USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1875-1881 > Part 22
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" M. J. Leathe, Stoneham, . .
35 40
Walter Linwood, Marblehead, . Thomas Manning, Haverhill,
19 50
15 20
Mrs. M. Nichols, Boston, . 2 00
A. E. Oliver, Reading, 120 00 .
" J. Resterick, Charlestown, 51 00
" A. M. Spencer, Boston, 1 35
Patrick Welch, Lowell,
47 00
$427 36
RELIEF OF PERSONS RESIDING IN THIS TOWN, WHO HAVE A SETTLEMENT IN OTHER PLACES.
W. H. Bachelder, Salem $3 50
J. Cunningham, Stoneham, 20 00
B. Freeby, State, 55 50
Mrs. J. Haggerty, State, . 28 00
Amounts carried forward,
$107 00
$2,614 29
57
Amounts brought forward,
$107 00
$2,614 29
J. T. B. Hall, Saugus, 5 25
J. B. Mertins, State, ·
17 00
Thomas Mitchell, 66
13 85
J. M. Morrison, 66 .
16 00
Mrs. Mary Reagan, R. S. Reynolds, 66
16 00
Miss Hannah M. Rollins, Andover
22 00
Mrs. R. L. Stickney, Lexington,
3 75
" Mrs. H. Thompson, State, 2 00
$204 60
MISCELLANEOUS.
Expense of Printing, $8 25 . .
" Tramps, .
7 50
66
" J. Connell, as overseer,
1 88
" C. N. White, as overseer, 36 37
$54 00
Total expense away from almshouse, $2,872 89
RECEIPTS.
Received from the State, Mrs. M. Connell, $2 00
James Develin, 2 00
66 Saugus, J. T. B. Hall, 5 25
66 of V. H. Osborne, M. E. Osborne, 91 44
Total receipts, $100 69
Net expense away from almshouse, $2,772 20
Recapitulation.
The overseers have received from former Board,
$12 39
The overseers have received from the City of Salem, for W. H. Batchelder, (last year's account,) 8 00
Received from State, for C. H. Carson, (last year's account,) 1 75
Rec'd from State for M. Connell, 1877-8, 1 50
66 66 J. Develin, 13 05
66 " Benj. Freeby, 11 25
Amount carried forward, $47 94
8
.
1 75
58
Amount brought forward, $47 94
Rec'd from Saugus for J. T. B. Hall, 1877-8, 21 90
66
State, for Frank Pendle, 4 00
66 " Mary Reagan,
22 72
66
" John Spenser, 66
8 50
Boston, for J. Swintson, " 7 00
66
66 Hanover, " G. O. Samson, " 55 71
66
Orleans, " R. A. Sloan, " 10 00
66
66 State, " H. Thompson, " 6 00
Town Treasurer, . . $5,500 00
$5,683 77
Net expense at the almshouse, $2,824 81
66 away from almshouse, $2,772 20 - $5,597 01
Cash balance in hands of overseers,
$86 76
Whole number of inmates, 20
Average
16
Present 66
12
Tramps relieved this year, 1,020
Estimated expense of tramps,
$357 00
.
THERE IS NOW DUE FROM THE STATE AND TOWNS
For G. M. Ardell, State, . $38 80
W. H. Batchelder, Salem, 3 50
" Mrs. M. Connell, State, 4 00
" W. W. Courtney, 66 10 00
20 00
" James Develin, State, 26 80
" Benj. Freeby, 50 00 .
" John Mertins, 66
17 00
" T. Mitchell, 17 85
" J. H. Morrison, Somerville, 8 00
16 00
" J. M. Morrison, 66
1 75
Mary Reagan, 66
16 00
R. S. Reynolds, 66
" Miss M. H. Rollins, Andover, . 22 00
" Mrs. R. L. Stickney, Lexington, 3 75
Amount carried forward, $255 45
.
" J. Cunningham, Stoneham,
59
Amount brought forward,
$255 45
For Mrs. H. Thompson, State, 2 00
" N. C. Hunter, No. Reading,
.
