USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1875-1881 > Part 36
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Levi Flanders, labor Park Extension, . ·
4 00
Total, . $217 83
DEFECTIVE TAX TITLES.
Paid A. V. Lynde, defective tax titles, . $63 37
W. K. Perkins,
. 170 82
John H. Stark,
55 25
Total, .
$289 44
INCIDENTALS.
Paid balance overdrawn on appropriation for Publishing valuation list, $23 50
Issachar Stowell, witness fees of various persons in case of C. Wakefield Engine Co. injunction, 50 00
Joshua Perham, circulating town reports, 8 00
George E. Davis, valuation list, 8 00
J. H. Emerson, ringing bell for town meetings, 66 66 66
2 00
66 4th July, ·
2 50
R. H. Mitchell,
66. 2 50
Amount carried forward, . $96 50
51
Amount brought forward,
$96 50
Paid John P. Lovell & Sons, clubs for police, 4 50
Henry Davis, teaming, 2 95
J. & S. Winship, repairs of hearse, 66 1 50
24 00
C. H. Davis, sundries,
4 60
W. H. Gray, meals for prisoners,
6 50
J. E. Abbott, examination of horse,
5 00
Total,
. $145 55
RECAPITULATION.
For Military aid,
$1,211 99
Night watch,
1,103 00
Richardson Light Guard,
463 40
Printing, stationery, &c.,
573 46
Town officers' account,
209 89
Legal services,
204 35
Pertaining to highways,
217 83
Defective tax titles,
289 44
Incidentals,
145 55
Total expended,
$4,418 91
Amount overdrawn,
418 91
4,000 00
.
·
.
.
.
.
·
52
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
Appropriation authorized, . $3,000 00
By vote of the Board of Selectmen April 15th, 1880, the above amount was apportioned to the various districts as fol- lows, viz. :
Centre District, John G. Morrill, Surveyor, . $725 00
North 66 Joseph Connell, . 425 00
South 66 Levi B. Eaton, 66
.
425 00
East 66 Charles H. Hart, 66 400 00 .
West 66 Simeon Parker,
600 00
Woodville " Henry N. Oliver, 66 300 00 .
Retained by Selectmen as a reserve fund,
125 00
Total,
$3,000 00
The above amounts have been expended as follows :
RESERVE FUND.
Amount retained by Selectmen,
$125 00
Expended as follows :
Paid John M. Cate, surveyor of last year for re- pairs on cesspools, 7 08 · .
H. L. Haskell, repairs on fence,
. 4 75
G. W. Aborn, in West District, 1 50 . . James Westgate, lumber for R. R. bridge at Greenwood, 107 96
Wm. Darling, repairs at Greenwood, 28 80
Boston & Maine R. R., freight on lumber, 7 02
Total, $157 11
Balance overdrawn, charged to miscellaneous expenses, 32 11
$125 00
53
CENTRE DISTRICT-JOHN G. MORRILL, SURVEYOR.
Amount allowed and drawn by surveyor, $725 00
Balance unexpended of Highland street approp'n, 2 40
Total, $727 40
Expended as follows :
Paid John G. Morrill, surveyor, self and team, for labor on highway, $72 50
sundry individuals as per pay-rolls, for labor on highway, . ·
561 78
John G. Morrill, surveyor, for breaking snow, 93 75
George W. Aborn, drain pipe,
36 75
S. F. Littlefield & Co., drain pipe
1 50
James Lahey, covering stone, ·
9 00
Benj. Peterson, "
.
6 00
City of Somerville, gravel,
55 50
Ira Wiley, 66
4 86
J. B. Whitney, Jr., blacksmith, 4 45
Balance overdrawn on New Park Appropriation, 6 11
" Pleasant street 34
Total expended, $852 54
Balance in excess of receipts and now due John G. Morrill surveyor, 125 14
$727 40
NORTH DISTRICT-JOSEPH CONNELL, SURVEYOR.
Amount allowed and drawn by surveyor, $425 00 Expended as follows :
Paid Joseph Connell, surveyor, for labor on the highway, 41 00
sundry individuals as per pay-roll for labor on highway, 282 61
Amount carried forward, $323 61
54
Amount brought forward, $323 61 Paid Joseph Connell, 415 loads gravel at 8 cents per load, 33 20
Joseph Connell, for breaking snow, . .
