TOWN OF PLYMOUTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TOWN OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 3 J 1899 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Town Officers OF THE Town of Plymouth FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31 1899 PLYMOUTH The Memorial Press 1900. TOWN OFFICERS. Selectmen—Charles P. Hatch, James D. Thurber, Herbert W. Bartlett, Elkanah Finney, Thomas D. Shumway. Town Clerk—Edward L. Burgess. Town Treasurer—Edward L. Burgess. Auditor—Frank D. Bartlett. Collector of Taxes—Benjamin F. Ward. Clerk of Selectmen—Benjamin F. Ward. Assessors—George F. Weston, chosen 1899, f°r three years; Alonzo Warren, chosen 1898, for three years; George Harlow, chosen 1897, for three years. Overseers of the Poor—Charles P. Hatch, chosen 1899, for three years; Benjamin F. Ward, chosen 1897, for three years; Charles A. Strong, chosen 1898, for three years. Water Commissioners—Everett F. Sherman and Increase Robinson, chosen 1897, for three years; Horace P. Bailey and George W. Bradford, chosen 1899, for three years; John H. Damon, chosen 1898 for three years. School Committee—William W. Brewster, chosen 1898, for three years; Elizabeth Thurber, chosen 1899, for three years; Charles A. Strong, chosen 1897, for three years. Burial Hill Committee—Selectmen. Agawam Fishery Committee—Martin V. B. Douglass, Frank Harlow, Harrison O. Barnes. Park Commissioners—Nathaniel Morton, chosen 1898, for three years; George R. Briggs, chosen 1897, for three years; Walter H. Sears, chosen 1899, for three years. Surveyors and Measurers of Lumber—Leavitt T. Rob- bins, Edward B. Atwood, Cornelius C. Holmes. Sealer of Weights and Measures— Christopher T. Harris. Beach Committee—Selectmen. Superintendent of Streets—Stillman R. Sampson. Field Drivers and Fence Viewers—Hosea C. Bartlett, [Wallace J. Nightingale, Nathan B. Perry, J. F. Turner. Superintendent of Water Works—Richard W. Bagnell. Collector of Water Rates—N. Reeves Jackson. Pound Keepers—Joseph F. Towns, Nathan B. Perry, Hosea C. Bartlett. Committee on Inland Fisheries—Thomas D. Shumway, Charles B. Stoddard, Benjamin A. Hathaway. Harbor Master—Ellis Whiting Harlow. Board of Registration—J. T. Collingwood, appointed 1898, for three years; J. C. Cave, appointed 1899, for three years; Nathaniel G. Lanman, appointed 1897, for three years; Edward L. Burgess. Superintendent of Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries —Edward F. Stranger. Sexton—Ozen Bates. Superintendent of Almshouse—Obed C. Pratt. Board of Health—Selectmen. Board of Engineers—Horace P. Bailey, Daniel M. Bos- worth, Frank H. Lanman. —5— Superintendent of Manomet Cemetery—Sidney B. Black- mer. Superintendent of Chiltonville Cemetery—Charles Rogers. Constables—Michael Casey, Joshua A. Douglass, Joseph W. Hunting, Benjamin F. Snow, Freeman Manter, Benja- min F. Goddard, Edward Manter. Committee on Fire in the Woods—Samuel Bradford, Nehemiah L. Savery, Gustavus G. Sampson, Martin V. B. Douglass, Nathan B. Perry, Ziba R. Ellis, Joseph F. Towns, Nathaniel Morton, William F. Doten, Frank B. Holmes, Nathaniel T. Clark, Silas Valler, George R. Briggs, George H. Pierce, James M. Dowsett, Adelbert C. Finney, Herbert Morissey, Charles L. Woodward, Frank L. St. George, B. A. Hathaway, Charles H. Holmes, Benjamin Whiting, A. M. Haskell, A. J. Cahoon, Ulrich Schroeter, Henry L. Cahoon. Committee on Sewerage—Selectmen. Chief of Police—Benjamin F. Goddard. ABSTRACT OF RECORDS OF 1899. March 6. Voted, That the Town approve of the suggestion of the Water Commissioners to revise the tariff of water rates, with a view of greater equality, and a reduction of income so that the Town shall not make a profit from the same, over and above the expense and interest, and the annual amount to be paid upon the water debt. March 6. Voted, That the Selectmen are instructed to make provisions for a uniform index of the proceedings of the Town and County Commissioners in laying out streets, ways, highways and roads. March. 6. Voted, That a committee of three persons be ap- pointed by the Moderator to report a revised list of Town By-Laws with such additions and omis- sions as they may deem proper, for action of the Town at a future meeting. March 6. Voted, That the Selectmen and police are in- structed to prosecute all persons and corporations who obstruct the streets, illegally by poles, posts, or vehicles of any kind. March 6. Voted, That all boards, officers and committees of the Town which make annual reports, are in- structed to keep a detailed report at the Town House of their salaries, receipts and disbursements, but not necessarily to be published. March 6. Voted, That the streets of the town are poorly lighted, and the Selectmen are instructed to take such active measures as may insure a better light. March 