USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1882-1886 > Part 52
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MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
The town appropriation in this department has been over- drawn, on account of the extra expense attending the Hen . field suit ($200) and for a quarter's payment for new hydrants ($180) for which there was no town appropriation.
SPECIAL RECOMMENDATION.
The Board of Selectmen, in closing their report, would respectfully recommend that in the future, no department he furnished money to be disbursed and accounted for at the end of the year, but that the rule shall be uniform to have all bills paid by orders drawn by the Selectmen.
JOHN W. LOCKE, GEORGE E. RICKER,
Selectmen of Wakefield.
WAKEFIELD, Mar. 10, 1887.
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OVERSEERS' REPORT.
Your Board of Overseers, in presenting their Annual Report, desire first, to make acknowledgement, surely due, of the loss to the Board occasioned by the resignation of the Secretary, Mr. John S. Eaton, at the November meeting. The fact that his judgment, counsel and work were invalua- ble needs no mention to the citizens of Wakefield.
In carrying out and completing the work of the year, his methods have been continued as far as we were able.
A great degree of satisfaction is felt on the part of the Overseers that the expenses of the Department have been kept within the appropriation of the town made at the annual meeting in April last ; especially when we consider the fact that the expense in insane hospitals has been sixteen hundred and eighty dollars, ($1,680,) or about one-third of our regu- lar appropriation, and an increase from last year of three hundred and eighty dollars ($380).
Thirty-four families have been assisted in a greater or less degree during the year, representing one hundred and twenty-four persons.
There remains due the town, as will be seen by the Report, ten dollars ($10) from the City of Salem, and three dollars and seventy-five cents ($3.75) from the State.
By the death of Moses Barnes, of Northbridge, the town will be relieved of an expense which has been larger, una- voidably, than in any other single case in the Poor Depart- ment.
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TOWN FARM.
The general thrift and improvement, in-doors and out, manifest at the farm, has been apparent to us through the year, and the results, we think, have warranted us in secur- ing the services of Mr. and Mrs. Donald for the coming year, at the same salary.
He has adopted the same general methods as in previous years, and for an income has directed his attention especially to the production of milk, hay and swine.
In connection with the income from milk, we wish to say that, while the inventory shows seven cows on the place, we have not averaged over six in milk for the year; also, for a large part of last summer, the price of milk was two cents less per can than heretofore ; yet there is an increase in the receipts, as shown in the Report.
A large amount of hay, as shown by the Report, is held in reserve and can be placed on the market at any desirable time.
The removal of stone from the mowing land, the reclaim- ing of bog land, and the improvement of "run out" land, has been continued, with results so favorable as to induce your Board to report, that three hundred dollars ($300) will no more than fairly cover the improvements made in this respect, and which may well be placed to the credit side of the Poor Department.
In other words, the selling price of the farm is enhanced three hundred dollars ($300).
And right here we wish to state, it is the desire of the Superintendent and the Board, that the citizens of the town would make their interest apparent by frequent visits to the Farm, and know of themselves what is going on there.
Ono death (Samuel Mayo) occurred in November. The health of the other inmates has been generally good.
If the past year's increase of production is continued the neod will soon be felt of more barn room for the storage of
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hay. We think the coming year's needs in this direction may judiciously be met by a shed for the storage of carriages, wagons and tools ; thus retaining more of the barn room for hay. The shed, or extension, can be built at a small cost, · and will be a continual benefit.
It appears to your Board that, unless some unforeseen matters of expense arise in the coming year, the use of the money collected in the Department with the same appropri- ation as last year, ($5,000), will meet the demand.
And they respectfully recommend that action consonant with that opinion be taken at the annual meeting in April.
These figures, facts and findings are respectfully submitted for your consideration.
HIRAM EATON, HORACE GOWING,
Overseers of the Poor.
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ROAD COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
The Road Commissioners of the town of Wakefield here- with respectfully present their report for the year ending March 1st, 1887.
The sum of five thousand dollars was appropriated by the town at the last annual meeting for general highway pur- poses.
Your Commissioners from experience, together with their knowledge of the unusual damage done to many of our streets by the heavy storms of the previous winter, were unanimous in the opinion that in order to repair the damage done by these storms, and do the work needed in this depart- ment, a larger appropriation would be required than that of the previous year.
The vote of the town at the annual meeting, establishing eight hours for a day's work in this department, without making a corresponding increase in the appropriation which the circumstances seemed to warrant, caused, as a natural consequence, a corresponding reduction in the amount of labor performed.
