USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1885-1889 > Part 37
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Support of Schools,
$17,000.00
$16,886.00
$114.00
School Contingent Fund,
1,583.80
1.562.95
26.85
School Text-Books & Supplies,
1,200,00
1.182.45
17.55
Support of the Poor.
6,841.62
6.769.77
71.85
Support of Fire Department,
1,800.00
1.695.38
104.62
Salaries of Town Officers,
3,025.00
3,025.00
Salaries of Night Watchmen,
1,500.00
1,500.00
Expense of Street Lamps,
2,100.00
2,100.16
.16
Expense of Town House,
1,850.00
1,752.42
97.58
Miscellaneous Expenses,
1,500.00
4,500.00
Highways and Bridges,
9,346.60
9,214.77
131.83
Concrete Sidewalks & Crossings, 1,000.00
1.000.00
Rental of Hydrants,
3,720.00
3,720.00
Public Library,
1,070.16
1,033.81
36.35
Public Reading Room,
175.00
170.70
4.30
Memorial Day,
200.00
200.00
Common & Park Improvement, 1,000.00
931.28
68.72
Town House Repairs, (outside),
150.00
150.00
Enforcement of Liquor Law,
500.00
305.62
194.38
Old Burial Ground,
100.00
100.00
Painting High School House,
550.00
195.00
55.00
Fire Alarm System,
1,181.00
1,181.00
Evans Bounty,
100.00
100.00
Pleasant street Extension,
1,470.00
1,470.00
Land Damage,
5,500.00
5,400.07
99.93.
Converse street,
350.00
350.00
Greenwood street,
500.00
500.00
Prospect street,
150.00
150.00
Bennett street and Sidewalk,
500.00
492.16
7.94
Bridge & Drain Albion street,
100.00
90.70
9.30
Seven Special Sidewalk App'ns,
1,100.00
1,086.00
14.00
Ten Special St. Lamp App'ns,
180.00
180.00
Maria J. Carpenter Claim,
205.00
205.00
New Street, Cowdrey's Hill,
1,400.00
450.00
950.00
Library Catalogue,
27.00
27.00
$71,981.18 $69.977.24 $2,004.10
Overdraft,
.16
$2,003.94
104
Dr. THOMAS J. SKINNER, Treasurer,
To Cash balance in Treasury as per report Mch. 10, 1887, . $1,431 78 Hired on Town Notes, Chas. F. Woodward, Collector, taxes, 1887, . 52,146 67 · 55,872 31
66 6: 66 1886, 5,940 26
66 66 66 1885, · 5,630 75
State Treasurer, acct. Corporation Taxes,
3,109 14
National Bank Tax, 884 93
66
State Aid of 1886,
1,683 00
66
Military Aid of 1886,
117 00
66
Armory Rent
350 00
66
School Fund, SI 80
6:
Pauper Acct,, 28 50
County Treasurer, Dog tax of 1887, 588. 24
66
Rent of Court Room and Janitor, 200 00
Selectmen Receipts from Town Hall, 549 00
66
Concrete Sidewalks, 723 56
66 Highway Dep't, 4 00
Overseers of the Poor, receipts, School Committee, tuition, .
208 00
American Loan & Trust Co. C. Sweetser Lecture Fund. Principal $5000. Interest $49.73, 5,049 73 Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Co. C. Sweetser Lecture Fund. Principal $5000. Interest $150, . 5,150 00
Interest to Oct. 1, 1887, $5000., Town of Attleboro 4S. 100 00 Wakefield Savings Bank, Int. C. Sweetser Burial Lot Fund, 30 10 T. J. Skinner, Treas. Sweetser Lectures, bal. season 1886-7, 26 73
66 66 C. W. Eaton, Treas. Library and Reading Room, bal. 1887, 10 59
Harriet A. Shepard, Librarian, sale of catalogues, 66 fines &c.,
27 00
40 28
L. H. Tasker, Crystal Lake rental to March 1, 1888, 20 00
Wakefield Water Co., Repairs on Highways, 24 00
Thomas A. Rich, Release of Tax Deed, 84 60
Est. Chas. E. Lee, Surplus from Tax Sale, 13 22
Fish Committee, Balance of Receipts, . 30 80
Received for sundry licenses, See page 115, 42 50
Interest on deposits, :
-
21 50 1
$142,036 36
66
1,813 12
1887-8, 3 25
105
in account with the TOWN OF WAKEFIELD, Cr.