6. Voted, That the reports of the several boards of officers and committees of the Town be accepted and placed on file. March 6. Voted, That the names of Alonzo L. Blackmer, William J. Bagen, Walter H. Sears, Richmond Talbot and Thomas C. Ellis be stricken from the list of jurors, and the names Benjamin Whiting, James W. Blackmer and John L. F. Schneider be added. March 6. Voted, That the jury list revised as above be ac- cepted. March 6. Voted, That the treasurer be authorized under the direction of the Selectmen to borrow money in anticipation of taxes, and for disbursement under the provisions of the law relating to State Aid and Military Aid, and to defray the expenses of the Town after January i, 1900, and that for the purpose of defraying the cost of constructing a bridge and rebuilding the road at the head of the beach, and the cost of the removal of snow, the Treasurer be further authorized under the direction of the Selectmen, to borrow a sum not exceeding six thousand dollars under the authority and limitations contained in the 6th Section and 29th Chapter of the Public Statutes relating to tempor- ary loans. March 6. Voted, That the sum of ($500.00) five hundred dollars be appropriated for the care and improve- ment of the Public Parks of the Town, sixty-four voting in the affirmative and ten in the negative. March 6. Voted, That the Town appropriate the sum of ($150.00) one hundred and fifty dollars to pay the expense of Decoration Day. March 6. Voted, That the dog fund for the year 1898, amounting to ($889.42) eight hundred and eighty- —8— nine and 42-100 dollars, and the additional sum of ($410.58) four hundred and ten and 58-100 dol- lars be appropriated for the use of the Public Li- brary for the current year. March 6. Voted, That the Town authorize the Selectmen to renew any note or notes heretofore authorized, which are now due or may become due the present year for such time and on such terms as they may deem expedient for the interests of the Town. March 6. Voted, That the Town authorize the Selectmen to compromise or defend any suit or suits within the Commonwealth in the name of the Town. March 6. Voted, That articles ten and eighteen be referred to a committee of seven to be appointed by the Moderator who shall examine into the subject mat- ter of said articles, and report thereon to the Town at some subsequent meeting or at the adjournment of this meeting. March 6. Article eleven being under consideration, voted to accept the report of the committee and place it on file. March 6. Voted, That the Town accept and allow the al- terations or widening of Middle street on the south side as altered and widened by the Selectmen, and reported to the Town. March 6. Article thirteen being under consideration, voted that the subject matter of this article be referred to the committee of three, to be appointed by the Moderator, by a vote under article two. March 6. Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to ex- tend the sewer from the foot of Howland street to Murray street, and if the Selectmen so desire to empty into Railroad Brook. —9— March 6. Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to bor- row the sum of ($3,500.00) thirty-five hundred dollars, and to issue therefor the note or notes of the Town bearing interest at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum payable semi-annually, dated July I, 1899, and payable in ten years in equal annual pay- ments of ($350.00) three hundred and fifty dollars each. The said note or notes to be signed by the Treasurer and approved by the Selectmen. March 6. Voted, To accept and allow the layout of Standish avenue across the Plymouth and Middle- boro Railroad, as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town. March 6. Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to bor- row the sum of ($6,000.00) six thousand dollars and to issue therefor the note or notes of the Town, bearing interest at the rate of four per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, dated July 1, 1899, and payable in ten years, in equal payments of ($600.00) six hundred dollars each. The said note or notes to be signed by the Treasurer and ap- proved by the Selectmen. March 6. Article nineteen being under consideration. Voted, On motion of Charles S. Davis that the subject matter of this article be referred to the Selectmen, to report thereon at some subsequent meeting, or at an adjournment of this meeting. March 6. Voted, That the Engineers be instructed to put a fire alarm box in Billington street, near the Standish Worsted Company, and the expense of the same be charged to the appropriation for the Fire Department. March 6. Voted, to accept and allow the layout of Cherry street from Court street to the woods as — 10 laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.