USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1894-1896 > Part 17
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If some things have not been sufficiently explained or
66
touched upon in this report, the Board and manager will gladly answer such questions as they are able to; they do not claim to "know it all" as yet ; they are, however, trying to learn, are interested in the matter of better lights, and with the aid of the citizens they believe they can make the lights of Wakefield so shine as to be seen and approved of by all.
Respectfully submitted,
SILAS W. FLINT, CHARLES H. SPENCER, ELROY N. HEATH.
Sept. 10, 1894.
Voted. To accept and adopt the report.
Two amendments offered that the arc lights be lighted from 5 a. m. until daylight and that two lights be added on Water street were both rejected. Report placed on file.
Art. 3. To see if the town will appropriate a sufficient sum of money from the proceeds of the bonds of the town already authorized by the town, to pay for extensions- and enlargements and improvements as recommended by the Municipal Light Board or otherwise, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To do so and $20,000.
Art. 4. To see if the town will appropriate money to pay the running expenses of its Municipal Light Plant, or what it will do about it.
Voted. $4,000 in addition to the receipts from the sale of the products of the gas and electric light plant of the Town of Wakefield for paying running expenses of the plant from Aug. 1, 1894, to March 1, 1895. .
Art. 5. To see if the town will authorize its Selectmen to pay premiums amounting to three hundred and fifty dollars upon three policies of insurance contracted for
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by its Municipal Light Board, and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To do so and that the money be taken from the amount appropriated under article 4.
Art. 6. To see if the town will establish rules and regula- tions for the management of its Municipal Lighting Plant and the conduct of the business and to see if it will establish general rules regarding the extension of gas mains and electric lights, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 7. To see if the town will authorize its treasurer to pay out of the proceeds of the bonds about to be issued the amount due the Citizens' Gas Light Company under the decree of the court.
Voted. That the Town Treasurer be authorized to pay to the Citizens' Gas Light Company or their assigns, the amount due them as per decree of the court, less such amount as shall be due the town from said Company for taxes, gas or other sources.
Art. 8. To see if the town will authorize its Municipal Light Board to take charge of its street oil lamps, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To do so.
Art. 9. To see if the town will authorize its Municipal Light Board to light the town hall building by electric- ity and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do. about it.
Voted. To refer the whole matter to the Municipal Light Board.
Voted. $350 to pay for lighting the lower part of the town. hall building with electricity.
Art. 10. To see if the town will appropriate and authorize its Board of Health to use for the purpose of abating a
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nuisance which contributes to the pollution of Saugus river, so called, the unexpended portion of seven hun- dred dollars, which was on the sixteenth day of July last past appropriated for the purpose of cleaning out said river, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 11. To see if the town will vote to have turned into the treasury the unexpended balance of the appropria- tion of seven hundred dollars, voted July 16, 1894, for cleaning Saugus river, so called, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To do so.
Art. 12. To see if the town will widen the roadway of that part of Water street between Farm street and Brook avenue, and have a sidewalk made there, and appropri- ate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. That the chair appoint a committee of five to take the whole matter under consideration and report at a future town meeting.
Chair appointed Wm. K. Perkins, Hoyt B. Parker, John A. Sanborn, Thos. Hickey, Geo. K. Walton.
Art. 13. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars to be expended under the direc- tion of the Wakefield Road Commissioners in repairing and widening the bridge on Salem street, at the town line separating the towns of Wakefield and Lynn- field ; the said town of Lynnfield having appropriated a like sum for widening and repairing its portion of said bridge, or what it will do about it.
Voted. $300 for purpose named in this article.
Art. 14. To see if the town will change the name of that portion of Wiley street, running from Water street to Salem street in Montrose, to Montrose avenue, and des-
69
ignate said streets and avenue by suitable sign boards, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To do so.
Art. 15. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars for the purpose of con- structing and placing an iron railing upon the wall at Beebe's cove, so called, on Main street, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To do so and fence to be two rails high.
Art. 16. To see if the town will grant the use of the town hall for the sum of five dollars for each evening for four evenings, to the Home for Aged Women, for the purpose of holding a " Bazaar," or what it will do about it.
Voted. To do so.
Art. 17. To see if the town will authorize its Board of Se- lectmen to pay for the use of a horse used in a supply wagon for chemical supplies used at a fire which oc- curred in Wakefield, July 15, A. D. 1893, and also to pay for the use of a horse used in a supply wagon for chemical supplies used at a fire which occurred in Wake- field, April 7, A. D. 1894, or what it will do about it. Voted. To refer to Fire Engineers.
