USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1876-1880 > Part 1
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949
Robbins Library,
ARLINGTON, MASS.
REFERENCE ROOM.
Not to be taken from the Library.
17831
ROBBINS LIBRARY, ARLINGTON, MASS. 3 4860 00118 5211
1
Arlington, Mass.
REPORTS
6812 ×
OF
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF ARLINGTON
FOR
THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 30, 1876.
ALSO
A LIST OF THE TOWN, COUNTY AND STATE TAXES
. ASSESSED FOR THE YEAR 1876.
"CORP LAUL
HEREDITAS
BOSTON : D. F. JONES & CO., PRINTERS, 31 EXCHANGE STREET. 1877.
1
1
Historical Collection 17831
924.44 Arlington
1
1876.
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.
B. DELMONT LOCKE.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
WILLIAM H. ALLEN,
for three years.
JOHN P. WYMAN,
66 66 66
JOHN S. CROSBY,
66
66 66
DANIEL R. CADY,
66 two 66
HENRY SWAN,
66
66 66
ALFRED HOBBS,
66
60 66
GEORGE W. CUTTER,
one 66
CHARLES E. GOODWIN,
66
66 66
F. V. B. KERN,
66
66 66
4
TOWN OFFICERS.
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
R. L. HODGDON,
for three years.
JOHN FILLEBROWN, two years.
GEORGE HILL,
" one year.
AUDITORS.
CHARLES O. GAGE, GEORGE M. MORSE, ABEL R. PROCTOR.
CONSTABLES.
JOHN H. HARTWELL, GARRETT BARRY.
SEXTON.
JOHN B. HARTWELL.
FENCE VIEWERS.
WARREN RAWSON, MATTHEW ROWE, JOHN H. PEABODY.
FIELD DRIVERS.
I. O. CARTER, JAMES HAGAN, THOMAS HIGGINS.
MEASURERS OF WOOD.
MATTHEW ROWE, GRENVILLE P. PEIRCE, MICHAEL WAUGH.
MEASURERS OF STONE AND GRAVEL.
JESSE BACON, J. WILLARD RUSSELL.
5
TOWN OFFICERS.
SURVEYORS OF PAINT AND PLASTERING.
HENRY J. BACON, EDWARD MEERS, 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.
CLERK OF THE MARKET. JOHN REDMAN.
TRUANT OFFICERS. JAMES THAXTER, JOHN P. WYMAN, ALFRED HOBBS.
FISH PRESERVERS. SAMUEL WHITE, WILLIAM GIBSON, JOHN CUTTER.
6
TOWN OFFICERS.
COMMITTEE ON CEMETERIES.
JOHN SCHOULER, JAMES DURGIN, WILLIAM G. PECK.
ENGINEERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ALFRED HOBBS, Chief.
ARTHUR B. MOULTON,
JAMES DURGIN, --
WILLIAM G. PECK,
Assistants. CHARLES GOTT,
POLICE.
JOHN H. HARTWELL, GARRETT BARRY.
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
At the annual meeting in March, the citizens of the town, by a very complimentary vote, re-elected the old Board of Selectmen, for which mark of confidence and thrice repeated honor, indicative so far forth of approval on the part of the town of our doings for the two 'previous years, your Board would, at the outset of their report, record grateful acknowledgments.
The work of the present year has been that of general repair. No new streets have been built. Your town teams and laborers have been employed on nearly every thoroughfare within the town limits, some of the highways requiring no inconsiderable outlay, while others have been worked sufficiently to keep them in good condition.
Highways and Bridges.
Appropriation,
$10,000 00
Brick and concrete sidewalks,
500 00
Appropriation Nov. 13th,
1,000 00
$11,500 00
Expenditures,
10,763 32
Balance unexpended,
$736 68
Arlington Avenue.
