USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1870-1874 > Part 4
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Westboro' Reform School, 19 07
J. A. Richmond, stock and labor, 9 75
I. L. Fairbanks & Co., stationery. 3 50
A. G. Morton, groceries, 14 80
John B. Perkins, labor,
24 50
Elnathan Pierce, 38 00
Benjamin Harvey, 15 75
Robinson Iron Co., nails, 10 00
E. Pierce, Jr., labor, 25 00
George M. Collins, labor, 123 50
M. A. Collingwood, care R. Burgess, 25 00
William Nickerson, labor, 42 25
Town of Leicester, support of Z. Wood, 84 50
II. T. Lanman, labor, 129 96
Thomas Caswell, board, 64 72
85
Paid Briggs & Shattuck, groceries, $99 79
Rich & Weston, supplies, 17 50
Rich & Weston, supplies, 11 60
M. A. Collingwood, care R. Burgess, 20 00
Z. Stephens, rent, 8 00
Goss, Dor & Chapin, supplies, 26 50
J. C. Fuller, liquor, 7 00
Arad Perkins, supplies,
10 62
Nrthaniel Brown, wood, 14 44
Ayer, Moore & Co., groceries, 33 50
M. A. Collingwood, boarding R. Burgess, 10 00
James Churchill, house rent, 12 00
State Reform School, 16 00
Blackmer & Hatch, stock and labor,
4 68
Everett Finney, wood,
6 75
J. T. Hall, house rent,
53 00
J. T. Hall, sundries, 3 47
M. A. Collingwood, boarding R. Burgess,
25 00
Betsy Hoyt, house rent, 3 25
L. T. Robbins, lumber,
366 89
John Clark, labor, 40 00
S. W. Burgess, fish, 15 00
E. B. Holmes, shoes and mending, 35 93
Ephraim Bartlett, boots and shoes, 56 30
M. P. Bartlett, house rent, 33 75
B. Bramhall, boots and shoes, 46 90
Town Liquor Agency, 8 50
86
Paid C. T. Holmes, provisions, $71 02
Samuel Bradford, house rent, 17 50
Thomas O. Jackson, vinegar, 12 65
P. C. Chandler & Co., provisions, 89 45
J. Butman, coffee, 5 95
George Bramhall & Son, supplies, 31 43
· Harlow & Bailey, sundries, 38 90
Briggs & Shattuck, groceries,
60 40
Briggs & Shattuck, groceries, 104 78
O. T. Wood, services, 111 87
I. L. Wood, labor, 1 67
R. B. Dunham, labor, 31 50
Abigail N. Swift, board, 13 00
Goss & Co., provisions, 28 92
M. A. Collingwood, boarding R. Burgess, 20 00
Richard Peirce, labor, 43 12
Samuel Dickson, board, 12 00
Sally Bradford, house rent,
8 00
Stephen Bartlett, horse and carriage, 11 00
Zacheus Stephens, house rent, 8 00
E. & J. C. Barnes, sundries, 7 48
S. Harvey & Son, stock and labor, 20 11
Elnathan Peirce, labor, 5 00
Benjamin Harvey, 14 00
R. B. Dunham, 21 00
G. W. Godfrey, boarding R. W. Burgess, 20 00
Bradford's Express, potash, 9 50
87
Paid C. B. Smith, labor, $6 00
George H. Jackson, sundries, 58 26
J. B. Oldham, stock and labor, 68 20
George Harlow, labor, 29 25
Briggs & Shattuck, groceries, 69 33
