USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1870-1879 > Part 15
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Sept. 11, 13, and Nov. 2, Hammett bill
32 80
Dec. 11, 23, and Feb 15, 1873, Hammett bill Supplies by agent as per bills 13 17
51 99
Paid Gearry's Express 3 58
Moving books twice
2 00
Passage to Boston and return
2 00
1 day allowed to settle accounts .
1 50
Agent's salary .
25 00
Cash returned to J. Breheny, overpaid
90
" Paid H. Barstow on settlement 17 57
$158 98
H Wadsworth, Book Agent, ending April 7, 1873. The above account has been audited by me and found correct.
HENRY BARSTOW, For School Committee of Town of Duxbury.
LIST OF JURORS,
AS MADE BY THE SELECTMEN, FEBRUARY 18, 1874.
Samuel Atwell,
Joshua S. Freeman,
Thomas Alden,
Cassius Hunt,
Chas. H. Brown,
Melzar Hunt,
George Bradford,
Josiah Peterson,
Henry W. Barstow,
Saml. P. Soule,
Edward Baker,
Levi P. Simmons,
Elbridge H. Chandler,
Geo. F. Sampson,
John W. Cushing,
Joshua W. Swift,
Julius B. Chandler,
Harrison G. Weston,
Thaddeus W. Chandler,
James M. Weston,
George T. Chandler,
Otis White,
Spencer T. Winsor,
Francis A. Chandler, John Ellis,
Wm. E. Weston.
THOS. CHANDLER, E. H. CHANDLER, SAML. ATWELL, Selectmen of Duxbury.
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WARRANT FOR TOWN MEETING.
PLYMOUTH, SS.
To either of the Constables of the TOWN OF DUXBURY. GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Duxbury, quali- fied to vote in elections and town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Duxbury, on Monday, the ninth day of March next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the follow- ing articles, viz : -
1st. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.
2d. To choose all necessary town officers for the year ensuing.
3d. To hear the report of the several town officers, and act thereon.
4tlı. To see if the town will give their collector any further in- structions in regard to the collection of taxes.
5th. To see what action the town will take in regard to repair- ing or building a new school-house in district No. 2, by request of school committee.
6th. To see if the town will accept of the list of jurors, as re- vised by the selectmen.
7th. To see what action the town will take on the order of county commissioners to widen and straighten, and special repairs on road leading from Wadsworth Chandler's to Pembroke line.
8th. To raise such sums of money as may be necessary to de- fray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year, and make appropriations of the same.
9th. To see if the town will reconsider the vote to pay a bounty on crows, hawks, and woodchucks, or take such action thereon as they deem proper.
10th. To see if the town will vote to close the financial year on the 15th March, and hold their annual meeting in April ; and that the school committee be instructed to report at that time, by request of the auditing committee.
And you are further directed to serve this warrant by posting up attested copies, as prescribed by a vote of the town, fourteen days at least before the time of holding said meeting, and make due
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returns hereof, with your doings thereon, to the town clerk at the time and place of meeting, as aforesaid.
Given under our hands this 18th day of February, in the year one thousand eight hundred seventy-four (1874).
THOMAS CHANDLER, CHAS. H. CHANDLER, SAMUEL ATWELL, Selectmen of Duxbury.
REPORT.
The Directors respectfully present to the Stockholders this second Annual Report of the Duxbury and Cohasset Railroad Company, being for twelve months ending September 30, 1873.
Total amount paid for construction of Road to September 30, 1873, as follows, viz. -
Graduation and masonry
$137,475 64
Bridging
20,826 83
Superstructure, including rails
143,708 82
Land, land damages, and fences
43,993 38
Passenger and freight stations, wood sheds and water
stations .
22,084 63
Engine houses, car sheds, and turn tables
8,465 07
Engineering, agencies, and other expenses .
10,379 65
Telegraph
1,596 79
$388,530 81
Of the above amount there has been expended during the past year the sum of $4,011.75, as follows, viz. -
Engineering, &c.
361 45
Graduation and masonry
231 11
Land, land damages, and fences
2,548 13
Passenger and freight stations, wood sheds, and water
stations . 889 06
$4,011 75
.
.
