USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1880 > Part 2
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Teaching schools 15984 50
Care of schools . 958 01
Repairs of school houses. . 952 45
Superintendents of schools . 1266 66
Fuel for schools ... 973 29
School incidentals 1197 20
Evening school. . . 443 99
Fire Department, pay of members. 3600 00
Repairs of Engine Houses and Reservoirs ... 100 00
Incidentals for Fire Department .. 900 00
New hose for 493 50
Hayward street reservoir.
368 87
Gas for lockup ... 73 72
66 police court. . 2 66
street lamps. 1451 85
" Town Hall. .
160 55
" Town House, east room
39 67
Supplies for street lamps .
261 77
Hopedale Machine Company, lighting and care. .
60 00
Water works, for Fire Department.
1113 64
State Aid ... 4941 00
Town Debt ... 5000 00
Money borrowed and paid. 16000 00
Support of poor .
10315 16
Interest on town debt .... 11446 19
Checking list March meeting, 1879 5 00
Decoration day.
100 00
Armory . .
386. 88
State annual tax.
1430 00
National Bank tax. .
2726 53
One-fourth liquor licenses.
1225 00
Lavina Stevens' taxes refunded. 58 10
Town History. . 158 02
Parkhurst Street. 2 12
29
303 96
Central street sidewalk.
Cook street. . . 8 50
68 61
Main street bridge. .
35 92
Leonard street.
.
99 75
Town Park .. 1048 51
Town library .
9430 87
Town highways.
3848 79
Main street sewer
$104,663 77
In closing this report, we would say the condition of the town financially is not, in our judgment, such as to warrant the intima- tions of certain of our tax payers that we are bankrupt; for although the debt of the town is large, still at a low valuation there is no question but what the assets will exceed the liabilities by several thousand dollars.
During the past year, bills have been approved and paid each month, which we think has proved a benefit and will result in carry- ing over to the new year but comparatively a few unpaid accounts.
All town officers have been paid in full, so that the usual claims for services in a past year will not be carried to the new, and all claims of whatever nature, some extending back to 1875, as far as . we could find them, have been fully adjusted. The taxes have been promptly collected, and the tax payers have reason to congratulate themselves that not a tax for 1878 now remains unpaid.
All of which is respectfully submitted, February 13, 1880.
J. B. BANCROFT, MATTHEW P. CALLANAN. D. J. CRONAN,
Selectmen of Milford.
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Yeast, $2.26 ; cassia, 85c
3 40
Coffee, $2.60 ; fly paper, 80c
Mops,. 61c ; slate pencils, 5c. 66 Grass seed .. 12 60
Lampwicks, 16c; cloves, 60c; pimento, 30c; chim- neys, 20c .
1 26
Rice, mustard, clothes pins, apples and medicine ...
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1 05
Sweet potatoes.
495 83
Meat .
30 00
Seven shoats.
679 75
Grain. .
Coal
115 99 36 47 30 00
Concord wagon.
52 05
Sugar. .
2 76
Ginger ..
160 86
Thread and Wax.
6 .40
Beans. .
10
Oat meal . .
9 60
Nutmegs 1 00
2 90
Salt
1 40
Matches .
15 35
Flour ..
7 80
Kerosene oil.
199 75
Starch .
10 10
Molasses .
75
Medicine and medical attendance. . .
109 86
Bills paid at Farm.
60 90
Lumber .. .
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Harrington's salary . .
554 17
Bills for labor at Farm.
235 10
$4109 01
RECEIPTS FROM THE FARM.
Cook Brothers for hogs. 92 56
M P Thayer, apples 29 10
Received for hay .. .
137 12
H C Scott, butter, etc. 90 41 .
Bills paid by S Harrington . 103 39 .
E B Mead, two yokes fat oxen .. .
294 18
E B Mead, veal and produce. .
244 20
· Bartlett & Ellis, old lead.
1 75
Board of Mrs. Jones ...
129 25
Scythes . . 30
6 00
.
15 50
1 10
.
5 15
Lemons
1 03
Ox wagon ..
.
11 00
Four cows .
109 00
Repairs .
14 85 24 58 78 75
Clothing .
166 80
Boots, shoes, repairs . ..
101 74
Hardware, pumps, etc.,
104 62
Fresh fish ..
73 57
Blacksmith bill . . · . .
5 00
Two yokes of oxen.
