USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1920 > Part 6
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by adding water. He soon comes to grief, as the larger deal- ers have Babcock Hydrometers and if the milk looks suspic- ious it is tested, and if it does not test high enough'the De- partment of Public Health is called upon to take samples and analyze the milk. If the samples are below standard the dealer is prosecuted.
50 Licenses were issued.
25 Permits granted in 1920.
2 Dairy men were summoned to Court and fined for adding water to their milk.
:
Respectfully submitted, J. H. WHEELER,
Inspector of Milk.
113
FOREST WARDEN.
We close the year in this Department with less fire losses than the previous four years, a very small loss in expense to our Town: Although we had many Railroad fires which amounted to quite a sum for fighting them the N. Y. N. H. & H. R. R. paid for these together with all private damages. These fires were prevented from getting into our woodlands and evergreen trees by a well equipped Forest Deputies stationed in every location within our Town. Section bosses on all Divisions of the Railroad gave valuable assistance at many fires and worked in perfect accord with Deputies and Forest Warden. We ask our townspeople to co-operate with the Department against the careless person with matches and cigarettes; also the defective locomotive smoke stack which sends out those destructive sparks. We look forward to the coming year for still better work and less fires.
Respectfully submitted, .
1
JOHN J. FOWLER,
Forest Warden.
114
TREE WARDEN REPORT.
Balance January 1, 1920 Appropriation
$69.48
700.00
From Reserve Fund, Transfer
22.10
$791.58
Payments:
May 14
G. E. Doane
Pay Roll
$31.55
L. S. Bailey
78.00
21
A. E. Duffany
8.00
Bourne Wood
24.00
28 L. S. Bailey
60
12.00
Maxim Motor Co.
72.68
June 25
L. S. Bailey
21.50
July
1
L. S. Bailey
60
95.50
2
L. S. Bailey
99.00
C. W. H. Moulton
9.00
16
Sears Lumber Co.
66
1.25
23
L. S. Bailey
' 38.00 -
30
L. S. Bailey-
66
80.00
Geo. E. Doane
2.25
Aug. 6
L. S. Bailey
23.00
13 Geo. R. Sampson, Insurance
21.20
27
L. S. Bailey
Pay Roll
38.00
Sept.
3 . L. S. Bailey
77.00
24
L. S. Bailey
32.15
Oct.
8 L. S. Bailey
27.50
$791.58
L. S. BAILEY,
Tree Warden.
115
.
REPORT OF MOTH DEPARTMENT.
A more satisfactory year in this Department than last year owing to the new high power Sprayer, this giving the Department one for the suburbs and one for Town Center. Although the help problem handicapped our work yet we have had but one breaking through on our roadway and this only slight, no excess stripping of our shade trees and much more comfort out of doors under our trees. Looking forward this year, together with the co-operation of the townspeople we hope to save our fruit and shade trees from this pest of Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths.
Amount of private work $1,309.38
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. FOWLER, JR.
Local Moth Supt.
116
REPORT OF THE COLLECTOR OF TAXES
For the Year Ending December 31, 1920.
Received Cash as follows:
Account 1917 Assessments :
Town
$876.45
Street Watering
14.02
Moths
7.79
$898.26 $80.66
Fire District
Account 1918 Assessments :
Town
$8,456.33
Moths
57.57
$8,513.90
Fire District
$983.65
Account 1919 Assessments :
Town
$13,563.46
Street Watering
198.85
Moths
213.44
Fire District
$13,975.75 $1,152.43
Account 1920 Assessments :
Town Street Watering
$143,024.01 402.02 818.85
Moths
$144,244.88
Interest :
Account Tax Collections
$1,810.01 .
Account Bank Balances
84.76
$1,894.77
117
Total amount paid over to Town Treasurer
$171,744.30
Abatements for the year have been as follows:
Account 1917 Assessments $1,079.94
Account 1918 Assessments
28.50
Account 1919 Assessments
77.63
Account 1920 Assessments
835.54
$2,021.61
Taxes due are as follows :
Account 1918 Assessments $1,773.82
Account 1919 Assessments
11,606.15
Account 1920 Assessments
33,578.54
$46,958.51
Respectfully submitted, ALBERT A. THOMAS,
Collector of Taxes.
118
REPORT OF THE ASSESSORS.
For the Year Ending December 31, 1920.
