USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1897-1899 > Part 31
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Pleasant street, from Otis street, north, 196 4
Elm street, from Railroad street, north, 1,683 . 4
60 . 2
Avon street,
Total. 2,059 feet.
Number gas consumers January 31, 1897. 222
٠٠ added during year. 38
discontinued “ 20
January 31, 1898, 240
18
Increase during year,
Number gas meters in use January 31, 1897,
253
set during year,
54
" removed " ·
.
35
" changed " · 15
.. in use January 31. 1898, · 272
19
Increase during year.
We have taken care of the oil lights and the expense for do- ing so will be found elsewhere in this report, which was taken from appropriation of running expenses. They have been lighted.
11.
157
as has always been the custom, when the moon set before 9 o'clock, or did not rise before 9 o'clock in the evening.
I think the plant is in better condition now than it has been at any time since the town took control.
GENERAL EXPENSES.
Balance unexpended Feb. 1, 1897,
$430 77
Appropriation, April 5. 1897, 3,500 00
$3.930 77
Income and receipts as turned over to town treasurer, as follows :
Received from sale of electricity and gas,
residuals, miscellaneous sales and guaran-
tee deposits,
. $18,111 63
Insurance, returned premiums received, 180 00
18,291 63
$22,222 40
Expended as follows :
ELECTRIC.
Steam plant,
$219 27
Electric lines,
9 72
Transformers,
1 05
Tools, ·
134 00
Incandescent lamps,
107 40
Jobbing-electric,
133 95
Steam coal,
3,000 86
Carbons,
277 50
Oil and waste,
106 57
Globes,
42 78
Repairs, steam plant,
793 77
electric plant,
79 21
arc lamps,
253 19
electric lines,
692 64
real estate,
4 92
electric station,
80
General salaries, including distribution
wages,
1,589 70
Station wages,
2,472 25
.
.
158
Care are lights,
.
$1,253 25
Sundry materials,
1 25
$11,174 08
GAS.
Real estate, .
$6 75
Machinery and manufacturing appliances,
2 18
Gas mains,
5 13
Gas meters,
12 70
Tools,
53 94
Gas stoves.
157 00
Jobbing gas.
224 25
Gas coal,
2,424 54
Gas oil,
98 35
Purifying,
8 05
Repairs, gas mains,
364 35
gas meters,
58 95
at works,
187 94
of benches,
34 00
real estate,
2 40
General salaries, including distribution
wages, ·
1,004 20
Wages works,
2.191 00
meter takers,
84 00
Coke, teaming.
95 70
Tar barrels,
43 00
Sundry materials, .
17 60
7,076 03
IN GENERAL.
Office furniture and fixtures,
$43 65
Horses and wagons.
63 50
Care of grounds.
59 00
Stable expenses,
362 25
Hay and grain,
201 80
General expense.
78 73
General office expense.
60 01
Postage and envelopes,
69 20
Printing and stationery,
142 26
.
159
Insurance,
Oil lights,
$524 37 265 39
$1,870 16
$20.120 27
Balance unexpended, .
2,102 13
$22,222 40
EXTENSION GAS MAINS.
Balance unexpended, Feb. 1, 1897,
$488 98
Expended as follows :
Gas mains ($5.13 additional taken from general appropriation), $305 03
Gas meters ($12.70 additional taken
from general appropriation ), 183 95
$488 98
EXTENSION GAS PLANT.
Balance unexpended, Feb. 1, 1897,
$5 76
Expended as follows :
Repairs at works, $5 76
-
EXTENSION ELECTRIC LINES.
Appropriation, Nov. 15, 1897, $1,000 00 .
Expended as follows :
Electric lines ($9.72 additional taken from general appropriation) ,
$456 27
Electric meters,
229 50
Transformers ($1.05 additional taken from
general appropriation), 314 23
$1,000 00
RECAPITULATION OF EXPENDITURES.
Municipal Light Plant, general expenses, $20,120 27
ext. gas mains, 488 98
. .
