USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1915 > 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 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13
JOSEPH L. SWEET, President EDWARD L. GOWEN, Treasurer PHILIP E. BRADY, ERNEST D. GILMORE, WILLIAM J. LUTHER, EDWARD A. SWEENEY,
FRANK I. BABCOCK, CHARLES O. SWEET HAROLD E. SWEET.
48
ANNUAL REPORT
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE ATTLEBOROUGH HOSPITAL FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1915.
Dr.
Building Account. Cr.
Balance Jan. 1, 1915.
$195.02
Contribution to Building Fund.
3,534.78
For completing new building $3,701.71 "Ambulance Entrance" Sign. 21.29
Balance 6.80
$3,729.80
$3,729.80
Membership Account.
Balance Jan. 1, 1915
$582.55
Secretary's Expense $10.00
Receipts.
480.00
Postage. 2.00
Balance. 1,050.55
$1,062.55
$1,062.55
Trust Account.
Balance Jan. 1, 1915
$434.69
Repairs on cottage. $310.78
Rents. .
400.50
Safety Deposit Box 5.00
Dividends from Securities
4,828.50
Treasurer's Bond. . 50.00
Investments-N. E. L.
558.72
Brookline, Mass. Taxes.
121.26
Appropriated to Hospital Account. 1,000.00
Balance 3,621.93
$5,667.69
$5,667.69
Hospital Account.
Balance Jan. 1, 1915
$947.90
Salaries .
$4,841.07
Hospital Receipts
8,679.11
Donations. 15.00
Hospital Aid
Ass'n.
Five Annual Beds
E. D. Gilmore & Co.
Contributed for 1915
W. E. Hayward Co. 1,250.00
R. F. Simmons Co. J. L. Sweet.
Interest on Bank Acct.
70.46
Appropriated from Trust
Account. 1,000.00
$11,962.47
$11,962.47
Summary.
Balance from Membership
Bank Balance. . $1,850.21
Account. . $1,050.55
Balance from Trust Acct .. · 3,621.93
Cash on Hand. 24.19
Balance from Hospital Acct. 195.12
Balance from Bldg. Acct .. 6.80
$4,874.40
$4,874.40 EDWARD L. GOWEN, Treasurer.
Audited Jan. 8, 1916, and found correct: GEORGE B. CLEMENTS
Hospital Supplies and Equipments. 1,521.26
Housekeeping Supplies. 2,822.54
Miscellaneous Expenses.
1,255.18
Heat & Light
1,327.30
Balance. 195.12
Certificate of Deposit 3,000.00
Grass Sold .
4.00
49
ANNUAL REPORT
January 1st, 1916.
THE ATTLEBOROUGH HOSPITAL LIST OF SECURITIES.
201 Shares Royal Weaving Co.
215 Shares Pawtucket Hair Cloth Co.
139 Shares Narragansett Electric Lighting Co. 7 Shares Attleborough Savings & Loan Association.
1,300 Shares Mercantile Land Co., Boston-no value. - Received from Executors of Winsor Estate.
2,700 Shares Cumington Land Trust-no value
3 Bonds Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co., (Par value $1,000 each)
3 Bonds Michigan State Telephone Co., (Par value $1,000 each)
2 Bonds Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Co. (par value $1,000)
3 Bonds Consumers Power Co. (Par value $1,000 each)
2 Bonds Seattle Electric Co. (Par value $1,000 each) 22 Debentures Narragansett Electric Lighting Co.
First Mortgage $1,500.00 Joseph P. Farley.
First Mortgage $3,500.00 Charles Anholt.
Two perpetual free beds have already been established named as follows: M. J. and A. K. Hunton Bed, Dorothy Sweet Bed.
EDWARD L. GOWEN, Treasurer,
Audited Jan. 10, 1916, and found correct :
GEORGE B. CLEMENTS.
January 1, 1916.
To the Board of Managers of The Attleborough Hospital :-
I herewith submit my report as Superintendent of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital for the year 1915:
Patients admitted 295
Medical 79
Surgical 182
Obstetrical . 34
Discharged during year
274
Male.
106
Female.
168
Well .
