USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1882-1886 > Part 12
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ART. 4. To bring in their votes on one ballot for Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Selectmen, Assessors, Overseers of the Poor, Tax Collector, Board of Health, Constables, Fence Viewers, Fish Committee and for three Road Commissioners. one member for one year, one member for two years, and one member for three years.
Upon a separate ballot to bring in their votes for School Committee, one member for one year and two members for three years.
To bring in their votes also upon a separate ballot in answer to the question -" Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town? "
Form of ballots; "Yes " or "No."-All these ballots will be received at the same time and in the same box.
The Chair appointed Michael Low, R. L. Cooper, Horace Gowing and E. W. Eaton to assist in check- ing names on the voting lists, and then . declared the polls open for the reception of ballots for the various officers named in Art. 4.
The Committee appointed later in the meeting to sort and count ballots were W. H. Atwell, Jr., John Low, E. H. Walton, A. H. Thayer, and W. L. Coon.
Result of the ballot as declared later in the meet- ing.
9
TOWN CLERK.
Charles F. Hartshorne,
·
(Elected.)
731
Winfield C. Jordan,
.
TOWN TREASURER.
James F. Emerson,
(Elected.)
792
SELECTMEN.
Alstead W. Brownell,
(Elected.)
449
Otis V. Waterman,
..
430
James Oliver, .
410
Oliver Perkins,
360
Albert G. Sweetser,
336
Sumner Pennell,
329
Scattering,
21
ASSESSORS.
David Perkins,
(Elected.)
811
Charles F. Hartshorne,
66
761
Charles F. Woodward,
441
Waldo E. Cowdrey,
324
Oliver Perkins,
26
C. F. Hartshorne,
25
Scattering.
COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
Richard Britton,
(Elected.)
464
Charles F. Hartshorne,
.
.
·
330
W. C. Jordan,
1
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Hiram Eaton,
(Elected.)
793
Joseph Connell,
.
.
715
John G. Morrill, .
·
429
Horace Gowing, . Scattering,
20
BOARD OF HEALTH.
(Elected.)
431
Hosea L. Day,
.
.
438
Azel Ames, Jr.,
332
Winfield C. Jordan,
330
George H. Teague,
328
Scattering, 2
40
.
·
13
·
340
John M. Cate,
431
John Homer, M. D.,
.
31
10
CONSTABLES.
Moses Staples,
Israel A. Parsons,
John A. Meloney, Charles H. Davis, Howard Emerson, Scattering,
FENCE VIEWERS.
George Packard,
(Elected.)
791
Charles H. Stearns,
764
George H. Teague,
.
24
24
6
FISH COMMITTEE.
(Elected.)
786
Charles H. Davis,
.
.
760
W. S. Greenough,
24
David H. Walker, Scattering,
.
.
4
ROAD COMMISSIONERS.
3 YEARS.
Richard Britton, .
(Elected.)
433
Joseph Connell. .
.
·
,
281
Levi B. Eaton,
·
.
.
.
46
2 YFARS.
B. B. Burbank, .
.
.
·
(Elected.)
432
Thomas Hickey, .
.
.
.
.
313
N. H. Dow,
(Elected.)
667
Nath'l H. Dow,
.
.
101
Scattering,
.
SCHOOL' COMMITTEE.
3 YEARS.
Lucius Beebe, ·
.
.
(Elected.) 670
S. K. Hamilton, .
.
.
·
351
Calista A. Winship,
·
.
.
313
.
(Elected.) 603
475
.
16
442
.
.
384
.
.
266
.
.
.
.
28
Levi B. Eaton, . Austin L. Mansfield, Scattering,
Samuel Parker, Jr., Howard Emerson,
..
768
.
.
·
24
.
.
1 YEAR.
·
7
66
752
·
11
1
YEAR.
Melvin J. Hill,
.
(Elected.) 675
Scattering,
.
LICENSE.
Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town ?
Yes, No, .
