USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1851-1866 > Part 13
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66
11 33
W.J. Farnsworth,“ 66
$12, Lebanon do. . 75, 12 75
Stephen Hyde,
"
66
66
7 50
Jacob Goball, 66 66
66 1 87
Chas. R. Train, bill for Counsel on Water Question, 35 00
A. V. Lynde, do do do.
35 00
1653 46
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Town Grant,
-
$3800 00
Received from the State School Fund, -
103 45
Edward Stickney, one year's Salary, $800 00
Lydia C. Proctor, 66 66 250 00
Helen E. Adams, Teaching 33 weeks,
209 00
Christiana Upham, 66 38 66
209 00
Mary J. Mclaughlin, " 38
38
209 00
Phebe A. Norris,
"
38
66
247 00
Louisa A. Norris,
66
38
66
209 00
S. E. Batcheller,
66
38
66
209 00
A. E. Ide, 15
97 50
Mary A. Webster,
66
21
66
115 50
Ada R. Poor,
66
21
136 50
Florence J. Reed,
9
66
49 50
Sarah E. Marble,
66
7
66
38 50
Sarah F. Holmes,
66
2
66
13 00
Henrietta M. Close,
66
1
66
5 50-3007 00
A. J. Sessions, Superintendence of Schools, 25.00- services as Building Committee, 5.00-Inciden- tals, 5.11, 35 11
Win. H. Munroe, Superintendence of Schools, 35 00 Moses Parker, Superintendence of Schools, 25.00- Incidentals, 1.25-services as Building Com- mittee, 5.00-Cash paid for sundries, 23.50, 54 75
-
. .
209 00
Kate E. Coburn,
66
66
7
Advertising for Teachers, 4.00-Webster's Dict. 4.67, $8 67 F. D. Howe, care of School Rooms, 178.00-clean-
ing, 6.50-splitting wood, 6.00-housing Coal, 2.75-two keys, .34, 193 59
John R. Wait, care of School Rooms, 37.50-Cash paid for cleaning, 3.22-sundries, 8.65, 49 37
Thomas N. Upham, care of School Rooms, 25.00- sawing wood, 1.50, 26 50
Mary Ware, bill of School Books furnished Scholars, 19 13
Geo. W. Wyman, care of Room, 25.00-cleaning funnel, 2.00-sundries, 3.53, 30 53
J. C. Littlefield, care of Rooms, 37.50-sundries, .87, 38 37 M. O. Riley, cleaning House, 5 63
Caleb Howard, bill of sundries,
19 95
Joseph Holbrook, Repairs,
2 00
S. S. Bugbee, bill of sundries,
3 78
J. W. Adams, bill of sundries, 93 03
Ellison & Robbins, bill of Masonry, 37 98
Charles McClenethan, moving furniture and labor, 33 89
E. Gardner & Co., Fuel for Schools, 202 48
Clark Avery, labor and materials, 13 11
Robinson & Fisher, Painting and Glazing, 8 98
Martin Ellis & Co., bill of sundries, 22 84
Wm. H. Morse, bill of Repairs, 60 51
Samuel Harris, Printing 500 Reports, and Notices,
16 50 Congregational Society, Rent of Vestry one quarter, 12 50
N. R. Robinson, moving furniture,
1 50
Nelson Cochran, sundry Repairs,
3 00
Benj. F. Abbott, Medical Services, 2 00
A. W. Haskell, Printing Notices of Examination, 2 00
Benj. Boardman, White-washing Rooms, 3 00
John Smith, sundries, 60
W. G. Shattuck, for School Furniture,
278 44
John Whowell, contract for Finishing Room, 240.00, Extras, 16.54, 256 54
S. Emery & L. Lynde, Finishing Room on Green St., 254 00 E. Stickney, incidentals, 9 32
Sundry items of other persons, 1 25
3 12
S. S. Bugbee, articles furnished,
44
Thomas McCoubry, Repairs,
Geo. N. Noyes, services as School Committee, 12 00
Wm. H. Munroe, services as Building Committee, 5 00
$4863 41
5
SUPPORT OF THE POOR.
