Town of Westford annual report 1886-1895, Part 18

Author: Westford (Mass.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Westford (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 896


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1886-1895 > Part 18


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1 40


James O'Brien, labor.


9 00


James Spinner, labor.


10 50


Henry Chamberlain, Superintendent


34 00


Hay and bedding.


11 30


W. W. Johnson, team


8 00


E. H. Holt, labor. .


40 00


Heywood & Fletcher, gravel.


5 00


Heywood & Burbeck, grain. 17 35


$138 05


December :


John Manuel, jr., team ..


$20 00


Benj. M. Fletcher, labor


3 38


H. A. Hildreth, hay


46 00


Gilmer Stone, labor


5 00


James H. O'Brien, labor, and use of drill,


5 00


Heywood & Burbeck, grain


7 45


$86 83


January :


Henry Chamberlain, labor.


$13 42


Heywood & Burbeck, grain.


8 40


$21 82


Making the total amount expended $3,036.75. Of this amount $34.50 was paid on last year's bills. The sum of $37.05 was earned by the team, from individuals, the amount being turned over to the Town Treasurer, leaving the actual expense of the highways this year $2965.20


Schedule of property belonging to the town, in charge of the Board of Selectmen, for use of the road department :


2 horses, 1 set heavy harnesses, 2 carts, 4 whiffletrees, 1 evener and spreader, 2 picks, 3 iron bars, 4 chains, 1 stone puller and stone tools, 2 horse blankets, 1 bush scythe,fand snath, 2 feed bags, 1 zinc water pail, 1 large hoe, 1 road plow, 1 stone drag, 1 tool box, 10 iron rakes, 1 screen, 1 tree trimmer, 1 card and brush, 1 neck yoke, 1 horse pail, 1 axe, 2 lanterns, 1 wagon jack, 2 shovels.


BREAKING ROADS.


Paid John O'Brien. March, 1890. $4 13


Samuel F. Putney, March, 1890 75


M. F. Downs, March, 1890


9 70


C. F. Shugrue, March, 1890.


3 30


$17 88


42


Paid Hiram Dane, March, 1891 $13 22


John P. Felch, March, 1891


10 55


C. E. Whidden, March, 1891 1 50


Wilson Brothers, March, 1891 6 00


C. M. Griffin, March, 1891 5 00


Gilmer Stone, March, 1891 .


2 80


Angus McDonald, March, 1891


· 6 00


E. A. Stevens, March, 1891.


4 00


John O'Brien, 2d, Jan. and March, 1891


9 20


M. F. Downs, Jan. and March, 1891 . .


25 60


J. F. Sweetzer, March, 1891.


2 75


F. Seifer, March, 1891.


1 35


H. B. Ruiter, March, 1891


29 13


G. F. Carkin, March, 1891


15 67


S. B. Wright, March, 1891


2 60


C. H. Bicknell, March, 1891 .


60


W. W. Johnson, March, 1891


13 10


J. Desmond, March, 1891


5 15


J. H. Whitney, March, 1891


1 35


F. E. Miller, March, 1891


1 35


E. H. Keyes, March, 1891.


9 60


W. C. Edwards, March, 1891


2 60


C. F. Shugrue, March, 1891.


9 10


J. W. Day & Son, March, 1891


4 10


W. F. Seifer, March, 1891


1 20


W. M. Vose, March, 1891


12 32


E. H. Flagg, March, 1891 ..


2 40


John Wayne, March, 1891


4 13


J. A. Healey, March, 1891


7 35


J. F. Murphy, March, 1891 .


4 50


Dennis Burke, March, 1891


83


Lucien O. Butterfield, March, 1891


3 75


John O'Brien, March, 1891


5 50


$225 20


ORDERS DRAWN BY THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR DURING THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1892.


April, 1891, by order. $ 463 11


May, 1891, by order. 431 05


November, 1891, by order 426 69


February, 1892, by order 1117 43


..


-


- $2,438 28


F. H. Hildreth, March, 1891.


90


43


TAXES ORDERED AS ERRORS.


1889. E. F. Dufort.


$ 2 00


E. B. Maglathlin .


2 00


Geo. W. Polley. .2 00


1890. Daniel Gage .


11 20


H. O. Keyes .


5 60


1891. Geo. W. Blodgett.


2 00


William Comey, heirs of


2 00


John W. Day


03


Israel Giles ....


