USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1909-1911 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
.
NON - CIRCULATING
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/annualreportoft1909unse_0
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
REPORT OF THE TOWN OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1909
1620.
SSACH
O
SI
PUBLIC LIVREMY
PLYMG
UTH, MASS.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31st,
1909.
1620.
SSA
ETT
PLYMOUTH, THE MEMORIAL PRESS. 1910.
PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY
INDEX.
Abstract of Records
7 Police Department 133
Assessors' Report
53 Public Library Report 118
Auditor's Report
52 School Department 141
Board of Health
109 School Physician's Report 172
Sealer of Weights & Measures
95
Cemetery Commissioners' Re- port
104
Selectmen's Report
16
Fire Department
89 Town Clerk's Report
61
Inspector of Animals Report
65
Town Officers
3
Forest Warden's Report
102
Town Warrant
122
List of Jurors
128
Treasurer's Report
33
Overseers of the Poor Report
56
Tree Warden's Report 98
Park Commissioners' Report
115
Water Department 183
145
TOWN OFFICERS, 1909.
Selectmen-Frederick D. Bartlett, George W. Bradford, Dex- ter H. Craig, Charles W. Eaton, Ira C. Ward.
Town Clerk-Edward L. Burgess.
Town Treasurer-Edward L. Burgess.
Auditor -- Frank D. Bartlett.
Collector of Taxes-Herbert W. Bartlett.
Clerk of Selectmen-Herbert W. Bartlett.
Assessors-Nathaniel G. Lanman, chosen to fill the unexpired term of John C. Cave, chosen in 1908, for three years; George Harlow, chosen 1909, for three years; James C. Bates, chosen 1907, for three years.
Overseers of the Poor-William T. Eldridge, chosen 1908, for three years; Herbert W. Bartlett, chosen 1909, for three years ; Charles A. Strong, chosen 1907, for three years.
Water Commissioners-Horace P. Bailey and Charles T. Holmes, chosen 1908, for three years; Robert C. Harlow and John W. Churchill, chosen 1909, for three years; John H. Da- mon, chosen 1907, for three years.
School Committee-Harry B. Davis and Earl W. Gooding, chosen 1908, for three years ; Eugene P. Rowell and J. Holbrook Shaw, chosen 1909, for three years; William W. Brewster and Increase Robinson, chosen 1907, for three years.
4-
Burial Hill Committee-Cemetery Commissioners.
Agawam Fishery Committee-Frank Harlow, Alfred Holmes, Harrison O. Barnes.
Park Commissioners-Walter H. Sears, chosen 1908, for three years; George R. Briggs, chosen 1909, for three years ; Thomas R. Watson, chosen 1907, for three years.
Surveyors and Measurers of Lumber-Edward B. Atwood, Cornelius C. Holmes.
Sealer of Weights and Measures-Benjamin F. Snow.
Beach Committee-Selectmen.
Superintendent of Streets-Stillman R. Sampson.
Field Drivers and Fence Viewers-Charles H. Raymond, Lewis F. Smith and Zenas E. Langford.
Superintendent of Water Works-Arthur E. Blackmer.
Collector of Water Rates-N. Reeves Jackson.
Pound Keeper-Zenas E. Langford.
Committee on Inland Fisheries-Edgar D. Hill, Lewis W. Edson, Alfred S. Burns.
Harbor Master-Charles D. Craig.
Board of Registration-Herbert W. Clark, appointed 1908, for three years; C. H. Sherman, appointed in 1907, for three years George M. Harlow appointed in 1909, for three years ; Edward L. Burgess.
Superintendent of Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries, and Burial Hill-Edward F. Stranger.
-5-
Sexton-Thos. J. Kennedy.
Superintendent of Almshouse-Russell L. Dixon.
Board of Health-Freeman Manter, chosen 1908, for three years ; Arthur W. Bramhall, chosen 1909, for three years ; George H. Jackson, chosen in 1909 for one year.
Board of Engineers-Ephraim D. Bartlett, Isaac L. Hedge, John E. Sullivan, James S. Kierstead and Alton D. Edes.
Superintendent of Chiltonville Cemetery-Chas. Rogers. Superintendent of Manomet Cemetery-Geo. A. Manter.
Superintendent of Cedarville Cemetery-Charles E. Kimball. Chief of Police-Arthur R. Gledhill.
Constables-Arthur R. Gledhill, Samuel Ferguson, Edward Manter, Freeman Manter, Augustine J. Hogan, William H. Goedecke, Herman W. Tower, James B. Cameron.
