USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1897-1899 > Part 42
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Upon motion of Col. Greenough, article 32, relating to the soldiers' monument, was taken up and it was voted to author- ize the committee appointed under the article to increase its membership by four additional members.
Article 41, relating to the proposed bridge across the Boston and Maine railroad, was taken up. The finance com- mittee recommended an appropriation of $725 for the con- struction of a steel bridge in place of the present wooden
29
structure, but a motion to that effect was lost by a vote of 52 to 59.
Selectman Stout said there must be some misunderstand- ing, for the old bridge was dangerous and unless the town reconsidered the vote the selectmen would close up the bridge at once. After further discussion the vote was reconsidered and the money was appropriated.
Article 60. To see if the town will grant the free use of the town hall to Post No. 12, G. A. R., for Memorial day, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To grant the request.
Art. 63. To see if the town will raise and appropriate one hundred and eighty dollars for rent of office in Flanley's block, for the school committee and superintendent of schools. Ashton H. Thayer and others.
Indefinitely postponed, on motion of the finance com- mittee.
Art. 64. To see if the town will paint and repair the high school building and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what action they will take in the matter. Ashton H. Thayer and others.
Secretary Perkins of the finance committee stated that repairs were very much needed and moved that $1,200 be appropriated, and a committee appointed to carry out the recommendations.
It was so voted, and the chair appointed F. O. Clark, G. H. Taylor and G. H. Teague on the committee.
Art. 65. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars to raise the sidewalk on the northerly side of Albion street, from the residence of James F. Woodward to N. E. Cutler's building, or what they will do about it. Daniel W. Hunt and others.
Voted. That the work be done by the highway surveyor, pro- vided the abutters agree not to hold the town liable for dam-
30
ages, and that the money be taken from the highway appropriation.
Art. 57. To see if the town will vote to provide for relieving the centre of the town from lack of opportunity for disposing of sewage and for abating the Centre brook and cesspool nui- sance, by adopting a system of sewage disposal for that dis- trict, or what it will do about it.
Art. 58. To see if the town will accept chapter 305 of the acts. of the legislature of 1896, the same being the special sewer- age act for Wakefield, or what it will do about it.
Art. 59. To see if the town will accept sec. 272 of chapter 417 of the acts of the legislature of 1893, the same being a part of the election laws and relating to the election of sewer commissioners, or what it will do about it.
Art. 61. To see if the town will proceed to elect by ballot three citizens of the town to serve as sewerage commissioners, one for the period of one year, one for the period of two years and one for a period of three years from the annual town meeting of 1898, or what it will do about it.
Art. 62. To see if the town will vote to issue bonds, notes or scrip to an amount not exceeding $35,000, appropriate the same for sewerage purposes, and authorize and instruct its board of sewerage commissioners to proceed with the con- struction of a system of sewerage for the centre of the town, or what it will do about it. Michael Low and others.
Voted. To refer the subject-matter of these articles to a com- mittee of five to investigate and report in print at a future town meeting ; and that the committee serve without pay and are limited in regard to expenses to $100.
Voted. That the committee be authorized to add two members to the committee if they deem it expedient.
Chair appointed Dr. J. W. Heath, R. S. Stout, M. Low, L. E. Hawes and Chas. A. Dean.
On motion of Mr. Low, a vote of thanks was extended
31
to the moderator for the faithful performance of his duties and $25 was appropriated to pay him for his services.
On motion of W. F. Bowman the selectmen were directed to report on the proposed extension of Valley street at the next town meeting.
Voted. To adjourn without date.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, JUNE 27, 1898.
Art. 1. To choose a moderator.
Darius Hadley was elected.
Art. 2. To hear and act on the report of the committee on building a bridge over the tracks of the Boston and Maine railroad, near Cooper street and Maple avenue, Greenwood.
Chester W. Eaton, Esq., on behalf of the committee read the report, the recommendations being substantially as out- lined or indicated in articles 3 and 4. The committee per- sonally inspected the premises and investigated the subject. The report was signed by Mr. Eaton, Richard Britton, Wil- liam S. Greenough, William N. Tyler and William H. Lee. The report was accepted and articles 3 and 4 were then taken up for joint consideration.
Art. 3. To see if the town will rescind its action taken at an adjourned town meeting held December 7, 1896, under article 39 of the warrant, whereby it was voted to accept and adopt the report of the selectmen laying out a town way extending westerly from Cooper street to Myrtle avenue, and to appro- priate $1,500 for building such way and the abutments of a railroad bridge, or what they will do about it.
