USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1912 > Part 1
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TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
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REPORT OF THE TOWN OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1912
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
For the Year Ending December 31
1912
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PLYMOUTH, THE MEMORIAL PRESS, 1913.
INDEX
Abstract of Records
Assessors' Report 89
Board of Health 125
Cemetery Commissioners' Report 148
Fire Department 122
Fish Committee Report 155
Forest Warden's Report
144
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth Report 142
Inspector of Animals, Report 145
List of Jurors 157
Overseers of the Poor Report 92
Park Commissioners' Report 137
Police Department 169
Public Library, Report 133
Report on Shellfish 146
School Department 201
School Physician's Report 236
Sealer of Weights and Measures 131
Selectmen's Report 17
Superintendent of Streets' Report
39
Town Account's, Report
46
Town Clerk's Report
97
Town Officers 3
Town Warrant
162
Tree Warden's Report 140
Water Department 177
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TOWN OFFICERS, 1912.
Selectmen-Frederick D. Bartlett, Ephraim D. Bartlett, Al- fred S. Burns, John W. Churchill and James W. Hazen.
Town Clerk-Edward L. Burgess. Town Treasurer-Edward L. Burgess.
Town Accountant-Richard T. Eldridge. Collector of Taxes-Herbert W. Bartlett. Clerk of Selectmen-Richard T. Eldridge.
Assessors-Nathaniel G. Lanman, chosen 1911, for three years ; George Harlow, chosen 1912 for three years; James C. Bates, chosen 1910, for three years.
Overseers of the Poor-William T. Eldridge, chosen 1911, for three years; Herbert W. Bartlett, chosen 1912, for three years ; Charles A. Strong, chosen 1910, for three years.
Water Commissioners-Horace P. Bailey and Charles T. Holmes, chosen 1911, for three years; Robert C. Harlow and John W. Churchill, chosen 1912 for three years; John H. Damon, chosen 1910, for three years.
School Committee-William M. Douglass and Earl W. Good- ing, chosen 1911, for three years ; Edward W. Bradford, Jr., and J. Holbrook Shaw, chosen 1912, for three years; William W. Brewster, chosen 1910, for three years; George C. Peterson, chosen 1912, for one year to fill the unexpired term of Increase Robinson.
Burial Hill Committee-Cemetery Commissioners.
Agawam Fishery Committee-Frank Harlow, Alfred Holmes, Harrison O. Barnes.
Cemetery Commissioners-Henry W. Barnes, chosen 1910, for three years; Morton Collingwood, chosen 1911, for three years; George Mabbett, chosen 1912, for three years.
Park Commissioners-Benjamin F. Raymond, chosen 1912, for two years; John Russell, chosen 1912, for three years; Thomas R. Watson, chosen 1910, for three years.
Surveyors and Measurers of Lumber-Edward B. Atwood, Cornelius C. Holmes and Warren S. Bumpus.
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.
Superintendent of Water Works-Arthur E. Blackmer.
Collector of Water Rates-N. Reeves Jackson.
Pound Keeper-Russell L. Dixon.
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Committee on Inland Fisheries-Edgar D. Hill, Harry B. Davis, Goeffrey D. Perrior.
Harbor Master-Alfred Holmes.
Board of Registration-Herbert W. Clark, appointed 1911, for three years; C. H. Sherman, appointed in 1910, for three years ; George F. Anderson, appointed in 1912 for three years ; Edward L. Burgess.
Superintendent of Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries, and Burial Hill-Edward F. Stranger.
Sexton-Thomas J. Kennedy.
Superintendent of Almshouse-Russell L. Dixon.
Board of Health-Freeman Manter, chosen 1911, for three years; Harry R. Talbot, chosen 1912, for three years ; George H. Jackson, chosen in 1910, for three years.
Board of Engineers-John E. Sullivan, Alton D. Edes and Isaac L. Hedge.
Superintendent of Chiltonville Cemetery-Charles Rogers. Superintendent of Manomet Cemetery-George A. Manter. Superintendent of Cedarville Cemetery-Charles E. Kimball. Chief of Police-Elwell H. Smith.
