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 1902 > Part 8
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To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Quincy :
SIR :- I have the honor to submit the following report, as Inspector of Animals, from April 1st, 1902, to Dec. 31st 1902.
On the annual tour of inspection I examined 704 head neat cattle and 86 swine; the barns where the cattle were kept, were measured, the sanitary conditions and water supply noted, and in general were found excellent.
9 horses were quarantined on suspicion of having Glanders, and by order of the Chief of the Cattle Bureau, 7 were killed and 2 were released.
1 cow coming from Rhode Island was quarantined and tested for Tuberculosis, and released on being found free from the disease.
In December a contagious disease peculiar to cattle, sheep and swine, known as Foot and Mouth Disease, appearedin Quincy and up to the time of making this report, 9 herds, containing 103 head of cattle and 13 swine, have been quarantined. Of this number 30 have been destroyed by the U. S. Inspectors, and another inspection of the City ordered.
E. P. HENDERSON, V. S.,
Inspector of Animals.
49
Report of Inspector of Milk.
To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Quincy :
The following report of the Inspector of Milk is respect- fully submitted.
The amount received for license fees from April 1902 to Jan. 1903 is $21.00
It has been the custom to discharge the duties of this office at the residence of the Inspector of Milk. It is recomended that instead of the continuation of this unsatisfactory arrange- ment, a permanent office be provided for the Inspector and that fixed hours of attendance be kept by him, which shall be pub- lished each year at the time of the annual notice to dealers. This would greatly facilitate the business of this department and avoid the confusion and annoyance that invariably occur when a change of Inspector is made.
FREDERIC J. PEIRCE, M. D.,
Inspector of Milk.
51
Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures.
1
To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Quincy :
,
I herewith submit my report for the year ending Decem- ber 31st, 1902.
The number of weights and measures adjusted and sealed during the year were 1122, divided as follows :
Platform Scales, Dormant
19
Platform Scales
63
Butchers' Scales
32
Spring Balances
18
Counter Balances
45
Trip Scales
7
Automatic Seales
Weights
579
Dry Measures
107
Wet Measures
122
Milk Jars
121
Yardsticks
1
Total.
. 1,122
Number of Weights found heavy
3
Number of Weights found light 91 .
Number of Wet Measures found small
3
Number of Milk Jars found small . 2
Number of Scales condemned
.
52
mount received for sealing and
adjusting for the year ending
$88 10
December 31st, 1902 . 88 10
Amount paid City Treasurer .
There has been expended in my department out of $450.00 appropriated, $240.71 ; this includes bill of Telephone Com- pany, horse hire, help, steel stamps, office rent and other small amounts for incidental expenses.
There is yet to be some more work done in January, 1903, which was unavoidably put over from last year.
I would most strongly urge the necessity of a Public Scale, as there is no place in the City of Quincy where the Sealer can take coal to be weighed, except to competitors scales and also for the interest of granite dealers of Quincy.
Respectfully, GEORGE WESTON,
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
53 0
Board of health
To His Honor the Muyor of the City of Quincy :
The Board of Health respectfully submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1902.
The Board organized February 10th by electing John S. Gay, Chairman and Thomas J. Dion, M. D., Clerk ; William E. Badger the other member.
After advertising for bids, the contract for the disposal of garbage collected through the City was renewed on March 1st, with E. R. Wheble, for one year, at an increase of $50.00.
The work of collecting the garbage by teams employed and supervised by the Board has been done in a satisfactory man- ner.
Through the efforts of His Honor the Mayor and the Board of Sewer Commissioners, arrangements have been made to dispose of the vault and cesspool matter through the public sewer, thus doing away with the public dump.
The health of the City compares favorably with the past years, with a marked decrease in diphtheria, scarlet fever and typhoid fever over 1900 and 1901 both, and an increase in small-pox and measles.
Considering the prevalence of small-pox in Boston and through the state in the past year, Quincy has been fortunate in. having so few cases of the disease. All cases were contracted out of the City. All, with the exception of two, were cared for at the Contagious Hospital, under the City Physician. One, a child, two years of age, was quarantined and treated at home ; another was taken to the Boston Contagious Hospital.
54
Early in the year free vaccination stations were established in each ward, 2716 persons availing themselves of the oppor- tunity. Vaccination was also made compulsory in the Wollas- ton and Willard Schools, owing to the exposure to the disease of the pupils of those schools.
An ambulance has been secured for the conveyance of patients, and all reasonable comfort given them. A new Con- tagious Hospital, provided with modern improvements is almost completed and will be ready to receive patients at an early date.
