USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Brookline > Town records of Brookline, Massachusetts, 1872-1884, v. 3 > Part 2
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Voted, That the polls be kept open until four o'clock.
The polls were then opened and kept open until four o'clock ; when, after giving due notice, and giving all quali- · fied voters who had not voted an opportunity so to do if they desired, they were declared closed.
The Moderator and Town Clerk then proceeded to sort and count the votes given in, and the whole number so given in was five hundred and five, and the following persons, all having a large majority of the votes cast, no one less than two hundred and ninety-eight, were declared elected to the following offices ; viz., -
Town Clerk: B. F. Baker [sworn by the Moderator].
Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, and Surveyors of Highways : Charles D. Head [sworn by the Moderator], Horace James [sworn by the Moder- ator], William Aspinwall [sworn by the Moderator], James W. Edgerly [sworn by the Moderator], Charles K. Kirby [sworn by the Moderator].
Assessors : Thomas B. Hall [sworn by the Moderator], Austin W. Benton [sworn by the Moderator], William Lincoln [sworn by the Moderator].
Treasurer and Collector : Moses Withington [sworn by the Moderator].
School Committee for three years : Stephen Salisbury, J. Eliot Cabot, Robert Amory.
School Committee for one year : R. G. F. Candage.
Trustees of Public Library for three years : William Aspinwall [ac- cepted], Augustine Shurtleff [accepted], George F. Homer [accepted], Robert S. Davis.
Fence Viewers : Clark L. Haynes, William K. Melcher.
Constables : Jonathan P. Sanborn [sworn by the Moderator], George F. Johnson [sworn by the Town Clerk], James W. Sinclair [sworn by the Moderator], Daniel W. Phelps [sworn by the Moderator], George W. Funk [sworn by the Moderator], Samuel D. Edwards, Willard Y. Gross [sworn by the Moderator], Eben W. Reed, George F. Dearborn
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Adjourned Annual Meeting, March 26, 1872.
[sworn by the Moderator], Thomas S. Pettingill [sworn by the Moder- ator], Daniel C. Murray, Burnham C. Clark [sworn by the Town Clerk].
In voting, the check list was used, and no one was allowed to vote until his name was found on the list and checked.
The meeting then nominated and chose the following offi- cers ; viz., -
Truant Officers : George W. Funk [sworn by the Town Clerk], Wil- lard Y. Gross, George F. Dearborn.
Surveyors of Lumber and Measurers of Wood and Bark: William D. Coolidge, J. Anson Guild, Frank F. Seamans, William K. Melcher, John E. Cousens.
Field Drivers : Levi Doran, Burnham C. Clark, Alfred Doran, Henry A. Miles, Henry H. Withington, J. Walter Edmond, Munroe Goodspeed, Joseph C. Bence, John E. Cousens, Patrick H. Cusick, Alfred G. San- born, Aaron D. Whitney, Eben W. Reed, Daniel C. Murray, Thomas S. Pettingill.
Sealers of Leather : Samuel A. Robinson, Willard Warren.
Sealer of Weights and Measures : Alfred Kenrick, Jr.
Pound Keeper : Eben W. Reed.
Cemetery Committee : Thomas S. Pettingill.
Auditors : Robert S. Littell, Edward I. Thomas, Daniel H. Rogers.
Adjourned, to meet to-morrow, Tuesday afternoon, the twenty-sixth instant, at four o'clock.
Attest : B. F. BAKER, Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH 26, 1872.
Pursuant to adjournment, the inhabitants of the town of Brookline met at the Town Hall in said town, on Tuesday, the twenty-sixth day of March A.D. 1872, and were called to order at four of the clock in the afternoon, the Moderator, Charles H. Drew, in the chair.
Third Article taken up :
To hear and act upon the reports of town officers and committees.
Mr. Edward S. Philbrick presented the following reports of town officers, which had been printed and distributed through the town, and which were read by their titles and accepted ; to wit, -
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Brookline Town Records.
Treasurer's report of the receipts and expenditures of the town of Brookline; also report of the Selectmen and reports of the Trustees of the Public Library and of the School Committee; with a list of the taxes and the names of the tax-payers for the year ending February 1, 1872.
The Selectmen also presented the following additional report ; to wit, -
IN TOWN MEETING, BROOKLINE, March 26, 1872.
