USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1874-1877 > 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 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
ROBBINS LIBRARY, ARLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 3 4860 00739 3553
Property of
Robbins Library
Arlington, Mass.
Founded by DR. EBENEZER LEARNED, 1835 Endowed by
DR. TIMOTHY WELLINGTON, 1853 NATHAN PRATT, 1875 HENRY MOTT, .1889 ELBRIDGE FARMER, 1892
Building Erected by
MARIA C. ROBBINS in memory of ELI ROBBINS, 1892
Arlington, Mass. Selectmen.
REPORTS
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF ARLINGTON
For the Year ending Dec. 31, 1874.
ALSO
.A LIST OF THE TOWN, COUNTY, AND STATE TAXES
ASSESSED FOR THE YEAR 1874.
CAMBIOJCI
INCORP INGS
ARLINGTON"
OPVCNAT
HEREDITAS
BOSTON : D. F. JONES & CO., PRINTERS, 31 EXCHANGE STREET. 1875.
Ref. BASEMENT COLLECTION 192454 974.44 Arlington C3
recented to Avbryta Public being October 888, 6 Mia Elle Stone fretus
REPORTS
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF ARLINGTON
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1874.
ALSO
A LIST OF THE TOWN, COUNTY, AND STATE TAXES
ASSESSED FOR THE YEAR 1874.
INCORP TRIL
HERCDITAS
. BOSTON : 1 D. F. JONES & CO., PRINTERS, 31 EXCHANGE STREET. 1875.
G
1874. TOWN OFFICERS.
SELECTMEN, OVERSEERS OF THE POOR, AND SURVEYORS OF HIGHWAYS.
JOHN SCHOULER, JAMES DURGIN, WILLIAM G. PECK.
ASSESSORS. HENRY MOTT, THOMAS P. PEIRCE. B. DELMONT LOCKE.
TOWN CLERK, TREASURER, AND COLLECTOR,
From Jan. 1 to June 1, JOHN F. ALLEN.
For the unexpired term, B. DELMONT LOCKE.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
J. T. TROWBRIDGE,
CHARLES E. GOODWIN,
AMOS, HARRIS,
JOHN H. HARDY,
" two 66
WILLIAM E. PARMENTER,
66
66
DANIEL R. CADY,
"
one 66
66
HENRY SWAN,
ALFRED HOBBS,
for three years.
66
66
JOSIAH CROSBY, 66
66
4
TOWN OFFICERS.
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
B. POLAND,
WALTER RUSSELL,
GEORGE HILL,
for two years. " one year. " three years.
AUDITORS.
CHARLES O. GAGE, GEORGE M. MORSE.
CONSTABLES.
JOHN H. HARTWELL, MICHAEL WAUGH.
SEXTON.
JOHN H. HARTWELL.
FENCE VIEWERS.
WARREN RAWSON, SAMUEL E. KIMBALL.
FIELD DRIVERS.
JOHN PEABODY, MATTHEW ROWE, MARK A. RICHARDSON.
MEASURERS OF WOOD.
MATTHEW ROWE, GRENVILLE P. PEIRCE, THOMAS H. RUSSELL.
MEASURERS OF STONE AND GRAVEL.
JESSE BACON, JOHN WINN.
5
TOWN OFFICERS.
SURVEYORS OF PAINT AND PLASTERING.
HENRY J. BACON, J. WILLARD RUSSELL, GEORGE D. TUFTS.
SURVEYORS OF LUMBER.
JAMES M. CHASE, EDWARD STORER, JAMES BASTON.
SEALERS OF LEATHER.
THOMAS RAMSDELL, HOWARD W. HILL.
TOWN WEIGHER. L. C. TYLER.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
JOSEPH A. MERRIFIELD.
CLERK OF THE MARKET.
JOHN REDMAN.
TRUANT OFFICERS. 1
MICHAEL WAUGH, JOSIAH CROSBY, JOHN H. HARTWELL, MATTHEW ROWE.