APPROPRIATIONS MADE AT THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING HELD MARCH 1, 1920.
Special Town Meeting held March 13, 1920. Adjourned Town Meeting held March 13, 1920. Adjourned Town Meeting held March 20, 1920.
Support of Schools :
Instruction, including Superinten- dent's salary and traveling ex- penses of $2,700
$54,550.00
3,700.00
Janitors Fuel
3,500.00
Books, supplies and printing
3,300.00
Sundries
1,250.00
Rent
500.00
Water supply
350.00
Tuition
325.00
Evening school
100.00
School Committee
150.00
School Physician
300.00
Transportation
4,600.00
Repairs
2,500.00
Total
$75,125.00
Less estimated income 7,285.00
$67,840.00
Support of poor, including salaries of Overseers of $600. (The clerk to receive $300, and the other members $150 each) $10,000.00
Soldiers' Relief, including deficit in 1919 of $304.57 2,154.57
119
Town Officers :
Town Clerk, Treasurer and Collector $1,500.00
Assessors
1,700.00
Auditor
200.00
Registrars
315.00
Election Officers
250.00
Inspector of Wires
50.00
Moderator
20.00
Dog Officer
175.00
Inspector of Animals
200.00
Selectmen, salary
$5,210.00
Town Officers' Expenses :
Selectmen, clerical help
$150.00
Town Clerk, clerical help
700.00
Assessors, clerical help
500.00
Assessors, transportation
100.00
Other expenses
$1,675.00
Incidentals, including expense of For-
est Fires
$2,600.00
Sprayer for Moth Dept.
450.00
Nathan Washburn, Esq., legal ad- vice
500.00
Printing report of Committee on
150.00
$3,700.00
Selectmen, to be used for employ- ment of 2 nurses
$2,000.00
School House Loan, due Nov. 1, 1920
1,650.00
Plymouth County Trustees, for
200.00
County Aid to Agriculture
150.00
Pension Fund for retired employee
281.32
Town Hall:
$1,800.00
General Fund
800.00
Special repairs
$2,600.00
In addition to unexpended balance of $1,130.26.
800.00
225.00
Town Government
Band Concerts
120
Police Department:
Salary of Chief
$1,700.00
Salary of Patrolman
1,438.42
Salary of Patrolman
1,390.80
Salary of Patrolman
1,288.06
Extra Officers, Traffic, etc.,
300.00
Police Station expense
700.00
All other expenses
500.00
Total
$7,317.28
Less estimated receipts,including $300 from the County for rent of Court Room, balance on hand $585.73 and balance of $431.55 to the credit of the Fourth District Court, which the committee recommend be trans- ferred to Police Department account
1,317.28
$6,000.00
Middleboro Public Library : Estimated expenses Less receipts from legacies, etc. 866.69
$4,581.69
$3,715.00
The committee recommend that mon- ies received from Dog Licenses and other licenses, except those collec- ted by the Board of Health, be voted for the use of the Public Library. Estimated at 1,815.00
$1,900.00
Middleboro Gas & Electric Plant: Appropriation in form as required by law.
121
Estimates :
Income, sales of gas
$18,200.00
Income, sales of Electricity
44,800.00
Total
$63,000.00
Expense, Operation
$42,000.00
Interst on Bonds
1,440.00
Depreciation Fund
6,929.07
Construction, including Holder
Lift, estimated to cost about
$6,000 12,030.93
Water Governor
1,600.00
Bond Payment
4,000.00
Total $68,000.00
To be appropriated for :
Cost of electricity to be used for street lights
$2,000.00
Portion of cost of new construction
not met from earnings 3,000.00
$5,000.00
Board of Health :
Salaries, $100 to the Doctor, and $50 to each of the other members 200.00
Clerk and Agent, Inspector of Milk and Slaughtering 800.00
Collection of rubbish and burning of dump
500.00
Clinic
50.00
Middleboro's assessment toward the expense of Plymouth County San- atorium All other expenses
601.06
2,000.00
$4,151.06
Less estimated receipts
151.06
$4,000.00
Voted :- That monies collected by the Board of Health for licenses be appropriated for the use of the Board of Health.
