USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1885-1891 > Part 4
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Amount of cash in hand of Town Treasurer
6,319 23
Amount $47,093 22
CR.
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1885
$5,191 90
Received --
Dog fund, 1884. . .
224 10
City of Boston, supplies for Daniel Jenkins, 1884.
52 00
Two fish rights. 10 00
Town of Medford, supplies for Augustus R. Curtis. .
7 00
Town of Cohasset, supplies for Wm. Henry Litch- field 75 75
Town of Cohasset, supplies for John F. Prentiss .. .
16 52
John L. Webb, rent of beach . . . 25
Danforth P. Sylvester, rent of beach. 50
Benjamin Merritt, rent of beach. 75
J. W. Weatherbee, rent of beach. 1 00
Waldo Higginson, rent of beach 2 00
L. W. Cook, auctioneer's license 2 00
22
A. J. Waterman, auctioneer's license $2 00
J. Cushman, H. Jenkins' grass. . 11 50
Interest on C. M. Jenkins' note .
6 00
From County, awarded by County Commissioners for roads 950 00
State Treasurer, Corporation tax 1,134 13
State Treasurer, Bank tax.
252 42
State aid, chapter.301
1,023 00
Military aid, chapter 252 284 16
C. E. Bailey, school books sold 7 93
Brewster, Cobb & Easterbrook, Nov. 1, 1885 10,500 00
Town of Weymouth, supplies to John Burrill. 4 00
City of Gloucester, supplies to A. R. Parsons 13 50
Interest for money on deposit 38 00 .
State Treasurer, school fund, 1885 178 49
City of Boston, supplies to Daniel Jenkins, 1885 52 00
Taxes collected from 1875 to 1880.
17 90
of 1881
85
of 1882
5 81
of 1883 . .
212 50
of 1884 .
4,415 24
Taxes for collection of 1885
22,400 02
Amount
$47,093 22
ROLAND TURNER, Treasurer.
SCITUATE, January 1, 1886.
23
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE TOWN JAN. 1, 1886.
LIABILITIES.
Due as follows :-
NAMES OF PAYEES.
Principal.
Date of Note.
Interest Paid to.
Interest Due to Jan. 1,5 1886.
Brewster, Bassett & Co . Brewster, Cobb & Easterbrook,
Brewster, Cobb & Easterbrook,
$60,000 00 7,000 00 10,500 00
July 1, 1881, Nov. 8, 1883, Nov. 1, 1885,
Jan. 1, 1886, Nov. 8, 1885, Jan. 1, 1886,
$40 55
73 34
Amount of Principal due, $77,500 00 Amount of Interest due, $113 89
Amount of principal of notes due . $77,500 00
Amount of interest due 113 89
Amount of outstanding orders 1,735 00
Amount estimated due for salaries of teachers in February, 1886 1,402 44
Amount estimated due support of poor
266 00
Amount of liabilities. $81,017 33
RESOURCES.
Cash in hands of Town Treasurer. $6,319 23
Uncollected taxes from 1875 to 1880. 117 95
of 1880 57 12
of 1881 . . 23 49
of 1882 54 59
of 1883 74 76
of 1884 489 25
of 1885 5,945 49
24
Due from Town of Cohasset, aid to William Henry Litchfield
$39 50
Town of Cohasset, aid to John F. Prentiss 34 87
Town of South Scituate, aid to Henry D. Litchfield 161 00
State of Massachusetts, aid to A. S. Bur- roughs 37 93
State, State aid, chapter 301 1,205 00
State, military aid, chapter 252 292 00
estate of Edmund Jenkins
49 76
estate of Eveline Jenkins.
129 70
estate of Harvey Jenkins. 359 71
Value of security on C. M. Jenkins' house 100 00
Estimated value of road machine 200 00
. Estimated value of tools . 25 00
Estimate due from County, dog fund
190 00
Amount of resources. $15,906 35
From amount of liabilities $81,017 33
Deduct resources 15,906 35
$65,110 98
Decrease of debt $1,531 76
ESTIMATED EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR 1886.
For-
Removing snow. $1,000 00
Support of schools 4,500 00
Incidentals for schools. 150 00
Support of poor.
3,000 00
Repairs of roads and bridges.
2,000 00
Town officers.
