USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1882-1883 > Part 15
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500 00
Gravel on Parker Street, Ward 5 .
250 00
Land east of Oak Street, Ward 5.
1,200 00
Land on Willow and Centre Streets, Ward 6 500 00
Land on Florence Street, Ward 5, 400 00
Land on Florence Street, Ward 5,
1,500 00
Land on Beacon Street, Ward 6 . 200 00
Land on Homer Street, Ward 6
4,000 00
34,550 00
Highway Department.
1 steam road roller $6,000 00
22 cart horses, $225
4,950 00
3 horses, $100
300 00
2 horses for superintendent of sts.,
375 00
26 double and single carts .
2,600 00
43 harnesses .
850 00
4 double sleds, $200
800 00
2 stone crushers and houses .
4,600 00
Amounts carried forward . $20,475 00 $293,593 35
126
Amounts brought forward $20,475 00 $293,593 35
2 stone wagons, wagon, carriage, and sleigh 525 00
Tools, chains, derricks, blankets, etc.
1,800 00
1 road-scraper
150 00
22,950
Lighting Department.
For 1,190 posts, lanterns, burners, etc., $10 11,900 00
Police Department.
Station-house, building and land,
North Village .
$4,000 00
Furniture and bedding . 50 00
Lock-up, furniture and bedding, Ward 1 .
1,050 00
Lock-up, furniture and bedding, Ward 6 .
1,575 00
Wagon and harness
150 00
Horse, saddle, and bridle
200 00
Horse, saddle, and bridle
125 00
15 pairs handcuffs, $3.75
56 25
13 clubs, $2 .
26 00
6 lanterns, $2.50
15 00
16 badges
100 00
15 parade clubs and belts, $3.50
52 50
Blankets
50 00
Record books . 50 00
Furniture in station at City Hall .
75 00
7,574 75
Amount carried forward
·
$336,018 10
127
Amount brought forward $336,018 10
School Department.
High School buildings, furniture and land . $57,000 00
Mason schoolhouse, furniture and land
49,100 00
Hyde schoolhouse, furniture and land
24,000 00
Prospect schoolhouse, furniture and land
31,000 00
Prospect schoolhouse No. 2, furni- ture and land 7,500 00
Oak Hill schoolhouse, furniture and land
12,000 00
Hamilton schoolhouse, furniture and land
28,000 00
Williams schoolhouse, furniture and land . Williams new schoolhouse and land
35,000 00
Pierce schoolhouse, furniture and land
32,000 00
Davis schoolhouse, furniture and land
13,000 00
Franklin schoolhouse, furniture and land
15,000 00
Claflin schoolhouse, furniture and land
35,000 00
Adams schoolhouse, furniture and land 22,000 00
Bigelow schoolhouse, furniture and land 42,000 00
Underwood schoolhouse, furniture and land
24,000 00
Amounts carried forward . $446,600 00 $336,018 10
20,000 00
128
Amounts brought forward . $446,600 00 $336,018 10 Lincoln schoolhouse, furniture and land 5,500 00
Jackson schoolhouse, furniture and land
15,000 00
Elliot schoolhouse, furniture and land
19,000 00
School apparatus
5,000 00
491,100 00
Water Department.
Building for pipe-fittings, etc., stable, and land, 3,500 00
3 horses, wagons, harness, etc. 500 00
$831,118 10
For cost of water-works, see water-construction account.
Table showing the Number of Polls, Real and Personal Estate of the City, Amount of Tax, Rate per Cent, Appropriations, etc., for Twenty-Three 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
6 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
.
3,053
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
402,200 00
3,057
1878
3,882
18,604,105 00
6,408,825 00
25.012,930 00
352,942 43
13 80
378,400 00
3,150
1879
4,010
17.456,655 00
6,330,697 00
23.787,352 00
326,959 64
13 40
367,850 00
3,178
1880
4,132
17,718,270 00
7,481,830 00
25,200,100 00
361,139 40
14 00
388,525 00
3,214
1881
4,336
18,238,510 00
8,169,763 00
26,408,273 00
379,434 18
14 00
416,505 00
3.257
1882
4,502
18,930,485 00
7,405,233 00
26,335,718 00
383,633 00
14 20
423,930 00
3,310
1883
4,661
19,794,805 00
7,329,283 00
27,124,088 00
427,033 59
15 40
488,120 00
3,381
.
.
.
.
.
.
129
.
.
·
·
.
.
