USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1881-1890 > Part 12
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There were 182 births recorded ; 90 females and 92 males : 20 births occurred in January, 14 February, 15 March, 13 April, 17 May, 13 June, 15 July, 19 August, 11 September, 15 October, 17 November, and 12 December.
There were 211 deaths reported, a large increase over the pre- vious year. Consumption, as in past years, was the prevailing dis- ease, while pneumonia and typhoid pneumonia raged among thie children and aged people in the fore part of the year. Of the num- ber reported, 107 were females and 104 males: 110 bodies are buried in the Catholic cemetery, the balance in the other cemeteries in town and other places.
There were 105 conveyances and mortgages of personal prop- erty recorded for the year.
Respectfully submitted,
LEWIS HAYDEN, Town Clerk.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH,
MILFORD, Mass., Feb. 10, 1886.
TO THE SELECTMEN OF MILFORD, GENTLEMEN :- This Board has during the year attended promptly to all cases of nuisances detrimental to the public health, to which their attention has been called, or which have been observed by either member. The num- ber of nuisances (great and small) abated, has been 121. Several carcasses of dead animals have been buried. Four cases of consid- erable importance came before the Board for action which demand- ed recourse to legal proceedings before the nuisances were abated, or the cost of abatement made by the Board was settled. Happily, all these cases never reached the courts, and the town has therefore been saved much expensive litigation.
In the latter part of the Summer and early Fall, a widespread fear of an invasion of small-pox possessed the public mind through- out this section of country, which was intensified here by cases oc- curring in towns in the vicinity. In order to put the people in the best position to resist the progress of the plague should it show itself here, free vaccination was inaugurated, and about 1000 per- sons were vaccinated, mostly children. The School Committee having enforced the law compelling vaccination before attendance, and a free performance of the operation having been granted to all, it can now, probably for the first time, be said that not an un- vaccinated child attends the public schools of our town.
The matter of the necessity of some systematic method of disposing of the sewage of the town, has been called to public at- tention in former reports of this Board, and all that has been said therein can, with the experience of this year, be emphasized. Many parts of the town are honeycombed with private drains, which sometimes become stopped, at others leak, and infiltrate the neighboring soil, causing a large share of the sickness from which our people suffer.
If these could be made to converge to a set of sewers with a proper outlet, and systematic measures taken to keep them whole and open, one great source of disease to the town would be con- trolled.
As this matter is under consideration by a committee appointed by the town, the Board feel that, by calling public attention to the matter again, they fulfil their duty.
In conclusion, it may be proper to state that one or two nui- sances, in connection with drains, which have been complained of, it has been unable to abate, on account of the setting in and steady
31
continuance of frost, and steps have been taken to remedy the diffi- culties with the advent of Spring.
Respectfully submitted,
CHAS. MACKIN, M. D., 7 JOHN M. EATON, M .D. LOWELL E. FALES, $
Board of Health.
REPORT OF TOWN PARK COMMISSIONERS.
EXPENSES.
Hugh Smith, labor.
$19 50
Christopher Kolp, labor
18 00
Richard Carey,
20 25
Eugene Sullivan, 66
1 75
Chas. F. Libby, 60
2 25
Bernard Riley, 66
5 00
John Miller, 6.
13 00
W. H. Britton, 10 seats
17 50
T. E. Morse, painting .
26 38
Christopher Hersey. labor
1 50
John McEnnany,
9 50
One pair tree climbers
3 00
Geo. A. Sherborn, carting
75
$138 38
Sumner Pond, labor (1884)
$1 25
S. A. Vant, 66
20 47
21 72
$160 10
Respectfully submitted,
C. W. WILCOX, HENRY E. FALES, DWIGHT RUSSELL,
Town Park Commissioners.
MILFORD TOWN LIBRARY.
TRUSTEES' REPORT.
