USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Concord > Annual reports of the schools in the City of Concord (N.H.) 1872 > Part 2
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The teachers of the several schools in the district at the present time are :
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HIGH SCHOOL.
J. D. Bartley, Principal ; Miss Abby B. Parker and Miss Laura Carlton, Assistants.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
MERRIMACK,-Mrs. Rosa Ackerman, Principal ; Miss Laura A. Webster, Assistant.
CENTRE,-Miss Carrie Hewitt, Principal; Miss Julia M. Johnson, Assistant.
RUMFORD,- Miss Metta C. Davis, Principal ; Miss Helen McG. Ayers, Assistant.
PENACOOK,-Miss Paulina L. Bowen.
FRANKLIN STREET,-Miss Addie S. Hill.
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS.
STATE STREET, NORTH END,-Miss Sarah E. Rounds.
MERRIMACK,-Miss Eliza J. Day.
CENTRE,-Miss J. F. Nutter.
SPRING STREET,-Miss Minnie A. Ayers.
RUMFORD,-Miss Lucy M. Gillis.
PENACOOK,-Miss Anna W. Chickering.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
STATE STREET, NORTH END,-Miss Annie E. G. Fifield.
FRANKLIN STREET,-Miss Lila M. Gage.
MERRIMACK,-Miss Sarah E. Fifield.
UNION STREET. First Division,-Mrs. S. R. Crockett. Second Division,-Miss Susan R. Moulton.
CENTRE,-Miss M. D. Nutter.
SPRING STREET,-Miss Nellie S. Dunklee.
MYRTLE STREET. First Division,-Miss Carrie Cottrell. Second Division,-Miss Cordelia A. Sanborn ..
RUMFORD,-Miss Lizzie Burleigh.
PENACOOK. First. Division,-Miss Hannah Bell. . Second Division,-Miss Mary A. Abbott.
Bow BROOK,-Miss Clara E. Thayer.
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Miss Sarah E. Blair, for many years the efficient assistant in the High School, taught the first two terms of the year, and was then granted leave of absence for the winter term just finished, and for the coming spring term.
The other teachers employed during the year were Miss S. M. F. Emery, Miss Annie Hill, Miss Kate Watson, Miss Laura J. Bartlett, Miss Emma Hidden, Miss Abby E. Morse, Miss Henrietta J. Evans.
The receipts have been as follows for the past year : Cash on hand from last year, $629.88 ; City of Concord, $11,305 ; extra district tax, $5,725.00; library fund, $97.68; City of Concord, concrete account, $15.17 ; total, $17,772.73.
The expenditures have been as follows: Teachers, $13, 439.00 ; wood, $1,225.62; insurance, $351.25; care of houses, $544.25 ; cleaning houses, $97.12 ; repairs,$1,066.68 ; supplies, $647.66 ; miscellaneous, $393.31; leaving a bal- ance on hand of $7.84.
With a view to encourage punctuality and regularity of attendance, the board voted to insert in the annual report the names of those scholars in the High and Grammer schools that were not absent nor tardy during the year. In accord- ance with that vote, we have the pleasure of reporting the following :
HIGH SCHOOL. Carroll Hutchins, Wells H. Johnson, Chas. L. Fellows, Edward H. Farnsworth, Wendell P. Ladd, Epl- raim Morrill ; May E. Batchelder, Sarah F. Ballard, Jessie Fisher, Mary A. Gilbert, Lizzie A. Hill, Lottie E. Stewart, Mabel Stokes, Lottie A. Thompson, Ada L. Batchelder, Lilla A. Baker, Anna O. Donovan, Mary H. Greeley, Emma J. Hunt, Louise Shattuck, Ida Moore, Eudora M. Young.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
MERRIMACK. First Division,-Willie C. Badger, Edgar B. Marston, Charles A. Robinson ; Alice M. Jones, Marion Shattuck, Cora F. Davis, Minnie B. Elwell, Clara B. Ford, Maggie Perley, Addie B. Titcomb, Etta L. Lincoln. Nat. E.
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Martin has not been absent during the year, but has been tardy once. Second Division,-Ella Plastridge, Belle Abbott, Minnie Ladd, Susie Holt ; Charlie George, Frank Davis.
CENTRE. First Division,-Chas. Gannon, Chas. Sherburne, Belle Rines, Abbie Davis, Lizzie Sylvester. Second Divi- sion,-Eva Johnson, Ned Jones, Daniel O'Connell, Samuel Webster, Louisa F. Johnson, Ella M. Flanders.
RUMFORD. First Division,-Lilla Annable, Jennie Stevens, Allie Harvey, Eddie Peacock, Walter Rich. Second Divi- sion,-Eddie Sargent, Lizzie Hancock.