2 50
" John Haggerty, State,
28 00
Total,
$287 95
Unpaid bills against the town March 1, 1879, about $125 00
INVENTORY OF PERSONAL PROPERTY AT THE ALMSHOUSE.
Stock,
$516 00
Hay, .
· 231 50
Grain,
16 30 ·
Carriages and farming tools, .
609 00
Provisions,
127 50
Miscellaneous,
. 261 75
Total,
$1,762 05
NOTE .- The item on page 53 of this report for "School Books and Station- ery " should be $13.07, instead of $3.07, as there stated.
In conclusion, accounts with other towns, of business trans- acted since January 1st, and not rendered in the foregoing statement, show a balance in our favor of $165.00, which added to the balance in the" Overseers' hands, $86.76, gives a total of $251.76.
During the past year there have been three deaths at the 1 almshouse, all of aged persons, whose attendance gave rise to large expense.
The overseers have in charge, at present, thirteen persons who are inmates of the Lunatic Asylums of the State. Six of these only are at the expense of the town, the remaining seven being provided for by other towns of the Common- wealth, or by private individuals.
The number of persons requiring help away from the alms- house has been largely in excess of previous years, and many have applied for aid the present year for the first time. Of this class some are able and willing to work, could they ob- tain employment.
On the other hand, it is gratifying to note that the num- ber of tramps provided with lodgings, has decreased from
.
.
.
60
that of last year. Your overseers would again urge the con- sideration of requiring these vagrants to work for their lodg- ing. In many towns the Road Commissioners are empowered to utilize this labor upon the highways.
In the absence of Road Commissioners in this town, we would suggest that the Highway Surveyor at the Centre, be instructed to try the experiment. Some more feasible plan may, perhaps, be proposed; but at any rate, we would recom- mend immediate action of some kind in the matter.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) CYRUS N. WHITE, JOSEPH CONNELL, S. F. LITTLEFIELD.
Overseers of the town of Wakefield.
1
61
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
The Selectmen herewith submit, for the inspection and information of the citizens, their annual report with reference to various matters not included in the financial details which are furnished in the accompanying statement of the Auditors.
NEW STREETS.
Murray Street, running northerly from Gould Street to West Chestnut Street, has been graded and improved, under the direction of Cyrus Kimball, surveyor, at a cost of two hundred and seven 33% dollars,-the sum authorized by the town for that purpose, being two hundred dollars.
Spaulding Street, running westerly from Lake Avenue to Lake Quannapowitt, has been constructed under the direction of Mr. Levi Flanders, at a cost of one hundred and thirty 10% dollars,-the sum authorized by the town for that purpose, being one hundred and fifty dollars.
The sum of two hundred and two Yoo 91 dollars has been ex- . pended for repairs upon New Salem Street, under the di- rection of the highway surveyor of that district; the sum au- thorized by the town being two hundred dollars.
PARK EXTENSION.
The sum of five hundred dollars, authorized by the town to be there expended, has been so expended under the immediate direction of the surveyor for the Centre District; the persons employed in the work having been selected from the unem- ployed class of laborers by the Selectmen, the same individu- als being employed for a single week, thus giving aid to the largest possible number.
The considerable extent of territory there remaining un- improved seems to demand such additional annual ap- propriations as the town may feel able to sanction for that object, in order that its apparent future possibilities of beauty and symmetry may be eventually reached and enjoyed.
62
GUIDE BOARDS.
During the year posts have been erected and signs placed thereon at various points where new streets have been con- structed, as well as at the entrances to several private ways; and similar signs throughout the town are generally in good condition, as far as we are informed, and we know of no others at present required.
MILITARY AID.
Under the provisions of Chapter 282, of the Acts of the year 1878, entitled, " An Act to provide additional pay to poor and indigent soldiers and sailors," the Selectmen have paid the sum of $1,317.98; the amounts paid to each person being given by the Auditors.
