USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1868-1871 > Part 38
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$35,000.00
$124,823.66
Street Lights,
6,000.00
5,595 30
Miscellaneous,
5,000.00
9,279.23
Police,
9,000.00
8,358.38
Soldiers' Relief,.
1,000.00
793.42
State Aid,
179.00
Board of Health Fund,
100.00
Fire Department,
11,000.00
11,408.06
Support of Poor,
3,000.00
3,766.69
Water Distribution,
5,150.00
4,589.04
Salaries of Town Officers,
7,150.00
7,188.63
Interest,
15,750.00
15,213.73
Prescott Hall,
44.39
Morse Hall,
3.17
191,242,70
Town Hall - Credit Balance of Acc't ...
13.65
161,600.00
191,229.05
State Tax, .
14,400.00
14,400.00
County Tax,
5,862.22
5,862.22
$181.862.22
35,000.00
Total Appropriations,
216,862.22
Deduct unexpended balances of the following named appropriations - the same being subject to the order of the Selectmen : -
Summer Street and Extensions,
$2,281.70
Alewife Brook, Bridge, 600.00
Placing H. R. R. Track in Milk St., 10,000.00
12,881.70
203,980.52
Excess of Current Expenses over Appropriations.
7,510.75
211,491.27
211,491.27
The whole amount of Taxes for 1870, as- sessed, was as follows : -
Town Tax, (Appropriat's,) 161,600.00
State Tax, 14,400.00
County Tax, 5,862.22 $181,862.22
Overlay, 3,740.56
to which add Taxes assess- ed after the Tax Books had passed from the hands of the Assessors. 227.81
Amount carried forward, 3,968.37 181,862.22
211,491.27
164
Amounts brought forward, 3,968.37 181,862.22| 211,491.27
and deduct errors in Tax Books as committed to the Collector,
23,04
3,945.33
A total of
185,807.55
of which there has been abated . 2,119.00
uncollected,
16,919.77
19,038.77
and collected as follows : - by Benj. Randall, late Col-
lector, or his employee, as appears by the Tax Books, 91,823.94 by Thomas Cunningham,
present Collector.
74,944.84
166,768.78
deduct amount due from Benjamin Randall, being Taxes collected by him, or his employee, as appears by the Tax Books for 1870; and not paid to the Treasurer, 7,820.37 less his Salary as Collector, 860.00
6,960,37
leaving actual amount of Taxes for the year paid into the Treasury,
159,808.41
and excess of current expenses over Taxes re- ceived,
In addition to the Current Expenses for the year, there has been paid to the debit of
Somerville Water Works, $66,546.50
Morse School House, 7,383.50
Land on Highland Avenue, . 38,418.55
Engine House on Highland Avenue, 7,300.00
51,682.86
Amounts carried forward, $119,648.55 51,682.86
165
Amounts brought forward, 119,648.55 51,682.86
Town Debt, note to J. Sleeper, . 20,933.44
Sewer Account 1870, assessments to be collected, · 23,233.39
Notes Payable, temporary loans paid, 122,500.00
286,315.38
337,998.24
And there has been received in addition to Taxes for 1870, to credit of
Town Treasury, cash balance, Jan. 1,1870, .
10,599,64
Town Debt, for loans effected, . 164,500.00
Taxes 1868, collected as appears by Tax Book, ·
1,137.03
Taxes 1869, collected as appears by Tax Book, 14,170.53
Sewer Assessments, 1869, received from sundry persons, 3,790.16
Available Assets, corporation taxes received from State Treasurer. 3,062.76
Dog License Money, from County Treasurer, 625.77
Notes Payable, temporary loans ef- fccted, 122,500.00
Notes Receivable, - note of First Universalist Society, paid, . 376.25
320,762.14
Balance due the Treasurer Jan. 1, 1871.
$17,236.10
TRIAL BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 1871.
Town Property, .
498,219.08
Town Debt,
450,849.00
Available Assets,
781,07
Balance of Assets,
48,151.15
499,000.15
499,000.15
166
INVENTORY OF TOWN PROPERTY JANUARY 1, 1871.
