USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1890-1892 > Part 30
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Stevens, W. C., surveys and plans of lots 40 00
Labor, as per pay roll . $2,202 80 $2,883 48
Balance, .
$793 72
M
REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER.
Cash in treasury, January 25, 1892
$3,549 39 · Total receipts for the year . . 371,519 93
$375,069 32
Total disbursements
· 374,010 74
Cash in treasury, January 7, 1893 $1,058 58
CEMETERY TRUST FUNDS.
1885. Estate Sally Upham .
$200 00
1886. S. B. Cochrane . 200 00
1887. Estate of Wm. H. Jones . 100 00
1888.
Estate of Mrs. Lynthia L. Burgess 100 00
1888.
C. O. and Mrs. Thomas Robinson 100 00
1889. Mrs. Caroline Curtis 100 00
1889.
C. E. Daniels, treasurer Winchester Home 300 00
1889. Estate of J. Vincent Smith, M. D. 200 00
1889. Estate of Peter Edgerly 100 00
1890.
Mrs. Sarah Whowell 50 00
1890.
William A. Fuller 150 00
1891. Mrs. J. P. Beckett 100 00
1891. Louis Earl 100 00
1892. Daniel Russell . 200 00
1892. Estate of Jonathan Lynde
100 00
1892.
Miss Joana Stackpole
100 00
1892. Estate of Eliza L. Crocker 100 00 1892. Hannah Scrannage 50 00
$2,350 00
120
TREASURER'S REPORT.
GEORGE NEWHALL, TREASURER, In account with the TOWN OF MELROSE. DR.
Cash in treasury, January 25, 1892 $3,549 39
RECEIPTS.
A. Lane, collector of taxes, 1890 $45 87
66 66 1891
. 44,953 62
1892 · 77,843 21 122,842 70
Water rates .
. 31,933 67
14 water bonds sold
. 14,000 00
Premium and interest
499 66
37 water bonds. new series,
· 37,000 00
Premium and interest
851 00
84,284 33
45 Town Hall bonds, new series, · 45,000 00
Premiums .
900 00 45,900 00
Cemetery trust funds .
550 00
Dog tax
1,037 22
Temporary loans
· 54,000 00
Permanent
. 34,000 00
88,000 00
Commonwealth of Mass., military aid 267 50
66 state aid . 1,576 00
66 66
bank and
corporation tax ·
5,064 64
City of Boston, corporation tax . 191 07 7,099 21
Water loan sinking fund com'rs.
12,260 00
From various sources, on account of
Contingent
142 00
Poor
1,311 05
Cemetery
3,677 20
Amounts carried forward,
. $5,130 25 $365,522 85
I2I
TREASURER'S REPORT.
Amounts brought forward,
$5, 130 25 $365, 522 85
Highways
293 04
Police .
314 34
Town Hall
1,255 00
Sidewalks
1,529 81
Interest
432 32
Schools
267 74
Sewall woods road
106 00
High school committee
42 97
Pound shed (cld engine )
50 00
Vinton street school building,
premium on loan .
125 00 9,546 47
$375,069 32
CR.
Paid Bills per Town Clerk's Warrant.
Contingent . $2,276 51
Electric light committee
10 00
Fire alarm .
655 22
Fire department
5,191 27
Health department
1,033 20
High school committee
461 18
Highways .
16,788 47
Hose house, east side, No. 4
1,200 00
Insurance
437 50
Interest
9,061 22
Removal of lock-up
597 15
Main street widening
2,569 00
Melrose common
41 00
Memorial day
200 00
Military aid
274 00
Numbering buildings
49 00
Perkins street, extension
1,233 22
Amounts carried forward,
$42,077 94 $375,069 32
122
TREASURER'S REPORT.
Amounts brought forward,
$42,077 94 $375,069 32
Police
. 6,028 36
Poor .
. 9,332 32
Public Library
. 2,084 79
Salaries
. 4,418 22
Grove street school building . 3,895 00
Warren street school building . 10,954 65
Construction and remodelling
776 56
Vinton street building,
· 9,023 60
Schools
. 41,761 53
Sewall woods road
. 5,151 52
Sidewalks
. 3,777 93
Soldiers' lot .
18 00
Soldiers' relief
553 50
Spot pond improvement
. 15,643 00
State aid
. 1,748 50
Street lights .
