USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Rochester > Annual report of the city of Rochester, New Hampshire : for the year ending 1915 > Part 6
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I would recommend that the city purchase a suitable combination Motor Truck. This would also give the outside tax payers better protection and could be used in conveying the men back and forth to brush fires, which would save the city quite an expense.
I would also recommend the purchase of 1,000 feet of two and one-half inch rubber-lined double jacket hose and another horse, as one of ours is not fit for fire services.
There have been purchased for the Department during the year : One whistle blowing machine, 1,000 feet of hose, four chemicals, two play pipes, three search lights, one horse collar, one six-inch gong, one fire alarm box (No. 36), one carboy holder.
There have been thirteen fire alarm boxes repaired this year, which has been quite an expense.
There has been sold 1,950 feet of old hose, and 187 pounds of old brass.
In behalf of the Board of Engineers, I will take this opportunity to extend our sincere thanks to all the members of the Fire department for the promptness with which they have discharged their duties during the past year. We would also thank the members of the Fire Committee for what they have done for the de- partment.
In conclusion I wish to thank the Mayor and mem- bers of the City Council for what they have done for the Fire department during the year just ended, and I
136
ANNUAL REPORT OF
hope the year which we have just entered upon will put the Fire department in a better condition than ever before.
Respectfully submitted
JOHN F. NUTE,
Chief Engineer Fire Dep't.
Rochester Fire Alarm
No.
16 North Main street, corner Bridge street
17 Main street, corner Congress street
21 River street, corner Lafayette street
23 Waldron avenue, corner Chestnut street
24 Pine street, corner Brattle street
25 North Main street, near C. H. Fairbank's store
27 North Main street, near Folsom's greenhouse
31 Wakefield street, near schoolhouse
32 Upper Wakefield street, between Pleasant and Orchard streets
33 Hanson's street, near the Rochester hotel
34 Summer street, near stone house
35 Portland street, near Gerrish Court
36 King street, corner Court street
37 Foot of Silver street
41 South Main street, near Wallace's shop
43 Upham street, near Lincoln street
47 Foot of Charles street, near electric car barn
52 Charles street, corner May street
54 Charles street, corner Woodman street
137
CITY OF ROCHESTER
Signals
1 Engineer's test
2 Fire all out
6 Brush fire or fire at a distance
22-22 Two blasts on the fire alarm repeated once will be the signal for no school
Telephone service for calling Chief Engineer at Fire Station, -52-12. Residence, -251-11.
Report of City Marshal
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council :
GENTLEMEN :- I have the honor to submit for your consideration the annual report of the Department of Police for the year ending December 31, 1915.
The police force consists of the following officers : Charles M. Cook, City Marshal ; Isaac D. Piercy, Asst. Marshal ; Ferdinand Sylvain, Night Watch.
ARRESTS
No. of arrests
251
Drunks 162
Keeping for sale intoxicating liquor
14
For selling liquor
6
Brawl and tumult
12
Stealing
6
Breaking and entering
2
Evading carfare
1
Resisting officer
2
Adultery
2
Simple assault
7
Assault and battery
1
Using offensive words
3
Non-support of child
2
Exposing fruit unlawfully
2
Manslaughter
1
Hunting without license
1
CITY OF ROCHESTER
139
Cheat and defraud
1
Hauling harrow on street
1
Street walker
1
Keeping shop without license
2
Operating automobiles unlawfully
8
Reckless driving
2
Fornication
2
Setting fire unlawfully
3
Arson
1
Fishing unlawfully
4
Pickpocket
1
DISPOSED OF AS FOLLOWS
Drunks sent to house of correction
27
Sentence suspended
21
Paid fines
82
Given time to pay
6
Mittimus to be at call of marshal
27