46 80
sundry individuals as per pay-roll, for break- ing snow, 84 65
repairs of snow plow, .
.
2 60
Cutler Bros., tools, .
2 75
Total expended, $493 61
Balance in excess of receipts and now due
Joseph Connell, surveyor, 68 61
$425 00
SOUTH DISTRICT-LEVI B. EATON, SURVEYOR.
Amount allowed and drawn by surveyor, $425 00
Expended as follows :
Paid Levi B. Eatou, surveyor, self and team for labor on the highway, $133 00
sundry individuals as per pay-rolls for labor on the highway, ·
236 23
S. Kimball and L. B. Eaton, 645 loads gravel at 6 cts. per load, . .
38 70
sundry individuals, breaking snow, .
21 30
drain pipe and tools, 15 38
Total expended, $444 61
Balance in excess of receipts now due L. B. Eaton, surveyor, 19 61
$425 00
55
EAST DISTRICT-C. II. HART, SURVEYOR.
Amount allowed and drawn by surveyor, $400 00
Expended as follows :
Paid C. H. Hart, surveyor, self and team, for labor on highway, $145 25
Paid sundry individuals as per pay-rolls, for labor on the highway, 230 09
sundry persons for gravel, at 4 and 6 cts. per load, 20 76
S. F. Littlefield & Co., drain pipe, .
3 59
tools, lumber and blacksmithing, 4 54
Total paid out, $404 23 Mr. Hart also presents unsigned pay-rolls, from which it appears that there are due sundry individuals for labor from Dec. to March (probably for breaking snow) the sum of 85 26
Total expended, $489 49 Balance in excess of receipts and due as follows :
C. H. Hart, surveyor, 4 23
sundry individuals, . 85 26 89 49
400 00
WEST DISTRICT-SIMEON PARKER, SURVEYOR.
Amount allowed and drawn by surveyor, .. $600 00 Expended as follows :
Paid Simeon Parker, surveyor, for labor on high- way, · $90 00
sundry individuals as per pay-rolls, for labor on the highway, 398 14
Amount carried forward, $488 14
56
Amount brought forward, $488 14
Simeon Parker and others as per pay-rolls,
for breaking snow, 75 18
431 loads gravel at 4 cts. per load, 17 24
G. W. Aborn, drain pipe,
13 50
Benj. Peterson, covering stone,
9 80
tools and repairing,
6 60
repairing bridge,
7 50
Total expended, $617 96
Balance in excess of receipts, and now due Sim- eon Parker, surveyor, 17 96
600 00
WOODVILLE DISTRICT-H. N. OLIVER, SURVEYOR.
Amount allowed and drawn by surveyor, . $300 00
Expended as follows :
Paid H. N. Oliver, surveyor, self and team, for labor on the highway,
$100 37
sundry individuals as per pay-rolls, for labor on the highway, 179 34
Andrew Young, for gravel, .
·
25 08
repairs of tools, &c., .
1 50
H. N. Oliver, for breaking snow, 19 00
sundry individuals, « 66
19 00
$344 29
Balance in excess of receipts and now due H. N. Oliver, surveyor, 44 29
300 00
57
CONCRETE SIDEWALKS.
Appropriation authorized, $1,000 00
This appropriation was to be expended where abuttors were willing to bear one-half of the expense. We give be- low a list showing how the town appropriation has been ex- pended. A corresponding amount has been paid by each named individual.
Ira Wiley, Main street, $10 68
Azel Ames, Jr., Avon strect, 5 92
Heirs of Chloe P. Evans, Albion street,
10 81
Samuel Kingman, post office, 31 15
Universalist Society, Main street, 20 35
C. A. Cheney, Main street,
21 02
Joshua N. Eames, Albion street, 17 96
66 66 Chestnut “ 31 92
John M. Cate, Main and Centre streets,
31 29
Hannah E. Newcomb, Albion street, .
