USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1885-1889 > Part 9
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TI. To raise money for the Support of the Poor.
1 2. 'To raise money for the Fire Department.
13. To raise money for lighting and care of Street Lamps.
14. To raise money for additional Street Lamps.
15. To raise money for Police and Watchmen.
16. To raise money for Contingent Expenses.
I7. 'To raise money to pay Interest on the Town Debt.
18. To raise money for the Reduction of the Town Debt.
19. To raise money for the Public Library.
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.
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.
22. To raise money for Drainage, Bridges, and Culverts.
23. To raise money for deficiencies in accounts for the past year and for all other necessary expenses for the ensuing year.
24. To determine the method by which the taxes for the year shall be collected.
25. To hear and act on the report of the committee appointed to consider the matter of school accommodations.
26. To see if the Town will build a schoolhouse on the west side of the B. & M. R. R., on or near Vinton Street, and raise or appro- priate money for the same.
27. To see if the Town will build a schoolhouse near Swain's Pond and raise or appropriate money for the same.
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.
29. To hear and act upon the report of the committee appointed to consider the enlarging of the Town Hall stage, improving the ven- tilation of the building, etc., and raise or appropriate money for the same.
30. To hear and act upon the report of the committee appointed to revise the Water Rates.
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.
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 accumulates during floods, agreeable to petition of J. Geist and nineteen others.
33. To see if the Town will grant to H. C. Richardson, for the purpose of watering the streets, the use of the stand pipes without charge, agreeable to petition of C. G. Harris and ten others.
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.
35. To see if the Town will amend Section 10, Article 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.
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 sewerage for the Mystic Valley basin.
37. To see if the Town will grade and drain Perkins Street and appropriate money for the same.
38. To see if the Town will discontinue, widen or alter that por- tion of Cedar Park which runs parallel with the B. & M. R. R. or any part thereof.
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.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the several places of Public Worship, and at the Depots, seven days, at least, before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this sixteenth day of February, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six.
LEVI S. GOULD, Selectmen H. G. FIELDS, of
JOHN K. CURRIER, ) Melrose.
A true Copy. Attest,
ANSEL B. PIERCE, Constable.
REPORTS
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS OF MELROSE
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR
ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1886.
BOSTON : ALFRED MUDGE & SON, PRINTERS, NO. 24 FRANKLIN STREET. 1887.
CONTENTS.
REPORT OF SELECTMEN 7
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK - Proceedings of Town Meetings 16
Vote for State and County Officers 27
Statistics of Births, Marriages, and Deaths FINANCIAL STATEMENT .
Expenses of Public Schools
School Contingent Expenses
Contingent Expenses
Support of Poor
State Aid
Military Aid .
Fire Department
Town Hall
53 56
Street Lights
Additional Street Lamps
Grove Street School Building
56 57
Armory Rent
Highways
Drainage, Bridges, and Culverts .
Perkins Street
Crossings and Gutters
Sidewalks
Interest .
Insurance
Melrose Water Fund
High Service (Water) .
Public Library and Reading Room
State and County Taxes
Town Officers' Salaries
Fells School Building .
Swain's Pond Avenue School Building
Vinton Street School Building
Prospect Street
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Police and Night Watch Wyoming Cemetery
67 69
REPORT OF THE TOWN TREASURER
Statement of the Town Debt
69
Treasurer's Account
71
33 37 37 40 44 46 50 50 51
57 57 59 60 60
61 61 62 62 63 63 63 63
64 65 65 65 65 66
4
CONTENTS.
AUDITORS' REPORT
74
ASSESSORS' REPORT
75
COLLECTORS' REPORTS
80
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS
83
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
85
Report of Superintendent
88
Water Rates .
100
Report of Committee on Improved Water Supply
109
REPORT OF THE WATER LOAN SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS
114
REPORT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
115
PUBLIC LIBRARY - Report of Trustees
116
Treasurer's Report
122
TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1886-7.
Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, and Highway Surveyors. LEVI S. GOULD.
HENRY G. FIELDS.
JOHN K. CURRIER.
Town Clerk. JOHN LARRABEE.
Treasurer. GEORGE NEWHALL.
Collector. M. F. EASTMAN.
GEORGE C. STANTIAL. GEORGE F. BOARDMAN. MOSES BRIGGS.
Water Commissioners.
