Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1896, Part 3

Author: Attleboro (Mass.)
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: The City
Number of Pages: 316


USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1896 > Part 3


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20. Attleboro Mutual Life In- surance Co., interest for six months on note of $3,000, dated Sept. 1, 1888, at 4 per cent. 60 00


Interest for 6 months on note of $3,000 dated Dec. 10, 1890, at 4 per cent. 60 00


59


ANNUAL REPORT.


Sept 17. Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Co., interest on bonds due Oct. 1, 1896,


$700 00


Dec. 18 First National Bank of Attleboro, interest for 4 months on note of $20,000 dated Dec. 18,' 1896, at 32 per cent. 258 33


Dec. 28. Interest due on registered bonds, Jan. 1, 1897,


1,000 00


31. Attleboro Mutual Fire In- surance Co., interest for 6 months on note of $3.000, dated Sept. 1, 1888, at 4 per cent. 60 00


Interest for 6 months on note of $3,000 dated Dec 10, 1890, at 4 per cent. 60 00


$5,512 60


Miscellaneous.


Paid.


May 7. Treasurer of the State of Massachusetts, druggist license, $ 25


Oct. 9. George F. Pratt, County Treasurer, County tax for 1896, 7,594 OI


Dec. 17. State of Massachusetts, State Tax, 3,220 00 National Bank Tax, 792 60


60


ANNUAL, REPORT.


Assessment Account, abolition of grade crossings, $1,360 52


Interest Account, abolition of grade crossings, 144 81


31. . Amount paid Water Department by vote of the Town, March 2, 1896, 7,150 00 John T. Bates, Treasurer of the Sink- ing Fund, 5,400 00


State Aid under Chapter 301, Acts of 1889, 1,384 00


Military Aid under Chapter 279, Acts of 1889, 394 00


Deborah Starkey Fund, 36 00


Bills approved by the Selectinen, 90,51I 20


$117,987 39


Cash on hand, January 1, 1897, 4,005 14


Total amount expended for the year 1896, and


casli on hand, $230,505 13


Outstanding Bonds and Notes.


JANUARY 1, 1897.


Bonds due January 1, 1906, $50,000 00


Bonds due April 1, 1897, 35,000 00


Nortli Attleboro's pro-


portion, $12,974 50


Attleboro's proportion, 22,025 50


$85,000 00


61


ANNUAL REPORT.


Attleborough Mutual Fire Insurance


Co., note dated Sept. 1, 1888, $3,000 00 Note dated, December 10, 1890, 3,000 00 First National Bank of Attleborough, note dated Dec. 18, 1896, at 33 per cent. 20,000 00 -- $26,000 00


WATER DEPARTMENT.


RECEIPTS.


Cash on hand, January 1, 1896, $6,547 52


Wm. J. Luther, Water Registrar, $15,381 14


Appropriation made by the Town


March 2, 1896,


7,150 00 -: 22,531 14


Bonds.


1896. RECEIVED FROM


Jan. 22, Sale of bonds issued Sept. I, 1895, for the pur- pose of refunding bonds dated Sept. 1, 1885, $12,000 00


July 1. Sale of bonds issued July 1, 1896, 25,000 00


-$37,000 00


62


ANNUAL REPORT.


Premium.


1896. RECEIVED FROM


Jan. 22. Premium on bond issued Sept. 1, 1895, $697 20


July I. Premium on bonds issued July 1, 1896, 1,729 25


$2,426 45


Miscellaneous.


1896. RECEIVED FROM


Jan. I. Sale of water pipe, $71 87


22. Accrued interest on bonds dated Sept. 1, 1895, 173 33


June 2. First National Bank of


Attleboro, note dated June 2, 1896, at 4 per cent. 25,000 00


$25,245 20


Total amount received for the year 1896, and cash on hand, Jan. I, 1896, 93,750 31


EXPENDITURES.


Interest.


Paid First Nat. Bank of Attleboro, interest due on bonds for the year 1896, $5,920 00


63


ANNUAL REPORT.


