USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1901 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10
99
The usual thought and care have been exercised in the selection of new books. A number of complete sets of standard authors have been added as well as the best of current fiction.
"The Crisis" by Churchill has been by far the most popular book of the year and four copies were purchased to satisfy the demand.
In the reference department the most important ad- ditions have been the Century dictionary, Pool's Index to periodicals and Fletcher's Index to general literature.
A large number of juvenile books have been added to satisfy the increasing demands of the children.
A graded reading list has been prepared by the Superintendent of Schools and placed in the hands of all the teachers and pupils. We have also planned to ex- tend the privileges of the Library to the outlying school districts.
The plan of allowing people to leave postals for books they wish to have reserved, has been adopted, and the majority of our patrons seem much pleased with the idea.
In closing we wish to thank the Board for continued courtesies and co-operation in the' work.
Respectfully submitted,
LETITIA S. ALLEN, Librarian.
-
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS.
To the Citizens of the Town of Attleboro:
Your Board of Park Commissioners beg leave to make the following report :-
During the year of 1901, beginning on or about the last of March and a few weeks after the town had voted at its annual town meeting to' appropriate the sum of $2,000.00 per year for a period of 15 years for the purpose of building and embellishing that tract of land known as Capron Park, we began to get into touch with various landscape architects and engineers who had established records in that particular line of work. As a result of our correspondence and interviews, the first contract was made with Messrs. Punchard & Dean, landscape archi- tects and civil engineers of No. 8 Beacon street, Boston, Mass.
Their work was to make a complete topographical survey of the Park which they did and finished about the middle of May.
The next procedure was to get plans and specifica- tions for a general lay out of the Park and in getting such we put the matter up for competitive bids, several land- scape architects entering into the competition and after carefully considering the several plans submitted, we de- cided that the plans and specifications submitted by Mr.
101
J. S. Martin of Providence were the best entitled to adoption. We therefore adopted Mr. Martin's plans and were pleased also to find ourselves in a position to begin with the construction immediately as well as mak- ing with him what we considered an excellent bargain for clearing away the underbrush, rocks and stumps and roughly laying out the paths and driveways.
These paths show in the plan to be 8 feet in width and are altogether about two miles in length. The driveways are 30 feet wide and aggregating a trifle less than one mile in length.
Mr. Martin's contract was very well executed al- though he states that he did the work at a loss, finding about twice as many stumps to be removed as he had expected.
Later in the fall we spent the sum of $70.60 for fur- ther improvements and held back about $90.00 from the original appropriation for the grading of the lawn around the new Casino, for, during the summer, we had ap- proached Mr. M. J. Perry, President of the Interstate Railroad, which has a spur line running to the junction of County and Dennis streets, and requested him or his company to erect on the Park grounds, a small building as a waiting room, etc.
This Mr. Perry agreed to do personally and has erected a Casino building just south of the Dennis and County street junction which is not only ornamental and attractive and a valuable aquisition to the town, but is distinctly to be a building of great usefulness for many years to come, and the Commissioners take pleasure in commending Mr. Perry's magnanimity.
102
When we first began operations on Capron Park it was exceedingly wild, full of swamps and jungles and otherwise unattractive, but after one year's outlay it is now in a fairly presentable condition and will henceforth continue to improve.
After the walks and roads had been cut through so one could form an idea as to how the Park would look in the future, we came to the conclusion that the grove just east of the proposed lagoon contained trees hardly large enough to give real good shade and discovering a very fine grove of pine trees about 200 yards to the west and fronting the southwesterly edge of the Park, we immediately opened negotiations with the owners, Messrs. Albert and Charles Bushee, for its purchase, getting an option on the lot which contained about 31/4 acres.
We found it necessary to raise the sum of $1,000.00 for the purchase of the land and $100.00 extra for the im- provement of it. By popular subscription and in a very short time we had the necessary amount subscribed, some of our citizens giving as high as $200.00 each. We acquired the land for the town, put a few rustic seats ; 1 among the trees after the underbrush had been cleared up and during the fall, all visitors to the Park found the grove to be very attractive. It will probably remain the most attractive part of the Park until such time as other parts of the reservation shall be sufficiently improved.
We herewith commend the generosity of our citizens who so liberally contributed to the purchase of that grove and feel that there is not another town of our size in the State of Massachusetts that could or would con-
10:
tribute the sum of $1,100.00 for such a purpose with so little talk and in so short a time. We have reserved con- siderable wood taken from the paths and driveways for the purpose of erecting a rustic building as per specifica- tions, at some future time.
