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Annual Report OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBOROUGH MASSACHUSETTS
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Middleborough Public Library Seventy-fifth Anniversary
For the Year Ending December 31 1949
xx
TOWN HALL - CHRISTMAS 1949
ORGANIZATION CHART
TOWN OF MIDDLEBOROUGH
ELECTORATE
Housing Authority
Planning Board
Finance Committee
Treas. and Collector
SELECTMEN
Assessors
Moderator
School Com.
TOWN MANAGER
Town Counsel
Town Clerk and Acct.
Park Comm
Tree Warden
Forest Warden
Insp. Wires
Dog Officer
Fire Dept.
Police Dept.
Registrars of Voters
Library Trustees
Sealer Wts and Meas.
Water Dept.
Gas and Elec. Dept.
Welfare Dept.
Highway Dept.
Health Dept.
Sewer
Insp. Plumbing
Rubbish and Garbage
Clinics
Insp. Animals Slaughtering Milk
Annual Report
OF THE
TOWN OF MIDDLEBOROUGH MASSACHUSETTS
DLEE
ORO
PLYMOUT
COUNTY,
HARK
TY, MASS
M.
H *
PINCORPORATED
SAD.1669
For the Year Ending December 31 1949
THE CHRONICLE PRESS, NORTH ATTLEBORO 1950
MIDDLEBOROUGH MASSACHUSETTS
GENERAL INFORMATION AND FIGURES ABOUT THE TOWN
Elevation-100 feet above sea level Settled. 1660
Incorporated as a Town-1669 Population 1945 Census-9,596 Valuation-$10,189,040 (exclusive of automobiles) Tax Rate-$54.00 per thousand
Area-68.1 square miles Number of Dwellings-2,582 Number of Manufacturers-15 Miles of Street-148 Municipally Owned-Water, gas, electric light plants Motorized Police and Fire Departments Schools in Class A Municipally Owned-Swimming pool, tennis courts, playgrounds
PRINCIPAL INDUSTRIES
Fire Apparatus Photo Finishers
Varnishes
Shoes Calenders
Drug Sundries
Grain Elevator
Brass Goods
and Thirty Other Products
THE CENTER OF THE CRANBERRY INDUSTRY
LOCATED
35 Miles from Boston 22 Miles from New Bedford 30 Miles from Providence, R. I. On Rte. 44 to Plymouth and Rte. 28 to Cape Cod
RAILROAD CENTER
Cape Cod Boston
Brockton Direct Bus Connections with
Boston
Brockton
Providence Fall River
Bridgewater
New Bedford
Plymouth
Taunton
Carver
Direct Rail Connections with
Housing Authority 1949 - one of the seven units.
L
10,529 persons enjoyed our Swim- ming Pool in 1949 season.
New Water Standpipe - Capacity - 500,000 gallons.
One of Two New Pumping Sta- tions - Daily Capacity - 325,000 gals. each unit.
6
ANNUAL REPORT
WHERE TO CALL FOR SERVICE
Fire
250
Police
264
Ambulance
264
Aid to Dependent Children
Welfare Department 1027
Animal Inspection
Inspector of Animals 779
Bills and Accounts
Town Accountant
780
Birth Certificates
Town Clerk
780
Burial Permits
Health Officer or Town Manager
470-W
928
Business Certificates
Town Clerk
780
Death Certificates
Town Clerk
780
Dog Licenses
Town Clerk
780
Elections
Town Clerk
780
Employment
Town Manager
928
Entertainment Licenses
Town Clerk
780
Fishing and Hunting Licenses
Town Clerk
780
Fuel Oil Storage
Fire Department
250
Garbage Collection
Health Department
470-W
Health
Health Department 470-W
Library
Middleborough Public Library
613
Licenses
Town Clerk
780
Light and Power
Municipal Gas & Electric Department 470-M
Light and Power Bills
Municipal Gas & Electric
Department
470-M
Marriage Certificates
Town Clerk
780
Milk Inspection
Milk Inspector
779
Old Age Assistance
Welfare Department
1027
Playground
Town Manager
928
Plumbing Permits
Plumbing Inspector
470-W
Purchasing
Town Manager
928
Schools
School Department
81
Selectmen
Town Manager
928
Slaughtering Inspection
Inspector of Slaughtering
779
Veteran's Benefits
Agent
245
Street Maintenance
Highway Yard
724-W
Tax Assessments
Assessors
766-W
Tax Collections
Tax Collector
766-M
Trees
Tree Warden
724-W
Voting and Registration
Registrars
780
Water
Water Department
90
Water Bills
Water Department
90
Weights and Measures
Sealer of Weights and Measures
90
Welfare
Welfare Department 1027
Wiring Permits
Inspector of Wiring
818
Town Manager's Office .928
7
ANNUAL REPORT
PUBLIC OFFICIALS 1949
Board of Selectmen
Ralph W. Maddigan George E. Wheeler William J. MacDougall Manuel J. Silvia, Chairman
Ralph E. Nourse
Term expires 1950
Term expires 1950
Term expires 1951
Term expires 1951
Term expires 1952
Town Manager Roger W. Macdonald
School Committee
Joseph F. Riley
Ronald G. Thatcher Lorenzo Wood, Chairman Horace K. Atkins George A. Shurtleff, Jr.
