USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1898-1899 > Part 8
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15 00
33,716 00
4,475 00
1,821 77
1,410 13
41,422 90
1870
1871
665
881
2,408,241
404,515
2,812,756
15 00
37,570 00
4.475 00
1,821 77
87 00
43,953 77
1871
1873
742
967
3,234,658
409,249
3,643,907
15 50
51,325 00
4,117 50
2,345 72
627 04
58,415 26
1873
1874
786
1,039
3,797,965
380,460
4,178,425
15 80
62,061 84
3,600 ('0)
2.504 53
909 74
G9,136 11
1874
1875
3,990
946
1,099
4,062,450
390,378
4,452,828
16 00
65,990 16
3,660 00
2,347 09
1,445 10
73,443 25
1875
1876
4,185
1,027
1,102
4,178,765
488,124
4,666,889
13 00
55,585 00
4,284 00
1,405 01
1,509 55
62,873 56
1876
1877
4,101
1,037
1,121
3.743,844
451,400
4,195,244
12 50
48,107 00
3,570 00
2,093 03
912 53
54,682 56
1877
1878
4,221
1,045
1,183
3,661,500
364,298
4,023,798
12 00
43,703 06
2,380 00
1,719 22
2,873 29
50,675 57
1878
1879
4,365
1,002
1,203
$1,697,350 1,729,050
$1,642,900 1,626,950
3,356,000
3,776,200
328,858
3,705,058
13 80
46,624 12
3,570 00
1,793 96
1,593 69
53,581 66
1881
1882
4,739
1,038
1,292
1,803,425
1,644,425
3,447,850
302,939
3,750,789
14 80
50.048 81
4,760 00
1,793 96
1,492 84
58,005 G1
1882
1883
5,071
1,12€
1,388
2,130,039
1,690,386
3,829,425
4,197,801
11 40
55,393 71
3,330 00
2,242 45
2,258 13
63,224 29
1883
1884
5,607
1,206
1,607
2,357,814
1,742,411 1,789,236
4,374,250
4,769,665
14 20
63,753 64
3,330 00
2,373 35
1,817 24
71,274 23
1885
1886
6,536
1,443
1,870
2,795,425
3,075,925
1,872,225 2,006,025 2,213,755
5,574,705
426,861
6,001,566
13 60
75,104 03
5,895 00
3,307 77
1,550 49
85,857 29
1888
1889
7,821
1,765
2,204
3,360,950 3,706,375
2,315,755 2,355,700 3,093,275
6,355,075 7,372,025
405,690
7,777,715
14 20
104,061 87
4,410 00
4.733 83
1,779 04
114,984 74
1891
1892
2,282
2,723
4,786,150
3,379,700
8,165,850
430,715
8,596,565
15 80
123,604 46
$646 75
5,757 50
6,428 39
4,834 62
141,271 72
1892
1893
10,474
2,484
3,048
5,308,500
3,500,975
8,899,475 9,386,775
500,655 538,098
9,400,130
14 40
121,014 98
1,649 14
8,225 00
6,716 22
3,927 41
141,532 75
1893
1894
10,847
2,583
3,126
5,677,800
3,708,975 3,874,625
10,082,100 10,796,350
637,815
11,434,165
15 20
154,992 74
5,581 48
6,877 50
9,865 44
3,664 11
180,981 27
1806
1897
12,520
2,145
3,673
7,143,950
4,306,650
11,450,600
758,215
12.208,815-
15 60
165,521 31
6,877 50
9,307 02
3,915 46
197,803 50
1897
1898
12,630
3,212
3,690
7,430,000
4,320,895
11,750,895
724,249 12,475,144
16 70
187,636 69
6,645 00
11,018 42
3,314 37
215,714 90
1898
....
......
-
. .
547,974
73,894
621,868
1851
335
....
