USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1917 > Part 2
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The report of the Superintendent of Streets will give in de- tail the various items of expense and also a more complete list of the many improvements.
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The work of the Police Department has been carried on in an efficient manner and the conditions with regard to Public morals have been very favorably commented on by visitors and others. The statistics of police work will be found in the report of the Chief of Police.
It was found necessary near the end of the year to call a special meeting of the town for the purpose of increasing some of the appropriations. This was done but the question of the legality of the call was raised by the Committee of Fifteen and it was thought better to postpone the meeting and issue a new call. This was done and the appropriations were made. But the two weeks intervening brought such a change in weath- er conditions that much of the work contemplated had to be abandoned. This has resulted in an unfortunate condition par- ticularly on Samoset Street, where a drain was in process of construction. The freezing weather has prevented the com- pletion of this project and the abuttors have been seriously discommoded by surface water which this drain was supposed to care for.
The coming year promises to be one of unusual stress and worry. We are being constantly reminded from Washington that all expense not absolutely necessary must be done away with. No new enterprises are to be started and everything kept down to the very lowest figure consistent with safety. It is also going to be difficult to raise money especially for new work and the Board would strongly advise the Departments of the Town to make their requests for funds as small as pos- sible. With the demands that are being made on the people at the present and the surety that these demands will be larger rather than smaller, it is wise to keep the Town's expenses as low as possible, that the citizens may not be confronted with a largely increased tax rate.
The Town has had in the past year a persistant demand made on it by the officials of the Plymouth and Sandwich Street R. R. for the payment of the $50,000 voted contingent-
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ly in 1911. The Selectmen have taken the position that the road is not completed and financed in the manner contemplat- ed by the Town when the subscription was proposed. The railroad has taken this matter to the Supreme Court and in a hearing held before Judge DeCourcy he refused the roads pe- tition for a mandamus compelling the Town to take the stock, agreeing with the position taken by the Selectmen. This matter may be carried farther but will probably result in the same conclusion. This is an unfortunate matter as a lot of ill feeling has been manifested and it seems probable that the ill advised construction of the road at this most inopportune time will result in the abandonment of it altogether. There is apparently a large falling off of business in the last few years and the road according to its own report to the Railroad Commissioners does not pay its running expenses, and has not for some time past.
Lighting of the streets has continued as usual, a number of new lights (8) having been added as called for. Under the ruling of the Fuel Conservation Board we took up the matter of reducing the number of lights with the Electric Light Co. and they offered to relieve the Town of a part of the so called White Way until such time as the Fuel shortage was over. The Town is still amply lit. There is a constant call for lights in places where there are none and this expense will un- doubtedly increase.
WILLIAM T. ELDRIDGE, EPHRAIM D. BARTLETT, DEXTER H. CRAIG, HENRY O. WHITING, GEORGE W. BRADFORD.
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APPROPRIATIONS RECOMMENDED BY THE SEVERAL
DEPARTMENTS.
