USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1900 > Part 4
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A. O. Allen, sledge handles, 3.30
A. O. Allen, crackers, 13.83
Palmer Savings Bank, use of Tramp Room, 90.00
$201.08
Whole number of tramps during the year, 304.
PAID OUT OF THE CONTINGENT FUND.
Allen Supply Co., repairing furnace, $ 13.50
W. H. Hitchcock, ram and repairs, 20.00
G. E. Lent, labor, 51.00
T. D. Potter & Co., lumber and material,
260.97
Pearl Bacon, labor,
21.75
F. F. Marcy, lumber,
36.01
Whole amount expended,
$403.23 $8,725.31
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RECAPITULATION.
CASHI PAID OUT.
Poor not on town farm,
$4,678.91
Poor on town farm,
2,986.36
Other towns,
111.67
State poor,
344.06
Tramps,
201.08
Contingent fund,
403.23
$8,725.31
CASH RECEIVED.
Appropriation for poor,
$6,500.00
Contingent fund,
300.00
Overseers' salaries,
400.00
From the state,
262.57
From Athol,
56.80
From Northampton,
72.00
From Gill,
67.04
7,658.41
$1,066.90
BILLS DUE THE TOWN.
Hampden,
$42.00
Monson,
14 77
Northampton,
48.00
Warren,
6.00
State,
81.49
192.26
$874.64
The Overseers recommend the following appropriations :
Support of poor,
$6.500
Contingent fund,
300
Salaries,
400
Amount overdrawn,
900
WILLIAM MERRIAM.
Overseers8, 00 -
H. T. BISHOP, R. L. BOND, $ of Poor.
Report of the Board of Health.
The Board of Health respectfully submit the following report :
The past year has been one of unusual activity for the board, as will be seen by the tables of contagious and infectious diseases, we hereinafter show.
Diphtheria and measles having been more prevalent than the others, many houses had to be quarantined and many persons incon- venienced and greatly annoyed thereby, yet a general willingness to comply with the regulations of the board was manifest and borne with cheerful submission, that other homes might be protected against contagion through neglect or carelessness of theirs.
The work of disinfection was necessarily great, and the board deemed it wise to hire some competent person to do this work under the direction of the board.
Horace H. Paine was engaged at a fee of one dollar and car-fare in each case, and we believe the work was done in a thorough and careful manner. But owing to the continued spread of diphtheria and believing it to be due to a too early release of the patients, the board appointed Dr. H. C. Emerson of Springfield to act as bacter- iologist for the Town at a fee of two dollars for each case examined, and after this, no case was released till an examination showed the entire absence of the germ. This we believe to have been a wise move, for the dread disease was soon stamped out, and at the present time there is no contagious disease in the town.
During the diphtheria epidemic the school buildings in the several villages were thoroughly disinfected.
At a joint meeting of the Selectmen and Board of Health, on May 26th, Dr. S. O. Miller of Three Rivers was elected to fill a vacancy on the board caused by the removal from town of Dr. J. C. Boulay.
We have no cash account, as the board received no money, and all bills were turned over to and paid by the Selectmen.
71
Our appropriation has been overdrawn, but because of the large number of contagious diseases the expense was unavoidable.
Owing to an outbreak of smallpox in Chicopee, and the frequent · visitations between said city and our villages, the board decided to vaccinate the operatives in the several mills and the school children of the town. About the time the work was completed a communi- cation from the State Board of Health was received ordering a gen- eral vaccination, which justified the course taken by your board.
We submit the following tables of statistics :
TABLE No. 1.
Showing the number of contagious and infectious diseases re- ported to the board from March 1, 1900, to March 1, 1901.
Mar.
Apr.
May.
June.
July.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Total.
Diphtheria
3
9
16
21
5
4
2
1
61
Scarlet fever
7
5
4
1
1
18
Typhoid fever
1
1
4
2
8
Measles .
