USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1897-1899 > Part 24
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Voted.
Art. 31. To see if the town will authorize and instruct its high- way surveyor to employ only those men to work on its pub- lic highways who are legal voters in the town, or what it will do about it.
Amended, by adding "bridges and stone crusher" after the word "highway." The amendment was accepted. The ques- tion on the motion as amended was then voted.
Voted. To adjourn at 10.30 o'clock until next Monday evening at 7.30 o'clock.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, MARCH 22, 1897.
Voted. To take up Art. 16.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Voted. To take up Art. 17.
Voted. That the selectmen be authorized to appoint a town solic- itor at a salary not to exceed $300, and that the amount be taken from the miscellaneous appropriation.
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Article 23 was then taken up and that portion relating to the appropriation of money for town physician's salary was indefinitely postponed.
Article 18 was taken up and indefinitely postponed.
Further time was granted to the finance committee for the consideration of articles 28 and 29, relating to horses for the fire department and remodeling the engine house for the ac- commodation of horses.
Art. 32. To hear and act upon the report of the committee ap- pointed by the town March 20, 1893, under article 48 of the town warrant in relation to the purchase of the Wakefield Water Works by the towns of Wakefield and Stoneham.
Voted. That the committee have further time and that when they are ready to report they report in print.
Art. 33. To hear and act upon the report of the committee on the John Drugan accident case.
Selectman C. E. Walton reported on behalf of the commit- tee, the other members being James P. Keefe and William G. Strong. From facts obtained by the committee, the town could not legally pay Mr. Drugan as no one contracted any- thing on Mr. Drugan's account, who had any authority to do So. The report was accepted.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 34. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars to compensate John Drugan for injuries received while in the employ of the town, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To raise and appropriate $500.
Motion to reconsider lost.
Art. 35. To hear and act upon the report of the selectmen upon the subject-matter of article 6 of the last town war- rant, relating to insuring the town from liability from acci- dents upon its highways.
Selectman Walton stated that none of the insurance com- panies would insure the town against general accidents ou highways. Employees could be insured against accidents.
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but no others. On motion of Mr. Strong the subject was indefinitely postponed.
Art. 36. To hear and act upon the report of the committee ap- pointed to investigate the damage done to Mary L. Maxwell's property on the southerly side of West Chestnut street, cor- ner of Cedar street, by the overflow of water from the street. caused by insufficient drainage, or what it will do about it.
Mr. Eaton, on behalf of the committee to whom the mat- ter was referred, reported that the case had been investigated. The damage was caused by the clogging up of the drain with sand, causing the backing up of water into the cellar. While there could be no legal claim for damage done by sur- face water, the committee felt that in view of the circumstan- ces the town should pay Mrs. Maxwell the sum of $50, which would be satisfactory to her, for damage done to the basement. The report was accepted.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 37. To hear and act upon the report of the committee ap- pointed by the town to select a public burial lot of land, or what it will do about it. '
Maj. Tyler reported on behalf of the committee, the other members being Oliver Walton and George A. Seaver. Avail- able lots were reported as follows :
Land of D. G. Walton, West Chestnut street extension, near Elm street, 24 acres, price one cent per foot, or about $10,400 ; not too remote from the center, of moderate cost when compared with other land.
The Joshua Green farm, Vernon street, near Lynnfield town line ; no price could be ascertained.
Land of Samuel T. Parker and others, north of Lowell street, rear of Mr. Parker's greenhouses. Mr. Parker's land contains 93 acres, price $2,300 ; adjoining land of Austin L. Mansfield, containing 19 acres, $1800 ; adjoining land of Jack- man estate, 9 acres, $1,800. Mr Parker also offers additional land in front of the proposed line, including the land now occupied by greenhouses, stable and windmill and making 15 acres instead of 93. Price of additional land, with expense
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of moving houses, $3,575. Land in good condition for pur- poses required.
Land rear of the Lyons estate, north of Lowell street, near. er Montrose, 80 acres, price $1,000 ; probably cost as much more to put in good condition.
Land of W. S. Ripley, rear of Newhall court, over 15 acres, cost $3,200; also 20 acres north of this lot, owners unknown. Very desirable land and locality.
