USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1911 > Part 9
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Gentlemen :- I take pleasure in submitting herewith my eighth annual report. The department has added to its equipment as follows: One street sweeper, one two- horse cart, a one-horse cart, and a two-horse scraper, which we find to be a very serviceable machine for light scraping. Two new horses have been purchased for the department during the past year increasing our number to seven horses.
The work in the center of the town has been carried on under the direction of Charles W. Weymouth, who has had a great deal of experience in this work.
The use of a street sweeper on our streets in the busi- ness section of the town has produced very satisfactory results. It is interesting to know that thirty double loads of dirt have been removed from the streets each week since the sweeper has been used. These loads of dirt are the direct result of the traffic gradually grind- ing the surface of the macadam work into fine particles.
In following our usual custom of improving one of our main streets each year. we decided that North avenue was very much in need of attention, consequently, we covered this street with a coating of choice gravel, eight inches deep, for a distance of 4,900 feet, which is equal to gravelling a street of ordinary width for a distance of 9,800 feet, for the travelled part of this street is 46 feet wide ; 2,254 loads of gravel were used on this street, after which the surface was rolled and oiled, serving as a very good binder for the surface of the street.
198
ANNUAL REPORT
Holden street was gravelled from the railroad bridge to the river, a distance of 550 feet. Number of loads of gravel used on this street, 396.
Bank street was gravelled from Holden street to Claflin street, a distance of 100 feet. Number of loads of gravel used on this street, 80.
Claflin street was gravelled from Bank street to North Main street, a distance of 1,050 feet. Number of loads of gravel used on this street, 320.
Prospect street was improved from Third street to Fourth street, a distance of 325 feet. Number of loads of gravel used on this street, 121.
Jefferson street was gravelled from Third to Fourth streets, a distance of 325 feet. Number of loads of gravel used, 118.
Second street was gravelled from Cliff street to Grove street, a distance of 230 feet. Number of loads of gravel used, 160.
Grove street was gravelled from First to Second streets, a distance of 486 feet. Number of loads of gravel used, I48.
Mechanics street was gravelled from Hodges street to the bridge crossing the Ten-Mile River, a distance of 600 feet. Number of loads of gravel used on this street, 250.
Starkey avenue was gravelled from the railroad bridge to Pleasant street, a distance of 650 feet. Number of loads of gravel used on this street, 277.
Mulberry street was gravelled from Pine street to Parker street, a distance of 400 feet. Number of loads of gravel used, 301.
Lafayette street was gravelled the entire length from Maple to Orange streets. Number of loads of gravel used on this street, 754.
Park street was gravelled for a distance of 300 feet. Number of loads of gravel used on this street, 242.
199
ANNUAL REPORT
Macadam.
Park street was improved from the corner of Park and Emory sts., a distance of 1,400 feet. Number of loads of stone used on this street, 405.
Brook street was macadamized from Park to Emory streets, a distance of 340 feet. Number of yards of crushed stone used, 207.
Holman street has been macadamized from Brook to Sturdy streets, a distance of 540 feet. Number of yards of crushed stone used, 240.
Pleasant street has been improved from Lindsey street going east for a distance of 750 feet. Number of loads of dirt removed, 90. Number of loads of gravel used, 26. Number of yards of crushed stone used, 624.
James street has been macadamized from Pearl to School streets, a distance of 335 feet. Number of loads of dirt removed, 90. Number of loads of gravel used, 60. Number of yards of crushed stone used, 194.
Number of yards of crushed stone used on streets, not mentioned above 700
Total number of loads of gravel used on the streets in this section 5869
Total number of loads of crushed stone used on all streets 5420 Total number of lineal feet of macadam, completed 5640 Total number of loads of gutter dirt removed from streets as the result of scraping. 7298
Total number of loads of sand used on icy sidewalks 38 Total number of loads of field stone delivered at the crusher 2002
Total number of loads of snow removed from streets 320
Total number of loads of dirt removed as the result of street sweeping 464
All streets in town, excepting those in South Attleboro, were scraped and cleaned by the center gang of work- men.
200
ANNUAL REPORT
South Avenue.
