USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1922-1926 > Part 19
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GIFTS
The library gratefully acknowledged gifts of books from the following: Eddy Town Fund; J. C. Wells, Miss Cady; Miss Lienne Tetrault; Mrs. J. Wesley Curtis; Mrs. A. C. Wieshart, Livermore and Knight Co.
Also subscriptions to periodicals and newspapers from the following: Rev. L. R. Urban; Southbridge Press; Mrs. L. J. Smith, Mrs. A. C. Wieshart, New England Telephone co., Hamilton Woolen Co., American Optical Co.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Receipts
Town Appropriation
$8500 00
Expenditures
Salaries :
Library Staff
$4153 31
Janitor
1308 32
Light
253 76
Coal
585 50
Books
1131 70
Periodicals
246 15
Binding
254 68
Equipment
150 88
Repairs
63 42
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Supplies
167 36
Printing
75 00
Expenses
109 57
$8499 65
$ 35
Mynott Fund
Amount of Fund January 1, 1925
$1007 69
- Interest 45 50
$1053 19
Expenditures
Periodicals
$5.00
Books
46 02
$51 02
Amount of fund December 31, 1925 $1002 17
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REPORT OF THE SEWERS COMMISSONERS
To the Citizens of the Town of Southbridge :
Your board of Sewer Commissioners herewith submit their report for the year ending December 21st, 1925.
There are now connected with the system 1279 buildings including manufacturing plants, schools, public buildings, tenement houses and residences.
In accordance with the recommendation of the Town of Southbridge. the Commissioners have built a stretch of sewer on Eastford road a length of 1800 feet at a cost of $9,412.03.
The stretch of sewer was laid on Hartwell Street exten- sion, a length of 198.2 feet at a cost of $379 47 and also a stretch laid on Chestnut Street a length of 145 feet at a cost of $449.14. These sewers were built from our sewer assess- ment revenue.
East Main Street sewer was relaid with 10 inch cast iron pipe, for a length of 527 feet, at the cost of $3,489.68, this work had to be done under dangerous conditions. Trench was dug at a depth of 12 feet, and dropped 3 feet below the water line of the Quinebaug River. It was necessary to shore the trench with planks to prevent same from caving in. The ex- cavated dirt had to be thrown into the road due to the fact that we were digging too close to the River bank. The lay-
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ing of pipes had to be done on Saturday afternoons and Sun- days while the mills were not in operation, because it was necessary to lower the River for such work.
It was also necessary to relay 15 feet of sewer on Cliff Street after excavating it was found that the pipes were bro- ken by the weight of stones and boulders, which were dump- ed over the pipe at the time that the Grand Trunk excavated for the Railroad bed. here it was necessary to go down a depth of 18 feet under very dangerous conditions, it was necessary to shore the trench to make it safe for the work- men. and it was also necessary to keep a motor driven pump, pumping continuously to keep sewage out of the trench while repairs were being made.
Cohasse Street sewer was built at the cost of $224.22.
Work started on the construction of new Filter beds on May 28th, men were put to work cutting down trees and build- ing bridge and clearing the grounds ready to receive steam shovel.
On June 20th Thomas F. McGovern's steam shovel was moved to the premises setting up and getting ready to exca- vate. On June 22nd excavating and drawing of dirt with trucks begun with nine (9) trucks working. On October 21st Mr. M. Streeter & Son's steam shovel was moved to the West Dudley sand bank, and worked there until December 2nd. Thomas F. McGovern's steam shovel also moved to the Dud- ley pit on November 1st and moved out from the Dudley pit on December 6th to go to Mr. M. Duhamel's sand bank. On December 8th hauling of sand from bank started with 18 trucks working. After taking 10,158 cubic yards of sand it was necessary to move out of M. Duhamel's bank, because the run of the sand was too fine for filtering purposes, therefore
127
the State Department of Public Health ordered us to obtain coaser sand, and they recommended the Southbridge Printing Works's sand bank. On December 24th the shovel moved out of M. Duhamel's bank to go to the Southbridge Printing Works bank, and was still working on December 31st. with 11 trucks.