700 00
Abatement of taxes 200 00
25
Printing, stationery and postage stamps
$150 00
Miscellaneous
1,100 00
Collection of taxes and discount
800 00
Interest on debt
3,100 00
Completion of repairs on Hollet Street
1,200 00
Repairs of public buildings.
300 00
Total Town grant $18,200 00
Add amount of State tax, (estimated)
1,500 00
Add amount of County tax, (estimated) 1,400 00
Total estimated expense.
$21,100 00
Respectfully submitted,
WM. H. LITCHFIELD, HENRY H. NORTHEY, C. T. CHUBUCK,
Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor of Scituate.
JANUARY 1, 1886.
4
26
LIST OF JURORS.
PRESENTED FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE TOWN, TO BE ACTED ON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD IN MARCH, 1886.
Alfred A. Seaverns,
George W. Elliott,
Charles F. Clapp,
Charles M. Ferguson,
E. Foster Peirce,
Joseph Bailey,
John E. O. Prouty,
William Stoddard,
Hosea B. Mott,
John L. Manson,
Thomas Tilden,
Jetson Wade,
Hatherly Merritt,
E. Parker Welch,
James Edson,
H. Lucius Vinal, Henry T. Otis,
Fenton W. Varney,
James Damon,
Nathaniel J. Vinal,
' Hosea V. Orcutt, -
Marshall Litchfield, Jr.,
Francis B. Lee,
Henry Merritt, Alexander Anderson, George H. Damon,
Henry Young, Israel C. Dalby,
Silas Newcomb, Andrew Cole,
Lovell B. Lincoln,
James B. Totman,
Andrew Bates,
Charles A. Brown,
Otis Litchfield,
John J. Ford,
Amos W. Merritt.
Respectfully submitted,
WM. H. LITCHFIELD, - Selectmen HENRY H. NORTHEY, of
C. T. CHUBUCK, Scituate.
James C. Merritt,
27
TRUST FUNDS.
The Selectmen have paid, from interest accrued on the Jen- kins and Thomas funds, to the following named persons :
Susan M. Otis
$15 00
Mahala T. Vinal
15 00
Mary S. Bouve 15 00
Julietta Thorndike 20 00
Eliza A. Otis 15 00
Amount
$80 00
WM. H. LIFCHTIELD, - HENRY H. NORTHEY, Trustees.
1
C. T. CHUBUCK,
28
ASSESSORS' DEPARTMENT. 1
VALUATION OF THE TOWN OF SCITUATE, MAY 1,
1885.
Real estate $1,267,758 00
Personal estate. 142,777 00
Total valuation of property
.$1,410,535 00
Number of polls. 621
acres of land 9,815
horses taxed 332
cows taxed.
270
neat cattle, other than cows, taxed 129
sheep taxed
59
swine taxed
66
houses
646
Tax on 621 polls at $2 $1,242 00
Tax on $1,410,535 at $15 per $1000 21,158 02
$22,400 02
TOTAL VALUATION COMPARED WITH 1884.
Real estate, increase
$9,168 00
Personal estate, increase 3,132 00
Total increase $12,300 00
1
WM. H. LITCHFIELD, ) Assessors HENRY H. NORTHEY, of
C. T. CHUBUCK, Scituate.
.
29
ARTICLES TO BE IN WARRANT For Town Meeting, March 1, 1886.
ART. 1. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meeting.
ART. 2. To hear the report of the Selectmen and other Town officers, and act thereon.
ART. 3. To choose all necessary Town officers for the year ensuing.
ART. 4. To see what sums of money the Town will raise for the support of schools, repairs of roads and bridges, support of poor, and other necessary charges for the current year, and appropriate the same.
ART. 5. To establish the rate of wages for removing snow from the public highways for the current year.
ART. 6. To revise and accept the list of jurors as prepared by the Selectmen.
ART. 7. To see if the Town will authorize the Overseers of the Poor to contract, at their discretion, for the support of the Town paupers.
ART. 8. To see if the Town will authorize their Treasurer to borrow money under the direction of the Select- men in anticipation of taxes,
.
.
30
ART. 9. To see if the Town will cause a statement of their financial report to be printed and distributed in the month of February next.
ART. 10. To hear the report of any Committee heretofore chosen, or act thereon.
ART. 11. To make allowances to Town creditors,
ART. 12. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of fifty dollars to be expended under the direction of Post No. 31, G. A. R., on Memorial Day.
ART. 13. To see if the Town will allow a discount on all taxes paid on or before the first day of November next, or act thereon.
