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11 prompt and reasonable efforts to secure such supply, and to furnish additional and suitable pumps and apparatus for supplying the town for fire and domestic purposes. The experience of last summer, when the supply even for domestic purposes was limited to a few hours for several days on account of an accident to a single well, shows how short the water supply at that time was, how utterly unpro- tected we were in case of fire, and how much we are depending on a single pump which is liable to break at any time, subjecting us to similar annoyance and similar danger. During the year, but too late to be of any use during the dry season, the Water Company proceeded to dig a large well or gallery on land of Joy near Parker Street, which they are authorized to take under the Act of 1892, and to connect the same by a pipe with their other wells. While there has been no reliable test of this source of supply, the Committee have little confidence that it will prove at all adequate to meet the needs of the town, or that it will even prove sufficient for immediate necessities. The Company do not appear to be doing anything further to meet the emergency, and probably will do nothing so long as the town pays without objection for its unreliable protection against fire, and so long as the people patiently submit to their inconveniences. The Committee received some assurance that an additional pump would be placed in the works, but we are not informed that anything has been done to relieve us in this particular. We do not think the people realize that we are at the mercy of a single pump ; and that in case of accident during a fire, or at other times, our only source of supply is the small amount of water which may happen at that time to be in the tank, until repairs are made. The Committee have no recommendations to make, but think it may be advisable for the town to continue the existence of the Committee by granting it further time. Respectfully submitted, F. F. RAYMOND. E. A. SHAW. A. E. Sco'rr. JAMES S. MUNROE. LEXINGTON, March 1, 1893. 12 And it was Voted, That the Committee be granted further time as asked for in their report. Committee on Steam Gong and Needs of Fire De- partment made a majority and minority report. MAJORITY REPORT. Your Committee appointed in March, 1892, to provide a steam gong to be used in connection with the public schools, and in addi- tion to consider and report upon the needs of the Fire Department, beg to report as follows : A chime steam whistle has been purchased and placed upon the pumping station of the Lexington Water Com- pany, at a total cost of $39.32, the appropriation therefor having been $50. This whistle will be blown by the Water Company with- out expense to the town, whenever it may be necessary to convey in- formation to the teachers and pupils regarding school sessions. A code of signals has been arranged and is published in the report of the Superintendent of Schools. Should it be found, upon more extended trial, that this whistle is not easily heard in all sections of the town, a larger one will be sub- stituted. Your Committee have met several times to consider the needs of the Fire Department, the officers of the fire companies b@ing in- vited to meet informally with them. As a result your committee are ready to indorse the request of the Fire Department, should it be made, for an appropriation sufficient to cover the purchase of the following articles, which it seems to your Committee are urgently needed, viz. : — Eighteen buckets for the Chemical Engines, costing not over . . $35.00 One single swinging harness for hose wagon, costing not over . 25.00 Two cut-off spray nozzles, costing not over . 30.00 It is the sense of your Committee that, with the above exceptions, and aside from certain repairs that it is understood will be made