An appropriation of $2,000.00 each year for 15 years means that at the end of that time Capron Park can be one of the handsomest parks of its size anywhere in New England, but we wish to call your attention to one im- portant fact ; we find that at the rate of $2,000.00 per year expended on the plat, not a great deal of work can be accomplished except on certain lines and each year somé of the work will have to be done over, whereas, if a larger sum than $2,000.00 could be appropriated, one portion of the work might be finished entirely so that it need not have to be done over or partly done over another year. For instance, our specifications call for an aggregate of 3,255 plantings and as a matter of fact $2,000.00 can just about purchase and plant what it is deemed necessary to eventually put in the Park, and we consider it very essential that all plantings be done at once as each year's growth is valuable.
Our estimate for the purchase of 3,255 trees and shrubs and properly planting them is approximately $1,957.00 and these figures provide for all labor, loam and dressing.
It is estimated that to properly build the driveways and walks the sum of $13,000.00 will be required and it is necessary to explain that the plantings and the building of the roads and walks are the two most important parts of the proposed construction and should be taken up
104
first. After that the children's play grounds, the lagoons, etc., can be taken up, as well as several flower beds to be laid out and the various lawns. We there- fore suggest that instead of appropriating $2,000.00 per year for several years and expending a portion of it in renovating a part of the work that had been done the year before and continuing such processes from year t ) year, that the town appropriate a large sum of money, say $20,000.00 and have the entire Park put forward im- mediately to completion and that the town issue bonds to put the work forward. Good judges have estimated that the sum of $23,000.00 if spent on improving the Park now will accomplish as much as $30,000.00 doled out at the rate of $2,000.00 a year for 15 years.
Bills Approved, 1901, by Attleboro Park Commissioners.
June 5, Punchard & Dean, for topographical survey and prints of Capron Park, $182.49
July 14, J. S. Martin, contractor, 163.00
July 14, J. S. Martin, contractor, .. 1 50.00 July 24, J. S. Martin, contractor, .. I50.00
July 31, J. S. Martin, contractor, .. 210.00
Aug. 5, Karl Hyde, for making study and proving specifications, 5.00
Aug. 7, J. L. Tobitt, 1.05
Aug 7, J. S. Martin, 140.00
Aug. 7, J. S. Martin, 200.00
. Aug. 7, S. M. Holman, for framing study of Capron Park, 13.43 Aug. 7, J. S. Martin, 210.00
105
Aug. 28, Karl Hyde, 12.75
Sept. 1, Karl Hyde, 1.50
Sept. 4, H. E. White & Co., signs, 15.47
Sept. 4. Sun Publishing Co., Park notices from Public Statutes, .. 8.00
Sept. 4, J. S. Martin, 367.75
Nov. 5, Josiah Sullivan, labor, 30.35
Nov. 12, J. Clark, labor, 17.50
Nov. 18, J. Clark, labor, 7.00
Nov 18, J. Johnson, labor, 6.00
Nov. 18, M. Dowling, labor, 6.00
$1,897.29
CHAS. M. ROBBINS, C. P. KEELER, H. A. CLARK,
Park Commissioners.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF CATTLE, PROVISIONS AND MILK.
In my report as Inspector of Cattle, Provisions and Milk I will say I made a thorough inspection of the horned cattle, horses and swine in town in October and found all, with very few exceptions, in a healthy con- dition.
Visits have been made to 109 stables where 576 COWS, 122 young cattle, 12 bulls and 225 swine were ex- amined. In most cases the premises were in a well kept and cleanly condition, especially where milk was made and sold. I have not had any complaint about milk, neither has any one been fined by milk inspectors from Boston this year, as has been the case in former years. I think Attleboro, on the whole, is getting a good quality of milk at present. I have sold 60 milk licenses in town this year, which is double the number ever sold before.
I have inspected and released 243 cows brought into the State from Vermont and New Hampshire, mostly by Frank Cummings.
I have quarantined three horses suspected of having glanders during the year. A State vetinary from Boston came and examined them. He ordered one shot and one
107
died before he saw it. The third one, after two week's quarantine, was ordered released.
I expected at the time that others would come down from being exposed, but there has not been one to date. Respectfully submitted,
C. E. PARMENTER.
1
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
In concurrence with the statutes the Board of Health hereby submits its annual report.
Reference to the annexed tables will show that the health of the community has been remarkably good and the decrease in mortality and in the number of contag- ious diseases gratifying.
