USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1906 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20
TOWN OF WEYMOUTH
1906
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
OF THE
TOWN OF WEYMOUTH
CONTAINING THE
TREASURER'S SCHEDULE OF THE RECEIPTS REPORT OF THE TOWN ACCOUNTANT 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, Assessor's Report.
THE REPORT OF THE 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, 1906.
WEYMOUTH, MASS. : GAZETTE & TRANSCRIPT PUB. CO. 1907.
INDEX.
Town Officers .
3
Town Treasurer's Report
5
Auditor's Report
11
Statement of Appropriations
and Expenditures
127-128
Selectmen's Report
.
15
Jury list
27
Town Accountant's Report
33
Schools
33
Street Department
53
Fire Department .
78
Police Department
87
Health Department
90
Miscellaneous Account
90
Town Offices
94
State and Town Election Ex-
penses
94
State Aid
97
Military Aid .
. 101
Burial of Indigent Soldiers
101
Soldiers' Relief
102
Abatement and Remittances
of Taxes . .
104
Printing and Advertising
.
105
Memorial Day
105
Hydrants and Drinking
Fountains .
105
Electric Lighting .
106
Fogg Library Reading Room 106
Town House
106
Removing Town House
107
Old Home Week
.
107
Street Records Indexing
107
Storage Battery, Ward 2
107
Interest and Discount .
107
Notes Payable
108
Taxes Levied by State and
County
108
Town Officers
109
Deficiencies and Overdrafts 112
Town Acc't Report .- Continued.
Poor Department .
113
129
Trial Balance
·
Report of Town Clerk
131
Report of Engineers
of
the
Fire Department
. 206
Report of Inspector of Licensed
Slaughter Houses
208
Report of Lighting Committee 209
Report of Trustees of Tufts
Library
211
Report of Tax Collector .
232
Report of Assessors
233
.
Report of Committee on Re-
moval of Town House
235
Report of Committee on New
Schoolhouse at Lovell's Cor-
ner
. 237
Report of Inspector of Live
Stock
242
Report of Sealer of Weights
and Measures
242
Report of Chief of Police
243
Report of Committee on Old
Home Week .
.
251
Report of Committee on New
Schoolhouse in Ward 2
. 252
Report of Park Commissioners 255
Tufts Fund
257
Report of Water Commission-
ers
. 259
Report of Supt. of Streets
.
291
Report of Overseers of the
Poor
299
Report of School Committee
TOWN OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1906-1907.
Town Clerk.
JOHN A. RAYMOND. P. O. address, East Weymouth
Town Treasurer.
JOHN H. STETSON. P. O. address, South Weymouth
Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor. GORDON WILLIS, Chairman. BRADFORD HAWES, Clerk. P O. address, East Weymouth GEORGE L. NEWTON, ROBERT MCINTOSH, EDWARD W. HUNT.
Assessors. GILMAN B. LOUD, Chairman. JOHN W. BATES, Clerk, P. O. address, East Weymouth
HENRY A NASH, JOHN F. DWYER,
GEORGE C. TORREY.
Collector of Taxes.
WILLARD J. DUNBAR.
P. O. address, East Weymouth
Auditors.
CHARLES A. LOUD, JOHN P. HUNT, ALBERT W. MANN.
Engineers of the Fire Department.
W. O. COLLYER, Chief. P. O. address, North Weymouth
WALTER W. PRATT, Clerk. P. O. address, East Weymouth
RUPERT WALSH, DANIEL W. HART,
EDWARD E. ORR.
School Committee.
Term expires 1907
66 1907
.
66
1908
66
1908
.
.
.
66
66 1909
.
.
66 1909
Park Commissioners.
Term expires 1907 ·
.
1908
.
.
1909
Tree Warden.
P. O. address, South Weymouth
H. FRANKLIN PERRY HENRY B. REED MARY E. HOLBROOK JOSEPH A. CUSHING THOMAS V. NASH JOHN F. REARDON
FRANK H. TORREY LOUIS A. COOK WILLIAM H. CLAPP
GORDON WILLIS
.
.
Trustees of Tufts Library.
EDMUND G. BATES
.
