USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1893-1895 > Part 24
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FIRES.
Our fire record for the past year has been one of success, owing to the efficiency of the department in responding. Small fires have been the result. Our losses have been small, and will compare favorably with any of the surround- ing towns. A condensed statement will show value, insur- ance paid and losses as far as can be ascertained:
Total number of alarms for the year ending Dec. 31, 1894, 33; divided as follows :
False alarm, I.
Call for assistance out of town, I.
Alarms caused by interfering with wires, I.
Fires at which hose was used, 23.
Fires at which no hose was used, 7.
19,250 feet of hose used.
Amount of property endangered, $101,800.
Insurance upon the same, $79,500.
Insurance paid upon the same, $34,373.28.
Damage upon the same, $42,354.99.
Total loss, $7,981.71.
Jan. 26, 1894, box 32 ; buildings on Grove street; owned and occupied by Justus Geist; value of buildings and con- tents, $4,800; insurance on buildings and contents, $3,200;
I42
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
insurance paid on buildings and contents, $1,965; damage on buildings and contents, $3,925; cause, caught from heater.
Feb. 4, 1894, box 41; building on Grove street; owned by F. R. Upham, occupied by H. E. Phinney; value of build- ing and contents, $1,000; insurance upon building and contents, $200; insurance paid upon building and contents, unknown, damage upon buildings and contents, $700.00; cause, unknown.
Feb. 24. box 45 ; house on Gooch street, owned and oc- cupied by W. H. Mitchell; value of building and contents $12,000 ; insurance upon building and contents $8,000; in- surance paid upon building and contents, $7,700 ; damage, $8,882.71 ; cause, defective flue. .
Feb. 25 ; box 29 ; re-kindling of previous fire.
Feb. 25, box 54; house on Belmont street, owned by F. W. Hunt ; occupied by Mrs. Crosby ; value of building and contents, $1,700 ; insurance upon building and contents, $1,000 ; insurance paid on building and contents, $28 ; dam- age, $50; cause, thawing water pipes.
March 8, box 42; house on Folsom avenue, owned and occupied by Patrick Hallihan; value of building and con- tents, $1,900 ; insurance upon building and contents, $1,600 ; insurance paid upon building and contents, $622.50; dam- age upon building and contents, $625; cause, overheated stove.
March II, box 48 ; house on Tremont street, owned and occupied by Henry Simmons; value of building and con- tents, $1,900 ; insurance upon building and contents, $1,300 ; insurance paid upon building and contents, $41.50 ; damage, $41.50 ; cause, caught on roof from brush fire.
March 14, box 57; house on Walton park, owned by C. W. Cook; value of building, $4,000 ; insurance upon build- ing, $2,000 ; damage, none ; cause, burning rubbish in fire- place.
I43 .
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
March 27, box 45; house on Porter street; owned and occupied by E. H. Moore; value of buildings and contents, $27,000; insurance upon buildings and contents, $19,900; insurance paid upon buildings and contents, $18,900; dam- age upon buildings and contents, $22,200; cause, electric wires.
Apirl 3, box 41; house on Main street; owned by Chas. Larrabee; occupied ; damage, none; cause, drying wood in stove.
April 16, box 43; building on Main street; owned by J. J. Mccullough; occupied by J. J. Mccullough and G. Fish; value of building and contents, $9,700; damage to building and contents, $1,425; insurance upon building and contents, $8,500; insurance paid upon building and contents, $1,061; caused by pipe smoking.
April 16, box 42; house on First street; owned and occu- pied by F. A. Ryder; no loss.
April 26, box 49; brush fire on West Emerson street.
May 8, box 51; house and barn on Frost avenue; owned and occupied by Charles Hanson; value of buildings and contents, $3,000; damage upon buildings and contents, $1,900; insurance upon buildings and contents, $2,500; insurance paid upon buildings and contents, $1,900; caught from burn- ing brush.
May 8, box 51; brush fire on Howard street.
May 14, box 57; house on Walton park; owned and occu- pied by J. Duff.