Maj .. Tyler reported that the law provided for the taking of land by towns for cemetery purposes, but it was antici- pated that an amicable agreement could be made when the time came for selecting a lot of land. Two maps were ex- hibited, one showing Mr. Walton's land and the other the land of Mr. Parker and Mr. Mansfield. The committee recom- mended that the town purchase not less than 30 acres and the town appoint a committee of three persons to be known as cemetery commissioners to have charge of the cemetery, the laying out of avenues, lots, etc., and that the lots be sold at a fair price, the money to be used in beautifying the grounds. Also that the surveyor of highways be authorized to build such streets as may be necessary to reach the cemetery. The committee recommended the purchase of either Mr. Ripley's land or the land of Mr. Parker and Mr. Mansfield. Mr. Ripley's land was desirable in being nearer the center, while the land in the rear was available for no other purpose than for a cemetery should Mr. Ripley's land be put to that use.
Voted. To refer the matter to the same committee to get the re- fusal of such land as in their judgment would be best for the interest of the town and report at an adjourned or future town meeting.
Voted. To adjourn to April 5, 1897, at 7.30 p. m.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, APRIL 5, 1897.
Meeting was called to order in the town hall at 7.30 o'clock, Monday evening, Moderator Hadley in the chair. A resolution granting the free use of the town hall to the Grand Army post on
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Memorial Day was adopted. That portion of article 5 relating to the appropriation of money for the conduct for the municipal light plant was then considered. C. W. Eaton, Esq., reported for the finance committee recommending an appropriation of the income of the plant and $5,000, to include $8.500 for operating expenses, $1.000 for gas main extension and $500 for electric extension.
Motion to adopt report ; lost.
Motion to raise and appropriate $4,500; lost.
Voted. To raise and appropriate $3,500 for the municipal light board.
Motion to reconsider ; lost.
A motion to increase the salary of the board of assessors by $300 in anticipation of extra work this year was lost.
Art. 28. To see if the town will purchase horses for the fire department and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Chester W. Eaton, Esq., on behalf of the finance commit- tee, reported that the committee had fully considered the subject, and while they were not unanimous in their opinion, the recommendations were endorsed by a substantial majority. In accordance with the committee's action, Mr. Eaton moved that the town appropriate $500 for the purchase of three horses for the fire department.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 29. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money to change over the engine house on the corner of Crescent street and Mechanic street in said town to accommodate horses, or what it will do about it.
Indefinitely postponed.
Voted. To take up article 3.
Motion to reconsider previous action in regard to the ap- propriation of $1,200 for police expenses ; lost.
Art. 5. Being under consideration. C. W. Eaton, Esq., moved that the sum of $400 additional be appropriated to enable
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the fire engineers to hire a man to remain at the department building permanently. At this point it was voted, on motion of J. C. Hartshorne, Esq., to adjourn for one week.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, APRIL 12, 1897.
Art. 5. Relating to appropriations for various town depart- ments, was under consideration at the previous meeting at the time of adjournment and was first considered. A motion made by C. W. Eaton, Esq., favoring an appropriation of $400 additional for the fire department, was first considered. Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Voted. That $1,000 of the income of the municipal light plant be set apart for extending the gas mains when there is a guaran- tee of 5 per cent of the cost of the same.
Motion to reconsider, was lost.
Art. 37. Relating to the report of the committee on a new burial lot, was then taken up, and Maj. Tyler, on behalf of the committee, reported. A lot of land containing about fifteen acres and belonging to Dea. Thomas Martin was re- ported upon. The land runs from Lowell street northeast- erly to Vernon street and the price asked was $250 per acre. The committee made no recommendation on this lot. The lot belonging to W. S. Ripley, near Newhall court, and the land owned by S. T. Parker and A. L. Mansfield north of Lowell street were again reported upon and recommended as noted in the committee's previous report.
Voted. To accept the report.
Several motions, amendments and substitute motions were made and it was finally voted to again refer the subject to the same committee to consider the town farm land and report at a future meeting. It was afterwards voted that the selectmen be authorized to provide a suitable temporary burial place pending the committee's report.
Art. 38. To hear and act upon the report of its committee ap- pointed under article 8 of the last town warrant in relation to
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the discontinuance of a private way in Greenwood, said way running easterly from Myrtle avenue to the junction of Grove and Hanson streets.
The committee having no report to make, it was voted to discharge the committee.
Voted. That all action under this article be indefinitely post- poned.
Art. 39. To hear and act upon the report of the committee ap- pointed under article 9 of the last town warrant in relation to a private way running in a southeasterly direction from Brown street to Main street in Greenwood.
Indefinitely postponed.
Art. 40. To hear and act upon the report of the selectmen on laying out and continuing Valley street to Nahant street.
