USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1900-1902 > Part 43
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C. A. Cheney, 1,700 lbs. Cumberland coal, 3 83 .
G. H. Hathaway, supply wagon, 1899, 7 00
66 repairs on harness and supplies, 1899, 7 45
J. Laybolt, hardware and supplies, 8 39
C. Latimer, use of team and expressage, 29 64
storage, 10 00
Wakefield Water Co., water rates to Dec. 1, 1900, 3 00
G. H. Hathaway, use of horse and team, 3 00 66 feeding 9 horses rattan factory fire, . 4 50
Extra labor rattan factory fire, night work, .
9 30
C. W. H. Moulton, repairs on Stoneham ladder, broken at factory fire, 41 00
H. M. Dolbeare, printing 500 alarm cards,
66
66 100 street watering slips, I 25
6 00
66
200 rules, . ·
10 00
66
66 supplies, printing paper and en-
velopes, . 9 37
C. Stubbs, I day's labor on steamer relief,
2 00
Ralph Bray, horse and team, 2 50
66
supply wagon 8 fires, 16 00
66 66 forest fires, 2 00
Sederquest, Wanamake & Co., sunshade for watering
cart,
5 00
Sederquest, Wanamake & Co., repairs and supplies, 66 testing pump. .
12 50
L. D. Darling, new cover for reservoir, Albion street, . 13 45
G. H. Allen, medical attendance on horse, . 14 00
A. W. Edmands, 3 No. 4 fire extinguishers, 45 50 . Extra labor, fire July 21, rink fire, 4 80 Morrison & Stoddard, box for Eastman nozzles, . 2 60
S. E. Ryder, pint of alcohol, .
50
hire of horse 13 days,
19 50
8 49
186
G. Barnes, cleaning and drying hose, Woodville, . $2 25
J. M. Cameron, care of hose and rooms, 9 65
George A. Seaver, care of firemen lot, 2 00 ·
A. D. Jenkins, labor steamer and relief steamer 3 60
Cornelius Callahan, 200 feet of hose delivered to Melrose (rattan factory fire), . 120 00
Town poor department, I cord of wood, 8 00 ·
J. A. Sederquest, testing hydrants, 6 00
Morrison & Stoddard, repairs and refinishing desk, 6 00 .
C. F. Abbott, labor on steamer, . 3 25 ·
G. M. Kelley, hydrant wrench, . I 75
E. I. Purrington, labor, receiving relief and Lucius Beebe steamer, 16 90
E. I. Purrington, labor and supplies, . II 85 .
Lynn Stall Co., 6 harness hooks, 2 10 66 supplies, . 2 50
W. E. Cade, extra labor and expressage paid, II OO
J. D. Watters, supply wagon, forest fire, 2 00 .
Harry A. Glazer, 5 harness hangers and fixings, . 60 00
A. L. Crosby, 150 gal. oil tank, .
3 50
66
150 6 5 00
G. F. Jones, horse and wagon from Woburn, Oct. 23, 1899, 2 00 .
A. H. Thayer, supplies, 5 38
Red Cross Chemical Co., 10 gals. disinfectant, .
5 35
Lucas Bros., I Seth Thomas clock, 12 00 .
Cutler Bros., supply wagon, 13 fires, .
.
26 00
Municipal Light Plant, I ton gas coal,
5 00
Total .
$1,241 83
RECAPITULATION.
Steamer Lucius Beebe,
$1,135 31
Hook and Ladder, .
.
491 49
J. H. Carter Hose No. I, .
402 28
Volunteer Hose No. 2,
540 89
Greenwood Hose No. 3,
345 OI
Montrose Hose No. 4,
31 96
Fire alarm, .
133 49
187
Rent of rooms, .
$368 58
Hay, grain and shoeing,
348 53
Salaries of drivers, .
1,554 00
Miscellaneous expenses,
1,241 83
Total . .