Virginia C. Smith
Term expires 1950 Term expires 1950 Term expires 1951
Term expires 1951
Term expires 1952
Term expires 1952
Superintendent of Schools J. Stearns Cushing Planning Board
John J. Kendall Adam K. Kunces
Joseph C. Kunces, Secretary
Term expires 1953
Term expires 1954
Assessors
Harrison F. Shurtleff, Chairman James E. Houlihan Fred F. Churbuck
Term expires 1950
Term expires 1951 Term expires 1952
Housing Authority
George A. Donner Adnah H. Harlow, State Appointee Ford Campbell Allan Hale, Chairman
Term expires 1950
Term expires 1951
Term expires 1952
Term expires 1953 Term expires 1954
Measures of Wood, Bark and Lumber
Ernest S. Pratt
Gilbert M. Simmons
Ernest Standish
Finance Committee
David W. Burgess Charles P. Washburn Charles W. Giberti Arnold Thomas Kenneth Atwood
Frederick W. daCosta James J. Mahoney, Chairman
Term expires 1950 Term expires 1950 Term expires 1951 Term expires 1951
Term expires 1952
Term expires 1952
Term expires 1952
Fred W. Thorley
Term expires 1951
Term expires 1952
C. Trafton Mendall, Chairman
8
ANNUAL REPORT
Trustees of the Public Library
Myra S. Shaw Ernest E. Thomas
William J. MacDougall
Joseph Riley
Thomas H. Kelly
Term expires 1951
Helen N. Whitcomb
Term expires 1952
Theodore N. Wood, President
Term expires 1952
Thomas Weston
Term expires 1952
Park Commissioners
Ralph B. Mendall Bartlett H. Harrison Roger W. Macdonald
Term expires 1950
Term expires 1950 Term expires 1950
Superintendent of Playground Joseph C. Kunces
Registrars of Voters
George E. Grove
William P. Scanlon, Chairman
Sarah A. Sheehy
Term expires 1950 Term expires 1951 Term expires 1952
Constables
Charles H. Rogers
Clarence L. Shaw
Fence Viewers
Sheldon L. Phinney
Romeo Millette
Ernest S. Pratt Annie C. Place Nellie Kelley Garrett Whitty John Dutra Lester Briggs Wilfred Bois Albert F. Soule
Public Weighers Winifred S. Carver Henry P. Smith Howard Lincoln Bettina Eaton Charles S. Carver Chester Camandona Robert J. Greenwood Roger Tripp Warren Washburn
Moderator
Fletcher Clark, Jr. Term expires 1950
Town Clerk and Town Accountant
Waldo S. Thomas
Term expires 1951
Treasurer and Collector
Chester L. Shaw
Term expires 1950
Town Counsel L. Francis Callan
Term expires 1950
Leo A. Quindley
Term expires 1950 Term expires 1950 Term expires 1950 Term expires 1951 Term expires 1951
M. Ethel Washburn
9
ANNUAL REPORT
Welfare Agent George C. McKay
Chief of the Fire Department Bertram Tripp
Manager of Gas and Electric Department Hermon R. Dyke
Health Officer Bertram N. Cameron
Superintendent of Streets Louis H. Forney
Chief of the Police Department Charles H. Rogers
Veterans' Service Agent Louis A. Cole
Tree Warden
Forest Warden
Louis Forney
Bertram Tripp
Fish Warden
George Barney
Moth Superintendent Louis Forney
Sealer of Weights and Measures Lloyd E. Banks
Inspector of Wires Emilio N. Niro
Inspector of Animals, Milk, Slaughtering John Rebell
Inspector of Plumbing
Harry Rowe
Dog Officer Arthur F. Benson
Burial Agent
Keeper of Lock-up
Louis A. Cole
Charles H. Rogers
Trustee M.L.H.P. Luxury Fund
George C. Mckay
Police Matron Laura Norris
Agent for Care of Veterans' Graves Ernest E. Thomas
Field Driver and Pound Keeper Charles H. Rogers
Town Physician Dr. Sterling McLean
Health Dentist Dr. Louis D. Fuller
Agent of Liquor Establishments to Represent the Board Charles H. Rogers
10
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Middleboro, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I herewith present the annual report of the Town Manager for the year ending December 31, 1949.