WINGATE P. SARGENT, Chairman .
Term expires 1887.
WILBUR D. FISKE
66
1889.
JOHN R. JONES
66
66 1888.
.
Superintendent of Water Works and Clerk of Board of Water Commissioners. ADDISON LANE.
Commissioners of Water Loan Sinking Fund.
DANIEL RUSSELL, Chairman
Term expires 1887.
ROYAL P. BARRY
66 66 1888.
JOHN W. FARWELL
66 66 1889.
School Committee.
THOMAS W. RIPLEY, Chairman
Term expires 1887.
MRS. SARAH W. BRADBURY
66 66
1888.
S. ROBERTSON WINCHELL
66 66 1888.
CHARLES F. LORING .
66
1889.
MRS. ADDIE B. P. WATERHOUSE
66
66
1889.
Trustees of the Public Library.
ELBRIDGE H. GOSS. THOMAS B. PECK.
CHARLES C. BARRY. HANNAH LYNDE.
RUBY F. FARWELL.
JOHN R. NORTON.
Auditors. FRANK E. ORCUTT.
WALTER I. NICKERSON.
1887.
MRS. A. K. MILLER
Assessors.
6
TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1886-7.
Constables.
ANSEL B. PIERCE. FRANK M. MCLAUGHLIN. HENRY B. NEWHALL.
Registrars of Voters.
ALFRED HOCKING, Chairman Term expires May 1, 1887.
WALTER BABB
1889.
JOHN B. SOUTHER
66 66 1888.
JOHN LARRABEE, Town Clerk.
Representative in the General Court. JOHN LARRABEE.
.
Engineers of the Fire Department. A. WILBUR LYNDE, Chief. WALTER B. ELLIS. JOHN SINGER, JR., Clerk.
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 NEWHALL. DANIEL RUSSELL. JOHN LARRABEE.
Fence Viewers.
DEXTER PRATT. JOSEPH S. EASTMAN.
Pound Keeper. W. TRUMAN HOWARD.
Field Drivers.
OTIS HOWARD. FRANK GIBBONS.
HENRY B. NEWHALL.
W. TRUMAN HOWARD.
Police Officers.
FRANK M. MCLAUGHLIN, Chief.
HENRY B. NEWHALL.
CHARLES T. STEVENS.
R. M. RAND.
A. WILBUR LYNDE.
OSBORNE E. DROWN.
CHARLES H. FULLER.
A. B. PIERCE.
EDWARD O. GOODRIDGE.
Forest Fire Wards.
DEXTER PRATT. CHASE C. WORTHEN.
CALVIN LOCKE. JAMES MARSHALL.
HENRY BARRON.
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
o the Citizens of Melrose :
We respectfully submit our report for the financial year ending Dec. 31, 1885.
HIGHWAYS, SIDEWALKS, CROSSINGS, AND GUTTERS.
The liberal increase in the sum usually appropriated by the town for highways has borne legitimate fruit, and we are pleased to refer to our streets as being in much better condi- tion than at any period in their history. We advise a con- tinuance of this policy, that they may be gradually brought to the high condition of those in our neighboring municipality. The sum appropriated for concrete sidewalks, crossings, and gutters has been expended in strict accordance with your vote; but we regret to say that the amount reserved for sidewalks was entirely insufficient to meet the demands of abutters, and a large quantity applied for was obliged to go over until next season. If the town desires to accommodate all who apply for concrete walks, we think they must make at least double the appropriation of last year, to be expended as here- tofore, the town paying one half and abutters the balance. We also recommend that two hundred and fifty dollars be appropri- ated for repairs of old walks, one hundred dollars for crossings, and not less than five hundred dollars for gutters, there being many places in town on the hillsides where concrete gutters are absolutely needed, indeed are indispensable, if we wish to prevent the ever-recurring wash-outs, and where a dollar spent in this way would save scores in repairs. True economy demands a very liberal appropriation for this important object, every season's delay being fraught with increasing damage to streets and property.
8
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
SWAIN'S POND AVENUE.
In accordance with your directions, we have expended the sum of five hundred dollars upon this avenue. Its improved condition is appreciated, not only by the citizens of that local. ity, but by hundreds of casual tourists seeking for the beauti- ful in nature, thus attesting the wisdom of your action.
LAND AT JUNCTION WYOMING AVENUE AND HURD STREET.