Town Grant, $800 00 -
Orders drawn for the benefit of the following per- sons, and for the purposes indicated.
ICHABOD EARL -- Fuel delivered by E. Gardner & Co., 1.75-Supplies delivered by C. Howard, 18.32- Goods delivered by C. Howard, 13.18, 33 25
JAMES GROVER-Goods delivered by A. Kilby, 10.14, one pair of Shoes, .70-House Rent, 3.50-Pro- visions, 4.56, 18 90 STEBBINS-Fuel del'd by E. Gardner & Co., 1 88 ABEL HANSON-Goods furnished by S. S. Bugbee, 4.00-Fuel, 1.12, 5 12
WM. SPRAGUE-Board by Peter Green, 52 weeks, 104 00 WILLARD EDWARDS' Family-Goods furnished by S. S. Bugbee, 136.23-Fuel delivered by E. Gard- ner & Co., 30.76-Provisions delivered by Wm. Newhall, 42.05-Goods by Wm. E. Fuller, 7.89-Shoes by G. F. Boardman, 4.25-Shoes, 6.38-do. by E. Avery, 4.22-Rent to F. Hem- menway, 33.00-Moving the Family, 2.50- Coffin for child, by George Lynde, 2.50-Dry Goods by C. H. Shepard, 6.14-Medical At- tendance by M. Parker, 1.00, 276 92
JOHN WAIT-Goods furnished by Sam'l S. Bugbee, 56.68-one pair Shoes, .62-Fuel by E. Gard- ner & Co., 11.00-Provisions, 30.31-Goods by Wm. E. Fuller, 8.00-Shoes delivered by E. Avery, 12.29-Dry Goods, 3.22-Fuel, 3.38- Milk, 3.00-Med. Attendance by B. F. Abbott, 4.00-Medicine, 2.22, 134 72
MRS. PARKS-Goods furnished by Sam'l S. Bugbee, 1.77-Fuel, 1.75-Goods del'd by C. Howard, 3.99-Goods by Wm. E. Fuller, 2.51-Shoes furnished by E. Avery, 1.29, 11 31
9
WH. EARLE *__ Goods furnished by S. S. Bugbee, 2.19, Fuel, 10.00-Supplies delivered by C. Howard, 4.99-Provisions, 2.07-Shoes, by E. Avery, 1.50-Goods delivered by C. Howard, 1.95, $22 70
D. CROCKETT-Goods furnished by S. S. Bugbee, 7.17-Provisions, 1.57, 8 74
GEO. W. BEALS-Goods deliv'd by A. Kilby, 29.18- Fuel by E. Gardner & Co., 9.25-Goods by Wm. E. Fuller, 7.26-Provisions, 1.56, 47 25
DAVID MARSHALL-Goods furnished by S. S. Bugbee, 10.00-one Overcoat, 8.50-one Cloak, 4.75- 54 71 Fuel, 18.00-Goods by Wm. E. Fuller, 12.46, SIMPSON-Fuel deliv'd by E. Gardner & Co. 1 65 ELIAS E. ELLIOTT-Fuel delivered by E. Gardner & Co., 4.75-Goods delivered by C. Howard, 6.50, 11 25 NATH'L PRATT-Med. Attendance by E. O. Phinney, 12 00 F. F. CLARK-Fuel delivered by E. Gardner & Co., 7.38-Goods by C. Howard, 8.00, 15 38
Entertaining Travellers-Cash paid by E. Gardner, 14.67-Cash paid Mary Canuff, 2.25-Cash paid by Nelson Cochran, 2.00, 18 92
MARY DETEIFF-Supplies, .44-Nursing by Eliza C. Grover, 6.00-Medical Attendance, by M. Par- ker, 13.00-Medicine, .38, 19 82
ALBERT GROVER-for board in Malden Almshouse, 64.50-Clothing, 12.48, 76 98
GEORGE GREEN-Board in Malden Almshouse seven weeks, 15.75-Clothing, 16.37-Medical At- tendance by Wm. H. Richardson, 6.50, 38 62 CHAS. F. SLOCOMB-Board by Betsey W. Slocomb, 52 weeks, at 1.25 per week, 65 00
4 23 RALPH BARTER-Goods furnished by Wm. E. Fuller, BENJ. WILDE's Family-Shoes furnished by J. Crock- er, 6.33-do. by E. Avery, 1.50-Washing, .70, Nursing, 1.00, paid by N. Cochran-Nursing and Boarding by Seth Rich two weeks, 10.00- Boarding four weeks, 10.00-Medical Attend- ance by M. Parker, 13.50-Goods furnished by Miss Ware, 1.29, 44 32 SAMUEL GREEN-Board by Sam'l Sprague 48 weeks, ending Feb. 14, 1859, 96.00-Rent by Mary Boardman, 3.12-Interring Mrs. S. Green, 4.00, Coffin, &c., 11.00, 114 12
* $17.81 has been paid by the town of Southboro', into the hands of Dana & Cobb.
