USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1876-1880 > Part 7
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59 60
Whittemore, Omar W. 2 00
Wyman, Frank.
Whittemore, Mrs. Rebecca.
31 44
Wyman, James G
18 80
Whittemore, C. Barton. 5 60
Wyman, John P ..
624 52
Whittemore, Mrs. Henry. W
45 12
Wyman, Samuel E.
2.00
Whittemore, B. F. 2 00
Wyman, John P., jr.
2 00
Whittemore, Henry, estate of ... 159 16
Wyman, Marshall, estate of. 130 46
Whittemore, Henry C. 2 00 Wyman, C. P.
2 00
White, John C. .
43 56 Wyman, Daniel. 2 00
White, John T
283 64 Wyman, Luke, estate of. 88 64
White, Henry K.
$2 00
Waugh, Michael $32 73
2 00
White, George.
2 00
White, Samuel.
Whitaker, Joseph W
2 00
32 64
2 00
Wilder, Isaac.
2 00
Welch, Israel
2 00
Wellington, Mrs. Lydia. 212 78
Winn, John, estate of.
Winn, Miss Sarah A
8 88
Wellington, Mrs. Eliza A.
39 20
Wellington & Miner.
10 20
Winship, George O
2 00
Whittemore, Rebecca and heirs of William A. Russell . 154 20
Wood, Cyrus. .
2 00
2 00
NON-RESIDENTS.
A.
Abbott, John K. $44 80
Abbott, Grenville S. 10 63
Arlington Land Co. 2135 62
B.
Bates, Mrs. Esther. 59 40
Bates & Whitten 10 16
Bassett, Horace. 52 66
Baker, Emily F. 26 40
Barry, William. 6 00
Barry, Henry A. 21 41
Barstow, Mrs. Ann E. 4 57
Bartlett, Charles A. 5 27
Barrows, Brainard W 10
Bailey, J. F 4 90
Bailey, J. W 2 45
Bangs, J. W.
12 31
Beal, Joseph H.
44 74
Besarick, J. H. 5 22
Bicknell, W. H. 49 80
Bird, John. 5 21
Blanchard, Charles 22 20
Blake, Ann E. 28 80
Blume, Andreas. 173 95
Blinn, R. D. 4 20
Boston Ice Company 33 60
Brown, James B., estate of. 1 40
Briggs, A. H. 4 69
Breck, C. E. 8 93
Butman, J. W. and George W .. 9 30
Butman, Wallace W . 81 60
Butman, W. W. and W. C. Cram 18 00
Burnham, W. G. 42 10
Burgess, T. H. . 6 72
Butterfield, Jonathan. 11 56
C.
Cahill, J. 14 40
Campbell, Thomas S .. 3 70
Charlestown Water Commis-
sioners.
37 66
Chenery, Winthrop W
$44 40
Chapman, Edward ..
3 00
Cook, Hubbard.
28 33
Cook, Susanna H.
15 12
Cooke, Henry A., Rev
13 10
Cotton, George H.
3 60
Cutter, Amos and Mrs. Sarah
Whittemore. . 85 44
Cutler, Silas, estate of.
27 60
Cutler, Mrs. Sarah.
31 60
D.
Davis, Samuel S. 78 82
Davidson, William E
12 58
Dow, Charles F. 5 95
Dodge, Mrs. Elizabeth. 27 00
Draper, D. S. & W. P., trustees. 800 34
Dresser, R. W., estate of. 6 76
Durnan, Peter. 6 00
Dwight, Edmund.
72 48
Dyer, W. H. 5 68
E.
Eaton, Mrs. Eliza. 38 56
Earle, James H., Rev. 5 23
Eddy, G. W. 41 24
Emerson, F. F. 4 06
Emery, T. J. ..
4 06
Esterbrook, O. D. .....
4 20
F.
Fairbanks, Moses. 161 87
Fiske, Elbridge. 25 20
Fitchburg Railroad Company ... 12 00 Frost, Silas. 110 04
Frost, Varnum. 165 90
Frost, Newell C. 86 40
Frost, Henry 42 00
Frost, Artemas & J. Herbert .. 27 00
Frost, Isaac.
27 00
102
TAXES.
G.
