USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1890-1892 > Part 7
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141
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ful obedience, and for the prompt and efficient manner in which all orders have been executed. I have endeavored to discharge the duties of the office faithfully and impar- tially.
Respectfully submitted.
FRANK M. MCLAUGHLIN. Chief of Police.
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Gentlemen :
I herewith present my second annual report. During the year, 147 applications for permits to build have been receiv- - ed, all of which have been granted, and during the con- struction of the buildings, I have examined and investigat- ed the same, and required that the statute laws and by-laws of the town be observed. All persons have obeyed orders and instructions given, with the exception of the builders of the new school building on First street, who have neg- lected to comply with the by-law which requires all chim- neys to be topped out at least four feet above the roof.
I recommend that the town adopt the provision of Chap. 104 of the Public Statutes which relates to the inspection of buildings. I also recommend that the use of drain pipe or earthen pipe for chimneys be forbidden, as a number of fires have of late been caused by the use of same, and that the inspector have power to order the removal of any such pipe used as a flue if considered unsafe.
I recommend the addition of the following sections to the town by-laws, upon the suggestion of several of our carpen- ters and builders:
All frames shall be built with sills, posts, girts and plates properly mortised, tenoned, braced and pinned, and sup- ported by suitable studding; the posts and girts to be not less than four by six inches, the plates to be not less than four by four inches, the sills to be not less than six by six
143
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
inches, the rafters to be not less than two by six inches and not more than24 inches on centres, and hip rafters to be not less than two by eight inches; the floor timbers for all floors except the attic shall be not less than two by eight inches, the attic floor timbers to be not less than two by six inches, and all floor timbers shall be not more than eighteen inches over centres: provided, however, the foregoing dimen- sions shall not apply to buildings covering an area not ex- ceeding one hundred and fifty square feet, with posts not exceeding ten feet in height, and said buildings except- ed shall be erected under the supervision of the inspector of buildings; provided, however, that ledger boards may be used in place of girts if the spaces back of the same be- tween the studding shall be filled with joists in such man- ner as to prevent draft in case of fire.
Every building or structure, hereafter built in the town, of wood, shall have foundations resting upon the solid ground, or upon concrete piles, or other durable structure. The foundation walls shall be built of stone extending through sufficiently to bind the wall inside and outside.
All underpinnings above grade, whether of brick or stone, shall be laid in one-half-cement mortar.
Respectfully submitted,
DEXTER PRATT, Inspector.
1
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
To the Board of Selectmen, Gentlemen :
In compliance with the by-laws of the town, we herein sub- mit the annual report of the fire department for the year ending Dec. 31, 1890. The department has answered ten alarms during the past year, as follows :
Feb. 21; box 46; supposed cause incendiary; house on Green street owned by Jacob Rink ; unoccupied; loss, $1,26; insurance paid, $126.
House and barn on Green street owned and occupied by J. W. Hobbs; value of house, $3,500; loss, $1,500; insurance paid, $1,500 ; value of stable, $1,000; loss, $800; insurance paid, $800; loss on furniture, $650; insurance paid, $650.
July 4; box 51 ; cause supposed incendiary; house on Main street, owned and occupied by Thomas Hawley; loss, $125; insurance paid, $125 ; house and shed owned by Harry Yeaton; loss, $200.
Sept. 1; box 48; cause, spark from locomotive; barn on Tremont street, owned and occupied by S. E. Benson; loss, $25; insurance paid, $25.
Oct. 5; box 43; cause, defective chimney; house on Wil- low street, owned by George A. Safford; occupied by C. E. Ford and M. O. Parker; loss on house, $1, 155; insurance paid on house, $1, 155; loss on furniture, $375; insurance paid, $375.
Oct. 24; box 48; paint shop on Vine street, owned and oc- cupied by Geo. W. Dew; loss on building, $300; insurance
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS. 145
paid on building, $281 ; loss on stock, $600 ; insurance paid, $600.
Nov. 21; box 41; house owned and occupied by Dennis Carlin on Third street; loss on house, $75; insurance paid, $50; loss on furniture, $25; insurance paid, $25.
Dec. 2; box 54; cause, unknown; building on Franklin street, owned by Geo. W. Chipman, and occupied by ten- ants; loss on building, $50; insurance paid, $50.
Dec. 13; box 48; cause, defective flue; paint shop owned and occupied by Albon W. Parker; loss, slight.