363
391
ART. 5. To choose all other necessary town officers.
VOTED. That a Committee of three from the Centre District, . and two from each of the outer wards be nomina- ted by a Committee of three appointed by the Chair, who shall bring in a list of officers not chosen by ballot. The Chair appointed as the Committee of three E. E. Emerson, W. F. Young and A. E. Perry. This Committee reported as follows :
Centre District .- Thomas Winship, W. E. Cowdrey, E. D. Eldridge.
North Wm. F. Young, E. E. Emerson.
South .. John H. Tyler, Samuel Kimball.
East
Thomas Hickey, N. Page, Jr.
West Wm. N. Tyler, Horace Gowing.
Woodville " E. E. Oliver, W. G. Strong.
This Committee later in the meeting made a report which after substituting the name of John M. Cate in place of Waldo E. Cowdrey upon the Board of Auditors was accepted and adopted by the town as follows :
AUDITORS.
T. J. Skinner, WV. S. Greenough, J. M. Cate.
TRUSTEES OF THE BEEBE TOWN LIBRARY.
Lucius Beebe, S. O. Richardson,
Thomas Winship, J. G. Aborn, J. R. Mansfield,
W. H. Morrison. E. H. Walton, Cyrus Wakefield, Chester W. Eaton,
Otis V. Waterman, W. N. Tyler, Azel Ames, Jr.,
Joseph M. Skully, Geo. H. Teague,
John M. Cate.
10
12
WEIGHERS OF COAL AND MERCHANDISE.
M. C. Evans, George W. Aborn, A. A. Mansfield,
A. W. Chapman, E. W. Eaton, Geo. K. Gilman.
MEASURERS OF WOOD.
M. C. Evans, Joshua Walton, Henry N. Oliver,
B. F. Abbott, Willard Knight, E. W. Eaton,
A. J. Hutchinson, W. C. Parker, A. A. Mansfield,
L. B. Eaton.
SURVEYORS OF LUMBER.
C. F. Bickford, W. C. Parker, Geo. H. Teague,
Roger Howard, Fred. H. Henry, James Westgate,
B. F. Abbott.
FIELD DRIVERS.
Edward Eaton, Adam Wiley, John Moran,
B. F. Shedd, H. L. Day, Thomas Gould,
Geo. E. Donald Geo. H. Wiley,, R. H. Mitchell,
Edw. O. Gowing, J. T. B. Hall.
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
Lucius Beebe, S. O. Richardson, Thomas Winship,
Wm. F. Young, James F. Emerson, B. F. Bancroft, James Oliver, A. W. Brownell, Thomas Hickey,
T. J. Skinner, Everett Hart, Azel Ames, Jr.,
J. O. Blanchard, Joshua Perham.
ART. 6 .- To see if the town will authorize their Treasurer to hire money to pay all demands in anticipation of taxes.
VOTED. That the Treasurer be authorized, with the approval of the Selectmen, to hire money in anticipation of the taxes the current year, and to issue notes of the town therefor, for the purpose of providing funds for the prompt payment of all bills against the town, made payable from said taxes.
ART. 7. To raise money for the payment of town debt and interest. VOTED. That the town raise and appropriate the sum of five thousand dollars for the reduction of the principal of the Town Debt, and the sum of three thousand five hundred dollars for the payment of interest on loans to the town.
ART. 8. To raise money for Schools.
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VOTED. That the sum of thirteen thousand eight hundred dollars be raised and appropriated for the Support of Schools, and the sum of twelve hundred dollars be raised and appropriated for School Contingent Fund for the year ensuing.
ART. 9. To raise money for the Support of the Poor.
VOTED. To raise and appropriate the sum of four thousand five hundred dollars for the Support of the Poor for the ensuing year.
ART. 10. To raise money for the repairs of Highways and Bridges. and determine how it shall be expended.
VOTED. To raise and appropriate the sum of five thousand dollars for the Support of Highways and Bridges the ensuing year.
