USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1885-1889 > Part 1
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Melrose Public Library Melrose, Massachusetts
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"
REPORTS
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS OF MELROSE
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1885.
MELROSE : PRINTED BY THOMAS W. RIPLEY. 1886.
GM 35 Z cop. 2
epacate
MELROSE PUBLIC LIBRARY MELROSE, MASS.
L 115
CONTENTS.
REPORT OF SELECTMEN
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK - Proceedings of Town Meeting
Appropriations
Vote for State and County Officers
33 40
Statistics of Births, Marriages and Deaths
44
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Expenses of Public Schools
School Contingent Expenses
Contingent Expenses
Support of Poor
State Aid
Military Aid
Fire Department
Town Hall
Street Lights
Additional Street Lamps
Memorial Day
64
Armory Rent
64
Highways .
66 67 68
Washington Street
Drainage
68 68 69
Sidewalks
70
Drinking Fountain
71
Interest
71
Insurance
71
Franklin School Building (Highlands)
72
Melrose Water Committee (special)
73 73
High Service (Water) .
74
Public Library and Reading Room
74
Town Officers' Salaries
"Fells " School Building
·
Steam Fire Engine
71
Melrose Water Fund .
.
74
44 47 51
54 58 58
59 61 63 63 64
Tremont Street Sidewalk
Orris and Warren Streets
Crossings and Gutters
1
Page. 7 20
26
4
CONTENTS.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT ( Continued) :-
Police and Night Watch
75
Wyoming Cemetery
76
REPORT OF THE TOWN TREASURER
79
Notes Given and Paid during the Year
79
Trust Fund .
79
Statement of the Town Debt
80
Water Loan Sinking Fund .
81
Treasurer's Account
82
AUDITORS' REPORT
86
ASSESSORS' REPORT
87
COLLECTORS' REPORTS
92
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS
95
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
97
Report of Superintendent
. 104
Water Rates
. 114
Report of Committee on Improved Water Supply
116
REPORT OF THE WATER LOAN SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS .
118
REPORT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
. 119
PUBLIC LIBRARY -Treasurer's Account
. 120
Report of Trustees
. 121
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE (Appended), 40 pp.
TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1885-6.
Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor and Highway Surveyors. LEVI S. GOULD. HENRY G. FIELDS.
JOHN K. CURRIER.
Town Clerk. JOHN LARRABEE.
Treasurer. GEORGE NEWHALL.
Collector.
M. F. EASTMAN.
Assessors.
GEORGE C. STANTIAL. GEORGE F. BOARDMAN. GILBERT N. HARRIS.
Water Commissioners.
WINGATE P. SARGENT, Chairman
Term expires 1887.
WILBUR D. FISKE
66 66 1886.
JOHN R. JONES .
‹
Superintendent of Water Works and Clerk of Board of Water Commissioners. ADDISON LANE.
Commissioners of Water Loan Sinking Fund.
DANIEL RUSSELL, Chairman
ROYAL P. BARRY
JOHN W. FARWELL
66 1886.
School Committee.
CLIFTON FLETCHER, Chairman
Term expires 1886. 66. 1886.
MRS. MARTHA A. ADAMS
MRS. SARAH W. BRADBURY
MRS. A. K. MILLER
66
1888.
THOMAS W. RIPLEY
66
66 1887.
S. ROBERTSON WINCHELL
66 1888.
Trustees of the Public Library.
ELBRIDGE H. GOSS. THOMAS B. PECK. CHARLES C. BARRY. HANNAH LYNDE.
RUBY F. FARWELL.
.
66
66 1888.
Term expires 1887.
66
1888.
66 1887.
6
TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1885-6.
Auditors. JOHN R. NORTON. FRANK E. ORCUTT. WALTER I. NICKERSON.
Constables.
ANSEL B. PIERCE. FRANK M. MCLAUGHLIN. HENRY B. NEWHALL.
Registrars of Voters.
ALFRED HOCKING, Chairman Term expires May 1, 1887.
WALTEB BABB
66 66 1886.
JOHN B. SOUTHER
66 1888.
JOHN LARRABEE, Town Clerk
Representative in the General Court. JOHN LARRABEE.
Engineers of the Fire Department. A. WILBUR LYNDE, Chief. WALTER B. ELLIS. JOHN SINGER, JR., Clerk.
Measurers of Wood and Bark, Weighers of Hay and Coal. SETH E. BENSON. M. F. EASTMAN.
Surveyor of Lumber. HENRY A. LEONARD.
Committee on Cemeteries.
GEORGE NEWHALL. DANIEL RUSSELL. JOHN LARRABEE
Fence Viewers.