Keeping and selling liquor :
Paid fines
10
Sentence suspended
5
Taken to jail
2
Continued for sentence
1
Gave bonds to Dover Court
2
Brawl and tumult :
Paid fines
3
Discharged
2
Mittimus issued
1
At call of marshall
6
Operating motor vehicles :
Paid fines
7
Discharged
1
140
ANNUAL REPORT OF
Breaking and entering :
Placed on file
2
Resisting an officer :
Taken to house of correction
1
Paid fines
1
Non-support :
Mittimus at call of Marshal
1
Case nol prossed
1
Adultery :
Discharged
2
Hunting without license :
1
Cheat and defraud :
1
Hauling harrow on street :
1
Assault :
3
Mittimus at call of Marshal
2
Discharged
2
Stealing :
Gave bonds
1
Discharged
1
Taken to house of correction
2
Mittimus at call of Marshal
1
Solicitor
1
Issued
1
Fornication :
To Dover jail
1
House of correction
1
Paid fine
Discharged
Sentence suspended
Paid fines
141
CITY OF ROCHESTER
Keeping shop without license : Paid fines 2
Evading carfare : Paid fine
1
Street walker :
Case placed on file
1
Reckless driving :
Paid fine
2
Assault and battery :
Mittimus at call of Solicitor
1
Using offensive words :
Mittimus at call of Marshal
1
Discharged 2
Exposing fruit :
Paid fine
2
Manslaughter :
Discharged
1
Arson :
Discharged
1
Unlawfully fishing :
Paid fines 4
Setting fires unlawfully :
Sent to house of correction 3
Number of lodgers
2,126
Lunches for prisoners 259
Red lights used to call officers
28
Store doors found unlocked at night 24
142
ANNUAL REPORT OF
Bicycles found and returned to owner 3
Stores broken into 5
Investigated by Marshal :
Houses broken into 2
Bicycles found and returned to owner
3
Troubles in houses and on the street investigated and settled out of court by City Marshal
Financial Report
Rec'd of John Young
$ 25 59
Horace Worcester
99 65
Lawyer Snow
1 56
Total
$126 80
Paid out
104 54
Balance on hand
$ 22 26
In conclusion I wish to thank the City Solicitor and the judge and Clerk of the Municipal Court for advice and assistance rendered in the discharge of my duties as City Marshal. Also the Assistant Marshal and Night Watch for faithful service in the discharge of duty.
Respectfully submitted
CAARLES M. COOK,
City Marshal.
143
CITY OF ROCHESTER
NOTE. Police telephone boxes have been installed during the past year located at four different places as follows :
North Main street, near Rochester Grocery Co.
Central square. near Rochester Loan & Banking Co.
Boston & Maine station
South Main street, near Webber's store
The City Marshal's telephone ring at the police station, 107-4, will call the Marshal to either of these boxes if he happens to be in that locality.
City Marshal's residence call, -326-3.
Report of Street Commissioner on Highways For the Year Ending 1915
To the Committee on Roads, Bridges and Drains :
GENTLEMEN :- I herewith submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1915, including a summary of the work performed by the department during the year :
Breaking out sidewalks $225 88
Sanding sidewalks 232 92
Draining water
243 45
$ 702 25
Carting 1,800 loads gravel to Allen school yard, Farmington, Barrington, and Ten Rod roads
$ 811 41
Worked road machine 56 days
1,400 00
1,000 sq. yds. cement and concrete on Wakefield street 806 93
1,934 ft. 6x18 cement curb on Wakefield street 728 84
882 sq. yds. water burned macadam on Cen- tral avenue 322 24
800 sq. yds. rock fill on Reservoir road 140 55
Cement arch bridge over Isinglass river at Rochester Neck 2,203 54
--
.
CENTRAL FIRE STATION
145
CITY OF ROCHESTER
Re-planking three bridges, 7,356 ft. 3-inch plank $ 343 56
Erection of distance signs at R. R. crossings 97 50
Carting rubbish clean-up week 38 11
Patching Central square
129 50
Seeding parkways, South Main street 45 00
Washouts caused by heavy rains in July 873 82
Cleaning catch basins and surface drains 169 76
Installing surface drain on Wakefield, Pleas-
ant and Orchard, Autumn and Central
avenue : 1,932 ft. 15-inch pipe, 1,300 ft.
12-inch pipe, main line connected to 49 catch basins, 11 manholes
2,908 84 .
