USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1890 > Part 1
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974.48 A88 Ref OF ATTLEE
PUBLIC LIBRARY
MASS
INCORPORATED 1885
Date
No 10833
ATTLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY a 31654001304168b
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/reportsoftownoff1890attl
16.8
REPORTS
-OF-
TOWN OFFICERS,
- OF THE
TOWN OF ATTLEBOROUGH,
FOR YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1890.
BO
OF
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.....
I MASS
N
94.
69
ORPOR
ATTLEBORO, MASS. : THE DAILY NEWS BOOK AND JOB PRINT, IS91.
Attleboro Public Library Joseph L. Sweet Memorial A.tleboro, Mass.
TOWN
...
....
1974 1890 ٢١ AT
ن به؟
.
TOWN OFFICERS 1890-91.
10833
SELECTMEN-FRANK I. BABCOCK, GEORGE A. ADAMS, CHARLES PHILLIPS.
TOWN CLERK AND TREASURER-JOHN T. BATES.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR-GEORGE B. FITTZ, SAMUEL P. LATHROP, ELIJAH R. REED.
ASSESSORS-JJOHN THACHER, CHARLES PHILLIPS, ISAAC ALGER.
COLLECTOR-JOHN THACHER.
COMMISSIONERS OF THE SINKING FUND-SAMUEL P. LATHI- ROP, FRANK I. BABCOCK, EVERETT S. HOR- TON.
BOARD OF HEALTH-ES. HORTON, C. S. HOLDEN, CHAS. PHILLIPS.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE-J. L. SWEET, J. O. TIFFANY, B. R. HULL, A. R. CROSBY, MRS. L. V. G. MACKIE, C. L. WATSON, MISS L. E. BRIGGS, W. E. HAY- WARD, E. S. CAPRON.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS-J. O. TIFFANY.
4
ANNUAL REPORT.
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY-E. S. HORTON, C. S. HOLDEN, PETER NERNEY, HANNAH S. FISHER, J. L. SWEET, ELIZABETH C. LAMB, C. L. WATSON, MARY J. CAPRON.
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS-JOHN W. CODY, JOHN T. BATES, GEORGE F. BICKNELL, HENRY A. STREETER.
ROAD COMMISSIONERS-L. M. STANLEY, E. V. CARPEN- TER, C. E. KENYON.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES-L. M. STANLEY.
AUDITORS-G. A. DEAN, A. B. CARPENTER, E. A. SWEENEY.
FENCE VIEWERS-L M. STANLEY, PHILLIP BRADY.
POUND KEEPER-F. H. COLLINGWOOD.
MEASURERS OF WOOD AND BARK-L. Z. CARPENTER, S. W. CARPENTER, G. A. MONROE, S. M. HOLMAN, JR., W. A. VICKERY, I. N. KIBBEE.
SURVEYORS OF LUMBER-A. B. CARPENTER, JOHN DWYER.
CONSTABLES-S. R. BRIGGS, A. C. THORNTON, ELIJAH CAPRON, C. E. RILEY, E. R. REED, HORATIO BRIGGS, W. E. DUNHAM, E. W. ATWELL, G. F. IDE, L. W. STRONG, C. H. EDDY, J. L. WETHERELL, D. E. NEWELL, I. N. KIBBEE.
FIELD DRIVER-A. H. TOURLELOTTE.
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Dr.
To Appropriation for current and
incidental expenses,
$7,000 00
Appropriation for Street Lights, 3,600 00
Appropriation for Repairs of Lockup, 200 00
Appropriation for Decoration day, 200 00
Appropriation for Enforcement of Liquor Law, 300 00
Appropriation for Survey of Thacher's Brook, 50 00
Amount received from state for Armory, 400 00
North Attleboro's Proportion of
Old Town Bills, 209 41
District Court Fines,
40 00
Cr.
$11,999 41
BILLS DUE PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 1890.
By Returns of 149 Births,
$37 25
Returns of 110 Deaths,
27 50
750 Reports of Assessors Valuation, 178 25
6
ANNUAL REPORT.
