USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > The history of Melrose, County of Middlesex, Massachusetts > Part 25
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Rufus H. Flint. 1852.
Aaron Green. German S. Phippen.
Henry Sprague. 1853.
Isaac Emerson.
Joshua Upham.
George W. Barrett. 1854.
Jonathan Cochran. German S. Phippen. Asa Upham. 1855.
George M. Fletcher. Jonathan Cochran.
E. P. Evans. 1856.
Jonathan Cochran. Benjamin Linniken.
George M. Fletcher. 1857.
Jonathan Cochran. George M. Fletcher. Joseph Holbrook. 1858.
Jonathan Cochran. Joseph Holbrook. Henry Robinson. 1859.
Jonathan Cochran. Henry Robinson.
William E. Fuller. 1860.
Jonathan Cochran. William B. Burgess. George M. Fletcher.
1861. Edward P. Nevins.
Joseph R. Simonds. Thomas B. Merrick. 1862.
Edward P. Nevins. George M. Fletcher. Stephen Shelton.
1863-64. Edward P. Nevins. Stephen Shelton. George M. Fletcher.
1865-66.
George Emerson. Joel Snow.
George M. Fletcher.
1867.
George M. Fletcher. George Emerson. Joel Snow.
1868-69.
Erastus O. Phinney. Aaron Green. Elbridge Green. 1870.
David Fairbanks. Elbridge Green. John R. Jones. 1871 Samuel O. Dearborn.
Henry A. Norris.
Azel E. Steele. 1872. Samnel O. Dearborn. George W. Farnsworth. Azel E. Steele. 1873. Elbridge Green. George W. Farnsworth. Aaron Green. 1874. Charles H. Edmonds. George F. Boardman. M. L. Ray.
283
TOWN AND CITY OFFICERS.
1875-76.
Charles H. Edmonds.
James C. Currier.
George W. Farnsworthı. 1877.
John R. Jones James C. Currier.
Charles T. Stevens. 1878.
James C. Currier.
Charles T. Stevens.
Henry A. Leonard. 1879-80-81-82.
George C. Stantial. James C. Currier. Dexter Pratt. 1883.
George C. Stantial.
Henry A. Leonard.
Dexter Pratt. 1884.
CITY.
1900.
Herbert H. Westgate.
George F. Boardman.
Henry A. Leonard.
Dexter Pratt.
Joseph Edwards. 1901.
George C. Stantial.
Frank R. Upham.
George F. Boardman.
William Morss.
Gilbert N. Harris.
1886-87.
Walter C. Stevens. 1902. Frank R. Upham.
George C. Stantial.
George F. Boardman.
William Morss. L. Frank Hinckley.
TOWN CLERKS.
Elbridge Green, one year, . 1850
Jonathan Cochran, two years, (several times
elected Clerk pro tem.) .
1851-1852
Frances Bugbee, four years,
I853-1856
Mason M. Flint, pro tem. (resigned ) . IS57
Chas. H. Shepard, pro tem.,
1857
Chas. H. Shepard, (resigned December 30)
1858
Edward R. Knights, six years, 1859-1864
Stinson Sewall, four years,
1865-1868
David Fairbanks, two years,
1869-1870
James Wortlien, two years, .
1871-1872
John Larrabee, twenty-one years,
1888. John R. Norton. Moses Briggs. Albon W. Parker. 1889.
John R. Norton. Charles W. Cook. Albon W. Parker. 1890-91-92.
Henry A. Leonard. Jolın R. Norton. Dexter Pratt. 1893-94-95-96-97.
George C. Stantial. Henry A. Leonard. Dexter Pratt.
1898-99.
Henry A. Leonard. Frank R. Upliamı. Joseph Edwards.
Frank R. Uphanı.
1885.
Moses Briggs.
1873-1894
284
HISTORY OF MELROSE.
Edward K. Bordman, four years, (died Decem- ber 14, '98)
1895-1898
W. DeHaven Jones, two years, . 1898-1899
CITY CLERKS.
W. DeHaven Jones,
1900-1902
TREASURERS.
TOWN.
Isaac Emerson, four years, ·
1850-1853
John Blake, one year, . 1854
Caleb Howard, ten years,
1855-1864
David Fairbanks, six years, 1865-1870
Erastus O. Phinney, M. D., one year, 1871
David Fairbanks, two years,
1872-1873
George Newhall, twenty-six years,
1874-1899
CITY.
John Larrabee, one year,
1900
William R. Lavender, .
