Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1890, Part 5

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: The town
Number of Pages: 142


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1890 > Part 5


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ARTICLE 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.


ART. 2. To hear the reports of the several town officers, and act thereon.


ART. 3. To determine the manner of repairing the highways and bridges the ensuing year.


ART. 4. To see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of Chap. 158 of the Statutes of the year 1871, and choose a Board of Road Commissioners.


ART. 5. To choose all necessary town officers for the ensuing year, and also to vote on the following question, as required by Chap. 54 of the Acts of the year 1881, namely : "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town ?"


ART. 6. To see what action the town will take in relation to hiring money for any purpose.


ART. 7. To see if the town will accept the jury list as made by the Selectmen.


ART. 8. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year.


ART. 9. To see if the town will vote an appropriation of $150, and pay the same to the Gen. Sylvanus Thayer Post, G. A. R., for the purpose of assisting them in defraying the expenses of memorial services on Memorial Day.


ART. 10. To see how the town will vote to pay the members of the Fire Department.


ART 11. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to pay the interest on the


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water bonds, and for the sinking fund established for the payment of said bonds.


ART. 12. To see if the town will vote to charge interest on taxes that remain unpaid after a certain date.


ART. 13. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to build an armory for Company K, 5th Regiment.


ART. 14. To hear the report of the Committee on the Celebra- tion of the 250th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town, and raise and appropriate such a sum of money as will defray the expenses of the same.


ART. 15. To choose two members of the School Fund Com- mittee, in place of Naaman L. White and William R. Penniman, deceased.


ART. 16. To choose one Trustee of the Thayer Public Library, in place of John M. Beals, removed from town.


ART. 17. To see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for conveying pupils to and from the public schools ; the same to be expended by the School Committee in their discretion.


ART. 18. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $300 to finish Elliott Street.


ART. 19. To see if the town will vote to elect six Trustees of the Thayer Public Library, in accordance with the provisions of Chap. 304 of the Acts of 1888, and the vote of the town at the last annual meeting.


ART. 20. To see if the town will sell a strip of land on the easterly line of the Poor farm, fifteen feet in width on the street, running back to intersect the said easterly line, one hundred and twenty-five feet from the street.


ART. 21. To see if the town will amend Article 11 of the By-Laws, so as to elect six Trustees of the Thayer Public Library, in accordance with the provisions of Chap. 304 of the Acts of 1888.


ART. 22. To see if the town will vote to place flagging stones across the street, at such places as may be deemed necessary by the Selectmen, and make an appropriation for the same.


ART. 23. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of $600 to purchase two hose-carriages, one for the East and one for the South part of the town.


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ART. 24. To see if the town will choose a committee to select a location and get plans and specifications for the erection of a High School building in the North part of the town.


ART. 25. To see if the town will make an appropriation to widen that portion of Elm Street lying east of the residence of Mrs. Elizabeth Perry.


ART. 26. To see if the town will annul Article 11 of the By- Laws.


ART. 27. To choose any committee. or hear and act on report of any committee.


You are to give notice of this meeting by posting true and at- tested copies of this warrant in not less than nine public places in this town, seven days at least before the time of meeting, and by publishing once in the Braintree Observer.


Hereof fail not, but make return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk before the time of said meet- ing.


Given under our hands at Braintree, this fourteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety.


ANSEL O. CLARK, NATHANIEL F. HUNT, R. ALLEN GAGE, Selectmen of Braintree.


NORFOLK, ss.


BRAINTREE, Feb. 27, 1890.


Pursuant to the within warrant, I have notified the inhabitants . of the town of Braintree herein described, to meet at the time and place and for the purposes within mentioned, by posting up attested copies of this warrant at more than nine public places in said town of Braintree, seven days before the time set for said meeting ; and I have caused the said warrant to be published in the Braintree Observer once before the time set for said meeting.


HORACE FAXON,


Constable of Braintree.


A true copy.


Attest : SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.


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BRAINTREE, March 3, 1890.


In accordance with the foregoing warrant, the meeting was called to order and the warrant read by the Town Clerk.


Ansel O. Clark was appointed to check the list, and sworn by the Town Clerk.


ARTICLE 1. Upon ballot, by the use of the check-list, Francis A. Hobart was unanimously elected moderator, and was sworn by the Town Clerk.


Voted, That Articles 2, 3, and 4 be laid on the table.


ART. 5. Voted, To proceed to the election of the following town officers on one ballot, namely: Town Clerk; Town Treasurer ; three Selectmen, who shall be Assessors and Overseers of the Poor ; two School Committee for the term of three years ; one Water Commissioner for the term of three years ; three Audi- tors : three Fence Viewers ; one Trustee of the Thayer Public Library, to fill vacancy ; two School Fund Committee, to fill vacancies ; and thirteen Constables ; and also at the same time vote on the question, " Shall licenses be granted for the sale of . intoxicating liquors in this town ?"


