USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1896 > Part 2
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400 00
Memorial Day . . 100 00
Catch Basins and Paved Gutters
400 00
28
TOWN REPORT.
Care Monument Lot . $35 00
Water Rates
600 00
Soldiers' and Sailors' Aid
400 00
Interest and Discount
3,000 00
State Tax (estimated)
4,500 00
County Tax (estimated) .
5,500 00
Health Dept.
Receiver.
Voted. That the sum of three hundred dollars ($300) of the Health Department appro- priation be used for the purpose of building a receiver for the contents of sink, cesspool or privy.
Rebuilding
Sidewalk on
Essex Street.
Voted. That the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) of the amount appropriated for the Sidewalk Department be expended in re- building the sidewalk on Essex Street, adjacent to the Pitman Nursery.
Street Lights.
Voted. To lay upon the table the matter of an appropriation for Street Lights, until the adjourned meeting.
Voted. To lay upon the table the matter of adding two members to the Street Light Com- mittee.
Reports.
Voted. That Art. 4 be taken from the table and the reading of the several reports referred to in the same be dispensed with, unless specially called for, and the reports containing recommendations be laid upon the table and taken up in connection with the special articles in the Warrant referring to the same, such re- ports as contain recommendations and are not called for by articles in the Warrant be now taken up and acted upon in the order as printed in Art. 4.
29
RECORDS OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Voted. That the recommendations con- tained in the reports of the Board of Auditors be referred to the Selectmen and Auditors.
Voted. That the recommendations of the Cemeteries. Selectmen in reference to Cemeteries be adopted.
Voted. To appoint a committee of three Purchasing from the floor, to make further investigations in etery Purposes. Land for Cem- regard to purchasing land for Cemetery pur- poses, and report thereon at the adjourned meet- ing.
Committee - Martin E. Nies, Milton D. , Porter, Edmund Russell.
Voted. To appropriate the sum of fifteen Macadamizing hundred dollars ($1,500) for the purpose of Street. Humphrey macadamizing Humphrey Street, from the hav scales to the Monument, as recommended in the report of the Selectmen.
Voted. To appropriate the sum of three Salem Street hundred ($300) for the purpose of continuing Sidewalk.
the work on sidewalk on Salem Street, as recom- mended in the report of the Selectmen.
Voted. To appropriate one hundred and Purchase of fifty dollars ($150) for the purpose of purchas- ing two Snow Plows, as recommended in the re- port of the Superintendent of Streets.
Snow Plows.
Voted. That when this meeting adjourns it be to to-morrow evening (Wednesday) at 7.30 P.M.
A motion to adjourn was not carried.
Voted. To appropriate the sum of one Enlarging thousand dollars ($1,000) for the purpose of Stable. enlarging the stable in the rear of the Engine House and purchasing one more horse for the
Engine House
30
TOWN REPORT.
ladder truck, as recommended in the report of the Engineers, the same to be expended under the direction of the Board of Engineers.
Voted. To take up Art. 27.
Hose House, Mountain Park.
Voted. Art. 27. To appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars ($300) for the purpose of building a Hose House at Mountain Park, the same to be in charge of the Board of Engineers.
A motion to appropriate seven hundred and eighty dollars ($780) for an additional Police Officer, was not carried.
Voted. To refer the report of the Chief of Police to the Selectmen, a report to be made on the same at the adjourned meeting.
A motion to adjourn was not carried.
Voted. ART. 6. To accept and adopt the following as a List of Jurors :
ALBREE, JOHN, JR. IVERSON, WILLIAM J.
ANDREWS, ISAAC H. JACKSON, CHARLES T. ASHTON, HERMAN F. KEHOE, JAMES W. BAIN, WELLSLEY LAMPARD, GEORGE MARTIN, EBEN S. BAILEY, SIDNEY E. BECKETT, DANIEL C. MELZARD, GEORGE T.
MERRITT, JOHN R. MORRIS, OSCAR F. MOTT, JAMES A.
