USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1908-1910 > Part 17
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Art. 11. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a suffi- cient sum of money to erect poles and wires to light the southerly end of Jordan avenue from Byron street to Albion street, or what they will do about it. Greenleaf A. Goodale and others.
Voted. To instruct the Municipal Light Plant to install a light on Jordan avenue, as outlined in Article 11.
Art. 12. To see if the town will increase the salary of the Clerk
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of the Board of Selectmen, and appropriate money therefor, or what they will do abot it. H. A. Simonds and others.
Voted. That the town increase the salary of Clerk of Board of Selectmen at rate of $100 per annum, dated from Nov. 1, 1909. That town raise and appropriate $33.33, amount necessary to complete current salary year.
Art. 13. To see if the town will vote to elect Overseers of the Poor in the following manner. At the annual town meeting in 1910, to elect one Overseer of the Poor for the term of one year, one for the term of two years, and one for the term of three years, and at each annual meeting thereafter to elect one Overseer of the Poor for the term of three years. George M. Poland.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 14. To see if the town will vote to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of its property on Albion street, formerly the Thomas Flynn estate, or what action if any it will take in relation thereto.
Voted. That town retain property mentioned in article for the present, and Selectmen rent same and report the same at the next March meeting.
Art. 15. To see if the town will authorize its Treasurer, with the approval of its Selectmen, to hire a sum of money suffi- cient to meet the appropriations made at this meeting, on a term not exceeding one year, and to issue the notes of the town therefor.
Voted. That the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Se- ~ lectmen, be authorized to hire the sum of $7,113.33, for a term not exceeding one year, to meet the appropriations made at this meeting, and to issue the notes of the town therefor.
Voted. To dissolve the meeting.
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TOWN MEETING, NOVEMBER 29, 1909.
Article 1. To choose a moderator by ballot, to preside at said meeting.
Thomas G. O'Connell was elected moderator.
Art. 2. To see what action the town will take for the preserva- tion, protection and improvement of Lake Quannapowitt and its shores for the use and benefit of the town and its inhabi- tants. S. K. Hamilton and others.
S. K. Hamilton offered the following motion : 1
That acting under Article 2 of the present warrant the town appoint a Citizens' Committee, consisting of 50 legal vot- ers [which motion was amended that the Moderator appoint a Committee of 15 instead of the Town appointing a Committee of 50] to inquire into the past and present condition of Lake Quannapowitt and its shores, all sources of pollution thereof, methods of purification and means of prevention of further pollution, the relations of the Town to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Town of Reading, the determination and maintenance of a proper level for the water in said Lake, and report to the Town at its next annual Town Meeting or at any other meeting called at the request of said Committee for that purpose, which Committee shall have power to fill all vacancies in its own number.
It is hereby empowered to take such action for the pur- poses above set forth as it may deem to be in the interest of the Town and its inhabitants and especially to make such applications as it may deem advisable to the Board of Harbor and Land Commissioners, the State Board of Health, the Board of Highway Commissioners and to the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
It shall organize by the choice of a Chairman and Secre- tary and shall keep a record of its proceedings and at its dissolution file the same with the Town Clerk.
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It shall continue in office until discharged by a vote of the Town.
It shall incur no expense to the Town and shall serve with- out pay.
The Selectmen are hereby instructed to furnish said Com- mittee with a suitable room for its meetings and supply it with stationery and postage.
The following named voters shall constitute said Com- mittee.
The Moderator appointed the following Committee : Charles A. Dean, H. M. Dolbeare, J. Fred Parker, Joseph W. Heath, C. Donovan, E. C. Miller, Junius Beebe, Thomas E. Dwyer, George M. Tompson, John A. Meloney, Curtis L. Sopher, Arthur G. Walton, M. E. S. Clemons, Frank A. Long, A. W. Flint.
The motion as amended was carried.
Art. 3. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sufficient sum for the estimated expense of taking all or any of the land lying along the shores of Lake Quannapowitt, which is not now owned by the town of Wakefield and authorize the Board of Park Commissioners to take for park purposes all or any part of said land. M. E. S. Clemons and others.
Voted. That the Chair appoint a Committee of five to take the subject matter of this Article into consideration and report at next March meeting.
Board of Selectmen appointed this Committee.
Art. 4. To see if the town will instruct the Municipal Light Board to install an incandescent light on Converse street, near the residence of Timothy F. Murphy.
