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


ton Of the House and for the transaction Of such other
business may property come before them.
s---s----.----------------
INAUGURATION oFTHE CITY GOV
ERNMENT FOR 1855.
The citizens Of Worcester assembled in large
numbers at the City Hall, Monday morning, to
witness tho Inauguration of the city government
for 1858. The hall was well filed.
At ten o'clock, his Honor Mayor Richardson
arose, and said it gave him great pleasure to take
part in the ceremonies Of inaugurating Mayor so
eminently fitted as the one elect. He then ad-
ministered the oath of Office to Hon Isaac Davis,
Mayor elect.
Mr.. Davis then administered the oath of office
to the Aldermen, and members of the Common
Council elect.
The Throne of Grace was then fervently ad.
dressed by Rev. DR.. Hill, after which, His HoRer,
Mayor Davis, delivered the following Inaugural
Address
Gentlemen of the Board of Aldermen.
and Gentlemen Of The Common Council;
We have been selected, by the ptrtiality of our
fellow citizens, to take the charge of the fiscal,
prudential, and municipal affairs of the City for
the current year; have taken the oaths re-
quired by the charter, soemnly pledging our
selves to the faithful performance of the duties
of our respective stations Allow to say,
gentlemen, that the duties aud responsibilities
which we have assumed, will require much
time, skill, prudence, energy, and wisdom, in
order that We may discharge them with fidelity.
At the opening of new year upon u.s. the first
sentiment which impresses itself upon the mind
is of grattudeito the Author and Giver of every
good and perfect gift, for the continuance Of the
of lis . hai pha hi
of our beloved city.
Although Heaven has smiled upon us, and
showered its blessings in our pathway, yet our
citizens are far from being prosperous in the va
rious branches of industrial pursuits business
is paralyzed. the busy hum of industry has died
away in the shops of the mechanics and artzans,
and hundreds Of laborers thrown out Of en-
ployment and reduced to want. This state of
things is not confined to our city, but exists in
greater less degree in our sister cities through
out the country. If we inquire what has pro.
duced these disastrous results, we shall find it is
to be attributed mainly to defective system of
currency Its extravagant expansions excite wild
speculatious, prodigal expenditures, and improv-
ident investments. Its great contractions produce
ruin, bankruptcy, and crime.
All civilized nations ,fby common consent, have
made silver and gold the standard by which the
value OF goods wares, and merchandise, lands
and fenenents, can be ascertained. The history
Of currency shows that whenever, and wherever,
this standard, either by debasing the coin or is.
suing bills of credit without specie basis il has
IN the end excited alarm, pafalyzed industry sus-
pended the employments of labor, and produced
bankruptcy and its attendant evils Our city, in
common with all the cities Of New England, is
experiencing the effects OF this time, of this war
on currency. BY the issuing of bills of credit BY
institutions created by the States, to an amount
of ten or fifteen fold greater than they had gold
or silver to redeem them. England, France, and
Germany, in their extensive commercial relations
with this country. have brought here their goods,
wares and merchandise and sold them at the in
hAted prices Of our paper currency, receiving, in
payment, not bills, but gold and silver. thereby
crushing our own mechanics, artlzans, and man
ulacterers Our State Legislature has the power
to accomplish much towards providing a remedy
for this evil. Something might be done to cor
rect it, by the City Council by requiring, as far
as practicable, all the receipts and disbursements
of the city to be made in silver and gold. If all
our sister cities would do likewise, it would effect
much towards restoring confidence, and giving
life and energy to industry. Under these repres-
sive circumstances we should not despond. The
in1omltabe energy, the untiring perseverance,
and the indefatigable industry Of our fellow cit.
sens, will enable us, amid the elements nf pros
perity. soon TO rise triumphant over this financial
embarrassment, and witness again the onward
progress Of all our various industrial pursuits
Amid this depression, our citizens are obliged to
curtall their expenditures. and adopt system of
economy IN the management OF their private af-
fairs. They will assuredly require and have a
Eght to demand OF us, prudent and economical
management of all monies which we NAV exact
OF them by taxation. In order that business may
again revive, that the mechanic and artizan may
mud full employment, that our city may again as.
sumo its onward progress, much lie to be done in
its municipal capacity
Gentlemen of the City Council I'm obedience
to the requirements of the City Charter, and in
ar an mill he o,f !. l.
predecessors, l shall cali your attention to the
consideration of some Of the principal subjects
which will, in the performance of your official du-
ties. claim your careful and thorough inyestiga-
ton. lt M 81 trr yfa So ttrlaSf
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Our public schools, so important to the welfare
of our city, must be honorably provided for and
will require large expenditure Of money in order
TO furnish the best instruction More than two
centuries ago, when the entire colony of Massa.
chusetts Bay contained population less than
this city, our Pilgrim fathers without experience
and without precedent, devised system Of edu-
cation which has commanded the admiration OK
succeeding generations In the year l647, law
was passed making the support of schools com.
pulsory, aud education universal and free. BY
this law, every town containing fifty househclders
was required to appoint teacher "to teach all
such children should resort to him to write and
read !" and every town containing one hundred
families, or househoders, was required ''to set
up q. gTamm scnOOl, whose master should be
able $40 instruct youth so far as they may be fit.
ted for the university" This Act laid the found
alton Of our present system Of free schools. Cen.
turtles OF successful operation proclaim the wis.
dom Of the system. Every civilized community
awards 10 it the highest encomiums. We have
occasion to be grateful to God and man for its
untold blessings. -
Our city has twenty-five school houses, which
have been constructed at expense OF about
$4,000. These school houses will afford ac-
eommodations for 1900 scholars The last official
report shows that there are fifty schools, and the
average attendance OF scholars in the summer is
24l5, 10 winter 25O7 This report covers a period
when the schools were larger than they are at
present; the number Of children between the
ages Of five years and fifteen years having d.
minished, according to the returns Of the Asses.
sors.
The following table will show the appropria.
tons for school expenditures, and the number Of
children between the ages OF Ave and fifteen years,
for the last five years /;
Number OF
Appropriation Expenditures. Children.