USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1915 > Part 7
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Voted, Article 6. To accept and adopt the report of the Ways and Means Committee, appropriating $400 for the use of the Park Commis- sioners, as petitioned for.
Voted, Article 7. To accept and adopt the report of the Ways and Means Committee, appropriating $1,000, as recommended by the Board of Health.
Voted, Article 8. To accept the report of the Ways and Means Com- mittee.
ART. 8. The report of the Selectmen on this article was read by Clarence B. Humphrey, Chairman.
56
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
The Report of the Board of Selectmen upon Reconstruction of Humphrey Street, Between Commonwealth Avenue and Humphrey Square.
SWAMPSCOTT, August 23, 1915. To the Citizens of Swampscott :
At the adjourned annual Town Meeting of March 23, 1915, you voted to reconstruct Humphrey street, between Commonwealth avenue and Humphrey square, and appropriated therefor $6,000.
The Report of the Ways and Means Committee, and the vote thereon, are as follows :
Report of Ways and Means Committee. Article 60.
During the past year a sewer has been constructed through Humphrey street, and as a result the roadway has been left in unsuitable condition for traffic. Your Committee has been over the ground and believes that work must be undertaken at once. We recommend that the sum of $6,000 be appropriated for reconstructing Humphrey street, from Com- monwealth avenue to Humphrey square, with macadam pavement, under the specifications approved by the Massachusetts Highway Commission, the amount to be raised by notes or bonds of the Town.
Action on recommendation of Ways and Means Committee.
Voted. To accept the report and adopt the recommendations of the Ways and Means Committee, appropriating $6,000, to be raised by notes or bonds of the town, to reconstruct Humphrey street, from Common- wealth avenue to Humphrey square, with macadam pavement under speci- fications approved by the Massachusetts Highway Commission.
As has been stated, this street was left in a deplorable condition on account of the construction of the main intercepting sewer, and was made more so by the fact that the Bay State Street Railway Company in relaying its tracks temporarily, did so at a higher grade than they were heretofore placed, causing uneven and a lower surface on the street on each side. We very early realized the necessity of reconstructing this street along scientific lines, and as soon as possible took the matter up with the Town Engineer and the Bay State Street Railway Company. Through the office of the Town Engineer, the lines of the street, which have for a long time been undefinable, were re-run and stone mon- uments set at angle points. Furthermore, profiles were made estab- lishing a grade which had not heretofore been done, and the new grade varies in some places as much as one foot from that previous to the sewer construction. The drainage question was thoroughly gone into and catch basins placed at the proper places.
The various forms of pavement were early considered by the Board of Selectmen, and in its opinion, considering the amount of heavy traffic that goes over this street, decided that it would be impracticable to lay anything less permanent than a concrete roadway. With this idea in view we availed ourselves of the continuous sidewalk appropriation and have caused to be laid curbstone for the uncurbed portions on the south side, paying for same out of the sidewalk appropriation, which amounted to $2,210.66. Of this amount $632 will be returned to the Town in the form of sidewalk assessments, so that the net cost is $1,578.66.
In taking the matter up with the Bay State Street Railway Company we thought at first it might consider a double track location to the Square, considering that we contemplated putting down a form of pave- ment that would last more than five years. After consideration it was decided not to ask for double track location, but to relay the present single line track in a permanent manner and to pave between the same with granite block pavement, cement grouted, on a gravel base, the same as that laid just west of Commonwealth avenue. This work is now finished for a greater part of the distance.
As soon as the curb was laid and the Street Railway Company had started upon its work we advertised for bids to build this roadway, under the specifications and plans drawn by the Town Engineer. The amounts as estimated by him and the unit prices received were for build- ing the concrete roadway on one side only, and are as follows :
57
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1915]
SUMMARY OF BIDS RECEIVED FOR HUMPHREY STREET RECONSTRUCTION.
Quantities
D. Sheehan McDonough Co
F. Dagenes
4500 sq. yds.
Concrete
$1 30
$1 40
$1 60
25 cu. yds
Ledge
IO
4 50
2 25
1800 cu. yds.
Excavation
40
65
I IO
1000 cu. yds.
Gravel
80
I 00
2 00
150 ft.
Io" pipe
65
I 20
80
50 ft.
12" pipe
85
: 40
80
5
Catch Basins
55 00
60 00
50 00
Totals,
$7,787 50
$9,132 50
$11,646 25
D. Sheehan withdrew his bid the following morning, leaving M. McDonough Co. the lowest bidder.
COURT PROCEEDING.
