USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1890-1892 > Part 6
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J. A. Dill, lunches, 1889-1890 63 00
Frank Story, services, town meeting
1 00
Dunton & Potter, printing 1900 copies annual re- ports, 1889 421 80
Dunton & Potter, assessors' poll tax list, 2,321 names 81. 23
Dunton & Potter, 5,000 tax bills and receipts 28 50
Dunton & Potter, advertising, notices, etc. . 84 34 Melrose Journal, printing, advertising, etc. . 89 50
Babb & Stephens, assessors' and collectors' books 19 00
T. W. Ripley, printing, assessors . II 50
J. L. Fairbanks & Co., sundries, assessors 7 60
The Boston Book Co., public statutes . 4 25
Geo. H. Walker & Co., Middlesex county atlas 15 00
Geo. B. Sargent & Co., repairing stamps
3 10
Educational Supply Co., milk test set, etc. . 14 50
Wm. A. Carrie, check books, etc. 10 00
John H. Atwood, meals 6 00
W. E. Keating, carriages 5 00
Amount carried forward,
$985 32
FINANCIAL STATEMENT. 113
Amount brought forward, $985 32
J. S. Austin, carriages . 10 50
George W. Bartlett, carriages 6 00
John Larrabee, services as clerk of selectmen, 1889 25 00
John Larrabee, extra clerical service 15 00
John Larrabee, compiling annual reports, 1889 50 00
John Larrabee, sundries furnished
9 50
John Larrabee, collecting, recording and indexing births, marriages and deaths, 1889 131 45
H. C. Williams, M. D., damages to horse, carriage and harness 125 00
G. O. Archibald, damages to horse 5 00
H. W. Eldridge, 50 00
F. M. Holmes Furniture Co., chairs 10 50
John Curtin & Co., chairs (assessors ) 7 00
Derby & Kilmer Desk Co., desk “ 18 24
Levi S. Gould, expense, telegrams, etc. 4 00
George F. King & Merrill, stationery, books, etc. 21 57
George Newhall, cash for stamps 8 00
C. W. Ellison, P. M., stamps 12 50
P. D. Meston, binding reports II 25
H. M. Meek, tally sheets 2 00
A. W. Parker, street signs 22 75
I. C. Weeks, ringing bell 6 00
O. E. Drown 4 00
Dr. Al Watts, services . 15 00
R. M. Rand, posting bills 8 00
S. A. Lovejoy, auctioneer, services 5 00
Wheeler Reflector Co., lantern, drinking fountain 5 40
John H. Gately, returning deaths, 1889 5 25
Amount carried forward,
·
$1,579 23
8
114
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Amount brought forward, . $1,579 23 A. B. Pierce, serving warrants and services at town meetings 89 00
Dexter Pratt, expenses, forest fires 4 90
C. F. Loring, Esq., presenting amendments, to by- laws and expense
II 25
John Dike, M. D., returning births, 1889 .
2 75
F. H. Morse, 66
6 25
J. C. Batchelder, “ .6
..
75
H. C. Williams, “ 66
3 25
E. S. Jack,
66
..
.
6 50
J. S. Clark, .. 06
8 50
A. M. Selee, ..
.
4 50
C. E. Prior, ..
..
.
2 75
C. C. Odlin, 6.
.6
8 00
P. Wadsworth, “
1889-1890. 50
$1,728 13
Balance unexpended
67
$1,728 80
WYOMING CEMETERY.
RECEIPTS, 1890.
For care of lots
$607 92
Labor and material furnished, interments, etc. 349 53
For wood sold
115 75
slate covers
35 00
" use of tomb
3 00
66
60
.
66
.
..
.
$I,III 20
115
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Amount brought forward, $I, III 20 ·
Lots Sold.
7 lots
$807 50
4 half lots $40 00
160 00
2
$52 50 105 00
I
66 66 $75 00
75 00
Exchanging lot
77 25
On account of lots sold
90 00
Rent of Pratt farm, 13 months
136 50
1,451 25
$2,562 45
EXPENDED.
Thomas Marshall, Sup't, 5 months $250 00
Extra labor, 87 days
174 00
Material, labor, teams, bricks and ma- nure furnished 57 78
$481 78
Laborers, 78434 days ( $1 76
$1,381 16 .