02


Alvin G. Polley


02


Carver Symmes


. 1 00


$27 87


ABATEMENT OF TAXES.


1886. Joseph Whitney


$ 39


George W. Ingalls


2 39


1887. Joseph Whitney


33


Geo. R. Gay.


99


E. A. Hamlin


2 00


1888. Chas. H. Hall.


2 00


Geo. W. Ingalls


2 81


William Jolly .


2 00


Geo. A. Leland.


50


Geo. A. Perham


1 20


Willard T. Reed


2 00


Joseph Whitney


2 38


Geo. R. Gay .


1 26


1889. William Collier


2 00


Joseph Gauthier


2 00


William Fifield.


2 00


E. A. Hamlin.


2 00


Chas. H. Hall


2 00


Geo. W. Ingalls


57


William Jolly


2 00


G. A. Perham


2 38


R. W. Polley


2 00


Daniel Casey


2 00


Alvarado Shaw


2 00


Joseph Whitney


2 38


1890. Frank Andrews.


2 00


George Arthur.


2 00


Henry Abel.


2 00


Horace Abel.


2 00


Amount carried forward. $51 58


44


Amount brought forward


$51 58


1890. D. N. Atwood


2 00


G. L. Bennett. .


2 00


Edgar Bennett.


2 00


Samuel Billings.


2 00


Henry Blodgett


2 00


Joseph Bovet.


2 00


John H. Brown.


2 00


Thomas Brophy


2 00


Joseph Boucther


2 00


John Beauford


2 00


Harry Catchpole


2 00


Thomas Carrick


2 00


Ralph Clement.


2 00


William Collier


2 00


William Davis.


2 00


Chas. F. DeRoehan


2 00


Robert Dugdale


2 00


Earnest Dufort.


2 00


Geo. F. Edwards.


2 00


Chas. H. Fiske.


2 00


George Frazier


2 00


William Fifield


2 00


Joseph Gauthier


2 22


Telesfor Garceaux


2 00


Oscar Gray.


2 00


William Haley


2 00


Samuel Healy


2 00


Geo. H. Heald .


2 00


Henry R. Heald.


2 00


Geo. C. Hill.


2 00


William Jolly.


2 00


Theophilus Jones


2 00


John Libland.


2 00


Michael Leary


2 00


John Lincoln .


2 00


Charles Lannigan


2 00


James McDonald


2 00


Frank Manners ..


2 00


Robert McNorton


2 00


Joseph Millian


2 00


Joseph Moran


2 00


John Morrill 2 00


Stephen H. Nutting


2 00


George P. O'Connor .


2 00


George W. Polley .


2 00


Amount carried forward


$141 80


45


Amount brought forward


$141 80


1890. John Parker


2 00


A. J. Quist ..


2 00


Alvarado Shaw


2 00


Peter Stanhope


2 00


Patrick Scanlan


2 00


Edward Whipple


2 00


Chas. A. Wright.


2 00


$155 80


SHADE TREES.


A committee from the Westford Improvement Association ap- peared before the Board of Selectmen and asked the co-operation of the Board in regard to designating and preserving shade trees on the highways, under the law enacted in 1890. Application was made to the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture for 5,000 (M) spikes, which were received late in the year. These were dis- tributed to competent persons for the purpose of marking trees. A copy of the law was also printed and posted, calling attention to the law and its penalties. A large majority of the public are heartily in favor of preserving and encouraging the planting of suitable shade trees, and the law has been generally complied with.


FOREST FIRES.


We can not urge too strongly upon every one to take every pre- caution to prevent fires on timber and sprout land. We have been fairly fortunate in having but two fires of this character during the year that has been reported to us by the forest fire-wards. The great trouble is in knowing by whom they are set, to get any damage or to make complaint against. Many are set by carelessness or irresponsible persons. Parties from Lowell and others who hunt and fish through our woods and in our streams build fires and leave the embers to be fanned by the wind and blown over the land, which are liable to do incalculable damage to the growing wood. Copies of the law, with its penalties, have been printed and thor- oughly posted throughout the town.


FINANCIAL STATEMENT.


WESTFORD, MASS., March 1, 1892.