May 16, box 43; house on Vine street; owned by C. M. Oliver; occupied by J. W. Sanderson; value of building and contents, $3,500; damage upon building and contents, $856.50; insurance upon building and contents, $3,000; insurance paid upon building and contents, $856; cause, unknown.
I44
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
May 16, house owned and occupied by N. Dyer ; value of building, $3,500 ; damage upon building, $165 ; insurance upon building, $2,600 ; insurance paid upon building, $165; caught from Oliver house adjoining.
June 8, box 32; false alarm; caused by interfering with wires.
July I, box 38 ; house on Tappan street, owned by J. A. Phillips, occupied by M. J. Coyne ; value of building and contents, $1,800 ; damage on building and contents, $50 ; insurance on building and contents, $1,500 ; cause unknown.
July 4, box 54 ; building on Franklin street, occupied by G. W. Wyman ; cause, fire crackers ; damage, none.
July 5, box 43; house on Main street, owned by Geo. Fuller; cause, spark on roof ; damage none.
July 13, box 28 ; brush fire off Spear street.
July 28, box 61 ; house on Linden street, owned and occu- pied by Thomas Maroney ; value of building nnd contents, $1,400 ; damage upon building and contents, $40; Insur- ance upon building and contents, $1,000 ; insurance paid upon building and contents, $40 ; cause, children playing with matches.
Aug. I, box 48 ; house on Emerson street, owned and occupied by Lewis Fernald ; value of buildings and contents, $6,000 ; damage to buildings and contents, $306.28 ; insur- ance upon buildings and contents, $5,000 ; insurance paid upon buildings and contents. $306.28 ; cause, kerosene stove explosion.
Aug. 4, box 46; false alarm.
Sept. 15, call for assistance from Stoneham; caused by a fire at the Langwood.
Oct. 6, box 42; buildings on Hunnewell street; owned and occupied by Fred Hyatt; value of buildings and con- tents, $1,500; damage upon buildings and contents, $25;
ENGINEERS' REPORT. 145
insurance upon buildings and contents, $1,000; insurance paid upon buildings and contents, $25; overheated stove.
Nov. 6, box 46; false alarm; caused by burning tar bar- rels.
Nov. 30, box 37; house on Herbert street; owned by E.F. Knight; occupied by John Gately; value of building and contents, $1,800; damage to building and contents, $150; insurance upon building and contents, $1,200; insurance paid upon building and contents, $150; cause, thawing water pipe.
Dec. 4, box 51; building corner Main and Franklin streets; value of building and contents, $5,000; damage upon build- ing and contents, $45; insurance upon building and con- tents, $4,000; insurance paid upon building and contents, $45; cause, boiling tar on roof.
Dec. 4, box 32; house on Grove street; owned and occu- pied by F. A. Coburn; value of building and contents, $4,000; damage to building and contents, $918; insurance on build- ing and contents, $3,000; insurance paid on building and contents, $918; cause, defective flue.
Dec. 8, box 48; building on Emerson street; owned by Jonathan Barrett; occupied by T. E. Jeffrey; value of build- ing and contents, $8,000; damage to building and contents, $50; insurance on building and contents, $7,000; insurance paid on building and contents, $50.00; cause, gas explosion.
IO
I46
ENGINEERS' REPORT. OFFICERS AND MEMBERS.
ENGINEERS. A. Wilbur Lynde, Chief. Albon W. Parker, Ist Asst. Samuel Lear, Clerk.
STEAMER CO. NO. I.
Captain, J. M. Holbrook. Lieutenant, J. W. Emerson. Clerk, W. C. Sargent. Hosemen.
T. B. Smith,
G. E. Burnham.
T. J. Hawkes.
C. F. Woodward.
T. B. Stantial. D. H. Woodward.
A. L. Upham. C. N. Shute.
Engineman, J. H. Edwards. Stoker, C. F. Edwards,
Drivers.
Stephen Bartlett. D. T. Stockwell.
HOSE CO. NO. 2.
