paring the valuation of Dorchester in 1869 with that of 1868, that a greater relative increase had been found in that locality than in Boston. But while the same influences which produced our increased valuation must have had their effect in that rapidly growing section, yet so large an addition as 32.54 per centum in a single year must have been the result of an effort on the part of the assessors to put the property of the town at its full market value. If this view is correct, a fair test of the advantages of annexation will probably follow. The future increase of the district above the 7.92 per centum, which is the annual increase of the preceding five years, could be fairly taken as the measure of increased value from this cause. The average rate for the past five years has been in Boston, $13.98; in Dorchester, $12.50, on each one thousand. The greatly increased valuation has, in the latter place, reduced the rate of tax for 1869 to $8.80 on each one thousand dollars. The addition of this territory, with a valuation of twenty millions, a population of more than twelve thousand, and an area larger than all the fifteen wards which, up to this time, constituted the city, will doubtless add largely to the labors of this department.

VOTING LIST.

By the annexations of Roxbury and Dorchester the territory of Boston has become so large, and the wards of the city so extensive (each one of them containing more voters than most of the towns in the commonwealth), that the labor of preparing the annual Voting Lists is greatly increased. For the last thirty years the duty of preparing and correcting the lists of the several wards, which is imposed by law upon the Board of Aldermen, has been performed solely by the City Clerk and his assistants, who have attended to this delicate and important matter, it is believed, with the utmost impartiality, and with a fidelity to the requirements of the constitution and laws which has been questioned by no one who understands the difficulty of registering correctly the names of forty thousand voters.

The method prescribed by law for preparing and correcting these lists, though adapted to towns and small cities, where the voters are comparatively stationary, and consequently well known to the constituted authorities, is entirely unsuited to so extensive a municipality as our own, where the number of persons entitled to the privilege is so large, the accessions to our citizens

so numerous, and the changes of domicile so frequent. With a territory embracing many miles in extent, it is a hardship to compel the legal voters of the outlying districts to seek one central place in order to be registered on the lists; and the crowds in the City Hall are often so great, on the eve of an important election, as to necessitate much loss of time to any one thus seeking to be registered.

This important matter is worthy your attention with a view to obtain such legislative enactment as will authorize large municipalities, like our own, to establish Registration Districts, so that the ward lists, for the purpose of registration and correction, may be brought nearer to the residences of the persons entitled to be enrolled thereon. Though such a plan may not be attended with that thorough accuracy which now exists in this department, yet it is believed many qualified voters would be registered who do not attend to that duty under the present system.

PUBLIC LANDS.

During the past year the sales of the public lands, made under the direction of the committee, have been nearly double those of the preceding

year. The number of square feet sold in 1869 amounted to three hundred and seventy-six thousand three hundred and seventy-two and eleven onehundredths, for the sum of four hundred and sixtyfour thousand one hundred and fifty-three dollars and seventy-seven cents. The amount of the first instalment in payment for the same was fortyseven thousand and fifty-seven dollars seventyseven cents. The expenses of the department during the year have been fourteen thousand three hundred and fifty-seven dollars and fourteen cents. The amount of saleable land belonging to the city, and in charge of the department, is as follows: South of Dover street, six hundred and fourteen thousand six hundred and one square feet; at South Boston, six hundred and thirty-eight thousand and ten square feet, making a total of one million two hundred and fifty-two thousand six hundred and eleven square feet. Besides the above, the city owns a wharf lot on Swett street, containing twenty-two thousand and sixty square feet, which is leased for a term of years; and also two lots on Rutland and Canton streets, west of Tremont street, containing sixty-three thousand six hundred square feet, held subject to the order of the city council.

WATER DEPARTMENT.

During the past year, while other large cities have suffered from the scarcity of water, we have been blessed with an ample supply for all the purposes for which it has been required. Although the consumption has been largely increased by the rapid growth of our city, and by the annexation of Roxbury, where over twenty miles of pipe have been laid, and eleven hundred and fortysix new water-takers added to the list, it is fair to presume that the demand for an extra additional supply will continue in nearly the same ratio for the ensuing year in consequence of the annexation of Dorchester, a portion of which it will be necessary to supply; and I am informed the city council will be called upon for an appropriation of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, in order to defray the expense of laying main and service pipes in this locality.

The Cochituate Water Board, feeling the necessity of providing for a further supply of water to meet the increased demand, caused, partially, by the addition of new territory, asked permission of the city council to contract with the Mystic Water Board to furnish East Boston and Deer