USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1885-1889 > Part 10
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Voted, That a committee of five be appointed to confer with the selectmen, and report at the next annual meeting what changes may be necessary, with an estimate of the cost of the same ; to enlarge the hall stage, to provide a more thorough system of ventilation, and to otherwise repair and improve the Town Hall.
Committee appointed : John W. Farwell, George H. Dear- born, E. K. Bordman, E. C. Gould, W. A. Rodman.
ART. 4. To hear and act upon the reports of committees, and transact any other business which may legally come before this meeting. The following, submitted by Moses S. Page, was accepted and adopted by unanimous vote : -
Whereas, The patrons of the Boston and Maine Railroad, residing in Melrose, feel that they have just cause for com- plaining of the accommodations furnished by the said railroad, and especially of the need of comfortable waiting-rooms for Boston-bound passengers on the west side of the track ;
Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that a com- mittee of five be appointed to appear before the Railroad Commissioners, at a hearing to be held by them on the fifth day of February next, at their rooms in Boston, to consider any grievances of the patrons of the Boston and Maine Railroad, provided said committee cannot secure the accommodations desired from the managers of the railroad.
Committee appointed : Moses S. Page, D. W. Gooch, W. P. Sargent, R. P. Barry, N. P. Jones.
Annual Meeting, March 1, 1886, 7 A. M.
ARTICLE I. To choose a moderator.
Chose Levi S. Gould, by unanimous vote.
ART. 2. To bring in votes on one ballot for selectmen, clerk, treasurer, collector, assessors, and other officers.
2
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
To bring in votes, upon a separate ballot, in answer to the question, "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicat- ing liquors in this town?" Form of ballots to be " Yes " or " No."
Voted, That the officers elected by ballot this day shall consist of three selectmen, who shall also be overseers of the poor and highway surveyors, one clerk, one treasurer, one tax collector, three assessors, one water commissioner for three years, two school committee for three years, one water loan sinking fund commissioner for three years, five library trust- ees, three auditors, and three constables.
Polls opened.
Voted, That the polls be closed at 5.15 P. M.
Voted, That the transaction of town business, other than voting, be postponed to 7.30 P. M.
Edward E. Babb appointed as teller, and sworn.
Polls closed at 5.15 P. M.
OFFICERS DECLARED ELECTED BY THE MODERATOR.
Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, and Highway Surveyors - Levi S. Gould, Henry G. Fields, John K. Currier. Town Clerk - John Larrabee. Town Treasurer- George Newhall. Collector of Taxes - Moses F. Eastman. Assessors - George F. Boardman, Moses Briggs, George C. Stantial. Water Commissioner for Three Years - Wilbur D. Fiske. School Committee for Three Years - Charles F. Loring, Addie B. P. Waterhouse. Water Loan Sinking Fund Commissioner for Three Years - John W. Farwell Trustees of the Public Library - Elbridge H. Goss, Charles C. Barry, Thomas B. Peck, Hannah Lynde, Ruby F. Farwell. Constables - Henry B. Newhall, Ansel B. Pierce, Frank M. McLaughlin. Auditors - John R. Norton, Frank E. Orcutt, Walter I. Nickerson.
LICENSE QUESTION.
" Yes," three votes ; "No," two hundred and twenty-nine votes.
Voted, To adjourn.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Adjourned Meeting, March 1, 1886, 7.30 P. M.
ART. 3. To choose all other necessary town officers.
OFFICERS ELECTED.
Measurers of Wood and Bark, Weighers of Hay and Coal - Seth E. Benson, M. F. Eastman. Surveyor of Lumber - Henry A. Leonard. Committee on Cemeteries - George New- hall, Daniel Russell, John Larrabee. Field Drivers - Otis Howard, H. B. Newhall, Frank Gibbons, W. Truman How- ard. Fence Viewers- Dexter Pratt, Joseph S. Eastman. Pound Keeper - W. Truman Howard.
