Address of the mayor, together with the annual reports for the city of Fitchburg, Massachusetts for the year .., Part 20

Author: Fitchburg (Mass.)
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Fitchburg : Reveille Steam Printing Works, etc.
Number of Pages: 898


USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Fitchburg > Address of the mayor, together with the annual reports for the city of Fitchburg, Massachusetts for the year .. > Part 20


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It can easily be seen that in case of a large fire it would be an easy matter to expend several hundred dollars on labor alone. This we hope will not occur, but in order to prevent such a contingency it will be necessary to take certain precau- tions. Every deputy should be furnished with an equipment for fighting fire such as a half dozen chemical fire extinguishers with material for reloading. These, along with shovels, rakes, hoes and other tools necessary can be kept handy and taken to the fire in an old spring wagon furnished by the deputy. Notices regarding the fire laws of the State should be posted in conspicuous places and everything done to co-operate with the State officials in their efforts to decrease the terrible forest fire damage done every year.


Anyone who has followed the papers for the past few months could not help but have noticed the account of the forest fires in Massachusetts this past year and what the State Forester's office is doing to diminish them. The figures of the State Fire Warden's report show that for the eleven months end- ing Dec. 1, 1911, over half a million dollars worth of timber has been destroyed and 100,000 acres of land laid waste by fires.


363


REPORT OF FOREST WARDEN


Unless this rate of destruction is stopped very soon there will be no woodland left in Massachusetts in a very few years. The further progress of modern forestry can never be successfully carried on until we stop this fire hazard.


In order to thoroughly protect our woodlands every town and city must co-operate with the State officials and Fitchburg should not be backward in doing her share. We were the last city in the State to establish the department and to report progress to the State Warden. Let it not be said of us that we are behind other cities in getting results under this new system.


The amount of money necessary to equip and maintain this department would be a variable sum, depending on the number of fires occurring during the year. Therefore, I would respect- fully recommend for this department a separate appropriation which can be drawn from during the year for necessary ex- penses, the sum total of which to be replaced at the beginning of each year, thereby retaining the principal intact at all times.


Respectfully submitted,


WILLIAM W. COLTON, Forest Warden.


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


SUPERINTENDENT OF


PUBLIC BUILDINGS


OF THE


CITY OF FITCHBURG


MASSACHUSETTS


1911


R


* A TOWN,


"Y, MAR. 8.18


EB.3, 1764


A CITY


FITCHBURG: H. M. DOWNS PRINTING CO.


1911


-


ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


CITY HALL, FITCHBURG, Dec. 1, 1911.


To His Honor, the Mayor, and the City Council of the City of Fitchburg : -


GENTLEMEN : - In compliance with the City Ordinance, Section 4, Chapter 17, I have the honor to submit the following report of this department for the year ending Nov. 30, 1911 : -


Repair and care 1911, (as per Auditor), $37,606 58


Credit by transfer of bills to other departments, 1.04 93


Total expenditure, repair and care,


$37,501 65


Appropriation, repair and care, $31,000 00


Receipts for rental of Assembly Hall,


983 25


Sale of old furniture,


15 00


Sale of old settee,


4 00


Received from county for Court House,


400 00


Total receipts, 32,402 25


Overdrawn,


$5,099 40


Expended in the following manner :


School houses, twenty-two in use.


School janitors' salaries,


$9,723 95


Janitors' salaries, evening school, Fuel,


309 83


8,389 93


Janitors' supplies,


335 99


Repairs and furnishings on school buildings, 9,992 43


$28,752 13


24


368


REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT


Fire Stations, six in number.


Central Fire Station,


$350 29


Hose 1, Summer street,


169 75


Hose 2, West Fitchburg,


154 37


Hose 3, Factory square,


96 98


Hose 4, Water street,


290 38


Hose 5, Oak Hill road,


403 13


$1,464 90


City Farm,


$566 80


City stables, W. F.


40 37


City stables and sheds,


88 59


Central Police Station,


324 19


Police Station, W. F.


2 20


Subway,


12 91


Wallace way,


2 40


Wallace library,


195 14


Superintendent of Buildings office,


507 06


$1,739 66


City Hall,


5,544 96


Repair and care-Total expended,


$37,501 65


CITY HALL EXPENDED.


