USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1897 > Part 4
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REPORT ON WATER SUPPLY.
important to know that an apparently good source is not a proper place to invest money in as to know that another one is suitable, for otherwise there would always exist a doubt as to the source adopted being the best one.
The town is fortunate in having but two villages to sup- ply and those comparatively near each other and compactly built up. It is probable that between six and seven miles of pipe would very thoroughly cover the two villages and con- nect with the pumping station and reservoir.
Although it is impossible to make satisfactory estimates of cost without measurements in the field and definite loca- tions for reservoir, source of supply, etc., I have, at your request, made some approximations of the cost of utilizing possible sources for purposes of comparison, using generous dimensions, pipe sizes, etc., as follows : If source is at the Plains, the probable cost would be between $60,000 and $70,000. If source is near Pines Point, Kimball's Pond, the probable cost would be from $65,000 to $75,000. If source is Cobbler's Brook, the probable cost would be from $85,000 to $95,000.
I believe an estimate based upon a definate plan would be inclined to lower rather than increase them, especially the first.
Inasmuch as the price of pipe is low and labor plentiful and cheap, the present is a favorable time to build water works.
Tide water facilities at Merrimacport will render lower freight rates possible than are usually paid, which is an im- portant item.
It may not be out of place in this connection to mention some matters which, usually come under the engineer's obser- vation and concerning which, questions are always raised.
It is a prevalent opinion in towns that if water works are
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REPORT ON-WATER SUPPLY. 69
constructed, sewers are thereby made necessary and must be constructed immediately after at au additional expense. Experience shows however that this is seldom done, and that the necessity for sewers is not so great as before. Prior to the introduction of either a public water supply or sewerage, the water for domestic use is obtained on the individual prem- ises and the house drainage is also disposed of there. This renders the supply and discharge practically together, so that the drinking water obtained from the well is in a degree filter- ed or unfiltered house drainage as the case may be, depend- ing upon the nature and condition of the soil, relative distance apart, etc. As soon as a water supply is obtained from a distant and unpolluted source, the supply and discharge are separated and the drainage does not have the opportunity to exert so harmful an influence as before.
The improved business conditions in a town resulting from the introduction of water works is mainly noticeable in the increased building operations which follow. During the construction of the works, requiring the employment of many persons and the purchasing and contracting for a wide range of materials from various parts of the country, both far and near, attention is called to the town and its industries in a desirable way, which results in immediate benefit to manu- facturer, trader and employee, alike. When the works are completed, it is usual to have a celebration of the event through the fire department, when the hydrants are formally turned over to the department and tested by it in various ways, fire underwriters and others being invited to attend. Thus the town and its improved conditions are brought to the attention of many.
That small towns are realizing the advantages which result from a public water supply and modern fire protection is shown by the fact that in Massachusetts alone. some
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REPORT ON WATER SUPPLY.
twenty or thirty towns having less than 2000 population each, are already thus provided.
Taking into consideration the present population of Mer- rimac and the experience of towns that have water works, it is reasonable to expect an annual revenue from private water takers of about $3,630. This would suffice to pay the inter- est and principal as it matures on a loan of $60,000 for 30 years at 4 per cent, without assistance from the town. If there is additional expense for construction or operation, it can be considered in the light of an appropriation for an effi- cient system of fire protection and for water for public use in the schools and elsewhere.
The advantage of having water in ample quantity, pumped and under pressure before a fire occurs, ready for instant use, can hardly be overestimated. Insurance on property partially recompenses the owner for loss by fire, but in the case of a large establishment employing many persons, it does not reach the employee who is usually the greatest sufferer by loss of employment.
Statistics show that a large percentage of water works under municipal control are self-supporting, many requiring no assistance whatever by taxation, which makes the hydrant service and water for public use free of cost.
Yours respectfully,
LOUIS E. HAWES, Civil Engineer.
Tremont Building, Boston, Jan. 28, 1897.
REPORT ON WATER SUPPLY.
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
OFFICE OF STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, DECEMBER 3, 1896.
