USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1901-1910 > Part 65
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CEMETERIES.
Paid-
Elisha Peterson, treasurer, $1,100 00
Received-
Appropriation, $1,100 00
GUIDE POSTS AND BOARDS.
The guide boards in town are in their usual condition, noth- ing having been done to them except necessary repairs.
DISCOUNT ON TAXES.
Paid,
$662 76
Overdrawn 1907,
96 14
Unexpended,
41 10
$800 00
Received-
Appropriation, $800 00
ABATEMENT OF TAXES.
Paid, $395 25 291 51
Unexpended,
687 26
Received- Unexpended balance 1907,
$687 26
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CAUCUS COMMITTEE.
Received- Unexpended balance 190%, $7 25
(No orders have been drawn.)
HATHAWAY FUND.
Deposited in Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank, $1,000 00
Deposited in Plymouth Savings Bank, 1,000 00
Interest to date,
175 47
$2,175 47
Withdrawn,
133 50
On deposit,
$2,041 97
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Paid-
Walter D. Shurtleff, medical attend- ance Kimball Randall and family, $76 00
A. L. MacMillan, M. D., attendance Geo. Ingliss, 10 00
C. E. Knight, M. D., attendance Geo. Ingliss, 15 00
C. H. Goldthwaite, supplies, 26 25
Oscar H. Brown, inspecting meat, 57 00
Joseph King, being quarantined,
42 00
Jules Bennett, being quarantined,
40 50
Clarence M. Taylor, collecting garbage, 25 00
Albert M. Goulding, general services, 5 00
Fred V. Hunt, team, 3 00
Warren C. Prince, burying fish. 1 00
Harvey J. Reynolds, burying seal,
1 00
The Memorial Press, printing,
2 50
$304 25
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Paid-
Overdrawn 190%,
13 32
Overdrawn, Received- (No appropriation.)
$317 57
AID TO SOLDIERS AND SAILORS AND DEPENDENT RELATIVES.
Paid-
Town of Abington, aid to Eliza Shurt- leff, $41 50
Town of Hanover, aid to Emma Ma- goun, 57 00
Town of Randolph, aid to Alva Night- ingale, 67 50
N. K. Noves, M. D., attendance Ly- man Fitts, 150 00
N. K. Noyes, M. D., attendance Mrs. Oscar Soule, 25 00
Roger Spaulding, M. D., attendance Joseph Mooreland, 6 00
Elisha Peterson, burial Fred Sherman, 37 00
Elisha Peterson, burial Mary A. Woodward 37 00 W. D. Shurtleff, M. D., attendance Jason Randall, 20 00
Jason H. Randall, cash aid, 24 00
Louisa Symes, cash aid, 96 00
Agnes A. Weston, cash aid, 90 00
Nancy C. Mooreland, cash aid,
20 00
$721 00
Overdrawn 1907,
18 35
Unexpended, 484 65
$1,224 00
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Received- Appropriation, Town of Marshfield,
$1,000 00
150 00
State burial of soldiers,
֏4 00 .
Due from state, burial cf soldiers, $74.00.
$1,224 00
STONE ROAD LOAN.
Paid- Principal,
Interest,
$2,000 00 80 00
$2,080 00
Received-
Appropriation, $2,080 00
APPROPRIATION LOAN AND INTEREST.
Paid- Natick Five Cents Savings Bank on
principal, Interest,
$1,500 00
510 00
Received- Appropriation, Unexpended 190%,
$1,893 04
116 96
$2,010 00
$2,010 00
STATEMENT OF APPROPRIATION LOAN.
Due Natick Five Cents Savings Bank, $12,000 00
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INCIDENTAL EXPENSES 1908.
