USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1913 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014
https://archive.org/details/annualreportofto 1913plym
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01841 7409
GC 974.402 P74PLYA, 1913-1914
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
1620.
ASSACH
SE
OL
REPORT OF THE TOWN OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1913
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31 1913
1620
ACHU
WNO
PLYMOUTH: THE MEMORIAL PRESS, 1914.
INDEX
Abstract of Records,
Assessor's Report,
149
191
School Committees' Report, 227
School Physician's Report, 260
School Superintendent's Report, 234
Sealer of Weights and Measures' Re- port, 189
Fire Department Report, 170
Fish Committee's Report, 184
Forest Warden's Report, 181
Supervisor of Shores' Report, 187
Town Accountant's Report, 43
Town Clerk's Report, 121
Town Officers, 3
Inspector of Animals' Report, 185
Town Warrant, 269
List of Jurors, 197
Tree Warden's Report, 180
List of Teachers, 252
Water Commissioners' Report,
203
Overseer's of the Poor Report,
152
Water Superintendent's Report,
216
7
Park Commissioners' Report,
177
Plymouth Public Library Report, 173
Board of Health's Report,
Cemetery Commissioners' Report, 158
Chief of Police Report, 163
Collector of Water Rates Report, 214
Selectmen's Report, 16
Superintendent of Streets Report, 38
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth Account, 182 Harbor Master's Report, 188
High School Report, 257
-3-
TOWN OFFICERS, 1913.
Selectmen-Ephraim D. Bartlett, Alfred S. Burns and Her- bert S. Maxwell.
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 1913 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 1913, 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 1913, for three years.
1
1
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; George C. Peterson, chosen 1913, for three years.
Burial Hill Committee-Cemetery Commissioners.
Agawam Fishery Committee-Frank Harlow, Alfred Holmes, Harrison O. Barnes.
Cemetery Commissioners-Henry W. Barnes, chosen 1913, 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 1913, 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.
-5 ---
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 1913, for three years; George F. Anderson, appointed in 1912 for three years ; Edward L. Burgoss.
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 1913, for three years.
Board of Engineers-John E. Sullivan, Alton D. Edes, Isaac L. Hedge, James S. Kierstead and Alvin A. Hall.
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-John Armstrong, Samuel Ferguson, Freeman Manter, Lincoln S. Wixson, George F. Barlow 2nd, Edwin A. Dunton, Allen J. Caswell, Job H. Standish, Elwell H. Smith, Joseph W. Schilling, James S. Cameron, Harrison B. Sherman, William E. Baker. and Cornelius J. Wren.
-6-
Committee on Sewage-Selectmen.
Tree Warden-Calvin S. Mixter.
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.
Superintendent of Gypsy Moth-Abbott A. Raymond.
-7-
ABSTRACT OF RECORDS OF 1913.
TOWN MEETING MARCH 22nd, 1913.
Article three being under consideration :
Frederick D. Bartlett moved that the reports of the several boards of officers and committees of the Town be accepted and placed on file and the motion was carried.
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 January 1st, 1914, 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 hundred and fifty thousand ($150,000.00) dollars giving the notes of the Town therefor, payable within one year from the date there- of. All debts incurred under authority of this vote shall be paid from the taxes of said municipal year.
Mr. Avery moved to take up article forty-three and the mo- tion was carried.
On motion of Elmer E. Avery: Voted, that the salary of the Town Accountant be raised to one thousand ($1,000.00) dollars.
Mr. Avery moved that the Selectmen be hereby authorized to purchase an automobile for the use of the Police Department at an expense not exceeding $625.00 and that the cost thereof be
-8-
charged out of the appropriation made for the Police Depart- ment.
6
Mr. F. D. Bartlett moved that the amount recommended for the purchase of an automobile for the Police Department be increased to $1,000.00, forty voted in the affirmative and sixty- six in the negative and the motion was lost.
Mr. Briggs moved to amend by striking out the words at an expenditure not exceeding six hundred and twenty-five dollars, and seventy-one voted in the affirmative and thirty-one in the negative and the motion was carried.
On motion of Mr. Avery : Voted, that the Selectmen be hereby authorized to purchase an automobile for the use of the Police Department and that the cost thereof be charged out of the ap- propriation made for the Police Department ..
Mr. Avery moved that the sum of $15,000.00 be appropriated for the use of the Water Department, and $3,000.00 for the in- stallation of meters.
Mr. Sampson moved to strike out the three thousand dollars for meters and the motion was carried.
