Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1894-1896, Part 14

Author: Wakefield, Massachusetts
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Town of Wakefield
Number of Pages: 990


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1894-1896 > Part 14


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That this article be referred to the Road Commis- sioners.


Art. 44. To see if the town will cause the grade of Chest- nut street opposite and near the entrance to Park ave- nue to be suitably lowered and raise and appropriate money therefor.


That the town do so and that $300 be set aside from the regular highway appropriation for this pur- pose.


Art. 48. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred dollars to repair the sidewalk on the north side of Byron street, from Albion street to Gould street, or what they will do about it.


That the town do so and that $100 be set aside from the regular highway appropriation for this pur- pose.


The committee concur in the recommendation of the appropriation committee that the sum of $7000 be raised as the regular appropriation for repairs of high- ways and bridges, and would further recommend that there be added thereto the sum of $1350 to cover the


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various . expenditures recommended under articles 17, 23, 30, 36, 44 and 48, and we recommend that the town (acting under article 8) raise and appropriate the sum of $8,350 for the repairs of highways and bridges for the ensuing year. The questions of appropriations for concreting and macadamizing Main street were not considered by the committee.


Signed, RICHARD BRITTON, Chair'n, WM. K. PERKINS, HENRY DAVIS, WM. G. STRONG, WINDSOR M. WARD,


SAMUEL H. GOWING, PATRICK KENNEY; JAMES F. MANSFIELD, JOS. M. GILMAN, WM. S. GREENOUGH, Sec'y.


Voted. To accept the report.


Voted. That the report be adopted with the exception of that part under article 32.


Voted. That the article be referred back to the same com- mittee to report at the adjourned town meeting.


Voted. That this meeting be adjourned at 10 o'clock p. m.


Voted. That ten per cent. of the general appropriation for highways be set apart and expended on the streets after the first of August.


Voted. That $1000 be raised and appropriated for macad- amizing Main street.


Voted. That O. V. Waterman, S. K. Hamilton and C. W. Eaton be a committee to investigate and ascertain whether we have a legal Board of Road Commissioners, and report at an adjournment of this meeting.


An amendment that the committee he limited to an expense not exceeding $30 was rejected.


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Voted. That this meeting be adjourned until tomorrow" night at 7.30 p. m.


ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, MARCH 13, 1894.


Meeting was called to order by the Town Clerk in. absence of Wm. N. Tyler, who was unable to be present .. Voted. To adjourn until March 15, at 7.30 p. m.


ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, MARCH 15, 1894 ...


Meeting called to order by the Moderator. .


Voted. To raise and appropriate the following amounts -. under article 8 of the warrant.


Public Library (without dog tax), . $700


Public Reading Room,


200


Salaries of Town Officers, 2,675


including salary of the Road Commissioners, $250. Street Lights and care of same, 3,000


Town House expenses, . 2,000


Miscellaneous expenses, . 9,150


including $900 for settling claim of B. Yale heirs, and $2,250 to pay the expenses of the Electric Light Commissioners, appointed by the Court to estimate the value of the Gas and Electric Light Plant.


Voted. That the Selectmen be instructed to notify the- Commissioners (through their counsel) that the town is ready to pay their part of the fees, whenever the Citizens Gas Light Co. are ready to pay their part. Police Department, $1,200


Common and Park improvements,


Voted. To lay on the table.


Voted. That so much of article 8 as relates to Hydrants be-


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postponed until article 65 is reached and both articles acted on together.


The committee appointed to ascertain whether the town had a legal Board of Road Commissioners or not, made their report, to wit :


That it was of the opinion of the committee that the town had a legal Board of Road Commissioners and that they have power to lawfully hold their offices as such and to legally transact business.


Voted. That the report be accepted.


Voted. That the Road Commissioners be instructed not to employ anyone on the highways unless he is a resident tax payer in the town. '


Art. 9. To see what method the town will adopt for the collection of taxes for the year ensuing.


Voted. That all taxes be due on Sept. 15, 1894; that a discount of two per cent be allowed on all taxes paid on or before Sept. 15, 1894, and that interest at the rate of six per cent. per annum be charged on all taxes re- maining unpaid Oct. 1, 1894, until paid.


Art. 10. To see if the town will authorize the Collector of Taxes for the year ensuing, to use all means for the collection of taxes, which a Town Treasurer when ap- pointed collector, may use.


