USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1874-1877 > Part 23
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1877. To amount brought forward. $31,060 30
April 21, Cash of Assignees of Estate of T. H. Trenholm, on ac- count lot in Cemetery 25 00
24, " " A. F. Estabrook, on account, board of Endor Estabrook 14 94
26, " " T. D. Hevey, rent of Hall. 10 00
" " Women's Christian Temperance Union, rent of Hall. 20 00
30, " sundry persons, interest on taxes .. 27 65
May 1, " Charles A. Sweet & Co., for $5,000 Arlington Water Scrip, Nos. 211 to 215, each $1,000, at 108.25.
5,412 50
4 months' accrued interest. 100 00
1, . " " Charles A. Sweet & Co,, for $8,000 coupon notes, dated May 1st, 1877, payable in 20 years from . date, with interest at 5 per cent. per annum, sold at 101.65
8,132 00
2,
" " John H. Hartwell, constable, Court fees 9 60
8, " Robert Dinsmore, for lot in Cemetery 10 00
9, " David Irwin, 10 00
" C. F. Oakman,
10 00
10, " L. J. Newton, librarian, fines collected
19 00
15, " Minstrels, rent of Hall.
10 00
23, " " Charles L. Steinkrauss, for First Class Liquor License 150 00
24,
" " Mark A. Richardson & Co, for Third Class Liquor License. 75 00
26, " George Russell, for First Class Liquor License .. 150 00
28, " Charles S. Jacobs, Jr., for First Class Liquor License .
150 00
" Estate of Mrs. Henry W. Whittemore, on account Benjamin Poland, for Auctioneer's License. . .
184 05
" L. C. Tyler, weigher, on account weighing fees .. 19 20
80 00
" " Omar W. Whittemore, for Fourth Class Liquor License 50 00
30, " Davies Dodge, for Fourth Class Liquor License. .
50 00
" F. E. Fowle, 3 months' rent of room to April 1st " Eliza Nickola, for First Class Liquor License ....
150 00
" " Warren L. & Malinda A. Knox, for Lot No. 374 in Cemetery 75 00
31,
" Terrence Owens, for Third Class Liquor License. 75 00
" " suedry persons, interest on taxes. 36 21
Carried forward.
$46,117 45
2 00
29,
" John Curtin, for manure.
50 00
71
TREASURER'S ACCOUNT.
ACCOUNT WITH THE TOWN OF ARLINGTON. CR.
1877. By amount brought forward .. $19,898 24
April 29, Amount of Pay Rolls No. 4 .. 7,687 59
May 1, Cash paid Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 6 months' interest on note, $10,000, to 27th ultimo ... 350 00
10, Faneuil Hall National Bank, amount borrowed January 1st. 1,200 00
" interest on the same 24 67
31, Amount of Pay Rolls No. 5. 7,569 08
Carried forward.
$36,729 58
72
TREASURER'S ACCOUNT.
DR.
B. DELMONT LOCKE, TREASURER, IN
1877. To amount brought forward. $46,117 45
June 8, Cash of Thomas E. Kowe, for Third Class Liquor License 75 00
16,
" " L. B. Marshall, rent of Hall. 8 00
20, Amount of Tax List of 1877 84,348 43
26, Cash borrowed of Faneuil Hall National Bank, payable August 2d, . 5,000 00
27,
" " John Burns, for 2,330 lbs. of hay
27 31
30,
borrowed of Faneuil Hall Bank, on demand.
10,000 00
30, of sundry persons, interest on taxes.
13 47
July 3,
" Lucius Kimball, for concreting.
7 50
7,
" A. F. Estabrook, on account board of Endor Estabrook 12 55
" " Faneuil Hall National Bank, interest on deposits to June 30th. 4 75
" " William L. Sweatt, for a Third Class Liquor License. 75 00
" " Arlington Catholic T. A. Society, 3 months' rent of room in Adams School-house to June 30th.
12 50
" Albert L. Teel, for concreting
9 25
" " Daniel Lyons, one-half of board bill of his daughter, at Worcester Lunatic Hospital, to 1st inst.