Committee on Sewerage-Selectmen.
Tree Warden-George R. Briggs.
Forest Warden-Herbert Morissey.
List of Deputy Forest Wardens, 1909-Henry O. Whiting, Nehemiah L. Savery, Nathaniel T. Clark, Gustavus G. Sampson, Frank L. St. George, assistant forest warden; LeBaron R. Bar- ker, D. Edson Raymond, Albert M. Haskell, George H. Blan- chard, Andrew J. Cahoon, Henry L. Cahoon, Wm. F. Doten, Ziba R. Ellis, John T. Pierce, William C. Collingwood, Ernest L. Sampson, Benjamin F. Raymond, Abbott A. Raymond, Chas.
-6-
E. Maker, George H. Pierce, John F. Raymond, Nathan B. Perry, John W. Churchill, Barnabas Hedge.
Cemetery Commissioners-Henry W. Barnes, chosen 1909, for one year; Morton Collingwood, chosen 1909, for two years; George Mabbett chosen 1909, for three years.
ABSTRACT OF RECORDS OF 1909.
TOWN MEETING MARCH 27th., 1909.
William W. Brewster presented the following report on the Barnes Mill Pond "so called." The committee appointed to consider the matters relating to the so called Barnes Mill Pond respectfully recommend that the Town acquire by purchase the rights of the Plymouth Electric Light Co. in said pond, and that the further consideration of this matter be referred to the Selectmen.
Charles H. Raymond moved that the report of the committee be indefinitely postponed and the motion was lost.
On motion of Mr. Burgess: Voted, that the report of the Committee on Barnes Mill Pond be accepted and placed on file.
Voted: That the reports of the several boards and officers of the Town be accepted and placed on file.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: Voted, that the Town authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Select- men, or a majority thereof, to borrow during the municipal year beginning January 1, 1910, in anticipation of the collection of taxes of said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the current expenses of the town, but not exceeding the total tax levy for said year, giving the notes of the Town therefor, payable within one year from the dates thereof. All debts in- curred under authority of this vote shall be paid from the taxes of said municipal year.
-8-
Morton Collingwood moved that the South Pond Cemetery be included in the outside cemeteries with Chiltonville, Manomet and Cedarville and the motion was adopted.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: Voted, that the Dog fund amounting to $1,437.80, and the additional sum of $62.20 be ap- propriated for the use of the Public Library.
On motion of E. L. Burgess: Voted, that the Town author- ize the Selectmen to renew any note or notes heretofore author- ized, which are now due or may become due the present year for such time, and on such terms as they may deem expedient for the interests of the town.
On motion of Mr. Burns: Voted, that the Town appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars to pay the expense of Memorial Day, the same to be expended under the direction of the Select- men.
On motion of Mr. Burns: Voted, that the Town appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars to defray the expense of the observance of the Fourth of July for the current year, and that the committee of citizens for that purpose for the year 1908 be and are hereby appointed a committee of the Town to expend the same.
Alfred S. Burns moved that the Town appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars from the money received from the sub- scription of the Town to the stock of the Plymouth, Carver and Wareham Street Railway, the same to be applied toward build- ing in conjunction with the Massachusetts Highway Commis- sion, a section of macadam or oil road beyond Fresh Pond in Manomet and that the remainder of said money be appropriated to be used in building a macadam or oil road from Plymouth toward Carver by way of Darby.
John P. Vahey moved that the town appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars for the money received from the subscrip- tion of the Town to the stock of the Plymouth, Carver and
-9-
Wareham Street Railway the same to be applied toward building in conjunction with the Massachusetts Highway Commission a section of macadam or oil road beyond Fresh Pond in Manomet, provided said commission will build about one mile of said State Highway and the amendment was carried.
Mr. W. S. Kyle moved to amend the vote offered by Mr. Burns by substituting the following: That the Selectmen be authorized to arrange an immediate settlement of the unpaid notes of the town issued to cover the loan for the Plymouth, Carver and Wareham Street Railway Co., applying for that pur- pose as much of the $11,250.00 returned by that corporation as may be necessary. The amendment was carried 169 voting in the affirmative and 16 in the negative.
Mr. James B. Collingwood moved : That the balance of the money received from the subscription of the town to the stock of the Plymouth, Carver and Wareham Street Railway Co., after the payment of the notes issued therefor, and one thousand for the Manomet road, be applied to the building of a macadam or oil road from Plymouth toward Carver by way of Darby and the motion was carried.
