USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1890 > Part 2
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48 00
Lucinda Richardson,
48 00
Chas. E. Preble,
72 00
Margaret Handley,
48 00
$ 488 00
INTOXICATING LIQUORS.
H. 1. Bartlett, professional services, Scanlon case, $ 7 50
66
Bancroft case, 7 50
F. H. Beckford, in above cases, IO 25
J. Fred Ives,
14 25
time and fare, in Prescott case, 3 66
C. E. Little, team in liquor cases,
3 00
$ 46 16
Appropriation,
$ 500 00
Unexpended,
453 84
$ 46 16
29
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
LIABILITIES.
Notes of June 2, 1883, to refund Town of Ames- bury bonds, payable $1000 yearly, at 4% interest, $2,000 00
Sept. 3, 1884, for purchase of steam fire engine, at 4% interest, 4500 00
6 Jan. 3, 1885, to provide a place for steam fire engine, at 4% interest, 3650 00
June 9, 1885, on account of rebuilding Essex Merrimac Bridge, at 4% int., 6300 00
Dec. 26, 1885, to refund Town of Ames- bury notes, at 32% interest, 8000 00
Loan of Feb. 19, 1889, State Treas., 4% interest, 3000 00
Outstanding bills (estimated), 450 00
-- $27,900 00
ASSETS.
Due from. State, for State aid, $ 574 00 79 50
Poor,
Sinking Fund,
8981 91
Uncollected taxes, Bailey Sargent, Collector,
3769 44
66 M. Perry Sargent, 470 40
66 W. C. Russell, 66
298 08
Cash on hand,
229 96
$14,403 29
$13,496 71
Debt March 1, 1889,
$18,556 33
66 1, 1890,
13,496 71
Decrease of debt, $5,059 62
Reckoning from last report.
30
SELECTMEN'S REPORT,
NOTE.
The statement below shows the actual debt of the town March 1, 1889, with the $1200 outstanding bills added, which by some oversight were left out. This $1200 does not include the pay of firemen, which is about $900 on the first of March annually.
Liabilities as in report March 1, 1889,
$ 31,950 90
Outstanding bills,
1,200 00
Assets, 66
$ 3,3150 00 13,393 67
Actual debt,
66
$ 19,756 33
Debt,
46
1888,
16,651 80
Increase of debt, 1889,
$ 3,104 53
Now take the debt March 1, 188g,
$ 19,756 33
And deduct $6 66 1890;
13,496 71
We have an actual decrease of debt of
$6,259 6z For 1890. We deem this explanation necessary to show one of the reasons for such a high rate of taxation last year, and why the debt reduction is no larger.
C
31
SELECTMEN'S REPORT,
STATISTICS FROM THE VALUATION BOOK.
1888
1889
Valuation of Real Estate,
$ 911,070 00
$ 925,395 00
Personal Estate,
426,679 00
433,901 00
Resident Bank stock,
133,224. 00
132,126 00
non-
1 10,776 00
111, 874 00
Tax on
2,398 03
2,906 77
66
1,993 91
2,461 23
Number of persons assessed on property,
549
575
68 for poll tax only, 483
515
polls, females,
5
66 inales,
814
S66
66
acres of land,
4960
4980
66
dwelling houses,
492
500
horses,
278
253
66
COWS,
248
231
6.
sheep,
28
17
swine,
31
30
neat cattle other than cows,
45
58
Total tax assessed,
$25,707 30
$ 31,639 OI
Rate of taxation per $1000.
18 00
22 00
Rate on poles, females,
50
50
males,
2 00
2 00
32
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC PROPERTY.
Sargent Hall,
$ 20,000 00
School houses,
24,000 00
Public Library,
2,650 00
Fire apparatus,
11,300 00
Cemeteries, hearse and house,
2,700 00
Town landing,
300 00
Gravel pit,
25 00
Town pound,
50 00
Town standards,
150 00
Law reports,
350 00
Street lamps,
250 00
Road machine,
70 00
$ 61,845 00
SARGENT HALL.