ART. 4. To authorize the town treasurer to borrow money for the purpose of meeting the demands of the town, with the approval of the selectmen.
Voted, unanimously, That the treasurer be authorized, with the approval of the selectmen, to hire money to renew, re- place, or pay any existing loan or loans ; also to hire money in anticipation of taxes for the current year, to meet expenses, and issue notes of the town therefor.
ART. 5. To hear and act upon the report of the finance committee appointed at meeting held Nov. 10, 1885.
Report read and accepted.
ART. 6. To raise money for schools.
Voted, To raise eighteen thousand dollars.
ART. 7. To raise money for school contingent expenses.
Voted, To raise for contingent expenses of the schools, two thousand five hundred dollars ; and for text-books and other supplies, one thousand two hundred and fifty ; total amount to be raised, three thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars.
ART. 8. To raise money for highways.
Voted, To raise five thousand five hundred dollars ; five hun- dred dollars of said amount to be expended for such altera- tions, improvements, and repairs as may be required to be made in Swain's Pond Avenue.
ART. 9. To raise money for sidewalks.
Voted, To raise one thousand dollars ; not less than twenty- five per cent of said amount to be expended in repairs on exist-
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
isting walks, and the remainder to be expended in accordance with votes of previous years, by which abutters pay one half of the expense.
ART. IO. To raise money for crossings and gutters.
Voted, To raise three hundred dollars.
ART. II. To raise money for the support of the poor.
Voted, To raise four thousand five hundred dollars.
ART. 12. To raise money for the Fire Department.
Voted, To raise two thousand four hundred dollars ; five hundred dollars of said amount to be expended for the pur- chase of new hose.
ART. 13. To raise money for lighting of street lamps.
Voted, To raise one thousand nine hundred and fifty dollars for the lighting and care of street lamps.
ART. 14. To raise money for additional street lamps.
Voted, To raise one hundred and fifty dollars.
ART. 15. To raise money for police and watchmen.
Voted, To raise one thousand four hundred dollars.
ART. 16. To raise money for contingent expenses.
Voted, To raise one thousand two hundred dollars.
ART. 17. To raise money to pay interest on the town debt.
Voted, To raise five thousand dollars.
ART. 18. To raise money for the reduction of the town debt.
Voted, To raise five thousand dollars ; the same, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be applied in payment for the Fells School building.
ART. 19. To raise money for the public library.
Voted, To raise seven hundred and fifty dollars for the pub- lic library and reading room, to which shall be added the dog tax when received.
ART. 20. To raise money for water, viz., to pay cost of constructing works for the past year, and for the use of the water, in hydrants, public buildings, etc.
Voted, To raise the amount expended for construction during the year 1885, viz., five thousand two hundred and eighty-five
21
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
and sixty-seven hundredths dollars ; and for use of water in hydrants, public buildings, etc., two thousand dollars.
ART. 21. To raise money for salaries of town officers, and to fix the compensation of all officers and committees elected or appointed by the town.
Voted, To raise two thousand five hundred dollars ; that the salaries of town officers be the same as paid last year ; and three hundred dollars additional for such clerical service as may be required by the assessors.
ART. 22. To raise money for drainage, bridges, and cul- verts.
Voted, To raise six hundred and fifty dollars.
ART. 23. To raise money for deficiencies in accounts for the past year, and for all other necessary expenses for the ensuing year.
Voted, To raise for deficiencies, three thousand five hundred and eighty-five and fifty-six hundredths dollars ; viz., special appropriations for Orris, Warren, and Washington Streets, $ 1,000 ; special appropriation for expenses of water committee, $133.54 ; military aid, $251 ; school contingent, $929 ; general contingent, $ 102.53 ; Town Hall, $788.75 ; insurance, $327.49 ; drinking fountain, $12.23 ; Highland School building, $41.02. Total, $3,585.56.
Voted, That the unexpended balances from last year and all other unappropriated funds in the hands of the treasurer be carried into the treasury, and applied to the reduction of the town debt.