Constables-John Armstrong, Samuel Ferguson, Edward Manter, Freeman Manter, Augustine J. Hogan, Lincoln S. Wix- son, George F. Barlow 2nd, Edwin A. Dunton, Allen J. Cas- well, Job H. Standish, Elwell H. Smith, Joseph W. Schilling, James S. Cameron and Harrison B. Sherman.
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Committee on Sewarge-Selectmen.
Tree Warden-Abbott A. Raymond.
Forest Warden-Herbert Morissey.
List of Deputy Forest Wardens, 1912-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, Henry L. Cahoon, William F. Doten, Ziba R. Ellis, John T. Pierce, Ernest L. Sampson, Abbott A. Raymond, George H. Pierce, John F. Raymond, John W. Churchill, Barnabas Hedge, Edward P. Bartlett, James W. Hazen, Frank G. Raymond, Wal- ter H. Brown, Joseph L. Manter.
ABSTRACT OF RECORDS OF 1912
TOWN MEETING, MARCH 23, 1912.
Article three being under consideration.
Mr. Avery moved that Articles 20, 38 and 39 be taken up. and the motion was carried.
Mr. Avery moved that the recommendation of the Committee relating to salaries, become operative and take effect on March 2nd of the present year, and the recommendations relating to re- duction in the number of members of the Board of Selectmen and of the School Committee become operative and take effect March 1, 1913.
Mr. Avery moved that the Board of Selectmen be reduced from five members to three members and that at the annual meet- ing in March, 1913, three members only shall be elected in said Board of Selectmen. Ninety-eight having voted in the affirm- ative and sixty-two in the negative, the motion was carried.
Mr. Avery moved that the School Committee be reduced from six members to three members, and that at the annual meetings to be held in March, 1913, 1914, and 1915, one member only be elected for a full term of three years each year, and the motion was carried.
Mr. Burgess moved that the various reports of the Officers and Committees of the Town be accepted, and the motion was car- ried.
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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, 1913, 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 one hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00) giving the notes of the Town therefor, payable within one year from the dates thereof. All debts incurred under authority of this vote shall be paid from the taxes of said municipal year.
On motion of Mr. Avery : Voted, that the Dog Fund, amount- ing to thirteen hundred twenty-five and 85-100 dollars ($1,325 .- 85) and the additional sum of six hundred seventy-four and 15-100 dollars ($614.15) be appropriated for the use of the Public Library.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess : Voted, that the Town au- thorize the Selectmen to renew any note, or notes heretofore au- thorized, 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.
Mr. Avery moved that the Town appropriate twelve hundred dollars ($1,200.00) for parks, and one hundred and eighty-five dollars ($185.00) for Training Green.
Mr. Burgess moved to amend, by adding three hundred dol- lars ($300.00) to the appropriation for Parks, and the amend- ment was carried. The motion as amended was then put, and more than two-thirds having voted in the affirmative, the motion was carried.
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that an appropriation of two hundred and twenty-five dollars ($225.00) be made to pay the expenses of Memorial Day.
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that the School Com- mittee be authorized to purchase and acquire for school purposes, the Mary Brown property (so called), situated on the easterly
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side of Sandwich street, opposite Training Green, and to erect thereon a suitable four room school building, and that the sum of fifty-five hundred dollars ($5,500.00) be appropriated for the purchase of said Mary Brown property. ,
On motion of Mr. Avery: Voted, that the Selectmen be au- thorized to apply such part not exceeding fifty-five hundred dol- lars ($5,500.00) of any unexpended balance received by the Town from the sale of Plymouth and Middleborough Railroad stock, as may be required for said purpose.
On motion of Mr. Avery : Voted, that for the purpose of erect- ing and furnishing a four room school building on said Mary Brown property, the sum of twenty-three thousand dollars ($23,000.00) be appropriated, and that the School Committee be authorized to remove any fixtures and furnishings from the South Street Engine house (so called) that said School Com- mittee may deem expendient to use in said new school building.
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that for the purpose of erecting and furnishing said new school building, that the Town authorize the Selectmen to transfer any unexpended balance of moneys received by the Town from the sale of Plymouth and Middleborough Railroad stock, and any unexpended balance re- maining to the credit of the appropriation for the South Street Engine House, and that the Selectmen be authorized to borrow such additional sum not exceeding fifteen thousands dollars ($15,000.00), as may be required for such purpose, and to issue therefor the bonds or notes of the Town, each for the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) bearing interest at a rate not ex- ceeding four per cent. per annum, payable semi-annually, and payable one at the end of each year thereafter, until the whole are paid, said bonds or notes to be signed by the Treasurer and approved by a majority of the Selectmen.
