USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1875-1881 > Part 27
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cive to their welfare and the good order of the town, and report the same as early as may be to the town for action thereon.
ART. 25. To see if the town will authorize their Treasurer to hire money for the purpose of paying the funded loan of ten thou- sand dollars, maturing May 1, 1879.
VOTED. That the Treasurer be authorized to hire the sum of 1 ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the purpose of paying the same amount of funded loan, maturing May 1, 1879.
ART. 26. To see if the town will grant their Treasurer discretionary authority in regard to the sale by auction of such real estate as has been conveyed to the town by Collector's tax-deeds, in cases where the owner does not redeem within the time pre- scribed by law, and where the titles upon examination ap- pear to be defective and invalid.
VOTED. That the Treasurer be authorized to use discretion- ary action with regard to a sale by auction of such real estate as has been conveyed to the town by tax Collector's deeds, and not redeemed by the owner within the time prescribed by law, when the titles upon examination appear to be defective and invalid ; and when it shall appear conclusive to the Treasurer and Selectmen that such titles are defec- tive and worthless, they may be discarded from the report of the list of deeds held by the Treasurer.
ART. 27. To see if the town will build a reservoir at, or near, the intersection of Chestnut and Emerson streets, or what action it will take thereon.
VOTED. That this article be referred to the Engineers with power to build a reservoir, and that the sum of four hundred dollars ($400) be raised and appropriated for that purpose.
ART. 28. To see if the town will repair the sidewalk on the southerly side of Church Street from the corner of Main and Church Streets to the junction of Church and Lafayette Streets, or .. what action the town will take thereon.
VOTED. To refer this subject to the Selectmen.
15
ART. 29. To hear and act on the report of the committee chosen to. settle the claim of Rodney Edmands for Bounty, or what action the town will take in relation thereto.
James Oliver, Esq., Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. made a verbal report in regard to Mr. Edmands' demand for Bounty, Having examined the case and employed counsel, they thought Mr. Edmands had no just claim.
VOTED. To accept the report of the Selectmen.
ART. 30. To see if the town will instruct the committee on the Ed- mands' claim to settle and pay the same (if they have not already done so), and that no money voted for the use of said committee shall be paid or used to defend the town in. said suit, or to pay for advice.
VOTED. That the Committee on the Rodney Edmand's claim be instructed to settle and pay Mr. Edmands the- sum of one hundred dollars ($100) and the interest on the same from 1863. (Yes, 68; No. 57.)
ART. 31. To see what action the town will take to collect money belonging to the town, the evidence of which is in possession: of citizens of the town, or what they will do about it.
VOTED. That a committee of two be appointed to collect all money belonging to the town, and turn it over to. the Town Treasurer without expense to the town. E. A. Upton and Thomas W. Coombs were ap- pointed on that committee.
ART. 32. To see what action the town will take towards enlarging the- water-way beneath Water Street, from the outlet near the railroad crossing cast of the Centre Depot, westerly, in order- that the troublesome collection of water remaining on land in the vicinity of Broadway may be allowed to escape.
VOTED. On motion of James Oliver to refer this matter to. a committee consisting of Geo. W. Aborn, M. S. Southworth, Cyrus Kimball, .C. F. Richardson and Charles W. Trow, to report at a future meeting, and serve without pay.
ART. 33. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of fifty dollars ($50) for the expenses of the Fish Committee, during the year ensuing, or what they will do about it.
VOTED. To raise and appropriate the sum of fifty dollars
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[$50] to defray the expenses of the Fish Committee for the year ensuing.
ART. 34. To see it the town will choose Surveyors of Highways for u the year ensuing by ballot instead of in the customary method.
This article was taken up earlier in the meeting, after action upon Article 3. It was first voted to choose the Highway Surveyors by ballot. A mo- tion to reconsider was carried in the affirmative, and it was then voted that the article be indefinitely postponed.
ART. 35. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) for the purposes of Memo- rial Day, or what they will do in relation thereto.
VOTED. To raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars [$150] for the purposes of Memo- rial Day.
ART. 36. To see if the town will grant the free use of the Town Hall during the year ensuing, to the Temperance Organizationsof 1 Wakefield, for the purpose of holding temperance meetings, where no admission fee is charged, or what action the town will take in relation to the same.
VOTED. To grant the free use of the Town Hall to the Tem- perance Organizations of Wakefield for holding temperance meetings, where no admission fee is charged for the ensuing year.
