USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1874-1975 > 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.
1874-75
R.M.H.S. RESOURCE CENTER READING, MASS.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
OF THE
TOWN OF READING,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1875,
WITH THE
REPORTS OF THE TOWN CLERK, TREASURER, AND COLLECTOR, SELECTMEN, ASSESSORS, AND OVERSEERS OF POOR, SCHOOL COMMITTEE, ROAD COMMISSIONERS, ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT, TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY, TRUSTEES OF CEMETERY, TRUSTEES OF SINKING FUND, AND AUDITORS.
BOSTON : FRANKLIN PRESS : RAND, AVERY, & Co., 117 FRANKLIN STREET. 1875.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
OF THE
TOWN OF READING,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1875,
WITH THE
REPORTS OF THE TOWN CLERK, TREASURER, AND COLLECTOR, SELECTMEN, ASSESSORS, AND OVERSEERS OF POOR, SCHOOL COMMITTEE, ROAD COMMISSIONERS, ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT, TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY, TRUSTEES OF CEMETERY, TRUSTEES OF SINKING FUND, AND AUDITORS.
BOSTON : FRANKLIN PRESS : RAND, AVERY, & Co., 117 FRANKLIN STREET. 1875.
TOWN OFFICERS, 1874-75.
Town Clerk. WILLIAM J. WIGHTMAN.
Selectmen, Assessors, and Overseers of the Poor. J. B. LEATHE. J. L. PRATT.
JAMES REID.
Treasurer and Collector. JAMES A. BANCROFT. School Committee.
CARROLL D. WRIGHT, Chairman Term expires 1875.
HIRAM BARRUS .
.
1876.
WALTER S. PARKER
1877.
SOLON BANCROFT
1875.
WILLIAM J. WIGHTMAN, Secretary .
1875.
Road Commissioners.
JAMES A. BANCROFT, Chairman Term expires 1875.
CHARLES A. WESTON .
1876.
HENRY S. LA CLAIR .
1877.
Board of Health. F. F. BROWN, M.D.
JOHN B. LEWIS. T. LITTLEFIELD.
WILLIAM E. APPLETON. J. S. TEMPLE.
Engineers of Fire Department. CHARLES H. LANG, Chief.
E. C. NICHOLS. DAVID CROWELL.
HUBBARD E. COX. CHARLES H. DANFORTH, Clerk.
Sealer of Weights and Measures. DANIEL B. LOVEJOY.
Constables.
H. E. COX.
WILLIAM L. CROWE.
Police Officers.
H. E. COX. WILLIAM L. CROWE. JOHN A. BLUNT.
JOSEPH W. SPOKESFIELD. EDWIN BASSETT.
Trustees of Public Library.
EDWARD APPLETON, President Term expires 1875.
1875.
HIRAM BARRUS
· 1876.
WILLIAM PROCTOR
1876.
STEPHEN FOSTER .
1877.
F. H. KNIGHT, Clerk
1877.
Trustees of Cemetery.
F. O. DEWEY
Term expires 1875.
1875.
F. H. KNIGHT
1876.
T. B. PRATT
1877.
WILLIAM S. RICHARDSON .
1877.
SOLON BANCROFT, Treasurer .
1876.
Auditors.
WILLIAM PROCTOR. WILLIAM J. WIGHTMAN.
N. P. PRATT.
F. O. DEWEY
G. C. GLEASON
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
EXPENSES OF SCHOOLS. HIGH SCHOOL.
Paid Cyrus A. Cole, principal . . $1,800 00
Miss Martha Keith, assistant
700 00
H. G. Carey, for musical instruction
50 00
for care of rooms
86 00
for fuel
132 16
-- $2,768 16
FIRST GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Paid Miss Lena T. Wood, principal. . $1,000 00
Miss Jennie R. Barrus, assistant
300 00
H. G. Carey, for musical instruction
50 00
for care of rooms
86 00
for fuel
132 16
--
1,568 16
SECOND GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Paid Miss A. M. Knight, principal . $600 00
Miss Addie B. Howes, assistant
300 00
H. G. Carey, for musical instruction
50 00
for care of rooms
97 00
for fuel
53 40 -
1,100 40
UNION STREET SCHOOLS.