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that the School Com- mittee be authorized to enlarge the Hedge School building on Standish avenue, by the addition of four rooms to the rear of
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said building, and that the sum of twelve thousand dollars ($12,000.00) be appropriated for construction and furnishing of said building.
On motion of Elmer E. Avery: Voted, that the Selectmen be authorized to apply such part not exceeding twelve thousand dollars ($12,000.00) of any unexpended balance of money re- ceived by the Town from the sale of Plymouth and Middle- borough Railroad stock as may be required for such purpose.
On motion of William W. Brewster: Voted, that the Town ac- cept Chapter 367 of the Acts of 1911.
Article fifteen being under consideration.
Mr. Avery moved that action under this article be indefinitely postponed, and fifty-two voted in the affirmative, and one hun- dred and fifty-two in the negative, and the motion to indefinitely postpone was lost.
Mr. Finney moved that the Town appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) to celebrate July Fourth, the same to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen, and the motion was carried.
Mr. Avery moved that the Town make an appropriation of four hundred dollars ($400) for the purpose of making plans of the Town for the use of the Assessors, and the motion was carried.
Article seventeen being under consideration.
Mr. Lahey moved that the report of the Selectmen be adopted.
Mr. Ford moved that further action under this article be indefinitely postponed, and one hundred and fifty voted in the affirmative and twenty-six in the negative, and the motion to indefinitely postpone was carried.
Mr. Burgess moved that the Town authorize the Selectmen to transfer from time to time, the money from the Contingent account to such other accounts as may in their opinion be neces- sary, and the motion was carried.
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On motion of Mr. Avery: Voted, that the Selectmen be au- thorized to apply the money received by the Town from re- payment of the subscription to the stock of the Plymouth, Car- ver and Wareham Street Railway Co., to the completion of the Darby road to the Carver line.
On motion of Mr. Avery : Voted, that the Selectmen be hereby authorized to apply such part of any unexpended balance of money received by the Town from the sale of Plymouth and Middleborough Railroad stock, as may be required to purchase at par, and accrued interest of the outsanding notes of the Town, amounting to forty-two hundred dollars ($4,200.00), dated Aug. 1, 1895, and known as the Macadamizing Loan, and that any further balance of money remaining in said fund, including in- terest not otherwise appropriated, be transferred and applied to the erection of a new school building on the Mary Brown prop- erty (so called).
Article twenty-one being under consideration.
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that the Town accept and allow the layout of a common landing place at Cedarville as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town, and that the sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00) be appropriated therefor.
Frederick D. Bartlett moved that the Town accept and allow the alteration of Main Street Extension as altered by the Select- men and reported to the Town, and the motion was carried.
On motion of Frederick D. Bartlett: Voted, that the Town accept and allow the extension of Cherry street as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
On motion of Frederick D. Bartlett : Voted, that the Town accept and allow the layout of Hedge street as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
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On motion of Frederick D. Bartlett: Voted, that the Town accept and allow the layout of Savery avenue as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
On motion of Frederick D. Bartlett: Voted, that the Town accept and allow the layout of Taylor avenue as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
Elmer E. Avery moved that a committee of five representative citizens of the Town be appointed by the Moderator to consider the subject matter of articles 28 and 29 and report at some further meeting of the Town, one hundred and one voted in the affirmative and nineteen in the negative and the motion was car- ried.
Frederick D. Bartlett moved that the Town accept Chapter 57 of the Acts of 1912 in regard to extending the length of time of granting clam leases, one hundred and fifty-nine having voted in the affirmative and one hundred and twenty-two in the nega- tive and the motion to accept was carried.
Frederick D. Bartlett moved that the vote of the Town, passed March 24, 1906, in regard to clam leases be reconsidered, and the motion was carried.
Mr. Avery moved that the Selectmen be hereby authorized to alter the Town building, now occupied by J. W. Mixter, and to fit up said building for a Town lockup and Police station, and that the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) be appropri- ated for said purpose.
Mr. Sampson moved to amend, by substituting the South St. Engine House for the Mixter building, and the amendment was lost.