215
Relieved
53
Unrelieved.
3
Not treated 3
Major Operations. 107
68
Free patients. 38
Patients paid for by city 6
Deaths.
16
Accidents
2
Medical .
11
Surgical 3
Out patients for X-Ray work-December 1915.
8
Minor Operations
50
ANNUAL REPORT
The present staff of the hospital consists of superintendent, assistant superintendent, and ten training school pupil nurses.
Following are donations received during 1915, exclusive of cash con- tributions for free beds made to the Treasurer, or contributions made by the Hospital Aid Association:
Donation Day.
Mrs. Milford Bliss, $10.00.
Mrs. C. H. Tappan, Potatoes, Grape Juice and Squash.
Friend, 12 bushels potatoes.
Mrs. J. L. Sweet, Tea and Coffee.
Mrs. S. M. Einstein, Tea and Coffee.
Mr. E. L. Gowen, Office Furniture.
Mrs. H. E. Sweet, Flour.
Unity Class Muray Church, Sugar.
Mrs. James McNerney, Jelly.
Mrs. E. P. Claflin, Jelly.
Collected by Rev. R. J. Mooney, several jars of Jelly.
Miss Rice Office Furniture.
Miss Loyd
From several unknown persons, Jelly and Groceries.
March-Amos Peck, Bushel of Potatoes.
June-Sanford School, Doll's House.
MISS G. G. RICE,
Superintendent.
51
ANNUAL REPORT
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
December 16, 1915.
To the Honorable Mayor and Municipal Council :-
I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Buildings, from January 1, 1915, to December 15, 1915.
The following permits have been granted:
Estimated cost
3 Family houses.
3
$13,100.00
2 Family houses.
5
12,850.00
1 Family houses Additions
78
23,053.00
Store houses
5
30,150.00
Stores.
2
2,725.00
Shed and other small buildings.
22
2,175.00
Garages.
15
7,750.00
Barns.
6
1,750.00
Ice houses .
3
850.00
Milk house
1
675.00
Coal pocket.
1
3,000.00
183
$206,483.00
This year I have inspected all Hotels, Boarding Houses, and Lodging Houses in regard to fire escapes that come under the State Law, and found them provided with the necessary fire escapes, and have so reported to the State Police. I have made during the year from one to four inspections on all buildings that required inspecting. The buildings that have been built in the South part of the City by Pawtucket contractors have required more of my attention than houses built by local contractors.
Respectfully submitted,
M. G. ASHLEY,
Inspector of Buildings.
42
108,405.00
52
ANNUAL REPORT
CHARITY REPORT
December 16, 1915.
To the Honorable Harold E. Sweet, Mayor City of Attleboro, Mass.
Dear Sir :-
The Overseers of the Poor herewith present their first annual report under the new City Charter, to December 1, 1915.
The Board was organized as soon after appointments were made as pos- sible, which resulted in the election of Joseph V. Curran, Chairman; Ben- jamin P. King, Clerk and Frank M. Payson, Visitor.
The new City came into being at a time when the Charity Department was in its most severe trials. The continued depression in business had left many stranded, who were obliged to apply for aid from this office. The increase in the month of January was very marked; 65 new names were added to the list during the month. As the spring months opened up prospects seemed to become brighter until through the summer on until this date things have changed for the better. One by one the names have been dropped from our list, several going to work and caring for themselves again. During the year just closing we have aided 160 families, represen- ting 416 different persons in families ranging from one to ten children. December 1st we opened a new book and transferred the names, and we found the present number of families being aided had gradually been re- duced to 32, a great change from January.
The office has been open every day from 9 A. M. to 12 M., and every Friday P. M., when the orders for relief have been given out.
We have had 31 different people at the City Home during the year up to December 1st; several have been there the whole year, others a shorter time, making an average number for the year 1912, the largest average we have ever had there. The Home is now full and to care for any more people means too much crowding. The situation has been observed by Mr. Bard- well, the State Officer, who has the Almshouses under his care, and the atten- tion of this Board has been called to the fact, with the information that something must be done to relieve the situation. The matter has been taken up by the proper authorities and with the assistance of Mr. Bard- well a plan has been laid out and put into shape by Mr. Higgins, the archi- tect, so that the matter can be properly looked into.
