USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1898 > Part 6
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Mr. Abercrombie moved a reconsideration of the vote to indefinitely postpone Article 20.
Voted, On motion of Mr. Kelley that the motion of Mr. Abercrombie be laid on the table.
Voted to adjourn to April 15, at 7.45 o'clock, P. M.
A true record :
Attest : H. A. MONK, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, APRIL 15, 1898.
The town met in accordance with adjournment from April 4th. Moderator in the chair.
Article 42 taken up. Voted, On motion of Mr. Kane that a committee of five be appointed to investigate the matter of the town purchasing the index to the records pre- pared by the late Samuel A. Bates and report at an adjourn- ment of this meeting, or at some future special meeting. Moderator appointed Messrs. W. A. Kane, John W. West, Will H. Shaw, John V. Scollard and Eben Prescott.
ART. 34. Voted, On motion of Mr. Scollard, that the selectmen be directed to erect a suitable fence over the bridge on Commercial street, the same to be paid for from the appropriation for highways.
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ART. 15. Voted, On motion of Mr. Scollard, that the night police be continued; that they be paid two ($2) dollars per night; that they be required to furnish them- . selves with uniforms, the same to be approved by the select- men; that the sum of twenty-one hundred and ninety ($2190) dollars be appropriated.
Articles 16, 25, 28, taken up. Voted, To appropriate nine thousand ($9,000) dollars for operating street light- ing system, and that the balance of the revenue derived from commercial and domestic lights, meter rents and jobbing, after deducting four hundred and thirty ($430) dollars voted for sinking fund ; for operating expenses and con- necting new users.
Voted, To take up the motion of Mr. Scollard relating to supervision of highways, which was laid on the table at the last meeting.
Voted, On motion of Mr. Cavanagh, that the subject be indefinitely postponed.
ART. 29. Voted, On motion of Mr. Abercrombie to appropriate the sum of two hundred and fifty ($250) dollars to rebuild target and provide furnishings for Company "K" 5th Regiment.
ART. 33. Voted, To appropriate one-hundred ($100) dollars to gravel the driveway in front of Jonas Perkins school house, and that the same be paid from the appropria- tion for incidentals for school houses.
ART. 32. Voted, The extensions of water mains be paid for from the revenue of that department.
ART. 43. Laid on the table.
Voted, To adjourn to Thursday, April 21, at 7.30 o'clock. A true record - Attest
H. A. MONK, Town Clerk.
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BRAINTREE, April 21, 1898.
The town met in accordance with adjournment from April 15, meeting called to order at 7.30 o'clock by moderator.
ART. 42. The committee appointed to examine the index to the records reported that they had done so and recom- mended its purchase.
Voted to lay the report on the table.
ART. 30. Indefinitely postponed.
ART. 31. Indefinitely postponed.
ART. 35. Indefinitely postponed.
ART. 36. Voted to refer the whole matter to the Select- men with a request to take no action until the Legislature have acted on the report of a committee recently made to it covering the whole matter of street railways.
Voted, That no franchise be given on any street less than fifty feet wide.
ART. 6. Voted, To authorize the Selectmen to draw orders on the treasurer to the amount of twenty-three hun- dred ($2,300) dollars for State aid, under Chap. 301, and six hundred ($600) dollars for hospital expenses.
ART. 43. Voted to appropriate the sum of five hundred ($500) dollars to build a drain in Franklin street.
ART. 37. Voted to refer the matter to the Selectmen with instructions to grant franchise asked for with the following conditions, that if by reason of said railway being located in said street, it should necessitate the widening or straighten- ing of the same, the whole expense shall be borne by the railway company ; also, that they shall be required to run all regular cars to the South Braintree Station of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.
ART. 39. Indefinitely postponed.
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ART. 17. Voted, That the town of Braintree hereby quit claims to Sarah H. Mansfield all its rights, title, and inter- est, if any, in and to the lot of land, and buildings thereon mentioned in Article 17 of the warrant for this meeting.
ART. 18. Voted, That the town of Braintree hereby quit claims to Henry W. Mansfield, all its right, title, and inter- est, if any, in and to the lot of land and buildings thereon mentioned in Article 18 of the warrant for this meeting.