During the past year nothing has occurred of special interest in regard to the Town Library, aside from the completion of Memorial Hall, a noble building, which is at once an honor and an ornament to the town. To that hall, built at the expense of the town, and dedicated in part to the cause of education, our books have been al- ready transferred, and there they will henceforth have an elegant and attractive home. It presents a striking contrast to the old, dark, contracted and wholly unsuitable quarters, in which the library has hitherto been located.
We may well hope that our people will show their appreciation of this new departure, that the Town Library, with its new attractions, will be more liberally patronized than ever before, and that its use- fulness will be greatly increased. The importance of the public li- brary as a means of popular education can hardly be overestimated.
The trustees have now on hand quite a sum of money which has not been expended, because they thought it might be expected of them to furnish the shelves and furniture of their new room, and they desired to reserve enough for that purpose. They have al- ready put in suitable shelves, and are about laying out a considera- ble amount in providing settees, tables, chairs, etc. And some. books have been ordered which are not yet paid for.
The expense of the library will in future be reduced in some re- spects. There will be no rent to pay, and that has amounted to $180 per year. It does not seem best to the trustees to insure the books against fire, especially as no other town property is insured, and there will be an annual saving of $100. And we presume the trustees will not be expected to pay for heating and lighting the rooms used for the library, which has cost about $90 a year. On the other hand there will be a larger sum paid to the librarian, if the library is kept open more hours than before, and this the trustees desire to see done. And of course a janitor will be employed to look after the building and attend to the fires.
After due and careful consideration, the trustees recommend that the town make an appropriation of $800 for the Town Library for the ensuing year.
CHAS. A. DEWEY, Chairman of the Trustees.
33
TREASURER'S REPORT.
J. E. WALKER, Treasurer,
In account with Milford Town Library.
Feb., 1886. DR.
Balance from last year's account
$376 23
Town appropriation .
1000 00
One-half dog tax.
299 43
For fines ..
47 27
For catalogues .
.
2 00
$1724 93
CR.
PAID
M. J. Kelley, librarian.
$300 00
H. C. Scott, rent.
225 00
G. G. Parker, insurance
102 50
Express
1 45
Covering books
4 92
Books
314 76
Milford Water Co., for water.
6 00
Milford Gas Light Co., for gas
55 23
Postage
2 00
Supplies
2 19
Printing
16 00
Coal ..
9 95
Book cases
165 00
Balance cash on hand
519 93
.
$1724 93
34
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
TO THE TRUSTEES OF TOWN LIBRARY :
GENTLEMEN :- The following twenty-seventh annual report is re- spectfully submitted :
The library year began Feb. 9, 1885, and ended Feb. 6, 1886, with a circulation of 30,139 volumes.
During the latter months of the year, there has been a large in- crease in the number of patrons, and there is no doubt that, with the agreeable change from the old quarters to Memorial Hall, the library will gain considerably in circulation.
The U. S. Government through the courtesy of our Congressman, has forwarded to us 158 volumes, principally Congressional Globes and Records, and we now have the set almost complete. All the other additions were purchased.
The patrons of the library have conducted themselves in an or- derly manner, there being no occasion to deprive any person of the privileges for disorder. There still remains that objectionable feat- ure, namely, the too large amount of fiction read in comparison with the other classes. If the patrons would take the trouble, they would find in every class books which now are seldom read and which are as interesting, and certainly more beneficial, than the books which are in continual circulation. Since the present catalogue was is- sued, there has been a large number of books added, and perhaps it would be advisable to issue a supplementary catalogue. By vote of the trustees, the library was closed Jan. 16, and shortly after the annual examination was made, with the following result : Number of books, per catalogue .6716 Number of duplicates. 205
6921
Number of books in circulation . 6636
66 missing (Aug. 30, 1884, included) 66
66 ready for bindery. 130
66 incomplete. 89
6921
The appended schedule is the complete summary of the work in the library during the year. The number of cards issued to date is 3,536. 310 cards were given to parties who never had taken books from the library. One of the principal, and certainly the most agreeable, event, was the transfer of the books to the new and com- modious rooms in Memorial Hall. This involved considerable time and labor, but all the books have been transferred, and will be in condition for delivery very soon.
