USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1878-1879, 1887 > Part 2
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ART. 14. To raise such sums of money as may be necessary for the ensuing year, and appropriate the same, and vote how the same shall be raised.
ART. 15. To transact any other business proper to come before said meeting.
*Voters will find it convenient if they think to bring a copy of the warrant with them to Town Meeting.
REPORT
OF THE
Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor.
SCHOOLS.
Appropriation by the Town for Schools, $1,800 00
Repairs on School Houses, 150 00
Interest on Town Loan, 78 50
Dog fund appropriated for schools,
118 93
State school fund,
226 99
Total available for schools, $2,374 42
The School Committee, alone, being responsible for the expenditure of the money available for support of schools, the Selectmen have given orders for bills af- proved by them to the amount of $2,219 54
A detailed account of school expenses will be found in the Report of the School Committee.
PAUPERS.
Town appropriation for the support of paupers, $1,700 00
Paid for the support of paupers as follows : Hospital for Insane, Northampton, for D. A. Warner, $199 09
Hospital for Insane, Northampton, for Caro- line Bliss, 186 75
4
Hospital for Insane, Northampton, for Ann M. Clark, $186 80 Hospital for Insane, Northampton, for Harriet Goodell, 45 50
82
Hospital for Insane, Brattleboro, for Sophronia Scripter, 45 50
$663 96
State Reform School, Westboro, for Edward W. Colton, Geo. W. Ely, for provisions for John Conner, R. M. Day, for board of Alvin Banister, $35 00
16 00
4 00
D. W. Bottom, for medical attendance on Banister, 4 00
E. W. Dickinson, for coffin and robe for Banister, 11 25
50 25
R. M. Day,, for board of Caroline Abbe,
$19 00
M. F. Beebe, for time and expenses to Tewks- bury with Miss Abbe, 17 00
36 00
Edmund Bliss, for provisions for C. M. Willard, $6 00
R. M. Day, for board of C. M. Willard, 51 00
Ira G. Potter, for board of C. M. Willard, 1 00
Ira G. Potter, for clothing for C. M. Willard, 6 75
64 75
City of Springfield and others for Mrs. Nellie Gilligan and five children, 247 51
City of Springfield and others for Mrs. Nettie H. Paige and four children, 111 28
Stebbins Foskitt, for medical attendance on Darrah family, $5 25
Mowry Brothers, for provisions for Darrah family in 1877, 1 00
6 25
M. F. Beebe, for clothing for Reuben Cadwell, $4 95
A.sa Beebe, for board of Reuben Cadwell, 21 43
26 38
20 45
Town of Palmer, for aid to Mrs. Rose Grady, Town of Wendell, for support of Lamson children, $12 50
5
F. E. Clark, for time and expenses to Wen- dell after Lamson children, $8 48
E. F. Lemon, for clothing for Lamson chil- dren. 7 13
E. B. Gates, for materials for clothing for Lamson children, 5 21
E. F. Lemon, for board of Lamson children, 77 70
$111 02
Geo. W. Ely, for coal and rent of tenement for Mrs. Col- grove, 30 50
E. W. Dickinson, for coffin and box for Asael Curtis,
11 00
Stebbins Foskitt, for medical attendance on John Q. Williams, $25 50
M. F. Beebe, for cash paid for board and ex- penses of John Q. Williams, 15 25
40 75
Ira G. Potter, for cash paid burial expenses of Dennis Shougbrae, 10 00
Phineas Knowlton, for board and care of Elizabeth A. Donald, $15 00
Stebbins Foskitt, for medical attendance on 26 Elizabeth A. Donald, 13 16
E. W. Dickinson, for coffin for Elizabeth A. Donald, 8 00
36 26
C. G. Robbins, for keeping 373 tramps, $93 25
Geo. W. Ely, for coal for Tramp-house, 8 74
100
TN 99
Total expended for paupers,
$1,588 35
Of the above the following sums have been refunded : From City of Boston, last year's account for H. Wilson, $3 75
Town of Brimfield, last year's account, for Mrs. Colgrove, 56 76
Town of Brimfield, this year's account for Mrs. Colgrove, 30 50
Town of Palmer 1875, account for C.