There was but one case of small pox, which, fortu- nately for the community, was of a mild type and was skilfully treated by the attending physician. The house was kept under strict quarantine while the pa- tient was sick, and was thoroughly fumigated after her recovery. Eleven cases of diphtheria were reported with two deaths, as against twenty cases and four deaths in the preceding year. Of typhoid fever fifteen cases with two deaths were reported. During the preceding year 12 cases and one death were reported.
Concerning these cases it must be stated that some of them were of such a mild type that the diagnosis was uncertain, some physicians calling a case typhoid while others would diagnose it as some other form of disease, Four of these cases were traced to one locality, where the water used for drinking purposes was found to be unfit for that purpose. Sporadic cases of scarlet fever and measles occurred at various seasons of the year, of a very mild type, causing no deaths. The death rate for the year was exceedingly low being a little over eleven per 1000, estimating the population at 12,000.
109
Nuisances.
There were but few complaints against nuisances and these were promptly attended to. These were for the most part against overflowing cesspools, the deposi- tion of garbage upon the "dumps," and the odors arising from pig pens. More attention must be paid, in the future to the laws concerning the last two classes of com- plaints. Nothing must be deposited upon the "dumps" that is liable to undergo decomposition, and swine and their pens must be kept clean so as not to become a nuisance to the neighbors.
Plumbing.
At the annual town meeting the Board was instruct- ed to enforce the plumbing laws in accordance with the statutes and the by-laws of the town. Following those instructions, the Board appointed the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Joseph Seagraves and Mr. Herbert Perry as & Board of Examiners of Plumbers, and also an Inspector of Plumbing. The Board has endeavored to follow the laws to the letter, and has met with but little opposition.
There were some plumbers, however, who were in- clined to evade the law. After treating all cases cour- teously and patiently the Board was forced to prosecute three of these parties. One was convicted, the others acquitted on account of lapse of memory on the part of the principal witnesses. It has not been the intention of the Board to treat anyone unfairly, but the law is plain and must be followed by each and every plumber, otherwise other plumbers will be placed in a false po- sition.
110
It has been estimated that it costs a plumber $18 to have his work tested. If one evades the inspection he is so much ahead and can make his estimate of the cost of a job that much less and thus gets the job away from his competitors. The Board has no other way to do when the law is evaded, as it is mandatory, and the town is liable to a penalty if it allows the law to be evaded.
During the year twenty-nine licenses have been granted : eleven to master plumbers and eighteen to journeymen. Of these, eight were granted their licenses on account of the time limit. The others passed a satisfactory examination before the Board of Examiners of Plumbers.
The following number of fixtures have been placed in position since the first of May: Water closets, 121; sinks, 105 ; set basins, 24; wash trays, 27 ; urinals, 5; bath tubs, 94; total, 376.
111
DEATHS BY AGES.
Still Births are Excluded.
Total.
Ages.
Fe- Male male 0
1901
1900
Under one year,
16
5
21
43
From one to two years,
5
2
7
8
From two to three years,
0
1
1
5
From three to four years,
0)
0
3
From four to five years,
1
1
2
1
From five to ten years,
1
0
1
6
From ten to fifteen years,
5
1
6
6
From fifteen to twenty years,
1
0
1
4
From twenty to thirty years,
8
6
14
18
From forty to fifty years,
6
3
9
17
From fifty to sixty years,
7
7
14
11
From sixty to seventy years,
9
10
19
21
From seventy to eighty years,
5
6
11
19
Over eighty years,
3
2
5
12
Unknown,
0
0
0
1
Totals,
73
49
122
186
DEATHS BY MONTHS. Still Births are Excluded.
January,
10
July,
10
February,
17
August,
9
March,
14
September,
9
April,
12
October,
13
May,
8
November,
3
June,
9 December,
9
6
5
11
11
From thirty to forty years,
CAUSES OF DEATH.
Jan. Feb. Mar. Ap'l. May. June. July. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Ttl. '01. '00.
ZYMOTIC.
Diphtheria, Typhoid Fever, Influenza, Dysentary,
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
8
35
CONSTITUTIONAL.
Cancer,
1
2
2
1
6
Phthisis,
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
9
Tuberculosis,
1
2
1
1
1
1
7
LOCAL.
Meningitis,
2
1
1
4
Apoplexy,
1
1
2
Tetanus,
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
10
Pneumonia,
3
6
1
1
1
1
1
14
Asthma,
1
1
1
1
2
4
Gastro Enteritis,
1
1
1
3
Enteritis.