Selectmen's Department,
$1,800 00
Accounting Department,
1,400 00
Treasury Department,
1,200 00
Tax Collector's Department,
1,500 00
Assessors' Department,
3,000 00
Assessors' Plans,
1,000 00
Law Department,
600 00
Town Clerk's Department,
500 00
Engineering Department,
900 00
Street Line Survey,
400 00
Planning Board,
100 00
Election and Registration,
1,000 00
Maintenance of Town House,
1,600 00
Police Department,
9,500 00
Fire Department,
16,000 00
Sealing Weights and Measures,
800 00
Moth Suppression,
5,000 00
Tree Warden's Department,
1,200 00
Forest Warden's Department,
2,500 00
Shell Fish,
600 00
Inland Fisheries,
100 00
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Public Safety Committee, 500 00
Health Department, 10,500 00
Public Sanitaries, 450 00
Sewer Maintenance, 2,000 00
Roads and Bridges,
25,000 00
Main Street Widening, Damages,
6,648 20
Sandwich Street, Water to Lincoln Street,
Damages,
3,331 67
Sandwich Street, Lincoln Street South,
Construction,
1,500 00
Sidewalks,
5,000 00
Snow and Ice Removal,
2,000 00
Street Sprinkling,
4,500 00
Street Lighting,
13,000 00
Harbor Master,
150 00
Poor Department,
14,000 00
Mothers' Aid,
4,000 00
Military Aid,
174 00
Soldiers' Relief,
4,641 67
School Department,
120,125 00
Plymouth Public Library, including
dog tax ($1,136.36) 4,000 00
Manomet Public Library,
250 00
Park Department,
1,700 00
Training Green,
200 00
Training Green Walks,
1,000 00
Stephens' Field,
300 00
Sexton,
125 00
Memorial Day,
225 00
Miscellaneous Account,
2,500 00
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Reserve Account, 5,000 00
Water Department, Maintenance, 17,500 00
Water Department, Construction, 2,100 00
Oak Grove and Vine Hill `Cemeteries, 6,000 00
Burial Hill Cemetery, 1,000 00
Chiltonville, Manomet, Cedarville and
South Pond Cemeteries, 150 00
Town Debt and Interest,
53,000 00
Total Appropriations,
$363,270 54
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my report of the Street De- partment for the year ending December 31, 1917.
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
Under this heading is included the maintenance of bridges, fences, about two hundred miles of highway and drains, and the cleaning of gutters and streets.
The Watson Ellis, Eel River and Hayden's Mills bridges have been replanked the past year.
These wooden bridges are a large bill of expense, and should be replaced by reenforced concrete bridges. A year ago the wooden bridge at Halfway Pond was replaced by one of the above mentioned concrete bridges, made by a reenforced con- crete slab laid on walls of stone set in cement, with an iron railing for a fence. Without a doubt this bridge will last for years without any outlay, and will also carry the heaviest loads. It seems to me that it would be well for the town to replace all wooden bridges, as they come to need repairing, with concrete ones, thereby saving the constant outlay. Eel River bridge is in need of repairs at the present time, and as it is called upon to carry such a large amount of traffic it
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should be the first one to receive attention. Such a bridge could be planned to be sightly as well as serviceable.
It may appear that the above mentioned repairs should have been made of a permanent nature, but the general appropriation has not been large enough to warrant such expenditure, and still have enough to care, in a small way, for the two hundred miles of highway. A special appropriation should be made for concrete bridges.
Six hundred feet of new fencing have been built and painted, and a large number of the old fences have been repaired and painted.
Court Street, from Samoset to Lothrop, has been rebuilt with a four inch tarvia X penetration job, and sealed with Bermudez Asphalt and 34 inch trap rock.
Alden Street, from Zæth Clark's house to Court Street; Stafford Street; Pleasant Street, from Franklin to South ; South Street, from Sandwich to Whiting; South Street, from William Raymond's to Braley Lane; Mt. Pleasant Street, from Sandwich to Whiting; Allerton Street, from Samoset to Cush- man; Russell Street; Stoddard Street; High Street; Sections of Woods, Stephens, Oak, and South Streets have been resur- faced. Also a very large amount of roads in the Chiltonville, Manomet, Long Pond, South Pond, and Cedarville Districts have been recovered. A number of other streets were recov- ered with the material removed from Main Street before re- building that street.
West Pond Road has been in a very poor condition, owing to the use of heavy motor trucks, hauling boards from the saw mill. During the Fall and Winter a section of this road has been covered with cinders, which, once worked in, will make a fair road.
The scraper has been used on the roads of the outlying dis- tricts to quite an extent, which put them in fair condition, but the large amount of auto travel and the heavy rains make it necessary for the Street Department to expend an unusual amount of money and attention on these roads.