Art. 4. To see if the town will authorize and direct the select- men to petition the superior court setting forth that it is necessary for the security and convenience of the public that an alteration should be made in the private way sometimes called Pearl street, crossing the Boston and Maine railroad, immediately southerly of the ledge in Greenwood, so as to avoid a crossing at grade, in order to secure a bridge over
32
the railroad at the place named, or in connection with a new way over said railroad in substitution for said private way, under the provisions of Chap. 428, Acts of 1890, Chap. 264, Acts of 1897, and other statutes of the Commonwealth; and authorize the selectmen to employ legal counsel in connection with such petition and subsequent proceedings thereunder ; or what action the town will take in relation to the subject- matter of this petition.
Mr. Eaton reviewed the situation and stated that the com- mittee agreed unanimously in their recommendations. Rela- tive to article 3, it was voted to rescind the vote passed December 7, 1896, and that the unexpended balance be transferred to the general fund in the town treasurer's hands. Acting under article 4, it was voted to do as the article re- quested.
Art. 5. To see if the town will vote to macadamize West Chest- nut street from the railroad crossing to the intersection of West Chestnut street with Prospect street, and to appro- priate the sum of three thousand dollars therefor. George W. Killorin and others.
Voted. To do so.
Voted. That the whole amount, $3,000, be raised in the tax levy of 1899 and that notes be given payable December 1, 1899.
Art. 6. To see if the town will build a new school house in the north ward and appropriate money therefor, or what action it will take in the matter. Junius Beebe and others.
Voted. That the town build a new school house in the north ward, and that a committee of three be appointed to investi- gate the cost, and report at an adjourned meeting, July 11. Chair appointed Junius Beebe, Peter S. Roberts and Wm. S. Greenough.
The following was offered : That it is the sense of this meeting that the selectmen appropriate the sum of $50 from the miscellaneous fund to provide an entertainment for the children, July 4, 1898.
33
Art. 7. To see if the town will change the name of Chestnut avenue to Parker road, or what action it will take thereon. Voted. To do so.
Art. 8. To see if the town will accept the provisions of Chap. 264 of the Acts and Resolves of 1890, relating to public cemeteries, or what action it will take thereon.
Voted. To do so.
Voted. To adjourn for two weeks.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, JULY 11, 1898.
Art. 9. To see if the town will take from the table the reports of the selectmen relating to the laying out of Cedar court as a public highway, and the laying out of Converse street as a public highway, and accept and allow said reports for the purpose as therein indicated.
Voted. To take reports from the table.
The selectmen presented their reports, and it was voted to accept and adopt both reports. Reports placed on file.
The report of the committee appointed at a previous meeting to consider the new north ward school was then called for, and Col. Greenough, on behalf of the committee, read the report, which was substantially as follows :
The present school lot, situated on the corner of Cordis street and a private way running northerly from Cordis street and being a continuation of Pleasant street, contains nearly 13,000 feet of land, being about eighty-one feet on Cordis street by 158 feet on the private way, and is favorably situated as to light, air and drainage. The present school house could be moved a few feet toward the east at a small expense and be used for school purposes while the new building is under construction. We have consulted with a firm of reliable and competent architects who have prepared preliminary plans and estimates of cost for a two- room, one-story building ; also for a four-room, two-story build- ing with the second story unfinished. Estimates of cost are
34
based upon the figures of expert builders of long experience in school house building.
The following are in brief the main features of the building called for in the plans and estimates before mentioned : Outside dimensions 42 x 67 feet ; facing Cordis street, with main entrance in centre and with an extension on the north 14 x 40 feet.
Materials : Dark red, water-struck brick, with trimmings of buff sandstone; roof covered with slate; gutters. conductors and ridges of copper; front steps and basement window sills of granite ; inside finish of North Carolina hard pine ; floors of Georgia hard pine; with best quality slate blackboards on school room walls.
Basement : Ten feet high; well lighted and ventilated; with cement floors ; and containing two toilet rooms, two play rooms and rooms for heating apparatus and fuel.
First floor : Thirteen feet high ; containing vestibule, corridors, two coat rooms, teachers' room with toilet and lavatory ; stair- ways ; and two school rooms each 28 x 32 feet. In the event of the building being built two stories, the second floor plan would be substantially the same as the first.
