USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1858-1867 > Part 10
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School Committee. .
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
The Selectmen of Somerville believing that the trusts committed to them by their fellow-citizens, call for an explanation, at the close of their term of ser. vice, they would submit the following statement :
From the commencement of their term of service to its close, they have endeavored faithfully to per- form their duty to the best interests of the town, as far as they, in their judgment, could see the interest of the town demanded.
In a town where there are so many miles of streets and sidewalks as in Somerville, and where our vil- lages are scattered over so much territory, it should not be expected that we can have dry sidewalks and smooth streets at all times ; but, as from year to year we should improve some, there is no doubt, and the Selectmen believing that the future welfare and growth of the town depends much upon the condition of its streets and walks, they have endeavored through the year to improve the same as far as possible with the material that could be obtained for that purpose.
To meet such expenses as should occur during the year, the town, in April last, appropriated the sum of ninety-five hundred dollars; and notwithstanding some drafts have been made upon the fund that were
14
not expected, they have kept within the appropriation, though much more could have been expended if they could have obtained all the gravel from the gravel pit at Winchester which they could have wished. Not- withstanding the lack of material for streets and side- walks, there has been considerable improvement made to the same during the year.
Central Street, from Medford Street to Broadway, has been widened five feet, making it now forty-five feet wide, the abutters giving the land for the same. A sidewalk from Broadway to the Lowell Railroad has been made, the abutters paying one half of the expense.
The march of improvement still progresses on Broadway, there having been some eight hundred feet of sidewalk made on the easterly side of the street, adjoining the estate of the Messrs. Jaques, they pay- ing one half of the expense,-which makes a fine improvement.
Franklin Street, from Webster Street to Broadway, has been re-graded, by taking from the rise south of the Church, and filling the hollow east of the Church. Edge-stones have also been furnished and set almost the entire length from Webster Street to Broadway, making a decided improvement in the street.
Summer Street, from Central to Spring Street, has also been widened and improved, which was needed to straighten the sidewalk and make it passable.
The Selectmen have endeavored to repair and im- prove on all the streets in the various parts of the town, as fast and thorough as practicable-feeling the importance of good streets and walks-though be- lieving that it must be a gradual work, each year bringing its demands for improvements.
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A section of Summer Street, from Spring Street to Cherry Street, has been laid out and graded, under the direction of this board, at the expense of the abut- ters, and ought now to be accepted by the town.
Lincoln Street, leading from Perkins Street to Broadway, being forty feet wide, has been graded at an expense of about four hundred dollars, the abut- ters paying for the same, and should be accepted as a town way.
Tufts Street, at the April meeting, was referred to the Selectmen, and they finding it forty feet wide, no- tified the abutters to grade the same 'under the act of 1853. Some of the abutters commenced grading, and when their portion was completed, the season be- ing so far advanced, it was deemed inexedient to pro- ceed, and the street therefore remains in an unfinished condition. The Board recommend its completion in the Spring, according to the grade established, and then would advise that the same be accepted as a Town Way.
Cutter Street, running from Broadway to Webster Street, has been graded and put in a thorough condi- tion, at a large expense by the abutters. It being a street with almost every lot built upon, and there be- ing a large amount of taxable property upon the street, should be accepted by the town when it can be made forty feet wide, there being but a small en- croachment. As the street was laid out a few years ago forty feet wide, this Board would recommend the town to remove the encroachments and accept the street as a town way.
Park and Bond Streets were in April last referred to the Selectmen. They having examined the streets,
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find them in a condition to be accepted ; and finding another Park Street in the town, have accepted this street to be known hereafter as Bond Street.