REPORT OF THE JANITOR.
To the Board of Selectmen-Gentlemen:
The hall has been opened 53 times from March 3 to Feb. 14.
Dances,
8
Temperance meetings,
S
Entertainments,
17
Town meetings,
2
Caucuses,
4
Conventions,
3
Miscellaneous,
II
Received for use of hall,
Paid to town treasurer,
$ 146 50 53
$ 146 50
FRANK H. TRUE, Janitor.
33
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
REPORT OF THE
COMMISSIONERS OF SINKING FUND,
MERRIMAC, MASS., FEB. 19, 1890.
To the Board of Selectmen of Merrimac-Gentlemen:
The Commissioners of Sinking Fund submit the following report :
DR.
Amount of funds on hand, per report of 1889, $ 6903 03
Interest accrued, Merrimac Savings Bank,
42 38
66
Haverhill
38 54
66
Amesbury National Bank,
80 00
66
Town of Amesbury Notes,
121 96
Received of Town Treasurer, Feb. 19, 1890,
1796 00
$ 8981 91
CR.
Amount deposited in Merrimac Savings Bank, $ 11Ot 29
66
Haverhill 582 77
66
Amesbury National Bank, 2080 00
Notes and Interest Town of Amesbury,
3421 85
Cash on hand,
1796 00
$ 8981 97
H. O. DELANO, Treasurer of Commissioners of Sinking Fund.
COLLECTORS' ACCOUNT.
W. C. RUSSELL, Collector, in account with the Town of Merrimac.
DR.
To Tax list and additions for 1889,
$ 34,174 14
CR.
By Cash paid Treasurer,
$ 32,071 83
Discounts on taxes in 1889, .1,384 79
Abatements 66
419 44
Uncollected
298 08
$ 34,174 14
The uncollected taxes are as follows :
Est. E. G. Cheney, $ 51 70
James B. Hoyt,
27 52
Mary Pressey,
23 65
Lydia Hoyt, 8 So
John B. Peaslee,
3 52
Mrs. J. C. Richardson.
4 40
Spephen T. Kimball, 20
Thomas Bagley,
I IO
Sarah A. Bucklin, (balance)
6 60
Edwin Hall, (balance)
5 19
John Jenkins,
(balance)
6 90
E. T. Parrow, 4 20
Geo. A. Curtis,
4 20
Heirs Nathan Huse,
1 IO
Poll taxes of persons that have left town and cannot be reached, 97 00
Poll taxes of persons in town and out, but still remaining in this state and can be collected,
50 00
$ 298 08
Respectfully submitted,
W. C. RUSSELL, Collector.
34
TREASURER'S REPORT.
O. E. LITTLE, Treasurer, in account with the Town of Merrimac.
1889
DR.
Mar. 14. To rec'd from former Treasurer,
$ 727 39
Apr. 9. loan from Merrimac Savings Bank, $ 1000 00
25 . rec'd from town of West Newbury
support of Mary Kelso, 15 19
I,01 19
May 3. loan from Commonwealth, . 5000 00
20. rec'd from M. Perry Sargent, old taxes, IOS 53
-
5,108 53
June
I. loan from Commonwealth,
5000 00
8. rec'd of J. H. Pendergast,
show license, 2 00
---
5,002 00 380 67
July 20.
Bailey Sargent, old taxes,
Dec: 17.
66 State Treasurer,
corporation tax, 398 32
17 .
66
Nat. Bank tax, 493 75
17 .
66
. State aid, 432 00
27.
66 town of West Newbury,
support of Mary Kelso, 38 37
---- $ 1,362 44
35
1
36
TREASURER'S REPORT,
1890
Jan. 11. To rec'd of County Treas., dog money, $ 198 77 25. State Treas., school fund, 66 170 62
00
28. I. B. Little, on account bank wall, Church st., 50 00
29. Bailey Sargent, old taxes, 178 20
30. town of West Newbury, € 6 support of Mary Kelso, 27 70
$ 625 29
Feb. 4.
