Randolph town reports 1891-1900, Part 52

Author:
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Town of Randolph
Number of Pages: 1490


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Lewis Weathee, at Taunton Insane Hos- pital


169 46


Margaret Morrissey, Brockton


30 00


George Mann, Stoughton .


1 90


$713 47


Paid by Holbrook, $237 82


Paid by Randolph, 475 65


$713 47


Appropriation,


$600 00


Expended,


475 65


Unexpended,


$124 35


33


SOLDIERS' RELIEF.


Paid for Elizabeth Green $57 39


Hugh Currie and family 20 50


Abby M. King, Brockton


60 00


Michael Lagan .


6 00


Ellen French


16,00


Charles H. Abbott, Hospital for Epi-


leptics .


169 46


$329 35


Appropriation, $400 00


Unexpended, 70 65


BURIAL OF INDIGENT SOLDIERS.


Paid for Robert Agnew .


$35 00


To be refunded by the State.


POOR OF OTHER TOWNS.


Paid for Elizabeth Hennessay, Boston $22 50


Frank E. Wilder and wife, Boston 10 00


John J. Kane and family, Milford 33 00


Olive Jones, Braintree


60 00


Mrs. John E. Glover, Quincy


14 25


Almira Fowle, Milton


146 57


John Lang, Taunton .


38 00


Ellen F. Gallagher, Cambridge 34 00


Aid to be refunded, Weymouth .


14 00


$372 32


34


STATE PAUPERS.


Paid for Irving P. Miller


$20 00


Antonio Pellegrino


3 00


Savina Olilia Genoveffa


10 00


laborers at Randolph quarry


22 00


$55 00


LOCKUP.


Paid Arthur W. Alden, keeper of the lockup $100 00


Arthur W. Alden, supplies


23 50


Charles Doughty, electric light


24 00


D. B. White, coal .


25 50


James F. Hurley, painting


7 50


James B. McDonald, repairs


75


Frank S. Smith, charcoal


.


3 00


Charles H. Belcher, supplies


8 75


$193 00


MEDICAL ATTENDANCE.


Paid Dr. C. C. Farnham, 119 visits


$50 00


A. L. Chase, 70 visits 50 00


D. F. Kinnier, 76 visits


50 00


W. M. Babbitt, 47 visits


47 00


F. C. Granger, 67 visits 50 00


E. A. Allen, 66 visits


50 00


$297 00


Medical attendance refunded $27 00


Medical attendance refunded by Milton .


11 40


35


Medical attendance refunded by


Holbrook · $18 26


$56 66


$240 34


Appropriation, $300 00


Unexpended, 59 66


BOARD OF HEALTH.


Paid Thomas Farrell, serving notices $3 50


Peter B. Hand 20 00 .


Patrick H. McLaughlin 20 00 .


Charles H. Thayer . ·


20 00


$63 50


Appropriation, $100 00


Unexpended,


36 50


STETSON HIGH SCHOOL.


Paid Trustees Stetson High School .


.


$2,309 96


Appropriation, $2,200 00


Bank tax,


109 96


$2,309 96


-


SCHOOLS.


Paid sundry bills .(for items see report of School Committee) $9,168 10


Appropriation


. $9,170 00


Dog license


·


·


393 46


36


State school fund


$294 38


Coddington fund


64 00


Refunded by the State Treasurer for tuition of paupers


97 00


$10,018 84


Unexpended


850 74


STATEMENT OF CASH RECEIVED BY THE SELECTMEN AND OVERSEERS OF THE POOR FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.


From labor of town teams


$434 38


use of derrick


10 00


use of swing drag


7 50


sale of junk .


2 00


sale of produce


124 70


board of inmates at Almshouse


112 00


aid refunded .


187 00


pay of physicians .


27 00


John Haney, on account miscellaneous ex- penses


4 50


J. C. Rockwell, license . .


5 00


removing snow (from Brockton Street Railway)


39 94


cash


45


Braintree Records .