ART. 37. To see if the town will encourage its citizens in protection against fire, outside of its present system of only heavy central machinery, by paying from the Fire Department Appropriation an annual sum, of one dollar each, to owners of efficient portable hand force-pumps ; and also pay. the ! !. additional sum of five dollars, annually, to the owners of such pumps, who shall use them within the radius of a mile, : or at any other fire in town when so requested by the Chief Engineer, or other person duly authorized ; their number not to exceed one hundred-twenty in the Centre, and sixteen in each of the outer districts, and all to be personally exam- ined and approved at least twice annually, by some compe- tent person duly appointed for that purpose ; these pumps to be well distributed in the respective districts.
VOTED. To pass the article over.
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ART. 38. To see if the town will make an appropriation for two addi- tional street lamps : one to be located between the houses of Mr. Darling and Mr. Kendricks, and one about midway between the house and shop of Russell Seaver, on Main Street, Greenwood.
VOTED. To refer this article to the Selectmen with discre- tionary power.
ART. 39. To see if the town will instruct the Selectmen to change the location of the lamp near the Greenwood Depot, to the oppo- site side of the street, and to a point a few rods further north ; also, to change the location of the lamp now standing near the house of W. H. Stevens, to a point further south, and opposite the house of J. Niles Kimball.
VOTED. That this article be referred to the Selectmen, with discretionary power.
ART. 40. To take action on the question of raising and appropriating two hundred dollars to grade the sidewalk on the north side, and to build one on the south side of Bryant Street, and to repair said street.
VOTED. To raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars (200) to repair the sidewalks, and grade Bryant Street.
ART. 41 To see if the town will choose at each annual April meeting, a Committee on Appropriations, who shall duly report at the next annual meeting.
This article was taken up early in the meeting, and it was
VOTED. To choose a Committee on Appropriations, said committee to report at the next annual meeting.
VOTED. That the committee of thirteen chosen to bring in a list of town officers not chosen by ballot, shall add the Appropriation Committee to their list. (For names see their report on page 9.)
ART. 42. To see if the town will reconsider its action of April 1st, 1878, whereby it accepted the provisions of Chapter 186 of the Acts of the year 1877, in relation to the election of Over- seers of the Poor for three years.
This article was indefinitely postponed.
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ART. 43. To see if the town will instruct the Engineers to appoint a Company for the C. Wakefield Engine, for the year com- mencing May 1st, 1879, or what they will. do in relation thereto.
VOTED. To pass this article over.
ART. 44. To see if the town will exempt from taxation the property heretofore known as the Franklin Foundry, for the space of three years, from May 1st, 1879, provided the company occu- pying those premises shall give preference of employment to the people of the town, and shall have a paid up capital stock of not less than $80,000.
Motions to lay on the table and indefinitely post- pone were both rejected, and it was
VOTED. To refer the whole matter to the Assessors.
ART. 45. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) for the payment of bills now in the hands of the Selectmen, on account of the removal of snow during the past year.
VOTED. To pass this article over.
ART. 46 .. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) to be used by the Select- men during the year ensuing, if necessary, for labor required in the removal of snow.
VOTED. To pass this article over.
ART. 47. To hear and act upon the reports of committees.
E. A. Upton, Esq., in behalf of the Committee chosen No- vember 5, 1878, "To see if the town will appoint the members of C. Wakefield Engine Co. Enginemen for the term of one year, commencing Nov. 15, 1878," made a verbal report that the town had no authority to act in the matter. The report was accepted.
The following resolution was adopted by the town. Resolved. That the Town Clerk be instructed to take possession of all ballots cast for Town Officers, and preserve the same for the space of three months.
A vote of thanks was then given to the Moderator, and at 6.15 P.M. it was voted to dissolve the meet- ing.
P
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TOWN MEETING, APRIL 28, 1879
AT 7 1-2 O'CLOCK, P.M.
ART. 1. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meeting. Samuel K. Hamilton was elected Moderator.
ART. 2. To choose one member of the Board of Health for the year ensuing, in place of Dr. S. W. Abbott, who declines to serve on that Board.
VOTED. That a committee of three be appointed to retire and nominate a candidate for member of the Board of Health. Azel Ames, Jr., Lucius Beebe and Stephen Lufkin were appointed as that committee, and they reported the name of John M. Cate, who . was elected by hand ballot, the vote standing as 1 follows. Yes, 138; No. 100.
ART. 3. To see if the town will by ballot rescind its action taken on the seventh day of April, A.D., 1879, in relation to instruct- ing the Selectmen not to grant licenses to sell alcoholic and malt beverages.
A motion was made to adjourn but rejected. It was then voted on motion of B. F. Bancroft to pass the article over by a vote of Yes, 231; No, 219.
A motion was then made to dissolve the meeting, and carried in the affirmative. Yes, 231; No. 212, and the meeting was dissolved ...