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The expense and income of the Road for the year ending September 30, 1873, is as follows : -
EXPENDITURES.
PASSENGER DEPARTMENT.
Station agents
$2,035 54
Conductors and brakesmen
2,105 33
Stationery and blanks .
136 10
Train baggage masters .
1,535 00
Miscellaneous items
338 57
Use of passenger cars
5,221 89
$11,672 43
FREIGHT DEPARTMENT.
Conductors and brakesmen
$600 00
Stationery and blanks .
67 95
Merchandise labor
1,042 72
Damage to merchandise
161 22
Hire and use of merchandise cars
1,491 92
Miscellaneous items
9 24
$3,373 05
LOCOMOTIVE DEPARTMENT.
Hire and use of locomotives, including
engineers and firemen $5,563 02
Fuel-Wood and coal .
4,289 10 ·
$9,852 12
MAINTENANCE OF WAY.
Repairs of road, bridges, fences, includ-
ing new fences and iron rails for side tracks . . $10,774 77
Removing snow and ice
135 61
$10,910 38
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GENERAL EXPENSES.
Treasurer, clerks, and offices expenses . $625 00
Miscellaneous items, stationery and blanks, and advertising .
299 33
State Commissioners
23 75
Insurance
419 62
$1,367 70
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
Watchmen . · $579 35
Oil, repairs of stations, cattle killed, &c. 327 80
Interest on debt .
2,411 43 .
3,318 58
Total expenditures
$40,494 26
INCOME.
From Passengers
· $29,282 97
" Freight
·
.
.
5,328 60
" Expresses
.
1,472 13 ·
Total Income
$36,083 70
Balance
$4,410 56
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF DUXBURY.
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1873-4.
PLYMOUTH : AVERY & DOTEN, STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS, CORNER OF COURT AND NORTH STREETS. 1874.
REPORT.
To the Citizens of the Town of Duxbury : -
The School Committee for the school-year of 1873-4 would make herewith their annual report. A vote was passed at the annual meeting of 1873 instructing the Committee to make their report, in connection with that of the Selectmen, in February of the present year. If such a report could have been made, it would only par- tially have represented the condition of the schools. It would have required an additional report to have com- plied with the requisitions of the school-laws. A full report, as the vote was understood to imply, could not at such time have been made, as all the schools were in session, and the requisite statistics were not available. As the law of the State allows until the last day of April for making this report to State and town, the Committee, under the possible imputation of discourtesy, were under the necessity of availing themselves of the limitations of the law.
In this connection the Chairman would say, in refer- ence to the remarks that were made at the adjourned
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meeting of the present month in regard to the charges for the services of the Committee, that, in respect to the year that closes, he has visited the schools only as the law demands, and charged only what the law allows for so doing, finding his own means of travel; and that it was the intention of the other members for the past year, as he believes, to do the same. The statement, in addition, was made that at a former day the services of the School Committee were much less expensive to the town ; but the Committee consider that, in view of the greatly increased cost of the necessary means of living at the present day, it is only an act of justice that their compen- sation be increased as that of other classes of persons has been. One member of the Committee for the past year remembers that before the war, which has imposed upon the country such a vast debt, he was taxed, with much greater pecuniary possessions, about $25 for the year, and received as a member of the then Committee perhaps $35 or $40 ; for the years 1871-2-3, his bill as a member only paid his taxes.
One other allusion to the doings of the town at the adjourned meeting. It was voted to pay the School Committee $200, in all, for the year that has now com- menced. The school-laws specify how many visits the Committee shall make to the schools of the town during the three terms next succeeding, and designates the daily sum which they shall charge per day. An easy calcu-
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lation shows that, with no charge for horse-hire, if they do their duty and no more, $250 will only meet their demand, with no provision for extra calls, more or less of which often occur.
The whole number of scholars attending upon the schools of the town has been 383 ; average attendance, 321 ; an amount of loss of schooling equal to 62. scholars. By the last report of the Board of Education, of the 342 towns in the State there were 249 in which the average attendance upon the schools was in advance of that of the attendance in Duxbury. Of the 25 towns in the County of Plymouth there are only four in which the attendance was not greater. Of the 342 towns, 240 raise more money by taxation. There are these palliative considerations, however: to the sum of $3,000 is to be added the dog- fund, $212, or thereabouts, the share of the school-fund, $182.50, and the income of the Partridge fund, $1,729. The amount devoted to the matter of education of the children then will be nothing short of $5,000.