1901-1902
COLLECTORS OF TAXES.
TOWN.
Isaac Emerson, one year, .
1850
Shubael L. Taylor, one year,
1851
Freeman Upham, one year, 1852
Asa Slocum, one year,
1853
William N. Wilkinson, one year,
1854
Caleb Howard, four years, .
1855-1858
Stephen J. Phinney, two years, .
1859-1860
George Newhall, three years,
1861-1863
John Smith, one year, . 1864
David Fairbanks, two years,
1865-1866
George M. Fletcher, (Dept. Collector)
1866
Aaron Green, one year,
1867
George F. Boardman, five years,
1868-1872
Ansel B. Pierce, five years, .
1873-1877
John R. Jones, two years, . 1878-1879
Moses Briggs, one year, 1880
Jonathan C. Howes, three years, 1881-1883
Lewis G. Coburn, one year,
1884
Moses F. Eastman, three years, .
1885-1887
Parker Merrill, two years, .
1888-1889
Addison Lane, eight years, .
1890-1897
James W. Murray, two years,
1898-1899
CITY.
James W. Murray,
1900-1902
285
TOWN AND CITY OFFICERS.
AUDITORS.
TOWN FINANCIAL COMMITTEE.
1850.
Jonathan Cochran. Josiah W. Talbot. John Blake.
1851.
Jonathan Cochran. Isaac Emerson.
1852.
George Emerson.
Jonathan Cochran.
Erastus O. Phinney, M. D. 1853.
Erastus O. Phinney, M. D. George Emerson.
Jonathan Cochran. 1854.
George Emerson. John Blake. James M. Thresher. 1855. William B. Burgess.
Erastus O. Phinney.
James M. Thresher.
1856. Aaron Green. William B. Burgess. Jonathan Cochran.
1857. Jonathan Cochran. Aaron Green.
William B. Burgess.
1858.
Erastus O. Phinney. William J. Farnsworth.
George F. Boardman
1859.
Erastus O. Phinney. Aaron Green. German S. Phippen. 1860.
Philip B. Holmes. Aaron Green. William Pierce.
TOWN AUDITORS.
1861.
Philip B. Holmes. William Pierce. Aaron Green. 1862.
Samuel O. Dearborn. Philip B. Holmes. J. hn R. Norton. 1863.
Samuel O. Dearborn. Philip B. Holmes. John R. Norton. 1864. John R. Norton. Daniel W. Wilcox. Stephen Shelton. 1865.
Daniel W. Wilcox. John L. Andrews. Henry A. Norris.
1866. Daniel W. Wilcox. John L. Andrews. Henry A. Norris. 1867.
John L. Andrews. Henry A. Norris. Levi S. Gould. 1868-69. Thomas W. Chadbourne. Oren H. Peck. Elbridge Il. Goss.
1870. Elbridge II. Goss. 1871-72-73-74.
Elbridge H. Goss. Jolın R. Norton. 1875. Elbridge H. Goss. John R. Norton.
28€
HISTORY OF MELROSE.
1876-77-78.
1887.
John R. Norton.
Frank E. Orcutt.
Frank E. Orcutt.
Walter I. Nickerson.
Gilbert N. Harris.
1879-80-81-82. John R. Norton.
1888-89-90. Frank E. Orcutt.
Frank E. Orcutt.
Walter I. Nickerson.
Ernest Mendum. 1883-84.
Gilbert N. Harris.
John R. Norton.
Frank E. Orcutt.
Gilbert N. Harris. 1885-86.
1891. Edwin C. Gould, to incorporation of the City.
John R. Norton.
CITY AUDITOR.
Frank E. Orcutt.
1900-01-02.
Walter I. Nickerson.
Edwin C. Gould.
TOWN COUNSEL.
The office of Town Counsel, to take charge of the legal mat- ters that arise from time to time, was first inaugurated in 1897, when Frank L. Washburn was appointed to that position by the Selectmen, in accordance with the following vote, passed April 13, 1897 :
Voted, That the selectmen be authorized to employ a competent person who shall serve as town counsel, whose duty shall be to furnish legal advice to the various officers whenever desired, and also prose- cute and defend all actions for and against the town during the current year. Salary $500.
Mr. Washburn held the office until Melrose became a City, when the office was designated as
CITY SOLICITOR.
Mr. Washburn has been elected to that office by the Board of Aldermen for the years 1900, 1901, 1902.
WATER LOAN SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS.
