USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1890-1892 > Part 26
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I. Street running easterly from Tremont street, now known as Union street.
2. Street running through Sewall Woods to be known as Sewall Woods Road.
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
3. Street running from Woodland avenue and returning thereto, now known as Clifton Park.
4. Street running northerly from Howard street to Main street.
5. Street running from Green street northerly to last named street.
6. Street running from Howard street westerly to above mentioned street.
7. Street running from Porter street to Rowe street, now known as Beverly street.
8. An extension of Emerson street easterly.
9. Street running from Upham street northerly to the proposed extension of Emerson street, now known as Fletcher street.
Io. Street running from the junction of Summer and Lynde streets to street called Gibbons street, known as Mys- tic avenue.
II. Street running from Lebanon street easterly, now known as Lynde place.
12. Street running from Grove street southerly to Lynde place or Malvern street, now known as Faxon street.
Art. 53. To hear and act upon the reports of committees and for the transaction of any other business which may le- gally come before this meeting.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting at- tested copies thereof at the Town Hall, each of the post offi- ces and depots in the town, not less than seven days before the day appointed for said meeting, and by leaving printed copies of the warrant at the dwellings of the legal voters be- fore the day of the meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
your doings thereon, to the town clerk, at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this twenty-third day of February, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-two.
LEVI S. GOULD, ) Selectmen J. P. DEERING, of
C. W. HIGGINS, - Melrose.
A true copy. Attest.
Annual Meeting, March 7, 1892, 7 A. M.
Article 1. Chose Levi S. Gould moderator by unani- mous vote.
Art. 2. Ballot clerks appointed. By the selectmen, George W. Dew, Curtis S. Gordon. By the moderator, Charles W. Cochrane, Victor C. Kirmes, Gilbert N. Harris, John J. McCullough, George C. Stantial, Edward E. Babb, all of whom were duly sworn by the moderator.
Previous to the opening of the polls it was voted, that the finance committee be instructed to take into considera- tion all articles in the town warrant which require an appropriation of money, and that they also be requested to report in print previous to the adjourned meeting.
Voted, That the hour for adjourning the annual town meet- ing from time to time until the regular articles in the war- rant be completed, shall be at 10 o'clock on each evening, the time of said adjournments to be to succeeding Monday evenings, and the hour of re-assembling to be 7.30 on each evening.
Voted, That the transaction of town business, other than
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
voting for town officers, be postponed to Monday evening, March 21, 1892, at 7.30 On a motion to reconsider,-not a vote.
Polls opened. Closed at 5.30 p. m.
Result of the balloting, as declared :
Total number of votes cast, . 387
Ballot box register, 387
Selectmen.
VOTES.
John P. Deering
320
Levi S. Gould
300
Charles W. Higgins
322
Other persons
II
Town Clerk.
John Larrabee
342
Town Treasurer.
George Newhall
346
Collector of Taxes.
Addison Lane
340
Assessor, for 3 years.
Dexter Pratt
316
C. W. Cook
I
Water Commissioner, for 3 years.
Wilbur D. Fiske
302
Other persons
3
Water Loan Sinking Fund Commissioner, for 3 years. John W. Farwell H. W. Worth I
310
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
School Committee, for 3 years.
William D. Stewart
327
Clara D. Watson
317
Other persons
2
Trustees of Public Library.
Charles C. Barry
315
Mary L. Charles
310
Ruby F. Farwell
309
Elbridge H. Goss
308
Charles A. Patch
313
Other persons
2
Auditor.
Edwin C. Gould
309
Other persons
2
Overseer of the Poor, for 3 years.
Martha D. Bale . 324
Board of Health.
George W. Burke, for three years
300
John Dike, for three years .
316
John E. Sanborn
3
Other persons
2
Park Commissioner, for 3 years.
George T. Brown
290
Other persons
6
Constables.
Osborne E. Drown 323
C. F. W. Fogg
321
Frank M. Mclaughlin
294
Ansel B. Pierce
332
Other persons .
3
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
License Question.
"Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?"
Yes . No . .
60 votes. 293
The persons receiving the highest number of votes for the several offices were declared elected by the moderator. The number of ballots corresponded with the number of names checked on the lists.
Voted, To adjourn to time previously stated.
Adjourned Meeting, March 21, 1892, 7 P. M.
Met in accordance with vote passed November 19, 1891, whereby it was voted that the meeting be adjourned to thirty minutes before the time designated for the next town meeting held in the evening for the transaction of town business.
Art. II.
