Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-01-03
JESTER DAILY
ADDRESS OF MAYOR KNOwLTOy

Gentlemen The close OF the year brings
with 1t the conclusion of your labors as mem
bers of the Board of Aldermen. As your last
official act, you have been pleased to pass a
resolution commencing the manner IN which
| have performed the duties of presiding Off
Ger of the board. Not doubling that your
resolution intends all that its language con-
veys, thank you, gentlemen, for the COM
mendation it bestows, undeserved though
feel it to be.
When entered upon the duties of the of
fee two years ago, it was under circumstances
somewhat peculiar. Attic time the nomina
ton was made, was confined to my house by
sickness, and had no intimation from any
source that my name was to be used, or that
such compliment was intended. Of course
no pledges were asked, and none were given J;
and when reelected last year it was under a
like freedom from all pledges or promises
And as had no personal interests to subserve,
a conscientious performance of the duties of
the position, whatever they might be- has been
the end at which l have aimed; with what
success, it is for you, gentlemen, and the citi.
zens of Worcester, to decide.
For much of the success that has attended
my labors, feel, gentlemen, that l am largely
indebted to you to your indulgence, and to
that cheerful readiness to render all the SER
vice required of you. 1t has often called forth
my gratitude that you have been willing to
render so much uncompensated service often,
nearly or quite whole days of labor on COM
mittees. And for no little Of our success, we
are all ready TO admit our Indebtedness to
our able and efficient clerk. The services rem
deGed by the board of aldermen are no pastime;
and if might be allowed the suggestion, in
the nature of recomm endation, it would be
that the city make provision for some compen-
sation to the members not, perhaps, for their
attendance in the ordinary meetings of the
board, but for those numerous and often i'm
portant labors which tuey perform as commit
tees
The time has arrived when, in obedience to
the charter, and to the voice of the people, we
are to deliver up the city into the hands of our
successors. You will therefore indulge me
for a moment, while l recur TO some of the
things that have been done during the year,
to show the condition in which the CITY will
be left by you.
Complaints have been made that your exc
penditures have been large, and taxation has
been heavy. The answer must be, that in
city spreading itself over a large territory, and
growing rapidly as Worcester is heavy ex-
penditures are unavoidable. Its growth brings
with it wants that must be met cautiously and
prudently; but they must be met and an
swered. 1t win not do to compare the Wor-
cester of to-day with the Worcester Of twelve
or fifteen years ago; nor the expenditures now
with what were considered sufficient them
Whoever shall do So will find themselves be-
hind the public demand. New wants have
crowded upon you and you, gentlemen, in
conjunction with the Council, have not hesi-
tated to respond to the demand.
The heaviest expenditure of the year has
hon flO hIrrh1 a toTDn en- INF Of
work has been done in that branch of the
public service. During the last season, some
ten thousand feet of curb-stone have been set,
and corresponding amount of cutters paved.
This heavy expenditure tends materially to
promote the comfort and convenience of our
citizens, and Of all who have occasion to walk
our Streets and, as has been well remarked
by my friend, the Alderman of the first ward,
is an improvement that adds substantially to
the wealth and Importance of our city. What
ever others may think, l am of the opinion
that it is an improvement that cannot now be
suspended or abandoned but that it will be
demanded hereafter as it has been heretofore.
Other substantial Improvements have been
made upon the public roads. Two bridges
have been erected; one of them an expensive
stone arched bridge, on one of the main ave-
nues leading out Of the city in southerly di-
e4"tipen t,apdSxbiGh the safety and convenience
embankment has been raised at the end of the
floating bridge. and the hill cut down. so as
to render the ascent from the bridge much
easier than before, and place the road above
the reach of the water, by which, heretofore,
the travel at times has been incommoded. In
other parts of the city, repairs and improve
ments have been made upon the roads; and
in the centre district there is scarcely public
street on which some work has not been done
the present year.
A large addition has been made during the
year to the number OF street lamps; and who
is there, of our citizens, to say this expendi-
ture was not demanded BY the people, and
ought not to have been made:
In conjunction with the council, you, gen
tlemen, have not hesitated TO meet the public
demand Of large expenditure for the GREG
ton of q new Almshouse. Complaints have
been made that the expenditure IS unneces-
saTily large. Upon IN investigation Of It's ne
cessity, you reached different conclusion. It
IS not foE the poor Of today alone, that YOU
have tEoEgEt fit to make provision f.; bat YOU
have and wisely, too, anticipated the future
wants Of growing city n this respect. It
was 2 part Of your plan, also, IN the erection
Of the 5UildiHg. 60 afford accommodation to
IuveaIle 0Ielders-of whom cur streets afford
painful evidence that we have quite too MANY
who are too small for the house OF correc-
ton, OF the state reform school, but who, IN
der the laws, may be committed to the aims
house, and there be consigned to labor and
education under the care Of some competent
person and thus, perhaps, be saved from
ruin, and be made useful members Of society.
In this light we present the aImshouse to our
citizens, relying upon their generosity and
well-known philanthropy to commend the ex-
penditure, large though it be.
The Public Schools are heavy charge up
on the city; who is there that rightly appreci.
ates the necessity and importance Of educa-
ton, who would desire that the youth Of the
city should have less chances and means of
education than they now have The city
council, looking at the growth of the city, as
well as TO present necessity, have commenced
the erection Of a large school house for the &C
commodation Of the southern section of the
city. And if the statement, which / have
seen within day or two, be true--and have
10 doubt that itis-that, from the top OF the
Dread hill, from twenty to thirty dwelling
houses may now be seen in the process Of
erection, il must be admitted that you have
but exercised a judicious forecast in providing
for the population that is rapidly extending
itsclfin that direction.
Believing that the safety Of our citizens and
the security Of their properly demanded an
extension Of the police force you have doubled
the number Of the city watchmen. Il OF
course imposes an additional tax on the peo.
pie aud We have not doubted their readiness