USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Genealogical history of the town of Reading, Mass., including the present towns of Wakefield, Reading, and North Reading, with chronological and historical sketches, from 1639 to 1874 > Part 76
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It was seen that we were in danger of being crushed by the very wheel which we set in motion ; that not only general intelligence, but technical knowledge and skill, add immensely to the material wealth of
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a nation. Such is the uniform testimony where " brains sit at the loom, and intelligence stands at the spinning-wheel." But mechanical drawing is only the beginning of a course of industrial training which is to extend to every department of skilled labor. The establishment of technical schools, whose advantages shall be accessible to every appren- tice in any branch of human industry, is strongly recommended by our Governor in his message. Such schools, where they are in operation, as in France, Belgium, and Switzerland, have already, says Professor Waterman, one of our ablest statisticians, created a productive capital of many millions. What, then, may we expect of them in this country, where so many great interests are only waiting for development ? But not to dwell too long on this part of my subject, I have said that our social and political institutions, and the public spirit and intelligence requisite to preserve them, rest securely only on a general system of education.
A distinguished English writer on history, in the early part of this century, attributed the lack of patriotism and of elevated sentiment, which he affirmed to exist among the people of his own country in the eighteenth century, to the fact that they had been engaged chiefly in the value of estates, the balance of trade, and profit and loss. And he goes on to say that the only way in which this elevated sentiment of patriotism can be preserved among men whose minds are occupied with their bargains and their markets, the article they are to produce and the price they are to receive, is by the education of all ; by accustoming every man to interest himself in the concerns of his country, and thus giving him an idea of his social and political importance.
This was but theory with the philosophical Englishman. Has not the experience of the last few years in this country proved the practica- bility of preserving noble sentiments of patriotism, where peaceful industry and the pursuits of trade are the engrossing subjects of all classes ; and was it not accomplished by the very means suggested by the writer mentioned ? The quiet determination and patriotismn sleep- ing in the breasts of the loyal millions, educated in our Northern schools and colleges, were roused by the first roar of the artillery of rebellion. Never was there a more striking proof in the history of the world that peaceful industry, accompanied by intellectual, moral, and religious culture, do not render men parsimonious and effeminate, but rather fit them to become the truest and most liberal supporters, and the best soldiers of freedom and right. For proof of this we have only to consult the army roll and the records of the Sanitary Commission.
Just as surely as the early discipline and habits of study acquired in our schools give the best assurance of success to a young man, so
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surely are they the presages of national welfare. There is something in our very nature, after we have once started on the road of progress, that beckons and impels us on. The cry of Oliver Twist for "more," which so horrified the astonished Mr. Bumble, is the cry of humanity ; and the only alternative is more education, more opportunities for use- fulness, or more anarchy, more blood. The atmosphere of the work- shop, as suggested by the author just quoted, is too arid for constant breathing. Daily infusions from cultivated social life, from books and lectures, are necessary to health. Who shall say how much the imme- diate vicinity of Cambridge has done to extend, elevate, and purify public sentiment in Boston ? Neither the annual nor triennial catalogue contains the names of all the students educated by, if not in, our col. leges. And so also with our public schools: when the father returns to his family at evening, surrounded by his children conning their daily lessons, he finds himself in a different world ; and he is a wise man if he can answer all the questions that are puzzling the brains of all the members of his household. The common school, therefore, is not only the educator of the children between five and fifteen, but of the whole community. It is the nature of all good institutions, as well as good men, that " virtue goes out of them."