High School House, land, instruments, furniture, &c. Franklin and Bell School Houses, land, furniture, &c.
Prospect Hill School House, land, furniture, &c. Prescott School House, land, furniture, &c.
45,000.00
Forster School House and Town Hall, land, fur- niture, &c. .
45,000.00
Lincoln School House, land, furniture, &c.
12,500.00
Brastow School House, land, furniture, &c.
6,500.00
Webster School House, land, furniture, &c.
12,500.00
Bennett School House, land, furniture, &c.
12,500.00
Jackson School House, land, furniture, &c. Union School House, land, furniture, &c. .
2,000.00
Harvard School House, land, furniture, &c.
1,500.00
Spring Hill School House, land, furniture, &c.
1,400.00
Cedar Street School House, land, furniture, &c.
1,000.00
Morse School House, land, furniture, &c.
29,935.89
Somerville Water Works,
158,749.77
Land on Highland Avenue,
59,408.99
Land, (Town Farm) on Broadway,
5,000.00
Land, (School Lot) on Broadway,
400.00
Land on Joy Street, .
300.00
Gravel Land in Winchester,
700.00
Ledges on Broadway,
3,700.00
Ledge on Milk Street,
2,000.00
Ledge on Bond Street,
1,900.00
Court House, Stables and Land on Milk Street, Engine House and Armory, Hook and Ladder
4,500.00
House, Stable aud Land on Washington St., 9,000.00
Hose House, Land &c., on Webster St.,
3,000.00
Steam Fire Engine, Horses, Harnesses, &c.,
6,000.00
Washington St., Hose Carriage, Hose, &c.
5,200.00
John E. Wool Hose Carriage, Hose, &c.
2,900.00
Winter Hill Hose Carriage, Hose &c., )
Spring Hill Hose Carriage, Hose &c., S
3,054.43
Amount carried forward,
$483,899.08
$15,500.00
13,500.00
14,250.00
5,000.00
167
INVENTORY OF TOWN PROPERTY - Continued.
'Amount brought forward,
483,899.08
Engine House on Highland Avenue, (unfinished.) Hook and Ladder, Carriage and Apparatus,
500.00
Hand Engine and Apparatus, ·
800.00
Town Pound on Prospect St., . Horses, Carts, Harnesses, Tools, &c., for highways,
4,800.00
Safes and Desk,
820.00
$498,219.08
STATEMENT OF TOWN DEBT, JANUARY 1, 1871.
Date.
Loan.
Description.
Amount.
When Due.
Rate | per ct Int.
Int. paid to
Jan. 10, 1862.
Town.
Note favor of L. R. Paige.
1,500.00
Jan. 10, 1372
6
July 10, 1870.
66
Cambridgep't Į
4,500.00
May 16, 1862.
6
Warren Inst. {
: 7,495.00
May 16, 1872.
52
Nov. 16, "
April 3, 1867.
War.
E Camb 5cts. {
10,000.00
April 3, 1872.
Oct. 3, «"
July 1, 1869.
Water. Coupon Bond No. 4.
50,000,00
July 1, 1872
Jan. 1, 1871.
July 1, 1867.
School. Note favor of Boston five ) cent Savings Bank.
30,000.00
Aug. 25, 1872.
Aug. 25, 1870.
Nov. 25, 1862.
Town.
66 Levi Jones.
5,000.00
Nov. 25, 1872.
6
Nov. 25, "
Dec. 2, 1867.
66
60
John Peabody.
2,500.00
Dec. 2, 1872.
7 Dec. 2, “
April 1, 1370.
Water
Coupon Bond, No. 5.
20,000.00
April 1, 1873
7 Oct. 1,
Dec. 1, 1869.
Town.
66
" 2.
35,000.CO
Dec. 1, 1874
Dec. 1,
School.
66
" 1.
27.000.00
10,000.00
Jan. 1, 1379.
61
Jan. 1, 1871.
July 29, 1859.
Town.
