Town of Franklin annual report 1897, Part 12

Author: Franklin (Mass.)
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 384


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13,800 00


Support of poor,


7,183 00


Support of Fire Department,


2,500 00


Water supply,


4,100 00


Payment of town officers,


1,400 00


Payment of town debt,


5,400 00


Payment of interest,


1,900 00


Abatement and collection of taxes,


1,000 00


. (And that the Assessors publish in the next Annual Town Report a list of all abatements and the reasons therefor.)


Street lights, 3,600 00


350 00


Printing and stationery,


Suppression of illegal liquor traffic and support of police, 1,400 00


Military and State aid, 400 00


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Support of Franklin Library,


700 00


Decoration of soldiers' graves, 100 00 Soldiers' relief, 700 00


Miscellaneous town expenses,


800 00


And it was voted that the Assessors print a list of the assessed valuations in the next Annual Town Report.


And it was also voted that no officer or employe of the town be concerned directly or indirectly in furnishing any material or supplies to the town under these appropriations.


CONCRETE SIDEWALKS.


ARTICLE 13. Committee report and recommend "That the town raise and appropriate five hundred dollars for the construction of concrete sidewalks, the same to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen ; provided that abutters pay one-half of the expense."


Voted, that the report of the committee be adopted.


PRINTING OF RECORDS.


ARTICLE 14. Committee report and recommend "That the town raise and appropriate five hundred dollars for printing town records."


Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted.


ELECTRIC LIGHTS AT THE ALMSHOUSE.


ARTICLE 15. Committee report and recommend "That this matter be referred to a committee to investigate and re- port to some future meeting."


Voted, to amend the foregoing recommendation by in- serting the words "consisting of three persons, who shall be appointed by the Chairman," so that the recommendation as amended shall read as follows, viz: "That this matter be referred to a committee consisting of three persons, who shall be appointed by the Chairman to investigate and report to some future meeting."


Voted, that the report as amended be adopted.


And the Chairman appointed George E. Emerson, Henry R. Jenks and Samuel Y. Reed to serve as such com- mittee.


263


CHAPEL SCHOOL HOUSE.


ARTICLE 16. Committee report and recommend "That the Selectmen be authorized to sell the Chapel school house and land for sixteen hundred dollars."


Voted, that the subject matter of this article be indefinitely postponed.


CLERK OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


. ARTICLE 17. Committee report and recommend "That the School Committee be authorized to employ a clerk at a salary not exceeding fifty dollars a year."


Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted.


STREET SIGNS.


ARTICLE 18. Committee report and recommend "That the subject matter of this article be left in the hands of the Selectmen, with full power to act therein."


Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted, and that the sum of two hundred dollars be and is hereby raised and appropriated for the purpose of providing street signs.


NASON'S CROSSING.


ARTICLES 19, 20. Committee report and recommend "That the subject matter of these articles be left in the hands of the Selectmen, with full power to act therein."


Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted.


LIGHT ON WASHINGTON STREET.


ARTICLE 21. Committee report and recommend "That the town place an arc light on Washington street, the same to be located by the Selectmen."


Voted, that the report of the committee be adopted.


FIRE ALARM.


ARTICLE 22. Committee report and recommend "That this subject be referred to a committee to investigate and re- port thereon at some future town meeting."


Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted, and that the Moderator appoint a committee of three ; and the following-named persons were accordingly appointed : Alfred L. Pierce, George H. Willoby and Lawrence E. Mor-


264


rissey to serve as such committee.


CEMETERY AT CITY MILLS.


ARTICLE 23. Committee report and recommend "That the town raise and appropriate seventy-five dollars for the repairs of the cemetery at City Mills, the same to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen."


Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted.


DEAN AVENUE EXTENSION.


ARTICLE 24. Committee report and recommend "That the town complete the extension of Dean avenue to Pleasant street, and that the sum of three hundred dollars be raised and appropriated therefor."


Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted.


ARTICLE 25. Voted, that the committee appointed on the second day of this month, in open town meeting, for the purpose of appearing before the Committee on County Esti- mates and favoring a reduction of county taxes, be increased ; and George W. Wiggin, William F. Ray and Henry E. Ruggles were chosen to serve on said committee.


ARTICLE 26. Voted, that a committee be appointed to endeavor to secure better railroad facilities for the town, and that the Selectmen, Moderator and six other persons, to be appointed by the Moderator, serve as such committee ; and the Moderator appointed for the other six members of said com- mittee, J. Cushing Gallison, Joseph P. Bassett, Harry T. Hayward, Orestes T. Doe, Charles Stewart and Arthur W. Kilburn.


