USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1897-1899 > Part 49
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
191 89
Wakefield Water Co., service .
25 00
Mansfield & Cheney, coal and wood
30 35
Arthur Greenough, stone
33 60
W. M. Ward, stone Seymour Campbell, stone
.
71 29
J. D. Fowler, stone
15 30
J. G. Hunt, stone .
180 54
Geo. E. Mears, stone
34 70
Fred Skinner, stone
229 60
D. C. Wright, stone
8 10
Wm. Bowman, stone
22 07
J. P. Alden, stone and teaming
54 63
R. Bolton, teaming
.
0
2 51
$4,142 17
MISCELLANEOUS BILLS.
H. H. Sweetser, setting glass .
$1 80
J. A. Bancroft, surveying
23 50
Chapman & Sodon, pitch 3 00
C. Latimer, expressing .
1 55
A. D. Oxley, turning posts
4 55
W. A. Cutter, sundries .
1 05
O.
.
.
.
o
.
p
.
b
Geo. H. Sampson, dynamite and fuse ·
7 05
27 20
154
S. F. Littlefield, sundries 37 22
L. D. Darling, fencing 79 46
Sederquest & Wanamake, repairing tools 69 92
Thomas Hickey, postage
3 25
David Lefave, hammer handles
2 40
F. E. Newhall, edgestones and covering stones 95 33
F. W. Pierce, expressing 4 75
E. I. Purrington, repairs on engine .
1 60
A. A. Butler, making sandcatchers and sundries Mansfield & Cheney, sundries
8 72
George H. Taylor, sundries
40 87
Mrs. L. B. Eaton, gravel
2 20
Cutler Bros., sundries
3 40
G. W. Killorin, edgestones
12 80
Lucas Bros., sundries
2 35
M. P. Foster, printing and stationery
4 00
Smith & Anthony, sandcatcher grates
59 55
George H. Teague, trimming tree
50
W. Kendall, lettering signs
1 50
J. W. Poland, sundries .
50
G. H. Hathaway, sprinkling streets
31 50
J. Laybolt, sundries
25 13
Rufus C. North, sharpening tools
5 20
$692 16
CHESTNUT STREET, SPECIAL.
Appropriation authorized . . $3,000 00
Expended as follows :
Labor as per pay rolls . $1.279 60
F. W. Pierce, expressing
40
American Express Co.
95
J. M. Perley, coal for roller
45 15
Chas. A. Claflin, sundries
11 75
Geo. M. Kelley, repairing tools
11 89
Sederquest & Wanamake, repairing tools
3 22
G. W. Killorin, 33 loads gravel
3 30
C. F. Nickerson, raising roller
.
5 50
.
.
.
.
157 51
155
2,329₺ tons crushed stone .
£ 1,669 08
Total
$3,030 84
Overdrawn, taken from General Highway 30 84
$3,000 00
BENNETT STREET, SPECIAL.
Appropriation authorized . . $2,000 00
Expended as follows :
Labor as per pay rolls
$293 95
Sederquest & Wanamake, repairing tools
3 00
J. M. Perley, coal for crusher . .
27 69
Geo. M. Sampson, dynamite .
.
P
13 50
Ingersoll-Sargeant Drill Co., bolts
1 60
Mansfield & Cheney, coal
26 00
332 tons crushed stone
24 18
Total
$389 92
Balance unexpended
.
.
-
. $1,610 08
$2,000 00
NEW SALEM STREET, SPECIAL.
Appropriation authorized .
$200 00
Expended as follows :
Lahor as per pay rolls
$42 00
Balance unexpended
.
.
158 00
$200 00
MAIN STREET, LAKESIDE, SPECIAL.
Appropriation authorized . Expended as follows : Labor as per pay rolls
b $300 00
310 79
Overdrawn
.
.
10 79
$300 00
156
BYRON STREET SIDEWALK, SPECIAL.
Appropriation authorized Expended as follows :
$50 00
Labor as per pay rolls
$55 56
Overdrawn
5 56
STONE CROSSINGS, SPECIAL.
Appropriation authorized . Expended as follows :
$300 00
F. E. Newhall, 490 ft. 8 in. flagstones, at 60c. ft
$294 40
Balance unexpended
$300 00
PARK AVENUE, SPECIAL.
Appropriation authorized .
$950 00
Expended as follows :
Labor as per pay rolls
$931 25
Sederquest & Wanamake, repairing tools
18 65
Total
$949 90
Balance unexpended
10
$950 00
BROADWAY, SPECIAL.
