USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1890-1895 > Part 34
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J. F. BOYDEN, Chief.
II. F. WALKER,
F. W. TURNER, Clerk ..
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
During the past year a decided step forward has been taken by the Library. Instead of being open but two after- noons and evenings of the week, it is now open every evening (Sundays and holidays excepted) from six to nine o'clock ; Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, from one to nine con- tinuously.
This at first was deemed but an experiment. It has proved in every particular a snecess, and many words of com- mendation have been received from students and teachers.
The Trustees do not desire to stop the good work here. Better accommodations are needed, and needed now. The Library has outgrown itself. Two hundred and eighty-two books have been added during the past year, and as many more will be added during the coming year. It is a ques- tion now with the Librarian where to place the books.
If better accommodations were given, another much needed improvement could be provided for,- namely, a read- ing room. As the Library is now open every evening, this would be a very slight additional expense.
It is hoped that at some future time, not far distant, we shall have a suitable Library building; but we would respect- fully suggest the advisability of making immediate provision for better accommodations, with a well equipped reading room.
Another change has been that in regard to the custody of the funds of the Library. Sections 4 and 5 of Chapter
67
304, of the Acts of the year of 1888, provide that the funds of the Library shall be placed in the care and custody of the Trustees, and the Town Treasurer shall act as their Treasurer. The Board of Trustees at the beginning of the year adapted its business methods to conform to the statutory requirement.
Twenty magazines are now in circulation from the Lib- rary, namely : -
American History; Edinburgh Review; Review of Re- views; North American Review ; Popular Science Monthly ; Forum; Arena; Current Literature ; the Literary Digest; At- lantic ; Harper's ; Scribner's ; Century ; Cosmopolitan : Lip- pincott's; New England; Good Housekeeping; St. Nicholas (juvenile) ; Wide Awake (juvenile) ; Social Economist.
The following papers, magazines, and books have been donated, for which the Trustees desire to express their thanks : -
Norwood Advertiser and Review; Norwood News; Trav- eller's Record, Hartford, Conn; The Tablet ; Salt and Sand ; Social Economist (given by Gen. Draper) ; Physical Educa- tion ; The Almanacs of Nathaniel Ames, 1726-75, and Life of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler (Given by .J. C. Lane, Esq.).
MARIA E. COLBURN, Secretary. HORACE T. ATWOOD, Chairman.
68
TRUSTEES OF NORWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY in account with the TOWN OF NORWOOD.
1892.
DR.
To Town appropriation,
$700 00
Dog license appropriation,
382 14
Income from Chickering Fund,
12 92
Amount of Fines received,
38 60
$1,133 66
1892.
CR.
By Cash paid for Bills contracted last year,
$160 99
Rent,
125 00
Oil, fuel, lighting, etc.,
49 07
Services of Librarian and assistants,
300 00
New books,
367 62
Magazines and periodicals,
71 00
Binding books and magazines,
16 55
Incidentals,
42 39
$1,132 62
Balance in Treasury,
31
Balance in hands of Librarian,
73
$1,133 66
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON A BUILDING FOR THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Norwood :-
Your Committee, appointed at the last annual town meet- ing, March 7, 1892, to whom was referred the subject matter of the article in the warrant for that ineeting, " to see what action the town will take towards providing a building for the public library ", would respectfully make the following re- port :
The necessities of the public library will absolutely re- quire some additional room for books and the ordinary pur- poses of the library by the end of the coming year.
The accommodations now afforded by the library for reading are so meagre as to be of little or no practical service. Yet, as the library is now open every evening, as well as Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, it would be no substan- tial additional expense, for attendance or otherwise, to have a reading room of reasonably sufficient accommodations open at all times when the library is now open. It will therefore be the wisest economy to furnish reading room accommodations for the public library in its new quarters.
Your Committee have considered the importance to the town of providing its library with a permanent home, in a satisfactory location, convenient to the centre of the town and to the townspeople generally, and have believed it to be the more important that this requirement should be satisfied at the present time, because every year that passes renders it more difficult and expensive to provide for such a want.
