plan prepared by the City Surveyor; and the buildings are to be raised to correspond to the new grade. The proposed plan includes the widening and extension of several streets, the most important being the extension of Shawmut avenue from Dover street to Tremont street, and the construction of an iron bridge over the Boston and Albany railroad tracks. Although the city has complete possession of this extensive property, it is intended to use it only so far as may be required to carry out the improvements for the public health, safety and convenience; beyond that the former owners are not interfered with in their use or occupation of it; and when the work on any section is entirely completed, the estates will be reconveyed to those from whom they were taken. As the work was not begun until late last year, the direction of the main portion of the improvement will devolve upon the present City government. The estimated expense of the entire work, including the street improvements, amounts to $2,351,550. A loan of $500,000 has been made to carry it on; but an additional loan will soon be required, as the contracts already entered into and the expenses incurred on account of the work exceed that amount. As the city is fully committed to this work, it is desirable that it should be prosecuted as rapidly as possible, in order to get the benefit of the improvement, and also to prevent hardship and inconvenience to the occupants. I am induced to refer to the last subject the more especially because I believe that there are other portions of the city fast becoming densely populated, which, if not immediately attended to, will soon require the aid of similar legislation, and will subject the city to equal or larger expenditures. Closely connected with this subject is the subject of the public health, to which I have been earnestly requested to invite your attention. In a city so large and so densely populated as ours, where the causes of disease are always abundant, the utmost care and vigilance should be exercised to protect the citizens from this form of danger. I therefore cheerfully accede to this request, and invite your early attention to the subject. The City Council of last year appointed a commission to prepare a draft of a bill to be submitted by the City Council to the next Legislature, authorizing the city to purchase or take and lay out lands for one or more public parks. As I have the honor to be a member of that Commission, I think I owe it to my associates on the Commission to omit any discussion of the subject at the present time. There are many subjects connected with the Municipal Government to which I have not called your attention. I have not omitted them because I fail to appreciate their high importance. You have a public library, which, for the extent of its collection, continues to hold its rank as the second library in the country, and which, under a wise direction, is accomplishing the great and beneficent purpose for which it was established. You have public institutions of a reformatory and charitable character, of which the city has long been justly proud. They, too, under the direction of gentlemen of high character, are accomplishing their noble objects in ministering to the relief of the afflicted, and in endeavoring to reform the vicious. You have a Board of Overseers of the Poor, composed of gentlemen who, in a manner well becoming such a service, are, without ostentation, faithfully performing their work of mitigating suffering, relieving want, and giving, even to those in penury, encouragement and strength. You have a City Hospital, designed to assist those "who by misfortune or poverty may require relief during temporary sickness." The thousands who have found relief within its walls bear all the testimony that is needed in favor of its wise and successful management. You have a Fire Department, maintained at a large expense, and conducted with great efficiency and success. You have a Police Department with a force of about five hundred men, by whose exertions the lives and property of the citizens have been made substantially secure. The well conducted departments relating to the public lands, public buildings, water assessors, sewers, and the public health, are all of leading importance, and will require your careful attention. To these subjects, and to other important subjects of municipal concern, I may invite invite your your attention hereafter, when increased information shall enable me to make suggestions more worthy of your consideration and respect than any which it is now in my power to make. Gentlemen, our labors will always be well begun when they are commenced as they have been this morning, with a recognition of our dependence upon the Divine guidance and protection. |