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TOWN OF WEYMOUTH
1900
PROPERTY OF THE
TUFTS LIBRARY
WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
W.C. Ref
Added
May 8, 1939
Class No.
352
1900
Author
Weymouth, Mass.
Title
Town report
ept in care
THE TUFTS LIBRARY 3 1648 00240 7376
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
3704
OF THE
TOWN OF WEYMOUTH
SSAGUSSET 1623
WE
LABORARE
EST VINCERE
MASSACHUSETTS
.1635.
.0061.
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,
THE REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE, THE STATISTICS OF 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 December 31, 1900.
WEYMOUTH, MASS. : WEYMOUTH AND BRAINTREE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1901.
252 1900
TOWN OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1900-1901
Town Clerk. JOHN A. RAYMOND. P. O. address, East Weymouth. Town Treasurer. JOHN H. STETSON. P. O. address, South Weymouth. Selectmen. GORDON WILLIS, Chairman. BRADFORD HAWES, Clerk. P. O. address, Porter. GEORGE L. NEWTON, NELSON W. GARDNER, JOHN F. DWYER. Overseers of the Poor. GORDON WILLIS, Chairman. BRADFORD HAWES, Clerk. P. O. address, Porter. GEORGE L. NEWTON, NELSON W. GARDNER, JOHN F. DWYER. Assessors. WILMOT CLEVERLY, Chairman. JOHN W. BATES, Clerk. P. O. address, East Weymouth.
FRANCIS H. COWING, GILMAN B. LOUD GEORGE C. TORREY. Collector of Taxes.
WILLARD J. DUNBAR. P. O. address, East Weymouth.
Auditors. WALTER L. BATES, HENRY A. NASH, JR., G. EVERETT REED. Engineers of the Fire Department. EDWARD FAHEY, Chief. W. O. COLLYER, Clerk. P. O. address, North Weymouth. J. RUPERT WALSH, WILLIAM H. HOCKING, OTIS CUSHING.
School Committee.
GEORGE C. TORREY Term expires 1901
H. FRANKLIN PERRY
1901
JOSEPH CHASE, JR.
66 66 1902
GEORGE L. WENTWORTH (appointed)
66
66 1901
WILLIAM A. DRAKE
66
1903
BRADFORD HAWES
66 1903
MAY 8 1939
Park Commissioners.
LEVI B. CURTIS
Term expires 1901
LOUIS A. COOK
·
66
1903
Trustees of Tufts Library.
VEDMUND G. BATES
Term expires 1901
FRANK H. MASON
1901
CHARLES P. HUNT .
1901 JAMES HUMPHREY . 76 erbest A. Neuston ..
1902
AUGUSTUS J. RICHARDS ·
66
1902
VPRESTON PRATT
66
1902
VJOHN B. HOLLAND .
.
66 1903
LOUIS A. COOK
66 1903
VJOHN B. RHINES
66
66
1903
Registrars of Voters.
DAVID S. MURRAY .
Time expires 1901
PATRICK E. CORRIDAN .
66 1902
BENJAMIN F. SMITH
66
66 1903
Water Commissioners.
THOMAS H. HUMPHREY .
Time expires 1901
AUGUSTUS J. RICHARDS
.6
1902
HENRY A. NASH
66
66 1903
GORDON WILLIS, Chairman of Select- men (ex-officio ). JOHN H. STETSON, Town Treasurer ( ex-officio. )
High School Sinking Fund Commissioners.
THOMAS H. HUMPHREY .
Term expires 1901
AUGUSTUS J. RICHARDS ·
66
66 1902
HENRY A. NASH
66
1903
Constables.
ISAAC H. WALKER, B. FRANK RICHARDS, ASA B. PRATT, NATHANIEL B. PEARE, THOMAS FITZGERALD,
JAMES T. PEASE, GEORGE B. BAYLEY,
GEORGE F. MAYNARD, MICHAEL ALLEN,
GEORGE W. CONANT.
·
.
