USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1870-1874 > Part 6
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5
Widow of Thomas Torrey.
18. Lydia Torrey,
60
9
4
James & Lydia.
March 2. Mary S. Clark,
Congestion of lungs,
32
-
Josiah C. and Judith.
3. Josiah C. Hovey, Jr.,
1
8
8
Isaac B. Swift.
6. Robert W. Holmes,
Internal bleeding,
1
25
Sylvanus Holmes.
7. Lucy Harlow,
Heart disease,
54
Peritonitis,
43
1
Wife of Isaac H. Place.
14. Elizabeth Place,
61
3
3 Wife of Edward W. Bradford.
19. Mary A. Flanders,
64
9
25 Widow of Henry Flanders.
28. Hannah Howard,
89
3
23
Widow of James Howard.
April 4. Samuel M. Whitten,
56
4
-
2
21
Wife of Alpheus Harmon.
9. Lenora Harmon,
72
10
20
Daughter of Jonathan Tufts.
.. 16. George Douglass,
48
-
Typhoid fever.
63
2
23 David and Polly.
Chronic Bronchitis,
88
8
12 Widow of Ephraim Douglass.
66
20. Mary A. Calloway,
Paralysis of brain,
65
9
16
Wife of George W. Calloway.
May 3. Sarah E. Morton,
|Pluerisy,
43
-
-
Wife of Nathaniel H. Morton.
1
-
17
Son of Ivory W. and Maric E.
Teething and whooping cough. Heart disease,
1
3
2
6
Widow of George Bell.
Feb'y S. Hannah E. Bell,
Widow of Samuel Doten.
" 13. Rebecca Doten,
Phthisis,
52
Paralysis,
28. James Burgess,
Pneumonia,
Wife of Seth P. Clark.
Consumption,
28
-
149
4. Isaac W. Swift,
Meningitis,
Wife of John Harlow, 2d.
18. Mary Bradford.
Tuberculosis,
Consumption.
Congestion of lungs,
Amos Whitten.
Congestion of lungs,
Inflammation of the bowels,
42
9. Priscilla Tufts,
Gradual wasting body & mind, Pneumonia,
George and Eliza.
18. David Holmes,
19. Deborah Douglass,
18 Daughter of Henry R. and Sarah A.
28 Lemuel and Bathsheba.
DEATHS REGISTERED IN PLYMOUTH IN 1870.
DATE.
NAMES.
DISEASE.
YRS.
DYS.
PARENTS, ETC.
May 8. Albert Ashport.
12. William H. Bradford,
Pluerisy,
+2
Lemuel and Lydia.
20. Isadora Maddox,
Congestion of lungs.
Isaac D. and Hope A.
26. Lemuel Stephens,
Old age,
83
5
William and Esther.
June 2. Lois Thomas,
'Old age,
88
1
29
Widow of Joab Thomas.
Marasmas Senilis,
75
4
27
Henry Warren.
10. Albert Holmes,
Insane died at Taunton hospital.
48
66
12. John Bartlett,
Congestion of lungs,
71
Softening of the brain.
68
10
18
Widow of T. Pomeroy.
..
27. Joseph A. Cromwell,
6
1
4
Charles and Mary.
150
July
4. Betsey Dillard,
Diarrhoea.
82
2
Widow of Benjamin Dillard.
2
3
Wife of Frank E. Damon.
7. Coomer Weston,
Old age,
85
8
Coomer and Patty.
10. Joseph Holmes,
Typhoid dysentery,
74
18
..
10. Benjamin H. Swift.
Consumption.
21
6
4
Benjamin Swift.
..
16. Micah Holmes,
Paralysis.
70
1
22
20. Hobart Ilsley,
7
3
12
Jolm C. and Louisa L.
Consumption,
80
5
19
Nathaniel and Mary.
22. Caroline N. Armstrong, Tubercular meningitis.
2
2
22
John and Louisa A.
22. Eldora J. Burt,
2
20
John and Eliza J.
. .
26. Frederick W. Chapman, 5. Vira E. Gibbs,
Pul. consumption.
