USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Town annual reports of the officers of Mendon, Massachusetts 1938-1942 > Part 5
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State Treasurer, Forestry Dept. 50 00
State Treasurer, Inspector of Animals 60 00
Town of Northbridge, Public Welfare
25 30
City of Boston, School Dept. 43 18
Town of Upton, Public Welfare 133 64
City of Holyoke, Old Age Assistance ...
44 75
10
State Treasurer, Tuition of Children ..
241 49
Barrett Co., Discount 5 98
Town of Hopedale, use of Road Mch. 50 50
State Treasurer, School Supt. 664 45
State Treasurer, Mass. Training School 97 60
State Treasurer, Dept. Public Health State Treasurer, Income Tax, Chap. 362
144 29
114 96
State Treasurer, Corporation Taxes ....
664 07
State Treasurer, Veterans' Exemption
33 36
State Treasurer, High School Tuition
682 43
Felix Bessette, Hay Scale fees 5 40
Walter Taylor, Sealer of Weights and Measures 8 20
Verena R. Daley, Library Fines
10 43
Town of Millville, use of Road Mch.
355 56
State Treasurer, Div. of Highways, 3146 62 51
State Treasurer, Div. of Highways,
6402 807 75
State Treasurer, Div. of Highways, 6474 3,716 02
State Treasurer, Div. of Highways,
Chap. 232
3,668 87
State Treasurer, Div. of Highways, 3322 5,400 00
State Treasurer, Div. of Highways, 6962 1,200 00
County Treasurer, Div. of Highways, Contract 6402 807 75
County Treasurer, Div. of Highways, Contract 6474 2,092 26
County Treasurer, Div. of Highways, Contract 6962 1,200 00
Road Mch. Reserve Fund
235 00
Old Age Assistance, U. S. Grant 5,247 36
Mothers' Aid, U. S. Grant 265 46
11
Arthur P. Dalton, Collector of Taxes.
1937 Property Taxes 3,380 34
1938 Excise Taxes 60 11
1938 Property Taxes 8,642 76
1939 Excise Taxes
2 556 98
1939 Poll Taxes
849 77
1939 Property Taxes
28,063 99
Other receipts
50
Total receipts
-$116,049 26
AUSTIN WOOD RELIEF FUND.
DR.
To cash in Worcester County Institu-
tion
$670 20
To cash in Milford Savings Bank 742 79
To cash, interest, Worcester County Institution
16 86
To cash, interest, Milford Savings Bank
18 31
$1,448 16
CR.
By cash in Worcester County Institu-
tion
$687 06
By cash in Milford Savings Bank 731 10
By one Town Order 30 00
$1,448 16
The Treasurer Credits himself with paying the following amounts :-
Incidentals
$2,932 18
Salaries
1,721 03
Snow Removal
2,000 00
Moth Suppression
498 20
Officers' Bonds
104 50
Soldiers' Relief
219 50
12
Health
147 66
Tree Warden
494 09
Police
500 00
Interest
76 72
Library
667 93
Fire Department
688 63
Forest Fires
376 55
Support of Schools
18,322 35
General Repairs
800 00
Welfare
9,298 63
Old Age Assistance
11,096 23
Mothers' Aid
1,660 50
Park Department
68 75
Memorial Day
74 70
Chapter 81
9,000 00
Chapter 90 Maintenance
3,959 01
Gas Tax Refund
3,666 63
WPA
2,500 00
Soldiers' and Sailors' Graves 20 00
Motor Tax Refund 42 98
Street Lights
627 00
Property Tax Refund
34 51
Road Mch. Account
718 42
Flood Fund
5,410 65
Trade School
9 20
County Hospital
1,624 88
Millville Road
2,100 00
Northbridge Road, 1938 Account
11 97
Millville Road, County and State
5,000 00
State Tax
3,960 00
County Tax
2,202 56
Interest on School House Notes 675 00
County Treasurer, Dog Tax 516 00
Director of Accounts 8 00
Auditing Municipal Accounts
264 72
State Parks and Reservations
65 54
Home National Bank, Revenue Notes 10,600 00
13
School House Project
3,542 21
School House Notes
2,000 00
Total Payments
$110,307 43
Cash balance Jan. 1, 1940
5,741 83
$116,049 26
FLETCHER LIBRARY FUND.
