USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1915 > Part 1
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GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01841 7466
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
GC 974.402 P74PLYA, 1915-1916
1620.
F
ASSACHU
OL
REPORT OF THE TOWN OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1915
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
For the Year Ending Dec. 31
1915
·1620.
MA
A
L
PLYMOUTH: THE MEMORIAL PRESS 1916.
1
INDEX
1
Abstract of Records
6
Assessors' Report
167
Attendance Officer
339
Board of Health
171
Breakwater at Beach Park
220
Cemetery Commissioners.
156
Fire Department
178
Fire Department Special Re-
port
202
Fish Committee
199
Forest Warden 190
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth
Account
186
Harbor Master
201
Herring Fisheries
199
High School Report
330
Industrial Education
217
Inspector of Animals
197
Inspector of Slaughtering
198
List of Jurors
228
List of Teachers
326
Overseers of the Poor
162
Park Commissioners
182
Planning Board
212
Plymouth Public Library
193
Police Department
149
School Committee
259
School Physician
341
School Superintendent
272
Sealer of Weights and Meas- ures 191
Selectmen's Report
17
Superintendent of Streets
25
Supervisor of Shores
200
Town Accountant
31
Town Clerk Report
121
Town Officers
3
Town Warrant
222
Tree Warden
188
Warren Avenue Committee
215
Water Report
233
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TOWN OFFICERS, 1915
Selectmen-William T. Eldridge, Ephraim D. Bartlett, John L. Morton, Richmond Talbot and Herbert S. Maxwell.
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-James C. Bates, chosen 1913 for three years ; Nathaniel G. Lanman, chosen 1914 for three years; George Harlow, chosen 1915 for three years.
Overseers of the Poor-Charles A. Strong, chosen 1913 for three years; William T. Eldridge, chosen 1914 for three years; Herbert W. Bartlett, chosen 1915 for three years.
Water Commissioners-John H. Damon, chosen 1913 for three years; Horace P. Bailey and Charles T. Holmes, chosen 1914 for three years ; John W. Churchill and Robert C. Harlow, chosen 1915 for three years.
School Committee-George C. Peterson, chosen 1913 for three years ; William M. Douglass, chosen 1914 for three years ; Helen F. Pierce, chosen 1915 for three years.
Burial Hill Committee-Cemetery Commissioners.
Agawam Fisheries Committee-Frank Harlow, Alfred Holmes and Arthur L. Morse.
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Cemetery Commissioners-Henry W. Barnes, chosen 1913 for three years; Horace M. Saunders, chosen 1914 for three years; George Mabbett, chosen 1915 for three years.
Park Commissioners-Thomas R. Watson, chosen 1913 for three years; Benjamin F. Raymond, chosen 1914 for three years ; John Russell, chosen 1915 for three years.
Surveyors and Measurers of Lumber-Edward B. Atwood, Cornelius C. Holmes, and Warren S. Bumpus.
Sealer of Weights and Measures-Frank L. St. George.
Beach Committee-Selectmen.
Superintendent of Streets-George H. Pierce.
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.
Committee on Inland Fisheries-Edgar D. Hill, Harry B. Davis and Geoffrey D. Perrior.
Harbor Master-Alfred Holmes.
Planning Board-William T. Eldridge, Ephraim D. Bartlett and John L. Morton.
Board of Registration-Charles H. Sherman, appointed 1913 for three years; Herbert W. Clark, appointed 1914 for three years; George F. Anderson, appointed 1915 for three years.
Superintendent of Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries and Burial Hill-Edward F. Stranger.
Superintendent of Chiltonville Cemetery-Charles Rogers.
Superintendent of Manomet Cemetery-George A. Manter.
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Superintendent of Cedarville Cemetery-James L. Haskell.
Sexton-Thomas J. Kennedy.
Superintendent of Almshouse-Russell L. Dickson.
Board of Health-George H. Jackson, chosen 1913 for three years ; Freeman Manter, chosen 1914 for three years ; Harry R. Talbot, chosen 1915 for three years.