On motion of Elmer E. Avery: Voted, that the Dog Fund, amounting to eleven hundred and fifty-four and 98-100 dollars, and an additional sum of one thousand dollars 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 soles 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.
Elmer E. Avery moved that an appropriation of $1,500.00 be made for Park purposes and $185.00 for Training Green. More than two-thirds voting in the affirmative the motion was carried.
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that an appropriation of ($225.00) two hundred and twenty-five dollars be made to pay the expenses of Memorial Day.
-- 9-
Frederick D. Bartlett 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 necessary and the motion was carried.
Article eleven being under consideration :
Mr. Avery moved that this article be indefinately postponed, twenty-seven voted in the affirmative ,and seventy-eight in the negative, and the motion was lost.
Fredericck D. Bartlett moved that the Town authorize the transfer of appropriations from one department of the Town to another department or to the Contingent account and the motion was carried.
Mr. Burgess moved that the officers of the Town, authorized by law to expend money, may expend between January 1st, 1914, 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 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.
Mr. Avery moved that the Overseers of the Poor be hereby authorized to purchase land near the Alms House now or former- ly owned by Samuel Bradford if careful investigation of the title should show that there is an existing right of way appur- tenant thereto over the Alms House property, and that a sum not exceeding eight hundred dollars ($800.00) be appropriated there- for
Charles A. Strong moved to amend by striking out the words if careful investigation of the title should show that there is an existing right of way appurtenant thereto over the Alms House property and the motion to amend was carried.
The motion of Mr. Avery as amended was then put and car- ried.
-10-
Article fourteen being under consideration :
Mr. Avery moved that action under this article be indefinately postponed and the motion was carried.
Mr. Avery moved that the Board of Health be hereby authoriz- ed to make investigations regarding the necessity of building a contagious Hospital and to ascertain what arrangements if any can be made with the Jordan Hospital for the establishment of a contagious ward or other building on the Hospital grounds and report at the next Town Meeting and the motion was car- ried.
Mr. Avery moved that the Selectmen be authorized to install public sanitary arrangements in the basement of the Town House and that a sum not exceeding two thousand ($2,000.00) dollars be appropriated therefor and the motion was carried.
Article seventeen being under consideration :
Mr. Avery moved that action under this article be indefinitely postponed and the motion was carried.
Article eighteen being under consideration :
Mr. Avery moved that action under this article be indefinitely postponed and the motion was carried.
Article nineteen being under consideration :
On motion of Harry B. Davis: Voted, that the sum of six thousand ($6,000.00) dollars be appropriated for the purchase of motor apparatus for the Fire Department, said apparatus to be purchased by a committee of three to be appointed by the Moderator.
Frederick D. Bartlett moved that the Selectmen for the time being, be and are hereby authorized to sell and convey from time to time, in the name and on behalf of the Town on such terms as they think proper, the Indian Lands near Fresh Pond and the motion was carried.
Article twenty-one being under consideration :
Mr. Avery moved that the Park Commissioners be authorized
-11-
to acquire title by purchase or otherwise in the name of the Town for Park purposes to Stephen's Meadow (so called) situ- ated easterly of Fremont street and bordering on the harbor or such part thereof as they may deem wise ; and for the purpose of acquiring title thereto and erecting a public bath house thereon, that the sum of five thousand ($5,000.00) dollars be appropri- ated therefor.
On motion of William S. Kyle: Voted, that a committee of five be appointed by the Moderator to consider the purchase of the Stephen's Meadow (so called), and the shore adjoining for park purposes, and for a public landing and bathing place, and to report with their recommendations at some future meeting.
On motion of Elmer E. Avery: Voted, that a survey of the Town for the purpose of establishing the street lines be made in connection with the survey already authorized for the Assessors' Department, and that the sum of one hundred ($100.00) dollars be appropriated therefor.
Article twent-three being under consideration :
Arthur Lord moved that this article be referred to a committee of five to be appointed by the Moderator, of which the Moderator is to be one, to report at some future meeting, and the motion was carried.
Frederick D. Bartlett moved that the Town accept Chapter 191 of the Acts of 1907 being an act to authorize the establish- ment of boards of survey in towns and make an appropriation to be expended in carrying out the provisions of said acts, and the motion was carried.
Article twenty-five being under consideration :
Mr. Avery moved that action under this article be indefinately postponed and the motion was lost
Mr. Sampson moved that the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) be appropriated to be expended in paying for public band concerts on Training Green, or for music furnished for
-- 12-
public celebrations to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen, or a committee to be appointed by the Selectmen.