M.
Gannett, J. H., Rev $7 61
Gannett, Howard. 3 57
Gay, Levi B. 203 04
Goodrich, Hosea G. 32 40
Goodsell, P. B
45 36
Griffiths, Albert and Ellen Hewes
86 40
H.
Hatch, Frederic A. 5 17
Hart, Nathaniel O., estate of ...
42 72
Hall, O. G
6 36
Hanson, Henry
42 00
Hanson, Charles V., Rev
5 15
Harris, Sarah E.
30 30
Hadley, A.
34 08
Henderson Brothers.
319 96
Henderson, Edwin P.
59 70
Hickey, Richard H 5 24
Hill, Henry Y . 6 00
Hill, Henry Y., and estate of Francis Hill. 172 80
Hill, Francis, heirs of. 6 00
Hillard, R. W 32 08
Hight, E. G. 71 38
Holland, Silas H. 1 80
Hutchinson, John B
19 34
Hutchinson, Jacob.
27 90
66 30
Hutchinson, Mrs. Ruth B. 98 70
Hudson, Mrs. Mary Ann.
8 48
I.
Israel, Archibald 13 36
J.
Jephson, Miss Caroline E.
17 28
K.
Piper, S. H.
9 23
Piper, Benjamin C. 41 58
Piper, Edwin 7 56
Piper, Joseph 5 77
Piper & Bangs 7 56
Prescott, W. H. 5 38
Pray, B. S. . ..
134 60
Powers, Bridget and Rose Heath 3 60
R.
Ring, C. Q. 5 64
Richmond, G. B. and J. C. Clapp 6 00
Reed, R. W . 1 .50
Robinson, John. 6 56
Rowe, Charles H., Rev.
10 20
Russell, William A., heirs of.
..
90 73
Lynch, William 11 24
Manix, William $13 20
Mason, Lewis. . 10 49
Mayo, Miss Caroline. .. 3 78
Marrett, Lorenzo, guardian of Eliza Stearns. 92 40
McDonald, W. L. 9 17
McIntire, F.
26 35
Mckenzie, Mrs. Lydia. 4 09
16 38
Merrill Edwin A.
10 90
Mead, Varnum B.
111 00
Miller, W. H.
9 00
Miller, John .
33 02
Mitchell, S. K.
2 27
Moody, Henry E
17 36
Moore, Charles 53 32
Morrisey, John. 10 39
Morgan .
6 71
Morton, Thomas C
42 82
Munroe, William W. 40 50
Mystic Hall Cemetery Association 3 60
N.
Negrini, Albert. 8 40
Niles, William J.
249 00
Nixon, James 13 42
Noble, E. T.
P.
Paul, J. F 48 02
Perry, E. E., estate of. 22 63
Pearson, J. H. S. 5 04
Pearson, T. L. 39 67
Peabody, Francis H. 345 88
Peters, C. J., jr.
5 40
Pinkham, George F 186 85
Kendall, William B. 11 40
Kern & Fitch .
12 38
Knowles, J. A.
15 52
L.
Lane, Michael 3 18
Lee, Timothy.
3 14
Lewis, George W
200 47
Leonard, Miss L. A.
4 06
Lowry, William.
16 46
Locke, Horatio.
36 11
Locke, Amanda N.
8 64
Locke, Asa,'heirs of. 16 .92
McNutt, J. J . ..
103
TAXES.
Russell, Levi .. $50 22
Russell, Levi, and heirs of
William A. Russell .... 25 80
Rymill, William H., estate of ... 2 70
U
S.
Underwood, Peter
12 60
W.
Safford, Nathaniel F 11 40
Sawin, N. D. 60 90
Sargent, Cyrus. 20 58
Sargent, Edwin P. 5 57
Schofield, W. H. 46 86
Shute & Hatfield
13 33
Skillings, David N. 60 00
Smith, Zenas E.
17 30
Steele, Edward H.
21 19
Stetson, Alpheus M
3 60
Stedman, G. H.
5 40
Stanton, R. C.
3 98
Strout, C. O ..
5 53
Strout & Dyer.