.
Agreeably to your vote, we have accepted from Rufus Leavitt, Esq., a deed running to the Inhabitants of Melrose, of a piece of land at the junction of Wyoming Avenue and Hurd Street, upon which sets the drinking fountain. In payment thereof, we have concreted, as you directed, the sidewalk on Hurd Street, adjoining the estate of Mr. Leavitt, at the expense of the town.
SPECIAL REPAIRS ON WASHINGTON STREET.
At the November meeting you placed in our hands the sum of one thousand dollars, to be used on the highways for special repairs. Three hundred dollars of this money was expended on Washington Street, in furtherance of orders from the county commissioners, and much of the balance on Main Street, south of Sylvan. In our judgment, it will take at least one thousand dollars to complete the widening and straightening of Washington Street in such a manner as to meet the requirements of the commissioners. Every year citations are served upon your selectmen, at the instigation of interested citizens of Melrose, forcing them to show cause for disobedience of the orders of the commissioners. This is not only a source of great annoyance, but a stigma upon the town, which should be relieved by an early comple- tion of the work.
NEW STREETS.
We have viewed and laid out, during the last year, a widen- ing of Essex Street, at the angle near Small's factory, which you accepted at the November meeting. We shall also re-
9
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
port to the annual meeting, for your consideration, Cherry and Meridian Streets, an extension of Porter Street, and Pros- pect, Highland, Briggs, Morgan, and Spring Avenues at the Highlands.
DRAIN THROUGH OTIS STREET.
We have removed the decayed and very dangerous cover- ing of railroad sleepers from the wide drain running about two hundred feet through the centre of Otis Street, and re- placed them with substantial split granite. The first team drawing these stones broke through, and it is a matter of congratulation that the town has escaped the heavy damages liable to have occurred at any time from the miserable con- dition of this culvert. It is now believed to be perfectly safe. r
AMENDMENT TO BY-LAWS.
The amendment to Section 10, Article IV. of the By-Laws relating to the laying out of streets, which was adopted at the annual meeting, has been disallowed by the Court to which it was referred ; consequently your action thereon is null and void.
TOWN HALL.
At the annual meeting you directed us, acting in concert with a committee previously appointed, to re-arrange and re- build the anterooms, to improve and if possible perfect the ventilation, and to construct an exit from the rear of the Town Hall. In furtherance of this work, we found it abso- lutely necessary to thoroughly reconstruct the water-closets and other defective plumbing, as well as some of the gas and steam fixtures ; also, in accordance with usual custom, and our duty as custodians of this particular property, we have made other repairs befitting the ordinary requirements of safety, neatness, and comfort. We take pleasure in reporting that the anterooms are now second to none in comfort and convenience, the new exit is, we think, ample and satisfactory, and the system of ventilation, as finally com- pleted, is generally regarded as a very near approach to per- fection. Inside and outside the edifice is in perfect repair, and should so remain for many years with but trifling expend-
IO
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
iture. As a gathering place for other than town purposes, this building has become an absolutely indispensable public necessity, and our citizens may well take pride in the posses- sion of a Town Hall which for beauty, convenience, comfort, and utility is conceded to be unsurpassed.
BATTERY C.
This organization has been disbanded by his Excellency the Governor, and its guns and equipment removed. The cause was a lack of interest and support in this community.
DAMAGES CLAIMED AND LIABILITY AVERTED.
Several claims have been made against the town during the past year, all but two of which were abandoned, your selectmen refusing to entertain them as lawful or just demands. We allowed and paid to Miss Susan Godbold the sum of twenty- five dollars for alleged damage from a fall on the private curb- stone at the corner of Main and Foster Streets, now protected by notices of warning. This claim was settled under com- promise, to avoid the expense and annoyance of litigation. Another claim entered against the town was by Franklin Rogers, of Bangor, Maine, for alleged damage to person and property in consequence of certain excavations made by the city of Malden, in laying their water main through Wash- ington Street. As the city of Malden was acting under authority of the Legislature, and the selectmen of Melrose did all in their power to protect travellers, the damage, if any, must be borne by that municipalty. The case will be tried at Cambridge, spring term.
UNCERTAIN BOUNDARY BETWEEN MELROSE AND MALDEN.
