USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1891-1900 > Part 63
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Article 8. To raise money to defray the general town ex- penses for the current year and appropriate the same.
Voted, that the sum of $15,350 be raised and appropriated therefor as follows :
Miscellaneous expenses . $1,700 00
Poor in almshouse
1,800 00
Poor out of almshouse
4,000 00
Soldiers' relief
400 00
Soldiers' relief in Randolph and Holbrook 600 00
Military aid .
250 00
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Town officers
$2,400 00
Interest on town debt
.
2,250 00
Board of Health
100 00
Lockup expenses
250 00
Births, marriages, deaths and court fees
250 00
Reduction of town debt :
Town note (highway plant), vote 1898
500 00
Town note, vote 1899
850 00
Total
. $15,350 00
Also that the interest on the taxes and deposits during the year 1900 be appropriated towards the payment of interest. on the town debt. Also that the overlay tax of the current year be appropriated towards meeting any abatement of taxes which may be allowed.
Article 9. To raise money for the repairs of highways, and determine the manner of expending the same.
Voted, that the sum of $3,000 be raised and appropriated for the repairs of highways, including sidewalks, paving, and removal of snow, and, in addition thereto, the street railway tax for the current year, the same to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen.
Article 10. To see what action the town will take in rela- tion to the Fire Department, and raise and appropriate money therefor.
Voted, that the sum of $2,468 be raised and appropriated as follows :
For regular running expenses
$1,000 00
pay of 54 men at $12 .
648 00
services by the hour
250 00
fires in woodland
100 00
insurance and inspection
70 00
repairs
50 00
new hose
.
350 00
Total
$2,468 00
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Article 11. To see what action the town will take in rela- tion to a fire alarm system, and raise and appropriate money therefor.
Voted, that the subject matter of this article be re-com- mitted to the Fire Alarm Committee with instruction to investigate the feasibility of making use of telephone boxes for fire alarm purposes, and for the purpose of reorganizing the Fire Department, and report at a meeting to be held on the fourth Monday of April at 7.30 o'clock P. M.
Article 12. To see if the town will make an appropriation for the decoration of soldiers' graves under the direction of Capt. Horace Niles Post 110, G. A. R.
Voted, that the sum of $100 be raised and appropriated for said purpose.
Article 13. To see what sum of money the town will raise and contribute to the sinking fund, as required by law to meet the payment of the " Randolph Water Loan."
Voted, that the sum of $2,500 be raised and contributed to the sinking fund to meet the payment of the "Randolph Water Loan " when due.
Article 14. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for water for hydrants, street service, public buildings, drinking fountains and cemeteries.
Voted, that the sum of $2,000 be raised and appropriated for hydrants, street service, public buildings, drinking foun- tains and cemeteries.
Article 15. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for lighting the streets by electricity.
Voted, that this Article be referred to the Selectmen to make such contract with Charles Doughty as they may deem expedient, and that the sum of $3,300 be raised and appro- priated for said purpose.
Article 18. To see what action the town will take in rela- tion to the notes maturing June 2, 1900.
124
Voted, unanimously, that the Treasurer be authorized and directed to borrow the money for the payment of the town notes maturing June 2, 1900, at a rate not exceeding five per cent. per annum, and that the town treasury note or notes approved by a majority of the Selectmen be issued therefor in such manner that $630 of the amount so borrowed shall become due and payable in one year from the date of borrowing, and $630 each year thereafter until the whole sum, $6,300, shall become due and paid.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to pay for the insurance on the Town Treasurer's bond for the year 1900- 1901, and raise and appropriate money therefor.
Voted, that the town pay for the insurance on the Town Treasurer's bond for the year 1900-1901, and that the sum of $120 be raised and appropriated therefor.
Article 20. To see what action the town will take with reference to the enlargement or improvement of the present school accommodations, and raise and appropriate money therefor.
Voted, that action under this Article be indefinitely post- poned.
Article 21. To see if the town will raise money to con- vey pupils to and from the public schools in such cases as the School Board may deem expedient.
Voted, that the sum of $200 be raised and appropriated to convey pupils to and from the public schools in such cases as the School Board may deem expedient.
Article 22. To see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 466 of the Acts of 1898, entitled " An Act relative to the employment of superintendents of schools by small towns," and will authorize the School Committee, if they deem it expedient, to arrange such union in accord- ance with the provisions of said act as may be most advan. tageous, subject, however, to the approval of the State
125
Board of Education, and will raise and appropriate money therefor.