$6,593 37
Balance unexpended
86 63
$6,680 00
188
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
The selectmen herein submit their annual report to the citizens of the town for their consideration, for the fiscal year commencing March 1, 1900, and ending Feb. 28, 1901.
The board met and organized on March 6, 1900, with Richard S. Stout as chairman and Edward E. Lee, secretary. The following committees from the board were appointed for the year: Care of town hall building, George M. Tompson ; committee on fire de- partment, Edward J. Gihon; committee on police department, Richard S. Stout.
We again call the attention of the citizens to the questions of public improvements, and as the town increases in population the official duties of the members connected with the different depart- ments of the municipal government will increase in corresponding proportion. Our experience, as members of this board, on a careful examination of the weekly records, are the only criterion by which a correct judgment can be formed of the increasing amount of busi- ness conducted by this department. In addition to this there is steadily growing a miscellaneous business, incidental to the progress and changing circumstances of the town, which is referred to the board of selectmen, as they are supposed to have knowledge and jurisdiction of all matters which are not especially connected with other departments of the town government. This amount of busi- ness, together with the steady growth of business from year to year, require the services of a clerk, and the time has come when it is necessary for some one to be in the office during business hours on each day.
CENTRE POND.
The selectmen believe that the time has come, now that the town has adopted a system of sewage disposal, when the centre pond should not be used for a cesspool. We would recommend that some action be taken toward filling the same, and removing from our centre district such a polluted and unsightly spot as now exists, and
189
give us land that can be used for business purposes, and make this part of our town more in keeping with the improvements that are now going on.
NIGHT WATCH.
The board, at its regular meeting of March 29, re-appointed James A. McFadden and Edwin F. Poland night-watch for the year, and they have performed their duty to our satisfaction.
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS.
The law requires that towns shall annually appoint an inspector of animals and provisions, and accordingly the board appointed Henry C. Perry to fill this office and he has attended to this duty during the year.
SEALER OF WEIGHT'S AND MEASURES.
On March 29 the selectmen appointed, according to law, H. A. Simonds, town sealer of weights and measures. This appointment has never carried a salary with it, as the sealer has been paid by the parties for whom the work was performed, but by a change in the law made at the last session of the general court, compelling cities and towns to pay the sealer a salary, it will be necessary for the town to make an appropriation for this purpose, and an article relating to this subject will be found in the town warrant.
SWEETSER LECTURE COMMITTEE.
The selectmen are called upon each year to appoint a committee to take charge of the Sweetser lecture course, and accordingly the following persons were appointed and have given us a course of lec- tures by some of the best talent to be found in this country, and we feel that they deserve our thanks and the thanks of the town for so ably carrying on this work. The committee are Charles H. Howe, Frank T. Woodbury, M. D., Charles F. Mansfield, Chester N. Greenough, Joseph L. Gooch and James H. Kimball, M. D.
TOWN SOLICITOR.
The selectmen appointed, on April 5, Samuel K. Hamilton, Esq., as its town solicitor, and he has attended to the town's legal busi- ness and cheerfully furnished advice to all the departments of the town when requested. Following is a list of the claims and suits-at- law against the town :
190
Mary L. Maxwell vs. town of Wakefield, to recover damages for stopping up a drain on Fairmount avenue.
Henry C. Hall vs. town of Wakefield, to recover damages for injuries sustained by him on Main and Lowell streets in 1898.
John Loughlin vs. town of Wakefield, to recover damages for tak- ing land in the widening on Salem street.
City of Somerville vs. town of Wakefield, to recover for taxes un- lawfully assessed upon said city, and paid under protest.
· Petition of the selectmen of Wakefield to abolish the grade cross- ing at Hanson street.
Sarah E. Walker vs. town of Wakefield, an action of tort to re- cover for the conversion of gravel used by the town. The husband of the plaintiff sold the gravel to the town and received the pay for it. He has assumed the defence in the action and employed the Hon. Melvin O. Adams of Boston to defend the case. The town counsel has appeared to look after the town's interest. This action is pending in Norfolk county.
