USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1879 > Part 2
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Mary Griffin, cleaning rooms, 7 00
Total,
$2,551 61
TEACHING SCHOOLS, MERRIMACPORT.
J. W. Cheney, High school, $877 96
Hattie P. Cheney, Grammar school, 297 50
M. A. Tuson, Primary 66 255 00
- -
$1,430 46
INCIDENTAL EXPENSES.
William Jones, repairs,
$ 3 00
J. W. Cheney,
1 85
Heath Brothers,
1 25
W. H. Thomas,
. 43 32
James Whittier,
19 30
Wm. Chase,
69 32
138 04
Hanscom Brothers,
supplies,
$ 1 00
J. P. Mitchell,
10 60
Blodgett & Davis,
2 05
A. G. Whitcomb, 66
5 40
W. I. Atwood,
78
C. H. DeLoid,
13 60
E. W. Ricker,
1 35
J. W. Cheney,
13 51
Wm. Chase,
4 96
53 25
C. Huse, care of school house, 46 25
Mrs. Evans, cleaning rooms,
$1 90
Wm. Chase, cash paid for cleaning rooms, 3 45
5 35
Blodgett & Davis, coal,
$38 40
Wm. Chase, wood and cutting,
17 00
20
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Wm. Merrill, wood, 2 00
H. M. Fowler, cutting wood, 60
58 00
Total,
$1.731 35
TEACHING, BEAR HILL SCHOOL.
Mary M. Hunkins,
$192 50
Lois C. Edwards,
87 50
$280 00
INICDENTAL EXPENSES.
M. S. Gibbs, repairs,
$34 31
F. P. Goodwin,
1 80
H. J. Cushing, 66
2 66
Wm. Jones,
1 50
Geo. S. Prescott,
21 81
62 08
E. W. Ricker, supplies,
35
Will H. Traverse, care of house,
3 70
George W. Sargent, wood,
$12 25
George A. Sargent, sawing wood,
2 50
14 75
Total,
$360 88
BIRCH MEADOW SCHOOL.
Nellie Clough. teaching,
$137 50
Calvin Sargent, repairs,
1 15
Edgar S. Bartlett, care of house,
2 80
G. W. Heath, wood,
$4 00
Calvin Sargent, sawing wood,
1 25
5 25
Total,
$146 70
21
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
HIGHLANDS SCHOOL.
Mary E. Hoyt, teaching,
$140 80
George Jenkins, care of house,
5 58
Isaac W. Hoyt, wood,
$4 00
J. Jenkins, sawing wood,
1 00
5 00
Total,
$151 38
GENERAL SCHOOL INCIDENTALS.
Rice, Kendall & Co., paper, $5 50
James V. Smiley, 8 60
Knight, Adams & Co,, 2 95
C. S. Hall, printing, etc.,
19 50
J. L. Hammett, ink, etc., 6'15
A. G. Whitcomb, furniture, etc., 24 05
N. E. School Furnishing Co., furniture, etc., 47 45
B. & M. R. R., freight, 30
H. J. Cushing, copies of course of study,
1 75
116 25
Total for schools,
$5,058 17
Appropriation, $4,800 00
Dog money, 75 13
Income Mass. School Fund,
188 54
$5,063 67
Balance unexpended,
5 50
$5,058 17
€
22
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES. District No. 1, Wm. H. Blodgett, Surveyor.
Apportionment, $400 00
Expended by surveyor, 491 52
$491 52
Overdrawn by surveyor, 91 52
Expended by Little & Lan- caster, 22 00
Expended by A. E. Goodwin, 5 00
27 00
Removing snow, 41 99
Total,
$560 51
District No. 2, Moses Stevens, Surveyor.
Apportionment,
$350 00
Expended by surveyor, 350 00
350 00
Removing snow,
66 13
Total,
416 13
'District No. 3, F. P. Goodwin, Surveyor.
Apportionment,
$240 00
Expended by surveyor,
308 72
308 72
Overdrawn by surveyor, 68 72
Removing snow, 55 65
Total, 364 37
23
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
District No. 4, Calvin Sargent, Surveyor.
