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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
Middleboro, Mass.
COUNTY
OF
GH
INCORPORATED
FOR THE
Year Ending December 31, 1924.
H. L. Thatcher & Company, Middleboro, Mass.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
Middleboro, Mass.
OLE
OR
OUTH
U
PLYMO
UNTY MAS
M
GH
*
PINCORPORATED
XSAD.1669
FOR THE
Year Ending December 31, 1924.
3
TOWN OFFICERS 1924
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR
WILLIAM W. BRACKETT Term expires 1925
TOWN CLERK WILLIAM W. BRACKETT
SELECTMEN
LYMAN P. THOMAS
Term expires 1926
THEODORE N. WOOD
Term expires 1926
ERNEST L. MAXIM
Term expires 1925
CHESTER E. WESTON
Term expires 1927
ALTON G. PRATT
Term expires 1927
TOWN MANAGER HARRY J. GOODALE
ASSESSORS
JAMES F. GARDNER
Term expires 1926
ERNEST S. PRATT
BENJAMIN C. SHAW
Term expires 1925 Term expires 1927
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
ADELAIDE K. THATCHER CHARLES S. CUMMINGS
WILLIAM M. HASKINS
Term expires 1926 Term expires 1925 Term expires 1927
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
ALLAN R. THATCHER FOREST E. THOMAS MRS. ADELIA C. RICHARDS KENDRICK H. WASHBURN GEORGE W. STETSON LORENZO WOOD
Term expires 1926
Term expires 1926
Term expires 1925
Term expires 1925
Term expires 1927
Term expires 1927
4
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS CHARLES H. BATES HEALTH OFFICER JOHN H. WHEELER
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
ICHABOD B. THOMAS Resigned July 1 HERBERT B. RAMSDELL Appointed July 1
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
WALTER M. CHIPMAN Term expires 1926
WILLIAM J. COUGHLIN
Term expires 1925
MICHAEL J. CRONAN
Term expires 1927
TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
WALTER L. BEALS
Term expires 1926
WALTER SAMPSON
Term expires 1926
NATHAN . WASHBURN
Term expires 1926
ALLAN R. THATCHER
Term expires 1925
THEODORE N. WOOD
Term expires 1925
MARION K. PRATT
Term expires 1925
HENRY W. SEARS
Term expires 1927
THOMAS H. KELLY
Term expires 1927
H. JANE BENNETT
Term expires 1927
CONSTABLES
FRED C. SPARROW E. KIMBALL HARRISON ALDEN C. SISSON HARRY S. ALLEN
TREE WARDEN HARRY. J. GOODALE FOREST WARDEN
HARRY J. GOODALE MOTH SUPERINTENDENT JESSE CARPENTER, JR. SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES LOUIS C. LITTLEJOHN
5
REPORT OF TOWN MANAGER
Board of Selectmen,
Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I have the honor to submit my fourth annual report and recommendations as Town Manager, this being the fourth year of this form of government in Middleboro.
As detail reports of each department are submitted here- with, only the more important features of the activities of each department will be mentioned.
STATE SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTING
At the annual election in 1923 the Town voted to adopt the State System of Accounting, but owing to the large amount of work in the office of the State Director of Accounts, he was not able to provide the necessary men to make an audit of the accounts of the town and establish the system until July of this year. This work was finished the first of August, and Waldo S. Thomas was appointed Town Accountant Aug. 11, 1924.
While this is an added expense to the town, it does es- tablish a system of accounting which is generally being adopt- ed by the cities and towns in the State, and provides a much desired check upon all the financial affairs of the town, as all financial transactions of the various officials of the town must be approved by the Town Accountant.
FINANCIAL
Jan. 1, 1921, the total bonded debt of the town was $94,400.00, made up of the following items :- School House
6
Loan $9,900.00, Fire Dept. Loan, $7,500.00, Water Dept. Loan $45,000.00, and Electric Light Dept. Loan, $32,000.00. In 1921 a loan of $16,000.00 was placed to'take care of the town's share of constructing the County Tuberculosis Hospital at So. Hanson, and a loan of $5,500.00 for the purchase of electri- cally driven pumps at the Water Works Pumping Station was made in 1922.
