USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1899 > Part 1
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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS OF HARWICH,
FOR THE YEAR
1899.
W
OF
PORATED SEPT. 14. 16
INCORPO
SE
HOIM
ADOPTED
1897.
4
EP
HARWICH, MASS. : ALTON P. GOSS, STEAM PRINTER. 1900.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THIE
TOWN OFFICERS OF HARWICH,
FOR THE YEAR
1899.
SEAL OF
ORATED SEPT. 14. 16
INCORP
94
CH
ADOPTED
4.1897.
SEP
HARWICH, MASS. : ALTON P. GOSS, STEAM PRINTER. 1900.
HARWICH INCORPORATED SEPTEMBER 14, 1694. Population by State Census, 1895, 2534.
TOWN OFFICERS Elected for the Year 1899.
TOWN CLERK AND TREASURER. Joshua H. Paine.
SELECTMEN, ASSESSORS, OVERSEERS OF THE POOR AND BOARD OF HEALTH.
1 Ambrose N. Doane, John H. Drum, Jos. K. Robbins.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
S. A. Hayward, Geo. N. Munsell, Wm. F. Sears,
Term Expires 1900
66
1901
66
66
1902
HERRING COMMITTEE.
Freeman Ryder, John E. Ryder,
Jos. N. Atkins
T. B. Baker, Jr.,
James M. Moody.
CONSTABLES.
Michael B. Chase, Roland F. Smith, Elisha H. Bearse.
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS.
Joshua H. Paine, Town Clerk, ex officio.
Ensign L. Jerauld,
Term Expires 1900
Martin L. Chase,
66
66 1901
Levi Snow,
66 1902
COLLECTORS OF TAXES.
Allen S. Megathlin, East Section
West Section
Coleman Kelley,
AUDITORS.
REPORT.
To the Citizens of Harwich :
We herewith submit to you the Annual Report and de- tailed account of the business transactions of the Town of Harwich for the year ending Dec. 31, 1899 :
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE YEAR 1899.
For Support of Poor in Almshouse, $1,250 00
Support of Poor out of Almshouse,
1,350 00
Support of Poor Insane,
250 00
Miscellaneous Expenses,
850 00
Town Officers,
1,300 00
Repairs on Public Buildings,
200 00
Board of Health,
100 00
Suppression of Crime,
50 00
Tax Abatements,
300 00
Repairs on Roads,
2,500 00
Repairs on Bridges,
250 00
Clearing Snow,
100 00
State Aid,
1,400 00
Schools,
5,000 00
School Books and Supplies,
350 00
Note No. 3 on Iron Bridge,
500 00
School Superintendent,
125 00
Repairs on Schoolrooms, &c.,
200 00
Grade Crossing, Harwich Station,
1,500 00
Salt Water Pond Improvement,
200 00
Brodbrooks Library,
100 00
Old Road at South Harwich,
40 00
$17,915 00
4
SUPPLIES FOR ALMSHOUSE, 1899.
