USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1890-1895 > Part 16
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Miss Jennie P. Baker, after a valued and efficient service of several years, resigned her charge of the North primary last Sep- tember for a more lucrative position in one of the schools of New- ton. Miss Orra E. Guild was installed in her place, and proves herself a worthy successor - which is sufficient praise.
Course of Study.
A scheme of school work for all the departments was adopted early in the year, and placed in the hands of the teachers, who as far as possible have followed it out, the difficulty of perfect uni- formity being most manifest in the four fourth-vear classes which are tributaries to the B Intermediate grade in the Everett building. Since the division of this grade (see " Additional Schools ") and doubling of the work in the master's department by the transfer of Grammar B, the unity of the plan has been somewhat dis- turbed ; and not until after a thorough revision of the course when (in next April, it is hoped,) all the schools of the town shall be for the first time properly placed, and the educational system complete, will the Committee be able to arrange the studies clearly,
69
so as to set before teachers and pupils a thirteen years' connected line of work. The following schedule tor the four years of High School study has been proposed by Mr. Sheldon :
English Course. 1st Year.
Algebra.
English Language.
English History. Civil Government.
Botany.
Botany.
English .*
English .*
2d Year.
Geometry.
Latin.
Greek.
Roman Hist. and Geog.
Arithmetic Rev.
English .*
3d Year.
Rhetoric and Logic Latin.
Greek.
Greek Hist. and Geog.
French (elective).
4th Year.
Eng. and Am. Lit. Latin.
Greek.
General Reviews.
French (elective).
*One lesson a week.
English and Latin.
1st Year.
1st Year.
Algebra. Latin,
English History.
Civil Government.
Botany.
English .*
2d Year.
Geometry. General History.
Geometry. General History.
Physics.
Arithmetic, Rev.
English .*
3d Year.
Rhetoric and Logic. Chemistry. French. Political Economy.
4tlı Year.
4th Year.
Eng. and Am. Lit. Latin.
Geology.
Astronomy.
Astronomy.
General Reviews. French (elective).
GENERAL EXERCISE.
Spelling first two years. Composition work through the course. Readings from standard authors, and Elocutionary drill for all pupils. Drawing and Music, one lesson a week.
3d Year.
Rhetoric and Logic.
Chemistry.
Latin.
Political Economy.
French (elective).
Eng. and Am. Lit. French.
Geology.
General Reviews.
Algebra. Latin.
English History.
Civil Government,
Physics.
Arithmetic, Rev.
English .*
2d Year.
College Preparatory.
70
Teachers of the lower schools give an oral lesson once a week on the effects of narcotics and drink-poisons upon the human system ; and instruction in these subjects accompanies the regular study of Physiology, which begins as soon as the Grammar grades are reached.
New Scholarships.
By the generosity of our fellow citizen, Judge J. C. Lane, six medals are now offered to pupils of the first class in the A Grammar grade who shall, at the end of the ensuing year, prove to be the six best scholars. Mr. Lane, who is himself a medal scholar. in his proposal to the Committee intimates that this offer will be annually continued, and probably extended to inchide pupils of the High School.
The medals are beautiful in themselves, and the possession of such an "official " voucher of fidelity and achievement is an honor to be prized by any student.
Meantime the offer is experimental, and further arrangements depend on the salutary working of the plan.
Music.
The Committee are considering whether better results in musical instruction than are now apparent in our increased num- ber of schools - with further additions soon to be made -can be realized out of an appropriation of three hundred dollars, or a musical instructor can be continued at the old rate and in the old way, leaving the improvement to depend largely upon the regular teachers' musical knowledge.
The pupils in some of the schools show progress in learning to sing, but in others the results of teaching are unsatisfactory. Mr. Young, in the division of his time, has made his visits to
71
each school so brief, perhaps necessarily, that often but little seems to have been done beyond creating a diversion from regular study and giving a few minutes of recreation.
The Committee have determined to secure fuller service, if possible. at present cost; and leave the estimate for the ensuing vear as it stands.
Drawing.
Lack of time, in the effort to carry out the course of study laid down, has, in some of the schools, prevented due attention to this branch. and where the lessons have been irregular and un- systematic naturally little or no progress has been made. At present we are obliged to say that the higher grades are doing less and poorer work than the lower.