Feb 1, 1898. Balance available from last year
$102 88
Expended as follows :
Labor as per pay rolls
$55 34
Mass. Broken Stone Co., steam roller .
18 33
A. A. Butler, labor on culvert
29 21
Total
$102 88
GOULD STREET, SPECIAL.
Feb. 1, 1898. Balance available from last year Expended as follows :
$37 50
Labor as per pay rolls
$23 00
Balance unexpended
14 50
.
$37 50
.
$50 00
5 60
b
.
157
MORRISON ROAD, SPECIAL.
Appropriation authorized . . $1,500 00
Expended as follows :
Labor as per pay rolls
$748 42
Geo. W. Killorin, resetting curbstone
16 60
J. M. Perley, coal for roller
31 79
C. F. Nickerson, raising roller
6 00
1,0743 tons crushed stone
769 88
Total
$1,572 69
Overdrawn, taken from General Highway
72 69
$1,500 00
MAIN STREET, LAKESIDE, SIDEWALK, SPECIAL.
Appropriation authorized . Expendeu as follows :
$150 00
Labor as per pay rolls
$110 36
64} tons crushed stone
46 21
Total
$156 57
Overdrawn, taken from Gen. Highway
6 57
$150 00
MURRAY STREET, SPECIAL.
Appropriation authorized .
$200 00
Expended as follows :
Labor as per pay rolls
$158 57
F. E. Newhall, curbstones
14 52
G. W. Killorin, 158 loads gravel
15 80
2282 tons crushed stone .
163 72
Total
$352 61
Overdrawn, taken from Gen. Highway
152 61
$200 00
STONE CRUSHER REPORT.
Crushed stone on hand Feb. 1, 1898
50 tons
Crushed from Feb. 1, 1898, to date .
.
. 5,781 "
5,831 tons
158
USED AS FOLLOWS.
Morrison road
1,074.50 tons.
Murray street
228.50 66
West Chestnut street
2,329.50 66
Main street, Lakeside, sidewalk
64.50
Main Melrose line, street
1,000.25 66
Main
66
sidewalk
70.00
Main near Nahant street
547.00
66
Concrete work
120.00 66
Bennett street
33.75
66
Patching
160.00
66
Sidewalks
25.00
66
Sales
65.00 66
On hand
113.00
66
Average cost per ton, 1898
5,831 00 tons 71 65-100 cents
List of town property on hand is as follows : 1 stone crushing plant, including steam drilling machine, drills, barrows, hose, tools, etc. ; 1 road scraper, 1 road roller, 13 snow plows, 1 porta- ble forge and anvil, 15 hand drills, 11 picks, 4 grub hoes, 6 hoes, 5 rakes, 2 long spoon shovels, 6 crowbars, 4 striking hammers, 7 sledge hammers, 3 axes, 2 buckets, 5 lanterns, 2 baskets, 2 oil cans, battery and wire, 1 street plow, 1 pattern for sand catcher grates, 1 concrete outfit.
159
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
The Selectmen herein submit their annual report to the citizens of the town for their consideration, for the fiscal year commenc- ing February 1, 1898 and ending January 31, 1899.
As the town increases in population and continues to make public improvements the official duties of the members con- nected with the different departments of the municipal govern- ment have and will increase in corresponding proportion. Per- sonal experience as a member of this board, or a careful examination of its weekly records, are the only criterion by which a correct judgment can be formed of the yearly increasing amount of business conducted by this department. In addition to this increase of the usual routine duties, there has been steadily grow- ing a miscellaneous business, incidental to the progress and changing circumstances of the town, which is incidentally referred to the selectmen as they are supposed to have knowledge and jurisdiction of all matters which are not especially connected with any department of the town government. This accumulation and amount of business required the selectmen to hire a clerk, with an increase of salary, and Mr. Charles E. Walton was chosen, who has performed his duties with neatness, accuracy and complete satisfaction.
LAKE QUANNAPOWITT.