DIVISION.


Expended,


$5,545 96


Janitor service,


$1,995 21


Lighting,


828 97


Fuel,


929 39


Cleaning,


479 26


Officer service,


38 50


Repairs on elevator,


66 82


Furnishings and supplies,


116 63


Renewal of insurance on elevator,


31 50


General repairs,


1,058 68


$5,544 96


City Hall repairs :


Plumbing, tiling in comfort station, furniture repairs. Mason work, whitewashing basement.


Hat rack for check room.


369


OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


Total receipts for rental of Assembly Hall for 1911 was $983.25. This amount would have been increased by $192.50, but for free use of hall granted to parties by Committee on City Property.


PRINCIPAL REPAIRS AND DIVISION OF FUEL AND NIGHT JANITOR SERVICE OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS.


ASHBURNHAM STREET SCHOOLS, EAST AND WEST.


Steam heat plant. Two 4-room buildings. Fan ventilation.


Expended,


$694 43


Fuel,


$409 92


Janitor service, evening school, 52 50


232 01


Repairs,


$694 43


Repairs :


Painting, plumbing, carpenter work.


CLARENDON STREET SCHOOL, NORTH AND SOUTH.


Steam heat plant. Two 4-room buildings. One fan ventila- tion. One gravity.


Expended,


$1,755 53


Janitor service, evening school, $54 75


Fuel,


705 72


Repairs,


995 06


$1,755 53


Repairs :


Retaining wall, concrete walks, painting,


Bubble fountain, carpenter work.


DAY STREET SCHOOL.


Ten-room building. Fan ventilation. Steam heat plant.


Expended, Fuel, Repairs,


$1,116 02


$491 72


624 30


$1,116 02


370


REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT


Repairs :


Steel ceilings, boiler repairs, painting, roof repairs. Snow guards, cement platform, stools, new lavatory.


DEAN HILL SCHOOL.


Stove. Window ventilation. One room.


Expended, repairs, $165 98


Steel ceiling, plastering walls.


Painting, carpenter work.


EAST STREET SCHOOL.


Steam heat plant. 4-room building. Fan ventilation.


$361 00


Expended, Fuel,


$220 43


Repairs,


140 57


$361 00


Repairs :


On Bubble fountains.


Cement walk, bulletin boards.


GOODRICH STREET SCHOOL.


Steam heat plant. 8-room building. Fan ventilation.


Expended,


$1,317 35


Fuel,


$587 78


Repairs,


729 57


$1,317 35


Repairs :


Book cases, pump, plumbing, bubble fountains. Painting, carpenter work.


ACADEMY STREET SCHOOL.


Academy Street School, 14-room building. High Street School. 8-room building. Steam heat plant. Fan ventilation.


Expended, $2,477 28


Janitor service evening school,


$60 08


Fuel,


1,748 64


Repairs,


668 56


$2,477 28


371


OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


Repairs : Cement walk, plastering, painting. Carpenter work, plumbing. Furniture.


HOSMER SCHOOL.


Steam heat plant. 8-room building. Fan ventilation.


Expended, Fuel,


$620 86


Repairs,


814 22


$1,435 08


Repairs :


Storm porches, furniture, electric work.


Plumbing, boiler grates, new shade trees.


HIGHLAND AVENUE SCHOOL.


Hot air plant. Gravity. 2-room building.


$277 10


Expended, Fuel,


$133 40


Repairs,


143 70


$277 10


Repairs : Plastering and whitening, varnishing.


Bubble fountains, furnace repairs.


NEW HIGH SCHOOL.


Steam heat plant. Fan ventilation. 30-room building.


$3,852 94


Expended, Fuel,


$1,283 30


Janitor evening service,


23 25


Repairs,


2,546 39


$3,852 94


Repairs : Changing, for industrial department. Roof windows, boiler repairs. Painting, plumbing, changing water supply system. New damper regulator.


$1,435 08


372


REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT


LAUREL STREET SCHOOL.


Hot air plant. Gravity. 6-room building.