Respectfully submitted,
MARTIN J. KELLEY, Librarian.
CIRCULATION.
MONTIIS.
A
B
C D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
Amount.
No. of Days.
Average.
Catalogue.
Fines.
February, 1885. .
71
S4
9
128
113
3
198
92
1708
2II
IO
49 1098
3610
25
14425
50
4 50
April .
125
124
S
150
45
1529
184
2I
56|
IO23
3265
25
SIO
2745
25
10925
50
4 34
June .
88
98
I2
I45
23
1152
151
37
782
I
2496
26
96
50
3 88
26
70 26
4 20
25
85 25
3 00
September .
19
95
12
153
44
1238
163
IO
2 1
868
2683
26
10326
3 40
October .
65
87
5
130
40
1169
148
8
36
912
I
2601
26
10026
3 25
November
86
99
13
148
30
1257
142
42
928
2761
24
1152
3 80
15
50
4 25
January 1886.
1 42
February
Closed.
· · ·
. . .
· ... .
Totals . .
·
990 1093 123 1622 436 13779 1 708 134 436 9602
2 29925 271
11121 $ 3 00 $46 27
No. of Books taken by teachers, 214
Total . .. . . . . . . . 30139 Largest daily circulation, March 7, 401. Smallest daily circulation, October 13, 31.
35
December . .
95| 119
24
170
57
1335
188
I7
50|1080
3135
. .
.
·
162
35
II31
137
II
57
745
2442
17
14317$ 1 00 $ 5 81
March
4 42
May . .
109
IIO
2I
145
27
130I
I71
16
35
6
88
6
20
660
205 1
August . ..
79
84
8
119
21
958
125
13
33
696
2136
July . . .
65
79
S
IO2
22
IOOI
·
CT
16
26
12026
Closed.
·
20
12919
BOARD OF ENGINEERS.
Annual report of the Board of Engineers of the Milford Fire Department, for the year ending February 12, 1886.
Giving a detailed account of the Manual Force and Apparatus of the Department ; a record of all fires and alarms, showing the loss, amount of insurance and insurance paid, and the cause as far as could be ascertained ; also the receipts and expenditures, with each appropriation kept separately ; and the usual recommendations.
RECEIPTS.
Received of E. C. Claflin, pay of members $4650 00
66 66 incidentals 1000 00
66.
66
new hose 300 00
$5950 00
Town of Mendon, use of derrick. $6 00
Norcross Bros., old hose
7 50
Wickford Fire Corporation for Washington hand engine. .
650 00
Balance cash on hand, Feb 10, 1885
16 48- 679 98
$6629 98
EXPENDITURES.
Appropriation for pay of members, $4650.00.
PAID
Milford S. F. E. Co., No. 1. $455 00
A. Claflin S. F. E. Co., No. 2. 455 00
Excelsior H. & L. Co., No. 1. 585 00
Wide Awake Hose Co., No. 1 .
442 50
Washington Hose Co., No. 2.
Hopedale Hose Co., No. 3 .. 455 00
365 00
W. C. Gillman Hose Co., No. 4.
455 00
F. M. Walker, driver Steamer 1 175 00
C. L. Witherell, driver Hose 1 ..
152 00
C. O. Woodbury, driver Steamer 2 175 00
F. J. Rockwood, driver Hose 2. 25 00
D. L. Stimpson, steward Hose 1 .
43 00
F. J. Rockwood. steward Hose 2 43 00
G. S. Arnold, steward Hose 3 40 00
J. C. O'Neil, steward Hose 4.
40 00
37
John Kelley, steward H. & L .
$20 00
James Birmingham, steward H. & L 20 00
Henry Willard, engineman Steamer 1 .. 175 00 H. B. Fairbanks, engineman Steamer 2. 175 00
Board of engineers. 325 00
Balance
29 50
$4650 00
APPROPRIATION FOR INCIDENTALS, $1000.