9 78
Chestnut « 8 20
George Packard, Main street, · 19 30
Methodist Episcopal Society, Albion street, 15 99 M. W. Gove, Chestnut street, 7 03
Mrs. C. Patch, 66
24 07
D. D. Foster, 66
·
16 09
A. A. Currier, 66 12 61 .
N. R. Coffin, 66 16 83
D. H. Darling,
11 98
Sumner Pattec, 11 61
M. K. Blasland, Main street, 8 14
Daniel G. Walton, « 66 44 97
Connell & Curley, "
18 98
S. F. Littlefield, Chestnut street,
13 01
Albion
13 00
A. J. Hutchinson, Avon street,
9 06
A. S. Atherton, Chestnut
14 24
Amount carried forward,
$456 19
58
Amount brought forward,
$456 19
W. H. Wiley, Albion
13 32 Capt. John Perkins, Albion and Main street, 34 67 J. C. Hartshorne, Albion street, 7 65
Dr. Charles Jordan, Avon 66
.
·
15 42
Mrs. H. Brown, Chestnut
40 61
A. C. Perkins, 66 66 27 93
C. W. Trow, Albion 66
8 76
J. D. Mansfield, “
66
14 63
C. F. Hartshorne, "
66
7 49
S. O. Richardson, " 66
13 89
Aaron Butler, Main street,
7 30
Mrs. Mary Eaton, Albion street,
35 91
Greeley Merrill, Main
15 14
Hosea L. Day, 66
17 34
A. W. Chapman, Crescent
34 53
B. F. Bancroft, Pleasant street, .
8 26
Dr. S. W. Abbott, Avon
27 75
E. W. Eaton, Railroad 66 13 69
Walton & Winship, " and Chestnut streets, 45 60 W. D. Deadman, Yale avenue, 16 22
T. Emerson's Sons, Main street, 28 30
A. H. Binden, Main 9 53
C. E. Niles, Chestnut
11 35
W. K. Perkins, Mechanic 8 79
John Purington, Centre 17 02
Geo. H. Towle, Yale avenue, 24 31
S. K. Hamilton, " 66 18 31
Miss E. Walton, Chestnut street, 13 69
Mark Folsom, Yale avenue, 16 56
Total expended, $1,010 16
Balance in excess, charged to miscellaneous expenses, 10 16
$1,000 00
59
NEW PARK EXTENSION.
Appropriation authorized,
$300 00
Sale of grass, 41 00
$341 00
Expended as follows, under direction of John G. Morrill, surveyor :
Paid sundry individuals as per pay-roll, for labor, 347 11
Balance overdrawn, charged to account of sur- veyor of Centre District, $6 11
341 00
PLEASANT STREET EXTENSION.
Appropriation authorized, $50 00
Expended as follows, under direction of John G. Morrill, surveyor :
Paid sundry individuals as per pay-roll, for labor,
50 34
excess of appropriation, charged to the ac- count of surveyor for Centre District, . 34
$50 00
HIGHLAND STREET APPROPRIATION.
Appropriation authorized, . $150 00
Expended as follows, under direction of John G. Morrill, surveyor :
Paid sundry individuals as per pay-rolls, for labor and sundry repairs, . 147 60
Balance unexpended, carried to account of sur- veyor for Centre District, . 2 40
60
OTIS STREET APPROPRIATION.
Appropriation authorized,
$300 00
Expended as follows :
Paid Patrick O'Connor, as per contract,
$147 00
extra labor,
8 75
H. L. Haskell, labor and stock,
25 65
Walter B. Ellis, concrete gutters,
19 44
James A. Bancroft, surveys,
6 00
H. N. Winslow, teaming,
.
1 00
Total expended,
$207 84
Balance unexpended, 92 16
$300 00
BALANCE OF HIGHWAY RESERVE, 1879-80.
Balance in hands of James Oliver, as per report, $146 94
Expended as follows :
Paid John M. Cate, surveyor of Centre District, balance due him as per report, $47 83
G. W. Aborn, drain pipe and labor
on Auburn street,
8 25
Total,
$56 08
Balance unexpended, paid to James F. Emerson,
town treasurer,
$90 86
REPAIRS CORNER CRESCENT AND EATON STREETS, 1879-80.