Mr. Josph Barnes moved to strike out Training Green and the motion was carried.
The motion of Mr. Sampson as amended was put and fifty- two voted in the affirmative and sixty-one in the negative and the motion was lost.
Article twenty-six being under consideration :
Mr. Avery moved that action under this article be indefinitely postponed and the motion was carried.
Article twenty-seven being under consideration:
Richmond Talbot moved that to the money values of articles 39 and 40 aggregating $708.54 there be added the sum of $2,291.46 to be taken from the regular appropriation for Roads and Bridges making a total of $3,000.00, and that this amount be used to macadamize a section of Samoset Street, and the motion was lost."
Mr. Avery moved that action under this article be indefinitely postponed and the motion was carried.
Article twenty-eight being under consideration :
Mr. Vahey moved that section 37 of Chapter 19 of the Revised Laws be accepted and the Police Department be placed under the civil service.
Mr. Lord moved that this matter be referred to the Selectmen and report to the Town at the next meeting and the motion was carried.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess : Voted, that the Town accept and allow the layout of Savery's Lane (so called), as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: Voted, that the Town accept and allow the alteration on the North side of Water street as altered by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
-13-
On motion of Edward L. Burgess : Voted, that the Town accept and allow the alteration on the south side of Water street as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess : Voted, that the Town ac- cept and allow the alteration of the Beaver Dam Road as altered by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess : Voted, that the town accept and allow the layout of Brookside avenue as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess : Voted, that the Town accept and allow the layout of Lewis Street as laid out by the Select- men and reported to the Town.
Mr. F. D. Bartlett moved that the town place the vacant school building and lot at the corner of Court and Bourne streets in the care of the Selectmen, and authorize them to put it to such uses or purposes as they may deem expedient or to sell and convey the same in the name and on behalf of the Town as they think proper, and the motion was carried.
Article thirty-six being under consideration :
Mr. Edes moved that the following By-Laws to regulate the inspection, materials, construction and alteration, height, area, location and use of buildings and other structures in accordance with section 1, Chapter 104 Revised Laws, and Acts in amend- ment thereof be and are hereby adopted.
Mr. Vahey moved that the consideration of this article be re- ferred to the next town meeting, and notice be given in the war- rant.
Mr. Sampson moved to amend by adding next regular meet- ing and the motion was carried.
Mr. Ramond moved to indefinately postpone, and thirty-one voted in the affirmative and forty in the negative and the motion was lost.
The motion of Mr. Vahey was then put and carried.
-14-
Article thirty-seven being under consideration :
Mr. Avery moved that action under this article be indefinately postponed and the motion was carried.
Mr. Bartlett moved that the Town authorize the transfer of the balance of $62.47 now standing to the credit of the Manomet Cemetery addition to the credit of the account for the care of Manomet, Chiltonville, Cedarville and South Pond Cemeteries, and the motion was carried.
Mr. Bartlett moved that the Town authorize the use of the balance standing to the credit of the Manomet Fire Station, Manomet Road, South Street School Lot, and Old High School Lot, aggregating $304.90 to reduce the tax levy of 1913 and the motion was carried.
Mr. Bartlett moved that the Town authorize the transfer of the balance of $403.64 now standing to the credit of Sandwich street Macadam, to the credit of the appropriation for Road con- struction and the motion was carried.
Article forty-one being under consideration :
Mr. Lord moved that this article be referred to the Committee on the Stephen's meadow on Fremont street, appointed under article twenty-one and the motion was carried.
Under article forty-two no action was taken.
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 un- paid on 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 to collect at once by legal process all taxes of previous years out- standing.
-15-
On motion of Edward L. Burgess : Voted, that the sum of one hundred ninety-six thousand seven hundred twenty-four and 68-100 ($196,724.68) dollars 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 22nd, 1913.
On motion of Alfred S. Burns : Voted, that the Town authorize the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, or a majority thereof, to borrow during the municipal year beginning January 1st, 1913, in anticipation of the collection of taxes of said year, such sums of money, in addition to the amount here- tofore authorized, as may be necessary for the current expenses of the Town, but not exceeding, including the amount already authorized, the total tax levy for said year, giving the notes of the Town therefor, payable within one year from the dates there- of. All debts incurred under authority of this vote shall be paid from the taxes of said municipal year.
-16-
Report of the Selectmen
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN FOR THE YEAR END-
ING DECEMBER 31, 1913.
FINANCIAL.