5 82
Whittemore, Timothy and Le- titia Fiske .. 202 06
Whittemore, Mrs. Sarah 121 50
Wright, Daniel F. 10 90
Wyman, James
165 79
Wyman, Mrs. Jerusha R. 7 20
Y.
Taylor, H.
11 54
Tolman, A. K. 4 88
Tucker, Joseph A.
Waters, Clark. 19 74
Wellington, H. W. 17 69
Wells, Samuel .. 3 00
Welch & Griffiths. 283 20
Weld, John C. 40 16
Wescott, Harry. 84 65
Williams, Charles. 60 38
Willard, O. A .. 7 21
White, John S., jr 22 08
White, Isaac B. 46 81
White, H. B .. 11 16
Sutherland, Hugh. 3 78
Squire, George W. 89 16
Symmes, Mrs. Adeline M.
27 00
T.
Tufts, Peter E. $ . 2 70
Tuttle, George W
12 00
36 40 Young, William H. H.
87 00
LIST OF
RESIDENTS HOLDING CORPORATION STOCKS,
AND TAX PAID UPON SAME IN 1876.
Abbot, Abby
$48 53
Lawrence, George H $19 64
Adams, Rebecca
13 50
Mair, Sophronia.
37 68
Adams, Mary N
51 Mayo, Jesse. 4 49
Allen, W. H.
25
Nash, N. C 79 27
Baker, Edmund, et al., trustees.
49 38
Nickerson, J. C.
1 80
Baker, E. J., et al., trustees ..
53 80
Peck, William G.
73 42
Blanchard, J. C ..
4 49
Peck, Mrs. Eliza A.
119 45
Boston National Bank. 209 02
Peck, Miss Angelina M.
93 52
Bucknam, T. G.
26
Peirce, Harriet. .
26
Bullard, J. C.
21 29
Percival, Emily N.
51
Butterfield, J. A.
1 35
Poland, Benjamin.
25
Carter, Ira O .. trustee.
38 02
Poland, Almira.
1 27
Cutter, Ammi ..
9 67
Poland, Myra.
44 16
Damon, S. G ..
25
Proctor, Maria F
4 57
Damon, Hannah M ..
43 95
Rood, D. C.
55
Davis, Mary B.
2 68
Reed, Charlotte L.
13 73
Doggett, Elizabeth B.
9 61 Republic National Bank, coll . . . 231 70
Elliott, George N.
5 10
Robbins, Nathan. 501 66
Field, John
57 73
Robbins, Eliza E. 33 44
Fisher, David
13 50
Russell, T. J.
13 52
Fletcher, Maria R.
50 17
Russell, James, 2d.
16 26
Foster, William T.
67 48
Russell, James.
16 72
Frost, Miss M. D.
4 05
Russell, Mrs. S
26
Gage, C. O.
29 48
Russell, George C
17 96
Gage, Addison, estate of.
25
Russell, M. M. W.
2 69
Grover, E. O.
22
Schouler, John. .
9 18
Hinton, John.
13 47
Schouler, Mary W
13 82
Hall, Jacob
60 12
Schouler, Mary .
2 55
Hill, Anna F.
11 94
Schouler, Janette.
51
Hopkins, Reuben
316 72
Schouler, Martha
51
Hoitt, A. D.
73 14
Schouler, W. C.
26
Hunt, Moses ..
90 46
Smith, Eliza A 21 44
Lane, Mrs. E. M.
10 80
Smith, Maria E. 3 38
Lane, Edwin B.
55 67
Squire, J. P.
104 89
Lapham, Luther.
5 50
Squire, Catherine G.
6 10
Lawrence, Henry S.
38 10
Swan, Alfred S 2 79
Lawrence, H. L.
153 42
Swain, A. D.
16 33
2 55
Crosby, Anna G
30 07
Poland, J. P.
1 28
Cutter, Lucy S.
68 Prentiss, Abigail W
105
VOTES PASSED BY THE TOWN.
Stowe, William.
$ 15 05 | Winslow, L. R
$ 1 78
Symmes, C. H.
1 15
Winn, Albert ..
33 45
Symmes, Stephen
26 00
Whitmore, J. B.
15 66
Teel, Mary H ..
90 Whittemore, T. H., guardian 11 65
Trowbridge, J. T.
33 75
Whittemore, Harriet C.