ART. 14. To ballot upon the question of granting licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this Town, ballots to be "Yes " or "No" in answer to the question "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxi- cating liquors in this Town ?"
ART. 15. Will the Town raise, appropriate and expend a sum of money sufficient to complete the repairs on Hol- let Street during the ensuing year, according to the specifications of the County Commissioners ?
ART. 16. Will the Town change the name of Hyland Street to Highland Street ?
ART. 17. To see if the Town will repair the sea wall on Front Street at the Harbor.
ART. 18. Will the Town cause its books to be audited ?
ART. 19. Will the Town cause a new valuation to be taken on its taxable property ?
31
ART. 20. Will the Town raise and appropriate money for re- pairing First Cliff road ?
ART. 21. Will the Town cause to be moved the Primary School-house on the Common to some point near the Third Cliff?
ART. 22. Will the Town tax and license pool tables ?
ART. 23. Will the Town appropriate a sum of money for repairs of the road leading from the Third to the Fourth Cliff ?
ART. 24. To see if the Town will pay a bounty on woodchucks.
ART. 25. To see if the Town will purchase the lot of land adjoining the town house lot, now used as a play- ground by the scholars of the high school.
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK.
BIRTHS REGISTERED IN SCITUATE DURING THE YEAR 1885.
DATE.
NAME OF CHILD.
PARENTS' NAMES. -
. MAIDEN NAME.
Jan. 26.
John Joseph Fowley,
John and Honnora,
Feb. 10,
Frederick Flynn,
March 22, Comer Burbank,
April
3,
Fama Lawton Weatherbee,
Thomas and Rachel, George O. and Henrietta B., John and Elizabeth E., Francis M. and Hattie, James B. and Maggie L.,
Meehan. Graham. Merritt. Brown. Jenkins.
32
Ward.
66
16,
66
26,
Sarah Gertrude Gillis,
May
·6,
Bertha Cleveland Cook,
66
20,
21,
John Gearin, Jr., Robert Morton Prouty,
William and Annie, Phillip and Kate, Langdon W. and Lydia M., John and Margaret, John E. O. and Mary F.,
Walls. Christopher. Doane. Sweeney. Reed.
Brown.
24,
Merton Brown,
William Colter Withem, Weston Lovejoy,
June
13,
Murphy,
17,
Albert Lorenzo Hyland,
19,
Anna Doherty,
Charles C. and Nellie F., James H. and Alice V., Patrick and Catharine, Lorenzo F. and Mary M., John and Rosa A.,
Hayward. Newcomb. Norton.
Litchfield. Maginley.
13,
Francis Kelton Litchfield,
14,
Grace Green,
William Duffee, Jr.,
Elisha J. and Henrietta F.,
26, 7,
Mertie Brown, - Twins,
Aug. Sept. 2, 4, 8, Ethel Maria Turner, Georgietta Watson, Rose Faloon,
Oct.
5
26,
Herbert Eaton Randall, Margaret Veronica Doyle, George Francis Cushman,
15, 6, 8, John William Sampson,
Nov. 4,
Frank Hibbert Vickery,
Charles B. and Jennie R.,
Peter and Mary, Reuben S. H. and Melissa,
George T. and Carrie M .,
Charles S. and Emma J.,
Abbott.
Litchfield.
33
Andrews.
George H. and Joanna,
Damon. Carson. Nightingale. Goodell.
Bearce. Nee. Tuttle. Stetson. Smith.
Clapp. Hurley. Bedell. Davie.
23, 25,
George Herbert Otis,
26, Abbie Hart Merrill,
27,
Vesta Maria Turner,
Azro and Georgietta,
Dec. 16,
- Jenkins,
Joseph A. and Harriet E., Michael F. and Annie A., John F. and Matilda, John B. and II. Anna, William H. and Ida M., John and Jane, William H. and Annie A., N. James C. and Rachel T., Rufus II. and Carrie E.,
Herbert Bartlett Totman,
5, 17,
Elizabeth Lavange,
Daniel Christopher Andrews,
26 Jennie Thayer Wade,
MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN SCITUATE FOR THE YEAR 1885.
DATE.
NAMES.
RESIDENCE OF EACH AT TIME OF MARRIAGE.
AGE.
BY WHOM MARRIED.