Paid Albert Hall, Keeper's salary,
$250 00
Albert Hall, supplies bought,
78 99
Orin S. Mecarta, wood,
9 00
Moses Handren,
7 50
Jonathan Burgess, 66
20 00
Estate James S. Paine,
66
7 18
Ziba Cahoon,
5 00
David A. Eldredge,
5 00
Joshua F. Tobey,
groceries,
$55 65
Sam'l A. Ellis,
66
23 26
Samuel Moody,
23 28
Hiram L. Crowell,
23 63
Samuel J. Miles,
47 29
Warren E. Nickerson,
66
19 64
Wm. F. Sears,
24 25
Hiram E. Nickerson,
22 64
Herbert W. Bassett,
66
29 40
Sears L. Moore,
19 05
Young Bros.,
66
15 10
Alvin H. Bassett,
60
17 16
370 17
A. E. Weekes, fresh beef, &c.,
$71 98
Fred W. Baker,
29 49
E. L. Stokes,
13 26
114 73
Nathan E. Nickerson, codfish,
6 72
J. Raymond & Co.,
coal,
$21 75
W. B. Kelley,
29 50
Kendrick & Bearse,
3 50
54 75
T. R. Eldredge, grain and hay,
$72 73
Ezra Eldredge, hay, 1 69
74 42
E. Mayo, shoes, 2 00
Richard Megrand, plowing and supplies,
12 63
49 82
Leonard Clark,
5
Paid C. S. Hunt, dry goods supplies for 1899, $13 07 S. K. Sears, dry goods supplies for 1899, 2 11
$15 18
James O. Hulse, Jr., paint,
1 20
Alpheus Howes, hardware, labor, &c.,
21 04
5 00
Geo. F. Sisson, 2 pigs, C. E. Brett, clothing,
3 25
$1,063 76
Amount of appropriation,
$1,250 00
Expended,
1,063 76
Unexpended,
$186 24
Cr. Refunded by inmates, $35 00
Treasurer's account, 9 00
$44 00
Number of inmates in Almshouse Jan. 1, 1899,
12
66 taken in Almshouse during 1899, 2
-
14
Number of deaths during 1899, 3
Removed to place of legal settlement un- der Acts of 1898, Chapter 425, Section 2, 5
8
--
Remaining inmates in Almshouse Jan. 1, 1900, 6 Tramps entertained during 1899, 16 1
6
POOR OUT OF ALMSHOUSE.
Mrs. Tabitha Ferris :
J. Raymond & Co., coal, $10 89
Thomas L. Snow, wood, 1 50
Davis Lothrop, groceries, 2 00
$14 39
Emma E. Ellis :
Henry C. Robbins, groceries, $51 04
J. Raymond & Co., coal, 18 15
F. H. Small, dry goods, 4 00
S. K. Sears, dry goods, 3 00
J. K. Robbins, medical supplies, 1 50
E. Mayo, shoes,
1 00
H. S. Kelley, M.D., medicine and visits, 1899, 32 02
110 71
Edwin L. Chase : Overseers of the Poor, aid for 1899, 52 00
Aldena Eldredge :
Town of Chatham, aid for 1898, $39 00
B. D. Eldredge, medical supplies, 1899, 3 68
42 68
Alex. Chase :
Edwin B. Rogers, groceries, 1899, $53 60
Sam'l Moody, shoes, 75
54 35
Heman E. Burgess :
W. B. Kelley, coal,
$3 63
S. B. Kelley, groceries,
3 00
6 63
Manuel Gracia :
A. H. Bassett, groceries, $35 23
Levi Long, burial expenses, 17 50
52 73
Hittie Hunt :
Town aid for 1899,
48 00
7
Alpheus Doane :
S. L. Moore, groceries,
$18 00
Kendrick & Bearse, coal,
7 00
$25 00
Idella Higgins : Overseers of the Poor, aid for 1899, $48 00 Kendrick & Bearse, coal, 3 50
51 50
Mrs. Curtis Higgins :
Overseers of the Poor, aid, 1899, $60 00
Kendrick & Bearse, coal, 1899, 3 50
Louis Edmonds, medicine, 1899, 5 50
69 00
Dora O'Brien :
Town of Carver, medical aid, 1899, $22 87
T. K. Stearns, sexton, 2 00
24 87
Geo. H. O'Brien :
W. B. Baker, groceries and wood, $14 90
H. W. Bassett, 4 01
Sam'l Moody, shoes, 2 50
Alvin H. Bassett, 4 00
T. T. Nickerson, rent, 4 33
Geo. N. Munsell, M. D., 4 00
Overseers of the Poor, 2 50
36 24
John Fernand : Burial expense on child,
6 00
Lydia Robbins :
A. L. Jones, burial expense, ~ 18 00
W. H. Burnham : Town of Rochester, medical aid, 1899, 10 00
Thomas Nevis :
L. Edmonds, vaccinating, 50
Joseph Pena :
L. Edmonds, vaccinating, 50
Manuel A. Pierce :
L. Edmonds, vaccinating, 50
8
J. O'Brien :
Davis Lothrop, groceries,
$77 27
J. Raymond & Co., coal, 33 57
E. Mayo, shoes, 4 50
Sam'l J. Smith, shoes,
1 00
Thomas L. Snow, wood,
12 00
Jas. A. Baker,
3 00
$131 34
About one-half of this amount to be refund- ed by State.