In our last report reference was made to the defective condition of that portion of the avenue between Lake Street and Alewife Brook. Early in the season, the town force labored on this part of the highway, repicking two sections of the avenue, between the above-named points, and making anew the road-bed with crushed
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
stone. The centre of the avenue receiving a depth of seven to eight inches of stone, and gradually tapering to nothing on either side. The road-bed was regravelled from the town pit. That por- tion of the avenue, situated in the immediate proximity of the brook, is the more especially noticeable. The many depressions in the road-bed, resulting from heavy teaming in connection with its naturally level surface, have hitherto caused pools of standing water during the winter and spring months, much to the annoy- ance of those teaming or driving over it. The easterly side of the avenue, from the brook almost to Lake Street, is defective in drainage. The surface water often remains in early spring along the side of the road and between the rails of the horse rail- road, and sometimes, after the heaviest rains, backs up, so as to overflow the yards and premises of the abutters on the avenue. This defect can be remedied, at no great expense, by constructing a surface drain, running parallel to the horse car railroad, and emptying into Alewife Brook. A short section of the avenue, above the foot of the rocks near the willows, has been regravelled. The avenue is to-day in excellent condition, excepting a small por- tion near the Lexington line, which will require attention early in the spring. A concrete gutter has been made opposite the Unita- rian Church, and road crossings constructed on the avenue. The culverts have all been cleaned and the gutters cleared from the wash of the streets.
Summer Street. -
Reference has heretofore been made relative to the ledge, sit- uated on Summer Street, at a point in the curve of the road and within a few feet of the Middlesex Central Railroad. The general depression of all industrial interests at the opening of the year, coupled with the usual stagnation during the winter months, the openness of the winter, and hence complete cut off from labor of that class of our citizens, dependent upon the cutting and storing of ice to tide them over the dull season, caused frequent applica- tion to be made for aid to the Overseers of the Poor. Your Board, necessitated by the exigency of the case, either to give alms or work, and believing that the town should receive some adequate remuneration for help thus afforded, decided to commence work upon this ledge, and reduce it to level with the street. With a
9
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
view to render aid to the greatest number, the force thus employed was divided into three gangs, each gang working but two days during the week. The stone from the ledge was broken by hand. A large quantity was piled for future use on land belonging to es- tate of Cyrus Cutter. The road-bed was thus increased to a width of thirty feet and macadamized with the ledge stone, for a dis- tance of four hundred feet and then top-dressed with gravel. In the employment of men, at such times, with a view first of assisting them through the winter, and secondly, through their labors, to im- prove the town, it is one of the most difficult problems to draw the line between the really deserving to whom aid in some form is imperative, and others, not by any means in good circumstances, and yet having sufficient laid by to carry them through the winter. Certainly the dress of the applicant, his mode or style of living affords no certain criterion of his immediate wants. Without doubt married men with families, residents of the town, other things being equal, ought first to receive attention. Exceptions were taken, at the last town meeting, relative to the needs of the working force employed early in the season on this ledge. It was alleged that men were employed who could have cared for their families without this extra work, and that, too, to the exclusion of others in needy circumstances. In reply to this, your Board would say that possibly from want of definite knowledge-from falsehood on the part of the applicant or misstatements on the part of those from whom inquiries were made-men may have been employed who could have lived without such assistance, but in every case the Board must act from the best information at hand, and we respect- fully submit, whether it would not be better for that citizen who, from actual knowledge, knows of the employment of undeserving inen at such times, to enter his protest to the Board, than the other course of noting the fact, and then appearing in town meet- ing eleven months after the completion of the work, enter a com- plaint against the Selectmen for the injudicious selection of men assisted by the town.
Charlestown Street.
The street is in excellent condition. A small portion of the highway near Alewife Brook has been crowned and top-dressed with gravel. Aside from this no expenditure has been made, other
10
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
than that of general repair to which all of our streets are yearly subject.
Mystic Street.
The gutters of this street have been cleared and the road-bed crowned, from a point near estate of Luke Wyman to land of Mr. Huffmaster. The sidewalk on the easterly side of the street, fronting land of Mr. Davis, has been raised and rough finished, the abutter furnishing the gravel for the same. Mr. Davis, at his own expense, has reset his fence, for a distance of about five hun- dred feet to correspond with the street, thus making a much needed improvement. Two drains have been laid, one opposite res- idence of Wm. Stowe, being an eight-inch cement pipe, extending across the street, easterly, to a distance of eighty feet; the other near land of Mr. Huffmaster, being a twelve-inch pipe, running in the same direction about one hundred feet ; both these drains receive the surface water from the street and the high land on the westerly side. The gutters on old Mystic Street, so-called, meaning that portion cut off by the new line, have been ploughed, the road-bed crowned. This road from its infrequent use warrants but small outlay on the part of the town.
