USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1890 > Part 3
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The Auditors made the usual visit to the Almshouse. From their one day's experience and observation they are of opinion that the keepers, Mrs. and Mr. Potter, are well qualified to perform the difficult duties of their office. The house and its surroundings were in a neat and orderly condition, and the inmates were evi- dently kindly and thoughtfully provided for. It is to be observed that there is an increase of the cost of the poor over past years. A part of this increase arises from a charge for repairing the lock-ups and other permanent improvements.
DANIEL POTTER, ALVERDO, MASON, Auditors.
AUDITORS' REPORT. STATEMENT OF APPROPRIATIONS AS AGAINST EXPENDITURES FOR 1890.
OBJECTS OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Amount of Appropriations.
Amount Expended.
In excess of Appropriation.
Appropriation Unexpended.
For schools, town, appropriation, $9,500; dog tax and school funds, $1,106.09
$10,606 09
$10,432 17
173 92
Incidentals for schools.
300 00
622 92
322 92
.
Incidentals for schoolhouses
1,100 00
924 21
175 79
Text-books and supplies .
700 00
869 16
169 16
Superintendent of schools
1,200 00
1,200 00
Conveying pupils .
200 00
115 58
84 42
Poor. ..
4,000 00
4,630 55
630 55
Hospitals
380 92
380 92
State aid (Chap. 301).
1,123 00
1,123 00
State aid (Chap. 279)
400 00
938 00
538 00
. ....
Repairs of highways.
4,000 00
4,115 38
115 38
. .
. ..
Stone road ..
3,000 00
3,645 97
645 97
.....
Elliot Street.
300 00
300 00
Flagstones .
500 00
357 07
142 93
Drawbridge .
621 87
621 87
·
.
Removing snow .
500 00
278 40
221 60
Fire Department ..
1,200 00
1,144 88
......
55 12
Hose carriages.
600 00
593 00
7 00
..
48
..
.
.
.
.
.
. .
1
Town Hall.
737 38
737 38
....
Janitor .
600 00
600 00
. Town lands ..
.
100 00
100 00
Public Library. .
700 00
700 00
. ... .
Post 87, G. A. R ..
175 00
175 00
Distributing books.
100 00
148 00
48 00
. . . . .
Incidental expenses .
1,200 00
1,412 96
212 96
.... ..
Town officers. ...
2,525 00
2,563 27
38 27
Two hundred and fiftieth anniversary.
2,000 00
2,152 30
152 30
.... .
..
.
700 00
567 92
132 08
Law suits.
5,000 00
9,286 72
4,286 72
....
Sinking fund .. .
2,000 00
2,000 00
. . .
.
.....
Sewerage.committee.
150 00
150 00
Interest on debt ..
1,200 00
1,225 18
25 18
·State tax.
3,027 50
3,027 50
...
.
County tax.
2,328 21
2,328 21
Totals
$50,411 80
$59,217 52
$10,048 58
$1,242 86
..
. .
49
.
·
·
Abatement and collection of taxes ...
. .
50
COLLECTOR'S ACCOUNT.
.
DAVID H. B. THAYER, COLLECTOR.
1888.
Dr.
.
Balance due on tax of 1888 .
·
$809 57
Cr.
Cash paid Treasurer
809 57
COLLECTOR'S ACCOUNT.
1889.
Dr.
Balance due on tax of 1889
. $6,728 97
Cr.
By cash paid Treasurer
5,134 75
Balance due on tax of 1889
1,594 22
Cash paid Treasurer, interest
100 00
COLLECTOR'S ACCOUNT.
1890. Dr.
Amount committed
.
.
$46,777 52
Amount added .
1,812 16
Total .
$48,589 68
Cr.
Cash paid Treasurer
$41,356 23
Due on tax of 1890 .
. .
7,233 45
.
51
TREASURER'S ACCOUNT.
ANDREW J. BATES, TREASURER. Dr.