On Jan. 1, 1925, the total bonded debt of the town is $67,800.00, showing a reduction of $26,600.00, notwithstand- ing additional pumping equipment was purchased for the Pumping Station, and the town's share of the County Hospital has been paid. Of this amount, $15,000.00 is Electric Light Dept. debt, and $39,500.00 Water Dept. debt. These last two loans are paid from the income of the departments. Of the remaining amount the Hospital Loan of $10,000.00 and the School House Loan of $3,300.00 is paid from the tax levy. The $10,000.00 is a loan outside of the debt limit.
GAS AND ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT
As a result of the snow storm late in the winter, and an unusual wind and rain storm during the summer, a large a- mount of work was necessary to repair the damage. These troubles have all been eliminated, 23.8 miles of extensions have been built, and 6525 feet of 4" gas main has been laid. We therefore can feel that the results obtained in this de- partment this year are very satisfactory.
There have been many complaints from the radio users, of the interference caused by tree grounds on the electric lines. These complaints have had serious attention by the depart- ment, and a large amount of time has been given to eliminate as far as possible these disturbances. The question of radio disturbances is one little understood by the ordinary user of the radio, and many of them can not be accounted for, even by the radio engineer. What appears to be caused by local condition may and usually does originate from some distance away, and is transmitted from its point of origin over all the wires in the adjacent territory.
7
We still have interruptions in service on our high tension line, although not as frequently as last year, and shall, however, never have good service until a line connecting direct with New Bedford is built. This matter is being investigated and we hope to have a definite report to make in the near future.
WATER DEPARTMENT
The policy adopted three years ago of paying particular attention to the main gates, hydrants and meters has been pursued this year, with the result that the general physical condition of the system is much improved, and the earnings of the plant increased.
Due to the moving of the railroad transfer from Middleboro to Brockton, in the early summer, the revenue from this source has been reduced more than 50%, so that the earnings of the plant for this year are much less than were anticipated.
HIGHWAYS
The results obtained this year in this department have been very gratifying. The citizens were quite generous in making their appropriations, with the result that a few of the many needed improvements have been made; notably Plymp- ton Street from the Green toward Eddyville. The surface of this road was the old type of water bound macadam, fifteen feet wide, and as a result of long use was worn very thin. In building the new road, this old surfacing was utilized as a foundation, the road widened to a width of 20 feet, and a new hard surface road of the asphalt macadam type constructed. The money for constructing this road was provided, one-half, or $15,000. by the Town, and a like sum by the State.
Another much needed improvement was the graveling and oiling of Plymouth St., from Murdock Street to Bedford Street in North Middleboro, a distance of two miles. This road has long been subjected to much automobile travel, and as it never had been protected with oil, the surface had be-
8
come so rough as to be almost impassable, but with the im- provements made this year, there is now a black surfaced road from the center to North Middleboro, and should be much appreciated by all who have occasion to use it.
Through the generosity of the Peirce Trustees, who pro- vided $4,000.00 for the work, Cushman and Miller Streets from Wareham Street to Rock Station, a distance of 0.9 miles, has been regraveled and oiled, a much needed improvement.
The policy instituted last year of building a certain amount of cement sidewalk each year has been pursued this year, with the result that a new walk has been constructed on So. Main St., from Nickerson Avenue to Center Street, and on the south- erly side of Center Street from So. Main Street to Oak Street. On the northerly side of Center Street the work begun last year was continued from Pearl Street to Oak Street, and from Forest Street to Everett Street. If the citizens can see their way clear to continue making a like appropriation for a few years, our sidewalk problem in so far as it concerns the princi- pal streets, would be solved.
The addition of a Buffalo-Pitts scarifying roller to the equipment of this department has been of great benefit, not only on new construction, but in the maintenance work. The results obtained by organizing two patrols employed in the southern section of the town, have proven satisfactory.
STREET LIGHTING
The street lighting system is anything but a credit to the town, especially to one which owns its own Electric Lighting Plant.
The White Way system should be extended on Center Street to Everett Square, on Wareham Street to Benton Street, on South Main Street to Nickerson Avenue, and on North Main Street to Pierce Street. There should also be added fifty new 60 c. p. lights in the residential section, and the street lighting extended in the outlying districts. The department is perfect- ly willing to provide the fixtures, but it can not furnish the
9
electricity, as the State Law specifically states that all electri- city used by the town must be paid for at cost, and the law also provides the method by which that cost shall be figured.