A. G. Morton, 20 52
Charles Raymond, undertaker, 68 00
Dennis A. Pierce, groceries,
47 46
William H. Nelson, cotton duck,
13 50
William Atwood, clothing, 18 55
George A Whiting, bread,
15 77
P. C. Chandler & Co., provisions, 24 38
John Harlow, labor, 2 50
Lemuel Bradford, matches, 4 00
I. L. Wood, stock and labor, 34 46
Abigail Swift, board, 13 00
Clark Finney, wood, 20 50
Bradford Barnes, fish, 1 14
S. Harvey & Son, labor.
2 00
J. H. Harlow, services, 100 00
J. H. Harlow, & Co., goods, provisions. etc., 457 77 Holmes & Paty, groceries, 86 80
B. C. Finney, groceries. 25 09
E. F. Sherman, groceries, 74 92
O. T. Wood, services, 108 43
H. C. Whitten, stock and labor, 480 63
H C. Whitten, stock and labor, 31 85
88
Paid Est. of L. Drew, rent, $36 12
William R. Drew, sundries,
111 39
D. E. Damon, 66
142 24
Thomas Sampson, carting wood, 37 29
B. Hedge, brick, 36 80
A. C. Chandler, horses and carriages, 22 50
I. B. Holmes, straw, 9 05
S. Leonard, supplies, 36 33
G. W. Godfrey, board, 20 00
O. C. Railway, freight, 17 12
William R. Drew, rent,
16 62
$8,547 47
CR.
May 17. By Appropriation, $7,000 00 Special repairs, 800 00
Feb. 3. Cash from Warcham, 76 62
66
9. 66 Taunton, 105 25
12.
66 Duxbury, 51 99
12. Wood sold to schools, 14 50
Aug. 6.
Cash from N. Bedford, 64 29
$8,112 65
Overdrawn, $434 82
89
LUNATIC HOSPITALS.
1870.
DR.
Paid for James A. Conant, board, $45 00
Daniel D. Howard, watching, 10 50
F. T. LeClare, board,
94 40
Mary A. Robbins,
91 00
Lorenzo D. Thrasher, 66
99 60
Anna O. Gardner, 66
93 15
Isaac F. Bartlett,
101 50
William H. Holmes,
66
106 39
David Robertson, 66
108 15
Mary D. Sherman, 66
156 15
Betsey Barnes,
98 80
Betsey Whiting,
145 76
Otis Rogers, :6
22 50
A. Holmes,
38 50
Interest,
9 84
James A. Conant, board,
50 70
William H Holmes, board and clothing,
51 55
Frederick T. LeClare, 6:
50 50
Betsey Barnes,
66
46 60
Isaac T. Bartlett, 66
52 30
David Robertson,
.6
66
48 15
Mary D. Sherman,
66
45 50
Betsey Whiting, 66
66
4 00
90
Paid for Mary A. Robbins, board and clothing,
$46 95
Lorenzo D. Thrasher,
66 46 00
Anna O. Gardner,
46 20
James A. Conant,
66
46 00
William H. Holmes,
55 00
Frederick LeClare,
36 00
Betsey Barnes, 66
50 90
Isaac T. Bartlett,
66
52 50
David Robertson,
66
52 55
George F. Bradford,
66
42 45
Mary A. Robbins,
49 40
Lorenzo D. Trasher,
49 90
Anna O. Gardner,
66
66
46 00
Mary D. Sherman,
66
54 80
James A. Conant,
66
74 00
$2,319 19
CR.
· Jan. 1. By Balance of account, $646 43
March 17. Appropriation, 2,000 00
Feb. 10. Cash B. Barnes' Est., 197 65
$2,844 08
Undrawn, $524 89
91 FIRE DEPARTMENT.
DR.
1870.
