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TOWN OF WEYMOUTH
1915
1
.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OF WEYMOUTH
Containing the Reports of the
SELECTMEN, TOWN TREASURER, TOWN ACCOUNTANT, TOWN CLERK, ASSESS- ORS, AND OTHER OFFICERS 1 AND COMMITTEES
For the Year Ending December 31 J
1915
GAZETTE AND
TRANSCRIPT PUBLISHING COMPANY
WEYMOUTH, MASS.
1916.
W.C. Ref. 352 1915 /
Lower Stack
MAY 8 1939
0981
HOLBROOK
BRAINTREE
FORES
Summer St.
26.
025.
2.
24
22.
St.
West St.
Expressway
St
. 21.
Columbian
West
Main
23
3.
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Essex St.
13
16.
Middle
18.
North
St.
Main St.
Avenue
14.
St.
St
10
8.
Parkı
Pleasant
Southeast
WHITMANS
7.0
POND
17.
15.
11.
St.
Oak St.
Westminster
12.
Union
Pleasant
Stro
High St.
FLAND
HINGHAM
KEY
1 ABIGAIL ADAMS HOUSE
2. EDISON PLANT
3 BICKNELL JUNIOR HIGH
4 GREAT HILL
5 MT. VERNON
6. LEGION FIELD
7 WEYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
8 TOWN HALL
9 EAST JUNIOR HIGH (Old High School)
10. CLAPP MEMORIAL YMCA
11 CENTRAL FIRE STATION
12 POLICE STATION
13. PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING
14. SOUTH JUNIOR HIGH
15 WEYMOUTH FAIR GROUNDS
16 SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL
17. NAVAL AIR STATION
18 WHITMAN'S POND
19 HOUSE ROCK
20. HERRING RUN
21 FILTRATION PLANT
22 GREAT POND
23 CENTRAL JUNIOR HIGH
24 TUFTS LIBRARY
25 WESTON PARK
26 FORE RIVER BRIDGE
BACK
6
18.
St.
5
Lake
Broad St.
commercial
East St.
WEY MOUTH
RIVER
ROCK
Ralph Talbot
St.
Green
A GUIDE FOR YOUR TOUR OF WEYMOUTH
ABINGTON
st.
9.
Bridge
Neck St.
Wessagussett Beach
St.
Front
St
Brand St.
Webb St
Idlowel
RIVER
GREAT POND
Homestead As
WEYMOUTH
QUINCY
Sea St.
Pond St.
Norton St.
19
·5
Washington
INDEX.
Town Officers .
5
Report of the Selectmen
7
Report of the Town Treasurer
21
Report of the Auditors
29
Report of the Town Accountant
33
Schools
33
Street Department
50
Bridges
63
Public Parks
64 64
Webb Park Playground
Preservation of Shade Trees
64
Suppression of Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths
65 65
Street Records Indexing
Street Watering and Oiling
67 67 67
Police Department
75
Health Department
79 79
Miscellaneous Account
80
State, Town and Primary Election Expenses
83
Town Offices
87
State and Military Aid
87
Soldiers' Relief
Printing and Advertising
87 88 88
Tufts Library
88
Fogg Library Reading Room
91
Memorial Day
91 91
George Washington Memorial Building
91
Abatement and Remittance of Taxes
92
Interest and Discount
92
Soldiers' Monument Repairs
92
Susan Hunt Stetson Fund Reinvestment
92
Notes Payable
93
Taxes Paid to State and County
93
Reserve Fund
94
Tax Deed Account
94 94
Poor Department
97
Statement of Appropriations and Expenditures
106
Trial Balance
108
Surveying and Plotting Town
Fire Department
Superior Court Judgements
Electric Lighting
Memorial for Early Settlers
Town Officers .
Jury List .