Voted, That when this meeting adjourn it be to Friday, April 29 at 7.30 o'clock P. M.
Mr. Kelley gave notice that he should move a reconsider- ation of the votes passed under Article 36.
Voted to adjourn.
A true record.
Attest :
H. A. MONK,
Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, April 29, 1898.
The town met in accordance with the adjournment from April 21st. Moderator F. A. Hobart in the chair.
Mr. Scollard by unanimous consent offered the following resolution :-
Resolved, That we, the citizens of Braintree in Annual Town Meeting assembled, take cognizance of the present crisis in national affairs; that we desire to place this old town, the birthplace of two presidents and of the father of West Point, General Sylvanus Thayer, on record as heartily endorsing the patriotic policy of President Mckinley and both houses of Congress in intervening to prevent inhumanity upon our western hemisphere; that a commit- tee to consist of the Moderator of this meeting, the three
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Selectmen and three other citizens to be appointed by the chair, be chosen to arrange for a public meeting at an early date to demonstrate the loyalty and patriotism of the people of this town.
Resolved, That a copy of the vote be sent to President McKinley, Governor Wolcott, the two United States Sena- tors and the Representative in Congress from this district.
Voted unanimously to adopt the foregoing resolutions and John V. Scollard, George D. Willis and T. Haven Dearing were appointed as part of the committee.
ART. 42. The committee on consolidation of town offices rendered a written report with recommendations.
Voted, On motion of Mr. Scollard, that the report be re- ceived and the subject matter be indefinitely postponed:
ART. 36. Voted, On motion of Mr. Kelley to reconsider all action taken at the last meeting, under this article.
Voted, On motion of Mr. Kelley as amended by Potter and Stevens, that the Selectmen are hereby requested to grant the franchise on Union street, French's avenne and Commercial street, with reasonable restrictions. That they refuse a location on Central avenue and Tremont street, and that they require the road to be built within one year.
ART. 24. Report of the committee on the A. S. Morrison Electric Lighting Plant. The committee appointed by vote of the Town of Braintree, April 5, 1897, to consider the matter of unauthorized highway occupancy by A. S. Morri- son et als. and to ascertain the status and legal rights of the town in relation to the claims of certain rights and privi- leges by said A. S. Morrison et als., respectfully submit the following report :
1. The committee has taken counsel in the matter, and is advised that it is within the province, and in fact is the duty, of the surveyors of highways to remove, after proper notice to the owners, any and all wires and poles in, upon or over 1
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the highways of said town, for the placing of which wires and poles no license or permit has been given by the proper authorities of the town.
2. The committee is advised that all unauthorized use of the highways may be restrained by the courts upon the ap- plication of the Board of Gas and Electric Light Commis- sioners, whose duty it is to make such applications to the courts upon petition of the town setting forth such un- authorized use of the highways, provided the allegations of said petition are maintained at a hearing upon said petition, which said board will give. In view of the importance of the subject, the value of the town's plant for electric lighting, and the absolute certainty that its revenue and value must certainly decrease if unauthorized and illegal encroach- · ments upon its legitimate territory are permitted to continue, the committee advises that the town avail itself of the remedy in paragraph No. 2 of this report. That a committee be ap- pointed and authorized by vote of the town to, jointly with the Board of Selectmen, or otherwise, petition the Board of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners, and prosecute said petition to a conclusion, for such action by said board as will tend to prevent the unauthorized use of the highways of Braintree by the said A. S. Morrison et als.
(Signed)
JOHN CAVANAGH, F. O. WELLINGTON.
Voted, On motion of Mr. Scollard, that the report of the committee appointed April 5, 1897, to consider the matter of unauthorized street occupancy for electric lighting by A. S. Morrison, be accepted, and the recommendations of said committee be adopted. That all acts of said committee be and they are hereby ratified and confirmed, and that said committee be continued with full power and authority to prepare and prosecute to a conclusion a petition to the Board of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners for such
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action by said board as will tend to restrain and prevent the unauthorized use of the highways of Braintree by the said A. S. Morrison et als., said committee to have full power and authority in the premises to employ counsel and to do and perform all acts and things necessary to carry out the intention and vote of the town.