Special Scavenger licenses have been abolished this year and all requests for the privilege refused. The numerous com- plaints made to us against a party doing business under protec- tion of one of these licenses made it evident that this work in the future should be done by a City Scavenger alone, under the supervision and control of the Board. Apparatus of antedilu- vian pattern and most unsatisfactory, together with private dumps in proximity to one of the most frequented strects in the City, made it necessary to protect the health of the public against the personal and business interest of one individual.
The Board has issued the following licenses :
Plumbers,
32
Garbage,
31
Undertaker, 5
Scavenger, 1
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN S. GAY, Chairman,
THOMAS J. DION, M. D., Clerk,
WILLIAM E. BADGER.
Board of Health.
55
Cases of Infectious Diseases Reported to the Board of Health, 1902. By Months.
January.
February,
March.
April,
May,
June,
July,
Angust,
September,
October,
November,
December,
Total,
Deaths.
Small Pox,
2
1
3
1
1
-
13
4
Diphtheria,
7
8
3
3
9
6 6 1 15
9
13
82 14
Scarlet Fever,
2 -
3
1
1
1
2
-
-
4
1
2
17
1
Typhoid Fever,
1 -
1
1 2 10
3
5
1
5
29
5
Measles,
11 44 28
59
94
57 23 -
316
1
Cerebro Spinal Men- ingitis,
Totals
23 50 40 65 100
68 33 16 5 25 12 20 458 26
Cases of Infectious Diseases Reported to the Board of Health, 1902. By Wards.
Ward 1
Ward 2
Ward 3
Ward 4
Ward 5
Ward 6
'Total
Totals 1901
Small Pox
1
-
-
7
3
2
13
6
Diphtheria
8
10
3
36
12
8
82
104
Scarlet Fever
2
1
4
1
7
2
17
24
Typhoid Fever
8
4
4
7
4
2
29
47
Measles
27
28
45
59
98
59
316
40
Cerebro Spinal Meningitis
-
-
1
1
1
Totals
46 43 62 110 124 73 458 222
1
1
1
1
56
Return of Deaths.
Total number of deaths from all causes, exclusive
of still-births, 399
Number of still-births,
26
DEATHS BY SEXES. (Still-births Excluded.)
Number of deaths of males,
219
Number of deaths of females,
180
DEATHS BY AGES. (Still-births Excluded. )
Total Males Females
Deaths of persons under one year,
89
51
38
from one to two years,
19
6
13
from two to three years,
9
6
3
from three to four years,
4
2
2
from four to five years,
4
3
1
from five to ten years,
12
5
7
from ten to fifteen years,
5
1
4
from fifteen to twenty years,
12
9
3
from twenty to thirty years,
35
23
12
from thirty to forty years,
33
17
16
from forty to fifty years,
28
18
10
from fifty to sixty years,
35
24
11
from sixty to seventy years,
44
24
20
from seventy to eighty years,
41
19
22
over eighty years,
29
11
18
Total,
399
219
180
DEATHS BY MONTHS. (Still-births Excluded.)
Deaths in January,
38
Deaths in July,
30
in February,
32
in August,
3c
in March,
36
in September,
35
in April,
30
· in October,
35
in May,
23
in November,
35
in June,
29
in December,
41
·
57
CAUSES OF DEATH. (Still-births Excluded. )
Deaths from phthisis or
consumption, 45
from small-pox, 4
from measles, 1
from scarlet-fever, 1
from diph'ria and croup, 14
from whooping cough, 1
from typhoid fever, 5
from cerebro-spinal menin- gitis, 2
from erysipelas .
from puerperal fever, 1
from influenza,
Deaths from homicide, -
from suicide,
from accident, 25
Number of deaths from all other causes not specified
above (not including still-births), 85
Total, 399
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REPORT OF HEALTH INSPECTOR.
To the Board of Health :
GENTLEMEN :- I respectfully submit the following report of the number of premises that sewage has been removed from, - and the number of cesspool and vault matter in the different wards of the city.
Ward 1, Premises cleaned,
176
2, 66 66
194
3, 232
66
4, לל
130
5, 66 יל
166
..
6, 66 80
Total,
978
As per returns made to this office, of work done by City Scavenger.
Deaths from dysentery, - from diarrhea and cholera morbus, 33
from pneumonia, 33
from bronchitis,
12
from dis'ses of the heart, 50
from diseases of the brain
and spinal cord, 45
from dis's of the kidneys, 18 from cancer, 8
Deaths from Violence.
from malarial fevers,
-
from cholera infantum, 14
58
Number of loads of cesspool matter removed from cesspools. in the several wards of the city :
Ward 1
221
2
.