Voted. That the Municipal Light Board be instructed to install a light on Converse street as asked for in this Article.
Art. 5. To see if the town will authorize its Treasurer, with the
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approval of its Selectmen, to hire a sum of money sufficient to meet the appropriations made at this meeting, on a term not exceeding one year, and to issue the notes of the town therefor.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Voted. To dissolve this meeting.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF WAKEFIELD :
The Board of Selectmen respectfully submit their annual report for the municipal year ending December 31st, 1909, together with the reports of the several departments and committees under their control and supervision.
The board organized March 2nd with the election of J. Fred Parker, chairman, Arthur L. Wiley, secretary and the appoint- ment of H. A Simonds, clerk.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
Street Department
Edward E. Lee
Fire Department .
Cornelius Donovan
Police Department
Andrew G. Anderson
Military
J. Fred Parker
Town Hall .
Arthur L. Wiley
Signing checks
Messrs Wiley, Donovan & Anderson
APPOINTMENTS.
Town Counsel .
M. E. S. Clemons
Supt. of [Streets
D. C. Greaney
Supt. of Moth Dept.
W. W. Whittridge
H. G. Brockbank
Chief of Police .
Chas. E. Bullard *
James J. Pollard W. E. Cade E. S. Jacob
Fire Engineers .
F. F. Anderson
Inspector of Wires
A. B. Morton
Inspector of Animals
Palmer Corbett
Inspector of Milk and Col- lector of Samples .
H. A. Simonds
Forest Warden
S. T. Parker
·
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Sealer of Weights and
C. O. Anderson *
Measures A. A. Mansfield Janitor of Town Hall R. F. Draper
A. B. Morton
Weighers of Merchandise . W. P. Farwell E. F. Cobb
Register of Voters
P. J. Kelley
Night Watch .
L. S. Tainter
Day Patrol and Lockup
Keeper .
J. A. McFadden
Constables
S H. A. Simonds
J. J. Pollard
Dog Officer
J. J. Pollard
COMMITTEE ON SWEETSER LECTURES
E. J. Brett
J. H. Carfrey
E. C. Miller J. H. Kimball
H. L. M. Pike
SPECIAL POLICE OFFICERS
Black, F. J.
Nelson, Emil
Carter, L. E.
Nelson, Frank
Currier, U. S. G.
Peterson J. A.
DeRoche, Henry
Potter, G. H.
Draper, R. F.
Preston, J. L. Jr.
Gould, A. H.
Russell, G. O.
Gault, C. E.
Robinson, F. H.
Hurtın, James
Ronan, C. V.
McDonnell, E. P.
Shaw, W. M.
Meloney, J. A.
Simonds, H. A.
Murray, W. H.
Tyler E. A.
McNeil, S. H.
* Resignation.
Tyzzer, L. N.
LICENSES GRANTED
AUCTIONEERS-G. H. S. Driver, F. S. Hartshorne.
INNHOLDERS-M. L. Mahoney.
PONY EXPRESS-American Express Co., Eaton Express Co., Cotter's Express Co.
E. F. Poland
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BOWLING ALLEY-Chas. L. Stolil, Barnard & Godfrey.
GUNPOWDER-George H. Taylor.
BENZINE-Jenkins-Phipps Co.
GASOLINE-Jas. J. Hughes.
CIRCUS-Lowando's.
JUNK DEALERS-M. Levine, Hyman Barron, I. Horovitz & Co., M. Arenstein & Co., John Taylor.
FIREWORKS -George L. Teague, H. E. Butler, Chas. H. Cheever, Benj. Oventhicer.
PEDLERS-B. J. Cotter, Chas. J. Daly, M. P. Doherty, J. H. Driscoll, George A. Doyle, A. W. Daniel, Renj. Holmes, H. C. Krebbs, Oscar C. Mitchell, Winfield Holt, Thomas I. Paon, E. E. Phillips, Daniel Quinn, Patrick H. Scannell, Guinseppe San- toro, Alvin M. Woodman, J. H. Whipling.
VICTUALLERS-C. H. Cheever, Ralph DeCecca, Sarah E Ed- mands, Sarah W. Finneran, George H. Lee, J. J. Maloney, Ernest Mortimer, Chas. P. Rosson, Rose Rubenstine, Socroso Stoti, G. L. Teague, Chas. Taber, Will H. Wiley, Mitchell & Whitney.
RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
Mr. H. G. Brockbank resigned as Chief of Police and Chas. E. Bullard was appointed but before qualifying, an illness of the eyes developed. He was granted a month's leave of absence but at the end of that time his condition was such that he resigned.
J. J. Pollard was then appointed.
A joint meeting was held with the School Committee to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Darius Hadley and resulted in the election of Arthur H. Boardman.
C. O. Anderson resigned as Sealer of Weights and Measures and A. A. Mansfield was appointed.
Report of Town Counsel
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN.
GENTLEMEN -- I hereby submit my report as to matters which are or have been in the Courts during the past year.
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The following is a list of cases and unless otherwise noted the town is defendant :--
Actions of tort-Thomas L. Harris, Emma Doyle, Mary A. Doucett, Hannah S. Wait, Richard Mirabito and Wm. Baragna- wath.
Actions of contract-Willard Welch, Susan Romney, both to recover on tax title, Conway Contracting Co. and Wakefieldvs. American Surety Co.
Other matters pending-Six petitions to set aside sewer assessments.
PROCEEDINGS IN COURT
Case of John A. Keefe tried before jury, verdict for town.
Case of Willard Welch tried before the court at Malden, and finding for plaintiff, on appeal tried before Superior Court, finding for town.
Claim of Josephine Stone for injury from fall on sidewalk at Greenwood settled for $150.
Old case of Peter Corbett disposed of by Insurance Co. at no cost to town.
The case against the American Surety Co. will probably be heard in the Supreme Court in April on the defendant's exceptions.
Respectfully submitted,
M. E. S. CLEMONS.
Engineers Report
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN :
GENTLEMEN-The board of Fire Engineers herewith present their report for eleven months, beginning February 1, 1909, and ending December 31, 1909, giving the record of fires, with losses and insurance as nearly as we can ascertain them, and such other information as may be of interest to the town.
THE DEPARTMENT
The department consists of seven pieces of apparatus, as fol- lows :
1 Amoskeag Steam Engine.
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1 Silsby Steam Engine (Relief).
1 Hook and Ladder Truck.
1 Combination Hose and Chemical Wagon.
1 Auto Hose Wagon, owned by Volunteer Library Assn
1 Hose Wagon, owned by Greenwood Library Assn.
1 Hose Wagon, Montrose.
There are eight horses in the department one of which is owned by the Greenwood Library Association.
There are 55 men in the department, divided as follows : 3 engineers, 4 permanent drivers. 1 relief driver, 14 Hook and Ladder men, 2 engineers of engine and 33 hose men.
During the past year we have had the combination wagon and supply wagon painted. The combination wagon has again shown its usefulness as a great saver of water damage at the smaller fires.
HOSE
There is in the department 6100 feet of hose and it has all been tested this year. 1000 feet has been lined at a cost of $393.34. This we have been able to do from the regular appropriation on account of there being several vacancies in the department. All of this hose has been in the department a number of years and is liable to give out at any time. 800 feet is in poor condition.
FINANCIAL REPORT
The financial report is given in the auditors' report and shows receipts of $10,035.33 and expenditures of $9,894.57, leaving an unexpended balance of $140.76. This is an increase over pre- vious year and is caused by the raising of the pay of the depart- ment at the annual town meeting. This action is much appreciated by the members of the department and enables the Board to retain the services of experienced men. The earnings of the department are $2,027.23. This with an appropriation of $8,008 makes the income $10,035.33. We return $140.76 to the town making the total amount that enters into the tax levy $7,857.24, the balance coming from the earnings.
RECORD OF FIRES
During the year the department has responded to 34 general
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alarms and 43 still alarms, the largest number responded to in one year or 11 months. Excepting the fire at the Congregational church, Feb. 21, the losses were small. The number of still alarms shows a steady increase, showing that our townspeople are becoming educated to the fact that there are two horses and a driver at the Central Fire Station at all times to respond to small fires without ringing in the alarm. We have responded to three out of town calls ; the church fire at Reading, another church fire at Stoneham and to a call from Saugus where a number of build- ings were burned. At these fires we appreciated the fact that our sister towns have come to our assistance on several occasions with their best and in responding to these calls we have endeav- ored to do the same.
Monday, Feb. 15. Still alarm, 9 a. m. Dwelling 10 Crescent court. Owned by Fred H. Henry, occupied by D. H. Bodwell. Loss $900. Cause, probably from smoking.
Monday, Feb. 15. Still alarm, 6.10.p. m. Supposed fire in greenhouses corner of Yale and North avenues. Cause, smoky chimney.