13 45
Tufts, Helen W.
16 78
Whittemore, George C.
14 09
Underwood, N.
15 29
Whittemore, Rebecca.
13 80
Waters, Elizabeth H.
17 30
Whittemore, F. C.
6 75
Wells, Henry J.
39 04 Wyman, A. P.
49 15
Wells, Maria A.
5 77
Wyman, Susan M ..
9 46
Wellington, Lydia
17 67
Wyman, S. E. and J. P., jr
8 66
Wellington, Mrs. M.
51
VOTES PASSED BY THE TOWN.
Copies of Votes published in accordance with the following vote, passed at Town Meeting, held March 14, 1876, viz :
Voted, That the Town Clerk be, and he is hereby instructed, to publish with the Annual Reports, the several resolutions and votes, adopted by the town, relating to the appropriation, expen- diture and payment of money by town officers.
Vote passed at Town Meeting, held March 2, 1874.
Voted, That all unexpended appropriations, heretofore made, be and they are hereby revoked and cancelled. The Town Treas- urer is hereby directed to begin the several accounts with the ap- propriations made for the current year : and in no case shall he carry forward any unexpended appropriation or balance of appro- priation, unless the same shall be re-appropriated for this year ; and all appropriations hereafter made shall be applied exclusively to the objects for which they are appropriated.
Vote passed at adjourned Town Meeting, held March 25, 1874.
Voted, That the several town officers and committees shall not in any case exceed the amount appropriated for an object in their expenditures for such. object. The Town Treasurer shall not pay out any money from the treasury, unless upon an order for the
.
106
VOTES PASSED BY THE TOWN.
same drawn by the proper officers or committees of the town, stat- ing the object for which the demand was incurred, and the fund out of which the order is to be paid, nor unless an appropriation has been made for that particular object, and funds remain to the credit of the account under which the demand was incurred, and on which the order is drawn.
Vote passed at Town Meeting, held March 8, 1875.
Voted, That the several town officers and committees, en- trusted with the expenditure of money, in cases where the amount appropriated for any object shall have been expended during the fiscal year, may, during the months of January and February in each year, expend monthly for such object, when necessary, an amount equal to the one-twelfth part of the appropriation made for such object for the preceding year ; and the Treasurer is au- thorized, on the order of the proper officers or committees, to pay such sums as may be necessary, not exceeding said one-twelfth of former appropriation, monthly, out of any unexpended funds in the town treasury, during said months ; said sums, so paid, to be temporarily taken from said funds in anticipation of the annual appropriations.
INDEX.
Page.
Auditors' Report.
77
Arlington Avenue
7
Almshouse
19,29
Cemeteries.
13, 32
Counsel Fees
19, 32
Chief Engineer's Report.
78
Coal. ...
15
Charlestown Street.
9 32
Discounts and Abatements.
11
Fire Department.
19, 32, 78
Franklin Street. ..
10
Highways and Bridges.
7,22
Interest.
Incidentals.
Jurors.
Lewis Avenue.
Library.
37, 81
Mystic Street
10
Park Avenue.
12
Poor out of Almshouse.
15, 30
Police
17, 40
Public Property
46
Pratt Fund. .
61 8 89
Street Lamps.
14, 38
Salaries .
20, 38
State Aid.
20,39
Sidewalks.
13
Sign Boards.
15
Street Hydrants.
39
School Expense.
40
School Committee's Report.
82
Selectmen's Report ..
7
Superintendence of Streets
20 3
Town House
19,39
Tabular Statement, Appropriations, etc.
Tramps. .
18
Trial Balance.
49
Treasurer's Report.
22, 68
Treasurer's Account.
50
Town Clerk's Report.
58
Tax List.
90
Town Debt.
20,48
Unexpended Balance, etc. .
47
Votes relating to Appropriations, etc.
105
Water Commissioners' Report
62
Water Works Regulations.
75
Water Scrip.
14
Watering Streets.
12
.
Town Officers.
.
.
45
Summer Street.
Statistics of Town
.
. . ... .
. .....
36, 40, 73 19,35 88 10
Eastern Avenue.
REPORTS
OF
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF ARLINGTON
FOR
THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1877.