Balance in hands of James Oliver as per report, $50 00
This amount was paid over to T. E. Balch, Chairman of Selectmen, and has been disbursed as follows : Paid J. G. Morrill, for widening and fencing, $50 00
61
.C. WAKEFIELD ENGINE COMPANY -INJUNCTION EXPENSES.
Appropriation authorized, $125 00
Paid W. S. Greenough for the petitioners, as per bill, Eaton & Hamilton, 125 00
RE-LIGHTING TOWN HALL.
Appropriation authorized, $125 00
Expended as follows :
Paid L. J. Descalzo & Co. as per contract, 110 00
Balance unexpended, ·
15 00
125 00
SOLDIERS' BURIAL LOT.
Appropriation authorized,
$120 00
Paid W. S. Greenough, Chairman of Commit- tee, and now held by him to complete purchase,
$120 00
EXPENSES OF FISH COMMITTEE.
Appropriation authorized, $20 00
Expended as follows :
Paid C. P. Poland, fish net,
3 00
Samuel Parker, Jr., recording lease,
75
66 labor on fishway, 75
Amount carried forward,
$4 50
62
Amount brought forward, $4 50
Samuel Parker, Jr., services and team, 3 00 66 66 trip to Howlett's pond, 1 00
J. H. Cartland, trip to Howlett's pond, 1 00
66 services and team to Lynn-
field and on fishways, 2 50
Oscar I. Stowell, telegraphing and repairs on dam, . . 5 50
Total expended, $17 50
Balance unexpended, now in hands of Committee, 2 50
$20 00
63
COLLECTOR'S STATEMENT.
TAX OF 1878.
Uncollected balance as per last report, . $4,491 81
Received as interest, . 577 15
$5,068 96
Paid Town Treasurer,
$4,422 86
Abated by Assessors,
646 10
$5,068 96
TAX OF 1879.
Uncollected balance as per last report, . $8,481 65
Received as interest, . 162 10
$8,643 75
Paid Town Treasurer,
$4,462 30
Abated by Assessors,
·
173 78
Discounts allowed,
1 31
$4,637 39
Balance uncollected, $4,006 36
TAX OF 1880.
Total amount assessed,
$51,268 12
Received as interest, . .
15 87
$51,283 99
Paid Town Treasurer,
$40,662 52
Abated by Assessors,
653 62
Discounts allowed, .
1,470 36
$42,786 50
Balance uncollected,
$8,497 49
RICHARD BRITTON, Collector.
MARCH 1, 1881.
64
TREASURER'S REPORT,
JAMES F. EMERSON, Treas. in acct. with Town of Wakefield. Dr.
To cash balance in Treasury, March 5, 1880, .
$5,241 59
hired on town notes, 22,500 00
release of tax deeds, 569 41
interest received on tax deeds, 30 18
66 on loans and deposits, 98 78
Richard Britton, Collector, 1878, 4,422 86
66 66 1879, 4,462 30 66 66 66 1880, 40,662 52
Mrs. Harriet N. Flint, given for use in Memorial Hall, 200 00
B. F. Shedd, Highway Surveyor, 1879, unexpended balance, 31 89
J. A. Tyler, Highway Surveyor, 1879, unexpended balance, ·
13 21
J. J. Mansfield, Highway Surveyor, 1879, 12 48
income of Town Hall, 1879,
421 00
Daniel Norcross, auctioneer license, 66 2 00
2 00
C. F. Hartshorne,
·
W. G. Skinner, 66 .
2 00
James Oliver, unexpended balance of $146.94 in his hands at last report, 90 86
L. H. Tasker, on acct. of rental of Crystal Lake for one year, from March 1st, 1880,
20 00
John H. Johnson of Wakefield, peddler, license dated Sept. 8, 1880, one year, State Treasurer, Corporation tax,
10 00
National Bank tax,
60
66
State aid,
2,172 50
66 relief indigent soldiers
and sailors, 309 00
66
pauper account, 20 74
armory rent, 300 00
school fund, 184 52
Selectmen, acct. concrete sidewalks and error, 47 91
County Treasurer, Dog-tax, 238 04
School Committee,
237 00
Overseers of the Poor,
969 25
from sale of grass,
52 00
$87,201 30
2,740 58
1,136 68
65
Cr.
