I 6! n il 31 7 S I NATCH HAL ADDKKSS HON. JAMES A. WESTON. /ViAYOR. Till- CITY Cor\(!!L OF MANCHESTER,. IVERED BEFORE: THE TWO 1 ION. JANUARY cl. !K71. Printed by Order of the City Council. MAN* UK.- IKK, N. H. v.-. !.. MOdi.M.. I'Hivn ". i! ! STREET, r\in\ 1:1 i I.|I|M-:. UCSB LIBRARY OF T H K HON, JAMES A. WESTON, THE CITY COUNCIL OF MANCHESTER, DELIVERED BEFORE THE TWO BRANCHES IN CONVEN- TION, JANUARY 3d, 1871. Printed by Order of the City Council MANCHESTER, N. H. W. E. MOORE. PRINTER, ELM STREET, UNION BUILDING, 1871. CITY OF MANCHESTER. An Order to Print the Mayor's Tnaugural Add,rfs. ORDERED, If the Board of Common Council concur, That the City Clerk be hereby authorized to cause to be printed, for the use of the City Council, three hundred and fifty copies of the Address of His Honor the Mayor, delivered this day before a convention of the City Council. In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, January 3, 1871. Read and passed, J. E. BENNETT, City Clerk. In Board of Common Council, January 3, 1871. Read and passed, , ELBIDGE a. HADLEY, Clerk. A. D ID R E 8 8 Gentlemen of the City Council: The events of another year have passed into history, their attending cares and responsibilities have given place to new purposes, their joys and sorrows have become a part of human experience, and the lessons suggested by them should give us wisdom for approaching duties. Notwith- standing the great fire staid for awhile the growth of our municipality, and the severe drought threatened alarmingly, not only our personal comfort but to place its withering hand upon the chief sources of our industrial and financial prosperity, manifold blessings, and the full measure of success in their countless pursuits, have been bestowed upon the people, and may well awaken in our hearts a grateful response to the Giver of all our mercies. As we devote ourselves to the public service for the next municipal term, let us not fail to re- 4 cognize the Supreme Ruler of the Universe as the source of all wisdom and power, and, relying upon His aid and guidance, let us cheerfully and hope- fully, but earnestly, enter upon the discharge of our several duties, determined to manage the im- portant trusts confided to us, for the greatest good of all our people. FINANCES. First, as of the greatest importance, I desire to ask your attention to the financial condition of the city, as shown by the Treasurer's books: STATEMENT OF THE CITY DEBT JAN. 1, 1871. Amount of funded debt January 1, 1870, $401,900 00 Decrease during the year, 8,800 00 Amount of funded debt Jan. 1, 1871, $393,100 00 Amount of temporary loan Jan. 1, 1870, 28,001 00 Decrease during the year, 7,275 00 Amount of temporary loan Jan. 1, 1871, 20,720 00 Interest now due, estimated at 9,000 00 Outstanding bills due Jan. 1, 1871, 22,802 75 Total debt and interest January 1, 1871, 445,628 75 Cash in the treasury Jan. 1, 1871, 36,321 02 Notes due the city, 5,460 53 Interest on same, 307 92 42,089 47 Net indebtedness Jan. 1, 1871. 403,539 28 Net indebtedness Jan. 1, 1870', 425,510 70 Decrease of the debt during the year 1870, 21,971 42 The valuation, as returned by the Assessors for the past year, is $10,710.252, showing an in- crease of more than a half million of dollars over the valuation of 1869. The rate of taxation on j $100.00 was 2.48 in 1869 and 2.18 in 1870. The total amount assessed by tax last year was $233,483.63. This sum was appropriated as follows : For State Tax, ... . $50,562 00 " County Tax, 15,947 47 " Municipal purposes, . . . . 106,974 16 $233,483 63 I think it will be conceded by all that this im- portant department of the government has always been managed with great prudence and careful foresight, as our present good condition so well attests. The present indebtedness of the city is less than four per cent on its valuation, and about three-fourths of this was occasioned by the late war. Since the re-establishment of peace, many valuable and costly improvements have been made. The Court House, Library Building, and two School Houses have been erected, capacious sew- ers constructed, new streets opened, a new steam fire engine purchased, and other works of a per- manent character accomplished. The expense of all these has been met by annual taxation, besides 6 applying each year a handsome sum towards the extinction o the city debt. In view of such a record our citizens may well be gratified. Bonds to the amount of $8,800 became due the past year, and have been paid. Other bonds amounting to $6,000 mature the present year, for the payment of which you will be called upon to make provision. Heretofore a large surplus has remained in the City Treasury from the first of July, the com- mencement of the payment of the new tax list, till the following March or April, from which the city derives no advantage. I see no good reason for keeping these funds on deposit for so large a por- tion of the year, and I recommend that the floating debt, now only about $20,000, be extinguished as soon as practicable, by the use of any money in the treasury not needed for other purposes. I recommend further that a sufficient sum be raised by taxation to meet the requirements of every de- partment the present year, with a liberal sum to be applied to the further reduction of the city debt. