Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-07

our predecessors have not already taken the neces
sary measures TO secure the repay met OF this large
sum OF money from tie state, the subject should
claim our early attention.
OF the whole amount OF the eity's indebtedness
the following sums TO be provided for the pres
$1,000 due June l. 1852
l604 due July Il. 1852.
1000 Library debit due Dec. l, 1852.
There is also about SIS 90 due on demand notes,
which will be called tor curing the year; making
all to be provided for the sum OF $4,000
Cash IN the treasury at the commencement of the
fiscal year 1861 $500
Cash at the commencement oil the present fiscal
year, 5000 or S60J0
The following table exhibits the amount of taxes,
the valuation ana city debt proper, for each OF the
years named:-
Amount Of Taxes Valuation City Debt
1855 Sl23i76 50 Sl63s5 coo s101,lss so
1853, l24.3yl % l6ol6400 80, 5S3 80
l$59 1899 I9 SIS g ls595S59 st55S95
This statement shows how very difficult is even
in the management OF the careful and skiiltul
III financial matters, to control and keep down the
public debt; for while the taxation OF the last two
years was much above what it the two years
previous, the public debt has been largely increased
in both the last two years. For although the city
debt as il is called, diminished 5000 in 1860
public debt under another name. to wit the library
dcbt of $4,000. was created, which really increased
the whole Indebtedness OF the city $1,000. And in
lS6I, the Increase as has already been shown, was
still more. Aud this has occurred Notwithstanding
the confident prediction made at the beginning OF
last year. that all the ordinary expenses OF the.
city could be provided for without increasing the
rate of taxation, and have $4,000 or $50 900 10 APP
ply for extraordinary expenses liquidation of the
city debt" The extraordinary expenses of the last
year remain unpaid, in part, and the city debt not
materially diminished. l make these observations
with no view to uniriendly criticism upon the cts
OF our predecessors; for ii they have increased the
public debt, they show substantiated for it.
and l only allude to the subject i'll this connection
for the purpose u showing that this debt is much
more likely to be enlarged than lesSened, and for
the further purpose OF lnquiring whether it would
| not be wiser to increase the rate of taxation a
| tFlne, ana rather than the risk
OF continually augnenting debt for posterity to
/ Hquidate.
There remains uncoIlected of the taxes OF 1861 be-
tween $500 and $780, of which the collector
$500 may yet be collected.
Several important improvements in the public
highways, within The limits OF the city ordered
by the county commissioner during the last year,
all OF which are required to be completed the pres
eit year, and will involve the necessity OF heavy
pendltures. One of these improvements has been
commenced, and portion OF the work done, but
the whole expense remains 10 be provided for no
part having yet been paid except by borrowing in
anticipation of further taxation Under this state
OF facts, and in view of the heavy demands likely to
DC made upon the TAX payers OF the city, tor the
reasons before alluded to- all will agree that the APP
preparations for extraordinary expenditure should
be limited to such as are ndispensaby demanded by
t!le puohc eNgencles. But should 1t be found nee
essary to erect new school house, repair old
one as 1t Is quite possible it may be, it would seem
to be the part of sound policy to provide the
OF paving therefor, not by the common expedicnt
OF borrowing, but by taxation
sPUBLlC SCHOOLS.
schools, under the judicous management of our
coluplished superintendent, aided by able and
faithful corps of teachers, are illustrating the full
benefits III popular education,
learn nom the superintendent that there
III the center district twelve school houses including
the one erected on Salem street last year These
Twelve houses are furnished with seats Tor 3349
pupils.
In the suburbs there are twelve houses furnished
with seats for 581 pupils. All the houses in the cen
ter district in good condition, except that several
rooms IN the sycamore street house must he en-
Target All the houses iii the suburban district are
reported 10 be i'll good condition. except the one in
the North Pond district, which should be extensive
y repaired, or replaced by new rhe condi-
non OF the school house i'll this district has BEEN
am informed, the subject ofcompaini the part of
the inhabitants OF the district for time and the
complaints seem to be well founded. | would,
therefore, recommend early attention to this sub
Ject and that all needed and reasonable improve.
mehts Tor the accommodation of the scholars of the
district be p ompty made. 1t seems to that lib
eral appropriations ANA provision should be made
Tor an the schools distant from the center and in the
more spaisey settled portions OF the city, that
scholars III these districts shall, although few in
number enjoy to the fullest extent their situation
Will allow the benefits of excellent school
system.
lie whole number Of schools is 60
The whole number Of teachers is 50
Inc whole number Ui pupils REGISTERED ia 1851
Ihe whole number Of pupis in he center district 4sl6
The average number belonging To The schools dur
ing the year that ocomnectcd with the schools
namber OF seats is enough 10 give a seat to each
III the center district S55G
in The suburban district "a
The erage dsily attendance in the center district
In ' he 5the f G G:ir lssi was 's So
- In all the schools sl65
The increase in the number Of pupils the last six
months Of the large that increase is likely
70 become permanent.
The appropriation for the schools for the year
sta S5 . wsrs 9 3Id ne CITY council for taxes soo
The expenses it is thought will exceed the appro
priatlons, and may fall a trfe less
the year average ten dollars The actual vary
In the year lSeO the average cost was $40 10
" :. Isss "
from 1855 10 1860, was sll 81
concur with the superintendent in the opinion that
the appropriations should III all cases be large enough
to er all necessary expenses, he gives as his
standard salaries with pro ser care Of The
school property be safely reduced below ten dollars
1t will be observed hat there in the district
2U5 more pupils than there seats This simple
statement demonstrates the necessity additional
school room in this district And the concurrent opin
ion OF all with whom have conferred the subject
that this want be best and economically sup
Piled by building schoolhouse in the neigh6orhud
Of flainsyle IN the westerly part OF the district
house with ample accommodations probably be
erected in the locality named for the OF about si
600 Aud unless some adverse exits unknown TO
me, think this want should be supplied and the house
Dullt during the coming year.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
An officer connected with this most important and
rising ms tituton and who is entirely familiar
SUBJECT mas klnClf urnlSheu at request, the ollOw
ing statements respecting the library and the
building in which 1t now is.
Ihc pubic library building afer some delays is at
length nearly completed. and will be ready for
Inauguration. The gas fixtures arranged and the
desks and seats for the Green library being
constructed. The medical library and the natural history
collection are now being arranged and viii add greatly,
the later especially the attractions rered 10 those
who visit the Institution.
The operations OF the circulating department of the
library have been seriously interrupted by the delay
Incident to removal and by the absence any means Of
lighting the building for many weeks after the removal
Operations are now. however fully resumed, and the
And although the Green library has yet been reg
uary opened TO the public it is already evident that
the use made OF 1t Will be large and constant.
A new catalogue of the circulating department was
Issued after removal TO tile BUILDING From this il
appears that the whole number of books NV placed in
the building and accessible to the public, is ollows
Circulating Library, 500
Green Library, 1920
Medical Library, about 2,1S0
1900 1850
Tor 1850 to be Invested in books removal TO the
building.
In view OF the depressed condition ofbusness and the
unsettled state of public affairs, the directors for 1861
reluctantly limited themselves to eXpend $500
Tor the purpose-drawing the residue the fund ior
the current expense The city 1901 was
therefore called On to provide only for the expenses
part OF the year apart from the cost the building
the amount appropriated barely sufficient 10 cover
the running expenses up to January |, 1852.
An early Appropriation for this purpose will therefore
become necessary.
The number OF accounts opened with book borrow.
ers before the removal OF the old building was 4l65
Number added since, 69l