Note favor Lucy Bell.
5,454.00
July 29, 1879.
July 29, 1870.
Oct. 1, «
14,400 00
Oct. 1, 1379.
Oct. 1, «
July 1. 1870.
3. 55,000.00
July 1, 1880
63
Jan. 1, 1871.
Oct. -
21,500.00
Oct. 1,
none accrned.
Water.
66
66
“ 6.
40,000.00
20,000.00
Jan. 1, 1831
66
Dec. 31,
66
Town.
66
66
$ 5.
5,000.00
20,000.00
June 27,188 -.
66
Dec. 27, 1870.
Sept. 23,
21,000.00
Sept. 23,18 34
6
Sept 23,1870.
Dec. 1,
5,000.00
Dec. 1, 1884.
66
Dec. 1, «
66
Warren Inst. } for Savings. S
5,500.00
..
Jan. 1, 1871.
Aug. 25, 1867.
War.
16
66 of Savings. S
66
66 Savings B'k. S
2.
10,000.00
66
66
66
« 1.
Jan. 1,
Water.
Coupon Bond No. 1.
"
. 7.
3,000.00
June 27,1854.
War.
Note favor of M. Cri den.
Note fivor Warren Inst. Į for Savings. 66 66
$450,849.00
66
“ 3.
10.000.00
66
Sept. 1, 1870
Town.
66
School. 66
“ 2.
66
" 4.
7,300.00
100.00
Savings B'k. J
12,000.00
168
AVAILABLE ASSETS OF THE TOWN, JAN. 1, 1871.
Taxes 1868, - uncollected, $1,661.95
Taxes 1869,
2,918.72
Taxes 1870,
16,919.77
Sewer Assessments, - uncollected, 23,233.39
Benj. Randall, - balance due the town, 6,960.37
$51,694.20
Overlay and Abatement, . 7,908.22
Summer Street and Extensions,
2,281.70
Alewife Brook Bridge,
600.00
Placing Horse Railroad Track in Milk Street, . 10,000.00
Somerville Water Works, 3,061.34
Engine House on Highland Avenue,
9,200.00
Dog License Money,
625.77
Town Treasury, - amount due Treas'r, 17,236.10
50,913.13
$781.07 AARON SARGENT, Chairman of Auditing Committee.
SOMERVILLE, Jan. 2, 1871.
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK.
Office at his residence, corner of Pearl and Walnut Streets.
MARRIAGES.
Whole number of marriages solemnized in Somerville in 1870,
was
94
Both parties American, 54
66 66 Foreign, 23
."
Amcriean and foreign, 16
66 Unknown, 1
169
Oldest person married, aged,
51
Youngest "
16
First marriage of
168
Second 66
15
Third 66 66
2
Fourth
1
Unknown,
2
Whole number of births in Somerville in 1870, was 528.
Males,
257
Females,
271
Born of American parentage,
180
forcign 66
278
Mixed when father or mother were foreign,
55
Unknown,
15
There were four pairs of twins born during the year.
DEATHS.
Whole number of deaths in Somerville in 1870, was 260
Males,
135
Females,
125
Born in Massachusetts, 157
Born in Ireland, 45
66
Maine, 15
66 66 England, 6
66 Vermont, 4
Scotland, 1
6 New Hampshire, 10
66
Nova Scotia,
7
66
Connecticut,
2
Canada,
2
66 New York, 5
.66
Washington, D. C., 2
Unknown,
Deaths under 10 years of age,
132
between 10 and 20,
11
66
20 and 30,
18
66
66
30 and 50,
39
37
66
66
70 and 90,
20
90 and 100,
3
Of foreign parentage,
152
American
93
Unknown,
15
Number of persons visiting the Town Clerk at his residence during the past year on official business, over three thousand.
CHARLES E. GILMAN, Town Clerk.
SOMERVILLE, January 2, 1871.
.
4
.
50 and 70,
OFFICERS
OF THE
Be TOWN OF SOMERVILLE,
OVE Su A
FOR 1870.
Selectmen.