ART. 11. To raise money for the Fire Department.
VOTED. To raise and appropriate the sum of twenty-one hundred dollars for the Support of the Fire Depart- ment for the year ensuing.
ART. 12. To raise money for the Public Library. A motion to raise and appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars in addition to the funds from the dog-tax for the maintenance of the Public Library was lost.
It was then voted that the sum of four hundred and fifty dollars be raised and appropriated for the maintenance of the Public Library in addition to the income from the dog tax.
ART. 13. To raise money for the Salaries of Town Officers.
VOTED. That the sum of twenty-four hundred and seventy . five dollars be raised and appropriated for the pay- ment of Town Officers' Salaries for the ensuing year.
ART. 14. To raise money for the care of street lamps and the cost of lighting.
VOTED. To raise and appropriate the sum of twelve hun-
14
dred dollars for the care of Street Lamps and the cost of lighting.
ART. 15. To raise money for additional street lamps.
VOTED. To pass the article over.
ART. 16. To raise money for town house expenses.
VOTED. That the sum of one thousand dollars be raised and appropriated and the receipts of the Town Hall for Town House Expenses.
ART. 17. . . To raise money for public park improvement.
VOTED. That the proceeds from the sale of grass be appro- priated for improvement on the park extension.
ART. 18. To raise money for miscellaneous expenses.
VOTED. To raise and appropriate the sum of three thousand dollars for the payment of miscellaneous expenses for the ensuing year.
ART. 19. To see what method the town will adopt for the collection of taxes for the year ensuing.
VOTED. That the same method be adopted the coming year as used last year for the collection of taxes.
VOTED. That the time for the payment of poll taxes be ex- tended from August 1st to September 1st and that the rate of interest be reduced from seven per cent. to six per cent. (See Annual Report of 1879, Page 12, or Town Clerk's Records, Book 6, Fol. 510.)
ART. 20. To see if the town will authorize their Collector of Taxes, for the year ensuing, to use all means for the collection of taxes which a Town Treasurer when appointed Collector may use.
VOTED. That the Collector of Taxes for the year ensuing be instructed to use all means for the collection of taxes which a Town Treasurer when appointed Col- lector may use.
ART. 21. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred dollars, to finish paving the gutters on Highland street.
15
VOTED. To indefinitely postpone action under this article.
ART. 22. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars, to be expended in laying concrete side- walks where abutters will agree to pay one-half of the ex- pense, under the direction of the Road Commissioners.
VOTED. That the town raise and appropriate the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars for laying concrete sidewalks where the abutters have made applica- tion for the same in writing on or before the first day of July next, and have promised in their appli- cation to pay one-half of the expense of the same.
ART. 23. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars, to be expended in laying concrete street-crossings and gutters, under the direction of the Road Commissioners.
VOTED. That three hundred dollars be raised and appropri- ated to be expended in laying concrete street-cross- ings and gutters, under the direction of the Road Commissioners.
ART. 24. To see if the town will authorize the construction of a con- crete walk across the yard in front of the Centre School Houses, from northeast to southwest, and will raise and ap- propriate money for the same.
VOTED. To indefinitely postpone the article. Motion to reconsider lost.
ART. 25. To see it the town will raise aud appropriate the sum of one hundred and seventy-five dollars, for the expenses of Memo- rial Day.
VOTED. To raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred and seventy-five dollars for the expenses of Memo- rial Day.
ART. 26. To see if the town will authorize the placing of an additional street lamp on, or near, the corner of Water street and Newhall's Court.
VOTED. That the subject matter of this article be referred to the Selectmen with discretionary power to act.
ART. 27. To see if the town will authorize the placing of an addi- tional street lamp at the corner of Melvin and Water streets.
16
VOTED. To leave this article to the Selectmen with discre- tionary power to act.
