USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1914 > Part 1
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TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
1620.
S
O
'ST
REPORT OF THE TOWN OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1914
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31 1914
M
1620.
S
MOL
PLYMOUTH: THE MEMORIAL PRESS
1915.
INDEX
Abstract of Records 7
Plymouth Public Library
176
Assessors' Report 169
Attendance Officer 283
Board of Health 163
Cemetery Commissioners 157
School Superintendent 218
Sealer of Weights and Meas-
ures
186
Selectmen's Report 15
Superintendent of Streets 24
Supervisor of Manual Arts .. 279
Harbor Master 196
Herring Fisheries 195
High School Report
272
Inspector of Animals
182
Town Officers
3
Town Warrant 202
List of Teachers
269
Tree Warden 191
Overseers of the Poor 172
Park Commissioners 183
Police Department
151
School Committee
209
School Physician 285
Fire Department 188
Fish Committee 194
Forest Warden 193
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth Account 180
Supervisor of Shores
197
Town Accountant
29
Town Clerk Report 121
List of Jurors 198
Water Report
303
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TOWN OFFICERS, 1914.
Selectmen-Ephraim D. Bartlett, William T. Eldridge and John L. Morton.
Town Clerk-George B. Howland.
Town Treasurer-George B. Howland.
Town Accountant-Richard T. Eldridge.
Collector of Taxes-Herbert W. Bartlett.
Clerk of Selectmen-Richard T. Eldridge.
Assessors-George Harlow, chosen 1912 for three years; James C. Bates, chosen 1913 for three years; and Nathaniel G. Lanman, chosen 1914 for three years.
Overseers of the Poor-Herbert W. Bartlett, chosen 1912 for three years; Charles A. Strong, chosen 1913 for three years, and William T. Eldridge, chosen 1914 for three years.
Water Commissioners-Robert C. Harlow and John W. Churchill, chosen 1912 for three years; John H. Damon, chosen 1913 for three years, and Horace P. Bailey and Charles T. Holmes, chosen 1914 for three years.
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School Committee-Edward W. Bradford, Jr., and J. Hol- brook Shaw, chosen 1912 for three years; George C. Peterson, chosen 1913 for three years; William M. Douglass, chosen 1914 for three years.
Burial Hill Committee-Cemetery Commissioners.
Agawam Fisheries Committee-Frank Harlow, Alfred Holmes, and Arthur L. Morse.
Cemetery Commissioners-George Mabbett, chosen 1912 for three years ; Henry W. Barnes, chosen 1913 for three years, and Horace .M. Saunders, chosen 1914 for three years.
Park Commissioners-John Russell, chosen 1912 for three years; Thomas R. Watson, chosen 1913 for three years; Benja- min F. Raymond, chosen 1914 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 and Lewis F. Smith.
Superintendent of Water Works-Arthur E. Blackmer.
Collector of Water Rates-N. Reeves Jackson. Pound Keeper-Russell L. Dickson.
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Committee on Inland Fisheries-Edgar D. Hill, Harry B. Davis, Geoffrey D. Perrior.
Harbor Master-Alfred Holmes.
Board of Registration-George F. Anderson, appointed 1912 for three years; Charles H. Sherman, appointed 1913 for three years ; Herbert W. Clark, appointed 1914 for three years.
Superintendent of Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries and Burial Hill-Edward F. Stranger.
Sexton-Thomas J. Kennedy.
Superintendent of Almshouse-Russell L. Dickson.
Board of Health-Harry R. Talbot, chosen 1912 for three years ; George H. Jackson, chosen 1913 for three years ; Free- man Manter, chosen 1914 for three years.
Board of Engineers-John E. Sullivan, Isaac L. Hedge, Al- vin A. Hall, Earle W. Gooding and James S. Kierstead.
Superintendent of Chiltonville Cemetery-Charles Rogers. Superintendent of Manomet Cemetery-George A. Manter. Superintendent of Cedarville Cemetery-Charles E. Kimball. Chief of Police-William E. Baker.
