Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1900-1902, Part 16

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Town of Plymouth
Number of Pages: 476


USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1900-1902 > Part 16


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23


Article 13. To see if the Town will accept the alteration and widening of Newfield street from Summer street to land of Joseph A. Maybury and land of the heirs of Anna Rogan, as altered and widened by the Selectmen and re- ported to the Town.


Article 14. To see if the Town will accept the alteration of Murray street from Court street to land of Ann O'Brien, as altered by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.


Article 15. To see if the Town will discontinue such


-153-


parts of Murray street from Court street to land of Ann O'Brien, formerly in use, but not included in the alteration above reported to the Town.


Article 16. To see if the Town will accept the layout of Bay View avenue from Sandwich street running westerly to land of John F. Waters and land of Seth W. Paty, as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.


Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to macadamize Market and Sandwich streets, from Town square to Jabez Corner, and make an appropriation therefor.


Article 18. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to issue bonds or notes of the Town to an amount not exceeding $8,000.00, for the purpose of macadamizing Market and Sandwich streets.


Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to build a new stable, and make an appropriation therefor.


Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Water Commissioners to build a fireproof pumping station, install a new pump and boiler, and make alterations in the present station suitable for two tenements.


Article 21. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to issue bonds or notes of the Town to an amount not exceeding $20,000.00, for the purpose of raising money for a fireproof pumping station, installing a new pump and boiler, and making alterations in the present station suitable for two tenements.


Article 22. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $5,500.00 for the erection of a new school building on Oak street.


Article 23. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to issue bonds or notes of the Town to an amount not exceeding $5,500.00, for the purpose of raising money to be expended in the erection of a new school building on Oak street.


Article 24. To see if the Town will hereafter refer the


4


-154-


appropriations recommended by the Selectmen and other Town officers and committees, and the remaining articles in the warrant involving an appropriation, to a committee to be appointed by the Moderator, who shall report in print with their estimates and recommendations, and with appropriate forms of votes for final action of the Town at. the Annual Meeting.


Article 25. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to petition the Legislature for an act creating a Board of Public Works, which shall have general charge of the construction and maintenance of the streets, bridges and sidewalks, and of the lighting and watering of the streets, of the locating and removing of the poles, wires, pipes and fixtures in or over any street, of the public sewers and drains, and of the water works and water pipes in the Town; pro- vided, however, that such act shall not take effect until its acceptance by two-thirds of the legal voters of the Town present and voting, at a meeting called for that purpose.


Article 26. To see what action the Town will take in re- gard to providing an armory, including the purchase of land and the erection of a new building, and the appropriation of any land now owned by the Town for such purpose.


Article 27. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to issue bonds or notes of the Town for the purpose of raising money for an armory, including land therefor.


Article 28. To see if the Town will establish a hospital for the reception of persons having a disease dangerous to the public health, and make an appropriation therefor not exceeding $1,200.00.


Article 29. To see if the Town will vote that the remain- ing cost of the publication of the third volume of the Town records heretofore authorized, and the proceeds of sales, be respectively charged and credited to the Contingent account ; the press copy of the records for said volume having been already prepared and paid for under an appropriation made in 1896.


-155-


Article 30. To see if the Town will instruct the Select- men to appoint an additional night watchman, and make an appropriation therefor:


Article 31. To see what action the Town will take to pro- vide for an improvement of the Town lockup facilities, and make an appropriation therefor.


Article 32. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to sell the right to take herring from Town Brook, Fresh Brook and Eel River, for a term of years.


Article 33. To see what action the Town will take in restoring Eel River to its original course to the harbor, and make an appropriation therefor.


Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to buy a new steam fire engine, and make an appropriation therefor.


Article 35. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to issue bonds or notes of the Town to an amount not exceeding $5,000.00, for the purpose of raising money to be expended in the purchase of a new steam fire engine.


Article 36. To choose all necessary Town officers. The following officers to be voted for all on one ballot, viz .: Five Selectmen, Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, Auditor, one member of a Board of Health for three years, one Assessor for three years, seven Constables, one Overseer of the Poor for three years, two Water Commis- sioners for three years, two members of the School Commit- tee for three years, one Park Commissioner for three years, and three members of a Committee on Agawam and Half- way Pond Fishery ; and to vote by ballot, "Yes" or "No," in answer to the question, "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this Town?"


The polls for the election of officers and the vote on the license question will be open at the Casino at s'x o'clock in the forenoon, on said Saturday, the eighth day of March, 1902, and may be closed at three o'clock in the afternoon. Both of said days will constitute the Annual Meeting, and


-156-


this call is issued in accordance with the vote of the Town passed June 5, 1897.