130
TABLE
Showing Amount paid for Support of Poor out of Almshouse from 1851 to 1883 inclusive.
1851
$138 56|1868
. $1,464 53
1852
104 94
1869
· 2,019 28
1853
45 70
1870
2,197 41
1854
38 10
1871
3,713 39
1855
73 63
1872
2,884 79
1856
135 49
1873
3,066 59
1857
204 96
1874
3,895 51
1858
387 61
1875
5,553 79
1859
358 25
1876
9,336 14 .
1860
500 81
1877
. 10,259 57
1861
757 14
1878
. 8,284 10
1862
781 50
1879
8,246 42
1863
632 27
1880
6,455 80
1864
605 02
1881
6,808 75 .
1865
870 77
1882
· 7,933 57
1866
643 72
1883
· 8,016 14
1867
1,268 08
SALARIES OF CITY OFFICERS, 1884.
Mayor
$1,000 00
City clerk .
2,000 00
City treasurer and collector
2,700 00 .
Assistant treasurer and deputy collector
1,100 00
City auditor
2,000 00
City solicitor
1,000 00
Chairman of assessors
1,200 00
Two assessors, each
750 00
Assistant assessors, each per day
4 00
City messenger .
1,100 00
Clerk of Common Council .
200 00
Sealer of weights and measures
75 00
.
.
·
.
.
·
.
·
·
.
131
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
Superintendent of streets, two horses and car-
riage furnished
$1,500 00 ·
City engineer
·
2,000 00
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Chief of department, team furnished . $1,400 00
Assistant chief . 300 00
Superintendent of Fire Alarm Telegraph .
1,000 00
Three engineers of steamers, each 950 00
Four drivers of steamers, and Hook and Ladder Co., each 750 00
One driver of hose-carriage No. 4
500 00
Eight foremen of steamers, and Hook and Lad- der, and Hose Co., each 90 00
Eight assistant foremen, and clerks of steamers,
and Hook and Ladder, and Hose Co., each . 75 00
Fifty-eight hosemen and laddermen, each . ·
70 00
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
City marshal, team furnished
$1,500 00
Sergeant of police
1,000 00
Twelve policemen, each
900 00
One policeman .
825 00
One policeman . 750 00
First year of service .
750 00
Second year of service
825 00
Third and subsequent years
900 00
132
POOR DEPARTMENT.
Seven overseers of poor, each
$50 00
City almoner and clerk of board
700 00
Warden of almshouse
600 00
WATER DEPARTMENT.
Water registrar . $1,800 00
Superintendent of water-works, team furnished, 1,500 00
Inspector of meters and fixtures 1,050 00
Engineer at pumping station, with house-rent .
1,200 00
Fireman and watchman, pumping station, with
house-rent .
600 00
SCHOOLS.
Superintendent .
$2,700 00
One teacher
2,800 00
Four teachers at $1,900
7,600 00 .
One teacher
2,000 00 .
Three teachers at $1,800
5,400 00
Three teachers at $1,500
4,500 00
One teacher
800 00
Three teachers at $1,000
3,000 00
One teacher
950 00
One teacher .
900 00
Twelve teachers at $750
9,000 00
Forty teachers at $600
24,000 00
One teacher
550 00
Five teachers at $500
2,500 00
One teacher
400 00
Two teachers at $300
600 00
One teacher
200 00
Secretary of School Committee .
300 00
133
Janitors.
One janitor
$650 00
One janitor
626 00
One janitor
540 00
One janitor
425 00
One janitor
400 00
One janitor
300 00
One janitor
275 00
Two janitors at $240
480 00.
One janitor
216 00
One janitor
120 00
Two janitors at $96
192 00
LIBRARY.
Librarian .
.
$1,000 00
Assistant librarian
600 00
Three assistants, each $400
1,200 00
Janitor
1,000 00
134
.
·
5
3
2
7
6
-
4
6
1
3
4
2
2
-
·
-
1
1
15
1
8
1
-
6
1
1
1
3
4
April
.
.
-
1
2
15
May
2
2
1
3
3
13
33
July
4
3
4
2
5
4
2
4
1
1
1
2
24
53
August
7
2
6
4
5
2
2
0
4
3
2
3
1
1
18
September
5
3
1
2
2
-
co co er co
HWEIN
2
1
1
1
1
3
20
19
41
November
·
.
1
3
3
3
17
21
38
December .
.
18
15
215
188
403
46
26 72
32 76
29 58
33 65
48
51
33
Total .