The expenses of the department have been confined as near as possible to the appropriation. While it will be seen by reference to our financial report that the amount paid out has been slightly within the appropriation, there are in addition to the expenses therein specified, bills unpaid, principally for clearing snow, amounting to about $225.
The work on the highways has been done under the super- intendency of Messrs. Oliver and Dow, who have received for their services $2.50 per day. Laborers were paid $2.00 per day, and the same was allowed for a horse and cart.
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The amounts paid each person for labor, teams and material of all kinds will be found in our financial statement. The amounts expended by pay rolls and all other bills which could be properly divided, have been charged to the various streets of the town according to the amount of work performed, re- ported by the superintendents, as follows :
Albion street,
$57 00
Spring street,
$12 50
Main
2,143 06
Vernon
148 20
Otis
90 64
Salem,
271 25
Prospect
7 co
School
12 50
Water
101 50
New Salem street,
220 CO
Nahant
210 50
Melvin,
38 co
Railroad
25 50
Gould
31 CO
Auburn
38 00
West Chestnut "
149 25
Oak
186 67
Richardson
6 co
Valley
64 00
Hart
6 00
Centre
16 00
Farm
41 00
Yale Ave.,
14 00
Bear Hill Brook Road,
40 co
Myrtle “
8 50
Greenwood street,
II 25
Mechanic street,
I 96
Franklin
27 00
Charles
¥
10 00
Pearl
12 CO
Lawrence
9 00
Forest
8 co
Bartley
27 38
Expended on several streets, by use of road machine, not divided, $318.04 ; the balance was expended for labor and material of a general nature, such as blacksmith work, clearing snow, trimming trees, guide boards, and in many nec- essary ways, which will be seen by reference to sundry account in financial statement.
In connection with the above we would state that on Main street, which is charged with a large share of the money expended, the work done (chiefly grading, which was very much needed) was unavoidably expensive, owing to the long distance we were obliged to team the gravel. The parts of the street where the work was principally done may be speci- fied as follows : from Lowell street south to the Beebe es- tate, graded at an expense of about $1,050. At the Junc- tion quite an improvement was effected by widening the
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street and fixing the sidewalks. Quite an extensive part of the street was graded just north of Greenwood village. These places, together with the construction of a permanent stone bridge across the street in the south part of the town include most of the work done on this street.
Stone bridges have also been constructed across West Chestnut street, near Cedar, and on Oak street, Greenwood. These bridges are made of good split stone, and will no doubt prove to be permanent structures.
CONCRETE.
At the annual meeting in April $1,000 was appropriated for concrete work. The contract for concreting was award- ed to W. B. Ellis, of Melrose, for 37 cts. per yard for side- walks and gutters, and 50 cts. for crossings.
There has been expended for concrete, as will be seen by our financial report, $1,498.95. Collected from abutters, $505.34. This sum deducted from the amount expended shows the amount paid by the town $993.61.
Your Commissioners have, in accordance with the general statutes, authorizing the same, caused concrete sidewalks to be constructed on Railroad street in front of the estates of Mrs. M. Knight, W. H. Willis and L. F. Linnell, all of whom were assessed for their respective walks, one half cost . of construction. The above assessments have been paid, with the exception of the one due from Mr. Linnell, amount- ing to $25.20. This bill we have turned over to the Asses- sors, who will collect the same in the manner provided by the statutes.
NEW SIDEWALKS.
At the annual town meeting in April, $250 was appropria- ted for building a sidewalk on the westerly side of Vernon street, from Pleasant to Salem street. The work was done under the superintendency of Mr. H. N. Oliver for $249.75.
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At the same meeting $200 was appropriated for a new sidewalk on Oak street, Greenwood, expended as follows : Michael O'Connell, contract for filling and preparing same suitable for concrete, $160; J. A. Bancroft, levels and pro- file, $6; W. B. Ellis concreting, $65.81, of this sum $32.79 was paid by the abutters, making the total cost to the town $199.02.
At the same meeting $50 was appropriated for new side- walk on Main street, north of Salem, expended as follows : W. B. Ellis, contract, $47.50.
WIDENING PLEASANT STREET.
At the annual meeting, the report of the Road Commis- sioners for widening Pleasant street, near Eaton, was accept- ed and adopted, and the sum of $220 was appropriated to meet the expense of the same .. $160 of this appropriation was for land damage, which was settled by the Selectmen. The work of widening was done under the charge of Mr. N. H. Dow, for $56.50.
