Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-29

would be pleasant to any that all our children were
growing up in rectitude; acquiring habits OF ln-
dusry aud useful knowledge This trust, Is true Of
9larger portion vi them but She complaints brought
before our probate Judge prove that far too many
are pursuing the paths ofimmorality and vice. Inc
efforts OF all good citizens should be put forth 10
rescue these Juvenile deinquents from their lives
Of idenesS aud wickedness.
In the early part Of the year the cattle disease pre-
vailed to Il considerable extent but under judielous
care soon abated. Small poX then threatened and
prevailed to limited degree, but with precaution-
AIRY and the faithful efforts OF our city ply
stefan, Dr. Wood, after few months yielded ana
disappeared.
The fire alarm telegraph was introduced at an ex-
pense of about $4,000, and although we cannot eN-
acfy know its useful results yetnone viii condemn
the investment
The union depot question, which has for years
been one Of great interest to the city, has been faith
fully adhered to BY the whole government, ana is
now located substantially as contemplated, for
which much credit is due to our faithful city solic
itor
The betterment law has been fairly initiated, and
VIII be conceded to be one Of great practical utility
H. carving out such public improvements as seem
to be mperativey called for.
New and improved highways and streets have
claimed and received much attention this year.
The GAINESVILLE road has been built; salisbury
Mechanic Prescott, Wlmot, Lafayette, Washing
ton and Hanover streets have been improved at
heavy expense, and now thorOughfares that do
credit to their several localities. Nearly all the
buildings on Front street have been moved back to
the new line and ifwinter had not closed in with such
ngor AL would nave been completed and the street
worked. This has required much perseverance, as
all the AUDITORS reluctantly cooperated in Its COM
pletion. In spring time, when il is all completed,
think it VIII be one of the most satisfactory i'm
prOyements that has been undertaken.
The city hospital has been organized and estab-
lished. The committee worked earnestly to bring
about this result; and believe many of the sons
and daughters of the city may yet rise up to call
The work Of raising and completing the Lynde
brook Reservoir TO ITS present state Is that COM
mands itself TO the gratitude OF every citizen. 1t
has been so well engineered that 1t stops nearly
every drop of water, and as you look at it you feel
tia. it may last for ages, II properly cared tor.
the margin of the pond has been carried to Il CON
siderable extent and is still being pursued. Efforts
have been made by the water committee TO secure
titles to the lands around the reservoir, and they
have been successful IN obtaining five different par
cells, lining about 121 acres at favorable prices,
and only a few CLAIMS of this kind now remain un.
settled
The interests of education have been attended to
aud our schools conducted successfully under the
Yigilanr care Of our superintendent and school
board. Belmont school house has been fin
ished, and is one of the best IN the city. The new
high school building has been so tar completed
to warrant its being dedic tied the Both inst. The
whole cost up 10 December lst Is about Sol eco,
and contracts now pending will call fer $4,000. 1t
i pleasant to remember that the establishment of
the normal school, which Is to be built the coming
year, took place during our administration. Much
credit for tins IS probably due TO our members OF
the last Legislature, also to hon. f. 3. Stoddard.
A soldiers monument, which has been subject
Of agitation for the last live years is contracted
for after design by Randolph Rogers.
been lad during this administrations it was thing
which / much desired to see accomplished, and
gave 10 it much thought The assessors had done
1t seems to your chairman that the various COM
mittee5 nave succeeded in obtaining contracts gem
orally favorable the interests of the city; those
for sewers are at large reduction from former
prices. The estimates ba ed on Old prices, were, for
Mill Brook TO Cambridge street, $4,000 winch
which was contracted for $65,0O0; for the
brook above Lincoln square, estimate S35 600,
contracted Tor SlS,090 Of the street sewers IS go
feet at the old estimates, the report of the
glne says, 'at the cost based upon the prices paid
for those already built" is $1,000. These were
contrac ted to new firm Leach & Co.. OF Phadel-
pima, for the of $4,000, and aferward a small
eT contract was made with II. e. Leach & Son, on
nearly the same terms. Contracts for lamp posts,
lanterns, maG-hoes water service pipes, and water
skeleton pipes were all placed at reduced rates.
Oar worthy treasurer's brief report, which fol-
lows, shows very nearly our financial condition up
to DEC. lst. There are of course some arrearages
winch do not appear especially on sewer contracts,
as ten per cent all such not completed is retain
ed 1t has been paid during this year to the amount
of 8 --- on the contracts of last year. So also
there are cases of claims to be setted they have
various forms amounted to large sums. Sewer
damages along hIill brook have from time to time
been settled. ana there some that the incoming
government VIII be called toa djGst-damageS grow
ing out of the pumping of water last year were of
considerable amount.
The interesting and valuable report of Engineer
Ball covers many points which Lave not alluded
to, but append the report.
call your 9tentIon to a concise statement of The
pend. His duties have been arduous, and few men
cou!a endure the work performed by him. His
hours of labor many days cannot have been less
than sixteen.
We have the best of evidence that our taxes have
been assessed with much Judgment, as ont OF the
1000 assessed, less than two thousand have been
abated This shows that experience is of vital inn
poItance IN this department. S3S, go the
whole valuation.
The police department Is worthy of especial re-
mark for the uniformity with which it has been
conducted. There is no government better than
thai which controls the people without their knowl
edge
And now, gentlemen, hope l shall not weary
you but desire to say that in my constant assoc-
alton with the various departments of the govern
maut, find no cause for the wholesale imputations
which have been east upon the integrity and faith-
fitness of some of the city officials, and can but
ieel that more guarded language would bespeak bet
ter motives.
In work like ours where so many are concerned
no one should take credit to himself Human ma
ture alone can do but little. When we are willing
TO throw ourselves on the mercy of God and ask
his aid he will bless efforts as | believe he has
during the past year.
The address closed with statistics from vari-
ous departments, 10 which allusion is made
above. The most important facts are shown by
the following figures:
The debts of the city, all kinds, January