FISH PRESERVERS. ABNER P. WYMAN, JAMES DURGIN, JOSIAH CROSBY.
6
TOWN OFFICERS.
COMMITTEE ON CEMETERIES.
J. W. PEIRCE, SAMUEL G. DAMON, SAMUEL S. DAVIS, MATTHEW ROWE, MARCUS MORTON.
ENGINEERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ALFRED HOBBS, Chief. JOSEPH SINCLAIR, JAMES DURGIN, Assistants. WILLIAM G. PECK.
POLICE.
JOHN H. HARTWELL, B. F. DURGIN.
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
THE Selectmen, in accordance with usage and the express vote of the town, herewith respectfully submit a detailed report of their doings during the financial year ending Dec. 31, 1874.
The Board convened March 4, 1874, and organized, by the choice of John Schouler as chairman, and John F. Allen clerk of the Board; subsequently, B. D. Locke was elected clerk, vice J. F. Allen resigned.
The important changes made by the town during the last few years, and more especially during the years of '72 and '73 ; such as laying out new streets, and the widening and straightening of old thoroughfares, caused a large number of claims to be filed against the town by the abuttors, for dam- ages to their estates. These claims, as a rule, were not exces- sive, nor did they far exceed what would have been claimed, had the points at issue been between individuals instead of the town and individuals. There is, however, a prevalent idea, that all damages caused by acts of the town's officials ought to be compensated with liberal hand. The wealth of the town, in comparison with the pecuniary resources of the claimants, is often cited as a reason for the payment of larger sums of money than the actual damage would justify.
Your Board found, at the very outset of their labors, a goodly inheritance of unadjusted and unsettled damages, resulting from the widening and straightening of Arlington Avenue the previous year, the laying out of Maple Street, not to speak of some minor claims on Highland Avenue, Dudley, Brattle extension, and Winter Streets. Some of these claims were of long standing ; that of Winter Street, dating
8
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
as far back as '72, rendered the work of getting at the true facts the more laborious. To the majority of the present Board these cases were entirely new, so that we were forced to go over the entire ground to ascertain the merits of the points at issue. Hearings were granted, early in the year, to all citizens desiring the same ; and, by friendly meetings, and a spirit of fairness and concession on the part of both parties, many claims were adjusted and paid without delay. In one or two instances, resort was had to litigation on the part of the claimant, and subsequently amicably settled with- out legal costs to the town. Your Board, in the settlement of all cases in dispute, have endeavored to adhere to the principle of equal justice to all, without any attempt to overreach, or, by arrogant assumption of power, to drive the citizens to the courts. We believe that, in the majority of all cases of grievance of the citizens against the town, one- half the labor of settlement is accomplished when both parties come together in a spirit of fairness, and with a desire to adjust all differences. There are exceptional cases, in which the claims are so exorbitant, and the demands so far beyond the limit of reason, that they cannot be entertained ; and to such the legal tribunal offers the only solution. There have been a few claims of small amount brought to the notice of the Board by parties who could ill afford to contest them ; and had they not been entertained would have been quietly dropped, not from want of evidence of a just cause, but from inability to test it. All such claims, when found to have been made in good faith, with satisfactory vouchers, have been promptly liquidated.
By a vote of the town, at a meeting held a short time since, the selectmen were empowered to grant hearings and adjust all claims satisfactorily proven, to an amount not exceeding five hundred dollars for any single claim. The passage of this vote has tended greatly to facilitate town-business ; and by its provisions, settlements have been made with prompt- ness, thus avoiding the delay and routine of calling a town- meeting and asking a special appropriation. It was urged in town-meeting, at the time this vote was passed, that the
9
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
power thus conferred would result in the production of many dishonest claims. In only a few instances has this been the case ; and the opponents of the power thus granted must remember, that the avenue through which such claims make their exit is fully proportionate to that by which they entered .. · Suffice it to say, that of all the claims adjusted the current year, not one dollar has been paid from the town-treasury without the full sanction of the Board, and our successors in office may congratulate themselves on commencing their labors with a clean record ; for, up to the time of going to press, there are no suits pending against the town, other than those brought by the mill-owners and others, arising from the introduction of water throughout the town.