The year 1949 saw the completion of one large project, the exten- sion of the water works system, and the start of another, the construc- tion of a trunk line sewer and sewage treatment plant. Also during the year the Veteran's Housing Project was started and finished. Much credit for this should be given the local housing authority as it was one of the first finished in the State.
I am presenting herewith a brief report of the various departments of the Town.
HIGHWAY
The winter of 1948-1949 was mild and snow storms fewer than usual. This gave the Department an opportunity to carry on other work. Advantage was taken of this to place gravel on rural streets. Due to a dry spring and summer, maintenance work was carried on without interruption. The usual work on Chapter 90 Maintenance and Construction, in conjunction with the State and County, was completed. The heavy growth of brush along our rural roads has been a problem and a hazard. The Department was able to rent a new type hydraulic cutting machine and cutting of brush speeded up considerable. With the use of this machine, about twenty-five miles of highway were cut back. It is hoped to be able to continue this work the coming year.
This year it is planned, in conjunction with the State and County, to start construction of Plymouth Street, from Everett Street to the Bridgewater line.
MOTH
Airplane spraying was tried in Middleboro for the first time this year. Although the results were satisfactory on pest control, there is a question as to the possible harmful effects on certain garden produce. Most of the spraying around Town was done with Town equipment. There is a possibility that airplane spraying on a large county-wide basis will be carried out this year throughout Plymouth County, by County, State and Federal aid, the same as in Barnstable County the past year.
11
ANNUAL REPORT
WATER
The past year has been probably the busiest for several years. Due to increased building and the extension of our water system, requests for new services have increased tremendously.
The widening on Route 28, West Grove Street, put a further burden on the Department on account of a change in grade and the moving back of several houses.
This year also saw the new pumping stations in operation for the first time. The results have been very satisfactory, the quality of the water improving and sufficient quantity, in spite of the most serious drought in recent years. In several towns and cities, the use of water has been curtailed, but it was not necessary to take this step in Middle- borough. The extension of the water system into our rural sections has been a blessing for many farmers and others when their own wells went dry.
SEWER
The long planned trunk line sewer and sewage treatment plant to correct pollution in the Nemasket River was started during 1949. Althought the original plans do not call for an extension to our present street sewers, it is hoped that some money may be utilized from this appropriation for the purpose of installing street sewers in certain areas at a later date. Due to the wording of the article setting up this appropriation, funds cannot be used for this purpose until the original project is completed, and then if a balance remains, it has to be voted by the Town at a Town Meeting.
I am referring you to the departmental reports of Welfare, Health, Police, Gas & Electric, Fire and Town Clerk for information regarding their activities for the year which are listed in this report.
ROGER W. MACDONALD,
Town Manager
12
ANNUAL REPORT
General Government
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK For the Year Ending December 31, 1949 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
January 17, 1949 with its Adjournments
Article 1: To choose all necessary town officers, the following officers to be voted on one ballot, viz: A Moderator for one year; one Selectman for three years; two members of the School Committee for three years; one member of the Board of Assessors for three years; three members of the Finance Committee for three years; one member of the Planning Board for one year; one member of the Planning Board for two years; one member of the Planning Board for three years; one member of the Planning Board for four years; one member of the Planning Board for five years; four members of the Housing Authority.
Meeting was called to order at 11:45 A. M. in Precinct 1 by Bert J. Allan, in Precinct 2 by Moderator Fletcher Clark, and in Precinct 3 by Harlas L. Cushman.
