USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1899 > Part 5
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
ART. 21. To see if the town will continue to pay for the bond of its Treasurer as last year.
ART. 22. To see if the town will vote an appropriation for hydrant service.
ART. 23. To appropriate a sum of money for the Water Loan Sinking Fund.
88
ART. 24. To appropriate a sum of money for the Electric Light Sinking Fund.
ART. 25. To appropriate a sum of money to convey pupils to and from the public schools.
ART. 26. To see if the town will vote to continue the night police and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 27. To make such appropriations as may be necessary for operating the electric lighting system. Also to make such appropriations as may be necessary to provide additional power to operate the system.
ART. 28. To see if the town will vote to accept the provi- sions of Chapter 186, of the Acts of the Legislature of 1895; en- titled "An act relative to the watering of streets in towns," or take any action which may be legal in relation to the watering of the streets and make such appropriations as may be neces- sary therefor. Also to see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to reimburse Peter McConaty for his labor and ex- penses for watering the streets in 1898.
ART. 29. To see if the town will elect a Board of Electric Light Commissioners, as provided by section 10 of chapter 454, of the Acts of the Legislature of 1893.
ART. 30. To see if the town will vote to establish one or more drinking fountains in the public streets or squares in the town.
ART. 31. To see if the town will vote to place a watering trough at or near the junction of West and Granite streets and appropriate a sum of money for the same.
ART. 32. To see if the town will vote to build a drain con- necting with the present drain on Franklin street, extending it through Washington and Pearl streets or any portion thereof and appropriate a sum of money for the same. .
ART. 33. To choose any committees, or hear the report of any committees and act thereon.
ART. 34. To see if the town will vote to enlarge the drain on Elm street, near the factory of A. C. Drinkwater and appro- priate a sum of money for the same.
") ART. 35. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to repair the retaining wall on the easterly side of the north- erly approach to the drawbridge on Quincy avenue.
89
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 once in the Braintree Reporter.
Hereof fail not and 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 twenty-first day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine.
ANSEL O. CLARK, WM. W. MAYHEW, J. PARKER HAYWARD, Selectmen of Braintree.
A true copy. Attest :
HI. A. MONK,
Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, March 6, 1899.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant the meeting was called to order at 7 o'clock a. m. and the warrant read by the Town Clerk.
Mr. A. F. Hollis was appointed to check the voting list and was sworn.
ART. 1. Upon ballot Mr. F. A. Hobart was elected moder- ator and was sworn by the Town Clerk.
Voted to lay Articles 2 and 3 on the table.
ART. 4. Voted that the town proceed to ballot for a Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, three Selectmen who shall also be As- sessors, Overseers of the Poor ar.d Highway Surveyors, One Water Commissioner and Commissioner of Sinking Funds for three years. Two members of the School Committee for three years, three Auditors, two Trustees of Thayer Public Library for two years, three fence viewers, fifteen constables, all on one ballot. Also to vote yes or no on the following question : as required by Chapter 54 of the Acts of 1831. Namely; "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town."
90
The moderator appointed Mr. B. T. Dyer to take charge of the ballot box, Mr. Horace Faxon to distribute license ballots, Messrs. F. W."Crooker, C. G. Jordan and Caleb Thompson as- tellers to assort and count the ballots all of whom were sworn to the faithful performance of their duties.
Voted that the only business transacted at this meeting be what may be necessary under Article 3, 4 and 33 of the warrant after which the moderator shall declare the meeting adjourned to next Monday evening March 13th at 7.30 o'clock p. m.
Voted that a committee of fifteen be appointed by the chair, said committee to include a representative from each depart- ment of the town having charge of the expenditure of the money to take into consideration each and every article of the warrant calling for the appropriation or expenditure of any money and report at any adjournment of this meeting.
Moderator appointed Messrs. A. E. Avery, John Kelley, Ben- jamin F. Dyer, Ansel O. Clark, Charles A. Belcher, William A. McKean, Daniel Potter, Thomas A. Watson, Alva S. Morrison, George H. Arnold, James T. Stevens, E. E. Abercrombie, E. Watson Arnold, Brainard T. Dyer and Joel F. Sheppard as that committee.
ART. 3. Voted that for the ensuing year the repairs of high- ways and bridges be done under the direction of the select- men.
Voted that on the return of Company K 5th Regiment after their discharge, a reception be given them by the town ; that a committee of seven be appointed of which the moderator of this. meeting shall be chairman to make arrangements, for the same, the committee to have full power.