Albert B. Norris vs. town of Wakefield. This is an action to re- cover $300 as compensation for drafting plans for the use of the committee on the new cemetery on Lowell street.
Edwin C. Callan vs. town of Wakefield. This is an action of tort to recover alleged damages for injuries received on account of a defect on Lake avenue.
James H. Johnson, Arabella Johnson and Alfred Johnson vs. town of Wakefield. These are three separate actions of tort to recover damages for injuries received on account of an alleged defect in the highway at the corner of Albion and Main streets.
Robert C. Ransom vs. town of Wakefield, a petition for an assess- ment of alleged damages sustained by changing the grade of Sum- mer street.
These are all pending.
The cases of Drugan vs. town of Wakefield and Weary vs. town of Wakefield have been settled, and the terms of settlement between Somerville and the town have been agreed upon but have not yet been carried out.
STREET RAILWAY HEARINGS.
A petition was received on January 7, 1901, from the directors of the Reading, Wakefield and Lynnfield street railway company, ask- ing for a location of tracks from the boundary line of the town of
191
Reading, through Railroad, West Water, Water, Vernon, New Salem, and Salem streets, to the boundary line of the town of Lynnfield. On this petition a public hearing was held on the evening of January 22, and after all parties interested had been heard the hearing was closed, and further action taken under advisement by the board. On January 26, after due consideration and advice from the town counsel on legal matters relating to the same, the board granted the location, subject to restrictions which are now on record at this office.
On January 18, 1901, a petition was received from the Lynn and Boston railroad company for an extension of location for track on Main street, a second track parallel with the present track from Salem street to the boundary line of the city of Melrose. On this petition a public hearing was held on February 8, and after all parties interested had been heard the hearing was closed and action taken under consideration ; and this location is still under the considera- tion of the selectmen.
FIRES.
The town has been visited this year by two large fires, one at the rattan works on May 4, and the other at the rink building on July 2I. It was necessary at both of these fires to call assistance from our neighboring cities and towns, and the cities of Malden and Mel- rose and the towns of Stoneham and Reading rendered the town valuable assistance, and the selectmen sent to each, in behalf of the town, a vote of thanks, and later the fire department showed their appreciation by giving the firemen from these places a day's outing and banquet in the evening.
INSURANCE.
By vote of the town, on the recommendation of the selectmen, new insurance has been placed on the high school building to the amount of $13,000, and on the new fire station the amount of $12,000.
NEW SAFE.
The board has been considering for some time past the accommo- dation in the town hall building for storing the town records and papers ; the present accommodations are entirely too small and not safe in case of fire, and this board are of the opinion that a suitable fire-proof vault should be built. The present safe is not fire proof,
192
and in case of fire the town might lose valuable records that could not be replaced. A safe should be built with a place for the records, and for the safe-keeping of the treasurer's bonds, and the cash that the collector may have on hand. If the collector's books should be destroyed by fire the town might lose many thousands of dollars.
PRESENTATION.
On December 27, 1900, the selectmen received from Mrs. Mary Lizzie Smith a crayon portrait of the late Charles H. Davis, which was accepted in behalf of the town, and the same has been placed on the walls of the company room in the new fire station.
PERAMBULATION.
During the year the selectmen have perambulated the town bounds bordering on Saugus and on Lynnfield, together with the selectmen of these towns, as is required by law. The various bounds are in proper position.
The north-east bound between Wakefield and Lynnfield should be renewed, and arrangements have been made with the selectmen of Lynnfield to set a new granite post in the place of the short cedar post now marking this boundary. This bound is situated on the north side of the Saugus river on the Pope estate, so called, east of the Georgetown track and approximately back of Gerry's cider mill.
It has also been decided to place an iron stake in the top of the three corner bound between Melrose, Saugus and Wakefield for bet- ter identification. This bound consists of a boulder about three feet six inches high, and is very difficult to find at present, owing to its similarity to many other boulders in that district.