14 80
11, " borrowed of Faneuil Hall National Bank, on de- mand. 10,000 00
17,
of Myron Taylor, for concreting.,
8 00
30, " " George T. Tufts, " 23 70
31,
" Abel R. Proctor, for gravel .. 5 00
" " sundry persons, interest on taxes 13 51
Aug. 6,
" Joseph Warren, for concreting. 1 00
14, " " L. J. Newton, librarian, fines collected. 19 00.
Carried forward ..
$155,791 22
10,
" of John Reagan, on account.
5 00
73
TREASURER'S ACCOUNT.
ACCOUNT WITH THE TOWN OF ARLINGTON, CR.
1877. By amount brought forward. $36,729 58
June 26, Cash paid Estate of George Holden, 6 months' interest to 15th, on note, $5,000. 175 00
Estate of George Holden, 6 months' interest to 26th, on note, $10,000 350 00
66 O. A. Taft, 6 months' interest to 20th, on note, $6,000 210 00
interest on note, $5,000, at Faneuil Hall
National Bank. 23 13
30,
66
Note dated July 1, 1862, to Heirs of John Albree 5,000 00
6 months' interest on same. 137 50
66 Water Commissioners, amount borrowed February 2d .. 1,000 00 Amount borrowed February 7th. 500 00
66
66 interest on the same.
36 59
6 6 Water Commissioners, on account of Town Appropriation for interest on Water Debt.
4,823 41
Amount of Pay Rolls No. 6. 4,472 75
July 11,
Cash paid notes to the Provident Institution for Savings, dated July 11, 1867.
10,000 00
6 months' interest on the same.
350 00
17,
66 Charles Endicott, Treasurer of the Common- wealth, one-fourth of $1,000 received for liquor licenses. 250 00
26,
66 John Peabody, 6 months' interest on the fol- ing notes :-
$1,000 to July 1st, 1877 .. : 35 00
2,500 " June 2d, 87 50
2,500 " May 23d, 87 50
1,000 " June 18, 30 00
31,
Amount of Pay Rolls No. 7.
3,952 55
Aug. 2,
Cash paid Faneuil Hall National Bank, loans as follows, · viz :-
Feb. 27, 1877 5,000 00
March 27, 1877.
5,000 00
June 26, 1877.
5,000 00
Dec. 30, 1876.
5,000 00
Jan. 1, 1877
3,000 00
June 26, 1877.
10,000 00
July 11, 1877.
10,000 00
interest on above loans.
324 86
15,
Estate of George Holden, 6 months' interest to 6th, on note, $5,000 175 00
$111,750 37
Carried forward.
74
TREASURER'S ACCOUNT.
DR.
B. DELMONT LOCKE, TREASURER, IN
1877. To amount brought forward. $155,791 22
Aug. 18,
Cash of Charles Hill, for loam 2 00
22,
" " Dorchester Mutual Insurance Co. for return premium. 28 00
23, 66 " Anna A. Wilson, for lot No. 598 in the Cemetery 30 00
" A. J. Tillson, for concreting. 52 80
28,
" Daniel G. Currier, 1 month's rent of shop
10 50
29, " Bethel Lodge, rent of hall
7 00
31, " S. R. Smith, labor at brook.
23 00
" Edward D. Brooks, for concreting.
8 60
" sundry persons, interest on taxes.
27 58
Sept. 1,
" Eber Dickey, for lot in the Cemetery
10 00
4,
" Water Commissioners, for work done at Fiske Avenue, Lake street, and the Reservoir. . ...
235 75
8,
" Sandy Bolles, for lot in the Cemetery ..
50 00
15,
" William L. Sweatt, for license to keep a billiard table to May 1, 1878. 2 00
18, " " C. S. Jacobs, jr., for license to keep a billiard table to May 1, 1878 2 00
22,
" R. J. Hardy, for labor and gravel.
44 80
29,
" sundry persons, interest on taxes.
56 08
Oct. 2,
" Faneuil Hall National Bank, interest on de- posits 73 08
3,
" Mrs. E. A. Winship, for concreting ..
39 97
" " Daniel Lyons, one-half board bill of his daughter at Worcester Lunatic Hospital to Ist inst ....
18 06
8,
" " Republican Town Committee, rent of hall 5 00
" Daniel G. Currier, 1 month's rent of shop to October 1.