The remaining articles in the warrant upon which no action was taken were as follows, viz. :
ART. 4. To see if the town will instruct the Engineers to appoint a Company for the C. Wakefield Engine, for the year com- mencing May 1st, 1879, or what they will do in relation thereto.
ART. 5. To see if the town will expend the sum of one hundred dol- lars to build a sidewalk on the westerly side of Vernon Street, between Water and Pleasant Streets.
ART. 6. To see if the town will vote to choose Highway Surveyors by ballot at the next annual municipal election.
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ART. 7. To see if the town will limit the free use of the Town Hall by the Temperance Organizations of Wakefield to a specified number of evenings, during the year ensuing. 1
ART. 8. To see if the town will expend the sum of fifty dollars to repair the sidewalk upon the westerly side of Pleasant Street, between Vernon and Eaton Streets. 7 .-
ART. 9. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars to repair and grade Main Street, commencing at Salem street, and running as far as the corner of Crescent Street.
ART. 10. To see if the town will direct that all disbursements of the public moneys be made through the Treasurer, and that all bills properly approved by the various Boards be paid by their orders.
ART. 11. To see what action the town will take in relation to choosing a committee of three to examine into the past and present system of managing our Town Farm; to see if that farm can be made more self-supporting in the future, than it has been in the past, or what they will do about it.
ART. 12. To hear and act upon the reports of Committees heretofore chosen. 44
TOWN MEETING, MAY 19, 1879.
AT 7 1-2 O'CLOCK, P.M.
ART. 1. To choose, by ballot, a Moderator to preside in said meeting. Samuel K. Hamilton was elected Moderator, having eighty-one votes. E. A. Upton had three votes.
ART. 2. To choose by ballot one member of the Board of Health for the year ensuing.
ART. 3. To see if the town will, by ballot, rescind its action taken on the seventh day of April, A.D., 1879 in relation to instructing the Selectmen not to grant licenses to sell alcoholic and malt beverages.
VOTED. To proceed to ballot for one member of the Board of Health in place of S. W. Abbott, who declined to serve.
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VOTED. On motion of E. A. Upton that Articles 2 and 3 be taken up together, and that the voting be carried on together. Yes, 244; No, 131.
Motion that when the polls are open for the recep- tion of ballots, they remain open for one hour. [Lost. ] :
VOTED. That all those who are in favor of rescinding the action taken April 7, 1879, in regard to the selling of alcoholic and malt beverages will vote Yes ; those opposed, No.
The chair appointed to superintend the check-list J. K. L. Baker, Oliver Walton, H. L. Day and M. J. Hill, and for sorting and counting votes; E. A. Upton, E. E. Emerson, W. S. Greenough, G. H. Teague, W. F. Young, and J. A. Maloney.
Result of the ballot.
For member of Board of Health.
John M. Cate,
187 votes.
James E. Abbott,
132
And Mr. Cate was declared elected.
On rescinding vote of April 7, 1879 in relation to granting licenses to sell liquors and malt beverages Yes, 200; No, 247.
ART. 4. To see if the town will order a bell to be placed upon the Franklin street school-house, orwhat actionthey will take in- ! the matter.
VOTED. To pass this article over.
ART. - 5. To see if the town will appropriate the sun of five hundred dollars to repair and grade Main street, commencing at Salem Street and running as far as the corner of Crescent Street.
VOTED. To pass this article over.
ART. 6. To see if the town will expend the sum of one hundred dol- lars to build a sidewalk on the westerly side of Vernon Street between Water and Pleasant Streets.
VOTED. To pass this article over.
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ART. 7. To see if the town will expend the sum of fifty dollars to repair the sidewalk upon the westerly side of Pleasant Street between Vernon and Eaton Streets.
VOTED. To pass this article over.
ART. 8. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars to grade Pleasant Street from Salem to Eaton street.
VOTED. That this article be indefinitely postponed.
ART. 9. To see if the town will instruct the Selectmen not to grant the use of the Town Hall to any society, church, organization or individual whatever, except upon payment of the full price thereof.
VOTED. To pass this article over. Yes, 146; No. 91.
ART. 10. To see if the town will direct that all disbursements of the public moneys be made through the Treasurer, and that all bills properly approved by the various Boards, be paid by their orders.
VOTED. On motion of W. G. Strong that the town direct that all disbursements of the public moneys be made through the Treasurer, and that all bills prop- erly approved by the various Boards, be paid by their orders on the Treasurer of the town.
Later in the meeting, this action was by vote re- considered, and the whole subject indefinitely post- poned.