It is recommended that action under this Article be in- definitely postponed.
Article 23. To see if the town will raise money for repairs on the almshouse and barn.
Voted, that the sum of $250 be raised and appropriated therefor.
Article 24. To see what compensation the town will allow for the collection of taxes.
Voted, that three-fourths of one per cent. be allowed for the collection of taxes.
Article 25. To see what action the town will take in rela- tion to medical attendance on the poor, and raise and appro- priate money therefor.
Voted, that the sum of $300 be raised and appropriated for said purpose, said sum to be apportioned equally among the several physicians, and to be in full for attendance upon all persons under the care of Overseers of the Poor for one year from January 1, 1900. That is to say, each physician resident in the town on the first of March, 1900, shall receive the sum of $50 for his services provided he makes fifty visits during the year; after that he shall receive no compensation for his services, but shall attend such of the poor as may call upon him for his services ; those physicians that make less than fifty visits shall receive pay at the rate of one dollar for each of said visits.
Article 26. To see if the town will instruct the Selectmen to appoint special police officers to enforce the laws, and raise and appropriate money for the payment of such officers.
Voted, to instruct the Selectmen to appoint special offi- cers, or direct officers elected by the town, to enforce all the laws of the Commonwealth, and that the sum of $500 be raised and appropriated for said purpose.
126
Article 27. To see if the town will raise and appropriate five hundred dollars for the enforcement of the liquor laws, and appoint a committee who shall have power of expending said appropriation for the purpose specified therein, as peti- tioned for by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
This Article occasioned a lengthy discussion, after which, a motion to indefinitely postpone was, by a "yea" and " nay " vote, declared carried by the Moderator. The vote being doubted, a hand vote was called for, which resulted as follows :
In favor of indefinite postponement, one hundred and nine ; opposed to indefinite postponement, one hundred.
This vote being also doubted, the Moderator divided the house with the following result :
In favor of indefinite postponement, one hundred ; opposed to indefinite postponement, ninety-two; and the Article was declared indefinitely postponed.
Article 29. To see what action the town will take in rela- tion to the pay of laborers employed by the town.
Voted, that each person employed by the town shall re- ceive such sum of money as is equal to the value of his labor, and that the laborers residing in town and the residents own- ing teams shall be employed in preference to any others.
Article 30. To see if the town will authorize the Collector of Taxes to charge interest at the rate of six per cent. per annum on all taxes remaining unpaid on and after October 10, 1900.
Voted, that the Collector of Taxes be so authorized.
Article 31. To see if the town will authorize the Collector of Taxes to use the same means which a town treasurer may use when acting as collector.
Voted, that the Collector of Taxes be so authorized.
Article 35. To see if the town will raise and appropriate
127
money for the purpose of grading and surfacing the grounds about the Prescott schoolhouse.
Voted, that no action be taken under this Article.
Article 36. To see if the town will vote to raise money to defray the expense of insuring the Turner Free Library build- ing, together with the books, furniture, and fixtures belong- ing to said library, and also for the repair of said building.
Voted, that the sum of $439.36 be raised and appropriated therefor.
Article 37. To see if the town will authorize the Select- men to place electric lights on High street, as petitioned for by Michael Ford and others, and raise and appropriate money therefor.
Voted, that action under this Article be indefinitely post- poned.
Article 38. To hear and act on the report of any com- mittec, and choose any committee the town may think proper. No committee reported.
Voted, that the sum of twenty dollars be paid to John T. Flood for services as Moderator at the annual and adjourned town meetings.
Mr. Flood, having expressed his thanks, directed the Treasurer to pay the above amount to the treasurer of Post 110, G. A. R., for its monument fund.
The following resolution was unanimously adopted :
"Resolved, that we extend our thanks to John V. Beal, John K. Willard, Charles G. Hathaway, Edward H. McMa- hon, Franklin W. Hayden, Arthur Hagney, and Edwin M. Mann, the Committee on Appropriations, for the care and deliberation exhibited in their recommendations, for the dis- posal of the Articles referred to them at the annual town meeting, March 5, 1900."
At 9.55 P.M. it was voted to dissolve.