UPPER MEDIUM.
Paid Miss Frances E. Mihan .
.
$500 00
Miss Frances E. Mihan 1873-74
27 77
H. G. Carey, for musical instruction
50 00
for care of rooms
72 89
for fuel .
37 50
688 16
Amount carried forward,
$6,124 88
4
Amount brought forward, $6,124 88
LOWER MEDIUM.
Paid Miss E. S. Foster, for teaching
$433 32
H. G. Carey, for musical instruction
50 00
for care of room
72 89
for fuel .
37 50
593 71
UPPER PRIMARY.
Paid Miss Sarah A. Sweetser, for teaching
$450 00
H. G. Carey, for musical instruction
50 00
for care of room
72 89
for fuel
22 27
595 16
LOWER PRIMARY.
Paid Miss Ruth L. Pratt, for teaching
$440 00
Miss L. M. Lovejoy, for teaching
40 00
H. G. Carey, for musical instruction
50 00
for care of room
72 92
for fuel
21 45
624 37
WALNUT STREET MIXED SCHOOL.
Paid Miss Sarah L. Stoodley, for teaching
$433 28
H. G. Carey, for musical instruction
25 00
for care of room
48 00
for fuel
52 63
558 81
WOBURN STREET GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Paid Miss Helen M. Clark, for teaching .
$393 29
H. G. Carey, for musical instruction
25 00
for care of room
33 90
for fuel .
35 73
487 92
WOBURN STREET PRIMARY SCHOOL.
Paid Miss L. F. Loring, for teaching
$300 00
H. G. Carey, for musical instruction
25 00
for care of room
25 00
for fuel
17 87
367 87
Amount carried forward,
$9,352 72
5
Amount brought forward,
$9,352 72
LOWELL STREET MIXED SCHOOL.
Paid Miss L. B. Clark, for teaching
$200 00
Miss E. Barrows, for teaching .
79 98
HI. G. Carey, for musical instruction
25 00
for care of room
39 50
for fuel .
53 89
398 37
MAIN STREET MIXED SCHOOL.
Paid Miss Sarah J. Morse, for teaching .
$300 00
Miss Florence Parker, for teaching .
14 00
H. G. Carey, for musical instruction
25 00
for care of room
27 00
for fuel .
37 73
403 73
HAVERHILL STREET MIXED SCHOOL.
Paid Miss Abbie Wakefield, for teaching
$300 00
H. G. Carey, for musical instruction
·
25 00
for care of room
27 00
for fuel
34 33
386 33
$10,541 15
Unexpended .
769 83
Appropriation
$11,000 00
School fund .
280 98
Received for tuition
30 00
$11,310 98 $11,310 98
INCIDENTAL SCHOOL EXPENSES.
Paid H. L. Cummings, for express for schools $12 80
A. C. Stocking, books for 1873
48 30
Nichols and Hall “
12 31
Lyceum Hall Association, for use of hall for Teach- ers' Convention . 15 00
John A. Blunt, for labor and stationery for Teach- ers' Convention .