1
19
17
1
3
41
Membraneous croup
1
1
2
Membraneous laryngitis
1
1
Total
7
6 27
17
1
13
17
25
6
5
5
2
131
TABLE NO. 2.
Number of deaths reported to the board during the year :
Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.
19 16 12 8 20 20 16 20 19
9 13
12
1
Number of burial permits issued by the board, 184 Number of undertakers' licenses issued by the board, 6
Number of slaughter house licenses issued by the board, 3
72
TABLE No. 3.
Ages at death of persons dying in Palmer from March 1st, 1900, to March 1st, 1901, (exclusive of still births).
1 to 2 years, 7. Males, 4 ; females,
3. 2 to 3
2;
66
3.
3 to 4
9.
4;
66
5.
4 to 5 3.
2;
3 ; 1; 2;
66
0
15 to 20
2.
0
20 to 30 66 11. 10.
5; 5;
66
6.
30 to 40 66
40 to 50
13.
66
10;
3.
50 to 60 6 6
5.
3 :
2.
60 to 70
12.
3;
66
9.
70 to 80 66
15.
66
8;
6 .
7.
80 to 90 66
4.
6.
1;
3.
90 to 100 66
2.
1 ;
1.
Less than 1 year, 62.
.6
42;
66
20.
Unknown,
1.
66
1 .
REPORT OF THE BACTERIOLOGIST.
SPRINGFIELD, March 1, 1901.
To the Board of Health, Town of Palmer.
GENTLEMEN :-- I have the honor to submit the following report for the five months ending Feb. 28, 1901 :
In October, 1900, I was elected bacteriologist to the Board of Health for the examination of cases of diphtheria arising within the town. At the same time it was ruled by the Board of Health that releases from quarantine of diphtheria cases should not be obtained until two consecutive negative cultures had been secured. (A culture is the growth of bacteria upon the blood serum tube ; a posi- tive culture is one in which diphtheria bacilli are found. and a nega- tive culture one in which diphtheria bacilli are absent. )
For the purpose of carrying on the work the following service was arranged : Boxes containing one sterile swab (consisting of a stop-
1.
5 to 10 66 10.
7.
10 to 15
1.
66
5.
5.
73
pered glass tube containing a wire wound at one end with cotton) and one test-tube of the culture medium, blood serum, on which the germs develop, are supplied in quantities as requested to the chair- man of the Board of Health. Each box contains a slip of paper bearing the following :
FILL OUT THIS BLANK.
Patient's Name, .
· Age,
Address, .
For Diagnosis.
Mark with X
" Release.
Membrane Present
Tonsils, Pharynx, Nares,
Larynx,
Date First Symptom
Date, . .190
Clinical Diagnosis. Swab taken by .
OVER
REVERSE SIDE.
As soon as diagnosis is made report will be telephoned or tele- graphed at your expense, unless otherwise indicated.
H. C. EMERSON. M. D., Springfield, Mass. Laboratory and Residence, 11 Maple St. Telephone 543.
SUGGESTIONS.
1. Keep Box in cool place till wanted. (When the serum tubes have become dried they should be returned for fresh ones. )
2. Rub the swab thoroughly over surface of tonsils and pharyn- geal walls (or nares), taking care to bring all sides of swab in con- tact with these surfaces.
3. Be careful that swab touches nothing between the mucous membranes and surface of the serum.
4. Wipe the swab over entire surface of serum, twirling the wire so that all sides of swab are rubbed on the serum. Do not break surface of serum.
5. Replace swab in its tube, and cotton stopper into serum tube.
6. Failure to comply with the above often produces unsatisfac- tory results.
7. Fill out blanks on slip. Send by express prepaid.
On receipt of the box at the laboratory after use, culture tubes are placed in the incubator and the germs allowed to develop over night. Cultures leaving Palmer as late as the 5.20 p. m. express reach the laboratory in time to develop and be reported on early the following morning. A report by telephone of the result of the examination is
74
sent to the chairman of the Board of Health about 9 a. m., and a written report mailed both to him and to each physician submitting cultures.