Section 7 of the act " In Addition to an Act to incorporate the Spot Pond Water Company," which gave the three towns of Melrose, Malden and Medford the right to purchase the franchise, property, rights and privileges of the "Spot Pond Water Company," reads as follows:
The surplus of the net income derived from said water-works after
287
TOWN AND CITY OFFICERS.
payment of the semi-annual interest upon said scrip, and after de- ducting all charges of distribution and repairs, and other expenses incident to the same, and all amounts appropriated from time to time by said towns for the payment of the principal sum thereof, under the provisions of this act, shall, in each town, be set apart as a sinking fund, which, with the accumulated interest upon the same, shall be devoted to the payment of said scrip of said town at maturity.
A Board of Water Loan Sinking Fund Commissioners was first elected by the Town, March 25, 1878, for the purpose of investing and caring for these yearly accumulations. The following gentlemen were then elected and have served in that capacity under both Town and City governments from that time until the present.
WATER LOAN SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS.
TOWN.
Daniel Russell,
IS78-1899
Royal P. Barry,
1878-1899
John W. Farwell, .
IS78-1899
CITY.
Daniel Russell,
1900-1902
Royal P. Barry,
1900-1902
Johu W. Farwell, .
1900-1902
At the Town Meeting held March 7, 1898, it was
Voted, To establish a sinking fund for the payment of general in- debtedness, in accordance with the provisions of law, and to proceed to elect three sinking fund commissioners, one for one year. one for two years, and one for three years. The following were elected and have served by election and appointment :
SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS.
TOWN.
John W. Farwell,
1898-1899
Royal P. Barry,
1898-1899
Daniel Russell,
1898-1899
CITY.
John W. Farwell, .
1900-1902
Royal P. Barry,
1900-1902
Daniel Russell,
1900-1902
288
HISTORY OF MELROSE.
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS.
In 1884, the Legislature passed an act authorizing and estab lishing a new board of officers consisting of three members with the Town Clerk as an ex-officio member, whose duties: should be to take charge of all matters pertaining to the registration of voters. The Selectmen appointed the follow- ing: John B. Souther for one year, Walter Babb for two years and Alfred Hocking for three years. The following have been the appointments from year to year, by Selectmen and Mayors, with terms of service:
John B. Souther, .
1884-1887
Walter Babb, .
1884-1897
Alfred Hocking,
1884-1897
Victor C. Kirmes, .
1887-
Charles W. Cochrane,
1897-1900
Edgar R. Somes, .
1897-1900
Herbert A. Marsh,
1900-
Edwin L. Cragin, .
1900-
The Clerks have been ex-officio members:
John Larrabee,
1884-1893
Edward K. Bordman,
1893-1898
WV. DeHaven Jones,
1898-
Present members: Herbert A. Marsh, Chairman, Victor C. Kirmes and Edwin L. Cragin.
The other duties of the Board, besides the registration of voters, consists of preparing lists of Jurors to be submitted to the Board of Aldermen for approval, and the settlement of all election controversies. Salaries $50 each; clerk the same.
Other positions held by Melrose citizens, in Town, City and Nation, elective and appointed, as follows:
Members of Congress. Daniel W. Gooch, 35th, 36th, 37th,. 38th, 39th and 43d Congresses. William E. Barrett, 54th and 55th Congresses.
Naval Officer, Port of Boston. Daniel W. Gooch, 1865.
Pension Agent, Boston. Daniel W. Gooch, 1875-1886.
Commissioner of Internal Revenue for Boston District. Frank E. Orcutt, 1889-1892.
Senators. Samuel E. Sewall, 1852;2 Daniel Russell, 1879-80; B. Marvin Fernald, 1891-92; George R. Jones, 1901-02.
2 Mr. Sewall was elected to the residence was just over the line Senate as from Stoneham. His from Melrose, in that part of Stone-
289
TOWN AND CITY OFFICERS.
Representatives. John T. Paine, 1851; Daniel W. Gooch, 1852; Samuel O. Dearborn, 1853; John Vial, 1855; Guy Lamkin, 1857; Walter Littlefield, Jr., 1858; Loren L. Fuller, 1859; Artemas Barrett, 1861; Isaac Emerson, Jr., 1863-64; Rufus Smith, 1866; Levi S. Gould, 1868-69; James C. Currier, 1871; Nelson Cochran, 1872; Elbridge H. Goss, 1874-75; W. Irving Ellis, 1877-78; Joseph D. Wilde, 1879-80; B. Marvin Fernald, ISSI-82; Wingate P. Sargent, 1883-84; John W. Farwell, 1885; John Larrabee, 1886-87; William E. Barrett, 1888-89-90-91- 92-93; George R. Jones, 1894-95-96-97-98; Charles H. Adams, 1899-1900-01-02.
