USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1890-1893 > Part 54
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The case of Wiley vs. Niles and Merrill, which was a suit against the Chief of Police and one of the police officers for an assault and false imprisonment was also pending. The acts constituting the alleged assault and false. imprisonment
77
were committed by these officers in the discharge of their duty and under the express direction of the former chairman of the Selectmen. The Selectmen of last year very properly assumed the defense of the action.
This case was also prepared and reached for trial when it was disposed of by an entry of "neither party." The expense to the town was the payment of its own attorney.
The claim of Dr. Chase of Woburn for injuries received to himself and property by reason of a defect in Prospect street was referred to the Selectmen with power to act, and was settled by the payment of two hundred dollars.
There are now pending in court two cases against the town ; one the claim of Mr. Albert W. Merrow of Stoneham for injuries received on account of a lack of suitable railing on the bridge on Broadway. The other is the claim of the trustees of the estate of Burrage Yale for compensation for land taken to widen Church street. . The County Commis- sioners made no award in their decree and the trustees made application to the town for compensation. The town re- ferred this matter to the Selectmen, who, after making a personal examination of the premises and obtaining the opinion of citizens of the town well versed in the value of real property, offered the trustees the sum of six hundred and fifty dollars to cover the damages occasioned by taking their land for the highway and also for a very small strip of land lying between the land so taken and other land belong- ing to the town. This offer was refused and a petition has been filed in the Superior Court for a jury to assess the damages.
PERAMBULATION OF TOWN LINE.
Upon notice from the Selectmen of Reading the line between that town and Wakefield has been perambulated and the boundary marks found to be in good condition, except the one at the junction of Summer avenue and Brook street, at which point a new monument has been placed. A new monument has also been placed on the line between
78
this town and Lynnfield, in place of the one which had been de-troyed.
NICHOLS FUND.
From this fund in accordance with its terms there has been paid the sum of forty dollars, as follows :
Ernest F. Hill, . $10 00
Thomas M. S. Reynolds, .
10 00
Ernest Albert Tyler, 10 00 .
E. S. Mansfield,
10 00
DEATH OF ALFRED H. GOODWIN.
At the last annual meeting Alfred H. Goodwin was elected one of the Town Auditors, and by arrangement with the other two at once assumed the active duties of that position, which he discharged with conspicuous fidelity and ability to the time when he was stricken with the disease which shortly proved fatal. Mr. Goodwin possessed a rare grasp of municipal affairs for one of his years, and quickly compre- hended the duties of his position in general and detail. By his business methods, courteous bearing and warm heart he readily won the respect and affection of those with whom he was brought in contact. His death was a distinct loss to the town.
Mr. W. W. Taft, one of the Auditors of last year, con- sented to complete Mr. Goodwin's unfinished work, and was appointed Auditor in his stead by the Selectmen.
SWEETSER LECTURES.
The Selectmen invited Mr. J. C. Hartshorne to again take charge of these lectures, feeling that no one in town could so satisfactorily discharge this duty as he, with his many years' experience. But he declined and the Selectmen undertook the work themselves. The public have heard the lectures and the Treasurer's report shows the financial result.
79
SWEETSER CHARITY.
The Treasurer of this charity makes the following report : Balance on hand as per last report, . $62 79
Received from interest on deposit,
1 78
Received from 6th Reg. Field Day Com., . ·
13 62
Total,
$78 19
Distributed during the year,
42 00
Balance on hand,
$36 19
ELLEN S. ROGERS,
Treasurer.
The method of and the persons to whom this distribution has been made are in a measure known to us, and we heartily commend the work.
THE FUTURE.
The tax rate has reached a point which demands immediate consideration and reduction. No town can have that measure of growth and prosperity to which it is entitled with a tax rate higher than that of towns in its immediate vicinity similarly situated. A tax of $18.50 on every $1000 of taxable property in town is too high for this latitude. We present the following table as an object lesson to the . intelligent voters of the town, with the hope that this and the following tables and statements will awaken the people to the condition of affairs and lead them to seek and apply the remedy.
80
1SS3.
1SS-4.
1885. 1886.
1837.
1SSS. 1889.
1890. 1891. 1892.