DR.
To Cash in Milford Savings Bank $5,195 43
To Interest received
129 48
$5,324 91
CR.
By Cash in Milford Savings Bank $5,227 60
By Cash paid, one Library Order 97 31
$5,324 91
SCHOOL HOUSE PROJECT, 1395, D. S.
DR.
To Cash balance Jan. 1, 1939 $587 30
To refund from Town of Mendon 3,542 21
To Cash from U. S. Treasury 5,462 67
To Cash Home National Bank, Note 6,000 00
$15,592 18
CR.
By Cash paid, Engineering Charges .... $45 00
By Cash Paid, Preliminary Expenses .... 5 00
By Cash Paid, Furniture and Equip- ment
1,002 83
By Cash Paid, Construction Charges
8,004 93
By Cash Paid, Home National Bank
Note 6,000 00
14
By Cash Paid, Home National Bank, Interest
13 73
By Cash, balance Dec. 31, 1939
520 69
$15,592 18
RESERVE FUND. $1,000 00
Transferred to Snow Department
$500 00
Transferred to Soldiers' Relief
119 50
Transferred to Welfare Department ...
350 00
Transferred to Old Age Assistance
9 47
Transferred to Officers' Salaries
21 03
$1,000 00
TAX TITLES.
Seven Tax Titles
$415 05
One Tax Title in Land Court 353 56
Respectfully submitted,
MOSES U. GASKILL,
December 31, 1939.
Treasurer.
15
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
-
INCIDENTALS.
Appropriation
$3,000 00
CARE AND OPERATION OF TOWN HALL.
George Johnson, janitor
$150 00
C. C. Shattuck, supplies 99
Wor. Sub. El. Co., lights
74 20
William Bowen, wood
26 00
Barney Coal Co., coal
264 00
Bradbury-Locke, supplies
4 60
H. M. Curtiss, pipe
4 08
H. Chadbourne, supplies
2 67
L. N. Jaques, supplies
5 77
Linwood Hammond, services
3 00
Repairs to drain
28 50
Charles E. Clarke, pump repairs
14 35
$578 16
CARE AND OPERATION OF RECORD ROOM.
Kello Oil Co., repairs to burner
$3 25
Nina M. Burr, supplies
90
Louis Marlow, janitor services
36 50
Clark-Shaughnessey, oil
87 26
N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co., toll calls
63 13
Wor. Sub. Elec. Co., lights
3 83
$194 87
BALLOT CLERKS AND TELLERS.
Leonard Burr $5 00
Robert McTurk
5 00
16
Elgar Bartlett
5 00
Kinsley Barnes
5 00
$20 00
TOWN CLERK.
Robinson Seal Co.
42 60
Swearing in Town Officers
4 50
Supplies
1 30
Charlescraft Press, printing
8 35
George W. Billings, printing
17 00
Expenses to meetings
27 50
Births, deaths and marriage recordings
78 25
Transportation
3 00
Postage
4 .02
Toll calls
2 80
$189 32
TAX COLLECTOR.
Stamps
$45 00
Use of auto
10 00
Barre Gazette, printing
19 40
Hobbs & Warren, printing
9 66
Henry Clough, supplies
75
G. M. Billings, printing
19 75
Forbes Press, tax forms
6 00
$110 56
TOWN TREASURER.
Making Schedule A
$10 00
Postage
70 84
Use of auto
65 00
Registry of Deeds, recording
1 51
Charlescraft Press, envelopes
9 25
$156 60
17
INSPECTION OF ANIMALS.
M. U. Gaskill, salary $120 00
$120 00
SELECTMEN.
Postage
$20 18
Expenses to meetings
26 00
Dues for Selectmen's Assoc.
6 00
$52 18
ASSESSORS.
