PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

1870–71.

Expenses and Salaries (see Engine

Houses),

$68,315 06

Income, 1870-71, $25,273 20; 1869-70, $8,096 25.

1869-70.

$78,845 71

Income, 1870–71, $114,179 21; 1869-70, $117,311 18.

Income, from all sources, 1870-71, $23,800 74;

1869-70

eral,

Requisitions

Income from all the above departments, 1870-71, $167,776 47; 1869-70, $105,290 95.

WATER WORKS.

1870-71.

Requisitions of Water Board, gen

of Water Board,

1869-70.

$236,431 80 $191,858 27

Income, 1870-71, $789,123 37; 1869-70, $653,170 86.

NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

GIRLS' HIGH AND NORMAL SCHOOL-HOUSE. This splendid structure, the erection of which was commenced in the spring of 1869, on the site especially purchased for it, fronting on both Newton and Pembroke streets, between Tremont street and

Shawmut avenue, from plans and specifications drawn by George Ropes, architect, was finally completed in October, 1870, and is believed to be the largest, most substantial and costly school edifice in the United States.

The work was pushed vigorously, during the year 1869, and the external and partition walls of a large part of the building had been built up to their full height, when the great gale of September of that year swept down a large portion of both walls and floors, causing damage to the building to the amount of about $20,000, which the City Council promptly voted to make good at the expense of the city. This accident caused a considerable delay in the progress of the work; but before the end of the year, damages had been repaired, and the whole building roofed in.

The work of finishing the interior was continued through the winter of 1870, and the whole building — with the exception of the large hall in the upper story was finished ready for occupancy about the first of October following. The large hall above alluded to, is embellished with sculptures and statuary, the gifts of various ladies and gentlemen, under the auspices of the Social Science Association. These works were brought from various countries, and their non-arrival caused a delay in the finishing and dedication of the building, until the 19th of April, 1871, when it was formally dedicated. The building had been occupied by the school, however, since the October preceding. In May, 1870, an addition to the site was made by the purchase of land adjoining the original purchase. The following is a full description of the building.

The site on which the building is erected is bounded on its southwesterly side by Newton street, on its northwesterly side by the Church of the Unity estate, on its northeasterly side by Pembroke street, and on its southeasterly side by the at present

vacant lots lying between Newton and Pembroke streets; and has a frontage on each of the above named streets of 200 feet, with a depth between of about 154 feet. The building has a street frontage of 144 feet, and a depth of 131 feet. The unoccupied space around the building is graded and paved with bricks, at a level of about 3 feet 6 inches below the sidewalks; the object of which was to utilize the space in the basement story, and have the basement floor above the ground line at the base of the building. The larger portion of the site, unoccupied by the building, is on the southeasterly side, and includes the additional purchase of 25 feet frontage on the streets above named, and 15 feet in width of the original site; the whole extending from street to street, and forming a yard 40 feet wide by 154 feet long, for the Model School department located in the basement story. The basement floor is about 16 inches above the yard level, and about 2 feet below the sidewalks of the streets. At the westerly, southerly and easterly corners of the lot, are steps leading from the sidewalks down to the yard; at the northerly corner is an inclined plane for a cart-way, leading down on the northwesterly side of the building to the outer door of the boiler-room, which is in the northerly corner of the basement. The other entrances to the basement are in the middle of the southeasterly and southwesterly sides, the latter being under the steps leading up to the entrance to the first story, on the Newton street side. The outlines of the building are broken at the corners by projections 8 inches by 32 feet on each side or elevation, and a projection 15 inches by 50 feet in the middle of the Newton street front. The front line of the last named projection is 15 feet back from the line of the street. The front line on Pembroke street is about 8 feet back from the street line. There are two entrances above the basement, one in the centre of each street front, and approached by flights of stone steps 14 feet broad, which lead up to a vestibule on the Newton street side, 2 feet 4 inches below the first floor, and on

the Pembroke street side, about 5 feet below the floor. There are four finished stories including the basement, which is 12 feet high; the first and second stories are each 14 feet high; the large hall in the third story is 18 feet 6 inches high; the balance of the story is 15 feet high. In order to understand the internal arrangement from the following description it will be well to keep in mind the direction and bearing of the external lincs and boundaries as before described. A corridor 12 feet wide extends across the building from the middle of the Newton street or southwesterly side, to the middle of the Pembroke street or northeasterly side, at the ends of which are the entrances before described, and the staircases leading to the upper stories.

In the middle of the building is a central hall 22 feet wide by 77 feet long, crossing the corridor at right angles; at each end of the hall are two rooms 30 feet long, which, with the hall, occupy the entire length of the building. It will be observed that the hall and corridor divide the building into four equal sections or quarters, which are subdivided as follows. At the left of the entrance on the Newton street, or southwesterly side, is a reception room 16 feet by 22 feet, which is furnished in an appropriate manner with black walnut furniture, and the walls adorned with a portrait, and a bas relief profile in marble of the late former master, Wm. H. Seavey, and other works of art. Beyond the reception room is a passage leading from the corridor to the master's room, which is 14 feet by 27 feet, neatly furnished, and the walls lined with bookcases; this room is connected with the reception room, and with a room 30 feet by 45 feet, for the advanced class occupying the westerly corner of the building. The inner portion of this quarter of the building is occupied by a passage leading from the hall to the advanced class room and master's room; a staircase leading down to the basement story, a cloak room for the advanced class, master's closets, and the ventiducts for this quarter of the building. At the end of the central hall, and occupying the middle