USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1891-1900 > Part 14
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Facility in reading comes from practice. "We learn to do by doing." There are children who, through inherited tendencies and home advantages, would become good readers whatever methods were used at school. The school ought to give, as far as possible, such opportunities to all. A considerable variety of reading matter is already furnished, but more should be supplied from time to time until we have material for a complete reading course in geography, history, natural science and literature. Such books interest the child, keep him contented to stay in a certain grade of reading until he has mastered its vocabulary, furnish him much valuable information, and, above all, cultivate a taste for good literature.
The teacher of an intermediate or grammar school ought to interest her pupils in home reading, by occasional talks on current events. Some good work of this kind has been done in our schools, but it should become general. Dr. Snyder says, " Education should prepare the child to enter readily, fully, and righteously into the conscious life about him." The newspaper is the popular expo- nent of that life, and drill in its use serves to train the child both in gathering the important points of what he reads, and in putting to practical use his knowledge of geography, history, ethics, etc.
The pupils of the Mittineague Grammar School, led by their teacher, have provided themselves with the nucleus of a school
I 2
library from the proceeds of an entertainment given at the opening of the winter term. It is not fair to expect that all will do this, but the public library and its branches furnish excellent opportu- nities for general reading. Lists of books should be prepared, and the reading of the children directed. "The school has no right to teach how to read without doing much more than it now does to direct the taste, and confirm the habit of reading what is good rather than what is bad. "
Arithmetic.
I have furnished each school with a drill table, prepared in the hope of making children as rapid and accurate in all possible com- binations of small numbers as they were ever expected to be in those of the multiplication table alone. These are intended to fol- low the objective work, and are not used during the first year. The books of graded problems introduced are giving satisfaction. They save the teacher's time and prevent a part of the copying from the blackboard. Whenever more arithmetics are needed it will be advisable to purchase this kind.
Physiology.
The Committee of Ten say in their report, "Where instruction in physiology and hygiene is required in the primary grades by the law of the State, it may be preceded by a simple account of the structure of the body. It should include brief and elementary dis- cussions of the principal groups of functions, and should lay great- est stress, as is the intent of the law in most cases, upon such simple precepts of hygiene as may be clearly understood and practised by the child. "
A course of study in harmony with this recommendation has been placed in the schools, and " the teachers were advised to give this subject ninety minutes per week from the first of November to the close of the year. A definite amount of time given to physiology and hygiene is certainly better than a little anatomy sandwiched in at the teacher's convenience.
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Drawing and Writing.
Elaborate work in drawing can be expected only_in those towns where a special teacher is employed, but, in harmony with the law of the state, some elementary instruction is given.
In writing, two ends have been kept in view, legibility and rapid- ity, through drill in form and movement. Writing books are some- times looked upon as an expensive luxury, but I think it would be economy to keep in stock two consecutive numbers for use par- ticularly in certain schools.
Needs of the Schools.
Some books will be necessary every year, and I have made plain the kinds I would purchase in reading, arithmetic and writing.
The most important school questions before the town concern a high school, better accommodations at Mittineague, and transporta- tion of pupils.
The law of 1894 compels us to either maintain a high school or pay tuition in another town. Aside from the furnishing of a suit- able room, the expense at first would be about the same whichever course is taken. After that the balance is likely to be in favor of a high school of our own. If tuition is paid, the town will have nothing at the end of the year to show for money expended ; if a . high school is started there will be the equipment and something of the prestige and benefits that come from advanced schools.
I hope the voters of the town will see their way clear to give the large and constantly increasing number of children at Mittineague suitable school accommodations. Four large rooms would answer the present demands. Two in addition to those in the old building would relieve the crowding and give space for a high school.
From one hundred and fifty to two hundred dollars a year could be saved by transporting the children from the Riverside and South schools to the three schools at Agawam Center. This would give those children better advantages, and obviate the necessity for immediate repairs. Riverside building especially
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needs considerable outlay to make it suitable for school purposes. Small schools must generally be in the hands of inexperienced teachers, and children lack the stimulus that comes from competi- tion. The general testimony where it has been tried is that the closing of such schools and transportation of pupils does not diminish the value of property in the vicinity.