Speaker of the House of Representatives. William E. Bar- rett, 1889-90-91-92-93.
County Commissioner, Middlesex County. Levi S. Gould, 1897 -.
Governor's Council. Charles F. Loring, 1892. Not sworn in; died January 28, 1892.
Presidential Elector. George L. Morse, 1901.
Harbor and Land Commissioner. Clinton White, 1897-1900 Railroad Commissioner. Clinton White, 1901 -.
Civil Service Commissioner for Melrose. George H. Dear- born, 1902.
United States Consul to St. Pierre, Martinique, West Indies. Thomas T. Prentis, 1901 -. Mr. Prentis, wife and two daughters were destroyed by the dreadful eruption of Mt. Pelée, May 8, 1902.
ham, now known as " Sewall Woods Park," which was set off to Melrose, in 1853. He bought the
estate several years before Melrose was incorporated.
CHAPTER XII.
SPOT POND WATER WORKS.
N ESTLED amid the higher lands of Stoneham and Med- ford, and in the very centre of the wild and beautiful Middlesex Fells Reservation, lies Spot Pond. Orig- inally the pond was much smaller than it is now, but was largely increased in area by the building of a dam by the Sprague family, which had possession of it for over a hun- dred years, many of which were spent in litigation in the main- taining of these rights:
Still this old hero, Timothy Sprague, at great cost and sacrifice of time, always came off victorious. He was greatly annoyed and har- assed through his life, which was frequently in danger. But for this unflinching old veteran the dam would long ago have been removed, and the pond have been worthless for the purposes for which it is now used. To the several towns now enjoying this luxury he proved to be a great benefactor; for, in fighting these battles for himself he was laboring to bless future generations, and is deserving of their gratitude.1
The high-water mark of the pond up to the time when it was taken by the Metropolitan Water Commissioners, was one hundred and forty-three feet above marsh level, and its area, when full, was two hundred and ninety-six acres. The purity of its water having been proven by analyzation caused Boston to cast wistful eyes toward it, previous to the introduction of Cochituate water into Boston in 1848. Not until 1867, was any action taken to secure this natural reservoir of water to the inhabitants of the surrounding towns. In that year Samuel E. Sewall, Daniel W. Gooch and George W. Heath, of Melrose, Elisha S. Converse, George P. Cox, and John H. Abbott, of Malden, and James O. Curtis, Charles V. Bemis and Benjamin F. Hayes, of Medford, their associates and successors
1 Timothy Sprague and Spot Pond, by Artemas Barrett, in Melrose Journal, January 31, 1885.
.
291
SPOT POND WATER WORKS.
are hereby made a corporation by the name of the Spot Pond Water Company, for the purpose of supplying the inhabitants of said Melrose, Malden and Medford, with pure water.
More than two years passed away before anything was done by either Melrose, Malden or Medford toward purchasing the franchise of this Company, according to one of the provisions of the act, when almost simultaneous action was taken by the three towns; the Town Meeting for Melrose being duly warned for Friday evening, September 24, 1869, at Lyceum Hall, at which time the subject of supplying our town with water was to be discussed and acted upon. At this meeting the following vote was passed:
That the town of Melrose, -the towns of Medford and Malden, or either of them, concurring, - purchase the franchise of the Spot Pond Water Company and all its corporate property, according to the pro- visions of an act to incorporate the Spot Pond Water Company, approved May 4, 1867. And that a commission of five be appointed by this Town to act in concurrence with commissions appointed by both or either of the other said towns. And that said commissioners be authorized in concurrence with the commissioners of said other towns, or either of them, to purchase the franchise of the Spot Pond Water Company and contract for the building of water works, at any time within one year from this date, at a cost to this town for its proportion of the expense of said franchise, works at the pond, main pipe to Warren Lynde's, and street pipes for this town, not exceeding the sum of sixty thousand dollars ($60,000). Said contracts to be submitted to the Town for ratification before being binding.
The following were elected to act as Water Commissioners: Wingate P. Sargent, Jeremiah Martin, Elbridge Green, Dexter Bryant and Joel Snow.
