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 1911 > Part 15
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Gypsy Moth Assessments of 1911.
Total amount committed by Assessors $1,388 39 Amount collected during year 1911 815 13 815 13
Amount uncollected January 1, 1912 $573 26
Excise Tax of 1911.
Amount committed by Assessors, viz.,
Bay State Street Railway Co. $7,030 94
Amount collected during year 1911 7,030 94 7,030 94
361
Sewers.
Amount collected during year 1911 on Sewer Con- struction 8,960 86
Amount of interest collected during year 1911 225 58
Amount collected during year 1911 on Sewer Con- nection 4,743 02
Amount of interest collected during year 1911 11 63
Permanent Sidewalks.
Amount collected during year 1911 on Permanent Sidewalks 448 24
Amount of interest collected during year 1911 21 48
Street Betterment Assessments.
Amount collected during year 1911 on Street Bet- terment Assessments 2,395 45
Amount of interest collected during year 1911 1 13
Costs collected during year 1911 2,142 71
Total amount of cash collected during year
1911 $769,208 69
JOHN J. O'HARA,
Collector of Taxes.
362
Sealer of Weights ank Measures
Hon. Eugene R. Stone, Mayor,
City of Quincy.
In compliance with your request I respectfully submit the annual report as Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ending December 30, 1911.
Assuming office March 21, 1911, I found a great amount of work to be done as the merchants were negligent through ignorance of law relative to sealing of weights and measures. In many cases scales and weights never had been sealed, and in others not for a number of years. In trying to enforce the law this department has not been too severe on the merchants but has used persuasion to such good effect that the public is protected and the merchants are trying to live up to the law in most cases.
Under Chapter 57, Sections 83 to 93 as to rights in- vested in sealers in regard to re-weighing coal, I find upon inspection that most trouble is caused by carelessness in tak- ing the tare of teams. Some loads are light or short and others heavy but none however, being of any great amount. The City has recently installed a new Howe Scale on Gran- ite Street which will be of great benefit in this work.
Included in this report will be found various tables of interest. In conclusion let me say that I realize the responsi- bility of the sealer and his duty to the public and will do my best to make the department very efficient and to protect the- public.
363
Inside or Office Work-No Fee Charged.
Scales tested and found correct 31
Scales tested and condemned 8
Total number of scales tested
39
Weights tested and found correct
11
Weights tested and condemned
0
Total number of weights tested
11
Dry measures tested and found correct 76
Dry measures tested and condemned
14
Total number of dry measures tested
90
Liquid measures tested and found correct 844
20
Total number of Liquid measures tested
864-
Linear measures tested and found correct 13
Linear measures tested and condemned
0
Total number of linear measures tested
13
Outside Work-Fees Charged.
Scales 5000 pounds to 80,000 pounds tested
18
Platform scales under 5000 pounds tested
129
Computing scales tested
50
Counter scales tested
237
Spring balances tested
156
Balance scales tested
10
Slot weighing machines tested
24
Total number of scales tested
624
Scales tested and found correct 594
Liquid measures tested and condemned
364
Scales tested and adjusted Scales tested and condemned
10
20
Total number of scales tested Weights tested and found correct
624
999
Weights tested and found light and adjusted
465
Weights tested and found heavy
19
Weights tested and condemned
7
Total number of weights tested
1490
Dry Measures tested and found correct 383
Dry Measures tested and condemned
27
Total number of dry measures tested 410
Wet or Liquid Measures tested and found correct 436
Wet or Liquid Measures tested and condemned
17
Total number of measures tested
453
Milk jars tested and found correct
15,000
Milk jars tested and condemned
26
Total number of milk jars tested
15,026
Linear measures tested and found correct
49
Linear measures tested and condemned
1
Total number of linear measures 50
Total amount received and paid to City Treasurer
in fees $224 91
Number of inspections made from March 21st to Dec. 31. 1911 :
Coal re-weighing while in transit 20
Coal re-weighing sold in bags of less than 10 pounds 63
Inspections in stores after scales had been sealed 426
Inspections of weights used by pedlars 18
Inspections of ice teams 26
Inspections of milk teams 11
365
Inspections of junk dealers weights 17
Inspections of coal teams for certificates of weighing 6
Total number of inspections 587
Financial Statement.
