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Town of
WEYMOUTH
1897
.
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
OF THE
TOWN OF WEYMOUTH,
CONTAINING THE
TREASURER'S SCHEDULE OF THE RECEIPTS,
AND
A Statement of the Expenditures of the Different Departments, The Report of Overseers of the Poor, The Report of the Engineers of the Fire Department, The Report of the Treasurer of the Tufts Library, Assessors' Report. 1.1
THE REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
THE STATISTICS FURNISHED BY THE TOWN CLERK,
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY, REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONERS, AND THE REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1897.
WEYMOUTH, MASS. : WEYMOUTH & BRAINTREE PUB. Co. 1898.
Park Commissioners.
LEVI B. CURTIS
Term expires 1898
LOUIS A. COOK .
66 1899
WILLIAM H. CLAPP . .
1900
Trustees of Tufts Library.
ZECHARIAH L. BICKNELL
Term expires 1898
FRANK H. MASON
66
60 1898
CHARLES P. HUNT ·
.6 1898
JAMES HUMPHREY
.6 60 1899
AUGUSTUS J. RICHARDS
66
1899
PRESTON PRATT
66
1899
LOUIS A. COOK .
1900
FRANCIS AMBLER
1900
JOHN W. HART (deceased)
66
66 1900
Registrars of Voters.
DAVID S. MURRAY .
Term expires 1898
CHARLES A. CARPENTER
1899
BENJAMIN F. SMITH
66 1900
JOHN A. RAYMOND, Town Clerk (ex- officio).
Water Commissioners.
THOMAS H. HUMPHREY . AUGUSTUS J. RICHARDS .
Term expires 1898
1899
HENRY A. NASH
66
66 1900
GORDON WILLIS, Chairman of Select- men (ex-officio.) JOHN H. STETSON, Town Treasurer (ex-officio.)
Constables.
ISAAC H. WALKER. JAMES T. PEASE.
GEORGE F. MAYNARD.
B. FRANK RICHARDS. ASA B. PRATT. GEORGE B. BAILEY.
NATHANIEL B. PEARE. MICHAEL ALLEN.
THOMAS FITZGERALD. GEORGE W. CONANT.
INDEX.
PAGE
Auditors' Report
15
Assessors' Report 243
Fire Department, Engineer's Report .
260
Jury List 145
Overseers of the Poor, Report of
161
Almshouse, Expense of
164
Assistance to Poor Out of Almshouse
170
Inventory of Property of Almshouse Paupers in Almshouse
168
Receipts
169
Park Commissioners, Report of
263
Report of Special Officers
257
Report of the Building Committee
293
School Committee, Annual Report of{ (Appendix) Selectmen, Report of
7
Bills Payable (Notes Approved)
127
Election Expenses
106
Electric Lighting, Expense of
126
Fire Department, Expense of
109
Hose Tower, Lovell's Corner
116 .
Highways, Townways and Bridges, Expense of · 49 Hydrants and Drinking Fountains, Expense of 126 Interest and Discount 124 .
Memorial Day, Expense of
127
Military Aid ·
· 133
Miscellaneous Expenses .
97
.
,179
1
6
Police Department, Expense of
. 117
Police at New Downer Landing
122
Printing and advertising
123
Remittance and Abatement of Taxes
123
Schools, Support of .
.
24
Special Appropriations for Highways
· 68
Snow, Removal of
76
State Highway
125
State, County, National Bank and Corporation Tax State Aid
129
Statement of Appropriations and Expenditures
· 144
Tufts Library, Expense of
.
. 123
Town Officers, Expense of
. 137
Town House
122
Trial Balance
142
Town Treasurer's Report.
158
Tufts Fund, Receipts and Payments of
245
Tufts Library, Trustees' Report
. 252
Treasurer's Report
181
.
.
181
Births, Registry of
. 190
Deaths, Registry of
185
Marriages, Registry of .
. 202
Town Records for 1897
265
Water Commissioners, Report of Expenditures and Receipts
269
Engineer, Report of
290
Statement
276
· Superintendent, Report of
.
