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Ex Libris HENRY-SILL:BALDWIN
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REBVILT IN IODAYS OPENED JVLY 18,1921:A).
THIRTY-SEVENTH
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
TOWN OF SWAMPSCOTT,
FOR YEAR ENDING FEB. 28. 1889.
SETTLED A.D. 1629.
INCORPORATED
TT. A. D. 1852
SWAN
LYNN: PRESS OF G. H. & W. A. NICHOLS, 1 889.
THIRTY-SEVENTH
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
TOWN OF SWAMPSCOTT,
FOR YEAR ENDING FEB. 28, 1889.
SETTLED
A.D. 1629.
INCORPORATED
TT. A. D. 1852
SWAN
LYNN: PRESS OF G. H. & W. A. NICHOLS, 1 889.
TOWN OFFICERS, 1888-89.
Selectmen.
AARON R. BUNTING. JOHN STANLEY. EDWARD H. THOMAS, J. H. FARWELL, Resigned. Elected to fill vacancy.
Town Clerk. GEORGE T. TILL.
Treasurer. BENJAMIN O. HONORS.
Assessors.
PELEG GARDNER. 1891. D. H. MILLETT, 1890. JOHN CHAPMAN. 1889.
Collector of Taxes. MICHAEL P. CARROLL. School Committee.
ROBERT B. WARDWELL, 1889. R. B. JORDAN, 1890, Resigned.
J. F. PACKARD, 1891. Resigned.
W. H. ROGERS. C. E. DURGIN. Resigned.
Appointed.
GEORGE L. CROSMAN. Appointed.
Overseers of Poor. JOHN WASHBURN. 1889. GEO. T. MELZARD, 1890. MICHAEL P. CARROLL, 1891.
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TOWN OFFICERS.
Board of Health. JOHN I. ADAMS. W. S. KENDRICK. CHARLES E. HARRIS.
Auditors.
A. C. WIDGER.
HENRY N. CULLEN.
WM. T. COCHRANE, WASHINGTON MELZARD, Pro tem.
Surveyor of Highways. J. P. M. S. PITMAN.
Constables.
JAMES WHEELER. WILLIAM H. PROCTOR. WINFIELD S. KENDRICK.
Fence Viewer. ISAIAH ALDEN.
Field Drivers.
JOHN MYERS.
J. P. M. S. PITMAN.
Surveyors of Lumber.
SAMUEL HORTON. JAMES A. KNOWLTON.
Measurer of Wood and Bark.
E. GERRY EMMONS. Trustees of Library.
B. W. REDFERN, 1891. F. F. STANLEY, 1889. CURTIS V. MERRITT, 1890.
Pound Keeper. MARTIN CARPENTER.
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TOWN OFFICERS.
APPOINTED OFFICERS.
Librarian. MISS S. L. HONORS.
Assistant Librarians.
EDDIE W. HAWES. FRED COLLINS. EDWIN KEAY.
Police. SETH C. KENDRICK, Chief. WM. H. PROCTOR. R. A. DOUGLASS.
Special Police.
FRED F. TWISDEN.
J. P. M. S. PITMAN.
GEO. M. CONNORS.
J. F. CROWELL.
N. GALEUCIA.
GEO. P. CAHOON.
R. A. DOUGLASS.
BENJ. G. PEDRICK.
WESLEY MARSHALL.
LEWIS D. CLARK.
J. E. PHILLIPS.
Town Weigher. THOMAS B. PEDRICK.
Sealer of Weights and Measures. JOSEPH F. CROWELL.
Milk Inspector. CHARLES E. HARRIS.
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
TO THE CITIZENS OF SWAMPSCOTT :
Herewith we present our Report for the financial year just closing, giving a partial recapitulation of the workings of our Board, and also making a few suggestions and recommendations to the voters of the town, which if they are adopted on their merits, and not as in the interests of the few, or of individuals, by the approaching Annual Town Meeting, and suitable appropriations made therefor, we cannot but believe will be heartily approved by them ; and in connection with this view, we wish to say that the present Board is in full accord, as we have been on all important questions coming before us. There has been one vacancy on the Board owing to the resignation of Mr. Edward H. Thomas, wholly on business account, which was filled by the election of J. H. Farwell.
