USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1900-1902 > Part 14
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Voted. That the highway surveyor make the necessary repairs and that the expense be taken from the highway fund.
Art. 24. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of five thousand dollars to macadamize Main street, from Salem street to Lowell street, or what it will do about it.
Laid on the table.
Art. 25. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of two thousand dollars to continue the work of widening Lake- side, Main street, as ordered by the county commissioners, or what it will do about it.
Indefinitely postponed.
Art. 26. To see if the town will vote to move the drinking fountain from the corner of Main and Charles streets to the corner of Main and Railroad streets, and raise and appropriate the sum of forty dollars for the same, or what they will do about it.
In charge of sub-committee of the finance committee, and further time granted.
Art. 27. To see if the town will raise and appropriate two thousand dollars to rebuild and repair Nahant street, according to the order of the county commissioners, and build sidewalk as far as Oak street, or what action it will take thereon.
Laid on the table.
Art. 28. To see if the town will repair Railroad street, from Albion street to Chestnut street, the expense of the same to be taken from the regular highway appropriation.
Referred to the surveyor to put in good condition, with an amendment to provide a crossing near J. C. W. Walton's store. Art. 29. To see if the town will construct or repair the sidewalk on the north side of Prospect street from Cedar street to Nichols street, and on the south side from Cedar street to Railroad street, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 30. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars to repair Fitch court, or what it will do about it.
Referred to highway surveyor, the expense to be taken from the highway fund.
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Art. 31. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the necessary amount of money needed to grade and establish the width of Salem street, from the junction of Vernon and Salem streets to the Lynnfield town line, as ordered by the county commission- ers, in 1897, who have located and placed the "bound stones" through that territory, or what they will do about it.
Laid on the table.
Art. 32. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for heating and ventilating the Woodville school house, or what action they will take in the matter.
Referred to school committee to report at a future meeting. Voted. To adjourn to Thursday evening, March 30, 1899, at 7.30 p. m.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, MARCH 30, 1899.
Art. 33. To see if the town will grade and drain Myrtle avenue from Greenwood street to the brook, and raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars for the same, or what they will do about it.
Art. 34. To see if the town will rebuild two culverts on Greenwood. avenue, one on Madison avenue and one on Francis avenue, and raise and appropriate the sum of six hundred dollars for the same, or what they will do about it.
Voted. That the highway surveyor carry out the intention of the articles, and that the expense be taken from the highway fund.
Art. 35. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of forty dollars to repaint the hose house at Greenwood, or what they will do about it.
Finance committee recommended $40, but the meeting voted against the appropriation, and the article was indefinitely post- poned.
Art. 36. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money enough to build a new fence at the northerly side of the old cemetery, or what they will do about it.
Laid on the table. Motion to reconsider, lost.
Art. 40. To see if the town will appoint a committee to investigate .
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and report a location for a bathing house on the shore of Lake Quannapowitt, or what they will do about it.
Voted. That Article 40 be referred to a committee of fifteen, to be appointed by the moderator, to include two clergymen, two phy- sicians, two practical builders, two resident property holders on the shore of the lake, the principal of the high school, the town solicitor and chairman of the board of park commissioners ; said committee to investigate the moral, physical and legal questions connected with the proposition and if found legal and desirable and for the best interest of the town to provide such institution for the health and comfort of its people ; they report as to location, as to cost and kind of building, also cost of care and maintenance and an outline of the proper rules and regulations for conducting the same and report at the next town meeting.
Chair appointed E. C. Miller, E. A. Upton, J. E. Millerick, R. Kendrick, S. G. Dunham, J. A. O'Leary, W. H. Lee, C. H. Howe, Thos. Hickey, Geo. E. Smith, J. W. Heath, W. H. But- ler, C. H. Hawes, T. E. Dwyer, W. H. Wiley.
Art. 41. That in the future none but citizens of the town of Wake- field shall be employed in the town's highways or any other works under the supervision of said town, and that the select- men shall be given full power to see that said article is put into effect.