Apportionment, $130 00
Expended by surveyor,
105 29
105 29
Balance unexpended,
24 71
Removing snow, $18 81
Total,
1
$124 10
Repairs on Rocks Bridge,
$78 43
on Essex Merrimac
bridge, 244 62
$323 05
COST OF SIDEWALK.
W. H. Blodgett,
sand and
hauling,
$15 75
M. Goodchild, brick,
71 25
Blodgett & Davis, hauling brick, 6 00 B. & M. R. R., freight on " 10 50
W. B. Chapman, labor,
77 06
Jas. Lawton,
5 63
Harriman & Lolly,edge stones, 190 00
$376 19
Cr. by cash from brick sold, 3 32
Total cost of sidewalk, $372 87
Paid by grading committee for work cor. Main and School streets, $6 24
Total for highways and bridges, sidewalk, etc., $2,167 27
24
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Appropriation for highways and bridges, $2,000 00
Appropriation for sidewalk, $300 00
Proceeds of sale of old build- ing. 65 00
$365 00
Total,
$2,365 00
Balance unexpended
$197 73
Paid David A. Moulton on ac-
count of expense as
Road Commissioner of
Amesbury, 1872,
$220 99
Appropriation, 220 99
NOTE. - Since the above was put in type, a storm has oc- curred which will probably involve an expense of $150.00 for removing snow.
POOR ACCOUNT.
Paid town of Amesbury, for board of Dolly Sargent and Eliza Patten, 1 year ; - 104 weeks at $2 per week, $208 00 Board of Olive Presscy, 39 weeks, at $2 per week, 78 00
Board of John Hubbard, 47 weeks, at $2 per week, 94 00
Extra expense on account of Olive Pressey and J. Hubbard, 9 weeks, at 25 cents, 2 25
$380 00
25
SELECTMEN'S REPORT
Medical attendance and medicine,
33 50
Extra fuel,
7 00
Burial expenses,
35 00
77 75
Paid town of Amesbury on account of military settlements.
Board of 3 McCabe children, 1 year, $102 34
Aid to Mrs. Hawkswood and 2 children, 11 70
Aid to Mrs. Laroche and family, 47 20
161 24
Total paid town of Amesbury on poor account,
618 99
Paid G. A. Titcomb, supplies to M. Berry, . 2 00
J. D. Pike,
18 54
J. McNanie,
26 00
Blodgett & Davis, “
7 00
Paid Mrs. Kendrick, board of A. A. Sargent, $48 00
Emerson & Ilowe, medicine, 9 08
F. L. Parker, 66 66 3 70
H. J. Cushing, medical atten.,
42 00
G. B. Hoyt, undertaker's fees,
5 00
Paid J. H. Cleary, supplies to John
Jenkins, $21 11
Three-fifths paid by Amesbury,
12 67
8 44
Paid Blodgett & Davis, supplies to John Sargent. $6 09
Paid H. J. Cushing, medical atten- dance, John Sargent, 4 75
10 84
91 00
Paid A. P. Chaples, board Ann M. Waining,
53 54
107 78
26
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Blodgett & Davis, supplies R. S. Patten, 115 27
P. Whalan,
paid by Newburyport, 33 23
Paid Blodgett & Davis, supplies, J. C. Parker, 5 18
66 " M. A. Sargent, 14 00
" Alex Grant, 7 00
Paid O. F. Seavey, medical attendance, Alexander White, 5 50
Paid City of Newburyport, supplies to Caroline Sargent, 60 13
Paid town of Salisbury, supplies to L. Warner's family, 20 00
Paid F. E. Little, supplies to family, to be refunded, 10 00
EXPENSE OF TRAMPS.
Paid F. E. Little,
supplies to lockup, 7 69
J. D. Pike, 3 69 66
Blodgett & Davis,
2 00
J. H. Lawson,
90
J. H. Cleary,
66
40
Mrs. J. Lawton, cleaning lockup, 3 50
18 18
$1,145 85
RELIEF UNDER INDIGENT SOLDIER ACT.
B. A. Sargent, 4.3 71
James Roe, 78 00
Moses Bailey,
41 71
B. F. Parker,
41 71
John Jenkins,
70 30
Matthew Barry
25 14
27
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
P. Whalan,
78 19
Due from State,
$378 76
378 76
Total,
1,524 61
Appropriation,
1,200 00
Overdrawn,
$324. 61
MISCELLANEOUS.
