USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1902-1907 > Part 2
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School Committee-Elbert H. Flagg, T. Arthur E. Wilson, Trustee of J. V. Fletcher Library for Three Years-William E. Frost; for one year, Joseph R. Draper.
Commissioner of Public Burial Grounds-George T. Day. Tree Warden-William H. H. Burbeck.
The license question was decided in the negative: no, 80; yes, 52.
The ballots, used and unused, were enclosed in separate envelopes, also the voting lists, and were sealed and duly endorsed, as required by law, and delivered to the Town Clerk.
32. Voted, to accept the minutes of the meeting.
33. Voted, to dissolve the meeting.
A true record. Attest :
EDWARD FISHER,
Town Clerk.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, JUNE 5, 1902.
At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of West- ford, Mass., qualified by law to vote in town affairs, held at the Town House, June 5, 1902, the following business was trans- acted :-
1.
Herbert E. Fletcher elected Moderator.
2. Voted, that the Selectmen be and hereby are authorized in behalf of the town to sign an agreement or writing to indem- nify and save harmless the Commonwealth against all claims and demands for damages, if any, which may be sustained by any person whose property is taken or injured by the construc- tion of the proposed State highway in this town.
3. Voted, that the following resolutions be adopted.
Whereas, Mr. E. M. Raymond, of Charlestown, Mass., a great grandson of Ebenezer Prescott, one of the founders of the Westford Social Library, has recently given to the J. V. Fletcher Library two large paintings of Biblical subjects, a marble statute of Pocahontas, a piece of Japanese hammered work in iron, silver and gold, and several other works of art; -
Whereas, these decorations are a great and permanent addition to the value and uplifting influence of our Library ;- therefore
Resolved, that we, legal voters of Westford, in town meet- ing assembled, in behalf of ourselves and our posterity do hereby express our thanks to Mr. Raymond for his munificence, and our grateful appreciation of his generous gifts.
Resolved, that the Town Clerk be instructed to place these resolutions on the town records, and to transmit a copy of them to Mr. Raymond.
4. Voted that the meeting be dissolved.
A true record. Attest : EDWARD FISHER,
Town Clerk.
STATE ELECTION, NOVEMBER 4, 1902.
Party designations: R., Republican; D., Democratic; P., Prohibition; S., Socialist; S. L. N. P., Socialist Labor Nomina- tion Paper; R. I. N. P., Republican Independent Nomination Paper.
Whole number of ballots cast. 1
Prec. 1. Prec. 2. Prec. 3. Total.
148
115
45 308
GOVERNOR.
John L. Bates of Boston (R).
112
65
26
203
Michael T. Berry of Haverhill (S.L.N.P )
1
2
0
3
John C. Chase of Haverhill (S.)
1
10
3
14
William A. Gaston of Boston (D.)
28
31
11
70
William H. Partridge of Newton (P.).
3
3
1
7
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.
John Quincy Adams of Amesbury (S.) .. .
3
15
3
21
Thomas F. Brennan of Salem (S.L.N.P.).
0
3
0
3
Oliver W. Cobb of Easthampton (P.) ....
4
3
0
7
Curtis Guild, Jr., of Boston (R.)
111
59
26
196
Herbert C. Joyner of Great Barrington (D)
26
27
11
64
SECRETARY.
Edward A. Buckland of Holyoke (S.)
..
3
11
3
17
Herbert B. Griffin of Winthrop (P.)
3
3
0
6
Jeremiah O'Fihelly of Abington (S. L. N. P.) .
0
4
0
4
William M. Olin of Boston (R.).
112
60
26
198
William B. Stone of Springfield (D.)
26
26
9
61
---
20
TREASURER AND RECEIVER GENERAL.
Prec. 1. Prec. 2. Prec. 3. Total.
Edward S. Bradford of Springfield (R.).
112
59
27
198
Joseph L. Chalifoux of Lowell (D.).
27
31
8
66
Frederick A. Nagler of Springfield (S. L. N. P)
0
3
0
3
Daniel Parlin of Worcester (P.)
3
3
0
6
David Taylor of Boston (S.)
1
9
3
13
AUDITOR.
David Morrison of Fall River (P.)
4
3
0
7
S. Fremont Packard of Brockton (S.) ...
1
10
3
14
Charles Stoeber of Adams (S. L. N. P.) ..
0
3
0
3
Thomas C. Thacher of Yarmouth (D.)
26
26
8
60
Henry E. Turner of Malden (R.)
107
62
25
194
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Allen Coffin of Nantucket (P.)