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72 03
Snuff
57 54
Salt fish . .
13 69
Stove polish and brush.
34 32
Maple syrup . ..
1 56
2 00
Hops, 64c ; cream tartar, 50c.
Rye Meal .
1 14
Tubs, $3.70 ; barrels, $1.20.
2 40
Tea. ..
4 90
Salsoda, 30c ; baskets, 85c.
53 88
Rope .
1 85
Garden seeds . . ...
2 50
Hoes $2.28 ; brooms $5.25.
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Soap.
7 53
Pepper, $1.70 ; Bristol Brick, 10c ... ..
10 00
Tacks .
1 80
Potash .
Whetstones, 80c ; brush, 30c ..
$1238 46
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Ice
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210 00
Tobacco
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1 15
Meal.
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3 11
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
The Overseers of the Poor respectfully submit the following report for the year ending Feb. 1, 1880.
EXPENSE OF FARM, $4109.01.
Raisins .
$1 12
Cheese .
Furniture, crockery, etc .
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Burial ... .
Baker's bread.
Dry goods ...
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18 32
36 77
.
Quinlan pension and State Aid. . 116 50
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13 88
Sperm oil .
Salaratus
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PERSONS RECEIVING AID AWAY FROM FARM IN MILFORD.
John Burke. '$71 00
Rhoda Allen.
81 70
Mrs Thomas Rabbitt .
. 181 07
Edward McKanna.
48 70
Mrs Cornelius Sullivan
65 09
Mrs. Patrick Conniff.
39 79
Patrick Butler. . . .
21 13
Michael McCormick.
9 75
Daniel Shea.
105 87
R. D. H. Beaty ..
74 01
Mrs Michael Lyons
77 25
Mrs. Harry Sidley
17 25
Mary O'Connor.
63 03
20 12
Martin Maley. .
28 11
Mrs. Patrick Powers.
48 25
Patrick Clunan.
43.76
Michael O'Connell.
65 92
Wm Breen .
4 00
Mrs. Winnifred Casey .
8 25
Patrick Clynes .
116 61
John Foy ..
10 00
Daniel Higgins.
36 97
Timothy Finton.
6 00
Bridget Moore.
20 38
14 00
Michael Sheehan .
21 13
Mrs. James A Kennedy .
50 83
Martin Ward ..
33 36
Patrick McDermott.
9 44
Merrill Hoytt ..
12 35
Nora Crahan
19 90
Mrs Dennis O'Connor ..
49 94
5 75
Bartholomew Conway.
22 87
Charles Snowland .
16 00
Patrick McGrath.
24 00
Ellis Daniels ..
7 25
Michael Hageney .
31 79
Michael Fitzgerald.
2 05
Martin Keenan.
40 29
11 50
Patrick Curry . .
63 62
James Cross .
24 00 3 50
Patrick Flynn. .
13 00
22 13
Patrick Flynn, 2d ...
75 45
39 46
Mrs Thomas Finton
57 68
Owen O'Hara.
5 52
16 80
Patrick Sullivan . .
14 00
Jeremiah Toomey . .
10 00 131 23
Michael McCarty .
15 95
Elijah Hildreth. .
6 55
Milton H Morse .
13 83
Rufus Moody.
11 25
Thomas Barry .
175 87
71 12
Mrs James Boland. .
3 44
5 50
Mrs. Hugh Glennan .
52 00
19 00
Mrs. Stephen Burke ..
133 59
8 00
Mary Cox
34 00
26 30
Mary Smith .
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Dennis Griffin.
42 70
James Small.
41 89
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15 68
Patrick J Burns.
30 26
Mrs. Hannora Dillon
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72 65
Rancy Danuelx
22. 71
Thomas Welch.
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Edward Sireack
29 70
Mrs Moses Hoytt.
41 61
George Horner .
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John Walch.
25 33
Wm. Masterson.
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Andrew Gilroy . .
20 28
Martin O'Connell.
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Michael Galvin. .
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33 53
Mrs. John Mahona.
Mrs. Charles Forbush .
Michael Coy .
44 55
Jeremiah Haynes.
Mrs Michael White.
17 38
Mrs Jolin P Moore.
21 69
Thomas Hogan .
60 73
Michael McCormick
Wm Basford. . .
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Mrs Mary Rogers.
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33
12 00
Mrs. Catherine Riley .