Tax Collector's fee, $496 51
Clerical work for Selectmen,
100 00
Postage, expressage, etc., Town Clerk Office. 17 39
Janitor for November meeting, 2 00
$858 90
OLD TOWN BILLS.
By Tax Collector's fees, $5 86
Witnesses in case of Mary West
Vs. Town, 112 70
Legal fees in case of Mary West Vs. Town, 300 00
$418 56
CURBING AND SEWERS.
By setting 255 feet curbing and
paving gutter, $60 75
Setting 237 feet curbing and
paving gutter, Park street, 35 40
Setting 92 feet curbing and pav-
ing gutter, Pine street, 21 30
Setting 120 feet curbing, North Main street, 18 00
Setting 44 feet curbing, South Main street, 6 60
Catch Basin, So. Main Street,
67 36
Cleaning Catch Basins in Village, 142 40
Cleaning Catch Basins in
Dodgeville and Hebronville, 54 50
$406 31
7
ANNUAL REPORT.
OFFICERS.
By Patrol service, $28 00
Serving dog notices and killing dogs, 16 50
Notifying town meetings, 9 00
6 6 officers, 6 00
44
abuttors, 3 00
$62 50
JANITORS.
By Care of town Clerk's and
Selectmen's Rooms, $36 00
Service at town meetings, 18 50
$54 50
PRINTING.
By Warrants for Town Meetings,
$53 50
Notices to Muzzle Dogs, 3 50
State Aid Receipt Blanks, 1 25
State Blanks,
3 50
Blanks and Posters for Dog Licenses, 5 75 Advertisement of Committee of 15, 10 10
2 Check books for Treasurer, 32 60
Envelopes,
6 00
1000 Town Reports,
202 50
Advertising Notice to Restrain
dogs, 54 00
Reward for Conviction
of Burglars, 6 85
Bill Heads, 17 50
Advertisement of Field Day of 5th Regiment, 2 00
Notices of Polling Places, 1 50
8
ANNUAL REPORT.
Advertisement in Restraint of Gamb- ling, $3 30
Notices of Meetings of Registrars of voters, 7 50
Blanks for Registrars of voters,
3 00
Postals for Notice of Board of Health, 3 00
Notices of Board of Health, 1 25
Blank Tax Bills,
30 00
Assessors Notices,
5 50
Envelopes for Assessors,
3 00
$457 10
REWARD FOR CONVICTION OF BURGLARY.
By Amount paid to Charles Cowens, $150 00
" Benjamin
Bunker, 50 00
$200 00
DECORATION DAY.
By amount paid to G. A. R. Post, $200 00
STREET LIGHTS.
By Support of 50 lights Jan. to
September inclusive, $2,700 00
Support of 52 lights for Novem- ber, 253 50
Support of 52 lights for Decem- ber, 390 00
$3,343 50
9
ANNUAL REPORT.
CO. I.
By Rent of Armory,
$600 00
Gas for Armory Hall,
36 40
Gas for Room 5,
33 80
$670 20
STATE ELECTION.
By Rent of Polling Place for Precinct
E, $5 00
Fitting up Polling Places, 6 66
Stoves and Fuel for Precinct E, 3 20
Dinners for Election Officers, 13 00
Election Officers,
65 00
$92 86
SALARIES.
By Selectmen,
$650 00
Town Clerk and Treasurer,
550 00
Treasurer of the Sinking Fund,
25 00
Assessors,
600 00
Health Officer,
50 00
Auditors,
30 00
Registrars of Voters,
99 00
Sealer of Weights and Measures,
25 00
Moderator,
10 00
$2,039 00
LIQUOR LAW.
By Balance of Salary of Liquor Offi- cer,
$50 00
Legal Services in Prosecution,
15 00
$65 00
IO
ANNUAL REPORT.
COURT FEES OF OFFICERS.
By Fees for October,
$98 39
.. " November,
36 31
" " December,
50 00
$184 70
LOCK-UP.
By Keeper,
$108 00
Repairs,
231 16
Coal
34 98
Water,
3 00
Work and supplies,
19 95
$397 09
SURVEYING.
