USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1903-1905 > Part 10
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Article I. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Article 2. 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, two Overseers of the Poor, one for three years and one for two years; one Water Commissioner for three years, two mem- bers of the School Committee for three years, one Park Commissioner for three years, and three members of a Com- mittee on Agawam and Halfway 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?"
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The polls for the election of officers and the vote on the license question will be open at the Casino at 6 o'clock in the forenoon, on said Saturday, the 5th day of March, 1904, any may be closed at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Both of said days will constitute the Annual Meeting, and this call is issued in accordance with the vote of the Town, passed June 5th, 1897, as amended March 2nd, 1903.
Article 3. To hear the reports of the several boards of officers and committees of the Town, and act thereon.
Article 4. To revise and accept a list of Jurors prepared by the Selectmen.
Article 5. To see if the Town will authorize the Treas- urer, under the direction of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of taxes, and for disbursement under the provisions of the law relating to State Aid and Military Aid, and to defray the expenses of the Town after January I, 1905.
Article 6. To make the necessary appropriations to de- fray the expenses of the Town, and for other purposes, and to raise such sums of money as the Town shall deem ex- pedient.
Article 7. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $150.00 to pay the expenses of Memorial Day.
Article 8. To take such action as the Town may see fit in aid of the Public Library.
Article 9. To see if the town will authorize the Select- men to renew any note or notes heretofore authorized, which are now due, or may become due the present year. for such time, and on such terms as they may deem expedient for the interests of the Town.
Article 10. To see what appropriation the Town will make for the care and improvement of the various public parks, and of Training Green.
Article II. To take such action as the Town may think
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expedient to preserve the purity of the sources of our water supply.
Article 12. To see what action the Town will take upon the bequest of the late Lucy J. Parker, to establish drinking fountains.
Article 13. To see if the Town will authorize the Se- lectmen to employ counsel and incur expenses, as provided by statute, to represent the Town before the committee of the Legislature on Counties, on the petition of E. H. Keith and others, for the removal of the Registry of Deeds and Probate, and the petition of the County Commissioners for a new building for Registry of Deeds and Probate at Plym- outh.
Article 14. To see if the town will consider the ques- tion of the salaries of all Town officers and act thereon. By petition.
Article 15. 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 building thereon.
Article 16. To see if the Town will authorize the Se- lectmen to issue bonds or notes of the Town, not to exceed $18,000.00 for the purpose of raising money for an armory, including land therefor.
Article 17. To see if the Town will place its woodlands under the care of the park commissioners.
Article 18. To see what action the town will take to provide better Town House accommodations.
Article 19. To see if the Town will provide additional school room needed at the North part of the Town and also at the centre of the Town, and for that purpose make such appropriation as may be required for land and build- ings.
Article 20. To see if the Town will authorize the Se- lectmen to issue bonds or notes of the Town to an amount
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necessary to carry into effect such action as the Town may take under Article 19.
Article 21. 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 22. To see if the Town will authorize the Se- lectmen 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 23. To see if the town will appropriate $1,000.00 for the extension of water pipes.
Article 24. To see if the Town will lay a 6-inch pipe from Sandwich street, down Fremont street, along Union street, through Water street to Sandwich street, at a cost not to exceed $2,500.00. (By request. )
Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to build a new fence at Oak Grove and Vine Hill cemeteries, and make an appropriation therefor.
Article 26. To see if the Town will approprtaie $600.00 for new fire alarm boxes.
Article 27. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $1,200.00 for new hose.
Article 28. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $500.00 for repairs to Engine houses.
Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to deepen the bed of Eel river, from the vicinity of the lower bridge, at the head of the beach to the mouth of the river, at the harbor, and remove all obstructions therein, which retard the free flow of the water; and appropriate the sum of $200.00 to be used for that purpose. (By petition. )
Article 30. To see if the Town will vote and appro- priate the sum of $300.00 for the purpose of cutting the hill in Pondville, South Plymouth, known as Pratt's hill, and to widen and cover the road way of the same.
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Article 31. To see if the Town will accept and allow the layout of Forest avenue, from Court street to Spooner street, as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
Article 32. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to enter into an agreement to pay part of the expense of building state highways, and raise and appropriate any money the action of the Town may require.
Article 33. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to issue bonds or notes of the Town for the purpose of raising money to be expended under the previous article.