Charles Bartlett Totman,
Scituate,
27
Jan. 10,
Jennie Ives Clapp,
Scituate,
24
Henry L. Munnis,
Scituate,
22
April
2,
Susan Martha Gould,
Charlestown,
17
George Francis Edson,
Scituate,
33
29,
Calista Jordan,
New York City,
30
May
30,
Georgietta B. Pratt,
Hingham,
18
July
12,
Mary Annie Adeline Whelan,
Scituate,
19
Aug. 16,
Annie Tower Nott,
Scituate, .
19
23,
Gertrude Hall Clapp,
Scituate, 20
28
30,
Eva C. Fernald,
Scituate, 21
Scituate,
28
Oct.
6.
Maggie E. Wallace,
Scituate,
25
Cohasset,
24
31,
Lizzie Cutler Bradford,
Scituate,
22
Rev. T. W. Sheppard, North Scituate.
34
Alvin W. Torrey,
Hingham,
22
Rev. T. W. Shepperd, North Scituate.
Scituate,
23
Rev. Joseph Osgood, Cohasset.
Joseph Everett Goodrich,
South Scituate,
20
Rev. T. W. Sheppard, North Scituate.
Charles Hermon Eastman,
Scituate,
25
Rev. N. Seaver, Jr., Scituate.
Frank M. Richardson,
Boston,
Rev. N. Seaver, Jr., Scituate.
Henry Dehlman,
Rev. John M. Greene, Lowell.
Jeremiah Robert Ainslie,
Rev. N. Seaver, Jr., Scituate.
Rev. E. A. Smith, Somerville.
Rev. J. N. Dickson, New York City.
Edward Henry Taylor,
Nov. 2,
John Perren Ross, Sarah M. Howe, Dennis Francis Quinn,
Ellen Flynn,
East Stoughton, 28
Marslıfield,
62
18,
Sarah Franklin Lapham,
Scituate,
59
John Frank Turner,
Scituate,
25
22.
Anna Frances Merritt,
Scituate, 22
Scituate,
22
25.
Nettie Linwood Damon,
Rockland,
23
Charles F. J. Andrews,
Scituate,
26
26,
Ellen A. Bedell,
Elmore, Vi.
21
Herbert Briggs Bailey,
Boston,
28
26,
Alice C. Brown,
Cohasset,
22
Scituate,
23
Scituate.
23
Scituate. 77
Bourne. 74
Scituate, 27
Rev. Harlen Page, Beechwood.
South Scituate, 20
Scituate, 26
Scituate,
20
Scituate. 31
Abington, 26
Providence, R. I. 25
Scituate,
24
Scituate. 50
Scituate,
35
Rev. A. L. Love, Princeton.
Princeton, 39
Scituate, 25
James J. Kelley, Randolph.
Rev. F. D. Sargent, Scituate.
Rev. F. D. Sargent, Scituate.
Rev. Jacob Baker, South Weymouth.
Rev. T. W. Sheppard, North Scituate. Rev. T. W. Sheppard, North Scituate. Rev. J. W. Savage. Cohasset. 35
Rev. Richard Burn, Bourne.
7,
Lilla Merritt Litchfield,
William Kendrick Barker,
8,
May Adelaide Hammond,
Arthur Fernald Leach,
Rev. B. F. Bowles, Abington.
23,
Lizzie Ellis Merritt,
Byron Jesse Lillibridge,
24,
Gertrude Vinal,
Seth Litchfield,
24.
Elvira Carr Swift,
Scituate, 42
Dec.
3,
Sarah L. Newcomb,
Orlando Richmond Litchfield,
Ernest Fuller Litchfield.
29.
Henrietta Wilson Pratt.
Jolın Brown,
Rev. N. Seaver, Jr., Scituate.
Rev. N. Seaver, Jr., Scituate.
Rev. F. D. Sargent, Scituate.
11.
Nathaniel James Damon,
George Abner Vinal,
DEATHS REGISTERED IN SCITUATE DURING THE YEAR 1885.
AGE.
DATE.
NAMES.
DISEASE.
Years.
Months.
Days.
Jan.
1,
Abraliam Mayo,
Consumption,
61
6
-
8,
Bertha M. Bailey,
Capillary Bronchitis,
4
1
24
Charles E. and Eudora T.
8,
Emma T. Joues,
Paralysis of Heart,
58
-
1
Ezekiel and Lucy W.
15,
Allen F. Hodgkins,
Erysipelas,
35
5
Francis P. and Hannah P.