Moderator appointed John Stoddard to take charge of the ballot box, and he was sworn by the Town Clerk.


Voted, That after the close of the polls and the declaration of the result of the ballot the meeting shall be declared adjourned to Monday, March 10, 1890, at 1 o'clock p. M.


Voted, That a committee of eleven be appointed by the Chair to report what appropriations are necessary to be made to defray the expenses of the town the ensuing year.


The polls were declared open at twenty-five minutes past eight o'clock A. M.


Voted, That the polls be closed at 12h. 30m. P. M., and at that time they were declared closed.


Moderator appointed as tellers, to assort and count the votes, Samuel A. Bates, Elmer E. Abercrombie, and Marcus A. Perkins, and they were sworn by Francis A. Hobart, Justice of the Peace.


The tellers having completed their work, the moderator de- clared the result of the ballot as follows, namely : -


Whole number of ballots, 304.


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For Town Clerk, -Blanks, 5; Samuel A. Bates, 299; and he was declared elected, and sworn by the moderator.


Town Treasurer, - Blanks, 3; S. A. Bates, 2; Andrew J. Bates, 299 ; and he was declared elected, and sworn.


Selectmen, Assessors, and Overseers of the Poor, -Blanks, 3 ; Ansel O. Clark, 301; blanks, 7; A. J. Bates, 1; Nathaniel F. Hunt, 296 ; blanks, 16; F. E. Arnold, 7; J. Franklin Bates, 281 ; and Ansel O. Clark, Nathaniel F. Hunt, and J. Franklin Bates were declared elected, and sworn.


School Committee for three years, -Blanks, 2; Albert E. Avery, 302 ; John Reed, 304; and Albert E Avery and John Reed were declared elected, and accepted the office.


Water Commissioner for three years, - Blanks, 3 ; A. J. Shaw, 83 ; James T. Stevens, 218; and James T. Stevens was declared elected, and accepted the office.


Auditors, - Blanks, 2; Daniel Potter, 304; Alverdo Mason, 302 ; blank, 1; L. Willard Morrison, 303 ; and Daniel Potter, Alverdo Mason, and L. Willard Morrison were declared elected, and sworn.


Trustee of Thayer Public Library, to fill vacancy, - Blank, 1 ; E. Watson Arnold, 303; and he was declared elected to fill the vacancy, and accepted.


School Fund Committee, to fill vacancies,- Blank, 1 ; Henry A. Johnson, 303 ; blanks, 2; Francis A. Hobart, 302; and Henry A. Johnson and Francis A. Hobart were declared elected, and accepted.


Fence Viewers, - Blanks, 2; A. J. Shaw, 1; Josiah Penniman, 301; Freeman G. Crosby, 304; John V. Scollard, 304; and Josiah Penniman, Freeman G. Crosby, and John V. Scollard were declared elected, and sworn.


Constables, - A. J. Shaw, 1; J. J. O'Keefe, 78; James H. King, 80 ; James A. Reynolds, 289 ; Albert Hobart, 288; George T. Dee, 288 ; Benjamin J. Loring, Jr., 288 ; Everett A. Harris, 287; Conrade Mischler, 286; James R. Qualey, 285 ; Horace Faxon, 285; Isaac L. Jones, 285; Edwin L. Curtis, 284; John Kelley, of Quincy Avenue, 282 ; Thomas Fallon, 216 ; Henry M. Storms, 212 ; and Messrs. Reynolds, Hobart, Dee, Loring, Harris, Mischler, Qualey, Faxon, Jones, Curtis, Kelley, Fallon, and Storms were declared elected, and sworn.


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"Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?"


Whole number of ballots, 248. Yes, 113 ; no, 135.


The meeting was declared adjourned to Monday, March 10, 1890, at 1 o'clock P. M.


SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.


BRAINTREE, March 10, 1890.


The town assembled according to adjournment from March 3, 1890.


Moderator called the meeting to order.


Article 5 before the meeting.


The following officers were chosen by hand vote : -


Voted, To choose three Measurers of Grain.


C. Herbert Doane and J. Marcus Arnold were chosen, and sworn. John J. A. Delano was chosen, but declined.


Voted, To choose four Weighers of Hay.


Martin L. Tupper, J. Marcus Arnold, Peter B. Lowson, and James H. Finnegan were chosen, and all sworn.


Voted, To choose three Measurers of Lumber.