.
.
Term expires 1907
CHARLES P. HUNT
.
.
.
66
66 1907
HERBERT A. NEWTON
66 1908
AUGUSTUS J. RICHARDS
66 1908
PRESTON PRATT
66
1908
JOHN B. HOLLAND
66
1909
LOUIS A. COOK
66
1909
JOHN B. RHINES
60
1909
Superintendent of Streets and Water.
IVERS M. LOW.
P. O. address, East weymouth
Registrars of Voters.
MARSHALL P. SPRAGUE
Term expires 1907
PATRICK E. CORRIDAN
. 66
66 1908
BENJAMIN F. SMITH
66
190
JOHN A. RAYMOND, Town Clerk (ex-officio)
Water Commissioners.
DOUGLAS M. EASTON
Term expires 1907 66
WENDELL B. CLAPP
60 1908
FRANK H. TORREY
66
1909
GORDON WILLIS, Chairman of Selectmen (ex officio)
JOHN H. STETSON, Town Treasurer (ex officio)
Commissioners of High School Sinking Fund.
WILLIAM H. PRATT
Term expires 1907
AUGUSTUS J. RICHARDS
66
66 1908
F. H. TORREY
66 1909
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
FRANK D. SHERMAN P. O. address, Weymouth
Burial Agent for Indigent Soldiers.
WILLARD J. DUNBAR. P. O. address, East Weymouth
Constables.
ISAAC H. WALKER, B. FRANK RICHARDS, ASA B. PRATT, NATHANIEL B. PEARE,
JOHN D. WALSH, GEORGE B. BAILEY,
MICHAEL ALLEN,
GEORGE W. CONANT,
THOMAS FITZGERALD,
WILLIAM F. FRENCH.
66
66 1907
CLARENCE P. WHITTLE
.
.
TOWN TREASURER'S REPORT.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1906. RECEIPTS.
Received for notes given in anticipation of taxes, discounted as follows :
March 16, due October 12 at 4.42% . ·
$50,000 00
March 16, due October 16 at 4.42%. 30,000 00 ·
May 11, due October 10 at 4.71 % 20,000 00
July 3, due March 21, 1907 at 4.45 % 10,000 00
September 29, due March 21, 1907 at 5.25% 30,000 00
June 20, note due October 8, 1908 at 4% . 7,500 00
September 6, notes due November 1, 1911 to
1914 (Pratt School House) $1000 each at 4% 4,000 00
September 15, notes due November 1, 1915 to 1923, $1,000 each at 4% 9,000 00
December 28, note due December 15, 1916 (Town-House) 4%
6,000 00
Received from :
W. J. Dunbar, Collectot, taxes 1903
281 21
W. J. Dunbar, Collector, taxes 1904
14,846 86
W. J. Dunbar, Collector, taxes 1905
26,176 85
W. J. Dunbar, Collector, taxes 1906
118,110 73
State Treasurer :
Corporation tax .
3,466 15
National Bank tax .
1,332 94
Military Aid
424 39
State Aid
8,753 00
Burial State poor
30 00
Burial indigent soldiers and sailors
175 00
Support of State poor
360 98
Tuition of pupils
90 00
Street Railway tax
1.625 07
County Treasurer, dog license fees
1,323 73
East Norfolk District Court, fees and fines
489 51
S. H. Capen, sheriff, fines at Dedham
150 00
Boston, poor account
.
.
591 36
Braintree, poor account
·
.
724 78
Easton, poor account
51 08
Hingham, poor account
192 62
.
Amount carried forward
$3,088 29
.
·
·
·
.
.
.
·
.
6
Amount brought forward
$1,319 34
Quincy, poor account
242 08
Randolph, soldiers' relief .
.
.
.
.
Southampton, poor account
1 80
Stoughton, poor account
11 37
Wellfleet, soldiers' relief
144 00
Whitman, poor account
72 00
Woburn, poor account
52 00
Accrued interest on note, $7,500, 12 days
10 00
Accrued interest on note, $4,000, 24 days .
10 67
Accrued interest on note, $9,000, 32 days.
32 00
Accrued interest on note, $6,000 13 days .
