number of still-births during the year.


MONTHS.


Sex.


Jan.


Feb.


March.


April.


May.


June.


July.


Aug.


Sept.


Oct.


Nov.


Dec.


Male


4


6


Female


1


1


6


Unknown


1


.


.


· .


1


Totals . . .


5


1


3


1


1


1


1


13


TABLE IV. - Marriages.


Distinguishing by months, the number of marriages during the year.


MONTHS.


Couples.


Total.


Jan.


Feb.


March.


April.


May.


June.


July.


Aug.


Sept.


Oct.


Nov.


Dec.


115


10


8


10


8


7


14


7


6


10


12


14


9


115


--


-


-


-


-


1


1


·


3


1


.


. . .


Total.


82


TABLE V. - Marriages.


Exhibiting the social condition and ages, respectively, of all parties mar- ried during the year ending December 31, 1878.


Aggregate of all conditions.


All ages.


Under 20.


20 to 25.


25 to 30.


30 to 35.


35 to 40.


40 to 45.


45 to 50.


50 to 55.


55 to 60.


60 to 65.


Unknown.


All ages .


230


13


116


61


20


6


6


4


1


1


1


1


Males


115


1


53


32


15


4


4


2


1


1


1


.


Females


115


12


63


29


5


2


2


1


.


.


.


1


A. First marriage of both parties.


All age


210


13


114


60


14


2


3


3


.


1


Males


105


1


53


32


13


1


2


3


.


.


Females


105


12


61


28


1


1


1


.


1


B. Subsequent marriage of male, but first of female.


All ages .


16


.


. .


.


.


Males


8


.


2


2


2


1


1


. .


Females


S


2


1


4


1


.


.


C. Subsequent marriage of both parties.


All ages .


4


. .


.


Males


2


1


Females


2


1


1


· .


.


.


.


.


. .


. .


.


1


. .


83


TABLE VI. - Deaths.


Distinguishing by months and sex the registered number of persons who died during the year.


Year.


MONTHS.


264


Totals.


Jan.


Feb.


March.


April.


May.


June.


July.


Aug.


Sept.


Oct.


Nov.


Dec.


Male ..


11


10


5


14


7


12


26


24


12


9


8


8


146


Female .


9


7


6


5


9


8


11


13


10


12


7


19


116


Not stated . .


·


.


·


.


2


Totals . . .


20


17


11


19


16


20


39


37


22


21


15


27


264


Sex.


-


2


TABLE VII. - Deaths.


The following Table shows the Number of Deaths from several Specified Causes of each Sex, in each Month, which were Registered in the City of Newton for the Year ending Dec. 31, 1878.


N / Consumption.


o=5 | Dysentery.


co | Old Age.


Aco | Cancer.


16 | Convulsions.


| Diptheria. 3


| Diarrhea. 4


| Paralysis. 1


Apoplexy.


| Unknown.


| Whooping-Cough.


| Scarlet Fever. H | Drowning.


191 | R.R. Accident. 11 | Peritonitis. ' |Dropsy.


Spinal Disease.


Cholera Morbus.


| Rheumatism.


Liver Complaint. |Jaundice.


_ | Intemperance.


_ | Dyspepsia.


| Epilepsy.


Erysipelas. Croup.


Enteritis.


Caries of bone of ear.


Totals.


Totals


5 | Cholera Infantum.


NA 5 8 | Premature Birth.


6DE | Heart Disease.


Į Pneumonia.


| Meningitis. 8


| Typhoid Fever.


Hemorrhage.


| Brain Disease.


Child-Birth. A


H & | Hernia.


19 % | Insanity.


Bronchitis. HINCO


116


116


1


1


1


1


Males .


Females


Not stated


20


January .


February


3


4


·


·


.


2


3


·


·


·


·


·


1


1


1


1


April


1


2


1


1


1


· 1


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


2


1


1


1


.


·


·


July .


3 5


1


3


1


2.


1


1


9


4


1


1


·


August


6


12


4


1


1


2.


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


.


.


·


·


September


3


7


1


1


1


.


·


2


2


.


.


·


November


8 6


1


·


· 3


2


4


· 9


8


.. .


91.