Expenses to meetings
$20 00
Dues to association
3 00
Carl Taft, use of auto
20 00
Postage
4 00
Hobbs & Warren, printing
53 20
Henry Clough, lists
20 00
Wor. County Abstract Co. abstracts
24 42
Geo. Barnstead, excise cards
1 00
$145 62
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Walter Taylor, salary
....
$40 00
$40 00
DOG OFFICER.
Harold C. Barrows, salary
$10 00
$10 00
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
Wor. Registry of Deeds 42
Post 22, G. A. R., 50 flags 5 50
Harold Metcalf, supplies 22 00
H. M. Goodnow, repairs to town pump 4 64
Felix Bessette, weighing 2 70
18
Registry of Motor Vehicles, plates 2 00
A. B. Cenedella, expenses 267 98
W. W. Watson, death returns 1 50
C. C. Shattuck, supplies 45
Nina M. Burr, supplies
2 35
Wm. R. Bowen, use of auto
10 00
A. Hackenson, labor 4 00
Harold Metcalf, delivering reports 10 00
Harold Metcalf, use of auto
10 00
$343 54
MISCELLANEOUS OFFICE EXPENSES. SELECTMEN.
Bostitch-Boston Co., stapler $6 25
Forbes Press, printing
24 60
Hobbs & Warren, forms
90
Charlescraft Press, town reports
207 00
G. M. Billings, bills
1 50
$240 25
EXPENSES FOR ALL TOWN OFFICERS.
Cahill's News Agency, supplies
$56 56
$56 56
ADVERTISING.
Milford Daily News, warrants, notices
and tax sales
$54 54
$54 54
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS.
A. S. Coleman, clerk, salary $20 00
Kinsley Barnes, salary 10 00
Chas. F. Bagg, salary
10 00
Joseph McEwen, salary
10 00
A. S. Coleman, listing
42 75
19
Kinsley Barnes, listing 25 00
Chas. F. Bagg, listing 14 00
Joseph McEwen, listing
8 50
Clark Printing Co., blanks
75
Robinson Seal Co., listing cards
64 76
$205 76
George Insurance Agency
$414 22
$414 22
SUMMARY.
Appropriation
$3,000 00
Expended
2,932 18
Unexpended
$67 82
WORCESTER TRADE SCHOOL, TUITION.
Appropriation
$9 20
Paid Worcester Trade School $9 20
$9 20
RESERVE FUND.
Appropriation
$1,000 00
Expended :
Transferred to Snow Removal $500 00
Transferred to Soldiers' Relief
119 50
Transferred to Welfare Dept. 350 00
Transferred to Salaries of Town Of-
ficers
21 03
Transferred to Old Age Assistance ..
9 47
$1,000 00
-
20
SALARIES OF TOWN OFFICERS.
Appropriation $1,700 00
Transferred from Reserve Fund 21 03
Expenditures
$1,721 03
Arthur P. Dalton, Tax Collector $435 03
Moses U. Gaskill, Treasurer
250 00
Albert S. Coleman, Town Clerk
125 00
William R. Bowen, Selectman 2 months,
Chairman of Selectmen 10 months, Welfare Board, 1 year 143 50
Roy A. Barrows, Selectman, 1 year, Chairman of Welfare, 2 months, Welfare Board, 10 months 95 50
Harold Metcalf, Chairman of Selectmen, 2 months, Board of Selectmen, 10 months, Welfare Board, 2 months, Chairman of Welfare Board 10 months 167 00
Charles F. Leonard, Clerk of Assessors
250 00
Carl M. Taft, Assessor
100 00
Edward T. Whiting, Assessor
100 00
Harold C. Barrows
25 00
William A. Barry, Auditor
25 00
Frank H. Wood, Moderator
5 00
$1,721 03
WORCESTER COUNTY HOSPITAL.
Appropriation
$1,624 88
Expended :
Paid County Treasurer
For care and maintenance $812 30
Interest on Bonds 262 58
Construction
550 00
$1,624 88
21
STREET LIGHTS.
Appropriation
$627 00
Expended
Wor. Sub. Elec. Co.
$627 00
$627 00
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' GRAVES.
Appropriated $20 00
Expended
Swandale Cemetery Association
$20 00
$20 00
MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAX REFUNDS.
