USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Milford > Annual reports of the Town officers of Milford, New Hampshire, 1900-1901 > Part 6
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12. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for sewers, or take any action re- lating thereto.
13. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for Memorial Day.
14. To see if the town will vote to grant a location for one or more cannon upon the common or other pub- lic ground.
15. To see if the town will take any action relating to the care of any public grounds now owned or that may be acquired, or pass any vote relating thereto.
16. To see what action the town will take relative to appropriating money or furnishing water for street sprinkling.
17. To see what action the town will take in regard to the enlargement of Riverside cemetery, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
18. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of three hundred and twenty-five dollars for band concerts this summer.
19. To see what action the town will take to increase the water supply for the Milford Water works, pass all necessary votes relating thereto, and raise and appropri- ate money for said purpose.
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20. To see if the town will vote to cancel all Town of Milford bonds now held in its sinking funds and all that may be hereafter acquired.
21. To see if the town will vote to build a barn for the town team and the storing of the road machinery on its vacant lot on School street and raise and appropriate money for the same.
22. To see if the town will vote to exempt the Mil- ford Poultry and Pet Stock association from the pay- ment of rent of town hall for show purposes.
23. To see if the town will grant to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union the free use of the town hall for three evenings of the year.
24. To see if the town will vote to adopt the "Cur- few Ordinance," so called, as practiced in other places.
25. To see what action the town will take in regard to extending the retaining wall of Amherst street from the elm tree at Berry's grist mill easterly to the house of H. S. Gilson.
26. To see if the town will vote to acquire by pur- chase or otherwise the electric light and power plant, and take any action in relation thereto.
Given under our hands and seal the twenty-fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and one.
GEORGE A. WORCESTER, EVERETT STICKNEY, CHAS. A. LANGDELL. Selectmen of Milford.
4
Report of Selectmen.
To the Citizens and Taxpayers of Milford :
Your board of selectmen in presenting for your consideration the reports of the various departments of our municipality would call your attention to a few of the more important transactions of the year just closing and perhaps make a few suggestions that may be helpful for the future. Soon after our election we began to make arrangements for carrying into effect the vote of the town to construct sewers on Elm and Union streets. We found that by buying so large a quantity of sewer pipe as would be required, we could secure a discount of seventy seven and one half per cent and an additional two per cent for cash. This was an exceptionally low price and soon after was advanced. We advertised for pro- posals for the excavating and laying and closed a contract with P. F. Brady of Lowell, Mass., to do that work at fifty cents per running foot on Union street and eighty cents on Elm street. Soon after commencing the work on Elm street we began to en. counter rock and for over three hundred feet through the summit of the hill near the Unitarian church where the excavation was over seventeen feet deep, one hundred and seventy eight yards of rock were taken out. This rock was of such a nature that each blast would remove but a small amount and a less persistent man than Mr. Brady would have been discouraged. The amount of pipe laid on Elm street was 601 feet of 15 inch, 1150 feet of 12 and 411 feet of 10, a total of 2162; 1595 feet of 12 inch on Union street and 125 feet of 10 inch in Livermore court leading to the West Primary school house. Had we not secured the pipe and la- bor at a low price the large amount of rock work would have caused a larger expenditure than we report. When the matter of constructing sewers in the above streets was being agitated, we were led to believe that a considerable number of the abuttors would connect therewith, and they could have done so at a smaller cost than later. Only two house connections were made on Elm street and three on Union street. The plan upon which our sewer
5
system is built provides for the outlet of the main sewer at a point in the rear of the C. H. V. Smith mill. There was such a demand for drainage of a portion of the village that it was thought that the outlet could be safely made for a few years at the river near the iron bridge. The system has been extended to such an extent that the large amount of sewage deposited at this point has be- come very offensive at certain periods of low water, and something must be done to abate the nuisance. Mr. Allen, who made the plan, says that the reason why he carried the main so far down the stream was to have the outlet below the last dam. Now that that dam has been removed, he sees no objection to entering the river near the McLane dam, but just where he could not deter- mine without a view of the situation. Without some action is taken by the town, it is very probable that the court will be asked to grant an injunction restraining the town from emptying the sewage there longer.