DEXTER PRATT. JOSEPH S. EASTMAN.
Field Drivers.
OTIS HOWARD. FRANK GIBBONS. HENRY B. NEWHALL.
Police Officers.
FRANK M. MCLAUGHLIN, Chief. HENRY B. NEWHALL. CHARLES T. STEVENS. R. M. RAND.
A. WILBUR LYNDE. OSBORNE E. DROWN. CHARLES H. FULLER. HENRY OSBORNE.
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
To the Citizens of Melrose :
We respectfully submit our report for the financial year ending December 31, 1885.
HIGHWAYS, SIDEWALKS, CROSSINGS AND GUTTERS.
The highways have been kept in as good condition as the amount placed at our disposal would, with the most careful and economical management, admit. During the summer several severe rainfalls, partaking almost of the nature of a deluge, occasioned great damage and expense, especially on the hillsides. We think it would prove a matter of economy in the end to appropriate a sum sufficient to concrete gutters on both sides of the streets of each prominent hill in town, thus remedying in part the wash-outs that are sure to occur during heavy rains. Many concrete walks are old, worn and . cracked, and should be repaired during the coming summer. The system for laying new concrete walks, so successful and satisfactory heretofore, should be continued, the town paying one half and the abuttors the remainder. Many streets have minor defects, not in any sense dangerous, yet they cause disparaging comment when placed in comparison with the smoothly graded tracks of some neighboring communities, where money is expended with a liberal hand, the best quality of gravel obtainable, or perhaps the macadamizing process in vogue. To raise our streets to the highest stan- dard consistent with the financial condition of the town, should be our constant aim. When we consider that our mileage, now large, through the acceptance of new streets is constantly increasing, and the appropriation remains about
.
8
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
the same or even less than in some years of former times, it is not strange that your board of selectmen find it difficult to accomplish all they or the public may desire, with the funds at their command. For the improvement of our high- ways, sidewalks, crossings and gutters we think it wise to recommend an outlay that shall be liberal, yet not extrav- agant ; economical, yet not parsimonious.
DRAINAGE.
The matter of drainage should receive serious consider- ation, several places needing attention. In the vicinity of the Melrose station, the land is so near a dead level, notably opposite Mr. Deering's lumber yard, that surface water col- lects, and there remains in pools and puddles until evapora- ted. This should be remedied by a drain-pipe sewer, if it cannot be disposed of in any other less expensive way.
PARKER STREET AND FOSTER STREET EXTENSION.
These streets were accepted by the town at a meeting held November 10, after being duly reported by the selectmen.
WASHINGTON STREET.
Some six years ago the county commissioners widened and straightened this county way from the Malden to Stoneham line. With the exception of a short distance adjoining the Fells rubber factory, and also opposite the estate of Hon. Daniel Russell, corner of Trenton street, nothing of conse- quence had been accomplished by our predecessors. This board having received orders from the county commissioners to proceed with the work, and it being apparent that their honorable body could not be longer kept at bay with promises unperformed, the town authorized the treasurer, at a meeting held October 5, to borrow the sum of two hundred dollars to be applied to this street. This sum we expended, just at commencement of winter, on a bad section opposite the
9
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
estate of William Cook, Esq., making as great an improve- ment as possible with so small an amount. To carry out the plans of the county commissioners will involve an ex- penditure variously estimated from twelve to eighteen hundred dollars. At certain seasons, mainly in the spring of the year, portions of this road are in bad condition and ought to receive special repairs, exclusive of the widening and straightening, as ordered by the commissioners, which order cannot be indefinitely delayed.
ORRIS AND WARREN STREETS.
At an adjourned meeting held November 12, 1884, the town voted to accept both these streets "when the several parties owning land upon the same shall release all claims for damages to the town." The abuttors having complied with your requirements as above expressed, petitions were pre- sented to this board to put the streets in proper repair. To render them even safe for public travel necessitated a larger outlay than remained at our command, whereupon the town instructed us at a meeting held October 5 to expend the sum of eight hundred dollars thereon. They have both been well and thoroughly built to grade, and a most substantial culvert built for the brook running under Warren street, which must last for generations.
TREMONT STREET SIDEWALK.
We were instructed by the town to build a sidewalk on Tremont street, from Melrose street south. This has been constructed of plank and gravel, in as good and substantial a manner as the appropriation would warrant.
DRINKING FOUNTAIN, CORNER MAIN AND UPHAM STREETS.
Agreeable to your vote, we have caused to be cut upon the stone drinking fountain the following inscription, viz., " Erected A.D. 1884."
10
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
STREET LIGHTS.