The total appropriations are as follows :
128
For support of schools, under Article 7 . $11,100 00
general town expenses, under Article 8 . 15,350 00
highways, under Article 9 3,000 00
Fire Department, under Article 10 2,468 00
Grand Army Post No. 110, under Art. 12 100 00 contribution to sinking fund, under Art. 13, 2,500 00 water for hydrants, public buildings, etc., under Article 14 . 2,000 00
street lighting by electricity, under Art. 15, 3,300 00 insurance on Town Treasurer's bond, under Article 19 120 00
conveyance of pupils to the public schools, under Article 21 . 200 00
repairs on almshouse and born, under Arti- cle 23 . 250 00
medical attendance, under Article 25
300 00
enforcement of laws, under Article 26
500 00
insuring the Turner Free Library building, together with the books, furniture and fix- tures, and also for the repair of said build- ing, under Article 36
439 36
County tax
·
.
2,062 50
Total
. $44,949 86
JOSEPH T. LEAHY, Town Clerk.
TOWN MEETING WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Randolph,
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you
State tax
1,260 00
.
129
are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Randolph, qualified to vote in town affairs, to as- semble at Stetson Hall, in said town, on Monday, the twenty- third day of April, instant, at seven and one-half o'clock in the evening, then and there to act on the following articles, namely :
Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Article 2. To see what action the town will take in relation to a fire alarm system, and raise and appropriate money therefor.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting at- tested copies hereof at five or more public places in said town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting, and by publishing the same in the " Randolph Register and Holbrook News," a newspaper published in said Randolph.
Hereof fail not, but make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, before the time of holding said meeting.
Given under our hands at Randolph this eleventh day or April A.D. nineteen hundred.
PETER B. HAND, PATRICK H. MCLAUGHLIN, CHARLES H. THAYER, Selectmen of Randolph.
A true copy.
Attest : MICHAEL F. SULLIVAN, Constable of Randolph.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.
RANDOLPH, April 23, 1900.
Pursuant to the preceding warrant, the voters of the Town of Randolph assembled in Stetson Hall, on Monday, April 23, 1900, at 7.30 o'clock P.M.
130
The meeting was called to order by the Town Clerk, who read the warrant and return thereon, and called for a choice for Moderator under Article 1. John T. Flood was elected Moderator.
Article 2. Under this Article the Committee on Fire Alarm submitted a printed report, a copy of which was given to each voter, as follows :
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FIRE ALARM.
To the Citizens of Randolph :
At the Annual Town Meeting in March, 1900, the matter of a fire alarm system was taken under consideration, and the merits of the Gamewell fire alarm and the merits of a telephone fire alarm were discussed.
After a brief discussion, it was voted to recommit to the Fire Alarm Committee the subject of fire alarm, and for the Committee to make an investigation of the telephone fire alarm system, and to reorganize the Fire Department, and to report at a town meeting to be held the 4th Monday in April, 1900.
Your Committee has made a thorough investigation of the telephone, and respectfully submit the annual cost of rental of the New England Telephone fire alarm, and the actual cost of constructing and owning of the Gamewell automatic fire alarm system.
Cost of New England Telephone fire alarm per year :
Switchboard for local calls, $165; station at switchboard for operator, $12; three trunk lines from the switchboard to the company's exchange switchboard, $108; fifteen metallic circuits from the switchboard to the fifteen different telephone boxes, $320 ; fifteen long distance wall sets, at the fifteen different locations for boxes, $180; making a total of $785 per year. And in addition to this $785, the town will have
131
to furnish suitable boxes in which the telephones may be installed in any of the locations where boxes are placed, and the town will also have to furnish a whistle or gong, and a man to attend to whistle or gong, to pull in the alarm for each fire. At the lowest estimate a telephone fire alarm system will cost the town at least $1,000 per year.
Mr. W. J. Denvir, Assistant General Manager, and Mr. George W. Conway, District Agent, both of the New Eng- land Telephone Co., stated to your committee, that their company did not recommend a telephone fire alarm system, and also said that a telephone fire alarm was worse than no alarm at all, for if there was no fire alarm system the people would shout fire, but that you could not depend upon a tele- phone for a correct fire alarm ; and they said that, in their opinion, the only perfect fire alarm is the Gamewell auto- matic, which is sure to give the correct alarm every time ; and they also stated that the rental that the town would have to pay to their company in three years would more than pay for the constructing and owning of the Gamewell automatic alarm.
Therefore, your Committee are again unanimous in rec- ommending the Gamewell automatic fire alarm system, and recommend that 16 boxes be placed as follows, subject to any change that may be hereafter needed :
Box in Central square ; box near No. 1 schoolhouse, South Main street; box near residence of E. F. Knight, South Main street; box near residence of Patrick H. Mclaughlin, South street; box near residence of John Golden, Union street ; box at junction of Cottage, Mill and North streets; box at the junction of Liberty and North streets ; box at the junction of Oak and North streets; box near residence of A. J. Towns, West Corners ; box at junc- tion of Main and Liberty streets; box at junction of Allen and Roel streets ; box at junction of Main and West streets ;
-
132
box at junction of High and Lafayette streets, Tower Hill ; box at junction of Lafayette and West streets, Charles McCarthy's ; box at junction of Warren and Fowler streets ; box in Depot square, Warren street.
