USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1903 > Part 5
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The quarantine law has been rigidly enforced in cases of con- tagious and infectious diseases, and the ready compliance with its requirements and assistance given by those most affected has had much to do with our being able to make the good showing in table No. 1.
During the summer the Board had a canvass made to determine who had or had not entered the sewers, in the several streets through which sewers passed. Notices were sent those whose dwellings were not connected, requiring them to do so in accordance with a vote passed by the town some time since-and in each case the order was immediately complied with or arrangements made to do so in the near future.
Few complaints of nuisances have been made and these were speedily and easily adjusted.
TABLE No. 1.
Showing the number of contagious and infectious diseases re- ported to the Board from March 1st, 1903, to Feb. 20th, 1904.
March.
Apr.
May.
June.
July.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Total.
Diphtheria and Croup Scarlet Fever
3
3
2
1
1
1
3
14
2
10
4
1
3
2
1
1
1
25
Measles .
1
6
Typhoid Fever
1
1
1
1
1
5
10
Total
5
13
9
3
3
2
4
2
3
1
10
55
3
1
1
91
TABLE NO. 2.
Number of deaths reported to the board during the year.
Mch. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. 6 16 17 10 15 9 14 14 3 14 6 9
Total, 133.
Number of burial permits issued by the Board, 142
Number of undertakers' licenses issued by the Board, 5 Number of slaughter house licenses issued by the Board, 4
Table No. 3.
Ages at death of persons dying in Palmer, from March 1st, 1903, to February 20th, 1904.
Less than 1 year 37.
Males, 26 ; Females, 11.
1 to
2 years,
10.
6;
66
4.
2 to
3
66
7.
3;
2;
66
3.
4 to
5
66
4.
1;
3.
5 to
10
66
3.
66
0;
3.
10 to
15
20
2.
2 ;
66
0.
20 to
30
6.
4;
66
2.
30 to
40
6.
3 ;
66
3.
40 to
50
60
66
11.
6;
66
5.
60 to
70
66
9.
4;
5.
70 to
80
6 6
11.
9;
2.
80 to
90
4.
1;
3.
90 to 100
66
2.
0;
66
2.
Over 100
1.
66
0;
1.
Total,
127
71
56
4
5.
2.
66
1;
1.
7.
3 ;
4.
50 to
By a recent change in the law, the bills for cases of contagious and infectious diseases cared for by other towns or cities at the ex- pense of this town shall hereafter be paid by the Board of Health
4.
3 to
15 to
92
instead of the Overseers of the Poor; therefore this board would recommend the appropriation of eight hundred dollars-in addition to the salaries of the Board.
Respectfully submitted.
J. P. SCHNEIDER. Board of Health DANIEL B. SULLIVAN, S of Palmer.
REPORT OF THE BACTERIOLOGIST.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS., Feb. 16, 1904.
To the Board of Health, Town of Palmer, Mass.
GENTLEMEN :
Enclosed I hand you a statement of the work done during the past year in the matter of the examination of cultures for diph- theria. 21 cases were examined, of which 17 were diagnosis, and but 4 for release. Although the cases were distributed throughout the year, most of the cultures examined were received during June and July. A total of 74 tests were made on the 21 cases.
The following shows the detailed report of the cases and cul- tures examined :
CASES EXAMINED FOR DIPHTHERIA.
DIAGNOSIS
RELEASE
'Total
POSITIVE
NEGATIVE
POSITIVE
NEGATIVE
March
0
1
5
April
0
0
0
0
May
1
0
0
3
June
0
0
0
July
1
0
0
2
3
August
0
1
0
0
1
September
0
0
0
0
0
October
0
0
0
0
0
November
0
1
0
0
1
December
1
1
0
0
January
0
1
0
0
1
February
1
1
1
0
3
Total
9
1
3
21
TOTAL NUMBER OF CULTURES EXAMINED.
Mch.
Apr. May June
July Ang. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.
Total
Positive
3
6
10
0
0
3
0
5
36
Negative
6
2
4
5
11
1
1
3
3
35
Total
9
8
6
12
21
1
1
6
10
8
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT C. EMERSON, M. D .. Bacteriologist.
Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures.
In presenting herein my report as Sealer of Weights and Meas- ures according to instructions from the Deputy Sealer of Boston, I present to you a copy of letter received from Daniel C. V. Palmer, Deputy Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Copy.
TREASURY OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
DEPARTMENT OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Room 230, State House, BOSTON, MASS., Feb. 15, 1901.
Board of Selectmen :-
GENTLEMEN :- Your attention is called to Chapter 369, Statutes 1900, a copy of which is enclosed, which provides for the sealing of milk cans and bottles without cost to the owner, taking effect in towns March 1, 1901.
This will necessitate the establishing of a salary for the Sealer , in all towns in which that officer is now paid by fees.
If this change has not already been made by your town, as au- thorized by Section 23, Chapter 65, Public Statutes, I would ask that the matter receive attention at the next town meeting.
The amount of salary which should be established can be de- termined by an estimate of all the work it will be necessary for the Sealer to perform.
The appointment of Sealer of Weights and Measures should be made in March or April (Section 8, Chapter 65, Public Statutes) , and when a salary is paid, no charge is allowed for work performed at the office of the Sealer ; for all other work, with the exception of milk bottles, etc., a fee is collected and paid to the Town Treasurer.
94
The Sealer should be required to keep a record and make an annual report of all work performed.
Any additional information desired will be cheerfully furnished, and I would ask that the above recommendation be adopted, as it is the intention of this department to require a strict enforcement of the law in the future.
Yours truly, DANIEL C. V. PALMER, Deputy Sealer of Weights and Measures.
It will be seen by the above letter that it was necessary this year to go over the work in such manner as would give an idea of the work performed, and also in fixing a salary to be paid the Sealer. By my account of moneys received, office and transient work and expenses incurred, I would recommend the sum of $100 to be paid annually to the Sealer of Weights and Measures. As all fees collected, less expenses, are to be paid to the Town Treasurer, it is a cost of about fifty dollars to the town to have this work done every year, and thereby comply with the law.
STATEMENT.
Amount of fees collected,
$57.00
Refusals and transients (estimated),
10.00
$67.00
Expenses,
15.00
Balance,
$52.00
W. F. WAITE,
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Treasurer's Report.
RECEIPTS.
Balance in Treasury, March 4, 1903,
$ $544.61
Received of J. A. Hawkes, tax, 1900, 75.00
J. A. Hawkes, tax, 1901, 150.00
J. A. Hawkes, tax, 1902,
2,406.31
J. A. Hawkes, tax, 1903, 58,648.90
Received of State Treasurer, support of state paupers,
70.00
Temporary support of
state paupers,
95.91
Burial of state paupers,
5.00
Burial of indigent soldiers and sailors, 191.00
Corporation tax,
1,750.94
National Bank tax,
327.76
Street Railway.tax,
2,905.98
Military aid,
72.00
State aid,
1,696.00
Received of County Treasurer, dog tax,
632.17
Sheriff of Hampden County, fines,
15.00
A. E. Fitch, fines,
95.58
Peddlers' licenses,
143.00
Auctioneers' licenses,
2.00
Undertakers' licenses,
5.00
Pool licenses,
20.00
Slaughter house licenses,
1.00
Circus licenses,
9.00
Merry-go-round license,
7.00
Bowling alley license,
2.00
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Received of Town of Monson, school tuition, $ 195.40