Mr. Arthur Lord moved to amend by adding, providing that no satisfactory arrangement can be made with the County Com- missioners for the use of the present jail, which amendment was accepted, and the motion as amended was carried.
On motion of Elmer E. Avery: Voted that the Selectmen be
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authorized to apply such part not exceeding three thousand dol- lars ($3,000.00) of any unexpended balance of money received by the Town from the sale of Plymouth and Middleborough Rail- road stock, as may be required for said purpose.
Mr. Avery moved that an appropriation of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) be made for the completion of the sewer at Wellingsley, and that the Selectmen be authorized to apply such part, not exceeding three thousand dollars ($3,000.00), of any unexpended balance of money received from the sale of the Ply- mouth and Middleborough Railroad stock, as may be required for such purpose, and the motion was carried .
Mr. Avery moved that the Selectmen be hereby authorized to purchase a suitable auto truck for the use of the Forest Warden's Dept., and that the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) be appropriated for the purchase and equipment of said auto truck, and that the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) be added to the above amount for the purpose of attaching a pres- sure tank to the said auto truck, and the motion was carried.
On motion of Elmer E. Avery: Voted, that the Selectmen be hereby authorized to apply such part, not exceeding twenty-two hundred and fifty dollars ($2,250.00), of any unexpended bal- ance of money received by the Town from the sale of Plymouth and Middleborough Railroad stock, as may be required for such purpose.
Mr. Avery moved that the Selectmen be hereby authorized to house the new auto truck, purchased for the use of the Forest Warden's Dept., in the basement of the Town House when the premises are vacated by the Police Department, and allow the Forest Warden to occupy the premises as a department head- quarters ; seventy-eight voted in the affirmative and seventy- eight in the negative and the motion was lost.
Elmer E. Avery moved that the Selectmen may grant permis- sion to the Fire Deparment to use, when not in actual service of
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the Forest Warden's Dept., the new auto truck purchased for the use of the Forest Warden's Dept., as a first alarm apparatus, under rules prescribed by them and approved by the Forest Warden, and the motion was carried.
Benjamin F. Hodges moved that the auto truck be kept be- tween Jabez Corner and Hotel Pilgrim, and the motion was lost.
William H. Gray moved that the auto truck be kept at the Central Engine House, and the motion was lost.
Article thirty-five being under consideration.
Mr. Avery moved that action under this article be indefinitely postponed, and the motion was carried.
Article thirty-six being under consideration.
Mr. Sampson moved that the subject matter of this article be indefinitely postponed ; sixty-six voted in the affirmative and thirty-two in the negative, and the motion to indefinitely post- pone was carried.
Article thirty-seven being under consideration.
On motion of William H. Gray: Voted, that the subject matter of this article be indefinitely postponed.
On motion of Harry B. Davis: Voted, that in all matters coming before the Boad of Selectmen, the School Committe and other Boards and Committees of the Town, when the action of the Board is not unanimous on the first vote a record shall be kept of the vote of the various members.
On motion of Edward Burgess: Voted, that the Collector 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 unpaid on the said fifteenth day of October, at the rate of six per cent per annum, and such rate shall continue until otherwise or- dered by the Town, and all taxes and interest remaining unpaid on the first day of January following shall be collected forthwith
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by legal process, and the Collector of Taxes is hereby authorized to collect at once by legal process all taxes of previous years outstanding.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: Voted, that the sum of one hundred and eighty-nine thousand twenty and 90-100 dol- lars ($189,020.90) be raised and assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth, and upon the estates of non-residents, to defray the expenses of the Town for the ensuing year.
TOWN MEETING, NOVEMBER 30, 1912.
Elmer E. Avery moved that the Town make an additional ap- propriation of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) for the en- largement of the Hedge School building on Standish avenue, and that the amount of said appropriation be added to the tax levy of next year, and the motion was carried.
Frederick D. Bartlett moved that the officers of the Town authorizeed by law to expend money, may expend between Jan. 1, 1913, and the annual Town Meeting next following, such amounts as may be required for the expenses of their respective departments, not to exceed in the aggregate for each department the amount expended by such department during any period of the same length during the preceding year, the same to be paid from the moneys in the Treasury.