17
10
8 Warren and Nancy E.
AAng.
5. Charles H. Raymond.
Cholera Infantum,
9
10 Adoniram J. and Annie M.
5. Hannah A. Mayo,
Apoplexy,
49
2
29 Widow of Thomas A. Mayo.
7. Ida J. Joseph,
Cholera Infantum,
3
1 Aaron C. Joseph.
:
9. Lucy E. Wood.
Malformation of heart,
-
7
1
-
-
-
-
John Bartlett.
14. Emily M. Pomeroy.
27. Allen E. Dearborn,
25
S ---
Joseph B. and Deborah.
7. Eunice D. Damon.
Typhoid fever.
23
Inflammation of the bowels.
21. Bourne Spooner,
Canker,
Cholera Infantum,
-
7
25
James H. and Mary B.
.
9 Lemuel H. and Hattie E.
Phthisis,
50
10. Winslow Warren.
Micah Holmes.
Kidney disease,
LIST OF DEATHS CONTINUED.
Aug. 10. Henry Langford,
Meningitis,
6
4
27
John and Celestina. Isaac N. and Catherine.
Choler Infantun.
16
Rheumatic fever.
13
11
9
Disease of brain.
64
8
12
Diman and Hannah.
25. Zaben Olney,
Chronic Gastritis.
76
10
17
Essek and Amy.
26. Ida L. Rickard.
Cholera Infantnm.
1
14
Lemuel and Georgianna.
Consumption,
59
7
16 Barnard and Sarah.
Drowned near the Gurnet.
34
8
15
William B. and Harriet G.
29. Betsey Hobart,
Lethargy,
78
21
4
12 Richard B. and Hannah S.
30. William C. Dunham,
1
29
Drowned in the Ohio river.
66
45
3 Pelham W. Freeman.
12. Henry C. Whitman.
Drowned at sea.
35
1
1 Benjamin and Mary.
Consumption.
14
8
28 Charles F. Harlow.
2
12 Charles L. Ellis.
18. Joseph II. Oldham.
Cholera Infantum.
4
John W. Oldham.
Disease of bowels.
64
Domincus Hovey,
19. Josiah C. Hovey, 23. Nancy Bassett,
Old age,
73
8
21 [Widow of Abraham Dunham.
23. Patience Dunham,
Apoplexy,
90
1
28 Joseph Gooding.
Inflammation of bowel
72
11
Wife of Leonard Snow.
Consumption.
65
9
9 Richard and Sarah.
Phthisis,
62
-
27
2
Allen and Betsey.
11. Thomas A. Hathaway,
50
2
2 George and Content.
14. Clara L. Dixon,
13
11
14 Comfort and Mary J.
14. Sylvester H. Peterson,
48
3
29 Charles and Thankful.
15. Barnabas G. IIolmes,
Softening of the brain,
63
1 Barnabas and Thankful.
18. Winthrop Frothingham, Inflammation of brain,
1
1
18 Charles H. and Eliza A.
19. Nancy Joyce,
Consumption,
71
2
24 'Wife of Eliza Joyce.
-
Ebenezer Dunham.
6. Harvey Dunhanı,
7. Abby E. Freeman,
Cholera Infantum,
1
15L
13. Ida C. Harlow, 14. Lillie F. Ellis,
25. Jolın Gooding.
30. Maria Snow,
Oct.
4. Richard Green.
18 Wife of Ephraim Holmes.
6. Mary Ann Holmes,
-
13. George Thrasher, Jr.,
Caused by a rupture, Phthisis,
82
14 Widow of Thomas Bassett.
Typhoid fever,,
Sylvanus and Lydia J.
Sept. 3. Taylor J. Valor,
Drowned at sea,
27. Charles W. Burgess.
27. William E. Barnes.
24 Widow of A. Hobart.
10. Herbert C. Harlow ..
16. William Lynch,
17. Ephraim Bartlett.
Consumption,
LIST OF DEATHIS CONCLUDED.
DATE.
MAMES.
DISEASE.
YRS.
MOS.
DYS.
PARENTS, ETC.