Amount of sand taken from each bank:
West Dudley sand bank 4,800 cubic yards
M. Duhamel sand bank 10,156 cubic yards
Southbridge Printing Co. 5,107 cubic yards
Appropriation for the new Filter Beds $80,000 00
Expenditure's
$54,688 41
Balance
$25,313 59
With the balance left on hand and the work that remains to be done there is no doubt that the work will be completed within the appropriation. In reference to the appropriation for the Sewer Maintenance for the coming year we recom- mend the sum of $5.000.00.
OMER L. PERRON. O. L. LAPIERRE, JOSEPH H. ALLARD,
Board of Sewer Commissioners.
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REPORT OF HIGHWAY SURVEYOR
Invoices paid from the Highway Department during 1925 :
Insurance
$109 75
Telephone
30 80
Storage
132 00
Cinders
340 00
Culverts
349 27
Gasoline, oil and tires
166 11
Stationery
31 38
Repairs, supplies, etc.
511 12
$1,670 43
Salaries
2.100 00
$3,770 43
2 Old Ford-trucks were traded in for 2 new ones. The price paid for the 2 was$1,075.00 less the allowance for the old ones leaving a net price of $800.00.
$317.53 were spent for grading Goddard Street.
$317.50 were spent for grading Sayles Street.
Turned in to Town Treasurer for empty barrels, use of steam roller, etc., $91.25.
REPORT OF HIGHWAY SURVEYOR
APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES OF THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT FOR 1925
APPROPRIATIONS
EXPENDITURES
Help
Teams
Misc.
Total
Balance
Highway
$14,500.00
$5,317.50
$4,213.51
$4.570.43
$14.101.44
$398.58
Snow and Ice
3,000.00
1,617.25
747.88
136.50
2,501.63
498.37
General Cleaning
6.800.00
4,758.75
1.121.00
869.40
6,749.15
50.85
Permanent Roads
8.000.00
2,534.25
1,013.88
4.446.63
7,994.76
5.24
Sidewalk Repairs
4,000.00
2,171.00
378.00
1,406.44
3,955.44
44.56
Bridges
1,300.00
610.50
89.00
597.08
1,296.58
3.42
Railings
500.00
149.50
122.32
271.82
228.18
Oiling Streets
2.500.00
2,475.80
2,475.80
24.20
$40.600.00 $17,158.75 $7,563.27
$14,624.60
$39,346.62 $1,253.38
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REPORT OF THE PLAYGROUNDS COMMITTEE
Hector L. Peloquin. D. D. S .. Secretary of Playground Committee, Southbridge, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir :
The Playgrounds at Central. School, Elm. Union, and Sandersdale opened for the Summer session of five weeks on July 7, 1925, with a daily average attendance of eight hundred children.
As in previous years the afternoon session of four hours was divided into Industrial and Play periods. The work com- pleted this past season was more than gratifying, there being more interest shown in the Industrial work, such as Basketry, Sewing and Weaving. Ribbons were awarded in these three branches of work, and were on display in the Edwards Com- pany window, through the courtesy of Mr. John Shaughnessy.
The fact that the Senior and Junior Boys and Girls qua- lified for and passed the Playground and Recreation Associa- tion of America Badge test proves increased interest in athlet- ics. Other Boys and Girls tried but failed to pass the test.
The Track Meet on Festival Day held at the Central Street Playground attracted about two hundred boys from all
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the playgrounds, more boys than ever before taking part in the dashes, relays, etc. The most suitable prizes were award- ed to the runners.
The Baseball series of the Senior and Junior Boys was very lively, also the Punch ball series between the Senior Girls of the Central Street Grounds and the Girls of the School Street Grounds. Other interesting features of the season was the special days arranged by the directors of the different grounds.
I wish to publicly acknowledge the helpfulness of the Playground Committee and its Chairman, Dr. D. H. Peloquin for his assistance and kindness, also wish to thank the instruc- tors for their co-operation during the season.
Respectively submitted,
CECILIA E. POWER.