And you are hereby required to serve this warrant in the manner prescribed by a vote of the Town, by posting notices thereof in three public places in the Town, seven days at least before the meeting, one of which postings shall be in Chil- tonville, and one in Manomet Ponds, and also by publishing the warrant in the newspapers published in Plymouth, and make return thereof with your doings thereon, at the time and place first above mentioned.


Given under our hands this fifteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and two.


HORACE M. SAUNDERS, D. H. CRAIG,


A. T. HARLOW.


HENRY O. WHITING,


E. D. HILL,


Selectmen of Plymouth.


February 15, 1902.


Plymouth, ss.


Pursuant to the foregoing warrant the inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth, qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs, are hereby notified to meet at the time and place, and for the purposes therein mentioned.


SAMUEL FERGUSON, Constable of Plymouth.


TOWN OF PLYMOUTH


1620.


S


H


LIBRARY


L


'S


PLYMOUTH, MASS.


REPORT OF THE TOWN OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1902


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


TOWN OFFICERS


OF THE


TOWN OF PLYMOUTH


FOR THE


Year Ending December 3 I


1 902


1620.


A


SS


ACH


OL


.....


...


PLYMOUTH THE MEMORIAL PRESS 1903


PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY


/34


108- 1903


TOWN OFFICERS.


SELECTMEN-Horace M. Saunders, D. H. Craig, H. O. Whiting, Pelham E. Manter, Ira C. Ward.


TOWN CLERK-Edward L. Burgess.


TOWN TREASURER .- Edward L. Burgess.


AUDITOR .- Frank D. Bartlett.


COLLECTOR OF TAXES .- Benjamin F. Ward.


CLERK OF SELECTMEN-Benjamin F. Ward.


ASSESSORS-Benjamin F. Goddard, chosen 1902, for three years; George Harlow, chosen 1900, for three years; James C. Bates, chosen 1901, for three years.


OVEERSEERS OF THE POOR-Charles P. Hatch, chosen 1902, for three years; Benjamin F. Ward, chosen 1900, for three years: Charles A. Strong, chosen 1901, for three years.


WATER COMMISSIONERS-Everett F. Sherman and John W. Churchill, chosen 1900, for three years; Horace P. Bailey and Charles T. Holmes, chosen 1902, for three years; John H. Damon, chosen 1901, for three years.


SCHOOL COMMITTEE-William S. Kyle and J. Holbrook Shaw, chosen 1900, for three years; Elizabeth Thurber, and Arthur E. Lewis, chosen 1902 for three years; Frank H. Perkins and Increase Robinson, chosen 1901, for three years.


-4-


BURIAL HILL COMMITTEE-Selectmen.


AGAWAM FISHERY COMMITTEE-Frank Harlow, Harri- son O. Barnes, George F. Holmes.


PARK COMMISSIONERS-Thomas R. Watson appointed in place of Nathaniel Morton, chosen 1901, for three years; George R. Briggs, chosen 1900. for three years; Walter H. Sears, chosen 1902, for three years.


SURVEYORS AND MEASURERS OF LUMBER-Leavitt T. Robbins, Edward B. Atwood, Cornelius C. Holmes.


SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES-Christopher T. Harris.


BEACH COMMITTEE-Selectmen.


SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS-Stillman R. Sampson.


FIELD DRIVERS AND FENCE VIEWERS-Hosea C. Bartlett, Nathan B. Perry and Wallace Nightingale.


SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER WORKS-Arthur E. Black- mer.


COLLECTOR OF WATER RATES-N. Reeves Jackson.


POUND KEEPERS-Nathan B. Perry, Hosea C. Bartlett.


COMMITTEE ON INLAND FISHERIES-Thomas D. Shum- way, Charles B. Stoddard, Benjamin A. Hathaway.


HARBOR MASTER-Ellis Whiting Harlow.


BOARD OF REGISTRATION-C. H. Holmes, appointed 1901, for three years; William D. Carleton, appointed 1902, for three years; Nathaniel G. Lanman, appointed 1900, for three years; Edward L. Burgess.


SUPERINTENDENT OF OAK GROVE AND VINE HILLS CEM- ETERIES, AND BURIAL HILL-Edward F. Stranger.


-5-


SEXTON-Winslow S. Holmes.


SUPERINTENDENT OF ALMSHOUSE-Obed C. Pratt.


BOARD OF HEALTH-Frederick D. Bartlett, chosen 1900, for three years; Joseph A. Hunting, chosen 1902, for three years; J. Holbrook Shaw, chosen 1901, for three years.