Voted. To do so.


Art. 11. To see what sum the town will raise and appro- priate for concrete work.


Voted. $1000 for concrete work, $500 of which to be ex- pended on sidewalks when abuttors pay half of the ex- pense, and $500 for gutters, repairs and crossings.


Art. 12. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to provide a Night Watch, and will raise and appropriate money to pay them.


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Voted. To do so, and $1800 for two Night Watchmen.


Art. 13. To determine the compensation of Engine-men for the year ensuing.


Voted. $23 and a sum equal to poll tax.


Art. 14. To see if the town will raise and appropriate two hundred dollars for the purposes of Memorial Day. Voted. To do so.


Art. 15. To see what action the town will take in reference to unpaid concrete bills of former years, now due the town from various individuals.


Voted. To refer to Assessors to report at an adjournment of this meeting.


Art. 16. To see if the town will authorize the School Com- mittee to employ a Superintendent of Schools, and raise and appropriate money therefor.


Voted. To do so, and $1200 to be set aside from the regu- lar school appropriation.


Art. 18. To see if the town will choose an appropriation committee to consider the matter of appropriations for the year 1895, and report in the town report of that year.


The following committee was elected : Richard Brit- ton, C. F. Woodward, J. Fred Parker, Wm. E. Cade, Thos. Hickey, Wm. S. Greenough, H. H. Savage, Otis V. Waterman, T. J. Skinner, E. H. Walton, J. C. Hartshorne, Everett Hart, Michael Low, Hiram Eaton, J. F. Mansfield.


Art. 19. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for repairs on Town Hall.


Voted. To lay this article on the table.


The committee to whom were referred articles 20, 24, 27, 29 and 39 made their report as follows :


Art. 20. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars to place a striker


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on the bell at Greenwood, the same to be expended un- der the direction of the Fire Engineers, or what they will do about it.


That this article be indefinitely postponed.


Art. 24. To see if the town will place two fire alarm boxes, one at the corner of Salem and Vernon streets, and one at the corner of Lowell and Vernon streets, and raise and appropriate a sum of money sufficient to pay for the same, or what they will do about it.


That a fire alarm box be placed at the corner of Salem and Vernon streets and that $60 be raised and appro- priated for that purpose.


Art. 27. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars to purchase a hose wagon and two ladders to be located in the East District.


That this article be indefinitely postponed.


Art. 29. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to purchase a hose wagon to be placed on the west side of the railroad track, or what they will do about it.


That this article be indefinitely postponed.


Art. 39. To see if the town will vote to purchase one . thousand feet of fire hose and raise and appropriate money for the same, or what they will do about it.


That the town do so, and raise and appropriate $600 therefor.


Voted. To accept the report.


Voted. To adjourn this meeting to next Monday evening at 7.30 p. m.


ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, MARCH 19, 1894.


The Moderator called the meeting to order. Voted. To take up article 20.


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. Voted. To raise and appropriate $250 to place a striker on the bell at Greenwood, to be expended by the Fire En- gineers.


Art. 21. To see if the town will elect one highway sur- veyor for each district with other town officers not re- quired by law to be chosen by ballot, or what they will do about it.


Voted. To indefinitely postpone.


Art. 22. To see if the town will cause a hydrant to be placed at the corner of Railroad street and Lakeside avenue, and appropriate money therefor.


Voted. To lay this article on the table.


Voted. To adopt the recommendations of the Committee.


Voted. That article 27 be indefinitely postponed.


Voted. To indefinitely postpone article 29.


Voted. To raise and appropriate $600 to purchase 1,000 feet of hose as asked for under article 39.


Report of committee to whom were referred articles 25, 61, 63 and 66 was as follows :


Art. 25. To see if the town will place three additional street lights on Lowell street, between Vernon street and Salem street, also place six additional street lights on Salem street between New Salem street and the Lynnfield town line, to be located according to the dis- cretion of the Selectmen, and raise and appropriate a sum of money sufficient to pay for the same, or what they will do about it.


That the town raise and appropriate a sum of money to place a light on Lowell street east of the house of E. E. Oliver.


On the remainder of this article the committee rec- ommended that the introduction of electric lights was so near at hand that it would not be expedient to place the lights as asked for.


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Art. 61. To see if the town will vote to place two street lights on Oak street, two on Nahant street and one on Farm street.