The following table shows the actual work done since the estab lishment of this service :
PRIMARY CASES.
Diagnosis. Release.
Total.
Positive,
9
7
16
Negative,
1
7
8
No Growth,
1
0
1
Total,
11
14
25
Cases showing a negative culture followed by a positive culture, 2
Cases released on one negative culture,
11
Cases released on two negative cultures,
8
Total cases examined,
25
Total cultures examined, 62
Although the mortality of diphtheria has been greatly reduced by the universal use of anti-toxine. the danger of infection from this disease is still as great as ever There is scarcely a disease whose infective period is so accurately known as that of diphtheria, and no disease against which precautions to prevent its spread can be so thoroughly taken. An early and speedy diagnosis of suspicious, but not characteristic diphtheria throats is of great value both to the patient and to the public at large. It is a well recognized fact that after the disappearance of all symptoms in a patient, diphtheria bacilli may persist in the throat or nose for days, and even weeks ; and as long as they are present the patient is still a source of danger, that is infection, to well people with whom he may associate. The spread of the disease can be greatly checked by the observance of the following procedure :
Early diagnosis, particularly of mild cases.
Strict isolation of the patient ; quarantine to be maintained until the diphtheria germs have disappeared from the site of the disease as shown by bacteriological examination.
Conscientious disinfection of the premises occupied.
75
The physicians have assisted the bacteriologist by sending a secondary culture whenever requested, and their hearty co-operation with the Board of Health in carrying on these sanitary measures contributes largely to the success of the work. I would suggest that the Board of Health encourage the more general use of the culture tube for diagnostic purposes, as the cases most dangerous to the pub- lic health are the mild unrecognized cases mingling freely in society, and not the very sick patients who are strictly isolated.
All of which is respectfully submitted, HERBERT C. EMERSON, M. D., Bacteriologist.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Your board would recommend that all householders living on streets through which sewers pass be required to enter the same - the law says they " shall." We would further recommend the appropriation of three hundred dollars "for the use of the board," in addition to the salaries of the board.
J. P. SCHNEIDER, Chairman, Board GEO. H. WILKINS, of
S. O. MILLER, Health.
.
Report of Cemetery Commissioners.
The Cemetery Commissioners herewith submit their third annual report.
Appropriation for 1900,
$500.00
Balance in treasury,
123.10
Received from sale of lots,
234.50
Received for care of lots,
10.50
Total receipts,
$868.10
Paid out on orders,
$732.57
Paid out cash,
157.63
890.20
Balance,
$22.10
RECEIVED FOR DEEDS.
A. O. Davis,
$ 3.00
George Ezekiel,
12.00
Mary A. Holden,
48.00
Alice H. Petrie,
24.00
A. L. Davis,
3.00
Edwin H. Hecox,
8.00
Fred C. Sherman,
24.00
Lydia A. Kenyon,
5.00
Mrs. F. A. Barker,
8.00
James O. Shaw,
5.25
C. F. Grosvenor,
15.00
Fannie W. Brown,
15.00
James W. Mitton,
9.00
1
77
Dwight M. and M. B. Chapman,
$17.00
Louis G. Barker,
18.00
John Johnson,
3.00
John H. Haynes,
9 25
Frank L. Barker,
8.00
$234.50
RECEIVED FOR CARE OF LOTS.
L. E. Chandler,
$1.00
Mary Clark,
.50
Joseph Brown,
4.00
Gilbert Hodges,
3.00
Thankful A. King,
2.00
10.50
Total,
$245.00
DUE THE TOWN FOR DEEDS.
Henry D. Converse,
$14.50
Edward Goodes,
22.00
Frank B. Pope,
24.00
Henry G. Trumble,
8.00
Oscar C. Marcy estate,
30.00
$98.50
PERMANENT FUNDS.