The Selectmen submit the following statement, showing the finan- cial condition of the town, as taken from the Treasurer's books and other sources :


RESOURCES.


Due for State Aid to soldiers' families $ 897 00


Due for Military Aid to indigent soldiers 171 00


Taxes of 1888 remaining uncollected 133 56


Taxes of 1889 remaining uncollected


1,823 19


Taxes of 1890 remaining uncollected


516 46


Taxes of 1891 remaining uncollected


1,021 02


Due from M. F. Downs, balance of note 11 50


Balance of cash in treasury date of Auditor's report. . . 2,833 80


$7,407 53


LIABILITIES.


Note, First National Bank, Lowell 4,000 00


Balance in favor of the town $3,407 53


Number of orders drawn on Town Treasurer, 351. Total amount of orders, $11,889.75.


J. HENRY READ, SHERMAN H. FLETCHER, GEORGE W. HEYWOOD, Selectmen of Westford.


REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


The Overseers of the Poor submit the following report for the year ending Feb. 1, 1892:


AMOUNT OF PERSONAL PROPERTY AT THE ALMSHOUSE, INCLUDING FARMING TOOLS, BY APPRAISAL BY THE COMMITTEE, ALSO THE AMOUNT TRANSFERRED TO THE SELECTMEN.


Feb. 7, 1891


$3,383 70


Feb. 1, 1892.


$2,499 30


Amount transferred to the Selectmen


590 50


3,089 80


Loss on personal property


$293 90


RECEIPTS.


Received for breaking roads.


$ 29 13


milk


707 00


work on roads


300 00


two horses.


162 00


horse collar


3 50


beef .


35 29


potatoes


84 10


cranberries


13 12


calves .


39 00


two cows.


26 50


pickles


5 45


beans


10 57


pork.


69 04


use of bull .


6 00


peas


10 72


eggs


7 15


beets


24 64


onions


35 01


Amount carried forward $1,568 22


48


Amount brought forward $1,568 22


Received for cabbages


4 45


harnesses.


27 00


old wheels.


3 00


tomatoes


2 00


cucumbers


1 05


apples


4 00


labor


6 00


hand-sled


1 25


wrench


50


sundries


6 08


board of John P. Green


54 00


two bulls.


58 50


indigent soldiers


240 00


$1976 05


PAYMENTS.


Paid for cows


$125 00


T. Carney .


6 00


H. B. Ruiter, one year's salary . .


450 00


W. J. Sleeper, M. D., for medical at- tendance on inmates of the alms- house


5 70


J. F. Smith, M. D., for medical at- tendance on inmates at alms- house .


4 50


lime and brick.


3 33


hay .


35 74


grain


575 97


express


25


J. P. Green.


3 00


use of barn, hay, etc


7 25


groceries


419 35


sundries


2 97


fertilizer


4 95


blacksmith work.


23 65


meat.


83 85


turkeys.


9 78


windows, door, and blind.


4 50


clothing.


7 00


car fare.


3 12


labor


599 25


fish.


17 03


soap.


6 08


house paper .


4 20


lime and hair


2 45


Amount carried forward $2,404 92


49


Amount brought forward $2,404 92


Paid for trowels ..


1 50


medicine


4 55


crockery


80


horse net.


1 50


force pump.


2 00


window shades


1 56


freight


1 00


butter


2 60


clothes wringer.


1 50


crackers .


25 47


carpenter's work.


9 18


lumber.


9 09


paint and glass


7 27


mason work.


22 00


boiler and stove lining


5 65


onion seed and sets. 2 50


parsnips and meat fork.


1 10


doctoring a hog.


1 00


goods bought of Bartlett & Dow . .


10 80


milking tube.


25


harness work.


12 43


tin ware.


4 32


tea and coffee


13 70


plaster ..


1 55


drag plank.


3 12


screen doors


7 55


lounge. .


1 25


hand sled.


1 25


chains.


50


coal .


12 26


squash


3 25


sheeting.


1 75


pasturing two cows.


8 00


blanket.


1 00


butchering


1 00


axe


1 00


making cider


2 43


pigs.


7 50


butchering


4 00


labor


50 00


loss on personal property .


$2,948 00


Deduct income from the farm


$1,976 05


Cash in H. B. Ruiter's hands


381 95


Expense of keeping 379 tramps.