Highways.
Appropriations .
$15,000.00
Expenditures
13,359.84
Balance unexpended
$1,640.16
Linwood Street.
This street, leading from the avenue to Spy Pond, has been graded, macadamized, and gravelled its entire length of four hundred and thirty four feet ; a suitable sidewalk has been also constructed on the westerly side. Estimated cost of street, $800.
Arlington Avenue.
The avenue has been macadamized its entire width, for a distance of twenty-two hundred and fifty feet, from land of John P. Wyman to the horse-railroad crossing. Average depth of crushed stone for road-bed eight inches. Estimated cost of work done, $4,864. The whole avenue is now macadamized and graded, in accordance with grade adopted by the town Apr. 7, 1873, excepting therefrom that portion lying between the Lowell Railroad-crossing and Academy Street ; which interval we would recommend to be completed at as early date as possible the coming season. Several new culverts have been made and rebuilt. A new
10
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
culvert has been placed at the corner of the avenue and Pleasant Street, also one at a point near Schouler Court. Three blind wells and cesspools have been constructed on the avenue for the purpose of providing for the surface-water, which, for a long time, has been the cause of frequent com- plaints ; one on the southerly side, opposite the residence of Mrs. Barnes, having a cesspool twelve feet in depth, and diameter eight feet ; one directly opposite, on the northerly side of the avenue, of same dimensions ; and one of less capacity, designed to provide for the surface-water hemmed in by the elevation of the horse-railroad track above the level of the street. The long-continued drought during the fall, and even up to the present time, has afforded no opportunity to test the efficacy of these wells as a means of sewerage, yet, from the information we have been able to gather from the authorities of our sister towns, who have for a long time availed themselves of them, we feel confident they will be found to offer at once the most practical and economical sys- tem of drainage, for our immediate wants, that the town can adopt.
Alewife Bridge.
The authorities of Cambridge were early notified of the unsafe condition of this bridge, which marks the dividing line between that city and Arlington.
All expenditures for repairs have been shared with us by the city of Cambridge. New stringers have been inserted, and the bridge replanked. It is now in fair condition. Esti- mated cost of repairs, $260.
Park Street.
Park Street has been graded and gravelled its whole length from Warren Street to Mystic River, and sidewalks built on both sides of the street ; the one on the westerly side is in good condition, that on the easterly side will require but small outlay for its completion. The attention of the Board was repeatedly called early in the spring to the unsafe con- dition of this street. Many complaints were made from par-
11
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
ties resident in this neighborhood. We viewed the premises, found the street in a dangerous condition, and hardly worthy of being called a public way. It is now in excellent condi- tion, and will compare favorably with any public thoroughfare within our limits. Length of street, sixteen hundred and twenty-five feet ; estimated cost, $600.
Lowell Street.
The width of Lowell Street, as ordered by the County Commissioners, is fifty feet. The Board of 1873, at the time of the extension of Park Avenue, graded and nearly com- pleted about two hundred feet of Lowell Street, to the width as established by the County Commissioners. Your Board believed it to be sound economy to commence on the street at its point of intersection with the main avenue, near the residence of John Peirce, and complete the same, so far as time and means would permit, in as thorough a manner as possible. This course seemed more advisable than the plan of making general repairs over the entire travelled way, which must be continued from year to year, thus making the street more expensive in the end. We accordingly graded and gravelled the street from its junction with the main avenue to the brook, also from the point west of Park Avenue intersection to land now, or late, of N. B. Walker. The excavations made in grading the street afforded an abundance of blue gravel for the road bed, thus saving the cost of excavating and teaming from the Town Pit. The bridge over the stream supplying the lower mills has been widened from about twenty to forty-five feet. This bridge for a long time has been regarded as unsafe. Proposals for widening and rebuilding the bridge, with substantial walled abutments were solicited, and the contract awarded to Alfred Brooks, he being the lowest bidder; we deem it but just to say, in this connection, that the thoroughness and promptness with which Mr. Brooks carried out his contract was highly satisfactory to the board. The approaches to the Lowell Railroad cross- ing, and the bridge over the same, have not been widened in conformity to the width required by the commissioners.