ART. 11. To see what action the town will take in relation to choosing . a committee of three to examine into the past and present ? system of managing our Town Farm, to see if that farm can be made more self-supporting in the future than it has been in the past, or what they will do about it.
VOTED. : :
On motion of W. G. Strong, that the town choose a committee of three to investigate the past and present system of managing the Town Farm, to see if the farm can be made to be more self-supporting in the future than it has in the past, and report at some future town meeting, and would name for that committee Wm. F. Young, John M. Cate, Henry H. Savage.
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This vote was amended by giving the committee power to examine all books and papers belonging to the Overseers' department.
ART. 12. To see if the town will vote to choose Highway Surveyors by ballot at its next annual meeting.
VOTED. That hereafter the Highway Surveyors be chosen by ballot.
ART. 13. To hear and act upon the reports of Committees heretofore chosen.
James Oliver, Chairman of Board of Selectmen and Com- mittee on Edmands' claim reported that when Mr. Edmands would give satisfactory receipts they were ready to settle with him. His taxes for 1877-8 were due, and the disbursing officers have a right to deduct the amount due the town for taxes, out of his claim, and Mr. Edmands would not be paid until the taxes were paid. (No action taken.) .
. Thomas W. Coombs, chosen on Committee at the annual meeting to collect money now in the hands of individuals, and belonging to the town, reported that several persons had obtained from the town, money which did not belong to them and soon as possible measures would be taken to have it paid back again without cost to the town. (No further action taken).
VOTED. To dissolve the meeting.
TOWN MEETING, SEPTEMBER 1, 1879.
AT 7 O'CLOCK, P. M.
ARTICLE 1. To choose, by ballot, a Moderator to preside in said meet- ing.
Wm. S. Greenough had five votes and was declar- ed elected Moderator.
There being but a small number of voters present, a motion to adjourn for one week at 7 1-2 o'clock P. M., prevailed, and the Moderator declared the meeting adjourned.
24 ADJOURNED MEETING, SEPTEMBER 8, 1879.
AT 7 1-2 O'CLOCK P. M.
The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, W: S. Greenough, and proceeded under Art. 2.
ARTICLE 2. To see what compensation, if any, the town will autho- rize to be paid to Sumner Weston, on account of injuries re- ceived upon West Water street.
VOTED. That this article be referred to a committee of three, who shall thoroughly investigate the matter and re- port at the next town meeting.
VOTED. That the Selectmen be that Committee.
ART. 3. To hear and act upon the report of the town committee upon the subject of improved drainage of the Lake Street District. C. F. Richardson, in behalf of the committee on drainage of the Lake Street District, submitted their report. (Report placed on file in hands of Town Clerk.)
VOTED. To accept the report.
VOTED. That any further action in the matter be indefinitely postponed.
ART. 4. To see if the town will allow interest to be paid upon the claim of Patrick Fay, for balance of town bounty.
VOTED. That the town pay interest upon the claim of Patrick Fay for balance of town bounty.
ART. 5. To see if the town will construct a bridge in the place of the old one, over the stream on the Lynnfield and Wakefield line, or what action they will take in the matter.
VOTED. That the subject matter of this article be left to the Selectmen, to take such action as they think best.
VOTED.
ART. 6. To see if the town will cause the river to be cleared out from Water street to the Saugus line, or what they will do about it. That any action on this article be indefinitely post- poned.
ART. 7. To see if the town will cause Pleasant street, from Salem to Eiton street, to be graded, and appropriate the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars for the purpose.
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VOTED. To indefinitely postpone the subject of this article.
ART. 8. To see if the town will re-consider its former action, requir- ing all new streets to be laid out forty feet wide at least.
VOTED. To pass this article over.
ART. 9. To hear and act upon the report of the Selectmen with refer- ence to the laying out of the private way known as Auburn street, as a public town way.
James Oliver submitted a report of the Selectmen for the laying out as a town way, the private way known as Auburn street.
(Report recorded in Commissioners'. Records, Book 1, Folio 58.)
VOTED. To accept the report.
VOTED. That this report be referred back to the Selectmen · to report again at the next town meeting, and to in- clude in their report the probable expense of lay- ing out the street forty feet wide instead of thirty. · ART. 10. To hear and act upon the report of the Selectmen with ref- erence to the laying out, as a public town-way the private- way leading easterly from Lake to Foundry street. James Oliver, Esq., submitted a report of the Sc- lectmen for a new street from Lake to Foundry street.
VOTED. To accept the report.
VOTED. To adopt the report.
(Report recorded in Commissioners' Records, Book 1, Folio 59, under the title of Maple Street.
ART. 11. To hear and act upon the reports of town committees. There being no committees to report it was VOTED, That the meeting be dissolved.