The Selectmen of Brookline respectfully submit the following addi- tional report : -
We have received from the County Commissioners notice of the peti- tion to that board of Amos A. Lawrence and forty-two others for a new road from the bridge across Charles river at Abbott's wharf to Western avenue in Boston across the Brookline Branch Railroad. The hearing upon this petition will be on Tuesday, April 2, 1872. We have also received from the Joint Standing Committee on Railways and Canals notice of the petition of the trustees of the Boston, Hartford & Erie Railroad for authority to build a railroad through Brookline from the Reservoir station on Brighton street, to a point near the Cottage Farm station, with the purpose of making an independent line into Boston. We appeared at two hearings on this petition, and asked the committee that the railroad projected be allowed to cross no highways in Brookline at grade.
In view of the intention expressed by the town of supplying itself with water, we felt it our duty to have a bill introduced into the Legislature to enable the town to take water from Charles river. Several hearings have been had upon the matter, and the Committee has not yet reported.
As the city is applying to the Legislature for permission to take the waters of Charles river and of Sudbury river for the use of that city, we deemed it a proper occasion for urging the claims of the town of Brook- line to obtain a part of this new water supply upon reasonable terms, as a slight compensation for the loss and annoyance to the public and to the private citizens of Brookline during the last twenty-five years by reason of the laying of the water pipes in the streets, and the holding of large tracts of valuable land free from taxes for the benefit solely of the city of Boston.
We recommend the town to authorize the Selectmen in conjunction with the Committee on the Water Supply to urge both the foregoing prop- ositions before the Legislature, with power to employ counsel if they deem it expedient.
We noticed in the newspapers a notice of a hearing before the Com- mittee on Harbors, introduced into the Senate, to consider the expediency of making a reservoir or tidal basin in the Back bay, south of the Boston & Albany Railroad and west of the cross dam, to aid in the protection of the harbor of Boston, and as a protection against fire, and for sanitary purposes.
As this question involves the rights of drainage which this town has through the territory designated, we felt it our duty to appear before the
15
Adjourned Annual Meeting, March 26, 1872.
committee and request a hearing before any bill should be reported. This hearing is to take place on Friday the 29th instant.
We recommend to give the Selectmen express instructions in the premises.
CHARLES H. DREW. HORACE JAMES. WILLIAM ASPINWALL. CHARLES K. KIRBY.
Voted, To accept the foregoing report.
Voted, That the Selectmen be instructed to appear before the County Commissioners at the hearing for a new highway from the bridge across the Charles river to Western avenue in Boston, and look after the interests of the town.
Voted, That the Selectmen be instructed to appear at all hearings before the Joint Standing Committee on Railroads and Canals upon any petition for a railroad through Brook- line, and oppose any crossing by a railroad of any highway or town way in Brookline at grade.
Voted, That the Selectmen be instructed to appear before the Committee on Harbors upon the subject of a tidal basin in the Back Bay, and defend the interests of the town.
Mr. Charles D. Head presented the following report of the Committee on the Condition of Muddy River ; to wit, -
The committee appointed at a town meeting held on the 18th of Sep- tember, 1871, to whom was referred Article Seventh of the warrant for said meeting, with directions to report " what action if any shall be taken in regard to the correction of the existing nuisance arising from the offensive and unwholesome condition of Muddy river," now submit their report in part as follows :
Upon inquiry and personal examination they are satisfied that the diffi- culty arises mainly from the setting back, by the tides, of water loaded with impurities of the Back Bay, which upon the receding of the tide are left upon the margin and shallow bottom of the channel of Muddy river. In the opinion of the Committee, the most obvious and immediate action prac- ticable would be to exclude this impure flow of water from the channel.
In a conference with Mr. Bradley, employed for the city of Boston upon sewers and drains, as engineer, we were assured that a suitable and effective dam, with tide gate, to answer the purposes sought, could be erected on Western avenue in Boston, within the limits of the street, at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars. He made this estimate at our request, upon an examination of the premises, and submitted to us a diagram of the proposed structure, which meets our approval.
By this means the foul water from the southerly part of the Back Bay would be kept out, and the water of Muddy river drawn off at low tide, or kept up at such height as should be deemed most favorable for the drainage of the town and for protection against offensive deposits.
·
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Brookline Town Records.
'To accomplish this will, of course, require that the consent of the city of Boston be obtained. As we can neither see nor conceive of any disad- vantage to the city or to individual proprietors from such a structure, and as it will, if successful, be equally beneficial to citizens of Boston upon the south side of Muddy river as to those of Brookline upon the north, we feel confident that we may expect at least a ready consent, if not concurrence and contribution to the expense, from the city. We have not decmed it proper to make formal application to the eity govern- ment in relation to the matter until we ourselves should be clothed with proper authority to act decisively therein.