. 6,720 58
signs
93 41
Taxes . . 12,832 64
Town Hall
. 1,724 28
Use of water . · 4,000 00
Wyoming cemetery . 2,883 48
Water fund . . 44,028 72
Wells, experimental 155 19
50 water bonds
· 50,000 00
65 Town Hall bonds
. 65,000 00
Temporary loans .
. 22,000 00
Water loan sinking fund commission-
ers, surplus of 1891 . 7,327 02 $374,010 74
Jan. 7, 1893, cash in treasury 1,058 58
$375,069 32
123
TREASURER'S REPORT.
STATEMENT OF THE TOWN DEBT.
WATER BONDS.
Melrose water loan, high service issue of 1885,
due Nov. 1, 1905 $37,000 00 Melrose water fund, series of 1887, due May 1, 1907 50,000 00 Melrose water fund, series of 1890, renewal,
due 1896-97-98-99, 1900, $10,000 each year $50,000 00 Melrose water bond, series of 1892, due 1912 14,000 00
Melrose water bond, series of 1892, renewal due 1912 37,000 00
$188,000 00
TOWN HALL BONDS.
Melrose Town Hall, due 1912, renewal $45,000 00
PERMANENT LOANS.
Loans on account of Building and Remodelling School Buildings, as per vote May 20, 1890.
Barnard & Stanwood, due Aug. 30, 1895,
@ 4 per cent. . $10,000 00 Melrose savings bank, due Nov.
28, 1893, @ 4 per cent. 10,000 00
Melrose savings bank, due Jan.
7, 1893, @ 4 per cent. 5,000 00
1891
Lizzie C. Haskell, due July 9, 1894, @
4 per cent. 5,000 00
Amounts carried forward
$30,000 00 $233,000 00
124
TREASURER'S REPORT.
Amounts brought forward . $30,000 00 $233,000 00 Provident Inst. for Savings, due Dec. 8, 1898, @ 4 per cent. $10,000 00 Melrose savings bank, due Jan. 6. 1895, @ 4 per cent.
5,000 00 $45,000 00
Loans on account of Grove Street School Building, as per vote June 22, 1891.
Provident Inst. for Savings, due Dec.
8, 1900 . $11,000 00
Loans on account of Warren Street and Vinton Street School Build- ings as per vote of 1892.
C. N. Barnard & Co., @ 4 per cent.
Due Aug. 1, 1893 . $6,000 00
" I, 1894, 7,000 00
6 1, 1895 . 7,000 00
1, 1896 7,000 00
66 1, 1897
7,000 00 $34,000 00
Warren street school . $16,000 00
Vinton 16
18,000 00
TEMPORARY LOANS.
Melrose savings bank, @ 4 per cent.
Dated March 30, 1891,
$5,000 00
" April 19, 1891,
5,000 00
May 2, 1891, .. 5,000 00
" July 23, 1891,
.. 13,000 00
April 11, 1892,
5,000 00
66 21, 1892,
5,000 00
“ Dec. 7, 1892, 66 10,000 00
66
" 23, 1892,
5,000 000
C. N. Barnard & Co.
Dated Dec. 30, 1892,
12,000 00 $65,000 00
Amount carried forward, . .
.
.
$388,000 00
125
TREASURER'S REPORT.
Amount brought forward,
. $388,000 00
AVAILABLE ASSETS.
Due from state, state aid, 1892 . $1,748 50
military aid, 1892 137 00 $1,885 50 Uncollected taxes:
1885 .
159 20
1886.
272 87
1887 .
205 13
1888 .
240 94
1889.
831 34
1890 .
104 71
1891 .
921 94
1892 . . 63,585 16 $66,321 29
Water loan sinking fund 444 46
Cash on hand
1,058 58
$69,709 83
Net debt more than assets available . 318,290 17
$388,000 00
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE NEWHALL,
Treasurer.
I26
TREASURER'S REPORT.
GEORGE NEWHALL,
In account with WATER LOAN SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS.
DR.
Cash on hand $75 54
Received from town of Melrose sur-
plus of 1891 . 7,327 02
Received for 5 bonds sold, series of 1887 5,000 00
Premium and interest
361 90
CR.
Cash paid Burton Safe Deposit & Trust Co., box rent to Feb. 12, 1893 $10 00 Cash paid G. Newhall, services as treas- urer for one year, ending June I, 1892 50 00
Cash paid Geo. Newhall, treasurer, on account of payment of 50 bonds, maturing October 1, 1892
12,260 00
Balance,
444 46
$12,764 46 $12,764 46
ASSESSORS' REPORT
FOR YEAR 1892.