Art. 18. To see if the town will authorize the trustees of the Beebe Town Library to use for the purchase of library books, four hundred dollars of its dog tax for the current municipal year, or what it will do about it. Voted. Not to do so.
Voted. To adjourn without date.
STATE ELECTION, NOVEMBER 6, 1894.
Pursuant to a warrant duly drawn and served, the voters assembled at six o'clock in the forenoon at their respective
70
polling places on Tuesday, the sixth day of November. A. D. 1894, then and there to give in their votes on one ballot for Governor, for Lieutenant-Governor, for Secretary, for Treas- urer and Receiver-General, for Auditor, for Attorney-Gen- eral of the Commonwealth, for a Representative to the Fifty-fourth Congress of the United States, for a Councillor for the Sixth Councillor District, for one County Com- missioner for the County of Middlesex, for a Senator for the Sixth Middlesex Senatorial District, for a Representative to the General Court to represent the Thirteenth Represent- ative District; for a Register of Deeds for the Southern District of Middlesex County ; and for a County Treasurer for Middlesex County ; and also to give in their votes on the same ballot, "Yes" or "No," for or against the following article of amendment to the Constitution relative to Commis- sioners of Insolvency : So much of Article nineteen of the Articles of Amendment to the Constitution of the Common- wealth as is contained in the following words, "Commission- ers of Insolvency," is hereby annulled. The form of the ballot shall be as follows : Shall the proposed amendment to the Constitution relative to Commissioners of Insolvency be approved and ratified ? " Yes," " No."
The polling place for the inhabitants of voting precinct number one, qualified to vote as aforesaid, will be the Town Hall in said town of Wakefield.
The polling place for the inhabitants of voting precinct number two, qualified to vote as aforesaid, will be the Greenwood Hose House, situated on Oak street, in that part of said town of Wakefield known as Greenwood.
The polls in each of said voting precincts will be open at six o'clock in the forenoon on said sixth day of November, and will be closed at thirty minutes past four o'clock in the afternoon upon the same day.
Meeting was called to order by Town Clerk Charles F. Hartshorne, and the warrant was read, after which Warden
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Wm. B. Daniel assumed charge and appointed the following election officers :
H. B. Parker, E. H. Walton, J. Fred Parker, E. M. Southworth, Cornelius Hickey, P. B. Wiley, Richard J. Cuff, J. Wallace Grace, A. W. Brownell.
The counters were appointed by the warden as follows : W. W. Taft, Alexander Johnston, George E. Hart, Fred . S. Hartshorne, P. J. Kelley, J. A. Hickey, E. P. McDon- nell and C. E. Walton.
At 6.08 o'clock the polls were declared open.
RESULT OF THE BALLOT.
GOVERNOR.
Precinct. 2
Total.
1
Frederick T. Greenhalge, R.
665
111
776
John E. Russell, D.
378
13
391
George H. Carey, Peo.
101
2
103
A. W. Richardson, Pro.
29
3
32
D. Taylor, S. L.,
9
0
9
Blank,
25
3
28
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
Roger Wolcott, R.
664
99
763
C. E. Stratton, D.
342
12
354
W. O. Dwinell, Peo.
113
6
119
S. B. Shapleigh, Pro.
39
10
49
M. E. Ruther, S. L.
10
0
10
Blank,
39
5
44
SECRETARY.
W. M. Olin, R. .
672
109
781
C. E. DeCourcy, D.
327
10
337
I. W. Skinner, Peo.
111
6
117
W. D. Farnham, Jr., Pro.
23
2
25
14
0
14
J. F. Malloney, S. L. . Blank, .
·
60
5
65
·
·
.
.
.
·
.
72
TREASURER.
H. M. Phillips, R.
666
101
767
341
13
354
98
5
103
11
0
11
27
4
31
64
9
73
AUDITOR. 1.
John W. Kimball, R. .
669
105
774
A. C. Whitney, D.
340
13
353
M. W. Landers, Pco. .
.
·
104
6
110
W. M. Purrington, Pro. C. N. Wentworth, S. L. Blank,
13
1
14
·
11
0
11
.
70
7
77
ATTORNEY GENERAL
H. M. Knowlton. R.
661
106
767
H. F. Hurlburt, D.
351
13
364
J. Sumner, Peo. .
111
4
115
F. M. Forbush, Pro. F. A. Nagler, S. L. Blank,
16
4
20
9
0
9
· 59
5
64
COUNCILLOR.
J. M. Harlow, R.
. 657
105
762
F. J. Simonds, D.
343
13
356
E. F. Carr, Peo. .
127
6
133
Blank,
.
80
8
88
SENATOR.
Arthur H. Wellman, R.