ALSO
A LIST OF THE TOWN, COUNTY AND STATE TAXES,
ASSESSED FOR THE YEAR 1877.
CAMBRIOCE
TAGTON
BERTA
PROPYCNATIO
HEREDITAS
BOSTON: D. F. JONES & CO., PRINTERS, 31 EXCHANGE STREET. 1878.
1877. TOWN OFFICERS.
SELECTMEN, OVERSEERS OF THE POOR AND SURVEYORS OF HIGHWAYS.
JOHN SCHOULER, JAMES DURGIN, WILLIAM G. PECK.
ASSESSORS.
HENRY MOTT, THOMAS P. PEIRCE, B. DELMONT LOCKE.
TOWN CLERK, TREASURER AND COLLECTOR.
B. DELMONT LOCKE.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
WILLIAM E. PARMENTER,
for three years.
CHARLES E. GOODWIN,
66
F. V. B. KERN,
66 66 66
WILLIAM H. ALLEN,
66
two 66
JOHN P. WYMAN,
66
66
66
JOHN S. CROSBY,
66
66
HENRY SWAN,
66
one
66
ALFRED HOBBS,
66
66
D. F. JONES,
66
66
66
4
TOWN OFFICERS.
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
GEORGE HILL, for three years. R. L. HODGDON, " two . "
JOHN FILLEBROWN, " one 66
TRUSTEES OF PRATT FUND.
NATHAN ROBBINS, DAVID P. GREEN, WILLIAM G. PECK,
JOHN P. WYMAN,
HENRY SWAN, B. DELMONT LOCKE.
AUDITORS.
CHARLES O. GAGE, ABEL R. PROCTOR, WILLIAM T. FOSTER.
CONSTABLES.
JOHN H. HARTWELL, GARRETT BARRY.
SEXTON.
JOHN B. HARTWELL.
FENCE VIEWERS.
WARREN RAWSON, MATTHEW ROWE, JOHN H. PEABODY.
5
TOWN OFFICERS.
FIELD DRIVERS.
I. O. CARTER, JAMES HAGAN, THOMAS HIGGINS.
MEASURERS OF WOOD.
MATTHEW ROWE, GRENVILLE P. PEIRCE, MICHAEL WAUGH.
MEASURERS OF STONE AND GRAVEL.
JESSE BACON, J. WILLARD RUSSELL.
SURVEYORS OF PAINT AND PLASTERING.
JESSE BACON, EDWARD MEERS, GEORGE D. TUFTS.
SURVEYORS OF LUMBER.
JAMES M. CHASE, EDWARD STORER, JAMES BASTON.
SEALERS OF LEATHER.
THOMAS RAMSDELL, HOWARD W. HILL.
TOWN WEIGHER.
L. C. TYLER.
6
TOWN OFFICERS.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
CLERK OF THE MARKET.
JOHN REDMAN.
TRUANT OFFICERS.
JAMES THAXTER, JOHN P. WYMAN, ALFRED HOBBS.
FISH PRESERVERS.
SAMUEL WHITE, WILLIAM GIBSON, JOHN CUTTER.
COMMITTEE ON CEMETERIES.
JOHN SCHOULER, JAMES DURGIN, WILLIAM G. PECK.
ENGINEERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ALFRED HOBBS, Chief.
ARTHUR B. MOULTON, ) JAMES DURGIN,
CHARLES GOTT, Assistants.
GEORGE A. STEARNS,
POLICE.
JOHN H. HARTWELL, GARRETT BARRY, P. J. SHEAN.
1
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
The close of the present financial year, the fourth under the present administration, requires a detailed report of the doings of your Board of Selectmen, for the past twelve months, which is herewith respectfully submitted.
Highways and Bridges.
Appropriation,
$7,500 00
Brick and concrete walks, 500 00
Appropriation Nov. 10th, Vine St., 850 00
$8,850 00
Expended,
8,523 13
Balance unexpended,
$326 87
Arlington Avenue.