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. There can be no duty more imperative, no trust more sacred, and no call which should sum- mon our attention more readily than providing for the educational interests of the city. The public schools of Manchester have attained a high posi- tion ; and I trust that we shall endeavor not only to maintain their so well merited reputation, but shall be ready to respond to the increasing de- mands of the future. Although the school department is directly managed by a separate branch of the government, it will be your privilege to furnish the means by which it is to be maintained; and I heartily be- speak for it a liberal support. By a recent amendment to the City Charter the Board of School Committee, formerly consist- ing of one member from each ward, has been in- creased by the addition of the Mayor and Presi- dent of the Common Council, the former being chairman ex officio of the Board. This wise pro- vision will form a connecting link between this and the other departments, thereby facilitating the 8 transaction of business and securing a better sys- tem of accountability. The whole number of different children who have received instruction the past year is 3,200. The average number belonging to the schools the entire year was 2,167; the average daily attend- ance was 2,001, and the number in actual attend- ance at the close of the year was 2,337. The number of schools in the city, exclusive of three evening schools, is 46, being the same as reported one year ago. The number of teachers employed is 65, being an increase of two over the previous number. The average cost per scholar for the year has been $20.21. The last annual appropriation for this depart- ment was as follows : Maintenance of schools, $42,000 00 New school houses, 15,000 00 School house repairs, 5,000 00 Evening schools, 750 00 Total, $62,750 00 A still larger sum will be required this year, ix> meet the ordinary demands and complete the new school houses already commenced. SCHOOL HOUSES. At Groff' s Falls a brick building of sufficient capacity to comfortably accommodate forty schol- ars has been erected upon a foundation that was laid the previous year, at a total cost of $3,639.39. Another permanent brick structure, two stories in height, with slated roof, and containing four school rooms, has been constructed on Main street, Pis- cataquog, and is nearly ready for occupancy. A commodious lot for this house, an addition to the lot of the Franklin Street Grammar School (71 by 100 ft.) and a new lot on the corner of Beech and Spruce streets for future use, have been purchased. The appropriation of last year is adequate to cover the cost of all these improvements. Contracts have been made for furnishing the materials for building a new Grammar School house on Lincoln street, and a portion of the brick has already been delivered upon the ground. It was the design of your predecessors to place this enterprise in a position to enable you to carry the work forward in the early part of the year, thus furnishing a better opportunity to season the 10 walls and lumber, and secure the advantages aris- ing from an early contract. I trust that 110 unnecessary delay will be per- mitted in carrying forward this undertaking. CITY LIBRARY. As an auxilliary to our other educational in- stitutions, the City Library is prominent. Having its origin in the enlightened liberality of the pro- prietors of the Manchester Athenaeum, fostered and sustained by substantial aid from the city treasury, and the generous contributions of many citizens, it now has a catalogue embracing 14,930 volumes, selected with especial reference to the wants of this community. It was expected one year ago that the library building would be fully completed and ready for occupancy last autumn, and an appropriation was made to secure this result. The work was placed under contract with the agreement that the build- ing should be in readiness for use by the first of December last; but unforeseen causes operated to retard the progress of the work, and it was decided to retain the old rooms till the coming spring. 11 The total appropriations made in aid of this object amount to $25,000. An additional sum will be required for furnishing the rooms and fencing the lot. POLICE DEPARTMENT. The police force, as now constituted, consists of City Marshal, Assistant Marshal, two day and ten night policemen. The City Marshal, who by the ordinances is made Captain of the Watch, cannot be expected in connection with his other duties, to devote that personal supervision over the night force that is essential to a well-regulated and efficient depart- ment. In case of a sudden emergency it is neces- sary that there should be a recognized head, clothed with ample authority. Our present force, feeling the need of such an officer, have usually .chosen one of their own number as chief or cap- tain of the watch. To guard against future con- tingencies, I am of the opinion that an officer should be appointed whose only duty should be to superintend the night force, seeing that every man is at his post; that all reasonable security may be afforded to the lives and property of citizens. 