1938 Taxes
$1 40
1939 Taxes
41 58
$42 98
REAL ESTATE TAX REFUND.
1939 Taxes $34 51
$34 51
MOTH SUPPRESSION.
Appropriated
$500 00
Expended for labor :
William Coppfer
$42 00
Napolen Thiebalt
48 00
William Irons
56 00
William Nuttall
64 00
Roscoe Steere
64 00
Kenneth Morrison
40 00
William Munsell
64 00
Chester Hammond
24 00
Ben Levesque
8 00
Clifford Mathewson
16 00
22
Willard Mathewson 24 00
Willard N. Seibert, Supt. 40 00
$490 00
TRANSPORTATION AND MATERIAL.
Robert M. Donnelly
$6 00
Frost Insecticide Co.
2 20
$8 20
Unexpended
1 80
$500 00
SOLDIERS' RELIEF.
Appropriation
$100 00
Transferred from Reserve Fund
119 50
$219 50
Expended :
Care of one case
$191 00
Care of one case
4 50
Transportation charges
24 00
$219 50
PARK DEPARTMENT.
Appropriation
$100 00
Expended for Labor:
Duncan J. Pond
$57 25
Alanson Freeman
11 50
Unexpended
31 25
$100 00
AUSTIN WOOD RELIEF FUND.
Expended
$30 00
$30 00
23
MEMORIAL DAY.
Appropriation ... $75 00
Expended
C. C. Shattuck
$10 20
Johnson Bus Lines
10 00
Nina M. Burr
4 50
Parkinson Bros.
5 00
Lakeside Flower Shop
5 00
J. Frank Leonard
5 00
Walter H. Tillotson Post Legion
35 00
$74 70
Unexpended
30
$75 00
BONDS OF TOWN OFFICERS.
Appropriated
$108 00
Expended :
Maryland Casualty Co. $10 00
Paul Williams Agency
87 00
Paul Williams Agency
7 50
Unexpended
3 50
$108 00
ASSETS.
Uncollected Taxes :
1938 Property Tax $1,838 67
1939 Excise Tax
24 87
1939 Property
10,052 14
$11,915 68
Due from State of Mass. on Highways:
Millville Road (Special Allotment) ....
$2,500 00
$2,500 00
24
Due from County of Worcester on Highways:
Millville Road (Special Allotment) .... $2,500 00
$2,500 00
Welfare:
Due from State of Mass. on Temporary Aid :
1939 Account $2,587 71
Due from Town of Medway 120 00
Due from Town of Foxboro
126 43
$2,834 14
Old Age Assistance :
Due from State $3,837 93
Due from Federal Grant (Nov .- Dec.) 887 00
Due from other Towns
72 17
$4,797 10
Aid to Dependent Children:
Due from State
$386 17
Due from Federal Grant
84 00
$470 17
Cash in Hands of Treasurer
$5,741 83
$5,741 83
Tax Titles :
7 Titles
$415 05
1 Title in Land Court
353 56
$768 61
Total Assets
$31,527 53
25
LIABILITIES.
Due County of Worcester for Con- struction and Equipment of Wor- cester Co. Hospital
$4,950 00
Kennedy, Spencer & Co., bonds
on
School House Addition
28,000 00
Home National Bank (Note on antici-
pation of revenue) 18,000 00
- $50,950 00
LIST OF JURORS.
Samuel W. Wood Hartford Ave. W. Carpenter
Aldo A. Sabatinelli
Milford Road
Contractor
William R. Bowen
Bates Street Farmer
Roscoe Steere
Maple Street Clerk
Ernest E. Soules
Bates Street
Pattern Maker
Harold Metcalf
North Avenue Clerk
Walter I. Coffin
Washington Street Salesman
Ellis L. Cook Bellingham Street Poultryman
George G. Davenport
North Avenue Farmer
Silas H. Dudley Uxbridge Road Collector
Reuben B. Dalrymple Hastings Street Retired
Norry J. Daige
Maple Street
Shuttle Maker
Roy A. Barrows
Blackstone Street Farmer
John J. O'Sullivan
Thayer Road
Poultryman
William F. Irons, Jr.