Paid Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Co, interest due on bonds for the year 1896, $4,580 00


Paid interest due on registered bonds for the year 1896, 400 00


Paid interest on refunded bonds dat- ed Sept. 1, 1885, 179 58


Paid First Nat. Bank of Attleboro, interest from June 2, 1896, to July 1, 1896, on note of $25,000 dated June 2, 1896, at 4 per cent. 77 78


$11,157 36


Miscellaneous.


Paid.


Jan. 22. Sinking Fund of the Water Department. Premium on bonds issued Sept. I, 1895, $697 20


July 1. First National Bank of Attleboro, note dated June 2, 1896, at 4 per cent. 25,000 00


14. John T. Bates, Treasurer Sinking Fund of Water Department, 4,650 00


6.4


ANNUAL REPORT.


Amount of bonds refunded,


dated Sept. 1, 1885, $12,000 00 Bills approved by the se- lectmen :-


Maintenance Account, 5,534 68


Construction Account, 27,674 57


$75,556 45


Cash on hand January I, 1897, 7,036 50


Total amount expended for the year 1896, and cash on hand, $93,750 31


Examined and found correct.


ORVILLE P. RICHARDSON, -- BENJAMIN F. LINDSEY. Auditors. JAN. 23, 1897.


Outstanding Bonds.


JANUARY 1, 1897.


4 per cent. bonds due Jan. 1902, $20,000 00 7 per cent. bonds due Jan. 1904, 40,000 00


4 per cent bonds due Oct. 1912, 20,000 00 4 per cent. bonds due Sept. 1915, 12,000 00


4 per cent. bonds due Jan. 1919, 20,000 00 4 per cent. bonds due Jan. 1921, 18,000 00


4 per cent. bonds due Oct. 1922, 25,000 00


4 per cent. bonds due July 1923, 35,000 00 4 per cent. bonds due July 1924, 40,000 00


4 per cent. bonds due July 1926, 25,000 00


$255,000 00


65%


ANNUAL, REPORT.


RECAPITULATION.


Town Bonds.


4s A. & O., due April 1, 1897, $35,000 00


Deduct North Attle-


boro's proportion of bonds, 12,974 50


$22,025 50


4s J. & J., due Jan., 1906, 50,000 00


Floating debt.


$72,025 50 26,000 00°


Total debt, Jan. 1, 1897,


$98,025 50%


Sinking Fund Assets,


28,246 33%


Balance, net debt, $69,779 17


Water Department.


BONDS.


4s J. & J., due Jan. 1, 1902, $20,000 00 75 J. & J., due Jan. 1, 1904, 40,000 00


4s A. & O., due Oct. 1, 1912, 20,000 00 4s S. & M., due Sept. 1, 1915, 12,000 00 4s J. & J., due Jan. 1, 1919, 20,000 00 4s J. & J., due Jan. 1, 1921, 18,000 00


66


ANNUAL REPORT.


4s A. & O., due Oct. 1, 1922, $25,000 00


4s J. & J., due July 1, 1923, 35,000 00


4s J. & J., due July 1, 1924, 40,000 00


4s J. & J., due July 1, 1926, 25,000 00


Bonded debt, January, 1897, Sinking Fund assets, 32,282 52


$255,000 00


Balance, net debt, $222,717 48 Total bonded debt of the Town and Water Department, less North Attleboro's proportion of bonds,


$327,025 50


Floating debt of the Town,


26,000 00


Total debt of the Town and Water Depart-


ment, January 1, 1897, $353,025 50


Sinking Fund Assets of the Town and Water Department, 60,528 85


Balance, net debt of the Town and


Water Department, $292,496 65


JOHN T. BATES,


Treasurer.


Examined and found correct.


O. P. RICHARDSON, 1 Auditors. BENJAMIN F. LINDSEY.


SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES OF THE TOWN OF ATTLEBOROUGH FOR THE YEAR 1896


DEPARTMENTS.