.
·
1902
WILLIAM H. CLAPP .
.
INDEX.
PAGE.
Assessors' Report
124
Auditors' Report . . .
13
Committee on School House at Nash's Corner, Report
157
Committee on Town Offices, Report
156
Fire Department, Engineer's Report
153
Jury List .
.
119
Overseers of the Poor, Report of
129
Almshouse, Expense of .
132
Assistance to Poor Out of Almshouse
143
Inmates of Almshouse
141
Inventory of Property of Almshouse Receipts
139
Report of Special Officers
126
Selectmen, Report of
6
Bills Payable (Notes Approved)
105
Election Expenses
·
.
74
Electric Lighting, Expense of
104
Fire Department, Expense of .
86
Highways, Townways and Bridges, Expense of .
.
47
Hingham and Quincy Bridges
59
Hydrants and Drinking Fountains, Expense of .
104
Interest and Discount
103
Memorial Day, Expense of
105
Military Aid
83
Miscellaneous Expenses
69
Police Department, Expense of
.
95
Police at New Downer Landing
99
.
.
.
137
Park Commissioners, Report of .
.
.
159
School Committee, Annual Report of (Appendix)
1
.
PAGE.
Printing and Advertising .
102
Protection of Fish and Game
99
Public Parks
100
Reading Room, Fogg Library, Expense of
101
Remittance and Abatement of Taxes
102
Schools, Support of
24
Snow, Removal of
55
Soldier's Relief
.
84
Special Highway Apropriations
59
State Aid
80
State, County, National Bank and Corporation Tax
104
Statement of Appropriations and Expenditures
115-116
Town House . 100
Town Officers, Expense of
107
Trial Balance .
113
Tufts Library, Expense of
101
Town Clerk, Report of
162
Births, Registry of .
162
Deaths, Registry of .
173
Marriages, Registry of
166
Town Records for 1900
185
Town Treasurer's Report
16
Tufts Fund, Receipts and Payments of .
117
Tufts Library, Trustees' Report
223
Treasurer's Report .
232
Water Commissioners, Report of .
237
Engineer, Report of .
268
Expenditures and Receipts
241
. Sinking Fund Account
260
Statement
256
Superintendent, Report of
262
Water Account, Town Treasurer's Report .
258
.
.
.
·
-
.
.
.
.
.
·
.
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
The Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth submit herewith their annual report, together with a statement in detail of the expendi- tures under the several appropriations for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1900.
HIGHWAYS.
The office of Superintendent of Streets was again filled by the appointment of Nelson W. Gardner, and at his request the several members of the board assumed the supervision of the highway work in their respective wards.
We have sought to at least maintain the fairly good condition in which our streets, as a whole, were found at the beginning of the season, and in this endeavor have, as we believe, been fairly successful. It is not easy, in fact we believe it is not possible, to keep the streets of the town up to the modern requirements of a highway with the amount of repairs limited to $10,000. The call of the bicycle riders, uttered for several years for good roads, has been an important factor in the general movement for im- proved highways. Automobile travel is now with us and takes up the cry, but there is yet another, and perhaps more important consideration which has to be taken into account. We refer to the constantly increasing weight of the loads carried, and which those who move them expect to find roads capable of supporting, at all seasons of the year.
It was but a few years ago that the maximum weight of loads commonly carried over our streets would not exceed three tons, and when a ton to a horse was considered a heavy load. But now it is not unusual to see loads of four tons drawn by a single pair of horses, and there are streets in town over which it is not uncommon to see loads of six or eight tons drawn, in fact where it is a daily occurrence for portions of the year.
We have expended upon repairs $11,361.66, and we feel that there has been no work done which ought to have been left un- done, and if in doing this we have gone $1,361.66 over the appro- priation, we call attention to the fact, that with an eight hour day, if the same work is to be accomplished which has heretofore been done, a greater amount must be expended.