BOARD OF ENGINEERS-Frank H. Lanman, George E. Saunders, John C. Cave, Isaac Hedge, Ephraim D. Bartlett.


SUPERINTENDENT OF CHILTONVILLE CEMETERY-Chas. Rogers.


SUPERINTENDENT OF MANOMET CEMETERY-George A. Manter.


CONSTABLES-Michael Casey, Samuel Ferguson, Joseph W. Hunting, Edward Manter, Freeman Manter, Augustine J. Hogan, Peter Wood and John M. Atwood.


CHIEF OF POLICE-Samuel Ferguson.


COMMITTEE ON SEWERAGE-Selectmen.


TREE WARDEN-George R. Briggs.


FORESTER-George R. Briggs.


LIST OF DEPUTY FOREST FIRE WARDS, 1902-Henry O. Whiting, Assistant forester; Samuel Bradford, Nehemiah L. Savery, Nath'1 T. Clark, Benjamin Whiting, Elkanah Finney, Gustavus G. Sampson, Frank L. St. George, Le- Baron R. Barker, James M. Dowsett, D. Edson Raymond, Albert M. Haskell, George H. Blanchard, Andrew J. Ca- hoon, Henry L. Cahoon, Wm. F. Doten, Zenas E. Lang- ford, Ziba R. Ellis, John T. Pierce, William C. Collingwood, Stillman R. Sampson. Frank B. Holmes consented to act at Manomet without a regular appointment.


ABSTRACT OF RECORDS OF 1902.


-


MARCH 3.


Voted, That the names of Anthony Atwood, LeBarron R. Barker, Frederick C. Clark, Lyman Dixon and Harry O. Sherman be stricken from the list of jurors, and the name of Orrin W. Bennett be added.


Voted, That the jury list revised as above be accepted.


Voted, That the Town authorize the Treasurer, under the direction of the Selectmen, to borrow money in antici- pation of taxes and for disbursement, under the pro- vision of the law relating to State Aid and Military Aid, and to defray the expenses of the Town after January 1, 1903.


On motion of J. W. Hunting, Voted, That the sum of $150.00 be appropriated for Memorial Day.


On motion of William Hedge, Voted, That the Dog Fund amounting to $954.85, and the additional sum of $345.15 be, and hereby are, appropriated for the use of the Public Library.


On motion of Elkanah Finney, Voted, That the Town ac- cept the alteration and widening of Newfields street from Summer street, to land of Joseph A. Maybury, and land of the heirs of Anna Rogan, as altered and widened by the Selectmen, and reported to the Town. On motion of H. M. Saunders, Voted, that the town accept the alteration of Murray street from Court street to land of Ann O'Brien, as altered by the Selectmen, and reported to the Town.


On motion of H. M. Saunders, Voted, That the Town dis-


-7-


continue such parts of Murray street from Court street to land of Ann O'Brien, formerly in use, but not in- cluded in the alteration above reported to and accepted by the Town.


On motion of H. M. Saunders, Voted, That the town ac- cept the layout of Bay View Avenue from Sandwich street, running westerly to land of John F. Waters, and land of Seth W. Paty as laid out by the Selectmen, and reported to the Town.


Articles twenty and twenty-one, being under consideration, John W. Churchill moved that the Water Commis- sioners be instructed to build a fire proof pumping sta- tion, install a new pump and boiler, and make alteration in the present station suitable for two tenements.


On motion of John W. Hallinan, Voted, That articles twenty and twenty-one be referred to a committee of seven to be chosen by the Moderator, and none of the committee to be connected with the Water Department, with in- structions to investigate and report at a subsequent meeting. Said committee shall grant at least one pub- lic hearing between the hours of 7.30 and 10.00 o'clock p. m.


On motion of William S. Kyle, Voted, That for the con- struction and furnishing of a two room schoolhouse on Oak street, the Selectmen are hereby authorized to bor- row the sum of fifty-five hundred dollars, and to issue therefor the note or notes of the Town bearing interest at a rate not exceeding four per cent. per annum, pay- able semi-annually, and payable in ten equal annual payments of five hundred and fifty dollars each, said note or notes to be signed by the Treasurer, and ap- proved by the Selectmen.


One hundred and forty-three voted in the affirmative, and five in the negative, and two-thirds of those voting


-- 8-


thereon having voted in the affirmative, the motion was carried.


On motion of Arthur Lord, Voted, That the Town hereafter refer the appropriations recommended by the Selectmen and other town officers and committees and the remain- ing article in the warrant involving an appropriation to a committee of fifteen to be appointed by the Modera- tor, who shall report in print with their estimate and recommendations, and with appropriate form of votes for final action of the town at the Annual Meeting, and that no town officer serve on that committee.


