10 
NORTH SHORE BREEZE 
TOWN MEETING 
[Continued from Page 4, 3d Col.] 
Article 6. Supt. Kimball moved 
that the sum of $15,500 be appropri- 
ated for the improvement of highways, 
bridges, etc., and to include the salary 
of the superintendent of streets and 
clearing snow. 
A. Cunningham said he was not 
satisfied with the report of the super- 
intendent of streets. He wanted to 
know how the money is spent, so that 
the people might know just what is 
being done each year. 
Article 18. Wenham road improve- 
ment. Supt. Kimball said extra 
money was called for this year to cut 
grades, one near the Tenny estate 
particularly, and to make the usual 
repairs. $500 was voted. 
Article 19. Concrete sidewalks. 
Supt. Kimball asked for $3,000 for 
this purpose, the sidewalks to be laid 
as asked for in articles 9, 10, 12, 13, 
14 and 15, namely: Pleasant street, 
between Essex street and the westerly 
side of the estate formerly of John J. 
Parsons; Central street, from Elm to 
Pine; easterly side of Norwood ave- 
nue; Pine street ; Beach street ; Rose- 
dale avenue. 
F. K. Swett objected to passing 
these all in one article, and thought 
the petitioners ought to have the right 
to discuss the various articles. 
‘ George Hobbs said if it was the 
intention to concrete the whole length 
of Pine street it would bea wasteful 
expenditure of money. 
E.S. Bradley said a sidewalk was 
very much needed on that street. Not 
a street in town was in sucha wretched 
condition. If anyone thinks it would 
be a wasteful expenditure of money 
they should go and. see for them- 
selves. 
The motion was carried, and $3,000 
was voted. 
Article 11, relative to building a 
sidewalk through the Cove woods, was 
referred to a committee appointed by 
the chair’ as follows: Gardner M. 
Lane, Albert J. Lucas, Randolph 
Taylor, E. P. Hooper and Jacob H. 
Kitfield. 
Meeting adjourned at 10.10 till 
Tuesday night at 7 o’clock. 
Tuesday Evening 
The meeting convened at 
o'clock. 
The report of the water commis- 
sioners, containing the various sub- 
reports assigned to this hour, was the 
first business taken up in connection 
with the consideration of articles 43 
and 45. 
Under article 2 the report of the 
commissioners was accepted. 
Article 43. In accordance with the 
recommendations of the water com- 
missioners, the following regular ap- 
7.10 
propriations were made: $3,000, ser- 
vices, extensions and receipts ; $7,500, 
maintenance ;. $500, purchase of me- 
ters; $800, official salaries; $600, 
painting standpipe; $225, painting 
barn and dwelling house at station. 
Article 45, relative to additional 
water supply. Com. F.J. Merrill said, 
in presenting the motion given below, 
in part: “In presenting an article for 
your consideration the members of 
the board do not deem it necessary to 
offer any argument as to the necessity 
of further water supply.” He then 
read an extract from the report of 
Engineer Percy Blake, made in 1897, 
in which the latter said the present 
plant would yield a supply of 600,000 
gallons a day summers, but that more 
would be needed by 1900. “Mr. Blake’s 
prophecy has come true. The time 
has come when we need more water. 
780,000 gallons were pumped one day 
last summer; the average pumping 
for July last year was 505,000, and 
this is a big amount for an estimated 
capacity of 600,000.” 
The speaker reviewed what had 
been done in line with the plans of 
the committee as to securing addi- 
tional wells in various sections of the 
town, with the object of obtaining 
more water. They finally solved the 
problem down to three places—Cat 
brook, Gravelly pond and Beaver 
dam. Cat brook was condemned some 
years ago, Gravelly pond was not con- 
sidered suitable for several reasons, 
and Beaver dam seemed to be the 
best of the three. The quality of 
water is better and can _ be obtained 
cheaper. The only problem is how to 
filter the iron. The State board of 
health, acting on our reports, recom- 
mend further tests, and Mr. Coffin 
provides for them in his second plan. 
While it will cost about $9,000 to 
make the tests, if it is a failure we can 
realize about one-half of the outlay in 
return, so that the actual net cost will 
be about $4,500 to demonstrate that 
we have the supply there.” 
Merrill then offered this motion, which 
is in accordance with the recommenda- 
tions of the board of health ; 
That the board of water commis- 
sioners be, and hereby are, authorized 
to procure and cause to be conveyed 
to the main supply pipe at the corner 
of Mill and School streets, an addi- 
tional water supply for the town in 
accordance with that portion of the 
recommendation of Freeman C. Coffin, 
i.e., which is designated as a plan for 
an emergency supply of water as con- 
tained in his report to said commis- 
sioners, dated Feb. 5, 1905; and they 
are hereby authorized to acquire, by 
purchase or otherwise, such waters, 
sources, lands, rights of way and ease- 
ments as they may deem necessary 
and expedient for acquiring, convey- 
Mr. 
ing, etc., and distributing the same, 
and may make such tests and exper- 
iments as they deem necessary or 
expedient for the removal of the iron 
in said water and otherwise purifying 
the same, and the sum of $9,000 is 
hereby appropriated for said purposes. 
O. A. Martin: ‘Ido not think this 
board has investigated the best places 
in town to procure water. We have 
at our property (mear the brickyard) 
an excavation 34 feet deep in some 
places. The water is as good as the 
town water. The basin is about an 
acre in area, and has an average depth 
of 15 feet. We would sell this prop- 
erty for less than it cost to dig it.” 
M.E. Gorman: ‘Before we act on 
this question let us look into the 
Gravelly pond scheme. Ido not ap- 
prove with Coffin’s plan of bringing 
water to the station and experiment- 
ing with it there, but do it on the 
spot.” 
Mr. Merrill explained that it was 
the intention of the commissioners to 
experiment ‘‘on the spot.” The idea 
of bringing the pipes to the junction 
of School and Mill streets was so that 
it could be connected with the main 
pipes in case of an emergency. 
F. P. Knight asked if it was con- 
templated to purchase easements 
across the property of Mr. Putnam 
and Mr. Baker. 
Mr. Merrill replied that they in- 
tended simply to procure an option on 
the property of Beaver Dam meadow. 
Frank P. Knight advised going 
slowly. He was very glad this matter 
had taken the turn it had, and thought 
if the present plans were carried out 
we could find out what the supply can 
be at a minimum cost to ourselves. 
He reminded the voters that already 
$21,000 more than last year had been 
appropriated, and this would mean 
$7,000 more. 
O.T. Roberts: “This is a poor thing 
to talk on, curtailing expenses on 
water. We want water at any cost. 
I am rather inclined to Gravelly pond. 
I lived in Beverly several years and 
drank pond water, and I don’t see 
as it reduced me in the least. A bird 
in the hand is worth half a dozen in 
the bush ; and 500,000 gallons we are 
sure of are worth 800,000 under 
ground. I like the plan presented 
and like to go slowly in the matter,” 
He favored the plan favored by Mr. 
Merrill so as to find out what we have. 
F. K. Hooper, leaving the platform 
and coming upon the floor, said he had 
been interested in this matter and had 
investigated as far as a private citizen 
could,,and he had become convinced 
that he didn’t care for pond water if 
he could get it from the ground. The 
engineer who made this report is re- 
garded as one of the most efficient in 
his line in the country. He is at 