Brown Simmons :
J. O. Hulse, Jr., groceries, 1899, $35 48
W. B. Kelley, coal, 7 25
J. Raymond & Co., coal, 3 63
Davis Lothrop, groceries, 1 50
E. Maya, shoes,
1 50
49 36
$804 30
Appropriation,
$1,350 00
Expended,
804 30
Unexpended,
$545 70
POOR OF OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS.
Gowell Chase :
Aid furnished on account City New Bedford, for 1899,
$96 00
Lydia Chipman :
On account City of Boston, for 1899, 13 79
Edward Jenkins :
On account Town of Falmouth, for 1899, 22 13
Eliza Harding :
On account Town of Chatham, for 1899, 20 25
-
9
J. W. Dean :
On account Town of Dennis, for 1899, $14 50 Sylvanus Crowell :
On account Town of Yarmouth, 4 50
Ruth K. Taylor : On account Town of Provincetown, 9 00
Ella McCann : On account of City New Bedford, 13 50
$193 67
No appropriation. To be refunded.
SUPPORT OF INSANE.
Nathan H. Nickerson :
Paid H. F. Washburn, preparing body for transportation, $7 00
Paid express on body, 5 00
" A. L. Jones, burial expenses at Harwich, 17 50
Paid Taunton Insane Asylum, board, etc., 16 78
$46 28
Thankful W. Chase :
Worcester Insane Asylum, board 6 months, $83 50
Expense of removing the above per- son to Harwich almshouse, 16 55
100 05
Total amount paid on account of insane,
$146 33
Appropriation, $250 00
Expended,
146 33
Unexpended, $103 67
10
There is no person now supported in a public institution for the insane at the town's expense.
The poor department of all cities and towns has in the past been a matter of considerable interest, and owing to the somewhat rapid increase of a foreign population and change recently made in the settlement laws, this department is now of considerable care to those who have these matters in charge.
The duties of the Overseers of the Poor are oftentimes perplexing, but always imperative. The necessities of the unfortunate and needy, or the criticisms of generous-minded persons in their behalf, cannot be fully met under the pres- ent statutes governing the actions of the Overseers of the Poor.
Respectfully submitted,
A. N. DOANE,
J. K. ROBBINS,
J. H. DRUM, Overseers of the Poor.
STATE PAUPERS.
Jerry O'Brien : Louis Edmonds, medical aid, 1899, $54 50
Brown Simmons :
G. N. Munsell, medical aid, 1899, $6 00
Levi Long, burial expense, 1899, 15 00
21 00
Manuel Correa :
Passage to Bridgewater,
1 40
11
Thomas Agustine :
Joshua F. Tobey, groceries, $1 00
Louis Edmonds, medicine, 1 50
Overseers of the Poor, passage to Bridgewater, 1 35
Cæsar Franks :
Levi Long, burial expense of child, $10 00
$3 85
G. N. Munsell, medicine, 3 00
13 00
$93 75
No appropriation.