1 00


street scrapings


12 80


Boston, Milton & Brockton Street Rail- way (highways) .


78 50


use of steam roller (from town of Braintree) 33 33


.


·


$1,080 10


-


37


ESTIMATE OF EXPENSES FOR 1900.


For schools (see report of School Committee) . $9,800 00 Stetson High School (see report of Trustees), 2,200 00 Town Officers . 2,400 00


miscellaneous . 1,700 00


repairs of highways, including paving and street railway tax . 3,000 00


highway plant (note)


500 00


reduction of town debt


850 00


removing snow


500 00


poor in almshouse


1,800 00


poor out of almshouse


4,000 00


soldiers' relief .


400 00


soldiers' relief, Randolph and Holbrook


600 00


military aid


250 00


electric lighting


3,300 00


interest on town debt (and in addition there- to the interest on taxes and bank deposits, and premiums on town notes)


2,250 00


Treasurer's bond


120 00


pay of physicians


300 00


Board of Health ·


100 00


lockup and tramps


250 00


Fire Department (see report of Engineers ),


2,118 00


Water Works (see report of Water Commis- sioners ) 4,500 00 ·


Shingling the almshouse and barn


·


250 00


PETER B. HAND, PATRICK MCLAUGHLIN, CHARLES H. THAYER, Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor.


38


LIST OF JURORS.


The following is a list of jurors for the consideration of the town at the annual town meeting March 5, 1900 :


Atherton, Winthrop B. Publisher.


Alden, F. Wayland


Retired.


Arth, Ernst


Cigar manufacturer.


Beal, Clarence E.


Florist.


Barrett, William F.


Manufacturer.


Breitling, Gotlieb T.


Tailor.


Bradley, Seth D.


Manufacturer.


Burke, James


Shoemaker.


Clark, Dexter T.


Surveyor.


Clark, George Melvin


Cole, Charles H.


Farmer.


Corliss, Simon B.


Farmer.


Croak, William A.


Carpenter.


Donovan, Michael A.


Mechanic.


Dodge, Henry


Fisherman.


English, Nicholas


Shoemaker.


Elliot, George A.


Laster.


Foster, Joseph H.


Machine operator.


French, Fred M.


Insurance.


Flood, John T.


Real estate.


Frizzell, William


Retired.


Forrest, Richard Good, William


Farmer.


Hayden, Franklin W.


Grocer.


Holbrook, Columbus Holbrook, Albert H.


Carpenter.


Reporter.


Jaquith, Frank H. Jones, Rufus


Laster.


Shoemaker.


Farmer.


Agent.


39


King, Evander F.


Carpenter.


Langley, Frank H.


Blacksmith.


Leahy, Joseph T.


Insurance.


Libby, H. Frank


Carpenter.


Mann, Edwin M.


Farmer.


Mann, Lucius H.


Farmer.


Mann, Nelson


Retired.


Mahady, William


Laborer.


McMahon, William F.


Shoe cutter.


McDonald, Joseph


Contractor.


McGaughey, Moses


Shoemaker.


Mclaughlin, Patrick H.


Dry goods dealer.


Montsie, Frederick W.


Cigar manufacturer.


Niles, Amasa S.


Retired.


Niles, Isaac


Auctioneer.


Poole, Marcus M.


Grocer.


Payne, Charles A.


Machinist.


Pope, David


Retired.


Porter, William


Farmer.


Quinn, Edward


Undertaker.


Roberts, William R.


Poultry dealer.


Reynolds, George A.


Farmer.


Scanlon, Maurice E.


Farmer.


Snow, Hiram


Sole leather cutter.


Stetson, Francis E.


Farmer.


Spear, William B.


Painter.


Taber, Edwin A.


Farmer.


Thayer, Rufus A.


Farmer.


Willard, John K.


Tallow dealer.


PETER B. HAND, PATRICK H. MCLAUGHLIN, CHARLES H. THAYER,


Selectmen.