By Survey of Thacher's brook and
plans, 46 00
Surveys for curbing, sewers,
streets; etc., 136 50
$182 50
RETURNS AND RECORDS.
By Recording 179 Births,
$89 50
Recording 106 Marriages,
15 90
Recording 130 Deaths,
15 00
Return of 159 Births,
40 00
Return of 104 Deaths,
26 00
$186 40
II
ANNUAL REPORT.
MISCELLANEOUS.
By Writing Paper. $2 30
Work on Book-case,
80
Clerical work for Selectmen,
17 12
Witnesses in Rochefort Case,
135 52
Telephone, 42 00
Assessors' and Collector's books, 16 50
Travel of Assessors, 9 00
Travel of other Town Officers,
11 90
Amount paid to J. H. Tingley for damage on road, 3 20
Rent of Town Offices,
450 00
Gas Town Clerk's and Selectmen's Offices, 29 80
Indexes for Records,
70
Wrenches and work on fountains,
3 50
Water for fountains,
225 00
Repairs on lock,
1 65
Webster's Dictionary.
8 25
Burying horse and dog,
5 50
Register of Voters,
1 80
Supplies for Officers and Incidental Expenses. 102 21
Service of Summons 2 58
Reviewing platform for Field Day, 7 50
Water,
18 00
Balance, 1085 46
$2,180 29
$11,999 41
12
ANNUAL REPORT.
MILITARY AID.
Dr.
To Appropriation,
$330 00
Amount paid by State,
409 00
Balance,
79 00
$818 00
Cr.
By Amounts paid John P. Brennan, $ 66 00
James B. Knight, 72 00
66 Ernest Meyer,
180 00
Eli K. Robbins,
185 00
66
Otis White,
125 00
66
Loring Cole,
80 00
66
66 L. T. Starkey,
110 00
$818 00
STATE AID.
Paid Martha Bullock,
$48 00
W. H. Caswell,
36 00
Sarah Caswell,
8 00
George L. Draper,
36 00
Mary A. Griffin,
48 00
Maria L. Hamlin,
24 00
Ann M. Hatten,
48 00
Ann Johnson,
48 00
Mary E. Kingman,
24 00
Abby Thayer,
48 00
Harriet N. Thomas,
43 00
Nancy C. Tucker,
48 00
Wm. Wardell,
72 00
Elizabeth Wardell,
48 00
Hannah Webb,
48 00
Emeline Wilmarth,
48 00
George E. Balcom,
40 00
$720 00
13
ANNUAL REPORT.
GENERAL STATEMENT.
Dr.
To Appropriations and Credits in Selectmen's Account, $11,999 41
Appropriations and credits for Military Aid, 739 00
Appropriations and Receipts on Pauper Account, 4,414 54
Appropriations for Highways and Sidewalks, 7,000 00
Appropriations for Public Lib- rary, 600 00
Appropriations and Credits on Account of Schools, 20,673 53
Balance of Account and Credit New School House, 2,164 27
Balance.
2,370 22
$49.960 97
Cr.
By Expenditures Selectmen's Accounts, $10,913 95
Expenditures Military Aid, 818 00
Paupers, 6,398 35
Highways and
Sidewalks
7,009 92
Expenditures Public Library, 600 00
Schools, 21,996 82
New School House, 2.151 93
Starkey Fund, 72 00
$49,960 97
[4
ANNUAL REPORT.
TOWN DEBT JANUARY 1, 1891.
Attleborough's
proportion
of
bonded debt, $62,930 00
Sinking Fund, 40,545 00
Net amount of bonded debt.
$22,385 00
Attleborough's proportion
of
School District debt,
$3,146 50
Note to State, 30,000 00
Note to Attleborough Savings Bank, 5,000 00
Note to First National Bank of
Attleborough,
10,000 00
Attleborough's proportion of fees and expenses for collecting taxes assessed prior to 1888, 243 69
Collector's fees for 1888, 1889, 1890. 486 45
Other bills due, 130 18
$49,006 82
Cash in Treasury,
$9,511 70
Due from State for State
and military aid.