A large amount of work has been done on this street in a very substantial manner. At first it became necessary to remove 1,710 loads of poor material, after which, a sub- drain was built of large stone; finally the street was macadamized. The sub-drain was constructed 4 feet wide at the bottom and 10 feet wide at the top, running through the center of the street for a distance of 2,000 feet. The top of the drain walls are one foot below the finished surface of the street, and the base of the drain is 3 feet 6 inches below the surface of the street, which was macadamized 12 inches deep and 26 feet wide. The total number of feet macadamized was 2,000. It was made possible to do a much larger amount of work through the kindness of Harry Wolfenden and J. P. Mowry who contributed a large quantity of stone which was used in constructing the drain. Number of loads of field stone used in this work, 1,890. Number of loads of gravel used in this work, 903. Number of yards of crushed stone used in this work, 2,860.
Under Special Appropriations.
Torrey street has been macadamized from Park to Emory streets, a distance of 275 feet. Number of loads of gravel used on this street, 140. Number of yards of crushed stone used, 190.
Jewell avenue was worked to grade by the process of cutting and filling. It was found necessary to remove 290 loads of poor material and replace same with 609 loads of gravel. The street was worked to grade the en- tire length, a distance of 680 feet. Sidewalks were con- structed on both sides of the street and surfaced with crushed stone.
201
ANNUAL REPORT
Street Cleaning.
The work in this department was performed under the direction of Joseph Siddall. All streets in the business section of the town have been swept each day, while the streets adjoining the center were cleaned each week. These streets were cleaned with our new street sweeper. The work was performd by this department as follows :
Sidewalks Constructed.
North Main street 1085 feet
Holden street 1515 feet
Starkey avenue 550 feet
Park street I493 feet
Holman street 216 feet
Falmouth street 456 feet
James street 615 feet
Hope street 175 feet
Hodges street I250 feet
John street 1080 feet
Prospect street
385 feet
Mechanics street
230 feet
Jewell avenue
I349 feet
Oak street
197 feet
Perrin street
241 feet
Pleasant street
132 feet
Orange street
350 feet
Elizabeth street
258 feet
South Main street
850 feet
Thacher street
50 feet
Benefit street
1350 feet
Maple street 1750 feet
Mulberry street I494 feet
Lafayette street II62 feet
Pleasant street 439 feet
Bicknell street 1000 feet
202
ANNUAL REPORT
James street 272 feet
Emory street 250 feet
Forest street 585 feet
Olive street 472 feet
Ellis street 200 feet
Leroy street 576 feet
South Main street 2290 feet
Total 24317 feet
Akron pipe has been laid in the following streets : South avenue 32 feet 15-inch pipe
Maple street 12 feet 12-inch pipe
West street IO feet 8-inch pipe
Pine street 50 feet 8-inch pipe
Falmouth street 8 feet 6-inch pipe
Pleasant street 20 feet 12-inch pipe
South Main street Io feet 8-inch pipe
Emory street 8 feet 8-inch pipe
Jewell avenue 8 feet 8-inch pipe
South avenue 68 feet 12-inch pipe
Total
226 feet
Number of loads gravel placed on walks 2946
Number of loads of ashes placed on walks. I446
Number of tons of crushed stone placed on walks. . 641
Number of loads of dirt removed from walks. 429
Southwest Division.
The work in this section has been carried on under the direction of Charles Howarth as follows : the streets were scraped and gutters were cleaned :
Bacon street was gravelled for a distance of 340 feet. Number of loads of gravel used on this street, 264.
Turner street has been repaired and 375 feet of side- walk has been re-built.
203
ANNUAL REPORT
May street has been gravelled for a distance of IIO feet.
Washington street sidewalk was repaired for a distance of 87 feet.
Robinson and Highland avenues have been widened and the banks on the sides of Pond street have been re- paired.
The sidewalks on Newport avenue have been resur- faced with No. I crushed stone for a distance of 3,200 feet.
The sidewalks on McMann street have been repaired and 300 feet of fences have been built on Brown and Bacon streets.
Thirty-two feet of 12-inch Akron pipe has been placed in Leedham street.