By Cash paid Selectmen's orders, . $69,790 94
Principals on loans,
. 48,000 00
Interest on loans,
2,780 46
C. Sweetser Lecture Fund, re-invested.
Town of Attleboro, 4s. 1897. $5000, at 1.03 1-2, . 5,175 00
Accrued interest on same, 50 00
Town of Brookline, 4s. 1893. $5000 at I.OI, 5,050 00
Accrued interest on same,
15 CO
State Treasurer, State Tax,
4,882 50
National Bank Tax,
.. I-4 Liquor License receipts,
1,059 71 75
County Treasurer, County Tax,
2,283 11
State Aid to sundry persons, 1,628 00
T. J. Skinner, Treas. Sweetser Lectures, 254 16
C. F. Woodward, Collector, for tax titles, 48 76
C. W. Eaton, acct. Tax deeds,
5 70
Total cash paid out,
$141,024 09
Cash balance in Treasury,
1,012 27
$142.036 36
106
TRUST FUNDS.
EZRA EATON BURIAL LOT FUND, $100.
This Fund was a gift to the Town, March 2, 1857, the income of which is used at the discretion of the Board of Selectmen, to keep in repair the burial lot of Mr. Ezra Eaton. [See Treasurer's Report, 1884-5, page 90 ; also Town Clerk's Records, Book 4, Pages 361- 365 and 377.]
The sum of two dollars has been expended by the Selectmen the past year. [See Auditors' Report.]
THE FLINT MEMORIAL FUND, $1,000.
This Fund from Mrs. Harriet N. Flint, Nov. 5, 1872, is for the benefit of the Beebe Town Library, the interest thereon to be ex- pended in the purchase of books. [See Town Clerk's Records, Book 6, folios 86-87.]
The sum of $60, as interest on said Fund to Mch. 1, 1888, has been credited to the appropriation for the Beebe Town Library. [See Auditor's Report, Page 92.]
DR. F. P. HURD LIBRARY FUND, $2,500.
This Fund includes a gift of $500 and a bequest of $2,000, from the late Dr. Francis P. Hurd, for the benefit of the Beebe Town Library. [For Town action regarding it, see Town Treasurer's Report for 1885-6, Page 94 ; also Town Clerk's Records, Book 7, folio 349.]
The sum of $100, as interest on this fund to March 1, 1888, has been credited to the Library Appropriation. [See Auditors' Report, Page 92.]
The principal of this Fund is invested as a loan to the Town of Wakefield.
JONATHAN NICHOLS' TEMPERANCE FUND, $1,000.
This Fund was a gift to the Town on certain conditions, as de- scribed in the vote accepting the same. [See Town Clerk's Records, Book 7, folios 160-162 ; also Annual Report for the year ending March 1, 1884, Pages 18 and 19.]
The conditions of this Fund are such that any young man of Wake- field who files his name with the Town Clerk before he is sixteen
107
years of age, and declares his intention not to drink intoxicating liquors and not to chew or smoke tobacco until he shall be twenty- one years of age, and shall have kept his pledge until that time, shall receive the sum of ten dollars from the income of this fund, together with a certificate of commendation from the Selectmen.
The Town Clerk has on file the names of 160 boys who have thus pledged themselves.
STATEMENT OF INTEREST.
