Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-03


Salary of clerk. 1000 90
city physician. .......,........ 400 90
Ne, expense, at the alm.hou.e. 1876 Sc g g
slO,68i 70
RESOURCES OF THE DEPARTMENT.
Appropriation by the city council $1,000 90
Received from other cities and towns 1854 81
the commonwealth. 1,l50 "a
s188l5 88
Deducting from the resources the expenses of the
poor department leaves an unexpended balance Of
S3lS4.26
The average number of boys in the truant de-
partment has been 10.
Total expenses Of this department ....... s22S9 O4
Received from labor OF boys............, 70 90
Net expense for the year................ S22lO O4
Appropriation of the city council. ...... 5000 90
Unexpended balance. ..................... $50 96
The matter of the health of the city is well pre-
sented in the report of the city physician. With
the exception of the small pOX, which has prevailed
very extensively, the city has been free from any
prevailing epidemic. In no previous year has the
small poX ever prevailed here to such an alarming
extent At present three cases of the disease
known to exist in the city Much care and labor
have been applied to the matter of vaccination and
with such success as to give renewed confidence in
IFS efficacy. The suggestion Of the city physician,
that the cause of humanity and the best interests
OF the city demand that some suitable provision
should be made for CITY hOsDital is commended to
yOurthOughtfnl consideration, with the hope that
his recommendation may not be disregarded.
TAXATION.
The rate of taxation for the year 1870 was Sl7.4O
per sl0OO am free to express the opinion that the
assessors have performed their duty with unusual
skill and fidelity, They are now engaged in endeav
Oring to establish just and equitable valuation of
the property of the Taxpayers and, we have good
reason to hope, with such success that the taxes
will be more fairly assessed than heretofore Moth
ing is more important to the people than careful
and equitable assessment Much of the reluctance
to paying taxes which is a privilege which no one
exactly Graves may be traced to kind of dim GER
tanty that they are not equitaby assessed Many
person would pay his taxes more cheerfullv than
he does if he could feel that he was not called upon
t0conribute to the expense of carrying on the gov
eminent, more than his just proportion. To rene
dy any inequality, men elected who presumed
TO be fitted for the Office and who, in a growing
city like this have delicate difficult and responsible
duty to perform. From the best investigation
which have been able to make, am satisfied that
the present board of assessors are pursuing course
which will be of great advantage to the city, and
Will enable them and their successors in office to
make the assessments much more inteligbly and
satisfactorily than heretofore.
As an evidence of their care and accuracy during
the past year. il appears that, although the amount
of the abatements in 1889 was $3.50 the amount
in 1870 was only 81 1865, leaving balance in favor
of the city, at this date, in the matter OF abate-
mcnts, OF SB192lO. These remarks are not made
with the design to make any imputatiOn on any
other board of assessors because believe that they
have done their best in the time which has hereto
fore been allowed to them, but merely TO express
my satisfaction, that if more than usual care has
been taken in this matter during the past year the
result demonstrates that tie aNreriment has been
successful. Their present la50rs in my opinion,
will tend greatly to the result which is especially
desirable, in matter which Is subject to so much
doubt and criticism. i respectfully suggest to the
city council to consider whether it win not be desir.
able to make the board of assessors permanent
board TO hold through the year, with the idea that
they may devote their time prOtably to the legiti-
mate business OF their Important Office.
SUBURBAN DISTRICTS.
1t has often been suggested that very large
amount Of money is expended in what Is commonly
called the centre district and that it Is done in such
amanner as 10 operate uniustly upon the suburban
sections Of the city. The test would seem TO be
this: is farm which Is situated within the limits
OF hecity OF Worcester worth any less in the mar
ket than it would be if 1t situated similar dis
lance rom the line, and in any one of the adjoining
towns? Are the taxes any higher in Worcester
than in those oWnsf If both these questions are to
be answered in the negative let ask another ques-
ton; would the farms be worth as much in the sub
urban sections, ii by some conhagration, or other
wise, what Is called the center district should be-
come no more densely populated than any other
part of the city, and would not the loss of this mar
ket daily increasing and coming nearer and nearer
to their doors, be calamity indepdy The truth is
our interests identical; we stand or fall togeth-
er, The farmer beiriends us by bringing us his pro-
duets, and we befrtend him by paying d good price
for them. To use common expression, we are all
in the same boat; and they make fearful mistake
who sttemptto throw their fellow-passengers over
board.