Selectman C. E. Walton reported on behalf of the select- men of 1896, allowing the petitioners for the street leave to withdraw.
Voted. To refer to the present board of selectmen.
Art. 41. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for building a continuation of Valley street to Nahant street, or what it will do about it.
Chair ruled that no action could be taken under this arti- ele.
Art. 42. To see if the town will raise and appropriate. the sun of four hundred dollars to repair Lowell and Salem streets from a point opposite the estate of Dennis Lyons to the es- tate of Charles Talbot, or what it will do about it.
Voted. That the highway surveyor be instructed to attend to the matter and pay for the same out of the highway appropria- tion.
Art. 43. To see if the town will repair the road bed of Byron street, between Gould street and Albion street, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it will doabout it.
Indefinitely postponed.
Art. 44. To see if the town will complete the sidewalk on the southerly side of Byron street, from land of J. W. Wellman
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to Albion street, and raise and appropriate money therefor. or what it will do about it.
Indefinitely postponed.
Art. 45. To see if the town will place an electric are light on Salem street, between the corner of Pleasant street and Ver- non street, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To remove the light from the electric light station and lo- cate it as directed.
Art. 46. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars to be used to complete the work needed to be done on New Salem street, or what it will do about it. Indefinitely postponed.
Art. 47. To see if the town will accept the remaining portion of Converse street, said portion of said street having been built without expense to the town, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To refer to the selectmen to report at the next town meeting.
Art. 48. To see if the town will build a sidewalk on the westerly , side of Melvin street, between Bennett street and Nahant street, and raise and appropriate money therefor, the same to be expended under the direction of the highway surveyor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To instruct the highway surveyor to build a sidewalk as asked for and that the expenses be taken out of the regular appropriation.
Art. 49. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of four hundred dollars to build a sidewalk on the northerly side of Richardson street, from a point in front of the residence of Sumner Pennell to the railroad track of the Boston & Maine railroad, or what it will do about it.
Voted. That the highway surveyor be instructed to build the side- walk and that the expense be taken out of the general appro- priation.
Art. 50. To see if the town will repair and grade Pitman avenue. in Greenwood, on the easterly end of said avenue by leveling a hill there situate in said avenue. and raise and appro-
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priate the sum of three hundred dollars therefor, or what it will do about it.
Indefinitely postponed.
Art. 51. To see if the town will repair and grade Brook avenue and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Referred to highway surveyor with instructions to attend to the matter.
Art. 52. To see if the town will authorize its selectmen to com- mence a suit at law in behalf of the town against the Wake- field Water company to recover the sum of $2,500 heretofore paid to Mrs. Arlon S. Atherton for injuries received by reason of an accident.
Voted. To do so with the following amendment, that the action be brought against the water company through the town counsel.
Art. 5. Was then taken up. It was then voted that the moder- ator be given the thanks of the meeting, and that $25 be paid to the moderator for his efficient services. The meet- ing dissolved at eleven o'clock.
STATE ELECTION, NOVEMBER 2, 1897.
Pursuant to a warrant duly drawn and served, the voters as- sembled at six o'clock in the forenoon at their respective poll- ing places on Tuesday, the second day of November next, it being the Tuesday next after the first Monday in said month, then and there to bring in their votes on one ballot for governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary, treasurer, auditor, attorney-gen- eral of the Commonwealth, councillor for the Fifth Councillor Dis- trict, senator for the Middlesex-Essex District, representative to represent the Twenty-ninth Middlesex Representative District in the General Court, county commissioner for the County of Mid- dlesex, county treasurer for the County of Middlesex, and regis- ter of deeds, Southern District, Middlesex County.
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The polling place for the voters living in precinct number one will be in the town hall, and for voters living in precinct number two, in the Greenwood hose house, situated on Oak street, and both in said Wakefield. The polls in each precinct will be open at six o'clock in the forenoon and close at thirty minutes past four o'clock in the afternoon.
The polls were opened at six o'clock by Town Clerk Harts- horne who swore in the election officers as follows :
PRECINCT ONE.
The polls at precinct one were opened at 6.10 o'clock after the usual preliminary arrangements. William B. Daniel, presided as warden, and Hoyt B. Parker, as deputy warden. J. Fred Parker was clerk, and A. W. Brownell deputy clerk. The inspectors were W. J. Mansfield, E. M. Southworth, E. H. Walton and Cornelius Donovan, and the deputy inspectors were W. E. Cade, J. P. Keefe and W. W. Bessey. The tellers were P. J. Kelly, J. A. Hickey, E. S. Jacob, S. T. Parker, W. C. Skulley, E. P. McDonnell, H. A. Simonds, M. T. Lane, Wallace Kendall, A. L. Wiley, W. W. Taft, C. E. Walton, W. S. Dennison, D. Harry Darling and G. E. Hart.
