USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1920-1924 > Part 18
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Sect. 6. Parents, within forty days after the birth of a child, and every householder, within forty days after the birth of a child in his house, shall cause notice thereof to be given to the clerk of the City or Town, in which such child is born.
Sect. 8. A parent, keeper, superintendent or other person who is required by Section 6 to give or cause to be given notice of a birth or death, who neglects so to do for ten days after the time limited therefor, shall forfeit not more than five dollars for such offence.
Deaths Registered
Age
Date of Death
Name
Y.
M.
D.
.
Jan. 3, 1923
Domenica De Meo
0
0
0
Jan. 17, 1923
John P. McElroy
75
0
0
Jan. 25, 1923
Ellie Bemis Wilkins
57
11
15
Feb.
8, 1923
James A. Butcher
77
10
13
Mar.
13, 1923
John Tasker
83
9
1
Mar. 23, 1923
Mary Isabel Smith
54
11
25
June 11, 1923
Louis Margonelli
28
11
25
July
5, 1923
Bertha W. Bent
38
2
' 8
July
5, 1923
- Diamond
0
0
6
Aug. 19, 1923
John H. Murray
59
11
12
Sept. 9, 1923
Charles Stearns Wheeler
72
2
28
Sept.
19, 1923
Isaac Newton MacRae
49
3
8
Oct.
1, 1923
Elizabeth Heron
100
0
29
Oct.
2, 1923
Emily L. Sherwin
40
2
8
Oct.
8, 1923
Donald Gordon
46
6
8
Oct.
30, 1923
Joseph Volentukewraz
70
0
0
Nov. 6, 1923
Alice N. Codman
57
3
12
Nov. 14, 1923
Annabel Crenner Dudley
61
1
2
Dec. 15, 1923
George Lyman Cousins
49
7
24
.
1
25
There have been recorded during the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1923, 12 Marriages, 20 Births, 19 Deaths.
Marriages Registered
Date of Marriage
Name
Residence
March 6, 1923
Ernest Brownell Ingham Muriel Catherine Burns
Concord Jct. Lincoln
April
8, 1923
Edward Francis Fahey Angela Mary Norris
Waltham Lincoln
April
26, 1923
Prentiss Shepherd Ellen Williams Eldredge
Wellesley Hills Lincoln
May
13, 1923
Harold Weston Jones Hazel Brooks
Tewksbury Lincoln
May
19, 1923
Frederick Bailey Augusta Hood
Lincoln Carlisle
June
21, 1923
John Fenwick Nicholson Ruth Evangeline Donaldson
Allston Lincoln
June 24, 1923
Charles Edward Woodhull Florence Evelyn Barrett
Lincoln Woburn
Sept. 18, 1923
Lester W. Seekins Martha M. Johansen
Lincoln Walliston
Oct.
3, 1923
Chester Herbert Sherman Edith Mary Clark
Lincoln Winchester
Oct. 24, 1923
Walter James Porter Mildred Frances Orton
Lincoln Salem
Nov. 29, 1923
George Carter Browning Helena Quigley
Lincoln Newton
Dec.
5, 1923
William John Burgess Katherine Margaret Ryan
Lincoln Lincoln
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JURY LIST FOR 1923
As prepared by the Selectmen of Lincoln JURY LIST FOR 1923
Name
Address
Occupation
Adams, John
South Lincoln
Business Man
Coburn, Edward S.
South Lincoln
Farmer
Carlson, Benjamin E.
Lincoln
Farmer
Codman, Thomas N.
South Lincoln
Retired
Cousins, Harold S.
Lincoln
Farmer
Crook, Russel G.
South Lincoln
Sculptor
Cunningham, Frank H.
Concord, R. D.
Farmer
Davis, E. Russell
South Lincoln
Clerk
Dee, Thomas J.
Concord, R. F. D.
Farmer
Dougherty, Andrew J.
Lincoln
Farmer
Dougherty, Matthew F.
Waltham, R. F. D.
Carpenter
Ellms, Charles W.
South Lincoln
Carpenter
Farrar, John F.
South Lincoln
Farmer
Hamilton, D. Lincoln
Lincoln
Farmer
Mann, David W.
Lincoln
Professor
McHugh, John E.
Concord, R. F. D.
Farmer
Robus, William C.
Lincoln
Tel. Repairman
Stone, Edward M.
South Lincoln
Chauffeur
Tarbell, George G.
Lincoln
Farmer
Welch, Martin M.
