USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1890-1895 > Part 41
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are fully adequate to the duties which will be required in the erec- tion of a building of this character.
The committee are glad to report that the selection was unan- imous, and fully believe that if a building is erected as contem- plated in the plan, that the town will be convinced that we, as a committee, have acted wisely.
The committee further report that they have assurances from a monetary institution in Milford that the necessary funds can be borrowed at the rate of 32 per cent. per annum.
Under the provisions of the statutes, the loan 'cannot extend beyond ten years. The committee therefore recommend that the money be borrowed on promissory notes given by the town, paya- ble two thousand dollars per annum, for ten consecutive years ; the balance payable at the end of ten years, with the distinct agreement on the part of the parties making the loan that in ten years, when the loan falls due, a new loan can be made, so that the ultimate result will be the same as if borrowed for twenty years. And payments of such a small amount will hardly be per- ceptible to the tax-payers. The committee believe that, owing to the present depression of business and the easy money market, that they can erect a building for less money, obtain the loan at a less rate of interest, and in fact provide the town of Milford with a schoolhouse upon more favorable terms and conditions than ever before.
Your committee have deemed it within the scope of their du- ties to consider and recommend some plan for the disposition of the present High school building.
They recognize the fact that the building will be needed for school purposes for some years to come, and that there are many objections to moving an old building and placing it upon a new location, which would entail an expense of several thousand dol- lars, to say nothing of the difficulty of finding a proper location within a short distance. They have, therefore, considered the feasibility of allowing the old building to retain its present posi- tion and erecting the new High schoolhouse directly in its front, upon the same lot. They have learned, on investigation and ex- amination of the lot, that the distance from the westerly line of
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School street to the front of the present building, is 165 feet ; that the new building can be erected from its front 90 feet from the line of the street, and allow a space of 25 feet between the two buildings. The rooms of the new building are so arranged that they are lighted from the front, or easterly, side.
The rooms in the old building are so arranged that they are lighted from the north and south sides, so that there is no objec- tion to this plan upon the score of light. The placing of the new building within 90 feet of the street, is more in conformity with the present style of placing public buildings, and will allow a suf- ficient space for a lawn or front yard of sufficient extent, and yet which is not so large but that it can be kept in good repair and condition for a reasonable expense.
When in the future the old building shall be taken down, or removed, and its site graded, there will be a considerable space in the rear of the new building for a playground.
The plan of the new building is so arranged that if by growth of the town in the years to come further High school accommoda- tions shall be necessary, an extension can be added to the new building without affecting its symmetry, style of architecture, or its interior arrangement.
Such additions to the new building would be made by the construction of a wing in the rear side. The space now occupied by the old building will afford ample opportunity for so doing.
In view of all these considerations, and also of the fact that this plan is approved by the architect, the committee recommend that the old building be permitted to retain its present location, and the new building be erected upon the same lot, with its front 90 feet from School street.
E. L. WIRES,
JAS. F. STRATTON, ZIBEON C. FIELD, HENRY E. FALES, AUG. W. KEENE, JOHN T. MCLOUGHLIN,
JAMES LALLY, JR., FRANK P. DILLON, CHAS. B. GODFREY.
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Voted : To accept the report of the committee.
Voted : That we adopt the report of the committee and build the schoolhouse as recommended by the committee.
Voted : That the Treasurer be and he is hereby authorized to borrow a sum not exceeding forty thousand dollars, and issue notes or bonds of the Town therefor, payable in lawful United States gold coin, payable two thousand dollars each year for nine years, and the balance in ten years, with interest not exceeding four per cent. per annum, payable semi-annually.
Voted : To lay Mr. Hale's motion on the table in relation to using the check list when the vote is taken.
The motion being put, the result was declared as follows : Yea, 28 ; nay, 7.
Voted : That the motion be made unanimous.
Article 12. Voted : To pass over.
Voted : To dissolve the warrant.
A true copy. Attest :
DOMNICK J. LANG, Town Clerk.
TOWN WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Worcester, ss.
To either Constable of the Town of Milford, in said County,
Greeting :
In the name of the Commonweath aforesaid, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town, qualified by law to vote in Elections and in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Town, on Monday, the thirtieth day of July, A. D. 1894, punctually at 7.30 o'clock in the evening, to act upon the following articles, namely :-
Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Article 2. To hear and act upon any additional report of the High School Building Committee.