Early in the year, the Selectmen were notified to appear in Medford, by the County Commissioners, to show cause, if any, why a street should not be laid out from Somerville to Medford, over Walnut Hill, so called. Accordingly, the whole Board, with the exception of one member who was sick at the time, appeared to oppose the laying out of such a street, believing that neither the town nor the public requir- ed the laying out of such a street, but that it was for private purposes and private speculation, and that private people and private property should pay for the same, believing that it was enough to ask the town to accept and maintain the street after it was built, as they do all other streets in town; but the County Commissioners believing that such a street was needed to get from Somerville to Medford, that the public might save some fifteen rods of travel by going over Walnut Hill, rather than go on level ground, and by their direction the road must be built. The Selectmen accordingly contracted with one Chas. Linahan, for the building and completion of the road for the sum of six hundred dollars ; it is now nearly completed. In November last, at the November town meeting, an appropriation of eight hundred dollars was asked for and received, for the paying for the road when completed; and it will take nearly all of the appropriation, as the road has to be fenced on both sides, nearly the entire length.
The Selectmen, by vote of the town at the April meeting, have purchased two acres of land in Win-
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chester, at a cost of seven hundred and fifty dollars, and paid for the same from the appropriation made for general purposes. The land is situated on the line of the Boston and Lowell Railroad, and is an ex- cellent ridge of gravel, which from its surface is some fifteen feet above the railroad, and can be excavated from three to five feet below the road; and the top soil being rather shallow, it will leave from sixteen to eighteen feet of gravel in depth, which can be easily taken by the cars. The Selectmen made a contract with the Lowell Railroad Corporation to transport all the gravel which the town needed for five years, for twenty-five cents per cubic yard ; the corporation re- serving the right the first year, of bringing what they could, without interfering with other work, as it was late in the season, and they wished to transport it early in the spring.
The alteration and improvement that was desired to be made at the crossing on Washington Street of the Boston and Lowell Railroad, which was referred to the Selectmen to be accomplished, was not arrang- ed as they, or the major part of the town would have desired, which would have been to have the hollow filled up and passed on grade with the railroad; but on consulting with the manager of the road, the sub- ject was brought before the Directors, who refused to fill up or have it filled up, on account of liability of accident, and the expense that might thereby occur; though they were satisfied to have it filled up, the corporation ever after maintaining gates, if there was to be no expense in coming in contact with teams and loss of life, to fall upon the Corporation ever after. Finding that there could be no compromise made with
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them to have the two roads pass upon grade, the Se- lectmen then endeavored to make the next best bar- gain they could to relieve the public as much as pos- sible of the obstructions to which they are now liable, and to this purpose the Selectmen obtained a propo- sition from the Corporation,stating what they were wil- ling to do. They proposed to raise their road eighteen inches higher than it now is, and move the northerly abutment six feet further north, and to remove the middle abutment, and put a truss bridge across the whole span, making the two spans in one, that to be six feet wider than the two are now,-in considera- tion that the Town should pay one thousand dollars of the expense. The Selectmen, after due deliberation, came to the conclusion that if the Corporation would remove the northerly abutment eight feet instead of six, and carry out the balance of their proposition, they would close a bargain with them. Believing that it was important that something should be done, the Rail Road Corporation accordingly agreed to re- move the abutment eight feet instead of six, and to carry out the remainder of their proposition, and com- plete the same in course of the season, and the bar- gain was closed with them; but as they could not make the alteration in the specified time, they have since signed a contract to complete the same prior to November 1st, 1861, according to the agreement pre- viously made; and the horse railroad company have agreed with the Selectmen to pay a portion of the . thousand dollars that is to be paid by the town.
It is well remembered that on the night of Febru- ary 22d, 1860, an accident occurred under the Low- ell Railroad bridge, in consequence of the overflow of
19
water, whereby a bill of damages was brought against the town, which the Selectmen settled for five hun- dred and sixty dollars, which has since been paid by the Lowell Corporation.
The Selectmen having been called upon, settled a bill at the Insane Asylum at Worcester, for the board of Henry Kinsley, between four and five hundred dollars, which has been standing some three years, they believing the bill could not be any other way disposed of.