665
106
771
Norman F. Hesseltine, D.
431
18
449
Henry Winn,
1
0
1
Blank,
.
110
8
118
·
.
·
·
·
·
·
·
+
J. S. Grinnell, D.
M. W. Moran, Peo.
E. Auerbach, S. L. John M. Fisher, . Blank,
.
.
73
REPRESENTATIVE TO GENERAL COURT.
Silas W. Flint, R.
489
85
574
Edward A. Upton, D. .
.
488
34
522
Alexander C. Allbee, Peo.
.
·
168
8
176
Blank,
61
5
66
COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
S. O. Upham, R.
702
109
811
P. A. Fay, D.
361
14
375
Blank,
144
9
153
COUNTY TREASURER.
J. O. Hayden, R.
689
111
800
A. D. Hoyt, D.
367
14
381
Blank,
·
151
7
158
REGISTER OF DEEDS.
C. B. Stevens, R.
711
107
818
J. F. Slattery, D.
347
15
362
John W. Lyons, .
1
0
1
Blank,
148
10
158
REPRESENTATIVE TO CONGRESS.
W. E. Barrett, R.
632
103
735
. S. K. Hamilton, D.
367
14
381
W. L. Ramsdell, Peo. .
135
5
140
G. M. Buttrick, Pro.
19
1
20
G. R. Peare,
9
0
9
Blank,
45
9
54
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Yes,
452
50
502
No,
93
4
97
Blank,
662
78
740
.
.
·
·
Total number of votes cast, 1,339.
Voted. To adjourn to Wednesday evening, Nov. 7, 1894, at 7.30 p. m.
.
·
74
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, NOV 7, 1894.
Meeting called to order by the Town Clerk.
Article 1. To choose by ballot a moderator to preside at said meeting.
Edward A. Upton was elected moderator.
Art. 2. To see what disposition the town will make of the premium received from the sale of the bonds of the Municipal Light loan.
Voted. That all premiums received from the sale of the municipal light bonds be placed to the credit of interest account, thereby reducing the amount to be raised for interest the coming year.
Art. 3. To see if the town will appropriate from the pro- ceeds of the bonds recently sold a sum sufficient to meet the expenses connected with the printing of the bonds, and expenses of advertising the loan, or what it will do about it.
Voted. That the sum of $256.85 be appropriated from the proceeds of the bonds of the municipal light loan, to meet the expenses of the printing of the bonds and ad- vertising the loan
Art. 4. To see what action the town will take in reference to a further gift to the town from the estate of Corne- lius Sweetser, amounting to $552, the same being in connection with the bequest for lectures.
Voted. That the sum of $552, recently received by the treasurer from the estate of Cornelius Sweetser as an additional income from the bequest for lectures, be set aside and used only for such deficits as may arise from subsequent courses of lectures ; and the treasurer is hereby authorized to draw from this fund should such emergency occur.
Art. 5 To hear and act upon the report of the committee
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chosen at the annual town meeting of March, A. D. 1893, relative to the purchase of a school lot in Green- wood.
Ex-Selectman H. H. Savage on behalf of the com- mittee read the report. The report was signed by Ash- ton H. Thayer, Theodore E. Balch, Peter S. Roberts and Henry H. Savage.
Voted. To accept the report.
Voted. That $2000 be appropriated for school lot at Green- wood.
Art. 6. To hear and act upon the report of the committee chosen at the adjourned town meeting of March 19, A. D. 1894, relative to the purchase of a school lot in the west part of the town and the erection of a school building thereon.
William E. Rogers, Esq., on behalf of the committee, asked for further time, and it was voted to grant the request.
Art. 7. To see if the town will sell one fourth of an acre of its land situated on the southerly side of the school house lot on Farm street, said lot to measure five rods in width on Farm street, and eight rods in length on the southerly line of said school house lot, to an association of persons for the purpose of erecting thereon a public hall for Woodville district, or what it will do about it. Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 8. To hear and act upon the report of the committee appointed at the town meeting of September 10th, last past, to report upon article 12 of that town warrant re- lating to a sidewalk upon Water street.
The committee consisted of W. K. Perkins, Thomas Hickey, Hoyt B. Parker, George K. Walton and J. A. Sanborn. The report unanimously recommended the building of a sidewalk on the northerly side of the
76
street, near Woodville district. It was voted to appro- priate $250.
Art. 9. To see if the town will grant. the use of the town hall at running expense for one evening to Post 12, G. A. R., for the purpose of enabling said Post to re- plenish its charity fund, or what it will do about it. Voted. To grant the request. .
Art. 10. To see what disposition the town will make of the proceeds of. the dog tax for the current municipal year, or what it will do about it.