The boundary line between Melrose and Malden, in the vicinity of Brazil Street, is so vague and indefinite that it is impossible to locate the same with any degree of certainty, both Malden and Melrose taxing an estate belonging to B. F. Dutton, Esq. To correct this anomalous condition of affairs, it will be necessary to seek legislative enactment, which the city of Malden has agreed to apply for at the present session of the General Court.
II
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
STREET LIGHTS.
One hundred and forty-seven lamps are now lighted with kerosene, under contract with the Wheeler Reflector Com- pany, and 30 with gas, making a total of 177, an increase of one gas and 15 kerosene lights during the year. The un- expected increase of private lights, which the town keeps in condition under authority of a vote heretofore passed, has principally caused this appropriation to run short a small amount. The only perfect system of street lighting being that of electricity, we think it would be well for the town to locate a few lights along the principal streets, dispensing as far as possible with gas and kerosene.
WYOMING CEMETERY.
The Cemetery Committee report a surplus, amounting to $956.87. It seems imperative that the town should take some action in the near future to acquire additional land for cemetery purposes.
UNOCCUPIED SCHOOLHOUSES.
In accordance with suggestions made by your School Board, we recommend the sale at public auction of such school buildings as are not now in public use.
THE STONEHAM STREET RAILROAD COMPANY.
In accordance with petition of this corporation, we have granted them locations in the town of Melrose which are substantially as follows, viz. : From a point near the corner of Vinton and Franklin Streets, through the centre of said Frank- lin Street, across the Boston and Maine tracks to Green and Main Street, thence to the Malden line, in the middle of said streets as far as Warren Lynde's house on Main Street, thence to the Malden line on the east side of said street. The track to be paved inside and outside, and the rail to be the most approved flat pattern. The present T rail between Vinton Street and the Highland station is to be removed en- tirely. Spurs from the main line are also authorized from the
12
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
corner of Main and Franklin Streets to the Wakefield line, in the centre of the street, and through Howard Street to the Saugus line. From opposite the residence of the late Nelson Cochran the track is to be laid on the south side of said Howard Street to the Saugus line ; from the corner of Green Street to said house the track is to be laid in the centre of the street.
MYSTIC VALLEY SEWER.
In accordance with your vote we have attended all hearings regarding this important project, using our influence to stay proceedings until such time as the town deems it for their interest to act. At present the subject appears to be in statu quo.
BOARD OF HEALTH. (J. K. CURRIER, Chairman.)
The following cases of contagious diseases have been re- ported to the Board, viz .: diphtheria, 18; scarlet fever, 14; typhoid fever, 14; measles, 4; whooping-cough, I ; total, 41. During the month of August diphtheria assumed an alarm- ing aspect, threatening to become epidemic, but through the active efforts of officers of this board, ably seconded by our local medical practitioners, it was kept under control, and finally disappeared with comparatively few fatalities. Other- wise than this special outbreak, we consider the state of the public health during the past year as having been exceedingly good.
POOR DEPARTMENT.
(H. G. FIELDS, Chairman.)
That the poor are always with us, is a declaration which remains in its full original force.
Business has been good during the year, and there has been no special cause for destitution, yet misfortune and intemper- ance, with far-reaching, evil results, keep the stream of pov- erty ever flowing in our midst. The greatest drain upon this fund has been the full support of the insane paupers at the various lunatic hospitals, and the outside relief, - com- prising those who are settled here, and are being aided in
I3
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
other places, at our expense, - both forming an aggregate of $2,382.98, which is much more than half of the appropriation. In the inside relief department we seem to be able to regu- late the economy closer to the interest of the town than with the outside, where we can have little or no control, but are compelled to submit to the terms of those who may have our poor in charge.
There have been eleven insane persons cared for in the hospitals within the year. This is a larger number than ever before reported in this town.
Insanity has greatly increased during the last few years, and on account of the over-crowded condition of the hospi- tals we have been requested to remove those of ours who are harmlessly insane to outside almshouses, where it is thought that they may be fully as well cared for.
We have been unable to effect such an arrangement, and having no almshouse of our own, we hope that we may be permitted to continue as heretofore. But we find that many of the cities and larger towns are preparing to provide for all of their own insane
One hundred and eleven persons have been aided, twenty- three of whom have received full support during the whole or a part of the year.
Of this whole number, seventy-four have their legal settle- ments in this town.
The remainder have been aided on account of other towns, and of the State.
