USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1891 > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17
HORACE FAXON, Constable of Braintree.
A true copy. Attest : SAMUEL A. BATES, Toun Cerk.
213
BRAINTREE, March 24, 1891.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant the meeting was called to order, and the warrant read by the Town Clerk.
Under Article 1, Francis A. Hobart was elected moderator by the use of the check-list, and sworn by the Town Clerk.
Article 2 taken up.
Voted, That Article 2 be taken up, that the vote thereon be by ballot. Yes or No, and that the check-list be used in taking such vote.
Ansel O. Clark was appointed by the Moderator to check the list, and he was sworn by the Town Clerk.
Daniel Potter and Albion C. Drinkwater were appointed by the Moderator to assort and count the votes, and were sworn by 'the Town Clerk.
Voted, unanimously, by the use of the check-list, 43 ballots having "Yes" upon them, That the Town Treasurer be and he is hereby authorized and directed to issue from time to time the bonds of the town to an amount not exceeding in the aggregate one hundred thousand dollars, under the power conferred on this town by the eleventh section of the two hundred and sixty-ninth chapter of the Acts of the Commonwealth for the year 1886. Said bonds to be signed by the Town Trea-urer and countersigned by the Water Commissioners, as provided in said eleventh section of said Act, to be issued in denominations of not less than five hundred dollars, nor more than one thousand dollars each, to be payable in thirty years from their date, and to bear interest at a rate not exceeding four per cent per annum. Said bonds to be sold or pledged by the said Water Commissioners, as they may deem proper in accordance with the provisions of said Act.
Article 3 taken up.
Voted, That the town appropriate the sum of five thousand dollars- to pay the interest on the bonds under said Act of 1886, so much of said money to be used as may be necessary for said purpose.
Voted, That the town shall at its next annual meeting. and at every annual meeting thereafter, so long as it may be necessary, raise and appropriate such a sum for the establishment and man. tenance of a sinking fund. as, with its accumulations, shall be suf- ficient for the payment of the bonds issued under Chapter 269 of the Acts of 1886, and by a vote passed March 24, 1891.
244
Articles 4 and 6 taken up.
Voted, That the proceeds of the sale of the bonds, heretofore is- sued by the town, under Chapter 217 of the Acts of 1885, may be and are hereby authorized to be used for the settlement of claims against the town, arising under the aforesaid Act of 1885. or under the 269th chapter of the Acts of the year 1886.
Voted, That the Selectmen and Water Commissioners are hereby directed to petition the Legislature for leave to issue additional bonds, notes, or scrip, to an amount not exceeding fifty thousand dollars in the aggregate, the proceeds of the same to be applied in payment of any liability of the town under the award of the Com- missioners appointed under Chapter 269 of the Acts of the year 1886, and any costs and expenses connected therewith, and for such ex- tensions of the water works as may be deemed necessary and expe- dient, and for such other and further legislation as may be found necessary to use and apply any money received from the sale of bonds heretofore issued for the payment of its liability under the Acts of 1886, Chapter 269, and for the acquiring of the lands and water rights, on or about the borders of Little Pond, and the waters of said pond, in conformity to the terms of said award, and for the vesting of the powers and duties of the Water Commissioners under one head, and for such further or other legislation as may be found necessary under the existing state of things.
Article 5 taken up.
Voted, That we proceed to elect by ballot three Water Com- missioners, under the provisions of Chapter 269, of the Acts of the year 1886, namely : one for three years, one for two years, and one for one year, and that all three be voted for on one ballot. The ballot having been taken by the use of the check-list, the Moderator declared the result of the ballot as follows, namely : -
Whole number of ballots, 43.
Water Commissioner for one year, John V. Scollard had 43 votes and was declared elected.
Water Commissioner for two years, blank, 1 ; George H. Arnold, 1; James T. Stevens, 41, and was declared elected.
Water Commissioner for three years, John Cavanagh, 1; T. Haven Dearing, 42, and he was declared elected.
. Voted, To adjourn.
SAMUEL A. BATES, Toun Clerk.
1
245
NORFOLK, SS. To either of the Constables of the Town of Braintree, GREETING.
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Braintree, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Braintree, on Monday, the sixth day of April, 1891, at three and one half o'clock in the afternoon, to act on the follow- ing Articles, namely : -
ARTICLE 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.
ART. 2. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of thirty-three thousand dollars for the erection of a school- house, and the purchase of a lot of land in accordance with the report of the committee on the educational needs of the town, which report was accepted and adopted, and also to determine the method of raising the same.
ART. 3. To see if the town will vote to select a location for a schoolhouse as recommended by the committee, and pay for the same from the money appropriated under Article 2, and also anthorize said committee to purchase said land.
ART. 4. To see if the town will vote to lay a new floor in the Town Hall, and appropriate money for the same.