To balance, per statement, Feb. 1, 1890 . $9,094 09 Cash received from :
D. H. B. Thayer, collector, 1888 809 57
D. H. B. Thayer, collector, 1889 · 5,134 75
D. H. B. Thayer, collector, interest, 1889 100 00
D. H. B. Thayer, collector, interest, 1890 . 41,356 23
Union National Bank, interest on de- posit 188 15
Cash received from Overseers of the Poor :
Town of Hopkinton 32 31
Town of Foxborough 47 15 .
Town of Randolph 12 50
Town of Weymouth
27 00
Town of Duxbury
6 00
City of Brockton
100 82
City of Boston .
31 03
Christian Hansen, hospital account
9 75
Alden Bowditch, hospital account
77 80
Individuals, to pay hospital bills
434 21
Individuals, to pay almshouse bills
100 80
Sale of kindlings (almshouse)
51 08
Sale of cow (almshouse)
40 00
For labor (almshouse) 4 55
Cash received from Selectmen :
W. A. Torrey, liquor license 1 00
A. R. Dickinson, liquor license . 1 00
H. A. Jones & Co., liquor license 1 00
Sale of old boiler
40 00
Sale of tip cart .
25 00
Sale of old plank
15 50
Sale of shingles . .
1 00
Amount carried forward
. $48,788 29
52
Amount brought forward . $48,788 29
Cash received from Selectmen :
Sale of burial lot, George B. Jones 5 00
Sale of burial lot, T. J. Cain 5 00
Sale of burial lot, David Thayer 5 00
State aid, refunded 4 00
Refunded, text-books and supplies
2 40
Damage to school books
37
Refunded, error in bill over-paid 30
Use of Town Hall
234 00
Cash received from State Treasurer :
Corporation tax, 1889 279 14
National Bank tax, 1889 13 44
Corporation tax, 1890
. 7,446 71
National Bank tax, 1890
1,611 02
State Aid (Chap. 279, Acts 1889)
368 00
State Aid (Chap. 301, Acts 1889)
1,170 00
Rent of armory
200 00
State aid, burial of soldiers
14 00
Burial state paupers .
10 00
Expense of contagious disease
32 00
Income Massachusetts school fund ·
40 25
Borrowed, 7 mos., 32 per cent
· · 5,000 00
Borrowed, 7 mos., 32 per cent ·
. 10,000 00
Cash received, Weymouth Savings Bank :
Borrowed, 3 mos., 5 per cent · .2,000 00
Cash received from County Treasurer : Bounty for killing seal 1 00
Dog tax
714 84
Cash received from :
Joseph Dyer, Treasurer Braintree school fund
350 00
$87,248 76
By cash paid on 870 orders drawn by Select-
men
. 52,613 13
State Treasurer :
Tax of 1889 (refunded) 689 73
Amount carried forward
. $53,302 86
53
Amount brought forward . $53,302 86
By cash paid State Treasurer :
State tax, 1890 . 3,027 50
Liquor license £ 50
Discount on notes 332 81
Note .
5,000 00
Note .
. 10,000 00
Trustees of the Sinking Fund
of the Town of Braintree :
Note of Jan. 31, 1890 .4,080 00
Interest on note . 68 00
Treasurer of Water Works :
(See Water Works acct. ) 2,500 00
Weymouth Savings Bank, note, 2,000 00
Weymouth Savings Bank, in- terest 25 00
W. S. Dexter, interest . 400 00
N. H. Hunt, Treasurer, in- terest ·
400 00
County Treasurer, County tax, 2,328 21
D. H. B. Thayer, collector : Tax deed, W. E. Jewell 16 02
Cash on deposit in Union National Bank, Weymouth 3,767 86
$87,248 76
We, the undersigned, Auditors of the Town of Braintree, have examined the Treasurer's account as presented by him, and find the same correct, with the balance as reported in the Union National Bank of Weymouth, three thousand seven hundred and sixty-seven dollars and eighty-six cents ($3,767.86), properly certified to by cashier of said bank.