Depredations have been committed upon the Town Hall by breaking and entering three different times during the year, doing considerable damage by blow- ing open the iron safe and taking down a portion of the wall to the brick vault, and doing other damage, for which the Selectmen offered a reward, and used all available means possible to bring to justice the guilty parties, but have not as yet been successful in convicting any party, yet believing they have one un- der arrest who knows the guilty parties; and if so, they are in hopes they shall be able to bring them to justice ; and believing as they do, if all that are con- cerned in the matter could be brought to light, it would reveal a depravity unequalled in the history of the town.
At the November town meeting, it was voted that when the sureties of Mr. Raymond, late Collector, paid to the Treasurer of the town fourteen hundred ยท and twenty-one dollars and twenty-five cents, the Se- lectmen should cancel the bonds and discharge the bondsmen; and the sureties having complied with the requirements of the town, have been discharged.
Five officers were put on duty on Wednesday and
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Saturday afternoons, and Saturday nights and Sun- days for two months, on petition of citizens, for the protection of property and keeping of the peace; and no doubt was a preventative of some mischief and crime, though no special arrests were made, and noth- ing strange occurred during their service. There has been a number of incendiary fires, and cases of break- ing, entering and stealing, as in previous years, and there has been no arrest which has proved thus far beneficial ; but the Selectmen believe that there is much mischief done which should and might be pre- vented, if the means used could be brought to bear as it should be, by all parties working together, and with a determination to bring the guilty to justice, without fear or favor, let them be whom they would.
The Selectmen are of the opinion that if the town would choose three Constables instead of eight, and leave the Selectmen to appoint Special Police, from time to time, as they need them, there would not be so much clashing amongst the officers as there is now, and that it would save a great deal of hard thoughts and feelings which now exist; and they also believe that the time has arrived when the town should make special appropriations to defray the expense of Spec- ial Police, when needed.
The subject of lighting the Town Hall with gas has been a subject of much consideration by the Se- lectmen during the year, and they are of the opinion that it should be done, believing it to be less expensive as well as a great convenience.
The town survey, which was commenced in 1859, has been prolonged beyond what was originally ex- pected, but is now nearly completed, and the Select-
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men believe has thus far been done in a thorough manner, and will do credit to the Surveyor, and be an advantage to the town, when completed ; it is now expected to be completed and ready to bring before the town at the April meeting.
The Selectmen have thus hastily glanced at the more important points of interest connected with their duty, and would most respectfully submit the same.
BENJAMIN RANDALL, MARK FISK, ALBERT KENNESON, THOS. CUNNINGHAM, HENRY A. SNOW.
Selectmen.
SOMERVILLE, MARCH 4, 1861.
TREASURER'S REPORT.
AT a meeting of the Town in April last, there was appropriated the sum of $31.950 for the payment of the ordinary current expen- ses of the Town for the fiscal year which has just closed, without making any provision for discounts and abatements on taxes as- sessed. By a vote of the Town, which has been in operation for some three or four years, a discount of 5 per cent. is made to those who pay on or before the 10th day of August, and of 4 per cent. to those who pay on or before the 10th day of September. The practical operation of this discount has been to induce the payment of at least one half of the whole tax prior to the last mentioned date, requiring a discount of $1000 to $1500, accord- ing to the amount paid entitled to discount. The abatements annually made by the Assessors ordinarily range from $300 to $500. It is to be expected, in a town of the size of Somerville, where there is a considerable class of transient population, that there will be some $300 to $500, mostly single poll taxes, that will be annually lost to the Town. Therefore, to cover these items of discounts and abatements, and taxes that cannot be col- lected, there should be raised a sum, annually, of not less than $2000, if this system of discounts is to be continued.
There seems to be a growing feeling among tax payers, in favor of making some alteration in regard to the termination of the fi- nancial year, or of deferring to a later day the choice of Town Officers, so that their reports may be printed and circulated before the election of their successors-an object much to be desired, and which I think can best be obtained by requiring the Treas-
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urer and Collector to close their yearly accounts as early as the 1st of March, and that the same be audited within ten days there- after. That the Town Officers be chosen in April instead of March. The Auditors then chosen, to audit the accounts of the Treasurer and Collector in the month of March following.