Article 3. To see if the Town will authorize the High School
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Building Committee to procure the erection of a new High School Building at a cost not exceeding $55,000, when fully completed, or take any other action authorizing the High School Building Committee to procure the erection of a High School Building at a greater cost than $40,000.
Article 4. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer to borrow money, and give the promissory notes of the Town for a sum not exceeding $15,000, in addition to the loan previously au thorized for the erection of a High School Building.
Article 5. To see what action if any the Town will take in reference to the erection of a High School Building.
Article 6. To see if the Town will appropriate money to pay the expenses incurred by the High School Building Committee up to the present time.
Article 7. To see if the Town will accept the report of the Selectmen in relation to the grading, alteration and laying out of Water street, appropriate money, or take any action in relation to the same.
And you are hereby directed to serve This Warrant by post- ing up attested copies thereof at each of the Public Meeting Houses and at the Post-office in said Town ; also cause an attested copy to be published in the Milford Daily News, Milford Daily Journal, Milford Gazette, and Milford Times, newspapers printed in said Town, two Sabbaths at least before the time set for said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Clerk of said Town, at the time of meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands at Milford, this nineteenth day of July, A. D. 1894.
C. R. SCOTT, M. E. NELLIGAN, G. F. BIRCH, Selectmen of Milford.
A true copy. Attest :
OLIVER D. HOLMES,
Constable of Milford.
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COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Worcester, ss.
MILFORD, Mass., July 30, 1894.
Pursuant to the within Warrant, I have notified the inhabi- tants of the Town of Milford, herein described, to meet at the time and place and for the purpose within mentioned, by posting up attested copies of this Warrant at each of the Public Meeting Houses and at the Post Office in said Town, and I have likewise caused an attested copy of this Warrant to be published in the Milford Daily News, Milford Daily Journal, Milford Gazette and Milford Times, newspapers printed in said town, two Sabbaths before the time set for said meeting.
Attest :
OLIVER D. HOLMES,
Constable of Milford.
A true copy of the warrant and the return thereon.
Attest :
DOMNICK J. LANG,
Town Clerk.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSSETTS.
Worcester, ss.
Milford, Mass., July 30, 1894.
In pursuance to the foregoing warrant, the inhabitants of the Town of Milford, qualified by law to vote in elections and in town affairs, met in the Town Hall on Monday, the thirtieth day of July, A. D. 1894, at 7.30 p. M. in the evening, and were called to order by the Town Clerk, who then read the warrant and the officer's return thereon.
Article 1. The meeting made choice of George B. Blake as Moderator, the check list being used, five votes being cast, all of which were for George B. Blake.
Article 2. Under this article Mr. E. L. Wires made the fol- lowing report :
ADDITIONAL REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON HIGH SCHOOL HOUSE.
"At the meeting held in April, of which the undersigned made a report in writing, it was voted "that the report be accepted and
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that the schoolhouse be built, and the Treasurer of the Town was authorized to negotiate a loan of forty thousand dollars upon the terms and conditions set out in the vote for the payment of the cost of said building."
It is now apparent to the committee that the building con- templated in the former report, and shown by the plan and specifications prepared by Mr. Parkhurst, the architect, cannot be built for that sum, and the committee feel it their duty to lay the facts as they now exist, before the town.
It is understood by all that in the erection of public buildings, in a very large majority of instances, it happens that a certain sum is contemplated and appropriated, and a building is erected largely in excess of that sum, and a call made for a further ap- propriation for the deficiency.
Your committee, from the outset, were determined that no building should be erected and no contract made by which the town would be bound, in excess of forty thousand dollars. They therefore have suspended all proceedings, and submit the matter to the town for their consideration and action.