$1,269 35


Expended, Fuel,


$316 77


Repairs,


952 58


$1,269 35


Repairs :


New stairway, repairs to slate roof and valleys.


Painting ceilings, walls and desks.


Bubble fountains, new shades.


Mason work, plumbing, tar concrete walks.


MAVERICK STREET SCHOOL.


Hot air plant. Gravity. 2-room building.


Expended,


$596 92


Fuel,


$178 07


Repairs,


418 85


$596 92


Repairs :


Bubble fountains, new desks, painting.


Plumbing, carpenter work, cement walk.


Furnace repairs.


PEARL HILL SCHOOL.


Stove. Window ventilation. 1-room building.


Expend,


$90 60


Fuel,


$27 00


Repairs,


63 60


$90 60


Repairs :


Painting, carpenter work, repairs on brick wall.


ROLLSTONE STREET SCHOOL.


Hot air plant. Gravity. 4-room building.


$250 97


Expended, Fuel,


$89 35


Repairs,


161 62


$250 97


373


OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


Repairs :


Furnace repairs, tar walk, roof repairs.


Plumbing, painting, carpenter work.


SCHOOL STREET SCHOOL.


Steam heat plant. Fan ventilation. 4-room building.


$710 64


Expended, Fuel, Repairs,


$365 88


344 76


$710 64


Repairs :


Pointing brick walls, electric wiring.


Painting, tar walks.


SOUTH FITCHBURG SCHOOL.


Steam heat plant. Gravity. 8-room building.


Expended,


$1,087 36


Janitor service evening school,


$44 25


Fuel, Repairs,


423 47


$1,087 36


Repairs : Painting, bubble fountains, electric work.


Carpenter work, boiler repairs.


SALEM STRRET SCHOOL.


Steam heat plant. Fan ventilation. 4 rooms.


Expended,


$1,017 17


Janitor service evening school,


$45 00


Fuel,


514 72


Repairs,


457 45


$1,017 17


Repairs : Plumbing, boiler grate, carpenter work. Window guards, tar walk, kindergarten chairs.


619 64


374


REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT


WOODBURY SCHOOL.


Stove. Window ventilation. 1 room. Expended,


$99 39


Fuel,


$34 50


Repairs,


64 89


$99 39


Repairs:


Stove repairs, new coal bin.


Replacing desks, carpenter work.


WACHUSETT SCHOOL.


Stove. Window ventilation. 2 rooms.


Expended,


$53 85


Fuel,


$9 00


Repairs,


44 85


$53 58


Repairs :


Plastering, painting, carpenter work, stove repairs.


PLEASANT STREET GREEN HOUSE.


Expended,


$63 23


Extra janitor service,


$30 00


Fuel,


33 23


$63 23


375


OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


TABLE


Showing the location, size and value of the schoolhouse lots belonging to the city of Fitchburg, used by the School Depart- ment, value of buildings and condition :


Location


When


Erected


Material


Stories


Number of


Sch. Rooms


Condition


Estimated


Value


Size of lot,


square feet


Total Value


of Houses and Lots


Ashburnham


Brick


2


4


Good Good


$24,000


61,677


$10,080


$34,080


Ashburnham New ..


1890


Brick


2


4


Clarendon.


1887


Brick


2


4


Fair


28,000


22,050


4,400'


32,400


Clarendon New.


1893


Brick


2


4


Good


Day Street


1847


Brick


2


10


Fair Fair


250


12,512


50


300


East Street


1903


Brick


2


4


Good


20,612 24,500


40,000


2,000


26,500


Highland Avenue. .


1885


Brick


2


2


Good


6,000


12,200


2,000


8,000


High St. Grammar ..


Brick


2


8


Good


35,576


30,976


12,350


47,926


Hosmer ..


1906


Brick


2


8


Good


39,962


33,073


7,500


47,462


Laurel Street.


1893


Brick


2


6


Good


6,000 175,000


15,600 50,089


25,500


200,500


Old High.


1869


Brick


2


14


Fair


52,000


24,863


14 500


67,250


Pearl Hill.


Brick


1


1


Good


1,500


12,000


300


1,800


Rollstone Street


1884


Brick


2


4


Good


12,000


68,424


10,000


22,000


School Street.