STATISTICS COMPILED BY THE CITY CLERK FROM THE RECORDS OF HIS OFFICE.
BIRTHS REGISTERED, 1883.
TOTAL.
AGGREGATE.
WARDS.
1
FEMALE.
MALE.
FEMALE.
MALE.
FEMALE.
MALE.
FEMALE.
MALE.
FEMALE.
MALE.
FEMALE.
MALE.
FEMALE.
MALE.
FEMALE.
January
1
4
23
2
co
2
1
3
2
co
4
1
1
12
15
27
1
1
2
2
3
I
1
11
=
22
February
4
3
1
1
1
1
45
March .
22
June
4
-
1
3
-
3
3
-
·
-
2
1
24
956656 31
35
October
·
.
-
2
1
5
6
4
3
5
1
6
3
2
2
4
4
29
32
23
25
23
28
44
403*
·
·
5
-
2
2
1
2
4
2
2
1
-
5
2
10
32
5
2
2
3
1
22
3
1
NOTH
2
3
4
5
6
MALE.
24
25
-
* There were births of twins in nine cases.
135
Birthplace of Parents of above.
FATHERS.
MOTHERS.
America
202
181
Belgium
-
1
Burmah
-
1
Canada
48
60
England
20
20
France
1
-
Germany
7
6
India
-
1
Ireland
119
129
Russia
1
-
Scotland .
3
2
Sweden
-
2
Switzerland
2
-
Totals
403
403
American
202
181
Foreign
201
222
136
MARRIAGES, 1883.
January
11
August
17
February
8
September
15
March
7
October
20
April
27
November
23
May
18
December .
8
June
23
July
14
Total .
. 191
Birthplace of above Contracting Parties.
GROOM.
BRIDE.
America .
118
108
Azores Islands
1
1
Canada
19
30
England .
9
8
France
3
1
Germany .
1
Ireland
34
41
Scotland
4
-
Sweden
2
2
Totals
191
191
American
118
108
Foreign
73
83
137
DEATHS, 1883. Statement showing Causes of Death in each Month.
JANUARY.
FEBRUARY.
MARCH.
APRIL.
MAY.
JUNE.
JULY.
AUGUST.
SEPTEMBER.
OCTOBER.
NOVEMBER.
DECEMBER.
TOTAL.
Anæmia
Angina pectoris
-
-
1
1
1
1
Apoplexy .
1
1
2
8 1
Bowels, congenital oc- clusion
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Bowels, consumption of,
Bowels, obstruction of .
1
1
1
1
1
1
-
1 -
1
Cancer .
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
-
Cholera-morbus .
Collapse
Convulsions
1
1
1
1
-
1
1 3
Diarrhœa, infantile Diphtheria
2
1N1
1
1
1
2 2 1
1
10
Dropsy
Dysentery, acute
Dyspepsia .
1
1
1
11
1
1
1 3 3
Fever, typhoid
1
1
1
Gastro-enteritis
1
1
-
Goitre
1
Gunshot wound .
1
1 10
Hemorrhage (accident), Hepatitis
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Liver, disease of
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Leucocythæmia, splenic,
1
I
1
1
-
-
1
1
-
-
-
1
-
-
1 00
1
-
Bowels, abscess of
1
1
1
-
1 1 1 9
Bright's disease .
Bronchitis
1
1
2
7
Burns
1
1
1
1
7 1 11
Cholera-infantum
1
1
1
1 1
1
1
1
2
1
6 2 2
Erysipelas.
1
1
1
Fibroid, uterine . Gastritis
1
1
1 3 1 1
Heart-disease
1
1
12
1
1 1
1
1 1
1
1 1 1 2 5
Hernia .
Insanity
1 1
Locomotor, ataxia
I
1
Lungs, hemorrhage of. Malaria asthemia
1
1
1 1 4 1
Croup, membranous
Cystitis, acute
1
I
1
1
1
1
1
1
Brain-disease
1
3
2
Cerebral congestion
-
1
1
Enterocolitis .
1
11
1
138
DEATHS, 1883. Statement showing Causes of Death in each Month (concluded).
JANUARY.
FEBRUARY.
MARCH.
APRIL.
MAY.
JUNE.
JULY.
AUGUST.
SEPTEMBER.
OCTOBER.
NOVEMBER.
DECEMBER.
TOTAL.
Measles
I
1
Meningitis
1
1
Nephritis, chronic
2
Old age
2
1
1
1
1
2
6
1 3
3
35 1
Pleurisy
1
1
Pneumonia
3
2
1
18
Pneumonitis .