The polls were delcared open at 12 Noon.
The following election officers were sworn in:
Precinct 1-Bert J. Allan, Lelia M. Allan, Inez M. Chandler, Doris B. Thorson, Georgianna M. Townsend, Ruth C. Caswell, and Joseph S. D'Elia served as Police Officer.
Precinct 2-Elisha H. Shaw, Laura Norris, A. Wilbur Fillmore, Gertrude Martin, Jacob Swift, John Touhy, Annie Healey, Esther Robidoux, Helen Casey, Lillian Raymond, Theresa Pillsbury, Harriet Sylvester, Mary Kelly, Elizabeth Devlin, Louise Cashon, Alice Sylvia, and Alden Sisson served as Police Officer.
Precinct 3-Harlas L. Cushman, Chester W. Thomas, Susan B. Brackett, Joseph M. Duphily, Alice MacAllister, Bessie S. Sweeney, Walter H. Gillis, Viola M. Cushman, and Ralph G. Wilbur served as Police Officer.
The result of the vote was as follows:
Pct. 1 Pct. 2
Pct. 3
Total
Moderator
Fletcher Clark, Jr.
93
1018
163
1274
Lester Gibbs
0
1
0
1
Herbert Thompson
0
1
0
1
Blanks
9
238
24
271
102
1258
187
1547
13
ANNUAL REPORT
Pct. 1 Pct. 2
Pct. 3
Total
Selectman
Romeo Millette
23
373
44
440
Ralph E. Nourse Blanks
2
32
5
39
102
1258
187
1547
School Committee
James A. Brennan
39
173
119
331
James E. Pollard
7
230
8
245
George A. Shurtleff, Jr.
66
819
85
970
Virginia C. Smith
49
675
93
817
Caleb H. Thomas
16
353
35
404
Lucy B. Sisson
0
0
1
1
Blanks
27
266
33
326
204
2516
374
3094
Assessor
Fred F. Churbuck
70
943
72
1085
Emerson F. Lyford
22
222
112
356
Blanks
10
93
3
106
102
1258
187
1547
Finance Committee
Kenneth E. Atwood
81
1000
152
1233
Frederick W. daCosta
80
887
147
1114
82
948
140
1170
James J. Mahoney Blanks
63
939
122
1124
306
3774
561
4641
Planning Board (One Year)
Edgar A. Paun
0
1
0
1
Charles A. Devlin
0
4
0
4
Joseph Kyrouz
0
1
0
1
Joseph Kunces
0
2
0
2
Joseph Mackiewicz
0
1
0
1
C. Trafton Mendall
0
1
0
1
Adam Kunces
0
2
0
2
Allan Hale
0
1
0
1
Blanks
102
1245
187
1534
102
1258
187
1547
Planning Board (Two Years)
Edward Casey
0
1
0
1
John Gasunus
0
1
0
1
John J. Kendall
0
2
0
2
C. Trafton Mendall
0
3
0
3
Samuel Deich
0
1
0
1
George A. Donnar
0
1
0
1
Joseph Kunces
0
1
0
1
Blanks
102
1248
187
1537
102
1258
187
1547
77
853
138
1068
14
ANNUAL REPORT
Pct. 1 Pct. 2
Pct. 3
Total
Planning Board (Three Years)
Joseph Casunas
0
2
0
2
John J. Kendall
0
2
0
2
Adam Kunces
0
3
0
3
Harold Wood
0
1
0
1
Joseph Kunces
0
2
0
2
Frederick Thorley
0
1
0
1
Blanks
102
1247
187
1536
102
1258
187
1547
Planning Board (Four Years)
Joseph Kunces
0
4
0
4
Elliott R. Allen
0
1
0
1
Charles Devlin
0
1
0
1
Lawrence Shaw
0
1
0
1
Adam Kunces
0
1
0
1
Ford Campbell
0
1
0
1
Blanks
102
1249
187
1538
102
1258
187
1547
Planning Board (Five Years)
Harold Dunham
0
1
0
1
Norman Lindsay
0
1
0
1
C. Trafton Mendall
0
5
0
5
Joseph Kunces
0
3
0
3
Charles Devlin
0
1
0
1
Louis Hammond
0
1
0
1
George W. Stetson
0
1
0
1
Joseph H. Picone
0
2
0
2
Gordon Chandler
1
0
0
1
Blanks
101
1243
187
1531
102
1258
187
1547
Housing Authority
Allan M. Hale
3
126
5
134
George A. Donner
2
118
5
125
Frederick W. Thorley
3
133
5
141
Ford Campbell
2
124
4
130
Charles Devlin
1
1
0
2
Harold Priest
0
1
0
1
Louis A. Cole
0
1
0
1
Leo Gamache
0
1
0
1
George Shurtleff
0
1
0
1
Kenneth Atwood
0
1
0
1
Fred Churbuck
0
1
0
1
Arnold Thomas
0
1
0
1
Caleb Thomas
0
1
0
1
Blanks
396
4522
729
5648
408
5032
748
6188
15
ANNUAL REPORT
TABULATION OF VOTE
Men
Women
Total
Precinct 1
54
48
102
Precinct 2
735
523
1258
Precinct 3
93
94
187
The result of the vote was read at 10:30 P. M.