During the next year Prof. Henry T. Bailey, of the State Board of Education, is expected to give his course of drawing lessons to our school teachers ; and his help and suggestions will be timely and useful in rousing more interest and attention to a too much slighted study.
Truant School.
The County Commissioners have at last established a County School for truants, the building purchased and fitted up for the purpose being located in the neighboring town of Walpole.
This welcome provision relieves your Committee not only from the old quandary in disposing of cases of wilful absenteeism and idleness, but also from some annual embarrassment in making out the State returns.
The compulsory education law now helps as well as con- mands us to carry out its provisions. Truants will take warning accordingly.
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Buildings, Damages, etc.
The school buildings are in good condition, and no consider- able repairs have been necessary. In one instance a temporary cause of complaint in the warming of rooms was quite removed by a change of janitors. There is no trouble with ventilation, and the attendance of the schools has not suffered unusually, ex- cept in the case of one or two by the brief prevalence of bad colds The town water has been introduced into the North schoolhouse, making the water supply uniform now to all the schools.
A case of malicious cutting and tearing of clothing by some one in the North School has for several weeks baffled the watch- fulness of the teachers, Committee and the investigations of the police. So far there is no proof that this is the work of out- side hands, and all means will be used to detect and punish the guilty person in the building who is capable of such wanton ingenuity of mischief.
On the Sunday before Christmas the wire netting on one of the cellar windows of the East Schoolhouse was burst through, forcing out the glass, and an entrance was made into the building by one or more boys, who stole several articles from the rooms. A " confession " made by one bov, implicating two confederates. proved untrustworthy, as it was under pressure, and he subse- quently told another story. Suspicion rests upon a former pupil of the East School, but the chain of proof is incomplete. The young transgressor is no doubt shielded ; and it only remains to say that his case, and all similar ones, will on conviction be dealt with as the law directs. A severe example is badly needed by mischievous boys who damage public buildings. and who need to be reminded that breaking and entering is a crime. Friends who shield such young offenders by falsehood, may save themselves the
73
expense of a square of glass, but they are encouraging incipient burglary.
The grounds about the East Schoolhouse are a Sunday resort more or less frequented by boys who are likely to be as careless of public property as they are of Sabbath quiet. Policeman Tay- lor has been requested to extend his beat to that locality on Sunday afternoons, but it would be better -and safer for outhouses and glass windows, - if these lads were kept under some parental restraint.
High School Building.
Our long needed and long hoped for High Schoolhouse is built and nearly ready for occupancy. At our last March town meeting an appropriation of $14,000 was voted for this purpose, and a Building Committee, with full powers, consisting of F. O. Winslow, Tyler Thayer, E. B. Morse, E. J. Shattuck, and T. J. Casey, was appointed, with the understanding that the house should be finished in time for the fall term. An excellent site was secured on central land near the Congregational church, but long and unexpected difficulty in the selection of a plan delayed the commencement of the work until the last of October. The building contract was awarded to Walker & Goodwin.
The new High Schoolhouse is fitted with the Smead system of heating and ventilation, and will accommodate seventy-five pupils, having, besides main schoolroom, three recitation rooms and laboratory ; also dressing rooms and basement closets. It is an ornament to the town and a credit to the committee and the builders. How long it will be sufficient for the needs of the High School will depend on the town's rate of growth.
74 High School.
Owing to the close quarters, bad ventilation and general in- convenience to which the High School has been subjected while waiting for the new building, the pupils of the first class have been allowed to study their lessons at home, meeting their teachers only at recitation hours. The progress they have made under this plan has been all that could be expected, and probably more than would have been realized if the arrangement of the previous year had continued, with the Principal and his Assistant at telephone distance apart, and the scholars migrating from one to the other five or six times a day.
The establishment of the school in the new building will in- crease its facilities for work, and be like a birth into a new exist- ence. Hitherto the studies in the sciences have been forced into the background for lack of space to set up and use apparatus ; no development has been possible in the rhetorical department : and all general exercises, as well as most experiments and object-lesson work. have been crowded out. The change to a better state of things cannot fail to awaken new interest in the mind of every pupil, and give a healthy impetus to study and the formation of scholarly habits.