Voted. That the selectmen carry out the wishes of the town as ex- pressed by the article, but that the subject refer only to the highway department.
Art. 42. To see if the town will grant permission to Morrill & At- wood to place platform scales on a triangular piece of land at the junction of Church, Lafayette and Railroad streets.
Indefinitely postponed.
Article 3 was taken up and Mr. Hickey reported the follow- ing list of officers and the report was accepted and adopted :
Finance committee, for three years, W. G. Strong, Charles Talbot, Michael Low, George H. Smith, Frederick O. Clark. Weighers of coal and merchandise, N. E. Cutler, J. M. Perley, J. C. W. Walton, A. A. Mansfield, C. A. Cheney, A. L. Mans- field, B. W. Foster, J. C. Kalaher, T. E. Toomey. Surveyors of
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lumber, J. B. Foster, Roger Howard, H. B. Parker, E. I. Pur- rington, C. H. Spencer, J. A. Sederquest. Measurers of wood, G. P. Haley, Geo. W. Killorin, H. N. Oliver, Charles Talbot. J. G. Morrill, E. E. Lee, G. E. Donald, A. L. Mansfield, W. M. Ward ; field drivers, Alex Glass, W. F. Shedd, J. E. Hopkins, O. G. Sanborn, G. K. Walton, G. F. Hanright, G. E. Donald.
Art. 47. To see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 186, Acts of 1895, relating to street watering, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To lay on the table.
Art. 50. To see if the town will request the Municipal Light Board to pay wages at the rate of two dollars per day of nine hours, when employing common laborers, or what it will do about it.
Referred to the municipal light board, to carry out the inten- tion of the article.
Art. 51. To see if the town will vote to increase its electric arc lighting capacity and discontinue the oil lights, or what it will do about it.
Laid on the table.
Art. 53. To see if the town will vote to request the Municipal Light Board to reduce the price of gas ten cents per thousand feet if allowed to do so by the state board of gas commission- ers, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To instruct the board, as requested.
Voted. To take up Art. 17.
Voted. To reconsider vote taken under this article while acting under this article March 27, 1899.
Voted. That the town raise and appropriate $150 and place the same in the hands of the selectmen and overseers of the poor to erect a suitable and well ventilated building at some place on the property of the town on the farm, to be used for the purpose of furnishing lodgings for tramps.
Voted. To adjourn to Monday, April 10, 1899, at 7.30 p. m.
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ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, APRIL 10, 1899.
Voted. To take up Article 2.
Voted. That the assessors be requested to report upon the matter referred to them, at the opening of the next adjournment of the town meeting, next Monday evening.
Voted. To take up Article 12.
Motion to reconsider action rejected.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone further action under Article 12.
Art. 55. To see if the town will authorize and instruct the select- men to request the state board of fish and game commissioners to enforce the reconstruction or repairing of fish-ways in Sau- gus river, at the several points where needed, so that alewives can pass to and fro from Lake Quannapowitt to the sea, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To so authorize and instruct.
Art. 56. To hear and act on the report of the sewerage committee.
Voted. To take up Article 5 in connection with Article 56.
Voted. To refer back to committee with instructions to recommend that the town appropriate $300 for purposes named in the report.
The committee recommends that the further investigations advised by the state board of health be made. There should be excavations, surveys, plans and estimates made for deter- mining the quality of the material, area and topography of the Montrose avenue location, and the best route for a siphon under the brook to connect Farm street with Montrose avenue ; and the location and cost of the main sewers from Wakefield centre to the place of disposal, including the proposed change of method, should also be determined. The plans and data ob- tained should be submitted to the state board of health and the results presented and considered at a special town meeting to be held not later than June so that sewers can be provided this season if possible. There should be at least $300 available for this work, and the committee recommends that $300 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of carrying out the recommendations of the committee.