In obedience to the orders of the county commissioners, we have built the new highway laid out by them from the stone bridge in an easterly direction by the mill of Smith Berry, and have upon each side constructed concrete sidewalks. The wall at the bridge was so high, being over twenty feet, that we were obliged to excavate until a solid rock foundation was found, and for over 52 feet it rests on a ledge, is seven feet thick at the bot- tom and of an average thickness of five feet. The contract for the stone work was made with James Reilly, and the work was done to our entire satisfaction. The total number of cubic yards of stone work was 285 and 287 feet of coping. In carrying for- ward this work we were careful to follow the plan and grade given us by the commissioners, and had their engineer inspect the wall- He pronounced it built as the plan called for. That the present street is an improvement over the old, there can be no doubt, but so long as the mill and blacksmith shop are used for the present purposes, those who have occasion to travel there will at times be inconvenienced, unless those who occupy the premises are careful to recognize the rights of the public.
The committee appointed to procure a new postoffice outfit, and prepare the room for the same, attended to the duty assigned them, and we now have an office second to none. It is appreci. ated by all who do business there. It was found, after Mr. Barber moved his fixtures from the room, that the floor was in an unfit condition to place a new office on, and at the request of the com-
6
mittee and many citizens, we laid a new floor at an expense of $170.97. The room formerly occupied by the postoffice has been remodelled and arranged for the use of the police court, water board and tax collector, and when not otherwise occupied we have let it for small meetings of a public nature.
Early in the spring one of the town horses became lame and was unfit for use. After several weeks' treatment he became no better and was sold. We were unable to find at once a suitable mate for the remaining horse, so we were obliged to hire one for several months. Early in the winter we found the present pair of white horses which could be bought at a fair price. We pur- chased them and they have proved to be all right for our work. The old horse that has served us faithfully for many years would be of small value if placed upon the market, but is still sound and strong and with proper care can do a large amount of work. Our highway agent advises that he be retained, as he will save hiring. The town of Hillsboro keeps five horses, two pairs aud one for the use of the highway agent and selectmen, and as under our present law all highway work is done under the direction of the selectmen, and as they have to go about over the town taking the annual in- voice, and many other purposes, they should not be required to bear the expense of the team hire as they have in the past. When the town team was first bought in 1895, the committee to whom the matter was referred for consideration reported that the town should own a team and recommended that the sum of $600 be ap- propriated for building a barn in which to keep it. As the keep- ing of a team by the town was in the nature of an experiment, it was perhaps wisely decided to omit the barn for a season and so two stalls were hired at a rental of $50 per year and that condition has continued until now. That the town should own a barn there can be no doubt. As it is now the team is stabled in a very cold barn in which there are no conveniences for drying out blankets (which often come in frozen stiff in the winter and wet in the summer,) and no chance to oil or clean the harness. What we should have is a barn on the vacant lot on School street, or some other desirable place, large enough to give stalls for four horses, a tool room that could be locked to prevent the tools being stolen, a harness room, and if thought best, a room in which a man could sleep to be on hand to get out the team for fire purposes, and a shed in which the road machinery can be housed from the weather and not, as now, be stored in barn cellars and out of doors, where It rapidly decays.
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For many years the sprinkling of our streets in the summer season has been left for private enterprise to carry out. The town never until the last season contributed toward the expense. The past summer the Improvement society undertook to arrange for this service and made a contract with Smith Berry to do the work at an expense of twenty five dollars per week to them, but un- doubtedly a larger one to him. It is a question if the merchan's and business men around the common and a few public spirited citizens should be required to bear the total expense of the work, which amounted to $500. The benefit of having our streets sprinkled is shared by all who have occasion to use them, and is it but just that all should bear their proportional part of the expense ? Your selectmen, acting upon their judgment, contributed the sum of $25 for the season. We are not prepared to recommend just how the town should aid in the work, for the present condi- tion of our water supply would seem to preclude the furnishing of water free or at any price until the supply is increased. When the works are in a condition to furnish the water, the area wet could be enlarged, as water could be taken at several points and thus obviate the necessity of running an empty cart over much of the distance travelled. We trust that a wav may be devised to overcome the difficulties presented and that Albro M. Wilson, who has for several years done the sprinkling in a manner satisfactory to all, may still be engaged in this important work.