2 00
J. C. Cook, for setting glass . 3 90 .
Barrows and Foote, for printing 1 00
Amount carried forward,
$95 31
6
Amount brought forward,
$95 31
Paid Mrs. H. E. Cox, for refreshments for Teachers' Convention 15 00
George W. Dean, services at Teachers' Convention 5 00
Hatfield Hurd, for brick for Union Street school- house 21 60
Citizens Gas Light Co., for gas for high school 16 65
F. Harnden, for desk tops and labor on desks 85 12
J. C. Cook, for labor and materials on school- houses 96 40
Michael Forbes, for labor on Woburn Street school- yard . 10 87
T. B. Pratt, for ladder and brooms 3 06
M. A. Hunt, for cleaning Lowell Street school- house 6 00
Mary Whelton, for cleaning primary schoolrooms . 2 13 William H. Willis, for school-books 25 48
G. W. Atkinson, for mats, dusters, and sundries 13 09
Matthew Hanley, for furniture
6 00
Jeremiah Flint, for repairs on schoolhouses 51 45
E. F. Parker, for finishing desk tops
11 00
S. M. Hall, for repairs on schoolhouses
29 59
H. W. Batchelder, for repairs on schoolhouse yard C. H. Lang, for express for schools
2 00
Charles Hitchcock, for setting glass 1 30
]
F. Harnden, for repairs on desks . 3 35
A. Mertens, for use of pump
2 00
F. J. Bancroft, for moving, repair, and use of piano 13 00 William Porter, for labor on Union Street school- houses and yards 27 93 '
Michael Forbes, for labor on Union Street school- house yards 12 43
Michael Forbes, for cleaning well for Woburn Street school 3 45
W. E. Beard, for clock for Main Street school
6 00
Michael Forbes, for labor
1 25
Nichols and Hall, for books .
100 07
W. O. Haskell and Son, for furniture 39 00
W. M. Phillips, for lumber and labor on school- houses 80 34
Hiram Barrus, for ink . 4 20
Benjamin Peabody, for repairing pump .
3 25
Eugene De Jean, for stoves and fixtures
.
50 60
Amount carried forward,
$857 92
3 00
Edward Parker, for repairs on schoolhouses 11 00
7
Amount brought forward, $857 92
Paid W. H. Bancroft, for repairs on schoolhouses 1 90
Lyceum Hall Asso., for room for primary school 10 00
Lyceum Hall Association, for hall for high school exhibition, 1873 10 00
Lyceum Hall Association, for hall for high school exhibition, 1874 10 00
Bancroft and Temple, for lumber and labor . 75 16
J. L. Pratt, for setting glass Haverhill Street schoolhouse 1 20
J. L. Hammet, for school bells 2 39
T. B. Pratt, for axe, brooms, and brushes 4 27
Parker and Stone, for steps, brooms, and sundries .
3 80
W. H. Willis, books for schools 6 76
G. W. Atkinson, for brooms and sundries 7 00
J. N. Nichols, for repairs on Lowell Street school- house 4 37
George Beasley, for removing brick
1 00
T. Littlefield, for tin and iron ware
28 10
Parker and Stone, for brush
1 25
Unexpended
$1,025 12 474 88
Appropriation
$1,500 00
$1,500 00
EXPENSES OF THE POOR AT THE ALMSHOUSE.
INVENTORY OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
Furniture
$247 39
Beds and bedding
303 50
Provisions
114 37
Stoves and fixtures .
92 50
Manure
75 00
Horse
250 00
Cow
60 00
Four swine
24 00
Two carts
135 00
Farm wagon
80 00
Light
85 00
Stone 66
20 00
Horse sled
25 00
Sleigh
8 00
Mowing machine
50 00
Farming utensils
203 08
Amount carried forward,
$1,772 84
8
Amount brought forward,
$1,772 84
Wood and coal
297 00
Posts and lumber
15 00
Hay
132 50
Twenty-one fowls
15 75
Grain and meal
3 65
Produce
80 11 ·
Bills due for labor, &c.
313 92
-
$2,630 77
Inventory of 1874 .
. $2,771 29
Inventory of 1875
2,630 77
Less than last year .
$140 52
Cash drawn for supplies .
964 06
$1,104 58
Deduct supplies for 1,402 tramps @ 50 cents . $701 00
Old bills of 1866-68 considered worthless, and thrown
out of inventory
332 30 1,033 30
Net expense of poor in almshouse
$71 28
NAMES AND AGES OF INMATES AT ALMSHOUSE.