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Owing to the resurfacing of Warren Avenue by the State, it became necessary for the Town to reimburse the State Higli- way Department to the amount of $43.79 for a small section of the road owned by the Town at Eel River Bridge.
Court Street, from Cherry to Nelson; Water Street, from R. R. Station to Chilton Street; Sandwich Street, from Car Barn to No. 221; three small sections of Summer Street; and a section of Samoset Street have been covered with a coat of Tarvia B and sand, and the Darby Road has been patched with the same.
The Steam Roller has been used to smooth out a number of the gravel roads.
The Jordan Road from Jabez Corner, south for about three miles, should be rebuilt, as it is in very bad shape. The road originally was a four inch water bound macadam, which is not heavy enough to stand the ten and twelve ton loads to and from the Rubber Mill. A portion of this road should be rebuilt this coming season.
Quite a drain on the general appropriation has been caused by the poor condition in which the Plymouth & Sandwich Street Railway Company left the highway after laying their tracks through Cedarville. In some places the car track was three feet above the road, and in others as much below the road, and they refused to grade same as called for in their franchise. At the present time this grading, that has been forced upon the Town, is less than half done, and has already cost the town $1,044.17.
A small section of road at the head of Buttermilk Bay has been resurfaced at a cost of $78.60.
The sections between the car rail and the crossings at the foot of North Russell, South Russell, Vernon, Samoset, Cush- man and Allerton Streets have been reconstructed with cement grouted paving ..
Cement catch basins have been placed at the junction of Stafford and Mayflower Streets; Alden and Allerton Streets;
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two at the foot of Cushman Street; and two at Jabez Corner, which help to keep sand from filling drain pipes.
825 feet of 12" pipe were laid to drain Jackson's Meadow on Newfields Street.
A great deal of trouble has been caused by the drain easterly of the Samoset Garage, making it necessary to lay a new twelve inch pipe which now takes care of the trouble.
For many years the water from the streets has been running into private property in various parts of the town, and as time goes on, the town will have before it quite a problem if this matter is not attended to in the near future, as more and more property owners are making, complaints each year. I would suggest that a topographical map of the town be made, where- by a system of drainage can be installed.
1,166 square yards of new gutters have been paved and many of the old gutters have been repaired.
An average of $25.00 a day is required for six or seven months of the year for cleaning streets and gutters. This may appear to be an exorbitant amount for such a purpose, but said amount includes the cleaning up of leaves, paper, and other refuse from the streets and gutters, and keeping the drains under the crossings clear, and the cleaning of catch basins. This expenditure could be curtailed to some extent if individ- uals would be a little more careful about leaving loose papers, leaves, etc. about their property, which often times blow into the street, making the expense for caring for same fall on the Town.
Special attention should be given to signboards about the the town. The majority of nearby towns have signs directing autoists to Plymouth, and it seems that Plymouth should have some of these signboards directing strangers to other towns. A person coming into this town has no way of knowing which road to take unless he stops and makes inquiries.
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SIDEWALKS.
8980.5 square yards of cinder walks have been built. These walks are made of six inches of ashes, rolled, and then covered with an inch of crushed stone.
1165.8 square yards of granolithic walks have been laid, half of the expense of same being borne by the abutters.
The tar walks have been patched to a large extent.
Quite a number of the granite curbs have been reset, and 3458.8 feet of cement curbs have been built.
A new cement mixer was purchased early in the Spring and has been a great time and labor saver.
SEWERS.
680 feet of eight inch pipe have been laid on Savery Avenue, at a cost of $760.12.
There have been a number of obstructions in the main pipes which have been removed and the pipes repaired. Also a large number of service pipes have been cleared. The labor on the service pipes is paid for by the Town out of the Sewer appro- priation, but the owners of the sewers reimburse the town, the money going into the Town Treasury, as the state law requires, instead of back into the Sewer appropriation.
