USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1908 > Part 7
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1,000 00
997 84
2 16
Assessors' Card System
400 00
105 96
294 04
Poor Account
15,140 92
15,100 01
40 91
State Road-No Appropriation. Amount Paid by State
1,713 33
4,969 98
3,256 65
$211,977 18
$189,114 72
$30,570 13
$7,707 67
7,707 67
30,570 13
$219.684 85
$219,684 85
TRIAL BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 1909.
School houses and lots
$225,000 00
Engine houses and lock-ups
16,400 00
Town House
12,000 00
Tufts Public Library
44,000 00
Fire Apparatus
19,000 00
Street Department, fixtures
6,385 00
Town Farm
17,000 00
Town Farm-personal property
8,002 19
Water Department, real estate .
800 00
Water Department, personal property 10,697 00
Water Department, water rents
2,209 53
Water Department, labor, etc.
652 16
Water Department, construction
513,994 19
Water Department, sinking fund
268,017 88
Tax Collectors
79,660 94
State Treasurer .
10,040 59
County Treasurer
1,378 89
Due from cities and towns
1,767 50
Tax Deeds
1,963 83
F. H. Chandler
206 22
State Road
3,256 65
Lake Street School, sinking fund
2,000 00
Commercial Sq., appropriation
284 36
Removal Town House, appro- priation ·
309 27
Keith street, appropriation
8 76
Suppression of moths, appro- priation .
922 82
Highways, appropriation .
1,694 42
Fire Department, appropriation
355 01
Abatements, appropriation
478 07
Preservation trees, appropriation
398 31
Water bonds
$485,000 00
Notes payable
177,500 00
Town Treasurer
6,199 24
Schools. appropriation
16,441 85
Removal snow, appropriation
2,308 90
Electric lighting, appropriation
2,183 01
Amounts carried forward
$1,248,883 59
$689,633 00
133
Amounts brought forward $1,248,883 59
$689,633 00
Bridges, appropriation
465 00
Police, appropriation
583 71
Health Dept., appropriation
313 04
Town Hall, appropriation
931 48
Town Offices, appropriation
431 94
Printing, appropriation
309 84
Pilgrim Road, appropriation
30 64
Public Parks, appropriation
91 40
Tufts Library, appropriation
822 32
Fogg Reading-room, appropri- ation
125 00
Interest, appropriation
714 77
Election expenses, appropriation
3 18
Miscellaneous expenses, appro- priation
934 76
Street Records, appropriation .
75 00
Assessors' Card System, appro- priation
294 04
State and Military Aid, appro- priation
496 78
Soldiers' relief, appropriation
1,599 82
Town Officers, appropriation
927 80
Poor account, appropriation
40 91
Hose-house, appropriation
2
16
Wharf street, appropriation
42 75
Town survey, appropriation
331 16
Pond street, appropriation
91
Pratt School - house, appropri- ation
56 56
Union Training School, appro- priation
11 40
Due towns and cities
1,510 80
Town of Weymouth
548,103 42
.
$1,248,883 59
$1,248,883 59
CHARLES B. CUSHING, Town Accountant.
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
The Overseers of the Poor of the Town of Weymouth respect- fully submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1908 :
The management of this department has been along the same general lines as for recent years past.
TOWN HOME AND FARM.
An agreement was entered into with Joseph Cummings and wife by which they remain in charge of the Town Home and Farm for the year ending April 1, 1909, for a salary of $1,000. We consider that this should be the maximum salary for the position, and that the faithful services of Mr. and Mrs. Cum- mings entitle them to receive it.
The house, stable and other buildings are in good condition, and should require but little outlay for several years. The farm is in an improving condition, its fertility being well maintained. Some of the crops, especially the grass, were quite seriously affected by the drought of the early summer, but the corn for the silo was satisfactory both in quantity and quality. This is the crop which is principally depended on for feed for the herd, and fortunately it is ample for that purpose.
INMATES.
There have been for the whole or portion of the year fifty-one different inmates, of whom six were boarders and forty-five, the town's poor; of whom there remain thirty-two at the close of the year. Considering that so large a proportion of those who come to the home are aged or suffer some form of infirmity, the gen- eral health has been good.
Two deaths have occurred, one being that of an inmate of several years and the other a soldier boarder who was at the home but a few days.
