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We would also recommend a telegraphic fire alarm of the Game- well system, and that $1,200 be appropriated for the purchase of three four-wheel hose carriages, to be located in Wards 1, 4 and 5; and that $1,000 be appropriated for hose, and the sum of $2,500 be appropriated for running expenses, the pay for fire- men's services to be taken from the same.
We believe that by this organization the expenses will be much less than in previous years, as it will do away with the refreshment bills, large amounts paid for the use of horses, the tax remittance, and the wear and tear of the engines.
The following is as near as can be ascertained of the loss by fire the past year : -
132
Feb. 9. Shop belonging to heirs of A. Burrell $200 00
25. Dwelling house belonging to Daniel Sullivan 1,200 00 July 16. Stable and house belonging to Peter Cushing,
16. Blacksmith shop and eating saloon, belong- 6,000 00 ing to N. L. White,
Sept. 19. Two storehouses and wharf, belonging to J. C. Rhines,
19. Two storehouses and wharf, belonging to S. N. Safford, 47,000 00
19. Sixty cords bark, belonging to Thomas Humphrey,
19. General store and coal sheds, belonging to Joseph Loud & Co.
.Oct. 9. Two barns and woodsheds belonging to Loring Tirrell 3,000 00
15. Stable belonging to Joseph Loud's estate, 5,000 00
17. Pest House belonging to town of Weymouth 1,200 00
Nov. 12. House and shop belonging to P. O. Donalds 500 00
There has been but one forest fire the past year to which the 4 department responded. on Central Street, Ward 5. There have been quite a number of fires throughout the town, which have been extinguished without a general alarm.
Steamer No. 1 did effective service over the line at the fire of F. L. White, Esq., and undoubtedly was the means of saving his house.
We believe that the Gen. Bates, Putnam and Active will sell readily for a fair price as soon as they are put upon the market. The houses in each ward are in good order, and the following is a list of engines, hook and ladder trucks, together with the number of feet of serviceable hose, in each ward.
Members. Ft. of Hose. Ward.
Steamer No. 1
25
1,500
3
Steamer No. 2
25
1,500
2
Active No. 5
40
950
1
Gen. Putnam No. 4
50
800
4
Gen. Bates No. 3
50
950
5
Rocket, stored in
4
133
HOOK AND LADDER TRUCKS.
Members. Ward.
E. S. Beals No. 4 ·
.
25
1
Eureka No. 2 . .
25
2
Hardscrabble No. 3 .
25
3
Resolute No. 4
25
4
Hose carriage at Old North Church
1
Hose carriage at Lovell's Corner
4
Set of ladders at Lovell's Corner
.
4
REMARKS.
We believe that with the Gamewell system of telegraphic fire alarm that the town would be second to none in the State. For a fire department, we do not believe that the telephone for fire alarms is in any way reliable, as they have already failed many times for that purpose. The hose carriages are indispensable, as it would be almost impossible to draw by hand or horse any dis- tance the ones that were made to attach to the engines.
We would suggest that, for the safety of the public, all, who can conveniently, keep fifty feet or more of garden hose ready for use, which oftentimes inight prevent a large fire and save many thou- sand dollars.
Respectfully submitted.
ALVAH RAYMOND. Chief; WM. O. COLLIER, Clerk ; G. W. BATES,
T. A. KERRIVAN,
F. D. THAYER,
O. BURRELL,
C. E. BICKNELL,
J. R. H. WILLIAMS,
W. B. HERSEY,
G. F. MAYNARD,
Engineers of Weymouth.
REPORT
OF THE
TRUSTEES OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY.
THE Board of Trustees of the Tufts Library respectfully submit the following as their seventh annual report : -
The library has been open during the year 306 days. The whole number of loans for the year has been 52,894, an average of about 173 per day. Of the books loaned seventy per cent belong to the department of fiction ; ten per cent to arts, biography, and history ; five per cent to literature, natural science, and poetry ; six per cent to travels ; and nine per cent to all other departments.
The annual inspection of the library was made on Jan. 1, 1886, under the direction of the trustees, by the librarian and assistant, with aid furnished by the book committee, and shows that four books have been lost during the two years ending at that date.
During the last year more than 900 books have been added to the library, it now containing about 9,100 volumes. The whole number of borrowers has been 4,213, and the whole sum expended it its maintenance, $2,130.83.
These facts indicate a well sustained and commendable interest on the part of our citizens, in the use as well as in the support, of the library, and suggests that the generous pecuniary aid annually given to it by the town stimulates the interest of readers in its use, not alone by the variety and novelty imparted through the con- stant additions of the newest books, which such gifts enable its trustees to make, but as well by reason of that feeling innate in the human race which ever prompts us to prize more highly that which has cost us labor or sacrifice.