PAID
Milford Gas Light Co .
$225 91
Milford Water Co
35 25
Hopedale Machine Co., repairs. 21 33
Manchester Locomotive Works, repairs 16 91
75
Adams Express Co., freight. .
2 75
Boston & Albany Railroad Co., freight.
50
Hopedale stable, teams to fires
4 50
T. F. Daveron, 66 66
4 50
James Powers, 66 60
.
5 00
J. O. Symonds, 66
. .
2 00
David Bushee, 66
6 00
H. C. Snell, 60
1 50
M. W. Edwards, horses for truck.
43 50
A. L. Smith, horses for hose No. 4. 27 00
G. A. Sherborne, horses for steamer and express : 10 50
O. D. Holmes, ringing fire alarm
11 00
G. E. Daniels, ringing fire alarm
10 00
B. H. Montague, ringing fire alarm
4 00
A. Claflin, S. F. E. Co. No. 2, blinds
10 00
A. Claflin, S. F. E. Co. No. 2, room rent 50.00
92 77
E. B. Foster, shavings.
50
F. O. Dewey & Sons, lanterns
5. 00
E. B. Preston & Co., lantern bracket. 1:50
Heirs of S. P. Carpenter, lease of land 15 00
60
G. M. Billings, printing .
5 75
J. Allen Rice, sponges and chamois
3 00
N. B. Fairbanks, oil .
1 37
F. M. Walker, bedding
75
Martin Broderick, fire police .
5 00
C. E. Clark, fire police. . 8 00
J. H. Scott, postage, stationery, mileage, etc ... 5 55
.
Barney & Son, coal and wood
C. F. Quiggle, leather. 7 95
O. M. Adams, envelopes
$4620 50
Hall Rubber Co., rubber for step, Hose 4.
38
N. K. Sprague, labor $1 00
Cyrus Joy, labor.
3 00
Davis Brothers, labor 3 62
J. C. Coffey, labor . . 5 00
James Birmingham, labor ·
2 00
J. A. Simpson, labor. 1 50
T. E. Morse, labor and stock. 1 16
7 45
Lysander Grow, agt., repairs
12 70
Cyrus Noyes, repairs
1 65
Bangor Extension Ladder Co., repairs
5 00 50
L. E. Belknap, repairs
9 60
Craige & Severance, repairs
6 50
C. T. Crosby & Co., repairs
17 50
D. R. Johnson, repairs .
1 20
Cole Brothers, repairs .
16 50
Harden & Marshall, repairs
1 50
H. S. Cushman, repairs and stock.
9 10
Bartlett & Ellis, repairs and stock,
35 75
A. S. Tuttle & Co., supplies
34 35 50
J. C. O'Neil, supplies .
.
.
Conant Rubber Co., supplies
2 50
Currier & Kendall, supplies 4 00 .
H. C. Scott, supplies .. 38 71
2 98
A. Sumner, supplies . . .
1 60
T. C. Eastman, supplies for Hose 4 53 25
A. S. Jackson, supplies . 65 85
Balance
8 39
$1000 00
NEW HOSE.
Appropriation, $300.
PAID
Boston Woven Hose Co., for 400 feet hose $300 00
SALE OF WASHINGTON HAND ENGINE.
Received of Wickford Fire Corporation $650 00
PAID
E. C. Claflin, town treasurer 622 10
J. H. Scott, labor and expense. 5 50
Cole Bros., commission . .. .. . 20 00
Greene Bros., use of canvas cover 2 00
M. F. P. & H. R. R., freight. 40
$650 00
.
.
.
.
Henry Willard, repairs
.
.
.
. ·· ·
.
. · ·
.
C. A. Ambler & Co., supplies.
$991 61
Ralph Varnum, repairs .
&
39
RECAPITULATION.
Total amount drawn from E. C. Claflin.