On motion of William S. Kyle: Voted, that a committee of three persns be appointed by the Moderator to secure a bronze tablet to be placed upon the Town House, and decide upon a proper inscription to be placed thereon, and that ($150.00), one hundred and fifty dollars be appropriated for that purpose.
On motion of Mr. Burns: Voted, that the Board of Water Commissioners be and are hereby instructed to lay a new eight inch water pipe on Court Street from Allerton Street to the Kingston line in place of or in addition to the present pipe, and the sum of twelve thousand dollars is hereby appropriated there- for.
On motion of A. S. Burns: Voted, that for the purpose of laying the new eight inch water pipe on Court Street from Al-
)
-10-
lerton Street to the Kingston line as authorized by vote under Article 13, the Selectmen are hereby authorized to borrow the sum of twelve thousand dollars and to issue therefor bonds or notes of the town bearing interest at a rate not exceeding four per cent. per annum payable semi-annually, principal payable in twelve equal annual payments of one thousand dollars each, said bonds or notes to be signed by the Treasurer and approved by a majority of the Selectmen. Ninety seven having voted in the affirmative and one in the negative, more than two thirds having voted in the affirmative the motion was carried.
Mr. Burns moved that the Selectmen be and are hereby au- thorized to make in the name of the town the best available contract with the Plymouth Electric Light and Power Co., for the lighting of the streets of the town, and the Town House for the term of one year.
Mr. Bartlett moved to amend by substituting five years in place of one year.
Mr. Vahey moved to refer to the Board of Selectmen and five citizens, to consider the question of lighting, and to report at some future meeting and the motion was carried.
Mr. Vahey moved that the committee be appointed by the Moderator and the motion was carried.
Mr. Burns moved that the town appropriate the sum of seven thousand dollars for the purchase of a lot and the erection and furnishing of a school building thereon at Manomet on some location between the present School Houses, under the direction of the School Committee.
Mr. Bartlett moved to substitute $9,000.00 in place of $7,000.00 and to insert "three rooms" before the words school building and the motion was carried.
Mr. Raymond moved to substitute $12,000.00 in place of $9,000.00 and four room building in place of three and the mo- tion was lost.
-11-
On motion of Mr. Burns : Voted, that for the purchase of a lot and the erection and furnishing of a school building there- on at Manomet, the Selectmen are hereby authorized to borrow the sum of nine thousand dollars and to issue therefor bonds or notes of the town bearing interest at a rate not exceeding four per cent. per annum payable semi-annually, principal payable in ten equal annual payments of nine hundred dollars each, said bonds or notes to be signed by the Treasurer and approved by a majority of the Selectmen. One hundred and fifteen having voted in the affirmative and none in the negative, more than two thirds having voted in the affirmative the motion was car- ried.
On motion of Mr. Burns: Voted, that the Town appropriate the sum of twenty thousand dollars for the purchase of a lot, and the erection and furnishing of a school building in the Northerly part of the town, under the direction of the school committee.
On motion of Mr. Burns: Voted, that for the purchase of a lot and for the construction and furnishing of a school building in the Northerly part of the town the Selectmen are hereby au- thorized to borrow the sum of twenty thousand dollars and to is- sue therefor the bonds or notes of the town bearing interest at a rate not exceeding four per cent. per annum, payable semi-annual- ly, and principal payable in ten equal annual payments of two thousand dollars each, said bonds or notes to be signed by the Treasurer and approved by a majority of the Selectmen. One hundred and twenty-five having voted in the affirmative and none in the negative, more than two thirds having voted in the affir- mative the motion was carried.
On motion of Mr. Burns: Voted, that the Selectmen be and are hereby authorized to dispose of the School Houses on South Street, Spring Street and the older building on Oak Street now unused, by public or private sale or otherwise, as they may deem to be for the interest of the town, and to execute such papers in the name of the town as may be necessary.
-12-
Mr. Burns moved that the Selectmen as said board may from time to time be constituted, be and are here- by authorized to act for the Town in the matter of acquiring the Barnes Mill Pond so called, and ease- ments in or under the same and adjoining land, and the improvement thereof including making, in the name of the town, such contracts with relation thereto as they may deem expedient, and executing and delivering as well as accepting in the name of the town any necessary agreements or conveyances relating to the same, and that the town appropriate the sum of fifteen hundred dollars to be expended by the Selectmen for said purpose. Mr. Raymond moved to indefinitely postpone and the motion was lost. The motion of Mr. Burns was then put and carried.