Paid George Bagnell, trucking, $3 50
S. Drew's estate, land rent, 6 00
S. Harvey & Son, stock and labor, 75
H. M. Morton, stock and labor,
19 87
Summers & Hunt, two goose necks,
30 00
R. W. Bagnell, labor, 3 72
I. J. Lucas, oil, 3 05
C. Stoddard, labor,
7 80
Timothy Ellis, labor,
15 00
S. Harvey & Son, hooks, 1 00
E. S. Diman, Jr., labor, 16 00
Eleazer Shaw, labor, 3 25
Henry M. Morton, stock and labor, 34 26
Hunneman & Co., engine and apparatus, 3,387 50
R. W. Bagnell, kegs, 2 10
Batchelder & Brothers, coal, 14 80
Nathaniel Brown, lumber, 61 62
L. Snow, labor, 38
George M. Winslow, coal, 18 00
Benjamin Harvey, labor, 4 00
Wm. H. Jackson, repairing hose and labor, 50
Plymouth Mills, stock, 6 03
B. Churchill, wood, 3 25
92
Paid Abbot Drew, labor, $5 00
Hunneman & Co., couplings, &c., 44 50
Lewis Eddy, labor and kegs, 4 50
E. & J. C. Barnes, labor. 5 50
Wm. H. Bradford's estate, land rent, 25 00
46 64
Harlow & Bailey, sundries,
B. Hedge, brick, 19 80
P. W. Smith, repairing hose,
1 00
P. C. Chandler, services,
33 00
George F. Clark,
13 00
Wait Wadsworth, 6:
8 00
James Miller, 8 00
HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY.
1870.
Paid Richard W. Bagnell, $8 00
L. S. B. Barrows, 8 00
Lewis Eddy, 8 00
Henry M. Morton.
8 00
Ellis Rogers,
8 00
Asa Kendrick,
8 00
Samuel Harlow, 8 00
Oliver N. Barrows,
8 00
Nathan B. Perry,
8 00
George H. Harlow, 8 00
8 00
H. P. Bailey,
Hira Bates, 8 00
93
Paid William T. Savery, Joseph Barnes, Frank B. Holmes, George W. Hammond,
$8 00
8 00
8 00
8 00
HOSE COMPANY NO. 1.
1870.
Paid Benjamin Swift,
8 00
George S. Morey,
8 00
Stephen Perkins, Jr.,
8 00
Thomas B. Atwood,
8 00
Ellis Benson,
8 00
Job B. Oldham,
8 00
Josiah A. Robbins,
8 00
Nelson Holmes,
8 00
George Bagnell,
8 00
Warren S. Macomber,
8 00
Erastus Harlow,
8 00
Martin Brewster,
8 00
HOSE COMPANY NO. 2.
1870. i
Paid Joshua B. Noyes, 8 00
Horatio W. Spooner, 8 00
Harris W. Green, 8 00
Samuel Crozier,
8 00
John Carr,
8 00
David Bradford,
8 00
94
HOSE COMPANY NO. 3.
1970.
Paid William Whiting,
8 00
Prince Doten, 8 00
W. S. Burbank, Jr., 8 00
Robert D. Fuller,
8 00
Arving Bancroft,
8 00
William L. Douglass,
8 00
HOSE COMPANY NO. 4.
Paid Isaac T. Hall, 8 00
Elisha T. Nelson,
8 00
William C. Hall,
8 00
Lemuel Rickard,
8 00
Lemuel Cobb,
8 00
Charles H. Holmes,
8 00
ENGINE No. 1.
1870,
Paid Ezra S. Diman, Jr., 8 00
Otis Wright, 8 00
Charles W. Lanman, 8 00
William Baker, 8 00
James T. Eddy, 8 00
Caleb B. Holmes, Jr.,
8 00
William C, Dunham, 8 00
William Goddard, 8 00
95
Paid William J. Waterson, $8 00
Obed C. Pratt, 8 00
David F. Farrington, 8 00
George W. Nelson, 8 00
A. L. Chamberlain, 8 00
James T. Paulding,
8 00
James W. Paulding,
8 00
Elisha Doten, 8 00
William C. Rickard,
8 00
James L. McKenna, 8 00
John B. Wilson, Jr.,
8 00
Thaddeus Faunce,
8 00
Clark Ellis,
8 00
Patrick Murray,
8 00
Thomas H. Atwood,
8 00
William H. Mawby,
8 00
James McHenry, 8 00
Eugine H. Paulding
8 00
Andrew Holmes,
8 00
Barnabas L. Harlow,
8 00
Pelham Freeman, 8 00
8 00
ENGINE. No. 2
1870.