135
The net cost for the year, as per Accountant's report, was $4,945.77. Of the above amount $375.00 was for permanent improvements, which makes maintenance of the establishment for the year, as we are required to report it to the state, $4,570.77, or $3.38 a week for each inmate.
POOR OUT OF HOUSE.
We have to report a marked increase in the number of the poor who have been aided out of the house, and a corresponding in- crease in the cost of this department. It is one of the most dffi- cult duties the board is called upon to perform, to administer outside relief wisely and in such a way as to be just, both to the persons relieved and also to the town.
There is often danger of public aid proving a curse rather than a blessing to those receiving it, by removing the incentive to industry and economy on their part. It is a well-recognized fact among charity workers that the greatest kindness which can be done to those who apply for relief is to encourage them to help themselves.
In many instances the need for public relief is occasioned by the shiftless or dissolute habits of those who should be the breadwinners, and in not a few cases by wastefulness and lack of faculty to use wisely the resourcee at their dis- posal rather than because their means are less than those of others, who are not only self-supporting but contribute by pay- ment of taxes toward the maintenance of the dependent ones.
The majority of cases, however, which come to the attention of the board are worthy ones, and only become objects of public charity when they have exhausted all other resources. In con- sideration of these facts it has been our aim to see that adequate relief was given to the worthy poor, to encourage self-help and dependence wherever possible, and to discourage dependence upon the public by unworthy applicants. It has been our pur- pose to err, if at all, on the side of charity. In endeavoring to carry on the work on these lines we have granted more or iess assistance to two hundred and seventy-six individuals in one hundred and forty families of one or more.
Of the above, fifty-six individuals, in thirty-four families, were aided by the state or by towns and cities on account of Wey- mouth, and eighty-three individuals in thirty-two families, having
136
no settlement in this town, were aided here at the cost of the state or their respective places of settlement.
There is a growing tendency to receive aid in the form of medical or surgical assistance in one or another of the city hos- pitals of the state. This is done in many instances in ignorance of the fact that their case is reported at once to the Overseers of the poor of the place of their settlement. If cases of this char- acter occur where the board has reason to think the persons benefitted are of sufficient means to pay their own expenses, the liability of the town is denied on this ground.
TOWN PHYSICIANS.
The following physicians were appointed to care for the poor for the year ending June 1, 1909 :
Ward One and Almshouse, William A. Drake; Ward Two, J. C. Fraser ; Ward Three, Franklin P, Virgin ; Ward Four, K. H. Granger; Ward Five, Edward N. Mayberry.
137
INMATES OF THE ALMSHOUSE DURING THE YEAR 1908.
Date Ad- mitted.
NAME.'
Age.
REMARKS.
Weeks.
Days.
Jan.
1
Leavitt B. Torrey .
55
Continues.
State case
52
2
66
1
Elizabeth C. Tirrell
· 56
Continues
52
2
1
Ida A. Davis
46
Continues
·
.
52
2
66
1
George A. Nash
40
Continues
52
2
66
1
Warren A. Salisbury
66
Continues
·
.
52
2
66
1
Erastus Loud .
75
Continues
.
.
52
2
66
1
John Leonard
81
Continues
·
.
52
2
66
1
James C. Lovell
73
Continues
52
2
66
1
Catherine Connor
70
Continues
.
52
2
66
1
Daniel Gilligan.
44
Died February 24
7
6
66
1
Patrick Yourell
.
67
Continues
52
2
66
1
George Evans
61
Continues
52
2
66
1
James Gumb
52
Continues
52
2
66
1
Martha White
62
Continues
52
2
1
Mary Carey
40
Continues
52
2
66
1
Dianthe Turner
72
Continues
52
2
66
1
John Meara
74
Continues
52
2
1
Lydia Bowker
86
Continues
52
2
66
1
John Handley .
56
Discharged February 22 .
7
4
Jan. 1
Michael Carroll
47
Discharged March 28
12
3
66
1
Peter Langford
41
Discharged April 19
15
4
June 3
Discharged September 4
13
4
Jan. 1
Charles Smith
76
Discharged April 19
15
4
1
Thomas Kılfoye
60
Discharged April 19
15
4
1
Daniel W. Crowley
55
Discharged
18
5
Oct.
1
Continues
13
Jan. 14
Angelo F. Johnson .
65
Discharged May 6
16
Dec. 5
Continues
3
Feb.