10 50
8,
" Orthodox Society, for concreting, &c.
38 50
10, " " A. F. Estabrook, on account board Endor
Estabrook ..
11 51
" Women's Christian Temperance Union, rent of hall.
5 00
12, for old encyclopedias, on account of the library. .
12 00
13, of H. & H. Swan, for sidewalk ..
65 38
15, " " Arlington Catholic T. A. & B. Society, 3 months' rent of room in Adams School-house to 1st inst 12 50
18,
" " A. D. Hoitt, for gravel. 4 00
23,
" A. Needham, for concreting. 28 22
27,
66 " D. C. Rood, on account concreting 55 00
Curried forward.
$156,765 88
" Mrs. Rebecca Whittemore, for concreting.
5 83
75
TREASURER'S ACCOUNT.
ACCOUNT WITH THE TOWN OF ARLINGTON. CR.
1877. By amount brought forward $111,750 37
Aug. 31, Amount of Pay Rolls No. 8. 4,130 52
Sept. 24,
Cash paid Plymouth Savings Bank, 6 months' interest to 25th, on note, $30,000 1,050 00
29, Amount of Pay Rolls No 9.
4,491 99
Oct. 6, Cash paid John Peabody, 6 months' interest to 1st, on note, $7,000. 245 00
9, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 6 months' interest to 9th, on notes. $42,000. 1,470 00
27, " Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 6 months' interest, on note, $10,000. 350 00
Curried forward.
$123,487 88
76
TREASURER'S ACCOUNT.
DR. D. DELMONT LOCKE, TREASURER, IN
1877. To amount brought forward. $156,765 88
Oct. 30, Cash of Patrick Slattery, rent of " gravel pits," for pasturing, 1877. 25 00
31, " " sundry persons, subscriptions towards expense of watering streets. 159 00
" sundry persons, interest on taxes ..
32 49
Nov. 1,
" Brewster, Basset & Co., for #8,000 coupon notes, dated Nov. 1, 1877, payable in 15 years, with interest at 5 per cent. per annum, sold at 100.67 8,053 60
3, " " D. G. Currier, 1 month's rent of shop to Nov. 1st. 10 50
5, " George C. Russell, for concreting 63 60
8, ". " Henry Swan, 53 00 ..
" for rent of hall. 10 00
9, of Lucius Kimball, for concreting. 66 2 40
10, 66 " James A. Bailey, for gravel. 28 50
12,
66 " William A. Clark, for concreting. 17 10
14,
66 " Mrs. John Field 66 12 00
17,
66 " Arlington Reform Club, rent of hall. 10 00
3 00
26,
of J. M. Chase, for concreting. 15 90
28, " Estate of John Fowle, for concreting. 90 33
Amcunt received for dog licenses to date. 481 00
30, Cash of sundry persons, subscriptions towards expense of watering the streets. 18 00
Dec. 1,
66 " D. G. Currier, 1 month's rent of shop to date ...
10 50
" " Charles Endicott, Treasurer, State Aid. Corporation Tax. National Bank Tax.
2,305 84
" " Water Commissioners, for labor.
180 00
" " Daniel Lyons, on account board of his daughter at the Worcester Lunatic Hospital. . 5 00
6,
" " Arlington Women's Temperance Union, rent of hall 5 00
8, " W. G. Peck, for coal tar.
21 87
" Republican Town Committee, rent of hall. 10 00
22 00
17, " Wilkinson. rent of hall.
10 00
18, " F. E. Fowle, 6 months' rent to October 1st. 100 00
19,
66 " Morris Bros., rent of hall 10 00
22, " J. D. Freeman, for laying drain pipe ...
4 00
Carried forward.
$169,855 98
24, for 2 bbls. coal tar sold.
" " sundry persons, interest on taxes.
45 56
387 00
887 91
15, " Universalist Society, rent of hall.
77
TREASURER'S ACCOUNT.
ACCOUNT WITH THE TOWN OF ARLINGTON. CR.
1877. By amount brought forward. $123,487 88
Oct. 31, Amount of Pay Rolls No. 10. 5,123 65
Nov. 28,
Cash paid Treasurer of Middlesex County, Dog Tax. . 438 00
" " fees on Dog Tax to Town Clerk.