Boston,
14.50 17.00 12.80 12.70 13.40
13.40 12.90 13.30 12 60 12.90
Arlington,
17.50 15.20 18.40 16.00 16.00
16.25 17.50 15.20 16.25 17.30
Belmont,
10.75 12.00
8.00 9.50 12.25
12.00 12.00 11.50.12.25 15.25
Beverly,
14.00 14.00 15.80 12.60 12.80
14.00 14.00 13.60:14.20 17.80
Brookline,
11.50 11.00 11.00 10.40 10.50
10.50 12.00| 9.00 11.00 11.80 15.00 16.00 15.60 15.50 16.00 18.40 17.80 17.60 18.00 15.80
Chelsea,
18.40 18.60 18.20 17.80 17.60
Cohasset,
7.70 8.60
6.80
6.50 8.20
3.90 4.30 7.10 5.70 6.60
Dedham,
15.00 13.50 15.80 14.50.14.00
14.40 18.70 14.80 13.50 16.00
Everett,
12.50 12.80 12.80 13.30 13.50
14.00
Gloucester,
16.00 15.00 17.50 19.00:18.50
13.30.15.00 14.50 14 50 17.50,15.00 15.50 15.40 15.40
Hull,
7.10 9.50 12.55 11.25 11.12} 13.00 11.75 11.70 10.10 14.60
Lawrence,
16.60 16.80 16.60 16.40 17.80
16.00 15.20 14.80 14.80 16.80
Lowell,
15.20 17.50 16.00 16.00 15.70
15.70 16.10 17.00 15.60 16.80 18.60 14.20 15.00 14.60 15.40 14.60 15.50 15.10 15.00 15.30
Manchester.
4.60 4.80 6.10 6.05 4.40
Marblehead,
16.20 15.20 12.20 14.60 15.60
Medford,
16.80 19.60 14.00 15.60 17.00
Melrose,
14.40 13.80 14.20 13.60 14.00
Milton,
5.00 6.00 6.00
6.50 7.25
Nahant,
5.00 5.50
.5.50 5.50
6.00
Natick,
16.00 16.20
14.80 14.80 16.00
Newton,
15.40 14.40 14.00 14.40 15.80
Norwood,
11.50 11.50 13.00 15.60 17.60
Quincy,
14.00 15.00 13.60 15.40 15.80
Revere,
8.40 8.40 10.90 11.60 10.80
Salem,
16.00 17.50 16.50 15.50 16.00
16.00 17.50 17.00 18.00 16.00
Somerville,
16.70 16.60 16.60 15.40 14.80
14.00 14.00 14.00 14.00 15.00
Stoneham,
17.40 14.80 15.40 17.10 18.00
17.00 17.20 17.20 16.00 19.00 8.50 8.40|10.00 10.00 10.00
Waltham,
13.60 15.80 15.10 13.50 14.40
13.80 14.20 14.00 14.00 15.50 16.00 15.00.16.00 17.50 18.50
Watertown,
11.25 14.30.12.50 15.00 12.50
12.50 14.50 14.50 14.00 13.50
Winchester,
14.80 14.60 13.50 17.30 16.70
16.70 17.00 17.70 15.40 16.00
Winthrop,
11.80 11.20 10.80 12.00 11.60
11.50 13.70 12.40 12.70 12.70
Woburn,
15.70 20.00 16.80 16.60 18.80
19.70 17.20 16.50 15.70 15.70
The above shows the rate of taxation for the last ten years in thirty-seven cities and towns in close proximity to us and that we stand second highest in the list the past year.
Whether the town is grossly reckless in its appropriations, or grossly careless in expending the money when appropri- ated, or the assessors fail to find all the taxable property, this showing surely is not creditable to the town especially in the absence of any unusual or extraordinary condition of affairs.
It challenges at once the criticism of every inhabitant and
Swampscott,
8.50 11.00 19.00! 9.50 8.00
Wakefield,
14.50 17.00 16.00 15.00 16.00
5.00 7.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 6.00 6.50 6.50 6.50 6.50 17.20 16.80:16.40 18.40 16.40 15.20 14.87|14.60.15.00 14 60 13.00 15.00 16.60 15.80,17.30 16.70 10.80 13.60 13.60 16.00 10.00 12.00 12.00 11.20 14.00
Malden,
14.00 14.00 13.80 13.60.14.50
Lynn,
19.60 18.40 17.80 19.00 18.80
4.15 5.16 5.16 6.10 17.00 17.00 16.80 21.40 15.60 14.00 15.60 17.60 14.60 14.80 13.60 13.60 13.70 14.20 15.80
6.30
Cambridge,
16.40 16.80 15.50 15.00 16.00
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of every person proposing to become a resident or an inves- tor here. The following table shows the assessed valuation of the town for the same years :
Year.