Voted, That it is hereby declared expedient and desirable that the town exercise the authority conferred by chapter 370 of the acts of 1891, entitled "An Act to enable cities and towns to manufacture and distribute gas and electric- ity."
Vote taken by check lists. "Yes" and "No" ballots used. Result of balloting :
" Yes," one hundred and sixty-five votes 165
" No," twenty-six votes . 26
Total . 191
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
More than two-thirds of the votes cast being in the affirm- ative (as required by law) the provisions of the act were declared accepted.
Adjourned.
Adjourned Annual Meeting, March 21, 1892, 7.30 P. M. Met according to adjournment.
Voted, To take up Art. 16.
Voted, That it is hereby declared expedient and desirable that the town exercise the authority conferred by chapter 370 of the acts of 1891, entitled, "An Act to enable cities and towns to manufacture and distribute gas and electri- city."
Vote taken by check lists. "Yes" and "No" ballots used. Result of balloting :
" Yes," I57 votes.
" No," 25
Total, . 182 66
More than two-thirds of the votes being in the affirma- tive (as required by law) the provisions of the act were declared accepted.
Voted, To take up
Art. 17.
Voted, unanimously, That the report of the committee pre- sented, which has been printed and distributed, be accepted.
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
On a motion submitted, authorizing the issuing of bonds to the amount of $75,000, the proceeds of which should be applied to the establishing of an electric light plant, the vote upon the same was taken by check lists, "Yes" and " No " ballots being used, and resulted as follows :
" Yes," " No,"
152 votes. 82 “
Total, .
234
Two-thirds of the votes cast not being in the affirmative, the motion was declared not carried.
Voted, To take up
Art. 23.
Voted, That a committee of five be appointed to consider the subject matter of this article, and that they be requested to report at an adjournment of this meeting. Committee appointed : Stephen W. Harvey, A. Wilbur Lynde, Andrew J. Burnett, Walter Babb, David H. Orcutt.
Art. 17.
Voted, To reconsider the action taken under this article, whereby it was voted not to issue bonds, etc., as provided in motion submitted. Vote standing, affirmative 237, nega- tive 90.
· Voted, unanimously, That the article be taken from the table and considered at an adjournment of this meeting, viz., on Monday, March 28, at 8 o'clock.
Art. 4.
Voted, unanimously, That the treasurer be authorized with the approval of the selectmen to hire money, to renew,
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
replace or pay any existing loan or loans; also to hire money in anticipation of the taxes for the current year to meet expenses, and issue notes of the town therefor.
Art. 12.
Voted, That the selectmen be authorized to petition the legislature for authority to issue water fund bonds to the amount of thirty-seven thousand ( 37,000 ) dollars, the pro- ceeds of which are to be used for the payment of the second issue of water fund bonds, series of 1872, which mature October 1, 1892.
Art. 13.
Voted, That the treasurer be authorized to pay toward the payment of the Town Hall bonds, maturing October I, 1892, the sum of fifteen thousand ( 15,000 ) dollars, which has been received in past years on banks and corporation taxes and from other sources, together with the sum raised for the current year for the reduction of the town debt, viz: $5000, total amount to be thus paid $20,000. Voted that the selectmen be authorized to petition the legislature for authority to issue bonds, or scrip to the amount of forty- five thousand ( 45,000 ) dollars, the proceeds of which are to be used for the payment of the Town Hall bonds, issue of 1872, maturing, October 1, 1892.
Art. 3. Officers elected.
Measurers of Wood and Bark, Weighers of Hay and Coal, Charles B. Goss, Seth E. Benson, Fred H. Goss; Committee on Cemeteries, George Newhall, Daniel Russell, John Larra- bee; Fence Viewers, Dexter Pratt, Walter C. Stevens; Field Drivers, Otis Howard,. Frank Gibbons; Pound Keeper, Joseph Edwards; Sealer of Weights and Measurers, Frank M. McLaughlin.
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Art. 5.
Voted, unanimously, That the report of the finance com- mittee be accepted.
Art. 6.
Voted, To raise and appropriate for the payment of town charges for the ensuing vear the following sums to- gether with the balance now credited to the several ac- counts, viz:
Contingent expenses, $2,500 00
Fire alarm
500 00
Fire dept. (new hose $500, expenses $4,500) 5,000 00
Health department 500 00
Highways, crossings, gutters, etc.,
16,000 00
Interest
5,500 00
Numbering buildings
50 00
Police department
5,500 00
Poor department. 7,000 00
Public library, dog tax, and 1,000 00
Schools
40,000 00
Concrete walks, the receipts and 2,500 00
One-half the expense of laying concrete walks opposite estates to be assessed as in previous years. The appropriation, balance and receipts to be expended as follows, viz: For repairs on existing walks, $500; for continuous walks, $1,500; the remainder to be expended under the direction of the selectmen.