We wish to congratulate the citizens on the sound condi- tion of the Treasury at the present time, and of our full belief in the integrity of our faithful Treasurer, also on the general desire of all other officials in their various depart- ments to fulfill their duties to the satisfaction of their constituents. The general peace of our town has well been maintained by our police force, under Chief Kendrick, and few infractions of law have occurred within our boundaries. It is a well-known fact that if any body of officials attempts to do its duty as faithfully as it would attend to their own individual interests, there are some
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
who will not give it that accord which it is entitled to. That it is human to err is a well-known axiom, and we do not claim exemption from its rigid penalties, but in spite of it have attempted to so conduct the affairs of the town as to merit, if we do not receive, the commendation of all.
The committees of the various departments have made their reports in this " Annual Report" which will render unnecessary in us a general review of the grounds which they have so well gone over.
During the last summer and fall we had many and frequent heavy falls of rain, each of which did heavy damage to our streets, and no sooner were they repaired than the succeeding rain undid the previous repairs ; this has been repeated through the season, and hence the present state of our streets, and is not at all attributable to neglect of any of the town officials. That we need a new system of road building is well known to all, but it will entail a larger appropriation than we now are able to get. Many of our streets are underlaid with immense beds of clay, and it is useless to cover them with thin coverings of gravel if we wish to have good permanent roads. What is most needed is a good foundation of broken stones, and we have a plentiful supply at our pits equal to all demands. As the Town has voted that it does not want a stone crusher, it must do the next best thing and select the smallest stones available and try the sure experiment of having more durable and better streets and roads. This done, it may convince its opponents that a stone crusher is the cheaper and more desirable way of getting good streets, at, ultimately, less cost. While on this subject, it may not be inappropriate to recommend to individuals living on the main thoroughfares to curb and concrete their sidewalks ; and, as the Town pays one-half the expense, the cost is inconsiderable to the owner of the estate, and is of inestimable value to the pedestrian, and is also to the credit of the Town.
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
As many of the streets are over highlands, it will be a matter of economy if a sufficient appropriation be made to commence a system of paved gutters, thus saving the inevitable wash of gravel and materially lessening the danger to travel.
The Town has heretofore tried the experiment of concrete crossings, but since the stone crossing near the Post Office has been laid and approved, we think we can recommend that hereafter all crossings laid by the town shall be of the same kind. We recommend two of such crossings this year ; one at the head of Redington or Humphrey Street, and the other at the lower beach. On making these im- provements in our highways, we not only confer an equivalent for the cost to our own people, but we show the outside world who visit our beautiful town that we are trying to make their annual visits to us agreeable and at the same time that we are progressing.
On our fire apparatus we become more and more con- vinced with every recurring fire, that we are deficient in a proper equipment for our needs. What we consider necessary is the addition of one or more hose reels with the necessary lengths of hose, to be located as the Select- men and the Fire Engineers may decide. It does not necessarily imply that we need more men to man them, for two firemen living in their vicinity can be detailed, and on an alarm of fire in their district can immediately go to their charge and take it to the fire, attach the hose to a hydrant and have a stream of water on it long before the steamer can reach the fire, nor need it necessarily increase the expense of the department, as the detail will attend to this duty instead of going to the steamer to join it. We have just added to our fire apparatus several articles which the statutes require, which, with the additions above recom- mended will, with judicious and intelligent handling, make our fire department efficient and a pride to our citizens.
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
Could we appoint the Engineers for a term of years, it would avoid the annual change and consequent injury to our otherwise excellent Fire Department, and render it still more efficient.
We further recommend the placing of a steam whistle (to be operated at the steamer house by wire connection), on the pumping station of the Marblehead Water Com- pany. Its cost will be inside of $50.00. The reason of this recommendation is that the alarm usually sounded from the Town Hall bell cannot be heard by the firemen but a short distance away, especially when the wind is in an opposite direction, whereas the steam whistle can be heard for miles around. The Marblehead Water Com- pany have generously granted us this privilege.
In the matter of laying out new streets, we have been presented with repeated petitions to lay out new ones, and in compliance with such demands have examined their condition, and as a result we have caused plans to be made of Columbia Street, which we have laid out to the Lynn line, and of Hillside Avenue. Of the former we are of unanimous opinion that it should be accepted by the Town and a sufficient appropriation be made to carry out the work. Of Hillside Avenue a difficulty arises as to recommending the work until the city of Lynn will join us in it ; as about three-eighths of the avenue lies within their juridiction, and the line between us runs in a prolonged diagonal direction, which would leave the avenue in a dangerous condition, unless we encroached upon Lynn's line.
