USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1885-1889 > Part 48
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Action should be taken the ensuing year to prevent the water from overflowing Broadway and Main streets near the Wakefield estate. This in our judgment can be done by clearing out and enlarging the passage under the bridge on
117
Main street, the water-course between Centre Pond and the Rattan Company's yard, and the opening from the Wakefield estate to the street. It should, however, be remembered that it is no part the duty of the town to drain private land.
The present Legislature has enacted a law requiring the selectmen of towns who have not adopted the statutes author- izing the electors of Road Commissioners to appoint a Super- intendent of Streets. And, as our town revoked its accept- ance of that statute in 1887, appointment will become obligatory upon the incoming Board of Selectmen. We recommend that a Superintendent of Streets be paid a fixed salary for the year, and his travelling expenses when going out of town on town business. This will provide for con- . tinuous service and continuous responsibility.
ANNUAL MEETING.
As it takes some time for any new board of officers to organize and get into working order, and as it is desirable to have at least two-thirds of the money appropriated for the repair of highways expended before the first day of July, it will be seen that only a limited time is allowed for the performance of this work. We would suggest the propriety of changing the day of annual election from the first Monday of April to the first Monday of March, so that an incoming board of officers will have a longer period of time to make their preparations and do their work. This will be especially true now that crushed stone is to be used as material for road building.
ANNEXATION OF PART OF STONEHAM.
The present Legislature has enacted a law annexing that portion of Stoneham lying on our western border to our town. This has been accomplished by the efforts of the people living in this territory. We have refrained from taking any part in this contest, because we did not wish to interfere with the internal affairs of our neighboring town
118
with which we are so closely connected by social and busi- ness ties. Appropriate action will be asked for at the annual, or some later, meeting.
STONE-CRUSHER AND LEDGE.
In pursuance of the vote of the town at the November meeting, we have purchased a complete stone-crushing plant, including crusher, engine, boiler, steam-drill, and the tools necessary to carry on the business of crushing stone for use upon the streets. It has been located on land lying on Valley street, on which is a ledge which will supply the crusher with stone for many years. This land and ledge has also been purchased, so that the town is now supplied with a complete equipment for furnishing first-class material for our streets. Our successors will find it in order for imme- diate use, and we confidently believe that the wisdom of this action will be soon demonstrated by an improvement in our streets of such a character as will not demand annual repairs.
STREET LIGHTS.
It will be remembered that at the annual meeting in 1887 the town appointed a Committee of five from its prominent and reliable citizens to investigate the subject of electric lights for the town. That Committee, at the November meeting of the same year, made an exhaustive and instructive report, the gist of which was, that electric light would cost nearly double the amount of gas light, and that it was advisable to wait for the further development of the various systems of electric lighting before taking action ; that was when we paid $3.50 per thousand for gas instead of $2.25 as now. That report was accepted and adopted, and of course must be regarded as the opinion of the town until changed by vote. Near the beginning of the present municipal year three electric light companies made application to the Select- men for the right to erect poles in the streets of the town for the purpose of supplying the town and the inhabitants
119
with electric lights ; one of which was composed entirely of citizens of our own towu, and the other two, so far as we were informed, of persons living without our limits. Extended hearings were given to these companies, and an opportunity to all citizens who desired to express their views or to give us any information in their possession. There did not seem to be any very strong or decided public demand for electric lights, or any very decided preference on the part of the people for either of the companies. There were some preferences among the members of the Board, but none which could not have been readily harmonized, had there been any potent reason for immediate action. Inquiry was made by one of the Board among the business men in the central portion of the town, and one only was found who was ready to use electric lights in case a plant was put into town; so it was apparent that any company must rely upon the town in its corporate capacity, not only for its profit but for its support. In view of these facts, and the additional one that the Gas Company reduced its price to $2.25 per thousand feet, we have allowed the matter to slumber for the year. At the same time, we are not unmindful of the fact that the time is near at hand when we must have the advantage of better lights in our streets, and we hope at a much less cost. The Gas Company, upon application to the Gas Commissioners, may have the right granted it to put in an electric light plant ; the Water Company and the Rattan Company and very likely other organizations or persons in town have ample steam power to carry on the work, and probably would be ready to furnish it to any company organized for the purpose of lighting the town. The various street lamps ordered by the town during the year have been set as ordered, and are now in use.
