USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1901 > Part 3
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Art. 24. To see if the Town will accept the provisions of Chapter 186 of the Acts of the year 1895, entitled : " An act rela- tive to the watering of streets in towns."
Voted. To accept the provisions of Chapter 186 of the Acts of the year 1895 entitled : "An act relative to the watering of streets in towns." 44 in favor, 11 opposed.
Art. 25. To see what action the Town will take with relation to assessing upon estates abutting upon streets watered by the Town, the expense of such watering, or what they will do in rela- tion thereto.
Voted. To appropriate $500 to defray the expenses of street sprinkling the ensuing year, no portion to be assessed on the abut- ters.
Art. 26. To see if the Town will appropriate the unexpended appropriation of 1900 (one thousand dollars), for the use of the Committee on Sewerage, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To pass over this article.
Art. 27. To see if the Town will authorize the Trustees of Laurel Hill Cemetery to deed a lot to the Reading Home for Aged Women, free of expense, with perpetual care, or what will they do in relation thereto.
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Voted. That the Town hereby authorize the Trustees of Laurel Hill Cemetery to deed a lot in said cemetery to the Reading Home for Aged Women. Said lot to be eighteen feet square, to be free of expense, with perpetual care.
Art. 28. To see if the Town will accept the provisions of an Act of the Legislature of 1901 authorizing the Town to make a water loan not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars in addition to the amount already authorized by law.
Voted. That the Town do accept the provisions of an Act of the Legislature of 1901 authorizing the Town to make a water loan not exceeding $25,000, in addition to the amount already authorized by law. 52 in favor, none opposed.
Art. 29. To see if the town will authorize the issue of bonds under an Act of the Legislature of 1901, authorizing such issue, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. That the Town Treasurer be, and he is hereby auth- orized to issue the bonds of the Town for the aggregate principal sum of $25,000, to pay the cost of extending the water mains, and for such other expenses in connection with the Water Department as may be authorized by vote of the Town. Said bonds shall be issued in accordance with provisions of Chapter 55, Acts of 1901, shall be of the denomination of $1,000 each and shall bear on their face the words : "Reading Water Loan." Shall be numbered consecutively from 251 to 275 inclusive and shall be dated June 1, 1901. And shall be payable as follows: $5,000 in each year for the next five years from and including 1926. The bonds shall bear interest at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum, payable semi-annually upon presentation of the proper coupon thereto attached, on the first days of June and December of the years specified in said coupons. Both principal and interest shall be paid at some bank in Boston named in the bonds. Said bonds shall be issued and sold by the treasurer from time to time upon the request and with
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the approval of the Water Commissioners, at a price not less than par and accrued interest. A rising vote was taken and was unani- mous.
Art. 30. To see if the Town will appoint a committee to investigate the subject of improved methods and material for road building, or what they will do in relation thereto.
The subject matter of this article referred to the Selectmen.
Art. 31. To see if the Town will buy a portable stone crusher and what appropriation they will make, or what they will do in re- lation thereto.
The subject matter of this article referred to the Selectmen ; they to report on said article in connection with article 30.
Art. 32. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of fifty dollars for the purchase of shade trees and labor for setting the same, under the direction of the Tree Warden, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. That the sum of $50 be appropriated from appropria- tion for miscellaneous expenses for the purposes of this article.
Art. 33. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of seventy-five dollars for the purpose of erecting an arc light at the corner of Main and Washington streets, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To refer to Electric Light Board.
Art. 34. To see how much money the Town will raise and appropriate for the purpose of erecting an arc light at the corner of Haverhill and Wakefield streets, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To postpone this article.
Art. 35. To see how much money the Town will raise and appropriate for the purpose of erecting an arc light at the corner of Prospect and Woburn streets, or what they will do in relation thereto.
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Voted. To refer to Electric Light Board.
Art. 36. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of seventy-five dollars to build a sidewalk on the easterly side of John street, from the corner of Green street to the junction of John and Village streets, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To refer to Selectmen : If they decide to build said sidewalk, money to be taken from the regular appropriation.
Art. 37. To see if the Town will erect and maintain an arc light at the corner of Grove and Franklin streets, and how much money they will raise and appropriate for this purpose, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To refer to Electric Light Board.