12 An amendment to the charter of the city, enacted at the late session of the legislature of this State, provides that hereafter all Police OfticiTs shall be chosen by the City Council in convent ion, instead of by the Board of Mayor and Aldenm-ti as heretofore. The wisdom of this change, which vir- tually divides the responsibility connected with this department among thirty-two individuals, requiring all warrants to be signed by a majority of the whole City Council, may well be questioned. Your predecessors passed an order authorizing ad- ditional cells to be prepared in the City Hall building, to be used in connection with this department as a tem- porary place of confinement for prisoners. After the plans had been perfected and a portion of the materials procured, the work was suspended by a proposition to purchase a lot in another locality for the purpose of building a separate police station thereon. Nothing has been accomplished however in this direction. The original plan was so arranged as to admit a convenient fire-proof room or vault over the cells, and to this subject I desire to call your especial attention. The general statutes very properly make the office of 13 the City Clerk a general depository of the records and papers of every department of the city. These accum- ulations have already become so great as to crowd very important and valuable records from the single ordinary iron safe that is now provided, thus exposing them to destruction by fire. Their loss would be a serious mis- fortune, and I desire to urge upon you the great neces- sity of making such alterations in the City Hall build- ing as will supply this great want, and at the same time furnish additional accommodation for the police. The interest on the cost of a separate police sta- tion would in one or two years at most pay the expense of these proposed alterations. HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES. The department embracing the building and main- tenance of highways and bridges is one of increasing importance and responsibility. The rapid expansion of the city in almost every direction causes a demand annually for laying out and building new streets, and when once opened they must be kept in condition for public use. The allowance made yearly for repairs has not kept pace with the demand. Besides the care of all 14 the back streets, there are now in District No. 2 twen- ty-eight and a half miles of roads, many of them poor- ly constructed at first, which require more or less at- tention. Another heavy drain, of recent origin, upon this fund, is the present practice of grading the side- walks where the abuttors are desirous of laying con- crete pavements, while in most cities a separate appro- priation is made for this object. Believing that our citizens demand better roads, and are willing to pay for them, I suggest a liberal increase in the allotment to this department. A lot of land, containing 24,600 square feet, ;md costing $1,537.50, has been purchased for the purpose primarily of securing the gravel upon it. This land is situated on the south side of Lowell street, and a little east of Maple street. It will furnish some excellent material for streets, and could probably be disposed of for the first cost at least, after it has been relieved of the surplus earth. But I recommend that it be retained as a deposit for stone, brick, lumber, and other material used in this department ; and that suitable sheds be erected this season, in which to store the sleds mid other property unused in summer, and carts in winter. The authorities have laid out more than the usual 15 number of new streets the past year. In some in- stances this course was adopted in order to secure the right of way before improvements should be made that would increase the land damages, or defeat entirely the establishment of avenues where they are demanded for public convenience, as well as to maintain that order and regularity so desirable in their location. The new streets completed last year are as fol- lows : Center street, in Ward Seven ; sections of Rus- sell, Prospect, Orange, Pearl, Harrison, Walnut, Ash, Cedar, and Auburn streets. An expenditure of about $2,700.00 was made in Ward Eight, for rebuilding the bank wall and raising the highway by the " eddy," and paid for by special transfer. This improvement was made necessary in consequence of the action of the water in time of unus- ual freshets. A permanent lattice bridge has been constructed across the Cohas Brook, on the road leading to the Island Pond House, instead of the stringer bridge which had become decayed and unsafe. The road has also been raised and widened at this point, and is now above high water mark. The whole expense incurred is $951.38. 16 The easterly end of Amoskeag Falls Bridge has been covered, re-planked, and otherwise improved, and the whole structure neatly whitewashed. Ma- terials for re-planking the balance of the bridge have been contracted for. and will be needed for use M early as practicable. Granite Bridge will require repairing, and per- haps re-planking, the flooring having become defec- tive. The present covering is of oak, four and a half inches thick, and has been used less than three years. Some new method better calculated to withstand the great wear is demanded, and I suggest that it would be true economy to pave a portion of the bridge, at least, this year, with wood pavements. Early last year a joint arrangement was entered into between the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, the Concord Railroad, and the City Council, by which Canal street has been paved with stone from the north side of Pleasant etreet to the south end of the freight depot. The clayey nature of the soil made it necessary to remove a large amount of earth from the