Article 2: To raise such sums of money by tax or otherwise as may be necessary to defray the expense of the town for the current year, to appropriate the same and act anything in relation to the assessment and collection of taxes for the year.
Article 2: Voted the following departmental appropriations:
General Government
Assessors
$8,702.00
Election and Registration
2,291.14
Finance Committee
275.00
Law Dept.
872.75
Moderator
50.00
Board of Selectmen
1,757.00
Town Clerk and Accountant
5,238.50
Town Hall
7,887.00
Town Manager
7,730.00
Town Treasurer and Collector
8,769.00
Total General Government
$43,572.39
Protection of Persons and Property
Dog Officer
$430.00
Fire Dept.
49,284.11
Forest Fires
4,635.00
Inspector of Wires
707.00
Moth Dept.
4,000.00
Police Dept.
24,840.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
1,289.00
Tree Warden
675.00
Total Protection of Person and Property
$85,753.11
Health and Sanitation
Health Dept.
$27,934.23
Total Health and Sanitation
27,934.23
Highway Dept.
Highway Dept.
53,505.00
Total Highway
$53,505.00
Public Welfare
Aid to Dependent Children
$47,094.54
Old Age Assistance
162,036.81
Welfare
34,262.51
Infirmary
22,885.00
Total Public Welfare
$266,278.86
16
ANNUAL REPORT
Veterans' Benefits
Veterans' Benefits
13,786.00
Total Veterans' Benefits
School and Library
$280,058.52
School Dept. Library
11,648.00
Total Schools and Library
$291,712.86
Unclassified
Unclassified
$13,102.10
Total Unclassified
$13,102.10
Pensions
Pensions
$8,702.50
Total Pensions
$8,702.50
Water Dept.
Water Dept.
31,590.46
Total Water Dept.
$31,590.46
Interest on Municipal Indebtedness Interest
$13,895.00
Total Interest Municipal Indebtedness
$13,895.00
Municipal Indebtedness
Municipal Indebtedness
$47,000.00
Total Municipal Indebtedness
$47,000.00
Reserve Fund
Reserve Fund
$10,000.00
Total Reserve Fund
$10,000.00
The motion to indefinitely postpone action on the Moth Department was lost. The original motion under the Moth Department was for contract spraying and dusting for $4,000.00. This motion was lost and the amendment was carried and so listed under the appropriations.
An amendment to the Police Department budget providing for a $100.00 item for a gold badge for Chief Sisson was voted and so recorded.
An amendment to the Highway Department budget calling for a 10% wage increase was lost.
Under the Veterans Benefits and Relief Expense items were voted as one ledger item in the amount of $10,050.00 and is so recorded.
An amendment under the School Department increasing the ap- propriations for textbooks in the sum of $1,000.00 and supplies in the sum of $1,000.00 was lost.
$13,786.00
17
ANNUAL REPORT
Voted that the sum of $30,000.00 be transfered from the E. & D. Account for the use of the Assessors in fixing the tax rate for 1949.
Article 3: To see if the town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year begin- ning January 1, 1949, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accord with Section 17, Chapter 44 of the General Laws.
Voted to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1949, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accord with Section 17, Chapter 44 of the General Laws.
Article 4: To hear the report of any committees or officers of the town, to appoint any committee or take any action relative thereto.