YEARS.
Widow John McIntire
78
Miss Caroline Wiley
68
Alpheus Austin .
55
Horatio G. Brown
76
Benjamin Weston
74
Whole number inmates during year, 5. Present number, 4.
EXPENSES AT ALMSHOUSE.
Paid for groceries
$498 28
for flour and bread .
173 26
for grain and meal
257 97
for provisions .
416 05
for fish
34 62
for bedding and clothing .
53 88
for furniture
22 03
for produce
17 34
for wood and coal
334 06
for stock .
16 00
for wheelwright and blacksmith bills
49 63
.
Amount carried forward,
$1,873 12
.
9
Amount brought forward,
$1,873 12
Paid for hired labor .
272 77
for medicine
19 43
for medical services of F. F. Brown
15 25
for repair of buildings
4 42
for farming tools
48 15
for sundries
15 40
for salary of keeper
500 00
$2,748 54
CREDITS AT ALMSHOUSE.
By labor on highways
$615 90
moving snow ·
12 00
labor for sundry persons
31 30
lighting street lamps .
57 00
wood sold
383 24
horse sold .
75 00
produce sold
23 82
boarding horse .
22 00
boarding sundry persons
564 22
cash for supplies
$2,748 54
EXPENSE OF POOR OUT OF ALMSHOUSE.
Paid for coal for family of Michael Daley $5 00
town of Winchester, for supplies for J. A. Messer in 1873 ) 84 81
State Reform School, for board of Daniel Sullivan . 26 00
for supplies for Aaron McIntire
66 36
for supplies for Catherine O'Keefe .
10 00
for coal for Orville N. Wilder .
17 75
town of North Reading for rent, for Joel Freeman s family for years 1873 and 1874,
18 00
for supplies for Sylvanus Blanchard and family $74 28
for medical attendance (F. F. Brown) · 16 25
G. C. Gleason, funeral expenses of Sylvanus Blanchard 28 00
118 53
for coal for Widow Calvin Nichols .
$24 50
for rent in 1873 for Widow Calvin Nichols 44 00
for rent in 1874 for Widow Calvin Nichols 66 00
134 50
for supplies for Joshua Keller .
16 20.
Amount carried forward,
$527 15
964 06
10
Amount brought forward,
$527 15
Paid for supplies for Benjamin Weston in 1873
14 00
for supplies for Benjamin Weston in 1874
191 93
for medical attendance
10 75
$216 68
Worcester Lunatic Hospital, for board of Abigail P.
Beers .
183 82
for supplies for Samuel Poor in 1873
3 00
for wood and coal for William Pierce
58 37
for wood and coal for Ivory Murray
$31 13
for supplies for Ivory Murray .
48 92
80 05
for supplies for Joseph Bryant
126 71
funeral expenses of Pamelia Barnard
19 00
for wood and coal for Zeb. Lampro .
18 81
for coal for Levi Blanchard
4 50
for wood for Mrs. Judkins
4 00
city of Boston, for supplies for Edmund Grover
99 56
$1,341 65
Deduct cash, from Abigail P. Beers
$52 00
from town of Bradford, for supplies for Samuel Poor 3 00
55 00
Net expense of poor out of almshouse $1,286 65
Net expense of poor in the almshouse 71 28
Whole expense of poor out and in the almshouse . $1,357 93 .
TOWN OFFICERS.
Paid John Norwood, services as police officer to April 1, 1874 . $50 00 N. H. Turner, services as police officer and constable to April 1,1874 25 00
H. E. Cox, services as police officer and constable
32 00
William L. Crowe "
24 00
S. E. Parker " school committee in 1872 and 1873 79 00
55 00
Hiram Barrus 66 66 · 15 00
Sydney P. Pratt
66 25 00
William J. Wightman services as school committee in 1872 and 1873
55 00
66
66
66 services as selectman, assessor, and over- seer of poor . 30 00
Amount carried forward,
$394 00
.