A catch basin was built in Newport avenue, and a drain constructed of 12-inch Akron pipe was extended for a distance of 628 feet. This drain empties into the brook near Coupe's Tannery. The work of preparing Newport avenue for macadam has been completed and it is in- tended that this street be macadamized before the port- able crusher is moved from its present location. Number of loads of gravel and other material used in this sec- tion, 1,920.
South Division.
The work in this section has been completed under the direction of Henry A. Lord. The brush on both sides of the streets have been cut away .: The principal part of the work in this section was done on South Main street, which was gravelled from a point near Mrs. Julia Claf- lin's residence to Tiffany street, a distance of 7,500 feet. Number of loads of gravel used on this street, 3,061.
A sidewalk was built on the north side of Thacher street, a distance of 700 feet. Number of loads of gravel used on this street, 300.
Number of loads of gravel used on other streets in
ANNUAL REPORT
this section 410 Number of lineal feet of sidewalk constructed on South Main street 1490
South Main street was made wider and straightened at a point near the south part of Dodgeville. This work was made through the kindness of Miss Annie Smith. William and Justin Smith. Five catch basins have been re-built in Dodgeville. Other streets in this section have been repaired in general.
Bridges, Culverts and Catch Basins.
The railroad bridge on South Main street. Hebronville. has been re-covered with 3-inch hard pine plank.
The bridge over the Ten-Mile River on Mechanics Street was covered with 2-inch spruce plank : new sup- ports were erected under the center of the bridge. new stringers supplied and the abutments were repaired.
The bridge on Holden street has been temporarily re- paired : it will. however. be necessary to make more ex- tensive repairs on this bridge in the near future.
The bridge on Bank street has been re-covered with 3-inch hard pine plank.
The bridge on Union Road has been repaired.
All of the catch basins were cleaned in April and No- vember.
Relocation of South Main Street.
The work on this new location. which is located be- tween Thurber avenue and Mr. A. J. Atwell's residence has been completed, making the street much straighter and the grade very much easier. Number of loads of gravel used on this street. 3.174. Number of feet of fence constructed on this street, 610.
Curbing.
New curbing has been set as follows :
Hodges street 1053 feet
200
ANNUAL REPORT
John street 1048 feet
Leroy street 4II feet
Park street 8II feet
South Main street.
627 feet
Forest street 239 feet
County street 354 feet
John street 49 feet
County and Thacher streets 174 feet
Total
4766 feet
Gutters have been paved as follows :
Hodges street 35I yards
John street 349 yards
Leroy street 150 yards
Park street 270 yards
South Main street. 209 yards
Forest street
79 yards
County street
118 yards
John street 16 yards
Thacher street 61 yards
Pine street 40 yards
Bank street 70 yards
Pleasant street 69 yards
North Main street.
30 yards
Total 1812 yards
Curbing has been reset as follows :
Railroad avenue 18 feet
North Main street I27 feet
County street 260 feet
South Main street 410 feet
Park street 48 feet
Bank street 15 feet
Leroy street 200 feet
Ellis street 100 feet
206
ANNUAL REPORT
Bank street 15 feet
Total 1193 feet Total number feet curbing set. .5959
Concrete Sidewalks.
New concrete sidewalks have been constructed as follows :
Railroad avenue 567 yards
Union street 324 yards
County street 258 yards
Capron street
173 yards
School street
400 yards
Bank street 287 yards
Peck street
767 yards
Dean street
520 yards
Pine street
1210 yards
Pearl street
375 yards
Park avenue
651 yards
Pleasant street
796 yards
Forest street
503 yards
Horton street
63 yards
South Main street 96 yards
Dunham street 60 yards
Park street 173 yards
John street 703 yards
Prospect street 361 yards
South Attleboro
83 yards
Total 8370 yards
The following walks have been re-dressed : North Main street. I71 yards
County street 68 yards Park street 154 yards South Main street 28 vards
County street 32 yards
Bank street
90 yards
Total 543 yards
New crosswalks have been constructed as follows : Park street 53 yards
Railroad avenue 64 yards
Forest street 26 yards
Pleasant street 54 yards
Park avenue 71 yards
Prospect street 42 yards
John street 94 yards
Total
404 yards
Sprinkling Department.