1
1
-
1
Premature birth
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Rheumatism, chronic
1
1
1
1
Rupture
1
1
1
1
1
-
1
Septicemia
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
-
1
Umbilicus, hemorrhage of
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
-
1
Unknown (probable ex- posure).
1
1
1
I
-
1
-
1
Number of deaths in each month . . .
21
11
24
18
22
17
19
30
22
25
21
21
251
1
Peritonitis
1
6
3
3 co
1
-
-
-
1
1
Scarlatina.
1
1
2
Scrofula
1
-
1
Stillborn
2
3 20
Stomach, carcinoma of,
1
-
1
Stomach, ulceration of,
1
1
Sunstroke .
1
Typhlitis
1
1 1 1
1
2
15
Paralysis
1
-
-
3
Phthisis (consumption),
Pistol-shot
2
Railroad violence
1
- 1
1
6
3
3
1
1
Statement of Deaths by Months in each Ward.
AGGREGATE.
5
3
4
1
2
MALE.
FEMALE.
MALE.
FEMALE.
MALE.
FEMALE.
MALE.
FEMALE.
MALE.
EMALE.
MALE.
FEMALE.
MALE.
FEMALE.
MALE.
FEMALE.
14
21
January
1
-
3
2
2
3
2
2
1
1
2
-
-
February .
2
3
1
-
1
3
1
2
1
2
April
4
2
2
1
-
10
12
22
May
1
1
1
1
1
-
1
-
11
=100
30
July
5
1
1
7
2
3
2
2
1
4
2
August .
5
2
2
1
3
1
1
3
3
2
3
3
2
1
3
-
15
10
October
2
1
2
1
-
2
3
1
2
1
3
2
1
1
1
1
10
11
2
2
3
1
1
-
-
1
2
3
4
December .
251
Totals
20
16 36
27 47
22 41
20 45
21 32
19
14
11
6
125
126
20
251
33
17
Aggregate .
-
2
2
4
1
-
3
1
2
2
1
12
12
24
March .
3
1
1
00
10
18
1
2
1
1
3
3
1
-
6
11
17
June
3
1
3
1
1
2
3
-
-
-
13
A
00
22
2
1
-
1
1
-
5
2
25
September
-
-
co
8
21
November
.
19
25
-
11
-
6
5
3
2
1
2
1
-
2
2
2
3
2
2
-
3
19
2
2
3
7
-
TOTAL.
6
7
139
21
11
140
Birthplace of Parents of above Deceased Persons.
FATHERS.
MOTHERS.
America
127
134
Austria
1
-
Belgium
-
1
Canada
11
13
England
14
13
France
2
1
Germany .
8
6
Ireland
72
65
Scotland
5
4
Unknown
11
14
Totals .
251
251
American
127
134
Foreign .
113
103
Unknown
11
14
251
251
FEES. Recording Fees collected and paid monthly to City Treasurer, April 1 to Dec. 31.
Assignment of wages .
$21 45
Licenses, Auctioneer, Bills of sale, Col-
lecting barrels, and Intelligence-office .
10 50
Licenses : Junk-dealers .
16 00
Marriage
70 50
Mortgages : Personal property
$178 45
Collected for dogs licensed April 1 to Dec. 1 :-
Males, 710, at $2.00
. $1,420 00
Females, 64, at $5.00 . ·
320 00
1,740 00
Dec. 1. Paid city treasurer, - Retained fees, 774 licenses, at $0.20 . $154 80
Dec. 1. Paid county treasurer . 1,585 20
1,740 00
60 00
141
Dogs are distributed in the Various Wards as follows : -
1
2
3
4
5
6
Males Females
88 12
134 11
94 13
102 3
87 12
152 6
53
7
Totals
90
145
107
105
99
158
60
REPORT
OF
THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
-
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
To the City Council of the City of Newton the Board of Overseers of the Poor respectfully submits its Annual Report.
The regular work of the Board has been performed, with no marked changes to be noticed, during the year.
There has been a general supply of work, and no prevail- ing sickness. With these two conditions, the number of those asking aid is kept within reduced limits. It can hardly be expected that in average years it can be kept at so low a figure. The net cost of poor out of almshouse is a trifle less than in 1882.
Of the class aided, there are, first, those who call occasion- ally, and mostly in the winter, when their wants are greatest, and income from labor least.