8 67
First National Bank, interest
108 37
Individuals, Aid refunded.
93 01
Individuals, board at Almshouse
17 00
Individuals, cedar posts .
6 40
F. W. Piercy, milk, Almshouse account
612 00
F. H. Chandler, milk, Almshouse account .
1,305 61
A. A. Badger, 1 cord wood, Almshouse account
8 00
George White, ¿ cord wood, Almshonse account
4 00
F. P. Fay, 3 cows, Almshouse account
100 00
F. P. Fay, 2 hogs, Almshouse account
45 00
W. T. Brown, Almshouse account
.
.
25 00
Individuals, Gypsy moth account
.
.
145 20
R. F. Pool, old material, town house.
22 00
N. J. Cronin, school house lot, Ward 2
400 00
J. F. Sheppard & Sons, school account
22 80
A. A. Badger, old typewriter
10 00
A. A. Badger, supplies
10 22
A. A. Badger, use of telephone.
2 40
F. E. Loud, old junk, school department Jordan & Co., rebate, insurance
3 00
I. M. Lowe, use of telephone
.
1 05
P. F. Hughes, for J. B Pratt place
100 00
Peter Cassato, building, Pratt place
10 00
A. A. Badger, fines
17 12
W. O. Collyer, rent engine house, Ward 1
8 00
E. E. Orr, rent of engine house, Ward 2
17 00
D. W. Hart, old reel, rent and boards
6 25
J. B. Rhines, loam .
9 50
E. S. Hunt, loam
8 75
R. W. Hunt, crushed stone
.
5 39
W. F. Kearns, crushed stone
98 43
Old Colony Ry. Co., crushed stone
304 33
A. J. Blaisden, tax release
.
8 58
Tressina Commaso, tax release
6 38
Amount carried forward
$679 91
.
35 55
.
.
.
.
.
·
.
1 50
.
.
7
Amount brought forward $3,770 81
M. E. Davidson, tax release
5 58
D. W. Ford, tax release .
7 30
John N. Newner, tax release
10 35
John N. Newner, rebate on tax
7 81
Louis Zungiebel, tax release
5 12
R. B. Worster, auctioneers license
2 00
P. A. Healey, pool license
2 00
J. A. Raymond, received for pool, billiard and bowling licenses . 36 00 ·
F. W. Hocking, slaughtering license .
1 00
J. F. Martin, slaughtering license
1 00
A. B. Raymond, slaughtering license
1 00
Louis Wald, slaughtering license
1 00
Total receipts
$349,938 85
Cash on hand January 1, 1906 .
7,782 78
Due First National Bank, overdraft .
605 21
$358,326 84
DISBURSEMENTS.
Paid on Selectmen's orders for :
Notes given in anticipation of taxes
·
· $160,000 00
Note due January 1, 1906
7,500 00
Sundry appropriations
.
·
190,826 84
Total payments
. $358,326 84
LIABILITIES.
High School Building, 4% bonds, due July 1, 1907 $50,000 00 Notes due as follows :
Washington Schoolhouse, 32%, due Jan. 1, 1907 7,500. 00
Town debt, 4%, due October 19, 1908 7,500 00
Town debt, 32%, due May 8, 1909
5,000 00
Town debt, 32%, due May 8, 1910 .
5,000 00
Shaw Schoolhouse, 32%, due Jan. 15, 1910
7,500 00
Athens Schoolhouse, 32%, ten notes, $2,500 each, due May 1, 1911 to May 1, 1920 . 25,000 00
Pratt Schoolhouse, 4%, 13 notes, $1,000 each, due November 1, 1911 to November 1, 1923 .
13,000 00
Town House, 4%, due Dec. 15, 1916
6,000 00
Anticipation of taxes, March 21, 1907
40,000 00
Susan Hunt Stetson Fund
2,500 00
Elias S. Beals Park Fund
1,000 00
$170,000 00
Amount due appropriations.
50,266 97
Amount due State, cities and towns .
908 11
Amount due First National Bank, overdraft
605 21
$221,780 29
.
.
.
.
.
.
8
ASSETS.