Many verbal and written complaints have been made to the selectmen during the past year, by several citizens, that certain inhabitants of the town had been and were depositing ashes and other waste matter of a rubbish nature along the shore and into lake Quannapowitt, thereby diminishing the area of the lake in proportion to the amount of materials deposited, and corrupting the purity of its waters. The selectmen petitioned to the Harbor
160
and Land Commissioners, who are the legal custodians of all the inland lakes and ponds within the commonwealth containing ten acres in area or more, requesting that said deposits should be forthwith removed and the shore line of the lake established, and all similar deposits in the future prohibited. The commissioners, by their consulting engineer, accompanied by the chairman of the selectmen, examined the entire shore of the lake and the engi- neer made observations and notes as the condition along the line of the shore required. Subsequently the commissioners, acting upon the report of their engineer, informed the selectmen that they had notified the parties, who had been reported as wrongfully depositing materials into the lake, to appear before them on a given date and explain why legal proceedings should not be commenced against them for their illegal trespassing. We were informed that certain parties did appear at the time and place mentioned and were examined concerning the charges made against them, but we have not received any official information of the final action of the commissioners. As the ball has been set in motion would it not be wise to accelerate its movement?
LINDEN AVENUE BRIDGE.
This bridge extended over the Boston and Maine Railroad at Linden avenue and by constant use for many years, and the cus- tomary influences of the weather, had become unsafe and danger- ous for public travel. The town, acting upon the report of the finance committee, appropriated seven hundred and twenty-five dollars to build a steel bridge in place of the old one, under the direction of the selectmen. The lowest bid was made by the Berlin Bridge Company to build the bridge, and a contract was made with the company to construct the bridge for seven hundred and seven dollars. The costs of preparing the abutments, which was not included in the contract, and a few incidental expenses, increased the total amount of construction charges seven dollars and seventy-five cents more than the sum appropriated for that purpose. The strength of the bridge was tested by drawing a steam road roller over it weighing twelve tons, and there was not any indications of weakness discovered in any part of it. The materials furnished and labor performed is perfectly satisfactory.
161
OLD SALEM STREET BRIDGE.
The bridge which extends over Saugus river, the boundary line between Wakefield in Middlesex county, and Lynnfield in Essex county and its abutments, are rendered by use, old age, and the action of water, unsafe and dangerous for public travel; there- fore, the selectmen petitioned the county commissioners to dis- continue that half of the bridge in Middlesex county, as New Salem street afforded ample and sufficient accommodations for the traveling public. A similar petition, signed by the citizens of Lynnfield, was received by the commissioners of Essex county asking them to discontinue that half of the bridge in that county. A joint meeting of the commissioners and interested parties living in both towns was held at the proscribed locality and the reasons and arguments for and against the closing of the bridge were heard, and the commissioners reserved their decision. We have since learned that the Essex commissioners decline to take any action in the matter, stating as a reason, that certain citizens of Lynnfield would claim damages if the bridge was discontinued. The Middlesex commissioners, we understand, favored the clos- ing of the half of the bridge in this county, but declined to pass an order for that purpose, under the present circumstances.
We are of the opinion, that the town should instruct the select- men to petition the Middlesex County commissioners to pass such orders concerning the maintenance and repair of the bridge as in their opinion the public good may require, as being the most ex- peditious and satisfactory method of removing the existing diffi- culty. The town has paid the past year for lighting the bridge at night to caution travelers against its dangerous condition $58.55. One-half of the amount should be refunded by the town of Lynnfield. An article will be placed in the warrant calling the next annual town meeting, requesting the town to take action on the subject of the bridge.
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
Upon petition and hearing, we have considered that the public necessity and convenience required that White avenue should be accepted as a public highway, extending easterly from Main street to Pleasant street, and recommend an appropriation of
-
162
twenty-five dollars to pay the expenses of constructing a drain at the junction of Pleasant street. This is a private way situ- ated in the north district, laid out and built by the abutters, and no other expense will be required. We also for the same reasons extended Murray street to Albion street, and recommended an ap- propriation of three hundred dollars to pay land damages, and one hundred dollars to pay building expenses. The accumulation of mud and water in a wet season and after a heavy rain at the intersection of Gould and Albion streets, through which people coming from Murray street are compelled to pass through, was the principal argument urged for this improvement.
A favorable report, extending Valley street to Nahant street, was signed by the full board, but some hesitated, being uncertain that the public convenience and necessity required the contem- plated improvement. Several petitions requesting the extension of Valley street have been received and considered by different boards of selectmen during the last few years which have either been dismissed or no action taken with them, but as the present petition was extensively signed by the citizens of the town living in different localities therein and many of them our most influential and business men, and as the subject had been frequently considered in previous years by the proper authorities, it was judged reason- able and just that the petitioners should have the question consid- ered and settled by the expressed action of the town.
SALEM STREET.