Estimates of the cost have been figured out and to properly carry out the plan suggested it will cost about $8,500. This outlay seems large, but it appears best to put the house in proper shape to meet the growing de- mands for sometime to come.
Nothing of great note has occurred at the Farm during the year. For a long time the need of having an Ice House on the place has been apparent. We have a pond of good size formed by the overflow from the spring on the
53
ANNUAL REPORT
hill back of the barn, large enough to cut an ample supply of ice. The Board finally decided to build such a house, with a refrigerator inside of said house to store perishable supplies, whereby we hope to be able to reduce our ex- penses on food stuffs by buying at wholesale many. things that we have now to buy in high market and in small quantities, for the reason that we have had no proper place to keep them, and if all signs do not fail, because of this investment we feel confident that by this saving we will show a quick pay- ment of the Ice House and have the same for use many years to come.
A survey of the City Farm is about complete and we have found that a mistaken idea of the boundaries of said Farm has existed for a long time. The survey has brought within our lines several acres of wood land, having about 100 cords of standing wood, and if no other beneficial results appear, this finding will cover the expenses incurred in making said survey.
A power saw has been procured and installed which we have belted to the pumping engine, whereby we can saw our wood and have a wood yard of our own and from there distribute wood to our dependent families instead of buying at the various yards at prices that cost much more. Early in the year we advertised for bids for the yearly supply of coal for this Depart- ment and we were able to get prices that have been of advantage which reduces that expense.
With the increase of applicants for aid, comes a much larger amount of work the Visitor has to do. He has been very busy in his investigations making about thirty visits each month on the average. The Board has to make quarterly visits to our Mothers Aid people, take note of any changes and make report of our findings to the State Board of Charity. This makes quite a trip, for our cases are scattered all about the City and much detail is called for in making the reports to the State.
The work in the office has also increased in caring for the detail neces- sary to keep in touch with what is being done. We have several cases loca- ted in various towns and cities, also two or three cases in the State Hospi- tal at Tewksbury, one case at the Hospital School for Children and three or four children in the care of the State Minor Wards, all of which cost us considerable money.
This year to December 1st amounts to $1,779.08, which together with our Mothers Aid to December 1st, amounts to $7,235.08. As the situa- tion now appears it would seem that if the present evidences of prosperity continues, the demand for the coming year would be less than during the past year. There is, however, a great uncertainty as to what will happen, and in asking for an appropriation is largely a matter of guess. The nat- ural increase in this Department is more and more in normal business times, but not to the extent of 1915, the most expensive year in this Department's history.
We have at present, subject to increase, eleven Mothers Aid cases, aggregating about $83.00 per week or about $4,316.00 for the year and three outside cases costing about $20.00 per week or about $1,040.00 per year, making a total of $5,356.00 beside our Temporary Aid list. From this point of view it would appear best to ask for an appropriation of $20,000 for the year 1916. This amount would not include the cost of the addition to the Almshouse; that expense should be met by a special appropriation, the exact bids fixing the actual amount.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH V. CURRAN, BENJAMIN P. KING, FRANK M. PAYSON. Overseers of the Poor.
54
ANNUAL REPORT
CITY PHYSICIAN
Dec. 18, 1915.
Following is the report of the City Physician for term of services from January 15, 1915, to December 15, 1915. As I have no report of the work done while I was ill, this report covers a period of nine and a half months. One hundred and sixty patients have been treated at the office and three hundred and eighty-four house calls have been made for various forms of disease. To divide the cases, there have been fifteen surgical patients, forty-five medical patients and thirteen confinements. I have also answered nine calls from the police department, at the lock-up or for automobile acci- dents. I commend to you the work done by the district nurses and the Associated Charities, who have greatly helped to relieve the suffering by disease. Among the poor people of the city, they have been of great ser- vice to me as city physician.
I would recommend to you for consideration the establishment of a ward or infirmary in the new part of the City Home that is under consideration. We have cases continually which need special care, but are not Hospital cases. Such an infirmary would be of great service for such work.