122
Suppression of Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth :
Town Liability $2,104.62
Street Sprinkling, equal amount to be assessed on the abutters 2,000.00
Tree Warden's Department, including salary of Tree Warden 700.00
E. W. Pierce Post No. 8, G. A. R., for Memorial Day 200.00
Interest, in addition to receipts
2,000.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures, salary, 250.00 Balance on hand and estimated re- ceipts to cover other expenses : Herring Account, including overdraft of $118.90 193.90
Expense for Water Troughs, bill of 1919 200.00
Highway Department:
Sewers and Drainage 500.00
Rebuilding Catch Basins 700.00
Removing snow 7,000.00
Maintenance, Highways, Sidewalks, and repairs 20,000.00
$28,200.00
Water Department: Estimated expense, including bond of$2,500, Note of $4,000, and loan from Fire Department, $3,400.00 28,400.00 Estimated income and balance on
hand
25,000.00
$3,400.00
Fire Department: Estimated expense, including bond of $500 $12,795.00 Less money due from water depart-
ment 3,400. 00
$9,395.00
123
Reserve Fund 2,000.00
Voted: That the Town appropriate $11,500 for the purchase of a pump- ing outfit for the Fire Dept. Of which is to be included in the tax levy of the current year, and that the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, or a majority thereof be authorized to borrow the remainder and to issue a note or notes of the Town there- for with interest payable as follows: $2,500, Nov. 1, 1921, $2,500, Nov. 1, 1922, and $2,500, Nov. 1, 1923.
4,000.00
Total appropriations
$169,004.41
Fire Department, Special
$422.40
County Tax, 1920
10,763.19
State Tax
16,940.00
State Highway Tax
798.60
State Tax, Additional, Bonus Tax
61.66
State, Street Railway Tax, Special
28.04
State, Gas & Electric Tax, Special
3,583.90
Overlay
State Poll Taxes 2,225 at $3.00
6,675.00
$214,205.22
Less :
Income Tax, School Fund $12,848.34
Income Tax, Account Intangibles 7,780.23
Income Tax, Account Fire District 419.18
Corporation and Bank tax estima- ted
12,422.40
Peirce Trustees, contribution
4,000.00
$37,470.15
To be raised by Tax
$176,735.07
Assessed on 2231 Polls at $2.00, Town assessment $4,462.00
Assessed on 2225 Polls at $3.00, State assessment 6,675.00
Assessed on Personal Property 29,502.20
5,928.02
124
Assessed on Real Estate 136,095.87
$176,735.07
Value of buildings, excluding land Value of land, excluding buildings
$2,889,162.00
1,971,405.00
$4,860,567.00
Value of Personal Estate
1,053,650.00
Persons, firms, etc., assessed on property Residents
1,926
Non-residents
1,575 351
Persons assessed for poll tax only
1,027
Number of horses assessed
334
Number of cows assessed
517
Number of swine assessed
49
Number of sheep assessed
16
Number of neat cattle other than cows assessed
22
Number of fowl assessed
4,730
Number of dwelling houses assessed
1,903
Number of acres of land assessed 40,485
Population of Town 8,300
Taxes remitted in 1920 have been as follows:
On account 1917 Assessments
$1,079.94
On account 1918 Assessments 28.50
On account 1919 Assessments
77.63
On account 1920 Assessments
835.54
1
Tax rate $28.00 on $1,000.
BENJAMIN C. SHAW, ALLERTON THOMPSON, CHARLES N. WARREN.
Assessors of Middleborough.
-
$5,914,217.00
.
125
THOMAS S. PEIRCE FUND REPORT OF TRUSTEES. Middleborough, Mass., January 31, 1921.
To the Selectmen of Middleborough, Mass:
Gentlemen: The following statement shows the condi- tion of the funds held by us as Trustees under the will of Thomas S. Peirce, for the benefit of the Town of Middle- borough and the Middleborough Public Library at the close of business, December 31, 1920. Also statement of income of above funds for the year, 1920:
Balance sheet of fund held in trust for the Town of Mid- dleborough.
ASSETS.
Stocks
$296,229.61
Bonds and premiums on bonds
59,662.41
Mortgage and promissory notes
126,157.25
Real estate carried as personal
31,314.20
Cabinet at Library
Steel chest in Peirce building
240.00 300.00
Deposits in Savings Banks
4,000.00
Cash
2,420.21
Real Estate Profit and loss .
$520,823.68 $70,397.87 998.37
$592,219.92
LIABILITIES.
