The presiding officer then presented Mayor Hugh O’Brien as a gentleman who was going to bring down the tax rate for this year to about $13.

As the Mayor arose he was greeted with loud applause. His honor said he always felt at home among the produce dealers who had been his business neighbors for so many years. There were very few people, he said, who understand the magnitude of the produce trade which represented, at the least, a yearly business of $100,000,000. For instance, the city of Boston now packs more pork than any other city in the Union. Last year a single member of the Boston Produce Exchange packed $10,000,000 worth of pork. This represented 588,000 hogs, which was more than all the dealers in Chicago did put together. The Mayor said that it was stated that Boston was to have inspectors of eggs, beans and other articles. He did not believe in it, and did not think the produce men did either. It was a good thing to have an inspector of milk and provisions, but, in his judgment, that was enough. He complimented Lieutenant-Governor Ames, and expressed the hope that when Governor Robinson retired his mantle would fall on Lieutenant-Governor Ames.

“A Jolly Party. Seventh Reunion of the Boston Produce Exchange.” Boston Daily Globe, January 22, 1885.