Our estimates of cost include plumbing, heating and ventila- ting; grading, fencing, and concreting the grounds ; moving the old building ; architects' services, including supervision ; fur- nishing two rooms complete, and all other expenses necessary to put building and grounds in condition for use, and are as follows : For a one-story, two-room building, $9,850; for a two-story, four-room building, second story unfinished, $11,740.
After careful consideration of the probable future growth of the district in population, and after conferring with the school committee and with numerous citizens of the town, we are unan- imously of the opinion that both good judgment and sound economy would favor the construction of a four-room instead of a two-room building, and we therefore recommend that the town choose a building committee of five citizens, one of which shall be a member of the school committee, who shall have full power and authority for and in behalf of the town to do the following acts : To move the present building as proposed in this report, and to put the same into condition for use until such time as the
35
new building may be ready for occupancy, when it shall be dis- posed of at public sale and the money received from such sale turned into the treasury of the town; and second, to build and furnish a two-story, four-room brick school building, the second floor to be unfinished, and to grade, fence, and concrete the grounds, all at an expense not to exceed the sum of $12,000. Voted. To accept and adopt the report.
Chair appointed on the committee of five : Junius Beebe, Peter S. Roberts, Everett G. Daland, A. H. Thayer, W. F. Young.
Voted. To authorize the committee to add the names of two practical builders.
Voted. That the sum of $12,000 be appropriated for the erec- tion of a school house in the north district as voted by the town under this article, and that 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 sums of $500 each year for sixteen years beginning with the year 1899, and $1,000 each year for the four years 1915, 1916, 1917 and 1918, and that the said annual amounts shall be included in the tax levy of the several years from 1899 to 1918 both inclusive.
Voted. To dissolve the meeting.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, OCTOBER 3, 1898,
Art. 1. To choose a moderator.
Darius Hadley was elected.
James A. Hickey, on behalf of the committee, made the report, which was substantially as follows :
Your committee, to whom was referred the question of Cedar street drain, with instructions to have a survey made, thoroughly investigate and report at a future meeting, have attended to that duty and report the following survey : Commencing at the north-
36
erly end of the culvert on Chestnut street, thence to the junction of Chestnut and Cedar streets, thence through Cedar street to Albion, thence through Albion to the culvert west of Cedar street on Albion, thence following the brook through land of the Wake- field Real Estate and Building association to a point on land of P. J. Regan, there connecting with the survey made by the select- men in 1897. Our surveyor, Mr. Bancroft, demonstrated to the committee that it is both practical and feasible to carry over this route all surface water now entering the old drain under Chestnut street, also all water flowing through the drain from the north of Chestnut street, and in addition to that take the surface water from Chestnut street east of Cedar, also Auburn street, Gould street east and west, all surface water on Cedar street, also all the water on Albion street east of Cedar street, nearly to the Boston and Maine railroad. This plan impressed the committee favorably, as it will do away with all questions of land damages on estates between Chestnut and Albion streets.
In the investigation made by the committee it became neces- sary to see what could be done below Lake street, as the present water course is so level that the water does not pass away freely. The principal obstruction was found to be a dam within the works of the rattan company. We have been told that there would be no objection by the company to lowering the dam the required amount. If the water course should be dug out at a proper grade from the dam back to Lake street it would not only give a sufficient fall to free the district west of Lake street, but would also empty the Centre pond, thus abolishing the nuisance which has become so objectionable at that place.
Regarding the legal action which the town may take in the premises the committee find that the selectmen are legally con- stituted parties and that any vote authorizing the work to be done should be passed by the selectmen and not the town. In other words the town should vote to refer the matter to the selectmen and appropriate the money therefor. The amount recommended was $2,500.
Voted. To accept the report.
Voted. To refer the matter to the selectmen as recommended.
37
That the town appropriate the sum of $2,500 for con- struction of a drain pursuant to the plan recommended by the committee reporting under article 2 of the warrant for this meeting, and that the town treasurer be authorized to hire said sum by giving the notes of the town therefor, and that said sum be raised in the tax levy of the ensuing year. Voted. To dissolve the meeting.
STATE ELECTION, NOVEMBER 8, 1898.
Pursuant to a warrant duly drawn and served, the inhabitants of the town of Wakefield, qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs, met at their respective polling places on Tuesday, the eighth day of November, 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-general of the Commonwealth, councillor for the Fifth Councillor District, senator for the Middlesex-Essex District, representative to represent the Twenty-ninth Middlesex Representative District in the General Court, county commis- sioner for the County of Middlesex, two special commissioners for the County of Middlesex, district attorney for the County of Middlesex, register of probate and insolvency for the County of Middlesex, sheriff for the County of Middlesex, representative in Congress for the Seventh Congressional district.