On motion of Mr. Burns: Voted, that a committee of five be appointed by the Moderator of this meeting to consider the establishment and maintenance of public play grounds, together with the matter of supervisors or instructors to be placed in charge of the same, and the ascertaining of available sites there- for, and other matters appurtenant to such an enterprise, said committee to report at a future meeting of the town.
On motion of W. W. Brewster: Voted, that the Moderator appoint a committee of three to install an improved system of accounting in the various departments of the town.
On motion of Mr. Burns: Voted, that a committee of five be appointed by the Town to ascertain available sites for the erection of a Town Hall and if possible secure without expense to the Town, options in writing in the name of the Town, on said sites, and report to a future meeting of the Town.
Mr. Burgess moved that the Town accept and allow the lay- out of the extension of Alden Street as laid out by the Select- men and reported to the Town and the motion was carried.
Mr. Burns moved that the Town appropriate the sum of twen- ty five dollars to be expended by the Selectmen for acquiring in
-13-
the name of the Town, land for the enlarging of the Manomet Cemetery, and that the Selectmen be and hereby are authorized to act as agents of the Town for the purpose of accepting a deed of the land necessary.
Frank B. Holmes moved to amend by substituting one hun- dred and twenty five dollars and to insert the words, (and lay- ing out lots) after the word cemetery and the amendment was. adopted.
The motion as amended was then put and carried.
Mr. Burns moved that the pay of all call men in the fire de- partment be increased by the sum of twelve dollars each per annum over the present amount paid. 1
Mr. Barlow moved to amend by substituting twenty-two dollars in place of twelve and the motion was carried.
The motion as amended was then put and carried.
On motion of A. S. Burns: Voted, that the Town build a macadam or oil road from Plymouth toward Carver by way of Darby under the direction of the Selectmen, and that the Town appropriate the sum of five thousand dollars in addition to such amount as has already been appropriated for that purpose, the same to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen, to build a macadam or oil road from Plymouth toward Carver by way of Darby as provided by vote of the Town under article thirty two of this warrant for this meeting.
On motion of Mr. Burns: Voted, that the Town appropriate the sum of twelve thousand dollars, the same to be expended by the Selectmen for the extension and improvement of the Chan- nels in Plymouth Harbor.
On motion of Edward B. Atwood: Voted, that the Select- men be and are hereby instructed to communicate with Edward Burr, Lieut. Colonel, Corps of U. S. Engineers, Boston, Mass. and lay before him the deplorable condition of the Government
-14-
Channel at Plymouth, and if there is any appropriation or un- expended balance for the maintenance and improvement of Plym- outh Harbor to urge that it may be used for dredging said channel.
On motion of Mr. Burns: Voted, that for the extension and improvement of the Channels in Plymouth Harbor the Select- men are hereby authorized to borrow the sum of twelve thousand dollars, and to issue therefor the bonds or notes of the Town, bearing interest at a rate not exceeding four per cent. per an- num payable semi-annually, and principal payable in six equal annual payments of two thousand dollars each, said bonds or notes to be signed by the Treasurer and approved by the Select- men. Sixty five having voted in the affirmative, and none in the negative, more than two thirds having voted in the affirm- ative the motion was carried.
On motion of Mr. Burns: Voted, that the sum of two hun- dred and fifty dollars is hereby appropriated for the procuring and erection of a drinking fountain at the Brewster Spring "so called," and that the maintenance thereof be charged to the Contingent fund, said fountain to be erected and maintained under he direction of the Selectmen.
On motion of E. L. Burgess: Voted, that the Town accept and allow the layout of Stoddard Street as laid out by the Se- lectmen and reported to the Town.
On motion of E. L. Burgess: Voted, that the Town accept and allow the layout of Castle Street as laid out by the Select- men and reported to the Town.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: Voted, that the Collect- or of Taxes be authorized to receive taxes for the ensuing year at such places as he shall designate, on or before the fifteenth day of October, that interest be charged on all taxes remaining un- paid on the said fifteenth day of October at the rate of six per cent. per annum, and such rate shall continue until otherwise or-
-15-
dered by the town, and all taxes and interest remaining unpaid on the first day of January following, shall be collected forth- with by legal process, and the Collector is hereby authorized to collect at once by legal process all taxes of previous years out- standing.
Alfred S. Burns moved to take up article five and the motion was adopted.