The very low, not to say disgraceful, reputation of the town in regard to attendance upon the schools is a matter which concerns parents, guardians, and teachers. Teachers can exert not a little influence upon their pupils in inducing them, by agencies within their control, to secure a better attendance. The children can give their aid in the work of reformation by their example, as there are few who cannot be punctual if they are so inclined ; but the evil cannot be wholly cancelled without the
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co-operation of parents and guardians. They must take an interest, as citizens, to remove the disgrace, as respon- sible for the welfare of those who are soon to have a controlling influence in the affairs of the town, the State, and the country. If the rate of attendance can be improved, it will do much to remove other defects in the schools of the town. The Committee do not forget that this want of attendance and comparative waste of money and attainments exists as the fault of a comparatively few families and pupils. If a small portion of the members of a school are absent often, their absence goes to the dis- credit of the whole school, of all the schools, and of the, town in the average returns. The Committee would urge these considerations, which can be only briefly stated, upon the attention of those in whose hands the remedy lies.
The following agreement between the Board of Trustees of the Partridge Academy and the School Committee of the town was renewed April 11th, 1874. It was first made at a mutual meeting of the two bodies May 15th, 1868, and has been continued from that time to the pres- ent without alteration : -
" At a special meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Partridge Academy and the School Committee of the town of Duxbury, holden April 11th, 1874, at the Acad- emy rooms, it was agreed on the part of the Trustees that they would receive as pupils of the Academy candidates for a High School of the second grade. such as
the town by law is obliged to establish and maintain, who shall have arrived at the age of twelve years, and who shall pass a satisfactory examination in the studies speci- fied in the by-laws of said institution, provided that the number of such applicants, if admitted, will not increase the number of pupils therein beyond the limited comple- ment. The Trustees on their part also agreed, as they have the authority so to do, under the conditions of the donation of their fund. that in exceptional cases, provided their number is not full, they will receive, as scholars of rare promise and qualifications, those who have attained at the time of examination the full age of ten years They furthermore agree that the pupils admitted under the above conditions shall have all the privileges apper- taining to the institution, and receive, according to their qualifications, equal attention, instruction, and discipline with all other scholars; also, that the School Committee . of the town shall have access to the school at all times and hours when it shall be in session.
At the same meeting it was agreed on the part of the School Committee, consisting of Rev. W. W. Lyle, Henry Barstow, and Elbridge H. Chandler, that they will pay for the privileges above designated (as a substitute for the assessment heretofore collected of the pupils) an annual sum of $150, in quarterly instalments, by orders, delivered to the Treasurer of the Board of Trustees, on the town; and, furthermore, that they will use their endeavors to promote the welfare of the Academy by
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interesting themselves in the selection of the most advanced and most promising pupils, to be encouraged in thus securing a higher grade of education than can be ordinarily obtained in the Common Schools of the town."
The conditions of admission are that the applicants have attained the full age of twelve years, and that they must pass a good examination, for admittance to the junior class, in Orthography, Reading, Writing, the Geog- raphy of the United States and North America, the elements of English Grammar and parsing of simple prose sentences, Arithmetic, through vulgar fractions, including the multiplication table and the tables of weights and measures. The school commences its year on the first Monday of September ; scholars will be sup- plied with such books as are required for their studies ; a day will be appointed during the Summer vacation for the examination of applicants, of which ample notice will be given.
The Chairman of the School Committee desires, on his own authority, to say that he has been a member of the Board of Trustees nearly forty years ; that the affairs of the Board have always been conducted with great unanimity ; that those Trustees with whom he has been associated have been men of ability and integrity ; that, excepting in case of Dr. James Kendall, whose carriage to attend the meetings of the Board was paid for, they have received no compensation for their services ; that their prominent purpose has been to keep their funds
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safely and profitably invested, and render them useful in promoting the objects of the donor as possible. A dollar of the money has never been lost or needlessly expended ; a dollar of it has never been loaned to any member of the Board personally as such. The amount of the donation was, originally, $10,000 ; from the proceeds a substantial house has been erected, some adjacent land purchased, and the value of the real estate is now about $5,000. The fund, safely invested at seven per cent. is now $23,400, giving an income of over $1,700.