Brick


2


4


Good


20,000


10,570


6,000


26,000


South Fitchburg.


Brfck


2


8


Good


20,000


44,060


3,500


23,500


Salem Street.


1902


Brick


2


4


Good


20,000


28,611


2,500


22,500


Woodbury.


1872


Brick


1


1


Good


2,500


51,352


300


2,800


Wachusett.


Brick


2


2


Fair


3,500


27,000


1,000


4,000


Kimball ..


Brick


1


1


Poor


50


9,625


50


100


Rockville Dist. 8


Brick


2


2


Poor


50


14,000


1,000


700


$548,750


$125,530


$674,480


Maverick Street


1885


Brick


2


2


Good


New High


1895


Brick


2


25


Good


15,000


26,235


5,000


25,612


Goodrich Street.


1891


Brick


2


8


Good


42,000


31,644


16,000


58,000


Dean Hill.


Wood


1


1


15,000


2,000


8,000


Amount


376


REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT


TABLE


Showing the location, size and value of Fire Stations belonging to the city of Fitchburg, used by the Fire Depart- ment :


Location


When


Erected


Material


Stories


Condition


Estimated


Value


Size of lot,


square feet


Amount


Total Value of Houses and Lots


Central Station.


1893


Brick Brick


2


Good Good


8,500


Leased land


1,000


Summer Street ..


1893


Brick


2


Good


1,000 13,000 7,000


5,926


3,700


16,700


. Water Street .. Oak Hill Station


1900


Brick


2


Good


14,125


6,918


1,800


15,920


$65,425


$13,500


$79,025


OTHER PROPERTY.


Location


When


Erected


Material


Stories


Condition


Estimated


Value


Size of Lots,


square feet


Total Value


of Houses and Lots


Wallace Library


1884


Brick B & W


Good Fair


$70,000 19,250


12,086


$27,200 20,500


$97,200


City Farm ..


39,750


Clocks and Bells.


1,000


River Street Lot. .


2,080


2,080


Central Police Station


5,000


43,600


W. F. Police Station ...


1882


Brick Brick


2


Good Good


1,500


31% acres 2,998


2,400


3,900


City Barn.


Brick


2


Good


7,550


10,000


1,000


2,000


City Hall ..


1852


Brick


2


Good Good


1,000 20,000


14,516


40,000


90,000


$167,300


$104,180


$293,086


TOTAL VALUATION OF BUILDINGS AND LAND.


School buildings,


$674,480


Fire stations and land,


79,025


Other buildings and land,


293,086


$1,046,591


7,345 10,000


$5,100


$26,900


West Fitchburg.


1869


2


1,000


9,500


Hose 3 ..


Wood


2


Good


1897


Brick


2


Good


4,500


2,000


9.000


6,000


13.550


City Barn, W. F


Brick


2


1


Taylor Farm.


1901


1895


38,000


Amount


$21.800


377


OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


PRINCIPAL REPAIRS ON FIRE STATIONS.


CENTRAL FIRE STATION. 5-run building.


Expended, repairs only, $350 29


Plumbing, painting, glazing.


Horse stall repairs. Carpenter work. Extinguishers.


HOSE 1 - SUMMER STREET FIRE STATION. 2-run station.


Expended repairs only, $169 75


Carpenter work, plumbing. Electric work, new shades.


HOSE 2 -- WEST FITCHBURG FIRE STATION. 2-run station.


Expended, $96 98


Repairs on stalls. Ground rent.


HOSE 4-WATER STREET FIRE STATION.


1-run station.


Expended repairs only, $290 38


Tar walk, repairs on stalls. Plumbing, mason work.


HOSE 5 - OAK HILL FIRE STATION. 2-run station.


Expended repairs only, $403 13


Painting, tar walk, new shades. New floor in barn, traps in stalls. Electric work.


-378


REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT


PRINCIPAL REPAIRS ON OTHER BUILDINGS.


CITY FARM.


Expended, $566 80


Repairs :


Plumbing, mason work, new floors.


Carpenter work ; new urinal. Boiler repairs ; electric work.


CITY STABLES AND SHEDS.