3
William Curtin
45
Discharged February 17 .
2
5
Michael Moran
53
Continues
47
66
9
Charles Daley
25
Discharged February 14 .
6
Sept. 26
Discharged September 28
1
Dec. 28
Lemuel W. French .
78 Continues
44
5
March 6
James A. Hawes
59 Discharged March 23
2
4
May 6
Jeremiah Doran
.
45 Discharged May 12
1
July
5
John F. Gray
60 Continues
25
5
66
6
Peter McDonald
74
Discharged August 10
66
31
George Briggs
.
· 56 Continues
18
Oct. 6
Herbert Burrell
. 61 Discharged December 10
9.
3
66
17
Thomas Cullan
· 156 Discharged December 28
10
3
23
James Callahan
59
Continues
10
1
Thomas Moran
·
20
Continues
.
·
52
2
1
Martin Flynn .
.
67
Continues
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
Sept. 30
Continues
·
13
2
1 1 6
66
9
Thomas Curran
.
.
.
1
2 3
Nov. 13
Discharged November 19 Continues
4
Feb. 22
Aug. 5
Henry A. Holbrook
53 Discharged August 22
2
4 5
62 Continues
17
4
66 27
Webster C. Coolidge
.
.
·
35
Discharged February 14 . Discharged July 3
1 1 6
June 25
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
52
2
.
.
.
.
.
138
INMATES OF THE ALMSHOUSE DURING THE YEAR 1908.
Date Ad- mitted.
NAME.
Age.
REMARKS.
Weeks.
Days.
Dec.
9
Michael Scanlan
.
54
Continues
14
Byron W. Loud
·
63
Continues
2
66
15
Mary McDonald
29
Continues
2
66
17
James D. Kimball
67
Died Dec. 19.
Soldier
3
Jan.
6
Albert Davison
73
Discharged
March 14.
9
5
1
Mary F. Rosey
.
72
Continues.
Soldier's
52
2
Mar. 18
Bessie Bates
50
Left October 3. Soldier's
widow. Boarder
28
4
Oct.
5
George Manuel
84
Left Dec. 24. Boarder
11
3
Nov. 20
Richard N. Cushing
·
83
Continues. Boarder
6
Total weeks Less boarders
1460
3
108
3
Town's poor
1352
0
2433 3
boarder, Sett. Boston .
Soldier boarder .
widow. Boarder
·
GORDON WILLIS,
BRADFORD HAWES, GEORGE L. NEWTON, EDWARD W. HUNT, WILLARD J. DUNBAR, Overseers of the Poor of the Town of Weymouth.
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK, SS. To the Constables of the Town of Weymouth in said County. GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Weymouth, aforesaid, qualified to vote in elections therein, to meet at the polling places in their respective voting precincts, to wit : In precincts numbered One, Three, Five and Six, in the Halls of the Fire Engine Houses located in those precincts respec- tively ; in precinct numbered Two, at the Odd Fellows' Opera House ; and in precinct numbered Four, at the Hose House at Nash's Corner, on Monday, the Second Day of March, next, at five o'clock and forty-five minutes in the forenoon, then and there to bring in to the wardens of their several precincts their votes on one ballot for the following named town officers, to wit: Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, five Selectmen, five Overseers of the Poor, one Assessor for one year, two Assessors for two years, two As- sessors for three years, Collector of Taxes, three Auditors, two School Committees for three years, one Park Commissioner for three years, three Trustees of Tufts Library for three years, one Water Commissioner for three years, one Commissioner for the Sinking Fund of the new Ward Two School House, one Tree Warden, and ten Constabies ; and to vote on the same ballot, "Yes" or "No" upon the question, "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?"
The polls will be opened at a quarter before six o'clock in the forenoon, and may be closed at one o'clock in the afternoon.
You are further required to notify and warn said inhabitants, qualified to vote as aforesaid, to meet at the Town Hall on Mon- day, the Ninth day of March next, at nine o'clock and fifteen minutes in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles, namely :
140
Article 1. To choose a moderator for said meeting.
Art. 2. To chose all necessary town officers other than those elected by ballot, viz : Public Weighers, Surveyors of Wood, Lumber and Bark, two or more Fence Viewers, two or more Field Drivers, and one Pound Keeper.
Art. 3. To hear and act upon the reports of the several boards of town officers and of any committees appointed at any former meetings, and to choose any committees the town may think proper.
