Worcester daily spy., 1861-01-01

this purpose. The report was 49, -!
an order covering the additional expenses re-
terred to, was adopted.
/ Alderman Messenger, from the committee
on shade trees and public grounds, also report
ed that with the $500 appropriated Tor the pur-
pose, seventy-fve trees had been set out, and
one hundred and twenty boxes made, as
guards around the trees on Main and other
streets in the central portions OF the city old
boxes have been repaired where necessary
the fences around the old Common, and the
Pine street and Mechanic street burial grounds
had also been repaired the Mechanic street
burial ground had been cleared of unsightly
trees; and it was hoped the time was not far dis.
tant when it would be properly graded, and
the fallen stones reset
Alderman Messenger offered the following
resolution, which was unanimously adopted
Resolved That the thanks of this board are eminent
y due and hereby rendered, to the Hon. W. W. Rice,
ur6anity with which he has presided delibera-
tons during the municipal year now about to close.
In response to this resolution the mayor
spoke as follows =
Gentlemen Of the Board Of Aldermen Il thank
you for the resolution which you have just
adopted it adds to the weight of my obiiga-
ton TO you. which has been constantly aecum-
ulating during the year And not cnty have
you generously sustained me in the discharge
of my duties, but, in my judgment, your rela-
tions with each others have been eminently
harmonious. The members of the board have
been united in support of almost all the impor-
tant measures which have been adopted by us,
each striving TO share, rather than evaCe, the
common labor and responsibility. And now
that we take our leave of each other in this re-
lation, l trust and believe that we separate
with increased sentiments of mutual friendship
and esteem do not propose to examine in
detail the proceedings OF the year, Or the pres
ent condition of our municipal affairs. Custom
and courtesy assign that duty to my success
or Still, as careful and prudent stewards, we
should not render up our trusts without a
knowledge of the condition in which we leave
them.
And, in the first place, we have reason to be
thankful that Providence has not visited the
city during our term OF Office with any severe
calamity ofpestilence or of fire. Our citizens
have enjoyed an average degree OF health,
while the amount of property destroyed by
fire during the year has been much less than
the average annual loss. In 1868 the value of
property destroyed by fire was $4,000 in
1859 it was S33, IFS; while this year it has
been but $500, or less than half what was
lost by incendiarism alone during the last year
Twenty-Five per cent. OF this loss has been in
the suburban districts, beyond the control of
the fire department
The report OF the treasurer, who, you will
permit ME TO say in passing, receives less conf
pensation, in proportion to the value of ser.
Ni,a al, hos,
the city, will show balance of some $1,000 in
the treasury, after the settlement of all the
bills of the year, and the payment of $4,000 in
reduction of the city debt, in accordance with
the vote Of the council. Our policy was to
make liberal appropriations to the several de-
partmenls and en1eayor to keep within them.
This, am happy to say, in most cases has
been accomplished. Our largest appropriation
was S33 900 for schools. The expenses have
been kept within the appropriation, notwith-
standing the establishment of three new
schools and the employment of additional
teachers, at an annual additional expense Of
800 for salaries alone. This large reduction
of the expenses of our schools notwithstand-
ing their increasing facilities, being some S2370
less than tor last year, is attributable in great
degree to the ability and faithfulness Of the
superintendent Of public schools. We appro
prlated 600 for highways and bridges,
Sl5,933 10 being the expenditure of last year.
Our expenditure will exceed the appropriation
less than 500, including $l20S SO expended
in the completion of the Patch road, laid out
and commenced by our predecessors We
have set 1916 feet of curb stone and paved
1912 yards Of gutter and sidewalks, being
quarter more than was done last year. which
exceeded the amount Of the year before. To
those acquainted with the efficient manage