It would seem to be very desirable that the ascertained uncol - lectable taxes should be abated each year ; and the amount thus abated reported to the Treasurer by the Assessors or the Select- men, as the case may be.
Six thousand dollars of the Town debt will fall due the present year, which I would respectfully submit should be paid from taxes to be assessed, as authority was given the Treasurer, by vote of the Town last November, to borrow "a sum not exceeding $5.500 on five to ten years," for expenses connected with the new Med- ford Street School House, and which sum will soon be called for by the School Committee-so that if the $6000 be paid, the Town debt will still remain about the same as stated in the details hereunto annexed.
STATEMENT
Of the Receipts and Disbursements of the Treasurer of the Town of Somerville, from March 1, 1860, to March 1, 1861.
TAXES.
Received of F. L. Raymond, on account of
Taxes for the year 1859, 2075 00
Rec'd of the Bondsmen of F. L. Raymond, 1421 45
Wm. Bonner, Collector, on account
of Taxes for the year 1860,
29200 00 32696 45
Paid State Tax for 1860,
862 50
Paid County Tax for 1860,
2517 84
3380 34
29316 11
The Taxes remaining uncollected as per Statement, March 1, 1860, were
For 1856, 842 58
For 1857,
1680 12
For 1858,
1786 93
For 1859,
4375 51
8685 14
Since received of F. L. Raymond, Ex-Collector, on acct. of Taxes for 1859, as above, 2075 00
Amt. (apparent,) of uncollected Taxes, to 1859 inclusive, 6610 14 Rec'd as above, of Bondsmen of F. L. Raymond, 1421 45
Actual deficiency on Taxes assessed, to 1859 inclusive, $5188 69
25
BILLS PAYABLE.
1
1860.
June 16, Borrowed of the Warren Institution
for Savings, payable on demand, 1000 00 June 16, Borrowed of Irene G. Arnold, payable on demand, 1100 00
May 23, Borrowed of Lechmere Bank, pay- able in 3 months, 3000 00 July 25, Borrowed of Lechmere Bank, pay- able on demand, 1500 00
Nov. 29, Borrowed of Relief R. Barbour, payable on demand, 1500 00 1861.
March 5, Borrowed of Lechmere Bank, pay- able in 3 months, 1500 00
Jan. 18, Borrowed of Lechmere Bank, pay- able in 2 months, 1000 00
10600 00
1860.
Aug. Paid Warren Institution for Savings, amount borrowed March 1, 1500. 00
Aug. Paid Warren Institution for Savings, amount borrowed June 16, 1000 00
Aug. Paid Lechmere Bank, amount bor- rowed July 25, 1500 00 Aug. 26, Paid Lechmere Bank, amount bor- rowed May 23, 3000 00
March, Paid Irene G. Arnold, amount bor- rowed June 16, 1100 00
8100 00
2500 00
The Town Debt as per Statement, March 1, 1860, was 42554 00
Add balance (to Cr. of Bills Payable, as above, 2500 00
Town Debt, March 1, 1861, $45,054 00
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DISBURSEMENTS.
-
SCHOOLS.