Soon after these bids were received, ten citizens of the Town brought a Bill in Equity, seeking to restrain the Board of Selectmen from doing this work, alleging that it was ordinary repairs and that the work should be done by the Surveyor of Highways. We do not care to discuss this question, as our advice has been that it is specific and not ordinary. Any- one looking over the road to-day can readily see that it is something more than a resurfacing job.
Parsons & Bowen, Town Counsel, have reported that the overruling of the demurrer in the case of Ryan et al vs. Humphrey et al, following the refusal to issue a temporary injunction restraining the Selectmen, leaves the matter as if the Court had taken no action at all. In other words, the Court, when it refused the temporary injunction, refused to stop us from proceeding with the work, and when it overruled the demurrer refused to express any opinion on the controversy. We are advised that we are entirely within our rights, and under the vote of the Town are the proper officers to carry out this work. The Ways and Means Committee never considered this a resurfacing proposition, but have used the word reconstruction in all its reports.
BONDS.
In borrowing the amount appropriated, namely, $6,000, the Board hav- ing voted this year to have the notes authenticated by the Massachusetts Board of Statistics, all this information referring to the votes was sent direct to them, with instructions to have the notes issued.
Under Chapter 719 of the Acts of 1913, and amendments thereof, Sec- tion 5, paragraph 8, it stipulates that Towns can not borrow money for macadam pavement or other road material for a period of more than five years, and then only when specifications have been approved by the Mas- sachusetts Highway Commission. This is one of the provisions made by the Special Committee on Finance, of which Mayor Newhall of Lynn, was Chairman, and in which all of the towns and cities were called in con- ference as to the period of borrowing money. In taking this matter up with the Highway Commission after all of the work as above outlined had been done and decided upon, we learned that their province was simply to advise the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics, or any other bank or trust company whose business it was to issue town notes or bonds, and said houses issuing said notes or bonds must receive a certificate from them that in their opinion the road for which this money was to be used would last for the time in which the payments were to be made. That is to say, that the Legislature in its wisdom did not intend that towns should borrow money for five year periods and then build roads of any material that they saw fit that would only last one or two years. Therefore, no notes or bonds can be issued without the certificate of the Highway Com- mission, and the Highway Commission is only interested as to the life of the roadway, and in this particular case would not approve any form of pavement unless it be concrete, granite block or asphalt on con-
58
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
crete base. The last two on account of their excessive cost are out of the question for this special roadway.
We simply explain this in passing, that the people may understand the relation of the Massachusetts Highway Commission and the issuing of notes and bonds in connection with this whole proposition.
The decision of your Selectmen to call this meeting and report upon this question is not on account of court proceedings, but arises from the fact that $6,000 will not reconstruct Humphrey street from Commonwealth avenue to Humphrey square and that it would be criminally unlawful for anyadmistrative board to deliberately proceed to do specific work knowing that it could not be done for the amount appropriated.
To build the roadway, both sides, for the entire distance, based upon the unit prices received, would cost $17,700 plus the additional cost of $2,700 for laying curbstones upon the north side.
We think that the roadway in front of the Phillips estate is in passable condition, it not having been molested by the sewer, which stops at Bates Road, and have considered the cost to construct the street to the Phillips line, as far as the new curb was laid, by putting in basins, concrete road- way on south side and bring the roadway to grade on the north side by using the material removed and rolling same. The estimated cost is as follows :
HUMPHREY STREET CONCRETE ROAD.
Sta. 34 95 to 23 80.o South side of track. Length 2,3So feet.
3,550 square yards Concrete at
$1 40
$4,970 00
25 cubic yards Ledge at .
4 50
112 50
1,000 cubic yards Excavation at .
o 65
650 00
Soo cubic yards Gravel at .
1 00
800 00
150 linear feet 10-inch pipe at .
I 20
180 00
50 linear feet 12-inch pipe at
I 40
70 00
5 catch basins at
60 00
300 00
Rolling north side
100 00
Engineering
417 50
$7,600 00
In this manner the work could be done at once and allow curbstone to be set another year on the opposite side before laying a permanent pavement, and would also avoid a bond issue, as the additional $1,600 could be trans- ferred from the Humphrey street appropriation.
While no report upon Humphrey street will be made until the annual report, we would say at this time that there is an unexpended balance of $3,949.69 which could by transfer under vote of the Town, be used for purposes of a similar nature.
To recapitulate :
I. We consider this work that of a specific character.
2. We recommend concrete pavement properly laid.
3. Six thousand dollars will not do the work voted for by the Town.
4. The work should be now started with as little delay as possible.
We, therefore, recommend that Humphrey street easterly from Common- wealth avenue be constructed with concrete pavement on the south side, and dirt pavement on the north side, with the necessary appurtenances, at a cost not to exceed $7,600, and that an additional appropriation of $1,600 be made by transfer from the Humphrey street appropriation.