We have also received a petition to lay out Newhall Court as a street, but have thought it best not to comply until the new streets of the Swampscott Land Company are completed-the court as now used running to the Com- pany's line and intending to join one of its avenues.
We are confirmed in the opinion that it is the duty of the
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
Town to comply with the wishes of all its citizens as far as conditions and its treasury will admit ; but too much should not be crowded into one year.
More in detail we give some of the leading items of ex- penditures and recommendations for the action of the Town Meeting pending.
APPROPRIATIONS.
In complying with the vote of the Town that no orders in excess of the appropriations for the several departments be drawn upon the Treasurer, the following amounts ,having already been presented, remain unpaid. We recommend that they be considered when the appropria- tions for the coming year are acted upon.
School Department . $1.575.00
Fire Department 100.00
Health Department 50.00
Town Hall . 40.00
Curbstone and Concrete
20.00
WATER PIPES.
The Selectmen were instructed by vote of the Town at the annual March meeting, to lay water pipes through Blaney. Redington and Highland Streets, and $3.000.00 was appropriated for this purpose. A contract was made with Wm. C. McClellan to do the work. The total cost of the work was $2.931.67 including all necessary appurtenances, plan of location and superintendence. The whole work was done in a first-class manner, and the streets left in a neat and presentable condition. We would recommend that a six-inch cast-iron pipe be laid through King Street, agreeable to the petition of Z. K. Harding and others.
HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT.
The most important work done in this department has been the widening and grading of Essex Street, near the
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
Salem line. The street has also been much improved by removing the obstructing ledge near the Cemetery gate. Improvements have been made on Orient Street, near the J. F. Phillips' estate, by grading and widening to the street line; by so doing. getting rid of the incline on the easterly side, which has made this portion of the street very inconvenient for travel. For other work in this depart- ment, see detailed report of Auditors.
PINE STREET SCHOOL HOUSE.
The sum of $600.00 for heating and ventilating this building was appropriated, and the work entrusted to the Selectmen. A contract was made with Ingalls & Ken- driken for heating by means of a sectional cast-iron boiler, with lines of pipes extending along the outside walls under the windows, re-enforced by a system of indirect radiation, which supplies an ample amount of fresh heated air to the occupants. The cost of heating was $535.00.
Ventilation is effected by means of two registers in each room, one at the floor-level and the other near the ceiling, opening into an iron shaft next to boiler flue and running to the roof. This work was done under a contract with Philbrick & Pope at a cost of $65.00.
The Selectmen were directed to repair this building and $200.00 was appropriated. The work has been done in accordance with the report of the examining committee, and consists in repairing the roof; tinning the gutters ; putting in iron tie rods for the purpose of drawing in and preventing any further spread of the walls; changing door in basement; repairing foundation walls. The cost of the repairs was within the appropriation.
CULVERT ON BURRILL STREET.
By vote of the Town, $350.00 was appropriated to rebuild and enlarge the old culvert on Burrill Street. The
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
contract was given to J. F. Dearborn, who performed the work according to specifications, embodying the report of the Town committee. The walls are 312 feet thick and are laid up with solid cement masonry, and the water-way covered with heavy granite, with inlets for surface water.
We think, that if the owners of the land through which the brook flows would enlarge the water course to the size of the Town culverts. they would be relieved of the inconvenience they now have, from their land being flooded at almost every rain.
CURBSTONES AND CONCRETE.
An appropriation of $500.00 for this department was insufficient to meet the demands of our citizens. Applica- tions are now on file for a considerable amount of curbstones and concrete for next season. We would recommend an appropriation of $1,000.00 for this depart- ment.
FENCES.
We have caused to be built, fences on Pine, Burrill, Danvers and Essex Streets, and also repaired others at different parts of the Town. As these fences are a necessary protection to our highways, we would recom- mend that a small appropriation be made each year for their erection and maintenance.
EXTENSION OF GAS-PIPE BY LYNN GAS LIGHT CO.