Appropriation.


Credits.


Totals.


Expenditures.


Unexpended


Balance.


Over


Expenditures.


Educational (Salaries, Fuel, etc.).


$22,000.00 $1,364.32 $23, 364.32 $23,433.64


Superintendent of Schools,


1,200.00


1,200.00


1,200.00


. . .


...


Conveyance of School Children,


880.00


880.00


880 00


Educat'1, Text Books and Supplies, .


1,600.00


15.55


1,615.55


2, 132.16


516.61


Educational, Incidental and Repairs,


3,000.00


3,000.00


2,882.99


$117.01


..


Dodgeville School House Addition, .


600.00


600.00


622.68


22.68


Capron School House, Prospect st.,


6,500.00


6,500.00


6,215.25


284.75


..


Record of 200th Anniversary,


500.00


500.00


II, III.26


·


2,277.95


Decorating graves of Soldiers,


250.00


250.00


250.00


Fire Department (current and incidental),


4,000.00


50.00


4,050.00


4,239.63


189.63


Fire Alarm Towers, .


1,700.00


1,700.00


1,672.79


27.2I


Fire Department, 100 feet of cotton hose, ..


500.00


500.00


480.00


20.00


. .


Highways and Bridges,


8,000.00


278.37


8,278.37


8,321.96


43.59


Special Liquor Law,


500.00


50.00


550.00


100.00


450.00


. .


Public Library, .


1,500.00


1,500.00


1,551.20


51.20


Pauper and Medical Attendance,


5,300.00


1,366.15


6,666.15


7,236.65


... ...


570.50


Sidewalks,


2,000.00


698.20


2,698.20


3,355.18


656.98


Street Lighting,


5,000.00


5,000.00


4,873.00


127.00


.


Stone Crusher,


2,000.00


72.92


2,072.92


2,778.42


705.50


Street Sprinkling,


1,800.00


313.00


3,313.00


2,541.IO


771.90


....


Tool House, ..


800.00


800.00


683.64


116.36


. .


.....


Military Aid,


300.00


251.00


551.00


394.00


157 00


.. . .


.


1,456.00


1,456.00


1,384.00


72.00


Fire Dep't, 250 feet hose, Attleboro City,


125.00


..


125.00


120.00


5.00


East Street Sewer,


450.00


450.00


366.50


83.50


...


Capron Street Sewer,


300.00


300.00


225.75


74.25


...


$82,980.00 $6,750.82


$89,730.82


$92,289.20


$2,946.18


$5,504.56


..


.


....


. .


.


....


.


..


...


Thacher Brook Drain, .


1,000.00


2.00


1,002.00


1,001.80


.20


400.60


Soldier's Relief and Medical Attendance, . Soldiers' Burial,


175.00


175.00


35.00


140.00


..


Current and Incidental,


8,000.00


833.31


8,833.31


1,800.00


2,200.60


.. ...


..


State Aid


....


. .


.


...


$ 69.32


500.00


...


3,000.00


REPORT


OF THE


SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS


OF THE


Town of Attleborough, Mass.


69


ANNUAL, REPORT.


REPORT OF SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS.


1897.


DR.


To Cash received from Town Treas-


urer, from January, 1886, to January, 1896, as per last report, $47,600 00


To Cash received from Town Treas- urer, from January 1, 1896 to January 1, 1897, 5,400 00


To Cash received for interest from January, 1886, to January, 1896, as per last report, 15,132 48


To Cash received for interest from Jan., 1896, to Jan., 1897, 1,018 35


- $69,150 83


CR.


January, 1897.


By amount invested on mortgages of real estate, $22,150 00


By Attleboro's proportion of bonds paid July, 1894, and April I, 1895, 40,904 50


By Cash on hand,


6,096 33


--- $69.150 83


70


ANNUAL REPORT.


WATER DEPARTMENT.


DR. 1897.