Voted, To add Mr. Eben Prescott, J. V. Scollard and Daniel Potter to the committee.
Voted, On motion of Mr. Cavanagh, that the surveyors of highways of the town of Braintree be and they are hereby instructed to forthwith notify in writing any and all persons now occupying the highways of the town with poles and wires without authority from the town, to remove said poles and wires within ten days from the date of said notice.
Voted, On motion of Mr. Potter that the time for adjourn- ment he extended until the business is completed.
ART. 2. Voted to accept the report of the town officers for the year 1897 and request them in future to condense the reports as much as possible.
ART. 42. Voted on motion of Mr. Kelley that a com- mittee of 15 be appointed, 5 from each part of the town to consider the matter of equalization of taxes, said committee to have the assistance of the Assessors Department and the use of rooms in the public buildings for hearings,, said com- mittee to serve withoutpay. That said committee be allowed to spend a sum not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) to defray the expense of making their report if in their judgment they deem it necessary, said committee to report to the town at some future meeting. Messrs. John Kelley, F. O. Welling- ton, A. E. Avery, J. F. Sheppard, A. J. Bates, C. W. Clapp, G. H. Arnold, Wallace Wilson, A. S. Morrison, A. C. Drinkwater, Benj. F. Dyer, C. H. Hobart, J. T. Stevens, A. R. French and, Daniel Potter were appointed.
ART. 4. Voted, That the collection of taxes be let out
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to the lowest bidder. Mr. Frank A. Smith agreed to collect the taxes for seven mills on a dollar, and on ballot he was elected tax collector for the ensuing year.
ART. 6. Voted, To appropriate the sum of thirty-six hundred and fifty dollars ($3,650) for town officers, pay of each to be in same proportion as voted last year.
Voted, That the sum of seven thousand dollars ($7,000) from the Bank and Corporation tax be applied to the pay- ment of the foregoing appropriations.
Voted, That the Moderator be paid for his services five dollars ($5) for each meeting, same to be taken from the ap- propriation for incidental expenses and that the thanks of the town also be extended him.
Voted, To appropriate in the aggregate eighty-four thous- and five hundred and five dollars ($84,505), and that seventy-seven thousand five hundred and five dollars ($77,505) of that amount be assessed.
Voted, To adjourn sine die.
A true record. - Attest.
H. A. MONK, Town Clerk.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.
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 Wednesday the thir- tieth day of March 1898, at 7.50 o'clock in the evening to act on the following articles, namely :-
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
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ART. 2. To see what action the town will take in relation to a hearing to be given by the County Commissioners on a petition to widen and straighten Commercial street, from its junction with Union street to the line of the Town of Wey- mouth.
ART. 3. To see if the town will vote to extend the Fire Aların system and locate a fire alarm box on Hobart or Pros- pect street ; also one at the junction of Pond and Town streets.
ART. 4. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of $400.00 for repairs to road and locating a sidewalk on Ho- bart street, from a point at the junction of Hobart and Pros- pect, northerly to Hayward street.
ART. 5. To see if the town will extend the Street Light- ing service, from a point on Hobart street through Prospect street, northerly to Hobart street, near the residence of John O'Rourke.
You are to give notice of this meeting by posting up true and attested copies of this warrant in not less than nine pub- lic places in this town seven days at least before the time of said meeting and by publishing once in the Braintree Re- porter.
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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-second day of March, A. D. 1898.
ANSEL O. CLARK, WM. W. MAYHEW, J. PARKER HAYWARD,
Selectmen of Braintree
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NORFOLK, SS.
BRAINTREE, March 23, 1898.
Pursuant to the within warrant I have notified the inhabi- tants 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 be- fore the time set for said meeting, and I have caused the said warrant to be published once in the Braintree Reporter be- fore the time set for said meeting.
HORACE FAXON,
Constable of Braintree.
A true copy-Attest.
H. A. MONK,
Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, March 30, 1898.
Meeting called to order at 7.50 o'clock P. M. and the war- rant read by the Town Clerk.