Constables-William E. Baker, Samuel Ferguson, Job H. Standish, John Armstrong, George F. Barlow, 2nd, Lincoln S. Wixon, Freeman Manter, Elwell H. Smith, Joseph W. Schilling, Cornelius J. Wren, James M. Cameron, Harrison B. Sherman, Herman W. Tower and Edward A. Dunton.
Committee on Sewage-Selectmen.
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Tree Warden-Calvin S. Mixter, Jr.
Forest Warden-Ira C. Ward.
Deputy Forest Wardens-Henry O. Whiting, Nathaniel T. Clark, Gustavus G. Sampson, Frank L. St. George, LeBaron R. Barker, D. Edson Raymond, Albert M. Haskell, George 'Blanchard, Henry C. Cahoon, William F. Doten, Ziba R. Ellis, John T. Peirce, Ernest L. Sampson, Abbott A. Raymond, George H. Peirce, John F. Raymond, John W. Churchill, Barnabus Hedge, Edwin P. Bartlett, James W. Hazen, Frank G. Raymond, Walter H. Brown, Joseph L. Manter, James H. Nixon, James M. Nickerson, Fred L. Sears, Warren S. Bumpus, Benjamin F. Raymond and Seth C. C. Finney.
Local Moth Superintendent-Abbott A. Raymond.
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ABSTRACT OF RECORDS OF 1914
TOWN MEETING, MARCH 28, 1914
Article three being under consideration :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: Voted, that the reports of the several boards of officers and committees be accepted and placed on file.
Article four being under consideration :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: Voted, that the Town au- thorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen,. or a majority thereof, to borrow during the municipal year be- ginning Jan. 1, 1915, 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 two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) 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.
Article six being under consideration :
On motion of Richmond Talbot: Voted, that the Dog Fund amounting to ($1,098.98) and an additional sum of ($1,000.00) be appropriated for the use of the Plymouth Public Library.
Article seven being under consideration :
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
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for such time and on such terms as they may deem expedient for the interests of the Town.
Article eight being under consideration :
'On motion of Richmond Talbot: Voted, that the Town ap- propriate the sum of ($1,500.00) for the care and improvement of the various public parks and ($185.00) for Training Green, and ($300.00) for improvements at Beach Park. The necessary two thirds having voted in the affirmative.
Article nine being under consideration :
On motion of Richmond Talbot: Voted, that the sum of ($225.00) be appropriated to pay the expense of Memorial Day.
Article ten being under consideration :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess : Voted, that the Town au- thorize the Selectmen to transfer from time to time the money from the Contingent Account to such other accounts as may in their opinion be necessary.
Article eleven being under consideration :
Mr. E. L. Burgess moved that the officers of the Town au- thorized by law to expend money, may expend between Jan. 1, 1915, and the Annual Town Meeting next following such amounts as may be required for the expense of their respective depart- ments, not to exceed in the aggregate for each department the amount expended by such department during any period of the same length during the preceeding year, the same to be paid from any monies in the Treasury to be reimbursed from the tax levy of that year and the motion was carried.
Article twelve being under consideration :
On motion of Richmond Talbot: Voted, that the Board of Health be authorized in the name and behalf of the Town, to contract with the Jordan Hospital for the reception, care and treatment of persons who require relief during temporary ill-
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ness, upon such terms and conditions as they may deem ad- visable.
Article thirteen indefinitely postponed.
Article fourteen indefinitely postponed.
Article fifteen being under consideration :
On motion of Richmond Talbot: Voted, that the Moderator appoint a committee of three persons to investigate the matter of purchasing a Tractor for the use of the Fire Department to report at a future meeting of the Town.
Mr. E. D. Bartlett moved that the Chief of the Fire Depart- ment serve as one of said committee and the motion was carried.
Article sixteen being under consideration : /
On motion of Richmond Talbot: Voted, that the sum of ($800.00) be appropriated for the extension of the Street light- ing system from the Hotel Pilgrim to Fresh Pond with branches to White Horse and Manomet Point.
Article seventeen indefinitely postponed.