L. Stetson, 15 00
6
Town of Stockbridge, for aid to John Q. Williams, $40 75
State Treasurer, State Pauper account, 48 26 State Treasurer, transporting State paupers, 4 80
$199 82
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
Town appropriation for highways and bridges, $1,200 00 .
Paid as follows :
To James Richard,s surveyor, District No. 1, $99 09
Luther Markham, surveyor, District No. 2, 83 40
Albert A. Phelps, surveyor, District No. 3, 121 39
Austin Davis, surveyor, District No. 7, 115 59
George W. Tupper, surveyor, District No. 8, 202 94
Alvin Chilson, surveyor, District No. 9, 144 64
John Trask, surveyor, District No. 11, 91 77
John S. Albray, surveyor, District No. 12, 55 37
Phineas Knowlton, repairing Canal
bridge, 75
$914 94
CONTINGENT ACCOUNT AND TOWN OFFICERS.
Town appropriation for contingent account and Town officers, $900 00
Paid as follows :
Decius Beebe, committee on division of town last year, $35 25
S. C. Spellman, committee on division of town last year, 30 50
Wm. R. Sessions, committee on division of town last year, 13 25
Stearns, Knowlton & Long, retainer and counsel last year, 33 00
The Clark W. Bryan Co., for printing re- ports, assessors books, etc., 57 71
7
C. E. Peck, for lantern guard for Collins bridge, $1 50
Henry Clark, for posting warrants, 13 50
Stockwell Bettes, for surveying and expenses on Hampden and Wilbraham line, 56 00
F. E. Clark, for services and expenses on town line and erecting monuments, 14 50
M. F. Beebe, for services and-expenses on town line and erecting monuments, 11 00
Ira G. Potter, for services and expenses on town line and erecting monuments, 2 00
C. E. Peck, for services and expenses on town line and erecting monuments, 2 00
A. J. Blanchard, for services and expenses on town line and erecting monuments, 12 00
W. L. Collins, for going with hearse and digging graves, 107 75
C. C. Beebe, for summoning witnesses in Burley road case, 1 50
C. C. Beebe, for cash paid witness in Burley road case, 15 60
Phineas Knowlton, for repairs on Collins bridge, 4 75
George H. Morgan, for hitching post at But- lerville cemetery, 8 77
Treasurer Wesleyan Academy, for use of Music Hall for Town meetings, 50 00
M. F. Beebe, for expenses to Brookfield in Moulton case, 4 60
Town of Hampden, for Hampden's share of Town clerks fees returned, 3 82
Springfield Republican, for advertising for proposals for school house No. 8, 3 30
S. C. Spellman, for collecting taxes for 1876, 55 00
Morris & Copeland, for counsel to Selectmen, 2 00 Asa Benton, for digging graves for Ruby Giles last year, 2 00
E. B. Gates, for recording marriages, births and deaths, 26 30
8
E. B. Gates, for express, storage, stationery and postage, $35 00
E. B. Gates, for Town Loan Committee, in- terest on Town Loan, 78 50
Geo. W. Ely, for rent of building for fire ap- paratus, 5 00
F. E. Clark, for stationery and postage, 9 00
F. E. Clark, for time and expenses to Chico- pee and Northampton in A. M. Clarks' case, 6 40
A. J. Blanchard for express bills and postage, 3 41
TOWN OFFICERS.
SELECTMEN AND OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
F. E. Clark.
Ira G. Potter.
M. F. Beebe.
85,00 50,50 40,00
ASSESSORS.
195,5
A. J. Blanchard,
$90 00
D. B. Merrick, 65 00
C. E. Peck, 32 00
-
$187 00
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
J. M. Foster,
$55 50
Jason Butler, 39 50
A. J. Blanchard,
37 50
$132 50
Total for contingencies and town officers, $1,199 91
SCHOOL HOUSE FENCE, DISTRICT NO. 11.
Town appropriation, Paid as follows :
$60 00
Smith & Stewart, for materials, $5 26
H. A. Robinson, for lumber, 14 23
9
Lucius Simonds, for lumber, $32 16
James P. Streeter, for posts, 7 44
C. M. Willard, for building fence, 11 60
$70 69
SCHOOL HOUSE DISTRICT NO. 8.