The above Act, imperfect in its construction, expensive to the Commonwealth, and signally failing to accomplish the pur- pose for which it was designed, having been repealed on the 22d day of January, 1879, all payments under its provisions ceased with that date; and the said sum of $1,317.98, is now due to the town from the State.
PERAMBULATION OF TOWN LINES,
During the year, the lines between the towns of Melrose and Lynnfield and Wakefield, have been perambulated in ac- cordance with law by a majority of the Selectmen of the re- spective towns.
The bound-posts and monuments were found in their proper positions, and in good condition, and certificates of said per- ambulations, jointly signed by the several Selectmen, have been furnished the clerks of the respective towns for record.
LODGING HOUSE APPROPRIATION.
The appropriation of three hundred dollars, authorized by the town at its last annual meeting, to be expended in pro- viding lodgings for "tramps," has not been so expended, but has been, by vote of the town at a recent meeting, transferred to the payment of sundry miscellaneous expenses.
That sum was not deemed sufficient to procure a separate building for the purpose, and the proposition to finish a room in the basement of the Town House, was rejected, for the rea- son that its construction would increase the rate of insurance
63
to such an extent as to render the project, in our judgment, unadvisable.
TOWN HALL.
It has been suggested that the acoustic properties of our Hall might be materially and at small expense improved, by the erection of a screen in rear of the speaker's desk, and so arranged, opening in the centre, as to conveniently fold back upon the wall on both sides of the proscenium, when the full extent of the platform is required for concerts or other enter- tainments.
It is supposed that such an arrangement would effectually prevent the echo, which now perceptibly, and quite un- pleasantly, reaches the ears of listeners in certain portions of the Hall.
The reasonableness of the suggestion, together with the fact that a new Hall, recently dedicated in a town not distant, has been supplied with a similar screen for a like purpose, would seem to warrant a small expenditure in order to test the ex- periment.
TOWN HISTORY.
During the year we have to record the sale of twelve copies, and the sum of twelve dollars thus received has been paid to the Town Treasurer.
There are eighteen copies now on hand.
APPROPRIATIONS.
It is customary for the town, at each annual meeting, to authorize certain specified sums to be expended during the year in the various departments, and the sum total of these several appropriations is the basis upon which the Assessors apportion the taxation for that year.
Under the working of the present system it is observable that the amount of money, annually collected, invariably falls short of the amount appropriated; and, although the Se- lectmen may be able to explain the manner in which this de- ficiency occurs, they are unable to correct it.
The following statement of the figures for a single year- the year 1875-will show how the system works:
Total town appropriations, . $51,383 04
State tax, · . County tax, . · · · 2,938 20
4,580 00
$58,901 24
64
Amount assessed in 1875, . . $59,087 08 Amount received as interest, 1875, 998 54
- $60,085 62
Amount discounted, $1,831 58 .
Amount abated,.
. 2,054 43
$3,886 01
$56,199 51
It will be noticed that, exclusive of the sum received by the Collector as interest, the amount collected on tax list of 1875, fell short of the total appropriations nearly three thousand dollars; and it is presumed that the figures for any year would exhibit a similar deficiency.
It is respectfully suggested that this annual deficiency may be easily provided for, if the town will annually raise and ap- propriate a specified sum for this purpose; such sum to be in- cluded, in like manner with other town appropriations, by the Assessors in making up the annual rate of taxation.
LICENSES.
During the year the Selectmen have issued, under the Act of 1875, as amended by Act of 1878, Apothecaries' licenses, Class 6, to B. W. Conant, Jos. D. Mansfield and W. H. Piper.
Under the Act of 1875, second and third class licenses for the sale of malt liquors, cider, and light wines, were granted to W. O. Evans, S. H. Nickerson, Michael Foley, Aaron Butler, Geo. Cox, and Patrick Kenney; and the license fees, amount- ing to three hundred and three dollars, were paid into the town treasury .*
In consequence of non-conformity with the provisions of the Act, the license of the person last named was revoked by the Selectmen.