UNION RAILROAD DEPOT
AT the recent city election, the following PROPOSE
ton was submitted to the voters:
Shall the board of mayor and aldermen take such
measures as may be deemed eXpedent for the re.
mOval OF the railroad tracks across the common.
Madison and Mechanic Streets and those intermedi-
ate; and If they are unable to effect an amicabe
arrangement with the railroad companies shall
they be instructed to petition the next legislature
for permission to accomplish that desirable OBJ iect?
The result was 1880 votes in favor, and $50 votes
against the proposition. The vote, of course must
be taken as very decided expression of the people
upon the subject and contemplates action by the
city government, in case the wishes of the people
are disregarded. To Inc, the improvement of 4
Union railroad depot, which the vote really con-
templates seems to be so important, and so certain
sooner or later, to be imperatlYey demanded, and
at much larger outlay than seems to b. neces-
saTy that must express the earnest hope that the
various railroad corporations will take such action
in the premises, that all parties will be satisfied with
their action.
Our late mayor had this subject very much in his
mind, and his opinions very clear aud decided
as to its importance to the city. He had matured
plan, with great labor and skill, which embodied
his views upon the subject. His plans and estimates
will be at the service of the parties Interested and
val he OF great value TO those who shall have the
delicate and important duty to bring about satsfac-
tory arrangements. wish to say, once tor ALL that
in my opinion the death of Mr.. Blake, at this par
tcular junctuTe will only intensity and make more
earnest the feelings Of our people upon subject in
which he took so deep an interest, and to which he
was so fully committed. No time seems to be so OPP
perfume as the present, The corporations have
comparatively small amounts invested in depot
buildings in the city, and with one or two excep-
l0ns these buildings are disgrace TO the CORPORA
tons and to the city, and will daily grow more old
fashioned and dilapitated, until some common ar.
engagements shall be made
If the object OF union railroad depot is ever TO
be contaminated, this is emphatically the time. /
hesitate not to pledge the city government in adj
vance, TO liberal policy towards the CORPORATIONS
which have done so mu,h for the CITY, and to ex-
press the hope that there Will be such spirit mani
tested on the part Of the officers of the corporations
that the desired object will be accomplished with
ont clashing of feeling or interest and to the
abundant satisfaction Of all.
ELECTION OF MAYOR
Doubts having been raised as TO the matter of
new election of mayor by the people under the
peculiar circumstances in which we find ourselves.
IN order that the matter may be placed beyond ali
doubt, recommend that a petition be presented to
the legislature now about to convene asking for i'm
mediate additional legislation upon the subject
GENERAL REMARKS.
have thus briefly referred TO certain matters
which suppose may interest those who rive their
h.!enlQh 70 our municipal affairs, and are always
interested In the growth and prosperity Of the city
coming into Office as do after a lap of twenty
years, under circumstances so touc6inlF and I'M.
pTesslve Win the determination only I'd hold the
ONCE until another shall be elected and Qualified 1t
s natural that should take a brief review of the
last twenty years and ask what hopes Oh fears they
bring to us of the future Of our beloved city.
IN the year 1850 had occasion to usel the follow
ing anguage "What is to be the extent of our non.
ulauon no one can foresee. We have come TO our
growth so many times that the prophets have lost
their reputation and we stand whefe nature and
arr ootn combine to make us a great inland city.
Year by year the hum of industry grows louder,
ana the footsteps of ing population are
more distinctly heard; Business Increases in ex.
tent and variety. We hold a raadyi communication
with N parts of the country, and what Is more
ta0n all this, and better than all this we have
nothing and ask for nothing, more Honorable than
aeor' ana we believe In the maxim chat SO long as
labor is honorable and the laborer gets his hire we
sre authorized 70 expect an increase fof our mum.
pefsi' since those wordf, which atill heartily