And you are hereby required to serve this warrant in the manner prescribed by 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 Chiltonville, and one in Manomet Ponds, and also by pub- Jishing the Warrant in the newspapers published in Plym- outh, and make return thereof with your doings, thereon, at the time and place above mentioned.
Given under our hands this twentieth day of February, in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and four.
HORACE M. SAUNDERS, DEXTER H. CRAIG, IRA C. WARD, Selectmen of Plymouth.
February 20, 1904.
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.
BENJ. F. GODDARD, Constable of Plymouth.
TOWN OF
PLYMOUTH
1620. A
SS
AC
'S
LYMSOUTH
REPORT OF THE TOWN OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR
1904
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
FOR THE
Year Ending December 3 1
1 904
1620.
A
S
NO
....
L
PLYMOUTH THE MEMORIAL PRESS 1 905
PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY
151 108-1904
TOWN OFFICERS
Selectmen-Horace M. Saunders, Dexter H. Craig, Na- thaniel G. Lanman, Ira C. Ward, George W. Bradford.
Town Clerk-Edward L. Burgess.
Town Treasurer-Edward L. Burgess.
Auditor-Frank D. Bartlett.
Collector of Taxes-Herbert W. Bartlett.
Clerk of Selectmen-Herbert W. Bartlett.
Assessors-John C. Cave, chosen. 1903, for two years; George Harlow, chosen 1903, for three years; James C. Bates, chosen 1904, for three years.
Overseers of the Poor-Charles P. Hatch, chosen 1902, for three years; Herbert W. Bartlett, chosen 1904, for two years: Charles A. Strong, chosen 1904, for three years.
Water Commissioners-Everett F. Sherman and John W. Churchill, chosen 1903, for three years; Horace P. Bai- ley and Charles T. Holmes, chosen 1902, for three years; John H. Damon, chosen 1904, for three years.
School Committee-William S. Kyle and J. Holbrook Shaw, chosen 1903, for three years; Elizabeth Thurber and Arthur E. Lewis, chosen 1902, for three years; Frank H. Perkins and Increase Robinson, chosen 1904, for three years.
Burial Hill Committee-Selectmen.
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Agawam Fishery Committee-Frank Harlow, Alfred Holmes, Herbert S. Maxwell.
Park Commissioners-Thomas R. Watson, chosen 1904, for three years, George R. Briggs, chosen 1903, for three years; Walter H. Sears, chosen 1902, for three years.
Surveyors and Measurers of Lumber-Leavitt T. Rob- bins, Edward B. Atwood, Cornelius C. Holmes.
Sealer of Weights and Measures-Arthur A. Sampson.
Beach Committee-Selectmen.
Superintendent of Streets-Stillman R. Sampson.
Field Drivers and Fence Viewers-Hosea C. Bartlett, Wallace Nightingale, Charles H. Raymond, Jacob H. Morse.
Superintendent of Water Works-Arthur E. Blackmer. Collector of Water Rates-N. Reeves Jackson.
Pound Keeper-Hosea C. Bartlett.
Committee on Inland Fisheries-Edgar D. Hill, Lewis W. Edson, Walter D. Shurtleff.
Harbor Master-Ellis Whiting Harlow.
Board of Registration-C. H. Sherman, appointed in place of C. H. Holmes, appointed in 1904, for three years; William D. Carleton, appointed 1902, for three years; Frederick D. Bartlett, appointed 1904. for three years : Ed- ward L. Burgess.
Superintendent of Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries, and Burial Hill-Edward F. Stranger.
Sexton-Winslow S. Holmes.
Superintendent of Almshouse-Obed C. Pratt.
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Board of Health-John F. Callanan, chosen 1903, for three years: H. L. Molter, appointed in place of Joseph W. Hunting, chosen 1902, for three years ; Percy Lothrop, chos- en 1904, for three years.
Board of Engineers-George E. Saunders, Isaac L. Hedge, Ephraim D. Bartlett, John E. Sullivan and James S. Kierstead.
Superintendent of Chiltonville Cemetery-Chas. Rogers.
Superintendent of Manomet Cemetery-George A. Man- 1 ter.
Superintendent of Cedarville Cemetery-Charles E. Kim- ball.
Constables-Michael Casey, Samuel Ferguson, Benjamin F. Goddard, Edward Manter, Freeman Manter, Augustine J. Hogan, John M. Atwood and William H. Geodecke.
Chief of Police-Benjamin F. Goddard. Committee on Sewerage-Selectmen.
Trce Warden-George R. Briggs.