1
1
Bright's Disease,
1
2
2
1
1
1
2
10
Diabetes,
1
1
2
Peritonitis,
1
1
Cholera Infantum,
2
2
58
88
112
1
Heart Drain,
1
1
Bronchitis,
1
3
Gastritis,
1
22
28
2
DEVELOPMENTAL.
Premature Birth and Debility, Still Born, Convulsions,
WOMEN'S DISEASES.
Childbirth,
1
1
1
1
2
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
8
8
11
1
1
2
2
2
1
3
.
1
1
1
1
1
1
10
7
Totals,
10
17
16
8
10
10
14
8
9
14
3
8
127
127
195
1
3
1
1
2
1
1
1
11
1
1
1
1
1
5
1
1
1
3
19
23
Puerperal Eclampsia, OLD AGE, ACCIDENTS.
Drowning, Carbolic Acid, Railroad Injury, Alcoholism, Hemorrhages, Ruptured Intestines, Hot Water,
1
113
1
T 8
Males, 75.
Females, 52.
114
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
Streets.
Small Pox.
Measles.
Memb. Croup.
Scarlet Fever.
Diphtheria.
Typhoid Fever.
Total.
Bank,
1
1
1
1
4
Pine.
Parker,
1
1
2
Carpenter,
1
1
2
Cambridge,
1
1
2
Morey,
1
1
Falmouth,
1
1
2
Emery,
1
1
L'nion,
2
·)
South Main,
2
3
5
Thacher,
1
1
1
3
Highland,
1
1
Pleasant Place,
1
1
Sanford,
1
1
Ellis,
1
1
Dodgeville,
1
1
Hebronville.
1
1
->
Mechanics,
1
1
Park,
2
Pleasant,
1
1
Hope,
1
1
Jefferson,
1
1
Totals.
| 1 | 3 |2 |5 |11
15
| 37
1900.
1 | 43 | 0 | 6 | 20 | 12 | 82
1
Respectfully submitted,
C. S. HOLDEN, Chairman, C. E. BLISS, G. K. ROBERTS, Secretary,
Board of Health.
115
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF PLUMBERS TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
Gentlemen :- Herewith we present our first annual report for the year ending December 31, 1901 :
The compositon of the Board is as follows : Dr. C. S. Holden, Chairman; J. M. Seagrave, Secretary, and Mr. H. L. Perry.
In entering upon our duties last spring we felt that we had undertaken a thing much needed to protect the health of the citizens of our town.
The requirements of the Board are to examine all applicants as to their practical knowledge of plumbing, house drainage and plumbing ventilation. This being the first year of enforcing of this part of the town's rules and regulations, the Board has had a great many things to do in connection with its duties.
On April 9th, 1901, the three members of the Board met and organized. At the first public meeting that was held for the examining of plumbers a large number of plumbers of the town were present to learn what was required of them.
Several mechanics from out of town came in and wanted to buy licenses, but the Board informed them that according to the law of the State they would have to take an examination.
They made application for an examination at once knowing that a license from this town would be valid and have force throughout the Commonwealth.
The Board expecting this made the examination questions such that a man taking an examination will have to know something about the business of plumbing.
116
By this the trouble that the Board of Health had with a man some time ago about a poor plumbing job will be overcome to a certain extent. It also helps to keep a poor class of mechanics from doing work as above stated.
The Board has at all times used its best judgment and has been considerate toward all applicants and at the present time is running quite smoothly and the duties of the succeeding Board this coming year will be much easier than in the past.
The following is the list of meetings held for the ex- amining of applicants.
April 29. The Board examined three applicants, one master and two journeymen plumbers.
June 26. Examined two applicants, one master and one journeyman plumber.
July 10. Board met on business in connection with its duties.
July 17. Examined one applicant for a journeyman plumber.
July 24. Board met and talked over a few requirements that were needed for its protection.
July 27. Examined three applicants, one master and two journeymen plumbers.
July 31. Examined one applicant for journeyman plumber.
Oct. I. Examined two applicants, one master and one journeyman plumber.
Oct. II. Examined three applicants for journeyinen plumbers.
117
Oct. 14. Examined one applicant for journeyman plumber.
The total number of meetings held by the Board dur- ing the year ending December 31, 1901, was eleven.
The total number of applicants examined during the year ending December 31, 1901, was sixteen.
Respectfully submitted, J. M. SEAGRAVE, Secretary,
For the Board of Examiners of Plumbers.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
The Overseers of the Poor respectfully submit this their annual report for the year ending December 31, 190I.