Appropriation
$125 00
Receipts of 1911
224 91
$349 91
Expenditures.
E. J. H. Totman, steel dies $17 00
H. E. Emerson, anvil iron 2 00
J. E. Krocker, services 10 00
Penniman & Scn, team hire
15 00
G. H. Williams, team hire
136 25
Spargo Print, printing
6 50
Geo. H. Prescott Pub. Co, printing
7 00
S. Patterson, labor 5 00
J. Galligan, labor 6 00
The Telegram, printing
2 75
H. W. Prout, labor
9 00
Hobbs Warren Co., book
1 11
W. & L. E. Gurley, supplies
17 05
Malden Specialty Co., marking acid
1 00
Adams Express Co.
35
J. M. Cantfill, expenses carfare and postage
10 00
J. Fallon, labor
2 00
J. Cantfill, postage and carfare 11 20
Nathan Ames, hardware
1 20
Bruce Warner, team hire
15 00
Bay State Street Railway Co., tickets
5 00
366
Dennison Mfg. Co., gum seals
65
Geo. F. Prescott Pub. Co., printing
5 75
Malden Specialty Co., marking acid
1 00
W. & L. E. Gurley, supplies
1 78
10 00
C. A. Penley, clerical C. J. Cronin, repairs
1 00
Boston Nickel Plating Co.
7 60
$338 19
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES M. CANTFILL,
Sealer of Weights
1
367
JBoard of health
To His Honor, the Mayor of the City of Quincy :
The Board of Health respectfully submit the following report for the year 1911.
The organization of the Board was as follows:
William H. Callahan, Chairman.
Francis Ramon Burke, M. D., Secretary. Cornelius M. Duggan.
The Inspectors of the Board remained as in the past : Edward J. Lennon, Sanitary Inspector. J. J. Keniley, Inspector of Plumbing. James F. Allan, Inspector of Meats and Provisions. Edward J. Murphy, Inspector of Milk.
The appropriations for maintaining the department were as follows:
Appropriation Receipts
Total $300 0;
Care of Brooks $300 00
Collection of Ashes
3,557 63 3.557 63
Collection of Garbage
6,478 83
1,797 86 8,276 69
Scavenger Maintenance
2,536 04 4,828 81 7,364 85
Contagious and Miscell.
12,333 24
12,333 24
Sanitary Inspection
780 00
780 00
Clerical Services
572 00
572 00
368
GARBAGE.
Garbage has been collected twice a week through-out the past year, with the exception of a few weeks in November. It has been necessary to use five teams on this work through- out the year. In past years we have been able to get along with four teams. Hough's Neck and Squantum are requir- ing more work every year to keep the garbage collected.
ASHES.
Ashes have been collected continuously throughout the past year. During the summer months cne collection a month was made. During the rest of the year there has been a collection each week from the entire city, with the excep- tion of Hough's Neck and Squantum.
SCAVENGER WORK.
The scavenger work of the city has been done by the Board of Health since May 1910. During the year 869 orders have been received at this office for scavenger work, with an appropriation of $2500 00 from the Council to main- tain the department. Receipts amounting to $4828 81 have been collected and used in carrying on the work. At the present schedule of prices the work is not self-supporting.
BROOKS.
The appropriation allowed the Board of Health to carry on this work the past year was so small that very little work could be accomplished and only in the main brooks could an attempt be made to keep the water flowing freely
MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS.
The work of medical inspection of schools has been car --
369
ried on as in the past with five inspectors engaged in the work. Three hundred and sixty-five children have been ex- amined ; fifty-nine excluded; one hundred and thirty-nine recommended to see a physician ; thirty given notes to take home ; sixty-nine re-admitted after a contagious disease and sixty-eight returned to class.
NUISANCES.