Voted, That the selectmen be requested to expend two thirds of the amount appropriated for highways before June I of the current year.
Voted, That a committee of three be appointed to examine all the books of accounts of the town officers, and suggest such alterations and improvements as can be made, and carry the same into execution.
Committee appointed : George C. Stantial, George Newhall, John Larrabee.
ART. 24. To determine the method by which the taxes for the year shall be collected.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Voted, That all single poll taxes be made payable on or before Aug. 1, 1886; that all other taxes be made payable on or before Oct. 1, 1886, and that interest be added upon all taxes remaining unpaid after that date at the rate of six per centum per annum; that all property on which the taxes remain unpaid on June 1, 1887, be sold by the collector in accordance with the provisions of law.
ART. 25. To hear and act on the report of the committee appointed to consider the matter of school accommodations.
Report of the committee read and accepted.
Voted, That a committee of five be appointed to purchase and accept a deed to the town, of land adjacent to the present Vinton Street Schoolhouse lot ; to remove the present build- ing therefrom, and to build a schoolhouse thereon, substan- tially as recommended in the report of the special committee on school accommodations.
Voted, That the sum of fourteen thousand dollars be appro- priated to pay for the said land and constructing and furnish- ing said building, and that the town treasurer be authorized to borrow the same (unanimous vote). Committee appointed : Moses S. Page, R. P. Barry, Daniel Norton, Joel Snow, W. Irving Ellis.
Voted, That a committee of five be appointed, to provide a suitable school building in that part of the town near Swain's Pond, select a location, and purchase the land, with authority also to remove the Vinton Street School building, or build a new building at an expense not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars ; and that the town treasurer be authorized to borrow said amount, and that it be added to the permanent debt. Committee appointed : John B. Souther, J. W. Page, Thomas Polson, T. W. Ripley, J. A. Dill.
Voted, To adjourn to Thursday evening, March II, 1886, at 72 o'clock.
Adjourned Meeting, March 11, 1886, 7.30 P. M.
ART. 25.
Voted, unanimously, That the recommendations of the com- mittee concerning the water-closets in Grove Street School
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
building be adopted ; viz., that the same be removed from the basement of the building and suitable outbuildings con- structed; that eight hundred dollars be appropriated for the purpose, and that the treasurer. be authorized to borrow the same.
ART. 28. To see if the town will raise or appropriate money for the purpose of furnishing apartments for Post 4, G. A. R., in the Town Hall building, in accordance with resolve adopted Nov. 10, 1885.
The following resolutions, submitted by Dr. J. S. Clark, were unanimously adopted : -
Whereas, The time is not far distant when the present lim ited conveniences of our public library will be inadequate to subserve the purpose of our constantly increasing popula- tion, and when other and more commodious accommodations will have to be provided by the town ;
And whereas, Nothing commemorative of the valor and patriotism of our citizen soldiery, living or dead, who en- dured, sacrificed, and suffered for the maintenance of govern- ment and the perpetuity of the Union, has been provided by public or private generosity as a mark of endearing gratitude ;
And whereas, Believing that every community, and espe- cially every Massachusetts town, should by some lasting public object express its grateful obligations to those who died in defence of liberty, and at the same time afford an impressive lesson of patriotism to its youth ;
And whereas, Our considerations of the dead are neces- sarily limited to commemorative acts, we have fortunately, in a lessening band of survivors, those to whom practical ben- efaction can be extended, while recording the virtues of their fallen comrades ;
Therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the citi- zens of Melrose, here assembled, formally expressed, that in the near future some action should be taken by its citizens, individually or in town meeting assembled, toward the erec- tion of a suitable memorial commemorative of the soldiers and sailors of the war for the Union.
Resolved, That it would be fitting and proper to this end
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
to erect a Memorial Public Library, to include, if architect- urally practicable, a hall for the use and accommodation of any philanthropic associations of the survivors of the war.
