By concurrent vote.-Commissioners of sinking funds, sealers of weights and measures, fence viewers, field drivers, pound keepers, public weighers, fish wardens, oyster wardens, measurers of wood and bark, together with all officers not otherwise provided for.

By trustees of water works. Superintendent of water works. By school committee.-Superintendent of public schools.

CHAPTER VI.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The fire department is an institution, in which our citizens may feel a commendable pride. Its efficiency, in later years, has been frequently tested; and its ability to cope with the devouring element, under all ordinary circumstances, satisfactorily proved.

It is true we have had "great fires" (since that of '43, which devoured two hundred and five buildings in about four hours,) and those which cast a shadow of grief and sympathetic sorrow over the whole community, but considering the materials which prevail, in our structures, the combustible nature of raw materials, and of our products of labor, we have been wonderfully preserved from losses by fire, and with proper and due care, in keeping the fire department in good condition for service, with ample means for the extinguishment of fires, coupled with the abundant supply of water by the water works, we may reasonably hope, under the blessing of an over-ruling Providence, to long escape another great conflagration.

We have at present seven first-class fire engines, in good working order, ten hose carriages, three hook and ladder truck, fully

equipped, nine wagons, twenty-four horses, and connected with these, one hundred and twenty-five men.

At the present time the department have, for use, sixteen thousand (16,000) feet of hose, etc.

CHAPTER VII.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Public instruction is one of the most important desiderata for the improvement and elevation of social life, and for the preparation of the individual, for his or her duties imposed by association with fellowmen in communities. Therefore, in all intelligent, well ordered portions of the race, generous and ample means have been set aside from more common uses, for the fostering and support of public schools. There is a giving that enriches, as well as a withholding which maketh poor; and our city has from time to time, made provision for education. But the need of a liberal outlay, for the support of our school system, at the present time may be seen and felt, by every well-wisher of man; in reading the chapter on Social Statistics, herewith appended, recognizing the fact that ignorance and vice are intimates.

With one in every ten of our entire population, classed as "illiterate," unable to read and write, it would seem that the need of general education might be appreciated. The parent certainly who is capable of estimating the advantages of school tuition and culture, for his or her child, should be the last to counsel the withholding, or of penuriously granting means by which to elevate and improve our standard as a city, among the cities of our Commonwealth in this regard.

If fathers and mothers are suffering from the effects of ignorance themselves, it should be an incentive to cause them to give their offspring every opportunity to grow up and take places in society in an improved condition.

It is a fact undeniable that those communities, best educated and most cultured, give such matters greatest consideration, and make the most liberal appropriations, and secure the best teachers for public instruction, the great improver of the common mind.

Man or woman, uneducated, is illy fitted to assume the more important and healthful relations of life, and for this lack, are

generally compelled to fill inferior and more unpleasant positions, and receive therefor a more meagre and unsatisfactory compensation or reward. We learn from the last published report of Superintendent of Schools that on May 1, 1878, the population of the city was, 48,494.

Classification of schools; High, 1; Grammar, 20; Intermediate, 27; Primary, 56; Mixed, 8.

In High

Number of teachers 133; Males, 12; females, 121, located as follows:
School, 2; Grammar, 19; Intermediate, 27; Mixed, 7; Primary, 65; Special, 1.
Appropriation for public schools in 1878,

$95,000

Of the whole number of scholars in the city, 6,502 were found attending public schools; 767 parochial schools; 57 private schools; 1,372 were employed in the mills, and 1,095 were found at home, not attending any school, nor employed at labor. Many of this last named class, were only 5 years of age, and thought by

parents, too young for school duties, which was one cause of apparently so large a number of non-attendants.

The per cent. of attendance, based upon the average number belonging to the schools this year 1878, is 89.1.

In the High school on this last basis, the per cent. is 97. In the Grammar schools on this last basis, the per cent. is 88.4, the highest in this grade being the Maple street, which attained 98. The lowest is but 84. In the Intermediate schools, the per cent. is 89.2. The highest in this grade is the Pine street, which reached 97, while the lowest attained but 83. The per cent. in the primary schools is found to be 88; the school standing highest reached 96, being on Pine street. The lowest reached only 83.

There were in the city 32 school houses: of which 24 are constructed of wood, 7 of brick, and one of granite. Within a period of ten years, there had been built sixteen new buildings for school purposes, and in the same time ten had been discontinued as unfit for such uses.

Fall River, by its appropriations from time to time for maintaining an evening school for adults, grants the opportunity to learn to read and write, to all who will avail themselves of the privilege.

It is now left a personal choice to attend this school or not. It would be better if" illiterates" were compelled, by law, to attend a portion of each year. With competent and suitable teachers and a proper classification of scholars, regarding age and otherwise, our social statistics would soon become more creditable to the city.

The evening drawing school is an important feature in our school instruction, accommodating many who otherwise might be denied the opportunity of cultivating talents for this important branch of education. About 170 pupils availed themselves of its advantages in 1878, of whom 61 were over 20 years of age, and the remainder between 15 and 20 years.