ARTICLE 27. Committee report and recommend "That the Selectmen be authorized to purchase two cells for the lockup."


Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted.


On motion of H. E. Ruggles, Esq., it was voted by unanimous consent that a committee consisting of five persons be appointed by the Moderator for the purpose of conferring with any person or corporation desiring to locate a manufac- ing industry in this town; and thereupon the Moderator


265


appointed Davis Thayer, Edgar K. Ray, Henry E. Ruggles, William E. Nason and Amos P. Woodward as such com- mittee.


It was voted at 10.15 o'clock P. M. to adjourn without date.


A true record. Attest : ORESTES T. DOE, Town Clerk.


I administered the oath of office according to law to the following-named persons who were elected to office in the town of Franklin at the annual March election, 1896, on the dates set against their respective names, all in said year :


SELECTMEN-Edwin A. Mason, William E. Nason and Charles F. Nye, all on the third day of March.


TREASURER-Henry R. Jenks, March 3d.


ASSESSORS, as prescribed by statute-James O. Chilson, William E. Nason and William Rockwood, all on the third day of March.


OVERSEERS OF THE POOR-George E. Emerson, Henry R. Jenks and Samuel Y. Reed, all on the third day of March.


AUDITOR-Nelson E. Newell, March 3d.


COLLECTOR OF TAXES-Edward H. Sherman, on the fourth day of March.


SCHOOL COMMITTEE, for three years-George King, on the fourth day of March.


Board OF HEALTH-Gregory A. Martin and Dwight M. Hodge, both on the third day of March.


CONSTABLES-William E. Nason and Lewis R. Whitaker, both on the third day of March.


The following is a list of the appointments made by the Selectmen when duly assembled on the following dates, all in the year 1896 :


SPECIAL POLICE, appointed March 13th-Chas. R. Gowen,


Jos. T, Hutchinson, Wm. G. Cody, Fred L. Davis, Kerwin


266


R. Jewett, Clarence H. Woodward (declined), Rodolpho M. Handy, Herbert A. Bent ; George Borbeau, appointed March 20; Charles Badger, April 10 ; Daniel W. Fisher, Amos W. Stone, June 27.


SURVEYORS OF LUMBER, March 13th-William Rockwood, Clarence H. Woodward, Geo. M. Wadsworth.


MEASURERS OF WOOD AND BARK, March 13th-William Rockwood, T. Jefferson Daniels, Milton A. Pond, Geo. M. Wadsworth, Alex. M. Haggart, Kerwin R. Jewett, Clarence H. Woodward, Thomas B. Allen.


MEASURERS OF GRAIN-Frank D. Metcalf, James F. Ray, Nathan B. Arnold, George M. Wadsworth, Clarence H. Woodward, Wm. Rockwood, all on March 13th.


WEIGHERS OF COAL AND HAY-Joseph E. Clark, George M. Wadsworth, Clarence H. Woodward, Kerwin R. Jewett, James W. Miller, James F. Ray, Jesse D. Hop- kins, Nathan B. Arnold, Alexander M. Haggart, Anson B. Longworth, all on March 13th ; on the 26th of June, James B. Crocker and Thomas Keefe were appointed.


SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES-Granville H. Ellis, March 13th.


INSPECTOR OF KEROSENE OIL, March '13th - Granville H. Ellis.


AGENTS FOR BURIAL OF SOLDIERS, March 13th-Thaddeus M. Turner, Walter M. Fisher.


AUCTIONEERS, March 13th-Wm. E. Nason, Lewis R. Whitaker, David W. Corson.


INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS - Thomas L. Martin, for the current year ending April 1, 1897, at a salary of one hundred dollars per year.


REGISTRAR OF VOTERS, April 17th-Bradley M. Rockwood, for three years from the first day of May next.


Silas W. Nickerson and Anthony Connor were appointed on the 4th day of March special police officers for fifteen days, and on the 13th day of March the Selectmen voted to extend the time of the said appointment of said Silas W. Nickerson


267


and Anthony Connor ten days ; and on the 27th day of said month the Selectmen appointed Anthony Connor police officer and night watchman for the current year ending March 10th, 1897, unless sooner revoked, at a salary of $50 per month ; and on the last named date appointed Silas W. Nickerson police officer for a like term, at the same salary.


FIRE WARDENS, April 24th-Wilton A. Pond, George M. Wadsworth, Thomas J. Daniels, Eugene G. Fisher, Charles E. Woodward and William F. King.


BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS, April 29th-John G. Cunning- ham, William F. Buckley, George I. Peck, Edgar A. Metcalf, James B. Mckinnon.


