USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1896 > Part 1
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974.48 A88 Reg
ARY OF ATTLEB
PUBLIC
GH MASS
INCORPOR
1885
Date Dec.1896 Nº 10839
ATTLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY a31654001304044b
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https://archive.org/details/reportsoftownoff1896attl
1192
REPORTS .
OF THE
T OWN FFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF ATTLEBOROUGH
For the Year Ending December 31,
1 896.
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ATTLEBORO, MASS. THE ATTLEBORO PRESS, ROBINSON BUILDING, NO. I. 1897.
AT 974.48
1896
1
!
TOWN OFFICERS. 1896-97. 10839
SELECTMEN :
EDWIN B. BULLOCK. ABIJAH T. WALES. CHARLES PHILLIPS.
TOWN CLERK AND TREASURER : JOHN T. BATES.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR :
GEORGE B. FITTZ. ELIJAH R. READ). WILLIAM H. GOFF.
ASSESSORS :
JOHN THACHER. JOSEPH O. MOWRY. EDWIN B. BULLOCK.
COLLECTOR OF TAXES : JOSEPH O. MOWRY.
COMMISSIONERS OF THE SINKING FUND.
CHARLES E. BLISS. FRANK I. BABCOCK. EVERETT S. HORTON.
Attleboro Public Library Joseph L. Sweet Memorial Attleboro, Mass.
4
ANNUAL REPORT.
WATER COMMISSIONERS :
GEORGE A. DEAN. LUCIUS Z. CARPENTER. WILLIAM M. STONE.
WATER REGISTRAR AND SUPERINTENDENT : WILLIAM J. LUTHER.
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS : NAHUM PERRY.
PARK COMMISSIONERS :
EVERETT S. CAPRON. WILLIAM J. LUTHER. CHARLES M. ROBBINS.
ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT : HIRAM R. PACKARD, Chief. ORLANDO W. HAWKINS. GEORGE O. WILMARTH. Assistants.
BOARD OF HEALTH :
CHARLES S. HOLDEN. CHARLES E. BLISS. GEORGE K. ROBERTS.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
CHARLES E. BLISS.
JOHN M. KNOWLES.
EVERETT S. CAPRON.
WILLIS H. STREETER.
WILLIAM L. ELLIOT. CHARLES H. WHEELER.
SAMUEL M. HOLMAN. MISS LEONORA P. BEERS.
MRS. L. V. G. MACKIE.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS :
JOSEPH O. TIFFANY.
5
ANNUAL REPORT.
TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY :
CHARLES S. HOLDEN.
MARK E. ROWE.
EVERETT S. HORTON.
ALBERT W. STURDY.
LOUIS J. LAMB.
ALICE M. WALES.
HELEN W. METCALF. CHARLES H. WHEELER.
ELIZABETH J. WILMARTH.
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS :
JOHN T. BATES. HENRY A. STREETER.
GEORGE F. BICKNELL. JOHN W. CODY.
AUDITORS :
O. P. RICHARDSON. MARK O. WHEATON .* BENJAMIN F. LINDSEY.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AND INSPECTOR OF OIL :
LYMAN M. STANLEY.
INSPECTOR OF CATTLE, MILK AND PROVISIONS : THOMAS I. SWIFT.
CONSTABLES.
ELIJAH R. READ). CHARLES E. RILEY.
SETH R. BRIGGS. CHARLES TUCKER.
WALTER C. DIX. JOHN H. NERNEY. GEORGE F. IDE. FRED. E. GOFF.
CHARLES W. WAUGH.
FENCE VIEWERS :
LYMAN M. STANLEY. EVERETT S. CAPRON. PHILIP BRADY .*
* Deceased.
6
ANNUAL, REPORT.
SURVEYORS OF WOOD AND BARK.
GEORGE L. ADAMS.
JAMES W. GIFFORD.
NOYES L. BILLINGS.
WILLIAM N. GOFF. V
LUCIUS Z. CARPENTER.
CHARLES HOPKINS.
SHEPARD W. CARPENTER. GEORGE A. MONROE.
HENRY W. GALLAGHER. CHARLES H. STURDY .* WILLIAM A. VICKERY.
FIRE POLICE :
SETH R. BRIGGS.
FRED E. GOFF.