109
Report of Overseers of the Poor
115
Report of Town Clerk
118
Report of Chief of Police
200
Report of Assessors
207
Report of Park Commissioners
209
Report of Board of Health
215
Report of Superintendent of Streets
218
Report of Fire Engineers
222
Report of Tree Warden
224
Report of Superintendent of Fire Alarm
225
Report of Superintendent of Moth Work
226 226
Report of Burial Agent
Report of Inspector of Animals
227
Report of Sealers of Weights and Measures
227
Report of Lighting Committee
228
Report of Registrars of Voters
229
Report of Tax Collector for Years 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915
230
Report of Tufts Fund
231
Report of Town Planning Board
233
Report of Survey of the Town
237
Report of Trustees of Tufts Library
241
Report of Water Commissioners
279
Report of School Committee
321
TOWN OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1915-1916
JOHN A. RAYMOND,
JOHN H. STETSON,
Town Clerk. P. O. address, East Weymouth Town Treasurer. P. O. address, South Weymouth Selectmen.
EDWARD W. HUNT, Chairman,
BRADFORD HAWES, Clerk,
GEORGE L. NEWTON,
P. O. address, Weymouth P. O. address, East Weymouth RALPH P. BURRELL, HENRY E. HANLEY. Overseers of the Poor.
EDWARD W. HUNT, GEORGE L. NEWTON,
BRADFORD HAWES, HENRY E. HANLEY,
RALPH P. BURRELL.
Assessors.
LEWIS W. CALLAHAN
·
·
Term expires 1917
CHARLES H. CLAPP
66
1917
JOHN F. DWYER, Chairman
·
.
66
66 1916
LEAVITT W. BATES
66 1918
Town Accountant. CHARLES B. CUSHING.
Collector of Taxes.
WINSLOW M. TIRRELL, P. O. address, East Weymouth
Auditors.
WILLIAM E. THAYER, FRANK N. BLANCHARD, WILLIAM H. PRATT. Engineers of the Fire Department.
WALTER W. PRATT, Chief, P. O. address, East Weymouth P. O. address, East Weymouth
JOHN Q. HUNT, Clerk,
MATTHEW O'DOWD, HIRAM NADELL, WALLACE H. BICKNELL.
School Committee.
ARTHUR H. ALDEN
Term expires: 1917
PRINCE H. TIRRELL
.
.
.
.
66
1916
ELMER E. LEONARI)
66
1916
SARAH S. HOWE
66
66 1917
1918
THERON L TIRRELL
1918
CLARENCE P. WHITTLE
.
.
1916
FRANK H. TORREY, Clerk
.
Board of Health.
DR. GEORGE E. EMERSON JOHN S. WILLIAMS DR. FRED L. DOUCETT
Term expires 1916
66
66 1918
66
66
1917
Park Commissioners.
LOUIS A. COOK J. HERBERT WALSH
Term expires 1917
WILSON F. BEANE
66
66 1916
Tree Warden. CHARLES L. MERRITT. Trustees of Tufts Library.
WILLIAM A. DRAKE
Term expires 1917
66
66
1917
JOSEPH E. GARDNER
.
·
66
1918
LOUIS A. COOK
66
66 1918
WILLIAM F. HATHAWAY
66
66
1918
JAMES H. FLINT
66
66
1916
CLARENCE P. WHITTLE
66
66
1916
FREDERICK T. HUNT
66
66
1916
Registrars of Voters.
PATRICK E. CORRIDAN
Term expires 1917
BENJAMIN F. SMITH
66
66
1918.
MARSHALL P. SPRAGUE
66
66 1916
JOHN A. RAYMOND, Town Clerk, (ex-officio )
Superintendent of Sereets. JOHN L. MAYNARD Water Commissioners.
GEORGE E. BICKNELL
Term expires 1917
FRANK H. TORREY
66
66 1918
ROBERT S. HOFFMAN
66
66 1916
EDWARD W. HUNT, Chairman of Selectmen (ex-officio.)
JOHN H. STETSON, Town Treasurer (ex-officio.)
