USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1900 > Part 10
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Section 2. Section six of chapter fifty-seven of the Public Statutes is hereby amended by striking out the whole of said · section and inserting in place thereof the following : Section 6. Whoever by himself or by his servant or agent, or as the servant or agent of any other person, sells, exchanges, or de- livers, or has in his custody or possession with intent to sell or exchange milk not of good standard quality, shall for a first of-
213
fence be punished by fine not exceeding fifty dollars ; for a: second offence by fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two hundred dollars ; and for a subsequent offence by fine of fifty dollars and by imprisonment in the house of correc- tion for not less than sixty nor more than ninety days. (Ap- proved May 8, 1900. )
Chapter 369 of the Acts of 1900 relates to the sealing of cans- and bottles used in the sale of milk and is as follows :
Section 1. Cans, bottles and other receptacles used for the distribution of milk or cream to the consumer shall be sealed as measures, under the provisions of section twelve of chapter sixty-five of the Public Statutes ; and no fee shall be charged or received for sealing the same.
Section 2. This Act shall take effect in cites on the thirty- first day of December of the current year, and in towns on the first day of March in the year nineteen hundred and one. (Ap- proved June 6, 1900) ..
Respectfully,
HENRY C. HALLOWELL, M. D., Inspector of Milk ..
214
Board of health.
To His Honor, the Mayor, of the City of Quincy :
The Board of Health respectfully submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1900.
The following has been the organization of the Board for the past year : John S. Gay, Chairman ; Thomas J. Dion, M. D. Secretary ; C. Wendall Garey, M. D.
The past year has brought an increasing amount of labor in the various branches of this department. Thus, the progress of the public sewer system in our city, the ever increasing difficulties attending the collection of garbage, the large num- ber of disinfections after disease, together with the introduction of improved and more thorough methods in accordance with the requirements of modern public hygiene, have contributed in a large measure to this increase. It has been our aim to protect and safeguard the health of the city through the enact- ment of Regulations and Ordinances, the enforcement of which has given satisfactory results.
Contagious Diseases.
In accordance with Regulation 11 of "Ordinances and Regulations" of the Board of Health, imposing upon physicians or householders the obligation of reporting to this Board all cases of diseases dangerous to the public health, the following cases of contagious diseases have been reported to us in the past year.
215
Contagious Diseases Reported During Year, by Wards :
Cerebo Spinal
Diphtheria Scarlet Fever Typhoid Fever Measles Meningitis
Ward 1
21
7
6
11
Ward 2
24
!
6
2
Ward 3
18
6
1
Ward 4
139
1
10
6
2
Ward 5
20
13
9
3
1
Ward 6
2
9
3
Totals,
224
39
40
25
3
Deaths,
17
0
4
1
3
Contagious Diseases Reported during year, by months :
Cerebo Spinal
Diphtheria Scarlet Fever Typhoid Fever Measles Meningitus
January,
10
4
1
1
February,
6
2
2
March,
18
8
0
2
April,
31
6
1
4
May,
32
4
1
0
June,
18
3
1
5
3
July,
9
2
2
2
August,
6
0
7
6
September,
14
1
7
0
October,
18
1
11
0
November,
42
1
7
0
December,
20
2
0
3
Total,
224
39
40
25
3
After diphtheria and scarlet fever and upon notice from the attending physician, of death, or recovery of the patient, apartments are disinfected in the following manner :- a 4 per cent. solution of Formaldehyde is evaporated through a regenerator, twenty ounces of the solution being used to each 1000 cubic feet, the rooms having previously been made tight by the use of gum paper laid over all crevices of doors and
216
windows in order to prevent the escape of the gas. The room is then allowed to remain closed five hours, at the end of which time, disinfection is complete. Disinfection is also made after removal or death from consumption, upon request of the attend- ing physician or the family.