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.
PRECINCT ONE.
Town Clerk Hartshorne called the meeting to order at six o'clock Tuesday morning. The election officers were sworn in by Mr. Hartshorne and no time was lost in opening the polls. The following officers served : Warden, William B. Daniel ; deputy warden, H. B. Wiley; clerk, J. Fred Parker; deputy clerk, A.
38
W. Brownell; inspectors and tellers, W. J. Mansfield, Clinton O. Anderson, Cornelius Donovan, Eugene P. McDonnell. William W. Taft, George E. Hart, William A. Thrush, Arthur L. Wiley ; deputy inspectors, Edward S. Jacob, Samuel T. Parker, William C. Skulley, Harry A. Simonds, W. W. Bessey, J. A. Hiekey, J. F. Mansfield and C. E. Walton.
PRECINCT Two.
The election officers were sworn . in by Warden W. G. Eaton, as follows : Deputy warden, Thomas F. Ringer; clerk, Roy D. Jones ; deputy clerk, H. W. Walton ; inspectors, F. M. Staples, N. A. Heath ; deputy inspectors, T. W. H. Fell, C. W. Locklin ; tellers, J. A. Sale, A. E. Duffill, R. L Pittman, Frank E. Evans.
Polls were declared closed at 4.30 p. m.
Result of the election, by precincts, was as follows :
GOVERNOR.
Precincts.
Totals.
A. B. Bruce, D.
1 390
15
405
G. R. Peare, S. L.
44
5
49
W. P. Porter, D. S.
9
0
9
S. P. Shapleigh, P.
15
4
19
Roger Wolcott, R.
831
149
980
Blanks, .
71
6
77
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.
M. T. Berry, S. L.
45
5
50
W. M. Crane, R.
782
141
923
J. L. Kilbon, P.
22
5
27
I. W. Skinner, D. S.
23
3
26
E. J. Slattery, D.
380
13
393
Blanks, .
SECRETARY.
35
3
38
C. H. Bradley, D. S. H. A. Inman, P.
25
5
30
Henry Lloyd, D.
342
15
357
W. M. Olin, R.
746
131
877
55
6
61
J. F. Stevens, S. L. Blanks, .
157
19
176
.
·
·
108
12
120
2
.
39
TREASURER.
1
M. M. Avery, S. L.
54
4
58
H. J. Jaquith, D.
.
373
18
391
E. P. Shaw, R.
726
125
851
H. M. Small, P.
32
7
39
C. W. White, D. S.
22
1
23
Blanks, .
153
24
177
AUDITOR.
C. S. Grieves, D. S.
14
2
16
J. W. Kimball, R.
728
132
860
John Palme, S. L.
46
3
49
C. F. Parker, D).
363
16
379
W. E. Santord, P.
27
6
33
Blanks, .
182
20
202
ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
Patrick Kilroy, D.
391
11
402
H. M. Knowlton, R.
785
141
926
C. E. Spelman, S. L.
53
8
61
Blanks, .
131
19
150
COUNCILLOR, FIFTH DISTRICT.
H. H. Atherton, R.
757
137
894
D. H. Maguire, D.
412
13
425
Blanks, .
191
29
220
SENATOR, MIDDLESEX - ESSEX DISTRICT.
H. K. Sanderson, R.
664
125
789
E. H. Walton, D. .
591
32
623
Blanks, .
105
22
127
REPRESENTATIVE, TWENTY-NINTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT.
C. A. Dean, D.
761
109
870
W. H. McCausland, R.
558
64
622
Blanks, .
41
6
47
COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
Francis Bigelow, R. and I).
812
114
926
Scattering,
2
0
2
Blanks, . ·
.
.
.
546
65
611
·
·
.
·
.
·
·
·
40
SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS.
T. W. Hagar, D.
349
19
368
D. T. Strange. R. .
.
.
.
650
113
763
E. E. Thompson, R.
582
108
690
G. W. Van Horn, D.
313
22
335
Blanks, .
826
96
922
DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
F. N. Wier, R. and D.
823
117
940
Blanks,
535
62
597
REGISTER OF PROBATE AND INSOLVENCY.
F. H. Folsom, D. and R.
804
117
921
Blanks, .