Geo. Cox, Michael Foley, and S. H. Nickerson, have been licensed as common victuallers.
They have licensed the keeping of billiard saloons by Wm. O. Evans and Solomon H. Nickerson.
William G. Skinner, C. H. Davis, C. F. Hartshorne, and Daniel Norcross, have been licensed as auctioneers.
* One fourth of this amount was paid by the Treasurer to the Treasurer of the Commonwealth, leaving the sum of $227.25.
65
THE C. WAKEFIELD ENGINE COMPANY'S APPROPRIATION.
The six hundred and fifty dollars, which was authorized to be paid to the members of said Company, by vote of the town, at a meeting holden on the third day of June, 1878, is still un- expended; an injunction issued by the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth, in accordance with the petition of William S. Greenough, and other prominent citizens, having, up to this date, prevented its disbursement.
It is believed that all material facts in the case have been fully presented to the Court, whose decision as to the right of the town to pass said vote,-apparently long delayed,-may be soon confidently expected.
It will be observed that the disbursements by the Select- men, have not exceeded the limit of expenditure fixed by the town at its last annual meeting, with the exception only of the additional sum expended on account of support of the poor, - which excess was authorized by the town at a recent date. And the authorized amounts in the several departments. have proved equal to the demand upon them, save in a single instance.
The winter storms have caused considerable extra labor and expense, in removing the snow from streets and walks, and there are unpaid bills of this character in the hands of the Selectmen, amounting, in round numbers, to two hundred and fifty dollars, ($250.)
For the payment of these bills the town should make pro- vision, in addition to the sum that may be deemed necessary for use during the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) JAMES OLIVER, Selectmen
JOHN S. EATON, of
BUCHANAN B. BURBANK, Wakefield.
WAKEFIELD, March 10th, 1879.
9
66
ASSESSORS' REPORT.
The following is the valuation of Estates, Real and Per- sonal, taxed in this town May 1st, 1878:
Real Estate, .
. $3,037,815 00
Personal Estate, 715,606 00
-$3,753,421 00
Residents' bank stock, (National Bank of
So. Reading,) . $46,230 00
Total valuation, . $3,799,651 00
Whole number of Polls, 1,263.
Tax on each, $2.00, amounting to, $2,526 00
Rate of taxation, $12.00 per $1,000.
Total amount assessed, including residents' bank
stock, and overlay, .
$48,568 50
Whole number of Dwelling Houses taxed, 1,048
" Horses 229
" Cows 191
66 " Acres 3,919₫
Value of Real Estate and Machinery of Corpo- rations, . $394,925 00
Value of Real Estate exempted by law from tax- . $145,500 00 ation,
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) JAMES OLIVER, Assessors JOHN S. EATON, of
JOHN PURINGTON, Wakefield.
WAKEFIELD, March 8, 1879.
67
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
We herewith submit our report for the year ending March 1st, 1879.
The Department at present consists of a Board of three Engineers, and eighty men appointed to the several Companies as follows:
Yale Engine Co. No. 1, fifty men; Chemical Engine Co. No. 1, eleven men; Washington Hook and Ladder Co., No. 1, nineteen men.
The apparatus of the several Companies are all in good con- dition.
The following is a list of fires and alarms for the year end- ing March 1, 1879:
March 17, 1878. John H. Johnson's dwelling house on Wiley Place, loss $787.
April 18, 1878. Patrick Reagan's dwelling house on Vernon Street, loss $150.
July 8, 1878. Fire on land of C. Wakefield.
July 28, 1878. Everett Hart's shed, on Emerald Street, loss $20.
Aug. 13, 1878. William Conway's hay stack, on Emerson Street, loss $70.
Aug. 22, 1878. Henry Walley's dwelling house, on Lowell
Street, loss $750.
Sept. 7, 1878. Alexander Sproule's dwelling house, on Em- erson Street, loss $175.
Oct. 4, 1878. Washingtonian Home, on Main Street, owned by the Warren Institution of Savings, loss $4,000.