Our highways the past year have received the undivided at- tention of the highway agent, George W. Taylor, and have, we believe, been kept in as good a condition as the money appropri- ated would allow. The Lincoln street bridge has been raised two feet and now allows the free passage of the ice and water. The bridge over the canal at Pine Valley has been rebuilt with steel girders and pipe railings and is now in good condition for the large amount of travel that goes over it.
Immediately after the last town meeting we informed the management of the Boston & Maine railroad of the action of the town in requesting them to place gates or flagmen at the four un. protected crossings in this town. The division superintendent came here and looked over the two crossings in the village as well as the two on the Wilton road, and thought the request an un- reasonable one and the matter was referred to the railroad com- missioners, who came here late in the fall and looked the ground over and heard what evidence we had to offer. They recommend- ed that a flagman be placed at West street, which has been done.
At the annual town meeting, holden on March 11, 1890, the selectmen were authorized and instructed to contract with some party or company to light the streets and town hall with electri- city and the sum of $1,050 was appropriated to carry the vote in-
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to effect. At that time lighting by electricity was in its infancy and the uncertainty of the future made reliable parties cautious about investing their capital in the new method of lighting. March 22, Hon. John McLane proposed to put in a plant and fur- nish the town with light for the streets for fifteen dollars a light per year, the town to take not less than fifty lights. For some reason this proposal was not accepted, and on July 30 a contract was signed with Geo. A. Beaty, John Beaty, T. Henry Pearse and Horace M. Oliver, who agreed to put in a plant and furnish lights at the same price offered by Mr. McLane. These gentlemen pur- chased the old Souhegan mill privilege and commenced business, lighting the Town Hall for the first time Nov. 20, 1890. This company operated the works with partial success for about three years until they went into bankruptcy, when it was run for a sea- son by Mr. H. H. Barber as receiver until he sold the property to one E. C. Stanwood of Boston who organized a new company, evidently without much capital, as they immediately made an is- sue of gold bonds to the amount of $40,000, secured by mortgage upon the property. These bonds, we understand, have been ex- changed for a new issue of $50,000 5 per cents. During the en- tire existence of the present company we believe the local mana- gers have done everything within their power to give us a satis- factory service, but oftentimes they have been unable to do so. Sept. 5 the steam engine, upon which they depended for power during low water, met with an accident that completely demol- ished it, and we were without lights until the twentieth of Sep- tember, when a partial service by water was had until October 6, when the plant was closed for putting in a rope transmission, and later a small steam engine was procured. You will see by the financial statement on another page that we only paid for the light when we had it, but the inconvenience of having only par- tial light for so long a period was great. What the town should do to prevent a continuation of the experiences of the past is a hard matter to decide. Some see in municipal ownership a solu- tion of the problem. Others believe we could get electricity from some large plant already established, as the question of distance has been eliminated.
There can be no matter brought to your attention that is of such vital importance and that should receive such careful atten- tion as the making of appropriations, for upon this not only de- pends the amount of your tax bills, but the general welfare of the town. Many schemes for the expenditure of money will be brought to your notice at the coming town meeting. Possibly all may have some merit and under some circumstances should re- ceive favorable action, but with a great probability that our total valuation will be less than last year a delay in their accomplish- ment would seem desirable.
Respectfully submitted,
G. A. WORCESTER, E. STICKNEY, C. A. LANGDELL.
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AMHERST STREET WIDENING.
Leon L. Junkins, surveying, $4 75
George H. Allen, inspecting wall, 8 18
F. A. Jackson, labor on railing, 12 87
George F. Parker, edgestone and setting, 118 84
John Bishop, edgestone, 8 00
James Reilly, setting edgestone,
30 54
E. M. Parker, teaming,
65
E. I. Kendall, bond and contract,
2 00
W. B. Rotch, advertising proposal 2 75
Henry S. Gilson, attending hearing 2 00
John F. Grafton, grading 59 38
concreting 178 00
Geo. W. Taylor, grading driveway 24 17
James Reilly, retaining wall 1,103 13
$1,555 26
HIGHWAYS.