street, and replace it with loose sand or gravel, to aid the pavements to withstand the action of frost, 17 thereby adding heavily to the expense of the work. The whole cost of this improvement was $12,280.54 Apportioned ;i* follows: Aiiio-Kca"- Manufacturing Company, $2,693.34 Concord Railroad, 4,793.60 Citv of Manchester, 4,793.60 $12,280.54 The work was performed under the direction of the city officers, and the other parties have promptly responded in the above sums, as their proportion of the expense. A six inch water-pipe was laid through Hanover and Market Streets, from Pine Street to Franklin Street, for supplying water with which to sprinkle the streets. This has proved entirely succesful, and of great value, as without it we should have been de- prived of the means of wetting the main avenues of trade, through the long and severe drought of the past season. The whole cost of work and necessary fixtures was $1,583.16. SEWERS AND DRAEN'S. In order to perfect a thorough system of sewerage for the thickly settled portion of the city, an annual appropriation, liberal in amount, will be required for many years to come. It is gratifying that for some- 18 time past the work has progressed under a system- atic plan, which when completed will furnish ade- quate drainage for the streets and the abuttors. In 1858 the new main sewer through El in Street was extended from Central Street to Merri- mack Street. The work was suspended at that point in consequence of more pressing demands in the eastern section of the city. That want having been supplied, I recommend the extension of the Elm Street sewer the present season as far as the condi- tion of the finances will permit. During the past year the main brick sewer in Union Street (2 by 3 feet) was extended 146 feet ; a brick sewer two feet in diameter was laid from Union Street through Amherst Street, 900 feet, and extend- ed in the same street with an eighteen inch cement pipe, 500 feet. There have also been laid in various other street?, 3,488 feet of twelve inch pipe ; 1,583 feet of nine inch pipe, and 321 feet of six inch pipe, making a total of 6,938 feet or about one and one- third miles of sewerage. 19 FIRE DEPARTMENT. The great injury to the city by the fire of the 8th July last, by which many valuable buildings were destroyed, depriving some of our most enterprising and worthy citizens of a large amount of property, rendering nearly two hundred families homeless, in- terrupting business, and throwing many out of em- ployment, calls loudly upon us to see that all needed facilities are provided to prevent the recurrence of a similar disaster. It is appalling to contemplate what must have been the result, had we not been favored with rain immediately after the bursting out of the flames, or had the fire occurred in a locality less fav- ored in respect to a supply of water. The firemen performed their duties with alacrity, and worked with that indomitable will and persistence which have ever characterized them, and are entitled to our gratitude for their services on this as well as on other occasions. Within a few weeks ten members of the Hose Company have been transferred to Engine No. 4, and a new company organized, making the present depart- ment to consist of four engine companies, one hose 20 company, and one hook and ladder company, all fur- nished with superior apparatus. I believe as a whole the department was never in better condition. But in common with a large majority of our citizens, the firemen are impressed with the absolute necessity of providing against future disaster by the construc- tion of adequate WATER WOKKS. This subject was submitted to the inhabitants at the late municipal election, and by a decided vote the people declared that they desired that something should be done in the matter. Unfortunately a difference of opinion exists among those who have interested themselves upon this subject ; first, as to the best source of supply ; and second, as to the best means to be adopted to secure the management and completion of the en- terprise. I say that this is unfortunate, for in an undertaking of such magnitude it is of the highest importance that there should be unanimity and co- operation on the part of the people. I will not stop here to enlarge upon the great blessings of an unlimited supply of water, nor more 21 than advert to what has been proved a fact in other cities, that the works judiciously constructed would in a very few years become self-sustaining, and would require no direct aid from the City Treasury ; but will submit for your consideration a proposition, as the second step, (one having already been taken by the citizens themselves,) designed mainly to secure union and harmony in whatever course may be adopted. I suggest that a Commission composed of persons from abroad, of large practical experience in similar works, men of acknowledged character and capacity, in whose judgment the community would place the utmost confidence whose duty it should be to consider the various propositions that have been suggested, hear all the parties Who desire to be heard, and report as early in the season as practica- ble, which of all the routes proposed, all things con- sidered, is in their estimation the one best adap- ted to our wants. Should an opinion be obtained from such a source and under such circumstances, I am sure that a second step will have been taken in this great work, and that all other difficulties will vanish as the enter- prise progresses. 