Early last Spring, a Lighter laid on the outlet of the sewer off Capt. Craig's wharf and broke the 14" iron pipe, which, owing to the pipes being at low water level caused consider- able expense to repair as all work had to be done on the lowest tides.
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STREET SPRINKLING.
Very little water has been used on the streets except in the center of the town.
Approximately 27,000 gallons of dust layer have been used.
SNOW REMOVAL.
The expense for removing snow and sanding walks has been quite heavy. Two new snow plows have been purchased as they were greatly needed.
COURT STREET CONSTRUCTION.
The section of the road between the car rails from North Russell Street to Clyfton Street has been rebuilt with a four inch tarvia penetration job.
SAMOSET STREET.
The section of Samoset Street remaining unfinished last year has been completed, and the whole new roadway covered with a seal coat of tarvia and sand. A highway fence has also been built where needed.
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MAIN STREET WIDENING.
Main Street has been widened from Leyden to Middle. The roadway from the east car rail to the curb is constructed of eight inch granite blocks grouted with cement, on a four inch foundation of sand. This construction is estimated by experts to be of a hundred years duration or more. A section of this kind of road should be laid each year so that in time there will be a stretch of it from Seaside Line to Jabez Corner. While it is a little more expensive to get through a road, of this con- struction in the event of a break in a water pipe, or trench work, it can be replaced in its original condition, while it is impossible to do so with tarviated macadam roads. Further- more, this sort of construction may be flushed or sprinkled to any extent without danger of damage, where tar roads are continually being damaged by water, either rain or sprinkling.
The old curb has been replaced by new granite curb, and a granolithic walk laid, with iron doors to the areas.
The cement grouted roadway, and the change in the grades making it necessary to put a granolithic walk part way down Leyden and Middle Streets to conform with the old grades on said streets, made it necessary to ask for an extra appropria- tion at the Fall Town Meeting.
SANDWICH STREET WIDENINGS.
Howe's Lane, North.
The widening at Howe's Lane is completed, the roadway being of four inch tarvia penetration, with a six inch field stone foundation, sealed with Bermudez Asphalt and 3/4" trap rock. The walk is of cinders and crushed stone, with a cement curb.
Lincoln Street, South.
A cement curb has been laid from Lincoln Street to the
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car barn, leaving 100' to be completed. Two sections of grano- lithic walk are done. The roadway as far as Fremont Street is now ready for the seal coat. The remainder of the work will be completed as soon as weather will permit.
Water Street to Lincoln Street.
The construction of this job is the same as that of Howe's Lane, North, with the exception of the walk, which in this case is granolithic, and is completed with the exception of the seal coat on the roadway, and a small section of the walk.
Sandwich and Market Streets.
A section on Sandwich Street of about 500 square yards has been rebuilt with four inch tarvia penetration road. This job remains to be sealed.
MAIN STREET EXTENSION.
This job has been completed with the exception of a seal coat, and is constructed the same as Howe's Lane, North.
WARREN AVENUE.
The grading on this street had been completed with the ex- ception of a few places where no settlement has been made for damages.
WATER STREET EXTENSION.
A short section of this road has been resurfaced. Owing to the large amount of work on hand the past season, it was nec- essary to let this work, as well as some other, lay over.
PLYM. THREE
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BARTLETT ROAD.
A portion of this road has been covered with beach gravel, and the bridge has been replanked and strengthened with iron girders taken from the Standish Avenue bridge at the time that bridge was rebuilt.
BEAVER DAM ROAD.
This road has been widened, graded, and resurfaced, from the property of Mr. Gibson to that of Thomas Proctor.
HIGHLAND TERRACE.
Has been laid out and graded.
MANOMET SIDEWALK.
The walk has been roughly graded from the Point Road to Anderson's Store, and should be completed in the early Spring.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN B. FINNEY,
Superintendent of Streets.
.
Sixth Annual Report
OF THE
Town Accountant
OF THE
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
MASSACHUSETTS
For the Year Ending Dec. 31 1917
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Plymouth, Mass., February 12, 1918.
