USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1894-1896 > Part 14
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March 2 .- Voted, That the Collector of Taxes be authorized to receive the taxes for the ensuing year at such places as he shall designate on or before the fifteenth day of October; that interest be charged on all taxes remaining unpaid on said fifteenth day of October at the rate of six per cent. per annum, and such rate shall continue
until otherwise ordered by the Town, and all taxes and interest remaining unpaid on the first day of January following shall be collected forthwith by legal process, and the Collector is hereby authorized to collect at once by legal process all taxes of previous years outstanding.
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March 2 .- Voted, That the sum of one hundred three thousand, seven hundred sixty-six and Po'% dollars be raised and assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth, and upon the estates of non-resi- dents to defray the expenses of the Town for the ensuing year.
April 14 .- Voted, That the vote of the Town passed at the annual town meeting in regard to the vacant lot of land on South Street, be reconsidered.
April 14 .- Voted, That Mr. Lewis Eddy be authorized and instructed to grade and improve the lot on South Street, occupied in part by the Primary School-house, and enclose the same with a post and rail, or single chain fence, at an expense not to exceed the sum appropriated for the same at the annual town meeting, last March, namely, $650.00.
April 14 .- Voted, That the Dog Fund, amounting to $777.00, and the additional sum of $530.00 be and hereby is appropriated for the use of the Pub- lic Library for the current year to be ex- pended : First, towards keeping the Library open from the opening in the morning con- secutively till the closing hour at night : second, toward a revision of the library and the printing of a new catalogue, and that the Directors of the Library be requested to print in the Town Report each year the number of patrons, the number of books issued and under the various headings of Historical, Biographi- cal, Scientific, Poetic, etc .; also the periodicals and papers furnished the Reading Room and
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the number patronizing it, and such other in- formation as the Directors may deem proper. April 14 .- Voted, That the Town accept and allow the lay-out of a Town way from Alden to Spooner Street, as laid out by the Selectmen and re- ported to the Town.
April 14. .. Voted, That the Town accept and allow the lay- out of a Town way from Samoset to Alden Street, as laid out by the Selectmen and re- ported to the Town.
April 14 .- Voted, That the Town accept and allow the alterations of Union Street, as altered by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
April 14 .- Voted, That the Selectmen be and are hereby authorized to take a lease of such property as they see fit, for an armory, for a term not exceeding five years.
April 14 .- Voted, That the Town appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars for sewers.
April 14 .- Voted, That the Selectmen be and are hereby authorized to sell for one dollar, and convey any interest the Town may have in the lot of land on the Northerly side of Sandwich Street, near Water Street, on which the house of Thomas A. Peterson stands, including the land around the house, and extending from Sandwich Street to Town Brook, provided said Peterson shall give a right to the Town to maintain the sewer or drain now running through said premises.
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April 14 .- Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to borrow the sum of three thousand dollars and to issue therefor the notes of the Town, each for the sum of three hundred dollars, bearing interest at a rate not exceeding 43 per cent. per annum, payable semi-annually, dated July 1st, 1896, and payable, one at the end of each year there- after, until the whole are paid, said notes to be signed by the Treasurer and approved by a majority of the Selectmen.
April 14 .- Voted, That the Town authorize the Selectmen to make a contract for lighting the streets and Town House for a term not exceeding three years, at a cost of not exceeding five thou- sand dollars a year.
April 14 .- Voted, That the number of the School Com- mittee be reduced from six to three, in the manner provided by the statute.
April 14. - Voted, That the further sum of fifteen hundred and thirty dollars be apppropriated at this meeting, viz. : Public Library, $530.00 ; sewers, $1,000.00 in addition to the amount of $103,766.52 appro- priated at the annual meeting, making a total amount of one hundred, five thousand, two hundred, ninety-six and 5% dollars be raised and assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth, and upon the estates of the non-residents, to defray the expenses of the Town for the ensuing year.
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
The Selectmen respectfully submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1896 :
STATE HIGHWAY.
The last annual report contained extended reference to the highway and bridge at Manomet. These were con- structed by the Town under contract and bargain with the State Highway Commissioners, under their super- vision, and from plans and specifications drawn by that Board, with the understanding, so far as the present Board of Selectmen have knowledge of the matter, that the entire cost of the work to the Town would be re- imbursed upon filing proper vouchers of the cost of same. By the report of the Treasurer it will be seen that at the beginning of the year there was a balance of State highway account of $6,819.04. Since that time a pay- ment of $3,589.13 has been made, and a few small bills charged up to the account, leaving a net balance at the end of the year due from the State $4,117.59 accord- ing to the books of the Town. During the year this claim has been pressed upon the attention of the State Board repeatedly, but so far no further allowance could be obtained, as, unfortunately for the Town, the State
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Board seems to measure cost by feet and inches rather than by dollars and cents, as paid out by the Town to its citizens for the work done.