Trust fund received from Executor $472,506.03 Passing direct under will 119,713.89
$592,219.92
126
INCOME.
Gross receipts for 1920 Expenses as follows :
$28,778.08
Salary of Trustees
$2,499.84
Insurance
1,402.82
Repairs
3,023.20
Janitor
900.00
Fuel
1,283.76
Light
316.75
Water
342.52
Sundries 248.43
Hutchins and Wheeler, legal services in
the law suit of George F. Tucker, as
counsel for Palo Alto Peirce and
others, decided by the Supreme .
Court of Massachusetts, in favor '
of the Trustees $1,057.25
$11,074.57
Net income for 1920
$17,703.51
Balance on hand, January 1, 1920
9,346.64
$27,050.15
PAID FOR USE AND BENEFIT OF THE TOWN.
Graveling Plymouth street, No. Mid- dleborough $3,357.52
Blanket Tarvia coat on macadam roads, Plympton, Taunton, Plym- outh, Cushman and Miller streets, a distance of about eight miles
4,399.28
Commercial Course, High School
3,881.50
West Side Portable Schoolhouse, in- cluding bills for labor and material on West Side schoolhouse, made necessary on account of said porta- ble building 8,728.85
Town of Middleborough, to pay note due
4,000.00
Tarvia for Centre street
1,780.00
$26,147.15
Balance income on hand, January 1, 1921 $903.00
127
Note .- We received from Hutchins and Wheeler $35.14, making the net amount paid out on account of law suit, $1,022.11.
Note-We received $182.50 for typewriters sold which had been used in the Commercial course at High School.
Note-There is due the Town of Middleborough, $5,241.65 for labor and material on Centre street, which will be paid from the 1921 income.
Balance sheet fund held in trust for Middleborough Public Library.
ASSETS.
Bonds
Middleborough Savings Bank
$47,621.57 1,752.76 855.79
Cash
$50,230.12
LIABILITIES.
Devised under will
Profit and loss
$50,000.00 230.12
$50,230.12
INCOME.
Receipts for 1920 $1,911.49 Paid Treasurer Middleborough Public Library 1,911.49
Respectfully submitted,
CHESTER E. WESTON, GEORGE W. STETSON, GEORGE R. SAMPSON,
Trustees under the will of Thomas S. Peirce.
128
1
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
January 1, 1921.
The following is an abstract of the Town Clerk's records for the year, 1920:
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING, MARCH 1, 1920.
Article 4. Voted that the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen or a majority thereof, be and hereby is authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the Municipal year begin- ning January 1, 1920, to an amount not exceeding in the aggregate the sum of one hundred and thirty thousand dollars ($130,000.00) and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year from the dates thereof, and any debt or debts incurred under authority of this vote to be paid from the revenue of said municipal year.
Article 21. Voted :- That alewives be left in hands of Selectmen to dispose of same for one year or a term of years for the best interests of the Town.
Article 5. William M. Haskins, Chairman of Committee on Town Government reported as follows:
To the Voters of the Town of Middleborough :-
At the annual March meeting for the year 1919, a com- mittee of twenty reported substantially as follows:
"That a committee be appointed with authority to secure the necessary legislation, either by general or special acts, which will enable the Town to reorganize the departments under some form of central control and will permit the aboli- tion of the Fire District and the taking over of its assets and liabilities by the Town." In accordance with said vote your committee duly appointed to carry out the terms of said report, has prepared a method of Town Government, which they propose to have incorporated into a bill for considera- tion of the Legislature now in session. We consider it part
129
of our duties before presenting the matter to the Legislature, to present to the voters of the Town the form which we pro- pose to have considered in the Legislature. As soon as possible we shall ask the Legislature to report some form of a bill for the acceptance or rejection by the Town, at a special meeting to be called for that purpose.
William M. Haskins, . Nathan Washburn, Alvin C. Howes,
Morrill S. Ryder,
Carlton W. Maxim.
Committee.
Voted to waive further reading and defer action until adjourned Town meeting.
Article 3. To appropriate $150.00 for use of Town Gov- ernment Committee to print report, etc.
Article 5. Voted :- That a committee of five be appointed from the floor to investigate and report at a special Town meeting relative to the advisability of the Town purchasing a Pumping Engine and equipment for the use of the Fire Department, and the 'probable cost of the same.
