USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1885 > Part 3
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$552,450 00
66
North district, 674,365 00
South district, 185,145 00
Total,
$1,411,960 00
Total valuation May 1, 1884,
$5,661,828 00
Total number of polls,
3,547
Number of acres of land,
25,935
" dwelling houses,
2,246
" horses,
1,O12
" COWS, 984
66 " sheep,
19
Tax on each poll, $2.
Rate of tax on property, 1.3 per cent.
Total amount of taxes assessed,
$80,697 74
Net tax committed to collectors, East district, $31,775 17
North district, 37,129 86
South district, II,792 71
JOB B. SAVERY, Assessors C. T. GUILD, of
C. E. JORDAN, -
Attleborough.
31
242
ANNUAL REPORT.
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ATTLE- BORO BOARD OF HEALTH.
The Attleboro Board of Health held its first meeting of the year at the office of Dr. Mackie, April 4th, 1884, and organized for the year's work by the choice of Dr. Mackie as Chairman, and Dr. J. R. Foster as Secretary. Upon consultation it was further decided that the work of the Board could be better and more expeditiously accomplished if its individual members were empowered to respond to any complaint made to the Board in their respective districts, and to act for the Board, and thereby obviate the necessity of calling the whole Board together unnecessarily, knowing from past experience that many complaints, if brought to the notice of the owners of the premises, would be corrected at once. We are pleased to say that the plan has worked most admirably, and in not a single instance has the nuisance allowed to remain unabated after being investigated and reported to the owner by the Board. We, feeling that the promp action of the Board during the previous year had a very salutary effect in compelling the people to understand its authority, and to know that it would be enforced.
Much of the time of the Board during the past two years, has been occupied, in learning its duties from the
243
ANNUAL REPORT.
Statutes, and what the people should expect of them (?) as the Board has continually found new duties, one of which was the issuing of licenses to the undertakers doing business in the town of Attleboro. Another was their duty in regard to contagious diseases among domestic animals.
Upon August 15, 1884, an agent of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, called upon the Chair- man of the Board, requesting a place to bury certain diseased horses which the society had condemned, but as the town had no such place of interment, his request could not be granted. After studying up the matter, and con- sulting with the Selectmen, and learning their duty from the statutes, they found it was necessary to quarantine eight horses belonging to O'Brien circus, afflicted with glanders, and to hold them until the State Cattle Com- missioners could see them, and either condemn them or return them to the owners. The Commissioners re- sponded with promptness, and upon the 19th of August examined them, and ordered the Board to have them shot and buried as soon as possible. The prompt action taken by the town in closing the fountains and quarantining these animals was very successful in preventing the spread of the disease, although every body, even at the present time, should be looking for symptoms of the disease among horses, and all suspicious animals should be reported to the Selectmen, so they could have them ex- amined by a physician, and if found infected, to report to the proper State authorities.
There is another matter that has been brought to the notice of the Board quite recently, and that is the careless condition in which the receiving tombs of some of the cemetries have been kept, as we have been informed on good authority that there are bodies that died of contagious diseases still remaining in the tombs.
244
ANNUAL REPORT.
The Board request that all receiving tombs in the town shall be emptied and renovated on or before the first day of April, of each year, after which time all that are not in a proper condition, will be cleansed and renovated under the direction of the Board.
Although the death rate has increased 16 per cent. and diphtheria has been very prevalent in the East district during the past year, as the record of contagious diseases will show, there has not been an unusual amount of sick- ness, or one in which the diseases that have prevailed could have been caused by the unsanitary condition of the residences of its citizens, not that the Board would have any one suppose that it considers the town in a perfect condition, as it feels that with the expected invasion of cholera the coming season, there are a great many places within our midst that will receive immediate attention from the Board, and it is important that every person knowing of any nuisance existing in their vicinity, should without delay communicate such knowledge to the Board, and co-operate with them in its abatement.