Art. 38. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate one hundred and twenty-five dollars for the purpose of locating a fire alarm box at the corner of Walnut and Curtis streets, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To refer to Board of Fire Engineers.
Art. 39. To see how much money the Town will raise and appropriate for the purpose of erecting an arc light at the corner of West and South streets, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To refer to Electric Light Board.
Art. 40. To see if the Town will instruct the Water Com- missioners to extend the water pipes from West street making connection with the service pipe at the corner of Walnut and South streets, and how much money they will raise and appropriate for this purpose, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To postpone this article.
Art. 41. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars to repair South street, from the Woburn line to the corner of Walnut street, or what they will do in relation thereto.
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Voted. To repair South street from the Woburn line to the corner of Walnut street, and appropriate $200 from highway appropriation for the purpose.
Art. 42. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of fifty dollars to locate a fire alarm box at the corner of Main and Forest streets, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To refer the subject matter of this article to the Board of Engineers of the Fire Department.
Art. 43. To see how much money the Town will raise and appropriate for the construction of a house for Hose No. 4 on the school house lot at Chestnut Hill School, Hopkins street, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000 for the construction of a house for Hose No. 4 on the school house lot at Chestnut Hill school, Hopkins street.
Art. 44. To see how much money the Town will raise and appropriate for the purpose of making additions and alterations to Hose House No. 2, Woburn street, for the purpose of maintaining a permanent man and horse at said house, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To pass over this article.
Art. 45. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to maintain a permanent man and horse at the house of Hose Co. No. 2, Woburn street, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To pass over this article.
Art. 46. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to purchase a horse for the use of Hose Co. No. 2, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To pass over this article.
Art. 47. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate a
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sufficient sum of money for the purchase of a dump cart to be used by the permanent man and horse on the highway from Hose Co. No. 2, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To pass over this article.
Art. 48. To see if the Town will accept the provisions of Section eleven of Chapter four hundred and eighty-one of the Acts of 1894, permitting the adoption of Town by-laws regulating the inspection, construction and use of buildings for the prevention of fire and the preservation of life, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. That the Town do accept the provisions of Section eleven of Chapter four hundred and eight-one of the Acts of 1894, permitting the adoption of Town by-laws regulating the inspection, construction and use of buildings for the prevention of fire and the preservation of life.
Art. 49. To see if the Town will appoint a committee to draft by-laws regulating the inspection, construction and use of buildings for the prevention of fire and the preservation of life, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. That the Town appoint a committee of five to draft by-laws regulating the inspection, construction and use of buildings for the prevention of fire and the preservation of life. Committee : Lewis M. Bancroft, Harry P. Bosson, Frank G. Nichols, George L. Pratt and George E. Gill. Said committee to report in print.
Art. 50. To see how much money the Town will raise and appropriate for the purchase of Fire Hose, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To raise and appropriate $550 for the purchase of Fire Hose.
Art. 51. To see if the Town will appropriate a sufficient sum of money to build a house for Hose No. 3, or what they will do in relation thereto.
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Voted to pass over this article.
Art. 52. To see if the Town will instruct the Water Com- missioners to extend the water pipes on Summer avenue to a point near the residence of Wm. F. Welch, and how much money they will raise and appropriate for this purpose, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. That the Water Commissioners be instructed to ex- tend the water pipes on Summer avenue to a point near the resi- dence of Wm. F. Welch, and to provide for the expense by the sale of bonds.
Art. 53. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate one thousand dollars to macadamize High street from the cross-walk at the railroad station near the junction of Chute and Haven streets, to Woburn street, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. That the subject matter of this article be referred to the Selectmen.
Art. 54. To see if the Town will change the name of that part of Main street extending from Salem street to the North Reading line, to Andover Road, or what they will do in relation thereto.
After some discussion it was voted not to change the name of Main street as called for in this article.
Art. 55. To see if the Town will build concrete sidewalk and curbstone and cross-walks on the southerly side of Middlesex ave- nue, from the westerly end of the present one to High street, and appropriate a sufficient sum of money therefor, or what they will do in relation thereto.
The subject matter of this article was referred to the Select- men.
Art. 56. To see how much money the Town will raise and appropriate for the purpose of erecting an arc light on Oak street,
.