Personal.
Real Estate.
Total.
1883,
$407,906
$3,052,000
$3,459,706
1884,
449,777
3,091,995
3,541,772
1885,
479,700
3,247,100
3,726,800
1886,
528,425
3,378,080
3,906,505
1887,
549,555
3,563,270
4,112,825
1888,
591,330
3,708,335
4,229,665
1889,
659,145
3,823,400
4,482,545
1890,
628,330
3,995,035
4,623,365
1891,
654,215
4,069,570
4,723,785
1892,
679,945
4,322,550
5,002,495
Comparing the two tables they show an increase of five dollars on every thousand of assessed valuation in the face of an increased valuation during the same time of nearly fifty per cent.
To account for this startling state of affairs in detail in- volves an amount of labor which we are unable to give at the present time ; but a comparison of the expenses in some of the leading departments for the last few years affords data which is useful in further inquiry. We do not make this comparison for the purpose of criticising any depart- ment, or any person who has held any official position. We do it only to afford information to guide the town in further action. The support of the poor has increased over one thousand dollars in eight years, as the following figures show :
SUPPORT OF THE POOR.
1885-6,
$6,832 93
1889-90,
$7,115 28
1886-7,
6,424 60
1890-1,
7,153 84
1887-8,
6,769 77
1891-2,
7,260 68
1888-9,
7,294 98
1892-3,
7,843 24
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The regular appropriation for schools has increased nearly five thousand dollars in the same time :
1885-6, $16,160 94 1889-90,
$16,317 15
1886-7,
16,264 66 1890-1, 18,336 45
1887-8, 16,886 00
1891-2, 19,202 24
1888-9, 17,240 38 1892- , 21,092 34
The amount expended for highways and bridges has risen from five thousand and fifty dollars and sixty cents in 1885 to eight thousand two hundred and ninety-eight dollars and ninety-seven cents in 1892, while the expenditures from the special appropriations have jumped from $747.97 in 1885 to $5,903.01 in 1892.
1885. Regular, $5,050 60.
Special, .
. $747 97
1886.
·
5,054 16.
66
1,636 08
1887. 66 9,346 60. ·
. * 9,990 93
1888.
.
7,408 61.
.. . 1,907 04
1889. 66
7,629 52. .
· . 1,900 00
1890.
7,669 84. ·
66
. 1,364 40
1891.
.
8,839 85.
. 3,067 93
1892.
·
8,298 97.
. 5,903 01
*Includes land damage on Pleasant street.
The expense of the Fire Department not including build- ings or apparatus has increased from $1,797.64 to $2,964.32 in the same years ; while we have made an increase of $1400 in hydrant service during the same time.
1885, $1,797 64
1889,
$3,025 94
1886,
1,875 08
1890,
2,316 15
1887,
1,695 38
1891, 2,291 86
1888,
2,035 45
1892,
2,964 32
The Wakefield Water Company is bound by its contract with the town to furnish the water and sufficient power to give adequate fire protection on the line of its pipes and with that contract carried out the town ought not to be put to further expense for power.
The above are examples which show how expenditures
83
have gradually crept up to the present amount and they are but examples of the expenditures in other departments.
Unquestionably these can be reduced in some instances materially, but we are firmly of the opinion that any reason- able reduction will not cure the evil of which we now com- plain and bring our tax rate where it legitimately belongs.
The root of the difficulty in our judgment is in the assess- ment. Too much of the taxable property in the town es- capes the burden which the law puts upon it, and which in justice to the remainder it ought to bear. Too many people are willing that others should pay for the blessings of gov- ernment which they enjoy. A most thorough and complete overhauling of our valuation lists is demanded by every consideration of justice and policy. There is no more im- portant office in the town government than that of Assessor ; none where the temptation to partiality or liability to error is greater, or of which criticism is more common or unjust ; and no Board of Assessors can or will do their full duty under the law unless they have some adequate compensation and are supported by a determined public opinion. Even then all their ingenuity will be taxed and they will be com- pelled to avail themselves of the entire machinery of the law.