Minnie K. Bennet fund,
$200.00
Laura E. Child fund,
500.00
Calista D. Hendrick fund,
100.00
Henry Scism fund,
100.00
Avery W. Green fund,
200.00
Julia C. Smith fund,
200.00
Waterman Fuller fund,
200.00
William A. Breckenridge fund,
200.00
James W. Snow fund,
100.00
$1,800.00
78
EXPENDITURES.
C. B. Fiske & Co., printing, $ 7.00
H. C. Strong, cash paid laborers, 100.00
C. J. Leary, labor, 12.20
Joseph Bonville, labor,
18.00
C. S. Ruggles, orders,
61.25
C. S. Ruggles, Minnie K. Bennett fund,
5.00
Franklin M. Shaw, labor, 47.40
L. S. Bowen, labor, 64.65
O. E. Butler, labor, 32.25
P. Carey, labor, 18.75
Robert Lewis, labor,
18.90
Michael Finnerty, labor,
3.75
C. H. Eastman, labor,
4.00
H. C. Strong, from Laura E. Child fund,
42.80
H. C. Strong, from Henry Scism fund,
8.00
William Merriam, use of team, .75
1.25
C. J. Leary, labor,
33.40
H. C. Strong, cash paid laborers,
65.00
E. A. Buck & Co., merchandise, 44.62
D. J. Sullivan, labor,
16.25
Michael Murphy, labor,
9.75
Daniel Crimmins, labor,
8.50
H. G. Loomis, cash paid laborers,
125.00
D. L. Bodfish, merchandise,
2.48
J. B. Longwill, labor,
2.00
T. J. Chalk, labor,
27.40
George Shaw, labor,
16.00
S. L. Ferry, labor,
9.00
C. S. Ruggles, labor,
36.00
C. D. Holbrook Co., merchandise,
12.50
S. Leach, labor,
7.25
J. Stever Knox, labor,
12.00
Mrs. C. J. Holbrook, labor,
1.00
Mrs. M. B. Hall, order,
3.00
C. A. Brown & Co., merchandise,
8.60
$890.20
A. O. Allen, repairing lawn mower,
79
The Commissioners would recommend to be expended on the cemeteries of the town for the current year an appropriation of $500 ; also an additional appropriation of $600 for a sewer or sewers to connect the cemetery grounds with the Thorndike street sewer. Respectfully submitted,
H. E. W. CLARK, Į Cemetery H. G. LOOMIS, Commissioners.
Young Men's Library Association.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1901.
The statistical work of the Library for the past year is shown in the following figures :
Number of volumns in the library March 1, 1900,
5,530
Since purchased,
277
Donated,
42 319
Now in the library,
5,849
Volumes loaned during the year :
Fiction,
10,856
Other classes,
3,999
Total,
14,855
The Library has been open three hundred and four days during the year, and the daily average circulation of books has been about forty-nine. No record is kept of the number of reference or other books used in the library rooms, nor of the magazines and periodi- cals, of which twenty are kept on file, but the patronage is such as to clearly show the readers' appreciation of the opportunities afforded by the Library for the enjoyment of the best literature. It is pur- posed to give the public easier access to the more useful books of reference hereafter, by removing them from the stack room to shelves to be placed in the reading room, where they can be consulted at pleasure.
A generous donation of books has been made to the Library by C. F. Grosvenor,[but only five of them have as yet been put in circula- tion. The donations during the year have been as follows : U. S.
81
Government 10 volumes, State of Massachusetts 10, H. G. Loomis 10. C. F. Grosvenor 5, Woman's Tuesday Club 2, C. E. Stevens 2, Dr. Owen Copp 1, Henry Wood 1, Mass. Society of the Sons of Revolution 1.
CHAS. B. FISKE, Librarian.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER.
Cash on hand March 1st, 1900,
$ 428.48
Received of G. A. R., for coal,
71.96
Fines and catalogues,
43.00
Bequest Miss Eliza Whitcomb, Town of Palmer,
10.00
1,000.00
Paid for Fuel and lights,
$247.20
Janitor,
98.50
Miss May E. Robinson, attendant,
200.00
Cataloguing,
10.60
Binding,
97.74
Books and magazines,
156.51
Labor, freight, etc.,
6.95
Printing and supplies,
4.60
Cash on hand,
731.34
$1,553.44 $1,553.44
LOUIS E. CHANDLER, Treasurer.