Refunded by State, $22 85
Balance to be refunded by State, 70 90
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
Hall Rent :
Social Hall, Democratic caucus, September, 1898, $3 00
Exchange Hall, Republican caucus, September, 1898, 35 00
Exchange Hall, November election, November, 1898, 35.00
Exchange Hall, annual town meet- ing, Feb. 6 and 7, 1899, 70 00
Exchange Hall, Republican caucus, September, 1899, 35 00
Exchange Hall, annual state elec- tion, November, 1899, 35 00
$213 00
12
Posting Warrants :
M. B. Chase, posting town meeting warrant, for Feb. 6 and 7, 1899, $5 00
M. B. Chase, posting special town meeting warrant, Jan. 1, 1900, 3 00
E. H. Bearse, posting state election, Nov., 1899, 2 50
$10 50
Police Service :
H. H. Murphy, special police ser- vice, July 3, 1898, $2'00
Herbert O. Hulse, service on July 3 and 4, 1899, 5 00
Lorenzo F. Doane, service on July 3 and 4, 1899, 5 00
E. H. Bearse, service on July 3 and 4, 1899, 5 00
Isaiah D. Ellis, service on July 3, 1899, 2 50
Judah H. Chase, special service on July 4, 1899, 2 50
Roland F. Smith, special service on July 3, 1899, 2 50
24 50
Office supplies furnished by C. E. Brett, $1 00 66 J. K. Robbins, 7 85 A. P. Goss, printing Town Reports, '98, 117 25 60 small books, adver-
tising warrants and office supplies, 61 45 Benj. F. Bee, printing, 3 75
191 30
Louis Edmonds, service as Town Doc- tor, 3 months, $18 75
G. N. Munsell, service as Town Doctor, 9 months, 54 00
72 75
Paid for engraving front page Town Report, 1898, 1 50
13
Paid for moving safe, $1 00
J. H. Paine, expense to Boston on account bal- lot law, 4 45
M. B. Chase, service as Truant Officer to March 28, 1899, 2 00
Wm. H. Bassett, service as Truant Officer to March 28, 1899, 7 50
Book for abstract of deeds, and express, 5 25
Register of Deeds, for records, 15 00
Emulous Hall, damage to wagon on highway, 3 00
G. L. Brownell, repairs on hearse, 4 25
Allen S. Megathlin, looking up property of non- resident tax payers, 8 00
S. A. Hayward, taking school census, 1899, 14 00
Roland F. Smith, serving dog warrant, 1899, 5 00
A. L. Jones, service with hearse 35 trips, $43 75
Levi Long, service with hearse 8 trips,
10 00
53 75
A. L. Weekes, surveying, &c., 8 00
Travelling expenses of the Selectmen, Assessors, Overseers, and Board of Health,
56 55
$701 30
Appropriation,
$850 00
Expended,
701 30
Unexpended,
$148 70
ELECTION EXPENSES.
D. L. Small, Election Officer Feb. 6 and 7, '99, $3 75
N. C. Underwood, 66
2 50
James O.Hulse, Jr.,
60
66
66
2 50·
Laban Snow, 66 66 66
2 50
14
M. B. Chase, Election Officer Feb. 6 and 7, '99, $3 75
Watson W. Baker, 66
66 66 66 3 75
James R. Lothrop, 66
1898 and 1899, 5 00
Richard L. Baker, 66 Feb. 6 and 7, 3 75
November, 2 50
Norton M. Steele, 66 Feb. 6 and 7, 3 75
Wm. A. Eldredge, half day recounting ballots,
1 25
Edwin L. Eldredge, service November, 1899, 2 50
Watson W. Baker,
66
2 50
Ambrose F. Freeman, 66 November, 1898, and November, 1899, 5 00
Myron Rogers, half day February election, '99, 1 25 Freeman E. Ellis, erecting and removing booths Feb. 6, 1899, 3 00
N. C. Underwood, erecting and removing booths November, 1899, 3 00
W. B. Kelley, service as Moderator Feb. 6 and 7, 1899, 10 00
$62 25
No appropriation.
REPAIRS ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Repairs So. Harwich Schoolhouse : W. B. Kelley, lumber and brick, $24 06
James M. Moody, 4 29
W. I. Paine, mason, 8 07
$36 42
Harwich Port Schoolhouse :
W. F. Sears, building material,
$68 82
J. B. Eldredge, labor, 18 33
Wm. N. Eldredge, labor,
18 33
105 48
15
So. Harwich Schoolhouse :
Wm. F. Sears, building material, $83 75
Ebenezer Weekes,
31 50
A. E. Freeman,
18 75
W. I. Paine, mason, labor,
4 00
$138 00
High School Buildings : E. E. Bassett, repairs on bell,
6 85
$286 75
Appropriation,
$200 00
Exceeded appropriation, $86 75
Repairs dwelling house at N. Harwich, Refunded.
$13 75
CATTLE INSPECTION.
Paid J. A. Baker, salary as Cattle Inspector to March, 1899, One-half to be refunded.
