USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1885-1889 > Part 33
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Not that we can reflect upon or depreciate the benevolence of our townspeople, who provide for and relieve the pain, sickness, misery, want and destitution of the unfortunate ones, making the Department of Relief for the Poor a noble, most useful and beneficent charity, and one upon which the writer of this report can look back upon for six- teen years of his official service and say that they have always supported, not grudgingly, but with full hearts and
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REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
full hands. It is because of the noble generosity and anxiety of our citizens to do the best thing that we are prompted to these remarks and to a desire to see their efforts rewarded with a better showing for their money than can possibly be had under the straggling, broken-up system which we are obliged to maintain in caring for our unfortu- nate poor.
Seven families were thrown upon this town during the year, which compelled us to call for more money at the fall meeting, it not being anticipated at the spring town meet- ing. These casualties were: Two disabled by accident, two by drunkenness, non-support and imprisonment, one by protracted sickness, one by drunkenness and desertion and one by death. Three of these families we have been re- lieved of lately, but we entertain no hopes of relief from the four families remaining. The result has been that the expenses of the summer months, which are usually very small, have been fully equal to those of the high winter aid.
The whole number who have been more or less aided dur- ing the year is ninety-two. Of this number thirty-two re- ceived full support during the whole or a part of the year.
The number provided for at the several insane hospitals is eleven.
Twenty-six persons have been aided who belong in other cities and towns, and to the state, for whom we are to be re- imbursed.
For the expenditures and receipts see financial columns, prepared by the town clerk.
H. G. FIELDS, JOHN SINGER, JR., MARTHA D. BALE, Overseers of Poor.
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
PROCEEDINGS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Annual Meeting, March 4, 1889, 7 A. M.
ARTICLE I OF THE WARRANT. To choose a moderator. Chose Levi S. Gould.
ARTS. 2, 3 and 4. To see if the town will accept certain provisions of the statutes relating to the election of select- men, assessors and road commissioners.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 5. To bring in votes on one ballot for selectmen, overseers of poor, clerk, treasurer, collector, asssessors and other officers.
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 and size of ballots to be as prescribed in Chapter 49, Acts of 1886.
Voted, That the officers elected this day shall consist of three selectmen, who shall also be highway surveyors; one clerk, one treasurer, one collector of taxes, three assessors, one water commissioner for three years, one water commis- sioner for two years, one water loan sinking fund commis- sioner for three years, one park commissioner for three years, three overseers of the poor, two school committee for three years, five trustees of the public library, three auditors and three constables.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Voted, That when this meeting adjourns it be to next Monday evening, March II, at 7.30 P. M.
Voted, That Royal P. Barry, Sidney H. Buttrick, Daniel Norton, Moses Briggs, John W. Farwell, John B. Souther, Seth E. Benson, George W. Farnsworth and George W. Burke be a committee to investigate and report the amounts necessary to be raised and appropriated for the expenses of the current year, and that they be requested to take into consideration all the articles in the warrant for this meeting which will require an expenditure of money and report such amounts as in their judgment will be required for the pur- poses named therein.
Voted, That the consideration of the articles in the war- rant, with the exception of Articles 5 and 6, be postponed until the adjourned meeting (March II).
Voted, To close the polls at 4.30 P. M.
Polls opened under Article 5.
Tellers appointed and sworn : Henry Drake and Charles W. Cochrane.
At 4.30 P. M. the polls were closed and the following per- sons were declared elected to office by the moderator :
Selectmen and Highway Surveyors .- Levi S. Gould, John P. Deering, Charles W. Higgins.
Overseers of the Poor .- Henry G. Fields, John Singer, Jr., Martha D. Bale.
Town Clerk .-- John Larrabee.
Town Treasurer .- George Newhall.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Collector of Taxes .- Parker Merrill.
Assessors .- John R. Norton, Albon W. Parker, Charles W. Cook.
Water Commissioner for 3 years .- Wilbur D. Fiske.
Water Commissioner for 2 years .- George L. Morse.
Water Loan Sinking Fund Commissioner for 3 years .- John W. Farwell.
Park Commissioner for 3 years .- Warren A. Rodman.
School Committee for 3 years .- Charles F. Loring, Addie B. P. Waterhouse.
Trustees of the Public Library .- Elbridge H. Goss, Charles C. Barry, Charles A. Patch, Ruby F. Farwell, Mary L. Charles.