66
וי plant 5 76
66 ext. electric lines, . 1,000 00
-$21,615 01
-
160
Expended as follows :
C. H. Spencer, lumber, . $15 80
Standard Carbon Co., carbons, 277 50
Geo. H. Taylor, hardware, etc., 51 62
D. W. Hunt, teaming, 25 20
Geo. H. Hathaway, harness repairs,. 8 15
Cutler Bros., hay, grain, etc., . 216 00
Waldo Bros., brick, cement, etc.,
91 14
E. W. Remick, blacksmithing, 7 30
Giles & Tupper, יו
21 75
J. M. Perley, lime, 20 80
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co., telephone ser- vice, . 96 53
McIntosh Bros., wagon repairs,
23 45
F. W. Pierce, expressing,
4 45
Liberty Oil Co., oil,
182 86
General Electric Co., electric supplies, 184 43
Buckeye Electric Co., incandescent lamps, 83 37
Francis Doane & Co., stationery, 22 72
Braman, Dow & Co., pipe and fittings, 193 97
M. P. Foster, printing and stationery, 99 50
American Gas Light Journal, Gas Light Journal, 3 00
Edward Kendall & Sons, boiler parts, 25 10
Morrill & Atwood, hay, . 18 31
W. K. Niver & Co., coal, 1,983 89
Westinghouse Elec. & Mfg. Co .. electric meters, 153 00
Boston & Maine R. R. Co., freight, 916 21
McIntosh, Seymour & Co., engine parts, 33 56
J. M. Curley, hay and grain, . 15 00
Anchor Electric Co., electric supplies,
110 84
M. T. Davidson, steam pump parts, 22 35
John Flanley, burlap, etc., 8 05
E. B. Stillings & Co., printing, 8 50
1
Brand Stove Co., gas stove, 34 50
Curran & Burton, coal, . . 685 90
1
161
Wakefield Rattan Co., tar barrels, etc., $38 20 Jenkins Bros., valves, etc., 3 55
Geo. H. Meader, boring and repairing en- gine, 321 30
A. D. Oxley, wood work.
3 60
W. W. Bessie, horse hire,
2 00
Elroy N. Heath, desk,
20 00
C. Latimer. expressing,
5 65
S. T. Parker, flower beds,
5 00
Smart & Spencer, damper parts,
3 00
Mansfield & Cheney, coal,
1,755 80
Leland Belting Co., waste,
9 72
Henry B. Worthington, steam pump parts, . .
32 94
Wm. H. Gallison, steam repairs, indica- tor, etc., 340 25
Chester W. Eaton, insurance, 100 00
Denis Greaney, bricks, . 5 00
-Fostoria Incandescent Lamp Co., incan- descent lamps, ..
5 93
Jas. W. Poole, incandescent lamps, 4 25
Cotton & Woolen Mfgs'. Mutual Insurance Co., insurance, . 240 00
Sawyer-Mann Electric Co., incandescent lamps, 11 50
Knowles Steam Pump Co., packing, 1 40
L. A. Chase & Co., arc lamp parts,. 3 57
S. E. Ryder & Co., corks, etc., .
10 15
David & Farnum Mfg. Co., pipe, 38 17
Wakefield Water Co., hydrant service,
35 00
Boston Gas Appliance Exchange, gas stoves, .
117 65
Geo. E. Adams, waste, 19 60
John Power, bungs, 1 20
Chas. F. Hartshorne & Son, insurance, .
149 87
Geo. E. Smith, carpentering, 8 00
A. B. Woodman, horse shoeing, etc., 37 95
E. I. Parrington, machine work, 22 25
162
Nathanial Tufts Meter Co., gas meters, . $240 75 Simplex Electrical Co., wire and tape, 338 12 C. S. Knowles, arc lamp locks, 15 00
Ft. Wayne Electric Co., electric met- ers, 69 95
Stanley Electric Mfg. Co., transformers, 310 87
Chandler, Farquhar & Co., hardware, 12 01
Petty cash, postage, envelopes, etc., 223 66
Chas. Spaulding, manager, $1,800 per yr., 1,756 50 Fred A. Swain, clerk, $70.00 per mo., 837 40
W. E. Oakes, engineer, $3.00 per day, -
1,014 00 Jas. L. Freelove, electrician, $2.50 day, 925 00
Patrick McLaughlin, gas foreman, $3.00 per day, 1,092 00
Daniel Maher, stoker, $2.00 per day, 728 00
Daniel Sheehy, stoker, $2.00 per day, 724 00
Patrick Desmond, gas helper and fireman, $2.00 per day, 647 00
Patrick Griffin, general helper, $2.00 per day, .
518 00
James Griffin, general helper, $2.00 per day,
224 00
W. E. Hagan, lineman, $2.50 per day, .
910 00
Paul E. Lane, lineman, trimmer and patrol, $2.00 per day,
728 00
Louis F. Low, trimmer and patrol, $1.75 per day, 637 00
Fred N. Lord, trimmer and patrol, $1.75 per day, .