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 said meeting, and by publishing once in the Braintree Observer. Hereof fail not, and make return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk before the time of said meeting.
Given under our hands at Braintree, this twenty-seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one.
ANSEL O. CLARK, NATHANIEL F. HUNT, J. FRANKLIN BATES, Selectmen of Braintree.
246
NORFOLK, SS.
BRAINTREE, April 4, 1891.
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 Obse ver once before the time set for said meeting.
HORACE FAXON,
Constable of Braintree.
A true copy.
Attest :
SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, April 6, 1891.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant the meeting was called to order, and the warrant read by the Town Clerk.
Under Article 1 Francis A. Hobart was elected moderator by ballot and the use of the check-list, and sworn by the Town Clerk.
The School Building Committee made the following report. namely : -
FIRST REPORT OF THE BRAINTREE SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE.
The committee appointed at the annual town meeting, in March, to select a lot of land on which to build a schoolhouse, and to carry out the further recommendations of the committee on educa- tional needs, whose report was submitted, accepted, and adopted at that meeting, has performed so much of its duties as relates to the selection of land, and submits the following report : -
We have considered every available piece of land on or near Washington Street, from Thayer Academy on the south to West Street on the north, and have decided that the lot that is best for this purpose is the one owned by Elisha Morse, on Washington Street, running from the fence nearest Mr. Morse's residence, on the south, to the fence bounding the estate of Mr. Chas. E. Beane, on the north. having a frontage on the street of about one hundred and forty-two feet, and running back in an irregular shape about eight hundred and seventy-five feet. The whole piece contains about two and one-half acres.
247
We consider this a most excellent lot for school purposes, as it is centrally located, perfectly dry even in the spring, is in such shape as to require little or no grading, and is large enough to give an ample play-ground for the children without crowding.
The lowest that the owner will sell it for is three thousand dol- lars, which is, however, much less than his asking price, and although it is more than double the assessed valuation, it is, in our opinion, a fair price, and as low as the town can expect to buy so valuable a lot.
The barn, or slaughter-house, now standing on the land goes with it, and the sale of that will reduce the net cost somewhat.
We recommend that the town buy this lot of land for three thousand dollars ; that the' new schoolhouse be built on it, and that the committee be given authority to sell the old building, if in their judgment they deem it advisable.
Mr. Edwin F. French, the owner of the land that partially bounds the Morse land on the northerly side, has intimated his willingness to exchange a portion of his land for a portion of the Morse land, so as to make the latter shorter but wider; and as this increased width may be of advantage when the position of the schoolhouse on the lot is fixed, we recommend that this committee be given authority to make the exchange, if on further considera- tion they think it advisable.
In the matter of the building we have to report progress. .
We have visited several of the schools most recently built in eastern Massachusetts, the architects of which have in each case accompanied us, to explain the features of their designs.
From this and from other sources we have obtained much informa- tion as to the latest ideas in school design and construction, and the principal heating, ventilating, and sanitary systems. We have not as yet chosen an architect, but have several under considera- tion.
THOMAS A. WATSON. DANIEL POTTER. GEORGE D. WILLIS. JOSEPHUS SAMPSON. A. S. MORRISON.
BRAINTREE, April 6, 1891.
248
Voted, That the foregoing report be accepted and adopted and that the necessary appropriation be made to carry out the recom- mendations of the committee with full power : Yes, 57 : No, 4.
Article 2 was taken up.
Voted, unanimously, That the Treasurer of the town of Brain- tree is hereby authorized and instructed, under the direction of the Board of Selectmen, to issue notes of the town. for the pur- pose of building a schoolhouse and the purchase of land for the same, as they may be needed and called for by the committee in charge, for the sum of $33,000. Said notes to be in face value for $3,300 each, and to run one, two, three, four, five, six, seven. eight, nine and ten years respectively, bearing interest at the rate of not more than five per centum per annum, and that the Select- men be instructed to raise by taxation each year the sum of $3,300, together with a sum sufficient to pay the accrued interest on all of said notes remaining unpaid, until all of said notes are liquidated.
Article 4 taken up.
Voted, That the Article be referred to a committee consisting of G. D. Willis, E. W. Arnold and E. E. Abercrombie.
Voted, To adjourn sine die.
SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.
NORFOLK, SS. To either of the Constables of the Town of Brain- tree, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Braintree, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall in said Braintree, on Friday the eigthth day of May, 1891, at seven and one-half 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 direct the Selectmen to dis- continue any further defence in the cases of proprietors of mills and mill owners on Monatiquot River against Braintree, Ran- dolph, and Holbrook for damages for taking Great Pond water,
249
and to settle these cases upon the basis of the Auditors' reports in them.
