Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-03
WORCESTER. .
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 3, 1s4e.


WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1919.
The Mayors Address.
There is manifest throughout the address of
Mayor Very purpose to understand thorough
ly the duties of his office, and to discharge them
in the most iudcious manner. He has no lack
of ability to do his work admirably, and he evil
IDENTIFY intends to bring all his force and activity
to the management OF our city affairs. There
fore it seems the duty of all interested in the
welfare of the city TO make him feel that their
influence shall be helpful and not embarrassing.
After stating the financial condition the city
as clearly as possible under the circumstances,
showing the present condition of work on the
sewers, and pointing out what is absolutely re-
quired to protect the city against the conse-
.quences of leaving certain portions of the work
incomplete, he intimates that it may not be advis
able to do much beyond this, at present, by say
ing it is for the city council to consider whether
it is the part of wisdom or prudence to under
take to put down anyIew street sewers during
the present year" 1t is certainly desirable TO
kno~precisely how we stand with the past and
= Complete what is now in hand, before taking
new departure in this matter of building sewers.
Moreover, the assessment question and some
other points need to be settled before this work
is carried much further.
Mayor Very proposes one change that seems
to us excellent. He recommends consolidation
of all business relating to the streets, in the
hands of ''Board Of Public Works" There
are now seven different commissions having
thority over the streets, each organized indie
pendently of the other; and several of these
committees have authority to dig up the streets,
one TO put down water pipes, another to put
down gas pipe, and third to deal with the sew
ers, not to speak of what may be done by the
other committees. 1t can be seen easily that
these several committees, working without har
mony or concert necessarily make the work
more expensive than it should be, and, without
intending ii, keep the streets in much worse
condition than would be possible if everything
were done under the direction of a single board.
The growth of the city and the extent of the
Improvements made and required, make neces-
sary this or some equivalent change of orgcniza-
ton for managing work on the streets. Expe-
rience shows that the old methods will no longer
serve the purpose. Therefore, we hope the rec
ommendation win find all the favor which it
seems TO us to deserve, and that the work of the
seven committees viii as speedily as possible be
placed under one executive head.
The "sewer assessment question is more dis
cussed, just now, than any other, perhaps, and
the new mayors views on this question were
looked for with lively interest. We cannot sup
pose that any one interested in the matter has
failed to read very carefully that part OF his adj
dress which is devoted to this topic. Remember
ing some of the schemes of assessment that
have been advocated III the common council
and elsewhere, we have read it with special
satisfaction. The principle by which he pro-
poses 10 regulate the assessments, appears to us
to be substantially correct. 1t is that the
cost of the sewers should be charged and
assessed according to the benefits derived from
them. There is a general benefit to the city and
there is special benefit TO individuals; and
the assessments or charges should be regulated
by these considerations.
To a very considerable extent, the cost of the
bss'E4se must be charged TO the city treasury, if
.dne.to be regarded; the remainder must be
lo.ss2ividuals in proportion as they are
.s-1etted "either by entry of their drains, or By
any more remote means" Among the "more
remote means" may be included special benefit
TO estates by drainage and the possibility of
using the sewer on vacant portions Of estates
where buildings are not yet erected. There are
cases in which estates have been greatly i'm
proved by the drainage which has relieved them
the nuisance of flooded cellars, or made them
fit for use building lots; and there are estates
now occupied by a single dwelling, where after
time, blocks of houses will be erected, requir-
ing FIVE or six entries of the sewer in each case,
instead of one. How to deal justly and legally
in this matter, and apportion the charges to the
benefit derived, is the problem to be solved To
deal with it successfully it is necessary to begin
by understanding it, and then arrange the
charges with great care, and with constant aim
to do justice to all concerned.
Among the methods for collecting of indvid-
nails portion of the cost OF our sewers, which
we hear mentioned, there is one which seems
worthy of some attention. This is TO fix Il
charge for every entry of the sewer, in which
proper account shall be taken of any positive
benefit to the estate aside from sewerage; and
then assess the estates for portion of the cost
as small as may be allowable In Providence,
we believe, the city pays for the sewers and
charges individual estates for entering them
In Boston, each street is considered by itself
without reference to the cost of sewers in other
streets; and portion of the cost on each street
is charged to the estates on that street. the rest
being paid by the city. There is nothing any
where, we believe, like one or more of the very
Objectionable schemes of assessment which
some have advocated here The new MAYORS
message makes us feel sure that this matter will
have his most earnest and careful attention, and
that his influence will be in favor of a fair and
just settlement Of the question