Balance of interest available at last report, $156 32
Interest I yr. to March 1, 1888, 46 25
$202 57
C. SWEETSER BURIAL LOT FUND, $1,000.
The income from this Fund is to be used in keeping in repair and beautifying with flowers and shrubbery the burial lot of the parents of the donor. [Town Clerk's Records, Book 7, folio 129 ; also Treas- urer's Report, 1884-5, page 91.]
STATEMENT OF INTEREST.
Balance of interest available at last report, $126 62
Interest on above 1 yr. to March 1, 1888, 5 06
Received from the Wakefield Savings Bank. 30 IO
Expended as per Auditors' Report, for care of lot, . 3 00
$161 78
Balance now available, $158 78
The principal is now in the Wakefield Savings Bank.
C. SWEETSER LECTURE FUND, $10,000.
The sum of ten thousand dollars was bequeathed to the town by the late Cornelius Sweetser of Saco, Me., for the purpose of "provid- ing such lectures as will tend to improve and elevate the public mind, and to impose a reasonable fee for admission to such lectures, and pay over the net proceeds of the same to such charitable organiza- tion in said Wakefield as the municipal officers of said town may designate, to be distributed among the worthy poor of said town."
[For action in reference to this fund see Town Clerk's Records,
108
Book 7, folios 310-311 ; also Town Treasurer's Reports, 1885-6, pages 93 and 94. Report of 1886-7, pages 111 and 112.]
Since last report the fund has been re-invested and is now held as follows :
Town of Attleboro 4s due 1897, 5 Bonds, $1000 each, $5,000 00
Town of Brookline 4s due 1893, 5 Notes $1000 each, 5,000 00
$10,000 00
STATEMENT OF INTEREST.
Balance available, March 1, 1887, $146 10
Received from American Loan and Trust Co., 49 73
" Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company,
150 00
Received from Town of Attleboro Bonds, 100 00
Accrued interest "
83 33
Town of Brookline Notes, 15 00
$544 16
LESS.
Premium paid for Attleboro Bonds, $175 00
Interest advanced at purchase,
50 00
Premium paid for Brookline Notes,
50 00
Interest advanced at purchase,
15 00
Paid T. J. Skinner, Treas. Lecture Com.,
254 16
$544 16
FIRST LECTURE COURSE, SEASON 1886-7.
Committee .- John W. Locke, Chairman, Geo. E. Ricker, Samuel K. Hamilton ; Jacob C. Hartshorne, Supt. ; Thos. J. Skinner, Secre- tary and Treasurer.
LECTURES.
Date.
Lecturers.
Feb. 2, '87, Prof. Richard A. Proctor, William Blaikie, Esq., Mrs. J. Ellen Foster,
16,'87, Mch. 3, '87, 16,'87, Rev. W. E. Griffis, D. D.,
23, '87, Prof. Luther T. Townsend, 30,'87, Prof. John Fiske,
Subjects. "Life of Worlds." "How to get Strong." "Wreckers and Builders." "Fun, Fact and Fancy about Japan." "Art of Climbing." "Benedict Arnold"
1
109
FINANCIAL EXHIBIT.
Thomas J. Skinner, Treas., In acct. with Sweetser Fund Lectures.
DR.
To Cash from Income of Fund, $290 00
from sale of 123 Course tickets at 75c., 92 25 from sale of 23 Course tickets at 6oc., 13 80 from sale of 14 Course tickets at 50c., 7 00
from sale of 22 Evening tickets Prof. Proctor, 5 50 from sale of 9 Evening tickets Mr. Blaikie, 2 25 from sale of 14 Evening tickets Mrs. Foster, 3 50
from 16 Evening tickets, Dr. Griffis, ·
4 00 from sale of 5 Eve'ng tickets, Prof. Townsend, I 25 from sale of 10 Evening tickets, Prof. Fiske, 2 50
Total Receipts,
$422 05
CR.
