INAUGURAL ADDRESS 
 
 OF 
 
 Hon. GEORGE H. STEARNS, 
 
 MAYOR, 
 
 TO THE 
 
 City Councils of Manchester, 
 
 DELIVERED 
 
 Before the two Branches in Convention, Jan. 6, 1885. 
 
 PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCILS. 
 
 MANCHESTER, N. H.: 
 
 PRINTED BY JOHN B. CLARKE 
 1885.
 
 
 INAUGURAL ADDRESS 
 
 OF 
 
 HON. GEORGE H. STEARNS, 
 
 MAYOR, 
 
 TO THE 
 
 City Councils of Manchester, 
 
 DELIVERED 
 
 Before the two Branches in Convention, Jan. 6, 1885. 
 
 PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCILS. 
 
 MANCHESTER, N. H. : 
 
 PRIN T E 1 > BY JOHN I! . CLARK E 
 1885.
 
 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
 
 <h nil tim n of (hi < tty < buneUs : — 
 
 Iii entering upon the discharge of the duties of the 
 position in which I have been placed by my fellow-citi- 
 zens, — a place which has often been filled by men of the 
 highest ability in the administration of public affairs, some 
 of whom have received the highest honors from the peo- 
 ple of the state, — as I contemplate the difficulties and 
 trials inseparably connected with ^he work which has 
 been assigned me, I am profoundly impressed with the 
 weight of the responsibilities which I have assumed, and 
 am tempted to fear that I may fail to justify the confi- 
 dence reposed in me, and act my part in a manner which 
 at all times shall result in the highest good of the people 
 of the city. In the midst of these doubts and misgivings, 
 I am, however, sustained by the conviction that whatever 
 may be my errors of judgment, I shall not be found want- 
 ing in watchfulness and sincere devotion to the public 
 welfare. I am, moreover, cheered by the assurance that 
 I am to be associated, in the various departments of the 
 city government, with gentlemen upon whom I can confi- 
 dently rely for counsel and encouragement at all times 
 and under all circumstances. 
 
 We are assembled to inaugurate the fortieth municipal 
 government of the city, a charter having been granted by
 
 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
 
 the legislature of 1846. Twenty-one of the citizens 
 have held the office of mayor, and all but live, includ- 
 ing the first two, are still living. During all these years 
 the people have been represented in the various depart- 
 ments of the government by some of the wisest and 
 most trusted citizens, and the generations of to-day 
 are enjoying the fruits of their well directed labors in 
 inaugurating and completing the great public enterprises 
 which contribute so much to the convenience, the com- 
 fort, and pleasure of all. In looking back to the work of 
 our predecessors in the management of public affairs, it is 
 gratifying to find so much to approve and so little to 
 condemn. As we follow in their footsteps in carrying on 
 the work which called forth their best faculties and ener- 
 gies, let us hope that, while we endeavor to avoid their 
 errors, we may profit by their wisdom and experience. 
 
 We commence our labors as the servants of the people 
 at a time of depression in the great business affairs of the 
 country, and for this reason, among others, it behooves us 
 to move with caution and prudence in the appropriation 
 and disbursement of the public funds, and to bear in mind 
 the embarrassing circumstances by which many of the 
 tax-payers of the city may be surrounded. While the 
 business of our city has been curtailed to some degree 
 during the present crisis, it is a subject for congratulation 
 that our great manufacturing industries, upon which the 
 welfare of the city largely depends, have been so managed 
 that the people have suffered but little as compared with 
 those of many other cities and towns in various sections 
 of the country. 
 
 Gentlemen, I now invite your attention to a brief sur-
 
 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
 
 vey of the condition of the public affairs of the city at the 
 present time, and also to a few suggestions in relation 
 to some of the most important matters which will come 
 before us for consideration. 
 
 , FINANCE. 
 
 I find by the books of the city treasurer that the condi- 
 tion of the finances the first day of January, 1885, was 
 as follows : — 
 
 Total amount of funded debt . 8845,200.00 
 
 Interest due, estimated . . 20,000.00 
 
 Temporary loan . . . 119,000.00 
 Due Amoskeair Company lor 
 
 land 25,776.40 
 
 Outstanding bills . . . 54,163.00 
 
 Total indebtedness Jan. 1,1885 $1,064,139.40 
 
 Cash in treasury Jan. 1, 1885 . 63,719.30 
 
 Net indebtedness Jan. 1,1885. . . 81,000,420.10 
 
 It will be observed by the foregoing statement that the 
 unpaid bills, notes, and interest amount to nearly 8219,000, 
 and that the cash on hand to meet these bills amounts to 
 less than $64,000, which leaves a balance of more than 
 81 55,000 to be provided for. I would recommend the 
 funding of this floating debt, for which bonds can be 
 issued. 
 