Thursday, Feb. 18. Still alarm at 12.52 p. m. No. 24 Chestnut street, occupied by Mrs. D. P. Rolfe. Cause, chimney.
Sunday, Feb. 21. Box 34, 8.15 a. m., followed by second alarm. Congregational church, corner Church street and Lake avenue. Loss $83,000. Cause, unknown.
Monday, Feb. 22. Still alarm, 10.30 a. m. Re-kindling of above fire.
Tuesday, Feb. 23. Still alarm, 12.40 a. m. Ruins of Congre- gational church.
Tuesday, March 2. Still alarm, 12.20 p. m. Shea's block, Turnbull avenue. Chimney fire.
Friday, March 5. Out of town call, 7.40 p. m. Congrega- tional church at Reading ; aid asked for. Steamer and hose wagon sent. Returned at 11.20 p. m.
Tuesday, March 16. Box 6, 10.10 a. m. Poor farm, Farm street Loss $827. Cause, careless smoking.
Wednesday, March 17. 12.03 p. m. Dwelling, 756 Main street, occupied by W. E. Thurston. Loss small. Cause, kettle of fat.
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Friday, March 19. Still alarm 1.40 p. m. Coal yard owned by Thomas Hickey. Grass fire.
Sunday, March 21. Still alarm, 10.20 p. m. Grass fire on Hopkins street.
Tuesday, March 23. Still alarm, 3.10 p. m. Henhouse on Greenwood avenue owned by Margaret Marble. Loss $75. Cause, burning grass.
Wednesday, March 24. Still alarm, 2.40 p. m. Brush fire on Greenwood street.
Wednesday, March 24. Out of town call at 4.52 p. m. Metho- dist church, Stoneham. Steamer and wagon responded. Returned at 8.05 p. m.
Saturday, March 27. Still alarmı, 3.55 p. m. Grass fire, Parker Road.
Sunday, March 28. Box 27, 9.22 a. m. Dwelling house 6 Avon court, occupied by Ed. Eaton. Loss small. Cause, blanket catching afire from stove.
Thursday, April 1. Still alarm, 11.54 a. m. Grass fire,. Shumway Circle.
Thursday, April 1. Box 43, 2.24 p. m. Grass fire, Lawrence street.
Friday, April 2. Still alarm, 10.32 a. m. House occupied by John Barron, Salem street, chimney fire.
Monday, April 5. 8.45 a. m. Department answered Box 12 wild blows on fire alarm.
Monday, April 5. 10.44 a. m. Grass fire on Nahant street.
Monday, April 5. Box 10, 12.15 p. m. Brush fire off Parker Road.
Monday, April 5. Box 28, 3.37 p. m. Grass fire off Elm street.
Tuesday, April 6. Still alarm, 1.05 p. m. £ Wood fire off Nahant street.
Tuesday, April 6. . Still alarm, 3 p. m. Grass tire off White avenue.
Thursday, April 8. 10.15 a. m. Out of town call, Cliftondale, Saugus. Steamer and hose wagon sent. Nine houses destroyed Loss $40,' 00.
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Monday, April 12. Still alarm, 1.07 p. m. Woods off Bear
Brook road. Monday, April 12. Still alarm, 1.45 p. m. Grass fire off Hopkins street.
Monday, April 19. Box 21, 1.23 p. m. Brush fire off Jordan avenue.
Wednesday, May 12. Box 22, 9.01 p. m. Fire in yard of Smith & Anthony Co., Foundry street, among patterns. Loss $75. Cause, sparks from locomotive.
Friday, May 14. Box 9, 5.31 a. m. Dwelling house, 144 Water street, owned by Miss Agnes Farrington ; occupied by Patrick Farrington. Loss $40. Cause, probably from smoking. Wednesday, May 26. Still alarm, 12.17 p. m. Fence fire, Railroad and Water streets. Cause, sparks from locomotive.
Tuesday, June 1. Box 41, 6.17 a. m. Dwelling house on, Central street, owned by M. B. Raynes ; occupied by F. Howard. Loss $30. Cause, spark from chimney.
Friday, June 4. Box 12, 1.27 p. m. Union church, Oak street, Greenwood. Loss $1500. Cause, set by children.
Sunday, June 27. Box 58, 6.12 p. m. False alarm.
Monday, July 5. Box 23, 3.40 a. m. Ticket office, Railroad and West Water streets, owned by Wakefield Baseball Assn. Loss $40. Cause, incendiary.
