USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1866-1868 > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30
6 38
Benjamin Newell, for stones,
74 00
Michael Corcoran, 66
25 00
N. C. Stevens. for covering stones,
5 00
Wm. S. Ware, 66 66
147 00
Samuel N. Gooch, 66 66
332 00
D. G. Rawson, 66 66
51 00
Seth Davis, 66 66
8 00
Timothy Stewart, for stones and carting gravel,
179 50
A. Henthorn & Co., for repairing drain on Church Street, 84 00
39 52
J. L. Sears, for painting railing,
395 00
J. E. Tolman, for one horse,
Amount carried forward,
$16,839 78
66
66
40
Amount brought forward,
$16,839 78
J. E. Tolman, for one harness, 9 50
J. E. Woodbridge, for gravel, 57 00
Moses Crafts,
4 50
Wm. Sullivan,
6 50
J. D. & Wm. Dix, for carting stones, etc., 264 25
D. C. Sanger, for cement, 5 50
Luther Thayer, for haycutter,
8 00
J. H. Wight, for repairing bridge at Auburn- dale, 25 02
P. Brennan, for stones and labor on drain at West Newton, 745 00
Davis & Farnum, for drain grates,
45 25
Eaton, Moulton & Co., for stock and labor on derrick, 67 81
S. G. Cheever, for horse blankets, 20 00
Otis Pettee & Co., sewer pipes and covers, 15 75
Jessop & Sons, for 90 1-2 lbs. cast steel,
19 78
J. C. Farrar, for repairing tools,
30 18
Whitney & Bridges, for picks, etc., 12 75
George H. Frost, for covering stones,
20 00
L. T. Cunningham, for repairing tools, 7 09
Allen Jordan, for building railings, etc.,
22 81
Thomas Belger, for blacksmith's work, 12 43
Almshouse Department, for board of horses,
1,860 00
66 fence posts, 40 00
Wm. Page, for land taken to widen Walnut St.,
119 05
Geo. M. Taylor, " 66
66 66
125 20
S. H. Haskell, 66 66
66 66 30 00
J. B. Morrill, for building railing on Waltham 26 85
Moses Crafts, for gravel land near Upper Falls, 981 36
Seth Davis, for enlarging culvert, Watertown St., 190 00 Jas. White, for building culvert on Boylston St., 30 00
M. & O. F. Lucas, for building railings,
175 59
J. D. Towle, for land taken to widen Homer St., 50 00 Wm. W. McIntosh, for widening Greenwood St., 151 57 F. E. Hamblin, for re-laying and pointing wall in front of J. Capen's house, 42 30
Henry Jenison, for building new street near Sil- ver Lake Mills, 578 29
Felix Dolan, for building westerly portion of Emerald Street, 1,242 75
Felix Dolan, furnishing gravel for same, 100 00
Amonnt carried forward,
$23,981 86
41
Amount brought forward, $23,981 86 W. C. S. Harrington, for two horses and exchange of horse, 1,050 00
George Tainter, for laying crossing at south end of Waltham Street, 23 25
Henry Jenison, for gravel land on Crafts Street, 1,025 00
Michael McDonald, for grading Court Street, 375 00
Sundry bills, 160 29
CR. $26,614 40
Cash received for sundry bills for labor, etc.,
$307 50
Amount paid on account of highways, $26,306 90
The above amount was expended for the following pur- poses, viz :-
For gravel land, $2,006 36
" highway teams, 1,942 00
" new streets, 3,077 00
drainage, 3,737 00
repairs on bridges, 609 00
widening Chestnut Street at U. Falls, 412 00
66 removing snow, 800 00
ordinary repairs of highways, 13,723 54
-
-- $26,306 90
INSURANCE.
POLICIES ON THE NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE, OAK HILL.
$240 00
POLICIES ON THE NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE, NEWTON CENTRE.
Security Ins. Co., for 5 years, on $4,000, $120 00
Hartford Fire Ins. Co., for 5 years, on $4,000, 120 00
Yonkers Ins. Co., for 5 years, on $5,000, 150 00 390 00
POLICIES ON THE HIGH SCHOOL-HOUSE.
Dorchester Ins. Co., for 5 years, on $2,000, $72 00
Traders' & Mechanics' Ins. Co., for 5 years, on $2,000, 70 00 142 00
Amount carried forward, 6
$772 00
42
Amount brought forward, $772 00 Weymouth & Braintree Ins. Co., for 5 years, on $2,000, $70 00
Hartford Fire Ins. Co., for 5 years, on $7,500, 225 00
Home Ins. Co., New Haven, Conn., for 5 years, on $4,500, 135 00
430 00
POLICIES ON THE NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE, WEST NEWTON.