During the past year the work of abating nuisances has been carried on as in the past. Complaints received at the office have been promptly investigated and abated as rapidly as possible. Four hundred and sixty-six inspections were made by the sanitary inspector. Thirty-seven legal notices to abate nuisances and connect with the sewer have been served and one hundred and twenty-five letters have been sent in regard to the same matters. Six hundrd and forty- two vaults and four hundred and sixteen cesspools have been cleaned by the scavenger department of the Board.
LICENSES GRANTED.
The following licenses were granted by the Board in 1911 :
Undertakers
9
Garbage
10
Tallow
1
Permits granted to erect stables
19
Permits granted to occupy stables
12
Permits refused and withdrawn
4
Number of houses disinfected, for diphtheria
64
for scarlet fever
113
for tuberculosis
26
for small pox 1
Number of school houses disinfected 3
1
370
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
.. During the last year we had one hundred and forty-one cases of scarlet fever, the majority of which were sent to the Homoeopathic Hospital in Brighton, costing the City of Quincy for their care between five and six thousand dollars. On account of the city of Quincy having no contagious hospi- tal of its own, the Board finds it less expensive to the city to remove and send its patients to Brighton than to quarantine the family and pay the compensation allowed by the State Law for wage-earners kept under quarantine. Also the Board deem it to the best advantage of the city of Quincy from the standpoint of public health to remove such cases of contagious diseases as early as possible and relieve the city of the chance of infection from such patients. A contagious hospital within the city of Quincy is most necessary at the present time.
The tuberculosis patients within the City of Quincy have been cared for at the camp of the Quincy Anti-Tuber- culosis Association. Twenty-one patients have been taken care of with an average stay of 96 1-3 days per patient. The total cost of the support of these cases for last year was $2033 12. The Board of Health also takes care of many tubercular patients in other cities and towns outside of Quincy and also in State Hospitals.
Following is a table comparing the contagious diseases reported to the Board of Health for the last ten years.
371
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
For Last Ten Years.
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910 55
70
Scarlet Fever
17
25
32
46
53
50
67
44
72
141
Typhoid Fever
29
27
13
32
11
22
32
22
27
23
· Measles
316 128 109
16 378
37
59 141 307
275
Cerebro-Spinal
Meningitis
1
1
1
9
1
4
2
1
0
Tuberculosis
0
0
40
44
48
34
57
0
0
0
1
Rabies
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Opthalmia Neona-
torum
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
3
3
10
Whooping Cough
0
0
0
0
0
2
7
19
15
34
Chicken Pox
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
8
14
27
Anterior Poliomy- elitis
0
0
0 0 0 0
-
- -
-
Total
458 241 266 241 563 231 365 357 538
615
82
60
71
91
70
78 136
71
1 46 39
33
Small Pox
13
0
0
3
2
0
0
2
5
1
-
1911
Diphtheria
.
372
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES BY MONTHS
1911.
January.
February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
August.
September.
October.
November.
December.
Total.
Deaths.
Diphtheria,
0
8
9
5
7
416
4
5
2 70 6
Scarlet Fever,
19 4248
1410
3
0
2
0
2
0 1|141 7
Typhoid Fever
2
2 1
211
0
5
6
2 1 0 23 3
Measles
18 10 28 ·
86 44 41 18
0
5
3 15 275 1
Cerebro Spinal Meningi- tis
0
0
0
0000
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Opthalmia Neonatorum
0
0
0
2
2
0
2
0
2
1
1 10
0
Whooping Cough
0
5
5
2
310
3 1
0
0
?
3 34
3
Chicken Pox
3
1
4
4
3!
2
3 0002
5 27 0
Anterior Poliomyelitis
01
0
0
01000000
0 1
0
Total,
52 62 95 123 75 73 30 16 28 17 1430 615 59
By Wards.