That this article be indefinitely postponed.


Art. 63. To see if the town will erect and maintain two street lights on Stedman street, or what they will do about it.


That a sum of money be raised and appropriated to place one light on Stedman street and maintenance of same.


The report was amended by striking out (one) and inserting (two) lights and that $10 be appropriated.


Art. 66. To see if the town will cause three oil lamps to be located on Water street, one opposite Farm street and two east of Farm street and raise and appropriate money therefor.


That one light be located on Water street opposite Farm street and one east of Farm street and that a sum of money be raised and appropriated therefor.


Voted. That the report be accepted.


Voted. To act on each article separately.


Voted. Art. 25. To placc one light on Lowell street as recommended and $5.


Voted. Art. 61. . To adopt recommendations of committee and indefinitely postpone.


Voted. Art. 63. To place two lights on Stedman street and $10 for same.


Voted. Art. 66. To place three lights on Water street as asked for and $15 therefor.


Art. 28. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of fifty dollars towards purchasing a team to trans- port prisoners between Malden and Cambridge.


Voted. To do so.


Voted. Under Art. 33. $650.


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Art. 37. To see if the town will cause two fire hydrants to be located on Water street east of Melvin street and provide for the maintenance of same, or what they will do about it.


Voted. To postpone this article till article 65 be reached.


Article 38. To see if the town will vote to have the Beebe


Town Library open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from two o'clock P. M. to 9 o'clock P. M. continuously.


Voted. To refer to Board of Trustees.


Art. 40. To see if the town will purchase a school lot in the west part of the town and procure plans for a school. building to be erected thereon, and raise and appropri- ate mouey therefor, or what action they will take in the. matter.


Voted. That a committee of five be appointed by the Mod- erator, two of whom shall be members of the School Committee, to examine into the subject-matter of this article, ascertain the best location for a school-house and the probable cost of the lot for a school building of not less than four school-rooms. This committee to. report at a future meeting not later than November, 1894.


Chair appointed C. H. Spencer, Edson W. White, R. P. Buzzell, Wm. E. Rogers, A. H. Thayer.


Art. 41. To hear and act on the report of the committee chosen March 20, 1893, relative to the purchase of a school lot in Greenwood.


The committee chosen March 20, 1893, to purchase a school lot in Greenwood, made a partial report and asked for further time.


Voted. To accept the report and refer the report back to the same committee.


Art. 43. To see if the town will raise and appropriate twenty-five dollars for the use of the Fish Committee.


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Voted. To do so.


Art. 46. To see if the town will instruct its Assessors to print with their annual reports, a detailed list of such appropriations and levies as are included in their tax levy.


Voted. That the Assessors do so.


Art. 47. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to increase the number of Police Officers to five, to consist of three night officers, one day officer and a chief, and raise and appropriate an additional sum of money to pay the same.


Voted. To indefinitely postpone.


Art. 49. To see if the town will place a fire hydrant on the corner of Gould street and Byron street and raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the same, or what they will do about it.


Voted. To postpone this article until article 65 had been acted upon.


Art. 52. To see if the town will grant the use of the town hall to the Women's Christian Temperance Union for three evenings during the current municipal year at the cost to the town of running expenses for such use.


Voted. To do so.


Art. 53. To see if the town will cause a hydrant to be placed at the junction of Prospect street and Cedar street and raise and appropriate money therefor.


Voted. To postpone this article until article 65 has been acted upon.


Art. 54. To see if the town will adopt the provisions of Chapter 331 of the Public Statutes of Massachusetts relating to the catching of pickerel.


Voted. To do so.


Art. 55. To hear and act upon the report of the committee


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chosen at a meeting held Dec. 11, 1893, to consider the question of further school facilities at Boyntonville. The committee made the following report :


Investigation of the conditions at the Greenwood School shows that the present building is inadequate for the accom- modation of the pupils now in the school and that more ample facilities must soon be provided by the erection of a new school-house.


This matter is, we learn, already in the hands of another committee to select and recommend a suitable location for such building. The school now numbers eighty pupils in two rooms of three grades each.