Captain, J. R. Gibbons. Lieutenant, R. Gibbons, Jr.,
Clerk, H. W. Simpson. Stewart, R. Gibbons. Jr.,
Hosemen.
W. F. Phipps.
P. Buchanan.
W. M. Cotting.
C. B. Thompson. J. R. Hamlin. C. F. Doherty.
HOSE CO. NO. 3.
Captain, Albert Walton. Lieutenant, Theron Porter.
Clerk, Albert E. Day. Stewart, Leverett D. Newhall.
Arthur Storey.
Huestis E. Adams.
Hosemen. John C. Black. Joseph Hebblethwaite.
Frank E. Morton.
ENGINEERS' REPORT. 147
HOSE CO. NO. 4.
Captain, A. J. Burnett.
Clerk, E. M. Russell.
Lieutenant, E. McKinnon, Steward, C. J. Critchett.
Hosemen.
Dennis Carlin. Geo. Russell. Wm. Carney.
Frank Johnson. Fred Churchill.
HOOK AND LADDER CO. NO. I.
Captain, Joseph Edwards. Lieutenant, D. O. Parker.
Clerk, D. W. Wiswell. Steward, W. A. Lynde.
Laddermen,
C. S. Gordon. W. H. Stewart.
T. B. Johnson. J. Tyzzer. F. H. Tyzzer.
W. C. Johnson.
R. Whidden.
Harry S. Robertson.
Daniel Gibson.
Thomas Kelly.
Labor performed on the Highway by the Fire Department.
Labor performed by the Fire Department horses and drivers :
III days sprinkling streets, two horses and man.
10 days sprinkling streets, one horse and man.
19 days ploughing sidewalks and gutters, one horse and man.
5 days ploughing gutters, two horses and two men.
APPROPRIATIONS.
We would recommend the appropriation of eight thousand ($8,000) dollars for the ensuing year.
A. W. LYNDE, ALBON W. PARKER, SAMUEL LEAR,
Board of Engineers.
REPORT
OF THE
BOARD OF HEALTH
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1894.
MELROSE: DUNTON & POTTER, PRINTERS, REPORTER OFFICE,
1895.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
The fifth annual report of the board of health is here- with presented to the citizens of Melrose. The member- ship of the board was changed at the beginning of the year : Dr. Dike having resigned, Dr. E. L. Warren was chosen at the town meeting, to fill his place. At the first regular meet- ing of the board Dr. Sanborn was chosen chairman and Dr. Warren secretary.
There has been no lack of calls to active sanitary duty during the year past. The steady and rapid increase in our population and in the number of dwelling houses erected in town, involves a corresponding increase in the range and the frequency of the summons for our attention. The cor- rection of evils arising from overflowing cesspools and de- fective drains, constitutes, as heretofore, quite the larger part of our labors. These evil conditions are, like the poor, always with us, and seem, apparently, about as easily elimi- nated. In regard to this constant and annoying danger, the price of sanitary purity is, like that of liberty, eternal vigi- lance.
The prevalence of contagious diseases has, as usual, been a constant source of care and anxiety. If an ideal quaran- tine could be maintained in every infected house, with the cordial co-operation of the family concerned, the danger of spreading the disease would be far less, and the safety of the community far greater. But, strangely enough, some of the families involved have seemed quite indifferent as to the spread of the disease, and it has at times been very
152
HEALTH REPORT.
difficult for the board to compel compliance with the laws. One form of violation of the law has been the concealment of contagious diseases, when the mildness of the case, or other conditions have made concealment possible. This dangerous procedure seemed so serious, that the board printed and circulated throughout the town the following notice.
IMPORTANT NOTICE.
It has become known to the board of health that in some families where contagious diseases have occurred, the house- holder, not employing a physician, has been guilty of the criminal offence of neglecting to notify the board of the occurrence of these diseases. Therefore the following ex- tract from the Statutes is published for the information of all
PUB, STAT. 80, Sect. 78. "When a householder knows that a person within his family or house is sick of small pox, diphtheria, scarlet fever or any other contagious disease dangerous to the public health, he shall immediately give notice thereof to the board of health of the city or town in which he dwells. Any person neglecting or re- fusing to comply with the above provisions, shall be pun- ished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars."