Town appropriation for school-house No. 8, Paid as follows :
$800 00
B. & A. R. R. freight on school furniture, $6 80
.
Sherwood School Furniture Co., for school furniture,
58 20.
C. E. Peck, for labor in changing and putting in furniture, 5 00
C. C. Beebe, for labor in changing and putting in furniture, 2 00
F. E. Clark, for labor in changing and putting in furniture, 1 50
F. E. Clark, cash for stove pipe, 40
Phineas Knowlton, for work on stove pipe, 50
Wm. Kent, for assisting on specifications for school-house, 1 00
Total paid on school-house No. 8, $75 40
COLLINS BRIDGE.
Town appropriation for bridge, $500 00
Received of C. H. M. Newell, for old plank,
12 70
$512 70
Paid as follows :
Stockwell Bettes, for survey and specifications for pier and superstructure, etc., $20 20
A. D. Briggs, for counsel on bridge contract, 5 00 Goldsmith & Bramble, for one-half of contract for pier, superstructure, grading, plank- ing, railing, and extras, 735 00
$760 20
2w
10
STATE AID ACCOUNT.
(No town appropriation.)
Orders given on the treasurer as follows :
To Mrs. Rowena C. Bliss, to March 1, 1879, $48 00
Mrs. Mary Rice, to March 1, 1379, 48 00
Mrs. Isabella G. Daniels, to June 1, 1878, 12 00
Mrs. Angenette D. Coash, to April 1, 1878, 4 00
$112 00
SUMMARY.
APPROPRIATIONS AND AVAILABLE FUNDS.
For Schools,
$2,374 42
AMOUNTS EXPENDED $2,219 54
Paupers,
1,700 00
1,588 35
Highways and bridges,
1,200. 00
914 94
Contingencies and town officers,
900 00
1,199 91
School house fence No. 11,
60 00
70 69
School house, District No. 8,
800 00
75 40
Collins bridge,
500 00
760 20
State aid,
112 00
Paying debt of the town,
400 00
$7,934 42
$6,941 03
LIABILITIES OF THE TOWN.
One note to Warren Collins,
$400 00
One note to Lucetta Howlett,
125 00
One note to A. O. Thresher,
150 00
One note to Horace Clark,
482 71
One note to Ira G. Potter,
100 00
Interest due April 1st, on the above, esti- mated,
100 00
Paupers and other bills due April 1st, esti- mated,
200 00
Due J. M. Foster for money advanced E. B. Bloomer,
7 00
Due Town of Ludlow, lighting and repairs on Collins and Red bridges, about,
14 00
-
$1,578 71
11
RESOURCES OF THE TOWN.
Due from State Treasurer for State aid,
$152 00
Due from County Treasurer for Dog fund, 108 20
Due from D. A. Atchinson, Collector for 1877, 698 00
Due from Geo. W. Ely, Collector for 1878,
1,582 45
Cash in the Treasury,
584 23
Total Resources of the Town, $3,124 88
Balance in favor of the town,
$1,546 17.
The Selectmen recommend the following appropriations for the ensu- ing year :
For schools,
$1,800 00
Paupers,
1,600 00
Highways and bridges,
1,000 00
Contingencies and town officers,
1,000 00
School-house, District No. 8,
800 00
Site for, and moving school-house No. 12,
150 00
Respectfully submitted,
F. E. CLARK,
Selectmen
IRA G. POTTER,
of
M. F. BEEBE.
Wilbraham.
TREASURER'S REPORT.
Town of Wilbraham in account with E. B. Gates, Treasurer of the Town of Wilbraham for the year ending, March 15, 1879.
CR.