The first necessary step to be taken after the election of men of the right mettle and fixing suitable compensation, is to make provisions for a complete and perfect survey of the town to the end that every foot of the territory within our borders should be assessed, and that every parcel of land should be examined and approved by experts who are famil- iar with land values and who are able to fix the fair market value upon every parcel.
This work cannot be done in a single year, but in a few years it could be completed, and, judging by results in some other towns in the state, would prove a wonderfully paying investment.
84
TAXES UPON PERSONAL ESTATES.
It is apparent that a very large amount of personal prop- erty escapes taxation. The valuation of the personal prop- erty in town for the year 1892 was $679,945, an absurdity upon the face of it. Death in a single instance recently un- covered over $50,000 of personal property which for years had escaped taxation ; and we are entirely confident that there are many similar cases in town and we fear nothing but the process of dooming will reveal them.
With an aroused public sentiment it will not be long be- tore Wakefield can have a respectable tax rate.
NEW STREETS.
With the tide of growth which is fast reaching Wakefield a definite and distinct policy ought to be established in rela- tion to the location and acceptance of new streets. It is for our own safety and in the interest of those who come to. our town to improve its waste places that some policy which all may understand should be adopted. It is a matter too important to be left to be passed upon by a changing and changeable board of town officers whose interest or sympathy may be directed in favor of or against any one enterprise, or over whom the influence of friends or the solicitations of interested parties may have weight.
Ways are to be laid where public convenience and neces- sity require, and when there is no public there should be no way ; but when there is a small public to be accommodated and prospectively a larger one, the convenience of accepted streets should be furnished at such time as the circumstances would fairly warrant, always remembering that every addi- tion to the taxable property of the town is beneficial, and on the other hand that unoccupied lands are not purchased, laid out into lots, and buildings erected thereon purely as a matter of philanthropy. It should be the policy of the town to welcome every improvement and give it such municipal aid as a sense of justice and fairness would sanction.
85
Perhaps a large committee of the enterprising citizens of the town might be appointed, who would consider this im- portant question in a sensible and business like way, and aid the town in establishing such a policy as is here outlined.
WATER.
The contract with the Wakefield Water Company for water for fire purposes will expire on the first day of Decem- ber, 1893, and it will be necessary for the town to take some action looking toward a new contract.
SEWERAGE.
The plan for disposing of our sewerage presented by the committee failed to meet the approbation of the town when presented for consideration. In fact, the indications of fierce opposition were numerous and apparent. The whole question is full of difficulty.
The valley of the Saugus river is our natural course of drainage, the ocean is the natural receptacle, and to a certain extent the Saugus river its natural vehicle of transportation.
Whatever natural rights we ever had to this means of transportation have been taken from us by the city of Lynn upon her cry that she needed water more than we needed sewerage transportation-and every consideration for health demands that her water supply should not be contaminated by our sewerage. But if she deprives us in any sense of our natural rights, are we not entitled to corresponding compensation ? In other words, is not the true solution of our sewerage question the organization of a sewerage dis- trict similar to the Metropolitan Sewerage District, com- prising those towns and cities within this and contiguous water sheds and thus draining this section of the state? Of this expense Lynn should bear a large portion. She is reaching out today and asking the Legislature to give her all the water of Saugus river and its tributaries thus coming into our territory and asking to be allowed to take that
86
which by every consideration of justice and humanity be- longs to us. We feel that Lynn and other cities and towns will be willing to consider this matter in a broad and com- prehensive manner.
Respectfully submitted,
S. K. HAMILTON, WILLIAM B. DANIEL, SILAS W. FLINT,
Selectmen of Wakefield. WAKEFIELD, Feb. 3, 1893.
87
·
Report of Forest Firewards.
During the twelve months ending Dec. 31, 1892, there have been sixty-five fires in all. Sixty have been attended by the Forest Fire- wards, fifty-five have been stopped by their system alone, and five assisted by the fire department, viz. :
January,
3
July, 2
February,
2
August, 3
March,
5
September, O
April,
34
October,
3
May,
3
November,.