To make clear the position of the State Highway Commissioners in this matter, the Selectmen beg leave to quote from a communication received from that Board under date of January 23, 1897, as follows : " Chairman of the Selectmen, Plymouth, Mass. :
" DEAR SIR-Your letter of Jan. 15, stating that you find that there is a balance due from this Board on account of the con- struction of the State highway at Manomet, was brought to the attention of the Board at its meeting held Jan. 21, and I was directed to make reply that the Board does not think it advis- able to make any further allowance on the claim."
During the summer the Selectmen were duly notified that the further sum of $4,000 had been apportioned for the extension of the State highway, and that a pre- liminary survey should be made by the Town, and choice of route be given, so far as the Selectmen had preference in the matter. Three surveys were made by Mr. Lyman, under direction of this Board, and each care- fully considered. One by the present Shore road, so called, one by the Pine Hills road, and one through the valley east of the latter. The Selectmen finally decided, after receiving a petition signed by nearly every voter in Manomet, and considering the saving in distance of about a mile and a quarter, that the Pine Hills route was the most desirable of the three, and so advised the Com- missioners.
The recommendation of this Board was accepted, and the contractor has now entered upon the work, which by the coming summer will probably be completed, and the road again opened to the use of the Town in a
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much improved condition. The Town under the Statute had the first right to contract with the Commissioners for the work, but in view of the unsatisfactory condition of the State highway account, as referred to above, it was deemed advisable by the Selectmen to waive that provision and allow the Commissioners to advertise for bids covering the work proposed.
The additional section as now laid out will extend from the Beaver Dam road to the top of the Pine Hills, following substantially the line of the old road, with a. much improved grade as well as road-bed, and it is hoped that with another appropriation it may be carried to the Hotel Pilgrim.
NEW ROADS.
Extensions and improvements have been made in this. department. Special attention is called to the work on Spooner Street, now in fairly good condition as to road- bed and sidewalk. The widening of Union Street, from Fremont to Bradford streets, is a very great improve- ment to that section and at a small cost to the Town. One half of the land damage for the entire length of the widening was assumed by our public-spirited and generous citizen, Mr. Nathaniel Morton, who has upon many occasions before testified substantially his broad and philanthropic interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the Town.
The further widening of Fremont Street, from Union Street to the shore, by taking the strip of land dona- ted by the estate of Charles Burton, for the purpose of broadening the sidewalk, is a marked improvement to which the Selectmen desire to call attention.
The cost of the work on the extension from Valler-
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ville to Ellisville, was probably increased by three or four hundred dollars, owing to the fact that the Coun- ty Commissioners required a width of 18 feet instead of 15 feet, as estimated by the Selectmen in the ori- ginal calculation submitted to the Town. This road is now open to travel and being near the shore it will, no doubt, in time, invite improvement and settlement in that section.
Standish Avenue, as accepted by the Town at the annual meeting, has not been worked, owing to the expenditures of the appropriation in other sections as enumerated above; but it is now proposed to enter upon that work at once from Samoset Street with the unex- pended balance, and before the annual meeting some progress will have been made. If it is considered de- sirable that this improvement should be carried through at once from Samoset Street to Spooner Street, a con- siderable appropriation will be needed.
The items of outlay in this department during the year are as follows :-
Vallerville to Ellisville
$1,591 78
Spooner Street
1,089 94
Water and Union Streets
86 00
Fremont Street
146 75
a
Lincoln Street. 5 00
Union Street . 1,237 63
Standish Avenue 17 00
$4,174 10
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ROADS AND BRIDGES.
This department might more properly be referred to as roads and sidewalks ; considering the fact that much more is expended annually on sidewalks, in concrete re- pairs, and extensions, than on bridges. Under the careful supervision of the Superintendent of Streets, the high- ways of the Town have been kept in good condition, with the exception of a period of dry weather during the summer, when, with our light and sandy soil, it was of no avail to make repairs.
The experimental section of macadam through Court and Main streets is proving the wisdom of that outlay, as it has now had the test of a year's constant traffic, and little, if any wear is perceptible. No expenditure has been made except for cleaning, and watering for a short time during the early spring, when complaint was made of dust from the fine surface layer, which was not hardened down as it now is, and probably little, if any further trouble will be had from this source.