PAINTING ARMORY BUILDING.
The town voted at the fall meeting to have the armory building painted and placed the same in charge of this board, and the work has been performed in a satisfactory manner by Fairbanks & Mac- Kenzie.
COAL.
The town voted to have the selectmen purchase coal for all the · departments, and accordingly bids were received for supplying coal to every department of the town using coal, except the Municipal
193
Light Plant, and this new departure has been the means of saving quite a sum for the town on its coal bill.
STREET WATERING.
The town voted at the last annual meeting to water the streets in the center of the town, and placed the matter in charge of the select- men ; accordingly a route was laid out covering Main street from Salem street to Nahant street, Albion street to Murray street, Mur- ray street, Chestnut street from Murray street to Main street, and Common street. There has been 1,530,600 gallons of water put on these streets, covering a distance of two miles, and the cost of water- ing has been assessed on the abutters by the board of assessors. We believe this work can be done next year at a much less expense, as the town is now fully equipped for this work.
COMMITTEE ROOMS.
The town appropriated six hundred dollars at the fall meeting to partition off three rooms on the third floor of the town hall building, but after conferring with the various boards and finding that they were unwilling to go there, it was decided not to have the work done, and accordingly this money has been turned back into the treasury.
RICHARD S. STOUT, GEORGE M. TOMPSON, EDEN. K. BOWSER, EDWARD E. LEE, EDWARD J. GIHON,
Selectmen of Wakefield.
194
Report of Finance Committee.
The committee on finance organized December 31, 1900, by the election of Dr. J. H. Kimball chairman, F. J. Henkel secre- tary. The requirements of the various boards and departments for the ensuing year have been carefully considered at the eleven sessions thus far held by the committee, and the raising and appropriating of the different amounts, as appear in the following schedule, is recom- mended.
It will be seen that the sum total required exceeds that of the preceding year, which is in part owing to the two years' assessment now due on metropolitan park account, and to fixed charges over which the committee has no jurisdiction.
Support of schools :
Divided approximately into
General, · $37,750 00
Contingent,
2,700 00
Books and supplies,
2,600 00
Business course,
1,250 00
Total,
. $44,300 00
Treasurer's department :
Maturities in 1901. All provided by previous votes to enter tax levy.
Municipal light,
$3,000 00
Lincoln school house,
5,000 00
Warren
2,000 00
Greenwood « 66
1,000 00
North 66
500 00
Cemetery,
.
500 60
Maps and survey,
500 00
Armory,
. 3,000 00
195
Fire station, .
$1,000 00
High school repairs,
1,000 00
Park loan,
500 00
Sewerage,
1,000 00
Total, .
$19,000 00
Amount voted after tax levy last year, . $15,427 20
66 needed for interest,
17,500 60
State tax last year,
3,960 00
County "
7,066 09
State sewerage, .
5,202 00
. $68,155 39 Total,
Highway department :
General street railway tax and
$8,000 00
Concrete, new work,
500 00
repair "
800 00
Edge stones,
400 00
Total,
. $9,700 00
Poor department :
The receipts of farm, all other receipts, and · 6,000 00
Municipal light board :
Income from plant.
For gas and electric extensions, .
1,000 00 (with permission to borrow from income if necessary.)
Police department, including the expense of a horse, 1,800 00
Night watch,
1,800 00
Fire department,
6,120 00
Forest firewards,
400 00
Park department,
500 00
Fish committee, .
25 00
Rental of hydrants : $25 each, same for stand pipes and fountains. 125 hydrants, 4 stand pipes for street sprinkling and 3 fountains, 3,300 00
196
Salaries for town officers :
Town clerk,
$200 00
Selectmen, $100 each ; clerk, $100,
600 00
* Assessors,
700 00
*Treasurer,
400 00
Collector of taxes,
500 00
Overseers of poor,
300 00
Highway sarveyor,
900 00
Board of health,
100 00
Fire engineers,
160 00
Auditors,
215 oa
Municipal light board, .