I administered the oath of office to the following-named officers on the date set against their respective names, all in the year 1896 :


SPECIAL POLICE-Herbert A. Bent, March 14; Joseph T. Hutchinson, March 14; Rodolpho M. Handy, March 16 ; Fred L. Davis, March 17; William G. Cody, March 18 ; Kerwin R. Jewett, March 19; Daniel W. Fisher, April 27; Charles Badger, May 29; Amos W. Stone, June 27 ; Silas W. Nickerson, March 5; Anthony Con- nor, March 5.


POLICE-Anthony Connor, March 28; Silas W. Nickerson, March 30.


LOCKUP KEEPER-Anthony Connor, March 28.


POUND KEEPER-Rodolpho M. Handy, March 16.


MEASURERS OF WOOD AND BARK - William Rockwood, March 17; T. Jefferson Daniels, March 21; Kerwin R. Jewett, March 19; Clarence H. Woodward, March 26 ; Geo. M. Wadsworth, April 14 ; Thomas B. Allen, April 17 ; Alexander M. Haggart, June 13.


SURVEYORS OF LUMBER-William Rockwood, March 17; Clarence H. Woodward, March 26; Geo. M. Wads- worth, April 14.


268


FENCE VIEWERS-Rodolpho M. Handy, March 16 ; Wilton A. Pond, April 27; Everett S. Messinger, May 22. FIRE WARDENS-Wilton A. Pond, April 27; Charles E. Woodward, April 27; Eugene G. Fisher, April 29; Thomas J. Daniels, April 29; William F. King, April 30; Geo. M. Wadsworth, May 2.


BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS-John G. Cunningham, April 29 ; James B. McKinnon, April 30; Edgar A. Metcalf, April 30; George I. Peck, May 1; William F. Buckley, May 1.


MEASURERS OF GRAIN-James F. Ray, March 14; Nathan B. Arnold, March 16; William Rockwood, March 17; Clarence H. Woodward, March 26 ; George M. Wads- worth, April 14.


WEIGHERS OF COAL AND HAY-James F. Ray, March 14; Kerwin R. Jewett, March 19 ; Nathan B. Arnold, March 16; Clarence H. Woodward, March 26; Anson B. Longworth, March 26; George M. Wadsworth, April 14 ; Jesse D. Hopkins, May 15 ; Alexander M. Haggart, June 13; Thomas Keefe, June 29 ; James B. Crocker, June 29.


INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS-Thomas L. Mar- tin, April 6.


SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES-Granville H. Ellis, March 19.


We, the Selectmen of Franklin, in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby appoint Brad- ley M. Rockwood of said Franklin Registrar of Voters in and for said Franklin for the term of three years from the first day of May, A. D. 1896, and until another is appointed in his place.


Witness our hands, this 17th day of April, A. D. 1896. EDWIN A. MASON, CHARLES F. NYE, Selectmen of Franklin.


.


269


I, Bradley M. Rockwood, having been appointed Regis- trar of Voters as aforesaid, do swear that I will faithfully per- form the duties of said office.


ยท BRADLEY M. ROCKWOOD.


I administered the oath of office to the said Bradley M. Rockwood on this 30th day of April, A. D. 1896, and he subscribed to said oath.


ORESTES T. DOE,


Town Clerk.


A true record. Attest : ORESTES T. DOE,


Town Clerk.


NORFOLK, SS. FRANKLIN, March 27, A. D. 1896.


We, the Selectmen of Franklin, hereby appoint Anthony Connor of said Town of Franklin to be Keeper of the Lockup in said Franklin for the current year until March 10th, 1897, unless sooner revoked.


EDWIN A. MASON, CHARLES F. NYE, WILLIAM E. NASON, Selectmen of Franklin.


I hereby accept the above appointment on this 28th day of March, 1896.


ANTHONY CONNOR.


I administered the oath of office to the above-named Anthony Connor on the 28th day of March, A. D. 1896.


ORESTES T. DOE, Town Clerk.


A true record.


Attest : ORESTES T. DOE.


270


I hereby certify that I have destroyed the ballots used at the last annual election, according to law, on this first day of May, A. D. 1896.


A certified copy of the list of persons liable to enrollment in and for the Town of Franklin for the year 1896 has been filed with me by the Assessors of this town, and I have filed the same, which contains the names of 881 men.


Attest :


ORESTES T. DOE, Town Clerk.


WARRANT FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION,


NOVEMBER 3d, 1896. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.


NORFOLK, SS.