Paid Pond & Duncklee, repairing Stoves, &c. 13 79
Griffin & Boardman, Professional Services in as- sault case, 10 00
J. M. Robbins, repairing Stoves, 39 34
Rose Kelley, sweeping Harvard Primary School Room, 1 63
Mrs. Ramsey, cleaning School House,
3 00
Frederick W. Frost, building fires in Cherry St. School House, 12 00
E. Robinson, fitting Keys, 50
Thomas Hollis, Sponge,
92
Mrs. McCarty, taking care of Maple Street Pri- mary School House, 3 00
Mrs. Ramsey, for cleaning School House, 4 60
Maurice Kinnefce, for sawing wood, 2 81
J. J. Beals, for repairing Clocks, 7 90
Abner Hood, for building fires in Franklin School House, 24 00
F. W. Frost, building fires in Cherry St. School Room, 10 00
N. W. Edson, Pails, Brushes, &c. 4 83
George H. Emerson, one quarter's services' as Supt. of Schools,
75 00
H. H. Babcock, Chemicals furnished for High School, 7 06
Charles J. Barry, Bark,
18 81
Joanna Dunn, making fires and sweeping,
14 00
Abby M. Webb, eight weeks tuition of Harvard Primary School, 46 15
George R. Emerson, building fires and sifting ashes in Walnut Hill School House, 10 00
Susan C. Russell, Books furnished, cleaning School Room, &c. 8 31
Amount carried forward,
$317 65
27
Amount brought forward, $317 65
Paid Thomas Young, one quarter's care of High
School House, moving Settees, &c. 26 00
Joanna Dunn, sweeping Medford and Prospect Hill School Rooms, 12 00
Elizabeth Morrison, two week's tuition in Pros- pect Hill Intermediate School, 11 68
C. E. Knight, four week's tuition in Maple St. Primary School, 33 14
S. D. Hadley, one quarter's instruction of schol- ars in Music, &c. 60 50
Josephine D. Smith, Books furnished indigent Scholars, 2 10
E. W. Howe, Window Shades, and Books fur- nished indigent Scholars, 12 38
Jones, Carpenter & Co., Coal Hods, Shovels, &c. 9 75
E. M. Paul, Carpenter Work, 32 88
A. V. Clark, building fires in Prospect Hill School House, 38 75
John A. Poor, building fires in Forster School House, 4 28
John A. Poor, cleaning Privy, and extra Keys, 2 50
Elizabeth M. Davis, tuition in Franklin Inter- mediate School, 41 75
Mrs. McCarty, building fires and sweeping in Maple Street School House, 13 50
Henrietta M. Close, tuition in Prescott St. Pri- mary School, 46 88
Martha B. Cutter, tuition in 1st Prescott Prima- ry School, 75 00
Olive B. Jackman, tuition in Prescott Interme- diate School, 75 00
Susan M. Priest, tuition in Prescott Primary School, 75 00
Isabel S. Horne, tuition in Prescott Grammar School, 75 00
Elizabeth W. Shelton, tuition in Harvard Pri- mary School, 34 38
Amount carried forward,
1000 12
28
Amount brought forward, 1000 12
Paid Hattie E. Guild, tuition in High School,
12 50
Harriette E. Reed, do. do. 125 00
Henry H. Babcock, do. do.
300 00
Harriet Hill, tuition in Franklin Intermediate School, 75 00
Mary N. Howard, tuition in Franklin Grammar School, 75 00
Abby M. Webb, tuition in Harvard Primary School, 41 13
Mary O. Giles, tuition in Medford Street Prima- ry School, 75 00
Maria L. White, tuition in Maple Street Prima- ry School, 43 75
Caroline S. Plimpton, tuition in Medford Street Sub-Primary School, 75 00
Irene E. Locke, tuition in Prospect Hill Primary School, 75 00
E. W. Crocker, tuition in Prospect Hill Gram- mar School, 75 00
Edward W. Howe, Books and sundries fur- nished, 1 88
Ellen P. Shute, tuition in Forster Primary School, 75 00
Geo. T. Littlefield, tuition in Franklin Gram- mar School, 250 00
Lydia S. King, tuition in Prospect Intermediate School, and Books furnished, 75 79