Teams, 9514 " " $1 50 142 87
$1,524 03
Philip H. Butler & Co., slate covers 13 13
W. R. Stearns, slate vaults and markers
149 27
B. & M. R. R., freight 29 00
H. N. Murch, marble markers 35 00
Daniel Norton, sail cloth 16 69
Bugbee & Barrett, grass seed and powder
II 54
W. C. Stevens, surveying 5 00
C. W. Ellison, P. M., stamps 2 00
Eastman's Express 75
S. E. Benson, cement and lime 9 74
C. B. & F. H. Goss, fertilizer and cement 10 50
A. B. Pierce, services 4 50
Amount carried forward,
$2,292 93
116
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Amount brought forward,
.
$2,292 93
W. F. Serrat, labor and shrubs 6 00
Thos. McCoubry, sharpening tools 15 68
T. C. Fielding, plants 25 00
Perry Bros., wheelbarrow and tools 9 31
Daniel McDonald, 100 feet granite wall capping 50 00
James Marshall, steel drills . 3 06 ,
John Larrabee, services on committee 25 00
George Newhall, “ . .
25 00
$2,451 98
PRATT FARM.
William N. Folsom, barn and shed $125 00
Robert Gibbons, moving buildings 75 00
J. P. Deering, lumber 178 26
Perry Bros., hardware
9 5I
H. H. Elms, grading 10 00
J. R. Gibbons, 27 3-4 days labor, 76 31
J. R. Gibbons, windows and material,. 7 42
$481 50
$2,933 48
Less amount transferred to soldiers' lot
appropriation for markers furnished 35 00
$2,898 48
By vote passed March 24, the cemetery committee were authorized to expend not exceeding $500 for barn on Pratt farm.
Total expenditures exceed receipts $336 03
117
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
STONE CRUSHER.
Treasurer authorized to borrow.
May 26, $3,500 00
Sept. 15, . 1,350 00
$4,850 00
EXPENDED).
A. J. Wellington, on account of one No. 3 Gates Rock Breaker, with 4 screens and elevator complete and connected, also one 30 H. P. engine and 40 H. P. boiler, one Ingersoll Sergeant rock drill, lumber, labor, etc., (capacity of breaker 150 tons and upwards per day, contract price, com- plete, $3,650) $2,000 00
A. J. Wellington, extra labor, not included in above,. 63 00
A. J. Wellington, barrel of oil, powder, fuse, etc., and labor of drill men, 179 18
Laborers 100 1-2 days 176 88
Robert Gibbons, moving hearse house
52 50
S. E. Benson, coal, etc.
71 70
The Boston Herald Co., advertising
3 75
L. S. Gould, expense
I 87
A. W. Chesterton & Co., labor, etc.
10 85
Perry Bros., nails, lead, etc.,
3 09
George B. Ellis & Co., forcite and labor
23 00
George H. Sampson & Co., sand pumps 3 00
B. & M. R. R., freight
48
J. P. Deering, lumber 21 65
C. W. Sargent, building platform
45 00
Thos. McCoubry, sharpening tools
92 00
R. Philpot, use of boiler
14 00
Walter C. Stevens, ledge 49,015 square feet G. N. Harris, examination of title
800 00
25 00
$3,586 95
118
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
WATER FUND.
CR.
Jan. 1889. To the credit of account $784 38
Received from Parker Merrill and E. H. Goss,
water registrars for water rates, etc., col- lected 1890 .
$26,327 77
Received for 12 Water Fund bonds series of 1887, No's. 31 to 42 inclusive, 12,000 00
Received as premium on bonds, 610 00
" accrued interest on bonds 52 67
" dividend, insurance policy 41 62
$39,816 44
DK
Water L. S. Fund Commissioners surplus, 1889 $4,284 50
Interest coupons on Water fund bonds, 9,893 33
Bills on account of construction and mainte- nance, for detailed statement see water commissioners' report 23,777 77
To the credit of account
$37,955 60
1,860 84
$39,816 44
FINANCIAL STATEMENT. 119
INTEREST.
March 3, Appropriation .. $4,000 00
Unexpended balance, 1889 1,406 54
$5,406 54
RECEIPTS.
From collectors of taxes, interest collected.