It is therefore essential that the town make the necessary appropriations to cover the cost of the electricity used in street lighting.
A few lights of the latest type of highway lighting have been placed on Wareham Street from Barden Hill Road to Cherry Street. This was done for two reasons, first, to pro- tect the pedestrians who are compelled to walk on this road, which during the summer carries a very heavy automobile traffic, at times reaching 1000 automobiles per hour. Second, that the citizens may have an opportunity to visualize this type of street lighting in order that they may decide on the advisability of extending this system of lighting in the out- lying sections of our town.
There are two sections of the town which particularly need this protection. They are Center Street and Taunton Road, and Everett Street from North Street to Purchade School.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The need of new quarters is very pressing, and I hope that something may be done this year toward relieving this danger- ous situation.
The decision reached last year of employing a permanent . Captain has proved a very wise one, as his constant supervision of the department is showing many good results.
The neighborly act of the Brockton Fire Department, of allowing Capt. Ryder to attend its School of Instruction for firemen for a month, without any expense to the town, should be much appreciated by all the citizens. There he had an opportunity to learn the up-to-date methods of handling all types of fire, and the use for and the method of using all the up-to-date appliances used in large modern fire fighting forces, and gained a knowledge of the profession which never could be obtained in such a small town as ours. We hope he
10
will never have to use this knowledge, but should occasion arise it is there for the protection of the lives and property of all our citizens.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
With the advent of the automobile and the increased num- ber of tourists, there is no one department in any town which advertises its town more than the police department, and the citizens of Middleboro need have no fear of any unfavorable comments on our police department by the strangers who pass through here, as our department is known far and wide for its courteous treatment of all who come in contact with it.
It is also unfavorably known by all those who attempt to gain a livelihood by violating the Volstead Act. There is probably no town in Plymouth County more free from vice and intemperance than is Middleboro.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
The duties to be performed by this department are among the most difficult of any in the town. Constant vigilance is necessary in enforcing the state and local health laws, parti- cularly those applying to contagious diseases. As a result of the pains-taking work of this department, we have been . entirely free from any epidemics. It is but natural that this department should be criticised, but practically all of this criti- cism comes from those who are inconvenienced by the laws enforcement.
It was a wise provision in appointing the Health Officer the School Attendance Officer, as by this means he is kept in close touch with absentees. Many a case of contagious disease has been discovered in this manner, and the spread of disease checked.
The duties of the Health Nurse, who is also the School Nurse, are also an added protection against the spread of children's diseases.
11
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
The policy initiated last year of putting the public build- ings in proper condition, has been continued. A larger appro- priation in the repair of building account of the School De- partment has been obtained the past two years, and will be asked for this year.
For a number of years passed no major repairs have been made on any of the buildings, with the result that they were in a very bad condition.
This year a new furnace has been placed in the West Side School. Forest Street School has been painted inside and out, and a modern system of lighting placed in one of the rooms necessitated by reason of half time sessions of the first and second grades held in this room.
The two rooms on the first floor of the Union Street School have also been supplied with modern lighting, as these rooms are also used for two platoon system for the second grade. A modern lighting system has also been installed in the Town House School.
In the High School, the assembly hall has been cut into three rooms by means of sliding glass partitions, so that this space can be used as class rooms as well as an assembly hall.
In the Thompsonville School a new floor has been laid, and the building painted inside and out; the Parent Teachers Association assisting in this expense.
The Town Hall has received one coat of paint, improving its appearance greatly.
In closing, I wish to express my appreciation for the court- eous treatment, help and advice which you have given me, and to those associated with me who have one and all worked so harmoniously in carrying out your policies, I wish also to ex- press my deep appreciation.
We are certainly one happy family, and it is due to this friendly cooperation, that the past year has been such a success.
Respectfully submitted,
H. J. GOODALE, Town Manager.
12
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
In the first annual report of the selectmen, under the Town Manager form of government, that for the year 1921, are these words: "Town Government is essentially a long-haul affair, in which definite results are seldom immediately visible." In this report, for the year 1924, now that the system has been in operation for four years, it should be of interest to citizens to review briefly some of the more important activities of the period, in order that an intelligent estimate may be made of the results obtained under the modern method of promoting efficiency in municipal administration.