Owing to the prevalence of diphtheria in the Willard School district, on April the 24th, it was voted to close the building, to have every room disinfected as well as books, all pencils to be burned. On May the 21st the epidemic having subsided it was voted to reopen the school. Upon our recom- mendation the building was subsequently connected with the public sewer.
This Board has dispensed through Mr. C. C. Hearn, to the physicians of Quincy, 276 bottles of State Board of Health, Diph- theria Antitoxine and 85 culture tubes for diagnostic purposes, without charge to either physician or patient. In connection with the marked advancement in the prevention of diseases and in public hygiene, the following from an editorial of "the Bos- ton Medical and Surgical Journal" commenting upon the pro- gresses in medicine, in the ending century, is not without interest.
"One of the great changes which has taken place is in our knowledge of the causation of disease. Not only do we refer many diseases to their origin in germ growth, but this discovery has helped to foster an entirely new variety of medical practice. Preventive medicine was practically unknown one hundred years ago. Our boards of health would probably at that time have been looked upon as meddlers with the individual rights of the profession. Today they are considered not only most important helpers in the prevention, but also in the treatment, of disease.
With the science of the prevention of disease has come in a whole series of new weapons with which to fight it, in the form of disinfectants. Some of these materials were used earlier, but in an uncertain, tentative manner, whereas now we realize more exactly how to use them and how much they may be expected to accomplish. The fires which our ancestors used to burn in the streets to dispel the plague we still use for disinfec- tion, but in a more orderly and usually a less destructive manner."
217
It is the opinion of this board that the adoption of a system of medical examination of school children would result in the decrease of contagious diseases among our school population, as the school offers most favorable conditions to contagion, and we earnestly recommend an appropriation to that end.
Public Hearings
Two public hearings have been held in the course of the year. In May, on charges preferred against Inspector of Plumbing J. J. Keniley. Complainant asked for an investiga- tion which the Board did not see fit to grant. Upon refusal of complainant to produce evidence, he was given leave to with- draw and charges laid on the table.
In July, upon complaint of residents of Ward 6, of an open ditch on private land, after : oth, a personal investigation and a public hearing, given in accordance with Chapter 80, Public Statutes, where petitioners and remonstrants appeared, we recommended the abatement of nuisance above referred to, but the Council voted an appropriation of $2,000 00 for improvement of Teal pond, ignoring the recommendation of this board and allowing the unsanitary condition resulting from this ditch, to remain.
Garbage
The collection of garbage is now done by two teams, twice each week in winter and three times in summer. Four men are employed, two on each cart and 1630 houses are being collected from.
In March, advertisements for bids, for the collection of garbage in the city, were published in the Quincy papers. Eight bids ranging from $6,000.00 to $10,500 were submitted. It was thought to the best advantage of the city to have the present system of collection continued. Therefore, all bids were rejected.
218
Dumps
Three locations are now in use for disposal of rubbish and refuse free from animal and vegetable substances. In ward 1, in ward 5 and in ward 6.
Several charges against plumbers and owners of buildings have been made to us by the Inspector of plumbing, for viola- tion of plumbing Acts and Ordinances, resulting in three arrests.
The following licenses have been issued in the past year :
Plumbers Licenses, 56
Garbage Licenses, 39
Undertaker Licenses, 5
Scavenger Licenses, 1
Owing to the increase of duties falling upon the Inspector of this board, whose working hours are limited only by the labor to be performed, we recommended an increase to his salary, which is now $600.00 yearly.
The present location of the office of the Board of Health, for obvious reasons, has become totally unfit to that purpose. The number of occupants, Inspector of the board, Inspector of plumbing, City Messenger, Secretary of the board, is certainly out of proportion to the size of the room, which lacks both proper ventilation and light; and again the location of same renders it most improper for the transaction of any business of a private character. Better accommodation in the shape of a new location for this office, should certainly result in great advantage to both the public and the members of the board.
Deaths and Causes, by Sexes, Ages and Months.
