City of Melrose annual report 1912, Part 5

Author: Melrose (Mass.)
Publication date: 1912
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 296


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In order that the citizens may get the full benefit of the Log Cabin, the Trustees have made extensive repairs and it is now in excellent condition. It has been frequently used dur- ing the past summer and fall by the young people of the two cities, who evidently have enjoyed the novelty of meeting within its log-built walls, as many parties from lodge and church have engaged it for their out-of-door twilight gather- ings.


It is very gratifying to the Trustees to note that hundreds of people who on Sundays and other days, even when the at- mosphere has become chilled by the cooler winds of the fall


80


CITY OF MELROSE


and winter, are visiting the Park, apparently to see the birds and animals, and the Trustees are desirous of making it even more alluring, if that may be, and to this end have dredged and dammed the pond thus furnishing a larger area for the ducks and geese, which to many are an attraction.


The large use of the Park necessarily entails additional labor and care on the part of the Superintendent, but Mr. George H. Cray has given the same satisfactory service that he has in the past.


Each year some special need receives the attention of the Trustees, and what has been for some time a break in the otherwise green bank of trees on the Main Street side, has been planted with shrubs, which will hold the earth and thus com- plete the line of green on this public thoroughfare.


The attack of the Gypsy and Brown Tailed Moths caused the loss of many beautiful trees in the past and the expendi- ture of many thousands of dollars, but the Trustees are follow- ing what they consider a wise policy of constant vigilance with no attempt to retrench.in this direction, believing that these pests should be removed at any cost, and we are now gratified in reporting that the grounds are very clear and that no trees are now so affected as to require their removal.


We desire to again record our obligations to the State authorities who have contributed valuable suggestions and useful equipment to the Park.


For the past two years the Cities of Malden and Melrose have each contributed fifteen hundred dollars toward the maintenance of the Park, and under this arrangement the Trustees have paid for the expense of keeping the grounds free from the ravages of the Gypsy and Brown Tailed Moths. The Trustees therefore desire to ask that the sum of fifteen hundred dollars be appropriated by each city for the coming year, as this sum is required for the proper care of this area which is already one of the most popular and largely visited Parks which either city maintains, and each year increases its value.


EDWARD E. BABB, CHAS. E. FRENCH, GEO. LOUIS RICHARDS, WILLIAM D. SERRAT.


REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF PINE BANKS PARK FOR THE YEAR 1912.


-


Receipts.


Balance from 1911. $125.18


Received from City of Malden. $1,500.00


Received from City of Melrose


1,500.00


Wood, Licenses, Renting Cabin


65.00


Interest.


35.31 $3,100.31


$3,225.49


Expenditures.


Wages of Employees. $2,488.72


W. H. Cunningham & Son, Grain .. . .


53.60


New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co., Telephone 31.79


Boston Rubber Shoe Co., Stable Ex. . .


183.00


R. & J. Farquhar & Co., Seeds & Bulbs.


60.10


Malden City Lumber Co., Lumber


30.79


Wm. MacNeil, Blacksmith Work.


17.90


W. D. Serrat, Insurance, Stamps. 40.00


City of Malden, Water 22.54


A. M. Tuttle & Co., Shrubs.


37.50


F. W. Smith, Carpentry Work. 23.71


Wenz & Mackensen, Birds for Zoo. 35.42


E. Troland, Hardware. 52.42


E. T. Packard & Co., Fence Wire. 39.90


J. H. McDonald & Co., Plumbing. 11.32


Olympia Press, Printing Cards .


2.00


Dunbar & Kerr, Printing Reports 5.50


Park, Pollard & Co., Birds. 3.00


E. E. Babb, Bases. 4.50


F. E. Coyle, Tools.


2.71


Ames Implement & Seed Co., Tools.


2.69


T. J. Gray Co., Tools . 12.60


B. F. Brinkhaus, Bulbs . 3.00


A. A. West, Hardware 5.15


Locke Coal Co., Lime. 1.10


C. F. Marshall, Signs .. 5.50


A. H. Westhaven, Shrubs . 25.00


82


CITY OF MELROSE


J. Huggins & Son, Creosote 4.50 $3,205.96


Balance on hand. $19.53


$3,225.49 WILLIAM D. SERRAT, Treasurer.


I have examined the Account of the Treasurer and find them correct.


EDWARD E. BABB, Auditor.