140 00
Geo. D. McIntyre, fireman, $2.00 per day, 118 00
John Connor, laborer, 20c per hour, 18 00
Alexander McDonald, " 66
66 20
Patrick Keife, ..
15 00
James Regan,
66
7 00
Michael Foley, 66 2 00
Dennis O'Connell,
22 00
Samuel Harris, 66 66 19 00
Eugene Lowney, .. 2 00
163
Wm. Hennessey,
laborer, 20c. per hour,
$1 80
Martin Glynn,
17 00
John Sliney,
66
66
23 70
Patrick Harney,
66
. 6
13 80
John Drugan, 60
1 00
Michael Curran,
66
66
18 00
Patrick Curran,
66
5 00
Arthur Johnson,
66
6.
6 20
Horace Hale,
66
9 00
Morris Welsh,
66
64 20
John McNally,
66
22 30
John Curran,
13 00
Dennis Murphy,
66
9 00
John Reid,
66
. .
11 00
Thomas Donovan,
9 00
Frank Kelley,
66
9 00
Wm. Hourihan,
66 .
66
2 00
John Finn,
66
7 00
Andrew Weary,
66
1 00
Jas. Weary,
66
66
7 00
Michael Horty,
66
7 00
William Scanlan,
80
$21,615 01
164
ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING ACCOUNT.
EXPENSES.
RECEIPTS.
Coal, .
$3.249 18
Sales electricity, . $4,541 40 " steam, . 600 00
Carbons,
·
·
254 50
Oil and waste.
109 50
" inventory, 45 94
230 18
Repairs steam plant, 806 72
electric ·· 75 40
66 arc lamps. 219 30
electric lines. 685 71
real estate, 4 92
electric station, 80
.6 tools, 24 06
1 25
Sundry materials. . General salaries, in- cluding distribu- tion wages. ·
1,589 70
2,472 25
Station wages. ·
Care of lights,
1,253 25
29 50
Care of grounds.
315 06 -
General office ex-
204 27
pense,
204 16
Insurance,
136 38
Inc. lamps,
164 84
Jobbing account.
$11.845 17
$11.845 17
Inc. lamps sales, .
94 23
Globes,
44 42
Jobbing acct .- sales,
: (
" inventory,
5 56
Balance. loss,
6,327 86
Stable expense,
·
165
GAS MANUFACTURING ACCOUNT.
EXPENSES.
RECEIPTS.
Coal,
.
$2,619 98
Gas sales,
Steam, .
600 00
gross, $12,181 24-
Enrichers,
95 85
Less dis-
Purifying,
2 65
counts, 1,023 98
Sundry materials, . 17 60
Repairs, gas mains,
380 07
Gas stoves, sales, .
125. 75
66 inventory, 38 50
Jobbing
account,
sales,
·
311 39
benches, .
27 95
real estate,
2 40
tools,
.
8 60
Gen'l salaries, in- cluding distribu- tion wages, . .
1,004 20
Wages, works, .
2,191 00
meter takers, 84 00
Care of grounds,
29 50
Stable expense, .
157 58
General office ex-
pense,
.
204 27
Insurance, .
204 16
Gas stoves, .
177 00
Jobbing account,
344 63
Coke.
170 70
Tar,
330 90
Balance gain,
4,618 90
$11,157 26
" meters, 58 95
66 at works, .
199 70
Jobbing
account,
inventory, . 95 84
Coke, sales, .
686 35
inventory, 50 00
Tar, sales, . 797 45
" inventory,.
268 00
$13,530 54
$13,530 54
.166
OIL LIGHTS.
EXPENSES.
RECEIPTS.
Inv., Feb. 1, '97, .
$15 78
.Kerosene oil sold, . $12 12
Labor, .
·
217 00
Inv., Feb. 1,'98, . 13 27
Stable expense,
157 54
Balance loss, 413 32
Kerosene oil,
35 93
Chimneys,
10 20
Wicks, .
.46
Matches,
1 80
$438 71
$438 71
ASSETS.
Cash on band as follows :
At works,
$137 63
At town treasury :
Balance general ap- propriation,
2.102 13
Balance from bonds not yet appropri- ated,
213 15
Real estate, gas,
. 17,823 22
Mch. and Mfg. ap-
propriation, gas, . 38,632 52
Gas mains,
. 24,378 10
Gas meters,
. 3,523 57
Tools, gas (Inv.), .