DEXTER E. NEWELL. G. IRVING SIMPSON. THOMAS F. GILROY.
POUND KEEPER : FRANK E. LUTHER.
* Deceased.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SELECTMEN
OF THE
Town of Attleborough, Mass.
INTRODUCTORY.
To the People of Attleborough :
With the presentation of this Report another year of the activities and responsibilities of our municipality has passed into history and we enter upon the third year of the third century of our existence as a town.
In our commercial and business affairs we have shared with the entire country a long season of business depression, which has retarded our progress as viewed from a business standpoint, by impairing the confidence of our manufacturers (which under other conditions would have stimulated them to increased development ) and largely reduced the earnings of our wage workers, who in many instances have been compelled to reduce their living expenses to the line of actual necessity. We think there are very few towns of our importance in the Commonwealth which have passed through the business depression of the past few years and not exhibited more palpable evidence of the stress of "hard times."
The general thrifty appearance as a community, which has been a noticeable feature of our enterprise and thrift has not abated, and localities where squalor, want and poverty are exhibited within our limits are seldom
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ANNUAL REPORT.
seen, and our growth by the erection of buildings during the year just closed has been maintained up to the average of the standard of former years.
The social conditions which prevail among our people continue to be controlled by "the better elements of our nature" and are in accord with the progressive sentiment of the age to a degree which reflects credit upon our com- munity by the testimony of visitors from other localities who are impressed with the general healthy and elevated social atmosphere maintained by our people.
The general prosperous condition of a town is meas- ured chiefly by its increase in population and wealth, and with these conditions of prosperity it must naturally follow that an increased expenditure is demanded. We feel confident that the prosperity of our town has not been retarded in any of its departments during the year just closed, and in surveying the work performed and the demands of the future there are several matters connected with the different departments of town government on which we feel it our duty to offer suggestions, present to the people our views and make such explanations to 4 them as may be deemed fitting and proper concerning the work performed and the conclusions reached by us in the management of your affairs.
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
Highways.
At the commencement of the year we endeavored to systematize the work and management of the highway department, to the end that a larger amount of benefit might be received by the town for the inoney expended and more general satisfaction given in the highway work in the outlying districts, also in the matter of managing the pay rolls and financial affairs of this department, and we feel confident the present system is an improvement over our former lack of system.
Under the best management the highway department more than any other is doomed to public criticism because of the conditions under which the work is performed, the large amount of territory to be cared for, and the wide divergence of individual opinion concerning the proper methods to be adopted. The meager appropriation for this department does not permit the superintendent to perform his duties even to his own satisfaction on a large amount of the work which comes under his supervision. Criticism is always valuable in the administration of a public duty provided it emanates from an intelligent
I2
ANNUAL REPORT.
source and gives evidence of being actuated by an unpre- judiced desire for improvement, but when it is admin- istered simply for the purpose of fault finding and by its character gives evidence of the critic's utter ignorance of the subject criticised, it is simply contemptible.
In this important department of our town government a large amount of good practical work has been performed during the year just closed which is detailed in the Report of the Superintendent of Streets herewith submitted. We believe a perceptible improvement in the conditions of the streets in our village centre has been made each year for several years past, and the advancement in this direction during the year just closed is as perceptible as in any of the preceding years of our history. The improved condi- tion of our highways which it is expected we shall realize from the use of crushed stone as a material instead of gravel, cannot yet be estimated, and under the most judi- cious management cannot be made conspicuous even on our most prominent thoroughfares for several years to come unless a larger expenditure is made in this depart- inent. Since the erection of our stone crusher plant last June, about 1,500 tons have been crushed and delivered on our streets. The larger part of this material has been expended on a portion of Union, East, Dunham and Mechanics streets, although quite an amount of it has been appropriated to excellent service in what may be termed "patch work," where slight depressions in the roadway have been repaired, thereby relieving the un-
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ANNUAL REPORT.
evenness of the surface and preventing the pudding which is always prevalent on dirt roads after rain falls.
The cycling interest among our people has caused the towns and cities to take action for radical improvements in the construction of roadways, and as long as the im- provements desired are kept within the bounds of prac- tical utility regarding expense the revolution in public sentiment on this question is commendable, but we should guard ourselves against that extreme radicalism which is sometimes evinced by enthusiasts on this question.