Due from :
W. J. Dunbar, Collector, taxes, 1904
$258 38
W. J. Dunbar, Collector, taxes, 1905,
19,968 86
W. J. Dunbar, Collector, taxes, 1906,
42,825 38
County Commissioners, account Jackson Square 726 00
County Treasurer, dog license tax
1,333 27
State Treasurer, State aid
.
.
8,943 00
State Treasurer, military aid
360 00
State Treasurer, soldiers' burials
140 00
State Treasurer, moth account
670 10
State Treasurer, poor account .
338 51
Trustees Fore River Bridge
.
2,001 82
Refund Hospital bills
.
424 35
F. H. Chandler, milk, Almshouse account
357 58
Collector's deeds
1,107 35
Boston, poor account
326 71
Braintree, poor account
.
.
38 82
Hingham, poor account
196 73
Hudson, poor account
7 32
Lowell, poor account
57 70
Medford, poor account
17 70
Norwell, poor account
4 00
Norwood, poor account
28 00
Plymouth, poor account
27 50
Rockland, poor account
50 75
Uxbridge, poor account
61 14
Woburn, poor account
48 00
Wellfleet, soldiers' relief
168 00
Randolph, soldiers' relief
72 00
Trust Funds .
3,500 00
Town House note
.
5,000 00
High School Sinking Fund
.
46,871 44
$136,495 96
Town debt, December 31, 1906
$85,284 33
Town debt, December 31, 1905
68,033 01
Increase for the year
$17,251 32
Respectfully submitted, JOHN H. STETSON,
Treasurer.
December 31, 1906.
·
565 55
Cambridge, poor account .
.
.
.
.
9
We have examined the accounts of John H. Stetson, Treasurer of the Town of Weymouth, and have found them correct.
ALBERT W. MANN, CHARLES A. LOUD, JOHN P. HUNT,
Auditors.
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING SINKING FUND.
RECEIPTS.
Received for :
Town appropriation
$3,500 00
Interest, First National Bank
·
7 73
Interest on city and town bonds
670 00
Interest on mortgage note
100 00
Interest on railroad bonds
175 00
Interest on State of Massachusetts bonds
180 00
Interest on savings banks accounts
419 92
Total receipts .
$5,052 65
Cash on hand January 1, 1906 .
241 99
$5,294 64
INVESTMENTS.
Paid on account of :
City of Boston 4% bonds, due 1936
$4,000 00
Premium on City of Boston bonds
215 00
Accrued interest on City of Boston bonds, mos. 24 ds.
50 67
Interest added to Savings banks deposits
419 92
Total payments
$4,685 59
Cash on hand December 31, 1906 .
609 05
$5,294 64
Amounts deducted :
Cash on hand January 1, 1906
$241 99
Premium account
215 00
Accrued interest
50 67
·
507 66
Increase for the year
$4,786 98
·
3
.
10
SINKING FUND INVESTMENTS.
Real Estate mortgages
$2,000 00
5,000 00
$5000 Boston & Maine R. R. 33% bonds due 1925 $6000 Commonwealth of Massachusetts 3 % bonds due 1930
5,842 50
$5000 City of Pittsfield 32% bonds due 1910
.
5,000 00
$5000 City of Taunton 32% bonds due 1912
5,000 00
$3000 City of Quincy 4% bonds due 1913
3,000 00
$2000 Town of Weymouth 4% bonds due 1914
2,000 00
$3000 Town of Weymouth 4% bonds due 1917
3,000 00
$4000 City of Boston 4% bonds due 1936 Deposited in :-
Braintree Savings Bank
1,237 21
East Weymouth Savings Bank
.
.
.
1,306 42
Hingham Institution for Savings
1,228 16
Middleborough Savings Bank
1,228 27
North Easton Savings Bank
1,255 72
Quincy Savings Bank .
1,249 58
Randolph Savings Bank
1,255 72
South Weymouth Savings Bank
1,313 05
Weymouth Savings Bank
1,345 76
First National Bank, South Weymouth
609 05
Total Fund
$46,871 44
ELIAS S. BEALS' PARK FUND.