94 75


2,452 75


Leaves the cost of supporting the poor inside the almshouse


293 90


$495 25


4


50


COST OF SUPPORTING THE POOR OUTSIDE OF THE ALMSHOUSE.


Paid for coffin for Nicholas Vicarest's child . $ 6 00 for necessaries furnished Jane A.L. Patch 38 50 for necessaries furnished John W. Ray- mond .. 15 00


City of Cambridge for Varnum Fletcher W. J. Sleeper, M. D., for medical atten- dance on Patrick O'Tool.


2 00


W. J. Sleeper, M. D., for medical atten- dance on Mary Wright. 30 00


W. J. Sleeper, M. D., for medical atten- dance on Owen Trainor . 1 50


W. J. Sleeper, M. D., for medical atten- dance on Mrs. George Austin. 7 25


W. J. Sleeper, M. D., for medical atten- dance on C. J. Searles .. 2 40


Hospital bills for Mary A. Quinn, Lettice J. Reed, John W. Raymond, A. H. Woodward, Rufus Keyes, and Eliza- beth Lord . 795 78


Drucilla Lord, for care of Mary Gannon, J. C Irish, M. D., for medical atten- dance on Mary Gannon


120 00


for nursing Mary Gannon.


15 00


J. F. Smith, M. D., for medical atten- dance on Mary Gannon. 90 00


J. F. Smith, M. D., for medical atten- dance on Sarah J. Ingalls 60 00


J. F. Smith, M. D., for medical atten- dance on J. McNaughton .


10 50


J. F. Smith, M. D., for medical atten- dance, family of Nichlos Vicarest. . Wright & Bemis for clothing for truant boy.


22 50


4 45


Wright & Bemis, for goods furnished Mrs Wilkerson . 78 00


City of Lowell for Thomas O'Farrell. . 50 70


City of Lowell for Margaret Casey and child 33 80


City of Lowell for Bridget Larkin ....


6 05


for aid rendered J. Wilkerson's family over and above his work on the roads and farm. 29 78


stationery and postage stamps


2 34


Amount carried forward.


$1,494 10


31 00


.41 55


51


Amount brought forward. $1,494 10 Paid W. F. Balch for services as Overseer of the Poor 10 00


Hammet Wright for services as Over- seer of the Poor 10 00


Edward Prescott for time spent about the burial of Nichlos Vicarest's child .. 2 00


Edward Prescott for going twice to Bos- ton on account of pension business. 8 50 Edward Prescott for expense in burying Esther Robbins .. 3 00


Edward Prescott for making out report to State Board of Health, Lunacy and Charity .


5 00


Edward Prescott for making out report to the town.


5 00


Edward Prescott for services as Over- seer of the Poor


10 00


Wright & Bemis for goods furnished J.


Wilkerson's family in 1886 and 1887 76 15 goods furnished Patrick O'Tool 72 00


$1,695 75


Received from the Town of Tyngsboro on ac- count of Sarah J. Ingalls and W. McNaughton


$70 50


from the Town of Ayer. on account of Mrs. G. A. Austin. . ... from the State Treasurer on account of State paupers. from City of Lowell on account of Mary Gannon


7 25


27 00


256 00


360 75


Expense of Poor outside of the almshouse.


$1,335 00


STATEMENT.


Cash in the hands of the master of the alms- house at last settlement ..


Cash drawn from the Town Treasurer


$39 67 2,438 28


$2,477 95


Cash iu master of the almshouse hands.


$381 95


Cash in hands of Overseers of the Poor. ...


24 85


406 80


Cost of supporting the poor, exclusive of in- terest on the farm


$2,071 15


52


Number supported in the almshouse Average number .


32


Number receiving two meals and lodging. 380


Number receiving assistance outside of the almshouse 25


EDWARD PRESCOTT.


WAYLAND F. BALCH. HAMMETT WRIGHT.


Overseers of the Poor.


APPRAISAL OF THE PERSONAL PROPERTY


AT THE ALMSHOUSE IN WESTFORD, MASS., JAN. 30, 1892.


2 horses.


$250 00


1 drag rake.


50


12 cows.


360 00


1 stone drag


5 00


5 harnesses


53 00


4 plows . 32 00


3 halters.