Forester-George R. Briggs.
List of Deputy Forest Fire Wards, 1904-Henry O. Whiting, Assistant Forester; Samuel Bradford, (resigned during the year ), Nehemiah L. Savery, Nathaniel T. Clark, Elkanah Finney, Gustavus G. Sampson, Frank L. St. George, LeBaron R. Barker, James M. Dowsett, D. Edson Raymond, Albert M. Haskell, George H. Blanchard, An- drew J. Cahoon, Henry L. Cahoon, Wm. F. Doten, Zenas E. Langford, Ziba R. Ellis, John T. Pierce, William C. Col- lingwood, Stillman R. Sampson, Ernest L. Sampson, Benja- min F. Raymond, John H. Marshall.
ABSTRACT OF RECORDS OF 1904
APRIL 2.
Voted, That the names of William H. Barrows, James E. Bartlett, Herbert F. Besse, Maltiah B. Blackmer, George Churchill, Charles M. Doten, Nathan W. Douglass, John A. Harris, William R. Hedge, Charles L. Johnson, George Mabbett, John F. Moore, Henry Reidel, Albert S. Rich, Henry W. Royal, John Russell, Ossian M. Sampson, Adon- iram J. Smith, Richmond Talbot, Henry C. Thomas, Ly- man F. Tripp and Alexander Wasson be stricken from the list of jurors, and the names of Lewis F. Smith. Alexander K. McLean and Franklin M. Holmes be added.
Voted, That the Town authorize the Treasurer under the direction of the Selectmen to borrow money in anticipation of taxes, and for disbursement under the provisions of the law relating to State Aid and Military Aid, and to defray the expenses of the Town after January 1, 1905.
On motion of Horace .M. Saunders, Voted, That the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00) be appropriated to pay the expense of Memorial Day.
On motion of William Hedge. Voted, That the dog fund amounting to twelve hundred twenty-three dollars and forty-
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seven cents ($1,223.47). and the additional sum of two hun- dred seventy-six dollars and fifty-three cents ($276.53) be appropriated for the use of the Public Library.
On motion of Horace M. Saunders, Voted, That the town authorize the Selectmen to renew any note or notes hereto- fore authorized, which are now due, or may become due the present year, for such time and on such terms as they may deem expedient for the interests of the town.
On motion of George R. Briggs, Voted, That the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars be appropriated for the care and improvement of the various public parks, fifty-two voted in the affirmative, and none in the negative, the necessary two-thirds having voted in the affirmative, the motion was carried.
Voted, That the Water Commissioners be instructed to consult with the State Board of Health, and establish and en- force such rules and regulations, to be observed by the occu- pants of houses and estates on the borders of Boot, South, Little South and Lout ponds, as shall prevent the contami- nation of the water supply of the town.
On motion of Horace M. Saunders, Voted, That a com- mittee of three be appointed by the Moderator, with full power to locate and erect a fountain or fountains in accord- ance with the bequest of the late Lucy J. Parker.
On motion of Horace M. Saunders, Voted, That the Se- lectmen be authorized to employ counsel and incur expense to oppose the petition of F. H. Keith and others for the re- moval of the Registry of Deeds and Probate from Plym- outh, and to favor the petition of the County Commissioners
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for a new building for a registry of deeds and probate at Plymouth.
Horace M. Saunders moved that a committee of five be appointed by the Moderator to consider the ques- tion of better Town House accommodations, and that they be instructed to investigate at once and report to the next town meeting. Edward B. Atwood moved that the matter be left to the committee of fifteen; fifty-three voted in the af- firmative, and twenty-seven in the negative, and the motion was carried.
On motion of Arthur Lord, Voted, That the School Com- mittee be authorized to construct a four-room addition to the Knapp school house at an expense not to exceed eleven thousand five hundred dollars ($11,500.00).
On motion of Arthur Lord, Voted. That the School Com- mittee be authorized to purchase a right of way from the Knapp school lot to Hamilton street, at a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00).
On motion of Arthur Lord, Voted, That the School Com- mittee be authorized to build a four room addition to the Cornish school, and furnish the same at an expense not ex- ceeding thirteen thousand five hundred dollars ($13,500).
On motion of Arthur Lord, Voted. That the School Com- mittee be authorized to purchase the lot adjoining the Rus- sell street school lot at an expense not exceeding fifteen hundrd dollars ($1,500.00).