3
June,
I
December,
I
There have been ten building fires stopped by the Forest Fire- wards system alone; two in south district, two in north district, two in west district and four in centre district ; five under still and five under general alarms.
NUMBER OF FIRES IN EACH DISTRICT.
DISTRICT.
FIRES.
BUILDING FIRES-
Centre,
14
9
North,
4
3
South,
15
3
East,
7
0
West,
I3
5
Woodville,
I2
I H
-
65
21
Total cost of sixty fires attended by forest firewards,
$242 60
Average cost of each, .
4 04
Average cost per man, .
52
Average number of men at fires, ·
7
Whole number of persons working at these fires, . 465
The above includes the expense of horse and wagon with loads of water to fifteen fires.
.
88
The causes of these fires are divided about equally between sparks from railroad engines, children, gunners, accidents, incendiarism and reckless setting of fires by people on their own land, which was allowed to run upon the land of others.
As an instance of the above, the cost of fires set upon the land of one man, was over fifty dollars.
The number of fires the past year exceeds those of any year since the introduction of this system of protection against fire.
Town fire appliances in charge of the Forest Firewards : 84 John- son pumps, 60 balloon valves for pumps, 6 top valves, 6 discharge pipes, 6 tips, 5 dozen sprinkler nozzles, 125 2-gallon cans, 50 buckets and 5 water scoops.
FOREST FIREWARDS' BILLS.
Appropriation,
$250 00 ·
Expense of 60 fires, $242 60 ·
Repairs on Johnson pumps, water cans, buck-
ets and other appliances used by this system, 42 23
$284 83
Balance due forest firewards,
$34 83
$284 83
The above report is respectfully submitted, by
R. KENDRICK, S. T. PARKER, B. W. OLIVER,
Forest Firewards.
87
JOHNSON PUMPS.
In compliance with the vote of the town at its annual meeting, the Forest Firewards herewith furnish a list of the present locations of the town's Johnson pumps, now numbering eighty-four, as follows :
No. 1, John A. Meloney, Prospect St., West District.
" 2, John F. Whiting, Pleasant St., Centre District.
" 3, William H. Atwell, Prospect St., West District.
66 ' 4, Richard Britton, Main St., Centre District.
.
· 5, John M. Cate, Main St., Cen- tre District.
" 6, C. C. Eldridge, Myrtle Ave., South District.
" 7, Noah M. Eaton, Park St., Centre District.
" 8, Caleb Putney, Water St., Woodville District.
" 9, Z. P. Alden, Court off Green- wood Ave., South District.
" 10, W. D. Parker. Wiley St., Woodville District.
" 11, T. C. Welch, Wiley Place, Woodville District.
" 12, A. A. Currier, W. Albion St., West District.
" 13, E. H. Walton, Pleasant St .. Centre District.
" 14, H. P. Hill, Summer St., Cen- tre District.
" 15, August Zweeper, Water St., near Saugus line, Woodville District.
" 16, Alden Crocker, Green St., South District.
" 17, G. W. Braxton, cor. West Chestnut and Cedar Sts., West District.
" 18, Samuel Winship, Church St., Centre District.
" 19, William Mellett, Nahant St., Centre District.
" 20, In doubt. Not found.
" 21, Michael Low, Bennett St., Centre District.
" 22, W. A. Cutter, grocer, Me- chanic St., Centre District.
" 23, A. A. Mansfield, Main St., Coal Yard, Centre District.
No. 24, J. S. Round, Main St., Cen- tre District.
" 25, Geo. K. Gilman, Charles St., Centre District.
" 26, Chas. Gorham, Lowell St., North District.
" 27, John McManuis, Lowell St., North District.
" 28, Wm. K. Perkins, Central St., North District.
" 29, Samuel Parker, Main St., North District.
" 30, Geo. W. Eaton, grocer, 294 Main St., Centre District.
" 31, J. R. Reid, Salem and Lowell Sts., East District.
" 32, F. Nickerson, Lowell St., East District.
" 33, Geo. K. Walton, Salem St., East District.
" 34, M. P. Parker, Lowell and Vernon Sts., East District.
" 35, Harris Pratt, Vernon St., East District.
" 36, Isaac E. Green, Main St .. Centre District.