Your Board is not prepared to recommend a further appropriation for macadam, until its durability shall have been fully tested by the present section, so that the Town may be satisfied that it is not only desirable as an improved roadbed, but is economical in the end. The considerable overdraft in this account was caused by the difficulty of estimating accurately the repairs on roads and sidewalks required to give satisfactory and safe accommodation to the public. The heavy snowfall in December caused an expenditure of something over fifteen hundred dollars, which of course could not have been anticipated in asking for appropriation.
The question of widening Middle Street, in order to p2
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obtain the bequest made in the will of the late J. Henry Stickney for that purpose, will be brought before the Town at the annual meeting. To carry out fully what seem to have been Mr. Stickney's intentions in the matter, would require an additional outlay on the part of the Town; but with the growing public inter- est in the Pilgrim traditions and the annual increase of visitors to the Town, effort should be made to pre- serve and protect all points of historic interest.
SEWERS.
Extensions in the sewer have been made chiefly in localities where application has been made by residents desiring the same, and where the entrance fees would, to a large extent, cover the cost of construction. The section from Fremont Street through Sandwich Street south was much more expensive than was anticipated, owing to the difficulties encountered in excavating to the depth required in that part by the Engineer's plan - eighteen feet. So that the overdraft in this account is largely due to the excessive cost of a small portion of the actual extension.
Until recently the outlet pipe in the harbor has been a theme for much criticism, and doubts have been ex- pressed as to the possibility of ever obtaining satisfactory results from it. Your Board has continued investigations in regard to it, and as a fortunate result a short time ago it was discovered that a metallic bucket had lodged in the pipe through the carelessness of some employee of the contractor, and had practically closed the pipe. This obstruction being removed, a jacket was placed over the outlet a short distance from the shore, which had been used previous to the discovery of the bucket. The pipe is now working satisfactorily the entire length of the
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harbor section, and in accordance with the theory of the Engineer.
The detail of extension is as follows :
Highland Place
190 feet 6 inches
Vernon Street
1,160 "
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66
Bartlett Place
270
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66
Sandwich Street 440
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66
320
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North Green Street
148
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66
South Street.
900
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66
Mayflower Street
366
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66
LIGHTING STREETS.
At the last annual meeting the appropriation for this department was reduced from $6,000 to $5,000. This was done upon the recommendation of a majority of the Board, presumably upon the supposition that the Town would instruct the Selectmen as to what section, or sections, of the street lighting should be discontin- ued. As no instructions were received, the Board has been obliged either to exceed the appropriation or to reduce the number of lights. As the present lighting system was, we assume, established by the Town with a full understanding of the cost and the extent of the territory to be covered, it has not seemed to your Board a matter within its province to arbitrarily cut off sections of the Town from the convenience of the street lights, obtained fairly by appeal to the Town or to the Board. Therefore it was unanimously agreed by the Selectmen that the present system should continue until such time as the Town should give definite in- struction in the matter.
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HARBOR MASTER.
Under Chapter 69 of the Public Statutes, Selectmen have authority to appoint a Harbor Master where such official may be required. On account of the constantly increasing traffic in our harbor during the summer s ea- son, it seemed to your Board desirable that authority should be vested in some person for the regulation and control of our harbor front and channels in accordance with the provisions of law governing the same. Mr. E. W. Harlow, as one familiar with all our harbor limits from long experience and investigation, was appointed to serve as Harbor Master of the port of Plymouth and has rendered efficient service.
TOWN BELL.
Under vote of the Town the Selectmen made con- tract with the Blake Bell Co., of Boston, successors to the Paul Revere Co., for recasting the old town bell, and from tests already made the work seems entirely satisfactory. The bell is now in the tower of the new Unitarian Church ; and as soon as that structure has been accepted by the Society, the bell will be perma- nently placed for the use of the Town.
TAXES.
The Selectmen wish to impress upon those specially aggrieved in the matter of taxation, and upon all citi- zeus, that the time to get relief from this burden is at the annual meeting, where all appropriations are made, and not at the office of the Collector who is obliged to follow the instructions of the Assessors. A careful and judicious scrutiny of all appropriations re- commended is therefore suggested.
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With diminishing resources, as a result of the general depression in business, the expenditures of the Town for the present should be restricted to absolute neces- sities. Large appropriations for railroads, school build- ings and highways may be avoided if the Town is put upon a dietetic regime of Catholic fast days, rather than to continue the feast days of the past ten years.
The following statement of valuation and taxation for the past ten years may be of interest in this connection :
YEAR.
VALUATION.
TAX.
1886.
$4,915,725 00
$66,826 28
1887.
5,158,956 00
80,422 06
1888.
5,373,325 00
79,478 05
1889.
5,501,000 00
74,589 80
1890.