Outside of the usual repair, to which all of the highways are yearly subject, no work has been done on that portion of the avenue, lying between the foot of the rocks so called, and Alewife Brook. In our report, for year ending Dec. 31, 1876, it was stated through error, that the entire ave- nue was macadamized to the Lexington line. The state- ment was incorrect, in place of the words Lexington line, read " foot of the rocks," and you have the progress made in the macadamization of the avenue up to that date. Dur- ing the present year, we have macadamized two sections,
8
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
one commencing at a point near the estate of John Pierce and extending nearly to Park Avenue, the other beginning at a distance from Park Avenue, of about one hundred feet, and extending to Vine Street. We have regravelled a small portion of the avenue, near Bow Street. The side- walk on the northerly side, from Schouler Court to the estate of Andrew Wellington, has been partially gravelled, and put in good repair. To those of our citizens who have occasion to pass over that portion of the avenue, situate between Academy Street and the junction of the avenue with Lowell Street, numerous depressions may have been noticed in the road-bed, which, aside from rendering the highway uneven for travel, become standing pools of water after every heavy rain. It has been suggested, that these depressions might be remedied by slightly excavating, and refilling with small cracked stone. The outlay would be inexpensive and might save repicking large portions of the avenue.
Park Avenue.
This avenue has been raked and freed from loose stone, five or six times during the season. The concrete gutters, laid one year ago, have given complete satisfaction, and while the first cost may have seemed large, time has proved that their construction was sound economy. We would recommend the building of another gutter on the easterly side, in size and dimensions similar to that on the westerly side. The distance required being about six hundred feet. The stone base is already laid for a portion of the distance, so that the cost of adding the concrete, cannot be exces- sive. All the roads leading to the summit of the hill, from their rapid rise, are liable to be damaged and gullied after heavy rains. These will eventually require the construc- tion of similar gutters, to keep them in ordinary repair. By making this work extend over several seasons, begin-
9
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
ning with those highways receiving the most travel, the entire work could be completed at no distant day.
Appleton Street.
A portion of this street, between Park and Claremont Ave- nue, for a distance of two hundred feet, has been regravelled -the road-bed crowned, and gutter repaired. The wash on this street, from its steep grade to Park Avenue, demands a new concrete gutter on the southerly side.
Eastern Avenue.
We have regravelled some three hundred feet of this avenue during the year. The road-bed is in good condi- tion. The travel over this highway is so infrequent, as to warrant but small outlay on the part of the town, at pres- ent, either by way of extensive repairs on the road-bed, or in the construction of sidewalks.
Highland Avenue.
The gutters on either side have been cleared, and the road freed from loose stone. The bank wall on the right hand side, built at the time of the road's construction, has par- tially fallen and will require to be repaired early in the sea- son. The brook crossing the road at this point, when over- flowed, causes the water to stand at the base of the wall, and to a limited extent has already undermined it.
Vine Street.
The alterations in the lines of Vine Street, as ordered by the County Commissioners and for which an additional appropriation was made at the last town meeting, have been completed. The openness of the season was most favor-
10
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
able to the completion of the road, besides affording labor to many, whom otherwise the town would have been obliged to assist. No money has been raised by town note for the alterations on this street ; the entire cost having been drawn from excess and deficiency account.
Mill Street.
We have constructed a sidewalk, for a distance of about two hundred feet, on the southerly side. The road-bed is in good condition, and will require no further outlay for the present.
Academy Street.
It will be remembered, that the acceptance by the town of the upper portion of this street, situate between Maple Street and its present terminus, necessitated some immedi- ate action on the part of the Board, by way of removing the outcropping ledge, near the residence of Mrs. Smith. The acceptance of this section, thus making the same a public highway, rendered the town liable for all damage which might result from its defective condition. Early in the season, we entered upon the work of levelling the knoll by blasting the ledge. The cut, at the point of the ledge, is about five feet. The blast material, thus removed, was made use of in filling the road-bed, at the slope of the hill, raising the same some two and one-half feet. The altera- tion in the street, effected not only the removal of the ledge, a very serious incumbrance, but also made the road of easier grade than heretofore. The cut, thus made, damaged to a slight extent the estate of Mrs. Smith, which claim your Board have amicably adjusted. The street has been grav- elled from Maple Street to Gray estate and is in excellent condition.
11
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Charlestown Street.