By Cash paid Prof. R. A. Proctor, $50 00
66 66
66 expenses,
3 00
Mrs. J. Ellen Foster,
50 00
extra for stereopticon, &c.,
12 00
Prof. L. T. Townsend,
50 00
Prof. John Fiske, .
50 00
Town Hall, 6 evenings, .
48 00
Citizen & Banner, adv'g,
10 00
Wakefield Record,
8 00
Bulletin,
.
4 00
Show Card adv'g,
·
2 85
.
3 75
I. A. Parsons, doorkeeper,
5 00
C. B. Bowman, ticket agent,
5 00
postage, stationery, telegrams, I 87
hack service and express,
I 85
Total expenses, $395 32
Balance profit,
$26 73
Wm. Blaikie, Esq.,
50 00
Rev. W. E. Griffis, D. D.,
40 00
.
Geo. E. Dunbar, printing,
110
SECOND COURSE, SEASON OF 1887-8.
Committee .- Samuel K. Hamilton, Chairman, Solon O. Richard- son, Geo. E. Ricker, J. C. Hartshorne, Supt., Thomas J. Skinner, Secretary and Treasurer.
LECTURES.
Date.
Lecturers. Subjects. "Wealth and its Uses."
Oct. 12, '87. Hon. J. W. Patterson,
26, '87. Fred A. Ober, "Mexico." Illustrated.
Frank A. Hill, "New England Primer Days."
Nov. 9, '87. 23, '87. Prof. Arthur B. Morrill, "Electricity." Illustrated.
Dec. 7, '87. Prof. Wm. H. Niles, "Geological Events affecting our Country." "Gladstone."
Dec. 21, '87. Geo. Makepeace Towle,
Jan. 18, '88. Prof. F. H. Bailey, "Phenomena of the Heavens." Illustrated. Feb. 1, '88. Geo. Parsons Gilman, "The Land of the Nile." Illus.
FINANCIAL EXHIBIT.
Thomas J. Skinner, Treas., In acct. with Sweetser Fund Lectures.
DR.
To Cash rec'd from Income of Fund, . $254 16 rec'd from sale of 155 Course tickets
at 75 cts., 116 25 rec'd from sale of 20 Course tickets at 70 cts., 14 00
rec'dl from sale of 5 Course tickets at 60 cts,, 3 00
rec'd from sale of 2 Course tickets at 50 cts., I 00
rec'd from sale of I Course ticket at 40 cts., 40
rec'd from sale of 2 Course tickets at 30 cts., 60
rec'd from sale of 14 Evening tickets, Mr. Patterson, 2 10
Amount carried forward,
$391 5I
111
Amount brought forward, $391 51 To Cash rec'd from sale of 131 Evening tick- ets, Mr. Ober, 19 65
rec'd from sale of 13 Evening tickets, Mr. Hill, ·
I 95
rec'd from sale of 40 Evening tickets, Mr. Morrill, . 6 00
rec'd from sale of 45 Evening tickets, Prof. Niles,
6 75
rec'd from sale of 15 Evening tickets, Mr. Towle, .
2 25
rec'd from sale of 27 Evening tickets, Prof. Bailey, . 4 05
rec'd from sale of 98 Evening tickets, Mr. Gilman, . -
14 70
Total receipts,
$446 86
.CR.
By Cash paid Hon. J. W. Patterson, ·
$50 00
Fred A. Ober, 40 00 .
expenses, . 2 00
Frank A. Hill, ·
25 00
Prof. A. B. Morrill,
25 00
expenses, . 8 66
Prof. W. H. Niles, .
,
50 00
Geo. M. Towle, ·
25 00
66 expenses, 50
Prof. F. H. Bailey,
40 00
66 66 6. expenses, .
I 00
Geo. P. Gilman,
·
50 00
Town Hall, 8 evenings, .
64 00
A. W. Brownell, envelopes,
9 90
C. W. Eaton, printing, .
23 00
Geo. E. Dunbar, « ·
5 IO
Hack service, .