283
Water Account, Town Treasurer's Report
278
.
17
.
.
Town Clerk, Report of
.
91
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
The Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth submit herewith . their annual report, with a detailed statement of the expenditures under the various appropriations, for the year ending December 31,1897 :-
HIGHWAYS.
At the last annual meeting, the Town voted down a motion to instruct the Selectmen to employ a Superintendent of Streets who should hold no other town office ; and this Board interpreting this action as an expression of the feeling of the town that the high- way work should be administered in the same manner as in 1894 and 1895, appointed one of their own number as Superintendent of Streets. Mr. George L. Newton, accepted the appointment and requested the several members of the Board to supervise the repairs of the highways in their respective wards.
Sections of stone road have been constructed in Wards 2, 3, 4 and 5, in all amounting to about 4,500 lineal feet. The worst pieces of road were selected for this purpose, and they are now the best and will need but little outlay for many years.
Of the streets which have been gravelled the greater part has been worked with a steam roller, which has been the occasion of much satisfaction to all persons using the roads for carriage travel and for teaming, and particularly to the ever-increasing number of bicycle riders.
The possession of a steam roller by the town seemed a neces- sity, in view of the fact that the remainder of Bridge street was to be worked as a State highway, and the increasing aversion of
8
the public to travel on loose gravel; so that the board felt justi- fied in purchasing one, notwithstanding the fact that no appropri- ation had been made for that purpose. A roller which had been used in town for one year was bought for the sum of two thous- and dollars, and we have to ask the sanction of the town upon our action in so doing. In this connection it may be well to state that the scarcity of gravel in some of the wards will render the largely increased use of stone in the near future a necessity, and without the possession of a steam roller this material could not be advantageously employed. It is also a question for the serious consideration of the town whether the acquirement of a crushing plant can much longer be delayed.
The season past has been a severe one upon our streets, by reason of a very unusal amount of heavy teaming and numerous washouts occasioned by the heavy rains in the latter part of the summer and early fall, so that we found the amount which had been devoted to the fall working entirely inadequate, and the ap- propriation of $12,233 has been exceeded by $4,761.78. The late fall was much more favorable to the streets, so that the winter found them, taken as a whole, much better than usual.
Of the new streets and extensions of streets which have been accepted by the town, there remain to be constructed the whole or portions of the following : Bay View street, King avenue, the street off Pleasant street, near Matthew Morrow's, that from Lovell street to Great Hill Park, and that from Prospect street to Summit street.
REMOVAL OF SNOW.
The appropriation for the removal of snow was $5,753.67, of which there has been expended $3,384.14, leaving a balance of $2,369.53, which at this date seems adequate for the remainder of the winter.
UNION STREET.
For the working of this street under the decree of the County Commissioners, an appropriation of $5,000 was made. Had the decree called for gravelling the usual width, the street could have been nearly or quite completed for this sum, notwithstanding the
9
fact that the gravel used on the greater part of it was hauled from one and one-half to two miles, but the requirement being for gravelling the whole width of the street, another appropriation will be necessary. There has been expended $5,225.38, and it is estimated that it will require $2,000 more to complete the grading to the Rockland line.
For the settlement of the awards for land damage an appropria- tion of $5,233 was made .. The claimants have all accepted the awards.
STATE HIGHWAY.
The Commissioners made an allotment for the completion of the state highway on Bridge street, and the construction has been car- ried on under the Superintendent of Streets, George L. Newton.
It was late in the season when the resident engineer arrived and the work commenced, and it was found impossible to finish the job before the freezing of the ground. The broken stone has been placed and rolled from Pratt avenue to a point near North street. More cutting of grade has been required upon the section comprised in this year's contract than in either of the two previous ones, and we were obliged to leave the work at the close of the season in an unsatisfactory stage, but we understand it to be the plan of the commission to complete it as soon as the ground opens in the spring.