6


5


A


· 3


· 3


.2


2


2


1


1


1


1


1


1


1 264


Percentage of Mortality, 1.524.


Respectfully submitted, EDWIN O. CHILDS, City Clerk.


81


5


4


3


2


3


3


2


2


1


1


1


1


H'


1


2


1


March


2


·


1


4


4


5


1


1


1


·


1


May .


1


·


1 1


2 1


.


·


3


.


·


1


1


1


1


1


1


1


· 1


· 1


1


.


·


.


1


·


·


·


·


October .


4


2


·


·


·


·


·


1


1


1


27


December Totals


·


· 1 3


. 2


1 1


·


.


.


·


· 1


A. .


1


·


·


·


.


H


.


·


·


1


2


1


17 11 19 16 20 39 37 22


June


·


·


1


2 1


1 1 1


1


·


.


1


·


1


Exhaustion.


| Pleurisy. 1


HH | Gangrene.


1


1


1


1 264


1


1


1


.


5 1


1


21 15


48 26 17 18 12 11


9


· 4


| Bright's Disease.


Table Showing the Number of Polls, Real and Personal Estate of the City, Amount of Tax, Rate per Cent. Appropriations, etc., for Seventeen Years.


A.D.


Polls.


Real Estate.


Personal.


Total.


City, State, and County Tax.


Rate.


Appropriations.


Houses.


1861.


2,056


$5,644,285 00


· $1,955,835 00


$7,600,120 00


$57,804 88


$7 20


$47,500 00


1,330


1862.


1,989


5,476,805 00


2,495,821 00


7,922,620 00


56,599 17


5 60


35,000 00


1,374


1863.


1,911


5,504,367 00


2,988,195 00


8,492,562 00


64,968 65


7 20


40,000 00


1,399


1864.


2,046


5,637,755 00


2,309,021 00


7,946,776 00


78,000 55


9 50


52,500 00


1,421


1865.


2,118


5,756,185 00


3,390,075 00


9,146,260 00


113,991 12


12 00


60,000


00


1,438


1866.


2,297


6,394,835 00


4,560,724 00


10,955,559 00


114,149 59


10 00


75,000 00


1,491


1867.


2,438


7,227,285 00


4,995,127 00


12,222,412 00


153,990 88


12 20


95,000


00


1,552


1868.


2,736


9,104,567 00


5,366,602 00


14,441,169 00


193,208 88


13 (


160,000


00


1,671


1869.


2,937


10,288,610 00


5,634,266 00


15,922,876 00


188,990 46


11 50


150,000 00


1,826


1870.


3,055


11,407,070 00


6,330,922 00


17,737,992 00


222,514 71


12 20


185,000 00


2,077


1871.


3,199


12,770,420 00


6,615,593 00


19,386,013 00


223,521 32


11 20


185,000 00


2,220


1872.


3,420


15,792,950 00


8,463,904 00


24,256,854 00


334,314 87


13 50


291,050 00


2,392


1873.


3,659


18,446,275 00


7,537,775 00


25,984,050 00


384,089 84


14 50


333,300 00


2,523


1874.


3,917


20,032,800


00


8,048,645 00


28,081,445 00


372,893 53


13 00


320,000 00


2,657


1875.


4,089


21,073,495 00


7,882,374 00


28,955,869 00


399,085 46


13 50


351,000 00


2,876


1876.


4,334


21,128,120 00


7,072,845 00


28,200,965 00


392,201 13


13 60


350,004 99


3,004


1877.


4,045


20,007,025 00


6,627,488 00


26,634,513 00


370,319 38


13 60


327,645 13


3,057


1878.


3,882


18,604,105 00


6,408,825 00


25,012,930 00


352,942 43


13 80


319,225 00


3,150


85


86


TABLE


Showing amount paid for support of Poor out of Almshouse from 1851 to 1878, inclusive : -


1851


$138 56


1865


$870 77


1852


104 94


1866


643 72


1853


45 70


1867


1,268 08


1854


38 10


1868


1,464 53


1855


73 63


1869


2,019 28


1856


135 49


1870


.


2,197 41


1857


204 96


1871


3,713 39


1858


387 61


1872


2,884 79


1859


358 25


1873


3,066 59


1860


500 81


1874


.


3,895 51


1861


757 14


1875


.