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TOWN WARRANT
Worcester, Ss. To either of the Constables of the Town of Southbridge, in the County of Worcester,
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby requested to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Southbridge, aforesaid, qualified to vote in Town Affairs to meet in the Town Hall in said Southbridge, on Monday the First (1) day of March. 1926, at 5.45 o'clock in the forenoon to act on the following articles :
Article 1. To choose a moderator to preside over said meeting.
Article 2. To choose by ballot all town officers for the ensuing year :- viz: Clerk; Treasurer; three Selectmen ; one member Board of Public Welfare; for three years; one mem- ber of Board of Health for three years; one Assessor for three years; Collector of Taxes; two members of the School Com- mittee for three years; one Park Commissioner for three years; one Sinking Fund Commissioner for three years; one Sewer Commissioner for three years; two Cemetery Commis- sioners for three years; Tree Warden; Highway Surveyor; three Constables and all others provided for by law.
Article 3. To vote by ballot "YES" or "NO" in answer
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to the question, "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of cer- tain non-intoxicating beverages in this Town."
Article 4. To hear the reports of the Town Accountant; Treasurer; Clerk; Selectmen; School Committee; Library Committee ; Sewer Committee, etc., and act anything thereon.
Article 5. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to pay town debts and charges for the current financial year.
Article 6. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen to borrow in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year or act anything thereon.
Article 7. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to cause an audit to be made of the Town's Ac- counts of 1926, or act anything thereon.
Article 8. To see if the town will vote to pay its Engine- men or act anything thereon.
Article 9. To see if the town will vote to give the Col- lector of Taxes the same power to collect taxes that the Town Treasurer has when appointed Collector of Taxes.
Article 10. To see if the town will vote to have all taxes due and payable October 1, 1926, and if not paid on or before October 15, 1926, to have interest charged at the rate provided for by law from October 15, 1926, or act thereon.
Article 11. To see if the town will vote to fix the com- pensation of town officers, laborers and teams, or act any- thing thereon.
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Article 12. To see if the town will vote to accept cer- tain parcels of land, deeded to the town by Mr. Felix Gatin- eau and Jack and Annie Caplovich, or act anything thereon.
Article 13. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to sell the scales on the town barn land on God- dard Street, also to sell other old unused equipment of the Fire department or act anything thereon.
Article 14. To see if the town will vote to sell the land and buildings on Goddard Court, or to purchase other land to be used for town purposes, raise and appropriate money there or or act anything thereon.
Article 15. To see if the town will vote to repair the World War Veterans' Honor Roll, situated on the lawn of the Town Hall Building lot, raise and appropriate money there- for or act anything thereon.
Article 16. To hear and act on the report of the Board of Health under Article No. 13 of the Special Town Meeting held July 27, 1925, relative to the erection and maintenance of a Sanitary Station, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon.
Article 17. To hear and act on the report of the Com- mittee appointed to revise the by-laws of the town, under Article No. 38 of the Town Meeting held March 1, 1915.
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to construct a cement concrete road on Main Street, beginning at the end of the cement road at the junction of Main and South Streets, westerly to the brick paving at the junction of Main and Hamilton streets, with a curb on the westerly side, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
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Article 19. To see if the town will vote to construct a cement concrete road on Mill Street, from the end of the pre- sent cement road, northerly about 350 feet, raise and appro- priate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 20. To see if the town will vote to construct a permanent road on Goddard Court, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 21. To see if the town will vote to construct a cement or macadam road on Eastford Road southward from the existing cement roadway to the corner of said road next beyond the intersection of Durfee or Weld Street, to raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 22. To see if the town will vote to construct a cement road on River Street, from the end of the present ce- ment road, northerly to Walcott Street, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 23. To see if the town will vote to accept the report of the committee appointed under Article No. 19 of the Town Meeting held March 1, 1925, relative to the con- struction of a permanent road on the North Woodstock Road, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money for the purpose of work. ing Litchfield Avenue to the grade established by the Towr in 1901; said work to extend southerly from South Street to land of Louis F. Desmarais; or act anything thereon.
