USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Brookline > Town records of Brookline, Massachusetts, 1872-1884, v. 3 > Part 44
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In pursuance of the within warrant, I have notified and warned the in- habitants of the town of Brookline, qualified to vote in elections, to meet at the time and place and for the purposes within named, by causing a printed copy of the same to be left at their last and usual place of abode ; also by posting the same in three or more public places, and published in the "Brookline Chronicle," a newspaper published in said town, four days at least before the said day of meeting.
W. Y. GROSS, Constable of Brookline.
In pursuance of the foregoing warrant, the inhabitants of the town of Brookline, qualified to vote in elections, met at the Town Hall in said town, on Tuesday, the thirtieth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty, and were called to order at one of the clock in the afternoon by the Town Clerk, who read the warrant call- ing said meeting, and the return thereon of the officer who served the notices of the same upon the inhabitants.
First Article taken up :
To choose a Moderator.
Voted, That the polls be kept open three minutes.
The polls were then declared open for the reception of votes for Moderator, and were kept open three minutes, when they were declared closed.
The Town Clerk then proceeded to sort and count the votes given for Moderator, and the whole number so given was sixteen ; for Moderator, William I. Bowditch had fifteen, and was declared elected.
There being no clergyman present, the custom of opening this meeting with prayer was omitted.
534
Brookline Town Records.
On motion of Moses Williams, Jr., it was - Voted, To take up the Third Article.
Third Article taken up :
To accept Chapter 185 of the Acts of the year 1875, being an Act en- titled " An Act for the laying out of public parks in or near the city of Boston," and to elect Park Commissioners under that Act.
On motion of Moses Williams, Jr., it was -
Voted, To accept said Act.
Voted, That the meeting vote for Park Commissioners with the other town officers.
Second Article taken up :
To choose the usual town officers for the ensuing year.
Voted, That the polls be kept open until five minutes past six of the clock in the afternoon.
Voted, That the meeting now proceed to choose by ballot the following town officers ; viz., -
A Town Clerk, five Selectmen, who shall be Surveyors of Highways and a Board of Health ; seven Overseers of the Poor, two of whom shall be women ; a Treasurer and Col- lector, three Assessors, three members of the School Com- mittee for three years, four Trustees of the Public Library for three years, two Trustees of Walnut Hills Cemetery for three years, one Commissioner of the Sinking Fund for three years, one member of the Water Board for three years, three Auditors, three Park Commissioners, one for two years, one for three years, and one for four years ; two Fence Viewers, ten Constables, and all to be voted for on one ticket.
The Moderator appointed the following gentlemen to assist in sorting and counting the votes ; viz., George H. Worthley, Joshua Crane, and F. Rockwood Hall.
The polls were then declared open for the reception of votes for the various town officers above named, and were kept open until five minutes past six of the clock in the after- noon, when, after giving due notice, they were declared closed.
The Moderator and Town Clerk then proceeded to assist in sorting and counting the votes given in, and the whole number so given in was six hundred and thirty-five, and the
535
Annual Meeting, March 30, 1880.
following persons, having a large plurality and all a majority of the votes cast, were declared elected ; to wit, -
Town Clerk: Benjamin F. Baker [sworn by the Moderator].
Selectmen, Surveyors of Highways, and Board of Health : Charles H. Drew [sworn by the Town Clerk], Oliver Whyte, Rufus G. F. Candage [sworn by the Moderator], Horace James, Roland C. Lincoln [sworn by the Moderator].
Overseers of the Poor: Charles H. Drew, [sworn by the Town Clerk], Rufus G. F. Candage [sworn by the Moderator], Roland C. Lincoln [sworn by the Moderator], Oliver Whyte, Horace James, Mrs. Henrietta G. Cod- man, Mrs. Elizabeth Cabot.
Treasurer and Collector : Moses Withington [sworn by the Town Clerk].
Assessors : William Lincoln, J. Anson Guild, William D. Coolidge [sworn by the Moderator].
School Committee for 3 years : Cadwallader Curry, David B. Van Slyck, Michael Driscoll.
Trustees of the Public Library for 3 years : Thomas Parsons [accepted], Rufus G. F. Candage [accepted], William B. Haseltine, Dr. Tappan E. Francis.
Trustees of Walnut Hills Cemetery for 3 years : Charles H. Stearns Walter C. Cabot.
Commissioner of the Sinking Fund for 3 years : John C. Abbott.
Member of the Water Board for 3 years : Oliver Whyte.
Auditors : Albert L. Lincoln, Jr., Horace D. Chapin, William D. Cool- idge.