BESSOM, JAMES H. CAHOON, LEWIS F. CANN, JOHN W. COLLINS, WILLIAM H. NIES, MARTIN
NISBETT, JAMES E. O.
EARP, WILLIAM G. FARRINGTON, CHAS. PARKER, SAMUEL R. GALEUCIA, NATHAN'L PEARSON, SYDNEY N. PETTINGELL, LUTHER D.
GARDNER, PELEG GILLEY, RICHARD G. RICH, BENJAMIN F. HALEY, MICHAEL ROGERS, WILLIAM H. SEGER, WILLIAM TENNEY, WILLIAM N. HAMILTON, GEO. F. HASKELL, CHAS. A. HEATH, GEORGE A. THURSTON, FRANK D. ULMAN, ISAAC A.
31
RECORDS OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Voted. That the Board of Health be a Dumping committee to select some suitable place for a Ground.
dumping ground, and report in regard to the same at the adjourned meeting.
Voted. To reconsider the vote whereby the matter of adding two members to the Street Light Committee was laid upon the table.
Voted. To add two members to the Street Street Light Light Committee, namely : Samuel F. Crosman Committee. and J. Roswell Widger.
A motion to adjourn was negatived.
The minority report of the Sewerage Com- mittee was read.
A motion to appoint a Sewerage Committee of five members was made and withdrawn.
Voted. To reappoint the same Sewerage Sewerage Committee for the ensuing year, the said Com- Committee. mittee to report on the matter of Sewerage at the adjourned meeting if possible.
Voted. To adjourn at 10. 10 o'clock.
Attest : GEORGE T. TILL, Town Clerk.
Adjourned Annual Meeting, March 20, 1895.
Pursuant to the foregoing adjournment the legal voters of the Town assembled at the Town Hall, on Wednesday evening, March 20th, 1895.
The Meeting was called to order at 7.30 P.M., by Eben N. Wardwell, Moderator.
32
TOWN REPORT.
The records of the last Meeting were read and declared approved.
Treasurer's Bond.
Voted. ART. 7. That the Treasurer be required to give a bond of ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
Temporary Loan.
Voted. ART. 8. That for the purpose of procuring a temporary loan to and for the use of the Town of Swampscott, in anticipation of the taxes of the present municipal year, the Town Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to borrow, from time to time, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, a sum or sums in the aggregate amounting to thirty thousand dollars, and to execute and deliver the note or notes of the Town therefor, payable within one year from the time the loan is made, with interest thereon at a rate not exceeding six per cent. per annum. Any debt or debts incurred by a loan or loans to the Town under this vote shall be paid from the taxes of the present municipal year.
Tax Collector's Bond.
Voted. ART. 9. To require of the Col- lector of Taxes a bond for five thousand dollars ($5,000).
Salaries of Town Officers.
Voted. To lay Art. 10 upon the table and that a committee of three be appointed to bring in at an adjourned meeting a list of salaries for all elected and appointed Town Officers.
Committee -Edward H. Thomas, J. Ros- well Widger, James H. Moulton.
The report of the Phillips School Building Committee was read.
Discount on Taxes.
Voted. ART. II. To allow two per cent.
33
RECORDS OF THE TOWN CLERK.
discount on all taxes paid on or before October Ist the current year.
Voted. ART. 12. That the report of the Vote on Parks. Park Commissioners be adopted, and that the Town appropriate the sum of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000), not to be used or borrowed until the Metropolitan Park Commissioners have appropriated, or public spirited persons have paid to the Town fifteen thousand dollars ($15,- 000) for Park purposes in Swampscott, the time for such appropriation or payment being limited to six months from the dissolution of the Annual Town Meeting for the year 1895, and that the Town Treasurer, under the direction and author- ity of the Selectmen, shall borrow said sum of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) hereby appro- priated for Park purposes for such time, and on such terms as they deem for the best interest of the Town, after either said appropriation is made by the Metropolitan Park Commissioners, or public spirited citizens have paid to the Town said fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for Park purposes in Swampscott, and that the vote on this motion be Yea and Nay vote, and that the check list be used in voting thereon.