AUSTIN BELKNAP, Chairman,
JACOB T. GLINES,
CHARLES S. LINCOLN,
FRANCIS HOUGHTON,
JOHN G. HALL,
HORACE HASKINS,
Franklin street.
ROBERT A. VINAL,
Walnut street.
Franklin street. Cherry street.
Town Clerk.
- CHARLES E. GILMAN, Walnut st., near Lowell R. R.
Treasurer and Collector of Taxes.
THOMAS CUNNINGHAM, Oak street. .
School Committee.
O. S. KNAPP, Chairman, Washington street.
JOSHUA H. DAVIS, Supt. & Sec'y. Myrtle street. SAMUEL A. CARLTON, Broadway.
HENRY F. SPENCER, ENOCH R. MORSE, PROF. JOHN P. MARSHALL,
REV. GEO. W. DURELL, H. P. HEMENWAY, EDWIN MILLS,
Sycamore street.
Spring street. Tufts College.
Summer street. Perkins street. Dane street.
CYRUS F. CROSBY,
NELSON HOWE,
Central street. Broadway. Laurel street. Prospect street. Summer street.
171
Somerville Mystic Water Committee.
AARON SARGENT, Chairman,
ROBERT A. VINAL,
REUBEN E. DEMMON, C. E. RYMES, CUTLER DOWNER,
Broadway. Walnut street.
Cherry street.
Summer street.
Central street.
Assessors.
JOHN C. MAGOUN, Chairman,
JOHN C. TENNEY,
GEORGE W. IRELAND,
Broadway. ' Mystic avenue. School street.
Assistant Assessors.
ROBERT A. VINAL,
BENJAMIN RANDALL,
SILAS H. HOLLAND,
Walnut street. Washington street. Broadway.
Overseers of the Poor.
JOHN C. MAGOUN, Chairman,
Broadway.
DAVID A. SANBORN, JR.,
Prospect street.
CHARLES A. MONGAN,
Milk street.
Finance Committee.
REUBEN E. DEMMON, Chairman,
CUTLER DOWNER,
AARON SARGENT,
Cherry street.
Central street.
Broadway.
Auditing Committee.
AARON SARGENT, Chairman, Broadway.
HENRY FRANK WOODS,
JAMES N. CLARK, A
Forster street. Glen street.
Board Of Health. THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN. II. P. HEMENWAY, Physician, Perkins street.
Surveyors of Highways. THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN.
FRANKLIN HENDERSON, Supt., Central street.
172
Constables.
HORACE B. RUNEY,
Cross street.
CHARLES TRULL,
Vine street.
GRANVILLE LELAND,
Elm street.
MICHAEL HANLEY,
Milk street.
JAIRUS MANN,
Sycamore street.
FRANKLIN F. SNOW,
Union Square.
Police Officers.
THEODORE C. JOSSLYN, STEPHEN SMITH,
Broadway.
Beacon street.
N. L. PENNOCK,
Fitchburg street.
GEORGE H. BURROWS,
Canal street.
SAMUEL H. GOODING,
Joy street.
JOHN H. HANLEY,
Milk street.
ORR N. TOWNE,
Mt. Vernon street.
GEORGE W. THOMAS,
THOMAS CUNNINGHAM,
Oak street.
JAMES HANLEY,
Milk street.
HUGH BLACKWELL,
Kent street.
FRANKLIN HENDERSON,
Central street.
DAVID A. SANBORN, JR.,
ROBERT R. PERRY,
Franklin street.
THOMAS G. TEMPLE,
Broadway.
Curtis street.
Medford street.
CHRISTOPHER C. CAVANAUGH, Myrtle st., (near Milk).
MELVIN C. PARKHURST, JOSEPH YOUNG,
Highland avenue.
BERNARD McCARROLL,
Clyde street.
JAMES L. WHITAKER,
Central street.
H. H. JOSSLYN,
Broadway.
DANIEL B. PERKINS,
Maple street.
Fire Engineers.
DAVID A. SANBORN, JR., Chief, SAMUEL H. GOODING,
Prospect street.
