USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1898 > Part 8
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500,655
9,400,130 9,924,873
1-1 40
121,014 98
1,649 14
8,225 00
6,716 22
3,927 41
141,532 75
147,185 20
1804
1895
11,651
2,836
1,994
3,075,925
2,134
3,360,950
6,355,075 7,372,025
369,630
6,724,705
13 70
85,335 80
5,145 00
4,733 83
1,536 56
96,751 19
1890
1891
8,827
2,032
4,410 00
4,738 83
1,779 04
114,984 74
1891
405,690
7,777,715
144 20
104,061 87
3,930 00
2,362 69
1,112 12
72,711 04
1880
1887
7,073
1,580
5,895 00
2,756 47
1,414 56
82,416 53
1887
5,602,038
14 00
72,350 50
1,190 00
1,719 22
2,630 37
57,401 14
1879
326,093
3,666,343
403,750 430,088
5,071,400
13 00
65,306 23
1888
7,535
1,674
335
547,974
73,894
621,868
1851
1803
123,852 57
4,041 90
6,580 G0
7,195 97
5,514 76
21,150 87
1804
645,742
3,653,670
15 00
51,861 55
8,950 00
1,594 05
1856
1
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 I, 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
I71
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 I, 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
$102,309 55
Collected and paid treasurer, .
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 1, 1899,
$107,192 00
Street sprinkling:
Assessed on abutters in 1898, . $3,046 80
Åbated,
26 40
Amount carried forward, $3,020 40
I73
COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
Amount brought forward,. $3,020 40
Collected and paid treasurer, 1,8II 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 :- , 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
received from St. railways, 1,988 78
Crusher, amount received, stone and loam sold, 368 90
28 20
allowance on castings, Steam roller, amount received, City of Medford, 528 00
Granite crossings, “
C. B. & F. H. Goss, 9 75
Flag pole, ٠٠ 6. 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., " 66 " 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,
11.12
11.12
Cleaveland,
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
catch basins,
309.63
309.63
crossings,
777.39
777.39
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
٠٠
.. 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
176
HIGHWAY REPORT.
Streets.
Loads Gravel.
Loads Cr'h'd Stone.
Cost of Materials.
Cast 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
66
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,
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
. .
99
74.25
55.43
129.68
Highland avenue,
. .
.
·
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
.
.20
.50
.70
Repairs, damaged by storm.
23
244
204.36
653.41
857.77
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
+ To be paid in stone.
* Loam.
....
..
. .
....
.
..
12
178
HIGHWAY REPORT.
Amount brought forward, $24,429 59 James Marshall, salary Dec. 15, 1897, to Dec.
31, 1898, 1,04I 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
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
١١ 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
Tremont street, at Emerson
Used 70
330
Essex
66
..
Willow
42
296
..
*II
400
..
Myrtle.
..
43
300
Franklin
66
Chipman avenue
١٠
. .
. . .
..
..
. ..
..
Belmont ..
54.6
241
Main
..
Franklin
46.2
151
66
..
Winthrop, re-laid.
..
..
.
..
Main.
45
152
Vine
..
Essex
56
296
Foster
..
Myrtle.
70
390
Myrtle
..
Foster, N
..
56
400
6.
..
5I
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.
70
350
..
Goss Bros.
54
300
..
Ashland, re-laid.
..
Albion,
Green
..
٠٠
S
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.
15 feet steam hose.
4 spoons, post pole.
I set sharpening tools.
15 crowbars.
I blacksmith forge.
IO picks.
I battery.
IO pick handles.
I road machine.
2 tamp-bars.
I steam roller.
I spade.
I sectional iron roller.
8 hoes.
5 horses.
I paving rammer, wood.
3 single carts.
I iron.
I double cart.
3 grub hoes.
13 snow plows.
3 iron gutter plows.
I double runner sled.
I paving
I wagon jack.
I barrel cart.
14 steel points. 6 chisels.