40


STREET RAILWAY.


PETITION OF THE STOUGHTON AND RANDOLPH STREET RAILWAY COMPANY.


To the Honorable the Board of Selectmen for the Town of Randolph :


Your petitioners respectfully represent that they are a majority of the directors of the Stoughton and Randolph Street Railway Company, which has complied with the pro- visions of Chapter 113 of the Public Statutes of Massachu- setts and the acts in addition thereto and amendment thereof, preliminary to the establishment of a corporation, and that they have caused a copy of the Articles of Association to be published as required by Section 6 of said chapter, and as such directors they pray for the following locations in the the said Town of Randolph, namely :


From the terminus of West street at the Stoughton town line through said West street to North Main street, through North Main street to Central square, through Central square to Union street, through Union street to the division line of the Town of Holbrook ; also from the intersection of War- ren street with West street through Warren street to North Main street, where a connection may be made with the loca- tion hereinbefore asked for ; also through Fowler street from its junction with Warren street to the junction thereof with West street, or by other convenient route through said town from the Stoughton town line on West street to the Hol- brook town line on Union street.


41


And they pray that said company may locate, lay and maintain its tracks with such turnouts, switches and connec- tions as may be needed upon such locations, and may erect and maintain the necessary poles, wires, and other fixtures along said locations for the purpose of operating a street railway so located to be operated by electricity by the single overhead trolley system, so called.


Respectfully submitted,


EDWARD F. DRAPER, JOHN STRETTON, LUCIUS CLAPP, DANIEL B. WHITE, FRANKLIN WORCESTER,


WILLIAM L. HODGES, MARCUS L. URANN, Directors of the Stoughton and Randolph Street Railway Company.


TOWN OF RANDOLPH, BOARD OF SELECTMEN, May 18, 1899.


Upon the foregoing petition it is -


Ordered : That a public hearing be given to all parties in- terested in the Town Hall, on Wednesday, the seventh day of June A.D. 1899, at 7.30 o'clock P.M., and that at least fourteen days' notice of said meeting be given by publica- tion in the " Randolph Register," a newspaper published in said Randolph.


PETER B. HAND, PATRICK H. MCLAUGHLIN, CHARLES H. THAYER, Selectmen of Randolph.


42


To the Honorable the Board of Selectmen for the Town of Randolph :


Respectfully represents a majority of the directors of the Stoughton and Randolph Street Railway Company, who, as such directors and for said company, hereby agree with your Honorable Board that in addition to whatever reason- able conditions you may insert as terms for a location, that we will give the following special inducements to your Hon- orable Board to grant said company a location in said town of Randolph without further delay :


First. To locate the power station for said railway com- pany in the town of Randolph.


Second. To locate a car barn in the town of Randolph.


Third. To give a preference to Randolph men and teams for work during construction and operation.


Very respectfully,


EDWARD F. DRAPER, MARCUS L. URANN, LUCIUS CLAPP, DANIEL B. WHITE,


Majority of the Directors of the Stoughton and. Randolph Street Railway Company.


LOCATIONS OF THE STOUGHTON AND RANDOLPH STREET RAILWAY COMPANY.


That, subject to the conditions and restrictions hereinafter set forth, a location be granted for the tracks of the Stough- ton and Randolph Street Railway Company in Randolph in and over the streets named in said petition, as hereinafter described, to wit :


Commencing at the town line between Randolph and Stoughton on West street in the Town of Randolph and


.


43


County of Norfolk and extend through said West street to and over Main street until it joins, by suitable curves, the Brockton Street Railway located on said Main street, thence through Main street over the tracks of the Brockton Street Railway to Central square, thence by suitable curve or curves from said Brockton Street Railway through and over Central square to Union street, and thence through Union street to the town line between Randolph and Holbrook.


Said location is, however, granted subject to the conditions and restrictions following :


The construction of said street railway shall be commenced within ten days after its incorporation, and prosecuted in such a manner as will result in its completion, equipment and operation on or before October 1, 1899.