" 37. I. F. Sheldon, Main St., South District.
" 38, J. G. Brooks, Forest St., South District.
" 39, W. H. Taylor, Grove St., South District.
" 40, Rodney Edmunds, Court off Water Street, Woodville Dis- trict.
" 41, Mrs. Ellen Dennehey, Water St., Woodville District.
" 42, John McGlory, Jr., R. R. St., West District.
" 43, W. W. Bessey's Stable, Al- bion St., Centre District.
" 44, A. S. Philbrook, R. R. St., West District.
" 45, Thomas Kernan, Gould St., West District.
" 46, Benjamin Oliver, Nahant St., Woodville District.
88
No. 47, Geo. E. Donald, Almshouse, Farm St., Woodville District.
" 48, Geo. R. Tyzzer, Court, off Water St., Woodville District.
" 49, E. S. Hopkins, Hopkins St., West District.
" 50, A. P. Linnell's Lunch Room, Main St., Centre District.
"' 51, Is missing; strict search has been made for it, but it has not been found.
" 52, A. G. Baxter, Forest St., South District.
" 53, Geo. F. Roby, Greenwood and Spring Sts., South Dis- trict.
"' 54, S. M. Gates, Green St., South District.
" 55, L. P. Hooper, Nahant St., Woodville District.
" 56, Alex. Murray, Farm St., Woodville District.
" 57, W. M. Ward, Nahant St., Woodville District.
" 58, Geo. M. Leavens, Salem St., East District.
" 59, Jonathan Buxton, Lowell St., East District.
" 60, Albert Phinney, New Salem St., East District.
" 61, L. Dana Draper, Jr., Salem St., East District.
" 62. Jonathan N. McMaster, Ver- non St., East District.
1. 63, J. S. Newhall, Lowell St., North District.
" 64, Timothy McAuliffe, R. R. St., West District.
" 65, Geo. H. Teague, Converse S., West District.
" 66, D. D. Douglas, Broadway St., West District.
No. 67, John F. Stimpson, Prospect St., West District.
" 68, William Darling, Main St., South District.
" 69, Chas. S Merrill, 72 Morrison Ave., West District.
" 70, Chas. W. Sunman, Pitman Ave., South District.
" 71, E. E. Lee, Oak St. and Green- wood Ave., South District.
" 72, J. R. Pow, Pine St. and Greenwood Ave., South Dis- trict.
" 73, Chas. Cloudman, Prospect St. near Stoneham line, West District,
" 74, A. F. Cutter, cor. Oak and Nahant Sts., Woodville Dist.
" 75, E. W. Oliver, upper plains, South District.
" 76, G. W. Mclaughlin, Green- wood St., South District.
" 77, F. L. Smith, Byron St. and Prospect Ave , West District.
" 78, C. R. Counihan, Water St., Woodville District.
" 79, A. C. Albee, Converse, cor. Gould, West District.
" SO, Louis Roberts, Water St., Woodville District.
" 81, Patrick Fay, Salem St .. East District.
" 82, H. W. Eustis, Elm St., West District.
" S3, S. T. Parker, Lowell St., East District.
" 84, H. W. Savage, Oak, near Green St., South District, kept in hose house, Oak and Franklin Sts.
89
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN,-The Board of Engineers herewith present the fol- lowing as their annual report of the Fire Department for the year ending Jan. 31, giving in detail the total number of alarms and fires, with their loss and insurance paid as near as can be ascertained, to- gether with such other information as in our judgment at this time seems appropriate.
FORCE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
By vote of the Town at the last annual town meeting the Volun- teer Hose Co. was made a part of the regular Department, so that the force of the Department consists, at this time, of a total of 56 men, divided as follows : One chief and two assistant engineers, one Steam Fire Engine Co., twelve men, one Hook and Ladder Co., fifteen men, one Chemical Co., six men, two Hose companies, ten men each.
There is also one Volunteer Hose Co. at Greenwood.
We have the past year reduced the number of the Chemical Co. from ten to six men, also the Steamer Co. from thirteen to twelve men, without any apparent disadvantage to either company.
HOSE.
There is in the service 4100 feet of cotton hose in good condition, 2950 feet on the several carriages and 1150 feet in reserve.
APPARATUS.
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