1911
Ward 1
Ward 2
Ward 3
Ward 4
Ward 5
Ward 6
Total
Diphtheria
15
11
17
17
4
6
70
Scarlet Fever
10
6
47
46
19
13
141
Typhoid Fever
9
1
3
3
4
3
23
Measles
37
67
34
60
20
57
275
Cerebro Spinal Menin- gitis
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Tuberculosis
7
4
10
7
3
2
33
Small Pox
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
Opthalmia Neonatorum
3
2
5
0
0
0
10
Whooping Cough
4
2
15
5
4
4
34
Chicken Pox
0
8
4
3
6
6
27
Anterior Poliomyelitis
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
Total
87
101
135
141
60
91
615
.
3
1 6
5
7
3
1
0
3 3338
Small Pox
0
C
·
7 0 0
0 0 0
Tuberculosis,
0 2
July. 3
-
373
RETURN OF DEATHS.
Death rate 12.03 per 1000, based on population of 32,642. Total number of deaths from all causes (Still-births still-births) - 393
excluded -
- 29
Deaths by Sexes (Still-births excluded. )
Number of deaths of males
- 212
Number of deaths of females
- 181
Deaths By Months (Still-births excluded).
Deaths in January 36
Deaths in July 41
February 31
August 42
March 41
September 24
April
32
October
23
May 30
November
28
June
39
December
26
374
Causes of Deaths (Still-births excluded)
Tuberculosis, pulmonary
32
Tuberculosis, other than pulmanory
6
Asiatic cholera
.
0
Cerebro-spinal meningitis
2
Diphtheria and croup
6
Measles
1
Scarlet fever
7
Smallpox
1
Typhoid fever
3
Whooping-cough
3
Anterior poliomyelitis
0
Erysipelas
·2
Puerperal fever
0
Influenza
2
Malarial fever
0
Dysentery
5
Cholera infantum
8
Other diarrhœal diseases
16
Pneumonia
34
Bronchitis
5
Diseases of the heart
65
Diseases of the brain and spinal cord
32
Diseaser of the kidneys .
18
Cancer
22
Deaths From Violence.
Deaths from homicide
3
from suicide
3
from accident
20
Tetanus .
1
Unknown or ill-defined causes
1
Causes not-specified above (still births excluded )
95
·
393
375
DEATHS BY AGES .- (Stillbirths excluded.)
Males
Females
Totals
Deaths of persons under one year,
46
41
87
from one to two years,
11
10
21
from two to three years,
4
2
6
from three to four years,
1
7
8
from four to five years,
1
0
1
from five to ten years,
5
2
7
from ten to fifteen years,
2
0
2
from fifteen to twenty years, 6
1
7
from twenty to thirty years, 16
11
27
from thirty to forty years,
10
13
23
from forty to fifty years,
17
15
32
from fifty to sixty years,
23
15
38
from sixty to seventy years, 28
20
48
from seventy to eighty years 30
24
54
over eighty years,
10
20
30
ages unknown,
2
0
2
Total .
212
181
393
Deaths According to Nationality.
American
265
Provincial
35
Foreign
88
Unknown
5
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS RAMON BURKE,
Secretary.
376
INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING.
Quincy, Mass., January 1, 1912.
To the Board of Health,
Gentlemen :
. As Inspector of Plumbing in the City of Quincy, I have the honor to submit to you my eighteenth annual report for the year ending December 31, 1911.
Number of permits issued
719
Dwelling Houses
491
Beach Cottages
187
Stores
18
Police Station
1
Barber Shop
1
Factory
1
Stable
1
Theatre
1
Society Building
1
Schools
2
Churches
2
Public Bath
1
Garage
3
Laundries
2
Freight Depot
1
Railroad Station
1
Court House
1
Offices
2
New Dwellings Connected with Sewer
175
Old Dwellings Connected with Sewer 169
New Dwellings Connected with Cesspools
50
Alterations and additions to existing plumbing
56
Permits Cancelled 1
The plumbing work performed for the year has been
377
very satisfactory, very few complaints having been made that have not been attended to and the changes made that were requested. There were a few beach cottages erected during the year that did not install waterclosets and have erected vault closets where city water could be obtained. This being a violation of your regulations, I have reported the same and would recommend that they be not allowed to occupy these cottages until waterclosets are installed. I would recommend a change in the ordinance in regard to refrigerator wastes as to the material used for this purpose. Galvanized screwed pipe with recessed fittings if allowed to be used would, in my opinion, be a saving to the owner, easier to install and the proper kind of pipe to use. I again recommend that the sec- tion of the ordinance in regard to the boxes built around clean-outs when they are below the cellar bottom be installed in the building ordinance, as this is the builders work and not the plumbers. The builder would then better understand what is required and save a lot of unnecessary trouble. The amount of plumbing work performed during the year has been greater than any previous year and will, no doubt, con- tinue to increase as our city is rapidly growing. I find it impossible at times to get from one part of the city to the other and not cause a lot of waste time to the plumber. If some means of travel was furnished other than the electric cars which I am almost entirely obliged to use it would obviate this difficulty.