The indirect influence of our colleges is yearly recognized by honor- ary degrees conferred on those who have attained excellence in some department of learning, outside the walls, but not without the aid of those institutions. It is no less a claim of influence, on the part of our higher institutions, than a compliment to the recipients of the degrees. To many a man, who never paid a tuition fee, or attended prayers in the college chapel, is old Harvard the alma mater, in a stricter sense than to hundreds whose sonship is chiefly evinced by a scrap of parch- ment. I know it is common to speak of men who have become distin- guished, though they have not had the benefit of a college course, as self-made men ; and this, in a limited sense, is just ; but, I believe, as a class, they will be found to have as lively a sense of obligation to the great institutions that have furnished the best books in science and literature, as those more favored ones who have received instruction from the lips of tutors and professors. If other proof were wanting that our schools and colleges do in fact educate the community at large to higher views and a juster estimate of life, it might be found in the fact, that the same brains that convert ice into gold are not satisfied till the gold itself, purged of its baser dross, is transmuted into wisdom, virtue, and religion. There is scarce a college, an academy, an asylum for the blind, the insane, or the dumb, a hospital of any kind, or any
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beneficent institution, that is not a monument of the generosity of those who, by the discipline and knowledge obtained in our schools, have amassed wealth, without forgetting that the worth of the dollar consists in its exchangeable value for that which is more precious than rubies. Hence those immense sums invested in institutions whose dividends stand accredited to the world, and whose accounts are audited and approved in Heaven. What, then, is the distinguishing character of our boasted system of public institutions? Not the superior scholar- ship of the favored few, however desirable that might be; but that it has raised the general character of learning and intelligence to a higher plane than has been done elsewhere. Though we can boast, perhaps, of no peaks of the greatest altitude, yet our table-lands are more ex- tensive, fertile, and productive than those of any other country.
Guizot, in his History of Civilization in Modern Europe, says, "that when we consider separately, any particular development of the human mind, in literature, in the arts, in any of the ways in which human in- telligence may go forward, we shall generally find it inferior to the cor- responding development in the civilization of antiquity ; but as a set- off to this, when we regard it as a whole, European civilization appears infinitely more rich and diversified." May we not hope that the future historian of American civilization may be able to say that, though Europe may, perhaps, boast of individual instances in which literature, the arts, or sciences have been carried to a higher pitch of excellence than in our comparatively young Republic, that we have given to the world a civilization, which, regarded as a whole, is infinitely richer, deeper, and broader than that of the Old World. If not, it will be because we as individuals have not used the opportunities so richly fur- nished us by the far-sighted wisdom of our ancestors, and watched over and strengthened by the wise and good of later generations.
And now, sir, shall I trespass on your patience with a word more especially adapted to this occasion? This beautiful and spacious build- ing, which you have set apart and dedicated to the purposes of educa- tion, is itself a witness of the essential truth of the views I have advanced. The contrast between this and the one-storied, unpainted building of my childhood, is a fitting exponent of the astonishing in- crease of material wealth in New England, and, may I not say, a proof that an appreciation of the value of common-school education has fully kept apace with it. I would not be misunderstood, in any degree, to detract from the inestimable value of our religious institutions. But I cannot help noticing that the little school-house, which formerly nestled humbly, as if for protection, under the shadow of the more pretentious
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church, with its heaven-pointing spire, now stands boldly by its side, - not indeed as its rival, but as its trusted ally. And as that is dedi- cated to the worship of God, which is the first and great commandment, so, also, by these exercises we now dedicate this to the service of humanity, which the Master has said is like unto it. Nor is there any respect of persons. It beckons to its embrace all your sons and daugh- ters, and points your sons at least - I hope it soon will your daughters -to Harvard and Tufts, or to lucrative and honorable positions in in- dustrial pursuits. In this institution, at least, the poorest have as much stock as the richest, and it is not unlikely that the largest dividends will be found accredited to their children. It is the common school which constitutes the Commonwealth ; nor does its influence stop here. The physical geography of our country is well defined. Its mountain ranges rim a basin capable of feeding the world. Its great water- courses, with their thousand tributaries, are ample to waft its wealth of productions to our ports. Its political geography, thanks to the boys in blue, educated in our Northern schools, and led on by our great cap- tains, has been preserved intact ; and now the little brooklets of learn- ing, springing from every hillside in New England, have converged and united, till they have become a mighty river, which, augmented by its magnificent tributaries of the North and West, has swept across the continent, bearing upon its ample bosom the rich treasures of civiliza- tion and learning to the far Pacific.
Music by the orchestra, followed by a remarkably amusing and enjoy- able, but altogether unreportable address, abounding in reminiscences of school-days, and replete with fun, from Gen. H. K. Oliver, he in turn being followed by Rev. Dr. Chickering in a brief but entertaining address, congratulating and encouraging in tone.