No. of inhabitants
9,539
dwelling houses
2,282
horses
597
COWS
248
oxen
4
dogs
596
swine
59
VALUATION.
Real Estate.
Buildings, residents
$3,961,925 00
Land,
2,761,150 00
-$6,723,075 00
Buildings, non-residents $824,225 00
Land,
618,550 00
$1,442,775 00
$8,165,850 00
Personal Estate.
Residents
$203,400 00
Non-residents
227,315 00
$430,715 00
Total valuation
$8,596,565 00
Tax rate, $15.80.
Tax assessed on real estate $129,020 43
" personal estate 6,805 29
" 2723 polls @ $2.00 5,446 00
$141,271 72
654 52
$141,926 24 $141,335 38
Abatements,
590 86
I28
ASSESSORS' REPORT.
APPROPRIATIONS.
Town
$123,604 46
State
5,757 50
County
6,428 39
Sewerage
646 75
Overlay
4,834 62
$141,271 72
FOR YEAR 1891.
Amount of warrant
$114,984 74
Additional
158 09
$115,142 83
Abatements in 1891 and 1892 $556 24
$114,586 59
FOR YEAR 1890.
Amount of warrant
$96,751 19
Additional
256 62
$97,007 81
Abatements in 1890, 1891 and 1892
1,303 60
$95,704 21 HENRY A. LEONARD, DEXTER PRATT,
Assessors for 1892.
COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
TAXES OF 1890.
Amount of warrant
$96,751 19
Additional
256 62
$97,077 81
Abatements
1,303 60
$95,704 21
Interest collected
1,371 70
$97,075 91
Collected and paid treasurer .
96,971 20
Uncollected
$104 71
TAXES OF 1891.
Amount of warrant
$114,984 74
Additional
158 09
$115,142 83
Abatements
556 24
$114,586 59
Interest collected
1,786 26
$116,372 85
Collected and paid treasurer
115,450 91
Uncollected
$921 94
130
COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
TAXES OF 1892.
Amount of warrant
Additional .
$141,271 72 654 52
Abatements
$141,926 24 590 86
$141,335 38
Interest collected
92 99
$141,428 37
Collected and paid treasurer
77,843 21
Uncollected
$63,585 16
ADDISON LANE, Collector.
Report of Inspector of Buildings.
MELROSE, Jan. 1, 1893. To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Melrose :
GENTLEMEN :- I herewith present my fourth annual report. During the year 1892 I have received 176 applications for permits to construct 199 buildings.
The building law requires that permits shall be issued be- fore foundations are commenced. Owners or builders should bear this fact in mind, as by so doing much trouble and expense may be saved to themselves as well as to the in- spector.
My attention was called to the Vinton street school house on account of the contractor not performing his work ac- cording to the original plans, specifications and contract, The state inspector was notified and requested to examine the building, and his report in regard to it may be found at the town clerk's office.
The Warren street school house has been built during the year and is nearly ready for occupancy. The carpenter work is well performed; the heating and sanitary well ar- ranged ; fire-stops placed wherever necessary ; and the en- tire building will compare favorably with other school houses in town.
The Highland Club house has also been built the last year. The committee in charge have performed their duty well, and have constructed a building complete in all its parts and an ornament to that section of the town.
I32
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
In view of the rapid increase in population and the con- sequent increase in building I recommend the adoption of a general building law, as is in force in other places, covering plumbing and sewerage. My attention is often called to these matters, over which I have no control.
Owing to the several accidents and damages to property, caused by unskilled and irresponsible labor in blasting, I would recommend that bonds be required from the owners of premises where such work is being done.
DEXTER PRATT, Inspector.
REPORT
OF THE
BOARD OF ENGINEERS
OF THE
MELROSE FIRE DEPARTMENT,
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1892.
MELROSE: DUNTON & POTTER, PRINTERS, REPORTER OFFICE.
1893.
Report of Engineers of Fire Department.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The engineers of the fire department respectfully sub- mit the following report, together with the value of proper- ty endangered, insurance upon the same, insurance paid, and losses, as far as can be ascertained. The department has responded to thirty-three alarms of fire during the past year, the largest number of alarms since the depart- ment was organized.
The department has answered during the past year alarms as follows:
Jan. 26, box 41; house on Lebanon street owned by F. R. Upham; value, $700; cause, defective chimney.
Jan. 30, box 49; house on Cedar park owned by Seth Ben- son; occupied by Seth Benson; value of house and contents, $6,000; insurance, $5,000; cause, overheated furnace.