12
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
The corporation was advised of the proposed action of the town, and, after some delay, replied through its attorney, Col. George, to the effect that the road was not legally holden or bound to maintain a crossing other than its present width, Lowell Street being a county road ; and its change of width hav- ing been duly authorized and required by the County Commis- sioners, it would seem but equity that the road should bear its share of the burden. The remaining portion to the Lex- ington line, still incomplete, can be easily finished next season. There will be less excavating and fewer obstacles to rapid progress than were encountered the present year. Length of street completed this year about seventeen hun- dred and fifty feet. Estimated cost, $2,000.
Dudley Street.
This street has been regraded and partially gravelled, one new culvert built and sidewalks repaired. We have built a bank wall extending three hundred and seventy-nine feet on the northerly side of land of W. H. Richardson, also a bank wall on the southerly side, on land of Patrick Slattery to a distance of eighty feet. Length of street, thirteen hundred feet. Estimated cost, $300.
Appleton Street.
We have graded Appleton Street from the foot of Vine Street to Park Avenue, and put in general repair the entire street.
Appleton Court.
At town meeting, held Nov. 10, the article relating to the acceptance of Appleton Court, so called, was referred to the selectmen for future report. This court is not of uniform width. There are four resident tax-payers residing on the court. In one or two instances the court has been somewhat damaged from heavy rains, and the town, as a matter of self- protection, to prevent injury from the surface water to the main avenue, has heretofore expended a nominal amount for its repair.
13
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
The residents and others have asked for its acceptance as a public way, and your Board of Selectmen know of no valid reasons why their petition should not be granted.
Warren Street.
Appropriation
. $5,000 00
Expended
.
4,924 48
Unexpended
$75 52
In accordance with special vote of the town, we have graded and gravelled Warren Street its entire length of about twenty-seven hundred and twenty-six feet. Two blind wells and cesspools have been constructed, at a point near its junction with Franklin Street; one on the southerly side, near land of S. G. Damon, the other on the northerly side, nearly opposite. The street and sidewalks are in good con- dition. The triangular piece of land, bounded by Warren, Charlestown, and River Streets, comprising a thousand feet, more or less, has been purchased by the Board from Timothy Fisher for forty dollars. The Board deemed it highly impor- tant that the town should have the control of this land, and made the purchase at a price less than was offered Mr. Fisher by other parties. The amount above expended includes also payments for land damages.
Stone Crusher.
· The building, engine, and boiler, connected with the crush- er, was destroyed by fire, April 19, 1874. The crusher itself was uninjured. We deemed it advisable to relocate the crusher to its present more convenient and accessible position across the court. A new engine and boiler of greater power were purchased, and a new building erected over the same, with the addition of many minor points of convenience over the old structure. The full product of the crusher, with new machinery, is seventy tons crushed stone per day, against fifty tons, with the power furnished by the old engine and boiler. There is an estimated saving of fuel of at least a hundred and fifty pounds of coal per day.
14
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Under the old plan, the stone was dumped from the cart to the ground, requiring, for the purpose of keeping the crusher to its full capacity, the labor of two men to feed the hop- per. Under the existing arrangement, all stone is delivered upon a table, on a level with the hopper, thus rendering it comparatively easy work for one man to supply it.