$6 for apples, 2 62
4.
66 old planks, 50
4.
grass,
50
4.
86 freight on stone posts, 1 00
13. from bank book of Eliza Patten, 143 11 06
14.
Bailey Sargent, old taxes, 26 41
18.
06 M. Perry Sargent, old taxes, 152 05
06 for tuition, 52 50
16 supplies, 7 07
386 76
from W. C. Russell, collector,
32,071 83
First Nat. Bank, rent,
275 00
66 R. A. Sargent, rent, 225 00
Bailey Sargent, rent, 50 00
66 F. H. True, rent, 25 00
Janitor Sargent Hall,
146 50
Feb. 19.
loan from Commonwealth, 3,000 00
$ 50,401 60
CR.
By paid County tax,
$ 1,270 84
State tax,
1,380 00
National Bank tax,
2,536 9%
Selectmen's orders,
44,983 88
50,171 64
Cash on hand
229 96
$ 50,401 60
AUDITORS' REPORTS.
The undersigned has examined the accounts of the Select- men and Treasurer for the year ending March, 1889, and finds vouchers for all moneys paid.
Total amount of orders drawn by Selectmen, $36,822 45; the same amount has been paid by the Treasurer.
O. E. LITTLE, Auditor.
Merrimac, Feb. 21, 1890.
The undersigned has examined the accounts of the Select- men and Treasurer for the year 1889, and finds vouchers for all moneys paid out.
Orders drawn by Selectmen amounted to $44,983 88 ; the same amount has been paid by Treasurer,
F. F. PHILBRICK, Auditor. Merrimac, Mass., Feb. 21, 1890,
37
-
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE TOWN OF MERRIMAC.
To the Board of Selectmen of Merrimac-Gentlemen :
In presenting our fourteenth annual report, it is hardly necessary to call attention to the improved appearance of our Library rooms. For years attention has been called to the previously cramped quarters, but by the means of an appro- priation granted at the town meeting of last March, and by vote passed at that meeting placing the matter in charge of the selectmen the rooms have been so improved under their direc- tion as to give ample room and better convenience for the public.
Owing to the closing of the Library during the repairs, the rooms have been opened but 86 times, when 11,982 vol- umes were delivered, as follows : In February (1889), 1052 ; March, 1970 ; April, 1255 ; July, 732 ; August, 1272; Septem- ber, 1025 ; October, 1092 ; November, 1479; December, 981 ; January (1890), 1124. The average daily delivery for the year, has been 139 books while the largest number delivered in one day was 293.
The condition of the Library is better than usually at the close of the year, having been so recently renovated. There has been no loss of books during the twelve months passed. During the year 113 volumes have been added to the shelves, received from the following sources : 38
39
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORT.
Purchased by the Trustees,
.€ 66 Goodwin Fund,
90
5
Presented by Representatives, II
66 Hon. Edward Mosely, I
Salem Library, I
The Commonwealth, 5
Besides 36 Magazines of American History presented by Mr. Chas. A. King. A work of excellent merit which it is our purpose to have bound.
There are now 4518 volumes in the Library.
During the past year, Mr. George E. Ricker (who has been so ably assisted by Mrs. Orra E. Ricker), thought best to resign his position of Librarian, and the Trustees desire to hereby place on record their appreciation of the valuable ser- vices rendered and the interest taken by Mr. and Mrs. Ricker in all affairs pertaining to the Library from its foundation until their connection was severed. During the month of August Miss Louise C. Brackett was appointed to fill the vacancy and has since attended to the duties of Librarian with marked success.
In providing for the comfort and convenience, we have been kindly remembered by Mr. Chas. W. Sargent of Boston, a native of this town, who generously presented the Library with a handsome clock, an ornamental sign and a protecting awning. The pictures adorning the walls have been added to by one of the Town of Merrimac, suitably framed-the gift of two of the Trustees.