But while desirous of interesting the largest possible number of those who are willing to read books which are not harmful, and especially desirous to attract the youth of the town, by furnishing
135
them the opportunity of choice from a wide range of fresh, enter- taining and instructive reading, the trustees have not thought it to be conducive to their welfare or to the permanent prosperity of the library to attempt to allure any to avail themselves of its privileges, by offering fictions which, though not positively immoral in ten- dency, have no higher aim than to be sensational, and, in effect, create a distaste for the duties and pleasures of real life.
During the past year Frank W. Lewis, Esq., who had been a member of the board of trustees from the founding of the library, terminated his connection with it, in anticipation of his removal from the State. Although this, happily, is not the occasion to write his eulogy, - and may that time be long delayed, - it seems to his associates in the direction of the library to be eminently proper now to record our high appreciation of his wise and faithful per- formance of that large share of the duties of the board, which dur- ing his whole term of service was devolved upon him, and especi- ally of those incident to its founding, and the arranging of its methods of operation ; and also to express our sense of loss, both personal and official, in his departure from our community.
The trustees also deem it to be in the line of their duty, to ad- vise the town that the need of additional space for the library and reading-room is somewhat urgent, and that, in their judgment, some plan must soon be devised and executed for a considerable increase of shelf space, without encroaching further upon the area now devoted to the use of those who personally visit the library.
Each of our neighboring towns of Quincy, Braintree, Randolph, Holbrook, and Hingham possesses a commodious and attractive library building as the gift of private munificence, and we will con- tinue to hope that our turn to be thus graciously remembered will not be very long deferred ; but, while waiting for this consumma- tion of our hopes, we shall confidently rely upon the town to carry into effect such feasible plan as may be devised for rendering avail- able for these uses, at a moderate cost, such room as we already possess.
JAMES HUMPHREY,
WEYMOUTH, Jan. 1, 1886.
For the Board of Trustees.
136
APPENDIX.
DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY.
Donors.
Volumes. Pamphlets.
Weymouth Historical Society
1
Boston Public Library
65
Francis Ambler, Esq.
1
Miss Susan Cowing
8
City of Boston
3
F. W. Lewis, Esq. ·
1
Hon. B. W. Harris .
3
Hon. John D. Long .
2
Smithsonian Institution
2
Hon. John Eaton
1
7
F. H. Lincoln, Esq.
1
Massachusetts Agricultural College
.
Geo. A. Cushing, Esq. .
1
Brooklyn Public Library .
3
Massachusetts State Library
1
South Abington Public Library
1
Rev. Enoch Sanford, D.D.
1
Newton Free Library
.
1
Providence Public Library
.
1
TREASURER'S REPORT
Of Receipts and Expenditures of Tufts Library for the year 1885.
RECEIPTS.
Balance cash in treasury Jan. 1, 1885
$26 03
Received town appropriation
.
1,000 00
of town, dog money
436 39
interest on Tufts fund .
100 00
rent of store
300 00
1
.
137
Received rent of printing office .
$112 50
of librarian, for fines collected of librarian, for catalogues sold Due the Treasurer
118 05
33 35
4 51
$2,130 83
EXPENDITURES.
Paid Cleaves & McDonald, books
$804 59
Estes & Lauriat, books
150 85
Little & Brown, books
15 00
A. M. Hillyer, books .
2 00
James Anglim & Co., books
3 78
R. R. Bowker, books .
5 08
Brookline catalogue fund, books
5 93
A. L. Bancroft & Co., books
18 27
Carl Schoenhof, books
3 37
Jansen, McClurg & Co., books
1 03
C. W. Clark, library supplies
22 35
Fuller, Leonard & Small, supplies
4 00
J. G. Worcester, supplies ·
40
J. G. Roberts, binding books
134 96
A. Mudge & Son, printing bulletins
58 12
C. G. Esterbrook, printing bulletins
12 50
E. Bourke, express
2 80
W. K. Baker & Son, express
11 15
G. W. White, P. O. box and supplies
9 62
S. W. Pratt, repairs
6 50
J. Bailey, repairs
2 75
Mrs. McAvoy, services
3 75
Oriental Coal Co., oil .
9 55
C. A. Blanchard, librarian
400 00
L. C. Richards, services
136 50
C. E. Smith, services .
7 00
F. O. Totman, distributing books
50 16
W. T. Spilstead, distributing books
38 57
J. W. Bartlett
.
26 00
Clark & Foster
.
.
25 00
138
Paid H. F. Trufant, janitor
John Ford, sprinkling
10 00
Elias Richards, insurance .