John, A. Blunt ." 66 66
" and constable 4 00
Carroll D. Wright “
11
Amount brought forward,
$394 00
Paid William J. Wightman for services as town clerk 25 00
for recording births, deaths, and marriages 51 35
66 " for making other official records 12 00
James Reid, for services as selectman, assessor, and overseer of poor
· 250 00
J. B. Leathe, for services as selectman, assessor, and overseer of poor
280 00 J. L. Pratt, for services as selectman, assessor, and overseer of poor
175 00 James A. Bancroft, for services as treasurer and collector . 350 00
66 66 " road commissioner 50 00
Charles A. Weston
66 50 00
Henry S. La Clair 66 66 66 66 66 50 00
Charles Tweed, for services as selectman and road commissioner 27 00
N. P. Pratt, for services as selectman, assessor, overseer of poor 15 00 D. B. Lovejoy, for services as sealer of weights and measures 20 00 E. C. Nichols, for services as committee on hose and engine house 17 00 Charles H. Lang, for services as committee on building and furnishing engine house . 6 50
Charles H. Lang, for services as committee on hose and cisterns 5 00
T. Littlefield, for services as committee on hose and furnishing engine house . 4 00
$1,781 85
TOWN OFFICE.
Paid William Proctor for rent .
$150 00
for wood and coal
22 14
for stationery and books
12 44
for express charges
5 10
for postage stamps
2 50
for furniture
3 57
for washing windows, and keys .
1 50
WATCHMAN.
Paid Harris Austin for services as night watchman .
$588 00
PRINTING.
Paid for printing in 1873-74
. $15 50
66 66 town reports
·
·
273 00
66 for schools
18 75
66 66 for board of health .
18 25
66
for road commissioners
3 50
66
for collector
11 00
for selectmen
42 50
$382 50
·
$197 25
12
PUBLIC LIBRARY ..
Paid treasurer of trustees
$750 00
treasurer of trustees, dog tax of 1873
105 57
Appropriation
$750 00
Appropriation of dog tax
105 57
855 57
CEMETERY.
Paid Solon Bancroft, treasurer of trustees
$390 75 Appropriation
$350 00
Former appropriation remaining in treasury . .
139 15
489 15
Unexpended amount remaining in treasury
$98 40
STREET LAMPS.
Paid Citizens' Gas Light Company, for gas ·
$144 05
George Beasley, for lighting . ·
116 75
Globe Gas Light Company, for one lantern and four burners . 34 00
William H. Bancroft, for repair of lanterns
8 65
for cans and fluid .
8 23
John Pike, Sons and Co., expense gas light, corner Haven and Chute Streets
15 50
labor and repairs
4 80
express charges
55
$332 53
DAMAGES PAID FOR LAND TAKEN FOR EXTENSION OF GREEN STREET.
Paid H. H. Niles
$250 00
Elnathan Brown
800 00
$1,050 00
REPAIRS OF HIGHWAYS.
Paid Charles A. Weston, road commissioner, for money expended for labor $825 00
H. S. La Clair, road commissioner, for money ex- pended for labor 1,364 71
keeper of almshouse, for lab
275 66
·
Alfred Nichols
66
200 00
·
Amount carried forward
$2,665 37
.
$855 57
13
Amount brought forward,
$2,665 37
Paid John Burrill for labor . 13 80
Charles H. Moulton
4 00
Michael Forbes ·
66
12 00
David Crowell 66
28 40
R. M. Boyce 66
9 50
James A. Bancroft 66
18 00
Joseph L. Pratt, railing roads
1 00
cedar posts .
9 20
Waldo Brothers, for drain pipe
36 31
William Barrows, “ 66
2 50
Emily Ruggles, for gravel
49 60
Milo Parker
1 20
H. L. Cummings, for carting in 1873
4 35
C. H. Moulton, for labor in 1873
82 00
L. E. Gleason, for gravel in 1873
8 00
D. S. Perkins, for gravel“ in 1872-73
12 55
Thomas B. Eames, for gravel in 1873
5 76
-$2,963 54
Unexpended balance
36 46
Appropriation .