By cash paid town orders, . $35,243 91
principal on loan, ·
33,500 00
interest
5,236 31
" Flint Memorial Fund to Town Library, 60 00
Richard Britton, Collector, for tax titles, 302 91
for registry of deeds, .
12 75
C. W. Eaton, for negotiating set- tlement of tax titles and writing release deeds, ·
44 00
State Aid account,
2,260 75
Saugus tax,
4 16
State tax, .
3,810 00
National Bank tax, 896 29
County tax,
1,914 57
School Committee, State School Fund, 184 52 Selectmen, gift of Mrs. Flint for Memorial Hall, 200 00
G. W. Aborn for release of two tax titles, 32 50
Balance, cash in treasury, 3,498 63
$87,201 30
66
LOAN ACCOUNT.
Amount as per audit, March 5, 1880, . $88,600 00 since hired by Treasurer, 22,500 00
$111,100 00
Amount paid since March 5, 1880,
33,500 00
$77,600 00
Loans are now held March 5, 1881, as follows : State Treasurer, due May 20, 1881, 19,600 00
Bonds to bearer $1,000 each, due June 1, 1881, 19,000 00
Brewster, Bassett & Co., due Sept. 15, 1881, 4,000 00 Brewster, Bassett & Co., due Oct. 15, 1881, . 5,000 00
Bonds to bearer $1,000 each, due May 1, 1882, 30,000 00
Total, TOWN DEBT.
. $77,600 00
Amount of notes and bonds bear-
ing interest, March 5, 1881, . $77,600 00
Interest on notes and bonds, ac- crued to date, 1,366 89
State aid unpaid, due to pensioners, 101 25
Outstanding town orders, 244 99
Total liabilities,
$79,313 13
Cash balance in Treasury, $3,498 63
Due from State on account of State aid as per monthly returns, 1880, 2,205 50
Due from State on military aid ac- count one-half of amount paid, 1,215 94, 607 97
Duc on tax-list, 1879,
4,006 36
1880, 8,497 49
Total assets, $18,815 95
Net debt,
$60,497 18
Net debt as per report last year, 69,273 68 .
this year, . 60,497 18
Decrease since 1880 report, · $8,776 50
67
STATE AID.
Amount allowed various individ-
uals for the year ending March 1,1881, . ·
$2,247 00
Balance due and unpaid March 1, 1880, 115 00
$2,362 00
The Treas. has paid of the above
amount, .
2,260 75
Due various individuals, unpaid to
March 1, 1881,
101 25
$2,362 00
The amounts which have been paid to each person appear in the following statement :
James E. Abbott, 72 00
Elizabeth Bateman, 44 00
W. W. Bessey, 72 00
Mary V. Brown, 52 00
Eugene C. Bryant, guardian for Wm. C. Bryant, (dis-
continued April 1, 1880), 20 00
Augusta M. Chandler, 48 00
Eliza N. Clifford, 48 00
Thomas W. Coombs, 72 00
Adah E. Cowdrey, 40 00
John Davis, 96 00
Victor Eaton,
72 00
Rodney Edmands, 72 00
Alexander Flanders, (dis-
continued Dec. 1, 1880, 44 00
Orlando N. Gammons, 24 75
Micah Heath, 96 00
Needham C. Hunter, 54 00
Joseph L. Hurd, 66 00
Geo. H. Jackson, 18 00
Patrick Lanergan, 45 00
Lucinda Locke, 56 00
Sarah S. Mason, 52 00
Andrew Mellen, (discon- tinued Dec. 1, 1880), 12 00
Elizabeth Moses,
48 00
Esther S. Parker,
40 00
Wm. D. Parker,
72 00
Martha A. Pilling, 28 00
Lucy E. Poland, 48 00
Joseph H. Richardson,
54 00
Julia A. Ross, (discontin- ued June 1, 1880, 4 00
John S. Sargent, 18 00
Lydia Sweetser, 48 00
Sarah Sweetser,
44 00
Geo. W. Townsend, 120 00
Thomas Twisden, 78 00
James Weary, 54 00
Geo. N. Whiting, 72 00
Albert S. Wiley,
39 00
Geo. H. Wiley, 72 00
John Wiley, 2d, 78 00
Hiram Woodis, 96 00
Nathaniel H. Wright, 72 00
$2,260 75
68
LIST OF TAX DEEDS NOW HELD BY TOWN TREAS- URER FOR NON-PAYMENT OF TAXES.