In the Water Department, the position of superintendent has been filled by the Town Manager, and the former Con- sulting Engineer, one plant engineer and one foreman have been dispensed with. Many services previously not metered have been supplied with meters, and many worn out meters have been replaced, thus measurably increasing the revenue of the department. All hydrants and water gates, many of which were out of commission, have been put in thorough re- pair, thus making a great improvement in the fire protection. The main pump, which was past its usefulness, has been re- placed by a new electrically driven pump, the operation of which has proved very satisfactory both in economy and efficiency.
The Highway Department has received needed attention in the way of building up equipment, to replace much which had become practically worthless, proper equipment being essential to the economical administration of this department. Motor trucks have replaced the former horse drawn wagons for hauling road supplies, a tractor has been added to the scraping equipment, and a new scarifying roller has been pur- chased to take the place of the old roller which was beyond repair. A substantial beginning has been made in the repair of roads and streets which had suffered from several years of neglect, particularly on those outside roads which were in the worst condition. The use of heavy asphaltic oil instead of tar has given more lasting and consequently more economic re-
13
sults. Most of the work done on the streets near the center has been in patching and oiling, except on Wareham and Cen- ter Streets, which have been re-surfaced. More recently it has been possible to make needed repairs outside, especially on Cushman and Miller Streets, through Rock Village, and on Plymouth St., both in North Middleboro, and towards Nemas- ket Hill Cemetery, all of which have been resurfaced and oiled. With state co-operation a portion of Plympton St. has been rebuilt. Titicut bridge and Woodward's bridge have been replaced by modern structures, and the latter has now been taken over by the state. A beginning has been made in the much needed work on sidewalks by the building of cement walks on Main and Center Streets.
The Gas and Electric Department has shown a gratifying development, both in improvements and extensions. The old wooden wheel pits at the station have been replaced by con- crete pits, and the generating machinery has been remodelled to give greater efficiency. A calorimeter, for testing the quali- ty of the gas has been installed, with a resultant annual saving of 5000 gallons of the oil used in its manufacture. 102.52 miles of wire have been strung on 25.61 additional miles of streets, and 4.02 miles of additional gas mains have been installed. The number of consumers has been increased from 1200 to 2300, and the price of electricity has been reduced two cents per kilo watt hour, and that of gas, fifteen cents per 1000 cubic feet. There has been a substantial reduction in the large amount of overdue gas and electric bills outstanding at the beginning of the period under discussion. Studies of possible methods of improvement in electric service have been made, including new plant installations at the central station, and, as an alternative, the building of an additional high tension line through Freetown to New Bedford. Street lighting condi- tions have not been materially improved, and this subject is commended to the citizens for their careful consideration.
The Police and Fire Departments have shown a commend- able improvement in discipline and general morale under their respective chiefs. The patrolmen are courteous, particularly
14
in their handling of the large volume of through traffic. The appointment of a permanent captain in charge of the central fire station has proven a good move, and his attendance at the' school of instruction for firemen at Brockton has been beneficial to the department as a whole.
The Health Department has been prompt in its investiga- tion of reports of contagious disease, and the combining of the health office and the school attendance officer in a single individ- ual has resulted in checking the spread of children's diseases by the close touch which could thus be maintained with all absentees.
Increased attention has been given to the minor repairs and cleaning of the various public buildings. Six school houses have been painted inside and out, the Town Hall has been painted white, thus bringing out its architectural beauties, and the Public Library has been thoroughly renovated and cleaned.
One of the principal advantages of the Town Manager system has been exemplified in the matter of general super- vision of town departments. The consolidation into one office of several departments has proved a convenience to the public, as well as a saving in the time and expense for adminis- tration. Of much greater importance however, is the oppor- tunity thus afforded of interchanging the work of the various town employes, regardless of the particular department to which they are nominally attached. For example, minor repairs on public buildings, cleaning of schoolhouses, etc., are now usually handled by the employees of the Moth Department at times when they are not otherwise occupied. This makes it possible to avoid seasonal "hiring and firing", thus giving a few good men steady work, at a smaller outlay.