On motion of Arthur Lord, Voted, That the town authorize the Selectmen to petition the Legislature for an act creating a Board of Public Works, which shall have general charges of the construction and maintenance of the streets, bridges and sidewalks, and of the light- ing and watering of the streets, of the locating and re- moving of the poles, wires, pipes and fixtures in or over any street, of the public sewers and drains, and of the water works and water pipes in the town; pro- vided, however, that such act shall not take effect until its acceptance by two-thirds of the legal voters of the Town present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose.


On motion of William T. Davis, Voted, That the remain- ing cost of the publication of the third volume of the Town Records, and the proceeds of its sales be re- spectively charged and credited to the Contingent ac- count.


On motion of H. M. Saunders, Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to sell the right to take herring from the several streams for a term not exceeding five years.


On motion of William T. Davis, Voted, That the commit- tee to whom was referred the consideration of the ex-


-9-


pediency of re-opening Eel River along its old bed into the harbor, be requested to report to the town at as early a day as possible.


On motion of George E. Saunders, Voted, That a commit- tee of five be appointed by the Moderator to take into consideration the recommendations of the Engineers not all ready disposed of, and the question of repairs to the engine at Seaside.


On motion of William S. Kyle, Voted, That the salary of the Tree Warden be fixed by the Selectmen.


On motion of William S. Kyle, Voted, That the School Committee be a committee to erect the school building on Oak street.


On motion of Samuel Bradford, Voted, That the Commit- tee on Inland Fisheries be instructed to see that a way is opened on Town Brook for a free passage of Ale- wives from the ocean to Billington Sea, their spawning grounds. That all other Alewive streams in Plym- outh be opened for a free passage of the fish to spawn- ing grounds, and such rules and regulations as are necessary in the taking of the fish be made by the com- mittee, and that those ways be opened as far as possi- ble this season.


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 the 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 in- terest remaining unpaid on the first day of January fol- lowing, 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' outstand- ing.


-IO-


Voted, That the Tax Collector be authorized to use all means for collecting taxes, which a Town Treasurer when appointed Collector, may use.


Voted, That the sum of one hundred sixteen thousand six hundred fifty-one and fifty-five one-hundredths dollars ($116,651.55) be raised and assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth, and upon the estates of non-residents, to de- fray the expenses of the Town for the ensuing year.


AUGUST 12. 1902.


Horace M. Saunders moved that the town appropriate the sum of $2,000.00 for roads and bridges. One hun- dred and twenty-nine voted in the affirmative, and none in the negative, and the motion was carried.


Joseph Barnes moved that the town appropriate the sum of $50.00 for Burial Hill. and the motion was carried.


On motion of Horace M. Saunders, Voted, That the town accept the layout of Billington Street as laid out by the Selectmen, and reported to the Town.


On motion of Horace M. Saunders, Voted, That the town appropriate the sum of $1,500.00 for new roads.


On motion of E. A. Keith, Voted, That the town appropriate the sum of $500.00 to extend the macadam road at Manomet Point.


On motion of Elkanah Finney, Voted, That the town ac- cept the location of the addition to Morton Park as filed with the Town Clerk, July 3, 1902.


On motion of William S. Kyle, Voted, That a committee of five persons be appointed by the Moderator, whose duty it shall be to communicate with the officials of the


-IT-


N. Y., N. H. and H. R. R. Co., and to present to them the claims and needs of the town for other and better depot accommodations in Plymouth, and to take such other and further action, in the event of the neglect or refusal of the R. R. Co. to comply with their request, as the committee may judge for the interests of the town.


On motion of William T. Davis, Voted, That in the opinion of the Town of Plymouth, the re-opening of Eel River is necessary to restore and maintain the normal depth of water in the harbor, which has been seriously les- sened by the closing of an inportant tributary.


Article ten being under consideration


On motion of William T. Davis, Voted, that articles IO, II, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22, relating to a Public Convenience, a Lockup, Sewers, Pump and Pumping Station, Engine House and Armory be re- ferred to the Committee of fifteen, appointed by author- ity of a vote passed at the last annual meeting, and that they be instructed to report at the next annual meeting, but if in the opinion of the Committee earlier action should be had on either of said articles, they are hereby instructed to so report to the town at a meeting called at their request, at such time as they may think exped- ient. One hundred and sixty-three voted in the af- firmative and eighty-nine in the negative, and the mo- tion was carried.