Second, those who receive continuous aid through the entire year. To these are added each year new cases, of those who have become dependent by the increasing feeble- ness of age or by disease.
Other things being equal, the expenses of the department may be expected to increase with the increase of population in the city. The increase in number of well-to-do citizens creates a demand for more laborers, whose wants often keep pace with their means ; and thus, when sickness, accident, or other misfortune comes upon them, they are immediately destitute, and obliged to call for aid.
The complaint appears more general the past year, that families are landed on our shores from abroad, who from total lack of means, on the slightest unfavorable turn of affairs are in distress, and must be cared for at public expense. Many of these appear to be worthy, and to have come with a
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laudable desire to improve the condition of themselves and their children.
When the reasons for our pauper expense are sought, we find that the use of intoxicating drink is the direct or indi- rect cause of a large proportion of the pauperism in our city. If this evil were abolished, the larger part of pauperism would disappear.
The problem what to do with families, consisting of mother and several children, receiving continuous partial support, is not solved, neither is there unanimity of opinion upon it. When the children in these families are well cared for, and are under those influences that produce good citizenship, it seems just to aid them at their homes, and thus preserve the natural family ties. In other cases, these families are desti- tute of all the elements of a good home, lack control, and the children are likely to develop into paupers and criminals. Children from such families could, with profit to themselves and the community, be placed in adopted homes, or in a city children's home.
Whole number of persons receiving partial support out of almshouse during the year . . 346
Having legal settlement in Newton 219 .
Having settlement in other cities and towns . 56
Having no settlement · · 71
Persons wholly supported out of almshouse during any part of the year are as follows : -
State Reform School
1
State Work-house .
1
Northampton Lunatic-Hospital
.
1
Asylum for the Chronic Insane, Worcester 2 .
Worcester Lunatic-Hospital .
· 12
Remaining at present in insane-hospitals
· 8
In State Reform School .
1
.
·
Of the twelve who have been in Worcester Lunatic-Hos- pital, five have been returned to their friends, two have died, and five remain.
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The whole amount appropriated by the City Council for this department, for the year 1883, was as follows : -
Poor out of almshouse .
$7,500 00
Almshouse expenses and repairs .
3,800 00
Total appropriation .
. $11,300 00
The whole amount expended for poor out of almshouse for the year is as follows : -
Cash payments
$548 88
Groceries
1,754 23
Fuel
998 55
Clothing
5 50
Board
337 39
Medical attendance
254 30
Medicine
87 00
Burials
155 50
Feeding tramps and travellers
51 50
Support of insane
2,155 11
Paid other cities and towns
415 90
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
202 18
Salary of clerk and almoner
700 00
Salaries of overseers
350 00
Total expenditures .
$8,016 14
Receipts from the State, other cities and towns,
and friends of the relieved .
1,468 96
Net cost of poor out of almshouse
· $6,547 18
The almshouse, since its reconstruction, has proved well adapted to the wants of the inmates, and convenient for the work of the establishment. The warden expresses the opinion that there has not a better, for the purpose, come under his observation, though there are more extensive ones. The ease, safety, and economy with which the whole house is kept comfortable through the winter by the steam-
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heating apparatus is continued proof that the change from furnaces was a desirable one.
During the year the bath-room and two water-closets have been completed, and are great conveniences to the warden's family and the inmates.
Religious services have been continued during the summer in the large dining-room, which gives desirable accommoda- tions for the purpose. These services have been attended by the inmates, and also by citizens from outside.
Some of the younger inmates, who were useful and helpful, have left during the year, and several aged and infirm per- sons have been added to the number of dependents, whereby the labor and expense of maintaining the house have been considerably increased.
Seven of the inmates have died during the year. Three of these were sick, and near their end, when received.
For lack of other hospital accommodations within reach, the department is liable at all times to receive at the alms- house cases of sickness having no claim there. Persons having no settlement, who must be provided for somewhere outside their boarding-places, are thrown upon us. With our present accommodations, this can be done, to a limited extent, at the almshouse, though the bills for medical attend- ance and nursing will make an important increase in alms- house expense.
The matron has the fullest confidence and co-operation of the Board, and also of the inmates, in the management of the internal affairs of the house. Efficiency and kindness, both so important in this connection, are apparent in the results gained. The large proportion of aged and sick has made the year one of more than ordinary labor, care, and expense.