Main Street
Machinist
SUMMARY.
Department
Resources
Expended
Unexpended
Overdraft
Incidentals
$3,000.00
$2,932.18
$67.82
Salaries of Town Officers
Town Appropriation
$1,700.00
Transferred from Reserve Fund
21.03
$1,721.03
1,721.03
Reserve Fund
1,000.00
1,000.00
Worcester County Hospital
1,624.88
1,624.88
Moth Suppression
500.00
498.20
1.80
Bond of Town Officers
108.00
104.50
3.50
Town Apprpriation
100.00
Transferred from Reserve Fund
119.50
$219.50
219.50
Board of Health
Town Appropriation
600.00
Transferred to Temporary Aid
450.00
$150.00
147.66
2.34
Police Department
500.00
500.00
Interest on Loans
100.00
76.62
23.38
Memorial Day
75.00
74.70
.30
Park Department
100.00
68.75
31.25
Soldier's and Sailor's Graves
20.00
20.00
Tuition Worcester Trade School
9.20
9.20
Soldiers' Relief
26
Department
Resources
Expended
Unexpended
Overdraft
Street Lights
627.00
627.00
Board of Public Welfare Town Appropriation Transferred from Reserve Fund
7,500.00 350.00
1,000.00
Transferred from Old Age Assistance Transferred from Board of Health
450.00
$9,300.00
9,298.63
1.37
Aid to Dependent Children Town Appropriation Transferred from Old Age Assistance Received from U. S. Grant Overdrawn
1,200.00
150.00
234.64
75.86
$1,660.50 800.00
1,660.50 800.00
General Repairs
Bureau of Old Age Assistance Town Appropriation
$7,000.00
Transferred from Reserve Fund
9.47
Received from Federal Grant
5,078.14
$12,087.61
150.00
1,000.00
$1,150.00
$10,837.61
10,837.61
27
$75.86
Transferred to Aid to Dependent Children Transferred to Temporary Aid
SUMMARY-Continued.
Department
Resources
Expended
Unexpended
Overdraft
Administration Account
for Old Age Assistance Received from Federal Grant
248.29
158.62
89.67
Chapter 81
Town Appropriation
Received from State
$3,600.00 5,400.00
$9,000.00
9,000.00
Chapter 90 Maintenance, 1939
Town Appropriation
$1,200.00
State Allotment
1,200.00
County Allotment
1,200.00
Credit Refund from Barret Co.
5.98
$3,605.98
3,605.98
Chapter 232 Gas Tax Refund State Allotment
$3,668.87
$3,668.87
3,666.63
2.24
Millville Road Town Sponsored
$2,100.00
$2,100.00
2,100.00
Millville Road (Special Allotment) State Allotment County Allotment
$2,500.00 2,500.00
$5,000.00
5,000.00
28
Department
Resources
Expended
Unexpended
Overdraft
Emergency Flood Fund Balance left from last year
Chapter 90 Maintenance Balance left from 1938
Chapter 90 Construction Balance left from last year
11.97
11.97
Snow Removal
Town Appropriation Transferred from Reserve Fund
$1,500.00 500.00
$2,000.00
2,000.00
Tree Warden
$500.00
494.09
5.91
Fire Department
700.00
688.63
11.37
Forest Fires
500.00
376.55
123.45
Taft Public Library
675.00
667.93
7.07
Road Machinery Account
719.09
718.42
.67
Emergency Relief Fund
2,500.00
2,500.00
Schools
Town Appropriation Dog License Refund
$18,277.56 334.44
$18,612.00
18,322.35
289.65
...
$87,957.60
$87,295.81
$661.79
5,410.65
5,410.65
353.03
353.03
$75.86
29
30
The Board of Selectmen wish to thank the various Town Officials and the Townspeople for their hearty cooperation with us the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM R. BOWEN, Chairman, ROY A. BARROWS, HAROLD METCALF,
January 1, 1940
Selectmen.