CLARENCE B. HUMPHREY, ELIAS G. HODGKINS,
Board of Selectmen.
Voted, Article S. To adopt the recommendations of the Ways and Means Committee on this article to wit :
That the sum of $6,000 voted at the last annual Town Meeting be expended under the direction of the Surveyor of Highways for the con- struction of a concrete pavement easterly from Commonwealth avenue on
59
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1915]
both sides of the street, said pavement to be in accordance with the speci- fications of the Highway Commission.
Voted, Article 9. To accept and adopt the report of the Ways and Means Committee, appropriating $2,200 to be taken from the unexpended balance of the Humphrey street widening appropriation to lay curbstone on Paradise road, between Burrill street and the railroad, at all places where not now placed, work to be done under the direction of the Surveyor of Highways.
Voted, Article 10. To accept and adopt the report of the Ways and . Means Committee, appropriating $1, 100 to extend the granolithic sidewalk on Humphrey street, from Marshall street to Commonwealth avenue, the amount to be taken from the unexpended balance of the Humphrey street widening appropriation, the work to be done under the direction of the Surveyor of Highways.
Voted, Article II. To accept and adopt the report of the Ways and Means Committee, as amended, referring the larger question of caring for the brooks that drain the Phillips Swamp to a Special Committee, consist- ing of the Selectmen and Water and Sewerage Board; and appropriating $700, as estimated by the Town Engineer, for a cement culvert to extend from Orient street to the property of the New Ocean House.
Voted, Article 12. To accept and adopt the report of the Ways and Means Committee, to wit : That a committee consisting of the Water and Sewerage Board and three (3) others to be appointed by the Moderator be instructed to consider the subject of this article and report at the next Town Meeting.
Voted, Article 13. To authorize the Board of Selectmen to take such action as they deem necessary to bring about the abatement of the Stacey Brook nuisance.
Voted, Article 14. To accept the report of the Ways and Means Committee.
Voted, Article 14. To lay this matter upon the table.
Voted, Article 15. To indefinitely postpone the subject matter of this article.
Voted, Article 16 and 17. To accept and adopt the report of the Ways and Means Committee, indefinitely postponing the matter.
Voted, Article 18. To accept and adopt the report of the Ways and Means Committee, as follows : That the vote of the Town under Article 60 of the Warrant for the Annual Meeting in so far as it relates to the lay- ing of the pavement from Commonwealth avenue to Humphrey square, be rescinded and amended in accordance with the recommendations adopted under Article 8.
Voted, Article 19. To accept, and adopt the report of the Ways and Means Committee, indefinitely postponing this article.
Voted, Article 20. To indefinitely postpone action on this article.
Voted, Article 21. That all sums appropriated at this meeting not specifically arranged for be taken from tax levy of 1916.
Voted. To dissolve at 9.45 P. M.
Attest : GEORGE T. TILL, Town Clerk.
SWAMPSCOTT, September 1, 1915.
The Moderator appointed Benjamin G. Ingalls, Oscar G. Poor and C. Irving Lindsey to serve with the Water and Sewerage Board to carry out the vote taken on Article 12, in regard to regulating selling price of water.
Attest : GEORGE T. TILL,
Town Clerk,
60
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. State Primary, Tuesday, September 21, 1915. TOWN WARRANT.
ESSEX, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Swampscott in said County, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town who are qualified to vote in primaries to meet in Town Hall, in Swampscott, Tuesday, the twenty-first day of September, 1915, at one o'clock P. M., for the following purposes :
To bring in their votes to the primary officers for the nomination of candidates of political parties for the following offices :
Governor for this Commonwealth.
Lieutenant Governor for this Commonwealth.
Secretary of the Commonwealth for this Commonwealth.
Treasurer and Receiver-General for this Commonwealth.
Auditor of the Commonwealth for this Commonwealth.
Attorney-General for this Commonwealth.
Councillor for Fifth Councillor District.
Senator for First Senatorial District.
Two Representatives in General Court for Twelfth Representative District.
County Commissioner for Essex County.
County Treasurer for Essex County.
Sheriff for Essex County.
District Attorney, to fill vacancy, for Essex County.
Associate Commissioner, to fill vacancy, for Essex County.
And for the Election of the Following Officers:
District Member of State Committee for each political party for the first Senatorial District.
Seven Members of the Democratic Town Committee.
Seven Members of the Republican Town Committee.
Members of the Progressive Party Town Committee.
Delegates to State Conventions of Political Parties.