Paid-
H. H. Lewis, services .as Selectman, $178 11
S. C. Soule, services as Selectman, 214 770
T. W. Glover, services as Selectman, 158 12
H. H. Lewis, services as Assessor, 131 00
S. C. Soule, services as Assessor, 138 40
T. W. Glover, services as Assessor, 143 00
S. C. Soule, team for Assessors, 10 40
T. W. Glover, team for Assessors, 6 00
Geo. H. Stearns, services as Treasurer and cash expenses, 420 38
Geo. H. Stearns, services as Collector,
362 94
Geo. H. Stearns, services as Town Clerk, cash expenses, 84 40
Geo. H. Stearns, services as Registrar, 25 00
D. D. Devereux, services as Registrar, 25 00
Percy L. Walker, services as Registrar, 25 00
H. B. Chandler, services as Registrar 1907 and 1908, 50 00
Ernest H. Bailey, services as Auditor,
15 00
H. H. Bills, services as janitor, 25 00
H. H. Bills, team hire,
3 00
J. L. McNaught, express,
7 27
Memorial Press, printing reports.
259 60
Memorial Press, printing and supplies,
91 50
Chas.º S. Davis, services, 50 00
Arthur R. Gledhill, court services.
10 00
Lawrence Bradford, services on titles of cemetery land, 30 00
Hiram Foster, labor and supplies. 45 86
H. H. Delano, Jr., inspector of animals, 75 00
Charles W. Crafts, special police 1907, 15 60
Warren C. Prince, special police, 14 80
Charles E. Peterson, special police 1907, 9 00
Charles M. Hayden, police duty, 3 00
John A. Chandler, police duty, 11 53
David S. Goodspeed, constable. 9 1
N. K. Noves, returning births, 4 25
Chas. W. Bartlett, returning births. 1 00
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Chas. Hammond, returning birth, 25
Mary J. Walker, returning birth, 25
Roger Spaulding, returning births
1 00
Elisha Peterson, returning deaths,
27 50
Elisha Peterson, janitor Town Hall, 15 75
James Downey, moderator and ballot clerk, 8 00
Guy A. Stearns, ballot clerk, 6 00
Herbert A. Ryder, ballot clerk, 3 00
Eden S. Glover, ballot clerk, 6 00
N. M. Stetson, supplies,
1 50
F. H. Weston, labor,
2 50
W. and L. E. Gurley, weights,
50 81
Hobbs, Warren Co., supplies,
8 84
Samuel Ward Co., supplies, 5 18
American Surety Co., bond, 40 00
Levi H. Cushing, team for constable,
11 50
Edgar W. Chandler, posting warrants, 4 00
Geo. F. Peterson, reimbursement on error, 1 58
Thorp Martin Co., supplies, 4 40
1 00
Wright & Potter Co., supplies,
3 25
Emmery Record Preserving Co., 20 00
J. L. McNaught, team to Plymouth, 3 00
Wm. L. Sprague, surveying town line, 16 00
Horace D. Osgood, supplies,
5 00
Ralph M. Miller, supplies, 1 19
16 65
Eden W. Soule, pump value,
2 70
Maurice L. Chandler, team for sealer of weights and measures,
6 00
C. I. Foster, team for sealer of weights and measures, 2 50
Edwin S. Grover, care of clock, 25 00
Globe Stamp Works, supplies. 1 50
Sweetser & Arnold, supplies Town Hall, 2 04
Laurence Bradford, setting boundary stones, 3 50
Wendell Phillips, damage on highway, 100 00
Charles Boomer, damage from defective drain, 250 00
Phoenix Insurance Co., insurance on almshouse, 51 00
1 07
John J. Hargraves, supplies,
P. B. Murphy, supplies,
Edson Mfg. Co., hose,
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Joseph Bolton, Jr., reward, 50 00
T. W. Chandler, constable service, 5 00
Lena M. Freeman, opening school house for registrars, 50
M. M. White, postage, etc., 41 63
Winslow Cushing, team, 2 00
Levi H. Cushing, wood, 6 00
W. W. Myrick, labor and supplies,
9 16
Fred V. Hunt, team hire,
5 50
Bounty on hawks and crows, 66 60
State Treasurer, 25 per cent. liquor license, 25
Interest on temporary loan, 979 87
Unexpended,
$4,529 54 2,750 43
$7,279 97
Received-
Unexpended balance, 1907,
$2,610 88
Balance Corporation tax, 1907,
207 28
Corporation tax, 1908,
1,994 74
Bank tax,
327 13
District court fines,
185 16
Licenses, peddlers, butchers, etc.