The ideas quite commonly expressed that towns like ours should build and maintain macadamized roads throughout our limits we think are exhibitions of "Good Road" fanaticism. We believe that with one or two exceptions there are no localities in our town where we would be justified in making the outlay of money neces- sary to construct the macadamized road. The Massa- chusetts State Highway Commission, which commenced operations a few years ago, and have constructed the macadam road in short sections in all parts of the State have recently arrived at the conclusion that a crushed stone top-dressing of five or six inches is sufficient under ordinary conditions, where the foundations or sub-soil is dry without making the outlay which is demanded for the Telford base, or large stone foundations.
The December number of the "Engineering News" contains an article to which our attention has been called, and we quote a few paragraphs :
14
ANNUAL REPORT.
"We have several times pointed out in these columns a fact which many of our readers are, we know, learning by experience, that a macadamı road is far from being a durable highway. In the 'Good Roads' agitation which has gone on for a decade or more, there has been a certain tendency to hold up the macadamı highway as a panacea for all ills and an absolute perfect system of road construction. Unfortunately this is by no means the case. In eastern New Jersey, where trap rock is abundant, and can be generally secured with a very moderate haul, the cost of a 16 ft. macadam road with a Telford bottom may be set down on the average at about $5,000 per mile."
"In Northampton County, Pa., the County Commissioners are about to build some samples of 'Good Road' construction in several different towns of the county for the purpose of interesting the people and township authorities in 'Good Road' construction. But the committee in charge of this matter strongly recommends that the sections of improved road proposed to be built should not cost more than $1,500 per mile. The difficulty in making good exam- ples of macadam road at this figure will be apparent, we presume, to our readers."
"The fact of the case is (and the people who pay for road con- struction appear to be aware of it if 'Good Roads' advocates are not), that a macadam or Telford road will not pay except where there is traffic sufficient to warrant its construction."
15
ANNUAL REPORT.
Stone Crusher and Road Roller.
At our last annual meeting the town voted to pur- chase a stone crusher and appropriated $2,000 to be ex- pended for that purpose. The appropriation was inade- quate for the establishment of a stone crushing plant with all the appurtenances necessary for the preparation of crude stone to be used as highway material.
When the town voted to purchase the crusher they no doubt contemplated the using of crushed stone in place of ordinary gravel in the work of constructing and repair- ing our public streets and with this assumption we con- sidered it our duty to go beyond the mere purchase of a crusher and furnish such means as were necessary to pro- duce results in the line of highway improvement in this direction.
The proposition was not a new one to our people, as it had been considered among those who were anxious to advance the town's best interests in the management of our highway department ever since the division of the town in 1887 when the old stone crusher, in which we were joint owners, was placed among the assets of the town which were assigned to North Attleboro.
With the increasing tax rate from year to year to which we have been subjected, our people had looked upon the adoption of the "crushed stone" system of road making as a matter which would demand a large increase
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ANNUAL REPORT.
in our highway expenditures when the purchase of the machinery and implements necessary for the commence- ment of the work was considered, and although they recognized the fact that its adoption by the town would in a few years give us better roads, they hesitated in making the necessary appropriation.
The agitation of the questions connected with the improvement of roadways throughout the country and the adoption of a system by the state to be placed under the control of a commission for the purpose of stimulating an interest among the towns and cities of the Common- wealth to increase their endeavors in the work of highway improvement, has caused our people to make a beginning in this direction by the introduction of crushed stone instead of gravel for the surface of our highway wherever it is practical.
Soon after the last annual meeting of the town we commenced our investigation for the purpose of satisfying ourselves regarding the merits of the various stone crush- ers manufactured, and after a thorough canvass among them decided to purchase a complete outfit of stone crush- ing machinery of the Farrel Machine Co., Ansonia, Conn., the entire purchase to consist of a "Farrel" ( Blake pat- tern) unmounted crusher with 16in. by 10 in. opening, weighing about eight tons, steel plate revolving screen capable of delivering the stone, crushed in four sizes, into separate compartments in an elevated bin, with the neces- sary shafting, bearings, pulleys, beltings and elevator,
.
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ANNUAL REPORT.
conveyor for rejections, steel buckets, chute gates with iron guides and levers for discharging the crushed stone from the bin into carts ; also a 20-horse power 9 in. by 12 in. cylinder "Ames " portable engine and boiler mounted on skids, complete with all fixtures and fittings, all of which were delivered on the cars at Attleboro at all expense of $1,600.