Lighting streets and new lamps
7,300 00
Amount carried forward, .
$93,050 00
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Amount brought forward,
$93,050 00
Street signs
50 00
Town Hall, receipts and
400 00
Military aid
300 00
Soldiers' relief
500 00
Reduction of town debt
5,000 00
Deficiences:
Contingent
$ 800 00
Health department
1,500 00
Insurance
600 00
Poor department
1,000 00
Spot pond brook
3,100 00
Town Hall
1,000 00
Tool shed
300 00 $8,300 00
Bills due:
Poor department
$1,202 60
Salaries
251 86
Schools
1,800 00 $3,254 46
$ 11,554 46
$111, 154 46
Voted, To adjourn to Monday evening, March 28, 1892, at 7.30 p. m.
Adjourned Meeting, March 28, 1892, 7.30 P. M. Met according to adjournment.
Art. 7.
Voted, That the salaries of town officers shall be fixed as follows :
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Board of assessors,
$750 00
Auditor,
300 00
Board of health, $50 each,
150 00
Town clerk, .
300 00
Collector of taxes, 34 of one per cent. on real
and personal property and five per cent. on polls, estimated at 800 00
Forest fire wards, $15 each, .
75 00
Inspector of buildings,
100 00
Board of overseers of the poor,
300 00
Registrars of voters, $50 each and $25 extra for clerk,
225 00
Selectmen, 200 each,
600 00
Town treasurer,
500 00
$4,100 00
Voted, To raise for salaries the sum of $4, 100.
At 8 p. m.
Article 17 taken up, in accordance with special assignment made at last meeting. On the motion authorizing the issue of bonds to the amount of $75,000, the proceeds of which should be applied to the establishing of an electric light plant, it being the same motion as voted upon at preceding meeting, which failed of passage at that time, and the vote upon which was then reconsidered, a vote was taken by check lists, "Yes" and "No" ballots being used, and re- sulted as follows :
Yes, 205; No, 294; total, 499 votes. Declared not a vote.
Voted, To adjourn to Monday evening, April 4, 1892, at 7.30.
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Adjourned Meeting, April 4, 1892, 7.30 P. M.
Met according to adjournment.
Art. 7.
Voted, That the salaries of the water commissioners shall be $50 each, cemetery committee $25 each, superintendent of streets $1,000, water registrar $800, superintendent of water department $1,100, treasurer of the water loan sinking fund $50, to be paid from their respective departments.
Voted, That the water board have the power to appoint a superintendent of the water works and a water registrar.
Art. 23. Report of committee read.
Voted, That the same be accepted and adopted, and the recommendations carried out, viz .: That the town pur- chase a lot of land containing 5,625 feet, situate on Second street, about 340 feet east from Larrabee street, and that a two-story building with hose tower, etc., be erected thereon, and that the sum of $1,200 be raised or appropriated there- for. That a committee be appointed to purchase land and erect a building, as recommended, and that there be also raised or appropriated the sum of $200 for the purchase of suitable fire apparatus, if, in the judgment of the committee and fire engineers, an exchange can be made for apparatus now located elsewhere in the town, they be empowered to replace the apparatus so taken with that purchased from this appropriation.
Voted, To raise the sums mentioned, $1,200 and $200, with the understanding that $300 shall be paid from the regular appropriation for the fire department, in addition to the lat- ter appropriation, to be applied for the purchase of fire ap- paratus. Committee appointed : Stephen W. Harvey, A.
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Wilbur Lynde, Andrew J. Burnett, Walter Babb, David H. Orcutt.
Art. 8.
Voted, That the town raise the sum of four thousand dol- lars for the public use of water, as recommended by the finance committee, viz: 160 hydrants, at $20 per hydrant; ornamental and drinking fountains, $200; public buildings, at regular rates; watering streets, $200. Total estimate $4,000.
Art. 9.
Voted, That all single poll taxes be made payable on or before August, I, 1892, that all other taxes be made payable on or before October I, 1892, and that interest be added up- on all taxes remaining unpaid after that date at the rate of six per cent. per annum; that all property on which the taxes remain unpaid on June 1, 1893, be sold by the collec- tor in accordance with the provisions of law and that he be instructed to strictly carry out the provisions of this vote.