Voted. That $200 of the amount be appropriated for library purposes, and that the balance be turned over to the school committee.
Art. 11. To hear and act upon the Rules and Regulations made by the Board of Health of the town in regard to. plumbing and house drainage.
The town clerk read the regulations after which W. K. Perkins moved to indefinitely postpone, and the mo- tion was carried.
Art. 12. To revise and accept the list of jurors prepared by the Selectmen.
Voted. To accept the list of jurors as revised. (See page 6 of this report).
Art. 13. To see if the town will appropriate an additional sum of money for miscellaneous expenses, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To appropriate $2,000 additional.
Art. 14. To see if the town will appropriate an additional sum of money for the police department, or what it will do about it.
Motion to appropriate $300 was lost.
Art. 15. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars for the support of the poor, or what it will do about it.
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Voted. $1,000, on motion of Mr. Mason.
Art. 16. To see if the town will appropriate an additional 1 sum of money for the repair of highways and bridges, or what it will do about it.
Voted. $500.
Voted. To adjourn to Friday evening, Nov. 9, 1894, at 7.30 p. m.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, NOV. 9, 1894.
Meeting called to order by the Moderator.
Voted. To take up article 12.
Voted. To reconsider the action taken at the previous meet- ing under this article.
,Voted. To appropriate $300 for police purposes. Motion to reconsider lost.
Motion to take up article 11 was lost.
Art. 17. To see if the town will change the name of School street to Pleasant street, or what it will do about it. Voted. To do so.
Art. 18. To hear and act upon the report of the Road Commissioners relative to laying out a town way, the same being an extension of Park avenue to the town line of Stoneham.
Maj. Ward, on behalf of the road commissioners, read the report, recommending the laying out of the avenue.
Motion to indefinitely postpone lost.
Voted. To accept and adopt the report.
Motion to take up article 16 lost.
Art. 19. To hear and act upon the report of the Road Com- missioners relative to laying out a town way now called Morrison road and running from Park avenue to Shum- way circle.
78
Art. 20. To hear and act upon the report of the Road Com- missioners in laying out a town way now called Shum- way circle, and running from Morrison road to the town line of Stoneham.
Art. 21. To hear and act upon the report of the Road Com- missioners in laying out a town way now known as Bellevue road, and running from Shumway circle to Park avenue.
Art. 22. To hear and act upon the report of the Road Com- missioners on laying out a town way now called Park avenue, from the town line of Stoneham to Prospect street.
Maj. Ward read the reports on the above articles, in which the Road Commissioners favored accepting the streets. The reports were accepted and the recommen- dations adopted.
Art. 23. To see if the town will build a new town way running from Converse street to Albion street, as or- dered by the County Commissioners of said County, and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To lay this article upon the table.
Motion to reconsider lost.
Art. 24. To see if the town will authorize its Municipal Light Board to change one provision of the rules as adopted by the town, so that one dollar may be charged as a minimum rate for electric light in any one month instead of two dollars, providing the same be approved by the State Board of Gas and Electric Light Commis- sioners.
On motion of Secretary Elroy N. Heath of the Muni- cipal Light Board, it was voted to authorize the board to act as indicated in the article.
Voted. To dissolve the meeting.
79
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, DEC. 17, 1894.
The meeting was called to order at 7.30 o'clock by Town Clerk Hartshorne.
Art. 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting. E. A. Upton was chosen moderator.
Art. 2. To see if the town will vote to accept the provis- ions of Sections numbered "one" to "twelve" inclusive of Chapter "one hundred and eighty-seven" of the Acts of the General Court of the year 1894, upon condition that before the thirtieth day of March, A. D. 1895. and in accordance with the terms of the contract referred to in Section "one" of said Act, the franchise, rights and property of the Wakefield Water Company shall have been purchased, or commissioners shall have been ap- pointed by the Judge of Probate ; or what it will do in the premises.
G. H. Towle, Esq., moved "That the town accept the provisions of sections numbered one to twelve in- clusive, of chapter one hundred and eighty-seven of the Acts of the General Court of 1894, upon the ex- press condition that within three months from the date of the passage of this vote and in accordance with the terms of the contract referred to in section one of said chapter the franchise, rights and property of the Wake- field Water company shall have been purchased, or commissioners shall have been appointed by the judge of probate for the County of Middlesex, or the judge of probate for the County of Suffolk, and until such purchase, or appointment of commissioners within said time, this vote shall not be considered an acceptance of said provisions."
Voted. That the rule which limits debate in town meetings be suspended during the discussion of Articles 2 and 3.