Auditors .- Frank E. Orcutt, Walter I. Nickerson, Gilbert N. Harris.
Constables .- Ansel B. Pierce, Frank M. McLaughlin, Samuel Lear.
LICENSE QUESTION.
"Yes," sixteen votes; "No," five hundred and eighteen votes.
Voted, To adjourn.
Adjourned Meeting, March 11, 1889, 7.30 P. M.
ART. 6. To choose all other necessary town officers.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
OFFICERS ELECTED.
Measurers of Wood and Bark, Weighers of Hay and Coal .- Seth E. Benson, C. B. Goss.
Surveyor of Lumber .- Henry A. Leonard.
Committee on Cemeteries .- George Newhall, Daniel Russell, John Larrabee.
Fence Viewers .- Dexter Pratt, Walter C. Stevens.
Pound Keeper .- W. Truman Howard.
Field Drivers .- Otis Howard, Frank Gibbons, Henry B. Newhall, W. Truman Howard.
Sealer of Weights and Measures .- Thomas T. Bailey.
ART. 7. 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 ex- penses, and issue notes of the town therefor.
Report of the Finance Committee appointed at previous meeting read and accepted.
ART. 8. To raise money for schools.
Voted, To raise twenty-three thousand dollars; unexpend- ed balance from last year also appropriated.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
ART. 9. To raise money for school contingent expenses. Voted, To raise three thousand five hundred dollars; unex- pended balance from last year also appropriated.
ART. IO. To raise money for highways.
Voted, To raise seven thousand dollars, of which amount one thousand dollars is to be expended for crushed stone; unexpended balance from last year to be added.
ART. II. To raise money for sidewalks.
Voted, To raise two thousand dollars, of which amount five hundred dollars shall be expended for repairs on exist- ing walks and the remainder to be expended according to votes of town in previous years; unexpended balance from last year added.
ART. 12. To raise money for crossings and gutters.
Voted, To raise five hundred dollars; unexpended balance from last year to be added.
ART. 13. To raise money for the support of the poor.
Voted, To raise five thousand dollars; unexpended balance from last year added.
ART. 33. To see if the town will pay the Fire Depart- ment the sum of fifty dollars each per annum, on petition of J. H. Edwards and other members of the department.
Voted, That a committee of three be appointed to ex- amine into and consider what will be adequate compensa- tion for members of the Fire Department, and that Art. 14 be referred to said committee with instructions to report at the adjourned meeting. Committee appointed: John B. Souther, Walter Babb, George T. Brown.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
ART. 15. To raise money for lighting and care of street lamps.
Voted, To raise four thousand dollars; the unexpended balance from last year added.
ART. 16. To raise money for additional street lamps.
Voted, To raise one hundred and fifty dollars; unexpended balance from last year added.
ART. 17. To raise money for police and watchmen.
Voted, To raise four thousand dollars; unexpended bal- ance from last year added.
ART. 18. To raise money for contingent expenses.
Voted, To raise two thousand dollars; unexpended bal- ance from last year added; the expense of fire inquest re- cently held to be paid from the above.
Voted, That our representative in the General Court be re- . quested to use his influence to so amend Chap. 216 of the Public Statutes, asamended by Chap. 199 of the Acts of 1888, that the expense of holding inquests, as required by said statute, shall not be borne by the towns, or that the engineers be not compelled by law to require such investi- gations.
ART. 19. To raise money to pay interest on the town debt.
Voted, To raise five thousand dollars; unexpended balance from last year added.
ART. 20. To raise money for the reduction of the town debt.
Voted, To raise five thousand dollars.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
ART. 21. To raise money for the public library.
Voted, To raise seven hundred and fifty dollars; unex- pended balance from last year to be added, and the dog tax, when received, appropriated for the same purpose.
ART. 22. To raise money to defray expenses of the Board of Health.
Voted, To raise two hundred dollars.
ART. 41. To hear and act upon the reports of commit- · tees and for the transaction of any other business which may legally come before this meeting.
Voted, That a committee of five be appointed by the moderator to consider, with the School Committee, what additional accommodations are needed for the schools located in the High School building and to report at the town meeting to be held on April 22. Committee appointed: R. P. Barry, J. W. Farwell, C. W. Higgins, C. C. Odlin, G. H. Dearborn.