Geo. W. Taylor, Highway Agent, #5464 96 Elbredge K. Jewett, Land dam- age and labor, 35 00
$5,499 96
Cash received subscriptions for
concreting, sand, labor, etc. $148 31
$5,351 65
NOTES AND INTEREST
Souhegan National Bank Notes, $10,000 00
יי " Interest, 156 49
10
E. Stickney, Note and Interest,
512 29
Interest on Coupon School Bonds 1,150 00
66
Water 2,990 00
.. " Registered Bonds, 400 00
.. " Mary L. Duncklee Note, 15 00
$15,223 78
SINKING FUNDS.
Water Loan Sinking Fund, $1,200 00
School " 800 00
$2,000 00
TAXES.
State Tax,
$3,969 50
County Tax
5,994 82 .
$9,964 32
SEWERS.
E. I. Kendall, making bond and contract, $3 00
Ordway & Kendall, team twice, 2 00
G. A. Worcester, expense to Bos- ton for sewer pipe 2 54
J. T. & E. B. Burns, lumber,
35
French & Heald, stakes,
2 10
Pennichuck Water Works, iron pipe, 11 25
11
L. L. Jenkins, surveying, 35 50
E. M. Parker, teaming, 2 90
B. & M. R. R., demurrage, 2 00
W. J. Prince, steps for manholes, 8 25
J. F. Grafton, unloading pipe, 18 00
66 66 delivering pipe on
streets, 32 41
A. W. Howison, sewer pipe,
70 50
Waldo Bros., 66 elbows,
487 10
13 20
Fitchburg R. R., freight,
346 80
P. F. Brady, laboras per con- tract, 4,318 60 -- $5,356 50
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Geo. A. Worcester, expenses and services, $4 75
W. H. W. Hinds, M. D., expen- ses and services, 60 00
W. B. Loring, M. D. V., expen- ses and services, 10 50
B. F. Foster, expenses and services
2 25
E. Wason, M. D., consultation small pox case, 10 00
E. Wason, M. D., attending Frost children, 6 00
H. S. Hutchinson, consultation small pox case, 10 00
M. P. Stanton, goods for Chas.
Jarest, (quarantined)
15 27
.
Geo. G. Tolford, goods for Chas.
Jarest (quarantined)
3 56
12
M. E. Kennedy, digging three graves for Jarest children, 8 00
B. F. Foster, burial expenses for Jarest children, 45 00
N. K. Holt, milk for J. K. Win- slow, quarantined, 3 93
W. F. French, formaldahyde,
7 50
$186 76
TELEPHONE.
N. E. T. & T. Co. Rent of Tele-
phone,
$1 88
N. E. T. & T. Co., Tolls, 6 11
$22 99
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
W. L. Winslow, appropriation
$900 00
new hose 341 04
$1,241 04
NEW POST OFFICE.
John McLane, appropriation $1,650 00
Thomas Winters, new floor 170 97
$1,820 97
· MEMORIAL DAY.
F. P. Hood, Quartermaster G. A. R., appropriation $100 00
13
SCHOOLS
E. I. Kendall, treasurer school district. Appropriation $13,000 00
E. I. Kendall, literary fund 342 00
66 dog license money 351 77
$13,693 77
LIBRARY.
J. E. Webster, treasurer of trustees.
J. E. Webster, appropriation $950 00
interest on Gay fund 250 00
$1,200 00
INSURANCE ON TOWN HOUSE.
A. L. Keyes, insurance for two years $98 00
W. M. Knowlton, insurance for two
years
95 00
$193 00
Amount of insurance $10,000.
OVERTAX AND ABATEMENTS.
J. H. Fay, collector, abatements
for 1899
$241 29
J. H. Fay, collector, overtax
109 25
J. H. Fay, collector, tax on Mrs. Manning property sold to town 9 03
$359 57
14
CEMETERIES.
W. M. Knowlton, treasurer of trustees.
W. M. Knowlton, sewerpipe and labor at Riverside $13 68
W. M. Knowlton, care of ceme- teries other than Riverside 49 00
W. M. Knowlton, perpetual care lots 25 50
W. M. Knowlton, care of Riverside 52 00
$140 18
POLICE.