Board of Engineers-Alvin A. Hall, Earl W. Gooding and James S. Kierstead.
Chief of Police-John Armstrong.
Committee on Sewage-Selectmen.
Tree Warden-Calvin S. Mixter.
Forest Warden-Ira C. Ward.
Local Moth Superintendent-Abbott A. Raymond.
Constables-John Armstrong, William E. Baker, Samuel Ferguson, Freeman Manter, Job H. Standish, Lincoln S. Wixon, Elwell H. Smith, Joseph W. Schilling, Cornelius J. Wren, Jacob E. Peck, James M. Cameron, Harrison B. Sher- man, Herman W. Tower, Edward A. Dunton.
Deputy Forest Wardens-F. L. St. George, N. T. Clark, L. B. R. Barker, D. E. Raymond, W. F. Doten, A. A. Raymond, George H. Pierce, John F. Raymond, John W. Churchill, Barnabus Hedge, E. P. Bartlett, James W. Hazen, Walter H. Brown, Joseph L. Manter, James H. Nixon, Fred L. Sears, B. F. Raymond, W. S. Bumpus, Aaron Sampson, Seth C. C. Fin- ney, George W. Douglas, Henry Ware.
.
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ABSTRACT OF RECORDS OF 1915.
TOWN MEETING, MARCH 27, 1915.
CHARLES S. DAVIS, Moderator.
Article three being under consideration :
On motion of Edward L. Burgess: Voted, that the reports of the several boards of Officers and Committees of the Town be accepted and placed on file. The Committee on a tractor for the Fire Department made a report in the meeting, and it was voted, that the report be accepted and placed on file.
Article four being under consideration :
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that the Town author- ize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, or a majority thereof, to borrow during the municipal year begin- ning January 1, 1916, in anticipation of the collection of taxes of said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the cur- rent expenses of the Town, but not exceeding two hundred thou- sand (200,000.00) dollars, giving the notes of the Town there- for, payable within one year from the dates thereof. All debts incurred under the authority of this vote shall be paid from the taxes of said municipal year.
Mr. Avery moved to take up article nineteen and the motion was carried, and it was voted, that the salary of the Town Ac- countant be increased in the sum of two hundred dollars, and fixed at twelve hundred dollars per annum.
Mr. Burgess moved that article twenty-eight be taken up and
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the motion was carried and it was voted, that the Town adopt such plan for the improvement of the street lighting system on Court street, southerly from Depot Avenue, and on Main Street and the Main Street Extension to Water Street, as will secure the removal from such streets ; and also from Leyden Street and Water Street, between Leyden and North Streets, of the present poles and wires, substituting therefor ornamental poles; and the removal of all wires of the Public Service Corporations in said streets, other than the trolley wires; and that in order to carry this vote into effect, the Selectmen be authorized to take such action as they may deem advisable to secure the removal of such poles and wires, and to contract with the Plymouth Electric Light Company upon such time and terms as may be approved by them for such improved service upon the streets named.
Article six being under consideration :
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that the dog fund amounting to $1024.64, and the additional sum of $1000.00, be appropriated for the use of the Public Library.
Article seven being under consideration :
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that the Town author- ize the Selectmen to renew any note or notes, heretofore author- ized, 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 best interests of the Town.
Article nine being under consideration :
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that the Town appropri- ate a sum not exceeding two hundred and twenty-five dollars to pay the expenses of Memorial Day.
Article ten being under consideration :
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that the Town appro- priate the sum of $500.00, to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen for a suitable celebration of the next Fourth of July.
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Article eleven being under consideration :
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that the Town author- ize the Selectmen to transfer from time to time the money from the Reserve Fund to such other accounts as in their opinion may be necessary.
Article twelve being under consideration :
On motion of George B. Howland: Voted, that the officers of the Town authorized by law to expend money, may expend be- tween January 1, 1916 and the annual Town Meeting next fol- lowing, 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 dur- ing any period of the same length during the preceding year, the same to be paid from any moneys in the treasury to be reimbursed from the tax levy of that year.