Feb. 13, box 35; false alarm.
March II, box 41; building on Grove street owned by J. K. Kidder; occupied by F. Clark; value of building and contents, $600; insurance $500; loss $100; insurance paid, $100; cause unknown.
March 12, box 49; building on Poplar street owned by F. W. Chapman; cause, overheated stove.
March 29, box 39; false alarm.
April 1, box 43; house on Emerson street owned by
I36
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
Horace S. Ingalls; occupied by E. Tucker; value, $2,500; insurance, $2,000; cause, lamp explosion.
April 16, box 42; brush fire, Swain's pond avenue.
April 23, box 37; house on Maple street owned by George Hall; occupied by Neil McDonald; value of building, $2,500; insurance on building, $2,000; insurance paid on building, $50; loss on building, $50; cause, overheated stove.
May 19, box 45; house and barn on Porter street owned by Eugene Moore; value of buildings, $9,000; insurance paid on buildings, $7,500; loss on buildings, $7,500; cause un- known.
June 14, box 37; house on Cottage street owned by A. H. Heath; occupied by D. G. McArthur; value of buildings, $4,600; insurance on buildings, $5,200; loss on buildings, $547; insurance paid on buildings $547; cause, overturned kerosene stove.
June 14, box 59; house on Franklin street, owned by El- mer Sargent; occupied by Elmer Sargent; value of build- ing, $5,000; loss on building, $125; loss caused by lightning.
July 4, box 54; house on Melrose street, owned by J. E. Kittredge, occupied by Simeon Cragin; value of building, - $2,500; insurance on building, $2,000; insurance paid on building, $100; loss on building, $100; cause, fireworks.
July 26, box 35; brush fire.
Sept. 3, box 43, block on Main street owned by G. L. Westgate; occupied by G. L. Westgate and others; value of block and contents, $17,500; insurance on stock and con- tents, $7,500; loss on block and contents, $723; insurance paid on block and contents, $723; cause unknown.
Sept. 19, box 43; block on Main street, owned by John Larrabee; occupied by L. C. Hoyt and others; value of building and contents, $9,000; insurance on building and
I37
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
contents, $9,200; loss on building, $28; insurance paid on building, $28; cause, explosion of kerosene stove.
Oct. 2, box 35; fire in Stoneham.
Oct. II, box 42; house on Swain's pond avenue, owned and occupied by J. W. Davis; value of buildings, $1,500; insurance on buildings, $1,200; cause, defective chimney.
Oct. 16, box 32; house on Wyoming avenue, owned and occupied by F. H. Littlefield; value of house, $4,000; insur- ance on house, $3,000; loss on house, $1,500; insurance paid on house, $1,500; cause, unknown.
Oct. 20, box 43; house on Essex street, owned by D. D. Stratton; occupied by T. S. Love; value of buildings, $3,500; insurance on buildings, $2,500; cause, lamp explosion.
Nov. 10, box 51; house on Holbrook court, owned by Al- bert Gould; occupied by Walter C. Thayer; value of build- ings and contents, $4,000; insurance on buildings and con- tents, $3,000; cause, overturned lantern.
Nov. 14, box 54; fire on Greenwood street, Wakefield.
Nov. 23, box 48; 'brush fire on Tremont street.
Nov. 26, box 32; block on Berwick street, owned by R. H. Libbey; occupied by Mrs. Pembroke and others; value of buildings, $12,000; insurance on buildings, $10,000; insur- ance paid on buildings, $60; loss, $60; cause, unknown.
Nov. 28, box 45; house on Emerson street owned by G. W. Woodman; occupied by J. W. Robinson; insurance on building, $5,000; value of building, $6,000; los on building, $55; insurance paid on building, $55; cause, upset candle.
Nov. 29, box 43; block on Main street, owned by Burrell & Swett,; occupied by Burrell & Swett and others; value of building and contents, $50,000; insurance on building and contents, $40,000; loss, none; cause, explosion varnish.
Dec. 12, box 37; false alarm.
Dec. 12, box 43, school house on Upham street, owned
I38
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
and occupied by town of Melrose; value, $10,000; insur- ance, $8,000; loss, $350; insurance paid, $350; cause defect- ive chimney.
Dec. 26, box 28; false alarm on Meridian street.
Dec. 26, box 49; house on Charles street, owned and oc- capied by M. Brown; value, $900; cause, defective chimney.