$3,000 00
EXTRA HIGHWAY.
Paid N. P. Pratt, for gravel in 1873-74 . $5 00
William M. Phillips, for drain pipe 3 00
Thomas P. Eames, moving wall on West Street 53 25
W. H. Baker, pick handles
80
Henry S. La Clair, labor corner Haven and Chute Streets 3 00
railing streets . 58 71
66
66 66 labor and cash on sidewalk, High Street 27 00
Charles A. Weston, railing streets .
37 68
66 66 putting up guide boards and street signs .
51 71
66
66 6 on account reducing grade of hill on Main Street . 188 74
R. M. Boyce, labor on account reducing grade of bill on Main Street .
69 90
Charles H. Moulton, building culvert on Prescott Street 16 50
" High Street 147 37
J. Breck and Sons, pick handles 3 00
Dodge, Gilbert, and Co., for hammers and handles . 7 79
Whittemore Brothers, plough, road scraper, &c.
27 17
Amount carried forward,
$700 62
66
14
Amount brought forward,
$706 62
Paid G. W. Atkinson, for hoe .
65
for repair of tools .
26 19
F. Harnden, for street and guide boards
21 50
M. H. Garfield, painting street signs and guide boards
70 70
Charles Wakefield, poles for railing
6 53
Waldo Brothers, drain pipe
20 76
R. D. Wilkins, labor and stone
39 75
H. L. Cummings, carting
14 25
$900 95
REMOVING SNOW.
Paid J. G. Hutchinson
$2 00
C. H. Moulton
9 50
Charles A. Weston .
20 75
George Beasley
12 00
$44 25
BUILDING GREEN STREET.
Paid H. S. La Clair, money expended
$198 46
keeper of almshouse, for labor
298 24
C. H. Moulton 66 54 00
Michael Forbes 66
15 00
G. W. Atkinson, for labor on sidewalk
10 00
N. W. Broad, for labor and stock
24 99
R. M. Wilkins, building wall .
20 75
Bancroft and Temple, building fence
45 00
T. F. Gould, tools and repairing tools
5 20
J. A. Waldo & Co., drain pipe
74 16
$745 80
BUILDING MAPLE STREET.
Paid H. S. La Clair, money expended
$93 32
Waldo Brothers, drain pipe .
16 00
$109 32
BUILDING HIGHLAND STREET.
Paid Michael Forbes, building wall
$39 75
H. S. La Clair, money expended ·
.
.
.
49 50
Daniel Sullivan, setting bound stone
2 00
.
.
.
· .
$91 25
15
REBUILDING SOUTH STREET.
Paid Charles A. Weston, money expended . $136 33
BUILDING CISTERN CORNER JOHN AND PARKER STREETS.
Paid Nathaniel Bunker, for labor
. $9 00
John McDonald
12 00
James Sullivan
2 00
Michael Hennessey " 66
9 50
Alexander Nelson "
22 00
N. H. Turner 66
72 76
E. Smith
19 00
Nelson Prescott 66
1 00
T. Riordan
3 50
N. W. Broad, for labor and stock
2 23
McCann and Burns, iron bars .
4 97
S. S. Hill, for brick .
105 00
B. and M. R. R., for freight on brick and cement
34 16
T. F. Gould, for tools
7 17
H. P. Emerson, for cement
54 00
Chelmsford Iron Works, frame and covers
11 00
Waldo Brothers, drain pipe
5 04
Bancroft and Temple, lumber .
7 53
Charles H. Lang, express charges
1 00
oil and lanterns
2 06
$384 92
REPAIRS ON CISTERNS.