Joy street.
HENRY A. ANGIER,
Broadway.
GEORGE CUTTER,
Elm street.
JAMES R. HOPKINS,
Bonair street.
Prospect street. -
G. W. HOLDEN, T. J. COLBY,
Webster avenue.
JOHN N. STEVENS,
?
173
Fence Viewers.
OHN C. MAGOUN, ALEB BUCKNAM,
LORACE B. RUNEY,
Broadway. Milk street. Cross street.
Public Weighers.
T. W. EDSON, CHARLES E. BENT,
Union Square.
ATRICK O'BRIEN,
Prospect street.
Sealer of Leather.
THOMAS CUNNINGHAM,
Oak street.
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
JOHN C. MAGOUN, Broadway.
Surveyors of Wood, Bark, and Lumber.
J. F. EDSON,
Milk street.
N. W. EDSON,
Milk street.
E. T. TEMPLE,
Broadway.
DANIEL L. DEMMON,
Broadway.
THOMAS CUNNINGHAM,
Oak street.
ANSEL LEWIS,
Committee on Fishing.
LEVI RUSSELL, Broadway.
AND THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN.
Field Drivers.
JAMES R. HOPKINS,
F. D. SNOW,
Turnpike street.
D. C. ROBBINS,
Near Spring street.
Vine street.
CHARLES TRULL,
Washington street.
JAIRUS MANN, THEODORE C. JOSSLYN,
Broadway.
Elm street.
GRANVILLE LELAND, CALEB BUCKNAM,
Milk street.
Central street.
Central street.
Franklin street. Webster avenue.
Myrtle.
Harvard street court.
FRANKLIN HENDERSON, W. S. TUFTS, ROBERT R. PERRY, M. C. PARKHURST, C. C. CAVANAUGH, MILO SCOTT,
Bonair street.
Everett street.
D. P. BUCKNAM,
Cherry street.
JACOB EMERSON,
Webster street.
174
TOWN OFFICERS OF SOMERVILLE FROM ITS INCORPORATION TO THE PRESENT TIME. SELECTMEN.
1842. J. S. Edgerly. C. W. Leland. L. Mitchell.
F. Bowman.
Orr N. Towne.
1843.
do.
do.
1844.
do.
do.
do. do. do. · Silas Kinsley. F. Bowman.
Jos. Clark.
do. Benj. Hadley. do. do. do.
1845. G. O. Brastow. Edw'd Cutter. I. S. Spring. 1846.
do.
1847.
do.
do. G. T. Ring. do.
do. Chas. Miller.
1848. J. S. Edgerly.
T. J. Leland,
1849. do.
do.
do. Chester Guild. Jas. Hill, do.
1850.
do.
do.
1851. do.
do.
1852.
do.
do.
N. Tufts, Jr.
1853.
do.
Jas. M. Shute.
do.
do. do. do. Jos. Clark. do. do. Benj. Randall, C. C. Walden.
1854. do. 1855. B. Woodward.
do.
do.
N. C. Hawkins. do.
1856.
J. S. Edgerly.
do.
J. C. Tenney.
Sam'l Trull. S. Hamblen.
do.
do.
do.
Benj. Randall.
do.
Mark Fisk.
do.
do. do. do. T. Cunningham. do.
A. Kenneson.
1860.
do.
do.
1861.
Chas. H. Guild.
do.
do.
do. do.
do.
1862.
do.
do.
do.
do. Levi Timson.
S. C. Whitcher. Nelson Howe.
1864.
do.
F. Houghton.
G. W. Hadley.
do.
do.
1865.
do.
do.
do.
do. do. S. H. Holland.
1866. do.
do.
do.
.
do.
1867. G. O. Brastow.
do.
do.
J. A. Paine. do.
do. do.
H. Haskins. do.
do.
do.
1870. do.
do.
do.
do.
Nelson Howe. C. F. Crosby.
John G. Hall. R. A. Vinal.
1868.
do.
do.
C. S. Lincoln. do.
do.