Town Warrant.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, ss. HAMPDEN,
To either of the Constables of the Town of Palmer,
in said County.
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn all the inhabitants of the Town of Palmer, qualified to vote in elections of town officers, to meet at the several polling places, in said Palmer designated by the Selectmen, to wit : In Precinct A, at the Engine House on Park street in the Depot Village ; in Precinct B, at Temperance Hall on Commercial street in Thorndike ; in Precinct C, at Ruggles' Hall on East Main street in Three Rivers ; and in Precinct D, at Holden's Old Store in Bondsville, on Monday, the 18th day of March, A.D., 1901, at six o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to give in their votes on one ballot to the precinct officers of the several voting precincts of said town, for the following town officers, to wit : Three Selectmen, three Assessors, a Town Clerk, a Town Treasurer, a Collector of Taxes, two Auditors, five Constables and three Fence Viewers, all for the term of oue year; one Overseer of the Poor for three years, one member of the School Committee for one year, one member of the School Committee for two years, two members of the School Com- mittee for three years, one member of the Board of Health for one year, one member of the Board of Health for three years, one Ceme- tery Commissioner for two years, and one Cemetery Commissioner for three years ; also to vote by ballot, which shall be Yes or No, in answer to the question, " Shall licenses be granted for the sale of in- toxicating liquors in this town ?"
The polls will be open at six o'clock in the forenoon and may be closed at three o'clock in the afternoon.
83
And you are further hereby required to notify and warn the inhab- itants of said Palmer, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town House at Four Corners, in said Palmer, on Monday the 25th day of March, A. D., 1901, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles, viz :
ARTICLE 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.
ART. 2. To choose two or more Field Drivers, Measurers of Wood and Bark, and all other usual town officers.
ART. 3. To see if the town will vote to hire the present tramp room and lockup. Aten orout No
ART. 4. To act on the reports of the town officers.
ART. 5. To raise money and make appropriations to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year.
ART. 6. To see if the town will authorize its treasurer to borrow money in anticipation of the taxes for the ensuing year, the same to be paid from said taxes.
ART. 7 To see if the town will authorize its treasurer to borrow money not to be paid from the taxes of the ensuing year.
ART. 8. To hear and act on reports of committees.
ART. 9. To choose committees and give them instructions.
ART. 10. To see if the town will allow a discount and determine what interest shall be paid on the taxes to be assessed for the ensuing year.
x ART. 11. To determine the manner and state the terms and conditions of collecting the taxes for the ensuing year, and fix the compensation of the collector of taxes.
ART. 12. To determine the manner of repairing the highways and bridges for the ensuing year.
ART. 13. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money to suppress the illegal sale of intoxicating liquors.
ART. 14. To act on the list of Jurors as prepared by the select - men.
ART. 15. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money 1 for the Young Men's Library Association. $1000
ART. 16. To see if the town will raise money to convey pupils to and from the public schools, and instruct the School Committee as to the manner of letting the contract for such conveyance.
ART. 17. To see if the town will vote to raise money for the × celebration of Memorial Day.
84
Art. 18. To see what action the town will take in relation to sewers.
ART. 19. To see what action the town will take in regard to lighting the streets, and whether it will authorize the selectmen to make contract therefor. 4500-
7 ART. 20. To see what action the town will take in reference to the planting and preservation of shade trees. 50.
ART. 21. To see if the town will vote to drain Main street in Thorndike near the Catholic church, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 22. To see if the town will vote to rebuild or repair a bank wall on high street in Thorndike near the property of one Hallez or pass any vote relative thereto, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
¿ ART. 23. To see if the town will vote to sell the Tenneyville schoolhouse, and appoint any board or agent to dispose of same. Sell: her
ART. 24. To see if the town will vote to build a sidewalk from a point near the dwelling house of John Ritchie on the Palmer road in Three Rivers to a point near the Otis Company's boarding house.