There has been expended upon the construction since January 1st $5,064.73. There have been approved by the commission esti- mates to the amount of $3,334.45, one of which (amounting to $1,048.08) was not received by the Treasurer at the date of this report. Owing to the manner in which the work was necessarily left in the fall, there remains unfinished work to the amount of several hundred dollars, the approval of which will not be received until the completion of the contract in the spring. The amount expended, above that approved by the Commission at the close of the year, has been $1,730.28.
STREET RAILWAYS.
Since the last annual report, a location has been granted to the Quincy and Boston Street Railway Company for the extension of
10
their track upon Bridge street between Sea and North streets. This location has not yet been built upon.
An extension of time to January 1, 1899, has been granted to the Braintree and Weymouth Street Railway Company, for the construction of their tracks upon the location granted upon Main, Derby, Hollis, and Randolph streets.
POLICE.
The appropriation for this department, including the unex- pended balance of last year, was $4,688.69. The applications made for police service, if all complied with, would have required at least $2,000 more than this amount. There has been expended $4,946.89 making an over draft of $258.20.
The enforcement of the liquor law was again placed in the hands of Patrick Butler and Thomas Fitzgerald, whose report ap- pears on page 257. If absence of complaints is an indication of the thoroughness of their work, the results are highly satisfactory.
MISCELLANEOUS.
In this department, owing mainly to the settlement of suits at law and the attendant expenses, there has been an excess of $1,352.61 above the appropriation of $2,966.26, the expenditures being $4,318.87.
TOWN DEBT.
There has been paid one note of $5,000 for money borrowed on State Highway account, which was overdue Jan. 1, 1897.
The amount of notes outstanding against the town, not includ- ing $20,000 borrowed in anticipation of taxes, is $122,233.
It will be necessary to provide for the note of $5,233, for money borrowed for the payment of Union street land damag., which matures June 7, 1898, and for one note of the town debt for $5,500, due March 12, 1898.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
The negotiations for a contract with the Weymouth Light & Power Co., for lighting the streets of the town, so far as they had
11
proceeded at that date, were reported to the special meeting of the town held June 15, and appear in the Town Clerk's report of that meeting. The meeting referred the whole matter to the Se- lectmen, to act in their judgment for the best interest of the town.
Several interviews and considerable correspondence with the representatives of the company ensued, with which it seems un- necessary to cumber this report. An agreement was arrived at ' by which the lights were to be tested by an expert. If found be- low the guaranteed power of last year the company was to pay the expense, otherwise the town was to pay it.
Mr. Thomas W. Byrne, an electrical engineer, was employed for this service, and early in August he made a test of the lights and submitted a report, which we print in full upon page 150, together with a communication from the company after the report was submitted to them.
A rebate was made upon the payments for September, October, and November, upon the basis of the report of Mr. Byrne. The December payment was made in full, the company having then arranged the system in three circuits instead of two, introduced an additional dynamo and boiler, and renewed all the incandes- cent lights. The service was thus improved to such an extent as, in our opinion, not to demand a rebate.
We have not as yet executed a contract with the company. Several have been prepared, one of which was by Mr. Byrne, and two by the company ; the last one considered, which we print in full on page 153, was submitted to the company Nov. 19th. This embodies the essential features of the one prepared by the engineer, and contains nothing which, in our opinion, is. an un- necessary or nnjust requirement. We forwarded, with this con- tract, a statement that we would sign the same upon receipt from them of a notice that they were prepared to comply with the require- ments thereof. The answer received was to the effect that as the contract varied in some particulars from what they had agreed to, they were not prepared to sign it without further consideration.
Early in December the following notice was received, -"We hereby notify you that on this day each and every socket of the street lighting fixtures of the Town of Weymouth has been filled with a new lamp of 25 candle power, and that the pressure and
12
current will be maintained in our lines so as to give the arc lamps and the incandescent lamps full measure as suggested by your engineer."
Since that time the lights have burned without flashing and with such degree of brilliancy as, in. our opinion, not to warrant the expense of the application of another test.