 It will be necessary to make provision for a temporary 
 loan for the purpose of raising money to pay the ordinary 
 expenses until the first of July next, when the taxes 
 which will be assessed in April will become due. It is 
 highly important that the expenses of the government
 
 6 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
 
 should not be allowed to overrun the appropriations, 
 
 and thus add to the debt of the city. 
 
 It appears by the books of the city collector that the 
 total amount of unpaid taxes on the tax list of 1884 is 
 $15,146, which is within about four per cent of the total 
 amount assessed. 
 
 WATER-WORKS. 
 
 The water-works of the city, which have been built and 
 in operation for a period of ten years, have more than 
 realized the highest hopes and expectations of the citi- 
 zens who projected that most important enterprise. The 
 works, which from the first have been placed entirely 
 in charge of some of the most trusted of our citizens, have 
 been so well managed that the income has been more 
 than sufficient to pay the interest of the water bonds and 
 the expense of putting in twenty -three and a half miles of 
 additional distributing pipes. The original cost of the 
 works was $600,000, and the cost of the extension of the 
 pipes during the past ten years has amounted to the sum 
 of 822:',, (Mil). The total length of distributing pipes laid 
 down up to the present time is forty-three and a half miles, 
 and the total number of hydrants is 369. 
 
 There is reason to fear that the purity of the water at 
 the source of supply may, in time, be much impaired by 
 filth which is liable to be discharged into the lake from 
 outhouses connected with the cottages located upon its 
 shores. It is hoped that some steps may be taken to pre- 
 vent any serious consequences to our citizens on this 
 account.
 
 IXAnU'RAL ADDRESS 
 
 STREETS. 
 
 One of the most important subjects in which all our 
 
 people, and especially the tax-pavers, are deeply inter- 
 ested, is that of keeping the public thoroughfares at all 
 times in a perfectly sate condition. To effect this object 
 the superintendents of streets and surveyors of highways 
 should be men of sound judgment and experience. It 
 therefore becomes a very important duty on the part of 
 the city councils to select the very best men for these 
 responsible positions. In these times, when the city is 
 often called upon to pay heavy damages for injuries 
 alleged to have been received by people in passing through 
 the public avenues, the city authorities ought at all times 
 to be able to demonstrate that if such accidents are received 
 at all. it is on account of no carelessness or neglect on the 
 part of the officers having them in charge. 
 
 A steam road-roller is greatly needed, as it is impossible 
 to construct a good macadamized street without the aid 
 of one. 
 
 LIGHTING STREETS. 
 
 The cost of lighting our streets during the last year was 
 about 811 J Hin. against $5,500 three years ago. A very 
 large portion of this increased expense is owing to the 
 introduction of the electric lights, which cost the sum of 
 •S4.o'.i2 per year. I would suggest that it may he for the 
 interests of the city to employ the Gas Company to take 
 the entire charge of the lighting and repairing of all the 
 street lamps. 
 
 BRIDGES. 
 
 All the bridges are in good condition except Amoskeag 
 and Granite bridges, which will require new planking
 
 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
 
 the present year. The replanking of the bridges across 
 the Merrimack river once in two years, which has be- 
 come necessary in consequence of the extensive travel 
 over those thoroughfares, has been a heavy item of ex- 
 pense to the city. Last year the new McGregor bridge 
 was covered by concrete, with the view of protecting the 
 planks from speedy destruction by the passage of vehicles 
 over them. If the experiment proves successful, a great 
 saving will he effected. 
 
 The expense of this department the past year was 
 about SI 0,000. 
 
 SEWERS AND DRAINS. 
 
 A large appropriation will he necessary for the con- 
 struction of our sewers and drains. I would suggest that 
 an appropriation be made, sufficient for the building of a 
 sewer to drain the north end of the city, as recommended 
 by the committee on sewers and drains of the last city gov- 
 ernment. It is proposed that this sewer shall commence at 
 the junction of Webster and Union streets, and extend 
 through Webster street to the River road, and down that 
 thoroughfare to Bridge street, where a connection will 
 be made with the Bridge-street sewer, which enters the 
 river under McGregor bridge. The north section of the 
 city is rapidly increasing in population, and a sewer in 
 that quarter is imperatively necessary. It is also neces- 
 sary to extend the Bridge-street sewer east from Kim to 
 Nashua street, for the purpose of relieving the Nashua- 
 street sewer. An appropriation of $20,000 will probably 
 be needed for this department.
 