3
3
0
6
Charles E. Fenner of Worcester (S.).
1
11
3
15
John J. Flaherty of Gloucester (D.).
25
22
8
55
John A. Henley of Lynn (S. L. N. P.)
0
3
0
3
Herbert Parker of Lancaster (R.)
.110
64
25
199
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, FOURTH DISTRICT.
Marcus A. Coolidge of Fitchburg (D.)
28
29
10
67
Herbert S. Morley of Templeton (P.)
4
2
0
6
John F. Mullen of Clinton (S.).
1
12
2
15
Charles Q. Tirrell of Natick (R.)
107
58
25
190
COUNCILLOR.
John H. Gray of Malden (P.).
4
4
0
8
William J. Mccluskey of Lowell (D.)
28
23
8
59
Henri E. Richardson of Lowell (S.)
1
13
2
16
Walter Scott Watson of Lowell (R.)
109
61
27
197
SENATOR.
Quincy Adams of Townsend (P.)
3
3
0
6
Herbert E. Fletcher of Westford (R.)
112
72
35
219
Benjamin Staveley of Tewksbury (S.)
1
11
1
13
Henry F. Tarbell of Pepperell (D.)
26
21
6
53
21
REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT.
Prec. 1. Prec. 2. Prec. 3. Total.
John M. Maloney of Ayer (R.)
91
58
22
171
Henry C. Sherwin of Ayer (R. I. N. P.). .
21
22
6
49
J. Hartwell Whitcomb of Littleton (D.) .
31
24
7
62
COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
George R. Duren of Carlisle (D.)
27
27
10
64
Levi S. Gould of Melrose (R.)
111
61
24
196
Arthur Staveley of Tewksbury (S.)
1
11
3
15
Luther S. Wood of Lowell (P.) .
5
4
1
10
RETURN OF VOTES FOR REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT FOR MIDDLESEX DISTRICT NO. 23.
Acton. Ayer.
Little- ton. 33
West- Shirley. ford. Total.
John M. Maloney of Ayer .. .
93
252
59
171
608
Henry C. Sherwin of Ayer . . .
95
189
50
91
49
474
J. Hartwell Whitcomb of Lit- tleton
147
31
98
42
62
380
Blanks
23
15
7
20
26
91
Whole number of ballots
358
487
188
212
308 1553
A true record. Attest :
EDWARD FISHER,
Town Clerk.
PETITION OF ORDER OF NOTICE
Upon and Location Granted to the Lowell and Fitchburg Street Railway Company.
PETITION.
TO THE HONORABLE, THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN OF THE TOWN OF WESTFORD, IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, AND COM- MONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS:
Your petitioners, the Lowell & Fitchburg St. Ry. Company, by a majority of its directors, respectfully represent that they have organized to construct a Street Railway from the Boston & Maine Railroad Crossing on East Main Street, in the Town of Ayer, and County of Middlesex, and to extend through Littleton, Groton, Westford and Chelmsford, in the County of Middlesex, to the junction of the Nashua, Dunstable and Groton roads at North Chelmsford Village, one of its termini; with a branch at or about the Sandy Pond Station on the Boston & Maine Railroad in Ayer, and running through Littleton, Acton and Concord, in the County of Middlesex, to the Square at Concord Village, its second termini.
And your petitioners pray that they may be granted a loca- tion commencing at the dividing line between the Town of Groton and the Town of Westford at a point where the so-called Lowell Road (or Central Street) crosses same to the Chelmsford Town Line, at which point they may connect with the location prayed for in petition to the Selectmen of the Town of Chelmsford, already filed with the Selectmen of the Town of Chelmsford.
That the location shall begin at a point where the so-called Lowell Road (or Central Street) crosses the dividing line between the Town of Groton and the Town of Westford; thence by way of Central Street to Forge Village; thence by way of Union Street to Graniteville Station; thence by way of Main Street to Broad- way; thence by way of Broadway to the so-called Graniteville and Westford Road; thence by way of the so-called Graniteville
23
and Westford road to road leading from Pine Ridge Station to Westford Station to Westford Station; thence by way of the so- called Westford and Lowell road to the dividing line between the Town of Westford and the Town of Chelmsford.