2
10
L. C. TOWNER-for removing to Newington, N. H., $12 07 by Isaac Twombly,
" Crazy Irish Girl," removing to Cambridge by Jos. Holbrook, 3 00
PARMELIA YOUNG-Coffin, Robe, &c., 9.50-Inter- ring, 5.00-Medical Service at Inquest, 2.00, 16 50 ELLEN HAVY-Interring, 4.25-Coffin and Robe, 10.75, 15 00
Washing paid to Mrs. Connell,
1 00
Goods delivered to the Poor, by C. H. Shepard, as per bill, 25.43-Sundries delivered by Wm. J. Farnsworth, 2.25, 27 68
Elbridge Gardner, services as Overseer of Poor, 16 00
Nelson Cochran, do. do. do. 8 00
Ephraim Avery, do. do. do.
6 00
Wm. J. Farnsworth, do.
do. do. 10 25
$1257 29
STREETS.
HOWARD STREET.
Town Grant,
-
-
-
500 00
N. R. Robinson, constructing Cart-way to S. Rich's house, 25 00
Nelson Cochran, work on, 25 75
Ai Roe and E. B. Southwick, building Street, 300 00
Geo. H. Fall, services as Referee, 25 00
Ai Roe and E. B. Southwick, cash paid by C. How-
ard, as per vote of the town, for building Street, 907 90 $1283 65
WYOMING STREET.
Orders drawn.
No appropriation. N. R. Robinson, $248 50
11
HIGHWAYS.
Town Grant,
$1000 00 -
Orders drawn as follows :
Wm. E. Fuller, supplies to E. B. Southwick,
1 27
E. B. Southwick, work on Highways,
198 11
Alvan Drake,
66 66
30 43
Jonas G. Brown,
66
66
31 62
Orrin Brown, 66 66
22 50
Laroy Brown, 66 66
1 25
Timothy Calahan,
66 66
68 31
Thomas McGiveney, 66 66
64 43
Ai Roe, 66
25 00
Thomas Lister, 66
42 87
Geo. P. Fuller,
66
13 37
M. Ellis & Co.,
25 00
D. P. Emerson,
66 66
22 00
James Morrison, sharpening tools, &c.
5 75
John Simonds, 66
7 39
Otis Howard, work on Highways,
9 68
John Blake, 66
2 00
C. Locke,
66
2 00
Edward Heffren,
66 66
23 12
J. Geryhan,
66
1 25
Thomas Mahan, 66 66
28 00
Michael Fleming,
25 43
Pat. Brady, 66 66
15 12
Thomas Cornell, 66 66
13 25
Sam'l Woodward, 66 66
10 00
Michael Quinn,
66
3 12
E. Fuller, one cask Powder,
3 62
William Lynde, for labor on Highways,
564 80
Thomas McCoubry, Blacksmithing,
14 90
Jacob Goball, work on Highways,
1 88
Chas. Boardman, «
5 89
1 32
Wm. E. Fuller, material for blasting rocks, Ephraim Fuller, breaking paths,
75
$1285 43
66 66
12
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
No Appropriation.
