1879-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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13 GUIDE -BOARDS. It has become almost an impossibility to keep guide boards up and in repair, their destruction becoming more common than ever. When sufficient evidence to• secure conviction can be obtained, a few prosecutions will, no doubt, have a beneficial effect. GAMMELL LEGACY. The income of the GammeIl legacy has been dis- bursed under the management of Mrs. L. S. Pierce and Mrs. N. W. Bryant. The particulars of the ex- penses are given in their report. FIRE DEPARTMENT. The report of the Engineers of the Fire Department furnishes the condition of the fire apparatus, and the labor and expenses of the department. As the year for the fire department does not expire until the first of May, and as the financial year of the town closes January 31, this difference has caused a misunderstand- ing in relation to the appropriation made for the pay- ment of the firemen, as to the time when the appropri- ation was to be used. If the appropriation which is • usually made at the April meeting is taken to pay the firemen whose year ends the following month, the de- partment would be with but little money for the ensu- ing year; as it is now arranged, a sum is held in re- serve upon settlement January 3t, sufficient to pay the stewards, engineers and firemen the amount voted on the following May. 16 remain unpaid until brought before the town, and 'perhaps create some warm discussion, to pay it from the Contingent grant. The whole expenditure of the department the past year, including the amount retain- ed in the treasury, has been $2,686.36. The town voted, April 1877, that the names of the members of the several fire companies be submitted to the Selectmen for approval ; in 1877 the list of mem- bers was received and approved. The past year the names of the members of the Adams Engine and the Hook and Ladder Companies, were received and approved. On the 7th of August last, the names of the members of the Hancock Engine Company were received and and accepted. The names of the Bab- cock Extinguisher Co. have never been brought for- ward for approval. As desirable as the fire department may be, its use- fulness would be more effective if the young men who reside in the immediate vicinity of the engine -houses,. would compose its members. It has been said that within a radius of one hundred rods of the Hancock engine -house there is a sufficient number of young men to form its company. and in Norris' block one- half the number are found. By reference to the list of members it will he seen that many of them live from a half mile to a mile from the Engine house. As the Village Hall Building is so constructed, and the uses and connections of the rooms are such, we think it advisable in order to obviate or prevent any conflict of authority which may occur hereafter, be- tween the officers of the Fire Department and the