Home Ins. Co., City of New York, for 5 years, on $5,000, $150 00
Home Ins. Co., New Haven, Conn.,
for 5 years, on $5,000, 150 00
Traders' and Mechanics' Ins. Co., Lowell, for 5 years, on $4,000, 120 00
420 00
POLICIES ON THE NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE, UPPER FALLS.
Home Ins. Co., for 5 years, on $4,000, $121 00
Quincy Ins Co., for 5 years, on 3,000, 90 00
Traders' & Mechanics' Ins. Co., for 5 years, on $3,000, 91 00
Dorchester Mutual Ins. Co., for 5 years, on $3,000, 90 00
392 00
POLICIES ON THE STEAM FIRE-ENGINE HOUSE, STABLE, AND COTTAGE.
People's Ins. Co., Worcester, for 5 years, on $5,000, $175 00
Home Ins. Co., New Haven, Conn., for 5 years, on $3,000, 105 00
280 00
EMPIRE ENGINE-HOUSE AND ENGINE. Home Ins. Co., for 1 year, on $, 1500, 20 00
TRITON ENGINE-HOUSE AND ENGINE AND HOSE.
Dorchester Mutual Ins. Co., for 5 years, on $1,850, 56 50
THREE ENGINE-HOUSES, ENGINES, ETC. People's Ins. Co., Worcester, for 5 years, 245 00
$2,615 50
a
43
SPECIAL POLICE.
John M. Fisk, for services,
$917 50
Charles Cole, in 1867, 150 00
E. H. Kaharl,
from April, 1867, to
July, 1868, 56 00
Newell Flagg, 66
6 00
George H. Fisk, 6 00
Amos Hodgdon, 66
6 00
M. Rogers, 66
5 00
M. Garfield, 66
5 00
Charles Cole, for sundry police services, and cash
paid for support of travellers and persons ar- rested, 53 15
Elisha Cotting, for services,
5 00
$1,209 65
PRINTING.
H. M. Stimson, for printing Town warrants, ju- rors' lists, Assessors' notices, and advertising in " Newton Journal," etc.,
$295 82
H. M. Stimson, printing School Reports, pro- grammes, etc., 187 15
H. M. Stimson, printing teachers' certificates, 6 50
Samuel Chism, printing Auditor's Report, 725 00
Samuel Chism, printing and binding books for Selectmen and Assessors, 35 00
Samuel Chism, printing blanks for Assessors,
30 00
66 cards etc., for schools, 53 00
Geo. C. Rand & Avery, printing voters' lists and posters, 38 00
Geo. C. Rand & Avery, printing tax-bills, pro- grammes and dog licenses, 98 50
Geo. C. Rand & Avery, printing course of study for schools, 14 50
W. Richardson, printing order of exercises and cards, High-School, 17 00
Smith & Porter, printing cards for High-School, 10 25
$1,510 72
44
LIGHTING STREETS.
J. S. Sherburn, for care of lamps, Corner, $297 57
John Cummings,
66 Newtonville, 108 34
R. Carrington, 66 66 W. Newton, 180 67
M. Dunleary, 66 L. Falls, 45 25
John Chambers,
66
Auburndale,
87 50
Lewis Brummell, 66 66 Corner,
66 00
J. R. Worcester, cash paid care of lamps, A'dale,
15 00
Newton & Watertown Gas-Light Co., gas for street-lamps, 3,731 34
Newton & Watertown Gas-Light Co., fixtures and labor on street-lamps, 16 33
$4,548 00
SALARIES.