ARTICLE 1. Upon ballot Mr. F. A. Hobart was elected Moderator and sworn by Town Clerk.
ART. 2. Voted, On motion of Mr. Kelley, that the town, by its Selectmen, appear at the hearing of the County Com- missioners April 16, and look after the interests of the town in getting a suitable and systematic widening of Commercial Street, in accordance with the strictest economy.
ART. 3. Indefinitely postponed.
ART. 4. Referred to the Highway Surveyors.
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ART. 5. Indefinitely postponed. Voted, That this meeting be dissolved.
A true record - Attest :
H. A. MONK,
Town Clerk.
WARRANT FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.
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 Thursday, the twenty- sixth day of May, 1898, 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 instruct the committee appointed under a resolution adopted at the annual meeting to procure a flagstaff and flag to be placed upon the town grounds, and dedicate the same with appropriate services.
You are to give notice of this meeting by posting up 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 the same 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.
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Given under our hands at Braintree, this eighteenth day of May, A. D. 1898.
ANSEL O. CLARK, J. PARKER HAYWARD,
Selectmen of Braintree.
NORFOLK SS. BRAINTREE, May 19, 1898.
Pursuant to the within warrant, I have notified the in- habitants of the Town of Braintree herein described to meet at the time and place and for the purposes within men- tioned 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 once in the Braintree Observer before the time set for said meeting.
HORACE FAXON, Constable of Braintree.
A true copy.
Attest :
H. A. MONK,
Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, May 26, 1898.
The town met in accordance with the foregoing warrant, the meeting was called to order at 8 o'clock, P. M., and the warrant read by the Town Clerk.
ARTICLE 1. Upon ballot with the use of the check list, Mr. John V. Scollard was elected Moderator and sworn by the Town Clerk.
ART. 2. Voted on motion of Mr. G. D. Willis that the committee appointed under the resolutions presented by J.
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V. Scollard at our last annual meeting, which were unani- mously adopted. are hereby empowered to procure and cause to be placed upon the town grounds, a suitable staff and flag, and that the same be appropriately dedicated at such time as said committee may designate ; all details to be left to the discretion of said committee.
Voted to adjourn sine die.
A true record.
Attest : H. A. MONK,
Town Clerk.
WARRANT FOR TOWN MEETING.
NORFOLK, SS. To either of the Constables of the Town of Bruin- 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 29th day of July, 1898, at two o'clock in the afternoon, to act on the following articles, namely : -
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
ART. 2. To choose a member of the Water Board, also a Sinking Fund Commissioner to till the vacancy caused by the death of John V. Scollard.
ART. 3. To see if the town will accept the laying out as a town way the private way leading from Hancock street to Washington street, in land of Mrs. S. J. Hollingsworth, heirs of Joseph Dyer, and others, as made by the Selectmen, and appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars to build the same.
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ART. 4. To see if the Town will accept the widening and re-locating of Mount Vernon avenue, leading westerly from Washington street, as made by the Selectmen, and appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars to build the same.
ART. 5. To see if the Town will accept the provisions of Chapter No. 186 of the Acts of the Legislature of 1895, entitled, an Act relating to the watering of streets in towns.
ART. 6. To see if the Town will accept the laying out as town ways Lowell street (so called), leading northerly from Elm street, and that part of Park street (so called), leading easterly from the aforesaid Lowell street to Cedar street, in lands of Charles E. Merrill and heirs of Elmer Morrison, as made by the Selectmen, and appropriate a sum of money to build the same.
ART. 7. To see if the Town will vote one hundred dol- lars additional to the Town Treasurer to reimburse the amount paid for his bond.
ART. 8. To see if the Town desires to take any action or instruct the Selectmen in relation to the petition of the Boynton Bicycle Railway Company for a location in this town.
ART. 9. To choose any committee, or hear the report of any committee, and act thereon.
You are to give notice of this meeting by posting up true and attested copies of this warrant in not less than nine pub- lic places in this town, seven days at least before the time of said meeting, and by publishing once in the Braintree Re- porter.
Hereof fail not and make return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk; before the time of said meeting."
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Given under our hands at Braintree, this twenty-first day of July, A. D. 1898.