 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 9 
 
 THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 The fire department continues to maintain its well 
 earned reputation of being among the very best in 
 the country, both in equipment and the character and 
 efficiency of its members. The board of engineers, the 
 officers of companies, and the firemen have worked in 
 the most perfect harmony, and in a manner to secure the 
 confidence and esteem of the people of the city. The 
 steam fire-engines and other apparatus are in excellent 
 condition, and there seems to be but little room for im- 
 provement in this department. 
 
 I am informed by the chief engineer that the boxes 
 connected with the fire-alarm-telegraph system have 
 become worn out, after being in use for ten years, and 
 need reconstruction. Xew wires must also be procured 
 to replace those now in use, for the same reason. I would 
 recommend, when this is done, that private tire-alarm sig- 
 nals be introduced into the large school buildings, so that 
 in case of lire in any one of them the department may be 
 called out without delay. The expediency of securing a fur- 
 ther protection of these buildings, as well as the lives of 
 the pupils, in the mannerproposed, would seem to be obvi- 
 ous, when it is remembered that there is no insurance 
 upon the school property of the city. 
 
 The appropriation in this department for 1884 was 
 $20,000. I invite your attention to the excellent report 
 of the chief engineer. 
 
 CLAIMS UPON THE CITY. 
 
 I learn, by the report of the city solicitor, that there 
 are now pending fourteen claims for damages against the
 
 10 [NAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
 
 city, for injuries sustained on the»streets and sidewalks, 
 amounting in the aggregate to the sum of $50,000. 
 The most of these have been referred to the coming March 
 term of the supreme court. 
 
 PUBLIC PARK. 
 
 I will now invite you to consider the question as to 
 whether the interests of the people will be best promoted 
 by taking immediate steps to provide a public park. If 
 a park is ever to he provided at all, it is clear that the 
 longer any action looking to the attainment of that result 
 the more difficult and expensive it will be. The lands 
 owned by the Amoskeag Company, lying in the vicinity 
 of Rock Rimmon, and including that spot, are in all 
 respects adapted for all the purposes of a public park. 
 It has been thought that satisfactory arrangements for 
 the purchase of these lands may he made with the Amos- 
 keag Company, which from the first has exhibited a spirit 
 of great liberality in giving its aid and support to all 
 measures which tend to promote the health and happi- 
 ness of the people of the city. 
 
 COMMOXS. 
 
 The commons, which are one of the leading attractions 
 of our city, have been well cared for during the past few 
 years. Many important improvements have been made 
 and considerable amount of money has been expended, 
 so that no great outlay will he required for some time 
 to conic 
 
 CEMETERIES. 
 
 The cemeteries have been much improved during 
 the past pear and arc now in excellent condition. Dur-
 
 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 11 
 
 ing the past year the Pine Grove Cemetery has been 
 enlarged by the addition of about twenty acres of land 
 at a cost of $3,090. The cost of the improvements at 
 this cemetery has amounted to $9,251. The board of 
 trustees of the cemeteries recommend the building of a 
 new receiving-tomb, the old tomb being too small to meet 
 the wants of the public. 
 
 CITY LIBRARY. 
 
 This institution, under the judicious management of the 
 board of trustees and the librarian, continues to realize 
 the wishes and hopes of its founders in promoting the 
 improvement and enjoyment of the people. The library 
 has, from time to time, received liberal donations of books 
 from citizens who have been identified with the growth 
 and prosperity of our city. It would be a great advan- 
 tage to many of our people if a public reading-room were 
 established in connection with the library. The library 
 now consists of 27,876 volumes. 
 
 THE SCHOOLS. 
 
 The people of our city, throughout its entire history, 
 have spared no pains or expense in seeking to provide the 
 best advantages for the education of their children. At 
 the present time our school buildings, in beauty and con- 
 venience, are unsurpassed by any which can be found in 
 any of the cities of the country of equal size ; and there 
 are the best reasons for claiming that our teachers, in char- 
 acter and ability, are at least equal to those who are em- 
 ployed in those cities and towns which are the most for- 
 tunate in this respect. With all our advances in the 
 management of our schools, it is claimed by many who
 
 1:2 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
 
 » 
 
 are regarded as authorities in this matter that there is 
 still room for much improvement. 
 
 In view of the fact that only a small number of the 
 pupils in the schools desire a more complete education in 
 the colleges or higher seminaries, with the design of 
 entering the learned professions, it becomes a matter of 
 great importance that the larger class should occupy the 
 first place in the care and regard of the teachers and others 
 upon whom are placed all the responsibilities pertaining to 
 this subject. 
 