428 91
Steam plant, . . 20,951 29
Real estate, electric, 17,298 08
Electric plant,
. 15,536 10
Electric lines,
. 25.002 27
Arc lamps,
. 4,456 18
Transformers,
. 3,298 05
Electric meters,
2,015 72
Tools, electric (Inv.), 447 82
Office furniture and
fixtures (Inv.), . 242 75
LIABILITIES.
Bonds,
$171,000 00
Accrued interest,
2,280 00
Guarantee deposits,
127 00
Balance,
8,590 48
$181,997 48
167
Horses and wagons
(Inv.),
$476 50
Coal gas (Inv.),
758 64
Enrichers,
17 25
Gas stoves,
38 50
Coke,
50 00
Tar, . . 268 00
Purifying material
(Inv.),
20 40
Jobbing, gas material
(Inv.), 95 84
Repair materials,
gas (Inv.), 19 95
Coal, steam (Inv.), 132 01
Carbons (Inv.),
85 75
Oil and waste (Inv.), 33 44
Incandescent lamps
(Inv.), 45 94
Globes (Inv.),
25 86
Jobbing, electric ma- terial (Inv.),
5 56
Repair material, elec-
tric (Inv.), 284 27
Hay and grain (Inv.), 22 67
Oil lights (Inv.), . 13 27
Insurance, (unex-
pired) (Inv.), 376 09
Sundry debtors, 105 69
Electric consumers, 894 42
Gas consumers, : 1,739 94
$181,997 48
168
LIST OF UNPAID BILLS, JANUARY 31, 1898.
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co., : $22 73
Waldo Bros., 3 00
Francis Doane & Co., 5 35
Davis & Farnum Mfg. Co.,
15 00
Akron Iron and Steel Co.,
4 58
Braman, Dow & Co.,
13 85
Geo. H. Hathaway,
75
J. M. Perley,
1 80
A. B. Woodman,
1 40
Cutler Bros.,
6 90
Giles & Tupper,
5 00
Geo. H. Taylor,
3 35
$83 71
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES S. SPAULDING,
Manager.
169
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
The Selectmen submit to the citizens of the town the annual report of their official acts during the year, commencing March 1, 1897, and ending March 6, 1898.
As an introductory remark, they regret to report that the year apparently closes as it commenced, with a marked depression in the business conditions of the country, and a manifest need of confidence among business men in their financial relations with each other; but amid these unfavorable and discouraging circum_ stances, they are pleased to note, that the public peace and good order of society and a reasonable observance and submission to . the laws of the land have been observed and maintained by the citizens of the town during the closing year. They would also respectfully refer the citizens to the reports of the officers con- nected with the different municipal departments to ascertain the amount of receipts and expenditures, and the methods of manag- ing and conducting the business of the town by its official servants.
ACTIONS AT LAW.
HANGLIN CASE.
The town, Nov. 30, 1896, acting under article 15 in the warrant, " To see if the town will appropriate five hundred dol- lars to pay Jeremiah J. Hanglin for personal injuries received by him while in the employ of the town, or what it will do about it," voted, "That the selectmen be instructed to pay Mr. Hanglin five hundred dollars and take his release therefor, provided they can. legally do so." The selectmen of last year stated in their report the circumstances which prevented them from taking action in the case, and transmitted it to the present Board. Mr. Hanglin brought an action against the town Oct. 15, 1894, to recover
170
damages for personal injuries received Dec. 28, 1893, by a rock falling upon him while in the service of the town, and alleged that the accident occurred through carelessness and negligence of the town by its agents or servants.
The town denied its liability or responsibility for the accident as alleged, and Jan. 28, 1896, the case was tried in the Superior Court at Cambridge and a verdict obtained for the town by order of Court. Mr. Hanglin neglected to improve his legal rights to have that "Order of Court" affirmed, if right, or annulled if wrong, by the Supreme Court; therefore judgment was entered on the verdict. It is a fixed principle of law, that towns have the authority to appropriate money to pay their debts and to settle disputed claims, but have not the power to provide money for gratuitous purposes. The fact was established by a judicial decision, which decision has not been reversed, that Mr. Hanglin had no legal claim against the town in this action ; there- fore the payment to him of five hundred dollars as provided by the article in the warrant would not be made in settlement of an existing debt, or to compromise and adjust a disputed claim, but to provide a gratuity for him on account of his financial condition and the misfortune he sustained by the accident, which payment would evidently be in direct violation of law and contrary to the instructions contained in the vote. If the selectmen could have acted on the principles of benevolence and sympathy, payment would not have been refused.
