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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
<br />Time, with unvarying precision, has again brought
<br />around the annual period when those who were intrust-
<br />ed with the administration of the various municipal
<br />duties, which the law requires to be fulfilled, and also
<br />those that are incidental, and which necessarily occur
<br />during the year, are by the order of the town to be
<br />submitted in detail, for your consideration and approval,
<br />or disapproval.
<br />At the commencement of a financial year, no definite
<br />plan of action, applicable in every department, can be
<br />adopted, for the obvious reason, that very many of the
<br />demands are unforeseen and subject to such exigencies
<br />as to require immediate action. Itis also very difficult
<br />to estimate, with exactness, the expense of repairs and
<br />incidentals for an ensuing year; therefore in viewing
<br />retrospectively the acts and labors of the past, if only
<br />for a year, it would be an anomaly if there were not
<br />some labor performed that had not resulted as intended,
<br />some act that had proved ineffectual, some expenditure
<br />not as judicious as desired, and advice or suggestions
<br />designed for good were unheeded.
<br />Fortunately, for the credit of the town, no events
<br />have transpired that have called for the intervention or
<br />the exercise of any authority vested in the Selectmen,
<br />except a few matters not at all unusual, and of such a
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<br />SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
<br />character as often happen and are not unexpected.
<br />Very little has occurred to disturb the peace and quiet-
<br />ness (except what is referred to in the subject of Police) ;
<br />no misfortune, either by fire or sickness, has befallen
<br />the town, but health and prosperity have been enjoyed ;
<br />death, however, has visited some households and re-
<br />moved some of our citizens, who for many years have
<br />manifested their interest in the welfare and reputation
<br />of the town by advocating and assisting in those meas-
<br />ures and improvements which were intended for con-
<br />venience and the general good.
<br />Your attention is called to some matters referred to
<br />the Selectmen either for adjustment, or with specific
<br />instructions.
<br />PROSSER'S GRAVEL PIT.
<br />It appears by reference to a contract, made in behalf
<br />of the town by the Selectmen and Mr. Prosser, in 1873,
<br />that the right was purchased of Mr. Prosser for the sum
<br />of seven hundred dollars, to take gravel and other
<br />material, except loam, for seven years, from a gravel
<br />bank situated on Waltham Street, with the restriction
<br />that the land, after removing the gravel and all refuse
<br />material, should be left at a certain grade. In remov-
<br />ing
<br />emoveing the gravel a ledge was found, which, if its removal
<br />be persisted in, would involve a heavy expense. Mr.
<br />Prosser, however, waives the requirement. It was found
<br />upon examination that the surveyors, in some of the
<br />past years, have, in taking gravel, exceeded the limits of
<br />the contract by excavating to a depth below the pre-
<br />scribed grade. At the expiration of the lease or con-
<br />tract, the attention of the Selectmen was called to the
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