Voted, That all money received by the water commission- ers, or appropriated by the town, be paid into the town treasury, and not paid out until proper vouchers are approved by the auditors and by the selectmen.
(On a motion to reconsider the above-not a vote. )
Voted, To adjourn to Monday evening, March 18, at 7.30 o'clock.
Adjourned Meeting, March 18, 7.30 P. M.
ART. 41.
Voted, Unanimously, that a committee of five be appoint- ed to examine into the property, affairs, expenses, receipts,
32
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
etc., of the Water Department of this town; to consider as to the proper, legal, economical and best method for the management of its business, and to make at an early day a written report which shall give a full and clear statement as to the property, its condition, cost, expense of conducting, receipts, etc., with such recommendations as to its future economical management as they shall deem best. Com- mittee appointed: John W. Farwell, Royal P. Barry, George T. Brown, Sidney H. Buttrick, George C. Stantial.
Report of selectmen on guide boards in the town March I, 1889, received and accepted.
Voted, unanimously, that the Cemetery Committee, with the approval of the selectmen, be and are hereby authorized to purchase land adjoining Wyoming cemetery, for ceme- tery purposes, and to pay therefor out of the receipts of said cemetery, an amount not exceeding five hundred dollars.
Report of committee appointed at previous meeting, un- der Art. 33, to consider what will be adequate compensation for members of the Fire Department, read and accepted.
ART. 14 and 33. To raise money for the Fire Department, etc.
Voted, That the members of the Fire Department, includ- ing the engineers, be paid the sum of thirty-five dollars each per annum; that pay rolls for each company be made and audited, so that the firemen shall be paid as other em- ployees of the town are now paid.
Voted, To raise three thousand, three hundred and eighty- five dollars for the expenses of the Fire Department.
ART. 23. To raise money for the use of water in hydrants, public buildings, etc.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 24. 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 three thousand and twenty-five dollars; that the compensation of officers be the same as last year, with the exception of the auditors, who shall receive for the entire service of the board, the sum of one hundred dollars, and if any one auditor shall do the work, he shall receive the entire sum, the others receiving no salary.
ART. 25. To raise money for drainage, bridges and cul- verts.
Voted, To raise one thousand dollars; unexpended balance from last year added.
ART. 26. To raise money for the purposes for which the treasurer has been authorized to borrow and the selectmen to expend during the past year, and for any other necessary expenses for the ensuing year.
Voted, To raise five thousand, two hundred forty-two and sixty-nine hundredths dollars for expenses incurred by votes of the town at meetings during the year 1888, viz .:
Maple street, widening . $508 00
Howard street, sidewalk 200 00
Cedar Park, drain 114 25
Franklin street, drain 614 00
Wyoming avenue, sidewalk 356 44
Drainage Committee expenses 250 00
Main street, widening
· 3,200 00
Total . $5,242 69
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Voted, That it is the sense of the town that the selectmen indefinitely postpone the purchase of the stone crusher which the town voted should be purchased at the last town meeting.
Voted, To raise for the payment of military aid the sum of three hundred dollars; for the insurance of town prop- erty the sum of one thousand dollars, and for the running expenses of the Town Hall building the sum of six hun- dred dollars.
ART. 27. To determine the method by which the taxes for the year shall be collected.
Voted, That all single poll taxes be made payable on or before August 1, 1889; that all other taxes be made payable on or before October 1, 1889, 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, 1890, be sold by the col- lector, in accordance with the provisions of law, and that he be instructed to strictly carry out the provisions of the above vote. .
ART. 28. To authorize the town treasurer to issue water fund bonds for the purpose of paying the cost of construc- tion for the ensuing year.
Voted, That this article be referred to the special commit- tee appointed at this meeting to examine into the affairs of the Water Department.
ART. 29. To see if the town will raise the sum of two hundred dollars for keeping in repair and decorating the graves of soldiers on Memorial Day.
Voted, To raise two hundred dollars.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
ART. 30. To see if the town will raise money to grade and improve the "Soldiers' Lot" in Wyoming Cemetery, as set apart by the selectmen.
Voted, To raise three hundred dollars.
ART. 31. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of four hundred dollars to improve the Town Common, on petition of William N. Folsom and others.
Voted, To raise one hundred and fifty dollars.