Article 25. To see if the town will vote to purchase a certain strip of land on the corner of Worcester and Charltor Streets, construct a retaining wall, cement concrete sidewall
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and resurface the roadway with bituminous macadam, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate an additional sum of money for the repairs on the Lebanon Hill Road, or act anything thereon.
Article 27. To see if the town will vote to lower the grade on Overland Street, and regrade same, raise and appro- priate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to construct a cement concrete sidewalk with gutter, said sidewalk to be five feet in width. on the southerly side of Hartwell street, from the end of the present walk westerly to Prospect Street, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 29. To see if the town will vote to construct a cement concrete sidewalk with gutter, on the westerly side of Worcester street, beginning at Henry street and extending northerly to Snow street, raise and appropriate money there- for or act thereon.
Article 30. To see if the town will vote to build a ce- ment concrete sidewalk on the easterly side of Elm street from the southerly end of the present sidewalk to the junction of Everett street, appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 31. To see if the town will vote to erect a re- taining wall on the southerly side of Taft street, abutting the property of Alexandre Paulhus, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 32. To see if the town will vote to raise the sum
138
of Two Thousand ($2000.) dollars to grade River Street School Ground, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 33. To see if the Town will vote to appoint a committee of six to consider the building of a Junior High School.
Three members of this committee to be members of the School Board. The Committee to report at some future meet- ing, or act anything thereon.
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to pay Gedeon Gregoire the sum of Eight Hundred One Dollars and Ninety Cents ($801.90), being the amount (including interest on same) paid by him for taxes in excess of the correct assess- ment for the years from and including 1906 up to and includ- ing 1924, raise and appropriate money therefor or act any- thing thereon.
Article 35. To see if the town will vote to install and maintain an ARC Light, at the corner of Main and Mechanic Streets, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 36. To see if the town will vote to install and maintain electric lights on the following streets :- viz : one on Brochu Street; one on Gardner Street; one on Henry Street and six on Brick Yard Road (so-called), raise and appropri- ate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 37. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer in the Charlton Road, called the Gulf Woods Road, from Charlton Street to the property of Louis Proulx, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
139
Article 38. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer in Park Avenue and Woodland Street, from Colum- bus Avenue or Spring Street, to Prospect Street, raise and ap- propriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 39. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $8000.00, appoint the same committee as last year, who shall have the authority to improve the land owned by the town on Dresser Street, to be used for a play- ground, or act anything thereon.
Article 40. To see if the town will vote to erect street signs in the town, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 41. To hear and act on the report of the Select- men to whom was referred the question of drainage in the Thomas, Worcester St. and Olney Ave. district, raise and ap- propriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 42. To see if the town will vote to erect an ad- dition to the Fire Department Headquarters on Elm Street, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 43. To hear and act on the report of the Select- men to whom was referred under Article 10, of the Special Town Meeting held November 30, 1925, the matter of drive- way at the Fire Headquarters on Elm Street, or act thereon.
Article 44. To see if the town will vote to construct a sidewalk of proper width from a point at the end of the drive- way of the Myron Clemence property on Dresser street to the intersection of Dresser street and Franklin Terrace, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
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Article 45. To see if the town will vote to construct a cement concrete sidewalk on Franklin Terrace from the south line of Dresser street to the property of Lester H. Baker on Franklin Terrace, said walk to be on the southerly side of Franklin Terrace, raise and appropriate money therefor or act. thereon.
Article 46. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1500 for the purpose of making a survey of the town, such sum to be expended under the direc- tion of the Southbridge Planning Board, or act anything thereon.
Article 47. To see if the town will vote to install and maintain a flashing traffic beacon light, at the intersection of Main, Hamilton and Goddard streets, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 48. To see if the town will vote to construct a catch basin in Sayles street. opposite Dresser street, and to lay a pipe to the brook at the Dresser street playgrounds, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 49. To see if the town will vote to repair and oil Morris street, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 50. To see if the town will vote to install and maintain three street lights on Charlton Road between Vintor Street and Harrington Corner, to raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 51 : To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money to balance overdrawn ac. counts of 1925, and to pay outstanding bills of 1923-1924 and 1925, or act anything thereon.