M. S. Rice, services as Town Clerk to March 2, 1868, $200 00
Henry Fuller, services as Assessor in 1867, 110 00 -
Joseph Barney, Auditor Feb. 13, 1867, 95 00
Otis Pettee,
35 00
Geo. E. Allen,
15 00
Isaac Hagar, 66 66 66
66 66 Assessor 66
550 00
H. F. Allen,
525 00
Sam'l M. Jackson, "
... 66 66 275 00
School-Committee, to
24 00
Calvin Cutler, services as School-Committee to January 22, 1869, 150 00
Isaac Hagar, services as School-Committee to Jan- uary 22, 1869, 110 00
E. J. Young, services as School-Committee to January 22, 1869, 217 00 Geo. E. Allen, services as School-Committee to January 1, 1869, 150 00
N. S. King, services as School-Committee to Jan- uary 22, 1869, 75 00
R. R. Bishop, services as School-Committee to January 22, 1869, 150 00
Amount carried forward,
$2,822 00
" 1868, 66
1 141 00
Solomon Adams, " March 1, 1868,
45
Amount brought forward, $2,822 00
J. B. Goodrich, services as School-Committee to January 22; 1869, 187 00
H. F. Allen, services as School-Committee to January 22, 1869, 175 00
W. W. McIntosh, services as Building Committee on Oak Hill school-house, 265 00
Artemas Wiswall, services as Building Committee on Oak Hill school-house, 28 50
Geo. E. Allen, services as Building Committee, High School-house, 35 00
J. F. C. Hyde, for services as Selectman and Over- seer of the Poor, 300 00
J. L. Roberts, for services as Selectman and Over- seer of the Poor, 250 00
Willard Marcy, for services as Selectman and Overseer of the Poor, 250 00
Thomas Rice, Jr., for services as Selectman and Overseer of the Poor, 250 00
George E. Bridges, for services as Selectman and Overseer of the Poor, 250 00
D. C. Sanger, for services as Selectman and Over- seer of the Poor, 250 00
J. R. Worcester, for services as Selectman and Overseer of the Poor, 200 00
J. A. Gould, for services as School-Committee to . January 22, 1869,
85 00
E. J. Collins, balance of commission for collecting taxes in the year 1867, 580 00
E. J. Collins, in part of commission for collecting taxes of the year 1868, 950 00
E. J. Collins, for attending meetings of Selectmen, Isaac Hagar, Thos. Rice, Jr., and H. P. Eaton', ser- vices as Building Committee for the new school- house at Lower Falls, 500 00
43 00
Isaac Hagar, for services on Building Committee on enlargement of High-School building, 100 00
O. Whipple, for services as Selectman to March, 1868, 15 00
$7,535 50
46
STATE AID.
Paid Belcher, George W.,
$54 00
Brackett, Theodore L., 8 00
Burns, Daniel, 88 00
Dennis, Samuel,
48 00
Dinnean, Thomas,
54 00
Dolan, Thomas,
54 00
Duran, Thomas,
48 00
el 1, William,
96 00
Foster, John,
48 00
Gorse, Joseph,
48 00
Gunnison, F. H.,
40 40
Hutchinson, George,
40 50
Jackson, Thos. L.,
48 00
Kelley, John,
48 00
Kingsbury, Roger S.,
72 00
Littlefield, Elliot,
104 00
Lawson, H. T.,
64 00
McMahan, John,
40 00
Pratt, Joseph R.,
96 00
Ramsdell, Joshua V.,
72 00
Richardson, Samuel C.,
33 00
Robinson, George S.,
9 00
Spaulding, S. C.,
54 00
Sanger, Daniel,
96 00
Smith, Charles H.,
96 00
Tibbetts, W. D.,
54 00
Tombs, Edward H.,
48 00
Walch, Patrick,
48 00
$1,608 90
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
M. S. Rice, for services as civil engineer, $69 37
cash paid for stationery, postage, etc., 25 02
M. S. Rice, as Registrar in recording and return- ing 251 births, 75 30
M. S. Rice as Registrar in recording and return- ing 100 marriages, 15 00
M. S. Rice, as Registrar in recording and return- ing 100 deaths, 20 50
Amount carried forward, $205 19
47
Amount brought forward, $205 19 164 15
E. Woodward, for services as civil engineer,
W. W. Currier, reward offered for the arrest and conviction of one " Gross," for breaking into the house of F. G. Richardson, Oct. 2, 1867, 100 00
Jas. Mellen & Co., for moving old school-house, Centre, 200 00
J. E. Gammons, for, making returns of 20 deaths, 2 00 M. A. Roffe, 7 guide-boards, painting, and letter- ing the same, 13 75
J. V. Ramsdell, reward offered for the arrest and conviction of Stephen Houghton, for breaking into the house of Albert Plummer,
100 00
Charles Cole, reward for the same,
100 00
John M. Fisk, for expense in posting bills,
4 00
C. C. Drew, for 5 copies of Newton Directory,
5 00
O. Whipple, repairing house and building fence on Engine lot, Corner, 350 24