Five new posts and lanterns have been placed by the se- lectmen, on petition of citizens, in various parts of the town. Six new posts and lanterns, presented by various individuals, have been accepted in behalf of the town, and lighted in ac- cordance with usual custom. The number of kerosene lamps now lighted are 132 ; gas, 29 : total, 161.
PERAMBULATION OF TOWN LINES.
In company with the selectmen of Stoneham and Saugus, we have perambulated the lines between Melrose and these towns, finding all monuments in proper position and in good condition.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
(J. K. Currier, Chairman.)
Judging from the number of complaints made to the board of health during the past year for abatement of nuisances, &c., we are of the opinion that the fear of cholera caused our citizens to be more particular as regards their sanitary condition than heretofore. Fortunately we have been spared a visit of that or any other epidemic. The most prevalent contagious disease reported to the board has been scarlet fever, with isolated cases of diptheria. Fumigation has been resorted to by an officer appointed for that purpose whenever a contagious disease has been reported to this board, unless previously attended to by occupants of the premises. While there are two or three places in which nuisances now exist, needing special attention as soon as the weather permits, still we think as a whole the town has rea- son to congratulate itself upon its sanitary condition and the general condition of the public health during the past year.
11
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
POOR DEPARTMENT.
(H. G. Fields, Chairman.)
One hundred and nineteen persons, including children, have been more or less aided within the year, sixty-seven of whom have their legal settlements in Melrose. Of this num- ber twenty have received full support during the whole or a part of the year ; namely, ten sane persons, eight insane and two idiotic.
Of those who were foreign born, thirteen are from Eng- land and the British Provinces, and nineteen from Ireland.
Fifty-two persons have received aid who were chargeable to the state, or to towns within the state, for whom we have been or are to be reimbursed, as may be seen by reference to the financial table of this department.
Two truants have been sentenced to the Lowell Reforma- tory Institution for Boys, who are chargeable to the town.
Two persons on the full support list of poor have died within the year.
There have been seventy-seven tramps lodged in the lock- up within the year.
VASE ON TOWN HALL LOT.
To the Melrose Improvement Society we are indebted for the beautiful vase adorning the Essex-street entrance to the town hall. Great credit is due this society for the public spirit shown by them, not only in this appropriate gift, but in planting trees and otherwise embellishing the streets and parks of our town.
STEAM FIRE ENGINE.
At the March meeting a committee consisting of A. W. Lynde, chief engineer, Levi S. Gould, chairman of the board of selectmen, Walter Babb, Daniel Norton and William F. Morse, were appointed to purchase a steam fire engine,
12
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
and the sum of $3500 appropriated for that purpose. This committee visited Pawtucket to inspect a machine offered for sale in that city, and also attended trials of other engines, incurring an outlay for travelling expenses of $15.25. At a meeting held June 2, the committee were instructed by your vote to indefinitely . postpone further action; conse- quently there now remains in the treasury an unexpended balance of $3484.75 applicable to above appropriation.
TOWN HALL.
As custodians of the town hall, we have found it necessary to make some repairs absolutely required for the preserva- tion of the property, the expenses of which will appear under their appropriate head. Other repairs and improvements deemed essential will be reported at the annual meeting by a committee you have specially appointed for that purpose.
LEASE OF PASSAGE-WAY TO EDWARDS BROTHERS.
In furtherance of your vote passed November 10, we have made a verbal lease with John and Joseph Edwards, for the term of one year only, for a nominal rental of ten dollars, of the passage-way between the northeast corner of the town hall lot and the building occupied by Edwards Brothers. Said passage-way is not an open way, but is a portion of the town hall lot, and is leased simply to accommodate said Edwards Brothers in gaining admission to the rear of their building. They are tenants at the will of the town. Com- mencing on the north side of the stone boundary post at the northeast corner of the town hall lot, the passage-way is 8 feet 2 inches wide, running southerly on Main street, thence running westerly 74 feet 2 inches, from which point it is 7 feet 11 inches wide, to the north side of a stone boundary post standing at the northwest end of said pas- sage-way as indicated on the plan herewith :
13
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
EDWARDS BROS.
DIX'S POND.
7 ft. 11 in.
74 ft. 2 in. Leased to Edwards Bros.
8 ft. 2 in.
Temporary Board Fence.
N
W-&-E
1
S
TOWN HALL LOT.
MAIN STREET.
ESSEX STREET.
Upham St.
It being understood that nothing but this passage-way is leased to said Edwards Brothers, and that the line of the town hall lot extends in a direct course westerly from [the stone bound on Main street to the other stone bound at end of the passage-way, and thence to the middle of Dix's pond, so called. The new board fence is not an indication of the bounds of the town lot, but is placed in its present situation as a matter of convenience only.