Nov. 5, 1878. False alarm.
Dec. 7, 1878. Byron A. Osgood's Factory, loss $750.
Dec. 26, 1878. Mrs. Ellen Moran's dwelling house, on Water Street, loss $135.
68
Following is the expenses of the Departments for the year ending March 1, 1879:
Yale Engine Co. No. 1, . $1,058 03
Washington Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1, 552 90
Chemical Engine Co. No. 1, . 331 60
Miscellaneous Expenses, 81 10 1
$2,023 63
The Board of Engineers would take this opportunity to thank the members of each of the Companies for the prompt- ness and the interest they have taken in the welfare of the Department.
Also to thank the members of the Volunteer Fountain Engine Company, for the valuable service rendered at fires the past year.
We wish to call the attention of the town to the necessity of providing in some way for an increased water supply for the extinguishment of fires near the corner of Chestnut and Emerson Streets.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
(Signed) CHARLES H. DAVIS, - Engineers S. F. LITTLEFIELD, of the I. A. PARSONS, Fire Department.
69
POLICE REPORT.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MCH. 1, 1879.
Whole number of arrests,
57
For assault and battery, ·
12
" adultery,
.
1
" assault upon an officer,
1
" allowing minors in bowling alley,
2
" breaking and entering,
2
" carrying concealed weapon,
1
" cruelty to animals,
1
" fornication,
1
" drunkenness, .
7
" disturbing the peace,
·
8
" larceny, .
6
" keeping liquor nuisance,
7
" malicious mischief,
1
" obtaining goods under false pretenses
1
" setting fires,
3
" vagrants,
3
Thirty one tramps have been furnished with lodgings by the police during the year.
The expenses for the year, ending March 1, 1879, are as follows:
Charles H. Davis,
$35 00
Fred G. Coker,
38 25
R. L. Cooper,
5 25
I. A. Parsons,
23 50
Amount carried forward,
$102 00
.
.
.
.
.
.
70
Amount brought forward,
$102 00
John Drugan,
·
25 30
Henry W. Eustis,
37 60
Timothy Reagan,
16 50
John H. Eaton, .
7 00
John F. Alexander,
7 00
Special Police,
42 00
$237 30
.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed)
CHARLES H. DAVIS, Chief of Police.
71
FISH COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
In presenting our third annual report we desire to extend to Mr. James H. Carter our sincere thanks, for the valuable assistance he has rendered us, gratuitously, in the discharge of our duties.
We have placed in the lake during the past year, six thou- sand Land Locked Salmon fry, two hundred and fifteen Ale- wives, and a small lot of fresh water Smelts, making a total that have been placed in the lake and river during the past three years, of twenty-two thousand California Salmon fry, twelve thousand Land Locked Salmon fry, two hundred and fifty nine Black Bass, about four hundred and fifty Alewives, and a small lot of fresh water Smelts. We intended to secure a much larger number of this last variety, but as the season was remarkably forward, and having no one on the spot to in- form us when they were running, we acted upon the best in- formation we could obtain, and arrived at the lake in New Hampshire two days too late to obtain many of them, but we have made arrangements with a reliable party living on the shore of the lake, to inform us as soon as they begin running, so that if it is desired to obtain a supply of them this spring, there is no possibility of failure. The only time that they can be ob- tained in any quantity, is about the first of May, when they run up from the deep water to spawn, and if taken in season, there is no trouble in obtaining any desired quantity of them.
They are a very desirable fish to place in a lake stocked with Bass and Pickerel, as they breed fast and furnish an abundance of food for these larger varieties, which will thereby increase faster in numbers and in size. It is a well-known fact that large fish will eat small ones, and it will be readily seen, that, if there is an abundance of this variety for them to feed upon, that the chances are, that the young of the larger
72
varieties will thereby escape destruction; that ponds in other places that have recently been opened for fishing, are not turning out as expected, is, in our opinion, due to the fact that, when they were stocked with Black Bass, they were not also stocked with a variety that would serve as a food supply for them, and for want of that supply they have preyed upon the young of the varieties that were already in the pond, and upon their own young. Now if the young ones are thus killed off, and the larger ones are caught out as soon as the pond is opened, it is only a question of time when the fishing will be even poorer than it was before the pond was closed.