The following committee was appointed :
William M. Haskins, George A. Philbrook Alton G. Pratt, Ernest M. O'Toole.
Lyman P. Thomas.
Article 19. Voted :- That the Town authorize the Select- men to institute, defend or compromise suits for or against the town during the ensuing year Voted to adjourn to Satur- day, March 13 at 2 o'clock P. M.
The polls opened at 11.30 o'clock A. M. with the following Election Officers :
Chester E. Weston,
Henry W. Sears,
Luke F. Kelley,
Michael J. Cronan,
Edward E. Place,
Robert E. Nolan, Richard E. Cobb, James F. Roberts, John J. Mahoney, Grover Bennett.
The result of the balloting was as follows:
MODERATOR FOR ONE YEAR.
Alvin C. Howes had 744
Blanks and scattering 180
130
TOWN TREASURER FOR ONE YEAR.
Albert A. Thomas had 828
Blanks 96
COLLECTOR OF TAXES FOR ONE YEAR.
Albert A. Thomas had 807
Blanks 117
SELECTMAN FOR THREE YEARS.
Sylvanus T. LeBaron had 315
Ernest R. Stewart had 597
Blanks 12
ASSESSOR FOR THREE YEARS.
Albert T. Savery had 420
Charles N. Warren had
441
Blanks 63
OVERSEER OF THE POOR FOR THREE YEARS.
William M. Haskins had 660
Blanks and scattering 264
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THREE YEARS.
Arthur D. Benson had 445
John V. Sullivan had 550
Allan R. Thatcher had 507
Blanks and scattering 434
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD FOR TWO YEARS.
Cornelius H. Leonard had 724
Blanks 200
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD FOR THREE YEARS.
William A. Andrews had 652
Blanks 272
131
BOARD OF HEALTH FOR THREE YEARS.
Richard P. Byrnes had
293
Frank S. Thomas had
535
Blanks 96 .
TREE WARDEN FOR ONE YEAR.
Luther S. Bailey had 426
John J. Fowler, Jr., had
425
Blanks 73
AUDITOR FOR ONE YEAR.
William W. Brackett had
706
Blanks 218
TRUSTEES PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THREE YEARS.
Walter L. Beals had
637
Walter Sampson had'
663
Nathan Washburn had
646
Blanks
826
WATER COMMISSIONER FOR THREE YEARS.
John J. Pearson had 652
Blanks and scattering 272
FISH WARDENS FOR ONE YEAR.
Edward B. Lovell had
3
Harry LeBaron Sampson had
4
John Hanley had
4
Robert Fish had
3
Dalton Penniman had
3
Edmund D. Reynolds had
4
Blanks and scattering
947
CONSTABLES FOR ONE YEAR.
William Chamberlain had 653
Frank W. Hastay had 582
G. Louis Hathaway had 628
132
George H. Morse had
622
Benjamin C. Shaw had
615
Fred C. Sparrow had
604
Charles M. Thatcher had
591
Ichabod B. Thomas had
615
Blanks and scattering
2482
"Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this Town?"
Yes had
445
No had
386
Blanks
93
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, MARCH 13, 1920.
Report of committee on pumping engine read by Chair- man as follows:
REPORT OF COMMITTEE.
Your Committee chosen at the annual meeting to report at a special meeting relative to the advisability of the Town purchasing a pumping engine and equipment for the use of the Fire Department, and the probable cost of same, beg to submit the following recommendations:
1. That a committee be chosen to look into the condi- tions at the pumping station as to the reliability of present apparatus, and the necessity of additional apparatus at the pumping station ; also to examine the distribution system and make recommendation for improvement of same, and report at a later meeting.
2. That the Town purchase and equip a 500 gallon per minute motor driven pumping outfit for the Fire Department at a cost not to exceed $11,500 payable by 3 notes of $2,500 each, due Nov. 1st, 1920, Nov. 1st, 1922, and Nov. 1st, 1923; the balance to be paid from the tax levy of 1920.
3. That a committee be chosen to prepare and present to the Town for its approval, a set of building laws acceptable to the New England Insurance Exchange.
William M. Haskins,
Lyman P. Thomas
George A. Philbrook, Ernest M. O'Toole,
Alton G. Pratt.
Voted that report be accepted. Voted :- That when this meeting adjourn it be to the
133
adjourned meeting of the Annual Town Meeting at 2 o'clock P. M.