The cost of the above Gamewell fire alarm system is as follows :
16 boxes, $800; 10 miles of wire, $600; whistle machine and valve, $325; 10-inch whistle, $65; battery, $25; two galvanometers, $25; house for whistle machine, $25 ; stable gong, $25; 16 glass-front boxes for keys, $48; making a total of $1,938. This includes the buying and setting of all poles that are needed, and the covering of wire going through trees, crossing other wires, and wherever it is re- quired to be covered. The Gamewell alarm will make a perfect system, and when it is completed it will belong to the town, and there will be no annual rent to be paid.
The cost of maintenance will be from $100 to $150 per year, but this Gamewell fire alarm system will in time save the cost of its construction and maintenance, for it will be the means of saving taxable property from fire, and save part of the money that is now paid to firemen, for there will be no need of the whole fire department responding to every fire alarm, as is now the case.
In reference to re-organization of the Fire Department : Your Committee cannot take part in the re-organization of the Fire Department, as the laws of Massachusetts say that the Engineers of the Fire Department shall be appointed by the Selectmen, and the engineers shall have full charge of the Fire Department.
Your Committee on Fire Alarm recommend that the sum of $2,000 be appropriated to pay for the above named Gamewell fire alarm system, and that the Town Treasurer be instructed to borrow the sum of $2,000, on four notes of
133
$500 each, payable at the rate of $500 a year, to pay for said Gamewell fire alarm.
WILLIAM A. CROAK, Chairman, DANIEL J. BRENNAN, HENRY F. ROONEY, Secretary, JOHN A. HOYE, HORACE F. LIBBY,
Committee on Fire Alarmı.
Randolph, April 11th, 1900.
Voted, that the report of the Committee be accepted.
Voted (affirmative 90, negative 10), that the engineers, with the approval of the Committee on Fire Alarm, purchase for the town a Gamewell automatic fire alarm system, the cost of the same not to exceed $2,000, and that the Town Treasurer be authorized and directed to borrow the money for the payment thereof at a rate not exceeding five per cent. per annum, and that the Town Treasury note or notes ap- proved by a majority of the Selectmen be issued therefor in such manner that $500 of the amount so borrowed shall become due and payable in one year from the date of borrow- ing, and $500 each year thereafter until the whole sum of $2,000 shall become due and paid.
Voted to dissolve.
JOSEPH T. LEAHY, Toun Clerk.
ELECTION WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Randolph, in said County, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of
134
the Town of Randolph, qualified to vote in State elections, to assemble in Stetson Hall, in said town, on Tuesday, the sixth day of November next, at six o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to give in to the Selectmen on one ballot their votes for: Electors of President and Vice-President ; for Governor; for Lieutenant-Governor; for Secretary of the Commonwealth ; for Treasurer ; for Auditor; for Attor- ney General ; for a Representative in Congress ; for a Coun- cillor for District Number Two; for a Senator for the First Norfolk District; for a Representative in the General Court for the Seventh Norfolk District ; for a County Commissioner in and for Norfolk County ; for a Register of Deeds in and for Norfolk County ; and for a County Treasurer.
The polls for the reception of the ballots aforesaid will be opened at six o'clock A.M., and will remain open for four hours, and such longer time as the voters may determine.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies hereof at five or more public places in said town, seven days at least before the day and hour of holding said meeting, and by publishing the same in the " Randolph Register and Holbrook News," a newspaper published in said Randolph.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon, to the Selectmen, on or before the day and hour appointed for said meeting.
Give under our hands at Randolph this twenty-second day of October A.D. one thousand nine hundred.
PETER B. HAND, PATRICK H. MCLAUGHLIN, CHARLES H. THAYER, Selectmen of Randolph ..
A true copy.
Attest : MICHAEL F. SULLIVAN, Constable.
135
STATE ELECTION.
Pursuant to the preceding warrant, the inhabitants of the Town of Randolph, qualified to vote in State elections, as- sembled in Stetson Hall, on Tuesday, November 6, 1900.
The polling booths were prepared in accordance with the provisions of law, and cards of instruction and specimen ballots were posted outside of the booths.