L. G. Coburn, 1884
$4 89
Parker Merrill, 1888 42
1889 . 1,286 47
Addison Lane, 1890
112 63
$1,404 41
Received as interest on deposits, year ending December 31, 1890 . 74 40
Received as premium, on note 113 00
$6,998 35
EXPENDED.
Interest coupons, on town hall bonds,
$65,000 (@ 7 per cent. . $4,550 00
Commonwealth of Mass., on notes, .
490 00
Melrose Savings Bank, on notes,
temporary loans 665 13
H. A. Leonard, on notes, temporary loans 29 89
Cemetery trust funds, to Jan. 1, 1891 158 10
$5,893 12
Balance unexpended
. $1, 105 23
I 20
FINANCIAL STATEMENT. SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
Construction, Remodelling, etc.
May 26, treasurer authorized to borrow . $45,300 00 Received from James McIntyre, for dwelling house 1,045 00
$46,345 00
EXPENDED.
Mrs. Elizabeth G. Taylor, lot of land, with build- ings, between Main and Lebanon streets, 26,- 553 square feet .
$7,000 00
George T. Hutchins, lot of land, corner First and Eleventh streets, 8,760 square feet 438 00
Eri Upham, lot of land, corner First and Eleventh streets, 18,034 square feet 901 70
Moses Briggs, auctioneer, selling building 10 00
Dunton & Potter, advertising auction sale 2 00
Loring & Phipps, architects, services, plans, etc . 700 00
Angus McDonald, remodelling high school build- ing, as per contract 4,440 00
Angus McDonald, extra labor 45 00
Angus McDonald, labor and material for heating and ventilating apparatus, urinal, etc. 151 60
A. B. Franklin, heating and ventilating apparatus, high school building 2,685 00
J. L. Holbrook, labor 12 65
J. H. Gibson, tinting, and extra labor 135 00
W. N. Gray, repairing roof, ( H. S.) 5 20
A. W. Lynde, labor and material, high school 48 17
Amount carried forward,
$16,574 32
121
FINANCIAL, STATEMENT.
Amount brought forward, $16,574 32 A. W. Lynde, labor and material, Upham school 81 40
Walter C. Stevens, surveying 13 00
Eastman's express 50
W. H. Blake, pipes, labor, etc. 247 18
C. L. Hoffman, 29 yards concrete . II 60
Angus McDonald, on account of contracts . 8,600 00
$25,528 00
REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER.
Cash in treasury, Jan. 29, 1890
$114 20 Total receipts for the year 309,883 37
$309,947 57
Total disbursements for the year 308,192 85
, Cash in treasury Jan. 24, 1891 $1,754 72
CEMETERY "TRUST FUNDS."
1885. Estate of Sally Upham $200 00
1886. S. B. Cochran, Omaha, Neb. 200 00
1887. Estate of William H. Jones 100 00
1888. Estate of Mrs. Lynthia L. Burgess 100 00
1888. Mr. Chas. O. and Mrs. Thomas Robinson 100 00
1889.
Mrs. Caroline Curtis
100 00
1889. Charles E. Daniels, treasurer Winchester Home for Aged Woinen 300 00
1 889. Estate of J. Vincent Smith 200 00
1 889.
Estate of Peter Edgerly 100 00
1890. Mrs. Sarah Whowell 50 00
r:890. William A. Fuller
150 00
$1,600 00
REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER. 123
STATEMENT OF THE TOWN DEBT.
WATER BONDS.
Melrose Water Fund, due Oct. 1, 1892 $50,000 00 Melrose Water Loan, high service, due Nov. I .
1905 37,000 00
Melrose Water Fund, series 1887, due May I,
1907 42,000 00
Melrose Water Fund, series 1890, due 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, $10,000 each year 50,000 00
$179,000 00
TOWN HALL BONDS.
Melrose Town Hall, due Oct 1, 1892 $65,000 00
PERMANENT LOANS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, note due July 23, 1891, 31/2 per ct. interest, Vinton st. school- house building $14,000 00
Loans on account of building and remodelling school buildings, 1 890 :
Barnard & Stanwood, note due Aug. 30, 1895, interest 4 per ct. 10,000 00 Melrose Savings Bank, note due Nov. 28, 1893, interest 4 per ct. 10,000 00 Melrose Savings Bank, note due Jan. 7. 1893, interest 4 per ct. 5,000 00
$39,000 00
Amount carried forward,
$283,000 00
124
REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER.