Mr. Avery moved that articles thirteen and fourteen be taken up together, and that action under articles thirteen and fourteen be indefinitely postponed, and the motion was carried.
Mr. Avery moved to take up article sixteen next, and the motion was carried.
On motion of Mr. Avery : Voted, that the Town authorize the Selectmen to stipulate in writing to indemnify and save harm- less the Commonwealth against all claims and demands for dam- ages which may be sustained by any person whose property may be taken or injured by the construction of a highway substan- tially fifty feet in width, which the Massachusetts Highway Com- mission propose to lay out and construct on Warren Avenue, from the northerly end of the present State Highway to Jabez Corner.
Article fifteen being under consideration :
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that a special commit- tee of five be appointed by the Moderator, of which the Chair- man of the Selectmen shall be a member, to represent the Town
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in all matters relating to the locations and details of the widen- ing of Warren Avenue to the width of substantially fifty feet, by the Highway Commission.
Article seventeen being under consideration :
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that action under this article be postponed until next year.
Article eighteen being under consideration :
On motion of Carrold D. Howland : Voted, that a committee of five be appointed by the Moderator to investigate the question of industrial schools, and report at some future meeting of the Town.
Article twenty being under consideration :
Mr. Avery moved that action under this article be indefinitely postponed, but the motion was lost.
Mr. Vahey moved that $1000.00 be appropriated to be spent on this meadow, but the motion was lost.
Mr. Lord moved that the subject matter of this article be referred to the Selectmen to report at some future meeting of the Town.
Mr. Vahey moved to amend by striking out, to report at some future meeting of the Town, and the motion to amend was car- ried. Then the motion of Mr. Lord, as amended, was put and carried.
Article twenty-one being under consideration :
On motion of George B. Howland : Voted, that action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article twenty-two being under consideration :
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that the Town appro- priate the sum of $2,300.00, to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen, for repairing Pilgrim Wharf.
Article twenty-three being under consideration :
On motion of William T. Eldridge: Voted, that the Town
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authorize the Selectmen to sell and convey in the name of and on behalf of the Town, the Old School premises, so-called, at Manomet, or any part thereof, on such terms and conditions as they think proper.
Article twenty-four being under consideration :
On motion of William T. Eldridge: Voted, that the Town accept and allow the alterations in Sandwich Road and Clifford Street, at the junction of said road and street, as altered by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
Article twenty-five being under consideration :
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that the subject matter of this article be referred to a committee of five, to be appointed by the Moderator, who shall consider the matter of cost, and ascertain whether the Commonwealth or Federal Government will render any assistance in replacing a substantial breakwater at the head of the beach, and report at a subsequent meeting of the Town.
Article twenty-six being under consideration :
On motion of John L. Morton : Voted, that the Town dedicate the Indian Lands, so-called, at Fresh Pond as a Public Park.
Article twenty-seven being under consideration :
Mr. Keefe moved that $9500.00 be appropriated for motor apparatus for the Fire Department. Mr. Avery moved to sub- stitute, that the subject matter of this article be referred to a committee of five, to be appointed by the Moderator, who shall · make a comprehensive report as to the present and future needs of the Fire Department, and report at a subsequent meeting of the Town. And the motion was carried. The motion of Mr. Avery was then put before the meeting and carried.
Article thirty being under consideration :
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that two thousand five hundred dollars of the Reserve Fund of the Assessors, be applied to reduce the tax levy of 1915.
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Article thirty-one being under consideration :
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that $1366.38 remain- ing to the credit of Sale of the Armory, be transferred to the Town Debt and Interest Account.
Article thirty-two being under consideration :
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article thirty-three being under consideration :
Mr. Avery moved that the Town appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars for the benefit of the Manomet Public Library.
Article thirty-four being under consideration :
On motion of Elmer E. Avery : Voted, that action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article thirty-five being under consideration :
Mr. Avery moved that no special appropriation be made under this article the present year, but the motion was lost. Mr. Avery moved then that the matter be referred to some future meeting of the Town, and the motion was lost.