5,553 79


1862


781 50


1876


9,336 14


1863


632 27


1877


10,259 57


1864


605 02


1878


8,284 10 .


SALARIES OF CITY OFFICERS, 1878.


Mayor,


$1,000 00


City Clerk,


1,800 00


City Treasurer and Collector,


2,000 00


Assistant for Treasurer and Collector,


1,200 00


City Auditor,


1,500 00


City Solicitor,


1,000 00


Chairman of Assessors,


1,200 00


Two Assessors, each,


700 00


Assistant Assessors, each per day,


4 00


City Messenger,


800 00


Clerk of Common Council,


300 00


Sealer of Weights and Measures,


75 00


.


.


87


HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.


Superintendent of Streets, two horses and carriage furnished, $1,400 00


Four Assistant Superintendents, each per day, 2 75


City Engineer, 1,300 00


FIRE DEPARTMENT.


Chief Engineer, team furnished, $1,500 00


Assistant Engineer, 300 00


Clerk of Board, 100 00


Three Engineers of Steamers, each,


900 00


Four Drivers of Steamers and Hook and Ladder Co., each, 700 00


Eight Foremen of Steamers and Hook and Ladder and Hose Co., each, 80 00


Eight Assistant Foremen and Clerks of steamers,


and Hook and Ladder, and Hose Co., each, 65 00


Fifty-eight hosemen and ladder men, each, 60 00


POLICE DEPARTMENT.


City Marshal, team furnished, $1,200 00


Sergeant of Police, horse furnished, 1,000 00


Thirteen policemen, each, 900 00


POOR DEPARTMENT.


Seven Overseers of Poor, each, $50 00


City Almoner and Clerk of Board, 600 00


Warden of Almshouse, 500 00


88


WATER DEPARTMENT.


Water Registrar,


$1,200 00


Superintendent of Water Works, 1,500 00


Engineer at Pumping Station,


1,080 00


Fireman and Watchman, Pumping Station,


540 00


SCHOOLS.


Superintendent,


$2,700 00


One teacher,


2,700 00


Four teachers, at $2,000,


8,000 00


One teacher,


1,850 00


One teacher,


800 00


One teacher,


1,200 00


Two teachers, $1,100,


2,200 00


Four teachers, $900,


3,600 00


Thirteen teachers, $750,


9,750 00


Forty-nine teachers, $600,


29,400 00


One teacher,


550 00


One teacher,


500 00


Two teachers, $400,


800 00


Secretary of School Committee,


300 00


Janitors.


One Janitor,


$650 00


66


66


626 00


66


66


540 00


66


66


425 00


66


400 00


66


66


300 00


66


66


275 00


66


200 00


66


180 00


66


120 00


Two Janitors, at $96,


192 00


-


89


Library.


Librarian, Assistant Librarian,


$800 00


500 00


Two assistants, for service, one shilling per hour.


SCHEDULE OF CITY PROPERTY, REAL AND PERSONAL.


Almshouse Department.


40 acres of land,


$10,000 00


Buildings,


5,000 00


Personal property,


3,000 00 - $18,000 00


City Hall Department.


City Hall, furniture and fixtures,


$40,000 00


City seal,


25 00


City stamps,


35 00


Reports, statutes, and special laws,


300 00


Set standard weights and measures,


100 00


Record books,


200 00


Book-cases, maps, etc.,


100 00


$40,760 00


Cemetery Department.


Land in Newton Cemetery,


$2,000 00


Tomb


800 00


$2,800 00


City Engineering Department.


One transit, No. 1,


$140 00


One level,


120 00


One transit, No. 2,


200 00


Amounts carried forward, $460 00


$61,560 00


90


Amounts brought forward,


$460 00


$61,560 00


One level,


120 00


Draughting materials,


136 00


Surveying


48 00


Tools,


12 00


Stationery, '


55 00


Sundries,


25 00


$856 00


Fire Department.