3 sets cart harness.
7 hand drills.
I set double
" four horse reins.
I iron dog. I 5 axes. 3 " traces.
I stone crushing plant. I steam drill and tools.
7 rakes, iron.
. II stone hammers.
181
HIGHWAY REPORT.
2 hand saws.
I express saddle.
I -level.
5 street blankets.
2 scythes and snaths.
5 stable
5 halters.
18 push brooms.
8 wheelbarrows.
3 screens.
I 50 feet 34 in. hose.
14 lanterns.
I box hammer handles.
I iron square.
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.
I extension ladder.
I five-gallon oil can.
2 crotch chains.
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
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,
I 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,
4
Larceny,
14
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
..
..
.6 Melrose ٠١ 8
.. Boston ١١
I
..
.. .. Melrose almshouse, 3
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,
I 26
Persons assisted home,
7
Arc lights reported out,
IOI
Small lights ..
623
Doors found unlocked,
39
Defects in streets reported,
42
" " sidewalk
I5
Disturbances suppressed,
24
Cases investigated,
38
Lanterns hung in dangerous places,
31
Water breaks reported,
27
Gas leaks
15
Horses killed,
2
Dogs,
9
Wires reported down,
I5
Lost children taken care of,
IO
Stray horses cared for .
6
Notices delivered,
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
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
I3
February,
35
9
12
March,
20
8
24
April,
24
12
23
May,
23
4
22
June,
22
19
13
July,
19
7
I3
August,
30
5
II
September,
24
13
16
October,
34
14
17
November,
19
14
13
December,
21
4
21
302
118
198
BIRTHS.
Number registered,
302
More than last year,
18
Males,
142
Females,
160
302
Born in Melrose,
290
elsewhere,
I2
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, .
118
Less than last year, 22
Both parties American, .
55
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,
IO
Under I year, . .
27
From I to 5 years,
6
IO to 20
9
20 to 30
13
.. 30 to 40 ١٠
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,
481
AMOUNTS PAID TREASURER MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
June 2, 1898, . $434 00
December 5, 1898, 571 80
$1,005 80
5 to 10
0
190
TOWN CLERK'S STATISTICS.
AUCTIONEERS' LICENSES.
Sidney H. Buttrick,
Expires January 1, 1899
John C. Hatch,
February I,
Rufus D. Kilgore,
٠٠ February 8, ٠١
Royal B. Leighton,
February 10, ..
Edwin S. Small,
.. March 15, ..
Charles C. Swett,
..
March 15,
William R. Lavender,
April 6, ١١
William A. Burrell,
April
I5, ..
Fred T. Kimball,
May
14, ..
Harry A. Batchelder,
٠٠
May
I,
Fred E. Everett,
66
May
24,
Henry A. Leonard,
June
20,
George W. Burke,
.6
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,
..
..
66
W. W. Boardman & Co.,
..
..
..
W. W. Boardman & Co.,
66
66
Philip S. Keating,
..
..
..
٠٠
191
TOWN CLERK'S STATISTICS.
Philip S. Keating, H. D. Wheaton, Mack C. Gallant,
Mack C. Gallant,
Expires July 1, 1899
.
.. ..
.. .. ..
JURORS DRAWN DURING THE YEAR.
Frederic W. Belyea,
September 6, 1898
Edward J. Norris,
George S. Lassell,
October 3,
Henry W. Sawyer,
66 16
Calvin W. Sawyer,
March I ..
Albon W. Parker,
Charles M. Field,
June 3,
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.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE L. MORSE, CURTIS C. GOSS, FRANCIS W. HUNT,
Water Commissioners.
198
TABLE OF COMPARATIVE WATER RATES.
CITY OR TOWN.
For First Faucet.
Addition a Faucets.
Bath Tubs.
Water Closets.
Hand Hose.
METER RATES.
Special.
Arlington.
$6 00
$2 00
$5 00
$5 00
$3 00
Amherst ..