1,000 sq. yds. granolithic walks
983 37
Repaired 11 stone culverts
Relaid 3
Installed 8 wooden “
Railings have been placed on the following danger- ous embankments : Furber, Chestnut, River and Frank- lin streets, Salmon Falls, Pickering and Barrington Road, Gonic. Bridges and railings painted : The iron railings on stone bridge and Main street bridge at Gonic, also entire structures painted. Steel bridge over Isinglass River, Walker and one-half of bridge at East Rochester, cost-$159.00.
Laid stone crossing on North Main street near North street.
Sections of bushes on various roads in rural dis- tricts cut : About twelve miles.
The costs of work given above are only such as we consider would be of any interest to the people at large, and not the entire expenses of the Department, as the report of expenditures are given by the City Clerk in
10
146
ANNUAL REPORT OF
the reports of expenditures of the various departments.
I wish to say that road machine work in certain localities does not seem to give the most satisfactory results, before the roads are sufficiently settled they are badly rutted by the heavy automobile traffic and I am thoroughly convinced to get the results required by the people in general, these roads will have to be sur- faced with material different than that which isscraped from gutters with a machine.
I am pleased to say the cost of cement work has been greatly reduced this year with the assistance of the cement mixer purchased, and I hope the committee will continue to get up-to-date equipment that we may be able to perform work at less cost, which means a great saving to the city.
In conclusion I wish to express my thanks to the Committee and Honorable Council for the support and assistance accorded me in the performance of my duties during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE D. DAME,
Street Commissioner.
The Street Commissioner's telephone, 52-3 exten- sion, residence 139-4.
Report of Manager of Opera House
To the Committee on Public Buildings of the City Council :
GENTLEMEN :- As manager of the City Opera House for the year 1915, I submit the following report.
During the year the Hall has been opened forty- four times. Twenty-three of the openings have been for traveling dramatic. companies and orchestras and the remainder for local entertainments.
By vote of the City Council, the ante-room known as Gentlemen's Room was converted into a checking room at an expense of $66.85 and the net earnings of this checking room to date have been $41.87. I would suggest that the number of racks be increased as the present equipment is easily filled, and we have been obliged to take wraps and lay them at different places around the room.
I would also suggest that something be done with the seats in the Opera House as it is impossible to use them in warm weather on account of the sticky com- position of the varnish. These need your most urgent attention when the house is idle long enough to permit the work to be done.
We have had an additional expense the last year on account of the Federal tax of one hundred dollars, as we have to pay according to our seating capacity re- gardless of the number of openings. Our running expenses have been about the same as other years with
148
ANNUAL REPORT OF
the exception of placing the ushers on the pay roll at fifty cents each per night.
The gross receipts for the year have been $1,187.57 and our expenditures $902.33, making the earnings for the year $285.24.
The year 1916 bids fair to be some improvement over the year just ended, as there seems to be a ten- dency for better business, consequently the traveling companies receive better patronage and more of them will come to Rochester.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the public for their generous patronage and the attaches of the house for their faithful co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
F. E. HUSSEY,
Manager.
Report of Tree Warden
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council of the City of Rochester :
GENTLEMEN :- During the past year the Brown- tail moth nests were cut on all shade trees in the city limits, and a thorough scouting made at the same time for Gypsy moth nests.
The trees were sprayed in the spring for the Elm Beetle and this did excellent work in keeping down all destructive insects.
There are a great many dead trees in the city which should be removed and young trees planted.
Mr. Hanson presented the city with two hundred cloth signs which I have placed on the trees in Hanson Park.
Respectfully submitted,
M. E. JONES,
Tree Warden.
10a
Report of City Solicitor
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council of the City of Rochester :
Your solicitor, as required by the City Ordinance, herewith submits the following report of all civil suits or legal procedings in which the City of Rochester has any interest pending or determined during the year 1915.