Also, your petitioners pray you for a location in the Town of Westford, and County of Middlesex, from a point so called Westford Station extending along Depot Street to Main Street; thence along Main Street to a point at the junction of Main Street with the so-called Graniteville and Westford road. The above referred to locations extending to the dividing line between the Town of Westford and the Town of Chelmsford, and there to connect with the location prayed for by your petitioners in their petition above referred to, duly filed with the Selectmen of the Town of Chelmsford, with the right to erect the necessary poles, and to operate said Railway by the overhead electric system, or with any other system or power as may seem best, together with all other rights incidental to such operation.
Your petitioners respectfully represent that they will file, within the proper time, such plan of proposed Railway as will be acceptable to your Board.
Respectfully submitted.
WM. S. MURRAY, H. D. WEAVER, ARTHUR H. SHELDON, JOSEPH A. PARKHURST, Majority of Board of Directors.
ORDER OF NOTICE.
WESTFORD, MASS., Sept. 6, 1902.
ORDERED by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of West- ford, Mass., in session, on the foregoing petition of the Lowell & Fitchburg St. Ry. Company, a body corporate under the laws of said Commonwealth, for locations for its tracks in said Town of Westford, that a meeting of said Board of Selectmen be holden at the Town Hall at Westford Centre, on Thursday, the twenty-
-
24
fifth day of September current, at two o'clock in the afternoon, at which time and place said Board of Selectmen will consider said petition, and all parties interested may be heard, and that due written notice of such hearing be given by publishing a copy of said petition and this order thereon in the Lowell Morning Citizen, a newspaper published in Lowell, Mass. (there being no newspaper published in said Westford), the publication to be at least fourteen days before said meeting.
SHERMAN H. FLETCHER, WESLEY O. HAWKES, ALBERT P. RICHARDSON, Selectmen of Westford.
WESTFORD, MASS., Sept. 27, 1902.
I hereby certify that the above petition of the Directors of the Lowell & Fitchburg St. Ry. Company for locations of its tracts in said Westford was filed with the Selectmen of said Westford, September 6, 1902, and that said petition and order of the said Selectmen thereon was published as therein ordered in the Lowell Morning Citizen, a newspaper published in Lowell in said County (there being no newspaper published in said West- ford), upon the tenth day of September, 1902.
EDWARD FISHER,
Town Clerk.
WESTFORD, MASS., Sept. 27, 1902.
Then personally appeared the said Edward Fisher, Town Clerk, and made oath to the truth of the above statement signed by him.
Before me,
JOHN M. FLETCHER, Justice of the Peace.
.
25
LOCATION.
TOWN OF WESTFORD.
Whereas, the Lowell & Fitchburg Street Railway Company, by a majority of its directors, has petitioned for a location of the tracks of a street railway in the Town of Westford, and for permission to construct, equip, maintain and operate a street railway thereon of a single or double track with all necessary turn- outs and connections, to make use of an overhead electric system, or with any other system or power, as may seem best, together with all other rights incidental to such operation; to erect and maintain the necessary poles, wires, etc., along said route; and due notice of a hearing upon said petition having been given and a hearing had thereon, it is
Ordered, That a location is hereby granted to the said rail- way company as petitioned for, over the following streets, viz .:
A double track beginning on the road leading from West Chelmsford to Brookside at a point where said road crosses the boundary between Westford and Chelmsford; thence running on above mentioned highway and private land to a point near Brookside mill; thence through private land and highways as shown by plan to Westford Station; thence a single track location crossing the Stony Brook Division of the Boston & Maine Rail- road, private land and the Lowell Road and running through private land, or along Depot Street to Main Street in Westford Village; thence through Main Street in Westford Village to the Forge Village Road ; thence along Forge Village Road and through private land to Broadway in Graniteville; thence through Broadway in Graniteville to Cross Street; thence through Cross Street and private land to Main Street in Granite- ville; thence a double track location along Main Street to Union Street; thence along Union Street and private land to Central Street in Forge Village; thence along Central Street to a point on the dividing line between Westford and Groton, with suitable spurs, turnouts, side tracks and switches. The above location to be more definitely shown by detailed plans to be accepted by the Selectmen of the Town of Westford. Said plans, when accepted, to become a part of the franchise.
26
The location and rights described aforesaid are granted upon the following express conditions, a violation of any which shall, at the election of the Board of Selectmen, operate as a forfeiture of the location and rights herein granted.
SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL LAWS.
Section 1. The right to build and operate the railway is upon the condition that said company shall comply with all the laws of the Commonwealth applicable thereto; also with all the requirements of the by-laws of the Town of Westford and the regulations of the Selectmen, both those now in force, and those that may hereafter be adopted.
PLAN TO BE FILED.