Park Commissioner for 2 years : Theodore Lyman.
Park Commissioner for 3 years : Charles S. Sargent.
Park Commissioner for 4 years : Francis W. Lawrence.
Fence Viewers : Clark L. Haynes, William K. Melcher [sworn by the Moderator].
Constables : Eben W. Reed, George F. Johnson, Daniel C. Murray, Willard Y. Gross [sworn by the Moderator], Burnham C. Clark, Thomas S. Pettengill [sworn by the Moderator], George F. Dearborn [sworn by the Moderator], Burton R. Willis, Thomas J. Murray, Charles L. Palmer [sworn by the Moderator].
In voting, the check list was used, also a separate check list for the women voters who were entitled to vote for mem- bers of the School Committee, and no person was allowed to vote until his or her name was found on the list and checked.
The meeting then nominated and chose the following list of officers for the ensuing year ; to wit, -
Surveyors of Lumber and Measurers of Wood and Bark: William D. Coolidge, Francis H. Bacon, William K. Melcher, John E. Cousens, Frank F. Seamans.
Field Drivers : Eben W. Reed, Daniel C. Murray, Thomas S. Petten- gill [sworn by the Town Clerk].
Pound Keeper : Eben W. Reed.
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Brookline Town Records.
Sealers of Leather : Samuel A. Robinson, Isaac D. White.
Sealer of Weights and Measures : . Alfred Kenrick, Jr.
Cemetery Committee : Thomas S. Pettengill [accepted].
Truant Officers : George F. Dearborn [sworn by the Town Clerk], Burton R. Willis, Thomas J. Murray.
Fourth Article taken up :
To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to purchase from John Zecher, for a gravel pit, a tract of land in Newton, containing about 19,490 square feet, as shown upon a plan on file in the office of the Select- men, at the price of two hundred and fifty dollars.
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to purchase of John Zecher for a gravel pit a tract of land in Newton, con- taining about 19,490 square feet, at the price of two hundred and fifty ($250) dollars.
Voted, That when this meeting adjourn, it be to one week from to-day, at seven and a half of the clock in the evening.
Voted, To adjourn.
Adjourned.
Attest : B. F. BAKER, Town Clerk.
In pursuance of the laws of this Commonwealth, the Town Clerk forthwith made out his warrant and delivered it to Con- stable Willard Y. Gross, requiring him, within three days from the date thereof, to summon all officers chosen and not qualified, to appear before the Town Clerk within seven days from the date of said warrant, to be qualified for their several offices, to be sworn where an oath is required, or to signify their refusal of said office, also to signify their acceptance or refusal of the office to which they have been chosen where an oath is not required.
Attest : B. F. BAKER, Town Clerk.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK, SS.
Then personally appeared the persons below named, and were sworn to the faithful discharge of the duties of their office at the time set against their names, or signified their
537
Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 6, 1880.
acceptance or refusal of the office to which they had been chosen ; to wit, -
1880.
Selectmen, Surveyors of Highways, and Board of Health : Oliver Whyte [sworn March 31], Horace James [sworn March 31].
Overseers of the Poor : Oliver Whyte [sworn March 31], Horace James [sworn March 31]. Mrs. Henrietta G. Codman [sworn March 31], Mrs. Elizabeth Cabot [sworn March 31].
Assessors : William Lincoln [sworn April 5], Joel Anson Guild [sworn April 5].
Fence Viewer : Clark L. Haynes [sworn April 1].
Constables : Eben W. Reed [sworn April 5], George F. Johnson [sworn April 5], Daniel C. Murray [sworn April 6], Burnham C. Clark [sworn April 6], Burton R. Willis [sworn April 6], Thomas J. Murray [sworn April 6].
Surveyors of Lumber and Measurers of Wood and Bark: Francis H. Bacon [sworn April 6], William K. Melcher [sworn April 3], John E. Cousens, [sworn April 7].
Field Drivers : Eben W. Reed [sworn April 5], Daniel C. Murray [sworn April 6].
Pound Keeper : Eben W. Reed [sworn April 5].
Sealer of Weights and Measures : Alfred Kenrick, Jr. [sworn April 1].
Truant Officers : Burton R. Willis [sworn April 6], Thomas J. Murray [sworn April 6].
School Committee for 3 years : Cadwallader Curry [accepted April 2], Michael Driscoll [accepted April 1], David B. Van Slyck [accepted April 2].
Trustees of the Public Library for 3 years : William B. Haseltine [ac- cepted April 2], Dr. Tappan E. Francis [accepted April 5].