Paid James Morton, 8 00
Ichabod T. Holmes, 8 00
Albert T. Harlow, 8 00
George S. Morton, 8 00
William H. Faunce,
96
Paid Frank Ellis, $8 00
Charles B. Towns,
8 00
George A. Burgess, 8 00
Heman Churchill, 8 00
Charles Morey, 8 00
Timothy Ellis, 8 00
Timothy Eaton,
8 00
John Lawrence,
8 00
Leander L. Sherman,
8 00
James Sears,
8 00
Augustus Sears,
8 00
Samuel Bassett,
8 00
Ichabod A Holmes,
8 00
James Kendrick,
8 00
Allen T. Chase,
8 00
Joseph F. Towns,
8 00
Ichabod S. Dean,
8 00
Joseph L. Weston,
8 00
Benjamin Dunham,
8 00
Wallace Towns,
8 00
Charles Peirce,
6 00
James Stillman, .
6 00
Charles Eaton,
2 00
Edward W. Bradford,
2 00
97
ENGINE No. 3.
1870.
Paid John B. Wilson, 8 00
Martin V. B. Holmes, 8 00
Cornelius F. Bradford, 8 00
Eleazer Shaw, 8 00
Eber W. Hall,
8 00
John B. Perkins, 8 00
John S. Cassidy, 8 00
E. C. Finney, Jr., 8 00
Samuel Rickard, 8 00
Isaac W. Jackson, 8 00
C. T. Harris, 8 00
James H. Simmons,
8 00
Joshua C. Edes,
8 00
William G. L. Wells,
8 00
William W. Edes,
8 00
Daniel D. Howard,
8 00
George Benson,
8 00
Heman C. Robbins,
8 00
Samuel W. Holmes,
8 00
John Cassidy,
8 00
William W. Hall,
8 00
George H. Blanchard,
8 00
George B. Thomas,
8 00
Charles II. Leonard,
8 00
Abner Leonard, Jr.,
8 00
Daniel S. Wells, 8 00
Alfred Smith, 8 00
98
Paid Stephen T. Atwood, $8 00 Thomas Quinlan, 8 00 Calvin L. Dixon, 8 00
ENGINE COMPANY No. 4.
1870.
Paid Nathaniel Brown,
$8 00
Josiah Carver. 8 00
Benjamin Jenkins,
8 00
Herbert Thompson. 8 00
John C. Chase,
8 00
Benjamin H. Swift,
8 00
Lewis K. Bradford,
8 00
George A. Nickerson,
8 00
Herbert T. Raymond,
8 00
George E. Saunders,
8 00
William E. Rogers,
8 00
Robert N. Raymond,
8 00
Joseph W. Burgess,
8 00
Erford A. Burgess.
8 00
Anthony Mack,
8 00
Martin H. Ryder,
8 00
Albert E. Davis,
8 00
Seth L. Holmes,
8 00
Benjamin H. Griffin,
8 00
Horace M. Saunders,
8 00
Herbert W. Cobb.
8 00
George Henderson, 8 00
William H. Clark, 8 00
99
Paid Gilbert Shaw, $8 00
Pelham Sampson, $ 00
Mark J. Bumpus, 8 00
Jonathan W. Chase,
8 00
Asaph S. Burbank,
8 00
James Heath.
$ 00
Henry M. Hobart, 8 00
P. C. Chandler, fine and expenses, 19 58
Abbot Drew, labor, 16 00
William Weston, labor, 38 18
Henry Whiting, labor,
10 00
C. L. Jones, painting, 25 00
Est. Benjamin Drew, land rent,
6 00
S. Harvey & Son, labor,
50
William R. Drew, sundries,
7 68
William W. Pope, labor,
40 96
E. F. Sherman, sundries,
9 30
$5,397 52
CR.
Jan. : 1. By balance of account, $220 32
Mar. 17, Appropriation, 1,800 00
Apr. 4, Additional for engine, 3,500 00
$5,520 00
Undrawn
$192 80
:
100 VINE HILL CEMETERY.
DR.