J. L. Fairbanks, for stationery for Town Officers, 33 03
John J. Horgan, cutting letters on tablets of Soldiers' Monument, 5 60
J. A. Peck, services warning Town Officers, etc., 18 00
Charles Smith, service for obtaining transfers of corporate stocks for Assessors,
12 20
L. S. Holman, for painting in cottage house, 6 45
E. P. Scales, for dressing wounds of man at police office, 5 00
Jeremiah Johnston, for work on cellar, privy vault, and drain-pipe for old school-house, Centre, 196 50
D. H. Mason, Esq., for professional services,
200 00
W. P. Leavitt, for building fence at gravel-pit, Corner, 13 09
J. Holman & Co., bedsteads and blankets for lock-up, Corner, 27 50
J. Holman & Co., blankets and comforters for engine-house, Corner, 27 05
Joseph M. White, re-setting furnace and pipes, old school-house, Centre, 126 46
D. C. Sanger, fuel furnished for Town Hall, 15 58
H. C. Hoyt, repairs on Town-house shed at Up- per Falls, 8 50
Allen Jordan, for repairs on hearse-house, Lower Falls, 4 62
Amount carried forward,
$1,943 91
48
Amount brought forward, $1,943 91
Henry Fuller, cash paid for carriage and car-fares, as Assessor, in 1867, 28 00
Henry Fuller, cash paid for postage and stationery, 6 37
Asa Cook, for returning 22 certificates of deaths, 3 30
John Pike, repairing lock-up at West Newton, 7 88
J. E. Cousens, repairs on old school-house, Centre, 92 25
D. & C. McMullen, mason work on " 40 20
O. C. Garey, labor about old school-house, 5 25
S. M. Jackson, use of horses for Assessors, 50 00
A. Howes, drain-pipe for reservoir at Centre,
45 98
S. Cate & Son, expense for procuring of child drowned in Charles River,
10 00
N. & W. Gas Light Co., gas furnished Police Department, 17 50
J. J. Ware, refreshments for Town Officers, 100 00 warning Town Meetings, 45 00
I. Hagar, cash paid for railroad and carriage fares for Assessors,
27 87
J. Hagar, cash paid for postage, stationery, etc., making up report on cuide-boards,
54 05
pauper returns, etc., 29 30
E. J. Collins, cash paid for refreshments for Town Officers,
9 00
E. J. Collins, return of tax-payers to Selectmen, 20 25
66 postage and revenue stamps, record- ing deed, etc., 8 76
J. E Gammons, for returning 33 deaths, 3 30
J. Pulsifer, repairing hearse, 1 25
Estate of V. Jones, for expressing Town Reports, etc., 3 00
J. F. C. Hyde, recording deeds, stamps and post- age, 13 95
O. Whipple, labor on street sign-posts, 11 00
C. F. Tuttle, " 66
19 25
C. S. Phillips, setting glass in Town Hall, 3 55
J. L. Fairbanks, memorandum books and ink,
1 00
Kern & Fitch, examining titles to school-house land, 27 75
$2,628 92
Included in the above account is the expense of removing the old school-house, Newton Centre, 706 64
$1,922 28
49
KENRICK FUND.
Balance în Treasurer's hands, January 1, 1868, $1,045 26
Interest received since January 1, 1868, 193 75
$1,239 01
Amount loaned, $1,000 00
Amount distributed to the " Industrious
Poor of Newton," as per direction of the donor, 200 00
1,200 00
Cash in Treasurer's hands, January 1, 1869, 39 01
Amount of Investments, Jan. 1, 1869, 4,000 00
$4,039 01
-
The accounts of the Selectmen and Treasurer are correct, and properly vouched.
Respectfully submitted,
ISAAC HAGAR,
OTIS PETTEE, Auditors. GEO. L. WHITNEY,
NEWTON, Feb. 13, 1869.
7
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
In accordance with our well established custom, we pre- sent the following estimate of the sums necessary to meet the expenses of the Town for the current year. Our debt has been increased the past year $56,596.27, and is now $277,374.31 above the available assets. The debt of the Town is quite large; yet when we take into consideration the large amount of property owned by the Town, - consist- ing of its numerous and well furnished school-houses, valued at $298,000, of which sum, $170,000 was expended during the last three years ; the buildings, engines, and apparatus belonging to the Fire Department, valued at $39,500; the value of the other property owned by the Town, amounting to $45,500, making an aggregate of $383,000; and taking into consideration that this property is mostly new, and that it is amply sufficient to meet the reasonable wants of the Town for some years to come ; and also bearing in mind the gen- eral wealth of the Town, - the debt is comparatively light.
