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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