DANIEL POTTER, GEO. D. WILLIS, ALVERDO MASON,
Auditors.
BRAINTREE, Feb. 9, 1891.
1
54
ASSETS OF THE TOWN, FEB. 1, 1891.
Balance in treasury . $3,767 86
Due from collector on tax of 1889 1,594 22
From collector on tax of 1890 . 7,233 45
From State (State aid, Chap. 301) . 1,319 00
From State (State aid, Chap. 279) . 547 00
From Christian Hansen, Almshouse account 81 45
From Christian Hansen, hospital
account 42 71
From cities and towns, pauper account
42 18
Tax deed, Joseph I. Bates
36 66
Two tax deeds, W. E. Jewell, $16.87, $16.02 .
32 89
Due from sundry persons, use of Town
Hall
29 50
Balance due from State, bank, and cor- poration tax, 1890
187 37 ·
$14,914 29
The town owes the following notes, etc. :
Trustees of estate of Gen. Sylvanus Thayer, March 7, 1874, due on demand, at four per cent. $10,000 00
March 7, 1874, due on demand, at four per cent . 10,000 00
Unpaid bill of Gen. Butler, rendered Aug. 22,1888 ·
862 65
Two outstanding orders, Nos. 777 and 843, 23 50
$20,886 15
Less assets as per schedule
14,970 29
Net debt
.
$5,971 86
The bill of Gen. B. F. Butler for services performed since ren- dering his bill, dated Aug. 22, 1889, is unknown.
55
REPORT OF BRAINTREE SCHOOL FUND COMMITTEE.
Cr.
By cash on hand Feb. 1, 1890 .
$121 89 Received of W. E. Denton, rent of
farm
175 00
Received of G. W. Osgood, rent of land, 25 00
Dividend of Weymouth National Bank,
84 00
Dividend of Granite National Bank
60 00
Dividend of Elliot National Bank
18 00
Received of Thomas Penniman, for wood
4 00
Received of A. O. Clark, for wood
4 00
Received of town of Braintree, for wood,
30 00
Received of Elisha Saville, rent of land
1 00
Interest of Braintree Savings Bank
9 90
Rebate on tax .
49 11
$581 90
Dr
To cash paid J. B. Rhines & Co., lumber,
$31 14
C. C. Webster, mason work
13 25
Wales Brothers, pump
·
25 00
Peter Mooney, stone work .
10 50
W. R. Lynch, labor .
6 00
W. E. Denton, labor .
3 95
Thomas Penniman, labor .
20 99
A. J. Bates, Town Treasurer
350 00
Cash on band .
121 07
-
$581 90
JOSEPH DYER,
Treasurer of Committee.
REPORT OF BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
The Board of Water Commissioners, composed of Hon. Asa French, John V .. Scollard, and Hon. James T. Stevens, chosen under an act of the Legislature of 1885, respectfully submits through its secretary the following report :-
The matter in dispute between the town and the private corpo- ration acting under the provisions of an Act of the Legislature of 1886, not having as yet reached a termination, obeying the instruction of the town the Board has made no move looking to the introduction of water under the act accepted by the town.
During the past year numerous petition's have been received, asking that the commissioners lay pipe to be connected with pipe owned or controlled by the Braintree Water Supply Company.
While recognizing the urgency of the demand for increased water supply in a growing community like ours, still it seemed utterly impossible to accede to the wishes of the petitioners, for this reason : The money at the disposition of the Water Board was raised for a specific purpose, the establishment of a system of water-works from Great Pond. It can be readily understood that the expenditure of any part of this money in extending a plant constructed under authority of a charter entirely separate and inde- pendent from that under which the town has acted, by a private corporation, might lead to litigation at present undesirable.