I 75
Ticket agent and doorkeeper,
6 00
Express, 2 00
Wakefield Record, adv'g, ·
6 25
Citizen & Banner, " .
8 45
Total expenses, .
$443 61
:
Balance profit,
.
$3 25
112 Notes given and paid during the year. NOTES ISSUED.
Date. 1887.
Amount
Rate.
Time.
Account.
To Whom Sold.
Apr. 12.
$5,000
4 per ct.
5 mos.
Temporary Loan,
30.
2,500
1
66
1yr., 4 mos.
Funded
66
June 1.
4,000
1
1
66
4,000
4
Syr .. 4 mos.
..
66
4,000
4
66
4 yr., 4 mos.
66
.
4,000
1
5yr., 4 mos.
66
“ 16.
2,323.33
1
1yr., 4 mos.
Pleasant Street
..
2,323.34
2yr., 4 mos.
July 28.
3,000
..
2 mos.
.. ..
2,000
5
2 mos.
Dec. 1.
5,000
5
10 mos.
. .
8.
5,0.0
51/5
10 mos.
6
29.
5,000
5
-
Total.
฿52,146.67
NOTES PAID,
When Paid 1887.
Date of Note.
Amt.
Rate.
Account
To Whom Paid.
June 1.
Apr. 14, '85.
$5,000
4 per ct.
C. Sweetser
Wakefield Savings Bank,
Dec. 2, '86.
5,000
C. Sweetser
Wakefield Savings Bank.
Aug. 5.
Aug. 3, '83.
1,500
4
Hamilton Sch.Bldg Lynn Institution for
Savings.
Sept. 14.
Apr. 12, '87.
5,000
4
Temporary Loan.
At Howard Bank.
20.
June 6, '84.
1,000
1
Park Loan.
Southbridge Savings Bank.
27.
Oct. 28, '86.
5,000
1
Temporary Loan,
At Howard Bank.
..
28.
July 28, '87.
3,000
5
66
66
66
2,000
5 66
30.
A pr. 30, '87.
2,500
Apr. 27, '82.
10,000
1
Funded Loan.
Temporary Loan,
At Howard Bank.
15.
Feb. 17, '87,
'3,000
4
66
06
Wakefield Savings Bank.
Total,
$18,000
66
66
66
4,000
2yr., 4 mos.
Brewster, Cobb and Estabrook. T. J. Skinner, Trustee. Brewster, Cobb and Estabrook. Brewster, Cobb and Estabrook. Brewster, Cobb and Estabrook.
Brewster, Cobb and Estabrook. Brewster, Cobb and Estabrook. Wakefield Savings Bank, Wakefield Savings Bank. Wakefield Savings Bank. Wakefield Savings Bank. Wakefield Savings Bank. Brewster, Cobb and Estabrook, Brewster, Cobb and Estabrook,
9 mos.
66
Extension. Pleasant Street Extension. Temporary Loan,
66
66
Wakefield Savings Bank. Wakefield Savings Bank.
66
l'. J. Skinner, Trustee. Gardner Savings Bank.
Oct. 6.
Jan. 6, '87,
5,000
Lectures.
Lectures.
113
LOAN ACCOUNT.
Amount of loan March 10, 1887, . · $63,000 00 Since hired by Treasurer, . 52,146 67
$115,146 67
Amount paid since March 10, 1887,
· 48,000 00
Outstanding loans, .
. $67,146 67
Distributed as follows :
Lynn Institution for Savings, due Aug. 3, 1888, . $1,500 00
Southbridge Savings Bank, Sept. 20, '88,
· 1,000 00
Brewster, Cobb & Estabrook, “
29: '88,
. 5,000 00
Gardner Savings Bank, Oct. I, '88,
10,000 00
Wakefield
I, '88,
5,000 00
Cambridge " 6.
