USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1884-1889 > Part 11
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Amounts carried forward,
$5,000 00 $117,500 00
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Amounts brought forward ... . $5,000 00 $117,500 00 Note to Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank, payable March 20, 1888, in- terest 4 per cent. 6,700 00
Note to Plymouth Savings Bank, pay- able Sept. 18, 1886, interest 4 per cent. . 10,000 00
Note to Plymouth Savings Bank, on demand, interest 4 per cent. 7,000 00
Note to Plymouth Savings Bank, pay- able March 30, 1891, interest 4 per cent. 5,000 00
Notes to sundry parties.
5,100 00
38,800 00
$156,300 00
Undrawn balances of the several departments.
8,293 21
$164,593 21
LESS.
Uncollected taxes, 1884.
$ 2,011 08
Uncollected taxes, 1885 7,357 75
State aid due from State of Massa- chusetts 1,379 00
1
Indigent aid due from State of Massa-
chusetts 536 52
Cash on hand 18,167 54 29,451 89
Net debt, January 1, 1886 $135,141 32
Net debt, January 1, 1885 144,145 64
Decrease of debt in 1885 $9,004 32 Net amount of debt, January 1, 1886, $135,141 32
Less water loan sinking fund. . . 3,870 ยท98
Debt less sinking fund
$131,270 34
9
The gross liabilities of the Town, as appears in the above statement, is $3,026.39 in excess of last year, while the assets applicable to the payment of the debt, have increased $12,030.71, making the reduction the past year, $9,004.32. Of this amount, $1,100 was received from appropriation for Town debt, $1,500 from appropriation for Duxbury & Cohasset Railroad Sinking Fund, $5,397.90 was assessed to cover deficiencies of last year, the balance from receipts from liquor licenses and miscellaneous receipts received during the year.
The temporary debt, as represented by notes of the Town, is $38,800 against $38,900 last year, $5,100 having been paid, and a new loan of $5,000 contracted, under authority of the Town, to provide in part for the construction of the New Grammar school-house on Whiting Street.
The whole amount assessed for taxes in 1885 was $71,526.06 against $70,314.03, assessed in 1884, and with a slightly reduced valuation, made the rate of taxation $14.00 against $13.60 in 1884, of which about ten per cent. remains uncollected.
Of the tax of 1885, there was received from the national banks, as tax on the market value of their shares, the sum of $1,252.70, which was paid by the banks under protest, pending a suit which has or will be brought by the banks in the United States Courts, to receive back the whole or part of the tax, claiming that the tax is illegal, inasmuch as the charters of national banks protect them from local taxation, at a rate greater than other moneyed capital is taxed, while savings banks are taxed by the State only one-half per cent., with allowances, while national banks are taxed on an average equal to one and one-half per cent. on their entire capital, most of which they also claim is in government bonds, and not liable to local taxation. Of the amount of $7,250 received from the banks, the State claims that portion of the tax which .
2
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is assessed to non-residents, and which amounted the past year to $4,263.77 and has been paid to the State Treasurer, under protest. In case the suit should be decided in favor of the banks, after the usual delay, it is likely to take a large amount from the treasury, and also effect a change in the valuation for assessment, which would be seriously felt in the increased rate of taxation on other property.
There has been expended for indigent aid to soldiers, during the year, the sum of $1,070.55. The amount due from the State will leave a deficiency of $534.03 to be provided for.
TOWN DEBT AND INTEREST ACCOUNT.
Jan. 1, 1885. CR.
By balance from old account $383 59
By appropriation 3,200 00
By rebate of interest.
8 64
Dec. 31, 1885.
By interest received from delinquent taxes. 463 69
DR.
$4,055 92
To payment of interest on Duxbury &
Cohasset Railroad loan. $570 00
To interest on loans in anticipation of taxes
129 12
To interest on temporary loans 1,769 27
To payments on principal of outstand- ing notes 1,100 00
3,568 49
Undrawn
$487 43
To provide for the payment of interest on temporary and Duxbury & Cohasset Railroad loans, together with a payment for the reduction of outstanding indebtedness of $1,200, will require an appropriation of $3,000, which is recommended.