In the earlier part of the season water was used as a dust layer, but after the latter part of April oil was sub- stituted. More streets have been oiled during the past year than ever before, and the demand for the use of oil on the streets as a dust preventative is rapidly increasing every year. It was deemed advisable to purchase a stor- age tank and a road oiling machine. A tank with a ca- pacity of 6,000 gallons was purchased from the Standard Oil Company and placed in Maynard street at a point near the railroad tracks, making a very convenient place to get a supply of oil. The land at this point is very much lower than the railroad, enabling us to draw the oil by means of gravity pressure. The road oiling ma- chine was purchased from C. R. Daniels of East Provi- dence, R. I., and has given very good satisfaction. By using this machine we are enabled to cover 9 square yards of road with one gallon of oil. We have used 87.653 gallons of Standard Road Oil, which we believe has given general satisfaction. Number of miles of streets oiled, 30 I-2.
208
ANNUAL REPORT
Thacher Brook Drain and Ten-Mile River.
The entire length of the drain running from the late John Thacher's land on South Main street to the Taun- ton branch of the N. Y .. N. H. & H. Railroad Company has been cleaned.
The brush has been cut away from the banks of the Ten-Mile River and a large amount of refuse has been removed from the bed of the river.
Playgrounds.
The grounds have been improved by depositing 388 loads of gravel in the lower sections of the lot. Seats have been constructed about some of the larger trees for the convenience of those who frequent the grounds. Twelve rock maple trees have been planted in different parts of the grounds.
In closing I wish to thank all those who have assisted the department during the past year by informing us of defects in streets and bridges, which otherwise might have caused accidents and damage of expensive nature to the town.
Respectfully submitted. H. A. SMITH.
Superintendent of Streets.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
OF THE
Town of Attleborough
For the Year Ending December 31, 1911
Report of the Overseers of the Poor
To the citizens of Attleboro :
The Overseers of the Poor beg leave to present the fol- lowing report for the year 1911 :
The board was organized soon after the Annual Town Meeting, the same as in 1910. Joseph V. Curran, Chair- man ; Benjamin P. King, Clerk; George M. Gustin, Visi- tor, and the work taken up.
The supply of water which we took from the spring on the hill has continued without fail, but during the winter months we experienced much trouble from the old tank in the barn, which we tried to use for storage. The pipes froze up and we were obliged to cut that part of the sys- tem out. The tank sprung a leak and made no end of trouble. When the springtime opened up we gave the matter careful consideration and found the tank badly rotted out and beyond repair, and made necessary a new tank. The plan of putting a smaller tank in the attic of the house was proposed, that the danger from freezing might be obviated, deeming it best to be sure that the proposed plan was proper. The Charles J. Jogger Com- pany, of Providence. R. I., was called in for consultation. They decided that the plan was all right, and the board contracted with the aforesaid company to build a tank to hold 400 gallons, and install the same with proper piping, etc., for the sum of $147.00. During the summer the new system was installed, and thus far has worked entirely satisfactory. The water is piped direct to the tank, with an overflow which returns surplus water under ground to the old pump pit, thence underground to the watering
211
ANNUAL REPORT
trough in front of the barn, from thence under ground to the henyard and on to the brook, thereby giving a steady flow of the finest spring water 24 hours per day. We have had no trouble from freezing during the severe cold of this winter, and we feel that we have an unfailing sup- ply of the best water, which should be of no further ex- pense or trouble. The board has felt for a long time that a new stystem of lighting should be introduced on the premises, but being so far from the electrical center we waited in vain until in November last the matter was taken up and pushed to conclusion. With assistance of the selectmen the wires were brought over to the farm, and after receiving several bids a contract was placed with Mr. M. C. Barden of Attleboro to wire the house and barn and other buildings, and put in the necessary fix- tures. The work was completed in due time at a cost of $212.58, and about January 1, 1912, the current was turned on, and everything thus far has proved to be all right. The house and barn and the other buildings are all well lighted, and we are now able to do away with the old kerosene oil plant, which has given us much concern in regard to the danger from fire. It became necessary dur- ing the year to renovate the two bath rooms. We have installed two new bath tubs, a new set bowl in the men's toilet and have put in a cement floor, thereby putting the bath rooms in first-class condition at an expense of $100.00.