Report of Inspector of Buildings


January 11, 1913.


To the Honorable Oliver B. Munroe, Mayor, and Members of the Board of Aldermen,


Gentlemen :- I have the honor to submit herewith, the annual report of the Inspector of Buildings, for the year end- ing December 31, 1912.


The valuation of buildings erected during the past year has been the largest in the history of the city. It was, per- haps, an exceptional one, due to the fact that it has to its credit the Memorial and the new Hospital buildings, and the figures may not be as large again for some years to come. While the total estimate of cost amounts to about $450.000, the actual building in progress during the year, which required inspection, was over half a million dollars. The city has been more fortunate than most of its neighbors, in having none of the cheaper types of apartment houses erected. The build- ings, as a rule, have been well constructed and above the average architecturally.


A number of new features have been incorporated in the office system among them being, a new form of application. This is more complete in detail than the previous one and gives a better description of the proposed building. I believe that with this form in use, the present Ordinance, which re- quires the filing of plans and specifications of all buildings, could be abolished when the proposed building is only the ordinary two-story dwelling house. Owing to the fact that the majority of home builders in our city do not employ an architect, the above requirement appears to be a hardship, re- quiring as it does an additional expense for the drawing of plans.


Another feature is the use of "Building Notifications." These printed cards are placed in the hands of the Police De- partment and each patrolman carries a supply with him. When he observes a building being constructed or alterations being made, he fills in the card and it is returned to this office. This method of notification is employed in other cities and should give a complete record of all building operations.


84


CITY OF MELROSE


They may also be made valuable to the Board of Assessors. When it appears that the owner has not obtained a permit previous to starting his work, a printed notice has been sent calling his attention to the fact. This method in all cases has brought about the application.


The present Building Ordinances are greatly in need of revision. They are incomplete, contradictory, and typo- graphically wrong, and in some cases have been proven in- valid. A great many of the elementary building laws are lacking, whille in other cases the Ordinance appears too stringent. An order introduced by Alderman Arthur F. Whalen, and recently passed by that Board, calls for a com- mittee "for the purpose of inquiring into the above subject and reporting to the Board of Aldermen such legislation as, in their judgment, is necessary."


At the request of Ex-Mayor French, I submitted a report to the Metropolitan Fire Hazard Commission on the fire hazard in this city from the building standpoint. In this report I called attention to the laxity of some of our Ordinances, and also gave suggestions that might be incorporated in a new one. I quote the following from this report:


"First, we should have a strict ordinance applying partic- ularly to so called 'three and four decker' apartment houses. The City may not be able to prevent the building of them but it may pass ordinances, so strict that no one will want to build them. I take this view not only because these buildings increase the fire hazard, but also, their effect on the value of adjacent property. I think the City is extremely fortunate in having very few buildings of this type, ( Ican recall but six), but this good fortune may not continue as some of our ad- joining cities have found out.


Again, in our present Ordinance there is nothing to pre- vent a party building on the extreme edge of his lot, thereby shutting out light and air, and proper means of fighting a fire on his own or adjacent property."


In the following record I have purposely refrained from making use of the phrase "work condemned" as is customary, and have substituted "changes demanded." This because of the fact that in almost every case the violation was made un-


85


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS


intentionally, and in conclusion I might say that wherever these changes were asked, I have had the co-operation of both owner and builder in carrying them through.


SUMMARY.


Total number of permits granted. 136


Granted by this office. 129


Granted by the Board of Aldermen


7


Applications returned for more complete data.


1


Changes demanded before construction 9


3


Changes demanded during construction.


Changes demanded in existing buildings.


1


Written reports requested by Mayor


3


Police asked to prevent further work.


2


Unsafe chimneys corrected. 2


Buildings ordered torn down. 1


The following chart shows the building throughout the city, classified and arranged in Wards :-


BUILDING OPERATIONS DURING 1912. Upper Half of Square Denotes Number of Permits Issued-Lower Half gives the Cost Based on Estimates Stated in Application


WARDS.


Average Cost.


Total Cost In City.


Dwellings.


$49,600


$47,800


$32,600


$45,150


$15,300


$17,500


$23,300


$3,790


$231,250


Brick or Stone Buildings.


I


I


4


2


8


1,500


1,000


147,000


42,000


23,938


191,500


Garages Private


6


I


3


2


I


I


14


2,175


90


900


275


100


60


258


3,600


Storehouses Workshops Etc.