2 00


2 cultivators 7 00


Currycombs and brushes .


3 00


1 wheel harrow 30 00


1 wolf robe.


3 00


1 corn planter 10 00


3 horse blankets


4 00


9 rakes . 1 50


2 feed bags


1 50


1 chain .


75


5 feed boxes


1 25


2 iron bars .


2 50


14 tons English hay


252 00


6 garden hoes


1 50


12 ton straw


4 00


Picks and handles


4 00


2 tons meadow hay


14 00


14 shovels .


7 00


10 tons ensilage.


50 00


2 bush hooks


1 00


2 bags shorts


4 00


1 iron rake ..


25


1 bag oats.


1 45


7 scythes and snathes ...


5 00


4 bags meal


00


5 potato diggers.


1 50


1 ton corn fodder


00


1 grindstone .. 3 00


3 bushels corn.


2 25


1 mowing machine


20 00


2 bushels wheat


1 85


1 corn sheller


2 00


2 sets of measures .


2 00


Fanning mill


3 00


2 flails


50


5 ladders


4 00


8 hay forks .


2 75


3 tubs.


1 00


Meal bags and sacks


. 00


1 apple picker


25


Machine oil


50


Corn cutter.


50


2 horse muzzles


. 00


8 bushel baskets.


2 00


Wrenches and hammers ..


2 50


Ditching knife


1 00


1 ensilage cutter


35 00


Grub hoes


1 00


1 express wagon


20 00


1 wagon jack


25


1 milk wagon


15 00


1 wagon pole.


2 00


1 sleigh


8 00


Neck yoke and eveners. ..


7 00


1 whip


25


1 ox yoke.


75


1 feed cutter


1 00


8 bushels beans


20 00


1 hay knife.


50


Grass seed .


2 00


Water trough


10 00


Pop corn


3 00


Sleigh bells


1 50


1 iron water pail


50


1 cow bell


50


7 manure forks


3 50


2 two-horse sleds


60 00


1 coal sifter


50


1 one-horse sled.


8 00


10 lbs. wire.


75


3 carts .


125 00


29 cords of wood


135 00


1 pung


5 00


Lumber.


25 00


1 hay wagon.


35 00


1 ton coal 6 00


1 farm wagon.


10 00


3 shoats


12 00


1 wheelbarrow


1 00


50 fowls


25 00


1 horse rake.


20 00


1 range


20 00


1 roller


.


6 00


4 stoves


15 00


50


Ropes and pulleys


30 0


Old iron


54


Carpet


10 00


Injection pipe. . 1 00


10 beds, bedding, etc. ..


275 00


5 padlocks and chains ... 2 50


6 tables . ..


3 00


3 lanterns ... 2 00


1 extension table


6 00


2 clothes baskets 1 00


3 light-stands .


1 00


3 clothes lines . 50


15


1 cabinet chair


1 00


Clothes dryers


50


24 chairs .


13 00


2 wash boilers 4 50


5 rocking chairs


75


1 washing machine 1 00


1 sick chair


75


5 wash tubs. 2 50


1 bed pan


75


2 clothes wringers 2 00


75


1 cradle .


. 00


4 apple parers


75


Window and door screens.


. 00


1 meat cutter.


2 50


6 looking glasses


1 50


Ice tongs


1 25


5 chests and drawers


4 00


1 castor


50


3 cranberry rakes .


4 00


2 sieves.


75


Cheese press .


25


1 dinner bell


50


Branding iron


1 50


1 steelyard .


75


2 chests


75


2 porcelain kettles . .


. 00


4 axes . .


3 00


1 copper kettle.


1 75


2 saw horses.


1 00


2 chopping knives & tray.


75


Carpenter's tools


13 00


Stoneware.


1 75


5 wood saws .


2 00


Tinware


30 00


1 cross-cut saw 2 00


1 75


Knives, forks and spoons.


5 00


2 whitewash brushes 1 50


3 brooms


50


1 step ladder 1 25


2 mops .


50


Window blind . 1 00


Slop pail


30


8 tubs.


40


2 dozen Mason jars


2 00


90 bars soap


3 50


2 dozen candles


50


2 clocks


4 00


1 barrel flour.


6 00


1 fly trap


15


Spices and box


2 00


1 force pump


2 00 60


2 pounds tea


1 00


Window glass


2 00


1 pound soda .