Mr. Brennan presented the following report for the committee appointed to investigate the construction of a sewage treatment plant:
"The members of the committee have given unsparingly of their time and on some occasions have gone to some expense to carry out their assignment. We have had numerous meetings in the Town House, visited all the proposed sites for the treatment plant, have gone to Bridgewater to confer with the Selectmen of that Town who were facing a similar problem, and attended the public hearing at the State House where the proposal for a site for the sewage treatment plant was under discussion. At the meetings in the Town House the committee interviewed members of our Board of Selectmen, our Town Manager, engineers, both from private firms and from the Department of Health, and private citizens of our town who were able to throw any light on our problem. We made every effort to view this project from every angle, and to hear all sides of the controversy.
"There seemed to be two main problems handed to us, for which we were to find the solution. We were to decide as to the integrity of the engineering firm of Whitman & Howard, which had been ques- tioned in some quarters. And we were to decide which of the three proposed sites for the sewage treatment plant would be best for the town.
"As to the first problem; the engineering firm. We learned that Whitman & Howard had already been engaged by the town as engin- eers for this project. We saw the contract engaging them, signed by four members of our Board of Selectmen, all legal and binding. As some of you may know there had been some pretty wild stories cir- culating in Middleboro which would tend to discredit the reputation of the firm of Whitman & Howard. Despite all the efforts of the com- mittee to run these rumors to earth, we have to report that as far as we were able to learn they are without any foundation in fact.
Now the second problem; locating the site for the Sewage Treat- ment Plant. We have been told by Mr. Weston of the Dept. of Health and by other engineers, that a modern sewage treatment plant has prac- tically no disagreeable odor. However, the nature of its functions and indeed its very name is bound to have a deleterious effect on adjacent
2
18
ANNUAL REPORT
property. For this reason such projects are usually located so they are not adjacent to any residential sections. Our town fathers prob- ably had this in mind back in 1938 when, together with the engineering firm employed by them at that time, they originally decided upon the Clark farm as the best site for a sewage treatment plant.
Since then, two other sites have been proposed; the so-called Corrine Parkway site, and the one adjacent to School St. extension. When the site at Corrine Parkway was suggested it brought such a storm of protest that it was immediately dropped. Then the Board of Selectmen proposed the site adjacent to School Street Extension. In support of this decision they made two claims. 1st-Although the Treatment Plant itself would cost about the same, whereever located, the use of this site would shorten the length of the trunk sewer so that something in the neighborhood of $30,000.00 would be saved. 2nd -That the locating of the Treatment Plant on the Clark farm property would put Mr. Clark out of the poultry business. As our committee has decided by unanimous vote in favor of the Clark farm site, we must of course show how we overcome those two objections.
It is our contention that locating the Treatment Plant adjacent to School Street Extension would tend to de-valuate not only the existing community of homes on School Street Extension but also a large and attractive tract of land along North Street for which plans have been under discussion for high class development. This tract of land stretch- ing from North Street to the Nemasket River is ideally situated for high class homes. It has everything, an attractive street not too far from town, town water, electric light, sewer, possibly gas, a beautiful vista looking down toward the river,-And an excellent view of the proposed site for the Sewage Treatment Plant. We understand that all plans for this development are in the paper stage. If the town had decided to build its treatment plant here, these homes would remain where they are now-on paper.
It would not take many of these proposed homes, under present market conditions to return to the town in taxes, not only that thirty thousand but over a period of years, much more. It is the unanimous opinion of the committee that the town could not afford to have nipped in the bud such a development which would add to the beauty of the town, and also add considerable to it's taxable property.
Now as to the second argument ;- that locating the Treatment Plant on the Clark farm would put Mr. Clark out of the poultry busi- ness. The Clark farm contains 25 acres more or less. The Treatment Plant, and the right of way to it would require from three to four acres. Up to the time that the committee inspected this property, the proposed site for the Treatment Plant, down near the river, was not being used in any way for the poultry business, either for poultry houses, or as range. Then how could this use of the land make any difference to the existing poultry business. If the State takes from eight to eleven acres right across this farm, as it has been suggested that it will, in building the Middleboro to Plymouth highway, then we would suggest that this acquisition, rather than the Town Sewage Treatment Plant would incurr damage to the poultry business. It is the duty of this committee in arriving at decisions to consider the interests of the town, rather than those of individuals. But it is not the wish of this committee to see any injustice done to anyone. When the time comes to acquire this property we feel that the owners of
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