11 00
Added taxes,
137 55
Received on account cattle inspection,
37 50
Interest on taxes,
194 08
Overlaying on taxes,
1,462 56
Dividend on Insurance Policy,
53 59
Received from State, account wrecked sailors, 51 00
Use Town Hall for Basket Ball,
50
$7,279 97
Due from Rocky Point Oyster Co., $280 00
Due from Pembroke one-half Town boundaries, 8 00
$288 00
Duxbury 3
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PAYMENTS FOR STATE AID.
Chapter 381.
Acts of 1904.
Abbott, Lewis B.,
$72 00
Alden, Thomas,
72 00
Bradley, John R.,
48 00
Brown, Oscar H.,
24. 00
Brewster, Melzar,
72 00
Bartlett, Emma J.,
48 00
Bailey, Louis M.,
48 00
Chandler, Mary S.,
48 00
Chandler, Mary S.,
48 00
Chick, Christina L.,
28 00
Delano, Otis,
28 00
Dunham, William J.,
66 00
Foster, Caroline I.,
48 00
Foster, Mary D.,
48 00
Foster, Hiram,
48 00
Fitts, Lyman B.,
/2 00
Friend, George F.,
22 00
Freeman, Helen M.,
48 00
Frost, Edward F.,
22 00
Gullifer, Bailey,
48 00
Glass, Lizzie H.,
48 00
Gardner, Leander R.,
72 00
Haverstock, Adeline P.,
48 00
Hunt, Charles W.
48 00
Josselyn, John E.
36 00
Lewis, Josephine R.,
48 00
Leach, Rodney M.,
48 00
McNaught, Thomas T.,
72 00
McNaught, Juliett,
48 00
Ryder, Sarah B.,
48 00
Ryder, George F.,
72 00
Randall, Jason H.,
72 00
Randall, Julia,
24 00
Randall, Harriett A.,
36 00
Randall, Francis J.,
78 00
Rogers, Teresa C.,
36 00
Soule, Sarah A.,
48 00
Soule, Samuel P.,
48 00
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Soule, Louisa A.,
48 00
Soule, Joseph A.,
72 00
Sherman, Frederick P.,
4 00
Sherman, Sarah F.,
11 00
Stearns, Aroline A.,
48 00
Thomas, William H.,
48 00
Thomas, Hannah P.,
48 00
Wadsworth, Hamilton,
72 00
Weston, Georgianna M.,
48 00
Weston, Lucia S.,
48 00
Weston, James S.,
72 00
Winsor, Joshua,
72 00
Waterman, Harriett E.,
48 00
Due from State, payments from Dec. 1, 1907,
$2,621 00 to Dec. 31, 1908, 2,841 00
TOWN LIABILITIES, DEC. 31, 1908.
Natick Five Cents Savings Banks,
$12,000 00
Balance on note hired in anticipation of taxes,
17,500 00
Outstanding bills, estimated,
1,000 00
$30,500 00
Resources.
Cash in Treasury,
$2,077 86
Uncollected taxes, '08,
8,416 01
Uncollected taxes, '07,
2,803 88
Uncollected taxes, '06,
1,190 72
Uncollected taxes, '05,
380 32
Uncollected taxes, '04,
62 20
Uncollected taxes, '03,
11 49
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Due from State Aid, Chapter 79 revised
laws, Dec. 1, 1907 to Dec. 31, 1908, $2,841 00 Bills receivable, 1,035 00
$18,818 48
HENRY H. LEWIS, THEODORE W. GLOVER, SIDNEY C. SOULE, Selectmen of Duxbury.
AUDITORS' REPORT.