We believe our Library performs a very large and use- ful work in our midst, is well patronized and appreciated. To continue the work in the future as in the past should be our aim and object, and we invite all persons interested to suggest ways and methods for improvements, that we may go forward rather than backward with the work. For this pur-
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORT.
pose we would ask a continuance of the yearly appropriation as in former years.
Respectfully submitted,
G. G. LARKIN, GEORGE ADAMS, D. J. POORE, J. A. LANCASTER, GEORGE O. GOODWIN,
S. A. McCONNELL, M. PERRY SARGENT, Trustees of the Public Library.
D. J. POORE, Secretary. Merrimac, Feb. 12, 1890.
TREASURER'S REPORT.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1890.
D. J. POORE, Treasurer, in account with Merrimac Public Library.
DR.
To balance from previous year,
$ 13 44
Received from Catalogues,
7 05
66
Cards,
I 55
Fines,
26 05
66
Books,
1 17
Returned on Express, 55
Binding Magazines, 70
66 Town Appropriation, 500 00
$ 550 51
41
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORT.
CR.
By paid for Books and Magazines,
$ 84 03
66 Librarians,
210 00
66
Printing,
16 40
Binding Books,
22 30
66 Bulletin No. 2,
48 00
Expressage,
3 55
Refitting Library,
105 40
66
Sundry Supplies,
14 31
66 Insurance,
45 00
Cash on hand,
I 52
$ 550 51
Respectfully submitted,
D. J. POORE, Treasurer.
Merrimac, Feb. 12, 1890.
LOCUST GROVE CEMETERY.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES. DR.
1889
Feb. 19. Balance on hand,
$ 142 91
Received from sale of lots, 115 00
$ 257 91
CR.
March 5.
Paid Sargent & Currier,
$ 6 21
May
2.
G. G. Larkin,
14 08
May 22.
66 P. Farrington, 16 50
66 Michael Welch,
13 50
Edward Sullivan,
14 10
June II.
66
George Curtis,
6 80
Oct. 10.
66
George F. Bailey,
7 00
Aug.
66 S. P. Jackman,
20 00
Jan. 28.
Cash on hand, 159 72
$ 257 91
J. A. LANCASTER, I. B. LITTLE, Trustees. C. E. ROWELL,
ANNUAL REPORT OF
THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS OF THE MERRIMAC FIRE DEPARTMENT.
To the Board of Selectmen of Merrimac-Gentlemen:
In submitting their annual report the Board of Engineers take pleasure in once more being able to congratulate the in- habitants of Merrimac upon another year passed without any disastrous fire. Although we have had several very narrow escapes, there have been but four small losses, two in dwelling houses, a carriage shop and a saw mill. The first three were fully insured, the losses being satisfactorily adjusted ; the mill was uninsured, consequently is a total loss to the owner, but since it had passed its days of usefulness no industry of the town was crippled, so that we are able to report the business prosperity of the town wholly unimpaired.
But one alarm has been sounded during the year, and that on the twentieth of June ; the department were called to Wm. H. Colby's shop at Merrimacport, the roof of which was on fire in thirteen places, caused by sparks dropping from the chimney. As this fire happened upon a day when more than one-half of the local company were out of town the very prompt response of the remaining companies of the depart- . ment was a subject of general admiration in that vicinity. The advantages of the new street and railway were made plainly manifest. And here let us express our thanks to the railroad officials for their instructions to conductors to carry all
-
43
FIRE ENGINEERS' REPORT.
firemen on duty free of charge. On this occasion a car was just starting when the alarm sounded ; it stopped a few minutes and took aboard those whose apparatus was drawn by horses and landed them at the scene of the fire fresh, and as soon as their engine was there.
On the evening of November twenty-sixth a "still call" called the Hook and Ladder company to the Bay State Felt Boot and Shoe company's factory, to extinguish a fire upon the roof caused by burning soot falling from the chimney.
The Steamer has been called out on duty three times to flush out the town sewers, and twice to fill reservoirs during the year.