1,323
1,772
2,585,014
4,667,650 5,171,950
430,088
5,602,038
14 00
72,350 50
5,895 00
2,756 47
1,414 56
82,416 53
1887
1888
7,535
1,674
2,134
6,022,130
413,490
6,435,620
13 60'
79,552 69
5,880 00
4,558 50
1,923 21
01,914 40
1889
1890
1,911
2,321
4,733 83
1,536 56
96,751 19
1890
1891
8,127 8,827 9,539
2,032
2,412
2,836
3,361
6,207,475
556,650
14 80
187,973 25
5,581 48
5,895 00
9,307 02
5,418 73
164,175 48
1895
1896
12,314
3,022
3,591
6,786,100
4,010,250
395,415 403,750
5,071,400
13 60
65,306 23
3,930 00
2,362 69
1,112 12
72,711 04
1886
1887
7,073
1,580
1,994
3,340,250
326,003 3,666,3433 204,384 3,650,384
15 00
51,861 55
1,190 00
1,719 22
2,630 37
57,401 14
1879
1880
4,443
1,001
1,195
1881
4,508
1,014
1,226
1,747,950
1,628,250
4,100,225
368,37G 369,713
4,469,938
13 80
56,777 52
4,440 00
2,042 40
1,639 21
64,899 13
1884
1872
. .
706
917
3,007,928
645,742
3,653,670
16 50
3,660 00
2,122 32
64,042 46
1872
1,511,624
283,682
1,795,306
16 00
8,950 00
1,594 05
30,490 90
1867
1868
586
...
. .
1895
9,924,873 10,638,750
14 20
123,852 57
4,041 90
6,580 00
7,195 97
5,514 76
147,185 20
1894
144 25
47,545 61
3,570 00
1,793 96
1,498 40
54,407 97
1880
18855
6,110
3,999,375 4,272,025
369,630 6,724,705
13 70
85,335 80
5,145 00
12,182 21 7,100 42
1850
420
11,651
COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
TAXES OF 1891.
Uncollected as per last report,
$94 32
Interest collected, 6 91
$101 23
Abatements,
72 00
$29 23
Collected and paid treasurer,
13 23
Uncollected January 1, 1899,
$16 00
TAXES of 1892.
Uncollected as per last report,
$960 16
Additional,
4 74
Interest collected,
15 78
$980 68
Abatements,
930 35
Collected and paid treasurer, .
$50 33
6 72
Uncollected January 1, 1899,
$43 61
170
COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
TAXES OF 1893.
Uncollected as per last report,
$206 14
Interest collected,
7 38
$213 52
Abatements,
37 32
176 20
Collected and paid treasurer, .
72 28
Uncollected January I, 1899,
$103 92
TAXES OF 1894.
Uncollected as per last report,
$398 82
Additional,
3 77
Interest collected,
II 25
$413 84
Abatements,
69 36
$344 48
Collected and paid treasurer, .
135 60
Uncollected January 1, 1899,
$208 88
TAXES OF 1895.
Uncollected as per last report,
$1,732 96
Interest collected,
32 49
Amount carried forward,
$1,765 45
171
COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
Amount brought forward,
$1,765 45
Abatements, 21 85
$1,743 60
Collected and paid treasurer, .
491 68
Uncollected January I, 1899, . $1,251 92
TAXES OF 1896.
Uncollected as per last report,
$17,088 95
Additional,
5 04
Interest collected,
1,378 22
$18,472 21
Abatements,
204 83
$18,267 38
Collected and paid treasurer, . 16,704 60
Uncollected January 1, 1899, . $1,562 78
TAXES OF 1897.
Uncollected as per last report,
$98,799 62
Additionals,
349 0I
Interest,
3,892 75
$103,041 38
Abatements,
731 83
Collected and paid treasurer, .
$102,309 55
99,546 10
Uncollected January 1, 1899,
$2,763 45
172
COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
STREET SPRINKLING.