1870.
Jan. 1. To balance of account, $1,795 38
To Charles H. Paine, surveying, 429 00
Abner Leonard, labor, 35 00
Samuel N. Holmes. 30 00
I. S. Holmes, 26 00
E. S. Doten, 22 00
S. N. Holmes, 11 00
I. S. Holmes, ..
8 50
E. S. Doten. 12 00
Charles H. Paine. 7 00
E. S. Doten, ..
12 00
S. N. Holmes, . .
11 00
Charles Raymond. 89 45
E. S. Doten. ..
24 00
Charles Raymond, 6 00
$2,518 33
CR.
Cash received from sale of lots. $138 70
Amount brought from abatements. 1,844 18
$1.982 88
Overdrawn.
$535 45
101
WATER WORKS AND SCRIP.
DR.
1870.
Paid A. C. Chandler, horses and carriages, $46 75
Elisha Nelson, labor, 1 50
S. Harvey & Son, two steel bars. 75
William Straffin, labor, 28 10
George Simmons, trucking,
4 55
George Bagnell, 4 05
2 00
J. S. Sturtevant, 2 00
Lemuel Bradford, services,
75 00
B. Harvey, labor, 15 35
S. M. Whitten, 75 ..
Abott Drew, services. 150 00
F. W. Rickard, labor, 75
Thomas Dimon,
10 20
William Churchill. .:
8 12
B. Harvey,
55 60
C. Stoddard. 5 00
(. B. Irish. twinc. 1 17
Henry Weston, labor,
3 75
A. J. Atwood, cedar post, 6 00
Wellington & Co .. cement.
6 50
Lemuel Bradford, services, 75 00
David Drew, duck. 2 10
Christopher Stoddard, labor.
102
Paid Benjamin Harvey, labor, $28 20
Augustus Sears, ..
2 00
Timothy Ellis, 54 37
Nathaniel Brown, lumber, 7 63
Thomas Dimon, labor,
7 40
William Straffin, “ 2 60
David Drew, duck,
3 93
.T. W. Hoxie & Co., cement,
5 30
7 96
I .. L. Wood, labor,
5 50
(. B. Irish, cordage,
2 53
B. Harvey, labor,
22 55
E. S. Raymond, “
6 00
Richard Pierce,
5 60
James Sears, 2 00
2 00
C. Stoddard,
M. B. Blackmer, 1 25
Alanson Thomas, labor, · 29 00
Harlow & Bailey, stock and labor, . 14 89
Abbot Drew, services, 75 00
C. Stoddard, labor, 2 00
A. C. Chandler, horse and carriage, 49 50
Benjamin Harvey, labor. 1 20
Abbot Drew, services. 77 00
L. Ripley, labor, 2 50
(. T. Harris, labor, 3 00
George H. Jackson, lumber, 4 24
"
103
Paid Heman Robbins, labor, $21 00
L. Ripley, 2 00
Timothy Ellis,
74 25
S. Harvey & Son, " 3 87
William R. Drew, sundries,
96 32
C. O. Churchill, stock and labor, 360 00
H. C. Whitten, 27 69
John Harlow, surveying, 3 50
Coupons. 6.807 90
$8,337 67
CR.
Balance of account.
$91 76
Water rents received. 6,730 82
$6,822 58
Overdrawn.
$1,515 09
BURIAL HILL.
DR.
1870.
Jan. 1. To balance of account, $20 63
" paid Charles Raymond, $64 25
$84 88
.
104
CR.
Mar. 17. By appropriation, $100 00
" deficiency, 20 63
$120 63
Undrawn,
$35 75
BUILDING ON CORNER OF HIGH AND MARKET STREETS.
DR.
1870.
To paid William B. Barnes,
$5 26
CR.
1870.
April 4. By reut of S. P. Brown, $25 00
July 4. By rent of S. P. Brown, 25 00
$50 00
$44 74 Transferred to new roads,
105 ASSESSORS.
DR.