The High School now has forty members. These, in two classes, represent its one-half growth. In the fall, according to present indications, another class of twenty will enter, making a two-thirds grown High School. Whether, when the fourth class enters, in September, 1891, the full sized school will crowd the new building as the old ones have been crowded, remains to be seen when that time comes.
Removal from the town has taken away two of the pupils since the enrollment last fall, but only one has dropped out from inability to keep up with the class work.
75
Eight scholars are studying in preparation for a college course.
Additional Schools.
The pressure in the Everett building, caused by accessions from the East and North Schools, compelled the Committee to duplicate department No. 4, (B Intermediate), and to effect this, No 2 grade (B Grammar) was transferred to the A Grammar room and put in charge of the master, increasing his number to between sixty and seventy. This transfer emptied a room for No. 3 (A Intermediate) to occupy, and leave its place for the next lower grade. No. 4 (Miss Smith's school) was then relieved by turning its overflow into No. 3's room, making a second B Inter- mediate.
On the removal of the High School to the new building, an additional school will undoubtedly be put into the vacated room, which will involve, of course, the hiring of another teacher.
It may be well, also, for the town to reserve for school pur- poses the small office building now used as class-room, in view of possible needs next term or next fall.
Cost of Schools.
The time has come when the most indifferent citizen must realize how large a fraction of the annual municipal expense is the single item of public education, and must decide whether to shirk the burden or bear it fearlessly. If the sum spent for schools is great it is only because the schools have grown with the growth of everything else. When the town voted money for the High School building it was after years of consideration and with full knowledge that the cost of maintaining such a building in actual use would compel an important increase in the school appropria- tions. Exactly what that cost will be cannot be figured as yet.
76
but the Committee have endeavored to cover it in their estimates for the coming year. By vote of the town we have a first-class, instead of a second-class, High School. Its teachers must be se- lected from among men and women who have a classic education - which has cost them much time and money - and competent persons of that rank of "skilled labor" must be paid larger salaries.
The southwest district will soon demand a local school and schoolhouse. There are many who think the time has come to raise and appropriate money towards the support of a school su- perintendent, and who say that more assistant teachers are a near necessity. The question of furnishing some or all of these may be deferred a little longer, but the expense of at least one new primary school and teacher will have to be met at once.
We have asked $11,300 of the town for immediate needs. If past liberality is any indication of your feeling, this sum will be voted cheerfully. In some parts of the world education is a costly luxury. In Massachusetts it is a costly necessity. We are spending money like water, but we are doing it for our children.
The retiring member of the board, after fifteen years of almost continuous service, cannot sever his connection with the gentlemen who have been his longest and last associates without a pang of regret and an assurance of warm and enduring recollection. Of them, and of all who were his official colleagues, there remain only pleasant thoughts and a memory of unbroken concord and kindness. Removal and change of residence will not weaken these and many other personal friendships, nor abate the interest so long felt in the moral and educational prosperity of a commu- nity where privileges are many and privations few.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE HILL, THERON BROWN, J. A. CROCKER.
ERRATUM.
On Page 38, under head of " Remarks," the date of the May town meeting should read May 18th.
NORWOOD WATER WORKS.
FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
1890.
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
THE WATER COMMISSIONERS present their Fifth Annual Report, for 1889, as follows :-
At the annual town meeting in March, T. Francis Guy was elected Commissioner for three years.
Owing to a disagreement with the Selectmen touching the matter of finance, W. L. Gay and E. J. Shattuck, Water Com- missioners, tendered their resignations to the Town Clerk.
At a special town meeting held May 18, 1889, John Gillooly was elected Commissioner for one year from March, 1889, to fill out the term of W. L. Gay; and E. J. Shattuck, who was then absent, was re-elected Commissioner for two years, from March, 1889.
The matters which at that time were in dispute, have been satisfactorily settled,-the Selectmen having this year trans- ferred to the Treasurer of Water Commissioners the full amounts appropriated for 1889, for the use of the Water Department.
The Board organized by choice of Edmund J. Shattuck as Chairman.
During the year we have had one leak in the main pipe and two in service pipes. The one in the main near Frank Cheney's house was repaired at an expense of $4.00. Those in the service pipes were repaired at a cost of $4.00.