The oath of office was administered to Edward O'Flaherty and Thomas L. Stetson, ballot clerks, and a package con- taining 1300 ballots was delivered to them, their receipt being taken therefor. The oath of office was also adminis- tered to Fred M. French, assistant at check list, and to Eugene L. McAuliffe and William A. Croak, deputy ballot clerks. Thomas Farrell and Michael F. Sullivan served as officers at the gates.
The warrant was read by Peter B. Hand, chairman of the Selectmen, and at six o'clock A.M. the polls were declared open.
The ballot box was opened and shown to be empty, and, being again locked, the key was given to the officer at the gate.
The oath of office was administered to the following named election tellers :
John K. Willard. Ezra Holbrook.
Rufus A. Thayer.
Walter H. Lyons.
Nelson Mann.
Royal T. Mann.
William F. Kane.
James F. Sullivan.
Franklin W. Hayden.
Frank H. Jaquith.
Frank A. Long. Dominick J. Hand.
Voted, that the polls be kept open until two o'clock P.M.
The ballot box failed to register correctly throughout the day.
136
During the time set for voting, the ballot box was opened four times and ballots removed therefrom, viz. :
At 8.25 o'clock A.M., when the register showed 336 ballots cast.
At 9.50 o'clock A.M., when the register showed 496 ballots cast.
At 10.40 o'clock A.M., when the register showed 585 bal- lots cast.
At 1.00 o'clock P.M., when the register showed 800 ballots cast.
At 2 o'clock P.M. it was voted to close the polls.
The register of the ballot box showed 870 ballots, but the ballot clerks' list and the election officers' list each showed 887 names checked, and the presiding officer counted out 887 ballots.
The ballots having been sorted and counted in open town meeting, declaration of the result was made as follows :
FOR ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT.
Democratic electors, each
432
Democratic Social electors, each ·
24
Socialist Labor electors, each .
0
Republican electors, each
352
Prohibition electors, each
4
Blanks
75
FOR GOVERNOR.
Michael T. Berry 18 John M. Fisher . 3
Charles H. Bradley ·
24 Robert Treat Paine, Jr., 361
W. Murray Crane · 333 Blanks 148 .
FOR LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.
John L. Bates 350 Moritz E. Ruther 12
John B. O'Donnell 358 George H. Wrenn 21
Wilber M. Purrington, 6 Blanks ·
140
·
.
· ·
.
.
137
FOR SECRETARY.
Addison W. Barr
26
William H. Partridge,
6
Alfred E. Jones
.
16
Luther Stephenson
·
329
William M. Olin
326
Blanks
184
.
FOR TREASURER.
Edward S. Bradford, 335 Fred A. Nagler 13
Joseph L. Chalifoux,
309
Stephen O'Shaughnessy,
41
Napoleon B. Johnson, 6 Blanks 183
FOR AUDITOR.
Elbridge Gerry Brown, 329 Henry E. Turner 305
Frank Albin Forsstrom,
15
Frank S. Nash
21
William G. Merrill
9
Blanks
208
FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
John A. Billings 31 Hosea M. Knowlton, 325
Allen Coffin
8 Frank MacDonald 17
John C. Crosby
310
Blanks
196
FOR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, TWELFTH DISTRICT.
George J. Hunt
14 Charles E. Lowell 24
Charles F. King
371
Herman T. Regnell
3
William C. Lovering, 335
Blanks 140
FOR COUNCILLOR, SECOND DISTRICT.
Max Boewe 23 Thomas T. Watt 315
Arthur A. Maxwell 329 Blanks 220
FOR SENATOR, FIRST NORFOLK DISTRICT.
William C. Deagle 32 Eugene H. Sprague, 326
Edwin C. Jenney . 333 Blanks 196
FOR REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT, SEVENTHI
NORFOLK.
Henry L. Blanchard, 336 William F. Harding, 20
John J. Collins 473 Blanks 58
138
FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, NORFOLK.
John Cavanaugh 390 James Hewins . 326
Blanks
171
FOR REGISTER OF DEEDS, NORFOLK.
John H. Burdakin 541 Scattering 2
Blanks 344 FOR COUNTY TREASURER, NORFOLK.
Charles H. Smith 475 Scattering 412
1
Blanks
The ballots, unused ballots and both check-lists were sealed up in open town meeting, returns made to the Secre- tary of the Commonwealth, and at 5.50 o'clock P.M. it was voted to dissolve the meeting.
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