By order of the
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Melrose, Mass., March 20, 1894.
Another important element in the spread of contagious disease is, in case of an infected household, the frequent and exasperating indifference with which the residents of
153
HEALTH REPORT.
the house mingle with the neighbors and the community. Cases came under our observation where members of a sick family would stroll leisurely from the sick room directly to the stores, mingling with the people there and along the streets. So serious and notorious had become this wanton neglect in so important a matter, that the board had a large number of circulars printed, of which the following is a copy, one or more of which was taken to every infected house, by the officer who posted the card.
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH, MELROSE, May, 1894.
To The Householder :
During the present sickness in your house your children are not allowed to attend school till a certificate is given by your physician. Children and other members of the family are not to mingle with other persons, unless absolutely nec- essary, and then only under precautions given by your physician. No visitors must be allowed, and every care must be used not to spread the disease. Any violation of these rules involves a severe penalty.
At the close of this sickness, the law requires that the infected rooms and objects be thoroughly fumigated. This will be done at the proper time under the control of the board of health.
By order of the BOARD OF HEALTH.
I54
HEALTH REPORT.
The amount of sickness from contagious diseases during the past year, 12I, was notably less than during the previous year, 205. The contagious diseases reported during the year were as follows :
Scarlet.
Diph.
Measels.
Typhoid.
Total.
January, .
2.
. 5.
.2.
. 9
February,
.4.
I. . 5
March,
II
I
I (I Varioloid ) . 14
April,
5
I
4. .IO
May,.
I.
8 17.
3 29
June
6. 2 19
July,.
I 8
August,
6 8
September,
I Ī
6
8
October,
I
3 4
November, .2.
I.
I 4
December, . I
I 2
Total, 32 3I
33
23
I2I
.4.
7
.7.
. I
I
The new law regarding plumbing has added largely to the labors of the chairman of the board, but has almost extin- guished the hazard of incompetent and dangerous plumbing, and now gives the guarantee of intelligent authority that the plumbing done is well done, and in accord with sanitary con- ditions. The requirements of the new law were put into effect September Ist. The board has with some difficulty suc- ceeded in retaining for another year the valuable services of Mr. Edmund L. Grundy in the important office of inspector of plumbing.
In response to the call, all the plumbers in town, both master and journeymen, appeared before the board and took the required licenses, either by registration or examination. By this law every plumber, before he can begin a job, must
155
HEALTH REPORT.
obtain a permit of the board of health, and when the job is sufficiently advanced he notifies the inspector, who thor- oughly water-tests it, and when the work is completed examines it again ; every job being thus examined twice, before it is approved in writing by the inspector. If the work falls in any respect short of the requirements of our Rules and Regulations, the inspector requires that it be made thoroughly correct and safe, before he approves it. The present number of master plumbers is nine and of journeymen twenty-one.
Number of permits granted to do plumbing, 75.
Number of jobs tested and finished, 37.
Number of jobs tested but not yet finished, 18.
Number of jobs not as yet tested, 20.
Number of visits made by inspector, 104.
Our plumbers have, as a body, responded promptly, and very creditably, to the requirements of the new law, which thus gives gratifying assurances of a new era of sanitary security.
Mr. J. O. Elms, the former contractor for the removal of swill and garbage, having died last year, a short time before the close of his yearly contract, it became necessary to employ a new collector. In response to the call for bids, a new contract was made on the first day of July with Mr. Thos. R. Higgins, who has been long familiar with the busi- ness here, and is doing the work in a very satisfactory man- ner.
The progress of the great sewer has been watched with deep interest by our citizens, as it offers much needed relief to the crowded central district of the town. As the prospect is that the portion completed will probably be ready for use this spring, it would seem that some official action is desira- ble regarding the obligation of abutters to connect with it.
I56
HEALTH REPORT.