 Total number of pupils in the schools during 
 
 the past year was ..... 3,918 
 
 Average number . . . . . . 2,872 
 
 Total expense of schools ..... $53,477 
 
 Cost per scholar ...... 18.02 
 
 POLICE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 The protection of the people and the preservation of 
 the peace and order of the city are among the most diffi- 
 cult duties the municipal authotities are called upon to 
 
 ■ 
 perform. 
 
 The affairs of this department appear to have been very 
 creditably managed for the past year or two, and the city 
 has not been afflicted on account of the commission of 
 any of the great capital crimes on the part of any person 
 residing in our jurisdiction. 
 
 Inasmuch as the best men as to character and fitness 
 are required to perform the duty of keeping the peace 
 in a successful manner, it becomes a matter of much 
 consequence that none should be appointed but such 
 as arc temperate and free from all vices of whatever name
 
 [NAUGTJRAL ADDRESS. 
 
 13 
 
 or character. While they should be men of firmness and 
 courage, they should be vigilant and discreet. They 
 should also be able to control their temper under provo- 
 cation, and to treat suspeeted prisoners who are under 
 
 arrest with civility and kindness. It is hoped that those 
 having the appointment of these officers will exercise 
 
 great care and discrimination in the discharge of that 
 duty. 
 
 A.mong~the most common of the less flagrant pffenses. 
 drunkenness continues to take the lead. It cannot he 
 denied that the sin of intemperance is the source of a vast 
 amount of suffering, not only to the victims themselves 
 but to their families and friends and the community at 
 huge. How to overthrow or mitigate the evil is a ques- 
 tion of very serious importance. From the experiences of 
 the past, it appears useless to hope for a thorough and 
 lasting reform in this direction until a strong and ardent 
 moral sentiment is awakened among the people of all 
 classes, and more especially among the educated, the 
 refined, the wealthy, and the influential. How can we 
 expect to reform the lower classes, so called, so long as 
 the habit of drinking intoxicating liquors prevails to a 
 very large extent among those in the higher walks of life 
 who give tone and character to society, and even among 
 those who assist in framing and administering the laws ? 
 I shall at all times most heartily cooperate with you in 
 the support of all measures that may seem to be the most 
 judicious and practicable for the preservation of the peace 
 and order of the city, and best calculated to promote a 
 reform of the evil of intemperance.
 
 14 
 
 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
 
 A new police station has been erected on the corner of 
 Manchester and Chestnut streets and will be ready for 
 occupancy in the course of a few weeks. The building is 
 located in a comparatively retired spot, and altogether 
 superior to the old station in the City-Hall building. It 
 contains all the accommodations needed for the police 
 department and the police court. In regard to the exact 
 cost of the building I am not informed, as the bills are 
 mostly charged to incidental expenses. I would respect- 
 fully suggest that hereafter, when a new building is to be 
 erected or any other enterprise is undertaken, a special 
 appropriation he made for this purpose and a separate 
 account opened, so that the citizens have an opportunity 
 to know at once the exact amount of money expended. 
 
 The total amount expended in the police department 
 the past year was about §26,000. 
 
 HEALTH DEPARTMENT. 
 
 I wish to refer to the urgent demand that more strin- 
 gent measures should be taken for the better preserva- 
 tion of the health of our citizens. It has long been felt that 
 it is not enough to pass ordinances requiring the people 
 to keep their premises free from all nuisances and offen- 
 sive substances calculated to generate disease, unless the 
 laws upon this subject are strictly enforced. In spite of 
 all that has been done in the way of calling the attention 
 of the people to the ordinance upon the subject, the air in 
 many of the back streets in the very heart of the city dur- 
 ing the summer months has often been polluted -by decay- 
 ing vegetable and animal substances and tilth lying in 
 uncleansed outhouses. As a consequence, there has been
 
 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 15 
 
 a very much larger rate of mortality among children from 
 cholera infantum in such localities than in those sections 
 where the laws of health in this respect have been ob- 
 served. In view of the probability that the country may 
 be scourged by Asiatic cholera during the present year, it 
 becomes our duty to act promptly in this matter. I 
 would suggest that a police officer or some other reliable 
 person be appointed to make daily inspection in hack 
 streets and by-ways, and vigorously prosecute all offend- 
 ers against the law. 
 