Assessed on abutters in 1896,
$1,137 71
Collected and paid treasurer,
1,015 52
Uncollected January 1, 1899,
$122 19
Assessed on abutters in 1897,
$3,374 60
Collected and paid treasurer,
2,830 28
Uncollected January 1, 1899, $544 32
ADDISON LANE, Collector 1890 to 1897.
TAXES OF 1898.
Amount of warrant, .
$215,714 90
Additional,
650 30
Interest collected,
182 28
$216,547 48
Abatements,
1,343 33
$215,204 15
Collected and paid treasurer,
108,012 15
Uncollected January I, 1899,
$107,192 00
Street sprinkling:
Assessed on abutters in 1898,
$3,046 80
Abated,
26 40
Amount carried forward, $3,020 40
173
COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
Amount brought forward,. $3,020 40
Collected and paid treasurer, 1,81I 28
Uncollected January 1, 1899,
$1,209 12
SEWER ASSESSMENT.
Collected and paid to treasurer, $46,336 00
JAMES W. MURRAY, Collector, 1898.
REPORT OF HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
MELROSE, December 31st, 1898.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
GENTLEMEN :- I herewith submit the following report of work on the highways, for the year ending December 31st, 1898:
Amount of pay rolls and bills paid by the treasurer,
on account of highway department, as per re- report of town auditor,
$28,143 26
Receipts credited to following accounts :
Snow removal, amt. returned from pay rolls, ... $18 00 66 received from St. railways, 1,988 78
Crusher, amount received, stone and loam sold, 368 90
66 allowance on castings, 28 20
Steam roller, amount received, City of Medford, 528 00
Granite crossings, “ C. B. & F. H. Goss, 9 75
Flag pole, 66 contingent fund, . 69 00
Sidewalks,
sidewalk 188 49
Catch baisins and drains, amt. recd. S. D. Farrar, 3 75
Concrete crossings, amt. recd. sewer departm't, 31 00
Cleaning streets, for street dirt, .. 11 40
N. E. Telephone Co., “ .
" labor, . .....
10 56
3,255 83
Net amount expended as per street report,
$24,887 43
175
HIGHWAY REPORT.
Streets.
Loads Gravel.
Loads Cr'h'd Stone.
Cost of Materials.
Cost of Labor and Teams.
Total Cost.
Appleton,
3
$2.25
.88
$3.13
Bartlett, .
.82
.82
Bellevue avenue, .
1
3
2.35
1.33
3.68
Belmont,
28.25
28.25
Berwick,
20
15.00
16.13
31.13
Botolph,
1
.75
.44
1.19
Cass,
22
13.65
13.65
Cedar park, plank walk,
29
4
3.00
11.29
14.29
Chester, bridge,
1.00
1.00
Cottage,
12
9.00
7.56
16.56
Crystal, (163 loads filling,)
206
4.30
122.42
126.72
Catch basins and drains,
585.35
748.06
1,333.41
Culverts and bridges,
167.99
91.77
259.76
Cleaning brooks, .
171.37
171.37
66 catch basins,
309.63
309.63
66
streets, .
1,568.51
1,568.51
Crossings, concrete, (contract,)
132.59
132.59
granite,
527.58
248.13
775.71
Dell avenue,
18.88
18.88
Day street,
1
.10
6.00
6.10
Emerson street, extension west ..
303.14
303.14
.6 Myrtle to R. R.
1,112
834.00
703.41
1,537.41
. .
repairs,.
29
21.75
13.58
35.33
Essex
..
12
29
22.95
39.47
62.42
Everett
7
5.25
5.71
10.96
Florence
2
28
21.20
17.30
38.50
Foster street, R.R. to Maple, W.
. .
271
203.25
154.15
357.40
. .
.
-
Amounts carried forward, . . 273 1,519 $2,426.07 $5,523.98 $7,950.05
. .
11.12
11.12
Cleaveland,
crossings,
777.39
777.39
176
HIGHWAY REPORT.