43 00
" . "
30, coupons on notes $7,000, being 6 months' interest to 1st inst 175 00
Amount of Pay Rolls No. 11.
5,181 43
Dec. 1,
Cash paid Charles Endicott, Treasurer, State Tax ... ..
5,010 00
22, John Peabody, 6 months' interest on notes, viz : - -
due Dec. 18, on note $1,000 00
30 00
" Jan. 1, '78, "
1,000 00
35 00
" Nov. 23,
2,500 00
87 50
" Dec. 2,
66 2,500 00
87 50
Carried forward.
$139,698 96
78
TREASURER'S ACCOUNT.
DR.
D. DELMONT LOCKE, TREASURER, IN
1877. To amount brought forward. $169,855 98
Cash of Arlington Gas Light Co., for pitch and labor. 5 70
" A. R. Proctor, for concreting. 35 60
" "Odd Fellows," for use of hall 15 00
29,
" Reform Club, for use of hall.
10 00
31, " Water Commissioners, for labor as per account
108 50
" Trustees of Pratt Fund, income for Poor Widows' Fund. 299 98
" " Trustees of Pratt Fund, income for Public Li- brary 599 95
" interest on note to Trustees of Town Library.
6 00
of F. E. Fowle, rent 3 months to date
50 00
" Addison Gage & Co., rent of land.
75 00
" sundry persons, subscriptions towards expense of watering streets. 25 00
" " Arlington Catholic T. A. & B. Society, rent of room in Adams School-house to date. 12 50
" one year's interest on note, $5,354, to Trustees of William Cutter School Fund.
321 24
" one year's interest on notes to Trustees of Poor Widows' Fund.
36 79
of George Russell, for concreting.
9 50
" D. C. Rood, balance for concreting.
10 95
" D. G. Currier. one month's rent to date.
10 50
" " Faneuil Hall National Bank, interest on de- posits to date 60 00
" L. C. Tyler, weighing fees.
50 00
" L. J. Newton, librarian, fines collected.
26 00
" A. P. Wyman, for coal tar and pitch ..
3 75
" Robert Speatman, rent of shop to date.
75 00
" John Nolan, rent of land for 1877.
40 00
"
" Town of Belmont, for support of pauper for 1877. 38 97
" " sundry persons, interest on taxes .. 45 31
Amount of unpaid bills at this date, in Pay Rolls Nos. 9, 10, 11 and 12 2,008 62
$173,835 84
Dec. 22, 27
79
TREASURER'S ACCOUNT.
ACCOUNT WITH THE TOWN OF ARLINGTON. CR.
1877. By amount brought forward.
$139,698 96
Dec. 26, Cash paid Estate of George Holden, 6 months' interest to 15th inst. on note, $5,000. 175 00
also, 6 months' interest to '26th inst. on note, $10,000. 350 00
O. A. Taft, 6 months' interest to 26th inst., on note, $6,000. 210 00
31,
Amos Stone, Treasurer, County Tax. 2,937 23
one year's interest on note, $100, to Trustees of Town Library. 6 00
one year's interest on note, $349.85, to Treas- urer of Citizens' Soldiers' Fund. 20 99
one year's interest on note, $5,354, to Trus- te. s of William Cutter School Fund .. 321 24
Trustees of Poor Widows' Fund, one year's interest on note, $375.61 22 54
also, one year's interest on note, $237.50 .. 14 25
66
James A. Bailey, overcharge on bill Nov. 10th.
2 62
coupon on note, $1,000, being 6 months' interest, due Nov. 1st.
25 00
Amount of Pay Rolls No. 12.
" Discounts and abatements on taxes.
4,693 16
" Taxes of 1875, uncollected at this date.
192 19
" " 1876, .
2,186 80
" " 1877,
8,708 06
Cash balance in Treasury at this date.
2,064 61
$173,835 84
B DELMONT LOCKE, Treasurer.
ARLINGTON, Dec. 31, 1877.
....
12,207 19
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK.
MARRIAGES, BIRTHS AND DEATHS.
Intentions of Marriages Registered in 1877.