The hydrants and gates have been examined and are believed to be in perfect working order. Twelve new hydrants have been set, eleven on new extension work and one at the request of the Fire Department on Washington St., nearly opposite Village Hall Building; for this point, a large Chapman Hydrant with
4
two steamer and two hose outlets was set, and connected with an eight inch pipe with the Main. The hydrant on the corner of Cottage and Washington Streets has been removed to a position on R. R. Avenue, to furnish better fire protection to Lyman Smith's Sons' Tannery and the adjacent buildings. The cost of the same was paid by the Fire Department.
GUARANTYS.
DURING the past year the question arose regarding the liability of signers to the guarantys as prepared by the Water Commis- sioners.
It is the custom of the Board, before contracts are made for extension, to have the guarantys drawn for the estimated cost of each extension and signed. In several instances the cost of ex- tensions has been less than the estimates, but the guarantors have been required to pay the full amount, guaranteed by thiem, which they have done under protest. By referring to the Town Records we find the votes have in several instances been recorded as follows :--
" Provided a guaranty of 6% on five hundred dollars," or some specified sum, was obtained.
Your Commissioners are of the opinion that they cannot re- duce the amount named in the guaranty without instructions from the town,-although they believe it to be the wish of the town to collect only 6% on the actual cost of the extension. An article has been inserted in the warrant as follows :---
" To see if the town will authorize the Water Commissioners to refund the amounts collected of guarantors for Extensions of Water Mains in excess of the required six per cent on the actual cost of said extensions, and change the present guarantys so that they shall cover the actual cost, where it is less than the estimated cost."
The appropriation for extension on Guild and East Chapel Streets was not required, as the petitioners were unable to furnish a satisfactory guaranty.
5
Service Pipes and Extension of Mains.
THE work of the past year in laying service pipes and ex- tensions of main pipes is as follows :---
Number of service pipes laid during the year, 68.
Total length of service pipes laid, 1,421 feet.
Total cost, $560.80.
Extensions of mains have been made in accordance with the votes of the town; and in every instance, with the exception of a short piece on Everett Ave., guarantys have been signed by parties believed to be responsible for the required 6% on the estimated cost of the work.
EXTENSIONS, 1889.
LOCATION.
SIZE OF PIPE.
LENGTI !.
COST.
HY. DRANTS SET.
Fulton St. from R. R. Ave. to Myrtle
6 ineh
670 ft.
$1028.47
1
Tyler St., from Fulton to end .
6
¥
614 “
545.09
1
Myrtle St., from Fulton to end
6
320
731.96
1
Everett Ave., Washington to Linden Walpole St., from end of pipe as be- fore laid, to German Block
4
6
485
336.08
1
6
738 4
708.94
1
Cedar St., from Chapel St. to end
6
66
697 «
576.28
2
Washington St., from end of pipe as before laid, to W. F. Morse
8
66
830 “
799.22
1
Munroe St., 2d Extension
6
66
170
137.94
Broadway, from Guild St. to M. H. Howard's Shop
6
1112 «
1180.49
2
Munroe St., from end of pipe as be- fore laid
6
730 “
555.47
1
All extensions have been laid by John T. Langford under contract, subject to all conditions of his original contract with the town, regarding quality of materials and work, with a guarantee for one year.
On account of a large and unexpected amount of rock encoun- tered in the excavation, the cost of the extensions on Fulton, Tyler and Myrtle Sts. was increased in excess of the appropria- tion, $505.52.
6
The water rates on this line however more than pay the six per cent. on the total cost.
PUMPING STATION.
UNDER the liberal appropriation of this year, the Commissioners, with the aid of Mr. Bucknam, have been enabled to put the same in good condition, and no changes or repairs of consequence will be necessary for the ensning year. The additions to the machinery etc., are as follows :---
Auxiliary Pump .- In accordance with a vote of the town, bids were asked from the following manufacturers :- Dean Steam Pump Co., Knowles Steam Pump Co., Worthington Steam Pump Co. and the Davidson Steam Pump Co., for pump capable of pumping thirty thousand gallons per hour. The bid of the Davidson Steam Pump Co. was accepted for a pump to meet the required duty for the sum of $450, delivered at the Pumping Station. After several minor changes the pump not only gave the required capacity, but has pumped 39,000 gallons per hour, and we believe is a good invest- ment for the town-as in case of accident to the pumping engine, the auxiliary pump by daily pumping can easily keep the reservoir up to the required level.