Your attention is called to the various statistics presented in connection with this report. There has been a gain in the enrollment and average membership as compared with last year, and the per cent of attendance has increased from 91.3 to 92.9.
Respectfully submitted,
FAIRFIELD WHITNEY.
Roll of Honor.
Names of pupils who have not been absent during one or more terms.
AGAWAM SCHOOLS .- ONE TERM.
Fannie Shambo,
Lee M. Watson,
Bertha Mellor,
Bertha Osborne,
Ethel Rollinson,
Clinton Edgar,
Sarah J. Brouse,
George Dugell,
Edith Ingham,
Edith Bodurtha,
Rachel Mellor,
Arthur Abell,
Clara J. McVeigh,
Willie Rowe,
Edna J. Todd,
Nellie Bitgood,
May Talmage,
Arthur Jones,
Maud Miller,
Mary Pomeroy,
Sadie Reilly,
Florence Pomeroy,
Charles Brown,
Walter Jones,
Mary Osborne, Hattie Allen, Lizzie Cooke,
Bertha Bennett,
Bertie Barden, Lizzie Brown,
Mabel Randall.
Julia Mellor, Laura Clarke, Prudie Dodge, Robert Edgar, Stella Abell,
Two TERMS.
Irving Madden, Eugene Madden, Harold Worthington, Laurence Cushman, Walter Oldroyd, Myrtle Ewing.
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ONE YEAR.
Harry W. Hastings,
Frank Mckinnon,
Thomson Hastings,
Frances Ely,
Leroy Jones, Clifford Jones,
Harry Abell, John Dean.
FEEDING HILLS SCHOOLS .- ONE TERM.
William T. Hastings,
Mabel Smith,
Clifford M. Granger,
Mary A. Glenn,
Frank Hrubi,
Miriam Brown,
Joseph Hrubi,
Samuel E. Brown,
Clifford Humiston,
Maud E. Hanks,
Daisy M. Humiston,
John Sullivan,
Julia L. Pomroy,
Arthur Benn,
Andrew R. Pomroy,
Fannie Sweatland.
TWO TERMS.
Ocie A. Kenyon,
Annie M. Burke,
Lizzie E. Halladay, Philip W. Hastings,
Vickey Degray.
ONE YEAR.
Bertha C. Arnold,
Lora T. Smith,
Joseph R. Hastings, Percy V. Hastings,
Heman W. Smith.
MITTINEAGUE SCHOOLS .- ONE TERM.
Albert Webber, Willie Deforge,
Thomas Quirk,
Ernest Gauthier,
Julia E. Tower,
Mary O'Brien,
Lizzie Shoven,
Flora Duclos,
Edward Connor,
Lizzie Corkery, Antoine Fountaine,
Cordelia Devenew,
John Connors,
James Scully,
E. Roberts,
Matilda Deforge,
May Roberts,
Ashel Deveneau,
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Hattie Roberts,
Etta Smith,
James Cavanaugh,
George O'Brien,
Bessie Cavanaugh, Leo King,
Eva Dugan,
Willie Guyette,
Ora Quintal,
Neddie Provost,
May Grady,
Jessie Delsaurier,
Eddie Menard,
Freddie Duclos,
Freddie Menard,
Celia Bartlett,
Clementine Vezina,
Bertie Connors,
Leon Dubour.
Two TERMS.
Mamie Scully,
Bessie Deslaurier,
May Gauthier,
Wilfred Bassette,
William Arnold,
Walter Webber,
Rosamond Connors,
Eddie Deslaurier,
Frank Tongue,
George Gosselin,
Archie Goulette.
ONE YEAR. Lewis Menard. Dollie Connors. .
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
Number of pupils between five and fifteen,
66
over fifteen, .
35
42
66
66
under five, .
3
3
66
66
between eight and fourteen,
318
66
66 enrolled,
521
525
66
of days absent,
·
5,373.5
5,254
Average membership, .