Trustee of Walnut Hills Cemetery for 3 years : Charles H. Stearns [ac- cepted April 1].
Commissioner of the Sinking Fund for 3 years: John C. Abbott [ac- cepted April 3].
Auditors : Albert L. Lincoln, Jr. [accepted April 6], Horace D. Chapin [accepted April 3], William D. Coolidge [accepted April 1].
Park Commissioner for 2 years : Theodore Lyman [accepted April 5].
Park Commissioner for 3 years : Charles S. Sargent [accepted April 7].
Park Commissioner for 4 years : Francis W. Lawrence [accepted April 1].
Member of Water Board for 3 years : Oliver Whyte [accepted April 3].
ADJOURNED ANNUAL MEETING, APRIL 6, 1880.
Pursuant to adjournment, the inhabitants of the town of Brookline, qualified to vote in elections, met at the Town Hall in said town, on Tuesday, the sixth day of April in the
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Brookline Town Records.
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty, and were called to order at half-past seven of the clock in the evening by the Moderator, William I. Bowditch.
Fifth Article taken up :
To see if the town will provide six additional street lamps upon High street.
Voted, That the town establish six additional lamps on High street.
Voted, That the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars be appropriated to defray the expense of establishing six addi- tional lamps on High street.
Sixth Article taken up :
To see if the town will appropriate the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) to lay three street crossings, one across Chestnut street at the foot of High street, one across Sewall street running parallel with Chestnut street, and one across Cypress street at Chestnut street.
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to lay street crossings on Chestnut street.
Voted, That the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) be added to the appropriation for highways, and that the Selectmen lay said crossings at their discretion.
Seventh Article taken up :
To see if the town will fix the pay of its laborers at one dollar and seventy-five cents ($1.75) per diem for the year commencing March 31, 1880, and ending March 31, 1881.
Voted, That the Selectmen of Brookline be instructed to pay its laborers at the same rate of compensation as is paid in adjoining municipalities.
Eighth Article taken up :
To see if the town will appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars ($200) to lay a plank sidewalk on Chestnut street from the foot of High street to Cypress street.
Voted, That the subject be referred to the Selectmen, with power to lay all or any part of the sidewalk asked for as they may think necessary.
Ninth Article taken up :
To hear and act upon the reports of town officers and committees, and especially to hear and act upon the report of the Committee on the Revis-
539
Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 6, 1880.
ion of the By-Laws of the town; and, if the town shall see fit, to repeal all existing by-laws, and substitute therefor the by-laws reported by said committee, with such alterations and amendments as may be made by the town.
Mr. Henry M. Whitney presented the report of the Com- mittee on Water Supply, which had been printed and distri- buted among the inhabitants, and moved that the report be accepted and the committee discharged.
Voted, That the report be accepted.
Voted, That the committee be discharged.
Voted, That the sum of one thousand five hundred ($1500) dollars be appropriated as compensation to the Water Board for their services in attending to the repairs of the water works.
Voted, That John J. McCormack, Marshall Russell, and George Griggs be a committee to investigate the matter of the fraud in the construction of the filtering gallery of the water works when they were first built, as set forth on pages 10 and 11 of the report of the Committee on Water Supply, 1880.
Voted, That the sum of one hundred dollars ($100) be ap- propriated for the use of the committee.
Mr. Charles H. Drew presented the following reports of town officers and committees, which had been printed and distributed among the inhabitants of the town, and moved their acceptance ; to wit, --
Report of Town Treasurer and Collector.
Voted, To accept the report.
Report of the Treasurer of Walnut Hills Cemetery and Warren Tree Fund.
Voted, To accept the report.
Report of the Selectmen, Surveyors of Highways, and Board of Health.
Voted, To accept the report.
Report of the Town Clerk on Vital Statistics.
Voted, To accept the report.
Report of the Overseers of the Poor.
Voted, To accept the report.
Report of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund.
Voted, To accept the report.
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Brookline Town Records.
Report of the Water Board.
Voted, To accept the report.
Voted, That the Water Board have authority to lay a six- inch main in Tappan street from Beacon street, to connect with the main in Davis avenue; also a six-inch main in Ridgway street from Freeman street, for a distance of 250 feet ; also a two-inch main in Harrison place from Webster place, for a distance of 450 feet; and a two-inch main in Kerrigan place for a distance of about 90 feet, at an estimated aggregate cost of $6622, and that the same be paid from the appropriation for the extension of water works.
Voted, That the subject of a separate and distinct outlet for the reservoir, and the probable cost of the same, be referred back to the Water Board, to report at a future meeting.