Then followed the selection of a location which would be central and convenient of access for the distribution of our road material .. After looking about and considering the advantages of several locations we decided to locate the plant on a portion of what is known as the "Tinkham lot" with an entrance from Pine street, and we believe it to be a fortunate location, affording every advantage desired for the business contemplated. As soon as we had secured a refusal of the lot for a term of years we com- menced the establishment of the plant by putting the crusher and engine in position for service and the location of platform scales necessary for the weighing of stone when delivered, the erection of a suitable building for the engine and boiler, and the construction of an elevated bin capable of holding eighty tons of crushed stone, all of which has been constructed in a workmanlike and sub- stantial manner. The cost of the lumber and other mate- rial expended in the erection of the plant was $530.81, and in the labor of its construction $340.91 was expended.
Believing the proper policy for the town to pursue in the commencement of such an enterprise, should be to
ANNUAL REPORT.
perforin the work thoroughly rather than in an inconsid- erate and thoughitless manner, we have endeavored to so construct the entire plant by the purchase of the best machinery in the market for the performance of the busi- 11ess for which it is intended, to locate and arrange the different departments in such a way as would secure the most favorable results, and also to erect the necessary buildings for the protection of the machinery, tools and appliances for the work, thereby taking the initiative steps in the "good roads" reform . movement by the construction of a "stone crushing plant" which we feel confident will give satisfactory results to the town for a number of years to come, without any great expenditure for repairs, and that the plant when worked to its full capacity is capable of delivering into the receiving bill about one hundred tons of crushed stone per day.
After completing the arrangements for the stone crushing plant we were compelled to secure some appli- ances for rolling the surface of such portions of highway as were to be covered with crushed stone. We therefore considered the merits of several patterns of road rollers and finally concluded to purchase one of F. C. Austin Mfg. Co., Chicago, Ill. The roller is five and a half feet in diameter with a five foot face, made in two parts, capable of producing a pressure of 165 pounds per lineal inch and weighing five tons.
We do not believe that a five-ton roller will secure the same results which would be obtained by the use of a ten
19
ANNUAL REPORT.
or fifteen-ton steam roller, giving a pressure of 500 lbs. or more per lineal inch, but the fifteen-ton steam roller would cost about $3,500 and be much more expensive to handle and care for. The Austin Reversible five-ton roller which we purchased was delivered on the cars at Attleboro for $425, and we think, when worked in con- junction with our new watering wagon, will perform good work on our highways.
Whenever it is found necessary to use a heavier roller we are of the opinion it would be economy for the town to hire the appliance by the day, properly equipped with a capable engineer to operate it, rather than make the out- lay necessary for the purchase, care and depreciation of such a piece of property.
Bridges.
There has been no new bridge construction under our highway management during the year just closed, and in the work of repairing bridges, only a small expenditure has been made.
The west bridge on Mechanics street has been in a dilapidated condition for a number of years and an appro- priation of $1,000 was made three years ago for the con- struction of a new bridge there, but the appropriation was not expended because, after a careful examination of the conditions connected with the construction contem-
20
ANNUAL REPORT.
--
plated, it was decided by the management of our highway affairs at that time, that the appropriation was inadequate to meet the expense of such a structure as was deemed desirable there, consequently the proposition to build a new bridge there at that time was abandoned. Since then each year the old structure has been carefully watched and strengthened from time to time by slight repairs, which has prevented its collapse.
On account of the large amount which must be ex- pended when we undertake the work of constructing the Mechanics street bridge, we hesitate in recommending an appropriation for that purpose for the year 1897. There are so many directions among the several departments of our town management where an increased expenditure seems demanded, with no indication of a reduction of our expenses of any importance, we incline to the opinion that our policy of a few years past regarding this struct- ure be continued through another year, and the old bridge kept in a safe condition for ordinary travel with the smallest expenditure of money.
During the past year we have been obliged to make repairs on the Bank Street or Boulevard Bridge, and on examination find the top covering in an unsafe condition. We would therefore recommend a new plank covering for the entire structure which we think would be all the necessary expense there for several years to come.
2I
ANNUAL REPORT.
Street Watering.