Article eighteen being under consideration :
On motion of Mr. Kyle: Voted, that the sum of two thousand dollars be expended on the playground at the foot of Nelson street, under the directions of the Selectmen. Of this amount a sum not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars to be used for the build- ing of a bath house, the remaining amount to be used for grad- ing the grounds.
Article nineteen being under consideration :
Mr. Talbot moved that the Stevens Meadow with suitable access thereto be acquired by purchase, and that the sum of ($2,500.00) be appropriated therefor to be expended by the Park Commissioner.
Judge H. B. Davis moved to amend by substituting the fol-
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lowing: That the town acquire so much of the Stevens Meadow so called as may be necessary for bathing and play ground pur- poses and that a sum of ($2,500.00) be appropriated therefor to be expended by a Committee of five to be appointed by the Moderator.
The amendment of Judge Davis was then put and carried, and the vote offered by Mr. Davis was then put and more than two- thirds having voted in the affirmative the motion was carried.
Article twenty being under consideration :
On motion of Richmond Talbot: Voted, that the sum of ($200.00) be appropriated for the purpose of erecting monu- ments at the graves of the persons who served in the war of the Revolution, the same to be expended under the direction of the Cemetery Commissioner.
Article twenty-one being under consideration :
On motion of Mr. Peterson : Voted, that the sum of thirty-five thousand dollars be appropriated by the Town to be expended under the direction of the School Committee for the purpose of enlarging the High School Building.
Article twenty-two being under consideration :
Wm. M. Douglass moved that for the purpose of raising money to be expended on the alterations of the High School building the Selectmen are hereby authorized to borrow the sum of thirty- five thousand dollars ($35,000.00) and to issue therefor bonds, or notes of the Town bearing interest at a rate not exceeding four percent per annum, payable semi-annually, and the prin- cipal payable in ten equal annual payments of thirty-five hun- dred dollars ($3,500.00) each, said bonds or notes to be signed by the treasurer and approved by a majority of the Selectmen. One hundred and ninety-one having voted in the affirmative and fifty-three in the negative, more than two-thirds having voted in the affirmative, the motion was carried.
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Article twenty-three being under consideration :
Mr. Peterson moved that the Town appropriate the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) to introduce sewing and cooking into the public schools, and to purchase the necessary equipment and the motion was carried.
Article twenty-four being under consideration :
On motion of Mr. Morrison : Voted, that the number of Select- men be increased from three to five members.
Article twenty-five being under consideration :
On motion of Richmond Talbot: Voted, that the town appro- priate the sum of one hundred eighty-five dollars ($185.00) for the purchase of a pulmotor to be under the care of the Selectmen.
Article twenty-six being under consideration :
Mr. Talbot moved that the Town transfer the balance of ($538.92) received from the sale of the Harriet Sampson estate and the balance of ($1,950.00) received from the sale of the Old School and lot at the corner of Court and Bourne Streets. to the Contingent Account for 1914 and the motion was carried.
Article twenty-seven being under consideration :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: Voted, that the town ac- cept and allow the lay out of a common landing place at Mano- met Beach as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
Article twenty-eight being under consideration :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: Voted, that the Town ac- cept and allow the alteration of Summer Street, at Sparrow's Hill so called, as altered by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
Article twenty-nine being under consideration :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: Voted, that the Town ac- cept and allow the alteration of Main Street Extension and
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Sandwich Street as altered by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
Article thirty being under consideration :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: Voted, that the Town ac- cept and allow the lay out of Obery Street as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
Article thirty-one being under consideration :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: Voted, that the Town ac- cept and allow the layout of an extension of Taylor Avenue as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
Article thirty-two being under consideration.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: Voted, that the Town ac- cept and allow the layout of Water Street Extension as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
Article thirty-three being under consideration :
Richmond Talbot moved that the Town appropriate the sum of six thousand dollars ($6,000.00) for the extension of the macadam from the Darby road as far down Samoset Street as the sum will permit.
Mr. Dorr moved to amend by substituting to build from Court Street as far westerly as the sum will permit and the motion was carried.
The motion as amended was then put and carried.
Article thirty-four was indefinitely postponed.