Steam Fire Engine House, No. 1 Engine,


and apparatus, furniture, lock-up,


dwelling-house, stable and land, $25,000 00 Steam Fire Engine House, No. 2 En- gine, apparatus, land, etc., 25,000 00


Steam Fire Engine House, No. 3 En- gine, and apparatus, furniture, stable, lock-up, land, etc., 28,000 00


Hook and Ladder House, stable, land,


etc., No. 2, 18,000 00


Hook and Ladder Carriage, etc., Newtonville, 800 00


Hose Carriage, hose, etc., Newtonville, 1,500 00


Engine House, land, etc., 66 3,500 00


Hose Carriage House, stable, etc., Auburndale, 5,000 00


Hose Carriage, hose, etc., Auburndale,


800 00


Hose Carriage House, stable, etc., Lower Falls, 7,000 00


Hose Carriage, hose, etc., Lower Falls, 1,800 00 Fire Engine House, engine, land, etc., Upper Falls, 2,000 00


Fire Engine House, land, etc., Newton Centre, 4,000 00


Hose, apparatus, hooks, ladders, etc., 1,000 00


Reservoirs for fire purposes, 2,000 00


Amounts carried forward,


$125,400 00


$62,416 00


91


Amounts brought forward, $125,400 00 $62,416 00 Fire Alarm Telegraph, including team,


etc.,


16,000 00


141,400 00


Free Library Department.


Newton Free Library, building and


land,


$42,000 00 10,000 00


Books,


$52,000 00


Gravel and Gravel lands.


Land on Pearl Street,


Ward 1,


$2,000 00


Jewett Street,


66


2,500 00


' Dalby Street,


66 66 1,400 00


66 Dalby Street,


66 500 00


" Crafts Street,


Ward 2,


500 00


66.


" Cook Street,


66


200 00


66


" Watertown Street, " 66


1,000 00


in North Village, 66


600 00


66


" North Village,


66 66 300 00


66


" North Village, 66


66


500 00


66 on Pine Street, Ward 3,


250 00


66


" Pine Street,


550 00


66 in Ward 4,


400 00


Gravel on Washington St., Ward 4,


1,000 00


66


" Grove Street, 6 66 150 00


66


" Elliot Street, Ward 5,


500 00


" Parker Street,


66


250 00


Land on Willow and Centre Streets, Ward 6, 1,000 00


Land on Centre and Station Streets, Ward 6, 3,000 00


Land on Beacon Street, Ward 6, 200 00


$18,200 00


Amount carried forward,


$274,016 00


66


66 66


66 66


1,400 00


92


Amount brought forward, $274,016 00


Highway Department.


21 cart horses, $225, $4,725 00


17 horses used by Fire Dept., $225, 3,825 00


1 horse for Supt. of Streets, 125 00


1 horse for Engineer, 200 00


25 double and single carts, 2,500 00


43 harnesses,


850 00


4 double sleds, $200,


800 00


2 stone-crushers and houses,


5,000 00


2 stone wagons, express wagon, car- riage and sleigh, 390 00


Tools, chains, derricks, blankets, etc., 1,680 00


$20,095 00


Lighting Department.


For 1,085 posts, lanterns, burners,


etc., $10,


$10,850 00


Police Department.


Station-house, building and land, No.


Village,


$4,000 00


Furniture and bedding,


50 00


Furniture and bedding, Ward 1,


Ward 6,


75 00


"Horse, wagon, and harness,


350 00


Horse, saddle, and bridle,


125 00


14 pairs handcuffs,


$3 75


52 50


12 clubs,


2 00


24 00


3 lanterns,


4 00


12 00


14 badges,


2 50


35 00


13 parade clubs and belts,


3 60


45 50


Blankets,


20 00


Record books,


25 00


$4,864 00


Amount carried forward,


$309,825 00


50 00


93


Amount brought forward,


$309,825 00


School Department.


High School bl'd'gs, furniture and land, $57,000 00


Mason School-House, "


48,000 00


Hyde


66


66


22,000 00


Prospect


66 30,000 00


Prospect


" No. 2. "


66


6,000 00


Oak Hill 66


12,000 00


Hamilton


66 28,000 00


Williams 66 66


66 27,000 00


Pierce 66


66


32,000 00


Davis


66


66


66


13,000 00


Franklin


66


15,000 00


Claflin


66


66


66


31,500 00


Adams


66


22,000 00


Bigelow


66


66


66


34,000 00


Underwood 66


24,000 00


Lincoln


66


66


66


5,500 00


Jackson


66


66


14,000 00


School apparatus,


5,000 00


$426,000 .00


$735,825 00


-


ANNUAL REPORT OF


BOARD OF OVERSEERS.