F. A. Dodge, watchmall
$600 00
E. F. Hawkins 4 00
A. A. Simonds 1 00
Geo. F. Hawkins
2 00
Thomas Winters
2 00
Kenneth Huse
2 00
W. F. Prescott
2 00
J. McDearmid
3 00
F. Sears
2 00
C. A. Scott
2 00
L. C. Hall
2 00
J. H. Fay
2 00
$624 00
POLICE COURT.
A. L. Keyes, salary as justice $100 00
G. A. Worcester, services as spec- ial justice 12 00
15
E. I. Kendall, expense and services in Garrity case 11 59
F. A. Dodge, f. od for prisoners 11 65
T. Faulds .. 4 50
F. A. Dodge, conveying prisoners to Grasmere 21 35
E. F. Hawkins, fees and convey-
ing prisoners to Grasmere 20 61
J. P. Melzer, printing writs, etc 18 35
Estate E. M. Gay, safe
50 00
$250 05
ELECTRIC LIGHTING.
MILFORD ELECTRIC LIGHT CO.
STREET LIGHTING
TOWN HOUSE
POST OFFICE
February
$120 16
$13 17
March
120 16
13 17
April
120 16
13 17
May
120 16
13 17
June
120 16
13 17
July
120 16
13 17
6 00
August
120 16
13 17
6 00
September
60 08
6 58
3 00
October
37 54
3 24
1 50
November
37 54
13 17
6 00
December
60 08
13 17
6 00
January
120 16
13 17
6 00
Lamps
2 40
$1,156 52
$143 92
$34 50
Globe Street Lighting Co., street lanterns $30 00 Total, $1,364 94.
16
SUPPLIES FOR TOWN HOUSE.
E. M. Parker, freight and cart- age $9 09
Gilbert & Barker Co., gasoline, etc 66 30
American Express Co., express 65
Fred Buckley, cutting up old floor
1 00
C. B. Dodge, ash barrels, etc 8 11
J. F. Grafton, wood
5 50
H. F. Warren, “
3 00
B. R. Came & Son, coal
371 35
J. E. Webster, clock for court room and repairs 6 25
Emerson & Son, mattresses for cells 7 50
H. H. Barber, duster, mops, brush 4 75
French & Heald, table for select- men's room 12 00
Hutchinson & Averill, supplies 17 25
W. F. French, supplies 5 17
$517 92
TOWN HISTORY.
Rumford Printing Co., advance
payment for printing history $500 00
J. H. Daniels & Son, printing por-
trait of F. T. Sawyer
11 20
$511 20
TOWN OFFICERS.
G. A. Worcester, selectman $275 00
E. Stickney, selectman · 200 00
17
C. A. Langdell, selectman 200 00
J. M. Laws, town clerk 85 00
F. W. Sawyer, treasurer of town and sinking funds 150 00
J. H. Fay, tax collector 230 00
John McLane, moderator two meet- ings 10 00
C. E. Knight, auditor 10 00
F. W. Barnes, “ 10 00
J. H. Fay, supervisor two elections 15 00
F. B. Bartlett, supervisor two elec- tions 15 00
F. J. Kendall, supervisor two elec- tions 15 00
F. W. Ordway, election inspector 5 00
E. L. Kittredge, 66 5 00
J. W. Finerty, 66 5 00
J. A. Twiss, 66 66
0 00
B. F. Foster, sexton 227 50
$1,457 50
TOWN HOUSE REPAIRS.
C. F. Johnson, sign for court house
door $1 00
C. B. Dodge, door check 4 65
T. Winters, hardwood flooring 17 32
66 66 labor and stock 1897-1899 18 00 L. L. Junkins, labor police court room 36 80
A, W. Howison, lumber 57
C. H. V. Smith 20 47
J. M. Stickney, irons for chimney 8 00
18
I. H. Carlton, labor on stone steps 8 55
J. A. Mixer, painting, setting glass, etc 58 39
W. L. Winslow, extending chimney 50 50
.. .. cementing floor 5 05
W. F. French, goods for repairs 23 44
Kendall & Wilkins, cement
50
Emerson & Son, chairs and curtain court room 28 00
Emri W. Clark, repairs on roof 10 66
E. M. Parker, teaming 1 75
C. H. Gault, labor
3 45
Gilbert & Barker Mfg. Co., gas mixer and labor 173 01
H. H. Barber, labor and stock
61 01
$531 12
RAILROAD CROSSING HEARINGS.