. . $283,000 00 Amount brought forward,
TEMPORARY LOANS.
Melrose Savings Bank, note dated
June 18, 1890, int. 4 per ct. $10,000 00
Melrose Savings Bank, note dated Dec. 29, 1890, int.4 per ct. ·
5,000 00
$15,000 00
$298,000 00
AVAILABLE ASSETS.
Due from State, State aid 1890,
$1,022 00
Due from State, Military aid, 1890, 308 50
$1,330 50
Uncollected taxes:
1885
$673 72
1886
706 71
1887
804 99
1888
849 12
1889
1,664 24
1890
34,391 18
$39,089 96
Water Loan Sinking Fund
226 09
Cash on hand,
$1754 72
$42,401 27
Net debts, more than assets available
. $255,598 73
$298,000 00 Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE NEWHALL, Treasurer.
(E. and O. excepted. )
Melrose, January 24, 1891,
125
REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER.
GEORGE NEWHALL,
In account with COMMISSIONERS WATER LOAN SINKING FUND.
DR.
Cash on hand . $3,424 58
Received from town of Melrose, surplus 1889 4,284 50
Cash for 13 Melrose bonds, 4s, due Nov. 1, 1905, @ 106 13,780 00
.Cash for 3 Melrose bonds, 4s, due May 1, 1907, (1) 1063/8 3,191 25
Cash for Providence bond, 5s, due July 1, 1906, @ 1185/8 1,186 25
Cash for 4 U. S. Reg. bonds 10314 3,613 75
Cash for 29 town of Melrose bonds, issue 1870, due July 1890 . . 29,000 00
Cash of Boston 5 cents Savings bank 1,000 00
Cash of Suffolk Savings bank 1,000 00
Cash for mortgage notes 16,300 00
Cash received as interest on bonds and mortgages 1,715 23
CR. $78,495 56
Cash paid Boston Safe Deposit vaults . $10 00
Cash paid for 25 Melrose bonds, due July 1, 1890, @ 100.92 . .
25,230 00
Interest on the above bonds . 200 00
Cash paid for 4 Melrose bonds, due July 1, 1890 @, 100.92 . 4,036 80
Interest on the above bonds . 36 67
Discharge papers on mortgage 1 00
Cash paid treasurer town of Melrose for part pay-
ment of 100 water bonds, due July 8, 1890 48,705 00 Cash paid George Newhall, for one year's services, ending June 7, 1890 50 00
Cash on hand in Melrose Savings bank 226 09
$78,495 56
I 26
REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER.
GEORGE NEWHALL, TREASURER, In account with the TOWN OF MELROSE. DR.
Jan. 29, 1890. Cash in Treasury $114 20
RECEIPTS.
L. G. Coburn, collector taxes, 1884 $59 52
Parker Merrill,
1888 1,240 37
66 ١١ 1889 32,730 76
Addison Lane,
٠٠
1890 62,456 61
$96,487 26
Water rates, etc. . $26,327 77
12 Water bonds sold 12,000 00
Premium and interest on bonds
704 29
39,032 06
Cemetery Trust Funds
200 00
Dog Tax from County Treasurer
1,194 91
Sale of Taylor building
1,045 00
Temporary loans, notes
. 34,000 00
Permanent
66
. 25,000 00
From Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
School Fund
50 96
Military Aid, 1889
277 50
State 66 66
721 00
Bank and Corporation Taxes
3,619 85
4,669 31
From various sources on account of
School Contingent 2 27
Highways
114 99
Crossings and Gutters .
IO 28
Drainage
136 62
Amounts carried forward, .
$264 16 $201,742 74
127
REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER.
Amounts brought forward, .. $264 16 $201,742 74
From Sidewalks .'
1,491 78
Poor Fund .
1,131 14
Fire Department .
27 50
Add'l lamps .
84
Police .
102 85
Contingent
45 00
Interest
187 40
Town Hall .
1,556 50
Wyoming Cemetery
2,462 53
Hose house land .
535 13
Berwick street drain
400 00
$8,204 83
$209,947 57
For 50 Water Fund Bonds, series of 1890, $1,000 each 50,000 00
Premium on above @ $2 59
1,295 00
Water Loan Sinking Fund Commissioners from
sinking fund .