250 00
Registrars of voters,
215 00
Forest fire wards,
75 00
Town solicitor,
500 00
Milk inspector, including sample collector,
150 00
*Sealer of weights and measures,
100 00
Total,
$5,365 00
Miscellaneous expenses,
5,500 00
Town house expenses,
2,000 00
Printing, advertising and stationery,
1,200 00
Richardson Light Guard,
600 00
State aid,
2,700 00
Soldiers relief,
3:500 00
Military aid,
875 00
Spanish war aid,
100 00
Memorial day,
250 00
Insurance premiums, subject to revision,
2,217 88
·
Total, . . $168,108 27
The terms of J. H. Kimball, Michael Lane, J. W. S. Brown, W. H. Frye and Chas. Talbot expire in May, and if it is the intention of the town to continue its committee on finance it will be necessary to elect five members for three years, to fill vacancies.
For the committee,
J. H. KIMBALL, Chairman. F. J. HENKEL, Secretary.
Metropolitan park assessment, 6,000 00
$174,108 27
ANNUAL REPORT
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
BEEBE TOWN LIBRARY.
1900-1901.
198
ORGANIZATION OF TRUSTEES.
Chairman, .
A. H. Thayer
Treasurer, .
Thomas J. Skinner
Secretary, .
Richard Dutton
STANDING COMMITTEES.
LIBRARY.
F. T. Woodbury, Ch.,
A. H. Thayer, Richard Dutton
FINANCE.
E. W. White, Ch.,
W. W. Taft, Chas. N. Winship
BOOKS.
Harry Foster, Ch., E. W. White, Wm. W. Taft
Chas. F. Mansfield,
Mrs. Emma F. Howland.
READING ROOM.
Richard Dutton, Ch ,
Charles N. Winship,
Ashton H. Thayer, E. W. White.
CATALOGUE.
Mrs. Emma F. Howland, Ch., F. T. Woodbury
R. Dutton.
Librarian, .
Harriet A. Shepard
Janitor of Reading Room, . . Rufus F. Draper
Purchasing agent for Library, .
Mrs. Howland
The library is open every week day evening from 7 to 9 o'clock. Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 2 to 9 o'clock. Saturday from 2 to 9 o'clock.
199
Report of the Library Trustees.
The trustees of the Beebe town library and public reading room, herewith present their annual report to the citizens of the town.
The old saying that " what's everybody's business is nobody's business," is as true today as it was some thousands of years ago- more or less-when first uttered. We do not mean by this to criticise past board of trustees or to laud our own work, but believing that specific work given to certain ones to look after will result more satis- factorily than to have the board act as a committee of the whole, we adopted a set of rules for systematizing the work. Sub-commit- tees were appointed, each with their special department to look after, and the result has been satisfactory to the trustees.
During the past summer the library was thoroughly cleaned, books were removed and dusted and shelves washed before the books were replaced. This meant the moving, dusting and replacing of over thirteen thousand books. The work was done under the direct supervision of the librarian, Mrs. Shepard.
Several other improvements have been made. A new carpet adds greatly to the neatness and cheerfulness of the room. Glass panels have been put into the doors of the library and reading room, the handsome glass in the main library door being a gift of Mr. E. A. Carlisle. The expense of the library does not consist simply in buying new books. As will be seen by the librarian's report, many old books must be replaced, and many others rebound. These with other minor expenses which, though small, cut very perceptably into an already small appropriation, and the balance with which to pur-
200
chase new books and cover the broad field of literature in its many branches, satisfactorily to all is, of course, inadequate.
It is the desire and purpose of the trustees that the schools shall profit by the library, and to this end teachers are allowed access to the library shelves to select books for use in the schools, and the librarian gladly renders them all assistance possible.