EXPENSES ON SARGENT HALL.
A. J. Scott, stock and labor, $8 58
First National Bank, repairs, 16 74
Geo. S. Prescott,
4 48
Heath Bros.,
2 62
Chas. H. DeLoid,
1 45
M. S. Gibbs,
2 00
Geo. S. Prescott, lightning rods,
165 55
$140 39
John J. Clark, repairs, Paid by Mead and Mason, 140 00
Balance expense to town, 39
W. II. Haskell, referee, 20 00
J. H. Cleary, supplies, 11 36
W. I. Atwood,
-
66
4.4
Blodgett & Davis,
10 66
Little's Express,
3 25
G. W. Woodman, 66
4 00
R. A. Sargent, janitor,
$90 15
M. W. Eastman, “
1 25
- 91 40
W. B. Chapman, labor and expense on tablet, 16 60
C. S. Hall, care town clock, 1 year,
25 00
$384 52
-
28
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
C. C. Morse & Son, printing town reports, 66 60 Little's Express, hand cuffs, badges, &c., 25 54
bill expressing and book
for records, 6 85
C. S. Hall, printing, 10 50
Villager Office, warrants for two meetings, 14 00
J. Pattinson, police badge, 1 00
S. P. Jackman, 3 00
W. H. Blodgett, trucking, 72
Wm. Lunt, care of lower cemetery, 10 00
Heath Bros., repairing shed at school house, 19 28
Wm. Jones, painting “ 5 50
Post Office, box rent, 1 year,
1 00
Joseph Oak, horse hire, 1 25
J. Q. Bradish, stationery, 1 00
A. W. Leonard, 2 88
L. F. Lawrence & Co.“ 2 50
Bailey Sargent, · " & postage 3 59
9 97
T. Groom & Co., tax book, 1 50
Est. G. B. Hoyt, return of deaths, 2 75
John B. Heath, 4 75
7 50
Judkins & Haskell, repairing hearse, , 56 62
John B. Heath, hire of hearse, 5 00
C. E. Rowell, expense on watering trough, 16 98
J. H. Lawson, ex. liquor case, 23 00
" burglar " 1 75
24 75
Geo. S. Prescott, lightning rods for school houses, 143 75
815 83
29
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
NIGHT WATCH.
James Pattinson,
22 00
C. S. Hall,
24 00
J. A. Perry,
28 00
J. O. Nealand,
112 00
J. B. Heath,
150 00
Ed. H. Sargent,
2 00
338 00
Carried to Cemetery repair account,
75 00
Total,
$1,228 83
EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSES.
Lightning rods for Sargent Hall and
school houses, $309 30
Night Watch,
338 00
647 30
Deducting the extraordinary expenses from the total of miscellaneous, leaves
581 53
Appropriation,
$600 00
Unexpended balance,
18 47
$581 53
TOWN OFFICERS.
J. S. Clement, Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of Poor, $200 00
S. S. Blodgett, Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of Poor, 125 00
E. N Sargent, Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of Poor, 125 00
0. F. Seavey, School Committee, 55 00
30
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
H. J. Cushing, School Committee, 55 00
C. M. Dinsmore, 13 33
Wm. Chase, 66
41 67
Bailey Sargent, Collector,
182 69
Treasurer, and paying
State Aid, 13 50
Bailey Sargent, Constable, warning town meetings, 10 00
Bailey Sargent, Town Clerk,
41 48
A. J. Scott, notifying town officers, 75
$863 42
Appropriation,
$800 00
Overdrawn,
63 42
$863 42
POLICE.
A. J. Scott,
$6 25
P. J. Neal,
27 00
J. H. Lawson,
50 00
W. B. Chapman,
37 44
$120 69
SCHOOLBOOKS FURNISHED BY COMMITTEE.