To Cash received from Sinking Fund Commissioners of Attle- boro Fire District No. 1, $2,392 33 Received mortgages of real estate from Sinking Fund Commis- sioners of Attleboro Fire Dis- trict, No. I, 9,000 00


To Cash received from Town Treas- urer from March 29, 1893 to January 1, 1896, as per last report, 11,650 00 To Cash received from Town Treas-


urer from January 1, 1896, to January 1, 1897, 5,347 20


To Cash received for interest front March 29, 1893, to January 1, 1896, as per last report, 2,715 81


To Cash received for interest from January 1, 1896, to January I, 1897, 1,177 18


$32,282 52


ANNUAL REPORT.


CR.


January, 1897.


By amount invested on mortgages of real estate, $31,900 00


By Cash on hand, 382 52 --- $32,282 52


E. S. HORTON,


Commission ers FRANK I. BABCOCK, of


CHAS. E. BLISS. Sinking Fund ..


JOHN T. BATES, Treasurer.


ATTLEBOROUGH, MASS., Dec. 31, 1896.


The Trustees of the Tri-centennial Fund make the following report :


Cash deposited with the Attleborough


Savings Bank, June, 1895,


$200 00


Accrued interest to October, 1896,


14 36


214 36


Respectfully submitted,


GEO. F. BICKNELL,


MACE B. SHORT,


EVERETT S. HORTON,


W. L. ELLIOT, L. Z. CARPENTER.


Trustees.


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


ASSESSORS


OF THE


TOWN OF ATTLEBOROUGH, MASS,


ASSESSORS' REPORT, 1896.


RECAPITULATION.


Individuals,


I, IIO


All others,


IOO


1,210


Non-residents,


362


All others,


16


378


Number of Persons Assessed.


On Property,


1,588


Poll Tax only, 1,538


3,126


Number of Male Polls assessed, 2,390


Value of Assessed Personal Estate.


Excluding resident bank stock,


$903,556


Resident bank stock. 86,875


$990,431


Value of Assessed Real Estate.


Buildings, excluding land,


$2,645,563


Land, excluding buildings, 1,267,147


$3,912,710


Total Valuation of Assessed Estate,


May 1, 1896, $4,903,141


76


ANNUAL REPORT.


Tax for State, County and Town Purposes.


(Including Overlayings.)


On Personal Estate,


$20,799 05


On Real Estate,


82,166 91


On Polls,


4,780 00


-$107,745 96


Rate, $21.00 per thousand.


Number of horses assessed, 795


Number of cows assessed, 675


Number of neat cattle assessed, 83


Number of swine assessed, 199


.


Number of dwellings assessed, 1,549


Number of acres of land assessed,


15,000


Number of fowls assessed. 516


77


ANNUAL REPORT.


APPROPRIATIONS


FOR 1896.


Stone Crusher,


$2,000 00


Medical attendance,


300 00


Paupers,


5,000 00


Tool House,


800 00


Military Aid,


300 00


Soldiers' Relief,


3,000 00


Sidewalks, 2,000 00


Highways and Bridges,


· 8,000 00


Superintendent of Schools,


1,200 00


Educational Department,


22,000 00


Text-books and Supplies,


1,600 00


Educational, Incidentals and Repairs, 3,000 00


Conveyance of Pupils, 880 00


Current and Incidental,


8,000 00


Public Library, 1,500 00


Decorating Graves,


250 00


Fire Department for Hose,


500 00


Watering Streets, 500 00


Street Lights,


5,000 00


Liquor Law,


500 00


Thacher Brook Drain,


1,000 00


Dodgeville School House, 600 00


Fire Dep't, Current and Incidental,


4,000 00


Prospect street School; House, 3,500 00


Sinking Fund Water Department, 7,150 00


Fire Alarmı, 1,700 00


78


ANNUAL REPORT.


School House, Pleasant View.