Yours very truly,
WILFRED E. ROUNSEVILLE, M. D.
55
ANNUAL REPORT
FIRE DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF BOARD OF ENGINEERS.
December 1, 1915.
To His Honor, the Mayor :-
Dear Sir :-
We have the honor of submitting the Annual Report of the Fire Depart- ment for the year ending December 1, 1915, together with such recommen- dations as we think necessary for increasing the efficiency of the Department.
ORGANIZATION.
The Department consists of
Three Fire Engineers. 16 Permanent Men. 80 Call Men. 8 Hose Companies. 3 Ladder Companies.
FIRE STATIONS AND APPARATUS.
Central Fire Station, South Main Street Station No. 1.
Hose No. 1, horse drawn. Ladder No. 3 with Knox Martin Motor Tractor and two-25 gallon Chemi- cal Tanks. Combination A, Knox Motor with Combination Chemical and Hose.
Union Street Station, Union Street, Station No. 2.
Hose No. 2, horse drawn, Combination Hose and Chemical wagon. Ladder No. 1, horse drawn.
Hose No. 3, Station Located at Farmers, West Street.
Apparatus consists of a hired automobile to carry hose and necessary small tools.
South Attleboro Station, Ladder No. 2 and Hose 4.
Ladder No. 2, horse drawn, (horse hired by the alarm). Hose No. 4, Knox motor truck, Combination Hose and Chemical.
56
ANNUAL REPORT
Hebronville Station, South Main Street, Hose No. 5. Federal Motor Truck, Combination Hose and Chemical.
Hose No. 6, Located at Sybleville.
1 Two-wheel hand reel and 800 ft. of hose.
Hose No. 7, Located at Briggs Corner.
1 Two-wheel hand reel and 800 ft. of hose.
APPARATUS.
1 Horse drawn Combination Chemical and Hose Wagon.
1 Horse drawn straight Hose Wagon.
3 Motor (gasoline) Combination Chemical and Hose Wagons.
1 Motor Car which is hired as a Hose Wagon.
2 Hose Reels.
2 Horse drawn Ladder Trucks.
1 Motor (Tractor) Ladder Truck.
2 Supply wagons.
1 Chief's Car which is hired from garage.
1 Express wagon for Fire Alarm System. .
In Reserve.
1 Exercise wagon, 1 two-horse Pung. 1 Chief's Buggy.
Horses.
There are seven horses in the Department in fair condition: 2 At So. Main St. Station.
5 At Union St. Station.
Harnesses.
There are 5 sets of double and 3 single harnesses.
Hose.
So. Main St. Station
5,000
Union St.
2,000
So. Attleboro 66
1,350
Hebronville
800
57
ANNUAL REPORT
Farmers
Station
600
Sybleville
800
Briggs Corner
800
11,350 ft.
HYDRANTS.
At the beginning of the year there were 479 hydrants in service. Ten hydrants have been added during the year, making a total of 489.
FIRE ALARM SERVICE.
The Gamewell Fire Alarm System is in use and in good condition. It consists of the following apparatus :- Two steam whistles, one at the Pump- ing Station at South Attleboro and one at the Electric Light Station, loca- ted at the Farmers; three bells, one on Union Street, one on Peck Street and one on Hose 4 House. There is also one striker located in Church Tower in Hebronville, There are four indicators, located in Houses No. 1, 2, 4 and No. 5. There are also 23 tappers located as follows :- One at Power Station at Briggs Corner and 22 in residences of members of the Depart- ment and Factories where employed. There are 78 Street Alarm Boxes owned by the town and 2 Private Boxes, one of which is owned by the Inter- state St. Railway Co., and one by the Taunton & Pawtucket St. Railway Co.
The Battery Room of the Department is up to date and complete in every way. It contains one Storage Battery complete with a six circuit switchboard and repeater with all the necessary tools for keeping the system in working order. There is at present about 68 miles of wire used through- out the Fire Alarm System.
IMPROVEMENTS.
During the year, three additional Fire Alarm Boxes have been installed. No. 616 at Sturdy Hospital on Park St. No. 121 at Highland Avenue. No. 318 at Dean and Perrin Sts.