I, '88,
4,000 00
Brewster, Cobb & Estabrook, " Oct. 8, '88,
5,000 00
Wakefield Savings Bank,
Oct. 16, '88,
2,323 23
Lynn Institution for Savings,
Aug. 3, '89,
1,500 00
Southbridge Savings Bank,
Sept. 20, '89:
·
1,000 00
Cambridge
66 Oct. I, '89,
·
4,000 00
Wakefield 66
Oct. 16, '89,
.
2,323 24
Southbridge
Sept. 20, '90,
1,000 00 .
Cambridge 66
Oct. 1, '90,
4,000 00
Lynn Institution for Savings, « Nov. 13, '90,
1,500 00
Southbridge Savings Bank,
Sept. 20, '91,
. 1,000 00
Cambridge 66
Oct. I, '91,
4,000 00
Lynn Institution for Savings,
" Nov. 13, '91,
1,500 00
Southbridge Savings Bank, Cambridge 66
" Sept. 20, '92,
.
1,000 00
Lynn Institution for Savings, " Nov. 13,
1,500 00
Southbridge Savings Bank,
" Sept. 20, '93,
1,000 00
Lynn Institution for Savings, " Nov. 13, '93, ·
1,500 00
Demand notes for Dr. Hurd Library Fund,
2,500 00
Total,
. $67,146 67
.
4,000 00
Oct. 1, '92, '92,
.
.
.
66
114
TOWN DEBT.
Amount of notes outstanding, . $67,146 67
Accrued interest to March 1, 1888,.
438 72
66 J. Nichols Temp. Fund, 202 57
66 C. Sweetser burial lot fund, 158 78
Balance of profits C. Sweetser Lectures, two
years, subject to order of Selectmen, 29 98
Surplus from Tax Sales, due owners, 56 59
Outstanding Selectmen's orders, . 383 14
Unexpended balance Beebe Town Library, . 36 35
- - $68,452 80
AVAILABLE ASSETS.
Cash balance in Treasury, £ . $1,012 27
Due from State for State Aid, 1887,
1,636 00
66
" Military Aid, 1887, 61 00
66
State and Military Aid for
Jan. and Feb. 1888, 287 00
Uncollected taxes of 1887, warrant,
11,864 48
66 66 1886, 5,233 60
$20,094 35
Net debt, . $48,358 45
COMPARATIVE.
Net debt as reported above, . $48,358 45
March 1, 1887, . · 44,001 06
Increase in net debt, $4,357 39 Total debt as reported above, . $68,452 80
66
March, 1, 1887, . . 63,986 22
Increase in total debt, $4,466 58
115
INTEREST ACCOUNT.
$3,200 00 1
Appropriation authorized,
Paid Gardner Savings Bank,
$736 66
Lynn Institution for Savings,
395 84
Southbridge Savings Bank,
269 12
Wakefield 66 66
448 49
Cambridge 66
400 00
Brewster, Cobb & Estabrook,
487 85
T. J. Skinner, Trustee,
42 50
Also $2,780 46
Interest acct. C. Sweetser Lectures, . 146 TO.
66 Dr. Hurd Library Fund,
100 00
66
66 Flint Memorial Fund,
60 00
66 J. Nichols Temp. Fund, 46 25
:6
66 C. Sweetser Burial Lot, 5 06
6:
66 Ezra Eaton Burial Lot, 2 00
$3,139 87
Balance unexpended, $60 13
RECEIPTS FROM LICENSES.
Antonio Michelieu, Pedlar, $II 00
D. J. O'Donovan, Bowling Alley,
2 00
Geo. Cox, Pool Table, &c., .