N. R. Robinson, raising Engine House, 5.00-dig- ging Well, 10.00,
$15 00
Wm. E. Fuller, Supplies, 3 10
Wm. O. Haskell, Settees, 25 50
Wm. Hall, Engine Fixtures, 12 10
Hunneman & Co., repairs of Engine, 13 52
E. A. Newton, 47 Badges, 11.75-repairs of hose, 2.00, 13 75
S. J. Phinney, work on Engine Hall, 6 85
do do material and labor, 2 75
Robinson & Fisher, Painting, 23 58
Shelton & Cheever, repairing hose, 11 38
F. D. Howe, care of Engine, 17.50-sundries, 4.75, 22 25 Ephraim Fuller, Express services, 11 39
J. W. Adams, sundries, 3 40
J. W. Washburn, two Lanterns,
E. Gardner & Co., Fuel, 5 05
8 70
Samuel Ellison, Masonry,
4 50
Thomas McCoubry, Repairs,
1 72
D. H. Walker, Repairs,
1 50
Wm. H. Earl, Repairs of Engine,
5 00
Wm. Newhall, cash paid for cleaning hall, 2.40- Record Book, 1.25, 3 65
S. S. Bugbee, Supplies, Nov. 6, 1858, 4.53-Dec. 1, 12.84-Jan. 1, 1859, 14.58-Jan. 24, 20.58, 52 53
A. Kilby, Supplies, Nov. 30, 1858, 3.00-Jan. 24, 1859, 10.35, 13 35
Thomas McCoubry, Repairs, 17
Wm. E. Fuller, one gross Matches, 35
Wood & Oakman, - quarts Milk, 87
C. Howard, 4 galls. Sperm Oil, 7.00-sundries, 1.63, 8 63
Edmund Davis, care of Engine from May, 1, 1857, to May 1, 1858, 30 00
$300 59
13
INTEREST PAID. 1
Appropriation, $1500 00
Cash paid Lowell Institute,
$270 68
66 Henry Bancroft,
402 00
66 Phebe Lynde,
33 00
66 66 Aaron Green,
66 00
Warren Emerson,
90 00
Joseph Lynde,
357 53
George Moore,
91 35
66
Mary McPharson,
180 00
60
66 Lydia Emerson,
9 60
66
66 Benj. Boardman,
7 20
66 Samuel Sprague,
6 00
66
" Sally Dix, 88 50
Amount paid on Town Debt, 1607 86
Cash paid So. Reading Bank discount, $25 33 " W. G. Shattuck, int't on order, 7 23- -32 56
1640 42
CEMETERY.
No Appropriation.
The following have been the incidental Receipts and Ex- penditures :
Cash rec'd for lots sold to sundry persons, $130 00 66 for Grass 66 51 25-$181 25
Cash paid Nath'l Howard, bill of sundries, $42 46 Jona. Cochran, 66 4 00
Geo. W. Fisher, for painting gates, 1 89 A. W. Haskell, printing Rules, 1 25
66
66 Jos. W. Ripley, for Binding, 1 50
66
66 Walter Littlefield, making and ac- knowledging 31 Deeds of Lots, 15 50
" 66 Copeland & Cleveland, for travel and advice about gates, 1 50-68 10
Net proceeds,
$113 15
14
TOWN OFFICERS.