Martin L. Tupper, John Kelley, and George H. Holbrook were chosen, and all sworn.


Voted, To choose one Measurer of Leather.


Albion C. Drinkwater was chosen, and sworn.


Voted, To choose five Measurers of Wood.


J. Marcus Arnold, Martin L. Tupper, Edward J. Carroll, Edward M. Wight, and William Allen were chosen, and all sworn. Voted, To choose three Field-drivers.


John Stoddard, Michael O'Brien, and Morris Gurney were chosen, and sworn.


Voted, That the Pound-keeper be appointed by the Selectmen. Article 5 was laid on the table.


Article 2 taken from the table.


The Selectmen made their annual report in print.


Voted, That the Selectmen file in the office of the Town Clerk a schedule of the property in their possession as Surveyors of High- ways.


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Voted, That the bill of Edward Avery for legal services be re- committed to the Selectmen, with instructions to obtain of him an itemized account.


Voted, To accept the annual report of the Selectmen.


Article 2 was laid on the table.


Article 4 taken from the table.


Moved that we accept the provisions of Chap. 158 of the Acts of 1871. Rejected.


Article 3 taken from the table.


Voted, That the highways and bridges be repaired in accordance with Chap. 98 of the Acts of the Legislature of 1889.


Voted, That the matter of the salary of the Superintendent of Highways be left with the Selectmen.


Article 6 taken up.


Voted, Unanimously, that the Treasurer be authorized, with the approval of the Selectmen, to hire money, in anticipation of taxes of the current fiscal year, and to issue notes of the town therefor, and the debts incurred under the authority of this vote are hereby made payable from said taxes.


Article 7 taken up.


Voted, That the jury list as made by the Selectmen be revised by striking out the names of Ezra H. Waite, Walter E. Morrison, James A. Reynolds, and Everett A. Harris.


Voted, To accept the following names, to be placed in the jury box, namely : -


Hiram E. Abbott.


Charles A. Hayward.


Edward O. Pierson.


James F. Allen.


Jonathan P. Hayward. Ellis Hollingsworth.


Rodolphus Porter. Daniel Potter.


Joseph M. Allen.


Orace W. Allen.


Henry M. Hollis.


John Reed.


William Allen.


William A. Kane. Bradford Y. Knight.


Willie H. Shaw.


Timothy D. Bagley.


Charles H. Loring.


Alfred Southworth.


Onslow Q. Ball.


Frederic P. Lothrop.


William H. Stevens.


Elisha A. Belcher.


George E. Ludden.


Caleb Thompson.


N. Gleason Torrey.


Thomas J. Cain. William H. Cobb. Henry F. Crane.


Alverdo H. Mason.


William A. Tupper.


John H. Dinsmore.


Henry B. Vinton.


I. Francis Vinton.


F. Eugene Dyer. Charles E. French.


Michael McDermott. William B. Merritt. R. Elmer Morrison.


John V. Scollard.


John M. Arnold.


Frank G. Lunt. William H. Macgreggor. Foster F. Tupper.


Thomas A. Watson.


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George A. French. Walter O. Munroe.


James T. Weeks.


Richard A. Gage.


Thomas Penniman. Jonathan F. White.


Henry Gardner.


Artemas S. Pennock.


Joseph Whitely.


Edward A. Hale.


Henry Arthur Pierce.


Edward M. Wight.


Elijah C. Hall.


Article 8 taken up.


The Committee on Appropriations reported, and it was voted to appropriate the following sums of money for the expenses of the town for the current year :-


Voted, That the income from the dog tax, State and town school funds he appropriated for schools.


Schools


$9,500


Incidentals for schools


300


Incidentals for schoolhouses


1.100


Text-books and supplies .


700


Superintendent of schools .


1,200


Conveyance of scholars to and from school


200


Support of poor


4,000


Repairs of highways .


4,000


Stone roads


3,000


Removal of snow


- 500


Public Library .


700


Janitor


600


Town lands


100


Interest on town debt


1,200


Interest on water bonds


2,500


Sinking fund


2,000


State aid, Chap. 252


400


Town incidentals


1,200


Collection and abatement of taxes


700


Town officers


2,500


Expenses of lawsuits .


5,000


Grand Army of the Republic


175


Fire Department


1,200


Delivery of library books .


100


$42,875


Article 6 laid on the table.


Voted, That Article 14 be taken up.


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The Committee on the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town of Braintree reported that the town celebrate said anniversary, which report was accepted and adopted.