We recommend that the Selectmen or some other board or committee be authorized, either in conjunction with the eity of Boston or sepa- rately, in behalf of the town of Brookline, with the consent of the city government of Boston, to provide for the construction of a dam and tide gate at Western avenue, sufficient to exclude the flow of the tide from the Back Bay into Muddy river, and that the sum of three thousand dollars be appropriated for that purpose.
The committee do not consider that this expedient, if adopted, will answer all the purposes of permanent relief and protection; sooner or later some more direet discharge of the sewage of the town will be neces- sary. The committee look to the line of St. Mary's street as the only possible one for the purpose, but the recent annexation of marsh land to Boston embraced the whole of that street, and deprived the town of Brook- line of the means of reaching Charles river by the only practicable line.
To remedy this difficulty, application has been made to the Legislature for another change of boundary, so as to restore that street to the town of Brookline. The result is not yet determined.
With a larger sewer through that street to Charles river, and the ex- clusion of the offensive flow from the Back Bay, the committee are of the opinion that the drainage of the town can be made satisfactory, either by a complete system of covered sewers, or by admitting into the open channel of Muddy river the purer water of Charles river, instead of that which now brings to us the offensiveness of city drains.
We have not overlooked the fact that Muddy river is common to both Brookline and Boston, and that there is drainage upon the Boston side to be considered. We cannot doubt that in such a matter of common in- terests, some mode of providing for the common welfare, by joint measures, may be arranged. But, if not, it is the right and duty of our citizens to take such measures, within the liniits of their own town, as they find to be practically to assuage, if they cannot wholly remove, the measureless evils of deficient drainage.
We therefore recommend the further prosecution of the matter in such mode as the town may deem most efficient to secure the end desired.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
C. D. HEAD, JOHN WELLS, ROBT. AMORY, C. K. KIRBY, W. J. GRIGGS,
Committee.
BROOKLINE, March 25, 1872.
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Adjourned Annual Meeting, March 26, 1872.
Voted, To accept the foregoing report.
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized, either in con- junction with the city of Boston, or separately in behalf of the town of Brookline, with the consent of the city govern- ment of Boston, to provide for the construction of a dam and tide gate across Muddy river at Brookline avenue, sufficient to exclude the flow of the tide from Back Bay into Muddy river.
Voted, That the sum of three thousand dollars be raised and-appropriated for that purpose.
Mr. Edward S. Philbrick presented the following report of the committee for supplying the town with pure water ; to wit, -
REPORT.
The committee chosen at the town meeting May 2, 1871, " to con- sider the subject of supplying the town with pure water," would now report :
Since the last report, which was submitted to the town on the 23d January last, the city of Boston has withdrawn its application to the Legislature for power to take water from Charles river, and now con- fine their application to the Sudbury river, from which they now hope to obtain an ample supply at an early day.
In view of these facts, we would recommend that action be taken to obtain the legislation necessary for the purpose of enabling our town to get a supply of water, either through the city of Boston, which will probably soon have a surplus to dispose of, or in connection with one of the adjoining towns of West Roxbury or Newton, both of which towns are now about getting such legislation to provide for their own supply from Charles river.
Your committee still think favorably of the source before named, on the lands of the Brookline Land Company, provided that no more perma- nent supply can be got from either of the above sources ; but before tak- ing any definite action in that direction we would by all means, now that the way seems open, make further efforts to obtain a supply from some more permanent source.
We would therefore now offer for the consideration of the town the following votes ; viz., -
Voted, That whereas for more than twenty-five years the city of Boston has occupied the territory and streets of Brookline with its water reser- voir and water pipes, for. the benefit solely of the citizens of Boston, and to the great loss and inconvenience of the inhabitants of Brookline; and whereas the city of Boston is applying to the General Court for, and probably will obtain, a new supply of water far beyond her actual wants : Now the Selectmen are hereby instructed, in conjunction with the Com- mittee on Water Supply, to appear before the General Court, and respect-
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Brookline Town Records.
fully urge the claim of the town of Brookline to be supplied by the city of Boston with a portion of their new supply of water on payment of a reasonable compensation therefor. And they are further instructed, in case they cannot obtain this supply from the city of Boston, to continue their application to the General Court for an act authorizing the town of Brookline to supply itself with water from Charles river.
All of which is respectfully submitted by your obedient servants,
CHARLES D. HEAD, EDWARD S. PHILBRICK, WM. ASPINWALL, (Mr. JOHN W. CANDLER having resigned), GEORGE F. HOMER,
Brookline, March 25, 1872. Committee on Water Supply.