ART. 25. To see if the town will vote to raise the grade of Bourne street in Three Rivers from a point near the dwelling house of Thomas Russell to Ruggles' two-tenement block, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 26. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for the care and improvement of cemeteries. »
ART. 27. To see if the town will vote to change the course of the × drain on Commercial street in the Depot Village, and cover the same, according to plan of sewers in Depot Village, and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 28. To see what action the town will take in the matter of claim of the Palmer Water Company for expense of changing their water main in Depot Village, to avoid the new sewer.
ART. 29. To see if the town will vote to accept and allow a town way, as laid out by the Selectmen. in the Depot Village, and described as follows, viz. : Beginning at an iron pin in the ground on the northerly side of Central street and at the southwest corner of land of the estate of Rufus Flynt, thence N. 30}º W. 50} rods to an iron pin in the ground, 2 rods 22 links westerly from the south-
Kelley
85
erly corner of the cemetery, thence N. 452° W. 18 rods 4 links to Thorndike street, at a point 1} rods northerly from the westerly corner of said cemetery. Said town way is laid out three rods wide on the westerly side of the line above described.
ART. 30. To see if the town will vote to place an electric light at a point on Commercial street, Thorndike, midway between the stores of Maurice Lawlor and A. M. Bond, and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 31. To see if the town will vote to build a sewer from the head of Fox avenue to South Main street, and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 32. To see if the town will authorize the town clerk to publish the inscriptions recently copied from the grave stones in the cemetery at Palmer village and at the old Center, either with the next town report or separately, and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 33. To see if the town will vote to purchase the old school- house with lot, at Burleigh crossing, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 34. To see if the town will adopt a by-law relative to the cleaning of snow and ice from the sidewalks of the town or pass any vote in relation thereto.
ART. 35. To see if the town will vote to dispense with electric lights between the villages for one year. and use the money thus saved in macadamizing Main street in Palmer Depot, beginning at the railroad bridge and running toward Thorndike street.
ART. 36. To see if the town will vote to purchase land and erect thereon a building in which to store the hearses of the town, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 37. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money to settle damages to land by the construction of a new highway be- tween the village of Three Rivers and the Red Bridge, and to pay the town's portion of the cost of said highway.
y
ART. 38. To see if the town will vote to build a sewer in South Main street, Palmer Depot, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 39. To see if the town will vote to maintain night police in the several villages, and appropriate money for the same, or take any acction relative thereto.
1
86
ART. 40. To see what action the town will take in regard to sidewalks.
ART. 41. To see what action the town will take regarding the maintainance of evening schools, and to raise and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 42. To see if the town will vote to elect its Selectmen and Assessors in the manner prescribed and provided for in Section 335 of Chapter 548 of the Acts of the year 1898. Paul pour
ART. 43. To see what action the town will take to devise and adopt a system of accounts for all town officers ; to appoint a com- mittee to investigate, report and recommend regarding the subject of town accounts, and to raise and appropriate money for such purpose.
ART. 44. To see if the town will vote to construct a drain from the new cemetery at Palmer Depot into the Thorndike street sewer and raise and approf iate $600 for the same.
ART. 45. To see what action the town will take relative to suits and claims now pending against the town.
ART. 46. To see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 455 of the acts of 1894 entitled an act relative to the licensing of plumbers and the supervision of the business of plumbing.
And you are hereby directed to serve this warrant by posting up attested copies thereof at the different public places designated by the vote of the town, seven days at least before the holding of said meet- ing, and cause this warrant to be printed in the Palmer Journal, at least two issues before holding of said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, on or before the holding of said meeting.
Given under our hands this 7th day of March, A. D., 1901.
GEO. M. ATKINS, Selectmen C. H. HOBBS, of
JOHN F. TWISS, Palmer.
A true copy, Attest :
THOMAS J. CONROY, Constable.
nb
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