$50 00
Paid on account of salary for 1899,
12 50
$62 50
SUPPRESSION OF CRIME.
Appropriation, $100 00
Unexpended.
16
SALT WATER POND IMPROVEMENT.
Committee, expenses attending hearing at Leg- islature, $46 57
Chas. H. Taylor, carriage hire, etc., Land and Harbor Commission, 4 65
Hotel Grant, entertaining the same,
3 50
Selectmen's expenses to Boston, attending hear- ing Land and Harbor Commission,
11 00
Repairs :
Lorenzo F. Doane, labor,
1 30
Ensign Rogers,
1 30
Joshua D. Allen,
60
S. J. Miles, bill of nails,
65
$69 57
· Appropriation,
$200 00
Expended, 69 57
Unexpended,
$130 43
BOARD OF HEALTH.
G. N. Munsell, certifying to death of Jos. C. Berry's child, $1 00
Paid for nursing in family of Chas E. Robbins, contagious disease, 21 00
$22 00
To be refunded.
Appropriation,
$100 00
Expended, 22 00
Unexpended,
$78 00
17
FIRE WARDS.
Expense account of Forest Fires for Year 1899.
FIRE AT NO. HARWICH AND HARWICH CENTRE APRIL 3-23.
Emulous A. Cahoon,
$1 88
J. F. Cahoon,
76
Herbert C. Cahoon,
79
Chas. A. Cahoon,
38
Joseph W. Crowell,
41
Wm. P. Nichols,
50
E. F. Nichols,
75
W. H. Nichols,
75
E. I. Bassett,
37
John Condon,
38
J. F. Bassett,
37
Roy Weekes,
38
Mike Pena,
37
Arthur Doane,
38
Dick Melaney,
37
Dan'l Thomas,
38
S. J. Walker,
1 20
Bertram Crosby,
45
W. H. Crosby,
45
Orville Crosby,
45
Ahira Chase,
38
Willie Chase,
37
Allie Chase,
38
Orick Hall,
37
Cyrus Ellis,
38
Geo. Ellis,
37
Geo. F. Ellis,
38
Bert Nickerson,
37
J. W. Chase,
75
Phillip Barrow,
38
P. H. Bassett,
37
J. W. Bassett,
38
E. E. Smith,
37
H-2
18
B. Bassett,
$0 38 37
B. A. Bassett,
S. T. Ellis,
38
Joe Silva,
37
Manuel Morris,
38
Fred Eldredge,
37
H. F. Eldredge,
38
O. L. Bassett,
37
John Saunders,
38
Nathan B. Walker,
37
Benjamin Hall,
2 00
Edwin B. Rogers,
76
Richard E. Gray,
38
A. Parker,
38
Jos. Snow,
38
Edwin L. Chase,
38
Ed. Cahoon,
68
Myron Sears,
76
Byron Nickerson,
38
Richard H. Rogers,
38
Joshua L. Baker,
38
E. Baker,
38
J. D. Baker,
38
Arthur Cahoon,
68
Marshall E. Chase,
76
Eben Phillips,
38
Jos. H. Barstow,
38
Heman B. Chase,
38
Sylvanus Chase,
38
Otis Rogers,
38
FIRE AT PLEASANT LAKE, MAY 22, 1899.
Fire at Pleasant Lake May 22, 1899, caused by railroad. Expense for labor, $22 75
SOUTH HARWICH FIRE, SEPT. 6 TO 12.