I


I


2


7


II


300


25


650


3,175


377


4,150


Alterations Additions


5 1,920


7 7,275


3 250


5 4,050


4 900


IO 4,525


7 1,900


508


4I 20,820


Total By Wards


$55,195


$56,465


$33,750


$196,475


$16,325


$64,735


$28,375


Grand Total. $451,320


1


2


3


4


5


6


7


II


I2


7


IO


3


5


I4


61


NOTE :- The Memorial Building estimated at $72,000 is included in the figures of Ward Four.


87


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS


FINANCIAL STATEMENT.


Appropriation.


$25.00


Expended.


Printing .


$23.00


Rubber stamps


.80


Filing envelopes


1.20


$25.00


Respectfully submitted, E. GREELY CLARK, Inspector of Buildings.


Report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures


To the Honorable Mayor and Board of Aldermen,


I herewith submit the annual report of the operations of the office of Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year 1912. A'similar report together with a schedule of apparatus has been filed with the State Department.


Adjusted Sealed


Condemned


Platform Scales, over 5,000 pounds. .


1


9


Platform Scales, under 5,000


+ pounds.


7


57


1


Computing Scales


18


2


Day Measures.


61


1


Liquid Measures


140


1


Counter Scales


16


187


6


Weights.


35


599


Milk Jars.


31


1


Linear Measures.


24


-


-


59


1126


12


I have made re-weighings of coal in transit to consumers at various times and in no case have I found cause for com- plaint; the total over-weight was 75 pounds.


I have made a large number of test weighing in stores and on teams; and find that the dealers are complying with the Weights & Measures law; I have found an occasional over- weight in this class of work.


Ice Cream boxes (or containers) were closely followed up, with the result that two dealers were found to have "short boxes" in stock; these were destroyed and thereafter all dealers used boxes of legal dimensions. Berry boxes were tested daily in all parts of the city. If consumers accept berries in boxes which are not filled even with the top, the Sealer is powerless unless he witnesses the sale and delivery.


I have vigorously followed the Peddler's wagons during the season and endeavored to prevent infraction of the law. The ordinances relating to Peddlers is not explicit enough to


SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES 89


fully protect the public. Non-resident Peddlers should be obliged to pay a State or City license and come fully under the supervision of the police and sealer. Now they are on an equal footing with resident and tax-paying peddlers. Fees received and paid to Treasurer $44.84


Due December 31, 1912.


3.12


Respectfully submitted CHAS. E. MERRILL, Sealer of Weights & Measures.


Jan. 7, 1913.


Government of the City of Melrose 1912


Mayor, CHARLES E. FRENCH.


President of the Board of Aldermen, J. SYDNEY HITCHINS.


Aldermen at Large, William A. Carrie, J. Sydney Hitchins, Leslie F. Keene, Arthur F. Whalen George A. Bailey, John Buffum, Peter J. Lynch.


Ward Aldermen,


Ward 1. Frederick H. Knight, George D. Orton


Ward 2. Clifford N. Cochrane, resigned; Angier L. Goodwin elected to fill vacancy. Dexter Pratt, resigned; Joshua T. Nowell elected to fill vacancy.


Ward 3. Patrick J. Fitzgerald James V. Howard


Ward 4. Arthur H. Damon


Charles O. Wheeler


Ward 5. Frederick T. Peabody


Walter E. Piper


Ward 6. Jonathan H. Atkinson


Albert H. Harriman


Ward 7. Albert A. Hersey


Ralph Foss Somes


Clerk of the Board, W. DeHaven Jones, City Clerk.


City Officers


City Clerk, W. DeHaven Jones.


Assistant City Clerk and Clerk of Committees, Victor C. Kirmes.


City Treasurer, William R. Lavender.


City Collector, James W. Murray.


City Auditor, Edwin C. Gould.


Engineer and Superintendent of Public Works, George W. Wood.


Mayor's Clerk, Blanche E. Nickerson.


City Solicitor, Charles H. Gilmore.


Chief of the Fire Department, Joseph Edwards.


Chief of Police, George E. Kerr.


92


CITY OF MELROSE


Inspector of Buildings, E. Greeley Clark.


Inspector of Plumbing, Andrew J. Burnett.


Inspector of Milk and Vinegar, Dr. Caleb W. Clark.