One shelf has been placed near the librarian's desk where some of the later additions to the libarry are placed for examination and selec- tion by the patrons. "This shelf," the librarian says, " is much liked and well patronized." We regret that the delivery room is not more spacious, so that more shelves of this nature might be placed conven- ient to the patrons of the library. " What's in a name," is especially applicable to books and their titles. Sometimes there is much in a name, but in many cases the reverse is true, and an opportunity to examine a book even slightly, is greatly appreciated.
A special appropriation of $300 was made last year for the introduc- tion of the card system of cataloguing. The catalogue committee in their report to the trustees say, "we were fortunate in securing the ser- vices of Miss A. I. Appleton, a lady of much experience in such work, and under her direction the cards have been written by the librarian, Mrs. Shepard, who has generously contributed this labor. Some twenty-five hundred cards have been written, covering about eight hundred books, comprising all recent accessions which appear in no other catalogue and including practically all books added since the · publication of bulletin No. 8." Books are catalogued by title, author and subject, thus making it easy to find any book wanted. All of this work has been done with the books in constant circulation. This system should, and no doubt will be extended farther back so as to include all supplementary bulletins, and in time the entire library. The work as planned is not entirely completed, and it is hoped that Miss Appleton's services may be obtained to finish what she has so well begun.
During the year all books purchased with the income from the dif- ferent funds have been designated by one of the following slips pasted in its respective book :
.
201
BEEBE TOWN LIBRARY, WAKEFIELD. DR. F. P. HURD LIBRARY FUND.
Purchased
DR. FRANCIS P. HURD, son of Rev. Isaac and Elizabeth (Emery) Hurd, was born in Exeter, N. H., January, 1820, and died in Boston, October 2, 1884.
He was a friend of the library during his residence in this town and served on the Board of Trustees. He bequeathed to the town, for the benefit of the library, Twenty-five Hundred Dollars, the income of which is used for the purchase of books.
1
BEEBE TOWN LIBRARY, WAKEFIELD. CYRUS WAKEFIELD LIBRARY FUND.
Purchased
MR. CYRUS WAKEFIELD, second of the name, son of James P. and Hannah B. (Hall) Wakefield, was born in Sangerfield, N. Y.„October 20, 1833. He removed to Wakefield after the death of his uncle, the first Cyrus Wakefield, and was closely identified with its interests and institutions till his death, January 25, 1888.
He bequeathed to the town, for the benefit of the library, Five Hundred Dollars, the income of which is used for the purchase of books.
202
BEEBE TOWN LIBRARY, WAKEFIELD. FLINT MEMORIAL FUND.
Purchased
MRS. HARRIET NEWELL FLINT, wife of Charles F. Flint of North Reading, and daughter of Thomas and Phebe (Cummings) Evans, was born in South Reading (now Wakefield) August 29, 1815, and died at Wakefield, December 31, 1896.
Mrs. Flint gave to the town, November 5, 1872, One Thousand Dollars, the income of which is to be expended in the purchase of books for the Beebe Town Library.
BEEBE TOWN LIBRARY, WAKEFIELD. FRANKLIN POOLE FUND.
Purchased
MR. FRANKLIN POOLE was born in the south parish of Reading (now Wakefield) October 19, 1808. He was son of Timothy and Jerusha F. (Rich- ardson) Poole, and a descendant in the seventh generation from John Poole, one of the earliest settlers of the town. He died in Wakefield, October 3, 1898, and bequeathed to the town for the benefit of the library, of which he had been a life-long friend, Five Hundred Dollars, the income of which is used for the purchase of books.
203
After their use in the reading room, papers and magazines have been sent to the insane hospital at Danvers, also to the old ladies home and poor farm of this town, and others have been loaned to the high school.
The reading room committee, thanks to numerous friends, have been enabled to add very materially to the conveniences of this room which could not have been done had we been dependent upon the appropriation of $175 from the town.
The following report of the chairman of the reading room commit- tee gives in detail a statement of the improvements in that room, in which the public may well be interested :
REPORT OF READING ROOM COMMITTEE.
The work of this committee has been made exceedingly pleasant by the widespread and active interest of the public.
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