Combination "A" has been overhauled and painted.
The large bell which was located on South Main St. was removed to the Union Street Station and installed in the tower.
1,000 ft. of new fire hose was purchased.
SALARIES.
Chief Engineer.
$600 per year
Asst. Engineers.
200 66
Clerk of Engineers.
50
66
Call Captains in Center.
140 “
66
Hosemen
125 " 66
Laddermen 66
125 “
58
ANNUAL REPORT
Call men at South Attleboro
50 per year
" Hebronville. 50℃
Farmers 25 “
" Sybleville. 10 66
.
16 " Briggs Corner. 10
PERMANENT MEN.
Captains 3.50 per day
Electrician . 3.50
First year men . 2.50
Second and third year men
2.75
Fourth year and over. 3.00 “
Permanent man at Hebronville. 600.00 per year
FIRE RECORD.
During the year the City has been free from any serious fires, although a number have been in the centre of the city where there is a large chance of a serious fire because of the type and construction of the buildings.
The fire loss is very low for the number of alarms which occurred dur- ing the year and we can frankly state that in our opinion this is due in no small measure to the force of permanent men who arrive at a fire first in- sufficient number to start fighting the fire and who are quickly reinforced by the call men.
The Department assisted the Town of Mansfield at a serious fire in West Mansfield and also responded to a small building fire in Norton.
There have been two false alarms from the South Attleboro district dur- ing this past year. This is a serious offense and every effort is being made to bring the guilty party to justice. Breaking the glass in the alarm boxes is also an offense and any one caught doing this will be dealt with according to the law.
The Department, including all Companies, has laid 9350 feet of hose, raised 1051 feet of ladders and used 2279 gallons of chemical during the year.
The Department has responded to the following alarms:
Alarms from boxes.
50
Still alarms. .
146
Assembly calls 16
1
Fires where no alarm was given.
213
CLASSIFICATION OF FIRES.
Building fires, (16 chimney fires)
51
Brush and grass. .
128
Dump.
11
Electric car
2
Auto
4
Bill board
1
Sleigh.
1
Calls (no fire)
6
Call for help from West Mansfield.
1
Fences.
2
59
ANNUAL REPORT
Ash box.
3
Escaping steam.
1
Fire in tree. .
1
Boiling over tar kettle.
213
FIRE LOSS.
Value of building at risk. $166,300.00
Value of contents at risk. 346,400.00
Total value of property at risk
$512,700.00
Brush fire loss.
$1,380.00
Insurance on building at risk
$157,650.00
Insurance on contents at risk.
345,000.00
Total insurance on property at risk.
$502,650.00
Loss on buildings.
$4,752.83
Loss on contents.
8,201.81
$12,954.64
Insurance paid on building and contents.
12,302.14
Loss not covered by insurance.
$652.50
FIRE PREVENTION.
Fire prevention today means special care on the part of every one by preventing the accumulation of waste paper, rubbish or any inflammable material in the cellar or about the premises. Hot ashes should never be thrown into a wooden receptacle. Care should also be taken regarding stove cleaning cloths, oil dust-cloths and mops. They should never be allowed in a closet where they may cause a fire by spontaneous combustion.
We believe in regular inspection of buildings by the members of the Department, but as yet have been unable to do this owing to a shortage of men. The apparatus must be covered with men in readiness at all times. With the present number of permanent men, none can be spared to inspect buildings regularly.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The Superintendent of Public Works and the Chief of the Fire Depart- ment made several tests of the water service in different sections of the City during the past summer. The volume and pressure is satisfactury in the centre of the city but in certain sections outside of the centre, there is not sufficient water supply to handle a fire of any size. This condition exists on North Avenue beyond the car barn and in the section bounded by North Main Street and Holden Street. Holden Street has been the scene of one recent fire where it was impossible to obtain sufficient water to operate two hose lines of regulation size and but for the fact that it was not a thickly settled section, there would, no doubt, have occurred the same conditions as happened on January 15th, 1913, at the Mulberry Street fire. When this fire broke out in the middle of the day the water supply was sufficient only for one fire stream. Upon the arrival of the Department, there were three tenement houses afire and the roofs of three more caught during the progress of the fire. With a sufficient supply of water this fire could have been checked at once.