TO THE WATER SUPPLY COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF MERRIMAC :
GENTLEMEN :
The State Board of Health has considered your applica- tion with reference to a proposed water supply for the town of Merrimac and has caused an examination of the sources mentioned in your application to be made by its engineer and samples of the waters to be analyzed.
The first source mentioned is Cobbler's Brook which you propose to use either by taking water from the ground about half a mile above the railroad station and near the old Tukes- bury Dam, or by taking water from a storage reservoir to be formed by costructing a dam across the valley near the old Tukesbury Dam, or by both methods.
In this locality you have made tests of the ground by means of tubular wells, a portion of the wells being located close to the old dam and the others about four hundred feet further down the stream. The results of these examinations do not show the presence of porous material of sufficient depth and extent to furnish a reasonable expectation of obtain- ing any considerable quantity of water from the ground. An analysis of a sample of water collected by you from the test
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REPORT ON WATER SUPPLY.
well from which water could be pumped with the most free- dom shows that it contains so large a quantity of iron that the water would be objectionable for many domestic purposes.
It is probable that by constructing a storage reservoir of sufficient size at the place proposed, enough water could be obtained from the brook for the supply of the town, but the analyses of samples of water from the brook at this point show that the water is highly colored and contains a large amount of organic matter so that it would be an unsatisfac- tory water for domestic uses in its present state, and it is unlikely that its quality would be materially improved by storage in a reservoir of the size that would be needed for the supply of the town of Merrimac.
The next source mentioned in your application is Lake Attitash or Kimball's Pond, water to be taken either directly from the pond or from the ground near the pond or by both methods.
The pond is capable of supplying a much greater quan- tity of water than would be needed by the town of Merrimac. A limited number of analyses of the water, made in the months of May, September and October, show that it is soft but that its quality is variable. The water has at times a high color and contains a somewhat large amount of organic matter, as shown by these analyses, and the microscopical examinations show the presence of some minute vegetable organisms which are often found in waters which give trouble from bad tastes and odors. The pond is, moreover, exposed to danger of pollution from the summer cottages along its shores and in its present condition cannot be consid- ered a desirable or safe source of public water supply.
Test wells have been driven by you in two localities in the vicinity of the pond, one near the southerly shore and the other near the westerly shore south of Back River. The
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REPORT ON WATER SUPPLY.
results obtained from tests near the southerly shore of the pond were unfavorable since no deep stratum of coarse sand or gravel was found from which water could be obtained with freedom. The tests made on the westerly shore of the pond were somewhat more favorable and a sample of water collected by you from one of the wells was found to be color- less, soft and otherwise excellent for the purposes of a water supply ; but ledge was found at no great distance beneath the surface and, judging from the results of these tests, the con- ditions are not favorable for obtaining a sufficient quantity of water for the town in this locality.
The next source mentioned is "The Plains" so-called, a level tract of land extending from near the southerly end of Kimball's Pond toward the Merrimac river. From informa- tion obtained from a single test well as to the character of the material beneath the surface of the Plains, it appears proba- ble that the material is too fine to yield water freely in any considerable quantity, and, judging from the topography of the region, the area from which water would be contributed to the wells in this territory would be too small to furnish at all times the quantity of water that would be required by the town.
The last source mentioned in your application is the Back river watershed, from which you propose to take water either from the ground just below and not far from Sargent's Millpond, including the water of Sargent's spring, or direct- ly from the brook by constructing a storage reservoir thereon, , or by both methods.
It appears that three test wells have been driven in this valley at points within a distance of about a quarter of a mile below Sargent's Pond, in two of which the material was found to be so compact that no water could be obtained and ledge was found within a few feet of the surface. In one of
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REPORT ON WATER SUPPLY.
the wells a coarse stratum of gravel was found from six to fourteen feet beneath the surface from which water could be drawn with considerable freedom, and a sample of water from this well was collected by you for analysis. The results showed the presence of so large a quantity of iron in the water as to make it very objectionable for most domestic uses.
Sargent's Spring and the springs in its vicinity, accord- ing to measurements furnished by your engineer, would not, alone, furnish a sufficient quantity of water for the town, though the quality, judging from an analysis of the water of one of these springs, would probably be good.