Sealer of Weights and Measures. FRANK D. SHERMAN. Burial Agent for Indigent Soldiers. WALDO TURNER
Chief of Police.
ARTHUR H. PRATT,
P. O. address, East Weymouth
Constables.
ISAAC H. WALKER, ARTHUR H. PRATT, GEORGE B. BAILEY, ELBERT FORD, W. F. HALL,
GEO. W. NASH, THOMAS FITZGERALD, JOHN D. WALSH, GEORGE W. CONANT, CHARLES W. BARROWS.
66
1918
.
·
FRANCIS M. DROWN
66
66
1917
JOHN B. HOLLAND
·
!
.
.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN.
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Weymouth :
At the Town Election of 1915, the following were chosen 1
Selectmen : George L. Newton, Henry E. Hanley, Edward W. Hunt, Bradford Hawes and Ralph P. Burrell.
On the morning following the election, the above named met and organized by the choice of Edward W. Hunt as chairman and Bradford Hawes, secretary.
The actions of the board from week to week have been reported in the press so far as the same was consistent with public policy.
Meetings of the board have been held on Monday afternoon of each week, except when a holiday occurred on that day, in which case the meeting was held on the day following. Special meet- ings have been held from time to time as occasion demanded. The whole number of board meetings during the year 1915 was seventy.
PERAMBULATION. In addition to the usual duties of the Select- men, the perambulation of the town lines, which, by law of the Commonwealth, is required to be made every five years by the Selectmen of contiguous towns, came this year with all of our adjoining towns and was duly made in company with the Select- men of those towns respectively. There are thirty-four bound stones on our border, distributed as follows : Hingham, 9; Rock- - land, 3; Abington, 6; Holbrook, 7 and Braintree, 13 ; counting twice the stones where two of the adjoining towns come together on our border. These bounds were all found and acknowledged to be in their proper places.
TOWN OFFICES. No change has occurred in the running of the town offices. Charles B. Cushing was reappointed to serve his fourteenth year in the capacity of Town Accountant and Emer- son R. Dizer has continued as his assistant. In addition to his other duties considerable of the time of Mr. Dizer is required in serving as a sort of bureau of information. All enquiries con- cerning any legitimate subject are cheerfully answered and in- formation given as far as possible. Mr. Cushing was also
8
appointed as the agent to act in furnishing benefits due under Chapter 751 of the Acts of the year 1911 and acts in amendment thereof and in addition thereto, in relation to industrial accidents. The financial statement of the several accounts as prepared by the accountant is submitted as a part of this report.
HIGHWAYS.
John L. Maynard was reappointed Superintendent of Streets and has endeavored to maintain the streets of the town up to the standard of previous years. If he has succeeded in doing this with the amount of money at his disposal we feel that he has done well. For details of the work performed we refer to the report of the superintendent.
The maintenance of its public ways is in our opinion one of the most serious problems the town has now on its hands.
Twenty-five years ago, in 1890, the town raised by taxation for highway repairs $12,000. The valuation of the town at that time was $6,441,845. In 1915 the amount raised by taxation for the same purpose was $13,200, and the valuation $12,802,614. With the difference in the working hours of the day and the price paid for work, not more than seventy-five per cent. of the result can be expected from the expenditure of a dollar of what was obtained in 1890.
A comparison of the foregoing figures shows that we are raising for this purpose but one-half what we did twenty-five years ago in comparison to our valuation.
But, some one will ask, are we not getting more than ten thousand dollars from the street railway taxes ? True : but when the legislature provided that these taxes should be applied toward the maintenance of the ways and the removal of snow it was for the purpose of compensating in part for the added cost of this work by reason of the presence of the tracks and their operation in the streets of the towns and it was not contemplated that the towns be relieved thereby from raising the amounts necessary for. the proper care of their ways.