1870.
To paid A. C. Chandler, horses and carriages, $8 00
George Whiting. .6 7 00
Andrews Bros., printing, 9 00
W. W. Avery, 12 75
Fairbanks & Co., tax book, 6 00
66 John Harlow, services, 135 00
E. W. Bradford. " 153 25
66 Lemuel Bradford. " 116 00
$447 00
CR.
Mar. 17, By appropriation,
$600 00
Jan. 1. " balance of account, 41 88
$641 88
Undrawn Jan. 1, 1871, $194 88
TOWN TREASURER.
DR.
James Cox, salary, $500 00
CR.
Appropriation, $500 00
106 SEXTON. DR.
Clement Bates, salary, $125 00
CR.
Appropriation, $125 00
COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
CR.
Balance of account. $4 59
Appropriation. 450 00
$454 59
Undrawn.
$454 59
LIGHTING STREETS AND TOWN HOUSE.
DR.
To paid Plymouth Gas Co., $643 88
R. Pope, for lighting, 106 3:
Thomas B. Sears. 1 05
$751 26
107
CR.
Balance of account. Appropriation,
$255 06
800 00
$1,055 06
Undrawn,
$303 80
DISCOUNTS.
DR.
Paid Collector of Taxes, discounts allowed by
him under vote of town, $3,358 24
CR.
Balance of account,
$245 54
3,000 00
Appropriation,
$3,245 54
Overdrawn,
$112 70
ABATEMENTS.
I)R.
Paid Collector of Taxes, as per abatement al-
lowed by Assessors, $643 27
Transferred to Vine Hills Cemetery, 1,844 18
$2,487 45
103
CR.
Balance of account, Overlay in 1870,
$2,353 13 134 32
$2,487 45
HERRING MONEY.
Paid Collector of Taxes, for Herring money distributed on polls by direction of Selectmen, $340 25
CR.
Balance of account. $47 00
g dividend Old Colony Nat. Bank, 333 33
$380 33
Undrawn, $40 08
FRESH BROOK.
CE.
Balance of account,
$13 72
109 TRAINING GREEN. CR.
$384 83 Balance of account,
WIDOWS.
DR.
Distributed by direction of Selectmen, 155 00
CR.
Balance of account, $22 00
3 dividend Old Colony Nat. Bank, 166 67
188 67
Undrawn, $33 67
WATER SCRIP SINKING FUND.
DR.
To balance of account, $200 00
paid Trustees, 1,300 00
$1,500 00
CR.
Appropriation, $1,500
110
The Treasurer was charged Jan. 1, 1870, with Cash on hand. $11,080 90
and has since received :
Dividend from Old Colony National Bank, 500 00 School Fund from State, 303 34
Dog Fund from County Treasurer, 283 14
State Aid reimbursed,
4,388 00
Corporation Tax,
5,336 24
Water Rents, 6.730 82
Almshouse reimbursements, 312 65
Lunatic Hospital reimbursements, 197 65
Halfway Pond Fishery, 204 00
Three Circuses. 75 00
Building cor. High and Market Streets, rent, 50 00 Same, from sale of, 410 00
Militia reimbursements, 1,238 86
Pedlars' License. 12 00
Sale of land to Ellis Drew, 40 00
State Indian School Fund, 158 23
Use of horse. 2 00
Net and old iron sold,
3 27
Cemetery lots sold, 138 70
B. Hedge, school house, 210 00
School books sold, 584 45
B. L. Battles, note, 1,000 00
Plymouth Savings Bank, 8,000 00
Taxes of 1866, 111 92
111
Taxes of 1867,
$274 94
1868,
428 69
1869,
1,865 76
.. 1870,
58,839 75
$102,780 31
And has paid
State Tax,
$8,525 00
County Tax,
- 4,283 93
Schools,
17,739 07
Almshouse,
: 8,461 28
Hospitals,
2,319 19
Roads,
7,555 97
New Roads,
4,085 76
Town Debt,
3,746 21
Contingent,
7.481 63
Water Works,
8,337 67
Fire Department,
5,327 52
Assessors,
447 00
Abatement,
643 27
· Discount,
3.358 24
Herring Money,
340 25
Widows,
155 00
Treasurer,
500 00
Sexton,
125 00
Burial Hill,
64 25
State Aid,
4,299 00
Lighting Streets,
751 26
112
Water Scrip Sinking Fund, $1,300 00
Vine Hills Cemetery, 722 95
A. G. Godwin's note, 1,000 00
B. L. Battles note, 300 00
Building corner High and Market Sts .. 5 26
$91,874 71
Cash on hand.