14
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
BOARD FENCE ON TOWN HALL LOT.
At the meeting of October 5 you directed the selectmen to build a suitable fence on the rear of the town hall lot adjacent to Dix's pond, and also on a portion of the north- east end on the Main-street line. A durable structure has been placed in position, which is not upon the line of the town lot, as that runs to the middle of Dix's pond, but is built as near to the water as convenient, and also near enough to the line of Edwards Brothers' shop to allow the passage-way heretofore noted.
MEMORIAL DAY.
We append a statement received from Commander E. C. Gould, of U. S. Grant Post No. 4, G.A.R., concern- ing the expenditure of the amount raised at the last annual meeting.
Memorial Day Committee, U. S. Grant Post No. 4, G.A.R. To balance remaining on hand, appropriation of
1884 $16 77
To cash received from George Newhall, treasurer of 1885 200 00
$216 77
Paid C. Casey for flowers ·
$28 00
C. H. Hart & Co. for flags and printing 3 78
" cemetery committee for clearing
up graves and setting out flowers for season of 1885 5 00
Balance on hand
179 99
$216 77
Respectfully submitted,
EDWIN C. GOULD, Chairman Memorial Day Committee.
15
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
HALL FOR POST 4, G.A.R.
At the town meeting held November 10 a motion was introduced by unanimous consent, and passed by a unan- imous vote, resolving that it is the sense of the town that the selectmen finish a hall and other apartments in the town hall building, in a suitable manner, as per plans submitted, and when finished, present a lease to U. S. Grant Post 4, G.A.R., of Melrose, for a term of five years, at a nominal rental of one dollar per annum. The selectmen doubting the legality of action under this vote, await instructions through an arti- cle in the warrant of the annual meeting.
DAMAGES CLAIMED AND LIABILITY AVERTED.
Three claims for damages have been made against the town. Two were disallowed after investigation, and we think both have been abandoned. The third was paid under a compromise of $20.
MYSTIC VALLEY SEWER.
A report made to the Legislature of 1886 by the Massa- chusetts Drainage Commission, in so far as it relates to the main sewerage system proposed for the Mystic river basin, is a document of vital importance to the citizens of this town, all of whom must be aware that a general system of sewers is a question that must confront us at no distant day. The special features of the report contemplates a main sewer from a point in West Medford near the Arlington line, running through the Mystic valley, via Medford centre, Malden and a portion of Saugus to a pumping station and filtrating basin of say 500 to 1000 acres near the Franklin trotting park, whence the affluent flows or is pumped at certain stages of the tide into the Pines river, and thus sent to the open sea. At various points on the main line branches are received from Arlington, Belmont, Stoneham, Woburn,
16
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
Winchester, Cambridge, Somerville, Everett, Chelsea, Re- vere and Melrose. Quoting from section 112 of report : " The Melrose branch of the Mystic valley system is intended to start at junction of Waverly place and Wyoming avenue, this being the point to which the sewerage of the town would naturally gravitate. The sewer is to be a 15- inch pipe with an inclination of 1 in 1000. Its capacity when flowing full is 1} million gallons per day, an ample provision for the present or any probable increase of sewage in the future. The sewer follows Waverly place and a pro- posed extension of it to Linden avenue, Malden. It con- tinues in Linden avenue to Pleasant street. A few hundred feet before reaching Pleasant street the ground drops off rapidly, and the sewer falls correspondingly, at the rate of 1 in 30, for a distance of about 800 feet, to a point in Mid- dlesex avenue just north of the river. The sewer passes under the river, and continues in Middlesex avenue, with an inclination of 1 in 500, to a connection with the main sewer at Charles street. This branch enters the main sewer about 3 feet above its bottom."
Thirteen towns and municipalities, with a population of 102,074, are to be benefited by the construction of the main sewer, and the cost is apportioned upon the basis of popula- tion in each place.
The approximate cost of this system complete is $1,520,- 000. The proportion assessed upon Melrose, $90,851, is based upon a population of 6101 as per census of 1885. The annual charge for maintenance, $1195.41, interest on cost of construction, at say 3 per cent, $2725.53, making a total annual cost to this town of say $3920.94 for our pro- portion of interest and expenses of the main line and our branch to the corner of Waverly place and Wyoming avenue only. Should this project be carried out, our town would then be obliged to construct sewers through the prin- cipal streets and connect them with the Melrose branch at
17
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
our own expense in order to make the general system available.