Inspector of Animals, F. P. Sturges.


Sealer of Weights and Measures, Charles E. Merrill.


Agent State, Military Aid and Soldiers' Relief, Albert A. Carlton.


Burial Agent, Albert A. Carlton.


Assessors, Frank R. Upham, term expires 1913. L. Frank Hinckley, term expires 1914. William Morss, term expires 1915.


Alden B. Smith,


Assistant Assessors, Merton G. Woodbury,


George S. MacNeal


Inspector of Wires, Isaac L. Corthell.


Board of Health, Clarence P. Holden, M.D., Chairman, Arthur A. Hayden, Edmund L. Grundy, Grace French, Clerk


93


CITY OFFICERS


City Physician, Clarence P. Holden, M.D.


Adaline G. Reed,


Overseers of the Poor, George R. Farnum, Chairman. Jabez S. Dyer, Grace French, Clerk.


Matron of Pratt Farm, Mrs. F. E. Mann.


Superintendent of Pratt Farm, Frank E. Mann.


Park Commission,


Clarence T. Fernald, Chairman


Term expires 1915


Addison L. Winship .


1914


Robert A. Perkins


1913


Oliver B. Munroe.


66


1917


George J. Foster.


66


66


1916


School Committee,


Wallace R. Lovett.


.Term expires 1914


Eben F. Phillips.


66


1914


William Coggeshall .


66


1915


Lowell F. Wentworth, Chairman .


66


6


1915


Frank L. Welt.


66


1915


Elmer O. Goodridge.


66


6


1913


Isabelle Stantial.


6


1913


William A. Morse.


66


1913


Sinking Fund Commissioners,


Edward J. Kitching, Chairman


. Term expires 1913


Franklin P. Shumway ..


66 1914


Everett L. Fuller.


66 66 1915


1914


Sarah A. Day .


94


CITY OF MELROSE


Trustees of the Public Library,


William T. Atwood.


Term expires 1915


Rev. Paul Sterling.


66


1914


Mary L. Charles.


66


1914


Neil A. Divver.


1913


Anna T. Bush.


66


66


1913


Cemetery Committee,


Willis C. Goss, Chairman,


Maurice G. Cochrane


L. Henry Kunhardt


Registrars of Voters,


Edwin L. Cragin, Chairman Term expires 1913


John J. Keating.


66


1914


Edwin J. Tirrell W. DeHaven Jones, City Clerk, Ex-officio.


66 66 1915


Engineers of the Fire Department, Joseph Edwards, Chief, Thomas J. Hawkes, 1st Assistant, Edgar W. Mansfield, 2d Assistant.


Measurers of Wood and Bark, Weighers of Hay and Grain.


George H. Walden


James G. Stiles


Frank E. Newell


Fred H. Goss


Eugenie J. Verrette


George Goodwin


Charles B. Goss


Florence E. Sinclair


George M. Hall


A. H. Sulis, Jr.


Public Weighers of Merchandise,


Edward A. Riley


Archie E. Jones


J. Osborn Leisk


Orietta Towner


William P. Pierce


Edward M. Caldwell


Patrick G. DeCourcy Herbert A. Lord


Isaac L. Slocomb Herbert M. Wade James McTiernan Edward Hilton


66


1915


Edward M. Munyan, Chairman


.


95


CITY OFFICERS


Field Driver,


Frank E. Mann.


Pound Keeper, Frank E. Mann.


Constables,


George W. Burke Daniel K. Collamore


Charles E. Merrill


George E. Kerr


Osborne E. Drown


George E. Burke


Keeper of the Lock-up, George E. Kerr.


Police Officers,


George E. Kerr, Chief Harry Brown Redford M. Rand George E. Fuller William H. Doherty Louis B. Heaton Wallace B. Eaton


Osborne E. Drown, Captain William A. Caswell William C. McCarthy


Allston H. Pineo Christopher B. Thompson Frank N. Pierce Michael Reardon


William T. Fahy Wallace Eaton


Reserve Officers, Garfield Carpenter Albert McBeth Daniel J. Foley


William A. Riley


Special Officers,


Frederick M. Kirmes


M. James Hanley


Burgess W. Grover Joseph A. Lavin


Special Officers to Serve Without Pay,


Frank E. Mann


William Riley Ralph Cray


Frank C. Newman


Charles E. Merrill


George H. Cray John T. Russell Willard G. Lyon


Charles J. Wing


Atwater B. Hathaway


Report of the Park Commission


To the Honorable, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Melrose.