The whole work of constructing said tracks, the precise location of the same and the setting of the poles within the limits of said location shall be subject to the direction and approval of the Selectmen of Randolph.


Said tracks shall everywhere conform to the established grade of the street in which it is laid, and if at any time changes of grade therein becomes necessary by reason of changes made in the street by proper authority, the expense thereof shall be borne by the Railway Company.


The location of the track on West street, beginning at the town line between Randolph and Stoughton, shall be on the easterly and southerly side to the junction of West and War- ren streets ; from the junction of West and Warren streets to Main street it shall be on the northerly and westerly side ; in Central square, from the tracks of the Brockton Street Railway Company to the northerly side of Union street, and on the northerly side of Union street to the town line of Randolph and Holbrook, the exact location of the track within the lines of the streets named to be determined by the Se- lectmen.


44


The rails shall be made of steel and weighing not less than seventy pounds per yard, known as the Girder rail pattern ; the tie shall be two feet from centre to centre ; between the junction of West and Warren streets and the junction of West and Fowler streets a rail of the T pattern weighing not less than sixty pounds to the yard shall be used.


The poles to be of hard pine and of usual dimensions for poles of that material. That all material used in the con- struction and equipment of the road shall be the very best.


The company shall pave the whole space between the rails, and also on each side of the track for the space of eighteen inches with granite block paving, commencing on West street at the town line between Stoughton and Randolph to the junction of West and Warren streets, and also on West street from its junction with Fowler street to the tracks of the Brockton Street Railway on Main street ; also from the tracks of the Brockton Street Railway Company at Central square on Central square to Union street, and on Union street to the town line between Randolph and Holbrook.


That all snow and other obstructions shall be removed from the tracks as promptly and in such manner as shall be satisfactory to said Selectmen, and if the company fails to do so, said Selectmen may have the same removed at the ex- pense of the company.


The company shall at all times provide suitable cars, suffi- cient in number, and run the same at such intervals as will reasonably and comfortably accommodate the residents of the town, to the satisfaction of said Selectmen.


Upon the completion of said railway as located, said com- pany shall file with the Town Clerk plans of said tracks, which shall show the same in detail with the sidings, and the same shall be subject to the approval of said Selectmen.


Said company shall not charge more than a five cent fare from any point in Randolph to any point in Stoughton.


45


Said company shall charge but a half fare to working men and working women between the hours of six A.M. and eight A.M., and between the hours of four p.M. and seven-thirty P.M., said company to issue tickets at the above rate ; also a half fare for school children at all hours.


Said railway company shall at its own expense keep in good repair, and to the satisfaction of those officers having by law the charge of said streets of said town, that portion of the street occupied by the tracks, side-tracks and turn- outs, to the extent of eighteen inches outside of each rail thereof.


Said company may use to operate said railway any motive power, except steam, subject to the approval of said Select- men.


The company shall file with said Selectmen, upon the ac- ceptance of this location, a bond, with sufficient sureties in the penal sum of five thousand dollars, to indemnify and save harmless the town of Randolph from all claims for damages of whatever nature to any one in their person or property, caused by the construction of said street railway.


Said company shall locate the power station for said rail- way company in the town of Randolph, and shall give prefer- ence to Randolph men and teams for labor during construc- tion, and shall pay for the same not less than is paid by the town for similar work, and will also give preference to Ran- dolph men during operation of the railway.


That the company shall place a steam whistle or siren on its power station, to be used as an alarm for fires for the benefit of the town and its firemen.


That the franchise shall not be sold, transferred or as- signed prior to the complete operation of the entire line ac- cording to the terms, conditions and agreement upon which this location is granted.