Mr. John L. Morton then moved to take up article five, and the motion was carried. Mr. Morton then moved that $300.00 be appropriated for the improvement of the Bartlett Road, so- called, at Manomet, and the motion was carried. Article thirty- five was then indefinitely postponed.
Article thirty-six being under consideration :
Mr. Eldridge moved that the Selectmen, if they deem it ex- pedient, may sell and convey on behalf of the Town the Forest Warden's truck, on such terms and conditions as they think proper, and the motion was carried.
John L. Morton then moved that the Town appropriate the sum of $500.00 to be expended on the Forest Warden's truck under the direction of the Selectmen, if they deem it expedient, and the motion was carried.
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On motion of Elmer E. Avery : 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 to collect at once by legal process all taxes of previous years out- standing.
On motion of George B. Howland: Voted, that the sum of $209,240.26 be raised and assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth, and upon the estates of the non-residents to defray the expenses of the Town for the ensuing year.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, JULY 10, 1915.
Charles S. Davis, Moderator.
Article two being under consideration :
On motion of Mr. Eldridge : Voted, that the Town appropriate the sum of eleven hundred and fifty (1150) dollars; the same to be paid to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to be expended under the direction of the Harbor and Land Commissioners in the construction of a concrete sea wall at the Head of Plymouth beach, in connection with a similar sum appropriated by the Harbor and Land Commissioners under the provisions of Chap- ter 481, Acts of 1909.
.
1
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Article three being under consideration :
On motion of Mr. Eldridge : Voted, that the Selectmen be and are hereby authorized to stipulate in writing, in the name of and on behalf of the Town, to indemnify and save harmless the Commonwealth, the Board of Harbor and Land Commissioners, its officers, agents or parties contracting with it from any claim for damages by reason of trespass, injury to any lands, easements, licenses or rights in consequence of the construction of a concrete sea wall with spur jetties on the shore of Warren's Cove.
Article four being under consideration :
On motion of Mr. Burbank : Voted, that the Town appropriate the further sum of $750.00 for the purpose of constructing a drinking fountain at the corner of Main Street Extension and Leyden Street. On motion of Mr. Kyle it was unanimously voted, that the Town place upon record its grateful appreciation of the gratuitous services of Mr. Frederick Law Olmstead of Brookline, Mass., in contributing the design and full working drawings of the drinking fountain for the Elder Brewster spring.
Article five being under consideration :
On motion of Judge Harry B. Davis: Voted, that the Town contribute one-tenth of the cost of any dredging that may be done by the Commonwealth under plans recently submitted for an anchorage basin at Plymouth, by the Harbor and Land Com- mission, provided, however, that the sum required for one-tenth of such work to be paid by the Town shall not exceed $500.00, and that the sum of $500.00 is hereby appropriated therefor.
Article six being under consideration :
On motion of Judge Harry B. Davis : Voted, that the Town name the playground to be acquired by it at the foot of Fremont Street, "Stephens' Field" and that a stipulation to that effect be incorporated in the deed to be given by the present owners of the property.
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Article seven being under consideration :
On motion of Judge Harry B. Davis: Voted, that the Town erect and maintain all fences between the property of the Stephens heirs adjoining the playground at the foot of Fremont Street and said Stephens Field, and that the sum of three hun- dred dollars be appropriated for that purpose, to be expended at the discretion and under the direction of the Park Commis- sioners, and that a stipulation that the Town will erect and maintain necessary fences, be incorporated in the deed to be given by the present owners.
On motion of George B. Howland: Voted, that the further sum of twenty-seven hundred (2700.00) dollars be raised and assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth and upon the estates of the non-residents to defray the expenses of the Town for the current year.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, OCTOBER 23, 1915.
Charles S. Davis, Moderator.
Article two being under consideration :
On motion of John L. Morton, Voted: That the Town ap- propriate from money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated the sum of four thousand six hundred and fifty dollars for the maintenance of the roads and bridges.
Article three being under consideration :
On motion of William T. Eldridge, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars, to be spent on the construction of Beaver Dam road.