.......
. .
4 00
4 00
5 00
Brookline ..
. .
.... .
....
.....
... ·
1833c. per 1,000 gallons, $5 to $45 ann. rent of meter.
Brockton ...
5 00
1 50
4 00
4 00
6 00
25c. per 1,000 gallons, $1.40 to $6.30 ann. rent meter. 50c. per 1.000 gallons.
Bridgewater.
8 00
2 00
5 00
5 00
6 00
Cambridge.
4 00
2 00
4 00
3 00
5 00
20c. per 1,000 gallons.
Chicopee ...
...
.. .
6 00
2 00
4 00
5 00
5
00
Dedham ..
6 00
2 00
00
5
00
5 00
Danvers ..
6 00
1 00
5
00
5
00
3 00
Framingham.
7 50
2 50
00
5
00
5 00
33c. per 1,000 gallons.
Fitchburg. .
6 00
2 00
3
00
5 00
5 00
Hyde Park.
6 00
2 00
5 00
5
00
5 00
8 00
.....
4 00
4 00
5 00
Nantucket ..
10 00
. . .
5 00
5 00
6 25
5 00
1 00
3 00
3 00
4 00
20c. per 1,000 gallons.
Lexington ..
8
00
2 00
4 00
4 00
6 00
5 00
.....
3 00
4 00
5 00
6 00
2 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
6 00
2 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
6 00
2 00
5 00
5 00
3 00
Newton.
.. ..
Natick
4 00
1 00
6 00
6 00
5 00
New Bedford.
6 50
2 00
4 00
5 00
5 00
Quincy ..
6 00
2 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
Revere ...
6 00
2 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
Stoughton.
6 00
2 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
Salem ..
8 00
4 00
4 00
5 00
5 00
2 00
3 00
5 00
5 00
25c. per 1,000 gallons, $10 annual rent of meter.
Taunton ..
6 00
2 00
5 00
5 00
5 00 25c. per 1,000 gallons.
Woburn ..
6 00
2 00
5 00
5 00
3 00
$36 to $100 annual rent of meter.
5 00
1 00
3 00
3 00
6 00
Waltham.
.. .
...
6 00
2 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
Weymouth
6 00
2 00
5 00
5 00
3 09
30c. per 1,000 gallons.
Worcester.
6 00
..
. ..
5 00
4 00
5 00
25c. per 1,000 gallons.
Melrose ..
5 00
1 00
4 00
4 00
3 00
..
....
.. .
. .... ..........
......
...
..
.....
5 00
5
00
30c., and below, per 1,000 gallons.
Springfield .
.....
.
...
If estimated water is furnished, it is 30c. per 1,000 gallons.
WATER REPORT.
...
.....
..
. ..
.... .
.... . . .......
Special.
. . . .. ....... ...
..
.. .. ......
Special.
...
20c. per 1,000 gallons.
Leominster.
...
30c. to 40c. per 1,000 gallons.
30c. per 1,000 gallons.
Middleboro
. .
. ...
. ....
25c. to 35c. per 1,000 gallons, $10 ann. rent of meter. 20c. to 25c. per 1,000 gallons.
25c. per 1,000 gallons.
25c. to 30c. per 1,000 gallons, $20 ann. rent of meter. 30c. per 1,CÓ0 gallons.
30c. per 1,000 gallons.
Wakefield.
...
...
26c. per 1,000 gallons, $10 annual rent of meter. Special.
Watertown
.
. .
...
·
3 00
Medford ...
6 00
Marblehead.
25c. per 1,000 gallons, $15 annual rental of meter.
Malden.
6 00
2 00
3 00
4 00
5 00
20c. per 1,000 gallons.
Concord ..
30c. per 1,000 gallons. Special.
....
8 00
Special.
20c. per 1,000 gallons, $2 to $8 annual rent of meter.
*Boston ...
...
.
6 00
5
5
35c. per 1,000 gallons. Special.
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