.
400
411
66
attendance, .
-
365
382
Per cent. of attendance,
.
91.3
92.9
1893-4.
1994-5.
483
480
Frank Menard,
Arseun Devenew, Bessie O'Brien,
Cassie O'Brien,
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DETAILED STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1894-5.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
Wages per Month.
No. Weeks in Term.
Pupils Enrolled.
Average Membership.
Average Attendance.
Per cent. of Attendance.
Days Absent.
Tardinesses
Dismissals. Visits.
Mittineague .. S.
A. K. L. Houghton.
$48 9|36 31 5 28.4 90.2 139.5 7 29| 4
Grammar ... . F. W.
Hattie J. Strong.
48 12 43 38.3 34.9 91.1 197.5 44 39
5
Agawam S.
Belle S. Benjamin
48 10 28 25.3 29.9 90.5 114 41 14 22
Grammar. W. S.
A. P. D. Tobien
48 12 33 28.7 25.5 88.8 192.5 74 36 22 48,11 34|32 30.9 93.6 139 63 21 22
Feeding Hills F.
Alice E. Powers
52 12 33 31 29.8 96.1 71.5 31 32 4
Agawam .. . . S.
S Edith Westrich
36 10 36 35.5 33.8 95.2 86.5 14 21 24
Marie West.
36 12 37 36 34.3 95.3 104
39 19 20
Center .. .. F. Intermediate. W. Mittineague S. No. 3. F. W.
Alice E. Durant
40 12 35 35.3 33 93.7 133.5 17 19 4
6
1
Mittineague S.
No. 2.
F. W.
Mary F. Healy.
36 12 50 47.1 45.6 96.9 92.5|15 16 3
Mittineague S. No. 1.
F. W.
Mrs R. O. Harper, Ass't
20 12 67 60.1 57.3 95.4 181 34 14
10 57 47.1 44.2 93.8 149.5 26 6 2
Agawam .. S.
32 10 32 29.2 27.6 94.5 85 78 23 129
Center F.
Jennie S. Thomson
32 12 24 22.1 20.5 92.8 95
35
Primary .. W.
Lottie B. Strong
34 10,44,37 5 32 85.3 254.5 36 28 6
F.
34 12 45 40.2 35.4 88.2 282.5 83 74 6
Primary ..
W.
34 10 45 36.8 35 84.5 274
78 11 6
West Street .. S.
Ada Hays
28 10 24 20 17.6 88 113 24 4 S
Feeding Hills F. W'.
28 11 27 20 18.1 90.5 109.5 16 3 3
West Street .. S.
Marie West
34 10 32 29.5 26 6 90.2 127.5 16
3:28
Agawam
Jennie E. Alderman
32 12 31 27.6 24.4 88.4 194.5 45 8 14
32 10 29 22.8 18.1 79.4 231 4 0 20
28 10 17 13.7 12.4|90.5| 65
24 0.15
South.
Mildred J. Tanner
28 12 13 12.7 11.5 91 52.5 38 8 9
28 10 13,12 11 91.7
50 53 3 14
Alicia T. Powell.
28 10 19|17.7 16.3.92.1
60 - 11 13 11
Riverside .... F.
Nellie E. Hamilton
28 12 15 14.4 13 90.3
85 51 7 14
W.
Mrs. G. H. Havens.
28.10 15|15
13.6 90.9.
88.5 36,38
48 12 39 35.6 32.6 91.5 185 61 3
Center. F.
48 10 46 32.7 29.8 91.1 134.5 24 30 6
Grammar W.
56 11 37 34.3 31.5 91.9 150 27 13 9
36 10 36 34 7 32.4 93.4 119.5 30 22 9
40 10 37:32.8 30.5 93 125.5 45 81 5
40 10 36 47.1 44.2 93.8 149.5 26
36 10 44 41.9 40.2 95.9 87 21 8 10
3 36 10 48 46.3 45.5 96.2, 89.5 25 9 36 10 71 65.3 61.2 93.7 206.5 17 11 9
Bessie F. Leonard, Prin.