Respectfully submitted,
J. J. KENILEY,
Inspector of Plumbing.
378
INSPECTOR OF MEATS AND PROVISIONS.
Quincy, Mass., January 1, 1912.
To the Board of Health of the City of Quincy,
Gentlemen :
I herewith render my report as Inspector of Meats and Provisions for the year ending December 31, 1911.
Number of inspections 274
Number of permits issued 45
Number of permits renewed 39
Number of pounds of poultry condemned 10
Number of pounds of beef condemned 121/2
Number of pounds of veal condemned 5
Number of pounds of lamb condemned 33
Number of pounds of pork condemned 57
4 Swine Carcasses inspected (estimated weight) 755 pounds.
The condition of the markets and fruit stands of the city have improved the past year, the owners showing a willing- ness to comply with the regulations of the Board of Health.
It is my intention in the year 1912. to ask the Board to petition the City Council to pass an ordinance compelling all hawkers and pedlars to pay a fee for the privilege of peddling on the streets of the city, the said fee to be turned into the city treasury.
To the Board of Health and Police Department I desire to tender my thanks for the help received the past year in the- discharge of my duties.
Yours respectfully, JAMES F. ALLAN,
Inspector of Meats and Provisions.
379
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN.
Quincy, Mass., January 1, 1912.
Board of Health,
City of Quincy, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report for the fiscal year just ended. I have made two hundred and fifty-four (254) examinations of youths in their fourteenth and fifteenth years, according to the law. All were successful in passing the requirements.
Examinations by Months.
January
22
February
11
March
12
April
10
May
13
June
60
July
25
August
22
September
28
October
17
November
16
December
18
Respectfully,
CHARLES W. GAREY, M. D.,
School Physician.
380
INSPECTOR OF MILK.
Quincy, Mass , January 1, 1912.
To the Board of Health of the City of Quincy,
Gentlemen :
I have the honor to submit the following report for the year 1911.
Appropriation
$50 00
May 25 Prescott Publishing Co. $5 00
Dec. 14 Postage 2 13
15 Clerical Services 5 00
20 Transportation, etc. 37 87
$50 00
$50 00
Number licensed to peddle milk 68
Number licensed to sell milk 74
Number licensed to sell oleomargarine 7
Amount received in fees and turned over to City Treasurer
$42 50
Respectfully submitted,
E. J. MURPHY,
Inspector of Milk.
381
Report of Inspector of Animals
-
His Honor, Mayor Stone,
Dear Sir :
As Inspector of Animals for the City of Quincy, I beg to report that there has been some increase in the number of cattle and pig's in the city, due to the decrease in the price of grain. For several years now the number of cattle has been abnormally low, due to high price of grain and hay, and a corresponding high price of cattle, without a proportionate in- crease in price of milk. Few milkmen will work without profit.
The quality of cattle now bought is better than it has been and I should say a large majority are tuberculin tested Brighton cattle.
During the year there were five cases of tuberculosis. One was a Milton cow, here less than two weeks, whose milk had never been used; another a Braintree cow, here only a few months, and with a throat trouble which owner never suspected as tuberculous, and which wasn't an extremely dangerous case.