Analyses of the water of Back river show that it is very highly colored and much poorer in quality than the water of Cobbler's Brook, so that its use for water supply purposes would be even more objectionable than the use of water from Cobbler's Brook.
From the investigations thus far made, it does not ap- pear that any of the sources mentioned in the application are likely to furnish . sufficient quantity of water of satisfactory quality for the supply of the town of Merrimac.
In general, a supply of water taken from the ground is much to be preferred to one taken from a stream or other sur- face water source, because the water is colorless and free from unpleasant tastes and odors, and the Board would advise that you continue your investigations with a view to obtain- ing a supply of good water from the ground.
While the investigations made in the vicinity of Kim- ball's Pond were unfavorable to obtaining a sufficient supply of water from the ground they were not extensive enough to enable the Board to conclude that a sufficient supply may not be obtained in this region.
Judging from surface indications, coarse gravel is likely to be found beneath the surface along the northerly side of
75
REPORT ON WATER SUPPLY.
Kimball's Pond between its outlet and Back river, and while this territory is outside the limits of Merrimac it is desirable that an investigation be made here to see whether it may not be possible to obtain a supply of water from the ground in this locality. It also seems desirable that a further investiga- tion be made along the shore of the pond south of Back river.
The. Board will, upon application, give you further advice in this matter when you have the results of additional investigations to present.
By order of the Board,
SAMUEL W. ABBOTT, Secretary.
ARTICLES IN THE WARRANT
FOR THE
ANNUAL MEETING. MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1897.
ARTICLE I. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
ARTICLE 2. To bring in their votes on one ballot for Town Clerk ; three Selectmen, who will be Assessors and Overseers of the Poor; Treasurer; Collector of Taxes; one School Committee for three years; one Trustee of Cemetery for three years ; two Trustees of Public Library for three years; three Constables; three Surveyors of Lumber and Measurers of Wood and Bark; three Fence Viewers; three Field Drivers ; Auditor of Accounts. Also to bring in their votes upon the same ballot, Yes or No, on the question, "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town." In voting under this article the polls will be opened at nine o'clock in the forenoon, and may be closed at two o'clock in the afternoon.
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ARTICLES IN TOWN WARRANT.
ARTICLE 3. To determine what sum of money shall be raised to defray the necessary and usual charges and expenses of the town for the ensuing year and make appropriations for the same.
ARTICLE 4. To fix the time for the payment of taxes and see what discount, if any, the town will allow for the prompt payment of taxes. Also to see what interest, if any, the town will charge on taxes remaining unpaid after the time fixed for the payment of the same.
ARTICLE 5. To see if the town will authorize its Treasurer, under the direction of the Selectmen, to hire money in anticipation of taxes and to pay any indebtedness of the town.
ARTICLE 6. To see if the town will vote to accept the jury list as revised by the Selectmen.
ARTICLE 7. After hearing the report of the Selectmen, to see if the town will vote to rebuild a part of the bank wall on Broad street, adjoining land of James Whittier and make appropriations for the same.
ARTICLE S. To see if the town will vote to rebuild a portion of the bridge near the Power Station on Main street and widen the same to a suitable width, and make appropri- ations for the same.
ARTICLE 9. . To see if the town will unite with Salis- bury, West Newbury and Newbury or any two of these towns under the provisions of Chapter 431 of the Acts of ISSS and subsequent amendments relating to the employment of a Superintendent of Schools, and appropriate money therefor. Also to see if the town will release Bradford from the present union.
ARTICLE 10. On petition of George B. Patten and seventeen others, to see if the town will vote to expend the
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ARTICLES IN TOWN WARRANT.
tax on bicycles, in addition to the appropriations for the high- ways, upon the highways, for the improvement of the same.
ARTICLE II. To see if the town will vote to pay the bill of J. Fred Ives, amounting to ninety-eight dollars, for services rendered in the Crosby Homicide case, in 1894 and 1895, and make appropriations for the same.
ARTICLE 12. On petition of W. B. Kelley and others to see if the town will appropriate a sum of money, or will authorize the School Committee to use a part of the money appropriated for schools, for conveying pupils to and from the public schools; the same to be expended by the School Committee in their discretion.