Report of the Trustees of Walnut Hills Cemetery.
Voted, To accept the report.
Report of the Trustees of the Public Library.
Voted, To accept the report.
Voted, That the sum of one thousand dollars ($1000) be appropriated to print a supplement to the catalogue of the public library.
Report of the School Committee.
Voted, To accept the report.
Voted, That the sum of five hundred and seventy-five dol- lars ($575) be appropriated to ventilate the High-school house.
Report of the Auditors.
Voted, To accept the report.
Report of the Assessors, with the list of taxes and names of the tax-payers.
Voted, To accept the report.
The committee on the subject of Muddy river presented the following report ; to wit, -
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING,
BROOKLINE, March 30, 1880.
The committee appointed at the annual town meeting holden March 26, 1878, to negotiate with the city of Boston in reference to constructing a new channel for Muddy river from near Pond avenue to Charles river, so that the same may be kept free from sewage, respectfully submit the following -
541
Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 6, 1880.
REPORT.
After their partial report, submitted to the town at its annual meeting March 25, 1879, your committee endeavored to have an early meeting with the joint special committee of the city of Boston, but did not succed until July. On the second day of that month the Boston and Brookilne com- mittees went over the line of Muddy river from the Brookline-avenue bridge to Pond avenue. Both committees seemed to be of the opinion that a new channel was very desirable for both municipalities, and it was understood that there should be another conference after the summer vaca- tion, to consider the proper line. That conference has not taken place.
The Park Commissioners of Boston, in their last and fifth annual report, speak thus of the diversion of Muddy river :
" Before any important work can be done in developing the Back Bay park, it is imperative that the improvements heretofore contemplated for controlling the waters of Muddy river and Stony brook be completed. The requisite legislation for carrying Muddy river in a direct course into Charles river, west of Brookline avenue, by the joint action of the city of Boston and town of Brookline, exists.
" The sewerage from the lower part of Brookline is now carried into Charles river by a new drain ; but, nevertheless, most of the surface wash and swamp water of that unsavory region of the town bordering upon the city is still brought into the Back Bay, adding to the defilement of the water and contamination of the air in the immediate vicinity of the most rapidly growing part of the city."
It would seem, therefore, that the city of Boston must now be anxious to execute this work, the importance of which has impressed the town of Brookline for many years.
Your committee would suggest that the new channel would form a more convenient boundary between Brookline and Boston than the pres- ent line, and they therefore recommend that the town apply to the next Legislature for such a change of the existing boundary.
Your committee are of opinion that this matter, being intimately con- nected with the town system of sewerage, might well be referred to the Selectmen. They, therefore, respectfully suggest that this committee be discharged, and that the authority given them by the vote of March 26, 1878, be conferred upon the Selectmen.
WILLIAM ASPINWALL, JOHN W. CANDLER, FRANCIS W. LAWRENCE, Committee.
Voted, To accept the report and discharge the committee.
Voted, That the subject of the new channel for Muddy river be referred to the Selectmen and Park Commissioners under the vote of March 26, 1878.
The special report of the committee appointed to oppose the annexation of the town to the city of Boston, which had
542
Brookline Town Records.
been printed with the report upon the articles in the warrant and distributed among the inhabitants of the town, was pre- sented by Moses Williams, Jr.
Voted, To accept the report and discharge the committee.
The report of the Committee on the Revision of the By- Laws was presented by Mr. Charles H. Drew.
Voted, To accept the report.
Voted; That the report be laid upon the table.
Voted, That the committee report a by-law in relation to the assignment of habitual truants and children described in the first Section of Chapter 262, Acts of 1875, also the sup- port and care of indigent children.
Voted, That they report in print.
Voted, That the committee consider the subject of contracts and report an amendment to the present by-laws, or a new by- law.
Voted, To take up the Eighteenth Article.
Eighteenth Article taken up :
To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary for all or any of the purposes mentioned in the foregoing articles, or as may be required to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year, and especially to act upon all the appropriations asked for or proposed by the Auditors, or by any town officers or committees.
The meeting then proceeded to vote the following appropri- ations ; viz., -
For abatement of taxes
· $1,000 00
Assessors
2,000 00
Auditors
150 00
cemetery, Walnut street
200 00
clerk, Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor
500 00
clerk of Trustees Walnut Hills Cemetery .
150 00
construction of Brook street and two short streets, reap- propriated .
9,000 00
contingencies .