The efficiency of the department has been increased as follows : first by the untiring energy and generosity of the Steamer boys, in procuring and presenting to the town an ele- gant hose wagon unsurpassed in workmanship, design and fin- ish, by any in any department-a very valuable addition. The reservoir at Merrimacport has heen repaired, and made to hold water and filled, and the one at the Lower Corner com- pleted and filled, making a total of eight brick and cement res- ervoirs all in first class condition and full of water, besides four wooden ones in very poor condition. Unless a system of water works is to be put in soon, two more will be needed, one near each of the new school-houses.
The purchase last year of the new extension ladder, etc., made necessary some changes in the ladder truck which have been delayed for want of money with which to do the work. We would recommend that at the next annual meeting an ap- propriation be made large enough to enable the Board of Engineers to make the necessary changes, and purchase a few needed appliances and extend the alarm wires to Merrimac- port, to facilitate giving an alarm between the two villages.
The dampness of the past season, together with the high winds latety prevailing, have had a great tendency to soften and crumble away the "soft or pale" bricks commonly used for
44
FIRE ENGINEERS' REPORT.
inside mason work. No less than three cases of large holes in chimneys, one of them nearly one-half of the chimney for a distance of more than one foot just under the attic floor, have come to the knowledge of this board ; therefore to the end that we may still longer continue this exemption from fires, this board earnestly request all owners and all occupants of build- ings to carefully examine all chimneys and stove pipes, and have defects remedied, also remove all collections of rubbish liable to produce spontaneous combustion.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
ED. H. SARGENT, H. W. STEVENS, ALBERT PARKER, Engineers M. F. Dep't.
Merrimac, Feb. 1, 1890.
POLICE REPORT.
To the Board of Selectmen of Merrimac-Gentlemen :
We submit the following report :
Whole number of arrests,
21
Incendiarism,
I
Drunkenness,
6
Bastardy;
I
Disturbance,
.I
Malicious mischief,
4
Vagrancy ,
I
Assault,
3
Larceny, 1
2
Violation of liquor law,
2
Tramps cared for,
137
F. H. BECKFORD, J. F. IVES,
Constables.
Merrimac, Mass., Feb. 10, 1890.
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.
BIRTHS.
Number of births recorded, 59 1
Males,
29
Females, 30
Fathers native born, 39
" foreign born,
20
Mothers native born, 39
20
Fathers and Mothers both native, *
32
66
both foreign, 14
MARRIAGEŚ.
Number of marriage licenses issued; 33
66 marriages recorded, 33
First marriage of groom and bride;
30
Second marriage of groom,
2
66 bride, 2
2
Grooms native born, 4
26
" foreign born, M
7
Brides native born, -
-
-
25
66 foreign born, -
S
Average age of groom, - -
-
27.5
66 bride, -
-
23.7
" foreign born,
46
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT".
DEATHS.
Number of deaths,
39
Average age,
44 years, 9 months, 14 days. 88 years, II months, 25 days.
6
Still born, -
-
-
I.
Males native born,
-
-
-
17
66 foreign born, -
-
I
Females native born,
-
-
-
20
66 foreign born, -
-
-
I
Of native parentage,
-
-
33
" foreign 64.
-
-
4
" mixed.
1
-
-
2
DOGS.
Number of dogs licensed,
128
Males,
-
123
Females,
-
5
BAILEY SARGENT, Town Clerk.
Oldest person,
Under 5 years,
-
)
JURY LIST
Prepared by the Selectmen for the adoption at Annual Meeting, March 3, 1890.
Frank Anderson,
True Hoyt,
Wilbur F. Allton,
Wm. A. Howe,
Richard S. Bailey,
Francis S. Heath,
Willard B. Kelly,
Heman W. Kelly,
Samuel S. Blodgett, Charles P. Baker, J. Melvin Clement, Joseph W. Colby,
James T. Locke,
Cornelius Murphy,
Joseph W. Nichols,
John E. Currier, Wm. P. Colby, James Cooper, Geo. W. Currier,
Joseph Oak,
Augustine O'Connell.