M. Bailey's family,
20
J. Scanlan's -" 1 00
T. Grant's
40
B. H. Battis's "
40
W. Gilday's "
4 94
M. Burke's 66
65
Mrs. Lee's
3 15
P. Whalan,
1 32
Evans,
15
L. Sherman,
1 25
$13 46
31
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Appropriation,
$1,000 00
Paid Niagara Engine Co.,
$525 00
" Agile
440 00
66 repairs, 55 75
$1,020 75
Paid Sam'l Eastman & Co., 1,244 feet
hose, at $1.20,
$1,492 80
Paid Sam'l Eastman & Co., 2 boxes, at $1.50, 3 00
Paid B. & M. R. R., freight,
7 42
Committee's services,
5 00
" Hunneman & Co., couplings,
15 00
Total,
$2,543 97
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Paid Wm. H. Hubbard, treasurer, $500 00
Appropriation, 500 00
PAID FOR STATE AID.
Ann Edwards,
$48 00
H. C. Flanders,
48 00
J. Handley,
18 00
T. S. Bradley,
18 00
J. W. Sargent,
72 00
Wm. F. Martins,
72 00
H. Tozier,
48 00
R. Kennett,
48 00
Geo. F. Bailey,
36 00
Mary E. G. Gay,
8 00
$416 00,
32
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
CEMETERY COMMITTEE
On repairs make the following report : UPPER CEMETERY. Paid Heath Bros., labor and material building and repairing fences, $106 83 Paid W. II. Thomas, painting fence and hearse house, 50 13
Paid Heath Bros., labor and material, re- pairing hearse house, 61 00
Paid Moses Williams, rebuilding wall 344 feet, at .58, $199 52
Extra on foundation, 15 00
214 52
Paid Bailey & Perkins, 344 feet cap, at .15, 51 60
Paid Heath Bros., laying cap, 19 75
" W. II. Thomas, painting cap,
24 18
" N. L. Howe, bolts for cap,
6 72
" D. B. Mozier, labor, 3 83
" James Lawton, labor. 3 00
" Grant & Boothroyd, repairing north wall, 1 20
LOWER CEMETERY.
Paid C. W. Noyes, stonework, $17 45
" Blodgett & Davis, lime, 2 30
" R. II. Sargent, teaming, labor, one-half cask lime, 10 13
Paid Bailey & Perkins, 263 feet cap, at .15, 39 45
Paid Heath Bros., material and labor on cap, 8 73
$542 76
33
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Paid W. H. Thomas, painting cap, 18 21
" N. L. Howe, bolts for 4 32
$100 59
Total,
643 35
Appropriation, Upper cemetery,
$350 00
Lower
100 00
By Selectmen for hearse house,
75 00
From sale of old fence,
6 00
Total,
$531 00
Excess of appropriations and receipts,
112 35
CEMETERY ACCOUNT.
DR.
1879. To cash from last year,
$371 83
Interest,
15 37
Sale of lots,
35 00
422 20
CR.
By cash paid, improvements,
$217 00
Balance in Savings Bank,
205 20
DANIEL GOULD, Treas.
Merrimac, Jan. 1, 1879.
POLICE OFFICERS REPORT.
NUMBER OF ARRESTS DURING THE YEAR.
For drunkeness,
7
" disturbance, 6
assault,
2
...
34
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Liquor nuisance, 1
Assisted home under influence of liquor, 6
Instances of stolen property returned, 4
Tramps lodged at lock-up in March, 1878, 4; April, 3 ; May, 4; June, 6 ; July, 0; Aug, 6; Sept., 0; Oct., 7; Nov., 10 ; Dec., 3; Jan, 13; Feb., 2 ; Total, 58.
JAS. II. LAWSON,
Constables
P. J. NEAL,
and
ANDREW SCOTT,
WM. B. CHAPMAN,
Police Officers.
35
SELECTMEN'S RRPORT.
STATISTICS FROM VALUATION BOOK.
Valuation of real estate,
$683,440 00
personal property,
351,525 00
$1,034,965 00
Non-resident bank valuation,
$81,840 00
Total tax assessed,
$17,791 44
Rate of taxation, $16 per .
$1,000 00
Number of polls,
616
Rate on polls,
$2 00
Number of real estate owners,
365
non-resident tax-payers,
78
acres of land,
4,930
66
dwellings,
422
horses,
230
cows,
210
sheep,
24-
SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC PROPERTY
BELONGING TO THE TOWN.