To make clear to every voter why the former report was made, and what the present conditions are, the committee would say : On March 17, 1894, acting under the vote passed at the time of their appointment for the purpose of procuring plans for a new High school building, the committee issued a circular to various architects, a copy of which is hereto annexed and made a part of this report. The town will observe that the circular specifically provides "that the total cost, including excavation, foundation, grading, heating, pluumbing, ventilation, fixtures, extras and commissions, must not exceed forty thousand dollars." In response to this invitation, 23 architects submitted plans, which were carefully examined and considered by the committee. Each of the 23 architects represented to the committee that a building erected according to his design would cost less than forty thousand dollars. The plan accepted from Mr. Parkhurst was less expen- sive than a majority of the plans submitted by these architects. They were submitted by Mr. Parkhurst to a competent building firm in Boston, who estimated the cost, and he was assured by
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them that a building erected and completed according to the designs prepared by him, would cost substantially less than forty thousand dollars.
The architect therefore felt justified in representing to the committee, and the committee felt authorized in reporting to the town, that the building could be built within the amount voted for by the town. After the completion of the plans and speci- fications, proposals were received from twelve builders. Their figures varied from $40,800 to $51,700. Proposals were re- ceived from eight firms for the heating and ventilation, at prices varying from $3,817 to $5,200.
Upon receiving these figures, it was quite evident to the com- mittee that the building could not be erected and completed within the amount previously named. It was hardly necessary for the committee to say that the reception of these figures caused great dissapointment and surprise to them. It is quite possible that in the preparation of the specifications and arrangement of details of construction, the committee and architect have attempted to pro- vide for a better and more expensive building than they ought. If that is true, we can only offer as an excuse our zeal and inter- est to procure the best possible building for the town. The com- mittee have no criticism to make upon anyone.
We do not question the good faith or zeal of the architect. We do not question the honesty or capacity of the 22 other archi- tects, who were as much mistaken in what the building would cost as we appear to have been. It may be said that various members of the committee had been informed by many persons whose judgment ordinarily might be relied upon, that, owing to the present business depression, a building could be erected this year at a much less cost that in ordinary years.
The figures we have received convinced us that that opinion was unfounded. It was found that the use of granite involved a larger expense than was expected. Any one of three courses is open to the town.
1st. To abandon all idea of the erection of a High school house the present year.
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2d. To increase the appropriation sufficient to complete the building contemplated.
3d. To erect a building of a different design and of different material, so that the cost would be within the amount previously voted.
The committee recommend that the second course be adopted. We fully believe that the absolute necessity of providing a new High school building exists, and if one should not be erected this year it would simply postpone to the future the matter of dealing with the same difficulties with which we are brought face to face to- day. We believe it the wise and proper course for the town to erect a High school building the present year according to the plans accepted by the committee. If the town will so vote, the committee will proceed to contract for its construction. If the town prefer to direct the erection of a building within forty thous- dollars, new plans and specifications will be necessary. We trust the whole matter will be fully and fairly discussed and considered by the town, and the committee will cheerfully accede to any con- clusion that may be reached. We have no pride of opinion in the matter ; we have no apologies to make, and ask for no vindica- tion. We simply say we have done our best as we understood it for the interest of the town.
We have been misinformed as to some facts, and we submit the whole matter to the town for their action.
E. L. WIRES, JAS. F. STRATTON, JAMES LALLY, JR., AUG. W. KEANE, JOHN T. McLOUGHLIN,
FRANK P. DILLON, HENRY E. FALES, C. B. GODFREY.
Voted : That the report of the committee be accepted.
Voted : To pass on to the next article.
Article 3. Voted : To pass over the article.
Article 4. Voted : To pass over the article.
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Article 5. Voted : To pass over the article.
Article 6. Voted : To pass over the article.
Voted : To reconsider the vote whereby we voted to pass over Article 5.
Voted : To rescind the previous vote whereby we voted to build a High school building.
Voted : To reconsider the vote whereby we voted to pass over Article 6.
Voted : To appropriate $1200 for same.
Article 7. Voted : To accept the report of the Selectmen on the laying out of Water street.
Voted : To appropriate $2500 to be expended on Water street and extension.
Voted : To dissolve the warrant.
A true copy. Attest :
DOMNICK J. LANG, Town Clerk.
NOTIFICATION FROM TRUSTEES OF TOWN LIBRARY.
MILFORD, Mass., Oct. 10, 1894. TO THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN OF MILFORD,
GENTLEMEN :- I have been instructed to inform you of the vacancy in the Board of Trustees of the Town Library, caused by the resignation of Daniel T. Devine.
Yours truly, S. F. BLODGETT, Sec'y.
A true copy. Attest :
DOMNICK J. LANG, Town Clerk.