Streets.
Loads Gravel.
Loads Cr'h'd Stone.
Cost of Materials.
Cost of Labor and Teaming.
Total Cost.
Amounts brought forward,
273
1,519 $2,426.07 $5,523.98 $7,950.05
Foster, R. R. east to Myrtle,
33
123
95.55
91.28
186.83
east of Main, .
86
. .
. .
..
44.03
44.03
Franklin, R. R. east to Ash-
land,.
. .
449
336.75
370.10
706.85
Franklin, Ashland to Main, .
308
30.80
132.53
163.33
R. R. west,
48
36.00
29.63
65.63
Francis,
3.50
3.50
Green,
150
709
546.75
731.51
1,278.26
Grove,.
99
74.25
55.43
129.68
Highland avenue,
6
10
8.10
9.02
17.12
Herbert,
9
1
1.65
10.25
11.90
Harvard,
84
28.51
28.51
Hurd,.
7
5.25
5.62
10.87
Lake avenue.
55
45
39.25
83.75
123.00
Lebanon,
13
29
23.05
67.49
90.54
Linden, sidewalk $13.45, . ...
30
2
1.50
18.45
19.95
Linwood avenue,
163
661
512.05
284.90
796.95
Lynde,
44
98
77.90
47.24
125.14
Main,
4
384
288.40
284.07
572.47
sidewalk to Fells,
...
72.25
72.25
.. fencing,
3.39
4.95
8.34
Maple, material from Emer-
son and Tremont,
1,411
7.00
636.24
643.24
Melrose, plank walk,
4.66
4.75
9.41
Meridian,
43
5
8.05
37.37
45.42
Myrtle,
4
3.00
1.50
4.50
Mystic avenue,
4
3.00
1.00
4.00
Orris,
7
5.25
3.69
8.94
Otis,
6
10
8.10
5.99
14.09
Pleasant,.
69
200
156.90
215.80
372.70
..
.
.
Amounts carried forward,. 2,787
4,414 $4,702.67 $8,804.83 $13,507.50
.....
177
HIGHWAY REPORT.
Streets.
Loads Gravel.
Loads Cr'h'd Stone.
Cost of Materials.
Cost of Labor and Teaming.
Total Cost.
Amounts brought forward . . .
2,787
4,414 $4,702.67 $8,804.83 $13,507.50
Porter
4
3.00
5.87
8.87
Rowe
2
23
244
204.36
653.41
857.77
Repairs, damaged by storm. Sanford .
2
. .
. . .
1.00
1.00
Sewer department.
18
18.00
11.00
29.00
Sewall's Woods Road
15
11.25
27.62
38.87
Street signs .
3.50
3.50
Summer street, fencing
1.71
1.71
Snow, removal of .
4,415.30
4,415.30
Sylvan .
82
8.20
106.46
114.66
Swain's Pond avenue
55
41.25
43.12
84.37
Third
585
. .
58.50
317.81
376.31
Tremont, Deering's to park
1,033
774.75
455.51
1,230.26
Emerson to Lake av.
437
327.75
271.10
598.85
.. Lake av. to Deering's
63
124
99.30
181.74
281.04
Trees, trimm'g and remov'g
....
142.23
142.23
Upham, Main to Lebanon ..
609
456.75
423.19
879.94
Upham, Lebanon east .
29
21.75
70.86
92.61
Upham, fencing
8.84
.....
8.84
Vine
89
66.75
66.88
133.63
Vinton
47
16
14.00
50.18
64.18
Warren
1
.75
.50
1.25
Winthrop
4
3.00
1.87
4.87
Walnut.
...
4
3.00
2.56
5.56
Wyoming avenue, Pleasant to Cottage
12
424
319.20
283.28
602.48
Wyoming ave., Cottage west
40
92
73.00
104.78
177.78
Wyoming ave., fencing
3.87
3.87
tWyoming Cemetery
*133
40.04
40.04
Paving gutters
6
4.50
718.10
722.60
3,776 7,618 $7,225.98$17,203.61 $24,429.59
Amount carried forward,
$24,429.59
t To be paid in stone.