70
We are gratified to be able to report that we can secure a location, which we may regard as a permanent home for the library, and in its situation meeting every requirement. Mr. Lewis Day, a member of this committee, makes the eminently fair and liberal proposition to sell to the town a lot of land, with the house thereon, owned by him, on the northerly cor- ner of Washington and Day Streets, at the assessors' valnation.
Upon obtaining the advice of Messrs. Tyler Thayer and Milton H. Howard, in regard to such changes as would be necessary to make this building available for the use of the library in the immediate future, we are advised that the sum of $500 will be amply sufficient to provide for that expense.
The assessors' valuation, for 1892, of the property on the northerly corner of said streets, for land and buildings, was a total of $8,500.
We therefore recommend that the sum of $9,000 be appropriated for the above purposes : $500 for the expense of alterations in the proporty and removal of the library, and not exceeding $8,500 for the proposed purchase; and that, of the above amount, $1,000 be raised this year, and the remainder borrowed upon notes of the town for not exceeding $1,000 each, and interest, payable one each year hereafter, until the whole amount has been extinguished, the last note to be pay- able in eight years, and that the town treasurer be authorized to execute the necessary notes therefor, approved by the Selectmen, or a majority of them.
If the foregoing recommendations are adopted, there will remain but one other object to be secured, to provide for the requirements of the town in this direction for all time to come, so far as we can foresee, and that is, a more permanent and fire proof building, such as, without being extravagant or pre- tentious, will be a credit to the town and a permanent security to the books of the library. Mr. Lewis Day, as part of his proposition, very generously adds to the above, that he will give and make a donation to the Committee of a sum equal to half of the amount of the proposed purchase from him (or
71
about four thousand dollars) as the beginning of a fund for the latter purpose. And your Committee further recommend that the Committee be continued until the town shall other- wise order, with authority to add to, and fill vacancies in, their number, for the purpose, not only of carrying into effect the purchase of the property for the use of the public library, as above recommended, but also to raise, by subscription, the remainder of a sufficient fund for a public library building. Your Committee have no doubt that they can accomplish this within a reasonable time, and by or before the time when it will be necessary to use it.
JOHN C. LANE, JAMES B. TROY, GEO. B. TALBOT.
REPORT OF CEMETERY COMMIS- SIONERS.
The Commissioners of Highland Cemetery present here- with their annual report : -
Following their custom of previous years, lots have been graded, posts set, and ready for sale.
In the Catholic portion of the Cemetery considerable work has been done in grading avenues and lots, and with a small outlay the present year enough lots will be finished to supply the demand for a number of years.
The Cemetery has been under the personal charge of W. A. Talbot, and its appearance improves each year.
ALBERT G. WEBB, W. ALLEN TALBOT, EDWARD PENDERGAST,
Commissioners.
73
HIGHLAND CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS in account with the TOWN OF NORWOOD.
.
DR.
1892. To CASH FROM
Feb. 26. William Morrison, Lot No. 537, $25 00
Four bound posts and grading, 18 00
April 1. Michael J. Murphy, Lot No. 553, 40 00
Four bound posts and grading, 18 00
May 5. James O. Neal, Lot No. 518, 20 00
Three bound posts and grading, 11 50
9. Granvill L. Ellis, Lot No. 286, 15 00
Four bound posts and grading, 35 00
9. Joseph E. Seguski, Lot No. 30, 25 00
Four bound posts and setting, 6 00
14. Walter S. and Frank F. Courtney, Lot No. 204, 15 00
Three bound posts and grading, 10 00
June 3. Bartley and James Flaherty, Lot No. 523, 30 00
Four bound posts and grading, 20 00
July 23. Anna O'Brien, Lot No. 525, 40 00
Four bound posts and grading, 20 00
Aug. 20. James Costello, Lot No. 549, 8 00
Two bound posts and grading, 10 00
Oct. 27. Maggy MeDonough, Lot No. 539, $10 00 Four bound posts and grading, 18 00
$28 00
Less single grave given np. 5 00
23 00
Nov. 4. Michael Folan and John Flaherty, Lot No. 552, 25 00
Four bound posts and grading, 18 00
Feb. 6. Bartholomew Griffin, single grave, No. 517, 5 00
Amount carried forward, $437 50
-
74
HIGHLAND CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS in account with the TOWN OF NORWOOD.