On motion of William T. Davis, Voted, That the Selectmen be instructed to communicate with the Selectmen of those towns in the Commonwealth, which contain vol- unteer militia companies, and jointly with them, pe- tition the next Legislature for the passage of an act providing for the erection and maintenance of armories and rifle ranges at the expense of the State.


-12-


On motion of H. M. Saunders, Voted, That the sum of four thousand and fifty dollars ($4,050.00) in addition to the sum of one hundred sixteen thousand six hundred fifty-one and fifty-five one-hundredths dollars ($116,- 651.55) the amount appropriated at the March meeting, making in all the sum of one hundred twenty thousand seven hundred one and fifty-five one-hundredths dol- lars ($120,701.55) be raised and assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants of the town of Plym- outh, and upon the estates of non-residents to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year.


REPORT OF SELECTMEN.


- -


The Selectmen respectfully submit the following report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1902 :


As the detailed statement of the receipts and disburse- ments of the town and the condition of the several appro- priations, will be shown in the Treasurer's report herewith submitted, we deem it unnecessary that they should be shown in the Selectmen's report, so will give a brief sketch of the condition of the Town finances.


TOWN DEBT AND INTEREST.


On December 31, 1901, the funded debt was $198,689 37 The debt has been increased during the year by the Oak Street School House loan of 5,500 00 at three and three-quarters per cent., dated, Aug. 13, 1902.


Total,


$204,189 37


There has been paid on funded loans :-


Water loan, $7,640 00


High school loan, 350 00


Schoolhouse loan, 2,791 49


Plymouth & Middleboro R. R. loan, 5,000 00 Sewer loan, 2,350 00


Steam Roller and Stone Crusher


loan. 500 00


Amounts carried forward, $18,631 49 $204,189 37


-14-


Amounts brought forward.


$18,631 49 $204,189 37


Macadamizing loan, 2,340 00


New Roads loan,


900 00


State Highway loan,


4II 76


$22,283 25


Funded indebtedness Dec. 31, 1902, A decrease for the year of


$181,906 12


$16,783 25


There is a temporary loan of $5,000.00.


The last payment of $5,000.00 has been made on the Ply- mouth & Middleboro R. R. loan dated Jan. 7. 1892, at 4 per cent .; also the last one of $1,000.00 on the Sewer loan dated July 9, 1901, at three and one-half per cent.


Last year the amount appropriated for Town debt and in- terest was $20,000.00. An appropriation of $14,000.00 will be sufficient for the coming year and is therefore rec- ommended.


The following table shows the funded debt of the past five years : also the annual appropriations and tax rates :


Funded debt Jan. 1, 1899,


$175.929 12


I, 1900,


161,915 87


..


..


I, 1901,


175,802 62


..


..


I, 1902,


198,689 37


..


I, 1903, 181,906 12


Valuations.


Appropriations.


Tax Rates.


1898


$6,944,550


$106,968 44


$17 20


1899


7,085.755


105,165 79


16 40


1900


7,800.315


107,609 44


15 20


190I


8.303.593


127.941 26


16 80


1902


8,693,274


120,70I 55


14 80


Gain in valuation for the last five years has been $1,798,- 399 or an average of nearly $360,000 a year.


-15-


ROADS AND BRIDGES.


The roads have been properly cared for, and great im- provements made on Fremont, Oak, Samoset and Alden Streets by regrading and graveling. Also on South Meadow, West Pond, and Cedarville Roads by changing of grades and resurfacing, and a new bridge has been built at Cedarville.


We recommend an appropriation of $16,000.00 for roads and bridges the coming year ; also $1,626.41 to cover the de- ficiency, $812.13 of which was caused by the snow storm of Dec. 6, 1902.


POINT ROAD.


It will be recalled that in 1901, the sum of $3,400 was appropriated to macadamize the Point Road at Manomet.


Much difficulty was experienced in getting the new crushing plant in working order; also in procuring water and stone to be used in building the road. This added so much to the expense that it was clearly seen the appropria- tion would be overdrawn, but the Selectmen deemed it un- advisable to suspend the work before reaching the Ardmore Inn. They. therefore, extended the macadam to this point at an expense of $3.742.78.


On August 12, 1902, the Town voted five hundred dol- lars to extend the macadam the entire length of the road, which was done at an expense of $513.63.


Overdraft on first section,


$342 78 '


Overdraft on second section,


13 63


Total. $356 41


EEL RIVER BRIDGE.


In the Fall of 1901 the Aberthaw Construction Co. took the contract to build this bridge for $1,200, the Town to build the wings and do all necessary road work.


-16-


The road was straightened, and widened each side of the bridge, and this, together with the wings, cost the sum of $2,083.05, causing an overdraft of $583.05.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.