5,755,400 00
80,217 78
1891.
5,906,600 00
86,972 10
1892.
5,953,600 00
92,382 28
1893.
6,241,550 00
101,849 74
1894.
6,411,825 00
112,340 66
1895.
6,678,700 00
116,050 16
1896.
6,947,700 00
119,079 91
The following appropriations are asked for by the several departments of the Town :
Schools .
$32,000 00
School books and supplies
3,000 00
Roads and bridges 14,000 00
Fire Department
5,000 00
Poor
6,000 00
Insane Poor
3,000 00
Lighting streets
6,000 00
Town debt and interest
22,500 00
Sidewalks
1,500 00
Amount carried forward $93,000$00
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Amount brought forward. $93,000 00
Contingent .
4,500 00
Watch and police
2,200 00
Assessors
1,600 00
Sexton 125 00
New roads
3,000 00
Parks
500 00
Training Green
200 00
Collector of Taxes 700 00
Treasurer
700 00
$106,525 00
Overdrawn, as per Treasurer's report.
20,146 74
$126,671 74
Less-
Corporation tax $6,700 00
Bank tax. 1,900 00
600 00
Miscellaneous . .
9,200 00
$117,471 74
To cover the amount required as above, it will be neces- sary to raise by taxation the sum of $117,471.74 to meet the expenses of the Town for the year 1897.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES MILLAR, H. M. SAUNDERS, T. ALLEN BAGNELL, of
Selectmen
JAS. B. COLLINGWOOD, D. H. CRAIG, Plymouth.
PLYMOUTH, MASS., January 30, 1896.
D
REPORT OF THE TREASURER
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1896.
The Treasurer is charged with-
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1896. $9,584 46
Water rates, labor and material 17,087 71
Sewer entries 1,603 00
Temporary loan 81,500 00
Agawam and Half-way Pond fishery
331 50
Poor Department reimbursement
1,030 05
Roads and bridges
672 13
Parks
66
20 00
State highway
66
3,589 13
repairs
121 60
Macadamizing 66
14 94
Cemeteries, sale of lots
228 84
Old Colony National Bank dividend 300 00
Warren fund interest
50 00
Sale of herring streams 115 00
Sale of town records 19 00
Seal bounty from County 204 00
Military aid from State, Chap. 279 343 73
State 66
301 3,702 00
Dr. LeBaron fund, interest 27 00
Insane poor reimbursements. 914 50
Amount carried forward $121,458 59
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Amount brought forward. $121,458 59
Armory rent from State.
300 00
Fines from Court 847 07
Interest on taxes 644 11
New roads loan
3,000 00
Dog fund from County
770 00
New roads reimbursements
358 00
Schools, Murdock fund
18 25
Sidewalks reimbursements
102 00
Training Green, sale of lawn mower
1 00
Sale of wood, Indian lands
7 00
Licenses
97 00
Cold Spring school-house
551 00
Corporation tax
6,503 24
Bank tax
1,831 20
Tax, 1894, including abatement of $153.56
3,293 57
“ 1895,
322.42
8,573 24
1896,
" 1,802.00
106,586 61
$254,941 88
The Treasurer is credited with the following payments : Temporary loan repaid $53,500 00
Schools 33,078 35
Water Department. 17,279 05
Roads and bridges
17,214 03
New schools.
8,628 81
Notes paid
16,536 66
Interest 6,678 64
Contingent
6,984 44
State tax
4,620 00
County tax 8,775 37
National Bank tax
4,911 37
Amount carried forward $178,206 72
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Amount brought forward $178,206 72"
Poor Department.
7,582 63
Fire Department.
5,663 32
New roads
4,174 10,
Watch and police
2,850 59
Insane poor.
3,991 74-
Sidewalks
2,531 64
Cemeteries
625 45.
Sewers
4,184 78.
Assessors
1,628 18.
Collector of Taxes
700 00
Treasurer
700 00}
Abatements
2,277 98
Memorial Day
150 00
Sexton
125 00
Public Library
975 00
Agawam Half-way Pond fishery
99 94
Soldiers' relief, Chap. 447
907 26;
State aid, Chap. 301
3,841 50
Military aid, Chap. 279
876 17
Seal bounty
141 00
Parks
550 84
Training Green
163 76
Lighting streets
6,436 90
Macadamizing
1,030 17
Widows
100 00
State highway
887 68,
State highway repairs
121 60
Warren fund
50 00
Murdock fund
36 50
South Street school-house lot
648 56
Balance 22,682 87
$254,941 88
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The undrawn balances of the several appropriations are as follows :
Assessors . .
$169 58
Abatements
1,817 55
Public Library
325 00
New roads.