7
The tax on street railways, imposed by the act of 1898, which amounted this year to $2,781.83, is required by the law to be used for highway purposes, which is contrary to the impression which prevailed last spring, and no appropriation was made by the town of this tax. It will cover the overdraft on highway re- pairs, which together with the probable needs of the department to the end of the financial year will be about $1,600; leaving $1,181.83, which may be applied toward the cost of the crusher. The balance of this cost, $367.17, can be appropriated from the tax of 1901. which, assuming the tax to be the same as for last year, will leave $2,414.66, which can be appropriated toward the high- way repairs for the ensuing year. If the town raises $9,000 for this purpose, making the appropriation in all $11,414.66, it should be sufficient to keep the streets up to the present standard ; and we do not see how it can be accomplished for a less amount.
REMOVAL OF SNOW.
The cost for the removal of snow has been unusually light, which, when the excessive cost of the two previous years is con- sidered, is especially gratifying. The amount is $711.75.
We have recovered from the street railway companies for work on their account during the winter of 1899 and 1900, $650.
SPECIAL HIGHWAY APPROPRIATIONS.
An unusual number of special appropriations have been worked and these with three exceptions were done practically for the amounts appropriated. In changing the grade of a portion of Washington street, in ward 4, an unexpected amount of ledge was encountered, and also a bed of sand which it became neces- sary to remove for the length of one hundred feet, to a sufficient depth to secure a stable road bed, and to fill with stones, thus occasioning the expenditure of $175.82 above the appropriation.
In the working of the Broad street and Commercial street Macadam jobs, when the bills are all in, about $150 additional will be needed on each. Of the streets which have been accepted by the town there remain to be worked, Lawton street and a por- tion of Centre street.
STONE CRUSHER.
An opportunity was afforded of procuring a stone crusher on favorable terms, and with the amount which could be saved on the Macadam work by so doing, we felt that it would be advan- tageous to the town to make the purchase, which was accordingly done. Two sets of bins were constructed, one on East street in ward 2, and one on Main street in ward 3 The whole cost of crusher and bins has been $1,549.02. With the increasing scarcity of good road gravel in these sections of the town, the
8
possession of a crusher in the near future seemed a necessity, and under these circumstances we felt justified in making the purchase.
Of the above cost $462 was paid the Old Colony Broken Stone Company for the crusher and bins as they stood on their property. The cost of moving so much heavy material was con- siderable, some new parts and material which it became necessary to purchase, making the amount as stated. Including in the pur- chase was 100 tons of broken stone.
QUINCY BRIDGE.
We suppose that it is generally understood that a movement was inaugurated a year ago by the Fore River Engine Works for the construction of a new bridge over Fore River, between North Weymouth and Quincy Point, with a draw wide enough to pass the largest ships they will be likely to make at their yards. This resulted in the enactment of a law authorizing the construction of such a bridge. We were present at all of the hearings of the Legislative committee having the matter in charge, and endeav- ored to guard the interests of the town to the best of our ability. The act provides that the County Commissioners of Norfolk County shall have charge of the construction, and the cost in the first instance shall be met by the county, the Commissioners being authorized to borrow money for that purpose to the amount of $100,000. After the work is completed they are to file their report with the Clerk of Courts, and the Superior Court is to appoint a board of three commissioners, who shall, after proper notice, and hearing of parties interested, assess the amount paid for construction upon such cities, towns and quasi public corpo- rations as they shall determine are specially benefited by such bridge, and in such amounts as they shall determine to be fairly proportionate to the special benefits conferred by said bridge upon the cities, towns and corporations so assessed. This award and determination of the commissioners, when reported in writing to the Superior Court of Norfolk County, and upon judgment or decree thereon, shall be binding upon all parties named therein.
Two hearings have been given by the County Commissioners, at both of which we have been present, and the demand seems to be for a steel bridge, forty feet wide, the opening of the draw to be one hundred feet.
We understand that the commissioners have decided that the bridge cannot be built for the amount named, and will so report to the Legislature, in which case the whole question may be opened up anew.