11
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
CR.
By appropriation $9,500 00
Cash from-
Nathaniel Morton, repairs on wall, arch bridge .... 52 00
J. F. Towns, harness 6 50
S. H. Doten, labor on sidewalks 10 00
Reimbursements from-
Poor department. 407 99
New road department
1,362 50
Burial Hill, grading
51 35
Estate of A. Danforth, edge stone.
19 88
$11,410 22
DR.
To payments in 1885
$10,019 23
Undrawn
$1,390 99
The gross expenditures for roads and bridges the past year has been $10,019.23, against $10,283.21 in 1884, and less the earnings of the teams in other departments, $8,109.01, against $9,562.07 in 1884. Exceptional expenses have been paid o f $581.80 for damages on the highway, and $100 to B. B. New- hall for damages caused by change of grade on Cushman Street ; in all, $681.80, which has been included in the account. The difference in net expenditure is chiefly in the amount of labor on new roads, the greater portion of which has been done by the teams and men belonging to the Road Department, and for which that Department has received credit in the account. The general repairs on roads have not varied materially from former years. No special item involving large expenditure has been incurred.
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Some complaints were made during the early part of the Winter that the roads in many places were soft and muddy, especially where repairs had been made with new material during the past year. To the clayey nature of the material, together with the condition of the weather during that time, with continuous rain and freezing and thawing at frequent in- tervals, must be attributed the unusual condition of the roads at that time, especially in the southern portion of the Town. There is in that section of the Town but two kinds of material for roads-one mixed with clay and the other largely mixed with sand. The former material, while muddy during the first season and in an open Winter, invariably makes good loads during the greater portion of the year. The sandy mater- ial, while more free from mud during the Winter and early Spring, does not make a good road during the balance of the year, and is the cause of frequent complaints, and the Surveyors are obliged to use the material which, on the whole, best answers the purpose through the year. Where there is a great scarcity of any other road material that condition of things under un- favorable weather must exist to a greaterfor less degree.
The question of resorting to broken stone for macada- mizing the streets in the central portion of the Town, where the travel is great, will soon have to be considered. The absence of stone in sufficient quantities to locate a crusher at any one point convenient for distribution, and the largely increased cost over other material, has heretofore been the chief obstacle to recommending its adoption by the Town. But the increasing difficulty of obtaining other suitable material may compel the Town to resort to it, even at a great addition to the present cost of repairing roads.
The question of surface drainage in some sections of the Town is becoming a troublesome matter, and may soon require a considerable outlay to provide for it. There has been ex-
13
pended for permanent improvement of sidewalks the past year $1,040 which has slightly exceeded the appropriation.
Notices have been given to the Town by parties claiming to have received damage from the falling of the tree in Town Square, Dec. 26, the claim being founded on an alleged defect in the highway, which they claim renders the Town liable for damage under a recent statute which has never been passed upon by the courts. It is a doubtful question whether the courts will construe the case in question as one coming within the statute. The importance to the Town of a decision by the courts as to the liability of the Town in the future from trees, with our streets lined with them, and liable from 'heavy gales and accumulation of snow and ice, to similar accidents, is one to be considered, and which the Selectmen believe may be worth the cost of defending a suit in case one is brought.
The Selectmen in the cases referred to have considered that they had no authority to recognize the claims, or take action in the matter, but in case suits were brought, to obtain authority to defend or settle the claims as the Town should instruct.
An appropriation of $7,500, in addition to the balance standing to the credit of the account, and an additional appropriation of $1,000 for permanent improvement of sidewalks the coming year, is recommended.
NEW ROADS.
DR.
To payments in 1885
$4,826 10
CR.
By appropriation
1,000 00
Overdrawn $3,826 10
Of the expenditures for new roads during the year; $4,261.85 was expended for the new road from Court to Water Street, $3,250 of which was for land damages. $440 was expended
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for the widening of Court Street at the north part of the Town, and $124.15 for awards and bills outstanding prior to January 1, 1885.
