Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-01-06
Mayor Davis's vaIediCtory.


RESOLVED, That the thanks of this Board be and
are hereby presented to His Honor, the Mayor,
for the punctual faithful, and impartial manner
in which he has presided over their deliberations
during the year now about to close.
Mayor Davis, in response, then delivered the
following
vALEDIcToRY ADDRESS.
Gentlemen Of the Board of Alderme, The
time has arrived when, in Obedience to the char
ter, we to surrender the fiscal, prudential and
municipal affairs of the city into the hands of our
successors. Your last official act has been to
pass resolution approving he manner in which
the duties Of your presiding officer have been dis
charged. For the expression of your approba-
ton, sincerely thank you, gentlemen. For the
manner in which the duties of the chair haye been
discharged, l am much indebted to your kindness
and courtesy, and in other more responsible and
important duties in the administration of the af.
fairs of the city, have had your prompt, eff
cient, and cordial cooperation, for which tend
er to you nay grateful Acknowledgements
The position which l have occupied the past
year was not sought by me. The unSought suf-
frages of my fellow citizens called me to enter
upon the duties of the chief executive officer of
the city. And when the time arrived to select a
successor 10 the present Mayor. l positively re.
fused to be considered candidate for reelection.
The success with which those duties have been
performed is for you and my fellow citizens to
determine. You will not, | trust, gentlemen,
deem it improper in me to allude briefly, on this
occasion, to some of the acts and doings of the
City Government for the past year, in which you
as Aldermen so largely participated. F
In the Police Department of the city important
and radical changes have been made The ex-
penses have been ~curtailed more than five thou
send dollars-yet the police has been energetic
and efficient. No tumults, riots, or mobs--no
murders. buIglaries, or aggravated assaults have
occurred in the city, the past year, although it
has been year of unusual excitement and of
numerous gatherings of the people. In years
past, the citizens have suffered severely by fires,
originating, in most cases, by design. Incendia-
rlsm has not been known in the city the vast year,
and SlOUO Will cover all the losses by 6Ie.
The Mayor and Aldermen, on petition of the
citizens, have viewed, located laid out and fixed
the grade Of twelve streets, and have caused per.
ma"ent stone monuments to be placed at their
termin and at all angles of the streets, and have
satisfactorily adjusted and paid all damages to
AUDITORS. These streets have all been accepted
by the Common Council, and have been put in
good order for travel with ore exception. One
hundred and forty-four miles of public highways,
and numerous bridges have been kept in good re-
pair, and one new bridge built. The road from
the City Hall to Quinsgamond Village has been
greatly improved, by order of the County Com
mlssloners, at an expense of Sl3Sl AZ 1887 feet
OF curb stones have been set, and 1862 yards of
cobble paving have been laid in the steets of the
city, and in all cases where curb stones have been
caused good brick sidewalks to be laid, so that
the walks for foot passengers have been greatly
improved. a
= Drains and sewers have been constructed in
Elm, Pleasant, Pine, Summer, and Laurel streets,
at an expense of S2764 Sc greatly improving the
streets, and enabling individuals, by paying fair
equivalent, to connect private drains with the
main sewer. In consequence of the severe and
unusual snow storms in the months of January,
February, and March, $4,000 was expended in
keeping the roads open, and in safe condition
for public travel. The day we were inauguratcd
into Office, the roads and streets were blocked up
with two feet of snow, the city not being the own
er of any teams to open the ways for public
travel We have provided for our successors,
teams which belong to the city, amply sufficient
for any emergency of that kind.
The ordinary expenses of the schools are large,
yet cheerfully borne by the citizens, in order to
give the rising generation the opportunities of
thorough mental and moral training. Three
new schools have been established, in order to
meet the growing wants of the city. Two new
school houses have been built, and fitted up with
all The modern Improvements, at an expense of
S525O, and repairs and great improvements have
been made in the school houses heretofore built
The City Council have, by ordinance, provided
for Superintendent of Public Schools, and a
Superintendent has been elected by the School
Committee. If he shall discharge his duties with
ability and fidelity, am confident the character
OF the schools will be greatly improved and the
annual expense will be largely diminished.
The Fire Department, an important branch of
the municipal affairs of the city, has been well
organized, and ready to work if occasion requir.
ed; but, rejoice to say, that they have had but
small service to perform. A new and substantial
two story brick building has been erected for En-
CINE Co. No. 6, on Pleasant street, at an expense
OF about $4,000 To the equipment of the Fire
Department there has been added 500 feet of
leading hose, carriage for Hook and Ladder
al ha ami hNeo ~
other things, to the amount of Sl454 90.
When we came into Office, no report relative
to the Poor had been made for two years We
found claims existing against the city to the
amount of nearly $4,000, on account of the Poor.
thorough ana rigid examination relative to the
settlement of the pauper list was made, and it
was ascertained that eighteen persons had been
aided and assisted by the city, and some of them
for years, who had no legal settlement in the
city: In all these cases except one, where these
settlements have been traced, the Commonwealth,
cities, and towns, have acknowledged the settle.
ments, and assumed the paupers-but the city
has no remedy for past payments, because legal
notice was not given. The payments on account
OF these paupers cannot be precisely ascertained
because, for two years past the want of records
and reports leave the expenditures in darkness
and obscurity. The payments have amounted to
between $1,000 and $4,000. The claims which the
city were legally bound to pay, have been adjust
ed. About $1,000 have been expended over the
ordinary expenses of supporting the poor, in re-
moving the barn at the Aims House, preparing
cellar for the same, adding to the furniture. and
fitting up some strongiokdS, in order to comply
with the law OF the Legislature OF 1856. From
the Overseers of the Poor you will have full
and detailed report for the past year.
The new Common has ueen enclosed with a
substantial fence, ornamental trees for shade
have been set out, in and around the Common,
the scrapings of the streets have been carried on
TO It, greatly improving and enriching it, and
something has been done towards grading it, A
new and beautiful street, worked hity feet wide
has been constructed through it, in the westerly
part thereof, connecting Highland street with
Elm' and thus complying with the conditions
contained in the deed of the grantOrs to the city
These Improvements have been made at cost Of
$3.50 deducting the income from the Common
leaves the net amount, Sl559
Hope Cemetery, which has been under the
charge Of able and faithful commissioners, has
been much improved and Ornamented. From
that commission, full and detailed report OF
their doings, together with their expenditures,
will be placed in the hands of our successors
Surveys and estimates have been made in order
to ascertain the praclicablity and feasibility Of
supplying the city with pure water. The ex.
penses which have accrued in these investiga
tons have amounted to y684,48 The result of
the Investigations has been published and dis
tIibuted among the citizens.
! Trees have been set out in many OF the streets
for shade and ornament The public buildings
have been kept in good repair, and many OF them
very much improved.
The City's proportion Of the State and County
Tax in 1856, was SI93,46, in 1856, 1888 S3; SO
that the present City government had to provide
Tor the payment Of S6027 more than their i'm.
mediate predecessors.
At the commencement OF the municipal year,
there were pending ten lawsuits, in which he
city was party; five of these suits have been
adjusted and settled at a @ \ nf RIllO I