$2,500 00


Flags and Flagstaffs,


450 00


Town Sinking Fund,


5,400 00


Interest on note,


1,000 00


Interest on bonds,


3,400 00


State Tax,


3,220 00


County Tax,


7,594 OI


Overlayings,


604 59


-$108,448 60


JOHN THACHER,


J. O. MOWRY,


E. B. BULLOCK.


Assessors of Attleboro.


REPORT


OF THE


COLLECTOR OF TAXES.


OF THE


Town of Attleborough, MASS.


TAX COLLECTOR'S REPORT.


Uncollected Taxes and cash on hand


January 1, 1896, $21,964 87


Interest received, 294 85


$22,259 72


CR.


Paid Town Treasurer, $15,997 60


Taxes abated,


727 75


Uncollected Taxes,


5,534 37


$22,259 72


Assessors' Warrant, 1896, $108,546 58


Added Taxes, 1896, 191 75


Interest received, 1896, 120 75


$108,859 08


CR.


Paid Town Treasurer, 1896, $81,725 40


Cash on hand, 1896,


1,050 36


Taxes abated, 1896, 443 16


Uncollected Taxes,


25,640 16


$108,859 08


J. O. MOWRY, Collector.


Examined Jan. 19, 1897, and found correct.


BENJAMIN F. LINDSEY, -


ORVILLE P. RICHARDSON. - Auditors.


82


ANNUAL REPORT.


Betterment Taxes, 1896.


Committed,


$358 10 Collected,


$200 50


Cash on hand,


157 60


$358 10


ATTLEBORO, MASS., Jan. 1, 1897.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :


GENTLEMEN :- I append herewith my report of col- lections for the year 1896 :


DR. CR. $3,539 38 committed Jan. 1, '96. $1, 127 53 Uncollected. 166 64 interest. 1,881 54 Collected. 696 95 Abated.


$3,706 02


$3,706 02


CASH ACCOUNT.


CR. DR.


$1,881 54 Collected. $1,850 00 paid Treasurer. 31 54 cash on hand.


$1,881 54


$1,881 54


Respectfully submitted, S. M. HOLMAN, Collector of Taxes.


Examined January 16, 1897, and found correct.


BENJAMIN F. LINDSEY, ORVILLE P. RICHARDSON. Auditors.


PUBLIC LIBRARY.


Report of the Trustees


AND OF THE


LIBRARIAN.


.


REPORT


OF


Trustees of Public Library.


The close of the year 1896 finds the Library better equipped for the fulfilment of its function than it has ever been before.


Modern, progressive methods have been introduced in consequence of the engagement of a trained librarian, and the results are most gratifying to the Trustees, as they must be to all who visit the Library.


Of recent years, the work of a librarian has come to resemble that of a profession. He no longer is regarded as a mere "jailor of books," but rather occupies a unique and important position in the Educational System of a community. The old as well as the young student, inter- ested in any special subject, is now invited to avail himself of the resources of the Library placed at his disposal, and aided by the advice of the trained librarian. For this pur- pose we were fortunate in securing the services of Miss Allen, who, for years, was the assistant of the very


86


ANNUAL REPORT.


capable librarian of the Pawtucket Public Library, and we feel sure that as the public becomes better acquainted with the new order of things, the use of the Library, in an educational way, will be greatly increased. Already the circulation has grown beyond our anticipations. During the month of October 2,720 books were given out, an average of over 100 books each day that the Library was open, and when we consider that the average circulation of the Providence Public Library, established in a city nearly twenty times the size of Attleboro, was stated to be 420 per day, the use the Attleboro public makes of its Library becomes strikingly apparent.


The Library is now open every day except Sunday. The shelves are so arranged that the books are accessible to the public, and nearly every person makes his own selection from them. Magazines and daily papers are on the tables of the Reading-room, and it is almost an inspira- tion to visit the Library and see the effect the books and papers make on the public, and to feel the tone that pervades the room.