By Cash in Treasury, March 15, 1879, $54 61
Cash from County Treasurer, dog fund, 192 48
Cash from Horace Clark, temporary loan, 482 71
Cash from Ira G. Potter, temporary loans,
300 00
Cash from Palmer Savings Bank, temporary loan,
1,500 00
Cash from Second National Bank, Springfield, tempo- rary loan, 1000 00
Cash from State Treasurer, Corporation tax, 67 71
Cash from State Treasurer, National Bank tax,
186 26
Cash from State Treasurer, State Aid refunded,
240 00
Cash from State Treasurer, for expense in recount of votes for sheriff, 10 00
Cash from State Treasurer, School fund,
226 99
Cash from State Treasurer, Transportation of State paupers, 4 80
Cash from State Treasurer, aid to State paupers, 48 26
Cash from Town of Hampden, in settlement,
544 17
Cash from Town of Hampden, State tax,
210 14
Cash from Town of Hampden, County tax,
390 49
Cash from Town of Palmer, burial expenses of E. S. Stebbins, 15 00
Cash from City of Boston for Wilson family, 3 75
Cash from Town of Brimfield, aid to Mrs. Colgrove, 87 26
Cash from Town of Stockbridge, aid to J. Q. Williams, 40 75
Cash frow Ira G. Potter for C. M. Willard's corn, 5 00
13
Cash from John M. Merrick, sale of Town histories,
$8 00
Cash from Town of Palmer for tuition of Palmer children, 26 82
Cash from Jerome B. Calkins for tuition of Alice Currier, 4 98
Cash from H. M. Bliss, for school-house district No. 3, 41 00
Cash from Mrs. C. H. M. Newell, for old bridge plank, 12 70
Cash from Town Loan Committee, interest on Town loan, 78 50
Cash from Alvin Chilson, collector for 1875, 57 52
Cash from S. C. Spellman, collector for 1876, 189 54
Cash from D. A. Atchinson, collector for 1877, 1,352 29
Cash from Geo. W. Ely, collector for 1878, 6,092 18
$13,473 91
DR.
To Cash paid note to Horace Clark, $600 00
Cash paid interest on Horace Clark note,
51 56
Cash paid note to First National Bank, Springfield,
800 00
Cash paid Second National Bank, Springfield, tempo- rary loan, 1000 00
Cash paid Palmer Savings Bank, temporary loan,
1,500 00
Cash paid Ira G. Potter, temporary loan,
200 00
Cash paid interest on temporary loans,
79 58
Cash paid note to M. Walker,
150 00
Cash paid interest on M. Walker's note,
13 48
Cash paid interest on L. Howlett's note,
8 75
Cash paid for recording deed,
50
Cash paid for blank certificates, for dog licenses,
1 00
Cash paid State Treasurer, State tax,
550 00
Cash paid State aid, 112 00
Cash paid Town of Hampden, Corporation tax,
9 40
Cash paid Town of Hampden, National Bank tax,
31 07
Cash paid Assessor's abatements, 1878,
34 56
Cash paid Assessor's abatements, 1877,
14 50
Cash paid old orders outstanding March 15, 1878,
904 25
Cash paid Selectmen's orders,
6,829 03
Cash in Treasury, 584 23
$13,473 91
ASSESSOR'S REPORT.
In accordance with a vote of the town passed May 9, 1878, your Assessors have made a careful, thorough, and impartial appraisal of the property of Wilbraham with the following results, in comparison with the valuation of the property within the limits of the present town of Wilbraham in 1877 :
Valuation of real estate,
1878. $498,134 166,090
1877. $465,477 121,243
Increase. $32,657
Valuation of personal property,
44,846
Total valuation,
$664,224
$586,721
Increase,
$77,503
The large increase in valuation needs, perhaps, a word of explanation.
Many at first sight might suppose that we have raised the valuation of the property taxed in 1877, the amount indicated by the above figures. But not so. We entered upon our work with the intention of making our valuation upon nearly the same basis as has been followed heretofore, simply adding to the value of such property as we found assessed below the standard, and deducting from such as we found assessed above ; endeavoring in this manner to establish a just comparative valuation of all the property throughout the town, without materially increasing or diminishing its valuation as a whole. We succeeded in accomplishing our design, very nearly-so far as relates
15
to the property taxed in 1877, the increase being due to the following causes :
Of the increase in real estate, about $16,000, or nearly one-half, is owing to the erection and completion of new buildings within the town during the previous year. Of the remainder a large portion is due to the enhanced value of land from building thereon, or in its immediate vicinity ; to the taxation of numerous small farm buildings, as grain barns, carriage-houses, shops, sheds, etc., that have been heretofore untaxed, and to the finding of several parcels of land, some of them quite valuable, amounting in all to nearly 200 acres (as per the following table), which had previously escaped taxation.