90 00
$2,130 83
AMOS S. WHITE, Treasurer.
EXPENSES OF CARRYING ON THE LIBRARY.
Paid librarian and assistants
$543 50
For distributing books over the town
208 00
Janitor
78 00
Oil
9 55
Coal .
35 00
Supplies
51 00
Expressing .
13 95
Insurance
120 00
$1,059 00
.
$59 20
.
·
·
ASSESSORS' REPORT.
THE Board of Assessors of the town of Weymouth respectfully submit the following report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1885 : -
We have assessed upon the polls and estates of all persons liable to taxation in this town the following sums, which have been com- mitted to Alfred O. Crawford, Collector, with a warrant in due form of law for collecting and payment of the same : -
For town expenses as voted by the town
$73,700 00
For State tax
· 5,490 00
For county tax
3,900 53
For non-resident bank tax
3,355 13
Overlayings
1,217 76
Total assessment
$87,663 42
Number of polls assessed in Ward 1
442
Number of polls assessed in Ward 2
999
Number of polls assessed in Ward 3
662
Number of polls assessed in Ward 4
400
Number of polls assessed in Ward 5
530
Total number of polls
3,033
VALUATION.
Ward 1, Personal estate
$195,578 00
Real estate
.
570,566 00
Total valuation ·
$766,144 00
Ward 2, Personal estate
$334,936 00
Real estate
1,063,887 00
Total valuation
. $1,398,823 00
Ward 3, Personal estate
$263,546 00
Real estate
.
8.22,218 00
Total valuation
.
.
. $1,085,764 00
-
140
Ward 4, Personal estate
$67,111 00
Real estate
394,390 00
Total valuation .
$461,501 00
Ward 5, Personal estate Real estate
$291.732 00
722,927 00
Total valuation ·
$1,014,659 00
Non-resident, Personal estate
$65,428 00
Real estate .
436,798 00
Total valuation
$502,226 00
Resident bank stock, South Weymouth Bank $154,980 00
Resident bank stock, Union Bank
244,645 00
Total resident bank stock
· $399,625 00
Total valuation of the town assessed
. $5,669,535 00
Number of horses in town 882 .
Number of cows in town
·
.
562
Number of dwelling houses in town
2,060₺
Abatements and remittance made on taxes of 1882,
1883, 1884, and 1885
$1,880 00
LEONARD GARDNER, WILMOT CLEVERLY,
JOHN P. BURRELL,
GEO. A. CUSHING, JACOB BAKER,
Assessors of Weymouth.
.
·
.
THE NORTH WEYMOUTH IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.
ORGANIZED SEPT. 5, 1884.
THIS Association was formed Sept. 5, 1884, with E. S. Beals as president.
It had, at its formation thirty-four members, but during the year increased its membership to seventy-four.
It has collected during the year to Sept. 5, 1885 $313 25 Expended during the same time for trees, lamps, work on sidewalk, sanitary, etc. . $151 43
Leaving a balance Sept. 5, 1885, of $161 82
The different committees have set out sixty-five trees, also placed nineteen lamps on the different streets in the village, making in all thirty-three lamps to be lighted, and in justice to those hay- ing them to light, will say that they are complimented for their interest taken.
And as this is a matter of expense to individuals, it is also a protection in many ways to the town, and should, we think, be brought before the citizens of the town, to take some action in this respect.
At the present time we have a membership of nearly one hun- dred, and as the season opens for our work, we are in hopes of making it much larger.
There is plenty of work to do, with little or no expense, which will do a great deal towards beautifying our village ; but there is more work that requires money, and in order to do this, we must have the support of all the citizens, as well as money to carry on the work that an association of this kind is intended for.
Even the children of nearly all our schools have taken an interest on this subject, and why should not the citizens of each village?
Respectfully yours,
B. FRANK THOMAS,
Secretary.
EAST WEYMOUTH IMPROVEMENT ASSO- CIATION.
ORGANIZED MARCH 18, 1885.
STIMULATED by the knowledge of what was being done in some of our sister villages, and not to be left behind in the march of im- provement, a number of our representative citizens signed a call for a meeting early in March last ; and in response about twenty- five gentlemen met and discussed the feasibility of benefitting our village through an organization of her citizens for her improve- ment.
The result was a permanent organization, on March 18, 1885, of the East Weymonth Improvement Association, with N. D. Canterbury, president, E. D. Thompson, secretary, and Z. L. Bick- nell, treasurer. The object of this association, as set forth in its constitution, is to "improve and ornament the streets and public grounds of East Weymouth, by planting and cultivating trees, cleaning and repairing sidewalks, and doing such other acts as shall tend to improve and to advance the interests of this section of the town."