At the last annual town meeting an appropriation of $1,500 was made for the support of the Library. The manner of its expenditure is stated below-early in the year it became apparent to the Trustees that the sum would not be sufficient to meet the current expenses and pay for the changes that were contemplated. Successful efforts were made to raise more money by the aid of Nil. Carleton's lecture, and in consequence, we have not over-


87


ANNUAL REPORT.


drawn our appropriation. A conservative estimate of the expenses for 1897 shows that it will be necessary to raise $1,800, and we therefore recommend that the town ap- propriates this sum.


Respectfully submitted,


E. S. HORTON, President.


CHARLES S. HOLDEN,


Secretary.


TRUSTEES.


L. J. LAMB,


A. N. STURDY,


C. H. WHEELER,


M. E. ROWE,


ELIZABETH J. WILMARTH.


ALICE WALES,


HELEN W. METCALF.


FINANCIAL STATEMENT.


Paid Librarian's salary and for assistants,


$528 25


Rent,


309 00


New books, 207 37


Re-binding books and magazines,


171 33


Printing,


65 75


Gas.


64 34


Supplies,


46 80


88


ANNUAL REPORT.


Subscriptions to magazines, $46 80


" papers,


35 36


Insurance,


25 00


$1,500 00


Examined and found correct,


ORVILLE P. RICHARDSON, BENJAMIN F. LINDSEY. 1 Auditors.


January 26, 1897.


REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.


To the Honorable Board of Trustees of the Attleboro Free Public Library :


As my association with the Library commenced in May, 1896, I have the honor to present the following report from that date to January Ist, 1897 :


I found a well selected library, each class being well represented, fiction being the largest as it is in most libraries; it is rich in biography, while history needs some additions, especially English history.


In May we tried the experiment of placing a few hundred books on open shelves in the reading room, and soon found that the people eagerly availed themselves of the opportunity to make their selections from the shelves, rather than from the catalogue.


We decided to adopt the system of open shelves, and in order to do that, it was necessary to make some changes in the room.


Accordingly, in August the Library closed its doors for three weeks. During this time the partition between the two rooms was removed, and the position of the book-


90


ANNUAL REPORT.


stacks changed, so as to make as much room as possible,. and give free access to all the shelves. Additional shelves were placed against the wall in the back part of the room, on which were arranged the Congressional records, and all State Documents, each department by itself.


'The work of classification under the Dewey System was begun in May, and has been pushed as rapidly as possible, considering that there has been no break in the regular work. This system divides the books into ten main classes, which in turn are sub-divided, thus making the finding of a given subject comparatively easy. The classes which are practically completed are, fiction, his- tory, biography, useful and fine arts; the total number classified being about three thousand and three hundred.


When we re-opened the Library in September, we began a new registration, and since then one thousand and seventy-five cards have been issued.


Some valuable additions have been made to the re- ference case. Among the most important being a coll- plete set of Harper's Magazines; these have already proved their usefulness, having helped to furnish material for more than one of the papers prepared by different members of the various literary clubs. In fact, I was told by one lady that an article upon "Somnambulism," found in the second volume of Harper, was more useful than any other material which she was able to find.


Since we opened our shelves, there has been an in- crease of circulation, and a marked increase of interest on


91


ANNUAL REPORT.


the part of teachers and pupils. The reference books are being used more every day.


It was voted to give the teachers five cards for school use, and several of the teachers have availed themselves of the privilege.


The next important change will be to establish a more correct system of charging, and this will be done as soon as the classification is completed. We also hope that before the close of another year, we shall have, at least, the beginning of a card catalogue.


In September I attended a meeting of the Massachu- setts Library Club, held at Woburn. We visited the beautiful Library, and then adjourned to one of the churches near by. Three papers were read; one upon the work of the Boston Public Library; one upon the Cleve- land Convention, from which we learned that when a vote was taken upon the question of open shelves, out of three hundred librarians, all except seven were in favor of giving access to the shelves. The last paper was upon the difficulties of cataloguing, a subject in which we are especially interested. Much is to be gained from these meetings. They give librarians not only many useful suggestions and a knowledge of all the latest improve- ments, but also inspiration and energy for their work.


