Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-10

with our surplus stock to reject that which we
would otherwise be compelled to accept and use.
The continual disturbance of the streets by
the erection of buildings on abutting estates,
and the trenching for pipes for various kinds,
have been great annoyance to travel, and it
has be ONE almost 4 household word that one
cannot travel a single street without coming in
contact with one or more of these disturbances,
yet there is a satisfaction in the thought that
these permanent improvements WILL at the rate
at which they have been effected the last five
years, soon become blessing instead of n nui-
sance.
Much care and time has been devoted to these
places that they might be kept in as safe n con-
ditiOn as possible. There is a necessity for some
action by the mayor and aldermen in regard to
the granting of building privileges, to compel
parties receiving them to comply with their re-
Strictions. Heretofore many buildings have
been erected without any license; and in many
other cases parties have applied for license, but
have failed to sign the required bonds in the
city clerks office. In addition to the present re-
quirements, each builder should he required to
fence in a limited space on the sidewalk, wherever
building is being erected on the line of a street,
and to keep it properly lighted to protect the
public from accident
The lack Of some definite system controlling
the laying out of private streets, alluded to in
| former reports, still continues to be source OF
annoyance. 1t should be provided by law that
no new streets be hereafter laid out, except
after consultation with the city engineer, and
his approval Of its location, width and grade.
| With such law enforced, the city would be re-
| lieved of the expenses now incident to accepting
streets, in the matter of damages to AUDITING es-
| tateS by land taken or change of grade; while
| private citizens would be equally relieved from
| the annoyance of having the lines of their es-
tates altered in changing the lines of the street,
and of having their dwellings left above or be-
low grade
Sidewalks have received more attention than
ever before, and the acknowledged deficiency
and requirement of the city in this respect is
being rapidly met, although the numerous petit
lions presented show that large outlay will be
necessary to satisfy the demand for several
years TO come. The AUDITORS have responded to
the iberality of the city in this respect, in their
Willingness to bear the expense of paving their
walks. Many have offered to pay the expense
of paving the cutters and setting curb stones
against their estates In addition to paving the
walks, SO anxious are they for these improve
ments. IT is important, in the maintenance of
our numerous billy streets, that the work of
paving cutters and setting curb stone should be
accomplished as rapidly as possible, TO secure
them against frequent washings by rains and
freShetS.
The expenditures have exceeded the appropr-
alton for the year, and the orders have not been
in all cases executed; mostly, however, on ac-
count of the lateness of the season when they
were passed.
OuIU-SlOutS, cutters ana CGOSS-WdlhS nave
been laid on twenty-nne Streets as follows: On
Main street, amounting to S6,75007; Austin
street, 2,320.41; Pleasant street. ,29475; Chat
ham street, 1896; Pearl street, 2S4.90; High
street, 5S6S3; Prospect street, 1,1604S; West
street, 3,O96.45; Corbett street. 1,3OS.19; Dread
street, 1892; Irving street, 1,S32.63 Mechanic
street, 1,2S7S1; Ashland street, S3S.47; Elm
street, 1885, Sc; William street, $500; George
street, 22947; Linden street, 400 %; North
Ashland street, 1,952.S5; School street, 215O;
Summer street, 372.06; Kendall street, ,47S7;
Lincoln street, 1851 OF; Grove street, 91092;
Southbridgc street, 63S.16 Myrtle street. 107396;
Portland street, 25S.S1 Harvard street, 1894;
Webster square, 343.07; Beacon street, $40;
sundry sidewalk repairs, ST ,6S3.21. Total eX-
pense TO the city, S39 1888
Sidewalks amounting to SOS, 1906 have been
laid at private expense. There is now stock on
hand for use in this department of sidewalks to
the value of $1,000.
Block paving has been laid in Main street.
amounting to $40, S22.25; on Southbridge street,
from Main to the Norwich railroad, S7,172.10;
Mechanic street, from Main to the Norwich rail-
road, S3,447.21 total cost to the city for laying
block paving, S37 1871.
The total receipts of the department have
been S142, 994.S9; excess of expenditures, So
1880; total expenses of the department, $751;
55450.
There is in this department real estate and
personal property belonging to the city to the
value Of S54 ,653
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OvERsEERs OF THE
POOR.
George w. Gale, clerk of the board of over
seers Of the poor submitted his annual report,
which shows that there has been an increase in
the number of persons whom the board has
been called upon to provide for the pastyear, as
compared with previous years. This is account
ed for by the continued high prices of the neceS-
saries of life and the want of employment by
many OF the large number of laborers who have
been attracted hither by the public works of the
city; who, having been unable to procure it,
have left their families here in destitute condi
ton for us to care for, and gone themselves to
other places. The prevalence of small poX has
also caused much suffering and deStitutiOn.
There has been large increase in the member
OF cases OF sickness generally, and many casual
ties to persons who, from want of a suitable
hospital, in an accessible location, have had
their sutferings largely increased, as has been
also the expense of providing for their necessi-
ties.
-Four new cases of lunaCy have been provided
for during the year, all of them having been
brought on by an attack of delirium tremens
and intemperance has in many ways been the
cause of mnch deStitution among those calling
on the city for help.
Eighty-SiX persons have been provided with
transportation, under the law compelling the
parties bringing paupers into the state to carry
them out again; this is double the number sent
off in this way last year. Seventy-nine persons
having no settlement have been sent TO the
state almshOuse at Monson; 301 persons and
families, also state paupers, have received as
slstance, larger number than last year, also;
4S2 families have applied for and received aid
ana partial support during the year; 1853 persons
have received aid for the first time during the
year, 100 OF whom had Il residence in this city,
26 of them were military settlements; this is
double the number in this class of the previous
year; BOZ were residents of this city; so were in
sane, one of whom has died in the hospital, and
two were idiotic; 25O4 persons have been pro-
yided with food and lodging at the station
house, about 20 per cent. in advance of the num-
Der in 1869. The expense attending these cases
has been as follows:
For cash allowances. Observation-Disclosures. S2O2 90
GrOcerles Ill 05
Furniture and clothing, .................. 1874 "A
Medicines, attendance and nursing. .,..... 746 81
Transportation of paupers. ................ 203 OIL
Purls; ''''''''''' '''''''''.'' 5os w
Insane hospital bills. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. S04 3S
Reform and Nautical school bills. 6Sl 81
Aid to paupers in other towns. ........... 316 OS
M Sf4@2 Soas' sPS6s snd stationery
Total .................................s4,7 59 p
Sarry OF clerk 1000 90
city physician 400 90
s6,159 q
The number of inmates at the city farm
(Which is still under the highly satisfactory
management of Mr.. and Mrs. Farwell) was 81,
larger number than ever before, although the
average attendance was about the same as in
1863, on account of the short stay of some.
The total expenses at the city farm have been
S9,S35.72; receipts s1S,S15 3S; leaving an unex.
pended balance of S3979.66.
The total valuation of real and personal estate
at the kcity farm is $50 ,S94.07. The valuation
in 1869 was SS0.46 less than at present.
The accounts of the truant school have, as
usual, been kept separate. The cost of main
tanning it has been S22S3.04; income, S73;
making net expense of SCHOOL The appro-
priation for this was $1,000; which leaves an I'M
expended balance of S7S9.96. The property be-
longing to the school is valued at 1898.
Ihe report sDeakS of the increased Duties of