Art. 10. Voted, unanimously, That we hereby accept the act entitled "An act to authorize the town of Melrose to make an additional water loan," same being chapter 417 of the acts of the year 1891, and we hereby authorize and di- rect the issue of twenty-five bonds, each of the denomina- tion of one thousand dollars, bearing on the face the words, "Melrose Water Loan, Act of 1891," payable in twenty years from the date of issue, bearing interest payable semi- annually at four per cent. per annum; and the treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to sign said bonds, and the board of water commissioners are hereby authorized and directed to countersign the same; and the treasurer is also authorized for the purpose of paying the cost of construc-
3
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
ing the water works from time to time as the town may direct, to sell and dispose of the said bonds at public or pri- vate sale on such terms and conditions, as he may deem proper, the proceeds to be applied as before stated.
Art. II.
Voted, unanimously, That the treasurer be authorized to issue and sell fourteen water fund bonds, for the purpose of paying the cost of constructing and extending the water works.
Art. 14.
Voted, That the article be laid on the table for one week and that the selectmen be requested to bring in a written report concerning the same.
Art. 15.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 18. Lock-up.
Voted, That the article be referred to a committee of three to examine into same and report at adjournment of this meeting: Committee, John P. Deering, C. W. Hig- gins, F. M. McLaughlin.
Voted, To adjourn to Monday evening, April 11, 1892, at 7.30 o'clock.
Adjourned Meeting, April 11, 1892, 7.30 P. M.
Met according to adjournment.
Art. 18. Lock-up.
Report of committee read and accepted.
.
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Voted, That the lock-up be removed from the northwest corner of the Town Hall building to the southwest corner and rebuilt substantially in accordance with plans submit- ted, and that the sum of six hundred dollars be raised there- for.
Art. 14 Perkins street.
Report of selectmen appointed as a committee at previous meeting read and accepted, and the recommendations there- in contained adopted.
Voted, That the selectmen cause said way to be built, as soon as may be, and that the treasurer be authorized to bor- row four thousand dollars, one half of which sum shall be included in the tax levy of 1892, and the other half to be in- cluded in the tax levy of 1893.
Art. 19. School building at Highlands. Report of com- mittee read and accepted.
Voted, That a committee of seven be appointed, of which the three gentlemen on the school committee shall be members, who are hereby authorized to purchase a lot of land on the west side of the Boston and Maine railroad, and erect thereon a four room school building, that an ap- propriation of sixteen thousand dollars be made to meet the . cost of the same, and that the town treasurer be authorized to borrow said amount. The above vote was taken by check lists, "Yes" and "No," ballots being used, and resulted as follows: aff. 91, neg, 9, total 100.
Voted, That the remaining members of the committee be appointed by the Moderator. Committee as appointed: John O. Norris, J. C. Maker, W. D. Stewart, Charles W. Cook, Thomas W. Ripley, F. W. Hunt, Joel Snow.
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Art. 53.
Voted, That a committee of three be appointed to inquire as to whether the laborers, employed by the town the past year, are legally entitled to extra pay for each day's work of ten hours. Committee appointed: William E. Barrett, J. J. Mccullough, A. C. Goss. By request a vote was taken ex- cusing William E. Barrett from serving, (aff. 128, neg. 21,) and F. S. Hesseltine was appointed on said committee.
Art. 20. Vinton street school building.
Voted, That this article be specially assigned for consider- ation next Monday evening, April 18, at eight o'clock.
Art. 21. Water-sprinkling streets.
Voted, unanimously, That the water commissioners be au- thorized, to license one or more citizens of the town to take water from the stand pipes for the purpose of sprinkling of streets, upon such terms as they may deem proper.
Art. 22. Memorial day.
Voted, To raise two hundred dollars for the keeping in or- der, and decorating the graves of soldiers on Memorial day.
Art. 24. Electric lights.
Voted, That this article be referred to the selectmen, any expenditure for same to be paid from the appropriation for lighting streets.
Art. 25. Cedar park.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 26. Main street.
Voted, That the selectmen be requested to report at the
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
adjourned meeting the appropriations necessary to widen Main street, and pay land damages on same.
Art. 27. Vinton and Franklin streets.
Voted, That this article be referred to the selectmen, any expenditure necessary to be paid from the appropriation for highways.
Art. 28.
Voted, That a committee of three be appointed to inquire into this matter and report at an adjournment of this meet- ing. Committee appointed: William E. Barrett, John Lar- abee, John E. Marshall.
Art. 23. Wyoming hose house.
Voted, That a committee of five be appointed to take into consideration the subject matter of this article and report at an adjournment of this meeting. Committee appointed: W. D. Fiske, A. Wilbur Lynde, William Fanley, George H. Dearborn, George T. Brown.