8 18 32 10 22 19. 8 17.2 86.7 129.5 35 38 15
Feeding Hills S.
Mabel L. Welcker.
L. May Huntley.
28| 12.25 23 21.3 92.8 109 18 15 6
F. W. S. F. W. S.
Terms.
EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS OF AGAWAM.
1883-84
1884-85
1885-86
1886-87
1887-88
1888-89
1889-90
1890-91
1891-92
1892-93
No. different pupils in the schools
417
439
495
504
492
507
503
497
469
542
Average membership of all the schools.
352
350
388
396
399
405
416
382
434
452
Average attendance of all the schools ..
311
306
340
328
355
360
330
332
393
386
Per cent. of attendance based on average membership
,88
.87
.88
.83
.89
.89
,79
.87
90
.85
Average No. of months schools were kept ...
7-16
8-10
8-7
8-5
8-5
8-5
8-5
8-5
8-5
8-15
Amount raised by taxes for schools, including wages, board, fuel, care of fires and schoolrooms.
$2,800.00 $3,000.00 $3,250.00 $3,250.00 $4,000.0'
$3,800.00 $4,000.00 $4,707.81 $4,275.07 $4,500.00
Expense of sundries, books, stationery, etc ..
$300.09
$490.00
$455.06
$360.00
$385.00
$518.86
$395.42
$481.60 $ 1,320.13
Expense for schools from money raised by taxation. . $3,534.51 $ 4,080.35 $ 3,940.06 $ 3,946.45 $ 7,173.08 $ 5,078.36 $5,710.28 $5,190.31 $4,829.46 $ 7,364.72
Money appropriated for each child in town between 5 and 15 years of age.
$6.815
$6.856
$7.427
$7.677
$9.427
$8.756
$8.778
$10.904
$9.895
$9.127
Rank with 340 and odd towns of the State on this appropriation.
311
314
301
300
258
288
287
222
283
311
Rank with 22 towns of County on this appropriation
17
18
17
17
12
19
18
10
15
19
Rate per dollar of valuation appropriated to support of schoole, in mills and hundredths of mills
2.47
2.59
2-81
2-82
3-41
3-28
3-43
4.11
3-48
3-63
Rank with towns of State on this rate ..
282
280
262
261
174
210
181
85
186
169
Rank with towns of County on this rate
20
19
18
18
13
16
11
6
10
12
Rank of Town with towns of State on ratio of average attendance at school to the No. of Children between 5 and 15 years.
257
311
248
246
163
182
275
255
75
215
Rank of town with 22 towns of County on this ratio ..
8
18
13
12
10
11
14
12
5
10
.
.
19
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF AGAWAM,
For the Year Ending March 16,
1896.
1
5.1855
ICOR
ORAT
D
HOLYOKE, MASS. : GRIFFITH, AXTELL & CADY CO .. PRINTERS. 1896.
TOWN OFFICERS, 1895-6.
Town Clerk and Treasurer. JUDSON W. HASTINGS.
Selectmen, Assessors, Overseers of the Poor and Board of Health. HENRY E. BODURTHA, JAMES F. BARRY, ALBERT H. BROWN.
School Committee.
EDWIN LEONARD, Chairman, term expires 1896.
HENRY L. TOWER, term expires 1897.
CAROLINE S. HAYWARD, term expires 1898.
Tax Collectors.
LEWIS A. BARDEN, Agawam. EDWARD M. WRIGHT, Feeding Hills. GEORGE I). COOLEY, Mittineague.
Auditors.
EDWARD K. BODURTHA. FRANK L. JOHNSON.
Trustees of the Public Library. JUDSON W. HASTINGS, term expires 1896. HENRY L. TOWER, term expires 1897.
CAROLINE S. HAYWARD, term expires 1898.
Trustees of Whiting Street Fund. REUBEN DEWITT, term expires 1896.
SAMUEL L. JOHNSON, term expires 1897.
4
Sinking Fund Commissioners.
WM. II. GRANGER, term expires 1896.