1,129 00
Pauper claims,
855 89
Due for support of insane,
85 42
Attleborough's proportion of cash in collector's hands. *1,047 01
Attleborough's proportion
of uncollected taxes prior to 1888, 236 39
Uncollected taxes of 1888, 1889. 1890, 10,776 90
$23,642 31
$25,364 51
$47,749 51
*Cash in hands of C. T. Guild, collector, Jan. 1, 1891, $1,935 36 : since paid to town treasurer.
15
ANNUAL REPORT.
A comparison of the debt statement for 1890 with that of the previous year will show a net debt for 1890 of $47,817 .- 51 as against $52,033.06 for 1889, or an apparent dimini- tion of debt during the last year of $4,215.55. By the increase of the sinking fund the net amount of the bonded debt has been decreased during the year $6,693.05; on the other hand the floating debt, after deducting all apparent assets available for its payment, has increased $2,407.50
The most important items tending to the decrease of" the floating debt have been the paymont by taxation of Attleboro's proportion of the note of $5,000,00 falling due - last year and forming part of the debt created on the abo- lition of the school districts; and by miscellaneous receipts shown in the treasurer's report and not credited to any de- partment, amounting to $1,068.80.
The most important of the items tending to an apparent increase of the net floating debt are abatements of taxes for years prior to 1888 made last year, of which abatements Attleboro's proportion was $1,971.98; and abatements amounting to $760.53 for 1888 and 1889 and 1890, all of which amounts appeared in the last report as assets avail- able for reduction of the debt. 3 The main cause of the actual increase is the expenditure of $2,151.93 for comple- tion of the work upon the Sanford street school building, for which the town authorized the creation of a debt, and the deficit caused by overdrawing of accounts for 1890, amounting to $2,370.22
In a prosperous time each year should pay its own ex- penditures or, failing that, the deficit being ascertained, an appropriation should be made therefor at the next an- nual meeting. No debt should be allowed to arise except where the town has specially authorized its creation and defined its terms and amonnt.
16
ANNUAL REPORT.
To the town debt and payment of interest thereon is chargeable three dollars per thousand of our tax rate for Jast year, which, were it not for the debt, would have been $12 instead of $15 per thousand. This tax rate of $15 per thousand, though insufficient to meet our expenditures for the past year, places us among the most heavily taxed towns of the state when we consider that we maintain no police force and no water or fire establishments.
It is not only the right policy for the town to bear the burden of its current expenditures as it goes, but the tax rate necessitated by such annual expenses as we have come to regard as unavoidable, is so large that public improve- ments requiring the creation of a debt should be entered upon only after a careful consideration of their necessity and an equally careful determination of the limits of what is to be done. Our financial history as a town is not want- ing in illustrations of the ease with which a municipality may be led into debt and of the remarkable manner in which expenditures upon public works may run beyond all the original estimates.
This year the seleetmen make no report upon expendi- tures for highways, public library or schools, these matters having been relegated to the officers having charge of such departments.
Heretofore the expenses of curbing and cleaning sewer wells have been charged to the current and ineidental ac- count, and they were so charged the past year. As these expenditures relate to the care and improvement of the streets and are under control of the road commissioners, they should properly be charged to the Highway Account and we recommend that the expenses for such purposes for the ensuing year should be included in the appropriation for that department.
For enrrent and incidental expenses we recommend an appropriotion of $6,500, and for military aid $425.
FRANK I. BABCOCK,
GEORGE A. ADAMS.
CHARLES PHILLIPS, Selectmen of Attleboro.
-
REPORT OF
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
PAUPER ACCOUNT.
SETTLEMENT IN ATTLEBORO.
Bailey Lucy
$199 00
Bethel Maria
6 30
Bullen Peter
6 50
Bushee Mrs. C.
50 00
Braley Wm. M.
30 26
Caswell, H. A.
4 00
Cater Maria
12 65
Claflin E. E.
27 00
Coombs Alice
4 00
Cloutier Noe
123 86
Crehan John
60 80
Chase Sarah
17 75
Donnelly Martin
30 00
Eden Ann
26 00
Farrell J. C.