Total number of deaths from all causes, exclusive of still-births, 345
Number of still-births,
25
219
DEATHS BY SEXES. (Still-births Excluded) Number of deaths of males, Number of deaths of females,
168
177
DEATHS BY AGES. (Still-births Excluded )
Total. Males Females
Death of persons under one year,
76
46
30
from one to two years,
15
7
8
from two to three years,
9
4
5
from three to four years,
9
6
3
from four to five years,
8
4
4
from five to ten years,
21
8
13
from ten to fifteen years,
10
5
5
from fifteen to twenty years,
8
3
5
from twenty to thirty years
16
6
10
from thirty to forty years,
19
10
9
from forty to fifty years,
19
11
8
from fifty to sixty years,
22
13
9
from sixty. to seventy years,
42
19
23
from seventy to eighty years,
45
13
32
over eighty years,
24
11
13
ages unknown,
2
2
0
Total,
345
168
177
DEATHIS BY MONTHS. (Still-births Excluded)
Deaths in January, 27
Deaths in July, 29
in February, 22
in August,
44
in March, 42
in September,
27
in April,
26
in October,
25
in May,
27
in November,
31
in June,
19
in December, 24
Deaths, dáte unknown, 2
220
CAUSES OF DEATH. (Still-births Excluded, )
Deaths from phthisis or
consumption, 40
Deaths from dysentery,
from small-pox,
from measles,
1
from scarlet-fever -
from diphtheria and cr'p 17
from whooping cough,
from diseases of the heart
46
from typhoid fever, 4
from diseases of the brain and spinal cord, 40
from cerebro-spinal meningitis, 3
from diseases of the kidneys, 10
from cancer,
10
from erysipelas,
Deaths from Violence.
from puerperal fever
1
Deaths from homicide,
1
from malarial fever,
from cholera infantum, 13 from accident,
From unknown or ill-defined causes,
Number of deaths from all other causes not specified above
68
(not including still-births) 345
Total,
Respectfully submitted, JOHN S. GAY, Chairman, CHARLES W. GAREY, M. D. THOMAS J. DION, M. D., Secretary,
Board of Health.
from diarrhea and cholera morbus, 24
from pneumonia, 29
from bronchitis, 15
from influenza, 7
from suicide, S
4
221
REPORT OF HEALTH INSPECTOR
To Board of Health :
GENTLEMEN :- I respectfully submit the following report : Number of unclean cesspools and vaults cleaned 1486
loads from cesspools
1652
66
complaints received
311
. 66
notices to abate . 439
66
double houses ordered connected with sewer 32
single 66 7
stores and other buildings . 10
.66
buildings ordered vacated for not connect- ing with sewer 14
66
owners complied with order
12
66
filthy cellars
14
siaks ordered trapped
31
.66
defective drainage
13
dead animals buried .
7
poultry nuisances ordered abated
5
pig pens ordered abated
2
unclean stables .
6
stone sheds and privy vaults cleaned .
44
EDWARD J. LENNON,
Sanitary Inspector.
GENTLEMEN :- I submit the following report in regard to the brooks and water courses that were cleaned this year under my direction :
Town brook from Washington to Patch's ice pond on Columbia street ; also the water course from Town brook to and across Elm street to Glencoe place to and across Quincy avenue east of Water street, across the last street to and across Phipps street to Hammond place ; also the water course from Water street through land of H. H. Faxon to Phipps street ; also water course from Town brook through land formerly of George L.
.
" vaults
1448
222
Baxter to and across Water street to and along east side of Brook road to junction of Nightingale avenue through land, owner unknown to junction with Town brook. Furnace brook from the Butler mansion to private way leading from Willard street to Robert Teasdale's, West Quincy; also the water course leading from Bates avenue to Willard, thence on east side of the last named street to covered culvert about opposite M. J. Mannex granite works, also from Roger street, through the land of several persons to brook leading from East Milton to Furnace brook, near playground in Ward 4; also the water course from Town brook to the shops of Tirrell & Sons; also the water course from Squantum street, through the land of several persons unknown, to Pond hole near Central avenue and Arlington street.