The increase in personal property arises in part from our obtaining by careful and persistent inquiry, $25,900 more "Money at Interest " than was taxed in 1877. The remainder comes from the "Stock in Trade " of the new store at Collins Depot, and the "Stock in Trade " and machinery at Cutler's mill, never before taxed, the three items amounting to $21,300. The increase from these two sources, it will be perceived, is $47,200, or $2,354 more than the absolute increase as above, leaving the present valuation of the personal property taxed in 1877 less, by about 2 per cent than in that year.
Upon the completion of our appraisal, realizing the absolute impossibility of revising the valuation without making many mistakes, we posted notices throughout the town inviting the tax-papers to examine our work and point out to us any errors they might discover therein, that mistakes as far as possible, might be corrected pre- vious to the assessment of the taxes. Our invitation met with but a feeble response.
But upon their receiving a more potent invitation in the form of a tax bill from the collector, inviting them to " walk up to his office and settle " their tax dues for the current year, the attention of many of the tax-payers was
16
more forcibly called to the fact that we had been making changes in their valuation, and our work has received a pretty thorough examination from them.
All errors of importance that have been pointed out to us, we have endeavored to remedy by Abatements.
We are aware that our work is still imperfect, and would recommend that the next Board of Assessors care- fully review and correct it, that this good begun work of equalizing the burdens of taxation may approximate per- fection.
We append the following in conformity with the cus- tom of previous years, comparing some of the items with like items in 1877 :
1878.
1877.
Number of d'welling-houses,
267
261
Number of acres of land taxed,
12,687
12,494
Number of horses,
241
231
Number of cows,
471
468
Number of sheep,
31
104
Number of polls,
363
360
Poll tax,
$2.00
$2.00
Rate per cent.,
1.20
1.25
TOWN APPROPRIATIONS.
For schools,
$1,800 00
Repairing of school-houses,
150 00
Paupers,
1,700 00
Highways and bridges,
1,200 00
Town officers and contingencies,
900 00
Payment of debt,
400 00
Raising Collins bridge and putting pier under the same, 500 00
Fencing school-house lot, District No. 11, 60 00
Enlarging school-house, District No. 8,
800 00
$7,510 00
17
State tax, County tax, Over-layings,
$339 86
631 57
215 26
Total committed to collector,
$8,696 69
Respectfully submitted,
A. JACKSON BLANCHARD, Assessors
D. BRAINARD MERRICK, CHAUNCEY E. PECK.
of
Wilbraham.
3 w
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Of the Town of Wilbraham, for 1878-9.
No topic ought to be considered of more vital impor- tance to the citizens of a town, than the education of the young.
The condition of our schools should be carefully exam- ined, and awaken a deep interest not only on account of the expense incurred, but also the influence they will have upon the community.
History tells us that no nation can be strong and per- manent, unless the citizens are moral, intelligent, and educated.
It also teaches that crime and vice flourish most where the education of the masses is neglected. Is it not then of the first importance that our schools be as efficient and useful as possible, and that all our school population be brought under their influence ?
To permit our children to enter upon the active duties of life without the discipline which our schools afford, would be as great folly as to send men into battle with- out military drill, or equipments.
Our schools for the past year compare favorably with former years. To some we can point with pleasure, knowing that they have done noble work. This is in a great measure due to the policy of your committee which
19
has been adhered to, in this, as in previous years to make no change of teachers unless for good and substantial reasons.
We sometimes hear the remark, "a change is needed, she has been there long enough." This is a mistake. A change of teachers involves a change of school govern- ment and discipline. It also deranges the classification of the school.
When a change is made it frequently requires weeks to get the school well at work; whereas if the same teacher is retained the school goes on from term to term without loss of time.
One of the greatest hindrances with which we have to contend is found in irregular attendance. The scholar who is habitually absent, soon falls behind his class. If his connection with his class is dissolved he loses the enthusiasm which association with those of his own age imparts, and is deprived of one of the principal incentives to study.