Gentlemen :-


In presenting the Third Annual Report, the Board of Park Commissioners calls attention to the fact that the real develop- ment of the magnificent Park area has begun, as outlined in the two preceding reports, as a project which has now been under- taken through the approval of your Honorable Board. There follows a detailed account of the appropriations and expendi- tures, both for the maintenance of existing parks and park areas and the specially authorized Ell Pond Park Develop- ment.


Appropriations.


Total Appropriation


$1,625.00


Divided as follows:


Parks, General Administration:


Salaries and Wages


$75.00


Other Expenses 75.00


Parks and Gardens:


Salaries and Wages


$500.00


Improvements and Additions


250.00


Other Expenses


250.00


Playgrounds:


Salaries and Wages


$50.00


Other Expenses .


50.00


Bath Houses and Beaches:


Salaries and Wages


$350.00


Other Expenses .


25.00


$1,625.00


97


REPORT OF PARK COMMISSION


Expenditures and Appropriations in different park ac- counts, 1912:


Parks, General Administration, Salaries & Wages:


Appropriation. $75.00


Expended, Salary for Clerk


to Jan. 1, 1913. 50.00


Balance


$25.00


Parks, General Administration, Other Expenses:


Appropriation. $75.00


Expended, Postage.$14.57


Telephone 10.00


Envelopes 2.25


$26.82 $48.18


Balance in General Administration


$73.18


Parks and Gardens, Salaries and Wages:


Appropriation.


$500.00


Caretaker


$400.00


Labor (payrolls).


78.13


Police.


5.00


Transfer to P. & G., other


Expenses. 16.87


$500.00


Parks and Gardens, Improvements and Additions:


Appropriation .


$250.00


Ames Plow Co., Seats.


$34.08


Merrimac Chemical Co.,


Lead.


7.50


Wharf


25.50


Ledder & Probst.


1.45


Collins Hardware Co., Seed.


16.50


F. E. Coyle.


1.20


Labor (pay-rolls)


163.51


Transfer to P. & G., other Expenses. .26


$250.00


98


CITY OF MELROSE


Parks and Gardens, Other Expenses:


Appropriation.


$250.00


Transfers.


46.56


$296.56


George de Cost, Labor .... $7.00


Wm. J. Warren, Labor .... 10.00


Perry & Marston, Material.


10.11


Benson Coal Co., Sand .. . . ..


3.50


T. E. Mollins, Dressing and Labor.


5.75


H. E. Robinson, Flagpole 85.00


G. I. Stevens, Loam ..


39.25


F. E. Coyle, Tools, etc.


37.43


E. W. Mansfield, Paint .. ..


10.00


Public Works, Piping and Curbing


29.44


M. J. Kiley, Dressing . . ...


3.00


D. T. Sinnott, Lawn Mower


1.00


Bugbee & Barrett, Seed .. .


10.27


B. & M. R.R., Freight .....


2.48


Deering Lumber Co., Wharf


20.70


Collins Hardware Co., Seed.


11.00


Rapp, Florist, Flowers . .


6.50


Joseph Edwards.


3.00


$295.43


Balance. $1.13


Playgrounds, Salaries and Wages:


Appropriation.


$50.00


Caretaker


$22.00


Police.


4.50


Transfer to P. & G., other


Expenses 23.50


$50.00


99


REPORT OF PARK COMMISSION


Playgrounds, Other Expenses:


Appropriation.


$50.00


Benson Coal Co., Sand. $2.50


W. J. Bowser, Labor 3.15


Expressing .25


Iver Johnson Co., Quoits .. .


1.80


Perry & Marston, Material.


.90


Wright & Ditson.


2.00


F. E. Coyle, Goods


1.24


Chas. Everson, Wharf .. .


34.80


Transfer to P. & G., other Expenses. 3.36


$50.00


Bath Houses and Beaches, Salaries and Wages:


Appropriation .


$350.00


Foley & Pendleton, Care- takers.


$323.33


Police.


24.50


Transfer to P. & G., other


Expenses. 2.17


$350.00


Bath Houses and Beaches, Other Expenses:


Appropriation . $25.00


Supplies and Repairs . . $24.60


Transfer to P. & G., other


Expenses. .40


- $25.00


Total Balance of Different Park Accounts $74.31


Bills Accrued $72.50


Balance.