Yours respectfully, EDWARD J. LENNON,
SUPPLEMENT.
Water course from Town brook, commencing near T. W. Smith's shop through land of Williams to and across Granite street to south side of Copeland through land of Miss Barllett Nightingale to premises of John Evans.
E. J. L.
ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS
To the Board of Health, of the City of Quincy :
I herewith render you my report as inspector of Meats and Provisions for the year ending Dec. 31, 1900.
Number of inspections made, 567
Licenses granted. 20
Yours respectfully,
R. T. JOHNSON.
223
EXAMINERS OF PLUMBERS
To the Board of Health, of the City of Quincy :
GENTLEMEN :- The board of Examiners of Plumbers beg leave to make the following report :
Two examinations were held by the board during the year one June 4th and one November 12, 1900. There were seven applicants for examinations, five for a Journeyman's and two for a Master's license. Three passed the Journeyman's exam- ination and two the Master's examination successfully and were granted licenses, the remaining two, both taking the Journey- mans, were rejected they having failed to pass.
It was found upon trial this year, that the system of having a separate set of questions for the Journeyman and Master's examination was a success as both applicants for a Master's license passed a very satisfactory examination thereby entitling them to a Master's license. The board wishes to take this op- portunity to again recommend to the Board of Health, that a set of plans be made, showing a system of defective plumbing, thereby enabling the applicant to show his skill, by pointing out the defects and showing how they should be corrected.
Respectfully submitted,
WM. A. BRADFORD,
Secretary of the Board of Examiners.
224
INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
To John S. Gay, Esq., Chairman of Board of Health :
DEAR SIR,-I herewith tender my seventh annual report as Inspector of Plumbing for the year ending December 31, 1900. During the year the following matters have been attended to :
Connections to public sewer,
Dwelling houses inspected
1
Churches
1
Factories
1
Halls
4
Hotels
2
Laundries
2
Stables
12
Stores
1
Restaurants
2
Blocks
3
Fire stations
66
11
Offices
66
3
Depots
1
Bath houses
175
Number of Cesspool connections
$51,550 00
Aggregate estimated value . 1899
61,000 00
Decrease from 1899
Number of permits issued in 1900
1899
432
Decreased from 1899 . .
18
During the year a number of complaints have been made to your Honorable Board, by your Inspector of violations of the Plumbing Ordinance. In each case, with two exceptions, the parties transgressing have conformed to the Ordinance on being notified to do so by your Honorable Board. In each case a warrant was issued on one of which a conviction was secured and the case placed on file. The other is still pending.
Respectfully submitted, J. J. KENILEY,
Inspector of Plumbing.
66
66
66
66
66
9,450 00
414
199
346
225
Report of Overseer of the Door
To His Honor the Mayor, of the City of Quincy :
The appropriation for this department for the year 1900 was $13,000, and was sufficient to allow the payment of all bills presented before the close of the financial year, and as endeav- ors were made to have all bills rendered before December 31st. there will be but a comparatively small amount to be provided for by transfer during the incoming year.
The amount paid to the Quincy City Hospital was $1,736.87 of which $628.36 was from the appropriation for the current year, and $1,108.51 was provided for by the Council on account .of 1899.
The collections for the year were $2,042.92 of which $1,074.03 was from the State, $736.01 from other cities and :towns. and $232.88 from other sources.
Of the total appropriation of $13,000, the amount expended December 31st, 1900 was $12,904.38 of which $10,273.64 was for outside poor including $5,875.48 for patients in the Insane and other hospitals ; and $2,630.74 for the Almshouse.
Continued progress has been made in grading the Alms- house property by Supt. Jacobs during the past year, but in consequence of the relocating of Sea street much additional work should be done and it is hoped that the Council will adopt some comprehensive plan to make this piece of property credit- able to the city.