The table of mortality for the past year is as follows :
Phthisis, 20
Cystitis,
I
Chronic diarrhœa,
I
Cholera morbus, .
I
Senile gangrene, .
Bright's disease, I
3
Paralysis, .
6
Infantile paralysis,
I
Diseases of heart,
26
Dysentery,
I
Still born, .
I3
Hydrocephalus, .
I
Nervous prostration, .
4
Convulsions,
4
Cancer,
9
Purpura hemorrhagica,
I
Meningitis,
IO
Ulcerative endocarditis,
I
Old age,
8
Bronchitis,
6
Spinal disease,
I
Pneumonia,
IO
Asphyxia, .
I
Tubercular largyngitis, Malaria,
I
Typhoid fever, Diphtheria,
IO
Malignant dis. of throat,
I
Senile debility,
2
General debility,
I
Stoppage of bowels,
3
Hooping cough,
2
Marasmus, .
4
Pluero pneumonia,
I
Injury,
I
Lead colic,
I
Pleurisy,
I
Catarrhal meningitis,
I
Natural causes,
2
Enteritis,
I
Unknown cause,
2
Acute hepatitis,
I
Cholera infantum,
6
Railroad accident,
I
Scarlet fever,
I
Membranous croup,
I
Septic peritonitis,
I
Masteoid abscess,
I
Disease of kidney,
I
Asthma,
I
Peritonitis,
I
Burns,
2 Total,
· 190
Apoplexy, .
I
Shock, 2
I
5
This amount is somewhat larger than our past average, but not more than is fairly due to our larger population, which increases at the rate of about 1,000 a year.
Diphtheria continues to be a destructive disease with us. During the last five years the number of reported cases has been 133, with 24 deaths. It is a matter of devout gratitude
I57
HEALTH REPORT.
that we have good reason to expect from the new remedy, anti-toxine, better results than have ever yet been obtained, happily serving as a preventive, as well as a cure.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN E. SANBORN, M. D. FRANK L. WASHBURN. EPHRAIM L. WARREN, M. D.
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR.
In disbursing aid during the past year, we have followed the same method as in previous years, and which is in use in most places in the Commonwealth, where, like Melrose, they have no almshouse ; one of which is a city of over fifty thousand inhabitants, who claim that they find an economy under this system which has always determined their course of action against the erection and support of an institution of their own.
Our method is to give orders on trusted grocers and pro- vision dealers, for one, two, or three dollars a week, to fam- ilies, as they may require. Each order is restricted to sev- enteen staples, of good quality, from which they may suit themselves in their selections to the amount of the order. The overseers reserve the right to prohibit extravagance in any one direction when making their purchases from the list of goods. We deviate from this list, only in cases of sickness, or in the feebleness of declining age.
We aim to render assistance in such a way that the appli- cants may not lose their self reliance, or hope of being self- supporting, when by a little aid they may be placed in a position to help themselves. To this end we have some- times suggested to the Associated Charities, the wisdom of their assisting those who manifest such a desire, in order to save them from coming to the town for aid. The Associated Charities has provided for several of our applicants, whose need promised to be but temporary, and in their parts of the town their agents have relieved from private sources,
159
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR.
those who came to us for the first time. A number of our beneficiaries are residing in other towns and cities, and were relieved by the overseers of poor of their place of residence, the aid rendered being refunded by us.
A large number of those we have aided have their settle- ments in other cities and towns for which we are to be reim- bursed. Families are sometimes forced upon us by the intemperate habits of the parents, when the father, being imprisoned for drunkenness, battery, or non-support of his family, we are compelled to aid his helpless children while he is held for his crimes. We have one family of this class, at the present writing of this report.
While we desire to respond to the calls of humanity upon us, we confess to not a little relief from our perplexity in such cases, when we are compelled to do it by law. We visit our beneficiaries in other cities and towns, from time to time, that we may know their condition and needs, and when necessary, advise as to the best means of relieving them.
No exact estimate can be made of the amount required to defray the expenditures of this department, which depends entirely on the condition of the people. For instance, the past year the number of applicants is thirty-four in excess of the previous year.