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Voted. To accept and adopt the recommendations of the com- mittee. thereby raising and appropriating $300. It was voted that N. E. Cutler and W. B. Daniel be added to the committee. Art. 57. To see if the town will cause all persons not residents of the town, who sell or expose for sale any fruits, provisions, fish, meats and all articles enumerated in Section 1 of Chapter 68 of the Public Statutes, to procure a license from the selectmen for the purpose of selling the same, or what they will do about it. Voted. To lay on the table.
Art. 58. To see if the town will authorize the park commissioners and the selectmen to make arrangements with the metropolitan park commissioners to take under their charge all parks and public reservations of the town.
Voted. That a committee of three be appointed to report at a fu- ture meeting.
Chair appointed S. K. Hamilton, J. A. Hickey and Wm. N. Tyler.
Art. 59. To see if the town will appoint a tree warden as provided by Chapter 190 of the Acts of 1896, and rescind the vote of the town whereby all trees were put under the care of the park commissioners.
Voted. To refer to same committee as was Article 58.
Article 5, regarding appropriations for necessary town charges, was taken up, and Capt. James F. Emerson, on behalf of the fire department committee, reported a recommendation that $4,100 be raised and appropriated, together with the income from the use of the horses on the highways; and that the fire- men be paid $25 each.
Voted. To accept the report.
Voted. $4,700 for Fire Department.
Voted. That the compensation of the engine men be $25 for the. year ensuing, under Article II.
Art. 60. To see if the town will name the new north ward school the Francis P. Hurd school, and raise and appropriate the sum of twenty-five dollars to cut the name in its proper place on the building.
Voted. To do so.
Voted. To adjourn to April 17, 1899, at 7.30 p. m.
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ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, APRIL 17, 1899.
The meeting was called to order at 7.30 o'clock.
Art. 61. To see if the town will raise and appropriate fifty dollars to reimburse Waldo March for expense of relaying culvert in West Chestnut street in August, 1897, by permission of the se- lectmen, and destroyed by their order in January, 1899.
Referred to the selectmen upon recommendation of the finance committee.
Art. 62. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars for grading and improving the surroundings of the old cemetery, work to be done under the direction of the park commissioners, or what they will do about it.
Art. 63. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to properly light Lowell street. between Main and Vernon streets, or what they will do about it.
Art. 64. To see if the town will vote to construct a sidewalk on the westerly side of Main street, from house of F. A. Edson to Melrose town line, and appropriate the sum of four hundred dollars for that purpose, or what it will do about it.
Indefinitely postponed, upon recommendation of the finance committee.
Article 5 was then taken up and $2100 appropriated for state aid.
Article 19 was taken up and upon recommendation of the committee $200 was voted for the purpose of making plans for the laying-out of the new cemetery on Lowell street, the amount to be expended under the direction of the committee chosen last year.
Voted. To take up Article 32.
Voted. That $400 be appropriated to furnish a suitable heating and ventilating apparatus for the Woodville school house in accord- ance with the requirements of the state officials.
Art. 65. To act upon the report of the selectmen recommending the extension of Valley street from Hart street to Nahant street, raise and appropriate money to pay the construction expenses for said extension, or what it will do about it.
The moderator read the report of last year's board of select-
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men, recommending the laying out of the street. No land damages were asked or awarded. The report was accepted. The finance committee desired to have further action post- poned until Article 82 was acted upon and a motion to lay the article on the table was carried.
Article 26, relating to the removal of the drinking fountain from the corner of Main and Charles streets to the corner of Railroad and Main streets, was then taken up and $50 appro- priated for the purpose. The selectmen were given charge of the work of removal.
Art. 37. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred dollars to repair the sidewalks on the westerly side of Emerson street from West Chestnut street to Cedar court, or what they will do about it.
Voted, that the highway surveyor make the necessary repairs and charge the expense to the highway fund.
Art. 38. To see if the town will raise and appropriate one hundred and seventy-five dollars to pay for the services of a policeman to guard the property situated on the western shores of Lake QQuannapowitt and near Lakeside cemetery, during the months of June, July and August to the middle of September, or what action it will take thereon.