Tax.
Date of Deeds.
Geo. Kempton,
1875,
July 6, 1877, $7 06
Thos. Lord,
1875,
July 6, 1877, 23 16
A. J. Perham & Bessey,
1875, July 6, 1877, 27 15
J. M. Piper,
1876,
Aug. 13, 1878, 8 15
John Stevens,
1876, Aug. 13, 1878, 27 37
Daniel C. Murphy,
1876,
Aug. 13, 1878, 34 29
Thomas Lord,
1876,
Jan. 6, 1879, 21 78
J. W. Dearborn,
1877,
June 28, 1879, 8 23
J. W. Dearborn,
1877,
June 28, 1879, 8 23
Daniel C. Murphy,
1877,
June 16, 1879, 32 05
Wm. Brown Estate,
1877,
June 16, 1879, 5 00
Thomas Lord,
1877,
June 16, 1879, 29 81
James M. Piper,
1877,
June 16, 1879, 7 85
W. W. Bessey,
1877,
June 16, 1879,
5 86
Geo. A. Putney,
1877, June 16, 1879, 5 70
Geo. A. Putney,
1877,
June 16, 1879,
5 70
W. W. Bessey,
1878,
July 12, 1880,
5 39
B. A. Osgood,
1878, July 12, 1880, 83 59
Owner Unknown,
1878, July 12, 1880, 19 80
Daniel C. Murphy,
1878,
Aug. 2, 1880, 31 08
$397 25
69
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
The Selectmen respectfully submit the following report for the municipal year ending March 1, 1881 :
NIGHT WATCHI.
In accordance with what seemed to be the desire of a ma- jority of the citizens of the town, and in answer to a numer- ously signed petition, the Selectmen near the beginning of the year appointed two night watchmen. This action has called for a considerable outlay of money, but has been attended with good results, as has been shown in the increased quietness and good order of the town and the feel- ing of security which has been general in the community.
The men who have served the town in this capacity, as well as the regular police force, deserve commendation for their faithfulness and efficiency.
TOWN HALL.
At the last annual town meeting it was voted that all local organizations using the hall should pay a sum sufficient to meet the expense of heating, lighting, and janitor's services. By this action a considerable saving has been made in Town House expenses, and quite an income derived from hitherto unproductive sources. A cheerful compliance has generally been given to the order. After a somewhat careful investi- gation it was deemed inexpedient to attempt an improvement of the acoustic properties of the hall with the sum placed at our disposal.
70
PARK EXTENSION.
The appropriation of three hundred dollars, and the re- ceipts from sale of grass, aggregating the sum of three hun- dred and forty-one dollars, has been expended for the im- provement of the Park under the direction of John G. Mor- rill, Highway Surveyor in the Centre District.
STREETS.
Otis street has been extended easterly to Vernon street, and graded at an expense of two hundred and seven and 80-100 dollars.
Highland street has also been graded at an expense of one hundred and fifty dollars.
The sum of fifty dollars, appropriated for the grading of the road-bed and sidewalks on Pleasant street, between Otis and Vernon streets, has been expended under the direction of the Highway Surveyor, Mr. Morrill.
BRIDGES.
Early in the year it was found that the railroad bridge at Greenwood was in a dangerous condition and needed to be rebuilt. This has been done at an expense of one hundred and forty-three 78-100 dollars.
CONCRETE SIDEWALKS.
The town appropriation of one thousand dollars for the laying of concrete sidewalks has been expended for that pur- pose, with a like amount from owners of real estate who have received the benefits of the appropriation. Several proposals were submitted to the Selectmen, but the contract was awarded to Walter B. Ellis, of Melrose, at thirty-seven cents per square yard. So far as we know, these walks are entirely satisfactory. Good sidewalks should be considered a necessity ; and we hope that the good work so well begun in this direction the past year, may be carried on successful- ly in the year to come, by a liberal outlay for this purpose.
