USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1878-1879 > Part 7
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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.
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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,
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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;
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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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