We found it necessary early in the year to replace the old carriage which had given out with a new one at an expense of $90.55, notwithstanding the extra expenses incurred at the farm the cost of maintainance is about the same as last year, which is the result of the strictest economy in managing the same. We have not received as much income from the farm as in some years past, a very dry season destroying all the crops except the hay of which we had plenty for our own use. There have been at the Town Home during the year a total of 21
212
ANNUAL REPORT
inmates. Eleven have been there the entire year. an average for the year of 13 15-100 plus.
In July, when we took up the state bills, discussion arose as to the reasons why some of the bills of 1910 were disallowed. Mr. Curran protested and desired that some action be taken, and it was voted that Mr. Curran be appointed to take the matter up with the state. Cor- respondence was opened with Supt. J. F. Lewis, M. D .. and Dec. 6th Mr. Curran received a letter asking him to come to Boston, which he did, and with Supt. Lewis and District Visitor Healy, the matter was fairly re- viewed and satisfactorily settled. Mr. Curran reported that the state officers were ready to do all they could to make things right. Owing to friction, that about that time had appeared on the board, the bills were laid aside until too late to cover the credits into the 1911 account, By the adjustment of matters with the State Board sev- eral 1910 bills disputed were allowed, and with the 1911 bills we find an amount due us from the state, $595.05, with credits due from cities and towns, $402.36, a total of $997.41.
Had we been able to cover this amount into our 1911 accounting, we should have been $129.26 on the right side of the ledger. Mr. Hager. Superintendent. and wife, are still at the Town Home. They are giving us excel- lent service. He is doing his part well and shows a lively interest in trying to make things better.
We ask for the same appropriation as last year. $8.000 general, $500 medical.
Following is our Financial Statement :
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Appropriation $8,000.00
Medical 500.00
Received from sale of milk $715.05
Received from produce, board, etc ..
528.58
213
ANNUAL REPORT
Received from State of Mass. 85.70
Received from Town of Mansfield .. 84.15
Received from Town of Dighton .... 51.50
Received from Town of Uxbridge .. 8.00
Received from Town of Charlmont. . 7.00
Received from Town of Southbridge 3.40
Received from Town of Wareham .. 29.75
Received from City of Fall River ... 23.00
Received from City of Taunton ..... 84.00
Reimbursement for aid rendered .... 75.39
Reimbursement for Dion children .. 225.00
Reimbursement for telephones. . . 62.50
Duplicate bill, F. M. Payson. . 30.00
Duplicate bill, G. A. Monroe.
4.00
$2,017.02
Appropriations and credits. .
$10.517.02
EXPENDITURES.
Office.
Attleboro Steam & Electric Co $12.00
Providence Telephone Co. 31.25
Sun Publishing Co. 53.43
Times Publishing Co.
4.20
B. P. King, supplies.
2.45
Sampson & Murdock.
2.00
C. S. Binner, Corp.
16.00
G. A. Sweeney 17.65
G. M. Gustin. .20
Hobbs & Warren
9.00
$148.18
Salaries.
J. V. Curran $100.00
B. P. King 150.00
214
ANNUAL REPORT
G. M. Gustin. 249.96
Rents. $499.96
Francis Martin estate. $120.00
C. L. Watson 69.00
C. M. Robbins. 90.00
Elizabeth Martin 84.00
A. C. Eddy 16.25
P. E. Brady.
74.67
F. M. Payson.
I20.00
Mrs C. A. Holman 10.50
W. R. Cobb. I20.00
$704.42
Fuel.
Carpenter Coal & Lumber Co. $ 8.70
W. H. Riley & Sons 45.00
S. S. Darling & Son. 26.25
Attleboro Coal Co. 79.55
Attleboro Gas Co., coke. 20.00
Smith Coal Co.
I 50.05
Olney-Payne Co.
5.75
$335.30
Shoes and Clothing.