WARRANT ISSUED.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Worcester, ss.
MILFORD, Mass., Oct. 12, 1894.
In accordance with the provisions of chapter 304, section 3, of the acts of 1888, the Selectmen and Trustees of Public Libra-
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ry will meet in the Selectmen's room in Town Hall building, on Monday evening, Oct. 22, 1894, at 7.30 o'clock, for the purpose of filling the vacancy which exists in the Board of Trustees of Public Library, caused by the resignation Daniel T. Devine. Per order of BOARD OF SELECTMEN. AND
TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.
A true copy of the warrant. Attest : DOMNICK J. LANG, Town Clerk.
MILFORD, Mass., Oct. 22, 1894.
On the above date the Selectmen and Trustees of Public Library met in the Selectmen's room in Town Hall building, for the purpose of filling the vacancy which existed in the Board of Trustees of Public Library, caused by the resignation of Daniel T. Devine.
Town Clerk D. J. Lang read the warrant, and the meeting proceeded as follows :
Voted : That C. R. Scott act as chairman.
Voted : That D. J. Lang act as secretary.
Voted : That the secretary cast one ballot bearing the name of Thomas F. Manning for a member of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library.
Voted : To adjourn.
A true copy. Attest :
DOMNICK J. LANG,
Town Clerk.
TOWN WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Worcester, ss.
To either Constable of the Town of Milford, in said County,
Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town, quali-
3I
fied by law to vote in Elections and in Town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Town, on Tuesday, the sixth day of November, A. D. 1894, it being the first Tuesday after the first Mon- day, punctually at eight o'clock in the forenoon, at which time the polls will be opened for said voters to give in their ballots to the Selectmen of said Town for a Representative in the Fifty-fourth Congress of the United States (for the Eleventh Congressional District), for Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Councillor (Seventh Councillor District), Secretary, Treasurer and Receiver-General, Auditor, and Attorney-General of the Commonwealth ; a Senator for the Second Worcester Senatorial District and two Representa- tives for the Eleventh Worcester District to the General Court of Massachusetts ; and one County Commissioner, one County Treas- urer (Worcester County), and one Register of Deeds (Worcester District) .
Said voters will also give in their votes "Yes" or "No" for the following proposed amendment to the Constitution of Massa- chusetts :-
"Article of Amendment to the Constitution relative to Com- missioners of Insolvency.
"So much of Article nineteen of the Articles of Amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth as is contained in the following words: 'Commissioner of Insolvency,' is hereby an- nulled."
The polls may be closed at four o'clock in the afternoon, on said day of meeting.
At two o'clock in the afternoon of the above mentioned sixth day of November, at the same place, there will be a meeting of the above described inhabitants, to act upon the following articles, namely :--
Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Article 2. To see if the Town will accept the list of Jurors as reported by the Selectmen.
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to build a primary schoolhouse on land belonging to said Town on the southerly side
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of Spruce street in the rear of Memorial Hall, or take any action in relation to the same.
Article 4. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer to issue bonds or notes to an amount not exceeding $16,000, at a rate of interest not to exceed 4 per cent. for the purpose of build- ing and furnishing said primary school, or take any action in rela -. tion to the same.
And you are hereby directed to serve This Warrant by post- ing up attested copies thereof at each of the Public Meeting Houses and at the Post-office in said Town ; also cause an attest- ed copy to be published in the Milford Daily Journal, Milford Daily News, Milford Gazette, and Milford Times, newspapers printed in said Town, two Sabbaths at least before the time set for said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Clerk of said Town, at the time of meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands at Milford, this twenty-fifth day of October, A. D. 1894.
C. R. SCOTT, M. E. NELLIGAN, G. F. BIRCH, Selectmen of Milford.
A true copy. Attest :-
OLIVER D. HOLMES, Constable of Milford.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Worcester, ss.
MILFORD, Mass., Nov. 6, 1894.
Pursuant to the within warrant, I have notified the inhabi- tants of the Town of Milford herein described, to meet at the time and place and for the purposes within mentioned, by posting up attested copies of this warrant at each of the public Meeting Houses and at the Post-Office in said Town, and I have likewise caused an attested copy of this warrant to be published in the Milford Daily Journal, Milford Daily News, Milford Gazette and
1
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Milford Times, newspapers printed in said Town, two Sabbaths before the time set for said meeting.