Acting upon the petition of the selectmen of last year, the county commissioners, after a location hearing and view, decreed that the street from Vernon street to Lynnfield line should be fifty feet in width, and a width of twenty-eight feet in the centre of location for travel, and the time for completion December 1, 1899. Land damages have been assessed at five hundred and sixty-five dollars, to be paid from the town treasury. The county will pay six hundred dollars construction expenses. Stakes have been placed, marking new lines, and bounds have been set and the street is in a proper condition to commence work in the ap- proaching spring. The town will be required to appropriate a
163
sufficient sum of money at the annual meeting to pay the ex- penses of making the required improvements.
CEDAR STREET DRAIN.
The town has had knowledge for some time of the imperative necessity of reconstructing this drain ; but as all plans and meth- ods which had previously been prepared and considered by the town for that purpose had been rejected for different reasons, no successful action was ever taken to reconstruct and relocate the drain until March 29, 1898, when a special committee was ap- pointed to investigate the subject in all its bearings and relation to the public and the expense connected with it, with authority to employ an engineer, and report at a future meeting. The com- mittee, October 31, 1898, made a careful and well prepared re- port, recommending the rebuilding of the drain according to plans and specifications furnished by Mr. Bancroft, their engi- neer. The town accepted and adopted the report and appropri- ated twenty-five hundred dollars to pay costs of relocating and rebuilding the drain.
The work was under the direction of the selectmen who en- gaged Mr. Bancroft for superintendent, and employed the citizens of the town to perform all of the labor, and purchased the pipes of Mr. George H. Taylor, his contracting price being the lowest received.
An itemized account for the costs of the labor and material furnished can be seen in the auditors' report, and we regret to report that the amount exceeded the appropriation. The inclem- ent weather and the large quantity of water which flowed along the line of the drain in consequence of the excessive rains, seri- ously obstructed the progress of the work and was one of the principal causes of increasing the total beyond the estimated amount appropriated for expenses. This drain was not built by any patchwork system, for it was an engineering job, and was constructed under the direction and management of a skillful and competent engineer, and that necessarily means expense and good work. The drain is sufficient to meet all of the required public necessities for which it was built.
164
PRICE OF WATER.
While the selectmen were considering the propriety of petition- ing the Supreme Judicial Court to have the price of water furnished by the Wakefield Water Company to the town and its inhabitants fixed by the court at a reasonable sum, measured by the price ordinarily charged for similar service in other cities and towns in the metropolitan district, as provided by chapter 488 of the Acts and Resolves of 1895, and amended by chapter 336, of 1897, they received a communication signed by Samuel K. Hamilton, Esq., president of said company, stating that the water rates on and after June 1st, 1899, would be as follows: Ordinary hose for garden purposes, $3.00 instead of $5.00 per year; dwelling houses, occupied by one family only, exclusive of hose and stable, not exceeding $25.00 per annum. No rebate on family rates. There will be no charge for water for boilers for heating dwelling houses by steam only, nor for water treating lime and cement to be used in the erection of new buildings.
The petition could be made at any time before December 31st, 1898, and then every fifth year thereafter; therefore a majority of the board considered it expedient, as a precautionary measure, to provide against any and all unseen and unknown changes which might occur in the condition of the company before June 1st, 1899. Either a change in its officers, right of ownership, or financial condition, which, if either happened, might possibly render it impracticable, perhaps impossible, for the company to make the promised reduction in the water rates; therefore, if this emergency should unfortunately occur, the selectmen would not have to stay proceedings five years before taking action, but could proceed immediately, if considered necessary, to act upon the petition previously mentioned and filed in court.
TRAMPS.
The town by vote in 1878, instructed and authorized the selectmen and overseers of the poor to provide lodgings and re- freshments for traveling paupers and tramps where the poor of the town would not incur the liability of being contaminated with infectious disease and objectionable companions, and appropriated three hundred dollars for that purpose. At this time they were
165
provided with accommodations at the town farm. The basement of the town house was selected and prepared by the local authori- ties as a suitable place to lodge and feed this class of itinerant beggars, and so remains to the present date. Then, they were few in number, compared with the horde that now receive nightly assistance from the town.
Frequently, offensive odors arise from the tramp room on ac- count of their uncleanliness in person and habits, which permeates through the corridors and vestibule of the building and often re- quires strong disinfectants to cleanse and purify the air. Accord_ ing to hygienic laws the effluvia which arises from a noxious source of this description is extremely detrimental to health and life. Therefore, for sanitary reasons, the local board of health notified the selectmen who have the care of the building to remove the tramps' headquarters from its present locality to other grounds, and the overseers of the poor, who are required to find them a place to lodge and feed, have been requested to find their guests new quarters at the earliest convenient date. The town will probably take action on the subject at the next March meeting.