The committee was constituted as follows: Messrs. F. A. Hobart, John Kelley, S. F. Pratt, B. T. Dyer, H. A. Monk, W. L. Gage and Henry M. Storms.
Voted to choose five surveyors of wood and weighers of hay. Messrs. J. M. Arnold, Peter B. Lawson, B. H. Woodsum,. Wil- liam Allen and Edward H. Wight was chosen.
Voted to choose the surveyers of lumber. Messrs. Martin L. Tupper, Henry Gardner and George H. Holbrook were chosen.
91
Voted to instruct the selectmen to appoint one measurer of leather, one pound keeper and three field drivers. -
The polls were declared closed at one o'clock p. m.
Mr. F. W. Crooker for the tellers reported the result of the ballot as follows :
Whole number of ballots cast 235.
For Town Clerk Henry A. Monk 235 and he was elected and was sworn.
For Town Treasurer, Daniel Potter 2, Benjamin F. Dyer 233. Benjamin F. Dyer was declared elected and was sworn.
For Selectman, Assessors, Overseers of the Poor and High- way Surveyors, Ansel O. Clark 233, William W. Mayhew 232, J. Parker Hayward 235, Elmer Vinton 1, Blanks 4. Ansel O. Clark, William W. Mayhew and J. Parker Hayward were declared elected and were sworn.
For Water Commissioner and Commissioner of Sinking Funds for 3 years John Kelley 232, HI. L. Patten 1, Blanks 2. John Kelly was declared elected and accepted.
For School Committee for 3 years, Carrie F. Loring 232, William C. Harding 235, blanks 3. Carrie F. Loring and Wil- liam C. Harding were declared elected.
For Auditors, Daniel Potter 234, Charles S. Bates 235, N. F. Hunt 234, George H. Holbrook 1, Charles C. Mellen 1, Daniel Potter, Charles S. Bates and N. F. Hunt were declared elected.
Trustees of Thayer Public Library, E. Watson Arnold 235, Nathaniel H. Hunt 235 and they were declared elected and ac- cepted.
For Fence Viewers, F. W. Crooker 231, Edward M. Wight 235, W. A. Kane 235, S. F. Pratt 3, blank 1. F. W. Crooker, Edward M. Wight and W. A. Kane were declared elected and were sworn.
For constables, Horace Faxon 234, Joseph W. Stetson 235, Thomas Downey 231, David C. Haseltine 232, James R. Qualey 225, J. C. Starkey 234, John Gallivan 229, John Kel -- ley 239, Benjamin J. Loring 234, Henry Dugan jr. 230, Horace F. Hunt 235, William E. Maybury 235, Albert R. Hobart 235, Conrad Mischler 231, Christopher T. Bailey 234. All sworn ex --
1
92
cept Albert R. Hobart who declined. S. F. Pratt 1, M. F. Drinkwater 1, blanks 39.
Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town ?
Whole number of votes 200. Yes 39. No 161.
The meeting was declared adjourned to Monday March 13 at 7.30 o'clock p. m.
A true record .- Attest.
H. A. MONK,
Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, March 13, 1899.
The town met in accordance with the adjournment from March 6th. Meeting called to order at 7.40 o'clock by the Moderator.
ART. 6, Taken up the committee on appropriations reported their recommendations, the report being read by Mr. Daniel Potter, secretary of the committee.
Voted to act on the report, each item separately, the school appropriations to be first considered.
The following appropriations were voted :
SCHOOLS.
For pay of teachers in addition to the
dog tax and school fund ·
$14,950 00
Superintendent ·
1,400 00
Janitors, including cleaning and care of
buildings
1,808 00
Text-books and supplies
1,600 00
Incidentals for schools · ·
400 00
Schoolhouse improvements ·
1,000 00
Fuel
1,200 00
ART. 25, Conveyance of pupils to and
from the public schools 750 00
SELECTMEN'S DEPARTMENT.
ART. 6, for support of poor 4,000 00
93
Soldiers' aid, acts of 1890
400 00
Soldiers' aid, chapter 279
75 00
Incidental expenses
2,500 00
Town officers
3,650 00
The committee recommended an appropriation of fifty-four- i hundred dollars [$5400] for repairs of highways, bridges and . stone roads.
Voted to appropriate twenty-five hundred dollars [$2500]| additional such portion of the same as may be needed to be : used for the completion of the widening of Commercial street,. the balance, if any, to build new stone roads, making total ap- propriated for highways and bridges $7,900 00;
Removal of snow
3,500 00
Drawbridge
100 00
Town hall
.
100 00.
Town lands
50 00
Insurance
700 00
Collection and abatement of taxes .