Alfred S. Burns moved that the additional sum of $2,200.00 be appropriated for the fire department and the motion was carried.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess : Voted, that the sum of one hundred seventy-six thousand twenty-eight and 2-100 dollars, ($176,028.02) be raised and assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth, and upon the es- tates of non-residents to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year.
Report of the Selectmen
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN FOR THE YEAR
ENDING DECEMBER 31st, 1909.
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
In last year's report it was recommended that the Water street macadam be redressed in 1909 from the depot to Town Brook, and extended southerly at least as far as Simmon's grain store. This work has been done from the depot to the foot of Leyden street, but pending the acquirement of Barnes' Mill pond, as authorized by vote at the Town Meeting, March 27th, 1909, the alteration of Water street as accepted by the Town, March 28th, 1908, has, except southerly of said pond, and done in 1908, been deferred, and it was therefore thought best not to macadamize further south than Leyden street until the widening was ac- complished. An average depth of six inches of crushed stone- was put on Water street for the distance above mentioned, about 2,800 feet in length, and an average of 19 feet in width. This was treated with Tarvia X, so-called, to bind the No. 2 stone to- gether, and to hold the dust or top course to the No. 2 stone, in the belief that the road thus treated would resist wear to a much greater extent than would a plain macadam road. This course was adoped after the Board had viewed numerous pieces of Tar- via road in other towns and cities. There were 1520 tons of stone used on this job, and the total cost was $3,306.12.
-17-
Court street from Lothrop street to Russell avenue, has been macadamized, the distance being 1700 feet, the average width a little over 15 feet, and the depth of stone 6 inches. There were 672 tons of stone used here, and the total cost was $1,904.33, This macadam was also treated with Tarvia X.
The widening, straightening, grading and gravelling of Samo- set street has been completed to the junction with the North Car- ver road, about three-quarters of a mile at a cost of about $600.00.
Improvement of the West Pond road for about one mile, and to the Carver line has been made at a cost of about $400.00.
Court street from Russell avenue to Kingston line is still a gravel road. It is subject to heavy and constantly increasing automobile traffic, and although resurfaced in part during the past year, it seems impossible to keep the road in good condition, ruts and holes showing very quickly after a new surface of gravel has been put on. The gravel, too, is as good as any we have. The conditions the past year have been aggravated some by the trenching for the new water pipe to Kingston line, but aside from that the road has been very rough for a good part of the time, and is so now. We, therefore, renew our recommenda- tion of last year, that the Town extend the macadam towards Kingston. From Russell avenue to Cherry street is approxi- mately three quarters of a mile, and the estimated expense of ma- cadamizing this distance 17 feet wide, which width seems desir- able, is $6,500 dollars.
Before macadamizing north of Cherry street it would seem desirable to widen Court street on the easterly side between Cherry street, and a point northerly of the Barnabas Hedge house, numbered 357 Court street.
For several years now it has been necessary to strengthen the macadam at numerous places on the Jordan road, so-called, mainly between the Chiltonville post office and Terry's corner. This has usually had to be done only in the spring, when the frost was coming out of the ground, but the winter of 1908-1909
-18-
was so open, and there was so little snow, that it was necessary more or less throughout the winter to prevent cutting ruts through the macadam. The results of this strengthening seem to be apparent this winter in that during a recent soft spell, since Jan. 1, 1910, and before the writing of this report, when the frost was practically all out of the ground, the former weak spots did not develop enough to oblige putting on more stone. Further strengthening of weak spots may, however, be necessary later in the season. This road was sanded twice in 1909, and the result has been very satisfactory to the Board, the sand protecting the surface so that it appears to be as good as a year ago.
One catch basin has been built between the car tracks at the junction of Water and Sandwich streets and Main street ex- tension, and one on Billington street.
Approximately 1963 tons of stone were crushed this season at the Alden street pit. Crushed stone on hand at the present time is estimated at 1100 tons, at South street, Alden street and Darby.
The overdraft in the Roads and Bridges appropriation, noted below, is regretted by the Board, as it was expected that the ap- propriation of $19,000.00 would be sufficient to do the regular work, and the extraordinary work on Water street. Although the Water street job cost but about $300.00 more than last year's estimate, yet the amount of labor and material necessary to keep our large mileage of gravel and dirt roads in condition to fairly and reasonably meet the present day requirements appears to have increased so much that we were unwarranted in our ex- pectation.
As instances of the expenditures in 1909, where the roads are all or mostly gravel or dirt, the district between Hatch's bog and the Bourne line took $1,843.98, and the Chiltonville district which includes all of the Jordan Road (macadam) took $2,158.40.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.