Total Fund January 1, 1906
$1,000 00 ·
Interest, South Weymouth Savings Bank 40 40 .
$1,040 40
Paid to Park Commissioners
40 40
Total Fund in South Weymouth Savings Bank
$1,000 00
Respectfully submitted, JOHN H. STETSON, Treasurer.
December 31, 1906.
We have examined the accounts of John H. Stetson, Treasurer of the High School Building Sinking Fund and of the Elias S. Beals' Park Fund, and have found them correct.
ALBERT W. MANN, CHARLES A. LOUD, JOHN P. HUNT,
Auditors.
.
·
.
4,000 00
.
.
.
.
AUDITOR'S REFORT.
The Auditors for the year 1906, report that in compliance with the Public Statutes, they have examined the books and aecounts of the Treasurer of the Town, Treasurer of the Water Loan and Sinking Fund Commissioners, Beals' Park Fund, and Treasurer of Tufts' Library, and find proper vouchers filed for all pay- ments made.
We have examined the securities and vouchers of the Trustees of the Fogg Library, James L. Bates, Reference Room at Fogg Library, Pratt School Fund, The Tufts' Fund, and find the in- vestments satisfactory.
We find that the cash book of the Town Treasurer, and the register of the Town Accountant agree as to the amount of orders paid during the year, and also balance of orders unpaid January 1, 1907.
Balance of 1905 orders unpaid Jan. 1, 1906 $ 6,934 58 Amount of orders drawn during year 1906 358,326 84
$365,261 42
Amount of orders paid by Treasurer for 1906
$355,786 30
Balance of orders unpaid January 1, 1907 9,475 12
$365,261 42
TAX COLLECTOR.
We have examined the Tax Collector's books beginning with year 1903, and submit the following report :
1903.
Balance due Jan. 1st, 1906
$269 74
Interest collected ·
11 47
Dec. 31st, amount paid Treasurer . $281 21
12
Tax levy of 1904 as per assessors' commitment $157,065 77 Interest collected to Jan. 1st, 1907 . 2,446 69
$159,512 46
Total collections and abatements to Jan. 1, 1907 159,254 08
$258 38
Balance due Jan. 1st, 1907 ·
$258 38
NOTE - Tax collector's books show total levy of $157,066.71 for year 1904.
Tax levy of 1905, as per assessors' commitment $165,407 32
Interest collected to Jan. 1st, 1907 . 853 60
$166,260 92
Total collections and abatements to Jan. 1st, 1907
146,292 06
$19,968 86 Balance due Jan. 1st, 1907 . $19,968 86
NOTE - Tax collector's books show total levy of $165,410.37 for the year 1905.
Tax levy of 1906 as per assessor's commitment $160,823 86
Interest collected to Jan. 1st, 1907 . 112 25
$160,936.11
Tax collections and abatements to Jan.
1st, 1907 $117,822 49
Brown tail and gypsy
moth tax collected to
January 1st, 1907 . 288 24
$118,110 73
$42,825 38
Balance due Jan. 1st,
1907 ·
$42,825 38
NOTE -Tax collector's books show total levy of $160,815.70 for year 1906.
$63,052 62 Total amount due Jan. 1st, 1907. Account taxes.
13
TOWN DEBT,
Total debt, January 1, 1906 $167,500 00
Borrowed during the year in atticipa- tion of taxes 140,000 00
Notes issued during the year
26,500 00
$334,000 00
The payments were the amounts : Borrowed in anticipation of taxes
$160,000 00
Town debt .
7,500 00
$167,500 00
Total debt, January 1, 1907
166,500 00
Less High School Sinking Fund
46,871 44
Net debt, not including water bonds
$119,628 56
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, JAN. 1, 1907.
ASSETS.
Real Estate-School Houses, Public Library and other public buildings and grounds
. $263,800 00
Water works
501,910 20
Personal property-Fire apparatus and equipment of all town departments, etc.
39,183 75
Trust Funds
3,500 00
Sinking Funds-Water Works ,
228,855 77
Sinking Funds-High School Building
46,871 44
Uncollected Dues-Taxes
63,052 62
Uncollected Dues-Water Rents, etc.