Town of Wilbraham, school tuition, 120.00
H. M. Dean, Supt., school tuition, etc., 215.24
Palmer Mill, for school settees, Palmer Mill, for oil barrels,
25.00
Town of Monson, pauper account, 42.60
Town of Hampden, pauper account,
183.05
City of Chicopee, pauper account, 31.79
City of Haverhill, pauper account, 23.00
City of Northampton, pauper account,
52.00
City of Worcester, pauper account, 44.91
Insurance on Thorndike school building,
15,000.00
Boston Duck Co., one-half cost of bridge,
300.00
V. A. Whipple, wall repairs.
13.20
R. B. Francis. for bridge iron,
62.83
Town of Belchertown, bridge account,
94.71
Town of Monson, bridge account,
6.77
Springfield & Eastern Street R. R., bridge account, 93.81
Rent of school lot, Three Rivers,
5.00
Interest on Merrick fund,
29.99
Interest on Thompson fund,
33.56
Interest on Bank account,
102.56
Old plank,
22.50
Sewer pipe,
4.76
Returned from Old-Home Week ap- propriation,
10.24
G. M. Atkins, use of engine,
129.70
Palmer Savings Bank, temporary loan,
52,528.00
Sidewalk assessments,
43.91
Sewer licenses,
1,125.00
Liquor licenses,
11,904.00
Cemetery commissioners,
11.00
$152,335.69
.
10.00
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EXPENDITURES.
Paid Palmer Savings Bank, interest, $ 676.88
Temporary loan, 25,250.00
County Treasurer, county tax, 3,067.17
State Treasurer, { liquor licenses, 2,976.00
Corporation tax, 1.97
National Bank tax, 1,445.64
State tax, 2,625.00
Repairs of State highways, 125.60
'Town bonds, 3,600.00
Interest on town bonds,
2,180.00
State aid,
1,570.50
Military aid,
142.00
Cost of district court,
289.52
Cemetery commissioners' orders,
211.00
Selectmen's pay-rolls,
44,416.24
School committee pay-rolls,
27,844.50
Outstanding pay-rolls, 622.07
Overseers of Poor orders,
9,683.15
Committee on new school building at
Thorndike, orders, 24,747.14
-$151,474.38
Total receipts,
$152,335.69
Total expenditures,
151,474.38
Balance in treasury,
Respectfully submitted, $ 861.31
JOS. F. HOLBROOK, Treasurer.
There are Overseers of Poor orders outstand- ing to amount of, $ 326.65
There are notes which were not to be paid from this year's taxes, outstanding to the amount of, 31,028.00
There is a note which was to be paid from this year's taxes outstanding, 2,500.00
98
INDEBTEDNESS OF THE TOWN OF PALMER.
Refunding loan, Grammar School bonds,
$28,000.00
27,200.00
Palmer Savings Bank, temporary loan,
33,528.00
Total,
$88,728.00
AUDITORS' REPORT.
PALMER, February 26, 1904. To the Citizens of the Town of Palmer :
We have examined the accounts of the Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, School Committee, Treasurer, Tax Collector and Cemetery Commissioners for the year ending February 15, 1904, and find them correct.
E. W. CARPENTER, Auditors. C. A. LEGRO,
Young Men's Library Association.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT. FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1904.
6,514
Number of volumes in the library March 1, 1903, Purchased during the past year, Donated,
232
70
Number now in the library,
6,816
VOLUMES LOANED DURING THE YEAR.
Fiction,
13,344
Other classes,
4,314
Total,
17,658
Donations have been received during the year as follows : United States Government, 6; State of Massachusetts, 21; O. P. Allen, 39 ; City of Boston, 2 ; A. E. Pillsbury, 1; S. L. Phillips, 1. H. M. DEAN, Librarian.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER.
Cash on hand March 1, 1903,
. $347.57
Received from G. A. R., for coal,
. 25.88
Fines, and sale of catalogues, 37.50
Town of Palmer, 1903 appro- priation, 750.00
Paid for books,
$262.12
Papers and magazines,
58.68
Attendant, Miss May E. Robinson,
350.00
Janitor,
126.00
Fuel and lights,
272.18
Freight, cartage, sundries, etc.,
14.75
Cash on hand March 1, 1904,
77.22
$1,160.95 $1,160.95
LOUIS E. CHANDLER, Treasurer.
Town Warrant.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, 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 Select- men, to wit : In Precinct A, at the Engine House on Park street in the Depot Village ; in Precinct B. at Temperance Hall on Commer- cial 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 21st day of March, A. D., 1904, 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 one year ; one Overseer of the Poor for three years, two members of the School Committee for three years, one member of the School Committee for one year, one member of the Board of Health for three years, one member of the Board of Health for one year, 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 intoxicating liq- uors in this town ? "
The polls will be open at 6 o'clock in the forenoon and may be closed at three o'clock in the afternoon.