The conveniences for the insane are so limited at the alms- house, that only the most comfortable and quiet can be received. To take such as would, with present accommoda- tions, disturb the quiet of the family, composed mostly of the a ged and feeble, a separate ward is necessary. This arrange- ment is being made by many cities and towns.
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The farm, stock, and general outside business of the alms- house department have been managed by the warden with efficiency, and to the satisfaction of the Board.
By the extension of a shed, at a cost of $167, protection from wind is secured to the barnyard, with enlarged accom- modations for stock, and for storage in the corn-room above.
The purpose of the City Council, to donate to the Boston and Albany Railroad a roadway across both sections of the farm, will, if carried into effect, be a great injury to the prop- erty for the purposes of a farm, and will doubtless necessitate in the future a removal, and rebuilding in some other locality. The enhanced value of the property for other uses may com- pensate the city for the trouble and expense to which it will be subjected.
Whole number cared for at almshouse, all or part of the
year 49
Present number
· 30
Average number for the year .
32
Died during the year
.
7
Of present number over 70 years of age .
· 11
Of present number over 80 years of age .
·
8
Of present number over 90 years of age . 4 ·
Bills for permanent equipment of almshouse, part of which were contracted in 1882, have been paid during the year, as follows : -
Bath-room and water-closets . $259 48
Fire-hose
·
143 00
Stove in kitchen
74 00
Extension of shed .
167 00
Exchange of horse
176 00
Whole amount appropriated for almshouse ex- penses and repairs . . $3,800 00
Whole amount expended . 4,753 00
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Amount received from sales of produce, wood,
board, etc.
. $1,340 00
Net cost of almshouse expenses and repairs . . 3,413 48 Net cost of poor out of almshouse . 6,547 18 Total cost of poor department for 1883, net . . 9,961 02
Total appropriation . 11,300 00
For the Overseers of the Poor.
NATHAN MOSMAN, Clerk.
HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT.
REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER.
CITY HALL, WEST NEWTON, Feb. 1, 1884. To the Board of Health.
GENTLEMEN, - The details of the work performed in applying and enforcing the rules of the Board have not varied materially from those of previous years.
No special occurrence worthy of note has transpired. There have been scattered cases of diphtheria and scarlet- fever through the year, but not general, or epidemic in char- acter.
Dwellings and premises have been visited, whenever atten- tion has been called to them by reports from physicians, or otherwise.
It is possible, that, in some cases, physicians have neglected to report to the Board cases of disease dangerous to the pub- lic health.
In some sections of the city a visit generally shows the necessity for work being performed to secure good sanitary conditions in and about dwellings, and safety to the occupants.
The usual amount of attention has been required in houses where the plumbing was unsafe, from imperfect plans, mate- rial, or workmanship. When such a system of plumbing, connecting with a cesspool, ends in the centre of a house, there must be danger to the occupants from the slow escape of poisonous gas.
There are many good dwellings, with complete amount of plumbing, that are not safe or comfortable ; while others, with the simple privy vault properly cared for, have all the elements of comfort and safety.
The carefully prepared Rules of the Board will be of spe- cial value to citizens in giving information concerning the
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safety and healthfulness of the dwellings they build and occupy, and in correcting errors in plumbing and drainage. In many cases, by their help dangerous elements may be dis- covered and corrected in dwellings which had been supposed properly constructed and safe. They could with profit be placed in every occupied house in the city.
REPORTED CASES OF DISEASES DANGEROUS TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
Diphtheria 25
Scarlet-fever
36
Typhoid-fever
8
Defective plumbing and broken drains .
67
Private nuisances complained of, and abated by those complained of .
. 48
. Well closed
1
Other wells have been given up voluntarily, while many unsafe ones are still used for domestic water-supply.
Miscellaneous complaints not enumerated are of soap- works, stables, barn-cellars, sewage left on land uncovered, pig-pens, filthy yards, etc.
The collection of house-offal under contract has been made, to the general satisfaction of citizens. The exceptional cases might be sooner remedied if sooner reported. Private col- lections, to some extent, are made morning and evening, con- trary to the rules of the Board. Due care not to encounter the police is necessary in order to make this a profitable industry ; but in many cases it appears to be so.
The keeping of swine in villages not only is a nuisance in neighborhoods, but also, by encouraging private collections, interferes with the rights of the contracting collector of house- offal.
The cleansing of cesspools and vaults has been performed by eleven licensed persons. These have used the box appa- ratus, with one exception, wherein the odorless excavator has been used. The proprietor of this apparatus has the sole right for its use in the city. There are other good and effec-
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