940 40
Parks
30 69
Poor
514 99
Schools
1,939 90
Training Green
2 61
Warren fund.
1,000 00
Murdock fund.
730 00
Water.
3,253 87
Fresh Brook.
23 92
Cemeteries.
228 15
South Street school-house lot ..
1 44
Dr. Francis LeBaron fund, interest.
27 00
$11,005 10
The overdrawn balances of the several appropriations are as follows :
Contingent.
$348 37
Fire Department.
475 88
Insane Poor.
77 24
Military aid. . 907 17
Lighting streets.
1,295 91
New schools
3,248 30
Macadamizing ..
290 36
Roads.
2,541 90
Seal bounty ..
141 00
Sewers
1,289 99
Soldiers' relief
907 26
Sidewalks.
458 24
State aid
3,858 00
State highway.
4,117 59
Town debt and interest.
71 19
Watch and police.
118 34
$20,146 74
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TOWN DEBT.
WATER LOAN.
Four per cent. bonds dated June 1, 1885, pay-
able $2,800.00 annually $50,400 00
Four per cent. bonds dated August 1, 1890, pay- able $1,300.00 annually . 27,300 00
Four per cent. notes dated August 1, 1894, pay- able $800.00 annually 18,400 00
Four per cent. note dated February 3, 1894, payable $240.00 annually . 1,920 00
$98,020 00
CONSOLIDATED LOAN.
Plymouth Savings Bank, 4} per
cent. note dated April 1, 1891,
payable $2,200.00 annually .. $11,000 00
Plymouth Five Cents Savings
Bank, 4} per cent. note dated
April 20, 1891, payable
$670.00 annually .
3,350 00
14,350 00
FIRE DEPARTMENT LOAN.
Five per cent. note dated July 1,
1893, payable $1,000.00 annu- ally . . $2,000 00
Four and one-half per cent. note dated Dec. 9, 1893, payable $200.00 annually . 400 00
2,400 00
Amount carried forward.
$114,770 00
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Amount brought forward $114,770 00
PLYMOUTH & MIDDLEBOROUGH R. R. LOAN.
Four per cent. note dated January 7, 1892, payable $5,000.00 an- nually 30,000 00
HIGH SCHOOL HOUSE LOAN.
Four per cent. note Plymouth Savings Bank, dated July 1, 1891, payable $2,000 annually $10,000 00 Four per cent. note Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank, dated July 1, 1891, payable $2,000 annually . 10,000 00
Four per cent. note Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank, dated March 10, 1894, payable $350 annually 2,800 00
22,800 00
NEW SCHOOL-HOUSES LOAN.
Five per cent. note dated July 3,
1893, payable $500 annually . $3,500 00
Four and one-half per cent. note, dated December 9, 1893, pay- able $500 annually 3,500 00
Four per cent. note, dated Feb. 3, 1894, payable $200 annually. 1,600 00
Four per cent. note, dated August 1, 1895, payable $266.66 an- nually . 7,733 14
16,333 14
Amount carried forward. $183,903 14
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Amount brought forward. $183,903 14
SEWER LOAN.
Four and one-half per cent. note,
dated November 1, 1893, pay- able $750 annually. $12,750 00
Four per cent. note, dated April 2, 1894, payable $500 annually .. 4,000 00
Four per cent. note, dated August 1, 1895, payable $100 annu- ally . 900 00
17,650 00
MACADAMIZING LOAN.
Four per cent. notes, dated August 1, 1895, payable $300 annually 8,700 00
NEW ROADS.
Note dated July 1, 1896, payable $300 annually
3,000 00
Debt December 31, 1896 $213,253 14
Debt December 31, 1895 231,929 80
Decrease for year
$18,676 66
Paid on debt, 1896
$21,676 66
Borrowed during 1896. 3,000 00
18,676 66
There is due the Town as follows :
Uncollected taxes, 1895.
$4,638 04
Uncollected taxes, 1896 17,345 55
$21,983 59
Military aid from State
453 59
State aid from State.
3,858 00
Seal bounty from County 141 00
$26,436 18
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CONTINGENT.
CR.
Appropriation $4,500 00
Appropriation for deficiency . 647 94
Armory rent 300 00
Fines ...
847 07
Miscellaneous receipts .
989 00
Balance overdrawn
348 37
$7,632 38
DR.
Overdrawn balance of old account.
$647 94
Stationery
21 83
Surveying
26 75
Inspector of cattle and hogs ..
612 50
Fuel .
118 03
Incidentals
420 32
Clerk of the Selectmen
150 00
Town meeting expenses
222 65
Return of births, deaths, etc.
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