.
555
62
617
SHERIFF.
H. G. Cushing, R. and D.
800
112
912
Blanks, .
558
67
625
Scattering,
2
0
2
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, SEVENTH DISTRICT.
J. F. Malloney, S. L.
29
3
32
W. L. Ramsdell, D.
572
31
603
E. W. Roberts, R.
688
130
818
Blanks, .
71
15
86
.
.
.
.
·
.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, NOVEMBER 14, 1898.
Town Clerk Hartshorne called the meeting to order at 7.30 o'clock, and acting under article 1, Darius Hadley was elected moderator.
Art. 2. To revise and accept the list of jurors prepared and posted by the selectmen.
On motion of Judge Upton the names of A. G. Anderson, W. U. MacQuinn, J. A. Sanborn, J. F. Woodward, S. B. Dearborn and G. H. S. Driver were removed from the list and the names of G. E. Branch, A. D. Jenkins, A. E. Duffill,
.
·
.
.
.
41
C. F. Hartshorne, Justin Howard and D. P. Rolfe were added.
(See list of jurors. )
Art. 3. To see if the town will appropriate twenty-five hundred dollars for the support of the poor, or what it will do about it. As requested by Hiram Eaton and others.
Voted. $2500.
Art. 4. To see if the town will make an additional appropriation
. for Fire Department, or what it will do about it. As re- quested by Levi Flanders and others.
Voted. $850.
Art. 5 To see if the town will appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars for the Police Department, or what it will do about it. As requested by Edgar A. Hallett and others. Voted. $300.
Art. 6. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of one thou- sand dollars for miscellaneous expenses, or what it will do about it. As requested by James F. Mansfield and others. Voted. $1000.
Art. 7. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of one' thousand dollars for the Highway Department, or what it will do about it. As requested by Solon Walton and others. Voted. $1000.
Art. 8. To see if the town will vote to appoint a committee to investigate the advisability of street watering and authorize said committee to contract for a watering cart, or what it will do about it. As requested by Levi Flanders and others.
On motion of Engineer Levi Flanders a committee of three was appointed to investigate and report. The moderator appointed Mr. Flanders, J. H. Carter and William D. Dead- man.
Art. 9. To see if the town will appropriate the necessary amount of money needed to put New Salem street and side- walk in a respectable and passable condition, or what it will
42
do about it. As requested by George H. Stowell and others. Voted. $200.
Art. 10. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of two thousand dollars to macadamize Bennett street, from Main to Melvin street, and rebuild bridge or culvert on same, or what it will do about it As requested by Michael Low and others.
Voted. $2000.
Motion to reconsider lost.
Art. 11. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars, to repair the sidewalk on the easterly side of Greenwood street between Spring street and the Melrose line; also to repair the sidewalk on the southerly side of Spring street between Greenwood street and the estate of one Gibbs, or what it will do about it. As requested by Walter Moore and others.
Voted. To refer to highway surveyor, and expense to be taken from General Highway Appropriation.
Art. 12. To see if the town will appropriate two hundred dollars to repair Crystal street, or what it will do about it. As requested by Andrew Lloyd and others. +
Voted. $200.
Art. 13. To see if the town will vote to purchase the lot of land on Main street opposite the Town Hall containing 32,314 square feet and bounded by Main street, Richardson ave., Foster and West Water streets, at fifty cents per . square foot and appropriate money therefor and authorize the treasurer to hire money on a term of from one to ten years in payment thereof. As requested by Solon O. Rich- ardson and others.
Mr. Eaton stated that the finance committee was not ready to report, a sub-committee having been appointed to inter- view Mr. Richardson. Further time was granted.
Art. 15. To see if the town will appropriate three thousand dollars for finishing and furnishing two additional rooms in
43
the new North Ward school building, or what action they will take in the matter. As requested by A. H. Thayer and others.
This article had also been referred to a sub-committee and further time was granted.
Art. 15. To see if the town will rescind the action taken under Art. 14 at the annual town meeting of 1897 whereby the publication of the warrants for town meetings was limited to one newspaper, and direct the selectmen to advertise the warrants in both local papers.
Voted. To rescind and direct as above.
Art. 16. To see if the town will instruct the assessors to publish a list of the polls and estates assessed in the town of Wakefield for the year 1898, in the form heretofore pub- lished, and take such further action as may be necessary in connection therewith, or what it will do about it. As re- quested by S. K. Ha:nilton and others.
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