Resolved, That if by personal and individual subscriptions or otherwise a sufficient sum should be satisfactorily pledged, that would of itself be one half sufficient to erect a building worthy of the cause and purpose, that the town ought to fur- nish a site for the same and an equal amount for the structure.
Be it further Resolved, That the Melrose Improvement Society be requested to inaugurate this work by the soliciting of subscriptions and donations, and by such other means as they may deem advisable; and whenever the undertaking is sufficiently advanced, to bring the matter before the town.
Article indefinitely postponed.
ART. 29. To hear and act upon the report of the com- mittee appointed to consider the enlarging of the Town Hall stage, improving the ventilation of the building, etc., and raise or appropriate money for the same.
Report of committee read and accepted.
Voted, That a sum not exceeding three hundred dollars be appropriated, to be expended under the direction of the select- men for the purpose of furnishing additional means of egress from the building.
Voted, That a committee of five be appointed to attend to the matter of ventilation, and that two hundred dollars be appropriated for that purpose.
Committee appointed : J. W. Farwell, G. H. Dearborn, E. C. Gould, E. K. Bordman, and W. A. Rodman.
Voted, That the sum of five hundred dollars be appropri- ated for the purpose of re-arranging the anterooms of the hall, as recommended by the committee.
Voted, That the treasurer be authorized to borrow said amounts.
ART. 30. To hear and act upon the report of the com- mittee appointed to revise the water rates.
Report read and accepted.
Voted, That the clause "when two faucets are used, etc.," be placed under dwelling-house rates ; that the line " for hop-
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
per water-closet, $8.00," be stricken out; and that the rates for stores be amended so as to read, " occupied as office, shop, or similar purpose, for first faucet, $6.00 to $20.00."
Voted, That the water rates, by-laws, and regulations, as reported and amended, be adopted.
ART. 31. To see if the town will purchase of Rufus Leavitt a piece of land at the junction of Wyoming Avenue and Hurd Street, paying therefor a sum equivalent to the cost of concreting a sidewalk on Hurd Street, opposite estate of Mr. Leavitt, and appropriate thirty-five dollars for the same.
Voted, That the selectmen be authorized to accept a deed of the land, and that thirty-five dollars be appropriated for the purpose of concreting the sidewalk on Hurd Street, oppo- site the estate of Mr. Leavitt.
ART. 32. To see if the town will widen the culverts of Ell Pond Brook, where Main, Grove, and Berwick Streets cross the same, to a width which will carry off the water which accu- mulates during floods, agreeable to petition of J. Geist and nineteen others.
Voted, That the selectmen have authority to call upon the county commissioners, or take any other action that may be deemed necessary in the premises.
ART. 33. To see if the town will grant to H. C. Richard- son, for the purpose of watering the streets, the use of the standpipes without charge, agreeable to petition of C. G. Harris and ten others.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 34. To see if the town will properly repair and grade Prospect Street, and appropriate three hundred dollars for same, on petition of Wm. F. Conant and ten others.
Voted, unanimously, That Prospect Street be properly graded and repaired, under the direction of the selectmen ; that three hundred dollars be appropriated, and the treasurer authorized to borrow the same.
ART. 35. To see if the town will amend Section 10, Arti- 4 of the' By-Laws, so that the words " opened in " shall be stricken out, and the words "reported to or accepted by " be inserted in place thereof.
26
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Voted, That the By-Laws be amended by striking out in Article 4, Section 10, the words " opened in " in the first line, and inserting the words "accepted by, " and also adding after said section the words " without a vote of two thirds of the voters present and voting at a legal town meeting," so that said section as amended shall read as follows : -
SECT. IO. No street or public way shall hereafter be accepted by the town of a less width than forty feet, without a vote of two thirds of the voters present and voting at a legal town meeting.
Note. The above article was not accepted by the Court.
ART. 36. To see if the town will appoint a committee to confer with committees of other towns and cities, regarding the report now before the Legislature on a system of sewage for the Mystic Valley basin.