Amount brought forward, $437 50
May 23. J. Jacob Bayer, graves, Nos. 530-531,
10 00
July 17. A. O. H., No. 1, single grave, No. 518, 5 00
Aug. 24. George Hendrie, single grave, No. 2,
5 00
Sept. 7. Daniel Murray, single grave, No. 532, 5 00
Nov. 18. George Braye, single grave, No. 534, 5 00
10 00
Dec. 14. John Gallager, graves, Nos. 535-536, Loam sold, 4.75
$482 25
CR
1893. CASH PAID
Jan. 31. Chas. E. Pond, Treasurer, $482 25
1893. ORDERS DRAWN ON TOWN TREASURER, IN FAVOR OF
Jan. 7. Herbert Tucker, paint, and painting tool house, etc., 7 50
31. W. A. Talbot,
Labor on avenues, walks, plots, and trees, $159 80
Labor on new Catholic lots, 488 70
Side hill lots, 36 00
Five lots, 34 20
Paid Tom Kerrissey, teaming, 181 86
Plants, shrubs, and bulbs, 77 74
Grass seed,
1 93
Setting twelve bound posts, 3 00 983 23
$990 73
VITAL STATISTICS.
BIRTHS.
DATE OF BIRTH.
NAME OF CHILD.
Jan. 9
Sherman Guyot Loder
13
Catherine Hogan
15 Ernest Oswald Sulskosky
21 John Cornelius Keissinger
66
23 Jane Love Woolard
Feb. 4 Mary Hurley
66
6 Louisa Emma Lang
7 Lawrence B. Gilchrist Bidwell
10 Harold Ambrose Flood.
66
18 Agnes Isabel McNaught
23 Flora Elizabeth Westgate
66
Frances Josephine Bell
Mar. 4 Helen Coakley .
Edward T. and Annie S.
Frederick and Alice M.
John and Julia.
August and Christine.
Oliver W. and Eva M.
Howard E. and Grace L. Thomas J. and Sarah.
George N. and Henrietta.
Daniel F. and Mary E.
George H. and Effie B.
.6
24 Mary Flaherty .
April 9 Ida Annie Marquart ..
11 Helen Margurette Odenwalder
66
17 Rosine Lonisa Benkert
66
18 Eugene Murphy.
68
18 Rockwood Stanley Hoar
.. 20 Anna Manning.
23 Chester Mahlon Capen
6.
26
Mary Ann Lyden
66
30
Johanna Gertrude Cuff
30 Anna Foley .
May 7 Miriam Mitchell
66
13 Verna Robinson . .
66
14 William Edward Robbins
William J. and Lucy.
66
19 Catherine Elizabeth Conolly
23 Ida May Bagley
26 Marion Frances Clapp
66
12 James Norton
June 5
Joseph Eppick
NAMES OF PARENTS.
Rev. Achilles L. and Susan J. Daglan and Catherine.
Joseph E. and Catherine.
Michael and Annie. John K. and Lizzie. Michael and Mary. Joseph and Catherine L. Joseph T. and Jane.
Frank P. and Mary F.
William J. and Isabel.
Elmer E. and Eleanor.
John M. and Mary E.
5 Winfred Allen Andrews
Timothy Coughlin
7 August William Peterson.
9
Milton Earle McLeod
.6
10 Ruth Plimpton.
11
Alice Kerrissey
66
11
George Ezra Nichols
12 Mary Loretta Dyer ..
18 Percy Gilbert Shackley
James and Mary. Julius and Elsie. George and Mary.
John and Louisa. Eugene and Ellen.
Clarence D. and Bertha M.
James P. and Mary E.
George O. and Cora.
Festa and Mary. William J. and Mary. Darby and Hannah. Stanford and Emma F.
George W. and Ella E.