Softening of the brain.
70
11
9
Richard and Joannah.
19. Benjamin N. Pierce,
25. Abby S. Wood,
Typhoid fever,
33
4
9 Widow of Harvey Dunham.
Nov. 4. Phebe Dunham,
Heart disease,
73
3
5. Ellis Battles,
Softening of the brain.
57
3
5 Caleb Battles.
12. Nellie F. Raday,
Congestion of lungs,
3
2
15 !James Raday.
Cancer of heart,
66
6
Wife of Ira Litchfield.
24. Sally Litchfield,
Liver complaint.
62
25. Ephraim Washburn,
Marasmus,
76
3
4
..
28. George L. Ellis,
-
11
3 Abner and Maria.
29. Horace Harlow,
Heart disease,
23
3
8 Ivory and Rebecca.
Dec. 2. Sarah H. Ryder,
Cancer of heart,
55
5
15 Wife of Daniel Ryder.
152
..
3. Nancy Atwood,
Obstruction in bowels,
90
4
14 Widow of John Atwood.
Tuberculoses of knee joint,
4
19 William and Abigail.
5. Winslow Bradford,
Apoplexy,
44
1
14 Widow of Benjamin Pierce.
Old age,
3
John F. and Alice S.
Phthisis,
2
24 John and Eliza A.
.. 12. Minnie W.Clark,
3
1
3
4
13 Braman L. and Sarah S.
.. 13. Mary N. Briggs, 13. Mary C. Ross,
Consumption,
22
8
12 Wife of Joseph H. Ross.
14. William B. Barnes,
Hemorrhage.
59
10
3 Joseph and Jane.
14. Nancy H. Palmer,
Consumption,
52
11
66 18. Stephen Maddocx,
68
11
21 Charles and Mary Ann.
66
23.
Wilde,
'Feeble from birth,
1
9
23 John F. and Catherine.
31. Frederick W. Schubert, Croup,
-
6 James and Saba S.
..
6. Mary Pierce, 7. Herbert D. Hall, 9. Betsey O. Phinney. 10. John E. Shannon,
Consumption,
7
16 Charles W. and Lydia.
13. Sarah A. Bennett.
Old age,
88
10
1 Lemuel and Bathsheba.
..
92
-
Croup,
co co .
6 Thomas and Nancy Bassett.
62
10
18 29 Nathan and Ruth.
21. David C. Holmes,
Tumor,
14 Wife of Oliver E. Wood.
Wife of Albert G. Gooding.
17. Eliza A. Goodwin,
4. Emma II. Perry,
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SELECTMEN
OF THE
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH,
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING JANUARY
Pust
1872. LIBRARY
PLYMOUTH, MASS.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH 4, 1872.
PLYMOUTH: W. W. AVERY, STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRINTER, CORNER OF COURT AND NORTH STREETS. 1872.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SELECTMEN
OF THE
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH,
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING JANUARY 1, 1872.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH 4, 1872.
PLYMOUTH: W. W. AVERY, STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRINTER, CORNER OF COURT AND NORTH STREETS. 1872.
DI VMOUTH PURITO LURRADY
:V
/08-1872
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
THE following report for the year 1871, is respectfully submitted. While avoiding the expense of printing a mass of names and figures that confuse the reader and obscure the actual results of the year's work, it is the aim of the Selectmen to present herein all the information that will aid the Town to judge intelligently of the work of the several departments and the measures recommended.
The Treasurer's books have been examined and the Treasurer is charged therein with :
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1871, $10,905 60
Bank Dividend, . 500 00
State School Fund, 397 43
Dog Fund from County Treasurer, 319 77
State Aid,. 4,200 00
Corporation Tax, 5,443 31
Amount carried forward $21,766 11
4
Amount brought forward $21,766 11
.Water Rents, 6,207 47
Poor Re-imbursements. 25 00
Insane Poor 195 22
Agawam and Halfway Pond Fishery,
40 00
Circus Licenses,
50 00
Militia Re-imbursements,
910 50
Armory Rent,.
150 00
Pedlar's License, .