. 48,705 00
$309,947 57
CR.
Paid bills, per Town Clerk's orders and warrants.
Schools, support of
$23,453 73
School contingent
4,711 03
Highways
8,125 69
Crossings and gutters
475 00
Drainage
2,627 75
Sidewalks
4,391 92
Poor fund
6,422 48
Fire department
8,028 55
Street lights
5,172 47
Add'l lamps
136 59
Amount carried forward,
$63,545 21
128
REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER.
Amount brought forward,
$63,545 21
Police
4,261 85
Contingent expenses
1,728 13
Health department
273 54
Salaries
3,506 07
Town Hall
1,290 45
Insurance
506 20
Military aid
617 00
State aid
1,022 00
Water .
23,777 77
Public library
1,935 36
School buildings
25,528 00
Gooch street
299 51
Lebanon "
199 74
Botolph “ and West Hill avenue
515 83
Walton park
262 00
Cemetery
2,898 48
Soldiers' relief
632 85
Vinton and High Streets
485 00
Suppression of liquor traffic
30 00
Hose house land
2,530 75
Melrose street sidewalk
499 30
Cedar Park and W. avenue drain
1,447 00
Numbering buildings
33 97
Grove street sidewalk
150 00
Memorial Day
200 00
Melrose common
166 22
Baxter street
100 00
High school committee
2 00
Stone crossings
39 20
Soldiers' lots
215 27
Amount carried forward,
. $138,698 70
REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER. 129
Amount brought forward, $138,698 70
Electric light committee 59 00
Berwick street drain 856 50
Wyoming avenue sidewalk 500 00
Stone crusher
3,586 95
Park street .
200 02
$143,901 17
Paid 100 Water Fund Bonds, series of 1870 100,000 00
$243,901 17
Paid interest on bonds and notes . $5,735 02
W. L. Sinking F. Commr's sur- plus, 1889 .
4,284 50
Interest on Water Bonds
9,893 33
State Tax
5,145 00
County Tax .
4,733 83
Temporary loans, notes
34,500 00
$64,291 68
$308,192 85
Jan. 24, 1891. Cash in treasury
$1,754 72
$309,947 57
9
AUDITORS' REPORT.
We have examined the books of the treasurer for the year ending Jan. 24, 1891, and find them correctly kept and proper vouchers accompanying them.
We have also examined the books connected with the water department, and find them correctly kept.
FRANK E. ORCUTT, WALTER I. NICKERSON, GILBERT N. HARRIS, Auditors.
MELROSE, Feb. 13, 1891.
COLLECTORS' REPORTS.
TAXES OF 1888.
To amount uncollected Jan. 1, 1890, as per report $2,089 07 Interest received 42
$2,089 49
Paid George Newhall, treasurer
1,240 37
Uncollected Jan. 1, 1891
$849 12
TAXES OF 1889.
Total amount assessed for 1889 $92,002 72
Report of 1889 showed amount re- ceived for interest
$77 80 77 80
Taxes
. $58,574 05 $92,080 52
$58,651 85
Less amount abated
261 70
261 70
*Amount paid town treasurer $58,390 15 $91,818 82
Less above 58,390 15 .
Which would show amount uncollected
$33,428 67
Amount collected in 1890
Interest
. $1,286 47
1,286 47
Taxes .
· 31,713 73 $34,715 14
$33,000 20
Less amount abated .
278 64
278 64
*Amount paid town treasurer
. $32,721 56 $34,436 50
132
COLLECTORS' REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward, $32,721 56 $34,436 50
Less above 32,721 56
1,714 94
Less amount of taxes wholly abated 41 50
$1,673 44
Add amounts received from persons
whose names did not appear on books 12 08
Which would leave amount unpaid to date, $1,685,52 Viz .:
Polls . . $1,288 50
Personal
350 04
Real estate
46 98
$1,685 52
Jan. 26, 1891.
PARKER MERRILL, Collector. BY'C. GIFFORD MERRILL, Att'y.
*Memo.
Amounts paid town treasurer as above.
In 1889 . . $58,390 15
In 1890 . . 32,721 56
$91, III 71
Add amount over paid him Nov. 3, 1890, which does not appear in above report, and will be corrected when next payment is made 8 30
Making total amount paid him . $91, 120 0I
I33
COLLECTORS' REPORTS.
