[City documents, 1847-1867]

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City Document—No. 10.

REPORT

OF THE

JOINT SPECIAL COMMITTEE

TO WHOM WAS REFERRED

THE EXPEDIENCY

OF A

vv Y OF THE Clily:

ROXBURY:
PRINTED FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
1855.

SSity of Boxbary.

In Common Councit, Marcu 12, 1855.
ORDERED, That the Joint Special Committee to whom was referred the
consideration of the Assessors’ Department, be instructed to consider the
propriety of causing a complete survey of the City, and each and every lot
therein, for the purpose of aiding the Assessors in their duty.
Sent up for concurrence.

JOSHUA SEAVER, Clerk.

In Boarp or ALDERMEN, MARcH 12, 1855.

Concurred.

JOSEPH W. TUCKER, City Clerk.

In Common CounciL, APRIL 2, 1855.
Mr. Cushing, from the above named Committee, submitted the following
Report and Order, which were read, ordered to be laid on the table and
printed for the use of the Council.
JOSHUA SEAVER, Clerk.

REPORT

The Joint Special Committee, to whom was referred the Order
relating to a survey of the City of Roxbury, have attended to
the duty assigned them, and beg leave to submit the following

REPORT.

To most, if not to all of the Committee, the project of surveying
the entire City of Roxbury appeared at first to be one of such
magnitude and expense, as to lead some of them, before they had
been able to look into the matter, and obtain such information as
was to be had, to view it as a project of doubtful expediency, if
not an impracticable one. But your Committee have considered
the matter fully and deliberately, and we are unanimously of the
opinion that it is not only practicable, but every way desirable.
They are convinced that a survey can be properly and correctly
made, with ease, in a comparatively short space of time, and that
the great advantages to be derived from such a plan will be such
as to entirely overcome all objections to it, on account of the
expense which may attend it. They believe that the interests of
the City require and demand such a plan to be constructed.
They look upon the present system or manner of determining the
contents of the several lots of land, and rating the value thereof,
(to say the least,) as a very objectionable one, a system against
which very much ean be said, while but little can be said in its
favor.

4 CITY DOCUMENT—No. 10.

Your Committee are of the opinion that if the Assessors could
have the aid and help of a plan which should give them the num-
ber of square feet of each separate and distinct lot of land, to-
gether with the buildmg or buildings thereon, it would diminish
their labors, enable them to deal more justly and equitably with
all concerned than it is possible for them now to do, give them a
basis upon which to act, which will put to rest forever many of :
the now existing causes of complaint. It should be the desire of
every citizen to pay his just and full share of the State, County
and City Tax, and while very many are so disposed, there are
others who are desirous of being relieved of the burden which they
should justly bear. A measure which would lessen the chances of
such to elude the just dooming of the Assessors, and at the same
time secure to all a fair taxation, we believe would meet with the
approval of your constituents.

While speaking of the present advantages to be derived from
such a plan of the City, we would not forget to call to your minds
the great value this map or plan would have, ten, fifteen or twenty
years hence. This consideration, of itself, in the minds of your
Committee, is no small or slight argument in favor of this survey.

Your Committee would recommend the construction of a set of
plans on some convenient scale, and that the same be bound
together in some convenient form, every lot to be carefully meas-
ured, and the number of square feet it contains computed and
marked thereon, the lines of said lots to be laid down, as nearly as
can be ascertained, without an elaborate research into the titles of
the same, and to be determined either by plans which may be
furnished by the owners, by plans recorded in the County Regis-
try and City Clerk’s office, or by the fences and enclosures of the
several lots as they exist upon the ground. The plans should be
neatly drawn and the lots appropriately numbered.

REPORT AND ORDER. 4)

The streets, courts, lanes, &c., should be properly represented,
as also the railroads, streams, ponds and other bodies of water.
Accompanying this, a reduced plan should be made, showing the
whole City on one plan, with all the main buildings of the City
distinctly represented thereon.

Your Committee believe that all this can be done, and well
done, before the assessment of taxes for the next year, 1856, and
would unanimously recommend the adoption of the following
Order.

For the Committee,

JAMES W. CUSHING.

City of Roxbury.

In Common Councitt, Aprin 2, 1855.

ORDERED, That a Joint Special Committee be appointed to
contract with one or more competent Surveyors to make a com-
plete survey of the City of Roxbury.

The same to be done at an expense not to exceed Twelve hun-
dred dollars, and to be completed within nine months from the
execution of said contract.

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