NEW STREETS.
Four petitions for the laying out of townways have been presented to us during the year. The first and most impor-
120
tant was the petition of Thomas Winship and others to lay out a way between Chestnut and Albion streets parallel and east of the Boston and Maine Railroad. It was unquestion- ably a surprise to most of our citizens to learn that they had been using that portion of Railroad street at the sufferance of the Boston and Maine Railroad, but a careful investiga- tion of the situation showed this to be a fact ; so the street was laid out; damages to the amount of $2,675 awarded the Railroad, which have been paid, and a deed of the land executed to the town and recorded. The second was the petition of William Biggs and others for a street from New- hall Court to New Salem street. Without passing upon the question of public convenience and necessity, we declined to lay out this way because it involved a railroad crossing at grade concerning which the law is in an unsettled state ; our opinion being that action had better be deferred until some settled policy is established throughout the State and the law settled. The third was the petition of C. F. Boynton and others at Boyntonville for a short strip of road already built by the abutters to connect with a way constructed in Melrose. The fourth was the petition of Arthur Linnell and others to lay out the court leading easterly from Pleasant street between Otis and Water streets. These two last petitions have been granted, the ways surveyed and laid out, and due reports thereof will be made to the town for its acceptance at the next annual meeting.
POLICE.
At the beginning of the year Mr. Charles H. Davis, for many years the faithful and efficient Chief of Police, declined to accept a reappointment, and it was with great. difficulty that we found a man who would accept the position whom we thought suitable. Finally, Mr. William H. McCausland, an old time officer of Boston and lately Superintendent of Pawnbrokers in that city, consented to accept the position, but at the end of one month he was obliged to resign on
121
1
account of ill health ; and after considerable inquiry Mr. I. Gil. Robbins was appointed, and his administration of police affairs promised for awhile to be very successful, but subsequent events entirely dissipated all hopes of that char- acter. The police force became dissatisfied and demoralized, and the law was notoriously violated in our midst. We gave Mr. Robbins ample opportunity to vindicate his ability to discharge the duties of his office acceptably, but he failed and was removed. Mr. Charles E. Niles was appointed to fill the vacancy, and a decided change in police affairs and in the enforcement of the law was instantly apparent; his determined and effective efforts for the suppression of the illegal sale of intoxicating liquors meet the wish and appro- bation of every right-minded citizen. We recommend that the salary of the Chief of Police be increased to three hundred dollars.
CLAIMS.
The suits of John McCarthy and John Fenneren against the town for injuries claimed to have been received by them on account of a defective railing at the corner of Main and Centre streets, were continued in court up to the time they were reached for trial, for which due preparations were made by the town. When reached, they were by consent of attorneys dismissed without costs to the town. During the year Mr. John Millerick has commenced a suit against the town for injuries claimed to have been received by him on account of the defective condition of the sidewalk on Centre street. This suit is now pending in court, and will probably be reached for trial during the spring or early summer. Miss Hattie D. M. Clark has filed with the Select- men notice that she claims pay for an injury received by her on account of an alleged defect in the sidewalk on Elm street, but no further action has been taken. We have considered and passed upon several other claims against the town during the year, but in none of which have we con- sidered the town liable for damages. A suit against the
122
town was commenced by Mr. A. V. Lynde to recover back money which he had paid for land purchased at a tax sale, and taxes subsequently paid by him. Upon investigation it was found that the land was never owned or in possession of the person to whom it was taxed, and consequently the town was liable, and we settled the suit by the payment of $136.66. Notice was served on the Selectmen March 19th, 1889, by Mrs. Rebecca C. Arrington for injuries received on the southerly side of Mechanic street, at the corner of Cres- cent street opposite the residence of L. Colburn, on Febu- rary 18th, 1889, at 7 o'clock, P. M., and claiming damages from the town on account of said injuries received by reason of an alleged defect in the sidewalk.
HEARSE AND HEARSE HOUSE.
We were instructed at the November meeting to disposc of the hearse and hearse house belonging to the town. We utilized the house by removing it to Valley street, and changing it into an engine house to be used in connection with the stone-crusher. We have not sold the hearse for lack of a purchaser at a decent price.