ART. 28. To see if the town will authorize the construction of a side- walk on the north side of Water street, commencing at an angle near the Rattan Factory stable, running thence west- erly to the Railroad crossing on said street ; and appropriate therefor the sum of one hundred dollars; or what they will do about it.
VOTED. To indefinitely postpone action under this article.
ART. 29. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to purchase the remainder of the school-house lot in Greenwood, for a gravel-pit and for school purposes; also to grade and fence the same, and to raise the school-house at least two and a half feet, and to raise the bottom of the cellar at least two feet.
VOTED. That the subject-matter of this article be referred to the School Committee to investigate and report at a future meeting.
ART. 30. To determine the compensation of Enginemen, for the year ensuing.
VOTED. To postpone action under this article until Art. 45 has been acted upon.
ART. 31. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to provide a night-watch, and will appropriate money for payment there- of.
VOTED. That the Selectmen be authorized to employ a night-watch, and that the sum of eighteen hundred dollars be appropriated for the payment of the same.
ART. 32. To see if the town will authorize its School Committee, henceforth to purchase text-books and stationery for use in the public schools ; such text-books to be the property of the town, and to be lent to pupils under such regulations as the School Committee may make.
VOTEI). To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 33. To see if the town will direct its Assessors to cause to be printed a list of taxable polls and estates in the town, for the year 1883.
17
VOTED. To indefinitely postpone.
ART $4. To see if the town will instruct its Selectmen to place a Telephone in the Selectmen's Room, Town Hall Building.
VOTED. That the Selectmen be instructed to place a Tele- phone in the Town House Building, and the ex- pense of the same be taken from the Miscellaneous Fund.
ART. 35. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of four hundred dollars, for the purpose of grading Main street and the side- walk, from the residence of Mrs. Harriet N. Flint to the rail- road bridge below the house of Isaac Green.
VOTED. To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 36. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of one hundred dollars to build a sidewalk on the west side of Main street, Greenwood, from a point opposite the house lately owned by Mr. Pitman, to the railroad crossing at Forest street, or what action it will take in the matter; the material for the walk to be taken from the town pit on Forest street, and the loose stones on said street.
VOTED. To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 37. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of concreting the sidewalks on the south and east of the High School Building ; the work to be done under the direction of the School Committee.
VOTED. To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 38. To seo if the town will instruct the Superintendent of its Almshouse, hereafter to make his annual purchases of the supplies required for House and Farm at such places and in such quantities as may be deemed most economical and suitable, subject always to the approval of the Overseers of the Poor.
VOTED. That the whole matter be left with the Board of Overseers of the Poor, with power to act.
ART. 39. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of twenty-five dollars for the use of the Fish Committee.
VOTED. To raise and appropriate the sum of twenty-five dollars for the use of the Fish Committee.
ART. 40. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of one hundred 3
18
dollars for the purpose of erecting a bath house on the shore of Lake Quannapowitt.
A motion that the sum of one hundred dollars be raised and appropriated to build a bath house on the shore of Lake Quannapowitt was rejected. No further action taken.
ART. 41. To see if the town will complete the sidewalk on the south- erly side of Byron street, from land of J. W. Wellman to Albion street, and appropriate money for the same; or what the town will do about it.
VOTED. To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 42. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars, for the enforcement of the Liquor Law in Wakefield.
A motion to lay this article on the table was lost. (Yes, 78; No, 134.)
A motion to indefinitely postpone was rejected. (Yes, 116; No, 138.)
It was then voted that action under this article shall read to raise and appropriate five hundred dollars for the enforcement of the Liquor Law and to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen. Carried. (Yes, 141; No, 96.)
ART. 43. To see if the town will accept a gift of one thousand dollars, on certain conditions, for the town to pay interest for a terni of years, at such rate as it may from time to time decide ; the same to be applied in aid of the temperance cause.