We find, by careful examination of the boiler, that keeping a continuous fire under the same has obviated all difficulty with the tubes, and the same are now in good condition.
The season having been unusually wet, the water supply has been abundant.
Summary of record of Pond Gauge will be found on page 8.
Record of Pumping Engine will be found on page 10.
The reservoir is in good condition. The Board would recom- mend the erection of a suitable fence to keep out dogs and an occasional bather.
The instructions to the engineer, never to allow the reservoir to get below the ten foot level with a then capacity of 900,000 gallons, have been renewed.
7
RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE Commissioners beg to renew the recommendation of a former Board, and strongly urge the town to lay a six inch main pipe from the corner of Winter and Prospect Sts., to connect with the main pipe on Cottage Street. This connection by continuous pumping will insure the town a supply of water, in case of accident to the reservoir, or to the main pipes leading from the reservoir to the corner of Nichols and Winter Sts .; and furnish the town two nearly complete systems. Estimated cost, $1,600.00.
The reservoir being some distance from the main street, and in an exposed condition, should be protected with a suitable fence. Estimated cost, including painting two coats, $500.
The ordinary water rates, while lower than in many towns, are just and equitable, but meter rates for domestic use are below the average, and in our opinion too low.
Our first Board of Water Commissioners allowed water takers through meters, to supply other families on the same premises through one meter, at an annual minimum charge of $10.00.
We would recommend that the Board of Water Commissioners be authorized to increase the minimum charge to those who supply more than one family on the same premises through one meter, to $15.00 per year, payable semi-annually in advance; which pay- ment will entitle the consumer to use sixty thousand gallons of water per year, for one year, and thirty cents for each and every thousand gallons of water drawn in excess of this quantity.
The works, for the first time since they were com- pleted, have this year paid the total cost of maintenance, repairs and interest on the bonded debt ($100,000), and a balance in favor of the Department of
To give the Water Dep't a proper and just showing the town should give it credit for or pay for the hy- drant service for fire protection rendered by the Works.
Inquiries have been made and we find that $40.00 per year for cach hydrant would be a just and equitable price, which is from 15 to 25% lower than surround-
$761.34
8
ing towns pay to water companies for same service. We have (Jan. 1, 1890) 98 hydrants, at $40.00, 3,920.00
Or a profit, based on the above figures, for opera- ting 1889, $4,681.34
These figures will show to those who labored for the introduc- tion of a supply of pure water in our town, that their labor has been rewarded, as the works are now on a paying basis.
SUMMARY OF RECORD OF POND GAUGE.
January 1, 1889, the water was one inch above the curb at the outlet; it remained about the same until March 1. From March 1 to July 1 the average was one inch below the curb., The lowest point reached was July 27, six and one-fourth inches below the curb. From August 1 to November 20 the average was two inches below the curb. From Nov. 20 to January 1, 1890, the average was one-half inch over the curb at the outlet.
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
Number of services put in in 1889, 68
Total number of services, Jan. 1, 1890, 430
Number of hydrants set, 1889, 12
Total number of hydrants Jan. 1, 1890, 98
Total number of meters in use Jan. 1, 1890, 96
Total fuel consumed for the year for pumping, heat- ing buildings, and steaming, in pounds, 219,35]
Total pumpage for the year, in gallons, 58,577,246
Number gallons pumped per lb. of coal, 267
Cost of operating, figured on maintenance and repairs, $2,015.55
Interest at 4% figured on cost of works, January 1, 1889 ($108,979.74), $4,359.19
Cost of million gallons raised to reservoir, figured on
total maintenance and interest,
$108.98
9
INCOME 1889.
Water rates receipts, $6,776.89
Hydrant service, if the town paid at the rate of $40.00 each hydrant (98), 3,920.00
$10,696.89
Net profit for operating 1889 under above statement, figuring 4% interest on total cost of works, to January 1, 1889-($108,979.74), 4,322.16
WATER WORKS DEBT.
First issue of Bonds $75,000, bearing interest at the rate of 4% per annum.
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