Voted, That the selectmen be a committee to confer with other towns and cities and appear before the committee of the Legislature on drainage at any public hearing, in the interest of the town.
ART. 37. To see if the town will grade and drain Per- kins Street, and appropriate money for the same.
Voted, That the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars be appropriated to properly grade and drain Perkins Street, and that the treasurer be authorized to borrow the same.
ART. 38. To see if the town will discontinue, widen, or alter that portion of Cedar Park which runs parallel with the B. & M. R. R., or any part thereof.
Voted , unanimously, That so much of Cedar Park as is situ- ated northerly of the line of the southerly boundary of land of Henry Monroe be discontinued ; said discontinuance to take effect as soon as the Boston and Maine R. R. Company shall have laid out, built, and opened to the public, and the select- men shall have accepted, as in all respects satisfactory, a street from Cedar Park to Emerson Street, the westerly line of which new street shall be not less than sixty feet from the westerly line of that portion of Cedar Park hereby discon- tinued.
27
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
ART. 39. To hear and act on the reports of committees, and for the transaction of any other business which may legally come before this meeting.
Report of committee on Fells School building read and ac- cepted.
Report of the selectmen on guide-boards read and ac- cepted.
ART. 22. Voted, That the sum raised for drainage, bridges, and culverts be increased to one thousand dollars.
Voted, To adjourn sine die.
Meeting, Nov. 2, 1886, 7 A. M.
ART. I. To bring in votes for State and county officers and for a representative in the Fiftieth Congress.
Polls opened at 7 A. M.
Tellers appointed : George H. Hill and William A. Water- house.
ART. 2. To choose a moderator to preside, for the trans- action of town business.
Chose Levi S. Gould.
Voted, To postpone the transaction of town business until Tuesday evening next (Nov. 9), at 7.30 o'clock, and that when this meeting adjourns it shall be to that time.
Voted, That the polls be kept open until 4.36 P. M.
Result of the voting under Article I, as declared. Total number of ballots cast, 895.
For Governor. VOTES.
Oliver Ames of Easton
565
John F. Andrew of Boston
319
Thomas J. Lothrop of Taunton .
6
For Lieutenant-Governor.
John Q. A. Brackett of Boston .
575
Frank K. Foster of Haverhill
310
John Blackmer of Springfield
9
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
For Secretary of the Commonwealth. VOTES ..
Henry B. Peirce of Abington 576
John R. Thayer of Worcester 305
H. B. Pierce of Abington 2
Henry B. Pierce of Worcester
2
George Kempton of Sharon
7
For Treasurer and Receiver-General.
Alanson W. Beard of Boston 573
Lewis Warner of Northampton . 309
John L. Kilbon of Lee 7
For Attorney-General.
Edgar J. Sherman of Lawrence . 579
John W. Corcoran of Clinton
307
Samuel M. Fairfield of Malden .
7
Samuel T. Damon of Melrose
I
For Auditor.
Charles R. Ladd of Springfield . 578
William F. Cook of Springfield . 308
William W. Sherman of Lowell 7
For Representative to Congress, Sixth District.
Henry Cabot Lodge of Nahant . 55I
Henry B. Lovering of Lynn 325
Castello O. Norcross of Lynn 4 .
For County Commissioner.
William S. Frost of Marlborough 578
Reuel Williams of Acton .
307
Daniel D. Peabody of Stoneham 5
For Special Commissioners.
Lyman Dike of Stoneham . 575
Edward E. Thompson of Woburn 576
Lewis P. True of Everett . .
308
Clement Meserve of Hopkinton
307
J. Henry Symonds of Woburn .
Joseph H. Hanaford of Reading
.
5
5.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
For Sheriff. VOTES.
Henry G. Cushing of Lowell
886
William H. Sherman of Ayer 5
For District Attorney, Northern District.
William B. Stevens of Stoneham 574
Charles S. Lincoln of Somerville 30I
Samuel T. Damon of Melrose IO
Henry A. Bush of Melrose
I
John M. Read of Lowell
5
For Clerk of Courts.