SETH N. BENNETT, term expires 1897. DAVID L. BOWE, term expires 1898.
Constables.
ETHAN D. ALLEN, ROBERT O. HARPER, GEORGE E. ARNOLD. ELMER E. MCINTIRE, JAMES M. BEAN,
OLIVER SMITH, FRANK COVILL, ALBERT E. WORTHINGTON, ROBERT ELY, Jr. EDW. M. WRIGHT.
Fence Viewers.
WILLIS C. CAMPBELL, JAMES F. BARRY, SANFORD H. SAWYER, HENRY L. TOWER,
CHAUNCEY P. WILSON.
Field Drivers.
F. A. SCOTT, MONROE HAYWARD, JERRE ADAMS, JAMES G. KING, JAMES II. CLARK, ELMER E. MCINTIRE,
ROLLIN C. POMEROY, JAMES S. SMITH, JAMES KERR, JOHN WRIGHT, ETHAN D. ALLEN,
ROBERT ELY, Jr.
Surveyors of Lumber.
ROBERT ELY, Jr. JAMES W. MOORE. T
Measurers of Wood.
CHARLES W. HASTINGS, HARVEY E. PORTER,
EDWIN LEONARD, 2d, E. R. HANKS, ALSON W. ALLEN, ALBERT K. FULLER,
JAMES W. MOORE.
5
Sealer of Weights and Measures. JOHN G. FREELAND.
Sealer of Leather. SUMNER CLARK.
Public Weighers.
CHARLES W. HASTINGS,
ALBERT K. FULLER,
HARVEY E. PORTER, DANIEL LEONARD.
Fish Wardens.
LEVI RIVERS,
FRANK P. COVILL.
Forest Fire Wardens. JAMES M. BEAN, ROBERT ELY, Jr., WVM. H. PORTER, BYRON C. ROBERTS.
Inspectors of Animals and Provisions. EDWIN LEONARD, J. BRIDGMAN MANLEY.
Superintendent of Streets. WILLIS C. CAMPBELL.
Registrars of Voters. R. MATHER TAYLOR, Chairman, term expires 1898. HENRY A. HUNTINGTON, term expires 1896. GEORGE D. FISK, term expires 1897. JUDSON W. HASTINGS (ex officio).
Representative to the General Court, First Hampden District. CALVIN S. MILLER, of Southwick.
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.
RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1896.
ANNUAL MEETING APRIL 1, 1895.
ARTICLE I. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meeting. Result of vote for Moderator :
William H. Porter received 29
Thomas M. Roberts received 22
ARTICI E 2. To choose all necessary Town officers for the en- suing year.
ARTICLE 3. To vote on the question : " Shall licenses be granted for the selling of intoxicating liquors in this Town?"
Voted-To proceed under articles 2 and 3 to vote for all necessary Town officers, and on the question : "Shall licen es be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this Town?"
A sealed package containing 675 official ballots, and 75 official ballots " for School Committee only," was delivered to the ballot clerks and their receipt taken for the same. The seals on this package were publicly broken by the Moderator; the ballot-box inspected and the polls declared open.
Voted-That the polls be closed at 4 p. m.
At the close of the polls the Moderator appointed, as tellers to assist in the counting of the ballots, George D. Fisk, John R. Bodurtha, H. L. Tower, Timothy J. O'Brien, Alson W. Allen, George H. Havens, Oscar L. King, Charles W. Hastings, Joseph C. McVeigh, Henry A. Huntington, John Oldroyd, Arthur Mosher. They were sworn to a faithful discharge of their duties by the Moderator.
7
At the close of the polls, dial registered 336 Names checked on both lists 336
Number of ballots found in the box 336
Result of the votes for Town officers as declared later :
For Town Clerk and Treasurer.
Judson W. Hastings, of Feeding Hills, received I72
Ralph Perry, Jr., of Agawam, received . .
III
Blanks, .
53
For Selectmen, Assessors, Overseers of the Poor and Board of Health.