This company petitioned the Selectmen for the right to lay a six-inch main from the Hay Scales to the Hotel Preston. The petition was granted and the pipes laid through Humphrey Street to Humphrey Square, and thence through Atlantic Avenue to Beach Bluff Avenue. A pipe was also laid through Orient Street, terminating near Col. Jeffries' estate. The large amount of ledge encountered at this point rendered further work on this street impracticable.
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
STAND PIPES.
Nearly all of the stand pipes for the use of the street sprinklers were attached to the fire hydrants, which should never have been done, as they render those hydrants, in case of fire, almost useless, also causing much expense by having to dig up and repair or replace the valves. We would recommend that they be attached to the main pipe, and that $300.00 be appropriated for that purpose.
DRINKING FOUNTAIN.
In accordance with a vote of the Town, we have located a drinking fountain at the junction of Burrill Street and Railroad Avenue.
BRYSON vs. TOWN OF SWAMPSCOTT.
The suit against the Town by James Bryson, who claimed injury to his horse by reason of a defect in Orient Street, in August, 1887, and which has been pending since that time, has been settled by the Marblehead Water Company, who have paid the amount of Mr. Bryson's claim for damages.
There are no suits against the Town at this time.
ADDITIONAL ROOM FOR SELECTMEN.
Except the procuring of plans and estimates, no action has been taken towards enlarging the Selectmen's room.
Proposals were received from nearly all of the builders in Town, and the figures in every case were in excess of the appropriation, ($600).
In closing this report, we repeat our congratulations to the voters of Swampscott, and to acknowledge our indebt- edness to them for a general acquiescence in our doings, and to wish a like kindly help to our successors in our places for the succeeding year.
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
The office of Selectman of Swampscott is no sinecure, requiring much time and thought and action to do one's duty as it should be, and in retiring from our positions, we hope we have secured the general good wishes and endorsement of action.
Very respectfully submitted,
AARON R. BUNTING, Selectmen JOHN STANLEY, of
J. H. FARWELL, Swampscott.
SWAMPSCOTT, MARCH 1, 1889.
F
SCHOOL REPORT.
TO THE CITIZENS OF SWAMPSCOTT :
IN submitting the Thirty-Seventh Annual Report of the School Committee, we may state that our schools are in good condition.
As the work is now laid out, there is promise of gratify- ing progress during the year to come. We confidently hope for such support from all good citizens, as that our school system will soon rank among the first. By reason of expenditures which have been made in accordance with State Statutes, and to meet other pressing necessities, a por- tion of our school property is in better condition, perhaps, than ever before. Further repairs are needed, some of which must be made the coming year. Our work has been carried on under serious disadvantages incident to changes both in the corps of teachers, and in the composition of the School Committee. First comes the resignation of Mr. R. B. Wardwell, which was soon followed by that of Mr. C. E. Durgin. who briefly filled his place by appointment. A little later on, Mr. Durgin and Rev. J. F. Packard resigned, causing vacancies which were filled by those whose names are hereto subscribed.
While writing this report, we are obliged to chronicle the removal from town of Dr. R. B. Jordan, the Chairman of the Committee, which last event is especially to be regretted in view of his longer service and greater familiarity with the details of the work which he has faith-
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SCHOOL REPORT.
fully performed. Grateful for past services, we extend to him sincere wishes for success in his new field of labor. It must be evident to all that so many changes in the Committee are a serious detriment to the work.
The gradual growth of our Town, necessitating a larger number of schools; the steady advancement in educational methods ; the higher standard of school systems everywhere ; improvements with which, in justice to ourselves and to our children, we must keep pace ; the laws of the state, compelling us to provide and care for as public property, all text-books, supplies and fur- nishings ; all these things conspire to increase the burden of the School Committee, and to make the office, perhaps, the most responsible in the Town, and one to be assumed only under a solemn sense of obligation to our hundreds of bright and capable children. Experience is so important a qualification for the discharge of these duties, that we deplore the circumstance by which our Board is now com- posed of members whose term of office has been so short. Conceding that the best of reasons have prompted all resignations, the difficulty of securing qualified citizens for the service still remains-a difficulty which can only be remedied by a due appreciation of the supreme impor- tance of our public schools, in a true devotion to the highest interests of which, personal interests and comforts must be sacrificed.
The man whom the place seeks will tell you that he cannot conscientiously assume an office, for the grave responsibility of which he can spare so little time from pressing business or professional engagements. Responsi- bility is therefore constantly shifting, unsatisfactory results are attained, and the conclusion forces itself upon us, that our present school system must undergo certain modifica- tions before the desired educational success is secured.