ART. 32. To see if the town will remove a ledge on Upham street, near the schoolhouse, and appropriate money for the same.
Voted, To raise one hundred dollars, and that the select- men be instructed to let out the contract of removing the ledge on Upham street to the lowest responsible bidder.
Voted, To adjourn to Saturday evening, March 23, at 7.30 o'clock.
Adjourned Meeting, March 23, 1889, 7.30 P. M.
ART. 34. To see if the town will refund to the Boston Rubber Shoe Company the sum of sixty dollars and eighty cents, the same being amount of taxes improperly assessed upon personal property belonging to said company in the years 1886 and 1887.
Voted, To refund the amount mentioned, which vote was afterward reconsidered and the article referred to a commit- tee to examine as to the legal duty of the town in the prem- ises.
Committee appointed : F. S. Hesseltine, A. V. Lynde.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
ART. 35. To see if the town will build a sidewalk on Otis street and appropriate money for the same, on petition of B. L. J. Grady and others.
Voted, That the sidewalk be built in the same manner as other sidewalks are now built, the abutters to pay one-half the expense.
ARTS. 36 and 37.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 41.
Voted, That all the work for building roads, bridges, cross- ings, sidewalks, gutters and painting buildings be done by letting the same by contract to the lowest responsible bidder, after public notice.
Voted, That a committee be appointed to settle with the collector of taxes for the years 1885, 1886 and 1887. Com- mittee appointed: George C. Stantial, Moses Briggs, Gil- bert N. Harris.
ART. 38. To see if the town will raise money to remove the ledge on Vinton street, opposite the estate of S. E. Sewall, and otherwise improve said street, northerly.
Voted, To raise three hundred dollars.
ART. 39. To see if the town will accept the following streets, as laid out by the selectmen, viz .:
I. An extension from Mount Vernon street, easterly.
2. Street running from Wyoming avenue southerly to the proposed extension of Mount Vernon street.
3. Summer street as relocated, widened and also extend- ed from its junction with Lynde street to Linwood avenue.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
4. Street running southerly from Upham street to First street, now known as "Eleventh street."
5. An extension of First street, easterly.
6. Street running from First street to Grove street, now known as "Sixth street."
7. Street running from Upham street to First street, now known as "Eighth street." 1
8. An extension of Bellevue avenue, northerly from Por- ter street to Linden street.
9. Street running from the extension of Bellevue avenue to Porter street, now known as "Batchelder street."
IO. Street running from Main street to the northerly end of Crystal Lake, thence to Melrose street, now known as "Crystal street."
II. Street running from Franklin street northerly to Greenwood street.
12. Street running from Woodland street westerly to West Hill avenue (so called), now known as "Botolph street."
13. Street running from Botolph street southerly to Franklin street, now known as "West Hill avenue."
14. Street running from Sargent street westerly to Cliff street (so called), now known as "Highland avenue."
15. Street running from Franklin street northerly to Highland avenue ( so called), now known as "Pratt street."
16. Street running from Franklin street northerly to Highland avenue (so called), now known as "Cliff street."
17. Street running from Trenton street westerly, now known as "Russell street."
4
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
18. Street running from Russell street (so called) to Wyoming avenue, now known as "Wing street."
19. An extension of Charles street, northerly.
20. Street running from and returning to Vinton street, now known as "High street."
21. Street running from Main street easterly, by the en- trance to Wyoming Cemetery, known as "Sylvan street," as widened and straightened.
ART. 40. To raise money for the building and grading of new streets which may be accepted at this meeting.
SECTIONS I AND 2. Reports withdrawn.
SEC. 3. (Summer street. )
Voted, To accept the street as widened, relocated and ex- tended, said acceptance to take effect when the persons own- ing land within said lines shall have released to the town all claims for damages.
SEC. 4. (Eleventh street. )
Voted, To accept the street as laid out, said acceptance to take effect when the persons owning land within said lines shall have released to the town all claims for damages.
Voted, To raise one hundred dollars for the building and grading of the street.
Voted, That a committee be appointed to take into consid- eration the matter of changing the names of streets pre- viously named, with special reference to those presented at this meeting for acceptance.
Committee appointed : F. E. Orcutt, Alfred Hocking, W. H. Roberts.
Voted, To accept the following streets as laid out by the selectmen, said acceptance to take effect when the persons
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
owning land within the lines described shall have released to the town all claims for damages :
SEC. 5. Accepted, called First street ; $100 appropriated for building and grading same.