Expended, $88 59


Repairs : Traps in stalls.


Setting glass.


Repairing gravel roof.


Carpenter work.


CITY STABLES, WEST FITCHBURG.


Expended,


Repairs on floors and stalls. 1


$40 37


CENTRAL POLICE STATION.


Expended,


$324 19


Repairs :


Mason work ; repairs on boiler.


New floor in barn.


Painting ; carpenter work.


Electric work.


Roof repairs.


POLICE STATION, WEST FITCHBURG.


Expended,


$2 20


Repairs : Plumbing.


SUBWAY.


Expended, $12 91


Repairs :


Ladder and locks.


Repairs on lights.


379


OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


WALLACE WAY.


Expended, $2 40


Repairs on lights.


PUBLIC LIBRARY.


Expended, $195 14


Repairs :


Plumbing ; painting ; storm porches.


Extinguishers.


SUPERINTENDENT OF BUILDINGS OFFICE.


Expended, $507 06


Clerical work.


Office supplies.


Horse hire.


Car fares. Sentinel Printing Co. (500 Building Code). Anemometer.


INCIDENTALS.


Diebold Safe and Lock Co., (For Central Fire Department), $79 53


Charles F. Wilson, (Insurance on twenty-two boilers in public buildings), 327 80


Otis Elevator Co., (Elevator in- spection), 55 73


$463 06


TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS


For year 1911.


Repair and care (as per Auditor), $37,606 58


Credit by transfer of bills to other departments,


104 93


Repair and care total expenditure, Incidentals,


$37,501 65


463 06


$37,964 71


380


-


REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT


INSPECTION OF BUILDINGS.


During the year 1911, the total number of applications taken out to build and alter was 289, an increase of 33 over that of last year. Most of these buildings are already erected, and the remainder in process of erection are receiving close atten- tion, in order that the building laws of this city will be com- plied with in every way.


PERMITS TO BUILD GRANTED, 1911.


No. of Permits


Cost of Building


Wooden buildings, including veneered buildings,


155


$410,856 00


Additions, alterations and repairs to wooden buildings,


111


92,544 00


Total for wooden buildings,


266


$503,400 00


Brick buildings,


10


165,500 00


Brick alterations,


9


63,450 00


Stone buildings,


1


8,000 00


Cement buildings,


3


7,850 00


Grand total,


289


$748,200 00


Wooden buildings-Ward 1,


26


2,


55


3,


14


4,


20


5,


10


6,


30


155


Alterations wooden buildings-Ward 1,


21


2,


29


3,


13


4,


16


5,


10


-


6,


22


111


-


381


OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


Brick buildings-Ward 1,


3


1


2, 3, 4,


0


0


5,


3


6,


3


Brick alterations-Ward 1,


1


2, 3, 4,


4


5,


1


6,


1


Stone buildings-Ward 1,


2,


1


3,


0


4,


0


5,


0


6,


0


Cement buildings-Ward 1,


0


2,


0


3,


0


4,


1


5,


1


6,


1


Grand total permits-Wooden buildings,


155


Alterations-Wooden buildings,


111


Brick buildings,


10


Brick alterations,


9


Stone buildings,


1


Cement buildings,


3


289


10


2


0


9


0


1


3


382


REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT


INSPECTIONS REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 27, CHAPTER 104, REVISED LAWS.


ELEVATORS.


I find on record that in the month of March, 1911, the late lamented Superintendent of Buildings, J. H. Kirby, in company with an expert elevator mechanic, inspected all elevators in the city, and found the same to be in a safe condition, and the owners living up to requirements.


There are in the city at the present time one hundred and twenty-five (125) elevators, fifteen (15) new ones being added this year.


INSPECTIONS REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 34, CHAPTER 104, REVISED LAWS.


Accompanied by the Chief of Fire Department, all hotels and lodging houses were visited and found conditions good, and the evident intention of proprietors to conform to the law.


Respectfully submitted, J. D. O'KEEFFE, Superintendent Public Buildings.


THIRTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


OVERSEERS OF THE POOR


OF THE


CITY OF FITCHBURG


MASSACHUSETTS 1911


R


TY, MAR. 8,1872


FEB.3, 1764.