During the session of the legislature of last year, there was a law passed compelling physicians and house holders to report contagious diseases dangerous to the public health, to the boards of health of their respective cities or towns, and last May the Board was provided by the State with a book in which to keep an accurate record of such cases. The Board appointed Dr. Mackie to keep the record, and in addition instructed him to publish a copy of the law in the local papers, to inform those inter- ested their duties. There has been a good deal of diffi- culty experienced by the Board in getting reports with sufficient care to answer the requirements of the record book, as some would omit the age, while another would omit the name and another the locality, and another would request the family to report the case or cases. Owing to
245
ANNUAL REPORT.
these difficulties the Board had suitable blanks printed and sent to every physician in our town, and in addition, to two physicians of Pawtucket, practising in the South district, since which time these difficulties have disappeared. In addition to the requirements of the record, the blanks have a space devoted to the sanitary surroundings of the patient, so that the attending physician can inform the Board with- out delay, and the least trouble, of any existing source of disease that requires their attention. This has been a very great help to the Board, taking the place of an inspec- tor to the Board, as several cases have been reported as having very unsatisfactory surroundings. In such cases the chairman has notified the member of such district of the condition, and asked him to investigate and correct, or report to the Board. .
During the year there has been reported to the Board 106 casés of contagious diseases, 87 of which were diphthe- ria, and 19 scarlet fever. It was quite a surprise to the Board that of the 106 cases, IOI came from East Attle- boro, two from South Attleboro, and only three from North Attleboro, and these latter reported by one physician. It seems worthy of inquiry to find out what is the cause of the disparity between the different sections of the town; but one fact was noticeable in regard to the locality in which the cases occurred in the East district, and that was that most of the cases occurred near low or bog land, or in close proximity to a sluggish stream. Another re- markable fact is the small percentage of deaths, as there has not been a single death from scarlet fever, and but eight from diphtheria and eight additional ones from mem- branous croup, which by some authorities is classed as diphtheria; but we think the majority of the best authorities separate membranous croup from diphtheria, but all admit there is such a disease as diphtheretic croup, and we think that, in an epidemic of diphtheria as we have had, many of
246
ANNUAL REPORT.
these cases might be diphtheretic croup, and thereby in- crease the death rate from diphtheria.
During the year the number of cases reported each month was as follows : May-diphtheria 1; June and July, o; August-diphtheria 5, scarlet fever 1; September- diphtheria 7, scarlet fever 1; October-diphtheria 18, scar- let fever 2; November - diphtheria 19, scarlet fever 5; December-diphtheria 15, scarlet fever 5; January-diph- theria II, scarlet fever 2; February-diphtheria 12, scar- let fever 3. At the present time there are very few cases of either disease. The cases have gradually declined in number and severity since October and November.
During the past year, that is from March I, 1884, to March 1, 1885, there has been 202 deaths, due to the fol- lowing causes, as gathered from the physicians' certificates as to the cause of death, being an increase of 31 deaths over that of last year. Not only do we notice an increase, but a larger variety of diseases represented, and their posi- tion has changed, pneumonia being the most fatal, con- sumption occupying second place, as last year, while chol- era infantum removed from head of list to the third place. Pneumonia, 2I
Old age, 5
Consumption,
I7 Marasmus,
5
Cholera infantum,
14
Premature birth, 5
Heart disease,
II
Liver diseases, 5
Brain disease, 8 Convulsions,
4
Meningitis,
8
Typhoid fever,
4
Diphtheria,
8 Accidents,
4
Membraneous croup,
8 Parturition,
3
Apoplexy,
7 Bronchitis, 3
Still-born,
7 Internal hemorrhage, 3
Enteritis,
7 Paralysis,
3
Cancer,
7 Exhaustion,
3
Nephritis,
7 Cystitis, 3
Erysipelas, 2
247
ANNUAL REPORT.
And one each of arterial degeneration, diarrhœa, suicide, burns, opium poisoning, asphyxia, ulcer of stomach, peri- tonitis, obstruction of bowels, blood poisoning, colic, whooping cough, cerebro spinal meningitis, purpura hem- morrhagica, necrosis and miscarriage.
The Board has not felt the necessity of recommending any form of disinfection during the past year, although diphtheria was so prevalent in our midst, as all seemed to be aware of its contagious character, and did all in their power as far as the Board knew to prevent its dissemina- tion, and judging from the distant points at which the cases were reported, it appeared they were successful.
One source of a good deal of trouble during the warm season, has been the carelessness of people in not burying dead animals, allowing them to remain half buried or not at all, to pollute the air, which could be prevented by a few moments' work.
Another source of complaints has been the numerous dumps, or places of deposit of refuse material by the road- sides, in close proximity to residences, where many ob- noxious agents are left to decay, and it seems that all such will have to be prohibited the coming season.
.