2 00
Mrs. Carrie P. Noyes, Innholder,
2 00
C. F. Hartshorne, Auctioneer,
2 00
Will E. Eaton,
2 00
Wm. G. Skinner, 66
2 00
Dr. J. D. Mansfield, 6th class Liquor, 66 and cost of advertising,
3 50
Geo. H. Clothey, 6th class Liquor,
1 00
W. C. Jordan, 6th class Liquor, 66 and cost of advertising,
I 50
A. P. Linnell, Fireworks,
I OO
C. A. Cheney, 66
I 00
F. E. Grant,
I OO
A. Butler,
I OO
E. E. Lee, 66
I
H. W. Eustis & Co.,
I 00
Geo. Cox, 66
I 00
Cutler Bros.,
I 00
Total,
$42 50
I 00
and cost of advertising,
3 50
I 00
116
STATE AID.
By direction of the Selectmen, the Treasurer has paid to sundry . individuals State Aid to the amount of $1,628 as stated below. This sum is re-imbursed by the State :
* Elizabeth Bateman,
$40 00
Justin Howard,
$40 00
W. W. Bessey,
48 00
Geo. H. Jackson,
72 00
Mary B. Burditt,
48 00
Lucinda Locke,
48 00
Augusta M. Chandler,
48 00
*Sarah S. Mason, 28 00
* Hannah Clark,
12 00
Margaret Madden,
8 00
Peter Connell,
24 00
James Miller,
24 00
Hartson P. Crowell,
30 00
Elizabeth Moses,
48 00
John Davis,
48 00
James Oliver,
54 00
Annette Davis,
48 00
Johanna Orpin,
16 00
Rodney Edmands,
72 00
. Wm. D. Parker,
48 00
Patrick Fay,
36 00
Flora W. Parker,
48 00
Mary Fay,
12 00
Martha E. Pillings,
48 00
John W. Furbush,
3 00
Geo. O. Sanderson,
27 00
Sarah M. Furbush,
3 00
Georgianna Sanderson,
27 00
O. N. Gammons,
36 00
Annie Tibbetts,
48 00
Polly A. Gammons,
48 00
James Weary,
48 00
Caroline Goodwin,
24 00
Geo. N. Whiting, John Whitford,
72 00
Sarah Heath,
48 00
George H. Wiley,
48 00
N. C. Hunter,
48 00
Julia A. Wiley,
48 00
Joseph L. Hurd,
20 00
Hiram Woodis,
36 00
Total,
$1,628 00
* Deceased.
LIST OF TAX DEEDS HELD BY TOWN TREASURER FOR NON-PAYMENT OF TAXES.
No.
To Whom Taxed.
Tax of
Date of Deed.
Amount.
98
Owners Unknown,
B. A. Osgood Factory Est.
1881
July 13, 1883.
$98 31
99
Owners Unknown, B. A. Osgood Factory Est.
1882
Aug. 13, 1884,
111 83
100
Owners Unknown.
Land on Oak St ..
1883
July 6, 1885,
7 78
102
Thomas Lord,
1884
June 25, 1886,
29 13
103
Francis M. Brown,
1885
July 13, 1887,
29 55
104
Aurelius L. Brown,
1885
8 95
105
James Devlin,
1887
10 26
48 00
Micah Heath,
48 00
117
The Treasurer would recommend that the sum of $3,400 be raised and appropriated for the payment of the interest upon the Town Debt. In regard to the principal of the debt a considerable portion of it will be included in the tax levy of next year without a direct appropriation therefor, by virtue of previous votes of the town and by statute law bearing upon the same, viz :
Account of Hamilton School Building, . $1,500 00
" Park Improvement, 1,000 00
One-third cost Pleasant street extension,
2,323 00
Appropriations made after tax levy of '87, 5,805 00
$10,628 00
This might seem a sufficient reduction of the debt to be made the coming year, but this method of reduction, only extinguishes that portion of it which is of recent origin. Towns are not now allowed to contract debts other than for water or sewerage purposes, for a longer period than ten years, and that portion of our debt which was caused by the erection of the Hamilton School Building, and the Park Improvement is being cared for within that time ; but a portion of our debt has been carried from 1875 by refunding processes, and the statutes require that all towns which in June 1875 were indebted to more than one per ct. of their valuation, shall take measures which shall extinguish the debt within twenty years from that date, either by establishing a sinking fund, or by voting such an annual sum as shall extinguish the debt within the specified time. One of these methods it seems to me the town should adopt. The sinking fund method is rather unwieldy and unnecessary for a town whose debt is the size of ours, but the voting of an annual appropriation seems to me desira- ble and imperative in order that the old debt of 1875 shall be entirely extinguished by the year 1895. Therefore for these reasons, although the Treasurer's recommendation has not been adopted by the town the past two years, he would still venture to recommend that the sum of three thousand dollars be raised and appropriated for the ensuing year.