The Trustees have made it a matter of choice to employ no preceptor who was not a graduate of some college, capable of preparing pupils for any of the ordi- nary occupations of life or for the pursuit of a classica education. The Trustees have never made the inquiry to what religious denomination the applicants or their parents belonged, or suffered any political bias to swerve them in the admission of pupils. They have in all cases based their course upon the qualifications of the appli- cants. The great deficiency in the past has been the want of a thorough preparation for entrance. If they cannot secure this, they feel that they shall most effec- tively pervert the use of the institution by sinking the character of the school below the grade at which they are required to maintain it.
The Chairman, in view of what he has known for so long a time, in regard to the course of the Trustees and the management of the fund under their care, would
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pronounce the charges, recently made so- prominent, without foundation and without excuse. Any competent person will find them so to be, who will consult the papers in the possession of the Clerk of the Board. These are the authority to which all should appeal when they have complaint to make, and not to imagination, prejudice, or outside rumors. The fund has been allowed to increase under the possibility that, under the liability of personal property to rise or fall in this country, some portion of the investment might be subjected to deterio- ration or actual loss. The pupils, under the condition of preparation, imperfect as it has been in the majority of cases, have been furnished, in teachers, books, and con- veniences, with everything to meet their case and to help them to higher attainments, were they fitted to secure them.
Not long since the Trustees were painfully impressed with the fact that children who had attained the age of twelve years were constantly making application for admission, with very inadequate attainments in the sim- ple studies required. They concluded, then, as a matter of duty, that they must demand a more satisfactory conformity to the conditions of admission, although at the cost of diminishing the number of those who would apply for entrance. There were at the time several students, who had been received on probation ; some four weeks were allowed them to prepare for another examination. To this they seemed quite indifferent ; it was discovered that they had made but little or no progress, that their
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acceptance would do them but little good, and would result in injury to the school. The Trustees, therefore, were unanimously convinced that their desks must be vacated, and they were sent away.
There is in the school-houses a great want of appar- atus. That, with the libraries furnished some years since, has been destroyed, not by use, but by abuse on the part of the pupils, and the Committee would urgently recommend the purchase of suitable globes and outline- maps as essential to the business of instruction. If the town does not make provision for this matter, the School Committee are allowed to use the apportionment of the income of the State fund for this purpose.
The town of late years has been quite liberal in build- ing new school-houses and repairing those that needed it, and the Committee strongly urge the adoption of some means by which this and other kinds of public property shall be better cared for and preserved. One change will do much to this result, if those who send children to the schools can be persuaded to aid in its adoption, - that is, in the first place, not to allow the pupils to go to school in the morning until the teacher shall be present ; to pro- vide them with refreshments for half an hour at noon ; to open the afternoon session at half-past twelve, and to dismiss at half-past three ; and require the teachers to be present with their scholars while they are at the school- house. There are many advantages connected with this system, which those who will adopt it will soon realize,
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but which there is not room to enumerate in this report. Let the teachers be responsible for the care of the houses and apparatus, and it will be discovered that the great amount of injury done while they are absent is avoided.
During the year last passed the Grammar School has been under the charge of Miss EMILY W. SEARS, who has the rare ability of keeping a school under the best train- ing with apparently no effort, but with a quiet efficiency which every teacher neither possesses or can acquire. The number of pupils in this school for the year has been 39 ; average attendance, 37.
District No. 1 has been under the charge of Miss SARAH C. GOODSPEED, who loves her profession and her pupils, and who closed her third term to the satisfaction of all interested in the school. Scholars, 39 ; average attend- ance, 32.
Of the school in District No. 2 the Committee cannot speak with entire approbation. It has been kept by Miss ABBIE R. SIMMONS during the three terms of the year. The failing has been on the part of parents and pupils as well as teacher. During the first and second terms it was in better condition than the third. The first term Miss IDA F. BAILEY had charge of the younger portion of the pupils, and succeeded very well in the management and instruction thereof. Scholars, 40 ; average attendance, 31. Small department-scholars, 22 ; average attendance, 18.