The Board has elected as its treasurer, Andrew J. Bates, Esq., who is also treasurer of the sinking fund. The financial report of the Board, which appears upon another page, is recommended to your attention. It will be seen that the sinking fund which was loaned temporarily to the town has been invested in savings insti- tutions of reliable standing in this immediate vicinity. As the fund grows, it is probable that the trustees can secure an invest- ment in one or more first-class mortgages, which would be more feasible for obvious reasons than the present investment, made as a matter of expediency for the time being.
57
The Board deemed it advisable to collect the pipes, joints, hydrants, specials, etc., lying on the streets in the north section of the town, for storage at places convenient for transportation. We consequently stored in rear of Congregational Church in north sec- tion, in and around carriage-sheds at Town Hall, and in sheds at almshouse, the following articles, viz. : 218 10-inch pipes, 359 6-inch pipes (of these pipes we found twenty-seven had been broken in previous removal by the workmen upon the highway), 32 12- inch branches, 9 10-inch branches, 28 8-inch branches, 93 6-inch branches, 1 12-inch curve, 5 8-inch curves, 9 6-inch curves, 2 6- inch elbows, 1 12-inch to 10-inch reducer, 1 10-inch to 8-inch reducer, 1 8-inch to 6-inch reducer, 5 12-inch sleeves, 2 10-inch sleeves, 6 8-inch sleeves, 8 6-inch sleeves, 6 4-inch sleeves, 12 12- inch gates, 7 10-inch gates, 13 8-inch gates, 49 6-inch gates, 2 4-inch gates, 2 12-inch plugs, 10 8-inch plugs, 63 6-inch plugs, 3 4-inch plugs, 27 gate caps, 25 6-inch hydrants. All these pipes, joints, hydrants, etc., are now packed with timber, so that they may be found intact whenever the town may desire to use or sell them. There is at present no unlaid pipe upon any street except Middle, between Union and River Streets, and as this street will undoubtedly be piped in the near future, and the pipe not being in the way of public travel, it was thought best not to remove it. Of the pipe stored, there has been sold 9,130 pounds to town of Avon, for which there has been paid into the treasury one hundred and fifty- nine dollars and seventy-eight cents ($159.78) ; to Braintree Water Supply Company, 675 pounds, for which there is due the sum of eleven dollars and eighty-one cents ($11.81). There has been, during the past two years, five lengths of ten-inch and three lengths of six-inch pipe laid in gutters by the Highway Surveyor in the north part of the town, for which there is due from the High- way Department to our treasury the sum of seventy-two dollars and ninety-one cents ($72.91).
All pipe sold has been at the cost price, thirty-five dollars per ton.
Several consultations have been held during the year with the firm of John Cavanagh & Son, looking to a settlement out of court of their claim against the town. It has been the unanimous opinion of the Board that the town desired to make Messrs.
58
Cavanagh & Son absolutely whole in this matter, with a margin of profit commensurate with the contract price of the job they undertook, and the commissioners' actions have been with this idea in view. However, no settlement has been effected, and the case is now being heard by an auditor, under the direction of the Selectmen.
We regard the nearness of a final settlement of the " water question " as a matter of congratulation to the town, securing as it does the ownership by the town of its own water supply, and making probable the extension of water service to localities not at present so benefited.
By order of Board of Water Commissioners,
JOHN V. SCOLLARD, Secretary.
.
59
TREASURER'S REPORT. (Water Works Account. )
ANDREW J. BATES, TREASURER.
To balance per statement, Feb. 1, 1890, $74,380 17 Cash received of town :
Appropriation for interest on water bonds, 2,500 00 To cash from Water Commissioners (sale of pipe) 168 08
Town (refunded) :
On account of bill paid Edward Avery 2,500 00
Received of State National Bank :
Interest on deposit to Feb. 1, 1891 1,922 48
$81,470 73
Cr.
By cash paid on seven orders drawn by Selectmen . $2,871 56 Cash paid on coupons on water bonds (town appropriation) .