SEC. 6. Accepted ; $200 appropriated.
SEC. 8. Accepted ; called Bellevue avenue ; $300 appro- priated.
SEC. 9. Accepted ; called Batchelder street ; $200 ap- propriated.
SEC. IO. Accepted ; called Crystal street.
SEC. II. Accepted ; called Woodland avenue.
SEC. 12. Accepted ; called Botolph street.
SEC. 13. Accepted ; called West Hill avenue.
SEC. 14. Accepted ; called Highland street ; $300 ap- priated.
SEC. 16. Accepted ; called Cliff street.
SEC. 17. Accepted ; called Russell street ; $100 appro- priated.
SEC. 18. Accepted ; called Adams street ; $100 appro- priated.
SEC. 19. (Charles street. ) Not reported.
SEC. 20. Accepted ; called High street.
SEC. 21. (Sylvan street ) accepted ; $500 appropriated.
SECS. 7 and 15. Voted, To indefinitely postpone the ac- ceptance of the streets now known as Eighth and Pratt streets.
Voted, That it is the sense of this meeting that Pratt street be laid out thirty feet in width and Eighth street ( so called) thirty-five feet in width.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Report of committee appointed to settle with the collect- ors of taxes for the years 1881, 1882 and 1883; Received and accepted.
Voted, To adjourn sine die.
Meeting, April 22, 1889, 7 A. M.
ART. I. To bring in votes, by ballot, to the selectmen for or against the following article of amendment of the constitution of this Commonwealth.
ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT.
"The manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors to be used as a beverage are prohibited.
"The general court shall enact suitable legislation to enforce the provisions of this article."
The form of the ballot to be as follows :
Amendment to the constitution. "Yes" or "No."
Ballots furnished by the Commonwealth. Polls to be kept open until 4.30 P.M.
ART. 2. To choose a moderator to preside for the trans- action of town business.
Levi S. Gould chosen as moderator.
Polls opened under Art. I.
George Woodward appointed to distribute ballots in the affirmative, William T. Henney in the negative. John B. Souther and Robert S. Webster appointed as tellers, and sworn.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Voted, That the transaction of town business other than voting under this article be postponed to Thursday evening, April 25, at 7.30 o'clock, and that when this meeting ad- journs it shall be to that time.
Result of the balloting. Amendment to the constitution.
YES 530 .
No.
.352
TOTAL VOTE 882
Adjourned Meeting, April 25, 7.30 P. M.
ART. 3. To see what action the town will take in relation to providing voting shelves or compartments, guard rail, etc., as required for elections after Nov. 1, 1889, by section 21, chapter 436, Acts of 1888 ; also in relation to making certain improvements in the offices and ante-rooms of the Town Hall building, and authorize the treasurer to borrow money for the same if necessary.
Voted, That the selectmen be authorized to introduce water into the ante-room on the second floor of the Town Hall building, at an expense not exceeding sixty dollars ; also to provide voting shelves or compartments, guard rail, etc., as provided by law, the same to be paid out of the contingent appropriation.
Upon the request of the town treasurer, George Newhall, that a committee be appointed to examine into his accounts and doings in said office, it was voted that the request of the town treasurer be granted, that a committee of five be appointed by the moderator to examine all the books and accounts of the town treasurer, to ascertain fully about the town funds, how and where deposited, what is received for
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
the consideration of such deposits, and to recommend what action, if any, the town shall take as to designating a place for the deposit by the treasurer of all of the town funds.
Committee appointed : F. S. Hesseltine, Seth E. Benson, Nathaniel P. Jones, Frank E. Orcutt, George C. Stantial.
ART. 4. To see if the town will amend article 7 of the by-laws relating to the prevention of fires.
Voted, To amend the town by-laws by striking out in arti- cle 7, section I, in the second line thereof, the words "two stories or more " and "height within," and adding to section 5 the words "and iron lintels shall be used instead of wood."
ART. 5. Relating to drains on Mount Vernon and Foster streets.
Indefinitely postponed.
ART. 6. Relating to sidewalk on Upham street. Referred to the selectmen to obtain estimates as to cost of building the same, and report at next meeting.
ART. 7. Relating to discontinuing Sixth and Eleventh streets as accepted at meeting March 23, 1889.
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