William S. Kyle moved that the School Committee be au- thorized to expend a sum not exceeding one thousand dol- lars ($1,000) in addition to the amount authorized for the
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additions to the Knapp and Cornish school buildings, and to expend such part as is not needed for building, for fur- nishing, and the motion was carried.
On motion of Arthur Lord, Voted, That the Selectmen are hereby authorized to borrow the sum of twenty-eight thousand dollars ($28,000) and to issue therefor the notes of the Town, each for the sum of fourteen hundred dollars ($1400) bearing interest at a rate not exceeding four per cent. per annum, payable semi-annually and payable one at the end of each successive year from the date of issue until the whole are paid. The said notes to be signed by the Treasurer and approved by a majority of the Selectmen of the town. Seventy-seven voted in the affirmative and none in the negative and the necessary two thirds having voted in the affirmative the motion was carried.
On motion of Horace M. Saunders, Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to macadamize Sandwich and Mar- ket streets from Jabez Corner to Town Square and that the Water Commissioners be instructed to make all neces- sary changes in the water pipes before the work is com- menced.
On motion of Horace M. Saunders, Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to borrow the sum of eight thou- sand dollars ($8.000) and to issue therefor the notes of the Town each for the sum of eight hundred dollars ($800) bearing interest at a rate not exceeding four per cent. per annum payable semi-annually, and payable one at the end of each successive year from the date of issue until the whole are paid. The said notes to be signed by the Treasurer and approved by a majority of the Selectmen of
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the Town. Eighty three voted in the affirmative and none in the negative, and the necessary two thirds having voted in the affirmative the motion was carried.
On motion of John W. Churchill, Voted, That the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) be appropriated for the extension of water pipes. On motion of Edward B. At- wood, Voted, That the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars ($2500) be and the same is hereby appropriated for the purpose of laying a six-inch water pipe from Sandwich street down Fremont street along Union street through Water street to Sandwich street and make the necessary connections and hydrants.
On motion of Horace M. Saunders, Voted. That the sum of eight hundred dollars ($800) be appropriated for fences at Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries.
On motion of E. D. Bartlett, Voted. That the sum of six hundred dollars ($600) be appropriated for new fire alarm boxes. On motion of E. D. Bartlett, Voted, That the sum of twelve hundred dollars ($1.200) be appropriated for new hose. On motion of E. D. Bartlett, Voted, That the sum of five hundred dollars $(500) be appropriated for repairs to engine houses.
Charles I. Litchfield moved, That the sum of two hun- dred dollars ($200) be appropriated to deepen the bed of Eel River from the vicinity of the lower bridge, at the head of the beach, to the mouth of the river at the harbor, and ยท remove all obstructions therein, which retard the free flow of the water, to be expended under the direction of the Beach Committee, and the motion was carried.
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On motion of Horace M. Saunders, Voted, That the Town accept and allow the layout of Forest Avenue from Court street, to Spooner street, as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town. On motion of Horace M. Saunders, Voted, That the Selectmen be and are hereby authorized to enter into agreements with the State High- way Commission from time to time, to pay part of the ex- pense, not exceeding one half toward building State High- ways in the Town.
On motion of Charles T. Litchfield, Voted, That the Com- mittee on the Beach be authorized to expend a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars in such repairs of the break- water built by them as may become necessary the same to be charged to the contingent account.
On motion of James B. Collingwood, Voted, That a com- mittee of three be appointed to appear before the legislature in support of the petition of the Selectmen of Plymouth for the passage of the act to allow the Town of Plymouth to subscribe for stock in the Plymouth, Carver and Wareham Street Railway to an amount not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).
OCTOBER 4.
On motion of Horace M. Saunders, Voted, That the Treasurer be instructed to transfer all credits of the North Town Sewer to the regular sewer acount.
On motion of Horace M. Saunders, Voted, That the Se-
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lectmen be authorized under Chapter 345 Acts of 1901, in behalf of the Town to indemnify the State against all claims for damages which may be sustained by the taking of prop- erty or changing of grades in the construction of State Highways.
On motion of Alton D. Edes, Voted. That the Water Commissioners be and are hereby instructed to lay a six inch water pipe from Court street, down Lothrop street, to the corner of Water street, at a cost not to exceed sixteen hundred and fifty dollars, ($1650).