Emulous A. Cahoon and horse, $17 00
H. A. Cahoon, 6 60
19
Chester A. Cahoon,
$7 95
Jos. B. Atkins,
5 92
Geo. O'Brien,
3 15
J. F. Cahoon,
6 67
Jos. W. Crowell,
3 15
Sam'l Small,
2 70
Chas. H. Cahoon,
1 05
Jos. N. Atkins,
1 65
Wm. P. Nichols,
16 00
E. F. Nichols,
12 00
C. F. Nichols,
1 80
J. F. Nichols,
6 75
Jos. W. Chase,
12 00
Cornelius Eldredge,
6 00
Edwin Brough,
6 60
Richard Melaney,
7 50
Geo. F. Ellis,
7 20
Rufus H. Eldredge,
10 50
Benj. Bassett,
5 14
Will Hutchins,
3 00
Lewis Taylor,
3 00
Richard Gage,
9 90
Watson W. Baker,
7 65
W. H. Nickerson,
10 50
M. J. Pena,
3 60
M. A. Pena,
3 60
Mike Pena,
6 00
Alexander Chase,
4 65
Simeon Nickerson,
3 45
Arthur F. Nickerson,
9 15
Chas. R. Nickerson,
1 50
J. B. Gage,
4 50
Geo. Howland,
4 50
W. B. Taylor,
4 50
Stephen Wood,
4 50
Lewis H. Foster,
1 50
J. C. Hall,
1 50
Dan'l S. Bassett,
5 25
Wm. C. Ellis,
7 50
20
Prince E. Hall,
$4 50
3 15
6 45
Fred B. Ellis,
5 25
Jos. Gorham,
3 15
Chas. H. Allen,
3 60
James S. Baker,
6 75
O. H. Bassett,
10 20
A. E. Crowell,
3 37
Eddie G. Harding,
4 20
Fred. W. Nickerson,
3 75
Clifton C. Eldredge,
75
Frank M. Eldredge,
2 55
Frank Eldredge,
2 55
Sillman F. Smith,
11 70
James H. Ellis,
11 70
Irving Eldredge,
6 45
Thomas E. Larkin,
5 25
Benj. W. Larkin,
5 25
Wilfred H. Nickerson,
4 95
Simeon J. Walker,
8 70
Edgar F. Bassett,
4 05
Solomon T. Ellis,
7 50
Milton E. Ellis,
2 00
Herbert F. Eldridge,
3 00
Ambrose H. Freeman,
6 75
John Condon,
6 75
John F. Bassett,
3 00
Henry Small,
3 00
Milton Small,
1 50
P. O. Baker,
1 50
George Robbins,
1 50
Cyrus Chase,
1 50
Ralph Ellis,
1 50
A. L. Nickerson,
3 00
Roy Hamer,
1 50
Edmund Lee,
3 00
John Lee,
3 00
Chas. Souther, E. E. Smith, Wilbur F. Bassett,
10 50
21
Levi F. Long,
$4 50
Wm. B. Walker,
3 00
Willie Lucas,
2 00
Allie Chase,
2 00
Rob. E. Nickerson,
5 10
Wm. Chase,
1 50
Mervyn Martin,
6 75
Geo. Moody,
1 00
Chas. Smith,
3 00
Clifton C. Nickerson,
2 70
Nelson B. Wilmouth,
1 50
Rubie W. Chase,
75
David Bassett,
75
Freeman H. Rogers,
1 80
Ray W. Rogers,
2 70
Albert W. Nickerson,
5 10
Bertram D. Crosby,
2 66
Joseph Butler,
1 50
Orville Crosby,
80
Arthur Doane,
50
Ebenezer Weeks, labor $3, refreshments $6.80,
9 80
Wm. P. Rogers,
3 00
Judah H. Chase,
1 50
Benjamin Doane,
5 40
Lorenzo J. Doane,
3 60
Caleb W. Small,
7 80
Chas. Small,
5 70
Melville Small,
5 25
Harry Loveland,
1 05
Eben T. Eldredge,
1 05
Jonathan Small,
45
Samuel H. Ellis, cooked food supplied for work- men,
20 08
Prince H. Bassett,
2 25
Samuel Moody, food for laborers,
4 10
A. E. Crowell,
3 45
Joseph A. Nickerson,
2 25
Joseph D. Nickerson,
1 50
Walter Emery,
1 80
22
Sebra Taylor,
$2 10
A. S. Crowell,
90
Thomas Taylor,
60
E. L. Stokes,
60
Wilbur Stokes,
60
Alex. Julian,
1 35
Darius A. Weekes,
2 70
Chas. W. Weekes,
2 70
Spencer P. Ellis,
1 50
James H. Eldredge, West Harwich fires,
2 00
Thomas L. Snow,
75
Henry B. Ellis,
75
John Bulman,
75
I. Ellis,
75
Caleb Chase,
38
Eli E. Bassett,
4 20
Nathan E. Nickerson,
3 60
Nathan E. Nickerson, Jr.,
4 50
W. P. Nichols, East Harwich fire, Aug. 7, 1899,
2 00
A. F. Nickerson,
2 25
E. E. Smith,
1 50
Lewis Rogers,
2 25
E. F. Nichols,
3 00
E. I. Bassett,
52
Harry Young,
30
Sparrow Young,
30
Chas. Holmes,
30
R. Chase,
30
Frank Eldredge,
30
Irving Eldredge,
30
George Stearns,
30
I. B. Kendrick,
30
Abiel C. Taylor,
6 30
Jabez Crowell,
1 00
Chas. A. Nickerson,
4 50
Total,
$666 42
No appropriation.