285
3
240
4
112
66
5
289
6
161
Total .
1308
Number of vaults cleaned in the several wards of the city :
Wards.
Single Vaults.
Double Vaults.
1
86
40
2
117
73
3
121
98
1
83
58
5
38
7
6
28
10
573
286
Totals
573
286
Total .
659
Stone shed vaults cleaned .
7
Yours respectfully, EDWARD J. LENNON.
59
INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING.
To the Board of Health, of the City of Quincy :
GENTLEMEN :- I herewith tender my ninth annual report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1902.
During the year the following matter has been attended to : Dwelling houses inspected . 350
Churches
1
Laundries
2
Beach cottages
34
Police stations
1
Stores
9
Factories
66
4
Hotels
2
Club houses 66
1
Fish markets
1
Public toilets
1
Schools
10
Car houses
1
Offices
2
Baker shops
1
Restaurants 66
1
Tenement blocks
4
New buildings
150
Cesspools abandoned
155
Number buildings connected to public sewer
214
Aggregate Estimated value .
$50,000 00
Aggregate Estimated value 1901 .
52,522 00
Decrease from 1901
2,522 00
Number permits issued 1901
415
Number permits issued 1902
428
Increase over 1901
13
I would suggest, that the ordinance, relating to Plumbing, be amended by the adoption of several slight changes, which would reduce the expense to the householder, and at the same time not disturb the sanitary features of the work. I would
60
also call attention to the fact that in a large number of houses in the city, the sewer connection has been made, and the four- inch pipe simply run through the cellar wall. This, in my opinion, is unsafe, the four-inch pipe should be run through the roof or else the connection should not be made until such time as the parties are willing to complete the work.
Respectfully submitted, J. J. KENILEY,
Inspector of Plumbing.
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 :
One examination was held by the Board during the year, on April 14, 1902. There were four applicants for examina- tion, two for a journeymans and two for a masters license.
Two passed the journeymans and one the masters examina- tion successfully and were granted licenses. The remaining applicant for the masters license was rejected as he having failed to pass. The plans and charts which the Board purchased for the examiners have proved of great benefit in these examina- tions.
Respectfully submitted, WM. A. BRADFORD,
Secretary Board of Examiners.
61
INSPECTOR OF MEATS AND PROVISIONS.
To the Board of Health, of the City of Quincy :
GENTLEMEN :- I herewith render you my report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1902.
Number of inspections . 590
Number of licenses granted . 80
You will notice a very great increase in the number of licenses granted over past years. This is owing to the enforce- ment of the Statute relating to Hawkers and Pedlers. I have tried to confine the granting of licenses to citizens of Quincy, and to non-residents only when their application was accom- panied by a petition signed by a number of our citizens. This has been a great benefit to our storekeepers and the people of Quincy in general, as it kept the undesirable class of Hawkers away.
The police have been very vigilant in holding up pedlers and have had four of them in court and fined for pedling in Quincy without a license from the Inspector. This has helped me very much in the discharge of my duty. I find the grade of meats and provisions sold in Quincy to be first class, it being necessary to seize but two small pieces of meat in the past year and that owing to carelessness on the part of the dealer.
Respectfully, FREDERICK E. GOSS,
Inspector of Meats and Provisions.
Secretary of Board of Health, City of Quincy :
DEAR SIR :- In reply to your request for amount of An- titoxine and number of Culture Tubes dispensed from Jan. 1st, 1902 to Jan. 1st, 1903, I beg leave to report I have dis- pensed 293 bottles Antitoxine and 63 Culture Tubes.
Very respectfully, CHAS. C. HEARN.
63
Report of the City Engineer
To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Quincy :
I herewith submit the Third Annual Report of this depart- ment for the year ending, December 31, 1902.
Financial Statement :
Appropriation
$2,500 00
Pay Roll
$,1819 18
Office Supplies etc. .
354 22
Rent, Telephone, Lighting
234 16
Typewriting .
10 00
Postage, Express and Car Fares
80 20
2497 76
Balance of Appropriation
$2 24
The following streets or portions of streets have been ac- cepted and laid out as public ways during the year. Record plans have been made and stone monuments set at the princi- pal boundary points.
NAME
FROM
TO
LENGTH
WIDTH
Eaton st.
Beale st.
Milton line
75 ft
40 ft.
Newbury ave.
Glover ave.
Hollis ave.
535
40
Hamilton st.
Rawson rd.
Everett st.
734
40
Faxon Park rd.
Quincy ave.
Kendrick ave.
1940
50
Edison st.