ART. 3. To see if the town will direct the Selectmen to enter into and execute all agreements necessary to carry such settle- ments into effect, and to make and execute any agreements neces- sary to the mutual protection of the town and the mill owners.
ART. 4. To choose any committee or committees, and do any other act necessary to carry these matters into effect.
ART. 5. To choose any committees, or hear the report of any committee, and act thereon.
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 said meeting, and by publishing once in the Braintree Observer.
Hereof fail not, and make return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, before the time of said meeting.
Given under our hands at Braintree, this twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one.
ANSEL O. CLARK, J. FRANKLIN BATES, Selectmen of Braintree.
NORFOLK, SS. BRAINTREE, May 7, 1891.
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 at- tested copies of this warrant, at more than nine public places in said town, seven days before the time set for said meeting, and I have caused the said warrant to be published once in the Braintree Observer before the time set for said meeting.
HORACE FAXON, Constable of Braintree.
A true copy.
Attest :
SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.
250
BRAINTREE, May 8, 1891.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant, the meeting was called to order and the warrant read by the Town Clerk.
Under Article 1, Francis A. Hobart was elected moderator by ballot and the use of the check-list, and sworn by the Town Clerk.
Article 2 taken up.
Vote7, That the Selectmen be and they hereby are authorized and directed to discontinue any further defence in the cases of pro- prietors of mills on Monatiquot River, and mill owners on Monati- quot River against Braintree, Randolph, and Holbrook, for damages caused by the taking of the waters of Great Pond, upon receiving from the mill owners an obligation to save the town of Braintree harmless from any greater liability than one third of the amount of the Auditors' award in said cases, and interest, and one third of the costs of court to the date of the agreement.
Voted, That no further legal expenses be incurred in defending the Great Pond water cases other than to protect the rights of Braintree to the waters of said pond.
Voted, That the Selectmen be and hereby are authorized and directed to settle the Great Pond water cases, with the plaintiffs on the basis of one third of the award made by the Auditors against Braintree, Randolph, and Holbrook, with interest and costs of court to date, upon receiving from the plaintiffs a release of all claims for damages against the town of Braintree arising from the taking of Great Pond water, and an undertaking by the plaintiffs to hold the town harmless from all further expense or liability in the matter of the taking of Great Pond water.
Article 3 taken up.
Voted, That a committee be appointed, consisting of the present Board of Water Commissioners with two others to be designated by this meeting ; that said committee have full powers to secure a transfer to the town of the franchise, rights, and all the property of the Braintree Water Supply Company in accordance with the award of the commissioners appointed by the Supreme Court, rendered to said Court, March 13, 1891 ; that they secure as soon as possible, the necessary decree of the Court, conferring said award, in order that interest may be stopped, service pipe supplied,
251
extensions made, and the town placed in absolute control and management of its water supply ; and that all pending suits rela- tive to the water question, including the claim of John Cavanagh & Sons, be referred to said committee with full powers to secure such a settlement of the same as may be in judgment for the best interests of the town, without further litigations, expense, or delay ; and that the counsel now employed by the town in all the cases above referred to be discharged, and said committee be authorized to take such legal advice only as may be necessary to secure a satisfactory settlement of the same.
Francis A. Hobart and E. Watson Arnold were chosen as the committee under the above vote.
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 hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Braintree, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Braintree, on Tuesday, the second day of June, 1891, 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 its treasurer, under Chapter 269 of an Act of the Legislature passed in the year 1886 entitled an "Act to incorporate the Braintree Water Supply . Company," and also Section 1 of Chapter 345 of an Act of the Legislature passed in the year 1891 entitled an " Act relating to the Water Supply of the Town of Braintree," to issue bonds, notes, or scrip for the aggregate principal sum of fifty thousand dollars, in addition to the bonds heretofore authorized under said Act of 1886.
ART. 3. . To see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum of money sufficient to pay the interest on said loan of fifty thousand llars, and also to establish a sinking fund sufficient with the
252
accumulations thereof to pay the principal of said loan at its maturity.
ART. 4. To see if the town will vote to ratify and confirm the issue of the $100.000 Braintree water loan specified in a vote passed on the twenty-fourth day of March, 1891, in such form as to bear date the first day of June, 1891, and to carry interest at the rate of four per cent per annum, payable semi-annually.
ART. 5. To see if the town will vote to authorize its treasurer to borrow for a period not exceeding four months such sums of money as the Board of Water Commissioners may require in anticipation of the sale of the bonds authorized to be issued under the provisions of the Act of the Legislature of 1891, said loan to be repaid out of the proceeds of the sale of said bonds.
ART. 6. To see if the town will vote to appoint a committee to investigate the status of any and all corporations authorized or seeking authority to light the town by electricity, and also to consider the matter of electric lighting in general, and report at a subsequent meeting.
ART. 7. To choose any committee or hear the report of any committee and act thereon.