ARTICLE 13. On petition of Daniel Morrison and four- teen others, to see if the town will reconsider the vote where- by they established the office of Superintendent of Highways, and return to the old plan of District Surveyors.
ARTICLE 14. To see if the town will vote to close the Highland School for the ensuing school year and vote such sum as they judge necessary for conveying pupils to and from said district to the village public schools, the same to be ex- pended by the School Committee in their discretion.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the town will vote to restrain neat cattle and horse kind from running at large. And to transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting.
SCHOOL REPORT.
Teachers, 1896=97.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
FRANK E. PEASE,
Term expires 1897 IS98
T. H. HOYT, BION GREEN, 66 1899
R. D. McKEEN, SUPERINTENDENT.
HIGH SCHOOL.
C. C. FERGUSON, Principal Assistant
L. FRANCES TUCKER,
MERRIMAC-CENTER.
First Grammar,
Second Grammar,
Intermediate, Primary,
MIDDLE STREET.
Second Grammar,
CARRIE M. EVANS MARJORIE L. SOUTHER JESSIE L. HOLMES LOUISE C. BRACKETT
Primary,
PROSPECT STREET.
Intermediate,
MARY H. HEAD BERTHA M. BOULTENHOUSE CARRIE M. EVANS
Grammar, Primary,
IDA M. BLAISDELL HATTIE A. BAXTER
DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
Bear Hill, Birch Meadow, Highlands,
ANNIE R. HUNTER ABBIE L. CLEMENT ABBIE L. CLEMENT ANNIE M. GRAY
Music, LIZZIE B. SMITII. DRAWING, M. A. PEARSON.
JENNIE P. CLEMENT LUCY A: CRAWFORD LILLA M. PHELPS MARY N. HOPKINS ANNIE R. HUNTER EMMA PEARSON ETTA H. COLBY
Primary,
MERRIMACPORT.
Twenty-first Annual Report.
The school committee of Merrimac respectfully submit the twenty-first annual report. At the last annual town meeting the term of office of one of the school board having expired, Mr. Bion Green was elected for three years.
The committee organized with Frank E. Pease chairman, and Bion Green secretary.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Appropriated by town, $ 8,200 00
Appropriated for Supt. 350 00
Ree'd from State on acc. of Supt.
500 00
66 66
Mass. school fund, 262 58
66
Dog Tax,
150 79
60
for Books and Supplies, 19 32
$ 9,482 69
Expended for Supt. and teachers, $ 7169 14
Care of school buildings,
567 50
Books,
351 77
Supplies,
357 70
Sundries,
390 72
Repairs,
325 15
Fuel,
456 93
$ 9,618 91
All school expenses have been paid to Feb. I, the beginning of a new financial year.
This statement shows an overdraft of $136.22, but the first of next August there will be due from the state $500, on account of the superintendent.
:
4
SCHOOL REPORT.
REPAIRS.
The repairs made during the year, consisted in moving and practically rebuilding the privy and draining the base- ment of the school house at Merrimacport.
Painting the Middle street school house and making some minor repairs.
Painting the rooms in the Prospect street school house, all of which repairs were very much needed.
DISTRICT SUPERVISION.
The union formed with the town of Bradford last year will continue until August Ist of this year, Mr. R. D. Mc- Keen having been re-elected and the time for which he has been employed not expiring until that time.
As the town of Bradford has been merged into the city of Haverhill and is no longer a town, we recommend that Bradford be released from the union and that this town unite with Salisbury, West Newbury, Newbury or with any two of these towns to form a district for the employment of a superintendent under the provisions of the law by which the state gives aid to towns forming such a district. We think that there is no doubt about the advantages to be derived from the employment of a competent superintendent, and we earnestl: hope for the welfare of our schools that a district will be formed and a competent superintendent employed.
LENGTH OF SCHOOL YEAR.
The State Board of Education in their last annual report says that the schools of the cities and larger towns are gener- ally kept 10 months and the average length of the schools in this state for 1895 lacked but 14 days of 10 months, also that the average length of the schools had been almost constantly increasing for the past 10 years.
Wishing the schools of Merrimac to be in the front rank with the best schools in the state, we decided early in
5
SCHOOL REPORT.