Joseph Holbrook, services as Assessor, $70.13-filling and posting warrants, 8.45-services at Town Meetings,5.00-notifying Town Officers, 6.50- services as Committee on Drainage, 8.00, $90 08
N. R. Robinson, services as Constable, $4.00-post- ing warrants, 2.00, 6 00
Jona. Cochran, services as Assessor, $84.25-services abating Taxes, 6.00-do. Town Clerk, 3.00- do. on Streets, &c., 24.00, 117 25
Henry Robinson, services as Assessor, 51 00
Elbridge Gardner, services as Selectman, 8.00-sun- dry other services, 43.24, 51 24
Nelson Cochran, services as Selectman, $8.00-sun- dry other services, 32.25, 40 25
Ephraim Avery, services as Selectman, 3 75
Wm. J. Farnsworth, services as Selectman, $4.00- do. on Streets, &c., 24.75, 28 75
Caleb Howard, services as Treasurer, $25.00-do. as Collector, 100.00-do. on Drainage, 25.00, 150 00
Charles H. Shepard, services as Town Clerk, 8.00- 1 other service, 20.40, 28 40
Town service, exclusive of School Com. service,
$566 72
15
Estimated Value of Town Property.
Lot of land on Main and Essex streets,
$3000 00
Cemetery,
11,000 00
Central School House,
3000 00
Vinton street School House,
2200 00
Green 66 .
2200 00
Lynde 66
2200 00
Upham
66 66
1500 00
Highland 66
1500 00
Engine and Hearse House,
1000 00
Engine and Apparatus,
1200 00
Hearse and Harness,
100 00
Safe,
150 00
Library,
150 00
$29,200 00
Demands against the Town on Interest.
Aaron Green's Note,
$1200 00
Henry Bancroft's
7200 00
Lydia Emerson's
160 00
Phebe Lynde's 66
550 00
Warren Emerson's " -
1300 00
Susan J. Emerson's "
550 00
William Dix's
66
-
1475 00
Joseph Lynde's 66
5958 85
Lowell Institute 66
3000 00
Mary McPharson's «
3000 00
George Moore's
-
1500 00
Samuel Sprague's 66
100 00
Mary Y. Sprague's "
100 00
Eli Upham's 66
800 00
Benj. Boardman's £
-
-
-
·110 00
$27,003 85
16
Summary of Current Expenses and Receipts FOR 1858.
Contingent Expenses,
1653 46
Schools and Improvements,
4863 41
Poor Department,
1257 29
Interest on Debt, &c.,
1640 42
Highways,
1285 43
Howard and Wyoming Streets,
1531 15
Fire Department,
300 59-$12,531 75
State and County Taxes,
$897 30
The Resources of the past year have been :
Assessments for sundry appropriations,$9100 00 Cash received of Town of Malden, 103 60
of Newburyport, 10 75
of Stoneham, 41 60
66 from State School Fund, 103 45
66
payment of J. Hay's Note, 50 00 from net proceeds of sale of Cemetery Lots and Grass, 113 15-$9522 55
* Excess of current Expenses above Receipts, $3009 20
* Notwithstanding the actual current Expenses of the past year exceed the current Receipts $3009.20, the actual demands against the town are only $1570 more than they were a year ago, the outstanding Taxes having been somewhat reduced within the past year.
REMARKS.
-
From the foregoing it will be seen that the actual expenses of the town have exceeded the appropriations $3009.20. Were this the only instance of an outlay above the town appropriations, and occasioned by some extraordinary and unavoidable circumstance, not likely to recur, we might pass it by with no more than a casual notice; but when it is considered that this is a state of things recurring from year to year, the inquiry is very properly raised, " What measures can be adopted to correct or obviate this disastrous tendency in the finances of the town ?" It is without doubt as true of corporate bodies as of individuals, that a careful and persistent economy is indispensably necessary to financial prosperity. In the present structure of society, economy is and ever must be a fundamental condition of pecuniary independence. And it should ever be borne in mind that this law cannot be safely disregarded either by States, lesser communities, or individuals.
A somewhat careful examination of the business transactions of the town during the past year, and a general acquaintance with the financial history of the town since its incorporation, have impressed the minds of the Committee with the following considerations :
1. The expense of new undertakings has usually been esti- mated too low, and the appropriations made upon such estimates have been too small for their completion. The estimate and ap- propriation for drainage is a forcible example of the ruinous ten- dency of this short-sighted policy. The influence of the repre- sentations usually made in our town meetings, in order to carry a favorite measure, are too well known to need a rehearsal in this place. A more careful consideration and thorough examination of every subject involving the pecuniary interest of the town to any considerable extent, are certainly demanded.