101
And you are further hereby required to notify and warn the in- habitants of said Palmer, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town House at Four Corners, in said Palmer, on Monday, the 28th day of March, A. D., 1904, 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.
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 of the ensuing year, the same to be paid from said taxes.
ART. 7. To see if the town will authorize its treasurer to bor- row money not to be paid from the taxes of the ensuing year.
ART. 8. To hear and act on the reports of committees.
ART. 9. To choose committees and give them instructions.
ART. 10. To see if the town will allow a discount and deter- mine what interest shall be paid on the taxes to be assessed for the ensuing year.
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.
ยท 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 for the Young Men's Library Association.
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.
102
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.
ART. 20. To see what action the town will take in reference to the planting and preservation of shade trees.
ART. 21. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for the care and improvement of cemeteries.
ART. 22. To see what action the town will take in regard to sidewalks.
ART. 23. To see if the town will vote to maintain night police in the several villages, and appropriate money for the same, or take . any action relative thereto.
ART. 24. To see what action the town will take relative to suits and claims now pending against the town.
ART. 25. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars for necessary aid to soldiers and sailors and their families, and the families of the slain, and entrust the same to L. L. Merrick Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, under the provisions of law.
ART. 26. To see if the town will adopt a by-law prescribing terms and conditions upon which licenses for the sale of coal and coke shall be granted, the period said licenses shall run and the fee for the same.
ART. 27. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to locate an arc electric light at the corner of East and Pleasant streets in Bondsville, or take any action relative thereto.
ART. 28. To see if the town will vote to macadamize Com- mercial street and a part of Main street in the village of Thorndike and pave the gutters and raise and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 29. To see if the town will vote to purchase 500 feet of new fire hose.
ART. 30. To see if the town will vote to extend the sewer in East street in Bondsville 250 feet Easterly from the Easterly termi- nus of said sewer, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 31. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer in Park street in the Depot Village from its intersection with Walnut
103
street to its intersection with Thorndike street and raise and appro- priate money for the same.
ART. 32. To see if the town will vote to extend the sewer in South Main street in the Depot Village to a point opposite the car barn and raise and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 33. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer connecting with the Pine street sewer in the Depot Village running Northerly about 180 feet in Pond street, and thence Westerly about 80 feet in Spring street and raise and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 34. To see if the town will vote to pay Hamilton & King for labor and materials employed and furnished and expenses paid and incurred in connection with the construction of the masonry for the new iron bridge near the Burleigh place, or take any vote in relation thereto.
ART. 35. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $150 to purchase extra equipment, tools, etc., for the use of the Sealer of Weights and Measures.
ART. 36. To see if the town will vote to establish a salary for the Sealer of Weights and Measures and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 37. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500 for one-half the cost of repairs to be made upon the bridge over the Quaboag River at Commercial street in Palmer Depot.
ART. 38. To see what action the town will take in regard to placing a light near the junction of the Ware road and Gay avenue.
ART. 39. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $300 for a sidewalk on the Ware road, beginning at a point near the house of Michael Roche and running to Gay avenue.
ART. 40. To see if the town will vote to observe Old Home Week and raise and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 41. To see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of Revised Laws, Ch. 11, Sec. 335, relative to the election of the town clerk for the term of three years.
ART. 42. To see if the town will vote to elect its selectmen and assessors in the manner provided by Revised Laws, Ch. 11, Sec. 339.
104
ART. 43. To see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of Sec. 20 of Chap. 106 of the Revised Laws, making 8 hours con- stitute a day's work for all laborers, workmen and mechanics em- ployed by the town.
ART. 44. To see if the town will vote to discontinue the town way leading from the Belchertown town line at the Mansfield Bridge to the way leading to Potterville, so called.
ART. 45. To see if the town will vote to establish an electric light at the corner of Park and Walnut streets in the Depot Village.
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 9th day of March, A. D. 1904.
JOHN O. HAMILTON, Selectmen CHAS. L. HOLDEN, of
WILLIAM LAWTON, S Palmer.
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