Section 2. Before beginning the construction of said rail- way said railway company shall file with the Town Clerk of Westford a description and plan of said location, showing in detail the proposed location of all tracks, sidings, turnouts, switches and poles, and such alterations in the width and grading of said streets, including filling and excavating within the limits thereof, as may be considered necessary for said road.
Section 3. The whole work of construction, and the kind and quality of material used, shall be under the direction of and satisfactory to the Selectmen, and approved by them.
RAILS.
Section 4. The said company, wherever the track is laid outside and separate from the travelled way, shall use "T" rails weighing not less than sixty pounds per yard, and where the track is in the travelled way, the said company shall use either nine inch, one-half groove, girder rails, weighing not less than ninety pounds per yard and sixty feet long, properly paved, or "T" rails weighing not less than sixty pounds per yard, and the space between the tracks and eighteen inches outside thereof filled with macadam, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board of Selectmen. In all cases the track is to have a clearance from any obstruction of at least four and one-half feet on tangents, and more in proportion on curves.
27
TIES.
Section 5. The said company shall use ties not less than six inches face, six inches thick, and seven feet long, of chestnut, or such other material as the Selectmen shall approve. Ties to be laid not over twenty-four inches apart on centre.
STREET WIDENING.
Section 6. The said company shall, at its own expense, put the travel portion of the highway in as good condition as it was before construction of the company's track, whether the change in said travel portion of the highway is occasioned by the widen- ing, straightening or rebuilding of any street, or the building or rebuilding of any bridge or culvert, or by reason of reconstruc- tion or repairs of said railway, or in the location or construction of any extension thereof, such widening, straightening, building, or reconstruction or rebuilding shall be done by said Town or by said company, as the Selectmen may elect; any widening, straightening or building of the railway located by this order to be shown upon said plan before construction is com- menced, and the entire cost and expense of any work required to be done under this section shall be paid by said railway com- pany, including the cost of land, or any rights therein, or any damages for the taking thereof; the roadway independent of the railway to be of sufficient width to properly accommodate other travel.
The entire cost of all such filling and excavating as may be required by the Selectmen within existing limits or layouts of streets, in order to provide for the railway or any extension thereof, including all expense incident to such filling and exca- vating, and the settlement of all damages and claims arising therefrom, shall be borne by said company. Any filling and excavating required in the construction of said railway hereby located to be shown upon the said plan before commencing con- struction.
GRADE, SNOW AND ICE.
Section 7. All tracks shall be laid in conformity with the plans approved by the railway commissioners. The roadbed is to be constructed with at least eighteen inches of suitable ballast
28
below base of rails, and properly drained. Surface water and existing water courses to be properly provided for at the expense of the railway company.
Said company shall not run snow plows or remove snow from its tracks unless they remove an amount of the snow from said streets or sidewalks sufficient to make such streets and sidewalks safe and convenient for public travel and satisfactory to the Selectmen. If any snow or ice is removed by said company, and it is done so as to leave any part of the street or sidewalk. dangerous in the opinion of the Selectmen or Superintendent of Streets, they or either of them may cause such snow or ice to be removed as to make said streets and sidewalks safe and conve- nient for public travel, and the expense thereof shall be charged to and paid by the said railway company.
SEWER MAINS AND PIPES.
Section 8. If at any time said Town shall lay sewer mains or other pipes in said streets, or widen said streets, or raise or lower the grade thereof, or make any alteration or excavation therein, and it shall be necessary to remove any of the tracks of said company, the expense of such removal and of relaying said tracks shall be borne by said company, in conformance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SURPLUS MATERIAL.
Section 9. The company shall at its own expense remove all waste and surplus material from the streets to spoil banks provided by the company, or to such points, 1500 ft. or more, as directed by the Board, but for excess haul over 1500 ft. the com- pany shall be paid one-half cent per each 100 ft. for each load of not less than one yard. All ways shall be left in as good and safe condition as they were when the work was commenced, to the satisfaction of the Board of Selectmen.
The company shall not close or blockade any cross street or private highway during construction without permission from the Board of Selectmen.
29
POLES.
Section 10. All poles erected by said company shall be of chestnut or cedar, or of such wood and size and form as the Selectmen may direct, and shall be of sufficient strength to carry any and all wires that may at any time be attached to them, and shall be kept painted and of such color as the Selectmen shall determine. Cross bars shall be placed on all the poles erected by the company if required by the Selectmen. All poles shall be firmly set not less than six feet in the ground, and shall be on one side of the street whenever required by the Selectmen, be of such height, not exceeding forty feet above ground, as the Selectmen may order, so as to provide suitable spaces on said poles, above the wires and attachments of the railway company, for attaching and supporting other wires.