We have examined the accounts of the Selectmen and find them properly vouched and correctly cast.
ERNEST H. BAILEY, WILLIAM S. MOORE,
Auditors.
1
ASSESSORS' REPORT.
Value of Buildings Assessed,
$1,306,466 00
Value of land assessed, 550,251 00
Total value of Real Estate, assessed,
1,856,717 00
Total value of personal estate, assessed,
441,743 00
Total valuation,
2,298,460 00
Real estate increase from last year,
42,975 00
Personal estate increase from last year,
112,738 00
Rate of taxation, $16.00 per $1,000.
Number of houses assessed,
737
Number of acres of land assessed,
13,156
Number of horses assessed,
375
Number of cows assessed,
193
Number of sheep assessed,
25
Number of neat cattle, other than cows assessed,
52
Number of swine assessed,
45
Number of fowl assessed,
4,215
Number of persons assessed on property,
1,077
Number of residents assessed on property,
626
Number of non-residents assessed on property,
451
Number of polls assessed,
519
State tax,
$3,245 00
State tax for repairs of State highways,
193 10
County tax,
2,688 28
HENRY H. LEWIS, THEODORE W. GLOVER, SIDNEY C. SOULE, Assessors of Duxbury.
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Expenses at Almshouse.
John M. Winsor, fish, $ 4 30
Samuel Sheldon, pigs, 1907-8, 22 00
N. Ford & Sons, supplies, 159 17
Elisha Peterson, burial, Mrs. H. G. Free-
man, 45 00
Walter T. Churchill, fish,
2 37
J. K. Parker, 2 00
N. K. Noyes, M. D., attendance E. J. Smith, 81 50
N. K. Noyes, M. D., attendance Frank Weston, 13 50
N. K. Noyes, M. D., attendance Laura Burgess, 4 25
N. K. Noyes, M. D., Rossina Witherell, 3 50
C. M. Taylor, dressing hogs, 1907-8, 2 15
J. B. Chandler, oil, 3 36
Stephen Henry, hay, 24 10
D. S. Goodspeed, salary as superintendent, 83 45
I. L. Rich, butter, 5 55
H. E. Merry, meats, 50 43
R. W. Mellen, printing, 1 25
C. M. Taylor, labor, 7 25
Elijah W. Reed on account salary, 228 32
H. A. Fish, fertilizer, 3 75
W. O. Peterson, supplies, 66 20
Martin Hanigan, care of F. Wadsworth, 2 00
Elisha Peterson, burial F. Wadsworth, 28 00
Duxbury Coal and Lumber Co., 80 00
F. B. Cain, repairing pump, stove, etc., 9 25
J. H. Peterson, fish, 8 52
E. W. Chandler, supplies, 31 18
L. H. Cushing, plowing, etc.,
5 75
Sweetser & Arnold, supplies,
308 95
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E. B. Freeman, fish, oil and meats, 30 17
C. C. Cushing, ice, 13 60
H. H. Delano, hay, 26 60
D. H. Thomas, labor and team,
2 50
I. L. Rich, supplies, 17 77
M. M. White, supplies, 16 29
L. A. Peterson, vegetables,
6 15
Overseers of Poor, general services,
15 00
Geo. H. Stearns, supplies,
3 00
$1,423 73
EXPENSES OUTSIDE ALMSHOUSE.