At a Town Meeting held October 7, 1869, these Commission- ers made a report stating that the works would cost $60,000. This report was accepted and adopted; and, in conjunction with the Commissioners of Malden and Medford, the franchise was purchased of the Spot Pond Water Company, December 7, 1869, a contract was made by the Commissioners of Malden and Melrose with George H. Norman, then of Newport, R. I., for the construction of the main water-works at the pond, and through Wyoming Avenue and Main Street to the house of Warren Lynde; and May 10, 1870, a contract was concluded between the Town of Melrose and Mr. Norman, to build the
292
HISTORY OF MELROSE.
distributing works for the town, to be done on or before Sep- tember 1, 1870. As the work progressed it was found neces- sary to extend the works over additional territory at a cost of $30,000. The contractor completed his work, and water was let on to the pipes, and the town supplied with water, August 25, 1870, nearly a week before the contract date. The cost of the works at that date was $96,663.56.
Since then, year after year, as the town has increased in population, new construction pipes have been laid through the streets, to meet the demands of our growing community.2
Our local system now consists of forty-six and one-half miles of main distributing pipes, varying in size from 34 inches in diameter to 16 inches in diameter. Nearly one-half of these are iron pipes, and the rest are cement-lined pipes; and within our territory there is one and nine-tenths miles of 48 inch iron pipe laid by the Metropolitan Water System; and there are 3,177 taps or service pipes supplying water to 3,707 separate families, stores, churches, factories and other require- ments, from which the present income to the city is nearly $50,000 annually. There are now 267 hydrants for fire purposes.
The total cost of construction of our local system of water- works to January 31, 1902, has been $425,895.51, of which $198,895.51 has been paid; leaving the present indebtedness on account of water works as follows:
Water Loan Bonds, series of 1885, due Nov. 1, 1905, $37,000
Water Loan Bonds, series of 1897, due May 1, 1907, 50,000
Water Loan Bonds, series of 1892, due May 1, 1912, 25,000
Water Loan Bonds, series of 1892, due Sept. 1, 1912, 37,000
Water Loan Bonds, series of 1893, due Oct. 1, 1913, 50,000
Water Loan Bonds, series of 1895, due July 1, 1925,
38,000
Total, . . $237,000
A " Water Loan Sinking Fund " was established according to a provision in the original act, and each year, after deduct- ing the cost of maintenance of the works, interest on bonds, 2 At the dedication of our Town Hall, October 17, 1874, George F. Stone, in his address speaks of Spot Pond and its supply as fol- lows: "Spot Pond-hung as a mas- sive pearl upon our highest border, that by our acceptance of its bless- ings we may tint the cheek with
the hue of health, send vigor to the languid frame and arrest, as it were, by nod, the devouring ele- ment. It brightens our landscapes, paints our lawns, ministers to vege- table and animal life alike, and pro- claims in liquid and sparkling tones His exhaustless goodness, new with
293
SPOT POND WATER WORKS.
and the payment of the assessment by the Commonwealth, from the total receipts from water-rates, the surplus is credited to this fund. The amount of this Sinking Fund, January 31, 1902, was $33,762.12, which deducted leaves the net water debt $203,237.38.
Besides this, the City is to receive a large sum, hereafter to be determined, from the Commonwealth, on account of the absorption of the entire system of Spot Pond Water Works- outside of our own local system of supply for the City proper - into the Metropolitan Water System; which amount will be applied, when received, to our bonded water debt; thus making a material reduction of the same.
In 1878, the following gentlemen were elected Commis- sioners of Water Loan Sinking Fund, and they have served, by election by the Town, and appointment by the City, from that date to the present: Daniel Russell, John W. Farwell and Royal P. Barry; and Town Treasurer, George Newhall, acted as Treasurer of the Fund until the Town became a City, when he was succeeded by Treasurer John Larrabee, for 1900, and he, January 1, 1901, by his successor, William R. Lavender, Treasurer.
After Spot Pond had been taken for the purpose of supply- ing Malden, Medford and Melrose with water, various suits were brought against these three municipalities by different individuals and corporations, for water rights, and for divert- . ing the overflow of water from its usual channel, thus interfer- ing with certain manufacturing purposes. Some of these suits were settled during the year 1875, others later. Those of Simon H. Barrett et als, and George William Phillips, adminis- trator for the estate of David Dyer, were tried before a sheriff's jury, resulting in an award of $11,500 and interest, to the Barretts, and $50,397.78, interest included, to the Dyer estate. When settled the total cost to Malden, Medford and Melrose, was $69,313.73, one-third of which, $23, 104.38, was paid by picturesque basin held fast by that Omnipotence whose might secures the everlasting hills, and by whose fiat the waters of the great deep are gathered together ! Distant, long distant, be the day when we shall be unmindful of this inestim- able blessing." MSS.