The appropriation for new roads, made at the annual meet- ing, did not include the working and land damages for the road from Court to Water Street, but was authorized at a special meeting, at which authority was granted to borrow a sum not exceeding $5,000, the same to be included in the appropriation for 1886. The amount expended has been met from the treasury and occasions the overdraft in the account. The working of Whiting Street was postponed last year on account of more pressing work elsewhere, but the working is included in the estimates for 1886.
The Selectmen have laid out Bartlett Street as a Town-way from Russell Street to the land of Isaac L. Wood, which will be reported to the Town at the annual meeting. The cost to the Town will probably only include the working, as no claim is made for land damages.
A petition has been presented for an extension of the road leading from Court Street, near the Woolen Mill, to Mill Village, under the railroad track, on which no action has yet been taken.
To provide for the working of roads already laid out and contemplated, will require an appropriation of $1,700.
WATER WORKS.
Dec. 31, 1884. CR.
By balance of old account $1,017 82
By receipts from water rents, labor and materials.
14,670 30
$15,688 12
15
DR.
To payments in 1885 $13,563 03 To payment to trustees of Water Scrip
Sinking Fund 1,000 00
14,563 03
Balance undrawn $1,125 09 The income from Water Works the past year is $14,670.30, against $13,842.13 in 1884, an increase of $828.17. The ex- penditures are $13,563.03, against $12,917.82 in 1884, an increase of expenditure of $645.21, leaving a net gain in income for 1885 of $182.96, and a balance to the credit of the Works of $1,125.09, of which amount $1,000 will be applied to the sinking fund.
A saving has been effected during the year in the interest charges (by funding the debt) of $700, which, added to the ex- penditures, would have nearly absorbed the income. Excep- tional expenditures, aggregating some $2,000, have been incurred during the year, which will account for the increased payments, and appear in the report of the Commissioners.
The loan for $70,000, which became due June 1, 1885, has been renewed within a limit of thirty years, the bonds bearing 4 per cent. interest, having been placed with the Provident In- stitution for Savings in Boston, they being the highest bidders, at a premium of 63 per cent., amounting to $74,550. Maturing bonds have been presented and paid to the amount of $68,000, leaving $2,000 of the bonds still outstanding, which will be paid on presentation from the amount retained in the treasury to provide for it.
Of the premium received on the bonds amounting to $4,550, $4,000 have been applied to the payment on account of a note to the Plymouth Savings Bank, and $232.50 for expenses of preparing and delivering the bonds ; the balance, $317.50, will be applied to the sinking fund.
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The bonds as issued provide for $2,800, becoming due each year, commencing June 1, 1890, and annual payments for twenty-five years of that sum will retire the loan at its maturity, June 1, 1914.
In the plan recommended by the Selectmen, in the report of last year, and adopted by the Town, provision was made for re- tiring $2,500 each year for ten years, commencing June 1, 1890, and $3,000 for the balance of the time-say fifteen years.
The act provided for retiring the loan in proportional pay- ments, which the above plan was supposed to comply with. The counsel for the bidder was not willing to approve the loan unless the payments were made in equal amounts, and his bid being 1} per cent. higher than the next highest bidder, it was decidedly for the interest of the Town to comply with his terms, and was accepted, as the only difference would be in the re- quirement of an additional yearly amount of $300 of the bonds to mature the first ten years to equalize the payment.
There has been added to the sinking fund during the year by contribution from the balance to the credit of Water Works, Jan. 1, 1885, $1,000. The sinking fund now amounts to $3,870.98, with amounts of $1,000 due to it from balance now to the credit of Water Works for 1885, and $317.50 balance of premium re- ceived from sale of bonds on renewal of loan heretofore referred to.
The interest payments on outstanding loans will be less in the sum of $700 for 1886, and with the prospective income from the Works, the balance of yearly income for the next four years should be ample to provide for the sinking fund to retire the loan of $12,000 becoming due in 1890.