69 71
John Rowe's family .
Patrick Galiayan . . .
119 41
Mrs. Warren Ellis. .
8 25
Mrs. John Hogan
81 04
Mrs. M A Ahern
60 06
3 71
. Edward Holohan ...
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Mary Cronan . ..
Mrs Ann Quinli en . .
3
156 00
Mrs. Michael Connors .
10 95
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Charles Hoytt.
Dennis Ryan. .
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Peter Dunn.
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34
Bridget and Susan Sweeney .
94 29
Patrick Conniff. 46 00
Silas Bradford . 5 00
John Flynn . . .
21 93
W H Scofield.
4 00
$3902 29
INSANE.
Henry Cain . . .
$180 91
Caroline Coughlin
184 06
Manard Rawson
189 16
Ann Lahay . .
102 17
42 29
John Clancy, Upton. ..
47 01
William Coffee, Gloucester.
64 58
Michael Murphy, Hopkinton .
11 00
Benj Fairbanks,
23 25
Wm H Bigelow, 66
102 68
George W Brown, Uxbridge.
39 70
J Onley Langley, Warren. ..
5 00
Adolphus A Porter, Woreester
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$1258 33
Belonging in Milford but Living in Other Towns.
Fleming Adams, Wrentham . $123 10
Ann .. Gaton, Franklin . 2 20
Mrs. Mary Holland, Cambridge. 23 64
Lydia Ann Parkhurst, Leieester 20 55
Wm. E Bruee, Northboro. 1 70
Andrew Tutroe, Holden . 16 24
40 10
Margaret Quinn, Lowell.
76 70
Wm. J Stewart, Marlboro.
17 13
Daniel Dugan, Waltham.
75 14
Keziah Wileox, Douglas.
24 15
Mrs. Terranee Russell, Abington
43 80
Thomas Mullen, Medway . .
46 00
Mary Bernard, Boston .
21 13
Mrs. Thomas Moran, Boston .
177 92
Mary Sheehe, Woreester.
21 50
Catherine Hynes, Worcester.
19 30
Patrick Boyle, Worcester.
21 35
Moses P Boover, Haverhill.
8 50
Patriek Sullivan's children, Fall River.
45 84
Michael Cain, Ashland .
14 00
Mrs. Wm. Maley, Blackstone. .
51 57
Geo. C White, Franklin. ....
15 00
Henry O Anthony, Upton.
6 00
Elixa A. Buxton,
Michael Finn,
Crohen Connell, Joshna M. Downing,
Jeremiah Coffee,
Abraham Tilliston, John Petted.
Thomas Osborn,
$959 26
State Paupers. .
Edward Gallagher,
Wm. Harty,
Dodd children,
Patriek Tarpey,
Mrs. D. Gilmore,
Mrs. James O'Brien,
Levi Brooks,
Mrs. Chestina Mahaffey,
Michael Tinon, Mrs. Graee Ann Shepard,
Michael Murphy,
Malvina Savage,
Wm. Fahey, John Hayes.
Susan Twohey, Mrs. McGrath, John Hill,
Edward Butler,
Nicholas Allen, Somerville. .
3 00
.
John O'Sullivan, Mendon . . .
43 70
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Paupers belonging in other Towns, living in Milford.
76 08
Patrick Jones, Boston .
69 13
John Lyneh, 66
Richard Carey, 54 56
Mrs Jas Maley, 27 20 ..
Jerome Prinee, Northbridge . 19 00 .
Geo E Christian, Nantucket. . 54 50 .
46 13
Emison Morse, Holliston.
70 21
Frank Finn, 66
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Elizabeth Eames. 120 84 +
Dennis Pyne . . .
172 07
John O'Hara .
173 82
Charles W Hunt ..
40 86
Richard Day. .
75 58
James T Fanning .
18 86
73 83
Lewis G Fales, Medway ...
5 00
Moses S Foree,
5 40
Henry H Howard, Mendon.
6 86
Nathan Streeter, . . · ..... .
16 25
Mrs J Daley, Northbridge.
6 00
Benjamin Newton, Shrewsbury . .
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Sylvester Andrews, Northbridge. .
7 38
John P Hughes, Holliston . .. .
21 05
Mrs Hiram Adams, Blackstone
116 00
Michael Mahony, Randolph . 1 60 .