16 Henrietta Byer.
Lonis J. and Julia C. Michael and Nora. Frank J. and Nellie V.
Francis L. and Kate I. Michael and Catherine. Mathew and Mary. 1
76
DATE OF BIRTH.
NAME OF CHILD.
NAMES OF PARENTS.
June 7
Hazel Mildred Parker
Arthur E. and Cora M. '
66
9 Willmar Josephine Tobin
' William JJ. and Mary V. Exel and Alına.
66
12
Jolin Erick Roxstrom
14 Harry Preston Burton
James S. and Ida T.
6.
16 Emma Oelschleger
George and Minnie.
66
17 Thomas Horan Dower
James and Ellen.
66
18 William Maskill
William and Mary.
66
22
Frances A. Flood
Charles F. and Catherine.
66
27
Matthew Kelley
Andrew and Margaret.
66
29
Mary Curran
Martin and Catherine.
66
30 Catherine Crowley
Michael and Mary.
July 1 Sadie MeDonough
Martin and Ellen.
66
Margrite Kelley
William H. and Lena E.
Edward B. and Margaret.
7
Francis Edward Kelley
Charles II. and Sarah .1.
66
8 John Patrick Mc Manus
James E. and Annie.
6.
14 Margarethe W. Randlet.
Eugene H. and Edith M.
17
William Irwin Pendergast
William F. and Mary E.
66
18 Julia Foley
Coleman and Delia.
66
21
Laura Elizabeth Duncan.
Dennis H. and Mary R.
66
23
Margaret Isabella Norton.
Dr. Eben C. and Eliza L.
66 24 Elsie Pillsbury Robinson
24 John Leon Hogan
Aug. 1 Clement Reardon
John J. and Delia E. John P. and Catherine A.
3 Alice Catharine Tisdale
Lawrence F. and Annie.
66
7 Oscar Leonor Johnson.
Charles O. and Amanda.
10
Arthur Conrad Readel
Conrad and Eva.
6:
12
Helen JJosephine Cronan
Dennis and Mary. Herman and Angusta.
:
16 Charles Shedd
Charles F. and Sarah A.
16 John Francis Keating
Timothy and Margaret.
66
27
Timothy Foley
Timothy and Mary.
66
29
Margaret Foley
Matthew and Margaret.
Sept. 3 66
-Hudson
William II. and Mary E.
6
Patrick Foley
James and Delia. Bartley and Sarah. Frederick A. and Mary C.
66
7 Mary Dolora King.
Jolin B. and Melvina.
66
James Lawrence Ryan
Patrick E. and Hannah.
15 Johanna Murphy
William and Nora.
6.
15 Elva Allbee Colton
Fred L. and Cora V.
6:
Frank Edward Wurster
Martin and Margaret.
5 Michael Joseph Leary
James E. and Ellen.
6 Julia Curran.
7 Priscilla Kendrick Benson.
Frank N. and Mary E.
30 William Curran
Fred J. and Addie L.
Bernard and Ellen A.
6 Agnes Gillooly
Arthur G. and Maria L.
8 Esther Fogg
Daniel and Margaret.
20
Julia Feeney
4 George Pendergast.
20 Ora Winfred Fenton.
Joseph P. and Grace E.
15 Elsie Hartzog
77
DATE OF BIRTH.
NAME OF CHILD.
NAMES OF PARENTS.
Sept.18
Esther Hill Walker
23
Alice McFarland
.:
24
Archibald Hill Miller
26
Mary Donovan
Patrick and Mary.
..
29
Grover Cleveland Baulduf
.6
29
Frank Joseph Eppick
Julius F. and Louisa A. Joseph and Gertrude.
Oct. 8
Victor Martinidez.
Victor and Elizabeth.
17
Madelene Burrell O'Brien
. .
24 George Frederick Dearness
Mrs. Priscilla Dearness.
24
Denis Francis Drummy.
.6
24
Annie Lyden .
66
29
Alice Bigelow .
Matthew and Mary. John and Bridget A. Waldo H. and Sarah.