ANSEL O. CLARK, WM. W. MAYHEW, J. PARKER HAYWARD,
Selectmen of Braintree.
NORFOLK, SS. BRAINTREE, July 22, 1898.
Pursuant to the within warrant I have notified the in- habitants 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 seven days be- fore the time set for said meeting, in more than nine public places in said town, and I have caused the said warrant to be published once in the Braintree Reporter before the time set for said meeting.
HORACE FAXON, Constable of Braintree.
A true copy. .
Attest : H. A. MONK, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, July 29, 1898.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant the meeting was called to order at 2 o'clock P.M., by Henry A. Monk, Town Clerk, and the warrant read.
ARTICLE 1. Mr. Ansel O. Clark was appointed to check the list and was sworn by Town Clerk. Upon ballot Mr. F. A. Hobart was elected Moderator and was sworn.
ART. 2. Voted, To lay on the table.
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ART. 3. Voted, To accept Hancock avenue as laid out by the Selectmen, and the sum of two hundred dollars ($200), is hereby appropriated to build the same.
ART. 4. Voted, To accept the widening and relocating of Mt. Vernon avenue as recommend by the Selectmen ac- cording to plans presented by them, and that the sum of five hundred dollars be appropriated to build the same.
ART. 5. Voted to refer the matter to a committee of three, with instructions to confer with the different Electric Roads. in regard to sprinkling. Also to take into consideration what other streets in town should be watered. Moderator appointed John Kelley, E. E. Abercrombie, and B. T. Dyer as that committee.
ART 6. Indefinitely postponed.
ART 2. Taken from the table. Moved that the polls be opened and that we proceed to the election of a Water Com- missioner and Commissioner of Sinking Fund, and that the polls be kept open for at least two hours. Voted to lay on the table.
ART 9. Taken up. The following resolution was offered by Mr. J. W. West :
Whereas, Reports are being circulated that there are finan- cial irregularities existing in the department of the Water Commissioners, and for the purpose of counteracting their bad effect upon the town and those having charge of that department, we, the citizens in town meeting assembled. hereby request the Water Commissioners to present not later than September 1 a printed report of the financial condition of the Water Department of this town on July 1, 1898.
Mr. Wallace Wilson offered the following motion as a sub- stitute for the above :
Voted, To substitute Mr. Wilson's motion.
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Voted, That a committee of three be appointed by the Moderator to fully examine into the accounts and financial status of the Board of Water Commissioners, and to examine into the nature and merits of the claim of the Hydraulic Construction Company of New York against the town, and to negotiate and effect an adjustment of such claim without litigation, if in the opinion of such committee, or a majority thereof, such adjustment shall be to the advantage of the town. Such committee shall have power to employ such legal and clerical assistance as may be necessary, and shall report its doings and recommendations to the town at an ad- journment of this meeting, to be held on the first Wednesday evening in September, at 7.30 o'clock. The various town officers shall produce any books or papers in their possession pertaining to the matter at the request of the committee. Moderator appointed Mr. Wallace Wilson, Albert E. Avery and Daniel Potter as that committee.
ART. 7. Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
Mr. Holbrook gave notice to the Moderator that he should move a reconsideration of the vote.
ART. 8 (taken up). Voted, That this meeting adjourn to Wednesday, September 7, at 7.30 o'clock P. M.
A true record-Attest : H. A. MONK, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, Sept. 7, 1898.
The town met in accordance with adjournment from July 29. Meeting opened at 7.42 o'clock, P. M. Moderator F. A. Hobart in the chair.
ART. 8. Voted to lay the subject matter of this article on the table.
ART. 9. Taken up. The committee appointed at the last
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meeting to investigate the Water Department, reported through its Secretary, Mr. Daniel Potter.
Voted, To adjourn for ten minutes.
The meeting was again called to order at 8.10 o'clock, and the reading of the report resumed.
Voted, That the report be laid on the table to be taken up at an adjournment of this meeting.
ART. 2. Taken from the table. Voted, To proceed to elect by ballot a Water Commissioner and Commissioner of Sinking Funds to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John V. Scollard, both on one ballot.
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