A town growing as rapidly as ours, requires liberal ex- penditures in its various departments, and they should be made; but much care should be taken that all the appropri- ations be judiciously expended, and, if possible, within the amounts appropriated for the several departments and special purposes.
51
ESTIMATE OF EXPENSES.
Interest
. $18,000 00
Schools
· 49,000 00
Incidentals for Schools .
. 7,000 00
Fire Department . 10,000 00
Almshouse Expenses
2,500 00
Poor out of Almshouse
1,200 00
Repairs on Almshouse .
1,000 00
Highways, Culverts, and Railings . 25,000 00
Bridges
1,000 00
Salaries
7,500 00
Printing
1,600 00
Insurance
1,000 00
Miscellaneous Expenses.
2,000 00
Special Police
1,500 00
Lighting Streets .
7,000 00
Reduction of Town Debt
4,700 00
$140,000 00
INTEREST.
The item for interest seems to be large, but is no greater than will be needed to meet the notes outstanding. There is a degree of satisfaction in knowing that the rate of interest paid is quite low, averaging less than six per centum.
SCHOOLS.
The sums recommended for Schools and for Incidentals for the same are large, but they are based upon the careful estimates of the School-Committee. No money is more cheerfully paid than this, for all classes recognize the ad- vantage of education.
52
HIGHWAYS.
We think no change should be made in the manner of repairing the highways. All will admit that the roads of Newton have been very much improved the past few years. We have now a considerable sum invested in horses, carts, and tools, procured expressly for highway purposes. It will be seen that we recommend for this department a larger sum than has ever before been appropriated, but no larger than will be needed for all purposes, including the building of a new street as laid out by the County Com- missioners at Newton Centre, leading from Beacon Street, east of the depot, to near the Harbach place on Ward Street. This road we are ordered to complete before January 1st, 1870. Saratoga Street, at Newton Corner, is not yet completed, and will need a further sum for its completion.
All the main highways should receive a large share of attention ; and, in some instances, broken stone may be used to advantage, for the purpose of repairing or improving the same. The Selectmen have not thought best, thus far, to purchase a steam stone-crusher for the purpose of pre- paring material for the highways. They have purchased some additional gravel-pits or lands, so that nearly all parts of the Town are well supplied with good material for road purposes, both building and repairing. During the year, the long-talked-of drain at West Newton has been built, and in a very thorough manner, at the joint expense of the Town and the Boston and Albany Railroad.
,
53
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The purchase of a Steam Fire-Engine has caused heavy expenditures the past season. A house has been erected and furnished, in which to keep it; hose purchased for it ; a competent Engineer employed, - all of which have tended to swell the expenses of the Fire Department. We estimate the cost of this department at $10,000 for the current year. This is about the sum recommended to us by the Engineers of the Fire Department. A considerable portion of the same is to be used for the purchase of new hose. It is very important to be well furnished in this direction; for our engines, whether hand or steam, are of very little use unless there is sufficient hose to reach a supply of water. Another heavy item will be the purchase of a new hand-engine for the Lower Falls, which has been contracted for by the Engineers and Selectmen, to whom the subject was referred in Town-meeting. If the Town should vote to change the location of the engine-house at Lower Falls, under an article in the Warrant, the sum we propose will hardly be large enough to meet all the expenses of the Fire Department.
The introduction of a Steamer was an experiment with us ; but there is no question as to its advantages over hand- machines when plenty of water can be had. We believe the Town should make liberal appropriations for reservoirs, especially in the villages. Few towns have been more fortunate than ours, both as to the efficiency of its Fire Department and the infrequency of fires. We hope the sum named will be appropriated.
54
ALMSHOUSE EXPENSES.
The sums we name in our estimate for the support of our Almshouse and the poor out of the Almshouse are not large when we remember that Newton is one of the old- est and largest Towns in the State. This department has been most admirably managed by our efficient Warden, aided by his no less efficient wife. The Town has reason to be grateful that it is in such good hands. Mr. Ware has been engaged for another year, and will, in addition to his duties as Warden at the Almshouse, act as Super- intendent of the Highways, under the Selectmen.
INSURANCE.