Whole number of couples,
33
Average age of male, 31
Average age of female, 25
Both persons residing in Arlington,
21
But one person residing in Arlington,
12
Marriages Registered in 1877.
Whole number of couples,
33
Both persons American born, 17
Both persons foreign born,
9
American and foreign born,
7
Age of oldest person married,
57
Age of youngest person married,
18
First marriage of
55
Second marriage of
10
Fourth marriage of
1
Births Registered in 18777.
Whole number,
103
Males,
52
Females,
51
American parentage,
33
Foreign parentage,
56
Mixed parentage,
14
81
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK.
Deaths Registered during the year ending Dec. 31, 1877.
AGE.
NAMES.
Date of Death.
Years
Months| Days
Alice Doyle .
Jan. 5, 1877
1
2
Artemas Baldwin
8,
70
11
Frank Rogers
10,
2
Albert Irwin.
14,
75
10
Abigail Russell
30,
66
77
7
Mary Munroe
Feb.
1,
66
5
27
Herbert Jost.
3,
66
1
5
Mary Jane Ferguson.
66
3,
23
7
Henry J. Bacon. .
66
9,
46
9
Emma H. Corey:
12,
8
10
Theela Sophia Nilson.
66
13,
Ann S. Wharton
16,
66
50
6
21
Ellen Ahern
Mar. 1,
Lois A. Upham.
13,
27
Elizabeth H. Waters
21,
38
7
13
Arthur Rhodes.
25,
66
2
2
Florence Rowe.
26,
66
10
Julia Reagan.
27,
2
Adam H. Cashman.
Apr. 15,
66
23
11
Minnie E. Browne .
: 22,
4
5
Dennis Dacy
18,
68
Dennis Fitzpatrick.
20,
80
Collins.
June 11.,
Charles W. Setchell
11,
24
7
24
James Edward Smith.
66
18,
48
6
1
Ellen Hurley.
27,
60
Eliza E. Robbins.
July
1,
66
72
9
11
Porter D. Tripp
9,
66
1
9
Herbert S McDonald
16,
66
Michael Reilly.
17,
66
52
66
23,
66
4
7
Sarah Edna Kimball.
27,
66
18
8
5
John McCarthy
29,
66
60
Frederic Rau ,
30,
66
8
66
31,
66
82
1
23
Annie E. Rau.
Aug. 2,
9
4
18
Annie M. Riley .
12,
60
6
1
Willard A. Dickey.
66
13,
3
2
14
Jessie E. Parkin.
66
14,
66
5
8
Gertrude E. White.
17,
66
1
1
21
Rebecca Whittemore.
17,
66
81
William B. Nickson.
20,
66
1
7
Thomas E. Tierney.
66
22,
66
9
26
1
Reuben Hopkins
..
22,
26
Joshua Robbins.
66
3,
1
6
7
Addie S. Henderson.
May
66
9,
Cook.
25,
66
5
Elizabeth Ellison Waters.
Eleanor Gill ..
Lillian Hadley.
7,
2
Deborah J. Irwin
12,
10
9
10
66
1
7
11
6
82
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK.
Deaths .- Continued.
AGE.
NAMES.
DATE OF DEATH.
Years
Months
Days
Anna Hines.
Aug. 24, 1877
Katie F. L. Hazlett.
24,
4
24
James Canniff.
26,
"
62
Lydia A. Buckman
27,
49
2
23
Mary Cameron
29,
39
James William Bolles.
30,
1
9
6
Ellen Welch.
30,
34
Henry A. McManus.
Sept. 3,
1
4
3
Annie Welch ..
4,
5,
44
1
9
Oscar B. Hanscom.
10,
10
21
Lawrence J. McCarthy
16,
19
Dennis A. O'Mahoney.
22,
1
28
Michael Horrigan.
24,
60
Thomas D. Mehar
24,
1
3
15
Sarah L. McConnell
Oct.
2,
5
1
Dacy.
7,
7,
65
1
9
Mary L. Teel. .
10,
74
18
Caroline Cabot Homer
18,
1
2
23
Abbot Allen.
23,
84
10
Edmund Killelia
28,
35
Charles Benham.