There are 33 arc and 256 incandescent lights, for which we are paying $70 and $17 per year respectively, this rate having been established from May 1.
TUFTS LECTURES.
The time having expired when the lectures under the provisions of the will of the late Quincy Tufts were required to be held in Ward 3, there has been instituted a course for the present winter, to be held in the several parts of the town. So far as these have been delivered at this date, they have been well attended and highly appreciated, and their continuance bids fair to be a source of pleasure and profit to the whole town.
ELIAS S. BEALS' BEQUEST.
The bequest of $1,000 provided in the will of the late Elias S. Beals to be given in trust to the Town of Weymouth to be securely invested and the income thereof to be paid over to the proper officers to be expended by them for the benefit of the park and playground given by deed, by Mr. Beals to the town, March 5, 1888 and April 23, 1889, and which bequest the town voted, at the special town meeting held June 15 last, to accept, was received from the executors of Mr. Beals by the Treasurer of the Town June last, and by him deposited in the South Weymouth Savings Bank.
WOOD LOT.
Under authority of the vote of the town at the annual meeting in March, 1896, the wood lot has been sold to Frederick D. Mitchell for $885, and the treasurer has conveyed the same by deed.
13
BOARD OF HEALTH.
An unusually large number of cases of sickness from contagious disease was reported during the winter and early spring months. The school houses were all fumigated during the April vacation. The number of cases diminished in May, and since June 1 but seven cases of scarlet fever and diphtheria have been reported.
In the latter part of March the Board received a complaint of the existence of a nuisance of a very serious nature occasioned by the flowing of the meadow partially bounded by Pleasant, Broad, and Shawmut streets. A stone drain, which had served for many years to convey this water to the herring brook, had be- come entirely obstructed, and as the spring rains continued to raise the water, it flowed through manure piles and vaults, and under the buildings in such a way as to be a serious menace to the public health. Had this condition been permitted to remain until the warm weather, several of the buildings would have become unfit for occupancy. Under these circumstances it seemed almost a criminal negligence not to provide for the removal of the water, and a drain was laid of ten-inch pipe, which effectually drains the land. The cost for this work was $424.66. The cost from the street line to the pond, which was $60, was refunded by owners and tenants of the adjoining property.
GUIDE BOARDS.
We report the guide boards, which are required by law to be provided, as in a fairly satisfactory condition. Some of them will need to be repainted during the coming season.
HIGH SCHOOL BONDS.
The Selectmen and Town Treasurer of Weymouth met on July 27 in the rooms of the National Bank of South Weymouth, for the purpose of examining sealed bids for the High School Bonds of $50,000, the issue of which was authorized and directed by the town at its annual meeting held March 8, under article thirty- five of the warrant for said meeting; and it was voted to award the sale to D. W. Howland of Boston, his bid, $104.19 with $5.00 premium on the whole, being the highest for the whole issue.
14
SUITS AT LAW.
On January 1, in the year 1897, seven suits against the town were pending in the Superior Court for Norfolk, and one addi- tional suit was entered on the first Monday of October last, in the Superior Court for Plymouth, namely : that of Dennis F. Ahearn of Rockland vs. Weymouth for injury to his person and his horse, by reason of an alleged defect in Union street.
Two of these, viz : Henry C. Gardner vs. Weymouth, and Arthur Campbell vs. Weymouth, are now pending, without action having been had thereon during the last year.
The suit of David J. Pierce, administrator, vs Weymouth was terminated by an entry of "Neither Party" therein.
The suits of Margaret Sheehy, administratrix, vs. Weymouth for damages by reason of the death of her husband, and of Pat- rick Purcell vs. the same for injuries to his person, both resulting from the fall of a gravel bank at which they were working, under the direction of the Superintendent of Streets, have been settled, without trial, by the payment of $600 in the first named suit and of $350 in the second.
The defense of the suits of Catherine Tracey and of Anthony Tracey vs. Weymouth was assumed by the Braintree and Wey- mouth Street Railway Co., and the trial resulted in verdicts for the defendant.