Town of Hanson, aid to O. C. Crocker, $16 50
C. W. Bartlett, M. D., attendance, In- gliss case, 6 00
Massachusetts General Hospital, Ingliss case, 21 00
Town of Plymouth, aid to Sarah Brown, 164 50
Mary C Rich, aid, 105 00
Charles S. Davis, Grovenstein case, 104 55
Roger Spalding, M. D., attendance, Frank Chandler, 6 00
Roger Spalding M. D., attendance, W. Freeman, 3 00
Roger Spalding, M. D., attendance, F. Wadsworth, 21 00
Fall River, aid, burial of child of Peter Pratt, 8 00
Sidney C. Soule, clerk of overseers, 5 00
Ida Goldbrag, aid, 30 00
H. J. Reynolds, aid, 52 75
S. H. Jackson, care F. Wadsworth, 91 00
August Laundry and family, aid, 12 36
Horace Atwood, board, etc., Ingliss family, 143 40
City of Marlborough, aid to family of Zoeth Freeman, 30 35
F. L. Chandler, supplies to F. Wadsworth, 14 74
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Mary Boylston, supplies, James Reed, 36 00
S. C. Soule, services as overseer, 12 00
T. W. Glover, services as overseer, 4 50
E. F. Holman, milk for F. Wadsworth, 4 76
John B. May, M. D., attendance, F. Wadsworth, 18 50
E. B. Freeman, oil, F. Wadsworth, 80
E. B. Freeman, fish, F. Wadsworth, 25
H. H. Lewis, services as Overseer, 8 50
George L. Gerrish, aid, 10 00
Town of Hanover, medical attendance and burial H. W. Ingliss, 55 50
City of Brockton, aid to Harriman family, 42 55 Westborough Hospital, board, etc., Wm. F. Davis, 21 43
I. L. Rich, commission on sale, E. J. Smith, property, 12 50
H. E. Merry, meats and baker supplies, F. Wadsworth, 14 75
$1,077 19
Inside,
$1,423 73
Overdrawn, 1907,
167 84
· Unexpended, 1908.
18 76
$2,687 52
AVAILABLE MEANS, SUPPORT OF POOR.
Received-
Appropriation,
$2,000 00
Burial, state paupers,
30 00
City of Brockton,
80 00
Sale Snow Property,
50 00
Sale Smith property,
25 00
Sale goods, Mrs. H. G. Freeman,
32 80
Reimbursed by W. S. Frazar,
43 00
David S. Goodspeed, farm sales,
24 22
Elijah Reed, farm sales,
189 50
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1
Board, Mrs. Fernardo Wadsworth,
36 00
Board, Mrs. Bradford Freeman, 90 00
Board, Mr. George Childs,
87 00
Due from Sarah J. Snow, property,
$347 66
Due from E. J. Smith, property,
112 50
$460 16
$2,687 52
INMATES AND THEIR AGES.
Lucy B. Chandler. 61. Laura Burgess, 72.
Inventory in Almshouse, $220 55
HENRY H. LEWIS, THEODORE W. GLOVER, SIDNEY C. SOULE, Overseers of the Poor
We have examined the accounts of the Overseers of the Poor and find them correctly cast and properly vouched.
ERNEST H. BAILEY, WILLIAM S. MOORE.
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
Duxbury is fortunate in its freedom from contagious diseases in an epidemic form. During the past year, however, a few cases of diphtheria have been reported to this board which, while coincident in time, appeared at first to be too widely seperated to be entirely due to contagion ; but further investigation, while unable to throw light on the original cause of the infection, con- vinced your board of health that it was spread by contagion.
An object lesson of this kind, causing as it did, two deaths and untold grief and suffering, will we hope, act as a warning to our foreign residents to be careful how they visit each other when they have sickness in the family.
It is gratifying to be able to state that in all the diphtheria cases, the environments were found clean and wholesome.
The Randall case charged to this board was one of typhoid fever. Mr. Randall employed Dr. Walter D. Shurtleff of Kingston, and told him, so the doctor wrote, to collect his fees from the board of health.
It seems to this board that the practice of permitting paupers to employ outside physicians, especially when we have three such able physicians in town, is a vicious one, and should be stopped.
Vigorous young men who expect the town to assume their lia- bilities, should learn that they are not entitled to equal rights with those who struggle heroically to support themselves and their families. To give such people the right to choose their own physician regardless of location and expense, is inviting fraud, and to avoid any such contingency this board earnestly recommends the appointment of a town physician.
The cases of King and Bennett may require some explanation. The question may well be asked, why one man is quarantined and another not?