Theodore C. Hurd of Cambridge
886
William E. Knight of Shirley . 5
For Commissioners of Insolvency.
Frederic T. Greenhalge of Lowell 575
John C. Kennedy of Newton 576
George J. Burns of Ayer . 576
Edward D. McVey of Lowell
307
John W. Allard of Framingham
308
Richard J. McKelleget of Cambridge
307
James Hicks of Cambridge
5
William P. Cutler of Cambridge 5
Elmer A. Stevens of Somerville
5
For Councillor, Sixth District.
Francis Jewett of Lowell 578
Nathaniel P. H. Melvin of Lawrence 308
Claudius B. Travis of Natick 5
For Senator, Sixth Middlesex District.
John K. C. Sleeper of Malden 576
Robert Blyth of Wakefield 309
Benjamin Luscomb of Everett .
5
George W. Walker of Malden
I
30
REPORT OT THE TOWN CLERK.
For Representative in the General Court, Eleventh Middlesex District.
VOTES.
John Larrabee of Melrose
611
Samuel Lear of Melrose . 277
The ballot-box registered as follows : at 9.45 A. M., 500 ; 12 M., 610; 1.35 P. M., 725 ; 3.20 P. M., 822 ; 4.36 P. M., 898. Names checked on voting lists, 895.
Voted, To adjourn.
Adjourned Meeting, Nov. 9, 1886, 7.30 P. M.
ART. 3. To see if the town will accept the Jury List as revised.
Fury List as accepted.
Atwood, Joel.
Howes, Ephraim O.
Boardman, George F.
Hoyt, Lewis C.
Boynton, William.
Ingalls, Horace S.
Buffum, John.
Ireland, Thomas.
Close, Emery.
Jeffrey, Thomas E.
Cobb, Hiram.
Johnson, Jerome B.
Cole, Henry H.
Jones, Edwin F.
Collier, William S.
Lear, Samuel.
Deering, John P.
Lunt, Alfred T.
Dew, George W.
Lynde, Andrew.
Dill, Jesse A.
Nowell, Samuel H.
Edson, Pliny.
Palmer, Frank T.
Emery, Salter.
Parker, Albon W.
Farnsworth, Geo. W.
Pratt, Dexter.
Fernald, James H.
Rand, Redford M.
Freeman, L. Thomas.
Rich, Anthony A.
Fuller, Charles H.
Ricker, George H.
Gordon, Curtis S.
Ring, Ethan C.
Hayward, Paul.
Sherman, William F.
Hawes, Oliver E.
Stewart, Wm. H.
Holbrook, Joseph.
Stevens, Charles T.
Howe, F. Edward.
Stratton, Danforth D.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Taylor, Thomas A.
Wiley, Henry E.
Temple, Charles C.
Wilson, Nathan F.
Upham, Frank R.
Young, Charles H.
Waitt, Edward P.
ART. 4. To see if the town will establish and maintain at the railway stations and crossings, in front of the Town Hall and other principal points, electric lights for illuminat- ing the public highways, and authorize the treasurer to bor- row money for the same, on petition of Geo. P. Burnham and others.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 5. To see if the town will accept alterations made by the selectmen in the lines of Prospect Street ; viz., widening the street at its junction with Poplar Street, and an extension to Stoneham line.
ART. 6. To see if the town will discontinue a portion of Prospect Street as now laid out.
Voted, To accept the alterations, widening, and extending the street, and to discontinue a portion, that the street may conform with report of the selectmen.
ART. 7. To see if the town will accept an alteration in the northerly line of Essex Street, whereby the same is widened over land of George F. Boardman, and authorize the treasurer to pay damages as awarded by the selectmen.
Voted, To accept the alteration as reported, and that the treasurer be authorized to pay George F. Boardman the sum of fifty-nine dollars and sixty cents as damages for land taken.
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