Attest :
OLIVER D. HOLMES,
Constable of Milford.
A true copy of the warrant and the return thereon.
Attest :
DOMNICK J. LANG, Town Clerk.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Worcester, ss.
MILFORD, Mass., Nov. 6, 1894.
In pursuance to the foregoing warrant, the inhabitants of the Town of Milford qualified by law to vote in elections and in town affairs, met in the Town Hall in said Town on Tuesday, the sixth day of November, in year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-four, and were called to order by the Town Clerk, who then read the warrant and the officer's return thereon.
In accordance with the provisions of chapter 413 of the acts of 1889, and chapter 436 of the acts of 1890, the sealed package said to contain 2550 ballots, specimen ballots and instruction cards, was delivered to C. R. Scott, the presiding election officer, and his receipt therefor given to the Town Clerk. The seal was then pub- licly broken, the package opened, and the blocks of ballots deliv- ered to the ballot clerks, and one of each kind of cards of instruc- tions posted in each voting compartment, and five specimen bal- lots and five of the cards of instructions were posted in the hall outside the rail. The ballot box required by law to be used in elections, was then opened in public meeting and shown to be empty, and examined by the election officers, and found to be empty. The register of the box was then set at 0000 and the box locked and the keys thereof delivered to O. D. Holmes, constable in attendance at said meeting.
S. C. Sumner and R. H. Cochran, appointed inspectors by the Selectmen, acted as ballot clerks, and during their absence S. Alden Eastman and F. T. Quirk, deputy inspectors, acted in '
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their stead, each of them having been sworn to faithfully perform the duties of their office by the Town Clerk.
Patrick H. Curran, who had been appointed by the Selectmen to check the list, was then duly sworn to faithfully perform the duty of his office by the Town Clerk.
Thomas F. Connors, T. F. Waters, Morgan Sweeney, J. F. Murphy, Jas. J. Connors, F. P. Dillon, Lewis Hayden, Wm. C. Lang, C. A. Sumner, Geo. W. Ellis, H. C. Tilden, Archie Boyd, A. W. Shedd, S. W. Heath, W. F. Sherborne and A. D. White, appointed tellers by the Selectmen, were then sworn to faithfully perform their duties by the Town Clerk.
The polls were opened at 8.03 A. M. for the reception of ballots.
Voted : To close the polls at 4.30 P. M.
Due notice having been given, the polls at 4.30 P. M. were declared closed.
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, on the above-mentioned sixth day of November, at the same place, the above described inhabi- tants acted upon the articles in the warrant as follows :
Article 1. The meeting made choice of George P. Cooke as Moderator, the check list being used.
Vote cast : Geo. P. Cooke had 10 votes. Geo. B. Blake had 8 votes.
Article 2. The following list of Jurors, as prepared by the Selectmen, was submitted for revision and acceptance :
Avery, Orlando
Burns, Michael P.
Bailey, Henry J.
Burrell, Alfred A.
Bates, Davis H.
Birch, George F.
Brown, Horace A.
Baxter, James F.
Bowker, Heber D.
Blake, Nathaniel F.
Boyd, Archibald
Bourne, William H.
Bennett, Walter C.
Bell, Edward G.
Caldicott, Geo. W., Jr.
Britton, William H.
Casey, David E.
Burke, James W.
Casey, Patrick F.
Burns, James H.
Cheney, Albert R.
Barney, Hiram A.
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Clancy, James J. Clark, Chester L. Cooke, Walter S. V. Cook, Levi A. Cook, Solon S. Cook, Stephen A. Cahill, Francis
Cox, Asa S. Cooney, Martin Cook, Edward E.
Croughwell, Owen F.
Cronan, Patrick F.
Crofton, George
Curran, Patrick H.
Carr, Patrick H.
Carroll, Richard D.
Chandler, Fred H.
Clancy, Benj. T.
Dalton, Francis H. Day, Moses, Jr. Drew, George A. Dwyer, William E. Dillon, Frank P.
Eagan, John Ellis, George W. Edwards, James B.
Eldridge, Rufus C. Eastman, S. Alden Field, Perley P. Fitzgerald, Patrick H. Fitzsimmons, James E.
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