22 COMMONS. The wisdom of our predecessors in awarding liberal appropriations by which the public commons are being greatly improved, thus contributing to the health., comfort, and enjoyment of our citizens, meets with universal approbation. Merrimack Square is now half inclosed with a beautiful and substantial iron fence, which can be completed in two more sea- sons, with the sum usually set apart for that purpose. A border wall was commenced the past season on the shore of the pond in this square, and extended more than half the distance around it. The bank wall at the outlet of the pond on Han- over Square has been rebuilt, new wooden fences erected on portions of this and other commons, and the usual amount of concrete walk put down. With the continuance of the improvements now in pro- gress, these commons will soon command attention and admiration. CEMETERIES. I In the management of the public cemeteries no event has occurred to distinguish the past from former years. 23 The Valley will again claim some pecuniary as- sistance, that the grounds may be kept in such con- dition as will satisfy the demands and tastes of an enlightened community. The receipts from the sale of lots in the Pine Grove Cemetery, are for the present sufficient for its support. A fence was built around the cemetery at Amos- keag, and an order passed for a similar enclosure at GofPs Falls, which will be carried into effect early in the spring. MILITARY. The demand upon the treasury in aid of the military companies within our city, is very moderate. The character of the members composing these com- panies commands our respect, and many of them are entitled to our gratitude for their heroic efforts for the preservation of the Union. One year ago it was my privilege to allude in this connection, to the subject of a SOLDIERS' MONUMENT. Although the City Council made an appropria- tion of $1,000 to defray the expense of any action that might be taken, I regret to say that the recom- mendation, although some progress was made, has not been carried into effect ; consequently no part of this sum has been expended. I desire to again submit the matter for your consideration, with the sugges- tion that the City Library Building, now nearly completed, furnishes a very appropriate place lor a suitable testimonial to those brave men, who sacri- ficed their lives that the Constitution might be main- tained and the Union be preserved. Another and a very appropriate manner of transmitting to posterity our gratitude to those gal- lant and patriotic men, is to erect on some one of our public squares an enduring monument of a suit- able design, to be used in connection with a fountain in anticipation of the introduction of water. With these suggestions, and the full assurance that your action will be such as to reflect honor upon our municipality and do justice to the memory of our citizen soldiery I leave the matter in your hands. 25 CITY FARM. The whole number of paupers at the almshouse during the past year was 32. The average number was eight and one-third, being a slight increase over the previous year. The general management of the farm has been continued from year to year without material change except that the policy of reducing the number of acres has been adopted and acted upon. There were sold in 1868 7 lots, amounting to $3,159 46 " " 1870 10 " 6,550 40 Making a total of $9,709 86 This sum has been diminished by expenditures for building the necessary streets, $609 34 For fencing squares reserved for public use, 221 90 831 24 Leaving the net amount for 20 3-4 acres sold, 8,878 62 I trust it will be your pleasure to continue the same policy in this respect until the farm is reduced to a proper size for economical management. 2(5 CONCLUSION. I have thus, gentlemen of the city council, en- deavored to lay before you in a plain practical man- ner, the present condition and wants of the various departments of the city, together with such recom- mendations as seemed judicious and necessary to pro- tect and foster all the material interests of this com- munity. It is oar privilege to assume these offices of trust and responsibility, at an interesting period in the his- tory of the city, and at an era of its greatest pros- perity. It is for us to provide for the various demands which its rapid growth will require, lib- erally yet judiciously. Let us avoid every species of extravagance, and all expenditures of money for doubtful or untried projects ; ever keeping in view the burdens of taxation which bear so heavily upon the people. Let us enter upon these high duties with purity of motive, and singleness of purpose, and with a determination to be faithful to every demand ; frankly and openly meeting every question, irrespec- tive of party lines, or personal preference. In assuming the responsibilities of this honora 27 ble position for a third time, it will be my earnest endeavor to perform its duties faithfully and impar- tially, at all times. Let me cherish the hope that our action may always be harmonious, and that a spirit of cordial co-operation may pervade all our councils. May we engage in this important work unitedly and zealously, with the sole aim of proving ourselves worthy of the confidence reposed in us, and faithful servants of the people. UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY A 000 61 1 323 7