You are to give notice of this meeting by posting true and attested copies of this warrant in not less than nine public places in this town, seven days at least before the time of said meeting, and by publishing once in the Braintree Observer.
Hereof fail not, and make return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk before the time of said meeting.
Given under our hands at Braintree, this twenty-fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one.
ANSEL O. CLARK, NATHANIEL F. HUNT, J. FRANKLIN BATES, Selectmen of Braintree.
NORFOLK, SS.
BRAINTREE, June 1, 1891.
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 at-
253
tested copies of this warrant at more than nine public places in said town of Braintree seven days before the time set for said meet- ing, 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.
BRAINTREE, June 2, 1891.
The town assembled in accordance with the above warrant, and was called to order; and.the warrant read by the Town Clerk.
The ballot being taken with the use of the check-list, Francis A. Hobart was chosen moderator, and sworn by the Town Clerk.
Article 2 taken up.
Voted, That the vote thereon be by ballot, Yes or No, and that the check-list be used in taking such votes.
Voted unanimously, That the Town Treasurer be, and is hereby authorized and directed to issue bonds (subject to the approval of the Water Commissioners) in the aggregate principal sum of fifty thousand dollars, as provided by Chapter 345 of an Act of the Leg- islature passed in the year 1891, entitled, " An Act Relating to the Water Supply of the Town of Braintree," said bonds to be issued in denominations of not less than five hundred dollars, nor more than one thousand dollars, bearing interest at the rate of four per cent per annum, payable semi annually, and running for such pericds respectively, not exceeding thirty years as the Board of Water Com . missioners determine.
Article 3 taken up.
Voted, unanimously, That the town will at its next annual meet- ing and at every annual meeting thereafter, so long as it shall be necessary, raise and appropriate such a sum of money for the es- tablishment of a sinking fund as with its accumulations shall be sufficient for the payment of the bonds authorized by an Act of the Legislature of 1891, entitled, " An Act Relating to the Water Sup- . ply of the Town of Braintree," at their maturity.
Voted, unanimously, To appropriate the sum of two thousand dollars to pay 'the interest on said bonds for the present year under
.
254
said Act of 1891, and that the Treasurer be authoriz d to borrow the same under the direction of the Selectinen.
Article 4 taken up.
Voted, unanimously, That the vote passed on the 24th day of March, 1891, in relation to the $100,000, Braintree Water Loan, is hereby ratified and confirmed, and [that said bonds shall hear date of June 1, 1891, and to carry interest at the rate of four per cent per annum, payable semi-annually.
Article 5 taken up.
Voted, unanimously, That the Treasurer of the town be and hereby is authorized and directed to borrow, with the approval of the Board of Water Commissioners, for a period not exceeding four months, a sum not exceeding $15,000, in anticipation of the issu- ance of the water bonds authorized by the town, which sum shall be held subject to the order by the Board of Water Commissioners, and be paid out of proceeds of the sale of said bonds.
Article 6 taken up.
Voted, unanimously, That a committee of five be appointed by the chair to investigate the status of any and all corporations, or firms, or individuals authorized, or seeking authority, to establish or operate an electric light or power plant in this town, and to con- sider the whole matter of electric lighting and power furnishing, so far as it is likely to concern the town, and to report thereon at a subsequent town meeting, and that this committee have power to employ counsel whenever it may deem it necessary.
Chair appointed Thomas A. Watson, Amasa S. Thayer, Richard H. Long, John V. Scollard, and Henry A. Monk as said committee.
Article 7 taken up.
The committee appointed to take into consideration the reseating and reflooring of the Town Hall submits this report, in which they recommend the purchase of 400 opera settces (folding) at $1.25 per seat, and the laying of a yellow birch fl or to cost not more than $315. George D. Willis for committee.
Voted, That the above report is hereby accepted and adopted, and same committee are authorized to carry the same into effect.
The report of the committee on lawsuits was taken from the files, and it was voted that it lie on the table.
Voted, To adjourn sine die.
SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.
255
NORFOLK, SS. To either of the Constables of the Town of Braintree, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Braintree, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said town, on Tuesday, the twenty-fifth day of August, 1891, at eight o'clock in the evening, to act on the following Arti- cles, namely : -
ARTICLE 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.
ART. 2. To hear the report of the Electric Lighting or any other committee.
ART. 3. To give in their ballots, "Yes" or "No," to the fol- lowing question, namely : Is it expedient for the town to exercise the authority conferred in Sect. 1 of Chap. 370 of the Acts of the Legislature of Massachusetts for the year 1891, to construct, estah- lish and maintain within its limits a plant for the manufacture and distribution of electricity for furnishing light for municipal use, and for the use of such of its inhabitants as may require and pay for the same, as provided for in said chapter ?
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.