And it is further agreed between the town of Randolph by


46


its Selectmen, the party of the first part, and the Stoughton and Randolph Street Railway Company, the party of the second part, that upon the acceptance of the location herein granted the party of the second part shall deposit the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000) in the hands of the Treas- urer of said town of Randolph, said two thousand dollars ($2,000) to be forfeited to said town of Randolph, the party of the first part, if the Stoughton and Randolph Street Rail- way Company, the party of the second part, fails to comply with any of the terms or requirements of this grant. No return of said sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000) shall be made to the party of the second part until the final comple- tion of the construction of said railway and the operating of cars thereon, and the completion of said power station .


and car barn, all to the entire satisfaction of said Selectmen of Randolph.


[TOWN SEAL]


PETER B. HAND, PATRICK H. MCLAUGHLIN, CHARLES H. THAYER, Selectmen of Randolph.


Randolph, Mass., June 26th, 1899.


ACCEPTANCE OF LOCATIONS, STOUGHTON AND RANDOLPH STREET RAILWAY COMPANY.


BOSTON, Mass., June 27, 1899.


To the Honorable the Board of Selectmen for the Town of Randolph :


Respectfully represents the Directors of the Stoughton and Randolph Street Railway Company :


That we hereby accept the location of the tracks of said company in the streets of the Town of Randolph, as granted


47


by your Board, together with all conditions and require- ments as set forth by your order dated June 26, 1899.


EDWARD F. DRAPER, LUCIUS CLAPP, FRANKLIN WORCESTER, DANIEL B. WHITE, MARCUS L. URANN, JOHN STRETTON, WILLIAM L. HODGES, Directors of the Stoughton and Randolph Street Railway.


Received and filed this 14th day of July, 1899.


A true copy. Attest :


PATRICK H. MCLAUGHLIN, Clerk of Selectmen.


49


REPORT OF SCHOOL .COMMITTEE.


To the Citizens of Randolph :


Everything has a cause for its existence and some useful purpose to accomplish as the object and end of that exist- ence, though with our limited knowledge we cannot in all cases clearly perceive or define the object, usefulness or special purpose it was intended to subserve.


This fact applies to written laws as well as to animals, plants, etc.


Every law has some object in view -to demonstrate, generally speaking, something must be done and in what manner; implying also the doing of it will promote the in- terests of those whom the legislators had in mind.


It is clearly evident the object of the law for School Com- mittees to make annual reports is, in the first place, to let the people know not only the financial outlays, but also the condition of the schools. In the second place, the object is order and the avoiding of confusion in accounts. A longer period than a year in which expenses were not straightened out, would tend to getting them more entangled.


Even the yearly report is not a pastime to those who have to make it up, but one of the hardest if not one of the most difficult of their duties ; for accounts, like frightened horses, are liable to become unmanageable if allowed too loose a rein.


The reason for yearly reports is given by the statutes in these words :


" The School Committee shall annually make a detailed report of the condition of the several public schools, which


50


report shall contain such statements and suggestions in rela- tion to the schools as the committee deem necessary or proper to promote the interests thereof."


To make a detailed report of the condition of each school, as here recommended, would require a great amount of labor and be otherwise inconvenient and very distasteful to most people.


The teachers, it is true, are the most potent factors in the education of children, as on them depends more than on any one else the progress the child will make in studies.


A teacher may possess and exercise all the good qualities which the literary part of her labors demand, and be lacking in others of a higher order, and thus leave a great deal un- done of equally pressing importance. and equally as urgently insisted upon by the statutes.


To explain this we cannot do better than again quote from the same :


" It shall be the duty . . . of all other instructors of youth to exert their best endeavors to impress on the minds of children and youth committed to their care and instruction the principles of piety and justice and a sacred regard for truth, love of country, humanity and universal benevolence, sobriety, industry and frugality . . and also to point out to them the evil tendency of the opposite vices."


The child's education, then, according to the statutes, is made up of two parts,- one dealing with letters, the other with morals, both of exceeding importance to the child and to society.


This is the light in which the founders of our colony viewed it, and which has the sanction of all who came before or after them.