.
16,
Nina Howland,
Pertusis,
Feb.
4,
Daniel Noonan.
Old Age,
90
Hugh and Bridget.
11.
Clarissa Brown,
Apoplexy,
85
3
13
Gideon and Mercy Jenkins.
12.
Israel Damon,
Congestion of Lungs,
77
7
24
William and Agatha. Amos and Lydia Merritt.
20.
John M. Glynn.
Phthisis,
27
6
. .
28.
Joseph W. Morris,
Pneumonia.
56
5
William and Rebecca.
..
28.
Maria McDonald,
Scarlatina,
14
6
John J. and Mary.
March 11.
George W. Lee.
Hepatic Abscess,
46
5
Stephen D. and Catharine E.
Dropsy.
84
4
3
Stephen and Charlotte.
17,
William H. Beal,
Consumption,
16
11
16
William H. and Henrietta.
Phthisis, [temple,
34
3
Chas. L. & Caroline A. Bradford.
April
7.
. .
11.
Phillippa Tilden.
75
9
24
Joseph and Lydia Bailey.
14.
Nora Irwin,
23
8
Nora Irwin.
Consumption,
60
4 Nathaniel and Olive.
Paralysis,
65
-
Samuel A. and Lydia Turner.
May
3, 1 Munroe Merritt,
Asthma,
64
8
6 | Lincoln and Emily.
36
15, Elizabeth C. Litchfield,
Pluro Pneumonia,
84
-
27,
Georgianna F. Hyland. Job Vinal.
65
11
22
Robert and Mary.
Pistol wound of right Congestion of Liver, Peritonitis ..
-
16.
Eliza Vinal.
15. Mary J. Cushing.
21. Abba Litchfield,
PARENTS' NAMES.
Nathaniel and Sophia.
28
Louis K. F. and Sarah E.
May
11, Homer Studley,
Old Age, Childbirth,
76 39
5
-
Benjamin and Margaret A. Elisha J. and Henrietta F.
25, Mertie Brown,
June 4,
Lewis Brown,
Disease of Brain,
70
5
4. Jonathan and Sarah.
6,
Merton Brown,
Premature Birth,
Apoplectic Coma,
31
4
16
Samuel and Harriet D. Brown.
July
1,
Sarah Hobson,
Old Age,
89
8
14 Thomas and Sally Curtis.
18,
David Townsend,
Enten Peritonitis, Phthisis,
49
2
22.
Martha C. Curtis,
Michael H. Driscoll,
Drowning,
20
11
Aug. 3,
17,
Josephine Murphy,
Phthisis,
40
Paralysis of Heart, Paralysis,
70
11
28
David and Ruth Otis.
Heart Disease, Capillary Bronchitis,
2
5
-
7,
Jane Wherity,
Bright's Disease,
41
11
Matthew and Mary Hoar.
Old Age,
82
3
12
William and Agatha.
Acute Meningitis,
11
3
Charles N. and Christina.
Old Age,
76
6
3
Samuel and Margaret Holbroke.
Nov.
3,
William O'Neil,
Phthisis, [Stomach,
22
-
29
Thomas and Bridget.
Disease of Liver and
76
4
Peleg and Mercy.
Typhoid Fever.
31
10
2
Allen and Rachel Farrow.
Tonsillitis.
3
11
15
Charles H. and Elizabeth G.
Dec.
2,
Flora M. Jackson. William C. Turner,
Paralysis,
64
8
15
Calvin and Rhoda.
Old Age,
81
29 Charles and Abigail.
Peritonitis,
55
Consumption,
81
10
21
Luther and Hannah.
1884.
(Omitted to return.) .
Sept. 29,
Helen Mann,
60
1
20
Alfred and Eliza S. Jackman.
37
Sept ..
1,
Ethel G. Freeman,
61
10
16
Ebenezer and Mary Osborne.
29.
Mary Bates,
David C. and Katie F.
15.
William Damon,
23,
Florence M. Turner.
26.
Caroline A. Jordan,
Peleg Ford,
19.
Alice P. Rouveire,
.
8,
9.
18.
Eliza Wherity,
Henry and
Osborne ..
29,
Alfred Smith,
2
17
John and Sarah.
25, Henrietta F. Brown,
Premature Birth,
1
-
12
Elisha J. and Henrietta F.