TAXES OF 1890.
To amount of warrant
. $96,963 15
Interest
112 63
$97,075 78
By amount paid Geo. Newhall . . $62,456 61 .
Abatements
227 99
Uncollected
.
34,391 18
$97,075 78
ADDISON LANE, Collector for 1890.
ASSESSORS' REPORT.
FOR YEAR 1890.
No. of inhabitants 8,127
" " dwelling houses
1,91I
" " horses
447
" COWS . 200
" dogs .
519
( " swine
78
" " oxen
4
Tax rate, $13.70
Valuation of real estate, residents
$5,098,425 00
non residents
1,256,650 00
66
personal estate, residents 243,510 00
66 66 non residents 126,120 00
Total
$6,724,705 00
Number of males assessed 2,321
" females
3
Amount committed to collector
$96,751 19
Additional 42 05
Re-assessed
149 62
$96,942 86
Number of resident persons paying a tax on property 1,324
Number of resident firms paying a tax on property 44
Number of persons paying a tax on poll only 1,455
Number of non resident persons paying a tax on property 343
Number of non-resident firms and corpor- ations paying a tax on property 21
3,187
135
ASSESSORS' REPORT.
ABATEMENTS ON TAX OF IS90.
Mrs. Susan E. Smith $6 85
Mrs. Rupert Everton $4 II
Mrs. J. M. Loring 6 85
Mrs. W. A. Britton 20 55
Mrs. Esther Morcomb 6 85
Mr. J. Upham 4 II
J. Q. A. Avery 1 37
Est. F. D. Howe 6 85
Mrs. Mary D. Ellis 6 85
Mrs. C. W. Clinkard 6 85
Mrs. Mary R. Prince 6 85
S. D. Taylor
12 14
Mr. E. Simonds
6 85
Geo. E. Wheeler 2 74
Est. Chas. Barrett 6 85
Joan Stackpole 6 85
Mrs. Mary H. Andrews 6 85
A. V. Lynde 4 II
Mrs. Sarah Conant 5 48
Mrs. Mary A Finn 6 85
Meth. Episcopal Soc'y 6 85
Mrs. E. Emerson, reass'd 5 48
S. A. Lovejoy, reass'd 2 74
Miss Conway 6 85
F. E. Orcutt, reassessed 3 04
O. B. Weldon
2 74
R .B. Leighton, reass'd 39 73
Mrs. J. Upham
5 82
W. N. Folsom 6 85
Chas. F. Jefts, reass'd 23 97
Mrs. A. Heaton 5 56
Miss Charlotte C. Men-
dum, reassessed 39 04
Est. I. C. Dowling 6 85
$351 92
ABATEMENTS ON TAX OF 1889, DURING 1890.
Mrs. L. Elms $6 80| Mrs.Margaret E. Selee $6 80
Est. of C. A. Green
95 20 Mrs. Rupert Everton 4 08
Mrs. Annie Manning 4 76 Mrs. Susan E. Smith 6 80
Mrs. A. P. Perkins II 62 Mrs. Daniel Finnigan 2 .04
Mrs. N. K. Hunt
9 68
Mrs. Armington 6 80
F. A. White 6 80
Miss Susan M. Parker 25 00 SI86 38
HENRY A. LEONARD, DEXTER PRATT. J. R. NORTON,
Assessors of Melrose.
Misses J. R. & L. F. Wheeler 13 70
S. W. Moorehouse 3 42
Mrs. Ella Powder 6 85
Miss Lydia Mendum, re- assessed 35 62
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR.
The whole number of persons who have received more or less aid during the year, is one hundred. Forty of these have received full support during the whole or a part of the year. This includes both sane, and the insane. Of this whole number, five only have their settlements in other towns.
There are sixty persons upon the temporary aid list. Of these, twenty-seven have their settlements in other places, leaving sixty-eight persons, of our own settled poor. Several of these aged poor are becoming so helpless, and infirm, that it would greatly facilitate the work of the Overseers of the poor, and also, as it seems to us, would be in better keeping with the instincts of humanity, to have them brought together, in a comfortable home.