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between the estates of Joseph S. Robinson and Charles B. Eames, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To raise and appropriate $135 for the purpose of erecting an arc light on Oak street, between the estates of Joseph S. Robinson and Charles B. Eames.
Art. 57. To see if the Town will authorize the Water Com- missioners to lay a water pipe on Pearl street to a point opposite the house of Jeremiah G. Sargent, and how much money they will appropriate therefor, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. That the Water Commissioners be authorized to lay a water-pipe on Pearl street to a point opposite the house of Jere- miah G. Sargent. Money to be raised by sale of bonds.
Art. 58. To see how much money the Town will raise and appropriate for the purpose of building a retaining wall in ditch running by land of Richard B. Nichols, or what they will do in relation thereto.
The subject matter of this article was referred to the Select- men.
Art. 59. To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Fire Engineers to remove box 63 from the Congregational Church and place it at or near the junction of Woburn and Linden streets, and place a box at the junction of Lowell, Sanborn and Highland streets, or what action they will take in relation thereto.
Voted. To pass over this article.
Art. 60. To see if the Town will instruct the Engineers of the Fire Department to locate a fire alarm box at the junction of Main and Franklin streets, and appropriate the sum of fifty dollars for this purpose, or what they will do in relation thereto.
Voted. To instruct the Engineers of the Fire Department to locate a fire alarm box at the junction of Main and Franklin streets, and $50 be appropriated from the treasury for that purpose.
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Art. 61. To see if the Town will instruct the Fire Engineers to place an alarm box at the junction of Charles and Pearl streets, and appropriate money for the same, or what action they will take in relation thereto.
Voted. To instruct the Engineers of the Fire Department to place an alarm box at the junction of Charles and Pearl streets, and $50 be appropriated from the treasury for that purpose.
Art. 62. To hear and act on the report of the Selectmen on the laying out of the extension of Vine street from Middlesex avenue to Mineral street, and to determine if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars for that purpose ..
Report of Selectmen on the laying out of Vine street between Middlesex avenue and Mineral street as a public way was read, and it was voted to accept and adopt the report, and to raise and appro- priate the sum of $500 for the purpose.
Art. 63. To hear and act on the report of the Selectmen in relation to guide posts, and to determine if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of thirty dollars for the repair of same.
Report of Selectmen in relation to guide posts. In compliance with the requirements of Chapter 53 of Public Statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the undersigned respectfully submit the following report: Guide posts, or suitable substitutes therefor, are erected and maintained at the following locations :---
Corner Mill and Short streets
Main and Franklin
Main and Pearl
Main and Charles
Main and Salem
Main on the Common, Main in the Square Corner Main and Pleasant
Main and Haven
Main and Washington
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Corner Main and Ash
.
Main and Summer avenue
Walnut and Summer avenue
Walnut and South
Woburn and Summer avenue
Woburn and West
Junction of West, Willow and Summer avenue Corner Willow and Lowell
Middlesex avenue and Lowell
Woburn and Lowell
Franklin and Grove
Franklin and Haverhill
Haverhill and Charles
66 Haverhill and Pine
66 Pine and Salem
Salem and Pearl
Pearl and Charles
66 Harnden and Pleasant
66 Pleasant and Parker
Village and Haven
Salem and Lowell
Salem and Harnden
Lowell and High
WM. I. RUGGLES, OLIVER L. AKERLEY, GEO. A. SHACKFORD.
Reading, Mass., Feb. 16, 1901.
Voted to accept the report and raise and appropriate the sum of $30 for repairs.
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Art. 64. To see if the Town will revise and accept the list of names of jurors as prepared and posted by the Selectmen. The Selectmen of Reading present the following list of persons who in their judgment are qualified to act as jurors :-
Austin, Oliver W.
Krook, Lambertus W.
Bancroft, Lewis M.
Krook, Matthys H.
Bancroft, Frederick
Knight, Edgar M.
Batchelder, Howard W.
Kimball, Charles D.
Bacheller, Warren A.
LaClaire, Henry S.
Beasley, George
Lovejoy, E. L.
Beasley, George W.
McCrum, David
Black, Frank K.
Merrill, Clarence E.
Bosson, Harry P.
Oakes, George F.
Broad, Nathaniel W.
Oliver, Alfred L.