Any person eighteen years of age is made eligible for member- ship upon payment of one dollar annually, and the society now has a roll of one hundred and four members, of whom eighteen are ladies.
Beginning thus late for 1885, our work for that season was mainly confined to setting trees and cultivating public sentiment.
Fifty-one new trees, elms and maples, growing in East Wey- mouth, is the direct result of the former, and the success in culti- vating public sentiment will be shown in our work for the season of 1886. The society has agreed to supply and properly set trees along the sidewalks adjacent to the property of any one who will pay the cost of the trees at wholesale. Twenty trees were set under those conditions, while thirty-one were set in our school- yards, which previously were, almost without exception, totally destitute of shade. The trees in these yards have been jealously
1
1433
guarded by the pupils of our public schools, who by such efforts and by means of other adornments of their yards, through the efforts of our School Superintendent and the school improvement societies, are being educated in the value of attractive surroundings.
Recognizing that the scope of such a society is very broad, our association has undertaken through the winter months to minister to the social and literary taste of our village by holding at con- venient intervals a village sociable at the skating rink ; our first annual supper, at which as guests we had the Hon. John D. Long and the officers of the North and South Weymouth Improvement Societies ; and a course of six lectures and entertainments. .
We begin the second campaign with a good membership, a balance in our treasury, and great opportunities for work.
We think our large number of lady members assures success to our undertakings. This is a species of organization that can only result in good to a community, for everything done to beautify our premises and streets increases the value of our property and the desirableness of our village as a place of residence. No one can estimate the work of such an organization, for one of its chief results is in its reflex action on individuals, and we expect ere long to see coming down division fences, and to see fences along the streets replaced by neat curbings.
The subject of street lighting demands attention by these soci- eties, but it is hoped the introduction of gas may settle that question. These improvement societies ought, we believe, to be valuable aids in the administration of town affairs in their respective wards, and in turn their improvements, such as trees upon the public lands, ought to claim the zealous care of the fathers of the town.
EDGAR E. THOMPSON,
Secretary E. W. Improvement Association.
SOUTH WEYMOUTH IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.
ORGANIZED MAY 27, 1881.
THE work of village improvement associations is so closely identified with the material interests of the town that a report of their doings from year to year seems entirely appropriate in this connection. The objects of such associations are quite familiar to the public, while they differ but little in their scope and methods. The South Weymouth Association was organized May 27, 1881, and has a present membership of 141, and its growth in member- ship and influence has to-day placed it among the leading institu- tions of the village, an attractive visitor that has come to stay. The following financial statement, furnished by the efficient treas- urer, Mr. L. W. Paine, is, in itself, evidence of strength and popularity : -
RECEIPTS.
First year, annual dues
$95 00
First year, lecture course
266 25
Second year, annual dues
59 00
Third year, annual dues
80 00
Third year, contributions
3 00
Third year, fair .
243 66
Fourth year, dues
125 00
Fourth year, contributions .
121 65
Fourth year, hitching posts
11 80
Fourth year, fair
300 00
Fifth year, dues .
39 00
Fifth year, contributions
25 54
Fifth year, hitching posts
5 20
Fifth year, fair .
305 19
Total .
·
. $1,680 29
·
.
.
.
·
145
EXPENDITURES.
First year, lecture course
$282 55
First year, miscellaneous
44 22
Second year, miscellaneous
49 21
Third year, miscellaneous .
46 99
Fourth year, miscellaneous
451 55
Fifth year, miscellaneous
305 56
Total
. $1,180 08
Cash balance on hand Feb. 1, 1886
$500 21
Bill receivable Feb. 1, 1886
114 00
Total assets Feb. 1, 1886
$614 21
The executive committee have been careful to expend the money at their disposal in such a manner. as would best further the objects of the association. Many of the results can be specified, but the improvements attempted directly by the association are small in comparison with the general improvement stimulated by such an organization. The association has, during the five years of its existence, planted 540 young shade trees along the highway, besides thoroughly trimming the old ones ; placed a fine curbing about the green in Independence Square, graded another in Colum- bian Square, and painted and repaired the flagstaff standing there ; secured the erection and maintenance of twenty street lamps ; pro- vided a large number of hitching posts, obtained increased railway facilities ; maintained for one season an instructive lecture course ; issued tracts on sanitation and tree planting ; besides aiding in the improvement of the old Reed Cemetery, the improvement of school- house yards, clearing away the rubbish in many places by the roadside, and above all, built up a healthy and vigorous public sen- timent.