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Article 52. To see if the town will vote to widen God- dard Court from Main Street to Dupaul Street, raise and ap- propriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 53. To see if the town will vote to appoint a committee to inquire into the nature and amount of the work already done and of the materials already furnished, and into the money already expended under the vote under Article 35 of the adjourned town meeting of March 2, 1925, in reference to the repair and enlargement of the present Sewage Disposal Works: said committee also to inquire into the nature and amount of the work necessary to be performed and of the material necessary to be furnished and of the money neces- sary to be expended to complete the same, and report at a future town meeting, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 54. To see if the town will vote to construct a cement concrete road on Everett Street, beginning at the im- proved section near Park Street, built in 1922, and extending Southerly to the junction of Elm Street, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 55. To see if the town will accept Fairmont Avenue as a public highway beginning at Charlton Street, and extending Easterly five hundred and ninety (590) feet.
Article 56. To see if the town will vote to install and maintain a suitable number of street lights on Fiske Street, from the last light on said street to the northerly end of same, raise and aprpopriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 57. To see if the town will vote to construct a cement concrete sidewalk on the northerly side of Glover Street, from Sayles street to High Street, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon.
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And you are directed to serve this Warrant by publishing an attested copy thereof twice in the Southbridge Press, South- bridge Herald and Southbridge News, the first publication be- ing not less than nine days next preceding the day of the meet- ing,-or by posting up such attested copies in four conspicuous places within the Town, at least nine days, including Sundays, -before the day of holding said meeting. The polls will be open at 5.45 o'clock, A. M., and close at four o'clock P. M.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at the time and place hereinbefore named.
Given under our hands this 15th day of February, A. D., 1926.
JOSEPH LAFLECHE 2nd, FRANK A. SANSOUCY, JOS. G. E. PAGE,
Selectmen of Southbridge.
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Report of An Audit of THE ACCOUNTS OF THE TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1925
Made in Accordance with the Provisions of Chapter 44, General Laws
February 11, 1926
To the Board of Selectmen, Mr. Joseph Lafleche, 2nd, Chairman, Southbridge, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :
I submit herewith my report of an audit of the accounts of the town of Southbridge for the year ending December 31, 1925, made in accordance with the Provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws. This report is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. Edward H. Fenton, Chief Examiner of this Division.
Very truly yours,
THEODORE N. WADDELL, Director of Accounts,
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Mr. Theodore N. Waddell, Director of Accounts. Department of Corporations and Taxation, State House, Boston.
Sir :
As directed by you, I have made an audit of the books and accounts of the town of Southbridge for the year ending - December 31, 1925, and submit the following report thereon :
The books and accounts of the town accountant were examined and checked in detail. The reported receipts were checked with the records in the several departments collect- ing money for the town and with the treasurer's cash book, and the expenditures were checked with the selectmen's war- rants authorizing payments. Original bills and pay-rolls were examined in sufficient numbers to satisfy me of their correctness.
The town clerk's record of appropriations and transfers voted by the town were examined and checked to the appro- priation accounts. The classification book was examined and found to be in agreement with the ledger. The ledger ac- counts were analyzed, a trial balance was taken off, and a balance sheet prepared showing the financial condition of the town as of December 31, 1925.
The outstanding debt was verified and the debt and in- terest payments were checked with the amounts falling due and with the cancelled bonds, notes and coupons on file.
The books and accounts of the treasurer were examined and checked, the recorded receipts being compared with the
145
records of departmental payments to the treasurer, with the other sources from which money was paid into the treasury, and with the accountant's books. The disbursements were checked with the warrants authorizing them.
The cash book was footed and the balance was recon- ciled with the amounts in the banks, less the outstanding checks. The trust and sinking funds in the custody of the treasurer were verified by examining the savings bank books and securities, the income being proved and found to be cor- rectly recorded.
The sewer assessments committed to the treasurer for collection were verified, the outstanding accounts were listed and proved to the control account in the accountant's ledger, and the collections were checked to the treasurer's and the accountant's books.
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