On motion of Alton D. Edes, Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to issue a note of the Town for an amount not exceeding ($1650) payable in one year. with interest semi-annually at a rate not exceeding four per cent. per annum, for the purpose of raising money to lay the water pipe on Lothrop street. Seventy seven voted in the affirm- ative and none in the negative and the necessary two thirds voting in the affirmative the motion was carried.
James B. Collingwood moved that the town subscribe for one hundred and fifty shares of the capital stock of the Plymouth, Carver and Wareham Street R. R. Co., of the par value of one hundred dollars each, and that a commit- tee of three to be appointed by the Moderator be the agents of the town to make said subscription, in the name and on behalf of the Town, and said committee are hereby instruct- ed not to make said subscription until they are reasonably satisfied that arrangements have been made by said company to insure the construction of said railroad. Arthur Lord moved to indefinitely postpone and the motion was lost.
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The motion of James B. Collingwood was then put and car- ried.
On motion of Mr. Bagen. Voted, To take up article two. Mr. Bagen moved to reconsider the vote under article two and the motion was lost.
On motion of Arthur Lord, Voted, That article nine be referred to the Selectmen to report at the next town meet- ing as to cost and advisability.
On motion of Arthur Lord, Voted, That article ten be referred to the Selectmen to report at the next town meeting as to cost and advisability.
1
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
The Selectmen respectfully submit the following report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1904 :
TOWN DEBT AND INTEREST.
On Dec. 31, 1903 the funded debt was $244,182 90 The debt has been increased
during the year by the new school
house loan of $28,000 00
At four per cent., dated july I, I904.
Macadamizing loan of 8,000 00
At three and three-quarters per cent .. dated Oct. 1, 1904.
Water loan of 1.440 00
at four per cent., dated, Dec. 24. 1904.
'37,440 00
$281,622 90
There has been paid on funded loans :
Water loan,
$8,306 66
New schoolhouse loan.
2,341 49
Macadamizing loan, 2,340 00
Sewer loan, 2,350 00
New roads loan,
900 00
Stone crusher loan,
500 00
State highway loan,
41I 76
Real estate loan,
400 00
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South street engine house loan,
1,050 00
High school house, 350 00
Plymouth, Carver and Wareham Street Railway Co. loan, 1,500 00
Stable loan, 500 00
School loan,
600 00
Plymouth Beach loan,
1
1,510 23
$23,060 14
Funded indebtedness, Dec. 31, 1904,
$258.562 76
A net increase for the year of $14,379 86 There is a temporary loan of $5,000 00
We recommend an appropriation of $20,000 for town debt and interest the coming year; also $42.40 to cover the de- ficiency.
Valuation. Appropriations. Tax Rate.
1904. $9.300,000 00 $119,971 30 $14 40
An increase in valuation from last year of $145,376, and a decrease in tax rate of 40 cents per thousand.
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
Under this heading we will first call your attention to those localities where the greatest improvements have been made. Cherry street has been graded and graveled, and 1,088 yards of gutters paved at an expense of $990.00.
Standish Avenue has been improved by the building of 714 yards of paved gutters.
About $500 has been expended on the South Pond road by cutting and resurfacing the hill, thereby greatly reducing the grade. The outlying districts have also received at- tention.
The large hill near the Cedarville line has been cut and graveled at an expense of about $400.
The hills near West Pond have been cut and loamed ; also the Mast Road straightened, graded and graveled.
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All the other roads have been kept in proper repair. 1 The undrawn balance, Jan. I, 1904, was
$492 31 16,000 00 Appropriation,
The following amount is charged,
$16,492 31
to this account, $24,302 24
Reimbursements, 4,42I 91
$19,880 33
Overdraft,
$3,388 02
The expenditures have been as follows:
Akron pipe and cement,
$249 23
Fencing, III 85
Stone and lumber for bridges,
806 21
Blacksmiths,
259 69
Wheelwrights,
78 50
Painting wagons,
125 67
Cart, blankets and harness repairing,
129 18
Hardware and tools,
317 70
Hay and grain, 1,406 17
Horses,
750 00
Veterinary,
55 00
Sundry small items,
46 73
Labor,
15,544 40
$19,880 33
An appropriation of $20,000 for Roads and Bridges the coming year. also $3,388.02 to meet the deficiency, will be necessary, and are therefore recommended.
SANDWICH STREET.
On April 2. 1904, the Town voted to macadamize Sand- wich and Market streets from Jabez Corner to Town Square, and appropriated $8,000 for this purpose.
The Selectmen did not think it advisable to do the work during the summer, as a large number of the visitors are
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