The claim and threatened suit of David Robillard for damages by reason of personal injuries received on or about April 25, 1914, while in the employ of the High- way Department, which matter had been considered by the City Council during the year 1914, and left at that time to the committee on legal affairs and city solicitor to settle, but without success, was again brought to the attention of the present city council and the matter was left to your solicitor to ascertain what settlement could be made with Mr. Robillard. I immediately took the matter up with Messrs. Jackson & Hurlburt, Attorneys for Mr. Robillard, and finally obtained an offer from them to settle the same for the sum of $750 which I reported back to the City Council, and it was voted to pay said sum, which amount has been accepted by Mr. Robillard and a release filed at the City Clerk's office.
A petition for injunction brought by the City of Rochester upon the advice of the Mayor and with the consent of the City Council against the Boston & Maine Railroad, arising from the construction of a railroad
151
CITY OF ROCHESTER
bridge over the highway on the Dover Road, was entered at the September Term and continued by con- sent of all parties until the February Term in order to give the railroad an opportunity to make certain promised improvements requested by the Mayor.
There are no other claims to my knowledge now pending against the City of Rochester which cannot be easily adjusted at the proper time and without legal complications.
The Superior Court Docket is absolutely clear of all actions pending against the City of Rochester of every description, which I am sure is a matter of per- sonal pride to every citizen interested in the welfare and prosperity of our city.
Respectfully submitted,
JUSTIN A. EMERY, · City Solicitor.
Report of Committee on Street Lights
To the Mayor and Council of the City of Rochester:
GENTLEMEN :- 2We herewith submit the following report: This Committee during the past year com- pleted many changes in pole locations, to bring about results necessary for the making our pole system a tri-party affair. The last of the poles to be so relocated being on Summer and Kimball streets and Eastern avenue. In carrying out this work, it was necessary to have old poles removed and new ones set and to make many changes in overhead construction.
We have also had poles removed on Congress street and relocations granted between the New England Tel. & Tel. Co. and the Twin State Gas & Electric Co., to better conditions at this point. It was also neces- sary to grant joint locations on Central avenue and on Portland streets between Centralavenue and the railroad crossing. Many poles have been relocated to do away with troubles caused by trees. We have had surplus poles on North and South Main and Wakefield streets removed to better conditions on those streets and have granted new locations on the Strafford Road, at what is known as Cherry Tree Hill to remove said poles from the traveled highway.
As regards our lighting system, we have made arrangements with the Twin State Gas and Electric
153
CITY OF ROCHESTER
Co. whereby the high tension wires, carrying 10,000 volts through Charles and Congress streets will be re- moved from the compact part of the city, and three new transformers will be installed near the Rochester Car Barn. All work contemplated will be completed during March, 1916. All these changes will work for the benefit of the department.
Many petitions for new street lights have been received during the year. These have had our most careful consideration and lights have been installed or relocated as the requirements of the different localities demanded. The following is a list of the street lights in use in the City of Rochester, Dec. 31, 1915, for which we are paying as per contract with the Twin State Gas & Electric Co. dated January 1, 1914, and written for five years. This expenditure amounting to about $590.00 per month, requires our closest scrutiny to make allowance for changes in bills caused by the installation of new lights.
In conclusion, we wish to thank the officials of the Dover, Somersworth and Rochester Street Railway, The Twin State Gas & Electric Co., The New England Tel. and Tel. Co., for their efforts to improve their systems for the benefit of the public.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL E. SHAPLEIGH, GEORGE E. HORNE, LEOPOLD LAROSE,
Committee on Street Lights.
Rochester, N. H., March 31, 1915.