To the Board of Selectmen,
Plymouth, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report of the financial transactions of the Town of Plymouth for the year ending December 31, 1917.
Schedule A, shows the receipts and payments for the year, classified as required by the Bureau of Statistics of the Commonwealth.
Schedule B, is a detailed statement of each appropriation, showing the amount appropriated, the additions to, and payments from the same.
Schedule C, is a statement of the Estimated Receipts, the charges being the amounts estimated and deducted from the total of the appro- priations, by the Assessors in making up the Tax Warrant, and the Credits being the amounts actually received.
Schedule D, is the Revenue Account for 1917.
Schedule E, is the Excess and Deficiency Account for 1917, similar to what in a private business would be the profit and loss account.
Schedule F, is the Balance Sheet, January 1, 1918, showing the con- dition of the Town's financial affairs after closing the books for 1917.
Schedule G, is a summary of the Outstanding Indebtedness, showing also the debt at the beginning of the year, the additions to and the amounts paid on the same, and the principal and interest requirements for 1918.
Schedule H, is a detailed statement of the Outstanding Indebtedness.
Schedule I, is an itemized statement of the Trust Funds, not includ- ing the January 1918 dividends.
There are bills of the Health Department for the year 1917, amount- ing to $6,157.28, which remain unpaid as there are no funds available. I would recommend an appropriation from the Excess and Deficiency Account of this amount, in order that the same may not have to be in- cluded in the 1918 Tax Levy.
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There is one matter which demands serious consideration in making the appropriations for the coming year, and that is the loss to. the Town in the Corporation Tax which the Town receives from the Com- monwealth. The amount received in 1916 was $34,725.08, and in 1917 $16,113.88, this being a direct loss in revenue for the year 1917 of $18,611.20. Fortunately some of the other Estimated Receipts exceed- ed the estimates, and with the Unexpended balances brought the net deficiency for the year down to $11,605.67. It must be remembered however that only $16,113.88 can be estimated in making up the Tax Warrant for 1918.
Respectfully submitted,
RICHARD. T. ELDRIDGE, Town Accountant.
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SCHEDULE A. RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS
RECEIPTS
Sources of Receipts.
Expenses Outlays
GENERAL REVENUE 1. TAXES.
Current Year-
1. Property
$236,722.83
2. Poll,
5,340.00
Previous Years-
3. Property,
48,910.05
4. Poll,
1,866.00
From the State-
5. Corporation,
15,602.08
6. Street Railway,
511.80
7. Bank,
982.37
Income Tax, 24,648.65
Reimbursements for loss of
Taxes, land used for public
institutions,
249.35
Soldiers' Exemptions,
183.23
EE
Total from Taxes, $335,016.36 $335,016.36
2. LICENSES AND PERMITS.
Licenses-
8. Liquor,
9. All Other,
$375.25
Permits-
10. Marriage,
11. All Other, 537.00
Total from Licenses and Permits, $912.25 $912.25
3. FINES AND FORFEITS. $835.71
12. Court,
13. Departmental Penalties,
14. Contract Violations,
Total from Fines and Forfeits, $835.71 Total forward,
$835.71
$336,764.32
-
Revenue for Revenue for Total
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RECEIPTS.
Revenue for Revenue for Total
Sources of Receipts.
Expenses
Outlays
Total forward,
$336,761.32
4. GRANTS AND GIFTS.
Grants from Other Civil Divisions-
15. From State for Education,
a. Support of Public Schools
b. Aid to High Schools
c. Aid to Industrial Schools
d. High School Tuition
e. Union Superintendency
16. From State for Armories
17. From State for Highway Purposes
18. From State for Other Purposes
a. Inspector of Animals
b. Protection against Forest Fires
c. d.