The following communication was received from Jonathan Nichols, and read to the town :
WAKEFIELD, March 22d, 1883.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Wakefield,
GENTLEMEN :
I desire through you to make the following proposition to the town, to wit : that I will make a gift to the town of one thousand dollars, on condition that the town will pay interest on that sum, at such rate as it may from time to time determine, for a period of one hundred years ; the interest to be paid for the purpose and in manner as follows: To every young man of Wakefield who shall make a statement to the Town Clerk before they are sixteen years of age, and declare their in-
19
tention not to drink intoxicating liquors, and not to chew or smoke tobacco from that time to the time they shall become twenty-one years of age, (the Town Clerk to make a record of such declaration in a book to be kept for that purpose) and if at the age of twenty-one years the person making such declaration shall say to the Selectmen that he has kept his word in accordance with such statement, and there appears no evidence that he has not, they shall give him a certificate of commenda- tion and an order on the Town Treasurer for the sum of ten dollars, whenever there are interest funds sufficient to pay the same, the appli- cants to be paid in the order of their registration. And at the end of one hundred years the town may, if they see fit, pay the interest for school-books for orphan children, or for lectures, or for additions to the public library. Yours respectfully,
JONATHAN NICHOLS.
VOTED. Unanimously, on motion of James F. Emerson, that the town accept the gift of Mr. Jonathan Nichols, with the conditions named in his letter of proposition, and authorize the Town Treasurer to receive and receipt for the same : that the Town Clerk and Selectmen be instructed to act upon it in the manner proposed, and that the rate of inter- est on the thousand dollars be fixed at four per - cent. per annum until otherwise changed by vote of the town.
VOTED. That the following resolutions be adopted and en- tered upon the town records :
Resolved .- That the thanks of the town be presented to Mr. Jonathan Nichols for his offer of a gift of one thousand dollars to the town with its conditions for the encouragement of the tem- perance cause.
That the town recognize in his proposition to encourage young men to abstain from those vices whose tendency is to depravity, as worthy of notice and mention, and creditable, as well as consistent, to a citizen who has continually set an example which he now seeks to encourage.
Resolved .- That the Town Clerk be instructed to send to Mr. Nichols an attested copy of the vote of acceptance of his proposition and of these resolutions.
[At 5.45 P. M. voted that the polls be closed.
20
Voted to adjourn until seven o'clock in the evening. At 7 o'clock the meeting was called to order by the Moderator and proceeded to act under Art. 44.]
ART. 44. To see if the town will so change its present system of re- tained firemen, under yearly pay, so as to make their reten- tion money, if any, only the amount of their poll tax, and pay them by the hour for the time they work.
A motion by Rufus Kendrick that the town so change its present system of retained firemen, un- der yearly pay, as to make their retention money, if any, only the amount of their poll tax, and pay them by the hour for the time they work, was re- jected. No further action taken.
ART. 45. To see if the town deem it the duty of its firemen to make the same effort to save burning wood, either cut or standing, either with or without the use of any particular machine to which they may be attached, that they would to save burn- ing buildings or other taxable property.
VOTED. To lay this article on the table.
It was afterwards taken from the table and the town voted, that it is the sense of this meet- ing, that it is the duty of the firemen to save burning wood, either cut or standing, as they would save burning buildings or other taxable property.
VOTED. To take Art. 30, from the table, referring to the compensation of Enginemen.
VOTED. That the compensation of Enginemen for the ensu- ing year be fixed at the sum of fifteen dollars and a sum equal to the poll tax.
VOTED. That the salary of the 1st Engineer of the steamer "Lucius Beebe" be fixed at the sum of $125. 2nd Engineer, $100. Steward, $75.
ART. 46. To see if the town will appoint one person in each outer ward, under regular firemen's pay, to assume the charge of any small wood-fire, (of cut or standing wood,) that may occur in his ward, and which can be controlled without giv- ing a general alarm.
1
21
VOTED. That the subject of this article be left discretionary with the Board of Engineers.