PROSPECT STREET.
By vote of the town, $300 was appropriated for filling re- quired to be done on this street, owing to the change made -in the street line by order of the County Commissioners. The work was done under the direction of Mr. Dow for $287.50. Under the same order an important piece of work remains to be done on this street, in straightening it between the school house and the house of the late Jonas Cowdrey, which cannot well be longer deferred as the line established by the Commissioners runs in the middle of the present travelled way for some distance.
.
NEW STREETS.
At the annual meeting in April, the report of the Road Commissioners, laying out a new town way from Lake to
131
Albion street, was accepted and adopted, and the sum of $900 was appropriated to meet the expense of the same.
The work was performed under the direction of the Road Commissioners, with Mr. Dow, as superintendent, and the amount expended under this appropriation was $899.60. In addition to this sum, there was expended on this street from our regular highway appropriation, (owing to the large amount of blasting required on ledge) $27.38.
BROWN AND CROSS STREETS.
At the same meeting, the report of the Road Commission- ers, laying out these streets was accepted and adopted. The work has been completed, within the amount appropriated, under the charge of Mr. H. N. Oliver.
PLEASANT STREET EXTENSION.
Laid out by order of the County Commissioners. By vote of the town Oct. 11th, the Road Commissioners were authorized and instructed to let the work of building this street, by contract, to the lowest bidder. Your Commis- sioners advertised in the local papers, and proposals were received from three parties, all of them presenting bids for each part of the work as divided by the contract. The con- tract for excavating, filling and making the street suitable for grading, was awarded to Mr. Michael O'Connell for $1,170, and the contract for grading was awarded to Mr. Geo. W. Killorin ; but, on further consideration, Mr. Kil- lorin refused to accept and the contract was awarded to Mr. O'Connell, the next lowest bidder, for $600. Making the expense of building the street, as per contract, $1,770.
Work was commenced on the street late last fall, but on the petition of owners of buildings, the jury called to adjust damages extended the time for moving buildings until next June, so the street cannot be completed until after that
-
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time. $300 was paid Mr. O'Connell, on account, for the work done. The balance of the appropriation, $1200, reverting to the treasury of the town under the rules, it will be necessary for the town at the annual meeting, to appropriate, to meet the liability of the town under this contract, the sum of $1,470.
GUIDE BOARDS.
The guide boards are all in proper order. 43 new signs have been added during the year at an expense of about $70.
THOMAS HICKEY, Road H. N. OLIVER,
NATH'L H. DOW,' Commissioners.
Wakefield, March 4th, 1887.
133
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN,-The Engineers of the Fire Department herewith present their annual report, in which a detailed statement of its force and apparatus, together with a record of fires and other information relating to its work and pres- ent condition are given, as follows :
FORCE.
The force of the Department consists of 51 paid men, including three Engineers and the following named compa- nies and apparatus.
STEAMER LUCIUS BEEBE CO. NO. 1.
Foreman, Fred Newbert ; 13 men.
One third class- Silsby Steam Fire Engine. (This sized engine has been reclassed by the Silsby Manufacturing Co. from the fourth to the third class.) One four-wheeled Hose Carriage, One Supply Wagon for coal and hose ; 1200 feet Cotton and 900 feet Leather Hose.
WASHINGTON HOOK & LADDER CO. NO. 1. Foreman, John W. Babbitt, 15 men.
One Truck, Ladders, Hooks and small tools for the same.
J. H. CARTER HOSE CO. NO. 1.
Foreman, Wm. C. Allen ; 10 men.
One two-wheeled Hose Carriage, 800 ft. Cotton Hose.
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C. WAKEFIELD CHEMICAL CO. NO. 2. Foreman, G. W. Oliver ; 10 men. One two-tank Chemical Engine.
GREENWOOD HOSE CO. NO. 3.
Foreman, Joseph Gilman ; 13 men.
One two-wheeled Hose Carriage, 1000 ft. Leather Hose.
This company was formed by the Board of Engineers, at the request of the citizens of Greenwood, with but little expense to the town, as apparatus was in storage, and mem- bers serve without pay.
JOHNSON PUMPS.
These pumps were duly examined in August, and where found defective were repaired. At the request of the Forest Fire Wards were turned over to their orders, subject to the approval of Engineers, for change of location.