The principal advantage of supervision over all depart- ments is in the matter of the purchase of supplies, practically all of which are now bought by competitive bids, and in quantities sufficient for all uses. This insures economical buying, low prices, and prompt attention to bills, thereby saving a considerable sum in discounts.
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With the system of accounting installed in 1921, a complete anddetailed statement of the financial operations and condition of the town is furnished to the selectmen each month. The state system which the town voted last year to install does not ' differ materially from that in operation for the past four years, except that it requires an additional officer-the town auditor or accountant-to administer it. This of course entails an additional salary. With a view to making the net increase as small as possible, the selectmen propose to combine the offices of town clerk and accountant in one individual, and to make the tax collector also a collector of all other monies receivable by the town, that is, bills for water, gas and electricity. This will tend to equalize the work of these departments and will result in a net decrease of one in the clerical force, by obviating the employment of considerable of the temporary help now required.
Incidental to the matter of salaries, it is interesting to note that exclusive of the accountant's salary, but including that of the Town Manager, the net annual amount of salaries paid by the town is now $650.00 less than under the old form of government.
The total bonded debt of the town on Jan. 1, 1921, was $94,400.00. On Jan. 1, 1925, it was $67,800.00, showing a decrease of $26,600.00.
At the risk of making this report lengthy, the selectmen have thought it worth while to set forth the facts contained in it, in order that the citizens might be fully informed as to the operation of their corporation.
The selectmen, as at all times in the past, welcome sugges- tion and criticism, and expect as heretofore to give their best efforts toward the best interests of all citizens.
CHESTER E. WESTON, THEODORE N. WOOD, LYMAN P. THOMAS, ERNEST L. MAXIM, ALTON G. PRATT,
Selectmen.
16
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION, 1924
GEORGE W. STETSON, Chairman
CHARLES H. BATES, Secretary
MEMBERS
Term
Expires
Adelia C. Richards, 86 Pearl Street
1925
Kendrick H. Washburn, 70 So. Main St.
1925
Allan R. Thatcher, 1 Webster St.
1926
Forest E. Thomas, 59 Everett St.
1926
George W. Stetson, 118 So. Main St. 1927
Lorenzo Wood, Plymouth St.
1927
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Charles H. Bates, 47 Courtland St. Telephone 577-R Office, Room 7, Town Hall, Telephone 81-R Office Hours, School Days, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 4 to 5 P. M .; Tuesday and Thursday 8 to 9 A. M.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held in Room 7, Town Hall, on the first Thursday of each month, excepting July and August at 7.30 P. M.
REGULAR MEETINGS, 1925
January 8, February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, September 3, October 1, November 5, December 3.
17
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Dr. James H. Burkhead, 11 Peirce Street Tel. Residence 536-R; Office 536-W
SCHOOL NURSE
Mary Canning, 4 Reland Street; Tel. 203-M
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OFFICER
John H. Wheeler, 60 Everett Street; Tel. 407-W
JANITORS OF CENTRAL BUILDINGS
High School
Charles H. Goodwin, Forest Street Extension Union Street and Town House Schools
School Street School
Forest Street School
West Side School
Luther S. Bailey, 23 Forest Street George A. Cox, 82 Pearl Street Frank W. Gibbs, 49 Forest Street Linam Chute, 1046 Centre Street
CALENDAR
Winter Term, Dec. 29-Feb. 20, 8 weeks. Spring Term, March 2-April 24, 8 weeks.
Summer Term May 4-June 19, 7 weeks; High School, June 24, 8 weeks.
Fall Term, Sept. 8-Dec. 18, 15 weeks. Winter Term, Dec. 28.
The graduating exercises of the Elementary Schools will be held Thursday afternoon June 18, at 2 o'clock in the Town Hall.
The graduating exercises of the High School will be held Wednesday evening June 24, at 8 o'clock in the Town Hall.
HOLIDAYS
Jan. 1, April 20, Oct. 12, Nov. 26, 27. Plymouth County Teachers' Association Convention.
18
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Middleboro, Mass., Jan. 8, 1925.
To the Members of the School Board :
The following report, for the year ending December 31, is respectfully submitted.
SUMMARY OF RECORD FOR THE YEAR
As the Principal of the High School has discussed at some length in his report the changes in and the needs of that School no further consideration of these matters in this report is deemed necessary.
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