1,500 00
Court fees and expenses
100 00
Janitor of town hall and public library
600 00
General repairs on sidewalks
700 00
Sidewalk on Franklin street .
· 300 .00
WATER DEPARTMENT.
For hydrant service 167 at $25 each
4,175 00
For sinking funds . 5,120 00
ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT.
For operating the street lighting system 8,500 00
Voted that the revenue derived from the domestic and com- mercial lights, meter rents and jobbing for the year 1899 be applied to pay $430 for the sinking fund and the balance for operating expenses and connecting new users.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
For general expenses and repairs on ap-
paratus
$900 00
For pay of members
. For new hose .
.
1,225 00·
325 00.
·
.
·
94
For extension of fire alarm and new alarm boxes 400 00 . To change the system of battery of the fire alarm , . 300 00 .
For damages caused by the storms in .. 1898 to the fire alarm . . 300 00
SUNDRY NOTES PAYABLE. IN 1899.
For account of Jonas Perkins school-
house . 3,100 00
For account of Monatiquot schoolhouse 3,300 00.
Electric light department 2,500 00
SUNDRY APPROPRIATIONS.
Night police . 2,190 00
Interest on town debt
5,000 00
Public library .
1,000 00
Distribution of books
100 00
Voted to appropriate the sum of one
hundred and seventy-five dol-
lars and pay the same to Post 87,
G. A. R. to assist in the expenses of Memorial Day 75 00
ART. 33. The committee on street watering appointed at the last annual meeting reported with recommendations, report received and read.
ART. 28. Voted that the subject matter of this article be divided.
Voted to adjourn until Monday March 20, at 7.30 o'clock p. m.
A true record .- Attest,
H. A. MONK,
Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, March 20, 1899.
The town met in accordance with adjournment from March 13. The meeting was called to order at 7.40 o'clock p. m., by the moderator.
95
ART. 28. Voted that the subject matter contained in the last part of this article be referred to the selectmen and the' water department to do what in their judgment is for the best inter- ests of the town.
ART. 33. Taken up the committee on new schoolhouse re- ported.
Voted to receive the same and place on file.
Voted that a committee of seven be appointed to take the whole matter of new schoolhouse into consideration including plans, location etc., report to the town at some future meeting. Messrs. George H, Arnold, Thomas A. Watson, Irving W. Horne, Herbert W. Borden, George H. Holbrook, Caleb Thomp- son and Will H. Shaw were appointed as that committee.
Voted that a committee of seven be appointed to consider the present and future requirements of the electric system with a view of securing economy and efficiency. That they consider the cost of furnishing electricity for domestic purposes under recent improvements, that they have power if they deem it necessary to employ expert assistance. Said committee to serve without pay except actual expenses that may be incurred in the performance of their duty. Messrs. John Kelley, W. E. Dow, James T. Stevens, Benjamin F. Dyer, E. E. Abercrom- bie, A. O. Clark and W. E. Maybury were appointed as that committee.
ART. 31. Mr. Charles W. Clapp offered to present the town with a watering trough if it would set and connect the same.
Voted to accept the same and tender the thanks of the town to Mr. Clapp.
Voted to authorize the placing of a watering trough at the corner of West and Granite streets, that the same be connected with the water system under the direction of the water depart- ment and that the sum of twenty-five dollars be appropriated for the same.
ART. 32. Indefinitely postponed.
ART. 34. Indefinitely postponed.
ART. 35. Indefinitely postponed.
ART. 2. The official report of the several Town Officers presented. Voted that it be accepted.
1
96
ART. 4. Voted that the collection of taxes be let out to the lowest bidder. Mr. Frank A. Smith agreed to collect the taxes for six mills and nine tenths on a dollar and he was balloted for and elected tax collector for the ensuing year.
ART. 6. Voted that a sum of seven thousand dollars [$7,000] from the Bank and Coporation tax be applied to the foregoing appropriations.
Voted to appropriate in the aggregate the sum of eighty-seven thousand nine hundred and eighteen [$87,918] dollars, and that eighty thousand nine hundred and eighteen dollars [$80,918] of that amount be assessed.
ART. 5. Voted, that for the purpose of procuring a tempor- ary loan to and for the use of the town of Braintree, in antici- pation of the taxes of the present Municipal year, the Town Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to borrow from time to time with the approval of the Board of Selectmen a sum or sums not to exceed in the aggregate, seventy-five thousand dollars [$75,000] and to execute and deliver the note or notes of the town therefor, payable within one year from the time the loan is made, with interest thereon, at the lowest rate that can be procurred at the time the loan is made. Any debt or debts incurred by a loan or loans to the town under this vote shall be paid from the taxes of the present municipal year.