05


10 pounds resin


25


12 pound cream tartar ....


20


20 gallons soft soap


2 00


1% barrel crackers .


25


10 gallons pickles


3 00


2 gallons of maple syrup. N


00


500 pounds pork 45 00


150 lbs. granulated sugar.


: 75


100 bushels potatoes 50 00


Extracts


75


Onions .


2 00


3 pounds raisins


30


60 jars preserves


20 00


12 pounds cheese .


1 50


2 traps . . .


50


60 pounds lard .


6 00


24 empty cider barrels.


5 00


55 pounds butter


16 50


20 flour barrels .


2 00


7 candle sticks.


75


1 churn ...


1 50


Candle moulds .


1 00


45 gallons of vinegar .


4 50


6 lamps .


2 00


1 barrel of cider .. . .


4 50


Table linen and towels. . .


7 00


2 water pails .


50


$2,499 30


5 Flatirons


1 50


SAMUEL L. TAYLOR, JOHN R. PIKE, ALVAN FISHER,


Appraisers of Property.


30 curtains and fixtures .. 1 chamber set.


12 00


Clothes pins .


10 00


2 wash boards 1 00


1 lounge


1 25


Set of wood bowls .


Shovel and tongs.


. 00


Crockery


13 00


Mason's tools


2 pounds coffee .


60


2 oil cans .


AUDITOR'S REPORT.


WESTFORD, MASS., March 1, 1892.


GENTLEMEN-I hereby certify that I have made a full and thorough inspection of the accounts of the Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Selectmen, and Overseers of the Poor, and find the same correctly cast and properly vouched.


GEO. W. GOODE, Auditor.


To MESSRS. J. HENRY READ. SHERMAN H. FLETCHER, GEORGE W HEYWOOD, Selectmen of Westford.


LIST OF JURORS, 1892.


The following names will be reported at the annual March meet- ing, to be placed in the Jury Box, subject to revision by the town :


HAMMETT D. WRIGHT.


GEORGE T. DAY.


WILLIAM M. LEE.


MELBOURNE F. HUTCHINS.


ISAAC W. CARKIN.


ALVIN G. POLLEY.


SAMUEL G. HUMISTON.


FRANCIS L. FLETCHER.


AUGUSTUS BUNCE.


HIRAM WHITNEY.


GEO. H. HARTFORD. GEO. W. BUSSEY. HORACE E. GOULD.


GEORGE F. CARKIN. JAMES H. O'BRIEN.


ELBERT H. FLAGG.


THEODORE H. HAMBLET.


FRANK W. BANISTER.


FRANK H. HILDRETH.


WILBERT E. PARSONS.


CHARLES M. GRIFFIN.


LEWIS C. DANE.


J. EVERETT WOODS. WAYLAND F. BALCH.


J. HENRY READ, SHERMAN H. FLETCHER, GEORGE W. HEYWOOD,


Selectmen of Westford.


WESTFORD, MASS., Feb. 16, 1892.


WARRANT FOR TOWN MEETING, MARCH 21, 1892.


COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. MIDDLESEX SS.


To ISAAC E. DAY, one of the Constables of the Town of Westford, in said County, GREETING :


You are hereby required in the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid, to notify and warn all the inhabitants of said town qual- ified to vote in elections and also in town affairs, to meet at the Town House, in said Westford, on Monday, the twenty-first day of March, being the third Monday in said month, at eight o'clock A. M. The polls will be opened at eight o'clock A. M., and closed at one o'clock P. M .; and they are then and there to act upon the fol- lowing articles, to wit :


1st. To choose a Moderator.


2d. To see if the town will determine the compensation for the Tax Collector hereafter, or act in relation to the same.


3d. To bring in their votes for Town Clerk, one Selectman for one year, one for two years, and one for three years, one Overseer of the Poor for one year, one for two years, and one for three years, one Assessor for one year, one for two years, and one for three years, Town Treasurer, one School Committee for one year, and two for three years, two Constables, one Trustee of the Town Library for three years, Collector of Taxes, one Auditor, also to vote on the following question : "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town," all on one ballot.


4th. To hear the report of the Selectmen, and act in relation to the same.


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5th. To hear the report of the Overseers of the Poor, and act in relation to the same.