* Loam.
12
. .
.20
.50
.70
178
HIGHWAY REPORT.
Amount brought forward, $24,429 59 James Marshall, salary Dec. 15, 1897, to Dec.
31, 1898, 1,041 63
James Marshall, for use of horse, 102 00
W. H. Preble, making report, 1897, 70 00
Expense acct., books, stationery and stamps, . 27 61
Tool acct., blacksmithing, sharpening and re- pairs, 124 91
Tool acct., tools bought,
156 39
16 hose, 28 00
High school building, sand, 14 00
$25,994 13
Less balance in stable account :
Town teams have earned @ $1.75 per day for each horse actually employed, and the street acct. has been charged in the above report with the teams at that rate,
. $2,342 39
Cost to town:
Hay, grain and straw, . $620 15
Blacksmithing, shoeing, 102 57
Repairs, carts,
38 75
6 ploughs,
16 75
horse roller,
35 00
road machine,
32 45
Painting five carts,
43 08
Stable supplies,
19 06
Care of stable,
176 50
Rent of stable,
60 00
One double runner sled, 30 00
New spreaders and chains,
8 00
Five street blankets,
23 03
Medicine and attendance,
30 35
$1,235 69
$1,106 70
Net amount expended, .
$24,887 43
179
HIGHWAY REPORT.
GRANITE CROSSINGS.
Fifteen new crossings built and three re-laid, located as follows :
Lin. feet Granite
Pavings
Used 70
330
66
70
350
..
42
296
..
٠٠
Goss Bros
٠٠
*II
400
. 6
Myrtle.
43
300
Franklin
Chipman avenue
54
300
..
Ashland, re-laid
..
. .
. .
..
Albion,
..
. .
. . .
..
Belmont ..
..
54.6
24I
Main
..
Franklin
..
46.2
15I
..
Winthrop, re-laid.
..
.
...
Green
Main.
45
152
Vine
..
Essex
56
296
Foster
..
Myrtle
70
390
Myrtle
..
Foster, N
56
400
..
66
S
. .
51
400
..
.. Herbert.
..
*
4
261
Dell avenue,
Upham
53
350
* New stone.
Balance used was short stones from old crossings.
SARGENT STREET DRAIN.
Ordered by vote of the town. This drain was built of 12 in. and 15 in. pipe from Highland avenue to the brook at Albion street.
Built three large catch basins at Highland avenue and Sargent street, and connected same with 8 and 10 in. pipe.
Tremont street, at Emerson.
Essex
Willow
..
..
..
180
HIGHWAY REPORT.
Cost of labor and material, $477 22
In addition we put in one catch basin on Briggs street and three large ones on Franklin street and connected them with main drain, using 8 in. and 10 in. pipe ; also took up and re- laid pipe to three old catch basins at a cost of 115 23
Total cost of drains and connections, . $592 45
STOCK AND TOOLS.
24 shovels, round point.
34 square
4 long handle. ..
4 spoons, post pole.
I set sharpening tools.
I blacksmith forge.
I battery.
I road machine.
I steam roller.
I sectional iron roller.
5 horses.
3 single carts.
I double cart.
3 grub hoes.
13 snow plows.
7 rakes, iron.
3 iron gutter plows.
II stone hammers.
I double runner sled.
I paving ١١
I wagon jack.
I barrel cart.
3 sets cart harness.
I set double “
[ " four horse reins.
3 " traces.
I stone crushing plant. I steam drill and tools.
15 feet steam hose.
15 crowbars.
IO picks.
10 pick handles.
2 tamp-bars.
I spade.
8 hoes. I paving rammer, wood.
I iron.
14 steel points. 6 chisels. 7 hand drills.