1869. A. Belknap.
do.
do. J. T. Glines.
J. S. Ware.
do.
do. H. A. Snow,
1863. John R. Poor.
do.
1857. 1858. 1859. .
do.
, J. K. Hall.
. Abram Welch, do. do. do.
do. John Runey. do.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1842. James Hill. Alfred Allen. G. C. Hawkins. Henry Adams. Levi Russell.
1843.
do.
do.
do. J.W. Mulliken. Henry Adams.
do.
Wm. A. Russell. do.
1844. do.
do· Thos. J. Leland. do.
1845. do.
do.
Fitch Cutter.
1847.
do.
Edw.L.Stevens. G. O. Brastow.
do.
do.
do. do.
do. Wm. Stowe.
1848.
do.
Alfred Allen.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
Edw.L.Stevens. do.
do.
do. I. F. Shepard.
do.
do. A. R. Pope. do. do.
James Hill.
John K. Hall.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
Edw. L.Stevens. W. E. Graves. Francis Tufts.
·
·
.
do. I. F. Shepard. Isaac Story.
do.
do.
John K. Hall.
do.
Clark Bennett. do.
do.
do. M. Draper, Jr. do.
do.
do.
C. S. Lincoln.
do.
do. C. F. Crosby. do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do. do.
do.
1861. do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
Nelson Howe. do.
1862. do,
do.
Austin Belknap.
do.
J. H. Davis.
do.
Isaac Story.
do.
B. F. Tweed.
do.
1863.
do.
do. J. L. Lombard.
do.
do.
Leonard Arnold.
do.
do.
H. A. Dearborn. do.
1864.
do.
do. E. P. Dyer.
1865.
do.
do.
E. R. Morse.
do.
do.
B. Woodward. O. S. Knapp.
do.
S. C. Whitcher.
do.
1866. John A. Hughes. S. A. Carlton.
1867.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
1868.
do.
do.
do.
do.
1869.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
1870. H.P.Hemenway.
do.
do.
do.
Edwin Mills.
do.
do. J'n Brown, Jr. A. R. Pope.
G. H. Emerson. do.
1855. 1856. 1857. 1858. 1859. 1860.
Chas. H. Guild.
do.
do. N. J. Knight, P. R. Ridgway.
S. E. Brackett. Aaron Sargent. Geo. D. Clark.
do.
J. P. Marshall. John G. Hall. J. E. Howard.
do.
do.
G. O. Brastow. do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
W. K. Fletcher.
· H. F. Spencer. G. W. Durell.
do.
do.
J. P. Marshall.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do. do. · Ed'n Munroe, Jr. Edwin Leigh. G. O. Brastow.
do. do. C. I. Putnam. J'n. Brown, Jr.
1849. 1850. 1851. 1852. 1853. do. 1854. E. E. Cole.
do. L. R. Russell.
do.
do. Charles Forster. do.
1846.
do. N. P. Morrison. Clark Bennett.
Samuel Poor. J. C. Magoun. J. S. Edgerly. Luther V. Bell.
do.
B. Woodward. Clark Bennett. Jos. E. Bartlett.
D. W. Funce. C.H. Strickland.
175
do. R. E. Demmon. J. R. Poor.
do.
i
1842 to 1870.
Charles E. Gilman. TOWN TREASURER.
1842.
Edmund Tufts.
1843 to 1855.
Robert Vinal.
1856 to
1861.
Clark Bennett.
1862.
Robert A. Vinal.
1863 to 1870. Thomas Cunningham.
ASSESSORS.
1842 and 1843.
J. C. Magoun.
Oliver Tufts.
G. C. Hawkins.
1845 to 1847.
Fitch Cutter.
D. A. Sanborn.
Levi Russell
Caleb W. Leland.
Abel Fitz.
1856 to 1858.
do.
do.
E. C. Purdy.
1859.
do.
do.
Quincy A. Vinal.
1860.
do.
do.
F. L. Raymond.
1861 and 1862.
do.
do.
C. D. Wild.
1863 and 1864.
do.
do. M. Dechan.