In the suit of Ahearn vs. Weymouth a trial was had at the December sitting of the Superior Court at Brockton, in which Robert O. Harris, Esq., was counsel for the town, and a verdict was rendered for the defendant.
The various objects of appropriation, of which no special men- tion is here made, with the detailed statement of the expenditures under each, will be found in their appropriate places.
GORDON WILLIS, BRADFORD HAWES, C. E. BICKNELL, GEORGE L. NEWTON, NELSON W. GARDNER,
Selectmen of Weymouth.
AUDITORS' REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1897.
We, the undersigned, Auditors of the Town of Weymouth, hereby certify that we have verified the Town Treasurer's accounts and find vouchers filed in proper order and the books well kept.
Receipts from all sources except water account $323,007 12 Payments for the year except water
. $292,891 94 account
Overdraft Jan. 1, 1897 · 1,778 03
$294,669 97
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1898.
$28,337 15
Deposit in First National Bank $24,778 20
Deposit in Union National Bank 3,558 95
$28,337 15
We further certify that we have examined the books of the Tax Collectors, beginning with the year 1894, and report as follows : Tax books of 1894 closed, final deposit made in December, 1897.
Due from Geo. C. Torrey, 1895 $106 42
6 W. J. Dunbar, 1896. 4,094 63
6 W. J. Dunbar, 1897 . · 32,399 66
$36,600 71
16
WATER BOARD ACCOUNT.
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1897
$1,294 00
Total receipts for 1897
42,176 72
$43,470 72
Total payments for 1897
$42,719 91
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1898
$750 81
Deposit in First National Bank
$330 81
Deposit in Bank Republic
420 00
$750 81
SINKING FUND ACCOUNT.
66,000 Town of Weymouth Bonds $66,000 00
6,000 Fitchburg Railroad Bonds . 5,910 00
1,000 Town of Whitman Bonds . 1,000 00
Loans on Real Estate . 25,550 00
Deposit First National Bank, South Weymouth 4,142 33
Deposit Dedham Savings Bank
1,092 26
$103,694 59
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. E. REED, CHARLES P. HUNT,
Auditors.
TOWN TREASURER'S REPORT.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING Dec. 31, 1897.
RECEIPTS.
Received for notes given in anticipation of taxes :
March 13, notes due October 15, discounted at 3137 %
$50,000 00
April 28, note due October 12, discounted at 3.20 10
15,000 00
June 7, note due October 20, discounted at 23% 15,000 00 December 30, note due March 25, 1898, dis- counted at 3% . 20,000 00
June 8, note land damage account Union street,
due June 7, 1898, discounted at 4% 5,233 00
Premium land damage note at 120%%
13 60
Interest land damage note 1 day
58
August 5, bonds, High School Building, due July 1, 1907
50,000 00
Premium High School Building bonds at 4-19%% and $5
2,100 00
188.90
Interest High School Building bonds 1 m. 4 d. From George C. Torrey, Collector taxes and interest, 1894
417 66
From George C. Torrey, Collector taxes and in- terest, 1895
7,567 12
18
Received from Willard J. Dunbar, Collector taxes and interest, 1896 $20,691 86
From Willard J. Dunbar, Collector taxes, 1897 112,121 08 From First National Bank, interest on deposits 221 29 From Union National Bank, interest on deposits 92 43 From State Treasurer, Corporation tax, 1896 . 2,751 74
From State Treasurer, Corporation tax, 1897 . 4,224 51
From State Treasurer, National Bank tax
1,128 75
From State Treasurer, Military Aid, Chapter 279 .
364 05
From State Treasurer, State Aid, Chapter 301 From State Treasurer, burial indigent soldiers
70 00
From State Treasurer, support State paupers .