James F. Barry, of Feeding Hills, received, 148
Henry E. Bodurtha, of Agawam, received, 161
Albert H. Brown, of Mittineague, received, 238
Willis C. Campbell, of Agawam, received, .
144
Homer W. Halladay, of Feeding Hills, received, .
72
R. Mather Taylor, of Feeding Hills, received, . 123
I22
Blanks,
For Tax Collectors.
Lewis A. Barden, of Agawam, received, 167
James J. Carroll, of Feeding Hills, received, II7
George D. Cooley, of Mittineague, received, 169
Wilfred Duclos, of Mittineague, received, IIO
Monroe Hayward, of Agawam, received, .
I38
Edward M. Wright, of Feeding Hills, received, ·
175
Blanks, 132
For School Committee for Three Years.
Caroline L. Hayward, of Agawam, received, 165
Eugene L. Thompson, of Agawam, received ·
148
Blanks, 23
For Sinking Fund Commissioner for Three Years.
David L. Bowe, of Agawam, received 173
Lewis L. Whitman, of Ag iwam, received, .
I36
Blanks, 2 7
S
For Auditors.
Edward K. Bodurtha, of Agawam, received, 184 Frank L. Johnson, of Feeding Hills, received, . 149
James W. Moore, of Feeding Hills, received, I32 William H. Porter, of Agawam, received I36
Blanks, .
71
For Library Trustee for Three Years.
Caroline L. Hayward, of Agawam, received, .
157
Frederick A. Sykes, of Agawam, received, ·
I44
Blanks, .
35
For Trustees of Whiting Street Fund for Two Years.
Samuel L. Johnson, of Feeding Hills, received, .
164
Daniel L. Leonard, of Feeding Hills, received, .
I36
Blanks, .
36
For Constables.
Ethan D. Allen, of Feeding Hills received (elected), 176
George E. Arnold, of Feeding Hills, received (elected), I38
James M. Bean, of Mittineague, received (elected), 231
Patrick J. Buckley, of Mittineague, received .
123
Napoleon Bunyan, of Mittineague, received .
II6
Frank Covill, of Agawam, received (elected), ·
I4I
Robert Ely, Jr., of Agawam, received (elected), 162
Robert O. Harper, of Mittineague, received (elected), I35
John L. Hubbard, of Agawam, received I33
Aretas P. Loomis, of Feeding Hills, received ·
129
Elmer E. McIntire, of Feeding Hills, received (elected), 183
Frank R. Ross, of Mittineague, received 125 ·
Sanford H. Sawyer, of Feeding Hills, received . 124
Oliver Smith, of Agawam, received (elected), 208
Albert E. Worthington, of Agawam, received (elected), 228 Edward M. Wright, of Feeding Hills received (elected), 178
Blanks, ·
830
9
Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this Town?
Yes, I35
No,
151
Blanks,
50
The following were elected by acclamation :
FENCE VIEWERS-Willis C. Campbell, James F. Barry, Sanford H. Sawyer, Henry L. Tower, Chauncey P. Wilson.
FIELD DRIVERS-F. A. Scott, Monroe Hayward, Jerre Adams, James G. King, James H. Clark, Elmer E. McIntire, Rollin C. Pomeroy, James S. Smith, James Kerr, John Wright, Ethan D. Allen, Robert Ely, Jr.
SURVEYORS OF LUMBER-Robert Ely, Jr., James W. Moore
MEASURERS OF WOOD-Charles W. Hastings, Harvey E. Porter, Edwin Leonard, 2d, E. R. Hanks, Alson W. Allen, Albert K. Fuller.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES-John G. Freeland.
SEALER OF LEATHER-Sumner Clark.
PUBLIC WEIGHERS-Charles W. Hastings, Harvey E. Porter, Albert K. Fuller, Daniel Leonard.
ARTICLE 4. To hear and act upon the report of the Town officers. Voted-To take up the article.
Voted-That the Town Clerk's report be accepted as printed.
Voted-That the Treasurer's report be accepted as printed.
Voted-That the Assessors' report be accepted as printed.
Voted-That the Overseers of the Poor report be accepted as printed.