ANNUAL REPORT OF BOARD OF OVERSEERS.


To His Honor the Mayor and City Council of Newton: -


The close of another financial year makes it the duty of the Overseers of the Poor to render a re- port of the condition of that department of the public service which has been committed to their charge, together with the receipts and expenditures of the same, for the year ending Dec. 31, 1878.


In addition to the statement of money received and expended, it seems proper that we should give to your honorable body a report of the general condition of the poor of our city, with such facts and information as we may deem expedient.


The subject is always one of general interest, for we have the "poor with us always;" but the methods of administering to the wants of those claiming re- lief at the public charge, require the largest dis- cretion on the part of those upon whom this duty rests; otherwise, by a profuse and loose expenditure of the city's bounty, there is great danger of add- ing largely to the class who depend upon the public to supply their wants, and thereby adding largely to the burdens of the tax-payers, and worse still, encouraging a large class of the community to rely upon others, rather than themselves for support.


98


While the aid furnished by private charity is re- ceived with gratitude, that which comes from the city treasury is too often demanded as a right, or claimed as a just return for the payment of few poll-taxes, and pressed with ceaseless im- portunity.


In dealing with pauperism, great care need be exercised lest the evil be increased. There are few things for which it is more mischievous for people to rely on the aid of others, than the means of sub- sistence, and there is no lesson which they learn more readily.


Charity is a duty, and one of the best traits of our common humanity is to visit the sick and desti- tute poor, and relieve their wants, and our city has a large number of those, who, in private life, are earning for themselves the commendation of the Master, - " Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me."


It would be well if in our city private benevo- lence were supplanted by systematic, organized charity.


We stand almost alone among the larger munici- palities of this Commonwealth in being without any regular, well-organized Charitable Aid Society.


Such an organization, with branches in each of the wards of the city, with visitors willing to give their time to the service of the needy and deserving poor, and minister to their necessities by their ad- vice, sympathy, and material aid, acting in coöpera- tion with the Overseers, would be of invaluable assistance to the Board, and prevent many of the


99


more respectable and worthy poor from becoming public paupers.


Such an organization, bringing such a personal service, which is the highest form of giving, would be of inestimable value to the poor, and bring the doers into active sympathy with him of whom it is said, "He went about doing good."


The past year, as a whole, has not been an event- ful one ; we have followed the same plan that was pursued the year previous, and the result thus far seems to fully justify the system then adopted.


Our agent, the City Almoner, has, under our di- rection, given his time to the examination of all cases of application for relief, investigating the legal settlements of all new applicants, and making progress in determining the settlements of those, who for years have been receiving aid from this city, without having their claims fully investigated and determined.


In many cases it has resulted in shifting the burden of their support upon other cities and towns, or upon the State, and considerable progress has been made in placing the investigations in a per- manent form for the use of any future officers of the city.


In prosecuting this work, the attention of our Almoner was called to many unsettled bills against the Commonwealth, under the law for the "Relief of Sick State Poor."


The files of bills in the care of our City Auditor, dating back to 1868, were all examined, and bills to the amount of about eight hundred dollars were


*


100


found; these were made out and sent to the special agent of this department at the State House, but the amount recovered on them was only about two hundred dollars. We fail to see the justice in al- lowing any officer of the State thus arbitrarily to cut down to one-fourth of the amount bills for which the city have vouchers for every dollar.


Late in the year 1877 our attention was called by His Honor ex-Mayor Speare to the fact that the city had claims, under the "Infectious Disease Act," against some parties (it was uncertain who they were) for money expended in 1872 under the town government, and the agent of the Board was instructed to take charge of the matter, although belonging properly to the Board of Health. After much labor and time spent in investigation, he was enabled to trace and identify every one of the persons who were aided under that law, and to prove their settlements, as follows, viz .: One was found to belong to this city, one to the City of Bos- ton, two to the town of Melrose, and one to the State at large; and the Board have thus been able to recover $75.00 from Melrose, $500.00 from Bos- ton, and $350.00 from the State.