PENACOOK, - Westly J. Merrill, Walter A. Mitchell, Wm. O. McCauley, Wm. W. Rich, Charles A. White ; Han- nah Kelleher, Mary Kelleher, Charlotte Lewis, Mary J. Sex- ton.
The High School still continues its successful career un- der the management of Mr. Bartley and the assistant teach- ers, all of whom have faithfully and earnestly contributed to the result. One of the graduates of last year passed a suc- cessful examination and was admitted to Harvard college, of which, in view of the high standard there maintained, and of the facilities at our disposal, we may well be proud.
The graduating exercises were attended by the usual large number of our citizens, who take this opportunity of mani- festing their interest in the school. The essays and orations of the members of the graduating class were highly credit- able to their authors. The board regret, however, to see that the expenses of graduation day are on the increase. While it would perhaps be inexpedient and undesirable to attempt to regulate the extent of or cost of uniformity of dress for the young ladies, we may at least say that no one should attempt a style which is beyond the easy reach of any member of the class, and that the Horatian rule of "plain in thy neatness " would not be wholly inapplicable to graduation day.
Wm. M. Chase, Esq., in behalf of the board, presented the diplomas to the following members of the graduating class :
.
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James Hoit, Carroll Hutchins, Manley A. Raymond, Fred A. Robinson, Metta E. Abbott, May E. Batchelder, Sarah F. Ballard, Mary .S. Bickford, Ida A. Clough, Jessie M. Fisher, Mary A. Gilbert, Lizzie A. Hill, Lucy F. Morse, Mary H. O'Connor, Lottie E. Stewart, Mabel Stokes, Lottie A. Thompson, Sarah F. Thompson.
The Penacook school-house was dedicated at the com- mencement of the year, and schools have since been kept in it to the entire satisfaction of that portion of the district accommodated by it. The "Eleven Lots" school has been discontinued as was contemplated, without serious inconven- ience to any one, and to the great advantage of the scholars, as we believe. The new house, in spite of the enlarged accom- modations, is now completely filled, and the rapid growth of the southerly part of the district indicates that a new Pri- mary school will be required before long. The board would suggest that it might be for the advantage of the district to secure a lot in the south-westerly portion of the district, to which possibly one of our frame houses may be moved.
The need of a new house at the North End is imperative. A valuable and suitable lot has been secured. The old house is entirely unsuited to the present demands. As soon as a new building is erected, the Grammar school on Franklin street should be removed to it. Then if that or the Bow Brook house, of which only one room is now used, could be moved to some point intermediate between the two, the other could be sold for other purposes.
The old brick school-house on State street was two years ago carefully examined by the committee appointed to erect the Penacook house, and then declared to be not worth repairing. It certainly has not improved any since that time. It is everything incommodious and unsuitable. The seats and desks are old and uncomfortable. Some immediate action should be taken towards the erection of the new house. The location of the old house is a good one
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for a dwelling, and we have no doubt that the lot and old house will bring a good price at auction.
The intelligent supervision of so. many schools, the keep- ing of those of the same grade on a uniform course of study, the correction of minor faults among the teachers, the com- parison of the different methods of teaching and the intro- duction of new ideas, and the care of the numerous cases of discipline that constantly arise, really demand at the pres- .'ent time more careful and thorough attention than can be given by members of the board. The schools, it is true, are all visited during each term, and subjected to as careful an examination as we can give. But if it was the duty of one person to devote the whole or a large portion of his time to a constant examination of the schools in the district, we believe it would be time well spent.
Concord has already acquired an enviable reputation for the thoroughness of the education furnished by its common schools. We believe that the schools are surpassed by none in our own State, and by few in the other New England States. By the appointment of a superintendent of schools, we should add a very desirable feature to our present organ- ization. Such an officer would contribute much to the effi- ciency of the schools. It is true that the salary of such an officer would be a considerable item. But so long as our grammar schools are taught wholly by female teachers, it would seem that the district could well afford the outlay. The employment of a competent superintendent would really be constituting a male principal over all the schools of that grade, on whom the acting principals could at any time call for council or assistance. It is quite difficult, when a vacancy occurs, to find good teachers for those schools. With the assistance of a superintendent, the responsibilities of the place would be diminished, and we should be able to con- tinue our present system.
We believe that as a whole our teachers deserve hearty commendation from our citizens. There is no more useful
25
class in our community. While they may not all be of an equal degree of excellence, it is not desirable to particularize the more prominent. We therefore close our report with the earnest hope that they may receive the hearty coopera- tion of all parents, and that the interest which we know is felt in our common schools may be manifested by those fre- quent visits which encourage both teacher and scholar.