23. Frances A. Leavitt,
57
4
7 David S. and Eliza.
9 10 John T. and Cynthia White. James and Ann.
24,
Samuel S. Cudworth,
69
2
Abial and Joanna.
28.
Matilda. W. Martin,
16.
Thomas Curtis.
N
THE FOLLOWING WERE BROUGHT TO TOWN FOR INTERMENT.
DATE.
NAMES.
DISEASE.
Years.
Months.
Days.
1815.
Oct. 4.
Job Turner,
60
Cohasset.
1842.
Polly Turner.
84
Callassets Saturated
Dec. 31.7 1876.
Charles W. Litchfield,
Taunton.
Jan. 25 1884.
Davis Litchfield,
Semile Debility,
1
Boston.
Nov. 20
Bessie Brown. Mary Ann Driscoll.
22
3
1885, Jan. 8,
William P. Hawthorne,
Scarlet Fever,
1
3
25
66
26,
George W. Beale,
63
11
... 26.
Charles Cottle,
77
6
10
E. Warren Gilbert,
36
8
Boston.
March 66
1. 18,
Eliza E. Farrar,
57
Springfield.
Whooping Cough,
4
1
11
Boston.
.
Consumption,
25
Brooklyn, N. Y. South Scituate.
Dec. 11,
Newport, R. I. Jersey City. Worcester.
Acute Pneumonia, Semile Dementia, Pneumonia,
30.
Charles B. Doten,
AGE.
PLACE OF DEATH.
March 28, 1865.
April 19, Alfred M. Antoine,
Tubercular Meningitis,
15
1
18
Cohasset.
Sophia Senter,
Pneumonia, Cancer of Lung, Typhoid Fever,
66
3
1
May
17,
Phebe A. Newcomb,
56
1
6
July
5,
Mary E. Martin,
Ella C. Valine,
Brain Fever,
1
6
21.
George W. Martin,
Consumption,
38
8
Cohasset.
24,
Louisa T. Silvia,
63
Boston.
29,
Dugald Ferguson,
Chro Alluminonr, Phthisis,
61
Boston.
Ephraim Young,
1
1
24
Weymouth.
Diarrhea,
48
-
15,
Mary A. Mott,
Consumption,
4
Cohasset.
19.
Mary L. Silvia,
Cholera Morbus,
57
28
Boston.
Sept.
1,
Ina G. Stoddard.
21
11
10
North Weymouth.
Nov.
5,
Mary Tomlinson,
Phthisis,
47
Dropsy of Brain,
-
21
Boston.
8,
Mary A. Bowditch,
Cancer of Uterus,
70
3
24,
Sarah J. Bates,
18
Hanover.
39
9,
Annie B. Litchfield.
Boston. Boston. Cohasset. Cohasset. Cohasset.
34
5
11
11,
.
Aug. 2, 4,
John H. Monahan,
Taunton.
Cohasset.
20,
Manuel F. Bandura,
Worcester.
24,
40
SUMMARY.
Whole number of births during the year 1885 34
Males .. 19
Females 15
Number of marriages recorded. 24
Number of certificates issued . 20
Number of deaths in Scituate during the year 49
Males 22 ·
Females. 27
Whole number recorded during the year. 80
Of those who died in Town, seven were under ten, two between ten and twenty, four between twenty and thirty, five between thirty and forty, four between forty and fifty, four between fifty and sixty, eight between sixty and seventy, seven between seventy and eighty, seven between eighty and ninety, and one ninety. Average age, forty-nine years, eight months, fourteen days. Thirty bodies were brought to Town for interment.
Number of dogs licensed during the year 1885 .. 139 Amount received for the same . . $311 00
CHAS. E. BAILEY, Town Clerk. SCITUATE, Dec. 31, 1885.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE-
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
.
-OF THE-
1
TOWN OF SCITUATE
-FOR THE YEAR-
11885.
PLYMOUTH : AVERY & DOTEN, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS. 1886.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
FELLOW CITIZENS :
Before proceeding to give you a detailed account of the condition of our schools, we wish to call your attention to a few matters which are of a more general character and yet none the less important.
Unless we have correct and far-reaching ideas of edu- cation and of its importance, we are not likely to take the steps and provide the necessary means to make the details what they ought to be. If an insufficient sum of money is appropriated, or if there is a lack of proper supervision, or if with these, there is back of it all a lack of general interest on the part of the people, there will be unsatisfactory results, for the children catch the spirit of the home and bring it to the school-room.