23
Summary of Fire Wards' Account.
Fire Wards' bill for labor at North Harwich and Harwich Centre fire, Apr. 3-23,
$31 73
Fire Wards' bill for labor at Pleasant Lake May 12, 22 75
Fire Wards' bill for labor at West Harwich, June, July, August, 5 38
Fire Wards' bill for labor at East Harwich, Aug. 7, 13 92
Fire Wards' bill for labor, &c., at South Har- wich fire, commencing Sept. 6, 592 64
$666 42
Refunded on account of fire, $22.75, by N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co.
Never in the history of our town has there been such a loss on property by forest fires as in the present year. From accounts rendered by the Fire Wards there have been eight forest fires, creating a big expense to control, and in only one case is the cause of fire well known and expense paid by those who were responsible for the same. The item of ex- pense, great as it is, is but one item and to it can be added a greater and more important consideration, for it is rough- ly estimated that from 1200 to 1500 acres of woodland have been burned over, homes laid in ashes, and the fire has left in its track a hideous scar, also there has been the loss of much taxable property to the town.
The only remedy that can be applied in the future is for a more efficient organization of the Fire Ward department to meet emergencies of this kind, and above all, that every cit- izen should exercise the utmost care to guard against fires that so often start through carelessness.
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TOWN OFFICERS.
Town Officers' Salaries and Commissions for 1899 :
Paid Darius A. Nickerson, Jr., servi- ces as Selectman, Assessor, Overseer of Poor, and Board of Health, Jan., 1899, $26 25
Paid David L. Small, services as Se- lectman, Assessor, Overseer of Poor, and Board of Health, Jan., 1899, 40 75
Paid Ambrose N. Doane, services as Selectman, Assessor, Overseer . of Poor, and Board of Health, 12 months, 1899, 290 00
Paid Joseph K. Robbins, services as Selectman, Assessor, Overseer of Poor, and Board of Health, 11 months, 1899, including horse hire, 246 75
Paid John H. Drum, services as Se- lectman, Assessor, Overseer of Poor, and Board of Health, 11 months, 1899, including horse hire,
220 00
Paid John E. Hamer, Auditor, ser- vice, 1899, $7 50
$823 75
Paid Prince A. Atkins, Auditor, ser- vice, 7 50
15 00
Paid W. J. Nickerson, School Com- mittee, 1 month's service, $11 25
Paid Geo. N. Munsell, School Com- mittee, 12 months, 1899, 45 00
Paid S. A. Hayward, School Com- mittee, 12 months, 1899, 46 25
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Paid Wm. F. Sears, School Commit- tee,
$42 50
$145 00
Paid Joshua H. Paine, Registrar's ser- vice, 1899,
·$20 00
Paid Martin L. Chase, Registrar's ser- vice, 1899, 21 75
Paid Ensign Jerauld, Registrar's ser- vice, 1899,
18 75
Paid Levi Snow, Registrar's service,
20 00
80 50
Paid Chas. D. Hall, premium for col- lection of taxes, west section, 1897,
$144 78
Paid Allen S. Megathlin, premium for collecting taxes, east sec- tion, 1897,
189 70
334 48
Expended, Appropriation,
$1,398 73
1,300 00
Exceeded appropriation,
$98 73
BROADBROOKS LIBRARY.