To either of the Constables of the Town of Franklin,


GREETING :


You are hereby required, in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to notify and warn the qualified voters of the Town of Franklin to assemble in their Town Hall, in said town, on Tuesday, the third day of November next, it being the Tuesday next after the first Monday of said November, at seven o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to bring in their votes on one ballot for fifteen Electors of President and Vice-President of the United States, Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor and Attorney-General for the Commonwealth, Councillor for the Second Councillor District, Senator for the Second Norfolk Senatorial Dis- trict, two Representatives to the General Court for the Tenth Norfolk Representative District, a Clerk of Courts for the County of Norfolk, a County Commissioner for the County of Norfolk, a Special County Commissioner to fill a vacancy for the County of Norfolk, a Repre- sentative in the Congress of the United States for the Eleventh Con- gressional District.


And also to give in their votes for or against the following articles of amendments to the Constitution of said Commonwealth relative to establishing biennial elections, viz :


FIRST ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT.


The Governor and Lieutenant Governor and Councillors shall hold their respective offices for two years next following the first


271


Wednesday in the January succeeding their election and until others are chosen and qualifled in their stead.


The first election to which this article shall apply shall be that held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, and thereafter elections for the choice of all the officers before mentioned shall be held biennially on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in Novemher.


All the provisions of the Constitution inconsistent with the pro- visions herein contained are hereby annulled.


The Secretary, Treasurer and Receiver General, Auditor and Attorney General shall hold their respective offices for two years, beginning with the third Wednesday in January succeeding their elec- tion, and until others are chosen and qualified in their stead.


A person shall be eligible as Treasurer and Receiver General for three successive terms, and no more.


The first election to which this article shall apply shall be that held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-eight; and thereafter elections for the choice of all the officers before mentioned shall be held bien- nially on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November.


All the provisions of the Constitution inconsistent with the pro- visions herein contained are hereby annulled.


SECOND ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT.


Senators and Representatives shall hold their respective offices for terms of two years, beginning with the first Wednesday in the January succeeding their election.


The first election to which this article shall apply shall be that held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-eight; and thereafter elections for the choice of Senators and Representatives shall be held biennially on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November.


The general court shall assemble every year on the first Wednes- day in January ; and each general court shall, without any proclama- tion or other act of the Governor, be finally dissolved on the day pre- ceeding the day appointed for the first assembling of the next elected general court.


All the provisions of the Constitution inconsistent with the pro- visions herein contained are hereby annulled.


Polls may be closed as early as eleven o'clock in the forenoon of said day.


Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, unto the Selectmen, on or before the said day and hour.


Given under our hands this nineteenth day of October, in the year


272


of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-six.


EDWIN A. MASON. CHARLES F. NYE, Selectmen of Franklin.


Upon the foregoing warrant the following return was made : NORFOLK, SS.


OCTOBER 23d, A. D. 1896.


By virtue of the within warrant I have notified the inhabitants of the Town of Franklin herein described to assemble in their Town Hall on Tuesday, the third day of November, 1896, for the purpose within mentioned, by posting attested copies of the within warrant in each of the post offices of the town and in ten other public places, in compli- ance with Section two of Article one of the By-Laws of the Town of Franklin. .


LEWIS R. WHITAKER, Constable of the Town of Franklin. A true record of the warrant and officer's return thereon. Attest : ORESTES T. DOE, Town Clerk.


PROCEEDINGS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION,


NOVEMBER 3d, 1896.


COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.


Norfolk, ss.


At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Franklin, in the county of Norfolk, qualified to vote as re- quired by the Constitution for State officers, holden at the Town Hall, in said town, in accordance with the foregoing warrant, on Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, being the third day of said month, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-six, for the purpose of giving in their votes for fifteen Electors of President and Vice President of the United States, Governor, Lieutenant Gov- ernor, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, Attorney General for the Commonwealth, Councillor for the Second Councillor District, Senator for the Second Norfolk Senatorial District, two Representatives to the General Court for the Tenth Nor-


273


folk Representative District, a Clerk of Courts for the County of Norfolk, a County Commissioner for the County of Nor- folk, a Special County Commissioner to fill a vacancy for the County of Norfolk, a Representative in the Congress of the United States for the Eleventh Congressional District ; and also to give in their votes for or against Articles of Amend- ments to the Constitution of said Commonwealth relative to establishing biennial elections.


The meeting was called to order at 7 o'clock A. M. by the Chairman of the Selectmen, who read the warrant and re- turn thereof.


Nathan C. Nye and John B. Collins were appointed Bal- lot Clerks by the Selectmen and both were duly sworn by the Town Clerk before the opening of the polls, and William A. Moore, Nelson E. Newell and James O. Chilson were ap- pointed by the Selectmen as additional Ballot Clerks, and they were sworn by the Town Clerk and acted in the absence of the Ballot Clerks.