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Article four being under consideration :
On motion of William T. Eldridge, Voted : That for the pur- pose of raising money to be expended on the construction of Beaver Dam road, the Town issue bonds or notes for five hundred dollars, to be signed by the Treasurer and approved by a major- ity of the Selectmen, payable within one year from the dates thereof, the same bearing interest at not more than five per cent. per annum.
Article five being under consideration :
Mr. William T. Eldridge moved that the sum of eleven thou- sand three hundred and seventy dollars be appropriated to pay the land damages on Warren Avenue. Mr. Charles H. Raymond moved to indefinitely postpone, fourteen voted in the affirmative and forty-eight in the negative, and the motion was lost. Mr. John P. Vahey then moved that further consideration of this article be referred back to the Committee on Warren Avenue to report at the next town meeting, and the motion was carried.
Articles six, seven and eight :
On motion of John P. Vahey, Voted: That articles six, seven and eight be taken up together and be referred to the Com- mittee on Warren Avenue, to report at the next town meeting.
Article nine being under consideration :
On motion of William T. Eldridge, Voted: That the Town authorize the Selectmen in the name of and on behalf of the Town to sell and convey a portion of the Morton School lot on such terms and conditions as they may think proper.
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, OCTOBER 23, 1915.
Article ten being under consideration :
On motion of John P. Vahey, Voted : That the Town appro- priate from money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars for the maintenance of the Poor Department.
Article eleven being under consideration :
On motion of William M. Douglass, Voted: That the Town appropriate from money in the treasury not otherwise appropri- ated, the additional sum of thirty-five hundred dollars for the use of the School Department.
Article twelve being under consideration :
On motion of John L. Morton, Voted : That the Town appro- priate from money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, the additional sum of fifteen hundred dollars for the reserve appropriation.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, DECEMBER 11, 1915. Harry B. Davis, Moderator.
On motion of George H. Jackson, Voted: That the Town appropriate from money in the Treasury, not otherwise appro- priated, the sum of twelve hundred dollars, for the maintenance of the Health Department.
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"
Report of the Selectmen
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1915.
The conduct of affairs in 1915 has been very much as in previous years with this difference. The constant imposition of new duties by the State on the various departments of the Town has been the cause of many of the overdrafts that have occurred. Especially in the Health and Poor Departments is this noticeable. These drafts are the cause of two special Town meetings. Fortunately we have been able to have these meet- ings in the High School Building and in that way have avoided the usual large expense of calling a meeting. It seems to this Board that this is much the better way, to consult with the people at the time the money is wanted, as the matter is then fresh, and anyone interested can have an opportunity to discuss it.
The work of the Road Department has been satisfactorily done, and the roads, generally, are in good condition. There has been a larger allotment of money for the outlying districts than before. The people there justly claim that as they get no benefit from the lights, sewers or water, etc., that they are entitled to their fair share of the road appropriation. Acting on this plan, we have this year made a liberal application of
Plymouth two
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dust-laying oil, to the road from the Bourne line to the State highway in Cedarville. The hills at either end of the road on the west side of Herring Pond have been surfaced, and it is now possible to get in and out of there with an automobile. There are a number of residents in this locality and the lack of a good road has been a serious inconvenience to them. It would be advisable to do some work on this road each year until the road is in at least as good condition as the ordinary gravel road. There is a large summer population there, and it would develop considerably if access was made easier.
The Long Pond road is another problem. This road has a large travel and is very sandy. There is no material on the line of the road with which to repair the surface. It would seem to be wise for the Town to expend a moderate sum yearly on this road in making a permanent road bed of bituminous material and sand which would result finally in covering the whole distance with a good road bed. As it is now, the money spent there annually is practically wasted.
We have had in the past year two severe rain storms which washed the roads badly and cost about $2,500 for repairs. This accounts for a large part of the overdraft.
The lower end of Main Street extension has been macadamized in accordance with the vote of the Town. The conditions at the head of Water Street have been much improved by this work, and it now. remains for the balance of the street to be finished and we shall have a continuous macadam road from the Kingston line to Jabez Corner.
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