In our opinion a bridge thirty feet in width would answer all purposes for many years, and we believe that the representatives of the town should oppose any effort which may be made to have the amount increased to more than $100,000, as this amount,
9
economically expended, will, we believe, be sufficient to con- struct a bridge of as great capacity as the conditions of travel thereon require, with a draw one hundred feet wide.
We have written thus fully on this matter because we con- sider that it is one which may vitally concern the financial in- terests of the town, inasmuch as there is a strong disposition on the part of towns, which it seems to us ought to bear a portion of this cost, to escape from doing so, in which, if they succeed, we shall be left with a very large proportion assessed upon us.
This is a matter of the more importance because not only the cost of construction is to be considered, but also the future main- tenance of the structure. We seek, therefore, to impress the importance of not only the Selectmen and Representative to the General Court interesting themselves in this matter, but that all citizens who have an interest in the welfare of the town do so.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The year has been one of unusual demands upon the depart- ment by reason of the number and destructiveness of forest fires during the extremely dry weather of the last autumn, especially. in the south part of the town; so that the appropriation has been inadequate for the completion of the year, $1036.56 having been expended in excess of the appropriation.
POLICE.
The police department has been conducted upon practically the same lines as for the preceding year.
Three night patrols were appointed for service in Wards 2, 3 and 5, comparatively little having been expended for service in other portions of the town.
The suppression of the illegal sale of intoxicating liquors has remained in the efficient hands of Officers Butler and Fitzgerald, who have also done much other effective work, and whose report appears on another page.
Our police force is small for a town of our size, but will admit of no extension with present outlay.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
In accordance with the vote of the town at its last annual meeting, the arc light at Naslı's Corner has been exchanged for three incandescent lights, one of which has been placed on High- land Place, so that we now have thirty-two arc, and 280 incan- descent lights for which we continue to pay $70 and $17 each respectively.
10
We have observed the street lights in other towns, and we believe that our service now compares favorably with any of the neighboring towns.
We believe that the company has made an earnest and honest effort to improve the service. They have had the old type generators removed, and replaced them by the latest three phase, alternating current generators, using only one type of generators for all kinds of service, which makes a much more flexible and reliable system.
The changing of generators and system made it necessary for the company to replace all their arc lamps, for the latest enclosed constant current lamp. This lamp appears to burn much more steadily than the old ones, and we notice little of the flashing, which was such a constant cause of complaint with them.
Individual lamps were out more than it seemed to us was war- rantable, during the first part of the year, a fact to which the attention of the company was called, and an expert from the lamp factory was procured by them, who gave the lamps a thorough overhauling, testing and adapting each lamp to the con- ditions of the Weymouth circuits ; so that the service is now, in our opinion, much improved, and so far as we observe or hear, is quite satisfactory.
STREET RAILWAYS.
The street railway companies who had tracks in the town have all come under the control of, and been consolidated with the Brockton Street Railway company. Considerable advantage is secured to the patrons of the street railways by this consolida- tion.
When the Railroad Commissioner had the matter under advise- ment, we appeared at the hearing and urged one fare to all parts of the town; this arrangement was effected and has now gone into operation. It is of special advantage to the High School children from Weymouth and South Weymouth, who are now taken by transfer on the Quincy cars to the schoolhouse.
A location was granted the South Shore and Boston Company, before the consolidation, upon Pleasant street from Water to Commercial street, also upon Iron Hill street, from Pleasant street to the old Iron Mill, which they have purchased and put in repair, and which will be used for a general repair-shop. The granting of this location on Iron Hill street will necessitate some change in this portion of the street, which will be reported to the town for relocation.
An application has been received from the Holbrook and Wey- mouth Street Railway Company for a location from the Holbrook town line to Columbian Square, and a hearing has been held, but no action yet taken.
11
BILLS PAYABLE.