There is one more source of evil that is a growing one, and that is the cleaning of privies and cesspools during the day time, and with poorly constructed carts, and we feel that the persons doing such work should be licensed by the Board, and be carefully watched, so as not to pollute the entire length of street over which they pass, as some did the past season.
Respectfully submitted,
E. G. MAY, G. N. CRANDALL, J. G. BARDEN, GEO. MACKIE, J. R. FOSTER.
.
REPORT
-OF THE-
SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
-OF THE-
TOWN OF ATTLEBOROUGH,
-FOR THE-
YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 1885.
32
-
250
ANNUAL REPORT.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
S. P. LATHROP, Chairman, REV. JOHN WHITEHILL,
Terms expire 1 ( March, 1885.
REV. W. HENRY KLING, Secretary, DR. CHAS. S. HOLDEN,
1
Terms expire
March, 1886.
MARK O. WHEATON, FRED B. BYRAM,
1 Terms expire March, 1887.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
ANDREW W. EDSON.
Office hours at the East High school building, from 8 to 10 A. M., and at the North High school building, from 3.30 to 5 P. M., Mondays and Thursdays.
TRUANT OFFICERS.
WM. E. DUNHAM, ELIJAH CAPRON,
GEO. F. IDE, JAMES W. RILEY, E. CARLISLE BROWN.
25I
ANNUAL REPORT.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT.
The school year has comprised thirty-eight weeks, in three terms of fifteen, twelve and eleven weeks re- spectively. The year has been somewhat broken and irregular, in that during the spring term the schools had very little supervision, except that which the committee were able and willing to give, and which we pronounce to have been very inadequate.
Right here we desire to commit ourselves as unani- mously and earnestly in favor of the municipal system, rounded and complete by the services of a superintendent. We hope this voices the public sentiment to such an ex- tent that the question of superintendency will never again come under discussion in the deliberations of the town.
We were fortunate in engaging, early in the year, the services of Mr. A. W. Edson, then principal of the State Normal school at Randolph, Vermont. Mr. Edson com- menced his work on the first day of August. The law requiring towns and cities to furnish free text books and school supplies having gone into effect, the labor which this change involved was that to which he first addressed himself.
To decide what to purchase, to purchase and prepare for use so great a number of books and so large an amount of supplies, was a very formidable and tedious labor; but it was almost entirely, and cheerfully, quietly and most effectively performed by Mr. Edson. The books were
252
ANNUAL REPORT.
labelled and, with the supplies, were in all the school rooms at the opening of the term, full and consistent records of all having been made. We have found Mr. Edson an agreeable co-worker, commanding our full confidence and high esteem. Clearly perceiving what the best interests of our schools require, he has labored steadily, zealously and consistently to promote them. The teachers thoroughly respect him, and most of them cheerfully per- form the vast amount of unusual labor which he has im- posed upon them.
REPAIRS.
The repairs anticipated in the special report of the com- mittee last year, with the exception of those upon the Dodgeville house, have been made at an expense varying little, on the whole, from the estimate; but reference to the expenditures reported by the Selectmen under this head will show that a large amount was not anticipated. Let all observe where and for what these unexpected ex- penses were incurred.
During the past two years the town appears to have had a remarkably unfortunate experience with heating ap- paratus. We trust it will be seen the ensuing year that the principal defects have been remedied. Our school buildings are generally in good repair, except that most of the larger and better ones need to be painted. This one item, we believe will constitute half the expense for repairs the ensuing year. The High school buildings be- gin to call for paint, but will go another year with little damage.
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
Another room is needed at the Falls. If the number of pupils at Adamsdale continues as of late, the house should be enlarged, and in any event a partial enclosure of the lot should be made.
-
253
ANNUAL REPORT.
It is more than probable that an additional room must be provided for primary scholars at Dodgeville. This, if re- quired, we think should be located at the north end of the village, as the present one, which cannot be enlarged to advantage from its peculiar structure, stands at the south end.
More imperative than either of these is the demand for increased accommodations to relieve the South Main street school. We think a two room building should be erected on Pine street, where it is known a suitable lot can be pro- cured upon reasonable terms.
Out buildings are required in connection with the three houses recently completed, the sites must be graded and two of them fenced. The house at Briggsville should be somewhat enlarged, but the expense need be but moderate. The amount named in our recommendations under this head, is supposed to be sufficient to cover all these im- provements.