Respectfully, . THOMAS J. SKINNER,
WAKEFIELD, March 10, 1888.
Treasurer.
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
To the Citizens of Wakefield :
In presenting a brief review of the management of the affairs of the town for the past year, the Selectmen desire to congratulate the people upon the sense of quiet and security which has pervaded during this time ; that as a rule good order has been sustained, the Sabbath observed, and the community spared any unlawful or unseemly demonstrations. This has been due, in a large degree, to a more thoughtful view of the personal rights and public duties of each individ- ual which has prevailed.
To the discharge of the duties of Selectmen the majority of the Board brought no experience, but all came with a sincere desire to promote the public welfare. Under our system the town is the unit of government, and while the management of its affairs seems at first simple, yet it fre- quently calls for the solution of difficult questions of policy and law, and at all times for the exercise of sound judgment and a good degree of patience.
Recognizing the present wants of our town, and having unbounded faith in its future growth and prosperity, we have not pursued in those matters directly under our charge any mean or niggardly policy, but imbued with the idea that "whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well," we . have made expenditures in a way which we believed would be for its permanent welfare. We have, as well as we could, opposed the expenditure of public money for private pur- poses, and, in our opinion, the town should take and hold a
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most decided and determined stand upon this question ; it matters not whether it arises in the building of new streets, the extinguishment of fires, or any other department of the town government.
FINANCES.
For the details of the expenses of the various departments of the town government we respectfully refer to the reports of the various officials who have had these departments in charge. For a summary of the appropriations and expendi- tures for the year we refer to the Auditors' final balance sheet (p. 103), which shows that in one department only has there been an over-draft, and that only for sixteen cents, while in several departments quite a little balance remains unexpended.
For the resources of the town and the manner in which the money has been provided to pay these expenses. we refer to the Treasurer's Report.
At the close of the last fiscal year, February 27,
1887, the amount of the outstanding liabili- ties against the town was .$63,986 22
Available assets, . 19,985 16
Net indebtedness, $44,001 06
At the close of the current fiscal year, Feb. 29,
1888, the amount of the outstanding liabili- ties is, .$68,452 80
Available assets,
. 20,094 35
Net indebtedness, . $48,358 45
The hiring of money to pay for the building of Pleasant Street Extension, the land damages connected therewith, and the additional appropriations made at meetings, subse- quent to the annual meeting, prevented any reduction in the town debt during the year.
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PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND INSURANCE.
The following is a list of the public buildings, except the engine houses with the amount of insurance upon each :
Town Hall, $50,000 ·
Contents of Town Hall, including library, . 9,000
High School Building, .
20,000
Hamilton School Building,
12,000
Academy Building,
1,500
South Building, Centre,
2,000
East Ward School Building,
1,000
West Ward School Building,
1,000
North Ward School Building,
1,000
South Ward School Building,
1,000
Woodville School Building,
2,000
Franklin Street School Building,
2,000
Town Farm Building and Contents.
3,000
Total,
$105,500
Two years ago the town took action to reduce the amount of insurance to be carried upon these buildings to $80,500, but the vote was so worded as to authorize such reduction only when the policies then in force expired.
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