Nov. 2
Chester Lyman Woods
Joseph H. and Mary E.
4
Simon Edward Donnolly
Simon P. and Catherine E.
19
George Elmer Phalan
Walter S. and Rose A.
.6
22
Jessie Devina Mc Leod
Roderick and Maggie D.
23
Anie Josephine Oldham
John P. and Sarah (. Peter and Margaret.
Dec. 7
Walter Winthrop Metcalf. Emily Burke.
Michael J. and Ellen.
66
1- Joseph Rorke.
John and Mary A.
17
· Annie Fredricka Hanck
Peter and Roina.
18
Edith Foster.
William A. and Mary E.
66
24 Herbert Evelyn Tucker
Herbert and Nettie JI.
27 Lawrence Highland Welch
William P. and Rose M.
29
Mary Catherine Lyden
Martin and Bridget.
31 Marie Agnes Lee.
John T. and Bridget M.
66
28
1
Mary Mullane
66
28
Walter HI. and Sarah E.
Gertrude MeSwain.
Andrew P. and Mary A.
14 Lawrence Dominick Gillin
James J. and Mary T.
Maurice J. and Mary M.
28
Mary Drummy
H. Frank and JJessie K. Thomas and Delia. Alexander and Annie. James M. and Margaret.
NOTE. - If any errors in names or dates are noticed, or any omis- sions, please inform the Town Clerk.
78
MARRIAGES.
DATE.
NAMES.
RESIDENCE.
BY WHOM MARRIED.
Jan. 2
Joseph Eppick Gertrude Pfiffer
Norwood. 66
Rev. A. L. Loder.
Mar. 3
Eric Peterson. Louisa C. Olson
Newton
Rev. II. Olson.
66
9
Frank J. Adell Lillian N. Morse
Walpole
J. C. Lane, Esq.
Norfolk
Apr. 14
Arthur J. Lacey Olive H. Cushman
Plymoutlı
Rev. A. L. Loder.
"114
Harry P. Allen Marion A. Braman
Stoneham Norwood.
Rev. Francis J. Marsh, of Walpole.
17
Martin Coyne Mary Curran
Norwood. 66
Rev. James B. Troy.
66
17
Patrick Dorsey Mary Curran
Norwood
Rev. James B. Troy.
28
Henry L. Litchfield Effie M. Hayes
Norwood 66
Rev. Daniel A. Wade.
4 28
Phillip Estabrook Edna M. Hill.
Norwood 66
Rev. H. Olson.
May 3
Fritz Roxstrom Hulda Johnsson.
Norwood
Rev. H. Olson.
60
66
4
Harry M. Turner Carrie G. Rockwell
Norwood 66
Rev. A. L. Loder.
66
4 Edwin L. Manchester .. Edna Tucker.
Norwood
Rev. George Hill.
11
John T. Lee. Bridget M. Conolly
Norwood
Rev. James B. Troy.
June 1
George G. Achorn Edna E. Bateman
Walpole Norwood
Rev. W. F. Bickford.
2
James M. Folan Julia A. Ford
Norwood Needham
Rev. S. J. Danahy.
4 23 N. Louis Sheldon Jennie F. Talbot
Boston Norwood.
Rev. Ira A. Priest.
Norwood.
Norwood.
79
DATE.
NAMES.
RESIDENCE.
BY WHOM MARRIED.
June26 John Conton Mary Welch
July 14 George Readel Laura V. Foster
Norwood
Rev. George W. Nead.
21 Bernard L. Bigelow Sarah D. Noyes
Norwood E. Bridgewater
Rev. J. W. Quimby.
July 21 | Daniel F. Reardon Celia C. Bergtol
Norwood 66
Rev. James B. Troy.
21 | Joseph Gallagher Julia T. Conley
Norwood
Rev. James B. Troy.
27 Daniel L. Kelliher Julia F. Sullivan
Norwood 66
Rev. James B. Troy.
-66
31 Martin Devine Bridget Feeney
Norwood
Rev. James B. Troy.
66
31 Daniel McCarty Margaret Lines
Norwood 66
Rev. James B. Troy.