John Wilson, tuition in Prescott Grammar School, 250 00
Edward W. Howe, tuition in Forster Grammar School, 250 00
Lucy C. Homer, tuition in Cherry Street Prima- ry School, 75 00
Mary E. Proctor, tuition in Forster Primary School, 75 00
Josephine D. Smith, tuition in Forster Interme- diate School, 75 00
Elizabeth Welch, tuition in Prospect Hill Pri- mary School, 75 00
Amount carried forward, 3175 17
29
Amount brought forward, 3175 17
Paid Betsy P. Burgess, tuition in Spring Hill Prima- ry School, 75 00
O. S. Knapp, tuition in Prospect Hill Grammar School, 250 00
Caroline A. Osborne, tuition in Franklin Inter- mediate School, 30 35
Mrs. Kelley, sweeping Harvard School House, 88
E. M. Wood & Co., Pails, Dusters, &c.
7 21
Margaret McCarty, cleaning Maple St. School House, 50
Emma A. Wilson, tuition in Prospect Hill Inter- mediate School, 2 00
Susan C. Russell, tuition in Walnut Hill School,
100 00
George T. Littlefield, sweeping rooms, cleaning,
Books, &c., Franklin Grammar School House, 17 49 Thomas Young, 1 quarter's care High do. 25 00
John Sullivan, one quarter's building fires and sweeping Forster School House, 18 00
John Lane, balance due for building fires in Prescott School House, 15 00
Joanna Dunn, sweeping Prospect Hill and Med- ford Street School Houses, 12 00
Mark Fisk, two loads of Clay, 5 00
J. M. Robbins, repairing Stoves, and sundries, 11 39
Caroline A. Osborne, tuition in Franklin Inter- mediate School, 62 50
Charles J. Barry, Bark and Wood,
13 43
Mary Ford, cleaning Franklin Intermediate School Room, 2 00
Elizabeth W. Shelton, tuition in Harvard Pri- mary School, 75 00
Irene E. Locke, tuition in Prospect Hill Prima- ry School, 75 00
George T. Littlefield, tuition in Franklin Gram- mar School,
250 00
N. Whittier, sweeping Cherry St. School Room,
1 37
Amount carried forward, 4224 29
30
Amount brought forward, 4224 29
Paid Mary O. Giles, tuition in Medford Street Prima- ry School, 75 00
Mrs. McCarty, sweeping Maple Street School Room, 1 25
Olive B. Jackman, tuition in Prescott Interme- diate School, 75 00
Caroline S. Plimpton, tuition in Medford Street Sub-Primary School, 75 00
Mary O. Giles, School Books furnished, 2 58
125 00
Harriet E. Reed, tuition in High School,
Joanna Dunn, sweeping in Prospect Hill and Medford Street School Houses, 6 00
Isabel S. Horne, tuition in Prescott Grammar School, 75 00
Harriet Hill, tuition in Franklin Intermediate School, 75 00
John Wilson, tuition in Prescott Grammar School, 250 00
Henry H. Babcock, tuition in High School, 300 00
Harriet E. Guild, tuition in High School,
75 00
Caleb Bucknam, Labor and Mortar,
11 25
Susan M. Priest, tuition in Prescott Primary School, 75 00
Henrietta M. Close, tuition in Prescott Sub Pri- mary School, 62 50
Crosby, Nichols & Co., Books,
49 37
Crosby, Nichols & Co., Books and Stationery for High School, delivered H. H. Babcock, 27 47
Crosby, Nichols & Co., Books and Stationery, 82 15
Albert Leland, building fires and sweeping in Harvard Primary School, 15 00
G. P. Dutton & Co., 1 doz. Brushes, 4 50
S. D Hadley, Music Lessons, 58 25
Martha B. Cutter, tuition Prescott Sub Interme- diate School, 75 00
Geo. W. Whiting, building fires in Spring Hill
Primary School House, 10 00
Amount carried forward, 5829 61
31
Amount brought forward,
5829 61
J. S. Flint, 6 Window Shades, Fixtures and Hanging, 9 00
Jane Ramsey, cleaning School Rooms, 4 00
Geo. H. Emerson, cash expended in traveling in pursuit of Teachers, 2 37
Geo. H. Emerson, services as Superintendent of Schools, one quarter, 75 00
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