12 00
Taxes of 1866,
29 52
" 1867,
37 44
"
1868,
24 67
1869,.
205 08
" 1870,
2,680 17
1871,
48,491 45
Sale of Lots in Cemetery, 365 45
School Books, 587 39
Cash on note to H. Sherman,
450 00
66 " T. Manter, 700 00
Road Re-imbursements,. 154 80
Fines for violation of By Laws,
12 00
Non-resident Bank Tax,. 3,782 23
Cash on Note to Savings Bank, 2,500 00
$89,376 50
5
The Treasurer is credited therein with payments on the several accounts, as follows :
To paid State Tax,. $8,525 00
County Tax, 4,283 93
Schools,.
16,193 32
Poor,.
5,599 68
Insane Poor,
1,814 12
Roads, .
7,093 95
New Roads,
1,273 57
Town Debt, 3,764 61
Contingent,. 4,394 44
Water Works and Scrip, 7,198 32
Fire Department,
1,972 41
Assessors, 573 50
Treasurer,
500 00
Sexton,.
125 00
Burial Hill, 235 67
State Aid,
3,744 00
Lighting Streets,
749 50
Collection of Taxes, .
900 00
W. S. Sinking Fund,
1,500 00
Vine Hill Cemetery, .
926 70
New School-House (Wellingsley,)
2,296 77
Lot,
400 00
B. L. Battles Note,
500 00
Decorating Soldiers' Graves, 100 00
Note to Savings Bank,. 8,000 00
State Non-Resident Bank Tax, 1,952 12
Cash on Hand Jan. 1, 1872, .
4,759 89
$89,376 50
6
The undrawn balances are as follows :
Poor,.
$990 50
Roads,
60 85
New Roads,
260 33
Fire Department,
320 39
Burial Hill,
08
Collection of Taxes,
4 59
Widows,.
200 34
Fresh Brook,.
13 72
Herring Money,
373 41
Insane Poor,
405 99
Lighting Streets,
54 30
Town Debt,
312 97
Contingent,
361 66
Training Green,
384 83
New School House (North,) ...
92 36
Vine Hill Cemetery, .
503 30
Discounts,
3,889 30
Abatements,
709 37
New School House,(Wellingsly,)
203 23
$8,641 52;
Temporary Loans, which consist of loans made in anticipation of taxes and for disbursement as State Aid, and for the payment of which no direct provision will be necessary. 21,261 39
29,902 91
7
This sum, if no accounts were overdrawn, should be just equal to the uncollected taxes, State Aid due from the State, and cash on hand, which items are as follows :
Uncollected Taxes, including discounts, abate- ments and herring money standing to the
credit of Collector, .. $13,055 28
State aid due from State,
9,530 42
Cash on hand,
4,759 89
$ 27,345 59 which leaves a deficiency of $2,557.32,made up as follows : Schools overdrawn,. 294 56
Water works and Scrip, 190 85
Assessors, 78 62
School House Lot (Wellingsley,) 400 00
Non-resident Bank Tax,
1,593 29
$2,557 32
The accounts of the Collector of Taxes have been sub- mitted to the Selectmen, and the following is a summary ef their condition :
1867.
Uncollected January 1, 1871.
$94 12
66 1872. 56 24
1868.
Uncollected January 1, 1871.
$191 83
66
1872. 164 16
8
1869.
Uncollected January 1, 1871. $679 39
1872 436 14
1870.
Uncollected January 1, 1871
. $5,126 60
66
1872 2,143 99
1871.
Whole amount assessed. $58,392 96
Uncollected January 1, 1872 6,488 85
The amount of uncollected taxes is much greater than can be justified upon any sound business principles, and the votes of the town in relation to the time and terms of payment, should be more rigidly observed by both tax payers and Collector.
TOWN DEBT.
The debt incurred by the introduction of water, $102,000, is so much in the nature of an investment which earns its own interest, and with the sinking fund already provided will extinguish the principal as fast as is re- quired, that it need not be considered as a debt to be pro- vided for by direct taxation.