Albert Parker,
A. Wesley Colby,
George B. Patten,
Charles F. Rhodes,
Thos. W. Sheridan,
Walter H. Sargent,
Charles N. Sargent,
Edward C. Tibbetts,
D. Warren Gould, Lawson W. Howe, Gilman S. Hoyt,
David B. Wright,
Wm. H. Colby, Henry P. Davis,
John L. England, T. L. Goodwin,
47
ARTICLES IN WARRANT FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING, MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1890
AT TEN O'CLOCK, A. M.
Article I. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Article 2. To choose a Town Clerk.
Article 3. To choose Selectmen, Assessors, and Over- seers of the Poor.
Article 4. To choose a Treasurer.
Article 5. To choose a Collector of Taxes, and fix the compensation for collecting.
Article 6. To choose one School Committee for three years.
Article 7. To choose one School Committee for one year.
Article 8. To choose one Trustee of the Cemetery for three years.
Article g. To choose one Commissioner of Sinking Funds for three years.
Article 10. To choose one Commissioner of Sinking Funds for two years.
Article II. To choose two Trustees of the Public Library for three years.
Article 12. To choose Constables.
49
TOWN WARRANT.
Article 13. To choose Surveyors of Lumber and Meas- urers of Wood and Bark.
Article 14. To choose Fence Viewers and Field Drivers.
Article 15. To choose an Auditor of Accounts,' and all other necessary town officers.
Article 16. To see if the town will choose a committee upon appropriations to report at the next annual meeting.
Article 17. To see if the town will accept the Jury List as revised by the Selectmen.
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to create a Street Light Department and make a separate appropriation for the same.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to appropriate annually with the regular appropriations a sum of money to be used under the direction of Post 114, G. A. R., for the obser- vance of Memorial Day.
Article 20. To see if the town will vote to specify the amount which is appropriated for highways, that shall be used for permanent improvement of sidewalks, brick, stone, or con- crete, with stone curbing.
Article 21. To bring in their ballots-Yes or No, on the question : "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of in- toxicating liquors in this town ?"
Article 22. To see what sums of money the town will raise to defray the necessary charges and expenses of the town for the ensuing year, and make appropriations for the same.
Article 23. On petition of Wm. P. Colby and others to see if the town will accept the extension of Winter street as laid out by the Selectmen, over land of J. 'E. Currier, J. W. Colby and Mrs. Henry Stickney to the Newton road, in ac- cordance with description and plans on file in the office of the Town Clerk.
50
TOWN WARRANT.
Article 24. To see if the town will accept the following named streets as laid out by the selectmen, in accordance with descriptions and plans on file in the office of the Town Clerk, namely : Walnut street, from Locust street to Locust Grove avenue (the new school house being on this street) ; the exten- sion of Prospect street to Winter street ; the extension of Pine street to Winter street; the extension of Nichols avenue to Winter street.
Article 25. To hear and act upon the report of the Com- mittee on the Middle street school house.
Article 26. To see what action the town will take in regard to the order of the Inspector of Public Buildings requir- ing the Center school house to be properly ventilated, and to make an appropriation therefor, if necessary.
Article 27. To see if the town will make an appropria- tion for placing G. S. Prescott's patent lightning rods upon the new school house.
Article 28. To see what discount the town will make for the prompt payment of taxes, and to fix the time for the pay- ment of taxes.
Article 29. To see if the town will authorize its Treas- urer, under the direction of the Selectmen, to hire money in anticipation of taxes, or to pay any indebtedness of the town.
Article 30. To see if the town will vote to have the Col- lector of Taxes publish in the annual report a list of names of persons whose taxes are unpaid and the amount due from each.
Article 31. To see if the town will vote to restrain neat cattle and horse kind from running at large.
NOTE ON THE NEW HIGHWAY.
In regard to an article in the warrant to see if the town will build a road as laid out leading from Winter street through land of Joseph W. Colby and Mrs. Henry Stickney to the Newton road, we have to say that with land damages and estimate for building from John E. Currier (which does not include any railing) it will cost the town (railing included) not less than six hundred dollars.
.
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