WIRES.
Section 11. Trolley wires, feed wires and all other wires shall be maintained not less than twenty feet from the ground, unless otherwise authorized by the Selectmen. Guard wires shall be placed over trolley wires wherever required by the Selectmen.
Said Board of Selectmen shall have the right to order that all wires in said street shall be placed upon the poles of said com- pany, without prejudice, however, to the right of said company to receive reasonable compensation from other companies for the use of its poles, or arrangements shall be made by said company with all other companies now having wires strung or having the right to string wires in said streets, whereby they shall be granted the right to use said company's poles for their wires, wherever the same will not be detrimental to the said railway company; but no wires belonging to any other company or person shall be placed upon said poles without permission first being obtained in writing from the Selectmen.
Any department of said Town shall have the exclusive use of the upper cross bar and the top of each pole, free of charge, for the purpose of placing wires thereon for its own use.
All wires shall be so placed as not to interfere with, or be in dangerous proximity to, any existing wires belonging to the Town of Westford.
30
Proper bonding shall be made to convey all return current.
Section 12. Wherever said track passes opposite the entrance of any private avenue or driveway, said company shall plank, pave or macadamize said driveway or avenue, as required by the Selectmen, between the rails and for suitable distance, not exceeding eighteen inches on the sides thereof. And wher- ever the track crosses a street, walk or gutter, said company shall properly pave or macadamize the same, if required by the Selectmen, and the said walk or gutter has been previously paved or macadamized.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
Section 13. Until such time as the Town of Westford may adopt a system of public lighting in the villages through which the tracks of said company are to be maintained, the Board of Selectmen may order to be maintained at the company's expense proper electric lights of at least 25 candle power at the more important street corners that in the opinion of the Board may be dangerous unless so lighted. These lights to be kept burning only during the hours when the railroad service is maintained.
RUNNING OF CARS AND FARES.
Section 14. Said railway company shall, unless prevented by accident or other unavoidable delay, or excused by the Selectmen, run its cars daily throughout the year in both directions between the terminus of its tracks at Ayer and the terminus of its tracks at North Chelmsford at regular intervals of not less than one hour each. The first car from said Ayer and from said North Chelmsford to start not later than six o'clock A. M., and the last car not earlier than ten o'clock P. M., provided, however, in case a later car is required reasonable accommodations shall be given for the transportation of passengers by said railway company.
The fare for a continuous ride between the Groton town line and Brookside Station shall not exceed five cents.
The fare for a continuous ride between Brookside Station and a point in North Chelmsford Village where proposed road will connect with the tracks of the Boston & Northern St. Rail- way shall not exceed five cents.
31
All school children attending the public schools shall be carried to and from school on such days as the schools are in session for ten rides for twenty-five cents, which will be furnished in the form of strip tickets good for school children only. Said tickets to be furnished to the Superintendent of Schools in such numbers as he may request, who will take charge of the sale of the same to the children attending the public schools.
Said company shall carry free of charge all members of the police and fire department wearing their badge of office in the performance of their duties.
BOND.
Section 15. The said company before beginning the con- struction of said railway shall execute and deliver to the Town of Westford a bond in the penal sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) conditioned to indemnify the said Town, its officers and agents, from and against all claims and demands for injury to person or property, all costs, charges and expenses, or com- pensation for or on account of any defect or defects in said streets in consequence of said company's failure to keep its tracks, turnouts and switches in repair, or in any way resulting from the construction and operation of said street railway com- pany upon and over said streets, and to reimburse said Town for all loss or damage at any time sustained by it on account of said defects.
And also that it will save harmless said Town and its officers and agents from all claims or demands for injury to person or property, costs, charges and expenses growing out of, or result- ing from, the erection, maintenance, operation and use of elec- tric system for motive power.
The Selectmen may at any time after the expiration of the above bond, or any subsequent bond, require a new bond upon the same conditions as above set forth.
TIME OF COMPLETION.
Section 16. The compnay shall complete the construction of proposed road within eighteen months from the date of accept- ance of this franchise.
32
TREES.
Section 17. No trees or shrubs shall be cut or trimmed by said railway company except by permission of the Tree Warden. Section 18. The terms "Board of Selectmen," "Select- men" and "Board," as used in this order of location and in terms, conditions and obligations to which said order is subject, are intended and shall be taken to extend to and include all successors of the existing Board of Selectmen of the Town of. Westford.
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