9
Aside from water scrip the town debt Jan. 1, 1872, was $25,113.29, and is made up as follows :
Note given to the Commonwealth Dec. 15, 1853, under a vote passed May 28, 1853, to buy school-houses and lands $3,388 64
Note given to the Commonwealth Feb. 15, 1868, under the vote of April 9, 1866, authoriz-
ing new loans in lieu of existing loans. ... . 6,724 65
Note given to the Commonwealth April 18, 1868, under the same vote 10,000 00 Note given to Plymouth Savings Bank, under vote of April 5, 1869, to pay for the con- struction of new school-house at north part of the town. 2,500 00 Note given to Plymouth Savings Bank, under vote of May 13, 1871, to pay for school- house at Wellingsly . 2,500 00
$25,113 29
The last two notes bear interest at the rate of seven per cent .; all the others at six per cent.
No payments have been made during the year upon the principal of the debt, and it stands $2,500 larger than .Jan. 1, 1871.
'The Selectmen desire to urge the importance of reduc- ing the indebtedness of the Town steadily until it is en- tirely paid ; and recommend that any outlay which the Town may deem it expedient to make, which is not in the
10
nature of an investment, be provided for by immediate taxation.
The amount of interest to be paid the current year will' be somewhat increased ; and if assessments are made upon the stock of the Plymouth and Sandwich railroad, as is hoped and may reasonably be expected, there may be a further amount of interest to be met ; and as some; reduction of the principal should be effected if possible, an appropriation of $6,000 is recommended.
SCHOOLS.
Deficiency January 1, 1871
$65 83:
Paid in 1871 16,193 32:
$16,259 15
CR.
Appropriation $14,660 00
From dog fund. 319 77
From State School fund.
397 43
From sale of books
587 39
$15,964 59
Deficiency Jan. 1, 1872
$288 56,
There have been orders to the amount of $319.91 drawn not paid when the books were closed; and the actual de- ficiency is $608.47. The school committee were misled as to the actual amount expended up to the November vaca- tion, by the amount for which orders had been drawn dif- fering from the amount actually paid, the Treasurer hav-
11
ing paid $238.18 for which orders had not been drawn.
By reducing the length of schools, and rigid economy in repairs, an appropriation of $15,000 will probably suffice- for the current year, without a special appropriation for deficiency.
The payments may be classified as follows :
Teachers and Superintendent .. $12,486 30
Fuel. 701 68,
Repairs 631:68
Books
927 02. .
Incidentals, comprising care of school-houses,
travelling expenses, and a great variety of small items.
1,003 97
Printing,
85-00
Paid town of Carver 28 00
New furnishing school-rooms. 649 58.
$16,513 23
POOR.
Deficiency Jan. 1, 1871
$434 82
Paid in 1871
5,599 68:
$6,034 50
CR.
Appropriation.
$7,000 00
From other towns
25 00
-$7,025 00
12
Amount brought forward. $7,025 00
Balance Jan. 2, 1872. $980 50
Orders on this account have been drawn which were not paid when the Treasurer's books were closed, amounting to $475.19 ; and some small bills are not in. The pay- ments may be classified as follows :
Supplies to the Almshouse. . $2,688 04
Fuel. 300 00
Salaries and services of employees. 500 00
Medical attendance 275 00
Aid outside of Almshouse 1,508 93
Repairs of buildings 279 57
Reform schools
48 14
$5,599 68
An appropriation of $6,000 is recommended for the cur- rent year.
ROADS.
Deficiency Jan. 1, 1871. $653 97
Expended in 1871. 7,093 95
CR.
Appropriation for deficiency.