The whole evening was taken up in discussing the mo-
80
tion and at 10.30 p. m. it was voted, "That when the meeting adjourned it adjourn to Thursday evening, Dec. 20, at 7.30 p. m. Voted. To adjourn.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, DEC. 20, 1894.
Meeting was called to order by the moderator and Mr. Towle's motion under Article 2, made at the pre- vioús meeting, was again taken up, and spoken upon by a large number of citizens of the town, the same occupying the entire evening.
On motion of Geo. K. Walton the meeting adjourned until Wednesday evening, Dec. 26. at 7.30 p. m.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, DEC. 26, 1894.
Art. 2 was once more brought up.
Capt. James F. Emerson offered the following mo- tion : That each speaker be now limited to ten minutes and that a vote on the motion made by Mr. Towle in . regard to the acceptance of the special water act be taken by ballot "yes and "no," not later than 9 o'clock this evening and that the check list be used.
Town Treasurer T. J. Skinner offered the following as an amendment : That when the meeting adjourn, it adjourn to Saturday, Dec. 29, at 3 o'clock p. m., and that a vote on the motion now pending on Article 2, be taken at that time by ballot "yes" and "no," and that the polls be open from 3 o'clock until 9 o'clock p. m.
Col. Greenough moved to further amend the motion by striking out the words limiting the debate. Col. Greenough's amendment finally went through and the motion as amended by Mr. Skinner, was then carried.
Others discussed the subject until 10.20 o'clock, when the meeting adjourned.
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ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, DEC. 29, 1894.
Moderator E. A. Upton called the meeting to order at three o'clock. In accordance with a vote passed at the previous meeting the polls were at once opened. The moderator appointed Fred S. Hartshorne and Rich- ard J. Cuff to superintend the check list. George E. Hart was appointed to preside over the ballots for use at the polls.
Capt. J. F. Emerson moved that all other action un- der town business be postponed until 7.30 o'clock p. m. Col. Greenough stated that it was generally understood that no business would be transacted at the meeting, and he moved as a substitute motion that when the meeting adjourn that it adjourn until Wednesday eve- ning, January 2. Col. Greenough's motion was car- ried. A vote to reconsider was lost.
The polls were closed at nine o'clock and in a few minutes the result was announced by the moderator as follows :
Whole number of votes, 610
"No," 373
"Yes," 237
The moderator declared Mr. Towle's motion lost, and the meeting adjourned until Wednesday evening.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, JAN. 2, 1895.
Art. 3. To see if the town will vote to authorize James F. Emerson, Solon O. Richardson, Edwin C. Miller, Wil- liam G. Strong, Thomas Hickey, Peter S. Roberts and Henry H. Savage, its committee appointed to join in behalf of the town with the inhabitants of the town of Stoneham in the purchase of the franchise and works of the Wakefield Water Company, in accordance with the
82
provisions of a contract entered into between the in- habitants of the town of Stoneham and the Quanna- powitt Water Company, bearing date January 26, 1883, and in the name of the said town of Wakefield, and on its behalf to apply, or join the inhabitants of the town of Stoneham in an application to the Judge of Probate for the County of Middlesex, or the Judge of Probate for the County of Suffolk, for the appointment of Com- missioners in accordance with the terms of the contract referred to in Section "one" of Chapter 187 of the Acts of the General Court for the year 1894, when in the judgment of said committee it is advisable to do so ; and will also authorize the said committee, in case such commissioners are appointed, to prosecute to comple- tion the proceedings before said commissioners, and to take such action, and do such things as the said com- mittee may deem best, in order to complete the purchase of the franchise, rights and property of the Wakefield Water Company in accordance with the terms of said contract ; or what it will do in the premises.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 4. To see if the town will authorize its treasurer to purchase the outstanding bonds of the Citizens' Gas Light Company, recently assumed by the town in the purchase of the Municipal Light Plant, or what it will do about it.
Voted. That the town treasurer be authorized to purchase the bonds Sept. 15, 1895, at 105, or at any time previ- ous to that date provided it can be done at an equiva- lent price.
Art. 5. To see if the town will appropriate a sufficient sum of money from the proceeds of the Municipal Light bonds to pay the legal expenses connected with the purchase of the Municipal Light Plant, or what it will do about it.
83
Voted. To appropriate $5000 from the proceeds of the mu- nicipal light bonds to pay the bill of S. K. Hamilton for legal services performed by him for the town in con- nection with the purchase of the municipal light plant. Art. 6. To see if the town will vote to petition the Gene- ral Court for authority to sell to adjoining towns and the inhabitants thereof, electricity for light, heat and power, or what it will do about it.
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