$5950 00
Paid for members of Dep't.
$4620 50
Paid for incidentals
991 61
Paid for new hose
300 00
Unexpended
37 89
$5950 00
Balance on hand, Feb. 10, 1885 . $16 48
Received for old hose and use of derrick ... 13 50
Received for hand engine. 650 00
$679 98
$6629 98
Paid to town treasurer net receipts of sale of hand engine. 622 10
$6007 88
Balance on hand, Feb. 12th, 1886.
67 87
Total expense of fire department last year
$5940 01
APPROPRIATIONS, 1885.
Pay of members $4650 00
Incidentals .
1000 00
Hose
300 00
Repairs · · · 300 00
$6250 00
5940 01
Unexpended
$309 99
FIRES AND ALARMS.
There were 17 bell alarms of fire during the year ending January 1. 1886. There were 2 still alarms, and one building totally destroyed. and one building partially damaged by fire without an alarm being given.
Below will be seen a statement of the same as near as could be ascer- tained.
Total amount of insurance on buildings damaged by fire, $8300.
Total amount of insurance on contents, $3100.
Total amount of insurance paid on buildings, $336.12.
Total amount of insurance paid on contents, $76.00.
Total amount paid $412.12
Jan. 4, at 5 P. M. Slight fire in house owned and occupied by William Dillon. No alarm; Cause unknown; Damage, $58; Insurance paid, $44. Jan. 5, 10:02 P. M. Unnecessary alarm : caused by hot ashes placed
$5912 11
40
in wooden keg in house owned by N. George and occupied by M. Rush, Central street ; no damage.
March 25. 11:50 A. M. Chimney fire in house owned and occupied by Nora Leonard, East Main street ; no damage.
March 25, 4 P. M .. Still alarm. Chimney fire in house owned by B. E. Harris, occupied by G. M. Davenport, Beach street ; no damage.
April 7. 7 :15 P. M. Forest fire, Bear Hill.
April 16. 5 P. M. Forest fire. back of Milford granite quarry.
April 20. 1:50 P. M: Forest fire back of the Hicks place, Hopkin- ton road.
April 21, 12 M : Forest fire near house owned by A. Rollins.
April 23, 6 P. M. Forest fire, Braggville road, owned by Messrs. Flanigan & Quirk.
April 25, 1:45 P. M. Forest fire near house owned by Mr. T. Shea, near Norcross Bros. quarry.
June 19. 5:40 P. M. Slight fire on roof of shuttle factory owned by S. Walker, occupied by Dudley & Knight, Hopedale. Damage $10, in- surance paid $10; cause, sparks from smoke stack.
July 4, 4 A. M. Small building owned by Mr. Gannon, North Pur- chase. Damage total ; cause incendiary; insurance on building. $350; paid. $300. Insurance on contents, $100; paid, $25; no alarm.
July 4, 10 :45 P. M. Slight fire on roof of house owned and occupied by Esther McNamara, Church Place. Damage to building, $6; damage to contents, $11; insurance on building, $1,650; paid, $5.12; insurance on contents, $600 : paid. $11 ; caused by fireworks.
July 9, 1:55 P. M. Old timber owned by Mr. Dudley, Hopedale; no damage.
July 14, 7:15 P. M. Chimney fire in house owned by Mr. Inman, Upton road; unnecessary alarm.
Oct. 8, 7:03 A. M. Slight fire in bakery owned by Mrs. McDermott, Pond street; caused by pan of fat catching fire from stove; no insurance claimed.
Oct. 17, 3:40 P. M. Chimney fire in carriage factory owned by I. N. Crosby, School street; no damage.
DEC. 8, 9:15 P. M. Small fire in house owned by Mr. McDonald, De. pot street ; caused by wood placed too near stove. Damage, $20; in- sured for $600; insurance paid, $17.
Dec. 23. 8:05 P. M. Small fire in Dr. Clark's office, Main street; caused by lamp explosion ; damage slight; still alarm.