2,500 00
Cash paid on coupons on water bonds, out of interest on deposit account . Cash on deposit in State National Bank, Boston
1,500 00
. 74,599 17
$81,470 73
We have examined the accounts of A. J. Bates, Treasurer, and find them all vouched for, and the balance as shown above, seventy- four thousand five hundred and ninety-nine dollars and seventeen cents ($74,599.17), was actually on hand and deposited in the State National Bank of Boston, to the credit of the Treasurer, on Feb. 2, 1891, and the said amount certified to by cashier of said bank.
DANIEL POTTER, GEO. D. WILLIS, ALVERDO MASON,
Auditors.
BRAINTREE, Feb. 9, 1891.
60
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE WATER LOAN SINKING FUND.
ANDREW J. BATES, TREASURER.
To cash received of the trustees of the
sinking fund . · . $4,148 00
Cash received of town, amount appro- priated . 2,000 00
Cash received of Braintree Savings Bank, dividend, Jan. 1 . 20 00
Cash received of Weymouth Savings
Bank, dividend, Jan. 1
20 00
Cash received of Franklin Savings
Bank, dividend, Feb. 1 . 2 96
-
$6,190 96
Cr.
Amount to credit of sinking fund, invested as follows :
Braintree Savings Bank , . $1,020 00
Weymouth Savings Bank
1,020 00
Home Savings Bank, Boston 1,000 00 Warren Savings Bank, Charlestown . 1,000 00
Charlestown Five Cent Savings Bank,
Charlestown . 1,000 00
South Boston Savings Bank 1,000 00
Franklin Savings Bank, Boston .
150 96
$6,190 96
Dividends on : Home, Warren, Charlestown, and South Boston Banks are payable in April and October.
WATER WORKS ACCOUNT.
Paid E. F. E. Thayer, insurance $20 00 Heirs of Geo. W. White, by Fales & Mellen, attorneys, damages 175 00
"Amount carried forward
$195 00
61
Amount brought forward $195 00
Paid J. B. Rhines & Co., lumber
17 56
George E. Fogg, removing pipes
151 00
Thomas F. Finnegan, carting pipe to Avon . 8 00
* Edward Avery, counsel in mill suits, 2,500 00
$2,871 56
* Transferred from water account to town account.
The above account, as presented by the Treasurer, we have ex- amined, and find, by reference to the savings bank books, that the amounts are deposited in the several banks to the credit of the sinking fund account.
DANIEL POTTER, GEO. D. WILLIS, ALVERDO MASON,
BRAINTREE, Feb. 9, 1891.
Auditors.
THAYER PUBLIC LIBRARY.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
The library has been open during the year, 279 days. Number of volumes borrowed, 19,903. Average per day, 71++.
The largest daily issue, 217, March 1. The smallest daily issue, 12, Sept. 16. The number ( f volumes circulated, of each class, is as follows :-
History, 864. Biography, 710. Travel, 776. Science, art, etc., 702. Fiction, 11,788. Poetry, 556. Juvenile, 1.863. Miscellaneous, 1,540. Reference, 1,104.
Number of bound volumes added, 427. Number of pamphlets added, 257. Number of names registered since the library opened, 4,039. Number added during the year, 178.
A. M. ARNOLD,
Librarian.
63
TREASURER'S REPORT.
RECEIPTS.
Balance in hands of Treasurer Feb. 1, 1890 $3 23
From Town Treasurer, interest on note . ·
400 00
Town Treasurer, town appropriation
700 00
Librarian, for fines
24 35
Librarian, for catalogues
4 00
Savings Bank, interest
.
33
$1,131 91
EXPENDITURES.
Paid Estes & Lauriat, books
· 238 82
Estes & Lauriat, binding books
47.90
A. H. Roffe, magazines .
.
34 70
Mrs. A. H. Pitkins, book
4 00
F. W. Nash & Co., printing
6 75
Patrick Moils, coal
110 70
Abbie M. Arnold, librarian
400 00
Braintree Water Supply Company, water,
6 00
Drew & Coffin, tube brush 1 00
Bradford & Mansfield, oil
5 25
Town of Braintree, kindlings .