The financial condition of the town is good. Indebtedness is cancelled promptly; the town debt is moderate, and its borrow- ing capacity never fully taken advantage of.
The tax rate, when compared with towns of like size enjoying similar advantages, is low. The tendency of all tax rates, State, County, City and Town, is sharply upward. In many towns the rate is far in advance of Plymouth, while the lighting systems, sewers, highways, etc., are decidedly inferior.
The policy of reducing some of the appropriations called for by the Selectmen, apparently for the purpose of holding the tax at a fixed rate, while wholly laudable in intention, proves disas- trous in its practical solution. Proper maintenance of all town properties must, or should be, paramount to a low tax rate. The Board are of the opinion that judicious valuation of all properties should first of all be rigidly considered in conjunction with taxa- tion. If necessary expert judgment should be enlisted in order to fix true values. Other towns have acted along these lines with surprisingly beneficial results. Many locations, particul- arly in the town centre enjoy extremely low valuations.
The appropriations for 1913 were kept well within bounds,
-17- 1
with the exception of those affected by reduction or overdrawn by emergencies. Reductions are a serious handicap to mainten- ance.
It is gratifying to know that heads of departments have kept expenditures well in hand.
The Town Accountant has rendered his service in a manner highly satisfactory to the Board, being prepared at all times to submit the exact financial standing of all departments.
OVERDRAFTS.
The overdrafts by the various departments are as follows :
Roads and Bridges,
$4,203.03
Selectmen,
25.71
Assessors' Plans,
50.23
Law Department,
455.75
Police Department,
259.74
Tree Warden,
33.30
Forest Warden,
624.59
Public Sanitaries,
123.20
Moth Department,,
6.20
Street Line Survey,
46.95
Street Sprinkling,
147.61
Street Lighting,
41.10
Harbor Master,
2.00
Miscellaneous,
202.80
Town Debt and Interest,
691.33
By order of the Adjutant-General the sum of $290.88 has been expended for the improvement of the Rifle Range, no appropria- tion having been made therefor.
For maintenance of the Public Sanitaries since opening, there has been expended $93.20, for which there was no appropriation.
Plymouth 2
-
-18-
The sum of $218.12 was transferred to the Poor Department to meet the demands of "Aid to mothers with dependent chil- dren." Chap. 763, Acts of 1913, for which also there was no appropriation. Under this Act, as under Public Sanitaries, an appropriation will be called for annually.
It will be noted that the principle overdrafts are for Roads and Bridges, Forest Warden and Town Debt and Interest. The deficit on Roads and Bridges was caused by a reduction in the amount asked for by the Selectmen of $5,000.00, together with the improvement to Cold Spring, which was an emergency. The Forest Warden overdraft was due to the unusually large number of forest fires, undoubtedly incendiary. The Town Debt and Interest overdraft, was caused by charges incurred from loans in anticipation of taxes. The overdraft for Public Sanitaries was due to relaying sewer and water pipes, and for purchase of neces- sary appliances not included in specifications.
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
. The attention of the citizens is most urgently called to the highly important problem of properly maintaining the 208 miles of roadway in the town. This extremely large mileage is di- vided as follows :
Miles
Unimproved roads,
110
Improved, graded and drained,
45
Gravel roads,
41
Plain macadam,
4
Bituminous macadam,
21/2
Macadam, oil or tar surface,
51/2
Total,
208
-19 --
The Town also maintains 26 bridges and culverts having a total span of 385 feet, and a total width of 903 feet. For the general repairs, construction and re-surfacing there was ex- pended in :
1910, $38,514.93
1911,
44,312.04
1912, 44,085.64
1913,
38,954.98
The enormous increase in automobile travel with the great number of high power cars render the task of maintaining local and outlying highways a serious one.
An automobile, travelling at a rate of 15 miles per hour lifts practically none of the highway; but above that rate the ratio is rapidly increased according to the speed attained. The esti- mate of the Superintendent of Streets,approved by the Selectmen, deserves, and is in every way entitled to the careful consideration of committees, and the town. Highways cannot be maintained without a reasonable expenditure of money at frequent intervals. This is particularly true of tar surface and macadam roads. The Massachusetts Highway Commission is emphatic in its recom- mendation that it is hazardous if not ruinous to allow tar sur- faces to deteriorate through infrequent application. A mod- erate expenditure each year, or two at most, is not only largely beneficial in service, but proves an actual saving to the town by the longer term of life which it gives the road.
In the opinion of the Board, there are no appropriations asked for which should remain intact in a greater degree than those of Roads and Bridges and Road Construction.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.