$653 98
Appropriation for 1871. 7,000 00
Balance of earnings of teams in other departments 154 80
$7,808 77
Balance undrawn
61 85
13
If the orders drawn on this account for 1871, not paid" when the Treasurer's books were closed, were entered, the account would be overdrawn $205.49; but if no heavy snow occurs to disturb the estimate for 1872, an appro- priation of $7,000 will suffice. A much larger amount could be expended wisely if the town could afford to ad- vance the standard of its roads more rapidly. The cost. of removing snow last year was about $900. It is believ- ed the roads in no section of the Town have become poorer during the year, while those leading to Manomet and to Chiltonville have been materially improved. Two. additional teams have been purchased, in accordance with: the vote of the Town, at a cost of $683.25. As no appropri ation was made for the cost of these teams, one has been paid for from New Road appropriation, and the other from. the appropriation for Roads, and the teams have been used' in both departments, but the time employed in each is kept separate. One of the teams has been located at Chilton- ville, and one at Wellingsley, though they have not been confined to their locations, but have been worked together as much as practicable. The Selectmen had doubts of the wisdom of locating a team where its work would extend over so large a section as at Chiltonville ; but are glad to say that the experiment has proved successful, which fact is largely due to Mr. Thrasher, who has had charge of the team, and given to its operation a degree of industry and judgment deserving of especial mention. Three teams are probably all that can be profitably employed in Winter. There is, however, no difficulty in keeping that number at.
14
work, earning even in winter considerably more than expen- ses, though not effecting so great saving as in the summer work. Having made arrangements with the School Com- mittee to secure a widening of the road at Morton's Cor- ner, by filling the School House lot, the teams were occu- pied most of the month of December in that work, and did not attempt to haul wood for the Schools till after the first of January ; but are now supplying the school houses of the village, in addition to the wood hauled for the Almshouse department. The present system of sur- veyors has been sufficiently discussed in former reports, and no recommendation in relation to it is submitted at this time. It is found, however, in working the three teams, that there are more surveyors than are needed in the sec- tion where the teams can be employed.
If the act of 1871, which provides for the election of Road Commissioners, is adopted by the Town, it should be borne in mind that all the powers of Selectmen to lay out, or alter roads will be vested in the Road Commissioners, as well as the management of all repairs, and the selec- tion of Commissioners should be made with reference to both duties.
NEW ROADS.
Expended in 1871,. $1,273 57
CR.
Balance of account Jan. 1, 1871, 933 90
Appropriation, 600 00
$1,533 90
Balance of account Jan. 1, 1872,.
260 33
15
The principal items of the above expenditure are land damages on High Street, South Russell Street, Sagamore, and Jefferson Streets, $276 ; settlement of claim of Martin Howland, and costs of reference $228.95. Expended on Jefferson Street, $393.87; horse, cart and harness, $374.75.
In working Jefferson Street, the Selectmen decided to have the street with the gutter in the centre of the road, as had been found economical in the other streets leading from Watson's Hill. They received a proposition from Messrs. Harlow and Hathaway, to put down concrete pavement, at a cost not exceeding the estimates for stone pavement. After consulting those having experience in concrete pavements for streets, the Selectmen decided to pave Jefferson Street with that material, with a view to test fully its value for further use. The work was began late in the season and interrupted by frost ; but will be resumed as soon as the frost is out of the ground.
The County Commissioners have widened and straight- ened the road at Manomet, leading from the corner of the Point Road to Fresh Pond, and ordered the same to be worked, by Nov. 1st, 1872. The cost of working this alter- ation is estimated at from $400 to $700, according to the thoroughness with which it is worked. Considerable of the material to be moved is needed for covering a sandy piece of road this side of the alteration, and the work can probably be done in connection with the ordinary repairs, so as not to cost greatly more than the minimum named. It is estimated that to complete Jefferson aud Sagamore
16
Streets, and work the Manomet alteration, with some small awards for land damage still unpaid, will require an appro- priation of eight hundred dollars.
GRADING SCHOOL HOUSE LOT.
The lot selected by the School Committee for the new school house at Wellingsley, always presented an offens- ive projecting corner into the highway, and the attention of the Selectmen has been often called to the necessity of cutting off the corner and widening the street at that point. In the purchase of a school house lot the School Committee found themselves much embarassed by the fact. that this lot, the only one on which they could agree, as, in all respects suited to their purpose, would cost the full sum allowed by the vote of the Town, leaving nothing to grade the lot, which, it was estimated, would cost nearly $300 additional. To accomplish the double purpose of enabling the School Committee to secure the best lot available for their purpose and make the much needed widening of the street, the Selectmen arranged with the School Committee to take so much of the lot as should be needed for that purpose, and in offset to grade the lot with the Town teams, the grading to be done in the winter. The most of the grading has been done ; it will be com- pleted within the estimate. Counting the teams at $3 per day, a fair winter estimate, the work so far has cost $231.61; counting only the actual cost of maintaining teams, it would be considerably less.