Washington st.
Charles st.
737
33
Rock Island rd. Sea st.
Rock Island
2006
33
Total length
6026
-
64
The work of the Engineering department this year has. been entirely confined to the several municipal departments in- cluding Department of Public Works, Park Commissioners, Board of Public Burial Places, Assessors and committees of the council.
About Oct. 1st of this year we moved from our offices in the Adams Building to an office assigned us on the first floor of the newly remodelled City Hall. The change greatly facilitates. us in our work as well as saving the city $264 a year in rent.
By order of His Honor, the Mayor, a survey, plan and es- timate were made of Hancock street bridge in Atlantic for widening to the full width of Hancock street i. e. 64 feet. The plan and estimate are now in the hands of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company for its approval. A large plan showing properties and valuations in and about City Square was made for the use of the government in locating a government building.
Department of Public Works
Lines and grades have been given for Verchild street, Fax- on Park road, Grove street, Eaton street, Hancock street side- walk from Granite street southerly and Warren avenue foot bridge. Lines, grades and necessary measurements together with schedules for assessments have been made for 6,300 ft. of edgestones and 610 square yards of sidewalk. Location and grades were given for 15 inch pipe and stone drain on Indepen- dence avenue. A contour plan was made and lot staked for the hose house at Houghs Neck and batter boards set for the contractor
Park Commissioners
Lines, grades and inspection were furnished for walling. Town Brook through the playground in ward 3. Liberty. square was staked for improvments ..
65
Public Burial Places
Field work in staking lots and drives, also plan of sub divi- sion of lots for the owners.
Committees of the Council
On request of the chairman of committees and "diffierent members of the Council the following plans were made ;-- Plan of Washington street from Chubbuck street to South street.
Whitwell street from Cranch street to Granite street.
66
Maple Place showing extension to Chestnut street.
Hose Hose lot, Houghs Neck.
66 Goffe street from Dimmock street to Adams street.
66 and profile of Hamilton street, for acceptance.
66
66
66 Morton street, ward 4, for acceptance. Buckley street (upper end,) for accept- ance.
66
66
Sea street from Bell street to the beach, for widening.
2
66
66
Faxon Park Road from Quincy avenue to Kendrick avenue, for acceptance.
2
66
66
Newbury avenue from Glover avenue to Hollis avenue, for acceptance.
2
66
66
Washington street from Temple street to Hancock street, for construction.
2
66 Chubbuck street nuisance.
66 Eaton street, for acceptance and record.
2
66 Rock Island road, for acceptance and record.
66 and profile of Chubbuck street, for record.
66 widening of Sea street from the willows to Manet ave- nue.
Cottage avenue, for widening.
The expense of the plans was charged tofthe appropriation for engineering.
66
Assessors Plans
The plans in progress Jan. 1st., 1901 for Ward 2 were com- pleted and delivered May 1st., 1902 together with an entire set of blue prints to be used in the field by the Assessors, thereby saving the original copies.
The plans proved of great value and in consequence anoth- er appropriation was made to this department of $1,000 for further work in Ward 1.
The first of the year finds us with one hundred (100) plans complete covering almost the entire portion of Precinct 2. A large amount of unassessed real estate has been found especial- ly at Houghs Neck, together with many houses and other buil- dings.
By the first of April all the plans in this ward will be com- plete and delivered to the Assessors.
House Numbering
This work has been carried on in conjunction with the As- sessors' work. All the streets in Ward 2 have been completed and the numbers assigned to every house. Several complaints have been received in regard to the numbering of houses. These have arisen from the fact that owners or occupants ne- glect to put on the new number or fail to remove the old one. Every owner or occupant on streets which have been renum- bered have been served with a notice stating the number of the house and the penalty for not complying with the ordinance and they should for the convenience of all comply with the or- dinance as the amount involved is very small and eventually the whole city will be numbered on a uniform plan. During the year eighteen (18) plans have been made representing 6.05 miles of streets. Numbers have been assigned to two hundred and sixty three houses (263).
In closing I wish to thank His Honor, Mayor Bryant for his kindness and consideration and all heads of departments for their cooperation, also my assistants for their conscientious and faithful performance of their duties.
Respectfully submitted, HAMILTON FLOOD,
City Engineer.
67
Report of Park Commissioners
-
To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Quincy :
For the first time the plan of employing one man through the season has been adopted. The result is seen in the much improved appearance of the trees and grounds of all the parks and playgrounds.
MERRYMOUNT PARK.