South Lincoln
Farmer
Wheeler, C. Edgar
Lincoln
Farmer
Dogs Licensed in 1923
There have been 78 Dog Licenses issued to December 1, 1923, 55 Males, 19 Females, 4 Spayed Females, for which the sum of $197.40 has been paid to the County Treasurer.
There have been issued 38 Combination Hunter's Certificates, 10 Hunting and Trapping Certificates, 7 Fishing Certificates for the year 1923, for which the sum of $79.75 has been paid to the Division of Fisheries and Game.
WILLIAM C. PEIRCE,
Town Clerk ..
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REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
The Selectmen present the following report for the fiscal year ending December 31st, 1923 :
The Board was organized by the choice of Charles S. Smith, Chairman, and R. D. Donaldson, Secretary.
Appointments
The following appointments have been made during the year :
Sealer of Weights and Measures, John J. Kelliher.
Forest Warden, John J. Kelliher.
Weigher of Coal, Hay and other Commodities, Elmer A. Rollins.
Inspector of Animals, Martin M. Welch.
Janitor of Public Buildings and Caretaker of Public Grounds, Edward Bannon.
Special Police, Herbert G. Farrar, Winslow A. Eaton, J. Redmond Hartwell, Isaac Langille, John Campbell, Wm. M. Hilliard, Frederick Hart, Harry Patterson, Louis Frazier.
District Nurse Committee, Mrs. Robert G. Loring, Mr. George G. Tarbell, Mr. Robert D. Donaldson, Mrs. Edith B. Farrar.
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The following table gives the appropriations made by the Town during the year 1923 and the appropriations recom- mended by the Board to be made at the next Annual Meeting :
Appropriations for 1922
The Selectmen recommend the following appropriations for the ensuing year
For Schools, and
$20,500.00
Transportation of Children,
5,500.00
$27,500.00
Support of Poor,
500.00
500.00
Highways and Bridges,
12,000.00
12,000.00
For Special Snow Work and Tractor,
4,000.00
. . . . . .
South Great Road (taken from money in treasury),
7,500.00
7,500.00
Library and Dog Tax,
800.00
800.00
Cemeteries (from Cemetery fund),
500.00
500.00
Board of Health,
500.00
500.00
Tree Warden,
3,500.00
2,500.00
Miscellaneous Expenses,
8,000.00
6,000.00
Hydrants and other Water Service, 2,400.00
2,400.00
Waltham Hospital Free Bed,
300.00
300.00
Street Lamps,
1,800.00
1,800.00
Fire Department,
500.00
500.00
District Nurse,
750.00
....
Payment of Water Bonds (taken
from Water Works income),
1,000.00
500.00
Water Works Sinking Fund (taken from Water Works income),
1,500.00
Farm Bureau,
200.00
Extension Electric lighting Tower Road,
100.00
Extension Electric lighting North Lincoln,
7.000.00
*
. .. .
...
*Sinking fund now provided should retire all sinking fund bonds at maturity.
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The construction of a first-class macadam road in the South part of the Town has been continued with State and County aid, as in the four previous years. The construction as com- pleted this year makes a continuous macadam road from the Weston line to the Concord line via Codman Road and Walden Pond. At an approximate cost of $80,000, the expense has been divided as heretofore: one-third to the State, one-third to the County, and one-third to the Town. The Selectmen recommend that this special State and County aid construction work be continued and that the road from Lee's Bridge to the intersection at Bent's Corner be continued during the coming year, and that a proper appropriation be made therefor. The State and County have indicated that they are willing to have a beginning made on the construction of this line during the coming year.
The survey has been completed and the bounds set on the land taken for the road from the center of the Town to Farnsworth's Corner, and considerable preliminary work has been accomplished during the year at or near Farnsworth's Corner in order that the alignment of the road East of the corner and West of the corner may be more convenient than it has been heretofore. The necessity for construction in con- nection with the recent layout of this road, except that, which has already been commenced, is not important. The Board had in mind more the proposed new pipe line on this road in connection with the Water Department than any important large expenditure in connection with new road construction, and all the preliminary work has now been done so that when- ever the time comes, the Water Department or the Highway Department may proceed without any delay. It is important, however, that the Water Department complete its work before any considerable outlay is made in connection with the High- way Department.
A departure was made by the State this year in offering aid for the general upkeep of the Town roads as distinct from the
30
State roads, and the State has given the Town during the year upwards of $3,000.00, which has been used in connection with the Town appropriation for the upkeep of the ordinary roads in the Town.