Dec. 26. 9 :10 p. M. Unnecessary alarm; chimney in house on Hay- ward street; no damage.
Dec. 29, 11:20 A. M. Unnecessary alarmı ; small brush fire about two miles out on the Medway road ; no damage.
The force of the Fire Department is as follows :
BOARD OF ENGINEERS.
James Powers, Chief Engineer. J. B. Bancroft, Assistant. A. R. Cheney, 1st Assistant. P. J. Baxter, Assistant. J. H. Scott, Clerk and Treasurer. D. R. Johnson, Assistant.
Thomas Nutting, Foreman. Frank P. Mann, Ist Assistant. Willard P. Lealand, Clerk and Treas. Henry Willard, Engineman. Henry E. Rockwood, Stoker. F. M. Walker, Driver. William Bowker, Hoseman. A. D. Read.
MILFORD STEAM FIRE ENGINE CO., NO. 1. E. F. Pond, Hoseman. A. C. Gardner, 6. T. E. Kane,
Thomas Mahar.
William Brown, Waldo Hancock, George Whiting,
41
AARON CLAFLIN STEAM FIRE ENGINE CO., NO. 2.
J. H. Morse, Foreman.
A. J. Watkins, 1st Assistant.
W. A. Fairbanks, Clerk and Treas.
N. B. Fairbanks, Engineman. C. O. Woodbury, Driver.
C. H. Cook. Hoseman. C. H. Smith,
Joseph Lawton. "
L. H. Hayden, Hoseman. W. O. Hayden.
Nahum Gaskill,
John Brayı,
..
W. A. Otis, .: G. Il. Thompson, .6
A. H. Smith,
WIDE AWAKE HOSE CO., NO. 1.
F. W. Adams, Foreman and Treas.
W. J. Stimpson. 1st Assistant.
A. D. White, Clerk. D. L. Stimpson, Steward.
C. L. Littlefield, Hoseman.
C. L. Witherell, ..
H. C. Benny,
66
Charles Bagley,
R. D. Hadley,
66
WASHINGTON HOSE CO., NO. 2.
L. E. Belknap, Foreman and Treas.
J. T. Berrill, Ist Assistant.
T. F. Martin, 2nd Assistant.
W. J. Pyne, Clerk.
F. J. Rockwood, Steward.
Bart Harrington, Hoseman.
A. O. Hersey,
P. J. Connors,
G. A. Frost,
Hoseman.
John Glenfield 66
Emmons Fletcher,
Edward Dalton.
.6
J. J. Ring. ..
M. C. Hussey,
66
T. J. Callahan, 66
HOPEDALE HOSE CO., NO. 3.
Thomas J. Coyne. Foreman.
Robert Ross, Ist Assistant.
F. L. Andrews, 2nd Assistant.
Samuel Pilling, Clerk.
E. L. Chichester, Treas.
G. S. Arnold, Steward.
G. E. Frink,
Hoseman.
E. S. Adams,
J. P. Smith, 6.
T. F. Barrows, ..
Thad. E. Stevens,
E. M. Capen.
..
W. C. GILLMAN HOSE CO., NO. 4.
J. C. O'Neil, Foreman.
M. Higgins, Ist Assistant.
D. O'Connor, 2nd Assistant.
C. A. Cheney, Clerk.
M. Casey, Steward.
M. J. Buckley, Treasurer.
J. Howard, Hoseman. J. A. Cook,
J. E. Fitzsimmons, Hoseman.
G. Julian.
6.
Fred Joslyn,
P. Coyne.
66
A. L. Smith. 66
Owen Gormley,
M. Murphy.
.6
EXCELSIOR HOOK AND LADDER CO .. NO. 1.
Not fully organized.
J. J. Hennessy,
..
G. H. Thompson,
H. L. Willard, Hoseman.
.J. L. Lilley.
L. E. Dolliff,
E. B. Bates,
42
SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY AND ITS CONDITION.