1865.
do.
R. A. Vinal.
do.
1866.
do.
Jer'h. Stimson.
Patrick Rafferty.
1867.
do.
John C. Tenney. Columbus Tyler. do.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
1842. Chas. Adams.
Isaac S. Spring. R. G. Tenney.
1843. J. C. Magoun.
A. C. Spring. O. N. Towne.
1844. Edw. Cutter.
S. T. Frost. Geo. W. Wyatt. do.
Benj. Fisk.
Robert Vinal. Chas. Forster.
1862.
do. do.
S. C. Whiteher.
1846. 1847.
1848 to 1850. Iliram Allen. John Dugan.
1851.
1852 and 1853. J. C. Magoun. 1854.
do. do.
1855 and 1856. -
COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
1842.
Edmund Tufts.
1843 to 1846.
David Bolles.
1847 to 1856.
Hugh Moore.
1857 to 1859. F. L. Raymond.
1860 to 1864. William Bonner.
1865
to 1869.
Benjamin Randall
1870.
Thomas Cunningham.
OVERSEERS OF THE [POOR .- Continued.
1857.
J. C. Magoun. F. L. Raymond. Abram Weleh.
1858,
H. A. Snow. do.
do.
do.
A. Kenneson.
1859.
do. F. L. Raymond. do.
do.
C. Kingman.
do.
1863 & 1864.
do.
P. Rafferty.
do.
1865 & 1866.
do.
do.
C. Bennett.
do.
176
AUDITING COMMITTEE.
1844 to 1850.
James Hill,
E. Munroe, Jr. C. Tyler. do.
1851.
Sam'l T. Frost, E. L. Stevens.
1852.
James Hill, do.
do.
1853.
Clark Bennett. do. do. Francis Tufts.
do.
John Bolles. · do.
do.
1859. do. Q. A. Vinal.
do.
1860 & 1861.
Aaron Sargent, H. F. Woods.
do.
N. J. Knight. do. .J. N. Clark. do.
R. W. Stimson.
1865.
1866.
1867.
1868 to 1870.
Aaron Sargent. H. F. Woods.
G. A. Pratt.
S. N. Watson. W. S. Barnes. B. S. Binney.
J. M. Schroeder. J. N. Clark.
1848 and 1849.
J. C. Magoun.
Win. Bonner. do.
1850 to 1855.
do.
do. Abram Welch.
1867 to 1869.
1870.
J. C. Magoun, D. A. Sanborn. C. A. Mongan.
do.
1854 & 1855.
1856 to 1858.
1845. Jonathan Teel do. Ed. L. Stevens.
Columbus Tyler. Clark Bennett.
1863.
Oliver Tufts.
1864.
Oren S. Knapp. do. H. F. Woods.
do. do.
Huglı Moore.
do. do.
do. do. Chas. E. Gilman. Lebbeus Stetson.
Geo. W. Ireland.
TOWN CLERK.
1868 to 1870. do.
1860 to 1862.
-
REPORTS
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
SOMERVILLE,
FOR THE YEAR 1871.
-
BOSTON: ALFRED MUDGE & SON, PRINTERS, 34 SCHOOL STREET. 1872.
REPORT
OF THE
SELECTMEN.
IN submitting this, the last Annual Report of the Town of Somerville, for the consideration of its citi- zens, the selectmen desire to present all subjects of interest or importance in such a manner as will ena- ble the legal voters to clearly understand the true condition in which its business is handed over to the city government.
The board is organized by the appointment of standing committees, to each of which special duties are assigned, on which they have reported to the board in the order in which they are named; and their several reports have been adopted as a part of the report of the selectmen.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS.
AN increased interest in the matter of highways has been manifested the past year, and a large amount of work performed.
A marked improvement in the condition of our streets is plainly discernible, and it is of the highest importance that the utmost vigilance should be used not only to maintain, but to improve, upon thei' present condition.
STREETS ACCEPTED.
The following streets have been accepted during the year.