With your School Committee, this important work of
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SCHOOL REPORT.
the education of the young is but an avocation, plied at odd intervals and with wasted energies. There should be some one upon whom obligation may steadily centre for as long a tenure as possible, and who bears his responsibility as one absorbed in the duties of what he considers a high vocation.
STUDIES.
During the year our courses of study have been some- what rearranged, better systematized and improved by the introduction of books better adapted to our needs. In connection with our regular course in Reading, attractive books in History, Natural History, and on scientific subjects. have been introduced as supplementary. The pupils' fund of information has been greatly increased by the added interest thus secured for this study.
The course in Arithmetic has been improved by the adoption of a series of Arithmetics by one author, in place of parts of two different series heretofore used, and the results are satisfactory. The study of Physiology is also now taught in a systematic ivay, and in the various grades of the Grammar School and in the High School, text- books on this subject have been introduced.
Prang's entire course in Industrial Drawing has been adopted. Our schools greatly need a special teacher for this branch of study. Much has been accomplished of late in developing a system of industrial drawing which shall be adapted to the uses of our public schools in train- ing the eye and hand in unison with the mind. To be able to correctly represent an idea by a drawing, is as important and often more useful than to simply be able to represent that idea by words spoken or written. Experience of the truth of this statement is not confined to persons employed in mechanical pursuits alone ; but must be a matter of almost daily observation by every one. Pleasing results have already been attained by some of 3
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SCHOOL REPORT.
our teachers, but we can look for nothing like the uniform progress which should be attained in all our schools without a special teacher for this branch.
There is a desire on the part of parents, that music should be taught in our schools, and that this desirable feature has not been introduced, is simply because of the many demands upon our resources.
A happy feature of the year has been the adoption into the High and Grammar Schools, of Worcester's School Dictionary. Each pupil has a dictionary and constant reference to this is required. The acquiring of such a habit is in itself of great value, and the familiarity with the English Language thus gained is surprising, as com- pared with old-time methods of teaching reading classes.
A system of reports has just been devised in which each teacher makes report to the Committee once each month, of the progress made during the month in the several studies under consideration. A glance at these reports shows whether the schools are all working in harmony and if not, where extra effort is needed.
Right here, we wish to say, that if any of our towns- people desire to spend an hour profitably, they cannot do better than to visit our schools. Such visits will not only be sources of real pleasure, but means of gaining infor- mation, while the impression carried away will almost surely result in another visit.
You will be pleased with the bright, intelligent faces of our pupils and your visit will not only do you good, but the teachers and scholars will appreciate it as well. Try the experiment and see if what we say is not correct.
CARE OF BOOKS.
We are about adopting a method of caring for text- books and furnishings which will be productive of good results in saving waste, and in preventing loss and misuse
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SCHOOL REPORT.
of such property by those to whom it is loaned. We had hoped to be able to make report at this time of the exact amount of such property now belonging to the Town, but the labor required to organize this system and to obtain the necessary information will be two great to admit of doing so.
LECTURES.
Your Committee, with a view of quickening a livelier interest in educational matters, took the responsibility early in the winter, of inviting three gentlemen, prominent in the country as thinkers upon educational topics, to address us on these matters. Dr. Geo. C. Lorimer of Chicago, gave us, on Thanksgiving evening, a fine address on the following subject : Government, or Law, Liberty and Education. The second, given by Rev. A. E. Winship, of Boston, about the middle of January, was on Home, School and Church. The third lecture on January 30th, was by Bishop J. H. Vincent, of Buffalo, N. Y., who addressed us on the subject : " That Boy." It is doubtful if we were ever before favored in any one winter to listen to men of such recognized ability on questions of such vital importance. Many of our citizens who availed themselves of the opportunity have expressed the pleasure and profit derived, and those who did not thus improve the privilege. lost more than they realize by the neglect.
We were urged by sound reasoning to spare no pains to have good schools from the lowest to the highest grades. We were shown that the most economical expenditure that the Town can make, is in the employment of the best ability obtainable as teachers for our children. We were reminded that the prosperity of our Town, and the safety of the nation depends largely on the work done in our public schools. We feel grateful to the teachers, scholars, and to all who lent their assistance to make this enterprise
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