ATHERTON CASE.
Nov. 23, 1896, the town acting upon a report of a committee. in town meeting assembled, instructed the selectmen to bring an action at law against the Wakefield Water Company to recover from said company twenty-five hundred dollars paid by the town to Mrs. Susan M. Atherton, as damages for personal injuries she received by a defect in the public highway, which defect the town maintains was caused by the careless and negligent work of the company. The town to maintain this action must prove that the company was notified before the settlement of the Atherton case that the town intended to hold the company responsible for the defect and for all damages recovered against the town.
171
Before the settlement of the Atherton case. Mr. Upton, then a member of the Board of Selectmen, called at Mr. Towle's office in Boston, who was counsel for the town in the case, and requested him to serve upon the company the required notice. Subse- quently he received from him the following letter :
BOSTON, May 11, 1896.
Hon. E. A. Upton,
28 School St., Boston.
Dear Sir,-Mr. Ranney asked me to notify you that I had re- quested the Wakefield Water Co. to come in and defend the action of Atherton against the town. I have delivered such notice to Mr. Hamilton, president of the company.
Yours truly,
GEORGE H. TOWLE.
Mr. Ranney was counsel for Mrs. Atherton. In the examina- tion for evidence to prove service of the notice, inquiries were made of Mr. Hamilton if any service had been made upon him and he most positively denied that he had ever received or heard of any notice - and the notice never had been served upon the company to his knowledge and belief, and no evidence could be found to prove the fact. It is unnecessary to consider other material questions in the case difficult to prove, for the one mentioned is sufficient to defeat the action; therefore the Selectmen did not consider it advisable to take any legal measures until further instructed by the town.
HUNT CASE.
Albert W. Hunt commenced an action against the town Novem- ber 26, 1894, to recover damages for personal injuries received by falling into a cellar which was not sufficiently guarded, situ- ated near the boundry line of Church street, and obtained judg- ment in May, 1897, for twenty-five hundred dollars damages and one hundred and eighty-five dollars and seventy-five cents costs of court. Total sum paid by the town in this case was three thou- sand, five hundred, seven dollars and forty cents. It is to be re- gretted that so large a sum of money should be required to pay for injuries produced by any cause, when five dollars expended in filling up the cellar at the proper time would have prevented it.
172
EAGER CASE.
Philip Eager brought an action against the town several years since to recover damages for personal injuries received by a de- fect on Lake street. The action was settled at the June term of the Superior court, 1897, the entry being made on the court record, "neither party."
ANDERSON CASE.
Elof Anderson claimed that he was personally injured falling from a bicycle by reason of a defect in the highway and sued the town to recover damages. The case was tried in the district court at Malden and judgment rendered for the town ; execution issued against the plaintiff for thirty dollars costs, which remains un- paid.
PENDING CASES.
Hattie M. Chamberlain and Mary E. Rice each commenced sep- arate actions May 29, 1894, against the town to recover damages for personal injuries received by a defect on Gould street. Dam- ages claimed, $2,000 each.
John Drugan also has an action against the town for the same cause by a defect on Vernon street. Writ dated September 7, 1897. Damages claimed, $4,000.
Mary L. Maxwell claims damages against the town in the sum of $1,000 caused by the overflow of surface water on her land. Writ dated May 7, 1897.
STREET DRAINS.