Yale Engine out of commission, stored at East Ward en- gine house. This engine was manned by a volunteer com- pany July 5th, for exhibition, and was found in good order.
One Fire Extinguisher, located at Town House. One Lowry Hydrant head in closet, south side of vestibule, Town House. Base of Hydrant head, at intersection of Main and Lincoln streets.
To the sixty Fire Hydrants leased by the town, of the Wakefield Water Co., eighteen more were added by said Co. during the past year, making in all 78 double nozzle Fire Hydrants. The greater part of these Hydrants were exam- ined in January, by your Chief Engineer, and all were found in good order, ready for immediate use.
And it is the opinion of your Engineers that there ought to be a good reliable Fire Alarm placed in this Town, and that if such had been in use at the time of fire in J. T. At- wood's house in Greenwood, that a large amount of property could have been saved, and that there ought to be purchased
135
a more recently modeled, spliced or extension ladder, the present one being badly burned and much too short. And they also recommend that the Town build a suitable Engine House, for the Centre Department, as the present buildings are inconvenient and unsuitable for both men and apparatus.
But one serious fire to record the past year, and others averted by the prompt response of the firemen.
By the appointment of Forest Fire Wards a great expense and annoyance has been taken from the Department.
Following will be found a list of fires and alarms from March 1st 1886 to March 1st, 1887 :
April 22. Wood and brush fire on Nahant St. Extin- guished by Engineers Howard and Ryder.
April 23. Grass and brush fire on Hart's hill. Entire · department responded.
July 5. Fire on roof of Michael Foley's house on Centre St. Extinguished by Carter Hose Co. Damage slight. By the promptness with which the firemen responded a serious fire was averted.
July 6. Fire under bay window in G. W. Aborn's house on Yale Avenue, occupied by Mr. DeAnguera. Damage slight.
July 7. Fire at Mrs. Upton's house at Montrose. Extin- guished by C. Wakefield Engine Co. Damage $50.
July 11. Fire in woods at Montrose. 200 cords of wood owned by A. L. Mansfield, destroyed. Loss $500. No insur- ance. Brought under control by use of Steamer L. Beebe. This fire was the most expensive one to the town in the year, as it required a large amount of watching.
July 12. Fire destroyed a large dwelling house owned by J. T. Atwood at Greenwood. Loss $4500. Insured for $3500.
July 12. Fire in woods at Greenwood. A large quan- tity of wood owned by J. G. Morrill destroyed.
Oct. 18. Fire at Emerson's shoe factory. Caused by hot ashes. Extinguished by Steamer L. Beebe. Damage slight.
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Nov. 13. Fire in small building on Mechanic St., owned by M. F. Davis of Vassalboro', Me. Extinguished by Carter Hose Co. and Fountain Engine Co. Loss $150. This fire was in a dangerous location. By the promptness of the firemen it was confined to the building in which it originated.
Dec. 3. Fire at Beebe Mansion. Cause defective flue. Loss $2,000, in addition to loss of furniture and wardrobe. Extinguished by Department. Honorable mention should be given Mr. Denis Daly for the prompt manner in which he kept the fire under control until the arrival of the firemen.
For Fire Department expenses see Auditors' report.
For the current year we would recommend that the sum of $2,000 be raised and appropriated for the use of this Department.
In closing we desire to express our thanks to the Select- men and all other officers and persons who have in any manner helped to extinguish fires, thereby saving property and assisting the firemen.
Respectfully submitted,
Engineers / H. W. DALRYMPLE, OWEN CORCORAN, W. F. D.
A. S. COBB,
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Report of the Board of Health.
The Board of Health who were duly elected by the town of Wakefield, at its last annual town meeting, held April 5th, 1886 herewith submit the following report :
Mr. Charles A. Place having declined to serve, the remain- ing members, who qualified, organized Saturday evening April 10th, 1886, at the Selectmen's room, with the choice of Winfield C. Jordan, Chairman, and John M. Cate, Secre- tary and Health Officer.
During the year monthly meetings have been held on the first Monday of each month at the office of W. C. Jordan, at which such matters of business as came up were passed upon. . At the first meeting held, the regulations of the former Board of Health were adopted and copies of the same were caused to be distributed to the citizens of the town.
During the year there have been twenty three nuisances abated ; there have also been reported to the Health Officer, twenty-four cases of diphtheria, two cases of scarlet fever, and nineteen cases of measles, and in each case all necessary precautions were taken by the Health Officer.