226
$13,000 00
Appropriation
Expended outside direct
$7,732 05
Expended outside from Almshouse
2,541 59
Expended Almshouse, net
2,630 74
$12,904 38
Balance unexpended
$95 62
Expense of Outside Poor.
Provisions
$2,924 39
Fuel
810 53
Insane .
5,172 12
Clothing
345 00
Rent
105 00
Burials
75 00
Boston City Hospital
628 36
Medicine
26 80
Miscellaneous
$10,273 64
Expense of Almshoue.
Salary of Superintendent
$533 33
Wages .
232 86
House supplies
3,261 71
Clothing, bedding, etc.
163 73
Stable supplies
317 20
Fuel
351 38
Water
23 00
Telephone
92 74.
Medicine
21 18
Electric lights
80 96
Miscellaneous
$5,172 33
Cr. by supplies to outside poor
2,541 59
$2,630 74
Net cost .
26 82
Repairs on wagons, shoeing, etc.
67 42
Quincy City Hospital
16 94
169 50
227
Almshouse
Number of inmates of the Almshouse, Jan. 1, 1900
19
Admitted during the year
12
Total
31
Died during the year
2
Discharged during the year
14
Total
16
In the Almshouse, December 31, 1900 .
15
Number of families aided
181
Number of families settled in Quincy .
133
Number of families settled in other cities and towns
12
Number of families, State paupers
36
Number of insane, dipsomaniacs, etc.
41
Respectfully submitted,
E. W. H. BASS,
Overseer of the Poor.
1
228
Report of City Engineer.
To His Honor, the Mayor, of the City of Quincy :-
SIR :- In compliance with the ordinance establishing the office of City Engineer, I herewith submit the first annual report of this department for the year 1900 :
Financial Statement :
Appropriation
$2,400 00
Salary of Assistants
$1,629 58
Office Fittings
80 14
Office Supplies and Instruments
404 16
Office Rent
90 50
Lighting .
7 00
Telephone
4 40
Postage, expressage and car fares
99 55
Typewriting
4 75
2,320 08
Balance . $79 92
Through the kindness of the Sewerage Commissioners this department was allowed the use of their engineering office and tools from February until June, when we rented our present office in the Adams Building. This department is still indebted to the Sewerage Commissioners for the use of two drafting tables, transit and other tools.
229
List of Plaus Made During the Year, Exclusive of Street Numbering Plans.
Plan of South st from Elm st to Washington st.
Rawson road from Beach st to Billings road.
( For sidewalk order)
Billings road from N Y, N H & H R R to Rawson road (For sidewalk order)
66 Chestnut street, ( For sidewalk order)
Bigelow street, (For sidewalk order)
Copeland st from Crescent st to Willard st. ( For record at Dedham)
" Copeland st from Crescent st to Willard st.
(For file in this office )
" Portion of Quincy ave to accompany petition to State Highway Commission.
Squantum st from Hancock st to Atlantic st for widening
Marlboro st from Waterston av to Blake st for acceptance
Marlboro st from Waterston ave to Blake st. (For record at Dedham)
Marlboro st from Waterston ave to Blake st. (For file in this office )
Warren ave from Old Colony ave to R R, for acceptance
Warren ave from Old Colony ave to R R, for record.
Warren ave for overhead bridge.
Botolph st from Squantum st to Newbury ave. ( For sidewalk order.
Clive st from Botolph st to Walker st.
(for sidewalk order)
Chubbuck st extension from South st to DesMoines rd. (For laying out)
Chubbuck st extension from South st to DesMoines rd. (For record at Dedham)
Chubbuck st extension from South st to DesMoines rd. (For file in this office)
Howard st corner of Howard ave for land given by Fore River Engine Co.
1
230
" Kendrick ave for Commissioner of Public Works.
" Beale st from Hancock st to Adams st for street water- ing.
" DesMoines rd from Howard st to South st for laying out
Des Moines road from Howard st to South st.