Voted, That the town celebrate the two hundredth and fiftiethi anniversary of its incorporation, and that the same committee chosen to consider the subject, viz. : Asa French, Samuel A. Bates, Francis A. Hobart, Ebenezer F. E. Thayer, N. Eugene Hollis, Abijah Allen, Albert E. Avery, Nathaniel H. Hunt, E. Watson Arnold, and Albert Hobart, have full powers to carry this vote into effect.


Voted, That the sum of $1,500 be appropriated for the celebra- tion of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorpora- -tion of the town.


Article 14 laid on the table.


Article 6 taken from the table.


Voted, That so much of the bank and corporation tax, to the amount of $7,000, be applied to the payment of the above appro- priations.


Voted, To raise by taxation the sum of thirty-seven thousand three hundred and seventy-five (37,375) dollars.


Voted, That all bills shall be presented in detail and itemized, and so far as they relate to the water question, be submitted to the Water Commissioners, and all other bills to the several depart- ments which contract them.


Article 6 laid on the table.


Article 9 taken up.


Voted, That the money appropriated for the Grand Army of the Republic be paid to Gen. Sylvanus Thayer Post, No. 87, to assist them in defraying the expenses of the services on Memorial Day.


Article 10 taken up.


Voted, That the Engineers and members of the Fire Depart- ment be each paid the sum of ten dollars for their services the cur- rent year.


Article 11 taken up.


Voted, To confirm the vote to appropriate sums of money to pay the interest on the water bonds, and for the sinking funds estab- lished for the payment of said bonds.


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Article 12 taken up.


Voted, That all taxes assessed the current year shall be payable on or before the first day of December, 1890, and on all taxes not paid on or before the said first day of December, interest at the rate of six per centum per annum shall be charged and collected from the said first day of December until the tax is paid; and that the Collector is required immediately after the first day of January, 1891, to exert all the power vested in him by law for the collection of all unpaid taxes.


Article 13 taken up.


The Committee on an Armory for Company K., 5th Regiment, made their report, for which see files.


Voted, To accept the report.


Voted, That the sum of $6,000 be appropriated for the purpose of building an armory for Company K., 6th Regiment, M. V. M. Yeas, 59 ; nays, 37.


Voted, That the town borrow the sum of $6,000 for the pur- pose of building the armory in Braintree. Yeas, 64 ; nays, 28.


Voted, That a committee of five be appointed by the Chair to to carry out the vote just passed.


Voted, To take up Article 24.


Notice was given by Daniel Potter that at the adjourned meeting he should move to reconsider the votes concerning the building of an armory.


Voted, To amend the record by inserting the following words : " That on and after this date all bills presented for payment to the Selectmen shall be itemized, and no order shall be drawn for their payment until they have been approved by the department having the matter in charge."


Voted, To adjourn to Monday, April 7, 1890, at half past one o'clock P M.


SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.


BRAINTREE, April 7, 1890.


The town assembled in accordance with the adjournment from March 10, 1890.


The moderator called the meeting to order.


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Article 24 before the meeting.


Moved that a committee of three from each part of the town and two members of the School Committee be appointed by the moderator to select a location and get plans and specifications for the erection of a High School building.


This motion was moved to be amended by substituting the Su- perintendent of Schools, instead of one of the School Committee.


The School Committee presented two reports on a High School building, one signed by R. H. Morrison, L. H. H. Johnson, and A. E. Avery ; and the other by John Reed, A. M. Brooks, and E. A. Wild (see files) .


Voted, By the use of the check-list, to indefinitely postpone the whole subject. Yeas, 112; nays, 95.


Article 13 taken up.


Moved that the vote whereby the town voted to borrow $6,000, for the purpose of building an armory, be reconsidered, and that the vote be taken by the use of the check-list.


Notice was given by John Kelley that he should move a reconsid- eration of the vote whereby the town voted to indefinitely postpone the whole subject of choosing a committee to select a location and get plans and specifications for the erection of a High Schoolhouse.


Voted, to adjourn to Tuesday, April 15, 1890, at half past seven o'clock P. M.


SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.


BRAINTREE, April 15, 1890.


The town assembled in accordance with the adjournment from April 7, 1890.


Moderator called the meeting to order.


Voted, That the vote on the question of the reconsideration of the vote whereby the town voted to borrow $6,000 to build an armory, be taken at twenty minutes past eight o'clock P. M. ; that the speeches be divided equally between the several sides, and that the speakers be limited to five minutes each.


Voted, That James McSweeney have additional time.


Voted, That the question be taken by ballot, "yes," or " no," with the use of the check-list.


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Voted, That a committee of three, to assort and count the votes, shall be appointed by the Chair.


S. A. Bates, E. E. Abercrombie, and M. A. Perkins were appointed by the Chair, and were sworn.


The result of the ballot was, yeas, 246; nays, 211; the whole number of ballots being 457.