Paid Edward Parker, stock and labor on cistern on Common . $25 47
E. E. Nichols, covers and repair on covers 4 50
N. H. Turner, cement and labor on Woburn-street cistern
13 50
$43 47
BUILDING HANCOCK ENGINE HOUSE.
Paid William M. Phillips, balance in full for building
$631 95
Charles A. Case, for labor
1.6 75
Charles H. Danforth, for labor
6 12
Daniel Sullivan, for labor
75
B. S. Cressey, stucco work
8 00
Samuel Brown, painting sign, &c.
27 00
E. C. Nichols, date sign
3 50
Charles H. Lang, flag staff, halliards, &c.
3 15
Charles H. Moulton, grading lot
2 25
Waldo Brothers, drain pipe
6 72
$706 19
16
FURNISHING HANCOCK ENGINE HOUSE.
Paid T. Littlefield, stoves and fixtures
$57 29
F. Harnden, furniture
9 00
Matthew Hanley, chairs .
7 60
S. J. Cass, for step ladder
4 50
F. O. Dewey, chandelier and lamp .
18 25
Charles H. Lang, furniture
2 30
D. F. Weston, settees
36 00
$134 94
Unexpended balance
15 06
Appropriation
$150 00
STATE AID.
Paid Jules R. Allen
$48 00
Sylvanus Blanchard
91 20
Daniel Berry .
48 00
William W. Davis .
72 00
Moses F. Eaton
48 00
George F. Goodwin
48 00
L. W. Krook .
36 00
James F. Leslie
27 00
John K. Lloyd
20 00
Benjamin McAllister
72 00
William Mears
72 00
Edwin Manning
54 00
Isaac Monroe .
40 00
Edward E. Nichols .
48 00
Tobias Pinkham
48 00
John E. Robinson
48 00
Charles H. Stevens .
48 00
George W. Simes
60 00
S. Nelson Weston
36 00
Charles O. Young .
64 00
$1,262 20
ABATEMENT OF TAXES.
For 1872 .
$15 76
1873.
381 19
1874.
.
58 99
$455 94
Adam Hetler
48 00
Charles B. Leathe
168 00
George W. Carleton
18 00
17
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
Paid Lyceum Hall Association, use of hall for town meetings $130 00 Bancroft and Temple, fencing engine and schoolhouse lot 152 50
George Beasley, for labor on Woburn-street schoolhouse lot
6 00
Charles H. Moulton, moving old engine house to farm 30 00
J. B. Leathe, making duplicate valuation book for State 20 00 C. P. Judd, services as counsel in Mrs. Case's suit, 1872-73 99 40 Solon Bancroft, as counsel in E. B. Eames's suit, 1873 . 30 00
G. C. Gleason, returning deaths to town clerk 10 50
Hiram Barrus, services as committee on history of Reading
40 00
George Parker, for woodland for town farm
125 00
J. W. Gleason, for care of gun to March 13, 1874 .
6 00
Nathan Bancroft, for care and repair of flag, 1873-74 5 50 66 66 6 1874-75 5 00
George W. Dean, ringing bell .
4 50
W. H. Wightman, tending check list
1 50
James M. Day 66
1 50
H. S. La Clair
4 50
Benjamin Peabody, repairing pump on Common 12 25
Town of North Reading, repairs on bridge on Main Street 23 75
J. A. Bancroft, surveying streets ·
15 00
$722 90
SUMMARY OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation for schools
. $11,000 00
for schools, incidentals
1,500 00
66 for ordinary charges
10,000 00
66 for interest on town debt .
4,500 00
66 for fire department .
2,000 00
for furniture for Hancock engine-house
150 00
for improvements in cemetery . 350 00
for public library
750 00
66 for sinking fund
2,337 00
for highways .
3,000 00
State tax
County tax
1,751 80
Corporation tax
566 69
Bank tax
741 02
Massachusetts school fund
280 98
Amount carried forward,
$42,694 84
2
Overlaying of taxes
1,207 35
2,560 00
18
Amount brought forward,
$42,694 84
State aid
1,451 34
Dog tax .