There have been paid, not including two notes of $20,000 each, given for money borrowed in anticipation of taxes, two notes as follows : One of $15,000 and one of $14,000, the first of which was provided for by issuing two notes, payable Jan- uary 1, 1906 and 1907 respectively, and the second by raising $4,000, and issuing two notes of $5,000 each, payable 1909 and 1910 respectively. The amount of notes and bonds out- standing against the town, not including three notes for $40,- 000, given for money borrowed in anticipation of taxes, is $115,000.
It will be necessary to provide for the payment of one note of $10,000, becoming due December 30, 1901, and one note of $5,000 becoming due January 15, 1902.
TOWN OFFICES.
The committee appointed at the last annual meeting, reports no progress in the matter of town offices.
If the town fails to take definite action at the March meeting it will become necessary for the Selectmen to provide additional safe room, either by enlarging that at the Town House, or other- wise.
GUIDEBOARDS.
The guideboards, which are required by law to be maintained by the town, are, in general, in good condition. Some of them will need to be renewed the coming season.
SUITS AT LAW.
No action has been taken in the case of Henry C. Gardner vs. Weymouth during the year, and no hearing has been held in the suit of M. C. Dizer and others vs. Weymouth. The suits of Willie J. Loring, of Braintree, and of Jennie I. Loring, his wife, vs. the Inhabitants of Weymouth, were commenced December 27, 1899, and entered in the Superior Court for Norfolk County on February 5, 1900, and are still pending without trial. The first plaintiff claims damages for medical attendance and loss of serv- ices of his wife, resulting from injuries received by her on alight- ing from a street railway car on Commercial street, near the Brain- tree line ; and the second plaintiff claims damages for personal injuries alleged to have been received by her, as above stated.
The town denies liability, and we expect our contention to be sustained.
The suit of Bridget E. Healey vs. Weymouth was entered in the Superior Court for Norfolk County, on June 4, 1900, in which
12
she claimed damages for injuries resulting from a fall on Lake street, caused by the projection above the surface of the sidewalk of the " shut off" of a water pipe. This claim was settled with- out trial by the payment of $125.
Mr. Charles M. Bryant of Quincy, in August last, claimed dam- ages from the town for injuries to his land abutting on Washing- ton street, near Whitman's Pond, caused by the lowering of the grade of that street, and application has been made to the Select- men to assess his damages, resulting from such change, as author- ized by statute, but no hearing has been held.
METROPOLITAN PARKS AND BOULEVARDS.
The commissioners appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court under the provisions of Chap. 550, of the Acts of 1896, notified the several cities and towns embraced in the Metropolitan Park District that they would be heard by that board during the sum- mer months upon the question of the proportions in which each of said cities and towns shall pay money into the treasury of the Commonwealth, each year for five years, to meet the interest, sinking fund and cost for such year, and Louis A. Cook, Esq., was designated for that duty, and ably represented the town before the commissioners.
GORDON WILLIS, BRADFORD HAWES, GEORGE L. NEWTON, NELSON W. GARDNER, JOHN F. DWYER,
Selectmen of Weymouth.
AUDITORS' REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1900.
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.
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1900 . . Receipts from all sources except water account
$ 6,843 62
331,198 07
$338,041 69
Payments for the year 1900, except water account .
$331,891 17
Balance on hand Jan 1, 1901
$6,150 52
Deposit in First National Bank $4,775 40
Deposit in Union National Bank 1,375 12
$6,150 52
We further certify that we have examined the books of the Tax Collector, beginning with the year 1897, and report as follows : Taxes due from W. J. Dunbar, for year 1897 . $ 18 05
Due from W. J. Dunbar, for year 1898 271 92 Due from W. J. Dunbar, for year 1899 12,889 35
Due from W. J. Dunbar, for year 1900 37,833 84
Interest due on unpaid taxes Jan. 1, 1901 1,573 06
$52,586 22
14
WATER BOARD ACCOUNT.