I iron dog. 5 axes.
181
HIGHWAY REPORT.
2 hand saws.
I level.
2 scythes and snaths.
I extension ladder.
18 push brooms.
8 wheelbarrows.
3 screens.
150 feet 34 in. hose.
14 lanterns.
I box hammer handles.
I iron square.
I express saddle. 5 · street blankets.
5 stable
5 halters.
I five-gallon oil can.
2 crotch chains. I pipe cleaner. 100 feet 3 in. hose.
5 whiffletrees.
116 feet 24 in. drain pipe. 3 striking hammers.
JAMES MARSHALL,
Superintendent of Streets, Melrose, Mass.
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
1
MELROSE, Dec. 31, 1898.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to submit the annual report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1898.
During the past year there has been received from the court for fines imposed ( after deducting the town's propor- tionate share for the transfer of prisoners from the court room to Cambridge ) the sum of seven hundred and fifty- six dollars and fifty-four cents.
Appropriation for 1898,
$9,675 00 Balance from 1897,
1 58
Received from court fines,
756 54
$10,433 12
Expended during the year, 1898,
$10,519 22
Deficit, . .
.
86 10
183
POLICE REPORT.
Cases brought Before the Court.
Assault,
IO
By-Laws,
2
Bastardy,
4
Breaking and entering,
4
Cruelty to animals,
2
Disturbing the peace,
II
Disturbing religious meeting,
2
Defrauding boarding house,
.
I
Drunks, .
I30
Default warrants,
2
Exposing person, .
I
Embezzlement,
I
Forgery,
I
Keeping and exposing,
Larceny,
Lewd and lacivious,
I
Non-support,
5
Poisoning animals,
2
Riding on sidewalk,
5
Refusing to assist officer,
I
Search warrants,
14
Threats,
.
I
Vagrancy,
7
Miscellaneous Work Done by the Department.
Patients conveyed to the Danvers hospital,
4
..
..
Melrose ..
8
..
.6
..
16 Boston
I
..
..
.. .. Melrose almshouse,
3
.
4 I4
.
.
.
184
POLICE REPORT.
Insane person taken and delivered to relatives, . I
Suicides taken care of, . 2
Persons killed on railroad and taken to undertakers, . 3
Dr. J. S. Clark to attend persons in lockup,
4
Dr. E. S. Jack "
I
Arrested for out of town officers,
5
Lodgers accommodated,
1,598
Wagon calls answered, .
67
Cards put up for board of health,
126
Persons assisted home,
7
Arc lights reported out,
IOI
Small lights " ..
623
Doors found unlocked,
39
Defects in streets reported,
42
" sidewalk
15
Disturbances suppressed,
24
Cases investigated,
38
Lanterns hung in dangerous places,
31
Water breaks reported,
27
Gas leaks
15 2
Horses killed,
Dogs, ..
9
Wires reported down,
15
Lost children taken care of,
IO
Stray horses cared for
·
6 92
Fire alarms given,
.
4
Accidents attended to on the street, . 7
Stolen property recovered and returned to owner $500.00 worth.
Fires attended, 33
Officers at fires,
79
.
Notices delivered,
185
POLICE REPORT.
During the past year there have been but four cases of . breaking and entering reported. The parties doing the same were apprehended, and are now serving their sen- tences.
The sickness has been more than usual, one officer being absent six and one-half months.
I would again call the attention of the town to the necessity of providing some other place for the accommoda- tion of the "lodgers." Fifteen hundred and ninety-eight have been put up during the last year, and the condition of some of them has left the lock-up in a condition that makes the offices over it in a bad state for occupancy.
I would respectfully recommend the appointment of a day officer in the Highlands district, as mentioned in the report of last year. There have been four officers on duty Sunday afternoons, and the order of the town has been very much benefited by it.
The calls for the ambulance and patrol wagon have been more than last year, and have been attended to as quickly as possible.