31
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
TO THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
GENTLEMEN :
I hereby submit my report of the work done by the High- way Department during the past year, with a summary of the past three years road building program completed. I trust this report will give your board and the citizens of the town a comprehensive record.
CHAPTER 81.
Under Chapter 81 this year we have applied 20,700 gal- lons of Asphalt and Tarvia to approximately 4 miles of new road. The roads and distances covered were: Byrnes Rd., 3200 ft .; Hartford Ave. West, 3100 ft .; Park St., 3200 ft .; Trask Rd., 800 ft .; Cemetery St., 2700 ft .; Hartford Ave. East, 2900 ft .; Bates St., 2200 ft. A new drainage system was installed on Maple St. near the Post Office where the old stone culverts were either abandoned or torn up and 250 ft. of reinforced concrete pipe laid. New concrete culverts were also laid on Park St. and Hartford Ave. East.
3200 yds. of gravel and 350 yds. of stone were spread and 25 cu. yd. of ledge removed on the several roads. 1200 ft. of new concrete guard rail posts were set up on Bellingham St. and Hartford Ave. East, while 750 ft. of cedar guard rail posts were erected on Byrnes Rd. and Hopedale St. 2 new street and directional signs were set up on Maple St., and 4 Curve signs erected on the bad curves on Hartford Ave. West and Hartford Ave. East.
32
CHAPTER 90 MAINTENANCE.
The small 1938 balance on Maintenance was expended by scarifying and resurfacing Providence St. from the Public Library to Moses Gaskill's house. For 1939 work we applied 13,000 gallons of tar in various amounts on North Ave., Provi- dence St., Northbridge Rd., Millville St., and Hartford Ave. East. This year we have, with the approval of the State Engineer, tried something new in maintenance oiling. On some sections of road needing tar we have applied a hot Tarvia, covering it with a 1/4"-3/4" stone cover and rolling the same with heavy roller before opening to traffic. We feel that by substituting a stone cover for the usual sand we are not only strengthening the road but cutting the yearly main- tenance expense for that section in half. We have estimated that we will not have to treat the surface again for five years instead of the usual three. All road markers were also num- bered.
MILLVILLE ROAD AND GAS TAX REFUND.
This year due to the high state tax, all Chapter 90 new construction was ordered dropped for at least two years, and a part of the available funds returned to the towns in the form of a gasoline tax refund. The money was distributed according to valuation and was intended for local highway work. The towns suffered by this arrangement and the cities gained. Many towns reappropriated their gas refund for highway purposes while others used it to reduce their tax levy. We were confronted with the prospect of shutting down all highway work the latter part of August if we had no money for construction, and also throwing a number of men on the town for aid. By reappropriating the town money voted for Millville Street to be used on that street and also the gas tax refund we felt we could carry on the work for the balance of the year and at the same time build half of the remaining un- improved piece of road on Millville St.
33
Prior to our finishing the half mile section of road, the County Commissioners notified us after inspecting the work done, that they would like to see the entire road finished to the Line and would allot some money for this purpose if the State would do likewise. I submitted an estimate of the amount needed to the Commissioner of Public Works in Boston and the result was the allotment of $5000.00 by both, to remove all ledge, install necessary culverts and put in the gravel base. It was agreed that both County and State would contribute again this year so that the road will be finished in 1940.
FLOOD FUND.
We have completed the two bridges damaged by the flood of 1938 on Bellingham St. and Hartford Ave. East. Both are of steel arch construction resting on reinforced concrete abutments. The Hartford Ave. bridge has been relocated to eliminate the sharp curve at the bridge which existed before and a new stone macadam road completed over it. This bridge cost $1700.00 and was built under ideal weather con- ditions during the summer. The Bellingham St. bridge was erected at a cost of $3200.00 This cost could have been ma- terially lessened had we not undertaken the work at the worst time of the year. At the time however we had 31 men need- ing employment and with the flood fund a state grant and not involving any town funds we felt justified in doing the work at the time.
ROAD MACHINERY.