The finance committee reported that the selectmen were ready to carry out the intention of the article and the subject was referred to the selectmen.
Art. 39. To see if the town will raise and appropriate one hundred and fifty dollars for the purchase of fire pails, to be expended under the direction of the Forest Firewards, or what they will do about it.
Voted $50.
Art. 43. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money to repair Broadway from Lake street to Albion street, or what they will do about it.
Voted. To refer to highway surveyor to make necessary repairs.
Art. 44. To see if the town will vote to purchase one thousand feet of hose, and raise and appropriate money for the same, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To purchase 500 feet, and $275 was appropriated.
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Art. 45. To see if the town will vote to shingle and repair the roof of the engine house, corner of Crescent and Mechanic streets, and raise and appropriate money for the same, or what it will do about it.
Voted. $275, and that zinc galvanized nails be used.
Art. 46. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for the purchase of a watering cart, or what it will do about it.
This article and Article 47, relating to the acceptance of the statute provisions relating to street watering, were taken up together.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 48. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for the purchase of a dump cart, or what it will do about it.
Voted. That the selectmen purchase a new cart, that $125 be ap- propriated, and that the cart be properly ·lettered.
Art 49. To see if the town will vote to purchase a hose wagon, and raise and appropriate money for the same, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 52. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of thirty- seven hundred dollars to increase its electric arc light capacity, or what it will do about it.
Articles 51 and 52 were taken up together, the former relat- ing to the increasing of the electric arc capacity and the dis- continuance of the oil lamps.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 54. 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 1899, in substantially the form heretofore published, raise and appropriate money therefor, and take such further action as may be necessary in connection therewith, or what it will do about it.
C. W. Eaton, Esq., on behalf of the finance committee, moved that $400 be appropriated as asked for. Amendments that the list be published by streets, that the feet area, value and location of lots be published, that the assessors publish a list of abatements for the year 1899, and that the list be pub-
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lished on or before October 15, 1899. All amendments were carried and the motion as amended, was carried.
Art. 66. To act upon the report of the selectmen recommending the extension of Murray street to Albion street, raise and ap- propriate money to pay for land damages and expense of build- ing said extension, or what action the town will take thereon.
The selectmen recommended that $300 be awarded to Arch- bishop Williams for land damages and that $100 be raised for making the alterations. 'The report was accepted. The finance committee recommended that $400 be raised in accordance with the report.
Voted. $400.
Article 56 was taken up, relative to the sewerage report, and N. E. Cutler and W. B. Daniel were added to the committee, there being some question as to the action at the 'previous meeting.
Art. 67. To act upon the report of the selectmen recommending that the private way known as White avenue be accepted as a public highway, raise and appropriate money to pay the ex- pense of building a drain at the junction of said avenue and Pleasant street, or take any other action thereon.
The selectmen's report was accepted but further action was indefinitely postponed.
Art. 68. To see if the town will instruct the selectmen to petition the Middlesex county commissioners to repair or rebuild the old bridge over Saugus river between Wakefield and Lynnfield, on old Salem street, or what action it will take thereon.
Laid on the table to await information relative to the action of the town of Lynnfield.
Art. 69. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars to raise the sidewalk on the westerly side of Main street, nearly opposite Lawrence street, or what they will do about it.
The finance committee recommended that the subject be re- ferred to the highway surveyor and that the expense be charged to the highway fund. Moved, as an amendment, that the side- walk be re-located. The motion, as amended was passed.
Art. 70. To see if the town will instruct the highway surveyor to
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carry out the vote of the town under Article 20, in warrant of town meeting held November 14, 1895, in regard to finishing Prospect street, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To request the selectmen to ask the county commissioners to relocate the street at a width of forty-five feet.
Art. 71. To see if the town will vote to instruct all its boards, that no regular officer or employee shall be hired or contracted with for any time to extend beyond the regular March town meet- ing, or what they will do about it.
Indefinitely postponed.