The appropriation for cleaning Saugus River has been very nearly expended under the direction of the Board of Health.
Proposals for cleaning out the same were advertised for and the contract was awarded to the only bidder, Mr. Wil- liam Bowman. The bed of the river has been cleaned and dug out in a satisfactory manner and a large area of land has
138
been thereby drained which in former years has been covered with stagnant and filthy water.
A small portion of the appropriation for opening the drain between Elm street and the Boston & Maine R. R., has also been expended.
Operations on this work were commenced late in the sea- son and a completion of the same was prevented by early cold weather, and the Board recommend the appropriation of the unexpended balance for the completion of the work by the succeeding Board. The Board would call attention to the following extracts taken from a circular received from the State Board of Health, upon "Vaccination."
"In consequence of the continued prevalence of small pox in cities in neighboring states, which are in constant commu- nication with Massachusetts, the State Board of Health would call the attention of local Boards to the necessity of vaccination and re-vaccination in the respective cities and towns."
"In times of immunity from epidemics of small pox, the practice of vaccination in many cities and towns in the Com- monwealth has been neglected, and a large part of the popu- lation, born since the last epidemic, remains unvaccinated ; the truth of this statement, admitted by those having large experience in sanitary administration, has been verified by the recent correspondence of this Board. While the statutes relative to vaccination as a pre-requisite to school attendance are carefully complied with in most cities and large towns, this provision is not carried out in others."
"As an example of the deplorable results of municipal ne- glect in these matters, the recent experience of Montreal may be quoted, where in a total of 3,164 deaths from small pox in 1885, 2,036, or 64 per cent., occurred among children un- der five years of age, and 86 per cent. among children under ten."
"It is also urged that local Boards of Health should take special pains to carry out, as far as lies in their power, the
139
provisions of the statutes relative to vaccination, by making provision for general vaccination of the unvaccinated and revaccination of those who have not been recently vaccina- ted, and also by securing the enforcement of the statutes rel- ative to vaccination as a prerequisite to school attendance and employment in mills and work shops."
Very respectfully submitted,
WINFIELD C. JORDAN, Chairman Board of Health.
JOHN M. CATE, Secretary.
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140
Report of the Fish Committee.
The Fish Committee have the honor to submit, for the information of the inhabitants of the town, their eleventh annual report.
The run of Alewives to Lake Quannapowitt during the past season has fully sustained ourexpectations, as expressed in our previous annual reports, being larger than ever before. Many of the young of these fish were able to leave the lake -on their way to the sea-during July and August, but vast numbers were detained in the lake, by low water, until November, and must have furnished a rich and protracted feast to the larger fish.
As we now consider the lake to be amply stocked with such fish as are suited to its waters, no further steps in this direction have been taken by your Committee during the year.
Mr. James M. Wiley has placed-during the past sum- mer-several thousand young pond shiners (taken from Pillings' Pond) in the Lake, for which he has the thanks of the Committee:
That the fishing is improving, year by year, in a rapidly. increasing proportion, a glance at the statistics given below, and a comparison of the reports of previous years therewith will fully show.
CONSOLIDATED RETURNS FOR 1885.
Number of permits issued
290
66
returned, as per last report,
85
since 66 90 66
Total returned, 175
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These 175 returns show fish taken as follows :
Number of Black Bass,
330
" Pickerel,
.
1894
66
" White Perch, . 360
" Red Perch, 6415
" Miscellaneous Fish,.
1039
Total No. of Fish, . 10038
Total weight,
. 3,780 lbs.
RETURNS FOR 1886.
Number of permits issued, 293
66. 66 returned, (including 13 not used ) 60
These 47 (used) returns show results as follows :
Number of Black Bass, 132
" Pickerel,
742
66
" White Perch, . .
173
66
" Red Perch,
2739
" Miscellaneous Fish,.
690
Total No. of Fish, .
4467
Total weight, .
1811 lbs.
This being an average-to the 47 permits used-of 38 1.2 lbs. each.
Your Committee have the best of reasons for the belief that complete and correct returns from all holders of permits would show more than 9000 lbs., (4 1-2 tons,) of edible fish taken from Lake Quannapowitt during the last season's fishing.
Many Bass and Pickerel of 4 lbs., or over, in weight, were taken, and one Bass (by J. C. Hartshorne, Esq.), weighing 5 lbs. 8 oz., and one Pickerel (by Col. W. S. Greenough), weighing 4 lbs. 8 oz.
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