I wish to thank the board of selectmen for their help and advice, also every member of the force for their promptness and willingness to assist when called upon.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK M. MCLAUGHLIN, Chief.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
MELROSE, Jan. 1, 1899.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
This is my ninth annual report. Whole number of build- ing permits granted to August Ist, 1898, 28, comprising 27 dwellings and I stable.
DEXTER PRATT,
Inspector of Buildings.
MELROSE, Jan. 1, 1899.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
This is my first annual report. Whole number of building permits granted from August Ist, 1898, 15, mostly for dwell- ings. There have been two granted for stables, each for one horse.
I have had repaired 27 chimneys that were not fire proof.
W. A. GOODNO,
Inspector of Buildings.
Statistics of Births, Marriages and Deaths,
REGISTERED IN THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE FOR THE YEAR 1898.
Births.
Marriages.
Deaths.
January,
31
9
13
February,
35
9
12
March,
20
8
24
April,
24
12
23
May,
23
4
22
June,
22
19
13
July,
19
7
13
August,
30
5
II
September,
24
I3
16
October,
34
I4
17
November,
19
I4
13
December,
21
4
2I
302
118
198
BIRTHS.
Number registered,
302
More than last year,
18
Males,
142
Females,
160
302
Born in Melrose,
290
" elsewhere,
12
.
302
188
TOWN CLERK'S STATISTICS.
Born of American parents,
106
" foreign parents, 119
.. " American father and foreign mother, 25
.. " foreign father and American mother, 52
302
INTENTIONS OF MARRIAGE RECORDED.
Number of couples, IIO
Both residing in Melrose, 55
But one residing in Melrose, . 54
Neither residing in Melrose, . I
IIO
MARRIAGES.
Whole number of couples registered, . I18
Less than last year, 22
Both parties American, .
5
Both parties foreign,
31
American and foreign, 32
118
DEATHS.
Whole number registered,
198
More than last year,
18
Males (married)
37
Females (married),
39
Widowers,
17
Widows, .
37
Males (single),
16
Females (single),
8
Male children,
27
Female children,
17
198
189
TOWN CLERK'S STATISTICS.
Stillborn and premature,
10
Under I year, .
27
From I to 5 years,
1 6
5 to 10
0
.. IO to 20 .+
9
.. 20 to 30
I3
.. 30 to 40 ..
15
.. 40 to 50
IO
.. 50 to 60 ..
24
60 to 70 ..
26
70 to 80 ..
27
80 to 90
29
Over 90
2
198
DOGS LICENSED DURING YEAR 1898.
Males,
442
Females,
39
Total,
48 1
AMOUNTS PAID TREASURER MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
June 2, 1898, .
$434 00
December 5, 1898,
571 80
$1,005 80
190
TOWN CLERK'S STATISTICS.
AUCTIONEERS' LICENSES.
Sidney H. Buttrick,
Expires J nuary
1, 1899
John C. Hatch,
66
February I,
Rufus D. Kilgore,
.. February 8, ٠١
Royal B. Leighton,
66 February IO,
Edwin S. Small,
١١
March
15, ..
Charles C. Swett,
March
15,
William R. Lavender,
..
April 6, 6.
William A. Burrell,
..
April
15,
Fred T. Kimball,
May
14, ..
Harry A. Batchelder,
..
May
I,
Fred E. Everett,
66
May
24,
Henry A. Leonard,
..
June
20,
George W. Burke,
June 21, ..
Moses F. Eastman,
..
August 6, ..
Stephen A. Lovejoy,
..
October I, ..
Charles W. Ellison,
..
December 19, ..
CARRIAGE LICENSES.
A. L. Cheever,
Expires July 1, 1899
F. H. Cheever,
J. H. L. Anderson,
J. H. L. Anderson,
W. W. Boardman & Co.,
. .
..
W. W. Boardman & Co.,
Philip S. Keating,
16
16
..
.. .6
..