This brings us to the fact that a dollar spent in the repair or preservation of the streets in 1890 does not adequately represent the cost of the same state of repair at the present time for the further reason that the revolution in modes of travel in that time has created a condition which not only calls for better roads, but
1
9
which at the same time places such stress upon them that whereas a gravel street then put in good condition was good for five or ten years with little further attention it is now the case that any such street subjected to heavy automobile travel goes to pieces in a year or two. Furthermore, when we used to drive over the streets through from three to six or more inches of mud when the frost was coming out of the ground in the late winter or early spring, we accepted it as one of the inevitable conditions of the season, imposed like the rain and snow, by an overruling Provi- dence. If we could trot the horse half the way at such times we thought we were making good progress. Such conditions will not satisfy the demands of modern travel. The requirement is for a roadbed which will hold up a five or six-ton load at any time of the year. Some reader will say, " Well, what is the answer?" During the time spoken of the town has doubled the amount raised for the support of schools, for police, for fire protection, created its street lighting department, health department and various other things. We have also erected two hundred thou- sand dollars worth of new school houses. In all these things we have done well. In regard to our streets we have not done well. Under no management can we expect any material improvement in them without devoting more money to their maintenance. The answer then is obvious. If we are to have the kind of streets demanded we must raise more money.
The question has been asked many times, " Why is not more money spent on stone roads rather than spending it all on re- pairing with gravel all over town?" The answer is easy. It costs from nine to eleven thousand dollars to build a mile of stone road. Our whole appropriation for a year, as made of late years, would build about two miles. Distributed over our seventy-three miles of streets and sidewalks it gives about three hundred dollars a mile. Barely enough to keep them up under present conditions so as to be fairly safe, not to say satisfactory.
An article will appear in the warrant for the town meeting ask- ing for $2,000 for the purpose of building a section of Broad street as a stone road. We hope this article will find favor with the voters of the town and a systematic beginning be made toward putting stone construction in all of our main streets. This amount will not go a great way, but if a beginning is made we hope that more liberal appropriations will follow in the years to come.
10
We think that commendable progress has been made in side- walk construction of late years and feel sure that the money so- expended has given general satisfaction, certainly to the large proportion of the people who use this part of the streets more than any other. We hope to see good sidewalk connection be- tween all of our villages in a few years.
BRIDGES.
We are informed by the Bridge Commissioners that the require- ment for the Weymouth and Quincy bridge will be somewhat in excess of the last two years ; probably not less than $400 for our part.
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS.
The appropriations for working new streets, viz, Weybosset street, Fogg road and Randall avenue, have been expended. The latter will require a further appropriation of at least $400 for its- completion ; the other two have been finished within the appro- priations, as have also the sidewalk on Bay View street and that on Pearl street.
Morrell street remains unworked except to a limited extent to. prevent the lapse of the lay-out.
The relocation at the junction of Union with Pleasant street has. been worked. A dangerous condition remains at this point by reason of the three trees which came within the limits of the land taken, but are now plainly upon the taking and constitute a menace to public travel. A strong local sentiment exists against the removal of these trees. It is a question of how far this sen- timent should be regarded where the safety of the travelling public is concerned.
PLEASANT STREET.
The working of the relocation of a section of Pleasant street was delayed by reason of the work of the street railway company not being done until about the time the ground became frozen and our work was not as satisfactory as it would have been had it been accomplished earlier. This piece of way should be smoothed and rolled in the spring. This relocation helps in a. great degree to lessen the danger to travel at this point.
11
WASHINGTON STREET.
The working of Washington street as a state highway by the Highway Commission was not commenced early enough to enable them to complete it before winter set in. It is now worked from the Hingham line to Whitman's pond. Considerable addi- tional expense was involved above the first estimate, principally by reason of the work required at the bridges. It was the under- standing when the work was commenced that if the cost was ma. terially in excess of the estimate the additional cost should be divided equally between the state, the county and the town.
We are asked to pay $530 as our portion of this added cost. The commission was informed that it would be necessary for the town to so provide before we could do this.