Aug.20
Charles O. Anderson . .
Norwood 66
Rev. C. F. Johansson. Boston.
Hulda C. Anderson .
Sept. 3 Jolın II. F. Ward Ellen B. Fuller
5 George C. Woodword .. Margaret Dolierty . .
Boston
Rev. George Hill.
Oct. 8 Heinrich Hildebrand . .
Norwood 66
Rev. A. L. Loder.
Henrietta L. Pries
Norwood 66
Rev. H. Olson.
66
19 Henry E. Ide. Maria E. Banks
Norwood
Rev. Francis J. Marsh.
66 19 John Conley Winfred Norton
Norwood
Rev. James B. Troy.
Norwood
Rev. George Hill.
Nov. 2 Samuel E. Chamberlain Viola F. Littlefield
Norwood
Rev. James B. Troy.
Norwood
Rev. George W. Nead.
Canton
14 Jolın Peterson Augusta Nelson
80
DATE.
NAMES.
RESIDENCE.
BY WHOM MARRIED.
Nov. 8
Peter Malone . Margaret Regan
Norwood
Rev. James B. Troy.
23
Walter S. Hill. Fannie M. Perry
Boston
Rev. W. B. Eddy.
Norwood
81
DEATHS.
DATE.
NAMES.
YRS.
Mos.
DAYS.
Jan.
4
Margaret Murphy
67
25
66
6
Ward L. Gay
39
15
66
18
Ella L. Clary
49
0
66
20
Jabez Weatherbee
65
25
31
William Leary
71
8
Feb.
1
Harold Winslow
66
18
Bessie A. Lane
3
10
March
Betsey C. Monk
87
1
14
66
25
Francis H. Bird.
64
3
5
66
28
Catherine Flaherty
1
2
17
April
5
Ann H. Draper
73
1
5
66
27
Luthera B. Cline
47
1
1
27
.4
27
B. Joseph Flaherty
2
10
13
May
18
Charles F. Shedd
36
22
John F. Leonard
42
66
23
Henry J. Bayer
20
2
June
2
Lionel Hallsworth
6
5
9
66
9
Thomas Drummy
5
=
14
William S. Gay
78
9
21
15
Emma W. Gay
43
4
1
15
Carrie V. Ward.
44
4
16
William J. Robbins
31
10
1
Ang.
1
Bridget Mahoney
60
7
5
12
Alfred B. Readel ..
10
7
Sept.
6
Margaret M. Murray
1
4
27
66
13
Margarethe W. Randlet
64
4
.6
16
Jane M. Wood.
83
26
Oct.
2
William H. Drummy
8
3
19
Annie E. Colbert
30
4
20
14
Rebecca Hawes
68
3
Nov.
12
Iva M. Foley
8
66
12
Eunice W. Williams
2
4
17
15
Jolin Ellis Hartshorn
81
11
6
17
James D. Bray
2
0
66
20
Gertrude Foley
10
8
Enos Lane
42
6
25
..
21
Rudolf Stadler
40
Julia Feeney
5
7
Dec.
7
William A. Troy
72
3
12
Ellen Gallagher.
66
Ambrose Davenport.
20
3
17
66
31
Emily B. Page
53
23
22
Sherman Guyot Loder
7
13
23
George Ezra Nichols
5
11
66
14
Mary E. Edel.
28
Lucilla M. Hollingsworth
22
7 4 124:122 3 1 2
21
28
Hannah Sulskosky
53
John E. O'Brien
39
25
0
July
7
Frank Kelley
10
Winfred Allen Andrews
5
18
Michael Savage
78
21
27
27
REPORT
OF THE
WATER BOARD.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
The Board of Water Commissioners herewith present their eighth annual report, for the year ending December 31, 1892, with a statement of receipts and expenditures, and, as Trustees of the Sinking Fund, a statement of its investments.
At the annual town meeting Marcus M. Alden was re- elected Water Commissioner for the term of three years. The Board organized by choice of Edmund J. Shattuck as Chair- man.