Article thirty-five being under consideration :
Mr. Bagnell moved that the Town authorize the Selectmen to sell and convey the rights of the Town in a lot of land bounded Easterly by Main Street Extension, Southerly by Town Brook and Westerly and Northerly by land of others on such terms as they think proper and the motion was carried.
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Article thirty-six was indefinitely postponed.
Article thirty-seven being under consideration :
Mr. Talbot moved that this article be referred to a committee of three to be appointed by the Moderator to report at some fu- ture meeting of the Town and the motion was carried.
Article thirty-eight being under consideration :
Mr. Eldridge moved that the Selectmen be authorized to enter into a contract or agreement for the erection of a tower and the installation of a Town Clock on the Government building and expenditures to be charged to the Miscellaneous Account and the motion was carried.
Article thirty-nine being under consideration :
On motion of Mr. Burgess: Voted, that the Town create a Planning Board to consist of three members to be chosen an- nually.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: Voted, that Ephraim D. Bartlett, William T. Eldridge, and John L. Morton, serve as members of the Planning Board for one year.
Articles forty and forty-one indefinitely postponed.
Article forty-two being under consideration:
Mr. Talbot moved that the sum of ($3,500.00) from the Re- serve Fund be applied to reduce the Tax levy of 1914.
On motion of Edward L. 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 ordered by the Town, and all taxes and interest remaining unpaid on the first day of January following shall be collected forthwith by legal process and the Collector of Taxes is hereby authorized
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to collect at once by legal process all taxes of previous years out- standing.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess : Voted, that the sum of two hundred eighteen thousand seven hundred forty four and 32-100 dollars ($218,744.32) 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.
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Report of the Selectmen
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN FOR THE YEAR
ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1914.
In presenting this report of the conduct of the Town's affairs for the year 1914 we cannot call attention to anything of a very unusual nature. The ordinary business has been carried on in the usual manner; the finances have presented nothing in the way of difficulty and the different departments have attended to the matters pertaining to them in their usual manner. There has been no emergency to call for any extraordinary expenditure of funds with the exception of the construction of the Tower on the Post Office and the installation of the clock and bell. This work if completed when it was expected would have caused a large draft on the emergency fund. But the delay in the work has caused this matter to be attended to without making any shortage. The clock is now in position and when the contract for the building of the Post Office is completed will be placed in the care of the Town's officers.
ROADS AND STREETS.
The work that has been carried on on Main Street Extension has obliged your Board to delay the widening at the Drew cor-
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ner. It was thought better to wait until the new buildings in process of construction were completed and then make one job of the widening and surfacing of this street. It seems to be advis- able to macadam the lower end of this street from Water street towards the bridge which can be done without being hampered by the building now going on on the east side of the street. We recommend for this purpose the sum of $1,000.00.
Warren Avenue which has also been in very bad condition should certainly have some attention this year. There are two plans for the improvement of this important street. One is to release to the State Highway Commission the Town's rights there and secure to them a widening to fifty feet in which case the State will macadamize the street and maintain it. The other is for the Town to macadamize it themselves. These plans will both be presented and the people will have an opportunity to show their preference. In order to be in a position to take ad- vantage of whatever plan may be adopted the Selectmen recom- mend an appropriation of $12,000.00 for surfacing Warren Ave- nue.
A serious condition prevails on Court Street at the foot of Russell Street. There is so much surface water from Russell Street that the gutters are not able to take care of it in a hard rain. It has been proposed to take this water across Court Street under the present road bed and turn it down Brewster Street then the dangerous and unsightly gutter on the west side of Court Street could be filled up and the entire street surface be made available for use. We recommend $1,650.00 for this.
Water Street extension is also to be considered this year. This street has been laid out for some time and the abuttors have been assured that the Town would finish it this year. This is a large project but one that will be of great benefit to the people living in that locality as well as providing a numerous collection of houses with sewer facilities. This will call for an expenditure of $13,000.00.
We recommend for the continuance of the work on Beaver
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Dam Road the sum of $500.00. The money already expended there is showing good results and should be continued until the road is completed.
