THE SUPERINTENDENT OF LICENSES FOR INTELLIGENCE OFFICES, AUCTIONEERS, PLACES OF AMUSEMENT, ETC., Reports, that he has during the past year reported on two hundred and sixteen applications, and delivered licenses for the same, collecting therefor and paying over to the City Clerk the sum of $875.00. He has also investigated ninety-six complaints against keepers of intelligence offices, and in many of these cases, money wrongfully taken has been refunded. He has investigated twenty-five complaints against so-called "one dollar " concerns, several of which have given up the business, and the proprietors have left the city. In these cases the sum of $236.00 has been collected and returned to the rightful owners. Forty complaints have also been investigated, and fifteen suits have been commenced in the civil and criminal courts, against pretended brokers, for fraud, and the sum of $6,418.00 has been collected and refunded in these cases. The Superintendent reports much credit due to William H. Towne, Esq., who has kindly volunteered as counsel in these cases, and often without recompense. The Superintendent has also had charge of the numerous. street fruit stands that have been temporarily allowed, a matter that has required no little patience and care. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PAWNBROKERS AND JUNK DEALERS Reports, that he and his assistant have been engaged during the year in investigating applications for licenses, examining the shops and books of licensed brokers and dealers, and notifying them of stolen property. He has secured the recovery of property of the value of $1,552.00, and made such arrangements as have led to the arrest of more than thirty thieves, the keepers of the shops having in many cases rendered valuable service by giving information and in the detention of the thieves. Number of licensed pawnbrokers Number of licensed junk dealers 54 202 BUILDING PERMITS. Building improvements having become so numerous, and a necessary occupancy of portions of the streets for building purposes so frequent, and a proper discrimination between the necessities of the builder and the convenience of the public requiring constant care and attention, it became necessary, the past year, to detail an experienced officer to superintend the work. This arrangement has proved so far not only an essential benefit to the builder, but has undoubtedly done much to prevent inconvenience and accident to the public. It is the usual custom of builders to leave the sidewalks in front of buildings for the last job in completing their work, and the Superintendent respectfully recommends the passage of an ordinance requiring all sidewalks in front of buildings in process of erection, to be constructed as soon as the basement walls reach the level of the street. WORK DONE FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHOUT CHARGE. City Forrester's Department. 131 days' Police duty, taking care of flowers at Chester Park Amount carried forward, $393 00 $393 00 Amount brought forward, 183 days' Police duty, one extra officer, care of flowers at Public Garden East Boston Ferries. 453 days' Police duty at the ferry slips, @ $3.00 per day Internal Health Department. 528 days' Police duty on vaccination statistics, @ 3.00 281 days' Police duty on sanitary examination $393 00 549 00 $942 00 $1,359 00 $1,584 00 843 00 2,427 00 369 00 Natural History Rooms. 123 days' Police duty, at rooms, @ $3.00 Public Baths. 1,345 days' Police duty, at the several bathing 58 days' Police duty, investigating claims, @ 3.00 174 00 Street Department. Three-fourths of the time of the Police Constable, @ $1,000 per year, in serving street and side notices Total 3* 750 00 $10,275 00 |