Elmer E. Avery moved to amend by adding, to be reimbursed from the tax levy of that year, and the amendment was carried.
On motion of Frederick D. Bartlett: Voted, that the officers of the Town authorized by law to expend money, may expend between January 1, 1913 and the annual Town Meeting next fol- lowing, such amounts as may be required for the expenses of their
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respective departments, not to exceed in the aggregate for each department the amount expended by such department during any period of the same length during the preceding year, the same to be paid from any moneys in the Treasury to be reim- bursed from the tax levy of that year.
On motion of Frederick D. Bartlett: Voted, that the Town authorize the transfer of the whole or any part of such balance of any appropriation for any department of the Town made for the current year, other than the Water Department, to the Contingent Account, when in the opinion of the Selectmen there will be an unexpended balance in such department at the end of the financial year.
On motion of Frederick D. Bartlett: Voted, that the Over- seers of the Poor, for the time being, are hereby authorized in the name and on behalf of the Town, to sell at public or private sale, a lot of land situated in Carver and conveyed to the Town by deed of Annie' Williams, recorded in Plymouth County Reg- istry of Deeds Book 932, Page 539, and to execute in the name and on behalf of the Town any deed that may be proper to carry this vote into effect.
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Report of the Selectmen
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN FOR THE YEAR END-
ING DECEMBR 31, 1912.
GENERAL REMARKS
Following the custom initiated last year the Superintendent of Streets makes a separate report of the work done in the de- partments under his supervision. The financial transactions of the Town will be found in the report of the Town Accountant, but we also show in this report the transactions under the sev- eral appropriations made on the recommendations of the Select- men.
To reasonably satisfy the demand for better roads, due largely to the continued rapid increase in the number of automobiles, both pleasure and commercial vehicles, larger appropriations seem inevitable, and for this reason our recommendations for 1913 for street construction and maintenance, including side- walks and dust laying, exceed last year's appropriations by $3,400.00. This also includes $400.00 estimated cost of main- taining Pilgrim Spring, proposed repairs to Pilgrim Wharf and maintenance of the public float, all of which expenses are class- ified under Highways, but which have heretofore been charged against other appropriations.
Plymouth Two
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ROADS AND BRIDGES.
Appropriation for 1912,
$18,000 00
Reimbursements-
Cash (labor and materials to outside parties),
$354 51
Other departments (labor and materials), 3,047 48
Contingent account,
3,264 44
$24,666 43
Expenditures,
24,639 05
Balance,
$27 38
The draft on the Contingent account by Roads and Bridges is due wholly to the extraordinary expense of repairing washouts caused by two exceptionally heavy rains last February, to pro- tecting the macadam on the Darby and Manomet Point Roads with a bituminous surface and to the cutting and widening of the Russell Mills road near the house of the late Mr. Gilbert, aggregating about $4,500.00.
The last mentioned job was at the request of the Boston Woven Hose and Rubber Co., and they contributed $250.00 towards the cost. Neither of the above items of work were anticipated, and therefore not provided for in the appropriation.
For 1913 we recommend an appropriation of $25,100.00. This is intended to cover the general maintenance of the roads and bridges of the Town as well as the three small items mentioned in "General Remarks," and also includes estimate of cost of ap- plying bituminous surface as follows :-
Darby Road, Manomet Point Road, Sandwich Street from Water Street to Jabez Corner, Court Street from Park Avenue to Shirley Square, Water Street from Leyden Street to Union Street, Summer Street from Market Street to Billington Street, Court Street from Russell Avenue to Cherry street, aggregating $3,228.00.
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DARBY ROAD.
Appropriation, including final dividend of $663.00 on subscription to capital stock of P., C. & W. St. Ry.
Co., $3,500 00
Reimbursements-
Cash (from contractor for teams),
$63 82
Contingent account,
1,356 47
$4,920 29
Expenditures,
$4,920 29
In the past four years the Town has spent $23,628.67 in the construction of this section of road, from the junction of Sum- mer and Samoset Streets to the Carver Line on both the Wen- ham and North Carver roads. The improvements on Summer and Samoset Streets during the same period make a good through line from Town to the Carver line, the Summer Street way be- ing the better. In view of these facts and the need of large ex- penditure in other sections of the Town at this time we recom- mend no appropriation for 1913.
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