The widening ordered at the corner of Main and Leyden Streets has been done as far as practical. This while not in exactly the shape that it will be on completion has relieved the congestion at that point very materially.
On petition from a large number of residents of Manomet the Board viewed the premises and have had plans made for the taking of the so-called boat landing at Manomet Point. It has developed very recently however that the United States has bought this land and the matter will therefore have to be aban- doned.
Samoset Street for which an appropriation was made at the last Town meeting has been macadamized and has now one of the best road beds in this vicinity. The extra width of this Street mnade the work seem to be expensive but when figured up on a basis of square yards the cost was well within the usual price. At some future time it will be found advisable to finish this road to the Darby Road.
The sidewalk question is one of great interest to the average citizen. At the last Town meeting the appropriation was in- creased and there was some feeling that this money should be spent in making improved walks on the main lines of travel. Your Board has deemed it better however to use this money in making passable walks in localities where there previously was none at all. It is much better that every citizen should have at least a fairly usable sidewalk than that all of the money be spent in making what must necessarily be a limited amount of gran- olithic walks in the center of the Town. At the same time we are always willing to cooperate with any person who will pay half of the expense of a granolithic walk and put in such a side- walk. We recommend an appropriation of $4,000.00 for side- walks. The North end of the Town is in need of attention in the way of sidewalks and an experiment that has been made this
Plymouth Two
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year with an oil and crushed stone proposition is working out well and we think will furnish a very good solution of the prob- lem of making a low priced as well as water proof and durable walk.
STREET LIGHTING.
This is a much debated subject. There have been a number of plans suggested for the improvement of the existing conditions. Most of them are too expensive for our use. We are strongly of the opinion that the conditions on Main and Court Streets should be improved and we have based our recommendations ac- cordingly. The amount appropriated last year was $8,550.00. In addition the Town made a special appropriation for the in- stallation of lights at Manomet of $800.00. We would reconı- mend an appropriation carrying those amounts and an addition of $700.00 which will practically double the lights on Main and Court Streets.
SEWERS.
The Sewer Department has gone ahead as usual and the property owners have taken advantage of it by entering the sewer wherever possible. A sewer has been put in on Pecks Avenue in accordance with the vote of the Town at the last meet- ing. This has been of great value in cleaning up one of the most unsanitary places in Town. We recommend an appropria- tion of $2,000.00. It would seem advisable at this time when we have a dredging outfit in the harbor to have a little digging done at the mouth of the sewer outlet in the harbor and we would ask for a small appropriation for this purpose.
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. STREET SPRINKLING.
It has been the policy of the Street Department of recent years to substitute the use of oil for water in Street sprinkling. This has been a decided move for the better. The dust is not only laid better and more permanently but the roads on which this has been done are much improved in surface for travel and do not wash so badly in the heavy rains. We would recommend for sprinkling the sum of $6,000.00.
REMOVAL OF SNOW.
This must always be a matter largely of guess work. The past year the expense has been very light. But we may at any time be confronted with a heavy fall of snow and it is good policy to have an appropriation available for this purpose. We recom- mend $1,000.00.
POLICE.
The report of the Chief of Police will be found in another part of this report. The Board of Selectmen have given a good amount of time to the consideration of this Department and are of the opinion that it can be successfully carried on by a Chief and five Patrolmen. This is a reduction of two men on the permanent force. These men were added in license years when their need might perhaps have been expected. On the change to no license the men were still retained on the force. It would seem that with the Special Police at the command of the Chief at any time that the need for these permanent men was not very great. We recommend for this Department $8,500.00.
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PUBLIC SANITARIES.
This institution has been a success from the start. There has been much favorable comment from visitors in the Town and we have had a number of inquiries from other Towns as to the cost of installation and maintenance. We recommend for this Department the sum of $350.00.
SELECTMENS' DEPARTMENT.
The Forest Warden's report will be found also in another part of this report and it will be readily seen that this is one of those. matters which must fluctuate greatly. The work of this Department, is one of great value to the community and one large fire may use up the entire appropriation.
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