Art. 4. To see if the town will authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow during the muni- cipal year beginning January 1, 1908, in anticipation of the col- lection of taxes of said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the current expenses of the town, but not exceeding the total tax levy for said year, giving the notes of the town therefor, payable within one year from the dates thereof. All debts incurred under authority of this vote shall be paid from the taxes of the present municipal year.
Art. 5. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the support of public schools.
Art. 6. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the transportation of pupils to and from school.
Art. 7. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the repair of highways, townways and bridges, and for the removal of snow.
Art. 8. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the relief and support of the poor.
Art. 9. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the relief of disabled soldiers and seamen, and for the families of disabled soldiers and seamen, under Chapter 79 of the Revised Laws.
Art. 10. To see what sum of money the town will vote to ap- propriate for the payment of State and Military Aid and for burials under the provisions of Chapter 381, Acts of 1904, and to determine how much of the same shall be raised by taxation.
Art. 11. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the support of the Fire Department.
Art. 12. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for police service.
141
Art. 13. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the Tufts Library.
Art. 14. To see what som of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the maintenance of a public reading room at the Fogg Library.
Art. 15. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the abatement and remittance of taxes.
Art. 16. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $7,500 for the payment of a note becoming due October 19, 1908.
Art. 17. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the payment of interest which may be- come due the ensuing year.
Art. 18. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for printing and advertising.
Art. 19. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for miscellaneous expenses.
Art. 20. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the payment of town officers.
Art. 21. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for election expenses.
Art. 22. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for Memorial Day.
Art. 23. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the rent and care of town offices.
Art. 24. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for care and repair of Town House.
Art. 25. To see if the the town will vote to appropriate from the revenue of the water works for the current year the sum of $28,130 to be expended for the following purposes, viz : $19,130 for interest on the Weymouth water loan bonds, becoming due the ensuing year; $7,300 for Superintendent's salary, mainten- tenance of works and pumping station, and $1,700 for current expenses, Commissioner's and office expenses.
Art. 26. To see if the town will appropriate and direct to be paid to the Trustees of the Sinking Fund out of the income of the water rents for the current year the sum of $9,320, to be set apart and invested as a sinking fund for the payment at maturity of the Weymouth water loan bonds.
142
Art. 27. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $5,000 for the purpose of making further construction of the waterworks.
Art. 28. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000 for hydrants and for the water rents and care of drinking fountains.
Art. 29. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate to be expended by the Selectmen in the suppression of the gypsy and brown-tail moths.
Art 30. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate to be expended in the interest of the public health.
Art. 31. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for electric Lighting.
Art. 32. By request of the Park Commissioners : To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50 for care and maintenance of public parks.
Art. 33. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate toward the Sinking Fund for the payment at maturity of the new Ward Two School House bonds.
Art. 34. To determine in what manner taxes shall be collected the ensuing year, and to fix the rate of interest upon all taxes re- maining unpaid after the time fixed for payment.
Art. 35. To see if the town will accept the list of jurors sub- mitted by the Selectmen.
Art. 36. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the preservation of shade trees, the same to be expended under the direction of the Tree Warden.
Art. 37. To see if the town will accept the provisions of Sec. 28, Chap. 33, Revised Laws, in regard to impounding stray beasts upon the premises of the field driver, or take any other action in relation to such impounding.
Art. 38. To see if the town will raise and appropriate any sum of money for continuing the survey and plotting of the town.
Art. 39. By request of the School Committee : To see if the . town will raise and appropriate the sum of $800 for resetting the boilers at the High School building and piping the same for direct steam.
143
Art. 40. To see if the town will authorize the Trustees of Tufts Library, in its name and behalf, to execute and deliver a lease or leases of the stores in the Library Building for such rent and upon such conditions as said trustees may deem expedient ; except that the term for which any lease is given shall not extend beyond Jan. 1, 1913.
Art. 41. On petition of George L. Barnes and others : To see if the town will authorize the Board of Assessors to employ a clerk and establish the new card system of assessment of taxes, and to determine what compensation the assessors should receive for the services they perform.
Art. 42. On petition of George L. Barnes and others : T see if the town will instruct the assessors to make a new valuation of the property in Weymouth subject to taxation, and to see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the purpose of defraying the cost of making such valuation.