All the above candidates and officers are to be voted for upon one ballot. The polls will be open from 12 M. to 9 P. M.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof seven days at least before the time of said meeting, as directed by vote of the Town.
HEREOF, FAIL NOT, and make return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this third day of September, A. D., 1915.
CLARENCE B. HUMPHREY, JAMES F. CATON, ELIAS G. HODGKINS, Selectmen of Swampscott.
A true copy. Attest :
FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.
Return on the Warrant.
Pursuant to the within Warrant, to me directed, I have notified the legal voters of Swampscott, by posting attested copies of said Warrant at the Town Hall, Post Offices, Depots and three other public and conspicuous places in Swampscott on Monday, September 13, 1915, the posting of said notices being at least seven days before the time of said meeting.
FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.
1915]
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
61
State Primaries, September 21, 1915.
In accordance with the foregoing Warrant, the voters of the Town assembled at the Town Hall and were called to order at 12 M., on Tuesday, September 21, 1915, by Elias G. Hodgkins, Selectman.
The Warrant calling the meeting and return thereon was read by George T. Till, Town Clerk.
The following Primary Officers were appointed by the Selectmen : Ballot Clerks, John A. Cullen, (Dem.); William R. Patten, (Rep.) ; Francis M. Kennedy, (Dem.); Deputy Ballot Clerks, William P. Nor- cross, (Rep.) ; Abram G. Stone, (Dem.); Democratic Tellers, James A. Hegarty, John B. Cahoon, Francis M. Kennedy, Robert Leslie, Frank G. Melvin, George H. Stone, James H. Ryan; Republican Tellers, Frederick A. Oliver, Harold C. Snow, Willard P. Jackson, 2d, William R. Patten, George F. Clay, John J. Mehagan, Thomas E. Berry, Joseph G. Reed, Arthur C. Eaton.
All of the appointed officers were qualified for their duties by the Town Clerk. The packages of Ballots were delivered to the Ballot Clerks, who receipted therefor.
The polls were closed at 9 P. M., the Ballot Box registered 748, checks on both lists numbered 745, number of ballots cast, 747, eight (8) of which were found to be not properly marked, 721 ballots marked for Republican candidates, 16 ballots marked for Democratic candidates, 2 ballots marked for Progressive candidates.
Progressive Ballots 2.
Governor.
Nelson B. Clark, of Beverly
. 2
Everett M. Myrick, of Lynn
. 2
.
Representative in General Court.
Frank I Wright, of Lynn .
District Attorney.
Michael A. Sullivan, of Lawrence
Delegates to State Convention.
Willard P. Jackson
I
Benjamin F. Poole
.
I
Nathaniel R. Martin .
I
Nathan K. Atkins
I
Charles D. C. Moore .
I . John R. Laxton . .
Democratic Ballots, 16.
Governor.
David I. Walsh, of Fitchburg
. 15
Blanks
I
Lieutenant-Governor.
. 16
Edwin A. Grosvenor, of Amherst
12
Blanks
4
Treasurer.
Henry L. Bowles, of Springfield .
.
13
.
3
.
2
2
.
Town Committee.
I
Edward P. Barry, of Boston · Secretary.
.
Blanks . .
Senator.
62
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Auditor.
Jacob C. Morse, of Brookline
. 14
Blanks
2
Attorney-General.
Joseph Joyce Donahue, of Medford .
15
Blanks
Senator-First Essex District.
Everett M. Myrick, of Lynn
I3
Blanks
.
3
County Commissioner.
Fred O. Spaulding, of Lawrence
I2
Blanks
4
Sheriff-Essex County.
Edgar M. Early, of Andover .
13
Blanks
3
District Attorney-Eastern District. (To fill vacancy)
Michael A. Sullivan, of Lawrence
13
Blanks
3
State Committee-First Essex District.
Austin T. Cusack, of Lynn .
13
Blanks
3
Delegate to State Convention.
James T. Lyons
Town Committee.
.
I
David W. Nisbett
.
.
.
I
Republican Ballots, 721. Governor.
Grafton D. Cushing, of Boston
. 408
Eugene N. Foss, of Boston
. 29
Samuel W. McCall, of Winchester
235
Blanks
49
Lieutenant Governor.
Calvin Coolidge, of Northampton
349
Guy Andrews Ham, of Milton
. 274
Blanks
. 98
Secretary.
Albert P. Langtry, of Springfield .
554
Blanks .
· 167
Treasurer.
Charles L. Burrill, of Boston
555
Blanks
166
Auditor.
Edward C. R. Bagley, of Boston
. I18
Alonzo B. Cook, of Boston
. 216
Samuel W. George, of Haverhill
. 255
Blanks
. 132
Attorney-General.