We recommend that the town raise and appropriate the sum of $1,850 for Town Hall expenses, and $3,000 for mis- cellaneous expenses for the ensuing year, being the same amounts as voted at the last annual meeting.
We have thus epitomized the most important. features of the year's work, all the details of which that are of any importance are herewith published in the reports of the other officers of the town, and made such recommendations as seem pertinent for us to make.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
S. K. HAMILTON, S. O. RICHARDSON, GEO. E. RICKER,
Selectmen.
WAKEFIELD, March 20, 1889.
123
Report of Superintendent of Streets.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Superintendent of Streets, who was reappointed by the Selectmen at the close of his last year's term of service in April, herewith submits the following report : .
At the last annual meeting the sum of $6,000 was appro- priated by the town for general highway purposes. To which should be added the sum of $600, which was appro- priated at the November meeting, which was virtually a special appropriation for work done on Elm street in connec- tion with a job ordered by the County Commissioners. All the work on the highways has been done under the direction of the Superintendent, subject to the approval of the Se- lectmen.
COMPENSATION FOR LABOR.
The Superintendent has received for his services at the rate of $3.00 per day during the busy season, $2.00 per day since December. Laborers were paid $2.00 per day, and since November 1st $1.75 per day, and the same was al- lowed for a horse and cart. The amount paid each person for labor, teams, material, etc., will be found in the financial report.
Below we give the amount of money expended on the different streets in town :
Brook street,
$100.00
Byron street,
15.00
Greenwood district,
400.00
Railroad street,
225.00
Hart street,
25.00
Avon street,
350.00
Nahant street,
.
500.00
Crescent street,
250.00
124
Church street,
$450.00
Main street,
.
300.00
Salem street.
100.00
Bennett street,
25.00
Melvin street,
50.00
Park street,
200.00
West Chestnut street,
200.00
Elm street,
565.00
Sidewalks,
175.00
Scraping, &c.,
500.00
Concrete work,
698.13
Repairing 12 bridges, .
125.00
Many other streets have been repaired with smaller amounts.
In Greenwood district a large portion of the money was expended on Main and Oak streets. The money expended on Railroad street was to remedy an evil that had existed for a long time, namely, the proper care of the surface water from Avon to Church streets.
On Avon street a portion of the soil was used for filling the sidewalk on Main street. A rock bottom was then laid and the street graded. Nahant at the junction with Franklin street has been widened, a bank wall put in, and filled and graded to correspond, including a sidewalk on Franklin street, also gutters and street crossing-gutters of concrete. This job was somewhat expensive, but it is a much needed improvement.
Crescent street at the north end has always been in a bad condition, especially so, as the location suggests. Perhaps no job of work is better appreciated than this.
Main street in several places has been repaired by picking over the road-bed. Although expensive it has proved very satisfactory.
About one-half the expense on Park street was incurred by putting in drains, sand-catchers and curbing.
125
West Chestnut street was repaired at a comparatively small expense, the gravel having been delivered by contract in connection with the building of the new street towards Reading. Much has been said in praise of the gravel in that locality, and in the spring West Chestnut street will be the place to test it.
Elm street was filled and graded in connection with the contract as ordered by the County Commissioners for build- ing West Chestnut street extension, and under other circum- stances it must have cost three or four times as much.
The work on Church street was done in connection with draining the surplus water from Elm street. A substantial wall has been laid against the land of Mr. John Rayner, which was given by him to widen the street. At this point the street and sidewalk have been filled and thoroughly graded.
It is found that the use of the scraper in the fall of the year is of great importance.
The only special appropriation for regular highway work was that of $200 for gutters and sidewalks in Montrose dis- trict, which was spent much to the satisfaction of the people in that part of the town.
At the annual meeting the Road Commissioners recom- mended the laying out of five new highways and for building the same as follows :
Aborn avenue,
$150.00
Wave avenue,
.
150.00
Walnut avenue,
.
50.00
Spring and Summer streets, .
150.00
These recommendations were adopted, and the several streets were built accordingly.
The new street extending from West Chestnut to Elm street, as ordered by the County Commissioners, has been completed, as is shown by the financial report.