$1.81


The purpose of the Commission has been to keep in order and improve as far as possible, the plots and areas now owned by the City and devote to the public uses. These areas com- prise :


100


CITY OF MELROSE


Areas at Howard and Green Streets. Elm and Avon Streets. West Emerson and Vinton Streets. Cedar Park, West Foster and Cottage Streets.


The Common.


Areas at Lynde and Main Streets.


There has been no unusual or important expenditure on any of these, with the exception of the Common. Here the baseball diamond has been levelled and put in better con- dition; bleachers and band stand painted; back-stop repaired, and additional settees placed; trees have been planted to fill vacant spaces, and the old trees trimmed and fertilized.


The City has constructed a sidewalk along the West end of the Common, and the Commissioners recommend that a continuous sidewalk be constructed on the South, East and North sides.


Sewall's Woods Park.


This beautiful tract of 912 acres, situated in what is rapidly becoming a thickly settled section, is capable of vast improvement. All that we have been able to do in the past year is to clear a space 100 feet wide on all sides; care for the trees and remove all dead wood.


On the South or Boulevard frontage, steps and walks have been constructed leading to the Spring, and additional settees have been placed in several locations. It is the in- tention of your Commission to plant trees throughout this whole area, and to gradually make improvements of a perma- nent nature, and make attractive the whole tract as rapidly as appropriations will warrant. An outlook shelter is contem- plated, from which a view of the whole city may be obtained.


Lynde and Main Streets.


At Lynde and Main Streets there is a considerable area, the walks have been repaired, plants have been arranged in beds, the flagpole repainted, etc.


101


REPORT OF PARK COMMISSION


Labor in Department.


Following the plan adopted last year, arrangements were made with the same citizen to perform the general work of the department in the matter of grass cutting, maintenance, etc., this work being under the personal supervision of a member of the Commission.


Bath House.


The Bath House has again proved to be an important factor in the Park attractions. Conducted under the "Rules and Regulations" of the Commission, it has afforded con- venient enjoyment to 9,814 of our citizens during 1912, classified as follows:


Men.


8,505


Women .


8 Children. 1,301 9,814


Two attendants have been kept on duty during the season and your Commission is gratified that no accident occurred. In this connection we desire to commend Mr. Daniel J. Foley for quick and effective courage in saving lives on four occasions June 26 July 8.


June 29. July 19.


Boats and life saving appliances are kept ready for instant use, and every safeguard is taken.


Ell Pond Park.


The particular and important work of the year has been the beginning of the development of the naturally beautiful Ell Pond Park. The appropriation of $12,000 was available so late that only preliminary work could be done last year, viz: to begin the construction of a roadway around the "Knoll." However, the planning for aggressive work in the Spring of 1912, was carried on during the Winter, and the plans sub- mitted by Mr. Harlan P. Kelsey, of Salem, Massachusetts, adopted, and work begun.


The appropriation was specifically divided as follows: For acquiring and grading land on and near Tremont Street,. .$7,000


For development of Ell Pond Park. 5,000


102


CITY OF MELROSE


To summarize briefly, the Board of Park Commissioners has acquired from the Boardman estate, approximately 214 acres, at a cost of $2,000, and from R. J. Munn, trustee, ap- proximately 114 acres, at a cost of $1,500. The land so ac- quired has been surveyed and carefully laid out in accordance with the plan submitted in our first annual report, providing for a baseball diamond at the North end of the tract. The land bordering on the Boulevard has been partially filled in, and is in process by the dumping of ashes, to secure the best results from the filling material delivered and to facilitate work in the Spring, the Commission has kept a man on the ground constantly to level the surface. The ditch on the entire frontage has been filled and graded. In arranging for the general work of development, bids were asked for by ad- vertisement in the local papers. Upon the opening of these bids, they were all found to be in excess of the amount of money available; consequently, after careful consideration, a part of the work previously designed to be carried out this year, was eliminated, and such portions as could be done by our own workmen at day wages and in certain small contracts awarded to C. L. Hoffman & Co., were undertaken. The work in Ell Pond Park and vicinity has been under the supervision of Engineer Edward F. FitzGerald. There follows an itemized statement of the appropriations and expenditures.




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