..
..
191
TOWN CLERK'S STATISTICS.
Philip S. Keating, H. D. Wheaton, Mack C. Gallant,
Mack C. Gallant,
Expires July 1, 1899
٠٠ 66
6 ..
.. ..
JURORS DRAWN DURING THE YEAR.
Frederic W. Belyea,
Edward J. Norris,
September 6, 1898 6 .6 October 3,
George S. Lassell,
Henry W. Sawyer,
Calvin W. Sawyer,
March
I
Albon W. Parker,
66
Charles M. Field,
June 3, 66
Alfred T. Lunt,
February I,
REPORT OF THE BOARD
OF
WATER COMMISSIONERS
OF THE
TOWN OF MELROSE, MASS ..
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1898.
MELROSE : DUNTON & POTTER, PRINTERS, REPORTER OFFICE. 1899.
13
TOWN OF MELROSE, MASS.
WATER DEPARTMENT.
COMMISSIONERS :
GEORGE L. MORSE. CURTIS C. GOSS. FRANCIS W. HUNT.
REGISTRAR : S. A. LOVEJOY.
SUPERINTENDENT :
JAMES W. RILEY.
Report of the Water Commissioners
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1898.
To the Citizens of Melrose :
Your commissioners respectfully submit their twenty- eighth annual report, with reports of water registrar and superintendent.
COLLECTIONS.
Our collections for water rates, exclusively, amount to $41,411.41, the largest ever made by this department, and a gain over last year of $2,017.45. Had the business of the year 1898 been conducted on the same basis as that of the previous year we would have shown a surplus of $19,347.95, which would have been $3,382.86 more than we placed in the sinking fund for the year 1897. But under the metro- politan system, of which we are now a part, we are required by law to pay all expenses, including all money expended for construction, from our receipts. Whereas, under the old system we sold bonds, and from their proceeds paid all ex- penses incurred for construction account. As our construc- tion account for the past year was $4,726.77 our surplus is reduced that amount. To offset this, however, we are not increasing our debt.
196
WATER REPORT.
After deducting from our receipts the sums expended for construction, maintenance and interest on bonds, we have a net surplus on hand of $14,621.06. Under the metropoli- tan law the town will decide at the next annual town meet- ing what shall be done with this sum.
WATER RATES.
Your commissioners still continue to receive complaints regarding water rates. They are thought by some to be excessive, considering the amount we are placing in the sinking fund, and the fact that we shall probably soon receive quite a sum from the state in settlement of damages.
The question of water rates was never more important than now. Under the metropolitan law the water commis- sioners, with the approval of the selectmen, determine the rates. Acting under this law, as stated in our last year's report, after careful consideration, your commissioners de- cided that it would be very unwise to reduce our rates until, at least, we know the sum we shall receive from the state. We submit herewith, for your consideration, the reasons for such decision.
On January 1, 1898, our water debt was $257,000, with $31,158.54 in the sinking fund. For the next few years bonds to the amount of $10,000 per annum will be maturing every year. While our profits the past two years have been large, they will from this time-unless our receipts increase -continually decrease every year, until in seven years there will be substantially none. The reason for this is, that our state tax in support of the metropolitan system will increase about $2,000 every year-the past year it was $3,332.94- until it reaches the sum of $15,000 or $16,000, which is now estimated will be our share of the ultimate yearly tax. We
197
WATER REPORT.
eliminate from the question the amount we may receive from the state in settlement of damages until we receive the same, it being at present an entirely unknown quantity. Moreover
THE NEW RESERVOIR
now being constructed by the state will probably be finished and in use by July I of the present year. This will cause so great an increase of pressure that we shall be compelled the relay much of the old cement lined pipes during the coming spring, which will necessitate a very large additional expenditure.
Under these circumstances your commissioners unani- mously agreed that the water rates should not be reduced at present. They are still of this opinion, and believe that their decision will meet with your approval.
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