If his connection with his class continues he can but show his inferiority in his recitations. The result is, he has no inducement to study, and willingly stands at the foot of the class where he will remain through his school days if not through life. A pupil habitually irregular, injures his class by retarding it, or the whole school if separated from it by taking the teachers time from the other classes. The result is obvious. The habit of neg- ligence becomes firmly fixed, causing great injury to his own interests and also to others should they be so injudicious as to employ him.
Although your Committee have in former reports spoken of the influence parents have upon the schools, we would again remind them that they ought to recognize their responsibility. They ought not to feel that the Committee alone are responsible for the schools.
Parents ought to interest themselves enough to see
20
that their children are in the school regularly and promptly. By examining in the School Registers the lists of visitors to the schools we find an average of three parents have visited each school. What different results might have been expected had the parents been frequent visitors.
The pupils would have been more punctual and studi- ous. They would have acquired confidence. There would have been greater ease and freedom of expression and manners, which is no small part of a good education.
We earnestly desire that parents will frequently visit the schools, consult freely with the Teacher and Com- mittee concerning the welfare of their children, feeling, that we all have one aim, namely, the highest prosperity of the schools.
Since by the division of the town and the closing of one school, the number of our schools has been diminished nearly one-half, and the numbers not being consecutive, the Committee have in accordance with the vote of the town renumbered them as follows :
No. 1. Atchinson, No. 1.
No. 11. Langdon, changed to No. 2.
No. 12. Merrick, changed to No. 3.
No. 2. Wright, changed to No. 4. No. 8. Collins Depot, changed to No. 5.
No. 9. Butler, changed to No. 6.
No. 7. Glendale, No. 7.
The first and last retaining their former numbers.
Owing to the liberality of the town in voting money for permanent improvements we have been able to make the following :
Nos. 1 and 4 have been grained, calcimined and white- washed. Nos. 4, 6 and 7 have been painted outside ; No. 7 calcimined and whitewashed. No. 1 has had black- boards put upon all its walls making them more useful as well as more durable than plaster.
21
These improvements have not only been necessary to preserve the buildings, but have added much to their appearance. In this connection we would say to the Town, make your school-rooms agreeable and healthful, as well as useful.
Good taste and a tidy appearance about the school buildings, instruct those who have occasion to pass them as well as those who are to occupy them.
It is an interesting fact that children not only are will- ing to go double the distance to such a school, but they take pleasure in keeping the premises in order. The Town having voted a liberal appropriation for schools, your Committee have been able to continue all the schools thirty-four weeks, an increase of two weeks over that of any previous year.
It is hoped the Town will continue to show as much interest in the success of the schools the coming year as in the past, by appropriating as liberal an amount for their benefit.
The question of school accommodations for No. 5, (Col- lins Depot) is one which must be met this year. As is well known, the school-room is not large enough to ac- commodate those of school age in that section. Your Committee found after canvassing the district that not more than three-fourths of the children, between five and fifteen years of age, could be by any means seated in the present school building.
That all might have school privileges, another room was secured where a school for the younger portion of the scholars was established, giving to that section of the town, graded schools.
Your Committee hope that the town may so settle the question that graded schools may be continued, since all educators are agreed, that the pupils in graded schools progress more rapidly than in mixed schools.
Could this be done each teacher has only half as many
22
classes, consequently she can spend twice as much time with each as can a teacher in a mixed school. It has been suggested by some, that the mountain portion of the district be united with a part of No. 7 (Glendale) and so have one school on the mountain and one in the village.
To this plan your Committee think there are great ob- jections. We have had in the Glendale school for the past three years an average of eight scholars, a school very much too small to be agreeable to the teacher or profitable to the pupils. The idea of reducing that num- ber to create another equally small school, needs but to be mentioned to be rejected.
Supposing the plan as far as the mountain section feasible, it would require two schools to properly accom- modate the village ; since there are some seventy children between five and fifteen years of age.
Since the site for a new building seemed to be the question of greatest importance, and the one which caused the most serious objection to building last year, it is hoped a compromise may be affected, so that all parties can work together harmoniously.
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