TEXT-BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
It is not strange the committee failed to make a close estimate of the amount required for text-books and sup- plies, but it is a matter of surprise that the expense should have been nearly three times the estimate. We feel justi- fied in taking the space to show how many books of the different kinds have been purchased and the cost, viz. :
Writing and drawing books, drawing cards and spelling blanks, $644 38
Books and supplies for High school, 40I 69
448 First Lessons in Numbers, 82 14
448 Brief Course in Arithmetic,
141 87
237 Complete Arithmetics, 148 13
550 First Readers,
114 59
500 Second Readers, 145 84
650 Third Readers, 270 84
254
ANNUAL REPORT.
475 Fourth Readers,
$253 34
275 Fifth Readers, 206 25
275 Introductory Geographies, 96 25
200 School Geographies, 160 00
225 Higginson's Histories,
202 50
200 Goodriche's Histories,
60 00
75 Patterson's Grammars,
31 22
150 Brand's Physiologies,
67 50
350 Primary, and 300 New Pronouncing Spellers, 110 00
60 Wiggin's Lessons on Manners,
15 00
6 Reading Charts, 36 00
450 Music Readers, 153 00
Blank books, paper, pens, ink, pencils, etc., 858 98
Total,
$4,199 55
Credits for books sold, returned, and taken in
exchange, reduce the account so that it stands upon the Selectmen's books at $4,032 26 Supplies to the value of about $500 are on hand.
NEW HOUSES.
There have been erected during the year, three school buildings; one of four rooms at North Attleboro; one, also of four rooms, at Hebronville, and one of two rooms for the City school. These buildings are much admired by all who have seen them. They represent quite fully the most advanced thought upon the subject of school archi- tecture.
EVENING SCHOOLS.
An appropriation of $300 was made last year to provide instruction in industrial or mechanical drawing. It was decided that there should be at least two schools estab- lished if any, and it was thought that with but $150 for each school very little could be accomplished, and hence the expenditure was not made.
255
ANNUAL REPORT.
TRUANCY.
This subject was treated quite at length in the superin- tendent's report last year, and the town appointed a com- mittee consisting of the School Committee and Lyman M. Stanley to take the matter into consideration and report at the next annual meeting. A conference of this commit- tee resulted simply in deciding that an article should ap- pear in the warrant, acting under which the town may put itself in line with others which we think are moving in the right direction. We insert Section 14 of Chapter 48 of the Public Statutes.
SEC. 14. "If three or more towns in any county so "require, the county commissioners shall establish at the " expense of the county, at convenient places therein, other " than the jail or house of correction, truant schools for the " confinement, discipline and instruction of minor children "convicted under the provisions of sections ten and " twelve; and shall make suitable provisions for the gov- " ernment and control, and for the appointment of proper "teachers and officers thereof ; but if three or more cities "or towns in each of two or three contiguous counties, or "in case of Norfolk, Bristol, Barnstable and Plymouth "counties, of four contiguous counties, so require, the "county commissioners of such counties shall, at the ex- "pense of the same, establish at a convenient place therein, "a union truant school, to be organized and controlled by "the chairmen of the county commissioners of such coun- "ties, in the manner provided for the government and con- "trol of county truant schools by county commissioners; "and any county so uniting with another county or coun- " ties in the support of a union truant school, shall not be "required to support a truant school of its own."
TEXT-BOOKS.
At the opening of the fall term a change was made in readers, physiologies and advanced histories, and during
256
ANNUAL REPORT.
the last term a new work upon book-keeping was pre- scribed. The list of text-books now in use in all below the high schools, are as follows :
Arithmetics, Greenleaf's Inductive Series, three books ; grammars, Patterson's ; geographies, Harper's, two books; readers, Swinton's First, Second and Third, and Sheldon's Fourth and Fifth ; spellers, Worcester's, two books ; his- tories, Goodriche's, Child's and Higginson's ; physiology, Brand's; writing-books, Spencerian ; drawing-books, White's.
APPARATUS, BOOKS OF REFERENCE, ETC.
There was appropriated for the purchase of apparatus, books of reference and means of illustration, the sum of $500. To this account the Selectmen have credited old balances to the amount of $140.78, and an expenditure of $513.50 has been made.
CONDITION OF THE SCHOOLS.
We shall not venture to make so great an innovation upon the usual custom, as to report our estimate of each school and teacher, though for some very good reasons we think it would be well to do so. Quite a number of the schools have been in charge of able, enthusiastic, pro- gressive, and conscientious teachers and have been admirable; a greater number have been absent of the average quality throughout the State, and a very few have been failures. Doubtless more and better work has been done during the last term than ever before. In a few schools we fear the pupils have been crowded beyond what a proper regard for their physical welfare would justify.
