erty within their respective limits, by civil contracts. They may make contracts which are necessary or convenient in the exercise of their corporate powers. Pub. Sts., c. 27, § 9. For such purposes there is no limitation of the authority. Their contracts will be valid when made in relation to objects concerning which they have a duty to perform, an interest to protect, or a right to defend. But here is the extent at once of their right and their power. They cannot engage in enterprises foreign to the purposes for which they were incorporated, nor assume responsibilities which involve undertakings not within the compass of their corporate powers. Vincent v. Nantucket, 12 Cush. 103. In making contracts, towns are not limited to those which must be performed within a year. A town may contract with a water company to supply water to hydrants for fire purposes for an annual compensation for ten years. Smith v. Dedham, 144 Mass. 177. See post, 130.

Dangerous Buildings. See Nuisance.

Debts. Cities and towns shall not incur debts except in the manner of voting, and within the limitations as to amount and time of payment, prescribed by statute. Pub. Sts., c. 29, § 1.

In ascertaining the amount of indebtedness of a city or town for the purposes of this chapter, debts created for supplying the inhabitants with water shall be omitted, and the amount of its sinking-funds shall be deducted. Pub. Sts., c. 29, § 2.

The provisions of the first seventeen sections of chapter 29 of Public Statutes shall not apply to debts lawfully incurred in aid of railroad corporations, or to water-scrip lawfully issued by a town under special statutes, for the indebtedness of a fire district. Pub. Sts., c. 29, § 3.

No city or town, except as provided in the following section, shall become indebted in an amount which exceeds three per cent on the last preceding valuation, for the assessment of taxes, of the taxable property therein. Pub. Sts., c. 29, § 4.

Cities and towns which were indebted on the 13th day of June in the year 1875 to an amount not less than two per cent on the valuation for said year, for the assessment of taxes, of the taxable property therein, may, within the limitations as to the manner of voting the same, and time of payment, prescribed in this chapter, increase such indebtedness to the extent of an additional one per cent on that valuation, and no more. Pub. Sts., c. 29, § 5.

Cities and towns may, by ordinary vote, incur debts for temporary loans in anticipation of the taxes of the municipal year in which such debts are incurred and expressly made payable therefrom by vote of the city or town. Pub. Sts., c. 29, § 6; St. 1885, c. 312, § 4; St. 1889, c. 372, § 1.

Other debts than those mentioned in the preceding section shall be incurred only by a vote

of two-thirds of the voters present and voting at a town meeting, or of two-thirds of all the members of each branch of the city council, taken by yeas and nays, and approved by the mayor; or, if he disapproves such vote, by another like vote taken after notice of such disapproval, which notice shall be given within ten days from the time in which the vote of the city council is laid before the mayor; and if the mayor fails to give such notice to the branch of the city council in which such vote was first taken, he shall be deemed to have approved such vote. Pub. Sts., c. 29, § 7.

All debts mentioned in the preceding section shall be payable within the following periods: namely, debts incurred in supplying the inhabitants with water, within not exceeding thirty years; debts incurred in constructing sewers, within not exceeding twenty years; and all other debts within not exceeding ten years. Pub. Sts., c. 29, § 8. See note on page 169.

The interest on all debts shall be raised by taxation annually. When a debt is payable at a period exceeding ten years, the city or town shall, and when payable at a period not exceeding ten years may, at the time of contracting the same, establish a sinking-fund, and contribute thereto from year to year an amount raised annually by taxation sufficient with its accumulations to extinguish the debt at maturity; and when payable at a period not exceeding ten

years the city or town shall raise by taxation annually not less than eight per cent of the principal thereof, and shall set apart the same for a sinking-fund until an amount is raised sufficient with its accumulations to extinguish the debt at its maturity; and shall raise any balance necessary for such extinguishment, by taxation, in the year before the maturity of the debt. No such sinking fund shall be used for any other purpose than the payment and redemption of such debt. Pub. Sts., c. 29, § 9.

Each city and town which was indebted on the 13th day of June in the year 1875, to an amount exceeding five per cent on the valuation for said year, for the assessment of taxes, of the taxable property therein, shall establish a sinking-fund, and contribute thereto from year to year an amount raised annually by taxation sufficient with its accumulations to extinguish the debt within thirty years from said date; and each city and town which was then indebted to an amount less than five per cent and more than one per cent on such valuation shall establish a sinking-fund, and contribute thereto as above provided, so as to extinguish the debt within twenty years from said date; subject, however, in both cases to the provisions of the following section. Pub. Sts., c. 29, § 12.

In establishing and contributing to the sinkingfunds mentioned in the preceding section, it shall be sufficient to provide for the extinguishment,

at their maturity, of funded debts existing on the 13th day of June in the year 1875, and for the extinguishment within thirty years from said date of debts then existing and contracted for supplying the inhabitants with water. Pub. Sts., c. 29, § 13.

Nothing contained in the first seventeen sections shall be construed as prohibiting the inhabitants of towns, or city councils, from paying or providing for the payment of any debts at earlier periods than is herein required; or from renewing the same in securities payable within the period required for the final payment of the debt; or from adding to any sinking-funds the excess of any appropriation over the amount required for the purpose thereof, or any sums derived from taxation or from other sources, which are not required by law to be otherwise expended; and such additions may be made for the purpose of reducing the entire debt for the redemption of which the sinking-fund was established, or of reducing the amount to be raised by taxation for such fund. Pub. Sts., c. 29, § 14.

The restrictions of the preceding sections shall not exempt a city or town from its liability to pay debts contracted for purposes for which it may lawfully expend money. Pub. Sts., c. 29, § 16.

No city or town shall, for the purpose of subscribing in aid of a railroad corporation, increase its indebtedness to an amount which, with its existing net indebtedness incurred for any pur