PRECINCT Two.
The polls were opened at 6 o'clock by Warden W. G. Eaton, who swore in the following election officers : Deputy Warden, T. H. Painter ; clerk. R. D. Jones ; deputy clerk, H. W. Walton ; inspector, F. M. Staples ; deputy, N. A. Heath ; inspector, M. L. Harris; deputy, C. W. Locklin; tellers, A. M. Baxter, R. L. Pitman, C. W. Boynton, J. A. Sale.
Polls declared closed at 4.30 p. m.
The result of the election. by precincts, was as follows :
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GOVERNOR.
Precincts.
Totals.
1
2
John Bascom, Pro.
15
18
T. C. Brophy, S. L.
24
2
26
William Everett, Dem. Nat.
35
5
40
G. F. Williams, D.
365
19
384
Roger Walcott, R.
763
121
884
Blank.
146
5
151
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
E. A. Buckland, S. L. .
31
4
35
C. T. Callahan, D.
326
11
337
J. E. Cotter, Dem. Nat.
46
1 -
53
W. M. Crane, R.
712
110
822
W. O. Wylie, Pro.
29
13
42
Blank,
104
10
114
SECRETARY.
A. W. Barr, S. L.
30
6
36
C. D. Nash, D.
316
12
328
W. M. Olin, R.
710
110
820
Edwin Sawtell, Pro.
20
3
23
B. M. Wolf, Dem. Nat.
35
37
Blank, .
136
158
TREASURER.
G. A. Brown, S. L.
39
46
R. C. Habberley, Pro.
26
4
30
E. P. Shaw, R.
687
103
790
H. P. Tobey, Dem. Nat.
51
5
56
T. A. Watson, Dem.
304
10
314
Blank,
141
26
167
AUDITOR.
Joseph Ballam, S. L.
31
7
38
Harry Douglas, Dem. Nat.
38
4
42
J. W. Kimball, R.
693
102
795
J. H. Sheldon, D.
307
9
. 316
H. M. Small. Pro.
20
5
25
Blank.
159
28
187
.
.
.
.
39
ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
Wolcott Hamlin. Pro.
27
10
37
William Harrison, S. L.
37
6
43
H. M. Knowlton, R.
701
.104
805
W. W. McClench, Dem. Nat.
34
3
37
J. A. O'Keefe, D.
315
7
322
Blank,
134
25
159
COUNCILLOR.
H. H. Atherton, R.
719
110
829
J. L. Libby, Dem. Nat.
39
10
49
D. H. Maguire, D.
318
11
329
Blank,
172
24
196
SENATOR.
I. E. Graves, D. .
464
43
507
C. F. Woodward, R.
693
92
785
Blank, .
91
20
111
REPRESENTATIVE.
Charles A. Dean, D.
649
84
733
Otis V. Waterman, R.
543
67
610
Blank, .
51
4
55
COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
S. O. Upham, D. R.
814
109
923
Scattering,
5
0
5
Blank,
429
46
475
REGISTER OF DEEDS.
E. O. Child, D. R.
787
105
892
Scattering,
0
2
Blank,
459
50
509
COUNTY TREASURER.
J. O. Hayden, D. R.
786
106
892
Scattering.
1
0
1
, Blank, .
.
461
49
510
40
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING.
Town Clerk Hartshorne called the meeting to order at 7.30 o'clock and Darius Hadley was chosen moderator, acting under article 1. It was voted, on motion of Capt. J. H. Carter, to take up the articles in their order.
Art. 2. To revise and accept the list of jurors prepared and posted by the selectmen.
The name of Seth Crosby was removed from the list and that of C. O. Anderson substituted. Mr. Bumpus was ex- cused from serving at his request ; the name of Charles Ays- cough was added. The list as revised was accepted.
At this point the following articles were referred to the finance committee, in accordance with the new municipal rules : Articles 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 24, 25, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34, 36, 37.
Art. 3. To see if the town will grant the free use of the town hall for three evenings to the Home for Aged Women, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To grant the use of the hall as requested.