ELISHA ADAMS,
WM. M. CHASE,
JOSEPH B. WALKER,
P. B. COGSWELL,
J. V. BARRON, H. J. CRIPPIN,
SAMUEL C. EASTMAN,
A. J. PRESCOTT, AMOS HADLEY,
Board of Education of Union School District.
AMOUNT EXPENDED FOR SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL- HOUSES.
The sum raised by the city for the support of schools the past year, was $15,000.00
Literary Fund, 733.20
Raised by Union School District, additional, 5,725.00
Raised by Union School District for school-house debt, 6,000.00
Books for School Library,
30.00
School District No. 1, in part payment for a new school-house, 750.00
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School District No. 12, for school-house debt, 1,550.00 School District No. 13, in part payment for a new school-house,
500.00
School District No. 20, additional for schools, 200.00
Making the sum appropriated for educational purposes the past year, . $30,488.20
Of this sum there was paid for the support of schools, to District No. 1, the sum of . $182.56
2, 66
66
3, 66
605.56
66
4, 66
121.56
66
5, 66
117.56
6,
66
97.56
66
150.56
66
8,
66
175.56
66
12,
476.12
. 66
13,
66
164.12
66
14,
66
118.56
15,
66
99.56
16,
66
116.73
66
18,
66
248.56
66
20,
66
1,312.5.6
66
22,
166.56
66
23, 66
77.48
66
24,
66
51.00
66
18,
66
25.48
Union School District, Nos. 9, 10, and 11,
17,097.68
7,
. .
135.56
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS,
Gentlemen of the City Council :
Having been elected by the free suffrages of our fellow citizens to administer the affairs of this city, and assembled here agreeably to the provisions of the city charter, and taken the oath of office, it becomes us to remember with gratitude the goodness of God, through which we have en- joyed freedom from the disasters which have fallen with ruinous effect upon other communities in our land, and to appreciate rightly the peace and good order which a wise administration of law is calculated to secure. Prosperity has attended all departments of business in our city, and the growing spirit of enterprise among our capitalists, me- chanics, and active men, gives promise of greater prosperity in the future. I cannot but express a feeling of high satis- faction as I look back over a period of twenty-three years' residence, and recall no time when our beloved city pos- sessed all the elements of material, educational, and religious advancement in such abundance as to-day.
FINANCES.
The financial condition of the city, as appears by the report of the Committee on Finance, is as follows :
City bonds, .
. $245,800.00
City State House bonds,
96,400.00
Precinct State House bonds,
ยท 50,000.00
Interest to February 1, 1872,
6,250.00
Total funded debt,
. $398,450.00
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Total funded debt, brought forward, . $398,450.00
Floating debt and interest, .
3,533.25
Outstanding accounts and claims,
8,514.91
Total debt, .
. $410,498.16
Available assets, .
56,718.33
Indebtedness,
. $353,779.83
Of the bonds mentioned, $2,500 become due April 1, 1872, and $9,000 become due January 1, 1873, for the pay- . ment of which, and the interest on the whole debt, pro- vision must be made on making the appropriations this year.
By the act of the Legislature, approved July 15, 1871, authorizing the State to make a limited reimbursement of their municipal war expenditures, the sum of $77,372.22 has been allowed the city of Concord as our quota. Before the city can receive this amount, it must surrender to the treasurer of the State evidence of its indebtedness equal to the amount allowed. There can be no doubt that the quota due the city under the provisions of said act will be ac- cepted, but in order to obtain the money an agent must be appointed to surrender the bonds of the city, which consti- tute the evidence of indebtedness. I desire to call your attention to the necessity of early action on this subject.
EDUCATION.
The cause of education in our city is attracting increased attention. My experience is, that no part of the public tax is so cheerfully paid as that which is assessed for the sup- port of schools, and erecting and furnishing school-houses. I trust that in making the appropriation for the support of schools, means will be supplied to meet the increased de- mand, and keep up the interest in our schools which a growing and prosperous community requires.
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THE POOR AND CITY FARM.
We have always with us some whom misfortune, sickness, or imprudence has brought into a condition to demand our sympathies and aid. By a wise provision of law, you are invested with power, and required, to make provision for such persons. The accommodations made for those at the city farm are sufficient, as will be seen by reference to the report of the committee, just published, which shows that the farm is very productive, and under good management, rendering no special appropriation necessary for the current. year.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The public library, by the successful manner in which it has accomplished the purpose for which it was established, commends itself to our fostering care.
There are now 5,777 volumes in circulation, and six hun- dred and eighteen persons have taken books during the year. The receipts, including an appropriation of five hun- dred dollars, amount to $891.12 ; expenses, $850.31. I recommend an appropriation of five hundred dollars, to be expended for the purchase of books.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I take pleasure in stating that this branch of the public service was never more efficient in the discharge of duty, or its usefulness more apparent, that at this time. The intro- duction of water from Long Pond will suggest and require many changes, but a detailed statement of its present con- dition and prospective wants is rendered unnecessary by the report of the chief engineer, soon to be laid before you, and to which you are referred for full information on this sub- ject.