Immediately after the March meeting, the Board sent to the petitioners for extensions of water mains, for signature, the usual form of agreement for guaranty for six per cent. per an- nun of the estimated cost. The agreements were all returned signed by parties believed to be responsible, with the excep- tion of the extension petitioned for on Walnut Avenne, the petitioners having been unable to secure sufficient co-opera- tion on the part of the residents of that street to insure the payment of the amount required.
The reservoir received its annual examination and clean- ing in May, and was found to be in good condition and re- markably free from sediment.
The hydrants and gates have received their usual exam- ination, and are in good working order, with the exception of two, which will require repairs as soon as the frost leaves the ground. One hydrant has been added to the line, -- namely, on Pleasant Street Extension,-making a total of 107 now in use.
86
Owing to fault in plans of coal shed as furnished by the architect, the ends of the building were not sufficiently strong to sustain the weight of coal. It was necessary to expend the sum of $59.15 in removing the coal and repairing the ends and sides of the building.
Inquiries have been made regarding the cause of the dis- agreeable taste and smell of the water which have appeared at intervals during the past year. In reply to this inquiry, we print the following from the Report of State Board of Health, 1891-92. We also call your attention to a letter of recent date received from Mr. X. H. Goodnough, Assistant Engineer State Board of Health.
In the course of the regular microscopical examinations of the drinking waters of Massachusetts, forms have been frequently oh- served during the last two years which were supposed to be Uro- glena Volvor, and reported as sueh.
The organisms did not appear in sufficient numbers, however, to require special study until February, 1892. In this month they began to infest Buckmaster Pond, in Norwood, until there were as many as 1,300 of the yellowish spinning spheroids in every eubie centimeter of water. This growth lasted until the middle of June, and during most of the time weekly examinations of the water were made. At the same time the water of Little South Pond, in Ply- mouth, became infested with the same organism.
In both of these cases the appearance of the Uroglena was ac- companied, as it is said to have been in Middletown and Meriden (Conn.), by a distinct peculiar and disagreeable odor and taste. The odor, which is not noticeable in samples taken fresh from the ponds, becomes very distinct and unpleasant when samples stand for some time. The taste is distinctly oily and suggestive of fish.
The Norwood and Plymouth colonies of Uroylena disintegrate very readily upon the least change in the conditions surrounding them. Each monad seems to possess one or more minute oil-like globules, which in several cases were seen to exude from the mass after disintegration. From these facts, together with the absence of any evidence of decomposition, as shown by bacterial and chemical analyses, we may perhaps conclude that the odor and the taste ob- served in water were due to the liberation of an oil contained in the individual monads, and not to their decay.
87
LETTER FROM STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, CHIEF ENGINEERS' OFFICE, 13 BEACON STREET. BOSTON, MASS., February 3, 1893.
E. J. SHATTUCK, EsQ., Chairman
Norwood Water Commissioners.
Dear Sir : In reply to your request for a statement as to the present condition of Norwood water, I would say, the organism Uroglena reappeared in the water of Buckmaster Pond late in the autumn of 1892, and caused a renewal of the disagrecable odor in the water which accompanies this organism. The numbers observed by our biologist this year, however, have been fewer than last year, and the last analyses indicate that the organism has already nearly, if not quite, disappeared from the water supply.
We have no reason to think that the presence of organisms of this character is detrimental to the health of those using the water, although they render it disagreeable to the consumer. Troubles from it are of somewhat frequent occurrence in this State, and have occurred recently in Hudson, Plymouth, and other places, and in a class of ponds having clean shores and, generally, sand and gravel bottoms, and which, for the most part, derive their supply from water-sheds free from population and other objectionable features.
Yours truly, X. H. GOODNOUGH, Assistant Engineer.
Inasmuch as citizens of West Dedham, residing along the lines of our water mains, have expressed a desire to purchase water of ns, and as our present charter does not give us authority to dispose of or sell water except to residents within the lines of our town, we have deemed it a wise measure to petition the General Court for a change in our charter, to allow the town to sell from its supply such quantities as it may deem expedient and profitable.
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