During the past year we have added to our equipment a new Hauck burner. This burner is for brush burning, weed killing, back-firing in cases of forest fires and ice melting. As part of our snow equipment we have purchased a new sand spreader for icy roads. With this spreader we can cover the icy hills and curves on both school bus routes in the time it formerly took us to cover one.
34
This year the Town of Millville rented our gasoline roll- er with our own operator, William Irons, as before, while the Town of Hopedale rented the motor grader and operator, Leo Tetreault, for the rebuilding of Freedom St. The work of both operators and equipment was so satisfactory that we can rent again to these towns this year. I have but recently learned that the town is entitled to a return of the gas tax for all gasoline used by town equipment and have filed an ap- plication for this refund. It should amount to approximately $35.00, and can be added to our Road Machinery Fund.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
People have noted that heavy expenditures for highways have persisted over the years, and have wondered why there is a road problem, particularly if they reside in the center of a community or on some State highway. If they are depend- ent on farm roads for transportation daily or even if they get out on these roads only occasionally, they are very aware that a road problem still exists. Many of these farm-to-market roads are in practically impassible condition during some part of the year. When political bodies endeavor to lower taxes by dipping into gas-tax funds, the improvement of these farm-to-market roads probably suffer more than the State highway construction. Diversion of gasoline taxes penalize the rural dweller, and further decreases the benefits he is sup- posed to obtain through the taxes he pays. It seems mani- festly unfair to require us to pay a tax for highway purposes and then have that tax used to pay state debts or general gov- ernment costs.
If we are to be deprived of State and County assistance for future Chapter 90 construction, we should advocate the construction of low-cost roads. We should establish a program of our own for the systematic development of secondary roads connecting Mendon with neighboring towns. For this purpose I recommend the use of the money returned to the town from the gasoline tax. I have already met with the County Com-
35
missioners and the State Dept. of Public Works Commission- er and have been assured that my request for county and state funds for Millville Road and Hartford Ave. West has been favorably considered and it is very likely that funds will later be available for one and perhaps both roads. Our share of the gas-tax refund will be adequate to take care of Men- don's share for both of these roads.
SUMMARY.
Before concluding this report I would like to summar- ize briefly the work which has been accomplished in the past three years while serving under your board.
Three years ago when I was first appointed, Mendon had but 11.3 miles of hard surfaced roads. Today we have 22.8 miles with but 7.8 miles to be surfaced in the future. This does not include a few short roads which it would be imprac- tical to develop for some time. In the past three years we have oiled 12 new roads their entire length and 5 roads part of their length for a total of 111/2 miles. Most of the old drainage structures in the town have been removed and new concrete ones installed in their places. Side road drainage has been improved considerably although much work must be done in the future removing ledge from shoulders of many back roads to improve drainage and make travel safer.
I have kept a detailed cost record of all expenditures on every road for the past 3 years. This record gives the length of road, type of surface, width, graveling, maintenance, new construction, oil-mix construction, bridges, (construction and maintenance) and storm protection work. A road card has been kept for each road and all money expended on each road appears on that card. At the close of the year the cards are totaled and a permanent record of the amount spent and what it is spent for is available. This record serves many purposes.
36
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion I again wish to thank you gentlemen on the Board of Selectmen and the citizens of the town for your con- tinued support and cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT M. DONNELLY, Superintendent of Streets.
GENERAL REPAIRS.
Appropriation
$800 00
PAY ROLLS.
Labor
$283 50
Equipment
222 50
$506 00
MISCELLANEOUS.
Dr. Morse, injury
$3 50
Dr. Campbell, injuries
46 00
C. C. Shattuck, supplies
15 23
Huff Machine, repairs
7 00
E. O. Rose, repairs
8 38
Allied Steel, chain
31 72
P. F. Quirk, chain
5 00
Corbett Pipe, pipe
23 92
A. Wilkinson, tools
2 00
H. Knights, pipe
1 25
Fisk-Alden, payment on tractor
150 00
$294 00
Expended
$800 00
37
CHAPTER 81.
Department of Public Works Contract No. 3322
Town Appropriation
$3,600 00
State Allotment
5,400 00
$9,000 00
EXPENDITURES.
PAY ROLLS.
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