An account of expenditures and receipts may be found in another column of this report.
THE MELROSÉ IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.
This society, strictly speaking, is not a co-ordinate branch of town government, yet its operations are of such a public and beneficial nature, and of so much interest to our citizens, that we consider it fairly entitled to notice in this report. From the treasurer's report, hereto appended, it will be observed that the work done during the year 1886 has been productive of more satisfactory results than during any previous season
14
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
of its history, thanks to the ability displayed and untiring zeal of its excellent corps of officials, generously supported by contributions in money and labor from public-spirited citizens. Weeds, decaying vegetation, and unsightly accumulations of rubbish in many prominent situations not under public con- trol have been removed through their efforts, and the "Town Common" greatly improved. They have also equitably dis- tributed and planted, in various sections of the town, two hun- dred and thirty-six shade trees, most of which received a good start during the summer. We strongly recommend this excellent organization to continued public support.
REPORT OF TREASURER OF THE MELROSE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION FOR 1886.
Rec'd from former treasurer
$124 40
for membership fees . 239 00
for trees and protectors
203 25
subscriptions to clear up Common
II OO
at Wyoming
8 50
profit on hitching posts . .
3 82
entertainment
92 15
Total receipts . $682 12
EXPENDITURES.
O. E. Drown, care of vase . $5 00
C. A. Marsh, printing .
5 50
Clearing up at Wyoming
14 75
Membership book
3 75
C. O. Saunders, trees and protectors
476 80
D. L. Taylor, filling vase
30 00
Clearing up at Common
22 50
J. C. Ingalls, loam
II 75
G. W. Dew, painting vases and fountains
6 00
Maurice Cochran, work at Norrisville
16 00
F. M. Holmes & Co., excelsior to use on tree protectors
3 00
A. W. Lynde, packing protectors · . .
4 00
.
15
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
W. L. Williams, printing
$5 70
N. P. Jones, teams and labor
12 70
Total expenditures
$617 45
Balance on hand
$64 67
W. A. RODMAN,
Treasurer.
CONDITION OF THE APPROPRIATIONS.
All general appropriations controlled by the selectmen have been kept within their limits, except that of street light- ing, which shows a deficiency of $97, principally caused by the unexpected increase in private lights, as heretofore explained. The special work upon anterooms, ventilation, and a new exit from the rear of the Town Hall, all ordered by vote of the town, and other necessary incidental repairs to the build- ing, will be found in detail under the appropriate financial heading showing an excess of expenditure over income and appropriations of $2,717.91.
Congratulating our fellow-citizens on the excellent condi- tion and continued prosperity of this community, and thank- ing them for unvaried courtesy and support in the trans- action of our official duties,
We are very respectfully,
LEVI S. GOULD, H. G. FIELDS, JOHN K. CURRIER,
Selectmen of Melrose.
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
PROCEEDINGS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Meeting Jan. 23, 1886, 7.30 P. M.
ARTICLE I OF THE WARRANT. To choose a moderator. Chose Levi S. Gould, by unaminous vote.
ART. 2. To determine what action the town will take in the matter of the petition of certain persons to the General Court to change the town line so as to set off a portion of its territory and add the same to the city of Malden, on peti- tion of F. S. Hesseltine and others.
Voted, I. That the inhabitants of Melrose are opposed to the petition to the Legislature for a change in the town line by which certain of its territory is to be transferred to the city of Malden.
2. That they declare their opposition by a rising vote, the yeas and nays being counted and recorded.
That a copy of the vote and the action of this meeting 3. upon this article be sent to the Legislature, with the request that they refuse to grant the petition to change the town line, because no good cause exists for such change.
Vote upon the above, taken as stated, - yeas 224, nays 4.
Voted, That D. W. Gooch, F. S. Hesseltine, John W. Far- well, Moses Briggs, George H. Dearborn, A. V. Lynde and Nathan D. Blake be a committee to appear before the Com- mittee on Towns of the Legislature and oppose any change of the town line whereby any portion of the town shall be set off to the city of Malden.
ART. 3. To see if the town will appoint a committee to take into consideration the following matters relating to the
I7
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Town Hall building, viz .: the enlarging of the hall stage, a more thorough system of ventilation, and any other neces- sary repairs and improvements ; said committee to report at the next annual meeting. On petition of John W. Farwell and others.
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