Art. 30. Town map.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 31. Culvert Highlands.
Voted, That action be postponed until next Monday evening.
Art. 32. Band concerts.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 33. By-laws.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
Voted, To adjourn to Monday evening, April 18, at 7.30 o'clock.
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Adjourned Meeting, April 18, 7.30 P. M.
Met according to adjournment.
Article 34 taken up and laid upon table.
Art. 6. Watering carts.
Voted, unanimously, That the selectmen be directed to purchase, for the use of the town, a watering cart, at an expense not to exceed three hundred and fifty dollars, the same to be paid from the appropriation for highways.
Art. 34. Precinct voting.
On a motion to accept the provisions of chapter 264, acts of 1886, relating to precinct voting, not a vote; affirmative. 39, negative 69.
Art. 53.
Report of committee appointed at last meeting to con- sider the question raised as to whether the town is indebted' to its laborers for extra time over nine hours for each day's. labor during the past year, and the legality of any such. claim, read and accepted.
Voted, unanimously, To adopt the recommendations there- in contained, viz .:
That the laborers and mechanics employed by the town shall not hereafter be required by those having charge of them to labor more than nine hours-to constitute a fair day's work.
Art. 20.
Voted, That the Vinton street school-house be enlarged by the addition of four rooms; that the town treasurer be au-
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
thorized to borrow the sum of sixteen thousand dollars for building of the same, and for providing heating and venti- lating apparatus for the whole building, and that the three gentlemen of the school committee, with four others to be appointed by the moderator, be a committee to carry out the provisions of this vote. The above vote was taken by check lists, "Yes" and "No" ballots being used, and re- sulted as follows: aff. 104, neg. I. Committee as appointed: John O. Norris, J. C. Maker, W. D. Stewart, A. Eugene Up- ham, Decius Beebe, A. B. Franklin, Henry Brown.
Art. 29. Hose house, Wyoming. Voted, To postpone indefinitely.
Art. 26.
Report of selectmen as to sums claimed for damages and estimated expense of widening street as laid out, read and accepted.
Voted, To defer further action upon the matter until meeting in November.
Art. 53.
Voted, unanimously, That Frank E. Orcutt, E. P. Holmes, and John E. Marshall, constitute a committee to investigate the poor department of this town; to ascertain whether the same is properly and enconomically administered, to re- commend such changes and improvements as they deem wise, and make report at the next town meeting.
Art. 28. Soldiers.
Committee granted further time.
Art. 31. Drain, Franklin street. Voted, To postpone indefinitely.
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Voted, to adjourn to Monday evening, April 25, 1892, at 7.30.
Adjourned Meeting, April 25, 1892, 7.30 P. M.
Art. 35.
Voted, That the selectmen, George L. Morse, John Rob- son, John W. Farwell and Royal P. Barry be a committee to consider the whole question of sewerage for this town, the work to be done, the cost, system or plan to be adopted, how the expense of same shall be borne, whether better- ments shall be assessed upon estates or not, and that they be requested to report with recommendations at the next town meeting.
Voted, That the committee have power to fill vacancies in their number.
Art. 36.
Voted, That the selectmen be instructed to take measures to prevent the obstruction and delay to travel on Emerson street, caused by the shifting of cars by the Boston & Maine railroad.
First, by applying to said railroad to cease the obstruc- tion caused by the shifting of their cars, by the changing of their freight station or otherwise.
Second, failing to secure full relief from the corporation, to apply to the railroad commissioners or by taking such other measures as shall be effectual.
Art. 37. Ell Pond brook,
Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Art. 38. By laws.
Voted, To amend article 6.
Amendment not accepted by the court.
Voted, That a committee of three be appointed to revise the town by-laws and report at the meeting in November next. Committee, George T. Brown, F. S. Hesseltine, A. M. Willis.
Art. 39. Linwood avenue sidewalk.
Referred to selectmen, any expense incurred to be paid out of the appropriation for highways.
Art. 40.
Voted, That so much of Church street as has not been dis- continued by former vote of this town be now discontinued to the present line of Upham street, on condition that the abutters straighten the line of the sidewalk on the line of Upham street and build a good, substantial concrete side- walk to the satisfaction of the selectmen, and that they also release all claims for damages to the town.
Art. 41.
Voted, That the street now named Emerald street shall hereafter be known as Hillside avenue.
Art. 42.
Voted, That the street now named Second street shall hereafter be known as Foster street.
Art. 43. Meridian street.
Referred to selectmen, any expense incurred to be paid from the appropriation of highways.
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