The Board thinks it advisable that a beginning be made in the construction of sidewalks on the principal streets of the Town and recommends an appropriation specifically for that purpose. The policy of constructing sidewalks once established may be continued from year to year without very much addi- tional expense.
Early in the year when the roads were made almost impass- able by the heavy and continuous snows, a Packard truck which was loaned to the Town by the State, and the tractor and plow which was purchased from the Town of Concord, were of great assistance in keeping the roads in passable condi- tion. The necessity for their use the present winter up to the writing of this report has been very inconsiderable, but the Town has this equipment on hand and in condition for im- mediate use when the necessity arises. It has been demon- strated, it seems to the Board, beyond question, that for ordinary highway use a truck is infinitely more expensive than the horses, and its use should be and will be confined to places and seasons when and where it can be used more economically than the teams.
The appropriation last year for Miscellaneous expenses was very materially increased over that ordinarily made, on account of the proposed repairs to the Town Hall and the proposed extension of electric lighting in the North part of the Town.
The expense in connection with the repairs and improve- ments of the Hall, which have been practically completed, has Leen $3,218.04. Considering the fact that the slate was re- mnoved for a considerable distance from the valleys and at the
31
edges of the roof, and copper put in its place ; also consider- ing the fact that the wind had stripped off a large part of the coping on the west side of the Hall, which was replaced, and that the Hall is now in as good if not better condition than when it was first constructed, no repairs of any con- siderable amount had been made since the year 1910, when $6,500 was expended, $2,500 only being contributed by the Town, it seems to your Board that, considering the Hall is used almost continuously, especially during the winter season, the expense in connection with its upkeep does not seem un- reasonable.
On the completion of the repairs on the Hall, inasmuch as the Selectmen felt that the Hall had been more or less abused by the people who had used it in the past, the following rules were established governing its future use, of which the people who use the Hall should take notice.
October 11th, 1923.
Rules established by the Selectmen for regulating the use of the Town Hall.
There shall be no smoking in the hall or corridors.
The piano shall not be removed from the stage, except the par- ties desiring to have it moved shall employ a regular piano mover and pay the expense of the same.
When refreshments are served, ice cream containers will not be allowed in the hall unless suitable water-tight tubs or other receptacles are provided for the same; otherwise the containers must be kept outside of the hall or in the base- ment.
When parties are held at which refreshments are provided, the parties using the hall shall be responsible for the cleaning of the hall afterwards.
Any damage, other than ordinary wear and tear, which is caused by any parties using the hall, shall be paid for by such parties.
1
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At the last Annual Meeting the Town by a substantial ma- jority of those present, which the Selectmen regret to say was a small minority of the voters of the Town, voted an appro- priation of $7,000.00 for the extension of electric lights in the North part of the Town. It is the observation of this Board that the voters generally desire that all sections of the Town, so far as possible, have the necessities and conveniences which other parts of the Town more centrally located enjoy, and un- doubtedly it was this thought which influenced the voters to appropriate so large a sum for the purpose indicated. How- ever, it became almost immediately apparent to the Selectmen that they could not legally use this money, as the Town did not own the lighting system, and it would be absolutely illegal for the Town to spend this money and make a present of it to the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, or to any other cor- poration, public service or otherwise, or even to any of its citizens. After a prolonged study and negotiations the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, which furnishes light and power to the Town, has agreed not only to extend the com- mercial lighting to the North part of the Town, but also to make the extension of electric lighting on Tower Road. For these extensions the Town appropriated $7,100. They will be made without any expense to the Town. Although this con- struction has not yet been completed and in some cases not commenced, the following letter from the Edison people, which is satisfactory to the Selectmen, in connection with these matters is herewith printed :
.
33
THE EDISON ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING COMPANY OF BOSTON General Offices, 39 Boylston Street BOSTON 10, MASS.
January 26, 1924.
Charles S. Smith, Chairman.
Dear Mr. Smith :-
In reply to your inquiry re extensions on Tower and State Roads, Lincoln, would say I have again taken this matter up with the Construction Department, who inform me that the petition for Tower Road has been submitted to the Telephone Company and they are ready to file their petition to the Town for the locations for joint ownership and construction of lines, which work will be done by the Telephone Company.
This petition will be before your Board next week, I am told, on the granting of which we are informed they are ready to go ahead with the construction.