The grounds, buildings and fences have been kept in good order. With some repairs, the dam at Black's Creek has been kept sufficiently tight to prevent salt water flooding the pasture. A rebuilding of this causeway and tidegate is necessary if salt water is to be kept out absolutely. Winter flooding of the meadow for skating is not justified until this is done. The cost of removing snow and policing and lighting the skating pond to insure safety of the children will necessitate additional appropriations.
A new outhouse has peen placed near the pavilion.
200 Pines were planted in the spring and a row of maples along Hancock street has been set out.
The two base ball grounds, foot ball ground and picnic grounds have been in constant demand on Saturdays and Holidays during the season, as will appear more fully later.
68
FAXON PARK.
This Park, of great natural beauty, has been used but little until this year. Two societies have held picnics there because Merry Mount Park was already in use by two other picnics at once.
If the depredations of wood theives continue, the beautiful growth of oak and pine will be destroyed. The police have as yet been unable to detect the vandals. The new road bordering on the park will bring the Park into more demand and we recom- mend the erection of an inexpensive pavilion and outhouses, the introduction of city water, and the construction of a suitable fence on the street bounds. Faxon Park is sure to be used for picnics as soon as the proper facilities are provided.
LIBERTY SQUARE.
The row of maples planted around this square will add greatly to its appearance. Guards have been placed about all the trees.
PLAYGROUNDS.
WARD 2. Seats for players and audience have been placed about the ball field. The trees on the Point, gradually dis- appearing from one cause or another, must be renewed, if the beauty of this spot is to be preserved.
WARD 3. Much work has been done here this year,. more in fact than at any other ground under our care. As this field is mostly low land, with a brook through its centre, it has overflowed every spring and remained damp most of the summer. Little had previously been done to put it in proper condition for the purpose for which it was intended. The board have changed the course of the brook in order to give a larger play field, have walled up the brook with granite, have planted trees on the border of the ground and beside the brook,.
69
have drained and levelled the ball ground, have changed the location of backstop, have placed seats for players and spectators beside ball field, have built a new bridge over brook and re- paired fences, made new entrance from Water street direct to playground and changed course of path across the ground, and have put in city water. All this work has cost heavily, but the improvement was much needed and your board felt it should not be postponed longer.
Improvements have been paid for largely out of unexpended funds remaining in the city treasury.
WARD 4. No costly work has been done here this year, the alterations of the ball ground in 1901 being so thorough that little more work is necessary for some years. The outfield of the ball ground should be filled in, but your board preferred to postpone this improvement until an opportunity to obtain filling at little or no cost presented itself.
A row of maple trees has been planted on the southerly side of the ground.
WARD 6. No work beyond general care of ground and trees has been done. As stated in former reports, a coating of loam over the whole field is much needed. An attempt to secure a supply from the Metropolitan Park Commission from route of new boulevard was unsuccessful. It may be wise to buy enough loam for the purpose, paying for same out of un- expended balance now lying to our credit in the city treasury.
BATH HOUSE-WARD 2 PLAYGROUND. As the Council would not appropriate money for enlargement of the bath house, your board decided to increase the facilities for bathers so far as they could in the present house. The men's accom- modations were somewhat increased by fitting the upstairs chamber with clothes hooks and seats. Fortunately last summer was a cool one, and except on the most crowded days there was room for all. With but 20 lockers and a small room for men, a small room for boys and 20 lockers for women, the house was hardly large enough to handle about 700 bathers, the attendance on several days. The largest attendance on one day was 708, on August 1st. For the week July 28th-August 3d, it was
70
3,799. For the season June 1st to September 15th, there were 16,412 bathers-10,007 male and 6,405 female.
Immediate enlargement of the house is a necessity with an ordinarily warm summer.
A new skiff added to the equipment was on one occasion undoubtedly the means of saving life.
Thanks are due to Mr. P. J. Williams for his gift of a new float stage for bathers and to Mr. E. H. Angier for a gift of Translucent Fabric for windows.
VANDALISM.
Many fine oaks and pines have been cut and removed from Faxon Park, without detection so far, in spite of the efforts of the police. If this is continued, a naturally beautiful park will soon become a rocky waste with few attractions and of little value to the public. It is hoped that the conviction of parties caught stealing wood at Pine Island this winter will be sufficient warning to prevent further depredation on the public parks.
CITY FORESTER.
It is hoped that the recommendation of your honor that a City Forester be employed by the city under the direction of this board will be adopted by the Council. Each year this board sees an increased need of an expert, on whom it can rely properly to maintain the trees we now have and to increase our plantations with judgment. The condition of the trees in Merry Mount Park is getting worse yearly and renewal of the trees on a large scale is required if this park is to be preserved.
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