In some respects Scituate has improved within the last few years, but there are still many obstacles in the way of true progress which must be removed or we shall make a retrograde movement. Our schools ought to be morally pure. They ought not only to develope the intellectual faculties, but to supplement the parental influence in building up good characters. But ought it to be expected that they shall do more than the home in this direction ?
4
It has been charged upon us that we are " bringing up a set of criminals because we employ female teachers in our Grammar Schools." Can we expect a teacher of either sex to counteract the influence of fathers who fre- quent drinking saloons and gaming tables. and whose habitual language is profane ?
We have been informed by good authority that in one of our largest schools there is only one boy who does not use profane language.
Who is responsible for this state of things ?
Another evil which is growing upon us is the almost universal indulgence in the expenditure of money for that which profiteth not, and then an attempt at retrench- ment in those things which are of vital importance for the present happiness and well-being of the Town and also its future advancement.
We already hear it said, "We must retrench in the amount raised for roads and schools." Let us look at this matter for a moment.
In the year just closed there was paid to the Town Clerk $311 for dog licenses. A low estimate for the cost of keeping the 139 dogs for one year would be-at 75 cents per week each-$5,221. The dogs have killed out the sheep husbandry almost entirely, which was a very profitable business, and now our pastures are growing up to briers and bushes in consequence. It would be a very low estimate to say there were 300 persons in town who use tobacco in some form at an average expense of five cents per day, which would amount to $5,475 per year.
5
It is also considered by those capable of judging that it would be a low estimate to say that there are 150 persons in town who use intoxicating liquors in some form at a daily expense of 10 cents. This would aggregate for the year $5,475, making a total of $16,482, which gives us no equivalent, either in income, real happiness, intellect- ual, or moral uplifting, but just the reverse.
We have made mention of these facts, not to question the right of any one to spend their own money as they see fit, but to show the inconsistency of a people who actually spend more than $16,500 annually in the man- ner indicated, and then say they are too poor to spend $4,500 for schools. If we cannot afford to have good schools and liquor saloons tov, would it not be better to let the saloons go ?
A liberal appropriation for schools, coupled with a judi- cious expenditure, is in our judgment the best policy. Let us see how Scituate stands as compared with the ad- joining towns.
The following is copied from the official report of the Secretary of the Board of Education for 1884 :
TOWNS.
Number of Scholars
between
5 and 15 years.
Percentage
of Attendanee.
Number of Teachers.
Average Wages
per Month.
Cost of Supervision.
Total Cost of Schools.
Amount of Cost for
each Child between
Those attending
School over 15 years.
Cohasset,
379
.86
14
$36 70
$265 00 $6,866 60
$15 60
27
Scituate,
528
.90
15
32 26
181 13 4,958 10
8 69
39
South Scituate,
299
.86
11
28 18
125 00
3,055 00
10 31
16
Marshfield,
229
.87
9
30 50
214 67
3,477 84
9 91
25
5 and 15 years.
1
of Female Teachers
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Please notice that we have the largest number of scholars between 5 and 15 years, and the cost of each is less. The largest number of schools and (with one ex- ception) the lowest cost of supervision. Also the per- centage of attendance is higher, undoubtedly owing to the enforcement of the truant laws. The fact that there were 39 who attended school that were over 15 years of age speaks well for our High School, and the fact that we have a graded system of schools, including an efficient High School at a cost of $8.69 per capita proves that there cannot be much waste of public money.
We now call your attention to some particulars con- cerning each school.
THE HIGH SCHOOL
during the past year has been under the efficient man- agement of Mr. C. T. Murray as Principal and Miss Mabel Stevens as Assistant. At the beginning of the spring term Miss Stevens felt called to give her attention to her mother, who was sick. The Committee secured the services of Miss Minerva E. Leland of Newton to substitute for the remainder of the term. She proved to be a lady of fine qualities and superior education, but as this was her first experience in teaching it could hardly be expected of her to fill Miss Stevens' place in the extra work of the closing term of the year. But the Commit- tee were well pleased with her work.
On June 19 the graduating exercises took place in the Baptist Church, at which time six scholars received diplo-
7
mas-Amy F. Gardner, Herbert J. Coleman, Florence W. Seaver, Edward W. Cushman, George W. Wade, Fred Webb. The Ruggles Street Quartette furnished the music.
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