Numerous complaints have been made to the selectmen during the year and some of them very pronounced, concerning the de- fective and unsuitable conditions of many of the drains which con- vey the surface water from our public highways. The useless condition of the drain located at the intersection of Pleasant and Sweetser streets has for a long time been the source of trouble and annoyance to the citizens living in that locality and a threaten- ing detriment to the public highways and had frequently been called to the attention of the town and referred to different com-
173
mittees, but no definite and practical action had been taken until the present board of selectmen instructed the road commissioner to put the drain in good working order, which he did to the satis- faction of all interested parties. The drain situated on West Chestnut street, near Cedar street, which conveyed the surface water from those streets and streets adjacent was closed by the action of nature and the cussedness of man to such an extent that the water flowed into the yards and cellars of the citizens living along the line of those streets in this locality and liable to wash deep gullies in the highways, rendering them unsafe and danger. ous for public travel. The selectmen considered the condition of the drain and the circumstances relative to it of sufficient public interest to act without delay; therefore. they employed Mr. James A. Bancroft, civil engineer. to make the necessary surveys, measurements and plans for the purpose of relocating, recon- structing and repairing the drain nearly its entire length, that the water might flow without interruption. The selectmen in their report recommended to the town the plans, surveys and method of repairing the drain as prepared by Mr. Bancroft, and requested the town to adopt them and also to appropriate a sum of money sufficient to defray the construction expenses, but the town re- fused to grant either request, and the selectmen took no further action. The drain which conveyed the surface water flowing down the northerly side of Prospect street into Quannapowitt Lake was entirely closed by Mr. Carlton building a private street over it in his own land, through which the drain was laid. The closing of the drain forced the water into Prospect and Elm streets and the premises of the citizens living in this locality. As the drains were similar in condition the selectmen adopted the same means and pursued the same course of action to restore the drain on Elm street to its former position as they did with the drain on West Chestnut street, and their report was alike fated by the town, therefore, the surface water continues to flow wher- ever it can find its level. The selectmen are confident that the public will require these drains to be reconstructed at an early day, according to the plans and surveys prepared by Mr. Bancroft and now on file in the office of the selectmen.
174
SEWAGE DISPOSAL.
The town was notified last summer by the board of health, through the selectmen, that the drain pipes which convey the sew- age from the engine house, situated on Crescent street, into the Centre pond, and those also which carry the sewage from the town house into the same locality, must be closed, as the pond had become a public nuisance by the disposal of sewage, and the official mandate contained the further notice that the order must be obeyed within thirty days from date or the town would be sum- moned into court to answer to a complaint for maintaining a com- mon nuisance in violation of law. The terms of the order relat- ing to the engine house were readily and cheerfully obeyed by closing the old drain pipes and laying new ones, which conveyed the sewage from the building into a cesspool which the town had recently constructed. The sanitary arrangements now in use at the town house, the unfavorable location of the building, over low and boggy lands, the limited time allowed by the order for closing the drains, rendered it very probable, if not fully certain, that the order relating to the town house could not be obeyed. therefore, for a time, appearances strongly indicated, if the pen- ality in the order was to be enforced, that the citizens of the town would answer in court to the complaint of maintaining a common nuisance in violation of law.
But it was not necessary to proceed by legal measures, for more peaceful counsel prevailed. The subject was to be further con- sidered and time extended. The selectmen issued general and special invitations to the citizens connected in the various de- partments of business to meet the selectmen in the Town House, and mutually to examine, discuss and consider the subject of sewage disposal within certain limits of the centre of the town. A large number of the business and influential citizens assembled at the time and place appointed, the meeting was duly organized, and after the subject had been practically and enthusiastically considered, necessary measures were adopted, and a committee chosen to have the subject well prepared for the action of the town at the annual meeting next March.
The selectmen believe that the time has come and now is, when the centre pond should no longer be used as a cesspool for
175
sewage disposal. Its present condition renders it in all seasons of the year, and more especially during the heated term, very offensive to all people who breathe the impure air, or smell the foul odors which proceed from the venomous source of pollution floating on the surface and laying at the bottom of the pond. The law provides that the legal voters of a town may accept a system of sewerage for a part or the whole of its territory, and it is a self evident fact that the centre portions of the town within certain limits require a new system of sewerage. Many of the out-laying towns within a short radius of Boston, whose geograph- ical positions, population, and valuation correspond to Wake- field, have provided for a certain section of their territory differ- ent systems of sewage disposal, which furnishes convenient means to ascertain by examination and secure the best system adapted to meet the necessities and requirements of the town.
STATE HIGHWAY.
A petition signed by the citizens of Wakefield was presented to the Middlesex County Commissioners in January, 1892, request- ing that Nahant street, from Main street to Saugus line, should be straightened, boundary lines relocated and otherwise repaired, and in 1894 a decree was made granting the request and January, 1898, was the time limited in the decree for completing the work. Damages to the various land owners was estimated in the aggre- gate sum of twelve hundred and sixty-one dollars, and fifteen hundred dollars was the County's proportional part of the whole expense as stated in the decree. It will cost, according to the opinion of competent men, ten thousand dollars to place the street in condition required by the specification, surveys and plans. Work was commenced, but soon after discontinued, and nothing of importance has been accomplished.
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