Dec. 19: box 48; cause, spark from locomotive; pile of timber on Tremont street, owned by S. E. Benson; loss, $25.
Dec. 23; box 43; unknown cause; building on Main street, owned by Geo. F. Boardman, and occupied by tenants; loss on building, $1,100; insurance paid, $1,100; Frost & Hawes loss, $100; insurance paid, $100; W. P. Cook, loss; $50; in- surance paid, $50; M. F. Eastman, loss, slight; Eastman's Express, loss slight; J. C. Howes, loss, $50; insurance paid, $50; Pastime Athletic Club, loss, $250; insurance paid, $225; Melrose Journal, loss, $500; insurance paid, $295; J. R. Giles, $350; insurance paid, $350.
LOSSES.
The loss, insurance, and insurance paid, as near as can be ascertained, were:
Loss
$8,406 00
Insurance
40,400 00
Insurance paid
7,912 00
Loss to property holders
494 00
FORCE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
The department consists of a chief engineer and two as-
10
I46
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
sistants, one engine man, one stoker, thirty-six hosemen, twenty hook and ladder men, making a total force of sixty- one men.
APPARATUS.
The apparatus in service is as follows: One hook and ladder truck, three four-wheeled hose carriages, one two- wheeled jumper, two hose sleds. During the past year there has been added a new Clapp & Jones Steam Fire En- gine.
BUILDINGS.
The house at the centre has been remodeled to make room for the steamer. The house at the Highlands has been repaired and more repairs are needed.
HOSE.
The total amount of hose in the department is 4,500 feet, 4,000 feet being in good order, 500 feet not reliable.
HYDRANTS.
There are at present 160 hydrants which we have found in good condition.
·
FIRE ALARMS.
The efficiency of this branch of the service has been well maintained; there have been a few breaks but the sys- tem has been very satisfactory. A large steam gong is need- ed to complete the alarm.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The constant and steady growth of the town requires that this department should be efficiently managed in all parts;
147
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
nothing in the way of improved apparatus should be neg- lected or overlooked; perfect confidence should at all times be felt by property owners that the department as main- tained can meet any emergency. We are of the opinion that a change in the centre from a hand hose carriage to a permanent horse hose wagon would be desirable. Also that one hose carriage should be located west side of railroad, in the vicinity of Trenton or Hurd streets.
APPROPRIATION,
The engineers would recommend the following amounts for the coming year:
Current expenses of fire department . $4,100 00
For new hose 700 00
$4,800 00
A. WILBUR LYNDE, SAMUEL LEAR, ALBON W. PARKER, Board of Engineers.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
To the Town of Melrose :
The Board of Health herewith submits its report. The Board met for organization on Tuesday evening, March 4, 1890, and E. S. Jack, M. D., was chosen chairman, and Geo. W. Burke, secretary. Regular meetings of the Board have been held on the evenings of the first and third Tuesdays of each month, and special meetings have been held when- ever it was deemed necessary. John Larrabee was appointed special agent of the Board to issue burial permits.
NUISANCES.
Over 100 nuisances have been investigated by the Board of Health. These have consisted of defective sink drains, overflowing and offensive cesspools, filthy privy vaults, foul smelling pig-pens, and premises where filth and rubbish had been allowed to collect and to become offensive to the neighborhood. 100 notices have been served, and 4 second notices. In most instances personal suggestions have been willingly carried out, and in only two cases has the Board been obliged to summon persons to court.
Considering the low, wet condition of many places in Melrose, it seems highly necessary that we should find some means of arousing in people some interest in their own wel- fare, some regard for health and healthy surroundings. Many are contented to live over damp, wet cellars, often filthy, without a thought that much of the air which sup-
149
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
plies their living rooms comes through the cellar; broken and disconnected drains, privy vaults uncleansed for years, and foul yards, through which rains and melting snow per- colates beneath the houses, are regarded with indifference.
Many portions of Melrose, now becoming thickly settled, could well dispense with those unmitigated nuisances the old fashioned privy and the pig pen, that, at least, one might sleep at night with open windows without the danger of breathing the offensive odors that arise from these sources.
The Board also feels that plumbing rules and regulations are necessary, that every building in the process of erection, should be thoroughly inspected and the plumbing approved by the Board or its agent. The great number of houses that are going up in Melrose demands this in order to guard, if possible, against the deplorable condition of the plumbing of many houses inspected the past year.