Yes, 100 ; No, 42.
Voted. That the sum of twenty-five hun- Watering dred dollars ($2,500) be appropriated for the Streets. purpose of watering the following Streets for the summer months of 1895, May Ist to October Ist: Essex from Lynn line to Salem line, Burrill Street from Essex to Humphrey, Hum- phrey from Lynn line to Marblehead line, in- cluding Orient and Atlantic Avenue, also Beach
34
TOWN REPORT.
Purchase of Watering Cart.
Bluff and Mostyn Street, and all such Streets as the Superintendent of Highways may deem necessary ; also the purchase of a Patent Water- ing Cart, not to cost more than four hundred and twenty-five dollars ($425), the same to be turned over to the Highway Department, and used with horses of the Fire Department in watering in the vicinity of the Engine House, and that a committee of three be appointed to purchase said cart, and that all contracts for watering be negotiated by the Selectmen.
An amendment to add Pine, Redington, Blaney, Rockland and King Streets, did not prevail.
Committee to purchase Watering Cart - Martin E. Nies, Samuel F. Crosman, Edwin A. Farnham.
Street Lights.
Voted. To refer Articles 14 to 17 inclusive to the Street Light Committee, the same to be re- ported upon at the adjourned meeting.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone the subject of Article 18, the granting of Building Permits by the Board of Selectmen.
Redington Street Repairs.
Voted. ART. 19. To refer to the Select- men for a report to be made thereon at the ad- journed meeting.
Street Crossings.
Voted. To refer Articles 20 to 25 inclusive in regard to Street Crossings, to the Selectmen, they to report to the adjourned meeting an esti- mate of the cost of same.
Phillips Medal.
Voted. ART. 26. That the Town accept the Phillips Medal Fund so-called in a commu- nication dated Swampscott, Mass., January I,
35
RECORDS OF THE TOWN CLERK.
1895, from David K. and Leonard H. Phillips, " To the Inhabitants of the Town of Swamp- scott " upon the terms set forth in said communi- cation, a copy of which is as follows :
TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS :
We have deposited the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) in the Lynn Institution for Savings and the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) in the Lynn Five Cents Savings Bank, making in all one thousand dollars ($1,000) which we hereby offer to give to the Town, to be held as a fund upon the following trusts and known as " Phillips Medal Fund." The same shall be managed and kept invested, with power to vary investments, by the Town Treasurer, under the direction of the Selectmen and School Committee, or their successors in office.
The income shall be drawn by the Town Treasurer, and expended as the School Committee or their successors shall direct, for annual prizes to the pupils of the High School of the Town of Swampscott, as follows :
One gold medal for superior scholarship.
One silver medal for first in deportment.
One silver medal for second in deportment.
One silver medal for English composition and oratory.
The gold medal shall be awarded only to members of the graduating class.
The unexpended income in each year shall be accumula- ted, and the accumulated income may be applied in like manner as after the fund, when the unapplied accumulations of income exceeds the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000), or the Town may, by a two-thirds vote, use the surplus fund in excess of two thousand dollars ($2,000) for educational purposes, as they may think proper.
In event of the present steel dies for medals being re- placed, the amount required for this expense is to be taken from the surplus fund. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer and the School Committee, or their successors, to render a yearly account, to be inserted in the Town's Annual Report.
36
TOWN REPORT.
Upon the acceptance of this gift by the Town, we will make a transfer of the funds deposited in the Savings Banks as above stated.
DAVID K. & LEONARD H. PHILLIPS. SWAMPSCOTT, MASS., Jan. 1, 1895.
and that the thanks of the Town be and hereby are tendered by the Town to said donors for their generous and wise donation.
Voted. That a copy of the vote passed in accepting the Medal Fund, be sent to David K. and Leonard H. Phillips.
Committee Expenses.