Voted-That the Selectmen's report be accepted as printed.
Voted-That the Library Trustees' report be accepted as printed.
Voted-That the School Committee's report be accepted as printed.
ARTICLE 5. To see what method the Town will adopt for the support of the poor for the ensuing year.
10
Voted-That the support of the poor for the ensuing year be left with the Overseers of the Poor.
ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will authorize its Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow temporarily, in anticipation of the taxes of the present municipal year, the sum of $7,000, as the same may be from time to time required, and to give the note or notes of the Town for money so borrowed, and that he also be authorized to pay such loans from the said taxes.
l'oted-Without dissent.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not to exceed $35 for Memorial Day.
l'oted-To pass over Articles 8 and 9 for the present.
ARTICLE IO. To see if the Town will take any action toward protecting the wing wall on north side of the Agawam bridge.
Voted-On motion of Daniel W. Brown that the matter be left with the Selectmen to use their discretion in the matter.
ARTICLE II. To see what action the Town will take in reference to appropriations for sinking fund.
Voted-That the Town raise by taxation and contribute annually to the sinking fund, nine hundred dollars ($900.00), or such amount as with its accumulations will extinguish the refunded debt of $25,000 on its maturity, viz., June 1, 1914 ; any balance necessary for such extinguishment shall be raised by taxation in the year before maturity of said debt.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen to borrow a sum not to exceed $10,000 to refund a note due May 1, 1895.
Voted-Two-thirds present and voting in the affirmative.
ARTICLE 13. To act upon code of By-laws reported at a special town meeting, May 17, 1894, and action deferred to next annual town meeting.
Voted-On motion of John G. Freeland that the article be indefinitely postponed.
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ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will withdraw its claim on the Lester gravel bank taken under the provisions of $ 99 of Chap. 49 of the Public Statutes.
E. K. Bodurtha moved that the Town withdraw its claim upon the Lester gravel pit taken under the provisions of $ 99 of Chap. 49 of the Public Statutes.
J. W. Moore moved to amend by the addition of the words, "after the Town has obtained the amount of gravel necessary for the completion of the repairs on the River Road ordered by the County Commissioners."
l'oted-On amendment in the negative.
Voted-On original motion in the negative.
ARTICLE 8. To hear and act upon the report of the committee appointed by the Selectmen to investigate the present requirements of the Town regarding schools.
The report was read by Charles W. Hastings, the chairman of the committee. The committee considered the following questions : Ist. Whether to maintain a High School or to pay the tuition of such pupils outside. 2d. How best to provide school accommodation for the increasing number of children in town. After a detailed consideration of these two questions the report recommends "the erection of a four-room brick building on some site in the Mittineague district, two rooms to be finished, one for the relief of the present school, and the other to be used as a High School room. The other two rooms to remain unfinished until needed."
On motion of Wm. I. Meacham it was voted that the report of the committee be accepted.
J. W. Moore moved that we build, equip and maintain a High School building within this town.
Voted-In the negative.
Moved-By D. J. Collins that $7,000 be raised for building a six-room school building in Mittineague, two rooms to be finished.
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O. A. Parks moved to amend by the addition of the words "and that a committee be appointed to report two weeks from today at I p. m. with plans and estimates of cost for a suitable building in Mittineague."
Vote on amendment : Affirmative 52 ; negative 45.
Voted-On motion of E. K. Bodurtha to adjourn the business portion of this meeting to two weeks from today at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.
After the declaration of the result of the vote for Town officers, the Town Clerk-elect was sworn to a faithful discharge of his duties by the Moderator.
Voted-At 7.45 p. m. to adjourn until Monday, April 15, 1895 at io a. m.
JUDSON W. HASTINGS, Town Clerk.
AGAWAM, MASS., April 2, 1895.
To the Town Clerk of Agawam:
We, the undersigned, legal voters in said Town, have reason to believe that an error was made in counting votes for Selectmen, and that ballots not legally marked were counted. We, therefore, respect- fully request a recount of the votes cast for Selectmen, April 1, 1895.
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