DEATHS.
During the year 1890-91, 112 deaths were returned. Leaving out those deaths classed as still-born and premature, of which there were twelve, the town has had a smaller percentage of deaths per each thousand of inhabitants than in any year for the last ten years. Again it is particularly noteworthy that in no year since 1880, which was as far back as the records have been examined, have fewer deaths resulted from con- tagious diseases.
150
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
THE DEATHS HAVE BEEN FROM THE FOLLOWING CAUSES.
Accident 3 Imperfect aesophagus . I
Apoplexy
.
4 Inanition 2
Appendicitis
I
Injury of spine
.
I
Brain disease 6 Marasmus
4
Bright's disease
I Malaria .
I
Bronchitis
I
Malignant disease of liver and spleen I
Croup membraneous 2 Necrosis
I
Croupous Laryngitis
I Old age .
.
2
Cholera infantum. 4 Osteo-arthritis
I
Convulsions
2 Paresis .
2
Cirrhosis of the liver I Pericarditis
Cerebro-spinal meningitis I Phthisis .
Diabetes mellitus
I Pneumonia
IO
Diphtheria
Peritonitis
.
3
Eudocarditis
I Paralysis
7
Hydrophobia
I Premature
6
Heart disease
9 Still-born
6
Hernia ( strangulated )
I Uraemia
3
.
Cancer . 4
.
.
I
15
AGES.
Twenty have died under one year; 4 between I and 5 years; 4 between 5 and 10 years; 5 between 10 and 20 years; 6 between 20 and 30 years; 8 between 30 and 40 years; 9 be- tween 40 and 50 years; 10 between 50 and 60 years; 13 be- tween 60 and 70 years; II between 70 and 80 years; 9 be- tween 80 and 90 years.
151
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
[CHAP. 98. ]
[An act concerning contagious diseases. ]
Be it enacted, etc., as follows :
SECTION I. When a house holder knows that a person within his family is sick of small-pox, diphtheria, scarlet- fever or any other disease dangerous to the public health, he shall immediately give notice thereof to the selectmen or board of health of the town in which he dwells, and upon the death, recovery or removal of such person, the rooms oc- cupied and the articles used by him shall be disinfected by such holder in a manner approved by the board of health. Any person neglecting or refusing to comply with either of the above provisions shall forfeit a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars.
SECT. 2. When a physician knows that a person whom he is called to visit is infected with small-pox, diphtheria, scarlet fever or any other disease dangerous to public health, he shall immediately give notice thereof to the se- lectmen or board of health of the town; and if he refuses or neglects to give such notice he shall forfeit for each offence not less than fifty nor more than two hundred dollars.
SECT. 3. The boards of healths in the several cities and towns shall cause a record to be kept of all reports re- ceived in pursuance of the preceding sections and such re- cord shall contain the names of all persons who are sick, the localities in which they live, the diseases with which they are affected, together with the date and the names of the persons reporting any such cases. The boards of health shall give the school committee immediate information of all cases of contagious diseases reported to them according to the provisions of this act.
152
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
For the prompt notification of teachers of the existence of contagious diseases in families whose [children attended school, the Board of Health adopted the following plan, which has proved a very good one.
Name,
Notification of Infectious Diseases.
Residence,
To the Teacher in School:
Age, .
Disease,
This is to notify you that. is sick with at No. Street.
Attending Dr . .
Other children in family, .
Other families in house,
Name,
No. of children,
Schools attending,
Melrose, ..... 18
You are therefore directed to exclude from your school, and school-room, all children and other persons living in such infected house, or who have called or visited at said house, until such time as you may be notified by the Board of Health, or by the attending physician, that such persons may be safely re-ad- mitted.
Chairman Board of Health. Melrose, 18
153
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
The number of cases of contagious diseases reported to the Board of Health for the year was 65, as follows:
Diphth- eria.
Scarlet Fever.
Typhoid.
Measles.
C'roup, Membra- neous.
No. of cases.
No. of deaths.
No. of cases.
No. of deaths.
No. of cases.
No. of deaths.
No. of cases.
No. of deaths.
No. of cases.
No. of deaths,
No. of cases.
No. of deaths.
January
..
3
13
3
February. . .
3
1
O
.
March
0
. .
7
O
. .
April
3
..
4
O
I
I
May
I
. .
2
I
June.
2
.
0
O
. .
