REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE

ON

STONE AND MACADAM PAVEMENT.

To the City Councils:

The special committee on stone and macadam pavement present the following report.

In view of the improvements that were made early in the season in Central square, your committee decided to expend part of the appropriation in paving around the park. A contract was made with the Roxbury Granite Co., to furnish and lay No. 1 paving blocks, for $1.51 per square yard. A section of paving thirteen feet wide was laid, comprising an area of 688 64-100 square yards, graded in such a manner as to form a gutter for the drainage of the park, and the adjoining portions of Central square. The balance was expended at the east end of West street, where a pavement was laid extending to the east line of the Y. M. C. A. lot, comprising an area of 750 85-100 square yards, making the total area of pavement laid 1439 49-100 square yards, at an expense of $2,609.02. The macadam pavement was commenced at the end of the stone, and continued to the west line of F. H. Whitcomb's house lot, a distance of 1,490 feet, at an average width of about 24 feet, with an area of 3,958 square yards. The total cost of the pavement, including grading and preparing the road bed, was $3,809.13 or about 964 cents per yard. The same general plan was followed as described in the last report, but more attention was given to surfacing, and rolling, with better results. Before laying the macadam pavement the

street was put in a permanent condition for surface drainage by laying about 1,200 feet of tile, from six inches to fifteen inches in diameter, extending through West and St. James streets, and about 2,830 feet of paved and graded gutters with suitable inlets and catch basins. In view of the greater permanence of the stone pavement, your committee recommend that it be gradually extended until Central square and the north end of Main street are paved; and it is their opinion that the success of the macadam pavement warrants its continuance for the improvement of the surrounding streets. FREDERIC A. FAULKNER, W. H. ELLIOT,

J. CARLON REED,

JOHN J. COLONY,

SAMUEL WADSWORTH,

Special committee on stone and macadam pavement.

REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONER.

To the City Councils:

The amount appropriated for parks the current year was one hundred dollars. Owing to unpaid bills coming over from last year, the expenditures will slightly exceed that sum. The money has been mainly expended for small nursery trees and shrubs at wholesale prices. And here I may properly say, that I accepted the duties of commissioner chiefly for the sake of planting the open spaces in Wheelock park with a more desirable class of trees than would naturally spring up there. It is a work of time, and I commend it to my successors. This park has some good land, but is mainly sandy and dry. It was well suggested by the Rural Improvement Society, that it should be chiefly maintained as a forest park, without any cultivated areas of lawn or garden.

It has also been suggested that the pavilion should be converted into an open one by taking off the shutters, and adding an outside platform and seats. I would recommend a granite basin in place of the present fountain. A draw faucet would save much needless waste of water.

In city park the birch brush still requires the annual cutting. The pines will soon outgrow the brush. The portion of city park called the "Children's Wood," was burned over last spring by an accidental fire. Large trees escaped, but sprout land was much injured. The brush fence which formed the east boundary, was burned entirely. I have thought some permanent and visible boundary was necessary here, and accordingly, have made some twenty-five rods of two

foot wall. I have found in the children's wood, a well-proportioned, oval boulder, green and polished, and weighing It is "Vermont Serpentine,"

some three hundred pounds. and deserves a pedestal.

G. A. WHEELOCK,

Commissioner.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

REPORT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER.

To His Honor the Mayor and City Councils :

Gentlemen,-In compliance with the ordinance and in behalf of the board of engineers, I present the following report of the fire department for the year ending December 1, 1892.

The department has responded to ten alarms, two false alarms, and nine brush fires.

Loss to property, $9,750.00; insurance, $7,675.00; total loss, $2,075.00.

The department at the present time consists of three engineers; Steamer and Hose Co., 25 men; Deluge Hose Co., 20 men; Washington Hook and Ladder Co., 20 men.

men.

Total, 68

We have at the present time one of the best departments of its size in New England. There is the best of feeling between all the members of the department. I am also glad to report that our new quarters will soon be ready to occupy, which will add very much to the efficiency of the department.

I would recommend that six more fire alarm boxes be put

in the coming year. I would recommend the purchasing of a pair of horses for the Hook and Ladder Co., at once, as they will be much needed when they are located in the new house.

Our hydrant and fire alarm service are both in the best condition they ever were.