Voted. ART. 28. That the Selectmen be instructed to draw from the contingent fund any expenses that may be incurred by the Sewerage Committee and Committee on Future Water Sup- ply.
Voted. That when we adjourn, it be to Monday, April 22d, at 2 P.M.
Committee on Future Water.
Voted. To appoint the same Committee on Future Water Supply for the ensuing year.
Voted. To lay Article 29 on the table. Voted. To adjourn at 10. 15 P.M.
Attest : GEORGE T. TILL,
Town Clerk.
Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 22, 1895.
In accordance with the foregoing vote of adjourn- ment, several of the voters assembled at the Town Hall on Monday, April 22, 1895.
37
RECORDS OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Called to order by Eben N. Wardwell, Moderator, at 2.15 P.M.
Voted. To omit the reading of the records and ad- journ to this evening at 7.30 P.M.
Attest :
GEORGE T. TILL, Town Clerk.
Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 22, 1895.
In accordance with the adjournment of the afternoon the voters of the Town assembled at the Town Hall on Monday evening, April 22d, 1895.
The meeting was called to order at 7.30 o'clock by Eben N. Wardwell, Moderator.
The records of the last meeting were read and de- clared approved.
REPORT OF THE STREET LIGHTING COMMITTEE.
TO THE CITIZENS OF SWAMPSCOTT : -
Agreeably to a vote passed at the Town Meeting, held March 20, the Committee on Street Lighting were instructed to solicit proposals for lighting the Town, to com- mence at the expiration of the contract with the Lynn Gas and Electric Co., which expires August I of the current year, and report at the Adjourned Meeting to be held April 22.
Your Committee have invited proposals for this service from the Municipal Light Board of Marblehead, and the Lynn Gas and Electric Co.
We have visited the lighting stations of both of these companies and were courteously shown the plants by their
4
38
TOWN REPORT.
officials. The Commissioners of the Marblehead Board held a conference with your Committee at their office, and we also met the Directors of the Electric Light Company at Lynn.
Concerning the lighting station at Marblehead, your Committee were informed by the Commissioners, who were elected at the annual meeting in March, that they had but recently received the station from the Building Committee, and, at that time (April 8), the plant was being run upon an experimental basis. The machinery had not been fully accepted by the Construction Committee.
The Commissioners, composing the Municipal Light Board of Marblehead, were unanimously in favor of mak- ing terms with Swampscott for their street lighting, but were not prepared to name a price, as the cost of main- tenance of their plant could not be accurately determined in the short time it had been in operation.
It had been suggested to your Committee that Marble- head could not legally furnish electric lighting for Swamp- scott. We submitted this question to the Town's Counsel, Messrs. Niles & Carr, who inform us that it will be neces- sary for the Legislature to grant permission before Mar- blehead can legally make a contract.
Our Counsel further informed us, at the expiration of our contract with the company in Lynn, that the Selectmen may require the Lynn Gas and Electric Co. to remove the poles and wires from our streets should the Town desire service from another company.
In the opinion of your Committee the Town has the right to contract with whom it may receive the most advan- tageous terms, requiring only a permit from the Legisla- ture, which could be doubtless obtained.
The following propositions from the Lynn Gas and Electric Co. we submit for your consideration.
39
RECORDS OF THE TOWN CLERK.
LYNN GAS AND ELECTRIC CO., 8 CENTRAL SQ.
LYNN, April 15, 1895.
TO THE COMMITTEE ON STREET LIGHTS OF THE TOWN OF SWAMPSCOTT :
Gentlemen, -- We find, on examination of our books, that, on the basis of present prices, your lighting for the year ending May 31, of 86 arcs and 19 incandescents, will have cost you upwards of $7,000. For future lighting we tender the following proposition :
We will light, on a contract of one year, on the dark-hour basis, until two o'clock A.M., 86 arcs and 19 incandescents, for the sum of $6,900 per annum, all extra arcs to be paid for at the rate of $75 per annum, all incandescents at the rate or $17.50 per annum.