TOWN SURVEY.
We are pleased to be able to report that the survey of the town has now been completed and all of the sheets filed at the town offices, where any citizen can examine them who has occasion to inform himself in relation to their contents. For fuller informa- tion in relation to the work we refer to the report of Russell H. Whiting, engineer.
It is expected that the lithograph maps of the town will be completed by the first of March. The edition is limited to four hundred copies and those who wish to be sure of securing a copy would do well to give their names to Mr. Whiting.
SEWERAGE.
At the annual meeting of the year 1904 a committee was ap- pointed to investigate the subject of a system of sewerage for the- town. That committee gave careful considerafion to this impor- tant matter and submitted a report which appears in the town . meeting records of 1905. The committee was continued and re- ported in 1906. This report was also accepted and the committee again continued.
As nothing further of importance could be accomplished until such time as a survey of the town should be made the committee made no further report.
The Planning Board of the past year has given serious consid- eration to this subject and considers that the town can no longer
12
afford to neglect what is of vital importance to a growing town of 14,000 inhabitants, viz : an effective sewerage system.
The above mentioned committee considered nothing but a pipe system discharging into the sea. Much attention has been given since the date of its report to the filter bed system of disposing of sewerage. Our neighboring city of Brockton has adopted such a system and we understand it is giving satisfaction. If the typo- graphical conditions of our town will admit of the Introduction of such a system, as seems altogether probable, it can no doubt he introduced at very much less expense than a pipe system to the sca.
Our large manufactories have had to go to large expense in the years past on their own account to provide for the disposal of their sewage, and not in all cases with satisfactory results. Con- siderable effort has been expended in late years to induce new manufacturing concerns to locate within our borders. Little in this line can be expected until we can assure prospective comers that we are prepared to take care of sewage.
We earnestly hope that the town will consider favorably the articles appearing in the warrant at the request of the Planning Board, as in any event the work called for must necessarily be performed before any reliable data can be secured upon which to base an estimate of cost.
RESERVE FUND.
It has been the policy of the town, for the purpose of keeping down the tax rate to make the appropriations as close as possible. It bas been the case for several years that a number of the de- partments would be so short of funds that the accounts had to be overdrawn or the interests of the town suffer. By the creating of a reserve fund the town. made, in our opinion, a wise provision for remedying this evil. Under the law the reserve fund cannot be drawn upon directly, but may be transferred by the action of the Appropriation Committee to the departments for which an in- adequate provision has been made.
We are thus enabled to appear this year with no department showing an overdraft. We trust the precedent established will be followed, believing that the distribution of this fund can safely be left to the judgment of the Appropriation Committee.
13
POLICE.
On the 15th of April the Chief of Police, while in the perform- ance of duty was involved in an accident which resulted the same evening in his death.
Patrick Butler was born in Ireland and came to Weymouth in his boyhood. From that time to his death he had lived among us as boy and man and by his sterling qualities won the respect and esteem of all who were best acquainted with him. In private life he was devoted to his family and to all the best interests of the community. Chief Butler became a member of the permanent police force of the town in 1896 and filled the positions of Liquor Officer, Inspector and Patrolman until his appointment to the position of Chief in 1913. His strict integrity of character and fearless fidelity to duty endeared him to all those with whom he labored. He was ever zealous as an officer but never descended to methods of questionable morality to secure convictions. In his death the town has lost a good citizen and a faithful officer.
On April 26th, Arthur H. Pratt was appointed Chief of Police and at once entered upon the duties of his office, which he has filled to the satisfaction of the Board.
By the promotion of officer Pratt a vacancy was occasioned in the night patrol which was filled by the provisional appointment of Edward F. Butler, son of the deceased chief, for a period of six months, as provided by the regulations of the Civil Service Commission. At the expiration of the six months officer Butler received a second provisional appointment which he is now serving.