The concrete gutter on the westerly side, near the site of the old pound, has been relaid. The old gutter, from its insufficient size and unworkmanlike construction, has been entirely removed and replaced with one of increased width, greater capacity and durability. We have now a concrete gutter, from four to six feet wide, resting on a solid base of tarred stone, extending from resi- dence of Geo. Winn to Mill Brook, and capable of taking all the water, even after the heaviest rains.
Lewis Avenue and Franklin Street.
These streets, recently accepted by the town, were repaired and put in good condition last season. The introduction of water pipes the present year, has left the streets again in a rough state, which will necessitate some repairs another year. The annual ex- penditures for highways and general management of town affairs, are kept separate and as entirely distinct from the water account as though each were a corporation by itself. When therefore the
11
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
town grades, macadamizes and gravels a new street or repairs an old highway, all cost is charged to the appropriation for highways. If now, subsequently, the Water Board decide to introduce water, the street through which the pipe is to be laid, must again be dis- turbed, trench dug and refilled, leaving an embankment or mound marking the whole length of the pipe thus laid. This mound will in time settle in part, but not to a level with the highway. It has been the custom, after allowing sufficient time for the gravel in the trench to settle, for the town force to level the street and re- pair the road-bed, thus compelling the town virtually, in part at least, to do their work over again. So far as possible, the Water Board and Selectmen have acted together in the laying of the water pipes and subsequent repair of the streets, but we affirm, that where a street is in good condition, and the Water Board are obliged to open the same either to lay new or repair the old pipes, not only the actual expense of digging and refilling the trench should be charged to water account but the cost of levelling the street and putting the same in as good condition as before. This after work of smoothing the road-bed has always been done by the town and charged to highway account, thus benefiting the water account at the expense of the highway appropriation. It will be seen from this, that where water is first introduced through the streets of a town this after labor would form no inconsiderable item of expense and even after the pipes are laid, the highways must be frequently opened, for repair of main and service pipes, through imperfection of pipe, action of frost and like causes.
Eastern Avenue Extension.
The construction of this avenue, at the time of publishing our last report, was well under way. Owing to the lateness of the sea- son when the work was commenced, and hence shortness of the days and delay from frost, the cost of building the road was ma- terially increased. Early in the season the avenue was completed at an expense within the appropriation. The ascent from High- land Avenue to the summit of the hill being very rapid, this av- enue will annually require some outlay, on account of repairs from the wash of the early spring rains. The road-bed is in good condition. No sidewalks have been constructed on either side,
12
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
the Board believing that no outlay should be made for walks at present.
Appropriation,
$2,500 00
Estimated expenditure,
2,200 00
Unexpended,
$300 00
Park Avenue.
The most important and expensive work performed within the town limits, the present year, has been on Park Avenue. The heavy spring rains washed and gullied the road-bed to such an extent, as to give the lower part of the avenue near its junction with the main street a decidedly chaotic look, presenting at once the problem, what to do and how best to do it, so as to restore the avenue to its former condition and at the same time have perma- nent work. The main difficulty appeared to arise from the in- sufficient size of the gutter to carry off the surface water. We have built a concrete gutter in width from four to six feet; ex- tending a distance of twenty-six hundred feet. At the crossing of Park and Arlington Avenues, two drains have been constructed, with suitable granite openings and iron gratings, one for a dis- tance of one hundred and thirty feet, being a thirty-inch brick drain, the other for a distance of thirty feet, also of brick, two feet in width, both emptying into Lewis Mill Pond.
The road-bed of the avenue has been levelled, crowned and top- dressed with blue gravel. While the labor performed has been expensive, we feel that it has been thoroughly done, and will, in the end, prove to have been the most economical method which could have been adopted.
Watering Streets.
The advantage derived from sprinkling a portion of the high- ways last season, as a measure of economy, was so apparent, that as soon as the dry season commenced, a subscription paper was circulated, under the direction of the Selectmen, among those of our citizens living on that portion of the highway which we pro- posed to sprinkle, soliciting from the abutters a proportionate part of the expense. The amount thus subscribed was $236.
13
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
The Board, instead of hiring outside parties to do the work, as heretofore, made use of the town horses and watering-cart. Pleasant Street has been sprinkled from the centre to Lake Street ; the avenue from estate of J. P. Wyman to the Baptist Church. As the season advanced, and the weather became cooler, requiring less frequent trips, the line of watering was extended to the foot of the rocks.