8,000 00
Decoration Day
300 00
Fire Department
·
7,000 00
new hose
1,000 00
Health Department
1,400 00
highways
. 14,000 00
highways, removing snow from sidewalks . 2,000 00
industrial school £
200 00
interest on town debt
· 92,500 00
library .
4,000 00
Librarian's salary
· 1,200 00
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Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 6, 1880.
For Overseers of the Poor
$1,000 00
poor, support of
6,000 00
plans for construction of sewer system, reappropriation . 1,500 00
repairs of town buildings
1,000 00
ringing bell
· 175 00
Selectmen
2,000 00
sewers, care of
1,500 00 ·
sidewalks
4,000 00
sinking fund .
60,000 00
to pay the amount borrowed in 1879 in anticipation of taxes for construction of Brook street, two short streets, and sewer
· 20,000 00
soldiers disabled, and families of deceased soldiers 250 00
State aid
800 00
schools
36,000 00 .
schoolhouses, interior repairs of, under direction of the School Committee
500 00
to pay amount borrowed in 1879 in anticipation of taxes for building new schoolhouse 5,000 00
Superintendent of Streets
1,200 00
schools, evening
300 00
Town Clerk .
500 00
Town Hall, lighting, care of, and janitor
2,500 00
Treasurer and Collector
2,000 00
water works, extension of
·
8,000 00
water works, maintenance of 7,600 00
water works, moving pumping station, reappropriated 10.746 47
watering streets
4,000 00
pay for Longwood hose company 400 00
new hydrants, reappropriated
118 79
On motion of Thomas Parsons, it was -
Voted, To take up the Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Four- teenth Articles ; viz., -
Twelfth. To see if the town will rescind the vote passed on the twenty- ninth day of January last raising a committee to oppose the annexation of Brookline to the city of Boston.
Thirteenth. To see what action the town will take with reference to the union of the town with the city of Boston.
Fourteenth. To see what action the town will take with reference to its transfer from Norfolk to Suffolk County.
On motion of Thomas Parsons, it was -
Voted, That the Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Articles be indefinitely postponed.
Fifteenth Article taken up :
To see if the town will accept " An Act to authorize cities and towns
·
.
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Brookline Town Records.
to erect and maintain public bath and wash houses," being Chapter 214 of the Acts of 1874, and take any action authorized thereby.
John J. McCormack moved that the act be accepted.
The motion was then put upon its passage, and was lost by a vote of sixty-nine in the affirmative to forty-six in the negative, the provisions of the Act requiring that it must be accepted by a two-thirds vote of the legal voters present and voting thereon.
Mr. John J. McCormack gave notice that he should move a reconsideration of the vote before the close of the meeting.
Tenth Article taken up :
To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to license the city of Boston to use the main sewer and lateral sewers of the town of Brook- line, and to fix the terms upon which such license may be made, and the consideration to be paid by the city therefor.
Voted, That the Selectmen are hereby authorized to allow the city of Boston to use our main sewer and the laterals in Brookline avenue and Washington street, upon the terms set forth in letter of J. Herbert Shedd, dated October 4, 1878.
Eleventh Article taken up :
To see if the town will issue Brookline Water Scrip for the amount of the orders drawn by the Selectmen against water receipts during the year ending February 1, 1880, after making such deductions therefrom as may be necessary or expedient.
Laid on the table.
Voted, That the Eleventh Article be referred back to the Selectmen, to consider and report upon at a future meeting.
Voted, That the Treasurer be authorized, under the direc- tion of the Selectmen, to borrow the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) in anticipation of taxes, giving the note or notes of the town therefor, signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by a majority at least of the Selectmen.
Seventeenth Article taken up :
To see if the town will provide a street lamp at Freeman street oppo- site the foot of Ridgway street.
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Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 12, 1880.
Voted, That the Seventeenth Article be referred to the Selectmen.
Voted, That when this meeting adjourn, it be to meet in this place on Monday evening next, the twelfth instant, at half-past seven of the clock in the evening.
Adjourned.
Attest : B. F. BAKER, Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED ANNUAL MEETING, APRIL 12, 1880.
Pursuant to adjournment, the inhabitants of the town of Brookline, qualified to vote in elections, met at the Town Hall in said town, on Monday, the twelfth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty, and were called to order at half-past seven of the clock in the evening by the Moderator, William I. Bowditch.
The meeting then nominated and chose the following officers in place of those who had not been qualified ; viz., -
Surveyors of Lumber and Measurers of Wood and Bark : William D. Cool- idge [sworn by the Town Clerk], Frank F. Seamans.
Sealers of Leather : Samuel A. Robinson, Isaac D. White.
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