31,
1
4
12
Eveline F. Crosby
Nov.
1,
19
Fillebrown
12,
66
Ellen Sweeney
13,
9
20
Margaret Killelia
24,
35
Mary E. Locke.
27,
64
3
Mabel M. Merrick.
Dec.
2,
5
2
Ellen Lennan.
6,
61
Rebe Teschemacher.
8.
84
1
17
Frances Mary Ann Sheehan.
7,
4
10
23
Julia Leary
15,
70
David Damon ..
22,
6
4
26
Mary E. Keaney
"
24,
2
4
26
Edith Gott.
"
25,
6
6
10
1
Chester L. Childs
30,
Mehitabel L Russell.
Eddie E. Winn.
19,
1
6
12
Emeline L. Wellington
20
-
83
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK.
Deaths .- Continued.
Whole number of deaths,
87
Males,
37
Females,
50
Average age, 23 years, 9 months, 15 days.
Number under 5 years of age,
42
between 5 and 10 years of age,
8
10 “ 30 " 7
66
30 “ 60 " 6
11
over 60 years of age, 19
SOME OF THE DISEASES OR CAUSES OF DEATH.
Dysentery,
17
Consumption and lung diseases,
15
Scarlet fever,
6
Diphtheria and croup,
5
Cholera infantum,
7
Cancer, 5
Register of Dogs Licensed since May 1, 1877.
Whole number,
215
Males,
198
Females,
17
B. DELMONT LOCKE, Town Clerk.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PRATT FUND.
The Trustees of the Pratt Fund submit the following Report for the year 1877 :
Income.
Received one year's interest on $9,000, City of Cambridge Bridge Loan, $540 00
one year's interest on $15,000, City of Cambridge Build- ing Loan, 900 00
interest of Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank, 79 88
$1,519 88
Paid rent of a safe in the Union Safe Deposit Vaults, 20 00
$1,499 88
Paid Town Treasurer for Poor Widows' Fund,
$299 98
599 95
Town Treasurer for Public Library, Deposited in Arlington Five Cents Sav- ings Bank, as a High School Fund, 599 95
$1,499 88
Investment.
City of Cambridge Bridge Loan, sixes, $9,000 00
66 Building " 66 15,000 00
Deposit in Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank, 1,000 00
$25,000 00
High School Fund Income, deposited in Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank, with interest to Jan. 1, 1878,
1,292 96
Respectfully submitted,
NATHAN ROBBINS, DAVID P. GREEN, WM. G. PECK, JOHN P. WYMAN, HENRY SWAN, B. DELMONT LOCKE, J
Trustees
of
Pratt Fund.
ARLINGTON, Dec. 29, 1877.
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
In compliance with the provisions of law we present our annual report for 1877. The Treasurer's report, which is herewith submitted, exhibits in detail the receipts and ex- penditures for the year. It will be seen that the water-takers have increased and that the income from water rates is $380.99 more than that of the preceding year. The run- ning expenses have been large from various causes, promi- nent among which are the enlarging of the filter to provide water for irrigation and the lowering of the street mains, to keep them out of the way of the frost, in those places in which the grade of the street has been lowered. The latter cause will be a constantly recurring one until there is an es- tablished grade for our streets and the water-pipes are ad- justed with reference to that grade.
After the annual town meeting, we met in accordance with the Rules, and organized by the choice of R. L. Hodg- don, as President, and B. D. Locke, as Clerk and Regis- trar. Sylvester Stickney was appointed Superintendent.
Extension of Water Mains.
An appropriation of $1,200 was made "to lay pipes in any places in which the income will be not less than six per cent. on the outlay." Four-inch cast-iron pipes have been laid in Fiske Avenue, at a cost of $322.85, the income from
86
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
which is $26 per annum. The pipe in Dudley Street has been extended at a cost of $72.74 and the income from the extension is $5. It is desirable that an appropriation be made, large enough to allow the Water Commissioners to lay pipes wherever needed, on such conditions as the town may prescribe.
Fencing.
No new fences have been called for during the year. The boundaries of all the land, owned by the town for water purposes, have been determined by a surveyor, and stone posts have been set at all points at which they were needed at a cost of $99.69, leaving a balance of $110.35 of the Fence appropriation unexpended.