It is an encouraging fact that parents are taking a greater interest than formerly as evidenced by the greatly increased numbers of their visits to the schools, par- ticularly in the north part of the town. The value of hearty interest and active co-operation on the part of pa- rents, is generally but faintly appreciated.
257
ANNUAL REPORT.
The schools have been more equally favored in receiv- ing musical instruction during the year than ever before. Mr. Whittemore and his daughter have given regular and excellent instruction in all the schools.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
The usual statistics will be found in the Superintend- ent's report submitted herewith, and much other import- ant matter which we hope will receive general and careful consideration.
NUMBER OF SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, ETC.
Number of schools, (including those of Bear-Croft and Fisherville,) March, 1884, 44
Number in March, 1885,
5I
Number of teachers, March, 1884,
47
1885,
53
pupils registered in 1884, 2,300
1885, 2,567
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
Receipts and Appropriations.
Expenditures. Unexpended. Overdrawn.
Schools,
$29,495 07
$26,508 28
$2,986 79
School superintendency, 1,796 27
1,324 99
471 28
Incidental educational, 2,203 67
2,197 96 5 71
Repairs, 3,000 00
4,341 78
$1,341 78
Text books and supplies, 1,623 99
4,032 26
2,408 27
Apparatus, etc., 640 78
513 50
127 28
Transportation of pupils, 600 00
544 00
56 00
RECOMMENDATIONS,
Ist. That the Fisherville and Bear Croft schools be held in suspension as they have been the last two years, and that the Read and Ide school be added to the list, as 33
258
ANNUAL REPORT.
the few pupils can, with little inconvenience, go either to the City or Hebronville school where are ample accom- modations.
2d. Our estimate of the amount needed to cover teachers' salaries, fuel and janitors' services for thirty- eight weeks is $30,000, and advise that that amount be placed at the disposal of the School Board.
3d. Repairs of school buildings, $4,500
4th. New school accommodations, 8,610
5th. For text-books and various supplies, 2,600
6th. For Educational and Incidental expenses, 350
. 7th. For salary of Superintendent, with bal- ance on hand for that purpose, 1,500
8th. For instruction in Mechanical or Indus- trial drawing, 1,000
9th. For the purchase of apparatus, books of reference and means of illustration, 500
IOth. For transportation of pupils from the Fisherville and Bear Croft schools to Attleboro, 600
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL P. LATHROP, ) JOHN WHITEHILL, W. HENRY KLING,
School
CHAS. S. HOLDEN,
Committee.
MARK O. WHEATON,
FRED. B. BYRAM,
REPORT
-OF THE-
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT,
-OF THE-
TOWN OF ATTLEBOROUGH,
-FOR THE-
2
YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 1885.
ஜெ.
261
ANNUAL REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF ATTLEBOROUGH.
GENTLEMEN :- The following report upon the condition of the public schools of this town, I respectfully submit for your consideration.
STATISTICS.
Population of town, U. S. census, 1880, II, III
Estimated population, March I, 1884, 14,000
Number of children between 5 and 15 years of age, May 1, 1884, 2,23I
Number of children between 8 and 14 years of
age, May 1, 1884, 1,234
Number of pupils enrolled, males, 1,297, females, 1,270,
2,567
Increase over last year,
267
Average number belonging,
1,969
Average daily attendance,
1,737
Number of tardinesses,
5,083
Number of regular teachers,
49
Number of regular teachers, March, 1885,
53
Number of special teachers, music,
2
The above statistics compared with those of one year ago, indicate the school interests of Attleboro to be in a flourishing condition. A large number of pupils and teachers, a better attendance and increased advantages, are encouraging features.
262
ANNUAL REPORT.
ATTENDANCE.
Except in the primary grades, during the most severe days of winter, the attendance has been good and increas- ing from month to month. If a few cases of
TRUANCY
could be effectually dealt with, the influence upon others would be most salutary.
As it is, pupils understand very well that nothing more can be done by the truant officers than to occasionally escort them to school or the police court. To many this seems to be nothing more than a pleasing diversion. I sincerely hope that this town will vote at the next town meeting to petition the County Commissioners to establish a truant school for Bristol County, or in conjunction with the Commissioners of two or more contiguous Counties to establish a union truant school.
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