Two hundred and eleven persons have been more or less aided within the year. This includes the children of forty- eight families, also thirty single persons. Fifty-six persons have been on the full support list at some time within the year. Of the whole number, sixty-three persons have their settlements in other towns and cities, or who belong to the state poor department. There are fifteen acknowledged cases of the insanc at the state hospitals, at an expense of $3.25 per week. It is with regret that we have to report a
160
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR.
steady increase of these unfortunates. All applications for assistance have been carefully investigated at the homes of the applicant.
For the receipts and expenditures, your attention is called to the columns assigned by the auditor for his report of this department.
H. G. FIELDS, T. W. RIPLEY, M. D. BALE,
Overseers of the Poor.
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE.
MELROSE, Dec. 31, 1894.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN :- I have the honor to submit my annual re- port for the year ending December 31st, 1894.
During the past year the following amounts have been collected for fines, and after deducting expenses of court, turned over to the town treasurer.
From the First District Court,
$424 00
66 House of Correction, . 80 00
$504 00
Causes for arrest and cases brought before the Court, for the year 1894.
Assault,
I3
Adultery,
·
I.
Attempt to break and enter,
I
Breaking and entering,
2
Bastardy,
3
Cruelty to animals,
I
Carrying concealed weapons,
I
Drunkenness,
99
Disturbing the peace, .
4
Dog licenses (not paid),
8
Default warrants, .
2
Evading car fare, .
I
Fornication, .
I
Interfering with an officer,
I
Keeping and exposing,
2
Larceny,
II
Lewd and lascivious conduct,
.
2
II
162
POLICE REPORT.
Malicious mischief, .
2
Obtaining money under false pretences,
I
Riding on sidewalk,
5
Search warrants,
I3
Truancy,
2
Threats,
2
Vagrants,
3
Arrested for out of town officers,
4
Cases investigated,
89
Board of health notices posted, .
118
Disturbances suppressed,
28
Doors found unlocked,
. 28
Dogs killed, .
II
Defects in sidewalks reported,
9
Defects in streets reported,
34
Arc lights reported out,
16
Incandescent lights reported out,
244
Fire alarms given,
4
Fires extinguished without an alarm, .
3
Leaks in water pipes reported
44
Lanterns hung in dangerous places,
. 45
Lost children taken home, .
II
Stray teams put up,
8
Truants put into school,
13
Notices delivered, 75
Insane committed,
4
Wires reported down,
II
Persons assisted home,
2
Lodgers accommodated,
1,601
.
.
.
.
The department consists of the same number of officers as last year and no complaint having been received from our citizens as to any lack of proper police protection, I do not deem it necessary to advise a further increase in the force for
163
POLICE REPORT.
the ensuing year. The appropriation together with receipts from other sources have been sufficient to maintain the de- partment, and enable us to add thereto one horse and pung, together with other necessary permanent furnishings. I desire at this time to call your attention to the necessity of having a patrol wagon such as can be used either for the conveyance of prisoners, or as an ambulance for the use of the sick and injured. This in connection with our hospital service seems to be demanded. Such a combination wagon can be purchased for three hundred dollars, and its imme- diate need is made obvious from the fact that during the past season we have responded to some fifty calls in this direction, largely in the night time, and from officers and citizens in the more remote sections of the town. Con- sidering the large number of men employed upon our sewers, and the fact we have furnished lodgings for more than sixteen hundred strangers during the past year, we have had but very few additional disturbances to suppress beyond that of former years. We have also been very free from attempts at breaking and entering during the night time. In two instances, parties were captured in the act, attesting the fact that our officers are vigilant and attending to their duties. A detailed statement of the work done by the department accompanies this report. This gives how- ever but little insight into the real amount of work required and accomplished by the department in maintaining the good record Melrose has as an orderly and desirable resi- dential town. To you honorable board, and to the honorable justices and officers of the First District Court, and the officers of the department, my thanks are extended for courtesies received and assistance rendered.
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