Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume III.djvu/129

Brookline reservoir, covers about 125 acres, and has two basins with an aggregate capacity of 730,000,000 gallons. It is surrounded by a beautiful driveway, varying from 60 to 80 ft. in width, which cost $169,471, and is a fashion- able resort. Authority has lately been given to the city to take water from the Sudbury river, which will be connected with the reser- voirs by independent mains. An important improvement was made in the Cochituate water works in 1869, by the construction of a stand- pipe in Roxbury, by means of which pure water is forced to the highest levels occupied by dwelling houses throughout the city. The base of the shaft is 158 ft. above tide level ; the interior pipe is a cylinder of boiler iron 80 ft. long. The total cost was about $100,000. Its capacity is adequate to the supply of the whole city ; hence the reservoir on Beacon hill is no longer used. The gross payments for construct- ing, carrying on, and extending the Cochituate water works, from their commencement, Aug. 20, 1846, to April 30, 1871, amount to $19,087,- 530; total income, $9,867,633. The total debt of the city at the close of 1871 was $29,383,- 390, of which $27,865,916 was funded and $1,517,473 unfunded. This was classified as follows:

City debt proper $17,020,493 88 Water debt (net cost of works) 9,570,896 64 War loans (outstanding) 1,915,500 00 Roxbury loans (outstanding) 692,000 00 Dorchester loans (outstanding) 184,600 00 Total $29,888,390 52

The means on hand for the payment of this debt, Dec. 30, 1871, were funds in the hands of the board of commissioners of the sinking fund, amounting to $10,771,231, and public land and other bonds in the city treasury pledged for the payment of the debt, amount- ing to $998,930; total, $11,770,162. Immedi- ately after the great fire of 1872, the legisla- ture authorized the city government to issue bonds to the amount of $20,000,000 to meet the exigencies caused by the fire. The total receipts into the city treasury on account of the city for the year ending April 30, 1871, amounted to $20,773,594; expenditures, $19,- 320,382. The chief items were:

Expeniea. Income. City hospital $101,290 $5,686 Fire department 418,507 8,810 Health department 298,892 48,926 Police department 678,844 11,625 Public buildings '. 68,815 25,273 Public institutions 800,067 114,179 Schools and school houses 1,675,279 _':(. -i > Streets.. 1,486,273 167,776 Waterworks 1,696,048 789,128

The whole amount of taxes assessed for the year 1870 was $9,050,419, of which $8,936,567 was assessed on real and personal estate, and $113,852 on 56,926 polls. Of the whole amount, $7,972,820 ($13 65 per $1,000) was for city and county, and $963,747 ($1 65 per $1,000) for state purposes. The valuation and rate of tax for a series of years are as follows:

YEAKS. Ral etate. Penonal estate. Total valua- tion. Rats IRT 1,000. 800 $6,901,000 $8 194 700 IflSOil.'i'OO 1820! 21^687,000 16' 602,200 88,289,200 $4 00 1880. 89,960,000 22,626,000 59,686,000 4 06 1840. 60,424,200 84,157,400 94,581,600 5 50 1850. 105,098,400 74,907,100 180,500,000 6 SO 1860. 168,891,800 112,969,700 276,861,000 9 80 1861. 167,682,100 108,078,000 275,760,100 8 90 1862. 168,688,000 112,579,000 276,217.000 10 50 1868. 169,624,500 182,882,700 802,507,200 11 60 1864. 182,070,300 150,877,600 832,449,900 18 80 1865. 201,628,900 17o.-2iM,*7.". 871,892,775 15 80 1866. 225,767,215 ls9.. r .MW> 415,862,845 18 00 1867. 2flO.5-i7.700 194,858,400 444,946,100 1560 1868. 2J7,6*5.SOO 205,937,900 498,573,700 1280 1869. 882,051,900 217,459,700 549,511,600 18 70 1870. K65.MI8,1UO 218,496.800 584,089,400 IT, 80

The tax rate per $1,000 in 1870 was $22 50 in New York, $18 in Philadelphia, $15 in Chicago, and $31 60 in Cincinnati. In 1840 the average amount of property owned by each inhabitant of Boston was less than $900 ; in 1870 it had increased to an average of more than $2,300. The benevolent institutions of Boston are numerous, and effective in their operations. There are 62 societies which come under this special head. The Perkins institute and Massa- chusetts asylum for the blind, though it is largely aided by the state, and is in part the work of other places, is of Boston origin, and has derived much of its means from the libe- rality of Boston people. It has been under the charge of Dr. S. G. Howe since its opening in 1832, and has received 776 pupils. The num- ber of inmates in 1871 was 162 ; number of instructors and employees, 40 ; average annual receipts for five years, $78,497; expenditure, $71,342. Indigent persons are admitted gra- tuitously. The Massachusetts school for idiotic and feeble-minded youth, at South Boston, also under Dr. Howe, has been very successful. It was opened in 1848, since which time 465 pupils have been received, and there were 106 inmates in 1871. The eye and ear infirmary, exclusively for the poor, is in Charles street, and is provided with everything necessary for the efficient treatment of the sick.' The build- ing and land cost $54,000. The city hospital, opened in 1864, covers nearly seven acres of land, occupying the entire square bounded by Concord, Albany, and Springfield streets, and Harrison avenue. It consists of a central building and three pavilions, two of which are connected with the central building by corri- dors. Many patients are received and treated at the expense of the city, while others pay for these privileges. In 1871, 2,569 patients were treated within the hospital, in addition to 8,899 out patients. The Massachusetts general hos- pital, incorporated in 1811, is at the corner of Allen and Blossom streets, occupying a plot of four acres. The building is of granite, and has a front of 274 ft. and a depth of 54 ft., with a portico of eight Ionic columns. The general fund of the hospital, Jan. 1, 1872, amounted to $888,258; the income of the corporation for the preceding year was $211,302, and the ex-