Dec. 29, box 38; house on Baxter street owned by B. Cutter; occupied by R. Ormsby; value of building, $1,700; loss on building, $60; insurance on building, $2,000; insur- ance paid on building, $60; cause, thawing water pipe.
Amount of property endangered, $153,600.
Insurance on same, $125.600.
Loss on property, $11, 198.
Insurance paid on property, $11, 198.
THE DEPARTMENT.
The department consists of a chief engineer, two assist- ants, one steam fire engine company, three hose companies, one hook and ladder company, as follows :
Steamer Co. No. I, fourteen members, captain, lieutenant, engineman, stoker, and ten hosemen. This company is lo- cated in the centre house, on Main street, and has in charge one steam fire engine and one one-horse hose wagon, and is also supplied with fourteen hundred and fifty feet of hose, and other equipments.
Hose Co. No. 2 consists of a captain, lieutenant, and ten hosemen, and is located in Masonic block, Main street. The company has in charge one hose reel, one hose sled, and twelve hundred and fifty feet of hose.
Hose Co. No. 3 consists of a captain, lieutenant, and ten hosemen, is located in the hose house on Franklin street, and has in charge one hose reel, one hose sled, and twelve hundred feet of hose.
139
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
Hose Co. No. 4 consists of a captain, lieutenant, and ten hosemen, and is located on East Foster street ; they have in charge one hose reel, one hose sled, and six hundred and fifty feet of hose.
Hook and Ladder Co. No. I consists of a captain, lieuten- ant, and thirteen ladder-men, is located in the basement of the Town Hall, and fully supplied with ladders and other equipments.
FIRE ALARM.
During the past year there have been added three boxes, one four-circuit repeater, and six miles of wire, making two circuits, to which should be added two more circuits, making the system more satisfactory. There are twenty boxes, eighteen miles of wire, two strikers, and one gong now in use. The system has been very satisfactory, with a few ex- captions caused by the wires coming in contact with electric or telephone wires during the high winds and heavy storms, something that is liable to occur at any time. The system is under the charge of J. M. Holbrook, superintendent of fire alarm.
HYDRANTS.
There are at present one hundred and ninety-three hydrants in use, all of which have been found in very good condition. On the very cold weather which we have had the present winter not one has been found frozen or out of order.
IMPROVEMENTS.
During the past year there have been added to the depart- ment a horse hose wagon capable of carrying one thousand feet of hose, supplied with swinging harness, two chemicals and other equipments, and is located in the centre house in
140
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
place of reel, which has been transferred to East Foster street, a house built and a volunteer company formed for the same, known as Hose 4; three fire alarm boxes, six miles of wire and a four-circuit repeater ; also a set of double swinging harnesses for the hook and ladder truck.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
We recommend the appropriation of $1000 for the pur- chase of new hose.
Attention must be called to the necessity of a new hook and ladder truck. The present one we do not consider safe, having been in use twenty years, and is not heavy enough for the use now required of it. In going to a fire men are needed quickly, as well as apparatus. It is expected the men, as far as practical, will go on the apparatus, and the town should furnish them a fairly safe or new truck, and horses for the same should be at once placed in the depart- ment ; also a pair of horses for the steamer and one for the hose wagon, the latter to be at the house all the time, the others working within certain limits, thereby being self- supporting. We are fully aware that in so doing consider- able expense will necessarily be incurred, but we do not think we do our duty unless we call the attention of the town to the necessity of adding to our present department.
The carriages of Hose 2 and 3 having been in use for over twenty years, should be replaced with hose wagons at an early date. Our town is growing rapidly. In almost every section buildings are in close proximity, in case of fire, to each other, and are, with few exceptions, built of wood. While we have been highly favored in years past in our ex- emption from extensive conflagrations, it would be wise to make fair provision to meet what any hour may bring forth. We think the town should take into consideration the build-
141
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
ing of a new central fire station, with modern improvements, in the centre of the town.
For the current expenses of the year
$4,973 00
For new hose
1,000 00
For new hook and ladder truck
1,500 00
For five horses, for steamer, hose wagon and hook
and ladder truck
1,200 00
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion we desire to express our appreciation to the officers and members of the several companies for the prompt and efficient manner in which they have responded to all alarms ; the support and good will they have mani- fested to us on all occasions, and other efforts to maintain the reputation of the department.
We desire also to return our thanks to the chief and mem- bers of the police department for their assistance at fires and other occasions.
142
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
MELROSE FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
Box.