The thanks of the town were at this juncture returned to Henry D. Smith, Esq., by John S. Eaton, Esq., for the very elegant copy of Wor- cester's Dictionary presented by him to the High School before the commencement of the exercises. Mr. Smith briefly, happily, and humorously responded, and with a bit of pleasant repartee from Prof. Tweed the addresses closed.
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R.
COPY OF AGREEMENT
BETWEEN A COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF WAKEFIELD AND MILL OWNERS ON SAUGUS RIVER, AS TO THE WATER-LEVEL OF LAKE QUANNAPOWITT.
Whereas, a Committee chosen by the town of Wakefield, together with the mill owners upon the stream that runs out of Lake Quanna- powitt, met at the outlet of the Lake, August 7, 1871, and, after exami- nation, have failed to find any sign of a log that was placed in the out- let by direction of the town authorities, some twenty-seven years ago, to define low water-mark, and as there is no record of any bearings being taken at that time with permanent objects, its location cannot be ascertained.
Recognizing the importance of having a fixed water-mark, to regulate the flow of water, to retain it at a proper depth in the Lake, and to direct its flow to the best advantage of the mills on the stream, the fol- lowing mutual arrangement in regard to the water-mark has been de- cided upon, with the assent of all the parties concerned.
First, That the stream shall continue to flow, during the present sea- son, without further obstruction, until the water is on the increase.
Second, That the basis for the level of the water-mark shall be a foundation timber on the north side of the stream, forty-nine feet from the west edge of the road bridge.
Third, That the low water-mark shall be at twelve inches above the level of said timber, from the first day of April to the first day of Au- gust ; and from the first day of August to the first day of April, the mill owners shall have the right to draw the water six inches lower than the said low water-mark.
Signed,
JAMES F. EMERSON, JOHN G. ABORN, SAM'L PARKER, JR., LUCIUS BEEBE, LILLEY EATON, C. W. EATON,
Town Committee.
PRANKER & CO., ANDREW A. SCOTT, AMOS BINNEY, (By S. G. LANE), HOYT & WILEY,
Mill Owners.
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S. [CHAP. 335.]
AN ACT
TO SUPPLY THE TOWNS OF WAKEFIELD AND STONEHAM WITH WATER. Be it enacted, etc., as follows :
SECTION I. Cyrus Wakefield, Lucius Beebe, James F. Emerson, John Hill, H. H. Mawhinney, Onslow Gilmore, Francis H. Knight, their associates and successors, are hereby made a corporation under the name of the Quannapowitt Water Company, for furnishing the in- habitants of Wakefield and Stoneham with water ; with all the powers and privileges, and subject to all the duties, restrictions, and liabilities set forth in all general laws which now are, or hereafter may be in force, so far as the same are applicable to this corporation.
SECT. 2. Said corporation, for the purpose aforesaid, may take, hold, and convey, into and through said towns, the waters of Lake Quannapowitt or Crystal Lake, or both, in the town of Wakefield, together with the tributary waters which flow to either in said towns ; and may take and hold, by purchase or otherwise, such land, on and around the margin of such lake or lakes, or tributaries, not exceeding five rods in width, as may be necessary for the preservation and purity of said waters; and may also take and hold in like manner such lands as may be necessary for erecting and maintaining dams and reservoirs, and for laying and maintaining conduits, pipes, drains, and other works, for collecting, conducting, and distributing such waters through said towns of Wakefield and Stoneham. The said corpora- tion shall, within sixty days from the time of taking any land as afore- said, file in the Registry of Deeds for the County of Middlesex, a description of the land so taken, sufficiently accurate for identification, and state the purpose for which it is taken.
SECT. 3. Said corporation may build aqueducts, and maintain the same by any works suitable therefor ; may erect and maintain dams ; may make reservoirs and hydrants, and may distribute the water throughout said towns of Wakefield and Stoneham, by laying down pipes, and may establish the rent therefor.
Said corporation may also, for the purposes aforesaid, carry its pipes and drains over or under any water-course, street, railroad, highway or other way, in such manner as not to obstruct the same ; and may enter upon and dig up any road, under the direction of the selectmen of the -
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said towns respectively, in such manner as to cause the least hin- derance to the travel thereon.