48. 37
From State Treasurer, State Highway Loan Fund
2,467 33
From County Treasurer, dog license money
1,024 37
From County Treasurer, setting bounds Union street 37 25
From Selectmen, aid refunded
612 02
From Selectmen, police service, Lovell's Grove
300 00
From Selectmen, witness fees refunded Camp- bell case
50 00
From Selectmen, witness fees refunded Purcell case
100 00
From Selectmen, sale of woodland . 885 00
From Overseers of Poor, carting wood and coal almshouse .
600 14
From Overseers of Poor, carting wood and coal engine houses 56 87
From Overseers of Poor, carting wood and coal lockups 9 63
From Overseers of Poor, aid refunded
20 00
From Weymouth Light & Power Co., rebate on lights 472 00
From individuals, hospital bills refunded 1,151 88
From A. B. Endicott, sheriff, fines at Dedham
138 00
From East Norfolk district court, fees and fines 53 46
From Abington, poor account 105 41
6,182 00
19
Received from Boston, poor account
$63 35
From Braintree, poor account
74 50
From Hanson, poor account .
151 20
From Marshfield, poor account
162 98
From Rockland, poor account
309 00
From Scituate, poor account .
34 20
From Woburn, poor account .
117 08
From Town of Hingham, tuition
42 00
From Mrs. L. F. Johnson, tuition .
20 00
From Joseph Cummings, use of scraper .
·
4 00
From Joseph Cummings, loam
30 00
From W. C. Gutterson, loam .
23 25
From Gordon Willis, wood and loam, Union St. 101 00
From George L. Newton, State Highway acct.
49 56
From Charles E. Smith, highway account
7 00
From L. W. Cain, highway account
15 00
From B. & W. Street Railway Co., highway account
7 00.
From B. & W. Street Railway Co., widening Station St. . .
58 83
From Q. & B. Street Railway Co., labor on snow
29 37
From Q. & B. Street Railway Co., drain, Jack- son Sq.
15 00
From R. & A. Street Railway Co., snow account
24 75
From R. & A. Street Railway Co., gravel 8 75
From M. C. Dizer, sidewalk account 70 00
From William H. Pratt, sidewalk account 27 00
From Joseph A. Cushing, drain, Jackson Sq. . 5 00
From James H. Flint, drain, Jackson Sq. 15 00
From James L. Lincoln, drain, Jackson Sq. 5 00
From John P. Lovell, drain, Jackson Sq.
15 00
From Cyrus Washburn, drain, Jackson Sq.
5 00
From George Healey, pool license .
2 00
From George R. Davis, slaughtering license
1 00
From John Haley, slaughtering license .
1 00
From Henry F. Lowell, slaughtering license 1 00
From A. B. Raymond, slaughtering license
1 00
20
Received from J. M. White, slaughtering license $1 00
From Ford & Co., undertaker's license . 2 00 ·
From F. L. King, undertaker's license . From[George E. Mansfield, undertaker's license
4 00
Total receipts · $323,007 12
Overdrafts in banks, Jan. 1, 1897 .
1,778 03
$321,229 09
DISBURSEMENTS.
Paid in January on 266 selectmen's orders · $14,171 45
February on 169 selectmen's orders 11,413 29
March on 218 selectmen's orders 29,558 38
April on 169 selectmen's orders .
11.537 96
May on 187 selectmen's orders
16,753 80
June on 210 selectmen's orders . ·
13,548 90
July on 241 selectmen's orders
14,370 25
August on 136 selectmen's orders
11,350 19
8,575 96
September on 112 selectmen's orders October on 213 selectmen's orders
104,082 59
November on 249 selectmen's orders 24,379 51
December on 245 selectmen's orders
33,149 66
Totalipayments on 2,415 selectmen's orders . · $292,891 94
Deposited in First National Bank $24,778 20
Deposited in Union National Bank . 3,558 95
Cash on hand, Dec. 31, 1897
$28,337 15
$321,229 09
4 00
21
ASSETS, DEC. 31, 1897.
Cash balance in Treasurer's hands $28,337 15
Due from George C. Torrey, Collector Taxes, 1895
99 56
From Willard H. Dunbar, Collector Taxes, 1896 .
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