ARLINGTON STREET. ALDERSEY STREET. BROOK STREET. DANE STREET. JENNY LIND AVENUE.
An order has been received from the county com- missioners authorizing the town to cross the Fitch- burg Railroad with Dane street at grade.
STREETS LAID OUT UNDER THE BETTERMENT LAW. HIGHLAND AVENUE, its extension and widening. WILLOW AVENUE.
5
PRESCOTT STREET. PUTNAM STREET. BONAIRE STREET. RUSH STREET.
All of the above streets have been legally laid out, and plans of the same made indicating the bounda- ries of the land taken, also the grade at which the streets are to be finished.
The building of Highland avenue extension has been contracted to Messrs. Scanlon & Trenholm, for the sum. of seventeen thousand three hundred and twenty-five dollars, and the work is nearly completed. 'n laying out this avenue, a uniform grade has been adopted, making it much easier for public travel, and less likely to be injured by the wash, when there are sudden showers, thaws, or heavy rains. The expense of building a sewer and laying gas and water pipes will be much less, the excavations being uniform, and only so deep as is required for their security. The street is now all graded ready to set edgestones, when the abutters require them, so that in future years there will be no damage to be paid for a change of grade. Grade damages are much less when land is worth one thousand dollars an acre, than they will be when it is worth ten times as much, if by reason of a change of grade the abutters are damaged. For favoring the laying out of this avenue, we have been subjected to the unfavorable criticism of many of our citizens; but time, the disposer of all things, we are well satisfied, will convince the most captious that no
6
improvement has been made that promises greater pecuniary advantage to our town.
The existence of large clay beds in the soil of Somerville has induced brickmakers to dig up the surface of some of the finest lands in the town, and after using the clay in the manufacture of brick, which are drawn to market over our streets to their great injury, these lands are left in a shapeless and un- inviting condition, paying but a small tax compared with what they would have paid had they remained in their natural condition. An acre of land with a bed of clay averaging eight feet deep over its entire surface, is valued at six thousand dollars for making brick. By laying this avenue through clay lands suitable for building first class residences, these lands are made worth eight to ten thousand dollars an acre. Under these circumstances, may we not reasonably expect to see these lands sold for building purposes, and first-class dwellings erected thereon, and those dwellings occupied by tax payers, that will lessen rather than increase the burdens of taxation? At the same time we may save much in the wear and tear of our street.
The enhanced value of land bordering on this avenue will at the present rate of taxation more than pay the interest on the cost of construction, and after one year more will fast reduce the principal, so that this investment will all soon be returned to the town treasury, and ever afterwards be a source of income to the town. It was the intention of the selectmen to have widened the avenue; but this work could not
7
be done during the summer without great injury to the trees, and shubbery, which must necessarily be removed; and during the fall the press of business to finish up what work we had already begun was so great as to prevent our engaging in this work.
Willow avenue is laid out in a straight line fifty feet wide from Elm street to Broadway. It has been constructed and accepted by the selectmen from Elm to the northerly side of Appleton street, at a cost of four thousand seven hundred and forty-seven dol- lars.
It is important that the portion of this avenue, lying between Appleton street and Broadway, should be completed this year, so that the assessments may be made upon the abutters within the time limited by law.
A contract has been made with Charles A. Mon- gan to grade Putnam and Prescott streets, and the grading of Putnam street is partially completed. A communication has been received from the contrac- tor and placed on file, stating his inability to fulfil the contract, and asking to be relieved of grading Prescott street.
The work of grading Rush street has been begun; but owing to the lateness of the season it could not be finished without incurring unnecessary expense.
REPAIRS.
Street expenditures are as follows, viz .: -
Milk and Elm street, from Union Square to
Cherry street, at a cost of . . $12,052 75
8
Bow street
$300 00
Park street
300 00
Summer street
300 00
Linwood street, its entire length
2,758 68
Medford street, from Washington street to High- land avenue . 1,821 00
Elm street, at junction of Holland and Summer streets .
2,439 00
Adams place, as per agreement made by sewer committee in 1870 475 00
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