State Road has all been surveyed and approved by the Tele- phone Company for joint construction with the Edison Com- pany, and in the repricing it has been necessary to get the formal budget approvals which I am told by our Construction Department will be had not later than Wednesday of next week, when the final plans will be submitted to the Telephone Com- pany, upon which they will then file the petition for the location before the Board. This, I am told, involves a reconstruction of about sixty telephone poles plus sixty new locations. These are but approximate figures, however.
It would appear from the information I now have that real action would begin on both of these construction jobs not later than next week.
Very truly yours, E. C. KIMBALL, Ass't. Supt. Sales Dept.
ECK :ALK.
34
On petition, also, the Edison Company has extended com- mercial lighting in the East part of the Town from its former terminus almost to the Waltham line. It should also be stated that in connection with these extensions no expense on account of street lighting present or future has been incurred.
The Selectmen have discovered that in accordance with the By-Laws of the Town any deed given by the Town must be executed by its Selectmen. It will be recalled that in the ad- justment of the ownership of the Common, the deed of the Town to the First Parish was, by the vote of the Town, exe- cuted by a Committee consisting of Edward F. Flint, George G. Tarbell and C. Lee Todd. This was authorized because of the fact that two of the Selectmen were also members of the Parish Committee of the First Parish and it did not seem ethi- cal to have deeds passed with two of the parties executing members of both organizations. In order, therefore, that the Parish may have a deed which cannot be questioned, the Town should now vote that a deed, in all respects like the deed exe- cuted in favor of the First Parish by the committee above named, should be executed by the Selectmen and given to the Parish, and the Selectmen recommend this authorization.
Economy in public expenditures has always been advocated by the present Board and principally on account of the attitude of the Board the tax rate in Lincoln has been more reasonable than in most of the Towns in the Commonwealth. Consistent scrutiny of the appropriations, however, is necessary in the future that this may continue, as it is our belief that the people in Lincoln as well as elsewhere desire to be relieved somewhat of the burden of taxes. It is gratifying that the National Gov- ernment and the State Government both appreciate the neces- sity for action along this line. Some of the appropriations of money which are made for public objects cannot very well at the present time be reduced-it seems that others are less im- perative and that reduced appropriations or elimination of ap- propriations altogether may be made without serious injury to
35
the public. Among these are the extraordinary appropriations which have been made for fighting the gypsy and brown tail moth, the appropriation for the District nurse, and the appro- priation, though small, for the Middlesex Farm Bureau Exten- sion Service. Some reduction in the appropriation for street lighting may at present or in the near future be advisable with- out any serious injury to any of the interests of the Town.
At a special Town Meeting in June the question of grading the schoolhouse grounds so that they might be more conven- iently used not only as a playground for the children, but also for the general use of the citizens, was brought up and a spe- cial appropriation was made for the purpose. However, on account of various happenings it was too late in the season when the final plans and specifications were prepared to under- take the work. Also, all the contractors approached, with the exception of one, had on hand all the work that they could do during the season. The Selectmen, however, intend that the vote of the Town shall be carried out and that this work shall be done during the coming year, but they do not think it neces- sary that the Town make any special appropriation in connec- tion with the matter. There has been received during the year, as will be noticed by reading the Treasurer's report, a special donation of $5,000.00 with the following letter :
June 28, 1923. 1
C. Lee Todd, Esq., Treas. Town of Lincoln, So. Lincoln, Mass.
Dear Sir :-
At the request of an anonymous donor I hand you herewith, as Treasurer of the Town of Lincoln, cheque for $5,000.00, the principal thereof to be kept as a separate fund and known as the "LINCOLN RECREATION FUND," and the annual net income thereof to be expended for the recreation or amusement of the townspeople.
Very truly yours, (Signed) JOHN F. MOORS.
Enc.
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The name of the generous giver has not been divulged and the Selectmen are ignorant as to the same. However, it will be proper for the Town to extend a vote of thanks for this generous gift and to pass a vote or resolution that the money be turned over to the Commissioners of the Sinking and Trust Funds, the income to be used for the purposes indicated in the letter.
Finances
All of the original issue of $55,000 of Schoolhouse bonds has been retired up to January 1, 1924, except $3,000.00. The fund in the hands of the Sinking and Trust Fund Commis- sioners to retire these bonds is much larger than will be neces- sary, on account of the accumulation of interest which has been made since the Fund was first set apart, and it will be proper for the Town to vote what disposition shall be made of this surplus as soon as the remaining $3,000.00 of bonds is retired.