FITCHBURG .: H. M. DOWNS PRINTING CO. 1912


25


POOR DEPARTMENT


BOARD OF OVERSEERS OF POOR. 1911.


HON. M. FRED O'CONNELL, Mayor and Chairman, ex-officio. WILLIAM P. ESPIE, President Common Council, ex-officio.


JOHN R. SMITH, Term expires 1912


BENJAMIN A. COOK,


Term expires 1913


WILLARD L. HUMES, Term expires 1914


ROBERT M. JONES, Clerk of Board. WILLARD L. HUMES, Acting Clerk.


EZRA COLEMAN, Superintendent Almshouse. MRS. EZRA COLEMAN, Matron Almshouse.


GEORGE P. NORTON, City Physician, Residence, 24 Prichard Street.


REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR


FITCHBURG, MASS., December 1, 1911.


To His Honor, the Mayor, and the City Council of the City of Fitchburg :


GENTLEMEN : - The Board of Overseers of the Poor re- spectfully submit this, their annual report, for the fiscal year ending November 30, 1911 :


The favorable business conditions prevailing during the last two years and more, have continued during the year just closed and the following report shows that these favorable con- ditions have a direct effect upon the net results of this depart- ment, but the conditions named could not, and would not, have had the desired results except for the faithful and untiring work done by Mr. Willard L. Humes, (who again took up the duties of acting clerk) during the eleven months in which he performed the work of the office, by reason of the severe illness of the regular clerk, who was on December 6, 1910, attacked by a very critical return of the sickness that kept him away from the duties of the office for nearly six months during the earlier part of the year, this attack, and its attendant weakness, kept him out of the office until November 13, 1911.


During the month of April, 1911, Miss Minnie L. McGrail, who for ten years had been the very efficient assistant clerk, was on her request granted an indefinite leave of absence, and resigned her position in October, much to the regret of the members of the board and of the clerk. The vacancy occasioned by her leave of absence and resignation, was very acceptably filled by Miss Mabel L. Deane, who had formerly held the same position from June, 1899, to March 16, 1901.


OUTSIDE POOR.


The number of persons aided during the year was 508, representing 142 families, as follows : 68 families, consisting of 308 persons having settlement in Fitchburg ; 33 families, con-


388


REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR


sisting of 79 persons having settlement in Fitchburg, aided in other towns and cities through the Overseers of the Poor of those places ; 18 families, consisting of 51 persons residing here and having settlement in other cities and towns which refund amount of relief granted ; 23 families, consisting of 70 persons having no settlement in the Commonwealth, and known as "State Cases."


This department has also furnished burials for 29 bodies. We have supported one person at the Massachusetts Hospital school, Canton; one at the Union Aid Home for Children, Fitchburg ; two partially supported at St. Anne's Orphanage, Worcester. Fifteen persons have been sent to the State In- firmary at Tewksbury.


FINANCIAL STATEMENT.


RECEIPTS.


Appropriation,


$17,000 00


From Commonwealth,


725 03


From towns and cities,


471 75


From miscellaneous sources,


216 06


From Superintendent of Almshouse,


963 69


Due from state, towns and cities,


293 67


$19,670 20


EXPENDITURES.


Amount expended for outside poor, $6,370 12


Amount expended for supply house, 2,174 78


Amount expended at almshouse, 8,919 02


$17,463 92


Unexpended balance,


$2,206 28


Groceries on hand, $346.95.


ALMSHOUSE.


The expenditures at the Almshouse were $8,919 02; the receipts, $963.69; the net cost, $7,955.33. Number of inmates at Almshouse Dec. 1, 1910, 41; admitted during the year, 14; discharged, 12; died, 10. The total number of inmates Dec. 1, 1911, 33. The average number of inmates for the year, 37; average cost per capita, $4.13.


389


REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR


The thanks of the Board are hereby extended to the City Council for the installation of electric lights in the Almshouse, barn and other buildings during the year, thus reducing the danger from fires and giving a far better system of lighting than was ever in use before at the City Farm, and for the other needed improvements that have been made during the year.