154
ANNUAL REPORT OF TABLE OF STREET LIGHTS
LOCATION
350 C P
200 C P
80 C P
60 C P
· ROCHESTER
North Main street
Walnut
2
3
High
1
Washington
1
1
Jackson
1
Maple
2
2
Cove court
1
Pine street
2
4
Chestnut street
1
3
River
2
1
Lafayette
1
3
Moore's Court
1
Bridge street
2
Union
1
Factory Court
1
Wakefield street
4
4
2
Off Wakefield street near Perkins & Linscott Fact'y
1
Pleasant street
1
Summer
2
4
Eastern avenue
1
1
Allen street
1
Autumn street
2
1
Leonard
5
Chamberlain street
3
Prospect
3
Portland
9
4
6
3
2
155
CITY OF ROCHESTER
TABLE OF STREET LIGHTS- Continued
LOCATION
350 C P
200 CP
80 C P
60 C P
Central avenue
Mckinley street
1
Pearl
1
Wallace
1
Heaton
1
Silver
1
1
First
1
Western avenue
1
Furber street
1
Winter
6
2
Court
1
Logan
1
Spruce
1
King
1
2
Linden
1
So. Main
7
3
5
Central square
1
1
1
Hanson
1
1
3
Congress
3
1
Myrtle
1
1
Granite
1
Charles
14
1
Sheridan avenue
2
1
Glen street
1
Broad
66
2
Scott
1
1
Wentworth street
Woodman
156
ANNUAL REPORT OF
TABLE OF STREET LIGHTS-Continued
LOCATION
350 C P
200 C P
80 C P
60 CP
Hancock street
1
2
Church
1
Upham
2
1
Common
1
Grant
1
Lincoln
1
May
1
Knight
1
2
Academy
2
Glenwood avenue
1
EAST ROCHESTER
Portland street
1
Walnut
3
Grove
4
2
Green
1
3
Cocheco avenue
2
2
Weare street
1
Front
1
Mill
1
2
Main
2
3
3
Abbott
1
Pearl
1
Summer
2
Highland
3
Pleasant
1
Autumn
2
1
157
CITY OF ROCHESTER
TABLE OF STREET LIGHTS-Continued
LOCATION
350 C P
200 C P
80 C P
60 C P.
GONIC
Gonic road from car barn to railroad crossing
1
7
Main street
1
3
4
Railroad avenue
1
4
Maple street
1
1
Church
3
6
Felker
1
1
Oak
2
Total
1
23
99
144
! 1
-
Report of Overseer of Poor
To the Mayor and City Council of the City of Rochester :
During the year ending December 31, 1915, assist- ance has been furnished to the persons whose names follow, in the amounts as specified.
CITY POOR
Mrs. Alex. McDonald
$ 72 00
Edwin F. Dame
147 62
Sarah J. Jackson
103 90
Helen Wilkinson
122 52
Lavinia J. McNish
95 50
Mrs. C. F. Blake
240 20
Albert Hartford's child
58 50
Henry Perrault
288 00
Mrs. Sanford Fowler
10 00
Mrs. John Jacobs
60 00
Ethel Baxter's child
85 56
Mrs. Joseph St. Laurent
19 51
Sarah McCallion
72 00
Edward F. Cobb
18 60
Otis Thomas
7 85
Mildred Mangakis
1 50
Maggie Hadlock
1 00
Arthur Jenness
50
David Otis
1 00
$1,405 76
.
159
CITY OF ROCHESTER DEPENDENT SOLDIERS AID
Amount expended
$ 948 56
Total amount expended
$2,354 22
Appropriation for 1915
2,400 00
Bal. left, over appropriation
$ 45 78
Respectfully submitted
FORREST L. KEAY,
Overseer of Poor.
Report of Board of Health
We herewith submit to you our report for the year ending December 31, 1915 :
Whole number of contagious or infectious deseases reported-not including tuber- culosis 32
Diphthera 9 cases, 2 deaths
Whooping cough 5
Scarlet fever 9
Measles 7
Typhoid fever
2 1 death
Whole number of deaths from all causes (excluding stillbirths) 134
Number of stillbirths 8 Deaths from tuberculosis 9
Death rate per 1,000 (on basis of 9,000 pop- ulation) 14.8-9
Number of calls on sick by health officer
167
Houses fumigated
29
Rooms
116
Complaints
49
Dead animals buried by health
officer (not including several
which were disposed of to
the rendering plant) 27 .
Respectfully submitted
DUDLEY L. STOKES, FORREST L. KEAY, MARTIN E. JONES,
Board of Health.