The water has heretofore been taken from stand-pipes connected with the street hydrants. The Water Board claimed that the constant opening and shutting of the gates to supply the watering- cart, endangered the hydrants, while the connection of the stand- pipe with the outlet to which the fire-hose is attached, made the water supply less available in case of fire. Your Board, therefore, caused four stand-pipes to be erected, connecting them with the main pipe. These are of the same pattern as made use of in our neighboring cities. The cost of these stand-pipes was about $500. If the town should conclude to water the streets more extensively in the future, other pipes must be erected, as the occasion requires.
Cemeteries.
Appropriation,
$300 00
Received for lots sold,
150 00
$450 00
Expended,
345 63
Balance unexpended,
$104 37
The cemeteries for the last season have been under the super- vision of Mr. Hartwell. The gates have been painted and a light coat of gravel spread upon the main walk, a new harness purchased for the hearse carriage. Aside from this there has been no ex- penditure the present year, other than that of the general care of the grounds.
Concrete or Brick Sidewalks.
Appropriation, $500 00
Transfer to Highway appropriation, * 500 00
The work of concreting has been done by the town the present J'ear. The tools required for the work are comparatively
14
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
inexpensive. The Gas Company furnishes the town with tar at the price paid by dealers for the same in large quantities. The Board deems this change as highly advantageous to the town, both as regards the character of work performed and saving in cost.
Town Bonds.
Proposals have been twice issued during the year, to the leading bankers and brokers, soliciting bids for Arlington Water Scrip. This course has proved the only fair way of disposing of the bonds. The dealers are brought into close competition with each other and the town saves the commission on sales at public auction.
Total amount of scrip sold,
$24,000 00
Jan. 29, Brewster, Basset & Co., $14,000 at 103.65, $14,511 00
May 10, Brewster, Basset & Co., $10,000 at 106.16, 10,616 00
25,127 00
Amount of premiums received on sales,
$1,127 00
Street Lamps.
Appropriation,
$1,500 00
Expended,
1,398 75
Unexpended,
$101 25
Your Board were instructed at the adjourned annual meeting, to institute inquiries and make experiments with a view to the adoption of a more economical method of lighting the highways. Several towns in our vicinity are using kerosene in their street- lamps, but the loss in illuminating power as compared with gas, the constant breakage of chimneys and smoky condition of lan. terns attest very unsatisfactory results. The street-lamp at the corner of Arlington Avenue and Pleasant Street, was fitted early in the summer with patent reflectors, by which it was claimed less gas would be consumed and greater illuminating power obtained. Your Board, however, from constant observation of its workings, regarded the result as one of doubtful utility, and caused the same
15
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
to be removed. We are unanimous in the opinion that the only way to properly light our streets, is by the use of gas.
Any change to naphtha, kerosene, or any of the illuminating oils, in addition to the expense necessary in removal of old fixtures and affixing the new, would be far from satisfactory to the citizens. A street well lighted, is to a certain extent well guarded, and so far forth lessens the appropriation for police.
Coal.
.
The Selectmen, in connection with the School Committee, were empowered to contract for the supply of coal used during the year. Owing to the unsettled state of the market, no bids were solicited until late in the season. The contract, with the usual considera- tions as to quality, was awarded to Messrs. Horatio Wellington & Co., they being the lowest bidders, at the following prices :
Furnace,
$6 22
Egg and stove, 6 52
Sign Boards.
In compliance with law, sign boards have been erected on Win- ter Street, Pond Lane and Highland Avenue.
Outside Poor.
Appropriation,
$1,000 00
Carried from income of Poor Widows'
Fund,
200 00
$1,200 00
Expended,
1,227 02
Expended over appropriation,
$27 02
In our yearly recommendations of the various sums necessary for the town to appropriate, none are so difficult to arrive at, none so problematical, as the amount requisite for outside poor. The continued stagnation of mercantile interests and hence scarcity of
16
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
employment for the laboring man, especially during the last twelve months, has greatly increased the number of applicants for aid and added much to the labors of the Overseers of the Poor.
In 1874, the town appropriated five hundred dollars and of this amount at the close of the year, nearly two hundred dollars re- mained unexpended ; in 1875, six hundred dollars was granted and the disbursements amounted to more than seven hundred dollars ; at the annual March meeting of the present year, the town ap- propriated one thousand dollars, and we have kept nearly within the limit, through income of Poor Widows' Fund.