Paid to A. L. Weekes, Treasurer, per appropriation, $100 00
STATE AID.
Paid to Beneficiaries under Chap. 301, Acts of 1894, $1,582 00
To be refunded. Appropriation, $1,400.00.
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SCHOOLS.
Paid on account of Schools, Books, Supplies, Repairs and Superintendent's salary :
Per bills on file and orders drawn,
$7,134 96
Appropriation for schools,
$5,000 00
School books and supplies,
350 00
Repairs on school rooms,
200 00
Superintendent's salary,
125 00
5,675 00
Exceeded appropriation, $1,459 96
For other items of credit available for schools, see School Committee's Report.
STATE HIGHWAY.
Selectmen's travelling expense to hearings in Boston, Mar. 6 and Aug. 7, 1899, $17 45
Paid D. M. Nickerson, Jr., for obtaining release from land abuttors, 7 00
$24 45
It is a well known fact that Harwich was one of the first towns to petition the board of Highway Commissioners for an allotment of highway under state construction ; unsuc- cessful at first, it is very gratifying to know the Commis- sioners have at last given some attention to our need for good roads, and have commenced to carry on the work. Early this season a hearing was granted to some of the Cape towns by the Commission; later on said board visited Harwich to look over the situation, followed by a thorough
27
survey, and in June the Highway Commission completed their work of alloting some $450,000, under state appro- priation, to the various cities and towns of the Common- wealth, and Harwich received under such allotment the sum of $3,500 for highway construction. In expending this amount the Commission called for contract proposals, which were made, accepted, and under supervision of an assistant state engineer, a road has been laid down, commencing at the Dennis line on the lower County road in West Harwich, and extending to the iron bridge on Herring river, a dis- tance of from thirty-five to thirty-seven hundred feet. Ample drainage has been provided for along the line of this high- way in the way of sink basins and drains, and the bed of said road has been put down 15 feet wide, filled with a good quality of crushed stone, and covered with screening ; depth of fill at centre of road 53 inches, shoulders from 3} to 4 inches ; then well rolled with a 12-ton steam roller into a condition very satisfactory for a road so recently con- structed.
The method of carrying on this work and depth of mate- rial used differs somewhat from the work done formerly by the Commission, when building roads in other Cape towns, when it was deemed necessary to make a greater depth of fill, and to use different sizes of crushed stone in building the roadbed up and surfacing the same.
Quoting from ideas advanced by the Commissioners at a recent hearing, would say, "The practical experience gained in constructing highways in the Cape towns having a soil similar to ours, has shown that the present method of con- struction is well able to meet all requirements of travel in such localities, and is considered to be very near the stand- ard of a road that will be considered practical for our kind of soil and needs."
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At a recent hearing, in report of the Commission, it was very gratifying to learn that the Board considered the work in Harwich as unfinished, and it is well known that plans are being made to carry on the work and extend the highway east from the iron bridge in the near future.
GRADE CROSSING.
Land damage :
Paid estate W. E. Nickerson, 1899, $30 00
Estate Geo. F. Kelley, 1899, 7 00
$37 00
Refunded by N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co., (see Treas- urer's report, including land damage paid in 1898 of $30.)
In the matter of the alteration of the Grade Crossing in Harwich on the line of the N. Y., N. H. & H. Railroad, and acting under the laws governing the adjustment of cost to Overhead Bridge construction, Chapter 428, Acts of 1890, as amended in Chapter 283, Acts of 1893, the decree of the Court accepting the first report of the Auditor and ordering payment thereon, was filed at the State Treasurer's office May 20, 1899 ; whereby it appears the total cost of the con- struction of said overhead bridge was $15,264.23, the pay- ment of which is assessed in the following ratio : N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co., 65 per cent. cost, County 25 per cent., Town of Harwich 10 per cent., or $1,526.42. This amount was primarily paid by the Commonwealth, and the State is entitled to recover from our town the same, or $1,526.42, in such yearly payments as the State Auditor shall deter-
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