Voted :- That the Town choose a committee of five, to carry out the provisions of report accepted at special Town Meeting relative to additional fire protection for the Town.
Voted :- That same Committee serve, which is as follows: William M. Haskins, Lyman P. Thomas, .
George A. Philbrook, Ernest M. O'Toole,
Alton G. Pratt.
Article 3. See report of Assessors for complete list of appropriations voted by the Town at the annual, special and adjourned Town meeting during the year.
At this time D. D. Sullivan, Esq., addressed the meeting, calling attention to the fact that a Memorial Tablet was soon to be placed in the Middleborough Public Library in memory of the late Nina Louise Seymour of this town, who volun- teered her services as Red Cross Nurse during the late World War and was stricken with pneumonia while on duty at Paris, France. As was suggested, the Moderator requested the voters and citizens assembled to rise and remain standing a few moments in silence, as a tribute to her memory.
Voted :- That monies received from dog licenses and other licenses, except those collected by the Board of Health be appropriated to the use of the Middleborough Public Library.
Voted :- That monies collected by the Board of Health for licenses be appropriated for the use of the Board of Health. Voted: That the Town transfer the balance to the credit of Corporation and Bank taxes on March 1, 1920, to meet any deficiencies in receipts from income taxes actually re- funded to the Town, as compared with the estimated amount of such receipts, used by the Assessors in levying taxes for the year, 1919.
Article 5. Voted :- That report of Committee on Town Government be referred to adjournment of this meeting, which shall be to Saturday, March 20, at 2 P. M.
Article 13. Voted :- On motion of Mr. Andrews it was voted that the Commissioners be authorized to interview the Plymouth Electric Light Company and ascertain on what condition the Company will cancel its contract to furnish current to the Town and make a new one for five years as of April 1, 1920.
134
Article 15. Voted :- That the Town authorize the School Committee to erect a two-room portable school building at the West Side at a cost of not to exceed $6,500.
Article 11. Voted :- That the Town allow the Simeon L. Nickerson, Post 64 American Legion, the use of Town Hall, free of charge for twelve occasions each year; that one of these occasions shall be Armistice Day evening and that the remaining dates shall be determined by the Selectmen and a Legion committee.
Article 7. Voted :- That the yards of persons chosen Field Drivers shall be Town Pounds as long as they remain in office, provided they be elected pound keepers.
Article 12. That James A. Thomas be chosen Director of Plymouth County Aid to Agriculture.
Voted :- That the sum of $174,204.41 less the estimated Corporation and Bank Tax and less the amount to be received from the State Income Tax and plus the State and County tax, be raised on the Estates and Polls of the Town, and that it be assessed, committed and collected in accordance with the Statutes and the By-Laws of the Town.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING MARCH 20, 1920.
Voted :. That the Town authorize the Municipal Light Board acting in conjunction with the Appropriation Com- mittee to cancel the present contract and make a new con- tract as of April 1, 1920, with the Plymouth Electric Light Company based upon cost of current plus fixed charges and from time to time make such adjustments as in their opinion is for the best interest of the Town.
Previous to the above motion the following report was read by Mr. Andrews. As a result of your vote at the ad- journment of the Annual Meeting, authorizing your Com- missioners to interview the Plymouth Electric Light Com- pany, and ascertain on what conditions the Company would cancel the present contract and make a new one to furnish current to the Town for five years as of April 1st, 1920, your ยท Commissioners report as follows:
A meeting was held with Mr. A. Cleveland Bent, the Treasurer, and Mr. C. F.,Gardner, the Manager of the Plym- outh Electric Light Company, the result of which was that the Plymouth Company would like to terminate the present contract and substitute one based on the cost of current plus fixed charges. These fixed charges are, interest on bonds
L
135
and capital invested in that part of property serving Middle- boro, Depreciation, Maintenance and Taxes. The reason the Plymouth Company is now furnishing current to Middleboro at a loss is because they in common with many others volun- tarily agreed to make supplementary contract with the New Bedford Edison Company to accept what is commonly known as the coal clause, that is to pay a certain amount each month according to the price of coal exceeding four dollars per ton alongside generating station at New Bedford. And as the price of coal varies this amount will vary from month to month.
They also made a supplementary agreement to pay ten per cent. (10%) in addition to the original contract price owing to abnormal conditions existing, which isknown as the War Clause.
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