I
I
July
2
O
O
. . .
August
I
I
O
. . .
September .
O
O
.
O
October
0
· . .
O
.
I
. ·
.
November .
I
I
I
·
.
3
·
I
.
December ..
I
.
. .
I
2
.
.
. . .
.
-
.
.
.
154
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
This number, though much larger than last year, is not usually large, and is explained by the carelessness of in- dividuals to use proper precautions in their families, and by the addition, of membraneous croup and measles to the list of diseases necessary to report. The utter disregard of some individuals of careful isolation and disinfection is shown by the occurrence of five cases of scarlet fever in one family. All cases have, as far as known, been confined to the house where they originated, and nearly all cases have been of a mild type. At no time has there been any epidemic as has prevailed in Wakefield, Winchester, Everett and the city of Malden. Houses have been placarded as heretofore. Public education in sanitary matters is important, and certainly the ne- cessity of guarding every way through which infection may spread cannot be too strongly impressed upon the public mind. Diphtheria and scarlet fever are diseases fully as far reaching in their evil effects as small-pox. Yet, while the public demands protection from small-pox, in diphtheria, scarlet fever, and other contagious diseases they show a sin- gular apathy, even an open disregard of danger and prevent- ative measures.
HOUSE OFFAL.
During the summer months the Board recognised the ur- gent necessity of swill collection by the town. Places were found where swill and ashes were allowed to accumulate to- gether with a lot of rubbish in the rear of some shed or privy; others allowed the swill to collect until, becoming too offensive, they were obliged to bury it. Persons have even thrown it into brooks and open fields under the cover of night; some were able to hire persons to take the swill away or lived in such convenient neighborhood as to make
155
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
it an object to the owner of pigs. Swill collected in this way seemed objectionable, for at any hour of the day there was seen upon the street all sorts of conveyances, often leaky, and often spilling their contents upon the ground. Owing to the smallness of the appropriation at their com- mand, the Board did nothing in the matter until in Septem- ber they determined to see what could be done, and adver- tised for proposals. Several bids were received, and after dis- cussing the matter thoroughly, the contract was awarded to Thomas Kerwin & Co., as the lowest bidders, for the collec- tion of swill to March 1, 1891, to be collected twice a week from private houses, and three times a week from stores and boarding houses. Complaint follows upon any radical change, and in this case there has been no exception. The following rules and regulations were made and published: "All house offal whether consisting of animal or vegetable substances, shall be placed in suitable vessels and no ashes nor other refuse matter shall be mingled therewith, and the same shall be kept in some convenient place to be taken away by the swill collector, which shall be done as often as twice each week."
"No person shall, without a permit by the Board of Health, collect, remove or carry through any street, alley or public place in the town, any swill or offal from any dwell- ing-house or other place."
Many, who had collectors, disliked to change, and refused to recognize the town collector; others neglected to provide suitable and accessible vessels for their swill, and the lack of an agent to see that the above "rules and regulations" were enforced and to see that the swill collector fulfilled his contract, are the causes of much of the complaint. The Board feel that the town demands the collection of its swill, and recommends that sufficient appropriation be granted that the work may be carried on; the Board of Health has
156
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
no control over the police force of the town, and has no officer or agent to give special attention to the work, which it is necessary for the Board to have perforined in order to have the best results.
SCHOOLS.
Five visits of inspection have been made by the Board of Health as a whole, and many of the schoolhouses have been visited and examined as to sanitary arrangements. In confer- ence with a committee from the School Board the con- dition of the schoolhouses inspected was carefully con- sidered, and certain changes agreed upon, which, adopted and carried out, will tend to the improvement of the sani- tation in the several schoolhouses.
E. S. JACK, M. D., FRANK L. WASHBURN, GEO. W. BURKE, Board of Health.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF MELROSE,
FOR THE
Year Ending December 31, 1890.
MELROSE : DUNTON & POTTER, PRINTERS. 1891.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ORGANIZATION.
JOHN O. NORRIS, Chairman
Term expires, 1893
MRS. S. W. BRADBURY
66
66 1893
MRS. A. B. P. WATERHOUSE
.. 1892
MR. C. F. LORING
66
1892
MRS. A. K. MILLER
66
1891
MR. JOHN C. MAKER, Secretary
66
66
1891
SUB-COMMITTEES.
On Accounts.
Centre District.
MR. LORING.
MRS. MILLER.
MR. MAKER.