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TOWN MEETING, NOVEMBER 4, 1879.
STATE ELECTION.
Meeting was called to order by James Oliver, Esq., Chair- man of the Board of Selectmen. After the reading of the warrant, prayer was offered by the Rev. R. R. Riddell. VOTED. That the polls be closed at 4 45 o'clock P. M.
The polls were then declared open for the reception of ballots for the various officers named in the warrant.
RESULT OF THE BALLOT.
FOR GOVERNOR.
JOHN D. LONG, of Hingham, · 440
BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, of Lowell,
337
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, of Quincy,
30
DANIEL C. EDDY, of Hyde Park,
2
FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
BYRON WESTON, of Dalton, .
. 468
ALBERT C. WOODWORTH, of Chicopee, .
.
306
WILLIAM R. PLUNKETT, of Pittsfield, .
33
FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.
HENRY B. PEIRCE, of Abington, .
485
MICHAEL T. DONOHOE, of Somerville, ·
317
HENRY L. PEIRCE, of Somerville,
1
FOR TREASURER AND RECEIVER GENERAL.
CHARLES ENDICOTT, of Canton,
. 474
DAVID N SKILLINGS, of Winchester, ·
300
·
GEORGE DUTTON, of Springfield,
26
JOHN O'HEA, of Winchester, . .
1
FOR AUDITOR.
CHARLES R. LADD, of Springfield, . 474
DAVIS J. KING, of Boston. . . ·
·
.
· 299
CHARLES R. FIELD, of Greenfield, .
.
33
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FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.
GEORGE MARSTON, of New Bedford, 472
WM. D. NORTHIEND, of Salem, 270
HORACE BINNEY SARGENT, of Salem, 30
RICHARD OLNEY, of Boston,
33
FOR COUNCILLOR, 6th DISTRICT.
GEORGE HEYWOOD, of Concord, 474
JOHN C. SANBORN, of Lawrence, 331
FOR SENATOR, 6th MIDDLESEX DISTRICT.
DANIEL RUSSELL, of Melrose, 473
JAMES SKINNER, of Woburn, . 301
CHARLES H. LANG, of Reading,
31
FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
JOHN W. HAMMOND, of Cambridge. 475
JAMES J. MCCAFFERTY, of Lowell, 330 .
FOR SHERIFF. .
EBEN W. FISKE, of Waltham,
475
JOHN A. G. RICHARDSON, of Lowell 331
FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
DANIEL G. WALTON, of Wakefield,
478
THOMAS H, HILL, of Woburn, .
320
EUGENE OLIVER, of Wakefield, .
1
FOR COUNTY TREASURER.
AMOS STONE, of Everett, 473
ALDEN WARREN, of Groton,
299
DAVID D. HART, of Woburn,
29
FOR REGISTER OF DEEDS. SOUTHERN DISTRICT.
CHARLES B. STEVENS, of Cambridge,
806
FOR REPRESENTATIVE TO THE GENERAL COURT, 11th MIDDLESEX DISTRICT.
LUCIUS BEEBE, of Wakefield, 392
AZEL AMES, JR., of Wakefield, .
383
WILLIAM S. GREENOUGH, of Wakefield, 2
JOSHUA WHITTEMORE, of Wakefield, 9 3
At 6.20 o'clock, P.M., this meeting was dissolved.
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MEETING FOR TOWN BUSINESS.
AT TWO O'CLOCK, P. M.
ARTICLE. 1. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meeting. William N. Tyler was chosen Moderator.
ART. 2. To receive and act upon the List of Jurors as prepared and posted by the Selectmen in accordance with law ..
VOTED. That the List of Jurors, prepared by the Select- men and presented to the town, be accepted and adopted. (For List of Jurors see Page 5.)
ART. 3. To see if the town will authorize the payment of interest on bounties from the date of discharge, to the time their full bounties were received, to those men who enlisted on the quota of this town during the late Rebellion, and who were honorably discharged from service.
VOTED. To pass this article over.
ART. 4. To hear and act upon the report of the Selectmen with ref- erence to cost of land should Auburn street be laid out forty feet in width.
James Oliver, Esq,, in behalf of the Selectmen presented a report with reference to cost of land, should Auburn Street be laid out forty feet in width, estimating the entire cost at $840.90. (See Report in Town Clerk's Records, Book 6, Folio 548.
VOTED. To accept the report. It was then
VOTED. To adopt the former report of the Selectmen, which was accepted by the town, September 8, 1879, laying out Auburn Street thirty feet in width, at an estimated cost of $200.
[This Report is recorded in Commissioners' Re- cords, Book 1, Page 58.]
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