Monday, July 5. Box 14, 9.15 p. m. Dwelling, 826 Main street, owned by A. W. Corey, occupied by Geo. I.loom and A. F. Young. Loss small, Cause, fire baloon.
Monday, July 5. Box 15, 10.43 p. m. Out-building, Main street, opposite Franklin street, owned by Charles Cushing. Loss $35. Cause, incendiary.
Wednesday, July 7. Box 35, 10.40 a. m. Rear of 88 Albion street, owned by O: H. Fessenden. Lot of straw bedding, prob- ably set by children. Loss small.
Friday, July 16. Still alarm, 2.15 p. m. Grass fire on Church street.
Friday, July 16. Still alarm, 3.55 p. m. Rear of 63 Pleasant. street. Stable on W. K. Perkins estate. Loss $10. Cause, lightning.
Friday, July 16. Box 41, 4 p. m. Building on Pleasant
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street extenslon, used for storage and owned and occupied by Junius Beebe. Loss $1500. Cause, struck by lightning.
Friday, July 16. Still alarm, 8.20 p. m. Fire in tree on Crescent court. Cause, electric wires.
Saturday, July 17. Still alarm, 11.40 a. m. 6 Herbert street, occupied by Manuel Dingle. Chimney fire.
Saturday, July 17. Still alarmı, 12.05 p. m. Dump afire on Richardson street.
Tuesday, Aug. 3. Still aların, 9 a. m. 10 Crescent court, : owned by Fred Henry. Loss small. Cause, gasoline stove.
Friday, Aug. 13. Box 35, 2.20 p. m. Dwelling and stores, 418, Main street, store occupied by G. H. Lee as restaurant, owned by Wakefield Real Estate and Building Association. Cause, kettle of fat. Losses : G. H. Lee, $350; Wakefield Bldg. Assn., $2500 ; S. E. Ryder, druggist, $2,200 ; A. W. Achorn, provisions, $300; C. H. Blanchard, dwelling, $500; No. 8 Center street, owned by Wakefield Bldg. Assn., occupied by Mrs. Abbie Hawkes ; loss $47.
Friday, Aug. 13. Still alarm, 5.30 p. m. Rekindling of above fire.
Monday, Aug. 23. Still alarm, 1.25 p. m. Supposed brush fire off Prospect street.
Wednesday, Aug. 25, 12 m. Store corner of Main and Albion streets, occupied by Esner Bros., owned by Middlesex Traders. Cause, burning rubbish. No loss.
Thursday, Aug. 26. Box 23, 10.05 p. m. Dwelling 20 Gould street, owned by Mrs. Annie Kernan. Loss, $1800. Cause, kerosene lamp.
Tuesday, Sept. 7. Box 35, 6.45 p. m. Store, No. 13 Albion street, owned by William A. Giles, occupied by E. Caldwell as furniture store. Cause, careless use of matches. Loss $65.
Wednesday, Sept. 22. Still alarm, 5.15 p. m. Dwelling at Park avenue and West Chestnut street, owned and occupied by H I. Thayer. Loss small. Cause, gas jet.
Friday, Sept. 24. Box 48, 2.18 a. m. Dwelling on Lakeview avenue, owned by Mrs. Ida Johnson; unoccupied ; loss, $1500. Cause, unknown.
Friday, Oct. 8. Still alarm, 9.35 a. m. Dwelling, 310 Main
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street, owned and occupied by Geo. F. Wilson. Cause, stove smoking.
Wednesday, Oct. 13. Still alarm, 8.15 a. m. Rear of Main and Water streets, owned by Cutler Bros. Fire in old rubbish.
Tuesday, Oct. 19. Box 9, 5.25 p. m. Dwelling house, 108 Water street; owned by James Johnson, occupied by Louis Wanghist. Chimney fire.
Wednesday, Oct. 27. Still alarm, 5.10 p. m. Electric car afire on Main street.
Friday, Oct. 29. Box 35, 7.22 p. m. Dwelling 384 Main street, owned by Geo. Cheney, occupied by John Hatfield. Lounge afire, caused by smoking. Loss small.
Friday, Oct. 29. 3.10 p. m. Dwelling, 28 Richardson street, occupied by Felix Muse. Chimney fire.
Friday, Nov. 12. Still aların, 2 p. m. Brush fire in Butler's woods.