The stone used for crushing has heretofore been purchased from various parties, mostly town residents, at fifty cents per ton of two thousand pounds, delivered at the crusher, the weight in all cases estimated, not actual. The town has and doubtless will use upon its highways large amounts of crushed stone ; and it seemed to us a matter of no small im- portance that some method should be adopted whereby the town should be reasonably certain of getting actual weight. The crusher stands on a tract of land somewhat above the main avenue, with an approach of steady rise from the street to the building. Under the circumstances, your Board did not believe that the town was deriving any pecuniary advantage from surplus of weight of stone delivered ; but, on the contrary, considering the large amounts purchased, we have been making a very material loss, even when taking into account that used for a single season. Accordingly, it was deemed advisable to purchase scales, and weigh every load delivered. These scales were purchased at a cost of two hundred and fifty dollars, exclusive of the excavating and wall-building necessary to place them in position. We purchase stone now as wanted, at the old price of fifty cents per ton, deducting, however, a tariff of five cents per ton for weighing. Should the town continue the use of crushed stone for the road-beds, the liquidation of the cost of the scales, by the tariff alone, will be accomplished at no distant day.
Concrete and Brick Sidewalks.
Appropriation
$2,000 00
Expended
1,998 53
$1 47
15
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
We have built, during the year, 1,934} yards of concrete pavement, and 3872 yards of street-crossings. The only application for brick sidewalk was received from the Arling- ton Savings Bank. The sidewalk was laid, and edgestones set under the direction of the Board, the town paying for set- ting the edgestones, and one-half the cost of the brick and laying the same.
Street Lamps.
Appropriation .
$1,600 00
Expended
1,544 55
$55 45
Alms House.
Appropriation .
$2,000 00
Expended
1,740 03
$259 97
Outside Poor.
Appropriation
$500 00
Expended .
.
302 06
Police.
Appropriation .
$1,000 00
Expended
894 00
$106 00
Whole number of arrests for the year 1874
50
Assault and Battery
. 16
Drunkenness
. 11
Disturbing the peace
9
Other arrests
. 14
-
50
In addition to the number of tramps received at the alms- house, one hundred have been lodged and fed at the station.
$197 94
-
16
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Town House.
Appropriation .
$1,817 12
Expended
1,817. 12
Agreeably to the vote of the town, we have repaired the hall. Ash sheathing, with walnut moulding, has been placed around the room. The walls and busts have been whitened, and the plough regilded. The work speaks for itself; and we leave it without further comment.
Town House Furnace.
Appropriation
$500 00
Expended .
·
491 07
$8 93
Counsel Fees.
Appropriation
$1,000 00
Expended
364 97
$635 03
Incidentals.
Appropriation .
$2,000 00
Expended
1,762 01
$237 99
State Aid.
Appropriation
$600 00
Expended .
439 00
$161 00
Street Hydrants.
Appropriation for 1873-74
.
$2,000 00
Expended
2,000 00
Park Avenue.
Appropriation
.
$500 00
Expended
.
500 00
17
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Discount and Abatement of Taxes.
Appropriation Expended
. $6,000 00
.
.
5,840 06.
$159 94
W. A. Mason, Bill Surveying Highland Ave.
Appropriation
$484 95.
Expended
484 95
A. J. Jones, suit Hose Carriages.
Appropriation
. $2,500 00.
Expended
. 2,087 54
$412 46.
Land Damages.
Special appropriation
. $2,000 00.
Highland Avenue .
$63 50
Maple Street.
258 10
Russell Street
200 00
Arlington Avenue
1,074 50
Winter Street
64 85
$1,660 95,
Nathaniel Johnson.
Appropriation
$150 00
Expended
150 00
Salaries Town Officers.
Appropriation
. $4,500 00
Expended
·
. 3,700 00
$800 00
Dudley St.
Appropriation
$50 64
Expended
43 89
$6 75
.
$339 05
2
18
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Accounts.
During the last six months, the Treasurer's books have been kept by double entry. This change has many advan- tages over the old system. The trial balance, taken off at the end of each month, affords to a certain limit proof of accuracy in accounts, and shows at a glance how much of the various appropriations remain unexpended.
Guide Boards.
Several new guide boards have been placed in position. We would call the attention of citizens to the street signs on the Savings Bank Building; they are at once of novel and unique design, and the same as adopted by the city of Boston for all the streets in the burnt district.
Superintendence of Streets.