The vote was therefore declared reconsidered.


Article 24 taken up.


Moved to reconsider the vote whereby the town voted to indefi- nitely postpone the question of choosing a committee to procure plans and specifications for a High Schoolhouse.


Voted, That the question be taken by ballot, "yes," or ".no," with the use of the check-list.


Whole number of ballots, 402; yeas, 199; nays, 203; and the motion was rejected.


Voted, To adjourn to Thursday, April 24, 1890, at 7.30 o'clock P. M.


SAMUEL A. BATES,


Town Clerk.


BRAINTREE, April 24, 1890.


The town assembled in accordance with the adjournment from April 15, 1890.


Moderator called the meeting to order.


Article 5 taken from the table.


John L. Delano chosen Measurer of Grain in place of John J. A. Delano, declined.


Voted, To let out the collection of taxes to the lowest bidder. David H. B. Thayer agreed to collect the taxes for 41% mills on the dollar. He was chosen Collector of Taxes by the use of the check-list and by ballot, and sworn.


Article 5 laid on the table.


Article 8 taken from the table.


Voted, That Francis A. Hobart be paid the sum of $25 for his services as moderator the past year.


Article 8 laid on the table.


Article 14 taken from the table.


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Voted, That the sum of $500 dollars be appropriated, in addi- tion to the sum already appropriated, to celebrate the anniversary of the incorporation of the town.


Article 18 taken up.


Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $300 to finish Elliott Street.


Article 20 taken up.


Voted, That it be referred to the Selectmen.


Article 27 taken up.


Voted, That a committee of six be appointed by the Chair to secure a report of the receipts and expenditures of the Trustees of the Thayer Academy, and that the same be published in the annual report of the Selectmen.


Alverdo Mason, W. H. Shaw, E. A. Belcher, H. A. Johnson, Daniel Potter, and F. A. Hobart were appointed said committee.


Article 22 taken up.


Committee on Drainage made a report, as follows : -


The committee appointed at the last annual town-meeting to consider the matter of drainage for the town, report that as no provision was made by the town for the payment of such expenses as the committee might think necessary to incur, their consideration of the subject has been limited. They conclude, however, that some streets in the several villages, and some of the main streets connecting these villages, should be provided with altogether different and better drainage than they now have. In order to properly present the matter to the town for its consideration, the committee are of the opinion that the committee should be authorized to call upon the State Board of Health to send an engineer to make examination of the several locations indicated, as the law pro- vides. The expense attending this would be small. Then, upon the re- port of the plan and costs to the town, it could act intelligently and as the necessities might require.


The committee also suggest that if the committee and agents of the State Board of Health agree upon a plan of drainage, the committee or some other persons be authorized to secure a competent engineer to sur- vey the localities and make suitable drawings of the plans agreed upon, provided the cost does not exceed $150.


Said plans and drawings to be submitted to the town at any town-meet- ing within the ensuing year.


T. H. DEARING.


A. E. AVERY. H. M. WHITE.


.


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Voted, To appropriate $150 in accordance with the above report.


Voted, That the sum of $500 be appropriated to place flagging- stones across the streets at such places as may be deemed neces- sary by the Selectmen.


Voted, To adjourn sine die.


SAMUEL A. BATES,


Town Clerk.


NORFOLK, ss. To either of the Constables of the town of Braintree, GREETING :


In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Brain- tree, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Braintree. on Tuesday, the twenty-fourth day of June, 1890, at eight o'clock in the evening, to act on the following articles, namely : -


ARTICLE 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.


ART. 2. To see if the town will authorize the School Committee to build additions to the Pond Schoolhouse and to the Union Schoolhouse.


ART. 3. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money, not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars, to be expended for the purpose of erecting additions to the Pond Schoolhouse and the Union Schoolhouse, and for fitting up said additions for school purposes.


ART. 4. To see if the town will authorize the Town Treasurer to borrow on the credit of the town a sum of money not exceed- ing fifteen thousand dollars, said sum to be expended in defraying the expenses incurred in building additions to the Pond School- house and to the Union Schoolhouse, and for fitting up said additions for school purposes.


ART. 5. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to be expended for the purpose of heating and ventilating the various school buildings.


ART. 6. To see if the town will instruct the Water Commis- sioners to make such extensions to the pipes of the Braintree Water Supply Company as in their judgment they may deem necessary, taking into consideration the income to be received by


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the town, and provided such extensions can be made without prejudice to the case now pending between the town and the said Water Supply Company ; and provided such extensions can be paid for out of money in the hands of the Town Treasurer, deposited in the State National Bank.




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