Sargent Hall building,
$20,000 00
School houses,
18,000 00
Public Library,
2,500 00
Fire apparatus,
2,500 00
Cemeteries, hearse house and hearse,
2,000 00
Law reports,
300 00
Town standards,
150 00
Lock-up and town landings,
300 00
$45,750 00
36
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S ACCOUNT.
1878.
March 1, By cash and uncollected taxes, $4,650 39
22, Received for use of school room, 2 00
23, Received from sale of old building corner Main and School streets, 65 CO
May 1, Received of Merrimack Savings bank, hired, 1,200 00 June 4, 66 2,000 00
16 of J. L. Merrill, bal. of rent, 33 33
Aug. 1, from sale of brick, 3 32
Dec. 2, from Mead & Mason, repairs on town house, 140 00
Dec. 10, Received from State Treasurer, corp tax, 296 81
66
bank tax, 86 52
66
state aid, 426 00 1879,
Jan. 13, Received from city of Newburyport, sup- port of P. Whalan, 29 73
Jan. 21, Received from County Treas'r, dog money, 75 13
25, State Treas'r, income Mass. school fund, .
188 54
Feb. 11, Received from School Committee, sale of apples, 6 00
Feb. 12, Received from E. C. Hopkins, sale of
cemetery fence, 6 00
Received for school books, refunded, 8 01
from R A. Sargent, one year's rent, $225 00
Received from G. E. Ricker, one year's rent, 250 00
Received from 1st National Bank,
one year's rent, 275 00
Received for use of Sargent Hall, 159 25
909 25
37
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Received two-fifths B. Sargent's col-
lections, Amesbury taxes, 50 35
Received from Amesbury, J. Jenkins acct., 12 67
interest on taxes, 164 61
from Amesbury, account A. Bag-
ley's estate, 25 80
Tax list, 1878, committed for collection, 19,1:0 88
Additions to tax list, 24: 00
$29,504 34
Cr.
By paid, County tax,
$ 1,011 40
State tax,
560 00
Bank tax,
1,237 09
Selectmen's orders,
21,290 49
By uncollected taxes, 1876,
$221 49
1877,
894 98
1878, 3,495 82
4,612 29
By cash on hand,
793 07
$29,504 34
38
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
NOTE AND
Paid Merrimack Savings Bank,
· Haverhill Five Cent Savings Bank,
Note to order of Town Treasurer, on account of Poyen property,
Paid interest on notes to order of Town Treasurer on ac- count of Poyen property,
Paid town of Amesbury two-fifths interest . on 6 per cent, 10 year notes, and 5 per cent. town bonds,
ABATEMENTS.
Two-fifths of Amesbury's old lists,
$137 90
Collector's list for 1876,
68 99
66
1877,
68 80
1878,
63 60
$339 29
39
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
INTEREST ACCOUNT.
Note, $1,200 00
Interest, $ 15 00
$1,215 00
2,000 00
16 11
2,016 11
140 00
140 00
500 00
500 00
110 00
110 00
880 00
880 00
$3,700 00
$1,161 11
$4,861 11
INTEREST, DISCOUNT, AND ABATEMENTS.
Abatements,
$ 339 29
Interest,
1,161 11
Discount,
708 28
$2,208 68
Appropriation,
$2,000 00
Overdrawn,
208 68
$2,208 68
40
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
FINANCIAL
The town is indebted as follows :
To Haverhill Five Cent Savings Bank, $3,500 00 Three notes $500 each, acct. Poyen property, 1,500 00
Two-fiths Amesbury town bonds, $20,000 00 8,000 00
10 year notes, 20,000 00 8,000 00
To Engine companies, Outstanding demands,
Cr.
By two-fiths Amesbury's uncollected taxes,
Due from State for State Aid, $484 00
6.6 aid to Indigent Soldiers, 378 76
Bank and Corporation taxes,
Due from rents from tenants in Town Hall, Cash in hands of Town Treasurer,
Uncollected taxes,
w.
Extraordinary expenses for which no appropriations were made.
Lightning rods for school houses and "town hall, $ 309 30
New hose,
1,523 22
Night watch, 338 00
$2,170 52
41
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
STATEMENT.