No. and Location of Boxes.
23. Corner Lebanon and Forest streets. Keys at J. O. Elms', No. 100 Lebanon street ; Christian Clausen's, 97 Lebanon street.
25. Corner Main street and Goodyear avenue. Key at box.
28. Corner Meridian and Park streets. Keys at Samuel Clifford's, 20 Meridian street ; James E. Chase's, 21 Meridian street.
32. Corner Main street and Wyoming avenue. Key at box. 35. Wyoming avenue, near Trenton street. Key at box.
37. Corner Trenton and Foster streets. Key at box.
38. Corner Baxter and Tappan streets. Key at box.
39. Corner Trenton and Washington streets. Key at box.
41. Corner Grove and Lebanon streets. Key at box.
42 Sixth street, near Grove street. Key at box.
Town Hall. Key at box.
Cor. Bellevue ave. and Emerson st. Key at box.
Junction Main, Green and Lebanon sts. Key at box.
43. 45. 46. 47. Cor. Upham and Eleventh sts. Key at box.
48. Melrose depot. Key at box.
49. Cor. Poplar and Emerson sts. Key at box.
51. Opposite horse car stables, Highlands. Key at box.
54. Highland hose house. Key at box.
57 Cor. Orris and Warren sts. Key at box.
59. Woodland avenue, near Botolph st. Key at box.
44. No school, four rounds.
One blow, test ; two blows, all out ; ten blows, call for assist- ance out of town.
J. M. HOLBROOK, Supt. of Fire Alarm.
A. WILBUR LYNDE, SAMUEL LEAR, ALBON W. PARKER,
Engineers.
REPORT
OF THE
BOARD OF HEALTH
OF THE
TOWN OF MELROSE,
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1892.
MELROSE : DUNTON & POTTER, PRINTERS, REPORTER OFFICE.
1893.
Report of the Board of Health.
The board of health herewith presents to the citizens of Melrose its annual report. Two changes have occurred in the board during the past year. Just before the last March meeting Dr. E. S. Jack resigned his position, and the vacancy was filled by the election, at town meeting, of Dr. John Dike. In April, Mr. Geo. W. Burke resigned, and the joint commission of the selectmen and the board of health elected Dr. John E. Sanborn to fill the vacancy. At the first regular meeting thereafter, the board was organized by choosing Dr. Sanborn chairman, and Dr. Dike secretary.
Official meetings of the board have been held with ap- proximate regularity, and as occasion has required, though by far its most important work has consisted of personal inspections of nuisances, often from day to day, in every part of the town; a work which by no means depends upon stated meetings.
About 130 nuisances have been examined and abated dur- ing the year past. This number is a very imperfect measure of the labors of the board, for often the first visit must be followed by two, three or even more, to insure the satisfac- tory removal of the source of offence. These nuisances have not, in all cases, been brought to the notice of the board by direct complaint, though of course chiefly so, but have been, in many instances, the result of direct personal investiga- tion by members of the board. The notices of nuisance have been, as much as possible, preferably verbal, and have usually been received in a respectful manner and responded
10
146
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
to with commendable promptness. In a smaller number of cases it has been necessary to give sharp and formal notices, and these have never failed to procure the desired result, without resort to legal proceedings.
The nuisances corrected have been chiefly overflowing cesspools and foul privies, to a less extent neglected sink drains and accumulations of offensive rubbish. Unfor- tunately, unsightly and repulsive heaps of waste material cannot always be rated as nuisances, while really serious nuisances are very often unseen and therefore unsuspected, or even if visible arc frequently not at all conspicuous. Deadly vapors are often hardly perceptible to the sense of smell, while the rankest and most offensive odors may often be harmless to health.
But the heretofore too common decoration of vacant lots with heaps of ashes (sometimes offal mixed with them), old clothes, bottles, boots and bones, and similar ornaments, is a nuisance; the board has ample authority to control it, and proposes hereafter to modify such indulgences.
The almost constant presence of scarlet fever or diph- theria, in greater or less degree, in our community, demands more caution respecting the spreading of these infec- tious diseases. It is hardly less than a crime for residents of an infected house to circulate through the public shops, and even, as in some instances reported, to go straight from the infected house to church and to public festivals! When either of these diseases occurs, those members of the family who must nurse the sick should plan to remain in the house till the sickness is over, and till all danger of spreading the disease is past, as certified by the physician. But other members of the household, boarders and such, should, if possible, at once obtain a temporary home elsewhere, till all danger is over.
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