10,905 60
$102,780 31
The undrawn balances are
Assessors,
$194 88
Burial Hill,
355 75
Collector of Taxes,
454 59
Widows,
33 67
Fire Department,
192 80
Fresh Brook,
13 72
Herring Money,
40 08
Lunatic Hospital,
524 89
Lighting Streets,
303 80
New Roads,
933 90
Town Debt,
377 58
Training Green,
384 83
New School House
92 36
$3,582 85
Temporary Loans are
28,611 39
$32,194 24
113
To meet which there are
Uncollected Taxes, State Aid due from State.
$6,123 65
9,986 42
Cash on hand,
10,905 60
$27,015 67
Leaving a deficiency of
5,178 57
Which is made up as follows :-
Almshouse,
$434 82
Vine Hills Cemetery,
535 45
Contingent, -
1,861 71
Discount,
112 70
Roads,
653 97
Schools, 65 83
Water Works,
1,515 09
$5,179 57
The accounts of the Collector of Taxes have been sub- mitted to the Selectmen, and the following is a summary of their condition :-
1866.
Uncollected, January 1, 1870,
$141 35
66 1871, 30 43
1867.
Uncollected, January 1, 1870, 370 44
66
1871, 95 50
114
1868.
Uncollected, January 1, 1870, 620 52
66 1871, 191 83
1869.
Uncollected, January 1, 1870, 2,545 05
66 1871, 679 29
1870.
Whole amount assessed, 63,966 35
Uncollected, January 1, 1871, 5,126 60
Total uncollected taxes, January 1, 1870, 3,677 36
6.
1871, 6,123 65
The increase in the amount uncollected is comprised wholly of the taxes of 1870; the uncollected taxes of former years are less than at January 1, 1870. The year has been an unusually hard one for collections of every kind, and a considerable amount has been collected since the accounts were closed.
115
ROADS.
The roads of the town have continued to receive a large share of attention, and effort has been made to improve their condition as fast as the means provided would admit. It is believed there are no public roads of the town that upon the whole are growing worse ; but much the largest expenditure has been made upon the roads which are most used, in pursuance of a plan to get the principal roads successively to the standard at which they can be maintained by continual repairs. The road to Kingston is now in reasonably satisfactory condition, about one mile toward Chiltonville is in nearly as good repair, also all the streets of the village which are sub- jected to the heaviest travel. These roads are all worn so much by constant use as to require continual expense, but will require no large expenditure for the present. The several roads leading to Chiltonville factories will justify a considerable outlay immediately. The unusual amount of snow in December has added to the crowded demands upon the appropriation for this department, and swollen the deficieney to $653.97
If the improvement of the roads is to be continued, and we believe the town would not be satisfied to have it otherwise, the appropriation for this department cannot be reduced. The snows, since the year began, promise to make this burden as severe as last year. The roads can
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be maintained in their present condition, with something less than the appropriation recommended, but it would be unwise to stop the improvements demanded by true economy. The burden of taxation would only be shifted in another form upon those compelled to make use of the roads.