(For record at Dedham)
DesMoines road from Howard st to South st. (For file in this office)
Phillips st from Elm ave to Willet st for acceptance.
Edwin st from Faxon rd about 405 ft westerly, for acceptance.
Edwin st from Faxon road about 405 ft. westerly. (For record at Dedham)
" Edwin st from Faxon road about 405 ft, westerly. (For file in this office)
Clark st from Edwin st to Squantum st., for acceptance.
Clark st from Edwin st to Squantum st. (For Record at Dedham)
Clark st. from Edwin st. to Squantum st. (For file in this office.
Rodman st from Brooks ave to Centre st. (For edgestone order)
66 Blake street (For record at Dedham)
66 Blake street (For file in this office.)
Taylor st from Brook st to Beale street, for drain.
Belmont street from South Central ave to Lincoln ave. (For acceptance)
Upland road from Saville st to Dimmock st. (For record at Dedham)
Upland road from Saville st to Dimmock st. (For file in this office.)
· Intervale st from Centre st to Brooks road.
66 Intervale st from Centre st to Brooks rd. (For file in this office.)
Real estate City of Quincy exchange with Louis Gross- man.
Copy of Parkway plan near President's bridge.
231
.66 Hose House lot, Ward Five, for architect.
66 Gravel Pit taken by City in Ward Six. (Two plans.)
66 Quincy Centre showing available lot for government building for use of committee at Washington.
66 Block enclosed by Squantum st., Botolph street and Newbury avenue for the Board of Health.
" City square showing paving required of Brockton St. Ry. Co.
Hancock st. showing widening near Granite st.
Hancock st. showing location of drain from City Square to Town Brook.
The following streets or portions of streets have been accepted and laid out as public highways during the year.
NAME
FROM
To
WARD WIDTH LENGTH
Marlboro st.
(formerly Morton st Waterston av Blake st
5
40'
1608'
Blake st.
Hancock st
Marlboro st
5
40
382
Intervale st.
Centre. st
Brook rd
3
36-40
1673
Clark st.
Edwin st
Squantum st
6
36
325
Edwin st.
Faxon rd
405 ft west'y
6
40
405
Upland rd.
Saville st
Dimmock st
1
40
706
Warren av. Ex.
Old Co'y av
70 ft west'y
5
50
70
Chub'k st ex (new)
South st
DesMoines rd
2
50
202:
Des Moin's rd (new )
South st
Howard st
2
50
775
Total
6146
All the above streets have been carefully surveyed and stone monuments set at the principal boundary points.
A mounted paper plan of each street has also been made and filed at this office showing in detail all the working points, ties, radii of curves, offsets and angles.
Street Numbering.
Section 2 of Ordinance 1899 concerning the numbering of buildings reads as follows :
SEC. 2. The city shall be divided into District A, em-
232
bracing that portion of the city situated easterly of Hancock street and Quincy avenue, and District B, embracing that por- tion of the city situated westerly of Hancock street and Quincy · avenue. In district A the numbers shall commence on streets running east and west at the westerly end, and on streets run- ning north and south at the northerly end. In district B the numbers shall commence on streets running east and west at the easterly end, and on streets running north and south at the northerly end. The odd numbers shall be placed on the right hand side and the even numbers on the left hand side of all streets following the direction of the numerical order from the beginning.
The ordinance also requires that a plan showing the street, house and number assigned, be made and kept on file in this- office.
After investigating the customs of other cities I decided to make the plans on bond paper 25" x 38"-40' scale, assigning one number for every twenty-five feet in residential districts and twelve and one-half feet in business sections.
We have now completed and on file seventy-one (71) of these plans representing 29.76 miles of street. Numbers have been assigned to seven hundred and sixty-eight (768) houses. To facilitate making these street numbering plans, large sec- tion plans were carefully plotted at 40' scale, showing all street and property lines in the section, each plan comprising about 300 aeres.
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