 In this connection I desire to call your attention to the 
 question as to whether the puhlic good requires that a 
 public hospital should he established here without fur- 
 ther delay. The people of other cities in the country, 
 some of which have much less pretension upon the score 
 of wealth and population, have long enjoyed the benefits 
 of institutions of this character. It must he apparent to 
 all that a large proportion of our adult population consists 
 of people who are without family ami near friends to care 
 for them in case of sickness or accident, and that it is 
 almost impossible to afford them proper accommodations 
 in boarding-houses and crowded tenements, without caus- 
 ing great trouble and inconvenience to all concerned. 
 Under these circumstances it seems strange that the influ- 
 ential, the wealthy, the public-spirited, and benevolent 
 citizens in our midst, who have the best reasons to feel 
 proud of our city in most other respects, have not before 
 this demanded, in the name of justice and humanity, to 
 say nothing of the interests and good name of our city, 
 that a public hospital should be established. It should be 
 borne in mind that all the expense for board, nursing. and
 
 16 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
 
 attendance of patients need not necessarily be paid from/ 
 tin- city treasury, as there will always be a large number 
 of persons of means who will be glad to avail themselves 
 of the superior advantages afforded in a well conducted 
 hospital. 
 
 It is by no means necessary that a very large and ex- 
 pensive structure be erected, or that mere embellishment 
 should be taken into consideration. There is no doubt 
 that a plain and substantial building, containing all neces- 
 sary accommodations for hospital purposes, of sufficient 
 capacity to meet the present demands of the city, can be 
 provided and furnished for a sum ranging from $15,000 
 to $20,000. Additional buildings may lie erected from 
 time to time as they may be needed. A part of the city 
 farm situated near the top of Wilson Hill would afford 
 one of the best locations for an institution of this kind. 
 
 It maybe said that the " Elliot Hospital," which is to be 
 established at no distant day, will meet all the wants of 
 the people in this regard. To this it may be replied that 
 the will of the late Mrs. Elliot expressly stipulates that 
 none but Protestants can share the benefits of the insti- 
 tution founded by her liberality ; so that a large proportion 
 of our people wdio are equally entitled to the consideration 
 and charity of the public in case of misfortune will be 
 left to shift for themselves, unless the city authorities take 
 some action in this matter. 
 
 CITY FARM. 
 
 The buildings of the city farm are now in good condi- 
 tion, and well adapted to the convenience and comfori of 
 the worthy poor of the city who are so unfortunate as to
 
 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 17 
 
 be without homes of their own, and also for the confine^ 
 ment of prisoners sentenced by the police court for drunk- 
 enness. The farm consists of ahont 18-3 acres of very 
 excellent land in close proximity to the city, and there 
 appears to be no reason why, in ordinary years, the insti- 
 tution should not be self-supporting. The cost to the 
 city tor making improvements and sustaining the institu- 
 tion during the past year amounted to the sum of 
 $12,02(3.88. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 The government of the city is now intrusted to our 
 hands, and the great public interests to which I have re- 
 ferred are placed in our charge and keeping. We are 
 the representatives and servants of the whole people, 
 and have taken a solemn obligation to protect them in 
 their persons and property, and to manage their public 
 affairs with the strictest fidelity, and to the full extent of 
 our ability. For the proper discharge of this important 
 duty all the members of the government are equally 
 responsible, and every one should at all times exercise the 
 same care and devotion to the public good as if the entire 
 result depended upon his individual efforts. It therefore 
 behoovas every one to make a special study of the condi- 
 tion and wants of this municipality, and all measures 
 upon which he will be called upon to act should be 
 thoughtfully examined and considered. 
 
 It is hoped that every member of the government will 
 feel that nothing but the most urgent necessity should 
 prevent his prompt attendance upon all of the meetings 
 of the departments and committees to which he belongs,
 
 18 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
 
 and thus prevent all delays and embarrassments which 
 would otherwise follow. 
 
 Let all our official acts be above board and open to the 
 inspection and criticism of every citizen, and let us resolve 
 to perform our duties with the strictest impartiality, and 
 without discrimination in favor of any class or individual 
 whether they occupy the highest or the lowest position in 
 the social scale. 
 
 In our intercourse with one another let us cultivate a 
 spirit of respect and good-will, and let our official relations 
 at all times be characterized by courtesy and mutual for- 
 bearance. And now let us consecrate our best faculties 
 and powers to the service of the people and seek for the 
 inspiration of Divine Wisdom to aid and assist in every 
 hour of difficulty and doubt, so that in surrendering the 
 trusts which have been committed to our care we may 
 have the approbation of our own consciences and the sat- 
 isfaction of knowing that we have done all in our power 
 to perpetuate the fair fame and to promote the prosperity 
 of our city.