1,890 91
Sundry Assets
36,421 69
Cash on hand
855 42
$1,186,341 80
LIABILITIES.
Water Bonds
. $474,000 00
Notes Payable
166,500 00
Sundry Liabilities
51,175 08
Trust Funds-Beals Park Fund
$1,000
Susan Hunt Stetson Fund 2,500
3,500 00
Net Assets .
491,166 72
·
$1,186,341 80
14
TABLE OF VALUATION, RATE OF TAXATION, EXPENDITURES, AND DEBT OF THE TOWN OF WEYMOUTH FROM JANUARY 1890 TO 1906.
YEAR.
Total Assessed Valuation May 1.
Rate of Tax per 1000.
Expenditures as per Appropriation Table, ending Jan. 1.
Net Debt, not including Water Loan.
1890
$6,441,845 00
$16 40
1891
$130,696 86
$ 66,092 00
1891
6,534,740 00
17 60
1892
124,484 94
66,092 00
1892
6,497,371 00
17 40
1893
142,564 16
85,092 00
1893
6,707,550 00
17 20
1894
120,746 84
79,592 00
1894
6,488,432 00
18 50
1895
128,588 33
76,500 00
1895
6,448,981 00
17 50
1896
144,791 52
82,500 00
1896
6,532,022 00
17 70
1897
150,461 20
82,000 00
1897
6,661,969 00
20 30
1898
176,310 41
137,000 09
1898
6,620,719 00
18 70
1899
176,119 85
127,491 33
1899
6,565,322 00
20 20
1900
161,433 62
147,365 00
1900
6,694,088 00
20 50
1901
184,205 69
144,075 82
1901
6,802,773 00
19 30
1902
162,252 07
153,618 02
1902
6,797,955 00
20 50
1903
181,769 01
140,433 30
1903
6,897,202 00
22 10
1904
171,075 00
149,150 53
1904
7,065,363 00
20 60
1905
171,484 62
132,166 22
1905
6,958,469 00
22 30
1906
185,325 71
125,415 54
1906
6,952,247 00
21 40
1007
181,920 78
119,628 56
ALBERT W. MANN, CHARLES A. LOUD, JOHN P. HUNT,
Auditors.
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
To the Citizens of Weymouth :
Your Selectmen respectfully submit their report for the year ending December 31, 1906, with the annexed schedule of receipts and expenditures, as prepared by the Town Accountant.
APPOINTMENTS.
A joint meeting of this board and the Water Commissioners was held March 26, at which Charles B. Cushing was re-appointed Town Accountant and his salary fixed as for the previous year at $1000, of which $800 was to be paid by this board and $200 by the water board.
Ivers M. Lowe was reappointed Superintendent of Streets and of Water with the same salary as for the year preceding, viz. : $1700, of which the Selectmen pay $950, and the Water Com- missioners $750.
HIGHWAY REPAIRS.
It is an increasingly difficult problem to keep up the standard of our streets with the amount which the town seems disposed to appropriate to this purpose.
We wish to call attention to the fact that while most of the main appropriations made by the town, have in the last twenty years been increased from twenty-five to fifty per centum, that for highway repairs has remained practically unchanged.
Assuming that the year 1886 was a fair average of that time, and that the last was a fair average of late years, which we believe to be the case, we find that they compare as follows :
The appropriation for 1886, including snow, was $12,844, expended, $15,011.
The appropriation for 1906, including snow, was $14,532, ex- pended, $15,029.
The appropriation for last year as quoted above, includes the Street Railway taxes of $4,950.
16
The object of the Legislature in providing that these taxes shall be used in this manner was to foster and encourage better roads, but the using it as we have of late years, to reduce the amount raised by taxation for highway repairs defeats this purpose, as the amount appropriated is no greater than when the whole was raised by taxation.
It should also be considered, that whereas in 1886 we were pay- ing $1.75 for a day of ten hours, we now pay $2.00 for eight hours ; so it will be readily seen that a given amount produces now only about three-fourths of the result it then did : or, to put it in a different way, it will take $18,750 to produce the same result in labor as was obtained twenty years ago for $15,000.