The expenditures of the last two years, afford at a glance a cor- rect epitome of the increased hardships of our working classes. Unless business interests brighten very materially during the com- ing year, your appropriation for outside poor must be largely in- creased. To keep within the limits of the appropriation, and at the same time grant aid to those of the town's poor, compelled by necessity to solicit it, has been impossible ; actual want admits of no red tape delay, assistance to be effectual must be speedy. The appropriation must be large, or the indulgence of the town granted, if in this one item of expenditure the limit of the funds is ex- ceeded. In every other account the remedy is easy. Let the highway funds be exhausted, we can stop work, but you cannot withhold aid, in times like these, from those of your citizens suf- fering for the bare necessaries of life. In comparison with other towns we have much cause for congratulation, on our freedom from pauperism. We have but one inmate at the almshouse. Where is the town, possessing an almshouse, within a radius. of twenty miles, that can show a like record ?
The town of Brookline appropriated at its last annual meeting four thousand dollars for the support of outside poor, and yet in a printed report of the Selectmen under date of Dec. 12, 1876, they state, that the expenditures for the poor for the year will cost more than eight thousand seven hundred dollars, exclusive of all bills for medical attendance. In other words they have exceeded the an- nual grant nearly five thousand dollars. We cite this instance, simply as one of many, showing how utterly impossible it is, in times other than ordinary, for your Board to make even an approx- imate estimate of probable expenditures under this head.
17
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Police.
Appropriation,
$500 00
Appropriation Nov. 13th,
700 00
$1200 00
Expenditures,
607 50
Unexpended,
$592 50
In the report of John H. Hartwell, Chief of Police, to the Selectmen, the following items may be of interest. Whole num- ber of arrests for the year 79, males 69, females 10, assault and battery 33, drunkenness 23, other causes 23. Prior to April 1st, the number of policemen on duty was three. The curtailment of the appropriation recommended at the annual meeting, compelled the discharge of all the officers but one, who, with special assis- tants on holidays and public occasions, remained the sole guar- dian of the peace, until Nov. 13th, when the town made the additional appropriation of seven hundred dollars.
The peculiarity and impulsiveness of some of our town meet- ings, is very strikingly exhibited in this instance. At the March meeting, five hundred dollars was thought a sufficient grant for maintenance of the police force for the year of fifty-two weeks, while at the November meeting seven hundred dollars was appro- priated for only six weeks. If the town should appropriate for the year to come in the same ratio, the annual cost of police would exceed five thousand dollars. The Chief of Police rec- ommends the maintenance of a night force, for three sections of the town, to wit, upper, lower and centre. The station house is in good condition, no repairs being necessary. While the number of arrests have increased, the wonted quiet and order of the town has been the same as last year. It will be remembered that at the annual meeting the Board recommended an appropriation of fifteen hundred dollars. This increase in amount asked,- largely in excess of the grants of previous years,-was caused by the revival of interest among our citizens in the cause of temper- ance. It was evident to the Board, that if the town saw fit to instruct the Selectmen to grant no licenses for the sale of intoxicat- ing liquors and to see to it that no sales should be made, either 2
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
she appropriation for police must be materially increased, thus giving the Selectmen the wherewithal to enforce the law, or the citizens should resolve themselves into committees and thus put a stop to the liquor traffic.
The. enactment of the Legislature of 1876 grants authority to any two persons, of full age and competent to give testimony, to make complaint against any person engaged in the illegal sale of intox- icating liquors, before any justice of the peace, and obtain a war- rant for search of premises and seizure. The town saw fit to pass a resolution early in the season, virtually instructing the Select- men to grant no licenses and at the same meeting refused to appropriate more than five hundred dollars for police. The appro- priation, thus cut down, completely nullified the anti-license reso - lution. Many petitions were laid before the Board, but leave to withdraw granted the petitioners in every case. It is doubtless a fact, that intoxicating liquors have been sold in town during the current year and in quantities perhaps exceeding sales of previous years. The limited appropriation, insufficient to pay the monthly salary of the Chief of Police and the special officers temporarily employed, rendered our hands powerless for the enforcement of the prohibition act. A law that from any cause is inoperative, is worse than no law. A law constantly broken, commands but little respect. In the light of the last twelve months two practi- cal solutions of the whole question become apparent-either grant a limited number of licenses thus restricting the traffic-improving the quality of intoxicants sold, and increasing the funds in the treasury from license fees ; or instruct your Selectmen to issue no licenses, at the same time, increasing the appropriation for police, thus granting the means with which to drive the traffic beyond the limits of the town.
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