The care of the Alms House and general superintend- ence of the Highways for the past year, has been under the immediate charge of Mr. S. E. Kimball, whose watchfulness and interest in your behalf we cannot too highly commend. He has combined with his duties as Superintendent actual manual labor, thus inciting the men under his charge to faith- fulness in their work.
Sprinkling of Streets.
The town pays annually to the Board of Water Commis- sioners $1,000 for the use of street hydrants for fire purposes. We would recommend, in the appropriation for the next year, that the aforesaid sum shall also apply to water made use of for sprinkling the streets. The high winds prevailing during the summer and autumn months, often sweep away, in the space of twelve hours, more of the road bed than the town teams can replace in a week, to say nothing of the cost of the gravel, and teaming the same. To obviate this difficulty, two courses of action are suggested. With an expenditure of $700, the town can procure two water carts, and during those portions of the year, when our highways most need it, water the main
19
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Avenue, using the town horses to perform the work, or your Board could contract with outside parties to keep certain streets sprinkled for the season, the abuttors sharing the expense with the town.
Law Suits.
The following is a list of actions brought against the town by mill-owners and others, for loss of water-power, mill-rights, flowage, land taken, &c., resulting from the introduction of town water : -
Charles Griffiths, et als., damages .
$100,000 00
Samuel A. Fowle
.
100,000 00
Cyrus Cutter
·
35,000 00
Charles Schwamb . 66
.
35,000 00
John E. Hobbs
25,000 00
Theodore Schwamb
20,000 00
Oliver Warner, et als., Trustees of Arlington Land Company, damages
20,000 00
John Schouler, et als., “
15,000 00
$350,000 00:
David Hall, action of tort, damages .
3,000 00
" 66 petition for assessment by jury.
Reuben W. Reed, et als.,
Patrick Mitchell, 66
Daniel Cahlane (Slocum Mill),
Henry Tyler,
Oliver Winship,
66
Tramps.
There is a floating class styled " tramps," which, from their increased and increasing numbers, present a question of no lit- tle financial importance to the town. The State law requires that towns shall make record of their names, age, sex, height, complexion, &c .; but of what utility this can be to the Town or State does not appear. The same tramp often applies for lodgings twice in a single month, but each time assuming a
20
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
different name, and, perchance, giving an age five or ten years younger or older than stated two weeks ago. The tramp path seems to lie between Lowell and Waltham. Out of five tramps soliciting lodgings for the night, early in the season, three were on their way from Waltham to Lowell, while the remaining two were on their way from Lowell to Waltham.
For the year ending July 1, 1874, upwards of four hundred and fifty tramps had been fed and lodged at our alms-house. The largest number provided for any single night, has been twelve. There are doubtless some, driven by want of work from place to place, who are really deserving charity from the towns through which they pass; but we are forced to the be- lief, that by far the greater number enter upon the life of tramps during the fall and winter months, as a systematized business. Certain it is, that your Board of Overseers of the Poor do not possess that keen insight into character which can draw the line between the really deserving and the pro- fessed vagrants. In certain respects, we are unfortunate in owning an alms-house. Our quiet sister town of Belmont, with no poor-house, escapes this deluge of tramps. We have consulted with the authorities of Belmont relative to this question, and have claimed that, in equity, they ought to assume, at least, one-third the cost of maintenance of all tramps received. They reply to this by saying, that all tramps applying to them for night quarters are given permits on our alms-house, for which they will pay the pro rata cost. This answer, though theoretically good, is practically of no account. During the present year, two permits only have been given by the Overseers at Belmont, and will any sane man contend, that, if Belmont supported an alms-house, she would lodge but two tramps per year, while this town has accommodated and borne the expense of more than five hundred ? We do not mention this subject having any special remedy to suggest. It is an important matter for future legislation. The lock-up, in the basement of the Town House, has but one available cell. It has been suggested, that, by fitting up four or five cells additional, we might quarter a certain number of tramps, in place of sending them to the alms-house. The culinary
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.