Brown, Joseph H.
Pratt, Harland P.
Bessom, Charles F.
Pratt, Wilmot K.
Canty, Daniel T.
Parker, Horace A.
Canty, John D.
Parker, Fred A.
Chase, John E.
Parker, Fred H.
Davis, Arthur E.
Parker, Harrison H.
Davis, William Wallace
Prentiss, W. S.
DeRonde, John D.
Richardson, Chester C.
Eames, Leonard T.
Richardson, Henry M.
Eaton, John H.
Sargent, George A.
Eaton, Waldo F.
Smith, Benjamin Y.
Emerson, Arthur G.
Swain, Charles H.
Flint, George L.
Temple, David C.
Goodwin, Edwin H. Gordon, Arthur D.
Warren, Charles E.
Wyman, Fernando D.
Howard, Luther G.
Wight, Ephraim
Jackson, Charles S.
Whelton, John H.
Kidder, William
Wickens, John
Kinsley, W. S.
Reading, Mass., Feb. 16, 1901.
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Voted. That the names of George W. Beasley, Arthur D. Gordon, William S. Kinsley, Harrison H. Parker and Walter S. Prentiss and Chester C. Richardson be stricken from the list at their request, and the names of George Carter, Walter F. Cook, George E. Horrocks and C. W. McDougall be added.
Voted. That the list as amended be accepted.
PROCEEDINGS OF TOWN MEETING HELD AUG. 21, 1901.
Art. 1. To choose a Moderator.
George L. Flint was chosen.
Art. 2. To see what action the Town will take on the propo- sition of the People's Gas and Electric Company to sell to the Town of Reading for $9,000 and two years' interest, that part of their plant and franchise which they claim to have in the Town of Reading.
Voted. That the subject matter of Article 2 be referred to a committee of three, to be appointed by the Chair. Said committee to report within 60 days. The Chair appointed A. Newell Howes, Wm. I. Ruggles and Lewis M. Bancroft such committee.
Art. 3. To see what instructions the Town will give the Board of Selectmen in relation to the extension of the People's Gas and Electric Company's Plant in the Town of Reading.
Voted. That action under Article 3 be postponed until the report of the committee appointed under Article 2 is received,
Voted to adjourn.
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PROCEEDINGS OF TOWN MEETING HELD OCT. 21, 1901.
Art. 1. To choose a Moderator.
George L. Flint was chosen.
Art. 2. To hear and act upon the report of the committee appointed at the meeting of Aug. 21 last, to investigate and report upon the advisability of the purchase by the Town of that part of the plant and franchise which the People's Gas and Electric Com- pany of Stoneham claim to have in the Town of Reading.
Report of Committee : - At the Town meeting held Aug. 21 the chairman of the Board of Selectmen made a statement of the controversy between the Town of Reading and the People's Gas and Electric Company of Stoneham which has led up to the present investigation. Without rehearsing or repeating what has already been said, we shall take it for granted that the citizens are generally quite familiar with the present status of affairs, and shall therefore enter at once into the consideration of the proposition made by the People's Gas and Electric Company of Stoneham, to sell to the Town of Reading that portion of their (the Gas Company's) plant, including franchise, which they claim to own and control in the Town of Reading. The real issue involved in this proposition is municipal ownership and control of gas distribution in the Town of Reading. This of course also includes the question of franchise. For the moment we will consider the purchase of the property offered, independently from the franchise-leaving that part for later consideration. Does the Town of Reading wish to avail itself of the opportunity to enter into the gas business by accepting the proposition of the People's Gas and Electric Company ?
To determine what is advisable under the circumstances we have sub-divided the question. First, what is the real value of the pipes, meters, etc. offered for sale? We have ascertained that it will cost to replace present pipe lines with new pipes, same sizes
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and lengths, together with service meters, etc., $8,500. These figures are based upon actual current prices of pipe today, with labor of laying the same added. And we are asked therefore to purchase pipes that have lain in the ground for forty years at about the same figure as the cost of new pipes. How much the old pipes have deteriorated in the years gone by and what the condition of the joints and connections, is mere conjecture. Experienced men in the gas business say that the pipes are probably sound and serviceable as a whole, although the joints may require more or less repairing, so that in determining the present value, considering the doubtful conditions, we think a liberal deduction should be made from the cost of new. In case of extensions quite a portion of the present line would be inadequate and would have to be paralleled by an auxiliary pipe or abandoned altogether for a larger pipe. Your committee has therefore concluded that as far as the pipes are con- cerned, the asking price of the Gas Company is altogether too high.