We will light, on a contract of five years, on the dark-hour basis, until two o'clock A.M., 86 arcs and 19 incandescents, for the sum of $6,400 per annum, all extra arcs to be paid for at the rate of $72 per annum, all incandescents at the rate of $16 per annum.
Very respectfully,
LYNN GAS AND ELECTRIC CO. CHAS. C. FRY, Treasurer.
The terms, as offered by the Lynn Gas and Electric Co., is a reduction of fifteen (15) per cent. from the amount we are now paying for the maximum time in their proposi- tion. This is a price for lighting every dark hour in the year, which is their plan of lighting some twelve hundred (1200) incandescent lamps in the City of Lynn; the arc lamps in Lynn burn all night. The lighting every dark hour is known as the "common-sense schedule."
A record of the actual number of hours lighted by this plan, for a period of two (2) months, shown to your Com- mittee, makes from 16 to 20 per cent. additional lighting over our present plan known as the " moonlight schedule" or 20 nights per month.
Your Committee are of the opinion that the terms offered are not as favorable a proposition as the Town has a reasonable right to expect. We had no authority by the
40
TOWN REPORT.
vote of the Town to make a contract, and, therefore, could not make any proposition to the Lynn Company.
In view of the fact that our present contract does not expire for more than three (3) months, your Committee would respectfully recommend that our successors be given full power to contract with such company as the best interests of the Town may appear.
Concerning the lights petitioned for in articles 14 to 17, inclusive, of the Town Warrant, your Committee have viewed the premises and would recommend that lights be located as follows :
ARC LIGHTS. - One on Farragut Road near the resi- dence of C. E. Howard ; one on Outlook Road near the residence of A. W. Dearborn ; one at the junction of Para- dise and Andrews Roads ; one at the junction of Beach Avenue and Essex Street, as a substitute for the incandes- cent lamp located at this point ; two on Phillips Avenue at Little's Point.
The two lamps at Little's Point the petitioners do not desire that they shall be lighted for a longer time than from May I to October I of each year. This being for a term of only five (5) months each year for the two (2) lamps, it will cost the Town less than one light burned for the full year period.
INCANDESCENT LIGHTS. - One in Ingalls' Court ; one on Elmwood Road near Odd Fellows' Hall.
Your Committee would respectfully recommend that the Town appropriate seven thousand dollars ($7,000) for lighting the streets for the fiscal year.
Respectfully submitted, S. F. CROSMAN, E. A. FARNHAM, CURTIS V. MERRITT, WM. F. NORCROSS, J. R. WIDGER,
1 Committee on
Street Lights.
SWAMPSCOTT, MASS., April 22, 1895.
41
RECORDS OF THE TOWN CLERK.
Voted. That the report of the Street Light Commit- tee be accepted and adopted, and that the Committee be re-appointed for the current year, with authority and in- struction to contract for lighting Swampscott's streets with electricity from any source, or for any period of time, that, in the judgment of the Committee, is for the best interest of the Town.
William F. Norcross tendered his resignation as a member of the Street Light Committee.
Voted. To accept the resignation of William F. Nor- cross and to appoint Aaron R. Bunting as a member of the Street Light Committee.
Street Light Committee. - Samuel F. Crosman, E. A. Farnham, Curtis V. Merritt, Aaron R. Bunting, J. R. Widger.
MAJORITY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SALARIES.
TO THE CITIZENS OF SWAMPSCOTT :
Your Committee appointed at the adjourned Town Meeting, held March 20, 1895, to prepare and submit a list of salaries for the Town Officials 1895-96, having given the matter careful attention, respectfully submit the fol- lowing report for your consideration :
Moderator - Twenty-five dollars, for annual meeting.
Board of Selectmen - In view of the fact that the Town
has elected a Surveyor of Highways in place of ap- pointing a Superintendent of Streets, your Committee would recommend that the salary of the Selectmen be as follows : Chairman, two hundred and twenty-five dollars ; other members, two hundred dollars each. Town Clerk - One hundred dollars ($100).
42
TOWN REPORT.