At the last annual meeting this department of public service was adopted by the town and we are inclined to believe the action taken at that time was somewhat hasty and the conditions not carefully considered by our people.
For several years previous the matter of sprinkling streets had been carried on by an association of citizens who organized for that purpose, and all parties residing within a reasonable distance from the village centre who desired the benefit of having the streets watered which were contiguous to their property, could be accommodated by subjecting themselves to an assessment in proportion to the length of street frontage so watered to meet the consequent expense.
Article 48 of the warrant for the last annual meeting read as follows: "To see if the town will vote to adopt the provisions of Chapter 186 of the Acts of 1895 relative to the watering of streets in town."
When this article was taken up for action at the meet- ing, the Secretary of the association which had been con- ducting the street watering, addressed the moderator and gave a brief statement of the origin of the association, what had been the scope of its endeavor, and the expense incurred under their management. He then proposed that the town adopt the provisions of the Act referred to in the warrant, informing the meeting that the association was the owner of a sprinkling wagon which was in good
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ANNUAL REPORT.
repair which they proposed to turn over to the town in case the proposed provisions of the statutes were adopted. After a brief discussion of the proposition it was accepted by the town, and the watering of the public streets became a department of highway responsibility under the charge of the Superintendent of Streets. Then followed a motion that the town appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars for watering the public streets, and that one-half the expense be assessed on the abutters where such service was performed and this proposition was accepted.
By the next vote of the town the Selectmen were instructed to purchase another sprinkling wagon (which would cost about $400) and here the matter was left at that meeting. At a subsequent special meeting of the town the necessity of covering a larger area of territory with the watering appliances was presented by the select- inen, and the fact if a larger territory was covered, the two wagons we were then running could not perform the service, consequently an appropriation of $800 was made for the purpose of purchasing two horses and another sprinkling wagon.
This action of the town although it relieved the select- men in their work of giving satisfaction to those who desired the benefit of the service, put them in a position where a larger running expense was demanded without furnishing any increase to the insufficient appropriation originally made at the annual meeting.
On consulting the record of the annual meeting under
1
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ANNUAL REPORT.
Article 48 of the warrant, we find the following : "Voted, To adopt the provisions of Chapter 186 of the Acts of 1895, an Act relating to the watering of streets in towns. and appropriate the sum of $1,000, one-half to be paid by the town, and one-half by the abutters." With this understanding of the action of the town the selectmen would be supposed to carry on the business of watering the public streets of our entire village, and purchase a $400 watering wagon out of the original appropriation of $1,000, one-half of which ($500) must be assessed on the abutting estates.
Under a strict construction of the recorded vote of the meeting there would seem to be only about one hundred dollars at the disposal of the selectmen for the expense of distributing the water about the village. In presenting our report to the people we considered it our duty to explain our action in the matter and the conditions under which we have proceeded. We have endeavored to satisfy the demands of the people in this department and cover a territory of three-quarters of a mile radius from the village centre with the benefit of watered streets but as we were compelled to keep three men and six horses ( four of which were hired ) employed during an uncommonly long season, our entire expenditures in this department have amounted to $2,200.60 and we have purchased two first-class sprink- ling wagons, two horses and one set of double harnesses at an expense of $1,005.00.
The appliances necessary for the performance of this
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ANNUAL REPORT.
department of street service are now in the possession of . the town; consequently in the future the expense attend -. ' ing the service may be largely reduced as compared with the expense of the year just closed, and we are confident the streets of our village are benefited by the moisture they receive from these sprinkling wagons during the dry season of the year, which should be considered by our people when they feel inclined to consider the service a mere luxury.
Tool House.
The question of the erection on some suitable location of a building which would serve as a repository for the tools and implements belonging to the town was consid- ered at our last annual meeting, and an appropriation of $800 was made for that purpose.
After considering the several locations where the town was the owner of land, we concluded to erect a building on the lock-up lot on Pine street for that pur- pose. The buildings which we have erected there consist of a tool house and stable 16 ft. x 24 ft., one and a half stories high, within which we have constructed three stalls with the necessary appurtenances for keeping three horses. We have also constructed a line of sheds across the southerly end of the lot 51 feet long, capable of storing our wheeled vehicles and road machinery. With these buildings we have furnished a convenient store house for small articles of town property which have heretofore
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