4 50
Fiske L. E.
6 00
Gorman Arthur
3 00
Gregory Annie
38 40
Gorton John
3 00
18
ANNUAL REPORT.
Hackett Mrs. P.
$14 00
Handy Lydia
57 00
Hastings Susan
21 75
HIarmon Emma
13 76
Lemaire Henry
30 00
Lannegan Henry
147 00
Malley Cathrine
6 48
Myers Ernest
94 00
O'Neil Pat
32 00
Pace Amos
48 75
Robbins Thomas
5 38
Reynolds Caleb
1 75
Stafford Thomas
17 25
Sheldon Joe
5 75
Shields Emma
28 31
Shanon Peter
113 00
Smith JJ. W.
30 00
Starkey A. A.
11 75
Tiffany Emily
21 25
Tucker Nancy
135 75
Thompson Henry
3 00
Wetherby Frank E
88 00
Watson Stephen
2 00
$1,581 15
BURIALS.
Atkinson C. A.
10 00
Hastings Susan
15 00
Joyce Elizabeth
15 00
$40 00
ANNUAL REPORT.
LUNATICS.
Bailey Chas. E.
$169 46
Briggs Isaac
169 46
Briggs Chloe
37 14
Cheever Chas.
169 46
Cavanaugh James
169 46
Cloutier Woe
23 21
Munroe Ruth C.
169 46
Martin T. J.
169 46
Spear Wm. A.
169 46
$1,246 57
MILITARY SETTLEMENTS.
Hatten George A.
$114 00
Murray Michael
2 00
McTague Barney
117 00
$233 00
STATE CASES.
Due from state Jan. 1, 1891, on account of paupers.
Cote Marie
$ 3 00
Cressine J.
38 85
Dailey Mary
20 00
DeLong Frank
29 00
Dorey Edward
4 00
Eden Ann
26 00
Fontneau Louis
9 00
Guilette J.
7 00
Humes Addie .
5 60
Kelley James
8 00
Lorey J. L.
4 72
Magnuson Andrew
32 00
20
ANNUAL REPORT.
Martin Joseph
$14 00
Martin Charles
9 75
Martin William
5 75
Peyton Robert
27 32
Reynolds John
2 00
Snow Peter
13 25
Stiles S. M.
26 25
Stephens John
6 00
$291 49
CHARGED TO OTHER TOWNS.
Bowen Benj., Rehoboth
$ 20 25
Buxton Helen M., East Douglas
96 00
Fields Charles A., Taunton
23 15
Frowley Thomas, Chelsea
9 00
Fuller Elbridge A., Sharon
6 25
Maguire Francis, Boston
17 00
Reed Sarah S. and daughter, Mansfield 3 25
Scott A. J., North Attleboro
118 00
Thayer Nancy, Taunton
60 00
$352 90
MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL FOR FEEBLE MINDED.
Freeman Maggie
$ 9.29
Handy George A. 97 93
$107 22
MEDICAL ATTENDANCE.
For Medical Attendance $690 24
STATE BURIALS.
Durfee Melinda
$10 00
Dakins Mary
10 00
Fielden George J.
10 00
21
ANNUAL REPORT.
Fortier Georgiana
$10 00
Remley Celia
10 00
Peyton Katie
15 00
Schilling Peter
5 00
Leonard Julia F.
15 00
Fidette J.
10 00
$95 00
Office Supplies
$9 53
Printing
6 25
Expenses to Almshouse
1 50
Overseers of the Poor
416 67
$433 95
Tramps
$58 25
$58 25
Cash paid Superintendent of Alms-
house $1,268 58
$1,268 58
$6,398 35
Amount charged other towns
$352 90
Amount charged individuals
169 46
Amount charged state
386 49
Amount received for support of pau-
pers at Almshouse
153 75
Half amount paid those having mili- tary settlement 116 50
$1,179 10
Cost of supporting paupers $5,219 25
22
ANNUAL REPORT.
DUE FROM INDIVIDUALS JAN. 1, 1891.