Voted, To accept the foregoing report.
Voted, That whereas for more than twenty-five years the city of Boston has occupied the territory and streets of Brookline with its water reservoir and water pipes, for the benefit solely of the citizens of Boston, and to the great loss and inconvenience of the inhabitants of Brookline; and whereas the city of Boston is applying to the General Court for, and probably will obtain, a new supply of water far beyond her actual wants : Now the Selectmen of Brookline are hereby instructed, in conjunction with the Committee on Water Supply, to appear before the General Court, and respectfully urge the claims of the town of Brookline to be supplied by the city of Boston with a portion of their new supply of water on payment of a reasonable compensation therefor. And they are further instructed, in case they can- not obtain their supply from the city of Boston, to continue their application to the General Court for an act authorizing the town of Brookline to supply itself with water from Charles river.
Hon. William Aspinwall presented the following report of the committee for procuring land for a cemetery ; viz., -
IN TOWN MEETING, BROOKLINE, March 25, 1872.
The committee appointed to consider the subject of procuring land for a cemetery respectfully submit the following
REPORT.
They recommend the town to buy the lot of land containing about twenty-one acres, situated at the junction of Warren and Clyde streets,
19
Adjourned Annual Meeting, March 26, 1872.
belonging to William H. Cowan. They have reason to believe that the land can be bought for about five cents per foot.
If the town should purchase this lot, the committee would suggest that the front part of the land could be used as a common or playground, while the land in the rear could be devoted to cemetery purposes.
If the town should decide to buy any land for a new cemetery, the committee recommend the election by the town of a board of six persons to lay out and take charge of the cemetery grounds, two to be elected for one year, two for two years, and two for three years, and after the first election, two to be elected annually to hold office for three years.
WILLIAM ASPINWALL. SAMUEL CLARK. EDWARD I. THOMAS. ISAAC TAYLOR.
Voted, That the foregoing report be accepted.
Laid on the table until the adjourned meeting.
On motion of D. D. Broadhead, it was
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to employ coun- sel in all cases where they deem the interests of the town require it.
Fourth Article taken up :
To see if the town will accept the list of jurors as revised by the Selectmen and posted according to law.
List of Jurors for the Town of Brookline for the year 1872.
Allen, Samuel S.
Lowell, Augustus
Bachelder, Jonah G.
Lowrey, Maxwell
Bancroft, Charles P.
Lyford, Nathaniel
Bartlett, James
Mann, N. P., Jr.
Baxter, Sidney R.
Mason, Henry
Bennett, Stephen G.
Merrill, Silas W.
Brooks, George
Mungovan, James G.
Bird, Albert H.
Newman, Robert
Burdett, Horatio S.
Nash, Francis J.
Cabot, Follen
Perrin, Lewis
Cate, Isaac M.
Pierce, Henry E.
Chase, H. Lincoln
Plimpton, Charles T.
Clark, Edwin
Roberts, Joseph D.
Clark, Samuel
Rodman, Francis
Conant, Nathaniel
Rooney, James Sabin, Charles W.
Coolidge, David S. Coolidge, George H.
Sargent, Charles S.
Coolidge, Henry S.
Saville, Richard L.
Cousens, Oliver
Seamans, Frank F.
Crowninshield, Caspar
Searle, Frederick A.
Curtis, J. Gardner
Seaverns, Henry G.
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Brookline Town Records.
Dana, Dennison D.
Stearns, Charles H.
Dana, Henry F.
Stearns, John G., Jr.
Dawes, George G.
Stone, Enos, Jr.
Dupce, William R.
Stone, Milton J ..
Fay, Harrison
Soule, Richard
Fisher, George J.
Taylor, John
Floyd, Edward S.
Thomas, Edward I.
Frost, Morrill
Todd, Thomas
Greenc, William B.
Von Arnim, Theodore P.
Griggs, William J.
Wason, Elbridge
Guild, J. Anson
Warren, Moses C.
Hall, William
Wells, Henry B.
Haynes, Clark L.
Whittemorc, Augustus
Howard, Alonzo P.
Whiting, Charles A.
Howard, John A.
Wise, Daniel W.
James, Charles H.
Wood, Amos L.
Lawrence, Francis W.
Woodward, Isaac
Long, Jonathan D.
Young, Edward
Lovell, John W.
Attest : B. F. BAKER,
Town Clerk.