The system of continual repairs in distinction from the annual or semi-annual overhauling of the roads cannot be too much insisted upon. Some of the surveyors under- stand its importanee, and while they do not omit the special opportunities for advantageous spring repairs, always reserve largely from their allotments for the exi- gencies of the year. Those who do not do this, occasion serious disturbance in the calculations of the Selectmen for keeping within the appropriation, by requiring addi- tional allotments for repairs that economy makes impera- tive. In the essay upon roads and road making, which received the first prize offered by the. State, we find the following emphatic endorsement of the continual system :
"Without continual repairs, there can be no such thing- as a constantly good road-a proposition that cannot be too often repeated. By repairing a road annually, or twice a year, it matters not which, the result is, strictly speaking, a good road at no time during the whole year .. The road is wretched just after repairs ; it becomes passa- ble after awhile, and deteriorates from that day forward, until it is again made wretched ; and so on, ad infinitum,
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according to the present only too commonly followed system. By the other method, is offered us a road as smooth as a floor, year in, year out, and let it not be for- gotten, at a less expense."
While this extract has its fullest application to roads of the highest standard and greatest use, it is applicable in a degree to the poorest country road. The Selectmen do not desire to repeat the discussion of the merits of the system of surveyors, to which the town adheres; any system where all work earnestly for the public good, will accomplish good results, but in the central district where the streets require constant attention, it is important that the responsibility should not be too much divided. An appropriation of $7,000 is recommended for this de- partment, which is $100 more than last year.
CONTINGENT.
The great fire in the woods is the only item of expense charged to the account of contingent expenses that has seriously disturbed the estimates made in the report of last year. All the receipts usually credited to this ac- count have been insufficient to meet this extraordinary contingency, and there exists a deficiency of $1,861.71. If no other disposition is made of the amount to be received from corporation tax, the current expenses chargeable to contingent can be met without appropria- tion, and the deficiency also provided for in the same manner.
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FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The wisdom of purchasing a Steam Fire Engine has been sustained by the experience of the year. Its effi- ciency has been tested at the fire on Middle street, and the reduction of expense in operating the Fire Depart- ment which was predicted, has been effected. The appropriation can be reduced $300 from that of last year.
NEW ROADS.
The appropriation for new roads for the year has not been used, though there are some awards for land damage not entered that will reduce the apparent balance. The. alteration of High street was effected at a less cost than was estimated, and after the laying out of Jefferson street, it was not judged expedient to work Sagamore street until both could be worked in connection, and as the appropriation was then supposed insufficient for both, they remain to be worked the present year. It is be- lieved that $600, in addition to the balance which re- mains to the credit of this department, will suffice for the probable demands of the present year.
SCHOOLS.
The addition of $500 to the school appropriation for extending all the schools of the town to 40 weeks would
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be unsufficient for a full year, but as the unusual repairs of schoolhouses required last year will be unnecessary the present year, the committee are of the opinion that the same appropriation will suffice for all other in- creased expenses.
TOWN DEBT.
No payments have been made the past year upon the principal of the town debt, and in view of the very small reduction in the appropriations that can be effected, none is recommended the present year beyond the appro- priation for Water Scrip sinking fund.
HIGH TAXES.
The personal burden of heavy taxes is sufficiently appreciated by those who bear it, but the effect of high taxes upon the growth and prosperity of the town is perhaps not kept so fully in mind by those who do not directly feel the effect in their own tax bills. A little reflection must satisfy any intelligent voter that high taxation is one of the greatest hindrances to the intro- duction of new manufacturing enterprises that can be in- terposed, and that it is to such enterprises that we must mainly look for the further growth of the town. It also
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affects the residence of persons of wealth, whose taxes are an important contribution to the means of the town. It rarely occurs that an annual meeting passes, without material additions to the aggregate appropriations rec- ommended by the Selectmen. That the additions have been wise, may not perhaps be questioned with propriety, but the Selectmen would suggest that their recommenda- tions are made upon a careful study of the wants of each department, compared with the total effect upon the rate of taxation, and all is conceded to the demand for im- provements that is deemed consistent with the ability of the town, and where the town feels called to extend the provision recommended for any department, it is hoped there will be at least equal effort made to find some recommendation that can be reduced. that the whole burden may not be increased.
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