Art. 4. To see if the town will authorize and instruct the muni- cipal light board to transfer to the road surveyor sixty iron lamp posts now at the gas works, the same to be used for sign board posts in Greenwood, or what it will do about it. Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 5. To consider whether the town will provide one or more public dumps for the reception of refuse rubbish, for the citizens of the town, or what action it will take on the sub- ject.
Voted. Indefinitely postponed.
Art. 6. To act on the question of instructing the auditor to insert in the annual town reports of each year the rules adopted by the town for use in town meetings, or what the town will do about it.
Voted. To instruct the auditor as requested.
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Art. 7. To consider and see if the town will appropriate one hundred and twenty-five dollars to repair sidewalk and cross- ing at the south side of Gould street, from Murray street to Emerson street, and east side of Emerson street to Chestnut street, or what it will do about it, as requested by Austin E. Perry and others.
C. W. Eaton, Esq., on behalf of the finance committee, asked for further time, and it was granted.
Art. 8. To see if the town will construct a wind-mill at the town farm and appropriate one hundred and fifty dollars to pay for the same, or what action it will take thereon. As prayed for by James H. Carter and others.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 9. To consider and decide if the town will appropriate the sum of four hundred dollars for the use of the highway de- partment, or what it will do about it. As requested by Solon Walton and others.
Voted. $400, upon recommendation of the finance committee.
Art. 10. To see if the town will authorize the selectmen or school committee to erect a flag-staff on the grounds in front of the Lincoln school house, and appropriate money there- for, or what action, if any, it will take. As solicited by William N. Tyler and others.
Further time was granted the committee at Mr. Eaton's request.
Art. 11. To determine if the town will appropriate two hundred dollars to pay for land damages sustained by Mrs. Goodale in the building of Jordan avenue, or what action it will take thereon. As requested by William Montgomery and others. Voted. $100. A motion to reconsider was lost.
Art. 12. To see if the town will appropriate four thousand dollars to repair Gould street, from Byron street to Converse street, as laid out by the county commissioners, or what ac- tion the town will take thereon. As requested by J. Wool- dridge and others,
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Upon the committee's recommendation. the subject was re- ferred to the highway surveyor.
Art. 13. To see if the town will appropriate two thousand dol- lars for the support of the poor, or what it will do about it. As asked for by Hiram Eaton and others.
Voted. $2,000, upon the committee's recommendation.
Art. 14. To see if the town will repair and maintain the several fish-ways on Saugus river. and construct new ones when re- quired, so that the fish can make their way from Lake Quan- napowitt to the sea, and appropriate money to pay the neces- sary expenses therefor, or what action the town will take in the matter. As requested by J. C. Hartshorne and others. Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 15. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars for printing and advertising, or what action, if any, the town will take thereon. As prayed for by Albert W. Flint and others.
Mr. Eaton, for the finance committee, reported $200, and that amount was voted.
Art. 16. To ascertain if the town will appropriate the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars for the police department, or what it will do about it. As requested by Alvin L. Vannah and others.
Voted. $250.
Art. 17. To ascertain if the town will. appropriate the sum of twenty-seven hundred and ninety-five dollars and sixty-eight cents to pay the judgment and interest recovered against the town in the suit of Albert W. Hunt vs. the town of Wakefield, May 3, 1897, or what action it will take thereon. As prayed for by Wmn. H. Lee and others.
Voted. $2,795.68.
Art. 18. To determine if the town will appropriate six hundred and eighty-five dollars to pay Charles W. Bartlett for pro- fessional services in defending the town in the suit of Albert W. Hunt vs. the town of Wakefield, to recover damages for injuries received from a defective highway, and also the sum
13
of twenty-nine dollars paid by him for the town, for court expenses in said case, or what action it will take thereon. As requested by Edward A. Upton and others.
Voted. $714.00.
Art. 19. To see if the town will appropriate three hundred and twenty-five dollars to pay for legal services and expenses in defending the town in the suit of Edward B. Kelly vs. the town of Wakefield, to recover damages for injuries received on Valley street by reason of a defect in the highway, or what action it will take thereon. As requested by George E. Hart and others.
Voted. $325.00.
Art. 20. To hear and act upon the report of the selectmen on the petition of Charles A. Dean and others to extend Valley street, from Hart street to Nahant street.
Voted. To refer back to the selectmen to arrange for another hearing and report later.
Art. 21. To see if the town will appropriate a sufficient sum of money to build Valley street, from Hart street to Nahant street, or what action it will take thereon. By request of William F. Bowman, Sr., and others.
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