I would suggest that the score card system for judging milk be used by the Board of Health, as in Boston and most other progressive cities. The highest scores to be published monthly, thus encouraging the production of clean milk.
The only other alternative I see is the personal visit of
382
the consumers to the stable of the producer. Especially is this true if the milk is purchased out of town. A parent who does not know where the milk his children drink comes from, is criminally neglectful of their health. The score card sys- tem deputizes this duty to trusty servants. Accompanying this is copy of Boston score card.
During the past year there have been no cases of rabies in dogs or other animals.
There have been eleven cases of glanders, nearly all in a section about West Quincy, and the disease does not seem to be as yet abated. The adjoining territory in Braintree and Milton has also had cases. I would suggest that the disease has been stamped out in larger cities than ours by the dis- carding of public water troughs and the use of individual pails and brushes in the stable. The cost is not in money but in thought. State legislation is proposed to pay for horses killed on account of glanders, as in many other states and Canada.
Pigs throughout the state have suffered from cholera. The next inspection may show some in Quincy. Our Ordin- ances and the closeness of habitation preclude much pig rais- ing. Prospective buyers of pigs should not purchase from a farm which has any sick stock about it, as the well ones may come down soon after.
Respectfully yours,
FRANCIS ABELE, JR.
383
Report of Dark Commissioners
To His Honor, the Mayor. of the City of Quincy :
The report of the Board of Park Commissioners is here- by submitted, for year ending December 31, 1911.
Work was begun early in March. Baseball fields were put in condition, and were ready for opening games of the season on Patriot's Day. Ward 3 playground was equipped with suitable apparatus and formally opened as our second supervised playground. Miss Lucille Elwell was employed as Supervisor and Miss Margaret McGowan as assistant supervisor. Miss Elwell displayed exceptional ability in per- forming the duties of her office and both she and her assist- ant deserve great credit for the patience and devotion shown to their young charges.
The large crowds and great interest shown by the younger generation has demonstrated the fact that supervised playgrounds are a success in this City. The beautiful flag given to the City by public-spirited citizens of Ward 3, was thrown to the breezes for the first time on Decoration Day. Action should be taken at once to show our Country's flag in all parks and playgrounds.
It is absolutely necessary that each playground should have a suitable Sanitary Building and money for that purpose should be appropriated at once.
Early in June an order was passed appropriating a sum
384
of money for the purpose of building an additional bathhouse in Ward 2, same to be built by Commissioner of Public Works under direction of the Park Commissioners. Work was begun at once, and on July 1st, the new house was thrown open to the public and with the other bathhouses was taxed to the limit during the summer months.
More attention should be given and more money ex- pended on Ward Two playground. It has a fine beach, beau- tiful shores, picturesque grounds and is a favorite resort. A public pier or landing for boats and sailing craft should be built by the City and would be greatly appreciated by all who frequent this breathing spot during the summer months A sum of money was appropriated in the late fall for the pur- pose of repairing and painting the old bath houses, and im- proving the beach and grounds. Work was continued as long as weather permitted, and will be resumed early in the spring. Beach has been cleared and sanded brush cleared from the vicinity of the buildings. thus affording protection against fire. The paths and roadway have been improved, the float stage has been rebuilt, and is now in good condition. The roadway through Merrymount Park should be repaired, wid- ened in places and put in suitable condition to accommodate owners of pleasure vehicles. A small bath house should be built on the water side of Merrymount Park. A building of this kind would be greatly appreciated by citizens who live in that vicinity. A small amount of money should be appro- priated to open up roadways and paths through Faxon Park. The matter of a new Park and Playground in Ward 6 should receive serious consideration.
The ball field is much too small and its proximity to stores and dwellings means more or less damage to adjoin- ing property.
A large field more centrally located can be secured now for a comparatively small sum of money. The amount of money annually appropriated for the care and maintenance of the Parks and open spaces has not been sufficient to enable the Park Commissioners to make needed improvements, and
385
we recommend that the general appropriation for that pur- pose be increased.
CHARLES E. GILL, ROBERT E. FOY, H. T. WHITMAN,
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