This board wishes to avoid quarantining the wage earner where he can be safely isolated and trusted. In the two cases mentioned each lived under conditions which rendered isolation impossible, and each was entitled by law to the compensation granted him.
Expenses consequent upon quarantine "are incurred for the preservation of the public health, and cannot be recovered either from the city or town where the sick person is settled, or from the Commonwealth in case such person has no settlement."
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It follows from above that we cannot recover in cases of quar- antine, and that we should be careful how we exercise that right. While the board of health will act on its own judgment, the pub- lic may rest assured that the health of the community will be well safeguarded.
ALFRED E. GREEN, Chairman.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON TOWN LANDINGS.
Your committee on "Town Landings" takes pleasure in re- porting that through Duxbury's initiative the Legislature of 1908 enacted a law authorizing towns in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to lay out highways to low water mark, or to es- tablish what are termed "Town Landings."
The growing and natural tendency of wealth to acquire and monopoliza large tracts of shore properties should warn us to provide means for reaching the shore as a right instead of as a privilege, which is now too often the cases, and notably on Bor- der street from Hall's Corner to the Kingston line where the salt water cannot be reached without trespassing.
As an act of justice to those living in the southerly parts of the town, your committee recommends that a "Town Landing" be established at Hick's Point and another through the property now owned by Mrs. Foote, who kindly offers what land is re- quired for that purpose. Both these locations are on Border street, and in connection with the one at Hicks' Point your com- mittee advises that the dangerous private way through the prop- erty of Mr. Wm. Gordon now in general use as a short cut be converted into a safe public highway. toward the achievement of which necessary improvement Mr. Gordon will give the land.
If further evidence were needed in defence of the town acquir- ing shore rights for its citizens, it is exemplified in the case of Winsor street, where the right of public bathing has been brought into question.
Acting on a petition, the Board of Selectmen has already tak-
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en preliminary steps toward establishing a "Town Landing" at this point.
The "Town Landing" at Mattakeesett Court is of no practi- cal value in its present condition. It should be properly laid out. Mr. Irwin offers to sell the town all his salt meadow for $400.00. But this in land and expenditure, is more than the improvement requires.
Your committee feels that the object for which it was created, has been accomplished, and asks to be discharged.
ALFRED E. GREEN. Chairman.
TREE WARDEN'S REPORT.
The condition of the Town's shade trees is about the same as last year. Only a few trees were set out. Considerable brush cutting has been done of St. George, Mayflower, Border and Surplus streets. Grass mown and young trees spaded around. The severe drouths every year makes it discouraging trying to make trees thrive. Considerable spraying has been done both on private estates, as well as Town trees. The Elm Beetle prob- lem in Duxbury is quite serious. In spite of our best efforts trees were in bad shape after spraying, and I think the damage was done before the trees were sprayed. On the whole our trees were in as good shape as other towns.
Respectfully submitted,
H. A. FISH, Tree Warden.
REPORT OF GYPSY MOTH DEPARTMENT.
After a thorough examination of the woodlands and orchards I find that the orchards are in better shape than last year, only
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35 new infestations, and 12 old places. The woodlands are thoroughly infested, being scattered all through the Town. 118 colonies have been found to date ranging from a single egg cluster to 1400. Much work has been done, costing a large sum of money, but nothing compared to what it would cost if the workers had not been pushed. If the woodlands had been ex- amined a year before they were we would have been far ahead of what we are now. In all some 8000 egg clusters have been creo- soted in the entire town, and I can safely say that Duxbury is the freest of any town in this immediate vicinity ; but neglect to follow up the work, and our woods are doomed.
Respectfully submitted,
H. A. FISH, Local Superintendent.
AUDITORS' REPORT
The Auditors of the town of Duxbury have in compliance with law, examined the bills and accounts of the Selectmen of the town, the vouchers, loans authorized by the town, and the incidental accounts of the Treasurer and the returns of the Tax Collector. We find all the accounts correct and we recommend the acceptance of the financial returns as set forth in the town report.