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1900
$427 38
Total receipts for the year 1900- ·
42,314 03
$42,741 41
Total payments for the year 1900
39,968 09
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1901
$2,773 32
Deposit in First National Bank
$1,913 32
Deposit in National Bank Republic . 860 00 ·
$2,773 32
SINKING FUND ACCOUNT.
75,000 Town of Weymouth Bonds, 4% · $75,000 00
6,000 Fitchburg Railroad Bonds, 4% 5,910 00 ·
1,000 Town of Whitman Bonds, 4% 1,000 00
Loans on Real Estate .
50,600 00
Deposit in Abington Savings Bank
1,061 20
In Dedham Savings Bank
1,230 02
In Weymouth Savings Bank .
1,050 80
In South Weymouth Savings Bank
.
1,043 04
In East Weymouth Savings Bank .
1,061 60
In Quincy Savings Bank
1,061 20
In First National Bank, South Weymouth
1,631 03
$140,648 89
BEALS PARK FUND.
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1900 .
$1,092 00
Received interest
. .
36 54
Paid Park Commissioners
113 54
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1901
.
$1,015 00
.
.
$1,128 54
15
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING SINKING FUND.
Loans on Real Estate .
$3,700 00
Deposit in Hingham Savings Bank 1,000 00
In South Weymouth Savings Bank
1,050 82
Weymouth Savings Bank
1,061 20
East Weymouth Savings Bank
1,300 20
Quincy Savings Bank .
1,000 00
North Easton Savings Bank .
1,000 00
Randolph Savings Bank
1,000 00
Middleboro Savings Bank
1,000 00
Braintree Savings Bank ·
1,000 00
First National Bank, South Weymouth .
581 96
$13,424 18
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER L. BATES, HENRY A. NASH, JR., GEORGE E. REED.
Auditors.
TOWN TREASURER'S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1900.
RECEIPTS.
Received for notes given in anticipation of taxes, discounted as follows :-
March 13, notes due Oct. 15, at 3.56% · $60,000 00
May 5, notes due Oct. 15, at 3.24% 20,000 00
June 20, notes due Nov. 15, at 2.93% . 10,000 00
Aug. 21, notes due March 20, 1901, at 3.45%
15,000 00
Nov. 14, notes due March 20, 1901, at 3.30% 20,000 00 Dec. 28, notes due March 20, 1901, at 3.34% 5,000 00 Jan. 1, notes due Jan. 1, 1906, interest at 3.50% 7,500 00
Jan. 1, notes due Jan. 1, 1907, interest at 3.50%
7,500 00
Premium on above named notes
17 40
May 8, note due May 8, 1909, interest at 3.50% .
5,000 00
May 8, note due May 8, 1910, interest at 3.50% , ·
5,000 00
Premium on above named notes
200 00
June 20, note due June 15, 1910, interest at 3.50% 7,500 00
Premium on above named note .
184 80
Accrued interest on above named note 3 64
17
Received from-
Trustees of Tufts Library, the Susan Hunt Stetson Fund $2,500 00
W. J. Dunbar, collector, taxes, 1897 25 50
W. J. Dunbar, collector, taxes, 1898 12,035 57
W. J. Dunbar, collector, taxes, 1899 22,932 36
W. J. Dunbar, collector, taxes, 1900
108,232 59
State Treasurer, corporation tax, 1899 2,254 87
State Treasurer, corporation tax, 1900
2,379 38
State Treasurer, national bank tax
1,152 22
State Treasurer, street railway tax
2,781 83
State Treasurer, military aid, Chap. 372, Acts 1899 389 00
State Treasurer, state aid, Chap. 374, Acts 1899
7,124 00
State Treasurer, state aid, Chap. 561, Acts 1898 168 00
State Treasurer, aid to state paupers .
427 75
State Treasurer, burial state paupers .
15 00
State Treasurer, burial indigent soldiers
105 00
County Treasurer, dog license money
1,052 23
Selectmen, aid refunded
106 00
Individuals, board at almshouse
135 44
Individuals, for hospital bills refunded
1,166 09
Abington, poor account
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