1
60
ANNUAL REPORT
We recommend the purchase of a motor driven triple combination at a cost of $8,500. This piece of apparatus consists of a pump, hose and chem- ical truck combined into one piece of apparatus. With such a piece of apparatus we could obtain two 118 inch streams at the places above men- tioned as well as find valuable use for this kind of apparatus in the outlying sections where it is necessary to lay long lines of hose, which reduces the pressure. The value of a pump to the center of our city cannot be over estimated. Numerous lines of fire hose will reduce the water pressure, mak- ing them almost useless if needed at the top of such buildings as the Bron- son or Bates Blocks, but with the aid of a pump, the lines most needed can be reinforced. Again if an accident happens to our water main in the centre, with a pumping engine at hand to draw from the Ten Mile River, we are sure of at least two fire streams.
We recommend that the body of Combination No. 2 located at Union Street be placed upon a motor chassis at a price of $2,500. With this im- provement another man will be available for working at fires, the expense of maintaining two horses will be eliminated and the efficiency of the De- partment increased.
We recommend the purchase of 1,000 feet of 21/2 inch fire hose at a cost of $600.
We recommend the one day off in five for the permanent men.
We recommend that the clerk of the Board of Engineers receive a salary of $100 per year.
We recommend that three more men be added to the permanent force.
We recommend that a fire alarm box be placed in the locality surround- ing the lower end of Hazel Street and one on May Street, South Attleboro, to cost $230.
We extend our thanks to His Honor the Mayor, to the Honorable City Council, and to the Committee on Fire Department for the interest mani- fested in this Department; to the Police Department for their assistance and to the officers and men of the Department for the manner in which they have performed their duties.
Respectfully submitted,
HIRAM R. PACKARD, Chief.
FRED A. CLARK, 1st Ass't Chief. WILLIAM E. SWEENEY, 2nd Ass't Chief and Clerk.
ESTIMATED EXPENSES 1916.
Permanent Payroll.
$17,132.75
Call Men Payroll.
6,095.00
Hydrants. .
14,670.00
Insurance of Employees
1,010.00
Coal and Wood.
1,000.00
Hay and Grain.
1,000.00
Electric Lights and Gas.
175.00
Maintenance of Automobiles.
500.00
Maintenance of Fire Alarm System .
300.00
Repairs on Stations.
500.00
Plumbing
300.00
Telephones.
250.00
Laundry
100.00
Water Service in Stations.
150.00
Veterinary Services.
25.00
Chemical Supplies.
50.00
Blacksmithing
250.00
61
ANNUAL REPORT
Matches, Oil and Soap.
90.00
Harness Supplies and Repairs.
60.00
Auto Hire for Engineers.
225.00
Auto Hire at Hose No. 3, Farmers
120.00
Janitor Service at Hose No. 3, Farmers.
52.00
Express, P. O. Supplies, Printing and Clerical Supplies.
50.00
Rubber Coats. .
50.00
Horse Hire.
50.00
Auto Licenses.
15.00
Disinfectant, Dustlayers.
53.00
Fire Police.
50.00
Bedding, Paint, Hardware, Brooms, Brushes, Toilet Paper, Boiler Insurance, etc.
275.00
$44,597.75
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Motorizing Hose No. 2.
$2,500.00
1000 ft. Hose ..
600.00
Three more Permanent Men
2,750.00
Salary Clerk of Engineers
100.00
New Alarm Boxes.
230.00
Triple Combination.
8,500.00
$14,680.00
$14,680.00
$59,277.75
62
ANNUAL REPORT
FORESTRY DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Mayor,
HAROLD E. SWEET:
I herewith submit my first annual report, for the year 1915, as Tree Warden of the City of Attleboro :-
Such a small amount of money being appropriated for the use of the public shade trees, it was necessary to use the most of it removing dead limbs which were a menance to public traffic.
I would recommend that $500 be appropriated for use on public shade trees.
Respectfully submitted,
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.