The grade of Charlestown Street, at its junction with the main avenue, has been lowered one foot, making a very decided improvement. On the easterly side, we have con- structed a concrete sidewalk, thus affording a continuous walk to the centre of the town.
Mystic Street.
We have rebuilt the culvert crossing the road, near the Winchester line. The old culvert was of size insufficient to carry the water, often causing an overflow sufficient to wash the road-bed. The present drainage, under the high- way, has been much enlarged, and covered with a brick arch, so substantially built as to require, we believe, no expenditure, by way of repair, for many years. The street has been freed of loose stone, gutters cleared and road-bed generally repaired.
Medford Street.
Excepting Pleasant Street, there is no thoroughfare of importance, within the town limits, requiring so complete overhauling as this street, from the avenue to Medford line. The road-bed is rough, with frequent depressions, almost its entire length. The street requires to be repicked, coated with blue gravel and crowned, and sections where the grade is steep protected by concrete gutters. Your Board would have undertaken the needed improvements on this highway the present year, had it not been for the pressure of other work, but most of all, from a fear lest the appropriation for highways would not warrant so extensive repairs as seemed to be required.
Winter Street.
Complaint has been frequently made of the defective con- dition of this street, especially of that portion situate near
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
its junction with the main avenue. While as a rule, we would be extremely cautious in our advocacy for the removal of shade trees, from any section of the town, still in the case at hand, a judicious thinning of some of the trees is absolutely essential, to render the street acceptable for public travel. These trees were originally set out, in close proximity to each other, and have rendered good ser- vice, until in these later years, their rapid growth and in- creased foliage make so constant a shade, that the road- bed, scarcely if ever, becomes dry. If for a short distance, on the easterly side, every other tree were removed, the street raised at its outlet on the main avenue and the road- bed repicked and lightly covered with blue gravel, we think the change would not only be satisfactory to the abutters, but those of the citizens having occasion to use the street.
Lake Street.
The most expensive work undertaken and completed dur- ing the season, was the macadamization of that portion of Lake Street, commencing at the track near the ice-houses, at the outlet of the pond, and extending casterly a distance of sixteen hundred feet. Reducing the street to grade, required the lowering of the shade trees on the westerly side. These trees were planted at the expense of the abutters, two years ago, are young and thrifty, and with an occasional exception, will survive the change. A gutter, not concreted, has been made on the northerly side suffi- cient for the present drainage of the road. The thorough- ness with which the work on this street has been done, would almost warrant the assertion, that it will last for all time. Certain it is, that this portion will require no further expenditure for a long time. The road-bed is covered with three inches of crushed stone, and over all a generous coat- ing of blue gravel. The street is now macadamized from the main avenue to the ice track, excepting nearly three
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
hundred feet, from the railroad crossing to the brow of the hill, near the residence of Josiah Crosby. The incessant heavy teaming over this road, of ice and manure, has very seriously damaged this portion, which should be repaired with crushed stone another year.
Alewife Brook.
At the annual March meeting, under an Article in the warrant : " To see what action the town would take, rela- tive to opening a fishway to Spy Pond," the town voted to refer the whole matter of said Article, to the Selectmen.
The recent connection of Little and Spy Ponds by the City of Cambridge, together with the construction of tidal gates on Charlestown Street, had so affected the water of the brook, both as regards its quantity and purity, as vir- tually to destroy the fishway, which has existed from time immemorial, from Mystic River to Spy Pond. Your Board notified the State Fish Commissioners of the condition of the brook, and petitioned for a hearing of all parties in interest. A hearing was held June 11, 1877, at which were present the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Mayors of Somerville and Cambridge and Selectmen of Medford. The whole question, so far as it related to the opening of a fishway, was discussed, and at the conclusion of the hearing, Mr. Brackett acting for the Fish Commis- sioners, decided to notify the City of Cambridge, to proceed forthwith to construct a fishway, conforming in all respects to the requirements of the law. In accordance with that decision, the City of Cambridge has caused to be built a fishway, satisfactory to the Commissioners, in length forty feet, width six feet, with a fall of one foot in ten. The water enters a sliding gate, then striking an opposing sur- face, is thrown back almost to the point of starting, then passing on to a second obstruction, and again thrown back, effecting a retardation so constant, that its velocity at the
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