Our prosperity has stimulated the formation of similar organi- zations in North and East Weymouth, and the Landing will soon complete the list. Each association has its annual supper, when the people meet each other with pleasant greetings ; all social, political, and religious distinctions are forgotten ; representatives
146
from the sister organizations are present, and thus the social bar- riers that have too long existed between the villages are crumbling away, and the entire movement is one which forbodes only good to the old town of Weymouth.
Individual enterprise is commendable, but organized enterprise is a more powerful lever to remove any obstructions to the public good that chance to spring up in the community. During the coming summer we hope especially to see a systematic trimming of trees all through the town, a vigorous movement in behalf of street lighting, the removal of high fences, and an activity in all measures that tend to enhance the beauty of the town.
H. A. THOMAS,
Secretary.
REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONERS
OF THE
TOWN OF. WEYMOUTH, FOR THE YEAR 1885.
The Water Commissioners of the town of Weymouth, in making their third annual report, respectfully submit the following for the year ending Dec. 31, 1885.
CONSTRUCTION.
In the fall of 1884, Mr. McClallan, our contractor, began the work of laying pipe between the pumping station and the pond, and continued until winter closed in.
It was expected that he would lay the pipe through the meadow and swamp, toward the Town House, but for good and sufficient reasons it was delayed until this year.
Early in the spring of 1885, he commenced work at the pumping station, and also the laying of pipe in different parts of the town.
As the work progressed, it became evident that slight changes in the original plan were necessary. The pipe to have been laid in Commercial Street from Jackson Square to Water Street and Grove Street, was laid in East Street, and similar alterations were made in other places.
The labor in all departments of the work has been executed un- der the supervision of competent engineers employed by the town, and in a very satisfactory manner.
In our report for 1884, we have thirty-three miles of pipe, and two hundred hydrants.
The exact measurement of pipe laid is 341% miles (for sizes of the same, see Engineer's Report) ; the number of hydrants is two hundred and eighty; the number of gates is two hundred and seventy-one. For these additions alone, we have expended about $11,000.
148
It will appear in the annexed report of the Secretary that many items are included in this account which properly come under the running expenses.
PUMPING STATION.
The pumping station was built by the contractor, Mr. McClallan, under the supervision of our engineer, Mr. M. M. Tidd. The work was done by men having had large experience, and is all that can be desired. The engine was built by the Geo. F. Blake Manufac- turing Company, and is first-class in every respect, as the working of the machine proves.
STAND PIPE.
Our contractor sub-let the stand pipe to the Cunningham Iron Company, of Boston, and they the stone foundation to Mr. B. F. Richards, of Weymouth. All of this work has been done very thoroughly.
ENGINEER.
For engineer at the puntping station we have engaged Mr. Elisha Phillips at a salary of $780 per year, he furnishing a chest of tools and a steam indicator for our use. In our judgment, he is an efficient man.
SUPERINTENDENT.
After some delay, we elected Mr. George J. Ries as superin- tendent of the water works, at a salary of $1,200 per year, he having agreed to furnish his own team for transportation. We consider that his education and training have well fitted him for the position.
LAND DAMAGES.
In awarding land damages, we would say that if to the owners of the land the award seems small, they must bear in mind that a town has a right to land within its limits for water supply pur- poses by paying a fair compensation for it. This, we think, we have allowed. The whole amount of the award is $1,292.
149
SUPERINTENDENT'S AND WATER BOARD OFFICE.
We have leased of Mr. B. F. Shaw, of East Weymouth, rooms in the second story of his building, and also land on which to build a work-shop, for the sum of $200 per year, for five years,-for ten years, if desired.
SERVICES.
From what we could learn of the experience of other towns, we decided to contract for the service pipe and supplies, and to fur- nish water takers, with the same at cost, if they desired. This contract was made with the National Tube Works, of Boston. There was some delay, as Mr. McClallan objected to tapping the mains before the town had accepted his work. This difficulty was finally overcome by engaging him to lay the service pipe.
In order to equalize the expense it was thought best that the town should pay for the pipe to the street line.
This plan, which was not contemplated last year, involves an expense of $1,942.98.
The number of services laid in the town, is as follows : -
Ward 1
85
Ward 2
·
. 162
Ward 3 .
110
Ward 4
. 48
Ward 5
68
Total
473
.
.
It was unfortunate for the town that a lot of lead and iron pipe, sidewalk boxes, brass fixtures, etc., had been stored in one of the buildings burned at the Landing fire.
We estimate this loss between nine and ten hundred dollars.
FIRE ENGINEERS' TEST.
In December, a trial of the hydrants was made, under the direc- tion of the Fire Department, and witnessed by representatives of insurance companies in New York and Boston. -
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