Reference to the report of the Commissioners will more fully explain the operations for the year.
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17 CONTINGENT. DR.
To-
Town Clerk, services ..
$171 95
Stone bounds for street lines
26 40
Town Forester 4 43
Moderator town meetings
10 00
Rent of halls for town meetings
95 00
County map
6 00
Bills for legal services
241 00
Old Colony Book Bindery, books and binding voting lists
8 00
Record books
5 50
Repairs on town bell
11 50
James Cox, Boston Directory
5 00
Weston's express
11 71
Repairs on Chiltonville Burial Ground fence, and lead and oil for painting same 92 49
Ellis Benson, care of town clock. 25 00
Carriage hire perambulating town lines 10 00
John Atwood, services as Constable
28 00
Services of Board of Registration 92 00
Copy of Davis' Landmarks 3 50
Boundary post, town of Bourne
1 75
Harlow & Bailey, stand pipes, etc
20 45
Postage stamps and stationery 74 37
V. B. Holmes, repairs on town clock, etc 3 30
Repairs and whitewashing lock-up
7 58
W. J. Waterson, carting
2 25
Return of births 38 75
Return of deaths .
37 00
Printing town reports and other printing bills 395 80
Janitor to town building 73 78
Coal bills 84 25
3
18
Repairs and furniture in and about Town House .
$705 98
Sewer extensions
150 16
Committee on Inland Fisheries
24 00
Bills of fires in the woods
148 73
Expenses of Board of Health
386 59
Grand Army, Decoration Day
125 00
Sundries
10 65
Services of Selectmen
625 00
$3,762 87
CR.
By-
Balance from old account
$173 45
Appropriation
3,000 00
Sewer rights
348 22
Voting list
55
Cash from sale of desk .
10 00
Cash from sale of furnace
6 00
Cash from sale of armory fixtures
15 00
3,553 22
Overdrawn
$209 65
The expenditures under this account have been larger than usual, caused chiefly by repairs in and about the Town House, amounting to $705.98, the items comprising this amount are, viz .: Shingling the roof of the Town House, costing $98.71. Fit- ting up and furnishing the Selectmen's room and offices in the upper rooms, $321.22. Fence in front of the building, $109.64 and $150 for new furnace, the old one being too small to properly heat the whole building. The expenses on account of the Board of Health have been exceptionally large and account for the overdraft in the account.
An appropriation of $3,000 in addition to the deficiency will be required for the current year, and is recommended.
19
SCHOOLS.
CR.
By appropriation $24,000 00
By order from Road Department 5 00
By interest from Murdock Fund
18 25
$24,023 25
DR.
To payments in 1885
24,604 63
Overdrawn. $581 38
The expenditures on account of schools, as compared with last year, show an increased net expenditure of $2,023.94, the expenditures for the present year being $24,604.63 against $22,580.69 in 1884. The report of the School Committee will probably furnish the Town with the necessary explanations and requirements for the current year.
POOR.
CR.
By balance from old account. $424 92
By appropriation . 6,500 00
By interest from Murdock Fund 18 25
By reimbursements
1,434 88
$8,378 05
DR.
To payments in 1885
7,999 27
Undrawn
$378 78
The net expenditures on account of poor is $6,564.39, against $6,469.00 in 1884.
An appropriation of $6,500 is recommended,
20
INSANE POOR.
DR.
To expended in 1885 CR. $2,238 88
By appropriation for deficiency $100 66
By appropriation, 1885 1,600 00
By reimbursements
435 76
2,136 42
Overdrawn.
$102 46
NEW NORTH INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL BUILDING. CR.
By appropriation undrawn.
$700 00
LIGHTING STREETS AND TOWN HOUSE.
Dec. 31, 1885. CR.
By balance from old account $22 27
By appropriation 1,400 00
$1,422 27
To payments in 1885 DR.
1,408 14
Undrawn $14 13
There have been two gas lights added the present year, one each on Chilton and Carver Streets, making the present number fifty-four.