Private parties are perfectly willing to board our poor when they are comparatively well, and able to help them- selves; but it is quite another thing, when they fall into sickness. Invariably they demand the removal of the sick, unless we yield to their demands for more money than we feel we ought to pay. Sometimes we are compelled to yield, as patients may be unable to be removed. And when they are able, the times are still more troublous for over- seers, in seeking for sick rooms, asylums, nurses, watchers, &c., &c. Everybody seems to know that they have us at an advantage.
This matter of providing a comfortable home for the more helpless, and sickly poor, has been laid before the town
137
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
committee, who may possibly have something to recommend to the town upon the subject at the next annual town meet- ing.
For receipts and expenditures of money of this depart- ment, see financial columns as prepared by the town clerk.
HENRY G. FIELDS, JOHN SINGER, JR., MARTHA D. BALE, Overseers of the Poor.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Gentlemen :
I herewith submit to you my annual report for the year ending December 31, 1890.
WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT.
NATURE OF OFFENCES BROUGHT BEFORE THE DISTRICT COURT.
Assaults . 15
Keeping and exposing . I
Assault with dangerous
weapons
1
Larceny .
Malicious mischief . 5
Breaking and entering
and larceny
3
Stubborn child I
Contempt of court .
I
Search warrants 13
Drunks . .
30
Threats .
2
Default warrant 3
Unlicensed dogs 3
Disturbing the peace 5
Violation town by-laws 3
Disorderly house
2
Vagrant . ·
I
Habitual Truants .
2
Willful trespass .
4
Idle and disorderly
I
MISCELLANEOUS DUTIES PERFORMED.
Disturbances suppressed 27
Lost children carried home . 12
Doors found unlocked . II
Dead bodies found
2
Liquor nuisance I
Bastardy
1
Overdriving horse . I
139
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Arrested for out of town officers
3
Conveyed to hospital
4
Stray teams found in street .
8
Fire alarms rung
6
Lanterns hung in dangerous places
27
Water pipe bursts reported . 16
Cattle impounded . 2
Persons assisted home .
19
Notices served
26
Arc lights, hours not lighted
246
Insane committed to Danvers hospital
7
Lodgers accommodated
92
Dogs killed 27
ORGANIZATION, DUTIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
The department consists of chief, one day officer on duty at station from 7.30 a. m. until one o'clock p. m. Three night patrolmen who come on duty at 7 o'clock p. m., and remain until four o'clock a. m. The districts are divided as follows: One officer at the Highlands, one at the Melrose depot, and one at the centre and Wyoming. The distance to be covered is too great, parts of each district are unpro- tected for too long a time. The duties of the chief are to come on duty at one o'clock p. m., and remain until eleven o'clock p. m. at the station; the remainder of his time is occupied in attending to the business of the town before the courts, summoning witnesses, investigating complaints and a large number of other matters in connection with the duties of police business of which the public as a whole have but a limited knowledge.
I would recommend that two or three officers be added to the department this year. The usual number in all the adjoining cities and towns is one officer for each thousand
140
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
inhabitants. There are a great many calls from the easterly and southerly parts of the town, which are not covered by patrol; and if an officer was in the district it would save time of parties reporting to the station, and also insure a prompt response.
The town has been fortunate during the past year as far as any attempts to break and enter are concerned; what at- tempts have been made were in sections not directly cover- ed by police patrol, and this fact was apparently known and taken advantage of by the offenders. For maintenance of good order Melrose stands the equal of any town in the Commonwealth having the same number of inhabitants. In regard to the liquor traffic we are fortunate in having so little in our town. There are but two places to my knowl- edge where they try to make a business of selling, in both of which the parties have been convicted, and one of them twice. They are being watched as much as possible with the limited means at the command of this department. During the year a number of anonymous letters have been received, in which parties claim liquor is being sold at cer- tain places. If the people writing them would spend a little time, and help in the prosecution of the parties of which they write, much good might result. Three persons who began selling the past year, after being raided left town, and two left the state. Under our present laws it is neces- sary to secure the liquor to show in court to get a convic- tion. We have promptly investigated all complaints re- ceived, in a large number of cases with beneficial results. During the months of July and August over one hundred and fifty dogs were looked up and the owners notified to pay the license. In closing this report I desire to say that I am indebted to the board of selectmen for their co-opera- tion and support, also to the members of the force for cheer-
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