We are glad to be able to report that we have heard of no case of illegal fishing in Lake Quannapowitt during the past year, and trust there will be none during the remaining two years for which it is closed. During the past winter we have heard rumors to the effect that there was an effort being made to have the lake opened for fishing during the coming season, and before the time agreed upon in the lease had ex- pired. We are at a loss to understand the cause of this ru- mored impatience, and trust there is no truth in them. The town knew what they were doing when they voted to take the lease, and they were also informed upon the only terms the lease could be obtained; and, aside from that agreement, it would be the greatest piece of folly imaginable to throw it open for fishing at the present time. The Bass that were placed in the lake in 1877, have had only one spawning sea- son since, and are the only Bass of any size in the lake at the present time. Those that were born in the lake will none of them weigh over one-fourth of a pound, and they have never spawned, nor will they, until they are three years old. Now if it is desired to spoil the work of the past few years, in a single season, throwing the lake open at the present time will surely accomplish it.
The Bass which have been placed in the lake have been frequently seen, and to all appearances, are doing well. The Land Locked and California Salmon have not, to our knowl- edge, been seen. The Alewives have done remarkably well. The young from the two hundred and fifteen placed in the lake in May and June last, were constantly passing down through the fishways on the river, for about ten days in Sep- tember and October last. As they do not return until they
73
are three years old, it will be necessary, in order to keep up a supply of them each year in the future, to place another lot of them in the lake this year. We have taken the liberty of presenting the following extracts from a letter upon this sub- ject, addressed to the Commissioners on Inland Fisheries, and printed in their last annual report.
" In May, 1872, the four towns, Bridgewater, East Bridge- water, West Bridgewater, and Halifax, Plymouth County, be- gan the work of stocking their ponds and rivers with Ale- wives. These were taken alive and transported in tanks to the different ponds. This process was repeated in 1873, and again in 1874, making three successive years.
" The whole experiment was looked upon by the people with distrust, and by some with absolute disfavor, though the several towns willingly made all needed appropriations; and the owners of dams, though subjected to considerable expense, complied with the statute with a promptness and willingness that entitle them to great credit.
" It was announced that the Alewives bred in the year 1872 would return full-grown in 1875, but there were few who be- lieved it, and, accordingly, in the spring of the latter year, the streams and ways were carefully watched by many in- credulous eyes.
" The season was a little late and cold: but before the end of May, the Alewives, in considerable numbers, appeared at the foot of Paper Mill dam, and, in the course of a few days, at all the other dams, making a successful passage over every way into the ponds where they were respectively bred, the two schools apparently parting at the junction of the Town and Satucket rivers, with the precision of a well-disciplined army, though a few stragglers were found in nearly all of the tributaries.
" The run has gradually increased each year since; and last spring, (1878,) being the first time that the towns have fished since the year 1818, about 15,000 fine, large Alewives were seined at the Paper Mill, the common fishing-ground agreed up- on by the four towns. A much larger number would have been taken, had it not been for the lateness when the fishing com- menced, and the failure to suitably supply the bed of the river for seining.
10
74
" None of the other fish have yet been discovered in our rivers, though the fishermen on the lower water of the Taun- ton have, since 1876, reaped a larger harvest of both "Shad and Alewives-the result of our sowing, and that of the peo- ple of Middleborough-than in many years previously.
" The establishment of the fishways has increased the num- ber of all the common fresh-water fish in our ponds and rivers, especially the white perch, which have come in large numbers with the herrings, and among them, also, trout and Black Bass. The trout and Bass pass the ways just as suc- cessfully as the Alewives, and of the former several have been taken since 1872, of one and two pounds in weight.
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