While we deprecate the constantly increasing tendency to a higher rate of taxation, we do not think our roads ought to suffer so much, that money may be spent for other purposes no more deserving.
BROAD STREET DRAIN.
The drain for which a special appropriation of $800, was made to convey the surface water from Broad street, near the house of Dr. Chase, has been completed and is doing satisfactory service so far as the weather conditions have been such as to test it.
Practically the whole of the appropriation was required to lay the drain, and the cost for the Town's part of regrading the street has been carried to the account of Highway Repairs.
DRAIN AT THOMAS' CORNER.
This drain has been completed within the appropriation, and while, as in the case of that on Broad street, there have been no conditions to give it a thorough test, we believe it will do the work designed.
COMMERCIAL STREET.
The appropriation of $2,500 for macadamising a portion of Commercial street has been worked, and a section from the junc- tion of Tremont street to a point opposite the coal yards of A. J. Richards & Son has been completed.
- This work should we think be extended to the railroad crossing.
CENTRAL STREET SIDEWALK.
This was a much needed convenience and has been worked to the amount of the appropriation, $300.
17
PILGRIM ROAD.
Work was commenced on this road at a point where it ceased last year, but when some of the abuttors learned how near it was coming to their houses they entered a protest against the work pro- ceeding ; and in order to give them an opportunity to seek redress for their grievance by petitioning for a relocation, making this part of the road thirty feet instead of forty, we discontinued the work.
We have here an excellent illustration of the evil of laying out pri- vate ways of but thirty feet width. When built upon, and petitions entered for their being laid out as town ways, if a way forty feet in width is laid out it is almost sure to work serious damage to some of the abuttors.
We think that a town by-law should be adopted forbidding the laying out of town ways of less than forty feet width.
If this is done we think it will have a tendency to prevent the laying out of these thirty-foot ways, or. at least be an induce- ment for persons building upon them to place their houses far enough back so as not to be seriously damaged when the street is widened.
PLEASANT STREET AT COLUMBIA SQUARE.
The town at its last annual meeting voted to accept the report of the Selectmen, laying out a relocation of a portion of Pleasant street at Columbia Square. The heirs of William Burrell were awarded $150, which they have accepted. Edgar S. Wright was awarded $60, and Louis A. Cook $30; both of these have declined to accept the awards made.
STATE HIGHWAY.
No contract has been submitted by the Highway Commission for the further working of Main street. As considerable repair will need to be made on this street in the near future, we think an effort should be made for its further working by the State the coming season.
STEAM ROAD ROLLER.
Under authority conferred by vote of the town at a special meeting, held May 18, 1906, we contracted with the Buffalo Steam Roller Company for a new roller, the price of which was
18
$2,950, in payment for which they were to take our old roller, allowing $750 for it, and also receive $700 cash. The further payment of $1500 is to be made on or before the first day of June, 1907.
For this payment it will be neccessary to make provision at the annual meeting.
RELOCATION OF LINES AT JACKSON SQUARE.
It was stated in the report of last year that the alterations de- creed by the County Commissioners on Broad street, Pleasant street and Commercial street, adjoining Jackson square, were completed, which was then believed to be the case : it was found, however, that a settlement for damages could not be effected with the heirs of R. V. Merchant until additional grading and concrete work was done. This work has not been performed for the reason that we were unable to find anyone to do the concrete work and consequently no settlement has been effected with the county.
FORE RIVER BRIDGE COMMISSION.
Since our last annual report the death of Judge John J. Flaherty caused a second vacancy on the Commission appointed to appor- tion the cost of construction and future maintenance of the Weymouth Fore River Bridge among the cities, towns, quasi public corporations and the County of Norfolk, as the same might be found to be specially benefitted.
Application was made to the Court for the appointment of a new commissioner, and Alden P. White, Esq., of Salem, was duly ap- pointed to fill the vacancy. The Commission as then constituted consisted of Ernest H. Vaughan, Esq., of Worcester, Prescott Keyes, Esq., of Concord and Alden P. White, Esq., of Salem. Mr. Vaughan being the only member of the original Commission.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.