STREETS AND BRIDGES.
The repairs of our streets and maintenance of an unusual number of bridges will always constitute a large item in our expenditures. Permanent improvements in those streets
30
through which sewers and the main and service pipes of the water works are to be laid, would not seem to be advisable until those enterprises are completed. We have a large number of wooden bridges to maintain, requiring constant attention. I have been informed that the bridge over the Contoocook, at Fisherville, needs to be either repaired or rebuilt. I commend this subject to your early attention, and, if it is found necessary, would recommend an appro- priation to meet the expense. So far as I am informed, the ordinary repairs of roads and bridges throughout the city will require no increased appropriation.
CEMETERIES.
Twelve years ago the lot of land now comprising Blos- som Hill Cemetery was purchased at a cost of about $4,800. Lots for burial have been sold, amounting to more than $11,000 ; part of this amount has been expended in improv- ing the grounds, and the balance applied to the payment of the principal and interest of the original purchase money. The rapidity with which the present grounds have been sold makes it apparent that larger space will be indispensable to meet the requirements of the future.
RAILROADS.
The Sugar River Railroad has been completed to Newport. Of the $50,000 appropriated to aid in the construction of this road, one half has been paid the past year. It is ex- pected that the whole line will be completed during the year, when the balance of the appropriation will be required. I recommend that so much of this sum as is practicable be raised by taxation this year. On the completion of this road the railroad facilities of our city will be completed, with the exception of a connection from Hillsborough to Peterborough, and Concord to Rochester. There is an increasing unanimity of feeling among our citizens that the prosperity and growth of Concord demand the speedy com- pletion of these enterprises. I trust, therefore, that they
31
will be regarded with favor, and such aid rendered as their importance demands.
WATER.
For several years past, the attention of our citizens has been called to Long Pond as the most suitable source for an adequate supply of water for the use of the city. After a thorough investigation by the committee appointed by the city council, they recommended that measures be taken in behalf of the city to obtain the necessary legislation to accom- plish so desirable an object. In June last the Legislature passed " an act to authorize the city of Concord to estab- lish water works in said city." By authority of this act our immediate predecessors passed an ordinance, and under it elected an able board of water commissioners, who have accepted the responsible position assigned them, and com- menced their labors. The duty will devolve upon us to provide said commissioners with the means to carry on this work by the issue of bonds as provided by the ordinance.
SEWERS.
The introduction of water in larger quantities than here- tofore will increase the necessity for carrying forward the system of sewerage, so well begun, as rapidly as possible ; but the amount of money required for the extension of the Sugar River Railroad to Claremont the present year, sug- gests that all those points which are not a clear necessity be deferred to another year. I desire to call your attention, however, to the sewer laid through Washington and Main streets to a point opposite the residence of Ivory Hall, which by the plan is made to discharge its contents near Free bridge. I am informed that the outlet of this sewer is now fixed at a point opposite the steam mill, thus render- ing the long reach beyond nearly useless, and a failure to accomplish the purpose of its construction. I recommend that an appropriation be made sufficient to extend this branch to the low land east of the railroad, agreeably to the original plan.
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POLICE.
The reputation of our city for morality, sobriety, and good order, may safely challenge comparison with any other of equal population in the land. Four years of service in this department has taught me that even in a community so free from great crimes as ours has been, constant vigi- lance is requisite to check the inroads of evil. In no form, however, does it work more harm than in the sale and use of intoxicating liquors. The suppression of intemperance is the same hard and hitherto unsolved problem which con- fronts us as it has all our predecessors, and calls upon us to use our best efforts to find the solution so ardently longed for by every right-minded citizen. I can only pledge my earnest personal endeavor and hearty cooperation with you in adopting and pursuing such a course in dealing with this evil as shall not disappoint the reasonable expectations of our constituents.
CONCLUSION.
The subjects which will be likely to engage your attention have thus been briefly laid before you. I shall endeavor to make more specific recommendations when an intimate ac- quaintance with our municipal affairs shall enable me so to do.
Permit me, gentlemen, in conclusion, to congratulate you on the auspicious prospect before us, and the encourage- ments to activity and fidelity thus held out to us as we as- sume the important interests intrusted to our care. I look forward to our association in the performance of our official duties with pleasure, and shall do all that in me lies to make our administration of municipal affairs pleasant and successful ; and I confidently trust that by the blessings of a gracious and all-wise Providence, and harmonious action in all our deliberations, we shall prove ourselves not un- . worthy of the confidence reposed in us by our election to the official positions we occupy.
JOHN KIMBALL.
.
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