Henry C. Attwill, of Lynn
·
. 563
Blanks
158
·
I
·
.
.
.
.
.
I
James T. Lyons .
63
Councillor-Fifth District.
James F. Ingraham, Jr., of Peabody
. 313
Frederick H. Tarr, of Rockport
282
Blanks
I26
Senator-First Essex District.
George H. Jackson, of Lynn, ·
· 554
Blanks
. 167
Representatives in General Court.
Charles H. Annis, of Lynn
300
James D. Bentley, of Swampscott
. 482
George E. Southwick, of Lynn
.
.
. II2
Blanks
. 249
County Commissioner-Essex
James C. Poor, of No. Andover
553
Blanks
.
· 167
County Treasurer-Essex
David I. Robinson, of Gloucester
· 542
Blanks
. 179
Sheriff-Essex
Samuel A. Johnson, of Salem .
.
. 506
William P. White, of Lawrence .
.
.
. 94
Blanks .
. 121
Associate County Commissioner-Essex. (To fill vacancy) Blanks
. 721 .
District Attorney-Eastern District. (To fill vacancy)
John J. Burke, of Gloucester
· 256
Louis S. Cox, of Lawrence
. 285
Blanks
. 180
State Committee-First Essex District.
Joshua Mills, of Lynn
.
509
Blanks .
.
212
Delegates to State Convention.
James F. Caton .
. 475
James D. Bentley
509
Edward A. Maxfield
481
George D. R. Durkee
469
Oscar G. Poor
493
Stuart P. Ellis
478
Charles D. C. Moore
481
John M. Grosvenor, Jr. Blanks
. 1906
Town Committee.
James F. Caton
461
Charles F. Hathaway
461
Charles E. Hodgdon
.
464
James D. Bentley
410
Alfred F. Frazier
447
Harry E. Cahoon
474
Joseph McBrien
430
Blanks
1820
Voted. To dissolve after declaration of vote at 1.05 A. M.
Attest : GEORGE T. TILL, Town Clerk.
.
. 472
1915]
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
·
.
64
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Recount of Vote for Councillor.
Petition having been presented to the Town Clerk for a recount of the ballots cast for Councillor, at the Primary held on the 21st inst., the Registrars of Voters met at Town Hall, this day, at 3 o'clock, P. M., and canvassed and recounted said ballots, with the following result :- James F. Ingraham, Jr., of Peabody, Three hundred ten . 310 Frederick H. Tarr, of Rockport, Two hundred eighty-three ·
283
· 128 Blanks, One hundred twenty-eight
SWAMPSCOTT, Sept. 25, 1915.
Attest : MILTON D. PORTER, Assistant Town Clerk.
State Election, November 2, 1915.
ESSEX, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Swampscott in said County,
GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Swampscott, Mass., qualified to vote in elections, to assemble in the Town Hall, in said Swampscott, on Tuesday, the second day of November next, it being the Tuesday next after the first Monday in said November, at six o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to bring in their votes to the Selectmen on one ballot, for
Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, Attor- ney-General, Councillor, Senator, two Representatives in General Court, County Commissioner, County Treasurer, Sheriff, Associate Commis- sioner, District Attorney.
To Vote Yes or No upon the Questions :
Acceptance of Chapter 129, Resolves of 1915, entitled, "Resolves to pro- vide for submitting to the people the article of amendment of the consti- tution empowering the General Court to authorize the taking of land to relieve congestion of population and to provide homes for citizens."
Acceptance of Chapter 130, Resolves of 1915, entitled, "Resolves to pro- vide for submitting to the people the article of amendment of the consti- tution striking the word ' male ' from the qualifications of voters."
Acceptance of Chapter 140, Resolves of 1915, entitled, "Resolves to pro" vide for submitting to the people the article of amendment of the consti- tution relative to the authority of the general court to impose taxes."
The polls to be kept open until 4.30 o'clock P. M.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the Town Hall, Depots, Post Offices and three other public and conspicuous places in the Town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make due return of the Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time and place of meeting as aforesaid.
Given under our hands this fifteenth day of October, A. D., 1915.
CLARENCE B. HUMPHREY, JAMES F. CATON, ELIAS G. HODGKINS, Selectmen of Swampscott.
A true copy. Attest :
FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.
Return on the Warrant.
Pursuant to the within Warrant, to me directed, I have notified the legal voters of Swampscott, by posting attested copies of said Warrant at the Town Hall, Post Offices, Dépots and five other public and conspicu- ous places in Swampscott on Friday, October 22, 1915, the posting of said notices being at least seven days before the time of said meeting.
FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.
1915]
State Election November 2, 1915.
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