Interest to March 1, 1879,
$ 44 00
$3,544 00
66
9 84
1,509 84
100 00
8,100 00
80 00
8,080 00
833 30
150 00
Total liabilities,
$22,217 14
$ 153 55
862 76
187 54
87 50
793 07
4,612 29
Total credits,
6,696 71
Town's indebtedness,
$15,520 43
Town's indebtedness, March 1, 1878,
$16,817 49
1879,
15,520 43
Reduction of debt,
$1,297 06
Appropriation,
2,000,00
Deficiency,
702 94
JOHN S. CLEMENT, Selectmen
S. S. BLODGETT, E. N. SARGENT, Merrimac.
12
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
RECAPITULATION.
Support of schools,
$5,058 17
" poor, 1,524 61
Highways and bridges,
2 167 27
Note and interest,
4,861 11
Fire department,
2 543 97
Town officers and police,
984 11
Public library,
500 00
State aid,
$ 16 00
Memorial Day,
100 00
Cemetery,
643 :35
Miscellaneous, .
1,228 :83
Abatements and discounts,
1,047 :57
D. A .. Moulton,
220 :99
School books,
13 46
State tax,
560 .00
County tax,
1,011 40
$22,880 84
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORT.
We consider it a good showing for our town that 21,716 volumes were taken from the library during the past year.
We return thanks to the Hub Publishing Co. for a set of their published works; to G. G. Larkin, Esq., of Exeter, N. H., for his liberal gift of 40 new and interesting volumes ; to the Hon, G. B. Loring for valuable public works ; also, to the ladies of Merrimac for hanging the beautiful "Testi- monial" given to them by the Carriage Makers' Association, upon our walls. We expect to have the opportunity of re- , turning thanks to one of our trustees, Dr James R. Nichols, who has promised us a set of the Encyclopedia Britannica, which, when completed, will consist of 21 large volumes and will be a very valuable addition to our library.
We would remind the town that the support of the library comes not from the taxes, but from the income of Sargent Ilall, and would recommend that the town appropriate of that income for the coming year the same amount as it appro- priated last year.
By the gift of Sargent Hall, the town not only has a place for all its public meetings, but also an income nearly twice as large as is necessary for the support of its library.
Respectfully submitted in behalf of trustees,
WM. H. HUBBARD, Secretary.
JOHN S. CLEMENT, Trustees
DR. JAMES R. NICHOLS, WM H. HUBBARD, GEORGE O. GOODWIN, ISAAC B. LITTLE, GEORGE ADAMS, WM. CHASE,
of
-
J Public Library.
44
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORT.
TREASURER'S REPORT
For the year ending March 1, 1879. Merrimac Public Li- brary in account with Wm. H. Hubbard, Treas. DR.
To cash paid for books, $288 70
printing, 7 90
" binding catalogues, 7 50
" 3,000 library cards, 11 00
" binding books,
16 16
" 5 years policy on library and furniture, 25 00
To cash paid for ¿ bank check book, 50
expressage,
1 60
" Secretary and Treasurer, 15 00
" Librarian, 175 00
" C. S. Hall for printing, 13 68
$561 91
To balance. Cash on hand,
2 72
$564 64
CR.
By cash on hand, March 1, 1878, $ 41 60
received for town appropriation, 500 00
" library fines, 23 04
$564 64
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF MERRIMAC.
The third annual report of the Superintending School Com- mittee of the town of Merrimac, enables them to state that the schools are in a prosperous condition, and have made commendable progress during the past year.
The future interest and welfare of our country lie in the best organization of, and devotion to, our common school system ; also in the good education of all the children in the English studies, together with a thorough moral training and proper discipline by the teacher.
The best governed States are those in which the greatest attention is given to moral and intellectual cultivation. The legislation is the poorest when the least cultivated persons are chosen to represent the people in the Halls of Legisla- tion. While we recognize the fact, and are thankful for it; that so much harmony prevails in our schools and that much interest is manifested by the parents and citizens for their welfare, by visiting the schools and many other ways of ap- proval, and by a disposition to co-operate with the commit- tee and teachers who are earnestly endeavoring to promote the best interests of the schools ; we also recognize the fact that some parents do not understand this need of co-opera-
46
SEHOOL REPORT.
tion, but object to the teacher's discipline of their children, upholding them against the teachers by fault-finding, break the harmony that should exist between parents and teach- ers, and thus destroy the influence of the teacher and use- fulness of the school.