Report of the Trustees of the Rochester Public Library 1915
11
At a meeting of the Trustees of the Rochester Pub- lic Library, December 30, 1915, it was voted that the report of the Secretary, Librarian, and Treasurer be presented to the City Council as the annual report of the Trustees for the year 1915.
Rochester Public Library, 1915
TRUSTEES WILLIAM WRIGHT, Mayor, ex-officio
JOHN YOUNG
- Term Expires 1915
J. LEVI MEADER - 1915
HORACE L. WORCESTER - 1916 -
WILLIS MCDUFFEE - - 1916
CORA B. HAYES -
1917
FRANK B. PRESTON - 1917
TREASURER JOHN L. COPP
LIBRARIAN LILLIAN E. PARSHLEY
ASSISTANTS
MAUD B. WENTWORTH
E. VELMA FOSS
ANNIE H. MCCRILLIS, East Rochester
JANITOR
GEORGE H. JACKSON
AGENCIES
ANNIE H .- SHAPLEIGH
-
East Rochester
GEORGE H. MARSH
Gonic
Report of Library Trustees
To the Honorable Council of the City of Rochester:
GENTLEMEN :- The Board of Trustees of the Rochester Public Library submit herewith the twenty- second annual report, also the librarian's and treas- urer's report for the year 1915.
The board has held regular monthly meetings and the management of the library has been along the same lines as heretofore. With a circulation of 68,761 during the year, 11,132 more than last year and 19,049 readers, 4,979 more than last year, it must be evident that the public appreciate the library. The reading room has been open twenty-one Sundays, with an at- tendance of 651. The steady increase in circulation and in the reading room is gratifying to the trustees.
The reference books are used to a large extent by the public schools to assist them in their studies. The trustees appreciate the gift of $11.45 from the High School for the purchase of reference books, and we trust that the aid rendered them from the use of these books and the many questions answered by the librarian will induce them to contribute each year for the purchase of reference books.
During the year the attention of the Council has been called to the necessity of shutters being placed on the windows of the library building as a protection against fire. We would renew this request.
165
CITY OF ROCHESTER
Repairs have been made on the building during the year. Slates on the roof were replaced at a cost of $40.00, and other minor repairs to the amount of $18.30. All money used for this purpose means less books for the public.
During the coming year new shelves will have to be placed in the reading room and the floors redressed, and in order to maintain the library in its steady growth and satisfy the demand of the public for good literature and also make the library an able adjunct to our public schools by purchasing the latest reference books, we trust the Honorable Council will make the appropriation for 1916, $4,000.00.
The trustees are gratified at the increase in cir- culation and attendance and wish to express their appreciation of the attention shown the patrons of the library by the librarian and assistants during the year.
For the Trustees,
JOHN YOUNG,
Secretary.
Rochester, N. H., December 30, 1915.
10a
Report of Librarian
To the Board of Trustees of the Rochester Public Library :
GENTLEMEN :- I herewith present the report of the Rochester Public Library for the year ending December 31, 1915.
Looking over records and statistics preparatory to making a report, such a decided increase was apparent along the various lines of library activity, that, it seemed wise to present the figures for your consideration, as the best and quickest method of show- ing the work of the year, the growth and usefulness of the library, and the way in which it has satisfied public demand. I therefore call your attention to the sum- mary which follows as an accurate report.
To one versed in economics it is a recognized fact, that greater wisdom is required to spend a small in- come wisely, than to do the big things of life with a large income. This is as true of library economy as of personal or business affairs. Therefore, to obtain any noticeable results with the book allowance of 1915, the process of elimination has been practiced most thoroughly and a careful study made of existing cir- cumstances and requirements, resulting, in the pur- chase of 228 volumes of fiction, some old and some new, for $200.22; 66 volumes, the best to be found for young readers, at a cost of $49.93; and 182 volumes of non- fiction, including a few reference books, for $299.34.
167
CITY OF ROCHESTER
Thus you will see that, if measured by books pur- chased the year's growth would have been small but in addition 297 bound magazines, pamphlets, state and city documents and gifts have been accessioned making a net gain for the year after all losses have been de- ducted of 759, and the total number of volumes 17,809.
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