the rising sun and still freshi as his beams gild our western sky; not in a reservoir constructed by the imperfect hand of man, which might burst its artificial bounds and hurrying with terrifying sur- prise through hamlet and town spread desolation and death on every hand, but in a lovely, and
294
HISTORY OF MELROSE.
each. The claim of Anne C. Copeland was settled by Malden and Melrose, each paying $875, a total of $1,750. That of James P. Thorndike, for the Hurd and Grundy Mills, $1,825, which, with costs, amounted to $700 for each, Malden, Med- ford and Melrose. That of the Haywardville Rubber Com- pany, amounted to $14,479.92 and costs; each paying one-third. The last lawsuit of this character was settled in 1877; being that of Philander Ames, who claimed damages for flowage of land at the head of the Pond. No damages were awarded. The verdict was in favor of the defendants, the three M's.
The total cost to Melrose for its part in taking Spot Pond, the water rights and land adjacent thereto, has been as follows:
Cost of franchise in 1871, (one-third) $133.33
Land damage paid in 1872, 200.00
Land damage paid in 1873,
1,800.00
Land damage paid in 1874, 23,979.58
Land damage paid in 1875, 6,550.00
Land damage paid in 1876, 700.00
Land damage paid in 1877,
850.00
Total, $34,212.91
During the first year in the history of the Water Works, Jeremiah Martin, one of the Commissioners served as Superin- tendent; after which Addison Lane was appointed to that position. In 1879, he was also made Water Registrar, and continued to hold both positions until 1888, when Parker Mer- rill was elected in his place, and James W. Riley was made Superintendent of construction. The next year Mr. Riley was elected Superintendent of Water Works, a position he held under the City Engineer and Superintendent of Public Works, until his death, December 14, 1901, and Parker Merrill, Water Registrar. In 1890, Elbridge H. Goss was elected Water Registrar, who served until 1895, when he resigned and Levi S. Gould was appointed. He served two years, when having been elected one of the Commissioners for Middlesex County, he resigned and Stephen A. Lovejoy was appointed to the posi- tion which he held until Melrose became a city, January 1, 1900.
At the Town Meeting March 27, 1871, the number of Water Commissioners was reduced from five to three, and Wingate P. Sargent, W. Irving Ellis, and Joseph D. Wilde were elected; Mr. Sargent, chairman. In 1875, Mr. Sargent resigned, and
295
SPOT POND WATER WORKS.
Joseph R. Simonds was elected in his place; Mr. Wilde, Chair- man. Capt. Simonds died in 1882, and Wilbur D. Fiske was elected, to fill the vacancy. Mr. Wilde resigned in 1883, when Mr. Sargent was again elected and made Chairman. Major Ellis resigned in 1885, and John R. Jones was elected in his place. On the death of Mr. Jones in 1888, George L. Morse was elected. Mr. Sargent resigned in 1889, and William H. Miller was elected to fill the vacancy, and Maj. Fiske was made Chair- man. In 1891, George J. Bicknell was elected. In 1893, Mr. Miller resigned, and Mr. Morse was again elected, and Mr. Bicknell made Chairman. In 1895, Maj. Fiske declined a re- election and Curtis C. Goss was elected in his place. In 1896, Mr. Bicknell removed to Boston, and Frank W. Hunt was elected, and the Board consisted of George L. Morse, Curtis C. Goss and Frank W. Hunt, George L. Morse, Chairman, until January 1, 1900, when the city was incorporated.
As there existed complaints from occupants of the higher lands of the town, concerning their supply of water, at a Town Meeting held April 14, 1885, a committee consisting of Joseph D. Wilde, John W. Farwell, Royal P. Barry, John B. Souther and Nathan D. Blake, was appointed to confer with the Water Commissioners, and consider the " best method or system by which a full and ample supply of water can be furnished to the inhabitants."
A report was made by the Commissioners which resulted in the appointment of another committee consisting of Wingate P. Sargent, Wilbur D. Fiske, John R. Jones, John W. Farwell, Nathan D. Blake, John B. Souther, Artemas Barrett, Alonzo V. Lynde and William F. Sherman, "to make full and thorough investigation and report to the town the best system or method for supplying the town with high water service, and the cost of the same." That committee reported, and the result was that at a Town Meeting held June 2, 1885, it was voted:
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