The Board would again renew the recommendation that the proper and necessary steps be taken so that the name City Farm and Almshouse can be legally changed to the more modern and certainly pleasanter one of City Home. This name has been adopted by Worcester and other cities. Why should Fitchburg be in the background?


Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Coleman still remain in charge of this branch of the Poor Department and are faithful and earnest workers, well liked by all connected with the institution either as inmates or employees.


Our City Physician, Dr. George P. Norton, has during this, his second year of service, shown his undivided interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the city and of those who have been placed under his care by this department.


The Assessors' valuation of the City Farm property Dec. 1, 1911, is as follows :


Real estate, Personal property,


$39,900 00 8,001 87


$47,901 87


Valuation Dec. 1, 1910 :


Real estate,


$39,900 00


Personal property,


8,001 87


$47,901 87


Respectfully submitted,


M. FRED O'CONNELL, Mayor, Ex-Officio, Chairman.


WILLIAM P. ESPIE, President of Common Council. WILLARD L. HUMES. JOHN R. SMITH. BENJAMIN A. COOK. ROBERT M. JONES, Clerk.


.


THIRTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


CITY PHYSICIAN


OF THE


CITY OF FITCHBURG


MASSACHUSETTS


1911


+ A TOWN, FER


Y, MAR. 8,1872


FEB.3, 1764.


A CIT


FITCHBURG: H. M. DOWNS PRINTING CO. 1911


REPORT OF CITY PHYSICIAN


FITCHBURG, MASS., Dec. 1, 1911.


To His Honor, the Mayor, and. City Council :


GENTLEMEN : - I have the honor to submit herewith my report as City Physician, from Dec. 1, 1910, to Dec. 1, 1911 :


City Poor


Soldiers and Sailors


Police Dept.


Other


Depts.


Total number of calls, 1,731.


House visits,


740


130


Office visits,


210


240


City Farm calls,


170


Police station calls,


102


Calls made by order Board of Health, 58


Vaccination of school children, 72


Obstetric cases,


3


Examination by request of Chief,


4


Examination by request of City Solicitor, 1


Examination by request of Supt. of Streets, 1


The work of the City Physician has been increased this year through the ruling of the City Solicitor, giving the Board of Health authority to call upon the City Physician to attend all contagious diseases among the poor, which has resulted in a great saving in expense to the city. In years past physicians attending such cases presented their bills to the Board of Health and received pay from the city. The early part of the year 1911 an epidemic of diphtheria cost the city nearly $2,000 for services rendered by local physicians. The ruling of the City Solicitor places largely increased responsibility upon the City Physician, and should a severe epidemic of any contagious disease break out he would be obliged to devote practically all his time to the services of the Board of Health.


394


REPORT OF CITY PHYSICIAN


The bill for medical supplies for the year 1911 is as follows : Poor department, $166 51


Soldiers and sailors,


184 20


$350 71


MEDICAL CASES ATTENDED.


Alcoholism,


59


Arterio-sclerosis,


2


Asthma,


5


Bronchitis, acute,


9


Bronchitis, chronic,


11


Cancer, breast,


1


Cerebral hemmorrhage,


1


Cerebral softening,


2


Cirrhosis, liver,


1


Cystitis,


2


Diarrhoea, fermentive,


2


Dyspepsia, chronic,


14


Dyspepsia, acute,


2


Endocarditis,


5


Entero-colitis,


1


Feeble-minded,


2


Grippe,


7


Insanity,


1


Impetigo Contagiosa,


4


Nephritis, chronic,


2


Lumbago,


4


Paralysis,


2


Pleurisy,


3


Pregnancy,


3


Purpura Gemorrhagica,


1


Rachitis,


2


Rheumatism, chronic,


4


Syphilis,


2


Tonsilitis,


3


Tuberculosis,


6


Urticaria,


1


Vaccination,


72


Valvular heart disease,


2


:


395


REPORT OF CITY PHYSICIAN


SURGICAL CASES ATTENDED.


Abscess, neck,


1


Abscess, leg,


1


Appendicitis,


1


Bruises, multiple,


14


Bullet wound, neck,


1


Fracture, humerus,


2


Fracture, rib,


4


Fracture, wrist,


1


Hemmorroids,




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