ART. 8. Voted to charge interest on all taxes remaining unpaid after Dec. 1, 1899 at the rate of six per cent. per annum.
ART. 7. Voted to take the name of Edward Hobart from the jury list as presented by the Selectmen and substitute the name of Edward W. ITobart.
Voted to accept the jury list as mended, viz. : Arnold Frank- lin E., Arnold Richard L., Arnold J. Sargent, Abercrombie Elmer E., Bayley James H., Bates Andrew J., Bates J. Frank- lin, Bates Charles S., Bates, Frank Albert, Crathern C. Frank Hill, Connell, James, Crooker, Francis W., Cuff William H., Clapp Charles W., Currier William H., Cain Daniel E., Dorr Willard E., Doane Henry W, Dyer, F. Eugene, Ellsworth George G., French George A., French George G., Fuller George F., Gardner Francis A., Gallivan Jeremiah F., Gage R. Allen, Hobart Arthur L., Hobart Edward W., Hobart Adam W., Hale Edward A., Hollis William A., Hayward Jonathan P., Hayward
97
J. Francis, Harrison William C., Harrison Thomas P., How- land Walter H., Hunt Nathaniel F., Jordan Charles G .. Knight Bradford Y., Kelley, Hiram H., Mansfield Henry W., Monk Henry A., McRae Augustus, Osgood George W., Pennock Frederick G., Pierson Edward O., Porter Elbridge F., Richards Charles G., Rogers Orville M., Sampson Josephas, Shaw Willie H., Sheppard, Charles G. Sullivan Edward J., Stocker Robert R., Sutton John H., Shaw Martin V. B., Stevens George W., Smith Henry R., Southworth Alfred, Thompson Caleb, Tupper Foster F., Tuttle G. Henry, White, Jonathan F., Witherell Whitfield, Whitcomb Charles G., Woodsum Rufus H., Watson Thomas A., White Hartley L.
ART. 19. Indefinitely postponed.
ART. 20. Voted to hold the Treasurer harmless on his bond from any loss from the failure of any National Bank in which the funds of the town may be on deposit with the approval of the Board of Selectmen.
ART. 21. Voted that the town pay for the bond of its Treas- urer and that the Town Treasurer be and is hereby made the custodian of all money of the several departments of the town and all the securities of the several "sinking funds" of the town. The Board of Water Commissioners are hereby instructed to elect the Treasurer of the town, Treasurer of the Water De- partment. The Selectmen are hereby instructed to require from the Treasurer such a bond as in their judgment is neces- sary for the safety of such money and securities.
ART. 29. Indefinitely postponed.
ART. 30. Indefinitely postponed.
ART. 6. Voted, that the Treasurer be instructed upon the receipt of the five thousand dollars [ 5,000] from the County on the completion of the widening of Commercial Street to im- mediately apply the same to the payment of town debt.
The following resolutions were presented by Hon. Asa French and adopted.
Resolved, That the town gratefully acknowledges the recent gift by Amos W. Stetson, Esq., to the Trustees of the Thayer Public Library of the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars [$2,500] for the establishment of a fund to be called the
98
"Caleb Stetson Fund" and the income of which is to be used in the purchase of books for said library.
Resolved, That the instrument of trust accompanying said gift, dated March 13th 1899, be entered at large upon the rec- ords of the town, and that, in accordance with its terms, the treasurer be instructed to borrow said amount of said trustees, giving therefor the note of the town bearing interest at the rate of four per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, and to apply the same in his discretion in the cancellation of any authorized indebtedness of the town now outstanding, or here- after to be incurred.
Resolved, That the Clerk be instructed to transmit to Mr. Stetson a certified copy of these resolves.
BOSTON, March 13 th1899.
To the Trustees of the Public Library of Braintree: - In memory of my father I give you my checque for $2,500 to es- tablish a small fund to be called the "Caleb Stetson Fund" the income to be expended in the purchase of books for the Li- brary ; the same to be invested in the note or bond of said town for said amount at a rate of interest not less than four per cent. per annum, and whenever said town shall fail to pay to the trustees of the library said interest for any one year, then the principal of said fund shall revert to my heirs at law.
[Signed] AMOS W. STETSON.
Voted to authorize the Selectmen to draw orders on the Treasurer to the amount of thirty-three hundred dollars [$3,300] for payment of State Aid and to the amount of seven hundred dollars [$700] for hospital expenses.