71
SHADE TREES.
Believing that our citizens should protect shade trees bor- dering upon their estates, we did not feel that it would be justifiable in us, to subject the town to the expense of protect- ing trees upon Elm street.
WATER COURSES.
Following the instructions of the town the Eastern Rail- road Company was requested to open the original water- course near the centre of the meadow, east of Vernon street. Their answer substantially was, that they had paid all land damages, and were not liable in any way for flowage.
MEMORIAL HIALL.
The generous gift of Mrs. Harriet N. Flint has been ex- pended in decorating and beautifying the hall, in accordance with her suggestions and desires.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Owing to the resignation of the Board of Health early in the year, the Selectmen have acted in that capacity.
GUIDE-BOARDS.
So far as we know, street signs and guide-boards have been placed at all needed points.
INSURANCE.
Insurance to the amount of thirty-six thousand dollars has been placed on the Town Hall, to cover the same amount ex- piring March 13th.
SUITS AGAINST THE TOWN.
In the suits, Thomas W. Coombs v. Town of Wakefield, Thomas W. Coombs, Adm'r v. Town of Wakefield, and Ed- ward H. Walton v. Town of Wakefield - a final settlement of all matters covered by these suits has been made without expense to the town except for attorney's services.
72
BOUNTIES.
In regard to the claims for bounties presented by Henry B. Waitt and Henry H. Evans, we report that we find that on the twenty-second day of November, 1864, an order was drawn on the Treasurer of the town in favor of Henry B. Waitt for one hundred dollars, and also his receipt in full for bounty due him from the town, bearing the same date.
We are, therefore, of the opinion that he has no claim whatever against the town for bounty.
For different, but quite as satisfactory reasons, we believe that Henry H. Evans has no legal claim against the town for bounty.
THEODORE E. BALCH, Selectmen
BUCHANAN B. BURBANK, of
ARLON S. ATHERTON, Wakefield.
WAKEFIELD, March 14, 1881.
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REPORT OF THE FISH COMMITTEE.
In presenting our fifth annual report for your considera- tion we are reminded that the time is not far distant when, under such rules, regulations and penalties as the town may adopt, subject to the approval of the State Fish Commission- ers, our lake may be re-opened for the sole use and benefit of the inhabitants of Wakefield. And it is the opinion of your Committee that those who knew the lake in its ex- hausted condition will have reason to believe that the experi- ment of restocking the waters with useful fish has proved successful, and regarding the migratory alewife, beyond the most sanguine expectations of any one.
The notable event of the past year was the return of those hatched in our waters, after a three years sojourn in the ocean.
It was stated in our last report that they might be ex- pected in the month of May, and on the second day of said month they were first seen in large numbers at the dam at Montrose, where they found too much water going over the fall, and too little through the fish-way. This trouble was soon obviated, and a seine stretched across the river from the mouth of the fish-way to the shore, showed an easy way to Lake Quannapowitt.
During the summer millions of young ones were seen in the lake, and from some unexplained cause passed out on a very slight rise of the water six weeks earlier than usual, and were destroyed in immense numbers at the Saugus Mills. This was very unfortunate, and in case of low water some safe way should be provided for these fish to go down to the sea whenever there is not enough water in the river to en- able them to pass the fish-ways.
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Mr. J. H. Carter received from Mr. Brackett 56 leather- sided carp, an Austrian variety, and still holds them subject to order of the Commissioners.
The local paper has published from time to time items of interest on this subject, and the facts are well known to our reading public.
For these favors our thanks are due, and to many friends who have most generously rendered gratuitous assistance.
When at the pleasure of the town, fishing is resumed, it will be necessary to restrict it to certain specified days of prohibiting absolutely the use of trolling and set lines, and requiring all persons to fish with rod and line, a single line to each person; of requiring the return to the lake of all bass that may be caught of less than half a pound in weight ; the taking of land-locked salmon to be prohibited until fur- ther notice; if caught to be returned to the water alive ; of prohibiting all fishing except on certain days and half days in the months of July, August, September and October.
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