1890-07-22 Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, ss. To either of the Constables of the Town Beverly, in said County, Greeting:
You are hereby required in the name of said Commonwealth to notify and warn in the manner
prescribed by the regulations of the Town, the qualified voters of said town to meet at the Town Hall,
in said Beverly, on Tuesday the twenty-second day of July current, at thirty minutes past seven
o'clock afternoon, for the following purpose, viz;
1st. To choose a Moderator.
2d. To see if the Town will extend the water pipes to the premises in occupation of the
Adams Manufacturing Co., on the way called Bass River Street,- as per petition of Austin Whitcomb
and others.
3d. To see if the Town will authorize the water board to lay water pipes in and through any
private way whenever in their judgment the demands for the use of water will warrant the expense
of laying said pipes.
4th. To see what action the Town will take upon the report of the committee appointed at
the last annual town meeting with reference to the subject of street lighting.
Hereof fail not, but make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon before the time
of holding said meeting.
Given under our hands and seal this twelfth day of July in the year one thousand eight
hundred and ninety.
Freeborn W. Cressy
Robert R. Endicott Selectmen
John H. Woodberry of
Horace W. Woodberry Beverly
Nathan H. Webb
Essex, ss. Beverly, July 17, A.D. 1890.
Pursuant to the foregoing warrant I have notified the persons therein named as therein
directed, by posting notifications stating the time, place and objects of said meeting at each of the
several places in town required by the Town Regulations.
William M. Woodberry, Constable of Beverly.
A true copy of the original warrant and the return thereon.
Attest. William H. Lovett, Town Clerk.
At a legal meeting of the qualified voters of the Town of Beverly held, in pursuance of the
warrant recorded on the next preceding page, at the Town Hall, in said Town, on Tuesday the
twenty-second day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety at thirty minutes past
seven o'clock afternoon,
the Meeting having been called to order at the time appointed, by the Clerk who read the
warrant therefore, it was
Voted that the Moderator be chosen by open nomination and hand vote. It was
Voted that Freeborn W. Cressy be Moderator.
Upon Article 2. Water Pipe, Bass River Street.
Upon motion of Austin Whitcomb it was
Voted that the prayer of the petitioners be granted.
Upon Article 3. Authority for Water Board to lay pipes.
Upon motion of John I. Baker it was
Voted that the water board be authorized to lay pipes in and through any public or private
way whenever they think it is for the interest of the Town so to do.
Upon Article 4. Street Lighting.
The committee to whom this subject was referred by the last annual town
meeting presented the following report:
"The committee appointed by the Town to consider the subject of lighting, respectfully report
as follows:
We have at present 23 arc lights, 52 gas lights and almost 350 oil lights, all the gas and
electric lights being in the center of the Town. The lights are lighted at various times; some of them
burn all night, some of them until 12 o'clock; some of them burn 29 days in the month, some only
18. Additions have been made in various parts of the Town to meet the needs of increasing
population, and there has been no adherence to any definite system. The results are unsatisfactory,
and the Town does not get a return proportionate to the money expended.
In the opinion of the committee it is advisable for the Town to adopt some general system,
and there seems to be no doubt that the electric light will give the most effective and economical
service. The investigation which the committee has made, and the statements made to us by our
correspondents and advisers have convinced us that a combination of arc and incandescent lights can
be devised which wilt give much better results than our present system at no greater, and probably
at less expense.
We therefore recommend that the subject be referred to a committee with instructions to
devise a general system of lighting with special reference to the use of electricity, and with authority
to advertise for proposals for lighting the Town, and to make contracts for such lighting, subject to
the approval of the Town.
Believing it also to be important that towns, in order to prevent the possibility of being forced
by monopolies to pay excessive prices for lighting, should have the privilege of establishing their
own plants, we recommend the public expression of this statement by the passage of the following
resolve.
Resolved: That we, the inhabitants of Beverly in town meeting assembled, are in favor of the
passage of an act of the Legislature authorizing cities and towns to establish and operate their own
systems of electric lighting.
Respectively submitted for the committee,
Francis J. Crowell, chairman."
It was
Voted that this report be accepted.
Upon motion of John I. Baker it was
Voted that the subject of street lighting be referred to the same committee with instructions
to devise a general system of lighting our streets, to ascertain the cost and maintenance of such
system and report thereon to the town.
Upon motion of Roland W. Boyden it was
Voted that the resolution recommended by the committee be adopted.
It was
Voted that this meeting be dissolved.
A true record.
Attest: William H. Lovett, Town Clerk.