Horace H Ryan, Millbury . 10 00
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3 50
Johanna Slattery, Hopkinton .
E W Southland, Marlboro . . ..
. .
Edward Carter, Holliston. .
144 23
$1208 22
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Jane and Mary Ann Reaves, Holliston . .
38 80
36
Lucian Shepard,
Hannah Cooney,
John A Cummings.
Amount paid for support of above. $975 90
214 tramps .
25 00
Incidentals.
G W Stacy, printing books, etc.
10 62
S A Mather, cutting wood.
21 38
Charlton vs. Milford . ..
5 30
Postal cards and stamps. 4 00
$41 30
Due from other Towns and Cities, Feb. 1st, 1880.
Boston .. . .
113 13
Nantucket.
23 00
Gloucester
1 35
Hopkinton . 23 25
Warren .
143 85
Medway .
20 50
Mendon . .
12 26
Northbridge .
74 05
Holliston .
15 45
Randolph .
1 60
Blackstone
65 00
Uxbridge.
30 89
Marlboro
5 38
$529 71
Receipts, Feb. 1st, 1879.
Boots and wood on hand.
$265 00
Cash of Holliston ..
217 56
Upton .
66 21
State .
351 14
Cook Brothers for hogs
92 56
Merrick P Thayer, apples
29 10
Quinlan, State Aid and Pension
116 50
Northbridge
91 68
Worcester .
11 00
Medway .
70 33
Boston . . .
140 25
Shrewsbury .
6 00
Blackstone
41 00
Millbury .
10 00
Gloucester
64 50
Hopkinton
114 38
Hay .
137 12
Bartlett & Ellis. ..
1 75
Basford estate. 29 23
E B Mead .. 538 38
H C Scott ... 90 41
Harrington . 103 39
129 25
Jones property . . .
31 50
Michael Dunn .
5 00
E C Claflin.
9620 16
Uxbridge. . 77 69
2 00
Marlboro.
$12,453 09
Balance due the Overseers .
26 22
$12,479 31
RECAPITULATION.
Expense at farm ... $4109 01
Persons receiving aid in Milford away from farm 3902 29
Persons belonging to other towns. 1208 22
Persons belonging to Milford living in other towns. .
959 26
State paupers. 975 90
214 tramps. . 25 00
1258 33
Insane .
41 30
Incidentals .
$12,479 31
There was on hand, Feb. 1, 1880, personal property to the amount of $4092.58, consisting in part as follows: 1 horse, 14 cows, 1 yoke oxen, vegetables, hay, furniture, etc. The valuation does not vary much from year to year. Furniture and farming tools are in good repair. The Superintendent is paid to March 1, 1880 ; salary $550. The town doctor is paid to April 1, 1880; salary, $125. Sick state poor, paid to Jan. 1, 1880, and bills sent to Board of State Charities. Members admitted to farm the past year, 67. Average, 34. Present number, 37. Average weekly cost, $1.63. By the repeal of the Soldiers' Aid Law in Jan. 1879, eight families who claimed a settlement in this town have been settled in other towns and cities. The suit between Milford, Uxbridge and Warren resulted in a verdict against Warren, and the case goes to the Supreme Court. The claim of the town of Charlton against Milford, has been settled by finding the family had a settlement in Hopkinton ; cost to Milford $5.30.
We have charges against the Commonwealth to the amount of about $1000 which have not been audited, some of which are four
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Nantucket. .
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years' old ; and as the towns and cities are entirely at the mercy of the Visiting Agent, we cannot tell how much they are worth, al- though $750 of the bills are paid at the price set by the Visiting Agent. The Overseers of the Poor in many towns and cities are tired of this way of doing business, and probably will meet in con- vention to try and influence the next Legislature to pass laws that the people can understand, and do away with the necessity of law- suits between town and town.
Total cost the past year. $12,479 31
" receipts. .... 12,453 09
Balance due the Overseers. $26 22
We have drawn from the Treasurer the past year $1919.07 less than last year ; and have not expended the appropriation by $379.84.
Respectfully submitted,
ELIAS WHITNEY,
Overseers
JOHN MADDEN, of the Poor
CHESTER L. CLARK,
of Milford.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS OF THE
MILFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING FEB. 11, 1880.
Cash on hand Feb. 8, 1879.
$ 69 97 Received of Ethan C Claflin for pay of members .