SIXTH REGIMENT.
When Col. Charles F. Woodward received his commission as colonel of the Sixth Mass. regiment, the headquarters. of the regiment was removed from Marlboro to Wakefield-being the residence of the commanding officer-and established in Traders' block. The town furnished the room with suitable furniture as required by the laws of 1893, chapter 367, sec. 90, at an ex- pense of $134.80, and after Colonel Woodward resigned his commission the furniture was returned to the possession of the town. This transaction will not be a very serious financial loss to the town, for it can be utilized in the different departments of the town government where it is much needed at the present time.
RAISING MONEY.
When the severe snow storm last November struck the town there was not any money in the town treasury for the highway department to pay the men for clearing the streets from show and placing them in a safe and suitable condition for public
166
travel. It is said that necessity is the mother of invention, and she was at home on this occasion. Four members of the board of selectmen signed a joint note and one member of the same board loaned the money, which was paid to the men by the high- way surveyor, and they were made happy; and the town will be requested to raise and appropriate the amount of the principal and interest of said note at the next annual town meeting.
CLAIMS AND SUITS-AT-LAW.
The cases of Hattie M. Chamberlin and Mary E. Rice, who claim damages for injuries received by a defective highway, re- main as reported last year. Proposals for settlement have been made by the plaintiffs, but were not accepted by the selectmen. The cases were scheduled for trial at the present term of court, but after the town had made a partial preparation for that pur- pose, the plaintiffs obtained a continuance of the cases by reason of alleged sickness. The cases have been pending since 1894.
The case of John Drugan, for personal injuries received by a defective highway, and of Mary L. Maxwell for damage to land by the overflow of surface water, remain unchanged, although the town's counsel has endeavored to bring them to trial.
Henry C. Hall has commenced an action against the town for injuries received by striking against some trees while riding in an electric car at or near the head of the lake. The case is pend- ing in the Superior Court.
Mrs. James Weary complains by suit, that she has been in- jured in her property by having the purity of the water in her well contaminated by the gas escaping from a defective pipe be- longing to the town, which runs under the surface of the street at or near her dwelling house, and claims damages. It was suggested that a settlement could be made of the difficulty by providing the house with water from the company's works, at an expense of nearly one hundred and seventy-five dollars. The attention of the town will be directed to the settlement of this matter at the approaching town meeting.
DISCONTINUANCE OF PEARL STREET IN GREENWOOD.
Acting upon the report of a committee, the town, by vote, authorized and instructed the selectmen to petition the Superior
167
Court to discontinue the crossing by the Boston and Maine rail- road at grade over a private way called Pearl street in Green- wood, either by building a bridge over said crossing or a new way in substitution of said private way, with an overhead bridge, and to employ assistant legal counsel. The petition has been prepared, filed in the clerk's office of the court, and the Common- wealth of Massachusets made a party in interest by statute to the proceedings, and the Boston and Maine railroad company have been notified in the usual manner of the pendency of the petition and both parties have appeared in court by counsel. Chester W. Eaton, Esq., was chosen assistant counsel, whose knowledge of the early history of the town and his familiar acquaintance with the ancient records at Cambridge renders his services important and valuable for the success of the petitioner's cause. Much will depend upon historical and documentary evidence. The pre- vious engagements of the counsel for the State and company have delayed the appointment of the commissioners by the court, but early action in this matter will soon be taken. It is said that large bodies move slowly. This being true, when three ponder- ous corporations like these clash together in a legal contest it will be quite difficult to predict when the contest will close. It is the purpose of the town's counsel to urge the proceedings to a final termination as fast as the slow process of the law will permit.
POLICE.
A majority of the board at the commencement of the year con- sidered it necessary that a change should be made in the chief of police, and Edgar A. Hallett was chosen, who has been vigilant and faithful in the execution of his duties. One officer has been removed from the force during the year for malfeasance in office. The circumstances connected with this unfortunate affair are well known, therefore it is unnecessary to report them.
STEAM ROLLER.
The selectmen, with the approval of the county commissioners, procured the steam roller from Winchester, owned by the county, and it was used by the town last year without expense. Its
168
headquarters will probably remain in Wakefield until removed to some other locality by the authorities.
INSURANCE.
The following mentioned policies of insurance expire during the year :
Fixtures in town hall, $5,000; premium necessary to raise and appropriate, $150 ; also $200 to pay premiums on treasurer's and collector's bonds.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.