Aldrich & Chipman. $ 6.00
San Souci Dept. Store 75.80
Jacobs Clothing Co 12.10
J. P. Mowry. 8.85
E. I. Perry. 4.00
Bernard Maguire 1.00
P. J. Cooney
9.00
$116.75.
215
ANNUAL REPORT
Board.
Mrs. Lavinia Henry
$28.80
John W. Miller.
20.00
Mrs. N. V. Brock.
3.00
John H. Bowen
6.00
John Buggy 10.00
Mrs. R. Bigelow 78.00
John White
84.00
St. Vincent's Home.
292.50
H. H. Hunter
123.00
$645.30
Groceries and Provisions.
John Daly $168.00
Senai Dugas 104.00
T. F. Gilroy 78.00
G. A. Monroe & Co. 64.00
The New Public Market. 158.50
Wightman Bros. 11.00
George Reynolds
2.00
Frank Shaw
16.00
N. J. Yell.
4.00
Hicks Brothers
102.28
Burnham's Store
118.04
Gorvin Bros.
88.30
S. L. Tooker
11.00
W. N. Goff.
33.00
Samuel Alpert
12.00
W. P. Jutras
12.00
S. F. Cole.
2.00
A. G. Bruce & Co.
101.00
L. Z. Carpenter Co
115.00
W. H. Clark. 499.00
M. F. Angell. . 78.00
Batchelder's Market
189.00
Arthur Bushard
27.00
216
ANNUAL REPORT
WVm. Frenier
30.00
Arthur Bonnier
4.00
W. M. Brown
40.00
Hebron Store
84.00
S. Simmons
4.00
Charles Kaufman
12.00
H. U. Todd.
116.00
Dodgeville Store
40.00
G. W. White.
4.00
White & Rhind
2.00
$2.329.12
Cities and Towns.
Town of Norton. SLI3.88
Town of North Attleboro
300.35
Town of North Attleboro 23.00
Town of Mansfield
68.25
Town of Wareham
7.25
Town of Uxbridge.
8.00
Town of Hubbardston.
224.15
Town of Holbrook
2.00
Town of Dighton. 10.50
City of Newton.
204.14
City of Pawtucket
6.00
City of Fall River
7.75
Town of Southbridge.
17.25
$992.52
State of Massachusetts.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. $116.00
Medical aid 85.00
Mass. Hospital School. 208.57
$439-57
.
ANNUAL REPORT
217
Burials.
Stephen H. Foley
$14.00
Wm. J. Kenney 15.00
D. H. Smith 81.00
$110.00
Transportation.
Dubeau Bros. $ 7.00
G. M. Gustin 52.60
W. E. Middleton 8.50
D. H. Smith. 5.50
J. V. Curran.
30.07
E. C. Newell. .
20.00
Mrs. N. V. Brock.
1.30
J. A. Reese. 10.00
$134.97
Medical Attendance for Town Poor.
Dr. R. P. Kent.
$414.30
Dr. F. V. Murphy. 16.70
Dr. M. H. Battershall 6.57
Dr. W. O. Hewitt. 6.44
Dr. J. W. Battershall. 3.42
Dr. E. B. Richardson. 1.77
Dr. C. S. Holden. 8.34
Dr. G. B. Maxwell.
3.33
Dr. G. K. Roberts
4.42
Dr. A. H. Monty 22.96
Dr. John A. Reese
1.77
Dr. J. W. Clarke. 4.67
Dr. Geo. E. McPherson. 1.52
Dr. Wilfred E. Rounseville
3.79
$500.00
218
ANNUAL REPORT
Miscellaneous Account.
G. M. Gustin $15.00
J. V. Curran. 2.35
Lilly & Morgan 2.15
N. Y., N. H. & H. Railroad
A. E. Hall. 7.46
5.15
John W. Miller 7.00
Dr. W. F. Milot. 7.00
Dr. A. H. Monty 35.00
Telephones. $81.II
For members' telephones. $62.50
Extra calls 16.03
$78.53
TOWN FARM.
Groceries and Provisions.
W. H. Clark. $164.83
Direct Importing Co 38.63
W. N. Goff. 712.47
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