SECT. 4. Said corporation shall be liable to pay all damages that shall be sustained by any persons in their property by the taking of any land, water, or water rights, or by the constructing of any aque- ducts, reservoirs, or other works for the purposes aforesaid. If any person who shall sustain damage as aforesaid cannot agree with said corporation upon the amount of said damages, he may have them assessed in the same manner as is provided by law, with respect to land taken for highways ; and all damages for the taking of lands for the purposes aforesaid shall be paid for by said corporation before entering upon said lands.
SECT. 5. No application shall be made to the County Commission- ers for the assessment of damages for the taking of any water rights until the water is actually withdrawn or diverted by said corporation. Any person whose water rights are thus taken or affected, may apply as aforesaid, at any time within three years from the time when the water is actually withdrawn or diverted.
SECT. 6. Said corporation may hold, for the purposes aforesaid, real estate to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars, and its whole capital stock shall not exceed three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, which shall be divided into shares of one hundred dollars each. And no liability shall be incurred by said corporation until at least thirty thousand dollars of its capital shall have been paid in in cash.
SECT. 7. Any person who shall maliciously divert the water, or any part thereof, of the sources which shall be taken by the corporation, pursuant to the provisions of this Act, or who shall maliciously corrupt the same or render it impure, or who shall maliciously destroy or injure any dam or reservoir, aqueduct, pipe, or hydrant, or other property held, owned, or used by said corporation for the purposes of this Act, shall pay three times the amount of actual damages to the said corpo- ration, to be recovered in an action of tort ; and every such person, on conviction of either of the malicious acts aforesaid, shall be pun- ished by fine not exceeding one hundred dollars and imprisonment not exceeding six months.
SECT. 8. The towns of Wakefield and Stoneham, or either of them, in case the other declines to participate in said purchase, may at any time within three years from the time this Act takes effect, take or purchase the franchise of said corporation and all its corporate prop- erty, by paying therefor the amount expended for the construction,
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maintenance, and repairs of said water works, and all necessary inci- dental expenses, together with interest thereon at the rate of ten per centum per annum, less the amount derived therefrom, with interest thereon at the rate aforesaid, and may assume all its rights and privi- leges from the corporators aforenamed. And in case said towns can- not agree as to the portion of said amount to be paid by each, the Supreme Judicial Court or any justice thereof, upon application of either town so purchasing, shall appoint three commissioners to award the amount to be paid by each, which award shall be final.
SECT. 9. For the purpose of defraying the cost of such franchise, corporate property, lands, water, and water rights as are taken, pur- chased, or held for the purposes aforesaid, and for constructing works necessary and proper for the accomplishment of the purposes author- ized by this Act, and paying all expenses incident thereto, each of said towns may issue, from time to time, scrip, notes, or certificates of debt: the town of Wakefield to an amount not exceeding two hun- dred thousand dollars ; the town of Stoneham to an amount not exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Such scrip issued by the town of Wakefield shall be denominated on its face Wakefield Water Fund Bonds ; that issued by the town of Stoneham shall be denominated on its face Stoneham Water Fund Bonds. All such scrip shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding seven per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, and the principal shall be payable at periods of not more than twenty years from the issuing of said scrip, notes, or certificates respectively. And such town may sell the same, or any part thereof, from time to time, or pledge the same for money borrowed for the purposes aforesaid, on such terms and conditions as such towns shall deem proper. And each of said towns is further authorized to make appropriations, and assess from time to time, such amounts, not exceeding in any one year the sum of ten thousand dol- lars, towards paying the principal of the money so borrowed, except in the year when the same may become due, and also a sum sufficient to pay the interest thereon in the same manner as money is assessed and appropriated for other town purposes.
SECT. 10. When said towns, or either of them, shall assume or pur- chase the franchise, property, rights, and privileges of the corporation established by this Act, said town or towns shall hold and may exercise all the powers and authority conferred upon said corporation by this Act, and shall be subject to all the restrictions, duties, and liabilities herein imposed on said corporation, and may act by such commissioners, three in number, from each town, as the selectmen of each town shall
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