17
INSANE POOR.
Paid in 1871, $1,814.12
CR. .
Balance of Account Jan. 1, 1871, $524.89
Appropriation, 1,500.00
Reimbursements,
195.22
$2,220.11
Balance of Account Jan. 1, 1872, $405.99
All the orders drawn have been in payment of bills of Lunatic Hospitals, with a single exception. The number of patients in the hospital has been somewhat reduced, and the Overseers of the Poor ask for an appropriation of only one thousand dollars for the current year.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Paid in 1871, $1,972.41
CR.
Balance of Account Jan 1, 1871, $192.80
Appropriation for 1871,
1,500.00
66 New Hose, 600.00
$2,292.80
Balance of Account Jan. 1, 1872, $320.39
Orders for $37.52 have been drawn that were not paid when the books were closed.
The report of the Chief Engineer, which is published herewith, gives the condition of the Department and the 2
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estimates for the current year. These estimates have been considered by the Selectmen, and though at first doubt- ful about the necessity of a hose tower, they are satisfied after hearing the reasons of the Board of Engineers, that it will be economy to provide one; and recommend an appropriation of twenty-eight hundred dollars for this Department, in accordance with the Engineers' report.
WATER WORKS AND SCRIP.
Deficiency, Jan. 1, 1871,. $1,515.09
Paid in 1871, 7,198.32
$8,713.41
CR.
Appropriation for Deficiency, . $1,515.09
“ 1871, 800.00
Water Rents collected,.
6,207.47
$8,522.56
Deficiency, Jan. 1, 1872, $190.85
The reversion of the decision of the Supreme Court upon the legal tender act relieves the Town from paying gold interest on the Water Scrip, and will obviate the necessity of an appropriation for this Department, unless for the extension of the works to Chiltonville. The water rents now due, with those to accrue, it is estimated will be sufficient for the current expenses of the year and the small deficiency existing. The bills paid may be classified as follows :
e
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Interest on Scrip, $6,237.92
Salaries, . 450.00
Repairs and Extensions, . . 511.40
EXTENSION TO CHILTONVILLE.
The large outlay required to extend the water-pipes to Chiltonville, and the wide discretion which the vote of the Town left with the Selectmen, compelled them to proceed with care, and to consume considerable time in obtaining information to guide them in those matters left discretion- ery. The subsequent effort to re-consider the vote by which the extension was authorized further delayed their action, till the season had too far passed to complete the work before frost, and any further action was postponed till spring. The result of the enquiries made is that the Selectmen are satisfied that it will be wiser to use four- inch pipe for most of the route, and that the lower or Cliff road is by far the most economical route. They have also revised with care the estimates made before the vote of the Town. The price of pipe was stated from the written offer of the company which furnished the pipe now in use. The Selectmen have a written offer to do the trenching and filling at the price named in the original estimate, and it is understood that other experienced par- ties would undertake the contract at the same figure. On the other hand, Mr. Davie, of very large experience in like work, gives the opinion that it must cost a much larger sum. The cost of freight and trucking, if four-inch pipe is used, was considerably under-estimated, and no
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allowance for cost of connections was made, or for Hy- drants. Making due allowance for these additions, and by the route the Selectmen propose to adopt, and using four-inch pipe, the cost will be, as near as it can now be estimated, $6,000, if no obstacles are encountered; but if unexpected difficulties arise, the cost may be swollen to an extent which cannot be determined ; and as this exten- sion cannot for many years make return of the interest on its cost, the Selectmen are impelled to revise the recom- mendation of last year, that the money be hired and treated as part of the Water Loan; and recommend that the whole, or at least the greater part of its cost, be paid for by immediate appropriation.
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