126
At the annual meeting in April $1,000 was appropriated for concrete work. The contract was awarded to W. B. Ellis of Melrose for 37 cents per yard for sidewalks and gutters and 50 cents per yard for crossings. There has been expended for concrete, as will be seen by the financial report, $2,447.49, collected or due from abutters, $749.33, showing the amount paid by the town to be $1,698.13, of which $698.13 came from the highway appropriation, as before stated. Eleven street crossings have been put down and 958.3 yards of concrete gutters.
Three of our streets that were referred to in our last year's report as needing special attention, still remain un- touched, from the fact that we had no good material for repairing the same.
Main, Albion and Railroad streets should receive especial attention the coming year.
It is gratifying to know that the voters of the town appre- ciate and approve the recommendation made in last year's report, and as the result voted at the last November meeting to instruct the Selectmen to purchase a ledge, stone crusher and necessary appliances for running the same, to supply the town with good material for repairing our streets. The Committee were very fortunate in securing a ledge so near the centre of the town, and so favorably located for supply- ing the crusher as well as for loading the stone after it is crushed. When the ledge is fairly opened and properly managed, the town can furnish the best of material at a comparatively low figure. This is considered one of the best plants in the country.
On the following page will be found the amount expended in the different districts for the last two years. This does not include the small amounts that have been spent in vari- ous parts of the town, nor does it include the appropriations for new streets.
127
Centre,
.
$5,000
West,
.
2,900
South,
1,400
North,
1,200
East.
750
Woodville,
100
Thus it will be seen that the Centre has had a small share compared with the number of streets to be cared for, and those having the matter in charge have not been governed by selfish motives. It has been the object, not only to repair streets, but in so doing, so far as practicable, to make improvements, and we trust that this will meet the approba- tion of the community.
Respectfully submitted,
G. H. SWEETSER,
Supt. of Streets.
.
128
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN,-The annual report of the Board of Engineers is herewith presented. The force of the Department has not been changed the past year and consists of 48 men and three Engineers, divided as follows :
STEAMER LUCIUS BEEBE, CO. NO. 1. Wm. Tyzzer, Foreman, and 12 men.
WASHINGTON HOOK AND LADDER CO., NO. 1.
Philip J. Flanders, Foreman, and 14 men.
J. H. CARTER HOSE CO. NO. 1.
Wm. Allen, Foreman, and 9 men.
C. WAKEFIELD CHEMICAL, (East Ward). Warren Oliver, Foreman, and 9 men.
There is in Greenwood one hose cart with hose, manned by a Volunteer Company, to work at fires in that part of the town.
The Fire Alarm has worked very satisfactorily, considering the extent of the circuit which is nearly ten miles. There have been a few wild blows, or false alarms, but in most of them the fault has been found and repaired. The removal of the old town bell to the high school building, and the addition of the striker to the same, has been a great improvement.
The old leather hose was exchanged for new, as per vote of the town, and 450 feet of new hose of C. Callahan make received.
The Engineers have added the following pieces of apparatus to the department : One fire alarm box, number 37, placed at the corner of Main and Salem streets. Although the town refused to appropriate money for the same, your Engineers deemed it necessary to place one at this corner. This box has been used for three fires and has been the means of saving many times its value. One 57-foot Somer- ville extension ladder which has proved to be of great usefulness and your Engineers would recommend the purchase of a 40-ft. extension ladder for lighter work.
129
In compliance with the law which was made last April, that all towns which have an organized fire department shall purchase one or more of the following pieces of apparatus for saving life at fires, a gun for throwing a line over or into a window of any building, and canvas chute to go with the same ; also a life saving or jumping net. The Engineers have purchased the net, but not the gun and chute, as they have not found one to comply with the law. They have also had the lake water put into the engine house as they would have had to have a new tank built to catch rain water, the water in the well not being suitable for the steamer or the electric battery.
The fires have not been very severe the past year, which are given as follows from March Ist, 1888, to March ist, 1889. This only gives fires where the department has responded.
March 6. Alarm from box 12, Greenwood. Fire in dwelling house owned by Mr. S. H. Hill. Damage $200.
July 4. Alarm from box 37. Fire at Citizen's Gas House, caused by locomotive. Damage $14.
July 10. Alarm from box 23. Fire at W. F. Eccles' furniture store on Albion St. Damage $400.