3600 00
66 66 incidentals . . 900 00
purchase of hose .. 493 50
repairs. ... ..
100 00
66 Aaron Claflin S. F. E. Co., No. 2, for coal 1 50
Patrick Casey, for old lumber. 1 00
Total amount of receipts .
Total amount of expenditures. $5.053 37
Cash on hand Feb. 11, 1880. 112 60
$5165 97
EXPENDITURES.
Cash paid
$10 00
Charles H Hoyt . .
9 00
William Remick .
251 20
Milford Gas Co.
1 00
Frank Folay ..
Dennis Cahill - . . . .
1 00
H E Morgan.
Field & Crosby ..
7 13
Henry Willard ...
304 11
Milford S. F. E. Co. No. 1. .... .
162 50
Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 ..
Wide Awake Hose Co. No. 1. ...
285 00
Washington Engine Co. No. 1.
717 50
North Star Engine Co. No. 4. .
740 00
Merrill Hoyt.
63 40
A Tyler . .
3 00
Ethan Kinsman .
10 50
James Morey .
40 00
M W Edwards .. ..
227 50
Aaron Claflin S F E Co. No 2.
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Extinguisher No. 1 ..
166 25
N B Fairbanks . ..
183 45
Board of Engineers.
250 00
William J. Shields.
25 65
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50
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300 00
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15 00
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$5165 97
40
C L Witherell. 150 00
W L Harden . 6 25
C E Moorhouse. 10 75 .
A Stephens. 20 99
W J Blanchard. .
41 50
Henry C Skinner. . .
1 40
Hopedale Machine Co.
6 97
J M Rose ..
75
CF Walker.
25
D B Jenks ..
50
S B Holbrook ..
32 25
Orrin Gilbert.
30 00
L A Merritt. 1 00 .
D B Rockwood. 5 75 .
Julius M Woods.
96 22
S L Pierce.
. .
13 92
H L Patrick.
4 48
A S Tuttle.
2 00
J E Batten.
1 00
C O Woodbury
150 00
A Armstrong. .
1 00
Hopedale Stable Co.
2 25
E E Cook ..
37 50
J D Hunt.
6 00
W H Britton .
21 99
Ross, Turner & Co.
495 90
H M Mann & S G Pettes.
8 37
E A & L A Cook.
68 45
E J Morse. .
15 16
James Curran .
1 55
Edward Walker.
7 50
Cook & Withington .
10 80
Bartlett & Ellis.
27 23
Cash on hand ..
112 60
$5,165 97
There have been nineteen alarms of fire from Jan. 1, 1879 to Jan. 1 1880, from the following causes :
Out of town, 1; grass in cemetery, 1; cornstack, 1; false alarm, 2; woods, 7; in buildings, 7.
The present number of members in the department is one hun- dred and seventy, divided as follows :
Engineers, 7 ; Washington Engine Company No. 1, 49 ; North Star Engine Company No. 4, 46 ; Milford Steamer Company No. 1,
11; A Claflin Steamer Company No. 2, 12; Extinguisher Company No. 1, 9 ; Wide Awake Hose Company No. 1, 16; Excelsior Hook & Ladder Company No. 1, 20.
SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY.
Five engine houses and furniture for the same.
Two hand engines and hose carriages.
Two steam fire engines and hose carriages.
One four-wheeled hose carriage and fixtures for the same.
One Babcock fire extinguisher.
One hook and ladder carriage, with hooks, forks, ladders and buck- ets for the same.
Eighteen Reservoirs, located as follows :
One near the town house, on So. Bow street; one near the junction of Main and Spruce streets ; one at Lincoln square; one on the Parish common ; one on the corner of Main and Fruit sts. ; one on West street near Walker's boot factory; one on Congress street ; one on Exchange street; one on Central street; one on Jefferson street ; one at the junction of Pearl and School streets ; one on Walnut street near the school house; one on North road near J. Hancock's house ; one at North Milford ; one at Jonesville ; one on the corner of West and Lee streets ; one on Grove near Forest street ; one on the corner of Hayward and Parkhurst streets.
CONDITION OF PROPERTY.
The Engine Houses are all in good repair, but some of the reservoirs are partly filled with sand, and need some repairs.
ENGINES AND CARRIAGES.
Washington Engine No. 1, Button & Son, builders, is located in No. 1 Engine House.
North Star Engine No. 4, Jeffers, builder, is located at North Milford in No. 4 Engine House.