There are twenty-one lamps, either burning oil or illuminating gas. *
The amount paid for gas for the street lights and Town House has been $1,146.51, for repairs and replacing lanterns, $45.99, and for lighting and oil for twenty-one oil burning lamps, $215.64, in all $1.408.14.
An appropriation of $1,450 for the coming year is recom- mended.
21
VINE HILLS CEMETERY.
Dec. 31, 1885. CR.
$453 50
By sale of lots in 1885
292 35
DR.
To payments in 1885
539 57
Undrawn $206 28
There have been sold during the year seventeen lots, from which has been received $275.85, and $16.50 for lots sold in previous years.
There is due for two lots sold, but not paid for, $34.99.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Dec. 31, 1885. CR.
By balance from old account
$50 86
By appropriation . 3,000 00
DR.
$3,050 86
To payments in 1885
2,841 22
Undrawn
$209 64
COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
Dec. 31, 1885. CR.
By balance from old account $22 99
By appropriation ?
. 500 00
$522 99
By balance from old account
$745 85
22
CONTRA, DR.
To paid Collector, collecting back taxes, $8,299.33, at 1 per cent. $82 99
Salary
500 00
$582 99
Less 1 per cent. on $7,357.75 uncol-
lected 73 57
509 42
Undrawn $13 57
WATCH AND POLICE.
Dec. 31, 1885. DR.
To balance of old account $9 03
To payments in 1885
1,271 10
$1,280 13
CR.
By appropriation
1,260 00
Overdrawn
$20 13
WARREN FUND.
Jan. 1, 1885. CR.
By balance of old account $1,095 56
By interest. 50 00
Balance.
$1,145 56
23
FRESH BROOK.
Dec. 31, 1885. CR.
$11 92
By balance from old account.
DR.
To payment in 1885
7 00
Undrawn
$4 92
BURIAL HILL.
CR.
By appropriation
DR.
$500 00
To payments in 1885
375 03
$124 97
The amount available from the Warren Fund, in addition to the balance to the credit of the account, will provide for the care and improvement of the Hill, and no appropriation is recommended.
TREASURER.
CR.
By appropriation
$600 00
DR.
To Treasurer's salary, 1885
$600 00
SEXTON.
CR.
By appropriation
$125 00
DR.
To sexton's salary, 1885
$125 00
24
ABATEMENTS.
Dec. 31, 1885. CR.
By abatements, balance of old account
$ 1,255 27
By overlay, 1885. 1,331 88
DR.
$2,587 15
To abatements in 1885
797 56
Balance
$1,789 59
ASSESSORS.
DR.
To payments in 1885
CR.
$871 86
By balance from old account
$67 22
By appropriation
800 00
867 22
Overdrawn
. $4 64
DUXBURY & COHASSET RAILROAD SINKING
FUND.
CR.
$1,500 00
By appropriation
DR.
To payment on account note at Plym- outh Savings Bank $750 00
To payment on account note at Plym-
outh Five Cents Savings Bank ...
750 00
$1,500 00
25
TRAINING GREEN FUND.
Dec. 31, 1885. CR.
By balance from old account
$676 01
By interest. 27 48
Balance
$703 49
MURDOCK FUND.
CR.
By fund re-established
$730 00
By interest 36 50
DR.
To payment to poor account
$18 25
To payment to schools
18 25
36 50
Balance
$730 00
The Guide Boards of the Town have been replaced and repainted and are reported in good condition.
APPROPRIATIONS.
Schools ..
$21,300 00
School books and supplies 1,800 00
Town debt and interest 3,000 00
Roads and bridges
7,500 00
Improvements of sidewalks
1,000 00
Fire Department
2,800 00
Watch and police
1,300 00
Lighting streets and town house
1,450 00
Insane poor 1,725 00
4
$766 50
26
New roads $1,700 00
Contingent 3,000 00
Poor
6,500 00
Assessors
950 00
Collector of Taxes .
500 00
Treasurer
600 00
Duxbury & Cohasset Railroad Sinking Fund. 1,500 00
Sexton
125 00
$56,750 00
DEFICIENCIES.