Sunday, Nov. 14. Still alarm, 9.50 a. m. Dwelling, 17 Lafayette street, owned by John Morrill estate. No loss. Cause, hot ashes in barrel.
Sunday, Nov. 21. Still alarm, 5.18 p. m. Grass fire off Foundry street.
Sunday, Nov. 21. Box 54, 5.20 p. m. Woods fire off Lowell street.
Wednesday, Nov. 24. Box 39, 2.20 a. m. Slaughter house rear of 156 Vernon street, owned and occupied by Dexter C. Wright. Loss $1600. Cause defective chimney.
Wednesday, Dec. 1. Still alarm, 4.20 p. m. Grass fire off Nahant street.
Wednesday, Dec. 1. Still alarm, 4.30 p. m. Grass fire off Valley street
Saturday, Dec. 4. Still alarm, 5.52 p. m. 18 Mechanic street, occupied by Frank Whitney. Soot on chimney.
Sunday, Dec. 18. Still alarm, 2.08 p. m. Grass fire off North avenue.
Wednesday, Dec. 22. Box 12, 12.48 a. m. Dwelling, 56 Greenwood avenue, owned by. C. W. Locklin, occupied by H. E. Anderson. Loss $304. Cause old rubbish.
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Friday, Dec. 24. Box 54, 10 a. m. Grass fire off Lowell street.
Friday, Dec. 24. Still alarm, 5.20 p. m. Grass fire off North avenue.
Saturday, Dec. 25. Box 22, 1.12 a. m. Dwelling at 14 Lake street, owned and occupied by Martin McManamin.
Saturday, Dec. 25. Still alarm, 11.44 a. m. Dwelling 129 Albion street, owned by C. F. Woodward ; occupied by Angelo DeCecca. Loss small ; cause, defective chimney.
Saturday, Dec. 25. Still alarm, 5.20 p. m. Grass fire off Bartley street.
Friday, Dec. 31. Box 23, 11.03 p. m. Harvard Knitting Mill, Albion and Foundry streets, Winship Boit & Co., owners. Cause, spontaneous combustion.
SUMMARY
Value of buildings and contents $186,025.00
Insurance on buildings and contents . . 120,200.00.
Loss on buildings and contents
. 98,717.00
PROPOSED INTER-COMMUNICATING METROPOLITAN ALARM
Plans are now being formulated by the fire and electric depart- ments of Boston, and about thirty other cities and towns, for the establishing of an inter-communicating Metropolitan Fire Alarm, to cover an area of about twenty miles from the state house in Boston. This system if installed will make it possible to assemble quickly the largest and best equipped fire fighting force in the world which can be summoned all at one time, or as much of it as is desired.
With such a system in operation at the time of the great Chel- sea fire it is very probable that that fire would have been confined to a much smaller area and would have saved an immense amount. of property.
With the proposed system every fire department in the cities and towns attached to the same will be kept informed at all times of any fires requiring help from other places, and it will also be possible for any city or town to call help as needed from other municipalities, at the same time keeping all the fire departments
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nformed as to assistance given, who responded to the call, and will also allow for a proper covering in system of all districts from which apparatus has moved.
The establishment of this proposed fire alarm will have to be done by an act of the legislature to apportion the building and maintaining of the proposed system, and also making it manda- tory as to the response to be given by the various fire depart- ments covered by this alarm.
Competent committees are now at work and have been for about two years, formulating plans for the establishment of the proposed system and also for the best and quickest method of transporta- tion of apparatus to the cities and towns where the system will be connected.
The system of mutual aid will be a very great safeguard to the property of all cities and towns connected with it, will allow for the quickest concentration of apparatus, besides keeping other sections covered by apparatus that would have to move if such an arrangement was not in force. The details and expense of the .1 proposed system are not as yet thoroughly planned, but will be, in all probability, submitted to the citizens for consideration at au early date.
Wakefield is to a great extent a manufacturing town with large fire liability and, like many other towns, cannot afford to main- tain a fire department in proportion to its liability for a large fire.
A system such as proposed should, in the opinion of your board . . of engineers, meet with the approval of the entire town.
RECOMMENDATIONS
It is not generally known that about all the property in the Greenwood Hose House is owned by the Greenwood Library Association. The Board have had a conference with the trustees of the association who desire to sell the property to the town. The Board are of the opinion that if the town can obtain it at a fair price it should do so and recommend its purchase. We also recommend that the town purchase at least 500 feet of new hose.
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