Milford Steam Fire Engine No. 1, Cole Brothers, builders, is located in the Steamer House.
Aaron Claflin Steam Fire Engine No. 2, Amoskeag build, is located in the Steamer House.
Wide Awake Hose Carriage, No. 1, is located in No. 1 Engine House.
Excelsior Hook & Ladder Carriage No. 1, is located in No. 2 Engine House.
Extinguisher No. 1 is located in the Engine House at Hope- dale.
All the above apparatus is in good repair. There are six thousand six hundred and fifty feet of hose in the department, some of which is not entirely reliable.
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RECOMMENDATIONS.
That the pay of members be the same as last year, and the appropriation of the following sums of money :
Pay of members. $3,600 00
Incidental expenses .. 1200 00
Repairs of reservoirs and houses. 200 00
J. M. WOODS, MOSES DAY,
ASAPH WITHINGTON, L. WAKEFIELD, M. W. EDWARDS, J. B. BANCROFT, HENRY C. SKINNER,
Board of Engineers.
TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1879-80.
Clerk,
LEWIS FALES.
Treasurer,
ETHAN C. CLAFLIN.
Selectmen and Highway Surveyors,
JOSEPH B. BANCROFT,
MATTHEW CALLANAN,
DANIEL J. CRONAN.
Assessors,
ANDREW J. SUMNER,
PATRICK McGARRY,
BENJAMIN WARD.
Overseers of the Poor,
ELIAS WHITNEY, JOHN MADDEN, CHESTER L. CLARK. Collector of Taxes, JOSEPH H. WOOD. Constables, / Oliver D. Holmes, ZMichael W. Edwards, Solon S. Cook, James J. Madden, Martin Broderick, Thomas Donahue, Edwin F. Chapin, James Sherman, Thomas F. Hayes, Benjamin H. Montague, SC. E. Clark, Joseph E. Batten, Sidney W, Pierce, James Powers, Philip O'Donnell, F. H. French.
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Fence Viewers, ANDREW J. SUMNER AND ELIAS WHITNEY. Surveyors of Lumber. JAMES BERGIN AND FRANK ROACH. Field Drivers, WILLIAM FITZPATRICK AND FRANCIS KENNEDY. School Committee,
CHARLES A. DEWEY, 1 Term expires March, 1880.
J. T. CANAVAN,
GEORGE W. JOHNSON, ) ZIBEON C. FIELD, S
Term expires March, 1881.
CHARLES J. THOMPSON,
Term expires March, 1882.
GEORGE G. PARKER, Trustees of Town Library, Silas W. Hale, David G. Minton, P. A. Gleason, C. W. Shippee, E. D. Bancroft, J. Allen Rice, Charles Lynch, A. A. Burrill, Henry B. Thayer, C. J. Thompson, C. W. Wilcox, C. A. Dewey, Henry J. Bailey.
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Trustees of Vernon Grove Cemetery,
W. IRVING BRADBURY,
Term expires March, 1880.
H. C. SKINNER,
JOHN M. WOOD, }
J. ALLEN RICE, Term expires March, 1881.
LEONARD FAIRBANKS,
ISAAC N. CROSBY, Term expires March, 1882.
Park Commissioners,
Zibeon C. Field, Henry E. Fales, Dwight Russell. Engineers of Fire Department,
J. M. Woods, Moses Day, Asaph Withington, J. B. Ban- croft, M. W. Edwards, L. S. Wakefield, Henry C. Skinner.
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT
For the year ending March 1, 1880.
BIRTHS.
There were 169 births recorded, of which 84 had fathers of foreign birth, and 83 had mothers of foreign birth; 85 had fathers of American birth, and 86 had mothers of American birth.
There were 81 males and 88 females.
There were 31 births less than in 1878.
MARRIAGES.
There were 64 marriages recorded, being 8 less than 1878; 4 of which the groom and bride were of foreign birth, 4 of which the groom was of foreign birth and the bride American, and 5 the bride was of foreign birth and the groom American, and 50 both groom and bride were of American birth.
DEATHS.
There were 169 deaths recorded, being 5 less than in 1878, of which 70 were of American parentage, and 99 of foreign parent- age ; 47 were less than 5 years old, 18 were 5 years and less than 20 years, 36 were 20 and less than 50 years old, 51 were 50 years and less than 80 years old, 13 were 80 years old and over.