Voted, to tender the thanks of the town to the Moderator for his efficient services and that he be paid the sum of twenty- five dollars [$25.]
Voted to adjourn sine die.
A true record. Attest :
H. A. MONK,
Town Clerk
99
WARRANT FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.
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 Thursday, the fifteenth day of June, 1899, at eight o'clock in the evening, to act on the following articles, namely :
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meet- ing.
ART. 2. To hear the report of the committee chosen at the last annual town meeting in relation to building a new school- house.
ART. 3. To see if the town will vote to select a location for a new school building as recommended by said committee, or otherwise.
ART. 4. To see if the town will vote to appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to build a new schoolhouse.
ART. 5. To see if the town will vote to accept the provis- ions of Chap. 186 of the Acts of the Legislature of 1895, en- titled, "An act relative to the watering of streets in towns," or to take any action which may be legal in relation to watering streets and to make such appropriations as may be necessary therefor.
ART. 6. To see if the town will vote to "extend the water system on Pond street to the Randolph line and connect with the Randolph system. Also to extend in Cedar street and Park street to connect with the main in Lowell street and appropriate a sum of money for the same. Also to lay water mains in lands of Hewes & Mason on Norfolk Hills so-called.
ART. 7. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to widen Mill Lane in East Braintree, leading from Commer- cial street to the Hobart mill, by removing and rebuilding the wall on the easterly side of said Lane, provided : Mr. V. P. Lassen will give the land for the same.
ART. 8. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to be expended to suppress the sale of intoxicating liquors.
100
ART. 9. To hear the report of the committee chosen by the town to investigate the electric light department and to enlarge or increase the wants of the same, and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to make additions to the same if deemed necessary.
ART. 10. Choose any committee that may be deemed nec- essary, 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 public- places in this town seven days at least before the time of said meeting and by publishing the same once in the Braintree Bee.
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 fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety- nine.
ANSEL O. CLARK, W M. W. MAYHEW, J. PARKER HAYWARD, Selectmen of Braintree ..
A true copy. Attest :
H. A. MONK,
Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, June 15, 1899.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant the town met at the time and place designated. The Town Clerk called the - meeting to order and read the warrant.
ARTICLE 1. Upon the ballot Mr. F. A. Hobart was elected Moderator and sworn to the faithful performance of his duties.
ART. 2. The committee appointed at the last annual meet- ing to consider matters in connection with a new school build- ing presented their report by the chairman, Mr. G. H. Arnold. Voted, To receive the report and place on file. 1
ART. 4. Voted, That the sum of fifteen thousand dollars [$15,000.] be appropriated for the purpose of building a new
101
schoolhouse in Middle street district, the money to be raised under the following plan submitted by the Town Treasurer. That the Town Treasurer be and is hereby authorized under the the direction of the Board of Selectmen to issue the notes of the town for the aggregate sum of fifteen thousand dollars, [$15,000] for the purpose of acquiring land and erecting a schoolhouse in the Middle street district, said notes to bear interest at a rate not exceeding 33 per cent. per annum and to be payable on September first of each year as follows, viz :
The year 1900, one thousand dollars, [$1,000]
The year 1901, five hundred dollars, [500.]
The years 1902-1903-1904 one thousand dollars each [1,000]
The years 1905-1906-1907-1908, two thousand dollars each [$2,000].
The year 1909, twenty-five hundred dollars [$2,500]
And the selectmen are hereby instructed to raise by taxation each year as named above a sum sufficient to pay each note as it falls due, together with the amount of accrued interest on each note remaining unpaid.
ART. 3. The following proposition was submitted to the town by the schoolhouse committee.
To the committee appointed by the town of Braintree to take under consideration the erection of a new school building.
Gentlemen :- I hereby obligate myself to give to the town of Braintree, a sufficient deed of a certain lot of land described as follows : A lot of land located on the northwest corner of Cleveland and Harrison avenues in the town of Braintree, bounded on the easterly side by Cleveland avenue and running northerly from Harrison avenue, one hundred sixty-nine feet more or less to the land owned by Mrs. O. L. Gillett; on the southerly side by Harrison avenue and running westerly from Cleveland avenue one hundred seventy-five feet; on the west- erly side by a line running at right angles to Harrison avenue, northerly to the land owned by Mrs. O. L. Gillett; and on the northerly side by land owned by Mrs. O. L. Gillett and running from Cleveland avenue westerly to the line named above run- ning northerly at right angles to Harrison avenue, containing about thirty thousand [30,000] feet. This obligation binding me and my heirs to its fulfillment whenever the town shall have
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.