On account of Ruth C. Monroe $85 42
DUE FROM OTHER TOWNS ON ACC'T OF PAUPERS. JAN. 1, 1891. East Douglas aid to Helen Buxton $96 00
Taunton 66 Nancy Thayer 60 00
Taunton 6 C. A. Fields 23 15
Rehoboth
Benj. Bowen
20 25
Boston .. .. Francis Maguire
17 00
Sharon .. .. E. R, Fuller
6 25
Chelsea
Thos. Frowley 9 00
8231 65
STATE OF ALMSHOUSE JAN. 1, 1891.
Dr.
To hay, stock, farming tools, provisions, household furni- ture, etc., appraisal of Jan. 1, 1890 82,704 71
Cash paid Superintendent 1,268 58
$3,973 29
Cr.
By Appraisal of per total prop- erty Jan. 1, 1891 $2,868 89
Expense of supporting Alms- house 1,104 40
$3,973 29
S. P. LATHROP, G. B. FITTZ, E. R. READ,
Overseers of Poor.
23
ANNUAL REPORT.
REPORT of SUPERINTENDENT of ALMSHOUSE
JANUARY 1, 1891.
CASHI PAID.
For Provisions
$854 76
Grain
6-41 13
Hay
67 20
Seed and Fertilizer
127 83
Stock
97 66
Labor
279 03
Blacksmithing
30 05
Tools and Repairs 1:66 62
Harnesses and Repairs
36 40
Lumber and repairs on buildings
37 04
Paint, Putty and glass
18 29
Salt and Lime
13 50
Coal
24 38
Medicine
3 25
Medicine for Horses and Cattle
18 60
Barbed Wire
28 69
Furniture
2 50
- Tin, Wooden and Earthern ware
17 02
Tobacco
1 47
Soap, Oil and Matches
43 83
Clothing
76 23
Sundries
16 28
Superintendent's Salary
400 00
$3001 76
24
ANNUAL REPORT.
CASH RECEIVED.
For Milk
$1073 35
Eggs and Poultry
123 97
Beef and Pork
112 98
Vegetables
325 84
Hay
42 04
Wood and Posts
50 90
Sundries
4 10
From Town Treasurer
1268 58
$3001 76
Average Number of Paupers. 6 1-12
Number of Tramps, 236.
Number of Inmates, 5.
Cost per week, per capita,
$3 49
FRED H. COLLINGWOOD, Superintendent.
REPORT OF .
ROAD COMMISSIONERS.
The Road Commissioner's have expended for the special work assigned them to do by vote of the Town $506.60 for widening Mechanics street, $260.80 for grading Grove street and for General Repairs of Roads and Bridges $4,982.90, for building and repairing sidewalks $1,000. Making a total of $6,750.30, the appropriation was $7,000.
We would recommend that $6,000 be appropriated for general repairs of roads and bridges $1,000, for curbing and repairing sidewalks under the betterment law and such further sums of money as may be called for by vote of the town for special purposes: We would recommend that Park street be paved with Granite Blocks from curb to curb.
When the Road Commissioners came into power they found the roads badly cut up owing to the unusually open winter and with but $4,982.90 to expend in repairing them we were obliged to spread it out thin to repair all of those places that required repairing.
Road building in Attleboro is a system of patchwork and for the want of good material to patch with it is con- tinually out of repair. Therefore the town should investi- gate the different theories of road building with a view of adopting something better than the material now used for the principal streets in the village.
26
ANNUAL REPORT.
Macadamizing has been tried in some of the cities and . towns and found to be an expensive way of keeping the streets in repair. If you have the proper material handy and do not put on a very thick coat of crushed stone you ean build one mile of road for about six thousand dollars and that will keep in fair condition for five years and then it requires another covering of crushed stone which will cost one halt as much as it did to Macadamize it at first. Unless the town wants to largely increase its appropriations for roads it would seem to be an act of doubtful policy for the town to go to the expense of three thousand dollars to purchase and set up the necessary machinery to do the work and then where amongst the conglomerate stones of Attleboro can be found stones in quantities and quality suitable for that purpose.