There are now in Boyntonville seventeen children of school age. From the best information at our command, we conclude that there are at least twelve of this number who would attend those grades now established in the present Greenwood School, and it must be apparent that this school should not be further taxed to the extent of receiving this additional number. Certainly no higher grade than the sixth can be established while this school remains in the present . building. Assuming that a new building will be so located as to afford ample facilities for the whole district and meet the demands of the residents of Boyntonville in every par- ticular, and pending such action on the part of the town, we recommend that the tuition of all children of school age re- siding in Boyntonville up to the grade of the High School who desire to attend school in the Town of Melrose be paid by the Town of Wakefield.


We further recommend that the sum of $300 be appropri- ated and placed at the disposal of the School Committee to pay such tuition bills during the current year.


S. S. WHITE, H. H. SAVAGE, C. W. EATON,


Committee.


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Voted. To accept the report.


Voted. To adopt the report.


Art. 56. To see what action the town will take in relation to disposing of the old hearse.


Voted. To refer to Selectmen with instructions to sell.


Art. 57. To see if the town will establish and maintain a- hydrant for fire protection and locate the same on West Chestnut street, near the residence of Taylor F. Smith, or what shall be done about it.


Voted. To lay this article on the table until article 65 has- been acted upon.


Art. 58. To hear and act upon the report of the Selectmen arranging a division of the town into convenient voting precincts, for the choice of all officers which are elected by the people, except Town Officers.


Selectmen presented their report.


Voted. To accept the report.


Voted. To recommit the report to the Selectmen to see if any changes are necessary and report at a future town meeting.


Art. 59. To see if the town will relinquish to the estate of the late Cornelius Sweetser the principal sum of the bequest of ten thousand dollars accepted by the town under the provisions of the will of said Cornelius Sweet- ser for the purpose of establishing and maintaining an annual course of lectures in the town of Wakefield.


Voted. To lay this article on the table.


Voted. To adjourn this meeting until Wednesday evening, March 21, 1894, at 7.30 P. M.


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ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, MARCH 21, 1894. Meeting called to order by the Moderator.


Voted to take up article 19.


Voted. To raise and appropriate $450 for repairs on the Town Hall.


Voted. To take up article 59.


Voted. To indefinitely postpone.


Art. 60. To see if the town will choose a committee to in- vestigate and test the feasibility of securing a supply of fresh water for public and domestic use by boring or filtering or otherwise, which shall be independent of the corporate rights and privileges of the Wakefield Water Company, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what they will do about it.


Voted. To indefinitely postpone.


Art. 62. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to shingle and re- pair the barn at the Town Farm.


Voted. To indefinitely postpone.


Art. 64. To hear and act upon the report of the committee appointed by the town to confer with the Wakefield Water Company.


The Committee presented their report.


Voted. That the report be accepted.


No further action taken under this article.


Art. 65. To see what action the town will take in relation to a supply of water for the extinguishment of fires after the expiration of the existing contract with the Wakefield Water Company. .


O. V. Waterman presented the following motion :


That the Town of Wakefield pay the Wakefield Water Company for the use of the hydrants now in use in the Town


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of Wakefield in supplying water for the extinguishment of fires, the same prices heretofore paid during the time of the negotiations now going on for the purchase of the works of said Company by the Towns of Wakefield and Stoneham for a term not exceeding one year from March 1, 1894, and that the sum of four thousand eight hundred and forty dollars be raised and appropriated therefor.


The motion was amended by striking out the words (" same prices as heretofore paid,") and inserting (" the sum of $25 per hydrant,") also by striking out the words (" one year from March ") and inserting (" eight months from April") and striking out the whole clause relating to raising and appropriating $4,840.


Voted. To adjourn till Tuesday evening, March 27, 1894, at 7.30 P. M.


ADJOURNED MEETING, MARCH 27, 1894.


Meeting called to order by the Moderator.


Article 37 was taken up and the motion of Mr. Wa- terman as amended and carried.


Under article 37 it was voted that the town cause . two hydrants to be located on Water street between Brook Avenue and Newhall Court.


Voted. To take up article 62.


Voted. To reconsider the vote whereby this article was in- definitely postponed.


Voted. To raise and appropriate $150.


Art. 68. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the payment of the fees of lawyers, wit -- nesses and stenographers acting in the town's behalf during the current municipal year, or what they will do about it.


Voted. To indefinitely postpone.


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Voted. To take up article 8.


Voted. To raise and appropriate $3,500. for the annual rental of hydrants.


Voted. To take from the table so much of article 8 as re- lates to Common and Park Improvements.


Voted. To raise and appropriate $400 for Common and Park expenses.