We will now consider the earnings or income to be derived from the investment of $9,000. The gross receipts of the People's Gas and Electric Company for the Reading division for the past year were about $700. From this must be deducted $100 for taxes, also repairs, clerical help and bad debts, which would leave about 4 per cent. net, and this would be only sufficient to cover interest on the notes which the Town would probably issue in payment for this property. This return is of course based upon the present consumption of gas. Should the consumption decrease the net re- sults of the business would suffer proportionately. The last year shows a decrease of over 30 per cent. from the previous year, and by the reduction of the price of electricity it is quite probable that the quantity of gas consumed will decrease rather than increase in the near future. Any material increase of revenue from gas must be accomplished by extension of pipe lines and introduction into our homes of gas for fuel rather than for illumination. These ex-
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tensions cost money, and unless the Town should adopt a by-law, or some regulation limiting extensions to localities promising a yearly return of 10 per cent. upon the additional outlay, the Town would soon be involved in expenditure which would increase our tax rate, and this at the present time is not desirable. So that looking at the proposition purely as a business undertaking, your committee does not recommend its acceptance. Some persons may think it will be detrimental to the progress and growth of the Municipal Light department to have as a competitor a corporation actively engaged in the gas business, but we think this fear is more theoretical than actual, and is not of sufficient importance to be seriously considered in connection with the subject matter.
We will now take up the question of franchise. There is a reasonable doubt whether or not the People's Gas and Electric Company have any right to the franchise in this Town, which was enjoyed by the Citizens' Gas Light Company of South Reading, Reading and Stoneham. But this can only be settled positively by an opinion from the Supreme Court. This will entail more or less expense, besides trouble and valuable time of our Town officials, and the results either way would be of little real value under exist- ing circumstances. By this we mean the prospect of a profitable business in gas for fuel and illuminating purposes at the present time, or in the near future, is somewhat visionary, and will require such a large outlay for new pipe lines that conservative men will hesitate about investing the necessary capital. The possibility of selling out to the Town at some future time at an inflated value is also not a contingency to be feared. This Town can at any time it may so desire establish its own gas plant without being obliged to purchase any existing plant. This statement is based upon an opinion in writing given in reply to our inquiry. That the citizens may know the full import of this opinion we have incorporated the same in our report.
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BOSTON, MASS., SEPT. 5, 1901.
MR. A. NEWELL HOWES,
READING, MASS.
DEAR SIR :- Your letter of Aug. 30, written on behalf of the Gas Committee of the Town of Reading, was duly received. In that letter you ask me the following question : " If the Town of Reading should vote to establish a complete Gas Plant or any portion thereof would the said Town be legally bound to purchase the pipes, etc., now within the limits of said Town, owned by the People's Gas and Electric Company of Stoneham and Reading, if the said People's Gas and Electric Company should elect to sell its pipes, etc., to said Town and file a proper schedule of its property ?"
Before answering this question I think I should state what I believe to be the facts in the case : viz .- We understand that the Town of Reading in substance voted at each of two Town Meetings, held Aug. 21, 1891, and March 7, 1892, that it was expedient for the Town to exercise the authority conferred upon towns under the provisions of Chapter 370 of the Acts of the year 1891; that the votes were taken by written and printed ballot and by a use of the check list, and that more than two-thirds of the ballots cast were in the affirmative. At the time of the passing of the two votes above referred to the Citizens' Gas Light Company of Read- ing, South Reading and Stoneham owned that portion of the gas plant which was situated in the Town of Reading. Section 12 of Chapter 370 provides as follows : " When any city or town shall decide as hereinbefore provided, to establish a plant, and any per- son, firm or corporation shall at the time of the first vote required for such decision, be engaged in the business of making, generating or distributing gas or electricity for sale for lighting purposes in such city or town, such city or town shall, if such person, firm or corporation shall elect to sell and shall comply with the provisions of this act, purchase of such person, firm or corporation before establishing a public plant, such portion of his, their or its gas or
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