3 60
Abbie M. Arnold, incidentals .
.
862 68
Balance in hands of Treasurer
269 23
.
.
·
.
3 96
$1,131 91
N. H. HUNT, Treasurer.
64
TRUSTEES' REPORT.
Judging from its increased use, the library would seem to be increasingly appreciated by the town.
The trustees have endeavored to make the most of the means at their disposal, and while aware of many serious wants, are hoping gradually to supply them.
During the year they have ventured to add to the books intended more especially for reference, a full set of the Encyclopedia Brit- tanica.
To render the library as acceptable and useful as possible to all, the trustees are always glad to receive any suggestions as to books or management. These, if written and handed at any time to the librarian, will not fail to be carefully considered, and if advisable acted upon.
It has been brought to the attention of the trustees that some of the wood-work in the interior of the library building is very much out of repair, nothing having been done to it since the building was first completed, and the 'trustees recommend that the town make a special appropriation of two hundred and fifty dollars, to be used, or so much of it as may be required, for making the needed repairs, the balance, if any remaining, to be returned to the town treasury.
The trustees would add that during the last month they made 1 purchases of new books from Messrs. Estes & Lauriat, which are now in the library, to the amount of the balance' as shown in the treasury Feb. 1, but the bills had not been adjusted so they could be paid by the Treasurer before his account was passed upon by the town auditors at that date.
ASA FRENCH, HENRY A. JOHNSON, F. A. HOBART, N. H. HUNT, E. WATSON ARNOLD,
Trustees.
BRAINTREE, Feb. 11, 1891.
ENGINEER'S REPORT.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN,- In accordance with the rules and regulations gov- erning fire departments, I have the honor to submit to you my third annual report of the doings and condition of the department for the year ending Jan. 31, 1891, together with the number of members, fires, losses, and insurance, inventory of public property (belonging to the department, and such suggestions as I deem of interest to the good working of the department. :
ENGINEERS DEPARTMENT, ORGANIZED FEB. 12, 1890.
Chief Engineer, Edward O. Pierson, residence, Washington Street, Braintree.
Assistant Engineer and Clerk, Frank O. Whitmarsh, residence, Shaw Street, East Braintree ..
Assistant Engineer, Marcus A. Perkins, residence, Hancock Street, South Braintree.
FORCE OF THE DEPARTMENT. ,
The force of the department consists of one chief and two assis- tants, and fifty-five (55) members, making a total of fifty-eight
١٠٠ (58) men.
COMPANIES ORGANIZED FEB. 3, 1891. U
Union Hose Company No. 1, S. E. Whitmarsh, foreman, 15 men. Butcher Boy Hose Company No. 2, J. F. Winslow, foreman, 15 men.
N. F. T. Hayden Hose Company No. 3, J. F. Gallivan, foreman, 10 men.
Wampatuck Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, James F. Galivan, foreman, 15 men.
HOUSES.
The engine-houses are in good repair and need nothing the com- ing year except to keep them in good order, unless it should be decided to make some alterations.
66
APPARATUS.
The apparatus at present in service consists of two hand-engines, two jumpers, two hose-carriages, one hose-wagon, and one hook and ladder truck.
HOSE.
There was at the commencement of the year 4,550 feet of hose, of which 750 feet have been condemned. As good hose is our main reliance, I would recommend purchasing 1,000 feet of hose, 800 feet for the East Village, and 200 feet for the South Village.
Description of hose in department which is serviceable : 2,650 feet of cotton, rubber lined, 400 feet of rubber hose, 400 feet of leather hose, and 63 feet of suction hose.
INVENTORY OF PROPERTY
IN POSSESSION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND IN USE FEB. 1, 1890.
UNION HOSE COMPANY NO. 1.