Aug. 4. Alarm from box 35. Fire at John Flanley's furniture store on Albion street. Damage $250.
Nov. 17. Alarm from box 23. Fire in an old shed on Foundry St. Damage slight.
Nov. 27. Alarm from box 37. Fire in a building on Main St., known as the Old Town House, owned by Chas. Dunn, occupied by S. J. Putney and Washington H. & L. Co. Damaged by fire and water $2,100.
Dec. 17. Alarm from box 37. Fire in grass near barn owned by Clarence Mitts. There was no damage ..
There have been a few fires in buildings which have been put out by owners. As the Engineers were not notified and did not know of it. at the time, have made no record of them.
In closing the Engineers recommend not less than two thousand dollars, as there are a great many ways for money to go which cannot be seen at the commencement of the year.
HORACE W. DALRYMPLE, ALONZO S. COBB, OWEN CORCORAN,
Board of Engineers.
130
POLICE AND NIGHT WATCH REPORT.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
GENTLEMEN :- The report of the Police Department and Night Watch, from March 1st, 1888, to March 1st, 1889, is herewith respectfully submitted:
Whole number of arrests, 109
Assault 16, breaking and entering 5,
21
Cruelty to animals 3, drunks 15, disturb. peace 6, 24
Fraud 2, keeping & exposing liquors 9, . 11
Keeping unlicensed dog 1, larceny 13,
.
14
Liquor nuisance 4, malicious mischief 2, .
.
6
Neglecting children 4, stubborn child 1, . .
5
Search warrants for liquors 13, truants 2, 15
Threatening bodily harm 3, vagrants 10, .
13
Furnished lodgings at Lockup during year, Respectfully submitted,
C. E. NILES, Chief of Police.
March 1st, 1889.
Report of the Night Watch to the Chief of Police :
Whole number of arrests,
12
For drunkenness 8, disturbing peace 2, . 10
Breaking & entering 1, threatening bodily harm 1, .
2 Disturbances suppressed,
14
Assisted home,
.
.
·
20
Assisted in finding lodgings, . . .
6
Places of business found open,
40
ALVIN L. VANNAH, JAMES A. MCFADDEN,
Night Watch.
189
131
REPORT OF THE FISH COMMITTEE.
The Fish Committee herewith present their thirteenth annual report :
The general results of the fishing in Lake Quannapowitt have been much the same as in previous years, and we have little of general interest to report.
No trouble was experienced in keeping the fishways on Saugus river open to the passage of alewives, but the faulty construction of a new sluice-way at Hone's dam-put in by the mill owners without consulting the Committee-caused an obstruction to the first run of fish. As soon as the Com- mittee learned of the trouble, it was promptly remedied by Mr. Parker, assisted by Mr. James H. Carter, and the ale- wives then came to the lake in great numbers.
We can give no correct results of the season's fishing, as but sixteen (16) reports have been received from the three hundred and three (303) holders of permits.
A consolidation of these sixteen reports gives the follow- ing results :
Number of Black Bass,
94
66 Pickerel, .
.
106
66 66 White Perch, .
·
82
66 Red Perch,
557
Miscellaneous.
37
Total number,
876
". weight.
484 lbs.
The largest Black Bass, reported to the Committee, weighed 4 1-4 lbs., and was caught by Mr. A. T. Bond.
Respectfully submitted,
W. S. GREENOUGH, S. PARKER, W. H. WILEY,
Fish Committee.
WAKEFIELD, March 9th, 1889.
.
132
Report of the Board of Health.
WAKEFIELD, MASS., April 7, 1888. To the Board of Health of Wakefield :
Gentlemen :- Having been elected a member of the Board of Health of this town, I respectfully decline to serve as such, and hereby notify you, in order that such action may be taken as is provided by Chapter 305 of the Acts of 1885.
Yours respectfully,
(Signed), SAMUEL W. ABBOTT.
Mr. W. C. Jordan also refused to qualify. The Selectmen were notified of the fact by the remaining member of the Board, and, according to law, called a joint meeting of the Selectmen and Board of Health for May 3d, 1888, at which meeting Samuel K. Hamilton was chosen to preside, and John M. Cate was made secretary.
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