E. I. Kendall, services and expenses $20 25 Ordway & Kendall, team for com- missions 4 00
G. A. Worcester, expense of two trips to Nashua 2 00
Mrs. Savage, counting teams at Richardson's Crossing 1 00
C. A. Scott, counting teams at West street 4 days 8 00
$35 25
JANITOR OF TOWN HOUSE.
A. A. Simonds
$399 96
19
WATER.
MILFORD WATER WORKS.
Hydrant service
$2,665 00
Drinking fountains
60 00
Water at hearse house
6 00
Water at stable
6 00
Water on common
6 00
Flushing sewers
29 25
Town house
94 32
Installing meter at town house
2 95
$2,869 52
TOWN TEAM.
J. Shannahan, rent of barn $50 00
Brooks Pierson, labor 520 00
W. J. Prince, shoeing and repairs
36 10
F. W. Chase, hay 36 81
John Quinlan, "
20 80
G. C. Coburn, "
25 65
M. Finerty, 66
18 70
C. B. Dodge, blankets 5 00
W. J. Broderick, painting carts 9 00
W. F. French, lanterns, etc 1 32
W. B. Loring, medicine for horse
2 00
G. W. Taylor, hay, stable and care of horse 6 00
Smith Berry, set of front wheels
5 00
Kendall & Wilkins, grain and shavings 149 88
H. C. Mellvin, repairs to carts
4 25
Isaac Brothers,
6 00
20
E. M. Dunbar, repairs to yoke 1 00 Day & Deschamps, repairs to carts 20 25 H. S. Gilson, horse hire and shoe- ing 78 00
$995 76
Cr. received for use of town team $956 90
Received for lame horse 40 00
$996 90
NEW HORSES.
Paid C. Jounnotte, one pair horses $300 00
" G. A. Worcester, expense getting team 9 18
$309 18
WATER TUBS.
F. D. Holland, 1899-1900 $6 00
C. A. Webster, 1900 3 00
Estate S. B. Cotton, 1900 3 00
N. Merrill,
3 00
E. L. Hodgman 66
3 00
G. D. Armstrong 66
3 00
P. C. Colby
66
3 00
$24 00
PRINTING.
M. P. Foster, printing check lists $18 00 W. B. Rotch, printing town re- ports 162 00
21
J. P. Melzer, printing 8 60
Rumford Printing Co., tally sheets 2 40
$191 00
HEARSE.
G. W. Brownell, hearse
$700 00
Freight on hearse
15 00
Expenses of committee
12 97
$727 97
Cr. by old hearse
100 00
$627 97
TOWN POOR.
Jane Carter, board at Grasmere
185 1-2 weeks
$370 29
Thomas Newell family
66 00
Mrs. Horace Peabody
116 75
$553 04
COUNTY POOR.
D. W. Duncklee
$78 00
Nancy W. Sargent
78 73
Jennie Wellman
78 72
J. H. Hutchinson
80 58
Mary E. Hutchinson
80 57
Mrs. E. E. Johnson
78 00
Mrs. Clara C. Bartlett
32 77
-
22
Mrs. E. S. White
76 50
A. A. Gilbert family
88 00
M.s. M. D. Handy 72 00
Mrs. Julia O'Brien
15 00
Mrs. Kate Jameson
45 00
Charles F. Lloyd
7 00
Richard Elliott
72 02
Joe Brown Gouette
6 25
John Gouette
9 00
Mrs. Soucy
59 98
John Anderson
4 42
Joseph Johnson
5 78
John Johnson
5 00
B. F. Heath
32 50
A. W. Ludwig family
124 78
Clara Custeau
6 37
Lucy French
14 35
Milo Clare, old bill
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