Treasurer - Four hundred dollars ($400), the Town to pay premium on his bond.
Collector of Taxes - Four hundred dollars ($400), this sum to include charges for postage and stationery, Town to furnish bond.
Board of Assessors - Four hundred dollars ($400).
Auditors - Two hundred dollars ($200).
School Committee - Three hundred dollars ($300).
Overseers of the Poor -Chairman, one hundred dollars ($100) ; two other members, each sixty dollars.
Secretary Overseers of the Poor-Twenty-five dollars($25).
Board of Health -Chairman, seventy-five dollars; two other members, sixty dollars each.
Secretary Board of Health - Twenty-five dollars.
Librarian of Public Library - One hundred and seventy- five dollars ($175). Assistants, thirty dollars each.
Secretary Selectmen - As the Town has adopted a system of book-keeping by which much labor has been saved, we recommend one hundred and fifty dollars ($150).
Inspectors of Election or Deputies- Five dollars ($5) per day.
Tellers - Per day three dollars ($3).
Superintendent of Cemetery - Three hundred and fifty dollars ($350) per year.
Janitor of the Town Hall - Including care of grounds, and all other charges, four hundred and twenty-five dollars ($425).
Fire Department - Chief Engineer, one hundred and fifty dollars ; Assistant Engineers, fifty dollars each ; Engi- neer of the steamer, one hundred dollars; Firemen
43
RECORDS OF THE TOWN CLERK.
thirty-five dollars each ; permanent men, fourteen dol- lars ($14) per week of seven days.
Your Committee would recommend that the men em- ployed in the fire department who work sprinkling the streets receive fifteen ($15) per week during the season of watering the streets.
Inspector of Provisions - Fifty dollars ($50) per year, to include expenses.
Surveyor of Highways - Twenty dollars ($20) per week, to include team.
Milk Inspector - Ten dollars ($10) per year.
Sealer of Weights and Measures - Twenty-five dollars ($25).
Police Officers - Fifteen dollars, per week of seven days. Special Police Officers - Twenty-five cents (.25) per hour. Agent of the Town Hall - 5 per cent. of receipts.
Respectfully submitted,
JAS. H. MOULTON, ) Committee J. R. WIDGER, S on Salaries.
SWAMPSCOTT, Apr. 22, 1895.
MINORITY REPORT.
While agreeing with my associates on most matters pertaining to salaries, I feel obliged to dissent on the fol- lowing items :
The salary for the Selectmen, the salary for the Sec- retary to the Selectmen, Overseers of Poor, and the Milk Inspector, and I would recommend that the same amounts be granted for these officials as was granted last year.
EDW. H. THOMAS.
44
TOWN REPORT.
Voted. That that part of the report of the Com- mittee on Salaries as relates to the Library be stricken from the report. A motion to accept and adopt the Minority Report on Salaries was negatived.
Voted. To accept and adopt the Majority Report of Committee on Salaries.
Voted. To take Art. 29 from the table for action.
Voted. ART. 29. To appropriate the sum of six hundred dollars ($600) to be used in payment for such portion of the Assessors' plans as may be completed.
CEMETERY REPORT.
SWAMPSCOTT, April 22d, 1895.
TO THE CITIZENS OF SWAMPSCOTT :
Your Committee, appointed at the last Town Meet- ing to make investigations as to land for Cemetery pur- poses, beg leave to submit the following report. While we have given the matter of a new Cemetery, touched upon by the Selectmen in their report, careful consideration, we feel that any movement in this direction must eventually work injury to the best interests of the Town.
We are of the firm and unanimous opinion that our old unimproved Cemetery, with some acres of adjoining land, can be utilized for burial purposes. We believe that this land can be purchased at a reasonable price, and with proper working can be made available at less expense than a new Cemetery would entail. Your Committee are agreed that an appropriation from year to year would give our citizens a burial place in which they could take pride. The undulating nature of the grounds guarantees the preserva- tion of its natural beauties, at the same time giving to the
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