. 19. From County (Dog Licenses) for Schools or Libraries, $1,136.36
Gifts from Individuals-
20. For Expenses, 21. For Outlays,
Total from Grants and Gifts, $1,136.36 1,136.36
5. ALL OTHER GENERAL REVENUE.
22 23.
Total from All Other General Revenue,
Total forward. $337,900.68
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RECEIPTS.
Sources of Receipts.
Total forward,
Revenue for Revenue for Total
Expenses Outlays
$337,900.68
COMMERCIAL REVENUE.
6. SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS.
24.
Street Sprinkling,
25. Moth Extermination, $304.51
26. Sewers,
27. Sidewalks and Curbing,
28. . Other Purposes,
Total from Special Assessments,
$304.51
$304.51
7. PRIVILEGES. .
29. Public Service, $636.96
30. Minor,
Total from Privileges,
$636.96
$636.96
Total forward,
$338,842.15
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RECEIPTS.
Sources of Receipts.
Total forward,
Revenue for Offsets to Total
Expenses Outlays
$338,842.15
8. DEPARTMENTAL.
Sa. General Government. Legislative-
31. Aldermen and Council; Moderator Executive-
32. Mayor; Commission ; Selectmen Financial-
33. Auditor, Accountant and Auditing
34. Treasurer
35. Collector
36. Assessors
37. License Commissioners
38. Other Finance Offices and Accounts Other General Departments-
39. Law
40. City or Town Clerk $2.00
General Government forward, $2.00 Total forward, $338,842.15
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PAYMENTS
Objects of Payments,
Expenses
Outlays
Total
1. DEPARTMENTAL.
1
1a. General Government.
Legislative-
1. Aldermen and Council; Moderator
a. Salaries and Wages, $40.00
.b. Other Expenses, 30.00
Executive-
2. Mayor; Commission ; Selectmen
a. Salaries and Wages, 1,500.00
b. Other Expenses, 294.95
Financial-
3. Auditor, Accountant and Auditing
a. Salaries and Wages, 1,200.00
b. Other Expenses, 18.20
4. Treasurer
a. Salaries and Wages, 1,000.00
b. Other Expenses,
144.88
5. Collector a. Salaries and Wages, 1,060.00
b. Other Expenses, 380.01
6. Assessors
a. Salaries and Wages, 2,268.59
b. Other Expenses, 1,545.50
7. License Commissioners a. Salaries and Wages, b. Other Expenses
8. Other Finance Offices and Accounts a. Sinking Fund Commissioners, b. Miscellaneous, 58.00
Other General Departments-
9. Law
a. Salaries and Wages, 710.00
b. Other Expenses, 4.69
10. City or Town Clerk
a. Salaries and Wages, 100.00
b. Other Expenses, 333.78
General Government forward, $10,748.60 Total forward
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RECEIPTS.
Revenue for -
Expenses
Offsets to Outlays
Total
Sources of Receipts.
Total forward,
$338,842.15
General Government forward, $2.00
41. City Messenger
42. Public Works
43. Engineering
44. Superintendent of Buildings
45. Election and Registration, 2.97
46. Other General Departments Municipal Buildings
47. City or Town Hall, 9.00
Total from General Government,
$13.97
$13.97
Sb. Protection of Persons and Property- Police Department-
48. Services of Officers
49. Sale of Materials
50. Miscellaneous $2.30
Protection of Persons and
Property forward,
$2.30
Total forward,
$338,856.12
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PAYMENTS.
Objects of Payments,
Expenses
Outlays
Total
General Government forward,
$10,748.60
11. City Messenger a. Salaries and Wages, b. Other Expenses
12. Public Works
a. Salaries and Wages b. Other Expenses
13. Engineering
a. Salaries and Wages, $690.34
b. Other Expenses, 608.69
14. Superintendent of Buildings a. Salaries and Wages b. Other Expenses
15. Election and Registration a. Salaries and Wages, 642.00
b. Other Expenses, 349.87
16. Other General Departments Municipal Buildings --
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