District No. 3 has been subjected to delays and changes which have been unfavorable to discipline and culture.
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The first term it was under the charge of Mr. FRANK W. FULLER, who succeeded very well, considering his youth and inexperience. The second term Mr. E. B. MAGLATH- LIN was the teacher, who has always had the reputation of an excellent instructor. The third term Miss CLARA O. WEBB, a graduate of the Normal School, Bridgewater. commenced the school, but was attacked with what was feared would prove a contagious or an epidemical disease, and the school was closed some three weeks ; when, as Miss WEBB was unable to resume her labors, Mr. HENRY BARSTOW, a member of the School Committee, went into the school and completed the term. Scholars. 44 ; aver- age attendance, 32.
District No. 4 has been regarded as one of the best Common Schools in town. The first and second terms it was under the undemonstrative, but efficient, charge of Miss EMELINE HOLMES. With a new house and excellent. teachers, this school has greatly improved in a few years, and it is to be hoped that it will continue to maintain the character which it has secured. The last term it was under the instruction of Mr. ELBRIDGE H. CHANDLER, NOW a member of the School Committee, who left it in no respect inferior to the condition in which he found it. The attendance in number was 42; average attend- ance, 37.
District No. 5 was put in charge of Miss GEORGIANNA Y. PETERSON the first term. She did not succeed in giv- ing entire satisfaction, and the second term Miss IDA M.
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CHANDLER assuined her position, and succeeded during the term in fully satisfying all interested. She com- menced the school for the last term, but was taken sick and was compelled to surrender. After a recess of a few weeks it was found necessary to employ some other teacher, and Miss IDA F. BAILEY went into the school, under all the unfavorable conditions of following a popu- lar instructor ; but she did what she could, and would have done much better in different circumstances. Scholars, 30 ; average attendance, 23. The school-house in District No. 5 has had an addition put to it that renders it much more convenient and attractive than previously.
District No. 6 was under the instruction, during the three terms of the year, of Miss MARY D. BOYLESTON. She has had charge of the school some years, and has been quite successful as a teacher, and has given a good degree of satisfaction in the District. Scholars, 27 ; average attendance, 23.
District No. 7 has had a somewhat varied experience. Miss IDA M. SEARS was the teacher the first term. She used her utmost exertions for the welfare of the pupils, but she had not the full power to subdue some vicious scholars or members of the school, and did not succeed according to her deserts. Miss HELEN A. PERRY suc- ceeded to Miss SEARS, but, with the same interest and work, with less ability to govern the pupils. Miss D. FRANCES GLASS was the last teacher. The unruly ones were rather afraid of her ; and she reduced the school in
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a measure to its former state. Scholars, 34; average attendance, 27.
District No. 8 was in charge of Miss MARY C. GOOD- SPEED, who has succeeded admirably with her young scholars, not only in government, but instruction, also ; aud it is gratifying to know that she has been improving as a teacher from year to year, as she has continued in her calling. Scholars, 24 ; average attendance, 21.
The Partridge Academy, which, by an agreement between the School Committee and the Trustees, has been used as a High School for the youth of the town, is under the instruction of Mr. EDMUND W. WRIGHT, of Boston, who is a graduate of Harvard University, and well adapted to his position in character, scholarship, and experience ; and the young people of the town, if they will prepare themselves for entrance to the institution, will be greatly benefitted by his instructions. The num- ber of scholars for the year has been 42, and the attend- ance 94₺ per cent.
In regard to the $150 paid for some years to the Academy as a High School, the Committee would inquire, as this sum was a substitute for a previous assessment upon the pupils for fuel and care, whether it should not be chargeable to the school-money, as it is paid for the same purpose.
All which is respectfully submitted.
JOSIAH MOORE, School
W. W. LYLE. Committee of
HENRY BARSTOW, Duxbury.
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AMOUNT OF ORDERS DRAWN FROM APPROPRI- ATION FOR SCHOOLS.
Amount drawn from Feb. 18, 1873, to May 1, 1873, inclus- ive, supposed to be in School Committee's report of last year. . . $1,292 01
Amount drawn since May 1, 1873, to date, April 16, 1874.
For teaching $2,620 75
Fuel and preparing
204 45
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