Milford Steam Fire Engine No. I, built by Cole Brothers, Pawtucket, R. I , is in good condition as far as we can ascertain.
Aaron Claflin Steam Fire Engine No. 2, built by the Amoskeag Co., Manchester, N. H., is in good condition.
Excelsior Hook & Ladder Truck, built by E. B. Preston & Co., Chicago, Ill., is in good condition.
Wide Awake Hose Carriage No. I, built by Abbot Downing Co., Con- cord, N. H., is in good condition.
Washington Hose Carriage No. 2, built by Abbot Downing Co., Con- cord, N. H., is in good condition.
Hopedale Hose Carriage Co. 3, built by Hunneman & Co., Boston, Mass., is in good condition.
W. C. Gillman Hose Carriage No. 4, built by Abbot Downing Co., Concord, N. H., is in good condition.
One Babcock 4-wheeled Fire Extinguisher, in reserve.
One Hook & Ladder Truck in reserve.
There are six buildings owned and occupied by the Fire Department, situated as follows : One on Hopedale street, occupied by Hose No. 3, in good condition ; one on South Main street, occupied by Steamers Nos. I and 2, in good condition ; one at Lincoln square, occupied by Hose Cos. I and 2, in very poor condition ; one corner Spruce and Main streets, oc- cupied by Hook & Ladder Truck Co. No. I, in very poor condition ; one at North Purchase, occupied by the Extinguisher, in fair condition ; one on Central street occupied by Hose Co. No. 4, in good condition.
There are sixteen reservoirs situated in the thickly settled parts of the town, and four hydrants located in the depot district suitable for steam- ers only, there not being sufficient force to them to throw a stream over any building, although they have been, and will continue to be, if properly cared for, very convenient in case of a large fire, as there is an everlasting supply of water from them.
There are 76 Hydrants of th Milford Water Company, as located and accepted by the town. 1
There are 6,300 feet of good reliable rubber-lined fabric hose in the. Department.
SALE OF WASHINGTON HAND ENGINE.
Agreeable to the vote of the Town instructing the Engineers of the Fire Department to dispose of the Washington hand engine, we would report that we have sold the above-mentioned engine to the Wickford Fire Corporation, Wickford, R. I., for the sum of $650, including the amount of leather and unlined linen hose as reported last year. This was con- sidered by the Engineers to be a very good price, considering the number of engines in the market, in consequence of so many towns putting in water works.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
We would recommend the following appropriations for the ensuing year :
For pay of Members,
" Incidentals,
$4550 1000 -
For New Hose, $300
" Repairs,
300
43
We would also recommend that the town take some action in relation to building a house for the Hose and Hook & Ladder apparatus, and es- tablish a Fire Alarm Telegraph, the necessity of which has been fully set forth in preceding reports and needs no further argument from us, still we feel it our duty to make mention of these things, as our Fire Depart- ment cannot be complete without them, and we believe it to be for the best interest of the Town.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion we desire to thank the members of the Fire Depart- ment for a cheerful compliance to the rules of the department, and to say that it is not the intention of the Board of Engineers to make any arbitrary rules, all rules being fully considered before they are pro- mulgated to the department and would not be made without being for the best interest of the Town and the Fire Department. We regret that our rules caused trouble in the Hook & Ladder Company, nevertheless it was necessary to enforce them after the company continued to run under them ; and had we allowed the company to dictate to the Board of Engineers, the discipline of the department would have been injured, and we could not allow that at any cost. However, we think we showed a disposition to amicably adjust the matter when we agreed to arbitrate the question and to which the company refused. We have a new com- pany started that will consist of fifteen men, which is in our opinion sufficient to handle the apparatus, as the truck is drawn by horses, and does not require as many men as when it was drawn by hand, and it will reduce the expenses of the department $150 per year.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
JAMES POWERS, Chief Engineer. ALBERT R. CHENEY, 1st Assistant. PATRICK BAXTER,
D. R. JOHNSON,
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