Fourteen marking shelves or compartments were pro- vided by the town, according to law, and a guard rail was erected six (6) feet or more from said shelves or compartments.


The first set of ballots furnished for said election by the Secretary of the Commonwealth was, before the opening of the polls on said day, delivered by the Town Clerk, sealed, to the Chairman of the Selectmen and his receipt taken therefor, in the following form, viz:


NOVEMBER 3d, 1896.


Received of Orestes T. Doe, Town Clerk of Franklin, a package said to contain 1200 ballots for use at the election in said town on this day. EDWIN A. MASON,


Chairman of the Selectmen of Franklin, Mass.


The ballot box, furnished and certified to by the said Sec- retary, was, before the opening of the polls, opened in public meeting and examined by the Selectmen and the Town Clerk and found to be empty, and the register thereon was set at zero (0) and thereupon locked and the key delivered to the police officer, Silas W. Nickerson,


274


The seals of the package containing the first set of ballots were then broken by the Chairman of the Selectmen, who delivered the same to the Ballot Clerks, and the cards of instructions and specimen ballots were posted in the marking shelves or compartments and about the room outside the guard-rail, as required by law, after which the polls were declared opened.


And it was then voted that the polls be kept open until four o'clock, and then closed.


The ballots were delivered to each voter by the Ballot Clerks, after the name of such voter had first been publicly an- nounced and checked by said clerk upon the voting list used by them.


The ballot delivered to each voter was by him marked in one of the voting compartments aforesaid and thereafter de- posited by such voter in said ballot box after his name had first been publicly announced at said box and duly checked upon the voting list by the election officers in charge of said box and list.


On the sixteenth day of October current the Selectmen appointed James W. Desmond, Bradley M. Rockwood, John P. Costello and Charles I. Senter as tellers to assist them in receiving, sorting and counting said ballots, and before enter- ing upon their duties as such tellers they were all sworn by the Town Clerk to the faithful discharge of their duties as such tellers, and on election day William A. Moore and Wal- ter C. Sherman were appointed by the Selectmen additional tellers and they were duly sworn by the Town Clerk.


The Selectmen and Town Clerk had charge of the elec- tion, and the ballot box and check list used with the same were under their care.


At nine o'clock in the forenoon the said ballot box was opened, by the unanimous consent of the election officers, to remove ballots therefrom for the purpose of counting, when the register on said box showed 113 ballots cast, and upon a complete count of all the ballots so removed it was found that there were 114,


275


The polls were closed at four o'clock in the afternoon, dne notice having been made, when the register on the ballot box showed 884 ballots cast, and upon a complete count of all the ballots cast therein it was found that 887 ballots had been cast into said box and cancelled thereby. The whole number of ballots delivered to the voters by the Ballot Clerks was 887.


The ballots were divided into blocks, and each block was canvassed as required by law, and the total result of said can- vass was recorded on the blank forms provided for that purpose.


The names checked upon the voting list used as aforesaid were then counted in a distinct and audible voice in the pres- ence of all the election officers and the public; and the two check lists used for the voters each showed 887 names checked thereon.


The check lists used were furnished by the Registrars of Voters for the purpose of said election.


After the completion of the canvass of all the votes cast, and the whole number duly sorted, counted and recorded, declaration thereof was made, according to law, in open town meeting, as follows, viz :


For Electors-at-Large :


Ernest C. Marshall of Boston had ninety-eight -- 98.


Daniel W. Kenney of Holyoke had ninety-eight-98.


Henry Winn of Malden had forty-two-42.


DEMOCRATIC BRYAN NOMINATION PAPERS.


Henry Winn of Malden, People's Party, had two-2. Edward Kendall of Cambridge had three-3.


Alfred W. Richardson of Springfield had three-3.


George L. Lovell of Holyoke had seven-7.


Patrick F. Griffin of North Adams had seven-7.


John Q. A. Brackett of Arlington had six hundred and sixty-one-661.


William H. Hale of Springfield had six hundred and sixty-one-661.


Thomas J. Gargan of Boston had six-6.


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James S. Grinnell of Greenfield had six-6.


Charles B. Knight of Worcester had two-2.


Charles W. Goodwin of Boston had two-2.


Blanks, one hundred and seventy-six-176.


Whole number of ballots, including blanks, eight hun- dred and eighty-seven-887.


For an Elector for District Number One :


William B. Mahoney of Westfield had ninety-eight-98.


Frank S. Goss of Lee had forty-two-42.


Edward S. Rogers of Lee had three-3.


Rudolph Fuchs of Adams had seven-7.


Franklin Carter of Williamstown had six hundred and sixty-one-661.




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