The financial condition of the Town otherwise as on Janu- ary 1, 1924, is as follows :
The outstanding bonded indebtedness on account of the Water Works, as reported by the Treasurer, is $62,000.00; there is available in the Sinking Fund. to retire the bonds at maturity, securities and cash of the value of $38,346.03 this, together with the reported uncollected water bills and current cash on hand of $8,579.43 leaves a net indebted- ness of $15,074.54. The condition of the Water Works, both physically and financially, has been improving from year to year, and with proper management it seems reasonable to expect further improvement. The Water Department is still indebted to the Town Treasury for money advanced some years ago of $4,712.00.
The Treasurer's report shows the balance in the treasury on January 1, 1924, of $24,049.59. The Collector reports uncol- lected taxes on January 1, 1924, of $4,122.38. There is due from the State and County unpaid balances on account of Cod-
37
man Road construction of $4,500.00. The total available for the Treasury amounts to $32,671.97, from which amount should be deducted the $5,000 anonymous gift which is to be turned over to the Sinking and Trust Fund Commissioners.
The litigation which was in progress when the last Annual Report was made between the National Banks and the Common- wealth of Massachusetts was finally settled in such a manner that none of the money which had been collected from the National Banks and paid over to the cities and towns, should be returned to the banks, but the amount to be received in the future from that source will be very much less than has been collected heretofore.
The above statement of the financial condition of the Town is, so far as the Board remembers, the best statement which has ever been made, and it is the hope of this Board that the citizens may so wisely conduct the public business that the tax rate may be moderate and the treasury in a comfortable posi- tion at all times. The year 1923 is the first year in the recollec- tion of the Chairman of this Board when the Town has not borrowed money in anticipation of taxes.
The business of the Town, as it has been conducted by the various officers and departments of the Town, is embodied in their printed reports.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES S. SMITH, JOHN F. FARRAR, ROBERT D. DONALDSON. Selectmen of Lincoln.
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The Department of Public Works of the Commonwealth, Division of Highways, has promulgated Rules and Regula- tions. It is for the Town to decide whether, in conformity with these Rules and Regulations, it will adopt By-Laws similar to the following :
SECTION 8. FORM OF ORDINANCE OR BY-LAW
To the end that ordinances and by-laws of cities and towns regulating outdoor advertising shall be, as far as possible, uni- form in their provisions, the Division will approve any ordi- nance or by-law properly adopted by any city or town which is substantially in the form following :
No person, firm, association or corporation shall erect, dis- play or maintain a billboard, sign or other outdoor advertising device, except those exempted by Sections 30 and 32 of Chap- ter 93 of the General Laws :-
(h) No billboard, sign or other advertising device shall be erected, displayed or maintained in any block in which one-half of the buildings on both sides of the street are used exclusively for residential purposes ; except that this provision shall not apply if the writ- ten consent of the owners of a majority of the front- age on both sides of the street in such block is first obtained and is filed with the Division of Highways of the Department of Public Works, together with the application for a Permit for such billboard, sign or other advertising device.
(i) No billboard, sign or other advertising device shall be erected, displayed or maintained until a Permit there- for has been issued by the Division of Highways of the Department of Public Works pursuant to the fol- lowing provisions: Upon receipt from said Division of a notice that application for a Permit to erect, dis- play or maintain a billboard, sign or other advertising device within the limits of (city or town) has been received by it, the (Board of Aldermen or the Select- men) shall hold a public hearing on said application in (city or town), notice of which shall be given by posting the same in three or more public places in said
39
(city or town) at least one week before the date of such hearing. A written statement as to the results thereof shall be forwarded to the Division, containing, in the event of a disapproval of such application, the reasons therefor, within thirty days from the date of notice to the (city or town) that an application for such a Permit had been made.
This (Ordinance or By-Law) shall not apply to signs or other devices which advertise or indicate either the person oc- cupying the premises in question or the business transacted thereon, or advertise the property itself or any part thereof as for sale or to let; and provided further that this (Ordinance or By-Law) shall not apply to billboards, signs or other adver- tising devices legally maintained, at the time of its approval by the Attorney-General, until one year from the first day of July following such approval.
Whoever violates any of the provisions of this (Ordinance or By-Law) shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred (100) dollars, and whoever, after conviction for such violation, unlawfully maintains such billboard, sign or other outdoor advertising device for twenty (20) days thereafter shall be puuished by a fine of not more than five hundred (500) dollars.
If any provision of this (Ordinance or By-Law) is declared unconstitutional or illegal by final judgment, order or decree of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth, the validity of the remaining provisions of this (Ordinance or By- Law) shall not be affected hereby.
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