A case of discipline upon a charge of intoxication has occurred in which the accused pleaded guilty to the charge and placed him- self upon the mercy of the Board with a solemn promise that the offense should not be repeated. Thirty days suspension with loss of pay was the penalty imposed.
We refer to the report of the Chief of Police for a detailed statement of the work of the department and his recommendations.
CENSUS.
The state census of 1915 shows the population of Weymouth as follows ; Males, 6,825 ; females, 7,144; total, 13,969. By the United States census of 1910 the population was 12,895. By the state census of 1905 it was 11,585. The population of the state is 3,693,310.
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1
BEQUESTS.
It seems fitting that more than a passing mention should be made of the several bequests from those of our fellow citizens who have been our benefactors by creating funds the income of which is to be used for the public good.
QUINCY TUFTS FUND.
The Tufts' Fund provides $10,000, the income from which is to be used, one half for lectures on useful knowledge, free to all the citizens of the town; the other half is devoted to the pur- chase of books for a free public library.
Mr. Tufts also left a fund of: $2,000, the income from which is to be used for laying a sidewalk and setting shade trees from Washington Square to the North Parish Meeting House, and when not needed on that piece of way to be used for like pur- poses on other streets.
SUSANNAH HUNT STETSON FUND.
The Susannah Hunt Stetson fund of $2,500 was created by Mr. Amos W. Stetson in memory of his mother and to bear her name.
The income of this fund is required to be used for the purchase of books for the Tufts Library.
AUGUSTUS J. RICHARDS FUND.
The bequest of $5.000 by the administrators of the estate of Augustus J. Richards was made with the provisions that the fund should bear his name, be held exclusively for the benefit of the Tufts Library in Weymouth, invested, and the income therefrom used annually for the purchase of new books for said library.
CHARLES Q. TIRRELL FUND.
Charles Q. Tirrell bequeathed a valuable collection of books to the Tufts Library and a fund of $1,000, the income of which is to be used for the further purchase of books for said library.
JOSEPH E. TRASK FUND.
The bequest of Joseph E. Trask provides that two-fifths of the residue of his estate (the whole of which will be approxi- mately $30,000) be paid to the town of Weymouth to be held by it upon the following trust: "To safely hold the same as the
15
Joseph E. Trask Fund and to safely invest and re-invest said fund in such manner or in such securities as the Board of Trustees of the public Library, known as the Tufts Library in said town may direct, more regard being had in such investment to its security than to the rate or per cent. of income and to pay over the income of said fund as it accrues, or at least as often as once in each year to the said Board of Trustees, to be expended by said trustees in the purchase for the use of said library of useful books of a standard character, giving special prominence to those of scientific nature."
Of this bequest $6,000 has been received by the town and the remainder is expected to be paid in during the next year.
We are glad that the future growth of our public library is so well provided for by these generous bequests.
Of our public spirited citizens, Elias S. Beals, Esq., seems to have been the first to appreciate the need of a play-ground for the use of the children and bequeathed the grounds which now bear the name of Beals Park, for that purpose and a fund of $1,000 the income from which is devoted to its care.
The beautiful park on the water front of Weymouth Fore River was given by Mr. Srmuel Webb, whose gift is coming more and more each year to be appreciated and enjoyed both by the children, as a play-ground, and by adults as a pleasant and en- joyable resort for rest and recreation.
Two watering troughs and drinking fountains have in the years past been donated by Mr. Laban Pratt, who has now also given $400 as a fund to provide for their care through the years to come.
LEGAL MATTERS.
As legal representative of the interests of the town, Albert P. Worthen was appointed Town Counsel, to serve his fifteenth year in that capacity. Mr. Worthen is always ready to advise with town officers, boards and committees in all matters relating to the interests of the town.
It is his wish that in all matters where legal advise is desirable such advise be sought before rather than after action, upon the ground that it is much easier to keep out of trouble by wise counsel rather than to get out of it after wrong action has been taken.
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