6th. To hear the report of the School Committee, and act in rela- lation to the same.


7th. To hear the report of the Trustees of the Town Library, and act in relation to the same.


8th. To hear the report of the Selectmen on Guide Boards, and act in relation to the same.


9th. To see if the town will accept the report of the Auditor ap- pointed to audit the accounts of the Town Officers, or act in re- lation to the same.


10th. To see if the Town will accept the list of Jurors as reported by the Selectmen, or act in relation to the same.


11th. To raise and appropriate money to repair Roads and Bridges.


12th. To raise and appropriate money for Public Schools.


13th. To raise and appropriate money for the support of the Poor. . 14th. To raise and appropriate money to defray town debts and charges, or act in relation to the same.


15th. To see if the town will authorize the Town Treasurer, under the written direction of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time to meet the demands on the treasury, or act in re- lation to the same.


16th. To choose all other Town Officers necessary to be chosen by hand vote, or act in relation to the same.


17th. To see if the town will adopt the provisions of Chap. 264, Acts of 1890, in regard to electing Commissioners of Public Cemeteries, or act in relation to the same.


18th. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to repair and paint the rooms to the Town House, and to buy new lamps for the same; and if so, to raise and appropriate money for that purpose, or act in relation to the same.


19th. To see what action the town will take in regard to insuring its public buildings, or act in relation to the same.


20th. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars for an evening school at Graniteville, or act in relation to the same.


21st. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to buy ladders, fire-hooks and pails, to be placed under a suitable covering in different localities in town, for use in case of fire, or act in relation to the same.


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22d. To see what action the town will take in regard to the heating and ventilating apparatus furnished by the Middlesex Machine Company for Forge Village school-house, or act in relation to the same.


23d. To see if the town will vote to increase the compensation of the Town Treasurer, or act in relation to the same.


AND YOU ARE DIRECTED to serve this warrant by posting up true and attested copies at the Town House and each Depot in said Westford, eight days at least before the time of holding said meeting.


HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of holding the meeting aforesaid.


Given under our hands and seals, this first day of March, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and ninety-two.


J. HENRY READ, SHERMAN H. FLETCHER, GEORGE W. HEYWOOD, Selectmen of Westford.


LIBRARY REPORT.


The Trustees' of the Westford Public Library respectfully submit the following report for the year ending Feb. 22, 1892 :


The books purchased during the past year have been care- fully selected in accordance with the policy stated in the last annual report. Valuable additions have been made to all the classes, and it is believed that none of the money has been spent for works of trashy character, or of harmful moral or eth- ical tendency. The amount appropriated, together with the in- come from the Library funds and the allotment from the dog- tax, has enabled the Trustees to purchase many of the best books published during the year, and many standard works of reference. Among the latter are Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, Stedman and Hutchinson's Library of American Litera- ture, and the first eight volumes of Chambers' excellent new Encyclopedia. While providing a reasonable amount of light and entertaining reading matter, the needs of scholars, teachers, and careful investigators have not been neglected. Our citizens may justly feel increasing pride in their Library, containing as it does so much of the recorded wit, wisdom, and scholarship of the present and past.


It would be strange indeed if the Library contained no worth- less books. It is manifestly impossible for the Trustees to read all the books before purchasing them, and mistakes in selec- tion are therefore likely to occur. £ Many that were popular when first published, and eagerly read, now remain year after year uncalled for, owing to some change in the tastes of read- ers. Others have lost their original value or authority through


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later development or progress in the arts or sciences of which they treat, or because the subjects on which they were written were of no lasting interest or importance.


But no law of the state, no regulation of the Library, re- quires any of our citizens to read poor books, and the good ones to which they have access are numbered by thousands. It is en- tirely within their power to derive wholesome entertainment or thorough information, according to their needs, from the Lib- rary. All that is needed is an intelligent and reasonable use of it. If there are any who find their children too much absorbed in reading frivolous or comparatively worthless books, the remedy is in their own hands, and not far to seek. The needs and tastes of the children should be considered, the catalogue should be consulted, and the choice of books should be wisely controlled. The Library has undoubtedly promoted the intelligence and im- proved the morals of the town ; but our young readers will de- rive the greatest benefit from it only through the careful guid- ance and supervision of their parents.




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