These sums were much less than the town ex- pended at the time, but quite as much, perhaps, as we could expect after the lapse of six years.


The money expended by the Overseers of the Poor is derived from the appropriations of the City Council alone; there is not in Newton, as in many of the cities and towns of the State, any income from charitable bequests or trust funds to supple-


101


ment the means thus provided, and our Board is obliged to use this appropriation in accordance with the statutes and ordinances of the city, however much we may desire to exceed the limits thus allowed.


RELIEF OF POOR OUT OF ALMSHOUSE.


The whole number of families who have received aid during the year is 183, comprising 749 persons; of these, 113 families, consisting of 449 persons, have legal pauper settlement in Newton; 20 fam- ilies, of 68 persons, have a legal settlement in other cities and towns, and have been aided here, in accordance with instructions of the Overseers where they belonged, and 50 families, of 232 per- sons, were State paupers or have no known settle- ment. The number supported by this city at asylums for the insane the past year was 8. Seven fam- ilies have, at their own request, been removed to distant States and Ireland, at the expense of this city and State, thus relieving by so many the over- stocked labor market of this city. Seven State paupers have been removed to Tewksbury, after having been aided in this city to a greater or less extent.


The amount appropriated for relief of destitute poor for the year ending Dec. 31, 1878, was $10,000.00.


102


EXPENDITURES.


Amount cash payments,


$305 00


66


paid for fuel,


952 73


66


groceries,


2,431 72


medical attendance,


482 01


66


66 medicine,


73 35


66


clothing,


17 66


66


transportation,


179 25


66


66


insane in hospitals,


1,393 96


66


66


burials,


192 00


،،


State Reform'ry Inst.,


21 75


66


66


other cities and towns for aid to Newton poor,


784 98


66


66


books, stationery, postage, etc.,


99 10


66


66


salary of Clerk and Overseers, 1877,


500 00


66 salary of Almoner, 1878, 600 00


149 64


Miscellaneous expenses, board, etc.,


101 00


Total,


$8,284 10


There has been received from the State, and other cities and towns, for aid rendered their poor residing in Newton, as follows, viz .: -


Commonwealth of Massachusetts,


$983 70


City of Boston,


769 97


Other cities and towns,


485 20


Miscellaneous,


12 75


Total,


$2,251 62


which, deducted from amount expended, leaves the net cost of poor out of almshouse for the year ending Dec. 31, 1878, $6,032.48.


66 support of tramps,


103


ALMSHOUSE AND FARM DEPARTMENT.


At the meeting of the Board held in March, it was ascertained that the warden, Mr. Levi Moody, had declined a reelection to the position for another year, as he was to return to the position he filled in Lynn previous to coming to Newton. Under these circumstances the Board instructed the Committee on Almshouse to secure another man to fill the place. They recommended Mr. N. D. Moody, of Wellesley, for the position, and he was unanimously elected as warden, with his wife as matron, at a salary of $500.00.


The Board feel that they have reason to be satisfied with the choice they made, as Mr. Moody has proved a very efficient manager on the farm, and his wife a very capable and prudent house- keeper, and kind and motherly in looking after the best interests of the inmates, and they both, in the position they occupy, have endeavored to promote the best interests of the city, and the city is to be congratulated in having secured their services.


SUMMARY.


Appropriations for Almshouse,


$3,500 00


Total expenditures,


$3,330 69


Rec'd for sale of produce on farm, $748 82


Rec'd for board of Miss Pierce,


104 00


852 82


Net expenditures for carrying on the Institution, $2,477 87


The whole number of inmates for the year is 37;


104


average for the year 24 5-6, making cost of support per capita $192 per week. There have been two deaths at the Almshouse during the year, and two youths have been sent away, one to his relatives, and the other West, under the auspices of the Children's Aid Society, at expense of this city.


Before closing their report the Board wish to acknowledge the obligations they are under to the Committee on Highways and Superintendent of Highways and Water Works, for the interest manifested by them, and the aid afforded in giving employment to the poor of the city, thereby reduc- ing the number of those who have called for aid from the Overseers, and saving from pauperism many of the industrious poor. In conclusion, the Board of Overseers of the Poor would congratulate the citizens of Newton on their success in reducing the expenses of this department during the year.




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