In the cities paving with granite blocks has been found by experience to be the most economical way of keeping the streets in repair. Would it not be sound policy for the town to require the seleetmen when they grant a Franchise to a street railroad corporation, to require them to light the street the whole length of the road and pave the road bed within the limits of the village, and then the town com- plete the work by paving from curb to curb, for with all of the travel concentrated to oneside of the street it will be impossible to keep the streets in good repair with any other material.
Granite blocks delivered on the cars in Attleboro will cost from 3 1-2 to 6 1-2 cents a piece which will make a cost of $1.44 per square yard for the stones; laying of theni twenty cents square yard, total $1.64.
Would it not be good policy for the town. to change the construction of the bridge over Thacher Brook when the
27
ANNUAL REPORT.
Electric Railroad get ready to widen it as they must before laying their track across it.
The wooden bridge at the Mechanics is in a rotten con- dition and may have to be rebuilt the coming year and whether the town would rebuild with wood or stone is a subject worthy of your consideration.
PARK STREET.
We found Park street with an unfinished railroad bed running through the centre of it, and on investigation we found that we had no authority to compel the corporation to complete it, but that authority was vested in the Select- men, therefore we waited until early summer and then passed the following order: Whereas, there have been numerous complaints made to us of the poor condition of Park street and North Main street:
Therefore be it ordered that the selectmen be requested to cause the Electric railroad corporation to complete its road bed immediately, or that you revoke their franchise so that the road commissioners can remove the rails from the streets and put them in proper repair .*
There was nothing done until the middle of November , then the road bed was paved and there was hardly time to clear up the debris before the ground froze solid and the commissioner didn't deem it best to go to the expense of cutting it down to grade so it has been in an unsatisfac- tory condition during the year.
Whenever any person open up a traet of land for build- ing purposes and lays out streets thereon the town should see that the streets are of the proper width and graded at the expense of the owner.
We would recommend that all shade trees be set outside of the street lines for with the conflict between the electric-
28
ANNUAL REPORT.
al wires and shade trees in the streets the trees are sure to get worsted.
Guide posts in the town are among the things of the past; there may be a few relics of them left but not enough to answer the requirements of the law.
It would be a great convenience to strangers to have the names of the streets placed at the corners.
The travel across the railroad at Starkey Avenue has largely increase since we repaired Hope street and there- fore the danger has increased in the same proportion and we would suggest that the town causethe railroad corporation to guard against accidents there either by Flagman, Gates or Bridge.
L. M. STANLEY, E. V. CARPENTER, C. E. KENYON. Road Commissioners of Attleboro.
*Based on a misapprehension of the powers of the selectmen. The power which by the "order" of the road commissioners were "required" not "requested" to exercise is contained in' Section 23. of Chapter 113 of the Public Statutes which reads "The board of alderman or selectmen, at any time after the expiration of one year from the opening for use of a street railway in any city or town and after notice published as provided in Section 21 and a hearing, if in their judgment the interests of the public so require, may order that the location of any track shall be revoked." It will be observed that such power could be exercised only after the lapse of one year from the opening for use of the railway.
Section 32 of said chapter reads as follows: "Every street railway company shall keep in repair, to the satisfaction of the superintend- ent of streets, street commissioner, road commissioners or survey- ors of highways, the paving, upper planking or other surface mate- rial of the portions of streets, roads and bridges, occupied by its. tracks."
SELECTMEN.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The experience of the year 1890 demonstrates again the value of a public library to a community. In At- tleboro with a population of 7,500, 1,900 of its people take books from the library, and this number of course does not represent all who read the books and are bene- fitted by them. Its value is further shown by the fact that with a total number of volumes of 3129 on its shelves, there has been a circulation equal to 15,878, or an average of 158 books delivered during each of the 104 days that the library has been open. When we consider the character of the books thus placed in the homes of our people, the bene- fit of the library to the town can be appreciated.
While the trustees regret that many of the valuable sci- entifie and educational works are not consulted as freely as they hoped, yet there is some demand for them, and it would undoubtedly be increased did the public realize that the library contained them. The librarian is always pleased to assist any student or inquirer in the selection of books.
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