The committee thinking it advisable to give more promi- nence to the term examinations in the High, and Grammar, schools, have adopted written examinations for two terms of the year, but retain the usual public oral examination at the close of the year.
They also have adopted monthly reports in all the grades but the Primary, for scholars to carry home for their pa- rents to examine and sign. In this way they hope to awaken in the parents a greater interest in the progress and conduct of their children at school, as well as to incite in the scholars a greater ambition for study and good deportment.
On account of the large number of scholars in the High school at the corner, the committee thought best to furnish an assistant ; so Miss Ellen Gunnison has been employed during the year, three fifths of the time.
Owing to the small number of scholars in the Landing Dis- trict, it was found not advisable to continue the school there. That school was therefore suspended, resulting in a benefit to the children, as it gives them the privilege of Merrimacport schools, which are two months or more longer.
Among the various studies and other exercises pursued in the schools, singing is practiced in a general way. The effect upon scholars as a change from the routine of study is favorable.
It is now known that nearly all children can learn to sing when properly trained. The committee intend the coming year to give music such prominence that scholars, especially in
47
SCHOOL REPORT.
tthe higher grades, will have an opportunity of securing a fair musical education ..
Music has an aspiring tendency to the young and to the old. How many elderly persons now express a wish that they had )learned music when young.
It is evident that our schools in the present condition of our itown, or as it is likely to be for the next few years from the increase of scholars, will require a higher grading, to meet the wants of the people. To meet that necessity one High school only will be needed ; dispensing with the one at Merrimac- port, and placing there a more advanced Grammar school. This would involve the necessity of erecting a new High school building at the south of the centre of the town so as to accom- modate scholars from both villages. It may be a few years be- fore this change will be advisable. In the mean time to pre- vent the over-crowded state of the centre High school, it may be necessary to go back to the method adopted a few years since and send the scholars from Bear Hill and Lower Corner to the Merrimacport High school.
However the schools may be graded parents are not under the necessity of having their children study Latin in order to graduate with honor. The higher branches of English may take its place and be pursued with equal advantage. There would not probably be many of the graduates who would be benefited by the study of Latin, as they would if they pursued the studies of the English course and become proficient in them. This is the opinion of many of our eminent men. The best literature of the ages is being rapidly translated into the English, which is likely to be the common language of the fu- ture. Still we acknowledge that the study of Latin does afford mental discipline, and furnishes one method of obtaining a good knowledge of the English language. 1
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SCHOOL REPORT.
Every year requires some additional repairs and outlays upon the school buildings. The town cannot afford to see its pro- perty wasting or unsightly.
The older school house at Merrimacport had not been painted for many years, and therefore needed painting badly ; so that, and the fence along the line of the street, have been painted with two coats at an expense of about one hundred dollars. Repairs have also been made upon the school house at Bear Hill.
For school statistics we have the following items : Whole number of pupils in the grades below the High schools, three hundred and thirty-seven ; average number, three hundred and eight. The whole expense of these grades two thousand, seven hundred and six dollars and twenty-eight cents. The average cost of each scholar for the year, eight dollars and seventy-nine cents, or average cost per weck, twenty-six cents. Whole number of scholars in Merrimac High school, fifty ; average number, forty-nine ; the expense of the school for the year, one thousand, two hundred and fifty-three dollars and fourteen cents ; cost of each scholar for the year, twenty five dollars and fifty-seven cents ; or cost per week, sixty-seven cents.
Whole number of scholars in Merrimacport High school, twenty ; average number, seventeen; the expense of the school for the year, nine hundred and eighty-two dollars and fifty cents ; the cost of each scholar for the year, fifty-seven dollars and eighty cents, or cost per week, one dollar and fifty- two cents.
It is the unanimous opinion of the committee that the town should not by its appropriation's reduce the length of any of the schools. Therefore they recommend that the appropriation for schools be the same as the past year.
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