MRS. WATERHOUSE.
MR. NORRIS.
MRS. BRADBURY.
On High School.
Highlands District.
MR. NORRIS.
MRS. WATERHOUSE.
MRS. BRADBURY
MRS. WATERHOUSE.
MR. LORING. MR. MAKER.
MR. LORING.
MRS. MILLER.
MR. MAKER.
Wyoming District. Text-Books and Course of Study.
MR. MAKER.
MRS. BRADBURY.
MR. NORRIS. MRS. MILLER.
MRS. WATERHOUSE.
MR. LORING.
Superintendent of Schools.
GUY C. CHANNELL.
REPORT OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
To the School Committee, Ladies and Gentlemen :
I herewith submit for your consideration, my first annual report of the schools and school property of the Town of Melrose. As my official connection with the schools covers only the last half of the fiscal year just closed, this report will of necessity be brief. It will consist of a short review of what has been accomplished since September, 1890, to- gether with such recommendations for the future as have been suggested by a careful study of the present conditions and needs of the schools.
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
When the schools reopened in September, it was found that owing to the large and unexpected increase in the school population, the schoolhouses throughout the town were uncomfortably crowded. In Wyoming, the accommo- dations at the Grove and Vinton street schoolhouses were entirely inadequate, necessitating the immediate opening of two additional school-rooms to accommodate the eighty pupils for whom no room could be found in the two school- houses. It was difficult to find rooms at all suited to the needs of a school, and it was only after all other available rooms had been examined and rejected that the vacant stores under Franklin Hall, Essex street, were decided upon. These rooms were leased to the town for one year, and the work of remodelling and furnishing them was be-
4
SCHOOL REPORT.
gun at once. A simple but effective system of heating and ventilation was introduced, the necessary dressing rooms and sanitary arrangements provided, and the general wel- fare and comfort of the pupils secured as far as was possible under the circumstances.
As the alterations at the High School were not completed until the last week in September, the school did not reopen until the first week in October. All general matters of im- portance concerning the building, its alterations, and the organization of the school under the new conditions, are partly treated of in the special report of the principal, and need no further elaboration here.
Other alterations and repairs, particularly in the heating apparatus and sanitary condition of the several buildings, have been made or are contemplated, as follows: At the Grove street school the furnaces were taken down and re- set, thus preventing any further trouble from the presence of coal gas in the school rooms, and the cold air boxes were enlarged and removed from their close proximity to the outbuildings, thereby securing a more complete circula- tion of pure air.
The beneficial effects of these simple alterations have manifested themselves in the improved condition of the schools occupying this building, amply justifying the wis- dom of the changes.
At the Centre schoolhouse the conditions were much the same as at the Grove street building. Here it was found necessary to replace one of the furnaces, it having been in use for sixteen years, by one of the furnaces formerly used in the High School.
The condition of the outbuilding was greatly improved by . removing it to a safe distance from the main building and placing it over a dry stone vault. It is believed that with
5
SCHOOL REPORT.
proper care on the part of the janitor, no further trouble need be anticipated from this source.
At the new Franklin street schoolhouse, the heating ap- paratus has been improved by a change in the cold air boxes similar to that made at the Grove street building.
In dealing with the sanitary condition of this building, radical changes were found necessary. The walls of the narrow passage ways connecting the outbuildings with the schoolhouse were removed entirely, leaving only a central screen of slatting. By this means a free circulation of air between the buildings is insured, preventing these passage- ways from serving as conductors of foul air. As an additional precaution the outbuildings have been properly ventilated ; and it is not probable that in the future any danger to the health of the pupils can arise because of the introduction of impure air into the school rooms.
At the Vinton street schoolhouse similar changes will be effected at the earliest possible opportunity.
Other alterations and improvements already in mind, which together with those above mentioned will put our largest school buildings in fairly good condition, will be presented in due season for the consideration of the board. Before leaving this topic, however, I wish to call your atten- tion to a matter which seems to me to be worthy of imme- diate action, namely, the general condition of the grounds about the several school buildings. There is nothing in the nature of things which renders it either necessary or desirable that a school yard should consist of a portion of earth en- tirely destitute of either usefulness or beauty. That most of our school grounds are in this unfortunate condition must be evident even to the most superficial observer.
A school yard should contain in the first place, suitable play grounds, one for each of the sexes, well graded, properly drained, free from stones and in all ways adapted
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