This collection of public documents provides a comprehensive overview of the political and social history of the state of Massachusetts from colonial times to the early 20th century. The documents include legislative acts, court cases, and other official records, and cover topics ranging from public health and welfare to economic and industrial development. This is an essential resource for anyone interested in the history of Massachusetts and the development of American democracy. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.