3
18
2. The general practice of overdra ving the appropriations, is another grave error, and not unfrequently the necessary conse- quence of the former evil. Appropriations the past year were made for six specific objects, amounting to $9100 ; and in every department has the appropriation been overdrawn. Without including the expenditures on Wyoming street and in the Fire Department, the excess drawn from the treasury for these specific purposes, including about $1000 for finishing and furnishing school rooms, amounts to the snug sum of $2793.24; which is more than 30 per cent above the original town grant for these several objects. Might not a code of By-laws, one of which should forbid any and all overdraughts, except for those purposes unavoidably necessary, and specifically provided for by statute law, aid in the suppression of a practice already assuming the force of authority from yearly repetition ?
3. From facts which have occurred during the past and former years, we feel authorized to recommend more discrimination, on the part of the executive officers of the town, in allowing claims of doubtful legality, and based on services rendered without due authority. Individuals may choose occasionally to get rid of an importunate claimant, by making large concessions to his exor- bitant demands, and the rights of others remain unaffected ; but for civic bodies to go beyond the provisions of the law, is to inaugurate a dangerous precedent. In legal processes, and in making contracts with outside parties, a trifling expense of labor or advice will often prove the truth of the maxim, that "an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure."
4. From some one or more causes, the expense of our Poor Department has increased since 1851 in a ratio about twice that of the population. During that year the whole expense was $313.03. Our present Reports give $1257.29 as the expendi- ture for 1858. Whether the present method of distributing to the necessities of the unfortunate, secures bost the commendable objects of charity, is a question worthy the consideration of the economist. Without being able to determine whether our current method of supporting the poor is best, we leave it with the town to decide either to pursue the course hitherto observed, or adopt measures for their support in community.
19
5. The power of united effort is so well understood, that the proposition-union is strength-is universally acknowledged as an established axiom in the political ethics of men. The great enterprises of the world are begun, carried forward and completed in conformity with this general principle. This law is aptly illustrated in the story of the savage, who, with his fingers, casily broke in pieces the single arrows ; but which, when bound together, resisted the utmost efforts of his full strength.
If the errors into which we have, by general consent, fallen, are to be corrected, it must be by the united efforts of those whose power is equal to the task.
Both employers and employees should be willing, if they accept the public service, to do it for a fair consideration for such labor, and not make the trust confided in them by the public the occasion for the preferment of the greedy claims of avarice.
Nor is it enough that we all agree, in our preliminary calls for nomination of town officers, to make large demands for economy, retrenchment and reform, and thenceforth leaving the mirror upon which we had looked, straitway forget the comely form which we had delighted to behold.
In a word, from the first Monday of March, to the next succeed- ing first Monday of March, should every citizen take care that the public weal suffer no harm.
6. Were it necessary, we might, in order to enforce the importance of the foregoing suggestions, dilate upon the influence of a large Town Debt in disturbing the harmony of the citizens, in embar- rassing those whose property consists of unproductive real estate, and checking the growth and general prosperity of the town. Large taxation must necessarily result from a large debt : and the inevitable tendency of large taxation, is to compel capital to seek more favored localities for its investment.
The idea advanced by some, that we may safely incur a debt, and leave its liquidation for future years, when the population will be multiplied and the burden thereby lessened, is, in the mind of your Committee an unsafe one ; unless we except those improve- ments made for the benefit of a future addition to the population. It is our impression, and we think it might be sustained by an investigation of facts, that the population of suburban towns
20
increases faster than the taxable property of such towns. If this be true, then we have the reason of the fact that the percentage of taxation is increasing. An increase of numbers, multiplies the wants of a community, and this multiplication of wants creates the necessity of a supply by way of taxation; and unless the taxable property increases with equal ratio, an increased percent- age must be the consequence. And this seems to be the constant tendency when all the ordinary current expenses are regularly met.