CAUSE OF DEATH.
Consumption, 27,
Bronchitis, 4,
Old Age, 19,
Decline, 4,
Diphtheria, 14,
Disease of Throat, 3,
Pneumonia, 12,
Bilious Fever, 3,
Disease of Brain, 8,
Typhoid Fever, 3,
Cancer, 6,
Meningitis, 3,
Cholera Infantum, 7,
Still Born, 3,
Heart Disease, 6,
Spinal Disease, 2,
Accidental, 4,
Pleurisy, 2,
Paralysis, 4,
Hernia, 2,
Suicide, 2,
Disease of Bowels, 2,
Dyspepsia, 2,
Dropsy, 2,
Disease of Liver, 2.
Also one death from each of the following named causes :-- Teething, whooping cough, croup, kidney disease, child-birth, disease of bones, diarrhea, dysentery, congestion, blood poison, insanity, neuralgia, bilious colic.
There have been 258 dogs licensed since the 30th of April, 1879, being 26 less than last year ; 11 licenses were issued for female dogs, and 245 for male dogs.
There have been 47 liquor licenses recorded for the year com- mencing May 1, 1879.
Apoplexy, 3,
47
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TOWN LIBRARY.
To THE CITIZENS OF MILFORD :- The Trustees of the Public Library respectfully submit the following report :
The past year has witnessed the great business revival, and though it has caused a diminished circulation of the books of the library, we must not infer that it has affeeted its usefulness ; for active business, though calling less for the lighter ephemeral litera- ture, produecs a demand on the past. for the results of experience. It claims less reading for mere diversion, and seeks more for that which can aid it in the activities of the day.
What books a public library should afford, is an important ques- tion. Certainly there are some it should not afford. Said a librari- an in answer to the query : " What books do you want for your library?" " A copy of every work printed." Loud protests have arisen in Boston and elsewhere the past year against this wholesale, undiscriminating mode of buying. That book whose hero is a run- away from home, with pistol and dime novel for companions, with adventure the object of his search, is fraught with as much danger, and as thoroughly pernicious, in character, as association with the gamins of the street.' And vet many a mother, who would not tol- erate her child's association with the latter, is uneonscious of the insidious presence of the former. Under the guise of reading, her child, she thinks, is learning. Yes. But what? How to pass the time in what is worse than mere play-mental debauchery. Rec- ognizing this fact, the school board of Boston has caused to be hung up in the school room printed lists of not only such books as have a bearing on the subjects studied, but such as are noted for their bright, genial fancy and real merit. Novels will be read, but let them be like those of Scott, Dickens or Thackeray. Let them be at least as good as the Arabian Nights or Robinson Crusoe. Show us the boy who pores over Bristol Bill or Texas Jack, and we will show you an incipient burglar or ruffian, and if he does not at last fill the bill it will not be from laek of appropriate reading.
Where a few years ago your committee saw empty spaces and plenty of room, they now behold shelf on shelf, well occupied and full. Room will soon be the library's need. The time is approach-
ing when private munificence will stand conspicuously forth in the town's adornment. In the words of Daniel Webster, we have passed through "our long contest with unreclaimed nature and uncivilized man, our agony of glory, the war of Independence, the first victory of peace, the formation and establishment of our constitution," its heroic vindication, and at last we are entered upon an era of peace the grandest the world has ever seen. This era will behold the rep- etition of what has transpired in the republics of the past. Large- hearted, generous-minded men will rise. Already the advancing wave has touched many of our cities and larger towns. Hospitals have been built, schools endowed, libraries erected, and the patriot commemorated. Milford will yet exhibit the crown and flower of highest citizenship, of noblest manhood. Freedom may yet speak to coming generations from lofty column in public square. From marble tablets on library walls the coming youth may yet spell the names of souls heroic. Peace hath her victories no less renowned than war, but the heroes of war made the victories of peace possible.
Respectfully submitted by Committee, S. W. HALE, Chairman.
The Committee recommend an appropriation of one thousand dollars.
To THE TRUSTEES OF MILFORD TOWN LIBRARY :- 1 present herewith my sixth, and the twenty-first annual, report of the town library.
The library year commenced Feb. 10, 1879, and ended Feb. 7, 1880, and the library was open 306 days. The whole number of books taken out was 34,490, against 36,306 the year previous.
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