180 69
Subscription for watchman
89 50
Interest on taxes and note
461 95
Discount on county tax .
17 52
Dividend from insurance companies
116 50
Taxes after being abated
28 67
Cash from town of Bradford .
26 35
from Abigail P. Beers
52 00
for tuition
30 00
6 from Moses Mears for culvert
30 00
for betterments
372 00
" from H. G. Randall, for drain pipe
8 16
$45,559 52
EXPENDITURES.
For schools
. $10,541 15
For schools, incidentals .
1,025 12
For supplies at almshouse
964 06
For poor out of almshouse
1,341 65
For repair of highways .
2,963 54
For extra of highway work
900 95
For removing snow
44 25
For building Green Street
745 80
For building Maple Street
109 32
For building Highland Street
91 25
For rebuilding South Street .
136 33
For damages for land taken for highways
1,050 00
For public library .'
855 57
For street lamps .
332 53
For fire department
1,982 05
For building cistern
384 92
For repairs of cisterns
43 47
For town officers
1,781 85
For town office
197 25
For watchman
588 00
For cemetery .
390 75
For Hancock engine house
706 19
For furnishing Hancock engine house
134 94
For printing .
382 50
For abatement of taxes
.
455 94
For miscellaneous .
722 90
Amount carried forward,
$28,872 28
19
Amount brought forward,
$28,872 28
For State aid .
1,262 20
For State tax .
2,560 00
For county tax
1,751 80
For interest on town debt
4,487 11
For insurance on schoolhouses, piano, and library
359 00
Receipts more than expenditures .
6,267 13
$45,559 52
VALUATION FOR 1874.
Valuation of real estate, 1874
$2,038,531 00
1873
1,851,695 00
Gain in 1874
$186,836 00
Valuation of personal property, 1874
$298,876 00
1873
254,879 00
Gain in 1874.
$43,997 00
Total valuation in 1874
. $2,337,407 00
1873
. 2,106,574 00
Total gain in 1874 .
$230,833 00
Amount of taxes assessed in 1874
$41,106 15
Rate of taxation for general tax, $15.50 on $1,000.
66 66 " highway tax $1.12 on $1,000.
Number of polls, May 1, 1874, 882.
66 dwelling-bouses, 629.
" acres land taxed, 5,694}.
We have placed before you for your consideration the fore- going statement of the receipts and expenditures of the town for the financial year ending March 1, 1875. None of the depart- ments have exceeded their appropriations, and some show quite an amount unexpended ; proving, conclusively, that a reduction in appropriations can be made to such amount, unless there should be an unexpected increase of expense. A larger sum will be necessary in the road commissioners' department, .unless
$39,292 39
20
a special appropriation be made for widening and straightening Summer Street, which will probably cost as much as the extra highway work done the past year. The Report shows the appro- priation for schools to have been larger than was necessary. There seems to have been no reduction, but, on the contrary, a large increase of expense, in this department, and still quite a respectable balance unexpended.
The fire department is in a very efficient condition both as regards its membership and apparatus, being bountifully pro- vided with hose and other necessary appliances, which will require no considerable addition for the ensuing year at least, rendering a moderate reduction of the appropriation for this purpose possible.
Considerable complaint had been made that the valuation of real estate was unequal; some portions, especially what are termed farming-lands, located near the centre of the town and depot, being undervalued. This complaint led us to make a somewhat extended examination into the matter, which resulted in the conviction that the complaint was well founded. We not only found lands that were undervalued, but some quite valu- able parcels that had been omitted altogether : we have en- deavored to equalize the valuation of this class of property to some extent. A much more general compliance with the statutes in regard to bringing in to the assessors complete lists of their polls and estates, would materially aid the assessors in their duties. The stagnation of business which has prevailed during the past year has led to an increase in the expense of the poor out of the almshouse.
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.