Art. 72. To see if the town will vote to cease to hire the office room in Flanley's block, and instrust the school committee to use one of the rooms in the Lincoln school building, now fur- nished as private lunch and cloak rooms.
Voted. To refer to school committee.
Art. 74. To see if the town will raise and appropriate fifty dollars for clerical services of the finance committee, or what it will do about it.
Voted. $50 to be taken from miscellaneous fund.
Voted. To adjourn for one week at 7.30 p. m.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, APRIL, 24, 1899.
Voted. To take up Article 70.
Article 70, relating to Prospect street, was taken up and the action taken at the previous meeting was reconsidered.
Voted. That the matter be referred to the selectmen and highway surveyor to report at a future meeting.
On motion of S. K. Hamilton, Esq., Article 58, relative to public parks, was taken up and Mr. Hamilton reported on be- half of the committee appointed under the article.
The report contained a list of the twelve cities and twenty- five towns included in the metropolitan park district as estab- lished by act of the legislature in 1893, Wakefield being inclu- ded in the district. The law provides that any city or town officials, with the consent of the cities or towns, may transfer
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the care and control of the parks or public reservations to the metropolitan park commission upon such terms and for such period as may be mutually agreed upon, or may enter into an agreement with said commission for the joint care and preserva- tion of the same. The legislature of 1894 authorized the com- mission to construct roadways and boulevards within the dis- trict. In 1897, the time in which the commissioners should take lands and construct parks, parkways, roads and boulevards was limited to January 1, 1900.
"It is understood that the original plan of the park commis- sioners, in laying out a system of parks on the north side of Boston, was to include Wakefield and Crystal lake and Lake Quannapowitt, and that a boulevard should be made connecting Middlesex Fells and Lynn Woods, and it was originally sur- veyed to run at the south of Crystal lake, crossing the railroad substantially where the bridge now crosses, using our Main street to near the house of Mrs. Flint, then going to some place near the town farm. We are informed that last year it was at- tempted to change those plans and have a boulevard run just north of Ell pond in Melrose. Which route will be finally taken remains to be determined.
"In view of these facts we recommend, in accordance with the article, that the park commissioners and the selectmen be authorized to confer with the metropolitan park commissioners and ascertain upon what terms and conditions and for what period of time they will take control of the parks and public reservations of the town, and report to the town. It is not in- tended in this report or its adoption to commit the town to ex- pense or to any line of policy, but simply to secure information and report to the town."
Voted. To accept the report and to adopt the recommendations.
Voted. To take up Article 29.
Mr. Hamilton read the committee'e report, which was, in substance, as follows :
That from observation and information obtained it is apparent that many trees, valuable as shade trees in our streets, have been destroyed from some unknown cause in the last few years, and that it should be a matter of special inquiry by some per- son duly authorized, and that such means should be taken to
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preserve them as may be found necessary. The committee are of the opinion that the shade trees outside of the park and common should be placed under the care and protection of a tree warden, and they therefore recommend that a vote of the town placing all the shade trees under the charge of the park commissioners be rescinded, except as to the trees in the com- mon, park and other public reservations under the control of the town, and that a tree warden be elected at the present meeting under Article 3 of the present warrant.
The committee's report was accepted and adopted and Rufus Kendrick was unanimously elected tree warden.
Voted. Under Article 5, that $50 be transferred from the park commissioners' appropriation for the use of the tree warden. Voted. To take up Article 17.
Voted. To reconsider the action taken at the previous meeting, whereby $150 was appropriated to build a shelter on the town farm for the accommodation of tramps.
Voted. That a committee of five be appointed to consider the subject and report at a future meeting. The committee con- sisted of C. F. Hartshorne, W. N. Tyler, C. A. Dean, J. H. Carter and A. R. Perkins.
Art. 75. To see if the town will vote to purchase the land of S. O. Richardson, opposite the town hall, for library and other town purposes, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To lay on the table.
Art. 76. To see if the town will appoint a library committee, to report at the next annual town meeting, or what they will do about it.
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