December to increase the length of the present school year to Io months, but owing to the prevalence of scarlet fever in town, it was later decided to keep the schools but 38 weeks, that being the time for which we had contracted with the teachers.
We have also shortened the sessions of the schools to five hours per day, in accordance with the practice in most of the cities and large towns of the state, it having been found that better results could be obtained by so doing, thus a school year of 10 months at five hours daily sessions amounts to 1000 hours, while a year of eight and one-half months at six hours daily sessions amounts to 1020 hours, thus it will be seen that the scholars will be in school fewer hours during the year of 10 months at five hours per day than during a year of nine and one-half, nine, or even eight and one-half months with six hours daily sessions.
SCARLET FEVER.
Late in December scarlet fever made its appearance in our midst, two children in one school being taken sick of this dis- ease just before the schools closed for the Christmas vacation ; during the next week several other cases from other schools were reported to us, it was therefore decided (under medical advice) to lengthen the Christmas vacation to two weeks, at the end of which time, as there seemed to be no cause for alarm, and no new cases having been reported to us, it was decided to re-open the schools, first making the following regulations :
"No child who is a member of a household where any member of the household has been sick of scarlet fever, diphtheria or small-pox, shall be allowed to attend school until after the house and clothing have been thoroughly fumigated and cleansed, nor then without a certificate from the attend- ing physician or board of health, that the above requirements have been complied with."
6
SCHOOL REPORT.
After the schools had been in session two weeks, there being only a very few scholars in the schools (only one or two in some of the schools) it was decided to close them again and they have remained closed up to the present time, all of which was done by unanimous vote of the committee ; schools will probably re-open February 15th. The usual March vacation will be dispensed with.
APPROPRIATION.
We ask that the sum of $8300 be appropriated for general school purposes and $350 for salary of superintendent.
If the town should approve of the recommendation of the Superintendent and the High School Principal in regard to having another teacher and another room for the use of the High School, it will be necessary to appropriate an addition- al sum of $600 for these purposes. It would certainly be of great benefit to the High School to have another assistant teacher and the additional room recommended. We have not sufficient school accomodations in the buildings now used for school purposes and it might perhaps be difficult to obtain a suitable room.
We refer you to the reports of the superintendent and teachers appended hereto, for other matters relating to the statistics and condition of the schools.
FRANK E. PEASE, T. H. HOYT,
School
BION GREEN. Committee.
1
MERRIMAC HIGH SCHOOL.
GRADUATES, 1896.
GEORGE WILLIS CUMMINGS,
GRACE THIRZA SARGENT,
ROSELLA A. HOLMES.
S
SCHOOL REPORT.
GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS.
I. All teachers are required to see that these rules are faithfully observed.
2. Teachers are to be present in their respective school- rooms fifteen minutes before the hour of opening each session.
3. No teacher shall employ a substitue without per- mission from the Committee.
4. In case corporal punishment is resorted to, a record of the same shall be kept in the register.
5. Whenever the example of a scholar is injurious to the welfare of the school, the teacher may suspend such pupil from the school. In case of suspension, the teacher shall , immediately notify the committee.
6. Promotions will be made at the end of the summer term by examinations and the average of the pupil for the year.
7. No person shall be permitted to enter a school for the purpose of promoting the sale of any article. Teachers shall not allow notices to be given ; advertisements, circulars or other printed matter to be distributed, or any like interfer- ence with the regular course of school work.
S. Teachers shall see that the school-rooms present a neat appearance at all times.
9. No pupil shall leave the school grounds during recess without permission of the teacher.
9
SCHOOL REPORT.
IO. Books are loaned the pupils on the following
conditions : Ist. They are to be used carefully and not to be marked or defaced. 2d. They are not to be taken from the school-room without the consent of the teacher. 3d. If lost 01 injured, they are to be paid for by the pupil using them.
II. In case of absence or tardiness, every pupil is ex- pected to furnish written evidence to the teacher that such absence or tardiness was for sufficient cause.
I2. Teachers shall see that school-rooms are thoroughly ventilated at the close of each session.
13. Teachers may take two days in each year for the purpose of visiting other schools.
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