As to the question of maintenance of the proposed system, if the special features of the commissioners' report relating to Melrose and the cost of cleaning out its " 1200 privies and 600 cesspools " is correct, viz., about $6300 annually, then we might expend some $60,000 in addition to the main system in building sewers about the town, and the total annual expense to our community would be no more than at present. In conclusion we quote from the report : " Section 15, Melrose. - Melrose has a population of about 6100, consisting largely of well-to-do persons, occupying good houses. Most of these houses are grouped about the Bos- ton & Maine Railroad, near the centre of the town. There is a public supply of water amounting to 180,000 gallons* daily taken from Spot pond. The water is disposed of in cesspools, and, the soil being porous, the liquid contents of the cesspools leach away freely into the ground water, and probably finally flow away into Malden river or its tributaries. It is estimated that there are about 1200 privies in the town, and about 600 cesspools. These are cleaned once a year, at an average cost of $3.50 each, or a total annual cost of $6300. The upper portion of Malden river runs through the town, and the stream in places is made a dumping place for rubbish of various kinds. The privies from eleven estates were observed to overflow into the stream. That at Wyoming depot is directly over the river [the Board of Health ordered these nuisances abated so far as we knew of them during the last summer - Select- men]. The stream is therefore somewhat polluted by sew- age, but not sufficiently so to make it offensive. One small tannery on Grove street, employing nine men, drains its man- ufacturing refuse and sewage from its privies directly into the stream, which is discolored several hundred feet below this point. A large shoe shop employs eighty hands, and drains
18
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
into a cesspool on its own estate. So far as could be learned, there is no disposition on the part of the town to build sewers. The increase in population during the last five years was about 37 per cent ; should this rate be main- tained in the future, there is little doubt that the need of some disposition of domestic filth, other than storing it in the soil about habitations, will be felt."
GRANT MEMORIAL SERVICE.
In deference to a spontaneous public sentiment, the select- men, in connection with a committee of citizens specially appointed for the purpose, took general charge of the me- morial exercises held on the day of the funeral of our illustri- ous General and Ex-President U. S. Grant. By common consent, the services partook of the nature of a public tribute of grateful respect to the memory of the lamented dead.
To those citizens who by advice and assistance in de- corating the town hall, and to those who in other ways contributed so much to the success and solemnity of the occasion, the community is especially indebted.
PUBLIC OBSERVANCE OF THE DEATH OF VICE-PRESIDENT HENDRICKS.
By order of the board of selectmen the flag was placed at half mast on the town hall for several days previous to the funeral of the lamented vice-president of the United States, Thomas A. Hendricks, and during the continuance of the obsequies the bells of the town were tolled as a testimonial of respect to the memory of the distinguished dead.
CONTINGENT FUND.
The only appropriation over which the selectmen have full control, and which is overdrawn, is the contingent fund,
19
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
$102.53, caused by the expenses attending the Grant me- morial services, which amounted to $160.67.
PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE.
Following your instructions, the prudential committee appointed at the November meeting, in company with the selectmen, have examined the streets, and considered other matters bearing upon appropriations for the year 1886. Their report will be presented to the annual meeting.
Thanking our fellow citizens for their courteous and gener- ous consideration during the past year,
We are, respectfully,
LEVI S. GOULD, HENRY G. FIELDS, JOHN K. CURRIER, Selectmen of Melrose.
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
PROCEEDINGS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Annual Meeting, March 2, 1885, 7 A.M.
ARTICLE 1 OF THE WARRANT. To choose a moderator. Levi S. Gould chosen.
ART. 2. To bring in votes on one ballot for selectmen, clerk, treasurer, collector, assessors, and other officers.
To bring in votes, upon a separate ballot, in answer to the question, "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxi- cating liquors in this town ?" Form of ballots to be " Yes" or "No."
Voted, That the officers elected by ballot this day shall consist of three selectmen, who shall also be overseers of the poor and highway surveyors, one clerk, one treasurer, one tax collector, three assessors, two water commissioners, one for three years, one for two years, one water loan sinking fund commissioner for three years, five library trustees, three auditors, three constables, and two school committee for three years.
Polls opened.
Voted, That the polls be closed at 5.15 P.M.
Voted, That the transaction of town business, other than voting, be postponed to 7.30 P.M.
Tellers appointed and sworn : G. E. Orcutt, Edward E. Babb, Robert S. Webster.
Polls closed at 5.15 P.M. A partial declaration of the vote by the moderator.
By request, additional tellers were appointed to assist in recounting the ballots, all being duly sworn ; viz., Henry
21
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
P. Holden, Alfred D. Hocking, George C. Stantial, C. J. Barton, A. B. Pierce.
Adjourned to 7.30 P.M.
Adjourned Meeting, March 2, 1885, 7,30 P.M.
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