One jumper, 1 band-engine, 28 feet suction hose, 750 feet cotton, rubber-lined hose, 550 feet rubber hose, 200 feet leather hose, 6 spanners and belts, 5 axes, 4 fire buckets, 4 pipes, 4 nozzles, 3 lanterns, 3 ladders, 1 pole for horses, 2 fire hooks, 6 army coats, badges, 1 hydrant wrench, one hydrant gate (1 hose-carriage added later).
BUTCHER BOY HOSE COMPANY NO. 2.
One jumper, 1 hand engine, 1 pole for horses, 1,100 feet cotton, rubber-lined hose, 450 feet rubber hose, 200 feet leather hose, 36 feet suction hose, 6 pipes, 7 nozzles, 1 axe, 3 fire hats, 6 army coats, 4 fire buckets, 12 spanners and belts, 1 lantern, 5 ladders, badges, 1 hydrant gate, 1 hydrant wrench, 2 hose hooks, one hatchet (1 hose-wagon and tools for same added later).
N. F. T. HAYDEN HOSE COMPANY NO. 3.
One hose carriage, 1,000 feet cotton, rubber-lined hose, 2 pipes, 6 spanners with belts, 1 hydrant wrench, 1 hydrant gate, 2 nozzles, 1 axe, 1 bar, 10 badges.
67
WAMPATUCK HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY NO. 1.
One truck, 1 pole for horses, 8 ladders, 1 tongue, 17 buckets, 5 hooks, 2 axes, 2 hatchets, 3 forks, 3 lanterns, 5 army coats, 2 lad- der dogs, 15 badges.
LIST OF FIRES.
The number of fires and alarms were five. Fires causing the greatest loss were : A. W. Dyer, June 2; Columbia Rubber Com- pany, Sept. 27 ; heirs of Elijah Benjamin, Oct. 5.
FIRE LOSSES AND INSURANCE FOR 1890.
June 2. A. W. Dyer's piggery ; loss on building, $600; insured for $600; loss on contents, $840; insured for $835; cause, incendiary.
June 8. Old Colony Railroad, in sand pit; loss, $375 ; no insurance ; cause, incendiary.
July 1. Alarm of fire from South Braintree ; brush fire.
Sept. 27. Columbia Rubber Company ; loss on building, $1,900; insured for $1,500; loss on contents, $5,000; insured for $1,500 ; cause, spontaneous combustion.
Oct. 5. Heirs of Elijah Benjamin ; loss on building, $1.200; insured for $1,000 ; loss on contents, $300; no insurance ; cause, lamp explosion.
This has been a most remarkable year for fires. A part of the department have responded promptly, and have done their work faithfully. In this age of relief valves and shut-off nozzles, etc., there is less excuse for damaging property than formerly.
We have made quite an outlay for hose-carriage and hose- wagon, etc., which I believe to be true policy, for by doing a little each year, for a few years, the department will be got into such a shape that we shall have only the running expenses to provide for.
I would recommend that the members of the department be increased in pay, and that the appropriation be $1,500. I would recommend that the town appropriate the sum of $650 for the purchase of 1,000 feet of hose for the East and South villages, as the East Village is sadly in need of more hose, and if a large fire should take place it could not cope with it.
68
The board have purchased for the East Village a hose-carriage, at a cost of $185, and a hose-wagon for the South Village, at a cost of $418, which is quite an addition to the department, being ornamental as well as useful, and will last the town for year's and years to come.
CONCLUSION.
" In conclusion. I would tender my thanks to your honorable board for past favors, and their hearty co-operation to the gentle- men of the Board of Engineers, for the very able assistance ren- dered me on every occasion, and to those of the officers and members of the department who have performed their duty in a prompt and faithful, manner, by an official notice sent by me to your honorable board early in the fall positively declining to stand for reappointment. I have always done my duty as becom- ing my position in an honorable manner for the best interests of the town at large, and hoping that in the future, as in the past, the department will (all) be as ready and willing to respond when duty calls, and always be as fortunate as in the year just closed,
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