Owing to the changes in the Library now in progress, I am unable to make as full a report as I could a few months later; however, I trust that enough has been shown to convince you that the Library has adopted the


92


ANNUAL REPORT.


progressive spirit, and that the patrons are appreciating the efforts made to increase its usefulness.


New books since May :


For reference, 118


For Circulation, 69


Bound Magazines, 38


Total, 225


Number of books rebound, 915


Volumes of magazines bound,


38


Books unfit for use, 50


Total circulation for the year,


24,901


Respectfully submitted,


LETITIA S. ALLEN,


Librarian.


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


Superintendent of Streets


OF THE


Town of Attleborough, Mass.


REPORT


OF THE


SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Attleboro, Mass .:


DEAR SIRS-I submit my annual report of Highways, Bridges, Sidewalks and Sprinkling Departments for the year 1896 :


We have on hand at the close of this year one Farrell Machine Co.'s Stone Crusher, including boiler, engine and four storage bins of about twenty tons each ; also, boiler house with five-ton scales attached. These are in good condition. The crusher gives four grades of stone and has proved satisfactory in every respect. We have also one five-ton four-horse Road Roller which is all right for what it was bought to do. I will say here that I think it was using good judgment when your board de- cided on this machine, as it is just what we need for our kind of road building and if you should want something heavier for any particular job, it would be much better to hire a steam roller than to own one, and the cost per annum would not be one-half as much as if the town owned one.


ANNUAL REPORT.


We have built tool house and sheds for all town tools. which consists of the following : Three sprinkler wagons, one sewer cart, one road scraper, one plow, three tip-carts and harnesses, three horses, one set double harnesses, ten snow-plows, one pair small tackle blocks with ropes, forty- six shovels, nine hoes, eleven rakes, twelve picks, two six-tined forks, three bars, three wheelbarrows, two sledges, one lawn mower, four street-brooms, two hand- saws, two hammers, three wrenches, three cold chisels, fifty feet three-quarter inch hose, two Stilson wrenches, two pails, one wheel-jack, five snow-shovels, all in good condition. We did not find many small tools that were good last spring.


Every tool is cleaned and housed and will be in good condition next spring. With a small expense these will be all that will be needed next season.


We have graded and filled Park street in very good condition to Briggs Corner and to the Rehoboth line : also, have put the Union road in fair condition, and have done considerable work on cross roads in this section. Bear Swamp road leading from Park street to the Union road needs fixing, and with a little expense this part of the town will be in fair condition for some time. We have graded and filled Fisherville road using 368 loads of gravel, also South Main street from Brown Claflin's to the Seekonk line where needed. Most of the gravel for this work was given to the town. There have been used 4,051 loads of gravel on this division.


97


ANNUAL REPORT.


We have done good work in the West District, com- mencing at County street, and working to the Newman and Ide places, from the Newman place to Mechanics street, and from the old turnpike over Birch Hill, which was in a dangerous condition. We have used 1,461 loads of gravel and the total amount spent in this district is $852.86.


In the South District, Mr. E. V. Carpenter has done good work and has used 950 loads of gravel. The total amount spent here has been $439.42.


In the North and East Division your board and myself looked at several places for the purpose of locating the crusher and decided to locate on the Tinkham lot on Pine street, which we have leased for 3 years at $20 per year.


I do not think we made a mistake as it is centrally located for all farmers to deliver stone. The stone has come from Chas. Carpenter, A. S. Barney, Walter Man- chester, Dr. Fitz in the Newman place, Walter Goff in the south, Dr Mackie's farm and parties on Ridge Hill, and from parties near Fisherville. We have bought 1,633 tons of stone at 40 cents per ton and have used most of them. We can crush about 100 tons per day at a cost of about 10 cents per ton delivered in the bins. It costs from 10 to 12 cents to deliver on any street within the limits of the old water district.


We have taken some gravel from Knott's bank and it costs from 50 to 55 cents per load. Our stone costs only a little more than the gravel.




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