Brown's Brook and Great Meadows.
Brown's brook has been turned into Slocum's pond, through a circular brick conduit 4 inches thick and 3 feet in diameter, with a granite abutment at each end. The ex- pense of this work has been $3,679.39. The Great Mead- ows have been dammed at their outlet, and the channel at their northerly side has been deepened. Through this chan- nel, the water from the Great Meadows, and, in a low stage of the water, that from Brown's brook, can be turned into the reservoir whenever needed, so as to keep it full during the whole year, provided too much water is not lost by leakage from the reservoir dam, which was originally con- structed so imperfectly as to allow the constant escape of a large amount of water through and under it. The expense at the Great Meadows, which we were authorized to pay from the appropriation for Brown's brook, has been $362.24. A small additional outlay may be needed to perfect this work, but much less than the appropriation already made, will be required.
87
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
Unsettled Claims.
There are no unsettled claims except those for which suits are pending. No new suits have been brought during the year, so that we have only to report the present position of those existing a year ago. Timothy Eaton's case came be- fore Commissioners appointed by the Superior Court, in September. In the midst of the hearing, Mr. Eaton's coun- sel abruptly left the case and the room. The Commission- ers adjourned, and they are now waiting for Mr. Eaton to get ready to present his case. The Fiske heirs presented their case to Commissioners, last May. Their claim was, according to the testimony of their witnesses, from $2,500 to $3,000. The Commissioners, after a full and patient hear- ing, awarded $350. This award has not yet been reported to the Court. In this case we had previously offered $300, in settlement, which the claimants refused to accept. The case of Spaulding against the town, is still pending, but will probably be tried this winter. No change has taken place in the case of Reed against the town. We have been ready for trial, but it has been postponed from time to time, at the request of the plaintiff"'s counsel. The Commissioners who heard the mill cases in December, 1875, reported their award to the Superior Court at the June term, 1877. The award was accepted by the Court, in all but three of the cases. In these the award was conditional, and was referred by the Court, back to the same Commissioners, who subse- quently made an unconditional award, which was accepted by the Court. The awards in these cases amount in the ag- gregate to $82,100, with interest thereon from June 19, 1873. Considering this estimate of damages excessive, we have claimed a trial by jury, and the cases are now awaiting trial in the Superior Court. We have received propositions for settlement, from several of the mill owners, but none which we were willing to accept or which we thought we
88
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
should be justified in accepting. * While we are very desir- ous that the town should avoid the expense and trouble of fur- ther litigation, we believe that, unless better terms can be made than any yet proposed, the interests of the town will be served by contesting these cases. Should any of the suits be decided or settled during the coming year, an ap- propriation will be needed. We recommend an appropria- tion of such sum as the town may see fit in anticipation of such need.
Filtering.
Last year in our report, we said, " The amount of water supplied by the filter is many times greater than what the town is using for domestic purposes. Supplying filtered water for irrigation is an experiment. There are no data from which to ascertain the quantity required." Observa- tions made this year have given some data. The daily con- sumption of water per individual is, in country populations, from 30 to 40 gallons ; in manufacturing places and large cities, from 60 to 70 gallons. It was found this year that, at the highest point of irrigation, water was drawn at the rate of nearly or quite a million of gallons a day, or more than 500 gallons a day for each inhabitant using water. The filtering gallery, which would supply, when the reser- voir was full, 1,400,000 gallons in twenty-four hours, or 700,- 000 gallons in a day, of course, could not meet this draught. When water was drawn directly from the reservoir to sup- ply the deficiency its quality showed more clearly than ever before the necessity of filtering. In attempting to increase the capacity of the filter we met an unforeseen difficulty ; in the formation of the soil at the reservoir, blue gravel and mud being found at most unexpected points. But we think that we have overcome all obstacles encountered, and have secured an adequate supply of water in the following way.
*Since the date of this report the suit of Oliver Warner et ale. vs. the Town, has been settled by the payment of $4.000, for damages, interest, and costs of court.
The Treasurer has sold Water Scrip at 110,03 to make this payment. In this case the award was $4,500; interest to time of settlement $1,237,50; commissioners' fee $500.
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