We have audited many bills which should have been presented for payment and audited in 1907. Believing the presentation of bills long overdue for collection to be a bad practice, your auditors recommend that the town shall order that all bills un- paid on the first of January of cach year shall be submitted to the auditors for approval before being accepted by the town offi- cers. Many bills have been accepted and paid by the town ofti- cers which are drawn in favor of one person and receipted by another, generally by a head of department who receives the money. Your auditors believe the town is not sufficiently pro- tected in law by receipts signed by other than the persons in whose favor the bills are drawn.
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We recommend that the town instruct the Selectinen to have all bills receipted by the original parties.
We also recommend that all bills be approved by the heads of the different departments under which they are issued. This is not the practice at the present time.
ERNEST H. BAILEY, WILLIAM S. MOORE,
Auditors.
.
REPORT OF THE DUXBURY RURAL SOCIETY.
The Duxbury Rural Society was organized in 1883. its ob- ject being to improve and ornament the town by planting trees, shrubs, etc. It has never had the support of the town as it de- serves, and but for the help of the summer residents would have been forced out of existence. In 1904 the society bought of Mrs. Nora Smith a lot of land adjoining the property of Capt. W. F. Adams on Powder Point, known for years as the Glades, and used in the ship building days as a spar-soak, but at the time of purchase a most unsightly dump. The price was $300. Property owners on the point contributed $166 of that sum. In 1905, $65 was paid by the society for clearing and burning the trash.
Last spring 15 trees were planted in Station street, and as many more placed in vacant spots. An effort is now being made to purchase trees 30 or 40 feet apart bordering on the roads throughout the woods, so when wood lots are cleared there will remain a little shade instead of unsightly waste places. The society will be willing to pay the usual price for standing tim- ber. If the owners of woodland contemplating cutting trees and willing to sell to the Rural Society would kindly notify Miss Florence Ford, Mr. Elisha Peterson, or Dr. John May, action would be taken at once. The watering troughs at South Dux- bury Point and on the Boston road near Thaddeus Chandler's are kept in repair and supplied by the society. Two triangles near Ashton, containing fine trees, have been purchased and the so-
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ciety holds woodland on the border of Round Pond. Fifteen dollars was lately spent for repairing and painting the liberty pole in the town square, and money appropriated for dressing on the triangle at Millbrook and about trees in the vicinity. The natural beauties of this town are not much appreciated by its citizens or they would urge the immediate selection of a public dump, or dumps, and the framing of stringent rules and regulations and the inforcement of the same, instead of allowing all kinds of trash to be dumped anywhere along the beach and in the woods. In response to a notice from the American Civic Association, calling attention to President Roosevelt's conference in Washington, May 13-15, 1908, on the conservation of our natural resources, resolutions were adopted and sent to Senators H. C. Lodge, W. M. Crane, and Representative W. C. Lovering. Letters were received from them attesting to their interest and support of same.
M. S. SAMPSON,
Scretary.
REPORT OF THE FIRE ENGINEERS AND FOREST WARDEN.
So far the work of the forest warden has been practically con- fined to the fire protection.
Although legally distinct, the two departments have been ad- ministered together. The captains of the fire companies and all the members of the board of engineers are deputy forest war- dens, the apparatus is looked after by one commissary and the same men respond to a fire call whether house or forest.
We feel that our work has justified the expenditure made by the town and advise a continuation of the same liberal policy.
The number of extinguishers has been increased to one hun- dred, distributed through the town, and more are asked for than we have been able to supply. With added experience their use- fulness increases. The partial introduction of cans instead of barrels for supplying water makes a great gain in efficiency, as the extinguisher does not have to be carried a distance to be charged.
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We propose to decidedly increase the number of cans and to simplify their form. A new set of instructions will be printed and distributed before spring and the citizens are urgently re- quested to make themselves familiar with them, particularly those who respond to a fire call. Also a form will be used for approval of the men's time which it is hoped will help them in getting their pay readily, make the work more systematic and be of assistance to the Selectmen and Treasurer.
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