Contingent.
$209 65
Schools.
581 38
Insane poor
102 46
Indigent soldiers aid
534 03
New roads.
3,826 10
5,253 62
$62,003 62
The revenue not otherwise appropriated is estimated as follows:
Corporation tax
$5,500 00
Bank tax
2,000 00
Miscellaneous receipts
300 00
7,800 00
$54,203 62
Leaving the sum of $54,203.62, which it is recommended be raised by taxation for the expenses of the current year.
WILLIAM H. NELSON, -
Selectmen
EVERETT F. SHERMAN, L. T. ROBBINS, of JOHN CHURCHILL, - Plymouth.
WINSLOW B. STANDISH, J
PLYMOUTH, Feb. 10, 1886.
27
VALUATION.
Real estate $3,136,425 00
Personal property
1,406,425 00
$4,542,850 00
Gain in real estate
$32,800 00
Loss in personal property 74,600 00
Number of polls, 1,943.
Number of polls, women, 10.
Tax on polls, $2.00.
Rate of taxation, $14.00.
Number of horses, 557.
Number of cows, 413.
Number of sheep, 75.
Number of dwelling-houses, 1,267.
Number of acres of land taxed, 50,700
28
COPY OF ARTICLES IN THE WARRANT
FOR THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING, TO BE HELD IN DAVIS HALL, AT 8.30 O'CLOCK IN THE FORENOON OF MARCH 1, 1886.
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator.
ARTICLE 2. To hear the report of the several officers and committees of the Town, and act thereon.
ARTICLE 3. To choose all necessary Town officers.
ARTICLE 4. To choose a Committee to regulate the fisheries in Agawam and Half-way Pond rivers, and take such other action relating to the same as the Town shall deem expedient.
ARTICLE 5. To choose one Water Commissioner to serve for three years.
ARTICLE 6. To revise and accept a list of jurors prepared by the Selectmen.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer, under the direction of the Selectmen, to borrow money in antici- pation of taxes, and for disbursements under the provisions of the laws relating to State aid, and to defray the expenses of the Town after January 1, 1887.
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will authorize the Collector of Taxes to use all means of collecting the taxes which a Town Treasurer, when appointed a Collector, may use.
ARTICLE 9. To make the necessary appropriations to defray the expenses of the Town, and for other purposes, and raise such sums of money as the Town shall deem expedient,
29
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will raise the sum of $125 to defray the expenses of Decoration Day.
ARTICLE 11. "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intox- icating liquors in this Town ?" Vote to be by separate ballot, . "yes " or " no," in answer to the question.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will accept the laying out of Bartlett Street, as made by the Selectmen.
ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to prosecute, compromise or defend, any claim or suit within the Commonwealth in the name of the Town.
ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will pay the sum of $2.00 a day to its laborers.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will accept an act passed by the Legislature of the Commonwealth in the year 1882, entitled, " An act authorizing towns and cities to lay out public parks within their limits."
ARTICLE 16. To see what action the Town will take on the claim of Samuel Sampson, administrator of the estate of Alice B. Sampson, for damages on account of the death of said Alice B. Sampson by reason of the Town Tree, so called, falling upon her.
ARTICLE 17. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to dispose of the Indian lands in South Plymouth.
30
ABSTRACT OF RECORDS FOR 1885.
Voted -- That hereafter, until further ordered, the Selectmen be instructed to insert in the warrant for the annual meeting, the article for the choice of Town officers after the article for hearing the annual reports, and acting thereon.
Voted-That the Committee on Inland Fisheries be instructed to enforce the laws relating to inland fisheries, and that they be authorized to incur all necessary expense not exceeding fifty dollars.
Voted-That the Selectmen be instructed to confer with the County Commissioners and consider the expediency of releas- ing to the County, for a nominal consideration, a strip of land on the north slope of the hill outside of Burial Hill fence, not exceeding twenty feet in width, provided the County build and maintain a substantial wall to support the bank, and report to the Town at the next meeting.
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