The names of George G. Dawes, Isaac M. Cate, Augustus Whittemore, and Elbridge Wason were stricken out at their own request, as they were not liable to serve.
Voted, To accept and allow the foregoing list of jurors as prepared.
Fifth Article taken up :
To see if the town will adopt a by-law in relation to cleaning snow and ice from sidewalks and rendering them safe.
Voted, To refer the subject of the Fifth Article to a com- mittee of five, to be appointed by the Moderator, to report thereon at the adjourned meeting.
The Moderator appointed the following gentlemen to con- stitute said committee : -
Committee on the Fifth Article : Moses Williams, Jr., Alfred D. Chandler, Alfred Kenrick, Jr.
The Sixth and Seventh Articles were taken up, and it was
Voted, That the Sixth and Seventh Articles be laid on the table.
Eighth Article taken up :
To see what action the town will take upon the subject of creating a sinking fund to pay the town debt.
Brookline, Mass., February 27, 1872.
21
Adjourned Annual Meeting, March 26, 1872.
Voted, That the Eighth Article be referred to a committee of three, to be appointed by the Moderator, to report at the adjourned meeting.
The Moderator appointed the following gentlemen to con- stitute said committee ; viz., -
Committee on the Eighth Article : Amos A. Lawrence, John C. Abbott, William A. Wellman.
Ninth Article taken up :
To see if the town will change the name of that portion of Sewall street, from Walnut street to Sewall place, and the new street called Davenport street from the commencement of said Sewall place to Chest- nut street, to Cypress street.
Voted, That the portion of way above described from Wal- nut street to Chestnut street in continuation of Cypress street, be named "Cypress street."
Tenth Article taken up :
To see if the town will pass a vote or a by-law giving the Selectmen powers to increase awards for damages in laying out town ways, after their acceptance by the town.
Voted, That in case any party aggrieved in the assessment of damages caused by the laying out of any town way, if the ‘ party so aggrieved shall appeal to a jury, the Selectmen may hear such party, and increase said damages if they shall deem it for the interests of the town so to do, provided the party so aggrieved shall first agree to abide by the decision of the Selectmen.
Eleventh Article taken up :
To see if the town will purchase a lot of land on which to erect a police station.
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to purchase a lot of land lying between the hose house on Washington street in the village, and Walnut street, and that the sum of three thousand dollars be raised and appropriated for that purpose.
Twelfth Article taken up :
To see what action the town will take upon the petition of W. A. Humphrey and others to have Newton street widened, as laid out by the County Commissioners.
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Brookline Town Records.
Voted, To refer the subject of the Twelfth Article to the Selectmen, to report thereon at the adjourned meeting.
Thirteenth Article taken up :
To see if the town will allow the discount on the abated tax bill of Augustus Lowell for the year 1871.
Voted, To refer the subject of the Thirteenth Article to Mr. William I. Bowditch, with full powers.
Fourteenth Article taken up :
To see if the town will accept the provisions of Chapter 158 of the Acts of 1871, entitled " An Act to provide for the election of Road Com- missioners," and to choose said officers if the town shall accept said pro- visions.
Voted, That the Fourteenth Article be referred to a com- mittee of five to be appointed by the Moderator, to report thereon at the adjourned meeting.
The Moderator appointed the following gentlemen to con- stitute said committee ; viz., -
Committee on the Fourteenth Article: Charles D. Head, George F. Homer, Horace F. Fisher, Edward S. Philbrick, Samuel Clark.
Fifteenth Article taken up :
To see if the town will pass a vote in relation to purchasing land for widening streets.
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to purchase land for widening streets, at a price not exceeding forty cents per square foot.
Voted, That the sum of two thousand two hundred and eighty dollars be raised and appropriated for that purpose.
Sixteenth Article taken up :
To see what action the town will take in relation to a Superintendent of Schools.
Voted, That the School Committee be authorized to employ a Superintendent of Schools.
Voted, That the sum of three thousand dollars be raised and appropriated for that purpose.
Seventeenth Article taken up :
To see what action the town will take upon the majority and minority reports of the School Committee in reference to an ungraded school.
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Adjourned Annual Meeting, March 26, 1872.
(The reports above referred to were printed and distributed with the report of the School Committee. )
Rev. William W. Newton, a member of the School Com- mittee, moved that the majority report of the Committee on ungraded schools be adopted.
Voted, To postpone the further consideration of the sub- ject to the adjourned meeting.
Voted, That all articles, from the seventeenth to the thir- tieth, inclusive, be laid on the table until the adjourned meeting.
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