Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-01-05

the objects for which the office was created are
not accomplished, it will be your duty tn rescind
the ordinance by which the ordinance was estab-
hshed.
By a recent act of the Legislature, more per-
manency has been given to the School Commit
tee. by increasing the tenure of their Office three
fold. II in making the selection OF the Commit
tee, the citizens ignore all parties and sects and
elect men qualified for the station, have no
doubt it will produce very beneficial effects on the
character of our schools.
During the past year, the City Council have
commenced the erection of new school house
in New Worcester. for the accommodation of four
schools. This is substantial brick edifce the
outside is completed, and the inside is to be fin
ished By contract on or before the LIST of October
next When finished and fitted up with desks, it
will cost about $4,000. OF this sum, S4l00 have
been paid by the last city goveInment-the bal.
ance must be provided for in the appropriations
for the current year.
By reference to the expenditures, it will be seen
that the School Committee have expended the
past year $4,000 more than the appropriation.
The laws Of the State give liberal power to the
School Committee, in case the city does not ap.
propriate the amount required by the statutes for
schools. Yet know Of no authority which gives
the Committee power to exceed the appropria.
ton. In all the departments of the government,
the utmost caution should be used by all who
have any charge of expenditures, to keep them
within the appropriations.
L recommend 10 you TO make ample provision
for the public schools, and to do all acts within
your power, to make them as good as any within
the Commonwealth.
STREETS, BRIDGES, AND SIDEWALKS.
Last week, an ordinance was adopted by the
City Council, providing for joint standing com
mlttee on streets and bridges, and also requiring
of the Street Commissioner, "a strict accountable
ty. feel confident that judicious committee,
to act in connection with the Commissioner, in
the various important questions which may arise
in the repair and construction of bridges-in the
repairing, grading, and construction OF streets,
VII be very beneficial to the city. One hundred
and forly-tive miles Of streets, and thirty five
bridges within the limits of the city, will require
large outlay to keep them in good repair, so
that they will be safe and convenient for travel
ers. new street has been laid out by our pre-
decessors, from Stafford street to Jamess mill,
which will require street over the Western
Railroad. The construction of the bridge and
completing of the street will cost, probably, be-
tween $4,000 and $1,000 suit is pending
against the city for alleged distractions to the
water. caused by the stone bridge the river
Blackstone on Millbury street, below Quinsiga-
mond Village. In this case, accurate survey
should be made by a competent engineer, to as
certain with accuracy the capacity of the arches
to pass the water in its highest state This is
permanent stone bridge, recently constructed, at
an expense of $4,000. In the construction of
bridges, great care should be taken that the span
the water in the greatest freshets stone
bridge built but a few years since, was recon
structed the past year in consequence of its entire
lDadfquacy to pass the water when the stream
was swollen. In constructing bridges, or lie
building them recommend that they should be
constructed with stone in all cases where it is
practicable, and that the arches should be built
upon the segment Of an.ellipse, rather than on
segment Of circle this mode of construction
will give greater facilities for passing the water,
sF,A f0. o11o,, r. -
persede the necessity of raising the bridges
high as would be required if constructed upon the
segment of a circle. The cost of stone bridges
will be greater than wood, but if properly
structed, they will last for centuries.
The City Council appropriated the past year
the of 800 900 for this department. The
amount expended has been about $4,000
| apprehend that our system Of repairs of streets
and bridges, is not yet so perfect that it is not
susceptible Of great improvement. Many of the
streets are ornamented with shade trees, which
give comfort to the traveller and beauty to the
city would recommend, that gratuities be Of
fered to those land holders in the agricultural por
tions of the city, who will plant trees on the Dor
ders Of streets adjoining their land, under the d.
rections of the Committee on Shade Trees. An
Ordinance should be adopted for the more perfect
protection of shade trees
The Commissioner of Streets will make aafull
and detailed report upon the subject of streets,
DiAuSeoy anu oiuSWhlhSy 10 WHICH L I6lcI yOu lOT
further information.
THE POOR.
In this time Of general depression, when there
are so many destitute, and so many out of en-
ployment it may be reasonably expected that the
applications of the poor for aid and assistance will
be numerous.
The dictates of religion, the feelings of human
lty, the acquisitions of law, all demand that shell
ter food, and rainent, should be furnished to the
hos A lr,s. 4k,l
modern conveniences, at great expense, will fur
nish ample accommodations for all who may apply.
The average number of poor in the Aims House
for the past year is twenty; the amount appro-
priated for the support of the poor was $S,000
and the amount actually expended is $500. The
Superintendent and Matron of the Aims House re-
ceive a salary of $3.50 a year, with board for
themselves and two children. A hired man re-
eeives $40 per month; two hired girls receive
one l,75, the other 81, so per week. with board
these constitute the force to take charge of the
Aims House, with an average number of twenty
poor persons, most of whom are able, and do per-
form more or less service. This would seem to be
rather large force for the services performed,
and the amount expended appears large when the
average number of the poor is considered. This
whole subject will require your careful considera-
ton, and as soon as you receive the detailed
report of the Oyerseers of the Poor, you can de-
termine more definitely what action is necessary.
WATER.
How shall the City be supplied with pure water2
This question has been much discussed by the
City Government for four or five years last past
Extensive surveys and estimates have been made
by competent engineers, and their reports have
been printed and widely circulated. The ques-
tion whether water should be brought into the
City from Henshaw Pond in Leicester has been
submitted to the legal yoters-the result of which
was about the same number in favor of the project
as there against it. About one thousand
voters had no opinion upon the subject or they
did not express it at the polls. The whole surface
Of our city is variegated with hill and valley,
where many bubbling springs Of pure water gush
from the earth. The several streams of water
which unite in forming the river Blackstone, flow
through our city. Upon these streams are TWENTY
five dams, forming many reservoirs of water
which, with two natural ponds, cover more than
nine hundred acres Of land within the city, with
water. Almost every citizen can procure good
pure water at his own door by digging fifteen or
twenty feet. The city aqueduct, which cost the
city over SAC, OOO supplies our citizens with over
fifty thousand gallons Of water per day. Con-
neeted with this aqueduct are one hundred and
four hydrants, to be used in case of fire. Three
aqueducts, laid and constructed by individual en-
terprise, furnish daily about thirty thousand gal
Ions OF water.
careful analysis of the water of springs.
streams, and ponds, within the city, demonstrates
the fact that the water is unusually pure The
uniform good health Of its citizens is an evidence
Of the purity of that element SO necessary to
health and comfort. Few cities in New England
are, after ALL better supplied with water than our
city. do not recommend, at present, TO bring
water upon any Of the plans heretofore ported
upon by engineers for that purpose-any one Of
NIB ur,.l1 fvwn al.