ART. 47. To see if the town will adopt the provisions of Sections 20, 21, 22, 23 and 25 of Chapter 50 of the Public Statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
VOTED. That the town adopt Sections 20, 21, 22, 23 and 25 of Chapter 50 of the Public Statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (Yes, 147; No, 24.) (Refers to Sidewalks.)
ART. 48. To see if the town will instruct its Selectmen to adopt such rules and regulations as they may deem reasonable, in rela- tion to the sale, or use, within the limits of the town, of toy pistols and other articles in which explosive compounds are used, or of which such compounds form a part, as author- ized by Chapter 272 of the Public Laws of 1882.
VOTED. That the Selectmen be instructed to adopt such rules and regulations as they may deem reasonable in relation to the sale or use within the limits of the town of toy pistols and other articles in which ex- plosive compounds are used, as authorized by Chapter 272 of the Public Laws of 1882.
ART. 49. To see if the town will purchase six Johnson pumps, with hose coupling and pole attachment, at an expense not to exceed $5.25 each, to be in charge of and used by the Hook and Ladder Company ; also, to see if the town will purchase a nickle-plated pump, with same attachments, at a cost of $6.25, the same to be carried with the steamer Lucius Beebe.
VOTED. To lay this article on the table.
ART. 50. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum sufficient for the purchase of a Stone-Crusher.
VOTED. That a Committee be chosen to investigate the cost, quality and capacity of the different stone-crushers, and also state the cost of an engine for driving the crusher, and report at a future meeting.
Wm. G. Strong, C. W. Trow and A. E. Perry were chosen as that Committee.
ART. 51. To see if the town will appropriate three hundred dollars, to fill in and build a sidewalk on the south side of Chestnut
22
street, from Cedar street to the sidewalk of John A. Tomp- son.
VOTED. To indefinitely postpone this article. Motion to reconsider was lost. (Yes, 44; No, 118.)
ART. 52. To see if the town will revoke its action, taken in town meeting held on the evening of March 12th, 1883, by which it accepted the provisions of Sections 74, 75, 76 and 77 of Chapter 27 of the Public Statutes of Massachusetts, relating to the election of a Board of Road Commissioners to take the place of Highway Surveyors.
VOTED. To indefinitely postpone action under this article. (Yes, 170; No, 55.) Motion to reconsider was rejected.
ART. 53. To hear and act upon the Report of the Committee chosen July 3, 1882, to execute a contract with the Quannapowitt Water Company, for supplying water for fire protection.
Wm. S. Greenough presented the following
REPORT.
The Committee chosen by the town, at a meeting held July 3d, 1882, and given full power to carry into effect the vote passed at said meet- ing, whereby the town voted to contract with the Quannapowitt Water Company for a supply of water for fire protection, have made and exe_ cuted, in behalf of the town, a contract with said Water Company, the terms of said contract being for substance as found upon pages 149, 150 and 151 of the Annual Reports of the Town Officers of Wakefield for the year 1882-3. Your Committee have also, after consulting with the Boards of Selectmen and Fire Engineers, agreed, in behalf of the town, with the said Water Company upon the location of Sixty (60) Fire Hydrants, as shown npon a plan of the works of said Water Com- pany, which together with a certified copy of the votes of the town, passed at the town meeting above named, under Art. 3 of the warrant for said meeting, have been attached to the original contract above named and the whole deposited with the Town Treasurer for safe keep- ing
Your Committee have, in the discharge of the duty intrusted to them,
23
used such care and pains to protect the best interests of the town as in their judgment the importance of the interests involved demanded.
Respectfully submitted,
W. S. GREENOUGH, THOMAS EMERSON, CHARLES W. TROW, ARLON S. ATHERTON, BUCHANAN B. BURBANK.
Committec.
Wakefield, March 30, 1883.
VOTED. That the report be accepted.
ART. 54. To see if the town will cause the seats in the south balcony of the Town Hall to be raised, or what shall be done about it.
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