Art. 43. On petition of Marshall P. Sprague and thirty oth- ers: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000 to remodel and make additions to the Hose House at Nash's Corner, in order to provide a suitable hall for elections and other purposes.
Art. 44. On petition of the Building Committee of the Pratt School house.
To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of $200 for the purpose of finishing the grading of the yard of the Pratt School grounds.
Art. 45. To see if the town will authorize its Selectmen to commence suit for the recovery of any money or property due it.
Art. 46. To see what provisions the town will make for any deficiencies in the appropriations of the current financial year, or for any overdrafts already made.
Art. 47. To see if the town will authorize its Selectmen to contract with the Massachusetts Highway Commission for the construction of a section of state highway on Main street.
Art. 48. By request of Thomas F. Brady : To see if the town will vote to pay him for labor at the Pumping Station for the years 1903 and 1904, for Sunday work.
144
Art. 49. On petition of Charles E. Wadelin and others : To see if the town will vote to have an electric light placed on King Ave. in Ward Three, midway between light already installed and Washington street.
Art 50. On petition of G. L. Whitcomb and others : To see if the town will vote to have one incandescent light installed be- tween Jackson Sq. and Commercial Sq.
Art. 51. On petition of H. F. Bicknell and others : To see if the town will vote to have an electric light placed on the east side of Commercial street, halfway between Commercial Square and Hill street.
Art. 52. On petition of E. G. Leonard and others : To see if the town will vote to have an electric light placed upon Commer- cial street, east of the railroad crossing on the road toward Hing- han, where the electric road, the sidewalk and the highway cross and mingle, with two or three poles in the midst, making it dan- gerous and disagreeable for pedestrians.
Art. 52. On petition of Arthur H. Pratt and others : To see if the town will authorize the placing of one electric light in Madison Square, East Weymouth,
Art. 54. On petition of F. Poole and others : To see if the town will cause an electric light to be placed opposite the res- idence of Capt Francis B. Pratt, 147 Middle street.
Art. 55. On petition of Edward Furlong and others : To see if the town will place an electric light at the corner of a private way leading from Pleasant street, between lhe residences of Ed- ward Madigan and Edward Litchfield, to residence of Edward Furlong.
Art. 56. On petition of Joseph E. Torrey and others : To see if the town will instruct its electric light committee to install a light on Pleasant street, nearly opposite the house of Joseph E. Torrey, and to raise and appropriate money for the maintenance of the same.
Art. 57. On petition of E. E. Lunt and others : To see if the town will vote to have an incandescent electric light placed on Church street, to be located between the house of E. E. Lunt and the next house on the same side of Church street, being the house that was until recently occupied by George White.
145
Art. 58. On petition of George F. Farrar and others : To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to locate one incandescent light on Laurel street, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Art. 59. On petition of James F. Cullinane and others : To see if the town will instruct its electric light committee to install a light on Central street between Bates Ave. and Central Ave. and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 60. On petition of Peter E. Sullivan and sixty others : To see if the town will vote to raise the wages of its employees to $2.25 a day, and the wages of horses to $1.75 a day.
Art. 61. On petition of Joseph A. Cushing and others : To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000 for the working of Cushing street.
Art. 62. On petition of Frank N. Proctor and others : To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to grade and gravel the sidewalk along the westerly side of Pond street, from Hollis street to Fountain Square or Pool's Corner, so called.
Art. 63. On petition of W. H. Robinson and others : To see if the town will vote to gravel the sidewalk on the easterly side of Pond street from the railroad track to the land of the Tirrell heirs, and extend the said sidewalk to Main street at Pool's Corner, and raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the same.
Art. 64. On petition of Isaac N. Colby and others : To see if the town will vote that the sum of $200 be applied to the grad- . ing and repairs of East street, between Madison square and the railroad track.
Art. 65. On petition of the trustees of Reed Cemetery, on Front street : To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate $100 for the purpose of building a sidewalk along the front of said cemetery.
Art. 66. On petition of Nelson W. Gardner and others : To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate to drain Jackson square, Commercial square and High street.
Art. 67. On petition of Merton Y. Clement and others : To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $300 for the working of Monatiquot street.
146
Art. 68. On petition of George W. Sargent and others : To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum ot $300, to be used in draining Hollis street, in front of George W. Sargent's residence and the pumping station.
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