The amount paid for Insurance the past year - $2,615 50 - exceeds our estimate, on account of the new school-houses which have been built. The Town has about $190,000 insurance upon its public buildings. By a carefully prepared estimate, we find that the net average cost, after dedueting dividends on the mutual policies, will not exceed $1,000 per year for a term of years.
LIGHTING STREETS.
Quite a large sum of money has been expended, the past year, for this purpose, and a still larger one will be required during the current year. Gas is used in all but two of the villages where there are street-lights. It is obtained of the Newton and Watertown Gas-Light Company, at an expense of twenty-five dollars for each lamp. It costs from five to
-
55
seven dollars a year, in addition, to light these lamps and keep them in repair.
We do not deem it necessary to extend our remarks; for the Auditor's Report is so full and clear that all may under- stand it, and see just what sums have been expended the past year in each department. We cannot close, however, without calling the attention of the tax-payers to the im- portance of attending the annual Town-meeting, when all the money for the year is voted, to see that no improper appropriations are made. It is desirable that the debt of the Town be not further increased, and we know there are many who would be glad to see a reduction of it each year.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES F. C. HYDE, GEO. E. BRIDGES, D. C. SANGER, WILLARD MARCY, JOHN L. ROBERTS, ISAAC R. WORCESTER, THOS. RICE, JR.,
Selectmen of Newton.
NEWTON, Feb. 13, 1869.
REPORT OF ENGINEERS
OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The steamer, named "Newton No. 1," and the house erected for it at Newton Corner, were transferred to the Fire Department by the Selectmen, Oct. 19, 1868. Since that time the steamer has been constantly in working order, proving its power and efficiency at several fires where it has worked. The greatest actual saving of property was in Watertown the third day of last December, on which occasion it put the first stream upon the fire, thereby preventing the spread of the flames to an adjoining row of wooden build- ings, and probably was the direct means of saving property of greater value than the original cost of steamer and house. It also worked at another fire in Watertown, the 29th day of the same month, doing excellent service, and saving much property.
Jan. 24, 1869. On the burning of the oil and slaughter house of Boynton & Swallow, at Brighton, the Brighton Fire Department requiring assistance, sent to the Newton Fire Department for their steamer, which call was promptly responded to; and for two hours the steamer continued to pour water upon the burning ruins. The steamer was slightly damaged by an accident, and the injury was promptly repaired by the Brighton Fire Department.
In our own Town we have not so good a record. The steamer, like all other fire apparatus, can do but little good without water. It has been present at three fires in the Town, where much valuable property was destroyed, owing to the scarcity of water. The engineers feel they cannot too strongly urge the attention of the Town to the above
57
fact. The advantages of steam over hand engines are so apparent, we feel the Town will not regret the large expen- ditures on account of the same. We confidently assert, if we could have had the steamer at the fire in Wales's stable, or if our hose had been sufficiently long to have connected with the powerful pumps in the mills at Lower Falls, the hotel and large dwelling-house in the rear would have been saved; but as it was, the slight effort of the Lower Falls engine could but temporarily check the fire, delaying its progress for a few moments only.
The alarm bell on the steamer's house at Newton Corner is not sufficiently large to be heard by all the members of the hose company. Some action is necessary to overcome this difficulty.
The steamer turned out eight times, and was present at six fires.
The two hand engines at the Corner are without com- panies. It is thought best to retain " Nonantum No. 5" there as a reserve, but the " Empire " is not needed. The owner of the land upon which it is located is anxious to have it removed. It has been suggested that it should be placed at the North Village. Early action of the Town is very desirable.
At the burning of the Wales Hotel, June 6, 1868, the Lower Falls engine (as usual) was incapable of performing the service required. The Company refused to work on the engine again, and disbanded. The subject was referred to the Selectmen and Engineers, who unanimously decided to furnish a new hand engine, with modern improvements. Messrs. Hunneman & Co. have the order to build. one, which they agree to deliver early in the spring. In the mean time they furnish a relief engine free of cost to the Town. A well organized company has it in charge, and are satisfied to serve upon it until the new one is received. They have promptly attended to drill duty, have worked the engine at six different fires, saving considerable property, and have turned out at five other alarms, but did not reach the fires.
8
58
· The engine-house at the Lower Falls requires extensive repairs and alterations ; it overhangs the river, and is not properly placed upon any foundation. There is no hose tower, which is all important for the preservation of hose. Hose rolled up wet, soon moulds and decays. We therefore earnestly urge the necessity of some definite action relative to this important subject.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.