It needs not therefore a very profound acquaintance with the laws of political economy, to foresee the insupportable burden which, in a few years, will oppress a town of moderate wealth, which is yearly contracting a debt for objects of present necessity only. The current expenses of each year should be fully met by those for whose present benefit they are incurred. A contrary policy will prove ruinous to the welfare of the community.
Respectfully submitted,
E. O. PHINNEY, WM. J. FARNSWORTH, GEO. F. BOARDMAN.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
THE School Committee of Melrose respectfully present the following as their Annual Report :
On an article in a warrant for a town meeting, holden May 26th, 1858, "To see what action the town would take in reference to providing further and needful accommoda- tions for the Public Schools," the town voted to refer it to the School Committee, with instructions to finish off the unfinished rooms in the Lynde street and Green street School-Houses, if necessary. This was done, at the cost to the town of the following sums :
Paid to Stephen Emery and L. Lynde, for finishing off upper room in the Green street School-House,
and building stairs, as per contract, - - - - $254 00 Paid to John Whowell, for finishing off upper room in Lynde street School-House, and building stairs, as per contract, 256 54 Paid to G. W. Shattuck for 105 single school desks, 280 70 28 ink wells, - 2 24
1 arm chair for teacher, - 4 00
6 chairs for committee, 4 00
Paid Ellison & Robbins, for work on black boards, and materials, for Green street School-House, - 16 76 Paid Daniel Pratt & Sons, for two eight-day clocks, and oiling the same, - - 12 50
Paid Allen & Noble, for 3 bells and 1 thermometer, 3 00 School Books for Grammar school desk, - - - 3 00 - Paid Chas. McClenethan, for work in removing seats, putting down new ones, and stock furnished, 33 89 -
Paid J. W. Adams, for stove pipe, screens, &c., - 43 87 Paid Wm. Morse, for screen, map rollers, &c., - 8 50
Paid bills for teaming, washing, &c., - 7 47
Paid Building Committee, - 15 00
Making,
945 47
22
This amount has been expended by your Committee in providing further needful accommodations for the Public Schools.
By the expense thus incurred, the town has obtained two beautiful and commodious school rooms. The furniture has been selected with careful reference to the wants of the pupils ; it is durable as well as elegant, and will last with care for several years. Single desks, although of higher first cost than double ones, were purchased, as they give a seat to each pupil, for the care of which he is responsible, and contribute to the better discipline of the school.
Your Committee would recommend that a good Well be provided for each school-house, where there is none now, (this would be one at the Green street school-house, one at the Lynde street school-house, and one at the Upham street school-house,) provided they could be dug at a reasonable expense to the town. How this would be at the Upham street school-house, could not perhaps be determined but by trial, as there is a ledge in front, which may extend so far back as to render it impossible to obtain water in that locality, except at an expense altogether unwarrantable. The old well in the road near the Vinton street school-house, is now furnished with a platform at the town's expense, and might be furnished with an iron chain pump, like that at the Centre school-house, for a trifling expense. It is necessary that a good supply of pure water should be furnished to our children, and much complaint has been justly made by those living near our school-houses, of the trespassing of children on their premises to obtain water. In case of fire these wells might be of great service.
It would be desirable that our school-houses should be insured. The Committee of last year say in their report- " in the course of another year some of the school-houses will need painting." This necessity has been on the increase during the last year. All the school-houses in town, with the exception of the Upham street school-house, need re- painting, as they are all more or less weather-beaten on the south and east sides ; and it is poor economy to leave wood work exposed to the action of the weather, for the want of being properly protected by paint.
23
SCHOOLS.
In consequence of changes made during the present school year, our schools are now arranged as follows :- High School and Centre Primary, Vinton street 1st and 2d Primary, Lynde street Grammar and Primary, Green street Grammar and Primary, Upham street Mixed School, and Highland Primary.
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