Owing to unavoidable circumstances t became necessary at the last annual town meeting to elect two new members of the Board, one to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Elijah R. Read, Chairman of the Board, the other expiring by limitation.
The election resulted in the choice of two new men, Joseph V. Curran of Hebronville for two years and Benj. P. King for three years.
The new Board was organized March 9th by the choice of Joseph V. Curran, Chairman ; Benj. P. King, clerk, and Dr. Geo. B. Fittz visitor, and immediately took up the work. One of the first acts of the Board was to change the time of its business meetings from Tuesday and Saturday afternoons to the first and third Friday evenings of each month, approving all bills at the first meeting of each month, retaining the old office hours for the distribution of orders, Tuesday and Saturday after- noons between 2 and 4 o'clock.
It has been the aim of the Board as near as possible to attend to all business at the office, thereby being able to adopt some kind of a system in its work.
119
We found as we entered upon the real work of the department much evidence of a lack of any real system, a wonderful absence of data from which to reckon any- thing. We realize that Attleboro has rapidly grown out of its old town proportions into almost a city and in its various departments much is required to keep up with the demands.
In this department there is a great demand for a system that is practical and will faciliate the work that is needed to be done. We have tried as best we could to arrange and adjust the department for the accomplish- ment of better work, but it cannot all be done in one or two years.
We early in the year changed the form of orders given out whereby each is made in duplicate, and all per- sons receiving them were at liberty to trade at any store in the town. A record has been kept of the business done so far as possible, the first for a long time.
A telephone has been put in the office and we have by its use already been able to save more than its cost, and we hope to be able to connect the town farm with the office by phone this spring, which also will pay for itself in many ways.
With care and economy in the right place we have been able to reduce the annual overdraft from $1,411.06 in 1900 to $295.00 in 1901. To tell exactly what is need- ed in advance from year to year is very difficult because of varying circumstances, but we find that while the town has grown to such proportions in the last few years with constantly increasing demands upon the department, the appropriation, $5,000.00, has remained the same.
120
The Board has no desire to press a raise, yet it is their judgment that there should be an increase of $1,000, making a total of $6,000. A constant overdraft creates a floating debt and the Board would not use any more money than necessary. If a balance is left over it re- turns to the town and no debt is created. However, we are willing to leave the matter to the judgment of the voters.
Were it not for the grand work of the King's Daughters and the churches through their charity, whom we would not forget to thank for their kindly co-opera- tion in the care of the needy, the town would find itself obliged to spend a much larger sum than it now does. While there are many who have to be helped the town should congratulate itself that our citizens are made up so largely of the self-sustaining class.
The largest single item of expense, as you will see by the financial report, is the insane list. That, sad as it seems, is certainly on the increase. Four have been committed this year and the total cost this year is rising $2,000.00, which, taken out of our appropriation of +5,000.00, leaves a small margin with which to work at home.
Town Farm.
The Town Farm is in much the same condition as it was last year. The farm itself is not considered to be of much real worth, except for the raising of hay, of which enough is generally cut to keep the stock, a good share of pasture for the cattle. but little adapted for rais- ing grain or produce. Milk is about the ouly source of income.
121
The house is in excellent condition and well adapted for the town's use. In fact, it is considered to be the best of its kind for the cost anywhere about, equipped with running water, bath tubs and closets, steam heat, etc. The house is in good hands, is kept clean and neat and we invite any of the citizens to inspect it at any time and see what they are helping to support.
Fourteen different persons have been cared for at the Almshouse the past year for varying lengths of time making an average for the year of 5 96-100 at a cost of $3.13 per week per inmate.
Following you will find a detailed statement of the financial account of this department.
Financial Statement.
Dr.
To account of annual appropria-
$5.000.00 tion,
To account for medical attendance, 300.00
$5,300.00
Received from State for support
and burial of paupers, . ... $330.63 Received from Town of Foxboro, 822.31 Received from Town of Mansfield, 184.50 Rceeived from City of Somerville, 205.00
Received from City of Taunton, 265.93
Received from Town of Franklin,
10.00
Received from Town of North At- tleboro,
II3.04
Received from G. W. Allen, 1.86
122
Received from John Eden, 50.58
Received from Geo. A. Monroe, 72.40
Amount overdrawn, 295.74
$2,351.99
$7,651.99
Cr.
Rents.
Horton & Bicknell, $118.50
G. W. Livsey, agent,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.