Since their time, however, many changes have taken place, and many new arrangements have been adopted, but nothing


.


51


has occurred to excuse one from leaving out anything herein recommended.


All sects of Christians, as also Pagans, agree that children should be instructed in morals as well as letters from their tender years. The reason is that, unless so instructed and trained in virtue, they will fail to accomplish for themselves and the State the full measure of usefulness promised by their natural ability when developed under the fostering care of a paternal government.


There should then be no question or any excuse for teach- ers neglecting the moral side of their duty, and we are aware most of them do not. As occasion arises, the teacher dem- onstrates that something is wrong morally and the evil effects that follow from it. If they do not teach morals from a text book, as grammar, it is because they are not required to do so.


Everything tending to vice coming under their observa- tion is quickly suppressed, and the transgressor punished according to the extent of his offence. This, we think, is all that can be expected where the time is so short to devote to studies, provided the teacher herself possesses the proper dis- position and is not so disturbed by external interests or pas- sionate proclivities as to be unable to give her whole time and strength, when required, peaceably to her school.


Some people imagine the teachers' hours are too short, that they must have a great amount of idle time, and there- fore receive too much pay for so short a day.


The school sessions being regulated on the consideration of the children's strength, we don't think it would be a benefit to increase them, nor, as at present, that they are too short for the teachers, all things considered. But, short or long, it ought to be insisted on that the teacher allows nothing to distract her mind in any degree during sessions.


It is not so much the length of time that tells to the ad-


52


vantage of the children as the energy and skill employed by the teacher.


If a teacher puts forth her best efforts during the time they call a short day there is not much fear she will suffer for want of exercise the remainder of it or care to take up any other work that requires close attention or strenuous effort.


Very few teachers leave the building at the end of the afternoon session, but frequently remain a considerable time with scholars who have failed to recite their lessons to the satisfaction of the teacher, or who they think will be benefited by a private talk or explanation after school.


There have been but few occurrences connected with the schools during the year that require special attention drawn to them, as nearly everything has passed off as smoothly, if not more so, than for years.


There has been some sickness among the children of the lower grades, mostly confined to contracting colds. A number also have been out on account of measles. The se- vere snow storms of last winter caused somewhat more than the ordinary loss of time to the schools from this source. On the whole, we may call it a successful year from an educa- tional standpoint.


The North Street School still remains closed, the number of scholars not warranting us in opening it. There has, how- ever, been a slight increase, which, if it should continue to grow, would oblige us to have school there again.


When closed in September, 1898, the children were sent to the North Grammar building on Belcher street, which, without this accession, could not properly accommodate its own, scholars. It needs to be enlarged to meet the wants of the district, this being the only feasible means of obviating the difficulties encountered there.


This building we cannot say was not properly laid out when erected, for, not knowing what the needs of the time


53


were, we suppose they were provided for, and this plan was what was desired. It is, however, in the manner in which the partitions were placed that makes it so inconvenient to- day. It seems to us the idea was to employ assistant teachers instead of giving a separate school and room to each teacher. The building, though large, had only two school rooms, but these of dimensions that exceed today any others in town outside the High School. Besides these, there were two large ante-rooms which, no doubt, were to be used for recitation rooms.


One of the large rooms could, by dividing it in the centre, make two small ones, and this was done it appears from the beginning, and they have been used for school purposes ever since, though they are very inferior, being too small in size and too poorly lighted. One gets the sun in the morning, the other scarcely at all.


About twenty years ago, there being further need for school room in this district, the committee took the very unwise step of turning one of the ante-rooms into a place to keep a teacher and scholars the whole day. This cooped-up arrangement has been continued all this time as a school. With the ante-room was included a good portion of the entry on the girls' side, and the stairs were altered. The great fault in these latter acts was that, while there was nothing to spare previously for the disposal of clothes, it is impossible now to keep the children's garments off the floor; the floor space, too, being so limited that one cannot pass in most cases without treading on them.




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