Voted. That the pay of the Assessors be increased $200, making the salary of the Board $600 instead of $400.


Art. 69. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to employ legal counsel to act in the town's behalf in relation to the purchase by the town of the Wakefield Water Works and the Wakefield Gas and Electric Works, or what they will do about it.


Voted. To indefinitely postpone.


Art. 70. To see what action the town will take in reference to additional accommodations for the Public Library.


Voted. That a committee of nine be appointed by the chair to take the subject matter of this article under advise- ment and report at a future town meeting.


Chair appointed O. V. Waterman, W. S. Greenough, S. K. Hamilton, Richard Britton, Wm. F. Young, Wm. E. Rogers, Geo. H. Towle, Wm. B. Daniel, Chas. F. Woodward.


Voted. To take article 22 from the table.


Voted. To indefinitely postpone.


Voted. To take up article 49.


Voted. To place a hydrant as asked for in this article and raise and appropriate $25 for the same, to be located under the direction of the Fire Engineers ..


Voted. To take article 53 from the table.


Voted. That the town cause a hydrant to be located at the junction of Prospect and Cedar streets to be located by


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the Fire Engineers, and raise and appropriate $25 therefor.


Voted. To take article 57 from the table.


Voted. That a hydrant be placed on West Chestnut street near the residence of Taylor F. Smith, to be located by the Fire Engineers, and raise and appropriate $25 therefor.


Voted. To take up article 22.


Voted. To reconsider the vote whereby this article was in- definitely postponed.


Voted. That a hydrant be placed at the corner of Railroad street and Lakeside avenue, same to be located under the direction of the Fire Engineers and that $25 be raised and appropriated therefor.


Voted. That the thanks of the town be extended to the Moderator for his able and efficient services, and that he be paid $25.


Voted. To dissolve this meeting.


TOWN MEETING, MAY 1, 1894.


Meeting called to order by the Town Clerk.


Article 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.


Jacob C. Hartshorne was elected moderator.


Art. 2. To see if the town will instruct the town treasurer to invest all gifts to the town and trusts held by the town conditional with annual interest payments, in loans to the town and to rescind all previous votes as to the rate of interest on such, and fix the rate as follows : On the C. Sweetser burial lot fund of one thousand dollars, at the rate of one per cent. per annum, on the Jonathan Nichols gift of one thousand dollars in aid of the tem-


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perance cause, five per cent. per annum, and on all other gifts and trusts with annuity payments, the rate of three per cent. per annum, or what it will do about it.


Voted. "That whenever the town treasurer has occasion and authority to hire money for a term of years, he is hereby authorized to take from the treasury the sum of two thousand dollars which shall represent the Flint memorial fund and the J. Nichols temperance fund, and that the same be set aside as trust funds for the pur- poses named, to be invested as loans to the town to bear interest at the rate of four per centum per annum."


Art. 3. To see what action the town will take in relation to- providing an armory for Co. A, 6th regiment, M. V. M., and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it. will do about it.


" That Solon O. Richardson, Wm. S. Greenough,


: Charles F. Woodward, Alstead W. Brownell, George H. Taylor, Edwin C. Miller, Edward J. Gihon, Silas W. Flint and William B. Daniel be a committee in be- half of the town with full power and authority to pur- chase a suitable tract of land and to erect thereon an armory building and connecting drill shed for use of Co. A, Sixth regiment, M. V. M., and for such other uses as the town may in future direct, at a cost not to exceed twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) ; and to pro- vide funds to pay for said land and building, the town treasurer be authorized with the approval of the select- men, to hire the sum .of twelve thousand dollars ($12,- 000) and to issue the notes or bonds of the town there- for, the same to be made payable-three thousand dol- lars in each of the following years, viz : 1900, 1901, 1903 and 1904, and that said amounts of $3000 be raised by taxation in each of the years above named." Voted. To adjourn to May 8, 1894, at 7.30 P. M.


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ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, MAY 8, 1894.


Meeting called to order by the Moderator. Voted. To take up article 3.


Voted. "That to provide to carry out the vote passed un- der this article, the town treasurer be authorized, with the approval of the selectmen, to hire the sum of $12,000 and to issue the notes or bonds of the town therefor, the same to be made payable in the years 1900, 1901, 1903 and 1904 in the sums of $3000 in each year, and that these amounts be raised by taxation in the years above named."




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